DTJ Round 2: A convenient convention

Blue. A blue sky. A blue sky with blocks of data flying around of a floating island. This island, a safe zone, THE Safe Zone, that protects everyone inside it from that havoc that happened not very long time ago. The survivors, humans and digital monsters, both safe, both in pain for the loss of their respective homes.

—So... What a great view, huh?—

Silent was the respond.

—Oh, cmon! Say something! You haven't spoken this whole time!— Said the first voice, who sounded a bit distorted, it didn't sound like any human voice, it was more like an audio tune.

—And what do you expect from me to say? "Oh, look! Our home is gone! I'm sad, but, oh well, I guess I have to forget my previous life"?— This time was a human voice, a young one.

Under the shadow of the only tree on the island were two figures, one was upside down, hanging off a branch, it didn't look human his shape. It had a very dark fur that sometimes seems to be purple, and sometimes blue, it had a mask for face and it was wearing a white bandana. This creature was Umbramon, partner, and brother of his tamer. The other one had a more human shape yet it masked and dressing like some kind of villain from an old comic book. Michael, the tamer of Umbramon and probably the only one that wears a mask in the group.

—That's not what I meant — The hanging creature sighed and kept talking— Look, there are people that had suffered the same fate as us, everyone had. Some of us can't swallow it easily — While saying that, they looked a distant figure that was kicking furiously the ground and looking down while a blue dragon was trying to reason with that person.—While others take this opportunity to meet new people, to seek hope in others — They moved their looks towards a tall skin boy with what it could be only described as sport clothes and  a small boy with blue clothes and goggles on his head that seemed to have to been talking for a long time. Even their digimons were trying to socialize with each other, a little tiger boy and a V-mon with a scarf.—Each one passes through the same thing as us, but in a different way and reaction... Also, the "purple guy" said that there's a chance to revert this disaster. So for now... We need allies in this adventure of ours.

Michael sighed as a sign of defeat against the unmovable thinking of his furry partner— Mayb-... —Before he could finish, a great explosion was heard. — Should we check?— Asked a rhetoric question.



Then a brownish gear came flying and got stuck in the tree, near Umbramons head— Yep, we should check— Said sweating because of the almost instant dead that he could have experience.

Moments later they followed everyone to what the "brothers" thought that could be the center of the island. But when they arrived, there were few people, each one entering into a portal. These portals, except for one, were like if someone had scratched the time and space itself.
Then Michael noticed a bunny in the distance. A mechanical bunny butler.

—Hey, Rabutlemon! What's going on here?

Then the robotic digimon turns his head to the masked boy and answer with its robotic voice.
—MISSION: COLLECT THE MYSTERIOUS COGS AND SAVED DATA!! — There was a little pause — SEA IS IN THE ONLY STABLE PORTAL, IN THE WILD WEST.



—I see...— Said Michael, touching his chin under his mask— Then I think we should warn him-

—Hey, Mike! I saw someone entering in this portal — Umbramon pointed to a portal that was behind his back.

Suddenly Michael tried to stop his digimon. He knew him, and he knew what he was about to do.
— Wait! Umbramon!
But even running and screaming at him didn't work.

—I'll check — Umbramon entered in the portal, and on the other side he finds himself in a dark corner.
There was light at the right and a lot of noise coming from there. When he lean out his head to make sure where he was, he couldn't believe it what his eyes were watching.

Next, the masked boy appeared from the portal and spotted his partner— Umbramon! I told you...— He didn't end the phrase, shocked for what he was watching.

A lot of people inside of a building, all humans, some of them with costumes and others with just cameras. Stands and booths everywhere of any kind.

Umbramon and Michael were speechless.
First spoke Umbramon:
—Are we...?
Then his "brother" to finish his phrase.
—... in home?
After seeing their home destroyed, this place was like none of what they saw happened, like if was just another day. It was a weird feeling, like if all was just a nightmare and they just woke up.

— Could it be? No... I-It can't be right! ... Or yes? — The boy was so confused that he was starting to lose control of his balance.
Being the kind of person that think too much it leads to just problems for himself, like he always did if it wasn't about his future, it was the exams, if not the exams, it was the thought of dying without accomplishing anything in his life. These thoughts were always the cause of his depressions.
But now... It was truly different.

—Um-Umbramon... — Lifting his left hand like he has trying to reach something — Do... Do you think...? Mom and dad are alive?

