Thought there was only two parts? Nah, I wouldn't disappoint like that after taking such a long time to get the parts out. I apologize if this part gets confusing.
[Who should I say this P.O.V belongs to? I want it to be a surprise, it's a boy's P.O.V though, you'll find out who it belongs to.]
I opened my eyes slowly. I could see the sky yet it wasn't a pleasant blue but a grim grey almost black. I felt water flowing over me but I was confused. Where was I and what's going on? The water felt odd and it reminded me of the sensation I felt while I was asleep.
"You finally woke up." I was startled hearing the voice.
I sat up and looked. I couldn't believe my eyes. I looked from him to our surroundings. I knew where we were but I couldn't believe it. I was told that this place was off limits to humans. Why was I here in a restricted area?
"How?" I took in the sights I haven't seen for nearly a year.
I sat in a river but due to some kind of special property I wasn't moving. The river was surrounded by trees on one side and on the other was a path that leads to the palace where the Digital Ruler lived. This wasn't the world I had been in when I passed out.
"Chrono pulled you through a portal then I brought you back here." I stood up, well not really because half way up I fell back onto my butt.
"Don't try to move yet, you're not strong enough for that yet." I raised a shaking hand and stared at it.
"What happened?" That question had multiple questions attached.
What happened to me? What happened to her after I passed out? What happened after I passed out? What happened to my injuries? What happened when I was unconscious?
"That's a good question. I don't know the answer to that, Chrono wouldn't tell me because she broke a rule, all I know is that she saved your life." I was surprised hearing that.
Chrono broke a rule? Chrono never breaks rules since she was raised by a Digital Ruler since she was a baby. She knew what would happen if rules were broken. Knowing that she broke a rule meant something happened or she saw something. It also worried me some.
"She broke a rule?" I just couldn't wrap my mind around that.
"Chrono's broken many rules recently but those that know have been overlooking them because every action has had a purpose." Why was Chrono breaking rules?
"Why?" He shrugged.
"If you find out tell me. No one knows why she's suddenly breaking the rules after having always abided by them." I stared at my hand, my thoughts were blurring slightly.
"They can't figure her motives out either, can they?" I glanced at him and I saw him shrug once more.
"If they can then they have to be smart, which they are sadly, yet something tells me they don't know her reasons." Leopardmon wasn't one to praise people, especially not her for some reason so that meant something.
"Why don't you like Chrono? You're better now at hiding it but I know you hate her." He's hated her since he first met her.
"The reason I've given you and your sister already; it was one thing for you and your sister to be taken in by Gallantmon because you two were strong already and you two could fight. She was raised from an infant by Chronomon; he undertook more trouble than what she was worth. Perhaps she'll manage something and change my mind." Despite how convincing his words are I knew like always that it wasn't the reason.
"Gallantmon and my sister might believe those words but I don't. I never bring up the fact of the lies people say but I notice them, it's something that I would trade away if I could get rid of the reason that I gained such a talent." Leopardmon shook his head.
"That's a far better reason than the true reason; even I try to lie to myself because the real reason is petty." He usually had sound reason and sound logic so the fact that he deemed one of his thoughts, one of his reasons petty surprised me.
"What's the true reason? I won't tell anyone." He sighed and grabbed his sword that had leaned against the rock he had previously sat on.
"I knew Chrono's mother, I still owed a debt to her but she died before I could repay it. Chrono killed her mother by being born and despite knowing that it's not Chrono's fault I hate her, I resent her. Chrono's mother was the first person that I had befriended, she just like her two friends had an interesting way about them and they made allies out of enemies." My eyes widened because he unintentionally told me something else.
I knew time traveled faster here in this world than the other worlds, it was trying to play catch up because it was frozen in time years and years ago. He's known Gallantmon for what seemed like centuries but in truth it was little over two decades. He unintentionally told me how he came to be a good guy, Chrono's mother did something that turned him good and made him her friend.
"Chrono wanted to meet her mother, at times when she's left alone to her thoughts too much she'll start to feel guilty for that even though she couldn't control it." He looked at me and he glared, it made me flinch.
