Lysistrata – done and dusted.
A lot of you may be wondering what's going to happen next, so I am not going to talk about it any longer and get on with writing this chapter. There are parts of this chapter that steer close to M, but don't quite reach it.
A Sticky Situation
Chapter 10:- One By One
Monodramon watched carefully, peering around a tree-trunk as he saw Terriermon descend slowly and land silently on top of Guilmon's hideout. The bunny looked over his shoulder several times and Monodramon withdrew his head slightly. His dark purple skin allowed him to blend into the night better than, say, Calumon. But then again, Calumon was not very good at hiding.
Terriermon hopped down to the door and walked purposefully inside the old cupboard.
Monodramon waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually it became clear after about ten minutes or so, that Renamon was probably already inside. Either she had got there first, or she had come with her perception filter up. That was if she was here at all. Monodramon was still as confused as ever as to what might be going on.
Slipping out from behind the tree, the little dragon moved slowly forwards on tip-claw, so as not to alert either of the two, who both had excellent hearing, to his presence. He slunk forward like a bipedal cat, until he was standing right next the door.
He listened.
What the hell? He murmured in his head. The sounds that were coming from the hideout where strange...moaning noises? It sounded like someone in there was in pain, and she could distinctly hear it was Renamon and there was the occasional grunt or small yelp from Terriermon.
Monodramon peered around the door.
Then he wished he hadn't. What he saw would be burned on the inside of mind for the rest of his life.
"HOLY F**K!" yelled Monodramon, stumbling backwards and tripping, backward rolling down the stairs, still swearing loudly. "OH S**T! OH S**T S**T F**K! MY EYES! MY EYES! SORRY! OH GOD SORRY! AAARGGH! OH! OH! OH! NO! S**T! IT BURNS!"
He picked himself up and attempted to leap into a bush and hopefully bury his head and forget what he just saw, but he was suddenly grabbed around the shoulders in one big paw and lifted into the air, until he was eye-level with an extremely angry Renamon.
"MONODRAMON!" she yelled. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING SNEAKING AROUND LIKE THAT!"
"YOU AND HIM!" shouted Monodramon, panicked. "HOLY ****!" He began bashing the side of his own head. "ARGH! THE IMAGES! THE IMAGES! NNGH! HELP! MY BRAIN'S GONNA BLOW! AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH....."
"SHUT UP!" shouted Renamon.
Monodramon's screaming subsided and he cringed, bringing his legs up to his chest and babbling incoherently to himself. Absently, his eyes were drawn downwards, almost of their own accord. Renamon's other paw was placed firmly between her legs, hiding herself from his view.
Not that it mattered. He had just seen it anyway. And there was nothing she could do to hide the two receding bulges on her chest.
After about a minute, Terriermon emerged from the hideout as well, biting his lip sheepishly. Monodramon was covering his eyes with his taloned hands and refusing to look at anyone.
"Monodramon," said Renamon more calmly, her paw still clamped over her crotch. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at Ryo's?"
"Ryo doesn't know where I am," said Monodramon, trembling slightly. "I came of my own accord. Please don't destroy me! I didn't know!"
"'Course you didn't know," said Terriermon, leaping up onto Renamon's shoulder. "Nobody does. We kept it secret from everyone, even our own partners."
"But... but..." Monodramon's mind was going into a whirlwind of thought. "You and you? Together? You're hitched?"
"I prefer the term mated," said Renamon, eyes narrowed.#
"But you two?" Monodramon repeated. "Not what I was expecting. I mean, come on. The jester and the warrior?"
"Over the last few days, we have sort of settled out differences," said Renamon.
After a long silence, Monodramon asked, "How?"
Renamon sighed and glanced at Terriermon. "We're going to have to tell him," said Terriermon. "If we don't I think he's gonna blow a gasket. Look at him."
