Axeknightmon sits on his throne looking at a small screen.
"You've got to be kidding me…" He grumbles. Piedmon walks from the shadows.
"What's wrong my lord? Is this something about Whispered digivolving again?" Piedmon asks. Axeknightmon shakes his head.
"Yes, but another part. It seems he's gotten a bit closer with the human."
"So, in other words, he won't be as destructive as before...?" Piedmon smirks.
"To have your way of thinking, Piedmon. It would be a gift…" Axeknightmon chuckles. "He'll be destructive in a different way. But fear not, he'll be the only wild virus program in the digital world. Come with me." Axeknightmon stands up and walks to another dark room. There is a small podium off to the side. Connected to it are seven collars, each one with a different ex general's name on it.
"What will collars do? Taming them for a dog show?" Piedmon remarks.
"Not exactly. Once I get that brat and his digimon away, except for Coronamon of course, I will hunt down each general, and force them to wear what I'll call the "Whispered collar"." Axeknightmon says.
"Wow…creative, sir." Piedmon says sarcastically, shifting his weight to one hip. "And how exactly would this "Whispered collar" work?" Piedmon asks, tracing the outline of the collar on top that says "Dorbickmon".
"Simple really, once the collar is on, spikes fueled with darkness would sink into their neck, changing them. Each of them would get their own Whispered form, with a color change. Though, it also works as a mind control device, limiting free will or thoughts to almost nothing. And one more cool thing, this will give them upgrades to their armor and fighting ability, making them stronger!" Axeknightmon says, looking at Piedmon.
"Genius, my lord. But what if the enemy is able to break the collar?" Piedmon asks. Axeknightmon laughs sinisterly.
"The only way those collars come off…" His laughter grows louder. "Is their demise" He looks at Piedmon who starts snickering as well.
"You never fail to amaze me, My Lord. So let those brats warn the generals, they're doomed anyway." Piedmon laughs along loudly with Axeknightmon. Myotismon hears them from a far corner while he bandages his arm.
"And I thought my laugh was ugly…" He scowls, returning to aiding his wounds. "Ugh…out of all the time Piedmon had to be right, why earlier? Now I won't be allowed to fight anymore. This is bullshit." The vampire curses, taking his red mask off and laying down on his bed. "At least I don't have to deal with that flower when she digivolves." Myotismon chuckles.
(With us)
"You know what? I think fighting that Axeknightmon guy would be better than all this walking." Lalamon complains.
"Lalamon, you're not walking. You're floating." I snap back, turning my head to the side.
"Same thing. I'm used to floating around." She adds. "But seriously though, I can't wait until we find our next resting point. Why must we walk so much anyway?" Her complaints filled my ears as I stopped and fully turned my body around.
"Do you want Axeknightmon to wreak havoc on innocent digimon? Do you want to risk your own father getting hurt?" I accuse, Lalamon reeling back.
"No I would never!"
"Then quit complaining and show you care about your loved ones!" I bellow, turning back around. Lalamon seals her mouth shut and flies lower to the ground, next to Guilmon.
"Damn, that was harsh." Whispered admits.
"Like you haven't said worse." I snap and continue walking, and they all follow me. He was right though, it was harsh. I know it to be the truth but my sleep wasn't so peaceful and I was known for being rude and a bit more snarky. I kept on walking. The trees were certainly at peace, the leaves green and lush. I grip onto the satchel gifted to me by Olegmon. I take a few deep breaths as I walk, trying to calm myself down. I got this far with them, I don't want the group broken up. I was doing okay until my foot got stuck on a branch and I found myself falling down a bit of a steep hill.
"Derin!" Coronamon yelled, running after me, but falling as well. We both tumbled down to the bottom, looking very dizzy. Whispered, Guilmon, and Lalamon all walk down slowly and look down at us.
"Loser." Whispered says.
"Shut up…" I grumble, sitting up. Coronamon lays on the ground.
"Ouch…" Coronamon says, gripping at his head. I hurry and grab my fusion loader out.
"Come on, you can heal. Coronamon, return!" I say and he's sucked into the digivice. I stumble as I try to stand, finally succeeding after a minute or two. "Come on guys, let's keep moving." I say but as soon as I take another step, I hear the bushes moving. There was little to no breeze. "Who's there!" I demand to know, Whispered stopping in front of me.
"Agh!" I hear from the bush. Listening to it, it sounded like a younger female voice. Out falls a green plant like digimon with vines for hands and a pink flower on her head. "I didn't mean to alarm you!" She proclaims, waving her vine hands in front of her face. She stumbles and grabs a small basket full of all sorts of berries. "Here! Take these and forget I was here!" She yells, trembling.
