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Chapter Text

01: Falling down the Rabbit Hole

Nozomi Morinobu wasn’t made for the wild.

She knew it, her parents knew it, and the few friends she had knew it!  The beauty of nature meant nothing to her when, in each tree, on each blade of grass, under each stone, were...insects! These creatures of the deepest circle of hell!

It was just not normal to have so many eyes and limbs and be slimy or hairy! Only thinking about it made Nozomi feel sick to the stomach. God, sometimes having little spiders at home, who crawled inside through the open windows, was a nightmare, but in the forest?!

Nope, nope, nope!

Nozomi would rather eat spinach with peanut butter and raisins than face these creepy crawlers. That’s why she was so happy she lived in Odaiba, Tokyo. Everywhere, skyscrapers and barely any nature, that was true paradise!

So knowing her aversion to the wild...why did her parents stick her in summer camp?! She had been a good daughter, did her chorus, barely contradicted them, and brought home just good grades.

Her parents' excuses have gone like this: They had told her she would have fun (lies). That she would make a lot of friends (as if!). How she needed to get out more and not just read books/manga and play video games (what was so bad about that?!).  

Oh, Nozomi was so angry. She had a feeling why her parents shoved her into summer camp. They surely wanted time alone to do adult stuff. With her around, they were barely a couple, so the solution was to banish her to the forest.

Her revenge would be brutal, she swore. She didn’t have a plan for what she would do, but she would get her parents back somehow, just watch her!

Anyway, for now, she was stuck in summer camp, but to hell with her participating in any non-obligatory activities. As soon they children had free time, Nozomi grasped her pastel purple backpack with the silver star stickers and searched for a place where she could hide till it was dinner time.

Skillfully, she avoided the camp counsellors who wanted to motivate the kids to do some activities. Not gonna lie, she felt like a ninja on a secret mission, which was fun.

The first fun she had in this hell camp.

Nozomi's search for a hidey-hole led her up to an abandoned shrine. Oh, if that wasn’t perfect! It was far enough from camp, so no one would bother her, but still close enough that she would hear when dinner time was.

Excellent!

Happily, she stepped inside, made herself sit comfortably on the old tatami mats, and pulled out her newest book from her backpack. It was called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, a big hit currently in the literature world. Nozomi had been curious if all the fuss about it was worth it, and borrowed it from the library.

She had to admit, the book was very good. The world of Harry Potter was fascinating. It pulled you in, made you forget your worries, exactly what she needed to forget that she was in her own personal hell. Even for just a while.

Humming a happy tune, Nozomi's brown eyes flew over the written words, eager to see what adventure awaited Harry in the magical school Hogwarts.  

The brunette girl didn’t know how long she read; there was no clock, just from one moment to the next, her little sanctuary was stormed. A bunch of kids had entered, bringing with them icy cold wind.

Wow, icy cold wind in summer. That was weird.

But for a few months now, the weather has been crazy all around the world.

Why not a cold front for Japan then? All was possible!

“Close the door, close the door!” Nozomi barked, with no intention to turn into a popsicle, and was thankful one of the other kids did so.

They were safe from the cold now, which gave the brunette girl time to scowl at her unwelcome company, other kids from summer camp and also familiar ones.  

Sora, Taichi and Yamato were here, her classmates at Odaiba Primary School.

Then there were Mimi and Koushiro from the fourth class.

Jo-Senpai, the sixth-grader.

And a little blond boy who was cuddled up to Yamato.

There were definitely seven people too many for the solitary Nozomi, even though she already considered Sora a good friend. Sora was always nice to her and didn’t bother people if they wanted to be left alone, which the brunette appreciated.

Sora was also the one who noticed her.

“Nozomi, you're here too,” the redhead said in surprise. The brunette with the pigtails was the last she expected at a summer camp. All knew how much Nozomi hated insects and wouldn’t go freely in a forest full of them.

“Against my will,” Nozomi answered curtly, putting her book back in the backpack. No chance to read now with so many people around.

“I'm surprised to see you outside the library!” Taichi laughed at her. He liked how he could always make Nozomi lose her patience, just like now, as she gave him a venomous look. “Did your parents drag you here?”

“That you even know what a library is, with all the soccerballs you get hit in the head with, Taichi,” Nozomi retorted.

“Hey!”

“She's right,” Yamato agreed. He and Nozomi weren’t close, but she was a smart girl from the few interactions in class they had and was always ready to sass Taichi back, which was funny.

Everyone laughed a little, and Taichi grimaced in annoyance. What nice friends he had!

“Hilarious, guys!” Taichi grumbled.

After that, everyone was quiet and just listened for the snow to stop falling.

A while later, the snowstorm seemed to have calmed down.

Taichi was the first to open the door to check. He happily stepped out into the beautiful snowy landscape.

“The blizzard seems to have finally stopped.”

“There's lots of snow!” the little blond boy cheered happily, “That's cool!”

Yamato followed on his heels and warned him: “Hey, Takeru! You'd better watch out!”

“This is really cold. It's hard to believe it's summer”,  Sora shivers.

“Let's go back to the adults,” Jo-Senpai suggested. “We mustn't put down roots here.”

Meanwhile, Mimi was enchanted by the winter wonderland, and Nozomi stayed inside with Koushiro.

No way would Nozomi go out! Snow was only alright on Christmas, when you’re inside your warm home, with a cup of hot cacao and waiting to unpack gifts. On any other day of the year, snow could stay in hell with insects, found the brunette.

Koushiro grumbling about something having no connection made its way to Nozomi's ears.  Ah, yes, if she remembered correctly, the younger boy was a bit of a computer nerd. He dragged his laptop and mobile phone everywhere and also preferred to stay indoors.

Nozomi bet that he had sent to camp against his will, too. City Kids like them weren’t fans of nature for a lot of reasons.

Suddenly, surprised shouts could be heard from outside. What was now? Don’t tell Nozomi that a polar bear made its way to them. Yes, it was impossible for one being in Japan, but so was also a snowstorm in August, so who knews?!

“Koshiro! Nozomi!” Taichi called. “Come out, come out!”

Normaly she would have stayed inside, whatever Taichi was calling them outside, but Nozomi was also curious. A tiny look couldn’t be bad, no?

Her mouth clapped open in shock, and she pinched her arm to be on the safe side. No, she wasn't dreaming!

