They traveled for several miles, even now the eclectic group of Digidestined, and Wilhelm, who took over driving to let Halli sleep, Hikaru, Takajin and Huang kept their distance from Mikuni, and her Digimon partner Lopmon, and their Digimon did the same, it was really hard to do that in such a small wagon. Even Wilhelm kept looking back to keep an eye on her, she did beat him senseless, they would have to deal with her later, when they got safely away from Suzubuya, and it was thanks to Mikuni, who had got them through each security check point.
How did you find your chip, and digivice, I was handed mine by a stranger" asked Hikaru trying to stay out of slapping distance, because that is how Mikuni reacted to saying something, she didn't agree with , she had slapped when she had used being a princess for weakness in battle, Mikuni was impressive in battle, that made Hikaru feel meek compared to Mikuni, it wasn't actually her being a princess that made her not combat worthy, it was the fact she was terrified of dying.
This will be a long journey, if they didn't learn to get along, and it take a lot if, looking at this lot of Digidestined, Takajin looked at his companions, new and old, while rubbing his cheek, from the last slap he got from Mikuni, the latest addition to the Digidestined, and he didn't like her already, more so than Huang, who really doesn't want to talk to him at all, he let out a sigh "was the original Legendary Digidestined like this too" and looked out at the road ahead, wondering what was in store for them.
Digimon Sync Episode 8 "Monster"
30 minutes ago, they had reached the next village; it was far enough that they weren't any danger from Suzubuya, and hopefully leaving Kurokami brigade in the dust, this village seemed very back water, and rustic, everything from the row after row of quant cabins, the thing was powered by a wind mill.
This place reminds Huang so much like home, he almost fooled himself that his family would be still alive and waiting for him at his home, this though faded, when a bunch of people wielding pitch forks advanced on their wagon as it came to a halt, they seemed terrified, something was wrong here, Wilhelm slowly lowered himself from his wagon, and he was waving a white flag "We mean you no harm!" He called out to them.
One of the people stepped out of the crowd, a fair-haired old woman, with a wary smile on her face "We mean you no harm either, we just want you to leave it is not safe here, a monster is taking people, we don't want to have to worry about any of you, especially the children, it likes them the most" she said the smile leaving her face"
"We are no children, we are the Digidestined" said Mikuni, who had slipped out of the wagon, and her unnoticed presence until that moment had startled Wilhelm, as he was breathing heavily, if she kept this up she end up killing him.
The old woman's face lit up with curiosity "You are quite young for being Digidestined, and what is your name young woman is?" said the old woman, as she pat Mikuni's head.
"I am Princess Mikuni Suzubuya, and I have come here to save you all" said Mikuni giving a regal bow "As justice has come to stay, where is this monster for me to slay it, let's do this Digidestined" she had turned to the wagon.
"Who made her leader?" said Huang confusedly annoyed, she had impressed him, but he was not going to let her boss him around.
"Does she even know what the monster is before committing to this villages cause, it could be something way to powerful for them, with their luck it could wipe them out in one hit" Hikaru whispered quietly to herself "Wild Digimon always terrified her, since they have no one to control, she was assuming this was a wild one, and not an actual monster, it just made more sense, and no one has solved the reason behind Digimon born without a person being tethered to it"
"Sorry where are my manners" said the old woman extending her hand to Mikuni, "ou gave your name, I didn't give mine, My name is Yorda, I am glad some someone is here to help us, but first I think you need some food, you look malnourished, and don't worry the monster doesn't come out until, Welcome to Village of Crispin, follow me" She turned, gesturing for them to follow her.
What has she gotten them into, was this even their fight, a monster, this word brought up bad memories of her childhood, this made her feel cold but no matter how she tried, she couldn't warm herself.
They entered the Yorda's house, it seemed like it was in disrepair, as they followed her she seemed to be talking to herself, and playing with one of the bangs of her hair, she suddenly turned to face them, as the door shut "I think you should leave, this monster is too much for children like you" she said after exhaling, "this isn't your problem I don't want your deaths on my conscience as well" as she finished speaking the ground began to shake, and she looked warily at the mountain, than back at them.
Mikuni was the first to reply "No not until we destroy this monster, as that is the duty of a Digidestined" she said cracking the knuckles of her left hand with her right, "you don't have to worry about us"
Yorda sighs heavily, "you can stay at my place if you want, you can be my guests as long as you want, let's get you something to eat now, you look starved" she turned and gestured for them to follow.