Renamon sighed. She knew he was right, but that didn't mean she had to like it. She lowered Monodramon to the ground. His legs collapsed underneath him and he fell onto his backside, his wide, unblinking eyes flicking back and forth from Renamon to Terriermon, his brain beginning to hurt under the strain of trying to think about how this could have possibly come about, his heart feeling like it was going to come right out of his chest. Renamon sat down before him and crossed her legs. Terriermon hopped off her shoulder and sat in her lap.
"Look," frowned Renamon. "This is what happened..."
Monodramon already knew most of the details sue to the information he had received from Goro about the kidnapping, but Renamon began to fill in the gaps in the story – the food and the Renamon's rule when it came to mating, and Terriermon's nightmare. A slow realisation began to dawn over the small purple dragon and the look of fear and shock changed to one of bemusement, which changed from that to a big stupid looking grin.
When Renamon had finished talking, Monodramon looked at Terriermon and said, "May I just say, for the benefit of all the male digimon in the Real World – darn."
Terriermon laughed. Even Renamon chuckled.
"I just never would have thought it – you two were on the brink of trying to kill each other last week."
"Isn't it funny how these things happen?" asked Terriermon.
"These things?" asked Monodramon. "First time I've ever heard of something like this."
"You are, of course, aware," said Renamon. "That you cannot tell anyone. You are not the being that I would have wanted to find out first."
Monodramon shook his head rather frantically. "I won't tell anyone, not even Ryo," he insisted. "I want to live. But this is... this huge. It's great, but... you two? Wow, I still don't believe it. This is the weirdest dream I have ever had."
"You better believe it," said Terriermon. "Now, I think you should go on home. Renamon and I have got some...catching up to do."
"Eew," said Monodramon. "Just because I know about you two it doesn't mean I want to see it."
"It's a bit late for that," laughed Terriermon. Monodramon shuddered.
"I saw a lot more of you than I ever wanted to see," he muttered.
"Am I going to have to keep an eye on you over the next few days?" asked Renamon.
"Just how long are you planning on going before you tell the others?" asked Monodramon back.
"Just a couple more days," said Terriermon. "Momentai, Monodramon. You shouldn't freak yourself out over it."
"Done that," said Monodramon. "It's overrated. But... er... well..."
"What?" asked Terriermon.
"What's it like?" asked Monodramon.
Terriermon rolled off Renamon's lap in laughter. When he composed himself he said, "You think biomerging is a rush?"
"Yes."
"Multiply that by ten!"
"Whoa," gasped Monodramon. "It's pretty good then."
"Best experience ever," said Terriermon.
"And it's going to get better each night, isn't it?" smiled Renamon, pulling Terriermon off the floor with her tail and briefly kissing him on the lips.
"Well, I'll leave you two to it," murmured Monodramon and got up to leave. Renamon got up too, Terriermon in her arms and headed back to the hideout.
"Momentai," called Terriermon over his mate's shoulder.
Monodramon watched them re-enter the hideout and then turned to walk back home, rubbing his eyes in a dazed way. It was beyond belief. He just could not believe it. But it was real. He had just seen Renamon doing it... with Terriermon.
An evil grin crept across his face. He wasn't going to tell anyone, but that didn't mean that he couldn't have fun with this. Terriermon was not the only joker, although he was the biggest one. In this form, Monodramon was more than capable of making some mischief of his own.
Behind him, he heard a slight grunt come from the hideout and he increased his speed.
Midday came around the following day. It was a Monday and that meant it was a day where the children had to return to school. It would certainly be an interesting experience for the digimon as they were going to go as well. It would be their first school visit for many of them. Terriermon had been before, but he'd had to stay disguised as a toy all previous times. Guilmon had been before to raid the cafeteria and freak out the principal and Renamon had often watched from afar. The rest of them, unfortunately, had no experience at all.
Rika had since transferred school and Henry had transferred classes at his insistence, so now, Takato, Henry, Rika, Jeri, Kazu and Kenta were all in the same class – in the highest year there. Suzie had joined the school in the lowest year, as she was now six going on seven. Ai and Mako had decided that they wanted to go to that school when they were old enough and Ryo remained as absent as ever.
