Disclaimer: Well, obviously SOMEONE hasn't been reading these throughout the rest of the fic, because if they had then they would know that I DON'T OWN DIGIMON.
Hello, 'tis me again, here to bore entertain you with another ridiculously long detailed chapter of To Be Death's Master. After another break (getting a bit lazy, aren't I?) I've come back with some more rubbish as the six digidestined, Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Mimi and Joe (So I use dub names, you got a problem with that?) and their digimon recover from their colds in a village inhabited by Gekomon and those Tadpolemon thingys (Otamamon? Otarumon? Something like that.). So soon they will be ready to travel again. But there's a little unfinished business to be taken care of before they can leave the forest...
Chapter 13 - A voice on the wind
"I called you WHAT?!" Mimi stared at Palmon in disbelief.
It had been four tense days since Izzy had led the other children and digimon to the village. Although most had recovered quickly, Mimi's health steadily worsened and after their second night in the town it was clear that she was in a highly dangerous condition. She was sleeping constantly and everyone began to wish that her delirious daydreams, embarrassing as they could be, would resurface instead of this endless silence. Joe, the doctor in training, hadn't a clue what to do in this sort of situation, and it was grudgingly decided that a proper doctor would have to be found - if there was such a thing to be found in the forest. It was a tense day, everyone roaming about, some still with sniffles or coughs. All except for Palmon, Joe and Sora who would not leave their friend. But finally everyone's spirits lifted as a triumphant Izzy charged through the gates, leading Centaurumon behind him.
It was a difficult job for Centaurumon, as he had never worked with humans, but he had had a lot of experience with digimon illnesses and Mimi was finally on the mend. The children were enjoying a comfort they hadn't had in days, with good (cooked) food and clean clothes thanks to the Gekomon. Laughter returned quickly to the digidestined camp as the children explained to Mimi the drama with the Marching Fishes and the rather amusing quinceconces - er, consequences - of her delirium.
"Yep, you really thought I was Michael." Palmon nodded with a grin. "And then you said Joe was my sister."
"But Michael doesn't even have a sister." Mimi shook her head in confusion. "Neither do you... do you?"
"No, I've never had a sister." Palmon shook her head and then grinned evilly at the red faced Joe. "Not unless there's something Dr. Kido's been hiding..."
Joe mumbled something and went even redder as the room erupted with laughter.
"Now, let's see, you also said Biyomon was Palmon," Sora ticked off names on her fingers. "Izzy was your dad, Gabumon was Yolei, although he wasn't too concerned because he still can't remember who Yolei is, and Tai was Davis."
"Well, that's an easy enough mistake to make." Mimi shrugged.
"Funny, that's what we all said." Matt grinned, nudging a red-faced Taichi. Tai pushed Matt away with a mumbled threat and cast an accusing look at Sora.
"You left someone out, you know." he said, then grinned as she began to look uncomfortable. "Mimi, you kept saying Sora was you mum."
"Oh, really?" Mimi said with interest. "Well, I suppose they do look very similar..."
Sora growled quietly, as Palmon snickered. "When Izzy said that Sora went completely wacko at him."
"Yeah, well, she's not allowed to lay a finger on me!" Mimi announced, "I'm still recovering from my terrible ordeal."
"Well, Mimi, we'd probably better go get some lunch ready." Sora got up from her perch at the end of Mimi's bed. "You really need to eat a bit more if you want to get better properly."
"But I told you already, I only want a bit of salad."
"Don't be silly, you need real food." Sora shook her head.
"Oh all right... Mum." Mimi added as an afterthought. Sora just shook her head and went to leave, but she had just reached the door when a whole gang of Gekomon rushed in bearing plates of food.
"We heard you talking with Princess Mimi so we went and got you all some lunch." the first one announced, breathlessly. "We hope it's enough!"
"Um... this will be... plenty." Mimi stammered, staring at the mountains of food heaped onto the plates.
"Yeah, I think this might actually be enough to feed Tentomon." Gomamon grinned.
"Oh, do you need some more?" the Gekomon asked, innocently.
"No, this'll be fine," Tai said, hurriedly. "Although I think I'd prefer to make my own sandwich. Which way to the kitchen?"
"Just follow us!" the Gekomon said, happily, leading Tai out of Mimi's room and into the hallway.
"Those poor digimon aren't going to know what hit them," Agumon commented, tucking in.