Takajin just realized, ever since coming into this village, each of their Digimon have been acting terrified, and it seemingly has gotten worse the further they came into to the point they are shivering , but maybe the idea of a monster had made things worse, it did have the same effect on his sister, he eyed the room as he saw down in the dining room with the others, and Yorda, he just noticed Huang was suddenly missing, he hadn't followed them into the house.
-Village of Crispin-
Huang refused to stay in the same house, as the other Digidestined, and told what to do by that psycho princess that just joined their merry band of misfits, even though she impresses him, he never liked Royalty, all Sheltered and protected in their kingdoms as people like him suffered, "monster wasn't any of my business, so what was keeping him here" he said to himself knowing the answer to that question already, it was because it was like he was home again, he can see himself now running through the streets with his brothers, he set aside that thought so he could get to the bottom of this villages monster problems, He entered the local store.
He store owner, rickety old man with dark red hair, and long beard, he wore green coveralls, and a blue shirt, he smiled warily at Huang, "What can I do for you little boy" he said gesturing to the display case filled several types of breads, meats, and cheeses.
Huang was hungry, so he ordered a ham sandwich, with spiced gouda cheese, he waited till was made before asking his question, after it was handed to him "I like to ask some questions about this monsters your village is dealing with" he asked trying to sound sincerely shocked, and terrified about it.
The store took a measure of Huang, and sighed deeply "We have no idea what it looks like, it just started happening after that stranger showed up, she tried warning us about incoming danger, and we should leave this village, but a great deal of us reacted badly, and didn't want to listen, so we stoned her till she left, than this monster started taking people a couple of weeks later, this is all I know"
"Do you know where this mysterious stranger went after you drove her off" Huang asked impatiently, he felt somewhat tired, he hadn't slept much and it had caught up to him.
"I wish I knew so I could smack the punk for not making things, of what kind of danger she meant" the shop owner said in a growling tone of voice "maybe we would have left if we knew it was a monster, or maybe tell us where we could find and kill it before it started taking us away"
"If you think of anything else, come and tell me about" Huang turned and left the store, and door slammed behind him and the sound of a lock being latched, it was getting and he needed to set up his bed for the night.
Babydmon who had been on Huang's shoulder the time, began to shiver, he had been like that since they entered this quaint little village that reminded him so much like home, something is making him scared, he didn't know what it was but something terrified him here.
Huang stopped beside a large elm tree, he placed down his sleeping bag and pillow, and took Babydmon and placed him on the grass beside it, and gave him his own pillow, and blanket, they both let out a yawn at the same time, before he could lay down too, saw something at the corner of his eye, he turned to see it briefly, he chased after this mystery person, through alley ways, and side street till he caught up with them "You" he said, before something suddenly hit him in the neck, it felt like a needle, and Huang went down like a ton of bricks, and fell into unconsciousness, something dragged him, and Babydmon off.
-Yorda's house-
Hikaru sat staring out an open window, while her brother Takajin was sleeping in a bed across from, he was snoring loudly, she wanted to go home, every moment of this journey had been a terrifying experience, and no one has told her why the Digidestined were this important now, she let out a loud sigh.
"Keep it down in there, I am trying to sleep" Mikuni shouted from the other guest room, sounding very half awake, and annoyed.
Hikaru sighs but very quietly this time, and continued to watched leaves fluttering across on the plants outside, sudden she saw something from the corner of her eye, various group of wild digimon started passing by the window, they seemed to be in a hurry, Moonmon jumped Hikaru's lap, and watched them too.
"They are trying to get away from the monster, but I don't know what could be this terrifying that it makes them want to leave, it must be horrible just to be born without a human companion, it's just something I don't understand" said Moonmon nuzzling Hikaru.
"We will never understand that" said Hikaru letting out a yawn "I think we should head off to bed, she picked up Moonmon, and walked over placing her digimon in the bed, she headed off to change into her in to pyjamas, after a few minutes came back, the sound in the room was like a snoring contest with her digimon seemingly trying to be louder than her brother, she smiled at the thought.
she walked over and got into bed too, she stared up at the ceiling, what she had seen out that window minutes ago was really unnerving, hopefully they get anything in the morning that could answer the question that were racing through her mind now, the ones that were keeping her awake, and would she want to see what was causing, or even who.
- Morning of Day 1, Village of Crispin -
Wilhelm burst into the house, knocking on all the doors of each guest, till each Digidestined that were in Yorda's house stumbled out of their rooms half awake, and annoyed.