Umbramon looked at Michael. He didn't know what to answer. Reminding himself that their lives were a bit tragic before, and they had, mostly, hard times, even in the present. Before the great apocalypse they experienced and hardly escaped, digimons were appearing everywhere in their world, and they didn't want to fight them, because of the fear of losing his parents and each other... again. But, that thought was gone as soon Umbramon shook his head — I don't know, we must find first the other ones, they can help us.

—"They"?

— Yes, I can smell one of them inside this building but is so small the essence that I can barely know where it comes from.

The boy sighed — Searching time.


And both brothers start to scan all the building, guided by the nose of Umbramon. But during their searching, they came across with people that were fans of digimon or that were surprised by their look. No matter who was, they all were taking pictures of them, mostly with flashes which consumed the eyes of both tamer and digimon.


After like almost an hour.

UUUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!— released the young tamer — We'll never find them at this rate!

— Mike?

— With those damn fan and their stupid flashes!

— Mike.

— Definitely, this is our home. There are no other worlds that have stupid fans, only bothering others to get what they want...

— Michael!

— And why the hell they compare me to Zero? Who the hell is Zero!?

— MICHAEL!!!

— WHAT?!

—They're over there — Said calmly, despite shouting before. The digimon was pointing with one of his three fingers to a crowd that was blocking the way, but the only thing that was off was that there were two big white feathered wings.

A feeling of hope was filling the body of the boy— There they are! C'mon! — He was already thinking and planning things.

He will help the other tamers, find the saved data and cogs, then gave it back to the busted machine and then he could find his parents again and leave that nightmarish memory in the past. Even the others survivors could go home.

There were so many people that they couldn't saw or either find a way to communicate with their partner.

— Well crap. Now what Michael?

— Hmm... — Touching his chin under his mask as a sign of thinking — I could throw you at them and use you as a messenger pigeon.

The red eyes under his white mask tell all, a look that can be compared to the internet meme: "Are f***ing kidding me" — Are you serious? I'm not going to be used as a rugby ball — Turning his head from his partner and brother.

The masked looked at the front, watching the huge crowd surrounding the owner of those two angelic wings. He took his digimon and put him on his shoulders.
—Okay — Breathing deeply, preparing himself for a lot of pushes — Hold on there Umbramon.

It was like struggling to pass between many trees, you had to push them so they can let you pass, also apologizing each step you had taken.
Michael was near to reach the center, but the last persons weren't moving, no matter how much he asked, they stayed where they were.

— Damn it! — Touching his hair in a sign of frustration.

Then Umbramon jumped from his partner shoulder, quickly and stealthy, passed between the people that they were blocking the path.

— Umbramon! What are you doing!?

But the shout was deafened by the voice of the crowd that surrounded the young tamer.

Meanwhile, Umbramon reached the center, two figures, one, with angelic wings, white hair, blue marks and modern clothes, protecting the other with a defensive posture and keeping back the other figure, a girl with a hat and glasses who looked more worried for her "angel" didn't make something horrible.

Umbramon moved slowly towards them, trying to not call attention because the crowd was taking constant photos, it makes easier to be ignored since the photographers were focusing on the couple.

The shadow digimon touched softly with his claw the leg of the girl, which jumped because of the surprise. At the time she looked down, searching for the responsible,  Umbramon flattened himself on the floor, looking like a ragdoll.

—What the...? — The girl looked closely at the thing on the floor. Then the flattened digimon mumbled something — What?

— ... pick me up...!

—Uh...? Oh! —She was confused at first, but then she recognized Umbramon and picked him up, like a baby.

Umbramon had to let his body act like a doll, so nobody would suspect something — ... my brother is here... we came to find the data... — Mumbled, trying available his mouth.

Then the girl changed the position, holding him like she was a mother about to pat the back of her baby. Then she whispered — ...is in a cup, we don't where is it, but is inside a cup...

— ...Thank you... Em, I don't know your name...

— ...Jane Doe and this is Wings.

The angel wasn't paying attention to the conversation, he was trying to protect his partner.


— God damn it! Umbramon! — Michael was trying to find a sign of his digimon, but it was only a forest of people shouting, talking, texting and making selfies.

Then a shadow hopped on the boy's shoulders— Pika boo!

— AHG!! S**t, Umbramon!

— Sorry, but I can that kind of chance escape.

Not only he had to deal with the stress of being in a crowd, get lost, but also jump scares from the same person from he was worried about, which is kind disrespectful — Ugh... So, where were you?

