Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Toei, Saban, and a bunch of other people do. Not me.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
"How much further do we have to go today?" asked Stellina tiredly.
Ria raised her arms and stretched them. "Oh, not that much farther, Stell. Only about a mile more, two tops."
"Only another mile or two? Ria, we've been walking practically ALL day!"
"Oh, quit whining, Stellina."
"I wasn't whining!"
"Yes, you were."
"I wasn't whining. I was just remarking, Ria. That's all."
"You were whining, Stellina."
"Remarking!"
"Whining!"
"Remarking!"
"Whining!"
Misa turned towards Aki. "Should we break them up?"
Aki shook her head. "Nah. Let them argue. It'll be good for them. When Ria and I argue, we feel better when we are left to stop on our own, and not told to."
"Y'know, they seem to argue just like you said Matt and Tai did, Misa." Shimamon looked at her partner for a response.
Misa thought before she replied. "I guess, but Stellina reminds me more of Mimi than Matt."
"Yeah, but Stellina's not ditzy, and she doesn't seem to be that concerned about her looks as Mimi did."
"You're right, Shimamon. But Stellina DOES seem to be a bit sheltered."
"Excuse me?" interrupted Aki. "I hate to interrupt, but what exactly ARE you talking about?"
"Digimon." answered Shimamon.
"Huh? Aren't digimon like Moudramon?" Aki pointed to her digimon.
Moudramon was fast asleep on a pile of wildflowers and unable to respond.
"Greeeeat." muttered Aki under her breath.
"Ah, don't worry, Aki. I'll explain digimon to you—the dubbed version, at least. My mom won't let me get the Japanese version."
"What?" asked Aki, a look of confusion visibly apparent on her face.
Misa glanced at Ria and Stellina, who were still in heated argument, currently staring each other down. Their digimon partners, Maubimon and Perromon, stood off to one side, unsure of what to do. When Aki looked over at Moudramon, she was still sleeping.
"Let me explain. We should have some time with Tweedledum and Dumber over their fighting."
"Ya got that right." agreed Aki. "Now explain digimon to me."
"Okay." Misa walked over to a tree stump where her laptop was sitting, picked it up, and turned it on. When it loaded, she called Aki over.
"So, start explaining."
"All right." Misa pointed to the picture on her laptop.
"This digimon on my wallpaper here is Patamon."
"Oh, I've seen him before. He's the flying hamster!"
Misa giggled slightly. "OK. He happens to be one of my personal favorite digimon, and I prefer to call him a batpig."
"Fine. Next?
"I'll start at the beginning. It's a looooooooong story, and they aren't even done with the Eighth Child arc yet."
"What!?"
"Erm, let me explain." Misa patiently began to explain the basics of the TV show to Aki, and about twenty minutes later she was beginning to get the general idea. Ria and Stellina were still at it, though not quite as fiercely as before.
"Soooooooo, Tanemon, an In-training digimon, digivolves into Palmon, a rookine, who digivolves into Togemon, a champion-level digimon, who then digivolves into Lillymon, an ultimate?
"Yep."
"Sora has the crest of love, right?"
"Right."
"And Kari is the eighth child?"
"Correct. We aren't supposed to know that yet, since the episode that tells us hasn't aired yet, but in Japan, they're already at the Dark Masters arc.
"Oh, okay. I've still got tons to learn, haven't I?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, and is Gomamon the o—" Aki was interrupted by a rustle in the bushes.
"What was that?" asked Stellina, who had forgotten about her argument with Ria for the moment.
"Huh? What's going on?" asked Moudramon, who had just awoken from her nap.
"I don't know." answered Misa honestly.
"Ria, go check."
Ria eyed her twin closely. "Why me?"
"Because you're younger than me, and we need Misa."
"And you don't need me?"
"Go check!"
"Oh, fine." Ria glared at her sister then walked over to the bush. She peered in it, and pulled out an exhausted Gotsumon.
"Need help." it muttered, barely able to talk. "Golemon's acting crazy. Help. North here, the lake." The Gotsumon collapsed, exhausted.
"Oh, dear. Will it be okay?"
"I dunno. I say we go to the lake and help."
"Yeah. This sounds like something Spidramon would do."
"Let's go then. Misa, can you help me carry Gotsumon?"
"Sure thing, Stellina. Just let me find the map of the digital world Hadamon put on my computer. Aki, you'll be able to read the map, right?"
"Yes."
"All right then. Here's the map." Misa handed her laptop to Aki.
