|
Directory
>> home
>> humans
>> digimon
>> nexus
>> gallery
>> misc
>> guestbook
Nexus
>> Summary
>> Episodes
>> History
>> Soundtracks
>> Allies
>> Enemies
Affies
|
|
Digimon: Nexus Episode 04: Beauitful Heart
The morning started slowly and with much complaining. Over the night it had rained heavily and now the river was running faster than before and was much fuller. The fire had gone out half way through the night and the sky was still a cloudy, miserable grey as it drizzled a fine mist of rain down on the ground and the trees.
Vincent had argued vehemently that he did not intend to walk if it meant getting wet. He had been the only one against walking, as the others had all taken into consideration that the leaves and trees from the jungle they would be walking through would give them enough cover to keep them mostly dry. Still, he had been steadfast and instead of ending up in an argument, Spencer had relented and they had remained in the cave waiting out the rain.
Arbremon had happily planted his root feet in the ground to absorb some of the water and replenish himself.
As the rain showed no signs of easing, and three thunder storms occoured as the group sat waiting, Spencer decided enough was enough, had grabbed Vincent by the collar and dragged him outside. Ebony and Katie had followed. Spencer had been in a foul mood since waking up and they did not want to push him any further by commenting or saying anything that could only accomplish more annoyance on his behalf.
The rain wasn't too bad. It was very fine rain, and it didn't take long for clothes to start getting damp, but the temperature was still warm and pleasant, and the trees did provide good shelter from the worst of the occasional down pours.
After some time shoving Vincent in front of him as he walked Spencer released the younger boy and carried on ahead. Vincent rubbed the back of his neck where Spencer had grabbed some of his hair at the same time as his collar.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the cave this morning!" He yelled. Spencer's shoulders tensed, but he did not respond. Katie gave Vincent a disapproving look as she passed him while Ebony's expression was unreadable. She had her arm in a temporary sling, the pain from her burn the night before still fresh and causing her some minor irritation if she moved her arm too much.
"Come on, Vincent." Arbremon sighed, they were bringing up the rear now Akelamon had walked by them, sticking close to Ebony's side.
"I don't see why I have to do what he says." Vincent grumbled loudly. He was making sure Spencer would hear him. "He's not the boss of me!"
"Perhaps not," Gotamon was speaking without looking back, "but he's the leader and your unco-operative attitude is only going to make our task harder. Its just a little rain. You're not going to shrink."
"Who asked you?" Vincent snapped.
"Hey -" Katie turned, "don't take it out on Gotamon. She's right. You're just being stupid. None of us want to get wet, but its not exactly torrential. You just keep making a fuss over nothing."
"Now, now." Ebony placated them both. She gave Katie gentle shove in the back. Katie started walking again. Ebony turned to Vincent, she had recognised that she was starting to take on the peace keeper role, the motherly role, especially to Katie and Vincent. "Chase explained how urgent our mission is - complaining every step of the way is tiring and demoralising. Its not brillant for the rest of us, we're meant to be a team."
"Some team." Vincent retorted crossly. "He decides which direction we go in. He decides where we sleep, what we eat. He decides everything. He's never been to the Digital World either, he could be leading us away from where we're meant to be going."
"The soverign selected him as a leader for a reason." Akelamon explained, trying to be patient but aware that Spencer and Katie were getting further away as Ebony dealt with Vincent's temper.
"Akelamon is correct, she wouldn't have selected him if she did not think he could lead." Arbremon this time. Vincent glared at the plant Digimon.
"You're meant to be on my side."
"We're all on the same side." Ebony's voice was firm. "Now come on, and stop complaining." She turned and carried on walking, keeping Katie's mauve top in sight.
Vincent glared after the older girl. Everyone was irritating him. Treating him like he was an idiot. The wouldn't if they knew exactly how smart he really was. But then he didn't want them to feel like they were inferior… they were really, at least as far as brains went they were inferior. But in other ways, no they all beat Vincent hands down without even trying. Spencer was older and more athletic that he could ever dream to be. Ebony more mature and level minded. And Katie, even though she was younger than he was, she had a much more developed sense of maturity than Vincent did.
Maybe that was what he didn't like so much, that aside from his high intellect, he had little to be boastful about with his travelling companions whereas from what he knew about them so far from talking to them and from simply observing them, they had much to be pleased about.
