Skip Navigation
|
Post by Ravenna on Oct 15, 2022 7:47:49 GMT
"Darkness. Does it even exist? Is it just the mere absence of light? Can something exist if you take everything away?"
A once proud shrine that has fallen to ruin remains silent. The plants have reclaimed the long-forgotten earth. No one dare even visit this shrine, as some say it would bring bad luck. Only the once diligent shrine maiden treads here, her dark hair grown long and her face pale and greasy.
"Kiyoko am I. This is my home. This is my cell. Long gone are the days when I would vigorously defend the city from ravenous beasts. Nay, no matter how hard I try, I am not good enough. Alas, the city is a sacred gem to be defended from the taint of evil."
The woman wonders around the desolate shrine talking out loud as if someone was there. Her traditional priestess robes slowly withering away with rips and tears. Kiyoko builds a small pyre in the courtyard as part of a ritual.
"Great spirits, the city needs a savior. Where have all the good men gone? I beseech thee, reveal the sentinel!"
Kiyoko waves her hands in the air dramatically before casually leaning down and attempting to light the pyre with a basic lighter. In spite of her best effort, she cannot get it to light.
"Well, this sucks. All that effort for nothing."
Kiyoko kicks over the pyre and shuffles back inside. She plops down on the couch and turns on the TV. She tries to stream some anime, but it keeps freezing during the ads, so she flips through several sites and videos before stumbling upon a track meet.
"Welcome back to the All-Regional Track Finals, and this has sure been a meet to remember. Both teams are stacked with dedicated young athletes who have left it all out there today. We are approaching the last event, but much like the weather, things have taken a dark turn for the home team. Shibuya's star hi jumper went down with an injury earlier, and they don't have anyone with the same numbers as the star of the other team, Miss young Cambria down there.
The track field is surrounded on both wide sides by large bleachers. Even with some rain and cold, the crowd has been hyped for the finals. A woman with blonder hair pulled back in a ponytail wearing a blue and gold track uniform with shorts and a tank top walks out on the field. The crowd roars with both cheers and boos as she confidently struts out and does a playful wave to the opposing team's side.
The bar is set at a great height. Even a highly trained expert would have difficultly clearing the bar on their first try. The young woman takes off towards the bar, running, pivoting, and jumping all in perfect motion. Cambria just barely makes it over the bar and lands hard on the crash pad, tumbling upside down and back to her feet. The crowd goes wild with gasps and cheers. Cambria waves and smiles confidently and sinisterly.
"Oh gee wow! What an amazing jump! Cambria just tied the record for her division. It's been years since anyone has cleared a bar that high in this league. We'll see who Shibuya chooses to send out now to try and compete with that.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Oct 23, 2022 22:40:44 GMT
A dark cloud had fallen over the home Shibuya crowd. Whispers and murmurs circle around the place as the fans anticipate who is going to attempt the jump. Thunder roars off in the distance as the rain continues to weakly drizzle. With all eyes on the walkway to Shibuya's locker room, the band starts playing with the drummers starting a slow beat that quickly builds up in speed. Even the athletes are confused as to what's happening. Cambria smiles confidently, playfully shoving her teammates and mocking the crowd by rubbing her eyes as though they are crying.
"Shibuya still has not designated a jumper. The coaches are taking with the officials. This could be a stalling tactic to wait out the rain."
At last, a Shibuya track athlete walks out from the locker room. She is a young woman with black and violet hair, wearing a white and purple track uniform with a tank top and shorts with stripes on the sides. Her right knee is heavily wrapped in medical tape and covered by a brace. She confidently walks down the walkway, pumping her fist to the beat of the drums. The home crowd roars with cheers and starts stomping and clapping to the music.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing. Ravenna Karasu is going to compete after suffering a gruesome injury during a warmup jump today. Legs are definitely not supposed to bend that way."
Cambria can't believe her eyes when she sees Ravenna walk out. The two rivals lock eyes from a distance. At first, Cambria appears concerned, but then she waves off Ravenna and laughs, mocking her leg injury. Ravenna heads over to the starting line, appearing focused. She reaches her hand out towards the bar and signals for her teammates to raise the bar.
"What a shocker! She's actually calling for them to raise the bar. It might be because she's only got one jump in her and wants to challenge Cambria head on."
