Keepers of the Worlds
Chapter Four: Garurumon Howls
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Digimon Adventure and anything you recognize was taken directly from SSN 1 ep. 3.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, alerted and favourited! Hope you guys all enjoy the update!
Climbing the bluff back up to the forest level was a bit of a production but after a number of arguments the group agreed that with it being late afternoon already it was better to be under the cover of the trees when night fell, so climb they did.
Surprisingly enough, Joe proved to be even more adept at mountain climbing then even the athletic Tai.
"Hey Joe," panted Mimi once they were all safely up and over the edge.
"Yeah?"
"How did you get to be so good at climbing?" she asked.
"Oh, that, well, with my allergies I didn't like spending my time on outdoor sports but my Mom wanted me to be well-rounded and not focus so much of my time and energy on school. So I spent a lot of time at the local recreation centre, climbing the rock walls and swimming in the indoor pool," Joe explained.
"You know Joe, that's actually pretty cool," said Sora with a smile.
Joe gave her an odd look.
"It's just rock climbing," he said with a shrug.
"You want to see something cool, come check out this view!" said Tai, who was standing at the highest ledge of the bluff with Agumon at his side peering out at the landscape below.
Obligingly the kids hauled themselves to their feet and looked.
"Wow!" sighed Mimi girlishly.
"Look at how far we've come," said Izzy, "If we started up over there, that's the river and then we came all this way along the beach, all in just one afternoon, prodigious!"
Joe's jaw all but dislocated as he traced their route with wide eyes.
"We walked all that way?" gasped TK.
"Looks like," nodded Matt, impressed despite himself.
"Now I'm really glad we decided not to go back the way we came," Sora said, "We must have seen a good quarter of the island already."
They all just stood and gaped for a moment, taking it all in.
"Hey Agumon," Tai said, suddenly breaking the silence that had descended.
"What's up Tai?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I like it when you're Greymon, and you've got a lot more firepower so why not just stay that way?" he asked.
"I can't," said Agumon, "It's like I said before about digivolving, it takes a lot of energy. Even when I can share energy with you, Tai, I just still don't have enough experience and power of my own to hold myself in that shape."
"So, what? The more times you do it the easier it gets? Like building up a muscle and making it stronger by doing a certain exercise?"
"I don't know for sure but I think that you're right, the more times I digivolve into Greymon the longer I should be able to hold it and the stronger I'll be even in this form," Agumon agreed with a grin.
"That is pretty awesome," Tai agreed returning the grin with one of his own.
"What about the others?" asked Izzy, "Could any of them digivolve into the higher levels? Is there some sort of catalyst?"
"I don't know too much about it, this is only the third time I've digivolved after all and the other two times were mostly because of my natural ability. Tai just gave me that extra jolt I needed to become Agumon."
"Interesting," Izzy said.
"Come on guys, we've probably only got a couple of hours of daylight left, we should get going if we want to try and find a safe place to bunk down for the night," Sora said turning towards the forest.
Just then a digimon that looked like a white triceratops the size of a large cube van wearing gunmetal grey plate armour burst through the small boulder to their left roaring and stomping threateningly.
"Who's that digimon?" Izzy asked.
"That's a Monochromon, don't worry about him he's a pretty laid back digimon," Tentomon answered.
"He doesn't look particularly laid back to me, Tentomon," Harry said taking a step closer to Senamon as the Monochromon roared again.
"I agree with Harry, Tentomon, are you sure it's safe?" said Mimi fearfully.
"Well, now that I'm thinking about it, it is wise to be cautious with a Monochromon as they do tend to get a bit miffed when they're hungry," Tentomon said nervously.
"Then he must be starving, cause he looks really mad!" said Tai.
"And I think he wants to eat us!" Mimi shrieked.
"Let's get out of here!" said Sora.
"Don't run!" Harry said quickly, "Senamon, tell them! When you run they have to chase you, it hasn't moved to attack us yet so we should just slowly make our way over to the forest."
"Harry's right," Izzy agreed, "If a Monochromon is anything like the rhinoceros it resembles, running is probably the last thing we should do."
"Alright then, moving slowly let's get over to that side and into the trees," Tai instructed.
"Oh, I don't like this at all!" moaned Mimi.
"Just keep moving," Joe instructed putting a hand on her shoulder and steering her towards the big rock on the other side of the Monochromon.
They moved across the clearing carefully, inching in slow deliberate movements. The Monochromon roared at them, snorting and stomping threateningly but didn't stop them or get any closer. They had almost made it when a second Monochromon roared behind them stomping out of the bushes and into the clearing.
"Another one!" cried Joe, dismayed.
"We're caught between a rock and two sets of teeth!" Matt exclaimed grimly.
"What do we do now?" asked Sora.
"Get behind here!" ordered Piyomon darting behind the large boulder.
The group of kids and their digimon were quick to follow her advice. Just in the nick of time too, because the two Monochromon charged each other and began fighting furiously crushing smaller rocks and trampling plants without any regard whatsoever.
"Something must have set those Monochromon off," said Tai poking his head up above the boulder to get a better look at the fight.
"Careful Tai, you don't want them turning their attention on you!" said Agumon tugging his partner back down with a claw hooked into his belt.
