CHAPTER ONE: HOME SWEET HOME
Passing through the Cerulean portal was nothing like what Renamon had expected. She had expected that the trip through the portal would be easy and slightly comfortable but what Renamon got was the complete and total opposite of what she had anticipated.
Going through the Cerulean portal was rough. The swirling blue and purple lights were making the female fox-like dizzy and at the moment it was almost impossible for Renamon to make out Renomon because her vision was also very blurred.
It was like being in a windstorm. The force of the portal kept causing Renamon to collide roughly with the ramparts of the portal. Oh how Renamon wished that this horrible ride would end and fortunately for Renamon…it soon did.
The next thing the golden fox knew, there was a big flash of blinding white light and shortly after a while, Renamon opened her eyes to see herself hovering in the air above a grimy deserted desert.
In the beginning, Renamon was thoroughly relieved that she was finally out of the dreadful Cerulean portal but then all of a sudden, Renamon let out a tiny yelp as she unexpectedly had a collision with the dusty desert ground.
It was not quite a harsh fall because Renamon was uninjured though she still felt highly embarrassed. Shaking her head vigorously and spitting pieces of gravel out of her mouth, Renamon gazed around at her new surroundings.
As she had noticed previously, Renamon had landed in a clear desert. There was nothing there but sand, spiky green cacti and mountains of dirty hilltops…at least that was what Renamon saw.
Helping herself off the ground, Renamon looked around the place for any sign of the other brown male fox-like Renomon, only to find him standing a few yards away from her. Renomon's chestnut brown tail swished from side to side absently and there a slightly amused grin on his face as he stared at Renamon.
"What are you smiling at?" Renamon questioned staring back at Renomon while dusting sand off her knees.
Renomon gave a minor chortle. "If you must know, I'm laughing at you sweetheart," Renomon answered audaciously, "I have never seen a Renamon hit the ground so hard like you."
Renamon's cheeks turned red and she immediately looked away from Renomon. She was rather self-conscious at the situation. Renomon noticed this and took it into consideration.
"Awh cheer up Renamon, don't feel embarrassed," Renomon said magnanimously, "besides I was only joking with you."
"Well that's eccentric because I definitely don't find myself falling from a reckless portal and onto the coarse earth humorous at all," Renamon said monotonously.
Renomon chuckled again. The chestnut fox leisurely wrapped his tail around Renamon's waist and pulled her against his chest.
Renomon then lifted Renamon's chin up to his face so that she could see straight into his scarlet red eyes.
"Alright, so I'm sorry that I laughed at you. It was a ghastly mistake," Renomon said.
"You got that right," Renamon muttered.
"(Sigh) Is there anyway that I can make you forgive me Renamon?" Renomon asked, "I know, perhaps I can kiss the injuries that you made on your terrible fall."
"But…I don't have any wounds from my fall. I'm completely uninjured," Renamon said truthfully.
"Oh then I must be moderately blind," Renomon said, "because I see an injury right……here."
Renamon's eyes opened wildly in surprise as Renomon held her chin closer to his face and planted his lips over hers.
Initially, it would have been Renamon's first intentions to strike anyone who came that close to her but…she humbly made an acceptation since it was Renomon she was dealing with.
During the course of the past days Renamon had grown really close to Renomon and as much as she hated to admit it, Renamon loved it when Renomon kissed her lips. Infact, she had grown to adore it to an extent.
After a minute of savoring the feeling of their passionate kiss, both Renomon and Renamon lastly broke their lip lock.
"Now, do you feel all better?" Renomon asked beaming toothily at Renamon.
Renamon smirked goofily. "Much better," she answered dreamily.
"Good," Renomon said, "well since you're feeling okay, let's get going to the Foxwood Village."
"Let's get going to the Foxwood Village?" Renamon repeated a bit dumbfounded, "aren't we at the village already?"
"No, actually where a mile away from the village," Renomon answered.
"A mile away!" Renamon exclaimed flabbergasted, "but…I thought you said that the Cerulean portal will take us directly to the Foxwood Village."