"Ooo! Berries!" Whispered goes to grab them, his mouth watering.
"Whispered." I say sternly, pulling him back. "Don't start thinking with your stomach." I push him behind me and get on one knee. "We won't hurt you, we're very friendly."
"Guilmon is the only friendly one." Whispered snickers with Lalamon. I dart my head in their direction, shooting daggers at them, shutting them up.
"What's your name?" I ask gently.
"Palmon…" She squeaks out. I smile.
"Palmon, nice name." I chuckle. "Do you have any idea where a resting spot might be or a place somewhat safer?" I ask her. Her eyes light up.
"Why yes! I'm heading to my village right now! Would you care to join me?"
"We'd love to!" I say. We follow Palmon through the thick forest until we finally reach a small remote village. There's about three small shacks and one larger one in the middle. The shacks looked wooden, sturdy yet weak. I take in the sight of multiple rookie digimon playing. They run around the large shack, smiling and laughing.
"This is our village!" Palmon says. "The farthest small shack is our medic, Gatomon. The one in the middle is where a lot of the rookie and baby digimon rest. And finally the closest one here." Palmon points to the closest shack. "This is where Babamon lives! She's a very old digimon and always shows us kindness!" Palmon exclaims and one of the shack's doors opens. Out comes what believes to be Babamon. Palmon's right, she looks very old with her eyes covered and her gray hair in a bun. She wields an old broom. She wears a green cloak and a string of pink beads around her neck.
"My my Palmon…who have you brought here?" Babamon slowly makes her way over to us.
"Hello ma'am." I bow slightly to her. "My name is Derin. Derin Mivorino." I put out my hand which she shakes.
"They wanted a space to rest at for their long travels!" Palmon says. Babamon smiles.
"Well, you're welcome here." Babamon says.
"Hey, what's with the huge building in the middle?" Whispered asks, pointing his clawed paw towards it.
"Oh, why that's the training dojo. All the rookies here train vigorously throughout parts of the day in order to become really strong digimon!" Palmon explains.
"And who trains them exactly? No offense Babamon but you don't look like the kind of gal to go beat up a punching bag." Whispered says. Babamon chuckles softly.
"The one training those little digis would be Titamon. He's out finding more sources of protein." Babamon says but then sighs. "That meathead only cares about strength in a digimon. He turns the softest digimon into hard headed warriors." Babamon shakes her head. Palmon frowns.
"Are you training with Titamon, Palmon?" I ask.
"No, I help out Gatomon and Babamon with everyday chores." I hear the trees rustling more than usual and look over to see all the small digimon panic and scurry back into line. A large green and gold digimon walks out. "That's Titamon!" Palmon whispers. Titamon was huge with flowing white hair. He wears a golden mask with red stripes on it with huge horns. His form was muscular and he had a giant sword with a digimon's skull for a base. The sword looked ominous and mysterious. His other fist was covered in gold armor and was huge. He had gold armor striped along with legs and feet. He had broad shoulders with a large green spike that had red stripes like his mask. He locked eyes with me.
"Babamon!" He yelled running over but was hit in the head with the broom.
"Calm down, you brute. These travelers mean no harm." Babamon yelled, looking more irritated. Titamon stands straight and I notice his stomach is wrapped in thick bandages.
"Whatever…" Titamon grumbles and looks down again. "Say kid, you got three rookie level digimon on ya. Can I train em? Trust me, I know how to raise strong digimon." Titamon flexes his muscles.
"No thank you…" I wave my hands in front of me. I put them down at my side and smile. "All my digimon can digivolve to champion but Whispered here…" I put my hand on Whispered's head. "This little guy has already reached his ultimate form." I boast back. Titamon arches back.
"Well, I didn't expect a small human to raise such strong digimon." Titamon smirks. "But I must ask that you train with me. I would love to see what foreigner digimon can do so I alter any training lessons with my class." I look to Guilmon and Lalamon who both look at each other.
"I mean, getting stronger would be good." Guilmon smiles, his thick tail wagging like a dog's.
"For once, I'll agree." Lalamon mutters. I turn to Whispered and see him already making his way to the training dojo. We follow him.
"You in a training mood, Whispered?" I ask him.
"I'm trying to get to my mega form asap. Then I'll finally defeat Axeknightmon!" He says, holding his head up high.
"How about we focus on getting these two to their ultimate forms first?" I say as I lean against a wall of the dojo. Titamon walks in along with Babamon. The two are talking.
