Digital Shuffle
by famirad
Disclaimer: Don't own Digimon.
Author's Note: A side story, set in the past with some of the past Chosen Children facing off against the World Council's anti-human Purges. Some hints of Jyou/Mimi, with timeskips. Warning for main character death. This is the end of Jyou-Mimi's side story.
Will jump back to the present-day Athmon/Taomon fight next.
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Side Story Jyou-Mimi: Cautionary Tale of the Two Generals [Part Two]
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WHEN: 1 month after Sandfall Canyon
WHERE: Digital World
Fantastic. Swapping death heat for the nonstop snow of the Fractal Mountains.
He wasn't sure which one was worse.
"So...cool!" Bearmon gushed as he squinted up at the mountain range only a few miles away. "Wow, those are kinda big, aren't they? Like super big! We really climbing that?"
Jyou closed his eyes, exasperated, and let Mimi handle her "squire". She had a patience for that kind of babysitting thing he just didn't, especially these days. You know, what with having bounties on their heads, being known as "the Terrors of Sandfall", and there was also the fact that they'd drawn big fat targets on their backs by rescuing Sora. No big deal. Just had their bounties doubled after Sandfall Canyon. Like he said, so not a big deal.
Mimi stood next to Bearmon, hands on her hips, standing with her legs akimbo as if she wasn't about to trade the brutally hot, shifting sands for the Digital World's version of Everest.
"Are you sure you don't want to go home, Bearmon?" she asked, glancing down. With her armor on, her face wasn't visible. An obsidian helmet designed to look like a warlike beak, metallic fangs dotting the visor, swiveled in Bearmon's general direction. "It could be your last chance."
The Rookie furiously shook his head. "You kidding? I'm in it until the end!"
"No way he makes it across the desert if he finally changes his mind," Gomamon muttered, just loud enough for Jyou alone to hear. "That ship sailed."
"Generals," a gravely voice cut in.
Allomon lumbered up from behind. The dinosaur had made off from Sandfall Canyon's ambush in good shape, considering the number of Council forces who'd been real upset about having Sora's bounty taken away from them. As soon as a runner told them the Wind Overlord and Birdramon escaped, they'd pulled back, but not without the surviving Council forces taking potshots, screaming for bloody vengeance. A lucky hit from one of them had awarded Allomon with a large, healing scar raked across his blue snout, traveling over one of his reptilian eyes. It caused the Champion to have a permanent half-squint, an involuntary curl to his snout as if he was sizing up someone to wolf down if they got on his bad side. If anything, it made him look even more intimidating than before.
Jyou stepped aside as Allomon came to a stop, careful to mind his feet around the considerably more squishy humans.
"Scouts came back," Allomon said, with that concise choppiness he'd gotten from years of fishing by himself at Sunset Drop. "Good news. Bad news too. Bad news first, for Jyou."
Mimi's helmet couldn't quite hide the little amused snort she made behind it. Of course he wanted the bad news first.
"Hit us with it," Jyou tried to hide his blush. Didn't help he could feel his sweat beading, rolling down the sides of his face, and he wished Mimi couldn't see him looking like a gross mess.
Allomon nodded and went on, shaking his snout and rattling the feathers forming his mane. "Bad news. Signs of Council forces following our trail. Two Generals' bounty raised again. Hired hunters searching too. Only have a few days of head-start now."
"What about Sora? Were you able to make contact?"
"No. Wind Overlord left this."
Allomon reached into the leather satchel he had slung around his torso, claws fishing around until he came up with a small folded "paper", sealed with a glowing clump of something that almost looked like wax. The seal flickered with static every now and then, shining a pretty shade of crimson.
"Maybe good news now. Didn't read it," Allomon grunted, hissed, and then shrugged. "Two Generals business. Not mine."
Mimi reached out for the note, looking up at Allomon. "Thanks! You're a dear. Anyone tell you that?"
The scarred Digimon's face was hard to read, between his cold snake eyes and the predator's row of fangs and immobile face, but his tail may have wagged a little in pride. Mimi did have that effect on people, Jyou realized, and apparently the whole wanting to impress her thing could extend to Digimon too. Beckoned closer, Jyou joined Mimi as she broke the seal. She leaned in close, enough to bump shoulders, as she angled the note so they could both read it. Despite the desert's baking heat, Jyou found he didn't mind being this close to Mimi.
Bearmon crowded close to Allomon's ankle. "What's it say?"
"Hold a sec."
Jyou read along with Mimi. According to the note, Sora and Birdramon were safe but they couldn't stay. Three humans together was just too tempting of a target. Something about Koushiro looking for a way back home and that he had a potential lead (Jyou's heart danced a jig). The note ended saying Sora was going to try to find the others, since she could cover the most ground with Birdramon, and that she hoped to see them in person next time. That she'd never forget the rescue. Hang in there. Keep moving. Keep surviving. Look out after each other.
It was only then Jyou realized he was holding Mimi's hand.
Don't ask him how or when. Or even who grabbed whose hand. Was it her? Or maybe it was him. Did it matter? He glanced down, startled, and then looked up only to see his distorted reflection in Mimi's helm, angled slightly toward him. She knew. Without being able to see her face, he couldn't tell what she was thinking. What Jyou did know is he didn't imagine it when she squeezed his hand.
He squeezed back.
Mimi's beastly helm faced forward - blank, impersonal - but somehow he knew she was smiling.
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WHEN: 1.5 months after Sandfall Canyon
WHERE: Somewhere in the vast Fractal Mountains, Digital World
"Sit still! You're not getting away that easy!"
Mimi grabbed the metal horn sticking out of the back of Jyou's helmet, stopping him from jerking out of reach.
"Hey!"
"Stop squirming! Ugh, you're the worst!"
Jyou, wisely, gave up trying to wiggle away after another second, his shoulders slumping as he settled back on his knees next to the fire. With the system of caverns carved into the mountain, it meant they could risk a fire today. For once they could enjoy fingers that weren't numb and trembling. They had a kind of warmth they hadn't had in days and, as a bonus, they had light. Now she could see what he was trying to hide.
The fire nearby crackled and popped as Mimi leaned in close and, with her other hand, lifted the furred edge of Jyou's outer coat. It was…sticky. Her nose flared suspiciously. The smell of copper, like American pennies. A dark splotch bloomed. Blood. So Jyou wasn't actually okay, like he'd insisted, like he'd told Gomamon, and she could figure why he lied: he didn't want to worry his partner, not after all these battles with the Council nipping at their heels. After feeling like a human stuck surrounded by crazy monsters and dinosaurs and walking nightmares and daydreams. She got it. Maybe she felt that guilt too but come on! Jyou was their resident doctor. Or the closest thing they had. Last thing they needed was to have their doctor bleeding out and getting sick. The guy was way more important than he gave himself credit for!