"I know that Renamon and for to tell you the truth, the Cerulean portal did take us directly to the Foxwood Village," Renomon answered.
"It did?" Renamon said confusedly.
"Yes it did," Renomon said, "you see, the Cerulean portal did take us to the Foxwood Village but it did not exactly take us to the village itself. We are actually at the entrance pathway to the Foxwood Village. The village is on the other side of the mountain. Do you understand now Renamon?"
"I guess so," Renamon answered, "how long will it take us to reach the village from here?"
"Hmmm…about an hour but that only depends on how fast you and I walk," Renomon responded.
"Humph! Well don't worry Renomon, I won't slow you down" Renamon said sarcastically as she folded her arms.
Renomon laughed and shook his head at Renamon's fanatical irony.
"Well since you put it that way," Renomon said, "let's get moving."
Renamon nodded in agreement as Renomon began walking down the entrance pathway to the Foxwood Village. Glancing a keen eye behind her back, Renamon looked for any other life forms near the pathway before she finally began following after Renomon.
"How much further do we have to go Renomon?" Renamon asked the other maroon fox curiously.
"You shall know soon enough Renamon," Renomon answered calmly.
The two foxes have been walking for more than forty-five minutes and so far Renamon had not seen any sign of the Foxwood Village. Although Renomon kept reassuring her that they would reach the village shortly, Renamon constantly felt her patience growing thinner and thinner by the second.
Renomon turned the corner of their entrance pathway and not wanting to loose track of the claret fox, Renamon hastily followed behind him. For another fifteen minutes, Renomon and Renamon kept walking along the path, this time in silence. But there walk was soon cut short when Renomon came a steady halt. This caused Renamon to stop as well.
As she glanced infront of Renomon, Renamon saw why he had stopped. Infront of the two foxes was a dead end. There was nothing else there but a clear green limestone wall, which was nearly blocked away by a few boulders. Now Renamon and Renomon were completely prevented from going any further and this made Renamon furious.
"A dead end? I can't believe this," Renamon screamed heatedly, "Renomon I thought you said that this pathway of yours will lead us directly to the Foxwood Village."
"It does my dear Renamon; you just have to be…patient," Renomon answered calmly while he leisurely felt the contours of the shimmering limestone wall.
"Patient? How can I be patient?" Renamon said, "this wall is a complete dead end."
"Aah but you are incorrect my dear Renamon," Renomon said still tapping the wall, "this wall is not a dead end. It is merely another passageway to our village; at least until I find the proper switch."
"Switch? What switch?" Renamon inquired.
"This one," Renomon answered as he slowly pushed a small contour on the limestone wall.
And to Renamon's utter astonishment, the limestone wall miraculously opened up revealing another conduit.
Renamon felt her jaw drop in shock.
"Wow. What is that?" Renamon asked, her face filled with awe.
"That Renamon is the newest way for our fellow Renomon and Renamon to get into the Foxwood Village," Renomon explained, "manufactured and secluded by the magic of Taomon and Vosmon, this wall is strong."
"I see," Renamon said understandingly, "but why the secret entrance? Don't the Renamon and Renomon in the Foxwood Village want other digimon to visit our lovely sanctuary?"
"As matter of fact, we don't Renamon," Renomon replied, "you see, ever since the incident involving Firestegosmon and the destruction of our old village, the Renomon and Renamon decided to build this so we could be prepared for any other sort of attack."
"So this wall prevents any other digimon from getting into the Foxwood Village unless they know where the secret switch is, correct?" Renamon said.
"Precisely," Renomon answered.
"But what if another digimon does find the switch," Renamon continued, "will they still be able to get into the village?"
"No they will not," Renomon responded, "like I said before Renamon, this wall was built and protected with the magic of Taomon and Vosmon, so if you are Renomon or a Renamon, you will be allowed to go through the passageway safely. But…if you are not a Renomon or a Renamon and you indeed happen to find the secret switch and go through the pathway, well…all I have to say is that your journey will be a short one."
"Why is that?" Renamon said questionably.
"Because, this secret wall is not the only new source of protection that the Renomon and Renamon here installed to shield our village, I can reassure you of that?" Renomon answered.