Ravenna looks at her friends in the crowd, then to her team on the sideline. She feels her heart racing and takes a few deep breaths. Her knee feels really loose and needs to focus on not losing her balance. Ravenna places her foot back and leans forward, preparing to jump. She takes off sprinting towards the bar, running on a curve. If she stumbles even once because of her knee, it could cost her crucial speed.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Oct 25, 2022 0:05:17 GMT
It was almost peaceful running towards the bar. The worries of the world seemed to fade away. Right now, there was only the matter of getting her body going as fast and high as she could. As Ravenna approaches the bar, she turns and leaps up. Ravenna feels lighter than before, as if her body is being propelled at a greater force than her usual jump. Ravenna arches back and over the bar. She can see it for a split second as she tumbles over.
As Ravenna is clearing the jump, she can feel her tank top brush against the bar. This is higher than she has ever cleared before, or even attempted. Worried she will bump the bar, she arches even more and flings her feet up. The bar vigorously spins in place as Ravenna comes crashing down into the crash pad and tumbles back, agitating her knee as her feet find the ground. Ravenna looks up and sees that the bar is still there. The crowd explodes with thunderous applause. Cambria can barely believe it.
"Ravenna has cleared the jump! The young Shibuya athlete has just set the record in her division. It doesn't get any higher than that without an elevator or a plane ticket."
The visiting team appears concerned. Cambria nervously approaches the starting line, lacking her confidence from before. Sure enough, Cambria attempts the jump, but knocks the bar off and fails spectacularly. The home crowd relishes in Cambria's defeat and Ravenna's triumph. Ravenna turns to her friends on the sideline and smiles and waves.
The young athlete from Shibuya stands front and center as she is rewarded a gold medal, all while Cambria stands next to her with the silver medal, scowling at Ravenna. Having reached new heights in track than ever before, Ravenna is overwhelmed with joy and relief. She raises her hands high in victory as the crowd celebrates. While this is a major victory for the young woman, track is only part of her life, and what sort of challenges await her in the next chapter of life?
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Oct 30, 2022 22:48:21 GMT
Two weeks later, Ravenna is visiting her friend Akil. She is at Akil's hotel room playing video games with Akil and his Digimon partner, Hagurumon. Ravenna is wearing a black tracksuit with purple stripes, and her hair is slightly messy and surprisingly bouncy. Akil is wearing small frame glasses, cargo shorts, a black and yellow shirt with an Anubis head logo, and a Shibuya college cap. They are playing a game where they capture spirits in feudal Japan.
"Time to die, demon!" Ravenna's spellcaster character casts a massive wave of electricity, knocking back several foes. Akil's dual wielder flies in and starts a lengthy combo, striking at the stunned foes. Hagurumon's monk recites a chant that absorbs the toughest spirit. Akil pumps his fist in celebration.
"Holy cow, Ray. That was sweet!" "It was. This game is great. I can't believe how good Hagurumon is." "Ya, we've been playing a lot lately, now that classes are finished." "This hotel room is nice. It's cool your father lets you stay here." "I know, right? He said I can stay in Japan as long as I'm taking classes. Even though I finished my degree, I'm going to take a few more classes."
The group reaches a base camp in the game and they take a break. Akil gets up and walks to the mini kitchen to brew a pot of tea.
"How is your father doing?" "He's great, he just made a cool find back in Egypt last week. What are you going to do now that you've graduated?"
"Well, I got a degree in Psychology, but I don't wanna sit around listening to people's problems. I have to move out of my dorm soon, and I don't have much money. Even if I turn pro, the track season won't start for a few more months. I've been studying and training so long, I just want to enjoy myself for a while, see the world, not have to worry about things."
Akil stirs the tea and hands Ravenna a glass. Ravenna smiles and thanks her friend.
"That makes sense. Maybe you could get a job in the city. If I could work, I'd apply at that arcade." "I will have to figure something out. I'm going to stay with a friend from track for a while, Kaz. She's picking me up later and we're going to the bar." "Ooh, a girls night out? I have been wanting to check out that bowling arcade close by. Wanna go tomorrow?" "That sounds awesome! I'm sure Kaz would love to go, too."
Ravenna takes a small sip of tea and relaxes. She can feel the warm steam rising to her nose. Hagurumon spins his gears and whistles happily, enjoying hanging out.
"Well, if you are going out, be sure to stay careful, Ray. Hagurumon and I have noticed an increase in Digimon data sightings popping up. What's weird is they don't seem to last long, so maybe someone is taking care of it." "That's weird. I haven't checked my D-tector much lately. For some reason, ever since that last jump, I haven't been able to Spirit Evolve." "That jump was spectacular! Even with an injured leg, you set the record. Cambria was furious!" "Thanks, Akil. I'm glad you were there."
