Just a Liiitle Dip [Kyo]

Just like the first time, Kyosuke managed to sound slightly awkward, even despite the higher amount of experience he had regarding the Digital World. Guess he adventured at a slow pace? Or maybe it was that things managed the remain as relatively new. Both were valid and amusing in their own way.

"Even if it wasn't a lot, each experience counts, you know?" The brunette managed to respond right away. "My grandfather always told me that human beings are like trees; each memory ring us inwardly with memory and wisdom, and that are few things as valuable as that."

Did that sound like a cheap parable? Probably, but that didn't make it any less true. "Besides, exploring the Digital World at your own pace is the best you can do. Submerging into it, thinking it's an obligation or something of the like won't do, you know? This world is too amazing for that."

Of course, she'd try to not interject all that much while the guy told his tale. And managed to remain silent for the majority of the deal while occasionally nodding in assent. "Sounds like your adventures were pretty interesting! And that your spirit is a wolf man too, huh? For some reason, that's not very surprising."

By now, the sky had darkened almost on its full length, yet... the mainland of the Dark Area wasn't their current goal. In a quick motion, the car dived into the blood red sea, fully adapting from being airborne to being underwater in the blink of an eye. And thus, the trio's journey continued. "Some of the female digimon have rather... interesting designs. In a sense, I'm a bit thankful I don't get to turn into any of them; it would defeat the mystique, you know? But I digress."

A girl and her... boyfriend, huh? "Ain't that romantic? Wonder if they got together before or after discovering that digimon are a thing. It would definitely be very cute if two people who are already in a relationship discovered that the two of them have digimon as they tried to hide the secret from each other, you know? It could be the plot of a soap opera, even."

If digimon were a thing widely known by the public, anyway. Right now, it was just Amelie's mind being in the clouds. "I have only met one person with a brown bunny as partner, however. Just in case; did she have black, curly hair?" Maybe the world's just that small and the two of them had met Katherine already. But the truth was... that Amy hadn't seen her in a while; could it be that she got a boyfriend? That was a really interesting piece of gossip! She'd definitely have to ask later.

Of course, the sight of such a cute Otamamon managed to bring a rather big smile to her face. Tadpoles are adorable, after all!

"Pleased to meet you, Aoi! My name's Amelie." Of course, the tale about their fateful reunion almost made her stare starry-eyed at the red nothingness that surrounded them in every direction. "I think it's admirable that you were willing to leave a dishonest life behind, and without any kind of external prompt. Most of the people need a good beating and some time in jail before deciding that actively doing that kinda stuff is actually a bad thing. You're a good girl, Aoi."

As expected from Kyosuke, he was just being as hardheaded as always and not having any of that, even if technically he was still hanging out with the Otamamon; was it that hard to be sincere and say that he appreciated her company? The brunette didn't know, even though she supposed that would subtract some badass points from that imaginary count.

"I think you will become a magnificent pair of partners. I can already see that you have what it takes." The natural follow-up to that statement was a serene smile; a cue to shift topics since she already foresaw somebody being stubborn.

"How did we meet? That was a rather simple affair. I kinda got lost in Mainframe Hills after a certain incident involving a rabbit that didn't want to recognize his parents and decided that 'he wanted to be stronger' and 'being strong' is all that mattered. So, I stumbled upon this guy while trying to get back at Terminus and we chatted a bit; he was spanking new and had no idea what the world was about, so I even mentored him a bit about Digital World matters and that stuff, even though I had to repeat myself a bit in order to get through that hard head of his."

Yup, giggling at her own remark was the only fitting reaction; it was short-lived before resuming, however. "Not that big of a deal, even though I'd like to say that we got along well. And that's why we're here, more or less. You ought to keep your friends close, you know?"

Eventually, the car entered what looked to be an underwater cave, comfortably stopping as soon as it was positioned near its entrance. To say it was dark was a bit of an understatement, and who knew what kind of things they'd find inside. Despite that... Amy had to check something out in this place, as hidden and forsaken as it was.

"Well, here we are. Are you guys ready? This might get a little dicey."

It was funny; talking with Kyosuke always had some kind of strange charm; almost as if... he really understood more than he let on? For somebody who used to constantly say he's dumb and that stuff, it was certainly surprising. In a pleasant sort of way.

"Gramps always had that air about him, you know? So calm and serene, yet so wise at the same time. Sometimes, I wonder why his son was so different from him on that regard." A small bout of laughter ensued at that combination of that remark plus Kyo's. "I definitely get your way of thinking, however. 'Have your feet on the clouds for too long, and you'll eventually come crashing down', is something that he also used to say. I know for sure that being in a world so fantastic is bound to make a number even in the most grounded mind; after all, when fireballs and magic are commonplace, how long can you last without assimilating that as normal?"