"Really," Renamon said somewhat impressed, "what else is there to protect our village?"
"Nothing that is easy to pass through," Renomon answered grinning toothily.
Renamon stared at Renomon curiously. She wanted more than anything to know what else was protecting the Foxwood Village, but Renamon eventually had to drop the topic of that when she saw Renomon entering the secret pathway without her. Not wanting to be left behind, Renamon quickly darted after the other brown and black fox.
The tunnel behind the secret wall was very dark, nearly impossible to see. The only two sources of light were a pair of golden-edged torches but they were slowly beginning to dim out as the tunnel began to get a lot colder the further you moved along the path. Renamon gently wrapped her arms around herself and tried to stay as warm as possible as she trailed after Renomon though the tunnel.
It did not take the two foxes long to reach the end of the tunnel and as soon as they did, Renamon was bathed with a beam of bright light. Squinting through the luminosity, Renamon walked out into the light only to nearly skid off the ground as she found herself near the edge of a cliff. Renamon looked down at the surface below her. It was vast enormous place with most of its surroundings surrounded by evergreen trees.
Renamon watched this surrounding carefully.
"Hey! Are you done sight-seeing over there!" shouted the booming voice of Renomon.
Renamon glanced to her side. There was Renomon standing almost to the end of the cliff a few yards away from her. Renamon smiled at Renomon.
"No I am not finished sight-seeing. Can I watch the scenery a bit more?" Renamon said sardonically.
Renomon chuckled. "If you want to," Renomon answered, "but I thought you wanted to see the new Foxwood Village. I mean, there it is over there."
"What? You're kidding," Renamon said walking over to where Renomon stood and looking round.
"No I'm not kidding. There is our village right across that plain," Renomon answered gesticulating to something in the north
Renamon looked in the direction that Renomon was pointing in and then, Renamon's eyes widened as she goggled at what she was now seeing.
In the north, just behind the same green grounds that Renamon was observing before, was a village. But it was not just any village, it was the Foxwood Village; the biggest village and most luxurious that Renamon had ever laid her eyes on.
From where she stood, Renamon could have seen the tops of the many various huts in the village. Not only that, but Renamon could have also seen the new village flower fields that Renomon had told her about previously. These flower fields were situated at the left side of the village, as Renamon so charily saw.
"Ooh Renomon, is that really it?" Renamon said after a while of gazing dreamy-eyed at the beautiful village in the far distance.
Renomon nodded. "Yes Renamon, feast your eyes upon the new Foxwood Village," Renomon answered.
Renamon beamed broadly. She had expected the village to be beautiful but not that beautiful. The new Foxwood Village was truly a stunning spectacle.
"Here we are Renamon, home sweet home!" Renomon exclaimed.
Renamon let out a gasp of excitement. It did not take either Renamon or Renomon long to reach the entrance gate to the Foxwood Village. And as the spirally bronze gates of the village opened up, Renamon's entire face lit up. Taking a step forward into the village quarters, Renamon's sapphire eyes traveled to every quarter of the village.
"Oh my lord," Renamon said slowly, "this place is……magnificent!"
The new Foxwood Village was nothing that Renamon had never seen before. It was humungous not to mention utterly gorgeous. There were many different huts, cottages and tiny shops in the village. They were all bright yellow in colour each with a baby blue roof made out of an attractive shimmering material that Renamon found rather luxurious.
In addition, the roads of the Foxwood village were tiled perfectly with a vanilla-cream concrete and as other Renomon and Renamon walked over the tiled roads, the tile shimmered beautifully in the florescent sunlight. Renamon looked at this scenery with a face of utter admiration for it was all…so exquisite.
Seeing the overwhelmed expression on the female fox's face, Renomon smiled cheerfully to himself.
"So Renamon, what do you think of our new village?" Renomon asked, "do you think it's pretty?"
"Pretty? I think it's gorgeous," Renamon answered beaming as she continued staring around the village.
Renomon tittered. "Well I'm glad you like it," he said, "would you care for a small tour?"
