I don't own digimon
The Ties that Bind
888
"Did someone get the license plate of that truck…?" murmured Brendan quietly as he slowly opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
"I do not believe you were hit by a truck," said a deep voice.
"Amy, you need some throat lozenges," groaned Brendan as he sat up.
He blinked a couple of times as he let his throbbing mind take in the scene in front of him. A large, humanoid, white armored lion was sitting in front on the grassy lawn of the mansion they had crashed into. A large, orange mane flared behind his head and a pair of fangs was exposed to the air.
"Brendan, are you ok?" Amy asked from behind Brendan. The boy only stared at the lion.
"Umm, hi…" gulped Brendan as he slowly lifted his hand and gently placed it behind him so he could very carefully scoot away.
"Do not be afraid, I will not harm you," growled the lion as he stood up.
"He's right," Tapirmon appeared at Brendan's side, "That's GrapLeomon, he may look like a dangerous predator on the outside, but in reality he's just a soft, little kitten on the inside…"
"Tapirmon…I don't think we should insult the large, saber-toothed, lion man…" hissed Brendan as he scooted back.
"It is ok," chuckled the lion as he stood up. He walked over and inspected Amy and Penguinmon. He kneeled in front of the blue bird. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," Penguinmon said with a blush.
GrapLeomon then turned and walked to Brendan and extend his hand out. The boy instinctually coward back, until the lion's hand opened and revealed a hunk of cured and dried meat.
"Uh…" Brendan eyed the meat.
"It's really good, I got two pieces…" whispered Tapirmon quietly in Brendan's ear.
"Hey!" yelped Penguinmon, "I was the one that got blasted by Parrotmon!"
"Do not fret," GrapLeomon said as he looked back at Penguinmon, "You can have another…" He looked at Brendan, "Do you wish to have some?"
"I suppose; I am getting a little hungry," Brendan reached out and quickly snatched the dried meat and took a bite. The outside was tough, but also spiced nicely, and the inner meat was soft and very tender. He looked up at the smiling lion, "Thank you, sir."
"Don't worry about it," chuckled the manly lion as he turned and walked back to Penguinmon and gave her another piece of meat.
"If you don't think it too suspicious of me…" Brendan took another bite of the meat, "but how is it that you were here just when we needed you?"
"I have been staking out this mansion for many months, waiting for the perfect time to attack," replied the lion quietly, "This mansion belongs to the Chaos Master Metal Puppetmon, and he has been sequestering his prisoners here for many years…A number of my friends were captured during the Chaos Masters' initial strikes. I wish to free them."
"CHAOS MASTER?" yelped Brendan he looked fearfully at the mansion, half expecting it to turn into a giant monster and attempt to crush him. "Should we still be here?"
"GrapLeomon said that Metal Puppetmon and a group of his mind-controlled digimon left here a number of days ago, on a hunting trip," Amy said confidently as she looked up at Brendan, "They were going to hunt down a couple of digi-destined, and a group of resistance fighters led by Piximon."
"We have to find them!" Brendan leapt up, "If one of those Chaos Masters find the others…who knows what would happen…"
"I have the tentative feeling that your friends may have been victorious against Metal Puppetmon," GrapLeomon looked up at the sky, "Metal Puppetmon left nearly five weeks ago, he has not yet returned. Previously he has made consistent returns to the mansion for cosmetic repairs and cleanings; the recent, long stretch of inactivity suggests that he has either been destroyed or sufficiently damaged so as not to be able to return home…"
"Five weeks ago…" Brendan looked down, "That's about the time we fought with AndroDramon. He said he was a Chaos Master as well, I'm guessing Chaos Piedmon is a Chaos Master as well…"
"He is the most powerful of them," nodded GrapLeomon, "His power defeated the guardians of this realm that is why you were called."
"What?" Amy hopped up and glared at GrapLeomon, "You mean this whole thing, all this time we've been dancing about with Karatenmon, Assaultmon and Boogeymon, and we could've just cut to the chase…"
"I doubt you could've defeated Chaos Piedmon when you first arrived," GrapLeomon looked down at Amy, "He would've crushed you soundly with both hands tied behind his back, even now; I question whether you will have the power to stop him…"
"He's right," Brendan looked up and sighed, "When we first got here, we had trouble dealing with Snimon; we'd have never even gotten a shot off against Chaos Piedmon…Hey where are you going?"
Brendan watched as GrapLeomon started to walk towards the mansion. The lion stared defiantly up at the large metal sided building. The mansion reached out into large wings with the bulk of the house positioned in the middle of the structure. Large windows glared darkly back at the digi-destined. The cold, metallic building put chills down Brendan's back.
"I must save my friends, it is what I came here to do," replied GrapLeomon. He reached up and grabbed the handle and pulled. The door didn't budge. The lion narrowed his eyes and took five steps back. He turned his head back to the digi-destined, "If I were you, I'd cover my ears." Brendan and Amy covered their ears and Tapirmon and Penguinmon covered their ears. GrapLeomon nodded and turned back to the door, "Lion Beast Killing WAVE!"
GrapLeomon punched forward releasing a burst of blue energy that flew forward in the form of a lion's roaring head. Energy spiraled behind the lion head, spreading out in a wave behind the initial attack. The blast rammed the door and the doors buckled inward coming awkwardly off their hinges. GrapLeomon then ran towards the doors and slammed his armored fist into the metal barrier. The doors hiccupped and then fell backward into the mansion.
"There," GrapLeomon swept his hands against each other happily and started forward. "Much more inviting…"
"Halt …" came a buzzing mechanical voice. "Identify yourself!"
Out of the house stiffly marched a robotic creature. It looked like crayons had been used to color its cobbled together body. Its body was cylindrical save the part where its blocky legs were attached; there a portion of its body was removed to make room for the leg joints. There were little squiggles on its chest. The creature's arms were stubby and Lego-like ending in cupped hands. The arms seemed to be covered in some sort of child-made, cardboard decals. One arm was made to look like a wolf's head and was crayoned blue; the other arm seemed to be a replica of a dragon with a snout horn; the dragon head was crayoned gold and held a grey marker. The guard's shoulders, if they could be called that, also had decals, two little red shields that also looked colored in by crayons. On its back was a multicolored marker that rested diagonally on its back.
Its head was a smaller cylinder of metal placed on top of the body, with no true neck to it. Its face was crudely drawn and its mouth was jagged with sharp fangs seemingly drawn for effect. A pair of black eye sockets was cut into the face neatly and a pair of angry golden eyes glowed out of the sockets and glared at the lion. Its head was adorned with three horns, all of them looking like they were made of taped up cardboard. The two horns on the sides of the creature's head were colored gold; the middle horn was crayoned in blue.
"What is that thing?" Amy giggled loudly. "It looks like a little kid made that thing!"
"That creature is known as Omekamon," growled GrapLeomon. "He's the automated groundskeeper…"
"Identify yourself!" droned the creature loudly.
"I'm not answering that thing!" huffed Amy as she crossed her arms, "I could make a robot that looked better than that thing!"
