I don't own digimon.

Chapter 7

Madame does not play well with others

Madame was ready to curse her luck. After such a wonderful streak earlier, the pendulum was bound to swing the other way. Usually, not as quick as today. Her best streak was a couple weeks. But that had been ended by a bout of the flu. That got to suck. Had a bout a couple years ago. Was absolutely the worst to deal with to an extent. Stuck in bed, with no one really to come visit me. All I really had to entertain me was work. It was my last year of school too. At least it all eventually blew over. Did get a lot of work done and I was able to finish out my essay.

Of course they had found out her hideout. That could be dealt with in some fashion. Possibly even moving everything they had some other day. But then there was... him of . First he showed up at the hotel. That could just be chalked up to pure coincidence. All sorts of characters could be found there. This second appearance (so far) was a massive problem. Hard to let go and free yourself when the very temptation is right in front of you. Life is sometimes unfair in that regard. In Madame's case, unfairly so (supposedly).

"Princess!" Bubbles shouted, making a beeline for the thief. Stepping to the right, they attempt to stay out of the dragon's grasp. The first couple attempts are actually successful. But eventually, a claw carefully grabbed hold of a petticoat. "Bubbles. Name?"

Madame didn't answer. Instead, they pick up the young dragon. It's almost surreal just looking at the pair. Part of the thief felt disgusted, frustrated to an extent. Of course the dragon saw her as one of those stupid damsels who always seem to get captured. But one so young, this could be of use. Could do without the glare from their partner.

"So you want to be a princess, dear?" Madame cooed, watching Bubbles's eyes light up. Hook, line and sinker, the thief cracked a smile. "I can make you one."

Bubbles's eyes grew even brighter. Which made Yvonne's approach all the more clearer. Though, she does stick out like a sore

"Ahem." the barbarian greeted, warhammer at the ready. At this point,, Madame needed to finish the deal or perhaps die trying. Or perhaps leave the little dragon something more. "As much as I appreciate your want to help my friend out, you're not quite the most trustworthy person."

Madame rolled their eyes. Why were people so difficult at the moment? Progress was being made and now people were trying to pull them back. Could they at least make up their minds at some point. Would be quite helpful if they reached such a point. Not very unlikely, sadly.

"I have no id-"

Yvonne's warhammer gets within inches of the thief, as if she knows something of note. Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. I'm taking notes as I go, writing down all the questions I have and the theories that might be true. Might not be. Kind of the fun of my job. Not that I think the same could be said about Yvonne at the moment. Probably the opposite. Even though I'm having to read her emotions through her helmet.

"Ms Strauss, please don't make me go to her."

Madame just rolled her eyes. While the person in question was no mystery to her (kinda), that didn't change the threat one bit. Even if they were to act, they wouldn't just get up and bring the hammer down. No, temptation would be employed and then the big guns would be brought out. By that point, the problem would be solved and anything after that point is collateral.

"I could make a couple succubi and orcs disappear. Take their valuables, possibly you as well." the thief threatened, only to have a turret facing them down. A deep breath follows, with her choosing to bring out her whip. Which in turn, got Blaze to bring out his scimitar. "I get it. I'm on your people's bad side. But I suspect we all need to work together here."

The digimon looked among each other. Looks like they're all in a mood of some kind. Not entirely sure why. Maybe they feel underrepresented? A possibility, but not likely. More that they haven't had enough time to really process what's really going on at this point.

"She (well, not quite a she) like, killed a guy." Kollmon whispered and did a hop away from their partner. "They're a mess. I hope they're alright."

A look away followed, especially when Madame went in for a kick. They missed, which might be for the best at the moment. Mostly because our one stray grunt had noticed them and was making a reluctant approach. He didn't look too happy. Especially when all your teammates have been systematically steered off and you haven't had a bite to eat. The latter is an easy problem to solve. Former sadly, not so much.

"May I at least have my teammate's body, please?" they remark, trying their best to emote behind a blank mask. For such a challenge to face head-on, they're making quite an effort. Makes you feel bad for them to an extent. Probably has a name and a life beyond this little slice of something or other. Even willing to lay down their life for an organization that possibly gives zero shits about them. Oh that went kind of dark. Sorry about that. Not my intention. "I just want to take his belongings and find a place so he can be properly laid to rest."