"Oh, come on, he can't do that much damage." Joe shrugged. Then he wrinkled his nose at something on the plate. "I'm allergic to cashews."
"You've never seen one of Tai's Super Sandwiches." Sora shook her head and grabbed the cashews that Joe was picking out of his salad.
"He will have emptied out this kitchen and the one next door by the time he's done." Matt agreed. "Gabumon, you're not supposed to eat the bones."
"Why not?" Gabumon asked, putting the remains of a drumstick back on his plate.
"They could get stuck in your throat and kill you, that's why." Matt explained, with a hint of annoyance. "Didn't I explain this yesterday?"
"No, we had fish yesterday." Tentomon argued.
"So? It still has bones."
"Hey, dad, what's up?" Mimi joked, looking at Izzy. The redhead was seated in the corner, just picking at his food. He had been very quiet for the last few days, ever since he had brought Centaurumon back to help Mimi. The others thought he'd just been worried, but even now that Mimi was getting better he still wasn't looking too happy.
"I'm not really hungry." Izzy sighed, putting his fork down. He stood up and headed for the door. "I think I'll go for a wander in the woods. See if I can find Centaurumon. I want to know how long it'll be before Mimi can start travelling again."
"Why? I mean, does it matter?" Joe wanted to know.
"Hey, do you realise we only have four days left until Mordremon's plan comes into action?" Izzy snapped.
Everyone stared at him with alarm, even Tentomon (who had finished all his own food and started on Izzy's).
"So you see, we have to get moving." Izzy had calmed down a bit and turned to leave. "I'll go and find Centaurumon. I'll be fine on my own. You stay here."
"Wait, I'll come with you!" Tentomon cried, dropping the near-empty plate and taking to the air.
"No, it's okay. I want to go on my own." Izzy said.
"But you need me. Serpentmon's still out there." Tentomon protested.
"We've been in this forest for almost a week and we've only seen her once. What makes you think she'll attack me now?"
"This could be just what she wants. For us to let our guard down." Tentomon still wasn't convinced.
"Even if I do see Serpentmon, I'm sure I'll be able to escape." Izzy shrugged. "See you later."
He walked out into the hall silently leaving everyone staring at the door. Then, a few seconds later...
"Geez, Tai, you're not hungry, are you?" Came Izzy's amazed voice.
"Oh, just a bit peckish." Taichi's voice replied. Then the ravenous one himself staggered into the room holding what appeared to be the entire contents of the kitchen cupboard between two slices of bread. The big-haired boofhead flopped down in an armchair (the Gekomon had brought in a lot of them over the last few days) with his Super Sandwich and got stuck right in.
Tentomon, surprisingly, took no notice of the sandwich, but flew towards the door. "I'm going to follow Izzy."
"Good idea." Matt agreed. "He's been acting a bit strangely."
Tai looked up quizzically, his face stuffed with food.
"Izzy went off to look for Centaurumon." Agumon answered the unspoken question.
"Yeah, he wanted to know how long it'd be before Mimi could travel again." Joe agreed.
"Yeah, I suppose it's a good idea." Tai agreed, licking the last crumbs from his fingers. "I mean, we only have four days left to stop Mordremon."
"That's just what Izzy said." Gabumon nodded. "Why do we have to stop Mordremon?"
"I give up!" Matt howled. "Gabumon's worse than my grandmother! When is he going to remember? Why me?!"
"Um... never mind." Gabumon said, meekly.
"Izzy's been keeping to himself for quite a while now." Sora said, slowly. "Ever since we all got sick he's been on his own, looking after us and that. And after he brought Centaurumon here he hardly said a word to anyone. He's always staring into space like he's thinking about something the rest of us wouldn't understand."
"Maybe that's why he really left." Matt suggested. "To try and figure out whatever's been bothering him."
"Maybe." Tai agreed. Then he flinched as they heard some confused shouting from the kitchen. "I think the Gekomon and Otarumon just found my leftovers." he said, sheepishly. "I'd better go clean up."
"Yes, they like to keep the place clean." Mimi nodded, then yawned.
"Maybe we should all help." Joe said. "I think Mimi needs some sleep."
With only a few grumbles the gang shuffled out of the room - except for Palmon, who crawled into bed next to Mimi (A/N: For all those sick people out there, I do NOT do monster/human relationships. So don't even think about it.) Sora paused at the door and smiled at the other girl, who was already fast asleep. She sort of missed being Mimi's mother. It had been kind of nice before, to go along with Mimi's daydreams. The others hadn't liked it, but Sora thought if it helped Mimi, she might as well play along.