Terriermon and Lopmon walked together in front of their Tamers as they went down the pavement. They were the first of the Tamers to arrive at the school that day. They usually were, because Henry liked to be punctual, even if Suzie didn't. Their parents had been slightly worried about letting the digimon into school, but surprisingly, they had been put down by Yamaki himself.
"If the Digimon are going to be accepted as a part of our society," he had said. "Then they should be allowed to integrate into our society as much as possible."
The children who were there already – (not many) – nudged each other and whispered behind their hands as Terriermon and Lopmon walked along. Lopmon looked nervous but Terriermon was striding confidently.
"Loppy, you can't let them see that you're nervous. To many of them, digimon are big brave creatures and they sort of expect us to be like that. Act like a Deva. It's easy."
"I suppose," murmured Lopmon before straightening her posture and bouncing up onto Suzie's head.
"Ah, good morning, Henry," said a voice that sounded so much like Kari Kamiya from the TV show. Henry, Suzie and their digimon turned around to see Ms. Asaji walking towards them. "I see you got your partner back," she said, with a slight smile. Terriermon had been the first Digital Monster that she had ever spoken to after all.
"Yeah, we're back and we're ready roll," Terriermon said, throwing a few punches into the air. "So, what delights have we got in the lessons today?"
"Well, it's English first (A.N. And by that I mean English as in the British sense), then Science, Maths, and some Geography in the afternoon."
"Science, huh?" asked Terriermon. "I'm going to assume that Henry trumps that class."
"Terriermon."
"Momentai."
Ms. Asaji then turned to Suzie and the rabbit perched on her head. "I know you are Suzie, but I'm afraid that I don't know who your partner is."
"My name is Lopmon," said Lopmon. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a lot about you."
"Oh?" asked Ms. Asaji. "Like what?"
"I think Takato once said something about you destroying an entire rainforest."
Ms. Asaji blinked.
"I think he was complaining about homework at the time," said Henry.
"That boy," muttered Ms. Asaji. "Well, come in I suppose. We've got a long day before us, and I am intent on enjoying every moment I can, and by that I mean, until Kazu and Kenta show up."
Terriermon howled with laughter.
Eventually, all the Tamers and their digimon who went to this school were gathered in Ms. Asaji's classroom. Renamon and Terriermon, after communicating via brain power, decided not to do too much integrating today, just so as not to give suspicion any room. Monodramon had already found out due to them not being very careful, and it looked like Lopmon might not be far behind.
Suzie and Lopmon waved goodbye as Suzie led them off to their own class.
"Okay, children," said Ms. Asaji, wearily. "As you are all aware we have some guests today and they are going to be sticking around for the majority of the time. So, although I know that all off you are fascinated with the d... AYAKA, LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
One of Jeri's friends, Ayaka, flushed and gave a flustered and breathless MarineAngemon back to Kenta.
"This is what I was afraid of," groaned Ms. Asaji. "Look children, the digimon may be here but you are still expected to work. So stop ogling over them."
"We can always leave if they don't work," said Renamon form the corner, where she was half hidden in the shadows. There was a round of nodding from the others and a slight whine from Calumon, who Jeri had brought along.
And so the school day began, the children eventually settled down and began to work quietly. Ms. Asaji had said that if they didn't they'd be given extra homework, and considering the amount of homework they already received, not one of them wanted to have any extra.
English passed smoothly, the only noise being Calumon repeatedly asking what Jeri and the others were doing and Terriermon and Guilmon entering and leaving the room in order to ask for some food at the cafeteria. The day passed into silence and Ms. Asaji started to talk about food chains and webs and endangered species. At that point, Renamon vanished and reappeared five minutes later with an extra guest, the jackal renamed Isis.