Madame just rolled her eyes. As for 'they' (the other personality), it was more of just frustration within. Their 'companions' noticed it as well, weapons raised just slightly higher up. As for Bubbles, he was finally let down and playing with his princess dolls.

"Bubbles princess now!" he proudly announced, oblivious to the fact that isn't how such a process works. Eh. I'll let this fly. "Thoughts, Hilda, Blance?"

He shifted the dolls to face him. A curtsy follows. Well, as best a curtsy you can get with two dolls and what I can only assume is an invisible dress. I think.

"Yay!"

His teammates focused in on him. While they say not a word, it's quite obvious that they're all out of their element in this moment. Don't blame them for having such feelings.

"Hey." Blaze remarked, one of the first to approach the dragon. "Right now, we can't be playing. Maybe in a little bit."

Bubbles gazed towards the street. His coronation had just occurred, but the boy did have a point.

"Promise?" he whispered, holding a claw out. Blaze turned to Yvonne. The barbarian just nods, watching the fighter attempt a pinky promise. Not half bad, but there has to be an easier solution. Possibly something involving their digimon partners.

"You going to be alright?" Balamon whispered, watching Phusitmon look away. While all in this together, it was becoming quite clear that growing pains were on their horizon. Like or not, they were going to be a team. Of what caliber, remains to be seen.

"I hope so." the rabbit digimon answered and climbed up onto Bubbles's back.

"You still haven't answered my question." our unlucky grunt announced, taking a cautious step back in the hopes of not being torn to bits by way of Ella's turret. Even if said weapon looks just about ready to accidentally discharge a round and blow up on the artificer. "I just want my friend's body and his possessions. That's it."

Madame rolled their eyes.

"What's it worth to you?" the thief muttered, only for the grunt to sigh. Especially when Yvonne finally pulled her warhammer back and let the weapon sit by her side. Blaze did much the same, taking a step further and sheathing the sword.

"This is all I have."

Digging into their cloak, a bag of something comes out. The grunt holds it out, watching it get snatched up by Madame.

"That's good enough." they muttered, the other part hoping for even more gold in the process. Still they accept the bribe and makes their way down. A couple minutes later, she and Kollmon return with the body. Though now, Madame is in her jumpsuit and trying her hardest to pull. So Yvonne and Blaze walk on over, Ella and Bubbles taking the rear for this moment. But not before Bubbles slipped his dolls back into his bag and putting them to bed. Can't forget to do that.

"Would you like some help?" Ella inquired, getting a groan in return. Nonetheless, they all took a part. For better or worse. The body does get to its dedicated person.

"You saw nothing." Madame announced, a sigh following their statement. Yep. Their luck was definitely in the toilet. No way that this could get worse to an extent. It could, but neither personality wanted to put any thought to such feelings. Nonetheless, the grunt took a deep breath and began to search his friend. Tears rolled dropped to the pavement.

"You going to be alright?" Munbimon inquired and got a nod. She returned it with a deep breath. "You don't sound alright though."

The grunt sat down, setting the body beside them.. They remove their mask, revealing that of a man. He's a bit on the older side - late 60's, maybe even 70's. What hair he may of had is long gone now, replaced with long gray whisps at best. Leathery skin and faded eyes were the first things on display, with what look to be dentures. Or perhaps just false teeth.

"You probably want an explanation of some kind, don't you?"

All five humanoids nodded. Bubbles on the other hand, just took a seat by the old man. In turn, that resulted in a pat on the head. The dragon accepted the gesture, even if it did seem rude to do a princess. That could be a bygone though.

"If you could." Blaze remarked and looked over to Yvonne. "Was that out of turn?"

The barbarian shook her head. Right now, it didn't really matter who asked (outside of Madame), so she let it slide. Her attention was split between the grunt and Madame at the moment, making sure that they didn't do anything stupid. The thief noticed the attention on them at the moment. They just shrug and ignore them. No use in poking the already enraged orc any more than she already had at this point.

