I don't own digimon.

Chapter 14

Gathering for a storm

After a good night's sleep for me and our heroes, we come upon a new day in Aldia. It's also a new day on my end as well. A good night's sleep does all parties some bit of good. Well, I hope it does. Would suck if that wasn't the case in a place such if this. Make all the sunsets I had to experience worthless.

"I guess we're early this time around."

Of course, Ella and Cinemon were the first ones to arrive. Almost isn't fair to an extent. Everyone else lives at least a couple buildings length away. But considering they also had one or two people check out from the inn, the timing evened out.

"I guess." Ella remarked, scanning the nearby area for anyone. When she didn't find anyone, the turret came out and the artificer took a seat. Not sure that's a good idea. But what do I know? "Though, I did hear the sounds of someone slinking about."

Her partner's gaze swiveled over. I guess the digimon with what I can only assume with enhanced hearing not being able to hear the sound of someone walking past. Unlikely, but might be possible. Depends on a variety of factors. We (I and you, the reader) would need to know to where both of them were sleeping. In this case, Ella was in her bedroom and Cinemon was in say, the lobby of the Inn. While I'm not an expert when it comes to stuff like sound, it's possible that the mysterious 'intruder' was just loud enough to be heard at the window but not the lobby. I'm no tracker though. That would be a job for an enchanter. Yes, that strange class whose sole function is to create magical items. Gone are the days of quests via strange whispers and trying to reach 'zero' for some reason. Nor is any skill truly infused into the item itself.

Nowadays, most enchanters I know are brought in for stand-offs between two opposing parties. Usually with a diviner or perhaps even a conjurer. A couple still engage in actual enchanting, but you know. Things aren't quite what they used to be.

Thankfully, this train of thought was thrown off by the arrival of Yvonne and Munbimon. Was wondering if they ever made their way back post their graveyard date. I guess this works as answer. Clad in her armor, the barbarian had forgone her helmet. Or, it's being stored somewhere. Heck, maybe Marulyn might have it. Any of those options could be the case currently. Not that we'll know unless someone asks about it.

"Hello." Yvonne greeted, letting her warhammer sit at her side for the moment. A gaze around the surrounding area followed. "Phew."

Ella's gaze shot on over.

"Something wrong?" the artificer remarked, getting off her turret. From the look of things, the weapon had somehow held her weight. I would say I'm impressed, but not really. Especially since Yvonne shook her head.

"No." the barbarian answered, focus now on Ella. "I just asked my 'girlfriend' to keep watch. She kept her word."

Ella did a double take. Sure, Marigold had kind of led Yvonne into such a statement. But to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, felt a bit odd. Not that Ella was jealous. Far from it. Personally, I suspect she has no interest in this whole romance thing. Probably a word for that.

"We had one date. It's not really official." Yvonne continued, getting a chuckle from her partner. A swipe at her back followed. Not that it really helped her case. Pretty clear to me how you felt in those moments. "Though, I do now have my warhammer back. Which I forgot in the graveyard."

Ella gaze towards the weapon. While most of the dirt had been knocked off, traces of the deed done yesterday still remained. A confirmation that the whirlwind of a day yesterday had in fact happened. Okay, maybe not that far. You get the point.

Shifting her gaze back to Yvonne, the artificer took a deep breath. While a long suit, maybe something had caught her friend's eye that her's hadn't. Not that this was saying much, since we can only assume Ella was asleep when this went down.

"Can I ask you something?" Ella inquired, the barbarian kneeling down to maintain some eye contact with her.

"Sure." Yvonne answered. "Something come up?"

A head shake.

"By any chance, did you see a figure making the rounds near my inn?" the artificer explained, a head shake serving as her answer for the moment. Well, the shot was taken. "It's alright."

Yvonne nodded, shifting her grip up the weapon. Just in case. Unnecessary, since it was now Blaze and Balamon's chance to show up. Same outfit as yesterday, just now with his leotard underneath. Maybe he suspected there would be some downtime. Though, Balamon had gone

"Hi." the fighter greeted, his partner slithering down to the street. "Yvonne, Ella, how are you?"

Yvonne cracked a smile. Ella on the other hand, just shrugged.

"I'm good." Yvonne remarked, standing back up. Though, it looks like someone wrapped a piece of paper around the hilt of the scimitar. "What's that?"

Blaze's gaze shifted to his weapon, getting at the paper. Pulling it away, he held the slip up to see it.