"Of course, I would love too." Renamon answered earnestly.
"Then follow me," Renomon instructed as he began to stroll down the streets of the Foxwood village amongst the other traveling Renomon and Renamon. Renamon followed cautiously behind him.
As they ambled down the lined streets of the Foxwood Village, Renomon vigilantly pointed out a few things about the village to Renamon, who listened conscientiously to what the russet and black fox was telling her.
Renomon showed Renamon everything in the Foxwood Village from the toy stores to the tea parlors and all and all, Renamon still listened to him with a sense of interest as he continued to elucidate and gesticulate.
"Right there is the Honeybunch's candy shop and……over there is the Sunshine Patches flower shop: it's the best place where you can get all the flowers that you want." Renomon explained to Renamon while gesticulating to a small golden cottage, which was surrounded with numerous amounts of pots and vases filled with an assortment of flowers.
Renamon took a tiny glance at the cottage. "It's very lovely," she complimented.
"I know but that's not all Renamon," Renomon stated, "over there is the Dreamboat Center."
Renomon now pointed to another cottage situated at the far end of the town. Just like the flower shop, this center was gold in colour too and also nailed on the roof of the store was a picture of a nest of digi-eggs. Renamon observed this meticulous hut.
"So that's the Dreamboat center huh," Renamon said, "what happens inside there?"
"The Dreamboat Center is where all baby Reremon and Foxenmon are born Renamon," Renomon explained, "when it is time for a Renamon to give birth to a baby Reremon or Foxenmon; she goes there to deliver it."
"I see. So…it's like a hospital then." Renamon said.
"Hospital? What is that?" Renomon questioned.
"Oh a hospital is just a place where the humans go to deliver their babies," Renamon explained.
"Really! Humans…reproduce!" Renomon said shocked.
"Of course they do," Renamon answered looking at Renomon weirdly, "how do you think there came to be so many of them?"
"I just thought humans reproduced themselves like an amoeba cell," Renomon said truthfully.
"Well, you were wrong," Renamon said, "humans reproduce just like we do and the female specimen also do her reproduction in a hospital."
"I see. Human beings bear their young in a hospital which is undoubtedly similar to our Dreamboat Center How strangely…fascinating," Renomon said with an impressed smiled.
Renamon merely smiled at Renomon as her attention was vaguely set back on the Dreamboat Center.
"Is there something wrong Renamon?" Renomon asked now looking at Renamon concernedly.
"No, everything is alright Renomon," Renamon answered reassuringly, "it's just that…the Dreamboat Center reminds me of the day when Reremon was born. Oh…she was a lovely baby."
"Yes I know. I was also there on the day she was born, remember?" Renomon said.
Renamon only nodded. "Yes and like I said, she was a fine-looking baby Reremon. Golden yellow fur, an adorable little powder-puff tail and the loveliest set of amethyst eyes that I have ever seen in my life."
Renomon nodded in agreement.
"Yes," he said, "your younger sister was a very adorable Reremon and…she also makes a very attractive Renamon. Well, a very attractive Renamon next to you that is."
"How very flattering of you to say Renomon," Renamon said smiling at Renomon.
"Hey! I'm just telling you the truth," Renomon said sincerely.
"Mmmm hmmm, right." Renamon said.
Renomon smirked.
"So Renomon, since we're both on the topic of my younger sister, do you mind telling me when I'm actually going to meet her face to face?" Renamon questioned.
"Hmmm. I admire your anxiousness Renamon," Renomon chuckled.
"I just want to see my sister, that's all," Renamon said, "I mean, that was one of the main reasons I came back to the Foxwood village in the first place…to look into the grown up face of my little sis."
"Really now," Renomon said.
"Yes," Renamon answered seriously, "so tell me something Renomon, when will I get to see my sister?"
"To tell you the honest truth Renamon, you can see your sister in just a few seconds," Renomon replied.
"Really!" Renamon said anxiously, "is she really that close?"
"Yes she is," Renamon answered, "every since the day when the old Foxwood village was destroyed, I took your sister in, remember, which means that she lives with me…in my hut."
