#arc 5: hinode [concept]

[ladyofthecastleproject]

Doubts of the Heart

[AO3 version]

Summary:

The 02 group + Mimi, Palmon & Gummymon finally discover why Daisuke was acting alone this whole time. Could the group help Daisuke beat some of his insecurities and doubts?

[Notes: It's 2008; it's bit of Daisuke angst...]

Ken sighed. He was in trouble all over again, no matter what he had done he couldn’t let Daisuke keep doing those all alone.

“So, I decided I will infiltrate in that castle again”

The moment Daisuke said this, he felt his heart skip a beat. Not only him but also everyone else.

“You shouldn’t go all alone.”

“Wallace is still there, right?” Gummymon asked, “Then I should go with you.”

“Did you forget they already know it’s you under that mask?” Iori argued. Calmly, but still assertively.

“I know, but… If we go there in numbers they will use you all against me.”

“So you think the best solution is walking into the enemy territory, knowing it will be easy for them to eliminate you knowing you’re Lightnimon?” Takeru added, calmly. He was trying to behave but deep down he felt a huge anxiety eating him alive.

“That’s… Better than letting anyone else get hurt, don’t you think!?”

“No, it’s not!” Hikari shouted.

“Daisuke, calm down. Calm down and think!” Miyako said, and that wording remembered them all but Ken and Gummymon about a discussion six years prior.

“... Sorry, I just don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me again.”

Was he talking about the previous events before they ended up in the Digital World, or… Wait, Ken totally felt he was also the culprit for something he forgot to apologize for perhaps? The time he had captured everyone but Daisuke, set a fake dangerous scenario for his friends who were his enemies back in time, and psychologically inflicted pain in Daisuke to the point Daisuke himself was trading his own life for the fake group of bakemons disguised as Daisuke’s friends.

“It’s okay,” Tailmon smiled, “We’re fine. And we’re strong, you don’t need to worry about us.”

Ken kept silent, but soon or later he would have to speak up.

“We’re a group” Hawkmon said, “And we will fight alongside you.”

“Why do you want to do this alone?” Palmon asked, frowning. Wormmon, Armadimon and Tailmon were also giving him a concerned look.

“Sorry I… Uh, it’s my fault again.”

“Daisuke I uh… I think I know what’s happening here” Ken said, still not looking at him “You’re still hurt by something more… profound I guess.”

“Huh?”

“That time I… toyed with your mind, and I…”

“Ken, that was six years ago and that’s not the cause of that! You didn’t hurt anyone that time! Except me, but I’m fine!”

“Then why are you… running away?” V-mon asked and sighed, “Sorry, but why are you so scared to tell them?”

“OK, I will talk about it!" He growled, “Listen carefully.”

That time when Ranamon attacked Miyako and Hikari-chan, I was brought to the Digital World. She said if I followed her, they would be freed. I know Miyako told me to NOT do that, but my body moved without my consent.

“OK, I followed you like you wanted. Now let Miyako and Hikari-chan alone!”

“Ohohoho, fine. They’re already free, but you…”

“What do you want with us!?” V-mon stared at her, just like Daisuke.

“You must be eliminated, but this is not my job hoho~”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily!” Daisuke gritted his teeth, “And really, why are you targeting me and my friends!?”

“Because of the Crest of Miracles, you dummy!” she pouted, was he that stupid!? But, judging by Daisuke’s face, he wasn’t aware of that at all “What, you’re its heir and don’t know?”

“I only had a Digimental once or twice, but that’s all! How can that be my crest!? Does a Crest of Miracles exist!?”

“I don’t remember Qinglongmon or Gennai mentioned it before…” V-mon commented.

“Bleh! You’re that clueless!? Oh boy, it will be easy to beat you!”

“Q-quit insulting me and tell us already!”

“Why? If you know, you will do what we don’t want you to” she shrugged. The nerve of that amphibian-like digimon…!

“V-mon. Get her, and make her talk.”

V-mon evolved to XV-mon and flew in her direction, only to be stopped by a laser coming from somewhere. Then, a shadow appeared in front of them, a humanoid digimon with long hair and a peculiar armor filled with eyes.

“What, who are you?!” Daisuke shouted, and XV-mon stopped in front of his partner.

“Me? I’m your nightmare” the mysterious digimon said, smoothly.

“I’ve beaten many nightmares like you before!!” and then the creepy digimon moved quickly, standing behind Daisuke.

“You’re serious, yet I can feel you’re afraid…”

“I’m n-not!”

“You’re afraid of being the cause of someone’s pain. You’re regretting not listening to someone’s advice.”

“I’m not!!” and he covered his ears, to not hear it.

“You feel happy and satisfied right now, but then why is there some doubt in your heart? Aren’t you happy?”

“STOP!” he shouted, and XV-mon tried to hit the armored digimon but the opponent was too fast and hit his digimon in the stomach.

“Is it because of putting them in danger at least once ?”

“I don’t believe you!” Daisuke kept shouting, he was trying his best to not listen to that enemy.

“L-leave Daisuke alone!” XV-mon roared, and tried to hit him again. But this digimon was too fast for his eyes, and got a kick in the gut “GAH!”

“Remember, Daisuke-kun. You put their lives in danger! And you’re putting them in danger again.”

Sadly I let him in. My heart sank and I felt empty inside. I have no idea what happened in the past to have caused me pain, or how I let him invade my heart… All I know is... I had this memory of something bad falling upon us before. Was it the Deltamon case or BlackWarGreymon? I can’t say…

“I’m… I’m sorry, okay? I thought I wasn’t risking anyone’s lives that time! I’m a fool!”

“Daisuke!! Don’t listen to hi-- UGH!” Every attempt to reach Daisuke out was interrupted by that digimon. While Ranamon was cheering in the background.

“Hoho, you think you can talk to your boy?” Ranamon said with a mocked tone, “Master Duskmon is known to invade the opponent’s mind and cause them pain.”

“Good.” Duskmon said, “Repent yourself. Your friends are already hurt, it’s your fault.”

“I’m…. I’m sorry!!”

“Daisuke, don’t--”

Suddenly, XV-mon and I saw Lekismon carrying Wallace in her arms. Then I heard something about the ‘heir of the Crest of Destiny’ and moments later…

“Well, we don’t need you to mess with our plans. Now, you will be…”

XV-mon managed to attack him, so Duskmon stepped back. I was still feeling dizzy and to be honest I don’t know how to say what happened next.

“Farewell. GEIST ABEND. ”

Then, we got hit by lasers fired from that spooky armor. But… Something happened and I can’t remember… A flash very quickly came and teleported us from a white space for a few seconds. I lost my goggles in the meantime, but when we returned…

… They all had disappeared already.

“What was that?” V-mon asked, he had devolved to child level in that short time “Daisuke, are you okay?!”

“Ugh… I’m… Uh, w-where’s that dude!?” Daisuke looked around, and then grabbed his goggles from the ground, which were left in the same place as well “I… V-mon I think I committed another mistake.”

“... ‘Another’? Daisuke, this is just one mistake, no one is hurt! You’re fine! Don’t worry!”

“They, they will come after them! It’s my fault!”

“You were brainwashed!?” V-mon said, “Everyone’s fine! Please calm down!”

“I did something terrible in the past! I… I should’ve been--”

“Daisuke!” V-mon yelled “No one is hurt! Easy, easy!”

“... I’m alive but they might think I’m dead…” I sat on the grass and kept having that emptiness inside my heart “They will tell everyone we’re dead and they will…”

“Stop right there!” V-mon yelled and stared at me, “We’re alive, and they know it! Now look at me, right in the eyes! This wasn’t real, you did not commit any mistake!”

“I… You’re right! I didn’t! But… They were attacked by my fault. So maybe we can… keep away from them, for a while.”

“W-what!?”

“... If Duskmon thinks I’m dead, then let it be! I will become another person! Or, another digimon! And fight against him and his servants for the sake of everyone!”

“You’re talking nonsense…”

“V-mon! Lend me your power, please! I want to do what’s right! I want… I want to fix my mistakes. I will do this, and then, when everyone’s gathered… We will take that creep down!”

I know, it was a bad idea but… Yeah, this is how I became Lightnimon in the first place.

“So you’re still under the effects of that spell?” Miyako frowned.

“Now I understand why Daisuke-kun was acting weird when he and V-mon found me” Mimi mused, “It wasn’t something he would do…”

“What’s that mistake you’re talking about!?” Takeru snapped, “You never hurt us, or put us in danger! That digimon, Duskmon, will pay for messing with your mind.”

“Takeru please no” Daisuke pleaded, “Maybe I’m still under those fabricated memories, or misremembering what happened before, but I don’t want to put you at risk!”

“... It’s okay” Ken interrupted everyone’s rambles, “Daisuke’s still under some spell and that’s why he feels like this. But why would you let it affect you? I doubt you're this weak to fall for this. You weren't affected by BelialVamdemon’s illusions before.”

“... I don’t know why, but… That day I was thinking how lucky I am to have you guys and suddenly I feared losing you all. I don’t overthink, but this time and with all those attacks happening to us… I’m sorry, I was weak.”

“Everyone fears losing someone important to you,” Iori said quietly, “Don’t be too harsh on yourself.”

“Yes,” Takeru and Ken agreed with a nod.

Mimi, Miyako and Hikari were in silence, until…

“That’s okay. Wallace also feels bad for losing Chocomon. But you all taught him to move on and have faith that one day Chocomon would come back.”

Gummymon broke the silence. They all looked at him, who was on Mimi’s lap.

“Gummymon’s right” Hawkmon said, “We’re not mad for you showing a bit of weakness, Daisuke-san. It could’ve happened to any of us I guess.”

“Right, but you’re back to us and we’re here to support you” Wormmon added with a nod, “and we’re the best form of making you remember what actually happened before.”

“We all were together on this, dagya. We’re your friends, we laugh when you’re happy and we cry if you’re sad.”

“Don’t worry about this, okay?” Patamon smiled, “We’re strong, so you don’t need to worry about us!”

“And you can count on us to help you anytime!” Palmon said, “I’m really thankful you helped Mimi, and even let us help you during this time.”

“Now that we know what was going on with you, we can find a way to help better” Tailmon finished.

“Y-you guys…” Daisuke was teary-eyed after hearing those words “Thank you.”

“And since Lekismon is our ally, we could plan how to save Wallace” V-mon looked at Daisuke, “But together.”

“How do we break the spell on Daisuke-kun?” Hikari asked, “While you think you’re weak, you have some resistance to it. I mean, you’re here instead of pretending to be a digimon…”

“You… You’re right…”

“Somehow, I think it’s partially broken,” Ken explained, “Hikari-san’s right about it, and it’s because deep down you trust us and then noticed this is an illogical fear.”

“... Alright, so… maybe if I tell y’all anything I believe to have happened you will debunk said events, right?”

“Bingo.” Miyako replied.

“So… Uhh… Deltamon case?”

“That was my fault, not yours,” Ken laughed nervously. Then said shamesly, “S-sorry.”

“Yeah, Ichijouji-san set us a trap” Iori recalled, “We all decided to go together. We got captured because we were caught off guard, not because of your decisions. And besides, we escaped in time and unmasked Ichijouji-san’s farce.”

“Oh right…” Daisuke nodded, “Then… BlackWarGreymon battles?”

“None of your fault as well” Takeru responded, “We were losing because we weren’t able to stop him, not because of your actions. Besides, it was your idea of moving the last Holy Stone to a safer place with our digivices that made Qinglongmon appear and stop his rampage.”

“Now I remember that… Um… February 2003? I remember I did something stupid…”

“Not your fault at all” V-mon said, “Pukumon and Boltmon were causing trouble, and the Daisuke Kaiser case was caused by Gomamon. And No one got hurt at all! It was thanks to you that we saved the day!”

“Hmm… March 2003?”