"You better not go too hard on them, Titamon." She scolds.
"Babamon, going on hard on them is what teaches them good things in life."
"Those bandages say otherwise." Babamon says, pointing her broom to the bandages wrapped around the monster's stomach.
"That bastard was a disobedient student who wouldn't listen!" Titamon argues. Babamon whacks him in the stomach. "Agh! Watch it, old lady!" he says but then walks away. Babamon walks over to me. Titamon stands in front of my digimon.
"Alright, basic stuff first. Hit me with whatever you got. One at a time." Titamon instructs. Whispered walks up first. He punches Titamon and doesn't really make a mark. "Is that all you got, feline?" Titamon chuckles. Whispered grumbles and goes away. Guilmon is up next and tries whacking him really hard with his tail, which also doesn't affect Titamon. "Nice try scaly."
"Aw…" Guilmon frowns and returns beside me. Last up is Lalamon.
"A flower?" Titamon laughs. "Come on little spud, try and do something." Titamon says mockingly. Lalamon gets angry and headbutts Titamon in the stomach, actually knocking him over. "Agh!" He yells, pushing himself up slightly with his elbows.
"Seed Blast!" Lalamon yells, spitting energy filled seeds at Titamon's stomach. The bandages are torn off and it's revealed that Titamon has a huge wound. She dives right back in to attack the open wound getting hit by a flying broom knocking her back towards me. Lalamon floats back up, readying to attack Titamon, who was trying to stand back up. He covers his wound with his arm. "I'll show you what this little spud can do!" She yells. I quickly grab her and hold her in place. "Let me at him!"
"Lalamon, calm down. Don't let your emotions get the best of you!"
"Gatomon!" Babamon calls out. A small white cat digimon with large yellow claws comes out with a huge thing of bandages. Babamon grabs her broom.
"Oh how the mighty fall." She mocks. Titamon sits up while Gatomon rebandages the wound.
"Shut up, old hag." He says. I walk up to him, holding Lalamon tightly. Guilmon and Whispered follow me.
"I'm so sorry, Titamon. Lalamon can get very aggressive" I bow to apologize.
"No need, that's impressive…for a flower." Titamon says. Gatomon finishes wrapping his wound and scurries back to her shack.
"How'd such a strong digimon like you manage to get such a horrible wound?" Whispered asks.
"You may not want to know the answer to that que-" Babamon starts, silenced by a wave of Titamon's hand.
"I'll tell em." He says but then sighs. He lifts his head up and groans angrily. "I remember that god awful day like it was yesterday."
(Flashback)
It was a peaceful day at the small village. A lot of strong looking digimon talked around the newly made shacks.
"Can't you believe we're almost megas?" One digimon said. He had blue and purple hair and wore chains and skull-like attire.
"I can't man. But seriously, SkullMeramon, training with Titamon is awesome!" Another digimon exclaims. This digimon was a lion digimon covered in silver armor. He had two cannon-like wrists and sharp teeth.
"When is Titamon getting back though?" SkullMeramon asks. The lion shrugs.
"I have no clue."
"GrapLeomon, you may be the dumbest digimon here." SkullMeramon says, laughing. GrapLeomon laughs along with him.
"Have you met Etemon?" GrapLeomon says. Their laughter carries over across the small village. Other digimon talk with each other. Though, one smaller, more frail digimon hides behind a shack. This digimon has a head that looked like a bomb covered in mummy bandage wraps. He has black hands and appears to have no legs. He wore black belts around his waist, neck, and one his wrists. He was playing with a simple looking but complex puzzle. As twists and turns the parts along, he almost gets close to solving it before he hears a call.
"Alright digimon!" Titamon yells. "Line up!" The bomb looking digimon hides his puzzle and quickly flies into line with the rest of the stronger and way taller digimon. "We're just gonna do simple stuff today, guys." Titamon puffs out his chest. "Hit me with whatever you got!"
A few strong digimon go, all getting a reaction out of Titamon. "That's it!" He exclaims. "I'm really proud of all of you." He pauses. "Bombermon. You're up." His smile wears thin as the fragile looking digimon floats forward. Bombermon punches him weakly. Titamon groans and the other digimon laugh. "What have I told you?!" He yells. Bombermon backs away.
"I'm sorry…I really am…" Bombermon lowers his head and backs away.
"I tell you to train all the time! What have you been doing?!" Titamon demands to know. Another digimon steps forward.
