A/N: Third and final story for Zero's saga. I figured I might as well post it since I have a fair bit done.
Fall From Grace
Chapter 1
The dust settled around a small crater, revealing a lone figure standing in its centre. It cast its eyes around, surveying where it was but recognising nothing. In fact it seemed to have no memories of anything before this crater. It shook its head, trying to clear the dizziness, before scanning itself over. It didn't even know what it looked like.
Black fur covering most of its bipedal body with silvery white on the front. The arms and legs were tipped with the same silver colour, three black claws ending the three fingers and toes. A silver tipped tail swung behind as silver tipped ears twitched from the noise it made. Two red arm guards adorned the arms, the only clothing it wore, with a black circle emblazoned upon them. Set within the circle was a red blood drop, similar to the red symbol on its thighs.
It caught sight of a pool of water and glanced in, seeing blood red eyes with a red line tracing underneath them. It snarled, seeing a vicious expression that startled itself. It shook its vulpine head and looked around again.
Some basic thoughts and memories remained, hence the ability to identify that the figure was next to a forest. It glanced to its left, seeing other figures gazing in its direction. The black vulpine snorted before slowly striding away.
Some of the figures watching on were brown bear creatures each wearing a purple backwards hat. One turned to another, confusion on its face.
"Was that what I thought it was?"
The other nodded. "A Blood Renamon. But one hasn't been seen for a very long time."
Another figure, the same species as the other two, spoke up. "Why's that?"
A stern, grave face greeted the speaker. "Because they were wiped out by a mysterious enemy, one who proceeded to take its own life after the complete destruction of all those digimon. But it seems at least one survived."
Across the stars, orbiting a planet that would soon be terraformed and colonized, rested the Arc. One of the first colony ships to set off since the start of the Zero age, the age honouring the former Sovereign of the real world. That title had been taken up by another, more specifically the son of the Sovereign and his mate. Shade now resided over the real world, ushering in further developments in the footsteps of his father.
Rika and Renamon paced back and forth restlessly. It was the vixen's son as Sovereign now. Both the reason for Shade taking up the position and the reason for their unrest was the simple fact that their mate, Zero, was missing.
Not missing as in 'a few minutes late', missing as in 'hasn't been seen for two months'.
Everyone was aware of the great tragedy that occurred three months ago, the massacre of the Blood Renamon city on Earth. But no one knew the whereabouts of the former Sovereign. They knew he survived, he had been seen since in perfect health and he wasn't present when the attack occurred. Yet no one could even guess as to where he was.
It was no secret that only two Blood Renamons survived the assault, Zero and Shade, but it wasn't widely known either. Both were considered an endangered species now, although conservation attempts were met with savage growls from both males. Neither was going to submit to boosting their population in any way except their one, taking a life partner and choosing to have children if it suited both potential parents. Shade was just as loyal and dedicated as his father. Although the excuse Zero used on Renamon each night he tried to mate with her was along the lines of being endangered, often saying that if she refused his species would vanish. It never worked, Renamon took some humour in seeing his face fall.
But that was two months ago, when he was last seen.
The Arc wasn't due back to Earth for another week, the travel time between the two planets when they got going. Rika and Renamon weren't going to wait that long.
Finally having her patience snap, Rika marched towards the portal deck with Renamon close behind. No one dared to stop either female as they opened a rift to the digital world and strode straight through.
On the other side, they quickly made their way to the nearest portal that opened to Earth, a few minutes away given the nature of the digital world. Earth bound gates were dotted all across the world, granting easy and convenient access to the capital world of humans and digimon alike.
Stepping through back to Earth, Rika collared the nearest guard.
"You better tell me that there's been word on Zero."
The guard gulped. "My apologies Rika Nonaka, if there has been word then I haven't heard it."
The redhead scoffed and stormed off, Renamon oddly silent this time around. Numerous guards and scientists have been treated this way by Rika since Zero's disappearance, and no one could truly blame her.
With nothing else to do Rika and Renamon found their way to HYPNOS headquarters on Shinjuku, the gate they used being in their home city. Surprisingly, Yamaki was waiting for them as they walked in.
"Rika, Renamon. You will want to hear this."
Both females quickened their pace until they reached him. "What is it?"
Yamaki nodded slightly. "We think we have found him."
Both females widened their eyes, not truly expecting those words. "Where?" Renamon's first word that day.
"Firstly, understand that this may not be Zero, but digimon have been seeing a Blood Renamon wandering the digital world. One that isn't Shade, as we all know he hasn't been to the digital world for half a year."
Rika stepped forwards, slightly too close for Yamaki's comfort level. "Have you pinpointed an area to search?" His head jerked in the affirmative, his breath catching from the mere thought of Rika's violent nature should he make the wrong move. "Send us there. Now."
She stepped back, much to his relief. "The gate is being calibrated to drop you in position, the nearest return gate is a day's walk north. It should be ready by the time you are prepared."
Renamon narrowed her eyes a little. "We are prepared now Yamaki, send us. We have waited far too long."
Yamaki nodded. "Understood, then follow me."
A swirl of blue light appeared in a clearing beside a forest before it split with a tremendous noise. Rika and Renamon appeared from the rift, already searching around. Nothing greeted them that wasn't standard scenery, except a sizable crater in the ground. Both Rika and Renamon examined it, seeing tracks leading west that could belong to a Renamon type digimon. It made too much sense to ignore.
Wordlessly they trotted off, following the trail as a beacon of hope after so long.