Chapter Two: "Two Hearts, One Path."
The night was still, calm, silent almost except for a faint whispering murmur that drifted along with a light flowing breeze, and the soft soothing sound from a nearby stream. A thousand stars were scattered amongst the dark digital sky, shining brightly in all their brilliance, as TK silently watched them, unable to sleep, and lost deep in thought.
He shifted his gaze to his side, staring for a moment at the sleeping form of Kari lying next to him, her chest moving ever so slowly up and down. She seemed so peaceful, so beautiful as the moonlight softly caressed her skin, dry tears still present on her cheeks. Azulogmon's death had hit them all hard, and now a greater weight was placed on their shoulders, at the prospect of defeating this dark evil, saving the fate of this world, and also their own.
TK sighed, deeply, events still coursing through his mind. With Azulogmon gone, the digital world would soon start to show more signs of imbalance, and if the three other Guardian's were destroyed … then there would be no hope. The darkness would proceed to destroy all in its path, and they had to stop it, before it was too late.
As Kari stirred in her sleep, he turned to look back at her, his heart suddenly beating rapidly, as she rolled over slightly, and placed her hand onto his chest, the warmth rushing through his body. TK could feel his cheeks burn a bright red, not daring to move for fear of waking her, but also wanting to move at the same time. The subdued emotions he felt for her quickly rose to the surface, threatening to spin out of all control.
He had always felt it, felt the unspoken attraction and feelings that they felt for one another, but both not daring to cross the barrier of friendship, for fear of tearing apart what they had, and that they could never go back to it. And now with all that was happening, he knew he could not risk it, as their even greater objective had to be seen all the way through.
As she slowly rolled back over, he finally was able to breathe normally once more, his heart gradually returning to it's normal beat. He had told her last night, had told Kari all about his dark dreams, about his fear of losing her to this darkness. She had simply smiled, gazing into his eyes like she normally did, and said that they could do this, together. Together … Kari and himself, no one else, just the two of them, two hearts, one path.
Beginning to yawn, TK took a glance over at the peaceful forms of Patamon and Gatamon lying on the soft grass, before closing his own to sleep. It was no use worrying about things now, and he should just try to get some rest, as the morning could be a different story.
TK awoke to a soft but distinct smell, his eyes slowly opening, and immediately shielding his gaze from the bright sun that was glowing in the clear blue sky. He soon heard the voices drift over from his friends, and turned to see a make-shift camp fire, as Kari proceeded to gather utensils from out of her backpack, preparing a morning meal.
"W-What's all this?" He asked in surprise.
Kari smiled as she saw him. "Morning, TK." She turned her gaze to the fire. "I just thought we could do with a healthy breakfast. Is scrambled eggs ok?"
"Wow. When you come prepared, you really come prepared."
Kari laughed softly. "Well someone had to."
Patamon and Gatamon soon came into view from out of the trees, a stack of firewood in their hands, not far from where they all were, was the Temple of Light. In the light of day, it's destruction became more apparent, a huge portion of its eastern wall now nothing but rubble, from where Azulogmon's large body had collided with it.
"Hey, TK!" Came Patamon's call as he saw him. "Did you sleep ok?"
TK silently nodded his head, before turning to Kari as she cracked an egg on the side of the pan, watching as it sizzled as she poured it into it. He did not want to bring up the subject of what they needed to do, not just yet, wanting them to enjoy this morning, as he didn't know if they would get another chance. The others seemed to share his feelings, as they each grew increasingly quieter, the closer to the end of the meal they got.
He knew it was up to him to break it. "Ok." He slowly put down his plate, turning to face them all. "There's some things that I don't understand, or don't know much about." He faced the two digimon. "First of all, who are the other Guardian's of the digital world?"
It was Gatamon who answered. "As you know, there are four Guardians who help to protect the digital world. Azulogmon is … was the Guardian of the east. The west is guarded by Baihumon, the north by Xuanwumon, and the south by Ebonwumon."
"So do you guys know anything about the digi-crystals?"
"Not much." Patamon chimed in. "All I know is that together the digi-crystals contain the power to let us digivolve into a Mega level, but even on their own, just one digi-crystal has incredible power..."
