Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. Or Heroes of Olympus. But I can still write a banging story about them both, if I do say so myself.
Author's Note: Written for the Novel with Prompts Challenge found on the Digimon Fanfiction Challenges forum. The prompt for this chapter is "protect".
I don't read a lot of Tamers fanfiction, especially if it's not a crossover with 01/02, but I've heard that most fics - even if they use the dub information - they'll call the digivices D-Arcs. I seriously considered going with that name as well, but in the end, I decided that D-Power just fits better. I hope this doesn't confuse anybody too badly. And more importantly, I hope you...
Enjoy!
Chapter Eighteen
Takato felt his brain shutting down. He didn't look at the others for fear he'd completely lose it. He'd gotten them into this, and now they were going to die – or worse, they'd be amusements for the Devas and end up rusty statues forever in this chamber, slowly corroding from the elements.
Makuramon skirted forward and started to stroke Yolei's hair. He kept picking up lavender strands between his fingers and smelling it. His fingers tickled her neck, and Yolei finally had enough. Moving as if she didn't plan it and was reacting on pure instinct, she spun and slapped her hand hard across his face.
"Oh, Yolei…" Hawkmon said bracingly.
"Oops?" she squeaked, realizing what she had done.
For a moment, everybody else was too stunned to react. Then Makuramon screeched in complete outrage. Ken stepped in front of Yolei. Caturamon growled and the air around him started to swirl in a micro-tornado. "You dare strike a Deva, you puny little—"
"Stop!" Takato ordered, with as much force as he could muster. And he really hoped he was the only one that could hear the tremor in his voice. "You're not going to destroy us, and you're not going to turn us into creepy art decorations. We're on a mission to save Gennai, so unless you want the Digital World to remain completely out of balance for the rest of all time, you're going to let us go."
He tried to sound confident, and somehow, miraculously, it got their attention. Caturamon's tornado swirled to a stop. Makuramon put away his crystal ball. They both looked uncertainly at the white tiger.
"Gennai, you say?" Baihumon asked. His tail flicked back and forth, but Takato wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. "He always did rely on humans far too much… But perhaps, as has always been the case, he has his reasons. Tell us your story."
Takato would've botched it right there. He hadn't been expecting to get the chance to talk, and now that he could, his voice just completely abandoned him.
Kari saved him. "Lord Baihumon." She bowed with incredible poise, considering all of their lives were on the line. She told Baihumon the whole story, from Primary Village to the prophecy, much better and faster than Takato could have.
"All we ask for is guidance," she concluded. "Thunderbirmon attacked Takato and Guilmon, and they're working for some master. And… he's an armor digimon… from the Digiegg of Friendship, isn't he? That's why you're so upset with Davis… it's not because he did anything, it's because of Thunderbirmon. Please… If we find Thunderbirmon, maybe we can find Gennai and set things right at the same time."
The tiger's tail flicked from one side to the other. Above and through the sunroof, night had fallen, and the only light came from Baihumon's Digicores, bathing everything in a golden light.
"Yes, I know of Thunderbirmon," Baihumon said. "I know who he works for and of the prisoner they took."
"You mean Elecmon?" Takato asked. "He's alive?"
"Yay!" Guilmon cheered.
Baihumon waved the realization aside. "For now, anyway. But the one who controls Thunderbirmon… It would be impossible to oppose her. You would have a better chance as one of my statues."
"Gennai's in trouble," Cody said. "In three days, he's going to be – we don't know – consumed, deleted, something. And something terrible will rise in his place."
"Yes," Baihumon agreed. Takato thought he saw the tiger and Caturamon exchange a look, but it was so quick that it was hard to read. "Many horrible things are waking. Even my Devas do not tell me all the news they should. The stirring of great evil that began with calling the original eight of you – we foolishly believed it ended with the destruction of MaloMyotismon. But just as it has always been, so is it now. When one enemy falls, another takes its place. Enemy armor digimon – these are only the beginning. The combining of worlds has many more horrors to yield up. When digimon no long remain deleted and digimon are no longer reborn… We all have reason to fear."
Takato wasn't sure what all this meant, but Caturamon's constant smiling face was really starting to grow disturbing – like he was rather enjoying this morbid tale.
"So, does this mean you'll help us?" Armadillomon asked.
"I would sure hope so!" Hawkmon said.
Baihumon scowled. "I said no such thing."