Chilling with Akil was always a good time.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 6, 2022 0:55:18 GMT
Ravenna continues to play games with Akil and Hagurumon. Eventually, there is a knock on the door. Hagurumon goes up to a storage device for Digimon Akil has been working on and the Rookie Digimon is downloaded to avoid detection from Ravenna's friend who does not know about Digimon. Ravenna and Akil answer the door. Outside is a tall young woman with black and green hair, wearing a black leather jacket and black shorts held together on the side by bobby pins. Her hair is brushed to one side in the front with a high ponytail in the back. She is leaning against the doorframe with a sucker hanging from her mouth.
"Wassup, Ray?" "Hey, Kaz. This is my friend Akil." "Pleased to meet you. I remember you from track the other week. I saw you thrust a large spherical object a great distance!" "Uh, ya, that's one way to put it. I'm a shot putter." "We were thinking about going bowling tomorrow and I was wondering if you wanted to join us." "Oh hell ya! Come on, I'll show you my motorcycle."
The three of them go down to the parking lot. Akil and Ravenna are intrigued by Kaz's cool motorcycle.
"Whoah! Sweet ride." "Thanks. Nice to meet you, little dude. Catch you tomorrow for bowling. Come on, Ray."
Ravenna leans down to give Akil a hug. Kaz hands Ravenna a spare helmet and they put their helmets on. Kaz swings one long leg over the bike and takes a seat. Ravenna sits down behind her. Kaz revs the engine and the duo take off to the bar. Along the way, some jerk cuts them off, and Kaz is not happy. She yells and shakes her fist. Finally they reach the bar.
"Seems like there are more jerks out there than before. Come on, let's go inside."
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 7, 2022 7:11:12 GMT
Kaz opens the heavy wooden door, and the two young women enter the bar. There is the bar area, plenty of tables, pool tables, and lots of games like darts and arcade machines. There are dozens of TV screens all over with different sporting events playing. Kaz is amped up and smiling ear to ear. The duo take a seat near the bar area and start looking through the menus.
"Are you in a whiskey, or vodka mood?" "Um, I don't really feel like drinking tonight." "Well how about we go outside for a cigarette?" "Oh, I don't smoke." "Then why did we come to a bar? Come on, let's party!" "Fine, I'll have a couple drinks, but remember, you are driving." "Don't worry, I'll limit myself to two drinks, then give myself plenty of time to sober up before we leave."
The girls order some tropical drinks with a plate of nachos and a big basket of fries. Kaz grabs a handful of fries, then dips then into the nachos before stuffing the nacho fries into her mouth. Ravenna notices her friend's bad table manners but doesn't say anything. After eating, they play some games and dance on the dance floor. Ravenna beats Kaz at pool, but Kaz wins when they play darts. They are laughing and having a great time. While they are hanging out, Kaz notices they are showing the track meet on one of the screens.
"Look, there's Ravenna on the screen! There's when you hit that jump. Awesome."
Later on in the night, two young men walk up to the duo. They are wearing red sports jerseys for a local baseball team and have messy dark hair. The taller of the two looks at Ravenna with a cocky grin.
"Hey there, interested in having a good time?" "I was until just now." "Is this pest bothering you? I can handle this." "Easy there, big boy. What, are you her boyfriend, or something?" "I'm all woman, just like you. Except my balls are bigger."
The shorter young man laughs and says, "Ooooh, she is calling you out, man."
"Listen here, Shrek, I am more man than you can handle. My name is T-Bone, and I got the moves that make cute goth chicks go wild." "If this guy keeps talking, I'm going to throw up."
Kaz gets up in T-Bone's face.
"Well if you are such a stud, then you'll have no problem beating me in arm wrestling." "Ahaha. As if I'd lose to a girl. Even one as freakishly tall and hairy as you." "Oh, I'm going to tear your tricep in two, T-Bag."
This wasn't what Ravenna expected, but now they had to deal with these big shots. Hopefully they would leave Ravenna and Kaz alone soon and the two of them could go back to having a good time.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 9, 2022 3:18:23 GMT
Kaz and T-Bone take a seat at a table, and they lock hands for arm wrestling. This spectacle catches the attention of a few patrons. Ravenna watches as her friend arm wrestles some jerk from the bar. This wasn't exactly what Ravenna expected, but hanging with someone as wild as Kaz could be unpredictable. At first, Kaz takes a slight lead, then T-Bone gains the edge. Kaz doesn't appear worried. Suddenly, she slowly starts to win.
