The sun was directly overhead when the digi-destined children left Kaii's
house. Their goal was to get to Sukoza City by nightfall. However, in order
to do this they'd have to travel a great distance at an even greater speed.
Kaii himself had never been to the city, but he knew that the journey was
going to be hard on the others. He knew that it would be his job to make
sure they all got there safely. He just couldn't deal with loosing another
person in his life; he wasn't even prepared to think about it. The close
call with Snimon brought back horrible memories from his past. Memories of
his father, of the DSF and of Patamon.
"Kaii?"
Kaii snapped back into reality and realized that everybody but him was all ready to go. Apparently he'd been just sitting in his chair doing nothing for 20 minutes.
"Oh. sorry" Kaii said. It was obvious to the others that he wasn't exactly paying attention to what was going on around him. "I guess I go get ready."
"Kaii. you are okay right?" Chloe asked him. "You haven't exactly been yourself since this morning."
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Kaii told her. The look Chloe gave him told Kaii that she obviously didn't buy it. Kaii got out of the chair and went into the bedroom, where Solarimon and Amanda still were.
"Are you ready to go Solarimon?" Kaii asked the winged digimon.
"I am, but I'm worried about Amanda. Taking her all that distance, it doesn't seem safe. couldn't we just sent a few people and have the rest just stay here."
"I thought about that too and in any other circumstance I'd say yes, but there's something different this time. I've lived here for a very long time and big digimon like Snimon never came to this village. I think whoever those guys were back at the temple, the same people who hurt Amanda are coming after us. If we split up, it'll only make us more vulnerable."
What Kaii said had obviously worried Solarimon. He knew that if trouble presented itself, Solarimon wouldn't be able to digivolve like Tigrimon was. After Kaii's speech, an awkward pause filled the room. A knocking on the door broke the silence. It was Ribbitomon.
"We all set to go?" asked the digimon.
"Yep, did Chloe find something to carry Amanda in?"
"Sure did." Replied Ribbitomon. "The elecmon villagers were so grateful we stopped Snimon that they made us a little cart for her." "All right, so let's go."
Kaii carried Amanda outside and placed her onto the cart. The cart was just the right size for Amanda.
"So Kaii, you know the way right?" Lupemon asked. "Might as well tell us all, in case we get split up."
"That's not going to happen." Kaii said sternly. "We're not going to split up."
When Kaii said that, he got a flashback.
He was back in the DSF base fighting with his father. Everything was happening in slow motion. He knew what was about to happen, but he wished it didn't. He wished with all his heart that what was about to happen would not be the same, but it was. His father turned around and told him to go. T.K. then turned to Mimi and told her to go with him. Then they all began to fade away.
"Kaii?"
Kaii was back outside his house with the others. This time the one that had snapped him back into reality was Lupemon. He was still asking if they could know the directions.
"Oh. what? Oh! The directions. Here there are." Kaii looked around and could tell that Chloe and Eric had worried looks on their faces. "The first part is easy, we just need to follow a river until the river turns into a waterfall. Then we have to scale the cliff. That's where it gets tricky. After that we have to cross a small desert and then around a mountain, then we're there."
He looked at the others and realized that they all had shocked looks on their faces.
"And this is only supposed to take one day?!" Tigrimon asked surprisingly.
Kaii got an embarrassed look on his face. "Well, I guess it's a little loner than I thought."
With that they set off. The river they had to cross was past the orchard that the battle with Snimon occurred. When the digi-destined pasted it, they saw the elecmon planting new trees. The orchard would slowly become what it once was. The children passed the orchard and moved into denser forest.
"I can't see a thing." Eric commented. "the bushes are too thick."
"I can't see anything either Ribbitomon added.
"Razor Wind!"
Solarimon's attack cleared a pathway for them and the cart to follow.
"Thanks!" Ribbitomon said.
The group continued to walk for about 40 minutes, then Tigrimon stopped.
"I hear something." The cat told the others.
Everybody also stopped and listened.
"It almost sound like. water." Lupemon added.
"The river!" Eric exclaimed. "We made it!"
With that he began to run through the trees towards the sound was coming from.
"Eric, come back!" Chloe yelled. She then chased after him.