“That was my fault actually” Miyako sighed, “You only asked to open the gate for you and Ken-kun, but I messed this up and opened a ton of them. But… You quickly came with a backup plan and we managed to take control over the situation. Imperialdramon in a white armor wielding a sword saved everyone with theirs’ hopes fueled by your stubbornness.”

“Oh that’s right…!! And… Summer from that year?”

“Natchan wasn’t your fault at all” Gummymon raised his ear like a hand, “She was looking for a partner, thought you could be hers… But she couldn’t be yours. You calmed her down and we spent the rest of the day searching for a person to become her partner.”

“Yeah, I’m remembering now… Anything else?”

“Nothing that was your fault,” Hikari replied.

“Nothing?”

“Yeah, nothing of your concern” Takeru smiled.

“I see…”

“Actually I let you carry all my Christmas shopping” Ken laughed again, then he looked down, “I’m sorry…”

“See, none of those were your fault!” V-mon said with a smile, “So are you free from those doubts now?”

“I… I feel better…” his eyes, which were kinda dead until now, started to have highlights again. He smiled back at them all “Thank you everyone. I’m sorry for not letting you know what actually happened… And letting those thoughts corrupt me.”

“But one more question,” Ken stroked his chin, “Why would they capture this Wallace person?”

“Beats me” Daisuke shrugged, “Maybe because of some special power? I don’t understand what they meant at all...”

“... Take me to that castle” and Ken’s words made everyone stare at him in shock.

“W-what!?” Daisuke blinked, “You mean, you and me… Alone!?”

“That’s not good...” Gummymon said calmly.

“Listen, I’m Daisuke’s jogress partner and if we’re together we can use Imperialdramon. Which means we have more chances to get out quickly than dragging everyone with.”

“Ken-kun’s right,” Miyako said with a serious tone, “And I trust him and Daisuke. The rest of us could stay around and prevent the enemies from leaving the area to conquer the Digital World.”

“That’s a plan” Tailmon nodded, “We all agree with this, right?”

“Right!” the rest said.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Release Of The Thunderstorm Friendship

[AO3 version]

Suammary:

Daisuke and V-mon decide what to do regarding the new enemies, but they find themselves having to fight alone against one of the bad guy's troops. During the fight, something interesting happens...! Also Mimi and Gummymon (in Terriermon form) are there, but unconscious!?

[Notes: Takes place in 2008; This was the first drabble I wrote about the Digimental Weapons' awakenings]

After Daisuke deciding to work as some kind of digimon, V-mon had no idea how to make this work. He and Daisuke were sitting in the same place they had that battle with the mysterious eyed armored digimon, studying their options. V-mon wasn’t sure why, but Daisuke’s eyes were different from the usual: they seemed lifeless somehow.

“I can’t believe we’re doing it...” V-mon sighed.

“Less talk, teach me how to act like a digimon!” Daisuke snapped, his pouty face made him feel like a bratty kid all over again “I can’t pretend to be another human! We don’t know how many Chosen Children can come here freely like us…”

“That’s a good point” V-mon blinked.

“So… What can I do to act like one??”

“That will be hard…” the dragon-like digimon frowned, he had no idea what to do, “Daisuke, you’re a human and have no superpowers. You can’t fight either.”

“I know I know! I don’t think soccer skills are enough. Teach me how to fight then?”

“You know that’s dangerous, right?! A digimon is way stronger than your human strength! You could be killed!”

“Hmmm… What if I get something to use? Like a sword and a shield…”

“Can you wield those?”

“...”

“...”

“Nope!” he shrugged and V-mon lost his balance and almost fell on the ground.

“Then how can you come up with those ideas!?” V-mon growled.

“I’m trying to make it work! I’m not good at thinking okay?!” and he crossed his arms.

“Right… You can’t use superpowers, and fighting with your own strength is a bad idea…”

They were thinking until… something was heard from the horizon, a huge explosion and some screams.

“Oh-uh, something’s off” Daisuke got up from the ground, “Let’s go.”

“W-wait, won’t you going there ruin this plan?? We're still trying to make it work!!”

“The Digital World gave me this new outfit” he mused, “Um, maybe I can… Oh I know what to do!!”

A village in the hills of that region was under attack. A ton of digimon were running away from an army of rubber-suit digimon -- Troopmon. Palmon had been passing by hours before the invasion to grab some fresh fruits and herbs for a new tea mix she would like to give Mimi as a gift, and now she’s trying to help the villagers to get shelter.

“If I could send an S.O.S. to Mimi and the others…” she muttered, but then saw a Cyberdramon commanding the invaders, “I need to find a way to reach a gate and call Mimi--”

Another explosion happened. Palmon protected the baby digimon she had just rescued, but none of them got hurt. Suddenly, she saw Fladramon standing in front of the enemies.

“Fladramon?” she whispered, “Then, this means Daisuke’s here?”

Fladramon wasn’t a good option for this, because it could cause mass damage by setting the entire village on fire, but somehow there must be a plan right!? Palmon then noticed a smaller creature covered by a cape and hood protecting other villagers, and assumed this could be Daisuke.

But… Why would he be hiding his face? She didn’t know…

“Stop attacking this place!!” Fladramon roared, “Or else…!!”

“Or else what?” Cyberdramon laughed, “You will destroy us? You cannot beat all of us!!”

“Oh I can…” then the armored digimon smirked, and managed to hit and destroy a few Troopmon surrounding him. And then kept attacking, moderately.

Palmon thought it was a good hour for them to leave, but their way got blocked by a Troopmon. She was ready to fight when the mysterious hooded person-or-digimon hit the Troopmon with a brick on its back. Troopmon fainted and collapsed in front of them.

“Are you okay?” The incognito creature had a familiar voice at least. But really, she was clueless, “Hurry, get out of here!”

There was something resembling goggles in the hooded creature’s face. Without asking, Palmon and the baby digimon left quickly. But all she could think was: Why are you wearing a hood!? Something happened??

Fladramon kept attacking and attacking, until it only had a few numbers of Troopmon.

“I guess you’re not bad…” Cyberdramon clapped his hands, “But you’re exhausted, you won’t last another assault heheh.”

True, Fladramon was panting a bit. But his priority was to keep them busy while his partner-in-crime could get every villager out of there. So Fladramon was buying him time.

“Hurry up…” the armored dragon murmured, and proceeded to attack.

“I guess that was the last one” the hooded figure said, and then looked around to make sure he didn’t miss any innocent digimon “Now I have to pick up Fladramon and get out of here quickly…”

But he heard Fladramon’s scream, and he froze. Oh no, did he reach his limit!? And ran back to the scene. Fladramon had beaten all the Troopmon army and now was facing Cyberdramon’s power, with no chance of winning.

“You’re not strong, newbie” Cyberdramon had grabbed Fladramon by his neck, and lifted him from the ground, “For an Ancient Species, you’re no match--”

“Leave him alone!”

And the hooded person-or-digimon attacked Cyberdramon with anything he could find! Bricks, books, wood, metal… All he could throw at the enemy. It was… Pathetic.

“Oh, you got a small friend?” Cyberdramon chuckled, “Well, I will end you first and then send your ant-friend to their grave next to yours.”

“I… I won’t let you do that!” Fladramon and the mysterious critter said together, which caused the activation of Fladramon’s upgraded form -- BurningFladramon. The Burning Wings sprouted from his back and burnt Cyberdramon’s hand, freeing him.

But… something else happened: The D-3 beeped, and he took it from his pocket. A light came right from the screen and the Digimental of Friendship popped out… But its form mutated to something like a spear, and floated in front of him. With no idea what to do, he grabbed it and threw it at Cyberdramon, who got hit in his other arm. That spear-like didn’t inflict much damage, but once the enemy tried to remove it, it caused him to be paralized by the sparks it released.

BurningFladramon took the opportunity and…

“Knuckle Heat!!”

… He destroyed Cyberdramon with his fire blast. The boy blinked,

“Oh shoot, you destroyed the Digimental of Friendship which turned into that spe-- Huh?!”

Magically, the spear-like weapon appeared in his hand. BurningFladramon devolved back to V-mon and approached him.

“What’s this thing?” They said it together, but Daisuke was a bit frightened.

The villagers returned to their town, and thanked the mysterious duo. Palmon tilted her head, seriously why is Daisuke hiding his face!? Then, the D-3 beeped.

Palmon suddenly sensed Mimi’s presence nearby, and she, Daisuke and V-mon ran in the same direction, but still without talking with each other.

“Mimi(-san)!!” they exclaimed once they found her unconscious and…

“G-Gummymon!?” Daisuke & V-mon raised an eyebrow the moment they saw Gummymon (in Terriermon form) next to her, also unconscious.

The boys and Palmon gently woke them up, who were kinda dizzy but not hurt. Mimi also felt weird about Daisuke dressing up like that, but she couldn’t waste her time with questions…

“We need to call the others” she said a bit drowsed, “Wallace--”

“Huh, what’s wrong?” Palmon asked, “Mimi--”

“-- He got captured by a digimon…!”

“... O-oh,” Daisuke had a quick realization “I remember seeing him in the arms of a rabbit-or-whatever-was-that-digimon hours ago…”  

“Did you see where they go…?” Gummymon was also half-sleepy.

“N-no… sadly” the goggle boy, frowned.

“What happened?” Palmon asked.

Palmon guided them to a big tree which was turned into a house inside, where she was living currently, and made them a sweet warm tea for all. Thanks to the tea, Mimi and Gummymon woke up completely from their sleepiness.

Then, Mimi started to explain:

“I was hanging out with Wallace and suddenly a gate opened in front of us. From there, a pink digimon came out and fought Gummymon, but he couldn’t evolve. It was too quickly and he got hit by something and fell asleep. He got carried back to the gate, but Gummymon and I went after them before it closed.”

“Then… the digimon threw the same thing at us,” Gummymon added, scratching his cheek with his ear, “and we passed out too.”

“Ah, that explains what happened and why we saw Wallace in the enemy’s arms” V-mon commented, “But why do they want him?”

“Hmm…” Daisuke stroked his chin, “I remember Ranamon wanted to prevent me from using some power… Maybe… It’s something powerful too?”

“Something powerful?” Mimi, Palmon and Gummymon repeated.

“I have no idea what it is, s-sorry…” and he said disappointedly.

“Well, what intrigues me now is where did you get that spear-thing” V-mon looked at the weapon in Daisuke’s hand which he had been wielding since he got it.

“It’s… It’s the Digimental of Friendship” he said, examining it more carefully now, “It suddenly appeared in front of me and took this form.”

“Huh, strange” they all exclaimed.

“But… Maybe this is the answer for my plan!”

“What plan?” Mimi asked, “Also, why are you here too?”

“Long story… A digimon enemy captured Hikari-chan and Miyako, forced me to come here and her boss appeared, fought us and… We… Died?”

“You don’t seem dead to me” Gummymon blinked slowly.

“Something or someone saved us” V-mon explained, “We don’t know how we survived too.”

“But what’s this plan?” Palmon asked, and took a sip of her tea.

“Uhh… Since they might think I’m dead” Daisuke said, “I decided to pretend to be a digimon to fight them!”

“But isn’t it too dangerous?” Mimi and Palmon said, giving a concerned gaze at the boy.

“It is...” Gummymon sighed.

“I know, but…” Daisuke showed the weapon, “I think the Digimental of Friendship wants me to take action and help somehow. It kinda paralyzed big buff dragon and let BurningFladramon have a chance of beating him.”

“The big buff dragon was called Cyberdramon” V-mon said, “But maybe if you learn to use it you could do something.”

“I just need a name and a disguise now!”

“Daisuke-kun, you’re acting weird… No offense…”

“He's been like that since an eyed armored digimon fought us...” V-mon whispered to Mimi, Palmon and Gummymon.

“Weird or not, I have no other choice!” he responded, “They were attacking us, they hurt our friends to hit me indirectly! I can’t… let them keep doing it! So, I will fight by myself and stop them!”

“I think you should call the others instead of doing something risky like that” Gummymon commented.