"We'll lose them if we don't keep up." Arbremon said, looking up at Vincent. He huffed, shoved his hands in his pockets, grimacing at the feel of the damp material and started walking again. He kept his head down, irritated with both himself and the scenario. He missed his home comforts. His bed, his own room. He missed the quiet of his bedroom when he was sitting playing World of Warcraft. He missed his guild mates. He also missed his soccer friends.
Towards the front of the group, Katie had caught up to Spencer who was kicking the grass and stones hidden within it heavily with his feet as he walked. Kaninamon looked worried, but at the same time too concerned to say anything to Spencer about his current mood. Katie wasn't exactly enjoying Spencer's funk. The day before he had seemed quite easy going and laid back. Now it was as if someone had come along and replaced him.
"I'm fine." Spencer said suddenly, turning his head to regarding Katie who walked beside him. Her mouth dropped open a little.
"Uh…"
"I know when people want to ask questions but are too scared to." He smiled a little, "I'm not a morning person at the best of times. Sleeping on the ground didn't really agree with me, and Vincent being a brat didn't help."
"Oh."
"I probably shouldn't have been such an ass but… y'know." Spencer shrugged.
No. Katie didn't know but she didn't pry any further. Spencer was mostly okay, just a grumpy person in the morning. Vincent had been very difficult from the moment they had all woken up which considering the circumstances had been rather self fish from Katie's point of view. No one was very pleased with the situation. Katie in fact hate camping, but they had no other option but to sleep on the ground so she had made the most of it.
Everyone seemed to be trying, at least, to make the most of a bad situation. Except Vincent for some reason, and that annoyed her. If he insisted on making a fuss because of the weather or because he was uncomfortable then he should try and take a leaf out of her book, or Spencer's or Ebony's for that matter. They might not have liked the rain, Ebony had been injured and Spencer nearly choked, but they weren't making a fuss like Vincent was. And the Digimon were all doing their best to help, finding food and keeping spirits up.
"He's just being selfish." Katie muttered irritably to herself.
"Eh?" Spencer looked down at her, green eyes half hooded. He looked tired. Katie felt her cheeks turn red and averted her face from him.
"Vincent." Katie clarified. "I don't like camping, but I slept on the floor. You nearly got choked by the Vegiemon, Ebony's probably going to have a permenant scar on her arm but you guys don't complain. It annoys me. Its like Vincent is trying to be difficult on purpose."
"You're probably not wrong." Kaninamon murmured. He rubbed his hair which was sopping wet and grumbled, "there's one in every group of Digimon who just likes to make things … miserable."
"He shouldn't though." Katie argued, "we're all in this together. Okay we might not like it, but getting on with it is better than whining, surely."
Spencer shrugged in a non-commital kind of way, "maybe that's just Vince's attitude. He's not happy unless he's complaining." Spencer stopped and glanced over his shoulder. Ebony was a few paces behind them, and Vincent even further behind her. Spencer walked across the grass to a nearby tree with deep palm like leaves which gave some shelter from the rain. Katie followed him with the Digimon as they waited for the others to catch up.
It was as they were waiting that Katie noticed a spike of white making its way through the grass towards them. Bee lining towards them in fact. Very fast. She shook Spencer's arm and pointed it out to him.
"What now?" Spencer growled, he sounded exasperated. Kaninamon stood ready, Gotamon waddled to his side.
From the grass there was an all mighty bark, the spike had stopped about three metres away. The grass here was tall, coming up to Spencer's hips. Akelamon stood with his head above the grass, but was about the only Digimon who could see over it.
"You're in the vicinity of the Baby Village," the unknown creature growled fiercely. Its voice gruff and deep. "Leave now and I will have no need to harm you." Kaninamon and Gotamon relaxed, though Katie wasn't entirely sure why. Ebony had now caught up, Vincent with her and was looking at Spencer with questioning eyes. He shrugged in return.
"We're just resting here, we have no intention of coming to the Baby Village." Kaninamon replied. The voice only growled back.
"Then what are you doing so close?!"
"Just passing through." Gotamon replied, her tone perfectly soft and placating. There was a silent pause from everyone involved.
"You truly mean no harm to the village?"
"None what-so-ever." Kaninamon replied curiously. A voice without a form was something that put the whole group on edge, since the Vegiemon.
Suddenly there was a purple and white shape leaping through the grass and landing beside Gotamon. It was a canine Digimon, its body was a deep mauve colour, bar the toes on each of its four paws which were white. The front paws had large grey claws visible also. The underside of the Digimon was white, like its tail. Two large floppy ears stuck up out of its head, the left one white and the right purple, and around its cneck a blue collar with silver studs sat.