"I and the rest of my teammates are part of a group called Distant Harmony." the man explained, taking a deep breath right after. "Basically, we were supposed to demoralize you all in the hopes that you would give up in your journey and let our boss destroy your world."

The moment that sentence ended, our heroes (minus Bubbles) fell over. Not for dramatic effect, more because their heads were having a bit of trouble what their ears had just heard. While the possibility of such destructive forces possibly existed in this world, throwing such a goal out felt almost impossible.

"If they're capable of destroying this world, why haven't they done it?" Yvonne remarked, helmet off once more. Much better. In return, she got a deep breath. Attention finally slipping away from her opponent, she let be on that of their 'guide'. Yeah, guide probably works best in this situation.

"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest with you." the grunt answered, removing his companion's mask as best he could. Eventually, the cover comes off and reveals that of an elven man. Tears roll down, but those get wiped away. "If I had to guess, the weapon or perhaps even this 'tool' needs to charge up. Perhaps my employers wish to give these people a chance."

Another deep breath, followed by the moving of the cloak.

"You would probably need to ask one of the higher-ups." they continue, only for the cackle of electricity to pass through the air. The flinging of a rod followed. A direct hit, the target slumps to the ground.

"What a shame." a voice announced and our heroes gazes found their way down the road. A figure dressed in a tunic stood before them. Unlike the grunts seen so far, not a blank mask covered their face. No, they wore the mask of that of a statue's head. Chiseled and bronze, the sort that scholars would study out in the world. Why does something tell me he's more of the destructive type? "Oh. Perhaps I should introduce myself."

Weapons back in hand, our heroes took a step forward.

"You may call me The Artisan." this strange figure announced, a cackle following. "Oh. A fight you want? Sadly, today's not that particular day."

He teleported away right after, as if to mock them for their supposed failure. Though, they were more focused on the hurt grunt.

"Just bury us." the grunt whispered, watching Bubbles slowly approach. A very small cluster of green particles. It isn't enough. Seconds later, the grunt expires. Kind of anticlimactic, to be honest with you.

Yvonne sighed and grabbing both bodies. In between Madame and this 'Artisan' person, today was going just wonderfully. Definitely not how she was expecting things to go, such a change wasn't bad though. Especially since the graveyard was not that far away.

"Let's go."

What followed, was our heroes grabbing the other body and beginning the journey towards the graveyard.

"I'm sorry about this." Madame announced. Yvonne didn't even turn around. Wasn't much of a reason too. The apology was more of a smoothing over at this point. The damage already caused between them, a bandage to hold in the innards for the healing spell that eventually follows. What? Wizards are sometimes complete shit at analogies. We're used to it. All the other classes have their own sets of phrases, some good, some… not as much.

"Sure you are." the barbarian muttered, the graveyard now in view. "Maybe your actions will strengthen that mouth of yours."

An eye roll is all she gets.

"What's our plan for after this?" Balamon asked and got a deep breath from Blaze. He gazed over to Yvonne, only for everyone's stomachs to rumble. I guess that answers the snake's question.

"Burial, then lunch." Yvonne continued, getting a nod from both in return.

.

"Polias, they've been warned."

A figure took a sip from their wine glass and stood up. Before him, a group of figures had gathered. The culmination of the last couple years of worlds that would soon be on the chopping block - next in line to be destroyed. But they knew that. He doubted they wouldn't have come to his side had they not known that.

The Artisan took a seat, getting joined by what looked to be a scorpion of some kind. He gave it a slight pet, though it looks more like a pound of sorts. His motion catches the attention of the person to his left, who towers quite a bit over them. Doesn't explain why there's so much artificial darkness in this one room. There's no way that is the result of natural lig-

Polia looked up to the ceiling and snapped his fingers. I guess he doesn't want me here (indirectly). Or something like that. Though, that doesn't explain having a person in a corner.

Notes:

Compared to the last chapter, this was a lot harder to write. I made an effort to keep Madame's 'angst' to a minimum. Though, some did probably sneak it's way in. For now at least, this is our team. Of course, there is one more. But we haven't quite reached that point.

.

Next time: Talking amid the dead.