The Remains Of Heaven
Chapter Ten: Fear Of the Dark
By Ryan Bodle
Disclaimer: I do not own digimon or any associated characters.
~*~
"Is it me, or this a very long tunnel?" A disheartened Agumon asked the group. Nobody answered as they continued to press on. For the last half hour at least, they had marched in silence, until Agumon had broken it.
With tired arms, Davis looked at the torch he carried. "Guys, maybe we should turn back soon, this thing is nearly burnt out." It was down to the nub that Davis carried and he felt the heat starting to cook his skin.
"Wait, I see something!" Biyomon exclaimed flying ahead of the group. The rest took cautious steps forward. They started to make out straw and dried grass, strewn around a cove in their path.
"Whatever digimon's living here must be living rough for a good reason," T.K said as he came into the opening. A small beam of light creaked down through rocks as well as a breeze.
"Who would live in a place like this?" Ken asked walking around the back of T.K. Patamon turned.
Davis appeared, slowly edging forward with the torch, casting what little left light they had into all the corners. "Looks like no one's home." The bedding material began to thicken in its presence until it made a lair in the corner.
"Looks cosy," Patomon remarked looking at the den before him. The was a howling wind that blew straight through the tunnel and the torch began to flicker to a minimal flame. Instinctively Davis began to protect the fire and tried to mother it as best possible.
"Somebody get that dried grass will you?" He asked as he shielded it with his body. Ken had grabbed a handful and with Davis began to kindle a larger flame. They concentrated well whilst T.K looked over their shoulders, until he became distracted by a noise. He turned his head behind him.
"What's the matter T.K?" Patomon asked looking down from the nest he had made.
"I heard something," he said staring curiously at the bed made of straw. "There's something in there." Just then there was a scratching noise and the bedding moved. "Guys?" He asked over his shoulder as he eyed the lair.
"What is it?" Davis asked.
"There's something in the dried grass," he answered. Just then a tiny head emerged. Eyes barely noticeable in the dark and they were so small, you would not have noticed them in daylight, all that could bee seen was a little of white fur and then it began to purr almost before a yelp escaped its lips.
"It looks like a pup," Ken said as he saw from a distance. T.K got nearer for a better look and started to reach out for it gently. "T.K, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Ken told him with a stammer in the last of his words.
A low growl came to his right, T.K looked round to see a bigger, firmer and tenacious creature there, teeth bared and its tail raised as it stood on all fours. T.K backed off to the numbers of his friends whilst the beast swept in on the lair, cutting them off from it, then returning to its task of fending the digi-destined off.
"What digimon is that?" T.K asked silently.
"Its not a digimon," Ken replied.
"What?" Turning to Davis who had asked the question, he said with worry. "We're not in the digital world. That's a wolf!"
~*~
After being led through a maze of bodies, harrying around what could only be a court yard, Ark began to lead Kari and Joe through a mass of corridors, each looking like the last until he pushed open a charred black door.
In side the room was small and quaint. A single bed where Matt lay still as stone was made from rudimentary craft, like there was no carpenter available. Still the soft mattress looked comfortable enough and the young man had stopped his stirring. His bad dream had ended and he rested peacefully. An equally peaceful Gabumon sat by the bed side on the floor, watching over the digidestined. He turned his head to the entrants and smiled weakly yet with such happiness and dried tears showed in his eyes.
"That was quick," Kari said, "I thought a serious wound like his would have taken longer to heal." Faith sat on a stool at the bed, wiping his brow with a cloth.
"The shadow cannot harm the body, only change it. And it cannot do that until it has claimed the heart." She explained. "He's strong, he must have been holding on for something to resist the darkness for so long. He has a strong heart." And turning to Kari she added. "I warrant you do to." Kari wasn't quite sure how to respond. Faith got up to leave, "expect to see him fit to walk about by tomorrow morning." Then with ark in tow she left the room.
"He'll be alright, he's strong, just like Faith said," Gabumon said softly, watching over his partner with both compassion and wonder. Kari knelt by him.