Ria led the way, followed by Aki, who read the map, then next in line were the digimon, and finally at the end of the line were Stellina and Misa, who carried the sleeping Gotsumon to the lake.
When they arrived at the lake, they were surprised to see a small crowd of Gotsumon, Golemon, and Monochromon waiting near the entrance to a cave located under the lake.
One Monochromon stood to greet the travelers, and he took the Gotsumon from Misa and Stellina.
"I assume you are the ones Gotsumon found to help us." When the nodded in response, Monochromon continued speaking. "That particular Golemon disappeared into the caves, and he was acting incredibly odd. He tried to attack several of us before we chased him into the caves."
The group walked into the caves, with the Monochromon and the Gotsumon chorusing "Thank you and good luck!" to them.
"Ouch! Moudramon, you stepped on my foot!"
"I can't see ANYTHING in here!"
"Oh, I can fix that. Vivid Flames!"
Perromon's attack lit up the pitch-black caves enough for Ria to grab two large sticks near the entrance to the cave.
"Okay, Perro, use your attack again, enough to light these torches, kay?"
"Sure! Vivid Flames!" Perromon's attack lit the torches nicely, but nearly singed Ria's hands and hair in the process.
"PERROMON! I LIKE MY HANDS AND MY HAIR THE WAY THEY ARE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!"
"Sorry." answered Perromon in a very small voice.
"Um, let's just follow the path and try to find Golemon." Aki pointed to the path, a steep, rocky path that led downhill, deep under the lake.
"Sure." Ria handed one of the torches to Misa, and the group walked down the downhill slope, otherwise known as a path.
They followed the trail for about a mile, admiring the stalactites and stalagmites that can only be found in underground caves, and Stellina found some digital bat-like digimon sleeping on the roof of the cave. Each marveled at the Digital World's idea of a cave, until it suddenly forked into two paths.
"So now what?" asked Maubimon curiously.
Ria had an idea. "Okay, Stellina, Maubimon, Shimamon, and Misa will take the left road. Aki, you, Perromon, Moudramon and I will follow the right fork."
"Okay. Sounds good to me," agreed Misa.
"Let's meet back here in an hour or so."
"All right." Stellina nodded in response.
*~*~*~
"This path is steep!" commented Stellina as she helped Maubimon jump a crevice in the uphill path with all its twists and turns.
"And there are so many holes!" chimed in Maubimon.
"I wish I could fly." grumbled Shimamon.
Misa ignored all her companions complaints and glanced at the path ahead. She noticed that it was less steep further on, and was about to tell this to her friends, when her eyes noticed a cave carved into the side of the cave. She aimed her torch at the cave and noticed a glimmer of something in the cave. Curious, she climbed up to the ledge in front of the cave. Stellina, Maubimon, and Shimamon noticed her climbing up and followed suit.
Misa reached the ledge first, and helped pull her companions up. When everyone was safely on the ledge, Misa carefully poked her head in the cave. Inside was a sleeping Monzemon.
"Can I see?" asked Stellina. She went to look in the cave by peering over Misa's shoulder, accidentally bumping into her. Misa dropped the torch, and it fell on Monzemon's face. It awoke, visibly angry, and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they needed to MOVE. Each girl picked up their digimon and headed down the path, with Monzemon hot on their heels. Stellina remembered to grab the torch during the frenzy, and the others were grateful to her for it.
The girls kept running, running, running, not noticing that they had been chased through a back entrance of the cave by Monzemon. They kept running, until Misa tripped. Shimamon fell from her hands, and Misa braced herself for a fall on the cave's rocky floor, only to hit grass. When she looked, she realized she was in a valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, and one angry Monzemon on the other, blocking the way back into the cave. Monzemon picked up Misa by her legs, and held her tightly. Stellina and Maubimon watched in horror, frozen, unsure of what to do.
"Let go of me, you sorry excuse for a teddy bear! Put me down!"
Misa struggled and squirmed, and during her fight, her digi-vice fell from her belt loop, and landed at Shimamon's feet. A bright light flashed and suddenly…
Shimamon digivolve to… Tenbamon!
Tenbamon was a Pegasus, beautiful and white. Her wings were golden, with silver trim, and her golden hooves had a dazzling blue, green, and red jewel on each of them. Her mane and tail were gold with streaks of sliver, and on her forehead was a single golden star.
Digi-Analyzer (Maubimon narrating)
"Wow! That's Tenbamon, the champion form of Shimamon. Her Mystic Moon attack is not to be messed with, and her Psy Wing attack's nothing to laugh at either!"
