Unexpected Avenues [MPC#56A&B]
Nov 28, 2018 8:19:43 GMT
Post by Judah and Agnusmon on Nov 28, 2018 8:19:43 GMT
Post Options: POSTED BY FraterEAO (ie, Judah and Agnusmon) ON NOV 27th, 2018 AT 1:49 AM
(oof)
MPC Name: Unexpected Avenus, a combination of We Remember and Leveling the Field
MPC Number: 56A & 56B.
Reward Requested: Post & Bits (for the combination, if possible).
I started this with the initial goal of just finishing MPC#56B, but I sort of waxed philosophical and nostalgic at a few points before the big fight, so I decided to just push on through and finish both. This is also my first MPC attempt, and its content is a direct follow-up to the scenes going on in a thread I've been working on my own--it's not canon, but it made the most sense since my account is still so fresh. Let me know if I need to adjust anything!
Total Word Count: 3295 (with this section).
* * * * *
"So, what now, buddy?" Judah asked his Digimon partner, Agnusmon. The two were camped around a small fire as dawn was cresting over the rollings hills and plains of the aptly named Mainframe Hills.
Agnusmon stretched his brass colored legs, each ending in a small, cloven hoof. The Rookie Digimon sat up, correcting his posture while Judah continued slouching, his lazy demeanor punctuated every so often by a yawn. Even though Agnusmon was a newly Digivolved Rookie, he still seemed to have a better control and understanding of his (new) body than Judah who, at this point, looked like he was about to pass out yet again. Agnusmon appeared much like a bipedal sheep with brazen skin and deeply golden wool along with two curved, cross-shaped horns jutting out of his head; curiously, he also had a tail that, at the moment, was not in a wagging sort of mood.
"We need to walk off all that food we just ate," the Digimon announced trying in vain to weed out the chastisement from his voice. Judah sighed, then stretched, and eventually stood to his feet. He was a wholly average sixteen year old boy: not too thin, not too thick, with green eyes and shaggy blond hair that had grown a great deal since entering into the Digital World what felt like ages ago.
Standing, Judah surveyed their surroundings. Everything seemed clear: no giant, red-armored insects (or worse) in sight. Near his pack was a white egg striped with deep purple which had only recently learned was something called a "Digi-Tama," or Digi Egg. Apparently, when some Digimon are defeated, the data they're made of may reformat into a more stable form (the Digi-Tama) so that the Digimon may have another chance at life. This particular egg had previously been a Tsukaimon that was fully convinced it was destined to be Judah's partner...so that he could benefit from a human's emotional resonance and Digivolve into his higher stages. Agnusmon only barely won the fight.
Judah picked up the Digi Egg. "So, why don't we just smash this thing again, Aden?" He casually asked Agnusmon.
The sheep Digimon sighed and face-hoofed himself. "Again, we are better than that. The Digital World decided that Tsukaimon should have another chance at life. Who are we to go against the will of the Digital World? Who knows, maybe Tsukaimon might come back as a different Digimon: he might even go on to become a Wargreymon!"
"Or maybe a dark version of you. A black sheep; edgy, right?" Judah shot back, sporting a devilish grin. Beneath the joking veneer, Judah felt a pit in his stomach. Tsukaimon had killed and devoured the data of several Tanemon before Aden put him down. He wanted revenge, but Aden continued to advocate for reform.
"Whatever he becomes, his new life will start in the Village of Beginnings. That's in the Eastern Timberlands, a short ways away from here. We could probably make it there by the afternoon if we hurry."
"Well, since you're my unelected tour guide for the Digital World, who am I to argue about our next destination?" Judah grinned. With that, the two began to break down their campsite, collected the violet Digi-Tama, and set off for the Village of Beginnings.
* * * * *
Judah and Aden traveled over the serene hills and valleys of the Mainframe Hills in relative silence. The sun continued rising to their left as they ventured east to the source of the Timberlands. After several hours of travel, Aden tried to spark up a conversation with his new Tamer: "Hey, Judah. What's your world like? We Digimon know a little bit about humans, mostly that they can come to be our Tamers if our bond is strong enough. We used to call every human 'Digi-Destined' until we started seeing so many of them."