Blaze,

Wasn't quite sure how to get this note to you. So I wrapped it around your sword. Well, I think this is a sword (my knowledge of weapons isn't that great). After giving it some thought, I'll think I'll make you a steak. So could you kindly get me some beef?

While you're out, I'll think of ways that I can help out around the house. Or at least until we can find something for me to do.

-Dave

The fighter's cheeks turned red, gaze shifting away from his teammates. Sure, the pair had discussed the topic of dinner. To have an idea of what to make was an entirely different beast. Add in the possibility of somehow finding a job in Aldia for his boyfriend, he was going to need to think this through. Though, I believe in you. Sure, he can't hear these words I'm writing (be strange if he could), but I like to believe he can feel it. Maybe.

"You too?" Yvonne inquired, watching Blaze's gaze swivel back on over. A nod, then a mumbled 'yes'. "I guess we can share our pain."

Blaze nodded, only to realize what the barbarian had meant mere moments later. A win for sleepiness on this occasion? Something like that. So his focus shifted to her warhammer.

"So I'm guessing you went to grab it with that Marulyn lady?" he remarked, getting a nod in return.

"She's an alright girl." Yvonne remarked, taking a deep breath. "Bit eccentric. But her heart is in the right place."

Now of all times was when Madame showed up. Dressed in her jumpsuit, she doesn't look too happy. If anything, the thief looked tired and ready to collapse. So much for sleep.

"Oh. It's you." Ella remarked, getting an eye roll in return. "I'm guessing you were the one sneaking about in the n-"

The crack of a whip ended that sentence. Kind of rude way to answer that.

"My manor is nowhere near your stupid Inn." Madame countered, letting her whip return to her side. "Even if it was, I wouldn't ev-"

A hug cuts her off. So she did sneak out in the middle of the night. How rude. I guess this makes this our last arrival.

"Princess!" Bubbles announced, getting a sigh from Madame in return. Still wearing the princess dress and bag, he looked more ready for a ball than a breakfast outing. Unless it was a fancy ball setting and everyone was dressed like that. Guess those sort of events happened. No one ever invites me. Or any event for that matter. "Back?"

The thief looked away, catching a look from their partner. Kollmon definitely doesn't look too amused. You wouldn't be too if your companion snuck off in the middle of the night for some unknown reason and didn't show up till now.

"Like, rude for you to just leave me behind in the middle of the night." the mole digimon muttered, shaking a claw in Madame's direction. While the thief did try to shift her gaze away, there wasn't much use. Bubbles was waiting for her on this end. So taking a deep breath, her focus shifted to that of her teammates.

"You could at least tell us why you were running about in the night." Yvonne remarked, a sigh being the thief's initial answer. After, she slowly approached Yvonne.

"Since my safehouse got compromised, I needed to move the belongings back." Madame remarked, rubbing her eyes. A yawn followed. "I would've gotten my maids to do it, but they weren't so friendly to guests."

Bubbles gave a wave. Points for realizing that Madame was talking about him? Maybe. Yvonne noticed it, warhammer getting lifted off the ground.

"Yvie?" Bubbles remarked, catching the barbarian by surprise. "My fault."

The warhammer returns to its spot, not without a look to Madame in the process.

"If it helps, I don't think he meant to cause that." Madame remarked, giving Bubbles a head pat. While tempted, the dragon resisted the urge to give Madame a second hug. Could be saving it for a moment later today.

"Do I at least get the rock you stole back?" Ella remarked, Madame rolling her eyes. Answer seems obvious here.

"It was a fake." the thief answered, finding Ella's turret pointed right at her. Threatening, to the extent that an inactive weapon would be in most situations - not very. "What use could you have for it now?"

Ella took a deep breath. She really wanted to lay waste to Madame, full-auto and not looking back. That option was a last resort, definitely not for a situation like this.

"It's a good prop for my shows." the artificer countered, pushing her turret slightly closer. She does realize that is only going to make her companion even more willing to retaliate? Not good negotiating tactics. "That, and people were talking about it."

Another eyeroll. This time, a chuckle followed. Almost a yawn.

"What even makes you think that people care about such a rock?" Madame announced, switching over to her dress at the moment. "If I wanted too, I could just take that deed away."

Turret revving up, Madame began whistling a tune. Mocking, intentions crystal clear. Eventually, the turret dies down and Ella's gaze fell to the ground. Sure, the woman in front was by no means a 'friend' or even an 'acquaintance, but she was her teammate. Not that this meant much, outside of making this behavior even more childish.

