Author's Note(A/N): This is my first Digimon related Fanfic...Also I would
like to mention that this Fic has indeed been aspired for the kawaii
(coupling of) Takuya and Izumi...I hope they end up together...I hope ^-^;
...I hate being wrong!!! Anyways...enjoy my Fanfic...I only watched a
couple Digimon shows so...I hope I didn't mess anything up...R&R please!
*Jap. Names vs. English Names*: (I will not be using the acknowledgement of
- i.e.-Izumi-chan...Takuya-kun...etc.)
Izumi-Zoe/
Junpei- JP/
Tomoki-Tommy/
Kouichi- Kouji/
Kouji-Koji/
Takuya-Takuya/
(Digimon names will stay in English version)
also
D-Scanner - D-Tector
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, Digimon Characters or any other related
subjectives that is directly copyrighted towards Toei Animation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Pure of Heart: Netherworld Journey {I}
The Old Destiny, The New Battle
-Chapter 1-
In the distance ahead, the dawning sky shone brilliantly across the
horizon. It was unlike any other notice of morning that one would ever
witness. The sun could have never emitted this many colours into the sky,
in the normal way at least, on Earth. It was unnatural, though then again
everything about the Digital World seemed this foreign and strange. It had
been however, a perplexing experience as well, almost like a subtle touch
of twilight surrounding the ethereal atmosphere...while at the same moment
in time...bringing a sudden soothing feeling--almost beautiful-- just
watching the sunrise.
It had been too early to be awake, too early to be travelling, and
certainly too early to have been roused from sleep by the beaming sun
creeping upwards into the sky.
But what had been sitting atop of rather grassy mound by the makeshift
campsite was a boy--a mere twelve year old boy-- who had been surely awake
since dawn.
He had apparently been thinking, and thinking deeply at that. It had been a
long time since he had actually taken in all the events that had occurred
over the past month.
A new challenge was ahead of him and his friends. The Rose Morning Star had
proved to be not the end...but in fact, just the beginning of their
journey. Lucemon had escaped...how he had escaped, the boy couldn't strain
his mind enough to understand how...the only thing he knew certain was what
Ophanimon bade them to do.
To find their way through the wilderness that stretched far beyond the Rose
Morning Star...
There--the boy recalled from her directions-- the Tengu Fortress would lie
in wait for them.
Though the directions and cryptic messages from Ophanimon were cut short
and too murky to make out into sensible inspirations into defeating
Lucemon. This boy however, knew what had to be done...after all the weight
he had to bear unto his shoulders was of being the leader. The one leader
who knew right from wrong...the one leader who would lead to triumph...
Though thinking of his mistakes before only put him into a more grave and
painful pensive of memories...
He had faced the uncertainty of his faith (the faith in his own
courage) before. Owing up to it from the past, where he had to find the
true strength in himself as he returned to the Earth finding out that he
had transformed into a strange and awkward beast. He had learned his lesson
then...but this new challenge would test him to his very limits....was he
up to the task?
Lost within his worrisome and almost wistful pondering, a gentle voice had
surfaced from underneath his thoughts.
"T-Takuya...?" said the voice from behind, Takuya knew this voice to
be of Izumi's. "What are you doing up...and so early?"
"You're awake too." he pointedly answered back.
She nodded in response and made her way to his side, kneeling to sit down.
"I guess we both couldn't sleep as easily as we hoped...what with all
that's happened...no one has..." she replied gloomily and glanced to her
back where the others lay sleeping rather restlessly.
"It'll be a long ways ahead.... to find the Tengu Fortress..." Takuya
determinedly stared into the distance.
"You think it'll finally be over, after we find this --er-- Fortress..."
said Izumi, her tone seemed distant... yet hopeful in a delicate way.
Takuya fixedly stared at the sun's ascending form slowly carrying
into, the now visible, billowing clouds above. He had taken in Izumi's
speculation seriously and debated within his own mind for what seemed like
a very long hesitation.
Briskly pulling his gloves to his hands and firmly fastening the goggles to
his head, Takuya finally chose to meet her eyes.
A long pause followed again--searching each others faces in hopes of
finding something to comfort their worries-- he eventually broke his sullen
expression into a smile. It had been a very long time since he had done as
much as smile...it felt quite pleasant indeed.
"It won't be over until we say it is...until we rise against Lucemon...find
Tomoki...and win....and we are going to win...trust me..." he said, his
voice put up a strong front at first but seemingly softened to stop himself
from sounding too over confident.
Somewhere within all the sadness and exhaustion that Izumi had been feeling
recently, had somehow dissolved and felt wholly changed.
She had grown to know this ill-tempered boy since their beginning
days of entering the Digital World aboard the Trailmon. She simply knew
him, at first glance, to be overly determined to win. A boy who could care
less if he had put the others in danger with his extravagant plans of
attack, a boy who's confidence overpowered his modesty and common sense,
and needless to say a boy who --through it all--managed to keep the Digi-
Destined--his friends--alive. She adored him for it, she came to be
accustomed to his own take on leadership... and his maturity through all
they had been through in such a short time.