"They are fighting over territory," Tentomon explained as he observed the two fighting digimon, "That one there is a newly digivolved Monochromon, they're fighting to see who gets to stay in this area."
"They can have their territory, I'm getting out of here!" said Palmon turning on what passed for her heels and running deeper into the forest.
"Don't leave without me!" cried Mimi close behind her digimon.
The other kids turned tail and ran, following behind their friends as, by the sounds of it, the battle between the two Monochromon became even more intense.
TK stumbled and fell and Harry tripped over TK and went sprawling into the middle of the path.
"TK!" cried Matt and Patamon at the same time kneeling next to the smaller boy.
"Better hurry up you guys!" Tai called back to them.
"'Kay, we're coming!" TK called back, "You alright Harry?"
"Brilliant," Harry said, a bit sarcastically, as he brushed dirt off his skinned knees quickly and resumed running.
"Don't worry TK, he's alright," said Senamon before bounding after his partner.
The whole group kept running until the sounds of the fighting Monochromon could no longer be heard and then they slowed to a walk. About the time they all had their breath back they spotted the first sign.
"What's that?" asked Sora pointing out the splash of red and white in the trees.
"It's a road sign," said Izzy as they moved closer to it.
It was a road-ends-here sign with a blue and white arrow attached to the bottom pointing backward along the path they were traveling.
"Look there's another one!" said Tai.
This sign was a speed limit sign that read 60 Km/Km.
"Well that's helpful," snorted Matt with an eye roll.
"Hey look!" said TK, "A caution cone!"
"What is this, the forest of irrelevant road signs?" asked Tai shaking his head.
"I could care less," moaned Mimi leaning against the trunk of a large tree, "I never walk this much unless I'm at a mall, and as you can see we're nowhere near one!"
"Mimi, stop whining," said Tai walking past her.
"No! My feet hurt!" she whined.
"Maybe you'd feel better if you took off your boots and socks Mimi," suggested Agumon sympathetically, "It's much more practical I think."
"I'm not doing that and dirtying my bare feet!"
"I love the feel of dirt under my feet, especially between my toes!" said Palmon wiggling the root-like appendages that passed for toes to illustrate.
"You have to remember, Palmon, that you're a plant-type digimon and probably like dirt better than the average person and way, way more than our darling Mimi here," said Harry as he passed by.
"He's right, dirt is just gross!" squealed Mimi.
"At a time like this the only thing to do is keep moving forward," Joe instructed as he caught up to them Matt and TK bringing up the rear not far behind them.
"Will you carry me Joe?" begged Mimi with a pleading pout falling into step with the taller boy.
"Absolutely not, I'm already carrying your bag!" Joe protested.
"Just for a little while?" she wheedled.
"No!"
"It appears we may be losing our light source," Izzy called back from near the front of the line pointing to the fat orange sun balancing on the horizon.
"What a weird sunset," Sora commented surveying it with her hands on her hips.
"This whole island is weird," said Izzy, "And who knows what will come out at night."
"Wait a minute!" cried Tentomon suddenly, "I detect water! Wait here while I check it out."
As Tentomon flew up to perch on the branch of a very tall tree Mimi took the opportunity to sit down in the shade of a tree and take a rest.
"How does Tentomon know there's water Senamon?" Harry asked his digimon curiously.
"Beats me," shrugged Senamon, "The Tentomon just seem to know things."
"And they're all terrible gossips," added Piyomon.
"So there's more than one Tentomon?" asked Izzy.
"Yep, there are other's like us too," said Piyomon.
"I stayed with a whole village full of Koromon for a little bit while I was waiting for Tai," added Agumon.
"Fascinating, so not only is Agumon and Piyomon your name but they're also the name of your whole species, at least until you digivolve," summarized Izzy.
"Are you all the same?" asked Matt.
"Not at all," said Gabumon shaking his head, "We all have similar personality traits and look the same but some of us have more of one trait than another or quirks that aren't common among our kind."
"Tsunomon could have digivolved into an Elecmon or a Gaomon, but because he's the way he is he digivolved into a Gabumon and Koromon could have been a Gabumon too but he was more suited to being an Agumon so that's what he is," Senamon added.
"That's very confusing," Harry said shaking his head.
"It's like a soccer team," Tai mused, "Your goalie could be a forward because he's a good soccer player but he's more suited to defense than offence."
Sora rolled her eyes.
"Not everything comes back to soccer Tai."
"Aha!" shouted Tentomon suddenly, catching their attention as he flew down from the tree, "As usual I am right, it's a lake with fresh clean water and plenty of tasty fish, and it's not too far from here. It's the perfect campsite!"
"Great!" exclaimed Tai, "Let's get going!"
"Maybe I can finally soak my poor aching feet," said Mimi brightly standing up.
"Yay, let's go swimming!" cried Gomamon excitedly.
He began bounding in the direction Tentomon indicated only to have his tail grabbed by Joe preventing him from going any further.
"Wait Gomamon, we have to all go together and make sure it's safe first!" Joe said.
Gomamon pouted but stayed with the group as they followed Tentomon off the beaten path and through the trees.
"Everybody's hungry, we've got to find some food!" Tai exclaimed.