— I've spoken with them she's name is Jane, and her partner is called Wings.

— Wings? The protocr?

— Also, she said that they saw some saved data in a cup.

— I guess they were trying to reach it, but the crowd of fans stopped them. But why they constantly take photos of them?

— Because of the wings? They are huge and they have natural moves.

— Sounds logical. Now time to find that cup.

Minutes later they discovered that, as a cup, is obviously in a competition. The only competition available, a cosplay competition.
It was like in the center, a bit to the right of the building. And that was a huge crossover of characters, all of them wanting to enter that competition.
There was all class of things trying to pass between the characters of different novels, comics, games, and series: an old looking golden robot bunny, a boy with precious rock instead of a belly button, a girl with a wand that had a half broken star, a schoolgirl with... a horn on her head?

There were near to a long table and four chairs, and the cup in the middle, but the saved data, the chip wasn't inside it.

— What!? Is not there!? — Almost shouted Michael.

— DAMN IT! — Shouted, this time, Umbramon.

— It couldn't have fallen!

— In the Office of Lost Objects?

— There's one?

— I don't know.

— I'll ask if there's anyone, you try to search this competition in stealth mode.

— Wait, how we meet again?

— I'll be waiting at one point of this building, you have a great sense of smell, sure you will find me. But in some case, smell my hair, probably that helps.

Then Umbramon put his "nose-cone" on his "brothers" hair and sniffed — I'll find you... Because you need a bath.

Under his mask, the boy just stared at his digimons seriously — Time to go — Sounding more like an order.

Both partners separated, searching for the saved data, each one in opposite direction.

In the distance, two figures were looking with amazing the scene where they saw a guy talking alone and then, what they thought it was a doll on his shoulder, came alive and went in the opposite direction of his owner.


Apparently, there is an office of lost objects, but unfortunately, there was any weird chip. In the other hand, Umbramon was investigating the zone, passing stealthily under the legs of the people gathered there.
Looking under the stage, he saw a glowing rectangle wich seemed to have like visual problems, like glitching, or it was data that was taking that kind of form.
At first, Umbramon didn't know if it was safe, they didn't warn them about any harm by touching this data. So he just pokes it to make sure if it was 100% safe, and it was. He grabs it, but he didn't have any pockets, and in his mouth could get wet and probably be useless. The only way was to hide it under his bandanna, which was perfectly tight to not choke and not be too loose. With the data, he could go back to his brother, the problem was that it was impossible to go back on his steps, there were more people and they were changing positions each minute. The other way was to pass behind the stage and from there smell the air and find Michael.




Meanwhile, the masked boy with crossed arms was waiting for his partner. It was almost half hour that they got separated, he should have come already, knowing how fast he was.
To distract a bit from himself, he wondered if he could call his parents, he didn't try because he was focusing on the mission. Maybe he could know where he was, he didn't ask himself where he could be. Everyone was speaking English, so he must be in America or England, but he couldn't find it out because the   Wi-Fi wasn't reaching him, even if it said that was free at the convention. Then he looked how the battery was, 79%, enough to make a call, then watch if he was able to do one,  yes. So he phoned the number of his home, but there was nothing, only the noise beeps that bring the silence. He checked the coverage, and there was ZERO, nothing.

He asked a person, that was passing by if he could confirm him if there was coverage. The person showed him that his mobile had a lot of coverage.

— HOW!? — He couldn't believe it, how it's possible that his phone was the only one that didn't have either connection to Internet or coverage? He expected that his old phone couldn't get the Wi-Fi, but the coverage?

Then he noticed that it passed half hour and fifteen minutes since they got separated, with the mobile issue, this situation was starting to scare him, his imaginative mind working to create the worst scenario in his head.

A loud beep scared him, the sound was coming from his pocket. It was his D-Ark which was making that loud noise, sounding like an alarm. When he had it in his hands, he saw a red dot that was making circles that disappeared when reaches the frame of the screen, pulsating. In each pulse, a triangle appeared and disappeared like the circles. Michael knew that the dot was him, and something important was the triangle.

Following the radar, he reached a corner, far from the sight of anyone in the convention, and what he saw froze him.
Two strangers were with Umbramon, one holding it like it was a death animal, the other one taking photos with his mobile phone.
— C'mon, move! We saw you talking a moving— Said the one holding the digimon, shaking him to make him react, but there was no response.
The boy who was taking pictures had an idea, he stomped on his tails and Umbramon couldn't resist to let a scream.

