Crystal Tamers!
by Tremor3258
Search for the Digital World, pt. 1:
Opening Forays
Disclaimer: See my previous comprehensive disclaimer for everybody, but suffice to say, I don't own Digimon.
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The Digimon card game, similar to the various video games, anime, and TV shows based on the adventures of the Digidestined, has gone through varying heights of popularity. Koushiro Izumi allowed his Digimon Analyzer program to be used as the basis for the various cards created, and everything the Digidestined saw or heard of during their travels was included.
The last peak of popularity was approximately five years ago, but quite a few people still have packs, and they're available if you know where to look. According to the cycle of trends, they should pick up sometime in the next few months.
September 22, 2051: Article in Time magazine as a retrospective on the Digidestined's anniversary of their return from the Digital World.
The editors had no idea how right they were.
May 29, 2081 article in Time, relating to the Tamer Crisis
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"It's amazing how strong she is," Hikari heard two girls commenting after school. Tanemon was trotting along beside her. It was Friday, and it been almost eerily peaceful in the last few days. Very few duels over idiotic gestures, not a twitch out of the Digital World, and no more Constructs. Hikari paused and followed their gaze. Jessica was speaking quietly and calmly to two eight year olds who were about to let each other have it with a Koromon and a Tseunomon. Crystalmon was casually interposed between the two.
"Yeah. I heard Jessica used to be suicidal," commented the other girl. Hikari's mouth dropped open, and she was ready to correct them. Jessica had never been suicidal. Quiet, prone to the occasional crying burst, and a bit withdrawn, these were all words one used. She had always felt guilty for failing to stop various attacks and the current survival of the fittest structure. Giving up would have just meant more guilt, not to mention feeling bad for leaving her friends and family behind.
"News to me," said the first one, "She's come a long way in the last month. I heard she met with Ambassador Kamiya, even. Still, we'd better move. She's got that gleam in her eye that means she's giving out pamphlets." The two girls, and their partners, nodded and went off.
Jessica had been meandering across the playground, pausing near where the gate Lady Devimon had used occasionally showed up, and then sighted Hikari. Jessica shouted and quickly ran over to the girl. Knocking her hair back behind her ears, Jessica said in a slightly breathy tone, "It's been a great day! I've got the general student body listening to us for once. Last weekend's activities did even more good than I thought" Jessica pouted slightly, "Though I suppose this might be because they're afraid Wargreymon will show up and attack them. I'm still working in the system."
"That's where your reforms have to start, I guess," mused Hikari. "Are you ready for today's lessons? I'm getting better, but it's still been kind of loud in here," she said, gesturing at her head.
Jessica nodded, and said, "We'll hit the park again. It's an easy quarter mile walk, and none of the gangs have been busy along those routes recently." Hikari nodded, and the two started to head off, when many, many things started to beep loudly. Jessica and Hikari looked around in confusion, but it was Tanemon who spotted the problem. Everyone was pulling Digivices or D-3s out and staring at them. Gradually, the beeping died down, while the Digivices' colors seemed to fade to dusky, shadowy blues from their original primary color. It was visible even from across the playground. "What in the seven hells?" Jessica spat out, and then apologized to Hikari, "Sorry. Too much time around Allen." Hikari shrugged.
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"I hope you realize how much chaos this is going to cause in the real world, Gennai," Zhuqiaomon warned. The four holy beasts, though still weaker, had just done something that would FORCE the Real World to take notice. All the Digivices, based on an ancient design, that were powered from the Dream World, had just had their connections to that power source removed. Partner digivolution, as far as the Holy Beasts were concerned, had just ceased to exist.
Not even Izzy had managed to track down the power connection that flowed through the Digivices, amplifying a human's desire for their partner to protect them. He wouldn't have: it was possibly the most carefully guarded secret anywhere in any dimension the Holy Beasts could touch. Now, the Digivices could do most of their activities, but they lacked the energy to digivolve.
Gennai wasn't too bothered. This was a temporary measure, as was his necessity of recalling the other Gennais in order to buy himself more time. True, the Digivices were far more vulnerable to some other source attempting to use them as a gateway, but it was unlikely anyone would discover the fact in the few days that Gennai's plan would use. "As I told you before, great one, this was necessary. The original Chosen have the energy to help their partner, which is why we chose them from among those who saw the battle. However, this is the only way to pick out the original D-Powers, if that design has truly returned. Without the interference of billions of humans, tracking the energy signatures will be easy."
