Takato of Manchester's Side: The Night Circus
The dazzling music of a hired quartet was playing through out the house as the candle light danced to the melody. These parties were becoming ever so frequent, it was becoming harder and harder to remember who the host was or what day of the week it was. He was now the head of the House of Manchester - and for a million years he did not think it was possible; after all, he was just an orphan boy who became employed under the former head, but Koushiro of Manchester was on a year long expedition to unknown lands of the New World - and had left on a such a hurry, which ultimately meant Takato had to pick up the slack.
Being promoted to the next Head of House meant he now had to be present at any party he was invited to. However, Takato had been to so many of these parties, he had developed a plan to lay low. It proved to be faulty however, as the Manchester's were a powerful family within the Empire and thus many lower families had ambitions of marrying into the Manchester House. Every party, Takato would be introduced to new girls who have come of age, their fathers hoping their beautiful daughters would catch the eye of the young Lord.
Takato was officially a Lord now, having been adapted by Koushiro after the Unison War - it meant he had a claim to the Lordship should anything happen to Koushiro before he had an heir despite Takato's upbringing. When Takato had been young, he had wished he would one day make something of himself but part of him missed the adventure - sitting in his study all day long was draining and he could only dream of the many adventures he once had. The Tusk War, the War in Ming, and the greater Unison War - he missed it all. Takato had only been fourteen at the time but now at his twentieth year, he decided he had indeed missed all the action.
There wasn't many people Takato recognized, only a few he had business dealing's with and of course the ever present family that was the House of Liverpool - The Manchester House was powerful, within the inner circle of the King's court but the Liverpool family even more so. The House of Liverpool had gained honour during the war and even after the war, they gained even more fame. The first to open trade between the Homeland and the Thirteen Colonies - the colonies of the New World had gained partial independence after the war but still remained loyal to the crown. And as a reward for their aid during the war and their loyalty, King Cody di Tottenham had allowed them to form their own country, United Colonies of the Empire but most just referred to them as United.
"Ah, Lord Manchester! I was hoping to bump into you." A crackle of a voice came behind Takato. He turned and was met with a man of old age, he wore a clean shirt with a black vest - a monocle on his left eye and a cane in his right hand. Takato had thought him to be familiar but could not put a name on to his face.
"Now, now, my boy, no need to make that face. I am Lord Robbert of McCoy." Takato knew of that name - a Scot who had made it big in the New World with oil extraction; the Empire had Airships that constantly needed fuel and Lord Robbert had the supply. "I would like to introduce you to my granddaughter, Alice."
A girl of sixteen, with long silk blonde hair was pushed by Lord Robbert into meeting eyes with Takato. Her skin was porcelain, doll like with a hint of a blush. Her eyes, blue and when Takato stared into them, it was as if he was looking at the stars of the night sky. He did not want to admit it, but Alice was the first girl Takato had been introduced to which he found mildly attractive.
"She will make a great wife my Lord, and I am sure she will please you so." The old Scot leaned in and whispered so that only Takato could hear, leaving him blushing madly, "I believe a dance is in order my Lord."
Takato was speechless and was nervous to make a move. It was then he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I am quite sorry Lord McCoy, but Lord Manchester has already promised me a dance." A sharp voice came from behind him, belonging to the same person who had their hand on his shoulder.
"Ah, Lady Bolton. I was not aware you were aquatinted with Lord Manchester." Takato could now feel the malice between the two.
"Yes in fact, I owe my life to Lord Manchester. He was my knight in shining armour who rescued me during the Tusk War." It was a forgotten war, but Takato had not forgotten it. It was the war that allowed him to summon his Digimon, a mega - it had quelled any questions the nobility had when he was announced to be an heir of Manchester, the King himself did not even have a mega level.
"Come my Lord, they are planning my favourite song." He was forcefully pulled from where Lord McCoy and his granddaughter stood, pulled by a girl he had not seen in well over six years.
Lady Ruki had become beautiful, Takato would admit - but her forcefulness was what made men afraid of her and thus, it was rumoured why she had yet to be courted. The music had began to play, a new piece - and it was then Takato had met eye to eye with Ruki for the first time in six years. Her amber hair was pulled into a ponytail, just as he had remembered from when they first met six years ago.
