Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, big surprise. But I'm going to borrow some of the characters.
> Scroll to bottom for location of other chapters
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There was no explanation for what happened, no reason for why things were how they were. Perhaps it was meant to be this way, perhaps it was meant to be a mystery, and that the truth was not meant to be known or to be understood. He sat staring out across the city wondering how this place came to be, and how he came to be in it. He sat in a small room, only an old bed and a chair decorated it, along with dust and cobwebs and a lone photograph of he and his brother. It was the one relic that remained with him from the Old World.
Across the distance, he could see a group of royal Airdramon flying through the sky. Those of nobility must have graced the compartments strapped to the backs. They flew so majestically in the light blue sky. At that distance, he couldn't hear the trumpeting sound they make when in flight.
So there it had been, several months since appearing in a strange world. A world that was not quite the Digital World, and not quite the Real World. It was a place where both seemed to intermix, in a storybook fairytale setting, filled with magic and strange beings. He looked out across the landscape, it was so medieval, so primitive. His clothes were tattered and his body was filthy. All were signs of his poverty.
So there he was, alone in a world that looked so primitive, and yet held secrets that were farfetched in his world. It had been three months since they opened the Digital Gate, hoping to land in the Digital World as they had done so many times before. He did not appear in the Digital World that he knew. He stood in the Town Square wearing clothes foreign to those around him. He was alone and without his Digivice. Stray Digimon ran about the place causing trouble. Some of the higher-class citizens had rare looking Digimon companions, many of whom he had never encountered in the Digital World.
He found no answers from any of the people around him. As the days went on he learned that he was alone. None of the other Digidestined were around, and none of the Digimon he knew either. He wandered the streets for days trying to find answers, but everyone assumed he was some mad orphaned teenager and brushed him away.
"Yamato!" a voice came from below his tiny attic room.
A jolly woman who owned a small bakery was perhaps the only kind face he saw those first few days. He was sitting hungrily on the sidewalk, and she offered him some bread. He took a job with her, managing the store and washing dishes here and there. She even allowed him to live in the attic above the bakery.
"Yes, ma'am?" he asked, sticking his head down the whole in his floor which reached the ground by ladder. It gave him a view of the kitchen, and Flowra, the kind woman who was overweight, adding to the jolly and kind look. She was dressed to go out.
"Could you watch shop for me little one? I must go to market," she said putting a pair of old gloves on.
"Of course, would you rather me go to market for you?" Yamato asked.
She smiled. "I'll be find dear. I'll be back before the nightfall."
He nodded and jumped down to the ground floor. "Take care madam," he said with a bow.
She smiled and patted his head in appreciation. She left the kitchen and went out the front door. Yamato left the kitchen and took a seat by the counter, staring out through the window to those who passed him by, the same people who blurred past day in and day out.
An hour passed, he helped four people with their bakery needs. He treated them kindly and with the utter most politeness. By his standards, this place was much more traditional than his world. This was a place where children gave their elders utmost respect.
He noticed a cloaked man standing outside the bakery. Yamato sat from his careless daydreaming and studied the man who seemed out of place. He seemed lost, and even familiar, but his face was hidden behind his gray cloak.
The man turned and looked into the store. He was a young man, obviously not from the around there. His clothes were very different, styled somewhat like a Japanese kimono. All Yamato could see was the man's blue eyes as he stared a deep gaze. He was looking right at Yamato, which made him a bit uncomfortable.
And as strangely as the man appeared, he was gone again. Lost in a sea of humans and Digimon alike, leaving Yamato sitting and staring and wondering. An hour later, Flowra returned with leather bags filled with the week's groceries. Yamato quickly helped her with her things and soon forgot about the strange man.
**
It was two days later, deep into the afternoon. The crowds were dying down, the hustle of daily life was coming to an end. Soon the sun would go down and Yamato and Flowra would count the day's gold and silver pieces and stash them away before Flowra would make a modest dinner.
He was in the back sweeping the floor when Flowra came in. "Yamato dear."
"Yes, ma'am?" he responded.