"Intruders will not be tolerated, executing command sequence Org Meruuga," the creature buzzed loudly, "All intruders shall be exterminated. Exterminate! Exterminate! EXTERMINATE!" The robot waddled forward and lifted its dragon-decaled arm. "Gray Sword!" The marker in its arm glowed and morphed into a stubby plastic sword. The robot then swept it forward, a gray mark was drawn through the air and then it exploded forward in a forward rain of gray stars. GrapLeomon crossed his chest and skid in front of the stars taking them to the chest.
"GrapLeomon, are ok?" Amy ran forward.
"I am fine…" growled the lion as he glared up at the robot.
The robot lifted its wolf arm, "Garuru Pop Gun!" the robot's arm morphed into a toy gun and a blue Nerf ball shot forward exploding into GrapLeomon's chest. The lion staggered back.
"That's enough out of you!" growled the lion. He swung a clenched fist forward, "Lion Beast Killing Wave!" The lion energy burst roared forward and slammed into the chest of the metal robot throwing it against the mansion's wall. The dented beast rocked back and forth and fell on its back. It rolled back and forth flailing its limbs and turning its head.
"Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminaaaaaate!" groaned the robot as it ground to a halt on the ground.
"Finally," growled GrapLeomon as he stomped past and walked into the mansion.
"Hey wait for us!" yelped Amy as she ran after the lion with Penguinmon.
Brendan looked down at Tapirmon, "Well, we best go in after them; who knows what trouble they'll get in…"
Neither did either them notice, as they walked past the fallen robot that its front horn detached itself revealing a thin antenna. A small red bead at the end of the antenna blinked quietly as Brendan and Tapirmon disappeared within the mansion.
888
"GrapLeomon, do you know where you're going?" asked Amy pointedly as the lion turned back from a dead-end hallway.
"No, I'm not entirely sure," admitted the lion warrior. He took a deep whiff of the air, "but they are here, I can smell them…"
"This place is creepy," grumbled Brendan as he looked back at the hall. Shadows hung on the walls like paintings. Vases filled with sticks were on aluminum tables that lined barren walls, "I feel like I'm being watched…"
"We probably are," shivered Tapirmon as he looked around, "I wouldn't be surprised if this house isn't half alive…"
"Don't say that!" whined Amy as she hugged herself, "you're starting to creep me out…"
"Don't worry, I'll protect you, Amy," Penguinmon looked up at her partner.
Suddenly the sound of something whirring appeared from down the hall. The children looked around. Brendan squinted his eyes slightly, and looked into the shadows. Out of the darkness a small, toy tank rolled up to them.
"Stupid toy scared me half to death…" chuckled Brendan nervously.
GrapLeomon snorted and walked past the digi-destined. As the lion man past the turret of the tank swiveled around following him. Brendan narrowed his eyes and watched as the tank started to roll after GrapLeomon.
"Come on, Brendan," whispered Tapirmon as Amy and Penguinmon past them.
GrapLeomon turned the corner, with the tank not far behind. As soon as the tank was around the corner there was a loud bang. Brendan snapped his head up and ran to the corner. GrapLeomon was on his knees and his armor was burnt. The barrel of the tank's cannon was smoking. The turret turned slowly pointed its gun at Brendan. The boy gaped as the cannon adjusted itself to target his face.
"Brendan!" yelped Tapirmon loudly. "Get down!" Tapirmon shoulder blocked Brendan as the cannon exploded. "Nightmare Syndrome!" growled Tapirmon. The cannon shell and the burst of black energy collided and exploded on contact.
"Brendan are you ok?" shouted Amy as she ran to the boy.
"I'm fine!" yelped Brendan as he watched the tank swivel around to point its cannon on him again. Brendan pushed Amy backward, "Get back!"
Brendan dove for the ground as the tank fired again and blew a chunk out of the hall's wall. The tank lowered its cannon.
"No you won't!" snarled Tapirmon, "Nightmare Syndrome!" black lightning forced the tank to explode.
"GrapLeomon, are you ok?" Penguinmon ran up to the lion, which was still on all fours.
"I'm, ok, it shocked me is all," growled the lion as he stood shakily.
"I don't think this is over…" whispered Brendan. He strained his ears, "Something is coming…"
A loud buzzing hummed from the shadows. It was seemed to be joined with more whirring noises. The sound of miniature jet engine roared towards them.
"RUN!" shouted GrapLeomon, as he grabbed Brendan and Amy and ran down the hall.
Tapirmon and Penguinmon scrambled behind the armored, lion. An entire brigade of miniature, military hardware appeared out of the shadows behind them. Three, toy, Apache helicopters, and two triangular, black armored jets roared forward. Below the planes, five large tanks rolled forward, followed by a multitude of small, tin soldiers with bayoneted rifles.
Missiles launched from the helicopter and exploded around GrapLeomon's head. The jets roared over their heads and dropped showers of cherry bombs that exploded on contact. The soldiers stopped every few seconds and raised their rifles and released a round of bullets into the backside of the retreating victims. The tanks rolled forward firing their guns, leaving divots in the walls and floor.
"Down this corridor!" shouted Brendan as he pointed to the left. GrapLeomon skidded into the left corridor; Tapirmon and Penguinmon skidded to a stop and turned on the advancing war toys.
"Nightmare Syndrome!" Tapirmon fired a streamer of electricity at the jets.
"Ice Prism!" Penguinmon chucked an ice dagger into the cannon of a tank.
The soldiers stopped and fired the guns. Black pellets pelted the two Rookie digimon forcing them to run down the corridor with GrapLeomon.
"Ok, now right!" shouted Brendan loudly as they rushed to a cross roads.
GrapLeomon slid into the corridor, only to be met by a very angry looking Omekamon. GrapLeomon put the children down and pushed them behind him. Toy, fighter jets whizzed over his head and started to fire their machine guns. GrapLeomon growled and covered up and grunted as miniature missiles whistled from the planes and exploded into his arms.
"Brendan!" yelped Tapirmon as the elephantine digimon rushed to his partner.
The tapir digimon turned and looked at the advancing toy hardware. Penguinmon was lashing out at the mini-militia with her ice prism but the little soldiers fired grappling hooks all over the penguin and dragged her to the ground.
Omekamon growled and lifted its dragon arm and let its marker turn into a stubby sword, "Gray Sword!" an arc of grey stars exploded into GrapLeomon knocking the lion warrior backward. "All intruders will be exterminated, exterminate, exterminate, exterminate!" Omekamon lifted its wolf arm and turned it into a gun and pointed it at Brendan, "Gararu…"
"No!" shouted Tapirmon. The little digimon dove forward, "Tapirmon digivolve to Dobermon! Schwarz Strahl!" A black beam of energy slammed into Omekamon knocking the robot backward. The spike, backed Doberman Pinscher turned its head and fired another blast of dark energy through the ranks of military toys destroying them. A fight jet roared by the dog's head and Dobermon snapped its head over crushing the toy between its jaws.
