Series: Division of Destiny||Story: Reign of the Undead King||Chapter: The Summons
Characters: Piemon, Vamdemon, Chosen Children, others||Pairings: Ken x Daisuke/Daisuke x Ken, Mimi x Sora/Sora x Mimi
Chapters: 25-40||Words: 2,623||Total: 66,252
Genre: Romance, Drama||Rated: PG-13
Summary: Vamdemon and Piemon rule supreme. Only now, ten years after their victory, are things about to change. For good or for ill.
Takeru knew that he wouldn't ever be the swordsman (or swordsmon) that either Yamato or Piemon were. Piemon had trained and fought for more years than Takeru could imagine existing, and while Yamato hadn't dedicated himself to it for that long, he refused to let that stand in his way, spending every waking moment he could training and working out.
But Takeru wasn't going to be one who sat on the sidelines and couldn't defend himself. His partner fought bravely and well, but Takeru had seen more than one Digimon fall underneath his own blade in the last year or so.
Granted, they weren't very powerful Digimon, but they were Digimon all the same, and every little bit helped. Or so Piemon told him, and while the old Digimon had a multitude of faults and flaws, lying wasn't really one of them.
It also gave him something to do while Yamato was out of the palace searching for Gennai. He kind of wished his brother would come back soon, but more because he always worried when Yamato was off on his own than anything else.
This worry hadn't ever surprised him. It lived in his soul since they'd tried to escape and encountered Flare Lizamon instead.
He would never forget the scent of scorched meat, the meat that was his brother. Flare Lizamon weren't allowed anywhere near him. Those few who served Piemon were stationed as far from the palace as they could be. So far as he knew, neither Yamato nor Koushirou complained about that.
I hope he finds Gennai. He knew what Piemon had planned for the old man, presuming that Yamato left him alive long enough for Piemon's plans to work in the first place. He couldn't be certain which would be worse, or better. What he did know was that he wanted Gennai found so that wasn't something hanging over their heads anymore.
Other thoughts slid their way through his mind as he trained himself. What would Earth be like now? While they received reports and occasional pictures from Vamdemon's people, he still couldn't entirely wrap his mind around the images of a shattered, dying world.
He wasn't sure if he wanted to. He still wanted to go there for himself, to see what had happened while they'd been gone. Maybe then he would know what to do about it. He knew his brother had plans. Yamato hadn't spoken of them, hadn't indicated in any way what thoughts went through his own mind, but Takeru knew Yamato far too well not to realize that something lurked on the far side of Gennai's demise and that something included Vamdemon.
I'll help him. Whatever he wants, I'll help him. Takeru wanted to tell his brother that, but uttering that where Piemon could hear would be risky. They all served him, and he'd done his best as a father for the last few years. But treachery was treachery to him.
"Takeru?" Patamon sat on the far side of the training area, a worried look in his dark blue eyes. His ears lifted, tilting to let him hear more. "There's someone coming."
Takeru nodded, shoving all thoughts out of his mind except for how his training progressed and a few worries about Yamato. He didn't know if any of Piemon's servants could read minds, but he didn't think this was worth taking a chance on.
It was one thing to be loyal. He would never betray Piemon. But he'd never made any such promises where Vamdemon was concerned. None of them had.
He didn't let himself pay attention to the footsteps as they drew closer, but he recognized them anyway. It wasn't hard to identify them; not many people would come into the training area, knowing that was where Piemon and his favored servants liked to spend their spare time. Only one of the Dark Masters would dare enter their private space. Pinnochimon was on Earth; Neither MetalSeaDramon nor MugenDramon would have footsteps in the first place, while Piemon floated more than he walked.
Which left only one: Black Rosemon.
He wasn't surprised, then, when she stepped into the doorway and looked right at him. He still kept his focus on his movements instead of her, though his gaze flickered there enough so she knew he knew she was there.
"You're doing quite well, Takeru." Her voice held that familiar amused undertone to it, the one that reminded anyone who heard her that she'd once been the chief of Piemon's bodyguards, and didn't gain that position by being soft in battle. He'd seen her fighting, and he wouldn't want to go up against her without Patamon able to fully evolve, and his own sword ready to take her on if she should have an unguarded moment.
"Thank you," he said, pulling himself to the center of the room and turning to look on her fully. "Did you wish to spar?"
