Purpose (Solo, Xros Partner Hunt)

Chiyoko wished she could understand how she got here. She cursed herself for not knowing more about Shibuya's railroad system better. Why did she let herself get so lost and confused? She tried to find other passengers to ask, or even a station employee, but with Christmas around the corner the station was far too packed.  Maybe on another day someone would have stopped to help, but today they were all far too caught up in the holiday rush.  She searched desperately, but the more she looked the more she realized waiting in the main lobby would be useless.  Finding help on a train platform was her only hope.  There at least she'd stand a chance of getting help from someone while they waited for their train to arrive.  With no other options in mind, she made a beeline for the nearest platform.  Maybe she should've noticed the strange looks other passengers were giving her, or the fact that instead of requiring a ticket the entry to the platform simply unlocked when her phone brushed too closely against it.  Maybe she should've ignored the booming voice of the "conductor" when she asked for directions to Shibuya, his response only a hearty laugh and a promise that the incoming, weirdly-colored train would take her where she needs to go.

The silence was starting to get to her.  Aside from her and the conductor, there wasn't a soul on the train.  Even the conductor was like a ghost.  He didn't announce any stops; in fact, for what felt like hours, the train never came to a stop.  He only spoke up one time, when Chiyoko rapped her knuckles against the seat next to her to try and break the silence.  "Hey!" he seemed to roar, nearly making Chiyoko leap out of her seat.  "Why'd you go and punch me for?"  Whether he was joking or just plain delusional was unclear, but Chiyoko didn't want to try probing further and risk setting him off.  Instead she sat stock-still, munching on a chocolate bar to try and keep her stress down.  Any further questions, such as where she was going and how she could conceivably get back to Nanto, were just met with more of his laughter.  Even her attempts at checking the time were met with failure.  When she took out her phone, she nearly dropped it in shock upon realizing it was no longer her phone.  Instead it was some sort of child's toy, made of hard orange plastic.  The screen was tiny and she couldn't even figure out how to make it work.  Briefly she started to wonder if someone pickpocketed her in the subway station, and could only conclude that leaving the country as a huge mistake.  Once she found her way out of this mess, she was never leaving Nanto again.

Just when it seemed like Chiyoko could drift off to sleep, she suddenly felt a jostle.  It was gentle at first, but it started to intensify every few seconds until Chiyoko was fully shaken awake.  It was almost as if the train itself was moving back and forth.  She let out a groan of frustration, muttering under her breath "Really?  Seriously?"  Once more she heard the overtly-loud voice of the conductor, sighing as he bellowed "Rise and shine, kid!  It's time for your stop!"  The doors opened on their own accord, and Chiyoko took her bags to leave.  Immediately she found herself having to narrow her eyes.  The bright neon of the station was an overpowering force compared to the dingy interior of the train.  As she struggled to adapt to the light she could swear she saw figures.  A small gathering of big-headed children walking past.  A hefty woman on a bench.  A tall man, being hit by the light in a way that seemed to give him angel wings.  Knowing that there were other people around was massively comforting to Chiyoko.  Maybe she'd be able to ask one of them for directions!  She blinked a bit more, rubbing her eyes to try and ease them, and took another look around.

The tall man really did have angel wings.  Those small children were a bunch of a big-headed dinosaurs.  And that hefty woman was a large beetle, eyeing the plastic toy in her hand with a strange mix of dread and anticipation.  Chiyoko turned back to the train, as if expecting it would have the answers, but with a final laugh it began rolling away from the platform.  It was only then that Chiyoko noticed that instead of headlights it had eyes.

And here Chiyoko thought her day couldn't get any worse.

"Do you know when the next train is?" Chiyoko asked hopefully, but Big Blue simply shook her head.  The KoKabuterimon wished she could explain how or why, but as far as she was concerned the Trailmon came and went as they pleased.  Generally, it was when a human with a Digivice approached the terminal.  Would just waiting around here be enough to send Chiyoko back?  Big Blue was afraid of saying anything like that and getting the girl's hopes up.  She slumped in disappointment, but before she could thank Big Blue and walk off the KoKabuterimon pointed at her Xros Loader.  "See?" she asked, a touch of nervousness in her voice.  The girl hesitated to hand it over.  It's her phone, after all.  Or at least, it was before it turned into some broken toy.  If it got lost or stolen she'd be in a world of trouble.  However, the beetle seemed harmless enough.  After a bit of thought, Chiyoko handed over the Xros Loader.

Big Blue tugged at her scarf, pulling it close to the yellow cloth wrapped around the Loader.  Surely enough, they looked almost the same.  In her shock the KoKabuterimon nearly dropped the Loader, but quickly and clumsily fumbled to catch it before it fell.  "We match," the Digimon said, laughing a little in disbelief.  "We match!"