Leopardmon looked livid. If he had been angry at Chrono for unintentionally killing her mother shouldn't he know that she felt guilty which mean she would change it if she could? He walked towards me and I gulped. I said something that overstepped a boundary didn't I? He stopped though before he stepped into the water, his shoulders shook and he seemed to be fighting with himself.
"Don't you dare say that, Chrono has no right to meet her mother! Chrono's just a monster that shouldn't have existed!" His words didn't seem like they were only coming from his anger so it confused me.
"She doesn't exist in any other world which is even more proof that Chrono wasn't supposed to exist." I was surprised hearing that.
The only people that wouldn't have parallel versions of their selves were thought to be the DigiDestined of Harmony. Why wouldn't Chrono have parallel versions of herself? She wasn't the DigiDestined of Harmony that I knew because it was Kari. She was the DigiDestined of Miracles, I would say maybe that's why but there have been other DigiDestined of Miracles that have had at least one or two different versions. DigiDestined of Miracles did seem to have a decreased amount of parallels but even so I doubt that could explain her lack of parallels.
"What are you talking about Leopardmon?" He clutched his sword tighter.
"She's a monster; once you learn the truth you'll know and understand why. The way she came to be was vile and cruel, I'll never forgive that group; they betrayed her trust and then used her as one of their test subjects." It felt like someone had just dumped ice on me.
He was giving more away than he usually would but it was something that chilled me. Chrono's mother was experimented on from what he just said and somehow Chrono came from that. His words didn't make complete sense but I didn't want to think on it in truth. It would probably only lead to something horrible.
"My sister's still alive right?" I wanted a change of subject, even though I feared the answer that I might get.
"Storm's still alive, the hologram though disappeared but I met with her since." I was relieved hearing that.
"Your other friend, Koichi I think his name was, he's still alive too." I let out a sigh of relief, even if I hadn't asked about him it was still nice to know.
We had trouble making friends since we lost our friends so we were both happy to have time away to hang out with the one friend we still had. Then again I want to say we could count Kari, Koji, and Takuya as our friends as well. Even Chrono was our friend; even if we never said it and probably denied it we knew it. We were afraid of opening up and letting people in because we didn't want to lose anyone else.
"They surprisingly lived through Barbamon attacking them; they even forced him to flee." My eyes widened hearing that.
Barbamon attacked them and they didn't just survived but they forced him to flee. I didn't think that they had that kind of power but apparently they did. I knew Storm was strong but she probably hadn't fought because it couldn't have been that long since I had supposedly died. When it dawned on me I looked to my hands. They didn't shake anymore but I was taken off guard. I should be dead right now.
"You just realized didn't you?" I shouldn't be alive right now, I hadn't just passed out but I died didn't I?
"Despite how much I might loathe Chrono, she did something and managed to call you through the worlds and then she poured everything she had into saving you. Then again she could only do that because she's a monster, no one else not even a Digital Ruler would've been able to pull you through worlds." Everyone probably thought that I was dead.
Chrono truly was meant to be the DigiDestined of Miracles if what Leopardmon said was true. If she had saved my life by pulling me through worlds and then healing me; opening a gate like that in itself should've drained her completely but she still had the energy to heal me. It was hard to believe because Chrono never seemed to have an abundance of energy but at the same time I believed that she did because miracles can happen and I would believe that the DigiDestined of Miracles could pull something like that off.
"Can you move yet?" I looked at him before I shifted slightly.
With my hands on the ground I pushed myself up slowly and slowly stood straight up in case I fell back to the ground again. I watched as the water that dripped from my hands turned into data before it dropped back into the water and that's when the reason why this place was off limits became clear. The reason why we find Digi Eggs here was because this was one of those Data Streams. Data Streams had healing properties and it wasn't clear on what would happen to a human. A Data Stream was something that was thought to be a legend but Gallantmon and Chronomon believed in them, Gallantmon had a reason because there was one here in the world that he was the Ruler of.
"Humans aren't allowed to bathe in the Data Streams Leopardmon." He had broken a rule that even he had stressed, he had nearly attacked us a year ago when we tried to sneak here and play in the river.