There really were the Northern Lights in the sky!

She couldn't help but stare at it while she half-realized that Koushiro had remarked that there was no aurora borealis in Japan and that Jo-Senpai was telling everyone to go back to camp.

Then it got even crazier!

A green vortex formed in the centre of the aurora, and from it,  eight golden lights came hurtling towards Nozomi and the others like meteorites!

The eight children tried to protect themselves as best they could. Anyone just falls, covering their head. Fortunately, none of the lights hit them, even though they were now covered in snow.

While everyone was shaking the snow off their bodies, Sora asked worriedly, “Guys! Is anyone hurt?”

“We're fine,” Yamato told her as he helped the little blond boy up.

“I was scared!” Mimi admitted shakily.

Jo-Senpai shook his head. “What on earth was that?”

“No idea,” Nozomi replied. “I just hope that's it for today!”

She had enough of all the excitement. That's why she prefers books.

When crazy things happened, they happened to the characters and not to her! Why again had her parents brought her to this cursed summer camp?

Unfortunately, the craziness continued when small, white devices floated up from the mini craters in front of the eight children. More out of reflex than anything else, Nozomi grabs her gadget.

What was that now?

Koushiro informed everyone that it was neither a pager nor a mobile phone, when suddenly, out of the blue and in an impossible way, a huge wave rushed towards the eight children!

All they could do was scream for their lives as they were caught. Nozomi fell and fell and fell until she blacked out.

After that, there was only darkness and silence.

(*)

“-Zomi! Nozomi!”

Someone called out to her.

"Come on, wake up!"

An annoyed grumble left Nozomi's mouth. She had no desire to wake up when she was sleeping so soundly!

Then she felt something warm on her chest and nudging her cheek. This wasn't a hand... it was something completely different!

Something like paws!

Frightened, Nozomi opened her brown eyes to meet the blue eyes of a round, yellow fox face!

What was that?! She had never seen a fox like that before.

"Be careful not to catch any flies," the little fox teased.

....Wait a minute?!

"It's talking!" Nozomi screamed in fear and frantically crawled backwards away from the monster.

Oh God, was that a fox spirit?! Was she dead? Is this the afterlife?!

The fox spirit (?) simply followed her on its four little legs, sitting down in front of Nozomi. "Of course, I speak," it snorted, insulted. "After all, I'm a clever Viximon!"

"Viximon?" Nozomi repeated, trembling.

The brunette was completely overwhelmed by the situation. She wanted to run away, but her legs were like jelly, so there was no point in running away. She also had a feeling that this Viximon would simply follow her.

"Are you a fox spirit?" she asked to be sure.

Perhaps if she got Viximon involved in a conversation, Nozomi could find a way out.

Viximon blinks in confusion.

"No, I'm a digital monster, or Digimon for short," it explained, or was it a she? The voice sounded more feminine.

Surprisingly, a voice Nozomi knew reached her ears. Not a second later, Mimi, with a little green plant on four legs, stepped out from the bushes.

Okay, a walking plant with a face, why not?

What was next, a dinosaur?

It was getting crazier by the minute!

"Nozomi, I heard right," Mimi spoke to her and squealed when she saw Viximon. "Ah, you have a little fox, how cute! Almost as cute as my dear Tanemon."

What?!

Shocked, Nozomi regained her strength and was able to stand up. "You think these things are cute?"

Mimi just smiled and nodded. "You don't?"

Okay, objectively speaking, Viximon and Tanemon were cute, but that didn't mean that these Digimon were harmless! Who knows if this wasn’t a trick to make them feel safe and then to eat them alive?!

"Hey, we're not things, we're Digimon," Tanemon pouted cutely.

Viximon answers the little plant: "I think Nozomi is simply overwhelmed. It must be a shock for the children to be here on File Island."

"Could be, Viximon."

"File Island?" Nozomi and Mimi repeated, astonished. They had never heard of such a place. Where was this?

Viximon nodded wisely, while Tanemon smiled at them.

"Exactly, this place is called File Island,"

As if on command, the two girls looked at each other.

"Well, Dorothy, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," Nozomi joked nervously, so she didn't completely collapse. She knew summer camp had been a bad idea, but did anyone listen to her? No! Now they were somewhere completely different with strange, cute creatures!

Mimi laughed nervously. "Yes, I think you're right."

They couldn't talk anymore, because a large red stag beetle flew towards them!

"Yuck!" screamed Nozomi and Mimi together, neither of them fans of beetles. Oh, that would haunt their nightmares for ages to come! How could an insect be so large?! That was not normal!

"No, not yuck!" Tanemon shouted.

"That's Kugawamon, a nasty Digimon!" Viximon clarified. "Quick, we have to get out of here!"

No one needed to be told twice, and the girls with their Digimon ran away. Unfortunately, Kugawamon continued to chase them in the air. As they ran into a clearing, still screaming, the pursued saw familiar faces calling their names. It was the others, who also had little Digimons with them.

Kugawamon flew just above everyone, which knocked Mimi and Nozomi to the ground, and then disappeared for the moment between the dense trees.

"Mimi, are you OK?"

"Tanemon..."

"Nozomi, are you hurt?"

"No, everything's fine, Viximon."

Sora ran towards them and knelt.

"Be strong," the red-haired girl tried to encourage them.

"It's coming back!" Taichi warned loudly as Kugawamon appeared again.

Sora quickly helped them up, and the girls with their Digimon ran away with the others.  Everyone ran like world champions, even Nozomi, who was completely unathletic, but Kugawamon didn't let them go. It lunged at the group again, and everyone just managed to throw themselves to the ground thanks to Yamato's warning. Kugawamon flew over them, back into a group of trees.

"What the hell is that monster?!"Jo-Senpai gasped. "Where in the name of all that is holy did we end up here?!"

Another plant-like Digimon warned: "It's coming back!"

"That's why I hate insects so much!" Nozomi grumbled, while Viximon looked at her worriedly.

"Shit!" Taichi cursed, "We won't let that dung beetle get to us!"

"Taichi, forget it," Sora pleaded as she helped Mimi up.

"Exactly! We don't have any weapons to fight back!"Yamato reminded, who was kneeling protectively next to the little blond boy.