Rage and fear flowed through the veins of Michael, who were they to treat like that to his digimon? Who allowed them to kidnap his partner? Who are they to touch his brother?
He ran to them and only acted as a pure instinct of protection. He pushed the one who was taking pictures and punched right in the face of the one holding his digimon, the hit was so hard that unbalanced him, freeing the dark furred creature.

— Hey, what's your problem!? — Said the person who was taking pictures previously, he was like two years older than Michael.
His tone sounded annoyed and angry, something that only made even angrier the masked boy, he hates when someone responds him with that kind of tone. So, in some case that Michael was about to confront a fight, he attacked first and tried to strangle the boy.
The "opponent" started to panic because he was about to be murdered by a masked stranger that only growled. And the strength in his hands was huge, like if he was able to squash a watermelon.

— Michael!!

A distorted voice shouted behind them.
The ragged boy looked behind and saw Umbramon standing with a look of fear and sadness, the same look when he lost him the first time. That moment, when he was "ruling" a sector of the digital world when he was The Black Tyrant.
Then he frees the boy, who's trying to catch some breath.

Michael, trying to think what to do. The phone was on the floor, the other guy was getting up, the first one was still trying to catch his breath. So Michael took the phone, Umbramon and ran away from there.

There was a bathroom and without thinking twice and entered. There was nobody in there, even in the toilets, giving Michael time to process what he just was done.

— I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!

—Mike, don't blame yourself, you were trying to protect me from them, that's okay.

— But I almost...

— Yes, you could think in another way, but what were you gonna do? No one thinks clearly with blind rage — Umbramon looked firmly to his brother's eyes — Now relax...

For five minutes, Michael tried to focus his mind on the present and re-think what he just was done. He attacked those two boys, but he didn't kill them. That's the good news, also he had a reason to attack them. But they may report this to the guards inside this building, so better act fast. Also, the proves that show that Umbramon is real would cause them problems in the future. So, in order to keep the digimon existence as a secret, he had to delete those pictures.
There was a password that you needed to join dots.

— Damn it! I should have to keep touching the screen so it couldn't turn off.

— Let me try — Umbramon blew to the screen, the vapor showed a where the finger was moving, forming a strange X.

— Oh! Nice job Umbramon! — They hive five to celebrate this accomplishment.

The mobile phone was unlocked, and the boy notices the great connection it had, so he used this moment to call him parents. But there was only a female voice saying "The number that you are calling doesn't exist", then a loud beep.

—What...? — Michael was confused.

— We must be in some country that doesn't reach the signal?

Michael just looked at the floor, thinking.

— Mike... Don't despair, think about the now, Carpe Diem — Even if the use of that Latin word was wrong the boy knew what he was trying to say — Let's delete those pictures, find the protcors and get back to the Safe Zone.

Michael snap out from his thoughts and did as Umbramon said. Deleted the pictures, leave the phone in the Office of Lost Objects and return to Jane and Wings. But soon they will notice that the last task would be more complicated.


— What the...?! — There were, even more, people than before surrounding the protcors— How!?

— I don't know either. They should have stopped taking pictures.

The crowd was like ants, everywhere. A possible thing was that it was the usual hour where more people enters in the convention.

— How we drag their attention? Or of we save them?

—Hmm... — Touching his chin, thinking of a plan — Maybe if I digi-evolve you, we could distract them.

— Eeeh... No. If we do that, not only WE will be the ones trapped in flashes, but also there is no space so I can fit and it's in front of EVERYONE.

— Then we'll pass to plan B.

— What's that? — Michael whispered to his digimon, in some case, he couldn't hear it and if there was someone spying on them.


Moments later, Jane and Wings were still being harassed by new fans. Jane has already told Wings the "visit" of Umbramon, both of them hoping that they could find the saved data.

Then a masked boy appeared passing through the crowd — Ufff... Ugh... Jane and Wings?

— Yes? — Said the protcors at the same time.

— We have the saved data, now we are going help you to get to the portal.

— Really? How? — Said the angel trying to protect Jane, even if he know that those are just flashes, he didn't want to risk — I can't fly, that would be a wrong idea.

— That's why I have a plan B — The tamer and digimon looked confused at Michael — ... You better cover your heads.