"You stayed by his side the whole time Gabumon, he'll be so happy and proud with you I'm sure." She lay a hand on his shoulder and he nuzzled his face against it.
"Guys, I don't want to break up the moment, but I think we need to take some time to think about our next move," Joe spoke up. The others were silent, he hung his head. "Sorry."
"No, you're right," Kari replied. "We have to look for the others sooner or later, we should see if Ark and Faith will help us, maybe we can set out tomorrow by the time Matt's recovered completely. I'll go ask them."
"No I'll go!" Joe said insistently, blocking the door from Kari, surprising her. "You stay here with Gabumon." He made a hasty retreat to the corridors and followed echoes of voices he knew to be Ark's and Faith's. He decided to step quietly down the hallway and eavesdrop the argument going on.
"I can't believe you've lied to them!" He heard Faith. "You prayed and cursed all this time and they finally show up and what do you do? Deny them!"
"I'm not going to make any excuses for what I've done Faith."
"Don't call me that!" The woman spat back. "Not anymore."
"I can't do it Faith, after telling them of what happened to this world it just surfaced my feelings, I can't look at them anymore."
"You're disgusting, I can't believe you'd turn your back on them, they didn't do it to you, despite all this time, they never did. It wasn't their fault!"
"I know it wasn't!" The man shouted back with absolute fury. "But their short time here cannot undo the anger I've held all this time!"
Joe had heard enough, he gritted his teeth and with a firm look pushed the door open. It didn't make a sound but he revealed himself amongst the shouting and the two looked to him. Ark still mad glared at him.
"Spy on us will you!?" He shouted. "You're worse than I give you credit for."
"If I was spying Ark, I would have left before you even knew I was here," Joe answered with surprising menace. "Have I done you an unspeakable wrong in a past life? Because I've never done anything to deserve this hatred from you now."
At that moment Ark was angered enough to cut Joe down where he stood. His hand reached the hilt of his sword and at the last moment he steadied it before he unsheathed his weapon. Then with a grunt he stormed past Joe.
Joe's heart thundered in his chest but his stance hadn't changed and neither had his mood. For the first time in his life, he was furious. "No, this isn't over," he told Ark.
"It is for me," Ark responded abruptly. Joe caught him up as Ark walked a lengthy corridor and with volume he never thought he had screamed with authority.
"Hida Iori! You face me right now!" The sound echoed through the entire fort and out into the entire digimon camp. Ark stood still for a moment, his eyes tried to look as far back without him turning. And then with reluctance he turned and looked at Joe. Then with a sterner and much quieter voice, he said. "Didn't your Grandpa ever tell you the worst thing you could ever do in this life is to lie to somebody?"
Ark's features softened. He stood in silence at this moment with surprise. The younger man knew who he was and it was a shocking development. With nothing to say, he retreated into the depths of the fortress beyond Joe's ability to follow. Soft steps behind him made Faith's presence known.
"I'm sorry Joe," she said, almost in tears. "Please don't be mad with him."
Joe breathed a heavy sigh. He let his frustration drop and turned to face her tearful face. "It's ok Yolei," he said back. They looked at each other for some time before Yolei or Faith could bare it no longer and collapsed on his shoulder, crying a hundred tears. Feeling alienated by this action, Joe at first awkwardly held her, before slipping naturally into a consoling embrace.
~*~
Davis, Ken and T.K along with the five digimon that accompanied them backed off with their arms held out in front submissively, where they had them. For the moment, the wolf looked quite content to let them do so all the while they were so near. Then after they had reached a good twenty feet, it began to follow them, stalking their movements, ushering them further out of the cave.
"Anybody have any ideas?" Davis asked. The wolf barked madly at his oral communication and he ducked further behind his hands for a second and peeped back over. Nobody else dared speak until Ken saw the exit behind him.
