Frontier 02: Rebirthing- Chapter 7: Rock Solid
madjack89: Howdy guys! It's finally time for Dai to kick butt with a Beast Spirit!
Dai: Yay!
Kira: How could you give Dai a Beast Spirit before me, Madjack?!
madjack89: It's just the way things worked out. Sorry Kira!
Kira: Humph!
Dai: I love this Beast Spirit! It's awesome!
Hotaru: It's interesting, I'll give it that.
Kouji: Actually, in all honesty, your Beast Spirit is really…
Kouichi: Great! Right, Kouji?
Kouji: No, I was going to say it's…
JP: Awesome!
Kouji: Guys, we all know it's…
Zoe: Awe-inspiring!
Kouji: …Yeah, sure.
Takuya: Good job with plan "stop Kouji from being an asshole," guys!
Kouji: Wait, what?
madjack89: Review time!
Aldamonburst: What if you were the one writing this story? Then you could answer your own questions! (lol) But anyway, I'll put Velgemon in eventually, but not now (too many trees). Thanks for reviewing!
Dawn of Glory: Yay for no more Dai depression! Now he can go back to amusing us! And yes, I agree with the both of you, way too corny, but necessary nonetheless. Thanks for reviewing!
hazeleyedharmony: Well, I'm still sorry for the wait, but I'm glad it was worth it!
part 1: I can answer this, since it's more of a subplot at the moment. Yes, that does mean there is technically someone else. I can't tell you who yet, but I will tell you it will involve Kouichi (no it's not Cherubimon).
part 2: Taki would need luck (lol)! Yeah, I'm torturing Shino again (hee), and Bokomon and Neemon…yeah never mind.
part 3: Duskmon was distracted by Kouichi sensing him (he was thinking about it). So they were both distracted! Aw, I wouldn't kill Impmon off THAT quick! I wuffles little Impmon! (Impmon: Wuffles?)
You and Hotaru never let me have any fun! (lol) And I hang out with the orchestra nerds a lot, but I don't think I could ever be one! I'd poke my eye out somehow with the bow! Thanks for reviewing!
GoldenDragon326: Heh, I liked the genetics part, too! And if you really want me too, I could probably have Guilmon do something (or Terriermon. It's a toss-up.) Concerning Holiday, I actually just started writing the second chapter the other day, so it may not take as long as you think! Thanks for the review!
garnettfox: …Amazing! If you're okay with it, I have a plan for Dragramon! It'll be a good role, and I promise not to kill her off! But let me just ask your permission on this one thing. Would you mind if Dragramon and Witchmon were friends? Like, in this story? I only ask this in case you really hate Witchmon and don't want this to happen. Okay, thanks for the review and permission to use Dragramon!
agoodcupoftea: Me and my friends in band actually use band geek as a term of endearment (we're all pretty insane, even our band director)! All this talk of your song writing makes me want to hear one of your songs! I'm sure they're awesome! And drum set rocks, so go for it! Thanks for reviewing!
fg1fg: Well, there are a couple people that are a bit miffed at you (you can probably guess who). But they'll get over it, so it's okay! Though after my fifth giggle fit, Kouji looked like he was about to kill himself (lol)! Anyway, thanks for the review!
beybladeingninjaprincess: Awesome, another Dai fan! He's such a little cutie, isn't he? (Dai: I try!) Sorry about the dying thing, though. Anyway, if Kira snapped and tried beating up Kouji, Kouji would be in trouble (lol)! Wait, don't steal them yet! After this chapter's over, you can have them! (Kouji, Kouichi, Duskmon: What?!) Alright, thanks for reviewing!
madjack89: Okay, time for chapter seven to commence!
Kouji: Wait, you guys orchestrated a whole plan around the fact that I tend to act a little bit like an asshole sometimes?
Takuya: Um…Chief did it! points at Kouichi and runs away
Kouichi: Takuya!
Kouji: glares at Kouichi
madjack89: Let's get on with the chapter already!
(BTW, Kouji was gonna say that Gigasmon is a little suckish as Beast Spirits go, which he kind of is.)
--
"Wow," Gigasmon muttered, staring at his massive hands in awe. "These could really do some damage!"