“Don’t worry, I will bring everyone here! They will help, but… I can’t stay with them, it will hurt them more!”

“I think--” And Mimi saw V-mon discreetly shaking his head and waving his hands, muttering something like ‘No, don’t argue with him.’ -- “I think we can help you with that.”

“Can you?!” Daisuke smiled, “Thank you Mimi-san! Please don’t let those meanies make them think I’m dead. Just let them know I’m missing but fine.”

“We will do our best!” Palmon nodded.

“Then, which kind of digimon would you be?” Gummymon asked, “Can you do that...?”

“Yes, I can get something with my D-3!” Daisuke rested the spear-like on the corner and showed his digivice “Koushiro-san once theorized that the clothes we get in the Digital World are based on our deepest desires. And if I deeply wish to get a different outfit, I can change it.”

“Oh, that’s right!” Mimi said, and then looked at the clothes Daisuke was wearing, “Those had changed from the stylish outfit you had six years ago.”

“Cool huh!?” he chuckled, “So… All I have to do is… think about something Digimon-like in appearance!”

“Change to something like an armor,” V-mon said, “If you’re about to fight with me, you need something resistant enough to protect you from getting hurt.”

“Oh! Like Knightmon’s?”

“But if you’re going to use that spear” Gummymon pointed at it with his ear, “You can’t be like a Knightmon.”

“Hmm, you’re right. It kinda looks like Lighdramon so… A Lighdramon-like armor?”

He grabbed the digivice with his two hands, and closed his eyes to concentrate. If he managed to change his outfit drastically and also to give him a cape, maybe he could get this Lighdramon-like armor too.

Magically, bits of data managed to change his clothes to a black armor with Lighdramon’s details. However, something happened in the meantime and its colors were not like a legit Lighdramon palette. Was it intentional or what? A bug?

“Scary...” Gummymon commented, impressed.

“H-Huh, scary??” Daisuke blinked, but since he was wearing a helmet now no one could see his face, “Oh, it worked again.”

“There’s… something off” Mimi said, “As I remember correctly, Lighdramon has yellow and red details… Like the spear.”

He looked back, at the spear “You’re right but… I can’t look exactly like a Lighdramon right…? It would be suspicious I think. Even if this is a bug or something, it might work better.”

“So you’re like… a Human variant of Lighdramon now” V-mon added.

“If I’m like a Lighdramon but not a dragon… Maybe I should be a… KnightThundermon.”

“That name is too bad!” V-mon snorted, “You can’t go looking like me and have an awful name!”

“How about following the same logic?” Mimi suggested, “If Lighdramon’s name comes from ‘Lightning’, then ‘Lightnimon’ should be a better choice.”

“Ooh, I like that!” both V-mon and Daisuke said together, in sync.

“Then… From now on I’m Lightnimon” Daisuke said, “And I’d like you guys to keep it a secret. If I’m wearing this armor, don’t call me by my real name.”

“Okay, Lightni-kun~~” Mimi giggled.

“L-Lightni-kun...!?”

“You said to call you not by your name when you’re disguised” V-mon rolled his eyes.

“A-ah, right... Um, we need to call everyone now. I can’t handle it all alone...”

“I will send them a message” Mimi took her baby pink flip-phone from her purse and started to type a text message.

“Good! V-mon and I will check if any other place is in danger. I will message you from my D-terminal or phone, either of them will work.”

“Okay” Palmon replied with a nod.

“Then, we’re off!” and he turned back to the weapon, “Uh, how will I carry this--” And the Lighdra-Glaive magically went back to this digivice, “H-huh…!? Well, at least this makes it easier to keep it stored somewhere…”

“First, we should learn how to use it” V-mon said, “So maybe we could train a bit outside…”

“Yeah, I guess… If I don’t know how to use it, that might be bad.”

And they went outside.

“Mimi,” Palmon called her, with a concerned look, “Do you think this is a good idea?”

“Um, no but V-mon is with him right? Maybe we can help them for a while…”

And she finished typing her message, sending it immediately to the 02 group and Koushiro’s email inboxes.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Knight and the Warrior of Water

[AO3 version]

Summary:

Full of doubts about Lightnimon, Miyako finally gets the proof that he wasn't their enemy since day one, the tradeoff is that she has to face Ranamon in order to prevent Daisuke from getting caught.

[note: It's 2008; this is a re-write of one of my favorite parts of the original project]

That reveal didn’t help Miyako to not judge the mysterious Lightnimon, despite Daisuke having explained what he was doing and how much he hated to work all alone, and be forced to be someone he wasn’t… She had her pet peeves about it.

Starting with how she can’t see his face, she couldn't know what he was thinking. Second, she wasn’t totally sure if she could believe he was being honest -- Is he Daisuke or not? It could be a digimon pretending to be him after all! Like, if Bakemon can be shapeshifters… What are the odds of existing more digimon with the same ability?

The only nail in that panicked theory was that he got a D-3 and V-mon can evolve with it. Unless V-mon is able to evolve without his help…

She was troubled. Many thoughts in her head and while everyone was going with it, she couldn’t. His agreement with Takeru’s plan sounded like what he wanted them to do. Was he manipulating them? And Mimi, Palmon and Gummymon? Is that V-mon really Daisuke’s digimon though?

“You feel a bit upset” Hawkmon noticed her staying very distant from the group.

“A-am I? No, I’m just trying to… process the information we got recently.”

“Is it because of Daisuke-san?”

“Yeah…” she looked at the group, Daisuke and V-mon weren’t with them that time, “Do you think he… He is really Daisuke, Hawkmon?”

“I’m sure he is.”

“What if he’s an enemy digimon pretending to be him? Like for real, not like Takeru-kun’s plan.”

 “Why do you think so?”

“... He said cruel things to us, sent digimon troops to stop us and eliminate us…”

“I remember he mentioned those were needed to keep the enemy thinking he was on their side.”

“Still… Why didn’t he tell us before!? I’m completely… I was shocked when Frostmon told us he was dead, and then… He was just playing hide and seek with us…”

Hawkmon frowned, but he understood Miyako’s feelings. She was mad and confused, and he couldn’t do anything but try to ease that pain.

“I’m sure he’s still Daisuke-san inside” Hawkmon said, “And you have your own reasons to be mad about his behavior, but… Give him a chance to redeem for those actions.”

“I will try… Thanks for understanding me, Hawkmon” and then Miyako smiled. But said smile turned into a frown when she heard the sound of drops of water. Hawkmon stared at the sound’s direction expecting to fight right now.

“Miyako-san” Hawkmon muttered, she got up slowly and gestured to him to run. He nodded and once she counted to three with her hand, she and him dashed through the field, trying to reach the group and alert them, but a huge wave burst from the woods and suddenly came after them.

They had no other option but to run in the opposite direction, getting far and far away from the group’s camp.

“Can you evolve!?” Miyako yelled at Hawkmon, who was flying next to her at full speed.

“I don’t think we can battle a big wave coming after us!”

“To escape quick--” a shadow jumped in their direction and grabbed them, heading to the trees.

“Huh?!” Hawkmon blinked, seeing the shadow was actually BurningFladramon.

“ You !?” Miyako babbled, and she looked at someone else on the armored digimon’s shoulder “What are you doing here!?”

“Shh, keep quiet” Lightnimon (Daisuke) said, and then glanced to the ground, “Strange Ranamon coming after you… What must be her plans?”

“Do you think I know!? Ugh, I can handle this alone, put us down!”

“What’s with that sudden mood?” he squinted his eyes.

“I don’t care, you masked-mon, we can handle this alone!”

“She’s… In a bad mood, sorry” Hawkmon frowned.

“Seriously… What have I done now? I’m not with Ranam--”

A fist made of waves hit them all and shove them back to the ground. BurningFladramon managed to hold himself, but was unable to catch Lightnimon, Miyako and Hawkmon.

“What was that!?” Miyako growled, “I’m soaked!!”

“Only you!?” he whined, “Ugh, where did that come from…”

“Stop playing around and SHOW UP!” she yelled, and it echoed in the area.

Ranamon appeared in the horizon, from a lake localized in the field.

“So… You two are together” she laughed, “Well done, Lightni-chan”

“Lightni-chan…?” Miyako glanced at him unamused, Hawkmon too but in silence.

“W-what are you looking at me like that!?”

“I knew it, you’re working for them…” Miyako got up once again and grabbed her D-3, “Hawkmon, let’s deal with her first.”

“Wait… ‘First’?!” Lightnimon babbled, then… “No, you stay out of this. This my job”

“Your job was to get her,” Ranamon said calmly until her tone of voice got bitter, “But now you’re on my way!? I knew it… You were working for them!”

“Wha-what!?” Miyako babbled “How can he be working for us, if all he did was threaten us and send your troops against us!?”

“What? Don’t you think I didn’t notice that Frost-chan suddenly disappeared after you ambushed her!?”

“You… you did something cruel, like killing a comrade...?”

“Wow, you two are simply accusing me of being a double agent!?” Lightmon was wavering, “I already told you, we have the same goals but we’re not allies…”

“Quit lying!” both Ranamon and Miyako yelled.

“Okay… I think I can keep lying… If you’re dead.”

Miyako gulped, was he saying that to her or...

“Miyako-san!” Hawkmon stood in front of her, “I won’t let him harm you!”

“You dummy…” Lightnimon said, “I was talking to…” and he summoned the Lighdra-Glaive, and threw it against Ranamon.

Ranamon dodged, by diving into the lake.

“Heh, the fish girl thinks you can hide in the depths of a lake?”

And he ran towards the lake, summoning his weapon again.

“... He was after Ranamon?” Miyako whispered, still petrified. For a moment she expected him to murder her first, since she was too close from him and unharmed. Hawkmon wouldn’t be able to evolve that fast and prevent it.

She was in total denial now, she never saw her life pass through her eyes like now. She kept doubting him being Daisuke though, he wasn’t not like him and was scary.

“Miyako-san?” Hawkmon called her, “We should leave before something bad happens.”

Ranamon was too busy with that humanoid 'digimon' which apparently had no special attacks other than a weapon in hands. BurningFladramon couldn’t help though, he only worked in the shadows or with a cloak hiding his body and face.

“Miyako, Hawkmon” But the digimon could at least talk with them, “You have to protect him for me.”

“Huh!?” Miyako looked at the big armored digimon, “What do you mean?”

“... I’m not sure what you’re thinking about him but… He was aware Ranamon would come after you and tried to negotiate with her. But she’s not dumb and naive as Frostmon, so this probably was a trap and he’s in real danger now.”

“Is he…?” a glance to the background and Hawkmon (and Miyako) could notice Lightnimon was struggling to deal with Ranamon, despite him having some ‘advantage’ by her being water and 'him' lightning, “Miyako-san… We need to fight.”

“I got it” She nodded, “Love Digimental Up!”

Hawkmon armor evolved to Horusmon and he flew directly at Ranamon, using Red Sun on her. She dodged in the first moment, while Lightnimon jumped back to avoid being caught.

“Ugh, Two against one now!?” Ranamon complained, “Unfair!”

“I thought you wouldn’t help me,” Lightnimon commented, panting a bit “She’s quick… And tough, be careful.”

“Roger.”

“Hmph, This is really unfair” she said with a pout “If you’re going to get an ally… I will make this battle the last one of your lives!”

She jumped back to the lake, and it started to glow. What did she mean by what?

“I have a bad feeling about this…” Lightnimon slipped back to his Daisuke-nesses.

From the water, a half-human half-beast creature came from it. Calamaramon had a woman's upper body, but her bottom was a giant squid upside down. 

“I don’t use this form that much, but it might be enough to crush you and this traitor.”

“Traitor…?” Lightnimon repeated, then laughed “You really thought I was your ally?”

“Huh!?”

“I’m sorry, I’m not your ally but… Their friend . ”

“ Our friend…” Miyako mused, “Wait, so it was true… But he’s… He’s not that cruel…”

(“What…? Their friend, don’t tell me--!!” “Hehe, you were right when you said I was working with them, Now… You’re going down!”)

