It hurts… Her head hurts horribly… Not just her head; her body, too… Everything hurts…
Kiran slowly opened her eyes to a beeping sound nearby. Looking around, she found herself in an unfamiliar room, lying in bed.
'Where… am I…?' she wondered, slowly sitting up.
As she did so, she heard what sounded like a door sliding open. She turned to the source, and saw her mother entering with a bouquet of flowers in her hands. The moment they made eye contact, a gasp escaped the older woman's lips, as she dropped the flowers.
"Kiran! You're awake!" she cried out, rushing over and hugged the teen.
"Omph! Mom… That hurts…" she groaned out.
Parting away from her daughter, Kiran's mother said, "I'm sorry about that, Kiran. But… I'm just so relieved. You have no idea how worried your father and I were."
'Worried…?' Kiran thought back to what happened to her last.
From what she could recall, it was the same day as usual. Going to school, attend classes, going to her swim team for practice, even headed home right after to help out at the restaurant… Her eyes then widened upon remembering what occurred after. How she was about to go for a late night swim, only then meet a little sea creature, fed it, and got in trouble with an angel. One that nearly killed her.
'Wait… What happened to Betamon?!' she realized. As she shot up, about to ask about her new friend, she stopped and hissed in pain, worrying her mother.
"Don't move so suddenly! You're badly hurt…" she told her. "Honestly, it's a miracle you're even alive right now."
Being reminded of her state, Kiran realized one more thing… Given what went on last night, how did she end up in the hospital? It couldn't be that her parents searched for her and found her at the abandoned lighthouse, did they? Could Betamon have told them?
"H-How am I…?" she managed to breathe out.
"You tell me. Your father and I were just done with our own dinner when we heard a knock at the front door. A persistent one, no less. We thought it was a customer and went to answer the door, when we found you lying at the front in a horrible state instead. At first we thought it was some horrible joke but… I went to check your room and…" Kiran's mom couldn't say anymore, as tears started to form in her eyes, and she went to hug her daughter once more. "I really did fear the worst…"
Kiran's eyes widened at those words, finally realizing how much she worried her parents. Her eyes softened, as she returned the hug. "Sorry mom…"
After sharing their family moment together, Kiran's mom broke away from the hug once more. "What on earth happened to you, though? You were in your room, weren't you? And… how did you end up like this?"
Kiran flinched slightly at the questions. It was not as though she could tell her what happened that night. Aside from the possibility of her mother thinking she became crazy- especially in the state she was in- if she did believe her, what will happen to Betamon then? Wherever she even was…
"… You know, I actually can't seem to remember. What did happen?" she lied.
Saddened as she was, her mother seemed to have accepted the lie, and gave Kiran another gentle hug. "Well… All that matters now is that you're okay. You didn't just worry me and your father, you know. Your friends from school, your swim team, even our staff members are worried. Now they can finally hear the good news."
Kiran arched a brow at a certain word her mother used. "'Finally'?"
"Why, yes. You have been unconscious for a couple of days."
The news surprised Kiran. A couple of days? Then again, she did take quite the heavy hits. Hang on…
"W-… What about the meet?!" she gasped.
A small smile and a chuckle came from the older woman at her question. "Even now, you think about that?" she asked.
"Mom, I'm serious," Kiran said. "There's no way I can participate in the meets like this… What do I do?"
"Well, one thing I do know for sure is that no one will blame you for being unable to attend. Especially not your team. Like I said, they were also really worried about you when they heard of your condition. The coach even said she had you scratched off the upcoming meet so you would be able to recover well, without having to worry about not making it. We both know how much you care about the team in addition to your love for swimming."
Hearing that made Kiran feel even worse. She was the ace of her school's swim team, and yet she is in this state? Not only did she feel guilty for making them worry, but as a dedicated swimmer, she felt as though she let the team down. "Doesn't change the fact that I let them down, though…"
"Well, according to the doctor, you seem to be recovering fast enough. And the injuries are not as bad as they seem. Or so he says, at least. While I can't guarantee anything in regards to your swimming career, at the very least, you should be out of here soon. Though, in the end, only a doctor would know for sure. They may need to do some tests on you."
"Yeah, I can imagine," Kiran agreed with a sigh, hoping the tests would not take long, and that she would be out of the hospital soon. If not to get back to swimming, then to check on Betamon.
Ringing was then heard, and Kiran's mom took her phone our of her pocket. "Oh. I gotta head back to the restaurant. Dinner rush will start soon, and there was a terrible traffic on the way here today. No reservations were made for tomorrow. Your father and I will have the place closed for you."
"You don't need to do that. I can head home on my own tomorrow."
"Not in that condition. I gotta go, Kiran. See you tomorrow." Without another word, she left the room.
"You too, mom. Bye…" Kiran muttered out, flopping back in bed.
'Gosh, never thought my life would take this sort of turn…' she thought. 'Finding a sea monster, meeting an angel, nearly dying… Adding in how I'm still alive, I may as well be some sort of main character of some story.'
"More importantly…" she subconsciously muttered out. "I wonder how Betamon is doing."
*OPENING**Stand Up By Twill*
(Instrumental)
(Scene begins with a reflection of a seagull flying across the ocean. Camera moves up to the real seagull, displaying it flying towards Fornia Town, and then to the sky. The seagull gets replaced by the title, a glare on the right side caused by the sun shining on it.)
