//------------------------------// // A Time for Talking // Story: Digital Harmony // by Zennistrad //------------------------------// Despite the massive interdimensional jet lag that came with the transfer between worlds, Cody found himself settling into his resting place relatively quickly. Soon after Ken and Wormmon had left the tent for reasons unknown, T.K. and his partner had followed after, leaving the other Digi-Destined to wind down for the night. Before long, Cody had found himself deep in sleep. His dreams were fuzzy and undefined, like a television screen that was almost but not quite able to pick up a signal. Yet even in the hazy state of semi-consciousness he could barely make out an image; a gargantuan silhouette of a robed figure, looming above a castle on a mountainside. Before his mind could fully register the image, he was forcibly pulled out of his slumber by a persistent scratching sound coming from close to his ear. His eyelids painstakingly pried themselves open, and he sat up with a yawn, rubbing the groggy blurriness out of his eyes. The supernatural campfire had already burned itself out, reduced to a blue smoulder. Armadillomon lay down curled against the side his sleeping bag, perfectly comfortable with lying in the dirt. As Cody sat up, the sudden jostling caused Armadillomon to shift his position slightly, mumbling incoherently. The scratching sound continued, and Cody turned his head in the direction of the noise. Not even ten feet away from his position was Rarity, standing just outside her own sleeping bag. The source of the scratching became immediately obvious: she was digging a wide and shallow hole in the dirt with her bare hooves. Beside both herself and the hole was a small pile of glittering gemstones of multiple different colors. “Rarity?” Cody whispered. “What are you doing?” “Oh! I’m sorry dear, I didn’t mean to wake you up,” Rarity replied in a hushed tone. “It’s just that I remembered Deputymon saying something there being gems in these hills. I just couldn’t get myself to sleep knowing that there were such fabulous jewels nearby!” Cody blinked rapidly, trying to ignore the dull ache that was rapidly forming in his forehead. “Rarity, the Aquilamon tribe wants to stop people from digging up their land. I don’t think doing exactly that is a good idea.” Rarity grimaced. “W-well, yes. You’re right. But look at these!” She pointed to the pile of gemstones by her side. “I’ve already found three rubies, two sapphires, and emerald, two diamonds, and a pearl! You can’t just– ooh, is that an amethyst?” “Come on, don’t be ridiculous,” said Cody. “You have dozens more like those back at our apartment.” He looked more closely at the gemstone pile, quickly scanning his eyes over their features in the dark. Looking at them more closely, he realized that something felt... off. “Besides, there’s something weird about those gems.” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Weird? Well, I suppose finding a pearl outside of the ocean is strange, but the last time I checked the Digital World doesn’t quite operate on conventional logic.” “No, I don’t mean that. It’s difficult to describe, but something about them just doesn’t seem... correct.” Cody paused, and the odd sensation as he stared at the gems intensified. The feeling became more clear as it strengthened, but it was still an utterly bizarre experience. His headache, he realized, was not actually in his forehead at all, but in a cone-shaped space directly above and to the front of it. He placed the palm of his hand inches from his forehead, expecting to feel something, but was met with only empty air. “Is everything alright, Cody?” said Rarity. “No, it’s fine,” Cody reassured. “Just put those back, okay? We’re not here to cause any trouble.” Rarity sighed. “Alright, alright. It pains me to part with such beautiful specimens, but I suppose it’s the right thing to do.” “Great,” said Cody. “You should go to sleep. We need to be well-rested for whatever Allomon has prepared for us in the morning.” Cody let out a yawn, and lay back down in his sleeping bag. As drowsiness crept into his body, he saw Rarity take the gemstones she’d unearthed and place them back into the ground, before covering up the hole with dirt. Though it didn't fully reach his awareness, just before Cody fell asleep he could barely make out Rarity hiding