"Um, kid…" Impmon began.
"And this nose is ginormous! I thought Grumblemon's was big, but this one may rival it!" Gigasmon continued, noticing the girth of his nose.
"Yes kid, yer nose is very big, but…" Impmon said.
"And look at this physique!" Gigasmon exclaimed, ignoring Impmon as he checked out his upper body. "My gym teacher always said I was a scrawny weakling, but look at me now!" (Seriously, he looks ripped!)
"Deadly Gaze!" Gigasmon looked up in time to see Duskmon aim his arms and eyes at him and shoot various beams of red energy.
"Kid!" Impmon made a move to leap forward and defend Gigasmon, but before he did, Gigasmon bent down and jumped straight up into the air. Duskmon's attack missed its target and instead hit a tree, causing Duskmon to growl in frustration.
However, Duskmon didn't have much time to brood on this, for as Gigasmon fell back to the ground, he lifted his hands, preparing an oh-so-familiar attack. "Tectonic Slam!" he cried as his fists slammed hard into the ground, causing thousands of cracks and fissures to form.
"Kid, can ya give me a little warnin'?!" Impmon exclaimed, leaping quickly into the air and landing on a tree branch.
Duskmon wasn't as lucky as Impmon, for the attack had taken him by surprise and the shaking ground made him lose his balance. Both Impmon and Gigasmon watched in shock as Duskmon fell to the ground, landing clumsily on his butt.
For a moment no one moved, and even the ground stopped shaking. Then Gigasmon and Impmon burst out in uncontrollable laughter.
"Did ya see that, kid?" Impmon said between his chuckles. "He landed right on his ass!"
"What happened to him being such a 'mighty warrior'?" Gigasmon managed to say before bursting into another fit of laughter.
Duskmon glared angrily at the other two Digimon, cheeks turning slightly red. He got slowly to his feet as Gigasmon and Impmon continued to laugh, shaking with rage. "I'll show you…" he muttered under his breath.
Impmon suddenly stopped laughing as he noticed the dark energy surrounding Duskmon. "Uh, kid?" he called nervously, trying to get Gigasmon's attention. "I think we got a problem."
"What?" Gigasmon glanced at Impmon, then at Duskmon. His face fell slightly when he noticed Duskmon's angry state. "Uh…sorry Duskmon?"
"I'm really gonna kill you now!" Duskmon exclaimed, causing darkness to flare up from the ground fissures created by Gigasmon's attack.
"Argh!" Gigasmon cried when the dark energy touched him. "It hurts…how can Kouichi stand this…argh!"
"Duskmon, stop dis!" Impmon shouted, glowering at the dark Digimon.
Duskmon smirked, glancing at Impmon. "No," he said simply, actually intensifying the darkness in the fissures.
"ARGH!" Gigasmon screamed, scrambling to find a spot on the ground without any dark energy.
Impmon's glare grew fiery as he yelled, "Duskmon, stop dis right now or I'm gonna make ya stop!"
Duskmon chuckled, staring at Impmon. "Would you stop pretending that you have any real concern for this child?"
Impmon's anger melted instantly, replaced by a look of shock. "What'd ya mean?"
"You know what I mean," Duskmon replied. "You see so much of that old friend of yours in this child that you feel the need to protect him, because you couldn't protect your friend. Correct?"
Impmon clenched his teeth, fighting back the memories he always tried to conceal. "Shut up," he said quietly. "You don't know nothin'."
Duskmon shrugged. "Whatever you say," he replied, causing even more darkness to flow from the ground so that it actually had the substance to reach up and touch Impmon in the tree.
"ARGH!!" Impmon and Gigasmon cried together, thinking that no other pain could feel this intense.
--
Kouichi gasped suddenly, stopping in his tracks.
Kouji stopped too, glancing anxiously at his brother. "Kouichi, what's—"
"What's wrong?" Zoe asked, interrupting Kouji as she linked arms with Kouichi.
Kouji frowned, feeling put out. I was about to say that. He shook his head roughly when he noticed Kouichi smile at Zoe warmly. At least he's happy, Kouji thought, still feeling slightly jealous.