Ebonwumon nodded in agreement, speaking with both heads, he said, "Yes, this is a problem to be nipped in the bud. Gennai, I wish you had brought these Digivices to our attention when you first discovered them. A new generation of Digivices, even as some random mutation caused by a trick of a person's personality, should have been reported immediately. Now, judging by our taps into the human Internet, there are already reports being circulated that these humans can tap and amplify the spirits of the Digital World." Evonwumon's eyes glowed dangerously for a moment before he continued more calmly.
"If the Digital World cries out in such a fashion, than this is truth that the Dark Ocean encroaches us. And we have not the resources to creates crests, Digivices, and Digimon, to guide this cycle to the end we would prefer. Apocalypmon's program could reactivate at any time in such a state, and you thought they were just children!" By the end, Ebonwumon had started to glow green as his anger amplified his aura, and he was roaring loud enough to loosen small rocks from the surrounding area.
"Yes," Azulongmon agreed and Gennai took an unsteady step backwards. Things had suddenly gotten very grim for him, "The Guardian has failed miserably. The balance spirals out of control. The D-Powers have returned from their long ago seal. You have not managed to lock down the Spirits again, nearly destroying the Digital World. We have lost the arrows of hope and light and the crest of courage. It is only a matter of time until the other crests follow. The situation is in no way contained, and you had the means of halting it early on. Gennai, you traded your honor, experience and assistance against the Darkness in exchange for increased life. That deal is now forfeit. Your life is ours. Lightning whip!" roared the eastern Holy Beast. A beam of azure light shot out from one of his front, talons, surrounding the ancient wise one for a moment in a corona of electricity before Gennai suddenly pixilated.
Baihumon nodded sadly before saying sadly, "Thus ends the era of the Guardian. He fought long and well in our service, my brothers."
"All things but us, end in time," Ebonwumon replied.
Baihumon paused for a moment in contemplation, and then asked, "So, we continue forward with the revised plan, then? Someone must watch the Digital World for us, while we are busy preparing the next phase. I do not believing relying on the Guardian Spirit would be a good idea."
"Do not worry, Baihumon," said Azulongmon, "We have alternate options, and the situation following the aborted Digital World's reconfiguring means there are plenty of holy Digimon to aid our cause. Oikawa need not enter into this. I will begin the call, and we will see who flocks to our banner. For now, however, we must continue to gather our strength." The four Holy Beasts agreed and began to fly back to their lairs to finish regaining their strength.
Unseen to them, a tiny butterfly flapped off a nearby ledge and set out determinedly for Server.
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"You know, shouldn't one of us detected something by now if something was happening to the Digivices?" Crystalmon mused. Training was canceled as the group waited by the lockers for Allen to come out for baseball practice. When one child had been seen broken down and crying as her attempt to digivolve a Gizamon failed, it had stopped being an oddity and it meant something big might be up, and most of these situations ended up involving them. "Hey!" Crystalmon said, "Why not try charging up a digivolution card? If a recharge worked for Hikari, think what a real card would do!"
Tanemon hissed slightly, and said, "Do you know how nausea-inducing it is to be constantly switching phase? I nearly lost integrity twice!"
Crystalmon winced, "Sorry. I mean, I've digivolved ONCE, and it was pretty neat. I could sense what Jessica was sensing!" Crystalmon's glee vanished as the tiny dragon mused, "Wait: that might not be good. What happens if I get attacked?"
"I kind of feel that anyway, Crystalmon," said Jessica, huffing. She still wasn't at one hundred percent from last week, and she shook her head, "I'm starting to figure out how Allen managed to lead a double life for so long! We can't find him even with a D-Power!" The group had made it through the school to the lockers, but Allen wasn't one of the guys who had come out.
"Hey guys," said Guilmon cheerfully, though a bit muffled, from behind them, "What's up!" As the group got their heart rates under control, Guilmon walked around to peer at them curiously as he munched on a sandwich. "You know, you should exercise more, maybe get some sun. You look really pale!"
Hikari peered at the sandwich, "Speaking of health... Those egg, bacon, ham, mayo, and cheese sandwiches are going to kill you some day."