"They can come for my head if they wish but you need to go and fight. You're meant to play a part in this still, Order is needed." I blinked before looking from the water droplets that were turning to data and instead looking at him.
"Besides it's not like I've always lived by these rules, you know that I used to be on the other side." Yet again he unintentionally told me something.
"You fought on the side of the Demon Lords didn't you?" He was surprised but then he gave a short laugh.
"I shouldn't be surprised, you are far smarter than you let on then again there is a reason why you sleep so much when you attend what the humans call school." He shook head.
"If it wasn't for you being Order you probably would've been Knowledge." It wasn't a surprising statement, different Runners and Rulers I met have assumed I was another DigiDestined of Knowledge but then were totally caught off guard when they found out that I was the DigiDestined of Order.
"I have to have knowledge to keep Order correct?" I smiled as I said it, I've always told it to those who found out about me being Order.
"I guess you have a point there but it's surprising at times since you pretend to be laid back and slow on the uptake when you probably process things faster than many others." I shrugged.
"I unsettle people when I show just how much I know, I succeeded in creeping out one of my teachers before too I even crept a Digital Ruler out." He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head.
"You should leave soon Zeal." My hands curled into fists once he said that.
"What did I say about calling me that?" I hated that name just like Storm hated her real name.
When people ask why our names didn't sound like normal twin names since many try to match the names of twins we never told the truth. We abandoned the names that sounded so much alike because we didn't want to be those twins who were orphaned and treated like monsters. We had made the exception those two years we spent in our world with the others though; they were the only ones who could call by our true names.
"I never understood you and your sister's aversion to your real names, Evan." He wouldn't understand because he probably lived through worse or seen worse so our reasons would seem trivial to him.
Zeal and Zale were our true names. We abandoned those names and all but erased their attachments to us. There would be a few times that Leopardmon made the slip up and called us by those names. Even Gallantmon has his moments but it was to be expected; those times were the times when we were serious trouble.
"You probably never will in truth because our reasons would just be trivial to you." I didn't care how harsh it came out.
I glanced at my clothes to see if I would need to change. I wasn't going to go and pop up wearing blood stained clothes. That would scare someone and freak the others out more than likely. While we needed to be alert we didn't need to be freaked out since we managed to come through this without freaking out over the force we faced. Then again I'm not sure anyone besides us and Chrono know what we're truly up against. I'm not sure if they realized that fact.
I'm not sure exactly how but I chose not question how my clothes not only weren't stained in blood but they didn't have a single tear. I'm not even going to question it by now. I've seen odder things in the Digital World before so I'm not surprised nor was I that shocked in truth. I glanced at Leopardmon, he was still angry but he had calmed down mostly or he was regaining his mask that he used to hide his emotions.
"You said I should leave soon, why?" He sighed once more.
"If Chrono's worth half as much as Chronomon trained her to be she should have gotten rid of Lady Ophanimon which will bring about a battle. They'll target someone, perhaps it'll be Chrono but it could be anyone." I gulped.
Even if Leopardmon was strong if they chose to attack me I probably wouldn't be able to fight. I didn't know what happened to my card and even when I tried to summon it, it would come to me. I had no means of fighting currently so if they targeted me I don't think that this would go down good. They would attack someone who was probably alone or the easiest to attack if they didn't attack Chrono. The obvious choices were either Chrono or me.
Storm, Kari, Koichi, Koji, and Takuya were all together so they would probably not be attacked for the moment. Especially if it was true that they pushed back Barbamon they wouldn't attack again so soon after that because despite thinking they're the strongest they're not stupid. I couldn't stay still for too long but where would I go? They'll look for me in worlds that I'm familiar with because they know, well at least if they're half as smart they boast, they know that I won't take a risk and go somewhere foreign.
"They'll probably target you next since they're still mad that you and Storm survived the attack on your world." That was another reason that led to them hunting us at times; they didn't like the fact that we survived when no one else had when they put their mind to getting rid of things.
"Where would I even go?" He gave a faint small smile.