Penguinmon grunted and ripped free of the cords that held her down. Dobermon growled as he saw more golden lights up ahead. A small army of Omekamon was stiffly marching towards them.
"Hurry, through this door!" growled GrapLeomon as he pushed a door open, passing through the portal. The children, Penguinmon and Dobermon leapt after the lion.
They staggered into a large, high roofed room. There was a weak light that shimmered from the ceiling. The room was relatively empty; there was a lever on the far wall. Amy looked up.
"Oh…my…" The girl gagged slightly and covered her mouth. Brendan and Tapirmon looked up and stifled a gasp.
Hanging above them were groups of digimon. They were mostly suspended from the ceiling by chains. Two that had horse like bodies were chained to the wall. All of the digimon looked as if they were unconscious and their heads were bowed.
"Who did this?" Amy gasped as she walked around.
"Well, considering this is Metal Puppetmon's mansion, I'm guessing Metal Puppetmon…" said Brendan as he walked around.
The door behind them shook. GrapLeomon spun around and growled.
"The Omekamon," growled the lion as the door bowed.
The door slammed again and shook on its hinges.
"That door won't take too much more," growled Dobermon. The door shook again.
"Get ready…" growled GrapLeomon as the door exploded open. Two Omekamon marched forward, holding a third like a battering ram. The two holding the third Omekamon, put the ramrod-digimon down.
"Exterminate!" chanted the three robots. More Omekamon filed in through the door behind them, chanting sporadically, "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!"
"Oh shut up!" growled Dobermon loudly, "Grau Realm!" A large sphere of darkness swept around the Omekamon. The dark sphere sparked and released the robots. The group of metal digimon looked at each other and then started to chant again.
"Exterminate!" the Omekamon lifted their dragon arms on the digi-destined and swept their markers forward, "Gray Sword!" Gray stars fired forward exploding into Dobermon and GrapLeomon.
"Lion Beast Killing Wave!" roared GrapLeomon as he fired a plasma lion face into the group of Omekamon. The metal digimon crashed back and slid to the ground, but they only stood back up.
"Schwarz Strahl!" black beams of energy shot at the metal digimon. Dobermon charged forward slashing his claws across one of their chests. The metal digimon whirred quietly and then struck out with its grey marker. Dobermon yelped and dropped back as a wave of blue Nerf balls exploded into his side.
"You know for looking like taped together pieces of crap," Amy murmured quietly, "they are sure durable…"
"No kidding!" growled Dobermon loudly.
"Amy, get the digimon free, we'll hold the Omekamon!" shouted Brendan. "Please hurry, we need help, badly!" He ran over to Dobermon, "Are you ready to digivolve?"
"Ready when you are," growled Dobermon.
"Well then, let's go!" yelped Brendan as he scrambled from exploding Nerf balls.
"Dobermon digivolve to Cerberumon!" The Doberman's lithe frame bulked up and grew two heads that turned into shoulder guards.
The Omekamon looked at each other and then the multicolored markers on their backs moved so that they positioned themselves upwards instead of diagonally on their spines.
"Rakugaki Rocket!" droned the Omekamon simultaneously. The markers shot upward and then arced back down and roared towards Cerberumon and GrapLeomon.
"Inferno Gate!" barked Cerberumon. A large dark disk swirled into existence in front of the hound. The rockets were dragged from their courses and drawn into the darkness. The disk them swirled into nothing. The Omekamon looked at each other and then turned back; they lifted their gray markers and morphed them into swords.
"Gray…" droned the Omekamon.
"Heh, Inferno Gate!" growled Cerberumon and the dark gate swirled into existence. Suddenly the Rakugaki Rockets shot from the gate towards their owners.
The rockets exploded into the Omekamon and they crashed to the ground. "MOTION OBSTRUCTED! MOTION OBSTRUCTED! MOTION OBSTRUCTED!" howled the Omekamon loudly.
Amy ran across the room and pulled the lever lowering the chained digimon down to the ground. They stood limply on the ground, mostly supported by the metal chains.
"Ice Prism!" yelped Penguinmon. She tossed an ice dagger at the chains only to have it bounced off the metal bindings. "Oh poo…"
"Let me help!" growled Cerberumon as he turned from the struggling Omekamon, "Hell FIRE!" a stream of green flames roasted the chains of a nearby digimon. The chains didn't snap or even redden.
"I can't believe it!" growled GrapLeomon as he looked back at the Omekamon.
"What?" Cerberumon turned his head, "Dang it, annoying, little suckers aren't they?"
"Indeed," growled GrapLeomon.
The Omekamon had rolled on their stomach and were using their arms to ratchet themselves to their feet. A number of them were already brandishing their markers as swords.
"Hell Fire!" roared Cerberumon loudly. A blast of emerald flame raced over the metal digimon, but they emerged from the flames. Their horns and decals were burning but they still marched forward.
"I can't cut these chains, Amy," Penguinmon looked up at her partner, "but I bet I know who can?"
"Are you thinking what I think your thinking?" Amy grabbed tightly to her digivice. "Do you think we can?"
"I really do, we gotta free these guys," replied Penguinmon.
"Then it's worth a shot," Amy held her digivice forward, "Let's do it!"
"Penguinmon biomerge to….Valkyrimon!" the golden light faded slightly to reveal a young woman. Her form was thin at the waist and curved at the chest. Shoulder length, brown hair fell from under her hawk-like helmet. A blue cloth was tied around her waist and hung over her left leg. A feathered cloak fell around her body. She lifted her arm unsheathing a silvery sword. "Let's get these guys free! Fenrir Sword!"
Valkyrimon launched forward sliding her blade effortlessly through the chains that bound the others. The digimon dropped to their knees. They all groaned softly. She landed quietly and with a quick slash freed the two equine digimon, one was a winged unicorn the other was centaur like creature. She looked at the freed digimon. One was a white Mud Frigimon; another was an android of some kind. There was a flaming man, and a white furred beast that looked slightly like a spheroid yeti. Her eyes then fell on a small red rat she instantly recognized as Elecmon and next to him was a bulky creature, with green skin and thick muscles. Spikes jutted out of his shoulders and long curved horns twisted out of the silvery mane of hair on the beast's head. The creature had gnarled teeth coming out of its mouth.
"Hell Fire!" shouted Cerberumon, snapping Valkyrimon out of her musings.
The Omekamon were still approaching, but they didn't look too well, most of the decals on their bodies had been burned free and their body had scorches all over, and yet they continued forward. GrapLeomon was retreating as a tidal wave of gray stars collided into his chest.
"It's time to finish these piles of scrap up! GrapLeomon, Cerberumon, Brendan, out of my way!" growled Valkyrimon. She lifted her sword up. "Fenrir Sword!"
The blade sliced forward and a twisting rage of ice and flames washed across the Omekamon ranks. The little robots squealed loudly as their vocal synthesizers either exploded from frost or melted from flame. One by one the robots deleted in a series as the Fenrir Sword's blast did its work.