"And the Temple of Hope?"
"It's all the way on the other side of the digital world."
TK slowly fell silent, thinking for a moment. "Ok, then I think that searching for the digi-crystals should be our number one priority. We'll need their power in order to help the other Guardians, especially since we at least know where the Temple of Hope is."
Kari had been silent the entire time, finally lifting up her gaze as she stared at her digivice. After reclaiming the Crest of Light, it's power now remained inside the digivice's core, ready to be used once more when needed. "So what do we do now?"
TK turned his attention back to Patamon and Gatamon. "Which Guardian is the closest from here?"
"Xuanwumon." Gatamon answered.
"Ok, so we'll start heading north. Hopefully we'll come across a digi-crystal on the way, otherwise we'll just have to fight with what we've got." TK tried to sound reassuring, but knew that he had failed.
One by one the group began to stand up, beginning to pack away their things, as they prepared for the journey. It seemed so strange without the others: Davis, Yolei, Ken, and Cody … but he knew deep down that it was for the best, as only angel-type digimon had even a chance against this thing. Soon TK, Kari, Patamon and Gatamon were ready, taking one final look back at the temple where Azulogmon had fallen, before turning to leave.
They had followed the stream as it ran it's way north, keeping to the trees as it shielded them from the impact of the red hot sun, and finally coming to a stop as the day wore on. TK rested under the cover of a large old tree, while Kari, Patamon, and Gatamon played in the stream, cooling themselves down while they had a bit of fun.
It had been hours since they had come across another form of life, scared digimon who instantly ran for cover, frightened and afraid of the dark entities that continued north. TK knew that they needed to pick up the pace, and catch up with the Shadowmon that were not too far up ahead, but even he could not control his own body, and when tiredness eventually set in, he called for them to rest.
His gaze suddenly shifted upwards, as a loud shout came from Gatamon, joining in with Kari's laughter at the sight of Gatamon's wet form slip back onto dry land, from where Patamon had pushed her right in. Patamon quickly flew away while laughing, as Gatamon ran right behind, yelling that she would get her own back. As he soon heard the sound of the two laughing hysterically, he knew that she had.
"… TK?"
"Huh?" TK lifted up his gaze as he saw Kari approach.
"Don't you want to join us?"
"No, I'm ok, just not really in the mood."
"Oh come on. It will be fun." He saw a faint flicker of sadness in her eyes from what she said next. "And I know that we could both do with a bit of fun. I mean, who knows when we'll get another chance?"
TK slowly sighed. "Maybe. I guess you're right, it's just…"
"… And there really is no point in thinking about things that we can't change right now." She answered for him.
Finally, he gave in to her warm smile. "I guess so…"
"Great!" Kari smiled, grabbing his arm as she pulled him towards the stream.
"W-wait a second! You're not going to…" The stream's edge came closer and closer.
"Now guys!" Called Kari.
As soon as they heard the signal, Gatamon and Patamon rushed forward from where they waited, the three's combined strength pushing a protesting TK into the stream. He landed in the water with splash, at least managing to cover the others in the spray, as he swam back to the surface, a smile appearing on his face. The other's simply laughed, running out of the way from the wave of water that he splashed back towards them.
Their laughter echoed through the trees, and at least for a brief moment, it beat back the surrounding sense of darkness…
Hidden deep within the mountains, a powerful dark digimon sat motionlessly on his throne, awaiting the approach of the two Shadowmon who had just entered through the doorway. He silently watched them with piercing white eyes, trailing their forms as they bowed down low onto one knee before him, and a dark smile spread across his lips at the expected news.
"Master…" Began one of the Shadowmon, it's voice harsh and slurred. "Azulogmon has been destroyed…"
The smile grew broader, his laughter filling the hollowed halls. "Excellent! Azulogmon has been a thorn in my side for far too long!" His smile then faded, yet his eyes still shimmered deeply. "But some of the other Guardians will not be so easy to defeat. Baihumon and Ebonwumon will not go down so easily! Send your forces north. Once Xuanwumon is destroyed, I will personally take care of the other two." He then paused, anger rising within him as the Shadowmon seemed to hesitate. "You dare to defy me?!"