Eric ran thought the forest, hoping that he would be the first to reach the river. The sound of running water was getting louder and louder. Then the trees thinned out and he could see it. The river was wide and the water was blue. It was a beautiful sight to see. Eric stood there is awe for a little while. This gave Chloe the chance the catch up. She went next to him and grabbed his arm.
"You shouldn't run off that like, you could've gotten lost."
"But I didn't." he replied smugly. "And I found the river."
"Maybe." Chloe told him. "But you still shouldn't."
Chloe stopped talking because she realized that Eric wasn't paying attention, he was staring at this thing by the river. It looked kind of like a stone statue but it was lying by the river back. Eric went up for a closer look. It appeared to just be a statue. He picked up a stick and poked it.
"HEY!" The statue opened its eyes and stared right at Eric. The both looked at each other and screamed. Eric ran back to Chloe and the rock statue ran along the riverbank.
"What is that?" Chloe asked.
"I know how to found!" Eric said cheerfully. He pressed the button on his digivice. The device transformed into a headset (as it had done that morning) The rock statue was then targeted by the digivice.
'Gotsumon: This rookie level digimon has a rock solid head but don't let their hard exteriors fool you, Gotsumon are often very friendly.' Chloe and Eric watched the Gotsumon. He ran along the riverbank and then disappeared behind a large rock. When he re-appeared, there were three Gotsumon. One of the Gotsumon pointed at the two kids and then they all ran towards Eric and Chloe.
"Snimon has failed me," Minotaurumon told the feathered digimon. "I now turn to you. Can you defeat the digi-destined children Harpymon?"
Harpymon looked at Minotaurumon and nodded. "I will not fail you, I'm different than Snimon. He was just a mindless brute."
With that Harpymon took flight and flew towards the Elecmon village.
"Wait!" Minotaurumon ordered. The bird stopped and flew back to him. "I've got word from one of my spies that the children were seen along the banks of the Shen-Ru River. Go there immediately.
"Chloe, what are they doing?" Eric asked. Chloe could tell that he was worried. Chloe was about to respond when she hear a familiar voice.
"Chloe!"
It was Tigrimon. They had finally caught up. Kaii, the four digimon and Amanda exited the forest only to find the gotsumon charging at them.
"Rock Fist!"
One of the Gotsumon launched a rock right towards Eric.
"Hydro-shot!"
Ribbitomon's attack stopped the rock.
"Whoever you are, we don't want to fight you." Ribbitomon told the rocks, but they didn't listen and launched another attack.
One of the rocks was aimed at Kaii. He saw the rock coming towards him and fell into another flashback. He had just separated from Mimi, Rosemon and MangaAngemon and was running to get Willis. Like the last flashback, this all appeared to be in slow motion. Kaii didn't want to be there for he knew what was about to happen. Kaii turned around and saw a Phantomon coming towards him at an incredible speed. Kaii tried to run faster but he couldn't. The Phantomon kept gaining ground.
"Shadow Scythe!"
Kaii barely managed to avoid the digimon's blade and fell to the ground. Phantomon then flew straight at Kaii, ready to deliver the final blow.
"PATAMON!!!" Kaii screamed, then everything faded away and he was back by the river.
"Razor Wind!"
Solarimon's attack stopped the rock heading for Kaii. He looked around and everybody was staring right at him.
"Oh, you're asking for it now!" Tigrimon told the Gotsumon.
"Flaming Arrow!" "Hydro-shot!" "Razor Wind!" "Tail Quake!"
The four digimon unleashed their attacks in one massive blast. This caused the Gotsumon to fly back and fall into the river. The fast pace of the river swept them downstream.
"Kaii, who's Patamon?" Solarimon asked. "You screamed Patamon when Gotsumon's attack was coming towards you."
"He's my digimon partner." Kaii said quickly. He then realized what he had just said and looked over at Ribbitomon. The digimon had an expression like his heart had just been shattered. Kaii quickly tried to say something but Ribbitomon turned away and ran into the forest.
"Ribbitomon!" Kaii cried out and was all ready to race in after him when he stopped. He couldn't leave these people. they needed him.