"Gotta say, that is cool," whispered Brendan as he watched the blast finish the last Omekamon.
"Well, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do," smiled Valkyrimon as she glowed and returned to being Penguinmon and Amy. The girl and the digimon ran to the others.
"It's about time…" growled a voice. The children looked up and saw that the large, green bulky digimon was standing, leaning on a large bone club, "…you came to get us, Leomon…" The green digimon lifted its head and an insane smile was on its lips, "Again our feud was interrupted by some evil crusade…let's finish this now! Pummel Whack!"
The green digimon punched forward weakly releasing a flickering lavender glow that flew towards GrapLeomon. The armored warrior only snorted and slapped through the energy burst.
"Ogremon, you never change," growled the lion as he walked toward the green digimon, "Why do you continue to challenge me when you know that it is impossible that you'll defeat me in your condition?"
"Don't start with me," growled the green digimon loudly, "I'm in perfect condition to kick your goody two shoe ass all over the place…I don't need your pity!" The green digimon swung out with his club towards GrapLeomon but the lion snatched the club and pushed it to the ground.
"I will not fight you in this condition, Ogremon," GrapLeomon stated with an air of annoyance.
Ogremon glared up at GrapLeomon and then dropped to his knees in weariness. "You're lucky that I'm stiff from being chained up for so long, or else I'd mop the floor with your furry face…"
The other digimon were looking up weakly. GrapLeomon walked to each one and checked on them. Brendan noticed that he gave several a flask of something to drink. After the digimon had drunk the contents of the flask, they stood up and stretched.
"Ogremon, drink this…" growled GrapLeomon as he pressed on his armor and revealed a little storage area in the armor.
"I don't need your charity!" roared the green digimon and he slapped the flask away. "I'm fine!"
"You wish to believe that, because you do not wish to lose face in front of the others," GrapLeomon said quietly as he looked into the ogre's eyes, "but the truth is you look like a fool, to refuse something that will make you healthier. You will never be well enough to face me in a fair fight if you keep that attitude."
"I'll beat you right here!" growled Ogremon loudly, "Just as soon as I get to my feet!"
The ogre struggled, pushing up on his club but his legs just wouldn't hold his weight. The ogre roared in frustration as he struggled to stand. He looked down and growled softly and said something that barely anyone could hear. GrapLeomon handed Ogremon a flask and walked away.
"Now what?" Amy asked, as GrapLeomon rejoined the digi-destined.
"I have no idea; we should probably start making plans to actively resist the rest of the Chaos Masters…" GrapLeomon looked down at the humans, "And you?"
"Well…" Brendan sighed, "We're not sure either; we have to find the others, but…"
"Hey Leomon!" growled the ogre as he wobbled forward. "What's with the snot nosed brats?"
"Ogremon, let me introduce you to the digi-destined…" GrapLeomon smiled and nodded at the children, "This is Brendan and Amy, and their partners Tapirmon and Penguinmon."
"So they decided to go with kids again," grumbled the ogre, "Just means we'll have to hear a lot of whining from them. Why us, wah, wah, he tried to kill us…bah…" The ogre waved his hand dismissively and started to walk out of the room.
"Don't mind him, he's always cranky when he has to be saved by me," chuckled GrapLeomon as he watched the ogre walk off.
Brendan was about to say something when his and Amy's digivices started to beep loudly. The boy quickly snatched up the device and looked at it. His face brightened.
"Four signatures!" cheered Brendan as he grabbed Amy, "We've gotta go, they're on the extreme range of the digi-radar." The boy ran for the door and scurried out of sight with Tapirmon not far behind him.
"Thank you GrapLeomon, for everything," Amy curtsied slightly, "and I apologize for Brendan's rudeness."
"No apology needed," chuckled GrapLeomon. He opened his palm and presented Penguinmon with a flask, "this should replenish your strength. I'm pretty sure there aren't anymore evil flying digimon, but be careful." Penguinmon nodded and drank the red liquid in the flask thirstily. Her eyes bugged out and she jumped up and down clicking her penguin heels. GrapLeomon smirked and then looked at Amy.
"Will you come and say goodbye GrapLeomon?" asked Amy quietly.
"Sure, let me round up the others," GrapLeomon turned and walked away. Amy and Penguinmon then ran after Brendan.
888
They stood outside the mansion. Brendan was tapping his foot impatiently and glaring at his digivice. Saberdramon was glowing brightly as she morphed into her larger and stronger form, Garudamon. The red eagle knelt down and lifted the children up.
"BYE GRAPLEOMON!" shouted Amy as she waved down at the digimon that were trailing out of the mansion. The lion waved up to the others.
"Wait!" shouted the android as he walked up to Garudamon, "Do either of you have a computer with you?"
"I do!" shouted Brendan as Garudamon lowered the boy down, "Why?"
"Connect your computer to me; then I can set up a tracking signal so that we can follow you from the ground," said the android. Brendan looked up at the android skeptically, but the android looked down, "Hurry, before you lose the others."
Brendan sighed and quickly snatched up a USB cord and stuck it into a port that the android specified. There was a soft hum and then the android pulled the cord from the port.
"We'll be right behind you!" called GrapLeomon loudly. "We've decided we should act with the digi-destined and defeat Piedmon like we did the last time!"
"Uh, right," Brendan ran back to Garudamon. "Come on, let's go! The signal is already starting to cut out!"
"Bye!" Amy waved grandly as Garudamon flapped her large, red wings and took off. "We'll talk to you later, ok?"
The group of digimon waved as Garudamon flew off. Amy could just see them getting ready to march off together.
Brendan scrambled up to Garudamon's head and held his digivice forward at arm's length, waving it around like a mad man, "Come on, stupid thing!"
"You better be talking to your digivice!" growled Garudamon.
"OF course I am!" snorted Brendan.
"Don't be so crabby!" snapped Amy, "Or I'll knock your block off again! At least we know what direction their going." Brendan snorted slightly but Amy just shook her head and looked at him sternly, "It's a start!"
"You're right," sighed Brendan as he sat back. Tapirmon hovered next to him. He looked at the blank digivice, "Well, I guess we missed them…"
"Don't give up, we can't be too far behind them and they have to rest sometime," replied Tapirmon quietly.
"I suppose you're right," sighed Brendan as Garudamon glided northward.
888
"Ugh…" Tentomon buzzed into the air, "What happened?"
"We got gassed," grumbled Mud Frigimon quietly as the chocolate colored digimon sat up.
"Where are the digi-destined?" yelped one of the Gotsumon loudly.
"The attackers must have taken them," surmised Mud Frigimon quietly. Mud Frigimon growled quietly.
"Now what?" asked another Gotsumon.
"Well, I'm going to stay here, it's nice and it has water…" started Tentomon.
"We're leaving," announced Mud Frigimon as he picked up his satchel, "Come on."
"Did you not hear me?" Tentomon yelped. "I'm not going!"
"Ok," said Mud Frigimon as he scaled the rock pile the attackers had made. The Gotsumon were right behind the mud digimon. "We make better time without you anyways…"
The group of mineral digimon disappeared over the ridge of the rock pile.