"You grew into a desirable bachelor." She said mockingly as they danced.
"Hey! What's that suppose to mean!"
She laughed, "Well who might have thought a scaredy cat like yourself would grow up to be such a lady killer."
"If I remember correctly, it was I would saved you from becoming an unwanted bride."
"But I would have been a queen!" She countered.
"Then I should have just left you with SaberLeomon." Takato could see her flush, but nothing more came of their conversation and they stayed silent as they danced.
"What are you doing in the Homeland anyways?" Takato asked as the next song started.
"My father has charged me with our estate now that he wishes to enter semi-retirement and enjoy his time at our plantation."
"Then I shall come for a visit sometime." He asked but she did not answer.
"London." She finally answered, "Our manor is in West London."
O O O
He did not know what prompted him to take up her offer but she had written her address before departing from the party the night before. He did not know why, but she was all he could think of the past night, having only slept for what seemed like minutes. The clicking of the horses' hooves on the paved streets of London were keeping him awake. He was use to the rucks crowds of the capital but today he was slightly hung over and lacking of any sleep. It did not take long from his apartment in Westminister - a place he would often stay as it was close to the King's court - until he had reached the Bolton's new manor house in Chelsea.
It was on a quite street, trees lined both side of the street and each house looking white stoned and pristine. It was a neighbourhood of nobility and rich merchant families, of high moral and prestige. Of course, those houses which did belong to nobility were not their main houses, only used for family member who had business within London at the time - it was the same for the House of Manchester, Koushiro and in effect, Takato had owned a dozen houses and manors; from small town homes like the one in Westminster to the grand Manchester's ancestral manor, Old Trafford.
The coachman allowed Takato out of the carriage, tipping his hat in respect and hurried away to await Takato's call once he was done with the Bolton's. Takato approached the large black door and was met with an impressive brass door-knocker. He knocked and nervously waited for an answer - he did not know why he had butterflies in his stomach, he had met the Bolton's before and Lady Ruki had said her father was currently in South Wales.
He was met with one of the Bolton's maid and was ushered into the house. The inside was nothing fancy, not like the Bolton's plantation house in South Wales - on side of the front hall contained the stair which led up to the bedrooms and the other side, a hall to the kitchen and sitting rooms. The maid led him through the hall until they reach the kitchen were Takato had spotted Lady Ruki and her mother seated and enjoying breakfast.
Lady Ruki had a simple dress, a simple dark blue dress - nothing as fancy and showing has her ball gown of the previous evening. Takato spied Lady Ruki's mother - although they had met once before at Lord Basse Normandie's welcoming ball in South Wales, he did not remember her in detail. She looked young, Takato would not have put her past thirty-five. It was common for nobility to marry young, Lord Davis of Liverpool had only been fifteen when he married the beautiful Lady Ami - in fact, it was nearly suspicious as to why Takato, who was now approaching twenty-one of age, had yet to court a Lady and the same could be said of Lord Koushiro, before he escaped on his expedition.
"Lord Takato of Manchester, my ladies." The maid introduced Takato, both Lady Ruki and her mother turned from their breakfast and onto Takato.
Lady Bolton merely spied Takato for a second or two before returning to her newspaper and Lady Ruki could only smile. She eyed the seat at the head of the table, usual reserved for Lord Bolton and signalled for Takato to take a seat - which he did.
"Can you believe this, another murder by this so called Jack the Ripper. I do not know why the King does simply order his army to march through London and cleanse the streets of these filthy animals." Lady Bolton said in a harsh, yet strangely song like voice.
"Mother! These are the King's subjects you speak of, they are still His Majesty's loyal subject even though they are poor and undesirable."
"Hmph!" Lady Bolton looked up from her paper and sharply at Lady Ruki, "If it were up to me, I would rid London those them. Ship'em of to United I say."
Takato remained silent - of course if Lord Koushiro had not found him, he too would have been living in the slums - orphan boys were often undesirable. He simply looked between the two woman trying not to make any expression that would hint at his misgivings.
"Come Lord Takato!" He was not prepared to be lead away in mid thought, but Lady Ruki it seemed, had enough of her mother.
"Where are you going?" Lady Bolton had returned to her paper and asked without actual concern.