"Huang is missing, I was getting water, when I noticed his bed-roll, and digivice, he would never leave any of those behind" Wilhelm spoke all in a panic, as he paced back and Forth.
"What" said Takajin as tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes, but before he spoke again the revelation of what Wilhelm said had dawned on, that the monster had taken Huang in the middle of the night, "he monster has taken Huang, we have to find it before it harms our friend"
"if it hasn't killed him already, and I'll give this monster the justice it deserves for doing, it's really annoying having to deal with this first thing in the morning" said Mikuni turning around and heading back to her room to get dressed.
- Village Streets -
Moments later they were in the street shouting Huang, checking if he was anywhere in the village first before going into the next course of action, there was no sign of him, Mikuni was waiting for Takajin and Hikaru as they went back to rest, and come with a new plan for finding Huang as it became clear that he was nowhere in the village.
"I would give up, your friend is gone, no one that disappeared, has ever been found again, we even checked the old abandoned Yamazaki mansion" said Yorda looking like it brought up bad memories just mentioning the place.
"Yamazaki mansion?" asked Takajin "where is it" he was anxious to search the place himself so he could find Huang, even if he was a bit of a jerk, he didn't care, he was finding his friend no matter how long it took, "Why didn't you bring this up earlier"
"Why didn't you" said Mikuni grabbing Yorda by the collar of her shirt, giving her a pretty stern look, then letting go, "Brain dead hicks are like this all the time they slip on details that you should have known from the beginning"
"That's not it I was a maid once upon for that mansion, and try to forget tragedy that happened there, that sweet little Aru, I don't recommend going there its cursed" said Yorda interrupting Mikuni, and giving the girl a nasty look.
"We have to; it's our duty as Digidestined, and we are not leaving him behind to be food for some sort of monster, how would I ever look at myself again" said Takajin raising his right hand and clinching it into a fist, "Let's go now"
Yorda hesitated for a few moments before giving the Digidestined the directions to the mansion, and struggled with every word, the memories of the past still hurt matter how long ago this had happened, something's are just that painful to keep .
Hikaru decided to stay behind, "I'll wait to see if Huang shows, she was too scared to go with them, she didn't want to be anywhere near that monster, she went over and sat on the porch.
Takajin nodded in agreement, he would head up with Wilhelm, and Mikuni, leaving Halli and Hikaru back here at the Village as his sister just said incase Huang actually returns, hopefully she is right about, and he had just started doing his own investigating and forgot his stuff, which is sadly not likely the case.
- Old Road -
After packing some supplies, they headed off to the Yamazaki mansion to find their missing companion, and hopefully he was still unharmed when they reached him, reaching the outskirts of the village they could already the huge mansion, its enormous shadow casts all the way to where they were standing now, it was beautiful yet somewhat intimidating to look at.
"My castle is bigger, but still impressive" said Mikuni, now wearing Crest emblazoned toque, she had already placed her into digivice "Once we get there we do not split up, and you follow exactly what I say"
"Why was she in charge again" Takajin sighed to himself, trying to think of reason he was actually taking orders from someone who had been his jailer 24 hours ago, and realized that wasn't exactly important now, someone's life was being threatened now and they needed to rescue him.
They entered the forest path leading to the mansion, it was absolute silent, the only sound was the wind, and the rustling of leaves, not a single wild digimon noise, Suddenly Wilhelm something and ran toward it like it was someone he knew.
"What are you doing" Mikuni shouted toward the Running Wilhelm "Come back idiot, Did I give you brain when I beat the crap out of you"
It was too late Wilhelm was out of sight and all they could hear was his yelling, and then that stopped, and replaced with the sounds of someone being dragged through broken branches, both Mikuni and Takajin ran toward the sound, but found no sign of him at all.
"Another one bites the dust, he was useless anyway, he tends to make things worse because he is old" said Mikuni calmly and emotionless, she turned and headed back to the path "Come, we have a mansion to search" she ignored the glares that Takajin was now giving her.
It was getting dark again, by the time they reached the mansion, making it look even more creepy to look at, its huge presence looming out of the darkness, like it was the monster and it would snatch them at any moment, Takajin felt his that his legs were shaking, he didn't think he was that scared, it was the thoughts of saving Huang, and now Wilhelm that kept him from running, what lay ahead may test his resolve.
- To be Continued -
Who or what is this monster, and will Digidestined survive to find out, to answer these questions, and more, please tune into the next Digimon digital monsters!