Yeah, Stand Up Boys!
Come on, face forward
(Scene changed to Copace High School's swimming pool, where Kiran was swimming at full speed down her lane. Upon arriving at the edge, Betamon handed her a towel in which she used to dry her face.)
The call enveloping you is your guide; step towards tomorrow
(Her Digivice's screen lit up, alarming the pair, as Kiran swiped to open it. Camera zoomed in as she did, revealing a list of sort. Zooming out, scene changed to a male silhouette and a dragon-like Digimon in a library. The former pointed up and the latter flew to grab a book above them.)
Yeah, Stand Up Girls!
At the end of what's more than real
(As the Digimon opened the book and flipped through the pages, camera zoomed in to the book. The pages soon stopped flipping and camera zoomed out, now showing the same Digimon silhouette with a different human male silhouette, practicing some fighting skills displayed in the book out in a park.)
We'll grab a light that's been covered by thick clouds
(Camera flew to a tree behind them and went to the other side of the tree, where a female silhouette seemed to be singing with a different Digimon by her side. As the female silhouette sang the last few words, a breeze blew by, and the camera followed it to Vandalla Private Academy and zoomed into a window.)
How we spent our days before isn't good enough
At full speed
(A nun walked down the halls, greeting students who greeted her back. As she passed a large frame, a silhouette similar to the nun's walked alongside her, only to then stop and look back with a troubled expression)
We can blast through
Even the highest walls
(Camera zoomed to the bustling city, where a crack suddenly formed and grew bigger, until a breach occurred)
Stand Up For Your Dream!
(Kiran and the three other Chosen instantly noticed the sound from their respective locations and turned to the source with a serious expression, and her Digivice lit up)
Be enthusiastic at what you do, no matter what it is
Pushing your way through to make an opening
(Each partner Digimon silhouette Digivolved into their Champion Level form)
No matter how far
The answer you're seeking is
(Enemy Digimon flooded out of the portal and had the Chosen and their partners surrounded)
Stand Up For Your Dream
(The Chosen took out a DigiChip from their person and inserted it into their Digivice)
Even if my feelings, show weakness
(Coelamon took out a group in a burst of speed. The Champion-level dragon Digimon obliterated a number with a fist full of malicious spirit)
Your voice that I hear close by
(The other Champion-level dragon Digimon took down an army with a swift and heavy tail swing. The angelic serpentine-like Digimon soared high to the sky and spread her wings out, emitting a dangerous aura before the remaining enemies)
Gives me courage and strength
(In the Council Room, the Royal Knights and Olympos XII all watched the battle occurring, with the camera zooming in on Omnimon)
I can go the distance
(Opening ends with the Chosen and their partners at their hideout.)
The next day, after a checkup from the doctor on her condition, once she was deemed healthy enough to be discharged, Kiran was brought home by her parents. On their way back, Kiran couldn't help but wonder about Betamon. She couldn't remember much from last night, but she knew Betamon saved her from drowning. Question was, how? How did she grow so fast, and how did she manage to get her to her home without getting spotted? And what about the angel? So many questions roamed in her head, it was giving her quite the small headache.
"What's wrong, Kiran?" her mom asked, noticing the girl rubbing her bandaged temple from the back of the car.
"Nothing, just… thinking too much," she said.
"Are you trying to remember what happened to you? It's fine if you don't remember," her father assured. "Some things are better off left forgotten. And your mother and I don't want you back in the hospital."
"Yes, dad," Kiran nodded, relieved that she wasn't going to be pressured into talking.
"Other than that, how about we eat out for today? My treat. I'm sure you're in a mood for something other than seafood."
"I do feel like having something Mexican. How about you, Kiran?" Kiran's mother asked.
Kiran thoughts on it for a moment before eventually answering, "Can I also have some takeout? I'd like to have some brain food while working on some homework I missed out on."
Her dad let out a small chuckle at the request. "How about we see lunch first? I'll have the waiter leave a menu for you to decide later."
"Thanks, dad!"
After a nice lunch out, Kiran and her family returned to their home. As she walked up the stairs to her room- takeout in hand- she couldn't help but wonder about a certain someone.
'I hope Betamon is okay…'
From what she heard from her parents, she had been unconscious for a couple of days. Adding the extra day to recover in the hospital, this also meant she left Betamon to fend for herself for these past few days. If the little thing was still on the run from the angels, who knows what sort of danger she's in now?
'I got these shrimp quesadilla, thinking how nice it would be to share them with her, but thinking about it now, she may not be in my room. In fact, she may not even come back after what happened,' she thought.
When she opened the door to her room, though, Kiran was proven otherwise, as she saw Betamon in the room with a bag in her mouth.
"Betamon?!" At her gasp, Betamon jumped, dropping the bag, and crawled under her bed. "Ah! Betamon, wait. Come out, please."
"Is something wrong, Kiran?" came her mother's voice, followed by footsteps, as Kiran turned and saw the older woman approach.
"Huh? Oh, no. I was just seeing things," she lied.
"Well, it's a good thing you don't have school tomorrow then. You definitely need the extra day to rest," her mother said.
"What about the restaurant?"
"No important reservations were made for tomorrow, and we have enough workers helping out. You just be a teen and patient you are and relax."
"Yes, mom."
Her mother then looked to the side where Betamon dropped her bag and sighed. "Again?"
The sigh caught Kiran's attention. "'Again'?"