a large amethyst in her mane. ——————— Ken wasn’t able to venture very far outside, much to his chagrin. The Aquilamon guards were posted all across the hilltop on their perches, and any attempt that he made to travel more than several yards away from the tent opening was met with a sudden motion from the darkened figures. It was immediately obvious that none of them would allow him to leave. He felt something brush against his leg, and looked down to see Wormmon at his side. “Is everything alright, Ken?” he asked. Ken gazed upwards towards the sky. In spite of the calm that had washed over the night, the tension that had built up in Ken’s body remained constant, simmering deeply within him. “No, Wormmon, I’m not alright. Do you see that up there?” Wormmon followed Ken’s gaze to the stars. “You mean the stars? What about them?” “It might sound strange,” said Ken, “but I almost feel as if the night sky represents the world we live in right now. Insignificant points of light in and endless sea of darkness. I’ve worked so hard to cast the darkness out, and now I’m seeing it return, stronger than ever. I can’t help but wonder if everything I’ve done has been for nothing.” “Of course it isn’t for nothing,” said Wormmon. “You’ve come so far, and I couldn’t be happier to see you be the person I always knew you could be.” “Yeah, thanks,” Ken said flatly. “It’s just... I don’t know. I feel like could be doing more. I feel like I’m not pushing myself far enough to protect the Digital World.” “Everyone’s doing all they can, Ken,” said Wormmon. “Until we find a way to reach Vespimon’s base, there’s nothing else we can do.” Ken turned and shot his partner a glare. “Is there? Is there really?” Wormmon flinched under the sudden weight of Ken’s gaze. “W-well, what else is there?” Ken turned away. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes, his arms shaking as the tension inside of him build, before finally dissipating with a sharp sigh. “I... I don’t know, Wormmon. I just don’t know.” He felt Wormmon brush against his leg once more, this time wrapping his own forelegs around him in as much of a hug as his body could muster. Ken looked down, and the corners of his mouth slowly twitched upwards in a thin smile. “There you are, Ken!” Just when I thought my mood was improving, Ken grumbled internally. He turned towards the source of the voice, and saw T.K.’s silhouette approaching his location, with Patamon hovering diligently by his side. “Glad I could catch you,” said T.K. “I was hoping you hadn’t run too far away.” “What do you want?” Ken replied curtly. T.K.’s eyes glimmered softly under the myriad constellations. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while, Ken. I don’t know if there’s any easy way for me to say it, but... we’re worried about you.” Ken blinked. “Worried about me?” “Davis asked me to talk to you earlier,” said T.K. “He thinks you’ve been acting strange since Vespimon showed up. And as much as I hate to admit he’s right about something, I’d have to agree with him there.” “Hmph. Isn’t that just like him to stick his nose into places where it doesn’t belong?” Ken said with a sneer. “I don’t need anyone telling me how to behave. My only goal is to protect the Digital World from evil.” “See, this is exactly what I’m talking about,” said T.K. “The two of you used to be inseparable, but now... now I don’t even know what you are now. This really isn't like you.” “And what makes you think it's not like me?” Ken replied. “Do you honestly think I wouldn't have a reason to want to protect this world from the forces of evil?” “Of course not,” said T.K. “I'm just saying, you're not usually the sort of person to get bent out of shape so easily.” “Oh, really now?” Ken stepped forward with a scowl, inadvertently shaking Wormmon off of his leg. “So now you think you have the right to tell me who I am?” Wormmon looked up at his partner with pleading eyes. “Ken, maybe you should calm down a bit...” “And why wouldn't I be 'bent out of shape' about what's happening?” Ken continued. “Do you honestly think I enjoy seeing everything I've worked so hard to accomplish being torn down?” “No, of course not!” said T.K. “I’m just saying, maybe you should step back and think about what you’re doing! If you keep letting your anger get the better of you, you’ll lose sight of everything you care about!” “I’m angry