A Digimon Frontier Fanfic

By Sakura Martinez

Author's Notes:

Well, I decided to update this fanfic first before CoT:CW, so for those who also read that fanfic, I am sorry. But do not fret, I would be updating that fanfic soon.

Now, the polls have been closed, more of which would be told later at the Post Author's Note part of this chapter. Another thing, I would like to once again thank everyone who had been reading and reviewing this story. Although this chapter is quite short, I do hope that you all would like it as we open up another arc in our story.

So, with that said, read on and I hope you enjoy!

End of Author's Notes

The Rabbit on the Moon

Ravens is the Moonless Night

"Certainly, you cannot be tired already, Izumi." Said the silver-haired, Haruko. "We have only just begun after all."

Izumi wheezed, breathing heavily after what felt like a life-time's worth of training. "How can I not be tired?" She asked in a voice that points out the obvious. "How do you expect me to deflect your attacks by not borrowing your power?"

"A Chosen One's power does not rely solely on her Guardian Spirit." It was the line that Haruko had said soon after their training had begun and a line that she kept on repeating over and over again. "You would do well to remember that."

"Even if I remember those words, they hold no meaning to me unless you explain exactly where I am supposed to get my power from." Izumi was sounding agitated. Who would not? After all, her mentor had been barraging her with attacks that otherwise would have been used against an enemy.

"Lady Kanon, when she trained me, told me those words and did not bother to explain me what it meant." Haruko said. "It is part of your training to realize the answer to your question. If you are unable to find it then, I am afraid there is no point in this training."

Izumi had no choice but to resign in the argument. There was no way she could win against Haruko's way of thinking – which was also how she figured the first Chosen One of the Wind was also like. And with that, their training resumed.

The rain continued to pour in the island city of Shore. Its intensity getting higher and higher as the storm approaches. Although it was only half-past two, the darkness caused by the incoming storm made it seem like it was already evening.

Despite their search for the General and the Leader, they were unable to find neither one of them. And so, even though both Takuya and Kouji felt the importance of finding them, they ended up giving up in the process and decided to ask whatever questions that they had in mind later that evening during supper.

Having abandoned their search, both men went their separate ways. Kouji, as a high-ranking knight was asked by one of the members of the organization to help in their rounds in the city proper – a task that Kouji was more than happy to accept having nothing else to do and no way to train. Takuya, on the other hand, decided to return to Izumi's room to check up on her and maybe meet with her father to ask if he had seen the Leader.

When Takuya got to her room however, there was no sign of the Commander and only Tomoki was around.

"Did you find the Leader?" Tomoki greeted him with the question as soon as he saw Takuya enter the room.

Takuya shook his head. "No. Lord Kouji and I searched all over the place but we can not find her."

"Maybe she really is busy. Anyways, Takuya, why was Lord Kouji looking for her as well?"

Takuya sat down on the chair where Junpei had been sitting at earlier that afternoon as he replied, "Well, he wanted to talk with the General. But General Kimura was not in his usual quarters so he thought that he might have been transferred to a different room so, he wanted to ask the Leader where he was."

Tomoki thought for a moment as he gazed on Izumi's sleeping face. And, after a while, he spoke. "Takuya, Izumi would now be the target of the Kingdom now that she is the only one of us whom they haven't extracted any powers from, isn't that right?"

Takuya followed Tomoki's gaze and nodded. There was no secret about that.

"You're worried about that, aren't you?" the younger of the two stated rather than inquired.

Another nod from Takuya. "I know she's pretty capable of defending herself if the need arises but, circumstances like what happened in Lone Isle could occur again. What's more, before that whole fiasco there, I had been certain that as long as the Clone was in command, he would never hurt her. However, now that Chiaki had her grudge against us well-known, I couldn't help but worry about her even more."

Tomoki stayed silent. He had heard about what had happened in the tower before it collapse – or rather, the reason why it collapsed. He had heard of how Chiaki, their former friend and ally, had wanted to get rid of Izumi believing that she was a hindrance in her quest to obtain Takuya's feelings and how Takuya had rushed in to save Izumi just in the nick of time. He had heard all of this from Izumi while they were on their way back from Shore soon after the scene her father made on the deck.

