Work Text:
In the wake of Davis’s disappearance and Joe coming out as Junko, Kari wasn’t completely certain how to feel.
On one hand, clearly something was going on in regards to her friends. Could one of them be next on the chopping block? While very much in the realm of possibility, that also left the prospect of her being next in line to disappear.
Perhaps that was why she and Gatomon had made a trip to the Digital World. By no means close to the last ping from his digivice, that particular port had been disabled by outside forces. That, or the leader of the younger generation of digidestined had inadvertently disabled one way or another. Hard to say with him.
Taking the form of coastal cliffs, there were no doubt all manner of caves and caverns that would need to be explored. Because of course they did. Wouldn’t want to rule that option out and then find out well after the fact that they had missed what Davis had assumed to be an obvious spot.
“Kari, is there anything that I can do for you right now?” a voice called out, Kari’s gaze falling to her side. Finding Gatomon there, she shook her head.
“I wish, Gatomon.” Kari answered, composing herself to the best of her abilities. Scanning the horizon, all manner of thoughts echoed across her mind. What if Daemon and his cronies decided now of all times would be perfect to kidnap her and drag her back down to the Dark Ocean. Heck, this part of the digital world might not even exist and she was in fact having a nerv-
Before Kari’s thoughts could freak out any further, a loud thud in the distance cut them off. Gaze forced ahead, she and Gatomon were met with a large crater. Sand and rock thrown up in the process, it was a miracle the source of the crater hadn’t smashed into the cliffs itself.
“Crap, crap, crap.” Kari announced as her gaze bounced about. No sign of any more objects falling down from the sky, that was a good enough reason to approach the crater. Perhaps the answer to whatever it was that landed awaited down there. Hopefully they weren’t someone and/or something hostile to humans and/or digidestined. Knowing her luck at this very moment, that was likely to be the case. Life was never dull when you were a digidestined after all (for better or worse).
“Kari, it’s fine. I’m here for you. We’ll get through this… okay?” Gatomon cooed and caught a sigh from her partner. Whale a part of her had hoped that this behavior would cease. And for a time, it seemed like it would. Until Junko announced her transition.
While Kari hadn’t said anything, it was clear that there was an air of confusion over the digidestined of light. One that simply refused to let up for even just a moment. It was honestly quite annoying. Especially since it seemed ready to drive a wedge between them, Junko and by extension - Gomamon.
At the very least, the rest of their companions (sans Davis) were still there to pick up the slack. Even if said slack seemed to be growing larger every passing day. Because of course it did. Couldn’t have the amount of problems going down over time, after all. No, both worlds just had to keep filling everyone’s plates until something occurred to get them to snap.
Nonetheless, Kari let her gaze shift over to the crater. Little use in dwelling on what was remarkably unchangeable. Instead, she could just dwell on everything else as she gingerly stepped over the crater’s edge.
Staring down, she was met with a gold shield. Decorated with a pink cross inset with what the digidestined could only assume to be an opal or similar gem, it shined in the light. Though, that didn’t explain the hole for a grip near the bottom of the shield.
“Huh…” Kari whispered, nerves threatening to freak out once more. Shoving them back to the best of her abilities, that was easier said than done. Even more so as she slid her way down to the shield. Gatomon followed behind, taking care to not trip and land face first in the sand. Bad enough that it was getting into fur, but it was also no doubt contributing to her partner's stress/worries.
Reaching the bottom of the crater, it would be Kari who approached the shield. Gaze locked on, something about the shield was preventing her from breaking eye contact. Even if she could, it would no doubt have just pulled her back in.
‘Child of light, I name thee as my successor. Take my shield and fight on.’ a feminine voice announced, Kari’s body bending down against its will. Grabbing hold of the shield, she lifted it up. Relatively light in the face of what she could only assume to be this digimon main means of protection, that brought with it all manner of questions.
Who was the digimon who lost this shield? Clearly they had to be an ultimate if not mega level digimon. Which made narrowing it down all the more troubling. Especially if whoever had managed to take down
Why exactly hadn’t the shield disappeared? Everything that was related to a digimon turned back to data on death. Or was this one of those special situations that could only happen once in a blue moon? The sort that she and her companions seemed to always find themselves in
“Kari?” Gatomon announced, her words going through one ear and out the other. Though, the light erupting forth from the shield was very much not helping matters in the slightest. Taking a step forward, she was knocked back. So much for saying clean. “Ugh…”
Standing back up, Gatomon’s gaze hung to the pillar of light. Reforming into a cocoon, a scream from Kari followed.