Just as Ms. Asaji began to talk about why Isis was an endangered species, music began to play from somewhere. Everyone looked around for the source, but there was nothing. It was the music of a rock band, with guitar and drum very much in evidence. Then the lyrics began to play:-
"I wanna do it till the sun comes up
'til we're both so good and sweaty
that we can't stand up
I wanna do it till we're both about to drop
as long as we're tied up together
then we're never gonna stop
I wanna go until the neighbours all complain
because they heard somebody screamin'
and they think we're both in pain
I wanna go so long your parents think you've died
there gonna call the cops, the CIA, and then the FBI!"
Suddenly Monodramon leapt into view, on the windowsill, grinning madly and holding a small CD player with built-in speakers in one hand. He winked at the others and Renamon paled over under her fur. Terriermon looked worried too, but at the same time, he thought it was actually very funny.
Monodramon began to back-flip around the room as the song continued to play:-
"Yeah...
we're gonna love it when the lights go down
hold on here we go
yeah...
we're gonna go until our legs give out
round and round we go
yeah...
we're gonna do it hangin' upside down
up and down we go
yeah...
we're getting ready for the next go round
round and round we go!!!"
"What the hell are you doing, Monodramon?" yelled Rika at him, as he leapt right over to her and onto Guardromon's head, where he began to bounce up and down.
"Go easy on the metal there," complained Guardromon.
Renamon lunged forward and grabbed him. "This is a school," she said, giving him her famous death glare, before bodily throwing him out of the window.
"So shut the windows, lock the doors, unplug the phone
for all intents and purposes there ain't nobody home
then we can do it..."
The song eventually faded away, as Monodramon ran off, laughing. His mission was complete. Thank you Nickelback.
Lopmon watched him from the window on the ground floor. Luckily the song had not been picked up by any of that class, but her keen hearing had caught every word of it. What had that been all about? She remembered that Monodramon, although he had been Cyberdramon at the time, had come to her yesterday to ask information about what Terriermon had been doing the previous night. Once she had told him about Terriermon's night outing, he had left.
She frowned. Whatever was wrong with Terriermon, she was sure that Monodramon knew what it was.
"Suzie," she said. Suzie looked up from where she was trying to learn joined up writing and looked up, as did the rest of the class.
"Yeah?"
"There's something that I have to do," she said. "Can you excuse me for a few minutes?"
Suzie nodded uncertainly. Since bringing Lopmon into the class she had become the height of cool.
"Thank you." Lopmon spread her ears and launched herself off the windowsill and pursued the fleeing Monodramon.
Monodramon got as far as the park before breaking into laughter. The look on Renamon's face had been priceless. Priceless. And as for Terriermon, his face showed he was torn between amusement and terror.
"Monodramon?"
The soft, polite, female voice cut his laughter short and he balked. How had Lopmon managed to get within three feet on him without him noticing?
"Listen," said Lopmon. "You know something don't you?"
"No," said Monodramon, far too quickly, then cursing himself for doing so.
Lopmon cocked an eyebrow. "I know you do," she said. "All the signs point to it. I need you to tell me what's going on. Terriermon is like a brother to me but he won't tell me anything. Both last night and this morning, he was far more exhausted than normal. Where had he been going on these nightly outings?"
Monodramon clamped his beak shut. He had promised Renamon and Terriermon that he would say nothing. While the joke had been unbearably funny at the time, he was now seriously annoyed with himself for doing it.
"What was that song?" asked Lopmon.
"Er, "Next Go Round" by Nickelback," muttered Monodramon.
"Something's going on with Terriermon," said Lopmon. "And you know what it is. I just know it. Then you leap into the room that Terriermon just happens to be in and start playing a song like that by coincidence?" Lopmon shook her head. "I'm not going to believe that."
"But..."
"Shush," said Lopmon. "I am going to hazard a wild guess here and say that Terriermon was having sex those last two nights wasn't he?"
Monodramon blinked and said nothing.
"You can tell me, you know," said Lopmon. "Just let me know if I'm wrong. I'm concerned for him. And I am going to assume it was with a girl digimon and since I know it wasn't me, I'll guess that it was Renamon. Am I right?"
Monodramon said nothing.
"Monodramon," prompted Lopmon.