"Before you go anywhere I want to tell you about what I learned recently through watching different events unfold and hearing through different Digital Rulers." I got a bad feeling but I nodded.
"All of the players have been revealed and their identities are known now." My eyes widened.
The last one that had been hiding was known now. If they had remained hiding until now either they were really strong, lucky, or just very good at hiding. Who was the last person that was at least destined to fight? I hated the whole talk of fate and destiny but things happen connecting to the Digital World that couldn't just be coincident.
"Who's the last one?" He tilted his head slightly.
"Last two you mean." I blinked.
"Two? The 'players' as you call them consist of Koichi, Koji, Takuya, Kari, Chrono, Storm, me and whoever was just revealed." He laughed and shook his head.
"Chrono is just a mere smudge that stumbled into this battle, she's not meant to exist so she isn't meant to fight Evan." I stared at him surprised, this time it surprised me.
Chrono was strong and she had her reasons to fight. Chronomon has trained her to fight since she was younger and she was always beside Storm and me when we spoke of fighting the Demon Lords. She even knew the prophecy. She knew too much not to hold some big role in this.
"The fact that she happened to stumble in is truly just a coincident for once. In truth what you know about her is pretty much a lie too. Chronomon is good a manipulating history and hiding things, the person who was born and opened a gate while being an infant and who had their parents killed by the Demon Lords was Chrono's mother. Chrono's mother was killed by Chrono but she left Chrono to Chronomon." Chronomon told Chrono that she had fallen through a gate when she was an infant when her parents were murdered by the Demon Lords but that was a lie, why hadn't he told her the truth?
"Then again to hide the truth of Chrono he might've made it look like Chrono had done what her mother had and erased the past of her mother, Chronomon was fond of Chrono's mother so I would believe it." It made me question what else Chrono had told me was lie, not because of her but because of what else Chronomon might've told her that might've been a lie or at least a half truth.
"Besides enough about Chrono, you have limited time." I knew it was done then, nothing more would be said about Chrono.
"One was a great surprise in truth; I hadn't expected him to be one. The other was more of a questionable choice; I don't understand why she was chosen." The two weren't people that could've been guessed from how he spoke.
"Who are they?" He sighed.
"You're so full of questions and demanding answers today." I glared at him.
"I have limited time, you just said that." He was starting to bother me; it was as if he wanted to keep me here.
"Daisuke Motomiya, the one who previously worked with the Demon Lords." My eyes widened hearing that one, I couldn't believe that.
"Rin Sylph, she comes from the same world as Kari and she's apparently the cousin of that world's DigiDestined of Friendship along with the DigiDestined of Hope and friend of the DigiDestined of Kindness." That one was a bit more, reasonable sounding at least.
"Ironically Daisuke is from what I gathered the DigiDestined of Friendship." That sounded like a joke.
Daisuke was heartless and he didn't care about friends or anything of the like. He would be the first to stab someone in the back if it got him what he wanted. He would go about doing whatever it took to get what he wanted. It was hard to believe that he was meant to fight alongside of us to try and take out the Demon Lords when he fought with them for so long.
"What about the other one?" He shrugged.
"Her title remains unknown, she has a partner but he remains unknown as well. Her partner doesn't stay with her constantly and he wonders away and does whatever he pleases." It clicked.
They would attack her. She was probably truly defenseless besides perhaps her cousins and friend. They would try to protect her probably but they would easily be overwhelmed more than likely. She would probably be who they target. The needed players shouldn't be alone so despite the fact that the world would be unfamiliar perhaps I should try and meet up with her. It also gives me time to think of how to explain the fact that I'm not dead.
"Chrono trusts that Daisuke was honest when he sold out the Demon Lords and flipped sides though I don't trust him." I was surprised hearing that.
"Why would he sell out the Demon Lords?" He nodded.
"Indeed, that's what I don't understand. He told Chrono in advance of Daemon attacking Rin and she managed to reach across the worlds and managed to save her life but I doubt that Daisuke did that without reason." Perhaps he trusted Daisuke even less than I do because Chrono trusted him and he kind of obviously doesn't trust Chrono.