The crowd around them ignored completely the conversation, not only because they were focusing on the pictures, but also they didn't understand anything, thinking that must be some kind of role play. Then multiple explosions happened above them, little pieces of the joists were falling. Everyone panicked and started running to the nearest exit door, that was the perfect opportunity to get back to the portal. Michael led the protcors to the place where the portal was open, during the running, Umbramon appeared out of nowhere and jumped on the shoulders of his tamer.

Just when they find it, they all jumped and went back to the Safe Zone, the floating data island.

Micheal sighed of relief — We made it and we have the saved data.

— What did just happened there?! What do you have done? — Shouted Jane to Michael. It was obvious that his warning and the explosion were not a coincidence.

— The plan B. It was a distraction created by Umbramon.

— Blowing the building!? Are you nuts!? — The angel wasn't either happy with that, they could have tried something else, but blowing everything only to distract is not a good choice.

— Hey! I didn't mean to blow up the convention! I asked to Umbramon to lower his Negative Ball so it could only explode without damaging too much the ceiling.

— Yet that was very risky, there could have been an accident!

— I know!!! But there wasn't!! — Shouted the boy, tired to only received more angry response instead of appreciation — I-I know that it wasn't a good choice, but it was for a great cause.

There was a moment of silence, and Wings responded with a serious tone — We will discuss your actions later, for now, let's bring the chip to the machine and let's try to close those portals.

Fear passed trough Michael's spine — Close them? B-But that was our world!

— No, it wasn't — Announced Jane with a sad tone.

— What?

— Micheal, didn't you notice something strange in that convention?

He tried to process what Jane just said, and, in fact, it was actually weird. The wasn't any connection kind of connection in there for HIS mobile phone, the guy's phone had a lot of connection yet the number didn't exist. Now had more sense, that world is not his home, is just a parallel version of it, where could be that he and his family don't even exist.

— Does that means... T-that... — He fell on his knees. All hope lost in just seconds — All was in vain...? That my parents... are still...? — It was a huge effort for him to not THAT word. His throat felt like had a knot, and that was the sign that he was about to cry. He doesn't cry so often and when he do, it was painful to resist it, both emotionally and physically.

Jane and Wings pitied him and tried to console him, but Umbramon raised his claw in sign to stop because he knew that Michael need to be alone when he cries and he didn't want to call attention like a baby when cries for her mother, that makes him feel more pitiful. So they took the chip and left them alone. The only company the boy allows to be with him in this situations was obviously Umbramon.


Some minutes later, both brothers were under the exact same tree. Sitting, under the shadow of the leaves, feeling like an ethereal prison, not only for his last reckless actions but also a self-punishment for being so foolish to think that he could have a chance to go back home that easily.



Umbramon said nothing, just sitting next to his brother. Waiting.
— ... You know? — A neutral and cold voice came from Michael — I don't care anymore... It was already horrible for us to experience the Armaggedon, I don't want to play the "hero" anymore... — Umbramon was still quiet — I tried my best to help them, but instead I almost murdered a one person and hurted others... I don't know if it was worth to be saved, I hoped that I could help, but it seems that I'm not ready for this... I'm too stupid... Too impulsive... Too much like Black Tyrant...

— No, you're not — The shadow digimon broke his silence.

— What?...

— You did what was necessary... You TRIED to save me and them, not in a good way... BUT with good intentions.

— Psh... Yeah... — Sarcastically.

— And you had experience something you never felt before, you... WE are still learning, WE need someone to guide us here, someone from who we can learn in this type of situations and for the next missions. Also, a great chance to know people.

— For what? To make friends? You know that nobody would join us, even if they don't know us.

— Not for that, but to grow, to... evolve.

That last part was at first confusing, but in five seconds Michael understood what he meant. He was right, here, he could learn some experiences of other tamers and learn from them. It was a great chance to change, to truly be helpful, to do what they didn't in the past, to... Digi-evolve.

— You are probably right, but yet I did wrong, that's not easy to forget.

— We messed up in this mission, but there's still much work to do, and we will try again and this time we will make it right.

— And if it not then in the next time...

— And if it not in that time, then the next one...

— And the next one... — Joked Michael.

— And the next... — Following the joke of his human brother.

— And the next...

— And the next... — With a lower tone.

— And the next...

— And the... next...

— ... And the... next...

— ... And... the... next...

They keep that game until their voices bordered the depression tone until they sighed tiredly.

— They will be mad at us... Don't they?

— Yup...