World in Crisis

By EntreriRose

Yamato stretched, feeling the early morning sun shining on his face. It had been seven years since he spent the night in the Digital World, and he had to admit that he missed the experience. His smile increased tenfold as her looked down on Gabumon, his own digimon partner, and ruffled his blue and white fur. "It's been a while, eh Gabumon? It feels good to be stuck here again; just like in the good old days."

"Just don't get yourself stuck in any more dark caves," the bipedal horned Saint Bernard wolf hybrid answered.

"I won't," Yamato chuckled, approaching the rest of the group.

"Maelyn. Maelyn wake up." Ken shook the girl's shoulders, trying vainly to wake her.

"Just five more minutes," she mumbled, rolling over.

"I've got if Ken," Yamato said, turning an eye on the standing white cat. "Hey Tailmon, can I see your whistle?"

"Uh . . . sure?" claws handed the worn pewter thing over.

Maelyn jumped to her feet as Yamato blew a long, shrill note in her ear. She trembled in shock for a moment before yelling and running after him in order to catch him and beat him to a bloody pulp. Yamato simply laughed mockingly and made sure to keep at least a step ahead of her.

"You bastard," she screamed. "Get back . . ." Maelyn skidded to a halt, facing a tiny old man with his eyes squeezed shut. " . . . here?"

"My, such language from the savior of two worlds," the old man chuckled. Maelyn could do nothing but stare, the others gathering near.

"Palmon!" Mimi cried, running to what appeared to be a walking weed and becoming tangled in her vines.

"Why, hello children," the little man continued. "Though I really shouldn't be calling most of you children any more." He turned back to Maelyn. "I see Yamato did what I asked him."

"Huh?" was all that Maelyn could choke out.

"Uh . . . Gennai," Taichi said. "Why're we here? What happened to Daisuke, Iori and Miyako? And weren't you a young guy last time?"

"The other three are still in your world. They couldn't be summoned back because they lack the power of a crest." Gennai folded his hands behind his back. "Only the original Chosen Children, with their own special powers can free the Digital World of the new evil."

"New evil?" Sora piped in.

"A deeper darkness than even the Dark Masters could inspire is slowly consuming the hearts of digimon all over the Digital World. You have your work cut out for you, but the crest, together, can free them."

"What's the new evil? Who's it coming from?" Taichi prompted.

"I . . ." everyone leaned in closer to ensure that they heard Gennai's answer, " . . . don't know."

The Chosen Children let out a groan as a team.

"But I do know that if it isn't stopped, than both our worlds will be lost. The crests, especially that of Faith, are crucial to success. If you fail, it would mean a universe overrun by corrupt, evil beings."

All eyes turned to Maelyn, who looked down at the little old man.

"So . . . let me get this straight," she said. "I get to save the world?"

"Yes, pretty much. But first, you'll need a digimon too." Gennai motioned to a group of bushes several yards away. "It's ok Shinimon, you can come out."

From out of the bushes waddles a short, scaly thing. Maelyn couldn't quite place her finger on what the hundreds of purple scales, lavender wings and violet eyes reminded her of.

"Shinimon, this is Maelyn. Now Maelyn, I want you to take good care of Shinimon. She's shy, but she's the only weapon you'll have against this new enemy." Gennai seemed to blink for a moment, as if realizing something. "I'm going to miss my chess game with Ogremon and Leomon! Goodbye children and take care!" The old man faded from view.

"Does he know that chess is a two player game?" Ken asked

"I don't think it matters," Taichi replied. "Well, we'd better start walking unless we want to sit around and wait for the Digital World to crumble around us."

Maelyn sighed, looking down at her timid little digimon. She had a feeling that this was going to be a long trip.