Hello again! 'S meeeee! *coughs* Okay.
NOTE ~ I am on vacation until the 30th (or 31st, I can't remember which). NO updates until then. *hears everyone sobbing wildly* Yes, I know, this scars you deeply, I'm sorry... What a tragedy... *coughs* Ahem... anyway...
Revieewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!! (please?)
Digimon is mine!!!! cackles wildly
looks around frantically - sees lawyers running towards her... Eep! Wait! No! I don't own Digimon! Heeelllpp! runs away
Erm... Enjoy the story!
Turn Back Time
Chapter Four
Seven tired children lay sprawled languidly on the lush green grass, talking quietly. An eighth, a tall teenager older than the others with deep blue eyes, dug rope out of a duffel sack he carried.
"Dai," he called, brushing back a strand of indigo hair from his eyes. A chestnut-haired boy sat up abruptly, hitting his head on an overhanging branch. He yelped in pain, rubbing his spiky head as he nodded an affirmation to the older teen.
"Hai, Jyou?"
"Get over here. I need your help tying him up." Jyou motioned towards the limp form of another young teen. The boy had a blood-encrusted wound on the side of his head, which was matted with cerulean hair. His eyes were closed, and a soft expression was on his unconscious face.
Daisuke crawled over and grabbed the boy's wrists, yanking them together behind his back. He grabbed a thick segment of rope from Jyou's hand and set to work binding the unconscious boy.
Concern showed in the honey-coloured eyes of a tall, lanky, lavender-haired teen. "Dai, don't handle him so roughly!" she snapped.
Contempt was evident on the boy's face as he replied. "Why, Miya? It's not like he deserves any better," he retorted. Miyako shook her head in disgust, walking away from them.
"He's unconscious anyway, Dai," a small, serious-looking boy with forest-green eyes rejoined. "Extra force isn't necessary."
Daisuke relented. "Fine, Iori. I'll save all the force for when he wakes up." Giving the rope a final tug, he stood and walked haughtily back to the tree under which he'd been resting. Jyou then propped the boy against a tall, wide tree and began tying him to it with another piece of rope. Finishing, he stepped back and rummaged through his duffel again, this time coming up with a small cloth.
"Be right back," he said, as he made his way to a small brook nearby. He dipped the cloth briefly in the crystalline waters, distorting his reflection as ripples expanded from his submerged hand. Hurrying back to the captive, he knelt and began gently clearing away some of the dried blood on his face.
"Jyou," objected Daisuke, "you're not supposed to be taking care of him." The older teen looked up at him.
"Habit, I guess," he sighed, settling back into a crouch. "Besides, if this caught infection, well... that would just suck. Then he'd probably get fevered and delirious, and start hallucinating too much, and not be able to tell us where his headquarters are, so then we'd..."
"Okay, okay..." Daisuke relented, retreating from the raving boy with a laugh. "Geez, Jyou, stop hyperventilating. I get your point."
Jyou shook his head, sheepish. "Sorry, Dai," he apologized. "I guess I'm just a little nervous about this."
"That's okay, Jyou. We all are." A tall, blonde teen stood, surveying the scene with wide cerulean eyes. His gaze fell on his younger brother, who was almost a clone of him, sprawled under a tree with his best friend Hikari, who was Taichi's younger sister. "By the way, does anyone know what held up Taichi and Koushiro?"
Hikari looked up, worry evident in her light brown eyes. "I don't know. Koushiro isn't one to be late... Taichi is another story, though."
"I think I know what happened to Taichi," offered Sora. She smirked slightly, brushing her fiery red hair behind her ears. "We got a physics test back today. I... don't think he did too well... Your mom prob'ly grounded him, 'Kari."
Hikari groaned. "*After* screaming at him for about two hours... But does he ever learn? Nope. I don't think he studied more that an hour for that test."
Takeru, the blonde boy relaxing next to her, chuckled. "He hasn't changed in all the time I've known him," he commented. Iori looked up and grinned, opening his mouth to say something. Suddenly, someone stirred beside Jyou, and all looked abruptly to him. The captive was waking!
Osamu's POV
Yet another mundane day passed by, and still I had no worthy opposition. I snorted, watching the so-called 'Destined' laze languidly in an unprotected clearing, chattering away about something. Their digimon were elsewhere, I noticed, and the children seemed to be keeping watch over a figure strapped to an ancient oak. I arched my index finger over a button, intending to send a small army of my minions to do away with them, but something caught my attention, as it did theirs.
Their heads whipped to a prone figure bound to a tree, and their leader stood, smirking. I furrowed my brow... the screen was too small, but there was something frighteningly familiar about their captive.
"Zoom in," I told the computer harshly. After a few moments, it obeyed, and I could see clearly the face of their hostage. I stared in shock.
"Ken?" I whispered. My little brother? Brought here by the Destined? I thought on this for a second, then my face cracked into a smile and I laughed. Two large, aquamarine eyes glanced up at me quizzically.
"Master?" inquired a nasal voice. I glared suddenly down at the sniveling virus digimon.
