VGP: The Hounds of Astamon

Hello Digimon fans! Yes, after six years, I am finally going to continue the VGP storyline that began with "The Darkness of Dagomon" (originally titled "A Christmas Tale" for any of you who were around back then). That story was originally supposed to be continued, but I veered off and started other stories / got into other things. Now, I am not much of a writer / fanfiction / fandom guy anymore, but I always wanted to come back to this story because I liked the simplicity yet fun of it.

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this sequel. I am trying to keep it all in line with what the plan was all along (since the end of the first story… as I wrote it it changed course a few times but this idea was always there since the finale).

Oh and since it is a sequel, you will want to read "VGP: The Darkness of Dagomon" first. You can find it through my profile. Have fun!

Chapter 1 - Aftermath

It was Christmas Eve in Odaiba, a chilly day with light snow, and although 'tis the season, many on the manmade island off the coast of Tokyo were not so cheerful. Patamon least of all.

The petit flying pig Digimon lay motionless on his partner T.K.'s bed, watching the snowflakes fall outside the bedroom window, thinking about just a week and a half ago, when things went so horribly, horribly wrong.

Lalamon…

Patamon could do nothing but repeat her name in his head. One moment she was there, and the next…

It filled him with so many emotions. Patamon had cried, he had lost his appetite, he hadn't been happy since Lalamon's death, but most of all...

Most of all he felt angry.

The bedroom door creaked open slightly. T.K. poked his head through the opening.

"Patamon… hey buddy, you want some supper? We made another one of your favorites tonight-steamed Chinese cabbage! You know, I hate the stuff, but mom and I know you love it. Anyway…"

T.K. entered the room. Patamon didn't stir.

"Patamon… come on now. I know it hurts, but you can't just lay in here forever. Nobody except me has seen you in a week!"

T.K. went over to the bed and kneeled at the side so he could scratch Patamon behind the ears. That always WAS his weak spot. Patamon turned around about halfway and gave T.K. a look he had never seen before.

"Go away T.K. I just want to be alone."

The young, blond-haired teenager got up with a start and stared at his partner with confusion. Never had Patamon talked to him that way. T.K. felt a distinct twang of pain in his heart.

"Patamon…" was all he could say before Patamon turned back around and sighed. The snow outside continued to fall, and the wind continued to howl, and Patamon continued to lay without moving. T.K. frowned, but he left the room with a sigh of his own. It wasn't time yet for his friend to stop mourning.

Indeed, as T.K. went back to the living room / kitchen area that was so prevalent in the condominiums of Tokyo, it wasn't yet time to stop mourning for many in the city. The news hadn't stopped listing the names of the deceased since Dagomon attacked.

"... that concludes the full reading of the list of all 434 people who lost their lives in the attack eleven days ago," said the voice on the screen as picture after picture of victims was shown. "We will continue the state mourning period until the start of the New Year. The Prime Minister's office issued a statement earlier this week…"

T.K. closed his eyes, bowed his head towards the TV, and said a little prayer. He had found himself doing that quite a bit in the last few days. He turned towards the kitchen, where his mother was plating supper.

"Is Patamon joining us for dinner finally?" Ms. Takaishi asked. T.K. shook his head, frowning.

Ms. Takaishi gave her son a sympathetic smile. "He'll come around, Takeru. He has suffered like so many others…"

Now she glanced at the TV, and like T.K., she bowed and said a small prayer.

"Such a tragedy…" she said solemnly. She returned to smiling for her son's sake.

"You were all so brave, and many lives were saved because of you, Takeru. You should be proud. But…"

T.K. glared at the wall. "But this isn't over yet. That was just the start of something worse, I can feel it."

T.K.'s mom's heart leapt. She could already feel tears welling up as she went over to her son and grabbed his shoulders.

"But it isn't your fight! Takaishi Takeru! Please, please don't get involved in any more of this Digimon business! Let the government deal with it! And maybe there isn't anything else to worry about! So…"

She trailed off, unable to stop sobbing. T.K. wrapped his mother into an embrace. He was just slightly taller than her now.