"Say, Tomoki…" Takuya said as Tomoki was snapped out of his thoughts. "You know a lot about the legends and myths of our land, right?"

"Only as much as what is told in my village." Tomoki replied.

"Then, apart from what you told us before about Chosen Ones and all of that, do you know of any legends that would give light as to why the King and my father would do all this?" Takuya asked. "Harim doesn't have the answers and I don't suppose the Organization knows much about it as we do."

"Unfortunately," answered Tomoki, "Knowledge beyond what Chosen Ones are and what they are capable of are the only thing that the Village Elder spoke to me about. If there were such legends or myths, it must be a taboo for our village since no villager spoke of it and the Elder did not bother to tell me about it."

"Another dead end then, I suppose." Sighed Takuya. He had wanted to find out the answer to the question that had been bugging him for a while now. He wanted to know the reason behind all that is happening. He wanted the mysteries to end and his life to return to how normal it was back before all of this started. He wanted so much that he suddenly felt ashamed of himself for thinking selfishly when the fate of the world could possibly rest on the events that would transpire in the days to come.

"Takuya, are you ready just in case Izumi's father suddenly decide to send her away?" Asked Tomoki. The question was all too sudden that Takuya was unable to answer the question. "It is a possibility, you know."

Takuya shrugged. He had absolutely no idea on the matter and so he rather kept his mouth shut than say something that he actually did not mean to say. It was soon after that, that Tomoki left after being called by Junpei who had been asked to help with the evacuation of the citizens living near the harbor.

As he was once again alone with Izumi, Takuya looked intently at her sleeping face. He noted how peaceful the Commander's daughter was and how dazzling she was even in her sleep and smiled. Although he was still worried of her condition, he knew how strong Izumi can be and so he did not feel as worried as he first was when she suddenly collapsed.

However, if Takuya had only known what was happening deep within Izumi's inner sub consciousness, then it would not be hard to imagine how worried he would be of her.

Hours had passed and although the storm raged outside, there was peace and tranquility in the manor, which had became crowded since the evacuees where all sent there.

In the middle of the sea of people that had found shelter in the said place was the Commander Orimoto, the General Kimura, and the Leader of the Organization whose name only the two old men knew.

"I did not expect that you would allow all of these people in." Commander Orimoto said. "I know that you are kind-hearted, however, do you really believe it to be safe for them to stay in the place where the enemy might strike?"

The Leader kept her calm and collected demeanor despite the clamor in the manor and all of her added responsibilities because of the choice, and she kept this up as she answered the Commander's query.

"It's all for the safety of both Takuya and Izumi." She replied saying no more than she should in case someone else was listening in to their conversation. She then asked, "So tell me, have you met with him yet, General?"

General Kimura shook his head. "Although I did say that I would answer his questions should he come and see me, it would be best for now to let him come to me rather than I come to him. And seeing as how you have turned your base into an evacuation center and asked for his help, it would be near impossible to discuss the matter with him now."

"You would have to make time, Lord Kouta." Commander Orimoto said with his arms crossed and his face etched with the same stiffness that it always bore when in public. "Based from what we know and what we have been told, should that person come 'he' would be the one that person would seek. If we are to add that person to our forces, "he" must know the truth."

"Ah, a lecture from you. That certainly is not something I would have expected of for tonight, Lord Ishige." Kouta Kimura said with a hint of laughter in his voice. But that light-hearted tone changed as he added, "However, one must wonder why you are still here when you should be confronting young Takuya. It would be quite pointless, to some extent, that which we are doing now should the enemy arrive and find them still here."

Commander Orimoto looked disdained as he answered, "To use these people and the storm as a cover for them is certainly harsh, Lord Kouta. I cannot help but not agree with this at all for as you know, my daughter is still unconscious. Traversing in such a weather at such a condition is certainly not a safe bet."