"That is a good plan, I like that plan a lot," agreed Joe.
"Tentomon, you're sure this lake has fish?"
"I'm positive!" Tentomon said.
They emerged out of the trees and, just as Tentomon promised, there was a crystal clear lake turned pink in the encroaching sunset.
"It should be safe to rest here tonight," said Piyomon happily.
"This is great," Sora agreed, "I love camping under the stars!"
"If I won't walk in dirt what on Earth makes you think I'll sleep in it?" Mimi demanded of Tai, arms crossed and one eyebrow arched.
"Mimi, do you see a hotel anywhere around here?" Tai shot back, unfazed.
There was a soft crackling sound and Mimi gasped looking beyond Tai's head. Tai turned to see what she was goggling.
"What is that?" he asked.
"It looks like a trolley car," said TK his blue eyes round.
With another crackle of electricity, on without any apparent source, the trolley car sitting on the small rocky island connected by a strip of land to shore lit up with headlights and interior lights. Chasing away the lengthening shadows and giving the kids and digimon a better look at their surroundings.
"That's odd. The lights just…came on," observed Izzy.
"Well maybe there are some real people in there," suggested Sora hopefully.
"Let's check it out!" said Tai setting off at a run, Agumon hot on his heels.
"That kid is far too eager," said Harry to Senamon tiredly before following the others as everyone took off after the goggle-headed boy.
Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly considering the speed with which she had fled the Monochromon, Mimi quickly pulled into the lead.
"Maybe it can take us back home! In air-conditioned comfort!" she squealed.
"Mimi, wait up!" Tai called.
"It might not be safe, wait for us!" Joe said.
The doors to the trolley car hissed open automatically as Tai approached and ran up the front set of steps. Mimi was already there inside the vehicle looking brighter than she had since she'd first spotted the snow that morning as she bounced on one of the green bench-like seats.
"These cushions are so comfy!" she squealed excitedly.
"Bummer, it's empty," Tai said.
"Totally empty," Sora added.
"No trolley car is this clean," Izzy said staring at the floor of the trolley.
"But it's never been used I'll bet so why wouldn't it be clean," shrugged Harry hovering over the redhead's shoulder.
Tentomon translated for his partner.
"I suppose you might be right," Izzy conceded moving into the vehicle proper.
Tentomon settled on the seat next to Mimi while Sora and Piyomon sprawled out in the seat opposite them.
"Something's not right," Tai said, "You guys remember those weird phone booths from before, something just as freaky could happen here."
"Like this thing suddenly moving on its own with no tracks or obvious power source," suggested Joe from where he was examining the driver's seat and controls.
"Possibly, but then again maybe that's how we're going to get home."
"So we've got nothing to lose by staying here," said Sora with an easy smile.
"Can we eat now?" moaned Tentomon.
"That's right, I forgot," said Tai.
"I saw a whole bunch of berries and fruit trees, we digimon can gather up the stuff that's safe to eat," said Piyomon.
"I can make a fishing pole and line, no problem, if you'd just lend me your knife Mimi," said Izzy.
"I have fishing line in here too, Izzy, if you want it," Mimi said.
"Okay, you two get started on that," Tai instructed with a nod, "Matt if you can build a fire pit Joe and I can get some wood to cook the fish Izzy catches."
"I can help you fish Izzy!" said TK.
"Excellent, I'll make a pole for you too," Izzy said before leaving the trolley with Mimi.
"TK you and Harry should come with me, we'll wash and put some antiseptic on those scraped up knees, the last thing we need is one of those cuts getting infected," said Sora sternly, "Speaking of which, I forgot to ask earlier Tai but are you hurt anywhere from when Shellmon attacked you?"
"Nah," Tai said waving her off, "I might have a few bruises but nothing major, it doesn't hurt."
"Alright if you're sure," said Sora, exiting the car and herding the two younger boys down to the lakeshore.
Patamon and Senamon followed the other digimon across the bridge and into the forest to gather up the fruit and berries that would, hopefully, accompany a fish dinner.
"I'm sorry I tripped you Harry," said TK pulling a face, "It's all my fault you tripped, I can't believe I fell!"
Since none of the digimon or Mimi were around to translate, Harry just ruffled TK's hair like Tai had done to him earlier and gave the smaller boy a reassuring smile to let him know there were no hard feelings.
"How do you say sorry in English?" TK asked.
"Soh-ree," Harry said.
"Soh-ree," TK repeated carefully, "Like Soh-rah!"
Harry laughed and gave him a nod.
"Alright you two, shoes and socks off," Sora ordered ushering them into the water.
Harry did as ordered rolling his pants up as far as they would go and wishing for shorts. He winced as he aggravated the raw skin of his knees cleaning out the dirt that had stuck there. It looked like TK was better off than him but then again the younger boy hadn't fallen as far or as hard as Harry.
Sloshing out of the lake and back onto dry land, Harry watched as Izzy approached them two makeshift fishing rods in hand with a bit of meal replacement bar tied onto the end as bait.
"Where's Mimi?" asked Sora daubing a bit of antiseptic on TK's knees with a small square of gauze.
"She and Palmon are helping the other digimon gather the food," Izzy answered.
"Is that one mine?" asked TK going over to Izzy.
