Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Children Of Fate ❯ 9 ( Chapter 10 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: moose_of_doom 
Anime/Manga: Digimon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.01.2005 | Pages: 6 | Words: 2.6K | Visits: 240 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Digimon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.01.2005 | Pages: 6 | Words: 2.6K | Visits: 240 | Status: Completed
Chapter 9:
********
Agumon scrabbled at the dirt, his claws digging deep into the ground, throwing a cloud of dust into the air around him.
“You know, you look really funny when you do that.” Gabumon commented from a couple of feet away.
“You could help, you know.”
“Why would I do that, when you’re clearly having so much fun?”
“Alright, knock it off, you two.”
Gatomon’s voice cut through the air like a knife, knocking the other two Digimon into silence. Armadillomon regarded the cat-Digimon with a grateful look.
“Thanks.”
“No prob.”
Gatomon relaxed back against the walls of their cell, and looked around her at the various occupants. Every single miner’s Digimon was here, and all of them looked disconsolate. Her enquiries in the early days of their incarceration had led her to believe that, as Taythe had said, none of the Digidestined had escaped from coast city. Yet try as she might, there was one Digimon she couldn’t find – Terriermon. That gave her some degree of hope. If Willis was still out there, then at least there was some chance that Davis and Veemon would have help.
Because, Like Kari, Gatomon believed that Davis was still alive. She didn’t know what condition he was in, but she knew deep down in her heart that he was still out there somewhere, biding his time and waiting for a moment to return.
She shook away the thought, as Agumon fell headfirst into the hole with a muffled yelp. Gabumon immediately dived after his friend, grabbing hold of the other Digimon’s legs before he disappeared completely. Gatomon ran over, her tail ring clinking gently against the floor in her haste.
“What the hell happened?” She asked.
A muffled reply filtered up from the hole. Gatomon sighed.
“Please, pull him out of there. Its hard enough to understand him when he’s NOT talking through three feet of rock.”
Gabumon pulled, and Agumon popped backwards out of the hole.
“I said, there’s a whole other cave underneath this one. It doesn’t look like its being used, though.”
Gatomon nodded.
“That could be useful. If nothing else, it’ll give us a way to search for the others.”
“Where do you think they’ll be?”
“Somewhere close by. Our links don’t seem to be stretched.”
=============================================================
Michael hid in the gully, and pressed a hand to the wound in his chest. He was finding it hard to breathe, and he knew that could only mean one thing – that the bullet had pierced his lung.
He could hear the Shadowmon nearby, and he crouched down in the dirt, listening to the inhuman howls and growls from the creatures.
Darkness encroached on his vision, and he shook it off. He couldn’t afford to lose consciousness, not now. If he did, then he might not wake up. The blood loss was starting to get to him, he knew. He had to find some way back to the cave that the Masters people lived in, the subterranean village that held his one and only source of hope.
Because underneath it all, Michael still wanted redemption. He wanted the forgiveness of the people whom he had wounded so badly. Despite Kari’s words, he still had to forgive himself for betraying the other Digidestined at Coast town. He hadn’t done anything lately that he felt equalled up to helping him repent his past sins.
He felt a rush of adrenaline, and got to his feet as he heard the growls fade into the distance. He wasn’t a paladin, or even a warrior, but he was damned if he was going to let his friends suffer in that mine any more than necessary.
=============================================================
Kari had spat Derron’s words back into his face, and she had the bruises to prove it. Taythe had gotten really angry after the Digidestined’s fierce rebuke, and Taythe most definitely seemed to prefer a more physical form of retribution.
She lay on the sleeping pad, and stared at the ceiling. Physically, she was exhausted, but her troubled mind refused to let her drift into blissful unconsciousness. She still felt the compelling urge to sleep, but she could also feel the doubt that gnawed away at her resolve.
What if Derron was right? What if Davis’ family were just usurpers to the throne? What if Taythe really was the one destined to rule? What if fate, after all this time, had dealt them a crueller hand than they had ever expected?
Despite her thoughts, pure exhaustion finally took over, and she drifted off into sleep.
=============================================================
Derron, on the other hand, was far from tired, despite the fact that Taythe slept soundly in the room next door. He sat in his study, and looked down at the sword on his desk.
