Chapter V: The Quest Continues
Leomon felt a warm sensation of pride as his young apprentice grew in skill for each day that passed. She was a fast learner and developed her skills in a much higher rate then he could ever have anticipated. He was even more pleased when he saw her spiritual advancement. She had grown many times wiser since she came into his custody. Tantomon had a strong spirit and a will of steel. Leomon had never seen such devotion, and realised that he could not have hoped for a better student.
Then one day, exactly one year since Tantomon was first defeated by Gizamon and meet Leomon in the forest, Tantomon woke up early and noticed that Leomon had already left. She walked out of the cave and found a message written in the dirt:
Will be gone for a while. Relax and take a walk in the meantime.
Leomon.
She found it odd but then shrugged her shoulders. After some breakfast and refreshing water she decided to follow her teacher's advice and went for a stroll. She had not intended to go very far, but soon she found herself wandering through the forest far from the mountain. It was as if the wanderlust she had felt so strongly the last year had suddenly awoken from its long slumber. Without caring were she headed she carried on walking. She felt more alive then she ever had.
Soon she reached a part of the jungle that felt oddly familiar. There was a meadow with a clear creek of pouring water. A few birds played their melodies among the treetops. She didn't know exactly why, but she was sure that she had been there before. She shrugged her shoulder – she had probably just passed by last year – and was just about to continue her walk when she heard muffles cries and sinister laughs. She suddenly realised from where she remembered the place. It was the very place where she had encountered the Gizamon! She carefully sneaked towards the sound. She had a nagging suspicion, and fate does love a jest.
Just as she had though, it was the same Gizamon as last year. This time it was a lonely Motimon who was being harassed.
"Please!" the little pink Digimon pleaded. "I won't trespass again, just let me go home!"
"Oh, I do think we need to teach this little trespasser a lesson," The Gizamon leader said and grinned to his companions.
"You mean like you taught me a lesson?" Tantomon said and stepped out to where they could see her. "I took it too my heart, Gizamon."
The Gizamon spun around and stared at her. "Who the heck…?"
"Oh, don't tell me you've forgot about little ol'me?" Tantomon grinned.
"Say, didn't I beat you up last year?" Gizamon asked. "I would give you a rematch, but I'm a little busy here." He made a gesture towards Motimon, who was helplessly trapped by the larger Gizamon. "See?"
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Tantomon spat.
"It's more fun this way."
Tantomon slowly drew her sword. "Right. You and me, right here, right now. How about it?"
"Aren't we dramatic?" Gizamon mocked. "Very well, I guess I can beat you up once again if that is what you want. It might teach you to keep your nose out of other peoples business. Spiral Saw!"
Tantomon had anticipated that attack. It was effective, especially since she had nothing to counter it with. But it had a fatal flaw; a Gizamon using it couldn't see a thing and was unable to aim properly or alter his course. She took a step to the side with her right leg and struck out with her left, hitting the Gizamon full on. He lost his balance and his trajectory, spinning helplessly out of the way and colliding with a tree. Tantomon didn't waste time. Instead she took advantage of his weakened state. "Sword Bash!" The powerful blows from her bamboo sword hailed over him, and she aimed primarily for the head.
"Guys, help!" he shouted, trying to block her fierce attacks. The other Gizamon came running towards her. She quickly calculated their speed and position and jumped up, putting her feet against the leader's head in a double kick. Pushing away she swung her swords in a wide bow, hitting the first of the Gizamon over the face. He screamed in surprised and staggered backwards. Tantomon rolled with the fall and was up almost as fast as she was down. "Bubble Blow!" The weak attack swept over the Gizamon, creating the confusion Tantomon needed to move on. The Gizamon were all larger and stronger then her, so she had to be faster then all of them. She knew that her attacks were not powerful enough to do serious harm to them, so she aimed her Sword Bashes for the weak spots like their throats, knee-joints and sides. Their morale immediately fell to the bottom, and when the leader started running the others limped after him, battered and bruised. Tantomon raised her weapon towards the sky and cried out victoriously.
And then something fantastic happened. Tantomon felt a rush of power out of nowhere. Her body started to glow in a golden light as data swirled through the air into her. She felt her power increase, her body change. And in a flash she stepped over.