"I promised Terriermon that I wouldn't say anything to anyone," mumbled Monodramon. "And Renamon would kill me if I...oops."
Monodramon's claws flew to his beak and he held it shut. Lopmon stared at him, wide-eyed, unblinking, like a deer staring into approaching headlights.
Then, ever so slowly, a grin broke out over her face and she sat down. "That's great," she said. "They're mated? I thought Terriermon smelt funny. Oh, that's wonderful."
"It is?" Monodramon asked. He'd been expecting jealousy or something, but Lopmon seemed quite happy. More than happy – she was delighted. But she had said Terriermon was like a brother. "I suppose it is, yes."
"You walked in on them doing it, didn't you," frowned Lopmon, suddenly.
"Er, yes," said Monodramon.
Lopmon tutted and shook her head. "Thank you for the information," said Lopmon, before turning around and heading back in the direction of the school.
"Don't tell Renamon about me!" called Monodramon after her, before turning himself to head back to the school where Ryo studied.
I don't believe he did that, muttered Renamon in her thoughts. Suppose somebody had figured it out.
You have to admit it was quite funny.
No, I don't have to admit that. That may have been the most terrifying experience of my life. Worse than the D-Reaper.
Eesh, anything that trumps the D-Reaper must be uber-bad.
The class had settled back down after quite some tumult, but Ms. Asaji had once again won out with the threat of added homework. Guilmon and Calumon were snacking on bread and cheese in the corner, while MarineAngemon had gone to sleep. Guardromon just stood in the corner. Many wondered if it was impossible for the robot to get bored, because Terriermon certainly was.
"Henry, can I go and stretch my limbs," he pleaded. "I think I'm beginning to understand why a teacher's job is boring, just watching you guy's endlessly scribble things."
Henry rolled his eyes. "Sure, go ahead."
"I'll take Isis home, Rika," said Renamon. The jackal had been curled up in the corner next to Guardromon for most of it. Renamon scooped him up and vanished in a blur. Terriermon headed to the window, bouncing off Takato's desk as he did so. Then he turned and said, "Miss, Takato's drawing pictures of Jeri," before leaping out backwards and giggling to the spluttering noises of Takato.
He landed, giggling, in the school yard. He glanced at the window and then turned around to have a slight stroll. He almost collided slap-bang with Lopmon as he did so.
"Whoa," he cried. "Er, hi," he grinned, then faltered. Lopmon was wearing an expression that had a certain triumphant smirk about it, like she knew something he didn't.
"What?" he asked.
"You and Renamon, huh?" asked Lopmon.
Terriermon's blood ran ice-cold. Admittedly it was Digital Blood, but it still was suddenly freezing. "Uh..." he said, not entirely sure what to say. "What...er...gave you that idea?"
"Well, the fact you've been disappearing and returning with a peculiar smell about you was a bit of a clue. Then Monodramon leaps into the room the two of you are in playing a song about wild you-know-what. It was enough to raise my suspicions."
"But...that's not proof," blustered Terriermon.
"It is if Monodramon says it is," said Lopmon.
"Argh, that idiot," Terriermon snarled. "I'll delete him."
"No, you won't."
Terriermon blinked as Lopmon wrapped her small arms around his neck and hugged him for about five seconds before releasing him but still holding his shoulders with her hands. "Listen Terriermon, I think this is fantastic."
"You do?"
"Yes. Last week you had the biggest fight that any of us have ever had with Renamon and barely a week later you've been mated. And you're happy about it. It's so romantic, actually."
"Er..."
"Momentai."
"Hey."
"I mean it," said Lopmon. "You've found the love of your life. It's brilliant."
"Um... yeah. It is, isn't it," Terriermon was suddenly grinning and now he hugged Lopmon and span her in a circle. "It's great. I've been mated. Me. It's still sinking in, you know. It's just...wow."
Lopmon's face fell ever so slightly. "I wonder if I'll ever find a mate."
"Oh, come on," scoffed Terriermon. "If I can find a mate then you certainly can."