"For the past few days you were in the hospital, I've been finding a bag of shellfish in your room. Really fresh, too."
Her mother opened the bag for Kiran, revealing an assortment of shellfish within.
"Whoa! Some of these are the expensive stuff, too!" she gasped.
"Exactly, I'm glad someone gave us these and all, but putting them in your room is basically the same as putting them to waste. At least they had been delivering these at night, so they don't rot too fast, but still."
Kiran snuck a glance to her bed, where the creature she knew was delivering the shellfish was hiding. "Yeah. Sure seems to be a nice person," she said.
"I guess. I'll send these down to your father. Since we didn't do business for today, I guess we'll be having these for dinner. Any requests?"
"Maybe my usual late night lobster roll?"
Kiran's mother lightly chuckled in amusement at the request. "A bit early to make that request, don't you think?"
"I know, but still. Even if I can't practice swimming in my condition, I want to study up what I can from videos. It's the only way I can make up for missing the meet."
While the last part was not a lie, her reason was also not the full truth. For after all, she wasn't going to tell her mother that the request was actually for the little guest in her room.
"Okay, I guess I can have him save you enough for a roll. Other than that, nothing else?" the woman asked.
"Nope. That will be all," Kiran confirmed.
"Okay. Good luck with your homework. I'll call you when dinner's ready." Without another word, her mother left, closing the door shut.
Relieved to have her gone, Kiran turned to Betamon. "Okay, she's gone. You can come out now."
Instead of coming out, Betamon stayed under the bed. Kiran grew concerned by this and looked under, where she saw the little creature lying there, her back turned to Kiran.
To say she was baffled by this would be understating it. What brought upon this? "Um… Betamon? Are you okay?"
No response was given, as Betamon remained lying on her side, curled up into a ball.
'She's acting like a sad puppy…' Kiran thought, coming to realize one thing.
"Betamon… Are you worried about me?" The little thing shifted a bit, but the response felt enough for the human. "I'm fine, see? Sure, I have bandages wrapped around me, but I'm okay now. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
"… But Kira got hurt. Because of me…" Betamon spoke then. "If we not meet, Kira wouldn't get bullied by Human Bird."
Kiran's eyes widened slightly at those words. At Betamon's feelings, as her mind flashed back to Piddomon's claim.
'There has to be something wrong with him to think Betamon was in any way a monster,' she thought.
She reached under the bed and grabbed Betamon by the fin, slowly pulling her out and set her on her bed.
"Betamon, can you look at me?" she asked, only receiving a cold shoulder from the little fella in return. "No one is blaming you for what happened to me. If anything, I was the one who got myself injured. That angel didn't want to hurt me, but I couldn't just stand by and let him assault you like that."
"Then it is my fault…" Betamon interrupted, surprising Kiran with how she came to that conclusion. "You wouldn't have jumped in and gotten hurt if we didn't meet…"
Though Kiran was touched to hear how much Betamon cares about her, it also sadden me to hear how much she was blaming herself for what happened.
"Isn't that what friends are for?" the human then asked, getting Betamon's full attention.
"'Friends'?"
"People you play with, hang around with, get along, and even do what you can to protect them. No matter how different you both are. Our time together may have been sort, but I do see you as a friend. Betamon, do you not see me as a friend?"
Her words seem to have gotten through to her that time, as Betamon fully turned to me with a smile on her face. "Friends! We're friends!"
"I'm glad to hear," Kiran said, patting Betamon on the head, much to her joy.
A stomach growl was heard then, prompting the human to look down at her green companion with a raised brow, who was covering her blushing face behind her claws.
"Don't tell me you haven't eaten since the day we met. You didn't even eat a single shellfish you've been delivering?"
"I have!" she retorted, before averting her gaze away with a light pout. "… A bit."
Kiran couldn't help being amused by the reaction, and took the takeout out of the bag. "Well, luckily for you, I came back bearing a gift."
Once she opened the compartment, the smell of fresh shrimp quesadilla practically filled the room, as Betamon began to drool from one whiff alone.
"Whoa~! I can have this?!"
"Of course. I already ate, so you can have it all."
Her eyes brightened up even more at my response, as she took one slice of the quesadilla in her claws. "Thank you for the food!"
Kiran watched as Betamon enjoyed her meal. After a bit of time watching, she went to her desk and got started on the homework she had missed the past few days.
In the Digital World, three certain knightly Digimon meet in the heaven above, discussing something one of the three has discovered.
"Piddomon was defeated?!" Omnimon gasped.
"What do you mean, Leopardmon?" Jesmon questioned.
"Believe me, I was just as shocked to learn of this myself," Leopardmon said. "I was only checking in on the progress of all our remaining forces in my room, when I saw Piddomon's light not reacting."
"Are you certain you did not mistake it for another Piddomon?" Omnimon asked.
"Not possible. Not when the only way to track a Digimon's activity these days is through our badges. These things act as our life force. And since I can only track movements of the Digimon in our army…"
"There is a high possibility that the Demon Army has also sent their force to the human world…" Jesmon concluded in understanding.
"Assuming if they even found a way to send anyone over there. That said, if that were true, they must have sent someone formidable to be rid of Piddomon," Omnimon said, also catching on. To Jesmon, he then asked, "Is there any chance you can send another Digimon to the human world? At least to check in on the situation with the Chosen. We need to make sure they don't get swayed to fight for the wrong cause."
