The next morning, Shaun got out of bed on time and packed Quiremon in with his school supplies. He scampered down the stairs with his bag and placed it on the table to slip breakfast in to his Digimon. He also tossed in a couple of apples for lunch along with his lunch bag.
“Bye, Mom!” he yelled over his shoulder as he left.
“Have a good day!”
Steven was already outside with Crisnismon’s nose sticking out of his backpack.
“Aren’t you bringing Quiremon?”
“I’m back here!” the scruffy voice growled.
“Let’s go get Meghan and Keri,” said Shaun as he began walking off. When they got to the Hayama’s house, they could see Keri’s dad installing a doggie door for Weremon.
“Hiya, boys. If you want a ride, I could give you a lift. I’m taking Keri to school today so that she and Meghan could get their Digimon to a safe place for the day.”
“Sure, why not?” Steven shrugged while trying to push Crisnismon’s nose back in.
“I have to breathe, you know!” the Rookie argued.
“I’m doing just fine in here!” yelled Quiremon, “I don’t see why you’re complaining!”
“Are you sitting on a cold soda in there?”
Quiremon decided not to answer, but he moved around a bit inside. Mr. Hayama finished and walked the boys inside the house. Weremon grabbed a leash and collar from the counter and put it around his neck.
When he saw Shaun looking at him puzzled, he explained, “I’ve got to look inconspicuous!”
Keri and Meghan were already in the Jeep with their Digimon in their laps. The two boys climbed in back with Meghan, making sure not to squish their backpacks.
It didn’t take long to get to school, and as Mr. Hayama and Weremon drove away, the girls began scouting out places to hide their Digimon for the day. Shaun put his backpack on the ground and leaned against the brick wall.
“Good thing no one’s here yet,” he commented to Steven.
The dark-haired boy nodded in agreement as he placed his hands behind his head. Then he spotted Keeper half-running their way.
“Hey, wassup?” he grinned at his teacher.
“Trouble,” came the swift reply. Noticing the sudden alertness of the boys, Meghan and Keri hurried over with their Digimon. Keeper nodded to them. “Here’s the deal. We’ve got this ‘prince’ of the Digital World that’s trying to take over it. I understand that you battled one of his Digimon yesterday. He makes his own Digimon based on the data from others that he and his Digimon have defeated. He’s nicely set up his ranks so that his followers below him have a way to take control over good Digimon using a constraint. Now, all of you hold out your D-Callers and say, ‘D-Port open’.”
Each of them held out their hands to form a circle, and then called, “D-Port, open!”
Keeper covered his eyes against the flash of light and they were gone.
***************
Shaun shook his head against the rush of colors before him. Blinking, he watched as a forest materialized in front of him. Quiremon was already standing by him.
“Great! We just got separated from everyone else!” the little Digimon sighed.
“Well, at least we’re not being attacked or anything.” Just as those words came out of his mouth, a rhythmic pounding could be felt through the ground.
“Smooth move, Shaun…” whispered Quiremon just loud enough for Shaun to hear him. Ignoring the comment, he began moving to where the throbbing feeling was coming from.
“Shaun!” his Digimon exclaimed in protest, “Do we have to go looking for trouble?”
“Sure, why not!”
Before they could round the next tree in the bend, another boy came racing his way with two Digimon.
“Unless you’re looking for a Champion battle, get moving!” he hollered as he kept running.
Shaun and Quiremon turned to follow the trio away, even if their curiosity was gnawing at them. Quiremon watched the new Digimon with interest. He had never seen these two before, but both threw angry glances at the path behind them.
“In here!” the tall yellow one shouted as he took a flying leap over a bush into the forest. The next Digimon skirted around it and the boy went plain through it. Shaun and Quiremon slowed as they entered under the canopy of trees. The new boy and his Digimon had made a u-turn alongside the path again before pushing deeper into the forest.
“Okay, now we ought to just hang out here for ten minutes or so before going back out. Rascamon, we’re going to need a Champion if he comes after us. Will you be ready?”
“Sure thing!” The yellow Digimon he spoke to was standing straight up to reach an apple in a tree and his long legs made him at least as tall as Shaun’s shoulder.
“K-mon, can you try and cover us if Rascamon has trouble?”
The white cat in an orange and yellow sweater grinned while snatching the fruit from Rascamon. “No! I’ll just sit on my tail and be a bum!”
“Okay, that’s settled,” the boy declared, taking the sarcasm for a yes. He then looked at Shaun and Quiremon as if they’d just popped out of the ground. “Who’re you guys?”
“I’m Shawn, and this is my Digimon, Quiremon. We’re kinda the leaders of our group, but we don’t know where they’ve gone,” he added uncomfortably as the pounding grew ever closer.
The boy nodded, apparently not sharing his uneasiness. “I’m Dusten, and Rascamon there is my Digimon. The stupid one is K-mon.”
“That’s me!!!” the Digimon chuckled proudly.
“You have two Digimon?”