"Yep and I have more bait for when we actually catch something," added Izzy.
TK grabbed his fishing pole and eagerly sat down a ways away and tossed his line in. Izzy chose to sit near where Harry and Sora were.
"This might sting a bit," Sora warned Harry.
Sora was gentle but Harry still winced at the burning sensation of the antiseptic. She got both knees thoroughly clean and then slapped a Band-Aid on each.
"There you go, all set. Just try to keep them clean and dry for a day or so to be safe."
"Thank you very much, Sora," said Harry in careful Japanese.
Sora giggled, "You're very welcome Harry. I'm going to go help Tai and Joe find firewood," she said standing up and heading for the trees.
Harry rolled down his pant legs and slipped his shoes and socks back on and stood up setting a hand on Izzy's shoulder.
"Are you going to go help Senamon and the others gathering fruit and berries?" asked the redhead looking up at him with a smile.
Harry smiled back, nodding.
"Alright, good luck, I'll do my best to get you guys a main course to work with."
A sudden splosh had Izzy turning back to the lake with a scowl.
"Gomamon stop playing in the water! I can't catch any fish if you keep on warning them all away!"
Harry chuckled, giving Izzy another pat on the shoulder before heading in the direction of the forest himself.
Matt was making good progress on the fire pit and there was a stack of fruit mounting up next to it on platters of big tropical leaves. Harry waved at the older blond as he passed by and Matt shot him a quick grin in return before he was obscured by foliage.
"Harry!" called Senamon excitedly when he spotted his human partner.
"I've come to help you guys, just show me what's good," he said.
"Well, Tentomon is getting berries—"
"You can never get too many berries down the hatch!" said the beetle type digimon from the tree above them.
"Mimi and Palmon are looking for mushrooms, and the others are getting Long Fruit, Red Fruit and Blue Fruit," Senamon continued gesturing to where Piyomon was tugging on a fruit the colour of Senamon's skin and Gabumon stood ready to catch it, "I think we should go after the Yellow Fruit."
"Alright, sounds good, which tree?"
Senamon led Harry over to a tree that would need three people to get their arms all the way around its trunk. Looking up Harry saw what must have been the Yellow Fruit. It was about a foot long and as wide around as a basketball.
"Wow, that is a big fruit," Harry said amazedly, "I've seen smaller pumpkins."
"It's too heavy for me to carry but I'm afraid to just let it drop to the ground," Senamon said.
"Alright, well, if you cut the stem I can catch it and carry it down the tree under my arm, we only need two, those things are big enough to daunt even Tai and Agumon," said Harry.
"Great let's do it!"
Harry examined the tree before him, because of its size the closest branch from the ground was still much too far above Harry's head for the slight boy to reach.
"I'm gonna need a boost getting up," he said.
"We can get Agumon, he's the tallest and he was boosting Patamon earlier," suggested Senamon.
"Sounds like a plan," agreed Harry.
Harry followed Senamon a little further into the forest back to where the others were. Gabumon and Piyomon had a decent stack of Blue Fruit to show for their efforts and Patamon was perched atop Agumon's head, all but spherical with the Boom Bubble he was readying.
"Hey Agumon, would you boost me up next?" Harry asked.
"Sure thing Harry," Agumon agreed with an easy grin.
With a soft noise Patamon released his Boom Bubble and it hit the stem of what looked to Harry like an orange banana. He assumed it was the Long Fruit Senamon had mentioned earlier. The fruit fell and ended up skewered on Gabumon's horn.
"Auh!" groaned Gabumon his hands coming up to clutch at his head.
The fruit was obviously sturdier than the average banana.
"Better watch that killer breath of yours Patamon," teased Piyomon.
"Don't be mean, Piyomon, it was an accident," Harry said reprovingly.
"I'm sorry Gabumon, I didn't mean to hit you," Patamon said contritely.
"That's alright little friend, you can help Piyomon and I carry all this fruit back to the lake and Matt will get this Long Fruit off my horn."
"Come on Harry, Agumon, let's go get that yellow fruit!" said Senamon excitedly.
Exchanging bemused looks Harry and Agumon followed Senamon back to the Yellow Fruit tree and watched as the lithe digimon scrambled up the tree with ease using his talons to grip the trunk.
"Ready Agumon?" Harry asked
"Sure thing!"
Agumon bent close to the ground and Harry took a careful step onto the middle of his nose then the orange dinosaur digimon lifted himself up pushing Harry within arm's reach of the branch.
"Was that alright? I didn't hurt you?" asked Harry looking back down at Agumon from his perch in the tree.
"Not at all," snorted Agumon, "You hardly weigh more than Patamon Harry, do you ever eat?"
Harry stuck his tongue out at the digimon.
"Come on Harry!" urged Senamon.
Getting the two Yellow Fruits turned out not to be as much of a production as Harry had feared and soon enough they emerged from the forest, a fruit under each of Harry's arms, to find Sora, Tai and Matt arrayed around the completed fire pit and Joe stacking the extra firewood neatly off to one side. Mimi and Palmon were there too helping Gomamon with the purple aquatic fruits he'd fished out of the lake.
"We're all set to cook dinner now all we need is the grub," said Matt.