The silver Katana was the weapon of Taneka Motomiya, and it had been wielded by one of the Digidestined – the blonde one, Takeru. It should belong to him! It shouldn’t have been sullied by the hands of one of Gennai’s brats!
Derron reached down, and placed his hand on the hilt of the silver weapon.
A surge of energy ran through his body, causing him to convulse in his seat, a spasm running through him. Thrown back, he slammed against the wall, his chair toppling to the ground. The silver Katana hadn’t moved from its place on the table.
“It’ll never accept you, y’know.” Came a cynical voice from the corner of the room.
Derron spun, and looked up at where Gennai was leaning casually against the wall, a slight smile on his face.
“How dare you come here.” He hissed, his voice full of hatred. “How dare you desecrate this holy place!”
Gennai looked startled.
“Holy place? Did I make a wrong turn at Albuquerque?” The young man looked around, his ancient eyes taking in his surroundings. “Nope. I’m in the right place – and its about as holy as Satan’s toilet.”
Derron snarled, and launched himself at Gennai. His fist lashed out in a brutal punch, capable of cracking a skull if placed right.
It never connected. Hardly seeming to move, Gennai’s head shifted backwards, and the punch passed a mere fingers-width in front of his eyes. Before Derron could strike again, the guardian of the digital world had gripped the man’s arm, and pushed him away.
“If you’re going to act like a child, Derron, then you have no place at this meeting. In case you’ve forgotten, your little act doesn’t wash with me, and since I, unlike you, knew Taneka Motomiya personally, your ability to rewrite history in your own head doesn’t even impress me very much.”
“You bastard!”
“Such naughty language. What an example you’re setting for Taythe.”
Derron clasped his hands together, summoning his will. A ball of incandescent flame formed at his clasped palms, and he threw it at the Guardian. Gennai caught the ball in mid throw, and looked at it with disdain. Then, with a quick puff of breath, he blew the fireball out.
“Still using your old tricks. How pathetic. Fortunately, I didn’t come here to talk to you.”
“And who are you here to see? Hikari? That scared little girl, who thinks she’s a leader?”
“Oh, I don’t need to talk to Kari. She’s stronger than you believe. There are others who can help her deal with her problems. No, I’m here to talk to someone much closer to your heart.”
“Who… no!”
Derron spluttered the protest as Gennai’s hand flickered. The man’s eyes suddenly faded, and became covered with a black sheen. He hissed a few words in the language of the Shadowmon. Gennai rolled his eyes.
“Oh, don’t do that. It doesn’t impress me much anymore.”
Derron’s eyes narrowed, and when the voice spoke, it was still quiet and hissing, but understandable.
“Very well. What is it you want, Gennai?”
“I’ve come to lay a few ground rules. You’ve had your fun, but the game starts in earnest now.”
“All the pieces are in place, then?”
“They are. The Chana-paladin will awaken soon enough, after his transition.”
“Ah, so the fun will begin soon.”
“If you can call it fun. By the way, neither my master nor myself are happy about the way you’re treating the Digidestined.”
“How I treat my slaves is my own business, Gennai. When I choose to let you in on my rule, it will be as one of them.”
“Really, deeply not going to happen.”
“Whatever. What are the rules you have come to discuss?”
“Whatever? My god, you’re turning into a valley girl.”
“I’m working with Derron’s vocabulary. Get on with it.”
“Very well. My master concedes that the only way to continue the game is to mine Oridian. That said, he will not tolerate the opening of the portal before the appointed time.”
“Agreed.”
“Secondly, you are not to interfere with the minds of the Digidestined. They are the ones who will make the choice, so their minds must be clear.”
“…Agreed.”
“Dow I sense reluctance? Isn’t that a shame.”
“Don’t make me angry, Gennai. Next?”
“The Forge is now officially off limits. Any attempt by either your vessel, the Shadowmon or any other of your forces will be met with the full resistance of our power.
“My opposite has gotten so picky lately. Agreed.”
“Well, I’m glad that’s sorted. You can go back to sleep now.”
“There’s no need to be obnoxious about it.”
The black sheen over Derron’s eyes faded, to be replaced by the disorientated look of confusion. Gennai grinned maliciously.
“I never get tired of doing that.”
“What did you…?”
“Oh, I’ve finished my business here. I’m sure that your master will fill you in on the messy details afterwards.”
He turned away, towards the door, but stopped to cast one final barb over his shoulder.
