Author's Notes: The narrative calls the shots. I had hoped this would be the final chapter, but it stretched out long enough that it necessitated being split into two. The finale is where things really got ridiculous.
Disclaimer: Although the severely warped and twisted imagination is my own, Digimon Xros Wars and its characters are the property of Akiyoshi Hongo, Bandai, Toei Animation, and TV Asahi.
| Digimon Xros Wars | Xtra | Part 4 |
Further discussion of the strange prophecy was delayed when Crystal was knocked on her back by a speeding Chibimon. The enthusiastic little blue dragon began hopping up and down on the girl's stomach while the members of team Xros Heart looked on and Zapmon was sent sprawling from her perch on Crystal's shoulders from the sudden impact.
"You really sent those bad guys packing again, didn't you?" Chibimon beamed proudly. "I knew you guys could take 'em."
"Something like that," Crystal laughed. She lifted the small dragon off of her and set him down next to her so she could sit up.
Chibimon finally seemed to realize that Crystal had brought back more than just the usual return party. "Hey, you brought other humans back with you this time. Does that mean we've made some new friends?"
"Maybe," Crystal ran a hand through her hair uncertainly. "I mean, we've only just met. I'm taking them to meet Slashmon."
It became apparent that Chibimon hadn't come alone. Akari was already fawning over a Nyaromon and there were also several Koromon, Tsunomon and Petitmon assembled around them.
"It looks like there are a lot of young digimon in this zone," Taiki observed.
Zapmon was back on her feet after having been indignantly sprawled on the ground. "Which is why we have to fight extra hard to protect them."
"But wouldn't that be easier if you had the Code Crown?" Akari remarked.
Crystal moved herself into a cross-legged position. "Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work like that. Even though we know where it is, the Code Crown for this zone didn't resonate with me." She paused as she pushed herself onto her feet without bothering to use her hands. She dusted herself off and continued. "It kind of felt like it was waiting for someone else."
"And you think it's Taiki," Shoutmon finished for her sounding expectant. The way he said it mostly just caused Taiki to become a little embarrassed.
"That's what we're going to find out," Crystal responded. She looked to Chibimon, "Do you know if Slashmon is still at the shrine by the lake?"
Chibimon nodded vigorously, "I saw him consulting with Plesiomon."
"Alright, then that's where we're going," Crystal concluded. "Try to stay out of trouble until I get back."
The shrine was a fairly typical crumbling stone building with an ornate statue of Qinglongmon adorning its roof. In the places where the walls were still more intact there were hieroglyphs some of which formed patterns that looked like writing in some kind of foreign alphabet while others were simply pixelated representations of various digimon. There was even more writing preserved on the inside.
Plesiomon was easy enough to spot at a distance because of her large size, even as she craned her neck to converse with the much smaller raptor-like digimon known as Slashmon. As Crystal, with Zapmon once again perched on her shoulders to hitch a ride, approached with the members of team Xros Heart the large aquatic digimon dove under and disappeared beneath the surface of the central lake.
"Hey Slashmon," Zapmon called from her perch. "Crystal thinks we might have found the legendary general!"
"We'll see about that," Slashmon responded as he made his own way over to them. "But first, get down from there. How many times do I have to tell you that it makes our general look entirely undignified."
Zapmon shrugged. "She doesn't mind."
"That doesn't mean you have to take advantage of her like this," Slashmon retorted. Once he was close enough he reached up with a clawed hand to grab Zapmon around one of her legs and then proceeded to yank her down so that he could hold her at arm's length upside down. "Besides, it makes you an easy target."
"Hey! Cut it out! Put me down!" Zapmon flailed in protest. Slashmon obliged by releasing her leg. Zapmon winced as she hit the ground. "Alright, maybe I shouldn't have said it like that."
"That's Slashmon?" Akari sounded skeptical.
"Unless there's another digimon in the vicinity that I haven't yet been made aware of with the same designation, that would be me," Slashmon answered. "Now, let's see about this legendary general Crystal has brought us." He gave the group a once over and then locked his eyes on Taiki. "I see, so this is the legendary general entrusted with the red Xros Loader who will eventually bring peace to this world and he matches the description perfectly. He's even wearing goggles!"