"Great, but how're we supposed to light the fire?" asked Sora.
"Like this!" said Agumon running up to them and spitting a fireball into the pit.
"Wow Agumon, you're the man!" praised Tai.
Agumon all but outright glowed at his partner.
"We've got more fruit!" Senamon announced.
"Holy crow, you two have been busy!" Sora exclaimed seeing the size of the Yellow Fruits Harry was setting down with the other food.
"We couldn't have done it without Agumon," Harry said, "He played a key role!"
Senamon relayed this information to Tai who engulfed his ecstatic partner in a hug. Harry and his digimon exchanged pleased looks.
"I should teach you how to high five," Harry said to Senamon with a grin.
"Hey, look, we caught a bunch a fish!" called TK as he and Izzy ran up fish in hand.
Harry was amused to note that all the fish they had caught were the same long grey type and looked nothing like any of Gomamon's colourful friends.
"Wow, great work Izzy, TK, let's eat 'em!" said Tai.
Izzy and TK had caught enough fish that each of the kids could have one, as could Gabumon, Agumon, Senamon and Piyomon. The other digimon all preferred to stick with their fruit, berries and mushrooms for one reason or another and there was certainly enough of that to go around.
"Thanks squirt," said Matt accepting a fish from his brother and skewering it on a sharpened stick.
"It's times like this I wish I had a microwave," grumbled Tai doing a strange sort of dance as he dangled his fish over the fire by the tail trying to cook the thing and not get burnt at the same time.
"Me too," said Matt, "Because you're about to lose your fingers, why don't you use a stick?"
Matt demonstrated by sticking his fish on a stick in the ground in such a way that it was close enough to the fire to cook but not get burned.
"How did you come up with that Matt?" asked Tai, watching the blond work curiously.
"Because I'm the man," Matt answered with a grin, pulling another stick out of his pocket and handing it to Tai.
Soon after that Matt had everyone's fish cooked on sticks and the children and digimon had arrayed themselves in a circle around the fire munching greedily on the gathered dinner.
"Bon appetit," Harry said handing Senamon his fish.
"Thanks Harry!"
"Mmm, this is surprisingly good!" said Tentomon from where he and Piyomon were making good headway on the bits of Yellow Fruit Senamon had cut up with his Razor Claw.
"Here you go," Matt said handing TK his fish.
"But Matt," TK said sounding uncertain all of a sudden, "Mom only lets me eat fish sticks."
"I won't tell," Matt assured him.
"And I never eat with my fingers."
"TK it's alright!" snapped Matt, a little harshly if you were to ask Harry's opinion, or TK's if the hurt look in his baby blues was anything to go by.
Luckily Tai intervened.
"Yeah, Matt's right, you're hanging with the big boys now!" he winked at TK.
"'Kay," agreed TK with a smile, digging into his fish with ravenous appetite.
"Besides," Harry said, "How much closer to fish sticks can you possibly get?"
When Patamon translated that statement it earned chuckles and giggles all around diffusing some of the tension in the air.
It didn't take long for everyone to finish off their meals and throw their rinds and fish bones into the fire. Sora, Mimi, and Joe wrapped up fruit that they didn't eat in some of the big leaves and packed them into Joe's bag along with the rest of the meal replacement bars.
"Look Patamon's tired," said TK fondly as his digimon yawned widely and his eyes drooped shut.
Next to them Palmon had fallen asleep leaning against Gomamon. Senamon was blinking his eyes slowly, his head resting on Harry's knee, and looked ready to follow his friends off to dreamland.
"I'm getting really tired myself," yawned Tai.
"Wait a second, don't fall asleep yet," said Izzy, "We should each take turns standing guard."
"Alright," agreed Joe with an easy nod, "Who wants to go first?"
"How about if each of us stands guard for about two hours?" suggested Tai.
"Not TK!" said Matt immediately getting to his feet.
"Aw c'mon Matt I wanna help too!"
"No!" Matt snapped, "You're too young and you need your rest!"
"I'm getting cold. I need a warm blanket to help me sleep," Mimi interrupted.
"Hey Gabumon," Tai said smirking, "Better sleep with one eye open or Mimi might sneak up on you and steal your fur right off your body."
He tugged at Gabumon's pelt to illustrate and Gabumon shied away.
"Stop it Tai, that's not funny!"
Tai immediately released the furry blue digimon but Matt got right up into his face and shoved Tai even further away.
"Quit it!"
"Hey, what crawled up your ass and died?" Tai demanded angrily.
"Tai!" snapped Sora.
"Gabumon told you to stop, so knock it off!"
"You can't tell me what to do!"
All of a sudden the two boys had each other by the front of their shirts and looked ready to start pounding on each other.
"Guys stop!" cried TK distressed, "Don't fight."
With that Tai and Matt released each other and turned their backs on the other, arms crossed defiantly and identical scowls on their lips.
"You'd both make great guards," said Joe stepping between them, "Who goes first?"
"I will!" snapped Tai.
"I'm next!" snapped Matt.
"How about if Izzy and Harry take over after that and then I finish up the night?" suggested Joe.
"That's fine with me," Izzy agreed, "Harry?"
Harry shot him a tired smile and a thumbs up.