“Oh, by the way, The Paladin is far from dead. And I’m sure he’s going to be VERY annoyed when he wakes up. If you start running now, you might just escape him.”
He opened the door.
“But I doubt it. Give Taythe my best. Ta-ta.”
The door closed with a gentle click behind him. Derron scurried after the man, and opened the door, but no trace that Gennai had ever been there remained. He walked back to his desk, and sat down behind it. So wrapped he was in his own thoughts, that he didn’t even notice his hands were shaking.
=============================================================
Gatomon listened as the guard stepped in through the door, but didn’t dare risk blowing the game by opening her eyes to check what was going on. She heard the regular thud of booted feet as the guard walked around the room, making sure that the Digimon were truly asleep fortunately, being based on a cat, Gatomon could appear to be asleep whether she truly was or not.
The guard stepped past her and she heard the sound of the door gently sliding shut again, followed by the rattling of the cart as it sped away down the tunnel. She opened her amber eyes, which glinted mischievously in the darkness. Moving swiftly, she crept over to Agumon, and shook him awake. The dinosaur’s eyes opened almost immediately, and he nodded in acknowledgment.
“Get everyone moving. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible.”
“Got it. Any idea where we’re heading?”
“At the moment, I’m looking as far into the future as ‘the hell out of this chamber.’”
“Great. And then?”
“Then we’re gonna have to work on the plan a little. But if we get into the chamber underneath, and cover our way out, at least they wont know where we’ve gone.”
Agumon sighed, and got to his feet, moving among the other Digimon and waking them up.
“Y’know, there’s gotta be a better way to make a living.”
=============================================================
Kari tossed and turned in her sleep, her brow covered in sweat, and her dreams haunted by fears unrealised.
What if Derron was right? What if Davis was destined to lose? What if the man she loved was doomed to fail in this vital mission? How could she face the world without him?”
“You are stronger than you think, Hikari Kamiya.”
She spun in the dream-darkness, and stared into the kindly eyes of the young man whom she had never thought to meet. She knew immediately why he was here.
“Have you come to help me?”
“That I have, Hikari. Do you know me?”
“How could I not know you?”
“Well, it was always a possibility.”
The casual tone threw her, and she blinked. He grinned at her.
“What? Cheer up, Kari. The games not over yet.”
“Of course not, Ichiro.”
=============================================================
********
Agumon scrabbled at the dirt, his claws digging deep into the ground, throwing a cloud of dust into the air around him.
“You know, you look really funny when you do that.” Gabumon commented from a couple of feet away.
“You could help, you know.”
“Why would I do that, when you’re clearly having so much fun?”
“Alright, knock it off, you two.”
Gatomon’s voice cut through the air like a knife, knocking the other two Digimon into silence. Armadillomon regarded the cat-Digimon with a grateful look.
“Thanks.”
“No prob.”
Gatomon relaxed back against the walls of their cell, and looked around her at the various occupants. Every single miner’s Digimon was here, and all of them looked disconsolate. Her enquiries in the early days of their incarceration had led her to believe that, as Taythe had said, none of the Digidestined had escaped from coast city. Yet try as she might, there was one Digimon she couldn’t find – Terriermon. That gave her some degree of hope. If Willis was still out there, then at least there was some chance that Davis and Veemon would have help.
Because, Like Kari, Gatomon believed that Davis was still alive. She didn’t know what condition he was in, but she knew deep down in her heart that he was still out there somewhere, biding his time and waiting for a moment to return.
She shook away the thought, as Agumon fell headfirst into the hole with a muffled yelp. Gabumon immediately dived after his friend, grabbing hold of the other Digimon’s legs before he disappeared completely. Gatomon ran over, her tail ring clinking gently against the floor in her haste.
“What the hell happened?” She asked.
A muffled reply filtered up from the hole. Gatomon sighed.
“Please, pull him out of there. Its hard enough to understand him when he’s NOT talking through three feet of rock.”
Gabumon pulled, and Agumon popped backwards out of the hole.
“I said, there’s a whole other cave underneath this one. It doesn’t look like its being used, though.”
Gatomon nodded.
“That could be useful. If nothing else, it’ll give us a way to search for the others.”
“Where do you think they’ll be?”
“Somewhere close by. Our links don’t seem to be stretched.”