"Sorry if I scared you," he said, his tone now much friendlier and welcoming, "can never be to careful. Name's Kazudamon."
"Completely understandable. Protecting a baby village is an important job." Gotamon spoke with an approving tone to her voice. "Is it you on your own?"
Kazudamon nodded his head, "yeah." He stretched and yawned, displaying an impressive set of teeth. "We don't get many Digimon out this deep in the terrain." He cocked a white eyebrow, surveying each of the humans, "which leads me to ask what you guys are doing way out here? And what kinda Digimon y'all are."
"We're not Digimon." Spencer said.
"We're human." Vincent this time.
"Ain't never heard of humans. Sounds fishy to me." Kazudamon grumbled. He sat on his haunches.
Akelamon laughed, "I know they look a little funny but they're good. The soverign sent for them." Kazudamon lifted both eyebrows this time and again looked at each human in turn.
"Really?"
"Really." Ebony nodded.
"Stilll doesn't tell me why you're way out here. No where near any towns or anything. it's a pretty odd place to find yourselves."
"We're heading for the ocean. We need to get there, find a temple and find out what's hurting the Nexus." Katie explained. "That's what the soverign sent us for, to find out and fix whatever is weakening the connection between your world and our world."
"Can't say I know much about any Nexus…" Kazudamon said lazily, "don't concern myself much with what goes on outside the baby village. But you're going in the right direction if it's the ocean you want. Another two days, south." He indicated with his head.
"At least we know we're going in the right direction." Arbremon said, "that's something."
"Hm. Y'all look soaked through." Kazudamon stated, sniffing at Spencer's damp top. "Ain't got much in the village but its sheltered you can dry off and stick about there until the rain clears off. Ain't far from here."
"That's very kind of you." said Gotamon graciously. "I think we'd all be most grateful of your hospitality."
"This way then." Kazudamon set off at a quick trot, the Digimon led the way and the humans ran to keep up at a jog.
---
Baby Village was precisely what it said. The ground was not like grass, it felt more like a bouncy trampoline, and the floor was decorated in twee colours and pictures of ducks, clouds and other child-like things. In perfect lines of twenty or more were cradles made of stone, each one containing either a baby Digimon or an egg.
On the far side of the village was a small hut the humans took shelter in as Kazudamon and the other Digimon tended to the baby Digimon who were upset by the rain. It didn't take long for the rain to pass, another half an hour and the sky was clear, the only obvious signs there had even been rain was the dampness of the floor and their clothes. In turn each person left the hut and went to their Digimon who were scattered over the large field of cradles.
Akelamon had been bombarded by a troupe of white and green gel like Digimon who he was playing with, while Kaninamon had lit fires beneath some cradles to warm up their occupents. Arbremon was up in the branches of a tree, using his finger vines as a make-shift swing for some furry Digimon babies. Gotamon was investigating cradles further afield with Katie. Kazudamon close by tended to any of the babies that whimpered.
Gotamon could tell Katie was fascinated by what she saw as she ran from one cradle to the next cooing over the tiny creatures inside. She didn't have the heart to mention that not all baby Digimon, not matter how sweet they started out, would turn out good. Gotamon thought for the best, and to preserve her partners sweet mind set to let her believe what she wanted to believe.
"What's this one called Kazudamon?" Katie was holding in her arms a ball of grey fuzz with a purple face and ears. It nuzzled against her squeaking softly. Kazudamon nudged it with his nose.
"Ah, that's Yuramon. He'll be Digivolving soon I think." Katie placed Yuramon back in his cradle and turned to the canine Digimon.
"What happens to the babies when they evolve?"
"They go to their own villages. A lot of in-training Digimon live in villages made up of only the same Digimon, it's a safety in numbers thing. They leave here and know exactly where to go." Kazudamon explained pearching on the side of a cradle. He pulled at something with his teeth and then hopped down.
"So they can digivolve without the use of a digivice?"
"Dunno what that is, but yeah. Digivolving from baby to in-training to rookie stage takes mostly plenty of food, rest and time." Replied Kazudamon. "Digimon can evolve to latter stages, but it just takes more time and more food. Y'know? A lot of Digimon are happy to stay in their rookie forms."