"But it is safer than having them stay here." Yuriko said in a hushed manner. "If we were to think of the current predicament they have using their perception, then it would come to a conclusion that they too would be using the storm as a cover. To choose between the ferocity of the storm and the dangers of facing an enemy that would certainly not hold back against them in attaining the last piece that they need to complete their plan, the choice would be rather too obvious for us."

Ishige Orimoto sighed. He can never win against them in such a debate. Despite reluctant with their plan, he had no choice and so he excused himself as he walked past all the evacuees to Izumi's room where he could guess Takuya Kanbara would be.

Izumi managed to dodge a powerful blast which was directed at her from her mentor and guardian, Haruko. Such a feat did not go unnoticed to her mentor as she pointed out how Izumi had began to sense when she would attack and from what direction the attack would be coming from despite not showing any signs of doing said attack.

"You are learning to utilize the natural energy around you, Izumi." Haruko said as she applauded Izumi for having evaded the attack. "However, the natural energy is not enough should you wish to be successful in defending yourself and in fighting your opponent."

"Although you say that, Haruko, I still do not understand what you mean by utilizing the natural energy." Izumi admitted in between her panting.

"Natural energy. That's what we call the energy that surrounds us. In other words, using the energy that one could find in the life of the world we live in – in the wind, the grass, the trees, and everything around us." Haruko explained yet again, trying to be clear this time on the matter. "However, even in using the natural energy alone is not enough. To be able to fully use your ability as a Chosen One, you must learn to use your spiritual and physical energies and merge them with the natural energy to create an even stronger energy that only Chosen Ones such as ourselves can utilize. By feeling and understanding that which surrounds you, you are utilizing the natural energy. However, you have not fully mastered that yet."

"But, I do not feel any different even as you say that I am already using natural energy." Izumi said.

"You do not need to physically feel anything." Haruko further explained. "Besides which, you won't be able to truly feel natural energy unless you have mastered controlling your spiritual energy and physical energy. Which is why, we will move on to that now."

Izumi noticed how much Kaizen, or should she say, Haruko, was rushing things. And she voiced this out to her before they went on with their training.

"I have told you before, have I not?" She replied as she moved to a shade under a large cherry blossom tree. "I have so much to teach you and so little time. I do not know how long it would take for you to be able to come back to this place should our training be stopped since it takes a lot out of me just to call you to this place."

"You keep on saying that we have little time." Izumi said noticing it yet again. "What do you mean?"

"Enough with the questions, Izumi." Haruko said in a stern voice which surprised the young Orimoto. "There are more important things right now than asking those questions. Now, let us concentrate with the task at hand and nothing more, nothing less."

She was becoming more and more volatile the more they drew closer to their destination. It would seem that even with the intensity of the storm for an airborne vehicle such as the one they were using, it would still not be able to stop them from forcing their way through.

"In only a couple more hours we would be arriving to that place, brother." Chiaki said as her eyes glinted of pure excitement and bloodlust – the same could be said of her brother. "Once we get there, I will be able to deal with that wretched woman."

Terou merely grunted. It was enough of a response for Chiaki, however.

As Chiaki visualized all of the things that she could do to her foe, and as she gave details of such visualization to her brother, Kouichi continued to remain silent where he sat. He could not help but think of how pathetic the woman was acting and how she would fall from the Clone's good graces should any of her plans come to pass.

As moments passed, and Chiaki still went on and on of her possible plans, Kouichi grew impatient of her and annoyed at the noise that she was making. And so, he decided to point out the rather obvious thing that would happen should she succeed.

"What would you gain should you manage to kill her?" Kouichi said without any expression on his face, save that of annoyance. "You would only be able to hurt Kanbara and maybe end up dead yourself should he come at you with the full force of his hatred and revenge. Should you succeed in escaping his wrath, you would face an equal amount of wrath from our master, if not more."

"What do you know?" She snorted.

"I know as much that the reason why you agreed to go with this is to satisfy Lord Takuya, our master and win his favor." Kouichi said as he looked away from her and stared at outside through the porthole of the airship. "Even if you are merely fantasizing about those things which you say you would do to Lady Izumi, you would certainly not win either the clone or the original's heart with it. What's more, just so you know, the reason why I came along was because I was ordered to make sure that you indeed DO NOT kill Lady Izumi."