"Always. So long as it is just the one," he confirmed.
To Leopardmon, Omnimon asked, "The candidates you've selected to teach the Chosen… Is there any who is swift with high defensive capabilities? If the Demon Army sent someone fast enough to match Piddomon's speed and strong enough to end him, we need someone just as fast with good defense."
"I know just the Digimon for the job. I'll call her over right away," he answered, taking his leave.
As he left, Omnimon looked down with a hint of confliction on his face.
"Is something wrong, Omnimon?" Jesmon asked.
"Nothing, it's just… I can't help but worry."
"We already have our hands full with our side of the war. You said it yourself; we need to leave the Human World business to the Chosen and… Well, whoever will be their new instructor now."
"Yes, I know… As things are, we cannot afford to let our minds wander. Not if we at least hope to make things a little easier for the Chosen once they arrive to help us."
"Are you sure you don't want me to go there instead? So long as I have the badge, no one else in the Human World can see me," Jesmon then asked.
"True as that may be, you are more needed here. That portal of yours may be the only thing that connects this world to the human world, but it also the one method we have to swiftly send aid to our comrades who may need that ability most."
"I understand, Omnimon…"
Later that night, after dinner, Kiran sat in her room, inspecting something her parents gave her before they ate.
"I know I said 'yes' when they asked me if this was mine, but what the heck is this?" she questioned, looking down at a strange device in her hand.
When she walked down for dinner, her parents realized they had something to give her. Or rather, something to return to her. That 'something' was this device. Although she had never seen it before, the moment she laid eyes on it, she felt as though it did belong to her.
"Thankfully, whatever this thing is looks like one of those Tamagotchi toys. Though it doesn't really act like one," she muttered, testing the device, only to get nothing from it. "It doesn't act like a Tamagotchi. No spot to open for batteries, or even a plug-in to charge. There's also a slot on the side, but it doesn't look like it's for an SD card or a micro. Not to mention, the top part looks a bit like a mic. What do you think, Betamon?" Kiran asked her little friend, who was eating the lobster roll her dad made for his daughter.
Betamon only looked at her in confusion. "Hm?"
Kiran only let out a light chuckle at the reaction. "Of course you wouldn't know. Still, how did it change into this?"
"There was a weird light," Betamon answered then, which got Kiran's attention.
"A weird light?"
"Yeah. You were glowing, and then I was glowing, and that came out of you."
Kiran went wide-eyed at the last part. "Out of me?"
"Mm-hm."
The human did not know what to think after hearing that. This device… came out of her? How? That didn't make sense. Then again, she had already met plenty of things that did not seem to make much sense. Though this was at the top of the list.
"Ah! That's right!" Betamon exclaimed in realization, finishing the last of the roll. "I hid something in here!"
"Hid something? What did you hide?"
"It's in here!" Betamon hopped over to her dresser, pointing to the bottommost drawer.
Curious, Kiran walked to the dresser and opened the drawer, where she was surprised to see what looked like a flash drive lying on top of her undergarments. More than that, on the chip was a picture of Piddomon.
"A flash drive?" she asked, picking it up. "But… Why does it have a picture of Piddomon on it? And the chip… Doesn't look like it's a USB flash drive."
Betamon grew confused at the words used. "'Flash drive'? 'USB'?"
"It's nothing. Though why did you bring this? I thought with how much you hated Piddomon, you wouldn't want to bring anything of his to me."
Betamon gave a light pout at the question and looked away. "No reason…"
Kiran could tell there was a reason, though. Betamon just did not want to tell her. That said, there was something else that bothered her about that night. She had been thinking it for a while, but no matter how she thought on it, it's impossible for Betamon to carry her home. Not just in her current small form, but her big form could not possibly have gone unnoticed on her way to her house. At least someone would have seen her and made a report, yet she heard nothing about Betamon the whole day.
This could only mean one of two things. Either Betamon got lucky and no one saw her bigger form, or she had help who was keeping her a secret from the mass. Though she would like to get the answer from Betamon herself, Kiran did not want her to feel pressured into answering. For after all, if someone friendly did help out, Kiran was pretty sure Betamon would have said so by now. Instead…
"Hey, Betamon. Do you think you can accompany me to somewhere?"
"'Somewhere' where?" Betamon asked back.
"The lighthouse. I want to check on something."
'I want to see if the person who helped us is there,' she thought.
Betamon placed a claw on her chin in a thought. Not in a worry sort, but more in wonder. "Hmm… I don't know… What if you get attacked?"
"Don't I have an amazing guardian who saved me last time we were attacked?" Kiran asked.
Though her response was more meant to reassure Betamon, it instead seemed to have made her more worried instead.
'Does the person who saved me not want to be known or something?' she wondered. 'Then again, it could be more that I accidentally made her feel guilty for last time again…'
"Betamon, it's fine. Trust me, okay?" she requested, as she petted the green creature.
Betamon was still unsure about this idea, but decided to trust her. "Okay…"
In the Digital World, Leopardmon, Omnimon, and Jesmon stood, with one other individual in the room.
"Allow me to introduce Peacockmon. One of the fastest Digimon in our force. And with her body covered in Chrome Digizoid, even if the opposing force can match her speed, once they strike her body, they can only be lucky enough to leave a scratch on her, before meeting their own end," Leopardmon introduced.