"Can you digivolve?" Katie asked, following the purple canine to another cradle. "What's that?!" She peered in, expecting to see another baby Digimon. Instead she saw an egg, about the side of a football. White covered in blue snow flake patterns.
"DigiEgg." Kazudamon replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He turned the egg carefully with his massive paw and dropped back onto the floor. "How all Digimon start."
"You hatched from an egg?!" Katie turned to Gotamon who had been following her. Gotamon blinked at her silently.
"Yes. All Digimon hatch from eggs."
"But… but… Akelamon and Kaninamon, they're mammals. Mammals are born!" Katie pointed at the Digimon. "Hatching from eggs, that… how?"
"This isn't your world, remember." Gotamon reminded her gently, "things aren't the same here. All Digimon start off as Digieggs in this world. The way the eggs are cared for will reflect on the kind of Digimon that hatches, and how that Digimon turns out as it grows and evolves."
"So… can they get sick?"
"Sure. Just like anything can get sick, Digieggs can get infected with viruses that turn the Digimon inside bad." Kazudamon clarifed, "that's why guardians are appointed, to try and make sure that doesn't happen."
Katie tapped her lower lip thoughtfully, "is it hard work?"
"Sure. Hard, but rewarding." Kazudamon replied. "I get help from time to time from passing Digimon, but I'm mostly left to do my own thing with them. Haven't had no complaints so far." Kazudamon grinned toothily.
Thunder clapped overhead surprising everyone in the field. In moments there was a cacophony of wails and crying from cradles everywhere. Kazudamon ran to a cradle to soothe the baby Digimon inside it. Katie went to a cradle close by where the Yuramon she had been holding was quivering with fright. She lifted him gently out of the cradle and held him against her.
"Aw its okay, you don't have to be frightened." She shielded it as the lightning shot across the sky, "there's nothing to be scared of." Gotamon, who sat at Katie's feet looking at her with warm approval tensed suddenly turning her attention to the trees at the edge of the field of cradles. Another crash of thunder and flash of lightning. Gotamon crawled forward, her expression now perturbed, confused. Katie placed Yuramon back in his cradle and followed after her Digimon.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know." Gotamon replied her eyes fixed on the trees. "There's something… Aqua Sheen!" A jet of water shot from her mouth hitting the trees and what was behind it. There was a spluttered and then a form appear. A large two legged form, with a brown body and head, with a long neck.
A deafening bark was heard from across the field. Kazudamon could be seen running through the cradles towards the intruder. "Get out!" He was barking, so ferociously and stopped running metres in front of the brown bird Digimon. It looked distastefully at both Kazudamon and Gotamon, turned and disappeared back into the thick forest. Kazudamon growled and huffed.
"That was…?"
"Kiwimon." Kazudamon snapped, "he's been hanging around, trying to steal some eggs when my back is turned."
"That's awful!" Katie exclaimed.
Kazudamon huffed, "yeah. Well - he has to eat. Just happens to like to eat the Digieggs in my care." He threw another glance at the forest and then turned, "still, at least he's gone now."
"Look out!" Kaninamon yelled.
It was too late, Kiwimon was running through the cradles knocking them and the Digimon inside them to the side, making a straight line for Kazudamon and Katie. Gotamon pushed Katie out of the way, while Kazudamon ran, leading Kiwimon away from the cradles and back towards the forest.
As fast as Kazudamon was though, and the more he zig-zagged, Kiwimon kept on a straight course and eventually Kiwimon attacked, releasing a stream of small Kiwimon shaped bombs that exploded on impact with the ground, cradles and eventually Kazudamon. His purple bulk was sent careering into another section of cradles.
Kiwimon turned away from the unconscious canine Digimon and made for the cradles Katie knew contained the Digieggs. She could see the others on the group persuing the charging Digimon, and the other rookies all trying to get in range to attack.
"Gotamon, come on!" Katie shouted. She ran to meet the path of Kiwimon, as Gotamon shot a continuous stream of clear water at its pointed face.
"Pummel Peck!" Small Kiwimon shaped bombs fired at Katie and Gotamon, both ducked, trying to avoid being hit and injured by one of the flying bombs. Kiwimon flew passed them to the cradles. Gotamon groaned as she struggled to get straight.
"Are you all right?" she asked Katie, turning to her worriedly.
"Oh no…" Katie whispered. Gotamon saw she was holding something in her hands. Yuramon, who was whimpering weakly. "No, no. Its okay, you'll be okay."