"What?" I snapped. Wormmon hesitated, then shook his head, antennae quivering frantically as he backed away.
"N... nothing, Master," he replied.
"Good." I gazed once again at the screen, chuckling wickedly as the children menacingly approached my innocent little brother, who obviously had no idea what was going on. The irony was too much... I began to laugh wildly, the sound reverberating off of the cold stone walls of the cave, echoing relentlessly. Wormmon scurried into a corner and hid, peering out at me through worried eyes. Suddenly, I stopped. I remembered something from long ago... when I'd first taken up the seal of the Kaiser. Something about a child coming into the world unwillingly...
"Wormmon! Get me the Prophecy of the Ninth Talisman!" I yelled, frightening the insect out of his hiding place. He bobbed his head in obedience before hurrying away to the ancient scrolls I had stored. No longer laughing, I leaned forward, musing quietly as I gazed at the screen.
"Well, well, Digidestined," I said thoughtfully, "looks like you may have helped me after all..."
Taichi's POV
"We have to find them." Koushiro gazed at me seriously through his deep black eyes. I, in turn, rolled my own eyes.
"Well, *duh*, 'Shiro, of *course* we have to find them. Can you, like, open the portal or something?" He shook his head at me, and I got an ominous sinking feeling in my stomach... for about the seventh time that day.
Koushiro opened his laptop and pressed a few buttons. "We can't get through, Taichi, I..."
"What do you *mean*, we can't get through!" I yelped, venting my frustration on the table, which shuddered violently as my fist crashed into it. I scowled at Koushiro, who was diligently trying to open the portal into the digital world.
"Hold *on*, Taichi. You know as well as I do that only the new digidestined's D-3's can open the portal, but you didn't let me finish." Koushiro glared up at me in a very scholarly fashion before reverting his gaze to the computer screen. "What I didn't say was that I might be able to open in if I just..." He trailed off, looking intently at the screen, his fingers flying on the keyboard. I sighed and leaned back, listening to his mutterings.
"Well, if I do this, then... no, wait, what if I do *this*... or maybe if I put in this keyword..." Bored by his murmurs, I tuned him out and tried to visualize what was happening at the moment in the Digital World with Ken, Daisuke, and the others. Big mistake. I got this vision of Daisuke pummeling Ken into the ground. I winced, and mentally urged Koushiro to go faster.
"Aha!" cried Koushiro. He jumped up, eyes blazing in triumph, and pointed at the screen.
"What? You got it to open?" I asked eagerly. He nodded, still pointing proudly. I glanced at the screen, which shone with a soft glow. I rubbed my hands together in anticipation, as Koushiro tapped a few more keys. The glow blazed brightly through the room, and 'Shiro looked at me.
"Ready?" he asked.
"You bet!"
Osamu's POV
Wormmon came running through the entrance again, this time carrying an aged piece of parchment. He tripped, falling head over heels and rolling away. The parchment, thankfully, came to a stop unharmed at my feet. Wormmon recovered and cowered nearby, looking at me fearfully, but I was too absorbed in the scroll he had brought me. Reading it hungrily, I aimed an absentminded kick at him. Suddenly, I shot my fist into the air. "Yes!" I shouted.
I turned to Wormmon. "Ready an army of Darktyrannomon to march for the Destined. We must recover Ken."
"Ken?" Wormmon asked. Fury rose up in me.
"Just *do* it!" I roared, waving my fist threateningly. Wormmon took the not-so-subtle hint and ran off. I looked again at the parchment, a small grin spreading across my face.
"If I get to Ken... and if this is right... then all the power in the world will be mine!" I held the paper up to the light, reciting it aloud.
"'...And the powers were contained forever in the nine Talismans,
To be awakened only when those with likened powers came near.
But when danger threatens in years to come, eight shall arise
Held by those whose powers course through their souls
And these eight shall defeat the evils
And pass on their powers to the next of the Chosen.
The ninth will remain hidden
Until such a time as when a child enters this world
Not by his own consent.
This child holds the key to the Ninth power,
Which may be wielded for darkness or for light,
And will decide the final battle...'"
I smiled frighteningly. Who would have thought that Ken would be the key?
Wormmon again came scrambling into the room, bowing. "Your army is ready to go, Master," he sniveled.
I stood, grasping the prophecy tightly in my hand. "Good," I said, sweeping regally out of the room.
Ken's POV
I swam up, groggily, out of the all-consuming darkness into where the sun was shining brightly. I moaned quietly as I opened my eyes, and noticed a large group of people suddenly swivel around and stare at me. One in particular, a young teen with spiky chestnut hair and goggles perched recklessly on top of his head, walked up to me and leered. What was his name...? I vaguely remembered... Dai... Dai... Daisuke? What happened? I was...
"Well, Kaiser," Daisuke snapped, his cold voice cutting into my thoughts.
Kaiser... What does he mean? I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and I couldn't. I ended up making a choked sound, and Daisuke grinned wickedly. He brought up a fist and waved it in front of my face. I tried to move, but realised I was bound tightly to a tree.