Koushiro thought that escape was the only option. Nozomi agreed, and the large group took off again, Kugawamon always hot on their heels. They didn’t know how long they ran for their lives, but everyone came to an abrupt stop when they reached a cliff.

"Great! Dead end!" Nozomi swore.

They were trapped!

Taichi suggested finding another way, but that didn't work because Kugawamon had caught up with them. Once again, everyone threw themselves to the ground to avoid being caught by the evil Digimon. The latter swung around and wanted to attack Taichi now!

However, a round pink Digimon with long ears jumped in between. The small ball attacked with soap bubbles, but the giant stag beetle didn't mind. It swatted the small ball away like an annoying fly, which made Taichi call out his name in concern: "Koromon!"

Undeterred, Kogawamon wanted to attack the rest of the group, but all the remaining Digimon jumped into the air to protect the children. Like Koromon, they also used soap bubbles against the large insect. It also knocked the other Digimon to the ground, like Koromon, but at least the evil Digimon landed inelegantly in a group of trees.

Nozomi and the other children were dismayed to see the unconscious Digimon lying on the ground. These little creatures had risked their lives for them! Why would they do something like that for someone they barely knew?

The brunette with the pigtails felt warmth in her heart, a few tears falling from her eyes.

And she had distrusted Viximon! Viximon, who didn’t hesitate to protect her!

She quickly ran to her Digimon and lifted her into her arms. Around her, the other children did the same with their Digimon.

"Viximon, why?" Nozomi sobbed,

"I have to protect you...", the little yellow fox resolutely replied, even though you could see that she was in pain.

Unfortunately, no one could breathe a sigh of relief or take care of their Digimon, as Kugawamon freed himself from the trees! With their respective Digimon in their arms, everyone ran over to Taichi and Koromon at the end of the cliff.

"Does anyone have an idea?" Nozomi hoped, pressing Viximon protectively to her chest while Kugawamon stomped threateningly towards them.

Sadly, none of the children had any idea how to deal with the giant stag beetle.

"I have to go!" Koromon declared. "We have to fight!"

"What are you talking about?!" Taichi said in disbelief.

"Exactly! We've been waiting for this moment," Koushiro's ghost-like Digimon agreed.

"Stop it!" the red-haired boy begged.

Sora looked worriedly at her little plant when it announced that it wanted to fight, too. She made it clear how crazy it was for the little Digimon to take on Kogawamon again. Now, all the Digimon tried to free themselves from their children's arms to throw themselves into the fight.

"No, Viximon, don't do it!" Nozomi pleaded, but the little fox had already jumped out of her arms and raced towards Kugawamon with the other little Digimon.

Each of the children screamed the name of their Digimon with all their hearts, full of desperation, hoping for a miracle.

And a miracle happened!

Rainbow light fell on the nine Digimon, changing them.

"Koromon digivolves into Agumon!"

"Pyocomon digivolves into Biyomon!"

"Viximon digivolves into Renamon!"

"Motimon digivolves into Tentomon!"

"Tsunomon digivolves into Gabumon!"

"Tokomon digivolves into Patamon!"

"Pukamon digivolves into Gomamon!"

"Tanemon digivolves into Palmon!"

When the rainbow light went out, Nozomi and the others saw the change their Digimon had undergone.

Of course, they were all amazing, but Nozomi's gaze was drawn to Viximon, or rather Renamon. Renamon was a yellow fox on two legs, bigger than all the other Digimon and, if Nozomi had to bet, bigger than her and the other children, too.

"What happened?" Taichi stuttered.

"A miracle," Nozomi breathed ecstatically, like in one of her books! "A miracle has happened!"

"Get him!" Agumon, the little yellow dinosaur, cheered on his Digimon friends.

So all the Digimon threw themselves at Kugawamon, who knocked them away, but they all landed on their feet without any problem. No comparison to before.

"That little bit doesn't bother us!" Agumon teased.

"Don't get cocky," Renamon warned in an older boy's voice. "The fight is not won yet!"

Kugawamon rose into the air in anger, but Palmon grabbed one of his legs with her tendrils and stopped him. Patamon flew behind Kugawamon, took a deep breath and shot a load of air into Kugawamon's stupid face. Tentomon followed up with a small electric shock, which made Kugawomon sizzle nicely. Gomamon slipped under one of Kugawamon's legs, which brought him to one of his knees. Then Agumon, Gabumon and Biyomon shot various fire attacks at the insect, which made it burn. Finally, Renamon jumped elegantly into the air and attacked with his diamond storm. Sharp little white splinters rained down on the evil stag beetle, causing him to bleed.

The evil insect Digimon screamed angrily.

Agumon ordered his Digimon friends to attack together once again. All those who had defensive attacks unleashed them on Kugawamon. The storm of fire, air, lightning and sharp diamond shards was too much for it. Defeated, it fell backwards into the trees.

Nozomi and the other children were simply stunned. It was unbelievable what their Digimon had done! They couldn't even look that fast before their Digimon ran happily towards them.

The brunette met Renamon halfway, falling into her fox's arms. Yes, Renamon was at least two heads taller than her.

"You were awesome, Renamon!" she cheered. "You're so cool!"

She had changed her mind about Renamon; someone who risks their life for them couldn’t be evil. Maybe some would call her reckless, but Nozomi just had a good feeling about her Digimon friend.

"Oh, it wasn't worth mentioning,"  Renamon stated casually, patting her head, which made Nozomi giggle.

The others also hugged their Digimon, praising them.

But as so often in life, everyone had celebrated too soon. Kugawamon was back on his feet!

It rammed its sharp jaws into the bottom of the cliff on which the children and Digimon were standing.

Immediately, it began to shake and wobble.

Nozomi clung to Renamon as she screamed: "Oh no, not again!"

Unfortunately, yes.

Once again, everyone fell deep into nowhere...

Chapter Text

Chapter 02: The mysterious Telephone Boxes

Falling from a cliff was an experience Nozomi wouldn’t recommend to anyone. It was nothing like the Free Fall Tower at an amusement park—there were no safety belts, no thrill, only a dizzying, sickening plunge through open air.

The other kids’ screams mingled with the shrill cries of their Digimon as they tumbled together, limbs flailing. The wind roared in Nozomi’s ears, snatching away every thought except for pure, animal panic.

