Cave of Wonders

“I’ll go,” John said as he slowly moved away from the two girls who supported him as he stood.

“My king, you can’t possibly face anything in your condition!” Gali objected.

“Like, she’s got a point, boss,” agreed Sam.

“The only thing you’ll do is get yourself killed,” Shelly said pointedly.

“That could happen,” started John, “or my digipals will keep me safe, right you two?” asked John. The two YukimiBotamon jumped up and down in agreement at his words.

“This is not a good idea,” stated Shelly.

“Well, we have little options left,” John pointed out. He then turned to the derps and their two digimon. “It’ll be up to you four to protect this group while I’m gone, can I count on you all?” John asked the group.

“You can count on us, big bro!” replied Mimi as she saluted.

“Yeah! We’ll make sure everyone is safe!” Yaya told John as she also saluted him. Their two digimon followed suit and saluted him as well.

“Good girls, I knew I could count on you,” John told them with a big smile on his face before he turned to face the cave. “Alright, wish me luck,” John said as he and his two digimon began to enter the cave. As soon as they crossed the threshold, a monstrous roar once again came out of the hole in the rocks.

John’s two digimon quickly jump in front of him and jump up and down, their intent clear to him. They wish for him to turn around and go somewhere else instead of inside the cave.

“I know you two, but we have to rest here. I didn’t want to tell the others, but my mana is nearly drained, most likely being used to heal my body from that Gazimon attack. We have to rest here so I get some sleep in a safe place and recharge myself. I trust you two completely to protect me. So please, let’s go forward,” John told his digimon partners. The digimon reluctantly agreed with John’s plea and moved to allow him to pass. “Thanks guys,” John said as he gave the two a pat on the head as he moved into the cave.

John used the walls of the cave as a support as he made his way deeper into the cavern. A short way into the rocky enclosure, John and his digimon found a three way split in their path. The two YukimiBotamon quickly determined that the mysterious creature was on the left path. The roars got louder as the three trekked further into this creature’s domain. After a few minutes of travel, the group saw a light in front of them.

“Hmm. Looks like that must be where whatever this is, lives,” John whispered to his digimon, who let out a small mew each in agreement. “Let’s sneak up close and take a peek,” John told them as the three stealthily moved along the wall to the edge of the path where it opened up into a room-like area. There, the three spotted another digimon that must have escaped the Digimon Empress’ purge.

“Why don’t you come on out of hiding, little human. Your digimon pals can come too,” said the beastly looking digimon.
“You know we were here the whole time, didn’t you?” surmised John as he and his two partners walked around the corner and into the large living space.

“I knew you and your gang were outside my cave for quite a bit,” said the digimon as it got up and turned to face John. He now got a good look at the digimon and his first thought was Oh hey, a grizzly bear as the creature came up to them.

“So, what shall I call you?” John asked the digimon.

“You shall call me Gryzmon,” Gryzmon told John. With the two this close, John could finally pick out that Gryzmon had a more feminine voice than he would have imagined.

“Hi, Gryzmon, you can call me John. And these two are my YukimiBotamon,” John said as he introduced himself and his digimon to their new potential ally. “So, you being here means either A: You somehow survived the purge and hid B: You were part of the rebellion and fled when the battle was lost or C: You somehow hibernated through the entire events that has transpired,” John told Gryzmon, quite proud of his analysis. He was quite sure he had hit the spot with one of those three scenarios. “So, which one is it?” asked John. Gryzmon chuckled at John’s question before it answered the question.

“You young kids always seem so sure of yourselves. That the thing you are doing is the right thing. That same confidence is the reason I am here, John,” Gryzmon told John, who silently listened to what Gryzmon told him. “While all possible reasons and most logical ones as well, you did not quite get why I am here,” Gryzmon told John. “And before you ask, no, I will not tell you,” Gryzmon told John. “Now, what is it you want with my humble cave?” asked Gryzmon.

“My friends and I need a place to rest. I was attacked by Gizamon and my body is barely holding together. The others do not know because I did not want them to worry even more than they already are,” John told the Gryzmon. “I just need a good night’s sleep to recover my mana and be at 100% again. So, can we please stay here for the night? We’ll leave afterwards,” John asked Gryzmon.

“Very well. You may stay the night. But leave in the morning. I do not wish the Digimon Empress to find me and I assume you all are in trouble with her,” Gryzmon told John after the digimon was silent for a short period while it mauled over the situation.

“Thank you! We all appropriate this! We’ll be out of here in the morning, I promise!” John told Gryzmon. “I’ll go tell the others immediately!” John said as he slowly turned and used the wall as support to begin his journey back to the entrance of the cave.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Gryzmon told John. “You are in no condition to go back out there. Go lay down and rest. Your digimon will watch over you. I shall get your companions myself,” Gryzmon told John as it made its way towards the entrance. It was a far quicker trek for Gryzmon to get to the entrance then the half dead John, and soon Gryzmon was near the entrance. “I can smell you all out there, there’s no point in hiding,” Gryzmon told its unwanted guests.

“Where is John?” asked Gali as she was the first to come out of hiding.

“He is resting inside my cave. You are all welcome to spend the night in my cave. But you will all have to leave in the morning. I do not want the Digimon Empress coming here and wrecking my humble home. By the way, my name is Gryzmon,” Gryzmon told John’s allies. The rest of them slowly came out of their hidden locations as they formed around Gali.

“A Gryzmon? How interesting,” Coronamon said as it came out of its spot with Yatina.

“Agreed. We should be safe with a Gryzmon. They are noble warriors after all,” Lunamon said as she and Mimi joined the others. Gryzmon let out a scoff at Lunamon’s remark as it turned around and began to lead the group to its home.