“Hmm? Oh, no. I’m just raising K-mon until I’m told we can let him leave. That’s part of being a Raiser. Aren’t you one?”
Shaun thought back to what Keri had told him earlier. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
Dusten held a finger to his lips. “Okay, guys, here he comes. Don’t make any sudden moves or sounds.” The three Digimon took up defensive poses as their pursuer came into sight. Shaun nearly gasped, but bit his lip instead.
A giant cross between a dragon and a metal machine was stomping down the path with only two short legs. Its teal body was covered in red stripes and black plates of metal covered its legs and face. Two yellow eyes looked all around the area, scanning for them.
As it passed, Dusten didn’t relax any like Shaun was. The metallic Digimon was further down the path, but had stopped where they had gone in.
“He’s found us- let’s go!” hollered Dusten as the monster’s head forced its way into the trees. Shaun and Quiremon decided just to follow the group that raced in front of them. Unexpectedly, Dusten turned them back onto the path in plain sight of the Digimon.
“Okay, Metaldramon, let’s end this!” he growled at the Digimon.
Shaun gawked at Dusten. “You must be crazy! How could you even think to send them against that thing?”
Calmly, Dusten faced him. “I know what I’m doing, so lay off.”
The two boys glared at each other until the Digimon tugged at their jeans to bring them back to the danger at hand. Dusten responded to the promptings by turning to look back at Metaldramon.
“Rascamon, let’s do it!”
The yellow Digimon bounded forward with a will.
“Rascamon, digivolve to… Heromon!”
Unprepared for it, Shaun and his partner shielded their eyes against the blast of light. It cleared to reveal a larger version of Rascamon, but he was equipped with bow and arrows.
The new form threw himself against Metaldramon, feet first as he launched an attack.
“Jade Kick!”
His attack landed square on the opponent’s forehead, but the metal dragon didn’t even flinch. Heromon leapt back to the ground in a smooth motion and slipped an arrow onto his bowstring.
“True Flight!”
The arrow sped forward with a deadly hiss, but it clanged harmlessly off the armor on the larger Digimon. Metaldramon pulled his front half off the ground, claws outstretched.
“Metal Earthquake!”
He slammed himself downwards, causing the ground around Heromon to shake violently. Bracing himself, Heromon prepared to leap away, but the attack wasn’t over. Metal replicas of his enemy’s claws spurted out of the ground, knocking him off balance to fall awkwardly on his side.
“Shaun! Shaun!”
Shaun tore his eyes from the battle to look behind him. Steven, Meghan, and Keri were racing up with their Digimon. They reached him and the Digimon took up protective stances in front of their partners.
Heromon was taken down by another attack, and Dusten raced to his side quickly. The white cat placed himself between Metaldramon and the pair as the dragon advanced.
The small sound of someone snapping his or her fingers brought Metaldramon to an abrupt halt.
“What the-!?” Steven’s voice wavered with uncertainty at the unreal situation.
K-mon growled softly as Dusten helped Heromon back to his feet.
Crisnismon, Parémon, and Arcamon stiffened in their positions, ready to use their attack as it was needed.
A human figure emerged from the tree line beside the relaxed Metaldramon. He was wearing a violet jacket with gold trimmings and gloves. He also had a pair of tight black pants and royal violet shoes with a gold-colored streak up the center. His hair was a mixture of black and lavender. Startling blue eyes surveyed them from behind dark sunglasses.
“Well, well,” he spoke up, “It looks as though an Ultimate level is way too tough for our little Champion with his Rookie friends.”
“Who are you?” Shaun demanded to know.
“You can call me your Digital Prince for the record. Now, all of you, just get out of my Digital world and leave us to conquering it. Demivayahmon!”
No one had noticed the gray and black Digimon beside the new boy. It looked like a bat with feathery wings and bands around its neck, legs, and tail. It braced itself to attack.
Quiremon wasn’t about to wait. “Diamond Claws!”
“Rainbow Feather!”
“First Born Fire!”
“Thought Claw!”
The attacks didn’t even reach him before it unleashed Dark energy.
“Lost in Displacement!”
The scene before the group flickered before turning into a small island with another in the distance.
“Where are we?” Keri gasped. The group was feeling disoriented at the new surroundings.
“Is this some kind of trick?” questioned Meghan, “And who’s this kid with two Digimon?” While they were talking, Heromon had reverted back into his Rookie and leaned wearily against his partner. Dusten patted his head.
“My name’s Dusten, this is Rascamon, and K-mon’s the idiot.”
“And proud of it!” the white cat smirked.
The others made their introductions to their new member.
“Where’re you from, Dusten?” inquired Steven curiously.
Rascamon quickly got a worried look as he scanned his partner’s face. Dusten seemed almost embarrassed as he answered.
“Well, mostly Japan, but sometimes we go through the US… but that doesn’t matter…”
Shaun gave him a skeptical look as Dusten turned to the company of his Digimon.
He was fine until Steven asked about his home… Shaun thought.
Suddenly, Shaun’s D-Caller erupted into a frantic beeping.
To Be Continued...