Inside...laid her heart which seemed to lift tremendously to a sudden
feeling of warmth.
Her face adorned a sweet smile as she returned the mutual comfort to
Takuya.
"We have to wake them up now, you know." said Takuya, breaking
through the thick silence.
"Er--Oh, right." she answered and tore her gaze away to the others.
The group had been later stirred from their sleep by Takuya and Izumi.
The results were deafening, each face plastered with the same
expression--stunned silence. Takuya had just finished explaining his plan
for the group's journey ahead, the wilderness of unknown dark Digimon
lurking within. The Fortress seemed like another world away as Takuya went
through the directions with Bokomon.
"So, how long is this going to take? If we plan on rescuing Tomoki
from Lucemon's ransom...their had better be a short cut." Junpei spoke out
for the first time, his voice worriedly choked over each word.
"A week...at the very least... if we don't act now." said Takuya
doggedly. "I'm with Takuya." Izumi said and now appeared at his side, "Time
isn't a luxury we have at the moment. If we waste anymore time on
resting...then it's only a matter of time before Tomoki..."
Izumi trailed off, her eyes misted over, tempting tears were kept
away strictly with her control.
"Then it's settled we're off, the woods aren't that far from the path
we're already on." Takuya said and motioned over to the blurry image of a
fairly wooded area in the distance. "Sounds fine to me, let's not waste anymore time with idle
talk...come on."
Kouji followed suit as Izumi earlier did and stood beside Takyua.
"Kouichi?"
Kouichi took no time in deciding or hesitating, he too stood by their side.
Although Junpei hesitantly followed as well, his face unclear of what he
really wanted and surely intended to say.
The silent-stricken walk towards the woods lasted for a time well
over two hours, each child stealing glances at each other, hoping without
conflict that they might rest for a while.
No one spoke up.
Neemon and Bokomon followed closely behind, each wondering how the
group had come to be so deeply depressed. The escape of Lucemon of course
was devastating, the kidnapping of Tomoki far worse, they had been in many
battles and dreadful days before but this seemed quite a hopeless cause
waiting to be ended in failure...
Bokomon shook his head dejectedly, he was certain that they had lost
all hope...that they had been tired...possibly tired of fighting...and
tired of saving the Digital World altogether.
Yes, it was quite certain that the source of all the misery, exhaustion,
and constant occurrence of awkward silences had been deeply rooted from the
group's failed attempts in defeating Lucemon...and now Tomoki... They had
indeed, lost the lasting hope that was kept close to the Chosen Children's
hearts-- the Pure of Heart.
Days had passed by and the more time that each of them thought to
speak of the recent events faltered to come across in any discussion. Their
faith in their inner strength dwindled down to nothing more than an empty
void of sadness. Though this time--Takuya bitterly came to realize-- no
train ride back to Earth would lead them to answers, no hints of potential
wisdom, and no path to at least any true sense of guidance.
Izumi walked alongside Takuya, her eyes ever so often fell upon his
sombre face.
She hated seeing him like this. Like he had been, by fate, deemed into
becoming a serious, stoic warrior. Forcibly changed for the good of the
group, as was required of being the leader, she supposed.
But what had happened to the energetic, hot-headed boy she had met just
months before. He was constantly arguing with her, true. But she knew
all this simply to be just harmless bickering. She had missed this boy,
too. The laughter that always seemed to make her feel so subtly content
even how drastic or serious the situation had become. And now, Takuya
hardly even smiled, let alone carry out a feeble struggle of laughter. She
couldn't help but notice--considering how hopeless their fate had come to
look--how much she wished that the Takuya she had grown to adore would soon
return.
"Something wrong?" Takuya asked, he found her staring worriedly at
him.
"No. Nothing's wrong." She replied, quickly smiling.
"Look! Up ahead." said Kouji, calling from behind.
Kouji pointed to the woodland surrounding just minutes away. The group's
anticipation was wearing thin, they had already begun sprinting towards the
forest when Bokomon desperately called for their attention.
"WAIT!" the small, white-furred Digimon began panting and shrilly shouting.
"You must all first understand the risks we are taking by entering these
woods. These are the Gakido Woods, they are known for dangerously
enchanting those not wary of following the main route exiting through these
woods."
Bokomon continued to firmly plant his tiny feet to the ground in front of
them, his paws grasping a large book. He continued in reading the following
information:
"Danger lurks at every wrong path you might take, for the many Digimon that
roam these lands will surely trap you within these woods forever. These
Digimon take many forms, but you may also be deceived by the several
Digimon inhabitants who are shape-shifters. Know this, the main route is
the only way out of the forest, if you are lost...you are lost for-"
"Eternity...and blah, blah, blah...Yeah we know, that's always the
story with these mysterious forests of certain doom. Now let's get a move
on!" Junpei irritably spoke.
Bokomon clenched his paw into a fist and jumped towards him, he pounded the
book over Junpei's head.
"Shut it and listen, this is crucial information for your own good
and for your survival....these woods aren't a joke!" said Bokomon now
pacing back to the front of the grouped children. "Now we must stay
together --AT--ALL--TIMES! If we are separated...the chances of finding our
way back to each other...are very slim."
