Note: I do not own Digimon
So here is the next chapter, hope you guys enjoy it. Let me know what you think of the direction I'm taking this, I'm just winging it at the moment and maybe trying to combine too much into it at once, but hopefully it will work :)
Chapter Five ~
"What kind of a problem?" Taichi demanded, leaning forward over the flickering camp fire and frowning.
Agumon shifted uncomfortably, looking to the other digimon for support. A blue, wolf like digimon smiled encouragingly at him and he nodded in return. "We don't quite understand it ourselves," he began "but there were supposed to have been ten digimon for ten digidestined." Everyone looked around and it was clear they were some members short by that count.
"Let's start at the beginning, Agumon," Mimi's plant like digimon said gently.
"Sure" he nodded. "Our world was created a long time ago, no one knows how, but we believe it was somehow linked to events in your world. All we know is that our two worlds, the human world and the digital world, are linked."
"Linked how?" the red haired child asked.
His partner, a beetle-like digimon, was the one who answered. "Well, Koushiro, we believe they are symbiotic in nature."
The red head, Koushiro's, eyes widened at this. "Symbiotic worlds?"
His digimon nodded.
Ken and the others waited in silence for a moment, hoping for some explanation. Koushiro glanced around and, seeing all eyes were now on him, scratched his head nervously. "Symbiotic means they need each other to survive, so if our worlds are symbiotic which," he frowned slightly, "I am not sure if I believe is possible, then they need each other to exist."
Koushiro reminded Ken of Osamu and he smiled slightly.
The beetle digimon nodded and continued. "Well our worlds are both in danger. If something terrible happens to either of them, the other will suffer."
"And something terrible has happened here?" the older blonde child asked, placing a hand protectively over Takeru.
"Not yet," the beetle shook his head, "but our elders have chosen to call you into this world now, and they would not do that unless it was absolutely necessary."
"There's a prophesy," the blue seal digimon piped up, "about how this world will be saved by human children from that other world, children who can make their digimon evolve." His eyes shone as he looked to the blue haired boy, "you made me evolve, Jyou. Just like the prophesy said you would!"
"I.. uh," Jyou fiddled with his glasses nervously, "I did that?"
"Of course!" the seal grinned, "we all evolved to save you."
Jyou blushed and coughed, "To save me?"
"All of you," Agumon clarified.
Jyou nodded quickly. "Of course, all of us." Then he shook his head, "but how?"
Hikari pointed to a small device on Taichi's shorts. "The light that came from these did something."
"Oh yeah!" Taichi nodded, "that was when you guys changed. But I've never seen this thing before, what is it?" he held it out for everyone to see.
"I have one too," Sora held out hers. One by one everyone, except Hikari, presented their device.
"They are your digivices," the pink bird digimon explained, "legend says that they were created at the same time as this world, and they each have a spark inside them from that moment when everything was made."
"Why doesn't Kari have one?" Taichi asked.
"She does," Agumon said, "we just have to get it back."
"Along with my digimon?" she asked eagerly.
"And my brother?" Ken added.
The digimon all nodded.
"Back from where?" the older blonde asked, frowning.
The digimon exchanged looks. "We don't know. We have to go meet with Leomon, he should have some answers for us."
Hikari nodded sadly as Taichi put his arm around her small shoulders and Ken sighed. Wormmon curled up to his human, sensing his need for comfort.
As everyone watched the flames flicker in the fire, a thoughtful silence descended over the group.
"So…" Sora began, after this lull in the conversation. "I don't think we've actually had a chance to properly introduce ourselves yet," she smiled apologetically, feeling a little foolish. "I'm Sora Takenouchi, please to meet you all."
Taichi smiled. Trust Sora to think of introductions, he couldn't believe such a simple thing had escaped them all. But then, he guessed social niceties hadn't been the priority in this crazy situation.
The pink bird who had stuck close to Sora grinned and bowed slightly, "and my name is Piyomon, I'm Sora's digimon."
Sora gave Piyomon a half smile.
"I'm Taichi Yagami," Taichi grinned confidently around at the group "but you can call me Tai."
Hikari snuggled up to him and he ruffled her hair affectionately. "Oh yeah and this is my little sister Hikari," he added.