"Yeah Chief, what's up?" Kouji was brought back from his thoughts by Kira's question.
"Remember earlier when I said I got a bad feeling?" Kouichi asked. The others nodded. "Well, that feeling just got worse."
"Worse how?" Shino asked warily.
Kouichi paused here, looking down. He does that when he's trying to hide something, Kouji thought, preparing to coax an answer out of his brother.
Before he got the chance, though, Zoe said, "Kouichi, you're hiding something."
It happened again, Kouji thought, beginning to get annoyed. Why did Zoe keep butting in?
"Well," Kouichi muttered, glancing uncomfortably at his friends curious looks. "I think that I sensed…Duskmon."
"Duskmon!" everyone exclaimed, surprised.
Kouichi nodded, clenching his fists. "I know he's here, but I can't figure out where."
Duskmon. Kouji thought the name, and still it gave him a feeling of unease. If you even try to lay one finger on Kouichi, I'll…
"Wait." Everyone, including Kouji, turned to stare at Hotaru, who looked like he had just had a horrible revelation. "Duskmon is wandering around these woods, and Dai is out there alone. What if…?"
Hotaru didn't need to finish his last sentence, for the others realized what he was getting at. "Oh crap!" Takuya and JP exclaimed at the same time.
"Damn you, Duskmon," Kouichi muttered angrily, teeth clenching.
Kouji glanced at Kouichi worriedly. He knew what always happened to Kouichi when Duskmon was even mentioned. He loses his reason, and with Dai involved in this, it'll be ten times worse. Suddenly Kouji frowned, narrowing his eyes. But why should I be concerned about that? Isn't helping Kouichi Zoe's job now? he thought bitterly.
"Kouji?" Kouji looked up, noticing Kouichi staring at him curiously. "Are you okay? You look ticked off," Kouichi continued.
Yeah, well, why don't you just get Zoe's analysis on what the hell's wrong! Kouji pushed this thought out of his mind and said, "I was just…thinking."
Kouichi cocked his head, looking concerned. "Thinking about what?"
Before Kouji could respond, Takuya said, "Guys, are you coming? We gotta find Dai now!"
"Right," Kouichi agreed, following everyone else as they hurried farther into the woods. Kouji sighed heavily, trailing slightly behind the others.
What good am I to him now? Kouji thought sadly, staring wistfully at his brother's back.
--
Gigasmon rose slowly, trembling from Duskmon's attack. He scanned the clearing quickly, noticing Impmon laying a few feet away, unconscious. Gigasmon glared angrily at a triumphant-looking Duskmon standing in front of him.
"You're more resilient in this form," Duskmon commented, smirking. "But that won't help you now."
Once again, Duskmon slowly raised his blade, preparing to slash it through Gigasmon. "Wait!" Gigasmon exclaimed suddenly.
"I'm tired of waiting. You die now!" With this, Duskmon brought down his blade, aiming right for Gigasmon's head.
Gigasmon shut his eyes tightly, instinctively raising his arms to meet the inevitable blow of Duskmon's sword. Then Gigasmon felt a pressure against his arms and…nothing.
Gigasmon opened his eyes tentatively, wondering what was going on. He looked up to see what the hold up might be and his eyes widened in amazement. Duskmon's blade had indeed met against his arms, but that was all it had done.
Gigasmon also noticed that Duskmon seemed to be trying very hard to make the blade slice through him, but still nothing was happening. The sword hadn't even made a dent.
"It doesn't even hurt," Gigasmon muttered, smiling slowly. "I guess this puts a big set-back in that plan to kill me, doesn't it?"
"What's going on?" Duskmon wondered out loud, frustrated beyond belief.
-
Bokomon: Allow me to answer your question, Duskmon. You see, as Gigasmon, Daiki's skin-
Dai: Dai!
Bokomon: Um…DAI'S skin-
Dai: There you go!
Bokomon: Will you please let me finish!
Dai: Sorry.
Bokomon: I swear, you're as bad as Neemon. Anyway, Gigasmon's skin possesses a firmness beyond that of ceramics so, in laymen's terms, his skin is rock-solid.
