Open the Box It's a Fruitcake

888

No one noticed the two glowing eyes in the bushes. A bat Digimon sat in the bushes quietly observing the battle.

"DemiDevimon," A voice in the back of the bat's head barked, "Focus on the Lucemon!"

"Ok, master," said the bat and turned his head and watched the angel.

"He's attacked the pendant…"growled the voice. "What is that light coming from Shima Unimon's boy! Turn your head you idiot!"

"Ok, ok, sheesh pushy aren't we," grumbled DemiDevimon.

"Do it!" growled the voice.

DemiDevimon turned his head. Suddenly, a blast of light made DemiDevimon close his eyes defensively.

"Open you're eyes you useless winged bowling ball!" roared the voice. "I must observe these Digi-destines' capabilities!"

DemiDevimon whimpered as he stared into the blast. He watched as Lucemon blasted the last of the viral data from Growlmon.

"So, this Lucemon is stronger than anticipated," murmured the voice. "Fortunately I have a plan set in motion that will, take him out of the picture."

888

Two gears floated behind the throne. They were black with gold outlines. One floated closer. "Master? Impmon is back from the mission you sent him on…"

"Bring him in," said the voice from the chair.

"Boss, I really don't see the need for this little book!" came the gruff voice of Impmon as he walked in. He was a purple creature with a red ascot around his neck. His face was white and his eyes were a deep hazel.

"That 'book' is the Gospel of the Fallen Angel," growled the voice. Two deep purple wings flicked up over the throne's back. "It holds the power inside of it to cause a digivolution in Lucemon's data line…and a chance to rid me of a dangerous obstacle that risks everything here." The wings shifted slightly and a figure moved into the shadows of the torch light. It had a sharp pointed nose and a pot belly. Two swept back horns rose from his head. He turned. "Hagurumon, digitize the book and make it into a sash…I think our angel friend needs something to help him distinguish himself…."

"Yes, Lord Boogeymon," yelped the two gears and they snatched the book from Impmon.

"Impmon you will deliver the 'gift' to Lucemon," growled the figure.

"Ah, why me? I mean come on, I just got back!" retorted Impmon.

"Two reasons," returned the figure smoothly, "One, you are the only one here at the moment to do it, and two," The figure turned and its eyes glowed a malevolent red. He swung a pitchfork forward. He then roared, "I TOLD YOU TO!"

Impmon fell backwards and looked at the devil. He sneered at the devil and nearly growled. "I'll do it then, since you asked in such a polite and persuasive way."

888

"So now what?" asked Kevin quietly. "I mean, where do we go?"

"Why do we have to go anywhere?" asked Brendan pointedly.

"I want to see my mom and dad again!" replied Amy.

"But how do we get home? Is there even a way home?" replied Brendan. "I can get information on the net but I can't seem to send any e-mail out."

"What's up in those mountains?" asked Jason. The kids turned and looked up at the horizon. There were two sets of mountains. The ones to the north were very tall. Black clouds whirled around them and streaks of red lightning cracked into the rocks. The other set in the east were shrouded in a haze and were not so much tall but obscured. "The ones on the north specifically."

"No you mustn't go there!" yelped the Burgermon leader. "Many Digimon have gone on quests to those northern mountains…none have ever returned. The Digimon that come from those mountains either come out telling the most horrible stories or are just horrible monsters like Snimon."

"Not much is known about the eastern mountains," said Growlmon, "Only that there is a great power there. The northern mountains are indeed a place of great unpleasantness. Some force has made the land nearly barren and the Digimon there have been enveloped in some insanity."

"Barren?" Brendan's eyes flickered with hope. "I wonder."

"What?" asked Michelle.

"Well, maybe there is a portal or something…" said Brendan, "on the northern mountains…It would explain the barrenness…just imagine the radiation that would be caused…"

"I place my bets on the eastern mountains," said Stephen. His eyes moved to them. "I mean what with this great power…."

"What do you guys think?" asked Mark as he looked at the children's Digimon.

"I do not know," said Lucemon. His eyes narrowed. "Growlmon, you've traveled over much of this land. You must know something of this great power."