"Mom…"

He knew she was worried, and for good reason. But as a Digidestined, T.K. had the duty to protect everyone from the dangers he knew evil Digimon posed. The rest of his friends might not have thought much about what happened, calling it a one-off event, but he knew better. Like he said before, he could feel it. And he knew Kari could, too…

*At the Kamiya Residence*

"...and then I said, 'Deodorant, what's that!?'"

Tai Kamiya began to laugh at his own joke, with his partner Agumon and his friend's partner Veemon joining in. The rest of the table, his parents, his sister Kari, and her partner Gatomon, just sat in silence. Gatomon rolled her eyes, then nudged Veemon and gave him a look. He stopped laughing and cleared his throat.

"Hah... g-good one, Tai," he said, looking at his special mon, who just gave him a look that made him feeling like the dumbest Digimon in the world.

Dinner tonight was various Japanese dishes, and a small chicken in the middle of the table made in an American style. Mrs. Kamiya liked the family to celebrate Christmas in its own way; a blend of the West and the East, she'd called it. Gatomon went back to eating, as did the others, as everything quieted down for a few moments. Finally, she spoke up again.

"So! Veemon and I have helped make great progress down by the bridge! The repairs are going very well. Our Digimon strength has been an excellent asset, or so they tell us."

Though, I feel my own strength has been decreasing since I lost my Ring…

Gatomon grabbed and rubbed her tail as Veemon blushed and the others praised the duo, who had been spending an awful lot of time with each other lately. Everyone there except Agumon just thought they were being extra good friends. Agumon smirked.

But I know better! She can't hide anything from me; we're like brother and sister now!

Agumon then glared at Veemon. He narrowed his eyes at the blue dragon Digimon, and when their eyes met, Agumon put two claws in front of his own eyes, then motioned the claws towards Veemon. "I'm watching you," he said with his gesture. Veemon gulped. Though Agumon was only playing around.

"Yes," began Mr. Kamiya, "we've been doing a lot of working lately at the office revolving around building logistics. So much damage was done by that… thing. I mean, the loss of life was one thing, and I mean no disrespect, but it is crazy how much it is going to cost to get things back to normal!"

Mrs. Kamiya nodded. "Down at the market, all I ever hear, besides from the stories everyone has about the deceased-rest in peace-is how this is affecting everyone, even in Tokyo. The Fuji TV building was damaged in the attack as well."

Tai began to talk even as food filled his mouth, "Mya! M'it's awl I eber 'ear dowdtowd!"

Mrs. Kamiya scolded him and Kari turned to her Digimon partner.

"Gatomon, what do they say down by the bridge? Are the repairs going to take long?"

The feline Digimon folded her arms and thought for a moment. "Hmm, well, I keep hearing different things, but I believe it shouldn't take longer than another month. Veemon, have you heard anything?"

But Veemon was distracted by Agumon, who was staring right at him while violently chopping his chicken into tiny pieces. Gatomon gave Veemon a jab to his side, bringing him back to reality.

"What! Oh uhhh, yes I'll have some dessert! Extra whipped topping, please!"

Gatomon giggled and shook her head. Veemon's heart melted.

"No, silly, I asked you if you'd heard anything about when the repairs will be finished."

Veemon smiled like a goofball at Gatomon, his special mon. Gosh, what a digibeauty. He totally forgot what she had even said.

"Err, what was the question again? I got distracted… again, aha."

Gatomon rolled her eyes and punched Veemon's shoulder, biting her bottom lip lightly and blushing as she turned away. Kari watched with a smile, happy the two Digimon were getting together so well. But she felt a sadness in her heart, and her mind turned to thoughts of what had happened eleven days ago.

And she also couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister was still in the works. Many things...