"Great," said Sora, "Now that that's settled let's get back to the trolley and get some sleep."
Together the kids and their digimon dragged their exhausted bodies back across the land bridge over to the small island with the trolley car.
Gomamon, Piyomon, Tentomon and Palmon all curled up together in a nest of leaves in the centre of the trolley. Mimi had claimed the bench on the far side of the digimon and Sora was already sprawled out on the bench opposite her. Joe and Matt and chosen benches on the opposite ends of the room from each other and were settling in. Gabumon had chosen to sleep with his partner but Joe's legs were far too long to fit anyone else on his bench. TK and Patamon were curled up together on the bench next to Sora's and Harry and Senamon made themselves comfy across from Joe.
"Mind if I join you guys?" asked Izzy, "That way we won't disturb anyone else when Matt wakes us up for our turn on watch."
Harry gave the redhead a smile and a nod.
"I can't sleep with all of you here," Mimi complained taking off her hat and glancing around the trolley car uncomfortably.
"Quit complaining. So it's not perfect, just be glad we have a place to sleep," said Sora sternly.
"That's right Mimi," shot Izzy.
Izzy and Harry arranged themselves so that their heads were in the space created by the other person's neck and like that the two boys were short enough that their feet didn't hang off the ends of the bench. Senamon stretched himself out next to Harry and pillowed his head on his human partner's chest.
"Goodnight," called Joe.
"Sleep tight," added Sora.
"Don't let the Monochromon bite!" TK finished cheerily.
Harry's eyes slid shut and he tried not to be freaked out as the trolley car turned off its own lights without any input from them, concentrating on the familiar rhythm of Izzy's breathing against the back of his neck. The redheaded computer genius had already drifted right off to sleep as if he did stuff this weird every night.
Harry was just starting to fall asleep when he heard Matt tell Gabumon to go and sleep with his little brother. A soft smile twitched Harry's lips as the black haired boy finally fell into dreamland.
What seemed like only moments later Harry was jolted out of his sleep when he, Izzy, Joe and Senamon were all dumped out of their beds and into a tangle of limbs on the trolley floor. Beneath their feet the island seemed to be shaking and rumbling.
Harry thought he heard Tai and Agumon yelling outside.
"What's going on?" he demanded of no one in particular.
"Is everyone alright?" asked TK.
"It's an earthquake!" screamed Mimi pressing herself into the floor next to Palmon her hands covering her head.
All of a sudden they heard a loud menacing snarl.
"What's that horrible sound?" asked Sora.
"The trolley's moving and I don't think it's to take us home!" Joe exclaimed extricating himself from the inadvertent dog pile.
"It's taking up towards that sea dragon!" cried Izzy pointing out the front window to where a twenty foot tall sea monster had risen from the lake and was snarling in their general direction.
"Oh no!" cried Tentomon, "It's Seadramon!"
"We have to help Tai and Agumon!" Sora said.
They all clambered out of the trolley, falling to the ground as, with a sudden jerk, Seadramon began towing their little island along behind him as he swam further out into the lake.
"We're going to be eaten for sure!" wailed Mimi.
When the shaking steadied they got to their feet and moved to join Tai and Agumon near the blackened remains of their little watch fire.
"Hold on tight!" called Agumon.
"It's like we're on a monster longboard!" Tai exclaimed.
"He's pulling us along by his tail, I don't think he even realizes we're here," said Izzy.
"Perhaps not," agreed Tentomon, "He's a bit dense. As long as he doesn't see us we should be safe."
"Don't be too sure about that," Agumon said as Seadramon turned back around to face them.
"You guys jinxed us!" cried Tentomon hopping forward a step, "Now he knows we're here!"
"What? I didn't do anything!" chorused Tai and Agumon.
With a flick of his large red tail Seadramon sent Tentomon flying.
"I guess he does know we're here!" said Izzy.
"Ack!" cried Tai, "That big red thing was his tail!"
Seadramon hissed at them furiously and with a flick of his abused tail rocked their little island sending them sprawling once again.
"Everybody stay down!" ordered Sora.
"Look out guys he's coming back!" Tai warned.
Somehow Seadramon managed to push their island forward even more and even faster.
"We're going to crash into the shore!" cried Joe.
As it turned out they didn't crash into the shore but into three very randomly placed towers with the dangling remnants of a set of overhead power lines in the middle of the lake.
"Great," Tai complained, "He left us right in the middle of the lake!"
"I don't suppose we could trick him into taking us back," said Izzy.
Seadramon once again burst forth out of the water.
"Look out everyone, he's attacking!" called Tai.
"Come on you guys, let's send him back to the fishes!" cried Agumon.
"Not a problem!" snapped Piyomon, "Spiral Twister!"
"Boom Bubble!"
Seadramon flinched a bit as the two energy attacks hit him in the face, but he seemed more annoyed and infuriated than actually injured.
"Poison Ivy!" cried Palmon, she reached and reached but her vines weren't nearly long enough to catch Seadramon.
Tentomon flew as close to the dragon type digimon as he dared and hit him solidly with a Super Shocker that barely seemed to faze him. Agumon followed it up with a Pepper Breath that was equally ineffective.
Seadramon roared at them menacingly.