The group them began to walk along the riverbank. They passed the large rock and realized that it led to an underground cave. This must be where the gotsumon came from. The group continued on and eventually they reached the waterfall. Chloe and Eric went to the edge and looked over.
"Wow!" Chloe said. "It's so far down!"
"Yeah!" Eric added. "How are we going to get down there?"
"That's not what I'm worried about." Solarimon stated. "I'm wondering how we're going to get Amanda down."
Everybody nodded.
"Kaii, what about Ribbitomon?" Tigrimon asked him.
Kaii was about to respond when he looked up and saw a digimon coming right at them from the air.
"Wind Seeker!"
The digimon launched an attack towards the group.
"Everybody down!" Kaii commanded and everybody dove to the ground. The blast hit the water behind them and the resulting splash soaked the digi- destined. Chloe, Kaii and Eric all pushed the button on their digivice and turned their digivices into headsets. Chloe's digivice locked onto the unknown digimon.
'Harpymon' The mechanical voice said. 'This digimon's screech is like nails on a chalkboard and her Wind Seeker attack isn't any nicer.'
"Wind See."
"Hydro-shot!"
Harpymon's attack was cut short by a blast of water hitting it from behind. Ribbitomon ran out from the trees and joined up with the rest of the group.
"Flaming Arrow!" "Razor Wind!" "Hydro-Shot!"
Solarimon, Tigrimon and Ribbitomon launched their attacks towards Harpymon but the digimon simply flew around them. Harpymon then let out a terrible screech. The digi-destined and their digimon couldn't help but cover their ears in pain. When the screech stopped Chloe looked up and saw that Harpymon's Wind Seeker attack was coming right for them.
"DUCK!" Chloe screamed but it was to late. The blast hit the cart and caused Amanda, Kaii and Ribbitomon to fall into the river. Amanda began to drift towards the waterfall. Kaii quickly swam to her and grabbed hold of her. He then grabbed onto a nearby rock.
"Wind Seeker!"
Harpymon let loose another attack. Solarimon and Tigrimon tried to stop it with their attack but it didn't work. The attack was heading straight for Kaii and Amanda. Kaii closed his eyes and whispered to Amanda "I won't let Harpymon hurt you."
"Hydro-shot!"
Ribbitomon jumped above Kaii and sprayed water at Harpymon's attack. This didn't work and Ribbitomon was hit with the full force of Harpymon's Wind Seeker attack. The little from flew back down to the water and landed with a big splash.
"Ribbitomon!" Kaii cried out. He leaned Amanda against the rock and swam towards Ribbitomon, who was face down in the water. He picked up the digimon and looked at him and opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry Kaii, I'm sorry I'm not as strong as Patamon, I'm sorry I can't digivolve."
Ribbitomon then closed his eyes.
"You are!" pleaded Kaii. "You are Ribbitomon! You're my digimon partner and you always will be. I need you."
With that Kaii's digivice began to glow.
'Digivolution Activate'
Kaii watches as Ribbitomon began to glow. He grew much larger at Tigrimon did when she digivolved. Ribbitomon's webbed hands and feet became more apparent and a large fin formed on his back. Smaller fins appeared on his elbows and one appeared on his forehead.
'Ribbitomon digivolve to. KAPPAMON!'
Eric's digivice locked onto Kappamon.
'Kappamon. This aquatic digimon can swim though the seas incredibly fast and his Fin Blade attack can slice though even the hardest of rock.'
"Wind Seeker!"
Harpymon launched another attack towards Kaii and Kappamon.
"I don't think so." Kappamon said. He reached back and grabbed his back fin.
"Fin Blade!"
Kappamon's fin detached from his body.
"Cool!" Eric cried out. "It's a sword!"
Harpymon's Wind Seeker attack was coming ever closer to Kaii when Kappamon jumped in the way and used his Fin Blade to slice the attack in two. Harpymon, realizing that her Wind Seeker attack wasn't enough flew down to the ground. She then began to circle Kappamon. Kappamon kept trying to attack Harpymon with his blade but she was simply too fast. She then began to punch Kappamon while circling, Kappamon was helpless to her speed and power.
Harpymon then stopped and let out another screech. This one was louder and more painful than the last. Sound waves radiated from her mouth and the children once again covered their ears in pain.