"Nah. There's really no such thing as a 'digicore attack'," informed Guilmon.
Jessica shook herself, "Listen, as much fun as this is," she said, though her voice was humorless, "There's something up with most of the Digivices." Before she could continue, Guilmon's pupils narrowed to cat slits. Jessica took a step backwards involuntarily. The virus looked surprisingly feral.
"Danger," growled the Rookie, "Allen is in danger!" Guilmon roared and charged out the door towards the athletic fields.
"You know, either his direction ability is just as bad as his taste in sandwiches," said Tanemon, "Or Allen somehow slipped past us."
One of the coaches Tapirmon commented, "Oh, Allen got sent out early to rechalk the fields, since he missed practice last week."
The group started to run out. Jessica said, "You know, after this is done with. I'm investing in a palm pilot for e-mail messages. That, or figure out a way to sneak my cell phone into the school with it turned on." Hikari nodded in agreement.
***********
"What's with you guys?" Allen demanded as his back hit the fence. Several of his team mates were staring at him angrily, partners by their side, while the rest of the team loitered despondently, looking at their Digivices.
"You had to do something! Your Digivice changed, and then there was all the weird stuff last week, and now our Digivices don't work! We saw you take on a Skullmeramon with a Rookie. You've been draining our power!" declared the biggest of the group. A Betamon waited beside him.
Allen blinked in astonishment at the accusation. "Um, those were all a few weeks apart, and most of the effort to get Guilmon to do those things comes from both of us. It's definitely a team effort." Allen got shoved back with a hand.
"Don't tell us that!" the leader shouted. "I know you have great strength in you, give it to us!"
Allen's eyes widened in astonishment, and he quickly focused through Jessica's exercises. His senses weren't as adept as Jessica, but at this short range, he could feel something like the smell of decay in the air. "Virus?" he asked in surprise. "Where did that come from?" The leader's eyes widened in range, and he punched Allen in the gut, who went down gasping.
"Pyro sphere!" roared Guilmon angrily, aiming his fireball to explode over his Tamer's tormentors' heads. The group broke apart slightly. The Digimon with the group growled ferally at Guilmon. The leader's Betamon quickly launched a wave of water, knocking the Virus off-balance, and the others began to move in. Jessica, Crystalmon, Hikari, and Tanemon followed, but they wouldn't get in range in time.
"Don't hurt Guilmon!" Allen yelled, and felt something twisting up from inside him. A shower of ice flew from the D-power, creating a cylindrical shield around the dinosaur. The sudden tapping of great power, combined with the stomach punch, was enough to cause his head to drop with exhaustion. He was conscious, but he wasn't about to be standing up any time soon.
The Digimon ignored that target, and decided to pound on Guilmon's icy shield for a little while. "We'll see what's in your data, soon enough. Little Forbidden Digimon!" said the leader. Guilmon's eyes widened in confusion at the term.
"Oh, no you don't!" muttered Jessica. "Listen!" she said more loudly, "If you guys want to see the way to real power, you shouldn't be going around and beating up on helpless people."
"Oh! The other one," the leader said, and the group felt a wave of unease fall over them. Something was wrong with him. "Let's see what you can do for us! Get her!" The group started forward. Two Betamon, a Gizamon, and two Otamamon growled.
"Something's wrong with them," Jessica said. She held up a card dramatically, "You know. If I wanted to, Crystalmon could take all five of you with a single shot, but violence isn't an answer I like to use. Especially since those Digimon are only doing what you're asking of them." Jessica looked over the audience, "Crystalmon. We're going to the root of the problem." Crystalmon nodded her agreement. Taking out obstacles through brute force had gotten the world to where it was. And these weren't Constructs, either.
Jessica grabbed two cards. "Digi-modify!" Jessica said as she slashed a card, "Hyper-speed, activate!" Crystalmon seemed to start to blur, even though she was still. "Digi-modify! Vaccine program activate!" Crystalmon's scales, normally a creamy white, now suddenly glowed with purity. "Crystalmon: slash the partners, and hurry! I don't know how long the card will last!"