“If he’s indeed him, why… Why is he doing this? I refuse to believe he would play with us like that…”

“Miyako,” BurningFladramon spoke, “He never toyed with anyone.”

“But how!? He was threatening us, and working with the enemy--”

“We were sabotaging them, and protecting the innocent digimon affected by this crisis. Do you really think he would be doing those for fun?!”

“N-no… I…” Actually, he was somehow helping us and the weak digimon… -- She thought, watching both Horusmon and him fighting Calamaramon.

“Then, why are you mad…? Have you really thought he was gone forever?”

“I…”

“This might be a good hour to evolve--” Lightni and Horusmon were dodging Calamaramon’s tentacles “Horusmon to-- Fauermon right now!!”

“Stop moving you insects!”

“I can-- Try to stop her with Udjat Gaze--!!”

“No, focus on the offensive attack!! If I manage to get a good time to aim…”

“Hahahaha, I won’t let you hit me with that spear!” Calamaramon said, “Nero Corso!”

“Watch out!!” Horusmon grabbed Lightnimon with his bird talons and flew away from the acidic ink spitted by Calamaramon.

“T-that was close…!!” his voice got a familiar high pitch, “Thank you, Horusmon.”

“Hm? That voice…” the squid woman raised an eyebrow.

“Shoot…!” He covered his helmet’s mouth with his hands.

“I see, I recognize that voice now… Everything makes sense, especially why you got rid of Frost-chan!”

“You know they’re more people and digimon who speak like me in this entire world right?”

“He got rid of Frostmon?!” Miyako exclaimed.

“No, Frostmon was spared, just returned to Child form and flew away” BurningFladramon explained to her, “Lightnimon is not cold hearted as he tries to be”

“No, I’m sure you’re him! The Chosen Child who should’ve been dead!”

“Now Horusmon!”

“Red Sun!” The red laser from his eyes hit the enemy, who fell on the lake.

“Did we get her?” Daisuke asked rhetorically… Only a tentacle hit Horusmon suddenly  and then another grab him “Guh!”

“Ack!”

“Horusmon!! D--Lightnimon!” Miyako screamed in panic.

“Ghn… Le-let me go…!”

“No no, I will take revenge for her and finish you off since master Duskmon couldn’t”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I’m so tired of this!” Miyako screamed and then ran towards Calamaramon, welding the Shuri-Shuriken, “Let! Him! Go!” and threw it at the enemy, cutting the tentacle holding Lightni. He immediately fell on water and got freed from the cut tentacle minutes later.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH, WHY DID YOU DO THAAAAAAAAT!?” Calamaramon screamed in pain. Lightnimon jumped out of the lake.

“Lightnimon are you okay?” Miyako ran to him.

“What the heck was that idea of using the Shuriken against her!? What if you had hit me instead!?”

“Hey, you’re complaining about saving you!? I--”

“... Thank you. I like how you finally did not hesitate.”

“?!”

“Now evolve Horusmon and finish her off!”

She nodded, and then pointed the digivice at Horusmon, activating the upgraded armor evolution for Fauermon - a bird man version of Horusmon, with the motif based on the Egyptian god Horus.

Fauwermon held his rod and released a laser from an orb which appeared on the top of it.

“Red Sunburst!”

The attack was much more powerful than Horusmon’s technique. Lightnimon finished by throwing the Lighdra-Glaive, with its electric effect activated, on the lake, electrocuting and stunting Calamaramon.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH AH---” and she fainted on the lake. 

“Miyako,” Daisuke called her normally, “use your D-3 to revert her to a Digiegg stage.”

“H-Huh, why?”

“If she wakes up and escapes, she will tell that creepy digimon that I’m alive.”

“Ah, so she can hatch and be reborn right?”

He nodded. Then, Miyako pointed her digivice at the fainted floating Calamaramon and pressed a button. A light came from her D-3 and hit the enemy until she became a digiegg floating on the lake. The egg floated till the edges of the lake, in which Daisuke took it from the water.

“I’m sorry for doing this to you, but we had no choice” he gave the egg a little soft pat on its shell.

“You’re indeed him,” Miyako muttered.

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry--”

“... It’s okay, I don’t like it either.”

“No, I’m sorry for doubting you!”

“This isn’t a safe place to say things, but… Sorry for what I’ve done to you.”

“I thought you had gone forever…”

“Pfft hahaha! I’m not going to go anywhere, I’ve always been on y’all side. Even if I was hidden.”

“Don’t laugh about it! Ken-kun thought you had gone completely insane now!”

“Ah I see… So you and him thought that… Hm…”

He sighed, “Maybe I went a little off the rails, so I take it. I did wrong things, but I can't sit and whine about making bad decisions.”

“So you’re still the same… I’m glad.”

“Maybe you should go back now, if you stay here for much longer they might discover it.”

“Oh okay....”

Silence.

“So, where will you go now?” and she broke it after a few seconds.

“I need to take this egg to Frostmon so Ranamon could get company when she hatches.”

“Okay… See you soon?”

“See ya soon.”

[ladyofthecastleproject]

[Extra chapter] Buddymon's Longest Night

[AO3 version]

This is a small story about Buddymon, and why he couldn’t turn his back on Lightnimon.

※ This was written to celebrate Buddymon's 2nd birthday, on this day (Sept 22)

※ This takes place between “The Awakening of the Hurricane Sincerity” and “The Rise of the Whirlpool Reliability”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Once they left that village, the duo walked through the depths of the forest a little more freely. Looking for a safe spot, Buddymon (V-mon) and Lightnimon (Daisuke) stopped and set a camping tent there. Where did they get those things…? The power of the digivice and deepest desires, after all!

“... Why did you call me that?” V-mon asked, removing the hood from his head, “Why would you give me another name?”

Daisuke also removed the helmet, but didn’t look at V-mon. His eyes were glancing at that mask in his hands. If he were sane, he wouldn’t ever do something like this… But he was under a spell. V-mon knew it by how Daisuke’s eyes looked cold and lifeless -- Like Ken's eyes as the Kaiser. However, it didn’t feel like Daisuke was turning into a menace to the Digital World and the digimon… Which means V-mon wasn’t totally afraid of doing certain favors at the moment.

“Dai-- I mean, Lightnimon?”

Daisuke looked at him and frowned, “S-sorry, I had to think about something that couldn’t make anyone use you against me.”

“Huh?”

“Y’know everyone knows I have a V-mon as a partner, and we never saw another V-mon for ages… I’m not sayin’ you’re the last of your kind, I’m saying… I don’t want either of us to be discovered.”

“So that’s why you called me ‘Buddymon’ in front of those villagers?” V-mon tilted his head.

“Yeah… Like, wouldn’t it be too risky for you and Lightnimon to be together? So I said that. You get your own secret identity, we get saved from getting discovered.”

“Hmm… Yeah, if I was around Lightnimon they would notice you’re actually Daisuke…”

“And with this you get your answer.”

“But why ‘Buddymon’…?”

“Cuz you’re my bud, or do you think it’s a bad idea to call you that?”

“N-no, I… It’s not a complaint, It was like if you were back to normal for an instant…”

“Hah? ‘Normal’....?” Daisuke squinted his eyes.

“N-nevermind…!!” then V-mon whispered to himself -- Maybe not anymore…

“Anyway,” Daisuke shrugged, “We gotta get food for us, so switch back to Buddymon.”

“Right” V-mon nodded and put the hood on, “Wait you don’t plan to make me go all alone, right?”

“Nope! I’m going too,” and he got up from the ground, “It’s too dark outside so they might not see my face…”

“Wait, you’re going outside without the helmet!?”

Daisuke looked at him deadpanned, “... I can’t see very well with the helmet in the dark.”

“Then why is the purpose of using it!?” V-mon babbled, not understanding the logic of Daisuke’s words.

“I can use a bandit mask instead,” he mused, and then he used the digivice to create one and put it on, “Done!”

“That wouldn’t solve the problem if you get in a battle!! 💦”

“I don’t need to worry because you will protect me, right?” and he smiled, but V-mon felt that was different from his usual… That was not like the real Daisuke at all.

“Y-yeah, I will…!!” V-mon nodded, and they went off the tent looking for food.

V-mon wasn’t fond of the idea of hiding from everyone, and he didn’t like how Daisuke was doing. But he had no other option, he didn’t know how to snap Daisuke out of that brainwashing spell… All he had to do was to follow the script and pray that nothing would go south, no matter how tricky and dangerous it is. 

But deep down… He wanted to bring his stupid and enthusiastic human partner back.

“Is it Lightnimon right now…?” he asked the other, “So uhh, have you contacted Mimi to know how the others are doing?”

“Hmm… Not yet,” Lightni replied, shaking using the Lighdra-Glaive to reach the fruits in the trees, “We got no good news for her and Gummymon yet.”

“Are you worried about the others?” Buddymon catched the fruits and put them in a basket, “I mean… They… Are we all allies, right…?”

“You talk too much, and yet it’s always me who messes things up…!” Lightnimon pouted, he concealed the glaive and got down the tree, “They will be fine, They have each other. And I doubt they would agree with what we’re doing here.”

“So… Are we not?” Buddymon frowned, but only his eyes were visible.

“We’re… I can’t say enemies but their rivals. Besides, I work alone. You are the only exception here,” Judging by Lightni’s face… He wasn’t happy with those questions or even with his own answers. He had a pout, and when he lifted the basket, Buddymon could see his eyebrows frowning.

“Well,” Lightni said, looking at Buddymon, “Let’s go back and have a feast. We got fruits, herbs and fish,” he checked inside the basket, “Good for tonight’s dinner.”

“...”

“What is it now?” He stared at Buddymon. Somehow those lifeless eyes felt more like threatening “Don’t tell me this is sooooo important to you.”

“N-nothing, it’s nothing…!!” Buddymon babbled, shaking his hands.

They returned to the “camping site” they made. Being alone like this was making the poor digimon concerned about the future…

They cooked the food, ate and then went to sleep. But V-mon couldn’t sleep, he kept thinking if he didn’t do anything… Maybe he and the others would lose the real Daisuke. He put the hood on and went outside the tent. He looked up to the starry sky and the moon.

“How… How can I save him from himself?”

He muttered to the stars.

“It’s like if he had turned into another person, I don’t like this. I want the real goofy and idiot Daisuke back…!!”

He frowned, and then whispered to himself, “I understand how Wormmon felt now…”

“You’re awake?”

His heart skipped a heartbeat, Daisuke wasn’t asleep either.

“H-how long were you--”

“Just now,” the boy sighed, “I know what I’m doing is wrong but… We had no options left. I don’t want them to be hurt because of me.”

“Do you think you’re not hurting them now by doing this? Pretending to be…”

“I’m not dead, I’m just missing. It’s like playing hide and seek” he shrugged, “We have to find a way to not let Frostmon tell them that I’m dead or something like.”

“...”

“You… You don’t think I’m… gone, right?”

That was an odd question, it made V-mon gasp silently. Did he hear me?! -- V-mon thought.

“No, I don’t���! I didn’t mean it…!!”

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” he gave the digimon a pat on the head, his hand wasn’t cold at all…. “But I need to do this… I need to do everything differently from the usual ‘me’ for a while.”

So you really aren’t the same… --- V-mon frowned. The weird question and how Daisuke was acting kept worrying him… Until then…

“I’m not totally gone. I’m not going to turn into what Ken used to be.”

“...??”

“I’m super duper aware. But sometimes you have to do things differently, at least once. I don’t want to keep doing anything like this forever, but I have no choice. Something bothers me.”

“What do you mean?”

“I dunno, instinct? Or maybe fear… But we… Have to face it or else we can't say we’re living life to the fullest, right?”