Her rapier appeared in her hand, a long, slender wand of black vine with a tip that gleamed with something he suspected was poison. No one had ever said, least of all Black Rosemon herself. Then she vanished it. "Another time, perhaps. Piemon wishes to speak to you."
Ah, now he understood the annoyance in her eyes. While he, Yamato, and Koushirou weren't Dark Masters, they ranked right underneath them, and it irked Black Rosemon to be told to do little more than pass messages along to human beings.
"Of course." He wouldn't show her anything but respect. Those who didn't understand that tended to end up on their way to the Village of Beginnings, and not for a pleasant attempt to get through the wards there.
He slipped his sword back into the sheath and gestured for Patamon to come along. He didn't know what Piemon wanted, but he wouldn't leave his partner alone if he could help it.
Takeru could feel Black Rosemon's eyes on him as he walked out of the room, and reminded himself to keep an eye on his back while she was around. If she could get away with it, she would definitely shred him alive.
"My lord?" Takeru bowed the moment he entered Piemon's presence. He would never not be grateful for the steps the other had taken to save Yamato's life. For that alone, he would serve Piemon for so long as necessary. He just hoped it didn't come into too much conflict with their desire to destroy Vamdemon.
Though he had an idea of how to work with that. He just hadn't presented it to Koushirou and Yamato yet.
Piemon held a scroll in his hands, though Takeru couldn't see any writing on it from where he stood. "This came from Yamato not that long ago."
Takeru tensed at once; his brother had been out there for days now, and hadn't sent more than a brief word or two that everything was fine, he just needed more time to hunt down anyone who could give him proper information on Gennai's whereabouts. After years of knowing what Yamato would and wouldn't say in a message, Takeru read most of that as he hadn't made nearly the kind of progress he wanted to and was too proud to come back home and let someone else try it.
"What does he have to say?" He folded his arms over his chest, expecting any number of replies, even ranging to Yamato actually coming home 'for a rest'.
Piemon glanced at it again, then back at him. "He wants you to come out there and join him." Takeru blinked a few times. Of all the possibilities, he hadn't considered that one. They very seldom left the castle at the same time, given their positions to Piemon. If one couldn't be there, the other covered his duties until he returned.
"He does?" Takeru could not help but wonder what his brother had found out there that would require them both. It had to be something impressive.
Piemon tossed the scroll over to him and Takeru caught it. It only took him a few moments to read through the short words; Yamato wrote much the way he spoke, in only the words that would convey what he needed in the shortest amount of time possible. Just as Piemon said, Yamato wanted Takeru to come out there with him, and to bring Patamon and a week's worth of supplies for two.
"You'd best hurry," Piemon said. Takeru glanced up toward him, not surprised to see a glimpse of worry in his scarlet eyes. "The sooner you go, the sooner you can both be back."
Takeru wondered how long the scroll had been there, and how long Piemon had fretted to himself over allowing them both out there. Together they were a formidable pair, but one that didn't have the kind of practice that they did alone.
And yet, Yamato very seldom asked for his help in anything. He nodded, grip tightening around the scroll. "I'll be ready soon." The thought of his brother asking him for help, of needing him for a chance, sent a pleasant thrill all through Takeru, one unlike any he could remember feeling before.
His brother needed him. His brother wanted him there to help him.
He didn't waste another moment, but whirled around and raced through the hallways until he came to his own quarters, Patamon still clinging to his head.
"We're going to help Yamato?" His partner squeaked, tiny paws gripping harder. "Really?"
"Yes!" Takeru grabbed his traveling bag and shoved what he needed into it. He'd been on enough trips in the past to know what that was; a few changes of clothes, the means to keep his weapons sharp, spare daggers, and his Digivice.
He stared at it for a heartbeat. It held a darker, grayer tinge to it than it had when he'd first acquired it. It still worked, though Patamon's evolution wasn't Angemon anymore.
We don't need Angemon. He shoved that thought away with all due speed and tossed the device into the bag with everything else. Piemon would've already sent word to the kitchens so he just had to stop by there in order to get the last of what he needed. No matter what, that never changed: Digimon needed to eat in order to evolve.
"I think that's everything," he said, surveying his room. He couldn't think of anything else they would need to take with them.
"Takeru?" Patamon nudged him, gesturing to something hung over his bed. Takeru bit his lip.
"Are you sure?"
"It couldn't hurt."
Takeru nodded, then snatched the Crest of Hope from where it hung, shoved it into his pocket, and hurried out the door. The sooner he could get to Yamato, the better.