"How much further is your hut?" Renamon inquired.
"Um…it's just through that alleyway over there," Renomon answered pointing to a close by path.
"Okay, but do we really have to walk all the way to your hut? I mean, can't you and I just teleport ourselves into the hut," Renamon suggested.
"Hmmm that would be a good idea," Renomon said, "but why spoil the fun in surprising your sister, eh?"
"I guess you're right about that," Renamon said smiling.
Both Renomon and Renamon then turned into the alleyway that Renomon had pointed out before. The alleyway was incredibly narrow…almost too slim to past through.
"Um Renomon, are you sure that this is the correct way to your hut?" Renamon questioned trying to squeeze her body through the constricted alleyway while following after the brown fox infront of her.
"Of course this is the correct way Renamon. You think I don't know the way to my own home," Renomon answered as he too forced his body through the passageway.
"But…this alley is so narrow, it's barely even passable," Renamon complained.
"I know. That's what makes it so much fun, don't you think?" Renomon said in an ironic kind of voice.
"Fun? How can this be fun?" Renamon said brushing against the cold stone wall.
"Because, whenever a Renamon and a Renomon have to pass through this alleyway, let's just say…they can get really close," Renomon said as he stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Renamon. This caused the golden vixen to unexpectedly collide into Renomon's chest and grasping this, Renamon understood what Renomon meant.
"Oh, I see what you mean," Renamon said trying to conceal her red cheeks.
Renomon laughed. "See, only fun," he said rather amused.
"Well as fun as this may seem to you Renomon," Renamon said uncomfortably, "I would really like to get out of this narrow alleyway."
"And so we shall," Renomon said, "all you have to do Renamon, is just hold my hand."
"Hold your hand? What for?" Renamon said confusedly.
"Just do it and you'll see what happens," Renomon said.
He was grinning rather impishly and this made Renamon raise her eyebrows in suspicion. Nevertheless, Renamon eventually ended up doing what Renomon said as she truly wanted to get out the dreadful alleyway.
Extending her mauve gloved hand; Renamon took hold of Renomon's hand. Renomon smiled at this. The brown male fox then pulled Renamon closer to him and in the blink of an eye, she and Renomon were out of the narrow alleyway…standing right infront of a huge bullion and coffee cottage.
"Where are we?" Renamon inquired.
"Welcome to my humble abode Renamon," Renomon answered.
"Is this where…Reremon is?" Renamon said.
"Yes," Renomon answered, "now come on. Let's go inside."
Still holding Renamon's hand, Renomon lead her inside of his hut.
The inside of Renomon's hut was roomy. There were, as far as Renamon could have seen; only a mere number of five rooms in the hut and the first room Renomon carried Renamon in was the lounge.
The lounge was also a very spacious room. It was decorated with nothing but ancient books and old monuments. If truth be told, the only couple of furniture in the lounge were four armchairs, a round table and a settee which stood infront a tiny fire place in the centre of the room.
There was also a small cupboard at the end of the lounge which was packed full of spears and other kinds of dangerous and unique weapons. Renamon stared around the lounge in awe.
"I really like the way you have decorated your lounge Renomon," Renamon said complementarily.
"Thank you Renamon. I'm flattered," Renomon said. He then took a seat at one of the four armchairs.
Renamon, however, continued walking around the lounge, looking closely at some of the old monuments.
"I also see here that you like a lot of ancient monuments and artifacts," Renamon stated observantly.
"Ah yes I do," Renomon answered smugly, "I love primeval history. It is so captivating how much one can learn by just exploring the things of the precedent. Sometimes the answers to life's most complicated mysteries are even hidden in past but…that's only my opinion."
"Wow, you sure know your historical facts Renomon. I'm impressed." Renamon said.
"Why…er…thank you Renamon." Renomon answered flushing a little under her brown fur.
Renamon persisted to explore the lounge. She checked a huge bookshelf full of antediluvian books at the side of one engraved monument only to soon stubble upon a small portrait. This portrait hung over the bookshelf of history books.
