Series: Knight Tales||Title: Birth of a Knight
Characters: Shou, Barbamon||Romance: N/A
Chapters: 6-9||Words: 1,445||Total: 8,600
Genre: Drama, Angst||Rated: PG
Notes: This is an AU. A nice fantasy one. Written for remi.
Summary: Shou is the only survivor of the bloodthirsty raid on his hometown. Not even Peckmon made it. Desire for revenge keeps him going and the assistance of Barbamon gives him the tools he needs to gain what he searches for. For as Barbamon's Knight and Champion, he can make it all right again.


Shou pushed forward, grinding his teeth, sending Musyamon back several paces. He knew better than to back off, forcing himself forward those paces, slashing with all of his strength at his trainer. Musyamon parried it, dodging to the side, a small blade in his free hand slicing towards Shou.

He'd done that before. Frequently Shou ended up with small injuries because of that. Sorcerimon didn't heal the ones that weren't life-threatening or that didn't interfere in his training. So a network of fine scars laced his body these days.

After six years of intense daily training, he would have been more surprised if it hadn't. He'd grown from a young boy into nearly a man in Barbamon-sama's service, his life devoted to learning for the sake of vengeance.

Before the blade could cut, Shou brought his own around in time to block it and danced out of the way before Musyamon could recover enough to try again. He dragged in a deep breath of air and somersaulted backwards, needing just a few moments to get himself oriented.

He needed to win this fight. He needed to win every fight. The same determination that fueled him all these years glowed in his bones and blood. Barbamon-sama wanted him to be Musyamon's better. He'd already learned all that he could from all of his other trainers. It could happen.

Mud squished under his shoes as he circled, Musyamon not quite within range. At least not now; one of them would charge sooner or later. Or do something to continue the fight. Shou remained determined to win it.

Mud. The idea formed in a single moment. Shou wasn't at all certain of the results, but he needed to try. He jumped back two paces and dug his sword in the mud, scooping up a blade's worth.

"Surrendering?" Musyamon asked with a mocking laugh. "I thought you never gave up, human."

In all these years, he hadn't called Shou by his name once. It was always 'human' or some variation of that. Shou stopped looking for his name after the first six months.

He shook his head. He hadn't uttered a word in all those years. Even Sorcerimon couldn't be certain of what stole his voice. The best guess they could wager was the grief of seeing his home destroyed.

He would still trade his voice a thousand times over for them to return. Or for the chance to wreak unholy vengeance on them.

But now he denied the very thought of surrendering, as he always did. He might yield in a training match; it was the only way that Musyamon would stop one and sometimes he just needed to rest or eat. But true surrender? Never. And Musyamon knew it.

And Shou took advantage of that brief moment of his trainer mocking him, flicking the mud-covered blade of his sword up so the mud flew, splattering all over Musyamon's face and getting into his eyes. The warrior sputtered, reaching to wipe his vision clear, and Shou struck.

He didn't run. That would make noise and Musyamon would defend himself. He'd lost fights like that before – and nearly lost a leg as well once – so he had another scheme already in mind. He leaped upward, up to where he made no sound, and threw himself forward with all of his weight, legs first, kicking Musyamon's sword from his hands, and knocking him onto his back.

Shou landed on top of Musyamon, his own blade now at Musyamon's throat. Muddy or not, he could take the kill if he wanted. He knew it, but even better -

Musyamon knew it.

The warrior blinked up at him, just able to see. Shou tried hard not to grin but only for a few moments. He'd done what had been his goal since the first time Musyamon began to train him: defeated his teacher.

"I… yield," Musyamon grated the words out. Shou could read the rage in them, but there was something else, hidden underneath that.

Pride.

He'd seen how Musyamon pushed him harder every time he achieved a new goal, wearing him to exhaustion day by day, forcing him to reach new heights, until he could perform tasks that few Digimon and even fewer humans could accomplish. And as those years clicked by, he'd seen how Musyamon wanted to see him succeed. Not for Shou's own sake, but to prove his own talents as a teacher. There were few who could be surpassed by their student.

Shou moved back, allowing him to get up. Musyamon heaved in a few breaths before he rose, but didn't yet go for his sword. Shou watched, until a faint noise caught his attention, and he saw an approaching shadow.

He felt no fear in turning his back on Musyamon this time. His teacher wouldn't attack him without warning in Barbamon-sama's presence.

Kneeling before his liege had become second nature over the years. With every passing day Shou grew more and more devoted to him. He would never forget how he owed Barbamon-sama his life.

The old Digimon rested a hand on him for a brief moment and Shou thrilled to the unspoken praise.

"He's defeated you," Barbamon addressed Musyamon. "With cunning and with strength."

"Yes," Musyamon agreed, slowly drawing closer and kneeling as well. "It wasn't a lucky hit. He struck at the proper moment."

Shou shivered at that praise. He'd really done it. He'd succeeded.

Now Barbamon turned back to him. "You need a little more seasoning," he told the young knight. "And experience in defeating those I set you against. I have a mission for you."

His first real mission. The first time he would have left Barbamon's castle in years! He didn't count training trips. He would have a goal and he could succeed in it!

He steadied himself. He wanted Barbamon-sama to remain proud of him. He nodded quickly and tilted his head, ready to hear more.

"Two days away from here, toward the setting sun, there is a ruined castle. It was once used by old enemies of mine. Somewhere in there – even I don't know where – there is a treasure that I desire. I searched for it when I first defeated them, but they hid it very well. I will trust your eyes to find what I could not. Bring the treasure back to me. It will be the only item in the ruins that is still truly intact."

Barbamon paused for a moment. "You may face enemies along the way. Slay them in any way you please. Bring me what evidence you can of having defeated them as well. I want to see proof of how hard you've worked to fulfill my goals."

Shou bent his head in quick agreement, his heart pounding a little faster as he did. It seemed like such a simple task. It had to be more.

"Complete this to my satisfaction and you'll have other tasks to accomplish," Barbamon finished. "And soon I'll have a reward for you as well. Something I know that you'll enjoy."

Shou nodded again, internally thrilled at every word. He couldn't imagine what such a reward would be, but he was determined to earn it and find out.

At a wave of Barbamon-sama's hand, he scrambled to his feet and headed indoors. He would need to clean up, rest, eat, and prepare before he could depart on his mission, as much as the desire to go filled him from his head to his feet. Out there was the chance to put all of the last few years of his life to the test, to fight against opponents who would be as eager to kill him as he was to kill them and who wouldn't be held back by Barbamon-sama's word.

If anything, they would want to kill him more because of him being Barbamon-sama's Knight and Champion. He'd heard tales over the years of how others considered Barbamon-sama evil. He didn't care. He'd bargain with Hell itself to get his revenge on those who slaughtered his village.

The world out there would be so different from what he remembered. Shou looked forward to seeing all the differences for himself. As well as to showing the world he wasn't the child that he'd once been.


Barbamon watched as Shou vanished back into the castle. He dismissed Musyamon with a brief nod, quite pleased at how everything developed so far. The first step had been successfully accomplished: Kahara Shou achieved levels of competence in combat few humans could, making him the sword of Barbamon's will.

A sword that all of his enemies would very soon feel the sharp edge of.

To Be Continued

Notes: One arc to go to finish this story. But Shou is just beginning his adventures.