I don't own digimon.

Chapter 8

Graveyard Chat

Okay, back to our heroes.

Aldia's one and only graveyard was much like graveyards you find on other worlds - empty and quiet. Not that those two things are bad. Far from it. Being able to tell the world to go away and be alone with your thoughts is a good coping method. Especially when you have two dead bodies to bury and a whole bunch of frustrations between each other. Well, it was something like that a groundskeeper once told me. He was a great guy - as two-headed dogs acting as a land janitors can possibly be. Oops, tangent.

As for our heroes at the moment, they definitely look like they need a pick-me-up. Sure, it was awesome to now know the identity of the mysterious organization they would be facing. The arrival of this Artisan dude wasn't as great. If anything, it capped off what had so far been a crazy and wild day. The sort that most of them have possibly never have experienced in quite a while. Possibly at all.

"Do we want to introduce ourselves?" Munbimon explained and got a groan from everyone involved. Their frustration already clear, this suggestion was just further salt in the wound. Not that was really that hard to do currently. "Or do we just want to talk about this?"

Silence was all the ghost monkey digimon got. So she shut her mouth. Especially as they were searching for an empty pair of plots at the moment. Of course,

"Princess?" Bubbles inquired, tugging on Madame's garment. While the thief wasn't really responding to the dragon's calls, he wasn't going to give up. Especially after the failure to revive that man. What would they think of that. Sure, this was his first day on the job as a priest. The job expectations can't be too high, right? That sort of thing is better for the second day.

"What?!" the thief screeched, picking up the dragon. "This better be good."

Bubbles looked away. Possibly, he had hoped to have a nice conversation with them to get a better grasp. Of course, Madame was in a mood and she didn't want to play with others.

"Friends?"

A slap, followed by spitting on the ground. If anything, I think our dragon friend was caught by complete surprise. When your life consists of just playing down in the sewers with a pair of princess dolls,

"We are not friends." she muttered, catching the attention of everyone once more. Please, get your stuff together. I get it. This isn't the situation and demons you were expecting to face. That's just how life works. Your choice, but time is running out to decide. "Why don't you go run home to your mommy?"

Bubbles froze, gaze dropping to the grass for the moment as eyes slam shut. Images obscured by 'snow' flicker through his little head. A dragon stands before the altar. They look to be on their last legs more or less. Scars and wounds travel about every inch of their body, some which are beyond saving at this point.

"Bubbles dear, mommy has to go and do something very important." the dragon explains, fighting back the tears as best she could. It doesn't look like she's winning that battle. Not one bit. Her attention shifts to the altar itself. "Oh great deity, I have just one wish for you."

A deep breath. The Bubbles confused by what was even going on. Where was mommy going? Would she come back? Why was she talking to this strange piece of metal.

"In exchange for my energy, I ask of you to take care of my son, Bubbles."

The altar glowed, the dragon setting a claw down. She gives her child one last glance.

"Bubbles, I need you to stay down here for now." the dragon mother whispered, tears now out in full force. "The deity will help raise you. I'm sorry."

Her body began to flicker. As ways to leave this world go, perhaps this is one of the most noble but at the same time, absolutely awful for all involved.

"Mommy?" Bubbles called out, eyes swinging back open. Back in the graveyard, his gaze was still focused on the dirt and grass. Though, his actual friends had noticed the commotion and had come to his aid.

"Bubbles, are you alright?" Phusitmon inquired, taking the time to pet his partner's head. The dragon accepted the gesture. Even if he would've preferred it from someone else - like Madame.

"Hey. I was just telling it like it is." Madame muttered, catching a look from Ella of all people at the moment. "What?"

The artificer let out a sigh, resisting the urge to sic her turret on the thief.

"He's a child, Madame." she announced and watched Madame roll her eyes. "I've just got back into town. Expecting him to somehow be the most refreshed out of all of us is absurd."

Madame made their way over, having mostly abandoned the prospect of carrying the dead body at this point. Which just left Blaze carrying it. While the fighter didn't per say, this exercise in team building was less than helpful. Maybe this is just a case of giving them all a bit of time to get their frustrations out.

"He's still a functioning member of the team." the thief countered, looking towards the body. "There's not much use in arguing such schematics. We have two bodies to bury."

They walk back over to Blaze, picking back up their portion. Both Bubbles and Ella do something similar. Begrudgingly, especially after their talk with Madame. As for Yvonne, she was a good distance ahead of them. Thankfully within hearing range. No need for shouting.