Crystalmon roared out her attack call, "Dragon-fang!" The glow intensified as the Rookie was launched forward amid holy flames. She was normally fast with this attack, but combined with the hyper-sonic, she was moving at nearly the speed of sound. Dashing through the Rookies, causing shouts of alarm from the bystanders, Crystalmon jumped in a low arc that put shallow cuts on all five trainers, before coming to a stop, panting slightly as the glow ceased. The five collapsed, and the Digimon ran to their trainers in alarm, trying to figure out what had happened.
"You can't attack partners!" someone yelled in alarm.
Jessica replied, "Why? Aren't they as much a part of battle as the Digimon?" Someone snickered. Jessica stomped her foot indignantly, "Well, that's what you think, but whose giving the orders, the energy, and everything else? You think it's wild ones who are responsible for the protection schemes?" The snickering stopped.
Crystalmon coughed, "Um, Jessica. Minor problem in progress," she hissed. A dark mist was rising from the five, and concentrating on the unfortunate Betamon of the leader. It suddenly snapped into a dark orb, which set itself on the head. Eyes glowing red, the Betamon glowed with yellow energy that turned black, before starting to grow outwards. The trio staggered as a wave of dark power rushed out.
"Beatmon, dark digivolve to Morishellmon!" roared the now-Champion. It was basically a Shellmon, but with green colored skin, tendrils, and shell. The orb now rested in the next on top of its head.
"Morishellmon," said Hikari from off to the side, "Normally a data mollusk champion type. Attacks with Shell Pile and Slamming attack. Jessica, Crystalmon, be careful, we've seen one of those orbs before!" Jessica nodded.
"Yes, you think you have, Spirit-child?" said the enemy Champion in an eerily ghost-like voice. "That one was but a poor imitation. The seed of an idea planted into a Digimon with disgustingly noble ideas, though with a dark implementation. This is the true pearl! Slamming attack!" roared the Digimon, reaching out with one paw to squash Crystalmon, who quickly dashed to the side.
Jessica sucked on some hair for a moment as she thought. The Digimon Morishellmon was talking about sounded like Demon, but the Holy Beasts didn't use darkness. Definitely something to try and talk to someone in the Digital World about later, but for now, she needed to smash an org. "You've picked on the wrong person, Morishellmon! Crystalmon is a holy dragon Digimon! Her powers are more effective against you! Digi-modify! Offense!"
"Shard daggers!" yelled Crystalmon, sending out the small light pinpricks from her wings. They were larger than normal, now actually about dagger size. They exploded into blue and white flame against the orb, and Morishellmon roared, clutching its head for a moment.
"Okay, this may require more effort than I thought," said Jessica. "Crystalmon, while he's distracted! Jump on top of his shell!" Crystalmon shrugged, but quickly scaled up the shell. "Digi-modify! Sheepmon!" Crystalmon's wings transformed into large launchers with smily-face warheads visible.
"Wool grenade!" yelled Crystalmon, launching the two projectiles off. They exploded against the orb, and actually cracked it a little. MoriShellmon's headache seemed to increase.
Jessica nodded with satisfaction. Sheepmon was Armadillomon's armor digivolution with the hope Digimental. Thus, it had some holy powers, and since it was an armor, it was a fairly weak card and didn't cost her a lot of energy to check her theory. Now, however, it was time to bring the big guns into the game, to help the offence boost. "Digi-modify! Angewomon!" Crystalmon's wings reverted back to normal, and she stood up, grabbing onto a bow that had suddenly appeared in her hands, that was apparently comprised of feathers. Crystalmon skidded down so that she was level with Morishellmon's head from behind.
"Celestial arrow!" yelled Crystalmon, pulling back on a string and causing an arrow to appear. Crackling with power, it reacted with the dark orb like antimatter, causing an explosion that knocked it off the top of Morishellmon's head. The Champion collapsed, Crystalmon barely maintaining her footing, as the orb rolled to a stop. After a moment, it pulsed with energy and hovered into the air, headed back for the host.
"Great!" Jessica cheered. Hikari looked at her strangely. An evil orb was floating under its own power, and this was great? "Now that it's not on Morishellmon's head, we can pull out the big guns without hurting the Digimon!" Jessica said cheerfully, "And since I still feel pretty good, let's pull out the trump card! Digi-modify!" she called, "Digivolution activate!" Crystalmon quickly jumped off of the mollusk's head, not wanting to crush it with her soon-to-be added weight.