/Digi-Analyzer
"Psy Wing!"
"Tenbamon aimed her attack, which shot a lavender colored beam from her wings, at Monzemon's hands. He released Misa, who fell to the grass below with a soft thump. Misa quickly scurried out of the way, and went over to where Stellina and Maubimon were.
"Mystic Moon!"
The attack came from the star on her forehead, and hit Monzemon right on its chest. Yelping, he darted back into the cave.
"There now," spoke Tenbamon. "climb on my back and let's get out of here."
*~*~*~
Meanwhile…
"Akiiiiiiiii! How far?" grumbled Moudramon.
"Chill." Aki shushed her digimon.
Ria, ahead of everyone, walked up the path, and saw a HUGE room carved out of stone at the end of the path. She quietly motioned for everyone to come closer. When they peered in the room, they saw Golemon, trashing all the rock formations and splashing water from an underground stream all over the place.
"Yep, he's definitely under Spidramon's power." commented Perromon.
"Yeah, he's acting just like Kiwimon was."
Aki turned to face Moudramon. "Do you think you can digi-volve?"
Moudramon frowned and shook her head. "No. I haven't eaten anything today and I'm so hungry." Her stomach growled in agreement.
"It's okay," said Aki soothingly.
"But now what?" asked Perromon."
By this time, however, Golemon had spotted them.
"Eeep!" hissed Aki. "He's seen us!"
Ria whirled around, and was greeted by Golemon in her face.
She was scared to death, but kept a calm composure. She scowled at Golemon, and stood facing him, frozen.
Golemon went to grab Ria, but she ducked and then immediately aimed her digi-vice at Perromon. A light flashed and…
Perromon digi-volve to… Inumon!
Inumon was a large dog, so to speak. She was about as big as an average Garurumon, and was solid white, with purple polka dots, like a Dalmatian's. Her body was like a Dal's in shape as well. Her left ear was solid purple, and the right one was solid white.
Digi-Analyzer (Inumon narrating)
Greetings! I am Inumon. My Fire Storm attack will drive fear into many a mon's hearts.
/Digi-Analyzer
"Hey over here!" called Inumon.
Wasting no time, Inumon went and attracted Golemon's attention, causing him to turn and face her, giving Ria time to hide. Golemon prepared to attack, but Inumon was faster.
Fire Storm!
Her attack, a stream of fire coming from her mouth, hit Golemon squarely on the head, and he stumbled. When he arose, he clutched his head and groaned.
"Where am I?"
"Erm, you were under a spell."
"Huh?"
Aki briefly explained what was going on.
"Now, come on," huffed Moudramon when Aki was finished explaining, "We have to meet the others!"
"Oh, right!"
"Come on then," said Inumon. "Climb on my back and we'll get there."
~*~*~*
"Perromon! You digi-volved!" cried Tenbamon when they could be seen in the distance. "And you found Golemon too! Is he okay?"
"Yeah, and you digi-volved as well." commented Inumon.
As they walked down the path to the cave's entrance, each group explained what had happened when they split up. When they had finished, Golemon chuckled.
"Monzemon dislikes having his sleep disrupted." Golemon paused. "You are all welcome to stay at our village tonight."
"Yay!" cheered Stellina, Maubimon, and Aki at the same time.
"And I imagine by the time we get there, dinner will be ready."
"Yum!" chirped Moudramon. "I'm starving!"
"Hurry up then!" whined Stellina.
"Chill out," sighed Misa, hoping to avoid an argument.
When they reached the cave's entrance, they each filed out, except for Perromon and Ria.
"Are you coming, Ria?" asked her partner.
Ria snapped out of her thoughts. "Yeah, I was just thinking."
"That's hard to imagine."
"Ha." Ria playfully bopped Perromon on the head. "Seriously though, I know our enemy is going to try something soon, but the question is what? And are we ready for it?"
"I think so. Three of us can digi-volve, and I'm sure Stellina will be able to soon."
"Yes, but Spidramon's an Ultimate!"
Misa stuck her head inside of the cave. "Hey, you two coming?"
"Yeah."
Perromon looked at Ria. "Don't worry. Whatever happens, we'll persevere. We are the Digi-Destined, and we can win."
"You're right, Perromon."
"Now come on, let's eat!" Perromon looked at Ria with a hopeful expression on her face.
Ria laughed. "Sure thing, Perromon."
~*~*~*~*~*~*
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