She glimpsed flashes of fur, feathers, and desperate eyes as everyone twisted in the air, helpless against gravity’s pull.

“Sora!”

“Koshiro!”

“Takeru!”

The flying Digimon, Biyomon, Tentomon and Patamon yelled the names of their partners, desperately grasping their charges. They fly hard to keep them from falling, but the combined weight is too much, and they all continue falling.

Palmon, holding tightly to Mimi, uses her Poison Ivy Attack, clinging to a rock jutting from the cliff face. Sadly, the rock comes loose from the wall, and they also continue falling.

Renamon grits their teeth, protective holding Nozomi, looking around for a way to save their partner. This was not good. If they didn’t find a way, Nozomi and the other kids would die.

It seems like the universe was kind to them, because under them was not hard ground but a river! Gomamon was the first to land inside and didn’t waste time. He calls for his Marching Fishes, the colourful fishes working as a safety net and a float for the children and other Digimon. Stupified Nozomi still clings to Renamon, looking around. That they would be saved by fish was crazy, but don’t look a gifted horse in the mouth, right? At least the other seven kids and Digimon didn’t seem hurt, and that was what counted.

“Hey, look, guys!” Yamato called and pointed up.

It was very satisfying to see stupid Kuwagamon fall from the cliff, too. What was not was that his impact in the river created huge waves, catapulting the group back to land.

They lay on the ground, dizzy and very confused. Damn, no ride in a amusment park was that crazy like what they had experienced. Nozomi normally liked Amusment Parks; however, after this involuntary adrenaline-kick she had enough for a while.

If this set the tone for their time here on File Island, the pigtailed brunette wanted a refund from the summer camp!

“Seems like we are finally safe.” Yamato signend relievend. They'd better be after this helltrip!

“What kind of fish was that?!” Jo-Senpai asked no one specifically, yet his partner Gomamon answered him: “These are my Marching Fishes. I can control the fish with my will.”

“Ah! I understand. You saved us. Thank you, Pukamon...erm, what are you called now?”

“I’m Gomamon.”

Gomamon looked more like a white seal than the brown baby seal from before. Meanwhile, little Takeru turned to his Digimon partner, who had been Tokomon and was now Patamon. In Nozomi's eyes, Patamon looked like a kind of overgrown hamster with bat-like wing ears.

“We digi-evoled.” Agumon, the yellow little dino of Taichi, explained, as if it made sense to the humans.  

“Digi-evolved?” Taichi repeats, confused. “Why did you digi-evolve?”

A possible answer came from Koshiro. “Normally, beings of a species evolve into a higher form of the same species.”

“Right!” Tentomon agreed. “Because of that evolution, I turned from Motimon to Tentomon.” The little ghost was now a ladybug?

This took the other Digimon as a signal to introduce themselves again to the kids.

“I turned from Pyocomon to Biyomon.” From plant to bird, okay?

“I evolved from Tsunomon to Gabumon.” Tsunomon had been just a ball with a horn, and now was...kind of a dog on two legs? Nozomi really didn’t get it.

“I was Tanemon, and now I’m Palmon.” Plant turned into plant, that was logical.

“Viximon, now Renamon.” Her Digimon Friend was the clear winner.

“And I was Koromon and became Agumon.” That bunny-like ball was a dino now, okay, cool.

Nozomi had her arms crossed and nodded thoughtfully. “I get the evolution from Viximon to Renamon, since they’re still a fox or how Tanemon became Palmon, since she is still a plant, but how did a plant like Pyocomon become a bird-like being, ala Biyomon?”

That was just too crazy and didn’t make any sense.

“Perhaps they don’t evolve like animals,” Koushiro stated. “Their evolution might fall under different rules than what we’re used to.”

“Mmh, yeah, could be.” Nozomi agreed.

This whole island was crazy, why not the species that lived here?

“Well, at least they’re stronger.” Taichi pointed out with his arms crossed behind his head. “Say, Agumon, are you still a Digital Monster?”

“Yes, I am! But it was good that I met you, Taichi.”

“Huh, why?”

“Alone, I could never digi-evolve. It alone worked because we met.”

“Really?”

Sora asked Biyomon if it was the same for her, which the pink bird confirmend and Tentomon explained, after Koushiro's own question, how all eight Digimon could evolve only because they met their respective children. Palmon made a cute pirouette, thanking Mimi, who just said how she didn’t do anything special. Takuro askend cuorious Patamon if he could turn back to Tokomon, but the Digimon wasn’t sure.

“I don’t get it.” Jo-Senpai signed, what all kids thought.

“Well, we neither,” Gomamon stated.

“Awesome! So, where somewhere strange, with even stranger creatures, and even you guys don’t know how anything works here,” Nozomi grumbled with still crossed arms. Had none of them a clear answer?

“It’s hard to explain, Nozomi.” Renamon began in a calm tone. “We know somethings just instinctual. Just like you humans know how to breathe from the second you’re born. You don’t have to think about it, right?”

Huh, that made sense in a way.  “I suppose...”

“Anyway, what should we do now?” Yamato questions.

“Let’s get back. We wait till the adults pick us up.” Jo-Senpai suggested.

“And how should we get back?” Taichi wondered, as all followed his look towards the cliff they had fallen from.

“We have been driven away far from it.” Sora pointed out.

“I don’t believe we can just climb it,” Yamato said, looking critically at the high cliff formation.

“What should we do then?” Nozomi wondered.

“There has to be a path going up.” Jo-Senpai was sure.

“We don’t even know where we are.” Yamato reminded him. “The camp doesn’t seem to be near here.”

“Right. The flora here is similar to the subtropics.” Koushiro said.

“Facts!”

“Huh? You know the difference, Tentomon?”

“Naah.”

A sweatdrop formed on Koushiro's head. Seemed like Tentomon liked to appear smart, which wasn’t helpful in the slightest.

Jo-Senpai insited how if they had come down, there had to be a way up to the cliff formation. Sora agreed, since it was probably for the best to go back there and perhaps find clues as to why they are here and not in summer camp anymore.

“What? But there could be more of these giant insects like the one before!” Mimi whined.

“I feel you.” Nozomi groanend. “I have seen enough giant murderous beetles for the rest of my life!”

“Apologise, girls, you will see more of them,” Renamon revealed with Palmon nodding along.

Poor Nozomi and Mimi made disgusted faces. “Urrgh!”