“You’re scared?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

So… He’s doing it because he was afraid of having the enemies using the others to hit him indirectly again… -- V-mon thought. This made sense and could explain why the heck Daisuke was acting so weirdly to the point that V-mon was afraid of losing his partner forever.

“... Alright” the digimon nodded, “I’ll help you make this plan work. But until we get back to the others.”

“Thank you, V-mon” he smiled, and it felt like nothing had changed for one instance.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Mysterious Shapeshifter

[AO3 version]

Summary:

Daisuke and Iori head to a village in danger, but their enemy is... Lightnimon!? Unable to change, Daisuke has to face an enemy without revealing his secret identity... Who's this copycat and what is he planning to do?

[Note: It's 2008; Just a funny Daisuke-Iori combo action. I like this one too!! The comical tone was half inspired in the Kizuna Drama CD]

“I’m tired from that last battle, sigh” Daisuke lied on the grass, his arms behind his head. He was watched by Iori, Armadimon and V-mon who were collecting fruits for the camp.

“I know you’re tired but could you help us, Daisuke-san?”

“Yeah, please we can’t carry all of those alone, dagya”

“I’m… not sure what to do… Having a double identity this time is making me appreciate Spider-Man, Batman, Supergirl, and other superheroes…”

He got up from the ground and walked to the group, to help them get the fruits.

“Where have you been?” Iori asked out of curiosity “Don’t tell me you didn't sleep last night.”

“Yeah, you got me. I had no peace last night” and he sighed, “Ranamon and Frostmon are out, but there’s still troops and Lekismon around. Actually I didn’t sleep because I had to fight a horde of Tyrannomon all alone. I mean, V-mon helped but we couldn’t call for help.”

“I see…”

“Lightnimon works alone. V-mon can only help if hidden or covered by a cape.”

“But… won’t the cape burn, dagya?”

“...” Daisuke glanced at Armadimon for a few seconds. Then… “That’s a good question, but thankfully it never happened.”

Suddenly, some screams were heard in the distance, coming from a village. Its villagers started to run away, so some passed through the boys.

“What the…” Daisuke said, then dropped all fruits on the group to stop a panicked EbiBurgamon, “Oi, come here kiddo! What’s wrong?”

“A-ah…!! H-humans!! Um… You must be the Chosen Children… Please save our people and town! We’re under attack…!!”

“Those guys again!?” Armadimon gritted his teeth.

“N-No… It’s… Lightnimon! He’s against us now!!” and the child level digimon started to cry. Daisuke's eyes widened when he heard that name. He looked at Iori, Armadimon and V-mon with a grimace. Then, he patted the digimon’s head and smiled.

“Don’t worry, we will talk to him. Maybe he’s under a spell or being controlled by a gear or ring. We will save your home.”

The group ran to the village, but during their way…

“Daisuke-san, shouldn’t we call the others?”

“There’s no time for that,” he replied, “Someone’s pretending to be me.”

“Don’t you think this is exactly what he wants you to do? It’s a trap to lure you and unmask Lightnimon’s identity.”

“But… I promised that villager we would help them…!”

“... I think we can do something about this��� Iori mused “We’re far away from the camp right now…”

“Alright, but I can’t change here… Whatever, I will have to face the imposter as myself then.”

“Do we have a plan?” V-mon asked.

“The plan is… Not screwing up. And you know I said it to myself too.”

Once they arrived in the village, the quartet saw a very bootleg black armor digimon walking around, commanding troops made of Fangmon. Daisuke and Iori evolved their partners to XV-mon and Ankylomon to fight such troops.

“Tail Hammer!”“X Larser!”

Iori was using the Submarimon-esque Sword to attack such enemies as well, while Daisuke couldn’t do anything this time except warn the other three about the enemies coming.

“Isn’t that a good hour for you to change?” Whispered Iori.

“The villagers will be scared” Daisuke replied, “and I can’t use that weapon without changing to him”

When the last Fangmon got beaten, they proceeded to search for the fake Lightnimon. Though, it was still risky for Daisuke to take part in battles yet, especially if their enemies didn’t know he’s still alive (or was what he assumed) which could turn things a little worse.

“There it is!” Daisuke muttered to the group, and they hid behind a house “Wait, that feels like a bootleg Lightnimon… I’m offended.”

“What, you take offense to that?” V-mon said (both him and Armadimon devolve to child form) eyes squinting at Daisuke.

“I… I mean! Ken felt insulted when I copied him…”

“That’s not the time for that” Iori whispered, “We need to find a way to unmask the copycat quickly.”

“Catch’em from their back!”

“That… is a good idea, I guess...” Iori blinked twice.

“Hmm, someone managed to beat my army” they heard the ‘bootleg’ Lightnimon monologuing, and his voice wasn’t like Daisuke’s at all, “You bet it was those annoying Chosen Children.”

He wasn’t looking, and the quartet approached carefully, until…

“I GOT YOU!” and the copycat turned back, releasing from his finger a shot of dark water and forced them to dodge.

“You knew we were around, heh...” Daisuke laughed nervously.

“Huh aren’t you… the dead Chosen Child?” the enemy gasped, “So, you’re alive!?”

“I didn’t die. I was just… Stuck in some dark cave waiting to be released from that prison” he shrugged. Armadimon didn’t catch that reference, but somehow Iori and V-mon did.

“Interesting… But you think you can beat me, the grand thief, Lightnimon?!”

“We know you’re not him, cut it off” Daisuke suddenly said with an annoyed tone.

“How are you so sure, human?”

“Hmm, as we saw… Lightnimon’s appearance resembles an armor based on Lighdramon” Iori started, “And judging by this fact, his attacks should be based on Lightning.”

“Yeah, and he uses a weapon with the same motif, dagya” Armadimon shrugged.

“Right!” V-mon nodded “And he doesn’t call himself by ‘Grand Lightnimon’ but more like ‘The Warrior of Night,The Silent Knight’ by what I heard from the digimon”

“Kh!! How do you all KNOW about him?! He’s a mysterious figure! Of course I am him!”

“Then, what’s your proof?” Daisuke rolled his eyes, “If the digimon in this village had time to take a look at you, they would totally see you’re not him.”

“You brats, I will--”

“Shoot us with lightning now!?” V-mon asked, “Because yeah Lightnimon’s name comes from ‘Lightning’ which means… You’re an imposter.”

The faker was making some noises of distress until he stopped and started laughing. Louder and louder, the laughter scared the digimon duo and made the boys uncomfortable.

“You’re sly foxes” the faker finally spoke again, “You manage to know more about a myth than me. Very well, I don’t have to keep this ugly form anymore.”

And his shape deformed from a small silhouette to a man’s size. A man with water-like hair and a white suit.

“This is my real form, and I’m Splashmon, the Water-tiger Shapeshifter.”

“What should we do now?” V-mon muttered to the group, “I assume he’s a higher level than us…!”

“It’s still ‘don’t mess this up’ !!” Daisuke replied in a murmur, “We might heat things up here”

“Ok! Heating things up is my middle name!”

“... V-mon, you don’t have a middle name.”

“Are you done?” Splashmon sighed.

“No, wait a little more” and both him and Iori took their digivices from their pockets “Courage Digimental Up!”

“Knowledge Digimental Up!” 

V-mon and Armadimon amor-evolved to Fladramon and Digmon, stood in front of the kids and ready to attack. Iori summoned his Submari-Sword and got on guard, just to protect Daisuke this time.

“You can’t change yet, I believe” he muttered to Daisuke “I will be your bodyguard this time. Just once.”

“ ‘Just once’ you say… You had saved me countless times already, heh”

“I’ll not keep waiting for you to finish your chit chat!” Splashmon hissed, then ran in their direction.

“Here he comes!” Digmon alerted the group, “Gold Rush!!” and he shot his drills like missiles against Splashmon.

“This won’t scratch me!” the enemy laughed, the drills passed through his body like if they were passing through a waterfall, “I can turn my body solid and liquid as I please!”

“Uh oh…” Digmon gasped, the drills came back to him, “Now what should we do, dagya?”

“Fladramon might be useless too” Daisuke babbled, “I… We have to think quickly!”

Splashmon punched Fladramon and kicked Digmon quickly, making the hero digimon duo step back.

“Any plan??” Fladramon asked, and he dodged another kick, “hurry up!!”

“We… We are thinking!” Iori replied nervously, “Uh… Fladramon is fire, Digmon is earth… They’re not good for this battle…”

If… -- Daisuke thought -- If I could change to Lightnimon we could get some advantage since Lighdra-Glaive could stunt him, and water plus electricity is not a good match…

“Ugh…” Fladramon blocked a kick. “Argh!” But Digmon received a high pressure shot of dark water and fell on the ground.

“What? Are you that weak?? Or are you trying to buy time for the real Lightnimon to appear and save you all?”

“Darn it…!” Daisuke whispered, “I should’ve changed the moment I had a chance…!” “Hmm… What if…!! Daisuke-san, I got an idea!” “You got one!? Quick, say it!” “Right… Listen carefully”

“You’re too slow to attack, to block, to do anything!” Splashmon complained, but Fladramon shoved him away from them, “Oh…? That’s a different reaction…”

“Enough!” Fladramon growled, but Daisuke approached him, the same time Iori approached Digmon, whispering something in their ears “Oh, I got it…!!”

“What?” their enemy had no interest in what they were saying and conjured a chair made of dark water “Are you planning to entertain me this time?”

“Well you will see” Daisuke smirked.

“Big Crack!” Digmon impacted his drills on the floor and caused the ground to open under Splashmon’s feet. Once the enemy fell, Fladramon threw rocks to cover it quickly.

“Did you forget I can change from solid to liquid you silly-mons?”

“We know that” Iori said with a serious glare, “But you forgot that…”

Fladramon quickly changed its form to BurningFladramon and hit his paw on the top of the rocks burying Splashmon, “ Knuckle HEAT!!”

Splashmon’s screams were heard, and steam came from the opening. Yes, they had beaten Splashmon.

“... If you go to a liquid state, we will just need to boil you until you turn into steam.”

“As expected from Master Iori hehe~” Daisuke laughed, then, “Oh, wait a second. Point your digivice to the white mist before he disappears! And then press this button to devolve him to the Digiegg stage.”

“Huh…? O-Okay!!” And Iori pointed his D-3 to the steam, pressed the mentioned button and a flash of light shot from the screen, hitting the vapor and turning it into a Digiegg, who got caught in time by Daisuke.

“There, there you faker…” he gave it a little pat, “I think Frostmon can take care of you too…”

“Huh, Frostmon is alive?” Digmon and Iori exclaimed.

“Yeah, she is” BurningFladramon returned back to V-mon form, “Lightnimon didn’t kill her.”

“He didn’t, dagya…?” Digmon returned back to Armadimon form.

“... She devolved to a lesser form and is free from the bad guys” Daisuke said, then… “Ah, we need to bring everyone back… I need to do one more thing.”

“Huh?” The three tilted their heads.

The villagers came back, after Iori, Armadimon and V-mon gathered and brought them to the village. The absence of Daisuke made them confused, and once all the villagers were reunited…

A shadow appeared at the top of one of the houses.

“Fear not, dear villagers” Iori just recognized that voice and him plus Armadi-Vee squinted at Lightnimon, the one and only, jumping to the ground.

“Y-you!!” The villagers cried nervously.

“I don’t want to cause more trouble” Lightnimon tried to calm them all down, “To be honest, I’ve been under control of an evil digimon, but the Chosen Children here broke the curse and I’m back to my senses.”

Some noise from the crowd was heard, they were rumbling about what they had just heard.

“I’d like to give my sincere apologies for what I had done” and he bowed his head, “I’m so sorry, please accept my apology.”

“So… it was what I thought that happened!” The same EbiBurgamon from earlier said, and looked at the villagers “Lightnimon was out of himself, he’s fine now!”

The villagers cheered, “We forgive you, thank you for defending our village!”

“No, no…” Lightnimon said, “This time I was causing havoc. The ones you have to thank are the Chosen Children there.”