"It's okay," Judah wheezed. After hours of traveling, he realized that he was in dire need for more exercise, but the prospect of actually doing it here, in the danger-filled Digital World, sounded wholly unsettling at the moment. "My family just moved to a place called Japan for work. It's nice, but I don't really belong there. I'm a foreigner there just like I'm a foreigner here." Judah let out a long exhale. Agnusmon strode up to him and held out his hoof like a hand. "What's up, Aden?" Judah asked, confused.
"I'm happy you made it here. We're partners now. Friends, too," Aden smiled. Judah couldn't help but reach down and fist-bump the sheepish creature, then scratched him on top of the head like he had done with his pet dogs in the past; Aden didn't seem to mind.
Once the moment concluded, Aden led them deeper into the Timberwoods only to pause, holding Judah back. "Wait," Agnusmon commanded.
"Sure, but I can still see over your head," Judah added. He peered into a clearing in the woods. It was scorched black, like something had burned a deep, evil fire into the verdant woods. Aden humphed then whispered: "Keep your voice down. There might be a Meramon or some other flame-elemental Digimon around, and it doesn't look pleasant."
But, as Agnusmon relayed the exposition, the two spotted a large pile of blackened char beginning to stir. Then, massive wings of flame slowly unfolded from the thing's central mass revealing a bird-like body wreathed in flames of inky darkness. "Run!" Aden whispered and nearly shoved Judah backwards as the blackened fire-bird rose up into the air.
Tamer and Partner tore through the Timberlands as the horrid bird monster screeched behind them. "What is that thing?!" Judah shouted back behind him. "Saberdramon. It's a black, temperamental Birdramon!" Aden called back. As he did, a tree behind him and Judah burst into sinister violet flames. "Go back around!" Aden called, and the two clipped their way through the Timberlands in an attempt to circumvent the massive, angry Saberdramon. Judah could see it flapping through the trees, its sickly flames licking up at the low-hanging branches and brambles of the woods. It was after them.
"Can't you fight it or something?" Judah shouted, immediately realizing the size difference between his three-foot sheep Digimon and the massive bird of prey looming through the tree line.
"Bad time for a joke, Partner!" Aden shot back. "And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't do much. It's a Champion level, and I'm barely even a Rookie!"
Another tree exploded near by, this time closer to them than the last. It looked like the Saberdramon was flinging burning, black feathers at them as weapons. Judah drifted through the trees, his feeling of being out-of-shape suddenly eclipsed by a flurry of adrenaline. The Tamer fidgeted with his D3 in a vain hope of seeing some super special message like "DIGIVOLUTION" again, or something...anything that could help. Instead, he saw the Digivice's screen seem to glitch, like its frequency was mid-tune. It righted itself, then flashed a message: "DIGITAL ANOMALY DETECTED: ANALYSING." Judah, having no real idea about what any of that meant in the moment, simply stowed the device away and continued barreling through the Timberlands hoping that some bigger, nicer Digimon would come save the day.
Instead, Saberdramon scorched a line of trees ahead of two escaping targets and cut them off at the chase. Where a line of trees stood was now little more than char and ash; Saberdramon hovered in front of Judah and Aden and screeched in victory.
"It's been a good run, buddy," Judah whispered, his gaze fixed on the black harbinger of their untimely demise. It flapped its wings once more and cast a wave of fetid heat over the two, then inhaled as it prepared the attack that would end them.
"Pebble Pepper!" Aden howled; a jagged stone burst loose from the earth below and then flew up at the Saberdramon. It tore through the thing's black wings like they were made of paper. Saberdramon shrieked and bellowed out a blast of black flames and hobbled to the side in the air, its torn wing now useless. "Dodge!" Aden shouted, and Tamer and Partner dodged behind a set of sturdy trees that went up in a puff of black smoke. Agnusmon took little time in hurling another earthen spike at Saberdramon, this time hitting it in the eye. It collapsed onto the ground, and Aden spared no time in ramming it at full speed with its horned-head. The screeching Saberdramon wailed in pain as its apparent match, a Rookie Digimon, continued to batter it until it had no energy left.