"Now, Kaiser, let me make it clear and simple for you," he said. My mind foggily began to grasp onto my memories, and I realised what had happened.
Anger rose up in me like I'd never felt before. "Why do you hold me here?" I cried, infuriated. Daisuke's eyes were cold and frigid as icicles, and he slapped me across the face. I winced, but never took my gaze off of his.
"You should know that, Kaiser," he spat. "Because you're evil, and cruel, and..." He was beginning to rave when a blonde boy stepped up behind him. I'd seen this one before... he was a basketball star. I think his name was Takeru.
"Daisuke, shut up," he said quietly. Daisuke whirled around, rage evident in his mahogany eyes.
"What?" he cried. "Takeru, you imbecile, I'm in the middle of something..." He gestured over his shoulder at me.
"This is *not* a name-calling contest," Takeru reprimanded. "We should try non-violence first." Daisuke looked furious, but before he could respond, Takeru turned to me, cerulean eyes cold. "Kaiser, where is your base?"
I shook my head firmly, ignoring the pain shooting up through my numb joints. "I have no clue what you're talking about," I whispered.
Takeru turned to another, older, boy who looked exactly like him. "Yama, how hard *did* you hit him?"
The boy shrugged sheepishly. "Um... I dunno..."
Daisuke cried out wildly. "It's not the bump on his head! He's pretending!" He spread his arms wide as if this was the stupidest thing in the world. "He does *not* have amnesia, you guys." He charged in front of Takeru, shoving the more gentle boy to the side as he stood once again in front of me, reveling in the fact that he held me captive.
He leaned in close to me, voice grating against my still-tender ears. "Once again, Kaiser, where is your base?"
I shook my head again, wincing at my raging headache. "I already told you, I... don't... know... what... you're... talking... about!" I spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable carefully.
Daisuke cried in rage, and swiftly punched me in the stomach. I gasped in pain, tears coming to my eyes as I fought for breath. Takeru winced, and I saw him shoot me an almost apologetic glance, as if he knew what it was like to be hit. I doubted it, though. Daisuke raised his fist again. "Tell me!" he demanded. I, again, shook my head, and closed my eyes tightly as he brought his balled hand crashing down...
Koushiro's POV
"Ready?" I asked proudly, as Taichi gazed excitedly at the shining computer screen.
"You bet!" he exclaimed, and I pressed a few more keys on the keyboard. I felt the familiar sensation of being transformed to data, and being swept into another dimension, Taichi beside me. Suddenly, it stopped.
Takeru's POV
I closed my eyes as Daisuke prepared to punch Ken again. Why does it all have to use violence? 'Sorry, Ken,' I thought, shooting him an apologetic glance, although I had no idea why I was feeling sorry for the Kaiser.
Suddenly, a loud explosion from behind me jerked us all around. A mass of Darktyrannomon were parading up, and the portal was in a pile of smoking metal. We all stared for a moment, then turned swiftly back to where our captive was, hearing yet more Darktyrannomon approaching from that direction. Sure enough, the massive monsters were advancing... but Ken was nowhere to be seen. The ropes hung limply around the tree, and our captive had vanished.
Ken's POV
Daisuke's fist was mere millimeters away from my flinching face, when a loud blast sounded from across the clearing. I gazed in amazement as a veritable army of - and I know this is crazy - huge, black and red *dinosaurs* surrounded us. A cool knife sliced the ropes near my skin, and I nearly fell, robbed of my support, as the circulation began to painfully restore itself to my stiff joints. A hand grasped my elbow, pulling me swiftly behind the tree. Another gloved hand slapped itself roughly over my mouth, whirling me around as I stifled a scream.
Taichi's POV
Suddenly, the transmission of our bodies' data to the Digital World was stopped. The inside of the portal was black and empty, with random colours flashing on and off in miscellaneous directions. I cleared my throat, and the noise echoed creepily.
"Koushiro?" I whispered. No response. I gathered a deep breath. "*Koushiro!*" I screamed, wincing as my voice reverberated sepulchurally through the swirling abyss of data.
An annoyed voice echoed in response. "I can hear you, Taichi. I'm not deaf."
"Koushiro!" I shouted in relief, wincing as my voice resonated loudly. "Um, what happened?
"As far as I can tell, something destroyed the portal. Therefore, we can't get through," he answered calmly.
"Then let's go back," I said shakily.
I could almost see him shaking his head at my naiveté. "It's not that simple, Taichi. What I did to the portal was momentary... the second we were sucked in, it closed from that side. We have no way of getting back."
Panic rose in me. "What?" I yelped. "You mean we're trapped?"
"Until I figure out what to do, yes," he responded.
"Great..." I felt like hitting something, but you know, when your data is scattered throughout a long chasm, that's kind of hard to do.
Ken's POV
"Osamu?" I whispered, black spots beginning to dance in front of my vision. My older brother gave a cold grin before shoving me towards a blue-and-white snake that was waiting nearby, hovering in midair.