"Sounds promising," Omnimon stated. "I assume you've heard of the situation from Leopardmon?"
"I have. Is it true, though? Did Piddomon really get defeated while in the human world?" Peacockmon asked.
"It would seem so," Jesmon answered. "However, as things are now, we don't know for certain if such is true. As much as I would want to head over myself to get a read on the stiautoin, my ability is more needed here, where our people are being forced to defend themselves and their home from our enemies. I can't be everywhere at once."
"I understand, Lord Jesmon," Peacockmon said with a bow.
A hologram of Earth then appeared at the Gathering Table, with a red dot beeping on one spot.
"I have pinpointed Piddomon's last area of activity. Hopefully, you'll find some kind of clue as to where his assailant may be, and help the Chosen as you do so," Leopardmon said. "Be on guard once you get to the Human World. Humans may not be able to see us, but that does not mean they will be blind to what we do there."
"Yes, sir."
Without another word, Jesmon opened up a portal, and Peacockmon flew on through. Once she was in, the portal closed up.
"You are sure she will be fine over there, right?" Jesmon asked. "What if the enemy Digimon is also equipped with Chrome Digizoid?"
"Even if they do have Chrome Digizoid, there are not many Digimon that has blue-colored ones, which grants amazing speed. And regardless of color, the only thing that can do damage to Chrome Digizoid is another Chrome Digizoid," Leopardmon pointed out. "Peacockmon can take care of herself."
"Let's hope you're right, Leopardmon. I don't want to think about what will happen if she gets taken down as well," Omnimon prayed.
Once again, without her parents knowing, Kiran and Betamon once again snuck out of her house to the abandoned lighthouse.
As soon as they arrived, at their destination, Kiran looked around the area, taking notice of the burnt marks and bits of dry blood under the moonlight. Reminders that what happened that night truly did come to be. A reminder that made her raise a hand up to her bandaged head.
"I still can't believe it really happened…" she muttered out, which did not go unnoticed by Betamon.
"… I'm sorry," Betamon apologized.
It didn't take long for Kiran to realize what the apology was for and said, "No, I'm not blaming you for what happened. I just… It's one thing to know that angels- or something like them- exist, but then I find out there is a whole other world out there? No one is going to believe this…"
"Do you believe that it happened?"
"Well, I'm looking at one of the creatures I met that night, aren't I?"
Betamon sensed that Kiran meant that in a joking manner, and chuckled along.
"So… Is no one else here, Betamon?" the human then asked.
"Hm? What do you mean?" Betamon asked back.
"Well… Do you know if anyone has been here since that incident? Like, maybe someone is starting to live in the lighthouse or something?"
"There is no one like that."
Kiran was taken aback by the response, especially as it seemed as though Betamon was telling the truth. "No one? Oh. Then, I guess that's fine. I guess…" Was she actually getting paranoid after that attack? Did she actually make it back home without realizing it? There was too many questions floating around in her head, and she did not have the mentality to think about it. Not with how her head was, at least.
"We go back now?" Betamon suggested.
"Yeah. We should go back before my parents find out I'm gone. I worried them once with that," Kiran agreed.
Just then, a portal appeared before them, much to both their surprise.
"Huh?! What the heck?!"
Next they knew, they could see a figure seemingly traveling on the other side, making its way out of the portal… Towards them. Kiran flinched when she noticed this and grabbed Betamon, moving them out of the portal's way, just in time for the figure to fly out, and the portal to close.
Once she arrived in the Human World, Peacockmon landed on the ground.
"Hmm… So this is the Human World. Certainly does feel different compared to the Digital World. Now to see where I can find clues to Piddomon's demise."
"Blue Bird! Enemy!" Betamon shouted, grabbing Peacockmon's attention.
"Betamon! Why would you say that?!" Kiran gasped.
"That's a bird! Enemy!"
"Okay, I know you hate birds, but to this extent?!"
Peacockmon paid no heed to the words exchanged, for her attention was solely focused on Kiran. "You there. Human. You can see me?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah. I can see you," Kiran answered.
Peacockmon then glanced down at Betamon, who was growling at her. 'Such disrespectful behavior. Surely this cannot be one of the Chosen's. And it's a Rookie-level, so it can't possibly the one who defeated Piddomon,' she initially thought. 'Although… How on earth could it have wound up here? It couldn't be one of the Demon Army's members, could it? No, it couldn't be. Not when it's standing protectively before a human. No member of that army would do that.'
"Um… Are you okay?" Kiran asked.
"Why yes. I am just fine," she answered.
Kiran slightly became relaxed at the response. As far as she could tell at first glance, whatever was in front of her had to be a Digimon like Betamon and Piddomon. Not only that, but she seemed far more reasonable than Piddomon, to not attack Betamon at first sight.
"I would like to ask some questions human. I am known as Peacockmon. If you can see me, then perhaps you can help me," Peacockmon continued.
Kiran grew confused by those words. Help her? With what? Just because she could see her?
"Kira! Don't bother! Bird is enemy!" Betamon exclaimed.
"Don't be like that, Betamon," Kiran reasoned. "At the very least, she's not like the gulls that keep stealing your food or that angel."
Peacockmon narrowed her eyes at the last words that came out of the human's mouth. "Come again, human?"
Oblivious to the change in attitude, Kiran explained, "Oh. This is Betamon. Before we met, apparently she often gets her food stolen by gulls. She means no ill will."