"Shut up." Kappamon said calmly as he swung his Fin Blade. The blade connected and Harpymon burst into tiny fragments. Kappamon then reverted to Ribbitomon.
"I did it!" Ribbitomon cried out "I did it, I digivolved!"
"Kaii?"
Kaii snapped back into reality and realized that everybody but him was all ready to go. Apparently he'd been just sitting in his chair doing nothing for 20 minutes.
"Oh. sorry" Kaii said. It was obvious to the others that he wasn't exactly paying attention to what was going on around him. "I guess I go get ready."
"Kaii. you are okay right?" Chloe asked him. "You haven't exactly been yourself since this morning."
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Kaii told her. The look Chloe gave him told Kaii that she obviously didn't buy it. Kaii got out of the chair and went into the bedroom, where Solarimon and Amanda still were.
"Are you ready to go Solarimon?" Kaii asked the winged digimon.
"I am, but I'm worried about Amanda. Taking her all that distance, it doesn't seem safe. couldn't we just sent a few people and have the rest just stay here."
"I thought about that too and in any other circumstance I'd say yes, but there's something different this time. I've lived here for a very long time and big digimon like Snimon never came to this village. I think whoever those guys were back at the temple, the same people who hurt Amanda are coming after us. If we split up, it'll only make us more vulnerable."
What Kaii said had obviously worried Solarimon. He knew that if trouble presented itself, Solarimon wouldn't be able to digivolve like Tigrimon was. After Kaii's speech, an awkward pause filled the room. A knocking on the door broke the silence. It was Ribbitomon.
"We all set to go?" asked the digimon.
"Yep, did Chloe find something to carry Amanda in?"
"Sure did." Replied Ribbitomon. "The elecmon villagers were so grateful we stopped Snimon that they made us a little cart for her." "All right, so let's go."
Kaii carried Amanda outside and placed her onto the cart. The cart was just the right size for Amanda.
"So Kaii, you know the way right?" Lupemon asked. "Might as well tell us all, in case we get split up."
"That's not going to happen." Kaii said sternly. "We're not going to split up."
When Kaii said that, he got a flashback.
He was back in the DSF base fighting with his father. Everything was happening in slow motion. He knew what was about to happen, but he wished it didn't. He wished with all his heart that what was about to happen would not be the same, but it was. His father turned around and told him to go. T.K. then turned to Mimi and told her to go with him. Then they all began to fade away.
"Kaii?"
Kaii was back outside his house with the others. This time the one that had snapped him back into reality was Lupemon. He was still asking if they could know the directions.
"Oh. what? Oh! The directions. Here there are." Kaii looked around and could tell that Chloe and Eric had worried looks on their faces. "The first part is easy, we just need to follow a river until the river turns into a waterfall. Then we have to scale the cliff. That's where it gets tricky. After that we have to cross a small desert and then around a mountain, then we're there."
He looked at the others and realized that they all had shocked looks on their faces.
"And this is only supposed to take one day?!" Tigrimon asked surprisingly.
Kaii got an embarrassed look on his face. "Well, I guess it's a little loner than I thought."
With that they set off. The river they had to cross was past the orchard that the battle with Snimon occurred. When the digi-destined pasted it, they saw the elecmon planting new trees. The orchard would slowly become what it once was. The children passed the orchard and moved into denser forest.
"I can't see a thing." Eric commented. "the bushes are too thick."
"I can't see anything either Ribbitomon added.
"Razor Wind!"
Solarimon's attack cleared a pathway for them and the cart to follow.
"Thanks!" Ribbitomon said.
The group continued to walk for about 40 minutes, then Tigrimon stopped.
"I hear something." The cat told the others.
Everybody also stopped and listened.
"It almost sound like. water." Lupemon added.
"The river!" Eric exclaimed. "We made it!"
With that he began to run through the trees towards the sound was coming from.
"Eric, come back!" Chloe yelled. She then chased after him.
Eric ran thought the forest, hoping that he would be the first to reach the river. The sound of running water was getting louder and louder. Then the trees thinned out and he could see it. The river was wide and the water was blue. It was a beautiful sight to see. Eric stood there is awe for a little while. This gave Chloe the chance the catch up. She went next to him and grabbed his arm.