"Hey!" Tentomon called as he buzzed after them. "Wait for me! Don't leave me! Here alone!"
888
The Mistress sat on a balcony and overlooked her domain. It had been promised to her by Chaos Piedmon, she'd be allowed to have her own territory, free of the other half-witted Chaos Masters, as long as she promised to keep half an eye on those scruffy humans. She couldn't refuse him; he was so much like another warrior she'd known a long time ago. She smiled as she saw a group of flying digimon appear on the horizon. Her soldiers of fortune had found some riches, no doubt.
The Mistress was quite pleased by her good fortune, with any luck Lord Chaos Piedmon wouldn't even notice that she'd sequestered the humans away in her stronghold and he wouldn't care that she would have her fun with them. She smiled again. She was quite pleased that the human males had turned out to be so handsome. Taking a sip of a forgotten about drink she stood and walked back into the palace.
She heard the large gates open as her protégés arrived. She walked down a flight of stares and swept open large, wooden doors into the entry hall and scanned the room. LadyDevimon and Lillymon were already on their knees with their heads bowed. Pajiramon lowered herself down and bowed, letting her horns scrape the ground. Vermillimon grunted and lowered his large head. Skull Satamon was on one knee and his skull was slightly inclined.
The human children were piled together in front of the five servants of the Mistress. Their partners were still tied up. The Mistress's eyes fell upon a group of other digimon.
"What are those doing here?" asked the Mistress quietly as she eyed the extra digimon.
"They are our prizes, and the Piximon, is a present for Lord Chaos Piedmon," replied LadyDevimon quietly. "We did not mean to anger you, Mistress."
"I see," the Mistress walked forward and inspected the three digimon. "Why do you bring such scrawny things like this Gatomon and this Gotsumon here, you should have left them in the wilds!"
"The Gatomon is mine," said LadyDevimon quickly, "I wish to train it to be my house pet…"
"The Gotsumon, I brought along so I may use it as target practice, nothing more," replied Pajiramon calmly.
The Mistress looked up at Lillymon, "You did not bring a prize back?"
"I was hoping that since you only asked for the males to be captured, that, you would allow me to have the female, for myself," replied Lillymon hastily.
"Ah, I did say that, didn't I?" murmured the Mistress quietly as she walked over to the pile of humans and drew the girl out of the bunch, "She is quite, charming, that is, if you like that sort of thing."
"Oh, I do, Mistress!" the flower child chirped gleefully, "I really, really do! I'll treat her so very well, and she won't be a problem, I promise!"
"I suspect, that as long as you keep her here, and out of the way, it will be of no consequence," said the Mistress quietly as she looked over to Skull Satamon and Vermillimon. "What of you, do you wish in any of the spoils?"
"My pleasure comes from serving you, Mistress," replied Vermillimon with a slight incline of his head.
"Suck up," hissed Skull Satamon to Vermillimon, as he looked up at the Mistress, "I want nothing either, these are far from being treasures that I would care for. They are weak, and were easily defeated; as such I have no need for them."
"As you wish," replied the Mistress. She looked to the other digimon under her control and smiled, "Then take that which you claim and go forth to your rooms to rest and relax."
The digimon nodded quietly and advanced. Lillymon took the human girl. LadyDevimon gingerly snatched up Gatomon and Pajiramon slung Gotsumon over her shoulder and walked off. The Mistress turned to what remained of the humans. She snapped her fingers and from the shadows a group of green digimon walked out. They had veined arms that ended in little shoots of ivy. Their heads were round, and their bodies were rounded. Their legs ended in roots and their heads were topped off with a lavender flower.
"Alraumon, take these humans down and have them prepared for me," the Mistress then turned to the partnered digimon and Piximon. She snapped her fingers again, and this time a group of lizard like flowers scrambled forward, "Floramon, take these four rookie digimon and put them in the dungeon, and make sure they are properly restrained." She glared down at Piximon and snapped her fingers one last time. This time a digimon much like the Alraumon but her flesh was lighter green and her flower was a soft pink instead of dark lavender, "Palmon, take Piximon here and put him in a separate portion of the castle, I wish to have him for something special…"
The little digimon nodded slightly and dragged the pink fur ball away. The Mistress could hardly contain herself.
"Chaos Piedmon will be so pleased," sighed the Mistress quietly. "One day, he'll come and I'll present what's left of them to him…and he'll be so happy, but first I must get my enjoyment out of them…"
888
Michelle's eyes flickered open. She shook her head and looked around. She was sitting in the middle of a grassy, field, sitting on patio furniture, under an umbrella. There was a table in front of her, and on the table was a plate with buttered scones and some sort of tea. Michelle moved to pick up a scone when she noticed her hands were tied together. She looked down and saw a pair of flower wreathes wrapped around her hands and tied together between her arms. She even had a flower necklace around her neck.
"OH BOY!" chirped a voice loudly. Michelle searched around for the owner, when a flowery fairy dropped down. Michelle groaned; it was the fairy that had attacked them. The flower child looked at the girl anxiously, "You're awake; I've been waiting so long!"
"Let me go!" Michelle snapped instantly, "I don't know what kind of game you're playing but I demand to be let go!"
The fairy tilted her head. "But I made scones…"
"I don't care!" Michelle growled as she struggled with her bindings. "Where are the others, what did you do to my brother, where's Labramon!"
"I don't know, my Mistress dealt with them," replied the fair quietly.
"You better tell me where they are!" shouted Michelle loudly. She tugged at the flower wrings around her wrists. "Get me out of these wreathes!"
"I had hoped you'd like it here, I've been reading about human girls, I've wanted one for so very long…" whined the fairy as she looked at Michelle. The fairy put her elbow on the table and plopped her cheek in her palm. "I guess you aren't as advertised…"
"What do you mean?" Michelle stopped struggling and looked up at the fairy.
"Well, you're supposed to be made of sugar and spice and everything nice," sighed the fairy. She picked up a knife; there was blood on the blade, "But it turns out you're really full of this red sauce that is pretty bitter…and now you're trying to get away…it's just not fair…"
Michelle paled and looked down. Her shirt was stained. The girl reached down and with two hands pulled her shirt up a little. There was a bandage taped to her stomach.
"You stab me?" yelped Michelle loudly.
"I wanted to play doctor…and you were still unconscious" admitted the fairy innocently. The flower stood up and walked over to Michelle. "Are you ok? I've never had something leak when I've played doctor…I hope I stopped the leaking sufficiently…"
"I'm fine," Michelle growled and she slouched back. "Just let me go…"
"Nuh uh," the fairy responded quickly and straightened Michelle's back, "Young ladies sit properly in their chairs."
"Bah," growled Michelle loudly. She narrowed her eyes, "I'm not going to play with you! So you may as well just forget about this little tea party, let me go, and take me to Labramon and the others!"