Somehow, it seemed like she felt philosophical today, even if those were simple truths that Amelie's mind had taken for granted. Anything in excess was harmful, especially a place that could completely divorce you from reality if you weren't careful enough.

Onto less serious things! And, while the brunette was thankful for her spirit forms to deviate from the accepted norms regarding 'female' digimon. "Why is so? Do you think that kind of outfit would look bad on me? Or maybe that you'd have a hard time resisting the sheer beauty? You got me curious now." While that question was essentially Amy teasing him and being difficult on purpose, it wasn't like she had won the spirit form lottery either. Speaking of which...

"You have yet to see them, don't you?" Forgetting about that small detail seemed really careless on her part, but a fair bit of time since the last time she saw the guy had passed! "Maybe you'll get to watch them in action today. Consider yourself lucky."

A conspicuous wink ensued, even though that event could go both ways. Besides, any given conversation with the black-haired man finishing or at least being tinged with some teasing was pretty much their dynamic at this point. Why change that now?

That'd be left at the side for now, though. All things considered, hearing about his adventures was far more entertaining than making any kind of funny remark. Amelie's eyes shone for a second at the discovery. "Oh, I know that girl! That's Katherine. Quite curious; I didn't know she had a boyfriend, but maybe she was too bashful to admit it back when we met, among... other things, probably."

Suddenly, a short shrug ensued; maybe some things weren't bound to change, even if that wasn't the focus of the conversation, nor a matter the brunette's mind wanted to dwell in for too long. "How were they doing? It's been some time since I last saw that pair."

Not like that wasn't the main focus of the conversation either, so that was probably the only question regarding that matter. Fittingly, Amelie patted Aoi's head, reinforcing what she had said with that simple gesture. "You should be proud of yourself."

Honestly? It wasn't hard to understand Kyosuke's position; truthfully, an underwater cave amid the Dark Area wasn't the most glamorous place, yet... that almost prompted a smirk to begin pulling the teenager's lips. "And over here I thought you were made of tougher stuff. It's just like a haunted house, except that if anything dwells in this place, it has very real chances of killing us. So don't get separated unless you want to try that theory out!"

Was she right? Honestly, there was no way to truly know, and it wasn't like Amy seemed overly worried, either. In fact, she seemed to be more amused than anything, especially when taking into account the Otamamon's history. "Eat a Bearmon, huh? That sounds impressive. Did it really taste like a bear or like something else? I've never bitten a digimon, to be honest."

And it wasn't like she was in a hurry to do so, either! Bringing out a flashlight, she illuminated the path forward. "I'm not going to lie; I have no idea where we are going, but my digivice picked a weird signal in this place the other day, and I really wanna know if it was a glitch in the Sea's data, or if there's really something worth discovering in this place."

The trio would advance in the barely illuminated darkness, relative silence enveloping the atmosphere, at least with the notable exception of the constant dripping sound that the stalactites currently decorating the cave's ceiling made. It seemed like this would be a somewhat boring journey...

At least until a low rumble was heard at the distance. It came from the cave's depths and was accompanied by a small tremor. Right away, a meaningful look was directed at Kyo, equal parts silently asking if that hadn't been Amelie's imagination and urging him to be on his guard.

No way to know what could lurk in the dark.

Grandpa was probably the wisest person Amy knew. An ocean of serenity amid the storm of what her perceived life had been. Probably among her favorite human beings, ever. Remembering those memories brought a small, yet tranquil smile to her face.

"You know, that actually sounded kinda wise." Of course, it was only a matter of time before that smile transitioned into a teasing grin. "Are you feeling well? It'd be a pity if the Dark Area's atmosphere got to you and you're having a fever or something."

The fact that he had said to dismiss it as random nonsense was helping, that was for sure! Guy could be really awkward, couldn't he?

In any case, the brunette took her time in order to pat Aoi's head at the mention of her looking well on a Kazemon's outfit. It wasn't like she would ignore such an earnest comment. "You're a good girl, Aoi. It'd definitely be quite the sight, wouldn't it?"

If Kyo had thought differently about the whole matter, that'd remain as a secret, given that he had preferred to switch topics before giving a concise answer. A pity, wasn't it? But it wasn't like the brunette was overly concerned about that. Especially since the gossip about Katherine had managed to catch her attention.