"Thanks, but I don't think that any of the other males are my kind of person."
"Well, I didn't think that Renamon was my kind of person until three days ago. Hell, six days ago I thought she was the least likely of all female digimon that I would mate with."
Lopmon nodded. Terriermon suddenly thought, "Are you going to tell anyone."
Lopmon shook her head. "No, I'm not. But, knowing the truth is a bit of a relief actually. I was half convinced at one point this morning that you were going out and doing something extremely dangerous."
"I think that what I have been doing is slightly dangerous," winked Terriermon. "If Rika had walked in instead of Monodramon..." he shuddered.
"How did Monodramon take it?"
"He freaked out. Completely. His brain nearly exploded."
Lopmon giggled.
"What's going on?"
Renamon had just landed on the wall of the school and was looking down at them. "Rena," said Terriermon, not bothering to restrict his pet name for her. "Momentai. Lopmon knows. She figured it out."
Renamon's eyes widened. She looked down worriedly at Lopmon, but relaxed at the sight of her bunny friend beaming up at her.
"Am I going to have to put up the protective sibling act," she smiled and then her expression changed. "If you hurt him then I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN AND GUT YOU LIKE A FISH!"
Terriermon laughed. "I didn't know you even could shout like that."
Renamon smiled and leapt down to sit cross-legged. Terriermon looked from his mate to his sister(ish) and felt extreme contentment seep through him. This was a great moment. He was surrounded by his digimon family.
Terriermon addressed Renamon. "I'm thinking of adopting Lopmon as my sister."
Lopmon blinked. "Can you do that?"
"If so, then yes, because I couldn't ask for a better one," Terriermon raised on ear and curled the end like a fist. Lopmon did the same and they touched "fists." "So, I think we should take a vow. A vow that we will do anything we can to protect anyone in this triangle if they are in trouble and it is within our power to do so."
"I could go with that," said Renamon. Lopmon was her best friend and practically her sister-in-law, if you went into human terms now. She held her hand out palm-downwards. Terriermon placed his ear over the top of it and Lopmon placed her ear over his.
"This pact applies to our Tamers as well," she said. Terriermon and Renamon nodded.
"We're gonna face whatever the world throws at us together," said Renamon. "The three of us. Even if our Tamers forbid us to save the other, we will not listen."
"That's not very likely is it?" asked Terriermon.
"No," said Renamon. "And let us hope that the need to do that will never arise."
"Azulongmon," said Zhuqiaomon the great phoenix Sovereign of the south, to the great dragon Sovereign of the east. "I trust that you too have sensed the disturbances in the Digital World of late."
"Yes, Zhuqiaomon, I have," sighed Azulongmon. "I had hoped that they were just my imagination, for the nudges at my conscience were so faint at first, but they have been steadily growing stronger."
"And I also trust that you know what they mean."
"Hold up there, Mr. Fireboy McFlappy," said the Irish voice of the left head of Ebonwumon, the great turtle Sovereign of the north. "We all nu waaat it means. We are not completely dense."
"E'en thocht we're gettin' auld," said the right Scottish head.
"He must be getting loose," said Baihumon, the great tiger Sovereign of the north. "From the prison where we sealed him all those years ago."
"I feared that this might happen," said Azulongmon. "It seems the D-Reaper was able to spread further than we anticipated it had before its evolution was reversed by the Tamers. It must have weakened the prison barriers."
"Would that it had got a little further and destroyed him once and for all," rumbled Zhuqiaomon.
"Indeed," said Azulongmon. "Unfortunately that was not the case. We must prepare for his imminent arrival."
"It is not like that he is a great threat to us," said Zhuqiaomon. "We stopped him before and we can stop him a second time."
"I have no doubt in our ability to hold him off," said Azulongmon. "But it appears the Digi-Gnomes have re-opened the passages to the Human World in order to fulfil the wishes of the partner's of the Tamers to return."
"Somebody 'as got ter warn dem av de imminent danger jist in case he manages ter travel dare," said Irish-Ebonwumon.