"Shut up and get on," he ordered. Mutely, I obeyed... not like I had any choice. Obviously, going with my hostile brother was far better than the kids back in the clearing. I could hear them screaming for help as I climbed onto the slick back of the snake.
"Pata!" one cried... I thought that was Takeru...
Another person, a girl, cried out for 'Tailmon.'
I gazed back at the children, surrounded with no exit by huge, fire-breathing monsters, and felt some pity for them. I turned away from the scene, looking instead to my brother. I narrowed my eyes as the beast we were on rose up into the air and flew swiftly away. My brother was dressed in odd-looking glasses with golden frames and purple-tinted lenses that obscured his cool blue eyes. Over his shoulders draped a long, regal blue cape edged in gold trim, and he wore gloves and boots with a pale blue shirt and pants. His hair stuck up in every direction, even more unruly than normal, and his mouth was twisted up into a maniacal grin.
He glared at me. "What are you looking at?"
"Y... you," I stammered. "What happened?"
He chuckled. "Little brother," he said, "say hello to me... the Digimon Kaiser."
I gasped. "*You're* the Kaiser? They thought I was! They said I was evil and cruel..." I paused to think. "But... that would mean that *you're* evil... and cruel..."
"You think?" His voice, although mild, held a tinge of menace. I struggled to clutch onto the flying creature's red mane with numb hands as it flew swiftly through the air.
"Wh... where are we going?" I began to distrust Osamu as he started to laugh.
"To my headquarters. I have a use for you, little brother..." I edged away from him, having nowhere to run high in the air. "Oh, don't start growing wary of me *now*, Ken," he said, almost cheerfully. "If you do, I'll have to subdue you."
He reached out to grab my shoulder, but I shied away. His expression grew stern. "Now, don't run away from me, Ken," he chided. He reached out again. I tried to get away, but there was only so much room for maneuvering on board the snake. He clutched onto my shoulder, pulling me backwards. His finger thrust viciously into a nerve on my neck, and I stiffened as pain flashed through me.
The last thought I had before collapsing on his lap unconscious, the wind whipping by as the snake flew faster still, was that I was having a *very* interesting day.
Koushiro's POV
I mused quietly, Taichi's panicked breathing resounding loudly in my mind.
"Taichi," I said suddenly, breaking the silence.
He yelped in surprise. "Yeah, 'Shiro?"
"D'you remember how we reassumed our physical forms in the battle against Apocalymon?"
He laughed. "How could I forget?"
I expressed my theory to him. "We did it by concentrating on what made us *us*. So, my hypothesis is that if we concentrate on who we are again, like, on our traits and memories, we will consolidate into our natural selves."
"Okayyy..." He spoke skeptically, yet with hope. "Courage."
"Knowledge," I replied, my mind whirring with memories of my past, knowing that Taichi was doing the same. Me... I was smart, kind, a loner... Taichi was... not so smart, kind, courageous, popular... I was not athletic, the brains of the group... Taichi was athletic, the leader...
It's hard to explain, but I suddenly felt all of my particles rushing together, solidifying into one shape, and by Taichi's cry of amazement, I knew he was experiencing the same thing. We began to rush once more through the portal, side by side, landing with a soft thump on the other end.
I got up slowly, dazedly, dusting myself off, and gazing in shock around me. Taichi stayed on the ground, looking about. The grass was a vivid purple, and the vegetation, although lush, was completely foreign to me, even after being familiar with the Digital World for so long. A mauve sun shone brightly in the pale orange sky, and a figure walked out of the trees.
"Konnichiha," he said... at least, I *think* he... The creature had horns sprouting out of bushy brown hair, and tanned skin almost the colour of the bark of the trees in the forest from which he'd emerged. His broad chest had vines sprouting out of it that wrapped about his whole body, and leaves covered him from waist down. I stared unashamedly as Taichi leapt up, brushing the blue dirt off of him frantically.
"Um... maybe we should've concentrated on where we were going, too," I whispered out of the corner of my mouth. "I think the portal took a wrong turn... This isn't the Digital World." The creature stood in front of us still, waiting for a response patiently.
Taichi cast a disdainful look at me. "No duh," he whispered back, "but... if we're not in the Digital World, then... where are we?"
---------
More of Japanese Dictionary!
- Konnichiha - kind of like 'hello' or 'good day'. I've seen it Konniche-wa, konnichiwa, etc... they're all correct, to my knowledge... which is very limited
- Hai - Yes (but not always 'yes, I agree,' more of a 'yes, I heard you.')
So... yeah, okay, still bad... Gomen! But... review! Now... I want at least twenty! *looks insulted* Hey... don't laugh so hard...
I think the Kaiser thing worked last time... I got tons'a luvly reviews!
- Kaiser - *laughs insanely* I had fun! *reviewers run screaming away from him*
*groans* No! Kaiser! Don't scare them away... Osamu! Get in here!
- Osamu - Whaaaat?
*points* You know what to do.
- Osamu - Sit back and laugh at you?
- Ken - That sounds like a good idea...
Oi... *screams at would-be reviewers* No! Wait! Come back!