"Agumon, digivolve!" ordered Tai.
"I've been trying but I just can't seem to do it this time Tai," said Agumon.
"You have to!"
"Maybe my body hasn't recovered from the last fight."
"But if you can't help us how are we supposed to stop Seadramon!"
"TK over here!" called Matt suddenly.
During all the commotion Matt and Gabumon had managed to swim almost all the way across the lake to the island.
"Matt!" cried TK rushing to the edge of the island, "Be careful or the monster will get you!"
The island rocked again and TK stumbled and fell into the water with a cry. Gomamon dove in after him and when they surfaced TK was safely on the seal type digimon's back.
"Gomamon, you go!" cheered Joe.
"Hurry up Matt!" urged Tai.
"Get out of there fast, it's Seadramon!" cried Tentomon.
"Gomamon, get TK back to the others, you can do it," Matt ordered.
"Right!"
Gomamon swam back to shore with TK but rather than following them Matt decided to pull a Tai and began jumping up and down in the water making a great racket and shouting to distract the sea dragon.
"Hey, over here!"
Seadramon turned to focus on Matt as the slim blond cut through the water like a torpedo drawing Seadramon's attention away from his brother and their friends.
"Follow me you overgrown water lizard!"
"Blue Blaster!" shouted Gabumon when Seadramon got too close to his partner.
Seadramon hissed in pain and the rest of the group on land could see that Gabumon's attack had even left a mark on the digimon's face which was better than what they had managed to accomplish.
With a flick of his tail, Seadramon flicked Gabumon out of the water and sent him flying through the air. Gabumon managed to land close to the island and swam to shore but Seadramon used the opportunity to drag a now defenceless Matt down into the water.
"No Matt!" cried TK "This is all my fault, Matt was only trying to protect me I'll never forgive myself!"
"Oh no, Matt!" Tai shouted.
Seadramon had his tail wrapped around the blond's entire upper body and seemed to be attempting to squeeze the life out of him. Matt screamed in pain and fear.
"This is not good," said Tentomon, "Seadramon may be a bubble brain but once he finds his prey he won't let go."
"We have to do something!" Harry cried frustrated.
The truth was they'd already done everything they could do and none of it was enough.
"Hang on Matt," sobbed TK, "Patamon please, help him! Hit him with a Bubble Boom!"
"Seadramon is just too big. I just don't have enough power TK, I'm sorry. Gabumon you're stronger than me, what about you?"
"You're right, Matt is in trouble and I must help!"
"Gabumon!" screamed Matt through teeth gritted from pain.
"Matt! Don't give up we'll find some way to save you!"
"Matt, hold on!" cried Gabumon.
On Matt's belt Harry could see his device begin to glow.
"Izzy look!" he said tugging on the redhead's shirt and pointing to Matt's belt.
"Never mind that!" shouted Izzy, "Look at Gabumon!"
The same light that had engulfed Agumon before he digivolved into Greymon was now surrounding Gabumon.
"He's digivolving!" Harry exclaimed with a gasp.
"Gabumon!" Matt screamed again.
"Gabumon digivolve to—Garurumon!"
The light faded from around the digivolved Gabumon to reveal a wolf the size of a mini-van stripped with blue and white fur.
Snarling menacingly Garurumon launched himself through the air straight at Seadramon snapping at the appendage that held his human partner. Matt was released immediately and turned his fall into a semi-graceful dive back into the relative safety of the water.
Seadramon roared in pain and fury as Garurumon sunk razor sharp teeth and claws into the dragon digimon's thick hide. Bucking wildly the larger digimon managed to dislodge the wolf type digimon by smacking him off into the water with his tail. Garurumon disappeared under the water for a long tense moment.
Matt managed to haul himself up onto the land and lay there panting and coughing for a minute.
"Matt are you alright?" TK demanded running up to his brother.
"Yeah, but where's Gabumon?"
Garurumon burst out of the water with a growl, just in range of Seadramon's jaws.
"Look out!" cried Tai.
The warning turned out not to be necessary as Seadramon tried to take a bite out of Garurumon and screamed in pain whereas the bite appeared to have no effect on the wolf. Garurumon swam out of range of the sea dragon's thrashing tail and began circling around, picking up speed to make another attack.
"Garurumon's fur is legendary," Tentomon informed the group, "It's stronger than steel, he's like a growling torpedo!"
"That's astonishing; it must make him nearly invincible!" Izzy exclaimed amazed.
"That's what I've heard anyway, we'll soon find out," said Tentomon.
"I really hope you're not exaggerating Tentomon," said Tai watching the battle with a grim expression.
"He could be," said Agumon.
"But I heard about it!" Tentomon protested.
Out in the water Seadramon had apparently had enough of Garurumon because with a roar a huge beam of icy blue energy shot out of his mouth freezing the water and Garurumon near instantly.
"Oh no, Seadramon's using his lethal ice blast!"
Garurumon shrugged off his icy coating as if it was nothing and retaliated.
"Howling Blaster!" he snarled, a thick stream of slightly darker blue energy overpowering Seadramon's attack and ploughing through the sea dragon.
Snapping at air and screaming in pain Seadramon thrashed around wildly a few times before falling backwards into the lake and not resurfacing.