-
"Are you telling me that I can't kill this child with any of my physical attacks while he's in this form?" Duskmon asked Bokomon exasperatedly.
-
Bokomon: Well, you could eventually, but probably not before the rest of us find you.
-
"Damn it!" Duskmon cried angrily, taking a few steps back and shaking with rage. "You are the most troublesome, annoying opponent I have ever faced!"
"Yeah, I get that a lot," Gigasmon replied, smiling cheerily. "Well, not the opponent part, but you get the idea!"
Gigasmon grew more serious as he continued, "But anyway, since I'm pretty much impervious to your blade and can just dodge your other attacks, I guess it's my turn to attack you! Quagm—"
Gigasmon stopped mid-attack when Duskmon suddenly whipped out his other blade and pointed it threateningly at Impmon, who looked like he was just coming to.
"No, don't!" Gigasmon cried, raising his hands up. "See, I give up! I won't attack you if you don't attack him!"
"Kid?" Impmon murmured groggily. "What da heck is…?"
Duskmon glanced at Impmon, then at Gigasmon. Finally, he said, "Very well. I will take my leave of you for now. There is nothing else to be done, now that you have acquired a Beast Spirit. But know that next time, I won't hesitate to kill you."
"Ditto," Gigasmon said quietly, watching as Duskmon slowly backed out of the clearing. After a few minutes Gigasmon relaxed, turning to the spot where Impmon was and saying, "Well, that was a pretty crazy fight, huh Impmon?"
But then he suddenly noticed that Impmon wasn't in the spot he'd been a moment ago. In fact, Gigasmon realized, Impmon wasn't anywhere in the clearing.
"Impmon?" Gigasmon called tentatively, glancing up at the trees. "Where are you?"
When no one answered, Gigasmon turned back to his human form, deciding to search for Impmon in the bushes beyond the clearing. When Dai parted the branches of one of the bushes, he did find someone, but it wasn't Impmon.
"Hotaru!" Dai cried happily, making his way quickly through the bush and giving his cousin a hug. "I was wondering where you were!"
"Dai?" Hotaru said, thrown off my Dai's hyperness. "I thought you were—"
"Mad?" Dai finished Hotaru's thought, smiling. "Well, I was for a little while, but now I'm fine!"
"You have got to be bleeping kidding me," JP said exasperatedly.
"Only Dai could go off for a couple hours after being extremely depressed and then suddenly come back and be hyper again," Kira said, smirking. "Glad you're okay, Dai."
"Wait a second," Kouji said suddenly, staring at Dai. "Did you say earlier that you were wondering where WE were?"
"Well yeah," Dai replied as if it were obvious. "I thought you guys would be back at camp, but then that TV thingy popped up and you guys were in some random part of the woods."
"TV thingy?" Shino asked, cocking his head. "What is a TV thingy?"
"We'll tell you later," Takuya muttered, yawning. "Let's just get back to camp. We haven't gotten any sleep at all because of you, you little troublemaker," he added, mock-scolding Dai.
Dai smiling sheepishly, noticing his friends' tired expressions. They really do care, he thought happily. Even now that they know about me. "Sorry guys," he said. "I promise I won't ever do that again!"
--
Impmon sighed heavily, watching as Dai left with the rest of his friends. "Didn't I tell ya, kid?" he said to himself, turning and leaping to the branch of another tree.
He landed clumsily, almost falling off the branch. He quickly grabbed onto the tree trunk, steadying himself. He clutched his chest with his other hand, feeling another pang of pain.
"Maybe I shoulda let da kid take me in," Impmon muttered through clenched teeth, fighting back the urge to cry out in pain. "It's gotta be better than workin' fer Ilsemon."
Then HER face flashed through Impmon's mind, the way it had looked before she was taken away forever by…
"No," Impmon said fiercely, determination returning. "I have ta get stronger, so dat nothing like dat will eva happen again. I'll only be able ta do dat wit Ilsemon."
Impmon glanced back at the clearing once more. "Sorry kid, but dis is somethin' I have ta do."
--
Later, after Dai had recounted what had happened to the others, and reassured them that Duskmon hadn't hurt him THAT much, the gang was finally preparing to get at least a few hours of sleep that night.