Saberdramon lay there, a broken pile of Champion the color of soot, and whimpered: "...how?!" Despite its agony, it was clearly furious. "How could a wretch like you take me down? What is happening to the Digital World?!"
"Maybe next time, you'll pick on someone your own size," Aden growled. In a flurry of black fire and feathers, Saberdramon gathered every last bit of strength into a dark ball of flame...which was then snuffed out when Agnusmon stomped down on it before the attack was spent. Saberdramon's still form began to fade away becoming little more than ash in the wind.
Judah placed a hand on Agnusmon's shoulder. "Thanks, Partner. But, why no Digi Egg this time?"
"The ways of the Digital World are mysterious. I don't know why some of us stay while others go, if I'm being honest. The data may reform as a DigiTama in the Village of Beginnings, or it may be transferred somewhere else."
Judah furled his brow in thought. "Sort of like reincarnation? Some may be reborn, while others may be become one with the world around them?"
"Something like that, yes."
"Well, I'm glad you're around. And look how buff you've gotten, dude!" Judah cheered.
Aden cringed. "There has to be something wrong. There's no way I could have taken something like Saberdramon down by myself, especially after just Digivolving."
"I hate to break it to ya, but it might be related to this," Judah showed Aden his D3, which still showed that some sort of unexplained anomaly was plaguing the Digital World. Aden frowned at the prospect and, in the wake of the defeated Saberdramon, the two made haste toward the Primary Village.
* * * * *
Thankfully, it only took a few, quiet hours for the two to reach the Primary Village. As they crested through the protective wall of trees leading to the village, the atmosphere couldn't have changed more dramatically. The somber, ash-dusted forest was transformed into a bright village full of cheer and over-sized children's toys. If it wasn't for the cheerful Elecmon frantically caring for the even more joyful (if not rambunctious) baby Digimon, Judah would have thought the giant children's daycare aesthetic may have been creepy.
All sorts of small Digimon, little more than barely differentiated blobs, bounded around the place while a sparse few Elecmon watched over them. It took a few minutes to get the attention of one of these Rookie Digimon since the babies were full of energy at the moment. Eventually, it slinked forward and warmly greeted Judah and Aden.
"Welcome to Primary Village, friends. What's your business here? If you are in need of food, then some is being prepared now. If you're in need of rest, there's a cabin beyond the play pen, but good luck getting to sleep with these little monsters screaming and hollering."
Judah unpacked Tsukaimon's DigiTama and presented it toward Elecmon. "I'm sorry to pawn off more work on you, but this is what's left of a Tsukaimon that killed a few of our Tanemon friends."
The Elecmon quickly took the egg and then bowed to Judah and Aden. "I am sorry for your loss. It was right to bring the Egg here. We can make sure that, whatever form it takes after hatching, it has a good upbringing. Can't guarantee what will happen after it reaches the In-Training stage, though, since all Digimon are released back into the world at that point."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Aden added, to which Elecmon gave an exhausted nod of approval.
"Speaking of," Judah interjected. "Was there another DigiEgg that formed here recently? We defeated a Saberdramon earlier today, but it never reformed."
Elecmon gave a look of shock. "Did you have friends helping with that? Either way, we see dozens of DigiTama in the village every day, if not more. It's probably around here, somewhere."
A horde of small, hairy Digimon bounded past Judah, Agnusmon, and Elecmon. Elecmon sighed. "I need to see to that. If you have any more questions, go ask Jijimon or Babamon. They're around here somewhere." With that, Elecmon dashed away toward the escaping babies.
"You know," Aden started, looking nostalgic. "I remember being here not all that long ago. I looked like them, those Yuramon back there."
"Yeah?"
"Except, my body was the same brass color it is right now. I was a Uramon, then became Croziermon before I left the village. I felt like a stranger back then. I wasn't really used to the new body. I mean, it's hard to go from a furry ball to a tiny sheep. The Elecmon did a good job taking care of us, getting us ready for the world, but it's never as easy as they make it seem. You'll always feel like a foreigner when you are new to something."
Judah nodded silently, suddenly remembering his own transition from the U.S. to Japan.
"But, life goes on. You meet new friends; some friends leave, others take their place, but time always moves forward. It gets easier as it passes, though."