"L-Lost f-forever." Izumi nervously stammered, peering behind Bokomon
where the woods now looked more menacing than before.
"We're not going to get lost...or separated." said Takuya, now facing
all of them in front with Bokomon.
"Takuya's right, we aren't going to get lost. Now let's hurry,
Lucemon is still out there somewhere and we're wasting time again." Kouichi
said suddenly, gathering enough voice to startle the group abruptly after
the silence from Takuya's statement.
With this, the group had continued to march their way towards the forest.
Bokomon had been quite right about this place. The surrounding trees
branched out towards the sky to create a tunnel, dome-like effect,
engulfing almost all the light above.
And the light that could be seen through the branches above was startling,
the dawning morning that had been seemingly beautiful became a daunting
blood-red backdrop of sky.
The very ground they now started to traverse across gradually became a
darker black as they progressed into the shadowed woods. This barren land
successfully carried out a ominous feel of fear. Although the potential
danger of dark Digimon ambushing them quickly eluded from their thoughts as
not one creature seemed to be heard or seen.
Though at some point in time, Junpei caught himself staring into the
darkness at an unusual sight. Dismissing it rather quickly and then taking
a double glimpse to ensure his delusion; a pair of yellow, bulging eyes
gleamed in his direction. He took a closer look, chancing the sight to be
just his imagination, if not for the fact that he now wondered off from the
group Junpei could have been left here alone.
"Wait up, guys!" he choked out frightfully and hurried back to the
group's side.
As they gradually made their way down the narrow path in the woods
they were--like Junpei--quick to dismiss the rustling noises in the
shadowed areas from behind the bare trees and the occasional glint of
haunting eyes.
This was quite a place to have stumbled upon, no sign of living creatures
(beside themselves) were to be found. Not a single visible lurking Digimon
seemed present. This forest was surely empty... No Cheerymon, no Floramon, no Mushroomon, not even a Woodmon appeared
along the way; these creatures were expected of a typical Digital World
forest. What was this place that they had entered? And where were the
dangers that Bokomon so attentively warned them of?
Perhaps they had spoke too soon of safety and eluded warnings of dark
Digimon when suddenly an enormous eruption of deep azure mist rose from
underneath the ground surrounding the group.
"What the--" a scattered succession of yells came from each of them.
The brilliantly blue luminance of mist rapidly surrounded them into a
spherical imprisonment.
"What's happening?!" Izumi cried, she quickly began backing up
towards the others.
They soon all followed her attempt in fear.
The ground below began to tremble uncontrollably, each of them stumbled
downwards. Izumi gave a frightful yelp and grabbed hold of Takuya next to
her.
The screams would only last until a few moments after the sphere-like mist
had swallowed them whole.
"W-Wha-- What's going on..." Takuya mumbled, his vision partially
clear and partially still blurred as his eyes kept straining to see who was
awakening him at the moment.
"Takuya! You're alive! Oh, you're alive!" the voice sounded distant
but echoed painfully into his ears.
"Ow!" he squinted again, trying to make sense of the figure in front
of him as he clamped his hands to his ears.
"Takuya, what's wrong...are you alright?" the voice whispered now
understanding his pain.
Takuya finally focused his eyes to see the distressed face of Izumi, she
held his face in her hands. "Izumi...where are we?" he groaned to now also feel the pain of his
throbbing head. "I-I don't know. This place...it's not where we're supposed to
be...the main route...it's gone...everyone is..." she trembled to speak,
her hands now lay in her lap shakily.
Takuya sat up, scratching his head in confusion. His vision now in use and
to finally see the present surroundings.
If not for his sudden state of fear, confusion and shock, this place
they were now in would have appeared to be quite lovely and welcoming. But
they had not been feeling recently pleasant or welcomed at all, they had
just been sucked by an unknown dark magic portal and completely separated
from their friends. They couldn't have noticed the sky of harmonious
blending of blues, purples and yellows. They didn't care for the glistening
willow trees bearing succulent fruits of pears, berries and apples. They
wouldn't have bothered to feel the soft, long green grass underneath them.
And they simply and surely ignored the fact that the feeling of complete
bliss had replaced the previous worry of confusion and fright.
"This place is-" Takuya began but was interuppted.
"Takuya...do you feel that?" Izumi said, her brows furrowed perplexed
in wait as if she were expecting for something to happen.
"Feel what?" he replied, equally as anxious in wait as she was.
"I don't know...it's strange...it's as if I can't feel sad or
frightened anymore." she explained.
"Right...like there's nothing to worry about-" he said but was curtly
cut off by her sudden reply.
"It's was Bokomon warned us of...the enchantment that the forest
creatures...erm...dark Digimon cast on the people who cross their
path...they transported us to this place." she said, her eyes wide with
shock.
"How do we find the others?" asked Takuya sighing exasperatedly.
The previous place had proved to be a frightening situation and place to
be, indeed. They were lost now...Lost in the world, within the woods...