"And who gave you that orders?"

Kouichi let out a small sigh and looked at her with his crimson colored orbs, "Lord Takuya himself."

His response was enough to make Chiaki stop her babbling, and for this he was content… for the moment, that is.

"You cannot be serious, Commander Orimoto." Said Takuya as he stood up from his seat after hearing from the Commander that he, along with the Leader and the General, have all agreed to send Izumi away to safety at that moment. "At such a raging storm, it is not safe to traverse the waters surrounding Shore."

"I know that, Lord Takuya." Commander Orimoto said. Takuya's response was the same thing he had said earlier on to his two friends. "However, we could not afford to wait any longer in sending her away. As much as I do not like this plan, it is the only way we have to ensure that the King would not get his hands on her or her power."

Lightning struck and the sound of thunder echoed throughout Shore as silence fell between the Commander and Takuya. Takuya gritted his teeth. He agreed that running away from the place would safe Izumi, however, rushing through the storm is no laughing matter and is certainly not as easy and everyone would make it out to be.

"I know it's dangerous, Lord Takuya." The Commander said after a while. "As her father, I have reservations about it as well. Traversing the ocean of Shore to get to the continent even with the use of the latest technology brought by the Organization at such a weather as this could spell death but, even if there is a smallest chance that she would be safe elsewhere, I would take it. As much as I do not want to admit it, the Leader and the General is right… you would protect her at all cost, that is why I will entrust my daughter's safety in your hands as you flee from this place."

The words of the Commander surprised Takuya Kanbara. He had not expected to hear those words from him, nor did he expect that he would actually let him go with his daughter, with Izumi.

"I had thought that you would be sending Lord Kouji for this, sir." Takuya voiced out his surprise. "Why are you letting me handle this?"

Ishige Orimoto turned around as he spoke to look at his sleeping daughter's face. "For some reason, our enemy still wants to take hold of you. It is the wish of the General and the Leader that you would flee with Izumi as you both are being targeted by the same people. They seem to believe that it would ensure both of your safety. I would have rather preferred Lord Kouji for this, but he has something else he needs to do – something that only he could do. And I also understand the importance of ensuring my daughter's safety and your safety as well…"

Takuya followed the Commander's gaze and silence once again fell in the room with only the splatter of the rain on the tiled roof of the mansion and the constant sound of thunder to be heard.

"Where would take her then, Commander Orimoto?" Takuya asked after a while. "Most of the continent is already under the influence of the King."

"There is a chance," said the Commander, "that the enemy will manage to capture most of us and do things that would make us tell whatever information we know of. For that, Lord Takuya, I cannot give you any advice nor should you tell me where you will be headed."

Takuya saw the point in this and nodded.

"Preparations for your departure had already been made." The Commander said as he moved towards his daughter and touched her face. "Everything you would be needing has already been taken care of. The Omni-Craft is already prepared and have already undergone serious maintenance for your trip. I suggest you take this time now to escape from this place and I advice you not to tell even your closest friends and your fellow Chosen Ones that you are leaving much less where you are going."

Takuya could not believe how everything was already in order. It would appear that he finally know the reason why he could not find the Leader nor the General earlier. He then watched as the Commander gave his daughter a peck on the cheek and stood up.

"Would you be seeing us off then, Commander?" Takuya asked as he moved closer to the older man.

The Commander shook his head. "No, and the Leader and General would also not be able to see you off. It would be better this way."

"Commander, there's so much I want to ask you. So many things that I have the feeling you would be able to give me answers to." Takuya said as the Commander looked at him with a somber expression on his face. "There are also things which I want to clarify with the Leader and the General… But I won't press on the matter for now. I know we would all meet again someday, and maybe then you can tell me all that I want to know – all that I need to know."

"Should that time come, then you would have certainly earned the right to ask your questions." Replied Commander Orimoto. "And perhaps, by that time, I would have learn to trust you by my own judgment."