"That's great?" Chiyoko responded, still puzzled.  "Do you know what this is?  Or what you are?  I'm still really confused."  At this point, Chiyoko was confused, and big-bad-beetleborgs over there was the only one she felt comfortable enough asking for answers.  At first she heavily considered dismissing this all as a dream.  She ate too much chocolate and passed out on the train.  That happens to everybody!  However, the longer she stayed in the subway station, the more that thought seemed impossible.  The glint of the neon lighting off of this beetle's shell was too realistic.  The conductor's booming voice, or possibly even the train's voice, rang too clearly in her ears.  The horrible odor of a green slime-beast as it oozed past the conversing pair?  Oh, that was far too rancid to be cooked up in one of her dreams.  This place seemed like a reality of sorts, and if she was going to be stuck in it she'd have to learn more about it.

First, Big Blue pointed to herself.  "Digimon."  She held up Chiyoko's Xros Loader.  "Loader."  Just for good measure she pointed at Chiyoko.  "General."  Upon seeing the utter lack of comprehension on Chiyoko's face, the KoKabuterimon cleared her throat and tried to give a better explanation.  "Human and Digimon friends, sometimes.  Loader makes strong, with bonds.  Find partners.  Protect each other.  Learn.  Live.  Grow."  Chiyoko still didn't understand perfectly, but Big Blue didn't expect her to.

"So, wait, am I supposed to stay here and lead an army or something?" Chiyoko asked, a bit of worry in her voice.  "But what about school?  And home?  What would I say to my partner when I have to leave?  What would I say to my family?  God, I don't even know how to fight.  How'd I end up in this mess?"  The beetle simply shrugged, much to Chiyoko's frustration.  A living train, a big beetle-woman, and some kid's toy just conspired to derail her entire life.  Irritation bubbled in within her, but after stewing she simply sighed in resignation.  She didn't even know if a train to take her home would come.  Was it even worth fighting this? 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a single word from Big Blue: "Please."  As Chiyoko looked up, she saw the KoKabuterimon holding out the Xros Loader.  "Lost too," she said sadly.  "Alone.  Need friends.  Need purpose.  I'll help you.  Find your train home.  But for now, partners? Please?"  The big beetle's voice trembled as she spoke, afraid the first chance of finding her identity in life was slipping through her fingers.

The girl put a single, comforting hand on the beetle's shoulder.  "Please, don't cry," she said, a touch of worry in her voice.  Compassion and empathy wrestled with anxiety and responsibility.  She really couldn't just throw away her life to go adventuring in this world, but she also couldn't crush the dreams of what was basically a big, scared child.  "You promise you'll help me find my way home, right?" she asked, the beetle eagerly nodding in response.  That was enough for Chiyoko.  They'd go on a little journey together, have some laughs, learn more about themselves, and then she could go back home to live her life as normal.  Maybe this wouldn't be so terrible after all.  

"I don't know how long I can stay.  I really don't.  But while I'm here, I'll try and be there for you, okay?" she finally offered, taking the Xros Loader in her other hand as Big Blue beamed excitedly.  It seemed to hum slightly, and after a few seconds the screen lit up brightly.  "Digimemory Get!  KoKabuterimon!" it read, a small sprite image of KoKabuterimon appearing on the screen beneath the words.  "KoKabuterimon, huh?  Is that your name?"

Until now, Big Blue wasn't entirely sure herself.  It beat out her previous guess of Weird Mutant Tentomon, though.  "No, type.  Big Blue," she explained, pointing to herself.

"Well, I'm Chiyoko.  Sorry we got off on the wrong foot, but it's nice to meet you!"  This time it was the KoKabuterimon's turn to not comprehend, Chiyoko's idiom going completely over her head.  "So, what's next?"

Big Blue pointed Chiyoko toward a nearby station map, showing her the various locations in the Digital World.  There were huge mountain ranges, expansive archipelagos, great forests, searing deserts, and even realms obscured in light and shadow.  The girl's jaw dropped as she realized she had been dropped into a world nearly as massive as her own.  All of these options were at her fingertips, and all she had to do was reach out and grab for them.  Big Blue grinned eagerly as Chiyoko perused all of the options, trying her best to hide her excitement.  Having a partner was absolutely fantastic, and finding out what her kind was called was the first step towards solving the mystery of her identity.  With these two huge advances in her mission, she'd surely be able to learn more about herself in now time!  Barely containing her joy, she told her new partner the only new step she could envision.

"Next?  We explore."