"Well?" Mimi let go of Jyou's helmet. Instead she lifted the bloodied flap of his coat higher, preparing herself to wince on his behalf. "How bad is it?"
Predictably, Jyou did the Thing.
By now Mimi was a certified expert on the Thing. It was where Jyou would freeze for a second, like he was weighing the pros and endless cons, like he was eyeballing the worst case scenario and debating if he should sugarcoat it or if he should be panicking with everyone else. Where he was trying to be the adult in the room even though he was a kid, too. After all this time on the run from the Council, she thought he could at least be honest about something like this. She didn't need a slightly-older-kid babysitting her, after all, as if she was still new to the Digital World.
Truth was, she needed another General.
Jyou seemed to realize it too after a second, swallowing thickly as he looked down, a muscle in his jaw tightening. After a moment, he reached up to remove his helmet, his movements ginger and deliberate. Now they could see each other, face to face. "There's probably no broken bones. So there's that."
"What happened?"
"Ran into a few bounty hunters on our way back. Ikkakumon took care of it." Jyou paused, glancing over his shoulder at Mimi. "I know how you like good news: FrostRise Town wants to meet us. Sounds like we made a better impression than the Council bounty hunters."
Mimi sat back, hands curled against her knees. "Okay. But!"
"But?"
"You're a mess, Jyou Kido. You can't go out looking like this," Mimi wagged her finger. If she kept talking, she could pretend she had this all under control. "You need to get patched up. And you need human hands, or you would've asked Gomamon."
"Yeah, I - "
"Walk me through it."
Startled, Jyou straightened enough for it to hurt. His face went a shade paler. "What, right now?"
"No time like the present," she retorted, the very picture of innocence. "Don't make me say 'pretty please'."
The silence stretched. Mimi hadn't ever been a fan of uncomfortable silences but this one felt unbearable. Sitting there crossed legged, hands on her knees, she suddenly felt small, like she was under a microscope. Maybe Jyou would see that for all her talk, she was winging it too. That maybe more than anything, she wanted to go home and she wasn't the big bad General 02 the Council said she was. After awhile, unable to stand the silence anymore, Mimi lifted her eyes.
Jyou was watching her, and there was one of those rare, faint smiles, as if he was pleasantly surprised.
"Okay, sure. I guess."
"Promise I won't be squeamish."
Jyou made a sound as if he was biting back a laugh. "I'll hold you up on that. Okay, so you know my bag? Open it. Left inside pocket, and…."
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WHEN: 2.25 months after Sandfall Canyon
WHERE: Somewhere in the vast Fractal Mountains, Digital World
Vajramon's Council propaganda will have a field day with this once they find out, Jyou thought as he stood next to Mimi.
So it turned out the Fractal Mountains were more populated than they thought. What they thought was just one village was actually a self-contained network, with a whole tribe of Digimon called the FrostRise. Fiercely territorial. Didn't like the Council trying to absorb them into the fold. Liked it even less when the Council sent bounty hunters blundering into their mountains and sacred ice fields and trampling all over ancient shrines hidden in the snow drifts. Combine that with the Two Generals coming in, offering medical help, gifts and rare supplies from the desert and the distant, alien "ocean", and here they were: standing against the glittering backdrop of a waterfall frozen over into a solid wall, as the FrostRise matriarchs approached to speak to them...personally.
Today Jyou and Mimi were in full gear. Helmets covered in spikes and horns to obscure their human faces, with glowing neon cables running down in thick manes down their backs. Clawed gauntlets to protect fragile human fingers. Furs and thick cloth draped over armor to ward off the chill that was still trying to sneak through. Glancing sidelong, he had to say that Mimi looked bigger and way, way more intimidating than she actually was.
Considering how tough the FrostRise were, that could only be a plus.
Jyou straightened his back to match Mimi, hoping he could channel that confidence that she had All. The. Time.
Sometimes he wondered how she did it.
Flanking them were Ikkakumon, Togemon, and some of the Digimon from Sunset Drop. Bearmon was shivering miserably to the side, wrapped in a bundle of blankets. Didn't stop his teeth from chattering loud enough that Jyou could hear it even from here. Next to him was Allomon, the blue dinosaur gazing out at the crowd of FrostRise warriors and the approaching matriarchs. If he was freezing, he was doing a better job hiding it than Bearmon. Next to Jyou stood Mojyamon, his furry hands on his cane and quietly nodding off. He gave a little start when Jyou discreetly elbowed him in the side, grumbling that he was only checking his eyelids for holes (also something about whippersnappers). At least he looked awake as the three matriarchs stopped on the raised platform before them.
"The Two Generals. We have seen you," the first matriarch said. Whatever Digimon she was, it was hard to tell underneath the ceremonial furs and chunks of ice and granite woven into her cloak. She moved slowly, with deliberate steps. A clawed hand peeked out, three fingered, almost as translucent as the ice around them. "We heard you."
The second matriarch stepped forward. Tentacles slithered under the hem. "We hear you now. And we speak."
"You may pass our mountains," said the third matriarch, her voice clicking with multiple vocal chords.
"But not yet," said the second.
"General 01," the first matriarch suddenly wheeled toward Jyou, as if she could suddenly see past his helmet's visor. "You healed our ill and wounded and helped fight off Council hunters. You are useful to our tribe. Why should we let you leave?"
Jyou stepped forward, realizing this was part of the ceremony. Good thing about all this armor and heavy cloth? It meant they couldn't see him trembling with the paralyzing fear that he'd screw this up.
"Because I wouldn't help you if I was a prisoner," Jyou's words was distorted by the helmet, coming out with a slight echo as if he had two voices instead of one. "That's not your way, is it? You don't take prisoners. Those joining your tribe are willing."
The matriarchs went silent and then, almost as one, spread their hands (and tentacles). The FrostRise way of shrugging. As if to say you spoke well, so we won't gut you where you stand.
"General 02," the first matriarch faced Mimi. "You talk much. Sometimes too much. But you speak openly from the heart. Why should our warriors follow you into the lands beyond our mountains?"
Now it was Mimi's turn to step forward.