"Aden?" Judah started. Agnusmon looked to him calmly. "Do you remember Tsukaimon? Like, before he became Tsukaimon, that is?"
Aden shook his head in the negative. "No, I'm sad to say."
"Sad? Why?"
"Because," Aden started, his eyes now firmly focused on Judah, as if to silently say pay attention. "If I would have known him then, when we were all so young, I might have been able to help him. I could have been his friend, to show him a different path."
Judah chuckled. "You know, for a creature living in a world full of dangerous monsters, you're quite the pacifist."
Aden, again, shook his head in the negative. "No. I will defend those who are innocent, who are wronged and need defending. But, I know that violence doesn't cut to the root of the problem, it just cuts the weeds down low so that the next generation has to worry about it again."
Judah meditated on the words again before grumbling under his breath: "I still think we should have smashed his egg." Aden punched him in the shoulder, and the two sat in silence as the baby Digimon played in their pens without a care in the world, without the burden of knowing who they may become and how they may be shaped to forms they have no desire to take. In that moment, Judah appreciated Aden there, at his side, helping to shape him into a better form, even if it was far more subtle than a flashy Digivolution. Judah was maturing right along side his Partner.
* * * * *
In unison, every baby Digimon in the Village began to cry. They shrieked in terror as the ground began to shake. Boom, boom, boom. A sequence of thunderous crashes against the earth that caused Judah and Aden to look at each other in horror as they realized what the sounds were: footfalls. Something was coming, and it was enormous.
"Get the babies to the caves!" One of the Elecmon shouted. All at once, the Primary Village was in a mad riot. The monstrous footsteps grew closer and closer until the sound was eclipsing the chaos it caused. Judah and Agnusmon tried in vain to corral the bouncing babies, but all grew silent and still when a massive pair of hands rent the nearby trees apart like a thin curtain.
A titanic being loomed over the Primary Village. It looked like an ogre but covered in serrated armor and holding a blade nearly the size of itself. "Fear me, pathetic creatures!" Titamon cackled. "Where is Leomon to save you now?!" It bellowed, and its mere presence seemed to make the village shudder. Elecmon dashed about in every direction trying to gather the terrified babies: they had not planned for something of this caliber.
Judah retrieved his D3 and tried scanning the creature only to see, yet again, the anomalous warning.
"It's...it's a Titamon..." Agnusmon whimpered. Every bit of color seemed to have drained from the Digimon at the sight of the hulking monster.
"Wait, that's it!" Judah cheered. Agnusmon looked to him, his face still as pallid as a ghost. "Don't you get it? The anomaly the Digivice is picking up on: something is causing the Digital World to come out even. Power levels have been leveled off: everything is the same. You were able to take down a Champion, no sweat. We can take this thing, we just need everyone to pitch in." Judah nodded, radiating confidence. Aden contemplated what Judah had said, then turned to a defensive position when the Titamon began sprinting toward the Village with his sword held high.
"Primary Village, listen to me!" Judah announced. "Something is happening in the Digital World. Whatever it is, for however long it will last, every Digimon is on the same level. Agnusmon defeated a Saberdramon earlier without even taking any damage. We can defeat Titamon! Even you baby Digimon, your attacks are stronger than you know. Stand tall!"
Aden stood, exemplifying Judah's confidence. Titamon swooped down and slashed the sheep Digimon without mercy, the force throwing Aden several feet away.
"I will give you points for confidence, kid," Titamon said now towering over Judah who had no Digimon to defend him. "But that was a real stupid speech you just gave. Sorry it had to be your--AH!" Titamon's legs buckled out in front of him; Judah dodged out of the way just in time as Titamon slammed face-first into the ground. Agnusmon huffed beyond, little more than a scratch crossing his chest from the massive sword's slash.
"Attack!" Judah commanded, and wave after wave of bubbles surged toward Titamon. They popped against the monster's green skin dissolving chunks after chunks into raw data. Titamon swatted at the army of baby Digimon, trying in vain to use its ability to conjure up a phantom army to even the field, only to find his limb blown apart by a beam of overpowered bubbles. It howled in rage and confusion until it was completely chipped away. In its wake, a small egg.