"There is a package for you," she was holding a small wooden box addressed to Yamato. "Strangest thing, I turned for but a moment and when I returned to the counter it sat there all alone."
She handed it to him, and he studied it carefully. He opened the cover and gasped as he saw the contents. It was his Digivice and a piece of paper. His hand shook as he carefully took the contents out. It responded to his touch, the LCD screen came back to life showing the time of day.
"A Digivice," Flowra commented. "Those are very expensive these days, you are lucky to get one. I wonder who might have given it to you? Although it is an older style," she added. "Not many people have these anymore, what with those new D-3's they have."
"This is my Digivice, ma'am," he corrected. "I thought I had lost it when I- when I came to this kingdom."
He never told her about the other world. He did not want her to think he was a madman like so many others before her.
"Oh really?" she said. "Where is your Digimon?"
"Gabumon has been lost for quite sometime."
"A Gabumon? Boy, you have never told me these things, like many others. Gabumon are rare, they are usually only seen with nobility!"
"He was my best friend," Yamato said. "I'm not sure what happened to him."
"What does the paper say?"
He slowly opened the paper, crackling and stained yellow. Inside written in old calligraphy read, "Never forget."
Yamato was staring out his window as he did so often. A week or two had passed since he was reunited with his Digivice, but he had no clue of what it meant and what he was suppose to do. The night was calm and the crowds had died down to a few pedestrians here and there. Holding up his Digivice, Yamato saw his reflection on the display, his reflection who was lost in thought.
He had to leave that place. He had to find his friends and his Gabumon. Many times over, he had been lost in the Digital World, facing dangers far greater that could be imagined. But this place he was in now, there was something different about it. Those dangers that existed in the Digital World were here, along with the problems of his world. How would he get anywhere? He had no money, and he had no resources to mount a search for his friends, who could be anywhere in this world, if they were even around. It was not like before, when he could simply ride the back of Garurumon wherever he needed to go.
"Flowra," he said loudly.
"Yes dear?" she called from below in the kitchen.
Yamato stood up and jumped down to the kitchen. "I have to leave, Miss Flowra."
She was mixing batter for a cake that was ordered, wearing a big white apron over her clothes. "Leave? What do you mean?"
"Miss, if I were to tell you my true past, would you promise not to think differently of me?" he asked.
She smiled, "You have nothing to hide from me dear."
"Miss Flowra," he said, looking down to his feet trying to search for the right words. "I do not come from this world. I arrived here by mistake, or by divine intervention. I was with several friends and several Digimon, going to a world populated by only Digimon. But I arrived here instead, and I think that my friends are perhaps scattered across this land. Actually, it's more of a hope." She continued to mix the batter and smiled. Yamato wasn't sure if she believed him. "I- I have to take my leave of you, ma'am. I must find my friends and find out the truth."
"It will be a difficult journey," she said. "This land is filled with dangers, are you sure you are up to it young one?"
"I'd like to think so," he said.
"Alright then," she said. "I cannot keep you here, so I will wish you luck on your journey."
Yamato gave a sigh of relief and moved stray hair out from his face.
She set the bowl down and walked over to Yamato. She patted him on his head. "You were a very good boy, I'm glad I found you." Tears were forming in her eyes, but she wiped them away. "You'll need some money, and some food. Please let me pack some for you before you leave."
"Miss, I wouldn't feel right taking money from you!" he quickly interjected.
"Quiet little one," she said. "I will pack you some food and give you the money that you earned. You'll need them to survive. Can you wait until tomorrow morning before you leave? I must prepare you."
"Of course Miss Flowra," he said.
He went to bed early that night, by suggestion of the miss. He was restless that night, getting only dreamless sleep. Before sunrise, the miss awoke him, where she presented everything he would need for his journey.
"I found this map for you, Yamato," she said. "It has all the settlements for the next 100 sennets." Sennets were a little less than a mile but a little more than a kilometer. "I packed you some food, simple things that won't go bad so soon. Some candy as well. There is a water pouch too, and a clean change of clothing."
She handed the bag to Yamato. He took it graciously and thanked her kindly after he slung it over his shoulder. "It has been an honor to work with you Miss Flowra."