"We're trying to find our friends. Our home," her helmet, graced with a wreath of ivory metal thorns, turned toward the first, second, and third matriarchs in turn. "We'll do it with or without you. Maybe you should ask your warriors why they want to join. I can't speak for them, that wouldn't be right!"
Jyou couldn't tell if he was proud of Mimi or he wanted to facepalm.
"...We will talk," the third matriarch said, her hands mercifully spreading again, and for once there was a hint of amusement. "Tonight, you mingle. Trade. Enjoy. Go."
That was a few hours ago. Enough time, in fact, for Jyou to corner Mimi in the FrostRise's lodge and ask if she scripted her response or she winged it.
Mimi lifted her helmet's visor just enough that she could stick her tongue out. "What do you think?"
"No idea."
"Aura of mystery, Jyou!" The visor dropped down, turning her faceless again. "Try it sometime."
Mimi gripped him by the shoulder, under his stitched leather pauldron. Somehow he could tell she was grinning, even with her helmet in the way, separating her human, pretty face from the world. She reached down, grabbing Jyou's hand and squeezing it, her gauntlet's claws clicking.
"Enjoy yourself for once! We're in the middle of Digi-Everest, away from the Council. C'mon! One night of fun won't kill you!"
She dragged him out of the lodge and down the narrow path to the collection of tents the FrostRise tribe had pitched below. Wire strings of glowing amber, threaded with blue, were laced across icy outcroppings, traveling from tent to tent, with larger huts set up for the Digimon who wanted to sell their wares to the outlanders, who were more than happy to crowd near the torches and portable heat vents. She led him from stall to stall, visiting Digimon from FrostRise and Sunset Drop in turn. Jyou knew some of them. Mostly he knew their injuries, their aches and pains. Mimi, though. She flitted from group to group, checking in, laying a comforting hand when she sensed they needed it. Giggling at a Digimon's...interesting take at an Earth-style joke. Throwing in a flirt or two.
Jyou hovered at her side, and for a second, he wondered how she found the time to get to know everyone's names despite everything. Despite the Council bounties always hanging like a shadow.
Maybe it was a Mimi thing.
Apparently it was also a Mimi thing to drag to him to toward the center of the FrostRise festival. Music twisted and bounced, sometimes in notes his human ears could barely pick out. Drums beat. Horns and pipes and guitars. Mimi giggled as she weaved through FrostRise and Sunset Drop Digimon alike, easily dodging horns and wings and tails like an obstacle course. It was all Jyou could do to keep up, his hand clasped in hers. This moment seemed to stretch into eternity: flashes of colors, of Mimi's armor before him. Her laughter ringing.
He felt light, as if he could fly free of tomorrow.
They popped out onto a small patch of dirt just beyond the long tables heavy with food and drink. Other Digimon were bouncing and shifting and, it took him awhile, to realize they were dancing. Some of it was fluid, like water, inhumanly as if they didn't have bones. Others twitched and jittered, like a GIF with not enough frames, and that was hypnotizing to watch, too. Mimi pulled him a step closer.
"Dance with me? It's you or Mojyamon, you know."
Jyou stumbled forward, hoping none of the FrostRise Digimon saw "General 01" tripping on his own feet. Mimi steadied him with an armored hand against his chest.
"I – I can't dance."
"Adorable."
"You know I have two left feet."
Mimi shrugged, her helmet cocking to the side. "Give it a shot. I'd love to show you! Besides, it's your turn to surprise me after this."
Wait, what? Come again? His...turn? Jyou suddenly realized he'd be expected to sweep Mimi off her feet, to honestly shock and awe her, to be impressive, and suddenly he felt his blood rushing to his face as every nerve fired up, hot as lightning. Oh no. Oh no no no. Suddenly facing the Council bounty hunters seemed a lot less scary, because at least he knew where they stood. He didn't worry about what they thought, about what they might think. Worrying that he'd only disappoint.
And yet...okay, whoa! It was happening, really happening. Too late to back out. Now their feet were moving, Mimi taking the lead as she twirled and spun. Moving to the beat. In a world of her own and inviting him in to share it with her. Even with the helmet visors separating them, he could still imagine her eyes sparkling, amused. That dazzling smile.
Jyou was pretty sure he stomped all over her feet that night.
It was the most fun he had in ages.
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"- Hi guys! - …Hey, can you hear me? It's Koushi - "
The feed cut out. Static blared as they lost picture.
Mimi winced, glancing at Jyou. He shrugged, as if to say I'm not the computer expert here either and then he did what everyone was supposed to try first: he reached down, turned the power OFF/ON and...voila.
Magic.
After a few seconds, the screen before them turned back on, with a clearer picture than before. With both their Digivices plugged into the FrostRise Tribe's signal booster, they were able to receive Koushiro's message. The picture resolution was low, the other kid speaking into his Digivice's tiny screen as he worked, typing away for all he was worth. Occasionally they'd get a glimpse of Tentomon buzzing in the background, plugging wires and carrying strange panels dotted with symbols and crystals. Koushiro lifted his head to stare into the screen.
"Can you hear me now?"
Mimi leaned forward. "Yeah!"
"It's you and Jyou? Any others?"
"Just us," Jyou exchanged glances with Mimi. "Sora…?"
"Dropped in. She's out looking for Yamato and Takeru."
Mimi felt Jyou shift next to her. The hut the FrostRise Tribe gave them was small, without a lot of room to set up a signal booster and an area fit for two Generals to sleep in, which meant that they were shoulder-to-shoulder, huddling next to each other to see Koushiro's fuzzy image glowing up at them.
Koushiro peered through the screen, the image blurry, glancing from Jyou to Mimi, as if trying to catch up on everything he missed. Knowing it was impossible but still giving it a shot.
"Don't know how long I can transmit, so I'll keep it short," he said quickly. "But I might've found a way back home."
Mimi elbowed Jyou without realizing it, her lips silently wrapping around oh my gosh!
" - Takes time - " and now the feed cut out again, run through with static. " - Options near…digital tears. I need... - sending coordinates to you. When can we - ?"
The feed cut out for good. The screen went blank. Doing what Jyou did with the power on/off didn't work. No matter what they tried, that little connection to another human was gone.
Mimi deflated after a few minutes. "No good?"
"Nope," Jyou said, shrugging, apologetic. "Sorry."
She waved it away. "Not your fault. Let's try again once we're out of the mountains."
They bumped into Bearmon as they left the tent. The Rookie backpedaled and dropped into one of those exaggerated bows that he'd made into an art form, going so low that his muzzle almost touched the icy ground before he straightened. He reached up to adjust his baseball cap before it drooped below his eyes.