A wave of cheers erupted over the Primary Village. Babies and Elecmon alike howled with glee at the strange victory. Judah looked to Aden with pride, then smirked. "Okay, but can we at least smash this one? Pretty please?"
(oof)
MPC Name: Unexpected Avenus, a combination of We Remember and Leveling the Field
MPC Number: 56A & 56B.
Reward Requested: Post & Bits (for the combination, if possible).
I started this with the initial goal of just finishing MPC#56B, but I sort of waxed philosophical and nostalgic at a few points before the big fight, so I decided to just push on through and finish both. This is also my first MPC attempt, and its content is a direct follow-up to the scenes going on in a thread I've been working on my own--it's not canon, but it made the most sense since my account is still so fresh. Let me know if I need to adjust anything!
Total Word Count: 3295 (with this section).
* * * * *
"So, what now, buddy?" Judah asked his Digimon partner, Agnusmon. The two were camped around a small fire as dawn was cresting over the rollings hills and plains of the aptly named Mainframe Hills.
Agnusmon stretched his brass colored legs, each ending in a small, cloven hoof. The Rookie Digimon sat up, correcting his posture while Judah continued slouching, his lazy demeanor punctuated every so often by a yawn. Even though Agnusmon was a newly Digivolved Rookie, he still seemed to have a better control and understanding of his (new) body than Judah who, at this point, looked like he was about to pass out yet again. Agnusmon appeared much like a bipedal sheep with brazen skin and deeply golden wool along with two curved, cross-shaped horns jutting out of his head; curiously, he also had a tail that, at the moment, was not in a wagging sort of mood.
"We need to walk off all that food we just ate," the Digimon announced trying in vain to weed out the chastisement from his voice. Judah sighed, then stretched, and eventually stood to his feet. He was a wholly average sixteen year old boy: not too thin, not too thick, with green eyes and shaggy blond hair that had grown a great deal since entering into the Digital World what felt like ages ago.
Standing, Judah surveyed their surroundings. Everything seemed clear: no giant, red-armored insects (or worse) in sight. Near his pack was a white egg striped with deep purple which had only recently learned was something called a "Digi-Tama," or Digi Egg. Apparently, when some Digimon are defeated, the data they're made of may reformat into a more stable form (the Digi-Tama) so that the Digimon may have another chance at life. This particular egg had previously been a Tsukaimon that was fully convinced it was destined to be Judah's partner...so that he could benefit from a human's emotional resonance and Digivolve into his higher stages. Agnusmon only barely won the fight.
Judah picked up the Digi Egg. "So, why don't we just smash this thing again, Aden?" He casually asked Agnusmon.
The sheep Digimon sighed and face-hoofed himself. "Again, we are better than that. The Digital World decided that Tsukaimon should have another chance at life. Who are we to go against the will of the Digital World? Who knows, maybe Tsukaimon might come back as a different Digimon: he might even go on to become a Wargreymon!"
"Or maybe a dark version of you. A black sheep; edgy, right?" Judah shot back, sporting a devilish grin. Beneath the joking veneer, Judah felt a pit in his stomach. Tsukaimon had killed and devoured the data of several Tanemon before Aden put him down. He wanted revenge, but Aden continued to advocate for reform.
"Whatever he becomes, his new life will start in the Village of Beginnings. That's in the Eastern Timberlands, a short ways away from here. We could probably make it there by the afternoon if we hurry."
"Well, since you're my unelected tour guide for the Digital World, who am I to argue about our next destination?" Judah grinned. With that, the two began to break down their campsite, collected the violet Digi-Tama, and set off for the Village of Beginnings.
* * * * *
Judah and Aden traveled over the serene hills and valleys of the Mainframe Hills in relative silence. The sun continued rising to their left as they ventured east to the source of the Timberlands. After several hours of travel, Aden tried to spark up a conversation with his new Tamer: "Hey, Judah. What's your world like? We Digimon know a little bit about humans, mostly that they can come to be our Tamers if our bond is strong enough. We used to call every human 'Digi-Destined' until we started seeing so many of them."