She hugged him tightly and fought back tears and wished him good luck and goodbye. As she walked him out the door, she said, "You be sure to come back to me someday, so I know you are safe."
"I promise it. I'll write whenever time and circumstances allow it." He bowed again and walked away as the sun began to rise across the horizon.
**
Yamato was sitting atop a Seadramon's head. He charted ferry across the bay to the next city of Jintaria about 20 miles across the water. The Seadramon made small talk with Yamato, and could tell that he was a bit uneasy.
"So what's buggin you boy?" the Seadramon asked.
"Nothing much," Yamato said.
"Heh, you seem really distracted."
"It's nothing personal, I just had a bad experience with a wild Seadramon."
"Really?" he seemed surprised. "Wild Seadramon's can be dangerous."
"Yeah," Yamato said dryly.
"You aren't from around here, are you kid?" he asked.
"No, I'm from far away," Yamato said. The coast was far behind them now, and the salt air blew through Yamato's hair. "Have you ever heard of people from other worlds?"
"What's that?" he asked. "I hear a lotta things, kid."
"What about off worlders?"
"Ya hear stories 'bout them 'round the docks. Stories 'bout kids and Digimon poppin outta no wheres."
"Really?" Yamato got a spark of hope. "Do you believe them?"
"Ain't too much to believe, boy. Never saw one for myself. Why do you ask?"
Yamato sighed. "No reason."
"So why you headin' off to Jintaria all lonesome?" he asked.
"Looking for friends," Yamato said. "People I haven't seen in a long time."
"They live there?"
"No," he said. "I don't know where they are."
The Seadramon laughed. "You'll have a good time lookin' for them," he chuckled.
Yamato didn't think it was funny. He laid down across the Seadramon's skull/helmet. His arms dangled past the Seadramon's eyes. "All I have is a Digivice to guide me," he said, pulling his Digivice out of his pocket. "It hasn't been helpful yet."
"How's it gonna help ya?" Seadramon asked.
"Well, if I get close enough to one of my friends, it should be able to tell me. It's worked before."
"Where's your Digimon?" he asked.
Yamato shrugged. "I wish I knew. You wouldn't have seen a Gabumon around lately have ya?"
"Sorry kid," said the Seadramon. "Wish I could help ya. You rich or sumthin? I mean, ya got a Gabumon and a Digivice and everything."
"Nope," he said. "I got nothing."
**
About five miles off the Jintarian coast, Matt got a reading from his Digivice for a split second before the screen went blank. It must have been broken, but in the second that it worked it showed that someone he knew, or rather, once new was somewhere in Jintaria. Yamato asked Seadramon to pick up the pace, they whirred forward cutting through the water like a snake in the grass.
The coast came closer and closer, and the architecture of the city was far different than the city that lay behind. Buildings were majestic, towering over ten stories high. Flying Digimon filled the skies and people, carriages, and four-legged Digimon filled the streets below. This city was obviously a large place of commerce, trade, and other business.
The Seadramon settled at an empty dock reserved for himself.
"There are Digivice archives here," the Seadramon said. "The network has information on any registered Digivices, it might be helpful."
Yamato paid him for his time and then said thank you and goodbye, losing himself in the crowds. Yamato lifted up his Digivice, the screen was back on but only gave the time. With some help and directions Yamato stepped into the small building that would hopefully have some answers.
"What do you want?" the man behind the counter asked. He was dressed well, but messily. A think beard hid his face from Yamato as he grudgingly wrote away with a feather pen.
"Is this where records for registered Digivice users are kept?" Yamato asked politely.
"Yeah," the man said, looking up from his papers. "What's it to you?"
Yamato was getting annoyed with the man's rudeness. "I was hoping if I could take a look at some."
"Go ahead," he said, waving his arms. "I don't care."
Yamato didn't bother to ask for that man's help. He just walked down the hall to the record rooms. He was pretty sure that at least a few of his friends might have registered themselves, hopefully to find the others. He had eleven friends to find. All of them took that trip through the Digital Gate. It was logical that all of them were in that same world. Yamato thought back to that day. It was the first time that all twelve of them took the trip to the Digital World together at once. Along with their Digimon, there were actually 24 of them. Their Digimon had come to the Real World. It was a sort of party since everyone was around.