She's getting better now, though. Sora told herself. And Biyomon still needs me. It was nice, though. For a while.
"Goodnight, Mimi." she whispered, turning out the light and shutting the door behind her.
"'Night, Mum." Mimi whispered back.
******
Izzy wandered aimlessly through the forest, taking no notice of which way he was going. Searching for Centaurumon might have been a good idea, but it wasn't his real reason for going away. Some strange things had been happening to him lately, things he couldn't explain, and he needed some time away from the others to think them over.
It had been almost a week since they had first wandered into the forest. Since the huge battle against the Tyrannamon. That's when it had started. When the huge dinosaurs trapped them under the logs in an airless prison, everyone was slowly beginning to suffocate. During the battle the logs were probably set on fire one or two times as well, burning up more oxygen. The others didn't seem to understand what was happening as it got warmer and warmer as they used up the air. They weren't able to fight the drowsiness that was part of the slow suffocation. Only little Koushiro stayed awake, and he too was beginning to feel weak when it happened.
He was slowing down, finding it harder to think. The heat was slowing him down, numbing his mind and his body. Even as he was panicking Izzy started to sink into a deep sleep. Everything began to seem fuzzy and his eyes slowly closed. He seemed to have been asleep for an eternity when it happened. And yet, it seemed like no time at all. But the amount of time was irrelevant. The important thing was that somehow, something managed to pierce his oxygen deprived sleep. A bodiless voice, echoing inside his muddled thoughts.
You cannot sleep now, Koushiro Izumi. It was like a whisper in his ear. Your friends need their help. You are the child of Knowledge. You know what is happening. And you know what you must do.
Suddenly he jerked forward, wide awake. He spun around, ignoring the screaming of his tired body and dug his fingers into the earth below the nearest log, scraping away feverishly. Despite his spinning head he worked on without a break. He was just beginning to fall back into his previous stupor when he felt a whiff of fresh air. Pushing against the log with all of his little strength, Izzy managed to shift it just an inch or two and pulled out a few more handfuls of dirt. It wasn't much but it was enough. Fresh, clean air flooded in and Izzy sat back, gulping it down. He knew many things, but he'd never appreciated how good it was just to be able to breathe.
Well done, Koushiro. The voice seemed to blow in with the breeze. But the battle is not yet won. You will hear from me again. We are very alike, you and I.
And then it was gone.
Tai and the others woke soon after that. Izzy forgot much of the strange encounter in the battle that followed and while he had his hands full looking after the others. Even after he led them all to the village, he was too busy worrying about Mimi to really think about the voice that cut through the fog to save him and the others. But later the voice had come again, and helped him to save another.
Izzy began to kick a rock absentmindedly. He'd never been much good at physical stuff and had always secretly admired Taichi for his skill with a soccer ball. And at times like these, he almost wished he had Tai's... well... it wouldn't be right to call it stupidity, but his slight lack of curiosity. Tai probably wouldn't worry about some weird voice in his head. He'd just accept it and go on with his fight. But Izzy was sort of shaken by it all. The voice had called him the child of Knowledge. And yet, Koushiro Izumi knew no remotely logical explanation for this voice.
Of course, some would say that it was one of those mysterious forces of the digital world making sure that everything worked out right and the digidestined were able to carry out their mission. For Izzy would not have been able to save any lives without it.
The second time was, in a way, scarier than the first. The first time he could just call it some sort of madness due to lack of oxygen. But there was no rational cause for the voice that guided him to Centaurumon.
Izzy could remember it all so clearly. Perched on Kabuterimon's back, flying over the forest, a million thoughts racing around in his head. He needed, so desperately to find a doctor and help Mimi out. He didn't have Joe's medical training, but he knew all too well what would happen to Mimi if they didn't get her some help right away. But he just couldn't think. Fear and worry were clouding his thoughts and he couldn't even begin to plan where to look next. He was blind to the beautiful scenery beneath him. All the red head could see was Mimi, lying there back in the village, every breath an effort. She was so pale, so weak... and then, still stronger, the way she had looked at him when he and Kabuterimon had led the Gekomon into the camp. 'Look, Daddy's come home at last.'.
Koushiro remembered squeezing his eyes shut and throwing his head back into the wind. It the speed of he air blowing past his face, that was all. A perfectly logical explanation. It was the wind in his eyes that was making him cry.