"Any luck?" Blaze called out, only for Yvonne to shake her head. After, he focused in on Balamon. "Do you think that you can scout around?"

Balamon nodded, jumping away from his partner and landed safely on the ground. Even in a spot that no one could squish him. Which was even better.

"I'll help too." Cinemon added, joining the snake in the search. "Anything we need to be looking for?"

Yvonne stopped, whispering something into Munbimon's ear. The ghost monkey nodded and glided down to the rest of the digimon. Kollmon and Phusitmon did something similar.

"Can we leave you guys for a little bit?"

Yvonne nodded.

"Just meet back up with us in a little bit." the barbarian announced and got five sets of nods. With that, they headed off.

.

"So, who wants to start off?" Munbimon inquired, one final glance just in case their partners approach. When she was certain that none of them were, it was back to her teammates. No, digimonmates. Scratch that. Digimates? No. Cluster. Yeah.

"Uh… are we certain there all human?" Phusitmon remarked, shooting Bubbles a look. Bubbles looks to be oblivious to this attempt at spying. "I'm fairly certain that one isn't. If he is, then I don't want to see his parents."

A look from Balamon was the plush rabbit's reward. In retrospect, that probably wasn't the nicest thing to say about your partner. Makes that flashback from earlier hurt even that much more. Let me grab a tissue. Aw, here they are. Now I can do this.

"Yvonne is humanoid per say, something similar to a ogremon crossed with perhaps a LadyDevimon?" Munbimon suggested and picked up a rock. Oh. she's of those solid ghosts. Probably so they can a spot to stare towards. "Perhaps a LadySucimon. Even if those are supposedly a myth."

Kollmon's gaze shot on over. Ears unable to believe the words that came out. While sure, the mole was not the educated digimon pre-meteorite. But for such a legendary creature to exist had to be impossible. The ghost monkey digimon must be pulling her leg.

"Wait. There like, real?" the mole digimon inquired, watching the rock bob up and down. Pretty effective method of keeping focus on you. Does raise questions in regards to how Yvonne was talking to her earlier. Not my problem though.

"If we're going that route then, Bubbles's must have a dragon digimon that's like him. Coredramon perhaps?" Phusitmon announced, opinion changing quite quickly. Or just a slight correction. Even then, I don't think any of them really have a clue what they're talking about at the moment. Nor do I really have any clue what these 'mons they've blurted out. The first I have to assume is based off an ogre. LadyDevimon (wait, is the 'd' supposed to be capitalized) I'm going to assume is of similar nature to a nefarious tiefling who I guess is also a refined person? Perhaps they practice proper tea drinking techniques and make sure their husband or wife is always looking their finest. That means a LadySucimon (still not sure on the capitalization) is this idea taken to the extreme. Every action is an act of refinement to the highest caliber. Their significant other (male or female) act much the same way that they do. While some people might laugh at them for that, they don't care. Oops, off track again.

"Which just leaves with Ella and Madame." Cinemon remarked, two glances heading the way of the artificer and thief respectively. Out of all the people on offer, these two seemed like enigmas. Species-wise. First glance would suggest humans of some variety. But their size suggested something else entirely. "Possibly midgets?"

Kollmon shook her head. If that was the case, why did someone like Madame act so oddly? A refined girls in some moments, a trapped person in others. While rumors of humans having a mess of their identity did happen, usually it was a case of righting them to better memories. Here though, where was Kollmon even supposed to begin. Could someone as small as her actually break a circle that's gone on for what seems to be many years. Perhaps decades. Right now, she needed to do everything in her power to get both parts of the thief to an agreement. Somehow.

"You alright, Kollmon?" Balamon inquired, the mole digimon's gaze swiveling over to him. Muttering something under her breath, a nod followed.

"I like think I totally am." she continued, only to catch a look from Munbimon. So the ghost monkey digimon made her way over. A bop from the rock followed. Didn't hurt, but Kollmon now had a large red bump on her head.

"You're most definitely not." Munbimon whispered, watching Kollmon nod. "No matter what transpires, we'll be there for you."
Droplets fell down to the dirt. Their partner's gaze were now solely on them at this point. So they all picked themselves up and headed on over. While they hadn't found any empty plots,

"So how was your guy's chat?" Ella inquired, a nod from Cinemon being the only response. In return that got the dog cat digimon a pat to the head. Accepted, they did want a belly rub. Aw…

As for the rest of the digimon partners, they took back up their respective places. Munbimon did lose her rock though.

"Like, any luck?" Kollmon inquired, trying her best to hide the tears staining her face. Madame most definitely noticed. Bubbles did as well. Which was all the more reason to pet the mole. "Like, thank you!"