"That can always be arranged," said Baihumon. "One of the former Devas is a partner now, is she not?"
"As much as it pains me to say it, yes," growled Zhuqiaomon. Although his feelings of hatred towards humans had ebbed a little after their major part in stopping the True Enemy, they had not completely subsided.
"Then I shall send one of my servants to her," said Azulongmon. "She will no doubt pass the message back to the other Tamers and their digimon. I believe her own young Tamer has not seen any of my servants, so she may not be as frightened."
"Which body ur ye gonnae send?" asked Scottish-Ebonwumon.
Azulongmon's massive head snaked around and said, "Mihiramon!"
A second tiger bounded into sight. This one was orange with purple shields on its shoulders and hips, feathered striped wings and a long tail. The stripes covering him were purple instead of black. There was a red scarf around his neck and purple guards on the lower parts of all four legs and three small horns on his forehead, just like Lopmon. It was one of the old Devas, the first one to attack the Digital World. Most of the Devas, because they had not been truly evil, merely misguided like their master Zhuqiaomon, had been returned to the world by Anubimon. Those whose data had been absorbed, such as Majiramon, Makuramon and Chatsuramon, were still absent, and of course Antylamon was now a partner, but the others had all returned, and had been split amongst the Sovereigns as servants.
"Yes, my lord," said Mihiramon, bowing his head.
"I have a task for you. Aside from the True Enemy, our other greatest threat is on the verge of escape."
Mihiramon tensed. "What is you task for me?"
"The Tamers must be warned," said Azulongmon. "I wish for you to enter the human world and find the former Deva Antylamon. Warn her of the looming threat and tell her that we shall send help. We ourselves shall remain in the Digital World to prevent it from falling, but the Tamers must protect their own world."
"As you wish, my lord," said Mihiramon, with a slight growl.
"Mihiramon," warned Azulongmon. "The humans are not the beings you once believed them to be. No attacking. You must win their friendship and perhaps, in time, they shall win your own."
Mihiramon bowed his head and turned to leave.
"Ah, de young are alwus so queck ter judge," said Irish-Ebonwumon.
"Yeah, 'at was his downfaa lest time," said the other head.
Mihiramon bounded up to the highest level of the Digital World, the level where the desert stretched across the entire place. He looked up at the human world. He scowled. The humans had destroyed many of his brethren before. Granted, they had been the ones that had instigated the attack, but still...
He began to run again, heading towards the nearest of the Data Streams that were coming off the green orb high in the sky. They were one of the easiest ways of getting up there. There were Data Streams all over the Digital World, but it was the once which came out of the globe that led up to the planet. The only trouble was finding them.
Of course, Mihiramon had wings. So he used them. He could not fail Azulongmon, his new master. He had failed Zhuqiaomon. He would not fail the other Sovereign.
Renamon watched the assorted children from the school gambolling and playing around in the school-yard. The little children in Suzie's year, along with Suzie herself, had initiated a game of tag, and, naturally, Calumon, Terriermon and Guilmon had joined in, although the kids were a little wary of Guilmon at first. Lopmon had also joined the game, because Suzie had asked her to, no pleaded was a better word. The children in Rika's year were admiring Guardromon if they were a boy and admiring MarineAngemon if they were a girl.
"Hey there, Fox-face," said an unmistakable voice. Renamon looked around to see Impmon approaching.
"Hello, Impmon," she said. "How are you?"
"Doing very well actually," said Impmon. "I think I've been accepted into the house now. Ai and Mako's parents were extremely wary of me these last few days, but I think everything's alright now. You?"
"Actually," said Renamon. "I couldn't be better."
"Oh?" asked Impmon. "And why's that?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"I think Terriermon's starting to rub off on you," grinned Impmon.
Renamon bit her lip and struggled not to laugh. Impmon had, unwittingly, come very close to the actual reason just then. She was very relieved when Impmon spotted the game below and shouted, "Hey, wait, let me play," so she could let out the laughter as he hopped off the wall.