And right then, as he was lost in the storm of his own emotions, it came to save him from drowning. The voice, different this time, seemed to hit his ears even harder than the gale-force winds from his digimon's wings.
Don't worry, Koushiro. It said, soothing this time. I'm here to help you again. You're friend will be fine. Just follow my directions and it'll all be fine.
If the thought of a voice in his head being sneaky wasn't so ridiculous, Izzy would have sworn that their was a funny emphasis on the word 'friend'.
But of course he wasn't thinking about that at the time.
First get down a bit lower, so you can see a bit more below the trees.
"Hey, Kabuterimon, do you think you could move down a little lower?" Izzy asked, trying to sound normal.
"Sure, no problem." Kabuterimon replied and began to skim the treetops.
Now, there's a sort of rough path through the trees, just to your left. Came the instructions. See where there's no vegetation, just dirt?
Yes, Izzy could see. But how was he supposed to tell a bodiless voice that?
"I think there's a bit of a path down there, Kabuterimon. Can you go in for a closer look?"
Now what?! Izzy wondered as Kabuterimon adjusted his flight.
Well, look at the track. The voice replied.
Izzy squinted hard, straining to see anything in the hard earth. But then...
"There are hoof prints on the track there! They must have been made by a digimon, Unimon or maybe Centaurumon. Maybe whoever it is can help Mimi!"
"Let's hope so." Kabuterimon sped up, following the prints in the dirt. "Shouldn't take us too long. There, up ahead, I see him!"
And there, in a small clearing, stood Centaurumon, casually picking berries from a bush. When Izzy explained his problem to the friendly digimon he soon agreed to help the sick girl and gracefully declined Kabuterimon's offer to carry him all the way to the village.
Well done, Izumi. Said the voice on the breeze as Kabuterimon rose into the sky once more. I trust you can find your way back without my help.
Somehow Izzy knew that the voice had left him then. But he was left with the strangely disturbing feeling that he hadn't heard the last from it.
Koushiro was now standing at the edge of the forest. He hadn't realised he'd been walking for so long, but time passes quickly when you're deep in thought. A few metres from where the trees ended was the bank of a huge lake. Izzy flopped down on the edge of the lake and pulled off his shoes and socks, dipping his toes in the water. Even though he was right at the shallowest part his feet couldn't touch the bottom. The water got very deep very quickly. And somewhere out in the depths Kappamon was waiting.
The boy looked beyond the water to the far bank, where the outline of a rocky mountain could just be seen. From his vantage point Izzy couldn't see Mordremon's castle, but he knew it was up there. She would probably be up in her tower right now. Maybe she was even watching him, wondering if he would and the others would reach her in time.
But there was so much to do before then. Banemon was probably roaming the treacherous slopes of the mountain, barring anyone from reaching the castle. He was one dangerous digimon, especially with his ability to make the digimon de-digivolve. He was just an Ultimate, but he had managed to defeat both WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon, the two strongest digimon, in this manner. Even now that Palmon could reach the Mega level they probably didn't have much of a chance. If Banemon had three heads then he could probably take three digimon down that way.
Of course, they had to get across the lake before they could worry about Banemon, and Kappamon was guarding that section. She was a nasty sort as well, with that whirlpool attack. Ikkakumon was the only digimon that could handle water, but he didn't have Kappamon's stealth or agility. The aquatic digimon could probably avoid being seen or heard for as long as she wanted to, and then strike without any warning. Even if they all tried to fly across, Kappamon's whirlpool could leave the water and attack Garudamon in the air.
But before any of that, there was still Serpentmon. Oh sure, they hadn't heard from her in ages, but somehow Izzy didn't think she was likely to just let them past. She'd probably just kept herself hidden to give them all time to recover. Mordremon seemed to be a good sport and was unlikely to attack them while they were weak. Although, the more time they took, the easier things were for Mordremon. And there were only four days left!
"What am I supposed to do?" Izzy cried out, throwing his arms in the air. "How am I supposed to fight a digimon who won't show herself? Or an illness that only time will cure? I have the crest of Knowledge, but there is so much I don't know."
As a rule not knowing is a step towards new knowledge.
"Oh, not you again." Izzy muttered, bitterly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
If you admit to yourself that you do not know, then you can allow yourself to learn.
"What am I supposed to learn?"