"My Generals!" he said, with a goofy salute. "Is this a good time? The FrostRise matriarchs wanted a word, so….yeah."
Mimi paused and then, fixing a smile on, reached for her helmet. "Thanks. We'll be there soon!"
It was only Jyou who caught that smile faltering, saw Mimi's lips quiver for a brief second as she lowered the visor and braced her shoulders, preparing herself for another day in the Digital World.
Another day as one of the Two Generals.
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user TellOnlyU: ("2 generals on move. leaving mountains. made contact with another human. secured alliance with frostrise: do i engage?");
user VAJRAMON: ("do not engage. continue observation");
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WHEN: 5 months after Sandfall Canyon
WHERE: Digital World
Lilymon was gorgeous.
Mimi thought she was an expert on all things pretty. Seeing Lilymon for the first time, though, and suddenly she realized she knew nothing about beauty.
She stood there gaping in awe, leaning against Allomon's calf as she minded her injured leg, trying to keep her weight off it. With the light of digivolution fading in the sky above them, it was easy to forget all about the warmth of blood against her thigh. Lilymon hovered over the battlefield watching as the Council forces scattered, her wings shimmering a vibrant green as she dove after the stragglers. Down below, Ikkakumon fired warning salvos to keep the Council Digimon running, a good kick in the butt to drive the point home and remind them of their place. The FrostRise warriors roared as one, jeering with laughter as they watched the enemy Digimon run like the cowards they were.
"Wow," Jyou breathed.
"'Better than 'wow'!"
"This changes things, Mimi," Jyou turned to face her. His armor, lined with metal tusks, cloth and furs, painted the boy as an impressive General, as if he was some master tactician who hadn't, you know, stepped all over her feet and blushed enough for the two of them back in the Fractal Mountains in what seemed like a lifetime ago. "I think we've got a good chance at reaching Koushiro's coordinates. We can do this!"
Mimi smiled before she remembered Jyou couldn't see it. Not with their armor.
It wasn't a surprise when she reached for his hand and he laced his fingers through hers.
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user TellOnlyU: ("WARNING: gomamon/palmon digivolved to ultimate");
user VAJRAMON: ("continue observing but prepare to engage soon");
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WHEN: 8 months after Sandfall Canyon
WHERE: Fragment Pass, Digital World
"Sorry!" Bearmon wobbled dramatically, gasping as he flopped down in a heap. "I...need another break. Talk about working up a sweat! Hoo boy!"
Not again. Jyou was glad that Mimi was here to defuse the situation because him? His patience was shot. This wasn't the sight-seeing road trip Bearmon acted liked it was and maybe he didn't notice, but lives were on the line here. Maybe it was different because Bearmon wasn't human. Maybe because he didn't have a bounty that had not only been doubled, but tripled in the past couple of months. Maybe this was still a vacation to him.
Jyou was suddenly glad he had the heavy, sweltering armor. It hid any eyerolls.
"Bearmon," said Mimi kindly, stepping away from Lilymon's side. Overhead, the sky darkened with ugly clouds, with swelling underbellies that said another storm was on the way. "Here, lean on me. We don't want to be caught out here when it starts raining."
"Okay okay okay...thanks…"
Bearmon hobbled up so that he could lean on her, and for a Rookie, he was heavier than he looked, bowing Mimi down under his weight. Her healing leg twinged, her helmet hiding her pained wince. Maybe offering a shoulder hadn't been such a good idea.
One of the scouts came up jogging up with that telltale rattle of FrostRise beads sewn into a traditional cloak, her footsteps heavy enough to shake the ground. Coredramon made even Allomon look small, her green wings folded to her back as she came to a stop before them. Steam issued from her nostrils as she dipped her snout: once, twice for each General.
She spread her claws, FrostRise style, but this time with her palms down to show her disapproval.
"The pass Lilymon scouted last week is gone. Landslide. Probably caused by that storm a few days ago," Coredramon pointed with a claw down the way she came. "There's another pass. Looks like an abandoned outpost. We could wait out the storm there and it looked like there's enough room to shelter the whole war party."
Jyou turned, glancing at the Digimon spread out behind them. Some were chatting or snacking, others resting or sharpening weapons or claws. So far everyone seemed to be in a good mood. There were more than they'd started out with, a lot more, and he caught himself wondering just how many there were. A few hundred? A thousand? It seemed as if every time they passed through a town or village or trading outpost, they'd ended up with more followers. Most of the Digimon from Sunset Drop had stayed, even old Mojyamon complaining about his ancient knees.
Wonder how long they'll stick around? When will enough be enough?
Mimi sighed. "Okay. Sounds like we have no choice. What do you think, Jyou?"
He thought about it, glancing up at the sky. Thunder pealed in the distance. A bolt of red lightning skittered across the clouds. The last time they'd seen clouds like this, they'd almost been swept away by the floods.
"The flash floods are too dangerous to risk. Better there than out here."
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user TellOnlyU: ("generals heading to fort in fragment pass.");
user VAJRAMON: ("standby. backup incoming. engage on my signal.");
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What Coredramon described as an outpost was more of a castle, if you asked Mimi.
They entered past the first set of walls, surrounded by the towering mountains, ancient looking with stone and the blue moss that seemed to be everywhere in Fragment Pass. The FrostRise warriors were unimpressed as they strolled past the fort's main gate, which meant the others did the gaping and ogling in awe for them: Bearmon actively sucked in a sharp breath, his silver eyes going wide as plates. Allomon had actually grunted "that's big" and even Mojyamon had straightened up a little, shaking his mop of fur away from his eyes so he could see better.
Past the second wall was the rest of the outpost, a complex of stables, lodges and barracks linked together by a cobblestone road. A grand hall, rising up several stories like a grim ghost, sat on the second wall with a tower jutting several stories up. Some of it was crumbling, already blue with digi-moss, but most of it was intact. Mimi waited until their forces had settled in, warming themselves by fires and getting dinner ready, before she went looking for Jyou. She found him near the second gate, inspecting the wall with his hand against his chin and she just could imagine him squinting behind his shielded visor.
"Hey, Jyou."
The other human didn't turn around, still reaching out to poke the wall, as if testing its integrity. "What's up?"
"Could we talk?"
"About?"
Jyou turned, his armored shape slicked with the rain that had started picking up over the last hour. When he finally lifted his visor, he revealed a face that looked older than he did at Sunset Drop only a few months ago. Mimi did the same, removing her helmet so she could breathe the tang of the rain, her hair spilling free. Tangled, split ends; she would've never let it get like this back in the Real World, she thought, and she forced herself not to think about how much she wanted to go back home. Not now. Not yet.