"I'm not talking about that," Peacockmon interrupted. "What was that you said about an angel?"
Instantly, Kiran felt a chill spread through her, making her take back her thought about this Digimon. And something told her she couldn't divert the topic away. Worse, something bad will happen if she told the truth.
"Well… We came across an angel some time back. Only he didn't act much like an angel," she carefully answered. "Though I'm sure that has nothing to do with you."
"What's his name?" Peacockmon asked.
"We didn't get a name."
"Human Bird is stupid Human Bird!" Betamon added, to Kiran's slight relief.
It was silent as Peacockmon studied the two individuals before her. Most people may take their claim and leave them be. However, there was a reason why Peacockmon was selected as a candidate to teach the Chosen.
"Who do you think I am?" she questioned. "I am a proud member of the Angel Army. You are a fool if you think you can fool me, human!" Kiran flinched at the shout. "For you to do so, you must be in liege with the one who felled my comrade. Now, away with you!" At those words, she rushed at Kiran at full speed, head butting her straight in the gut, forcing some air out of her, and knocked her away into the woods.
"Kira!" Betamon cried in worry.
Kiran crashed into a tree and fell to the ground, clutching her stomach in agony. While her body was well enough to be discharged from the hospital, that did not mean she was well enough to take that sort of hit. Then again, considering how she was feeling pain just trying to breathe after that, she doubted any normal, healthy human would take this hit.
"I will have you tell me the name of Piddomon's assailant," Peacockmon said, glaring down at her. "And though you are a human who have gotten caught up in this mess, once I am done with them, you are next. We cannot have any human become the Demon Army's followers. Especially not if it means the Chosen will be forced to face you in the future."
That last part piqued Kiran's interest. 'Chosen'? Chosen of what?
"Now tell me. Who took down Piddomon?!" Peacockmon demanded.
"It was me!" Betamon shouted, getting Peacockmon's attention. "Kira did nothing! I took out Human Bird alone!"
Kiran painfully looked over to her green friend. 'Beta…mon…'
Peacockmon scoffed at her claim. "You? You expect me to believe that Piddomon got taken down by a mere Rookie like you? His kind may be weaker than Angemon, but Piddomons are not that weak."
"Then I prove to you! Electric Shock!" Betamon fired a bolt of electricity from her body at the blue-armored Digimon.
Peacockmon did not bother even lifting a wing as the attack struck her, having little to no affect on her at all.
"That tickles," she simply stated, before getting to Betamon's face and knocked her away with a wing.
"Betamon…!" Kiran grunted out.
"I don't know who you think you are, but what I do know is that you cannot be one of my people. There are only two ways we Digimon can get to this world. I doubt my lords had let you come here, so you must be from the Demon Army. I will eliminate you before you become a true threat!"
"Gh… Knock it off!" Kiran shouted.
"Ready to say the name, then?" Peacockmon questioned.
Rather than answering, Kiran questioned, "What is wrong with you two…? Acting out like this just because Betamon is on a different side?! I don't know what's going on in that Digital Place of yours, but taking your rage out on something innocent, who clearly has nothing to do with your war, makes you no different from the Demon Army you so hate!"
Peacockmon only glared at the human, slowly getting enraged by the questions. Especially at the claim she made. "I don't know if all you humans are this naive or if you are so gullible to take in whatever lies the Demon Army has told you… If there truly are some 'innocent' Digimon in that army, the war would have ended long ago! Yet it still continues on. Because those monsters will not stop until they reach their end goal!"
"That doesn't mean all from that side feels the same way!"
Peacockmon was having none of it, however, as she then said, "It seems talking is pointless to you, humans. I pray the Chosens are not as stupid as you."
As she raised a wing to end Kiran, another bolt struck Peacockmon, annoying her even more.
"Leave Kira alone!" Betamon shouted. "She nothing to do with this!"
Kiran was surprised by the claim. 'Betamon?'
"I end Human Bird, not Kira! Kira not involved! Have problem? Deal with me!"
It did not take long for Kiran to realize what Betamon was doing. 'Don't tell me… Is she sacrificing herself for me?!'
"So annoying! If you wish to die that badly, I shall grant that wish!" Peacockmon declared.
Kiran's eyes widened at those words, as she watched the blue Digimon fly towards Betamon at high speed. "No… STOP!"
At her shout, her 'Tamagotchi' screen suddenly lit up, to everyone's surprise. Peacockmon was most surprised by this, as she stopped and turned to the human again. "Now what is this?!"
Kiran took her device out, wondering what was causing the screen to shine like so. "What the…? Why is it…?"
"Raise your Digivice!" came a voice, raising her surprise.
"Huh?! Who is this?!"
"Now is not the time! Or do you want Betamon to die this time?!"
Many questions swayed in her head by this voice alone. But once she was reminded of the dangerous Digimon before her, Kiran knew what had to be done, and did as the voice told her, raising the Digivice in the air. Upon doing so, the light seemed to have gotten brighter, and started to affect Betamon.
DIGIVOLUTION
"Betamon Digivolve to!"
Betamon's body grew bigger, her limbs became longer, and her body was getting covered in what seemed to be armor. Her orange fin turned white, and her tail was now a white tail fin. Whatever skin was not covered by the armor turned pink, and her claws poked out of her gauntlets.
"Coelamon!"