"Izzy? Who are you talking to?" Tentomon suddenly appeared on the bank next to Izzy, looking a little confused.
"Tentomon!" Izzy exclaimed with happy surprise. "You followed me." he accused.
"I'm sorry, Izzy." Tentomon apologized. "But I was so worried. You've been acting very strangely, you know."
"I'm sorry too." Izzy nodded. "I should have told someone what had happened, I suppose. But it's so strange, you'll probably just think I'm nuts."
"I wouldn't be like that, no matter what you say." Tentomon assured him. "You humans are so bizarre anyway, one more oddity couldn't make that much of a difference."
"Er... right." Izzy scratched his head. "I guess I'd better tell you what's been happening, huh?"
"That might be a good idea." Tentomon nodded. "But tell me later. We have to get back to the village. You were gone so long that it's nearly dinner time!"
Izzy laughed and scratched Tentomon's antennae affectionately. It was good to know that Tentomon would listen to what he said, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.
You see, you are learning already.
Yes, I suppose I am, Izzy thought.
But you should do as Tentomon says. Go back to the village. Your friends need you.
They could make dinner without Izzy's help. He was a pretty lousy cook. Besides, they'd have a better chance of actually getting to eat it without Tentomon hanging around.
No, they are in danger. The forest's guardian is growing weary of this game...
Game? Izzy thought, frowning. Where have I heard that before? The forest's guardian? Who..? A brief memory flashed through his mind, of the first day in the forest, the bushes rustling, and a hissing voice...
"A very interesting game indeed..." whispered a voice behind him. Izzy whipped his head around just in time to see a well-camouflaged reptilian tail slipping away into the bushes.
"Serpentmon!" Izzy yelped, leaping up. He began to run in the direction of the village, his shoes lying forgotten by the lake. He was making little speed, though, as he had never been very athletic and running barefoot was complicating things. He was already panting and his feet were scratched from pounding on the rough forest floor.
"I wish he would stop doing that." Tentomon sighed, trying to decide whether to follow Izzy or guard his shoes. He eventually hooked his talons around the laces and tried to fly like that, but he had never been very fast and the shoes weighed him down. If only he could digivolve then he could go faster, but he needed Izzy's help for that.
It took Tentomon about five minutes to find Izzy. The boy was lying face down at the time, having tripped over once again. Dumping the shoes on a nearby rock, Tentomon immediately went and perched on Izzy's head.
"Why do you keep running of like that?" Tentomon asked as Izzy struggled to his feet.
"I heard Serpentmon. She's back. She's heading to the village where the others are and we really have to get there! Now!" Izzy was beginning to panic a little.
"Well, you could have just said so." Tentomon grumbled. He jumped down to the ground and digivolved before Izzy could get a word in.
"Oh. Er, good idea." Izzy grinned sheepishly and climbed aboard.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about it." Kabuterimon said in his rough voice. "Now, let's get moving. Oh, and I'd better not forget your shoes."
Grasping the shoes in one hand, Kabuterimon rose into the air and began flying towards the village, just brushing the tops of the trees. It would have been faster to fly higher, but Izzy insisted they should stay low and keep an eye out for Serpentmon.
"Do you see her yet?" Kabuterimon asked for the fifth time.
"No, there's no sign of her." Izzy shook his head. "Serpentmon seems to be able to make herself invisible when she wants to. Like she can blend in with the forest floor. Camouflage."
"Maybe. Or maybe she's invisible."
"Or maybe we're both going blind. There are plenty of possibilities, but it doesn't really matter as long as we can protect the village."
"It's not far now. Look up ahead, on the horizon. Do you see it?"
"Yeah, I see." Izzy smiled. "When we get there, we'll have to get all the digimon out. Agumon, Gabumon and Palmon especially, we'll need Mega digimon. With the power of those three combined there's no way that Serpentmon can win."
"In that case," said Serpentmon, appearing in front of Kabuterimon so fast that he crashed to the ground in shock, "I cannot allow you to go any further."
"What th..? How does she do that?" Izzy gasped, now lying on the ground. He stared up at the snake in awe as she towered above the treetops.
"Beats me," Kabuterimon growled, "but I've had about as much as I can take. Forget the Mega digimon, I can take her myself. You ready, Izzy?"
"You bet!" Izzy replied, holding out his digivice.
And yes, surprise surprise, MegaKabuterimon is now flying at Serpentmon's head.
"Go for the eyes!" Izzy found himself shouting.