"Awe…" The fairy pouted quietly, "I wanted this to be a real experience, I'm tired of playing with dressed up Floramon dolls." Michelle glared up and the fairy walked over to one of the chairs around the table and held up a small, flower-like lizard digimon doll. "Princess Prissypants is not very realistic, not compared to the real thing; she doesn't even have red stuff that leaks out when you play doctor…I was hoping to have ever so much fun with you, but if you're going to be difficult…"
The flower child sighed and flicked her wrist. Michelle's vision went gray and she looked down. The flower wreath around her neck were glowing a soft red. The flowers were suddenly becoming very enchanting. She looked up at the fairy. The flower child smiled brightly and her black eyes looked at Michelle hopefully. The fairy said something and Michelle felt herself lift her hand up and daintily take a scone from the table. She felt her lips smile and she took a gently took a bite.
"Thank you; Ms. Lilly," Michelle heard herself say, "These scones are ever so good." Michelle's eyebrows furrowed, "What's going on? DANGIT LET ME GO!" Michelle tried to yell but the words wouldn't form. She tried to struggle but her arm only lifted the scone to her lips so she could take a bite.
"See, I told you they were good," tittered the flower as she walked over and sat down on the opposite side of the table. The fairy rested her elbows on the table and overlaid one hand on the other and rested her chin on the backs of her hands. "It's so much easier if you'd just acquiesce to my wishes but if you want to be trouble I can make you play with me." The flower girl smiled softly, "Don't worry though, I'll treat you very nicely, we'll have tea parties, and play dress up and we can go on imaginary adventures and play house, oh you can be the baby and I'll be the mommy! It will be ever so much fun!"
"I like fun…" murmured Michelle blankly as her lips curled into a smile. "LET ME GO! LABRAMON, KEVIN! SOMEONE HELP ME!"
888
"Lucemon…" groaned a voice. "Lucemon!"
Lucemon's eyes flickered open and looked to his right in the direction of the voice. "Who's there?"
"Labramon!" whispered the voice. "Get up Lucemon, we need you!"
"I'm trying…" Lucemon felt something stabbing into his hands. He looked to up and saw that his wrists were bound above his head by thorny vines that were tied to hooks above his head. His legs were covered in thorn vines up to his hips. "I can't move…I'm tied up…"
"So are we!" called a voice from his left. "I should've biomerged with Steven…"
"Ryuudamon, is that you?" Lucemon rasped quietly.
"Yes," replied the voice. "Snow Agumon, get up!"
"I was only resting…" There was a yawn, "…eyes."
"You were snoring!" yelped Ryuudamon.
"I'm sorry, but these, vines seem to be sapping my strength," replied Snow Agumon.
"Mine too, it seems," said Labramon with a yawn.
"Where are the digi-destined?" asked Lucemon as he shifted in his bindings.
"We don't know, when we woke up, we were here," sighed Ryuudamon.
"Can't you blast yourself free, Lucemon?" asked Labramon quietly, "Like you did when you were captured by Bastemon."
"Every time I try, the vines sap my strength," replied Lucemon.
"Can't you try harder?" asked Ryuudamon.
"Ryuudamon!" yelped Labramon, "that's very rude…"
"We have to get free and save the others!" replied Ryuudamon loudly. He struggled in his vines. There was a faint, emerald glow from the vines. Ryuudamon groaned softly, "When did my eyelids get so heavy…?"
"Ryuudamon!" yelped Labramon loudly. She sighed quietly, "I wish I could biomerge. Then we could've stopped those guys from taking the children…"
"We should've biomerged right away…" yawned Ryuudamon as he slouched in his bindings.
"Biomerging is fun…" giggled Snow Agumon giddily.
"Are you ok, Snow Agumon?" Ryuudamon asked quietly.
"I think so, it's just these vines make me so…" Snow Agumon paused and yawned loudly, "What were we talking about?"
The other digimon groaned loudly.
"Snow Agumon, stay focused," whispered Lucemon as he moved his hands in his bindings. He growled in frustration, "This is impossible!"
"Lucemon, you have to keep trying, you're the most powerful of the four of us!" whined Labramon. "If anyone can do this you can!"
"I can't do this…" sighed Lucemon. "It's too hard…"
"I wish we could all biomerge," sighed Labramon quietly. "We could've beaten those raiders…if only we could've biomerged…"
"Don't be so envious of biomerging," growled Lucemon loudly as he made his hands into fists. "It's not so spectacular…"
"Don't you want to biomerge with Mark?" Ryuudamon asked quietly.
"Not particularly," grunted Lucemon as he felt the thorns cut into his skin. "Stupid thorns…"
"Did he just say he doesn't want to biomerge?" yawned Snow Agumon.
"Yes," replied Ryuudamon.
"Why not?" asked the dinosaur quietly.
"I don't know; he didn't say," replied Ryuudamon quickly.
"Lucemon?" Labramon whispered.
"What?" Lucemon snorted quietly as he yanked at his bindings.
"Why don't you want to biomerge?" asked the canine innocently.
"It's already a little crowded in here!" growled the angel as he tugged at the vines.
"What's being crammed into a cell have to do with biomerging?" asked Snow Agumon quietly.
"That is not what I mean, you insufferable idiot!" shouted Lucemon loudly. His eyes flared and glared down at Ryuudamon and Snow Agumon. "I just don't want to; I have my own reasons, and it's none of your business!" Lucemon's vines glowed bright emerald. The angel snapped his head up and cursed. His head then lolled and fell forward.
"Dang it, Lucemon, this isn't a time for a nap!" yelped Labramon loudly.
"Yay, nap time!" cheered Snow Agumon.
"It's useless it looks like he's out of it…" sighed Ryuudamon as he looked up at the angel.
888
The Mistress watched on from a throne. The Alraumon walked forward with a platter. The platter was made of shining platinum. Three, black, dots rested on the platter. The Mistress smirked quietly. The Alraumon moved over to a table, where the three human boys were laid, face down.
One of the Alraumon dragged a stool over to the side of the table and stood on it. One of the other Alraumon walked over and presented the platter to the one on the stool. The Alraumon on the stool took the platter and gingerly caught one of the black dots between its fingers. The plant's hand swept over to the first boy. It was the blonde child. Ever so gently the Alraumon laid the dot on the boy's neck, the plant then applied a little pressure and the dot inserted itself in the boy's neck. The blonde groaned a little and shifted in its tortured slumber. The Alraumon then moved the stool to the next boy, the older brunette and repeated the insertion of the dot. Finally the Alraumon move to the smallest boy. He lifted the dot up from the platter and moved to place it in the boy when there was a sharp crack of energy from the boy.
The Mistress narrowed her eyes and glared at the Alraumon, "What is wrong?"
"There is a barrier," announced the flower.
"Well push through it!" snapped the Mistress.
"Yes, Mistress," the Alraumon made a determined look and pressed down against the boy's neck.
The child's skin erupted in emerald energy. The Alraumon yelped and yanked his arm back, only to lose balance on his stool and fall. The boy's neck continued to spark with energy. The Mistress walked forward and watched in interest. The dark dot was being covered in emerald energy the dot lifted off of the human's skin and with a sharp snap of energy exploded into data.