Kiran was surprised with what she just witnessed. Betamon… She changed completely! Sure, this was not the first time she saw this, but the first time around, she was bleeding from the head, and was blacking out. Now that she got a clear sight of the change and what she changed into, Kiran can't help but be in shock.
Her surprise was nothing compared to Peacockmon's. Not only did this human have a Digivice- something in which only the Chosen should be in possession of- her partner is this member of the Demon Army!
'It can't be… These two are the Chosen and her partner?!' she wondered. 'No… That doesn't make sense! If such is true, why did they kill Piddomon?! They must be imposters!'
"How dare you both… Pose yourselves as one of the Chosen and her partner!" she shouted. "Face the consequences of your actions!" At those words, she shot towards Coelamon.
Coelamon did not flinch, as she raised her armored arms and blocked each of her opponent's swift strikes, unfazed by the speed.
"Blue Bird fast. But! Not enough! Water Bullet!" Coelamon shouted, spitting out a water bullet at Peacockmon at pointblank.
Though not injured, the enemy Digimon was visibly surprised by how strong the hit was, as she hastily retreated away from the recently evolved 'mon.
'Such strength… I'm almost willing to believe that they are the true pair,' she thought. 'Sadly for them, I did not get selected as their instructor just to be beaten!'
"You think you're so clever, don't you? Sterlitza!" At that last shout, her laser-shaped wings glowed about, blinding Coelamon for a moment.
Once the glow died down, to the latter's bafflement, there were suddenly copies of Peacockmon all around her. "What?! More Blue Birds?!"
"Try and catch me if you can~" Peacockmon mocked.
"Why you…! Variable Darts!" The mockery instantly irked Coelamon, as she started swinging her claws everywhere, sending energy blades to all the Peacockmon around her.
Kiran, though, was quite confused. Why was Betamon striking all around the area… when Peacockmon was right in front of her?
'Why is Betamon attacking so recklessly?' she wondered. 'Peacockmon is right there! Or can it be that…?'
"Your partner's been affected by Peacockmon's Sterlitza!" the voice from her Digivice informed. "She's seeing an illusion! You need to find a way to get her out of it!"
"How?! I don't know what to do!" Kiran asked.
"Use your Digivice! Press the middle button and call out to Coelamon! You two are partners! You can get through to her!"
Kiran wanted to question the logic behind the second half of what the voice said but had no time to, as she saw Peacockmon appear behind Coelamon, wings read to end her. "Behind you!"
Coelamon heard the warning. Not from her ears, but in her head, as she turned and instinctively raised her claws up to defend herself. She felt something strike her gauntlets, and countered against it. "Variable Darts!" With another point-blank strike, not only did she seem to have landed a clean hit, but the illusion became undone, as the copies all disappeared, leaving the real one alone.
Peacockmon became more baffled by this. 'This Coelamon… heard the warning?! How?! Once caught in my Sterlitza, no one is supposed to be able to hear anything else while caught in my illusion!' She glanced back to the human behind Coelamon. To the device in her hands. 'Don't tell me… These two are truly… No. No, I don't believe that!'
"There is no way the Chosen have become our enemies!" she shouted. "Rainbow Shower!" Her laser wings began to glow, as she fired out some beams from it at Coelamon.
"Get out of there!"
Coelamon did not need to be told twice by Kiran, as she already jumped out of the way of the attack. Once it struck the ground, the grass on the spot she was on burnt away to ashes.
"You won't be lucky for long!" Peacockmon exclaimed, firing more laser beams at Coelamon, who was trying to avoid the beams as best as she could.
"Betamon won't last long if she keeps that up…" Kiran muttered. To the person connected to her Digivice, she asked, "Hey! How do I help Betamon from here?!"
"Use Piddomon's DigiChip!" the voice answered. "That chip has records of his past battles. You can only choose one of the attacks he's mastered. Use the buttons to choose wisely which move to pass onto Coelamon!"
"DigiChip?" Kiran was confused as to what a 'DigiChip' was, until she recalled the odd flash drive with Piddomon's picture. Taking a chance, she took the flash drive out and inserted it into the device. The screen lit up as she did, though not as bright as before, as it displayed a short list of moves. Both in which Kiran was familiar with. She didn't need to think about which one to use. Against an opponent as fast as Peacockmon?
"Once you chose the move, press the middle button and-!"
"Point this thing at Betamon, right? Got it!" Kiran caught on, pointing her Digivice at Coelamon. With one press of the button, the screen glowed again. "Pid Speed!" The moment she called out the move, the light struck Coelamon, making her feel a bit tingly.
Next anyone knew, as Peacockmon fired another round of Rainbow Showers at her, Coelamon suddenly moved away from her spot at high speed, much to many's shock.
"What?!" Peacockmon gasped, before feeling herself get smacked down to the ground. Courtesy of Coelamon.
"Whoa… Speedy," the fishy Digimon said, just as puzzled with how swift she had gotten as she landed on the ground.
She hastily snapped out of her shock, as Peacockmon glided over to her at high speed. "How dare you!" she shouted, spreading her wings out.
"Variable Darts!" Coelamon thought fast and swung her arms forward, sending energy claws at the flying Digimon. Sadly, though the attack hit, it did not affect Peacockmon at all, as she rammed into Coelamon.