“Crap.” Gatomon muttered and let out a deep breath. Figures this would happen to her partner. Yet, that didn’t explain the feeling of vertigo coming over her…
.
In the cocoon, Kari couldn’t make heads or tails of her surroundings. Clearly meant to be some kind of version of the digital world, that told her little
“Greetings new Crusadermon.” a voice called out, echoing across the cocoon every which way. In turn, Kari’s gaze bounced about in search of the source. Evading her vision at every turn, it was frankly annoying. Couldn’t the universe clearly see that she was struggling here and in turn, accommodate that fact? Sadly, no.
No, it almost as if that was by design. While Kari couldn’t put it past the Digital World, that didn’t explain the nausea threatening to take hold. Because of course it was. Something, something, nice things.
Coming to a stop, Kari did her best to center herself. Letting out a deep breath, she attempted to compose herself.
“Hi?” Kari greeted as a strange warmth rushed over her. Soothing the nausea ever so slightly, that brought with her feet getting ever further away. Was she growing or was this the direct result of the cocoon she found herself in. “My name is Kari, not Crusadermon!”
“Registering User Profile - Kari. Overriding previous profile.” the voice announced, the nausea coming back in full force. For a few brief moments, pretty colors flooded Kari’s vision. Twisting and turning about, it made things that much worse. “Override complete.”
Kari stared down at the shield. Attempting to let go, her grip refused to budge. If anything, it seemed to have tightened. Or perhaps it remained unchanged and she was simply thinking too hard when it came to the voice statement.
“What override?!” the digidestined of light screeched, oddly feeling heavier as her vision cleared. Had she been paying more attention, perhaps she would’ve noticed the formation of metal over her now bare legs and feet. Done up in the same shade of pink as the shield, it made no difference in the grand scheme of things.
“Initiating Lord Knightmon training program.” the voice announced, the world around Kari twisting and shifting about into what looked to be an obstacle course of some kind. Not that Kari could see any reason in particular for such a change. Even more so once her gaze was forced ahead. “Kari must complete the course for the sake of ensuring full compatibility.”
Kari raised an eyebrow, but found it forced back down. Opening her mouth, no words came out either. Instead, her gaze focused on the goal at hand. Just had to get through this for the sake of getting out and reuniting with Gatomon. Or at least, she assumed it was Gatomon.
“Wait. What was I even doing before this?” the digidestined thoughts as her feet shot off. Trying her hardest to stop her stride, all that accomplished was speeding her up. A good thing too with what looked to be hurdles rapidly coming up on her. Jumping over in a single leap, she still took the time to check. Wouldn’t want to accidentally leap over and ignore the cries for help from a defenseless digimon. On her honor as Crusadermon, they would rise to the occasion and deliver forth the necessary justice.
Finding nothing of the sort, her attention turned ahead. The next obstacle took the form of a bunch of swinging logs. Not that Kari could see where they were swinging from to begin with. Nice as it would be to know, it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
“Easy.” Kari thought as the metal continued to spread up her body. Any traces of blood and by extension internal organs faded from her body, bringing an odd decrease in worrying on the digidestined's part. Nausea fading away, it was one less thing to worry about. Especially with the speeds those logs were going at. Clearly someone wanted her to get hurt for one reason or another. Quite an odd thing to wish upon a champion of justice. Oh well. Something she would need to look into upon getting out of this cocoon.
Pulling her shield back, Karimon wasted little time in smashing her way through the logs. Keeping the splinters away to some extent, she focused ahead. There, a defenseless tokomon doll had been tied up.beset by way of a horde of numemon.
“I'm coming!” Karimon announced, her voice taking on a feminine yet ambiguous tone. Befitting for a member of Yggdrasil's Royal Knights. Ready at any moment, protecting the digimon of the Digital World. Yes, the presence of humans granted partners by way of Homeostasis was an interesting wrinkle, but that was all the more reason to adjust policies and come up with a solution for the sake of protecting both worlds.