*Outside of Tokyo, on a hill overlooking the city*

Millions of lights poured out over the horizon and a lone figure stood amidst snow-covered trees and bushes, looking at nothing in particular, but enjoying the immense light. He closed his eyes and listened to the beating of his own heart-well, his DigiCore-and dreamed of home. Home was full of light, and that's why he had began to like watching the city at night.

"Heh, are you falling in love with this human world, Karatenmon?"

A voice from within the forest behind him made the Digimon unsheath his twin blades and prepare for battle. He was always on edge. He had to be.

Karatenmon was bathed in light. His frame was about two heads taller than the average human, he was covered in bluish-purple feather, he wore a light set of armor, and his two sheaths, usually with the blades inside, hung on either side. A mask of sorts covered most of his face, his rather large beak remaining uncovered.

"Who's there? Speak, and show yourself!" announced Karatenmon.

The new arrival just laughed. It was a cold, piercing, high-pitched laugh. Karatenmon knew then and there who it was.

"Dracmon!" he snarled. "What do you want?"

Dracmon did not expose himself, and his voice seemed to come from all around.

"That's no way to speak to a fellow soldier of the Seven Demon Army! Even though I suppose I should call you sir… though I just hate addressing anyone weaker than me like that!"

Karatenmon burned a hole through the forest with his hateful stare. He continued to search around for any signs of life, but there were none. All he could see was snow falling and darkness, and all he heard when Dracmon was silent was the blow of the wind and the occasional animal in the distance.

"You're awfully full of yourself, private, and for a Rookie too… that's quite arrogant."

Another cackle from Dracmon. The tiny demon Digimon continued.

"Let's just say I have a deserved confidence. For example, if I wanted to take over your mind right now and use you as a slave, I could. I've done it before. Rather lately, actually. It was me who summoned Dagomon here, you know."

Karatenmon's alert did not lower one bit. He responded.

"I was not aware of that. I had figured it was Dagomon's servants, but seeing as none of them can be found now, I imagine you were responsible for taking care of them."

Karatenmon thought about BlackGatomon, who he thought just a lost and misguided Digimon. Not truly evil.

Poor thing didn't deserve to be deleted.

"Just what are you planning, Dracmon?"

Dracmon laughed.

"Don't worry about it, 'sir!' All will become clear in time. Though you should know that I was not completely responsible for destroying his weak servants! One of them fell to one of the Digidestined, as a matter of fact! Anyway, for now, though, I was requested to extend an offer, from my superior, Phelesmon."

Karatenmon said nothing and waited for the little imp to continue.

"Ahem… 'in light of you being stranded here with no way to return home,' Phelesmon has said that 'you are cordially invited to join the ranks of the Army's greatest lieutenant.' Of course, that would bring with it a demotion to corporal, seeing as you couldn't share the same rank as your superior, but, well, I am sure you'd understand. What do you say pal? It's not like you have many choices…"

The imposing raven Digimon sneered. He brought his swords back, as if to launch an attack.

"My answer is no, and if Phelesmon wants to disrespect me again, he can do it to my face, so I can hack him in two."

Karatenmon viciously slashed his swords in front of him. Twin violet blades shot forward and cut through the surrounding forest like butter. Bushes, leaves, trunks, snow, ice, and rocks went flying everywhere. Still the cackle of Dracmon seemed to come from everywhere around Karatenmon.

"Fine. But don't forget, Karatenmon, that this world of theirs is going to be ours soon enough. Don't get too attached to how it is now… it will definitely change. Oh, will it ever. I can already hear the screams, hee hee hee…"

The final laugh trailed off and seemed to dissipate with the wind. For a few more minutes Karatenmon stood vigilant and alert, before convincing himself all was safe again. He turned back toward Tokyo and sighed.

I suppose I will find no way home by myself. I should go and find Astamon. I heard he is preparing his attack against the humans right now.

Karatenmon stared solemnly at the city for a brief moment before launching himself into the air with a great flap of his wings. He soared into the distance, towards the last known location of the one known as Astamon...