“Thank you, Chosen Children!”

“Uh… Thank you” Iori blushed, Armadimon and V-mon were waving their paws and hands.

“Now I need to go! See you! ” and Lightnimon ran away.

“You really had to do that?” Iori, Armadimon and V-mon had caught up with Lightnimon and now they were a few kilometers away from the village, in the forest.

“Couldn’t ya tell’em the truth, dagya?”

“I wish I could” he replied  “But don’t you think it’s easier to let them believe the copycat was Lightnimon and then he was controlled by some spell or evil digimon?”

“Hmm, yeah I think so” V-mon said.

“All I could do was apologize for the damage. Even if it wasn’t me, I think I had a part in it…”

“I see,” Iori nodded sagely.

“Well, I have to bring this egg to his friend so he can hatch and have Frostmon and Ranamon’s company at least.”

“... Oh, so you will have to go there first?”

“Yeah, and quickly. If we’re seen together it might be suspicious.”

“Ok. Let’s go, Armadimon.”

“Come, V-mon.”

“We… meet at the camp right?”

“Yeah, I’m not running away anymore.”

And they went in different directions.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Awakening Of The Hurricane Sincerity

[AO3 version]

Summary:

The 02 group start searching for Daisuke and V-mon, who had disappeared suddenly from the last battle against Ranamon and Frostmon. Palmon mentions seeing Fladramon and a mysterious human-sized hooded creature in a village and led them and Mimi there. But... The place had been taken by the vile DarkSuperstarmon and his troops. In the heat of the battle, Miyako's pure desire to help those digimon and her friends grants her a wish.

[Note: this takes place in 2008]

It had been a while since the group went to the Digital World to help Mimi and Palmon. Koushiro and the 02 group had planned carefully all the details of such an adventure beforehand: Him, Taichi and Yamato had used the ol’ excuse of camping with the group to justify why a bunch of teenagers would pass a few weeks in the Digital World. But now, the golden trio being young adults could take responsibility for them. Well, the only non-adult in the meanwhile was Koushiro, but next year he will hit his 20s.

Anyway… Mimi had met the kids quickly and explained to them what had happened before. Ken Hadn’t been familiar with Gummymon and vice-versa, but that hadn’t been a problem at all.

Though, there had been a question in Ken’s head:

“When we tried to open the gate after Daisuke disappeared… It was locked. But we were able to come here in the end.”

“Uh… Maybe it was a malfunction?” Palmon replied.

“Or someone had unblocked it,” Iori mused, stroking his chin, “Maybe… Daisuke-san?”

“Hmm… Before the D-3 being created, the gate only opened at random occasions” Tailmon mused, “Maybe something blocked the D-3’s signal...”

“You think that could be the reason...?” Patamon asked.

“Whatever is the reason…” Miyako whispered, but due to the silence they all heard if  “It’s my fault Daisuke disappeared” and she avoided looking at the rest of the group, she kept sitting with them, inside Palmon’s house, looking at the teacup. Hawkmon frowned, and then said:

“It’s not your or Hikari-san’s fault. We got caught off guard… Sorry.”

“I’m sure he’s fine” Mimi tried to cheer Miyako and Hikari up, those two were completely engulfed in regrets at the moment “We just need to find him.”

“I have sent him a message since we came here,” Hikari said with an annoyed tone, “But he didn’t respond to it.”

They all frowned. If it weren’t for Mimi there, they could start feeling the weight of not having a leader. Not that Daisuke is a lead by nature, he just managed to keep them all together and… Sane? Determined? Ken seemed cool, but deep down he was… Worried? Scared? Not even himself knew.

“What should we do now?” Iori had a deadpan face.

“We get out and look for Daisuke-kun?” Takeru replied, “Or we should check if there’s some enemy around?”

“No, let’s focus on searching for Daisuke-kun” Hikari’s voice was serious, she finally set her foot on this, she wanted so badly to find him first “He was a target, remember? If he’s alone… He will need our help.”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s find Daisuke first, dagya.”

After leaving Palmon’s house, the group started planning a route to take and start their search. During their walk to the closest village, Mimi heard someone’s voice and waited for the best moment to leave the group and meet…

“Ah you’re around…!”

… A mysterious figure with a Lighdramon-esque armor. Except said armor details were cold colors instead of the yellow and red tones.

“Have you discovered something?” Mimi chatted with the stranger, while Palmon watched around to make sure no one would find them “Ah I see… No idea where Wallace is…”

“Mimi-san?” Miyako’s voice was heard.

“O-oh, I need to go…!! Please be careful!!” and she walked back to where the 02 group were, “I’m fine don’t worry Palmon thought she had heard something but it was just a fruit falling on the ground.”

“It’s not good to separate from the group” Miyako commented, “If you disappear too we’ll feel worried and panicked.”

 “It’s okay, it’s okay” she giggled, “Ah, there’s a town in this direction. We can ask the digimon if they saw Daisuke-kun or Wallace.”

“Yes, I noticed it by the D-terminal map Koushiro-san sent to us,” Ken pointed at the device on his other hand, “I didn’t get any message from Daisuke though.”

“The digivice has no reaction either” Iori added, “He’s not in this area… Or left it already.”

“Huh strange… I was sure I saw something moving around” Hikari raised an eyebrow, “Could it be Daisuke-kun but…”

“Maybe he’s in the village?” Wormmon wondered.

“Let’s go then” Palmon replied with a nod, “I will take you there, follow me!”

“Good, they’re moving” the masked shadow said, then looked back as if he was looking at someone “We need to move now.”

“Hurry up!!” he heard from a distance “The next village must be conquered at all costs!!”

“... We got one more thing to do here, I guess” and he and his ally left in the direction of the mysterious voice.

They followed in the opposite direction of the kids, going farther from there reaching a new area and town, which was under the eyes of this digimon army’s general, Frostmon.

“Ugh… stupid lizards” she wasn’t having a great time, seeing the Tyrannomon troops moving slowly “Can’t you walk more fast!?”

“You know, Tyrannomon species are not fast runners” she heard a voice.

“W-who’s there!?” and Frostmon looked around “Show yourself!!”

He jumped from the tree branches and landed in front of her. He was smaller than Frostmon and the Tyrannomon army, quite the size of a human teenager. But None of those digimon had much contact with humans so… They couldn’t tell the difference.

“Who are you!?” Frostmon interrogated him, “Why are you spying on us!?”

“I’m just a digimon passing by, relax” he chuckled, “besides… The town you’re trying to take control of has a guardian and a curse.”

“A… A curse?” The army looked at each other, and you could hear them rambling something.

“What kind of curse?” Frostmon squinted her eyes, “I never heard of it before.”

“You know, anyone who tries to take the town’s control is smashed by the town’s guardian” he shrugged, “I’d rather not risk facing said guardian. But you do you.”

More noise was heard by the troops, and he could see Frostmon’s face grimacing at that information. While none of them could see his face, he was smirking.

“That’s nonsense, soldiers! Let’s move on, don’t listen to a pipsqueak digimon and those fairy tales!”

“Who are you calling pipsqu-- *AHEM* sure let’s go with that”

“Hmph, stupid child level” and the army proceeded their march.

“It didn’t work…” he muttered, annoyed.

A small shadow was visible in the branches, but not a face except for two big red eyes.

“I know you’re going to say” the armored digimon sighed, “I should be more careful…” and then he looked at the town’s direction “Can you be a convincing god-like guardian, buddy? We will need that right now.”

But… This wasn’t only the mysterious masked digimon’s problem. In the meantime…

Mimi’s group had arrived in a destroyed village. None of them expected it to happen and Palmon even remembered that two strangers had helped them to save villagers and beat Cyberdramon.

“But now it seems… No one’s here, dagya” Armadimon frowned, and the group started examining the area.

“Strange…” Palmon frowned, “It was saved from the invaders…”

“Huh, someone was here?” Hikari blinked.

“Yes, and I saw Fladramon and a hooded human-size creature.”

The group’s eyes widened, “Fladramon and a hooded creature!?”

“Then… this means Daisuke was here before” Miyako said, “If he and V-mon were here, they’re alive and fine…? Or in danger, if Daisuke was wearing a hood…”

“Don’t be afraid, Miyako-san, everyone” Hawkmon called their attention “He’s with V-mon at least. It’s only a matter of time until we find them.”

“Hawkmon is right,” Ken said, but his eyes were focused on something he just found on the ground, “Daisuke is with V-mon and we know that idiot can survive alone.”

“What’s this Ken-chan?” Wormmon pointed at Ken’s hand, which had something looking like…

“Seems like a Starmon was here. This is a fragment from the Meteor Squall’s meteorites.”

“Wow! Sharp eyes, Ichijouji-kun” Mimi exclaimed, impressed.

“So whoever attacked this village might not be that far from here” Tailmon mused.

“Let’s be cautious,” Takeru added with a serious tone, “the residents of this village might be captured and hidden somewhere in this area.”

“In this case, what if we slip up?” Miyako suggested, “We keep contact via phones and D-terminals. Once we find either of them, we gather everyone again.”

“It’s a good idea,” Iori nodded, then picked Armadimon from the floor, “Armadimon and I will check this direction. If we don’t find anything, let’s meet here again and come with a backup plan.”

They went to different directions, to find the prisoners and the bad guys quickly. But… One by one, the group were captured, somehow. All they remembered was about a black hole popping out from somewhere and sending them to… Somewhere.

“Miyako-san” Hawkmon called her, and then looked behind him but saw nothing. So he looked back at her “Are you feeling okay?”

“Huh, why do you ask?” she babbled “Ken-kun’s right Daisuke can--”

“You seem nervous, is it because of Ranamon? It wasn’t your fault, Tailmon and I didn’t expect her to appear from nowhere and capture you two.”

“Argh, okay I’m worried!” she threw her hands up in the air. She could not think straight right now and Hawkmon was pretty aware of it, “We know Daisuke had been chased by Ranamon and that blue bird-like digimon! We let our guards down and it happened! Now… Now he’s missing and while you say it’s not my fault, not even Daisuke appears in front of me and says that will make me feel less guilty!”

Hawkmon frowned, he approached her quietly. He was about to say something but it got lost because he saw a black hole appearing in mid air. Then, he jumped on Miyako and both ducked on the floor, having the black hole pass through their heads.

“W-what’s that!?” she babbled.

“Hoho, you’re tough human girl” a digimon that looked like a Starmon, but with a darker color and wearing sunglasses appeared in front of them, “Can’t say much about your friends.” He showed the digivices of the group to her and Hawkmon, to make sure they couldn’t call for help.

“M-My friends!? T-those are...!!” Miyako gulped. Was her idea and now…

“I won’t let you guilt-trip her!” Hawkmon got up from the floor and threw his Feather against DarkSuperstarmon. But it didn’t work, and the villain hit him with a punch “GUH!” which followed by Hawkmon falling on the floor.

“H-Hawkmon!!” Miyako screamed, “I… I won’t let you hurt anyone anymore!”

“Miyako-san…” he got up from the floor, “Please, lend me your strength.”

“OK!” she grabbed her digivice, “Love Digimental Up!!”

Hawkmon armor-evolved to Horusmon and stood in front of DarkSuperstarmon with an intimidating glare at him. The enemy didn’t feel much intimidated though, but acknowledged the girl and digimon were tough opponents.

“Very well, then let’s get this party started” And the black star digimon attacked Horusmon, but now the hawk-like digimon had gotten more speed and dodged. Then, Horusmon spinned his body to generate a tornado, forcing DarkSuperstarmon to step back.

“This digimon seems stronger than a regular Starmon… ” Miyako mused, “Uh… don’t underestimate him, Horusmon!”

That battle was still on a draw, with just dodging from both ends. The enemy was tough, but willing to play dirty. DarkSuperstarmon opened a black hole right behind Miyako and she was swallowed by it. Luckily, he couldn’t steal her digivice due to Horusmon blocking his way.