Kiran grimaced at this, as she looked to the Digivice again. "Please tell me that chip is not one-use only! Betamon is still getting creamed out there!" Unfortunately for her, though the Digivice seems to still be working, no response came this time. "Did you not hear me?! I said Betamon still needs help! What do I do?!" Upon getting nothing but silence still, Kiran looked back to the battle at hand, wondering how to get her friend out of the situation. From what she could see, considering how speedy Peacockmon clearly was, she figured the armor around her body was light, and thus fragile. But no matter how hard Coelamon struck her opponent, there were no scratches seen anywhere on the flying Digimon.
'There has to be something… But what?' Kiran wondered.
Her eyes trailed over to the battlefield around her, then back down to her Digivice, where she finally took notice of something off about the screen. Instead of displaying a home menu of sort like any Tamagotchi device would with the monster in the center, she was looking at what seemed to be more of a status screen, revolving around Coelamon. A thought came to her head as she took another look around her surroundings, then directly to her partner, who was desperately standing her ground against her swift enemy.
'That armor better not be just for show,' she prayed, going into Coelamon's moveset, and was happy to see what she was hoping for, as she turned her attention back to the battle.
"This is the end for you! Perish! Rainbow Showers!" Peacockmon declared, firing another dose of laser beam at Coelamon.
"Defend against it! Iron Scale!" Kiran called through the Digivice.
Coelamon did not question the command, as she raised her armored claws up and completely covered herself in iron, taking the beam.
"Hmph. What foolishness. You can melt under my attack!" Peacockmon declared.
"Direct the light! Aim it back!" Kiran called out.
From behind her gauntlets, Coelamon's eyes widened for a brief moment, finally realizing her partner's plan. "I see. Like the sun to the sea." She spread her arms out, taking in and enduring the light, to Peacockmon's confusion. Coelamon angled her arms forward and bent them, reflecting some of the beam back at the user, to her disbelief.
Puzzled as she was, however, she more laughed instead of scream as the beam struck her. "How foolish could you possibly be?! My body is made of Chrome Digizoid. Not even my own beam can melt this. Much less pierce through it! Now enough of this struggling and-!"
"FIRE!" At Kiran's call, Coelamon fired her hot Iron Scales, sending it and the reflective light to Peacockmon, who was caught off guard by the action. Even more so with the added heat to her body.
'These... These damn demon and her accomplice! They made a fool out of me for the last time!' she thought in rage, glancing at Kiran. 'This is that human's doing, isn't it?! How dare she make herself look more convincing as a Chosen!'
"You're dead meat... You damn human!" Peacockmon shouted.
"Use a big Water Bullet!" Before Peacockmon could even attempt to fly to Kiran, at the human's call, Coelamon spat out a large dose of water at the former, completely soaking her up, and cooling her down, and angering her even more.
"You spat on me?! Forget it! I will deal with you after-" Peacockmon stopped herself upon feeling something off about her body after that attack. She looked down, and was in shock with what she was witnessing, or even feeling. Her body… was slowly forming cracks! "What…? Why is my body…?"
"No matter how tough your body is, it's still made of some kind of metal, isn't it? Don't you know what happens to hot metal when rapidly cooled? They become susceptible to cracking!" Kiran exclaimed.
Peacockmon did not know what she should be more baffled with. The fact that her body was breaking, or that the human found a way to break Chrome Digizoid. Whichever the case… She simply could not believe what was happening to her!
"This human… This… CHOSEN IMPOSTER!"
"This the end! Variable Darts!" Coelamon shouted, sending her energy claws at the weakened Digimon. This time, as the attack struck, it broke through Peacockmon's body. The blue Digimon screamed in pain, and dispersed into data in defeat.
As soon as she was defeated, Coelamon turned back into Betamon and hopped over to Kiran. "Kira! Kira, are you okay?!" she asked.
Kiran panted a bit, slightly exhausted from what happened and weakly answered, "Yeah… Yeah, I'm fine…"
Betamon was relieved to hear that answer. "Whew… That's good." Her relief turned into worry as Kiran suddenly slumped down to her knees. "Kira! What's wrong?!"
"Nothing. Just lost a bit of feelings in my legs now that I'm relieved…" she assured, patting Betamon's head. "More importantly, though…" Next the Digimon knew, the human pulled her close. "You… What were you thinking?"
Betamon was surprised by the question. "Huh? What do you…?"
"Earlier… You were about to sacrifice yourself for me, weren't you? You were about to have her kill you, just so she could spare me, weren't you? What were you thinking…?"
Betamon hardened her eyes at the question and answered, "Isn't it obvious?! It's-"
"I will get mad if you blame yourself!" The young Digimon instantly went silent, shocked with what the human just said. "You say it's your fault that I got hurt, but that's far from true. I wanted to help you! And I'm going to keep helping you, no matter what! We're friends, aren't we? You can keep pushing me away if you want. But the next time another one of those Digimon comes here, I will do my upmost to protect you! Nothing you say or do will ever change that!"
Betamon did not know what to say, or even think, as she looked into Kiran's eyes. It was quite obvious that she truly meant it. And quite frankly… Betamon did not want Kiran to get hurt because of her. But she also did not want to stop being friends with her. She likes Kiran, and she wants to stay with her.
"I… I just... Don't want Kira to get hurt…" she said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Then don't get me hurt. Like how I won't let you get hurt. Protect me, like you did against Human Bird and Blue Bird. Okay?" Kiran told her.
Betamon became incredibly touched by those words and returned the hug, nodding in response to the question.