Chapter Text
Daisuke fiddled with the strap on his bag, growing slightly annoyed as it slipped through his fingers again. Takeru just watched the display in slight amusement, earning a glare from Daisuke in response. Miyako simply smiled as she picked up her own bag, slinging it over her shoulder.
Chibimon jumped on Daisuke’s head, making the boy yelp in shock “Chibimon! Stop it!” the digimon just whined as he grabbed onto Daisuke’s face “Can't we go already, Daisuke?!” Hikari sighed, Tailmon sighing too. Ken just chuckled lightly at the antics, grabbing his shoulder bag as well.
“Well… I guess I can stay behind and wait for Iori, you four can go on ahead if you want to,” Miyako piped up, sitting down on one of the chairs. Daisuke finally managed to pull Chibimon off his face, grunting, “As long as I stop getting harassed” he grumbled, pulling out his digivice.
Takeru sighed, looking up at Patamon, who was sitting on his head “What do you think?” Patamon laughed, “Let's go, Takeru! This is only a picnic trip after all, why shouldn't we go ahead and already look for a nice spot?”
Hikari nodded, “Patamon is right, we should go on ahead” Everybody looked at Ken, he just nodded “I’ll come too” Miyako clapped her hands “Alrighty then, off you go!” Miyako said, shooing them towards the computer. Daisuke huffed as he pointed his D-3 at the screen, Takeru, Hikari and Ken following behind almost instantly, a blinding light taking over the computer room before they were gone.
The light eventually fizzled out, and Chibimon fell to the ground with a squeal. Patamon barely managed to catch himself from crashing to the ground. Tailmon was still standing on the ground, face contorted in confusion, and Minomon was hovering in the air, blinking as if waiting for something. Miyako just stared at the four digimon in slight surprise before she panicked “...why are you still here?!”
—
Daisuke crashed to the ground, grunting in pain as he hit the dirt. His head throbbed for some reason as he slowly pulled himself into a kneeling position, pushing up his goggles slightly to rub his forehead.
“...V-mon, where are we?” Daisuke muttered, said Digimon should have already spoken up by now, but there was no answer from his partner. Daisuke blinked again as a hand landed on his shoulder. he looked up only to find a mud-covered Takeru, hat held in his other hand.
“Are you alright, Daisuke?” He asked, slightly agitated, “...yeah, I just have a splitting headache…” Takeru paused at that, seeming concerned now, “...you too?” He said, Daisuke raised an eyebrow as he took the hand Takeru had offered, pulling him into a standing position.
Daisuke looked around for the first time… finding no sight of V-mon… or any of the other digimon for that matter, Ken was sitting on the ground, Hikari patching up a cut on his leg with the med kit she brought.
Even weirder was the fact that they were in what seemed to be a thick forest, the trees letting no sunlight shine through… but that didnt really matter, considering how the trees looked like. The trunks a deep maroon, the leaves pink, almost purple in colour, glowing lightly.
“...wha… where are we?!” Daisuke shrieked, Takeru winced slightly as his head pounded at the loud sound. Daisuke quipped down immediately, feeling his own headache worsening. Hikari and Ken also noticed them and walked towards them, the cut on Ken’s leg now patched up with a bandage.
“...There isn't a TV anywhere, and it doesn't seem like our partners are anywhere around here either” Ken said, a frown pulling at his lips. Daisuke frowned “...Seriously?” He pulled out his D-Terminal.
Hikari shook her head “I already tried sending a mail… nothing got through” Daisuke paused, closing his D-Terminal with a huff. “I don't recognise this place, do you, Takeru?” Takeru looked around, shaking his head sadly after a moment.
“No, I havent seen such a forest before, even in the digital world…” Takeru said, rubbing his arm uncomfortably, he was worried about Patamon. Ken frowned “...without our partners, we are defenceless if we come across anything hostile”
Everybody looked around silently “...We have to find a TV then!” Daisuke said, pumping a fist into the air. Ken and Hikari smiled slightly, Takeru just looked to the side, an uncomfortable feeling creeping up his back.
“... at least this place looks nice” Hikari said with a forced laugh. The forest was rather pretty, but given their current situation, it didnt feel good to be in such a place, pretty or not. They eventually started walking, nobody saying a word, everybody aware of the massive vacuum there was without their partners.
They had already walked for a few minutes when the trees' colour shifted, the pink tone turning a dangerous red. The four looked around in worry, Hikari’s headache worsening. It was shortly after that thunderous footsteps rang out, the ground shaking slightly with every thud.
A growl erupted from their side, everybody spun around to something behind the trees… they could make out some things from the red light. It was a huge beast on four legs, its body seemingly made out of copper and other metallic material, with grey fur covering some parts of its body.
Two long red antennas sprouted from its ears, swaying slightly with every flicker of its mechanical ears. Its most prominent feature was two massive fangs that glinted dangerously in the red light.