"We're almost there," Mimi said. At least, she thought so. Following Koushiro's coordinates, they were close. So close. "Excited?"
"I don't want to get ahead of ourselves."
Mimi stood there with a mock pout, hand on her hip. "Would it kill you to be glass half-full for once?"
He barked out a dry laugh. "It might!"
"Look, I was wondering…" Mimi bit her lip and decided to just go for it. "Walk with me? Bearmon's almost done cooking dinner."
They walked, picking their way across cobblestone becoming slippery with mud, Mimi limping a little. Supporting Bearmon's weight the way in hadn't exactly helped her healing thigh, and after a few minutes, Jyou noticed. He paused and then held out his elbow. She took it with a grateful smile and was relieved that Jyou could smile back.
"Thanks."
"Any time, Mimi."
They made their way around the road, passing the collection of barracks squatting in rows. The doors hung open, the voices of the Digimon mingling floating out; the few notes of a song she didn't recognize. Rain drummed against the roofs. Mimi squeezed Jyou's elbow, getting his attention.
"Hey, can you do me a favor? Once the storm passes, I was going to fly with Lilymon and take a look around. Hold down the fort while I'm gone?"
"Sure. Be careful."
Mimi's nose crinkled, pleased to see Jyou starting to blush. "Super careful."
The rain decided to upgrade itself then, now falling in sheets as it turned into a downpour and they were quickly soaked through by the time they reached the second gate, catching their breath underneath its stone arch. Streams of water turned into curtains on each side of the gate, blocking them out from the world. With a rueful sigh, Mimi leaned down, rubbing at her aching thigh as Jyou tried to wring some of the water from his drenched cloak. He had to peer over his glasses, the lens dotted with rain and fog, and squinting with that look on his face that Mimi may or may not have found a little cute.
"Does it still hurt?"
"Yeah…" Mimi grimaced. "Don't worry, I'll ask Mojyamon if he can make more of that healing cream."
He frowned. "You know, telling me not to worry just makes me worry."
"Jyou Kido, not worrying for a change? Yeah, right!" Mimi cheered up, giving her knee a pat to show she'd be fine. "Worry about the others while I'm gone, okay?"
Jyou reached up to slide off his helmet so he could scratch the back of his head. "Just don't stay out too long or - "
Mimi suddenly leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, straightening with an impish grin as the other human went beet red. He sputtered. Suddenly he forgot what he was going to say.
Oh Jyou. So predictable. Precious.
"Worrywart," Mimi giggled. "C'mon, let's eat - I'm starving!"
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WHEN: 3 days later
WHERE: Fragment Pass, Digital World
NOTE: Day 1 of Fragment Fort Battle (marked historical)
Lilymon banked and banked hard, Mimi clinging onto the Ultimate's torso for dear life even as her legs and hips swung free, hanging into the open air. Her stomach dropped.
"I'm okay!" Mimi shouted over the whistling wind. "Keep going!"
"Hang on!"
Her partner dived, her wings a furious green blur as she suddenly climbed through the dawn's light. An explosion from behind kicked the two of them higher, Mimi squeezing her eyes shut behind her helmet. Prayed that she wouldn't slide off.
How? How did they catch up?
Somehow the Council knew where they were. Somehow they were practically on their doorstep. Even with Lilymon flying as fast as she could, they only had a matter of minutes, maybe an hour, before they'd be at Fragment Fort's gates and it wasn't enough time to get everyone to safety. Mimi held on for all she was worth, her heart jumping into her throat as Lilymon came into sight of Fragment Fort. They rocketed over the first and second walls, Mimi yelling orders before her feet fully hit the ground, her healing leg almost buckling under her before she recovered, screaming her voice raw.
"Close the gates! They're coming!"
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Vajramon cantered forward, sizing up his scouts' reports. One hand rested on the pommel of a sword, sheathed at his side.
So this was where the Two Generals would make their final stand.
The mighty gates were barred shut, the gray and blue mountains looming up on either side in towering walls. The enemy was trapped: it was either fight their way out, try to scale walls, or for the Two Generals to flee by air. That last scenario could happen...but it was unlikely, judging from his intel. The two humans were soft. They were overly attached to the Digimon around them. Not probable that they would run for their lives and leave their soldiers - their friends - behind. For a second, he almost admired that about them. Bravery and loyalty in the face of battle. Commendable traits.
Then again, these were humans. War criminals. Invaders. Signs of a greater plague.
He held up his clawed hand, aware of all eyes on him, waiting for the order to begin the assault.
Vajramon's hand dropped.
"Carry out my will!" he bellowed. "Purge the traitors!"
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user VAJRAMON: ("general 02 is the priority target. DO NOT LET HER ESCAPE");
user TellOnlyU: ("on it.");
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Jyou watched from the main hall's tower, shading his eyes. Off in the distance, down the rocky slope slicked with churned mud, the battle was underway. The FrostRise warriors held their own, raining death down at the first wave of Council Digimon trying to breach the first wall. Data exploded in puffs of blue and green, hot neon electric sparks like fireworks popping off from the ground. So far the FrostRise didn't seem worried: they were laughing and mocking the Council forces, singing out cheerful insults.
Was this it? Would their luck run out?
He glanced at Mimi. The poor girl was limping heavily, balancing herself with a hand gripped against the tower parapet. With all her red and black armor, he couldn't see the expression on her face, but he bet it mirrored the horror in his.
"Bearmon," Mimi said quietly. "Can you do me a favor? Try to find any escape routes. If you find any, get the other Rookies out of here."
Bearmon gazed up at her and beamed. "I'll hop on it, my General!"
Mimi didn't see the salute he sketched off or the exaggerated bow, already facing back toward the main wall under attack. Jyou stood by her side, reaching down and squeezing her hand. Hoping it'd reassure her they could get through this. She didn't return the gesture at first.
When she did, it was faint, like an afterthought.
"You better get down there with Zudomon," she said, nodding at the main gate. "I'll hang back and get the second wall ready."
Zudomon lumbered up, almost as tall as the tower. The Ultimate held up his paw so Jyou could step onto it, transferring his human to an armored shoulder. "Let's give them a taste of their own medicine," he growled.
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Night was falling and they still hadn't breached Fragment Fort's main gate.
All according to plan. Excellent.