"I'm glad they're doing so well. I'm actually quite fond of them, you know? Helped them with a problem at Whitewater, and we're kinda still in touch." For a second, she quirked an eyebrow at the mention of Jazz's attitude, however. "Worse than you? I'd have to see that with my own eyes. She was probably among the most well-behaved girls I've seen in my life, but who knows. Evolving can change a digimon in a wide array of ways that it doesn't seem super unlikely." Now she was a bit curious about what the Lopmon had done to become like that. Moosemon seemed unlikely, so... something else, maybe?

It was a bit of a pity that the time for harmless teasing had to end as soon as the tremors began, and that everyone had to be on their guard. No guarantees from now on. And... better if they didn't take risks, in all honesty.

What in regards to the seismic movements, though? Apparently, they've cracked the cave's floor, some section eerily glowing with a magenta/pink glow, signaling some kind of path that ended in a smaller cavern. "Wonder if it's smart to follow that lead. I have the reason that's... not just dumb luck, but I don't know what we're gonna find there."

After a sigh, she looked at Kyosuke; for a moment, she remembered an acquaintance she hadn't seen in a long time. "Do you know how to swim, right?" And that's what she was asking something that would've otherwise taken for granted. "Because this might go underwater. I can lend you my EV suit if you wanna." Not like she needed it after evolving, anyway.

After following the tracks, one thing was for certain; for some reason, the cave was getting even darker, maybe even supernaturally so. Despite the lantern's light, it was hard to see more than half a meter or so around. It was a bit... unsettling.

At least until they found a set of double doors, entirely made out of stone. "Well, talk about out of place." Not even their design and construction seemed to match with the cave's. Kinda obvious to guess that was behind. "I guess we gotta open the door. Are you ready? This might get a bit dicey."

Evolving right now would be fitting, but it wasn't necessary. At least not yet.

Well, that was indeed an interesting way to see it. It was true that this world had the ability to be a hard pill to swallow at times; having somebody that could goof around with you for once was probably a good way to disperse a good deal of the ensuing stress. Maybe it was a way to cope, in a sense? As long as Kyosuke didn't mind, she didn't mind about it either.

"Yeah." The brunette agreed, a small shrug following suit. "I'd say that some people take this kind of things all too seriously, you know? Throw a couple of good-natured jokes and they lose their minds. Almost as if you had badmouthed their mothers or something."

Aoi herself was definitely a cinnamon bun! Had she been on her own, Amy would've totally considered adopting the little Otamamon. Alas, she was Kyo's partner, and that was fine; it wasn't like the opportunities to see each other would be few.

"I know, right?" Of course, flattery was something she appreciated. And probably the Otamamon would appreciate further patting! "I've yet to meet anyone as pretty or as smart or as nice or as sweet as me!"

Or humble. Right, Amelie? Bragging aside, guess it was time for a small lesson regarding evolutions? The role of mentor still seemed to be firmly in her hold.

"Yes, it applies to us too." The brunette responded right away. "And maybe even more so than in digimon, since each spirit usually has its own personality traits, desires, and moral values. It's kinda obvious to guess, but it's literally two different beings sharing a body, more or less."

Of course, the usual was for the human's personality to overpower the digimon's, at least at first. But were things ever that easy? As unlikely as it got! "The only way to find out if your personality will change at all on evolution would be, well... it's kinda obvious, ain't it? You gotta evolve to find out. More often than not, there aren't any wild changes in a digimon's personality, however. I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you. After all, evolving is something marvelous for digimons and humans alike. Wouldn't change that feeling for anything in the world."

A conversation that would eventually die down in the face of a signal that equated to... danger. Or maybe it was urgency? Amy herself didn't know, and wasn't too thrilled to find out, but it wasn't like she had any other choice. Advancing seemed like the only option right now.

Were things so bad Kyosuke was willing to evolve? It seemed like it. "About to turn into a good boy, huh? Don't worry; I won't touch if you don't wanna, but I have dog treats in my infini-store. If you do a good job, I might give you some!"

Strabimon. That was an interesting digimon. As interesting as what did next... in a sense. Amelie was a bit weirded out in regards to how Kyosuke had gotten the courage to begin sniffing her, but that was fine, to an extent. "So, basically... you're saying that you like my perfume? That's kinda nice for somebody who can't tell a compliment to save his life, if you ask me."

She giggled, a bit amused at the events that transpired, coupled with Aoi not taking the newly-minted digimon in the best of lights. After all, telling somebody 'you smell bad' isn't the best way to get on their good side!

Opening the door had proven to be an easier task than what it looked, and soon enough the two digimons and the human found themselves in a relatively small chamber. The pink light that had led them to this place was now directly infused to the cavern's walls, giving life and color to a set of symbols that seemed to come from an age forgotten.

Just as expected, neither Amelie nor Strabimon could understand what any of them meant, yet... Aoi could, funnily enough. It was almost as if the meaning of each symbol was obvious to her, like a long-forgotten second language that had been remembered just now.

