Disclaimer: As always, I don't own any of the characters of Digimon that will appear in this fic. I appreciate all the people who are reviewing this and giving me feedback. Helps me writer better. Thanks to all of you, you know who you are. Let us continue the story...
Digimon X: Game 4-And He Strikes, Like Thundermon
By DigiScanner-Shonen
Charlie and Tucker are having a dispute on which way to go after we come to a fork in the river we're following. It seems to be this isn't going to be the last of their fights here in the game. Or as its known to it's residents, Digital World.
Maybe they're fighting because of the directional dispute. Maybe they're fighting because Tucker no longer has our only protection. Or maybe they're just fighting for the heck of it. I frankly don't care. I just want to find my partner and go home.
My theory is that in order to get home, we have to play the game through. Although the goal of the game, I'm not sure. I informed the others of this and they all seem to agree. I believe that they all want to go home as well. After all, this wasn't part of the original outline, being trapped in a game with absolutely no idea where we are.
Back in the Real World, I'm known as Leah Orimizu, a kind of brainiac. I'm smart, yeah, but I also just want to have fun. Most of the other kids don't see that in me. It's mostly just, "Leah's so smart this," "Leah can you explain that," and "Leah can you do my homework for me?"
My parents always pushed me to go the whole nine yards. Maybe it was because they wanted to see me make something of myself, like my older sister. All I wanted was to please them. But it kind of gets frustrating when you're only seen as an intellectual by all your peers and family. Kids only see the intelligent me, not the actual me. They only call on me for work help, but other than that, they stay away.
I guess that's why I got into Digimon. It was a big craze at my school and I wanted to show them that I wanted to have fun with it, too. Maybe then they'd see more of me and treat me just like they treat their friends. I worked my partner up and when I heard of the Digimon X draw, I just knew I had to participate.
That's how I met these guys. Firstly is Erin, more of a happy person, just wanting to have some fun, but also caring for those around her. Next is Jake, the youngest of us. I can tell he's kind of scared of his new surroundings, but he tries not to show it. Then, there's Charlie. More of the silent, cool type, trying to distance himself from the rest of us. Deep down, he wants to truly show that he can be counted on.
And finally, there's Tucker. Our leader. I first met him back at the draw. He seems kind of nervous around me. He's a bit headstrong, wants others to acknowledge him as important and is sworn to protect us through whatever comes our way. Flamon told me, when we landed in the game, that he wouldn't stop until he found me. Tucker then gave Flamon a bit of a hard tap on the head, telling him not to say that. Does he like me?
Well, he is kind of cute.
It seems that these kids all represent a certain side of me. That's interesting, being lost in a game with other kids that all present something of your personality.
Anyway, the fight between Tucker and Charlie continues until it looks like it's going to come down to a fistfight. Erin comes in and says that it should just come down to a rock-paper-scissors. They reluctantly agree and Erin thanks Jake for the suggestion. Here they go.
"Rock, paper, SCISSORS!" the two boys reveal their hands. They're both paper.
"Rock, paper, SCISSORS!" It's rock this time.
"Rock, paper, SCISSORS!" Scissors.
"One more time," Jake says, "Winner decides what we get to do next."
"Here that, Takeyama?" Charlie says, "Once I win, I'll be leading the guys down the right path!"
"No way! I'M the leader. I got the goggles! It's like a rule in the Air Force. Whoever has the goggles, makes the rules."
"Don't count on it for too long, goggle boy! Rock..."
"Paper..."
"SCISSORS!" Charlie has scissors, Tucker has paper.
"YES! Scissors cut paper, I win!"
"NUTS!"
"I'll take the goggles then, Takeyama."
"No way! These are mine! They're a gift from grandpa, no way I'm letting you have them!"
"Fine! Keep the goggles. Like I care anyway," Charlie snorts, "Everyone this way."
Charlie and Bearmon lead us to the right. Tucker is still a little sore about Charlie winning they're little duel.
"Someday, he's gonna let his guard down. That's when I'm gonna..."
"Tucker, it was just a game. Charlie can lead us through the next area for a while," I comfort him while Flamon pats him on the back, "then you can take the lead again, okay?"
"Oh, all right. I guess it isn't so bad. I get to be back here with you then, Leah."
"Yeah."
"Maybe when we stop to camp, we could go collect some firewood together?"
"I guess we could do that, Tucker," I say to him. He looks like he's going to explode with joy inside.
Our walk continues as we trek through the forest. It seems like the trees are getting smaller and smaller. Maybe it's a sign that we're leaving the area. I bump into Jake as he had stopped. So did Erin and Charlie. I looked up and saw what made them stop.