"Relax, its just protecting its young, once we leave it will leave us alone," he said neutrally. Another wind blew forcefully through the tunnel again. The wolf stopped and sniffed the air about it. Then growling over its shoulder turned and bounded down the tunnel.
"What was that about?" T.K asked. To answer him, the deafening barks shattered down the tunnel in echoes. More than one wolf was there.
"More attackers," Ken concluded.
"She sounds out numbered," Davis added. Ken nodded at that with a concerned look. T.K looked over at Davis.
"She?"
"It must the mom," he answered. "Come on." He started back down the tunnel.
"Davis! Are you crazy?" Ken asked.
"Wanna take a quick vote?" Veemon asked taking after his partner. Davis aimed a short kick at the blue digimon, quite unimpressed with the joke.
"Looks like we'll have to bail him out again," T.K said as he followed him. Ken with not much choice took off last to the rescue. He saw the brown haired boy waving the barely lit torch at two wolves, pushing them back. Then the outline of Agumon came up by him and Biyomon by his head. But as much as they tried, they couldn't get a shot through Davis' maniac swinging.
With little thought he ran up behind him quickly and allowed Wormmon to the floor. "Wormmon!" He said and instinctively his partner rolled under Davis and let out his attack.
"Sticky Web!" Instantly, a spread of viscous silk was laid out in front of him and caught the two attackers by surprise, holding them still. Ken grabbed Davis by the arms and stopped him swinging.
"Pepper Breath!"
"Spiral Twister!"
Both Agumon and Biyomon let out their attacks against the invaders, catching them with a stinging burn and whilst freeing them of their bonds, causing them to turn tail and flee. Their wails sounding through the tunnel.
"What were you going to do once your flame went out?" Ken asked smug. Davis didn't care, he slumped against the wall and looked back. There, the mother wolf was licking a wounded leg, regarding the digidestined before limping away.
"What do you suppose that means?"
"Thank you I guess," Ken said. "I doubt she trusts us still, but it would be nice to know she's not going to attack us."
Down the tunnel no sound was made and the three agreed it was not a good idea to follow the wolf. They sat and rested for a moment. The brittle wind still howled down the tunnel and the coldness bit at them, causing the three boys to pull their clothes tighter. "We can't stay here," T.K said. "We'll freeze to death."
They were all barely dressed for any weather below a slight chill let alone the snows outside. "Where do we go though?" Ken asked them. Davis stood up.
"That way," he said firmly. The other craned their necks at where he pointed. There was a smoke trail lifting to the sky. "We better go while the weather's at its best."
There was no eagerness to go out there. All three boys and five digimon were totally under prepared for the weather but each knew staying was suicide. At least now there was little wind and the chill seemed to be lessened by an open sky with the sun there. Ken came to another realisation.
"Believe it or not, there's a he risk of sun burn here, don't look down to the snow and try to keep covered up."
"How in the world-?" Davis started.
"The UV rays that cause sun burn are particularly more vibrant because they reflect straight off the white snow and back up at you, lets move quickly and we'll have nothing to worry about." With that Davis nodded and led the party out into the wilderness for the one sign of civilisation.
No food, no water and the perfectly clear scene that they were in a hostile land with little to no idea of how to survive. Davis swallowed hard, even against Mega digimon with maniac tendencies for world domination, this was the first time in his life he feared for his life as well as everyone else's.
~*~
Now recovered from her emotional moment, an adult Yolei had walked Joe through the halls, deeper into the fortress that they occupied. Joe had wanted to see Io or as he figured, Izzy since he got here. He never knew Cody to be so hot-headed, but he knew Yolei to be more temperamental and thought Izzy just the same. They had soon begun a downhill walk and Joe couldn't stand the silence. Just the steady beat of an echo. Footsteps he made, she stepped to lightly to make them.
"What has he been doing down here?" Joe asked, trying to make something ease how awkward he felt.
"Looking for a way to return things to normal using his computer," she answered. "But more importantly, a way to go home."