"Why, the circus of course." Takato had no idea either, he had simply been invited to the Bolton's house by Lady Ruki the night before, without actually being told they were going anywhere.
Takato was hurriedly dragged through the Bolton house as Ruki stopped to grab her scarf and hat. It would be Takato's first time at the circus - it was not something he actively pursued, his time was usually spent assisting Lord Manchester's office before taking over himself. The coachman had arrived as he was called and after Lady Ruki had given him instructions, they were on their way.
The streets of London was lively with people, not much had changed since the time of the Unison War - the ride had been in silence so far, Takato took a look at Ruki to find her transfixed with the large city. It was no wonder, Lady Ruki had spent much of her childhood growing up at her family's plantation - although the capital of South Wales was large, it was just a frontier's town compared to London. Takato admired Ruki's innocence but he also knew deep down inside, Ruki was fierce fighter - he had witnessed it first hand when she lead the Empire's army during their time in South Wales.
Takato decided it was best to join Lady Ruki in enjoying the view of London pass by. It was not that Takato did not appreciate the city, but he had been traveling up and down it daily that he lost any interest in it. It was then his mind began to wonder and his eyes losing focus.
One second he was looking at the crowed streets of London and the second, with a blink of his eye, his entire view changed - gone was the city, replaced by a clouded sky, dark and ominous. Instead of the elaborate Codian buildings of London, it was replaced by simple, square structures, some decaying from time. And all throughout, a erie green moss covered the darkened city, glowing a bright green.
And for just one moment, Takato found himself starring straight at a pair of glowing red eyes, belonging to a shadow. It was not human. Takato could see it smile, it frightened him.
"Takato? Lord Takato?" He was woken from the darkened world, to find himself once again traveling the streets of London. He turned to find Lady Ruki looking at him with concern.
"My apologies Lady Ruki, but what were you saying?"
"I was just wondering the whereabouts of Gallantmon. It is unheard of for nobles to travel without their Digimon." It was true, Takato having grown up with nothing to his name, knew nobles had loved to show off their status with the level of their Digimon.
"He is on special assignment with His Majesty, King Cody di Tottenham." Takato replied, "And what of yourself Lady Ruki? It is not like you to have Kyubimon away. She's not hiding somewhere on this carriage is she?"
Lady Ruki laughed at his comments, "No, no. Father needs extra hands during harvest season, I had left her back in South Wales to help."
"And how is your father?"
"Retirement from His Majesty's services has left him very much bored. I fear he will get himself hurt with wanting to explore the outer lands of the colony."
Takato smiled, he remembered Ruki's father to be a plump man but a man with many ideas and many laughter. Although his time spent in South Wales was short, it was some of his fondest memories. He did not have time to reconcile, the couple had arrived at the circus.
The circus was located in one of the many small parks littered throughout London, however its many colourful tents had covered the entire green space and it was hard for Takato to say this was once a park. There were many tents, each of different colours and patterns, but one was larger than the others - and located at the centre with the smaller ones encircling it. Takato had never been to the circus before, so he did not know what to expect.
Takato was the first to exit his carriage, and offered a hand to Lady Ruki. It was when the sunlight first hit Lady Ruki did he find himself blushing, but quickly shook it off. They approach the main entrance of the circus, of what had been once the front gates to the park. A plaque hung on the black iron archway of the gates, it read: The Night Circus.
"Why do they call it The Night Circus?" He turned to Lady Ruki out of curiosity.
"Rumour has it, they hold special invite only midnight performances." Ruki whispered back playfully.
They entered and immediately Takato's eyes were filled with wonderment. They went from tent to tent, the next always being more wonderful and more exciting than the last. One room had been filled with entirely all bubbles of every shape and size; the next, a room of ice, everything frozen in time - but Takato had enjoyed the final room the most, it had been filled with clouds. They looked so real, but when Takato would go touch one, it would deform then reform back to its original shape. It was magical and Takato would have thought it to be magic but he knew better and would have liked the genius who invented such wonderment.
It was then they were ushered into the main tent with all the other circus goers, it had been announced the main show would soon start. Takato did not know how they did it, but the voice had seemed to be out of thin air. The gathered in the main tent, the audience seated around the ring and all eyes on the dark centre.