"This land?" Growlmon chuckled. "I have traveled over most of File Island but I have never attempted travel over either mountain. I do have a friend that has traveled further than I around the Digital World, though, he may know of this 'great power'. His name is Whamon, he's a whale Digimon unfortunately he lives by the coast. We'll have to follow the stream to the ocean…"

"Ugh, all this dancing around" yelled Jason. "We should just go to the mountain and find out!"

"We have no idea of what kind of power or danger is up there," replied Janet. She looked at the others. "If I may, I think we should go to Growlmon's friend and if he is clueless about the mountains then we go straight to them."

"It sounds like a plan," smiled Kevin.

"It's perfectly compromising!" cheered Brendan.

"We like it too!" cheer the two smaller kids.

"I like it," said Amy and looked down at Penguinmon, "A day at the beach…it would be great if I had my swimming suit."

Everyone looked at Jason. "I suppose it is ok…"

The kids smiled and then looked to Growlmon. Kevin opened his mouth, "So, we're ready when you are.."

"Just one more egg burger…they're so mmm mmm good," chuckled Growlmon and snatched up another egg sausage sandwich.

The children walked along the stream most of the morning and only stopped once when the sun had reached the noon hour and they drew out some sandwiches the Burgermon had made for them.

Growlmon told them about how File Island was part a very small part of the digital world. He mentioned that his friend Whamon often told of a great continent to the west of File Island across the great Digital Ocean.

"So, we're here in a world completely made of digital information?" asked Brendan quietly.

"Yes, and as such you are very special," said Growlmon. "Whamon was sort of my mentor and said that he remembers that before the Great Reformat, human children were often brought here to re-establish the balance of the Digital World…"

"What kind of balance?" asked Amy. She put her hand on Growlmon's leg gently.

"Whamon said it was the balance between the light and the malevolent darkness of evil," replied Growlmon.

"Woah, wait a second, put on the brake, stop the meter!" shouted Jason. He hopped up. "It's one thing to get caught up in some vast cosmic oops or storm or something…it's another to have dragged us here on purpose! I mean who do you think you guys are?"

"Jason, there is no need to beat up on the guy," said Janet in a rather annoyed voice, "I doubt Growlmon was the one that dragged us here."

"I apologize," growled Jason.

The bushes near their picnic site shifted slightly. A small Digimon stepped out. He had purple fur and a white face. A red ascot was tied loosely around his neck. Red gloves covered his hands and an arrow shaped tail swished out of the foliage. An evil happy face was plastered on his stomach.

"Impmon," Growlmon's voice lowered to a dark level. "He's a mischievous little Digimon that would rather pop you in the mouth than say hello."

"Shut up, Growlmon," snapped the little Digimon. "I didn't come here to listen to you berate me."

"Then why did you come here, pest?" growled the lizard Digimon.

"I came to show my appreciation to Lucemon to bringing you out of your idiocy, you over grown hand bag!" growled the purple Digimon as he walked closer to the angel. "This is for your actions that brought said, handbag, out of his viral form so he'd stop blasting poor defenseless Digimon, like me, to dust," Impmon handed to Lucemon a sash with a large buckle on it. "This is a show of my appreciation."

"Where did you steal it from?" asked Lucemon.

"Didn't you ever hear you're never supposed to look a gift Unimon in the mouth," returned Impmon. "Just put it on and look all pretty in your angel way."

Lucemon narrowed his eyes and looked to the others. He sighed and nodded and put the sash on. Impmon smiled. Lucemon felt that something was very wrong about the way the sash seemed pulse with a contained energy.

"What is this?" replied Lucemon.

Impmon lifted a small recorder sized device to his mouth, "Now."

Suddenly, the buckle burst forth with uncontrollable energy. Lucemon could feel the energy flowing through him.

888

AN: Huh an odd chapter eh? It's one of those weird little intermediate chapters where lots of stuff is set in motion. So it makes it a bit of a difficult to title. As you can see I chose the title because…the sash isn't exactly what you'd call…the super gift reward…but more of the Christmas fruitcake from Aunt Ethel….