Zapmon rubbed her head as she got back on her feet. "You didn't have to drop me from so high up you know." She obviously wasn't paying attention to the discussion anymore.
"That's my general," Shoutmon was unnecessarily impressed by Taiki's apparent rise to fame in this new zone. Taiki himself was at a loss for words even as he kept letting himself get herded along.
"This is crazy," Akari wasn't buying it. "Why would a prophecy even bother mentioning something like that?"
Slashmon gave her a fangy grin. "Would you like to see for yourself?"
He led them into the shrine. The pictographs on the far wall clearly resembled the digimon that were assembled with team Xros Heart with a similarly pixelated human figure among them that certainly resembled Taiki, goggles and all. There were also representations of numerous digimon not yet present within team Xros Heart although they were all gathered around Taiki and a fairly obvious representation of Shoutmon X4.
"Wait," Taiki was staring at the images on the wall. "I've seen some of these digimon before. They were in my dream!"
"Perhaps you saw a vision of the future," Slashmon suggested. "No doubt, you still have a long journey ahead of you."
"I'm in the prophecy too!" Shoutmon was busy admiring himself.
"How is this even possible?" Akari demanded. "Where did this prophecy come from?"
"I'm sure you've probably noticed by now that this digital world responds to human emotions," Slashmon explained. "If those emotions are strong enough, then they have the power to change the world. The digital world has historically reached out to those with strong hearts to correct the imbalances that arise between this world and the human world. Humans and digimon both have the potential for good or evil. Light or darkness. It is difficult to anticipate which path will ultimately be chosen."
"This prophecy might be set in stone," Zapmon continued, "but the future isn't."
"Even so," Crystal concluded. "We're still kind of hoping that it will turn out to be true."
"Is this why the digimon in other zones we've been to have been so eager to meet the legendary general?" Zenjirou wondered aloud.
"It's possible," Slashmon confirmed. "With the state of things in this world as it is now, many have been hoping for a savior to appear. However, according to the prophecy, a certain digimon has been striving to become that savior, but that digimon couldn't achieve it on his own. And, of course, that digimon was Shoutmon." He paused and added, "That was the reason I told Crystal to keep a lookout for a boy accompanied by a red dragon." He clasped his claws together. "In any case, I have made you listen to my ramblings long enough. The Code Crown is hidden in a cavern beneath the lake where it is being guarded by Volcdramon. I shall have Plesiomon to take you there as soon as possible."
"Don't let what Slashmon says get to you," Zapmon started once they were back outside. "There's no pressure. Nobody expects you to do this all on your own. Lots of digimon want you guys to succeed and we're all eager to help." She prodded Crystal experimentally with a claw. "Certain humans too."
"You can stop putting words in my mouth," Crystal responded. "I can speak for myself."
"But you won't because you're shy," Zapmon countered.
"I... I'm not that bad," Crystal returned.
"You two seem pretty close," Cutemon observed.
"Say Crystal," Akari was curious. "How long have you been in the digital world anyway?"
"About three months I guess," Crystal answered automatically. "I'm sure I've probably lost track by now."
Plesiomon had returned to the surface to converse with Slashmon. It wouldn't be much longer until team Xros Heart could be sent on their way.
"And this is where we part ways," Crystal announced matter-of-factly.
"You aren't coming with us?" Taiki began to protest.
"Nope," Crystal responded. "I need to be on the surface in case those goons from before decide to come back with reinforcements. Besides, I don't do well with large bodies of water."
"In that case I guess we're just going to have to come back to help you fight once we get the Code Crown," Taiki decided automatically.
"There he goes again," Akari sighed.
After that the members of team Xros Heart boarded Plesiomon's back where they were subsequently covered by a large air bubble that would enable them to breathe even under water. Before Plesiomon set off, Slashmon decided to give them one last piece of advice.
"Do yourselves a favor and try not to offend Volcdramon," he cautioned them.
To Be Continued...