"You shouldn't run off that like, you could've gotten lost."
"But I didn't." he replied smugly. "And I found the river."
"Maybe." Chloe told him. "But you still shouldn't."
Chloe stopped talking because she realized that Eric wasn't paying attention, he was staring at this thing by the river. It looked kind of like a stone statue but it was lying by the river back. Eric went up for a closer look. It appeared to just be a statue. He picked up a stick and poked it.
"HEY!" The statue opened its eyes and stared right at Eric. The both looked at each other and screamed. Eric ran back to Chloe and the rock statue ran along the riverbank.
"What is that?" Chloe asked.
"I know how to found!" Eric said cheerfully. He pressed the button on his digivice. The device transformed into a headset (as it had done that morning) The rock statue was then targeted by the digivice.
'Gotsumon: This rookie level digimon has a rock solid head but don't let their hard exteriors fool you, Gotsumon are often very friendly.' Chloe and Eric watched the Gotsumon. He ran along the riverbank and then disappeared behind a large rock. When he re-appeared, there were three Gotsumon. One of the Gotsumon pointed at the two kids and then they all ran towards Eric and Chloe.
"Snimon has failed me," Minotaurumon told the feathered digimon. "I now turn to you. Can you defeat the digi-destined children Harpymon?"
Harpymon looked at Minotaurumon and nodded. "I will not fail you, I'm different than Snimon. He was just a mindless brute."
With that Harpymon took flight and flew towards the Elecmon village.
"Wait!" Minotaurumon ordered. The bird stopped and flew back to him. "I've got word from one of my spies that the children were seen along the banks of the Shen-Ru River. Go there immediately.
"Chloe, what are they doing?" Eric asked. Chloe could tell that he was worried. Chloe was about to respond when she hear a familiar voice.
"Chloe!"
It was Tigrimon. They had finally caught up. Kaii, the four digimon and Amanda exited the forest only to find the gotsumon charging at them.
"Rock Fist!"
One of the Gotsumon launched a rock right towards Eric.
"Hydro-shot!"
Ribbitomon's attack stopped the rock.
"Whoever you are, we don't want to fight you." Ribbitomon told the rocks, but they didn't listen and launched another attack.
One of the rocks was aimed at Kaii. He saw the rock coming towards him and fell into another flashback. He had just separated from Mimi, Rosemon and MangaAngemon and was running to get Willis. Like the last flashback, this all appeared to be in slow motion. Kaii didn't want to be there for he knew what was about to happen. Kaii turned around and saw a Phantomon coming towards him at an incredible speed. Kaii tried to run faster but he couldn't. The Phantomon kept gaining ground.
"Shadow Scythe!"
Kaii barely managed to avoid the digimon's blade and fell to the ground. Phantomon then flew straight at Kaii, ready to deliver the final blow.
"PATAMON!!!" Kaii screamed, then everything faded away and he was back by the river.
"Razor Wind!"
Solarimon's attack stopped the rock heading for Kaii. He looked around and everybody was staring right at him.
"Oh, you're asking for it now!" Tigrimon told the Gotsumon.
"Flaming Arrow!" "Hydro-shot!" "Razor Wind!" "Tail Quake!"
The four digimon unleashed their attacks in one massive blast. This caused the Gotsumon to fly back and fall into the river. The fast pace of the river swept them downstream.
"Kaii, who's Patamon?" Solarimon asked. "You screamed Patamon when Gotsumon's attack was coming towards you."
"He's my digimon partner." Kaii said quickly. He then realized what he had just said and looked over at Ribbitomon. The digimon had an expression like his heart had just been shattered. Kaii quickly tried to say something but Ribbitomon turned away and ran into the forest.
"Ribbitomon!" Kaii cried out and was all ready to race in after him when he stopped. He couldn't leave these people. they needed him.
The group them began to walk along the riverbank. They passed the large rock and realized that it led to an underground cave. This must be where the gotsumon came from. The group continued on and eventually they reached the waterfall. Chloe and Eric went to the edge and looked over.
"Wow!" Chloe said. "It's so far down!"
"Yeah!" Eric added. "How are we going to get down there?"