NOTE ~ I am on vacation until the 30th (or 31st, I can't remember which). NO updates until then. *hears everyone sobbing wildly* Yes, I know, this scars you deeply, I'm sorry... What a tragedy... *coughs* Ahem... anyway...
Revieewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!! (please?)
Digimon is mine!!!! cackles wildly
looks around frantically - sees lawyers running towards her... Eep! Wait! No! I don't own Digimon! Heeelllpp! runs away
Erm... Enjoy the story!
Turn Back Time
Chapter Four
Seven tired children lay sprawled languidly on the lush green grass, talking quietly. An eighth, a tall teenager older than the others with deep blue eyes, dug rope out of a duffel sack he carried.
"Dai," he called, brushing back a strand of indigo hair from his eyes. A chestnut-haired boy sat up abruptly, hitting his head on an overhanging branch. He yelped in pain, rubbing his spiky head as he nodded an affirmation to the older teen.
"Hai, Jyou?"
"Get over here. I need your help tying him up." Jyou motioned towards the limp form of another young teen. The boy had a blood-encrusted wound on the side of his head, which was matted with cerulean hair. His eyes were closed, and a soft expression was on his unconscious face.
Daisuke crawled over and grabbed the boy's wrists, yanking them together behind his back. He grabbed a thick segment of rope from Jyou's hand and set to work binding the unconscious boy.
Concern showed in the honey-coloured eyes of a tall, lanky, lavender-haired teen. "Dai, don't handle him so roughly!" she snapped.
Contempt was evident on the boy's face as he replied. "Why, Miya? It's not like he deserves any better," he retorted. Miyako shook her head in disgust, walking away from them.
"He's unconscious anyway, Dai," a small, serious-looking boy with forest-green eyes rejoined. "Extra force isn't necessary."
Daisuke relented. "Fine, Iori. I'll save all the force for when he wakes up." Giving the rope a final tug, he stood and walked haughtily back to the tree under which he'd been resting. Jyou then propped the boy against a tall, wide tree and began tying him to it with another piece of rope. Finishing, he stepped back and rummaged through his duffel again, this time coming up with a small cloth.
"Be right back," he said, as he made his way to a small brook nearby. He dipped the cloth briefly in the crystalline waters, distorting his reflection as ripples expanded from his submerged hand. Hurrying back to the captive, he knelt and began gently clearing away some of the dried blood on his face.
"Jyou," objected Daisuke, "you're not supposed to be taking care of him." The older teen looked up at him.
"Habit, I guess," he sighed, settling back into a crouch. "Besides, if this caught infection, well... that would just suck. Then he'd probably get fevered and delirious, and start hallucinating too much, and not be able to tell us where his headquarters are, so then we'd..."
"Okay, okay..." Daisuke relented, retreating from the raving boy with a laugh. "Geez, Jyou, stop hyperventilating. I get your point."
Jyou shook his head, sheepish. "Sorry, Dai," he apologized. "I guess I'm just a little nervous about this."
"That's okay, Jyou. We all are." A tall, blonde teen stood, surveying the scene with wide cerulean eyes. His gaze fell on his younger brother, who was almost a clone of him, sprawled under a tree with his best friend Hikari, who was Taichi's younger sister. "By the way, does anyone know what held up Taichi and Koushiro?"
Hikari looked up, worry evident in her light brown eyes. "I don't know. Koushiro isn't one to be late... Taichi is another story, though."
"I think I know what happened to Taichi," offered Sora. She smirked slightly, brushing her fiery red hair behind her ears. "We got a physics test back today. I... don't think he did too well... Your mom prob'ly grounded him, 'Kari."
Hikari groaned. "*After* screaming at him for about two hours... But does he ever learn? Nope. I don't think he studied more that an hour for that test."
Takeru, the blonde boy relaxing next to her, chuckled. "He hasn't changed in all the time I've known him," he commented. Iori looked up and grinned, opening his mouth to say something. Suddenly, someone stirred beside Jyou, and all looked abruptly to him. The captive was waking!
Osamu's POV
Yet another mundane day passed by, and still I had no worthy opposition. I snorted, watching the so-called 'Destined' laze languidly in an unprotected clearing, chattering away about something. Their digimon were elsewhere, I noticed, and the children seemed to be keeping watch over a figure strapped to an ancient oak. I arched my index finger over a button, intending to send a small army of my minions to do away with them, but something caught my attention, as it did theirs.
Their heads whipped to a prone figure bound to a tree, and their leader stood, smirking. I furrowed my brow... the screen was too small, but there was something frighteningly familiar about their captive.
"Zoom in," I told the computer harshly. After a few moments, it obeyed, and I could see clearly the face of their hostage. I stared in shock.
"Ken?" I whispered. My little brother? Brought here by the Destined? I thought on this for a second, then my face cracked into a smile and I laughed. Two large, aquamarine eyes glanced up at me quizzically.
"Master?" inquired a nasal voice. I glared suddenly down at the sniveling virus digimon.