“M-Miyako-san!!” Horusmon stared at him “What did you do to her!?”

“She’s with her friends now, and you… You will be dead soon.”

“OOF!" She fell on the floor and the digivice slipped from her hands, hitting someone “A-ah, I’m sorry!!” She got up and went to retrieve the slippery D-3.

“That’s okay” it was Ken!? “I guess we’re unable to leave this place now…” he laughed nervously, but stopped and handed her the red D-3 back.

“Horusmon is fighting! I need to help him but… how!?”

“He got our digivices...” and she heard Hikari’s voice; Iori, Takeru and Mimi were also there alongside their digimon and more residents from the town, “We can’t escape.”

“W-where are we?” Miyako asked.

“This is still inside the town” and now a digimon appeared, it was a Muchomon “One of the abandoned buildings. I was hoping for someone to save us again but… Our hopes are gone now…”

“Don’t lose your hope!” Mimi looked at the digimon and clenched her fists, “We still have a chance!”

 “... If… If I could do something else but I’m useless!” Miyako shouted, “I only commit mistakes! I want to help fix them! I want to help Horusmon and this entire town!!”

The digivice in her hands beeped and turned on the screen, which sent a light from it. The Digimental of Sincerity appeared in front of her and its form mutated to a big Shuriken like the one on Shurimon’s back. The only difference from Shurimon’s was the Crest of Sincerity being engraved on its surface.

“What is this??” other villagers, and the group exclaimed, watching Miyako hold it with her other hand.

“I… I don’t know!?” she babbled, “But… maybe this is the answer to my dilemma.”

“Uh, isn’t it very dangerous using that here” Patamon asked.

“Miyako-san please… Don’t do something dan--” But Takeru was interrupted by Miyako throwing the shuriken at the bars blocking their way.

… It definitely cut the jail bars. It surprised everyone, since they didn’t know if it wouldn’t reflect the shuriken against them.

“Whoohoo, I knew it would work!” she chirped and looked back “So, everyone go out and let’s take down those bullies.”

“Miyako-chan is scary sometimes…” Mimi whispered to the others, who nodded sagely.

The troops hadn’t yet arrived, so the mysterious Lighdramon-esque armored digimon managed to reach the town quickly and talk with the digimon living there. Despite doubting him at first, one of the residents of the town confirmed the masked-mon’s information.

And then… They gladly accepted his plan. The hooded digimon with him shrugged in disapproval, but couldn’t do much. Also, this cape made a ton of villagers curious about the digimon’s appearance.

“You can’t talk, just do some screams” the armored digimon said to the small one, “Like, unleash your inner beast!”

They were in the front of a temple, the perfect spot to bring this story into reality. The villagers were hiding in a safe part of the town. He was so sure this would work with no actual bloodbath that it felt like a harmless kid’s prank. The partner-in-crime wasn’t too confident about this though… But if no one might see the prank but the soldiers and Frostmon…

“Shush, get ready. Show your best AncientGreymon’s impersonation.”

The other sighed, and tried to roar but it didn’t feel intimidating…

“No, no you need to scare them! Focus on being like a terrifying Qinglongmon who hates everyone stepping on their yard!”

“The troops are coming,” the smaller digimon said, “I can sense them. Do you think this will work?”

“Don’t worry, bud. It will work.”

Horusmon was on the ground being stepped on by DarkSuperstarmon, who was laughing and toss juggling the digivices. While distracted, he didn’t see the Chosen Children approaching, or Tailmon jumping behind him and grabbing all digivices in midair.

“HEY, YOU STUPID POINTY HEAD!”  

“Huh!? Who’s calling my pointy hea--”

Miyako threw the giant shuriken against DarkSuperstarmon, hitting him and making him fall on the floor.

“GAH!”

Horusmon escaped from the enemy and met them. Miyako hugged him tightly and whispered “I’m sorry Horusmon… I won’t let them catch me again!”

“Ugh, you agai-- Wait how did you escape-- It doesn’t matter, without these you can’t--”

The group showed their digivices and angry faces. They were ready to fight. DarkSuperstar screeched and then snapped fingers summoning a group of DarkTyrannomon, “TROOPS, GET THEM!!” and flew away.

“Miyako-san” Iori said, “Go after him. We will take care of his lackeys.”

“Ok! Let’s go Horusmon!” and she looked at him “Are you okay though?”

“I’m fine, get on Miyako-san.”

She got on his back and they flew after the troop’s leader. The enemy wasn’t that fast as they thought and it was easier to watch it after all. Horusmon shot laser beams from his eyes (Red Sun) and hit the running star. But it didn’t work because the enemy's body was indeed resistant.

They stopped on a dead end and faced each other.

“Look, we can negotiate--”

“No, we can’t!” Miyako snapped, pointed at him and continued “You took control of this town, captured its people and later captured my friends! I have no time to make a deal with you!”

“Very well, then--”

“Horusmon, let’s go!” She pointed the digivice at her partner and its form changed to a bipedal hawk, with wings sprouting from his back and Egyptian God motifs -- Fauermon.

“W-wait, have mercy I will leave!!”

“... Will you really leave?” she asked.

“I will don’t worry!” he nodded, “But can we shake hands to make it a deal?”

“Fine, I guess.” she was still mad though, and approached calmly, until that shuriken appeared in her hands and she used it as a blade to slash DarkSuperstarmon in the face. Fauermon was holding her to not fall on the black hole that vile digimon had done.

“W-what!? How did you!?”

“I noticed you set a trap right when we cornered you!” she said angrily “You’re a vile monster!”

Horusmon then put Miyako away and summoned his rod, “Red Sunburst!”

DarkSuperstarmon screamed and then got destroyed by the laser beam coming from the sphere at the top of the rod.

“Miyako-san” Fauermon glanced at her, “I’m sorry I had to--”

“It’s okay. He wouldn’t stop anyway… And he can be reborn I hope so” then she looked at the shuriken in her hand “But… Where did this come from? And why did the Digimental of Sincerity turn into a weapon…?”

“Beats me…” he devolved to Hawkmon form, then looked at the others coming in “Everyone, are you okay?”

“Yeah, we managed to beat all the troops in town,” Tailmon said, “Now we can leave.”

“But where should we go now?” Miyako asked.

Meanwhile, Frostmon’s troops invaded a deserted town with the exception of a hooded digimon. Said digimon made sure to be seen by the enemies and ran away. The soldiers and Frostmon chased them and when the invaders found them in front of the temple…

… A wild wall of fire ignited from the floor, preventing them from reaching the creature, and a bigger one appeared through the flames roaring loudly and throwing fire against the Tyrannomon army.

An eerie voice came from the wall of flames, “I’m the great Ancient Digimon who protects this town. LEAVE OR PERISH”

The enemies panicked and ran away, including Frostmon. So the strange child level digimon she had met previously was right!? Better not mess with that town then. Their screams were heard until they faded in the distance.

The fire stopped and then the digimon from the flames turned small and covered himself with a cape thrown by the mysterious masked one.

“Did you see their faces!!?” and this armored digimon was delighted by the prank, “They were so scared that I guess they might not return here that early hehe~”

“Sigh, get the villagers back and let’s get out of here.”

“Fine fine~ At least laugh a bit… You used to find funny those pranks…”

“I’m busy now!” the hooded one growled, “no time for pranks!!”

“... Oh. You’re right.” he blinked. Behind the helmet he had a deadpan face “Let’s do it…”

Once they got the entire villagers out, the mayor of the town shook hands with the masked one.

“My young’mon,” Sorcerimon the mayor said, “We will be eternally grateful for your help. I have absolutely no idea what you and your friend did, but we’re thankful that it worked.”

“H-Haha, it was… a dumb thing I learned from human’s videos” he chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his helmet.

“What does that deity digimon look like?” a young Blucomon asked, “We will draw it and spread through the town, and write stories about it to keep mean spirited digimon from invading us.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea!” he said, “Let’s see… It's a flame element digimon, looks like Fladramon but with wings, and got hair, big terrifying claws and wonderful fangs! Maybe… AncientFladramon feels like a good name? What do you think, bud?” and he looked at the hooded digimon.

“Yeah, let’s go with that” and the small one shrugged.

“Cool!” Blucomon and more child level digimon around exclaimed, “Thank you mr. uh…”

The masked digimon then posed like a tokusatsu hero and said:

“I’m the warrior of the night, the silent knight… Lightnimon!”

The villagers' reactions were full of “ooooh!!” and some applause and cheers.

The hooded digimon shook his head.

“But I need to go now, more of those bad guys are coming and more towns, cities and villagers need me and… uh… Buddymon.”

“Alright, thank you Lightnimon and Buddymon” Socerimon and the villagers thanked them once again.

“Heheh~” Lightnimon grabbed Buddymon and ran away, leaving the town quickly.

Who’re that mysterious digimon duo and would they be a menace to the Chosen Children?

[ladyofthecastleproject]

Inside the Pandora Castle (part 1)

[AO3 version]

Summary:

A barrier prevents Wallace to return with Daisuke and Ken, forcing them to go to the castle. Meanwhile the others are informed about their current status by Ken. But the moment they decide to go after the boys, Hikari sees a flashing and mysterious light. The final battle begins. Who will win? Duskmon or the Chosen Children?

[Note: It's 2008; The title is a double-reference to Deltarune's "Pandora Palace" & Lady of the Castle Arc 3]

Running to the castle, the boys had to face a ton of digimon in the same conditions as Wallace had been before. Fladramon, Pucchiemon and Gargomon opened the path to the castle but carefully to not hurt the digimon.

“Don’t you think it’s a bad bad idea to go to the enemy’s territory all alone?” Daisuke asked, stunting some of the enemies in their way with the Lighdra-Glaive.

“And do we have any other option?” Ken replied, “It was too easy to rescue Wallace-kun, this is intentional.”

“So, you think Duskmon wants us to come back?” Wallace asked, dodging from a digimon who got thrown away by Gargomon.

“Probably” Ken answered, and then Daisuke slashed against another soldier digimon coming at them.

“I don’t get it! He wanted to kill Daisuke, now he wants Daisuke to storm into his castle!?”

“I don’t understand that too!” Daisuke growled, “Can he please decide? He wants me dead or not!?”

Ken took a while to answer that. In fact, there’s some odd events and such… If this-so-called Duskmon wanted Daisuke dead … Wouldn’t he go after Daisuke while he was all alone and pretending to be a digimon?

“... Wait a minute” Ken stopped running. The rest of the group stopped and looked at him, confused, “Daisuke, he didn’t want to kill you.”

“H-Huh!?” They exclaimed.

“To be honest, he would’ve done that before if he wanted to. I guess he wanted you two to get those hidden powers first.”

“Well, he’s not going to get’em because none of us know how to get’em.” Daisuke said with an annoyed voice, shrugging “Like, do he expect us to know how to get those… Are we that smartasses to know how to unlock a power none of us knew we had until now!?”

“You’re admitting you’re not smart huh?” Wallace rolled his eyes.

“At least I wasn’t manipulated by some weirdo in googly eyes armor!”

“Googly eyes armor?” the digimon blinked.

“Um, I think he manipulated you too” Ken tried to intervene, “Because you were under his power doing awful things before.”

“... W-whatever” he blushed shamefully, “I… I don’t want to think about it now…!”

“Let’s not fight,” Wallace laughed nervously, then “Daisuke’s right, he can’t get those powers from us if we never get them first.”

“Let’s go, if we can find a way to escape from this place then let’s not waste our time!”

“Just a second, we need to let the others know” and Ken grabbed his phone from his hoodie’s pocket and called Miyako.

“The others?” Wallace blinked, “Does it mean… Miyako-san is with you? I missed her so much”

Ken immediately glanced at Daisuke with such annoyance and realized his friend was facepalming. The digimon kept confused, but Pucchiemon just saw Ken almost smash his phone.