"N-No Master!" The Shadowmon cowered backwards in fright. "I-I just have some news that might interest you…" He waited for the nod of approval before he spoke. "As was expected, the two humans that you spoke of have entered the digital world…"
The dark digimon's eyes lit up once more. "Ah…" He thought for a moment. "Just make sure that you keep an eye on them, and if they get in your way then fight them by all means, but don't destroy them … not yet. That pleasure will be mine alone…"
The fields blurred past them, the wind hitting fast onto their features, as TK and Kari soared through the clear air, holding tight onto the necks of their armoured digimon. Up ahead they could see the thin plume of smoke that had alerted their attention, and knew that it was the result of a fierce battle. Pegasusmon and Nerfertimon quickly ate up the distance between themselves and the smoke, until they finally made out the outline of a small village, and the dark forms of Shadowmon below.
"There's only five of them!" TK quickly counted. "So they shouldn't be too much trouble to handle!"
"Right." Nodded Pegasusmon.
"Be careful, ok." Kari turned to Nerfertimon.
"I will Kari."
Circling in from above, the two armour digimon then released their attacks, getting the attention of the Shadowmon. "Star Shower! … Rosetta Stone!" Seeing that their ploy had worked, they then flew down low, giving TK and Kari a chance to jump off, as they de-digivolved back down a level.
"Let's do it!"
Digimon…
A burst of pure energy erupted from their digivices, travelling through the air like a flash of lightning, before descending onto the two digimon. Both Patamon and Gatamon felt the strong data rise from within them.
"Patamon digivolve to…" The champion data quickly surfaced, reconfiguring his form in a flash of bright light. "… Angemon!"
"Gatamon digivolve to…" Her appearance suddenly changed, as the data quickly surfaced, changing her form as she digivolved into her Ultimate level. "… Angewomon!"
The two angel digimon flew forward, determination in their eyes. As the Shadowmon attempted to charge, Angemon released a Hand of Fate, the power of the attack hitting two of them hard, and driving them back. Angewomon was by his side, arching back a Celestial Arrow, before releasing it with incredible speed. The arrow of pure light sailed through the air, before impaling itself into one of the Shadowmon, causing it to cry out in pain.
"Guys! It's not enough!" Called TK, seeing that the Shadowmon were only slightly hurt.
Kari nodded. "You have to combine your attacks together!"
"Right." Nodded Angemon.
"Here goes…." Echoed Angewomon.
They both took a single step backwards, before rushing forward with their attacks. "Hand of Fate … Celestial Arrow!" The attacks sailed forward, colliding in an explosion of bright light as they connected with the Shadowmon, a gurgling scream rising to the air, as one of them was deleted.
Kari looked on in shock as the light slowly faded. "I-It only took out one of them!"
"Viral Infection!"
One of the shadowmon suddenly lunged forward, swiping both claws in a long downward arc, and ripping through the chest of Angemon with the dark oozing venom that fell from its claws. Angemon cried out in pain, immediately de-digivolving on impact, and Patamon's small form fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Patamon!" Shouted TK.
Left on her own, Angewomon suddenly turned, avoiding the slash of claws that were lashed towards her, by flying up into the air. But her escape was only temporary, as a Darkness Wave was sent upwards, the attack hitting her out of the sky. As soon as she fell roughly to the ground, the Shadowmon pressed forward, unleashing another Darkness Wave from close range, that finally de-digivolved the angel digimon.
Gatamon could hear Kari's scream, before she too fell into unconsciousness, the last thing that she saw, was the dark look on the Shadowmon's features. With nothing left standing in their way, the dark digimon then turned back, continuing their destruction of the small village. TK and Kari raced over to their digimon's sides, falling to their knees to pick up their small forms.
"Patamon?!"
"Gatamon?!"
No answer. Nothing but a faint movement from their chests, that told them they were still breathing. The Shadowmon soon disappeared from sight, continuing their journey north, continuing their journey towards Xuanwumon…
End of Chapter Two.