"What?" I snapped. Wormmon hesitated, then shook his head, antennae quivering frantically as he backed away.
"N... nothing, Master," he replied.
"Good." I gazed once again at the screen, chuckling wickedly as the children menacingly approached my innocent little brother, who obviously had no idea what was going on. The irony was too much... I began to laugh wildly, the sound reverberating off of the cold stone walls of the cave, echoing relentlessly. Wormmon scurried into a corner and hid, peering out at me through worried eyes. Suddenly, I stopped. I remembered something from long ago... when I'd first taken up the seal of the Kaiser. Something about a child coming into the world unwillingly...
"Wormmon! Get me the Prophecy of the Ninth Talisman!" I yelled, frightening the insect out of his hiding place. He bobbed his head in obedience before hurrying away to the ancient scrolls I had stored. No longer laughing, I leaned forward, musing quietly as I gazed at the screen.
"Well, well, Digidestined," I said thoughtfully, "looks like you may have helped me after all..."
Taichi's POV
"We have to find them." Koushiro gazed at me seriously through his deep black eyes. I, in turn, rolled my own eyes.
"Well, *duh*, 'Shiro, of *course* we have to find them. Can you, like, open the portal or something?" He shook his head at me, and I got an ominous sinking feeling in my stomach... for about the seventh time that day.
Koushiro opened his laptop and pressed a few buttons. "We can't get through, Taichi, I..."
"What do you *mean*, we can't get through!" I yelped, venting my frustration on the table, which shuddered violently as my fist crashed into it. I scowled at Koushiro, who was diligently trying to open the portal into the digital world.
"Hold *on*, Taichi. You know as well as I do that only the new digidestined's D-3's can open the portal, but you didn't let me finish." Koushiro glared up at me in a very scholarly fashion before reverting his gaze to the computer screen. "What I didn't say was that I might be able to open in if I just..." He trailed off, looking intently at the screen, his fingers flying on the keyboard. I sighed and leaned back, listening to his mutterings.
"Well, if I do this, then... no, wait, what if I do *this*... or maybe if I put in this keyword..." Bored by his murmurs, I tuned him out and tried to visualize what was happening at the moment in the Digital World with Ken, Daisuke, and the others. Big mistake. I got this vision of Daisuke pummeling Ken into the ground. I winced, and mentally urged Koushiro to go faster.
"Aha!" cried Koushiro. He jumped up, eyes blazing in triumph, and pointed at the screen.
"What? You got it to open?" I asked eagerly. He nodded, still pointing proudly. I glanced at the screen, which shone with a soft glow. I rubbed my hands together in anticipation, as Koushiro tapped a few more keys. The glow blazed brightly through the room, and 'Shiro looked at me.
"Ready?" he asked.
"You bet!"
Osamu's POV
Wormmon came running through the entrance again, this time carrying an aged piece of parchment. He tripped, falling head over heels and rolling away. The parchment, thankfully, came to a stop unharmed at my feet. Wormmon recovered and cowered nearby, looking at me fearfully, but I was too absorbed in the scroll he had brought me. Reading it hungrily, I aimed an absentminded kick at him. Suddenly, I shot my fist into the air. "Yes!" I shouted.
I turned to Wormmon. "Ready an army of Darktyrannomon to march for the Destined. We must recover Ken."
"Ken?" Wormmon asked. Fury rose up in me.
"Just *do* it!" I roared, waving my fist threateningly. Wormmon took the not-so-subtle hint and ran off. I looked again at the parchment, a small grin spreading across my face.
"If I get to Ken... and if this is right... then all the power in the world will be mine!" I held the paper up to the light, reciting it aloud.
"'...And the powers were contained forever in the nine Talismans,
To be awakened only when those with likened powers came near.
But when danger threatens in years to come, eight shall arise
Held by those whose powers course through their souls
And these eight shall defeat the evils
And pass on their powers to the next of the Chosen.
The ninth will remain hidden
Until such a time as when a child enters this world
Not by his own consent.
This child holds the key to the Ninth power,
Which may be wielded for darkness or for light,
And will decide the final battle...'"
I smiled frighteningly. Who would have thought that Ken would be the key?
Wormmon again came scrambling into the room, bowing. "Your army is ready to go, Master," he sniveled.
I stood, grasping the prophecy tightly in my hand. "Good," I said, sweeping regally out of the room.
Ken's POV
I swam up, groggily, out of the all-consuming darkness into where the sun was shining brightly. I moaned quietly as I opened my eyes, and noticed a large group of people suddenly swivel around and stare at me. One in particular, a young teen with spiky chestnut hair and goggles perched recklessly on top of his head, walked up to me and leered. What was his name...? I vaguely remembered... Dai... Dai... Daisuke? What happened? I was...
"Well, Kaiser," Daisuke snapped, his cold voice cutting into my thoughts.
Kaiser... What does he mean? I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and I couldn't. I ended up making a choked sound, and Daisuke grinned wickedly. He brought up a fist and waved it in front of my face. I tried to move, but realised I was bound tightly to a tree.