"It's okay," Judah wheezed. After hours of traveling, he realized that he was in dire need for more exercise, but the prospect of actually doing it here, in the danger-filled Digital World, sounded wholly unsettling at the moment. "My family just moved to a place called Japan for work. It's nice, but I don't really belong there. I'm a foreigner there just like I'm a foreigner here." Judah let out a long exhale. Agnusmon strode up to him and held out his hoof like a hand. "What's up, Aden?" Judah asked, confused.
"I'm happy you made it here. We're partners now. Friends, too," Aden smiled. Judah couldn't help but reach down and fist-bump the sheepish creature, then scratched him on top of the head like he had done with his pet dogs in the past; Aden didn't seem to mind.
Once the moment concluded, Aden led them deeper into the Timberwoods only to pause, holding Judah back. "Wait," Agnusmon commanded.
"Sure, but I can still see over your head," Judah added. He peered into a clearing in the woods. It was scorched black, like something had burned a deep, evil fire into the verdant woods. Aden humphed then whispered: "Keep your voice down. There might be a Meramon or some other flame-elemental Digimon around, and it doesn't look pleasant."
But, as Agnusmon relayed the exposition, the two spotted a large pile of blackened char beginning to stir. Then, massive wings of flame slowly unfolded from the thing's central mass revealing a bird-like body wreathed in flames of inky darkness. "Run!" Aden whispered and nearly shoved Judah backwards as the blackened fire-bird rose up into the air.
Tamer and Partner tore through the Timberlands as the horrid bird monster screeched behind them. "What is that thing?!" Judah shouted back behind him. "Saberdramon. It's a black, temperamental Birdramon!" Aden called back. As he did, a tree behind him and Judah burst into sinister violet flames. "Go back around!" Aden called, and the two clipped their way through the Timberlands in an attempt to circumvent the massive, angry Saberdramon. Judah could see it flapping through the trees, its sickly flames licking up at the low-hanging branches and brambles of the woods. It was after them.
"Can't you fight it or something?" Judah shouted, immediately realizing the size difference between his three-foot sheep Digimon and the massive bird of prey looming through the tree line.
"Bad time for a joke, Partner!" Aden shot back. "And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't do much. It's a Champion level, and I'm barely even a Rookie!"
Another tree exploded near by, this time closer to them than the last. It looked like the Saberdramon was flinging burning, black feathers at them as weapons. Judah drifted through the trees, his feeling of being out-of-shape suddenly eclipsed by a flurry of adrenaline. The Tamer fidgeted with his D3 in a vain hope of seeing some super special message like "DIGIVOLUTION" again, or something...anything that could help. Instead, he saw the Digivice's screen seem to glitch, like its frequency was mid-tune. It righted itself, then flashed a message: "DIGITAL ANOMALY DETECTED: ANALYSING." Judah, having no real idea about what any of that meant in the moment, simply stowed the device away and continued barreling through the Timberlands hoping that some bigger, nicer Digimon would come save the day.
Instead, Saberdramon scorched a line of trees ahead of two escaping targets and cut them off at the chase. Where a line of trees stood was now little more than char and ash; Saberdramon hovered in front of Judah and Aden and screeched in victory.
"It's been a good run, buddy," Judah whispered, his gaze fixed on the black harbinger of their untimely demise. It flapped its wings once more and cast a wave of fetid heat over the two, then inhaled as it prepared the attack that would end them.
"Pebble Pepper!" Aden howled; a jagged stone burst loose from the earth below and then flew up at the Saberdramon. It tore through the thing's black wings like they were made of paper. Saberdramon shrieked and bellowed out a blast of black flames and hobbled to the side in the air, its torn wing now useless. "Dodge!" Aden shouted, and Tamer and Partner dodged behind a set of sturdy trees that went up in a puff of black smoke. Agnusmon took little time in hurling another earthen spike at Saberdramon, this time hitting it in the eye. It collapsed onto the ground, and Aden spared no time in ramming it at full speed with its horned-head. The screeching Saberdramon wailed in pain as its apparent match, a Rookie Digimon, continued to batter it until it had no energy left.
Saberdramon lay there, a broken pile of Champion the color of soot, and whimpered: "...how?!" Despite its agony, it was clearly furious. "How could a wretch like you take me down? What is happening to the Digital World?!"