It looks like Kaz is going to defeat T-Bone. The young man digs in and tries desperately to beat Kaz. T-Bone's friend takes a glass of beer and splashes the beer in Kaz's face. Kaz loses focus and T-Bone slams her arm down for the win. T-Bone and his friend celebrate and high five. Ravenna and Kaz are pissed off.
"Cheaters! You piles of scum." "What the hell do you think you are doing? You're acting like animals." "Get out of my face, freak."
T-Bone shoves Ravenna back. She trips into a chair and her injured knee goes out, causing her to fall to the floor. Kaz rushes down to help Ravenna up. Kaz grinds her teeth and tightens her fists.
"Don't hurt her, you creep!"
Kaz decks T-Bone in the face with a right hook. He hunches over, Kaz grabs the back of his head and drives her knee right into the front of his skull. T-Bone drops to the floor as blood bursts out of his forehead. Ravenna can barely notice her D-tector going off but doesn't have time to check it. T-Bone's friend and some of the bar patrons gather around, like they are going to fight.
*Screams in agony* "Get those tramps!" "We have to get out of here!"
Kaz wants to stay and fight, but she knows Ravenna is hurt, and she can't fight them all. Kaz wraps an arm around Ravenna, and the two rush towards the door. Some of the rowdy guests try to cut off their escape, but Kaz flips a table over towards them and darts the other way. The two young women make it to the exit, Kaz kicks the door open, and they bolt to Kaz's motorcycle. Kaz and Ravenna make their getaway and drive off, heading to Kaz's place.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 14, 2022 4:30:11 GMT
Kaz drives back to her place. They are in a sketchy part of the town. Kaz parks next to a dim apartment building. The two walk around the corner and head down a damp flight of stairs. Water is leaking from above, dripping down slowly but consistently. Kaz scrolls through her keychain to find the house key and unlocks a door that reads "Caution, Electrical room".
"Don't worry about the sign. This room has been repurposed. Plus it keeps sales people away."
Inside is a large couch that is saggy and looks like it is falling to pieces. There's a big screen TV, a small kitchen area, a small mattress on the floor, and a coffee table covered with bottles and garbage. There is laundry everywhere.
"Well, at least it is cozy." "This little rat hole is a pile of filth, but it's cheap as all. I got kicked from the dorms for making too much noise, and couldn't afford anything else."
Kaz grabs a coffee pot from the sink. She rinses it out, fills it up, and starts making coffee.
"Coffee, at this time?" "Ya, I like to brew a pot in the evening. Keeps me warm." "This place is a little cramped. I'm not sure if it's suitable for two people to live here." "You don't have to say it. I know it's a hellhole. Maybe we can find a place together that we can afford."
Kaz lays back on the couch and relaxes, lighting up a cigarette. The coffee is slowly starting to brew. Ravenna sits down next to Kaz.
"You wanna binge watch mystery shows?" "Hell ya, that sounds fun."
The two track athletes kick back and relax watching TV snuggled up in blankets, enjoying coffee and a bunch of junk food. Kaz pulls out a sack of candy and dumps it on the table. She grabs a few bottles and tosses them into a bin in the kitchen. They have fun for a few hours, but eventually get tired. Time slips away from them as they stay up late.
*Yawns* "What time is it?" "Holy cow, it's almost morning already."
The two finally decide to go to bed, with Ravenna sleeping on the couch. As Ravenna is laying there, she thinks about what happened at the bar. Why was her D-tector going off? She wishes she could tell Kaz about Digimon. Ravenna wonders what Kaz would think if she knew she could Spirit Evolve and fly. Though Ravenna still hasn't Spirit Evolved since her injury. Ravenna hopes her knee will be better soon.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 16, 2022 9:33:05 GMT
The next day, Ravenna and Kaz wake up late, having slept past noon. They get ready and Kaz drives them to the bowling alley, stopping by Ravenna's dorm on the way for a shower and a change of clothes. They meet with Akil outside. Ravenna is wearing a grey shirt, black skirt, black track jacket with gold stripes, black and gold tennis shoes, and black and white knee-high socks. Kaz is wearing a black denim vest, a white tank top with a red anarchy logo, black shorts, and a dark green headband. Akil is wearing A yellow and grey sweater vest with shorts.
They check in to get a lane and some rental shoes. Ravenna picks out a maroon bowling ball, and Akil grabs an orange ball. Kaz brought a bowling ball with a large skull. They change into the multicolored clown shoes and leave their shoes under their seats. Akil starts, knocking down seven pins his first throw. Three remain in a row on the right side. Akil adjusts his aim and picks up a spare.