"He's probably doing a mission for them, he might be there to gain trust and then do what he's known for and stab people in the back. He might be there to gather information or even to get rid of you guys." The Demon Lords were always doing things different ways which was a reason why it was so hard to plan against them.
I would have to be weary of him because his reasons weren't clear at the moment and it could mean a lot of trouble. It was to convenient that he happens to be one of the people meant to take down the Demon Lords who worked with them then suddenly flips sides and just happens to save the life of the last unknown person who would play a role.
"Bias thinking is what got your mother killed, don't make the same mistake." We both turned and looked to who spoke.
It was a human; she had blonde hair and blue eyes. It took a few moments for her words to register fully, she knew my mother. She gave a sad smile as she looked me over. Leopardmon stared at her and I had a feeling that he knew exactly who she was.
"How are you still alive?" She shook her head.
"That's a story for a different day Leopardmon; she would be disappointed to find out how much you hate Chrono simply for being born." She knew Chrono's mother then too.
"Zeal, you like your mother are an excellent judge of character. Don't let bias cloud your mind." For some reason the normal anger that came with someone calling me Zeal didn't come.
"How do you know my name?" A smile lit her face; it surprised me how she could smile.
"Your mother was one of my best friends, she named me your Godmother and I helped picked your name. She chose Zale but didn't know what to name you so I chose Zeal." I was surprised learning that.
"Chrono's mother is Zale's Godmother." We were linked to Chrono before we were even born.
"Why are you here? Even if you're alive you shouldn't be interfering." The woman cast a glare at Leopardmon.
Her smile had died so quickly and the glare she leveled at Leopardmon even made him flinch. Something about her wasn't normal. Something wasn't right with that look. It didn't look like it fit her. Despite being unnerved by her smile I was more unnerved by the look that she was giving to Leopardmon. She had come off with a friendly and kind aura but now it felt dangerous.
"I could say the same to you. You've hindered things for a while, Chrono might not have meant to exist but she bears no blame. Her mother knew what would happen if she had Chrono and she kept her. Chrono is lucky to be alive after you having used your connections and have had assassins pretty much go after her. Gallantmon is lucky to have not heard of your actions, Chronomon as well and I would've hated to see what he would've done to you since he views Chrono as his daughter." Her words seemed to drip venom and I saw Leopardmon freeze while my eyes widened.
I had heard Chronomon and Gallantmon speak before of the fact that someone was after Chrono's life. The ones who had attacked her could be traced back to people that Leopardmon had known long ago or at least had some kind of connection to people that Leopardmon had known. They trusted him so they got his help in trying to solve it while apparently he was the one who was doing it the whole time. It also made me question his allegiance some.
"I am the acting Digital Ruler and I would love it if you left now." Leopardmon raised his sword but the woman didn't flinch.
"Attack me if you want to but remember, there is a reason why I achieved what I did and got the title I did. There is a reason how I survived despite the fact that I should be dead, that even the Demon Lords think I'm dead." Who was this woman?
"Fine then, at least honor the last promise you made to her and shut your mouth about the past." She narrowed her eyes but took a deep breath and looked form Leopardmon and instead to me.
"You could at least be a bit more respectful then again what else should I expect from someone who supported the Demon Lords and implanted the tainted eggs into Zeal's home world which ultimately lead to the world's destruction." My eyes widened and it felt like time stopped.
Leopardmon was part of the reason why my world was gone? He was part of the reason why my friends died and Storm had broken so badly? He was the reason why we've tried to run away from what happened and why we grew to be so untrusting. Was that why he was so kind to us? Did he feel guilty at least for what he had done or was it to try and make sure that should it ever come out we would never believe it?
"You need to shut up now." Leopardmon was angry but the woman just sighed.
"Yes, perhaps I said too much then again he has a right know." I had trusted Leopardmon with my life so she was right; I had a right to know that.
"As you can see, just because someone's an ally now doesn't mean they hadn't been your enemy in the past. Things aren't what they always seem; don't give a bias judgment, especially since you're Order." I wanted to be angry at Leopardmon and I had every right to be but I gulped and shoved the anger down.