It was a kind of transparent watery-silver barrier. It seemed to run across the entire area. We could see the next area on the other side. It looked like a large open field. It appeared to be all one colour, but that was just probably the barrier's affects.
"That wasn't there a second ago," Erin says.
"So, what do we do now, leader?" Tucker asks Charlie, putting some bitterness on the last word.
"Hold on," Charlie says as he puts out his hand to touch the barrier. It goes right through and the barrier ripples from where his hand is.
"How does it feel?" Jake asks.
"Kind of strange," Charlie says as he pulls out his hand, "Interesting. You think this was part of the game program?"
"Not sure," I tell him, "Couldn't really tell from the World overview before we could pulled here."
"I guess we go through. Wait until I give you a signal," Charlie says as he and Bearmon cross through. The barrier ripples and they're nowhere to be seen on the other side.
A moment later they emerge on the other side. Charlie looks around and Bearmon is in a kind of battle-ready pose. Charlie gives the thumbs-up and calls to us from the other side. His voice is kind of faint, like he's talking through an old radio.
"Come on," I can hear him, sort of, say, "It's okay to cross."
Jake goes first, but doesn't want to. Erin tells him that they can go together so he won't be scared. They pass through and we wait a moment, since we can't see them on the other side yet. They emerge a moment later with Charlie.
Tucker and Flamon go in afterwards, leaving me to go in alone. I breathe in, then breathe out slowly. Just as I see Tucker emerge, he sees me breathing in slowly, then comes back to my side.
"You scared?" Tucker asks, his head, arms and torso appearing out of the barrier.
"Kind of," I admit. I just didn't know what was going to happen while I was passing through and that scared me.
"How about we go together? Or do you want to go alone?"
"No, I'm fine. I'll go by myself."
He disappears and goes back to the other side. I take a big breath of air and then pass through. It's strange going through. Like you're passing through water. Everything is rippling as you walk through. Time seems to be suspended and you feel a little strange in the stomach. I reach the other side and emerge to join the others.
I can now see the area clearly. It's a big, wide open field, green and inviting. The sky is a brilliant blue, decorated with white clouds. Kind of like you're on a prairie. There are small Digimon playing, some stronger Digimon working and some Digimon just relaxing. It looks like a sort of green paradise.
As we walked toward the field, the barrier we had just passed through, disappeared.
"Hm, it just seems to appear and disappear whenever something comes close to it," I note.
"Hey, Charlie," Tucker says, "You got us here, you're turn is up. I'm leader again, okay?"
"All right, Takeyama," he tells Tucker, "Lead us again. Especially since the peaceful Digimon are charging towards us like we're attacking them."
"What?" Tucker says as the Digimon gather around us, trapping us in a circle.
"Not good," Erin says, "Not good at all. Somebody do something."
"All right. But Charlie, I'll need your help."
"Okay."
"Flamon!"
"Bearmon!"
"Go get 'em!" the boys shout.
"Rah! Flame Fist!" Flamon attacks an Elecmon close to him.
"Bear Claw!" Bearmon swipes a Floramon close to him.
The Digimon start to back away a bit, clearing a bit of a path. We must've scared them enough for them to let us go by.
"Let's MOVE it, guys!" I hear Tucker yell.
"Wait," a Digimon says. He is emerging from the path the Digimon made. Looks kind of like a prairie dog with iron claws. Who was he again?
Charlie gives the answer as he pulls out his DigiVice and scans the Digimon. A little screen comes up displaying all the information. "Prairiemon," he reads out, "An Armour level mammal Digimon. Data type. They're peaceful Digimon, digging and digging to their heart's content."
The Prairiemon comes up to us and begins to talk, "We shouldn't be fighting. This area is a place of peace and prosperity. You just took us by surprise, coming here unexpectedly."
"Well, sorry if we damaged anybody," Tucker bows in apology.
"It's okay. Come, I'll show you to my home. We can talk more there."
We follow the Prairiemon to a hole in the ground. He dives in the hole and we're all left there wondering what to do. He comes back up and motions for us to come in the hole.
"But we're too big," Erin says, "Can't you make the hole bigger?"
The Prairiemon obviously never thought of this and calls over a couple of his buddies. They burrow and burrow until the hole is human sized. He again motions for us to come and we comply.
I head down the hole first, slowly sliding to the bottom. Kind of like those old kiddie slides at the playground. The others are behind me, I can hear them sliding with me. I land at the bottom and enter a small entrance. It's a nice underground room, with couches, tables, dressers, etc. Kind of like Bearmon's former home.