Kaz gets a strike on her first try, throwing it at a far greater speed than Akil. Ravenna is not so lucky, knocking down 6 and leaving 2 on each side. She aims at two pins on the left and rolls, knocking over the two on the left and sending one of them into one of the pins on the right, but one pin still remains. Akil gets another spare next. Kaz gets a gutter ball on the second frame, just barely missing the pin on the far left.
Akil would get mostly spares. Kaz had the most strikes, but also some misses. Ravenna had mostly spares, but less than Akil. Kaz finishes first, Akil second, and Ravenna third the first game. They order some fish and chips and get some sodas. They relax and eat while waiting for their turn to throw. Kaz gets up and knocks down 8 pins, leaving a split.
"Ah, damn! I hate these splits."
Kaz gets up to retrieve her ball, however she doesn't see it. She waits until a ball comes out of the retriever. She tries to find the finger holes, but this ball is smooth. She notices this is not her bowling ball, but rather some large, odd egg.
"This isn't my ball. It doesn't even have any finger holes. What is this thing?"
Ravenna and Akil look at the egg, then look at each other in shock. Could this be a Digi egg? What was it doing here? Perhaps Kaz was destined to be a Tamer.
"Um, Kaz? This is going to be difficult to explain. I think that is a Digi egg." "A Digi wha? Can I eat it?"
Trying to explain how monsters are real, how difficult could it be? There was a lot of ground to cover.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 18, 2022 2:57:07 GMT
Ravenna looks around to make sure no one will overhear them.
"Okay, so, monsters are real. Seriously. There are these creatures made of data called Digital Monsters, or Digimon." Kaz looks at Ravenna like she has balloon animals coming out of her nose. She turns to Akil and points at Ravenna.
"Did she get hit on the head when I wasn't looking or something? Or are you winding me up?" "Oh, no no. It sounds preposterous, but Ray is correct. Humans with a Digimon partner are called Tamers. Digimon come from the Digital World, which is where I met Ray."
Kaz scratches her head in confusion and tilts her head to the side. It is clear to Ravenna and Akil that this was a lot of information to process.
"That egg in your hand is called a Digi Egg. When it hatches, a baby Digimon will appear. We won't know when it hatches, so we can go back to finishing the game." "Alright. I'll use this extra ball for now, but I better get my kickass skull bowling ball back."
The trio finishes another game of bowling and starts getting ready to leave. Kaz takes off her rental shoes and reaches into her shoes to retrieve her wallet, but she feels something else. Kaz pulls a green and black Digivice out of her shoe.
"Well, that confirms it. Congratulations, you are a Tamer."
Ravenna and Akil take out their Digivices to show Kaz.
"Hmm, mine looks like Akil's, but why does Ray's look different?" "I'm what we call a Spirit User. Instead of having a Digimon partner like Tamers, I can become a Digimon." "So wait, are you saying that you turn into a monster? What kind?" "Let's just say that I shed a lot of feathers." "This is exciting, a new Tamer. Hey, do you have anything else going on? Why don't we spend the day together?" "I don't have anything else going on, sure." "Ya, I'm game. You can explain more about this Digi monster stuff." "Awesome! I'm going to check out this abandoned shrine today. My dad says he'll buy it if the price is low."
The gang decides to continue hanging out together and visit a local shrine. Kaz is confused by these revelations. What kind of monster is inside her egg? Ravenna remembers when she first became a Spirit User. Luckily, she had somebody experienced to show her the ropes. Someone intelligent, dedicated, and powerful. However, that individual is none of those things right now.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 23, 2022 9:22:05 GMT
Excited about the reveal that Kaz is a Tamer, the trio heads to check out an abandoned shrine. They head to the parking lot and Akil leads him to a small red foreign truck. Kaz chuckles at the size of the vehicle.
"Bahaha! That thing is so tiny." "Affirmative. It might not be as stylish as your motorcycle, but it's safe, and efficient." "Safe? If another car hits you, you'll be a fly on the windshield. Not that I can judge when my ride is even more dangerous." "I think it's cute, Akil."
Akil gets inside his little truck, and the ladies get on the motorcycle. Kaz follows Akil through the city. Ravenna recognizes this area. They reach a striking patch of forest that is juxtaposed by all the developed buildings nearby. The trio park in a small dirt half circle in front of a small path between the overgrown branches.
"Whoah, check it out. This place is most certainly abandoned. Dad can get a great deal on this place." "I think I recognize this place. It used to be so beautiful."