"I'll deal with that later; I don't have time to waste here." I don't know what to do with the knowledge of Leopardmon's involvement in the destruction of my world because he had been a good friend and teacher over the years I've known him.
"Where do you plan on going?" At the moment I should meet up with the girl that I don't know, Rin, there was strength in numbers and at the moment she was probably an open target to the Demon Lords.
"I'm going to one of the two recently learned people, if I didn't have bad history with Daisuke I would meet with him but I need time to think over him. I'm going to go and find the other, Rin Sylph." I saw her smile again.
"You know she's a prime target don't you?" I nodded.
"Strength in numbers besides something tells me she's not very sure of what's going on, if Daisuke had to step in to save her life she probably wasn't aware of the threat otherwise she would've tried to have some kind of defense up in case they attacked her." Daisuke wouldn't have recklessly revealed that if he knew that she had a chance at survival, the only chance at survival we have is knowing what we're up against so she mustn't have known.
"Zeal, why don't you let the guilt go? Perhaps, if you let go and truly hope something interesting will happen." As she spoke she had a soft look in her eyes and a smile, she seemed happy.
I didn't get to question her because she vanished; I felt her presence disappear from the world completely. She knew how to open portals and from what I could tell it probably took very little thought for her to do so. What surprised me was the fact that she knew about the guilt, not even Storm knew about the guilt that I felt. I felt like I should've realized it sooner; that I should've listened to my gut telling me that it wasn't right.
Back then I had a feeling something was off with them. Something told me they weren't who they pretended to be. They didn't require help from their partners and outpaced the others easily with their own strength. I knew something wasn't right back then but I overlooked it and never gave a second thought to it. If I had said something maybe I could've saved them. Maybe I could've made a difference and half of the pain that was suffered might not have happened.
"Back then, I put them there because I thought the seal would keep them from going evil. I thought it rewrote their program but it just turned them back to Eggs. If I had known I would've destroyed them when I found them." Leopardmon's free hand was a fist and his body shook.
"I didn't mean for that to happen." I closed my eyes; flashes of that day invaded my mind.
It was the last day that we were all together. We were all happy and it felt like we were on top of the world despite the battle that was raging at the time. As long as we had each other we felt like we could beat anything, we knew we were weak on our own but we knew we were strong when we stood together. Even if I had listened to my gut would I have changed anything? That could've caused problems within our group and we might never have been the friends we were and we probably would've stood even less of a chance than what we did.
I felt guilty when I thought about it because I feel like something could've changed but would there have been anything that changed? While I kept it to myself I still watched them, I hadn't seen anything that would've made me expect that. They protected us and fought alongside of us. The only thing that it might've change would've been the bonds that we had might not have been as strong.
"Evan?" I opened my eyes when Leopardmon spoke the name.
I was surprised to see that black flames flickered off of me. I also noticed that my clothes had changed. I wore something like what I wore when I used the card but it wasn't the same. The once long sleeve black jacket that even though it zipped from waist up to my mouth it wasn't long sleeves anymore. I felt something different flow through this though, it felt stronger and I felt the flicker of something I long forgot. On my arms in a swirl of data appeared arm warmers, they were black in color but they had a yellow symbol on them. The symbol was that of a star.
"No matter the darkness there will always be stars to light your way." I spoke the words that were the last thing she had ever said to me.
The yellow star was another symbol of light technically. It was known as the Crest of Benevolence yet it could also said be the like Kindness as well. The star was the perfect symbol in truth; it shined its brightest to light the darkness no matter who was within the darkness. Those were the last words that the DigiDestined of Benevolence from my world had spoken to me, my best friend and my childhood crush. She was only a few weeks younger than me, Free Realta.
"What are you talking about Evan?" I looked at Leopardmon.
"It was something that one of my friends told me, it was the last thing she told me actually." I looked back to the stars and a smile graced my face.
"I need to go Leopardmon." I have places to be and things to do.
"Did you release the card?" He seemed stunned still for some reason but I wasn't sure why.
"I guess so, I couldn't summon it though." He stared at me.
"Evan, you're more powerful than you were the last time you released it around me." That surprised me and it confused me.