"Now, Kaiser, let me make it clear and simple for you," he said. My mind foggily began to grasp onto my memories, and I realised what had happened.
Anger rose up in me like I'd never felt before. "Why do you hold me here?" I cried, infuriated. Daisuke's eyes were cold and frigid as icicles, and he slapped me across the face. I winced, but never took my gaze off of his.
"You should know that, Kaiser," he spat. "Because you're evil, and cruel, and..." He was beginning to rave when a blonde boy stepped up behind him. I'd seen this one before... he was a basketball star. I think his name was Takeru.
"Daisuke, shut up," he said quietly. Daisuke whirled around, rage evident in his mahogany eyes.
"What?" he cried. "Takeru, you imbecile, I'm in the middle of something..." He gestured over his shoulder at me.
"This is *not* a name-calling contest," Takeru reprimanded. "We should try non-violence first." Daisuke looked furious, but before he could respond, Takeru turned to me, cerulean eyes cold. "Kaiser, where is your base?"
I shook my head firmly, ignoring the pain shooting up through my numb joints. "I have no clue what you're talking about," I whispered.
Takeru turned to another, older, boy who looked exactly like him. "Yama, how hard *did* you hit him?"
The boy shrugged sheepishly. "Um... I dunno..."
Daisuke cried out wildly. "It's not the bump on his head! He's pretending!" He spread his arms wide as if this was the stupidest thing in the world. "He does *not* have amnesia, you guys." He charged in front of Takeru, shoving the more gentle boy to the side as he stood once again in front of me, reveling in the fact that he held me captive.
He leaned in close to me, voice grating against my still-tender ears. "Once again, Kaiser, where is your base?"
I shook my head again, wincing at my raging headache. "I already told you, I... don't... know... what... you're... talking... about!" I spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable carefully.
Daisuke cried in rage, and swiftly punched me in the stomach. I gasped in pain, tears coming to my eyes as I fought for breath. Takeru winced, and I saw him shoot me an almost apologetic glance, as if he knew what it was like to be hit. I doubted it, though. Daisuke raised his fist again. "Tell me!" he demanded. I, again, shook my head, and closed my eyes tightly as he brought his balled hand crashing down...
Koushiro's POV
"Ready?" I asked proudly, as Taichi gazed excitedly at the shining computer screen.
"You bet!" he exclaimed, and I pressed a few more keys on the keyboard. I felt the familiar sensation of being transformed to data, and being swept into another dimension, Taichi beside me. Suddenly, it stopped.
Takeru's POV
I closed my eyes as Daisuke prepared to punch Ken again. Why does it all have to use violence? 'Sorry, Ken,' I thought, shooting him an apologetic glance, although I had no idea why I was feeling sorry for the Kaiser.
Suddenly, a loud explosion from behind me jerked us all around. A mass of Darktyrannomon were parading up, and the portal was in a pile of smoking metal. We all stared for a moment, then turned swiftly back to where our captive was, hearing yet more Darktyrannomon approaching from that direction. Sure enough, the massive monsters were advancing... but Ken was nowhere to be seen. The ropes hung limply around the tree, and our captive had vanished.
Ken's POV
Daisuke's fist was mere millimeters away from my flinching face, when a loud blast sounded from across the clearing. I gazed in amazement as a veritable army of - and I know this is crazy - huge, black and red *dinosaurs* surrounded us. A cool knife sliced the ropes near my skin, and I nearly fell, robbed of my support, as the circulation began to painfully restore itself to my stiff joints. A hand grasped my elbow, pulling me swiftly behind the tree. Another gloved hand slapped itself roughly over my mouth, whirling me around as I stifled a scream.
Taichi's POV
Suddenly, the transmission of our bodies' data to the Digital World was stopped. The inside of the portal was black and empty, with random colours flashing on and off in miscellaneous directions. I cleared my throat, and the noise echoed creepily.
"Koushiro?" I whispered. No response. I gathered a deep breath. "*Koushiro!*" I screamed, wincing as my voice reverberated sepulchurally through the swirling abyss of data.
An annoyed voice echoed in response. "I can hear you, Taichi. I'm not deaf."
"Koushiro!" I shouted in relief, wincing as my voice resonated loudly. "Um, what happened?
"As far as I can tell, something destroyed the portal. Therefore, we can't get through," he answered calmly.
"Then let's go back," I said shakily.
I could almost see him shaking his head at my naiveté. "It's not that simple, Taichi. What I did to the portal was momentary... the second we were sucked in, it closed from that side. We have no way of getting back."
Panic rose in me. "What?" I yelped. "You mean we're trapped?"
"Until I figure out what to do, yes," he responded.
"Great..." I felt like hitting something, but you know, when your data is scattered throughout a long chasm, that's kind of hard to do.
Ken's POV
"Osamu?" I whispered, black spots beginning to dance in front of my vision. My older brother gave a cold grin before shoving me towards a blue-and-white snake that was waiting nearby, hovering in midair.