Takuya grinned his grin full of confidence. The way Takuya looked reminded the Commander once again of the boyish face Hiroaki Kanbara once had.

As he made his way out of Izumi's room, Ishige Orimoto abruptly stopped at the doorway, turned his head around and said to Takuya: "Lord Takuya, I really hope that what the Leader says about you is true. Although I do know you from your childhood, I do not know what impact everything that has happened have on your life and your principles. Should the time come that you would be faced with the same situation that your father had faced long ago, I hope that, unlike him, you would make the right decision. Take another route out of the mansion, and make sure that no one sees you."

And with that, he left.

The words of the Commander confused the young Kanbara. He did not know what decision the Commander was talking about nor of what event he was talking about. It was perhaps another question that was reserved for their next meeting.

Seeing that this was the opportune moment for them to make their so-called escape, Takuya moved towards Izumi and took her in his arms. With her head resting on his chest, Takuya sneaked out of the manor through the back door and made his way to the harbor, which had already been evacuated, and then towards the lone vehicle sitting on the rolling waves of the ocean.

Carefully, Takuya boarded the ship and placed Izumi on the bed in one of the cabins. It would appear, based on what he saw the insides of the Omni-Craft, that the maintenance of the said vehicle included adding another option of what to change the Omni-Craft into. And this time, the Omni-Craft would allow them to traverse the air and the sea at the same time, which would make their travels easier.

Takuya then started the engine of the Omni-Craft. He figured that since the waters are rough at the moment, the enemy, should they decide to come to Shore at that moment, would be using the skies. For that, he decided to stick on the water.

As the Omni-Craft's engine went to life and as it slowly ebbed away from the harbors of Shore, Takuya took one last look back at the Organization's headquarters. In his heart he swore, that he would do anything to protect Izumi and he hoped that his friends, and those he had met in the manor would be alright. And with that he sped his way from Shore.

The Leader watched as the Omni-Craft darted through the raging waves of the ocean and away from Shore and from her field of vision.

She prayed for their safety. She prayed that they would be able to make their way to the continent without any problems. As she was praying, she noticed a lone raven sitting by the branch of a dead tree near the harbor.

Seeing the raven she felt at ease. Call her old fashioned, but she believes that ravens guide travelers to their destination. That the sight of a solitary raven is considered good luck while more than one raven together predicts trouble ahead.

However, just as she was about to turn around and walk away from her window. She caught sight of something fluttering, and upon closer inspection, she saw that it was not just one raven, but a flock of ravens.

Worry once again filled her as she wondered whether this was a sign of a catastrophe to come to both Takuya and Izumi and those that were left behind in Shore.

To be Continued…

Post Author's Notes:

Well, that's about it for this chapter.

As I have said, this chapter serves as a "Prelude" for the new Arc of the story. The Continental Arc.

With that said, let's move on to the results of the poll (dun-dun-dun-dun).

You can check the results out in my profile, but if you are too lazy to do so and would rather hear it from here, then read on.

We have 11 votes in total for the poll. 1 vote went against playing the game and another vote gave a "Maybe" answer which leaves us with 9 votes in favor of the game. Now, I had mentally (and I may have 

noted it as well) noted that should I receive 10 votes in favor of the game, that I would release it. However, 9 votes is still not so bad so I will think it through still.

Now, in concerns with the game. Seiyuu spots for every single character in this fanfic (minus Chiaki and Izumi) are still open for those who want to voice act any of the parts in this story, just drop me a line. Also, the rest of the development team is practically still open – lots of spots need to be filled in. Those who are interested are welcome to join.

I would also be releasing an OST for the game sometime soon (as long as the seiyuus needed have joined) and this Soundtrack would be available for download. Where to download it would be announced as soon as it is finished, copyrighted and licensed.

Well, that's about it for now. Don't forget to review on this chapter, okay?

Once again, this is Sakura Martinez saying "PEACE" and signing out.

Until next time! Take care, everyone!

End of Post Author's Notes