"I am?" Nothing changed besides the fact that I realized that however I may hate it but there was nothing that I could've done that would've changed what happened so it wasn't my fault.
"Try to summon your card." I summoned the card but tried not to completely seal it.
What surprised me that unlike usual it wasn't sealed at all; with a flicker of flames around my hand before the card formed in my hand. I couldn't see any difference with the card though besides the fact that the red around the edges seemed a bit lighter and the hazard symbol had a circle around it. I flipped over the card and that's when I saw a difference. The fancy E that had been there wasn't there anymore. There was a golden star on the back of the card and carved in the star was Z. 'E' was for Evan so I could only assume that 'Z' was for Zeal.
"If you let go and truly hope something interesting might happen." When Leopardmon repeated the words that the woman spoke I realized that after having done what she said this had occurred.
"You were unconsciously holding yourself back." Why would I unconsciously hold myself back, then again maybe I unconsciously wanted to make myself pay for what I had thought was my fault or maybe I felt weak and since I felt weak my power manifested in a weak form.
"If you were holding yourself back then Storm, she was holding back too." I gripped the card tighter at Leopardmon's words.
Storm's card had an 'S' which meant her card could probably change too. Her power was incomplete and that thought was scary. She was stronger because back then she had awakened a power that came from crystalized lightning and then her card took that strength and added to it. It refined the power and made it less painful and more controllable. What was Storm capable of? Something else dawned on me. If the Crest of Benevolence appeared for me then the Crest of Faith would probably appear for her, Kain was the strongest of our group so if there was any connection between symbols and power growth then it would be interesting to see what would happen with her power should she find a way to step pass whatever is holding her back.
"Leopardmon, I think our chances just got a bit bigger." If we could all get a bit stronger then we might have a real chance.
I let the card disappear and I thought about the portal. How would I open a gate there if I didn't know anything about the world besides that it was Kari's home world and that whoever Rin was there as well? Before anything could be said I was stunned, I felt a gate open but it didn't materialize like it usually did when Storm or I did it. I felt myself slowly being swallowed by the gate yet it wasn't unstable like usual.
"With it complete the gate is easy to open." Leopardmon murmured the words and within seconds I was gone.
I closed my eyes when I passed through the gate; it made me sick to look at the inside of the gate. Only when I felt it stabilize did I open my eyes. I couldn't tell you what it was that I felt stabilize; it's just something that was stable in a world but was unstable in the gate. Some worlds felt unstable but those were usually the worlds close to fading away so maybe it dealt with something about being able to sustain life. I wasn't sure.
I looked around where I was and found that I was standing in mid-air. It was evening, the sun was already setting so it would be night soon enough. Even though I wasn't used to standing in mid-air, it was more of Storm's territory, I didn't freak out. I was afraid that if I freaked out whatever was keeping me in the air would disappear and I would plummet to my death. So next question would be how to find her, I have no clue where to even begin. I glanced around and taking a chance I took a step in the air, I didn't fall and I was still standing. I gulped and pretended that I was walking down stairs, I lowered but didn't fall.
So whatever is holding me up won't suddenly drop me. I laughed a bit nervously, if this is what Storm felt like her first time walking in the air I can't blame her for being scared. I thought it would be cool and hadn't understood her fear but now I did for sure. I was careful as I stepped onto the solid ground of what was an apartment building's roof top. I sank to my knees and I was grateful for solid ground. It would take a while to get used to that and I would have to take a few pointers from Storm, she was able to not only walk in mid-air but made it seem like she was gliding.
"Note to self, apologize to Storm for laughing at her." I laughed at her when she afraid.
"I almost got Rin to come out but maybe it's for the best that she stayed." I quickly stood up and went to the edge.
I hesitated for a moment before leaning over the edge and I saw a blonde haired boy, he was probably a couple years older than me. He had a bag slung over his shoulder. It was just a coincident I bet. There was no way that just thinking about this world and finding whoever Rin was really led me to where she was. No portal or gateway could be that specific. It also would've made this to easy and when things were too easy it usually was accompanied by trouble and a Digimon attack not far behind.