Light soon came on, again Takato did not know how they did it but it was an amazing feet of technology. The lights gathered at the centre of the ring, and when before there was nothing, with a blink of an eye, appeared a figure. The lights shawn on him and no feature was missed by Tatako's sharp eyes - it was a clown. Takato had never seen a clown before but he had heard of them from the many books he read but nothing prepared him for the actual thing. Frightening was what he would have described it, although he knew clowns to bring joy to the audience, this one was rather frightening to look at. A black and white mask, and a single crimson red heart, the clowns amber hair streamed from the back of his mask - Takato wouldn't have know the clown to be human but the art of great makeup was to make one believe in the impossible. The clown wore a puffy crimson jacket and bright green pants, only to be covered by an overwhelmingly big pair of yellow boots - it seemed he would have a hard time walking in them.
Although the audience was seated in a circle, the clown approached directly at where Takato and Lady Ruki were sitting. It seemed Takato was not the only one horrified by the clown, Lady Ruki had hands tightly gripping his one arm, using it as a safety blanket. However, whereas Takato was frightened, Lady Ruki looked to be more at the edge of her seat and expecting to be surprised.
Takato turned his attention back at the clown - and for a split second, his focus shifted and once again he found himself looking at the darkened sky and rotting buildings, the green moss once again illuminating. However unlike last time, the clown too was there, no different then his real world counterpart and still approaching. The clowns outstretched hands reached for Takato.
The white gloved hands came closer and closer, before they were over his face. Takato was frozen in place, unable to move his body, when all of the sudden, a pair of white doves flew from the clowns hands, and music began to play. Takato found himself back to his seat in the circus, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen! I am the Pied Piper, circus master and ring leader of this Night Circus!" The clown shouted in a manic voice.
The show began and Takato had forgotten what just had happened. The show was exciting, the first act involved the Pied Piper taming a powerful sea Digimon who he claimed was from the waters of South Wales. It was believable, as a group of wild Seadramons had attacked the HMAS Reliant during their escape from Indos. The Pied Piper danced around the Digimon, it was covered in silver and gold armour, but Takato did not know the name of it. The act ended and the wild Digimon disappeared with a puff of smoke.
The second act was even more spectacular, it was another story about the Pied Piper taming a wild Digimon. However unlike the wild sea Digimon, this one was more wilded and more frightening - covered in mysterious metal, it's dragon like appearance and roars of madness made the audience edge even closer. The metal Digimon roared and fired at the Pied Piper, while he simply jumped and dodged. The story of course ended with the taming of the wild Digimon.
The final act was of a bed time story - a classic tale of puppet wished into life; of its innocence and fascination with life. The show went on, telling it's story, until the lights dimmed, and the final movements of the act happened. The puppet was turned back to a normal puppet, and as if he was controlling him with invisible strings, the Pied Piper began moving the puppet. It came closer to the couple as when the show first began. He moved with stunted movements but soon made his way right in front of Takato and Lady Ruki. It reached for Ruki's hands and in her palm he dropped a black piece of paper with silver writing.
Takato peered in for a closer look, the words on the paper read clearly, "You are invited to a special presentation of the Night Circus, Tonight Midnight."
The crowd then disbursed and Takato and Ruki found themselves once again at the gates of the Night Circus, but now the sky was bright orange with the setting sun. The entered their waiting carriage and all the two could talk about was their time spent in the Night Circus.
They soon arrived back at the town house which the Boltons were using as their home. Takato had questioned Ruki if she was indeed going to the Night Circus that night, to which she replied she had other plans for the night. Takato bid her a good bye but not before he pleaded with him to stay for supper - he declined, saying there was paperwork waiting for him back home but promised they would once again visit the Night Circus in the morning. He closed the front door behind him and made his way down the stairs to the street where his carriage awaits.
"Be careful boy, the Quartz is arriving." Takato turned to find an old man, white scruffy hair with matching beard. He had a velvet green top hat and velvet green coat, a wooden cane in one hand.
Takato was about to ask, but the men simply walked away and turned at the end of the street, Takato tried going after him but when he turned the corner, the old man was no where to be found.
O O O
The next morning Takato found himself again at the front door of the Bolton's Codian townhouse. He watched his surrounding, but found nothing odd - for some reason, what the old man had said yesterday stuck in his mind. He knocked and found no answer.