"Please, my lord," Gatomon said. She stepped forward and did a sweeping bow as she dropped to one knee. She did this so elegantly that Takato had a hard time believing that she hadn't done this a million times before, as if appeasing temperamental powerful digimon used to be a hobby of hers. "Surely there is something that we can do to win your favor. If we promise to deal with Thunderbirmon…"
"I have no desire to ever see that digimon or the Digicore that was stolen from me ever again," Baihumon growled. "However… Ebonwumon has been particularly concerned about this development, and he says I'm not doing enough to get it back…"
"If you tell us where Thunderbirmon is," Gatomon said quickly, taking the opportunity that was presented in front of her, "we can capture him, reclaim the Digicore, and bring it to Ebonwumon. You'd regain the respect of your fellow Holy Beasts. We might be able to get who is behind the theft in the first place. We could rescue Elecmon. Everyone wins."
"Lord Baihumon, don't listen to her," Caturamon said. "This is Gatomon, former servant of Myotismon, and she dares to address a Holy Beast directly? We should destroy her for her insolence!"
Baihumon considered this. Takato slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his digivice. If things went wrong, he and Guilmon would have to move fast.
The movement caught Baihumon's eye. "What is that digivice, young digidestined?"
Takato hadn't realized that pulling it out would get any attention at all. Reluctantly, he showed Baihumon his digivice.
The Holy Beast's eyes widened. Caturamon took a shocked step back.
"I see…" Baihumon's eyes were full of sudden understanding. "I understand now. Gennai plays a dangerous game. Bold and dangerous. Let us hope he knows what he is doing."
Takato felt his heart leap into his throat. "You know who I am or at least where I'm from… Please, tell me!"
"I can tell you that the device you hold in your hand is called a D-Power," Baihumon explained. "And that it is a device that has never seen the likes of this Digital World before. It is, as the name suggests, a very powerful tool for a digidestined to possess… This should be very interesting to watch. If it doesn't destroy us all."
"Does that mean you won't kill us?" Wormmon asked.
"There is no reason for me to kill you," the white tiger said. "Gennai's plan is already in motion, and if it fails, we'll all be in jeopardy. My lord will never have to worry about humans bringing havoc to the Digital World again, because there will be no Digital World to bring havoc to."
Takato felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up – he had a very strong feeling that Baihumon was right. The sense of wrongness which had plagued Takato since he woke up in Primary Village and the realization that all of this was, somehow, a TV show – Baihumon knew what all of it meant.
"Uh… mind explaining that for us, please?" Takato asked.
"And interfere with Gennai's ambitious plan and perhaps make it worse? Not a chance. It's just his luck that your memory left as well." Baihumon turned his back on the digidestined so that he could climb back up into his cat bed. "I am not the most helpful of the Four Holy Beasts, I will admit, and it is not often that I play a role involving humans. But it seems, if I have any hope for this world at all, I must let you go on your little mission." He curled up on the cat bed and stared them all down. "You will find Thunderbirmon in the stormy valley, of course: Circuit, on the continent of Folder—"
"Lord Baihumon!" Caturamon protested.
Baihumon ignored the Deva. "If you capture Thunderbirmon or retrieve the Digicore that allowed his digivolution in the first place, you will be able to earn an audience with Ebonwumon."
"Okay, great," Takato said. "So Circuit is where we'll find this digimon who's handing out armor digivolving? She's the one who's trapped Gennai?"
Baihumon raised a furry eyebrow. "Those are two different questions, young tamer."
Tamer, Takato noted. Before, he called me a digidestined.
"The one allowing digivolution," Baihumon continued, "yes, you will find her in Circuit. But she is only a servant – a servant who is very likely to destroy you. If you somehow succeed against her and take the Digicore, then you may meet with Ebonwumon. Only he has knowledge of all the storms in the Digital World. All secrets flow through his waters, and he has two heads to hear them all. If anyone can tell you where Gennai is imprisoned, it is Ebonwumon. As for whom you will meet when you finally find Gennai's cage – truly, if I told you, you may wish to become one of my statues instead."
"My lord!" Caturamon protested. "You can't seriously just let them—"
"I can do what I like," he growled, his voice hardening. "I am still the lord here, am I not?"
The way Baihumon glared at the dog digimon, it was obvious they had some sort of ongoing argument. Takato wondered if Caturamon's dislike of feline digimon carried over to his own boss. Caturamon's eyes flashed with anger, but he clenched his teeth in that never ending grin. "As you wish, my lord."
"Now go, digidestined," Baihumon said, "before I change my mind. Makuramon, escort them out safely."