"Daemon could've attacked again the moment she left then again he could attack at any moment." He stopped in front of a door and reached into his pocket.
Then again by now I should know that coincidences don't happen when they involve the Digital World. So I'm just going to take it and thank whatever decided to be merciful and just be ready for whatever may come. Hesitating once more I stood up and stepped off the roof hoping I'd stand in the air again. Yet this time I fell. My eyes went wide and I wanted to scream but I couldn't at the moment. I saw the ground approaching, the floor the boy stood on so not a five story drop but enough that would probably break bones. I closed my eyes and held my hands out. I waited to hit the ground but I didn't. I opened my eyes slowly only to find myself stopped mid-air. The blonde stared at me.
"You know, I really want to be freaked out but for some reason I'm more confused at that moment." I gave a nervous laugh.
"Uh, new power?" I concentrated on an image of like a hamster wheel, I almost screamed when it felt like I spun.
The centration was broken and I landed hard on my butt. I groaned at the pain that greeted it but thankfully nothing broke. So mental images work as training wheels but I need to be careful of what I picture because apparently whatever the ability is it takes it very seriously.
"Who are you?" The confused tone was replaced and he had dropped the bag.
When I looked at him I realized that the door had opened and a Digimon had come out. Ah he's also a DigiDestined, that explains why he hadn't freaked out the moment he saw me suspended in mid-air and why he had the choice of being confused. Anyone that wasn't a DigiDestined probably would have freaked out even if they were confused.
"A friend of Kari's, I was working with her but we got separated." It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the complete truth either.
"I heard that a Demon Lord showed up and I was kind of uh pointed in this direction?" I raised my hands up so they could see them and hopefully know that I wasn't an enemy and I wasn't going to attack them.
"Why should I trust what you say?" That's a good question actually; I did only just drop out of the sky.
"That's a good question actually; I wouldn't trust me either if the situation was reversed." What do I do in this situation?
He and the Digimon watched me, waiting for me to do something. I wasn't sure what would happen. I also didn't know what he might see and chose to judge upon. I don't think anything should give the wrong impression so hopefully we could have a calm discussion but if it's true that that girl was attacked and she was with him it was possible that he might just not trust a stranger that showed something that he might chose to associate with the Digital World and might be weary of me strictly because I was a stranger. I glanced away from him when I heard something from inside the apartment that the Digimon had come from.
I could see the back of a girl sitting on the floor, a boy with red hair stood in front of her but slightly to the side. She held his wrist as if he too would've come out but she had stopped him. Her head was hung slightly, her blonde hair reached almost past her shoulder blades. She wore an oversized blue t-shirt that was black on the shoulders and on the sleeves. He laughed at something before bending down and ruffling her hair.
"Izzy, anything you learned say anything about one of Kari's friends disappearing?" When the boy out here spoke the red haired boy stood up and placed a hand on his head.
"Out of her group only Leo Gallant disappeared, well he died so I guess you can count that as disappearing." I was surprised to hear that despite being in a completely different world that they had heard.
How did they know about what happened there? From what I had heard from Kari and learned about her world, yes I had done some research when I learned someone had suddenly entered the world that I now called home. Her world wasn't aware of the existents of other worlds and didn't have any communications with the outside worlds so how did they learn that? Then again the red haired boy, Izzy, knew so maybe he was a Runner? No, there were no Runners from this world besides one but he would be in his thirties or forties.
They both came to the doorway and the girl looked at me, she had surprisingly blue eyes. Her eyes were light blue, almost like the sky. She wore baggy black shorts that hung past her knees and I noticed that she had bandages on her left arm and her right leg were wrapped from foot to under the shorts but I saw a bit of bandage peeking out from under the shorts on the left side too. She looked me over before her eyes drifted away to the blonde haired boy. Were they related? They did look alike; they both had blonde hair and blue eyes. I noticed that the red haired boy narrowed his eyes slightly. What did he all know if he learned of what was going on and how did he know?
Surprise, Evan isn't dead! Did I get anyone or did you guys see it coming? I feel like I made it obvious that it was going to happen.