The trio walk down an unkempt path, littered with garbage and bottles scattered about the tall weeds. The place gives off creepy vibes. Not a sound could be heard but their footsteps. They reach a small river off to the side with a bend in the path ahead. However, the trail had been improperly maintained, and the path is obstructed by a large rock pile and a stagnant pond.
The three would have to scale the smooth stones uphill. Kaz, with her Digiegg in her bowling bag, has little difficulty striding up the rocks with her long legs. Ravenna would carefully navigate along the stones using her hands and feet, being very careful of her knee injury. Akil struggles a bit to keep up with the girls and makes it across while growing fatigued. They reach an open area in the forest and see the gate of the shrine ahead. Past the gate is several feudal style buildings and a few shrines to gods and goddesses. Vines crawl their way up the structures.
"This place is desolate enough to be a death metal album cover." "I wonder what happened to the owners. Should we check inside, or is the proper procedure to pay tribute?" "I think the spirits would appreciate a little landscaping rather than some sweet cha-ching."
The trio open the doors to the center building and head inside. It appears to be a traditional temple, with an entrance for removing shoes and a large room with wood floors. To their surprise, there are candles lit along the walls, and an unlit pyre in the center of the room.
"Abandoned? Someone, or something, has been here." "Um, Ray, Kaz? Is it okay if we go back now?"
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Nov 24, 2022 2:21:23 GMT
The vibe in the shrine is unsettling. Who could have been the one to light these candles? Akil is shaking in fear, slowly backing up. Kaz takes a step forward, and all of a sudden, the pyre is ignited with a small flame. Water pours down from the ceiling over the flame, causing a cloud of smoke to fill the room. It soon becomes difficult to breathe, and vision is impaired. They hear a voice cry out from the smoke.
"Begone, evil spirits!"
A woman in robes drops down from above and lands on top of Akil, knocking him down. Ravenna hears Akil groan in pain and looks to see him but cannot find him. Little sparks start to fly as the woman throws a child's fireworks at Kaz and Ravenna. Kaz grows frustrated with these little annoyances.
"Enough! Get over here, chump!"
Kaz charges towards the direction where the sparks are coming from, and she crashes into the robed woman. Kaz wraps her arms around the woman and lifts her up in a fireman's carry position, bouncing and twisting to disorient her. The smoke starts to exit the room, and it becomes easier to see. The woman in question is wearing traditional white and red shrine maiden robes, and has long, dark, messy hair. Ravenna recognizes the maiden.
"Kiyoko? What's going on here? Go ahead and put her down, Kaz."
Kaz lifts Kiyoko up and dumps her down hard on the floor. The smoke continues to fade. Akil rises back to his feet, groaning and rubbing his elbows and knees. The maiden stares daggers at the trio with an evil red glare to her eyes.
"Why have you come here, dark spirits?" "We're not spirits, we are Digimon Tamers. Kiyoko, it's me, remember?" "Hmm, sorry, I don't recall meeting you." "We battled evil Digimon to protect the city together. I go to Shibuya, and you always said I was overly sarcastic and doomed to be alone." "Dante?" "No, it's Ravenna! Never mind. What are you doing here? This shrine has gone to pieces."
Kaz offers Kiyoko a hand. Kiyoko cautiously takes ahold of her hand, and Kaz yanks her up to her feet.
"Wow, you are incredibly strong." "Thanks. I'm proud of these guns." Kaz flexes her arms, and her biceps swell with muscles and veins.
"This is my family's shrine. I'm the only one left here. It's been weeks since I've had any visitors. Rest in peace, all those mistaken pizza delivery boys." Kiyoko looks over at the corner of the room, and there is a stack of a dozen or so pizza boxes.
"Kiyoko, this place is a mess. What happened? You used to be so dedicated to maintaining the shrine and protecting the city. Last I remember, you snapped to the pressure and just stopped trying." "Correct. Let somebody else do it. I'm far too lazy to take care of this place or battle a constant stream of endless devious monsters from the Digital World."
Ravenna walks over to Kiyoko. She leans in and gives Kiyoko a big hug. Kiyoko is caught off guard and her back straightens in surprise. She then relaxes and returns the hug.