"Why didn't you just use your digivices?" Joe asked. Yolei smiled almost as if it were a joke but remembered he never knew how they struggled.
"When the shadow was released from its cage, our digivices stopped working."
"Ours too, but they worked after a while, maybe yours do again now," he suggested.
"I thought they might," she added. "But I tried when I had seen you come back to us in the courtyard. They still lie dormant, waiting for the spirit of a child to use it." Joe didn't know what she meant by that.
It seemed she talked a lot like Cody now older. More proper of some sort of "Ye olde" tongue that sounded quite elegant from her. He wanted to ask where that came from but decided against it. There was a lot he wanted to know but best not ask. As far as he could tell, they had been through hell that dragged on over years when it passed by in just four hours to him. It was amazing if not tragic.
They finally reached the inner sanctum, down one long corridor, a single door led to the heart of the mighty base and a dim glow radiated through the cracks of the entrance. Without thought, Yolei had opened the door and stepped inside. Joe a little more apprehensive as he entered.
Various stacks of machinery covered the walls, leaving little natural Earth showing and there was little light except that which came from the three monitors that were sitting on an old ragged table. The hooked up to a single battered laptop, lying in the middle of the floor. Nobody was in the room.
"Can I help you?" A voice asked. Very thin in its sincerity, as if angry to be interrupted. Joe looked over his shoulder. The was a figure lying behind the door, hunched over a piece of paper that rested on a slate, slanted on his legs. Long shaggy hair that hadn't been treated or looked after covered his face. He hadn't bothered to look up. Not until neither of the intruders failed to answer.
It slowly began to shift to look upwards and the matted hair slid back to reveal a lean face, covered in as much dirt as the hair. The frustrated look began fading as it came to lock eyes with Joe in an unbelieving stare.
"Joe?" It asked. He nodded with a smile, slipping a hand casually into his pockets and giving a slanted grin.
"Hey buddy."
"You bastard," Izzy replied still smiling. "You're gone all this time and all you can do is grin and say 'Hey buddy?'" Joe shrugged.
"Its been a weird day," he explained. Without warning, Izzy leapt at him grappled him into a hug before releasing quickly.
"Just a day? I can't believe you made it back, I thought you would be locked out for good!"
"Hey, do you think the force of one little shadow would keep us from coming to get you guys?" Joe felt a stronger person right now, despite his friends being nearly ten years older than him now. They were worn down and tired, thankful for the most part he was there now.
The entire room shook violently the three stood watching the ceiling. "We're under attack," Yolei said, "To the walls!" She darted for the door. The other two followed. There was a calm before another shaking, putting them off balance as they ran. Just then a siren rang. The overdue warning bell. Whoever was on lookout duty would be getting it in the neck from Cody.
Joe wasn't sure where he was, but kept following. As he ran by he heard a voice call out for him. He saw Gomamon peek out of the room. "Gomamon! Follow me!" He shouted. Gomamon took off as Kari began to follow. "No! Stay with Matt and just wait, it'll be over soon."
"Like hell you'll leave her to baby-sit me," Matt shouted as he stood in the doorway.
"Stay in that room!" Joe shouted commandingly and disappeared as Gomamon came round the corner, he hopped up into Joe's arms so that he could move quicker.
"What's going on?"
"We're about to find out," Joe answered.
"Looks like a shadow hunting party found its way into the courtyard, a pretty big one too," Izzy answered ahead.
"Is that this Io, Ark was talking about?" Gomamon asked.
"I hate that name!" Izzy explained as they ran. "Call me Izzy." Gomamon couldn't quite keep up with the events.
"What's going on?"
"We can do twenty questions later Gomamon," Joe said as they came into the daylight as well as complete panic. Five huge domineering figures stood around a small hole dug into the yard. Helpless digimon fleeing, the stronger soldiers gathering in a complete confusion. Ark in the middle of it roaring commands with absolute authority, each whim being obeyed as he prepared to take on the invaders.
Izzy looked down at Gomamon. "Can you still digivolve?" With a determined look, he nodded up and almost growled. Ready to fight.