"And I'm Agumon, Taichi's digimon."
"Well my name is Yamato Ishida," the older of the two blondes stated, "and this is my-" he indicated the younger blonde who interrupted him with a giant smile.
"I'm Takeru Takaishi, Yama's brother!" Yamato smiled down at the younger child and nodded proudly.
"My name is Gabumon and I am Yamato's digimon," the blue canine digimon inclined his head politely.
"And I'm Patamon, Takeru's digimon," a round, hamster like digimon chirped as he flew up and perched on the blonde child's head.
All eyes now turned expectantly to Ken and Wormmon, who were next in the circle, and Ken felt suddenly shy. "My, my name's Ken Ichijouji" he managed in a small voice.
"Hiya Ken," Taichi smiled warmly at the boy, wanting to reach out and take care of the bashful child.
Ken smiled up at Taichi with big, grateful eyes. How he missed his big brother right now.
"I'm Wormmon, Ken's digimon."
Jyou cleared his glasses, where the flecks off the fire had stuck to them, and glanced around with a hesitant smile. "I am Jyou Kido, pleased to meet you all."
"And I'm Gomamon," beamed the small, seal like creature next to him.
"My name is Koushiro Izumi, pleasure to meet you all." Koushiro nodded his head respectfully.
"I am Tentomon, Koushiro's partner."
"Well my name is Mimi Tachikawa," Mimi offered, staring miserably around her "but this is no pleasure. A pleasure would be getting out of these stinky, sodden clothes into a nice warm bath away from all of this danger and horrible outdoors stuff!"
"Mimi-!" her plant digimon began, holding out a hand, or what passed as a hand, to comfort her.
"No, Palmon! Just leave me alone."
Mimi lapsed into silence and Palmon looked around apologetically. "Well, I'm Palmon and I'm happy to meet you all…"
Everyone smiled half heartedly at her, while secretly thinking that a hot bath and fresh clothes did sound perfect right now.
"We should plan for tonight, make camp and decide on a rota for people keeping watch," Yamato suggested after a short while.
"Keeping watch?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, in case you didn't notice early this place isn't exactly safe. I wouldn't feel happy sleeping unless I knew there was someone awake watching our backs," he frowned, "I won't have Takeru in danger."
Sora nodded, "Right. That's a good idea."
"The younger ones shouldn't have to keep watch," Taichi pointed to Hikari, Ken and Takeru.
"Agreed," Yamato nodded.
"Neither should us girls!" Mimi whined.
Sora raised an eyebrow, "Speak for yourself."
Taichi laid a hand on Sora's arm. "It's okay Sor, for tonight let's keep it with just us boys keeping watch. You can swap in tomorrow night for Koushiro or someone. That way we'll all get a full night's sleep every so often."
Sora frowned but saw the sense in his suggestion and nodded.
"How long are you thinking we'll be here, Taichi?" Jyou asked.
"I don't know," he shrugged and turned to Agumon questioningly.
"Well, it will take us two days to reach Leomon from here…" began Agumon.
"Two days?!" Mimi exclaimed.
Jyou went pale.
"And then?" Taichi prompted his digimon, ignoring Mimi's outburst.
"Well, we have to save the world, it could take years…"
There was silence as the children digested this.
"Come on this is ridiculous. 'Fate of the world' talk aside, look at us for a second, would you!" Jyou glanced from face to face "we're just a bunch of kids. What can we do?" he wrung his hands. "I say we all just need to go home, this is too much."
Ken shook his head, he for one wouldn't leave without his brother.
"Yes," Mimi nodded, "let's just go home. They can find someone else to save the world. Isn't that what the army are for? Call America!"
The digimon looked at their partners with wide eyes. "We don't know how to get you home."
"You don't- you can't-?" Mimi spluttered as Palmon rushed to try to soothe her once more.
"We only know that once both our worlds are safe you won't be needed here anymore and can go home then," Gabumon offered.
"But that could take years, you just said!" Jyou ran his hands through his hair and began breathing deeply to try to calm himself down. "We're just kids. You can't seriously expect this of us!"
"Alright," Yamato said, "Let's take this one step at a time. I think we should all just calm down and try to find somewhere to rest tonight. Forget all the other stuff for now and just focus on surviving the night. Okay?"