=============================================================
Michael hid in the gully, and pressed a hand to the wound in his chest. He was finding it hard to breathe, and he knew that could only mean one thing – that the bullet had pierced his lung.
He could hear the Shadowmon nearby, and he crouched down in the dirt, listening to the inhuman howls and growls from the creatures.
Darkness encroached on his vision, and he shook it off. He couldn’t afford to lose consciousness, not now. If he did, then he might not wake up. The blood loss was starting to get to him, he knew. He had to find some way back to the cave that the Masters people lived in, the subterranean village that held his one and only source of hope.
Because underneath it all, Michael still wanted redemption. He wanted the forgiveness of the people whom he had wounded so badly. Despite Kari’s words, he still had to forgive himself for betraying the other Digidestined at Coast town. He hadn’t done anything lately that he felt equalled up to helping him repent his past sins.
He felt a rush of adrenaline, and got to his feet as he heard the growls fade into the distance. He wasn’t a paladin, or even a warrior, but he was damned if he was going to let his friends suffer in that mine any more than necessary.
=============================================================
Kari had spat Derron’s words back into his face, and she had the bruises to prove it. Taythe had gotten really angry after the Digidestined’s fierce rebuke, and Taythe most definitely seemed to prefer a more physical form of retribution.
She lay on the sleeping pad, and stared at the ceiling. Physically, she was exhausted, but her troubled mind refused to let her drift into blissful unconsciousness. She still felt the compelling urge to sleep, but she could also feel the doubt that gnawed away at her resolve.
What if Derron was right? What if Davis’ family were just usurpers to the throne? What if Taythe really was the one destined to rule? What if fate, after all this time, had dealt them a crueller hand than they had ever expected?
Despite her thoughts, pure exhaustion finally took over, and she drifted off into sleep.
=============================================================
Derron, on the other hand, was far from tired, despite the fact that Taythe slept soundly in the room next door. He sat in his study, and looked down at the sword on his desk.
The silver Katana was the weapon of Taneka Motomiya, and it had been wielded by one of the Digidestined – the blonde one, Takeru. It should belong to him! It shouldn’t have been sullied by the hands of one of Gennai’s brats!
Derron reached down, and placed his hand on the hilt of the silver weapon.
A surge of energy ran through his body, causing him to convulse in his seat, a spasm running through him. Thrown back, he slammed against the wall, his chair toppling to the ground. The silver Katana hadn’t moved from its place on the table.
“It’ll never accept you, y’know.” Came a cynical voice from the corner of the room.
Derron spun, and looked up at where Gennai was leaning casually against the wall, a slight smile on his face.
“How dare you come here.” He hissed, his voice full of hatred. “How dare you desecrate this holy place!”
Gennai looked startled.
“Holy place? Did I make a wrong turn at Albuquerque?” The young man looked around, his ancient eyes taking in his surroundings. “Nope. I’m in the right place – and its about as holy as Satan’s toilet.”
Derron snarled, and launched himself at Gennai. His fist lashed out in a brutal punch, capable of cracking a skull if placed right.
It never connected. Hardly seeming to move, Gennai’s head shifted backwards, and the punch passed a mere fingers-width in front of his eyes. Before Derron could strike again, the guardian of the digital world had gripped the man’s arm, and pushed him away.
“If you’re going to act like a child, Derron, then you have no place at this meeting. In case you’ve forgotten, your little act doesn’t wash with me, and since I, unlike you, knew Taneka Motomiya personally, your ability to rewrite history in your own head doesn’t even impress me very much.”
“You bastard!”
“Such naughty language. What an example you’re setting for Taythe.”
Derron clasped his hands together, summoning his will. A ball of incandescent flame formed at his clasped palms, and he threw it at the Guardian. Gennai caught the ball in mid throw, and looked at it with disdain. Then, with a quick puff of breath, he blew the fireball out.
“Still using your old tricks. How pathetic. Fortunately, I didn’t come here to talk to you.”
“And who are you here to see? Hikari? That scared little girl, who thinks she’s a leader?”
“Oh, I don’t need to talk to Kari. She’s stronger than you believe. There are others who can help her deal with her problems. No, I’m here to talk to someone much closer to your heart.”
“Who… no!”
Derron spluttered the protest as Gennai’s hand flickered. The man’s eyes suddenly faded, and became covered with a black sheen. He hissed a few words in the language of the Shadowmon. Gennai rolled his eyes.