Disclaimer: I do not own digimon or any associated characters.
~*~
"Is it me, or this a very long tunnel?" A disheartened Agumon asked the group. Nobody answered as they continued to press on. For the last half hour at least, they had marched in silence, until Agumon had broken it.
With tired arms, Davis looked at the torch he carried. "Guys, maybe we should turn back soon, this thing is nearly burnt out." It was down to the nub that Davis carried and he felt the heat starting to cook his skin.
"Wait, I see something!" Biyomon exclaimed flying ahead of the group. The rest took cautious steps forward. They started to make out straw and dried grass, strewn around a cove in their path.
"Whatever digimon's living here must be living rough for a good reason," T.K said as he came into the opening. A small beam of light creaked down through rocks as well as a breeze.
"Who would live in a place like this?" Ken asked walking around the back of T.K. Patamon turned.
Davis appeared, slowly edging forward with the torch, casting what little left light they had into all the corners. "Looks like no one's home." The bedding material began to thicken in its presence until it made a lair in the corner.
"Looks cosy," Patomon remarked looking at the den before him. The was a howling wind that blew straight through the tunnel and the torch began to flicker to a minimal flame. Instinctively Davis began to protect the fire and tried to mother it as best possible.
"Somebody get that dried grass will you?" He asked as he shielded it with his body. Ken had grabbed a handful and with Davis began to kindle a larger flame. They concentrated well whilst T.K looked over their shoulders, until he became distracted by a noise. He turned his head behind him.
"What's the matter T.K?" Patomon asked looking down from the nest he had made.
"I heard something," he said staring curiously at the bed made of straw. "There's something in there." Just then there was a scratching noise and the bedding moved. "Guys?" He asked over his shoulder as he eyed the lair.
"What is it?" Davis asked.
"There's something in the dried grass," he answered. Just then a tiny head emerged. Eyes barely noticeable in the dark and they were so small, you would not have noticed them in daylight, all that could bee seen was a little of white fur and then it began to purr almost before a yelp escaped its lips.
"It looks like a pup," Ken said as he saw from a distance. T.K got nearer for a better look and started to reach out for it gently. "T.K, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Ken told him with a stammer in the last of his words.
A low growl came to his right, T.K looked round to see a bigger, firmer and tenacious creature there, teeth bared and its tail raised as it stood on all fours. T.K backed off to the numbers of his friends whilst the beast swept in on the lair, cutting them off from it, then returning to its task of fending the digi-destined off.
"What digimon is that?" T.K asked silently.
"Its not a digimon," Ken replied.
"What?" Turning to Davis who had asked the question, he said with worry. "We're not in the digital world. That's a wolf!"
~*~
After being led through a maze of bodies, harrying around what could only be a court yard, Ark began to lead Kari and Joe through a mass of corridors, each looking like the last until he pushed open a charred black door.
In side the room was small and quaint. A single bed where Matt lay still as stone was made from rudimentary craft, like there was no carpenter available. Still the soft mattress looked comfortable enough and the young man had stopped his stirring. His bad dream had ended and he rested peacefully. An equally peaceful Gabumon sat by the bed side on the floor, watching over the digidestined. He turned his head to the entrants and smiled weakly yet with such happiness and dried tears showed in his eyes.
"That was quick," Kari said, "I thought a serious wound like his would have taken longer to heal." Faith sat on a stool at the bed, wiping his brow with a cloth.
"The shadow cannot harm the body, only change it. And it cannot do that until it has claimed the heart." She explained. "He's strong, he must have been holding on for something to resist the darkness for so long. He has a strong heart." And turning to Kari she added. "I warrant you do to." Kari wasn't quite sure how to respond. Faith got up to leave, "expect to see him fit to walk about by tomorrow morning." Then with ark in tow she left the room.
"He'll be alright, he's strong, just like Faith said," Gabumon said softly, watching over his partner with both compassion and wonder. Kari knelt by him.