Summer Camp turned from hell into a nice vacation spot in confront of this bizarre, giant insect-infested place.

Yamato pointed out how they should avoid dangers, while Taichi asked Agumon if there were more humans like them around here. Only to be disappointed when the little dino told him how here only Digimon lived and how they were the first humans here.

Suprisend Taichi stated how even if they beeings here were all Digimon, they came in all variants and colours. Sora snipped her finger, remembering how their Digimon told them they were now in a place called File Island. Yamato wonder if it truly was an island, and Koushiro stated that he never heard of an island called this.

“We’re not in Japan?” Jo-Senpai uttered, a bit scared.

“Senpai, I believe we’re far away from home,” Nozomi commented dryly. “I doubt any of us heard about Digimon in the first place. This must be somekind of hidden island...like Atlantis!”

“Atlantis is a mythos.” Koushiro lectured.

“Well, how do you explain it then?”

“Okay, I don’t have anything to counter that, sadly.”  

“Let’s just walk around,” Taichi proposed. “Staying here doesn’t help us at all.”

“Hey, where are you going?” Yamato wonders as Taichi, with Agumon, starts to march away.

“I saw the ocean.”

“The ocean?”

“Right! Let’s take a look, guys.”

Well, what else could they do, so why not check out the ocean? So the eight children and eight Digimon walked along the riverbank, besides Gomamon, who just swam in the river.

Sora and Koushiro talked about how they never seen such trees, while the boy corrected his previous statement about the subtropes. Not even there do such trees grow. Wary Jo-Senpai looked around, expecting something to jump them, as he admitted they really weren’t in Japan anymore, since all was so freaky. The most freakiest things in Yamato's eyes were the Digimon, no doubt.

“Digital Monster, electronic monster...” Koushiro murmurs thoughtfully.

“You can just call us Digimon.” Tentomon offered.

“You don’t make the impression that you’re electronic.”

“Huh? Do you need electricity? Here you go!”

Between Tentomon's wings a little ball of electricy formend.

“Hey! Stop it!”

Little Takeru asked Patamon if he really could fly, which the Digimon demonstrated. It was awesome, but Patamon was very slow. Biyomon proclaimed to be a faster flyer, but Sora pointed out how the bird Digimon was just as fast as Patamon, so barely.

Meanwhile, Mimi found Palmon was just like a plant, which the Digimon agreed with since she could do photosynthesis. Eagerly, the girl with the pink cowboy hat wanted a demonstration, which made Palmon blush, saying that if Mimi knew what photosynthesis was. Her answer that Palmon could make photos was an answer enough.

“Say, Renamon.” Nozomi turned to the tall fox beside her. “You’re very different from the other Digimon. Not only from the height but from your character. The other Digimon are more like children.”

“Rookie-Digimon are normally childlike, good eye, Nozomi.” Renamon praised her, making the human girl smile. “But there are exceptions, of course. Renamon are naturally more mature. We are calm, cool, and collected beings. I don’t see any reason to act childishly; it’s not part of my character.”

“I see, you are indeed very cool. I’m glad I don’t have to babysit you.”

“You shouldn’t. It’s my duty to protect you, not the other way around.”

Taichi, who was leading with Agumon, the group of humans and Digimon, asked his dino friend, since here on File Island, only Digimon lived, did it make Kugawamon one too? Agumon confirmed it, which made Koushiro think loudly if there were more aggressive Digimon like it around, and Tentomon again confirmed how anything was only Digimon here.

That’s when Gabumon informed the group how he could smell the ocean, while Gomamon already saw it. The kids and Digimon couldn’t even enjoy the views, as the sound of a ringing telephone drifted to their ears. Naturally curoius they started running, seeing after a few meters telephone boxes along the shoreline.

As Taichi reached the telephone box, the ringing suddenly stopped. How weird.

Rightfully, Sora asked why there were telephone boxes anyway. It didn’t make any sense. They did look like the normal telephone boxes they had in Japan, though; it came from Yamato, and Mimi agreed that such a box was before her house.

“That can only mean...” Jo-Senpai began dramatically. “We’re still in Japan!”

“And pray and tell where?” Nozomi deadpannend. “I never heard of such an island like this back home.”

Before Jo-Senpai could answer, Gomamon askend innocenlty if you could eat Japan. Eh, what?

“Alright, maybe I am wrong...” Jo-Senpai admitted.

That’s when Taichi asked Koshiro if he had ten yen, since the googles-wearing boy wanted to call home. Not a bad idea! So Koshiro gave Taichi his phonecard, while the other kids each picked a telephone box to call their parents. Nozomi blinked wide-eyed behind her round glasses as she heard a woman's voice listing the instructions for Onigiri and not one of her parents.

“What the heck?” the brunette cursed, while Renamon had their arms crossed, watching her.

“It doesn’t work for you either, Nozomi?” Sora asked her.

She turned towards the other girl, who stood with Taichi and their two Digimon, shaking her head. “No. Someone is messing with us, I bet.”

“Damn it, what’s going on with these phones?!” Taichi wonder angry.

None of them had an answer.

A while later, Nozomi and the other kids with their Digimon sat around the beach, watching as Jo-Senpai tried and tried to call home or any adult who could help them.

“He doesn’t know when to give up, mmh?” Koshiro stated.

“That’s Jo-Senpai for you,” Taichi answered the red-haired boy.

“He is wasting all his money...” Nozomi noted, sitting cross-legged on the beach, supporting her head with her hands.

Yamato signed frustated. “Whichever number we called, we got only idiotic info as an answer.”

“Forgot it.” Taichi declared, standing up. “Let’s just leave.”

The blond-haired Yamato stopped Taichi, reminding him that perhaps they couldn't call someone, but they could get called, like when they heard the phones ring for the first time! For that, the brunette Taichi just raisend a eyebrown, saying how it was a waste of time just doing nothing. Yamato insisted they could at least watch them for a while longer and that most of them needed a break.

It was true. Tired and listless, the other kids and Digimon sat around the sand, trying to get some energy back. Koshiro also stated how they were hungry, which Taichi agreed on, since they still hadn’t lunch.

So, break time was declared, which made anyone sign in relief.

“Does someone have food?” Sora asked in the round. “I have...huh?”

Suprisend her fingers found a weird device on her fanny pack.