They all bowed, and the Holy Beast of the West disappeared back into the shadows.
x X x
Back in the steel coated ballroom, Sinduramon, Davis, and Veemon were waiting for them. Davis looked bored but unharmed. He'd even finished off a bottle of water and rice ball by the looks of the trash by his feet. Veemon had brushed off his bruised ego and was in the middle of what appeared to be a very intense staring contest with Sinduramon.
As Caturamon led them down the stairs, Takato noticed Davis stand up straight from the pillar he had been leaning against. His eyes locked on Kari directly behind Takato and followed her. Uh-oh, Takato thought. Didn't Kari have some sort of missing boyfriend somewhere? He sure hoped Davis's attention was just from some feelings of protectiveness and nothing else. He did not want to be in the middle of some weird soap opera, though he was already taking on the role of the amnesiac so it wasn't like they were that far off.
He tried to focus on the positives instead. If Davis were being this attentive, he'd at least be ready for Caturamon or Makuramon to pull something if anything went wrong at the last second. For that, Takato was glad. He didn't really trust these Devas. Something about them was really setting him off kilter. He kept glancing toward them, feeling as if something was incredibly familiar about them, but he couldn't quite figure out why. It was so frustrating.
At the bottom step, Caturamon turned toward them. "You may have fooled Lord Baihumon, digidestined, but you have not fooled me. We are not done. You will be rusting statues decorating these halls soon enough."
"Did someone steal your chew toy or something, Caturamon?" Yolei asked. "Seriously, lighten up!"
Caturamon's eyes flashed with anger. For once, he seemed at a loss for words, then he stormed back up the stairs – literally. Halfway up, he turned into a tornado and disappeared.
"Uh-oh," Makuramon said. "Pretty girl shouldn't make Caturamon mad. He never forgets an insult."
"Scary doggy!" Sinduramon grunted in agreement.
"He's just a big cranky puppy," Yolei said. "What's he going do? Ask me to throw a Frisbee for him?"
But as she said it, Takato had a feeling that Caturamon could do a whole lot worse. In fact, he was certain of it. He just couldn't pinpoint where the feeling was coming from.
Davis looked concerned. "Do I want to know what happened up there?"
"I want to know!" Veemon said. "So, did you win something?"
"No," Guilmon said, sounding disappointed. "Just a whole lot of talking. And some threatening. But no prizes."
"We'll explain later," Kari promised, but when she glanced at Takato, he realized she expected him to explain.
What had happened up there? Takato wasn't sure. Baihumon had recognized his digivice – or D-Power, as he had called it – and he knew it meant something important. He wouldn't tell him what, but it was pretty clear that Takato's presence had caused great concern for the Holy Beast. It was also clear that he hadn't let them go out of kindness. Desperation and fear had danced in his eyes, as if he were on the brink of seeing the world end.
Gennai's plan is already in motion, and if it fails, we'll all be in jeopardy, he'd said with obvious concern. My lord will never have to worry about humans bringing havoc to the Digital World again, because there will be no Digital World to bring havoc to.
Takato looked away from the others, trying not to show how unnerved he was. "Yeah," he agreed, "we'll explain later."
"Be careful, pretty girl," Makuramon said. "The storms between here and Circuit are bad-tempered. Many evil things are stirring. I am sorry you will not be staying. You would make a lovely statue to keep me company."
"Ugh, please, no," Yolei groaned.
"I have a feeling that the storms aren't are our worst problem, are they?" Hawkmon asked.
"Oh, no," Makuramon agreed. "Something else. Something worse."
"Worse," Sinduramon echoed.
"Can you tell us?" Yolei forced a charming smile.
This time, it didn't work. The two Devas shook their head in unison. The hangar doors opened onto a freezing starry night, and Kari and Yolei pulled out their D-3's.
"Ask Ebonwumon what is worse," Makuramon said darkly. "He knows. Good luck."
He almost sounded like he cared what happened to them, even though a few minutes ago he'd wanted to turn Yolei into a rusty statue.
Sinduramon patted Veemon on the head. "Don't get destroyed," he said, which was probably the longest sentence they'd ever hear him say.
Takato stared up into the dark. He was anxious to get out of the suffocating steel building, but he had a feeling it was the most hospitable place they would see for a while.
"Come on, guys," Davis said as Gatomon and Hawkmon were bathed in red and pink light before taking on the forms of Nefertimon and Halsemon once more. "Let's go to… Where are we going?"
"Circuit," Wormmon supplied.
"Right! Let's go to Circuit and try not to get destroyed."