Sure enough, MegaKabuterimon aimed for Serpentmon's eyes, landing on her head and scratching at them with his two clawed arms. The great snake hissed in annoyance, tossing her head about. The big bug got shaken around a bit, but let's not forget how big that guy is! So, having failed there, Serpentmon whipped MegaKabuterimon with her own tail, Sending him crashing into some trees not far away. But soon he was up again, clinging to her throat this time and trying to choke the slimy reptile. Panicking, Serpentmon opened her jaws to reveal her two curving fangs and released an Acid Bomb attack. Although it went nowhere near MegaKabuterimon it did disintegrate a large amount of dirt just to the right of Izzy.
"Watch where you're throwing those things!" Izzy cried as a second Acid Bomb flew over his head towards the lake. "Let her go, MegaKabuterimon."
"But I was jus-"
"DO IT!!" Izzy got onto his laptop again. "There's no point in you beating her like that if she wipes out everything else within reach."
"What am I supposed to do then?" the insect swerved aside as Serpentmon lunged at him again.
"Just a minute... I just need a minute..." Izzy pulled up Serpentmon on the digimon analyser and searched for a scrap of info one the Acid Bomb. "Got it! Knock out her fangs and she can't attack."
"Sure thing." MegaKabuterimon flew straight at Serpentmon's mouth this time. "Open wide, please!" he joked. "Oh, you don't want to? Horn Buster!"
The bolt of electricity stung Serpentmon's nose and her jaws sprung open. MegaKabuterimon shot forward, but Serpentmon still had a few tricks up her sleeve. Just as the bug had almost reached her fangs, she unleashed a killer Acid Bomb attack. At point blank range.
MegaKabuterimon plummeted to the ground, roaring in pain. There was now nothing but a smoking stump where his horn had been.
"Oh no," Izzy whispered, picking up a crumpled Tentomon. "What do we do now?"
"You lose." Serpentmon hissed, curling her body in a huge ring around the two of them.
"I'm not going down that easily." Izzy growled, packing his laptop away. "You can't just get rid of the digidestined. Maybe I'm not as strong or as brave as some of the others, but that doesn't mean I'm any easier to beat!"
"Oh, really?" Serpentmon casually sent a few more acid attacks raining down on the nearby trees, clearing a large space. "What if I did that to you, hmm? Would you be able to stand that any easier than your friends?"
"That's just stupid!" Izzy argued.
"Well, you were right, you know. You're no easier to beat than any of the other digidestined. You're just as helpless as the rest."
With a nasty leer she began forming another acid bomb between her fangs. But Serpentmon wasn't looking at Izzy this time. she was staring straight at the weakened Tentomon. Without another thought, Izzy dived right at Tentomon, skidding along the ground and crashing against Serpentmon's scaly body. He could smell the stinging acid as the bomb landed just where he had been seconds before.
"This doesn't look good." Tentomon muttered weakly.
"No, it isn't." Izzy replied. He got to his feet, still holding Tentomon, and noticed that Serpentmon was moving the coils of her body away from him. But that must mean -
"Acid Bomb!"
Izzy only just leapt aside in time. The blast made him stumble and trip, land face first in the dirt again.
"This is too easy!" Serpentmon laughed, watching Izzy run. She slammed down her tail, blocking his path, and sent another acid bomb sizzling through the air to land just behind him, singing the hem of his shirt.
Izzy was panting now, and finding it much harder to run as the ground was eaten up by the acid. The fourth and fifth attacks only just missed him. As he staggered aside to avoid the sixth he tripped and fell. And this time he simply could not find the energy to get back up.
He knew the seventh would finish him and Tentomon. He knew that it was over. It had always been hopeless, really. He had the crest of Knowledge, but there was nothing he knew that could help him now. All he knew was that he was finished.
Is that so? Well, I know something you don't know.
"What else is new?" Izzy grumbled.
The Acid Bomb attack will not be your downfall, nor will it be Tentomon's.
"Well, that's nice to know."
It is Serpentmon who will suffer from it.
"Huh? It's her attack, why would she suffer."
The seventh attack is not meant for you, but for her. Even though she is the one to release it.
"Izzy, what does this mean?" Tentomon looked at Izzy in confusion.
"You hear the voice too?" Izzy asked, in shock.
"Yes. Is this what happened to you before?"
"Yeah. But I think it must be wrong this time. There's no way we could survive an Acid Bomb."