"Katie…"
"It'll be okay, right Gotamon? We can fix it. You'll be fine." Tears were in her eyes, and starting to flow down her cheeks. Yuramon was beginning to fade in her trembling hands, its face now still and the whimpering had stopped. "No…"
"Its…" Gotamon paused. Katie's hands clenched into fists. She breathed heavily, more tears staining the floor. She forced herself onto her feet and glared at Kiwimon who was pecking at one of the Digieggs, oblivious.
"It was innocent! It didn't have to kill the baby Digimon!" Katie was screaming. Ebony was feet behind her with Vincent and Spencer. She felt the only one brave enough to approach and placed a placating hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Can't they Digivolve?! It should pay, the baby Digimon, they didn't do anything!" She spun into Ebony's body and started to cry. Ebony hushed her and saw a glowing coming from the D-Heart she had clipped onto her trousers.
Gotamon's expression became surprised as her small body began to glow brightly.
"Gotamon digivolve to -"
Katie and Ebony stepped away as Gotamon's small body grew immensely in size. Her front flippers grew longer, and wider, while her back flippers shrank and split into two sets on either side of her large body. Her ear wings and back wings grew, purple spots appearing on both. Dark purple spines grew half way down her neck and dark mauve markings on her underbelly. As the glow faded it was clear to see her pale blue body had darkened significantly to a more cerulean.
"- Tasikdramon!"
Gotamon's evolved form floated gracefully above the group, her eyes fixed on Kiwimon. She gave a push against the air with her flippers and sped towards Kiwimon, bashing his body forcefully with her neck.
Kiwimon flapped its flightless wings indignantly, irritated it was being disturbed again. "Now what? I'm going to destroy you!"
"Not here." Tasikdramon turned and flew silently away from Kiwimon, away from the remaining cradles, away from where anymore damage could be done. Kiwimon persued, squawking loudly.
"Pummel Peck!" More Kiwimon shaped bombs that Tasikdramon dodged easily from her low altitude point. "High Jumping Kick!" Kiwimon leapt up off the floor, one long leg extended, its claws scratching against Tasikdramon flesh. Tasikdramon snarled, baring white, cone shaped teeth.
She turned in the air, and shook her back wings. "Splash Rhapsody!" The resonating from her wings, created purple and blue circles from the spots, each circle growing larger and larger as it neared Kiwimon and enveloped him. The noise from the vibrating wings was high pitched, loud and could have made glass shatter. Kiwimon screeched under the pressure of both the attack itself and the noise.
It turned tail and ran.
---
"Kazudamon, are you okay? Kazudamon?" Spencer was lightly shaking the large canine Digimon who was burnt somewhat on his leg and shoulder. Kazudamon grumbled as if awakening from a sleep and grumbled as he stretched and felt pain.
"Ow."
"Yeah… not surprising there." Akelamon noted. Kazudamon sat up on his side and opened his yellow eyes blearily. He surveyed the scene that lay before him, the descruction that had been caused by Kiwimon. Cradles were toppled, some had cracked into pieces. There were burn marks on the soft floor, and crushed eggs. Kazudamon sighed.
"What a mess."
"I'm sorry." Katie murmured, "we tried to stop Kiwimon… but he got away."
"S'okay." Kazudamon struggled to his feet, "thanks for trying to help. I better get this all cleaned up." He moved, winced and fell back onto his side. "In a second."
"You can hardly move!" Katie protested. "Spencer, can't we stay and help rebuild the village? Just a couple of days. The storms aren't very often, I'm sure Chase won't mind. Its for a good cause!"
She implored the red head with wide, doe-like brown eyes. Spencer struggled. He had to admit he wanted to help. But they needed to get to the ocean so they could get home. But Kazudamon had offered them a place to stay to get out of the bad weather, and he couldn't shake the feeling part of the mess was their fault.
He surveyed Vincent and Ebony's faces. Vincent's was stony. He did not want to remain that much was clear. Ebony had a small smile. She would go with whatever Spencer said, she'd stand by his descision without complaint. That warmed him somewhat.
"Sure… I'm sure the Nexus can wait a couple of days." He smiled at Katie. "Kaz, let us help you get this place in some kind of order, at least until you're back on your feet."
"Consider it an unofficial break!" Katie beamed.
Kazudamon laughed in his throat and nodded slowly, "thanks. I'd appriciate the help."
Katie turned to the mess and placed her hands on her hips, looking with determination over the area, "right - who wants to start where?"
|
|