"Come, sit down," he tells us as we all take a seat. He begins to talk, "Actually, I'm grateful that you've all come to this area just now. We're having problems."
"Like what?" Jake asks.
"Well, there's a Digimon terrorising the place. You remember that happy little scene where we were all working when you came in? That's a set-up. He's forcing us to do it. Either we comply or he'll destroy our homes!"
"Who's he?" I wonder.
"A powerful Champion level Digimon called Thudermon. He came a while ago to the area with a compatriot. They've been ruling us since then."
"Then why did you only mention the one?" Charlie questions.
"Because his friend has turned against him and is now protecting us. It must be because one of my neighbours took a blow for him when Thundermon was attacking and the Digimon didn't approve of him hurting us anymore."
"Well, where do we find this Digimon? We could help him defend the area," Tucker tells him, "After all, it's part of the..."
I cover his mouth this time, "Ssh!! Don't say that!"
"Say what?" the Prairiemon asks.
There's a scream from outside and we all head up. We encounter the terrorist Digimon, Thundermon, attacking all the Digimon.
Tucker takes out his DigiVice and analyses him. "Thundermon, a Mutant Data- type Digimon. Champion level. His Thunder Volt and Thunder Bomber attacks are simply shocking!"
"Stop! I won't let you hurt them anymore!" We hear a voice cry out. I take a look at a wounded Digimon, fighting the Thundermon.
Tucker points his DigiVice and analyses the other Digimon. "Labramon, a Vaccine-type Animal Digimon. Rookie level. Like a sweet puppy, this Digimon is incredibly loyal and won't back down against anything."
The yellow dog Digimon with a red tail and ears gets up. "I told you, I won't let you do this anymore! So stop!"
"Why?" Thundermon taunts, "So you can live among them digging for dirt? That's all you did before I became friends with you. And that's all you'll ever do again if you don't get out of my way!"
"Never! Retrieving!" Labramon swipes at Thundermon, but misses.
"Humph! You never did have good fighting skills. Let me show how it's really done! Thunder Volt!" Thundermon charges up his fist so electricity is burning from it and hits Labramon. Labramon falls backwards.
"No! We can't let him do this! Tucker! Charlie! Do something!" I yell at them.
"All right, Leah. Flamon! Go and get Labramon over here!" Tucker orders Flamon.
"Consider him got," Flamon says as he goes over to save Labramon.
"Bearmon, provide a distraction," Charlie tells his partner.
"All right. HEY! Mr. Thunderball! Over here!" Bearmon calls out. He then gets out and proceeds to wave his butt over at the Digimon.
"ERG! How DARE you disgrace me with that awful sight! I'll get you for that! Thunder Bomber!" He charges towards us.
"Got him!" Flamon calls as he rushes over to us.
"Good! We're outta here!" Tucker says as he disappears down the hole.
We all follow and we can hear Bearmon yell something at Thundermon before coming with us.
We return to the Digimon's home and immediately start treating Labramon. I bandage his wounds.
"Labramon, what you're doing for the Digimon is very sweet," I say as I wrap some bandages around his paw, "I'd like to thank you personally for that." He was putting his life on the line defending all these Digimon from his former comrade and I admired that.
"Aw, it's nothing," Labramon says as he scratches at the spot where Thundermon got him.
"No, it's really something," the Prairiemon says, "Thank you."
"That Digimon's pretty strong. What do we do to save the Digimon?" Erin asks.
"Isn't it obvious?" Tucker says, "We fight him! Just like we did with Dokugumon and Drimogemon."
"But remember how Flamon couldn't Digivolve last time?" Jake recalls.
"Well, that was just a fluke. I've got this thing figured out now! See?" Tucker shakes his DigiVice up and down.
"Tucker, stop. You'll break it," Erin says.
"Since our captain can't figure out how to work the DigiVice, we'll need a strategy," Charlie says, "Here's what we do..."
A few hours later, Thundermon is terrorising the field again. This time, we have a plan. Bearmon is going to provide another of his "distractions", while the Digimon dig a hole behind Thundermon that Flamon can attack from. Then, Labramon should be able to finish him off once Flamon's done enough damage.
The plan's going smoothly so far, with Bearmon ridiculing Thundermon. The hole's starting to take shape. Labramon is getting ready. I tell him that he doesn't have to do this, but says he wants to.
"...and your gloves? What's up with those? They look like you got them from a garbage can!" We hear Bearmon.
"You're making me angry. You don't want to see me angry," Thundermon growls at him as the hole is almost done being dug.