“Hey, it’s the thing which fall from the sky.”

“Oh, I have this too,” Taichi said, getting it out of his pocket.

“It’s on my bag!” Mimi shared also surprised.

“I have one too,” Takeru informed.

“Mine is on my backpack strap.” Nozomi poked it in curiosity. “Strange. I don’t remember putting it there.”

“Seems like we all have one with us.” Yamato summarized.

“There seems to be something about it...” Koshiro trailed off as his stomach grumbled. “Can we go back to lunch?”

From her fanny pack, Sora got out a emerency-first aid set with Band-Aids, disinfectant, needle and thread. Koshiro had his laptop, a digital camera and mobilphone with him, which strangely didn’t work anymore, even if they should have full battery. Taichi had only a pair of silver binoculars with him, and Yamato just said he didn’t have any food.

This made little Takeru giggle, showing off the different sweet and salty snacks he had. Mimi was over the moon, but then remembered how the youngest wasn’t part of their summer camp group, and Takeru explained how he was just visiting his big brother, Yamato.

Now it was Nozomi's turn to show what she had in her bag.

“I have two water bottles with me, and this Onigiri’s my Ma made for me. I already ate two before we landed here, so we only have eight left, sorry. Also, I have a book from the library and a notebook with a pen.”

“It’s awesome you have water with you. If we split it up, anyone can have a drink.” Sora said, which made Nozomi smile, before she turned to Mimi. “What do you have, Mimi? Your bag is so big.”

Surpingly Mimi, who didn’t seem the camping girl either, had a lot of practical items with her. Solid Fuel, fishing line set, a compass, a torch, and even one of the famous Swiss Army knives. Everyone was in awe at how well prepared she was. Giggling Mimi confessed to having borrowed the items from her dad, without asking.

Taichi stated that it wasn’t what you brought normally to a fun summer camp, while Yamato said it would be useful, and Sora agreed, since they didn’t know what would also happen here on File Island. The brunette googles head nodded and then pointed out how Jo was calling number after number without success.

That’s when Taichi noted how Jo actually had the emergency rations with him. All the other kids got excited! Yes, that means they would have enough food for anyone!

It turned out Jo had this bag with him since in summer camp it was Mimi’s turn to carry the heavy bag. Of course, Mimi refused to carry the bag, but it wasn't important anyway. The kids wanted the rations inside!

So they sat down in a circle with their Digimon friends, and Jo tried to calculate how long the rations would last. Luck was not on their side since Jo, with Koshiro's help, didn’t come up for more than two days! Also, Sora reminded them that their Digimon needed food too, so not even a day.

Oh man....

“Don’t worry about us, children. We will hunt and scavenge for our own food.” Renamon assured them.

“You sure, Renamon?” Nozomi asked.

The other Digimon agreed, telling the children how they already knew how to provide for themselves. Well, all except Agumon, who enjoyed getting fed by Taichi some crackers. Jo-Senpai yelled at Taichi for giving his Digimon the rations of the humans, while the brunette just told him to relax.

Suddenly, Renamon's head snapped up, and Biyomon turned towards the ocean.

“Renamon, what's wrong?”

“Biyomon, is something the matter?”

“Something is coming,” Biyomon informed, and Renamon added. “Something big.”

Where the telephone boxes stood, a water geyser shot out from the sand, destroying them all. As fast as they could kids and Digimon ran away to not get buried under the telephone boxes or get hit by the moving geyser.

“What was that?!” Taichi shouted in shock.

Out of the sand, a giant spiky-looking hermit crab-like house appeared. The Digimon which came outside was pink and had a soft body like a mollusc. Tentomon explained that this was Shellmon, and this beach must be his territory!

And what happens if you trespass on a territory? Right, you get attacked! Jo-Senpai got a taste of Shellmon's power, as he attacked him with his water fontan from his head.

Their Digimon didn’t waste attacking Shellmon to protect their kids, but strangely, only Agumon managed to hit the enemy Digimon; all the others couldn’t even attack and got their butt kicked. It turned out they were all to hungry to fight, besides Agumon!

So only Agumon and Taichi could do something, while the other kids held their Digimon, watching on and praying nothing would happen to them.

Taichi played the diversion for Agumon, so he could attack with his Baby Flame Shellmon. Then Taichi grabbed a piece of metal from the destroyed phone boxes, hitting Shellmon over and over with it. This didn’t like Shellmon and, with one of the yellow tentacle-like hairs on his head, grabbed Taichi! Before Agumon could do something to save his kid, the villainous Digimon pinned him with his large hand down on the sand and then attacked the others with water out of his head.

The fountain-like water hit them hard. It was like a truck had rammed them, making Digimon and humans alike scream out of pain.

Was this their end? Would they die here at the hands of this Shellmon? Never to return home?

That’s when something extraordinary happened.

Like before, rainbow light shone down, but only on Agumon this time, making him grow as big as Shellmon. He wasn’t a tiny yellow dino anymore, but a grow T-Rex like dino in orange with blue stripes and a hard-horned head!

The new Digimon, named Greymon, didn’t waste time. After Taichi was free and safe, Greymon defeated Shellmon by throwing him up in the air, sending his Mega Flame at him, which made the evil Digimon land far away in the ocean.

Good riddance!

Greymon turned back to Agumon and was now also just as hungry as the other Digimon. It was decided how their Digimon friends should eat, and after that, they would leave the beach. Shellmon was defeated, yes, but he would surely return; better get going.

After a bit of arguing about where they should go, it was decided that they would search for other humans. The idea was behind it; if telephone boxes existed, then humans must have built them, so there had to be humans!

With hope in their hearts and a plan, the eight children and eight Digimon walked away from the beach, towards the adventure of a lifetime.

This, of course, they would realise much later.

Chapter Text

03: The Lonely Tram and the Black Gear

Slowly, the sun was setting on File Island, turning everything into a soft pinkish-orange light.

The children and their Digimon friends had been walking for hours after their short break on Shellmon beach. Besides their meeting with two for the territory fighting Monochromon, they hadn’t seen any other Digimon or humans.

This was worrying.

If they still didn’t find humans before nightfall, what should they do? Would they be forced to sleep in the wild? God, Nozomi hoped not, sleeping on the hard ground where insects could crawl all over you was a nightmare.