She wiped her eyes when she regained her composure. "Break's nearly over, Renamon," Rika called up to her.
"Alright," said Renamon, before turning her attention back to the game. Something caught her eye.
Lopmon.
She had, for some reason, suddenly stopped running and this had caused Calumon to run slap-bang into her. She barely seemed to notice. She was suddenly staring up into the sky. Renamon followed the direction of her gaze and saw nothing. She hopped down and walked over to her best friend.
"Are you okay, Lopmon?" she asked.
"Erm," said Lopmon. "I think so but... I sense something."
Renamon tensed and looked up again. "A digimon?" she asked.
"I think so," said Lopmon. "But... it's just... it's so familiar."
Renamon looked down at Lopmon, who was still scrutinising the sky. Suddenly she gasped and pointed, "There!" she cried, at the exact same time that Renamon felt the familiar tingle go down her spine.
"You're right," she said, as a lance of light came down from the sky and a Digital Field formed right outside the school. Children screamed, unsure of what was going on, as the Tamers leapt up and took out their D-Arcs and the Digimon all immediately stopped what they were doing and turned, tensed, Guilmon going feral.
Then, the Digital Field began to fade and a large silhouette could be seen in the fog as it began to get thinner. "Are you ready, Renamon?" asked Rika. Renamon nodded.
"Terriermon?" asked Henry. Another nod.
"You too, Guilmon," said Takato. A growl was his only reply.
Lopmon suddenly gasped and cried, "No! Wait!" As the Tamers began to get out their cards. They paused, confused, as Lopmon ran forward and stood right before the Digital Field. It was still fading and the large figure could be seen moving forwards, towards the school gate. A good many of the children were standing, anticipating a Digimon battle with excitement, while the teachers tried to round them up and get them away.
Lopmon screwed up her eyes and called "Is that you, Mihiramon?"
There was gasping and cries of "What!" from the assembled Tamers. They knew who Mihiramon was – after all, they had fought him and would have lost to him were it not for a timely Digivolution on the part of Growlmon.
"Yes," was the answer, as the familiar figure of Mihiramon stepped out of the last of the fog and stood, towering over Lopmon.
"Lopmon! Get away!" cried Takato. "He's a Deva!"
"So am I!" Lopmon snapped angrily. Takato blinked. Lopmon never snapped.
The female rabbit turned back to the winged tiger. "It's good to see you again."
"I have to admit the same," said Mihiramon. "I was reformatted by Anubimon and am now under the service of Azulongmon. I congratulate you though, Antylamon...no, Lopmon. The only Deva to survive the whole thing with needing to be reformatted."
Lopmon nodded. "And the others?"
"All restored except those whose data was absorbed," said Mihiramon. "But if you ask me, we are well shot of Makuramon at least. He was just annoying, and his head was ridiculously big. Then again, he was big-headed."
Lopmon laughed a little, as did Terriermon. He walked up and stood by Lopmon, as did Renamon. Lopmon smiled at them and said, "This is my brother, well, not brother, but almost brother, Terriermon and my best digimon friend Renamon."
Mihiramon regarded them. These were the two who he had successfully defeated, but he said nothing, he merely nodded.
"Why are you here, Mihiramon?" asked Lopmon.
The tiger seemed to stand up straighter as he said four words. Four words, which were eerily reminiscent of another time where the Sovereigns had sent a Digimon to the human world:-
"To deliver a message."
There it is people. Took me a whole morning to write that. The plot is beginning to thicken now. Why Mihiramon, some of you may ask. Well, to put it bluntly, besides Antylamon he was my favourite of the Devas. Most of the others looked completely ridiculous. Makuramon looked like an idiot, Indramon, Sinduramon and Kumbhiramon all looked stupid, and don't even get me started on Vikaralamon.
Next time...
Mihiramon tells the Tamers of the impending danger. Will anyone else find out about the relationship between Renamon and Terriermon?
Coming up... Chapter 11:- The Lord of Darkness