"I'm sorry." Ella whispered, Madame just looking away. She muttered something, but it got lost in the wind. Wait, wind? I think this is the first time we have seen such a phenomenon without it being created by a whip. Which means this must be coming from some other source at this very moment. But where exactly?

"Up here!"

Shifting our perspective upwards, we come upon that strange man from yesterday. He's forgone the expected garments, instead going for strange blue pants and a just as bizarre brown jacket. I guess this is what people wear from wherever he's from? Of course, the mask of the strange bronze man sits comfortably on his face. How the heck does he even eat with that thing on?

"You seemed to have all gathered." the Artisan announced, a strange scorpion creature jumping off his back and taking center stage in front of our heroes's partners. Feathers covering it's skin, this creature doesn't look too bright. Maybe he or she is and doesn't show through that well.

"Pathetic." the scorpion announced, flashing a claw their way. It's not so threatening. Kind of cute. Wouldn't mind a stuffed animal of it. At least, not one with such poisonous tendencies. "Also, shut up."

Their audience shifted their focus to them. A head shake, followed by this strange creature jumping up onto what I can only assume is his master.

"Not you guys." the Artisan announced, letting his attention shift to Yvonne and company. "While I could explain it to you people, that would take too long. So let's have breakfast."

The moment that sentence exited his mouth, he got five pairs of double takes. Not because of the long story comment, but more his want for some breakfast. Do they not serve anything up on that strange base of yours? Would be kind of an odd for your employer to do. Especially if they want to retain you for a future mission.

"Does it really matter?" the Artisan muttered, approaching the door to the cafe. He motioned for them to follow. "Maybe I chose to skip a meal to get to know my opponents…"

Yvonne cleared her throat. On one hand, this guy seemed like a loose fireball waiting to explode. But at least this was an attempt at patching up re-

"Oh. This place has those demonic whores too."

It took everything in the barbarian's power to not cause an incident. Even then, steam looked to be coming right out of her ears. Thankfully, a slight tap from Munbimon was enough to calm her down.

"He's probably the one that was sneaking about last night." Ella added, dispelling her turret. A chuckle from Madame followed, not that the artificer answered it back. They followed their possible opponent.

Inside, things looked the same as yesterday. Expecting it too change in such a short was quite absurd.

"Welcome back." Marigold greeted, gaze split between the Artisan and her actual customers. "I'm going to assume this idiot and his scorpion are with you guys?"

Madame took a deep breath and cleared her throat.

"I guess." the thief muttered. After, she pulled out a couple gold coins from somewhere and tossed them over. The waitress accepted the bribe, leading them over to a table. Little chairs had been provided for the digimon to sit in. Which is always a plus. "So, who is that weird creature?"

The Artisan's gaze shifted over to Madame. Mumbling something under his breath, a smile formed on his face. Even threw in a bit of cackling to boot.

"A little scorpion with more than enough punch to take you out." he announced, quite proud of what I can only assume is an insult. "Heck. Your little lizard would just need one touch of my special stash."

Bubbles stared toward this strange. While none of what he said sounded nice one bit, he had to have some reason to not like him. Right?

"Scorpie?" he inquired, a hiss being the response from the scorpion. Bubbles scooted back. Which, didn't really do much.

"It's Carinamon." the scorpion muttered, flashing a claw at the little dragon. "What a pitiful thing. You know what? Let's settle this."

A purple, gooey outline appeared around the Artisan. Uh… I don't think that's infusion. Something far worse, perhaps? Has to be.

"Corruption!" he announced, a twisted smile forming on his stupid face. "Toxin!"

I have no clue what that does, but I don't like the thought of that. Not one bit.

"My boss and I challenge you (stupid dragon) and your plush to an eating battle for this shitty cafe." Carinamon announced, everyone's gaze turning to Bubbles. Which all it did was make him even more confused. Especially when Madame reached out to try and get him out of the princess dress. Yet, the little dragon shook his head.

"Just don't wreck it." Madame ordered, watching her child. Yeah. child. Judging by the plates of food brought out, this is going to be quite a challenge. No, those aren't for our competitors. Sadly. Guess that's something for Bubbles and the Artisan to figure out.

Notes:

So yeah. Start of a new arc of sorts. Starting out with Bubbles of all characters, because it seemed like the perfect place to start power-wise. Though, the order will shift about with each order head so that everyone has a chance at all positions. Just with the first, it's a bit more obvious.

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Next Time: Let's chow on down.