Vajramon glanced down at his Instant Messenger unit as it blinked green in his hand. Text blipped onto its screen. Ah, that would be "TellOnlyU". His contingency would engage General 02 soon – all that was needed was to separate the human girl from Lilymon. To corner her. That meant keeping the battle going, distracting the attention of the other General and those Digimon slaves before they realized it was too late.
"Pull back the foot soldiers," Vajramon didn't turn, aware of the officers waiting for his orders. "Bombard the first wall with a Tankmon battalion. Soften it up but don't destroy it yet. Make sure they don't get any sleep tonight."
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Zudomon was exhausted.
Jyou could feel it as he fired off shot after shot into the night, his great horn sparking with electricity, his giant war hammer white hot. But his arms were trembling with the effort and the strain of holding onto this digivolution for so long meant that he needed to revert back soon. Very soon. He'd started to pull back when the first artillery shots started.
"Watch out!" Coredramon screeched. "Incoming! -"
The first shot sailed overhead, blowing one of the courtyard huts to kingdom come. Debris rained down. Mud splattered. The stench of gunpowder flooded the area.
The rest of the salvo slammed into the main wall with enough force to shake its very foundations. The FrostRise Digimon, who had started the day confident, were now singing songs of fury, bellowing defiant war chants taunting the Council forces. Several of them lay wounded, bleeding data from gaping injuries, and others were forced to scatter as another artillery round almost took off their heads.
Coredramon was beside herself with rage. After a few salvos of this, she'd had enough. The Dragon Champion vaulted from the wall and took to the air, her green wings beating until she was level with Zudomon.
"Let me take those Digimon who can fly, General 01! We will bombard these cowards into the next Zone!"
Jyou thought about it. They didn't have many who could fly, but there wasn't much they could do from here: not with the Council's artillery range. He wondered if this would be a mistake. Seeing the rage in Coredramon's face, her blazing eyes, how she was so angry she was dripping drool from her fangs, and he knew then that she'd go no matter what. She wasn't asking for permission.
"Good flying," Jyou said. "We'll be here holding the gate."
He watched as Coredramon swooped down and began rounding up the surviving FrostRise, picking out those who could fly. Rallying them with another war chant. Her deep voice mingled with theirs.
"Hope she comes back," Zudomon rumbled quietly. "...It's gonna be a long night, isn't it?"
Jyou's silence betrayed him.
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Was the Council going to sit there all night?
Mimi's nerves were shot as she stood atop the second wall's gate, watching the night light up with flashes from the far off cannons. There would be a rolling boom, loud enough to feel it rattle her teeth, and then the deafening crack of a round impacting. So far it didn't look like they could hit past the main gate but still – every time she saw a flash, she wanted to flinch, wanted to run. It wasn't the first time she wanted to hide in some cave.
Something made her stand her ground.
Something told her they were past the point of running.
"Mimi," Palmon had to stand tip-toe to peer over the wall. "Should I go out there too? I could fly if I digivolved to Lilymon."
Tempting. But then she remembered all those awful Council kid books, about how they'd bragged about "saving" Digimon partners. If Palmon went out there alone…
"No," Mimi patted Palmon's head, running her heads through the oversized petals. "Stay here. You're the only other Ultimate we have. We need to stay behind to guard the escape if they get through."
They kept watch, every sense on high alert, for another hour. Waiting for the moment the artillery might stop and the Council forces would swarm the main wall again. Maybe they'd get through next time. Jyou swung by to visit at one point, holding Gomamon in his arms. The Digimon manning the second wall made way for him, parting with whispers at the sight of his dented armor, pitted from debris, and splatters of dark mud. Mojyamon didn't wait to be asked: by the time Jyou made his way there, the old Digimon had set out some food and water for Gomamon.
"Thanks! I could eat a Unimon!" Gomamon dove at the food, shoveling it into his mouth as Jyou aimed a tired smile at Mojyamon.
The old 'Mon grumbled as he wandered off to continue his food deliveries to the others. "Bah! Don't get all sentimental. Eat. All of you."
Mimi lifted her helm's visor and ate. It tasted like ash, her appetite gone. She ended up giving most of it to Palmon and Gomamon, knowing that they'd need as much as they could get so they could digivolve. Jyou seemed to feel the same as he picked listlessly at his plate.
"How's the main gate looking?" Mimi asked.
Jyou shrugged, reaching up with the back of his hand and rubbing away at a splotch of mud, mixed with soot, against his cheek. "Holding."
"And the FrostRise?"
"Holding too. They're angry though," Jyou shook his head. "Coredramon took some of them with her to hit the Council Digimon taking potshots."
"It's been a long time."
"I know."
"What if - "
"I know."
Mimi chewed her bottom lip, feeling how chapped it was. "Should I take over the main gate? Trade places?"
He shook his head, eyes lifting from his barely touched plate to meet Mimi's stare. "If this keeps up into tomorrow...maybe. Bearmon not back yet?"
"No. Still looking for an escape route."
Suddenly she wondered if the Rookie had decided, finally, that this wasn't what he signed up for. She couldn't blame him.
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WHERE: Fragment Pass, Digital World
NOTE: Day 2 of Fragment Fort Battle (marked historical)
Dawn came.
Vajramon had plenty of time to catch up on sleep. When he came trotting to the command camp, the colorful tents pitched within view of the gray Fragment Fort, he was feeling positively refreshed, with a spring to his hooves.
The siege was going as expected. The Sealdramon sent to flank the cliffs hadn't engaged with the Two Generals, instead just keeping tabs on the movement inside Fragment Ford. They'd confirmed that both humans and their slaves were still alive. Excellent. He intended to keep them on their toes.
"Stop the bombardment. Send the next wave of foot soldiers. Cover them with our Airdramon."
The officers rushed to relay the Deva's commands. Satisfied, Vajramon sauntered into the first tent. Cages loomed inside, restraints attached to weights and magnetic cuffs. Muzzles kept the FrostRise prisoners more or less quiet. He went up and down the row as the guards inside watched. Peering intently at each prisoner, he seemed to study their faces, looking for something only he could see. Character, perhaps, or power.
These were the Digimon who took out a good number of Tankmon during the night. A brave effort, but in the end, it wasn't enough.
"Send this one back to the Council for rehabilitation," Vajramon said warmly, gazing down at Coredramon. The Dragon Champion was oozing data from dozens of wounds, her wings bound as chains forced her into an awkward forward sprawl, her snout pressed into dirt. "Behold our endless mercy."