“Oh, don’t do that. It doesn’t impress me much anymore.”
Derron’s eyes narrowed, and when the voice spoke, it was still quiet and hissing, but understandable.
“Very well. What is it you want, Gennai?”
“I’ve come to lay a few ground rules. You’ve had your fun, but the game starts in earnest now.”
“All the pieces are in place, then?”
“They are. The Chana-paladin will awaken soon enough, after his transition.”
“Ah, so the fun will begin soon.”
“If you can call it fun. By the way, neither my master nor myself are happy about the way you’re treating the Digidestined.”
“How I treat my slaves is my own business, Gennai. When I choose to let you in on my rule, it will be as one of them.”
“Really, deeply not going to happen.”
“Whatever. What are the rules you have come to discuss?”
“Whatever? My god, you’re turning into a valley girl.”
“I’m working with Derron’s vocabulary. Get on with it.”
“Very well. My master concedes that the only way to continue the game is to mine Oridian. That said, he will not tolerate the opening of the portal before the appointed time.”
“Agreed.”
“Secondly, you are not to interfere with the minds of the Digidestined. They are the ones who will make the choice, so their minds must be clear.”
“…Agreed.”
“Dow I sense reluctance? Isn’t that a shame.”
“Don’t make me angry, Gennai. Next?”
“The Forge is now officially off limits. Any attempt by either your vessel, the Shadowmon or any other of your forces will be met with the full resistance of our power.
“My opposite has gotten so picky lately. Agreed.”
“Well, I’m glad that’s sorted. You can go back to sleep now.”
“There’s no need to be obnoxious about it.”
The black sheen over Derron’s eyes faded, to be replaced by the disorientated look of confusion. Gennai grinned maliciously.
“I never get tired of doing that.”
“What did you…?”
“Oh, I’ve finished my business here. I’m sure that your master will fill you in on the messy details afterwards.”
He turned away, towards the door, but stopped to cast one final barb over his shoulder.
“Oh, by the way, The Paladin is far from dead. And I’m sure he’s going to be VERY annoyed when he wakes up. If you start running now, you might just escape him.”
He opened the door.
“But I doubt it. Give Taythe my best. Ta-ta.”
The door closed with a gentle click behind him. Derron scurried after the man, and opened the door, but no trace that Gennai had ever been there remained. He walked back to his desk, and sat down behind it. So wrapped he was in his own thoughts, that he didn’t even notice his hands were shaking.
=============================================================
Gatomon listened as the guard stepped in through the door, but didn’t dare risk blowing the game by opening her eyes to check what was going on. She heard the regular thud of booted feet as the guard walked around the room, making sure that the Digimon were truly asleep fortunately, being based on a cat, Gatomon could appear to be asleep whether she truly was or not.
The guard stepped past her and she heard the sound of the door gently sliding shut again, followed by the rattling of the cart as it sped away down the tunnel. She opened her amber eyes, which glinted mischievously in the darkness. Moving swiftly, she crept over to Agumon, and shook him awake. The dinosaur’s eyes opened almost immediately, and he nodded in acknowledgment.
“Get everyone moving. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible.”
“Got it. Any idea where we’re heading?”
“At the moment, I’m looking as far into the future as ‘the hell out of this chamber.’”
“Great. And then?”
“Then we’re gonna have to work on the plan a little. But if we get into the chamber underneath, and cover our way out, at least they wont know where we’ve gone.”
Agumon sighed, and got to his feet, moving among the other Digimon and waking them up.
“Y’know, there’s gotta be a better way to make a living.”
=============================================================
Kari tossed and turned in her sleep, her brow covered in sweat, and her dreams haunted by fears unrealised.
What if Derron was right? What if Davis was destined to lose? What if the man she loved was doomed to fail in this vital mission? How could she face the world without him?”
“You are stronger than you think, Hikari Kamiya.”
She spun in the dream-darkness, and stared into the kindly eyes of the young man whom she had never thought to meet. She knew immediately why he was here.
“Have you come to help me?”
“That I have, Hikari. Do you know me?”
“How could I not know you?”
“Well, it was always a possibility.”
The casual tone threw her, and she blinked. He grinned at her.
“What? Cheer up, Kari. The games not over yet.”
“Of course not, Ichiro.”
=============================================================