Piemon lounged back on his throne, a cup of wine in one hand, the screens before him showing him both Takeru and Yamato, despite the distance between them. Takeru plunged his way to the kitchens, eagerness in every movement he made, and more joy than he'd seen in the boy in some time.
Yamato crouched in the embrace of a wide-branched tree, mostly hidden by leaves and branches, or at least so to ordinary eyes. Gabumon remained at the base of the tree, covered as well by the bushes that thronged there. Both of them stared at something a distance away.
Piemon could see what it was, but that didn't give him much insight into who they were or why they were there. He didn't think this creature was of any real overall importance for himself, but what, if any, information that he had could be worth dragging out of him. Yamato and Takeru would be able to do that.
His boys. He smiled to himself. He'd held the message for nearly a day before calling Takeru, wanting to confirm to himself that this was the right way to manage this situation. If he'd chosen to go himself or send someone else, he knew Yamato wouldn't lift a finger in protest. But Yamato wanted his brother with him now, and Piemon thought the two could stand to work together more.
He didn't look up when he heard someone else enter the chamber. Instead, he took a drink, and waited for Black Rosemon to speak.
"You trust those humans too much."
It wasn't the first time she'd spoken to that tune. He watched the screens as Takeru hurried out of the castle, well-stocked with food. Patamon would likely evolve to give him a ride there; the sooner the two were together on this, the better. His newer evolution couldn't fly as Angemon could, but he was quick nevertheless.
Piemon almost missed Angemon. There was something…pretty about him that he wouldn't have minded getting to know better.
Perhaps I'll search for a Pidmon. Those looked almost like Angemon, save with slightly different coloring. One might be interesting to toy with.
"Piemon!" Black Rosemon snapped his name out and he slowly turned to look at her, a hint of irritability plain in the quirk of his lips. "Did you hear me?"
"Of course I did." He'd just chosen not to acknowledge her. They'd had this argument before and he wasn't interested in having it again. "Did you have something else to say about it?"
She moved closer, the sharp strike of her heeled boots ringing against the floor with every step. "You should get rid of those humans."
"Something new to say about it," he corrected himself, paying more attention again to the screens. Even when all Yamato did was sit in the tree and watch the target, that was more interesting than listening to Black Rosemon complain about his boys. "You seem to forget that all three of them are far more loyal to me than some Digimon that I could name."
Her fingers clenched; he didn't often remind her of how she'd gained her position, but if it ensured she would cease bothering him about meaningless matters, then he would gladly do so.
"Why do you let Pinnochimon stay on Earth? Shouldn't he return here, where he belongs?"
At least that was a change of subject. Perhaps she'd finally let it sink in that he had no intentions of doing away with his humans.
"Vamdemon can keep an eye on him for me. He'd be nothing but a nuisance here."
Pinnochimon hadn't been anything but a nuisance since the day Piemon told him that he was no longer a Dark Master and that Black Rosemon would henceforth rule over the woodland realms. In all truth, he'd been nothing but a nuisance before that, and if he'd known a Digimon who could've done the job sooner, he would never have allowed the puppet into his inner circle in the first place.
It took him another few minutes to realize that Black Rosemon hadn't just not spoken again, but actually left the throne room. Good; she was a powerful warrior and ally, but not someone he wanted to spend a great deal of time with. He'd chosen his Dark Masters for their strength and ability to rule, and for being less powerful than he was. He didn't want anyone trying to take over his empire.
For now, however, he had an interesting show to watch, and he turned his full attention to doing so. He looked forward to seeing just how Yamato and Takeru brought this strange visitor to heel.
And what he wanted to know more than anything else was how a human had arrived in the Digital World without his approval in the first place. Supposedly all traffic between the worlds could only be approved by himself or Vamdemon, and if the vampire had plans, then he wanted to know about them.
To Be Continued
Note: As much as I love Mimi x Sora/Sora x Mimi, the plot is demanding too much for me to focus on them. But I would very much like to. So, I would like to know if you, my readers, would be interested in seeing a side story (perhaps a one-shot, perhaps something chaptered, I don't know yet) involving what these two vampires are doing. It wouldn't be plotty but somewhat 'shippy, as 'shippy as one can get when the two involves are undead vampires. I'm already certain that the major plot will actually be told over the course of a trilogy, as there are maybe 15 chapters left in this story and I have so much that I want to do. But I can provide a little extra, if it's wanted.