He knocked again and listened closely for any sign of life within the townhouse. It took awhile but the distinct noise of heavy boots came towards the door. It opened to the face of Lady Ruki's mother.
"Where is she?!" Lady Ruki's mother was frantic and confusing to Takato, "What have you done with my daughter!"
"I don't understand Lady Bolton, I have not seen Lady Ruki since last evening." He replied with his arm raised of innocence.
"Impossible! She had said she was going to the Night Circus with you!" Something in his mind clicked, the invitation Ruki had received for a special midnight performance at the Night Circus, she must have had gone by herself.
Takato quickly rushed towards his awaiting carriage, ignoring the screaming pleas from Lady Bolton to return her daughter. He ordered his coachman to where the Night Circus was held, telling him to ignore all traffic and get there as soon as possible. Takato had used that time to figure out what was going on - it all drew back to what he had experienced the day before; the erie darkened sky, the clown, Pied Piper reaching out to him. It didn't make sense to him to but he knew what he was seeing had something to do with it, he was sure.
He quickly found himself at the gates of the park and exited his carriage, only to be shocked that the colourful tents and the large crowds were no where to be in sight. It was impossible in his mind, they would not have had time to pack and move such a large circus in such a small amount of time, especially if they had a special midnight showing.
He rushed in and only found the park empty, as if there was never a circus here in the first place. He looked around but found nothing.
"Takato!" A yell came, he turned to the direction of which it came from - to his surprise, it was his Digimon flying towards him.
"Gallantmon! What are you doing here?"
"We've been following the movements of Jack the Ripper and all signs are pointing to this park." His Digimon stated, "What are you doing here?"
"Lady Ruki has disappeared, my only clue is that she was attending the Night Circus, which was still here just the other day."
"Hmm," Gallantmon put his hand to his chin, "You don't think they could be connected, do you?"
"Well observed Gallantmon!" A third voice, raspy and sharp - but Takato knew it well, it was the same voice as the one that had haunted Takato's dreams since the night before.
The old man walked up to Takato and his Digimon, his cane in one hand and a Digimon behind him.
"Who are you?" Takato asked, Gallantmon had taken a battle stance incase.
"No need to fear, I am not your enemy, I am simply someone who observes those worthy."
"Worthy?"
"Why, yes young Takato. Those who are worthy of entering the game! Those worthy to call themselves Hunters!" With the stomp of his cane, the entire atmosphere changed. Takato was no longer in the park, he found himself once again in the darkened world.
"Welcome young Takato. Welcome to the game! Welcome to the Digiquartz!"
Takato's eyes were wide and he was speechless, "What is this…." He turned and found the old man gone.
"Takato look!" Gallantmon was pointing at something and Takato turned to look. Again his eyes grew large, it was the circus, the Night Circus which he had visited only the day before. However, this one did not have any lines of people waiting for it to open, but he could hear distinct noises of a busy crowd.
"Just what is going on?!" There were sounds but there was also emptiness.
Takato knew he had to investigate this further, Lady Ruki's life depended on it. He quickly ran towards the Night Circus, Gallantmon following close by. They arrived at the enterence of the first tent, Takato remembered it well from his visit the day before. He entered and was immediately hit with cold pellets to his face - it was the snowing room. However the room which he had remembered it, was a room full of fresh fallen snow and ice sculptures all around them, the light, blinding - but this was different, no long was it a winter wonderland but a grey sky and a grey ocean, he was on the beach. He could hear the waves of the ocean rolling onto the shore but he could see no such waves. The snow continued, not storm but light.
Then the waves crashed and his attention turned, the ocean was no longer still, the waters broken in half by a giant of a Digimon - the same sea serpent which saw during yesterdays main performance was now staring down at him.
And without warning, his armer light and a great light blinded Takato, "River of Power!"
It was too late, Takato knew there was no escape.
"Shield of the Just!" Gallantmon had been away helping King Cody for so long that Takato nearly forgotten his Digimon was actually with him.
"Thanks you Gallantmon." Takato huffed with a sigh of relief.
"No problem Takato!" Gallantmon gave him a thumbs up with his shield arm and a wink, before turning his attention back to the sea serpent Digimon, "Lightning Joust!"