because I care, you blithering moron!” Ken shouted. “You of all people should know what the darkness can do! I saw my partner die right before my eyes! I was certain you would understand that, but it seems to me like you’ve forgotten what that’s like!” T.K.’s body suddenly tensed. “Excuse me? Forgotten? What do you mean, forgotten?” “U-um, T.K., I think we should stop,” said Patamon. “Don’t act like you don’t know!” Ken shot back. “If Patamon really mattered to you, you’d be standing by my side instead of getting in my way!” “Ken,” T.K. replied through gritted teeth, “I swear to God, if you say one more word...” “Just admit it! You never cared about him!” The area fell silent. T.K.’s arms locked up, and his hands clenched into tight-knuckled fists. His left eye began to twitch alongside the corner of his mouth, and his pupils dilated sharply. Then, as if it had happened too fast for the eye to see, there was a sound of his knuckles hitting Ken’s jawbone. Ken recoiled from the force of the impact, then followed up by reciprocating the attack, throwing a vicious left hook that struck T.K. right in the nose. T.K. grunted, and lunged forward with both arms in an attempted grapple, only to be met on the other end by a similar maneuver. The two grabbed each other by the hands, holding each apart at arms length as they pushed against one another, each trying to overpower their would-be opponent through raw strength. Their eyes locked even more fiercely than their arms, meeting with the intensity of a lightning bolt arcing between two storm clouds. “Boom Bubble!” The attack cry was immediately followed by a burst of compressed air, aimed right in the space between Ken and T.K. The impact of exploding air forced the two apart, each flying backwards and crashing into the dirt on their backsides. T.K. inhaled sharply in an attempt to regain the breath that was knocked out of him, his gasping interspersed with violent, shuddering coughs. “Patamon! What the hell!?” “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you!” Patamon hovered over to his partner’s side, the fur beneath his eyes ruffled and matted with tears. “I-I just didn’t want to see you fighting! Please don’t hurt each other!” T.K.’s expression softened almost instantly. He reached out and welcomed Patamon into his arms, holding him tightly. “Hey. Hey, come on. It’s fine, I’m not hurt. No need to cry, see?” Patamon looked up with eyes wide. “Promise?” “Yeah, I promise.” T.K. picked himself up, still cradling his his partner in his arms, and looked down towards Ken, who was still lying on the ground. “You okay there?” Ken said nothing, wiping the dust off his shirt as he carefully lifted himself onto his feet. His face was a blank slate, with no discernible emotion whatsoever. “Hey, listen,” said T.K. “I’m sorry about what happened just then.” “Don’t be,” Ken replied flatly. “I don’t want your pity.” T.K.’s body stiffened, and his mouth creased into a frown. “Well then, I guess I won’t apologize after all. I was hoping we could work something out, but clearly trying to talk to you was a waste of my time. Come on Patamon, let’s go to bed.” T.K. turned around and briskly walked towards the entrance of the tent. As he left, Patamon squirmed his way on top of his shoulder, looking back at Ken and Wormmon with forlorn eyes. “Hmph,” said Ken. There wasn’t anything else he could think to say. The dismissive, wordless grunt encapsulated everything he felt better than anything else could. At least, that was the case until he turned towards Wormmon and saw him on the verge of tears. “He’s right, you know.” Wormmon turned his attention towards the ground, not even bothering to make eye contact as he spoke. “You’ve been letting your anger take control more and more lately. I’d say it isn’t like you, but...” “But what?” said Ken. “...but what I’m afraid of most is that it is like you,” Wormmon continued. His voice went quiet as he spoke, barely above a whisper. “Or like what you used to be.” Ken’s jaw went slack. “What? Wormmon, what are you–” “I’m sorry, I’ve already said too much,” Wormmon hastily replied. “I shouldn’t have bothered you to begin with. I’ll be going back inside now.” “Wormmon, wait!” “Goodnight, Ken.” Wormmon looked back one final time and skittered back into the tent. As he did, Ken could do nothing but stare as he was left abandoned within the darkness.