"You stayed by his side the whole time Gabumon, he'll be so happy and proud with you I'm sure." She lay a hand on his shoulder and he nuzzled his face against it.
"Guys, I don't want to break up the moment, but I think we need to take some time to think about our next move," Joe spoke up. The others were silent, he hung his head. "Sorry."
"No, you're right," Kari replied. "We have to look for the others sooner or later, we should see if Ark and Faith will help us, maybe we can set out tomorrow by the time Matt's recovered completely. I'll go ask them."
"No I'll go!" Joe said insistently, blocking the door from Kari, surprising her. "You stay here with Gabumon." He made a hasty retreat to the corridors and followed echoes of voices he knew to be Ark's and Faith's. He decided to step quietly down the hallway and eavesdrop the argument going on.
"I can't believe you've lied to them!" He heard Faith. "You prayed and cursed all this time and they finally show up and what do you do? Deny them!"
"I'm not going to make any excuses for what I've done Faith."
"Don't call me that!" The woman spat back. "Not anymore."
"I can't do it Faith, after telling them of what happened to this world it just surfaced my feelings, I can't look at them anymore."
"You're disgusting, I can't believe you'd turn your back on them, they didn't do it to you, despite all this time, they never did. It wasn't their fault!"
"I know it wasn't!" The man shouted back with absolute fury. "But their short time here cannot undo the anger I've held all this time!"
Joe had heard enough, he gritted his teeth and with a firm look pushed the door open. It didn't make a sound but he revealed himself amongst the shouting and the two looked to him. Ark still mad glared at him.
"Spy on us will you!?" He shouted. "You're worse than I give you credit for."
"If I was spying Ark, I would have left before you even knew I was here," Joe answered with surprising menace. "Have I done you an unspeakable wrong in a past life? Because I've never done anything to deserve this hatred from you now."
At that moment Ark was angered enough to cut Joe down where he stood. His hand reached the hilt of his sword and at the last moment he steadied it before he unsheathed his weapon. Then with a grunt he stormed past Joe.
Joe's heart thundered in his chest but his stance hadn't changed and neither had his mood. For the first time in his life, he was furious. "No, this isn't over," he told Ark.
"It is for me," Ark responded abruptly. Joe caught him up as Ark walked a lengthy corridor and with volume he never thought he had screamed with authority.
"Hida Iori! You face me right now!" The sound echoed through the entire fort and out into the entire digimon camp. Ark stood still for a moment, his eyes tried to look as far back without him turning. And then with reluctance he turned and looked at Joe. Then with a sterner and much quieter voice, he said. "Didn't your Grandpa ever tell you the worst thing you could ever do in this life is to lie to somebody?"
Ark's features softened. He stood in silence at this moment with surprise. The younger man knew who he was and it was a shocking development. With nothing to say, he retreated into the depths of the fortress beyond Joe's ability to follow. Soft steps behind him made Faith's presence known.
"I'm sorry Joe," she said, almost in tears. "Please don't be mad with him."
Joe breathed a heavy sigh. He let his frustration drop and turned to face her tearful face. "It's ok Yolei," he said back. They looked at each other for some time before Yolei or Faith could bare it no longer and collapsed on his shoulder, crying a hundred tears. Feeling alienated by this action, Joe at first awkwardly held her, before slipping naturally into a consoling embrace.
~*~
Davis, Ken and T.K along with the five digimon that accompanied them backed off with their arms held out in front submissively, where they had them. For the moment, the wolf looked quite content to let them do so all the while they were so near. Then after they had reached a good twenty feet, it began to follow them, stalking their movements, ushering them further out of the cave.
"Anybody have any ideas?" Davis asked. The wolf barked madly at his oral communication and he ducked further behind his hands for a second and peeped back over. Nobody else dared speak until Ken saw the exit behind him.
"Relax, its just protecting its young, once we leave it will leave us alone," he said neutrally. Another wind blew forcefully through the tunnel again. The wolf stopped and sniffed the air about it. Then growling over its shoulder turned and bounded down the tunnel.