"Maybe next time, you'll pick on someone your own size," Aden growled. In a flurry of black fire and feathers, Saberdramon gathered every last bit of strength into a dark ball of flame...which was then snuffed out when Agnusmon stomped down on it before the attack was spent. Saberdramon's still form began to fade away becoming little more than ash in the wind.
Judah placed a hand on Agnusmon's shoulder. "Thanks, Partner. But, why no Digi Egg this time?"
"The ways of the Digital World are mysterious. I don't know why some of us stay while others go, if I'm being honest. The data may reform as a DigiTama in the Village of Beginnings, or it may be transferred somewhere else."
Judah furled his brow in thought. "Sort of like reincarnation? Some may be reborn, while others may be become one with the world around them?"
"Something like that, yes."
"Well, I'm glad you're around. And look how buff you've gotten, dude!" Judah cheered.
Aden cringed. "There has to be something wrong. There's no way I could have taken something like Saberdramon down by myself, especially after just Digivolving."
"I hate to break it to ya, but it might be related to this," Judah showed Aden his D3, which still showed that some sort of unexplained anomaly was plaguing the Digital World. Aden frowned at the prospect and, in the wake of the defeated Saberdramon, the two made haste toward the Primary Village.
* * * * *
Thankfully, it only took a few, quiet hours for the two to reach the Primary Village. As they crested through the protective wall of trees leading to the village, the atmosphere couldn't have changed more dramatically. The somber, ash-dusted forest was transformed into a bright village full of cheer and over-sized children's toys. If it wasn't for the cheerful Elecmon frantically caring for the even more joyful (if not rambunctious) baby Digimon, Judah would have thought the giant children's daycare aesthetic may have been creepy.
All sorts of small Digimon, little more than barely differentiated blobs, bounded around the place while a sparse few Elecmon watched over them. It took a few minutes to get the attention of one of these Rookie Digimon since the babies were full of energy at the moment. Eventually, it slinked forward and warmly greeted Judah and Aden.
"Welcome to Primary Village, friends. What's your business here? If you are in need of food, then some is being prepared now. If you're in need of rest, there's a cabin beyond the play pen, but good luck getting to sleep with these little monsters screaming and hollering."
Judah unpacked Tsukaimon's DigiTama and presented it toward Elecmon. "I'm sorry to pawn off more work on you, but this is what's left of a Tsukaimon that killed a few of our Tanemon friends."
The Elecmon quickly took the egg and then bowed to Judah and Aden. "I am sorry for your loss. It was right to bring the Egg here. We can make sure that, whatever form it takes after hatching, it has a good upbringing. Can't guarantee what will happen after it reaches the In-Training stage, though, since all Digimon are released back into the world at that point."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Aden added, to which Elecmon gave an exhausted nod of approval.
"Speaking of," Judah interjected. "Was there another DigiEgg that formed here recently? We defeated a Saberdramon earlier today, but it never reformed."
Elecmon gave a look of shock. "Did you have friends helping with that? Either way, we see dozens of DigiTama in the village every day, if not more. It's probably around here, somewhere."
A horde of small, hairy Digimon bounded past Judah, Agnusmon, and Elecmon. Elecmon sighed. "I need to see to that. If you have any more questions, go ask Jijimon or Babamon. They're around here somewhere." With that, Elecmon dashed away toward the escaping babies.
"You know," Aden started, looking nostalgic. "I remember being here not all that long ago. I looked like them, those Yuramon back there."
"Yeah?"
"Except, my body was the same brass color it is right now. I was a Uramon, then became Croziermon before I left the village. I felt like a stranger back then. I wasn't really used to the new body. I mean, it's hard to go from a furry ball to a tiny sheep. The Elecmon did a good job taking care of us, getting us ready for the world, but it's never as easy as they make it seem. You'll always feel like a foreigner when you are new to something."
Judah nodded silently, suddenly remembering his own transition from the U.S. to Japan.
"But, life goes on. You meet new friends; some friends leave, others take their place, but time always moves forward. It gets easier as it passes, though."
"Aden?" Judah started. Agnusmon looked to him calmly. "Do you remember Tsukaimon? Like, before he became Tsukaimon, that is?"
Aden shook his head in the negative. "No, I'm sad to say."