"So Impmon really did help you?" Hotaru asked for about the hundredth time.
"He said yes already, Taru!" Kira exclaimed, getting annoyed.
Hotaru frowned, saying, "I'm just making sure. I mean, last time we came face to face with Impmon, all he did the whole time was shoot fire at us."
"Well, we'll just have to take Dai's word on it for now," Takuya said, trying unsuccessfully to calm Kira down.
"Guys, I've got this crazy idea, and it's called let's stop bickering and get some sleep before I make you shut up!" Kouji snapped, rolling over and glaring sullenly at the trees.
"Uh oh, pretty boy's cranky," Kira muttered, smirking.
"Watch it, Yankee," Kouji growled threateningly.
"Which Yankee; me or Taru?" Kira asked sarcastically.
"Oh, she got you there," Witchmon said, chuckling.
"She knows damn well what Yankee I'm talking about; the one that never shuts up!" Kouji exclaimed angrily.
"Is it just me, or is Kouji now contributing to the noise?" JP muttered to Shino.
"Don't say that out loud, or you'll get dragged into this too," Shino replied exhaustedly. "But I swear, someone had better shut them up soon."
"I could help you with that, if you like."
Shino jumped, turning around. "Kouichi, did you say something?" he asked, looking curiously at Kouichi, who was currently sitting against a tree and trying to hide the fact that he was still brooding about Duskmon.
"What?" Kouichi asked, not having heard Shino's question.
"No, he didn't say anything, Shino," Zoe answered, sighing at Kouichi's spaciness.
"I swear I heard someone that sounded like him…" Shino muttered thoughtfully.
"You heard me," the voice said again, and suddenly a small figure floated out from beyond the trees.
The figure looked like a little tapir with armor on its face. It had small gray clouds for back feet, and a golden ring on its front foot. "I'm Bakumon. It's a pleasure to meet you," said the Digimon, smiling at Shino.
"Look Tommy, it's your little friend," JP said sarcastically.
"Didn't I tell you guys that Crispin Freeman was here?" Tommy said happily, ignoring JP's comment.
Bakumon pondered Tommy's comment for a moment, then chuckled. "I suppose he is!"
"Crispin, you and I are gonna have to have a talk about your random roles in Digimon," Kouichi muttered to himself, rolling his eyes.
"You think that's bad, then I got one name for you: Dave Wittenberg," JP said, smirking.
(I couldn't help myself!)
--
~Duskmon, why did you not wait for him?~
Duskmon flinched, stung by the stern tone in her voice. "I'm sorry," he said simply, not knowing what else to say.
She sighed, still seeming annoyed. ~Well, I suppose I can forgive you just this once.~
"I'm sorry," Duskmon said again, hoping against hope that she would find it in her heart to forgive him.
Her voice softened as she continued. ~Don't be discouraged, pet. We'll get him back on the path of reason soon, and then we can fill this world with darkness together.~
"Yes," Duskmon said quietly. "Kouichi will soon come to his senses, and then you'll be happy."
~Yes!~ she said excitedly. ~My little black cat will return to me soon!~
--
madjack89: Well, there you have it! Dai's problems may be over for now, but looks like Kouichi's are just beginning.
Kouichi: Why do you pick on me so much?
madjack89: Because you're easy to pick on!
Kouichi: sigh
Kouji: Madjack, I can already guess what you're planning to do to me.
madjack89: Trust me, Kouji, you will be just as surprised as everyone else.
Takuya: That's not a very good sign, pretty boy.
Kouji: WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST CALL ME!
Takuya: Uh…Kira did it! runs
Kouji: glares at Kira
Kira: Bring it on, pretty boy!
Zoe: Okay, I think it's time to wrap it up now, Madjack!
madjack89: Good idea.
Kouichi: Kouji, calm down!
Takuya: Cool your jets, Kira!
Kira: accidentally punches Takuya on way to Kouji
Takuya: Argh!
Kira: Taki!
Tommy: Oh no, he's bleeding!
madjack89: Oh great, now Taki's nose is bleeding all over the place. See ya later, guys!