"He's been playing with his puzzles like a good little schoolboy!" The digimon throws the puzzle he was working on to Titamon. Infuriated, Titamon crushes the almost done puzzle right in front of Bombermon's face. His eyes grow large before tearing up.
"Why must you always disobey? Huh?! I gave you hundreds of opportunities to be strong and you throw them away like yesterday's paper!" Titamon says.
"I am strong…" Bombermon says. Titamon's eyes become little slivers.
"What did you just say?"
"I am strong." Bombermon says more confidently. "In my own way. I'm strong intellectually!" His tears dry up slightly. "I've way more wisdom than you'll ever have!" He declares, acting tougher. But that wave of confidence is short lived as soon as he is slapped across the face.
"Foolishness. Wisdom is just another word for weakness. And weakness means failure!" Titamon says, raising his sword and putting it against Bombermon's neck. "And failure…disappoints me. And disappointment means suffering. So tell me Bombermon…what are you?" The other digimon snicker around him. Bombermon's eyes fill with tears again. However, the sadness mixes with something completely different. It twists and fuses with anger and resentment for not being able to express his interests. The sadness for failing the only life he grew with soon faded as his eyes began to bulge in rage.
"I'll show you what I am!" He yells, and the sound blasts Titamon back. All the other digimon fall back and look at Bombermon who was glowing.
"Bombermon digivolve to…Gravimon!" Light fades and out comes the soon to be dark general.
"What the…" Titamon quickly stands up again only to be whipped to the floor by the red gravity cords Gravimon wields.
"I'll show you…" He mutters as his eight gravity cords glow at the tip. "Fry."
"Gravimon! Wait!" Titamon says but it's too late.
"Octo Gravity!" All the beams shoot right at Titamon. Thankfully they all hit his stomach. He falls down as data leaks out of him. Gravimon's anger subsides as he looks at his teacher's now weakened body. "Titamon…" He mumbles, getting emotional again. "I'm so sorry…" He says before he vanishes, reappearing far away from the village.
(End of Flashback)
"And then he disappeared." Titamon says. "The weak coward ran away." He says.
I hold Lalamon even tighter because I could feel her small flower body fuming. Gravimon? The ex dark general? The story seems to match up, he was the strategist of the seven.
"Ah!" I say as Lalamon frees herself. Titamon stands up and she gets in his face.
"You listen here you dumb, ugly, bitchy ogre!" She screams. She headbutts Titamon in the head, knocking his head back slightly.
"What now?" He says.
"You will not disrespect my dad like that!" Titamon's eyes widen. "He's the strongest person I've ever met!"
"Your dad?! That lame excuse for a digimon became a father?" Titamon asks, shocked. Lalamon fumes even more.
"He's not a lame excuse for a digimon! Here you were training and healing from a wound he gave you, while he was ruling an entire land all by himself!" She yells. "You should be proud as his teacher!"
"That bastard was and still is weak!"
"You just can't accept different kinds of strength!" Lalamon yells. Whispered stands next to me.
"Where's the digibites when you need it…" He whispers to Guilmon, who continues watching.
"Whatever you say to me, I won't listen to it. Your father is weak to me no matter what he does." Titamon declares. "Wisdom will forever just be another word for weakness."
"Urgh! Fight me then! I'll show you my father's strength through the one he raised!" She yells.
"Ugh…you even talk like the disappointment." Titamon grumbles. "Fine, I'll fight you. Right here, right now. Babamon." His attention turns to the elderly digimon. "Scram, this won't concern you."
"Alright…" Babamon says, turning to me. "Good luck, young one." She leaves and Titamon and Lalamon take opposite ends of the dojo.
"Lalamon, are you sure about this? He's way stronger than you." I try to reason with her.
"Nobody. Mocks. My. Dad." She glows. I take out my fusion loader.
"Alright Lalamon…"
"Do it."
"Lalamon! Digivolve!"
"Lalamon digivolve to…Sunflowmon!" Titamon walks up closer to the sunflower digimon.
"Oh yay, a bigger flower. Does the weakling have a green thumb now?" Titamon mocks.
"Sunshine Beam!" Sunflowmon yells, shooting an energy beam at Titamon. Titamon puts his golden fist up and catches the energy beam, crushing it. "Ugh…" Sunflowmon charges quickly towards Titamon to try and punch him. Her large plant-like fist is caught in his as he tightens his grip. Sunflowmon quickly whacks her tail at his stomach, releasing her fist.
"Argh…you little…" Titamon straightens.