"Kiyoko, I'm sorry. I know we haven't hung out much since you went looney tunes. You taught me about Digimon. Your guidance was unmatched." "Well, thank you. I appreciate that, I guess." It was clear to Ravenna that her former friend and mentor had fallen further than she previously believed.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Dec 9, 2022 9:40:37 GMT
Ravenna was not expecting to run into her old friend Kiyoko today. She also didn't expect Kiyoko's mind to be this far gone. Ravenna checks on Akil to see if he is injured from Kiyoko's ariel attack, but he is fine. The trio stands side by side facing Kiyoko, who is standing in front of the pyre. Kaz twirls a lollipop around in her mouth with her fingers, giving Kiyoko a watchful eye. Akil gets down to business and mentions his offer for the shrine.
"I like the location of your shrine. My father is willing to buy it for a generous sum." "Spare me your offer. I could never sell my family's shrine." "B-but, you've let the place fall to ruin. The city is going to condemn the shrine." "This city will be overrun by spirits, monsters, phantoms, ghouls, goblins, and K Pop fans long before they take my shrine."
Ravenna tilts her head to the side and brushes her hair out of her face, exhaling in frustration.
"You keep saying the city is in danger, but it seems to be fairly normal." "I've only notices a slight increase in Digimon data signals, maybe 20% up from last month." "That's because we face a new threat. A threat that can mask its presence."
Kiyoko holds out an old and worn Digivice missing part of its cover.
"These are all the data signals we can detect. There's never more than a handful at once. But they are never the same signals. When I set it to pick up all the distinct signals I have seen in the past few days, the numbers are staggering."
Kiyoko presses a button, and the map displays hundreds out lights across the city. Akil grabs his head and his knees tremble in fear.
"Oh man! This is so b-bad. There must be thousands! We're doomed." "Interesting development. How could so many Digimon be roaming the city undetected?" "I do not know. That is why we need to capture one and bring it back for further research. And by we, I mean you." "I don't understand why you can't do any of this on your own. I mean, it's obviously important to you." "I am too old to protect the city." "Girl, you're in your mid-twenties. You're like, three years older than me."
If Kiyoko is correct, and there really are countless difficult to detect Digimon in Shibuya, it was already too late to stop them. They don't even know how the Digimon are getting to the city. Ravenna, Kiyoko, and Akil are left standing around scratching their heads trying to think of how to stop this invasion. Kaz just stands there, mostly clueless as to what they are talking about. Suddenly, an idea strikes Kaz.
"Hey, I've thought of something. The city is in danger, the shrine needs repairs, and the three of us need a place to live. What if Kiyoko agrees to let us stay, and we can fix up the shrine and battle whatever the hell it is you guys are talking about?"
"Hmm, that does sound promising. Very well. I accept those terms. I have plenty of room here. If you agree to fix the shrine and defend against these monsters, you are all welcome to stay."
Kaz smiles brightly and pumps her fists in celebration. She pulls in Kiyoko for a big hug, catching the shrine maiden off guard.
"This is great! I don't have to sleep under a generator anymore. You're alright, for a crazy hermit lady." "Why don't Kaz and I go out and look for one of these spirits? I have a Digimon storage device that I have been working on with Hagurumon that I think will come in handy. I can show Kaz the ropes." "That's a good idea. Kiyoko and I will get started cleaning up here. And I do mean both of us, Kiyoko."
The four of them are just setting off on a new journey, with big goals and hard work ahead of them. However, the dangers that lurk ahead are far more uncontrollable than they realize.
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Dec 11, 2022 3:45:11 GMT
Akil and Kaz set off to locate a wild Digimon roaming the city while Ravenna and Kiyoko stay back and start tidying up the place. Kaz walks at a faster pace, and Akil struggles to keep up. Kaz grows frustrated and picks Akil up, carrying him on her back.
"Hey! What are you doing?" "We got stuff to do, and you are walking so slowly."
The duo reaches the fork in the river where they must navigate across the large rocks.
"Put me down, uhh, please?" "Relax, I got this."
Kaz starts treading cautiously along the rocks. The water has splashed the rocks higher up, making them slippery. With one misstep, Kaz's foot slides off a rock, and the two of them tumble into the shallow river bend. Kaz looks pissed while Akil freaks out that his electronics will be damaged.
"Ahh! My gizmos."
The two of them return to the shrine for towels to dry off before setting off again. Kaz rips off a big piece of plyboard from a worn-out section of wall and carries it all by herself down to the river and places it across the rocks to make it easier to cross. The two of them continue walking back to the entrance.
"So, what's the deal with you and Ravenna? Are you like, science partners or something?" "Well, not exactly. I'm a Tamer, and she's a Spirit User. It's like a Digimon Tamer, but she can Spirit Evolve. We just happened to go to the same college, which kind of makes sense considering only people in Shibuya become Tamers."