There was one room of files and hopefully they were up to date. Yamato was annoyed with the archaic environment that he was dropped into. In the Real World, Yamato could have searched the files with the push of a button, since most things were kept on computers these days.
Yamato searched for hours, spending his entire afternoon going though file after file, each one looking like the one before. Each held information about the Digivice's user, the last registered model, and bonded Digimon. Some people had two Digivices and some people had three. Yamato didn't care about them.
He finally found something. It was late into the afternoon, and he had thought he searched through every possible file. He found a name, Yagami Hikari. There was no picture, but the profile matched his friend's younger sister. One D-3 Digivice, a bonded Gatomon, and a D-Terminal. Yamato's heart was beating hard in his chest as he read through her file. She lived on the West Side of the continent, practically on the other side of the world to Yamato.
He sat down and breathed hard, and sat on the floor. It was a good few thousand miles away. How could he even imagine getting there with no money and no status. He felt defeated, it would take him a long time to reach her, and by the time he got there she would probably be gone.
Yamato took out his Digivice. The front was blinking 12:00 AM over and over. He sighed and tried to reset the time but it wouldn't work, The screen flashed and was replaced with a map and then flashed again to another and then back to the time. It was obviously broken.
**
He spent the few silver coins to get his Digivice fixed and walked out of the shop. They offered to sell him a used D-3 cheap but he declined after examining it. He had really hoped that it might have been one of his friend's, but had no such luck.
He stared at the display of his Digivice, then put it on Detect mode. To him, it was something of a miracle when a blue dot appeared on the map. Moreover, the reading was close, somewhere in the city. He followed it through the city into nightfall before finding himself outside of the back of a restaurant.
He opened the back door and peered in.
"Stupid boy!" a man yelled to someone out of Yamato's sight. "You broke another dish! I cannot take this of you anymore!"
"Hey man! Just calm down it was an accident!" a boy yelled back. It was a boy with an annoying voice that was far too familiar to Yamato. "It's not like I didn't do it on purpose or anything!"
"I've had enough of your outright disrespect to me! GET OUT! AND TAKE YOUR DIGIMON WITH YOU!"
"Like I would want to stay here with some crazy lunatic like you! Come on V-mon!" The boy pushed through the back door and ran right into Yamato and they both fell to the ground. "Hey watch it you jerk!"
Yamato pushed him off and exclaimed, "Daisuke!?"
Daisuke sat up on the ground and tried to get his bearings straight, then looked to Yamato. "Matt?"
A blue Digimon walked out of the restaurant behind Daisuke. He looked like a small dragon. "Yamato, is that you?"
The three were beside themselves, reunited after so long. They sat in the alley together and explained what had happened to them. Daisuke and V-mon appeared in that city three months earlier and had to get jobs at that restaurant to support themselves.
"We wanted to go and find you and the others," Daisuke said, "but we barely had enough money to survive. You, you haven't seen any of the others, have you?"
Yamato shook his head. "You're the first. I don't even know where Gabumon is."
They fell silent, and after a few moments, V-mon said, "Well now we can go and find the others."
"I was at the Digivice record archives place," Yamato said. "It said Hikari was living in West Province when she registered."
Daisuke's eyes lit up.
"It's a long way, but it's the only lead we have so far."
Daisuke stood up and shouted, "Then West Province we go! Don't worry Hikari! I'M COMING FOR YOU!!"
V-mon and Yamato both gave a sigh.
Authors Notes: This story kind of borrows from Vision of Escaflowne in the idea of a world that seems medieval but where there is amazing technology run on storybook kind of stuff. This is also my first fanfic that might actually go somewhere based on Digimon and its characters. I hope to have all the 01 and 02 chosen children in it eventually. Please Read and Review! ^_^ Well, that was chapter 1. It wasn't as powerful as I was hoping it could be, but eh. I tried. I'm actually not really sure where this story is going but I have some ideas floating around my head. It's just a matter of putting them down in writing without making it stupid and repetative.