"Go, Flamon," Tucker whispers as Flamon jumps into the hole. According to my calculations, it'll take Flamon 40 seconds to get to the other end. And gathering from Thundermon getting PO'ed, Flamon'll have to cut the time in half or Bearmon will get a severe shock to the system.
"...and that's why you're not gonna win the "King of the Mons" title next year!"
"THAT'S IT! PREPARE FOR A SHOCKING REVELATION! THUNDER VOLT!" Thundermon shouts as he charges at Bearmon. At that moment, Flamon pops up and hits Thundermon's back with a Flame Fist.
"All right! Go Flamon!" Tucker cheers.
A few more fire punches and Thundermon's down. Labramon comes up to him and prepares to deliver the final blow.
"I'm sorry I have to do this, old friend," he says, "but I can't let you hurt these Digimon anymore!"
"Oh really?" Thundermon gets up, "Thunder Bomber!" He punches Labramon in the gut again and he collapses. Looks like Flamon didn't put enough 'umph' into his attacks.
"Sorry I had to do THAT, old friend," Thundermon smirks triumphantly.
I go to Labramon's side while Flamon and Bearmon go at Thundermon.
"I did...what I could..." Labramon whispers, "I failed the Digimon...I'm so...sorry..."
"No, you did great. If you can hold on a little longer, Bearmon'll make you some great soup. It's quite delicious," I say, feeling upset and holding back tears.
Labramon looks over to see Flamon and Bearmon fighting against Thundermon. They're losing.
"Flamon! Keep going!" Tucker cries.
"Bearmon! Don't give up!" Charlie yells.
Labramon also looks at all the Digimon in the area, cowering in fear of the battle. He looks back at Thundermon, at his former friend and at the pain he's causing.
Labramon gets up. "I can't let Thundermon continue to terrorise these innocent Digimon. He's become a monster, and I'm the only one who can stop him! I won't let him hurt these mons anymore!"
Labramon begins to glow with a familiar light. He's Digivolving! I shield my eyes as he glows brighter and begins to change.
"Labramon Digivolve to..."
There's a flash of lightning and a loud howl. As soon as the light clears, in his place stands a kind of shiisa Digimon, with a yellow kind of mane, paws and tail. A horn protrudes from his head and he's got a more dangerous look to him now.
"Seasarmon!"
An actual Seasarmon! I never thought I'd actually see one! They're supposed to be quite rare in the games. This is amazing! Labramon Digivolved to protect the other Digimon.
"So, you Digivolved at last," Thundermon cackles, "Let's see what kind of power you have now!"
"Bring it on!" Seasarmon charges at Thundermon.
Through all this, Charlie takes out his DigiVice and analyses the new Digimon. "Seasarmon, a Holy Animal Vaccine-type Digimon. Champion level. Guardians of legend, they're also supposed to bring good luck to those who befriend them."
"Thunder Bomber!"
Seasarmon dodges it with ease and continues to rush forward. "Holy Horn!" Seasarmon disappears for a second, then strikes at Thundermon with his horn and cuts his arm a little.
"Arg! You'll pay for that, you dog of a Digimon!"
"Don't think so!" He attacks again with a Holy Horn and does some more damage.
"Whoa! He's fast!" Jake remarks.
"Yeah! Go Seasarmon!" Tucker cheers.
"Go Seasarmon!" I add.
"Go Seasarmon! Go Seasarmon! Go, go Seasarmon!" the Digimon from all the area cheer for their new protector.
"Thunder Volt!" Thundermon gets Seasarmon yet again with that attack, "Still can't dodge that one attack, eh? No matter what you Digivolve into, you're still just a pathetic little Labramon."
"That's not true!" I yell at Thundermon, "He's become stronger than you could ever be! He's not the pathetic one, YOU are! You make me sick just looking at you!"
"Care to try some of my Thunder Volt?" Thundermon yells as he rushes towards me. I brace myself for the hit, but it never comes. Seasarmon has taken the hit for me.
"Seasarmon!" I cry as tears begin to emerge.
"Hahaha! You can't beat the invincible Thundermon! Mwahahahaha!!"
"Oh yeah? Let's even the odds!" Tucker yells at him.
"Huh?" Thundermon turns.
"Flamon..." Tucker begins.
"Bearmon..." Charlie adds.
"DIGIVOLVE!!" The two boys shout as they hold out their DigiVices and they begin to glow.
"Flamon Digivolve to..."
"Bearmon Digivolve to..."
The two Rookies begin to change. A giant flame engulfs Flamon while a small mountain of rocks surround Bearmon. There are flashes and the flame and rocks die down to the ground. In place of the Digimon who were there, there are now...