Sadly, it seemend like they had too, uurgh.

“I’m so tired,” Mimi whined, leaning on a tree, refusing to walk anymore.

“Just a bit more, Mimi,” Taichi promised her, walking past her.

“My feet are swollen!”

“I feel you, Mimi.” Nozomi groaned, sitting down on the ground beside Mimi. “I was not made to walk so much!”

“Now, girls, I understand you’re tired, but we need to find a good spot for the night,” Renamon voiced. “Somewhere safer than just in the middle of the forest, with a water source nearby and plenty of food.”

Nozomi and Mimi grumbled; they understood this, but they were still so tired and their feet hurt.

“You’re way too cool, Renamon,” Nozomi mumbled, and Mimi asked hopefully. “Renamon, dear, can’t you carry us? You’re so tall and strong, please!”

However, the yellow fox digimon just deadpanned at them. “No, you can walk just fine.”

The tired girls complained together. “Meanie!”

“Look at the positive side, girls.” Agumon chirped. “Big feet are better! With them, the body has more hold.”

“Feet like yours, I don’t want,” Mimi stated.

“Ditto.” Nozomi agreed.

“Right! Feet like cat paws are so much better.” Palmon gushed, only to fall on the ground as the tired girls said how they wanted such feet neither.

Resolute Renamon picked Nozomi off the ground, placing her on her feet. “Be a big girl now and walk. You also, Mimi.”

The girls just sulked more.

Meanwhile, a bit further away, Koshiro and Sora talked about what a strange but pretty colour the sunset had and how dangerous it would be to walk at night. That’s when Tentomon flew up, telling how he was smelling fresh water. Indeed, there was a big lake further away from them!

There, they could make camp; it was perfect.

Soon they reached the lake, looking in awe at the pretty sight. The water was so clear, and the forest around it gave it a whimsical touch.

Suddenly, a Tram, a real Tram with electricity even, appeared a bit further away from them. Since it was so odd, the children and their Digimon investigated it. Maybe there was a human inside?!

Sadly, their hopes were crushed as they saw that no one was inside. Koshiro pointed out that the Tram was new, while Mimi and Nozomi already sat down on the comfy seats. Aww, that was amazing after walking so much.

“Back then, the telephone boxes on the beach and now this Tram,” Taichi said. “What is going on here?”

“Who cares? Shouldn’t we just be happy we found such a fine spot for a camp? I’m sleeping here.” Nozomi declared.

“Indeed.” Sora agreed. “This is the perfect spot.”

“But first we should eat something.” Tentomon reminded the group of children and Digimon.

Since this was true, the group split up into smaller pairs to prepare camp.

Koshiro, Takeru and Gomamon went fishing. Tentomon found some of his favourite berries. Jo-Senpai and Sora gather wood for the fire campfire. Agumon, Patamon, Gabumon and Biyomon collected banana-like fruits, which somehow ended up on poor Gabumon's horn. Palmon and Mimi plucked mushrooms, after Palmon warned the human girl which ones were edible and which were poisonous. Nozomi and Renamon found some kind of nuts, which Renamon got down from the trees with their Diamontstorm, while the pigtailed brunette caught them.

After Sora, Yamato and Taichi build the campfire, Agumon inflames the dry wood, so the fish Koshiro and Takeru caught get grilled. Yamato shows Taichi how to properly cook fish by sticking it on a stick and then placing it at a distance from the fire.

Soon, the beautiful, shining full moon was in the sky, as the children and Digimon gathered around the campfire, enjoying the grilled fish, fruits and nuts they had gathered. Nozomi leaned happily on Renamon, the fur of her Digimon friend keeping her warm, as she enjoyed her fish.

Thankful the fish here on this strange island was just as good as the one back home, and the weird-looking fruits and nuts were also tasty.

Anyone was happily eating, for a moment forgotten the stress of this particular day.

Nozomi couldn’t help but smile a bit behind her fish, seeing the cool Yamato wanting to take the herringbones from Takeru's fish and then Taichi just telling the youngest to eat. It showed what different big brothers Taichi and Yamato were. The brunette herself was an only child, but had a younger cousin she adored like a sibling. She wonders how her shy little cousin is doing...

Before she could drift up in sad thoughts, Nozomi heard how Jo-Senpai, Sora and Taichi talked about the night sky. It was weird; neither the North Star nor the Southern Cross was there. In what kind of place on Earth did they end up? Really, File Island was getting weirder by the hour.

Since the children and Digimon were getting tired, it was decided to go to bed, but not before agreeing to keep watch. Nozomi was glad she was a girl, since they were freed from this duty and also little Takeru.

As Mimi pointed out, they didn’t have bedclothes. Taichi got a mischievous smile, pulling on poor Gabumon's fur coat, since he wanted to see if they could use this as a blanket. Yamato didn’t like this, shoving Taichi, telling him to leave Gabumon alone.

Both boys were ready to throw hands, since Taichi was just joking, but Takeru begged them to stop. Then Jo-Senpai got between them, turning the talk into a discussion about who should first keep watch.

It was decided, first Taichi with Agumon, then Yamato with Gabumon, Koshiro with Tentomon and lastly Jo-Senpai with Gomamon.  

With this out of the world, they left Taichi and Agumon, getting inside the Tram and picking their sleeping places. They put some comfy big leaves on the ground for Palmon, Tentomon, Gomamon and Biyomon, while the humans sat on the benches with Patamon, Renamon and Gabumon.

“Normally I sleep in a bed...” Mimi murmured, taking off her cowboy hat.

“We’re lucky to have found this spot to sleep.” Sora reminded her. “Good night then.”

All said it back, getting comfortable.

Nozomi leaned her head on Renamon's shoulder, who had wrapped their tail around her to keep her warm. One by one, the children and Digimon fall asleep, each of them tired from the crazy day they had.

Though they didn’t sleep for long.

The ground started to shake, waking up the children and Digimon in one instance. Nozomi held onto Renamon, looking confused.

“What’s going on?!” Sora shouted.

“It’s an earthquake!” Mimi cried, cowering on the ground beside Palmon.

“Can the tram drive?” Jo-Senpai wonderd.

“A monster appeared!” Koshiro corrected him.

“It’s Seadramon!” Tentomon told.

“Guy’s let’s get out of here!” Nozomi barked. “We’re here a easy snack!”