"Sunshine Bazooka!" Sunflowmon screams, rapidly firing huge seeds filled with mass amounts of power. They hit Titamon everywhere. Dust clouds form from the plant bullets. As it subsides, it shows Titamon's angry expression.
"This ends now…" He says, raising his sword.
"Sunflowmon! Watch out!" I yell.
"Soul Core Attack!" Titamon raises his blade, Zanjinto, and hits Sunflowmon directly in the side. She flies back and hits the wall. The wound looks like the one Titamon has, right across the stomach. Data pours out of it. My eyes widen as I rush to her side.
"Sunflowmon! Please! Don't…go…" I tear up and Whispered and Guilmon stand next to me. Titamon walks closer.
"Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You're a failure, just like your father." He says. I hear a groan from Sunflowmon. My attention turns to her face, full of resentment and anger. But another emotion stirs with it. Love, honor, and respect. She slowly floats up and looks at Titamon.
"I said…nobody…mocks…MY DAD!" She starts glowing again, pushing Titamon back to his side.
"Agh…that light…" He complains. My fusion loader glows again as I look to Sunflowmon.
"Show me you love your father!" I yell. "Sunflowmon! Digivolve!" I yell.
"Sunflowmon digivolve to…Lilamon!"
Lilamon is a very feminine digimon that has pink skin with white flowers acting as hands and feet. She wears a yellow and green skintight leotard with pink ruffles in the front and back. She wears a rose on her chest. Her black eyes shimmer with more emotion than her previous forms. She has green shoulder length hair that looks like thick thorny stems. She wears a giant lilac accessory on her back and one that drapes on her head. The wound on her stomach is gone.
"Oh yay, an even bigger flower! How could my day get any better?" Titamon says.
"Pollen Spray!" She dances around gracefully, leaving behind a trail of wonderfully good smelling pollen. Titamon stops in his tracks, dropping Zanjinto. He smiles and giggles, completely lured by the scent. Lilamon smirks.
"Lila Shower!" She yells, firing many slender beams from her leaf like fingers. Titamon snaps back to reality and goes to pick up Zanjinto. "Lila Needle! She fires one huge needle and knocks Zanjinto far away from Titamon's grasp.
"Fine! Guess I'll fight with my fists then!" Titamon says. Lilamon charges towards him and dodges a hard punch. She kicks Titamon in the jaw and when he tries to recover, she punches him right in the face. His hard golden and red mask cracks in all places. "My mask…heh…" He says and Lilamon grabs onto the horns connected to the shattered masks and breaks them off. She kicks Titamon in the chest, knocking him down. She takes the horns and goes to stab them both in his chest. Titamon hits her away. "Hold on now!" He says. Lilamon looks at him.
"What..?" She asks.
"Well little flower, you've changed my mind. If Gravimon was able to raise such a strong digimon like you, well, then I guess he isn't that weak…" He admits, looking proud yet ashamed of himself.
"Wait…" Lilamon starts, her black eyes lighting up. "Really?!" Titamon nods in approval and Lilamon turns to me. She flies towards me and picks me up. "See I told you I loved my dad! And I showed it!" She puts me down and bounces up and down in excitement.
"It'll take some more thinking and understanding, but I promise you this. I will never treat wisdom like weakness again…" Titamon says.
"Took you long enough to change your ways." Another voice said. Babamon walks into the dojo.
"Babamon! I…" Titamon starts but is silenced by a broom.
"No more words out of you. I'm still astonished that you can change." Babamon turns to me and Lilamon. "You all are welcome to stay the night. Frankly, you are welcome back anytime. Lilamon, you should bring your father by next time." She suggests. Titamon cringes at the thought.
"Hey! Give me some time to think!" He says.
"I never knew you could do that." Babamon says and we all laugh. "Excellent battle, all of you. But now it's time for some much needed rest and maybe storytime. Afterall, Titamon isn't the only digimon here with stories about your father." Lilamon's eyes grow larger. She glows and returns to Lalamon. She goes to follow the old woman. Titamon stands up and Gatomon rushes in with bandages.
"Not right now, Gato. I'll fix this mask myself." He chuckles and exits the building.
"Well…that was a battle." Whispered says. I chuckle and look to Guilmon, whose mouth is wide open.
"Woah…" He mumbles. "I wanna fight like that!" He says.
"Soon you'll be able to, Guilmon." I say and my fusion loader glows. Out pops Coronamon.
"That catnap was amazing…hey, where are we? What happened?" he asks. Whispered smirks.
"We'll tell you in a bit, Coronamon." Coronamon frowns.
"Why do I always miss the good stuff?"