"If that voice says we can, then we can." Tentomon said, firmly.
"How would you know?"
"Has the voice ever been wrong before?"
"Well, no, actually." Izzy said, a little surprised.
"You see? We must believe it this time as well."
"But what if it's wrong?" Izzy wanted to know.
You have the crest of Knowledge, Koushiro, but there is one thing you need to learn: there are many things that we know, but some things we just have to believe.
"Did you hear that?" Izzy asked.
"Yes, I did." Tentomon nodded. "I think I understand now. We just have to believe that this is going to work."
The two of them looked upwards as Serpentmon bared her fangs and began to form one last ball of acid. There was a wicked gleam in her eye as she sent the deadly stuff hurtling down to the ground. As the burning liquid surrounded Izzy and Tentomon, everything seemed to freeze. It didn't hurt at all, but Izzy felt like he was floating. And looking at Tentomon, he could see that his friend felt fine as well. For a fraction of a second they locked eyes and at last they understood. Then Izzy's already glowing digivice exploded with light.
"Tentomon, warp digivolve to..."
Tentomon was growing bigger and bigger, first Kabuterimon, then MegaKabuterimon, then something that no-one had ever seen before. He had the same six legs, the same bony helmet and the same tough shell hiding his wings. But he was bigger and more powerful than ever before. And this digimon was not blue or red or green, but a brilliant, shining gold.
"HerculesKabuterimon!"
Izzy stood, wide-eyed, as the new digimon hovered above him. Tentomon, a mega digimon? Incredible! But there he was, ready for action.
"So, Izzy, do you believe in miracles?" HerculesKabuterimon asked, with a wink. Izzy grinned back.
"I don't have to believe in miracles - I know that they're for real."
Serpentmon's mouth was hanging open, her eyes wide in shock. "This isn't possible." she whispered.
"Oh, it's possible alright!" HerculesKabuterimon roared. He launched himself right at the snake's mouth, just as he had done before. "Giga Scissor Claw!" With a single attack the bug knocked Serpentmon's fangs right out of her mouth and they clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Serpentmon seemed to shrink, dropping her head to ground level and bunching her entire body up into one big coil. HerculesKabuterimon thought he had won for just a second - until Serpentmon pushed off with her bunched muscles and launched herself into the air, slamming her head into the giant insect. With a sickening crack she dropped back to earth.
"Oh no, she's hurt herself!" Izzy dashed toward the snake, but she snapped at him and he stopped.
"Don't come any closer!"
"I just want to help!" Izzy argued. "You've broken something, at least let me look at it."
Koushiro hadn't even noticed Serpentmon's tail snaking towards him. It whipped around him, squeezing him tightly.
"Thank you for your offer, small one." Serpentmon hissed in Izzy's face. "I never knew humans were such fun to crush. Good for relieving stress, doncha know."
"Izzy knows more than you ever will!" HerculesKabuterimon roared. "And you should have known that I'd never let you hurt him. Mega Electro Shocker!!!"
The golden insect unleashed an enormous bolt of electricity, hitting Serpentmon right on the head. Her whole body tensed up, squeezing Izzy even tighter, before she dissolved into digi-dust and floated away.
HerculesKabuterimon shrank too, and soon there was just little pink Motimon sitting on the ground next to Izzy.
"We sure showed her, didn't we, Izzy?" the little digimon smiled.
"We sure did." Izzy grinned back.
Well done. Said the mysterious voice. I think you've both done very well. I doubt that you will need me again, but I will be around. And good luck.
Izzy smiled to himself and looked at Motimon.
"Yeah, I heard it too." Motimon nodded. "We should probably get back to the village now."
"Yes, I suppose we should." Izzy stood up and stretched. Then stopped with a horrified look on his face.
"What's wrong, Izzy?" Motimon asked with concern.
"Motimon," he whispered, looking back over the scarred battlefield, "where are my shoes?"
~~~~~~
Well, there you have it, readers! Sorry it took so long, but I've been a little busy lately. I'm alternating between TBDM and the Digidoomed at the moment, but Digidoomed should be finished soon so I can get back to working on this full time. And for anyone who's interested, Digimon Tamers starts in Australia exactly a month from today! *crickets chirping* Okay, so it ain't that fascinating, but I've heard so much about it and I'm just a teensy bit sick of reruns. Well, must go now. Dragon Ball's about to start.
Oh, and has anyone seen my shoes?