A ray of light flew from Gallantmon's Gram lance and hit the sea serpent Digimon head on - and a second later, it disappeared with a cry of pain into thousands of tiny light particles. Gallantmon had certainly become stronger since the war but it was war that pushed Takato and his Digimon partner to become stronger.
A doorway appeared out of no where and as on instinct, Takato and Gallantmon hurried through it to find themselves in another tent, this time it was not a grey sky and grey seas, but a hall of mirrors.
"Hehehe!" A child laughed, Takato dismissed it as another illusion created by this so-called Digiquartz.
Takato and Gallantmon tried to navigate through the mirrors, but at every turn they were met with a dead end. Takato did not know why he just didn't order Gallant to break all of it - maybe it was because he felt the room to be wondrous but at the same time frightening - he had after all, scaled the room with Lady Ruki the day before.
"Right!" The same child called. Takato figured it was just background noise but followed its instruction anyways.
"Left!" He followed, "Right!" No dead ends yet. After another minute of navigating the maze, they finally entered a space wide enough to move around in freely, they must have found the exist, but there was no door, just a darkened space.
"I lied." The voice came through again.
The lights came on, the very same which illuminated the show from the day before - but instead of the wondrous spectacle from the day before, Takato and Gallantmon were met by the sight of both the Puppet and the Machine, characters from the show. The Puppet had a grin on his face and the Machine looked menacing.
"Now Machinedramon! Show them what you're made of!" The Puppet laughed.
"Giga Cannon!" The Machine fired a stream of energy towards Takato but was stopped by Gallantmon's Aegis shield. The cannon fire was non-stop and was slowly pushing Gallantmon back towards Takato. He could feel the sweat rolling down his face as Gallantmon was being pushed, Takato could only watch helplessly.
Takato looked closer at the two Digimon, trying to find a weakness. The closer he peered, he could see wires running from the Puppet to the Machine.
"Gallantmon!" He called after his Digimon, "I think the Puppet is controlling the Machine. If we can cut of their connection somehow, we can stop the Machine."
"All right Takato. You take cover, while I make quick work of these guys." They agreed and Takato ran towards the mirrors, using it as a shield from the attacks to come.
"Shield of the Just!" Gallantmon's own rays of light started to push against the Machine's own cannons, until it was getting to close to the Puppet's comfort, did they break off the stream of cannon.
The pair looked around, trying to catch their opponent off guard, but the Knight was nowhere to be seen. Seconds later, Gallantmon once again appeared, right in front of the Puppet, who stood on top of the Machine's head.
"Saber Shot!" With a flurry of jousts from Gallantmon's Gram lance, the Puppet was motionless as he fell from the Machine. And as he felt, he turned into a thousand particles of light - the Machine itself powered down, motionless.
Takato didn't waste time by checking up on his Digimon, the next door appeared and he was much too worried about Lady Ruki's condition. The ran into an empty tent, dark with nothingness.
"Welcome my boy!" A great light appeared, so intense Takato had to use his arm to shield his eyes and even when he stood behind Gallantmon, who had his own shield to block out the light, it was still blinding. Their eyes adjusted and their attention turned to the source of the voice.
It was the Ring Master from the night before, the Pied Piper. He stood with a sadistic smile, his face screamed terror but Takato and Gallantmon was too engrossed in what the Pied Piper was actually holding.
The static form of Lady Ruki was grasped by the Pied Piper, she was unmoving and his hands on her throat. Her dress was ripped and her corset was visible. Her hair a mess and blood trailed from her lips - Takato could also see the tear stains which were left.
"Oh this?" The Pied Piper announced, "Quite the feisty one but that's how I like them. It was a good meal." He laughed, "Oh, what a scary face you are making boy. Don't worry, she is not dead, not yet at least. You see, I like to explore beautiful girls - but what's on the inside is more important right, boy?"
"You!" Takato pointed, "You're Jack the Ripper aren't you?"
"Is that what this city is calling me? I've lost count of, Bloody Benders, Lambeth Poisoner, Servant Girl Annihilator, Holmes, but I do admit, Jack the Ripper was a nice ring to it." The Pied Piper laughed.
"You monster!" Takato shouted and Gallantmon readied himself.
Gallantmon charged, Gram pointing at the Pied Piper as he flew closer - but he was stopped, Pied Piper's free palm met with the tip of Gallantmon's lance.