"Digivolution," mechanically stated the D-Power. Rings once again flew out to surround Crystalmon. As Crystalmon was obscured from sight, the data surrounding her Digicore flew away, allowing her to be transformed into her next form. As the egg cleared, several of the bystanders murmured in awe at the Champion, whose scales glimmered like prisms in the afternoon sun light.
Jessica's head swam with the sudden sensation of being in another head, and Chromamon seemed to be a bit disoriented as well. Since both of them were able to feel the evil energy from two sources, that didn't help much either. After a moment to focus, the two found a way to deal with that. "Plasma ball!" the two yelled at the same time, Chromamon launching a silver-blue ball of energy. Intersecting the orb, the dark ball struggled with the light for a moment, before both faded away into a fog. Morishellmon quickly dedigivolved back to Rookie.
"Where am I?" he asked in confusion. The frog-like Digimon looked around, before spotting his trainer, "Ack! Ben, get up! I told you not to head to the computer lab to check your e-mail between classes, and now you're asleep at practice! Talk about a quick slide to self-destruction!" The partner looked at his Digimon in confusion as it continued to yell.
"Nice work, you two!" Allen said weakly, finally back to his feet, and being partly supported by Guilmon. Jessica gave a mock bow. It felt good to wipe out something evil like that, but she was a little displeased with how much she enjoyed watching Chromamon triumph in this sort of situation.
"Ah, it's only natural," said Chromamon out loud, reading her thoughts, "Sort of a rush at making through battle. I still now you're a wimp and coward!" she finished cheerfully.
"I wouldn't go that far," protested Jessica, but Hikari cut her off.
"Did you hear that part about the computer lab?" asked Hikari. "There could be a couple hundred others being possessed like that Tuskmon was!" Hikari pulled out a card and handed it to Allen, "Here!" she said, "This is a holy aura card. Since Chromamon can't fit inside, you can use it with your Magnaangemon card if there is something there."
"Fair enough," Allen said. Being attacked suddenly by his team mates had been shocking. The idea of something happening to his parents scared him enough, he started to go into a run. Jessica, Hikari, and Tanemon followed.
"I'll be in the parking lot!" Chromamon called out after a moment.
"I really hope that Morishellmon was telling the truth," said Jessica as they headed through the halls. Hikari looked at her strangely, and Jessica explained, "Something else to worry about is one more thing to the pile of all the little troubles in life. We've been handling things pretty well. The other option is that Demon might be testing them out for a run on our friends." Hikari shivered at that.
"I wish there was some way to contact the Digital World," Hikari said with longing. The others nodded their agreement.
The computer lab was empty. Most people had computers to check e-mail on in other places, so it was rarely used except for classes. What was odd was a message repeating on all the screens in place of a log in prompt. "Jessica, Allen - things are taking a turn for the worse here! Please send cards-Angie." The group, stunned, stared blankly at the screens for a moment.
"Well," said Guilmon after a moment, "That's different."
To be continued...
Author's notes: Allen seems to have figured out that ice-bolt thing he used last time. Or at least he managed to reproduce it under similar straining circumstances. Apparently, all that training is working well, as that's the most card-slashes I've ever had her do. (though none of them were charged).
Oh, and yeah. Digivolution got cut off, Gennai got killed, there's another enemy, and a message found its way to the Real World where they were able to spot it. Of course, it may not be a REAL message.
As the last chapter closed off the last arc, this chapter opens the new arc. There's more darkness ahead. I more or less have everything plotted in my head, and getting to the Digital World will be nothing compared to the dangers that lie there as the war begins.
The wise will note that the possession by the dark orb happened BEFORE digivolution was cut off. The Holy Beasts time estimate is correct, but if someone was actively trying beforehand...
We'll see what's happening to the Digital-side Tamers next time. This piece concentrated on our primary movers and shakers right now: the Holy Beasts, and Our Heroes.
Next time:
Jessica tries to verify the message, as the Demon Corps + Tamers have to start to vie actively for the Digicores and minds of the Digital World. Meanwhile, we'll get a better glance at the four younger children (Miracles, Fate, Hope, and Light).
Due: Whenever I get it done, but I probably should hurry up and get names chosen as digivolution lines finalized for the younger four kids, like I did for everyone else. ^_^
Before leaving, don't forget to click that review button and drop me your comments! Much appreciated!