He turned with a swish of his ox's tail and then added, over his shoulder:
"Delete the rest of these traitors."
Coredramon's anguished shriek was stifled by the muzzle.
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Mimi's voice sounded harsh, far away and yet too loud. Her head rang. Why was the world vibrating?
...Why was she lying on the ground...?
It took a second to register the taste of blood pooling in her mouth.
She hurriedly spat it back out, reaching up with an armored hand to find that the Airdramon attack had shattered the helm's visor. Useless now. Pulling it off with a gasp, she threw the helmet to the side, pushing herself to her knees and speed-limping over to where Togemon had been knocked into a building.
"Are you okay?" Mimi jerked her eyes up. Data sprinkled down in a sparkling snowfall against the afternoon sky, again gray with heavy rain clouds. One Airdramon had swung too close, had run right into Togemon's Needle Spray and it looked as if the rest of the Council's flock was banking around the mountains for another bombing pass. They had a short window to catch their breath.
Togemon got gingerly to her feet, a glove reaching around to rub her back where some of her needles had broken off. "Ooh, I'm gonna feel that tomorrow."
"General! My General, I found it! I found it!"
Bearmon came running across the mud and cobblestones, waving his claws frantically like he was trying to call a taxi. Mimi stared and she had to admit, she was surprised to see the Rookie again. He skidded to a stop, out of breath.
"I found it! A tunnel! I'll show you!"
Relief flooded into her and for a second Mimi forgot how tired she was, how her injured leg protested. "Are the other Rookies heading for it?"
"Yeah! With Mojyamon and Allomon! But you're gonna take it too, right? You're coming with us?"
Bearmon…
"After we finish guarding here. We need to deal with the Airdramon first."
Togemon stepped forward with a solid thunk of her boxing gloves slapping together. "Sounds like a plan. Mimi?"
It came naturally. Hope lifted her heart. She held out her Digivice, felt it glow, becoming hot in her hand.
"Togemon digivolve to…Lilymon!"
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Riding on Ikkakumon's head horn, Jyou could see the number of Council Digimon on the other side, more than he'd ever seen before.
That...was a scary amount of Digimon.
Speaking of which, why where they parting? Jyou watched, confused, as the Council forces suddenly split down the center, pulling back for no reason.
A lone Digimon cantered forward through the sheets of rain. Big muscled guy, black fur, like a centaur and armored ox run through a blender. A rack of three horns curved up from his skull. Whatever it was, the Ox seemed to be in charge as those around him obediently parted and even averted their eyes, a bow rippling through the ranks in a reverent wave. He came closer, looking silently up at the main gate, at the shattered walls still standing defiant. Red eyes burned. With a casual motion, he drew one of the obsidian swords sheathed at his side. The very gesture was smooth, collected. Calm.
Uh oh.
Jyou's knee-jerk inclination to panic kicked into high gear. It screamed get away do it now now now.
"Get back!" Jyou shouted. "Everyone get back!"
Ikkakumon lurched away from the main wall, hightailing it backward. The surviving FrostRise Digimon did the same, scrambling and slithering away, abandoning the walls that had, up to now, held up against the Council siege.
The Ox slashed, the muscles of his arm bulging. A single stroke.
The huge gate split into two with explosive force.
The FrostRise war party didn't wait for the order. They immediately went on the offensive, breathing fire and ice at the Ox as soon as they saw his face, unloading everything they had. Those that couldn't charged forward, their battle song haunting enough to freeze the blood of anyone who heard it.
Jyou didn't wait either. His own Digivice blazed with a familiar, comforting power. Beneath him, Ikkakumon glowed.
"Ikkakumon digivolve to…."
The Ox didn't waste his time with the FrostRise. Some he easily deleted. Others, he let the attacks hit, his dark hide smoking in places as he went into a gallop, dodging spears and claws and swords.
Instead he charged...at Zudomon.
Jyou was still on the partially digivolved Zudomon, his shell still half formed, the huge war hammer barely forged as he instinctively tried to bring it down on the Ox. The other Digimon suddenly had his other sword out, forming an X with the dual weapons as he caught the war hammer and shoved it back. Zudomon stumbled, still in the middle of digivolving, caught off balance.
The Ox jumped back and then reared up on his hind legs. His grip on his swords flipped so the tips pointed down.
"Terra Blade!"
Jyou saw the flash of light, felt it lift him off Zudomon. Vaguely heard his partner cry out before he hit the ground hard enough for everything to go black.
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"Lilymon!"
Mimi gripped the wall's edge, the rain plastering her hair to her head as she called out:
"Zudomon and Jyou! Save them!"
That was her first mistake.
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Wings aching as they fluttered in air thick with smoke and data from deleted Digimon, Lilymon ascended, breathing hard enough that she could hear the harsh rasp echoing in her chest. The Airdramon flock was gone but – oh no. She turned in the air, hearing the crack of the main gate as it was destroyed. A dark, four-legged figure running at Zudomon and -
Mimi called her.
Save them, she said.
Lilymon didn't need to be asked twice. She swooped down, her wrist petals rotating to form: "Flower Cannon!"
The blast kicked the Ox back a step. Another energy burst to the chest and he lost another step. Another to the face. Another step backward.
Lilymon continued driving him back, spinning as she dove low, dodged a sword slashing through the air. Her arms wove a beautiful pattern that solidified into vines snaking around the Ox in living chains. With a grunt, the beast struggled against the creaking bonds as Lilymon soared higher, preparing to deliver a final blow before he got loose again.
She glanced over her shoulder, as always focusing on Mimi, the center of her world.
Her General. Her partner.
Mimi stood there on the wall with rain streaming down her face and her shattered armor, barely hanging on in places. Her Digivice shone again, throbbing in time with her heart. A strange energy built in Lilymon and she could feel a change coming, powerful, more powerful than anything she'd experienced before. Of course Mimi had eyes on everyone.
Eyes everywhere but behind her.
Time slowed to a tortured crawl.
Behind Mimi, Bearmon stood there with his muzzle curved in a strange little smile. His shape flickered. His face stretched like it was made of wax.
As if passing through a mirage, Bearmon began to change. Silver eyes grew bigger, spreading further apart. Bearmon's baseball cap melted and elongated into a cone. The snout slurped closer to the face as a monkey's tail suddenly lashed out around thinner ankles. Claws rounded out into gloves, fingers instead of claws. Armor plates sprouted from Bearmon's gray fur, the rest of his hide shimmering as suddenly Bearmon wasn't Bearmon anymore.