Renamon stepped forward and took a nearer glance at the photo in the portrait. It was a picture of Renomon. He was standing outside his cottage while clutching a long bow-staff. But Renomon was not alone in the picture. Standing in the picture right opposite Renomon was another Renamon. This Renamon looked just like Renamon herself only that her gloves were a lighter purple than hers. The Renamon's eyes were also a shade of amethyst. Renamon stared at this particular picture.
"Is something the matter Renamon?" Renomon asked after a minute of not hearing the other fox.
"Is…this her?" Renamon inquired, "is this…my sister?"
Renomon got off his chair and walked over to where Renamon was standing. He peered over her shoulders and looked at the picture of him and the other Renamon.
"Oh I see that you've found that picture," Renomon said, "if you wondering whether or not that was your sister then the answer is yes. That's your sister standing right next to me."
Renamon inhaled a thin breath. She then took down the portrait in her hand and peered at it personally. "Wow," Renamon said, "this is…Reremon?"
"Yes, it is." Renomon answered, "this picture was taken on the day when your sister had finally gotten strong enough to digi-evolve to rookie level. It was a very joyful day…for the both of us. I was so proud of your sister that day Renamon, and I know you would have felt the same way too."
"Of course I would have felt the same way," Renamon said. Tears were now swelling up in her eyes as she cried onto the photo of Renomon and her sister. Renomon stared at Renamon and for the first time, he was at a loss for words. He truly did not know what to say.
"Renamon," Renomon uttered.
"It's alright Renomon. I'm fine," Renamon interrupted wiping away the tears, "I'm just really happy at the moment."
"I know," Renomon said smiling.
Renamon looked at the photo again. "Ooh Renomon look at her. She's…so…beautiful," Renamon said.
"I know," Renamon said again, "and I think it is time that you finally meet your sister Renamon."
"In truth?" Renamon said.
"Absolutely," Renomon answered, "now wait here; I'll go find your sister. I'm sure she's wandering around somewhere around this tiny hut. Just stay put, okay?"
"Okay," Renamon answered.
Renomon nodded to Renamon. After that, Renomon left the lounge and went to another part of the hut leaving Renamon all by herself.
Whilst Renomon searched in the other room, Renamon thought that she would take a seat. She walked over to one of the armchairs in the room but before she could sit down, she stopped herself.
"I think I better put this back," Renamon thought as she was still clutching the portrait of Renomon and her sister in her hand.
Renamon stepped over to the bookshelf where the photo was originally hung over. But…just as Renamon was about to rest the photo back in its innovative place, all of a sudden there was a loud WHACK!
And the next thing Renamon knew, her entire body was on the floor. Renamon glanced across the ground. The portrait of Renomon and her sister laid on the ground a few inches away from her…the whole thing was in pieces.
Renamon growled furiously and then glanced up at her mysterious attacker. But to the golden fox's utter bewilderment; she stared straight into the eyes of another Renamon.
This Renamon did not look like a friendly one at all because she was glaring down at Renamon menacingly. Her gloved hands were also clutching a Katana sword which was pointing directly at the middle of Renamon's chest.
Renamon's eyes traveled from the rim of the sword to the eyes of the other Renamon, whose own cold mauve eyes narrowed.
"Ha! I've finally got you…you intruder," said the other Renamon coldly.
"Intruder? I'm no intruder," Renamon said candidly, "I'm merely another Renamon here with……
"Silence!" the other Renamon snapped viciously, "the only true thing here is that you carelessly intruded on my master's property and now…you are gonna pay the price for your treachery,"
The Renamon then raised her Katana sword to strike. Renamon gasped at this course of action.
"You're done now intruder!" the Renamon shouted as she brought down the sword.
Renamon looked up at the other Renamon, her cerulean eyes widening. She was totally immobilized as the blade of the Katana sword edged slowly towards her heart.
Wolfemon (Narrator): Hmmm. Not exactly a happy return to the Foxwood Village for Renamon, eh? Who is this other Renamon? Will Renamon be able to avoid her assault before she is sliced to pieces. Find out in Chapter Two of "Digital Romance 2".
MistressPC: Good job Wolfemon. Please review.