But most importantly, they had no idea what kind of digimon it was, was it even one? Takeru stepped back “...Run!” Takeru shouted as it moved, turning on his heel and sprinting as fast as his legs would carry him… maybe he should have taken on a serious sport after all.
Davis had grabbed hold of Takeru’s arm, dragging him along. Ken did the same with Hikari, they weaved through the forest, but the thing behind them was much faster than they were, its earthshaking footsteps ringing closer and closer.
Takeru felt his vision swim slightly from how heavy he inhaled air, he forced his legs to move, Daisuke eventually saw a small slit in the ground, taking the chance, he pulled Takeru down with him, Ken doing the same with Hikari.
The four barely fit as they slid down a few meters between the two stone slabs, the rough stone scratching their clothes and skin. The beast growled as it tried to fish them out of the slit… but eventually gave up when it realised it was a lost cause, claws to bulky to slip between the stones.
Its heavy footsteps echoed through the ground, laboured breaths filling the ensuing silence. They waited like that for a bit, catching their breath… Hikari eventually whispered what everybody was thinking.
“... What was that thing?! ” Takeru frowned as he tried to reposition himself in the tight space “...I have no clue… I don't remember encountering anything close to it before… I highly doubt it was just an Adult level”
Ken frowned “...You think it was a Perfect? Those kinds of Digimon are rather rare. Why would one just be in this weird forest?” Takeru wanted to shrug, but it was already hard enough to move, so he didnt bother.
Daisuke groaned, “We should get out of this thing. I am starting to feel like a sardine in a tin can,” Hikari chuckled as she tried to push herself up, grunting slightly at the tight fit. Takeru gave her a boost, and she pulled herself out of the hole.
She helped the other three climb out too, and shortly after, the leaves turned back to their original pink colour, the angry red glow mellowing back down into the soft pink pastel colour. Daisuke raised an eyebrow, placing his hands on his waist “...This whole place gives me the heeby-jeebes… let's get the hell out of here”
Nobody else could disagree with that statement.
—
Daisuke groaned as he slouched slightly as he looked at his D-3, shocked at the time “...we have been walking for hours now! How big is this forest?!” Takeru could only agree as he leaned on a nearby tree for support, he didnt want to admit it, but he probably felt worse than Daisuke, his legs felt like jelly.
Hikari plopped to the ground with a deep sigh “...we need to take a break… as much as I hate to say it… But it's unlikely we will find a TV today, especially in our condition, not to mention how dangerous this place is, considering that thing we encountered. We should find a place to rest,” Ken said.
Daisuke looked at the ground, hands curling into themselves “...My parents are going to kill me,” He bemoaned, putting his head in his hands. Hikari pulled her legs towards her chest “...I think all of us are in the same boat, not to mention Tailmon and the others… they must be worried sick by now”
They fell into an uncomfortable silence “...Let's go,” Takeru eventually said, and they slowly started walking, looking for some place to hole up in until they had rested. Daisuke looked at his feet; they were all too tired.
They eventually found a small cave, and everybody made themselves comfortable, as comfortably as they could be. “...Miyako had all the food” Daisuke moaned, earning a groan from everyone “... It's too late for us to go out now… we should look for something edible in the morning” Ken supplied as he leaned on the wall, resting his head on the cold stone.
Takeru was lying on the ground, using his backpack as a pillow as he stared at the ceiling with a grave look on his face… Hikari was clutching her arms, lying on her small duffle bag.
Daisuke was lying on his side, using his arm as a pillow as his face was hidden… things hadn't really set in for any of them yet… Daisuke knew that, and without V-mon, it felt oddly empty, especially since V-mon had been around him all the time for a while now… it made him feel lonely, and he couldn't help but miss the annoying dragon.
He closed his eyes, ignoring the light sting in his left hand. He probably just scratched it before… he could take care of it later.
—
“My Lord!” A voice sounded through the large halls, and a large figure moved slightly, sitting on a throne in the middle of the room. Massive wings made out of Chrome Digizoid spreading slightly at the call, red scales glistening in the moonlight.
Piercing green eyes narrowed slightly “...Speak, soldier” A deep rumble escaped the dragon's throat. The Strikedramon nodded quickly, “Of course, Dragon Emperor! We have detected an anomaly on the Trio Island, specifically the Angel's forest.”
Green Eyes narrowed further “That is neutral territory… what anomalies?” The Strikedramon gulped slightly, scratching his cheek “...well, it was a large energy impulse, completely bypassing the barrier… There were four signals… the data we could find pointed at… human data, but we don't know anything more right now… apologies, Lord Examon ”
Examon stayed silent briefly before sighing, steam escaping his nostrils. “...we have no say over Trio Island, so we do nothing for now, but keep monitoring the situation, and inform me of any changes” The Strikedramon saluted curtly before scurrying away out of the room.
Examon’s tail whipped through the air, his head resting on one of his claws as he stared out of a window, the city outside alight…
“Humans, huh?... Maybe something is finally happening… I just hope it is something positive for once.”