"Agunimon!"
"Grizzmon!"
The two Digimon waste no time in starting to fight.
"All right! Double team 'im!" Tucker shouts.
"Pyro Darts!" Agunimon fires flaming darts at Thundermon.
"Grizzly Slash!" Grizzmon slashes at Thundermon.
"NO!" Thundermon shouts as he is hit by the attacks.
"Seasarmon, you okay?" I ask the Digimon who saved me.
"I'm fine. Just let me back at that dark Digimon I once called my friend!" Seasarmon joins the fight. "Holy Horn!"
"ARG!" Thundermon is hit again and collapses.
"I'm truly sorry for this, Thundermon, but for causing unrest to these Digimon, we will show no mercy! Now we will finish you together!"
"Pyro Tornado!" Agunimon launches his flaming whirlpool.
"Bear Blaster!" Grizzmon fires his burst of energy.
"Now for my own personal touch! Shiisa Beam!" Seasarmon directs a burst of lightning to its target.
"NO!! How could you do this to me, Labramon, after all I did for you? HOW COULD YOU!!" The attacks hit and Thundermon is no longer there.
The Digimon from the area cheer as the Digimon return to Rookie form. We all rush them at once with praise.
"Yeah, Flamon!" "You rock, Bearmon!" and "Amazing, Labramon!" were among the comments given to the Digimon.
"To commemorate this, let us present you with this," the Prairiemon gives us his own gloves he used to dig with.
"Oh, Prairiemon! We can't take these! These are yours!" I tell him.
"Not to worry! I have a whole compartment of them at my house! Thank you again for saving us."
"No problem! It was our pleasure," Erin tells the Digimon and they all cheer.
Through all of this, I fail to notice Labramon missing. He's off to the side, making a grave for his friend. After he finishes, he bows his head in remembrance.
"Labramon..." I say quietly. He must've really cared about that Digimon. It took all his courage and strength to resist him and now he's gone. This must really be hard on him. I go over to him and put my hand on his shoulder, "You really cared about him, huh?"
"Yes..." Labramon whispers, "He was the one friend I had since we were just Baby Digimon. We had fun together. But whenever he Digivolved, he just seemed to get stronger and, bit by bit, less my friend. He began beating down Digimon just for fun, and that's when I knew he wasn't the Digimon I called 'friend' long ago. I had to defeat him, to try and save the Digimon he was beating. But...but..."
"It still hurts, doesn't it?"
"He was still my friend. Even though he was mean and power-crazed just a few hours ago, he was still my friend..." Labramon begins to cry, "It hurts when you have to destroy your friend, even if it's for the good of others. Maybe if he hadn't gotten so strong and maybe Digivolved into a weaker form, maybe he would still be here as my friend. Now I have no friends."
"That's not true, Labramon," I say as I turn him around to face me, "You have a friend. Me."
"Really?" Labramon says as he wipes his face with his paw, "You'll be friends with me?"
"Of course!" I smile at him, "Anyone would be once they get to know you. And I'm sure Thundermon was happy to be friends with you, too."
"I just wish I knew if he was still my friend after all that's happened."
"You know what? I think he is," I say as I face the grave for Thundermon, "I think right now, he's smiling down at you, happy that he was friends with a mon like you."
"Do you really think so?" Labramon asks.
"I know so," I say as I bow my head, put my hands together and pay my respects for the fallen Digimon. Labramon does the same and we stay like this for a minute. Then I stop and take Labramon's paw and say, "Come on, we'd better get back to the others."
"All right," Labramon says as he takes one final look at the grave and I can just barely hear him say, "Goodbye, Thundermon. Goodbye...my friend."
As we walk, a light shines from the sky. It falls down into my hand. It materialises into a DigiVice, like Tucker and Charlie's, only it's yellow.
I smile at this realisation. We're partners! I had a suspicion that this Labramon was my partner. After all, a Labramon was loaded into my D-Card back in the Real World.
I rush over to the others and give them the good news. Now we have three partners. Two more and then we can figure out what to do from there.
We march off and everything is peaceful.
"So, who got us here, Takeyama?" Charlie asks.
"Fine, you did," Tucker huffs, "But that was only for this time. I'm leader again, okay? I decide what we do next."
"Humph! You couldn't decide to do something if your life depended on it."
"Arg! What was that?"
Well, it WAS peaceful, anyway...
TO BE CONTINUED!
As always, review the story! Let me know how the story's going and if you like the way it's going. Plus, check out my other stories if you like what you read. It helps to know that many people enjoy what I do.