"Really boy, did you think that by defeating my underlings that you could just waltz in here and kill me?" The Pied Piper laughed, louder and louder.
"Clown Trick!" With a wave the same arm, the Pied Piper easily threw Gallantmon back, "Ending Snipe!" A bolt of thunder escaped the Pied Piper's palm and hit Gallantmon while he was still being knocked back - Gallantmon creamed in pain and then his body limp and he crashed into the stone pillars which supported the tent.
"Now boy." He started but a second later, he appeared in front of Takato, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off his feet, "You would make an excellent entree before my main course. You should feel lucky, I've never had human males before - such ugliness compared to this perfect angel don't you agree."
Takato could feel life escaping him as the Pied Piper squeezed harder. He could feel his body becoming limp.
"Corona Blaze Sword!" Takato could feel the heat but it was not burning him, it was warm like a sunny day - he felt the Pied Piper loose his grasp on him and a scream of agony from the clown.
Takato coughed to get air into his lungs before his vision came back and was met with the glorious view of ShineGreymon and Lord Daimon Masaru - not a day older since he had left, six years ago. He still wore the same red and white vest, the same shirt - unforgettable as there was nothing comparable in this world - and his signature smirk. Behind Masaru stood his Digimon, ShineGreymon which Takato knew to be in his Burst Mode - another unforgettable description about the world travellers that had helped during the war.
"Lord Masaru!"
"Long time no see Takato, how long as it been?" He asked smirking then whistled, "You've really grown! Five years?"
"Six my lord." Takato coughed, still recovering from the Pied Piper's attack.
Masaru whistled again, "Haha, it's only been maybe a month of so since I've last seen you. I guess time moves differently in the Digiquartz."
"My Lord! I'm confused by what this Digiquartz is? Where are we truly?" Takato asked.
"I guess the Old Man didn't fill you in either. Well, you'll get the hand of it soon enough." Masaru retuned with his smirk - more foot steps could be heard coming behind him, "Oi! What took you so long?"
Masaru was over course referring to the new arrivals, people Takato had never met before, but tell from their clothing, he knew they were of Masaru's world. Both had wildly unkept hair, a heresy in Codian London - the first wore a blue shirt much too big for his body, a giant star and moon centred his shirt. And the second, a red and white shirt but unlike the first boy, this one had a calmness about him.
Then Takato noticed both too had Digimon - the first boy, a large bipedal purple dragon and the second, a golden rabbit like Digimon; it reminded Takato of Lord Davis of Liverpool's Magnamon.
Before Takato could protest to who these strangers were, the angry voice of the forgotten Pied Piper once again filled the room, "How dare you! How dare you!" He repeated angrily, "How dare you ruin my perfect image. I'll rip you all, limb from limb, and I'll enjoy every drop of your blood and agony!"
"Oh, you still around?" Masaru asked nonchalantly, "Tagiru, you want to take this?"
"Eh, really! Another one for my collection?! Thank you so much Masaru-san!" The boy in the blue shirt rushed to Masaru's side to thank him and Takato could have swore he could see smoke coming from the boy's nose.
The boy stepped up and his Digimon followed, "Alright Arresterdramon! Let the hunt begin!"
The boy's Digimon immediately flew towards the still recovering Pied Piper, his hand that was once grasping Takato's neck was now gone, sliced off by ShineGreymon's sword. However the clown was not despairing, he seemed angry but at the same time Takato could see it was a mistake for the boy and his Digimon to be rushing into battle so fast - he wanted to warn them.
"Trump Sword!" The Pied Piper made a throwing movement with his other still functioning hand, and out of nowhere, four swords appeared in midair and flew at Arresterdramon.
"Gah!" Arresterdramon screamed as he was hit by the swords and flew backwards in pain.
"Oi Tagiru, you can't be rushing into battle every time like that." The second boy called out to his junior.
"Ah gomen Taiki-san!" The boy called back, scratching his head in embarrassment but Takato could see the boy was not concerned with the Pied Piper. Tagiru turned to his Digimon and took out a red device from his pocket - It was similar to the ones Masaru and the former Lord Captain Taichi had, a device that had the ability to evolve their Digimon. The boy made some kind of motion which Takato did not understand and out of thin air, an image of another Digimon appeared, "Arresterdramon! MetalTyrannomon! Digi-xros!"