The kids and digimon on the island whooped and cheered as Garurumon began to glow and shrank back into the more familiar form of Gabumon. Gabumon hauled himself up out of the water and TK ran up to him and threw his arms as far around his neck as they would go.
"Gabumon thank you so much for saving my brother!"
"Any time, little friend."
"You digivolved into Garurumon just in time," added Matt.
"And you Matt, you were so awesome against that sea monster!" TK exclaimed.
"You think so," said Matt flushing slightly.
"You were the man," agreed Gabumon.
"And you're the wolf man," Matt told his digimon.
This sent the group into gales of relieved laughter.
"Alright, alright, yes, you're very funny," said Joe, "You're a regular comedian Matt, but in case everyone's forgotten we're still stuck in the middle of this lake. How are we supposed to get back to shore?"
"Like this!" called Gomamon diving into the water, all of a sudden the lake was fair teaming with multi-coloured fish, "Fish power!"
Gomamon and his colourful fish friends all worked together to push the island back to the mainland and by the time they reached it the sun was most of the way risen. The group of kids and digimon was just glad to get off the rock and sprawled tiredly around the remains of their camp from the previous night.
"Gabumon can I use you as a pillow?" asked Mimi sweetly, "I promise I won't take your fur."
"I'm still a bit damp Mimi and I'm starting to smell," said Gabumon apologetically.
Mimi heaved a disappointed sigh, slouching tiredly next to Sora, Palmon at her side.
"I'm beginning to see a pattern here," Izzy said out of the blue, "This time only Gabumon was able to digivolve."
"You're right," said Sora propping herself up on one elbow, "Agumon was the only one who could do it before!"
"It's beginning to make sense!" exclaimed Tai after a moment of thought, "Agumon digivolved when I was in danger."
"That must be the answer," Izzy agreed, "Our digimon digivolve when we're in trouble!"
"Not just any trouble though," said Harry, Senamon translating for him, "I think we can all agree that we were all in serious trouble when both Shellmon and Seadramon were attacking, no the trigger is that we have to be in direct mortal danger for our partners to digivolve."
"That must be it," Sora nodded.
"If that's the case I never want to digivolve again! I don't ever want you to be in that kind of danger Harry!" said Senamon protectively, crawling into Harry's lap.
A snoring Mimi slumped into Sora's back.
"Hey," she said fondly, "Watch it."
She laid the sleeping Mimi out on the ground beside her tucking a stray lock of brownish hair behind the other girl's ear with a soft smile.
"We've been here less than a day and I think she's put some muscle on her."
"Yeah, maybe if she puts in the effort she'll become a hard bodied machine just like I am," said Agumon.
"I hope she grows pink wings just like my wings!" chirped Piyomon.
"You must be kidding," murmured Mimi in her sleep.
The other humans and their digimon partners soon joined her in slumber. Joe and Gomamon sprawled out on their bellies while Harry and Izzy curled up against each other, Senamon and Tentomon pressed against their backs. Palmon was using Mimi's hip as a pillow and Sora was curled up against the tree Piyomon had perched herself in.
Tai yawned and stretched, Agumon was already dozing in the shade of the tree next to Sora and Tai was moving to join his digimon when he heard Matt playing on his harmonica. Moving quietly Tai walked a little ways down from the main group and spotted Matt, TK, Gabumon and Patamon immediately. The digimon and TK were already asleep on either side of the blond.
Tai smiled to himself and turned to return to Agumon, not wanting to disturb the scene. Matt had already spotted him though.
"Tai, wait a sec," he said.
Tai winced to himself, and came out from behind the bushes to face Matt properly, an easy grin on his face.
"Good work today hero," he said.
"Thanks," Matt said flushing slightly, "Tai, I just wanted to say thanks, for yesterday, with Shellmon."
Tai blinked in surprise.
"Sure thing. No problem."
"You know, you're tougher than you look. You got the life nearly squeezed out of you same as me, and I can guess it hurts like hell, same as me. But you don't even show it."
Tai grimaced touching his side gingerly.
"What's the point in worrying everybody when there's nothing to do about it except wait for it to heal? Sora especially would pitch a fit."
He raised his shirt and Matt gasped, blue eyes going wide at the sight of the thick ugly stripes of black and blue that wound around Tai's ribs.
"My god…Tai…"
"Don't worry about it, you'll be just as pretty by the time you wake up," grinned Tai letting his shirt fall back down to cover the bruising.
"You think?"
"Yeah, like I said, don't tell Sora."
Matt laughed softly, and next to him TK stirred a bit shifting in his sleep.
"Get some sleep hero," Tai ordered turning his back on the foursome.
"Follow your own advice," Matt retorted.
Still grinning, Tai settled in next to Agumon and did as he was told for once.
AN: So tired...I really wanted to get this update up tonight, I'll definitely regret it when I have to get up for work tomorrow morning. A quick note, I had a reviewer point out to me that Piyomon should really be spelt Biyomon if I'm using the english names. I realize this but for continuity's sake I'm just going to keep on spelling it Piyomon, though I might go through and change it at a later date or in the final swath of editing if it bothers people that badly.
Hope you guys all enjoyed this installment, and please drop me a review on your way back to reality to let me know what you think!