Jyou nodded, not convinced. Mimi scowled. The others obligingly looked around the beach, eager for something to focus on.
"What's that?" Takeru asked, pointing to a large cable car across the sand.
The children all followed his gaze and murmured in surprise.
"I'll go check it out," Taichi sprang up and headed over, followed closely by Agumon. The other children picked themselves up slowly and headed after them, curious.
As the group approached they saw that it was, in fact, a cable car.
"Shelter!" Jyou gasped as he rushed inside, trying out the seats and sighing with relief. "They are a little lumpy but they sure beat the floor" he grinned up at the others.
"What on earth is this doing here?" Koushiro wondered quietly.
"Welcome to the executive suite ladies and gentlemen," Taichi laughed, collapsing happily onto one of the benches and winking at Sora who smiled back.
Mimi pursed her lips but said nothing and settled onto one of the benches with Palmon, seeming slightly happier.
"I'll take first watch then," Taichi said as he stretched his arms and headed back outside. "Sleep well guys, I'll come wake you up in two hours Yamato."
"Yeah" Yamato nodded and the children settled down to sleep.
"Hey," Takeru approached Ken with a shy smile. "Want to sleep in that corner with me and Yama?"
Ken nodded happily and turned to smile at Hikari, who had edged close to them but seemed reluctant to impose herself onto anyone. "Do you want to join us too?" Ken invited warmly.
She nodded shyly but said nothing and followed along behind the two boys as they set up camp in the corner with Yamato and Gabumon.
Takeru curled up with his head on Yamato's knee and Patamon snuggled in his arms like a teddy bear and suddenly felt very sorry for Hikari, who had no partner. "Hikari," he whispered as everyone was quietening down to sleep.
"Yeah?"
"We will find your partner soon. I promise."
Ken nodded at this, too. "Yeah we will, don't you worry."
"Thanks Takeru, thanks Ken," her eyes crinkled slightly as she smiled at them. Then she rolled over and gazed up at the stars through the cable car's window and sighed. As the sounds of the other children sleeping filled the car she wondered what kind of digimon partner was waiting out there for her.
"Don't worry I'm coming for you," she whispered quietly, "just hang on."
She wondered if they were also looking up at the night's sky and thinking of her right now, feeling the same sense of incompleteness that she felt each time she saw Ken clutch Wormmon or Patamon perch on Takeru's head companionably. The same sense of incompleteness she had always felt, just never knowing why until now.
"Just hang on," she repeated, closing her eyes and offering up a silent prayer as her mind finally drifted off to sleep.
Lucemon watched the young girl's face on the orb before him, the image fluctuating every so often. He could sense her longing and this pleased him. With the girl being so eager to meet her partner there would be no way she would not accept him.
He smiled slowly.
Yes, Hikari was his for the taking.
"Summon Devimon," he commanded Vandemon, never taking his eyes off the screen before him. "Tell him we are ready to play."
Vandemon bowed and was about to leave the room when Lucemon added "and watch over the boy for us, train him while we are gone. We have something important to do so we must leave him in your care."
"Yes sir, I won't disappoint you." Vandemon bowed obediently.
"No," Lucemon's gaze found Vandemon's for a moment and he narrowed his eyes, "you will not."
Vandemon blanched.
Immediately Lucemon's attention returned fully to the picture of the sleeping girl projected on the orb and Vandemon took his chance to sidle out of the room silently and head towards the communications tower to let Devimon know the plan was to be initiated.
"Now," Lucemon whispered intimately to the image on the orb, "we shall come and find you, our little light. But first," he raised his arms above his head and closed his eyes as a bright light enveloped him. When the light faded it was clear something had happened, for in the place where Lucemon had been standing only moments before there was now a far smaller digimon, less than half his size. He was cherub like and undeniably adorable, with white fur, small golden wings and giant golden eyes.
Lucemon had devolved into his in training form, Cupimon.
"Much better," he chuckled, holding up his tiny paws for inspection, "Hikari cannot help but love us when we are in this form…"
He once more studied the image of the young girl before him. How strange that such an uninspiring creature could be so vital to the fate of the world, it was almost laughable.
"Once we have you, little light, we have won" he cooed tenderly. "Oh what fun this will be!"