The Monkey in Bearmon's place sketched off another one of those salutes, this time mockingly.
A blade suddenly flipped into her hand like a magic trick.
Mimi must've spotted the horrified look on Lilymon's face. She whipped around in time for Makuramon's knife to slide through a gap in her ruined armor. It was clean. Her whole body went rigid with shock as Makuramon pushed it in up to the hilt and twisted.
The light from Mimi's Digivice faded as it slid from her hand.
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"That's enough!"
Freeing himself of Lilymon's vines, Vajramon thundered forward in a full gallop, his voice a deafening roar as he grabbed Makuramon's wrist. The other Ultimate had been poised over the human war criminal called "Jyou", lying sprawled unconscious against the rubble not far from Gomamon, and she had been seconds away from carrying out her patriotic duty. Her knife, still stained red with General 02's blood, halted only feet away from burying itself in the boy's chest. The look she shot him was stunned, her silver eyes even wider than usual as she gaped, her small fangs peeking out. Her hackles rose, fur spiked in rage and adrenaline.
"Vajramon!" Makuramon gasped. (He liked that about her, that she never fawned and called him "my lord"). "Why? I could get a two-for-one deal today! Look, he's not even fighting back!"
She was still trying, despite the direct order to stop: he could feel the flex of muscle as she fought to bring her knife down. Off in the distance, he could hear Lilymon sobbing for her human as his soldiers wrangled the prisoner. Other soldiers were already in pursuit of the Two Generals' broken army, fleeing in all directions, running quite literally for the hills. Everything was taken care of...except this.
He couldn't let Makuramon carry out the execution.
Vajramon braced himself. All four of his hooves clattered for support as his legs spread, as he pushed back against Makuramon's weight fighting against him. Against her resolve. "This isn't about keeping score! This is about our future! This one must live."
"Why?"
"It will be known to you later."
"Not good enough! I worked my butt off to get here, contaminated myself to get close to the Two Generals. You can tell me why!"
Of course Makuramon wanted to know why. She wasn't a Deva. The concept of keeping your mouth shut and obeying wasn't ingrained in her. Sometimes he struggled with it. But these were different times, strange times, and the Sovereigns, for the most part, had abandoned the Digital World's daily affairs. Tradition was going out the window. Maybe the "need to know" basis could expand to the likes of Makuramon: mercurial, easily distracted, bloodthirsty, and above all else, talented. Flexible to these changing times. Devoted in a way he desired. Willing to go the distance, no matter how distasteful it was.
Vajramon was the first to back down as he relaxed his grip on the other Digimon's wrist.
"Jyou Kido," now he pointed at the defeated General lying at their feet, "is more valuable alive. Think of what secrets he could tell us!"
"Think about all the good Digimon he deleted!" Makuramon shot back.
"There's a world filled with creatures just like him. What's going to happen once they realize we've Purged their best scouts? They outnumber us and we don't have the resources to fight back a second wave."
Apparently that was the right thing to say.
Makuramon's arm dropped, the bloodied knife in her hand forgotten. Her monkey's face, normally impish and grinning, folded into a frown as she finally tore her eyes away from the fallen human to Vajramon. "What? I...but - but I thought we're invincible as one…?"
"To a point," Vajramon tread carefully. "Join me. You won this battle against the Two Generals, but you could help us win the larger war on the horizon."
The other Digimon wavered, teetering on the brink.
"This enemy is vast. Their viruses unknown. With you at my side, I believe we could save our world."
"But…this human…."
"Rest assured he'll face the same justice once he's no longer useful. Just not today."
He held out a clawed hand, easily dwarfing Makuramon's. The smaller Digimon studied it, narrowed eyes flicking from his hand to his snout, his pupil-less crimson eyes, and then back to his outstretched hand.
"Will I become a Deva?"
Vajramon nodded. "For your acts of valor, yes."
"...Okay, cool. But will I be partnered up with you?"
He paused, wondering about Pajiramon. About the form he signed, when he swore on his life that he would execute the Two Generals. A partnership with Makuramon might be short-lived if he couldn't explain to the Council why he left one of the targeted humans alive. Negligence or fate might've been one thing. But to go before the rest of the Council and admit he'd saved General 01's life on purpose, he was going to need undeniable evidence about the human threat looming before them. Pajiramon had shied away from doing what she had to, instead hiding behind her records and her rigid ideas of proprietary. She wouldn't have hesitated, if she had been the one with a knife over Jyou Kido's chest. If the Sheep Deva was here instead of Makuramon, she would've killed their best weapon against the Human World.
Pajiramon couldn't understand the new war coming. The concessions they must make.
The sacrifices.
Makuramon, though. Yes, he trusted her to see this through.
"Naturally."
That sealed the deal. Makuramon's silver eyes lit up with joy. She grabbed Vajramon's hand, enthusiastically shaking it as if she wanted to dislocate his shoulder. Her frown turned upside down as she then bent down and hauled Jyou up by his arm. The human's head lolled, a string of blood drooling red between his lips as he sagged. Makuramon was careful to hold the unconscious General as far away as she could, mindful about preventing any sort of disgusting human body fluid getting on her.
"Calling first dibs on his interrogation. I'll show you how encouraging I can be...partner."
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VICTORY
TWO GENERALS DEFEATED!
- - - - REJOICE! - - - -
The bloodthirsty HUMANS called "The Two Generals", notorious for the following crimes [(see attached links)] are no more! After a fierce two day siege of Fragment Pass, their enslaved Digimon Gomamon & Palmon have been rescued from their cruel clutches. These poor souls will receive the best care and rehabilitation. Worry no longer!
DUE TO THIS OVERWHELMING VICTORY, THE WORLD COUNCIL DECLARES A ZONE-WIDE HOLIDAY.
The war heroes Vajramon and Makuramon will be taking a Victory Tour.
Celebrate with us at the following festival locations all week. [(see attached links)]. Vigils will be held for our brave Council soldiers, who fell honorably in battle against the HUMANS.
If you have young Digimon who need help understanding the current HUMAN threat, please read this email attachment to them. It is a cautionary tale for younger Digimon, with age-appropriate artwork, titled "Saving Gomamon & Palmon – Last Stand of the Two Generals".
We are invincible as one!
Signed, with the infernal blessing of the noble Sovereign Zhuquiomon,
VAJRAMON
- Written/produced by Deva -Vajramon
- Edited by Deva -Pajramon
- Illustrations by Deva-Makuramon
Fin
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And that's the end of this Side Story for Jyou and Mimi. Thank you for reading!