Bubbles nodded. Attention back on Madame, a smile hung to his face. Nothing malicious, just happy. Faced with what's within, the little dragon continued to be happy.

"You're going to be the death of me - one way or the other." the thief muttered, not at all happy to admit that. Try as she/they might, he was on the verge of becoming part of a life that was only meant for one person. It could hold two. "But I'll give you a shot."

Bubbles probably didn't understand one lick of what the thief said. Got the general idea, crystal clear. He's good in that regard.

But right now, their attention now had to be on carrying the dead body. Couldn't be that many more spots to really look. The corner was all they had left to search. Wait. None of them even asked if they could bury just two random people. Perhaps that happened while I was out for a bathroom break. Wouldn't really surprise me. Though, most of these gravestones appear to be unmarked. I guess everyone they have to bury has already been forgotten. Unless… Yeah, that could be a possibility. That's quite an aggressive strategy. I'll just assume they mark the graves with something special. Just in case.

"Here." Yvonne announced and set the body she had been carrying down. Somehow, the barbarian still had her warhammer. Probably used it as a stabilizer of sorts. "Infuse! Spirit!"

She felt her warhammer grow lighter. As feelings went, this was still something to get used too. Nonetheless, Yvonne slammed the weapon down. No echo, just silence. Fitting for the current location, but I can't quite see the purpose. Second swing, the warhammer smashed into the dirt. Did force a couple of them to take a step back.

"Arrrgh." Yvonne snarled, pulling with all her might. But the weapon wouldn't budge. Definitely not the outcome that the barbarian was hoping for. Attention turning to that of her teammates, she motioned for them to participate. Or something like that, judging by them all putting down their dead body.

"Infuse!" Ella shouted, yellow outline already around her. "Spark!"

Turret came out right after, shooting a couple bolts into the dirt. I'm not entirely sure how that's helpful. You could kill Yvonne if you do this wrong. Worms begin to crawl out, doing a strange sort of dance. It's… interesting to say the least. Did get Bubbles focus out of the gutter. Approaching the dirt, a light blue outline wrapped around his body.

"Infuse!" Bubbles announced, tapping his claws on the dirt. While the warhammer was dislodged, the little dragon was now quite deep underground. So he just used his abilities again. This time, he somehow ended up behind the crew. Which meant Madame and Ella had to pull him out.

"You idiot." Madame muttered, doing her best to dust Bubbles off. "You can just go all willy-nilly. Focus and then reach out."

They realize their slip mere moments later, especially since it got them a hug in return. Reluctantly, they hug the dragon back. Felt quite good.

While that was all happening, Blaze stepped up. Feeling the red outline around him, he began to dance.

"Infuse!" the fighter announced, forging his scimitar for the moment. Instead, he managed to find one of his ribbons on him. "Ember!"

What followed, was the wrapping around of the ribbon around the warhammer. A low sizzle sound echoed from the weapon and into the dirt. I hope that's a good thing? Please tell me that it is to some extent.

"Infuse!" Madame announced, letting herself break from the hug. Whip brought back out for the umpteenth time at this point, pulled back for good measure. "Gale!"

Whip met warhammer, grabbing hold and pulling back. This was the tipping point for the weapon. Dislodged from the ground, this was enough to create a hole big enough to bury two bodies. I would raise a 'how', but I'm more impressed in the group's teamwork than anything else. Just one more step - looting the bodies.

"Outside of the coats and masks, there's pretty much nothing on the pair." Yvonne remarked, gazing raising up from the body itself and over to Madame. But she let it go. Right now, there was no use in dwelling in the supposed power of the thief. No, her thoughts were on the figure she had met earlier. Unnamed for the moment, they claimed to be an 'interested friend'. Outside of Marulyn, there wasn't really anyone that she had. Well, not counting her newfound teammates. 'Why' was her biggest challenge at the moment. If that question could be answered, she would be one step closer and possibly finally be able to return the bear. "Ready to bury them?"

The barbarian's companions nodded, watching her drop the first body in. The second body followed right after, with dirt covering both. As for tombstones, there really wasn't one. But I'll assume that there isn't much rain here. Or really any traffic to the graveyard in general. Might even be a case of both. Not that our heroes were really in the mood to discuss it. No, they were more focused on getting some lunch. Fair enough.

Notes:

Are there easier ways to dig a hole? Absolutely. But this was the fun way. With a bit of drama for good measure.

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Next Time: Let's have a nice wonderful meal.