Closing the distance, the metal continued up Karimon's body. Forming into armor, gold rivets and other flourishes snuck their way. All the while, the lord knight digimon felt their body bulk up. While normally not a big deal, it oddly felt right. Even if her bust didn't seem to gain much.
“Why am I even thinking about that? I'm supposed to be someone that people look up too.” Karimon thought as they dispatched the numemon. Untying the tokomon doll, they gave it a hug for good measure. “Better?”
The tokomon doll didn't answer.
“I'm happy to hear that.” Crusadermon announced and turned their attention ahead. Only one obstacle remained ahead - a massive chasm. Normally requiring a running start followed by a jump, the obstacle course had foolishly placed an evildoer on the other side.
Fist of Fear!
Shooting across the chasm with the ease expected of a Royal Knight, Crusadermon brought their shield forward. Launching out a beam of energy from the shield, they let the golden sash blades do the rest of the work. All the while, the rest of the metal finished its work. The finishing touch was that of a pair of golden wings sprouting forth from the back of their head helmet thing. Shifting about ever so slightly for good measure, a wave of relief rushed over Crusadermon’s body. Letting out a deep breath, they took a moment to compose themselves.
“Obstacle course complete.” the voice announced, still evading Crusadermon’s vision. For once, they would prefer their combat AI to be visible. Rather than all the other times that it showed up and made things all the more annoying with her presence. “Congrats.”
Crusadermon rolled their eyes.
“While I appreciate the praise, some help getting out of here would be nice. Also, where is my squire?” Crusadermon countered, watching an orb of light appear in front of them. Done up in a pale pink in comparison to their armor, it made it easier to distinguish them from the similar orbs the other Royal Knights carried.
“Outside. They’re no doubt waiting for you.” the orb answered, Crusadermon’s expression shifting.ever so slightly. Good news as it was, that didn’t change the problem at hand. Clearly they were forgetting something, but what exactly? Try as they might to remember, the answer slipped away with each passing process. “Is something the matter?”
Crusadermon shook their head. Letting out a deep breath, their attention shifted to that of the cocoon that was holding them and the orb in.
“Return to me.” they whispered and held their free hand out. Absorbing the orb back into them, they stared upwards. Taking a moment to compose themself ahead of any potential ambushes and/or other tomfoolery, they pulled their shield back.
Spiral Masquerade!
Jumping into the air, Crusadermon got to work smashing their way through the cocoon. By no means expecting a cake walk, the Royal Knight was met with far more resistance.than they were expecting. Clearly someone was intent on throwing one last curveball for the sake of testing them. To what end, they couldn’t say. All the more reason to break through and deal with this evildoer once and for all.
Piercing through, nausea rushed over Crusadermon’s body. Gravity taking hold, their eyelids grew strangely heavy and slid shut.
.
Crusadermon’s eyes shot open. Finding themselves in a crater, a tall figure stood over them. Taking the form of an angel digimon. Dressed in idol attire, that didn’t explain the angewomon tassels around her impressively long twintails.
“You had me worried, Crusadermon.” the digimon announced and Crusadermon sat up. Taking a moment to stretch, pain echoed about their body.
“Sorry about that. LovelyAngemon.” Crusadermon greeted, slipping in a sigh for good measure. “I trust you’re ready to continue our investigation for the missing Digidestined?”
LovelyAngemon nodded. Helping her lord up, she turned her attention to the sky. Clearly the result of a powerful digimon, there were far too many options for it who would want them dead. All the more reason to get to the bottom of this mystery.
.
Tai Kamiya was just about ready to freak out here.
Yes, Kari was an adult and could go wherever the heck she wanted. At the same time, that didn’t change the fact that her signal had fallen off the face of the world and he was now forced to face the worst.
Perhaps that was how he ended up in an alleyway in a part of Japan that he didn’t quite recognize. Just his fucking luck in every sense of the world.
“I just need a sign.” the digidestined of courage thought, trying to calm himself in the face of everything that was swirling about around him. Trying his hardest to discern something within all of it, all that accomplished was his eyelids growing heavy.
Not even fighting the sensation, the digidestined of courage let it take him in. Perhaps it would lead him to his sister. Or at least, what remained of her…