"That's not what I'm worried about." Solarimon stated. "I'm wondering how we're going to get Amanda down."
Everybody nodded.
"Kaii, what about Ribbitomon?" Tigrimon asked him.
Kaii was about to respond when he looked up and saw a digimon coming right at them from the air.
"Wind Seeker!"
The digimon launched an attack towards the group.
"Everybody down!" Kaii commanded and everybody dove to the ground. The blast hit the water behind them and the resulting splash soaked the digi- destined. Chloe, Kaii and Eric all pushed the button on their digivice and turned their digivices into headsets. Chloe's digivice locked onto the unknown digimon.
'Harpymon' The mechanical voice said. 'This digimon's screech is like nails on a chalkboard and her Wind Seeker attack isn't any nicer.'
"Wind See."
"Hydro-shot!"
Harpymon's attack was cut short by a blast of water hitting it from behind. Ribbitomon ran out from the trees and joined up with the rest of the group.
"Flaming Arrow!" "Razor Wind!" "Hydro-Shot!"
Solarimon, Tigrimon and Ribbitomon launched their attacks towards Harpymon but the digimon simply flew around them. Harpymon then let out a terrible screech. The digi-destined and their digimon couldn't help but cover their ears in pain. When the screech stopped Chloe looked up and saw that Harpymon's Wind Seeker attack was coming right for them.
"DUCK!" Chloe screamed but it was to late. The blast hit the cart and caused Amanda, Kaii and Ribbitomon to fall into the river. Amanda began to drift towards the waterfall. Kaii quickly swam to her and grabbed hold of her. He then grabbed onto a nearby rock.
"Wind Seeker!"
Harpymon let loose another attack. Solarimon and Tigrimon tried to stop it with their attack but it didn't work. The attack was heading straight for Kaii and Amanda. Kaii closed his eyes and whispered to Amanda "I won't let Harpymon hurt you."
"Hydro-shot!"
Ribbitomon jumped above Kaii and sprayed water at Harpymon's attack. This didn't work and Ribbitomon was hit with the full force of Harpymon's Wind Seeker attack. The little from flew back down to the water and landed with a big splash.
"Ribbitomon!" Kaii cried out. He leaned Amanda against the rock and swam towards Ribbitomon, who was face down in the water. He picked up the digimon and looked at him and opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry Kaii, I'm sorry I'm not as strong as Patamon, I'm sorry I can't digivolve."
Ribbitomon then closed his eyes.
"You are!" pleaded Kaii. "You are Ribbitomon! You're my digimon partner and you always will be. I need you."
With that Kaii's digivice began to glow.
'Digivolution Activate'
Kaii watches as Ribbitomon began to glow. He grew much larger at Tigrimon did when she digivolved. Ribbitomon's webbed hands and feet became more apparent and a large fin formed on his back. Smaller fins appeared on his elbows and one appeared on his forehead.
'Ribbitomon digivolve to. KAPPAMON!'
Eric's digivice locked onto Kappamon.
'Kappamon. This aquatic digimon can swim though the seas incredibly fast and his Fin Blade attack can slice though even the hardest of rock.'
"Wind Seeker!"
Harpymon launched another attack towards Kaii and Kappamon.
"I don't think so." Kappamon said. He reached back and grabbed his back fin.
"Fin Blade!"
Kappamon's fin detached from his body.
"Cool!" Eric cried out. "It's a sword!"
Harpymon's Wind Seeker attack was coming ever closer to Kaii when Kappamon jumped in the way and used his Fin Blade to slice the attack in two. Harpymon, realizing that her Wind Seeker attack wasn't enough flew down to the ground. She then began to circle Kappamon. Kappamon kept trying to attack Harpymon with his blade but she was simply too fast. She then began to punch Kappamon while circling, Kappamon was helpless to her speed and power.
Harpymon then stopped and let out another screech. This one was louder and more painful than the last. Sound waves radiated from her mouth and the children once again covered their ears in pain.
"Shut up." Kappamon said calmly as he swung his Fin Blade. The blade connected and Harpymon burst into tiny fragments. Kappamon then reverted to Ribbitomon.
"I did it!" Ribbitomon cried out "I did it, I digivolved!"