"So, the Child of Hope can overwhelm the Dark Spores…" the Mistress sighed quietly and looked at the fallen Alraumon, "Tie him up in the stadium, somewhere where the other two can see him…" The Mistress then swept around and left the room. "We can always make him a trophy…"
888
"It's his fault," whispered a voice. "He caused this to happen, if he'd only listened to the majority, instead of being such a jackass you wouldn't be in this position…"
"No, he had his own ideas…sure he was being a jerk, but…" replied Steven. He looked around. He was in a black void. "I'm sleeping; this is just a dream…"
"Is it?" asked the voice. A sword appeared in the void and stabbed him in the leg. Steven howled in pain as he grasped the blade that was lodged in his leg. His pants slowly started to turn red. "Hurts, doesn't it?"
"Well duh!" shouted Steven loudly to the void.
"Then you understand this is as real as you want it to be…" chuckled the voice quietly. "And you also know this is all happening because Kevin rushed out on you, he was so prideful, so ignorant; he should've paid respect to you and your superior intellect. You had the majority on your side and he ignored you; look at what happened, he hasn't just harmed you but he's hurt Mark as well…"
"WHERE'S MARK?" shouted Steven loudly.
"Oh I am sure he is languishing in pain somewhere, deep and dark with some sort of mold growing out of his dirty wounds," breathed the voice nonchalantly. "He's hurting, I know he is; you know he is, and it's all Kevin's fault…"
"No, it's not!" Steven looked down.
"Don't protect him, he's not your friend, he's a selfish little beast, too busy being the boss to care about anyone but himself," whispered the voice.
"He is a little bossy," agreed Steven quietly and then shook his head, "but he'd never do anything on purpose?"
"Really?" replied the voice. "What about when you went to Alpine Tundra? When he tried to beat you to a pulp on the mountain? What about when he forced Snow Agumon to digivolve and his partner turned into Skull Greymon?"
"He was trying to…" Steven looked up into the void.
"He says that, but it's not true; is it? You know better than listen to his lies…" chuckled the voice. "He was just trying to strut his power, and look at what happened…He's selfish, and domineering, and he's gotten your brother in a lot of pain…you should get revenge, you should knock him out of power, you have to, or else he'll destroy you all!"
"But…" Steven looked up, "He's my friend…"
"Even more reason to do this…" chuckled the voice, "You have to stop him before he destroys himself, and all your other friends, if you let him get away with these dishonorable acts, you'll only prove to destroy everything you ever cared for! You must strike, you must stop him, even if you have to destroy him, at least you'll give him an honorable death instead of a death of selfish buffoonery…"
Steven looked down at his feet, "But…I don't know if I should…"
"What would your brother say about this…" tsked the voice, "He'd be disappointed to hear his older brother shirk his responsibilities to his friends…such a disappointment…I think I'll go somewhere where people are more likely to help their friends instead of leaving them like orphans on the side of a river…"
"No, don't go…" shouted Steven as he ran forward. "You…you are right, I should have stood up to him. I shouldn't have backed down…I must face him and stop this now before it gets too late. I have to make him see!"
"Good, but he's stubborn, you'll have to beat him into seeing the truth…" whispered the voice.
"I…I…" Steven looked down. "I'll do it…if it means he'll see."
888
"Coward, that's what they are calling you," whispered a voice from the shadows. Kevin swept around glaring into the darkness.
"Come out and show yourself!" shouted Kevin as he clenched his fists, "What did you do to my sister and Snow Agumon?"
"What did I do?" the voice chuckled quietly. "I did nothing; if anything the blame belongs to your so called friend, Steven…"
"What do you mean?" Kevin narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, don't delude yourself, little one…" chuckled the voice. "You know perfectly well what I mean...you just have to look in your own memories…he was the one that wanted to split up, he's the one that wouldn't listen to you."
"So? He made valid points about his road, but we just needed to get to where we were going!" Kevin looked around trying to find the owner of the voice. "If hadn't been in a hurry I'd have gone with him…"
"Heh, it's not just the road," whispered the voice. "He's always been insubordinate, yet he was the one that suggested you were the leader, he's a little hypocrite, isn't he? The Crest of Friendship and yet he is about as friendly as an angry scorpion…"
"He can't help that…" Kevin looked around.
"Can't he?" whispered the voice, "It seems that he used his friendliness to get those digimon to work against you. He's going to try and overthrow you; he's going to take away all the respect the others have of you if you let him continue to undermine you. He doesn't really respect you…He thinks you're a coward, and a fool. He hates you completely but he's too scared to say so. He's more worried about his brother than the group defeating the evils of this world, if he had his way, you and the others would all run home and leave this world in darkness!"
"No…I don't believe…" Kevin looked down.
"Don't lie to yourself, Kevin!" shouted the voice. "Look back and think about the times he ran off to find his brother or save his brother or got angry because you did something that adversely affected his brother. You know deep down that it's true."
"So?" Kevin looked around, "I don't know who you are…but…"
"Child, listen to yourself, protecting a dishonorable hypocrite, you're too scared to face the truth, too scared to know that he's going to stab you in the back!" shouted the voice loudly from all directions. "You think you can hide in your ignorance, but you'll only end up feeling a saber rip through your chest! COWARD!"
"I am not a coward!" shouted Kevin loudly, "I'm not a coward!"
"Hehe, prove it…" whispered the voice. "Show that hypocrite who is in charge, show him that he can't undermine and disrespect you anymore, teach him a lesson, teach him whose boss. And after you do, the others will listen to you even more, they'll respect you even more for defeating that black sheep. Crush him, like the bug he is, make him learn, and have pain be his teacher…"
"That's too extreme, we just need to talk…there is no reason to fight him…" whispered Kevin. "I don't want to fight him…"
"Are you afraid that he'll win?" asked the voice, "Are you afraid of him, afraid he is better?"
"No!" shouted Kevin loudly, "I don't want to hurt him!"
"He'll never learn respect from a coward like you," snorted the voice, "You should just stay here, in this void, you spineless worm. It's a shame your sister shall never be saved, now, that selfish fool will never save her…"
"Where is she?" Kevin growled.
"Harmed, but safe," replied the voice, "but if Steven is allowed to take over he'll let her die so he can save his brother…tis a shame. As we speak he is dealing her away…"
"What?" Kevin glared up into the darkness, "That bastard…she's just a little girl…I'm going to hurt him…!"
"That's the way, my boy," chuckled the voice.
888
"Naughty!" shrieked LadyDevimon as she ran her hand over the reddened marks across her face. "Bad, Gatomon!"
The white feline sneered, "Awe, did WadyDevwimon get a booboo?"
"You're existence depends on me!" LadyDevimon lifted her claws and swept it forward, "Darkness Wave!"
Gatomon paled as the wave of darkness rammed the cat and pinned the feline against a wall. LadyDevimon stalked forward. Gatomon was sitting woozily against the wall of LadyDevimon's quarters. She lifted her claws and in a few seconds, Gatomon had a similar design of crimson lines across his chest as LadyDevimon had across her cheek.