The Otamamon would discern that the words were scrambled, sentences mixed up to the point some of them had lost their meaning, yet... some seemed to be clear amid that messy chaos.

Awaiting. Biding. Planning.

Her majesty awaits. Regal colors glowing in the deep.

A new generation is nigh. It shall be set free once again.

The clock is about to spin. The herald beckons.

The time is upon us.

One thing was for sure. All along, the sound of something... moving towards them was rather obvious. Crawling, or slithering, maybe? It was nondescript enough.

Amelie couldn't avoid to... laugh, obviously entertained at Kyosuke's tale. "A literal princess, huh?" And the worst part was that it wasn't receding! "From your words alone, I think you're correct on your assessment; that girl definitely sounds like a spoiled brat more than anything. Why would that kind of people even want to do anything with the Digital World? If you ask me, they would do better if they just stayed at home and didn't go out searching for trouble."

Was that too judgmental? Probably, but the brunette was firmly in the camp of 'The Digital World isn't for everyone', and stood by it rather adamantly. "I guess I'm lucky on that regard. Most of the people I've met in this place were pleasant individuals, at the very least. There were some outliers, but those are pretty forgettable."

A simple nod was given at Aoi's words. The change in personality didn't seem to be acute at all. "Sounds about right. Take that the spirits themselves must be kinda calm and reserved. Probably the silent type, too; mine don't talk a lot, in all honesty. Or at least, not in a language I can really interpret correctly."

The time for small talk was over, however. Luckily for them, it seemed like what they had in front of them was some kind of weird text/prophecy thing? The words were a bit unsettling. Weirdly enough, and for some reason... the whole deal sounded a bit familiar? Almost as if she had read them before, or something that felt similar to that.

She wouldn't have nearly enough time to think about that, though! Their 'company' showed up right away. From the narrow creases and crevices alongside the stone room, vine-like tendrils began to enter the room. They were moving slowly, even if their intent was clear; they aimed to reach the two digimon and the human inside. And then? No way to know, but they didn't look like the had anything nice in store.

"Guess it's time to evolve." Amy tried to go through the usual motions in order to spirit evolve, yet... no fractal code circles were swirling around her hand, and her D-Tector proceeded to show a simple message; ERROR.

Cold sweat began to run through the brunette's brow. "Uh... we might have a problem in here. Can you be a good boy and take care of those? I'm not sure what's happening over here." Her tone was bordering panic. It wasn't usual for her to feel powerless, especially for seemingly random reasons. Definitely not a good place to be for her.

This was bad. What was Amy supposed to do in the face of a situation like this one? Her D-Tector had never failed her like this before, and that left her both frustrated and perplexed.

Were these things even supposed to malfunction? That was something she hadn't seen happening ever before, and that could only convince her that something fishy was underway, and that was... probably aimed directly at her digivice? No way for her to know at the moment, but everything was just so weird that she wasn't sure.

Reining herself in the best way she could, Amelie shook her head; Kyo's remark hadn't been all that happy, in all honesty. "I'm gonna figure out a way to make this useless pile of junk work, then try to get us all out of this place. Doubt there's another way to escape that doesn't involve swimming in nigh darkness and the crushing pressure of the sea's depths."

Those two weren't things Amy wanted to experience but exposing those two would make a point very clear; there was no point in escaping if they didn't have anywhere to escape in the long term. Running around wouldn't save any lives.

Rather suddenly, the tentacles/vines sprung to life and swiftly advanced where the two digimon and the humans were located. At first, most of them focused on the Strabimon, even though he was making a rather good work at keeping them at bay.

Was there anything left to do? The brunette felt the pressure of both Kyo's gaze and Aoi's desperation, but her device just... refused to work. Resisting the urge to just smash the device against the nearest wall, Amy decided to focus on her surroundings. Was there anything they could use to their advantage in a situation like this? It seemed genuinely hopeless, at least until her eyes stumbled into a small opening, otherwise hidden among the stones until the vines/tentacles begun their assault.

From her spot inside the Otamamon's bubble, Amelie pointed at it. "Look over there. At your right, there's a-!" Before she could complete the sentence, a sneaky tendril had managed to completely pierce Aoi's bubble and had firmly restrained Amy's ankle. Before the teenager could even react, many more had already taken a firm hold of her other ankle, and one of her wrists, just to... whisk her away.

In less than a second, the only thing left in her place was her D-Tector and the trail that led further into the chamber, now unveiled by the invading vines. For now, it could be said that Kyo would probably have to change his current strategy if he pretended for Amelie to come up with a plan.