"Okay, so you're like underground cock fighting superheroes, or something. But are you like, into her?" "Oh, yes, very much. I'm really into Ray. She's cool, she's fun to be around, I love having her as a friend." "That's not what I meant. Huh, how can I put this politely? Jeez, I'm trying to be polite, what a weird day. Does she make you see pink hearts?" "What? Oh, you are wondering if I am infatuated with Ravenna. Nah, she's beautiful, b-but she's like a big sister." "Uh huh. Is there anyone you fancy?" "Not really. I mean, I'd like a girlfriend, but I wouldn't know what to say to a pretty girl." "You talk to me just fine. And you called Ravenna beautiful. Do you think I'm beautiful?"
Akil blushes and his eyes widen in panic. His breathing starts to accelerate, and his forehead gets sweaty. He takes off his hat and drags his wrist across his brow.
"Gee, uh, yes, you are a very nice girl, uhh, woman. I'm not coming onto you. Not that I wouldn't, if I was interested. Wait, what I mean, is-" "Easy, you can relax. I'm just busting your chops. You're just so dorky, I love it. No wonder Ray enjoys your company. Her and I don't travel with a large flock, so that says something."
Kaz and Akil return to their vehicles and take off in an attempt to locate a Digimon in the city. Akil connects his Digivice to his mini truck and heads towards a signal close by. Kaz follows him on her motorcycle. How would this duo face against a wild Digimon? What Akil has in experience, he lacks in strength, and the opposite could be said of Kaz. Would their conflicting natural abilities mesh in a combat situation?
|
|
|
Post by Ravenna on Dec 12, 2022 3:41:35 GMT
Akil and Kaz head towards a nearby signal. They reach a small suburban district with moderately sized houses. They search around the area for anything unusual. Akil spots a delivery truck parked alongside the sidewalk, terribly parked and part way on the curb. Akil and Kaz park their vehicles and walk up to the truck to take a closer look. They can hear someone humming in the back of the truck. The two Tamers head to the back of the truck and see the door open. Inside is a man with a large bandage on his nose opening packages. Kaz recognizes the man from the bar.
"T-bag! What the hell are you doing here?" "Huh? Oh, it's you! It's T-Bone, ya freak." "Uhh, excuse me, sir. Are you, uh, opening the packages that you are supposed to be delivering?" "No!" "Then explain all those opened boxes and cheap tech on the floor." "Look, what do you want?"
Akil pulls out his Digivice and scans the area. He detects a Digimon data signal coming from in the truck. T-Bone gets up and hops down out of the back and approaches Akil and Kaz. Akil watches as the signal gets closer, then fades entirely.
"That is peculiar. The signal got closer, and now it's gone!" "You mean that data whatever is coming from him? What are you up to, Mr. T?" "I don't know what you are talking about. Get lost!"
T-Bone goes to shove Akil, but Kaz grabs T-Bone's wrists before he can strike. Kaz spins T-Bone halfway around and ties him up with a straitjacket hold, with his arms crossing in front of his neck. Akil notices the signal is back.
"Hey, let me go!" "Could it be that inflicting bodily harm activates the signal?" "Let's test that idea. This is what happens to small guys with big egos."
Kaz lifts T-Bone by the wrists off the ground. His feet flail around as he struggles trying to escape the hold. Kaz grinds her teeth as her arms bulge with muscles. Her legs remain stable, and her feet are firmly planted in place as she slowly lifts T-Bone higher. Finally, T-Bone passes out from the hold, and his body goes limp. Kaz lets go and T-Bone's lifeless body drops to the sidewalk.
"Holy Ra! W-wha-what did you just do?" "I choked out a punk."
A strange red glow rises up from T-Bone. There are tiny little white particles sparking and floating up. Akil checks his scanner, and the signal is larger than ever before. Akil pulls out his Digimon transport device that he has been working on and aims it at the data. He activates it, and the data flies towards the device. All the data enters the device. Akil is stunned by this accomplishment.
"Incredible! I, I can't believe it really worked. I designed it to store data, but I never envisioned it could contain an unwilling specimen originally." "So, mission accomplished? Great job, professor." "Oh, I'm not a professor. Just a novice, really. Should we call an ambulance, or perhaps a funeral planner?" "He's not dead. At least, I think."
Kaz kicks T-Bone's body a couple times, and he doesn't move. Akil reaches down and checks his pulse.
"He's still alive. Thank god." *Sarcasm* "Yes, isn't that nice. What a tragedy that would be?"
Akil and Kaz return to their vehicles and start heading back.
|
|
|