The feline only glared up at the demoness, "You may be a higher level digimon than I am, but in the end I'm the stronger, because when this is over, I'll survive and you'll be nothing but data particles…"
LadyDevimon glowered at the feline. Her response was clear. She closed her clawed hand forming it into a rapier and sunk it into Gatomon's shoulder.
888
Gotsumon woke up and instantly felt dizzy. The world he woke up to was a blur of laterally spinning colors. Seconds later he heard things slamming next to him. Something stabbed his leg and he screamed loudly. He looked down and saw an arrow imbedded in his shin. He struggled violently against the ropes that tied him to the wheel.
The wheel slowed and stopped, but Gotsumon's vision didn't. It took several minutes for his world to roll to a stop. He looked up woozily as the ram digimon that had attacked his group before. The rock digimon started to shake violently.
"What's wrong little one?" chuckled the ram as she walked forward and yanked the arrows from the wheel. She kneeled slightly and looked at the arrow in Gotsumon's shin. "Did that one hurt?"
Gotsumon bit his lip and closed his eyes, refusing to answer.
"Going to be stony faced, eh?" chuckled the ram. "Well, let's see if you'll make a noise if I do this!" the ram pushed on the arrow and started digging around with it inside Gotsumon's leg. The rock digimon squirmed but kept his lips closed. "Pretty tough guy, huh?" the ram then yanked the arrow from Gotsumon's leg. "Don't worry, next time I'll hit something a bit more sensitive…"
888
Mark opened an eye slowly. He moved to hold his wrist, but sharp thorns obstructed his movement. He looked around and found that he was hanging on a wall. His hands were tied above his heads and his feet were tied together. He looked down from his position. He was hanging at the head of some sort of stadium. There was a sandy floor down below.
"Where am I?" Mark whispered. He looked around.
"You are in my humble abode," said a mature woman's voice.
Mark looked over and down at the ledge. A woman was standing there. A tight, red bodysuit was painted onto most of her body. A line of skin running from her sternum down to her bellybutton was exposed. A pink broach was where the clasps of a leafy cloak were attached. Petal like designs of her red bodysuit covered her breasts. Ruby red lips smirked upward. Her eyes were not visible, as a large, red rose covered her eyes and top of her head, though long waist length blonde hair flowed from under the rose.
"Who are you? And what have you done with my brother?" growled Mark as he struggled.
The woman smirked happily, "I am Rosemon, and your dear brother will be here shortly, as will another acquaintance of yours."
Mark glared down at the woman, "Where's Lucemon?"
"Do not fret, dear boy, the angel is being dealt with," chuckled the woman, "Plus, a frown really doesn't suit your innocent, soft face." The woman pushed off the floor and hovered up next to Mark and ran her red-gloved fingers under Mark's chin, "No, it makes you look most sour…and disagreeable. Smile…it makes you look much more…delicious…" Rosemon's tongue slid over her lips. "Yes…most delicious…"
"You work for Chaos Piedmon don't you?" growled Mark as he struggled away from Rosemon.
"I do work with Piedmon, yes," smiled the woman, "but I don't work for him, I wouldn't worry, Piedmon won't get his hands on you…he doesn't even know you're here…Just relax."
Rosemon breathed softly and ran her fingers through Mark's brown hair. The boy twitched as the flower woman petted his hair.
"Why do you work for him?" growled Mark as moved his head from Rosemon's fingers.
"You mean work with Chaos Piedmon," Rosemon smiled softly and seemed to be staring off into the distance, "let's just say, he reminds me of someone I knew a long time ago and far, far away," Rosemon gently shifted her hand and softly stroked Mark's hair. "Now, relax your mind and watch the show, and have some fun, I know I will…"
"What show?" Mark looked down.
"Oh this one, of course," whispered Rosemon as she pointed down.
A pair of flowery lizards was walking out with a round wooden table. Another one of the digimon walked out with a golden plate; on the plate were a pair of swords. They were thin but their sharp blades glistened in the light from the chandelier up above. Other plant-like digimon were now scurrying about putting assorted pieces of armor and weaponry on the walls.
"What is going on?" demanded Mark loudly.
"Shh, my child, all will reveal itself…" the woman smiled. She pointed down at the sides of the auditorium's walls. Doors on the opposite sides of the stadium opened. Rosemon's ruby lips curled upwards. "Oh I hope all will reveal itself…"
"Tonight we have a special show for our Mistress!" called a voice from a PA system. "Two humans shall duel, hopefully to the death! At the North entry we have the Child of Courage, the human component of Justimon, wearing red, Kevin Sorenson!" There was the sound of cheers from somewhere. Mark gasped as Kevin was pushed out into the stadium. He was where baggy red pants, and that was it, his shirt was gone. The PA clicked again and the voice shouted, "At the South entry we have the Child of Friendship, the human component of GaiOumon, and wearing blue, Steven Jaeger!"
There was another wave of cheering, and Mark looked over to the other door and saw his brother launched forward. He was also wearing baggy pants and no shirt, but his pants were blue. The two boys walked stiffly to the center of the stadium.
"They won't fight!" growled Mark loudly.
"I hope for your sake they do," replied Rosemon quietly. "You see, if they don't fight, if for some reason they found away to beat the Dark Spores' influences, I'll have to kill you, and I don't want to do that…but one must be firm with such decisions…"
"Combatants please walk to the center of the stadium and pick up your rapier," called the PA system, "You will then walk ten paces back and turn, from then on it's no holds bar, fight till one can no longer stand…and remember, if either of you decide you will not participate in this little bout, our Mistress reserves the right to revoke the life of the Child of Hope!"
Mark looked down and gritted his teeth. "If only I was a little bigger I could help…I don't want them to do this to protect me."
He watched and saw Kevin say something. Steven's face was not facing Mark, but whatever his brother had said had angered Kevin immensely and the boy waved his arm angrily and slapped Steven's hand away when the PA called for them to shake hands. The two of them turned and started to walk away; when they had reached ten paces a loud blow horn sounded and the two boys rushed at each others.
888
The end of another chapter. And squee for hit counters…just kind of interesting to see and another thing to obsess over.
Alforce: Yes I was worried that it may deviate too far. I'm still not quite sure how I'm going to work them in yet, but no they didn't have such a happy ending, and I guess it is one of those chapters that it is pretty hard to understand what is going on without reading Fall of Harmony. Especially, with Hikari's reason for being in the psychiatric ward. And the whole break up with Sora and Matt, (neener neener Sorato people!) No, I never thought they'd be having a happily ever after ending, especially with the sour victory they got in Harmony. As for last chapter, they have met the same fate, and were resoundedly trounced by the Mistress's underlings. I may slow down for a bit or not depending on how I feel.
Qiviut: Sorry, just couldn't get him to do it, strange though how he ended acting like a bit of jerk at the end of this chapter, guess it makes sense...