"What was that about?" T.K asked. To answer him, the deafening barks shattered down the tunnel in echoes. More than one wolf was there.
"More attackers," Ken concluded.
"She sounds out numbered," Davis added. Ken nodded at that with a concerned look. T.K looked over at Davis.
"She?"
"It must the mom," he answered. "Come on." He started back down the tunnel.
"Davis! Are you crazy?" Ken asked.
"Wanna take a quick vote?" Veemon asked taking after his partner. Davis aimed a short kick at the blue digimon, quite unimpressed with the joke.
"Looks like we'll have to bail him out again," T.K said as he followed him. Ken with not much choice took off last to the rescue. He saw the brown haired boy waving the barely lit torch at two wolves, pushing them back. Then the outline of Agumon came up by him and Biyomon by his head. But as much as they tried, they couldn't get a shot through Davis' maniac swinging.
With little thought he ran up behind him quickly and allowed Wormmon to the floor. "Wormmon!" He said and instinctively his partner rolled under Davis and let out his attack.
"Sticky Web!" Instantly, a spread of viscous silk was laid out in front of him and caught the two attackers by surprise, holding them still. Ken grabbed Davis by the arms and stopped him swinging.
"Pepper Breath!"
"Spiral Twister!"
Both Agumon and Biyomon let out their attacks against the invaders, catching them with a stinging burn and whilst freeing them of their bonds, causing them to turn tail and flee. Their wails sounding through the tunnel.
"What were you going to do once your flame went out?" Ken asked smug. Davis didn't care, he slumped against the wall and looked back. There, the mother wolf was licking a wounded leg, regarding the digidestined before limping away.
"What do you suppose that means?"
"Thank you I guess," Ken said. "I doubt she trusts us still, but it would be nice to know she's not going to attack us."
Down the tunnel no sound was made and the three agreed it was not a good idea to follow the wolf. They sat and rested for a moment. The brittle wind still howled down the tunnel and the coldness bit at them, causing the three boys to pull their clothes tighter. "We can't stay here," T.K said. "We'll freeze to death."
They were all barely dressed for any weather below a slight chill let alone the snows outside. "Where do we go though?" Ken asked them. Davis stood up.
"That way," he said firmly. The other craned their necks at where he pointed. There was a smoke trail lifting to the sky. "We better go while the weather's at its best."
There was no eagerness to go out there. All three boys and five digimon were totally under prepared for the weather but each knew staying was suicide. At least now there was little wind and the chill seemed to be lessened by an open sky with the sun there. Ken came to another realisation.
"Believe it or not, there's a he risk of sun burn here, don't look down to the snow and try to keep covered up."
"How in the world-?" Davis started.
"The UV rays that cause sun burn are particularly more vibrant because they reflect straight off the white snow and back up at you, lets move quickly and we'll have nothing to worry about." With that Davis nodded and led the party out into the wilderness for the one sign of civilisation.
No food, no water and the perfectly clear scene that they were in a hostile land with little to no idea of how to survive. Davis swallowed hard, even against Mega digimon with maniac tendencies for world domination, this was the first time in his life he feared for his life as well as everyone else's.
~*~
Now recovered from her emotional moment, an adult Yolei had walked Joe through the halls, deeper into the fortress that they occupied. Joe had wanted to see Io or as he figured, Izzy since he got here. He never knew Cody to be so hot-headed, but he knew Yolei to be more temperamental and thought Izzy just the same. They had soon begun a downhill walk and Joe couldn't stand the silence. Just the steady beat of an echo. Footsteps he made, she stepped to lightly to make them.
"What has he been doing down here?" Joe asked, trying to make something ease how awkward he felt.
"Looking for a way to return things to normal using his computer," she answered. "But more importantly, a way to go home."
"Why didn't you just use your digivices?" Joe asked. Yolei smiled almost as if it were a joke but remembered he never knew how they struggled.