"Shut up and get on," he ordered. Mutely, I obeyed... not like I had any choice. Obviously, going with my hostile brother was far better than the kids back in the clearing. I could hear them screaming for help as I climbed onto the slick back of the snake.
"Pata!" one cried... I thought that was Takeru...
Another person, a girl, cried out for 'Tailmon.'
I gazed back at the children, surrounded with no exit by huge, fire-breathing monsters, and felt some pity for them. I turned away from the scene, looking instead to my brother. I narrowed my eyes as the beast we were on rose up into the air and flew swiftly away. My brother was dressed in odd-looking glasses with golden frames and purple-tinted lenses that obscured his cool blue eyes. Over his shoulders draped a long, regal blue cape edged in gold trim, and he wore gloves and boots with a pale blue shirt and pants. His hair stuck up in every direction, even more unruly than normal, and his mouth was twisted up into a maniacal grin.
He glared at me. "What are you looking at?"
"Y... you," I stammered. "What happened?"
He chuckled. "Little brother," he said, "say hello to me... the Digimon Kaiser."
I gasped. "*You're* the Kaiser? They thought I was! They said I was evil and cruel..." I paused to think. "But... that would mean that *you're* evil... and cruel..."
"You think?" His voice, although mild, held a tinge of menace. I struggled to clutch onto the flying creature's red mane with numb hands as it flew swiftly through the air.
"Wh... where are we going?" I began to distrust Osamu as he started to laugh.
"To my headquarters. I have a use for you, little brother..." I edged away from him, having nowhere to run high in the air. "Oh, don't start growing wary of me *now*, Ken," he said, almost cheerfully. "If you do, I'll have to subdue you."
He reached out to grab my shoulder, but I shied away. His expression grew stern. "Now, don't run away from me, Ken," he chided. He reached out again. I tried to get away, but there was only so much room for maneuvering on board the snake. He clutched onto my shoulder, pulling me backwards. His finger thrust viciously into a nerve on my neck, and I stiffened as pain flashed through me.
The last thought I had before collapsing on his lap unconscious, the wind whipping by as the snake flew faster still, was that I was having a *very* interesting day.
Koushiro's POV
I mused quietly, Taichi's panicked breathing resounding loudly in my mind.
"Taichi," I said suddenly, breaking the silence.
He yelped in surprise. "Yeah, 'Shiro?"
"D'you remember how we reassumed our physical forms in the battle against Apocalymon?"
He laughed. "How could I forget?"
I expressed my theory to him. "We did it by concentrating on what made us *us*. So, my hypothesis is that if we concentrate on who we are again, like, on our traits and memories, we will consolidate into our natural selves."
"Okayyy..." He spoke skeptically, yet with hope. "Courage."
"Knowledge," I replied, my mind whirring with memories of my past, knowing that Taichi was doing the same. Me... I was smart, kind, a loner... Taichi was... not so smart, kind, courageous, popular... I was not athletic, the brains of the group... Taichi was athletic, the leader...
It's hard to explain, but I suddenly felt all of my particles rushing together, solidifying into one shape, and by Taichi's cry of amazement, I knew he was experiencing the same thing. We began to rush once more through the portal, side by side, landing with a soft thump on the other end.
I got up slowly, dazedly, dusting myself off, and gazing in shock around me. Taichi stayed on the ground, looking about. The grass was a vivid purple, and the vegetation, although lush, was completely foreign to me, even after being familiar with the Digital World for so long. A mauve sun shone brightly in the pale orange sky, and a figure walked out of the trees.
"Konnichiha," he said... at least, I *think* he... The creature had horns sprouting out of bushy brown hair, and tanned skin almost the colour of the bark of the trees in the forest from which he'd emerged. His broad chest had vines sprouting out of it that wrapped about his whole body, and leaves covered him from waist down. I stared unashamedly as Taichi leapt up, brushing the blue dirt off of him frantically.
"Um... maybe we should've concentrated on where we were going, too," I whispered out of the corner of my mouth. "I think the portal took a wrong turn... This isn't the Digital World." The creature stood in front of us still, waiting for a response patiently.
Taichi cast a disdainful look at me. "No duh," he whispered back, "but... if we're not in the Digital World, then... where are we?"
---------
More of Japanese Dictionary!
- Konnichiha - kind of like 'hello' or 'good day'. I've seen it Konniche-wa, konnichiwa, etc... they're all correct, to my knowledge... which is very limited
- Hai - Yes (but not always 'yes, I agree,' more of a 'yes, I heard you.')
So... yeah, okay, still bad... Gomen! But... review! Now... I want at least twenty! *looks insulted* Hey... don't laugh so hard...
I think the Kaiser thing worked last time... I got tons'a luvly reviews!
- Kaiser - *laughs insanely* I had fun! *reviewers run screaming away from him*
*groans* No! Kaiser! Don't scare them away... Osamu! Get in here!
- Osamu - Whaaaat?
*points* You know what to do.
- Osamu - Sit back and laugh at you?
- Ken - That sounds like a good idea...
Oi... *screams at would-be reviewers* No! Wait! Come back!