"Tantomon Digivolve into… Roninmon!"
The sensation faded away and she was herself again.
No, I am not, she though and looked down on her paws. I have changed. She was larger now, and she felt much stronger. She looked at the sword in her hand. It too had changed. It now was made out of metal, looking very much like Leomon's Beast Sword, but two-handed and with a single edge instead of his double.
The Motimon she had rescued ran up to her. "Wow!" it exclaimed. "That was fantastic! Thank you so very much!"
"But…" she said, more then a little confused. "What happened?"
"You have Digivolved," a familiar voice said. Leomon stepped out of the bushes where he had been hiding. "You are no longer Tantomon. You are Roninmon, a Rookie stage Digimon." He smiled. "You have reached a new peak of your development. I am proud of you."
"Gee," Roninmon said and walked over to the water where she could see her reflection. Her face was stronger now, and she estimated that she had at least doubled her original size. But she was still the same. The red bandana was still there, as were her yellow-green eyes. But black stripes had appeared on her yellow fur, in her face, on her body, arms and legs. She returned her sword to the sheet on her back and turned towards her master as Motimon left to find his way back to his village.
"Say," she said. "How long have you been here?"
"A while," Leomon smiled. "I heard the commotion, but didn't want to interfere until I had seen what you could do. You greatly surpassed my expectations."
"So now what?" she asked.
"Roninmon, you have studied under me for a full year now," Leomon said and kneeled in front of her. "You have grown much since then, and I have nothing more to teach you. From now on you must develop your power for yourself, and find your own destiny."
"What do you mean?" Roninmon asked. She had a bad feeling about were this conversation was heading.
"I think that it is time for you to resume your quest," Leomon explained.
"But I don't want to leave you, master!" she cried and put her arms around his leg.
"We will meet again, my young pupil," Leomon laughed. "But for now our paths must part. I am confident that you will succeed in your mission to find your past. Be strong, my friend."
Roninmon nodded and got a determined look on her face. She had to be strong for Leomon. "Thank you. I will make you proud, Leomon, I promise," she said.
"Good," Leomon said. "Remember what I have though you, but never stop learning new things. Use your abilities and knowledge to defend those in need, and do now draw your blade for an unjust cause."
"I promise," she repeated. "I guess this is goodbye, then."
Leomon nodded. "Yes. Farewell, Roninmon. Find your destiny."
"Goodbye, and thank you for everything, master!" she said and turned around. She started to walk and fought off an urge to run back again. But for each step her heart became easier and soon she was smiling again.
After walking a bit she realised that since she was now a Rookie, she must have new attacks and she felt like trying them out. She spotted a large fruit hanging from a nearby branch. She took a leap up in the air, higher then she could ever have managed as Tantomon and drew her sword in mid air. "Ronin Blade!" With a single swipes she severed the fruit from the branch and she caught it in her left paw. She landed softly and threw the fruit into the air. She aimed another swipe towards it. "Air Slash!" A glowing arch left the blade and hit the fruit, cleaving it in two separate pieces. The arch didn't stop and hit a tree, blowing a large piece of wood away and causing the top of the tree to fall to the ground.
"Wow," Roninmon said and looked at the sword. She resheathed it. "Cool."
She resumed her journey with new powers and a new confidence. But her adventure had only just begun.
That evening Leomon retreated to his cave and was amazed how silent and empty it was. Leomon had grown used to Tantomon's presence in the year they had lived together, and life without her was a radical change. He ate a light supper and then sat down in his usual meditating position, hoping to find some peace that way. He closed his eyes and the silence slowly turned into tranquillity.
"You have done well."
He opened his eyes again. "She was a good learner. I will miss her much."
"Yes, and for that I am sorry. But you will meet again, one day."
"She is powerful," Leomon whispered. "Much more powerful then a normal Digimon."
"As she should be. She will need all of her power soon."
"Will she be in danger?"
"I can almost guarantee it. But do not worry, she can take care of herself now. She has learned from the best."
Leomon sighed as the presence away from his mind. Then he closed his eyes again.