"When the shadow was released from its cage, our digivices stopped working."
"Ours too, but they worked after a while, maybe yours do again now," he suggested.
"I thought they might," she added. "But I tried when I had seen you come back to us in the courtyard. They still lie dormant, waiting for the spirit of a child to use it." Joe didn't know what she meant by that.
It seemed she talked a lot like Cody now older. More proper of some sort of "Ye olde" tongue that sounded quite elegant from her. He wanted to ask where that came from but decided against it. There was a lot he wanted to know but best not ask. As far as he could tell, they had been through hell that dragged on over years when it passed by in just four hours to him. It was amazing if not tragic.
They finally reached the inner sanctum, down one long corridor, a single door led to the heart of the mighty base and a dim glow radiated through the cracks of the entrance. Without thought, Yolei had opened the door and stepped inside. Joe a little more apprehensive as he entered.
Various stacks of machinery covered the walls, leaving little natural Earth showing and there was little light except that which came from the three monitors that were sitting on an old ragged table. The hooked up to a single battered laptop, lying in the middle of the floor. Nobody was in the room.
"Can I help you?" A voice asked. Very thin in its sincerity, as if angry to be interrupted. Joe looked over his shoulder. The was a figure lying behind the door, hunched over a piece of paper that rested on a slate, slanted on his legs. Long shaggy hair that hadn't been treated or looked after covered his face. He hadn't bothered to look up. Not until neither of the intruders failed to answer.
It slowly began to shift to look upwards and the matted hair slid back to reveal a lean face, covered in as much dirt as the hair. The frustrated look began fading as it came to lock eyes with Joe in an unbelieving stare.
"Joe?" It asked. He nodded with a smile, slipping a hand casually into his pockets and giving a slanted grin.
"Hey buddy."
"You bastard," Izzy replied still smiling. "You're gone all this time and all you can do is grin and say 'Hey buddy?'" Joe shrugged.
"Its been a weird day," he explained. Without warning, Izzy leapt at him grappled him into a hug before releasing quickly.
"Just a day? I can't believe you made it back, I thought you would be locked out for good!"
"Hey, do you think the force of one little shadow would keep us from coming to get you guys?" Joe felt a stronger person right now, despite his friends being nearly ten years older than him now. They were worn down and tired, thankful for the most part he was there now.
The entire room shook violently the three stood watching the ceiling. "We're under attack," Yolei said, "To the walls!" She darted for the door. The other two followed. There was a calm before another shaking, putting them off balance as they ran. Just then a siren rang. The overdue warning bell. Whoever was on lookout duty would be getting it in the neck from Cody.
Joe wasn't sure where he was, but kept following. As he ran by he heard a voice call out for him. He saw Gomamon peek out of the room. "Gomamon! Follow me!" He shouted. Gomamon took off as Kari began to follow. "No! Stay with Matt and just wait, it'll be over soon."
"Like hell you'll leave her to baby-sit me," Matt shouted as he stood in the doorway.
"Stay in that room!" Joe shouted commandingly and disappeared as Gomamon came round the corner, he hopped up into Joe's arms so that he could move quicker.
"What's going on?"
"We're about to find out," Joe answered.
"Looks like a shadow hunting party found its way into the courtyard, a pretty big one too," Izzy answered ahead.
"Is that this Io, Ark was talking about?" Gomamon asked.
"I hate that name!" Izzy explained as they ran. "Call me Izzy." Gomamon couldn't quite keep up with the events.
"What's going on?"
"We can do twenty questions later Gomamon," Joe said as they came into the daylight as well as complete panic. Five huge domineering figures stood around a small hole dug into the yard. Helpless digimon fleeing, the stronger soldiers gathering in a complete confusion. Ark in the middle of it roaring commands with absolute authority, each whim being obeyed as he prepared to take on the invaders.
Izzy looked down at Gomamon. "Can you still digivolve?" With a determined look, he nodded up and almost growled. Ready to fight.