No had to be told twice. Outside, they noted how the island, where their Tram stood, was somehow glued to Seadramon, who took them for a ride around the lake.

Damn, that overgrown sea noodle was pissed, which surprised Tentomon, since normally that Digimon was calm. Turns out a bit of burning wood had landed on its tail, and now Seadramon wanted to repay them for the invultary pain they caused him.

Their Digimon friends attacked Seadramon, but it didn’t even scratch him. Seadramon was too strong for them, so Taichi asked Agumon to digi-evolve, only to be disappointed when the little dino admitted he couldn’t.

Yamato and Gabumon finally reached them, having swum from the shore to their little island, when Takure fell into the lake. Thankful Gomamon was there to catch the little boy, and then Yamato played the bait for Seadramon. Seadramon ignored them, fixed on Yamato and with a tail whip swung Gabumon out of the water!

Then he wrapped his tail around Yamato, squeezing him harder and harder. The water Digimon wanted to kill the blond boy, that was clear, but a miracle happened again.

Just with Agumon and Taichi on Shellmon beach, Gabumon's worry for his child made him digi-evolve into a big wolf named Garurumon. Garurumon didn’t waste time, saved Yamato and defeated Seadramon!

Everyone was happy and glad that this little nighttime adventure was over.

After they managed to go back to the shore, most of them just sat or lay down on the ground. Nozomi used Renamon's lap as a pillow, while her fox friend leaned on a tree, listing how the other talked about how Gabumon and not Agumon digi-evolved.

This made them question if the humans had to be in danger for their Digimon to evolve?

But this was something they could think about later. Now they could finally sleep in peace.

So under the lovely melody from Yamato’s harmonica, the group of humans and Digimon fall asleep.

(*)

The same day, just hours later, the children and Digimon continued their travels. Currently walking in a forest with warning signs on the trees when they heard and saw something strange.

Over their heads, a flat, round and black thing flows. What was that?

“That looked like a gear.” Yamato found.

“Could be a flying discus.” Sora shared.

“Or a meteor in the form of a gear.” Mimi thought aloud.

“A UFO,” Nozomi said with an ironic tone. “We’re in Bizarroland, so that wouldn’t surprise me.”

“What is a UFO, Nozomi?” Palmon askend, while all Digimon lookend curouise.

Yamato answered. “It’s something that doesn’t exist. Nozomi was just joking around.”

“That sounds rehearsed to me,” the brunette with the pigtails, whisper-shouted conspiratorially to the Digimon. “We are not alone.”

The humans snorted a bit and even more as Yamato rolled his eyes and the Digimon just lookend adroable, confused.

Takeru joined them on the little hill they stood on, but hurt himself. Before Yamato could pick up his brother, Taichi did it, placing the little boy on his legs. Takeru tried to be strong, but with Sora's assuring words, he admitted to being a bit hurt.

They decided to continue walking, even if the group didn’t know where to go, but it was better than just standing around. Biyomon showed a cuddly and affectionate side towards Sora, which was very cute, but the human girl seemed annoyed.

According to Tentomon, Biyomon were Digimon trusting towards humans, which made Koshiro say that any Digimon had their own unique character. That was interesting, but Nozomi had a feeling since Renamon had pointed out how their Digimon species was more mature than other Digimon at their level.

The forest gave way to a desert, which was filled with power pylons. In hindsight, it had been a stupid idea to walk into the desert without water and the sun beating down on them. It was way too hot!

All were tired, sweaty, thirsty and hungry. Which made the normally calm Sora snap at the clingy Biyomon, but thankful no fight broke out.

The group decided to get out of the desert, so Taichi checked with his binoculars the environment. Nothing soundend more sweeter than Taichi saying there was a village in the distance!

With new energy and hope, it could be a human village, the kids and Digimon walked to the village, only to gasp in surprise seeing all the Pyocomon with little huts there.

So much for being a human village, it was a Pyocomon one!

It was adorable and, as Mimi said remind one of Gulliver's Travels, but the small sizes of anything meant they couldn't surely stay.

Meanwhile, Biyomon had a blast telling the little Pyocomon all about Sora, while the human in question was annoyed. Nozomi saw that and stepped to Sora, kneeling beside her. She wanted to check on her friend, since Sora always made sure she was alright.

“Biyomon is just excited and likes you.” Nozomi pointed out. “That's why she brags about you.”

“It’s not that...it’s just she clings to me so tightly. I’m not used to it.” Sora admitted to her.

The brunette patted the shoulder of her friend. “Maybe just tell her you need a bit of space, but eh, nicely. Biyomon isn’t doing this to annoy you.”

“I suppose...”

That’s when Biyomon stepped to them, telling Sora how the Pyocomon invited them to dinner. All were so glad and thankful to the little Digimon, though they wondered what they would eat.

But little Takeru just raced up to the fountain in the park, eager to drink some fresh water, which was a good idea, and the other followed him.

Out of nowhere, flames shoot up from the fountain! Luckily, no one was hurt. Even the lake was dry! What was now going on?

The children and the Digimon tried to make sense out of this situation. A Pyocomon told them how all water came from the Mt Miharashi, so something had to happen there, but what? Could it be the cause of the black gear they had seen back then, it had flied into this direction.

The situation got worse as Meramon, the guard of the mountain, came down from it, screaming like a lunatic. Something was clearly wrong with Meramon, but for now, they all ran away from it, finding shelter in the ship of the dry lake.

Agumon and his friends faced the crazy Digimon, however their attacks made it just stronger. Then, as Biyomon bravely stood before Sora to protect her, the little pink bird digi-evolved to Birdramon, a phoenix-like giant bird.

Birdramon managed to defeat Meramon, and from his back a black gear shot out, destroyed.

It turned out that something about the black gear made Meramon act this way, but he couldn’t tell why. After thanking him for freeing him from it, Meramon got back to his mountain, and since the water returned, all was well again.

So only one thing was left to do...dinner, which the Pyocomon promised them. In disbelief, the humans stared at their bowls of seeds, while the Digimon ate with enthusiasm.

Well, did they have any other option? No. So the kids also eat their share, which wasn’t half so bad.

Food was food and better than nothing.

So another day on File Island passed for the children under the pinkish-orange sunset.

What would tomorrow bring?