"Grahhhh!" Arresertdramon shouted with power and the familiar light of Digimon evolution filled Takato's eyes, "Xros Up! Arresterdramon!"
It was not something Takato had been expecting. When Lord Masaru and Lord Captain Taichi had used evolution, their Digimon would go from a rookie level to an mega level - but this new boy had not changed his Digimon's level, instead he added another Digimon's armour to his Arresterdramon. The boy's Digimon's level did not change or at least in Takato's mind, it did not - of course, all of his knowledge about the subject of Digimon only came from research done in his world, where changing a Digimon's rank was impossible; until he had met Lord Captain Taichi and later Lord Masaru. The new Digimon still kept his original appearance but his body was now covered in heavy metal.
"What witchcraft is this!" The Pied Piper, still fuming with rage about his missing hand asked.
"Oh?" The other boy, Taiki raised an eyebrow, "This Piedmon must not be from our world after all. I guess the Digiquartz is indeed spreading."
Tagiru smiled and more smoke bellowed from his noise in excitement, "Yoshi! Arresterdramon, let's add an other worldly Digimon to our collection. Go!"
Arresterdramon once again flew towards the Pied Piper and again, the Pied Piper made a throwing motion and again four swords appeared and flew towards Arresterdramon - however this time, with the help of his heavy armour, the swords merely bounced off of the rushing Arresterdramon.
"Prism Gallet!" Countless ethereal dragons flew from Arresterdramon and ripped through the Pied Piper, he screamed in pain. Seconds later, Arresterdramon appeared behind the defeat Pied Piper and it, disappearing into countless fragments of light.
"Hunt over! Capture complete!" Tagiru smiled, jumping up and down, his nose puffing with smoke.
Takato however did not join the celebration of his fellow Digimon tamer, he immediately rushed to the still unconscious side of Lady Ruki Bolton. He lifted her with his arms, he could feel her light breathing - she was alive. He felt a hand on his shoulders and turn to see Daimon Masaru.
"Come on, let's get out of here." Masaru pointed to the tent's exist.
O O O
Takato laid Lady Ruki down slowly onto her bed and allowed her maids to enter and towel the dirt and blood off of their lady. He had told Lady Bolton, he had found Lady Ruki attacked by Jack the Ripper but was able to scare him off - leaving out the details about the Digiquartz. Lady Bolton had thanked him and offered him to stay the night - he refused, telling her he had much too attend to and he would be going on a long journey - he lied, telling her it was time for him to enjoy a grand tour before he settled down and married.
He watched Lady Ruki closely, it would be the last time he could enjoy such a sight. Masaru had warned him, what he was about to join was not like anything he had experienced before, even the war, according to Lord Masaru, was a walk in the park compared to the Digiquartz.
Takato had wanted to refused the former Demon Lord but deep inside he knew he was needed and there was no escape from it. After all, it was the Digiquartz that had found him and not the other way around. He bid goodbye to Lady Ruki and existing her Codian townhouse - he was met with three figures in cloaks. Not many people walked the streets of London at such an hour and not many noticed the three strange figures and their Digimon - all rookie level and would be a strange sight as the only rookie level Digimon who had a Lord was the former Lord Captain Taichi.
"Let me settle some affairs for the Manchester house before we depart." He told the three figures as they answered with nods.
Foot steps approached them, the three figures already knew who it was and strangely so did Takato.
"Then I welcome you young Takato. You are officially a Digimon Hunter. Welcome to the Digiquartz!" The Old Man smiled as he handed Takato a Digivice similar to the one he had seen Tagiru carry.
notes:
Instead of describing it as a Victorian building, I'm using Codian seeing as Cody is currently the King. Also the scene of Puppetmon riding Machinedramon is similar to GigaBreakdramon.
Prize goes to anyone who can figure out one character's continuity error.
Haven't decided on who to write next, or if its going to be prequel or sequel - I am thinking about introducing the DigiQuartz to Takuya...or maybe Taichi, but none of them appeal to me at the moment. So I am leaning more to a prequel short story. Usually I post an Anthology chapter only before I have the next already underway, this isn't the case this time, so it'll be a while before the next one.