"Sad? Why?"
"Because," Aden started, his eyes now firmly focused on Judah, as if to silently say pay attention. "If I would have known him then, when we were all so young, I might have been able to help him. I could have been his friend, to show him a different path."
Judah chuckled. "You know, for a creature living in a world full of dangerous monsters, you're quite the pacifist."
Aden, again, shook his head in the negative. "No. I will defend those who are innocent, who are wronged and need defending. But, I know that violence doesn't cut to the root of the problem, it just cuts the weeds down low so that the next generation has to worry about it again."
Judah meditated on the words again before grumbling under his breath: "I still think we should have smashed his egg." Aden punched him in the shoulder, and the two sat in silence as the baby Digimon played in their pens without a care in the world, without the burden of knowing who they may become and how they may be shaped to forms they have no desire to take. In that moment, Judah appreciated Aden there, at his side, helping to shape him into a better form, even if it was far more subtle than a flashy Digivolution. Judah was maturing right along side his Partner.
* * * * *
In unison, every baby Digimon in the Village began to cry. They shrieked in terror as the ground began to shake. Boom, boom, boom. A sequence of thunderous crashes against the earth that caused Judah and Aden to look at each other in horror as they realized what the sounds were: footfalls. Something was coming, and it was enormous.
"Get the babies to the caves!" One of the Elecmon shouted. All at once, the Primary Village was in a mad riot. The monstrous footsteps grew closer and closer until the sound was eclipsing the chaos it caused. Judah and Agnusmon tried in vain to corral the bouncing babies, but all grew silent and still when a massive pair of hands rent the nearby trees apart like a thin curtain.
A titanic being loomed over the Primary Village. It looked like an ogre but covered in serrated armor and holding a blade nearly the size of itself. "Fear me, pathetic creatures!" Titamon cackled. "Where is Leomon to save you now?!" It bellowed, and its mere presence seemed to make the village shudder. Elecmon dashed about in every direction trying to gather the terrified babies: they had not planned for something of this caliber.
Judah retrieved his D3 and tried scanning the creature only to see, yet again, the anomalous warning.
"It's...it's a Titamon..." Agnusmon whimpered. Every bit of color seemed to have drained from the Digimon at the sight of the hulking monster.
"Wait, that's it!" Judah cheered. Agnusmon looked to him, his face still as pallid as a ghost. "Don't you get it? The anomaly the Digivice is picking up on: something is causing the Digital World to come out even. Power levels have been leveled off: everything is the same. You were able to take down a Champion, no sweat. We can take this thing, we just need everyone to pitch in." Judah nodded, radiating confidence. Aden contemplated what Judah had said, then turned to a defensive position when the Titamon began sprinting toward the Village with his sword held high.
"Primary Village, listen to me!" Judah announced. "Something is happening in the Digital World. Whatever it is, for however long it will last, every Digimon is on the same level. Agnusmon defeated a Saberdramon earlier without even taking any damage. We can defeat Titamon! Even you baby Digimon, your attacks are stronger than you know. Stand tall!"
Aden stood, exemplifying Judah's confidence. Titamon swooped down and slashed the sheep Digimon without mercy, the force throwing Aden several feet away.
"I will give you points for confidence, kid," Titamon said now towering over Judah who had no Digimon to defend him. "But that was a real stupid speech you just gave. Sorry it had to be your--AH!" Titamon's legs buckled out in front of him; Judah dodged out of the way just in time as Titamon slammed face-first into the ground. Agnusmon huffed beyond, little more than a scratch crossing his chest from the massive sword's slash.
"Attack!" Judah commanded, and wave after wave of bubbles surged toward Titamon. They popped against the monster's green skin dissolving chunks after chunks into raw data. Titamon swatted at the army of baby Digimon, trying in vain to use its ability to conjure up a phantom army to even the field, only to find his limb blown apart by a beam of overpowered bubbles. It howled in rage and confusion until it was completely chipped away. In its wake, a small egg.
A wave of cheers erupted over the Primary Village. Babies and Elecmon alike howled with glee at the strange victory. Judah looked to Aden with pride, then smirked. "Okay, but can we at least smash this one? Pretty please?"