“Did I stutter?” Ken said, with a big grin on his face. Said grin made Daisuke feel it was the same smile Ken gives to people he plans to murder slowly and painfully (ok no, he just messes with their belongings like taking all the batteries from their remote controls and unscrewing light bulbs as warning)

“So she’s not?” Wallace asked with a frown.

“LET’S NOT TALK ABOUT THAT!” Daisuke interrupted the possible fight, “Right, call Mimi-san or Iori and let them know” and he silently signaled to not mention Miyako after this. With bad mimic skills so Ken took a second (or two) to get it.

“I got a call, be quiet everyone please!” Miyako announced, and the group, hidden in a spot near to the castle’s domains, stopped chatting to let Miyako talk with Ken on the phone, “Hello? Ken-kun did you two get into the castle?”

She gasped next, “Wait, he met with your two, he was under a digimon’s control and attacked Daisuke?” The group were now babbling ‘what’ ‘huh’ ‘eh’ in the background. Miyako continued, “Ah you guys are all safe now… Huh, he can’t leave the castle’s area so you decided to go find another way by going to the castle?”

“What?” Hikari asked, Mimi was frowning, Takeru and Iori were still shocked. The digimon reactions reflected their humans’ as well.

“Oh Ok… One more thing: Why are you calling me ‘Iori-kun’!? Oh, oh … I got it. Okay, please be careful” and she hung up.

“Are they in trouble?” Mimi was still frowning, hugging Palmon a bit more tightly.

“Yeah but…”

“We should go,” she said, “I’m sure if we go after them, we can cover their weaknesses with our own abilities.”

“Mimi-san!?” They glanced at her, shocked. This wasn’t usual from her.

“Our friends are in danger, and I think we need to do something. We won’t kill the digimon like Daisuke-kun and V-mon were doing mercilessly. I won’t allow that.”

“But… what will we do-- Huh?” Hikari heard a voice and saw a sparkling light. She got up without warning the others and ran after it. Tailmon and the rest came with her, and then they met…

“Sorry for luring you in like this” A male white wolf-esque armor digimon said as the Chosen Children approached, “Don’t worry, this area is protected by the power of Light and won’t be touched by the power of Darkness.”

“Who… Who are you?” Palmon asked.

“I’m Beowolfmon. You may need my help if you want to beat Duskmon, so listen carefully.”

“Geez this castle is still creepy inside” Daisuke commented, slashing the soldiers coming in their direction to stunt them “Man, I wonder where’s the exit of this area…”

“This is still too easy though,” Ken muttered, “What does this Duskmon-guy want with us?”

“Wallace, do you remember anything that could be an exit from here? Like, a gate or a door, anything!” Daisuke asked, blocking a Pawnchessmon’s lance from hitting them. Pucchiemon used his beams to destroy every Eyesmon inside their shadows.

“Uhh… I remember there’s one strange door in the living room.”

“Right, show us the way.”

“Ok, follow me!”

“Wait you two,” Ken babbled “This is what--”

And once they destroyed the living room’s door… Duskmon was already there waiting for them.

“--he wants…” Ken completed his phrase right after both Wallace and Daisuke were captured by the Eyesmon, making them unable to move “Pucchiemo--”

But the digimon trio was hit by air slashes caused by Duskmon’s blades, throwing them and Ken to the wall. They devolved back to child level and fell on the ground, Wormmon on Ken’s lap, V-mon and Gummymon by his sides.

“Argh, I can’t move!” Daisuke tried moving the arm holding the Lighdra-Glaive, but no success. The Glaive then disappeared from his hand, maybe he still had a bit of control over himself “Ken… Leave us here and escape!”

“What!?” Ken and the digimon got up, trembling “I won’t let the enemy win..!!”

“Looks like I’ve already won” Duskmon replied calmly, “I have two powerful powers in hands”

“Heh, we don’t know how to get it so you’re not getting anything!” Daisuke smirked, but that smirk showed some weakness… Deep down he believed they all had failed.

“Now I can explain why you’re here, human child,” he said, looking at Wallace and ignoring Daisuke, “So listen carefully.”

Beowolfmon moved his hands and showed them holograms made of his light power to the children:

“In the Ancient era, there were two powers coexisting. The power of Miracles, which as the name says, is the ability to turn everything possible…”

Meanwhile Duskmon explained the same thing for the trio and their digimon:

“... And the power of Destiny, which is the power to write and rewrite any destiny. The power of Miracles existed to counter the power of Destiny, keeping it in check.”

“H-huh?” Ken reacted a bit badly, now he understood why Daisuke had been in danger and why Wallace was captured in the first place.

A bit far away from the castle, Beowolfmon continued:

“Those powers were sealed by the holy and ancient digimon as an attempt to prevent any disasters caused by both.”

“Sealed?” Miyako blinked, “So, that’s why only Qinglongmon and the Holy Beasts, and Holydramon and Seraphimon could summon them before?”

“These powers are related to a lineage of Ancient Digimon as well, and only said Digimon together can use said power.” Duskmon then added “And since I have you two here…”

“What do you mean!?” Ken asked this time, and he saw Daisuke and Wallace turning to him and the digimon trio’s direction “D-don’t tell me…!”

“Ken, run away! Don’t let… Us get-- --!!”

“Daisuke, what’s going on?!” V-mon panicked.

“... I see. The key to unlocking such powers is V-mon and Gummymon” Ken muttered, “Because they’re related to Magnamon and Rapidmon.”

“How do you know about Rapidmon?” Gummymon looked at Ken, astonished.

“Let’s say I’ve researched it…” He replied.

“So we’re the key!?” V-mon asked Ken, but Duskmon answered:

“Yes. Now you two children, give me those digimon.”

“I don’t understand how you can get those from us, but we WON’T help you!” V-mon and Gummymon roared together. 

“It doesn’t matter,” Daisuke said “Now come here V-mon.” 

“You too Terriermon,” Wallace added.

That already made the digimon step back, something was off. And Ken noticed it especially by the name Wallace used. Wasn’t the blonde boy referring to his partner by ‘Gummymon’ before?!

“Ken-chan, we need to do something!!” Wormmon gave Ken a nervous glare.

Beowolfmon continued, the same time as Duskmon:

“You children have created a new power with your bonds. Those weapons made by the ancient Digimentals… I can see you have infinite potential.”

“But you need more if you want to beat me. Once I have the power of destiny and miracles in my hands…”

“He will rewrite the story.”

“What!?” The kids (and Ken plus the digi-trio) exclaimed.

“So we need to go there,” Takeru said, “We need all the power we have to face this Duskmon right?”

“One question, please Beowolfmon” Hikari interrupted them, “Did you save Daisuke-kun and V-mon from getting hurt before?”

At the same time, Ken and the digimon tried to escape from Daisuke and Wallace. Only to Lekismon invade the room throwing her sleeping bombs at the boys’ shadows. The Eyesmon duo left the shadow snoozing.

“Lekismon!!” V-mon exclaimed.

“Hurry up, get out of here right now!!”

“Ugh… my head…” / “What’s... going on…”  Daisuke and Wallace said at the same time, only to be grabbed by one of their arms by Ken and dragged to the outside of the living room.

“There’s no time to waste, we need to leave!!”

“You won’t leave.” Duskmon snapped his fingers (yes, he has hands which can mutate to blades) and more digimon appeared in the corridor.

“Oh no!” Wormmon exclaimed. “What will we do, Wallace?” Gummymon asked the boy.

He looked at Daisuke and Ken.

But they didn’t need to do much, since arrows of light and energy hit from somewhere.

“What?” Daisuke blinked, then saw Takeru and Hikari running after them holding more of those digimental weapons, A crossbow made from Nefertimon data and a gun-bow made from Pegasusmon’s “T-Takeru, Hikari-chan!? Wait where you get--”

“EVERYONE, DUCK!” They heard Miyako’s voice and once they ducked a big Shuriken passed through their heads.

Gust of winds repelled all the digimon coming after the boys and their digimon, flying over their heads. Iori was hitting the enemies with the Submari-Sword in wooden sword mode, protecting the others from being hit by the enemies. Lilymon flew and used her Green Trap technique to paralyze the evil guys by releasing flowers and pollen over them.

“They all are here!” V-mon exclaimed.

“Right… We need to fight as well!” Daisuke grabbed his D-3 “Ken, let’s go!”

“Right!”

V-mon and Wormmon evolved into XV-mon and Stingmon, then jogress evolved into Paildramon. Wallace and Gummymon were shocked, they had never seen that digimon before.

“Amazing…”

“Wallace, should we fight too?”

He couldn’t answer though…

Beowolfmon stormed from the group and went directly against Duskmon. Their blades clashed and started to destroy the castle, turning it into ruins by their collision. The digimon partners (Paildramon, Fauermon, DrillDigmon, Angemon, Angewomon and Lilymon) held the kids tightly, and Daisuke also held Wallace & Gummymon to not let them fly away from the heated fight happening right there.

“Who’s that!?” Daisuke asked, but a flash passed through his mind.

The time he and V-mon almost died… A very quick light had come from nowhere and had teleported them to a realm of light for a few seconds, and when Duskmon had disappeared, they had returned to the Digital World.

“It was you…” V-mon said what Daisuke was about to say, “The one who saved us.”

Yes, it was Beowolfmon that time.

[NEXT →]

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Attack of the Shady Prince

[AO3 version]

Summary:

Wallace asks questions to Duskmon, but to receive answers he has to beat Daisuke. However, Daisuke refuses to fight him and he does not want to fight either. Ken's sharp senses catch something odd in this encounter...

[Notes: It's 2008; This one was inspired on "Attack of the Killer Queen" song ]

“What is this power you keep mentioning?”

Wallace had decided to search for answers since the day he had met Lightnimon and V-mon in the castle’s corridors. His only clue was that neither his friends-now-enemies know that. And, presumably said power is related to him, he at least should know it.

But… Duskmon kept him in the shadows. He only had mentioned Wallace's potential and wielding a powerful power. And, Wallace himself didn’t know that Daisuke also has an equivalent power in his hands. Well, not even Daisuke knows.

None of the children and their digimon knew. And with this, Wallace began his personal investigation using his own weapon -- his charismatic charm. Not that being charming and charismatic would work with a digimon but at least he could try!!

“You brought me here for a purpose right?”

He kept trying and trying.

“I’m not a captive, like you said. I’m a prince or something like that. So, how do I get this power to be awakened?”

His smile had been weaponized so many times before that he knew that complimenting someone and smiling had a big effect to let people’s guard down.

“...”

“Won’t you answer me?” he dropped the smile and pouted.

“You’re too naive for that.”

“Naive?” and then it enraged him, quietly.

Duskmon looked at him, “You have to prove you’re not that weak to learn that.”

“I’m not weak!” he clenched his fists, “You took me from Gummymon, and since then had told nothing about what you want from me.”

“You’re free to leave at any time you want, but… I do not recommend doing so.”

“Is that a threat? Didn’t you say I have an immense amount of power sleeping inside me?”

“You will not awaken it by being too soft.”

“Then… I will prove to you I’m not soft!”

“Maybe… If you stop your rival from awakening this power’s counterpart I could tell you more.”

“Fine. I will find this person and stop them.”

“Oh, didn’t you know who your rival is?” Duskmon laughed, “It’s your masked friend .”

“... I will stop him.”

“Right, so… The castle is far far far away from here” Daisuke explained, “You have to open a special gate to it. I know where said gate is. Or at least one of them…”

“Imperialdramon might be quickier” Ken mused, “But we would lose the surprise element.”

“You wouldn’t want to blow that castle up!” Gummymon (in Terriermon form) hissed, “Wallace is inside there!!”

“We won’t do that!” V-mon argued, “What, do you think Imperialdramon would blow up a castle!?”

“... Didn’t we--” Wormmon was about to say something, but V-mon gave him a serious gaze, “--We never did that!”

“... Anyway, yeah you’re right we need to not be caught!” Daisuke ignored the digimon discussing “And even him knowing it’s me… This armor worked to protect me from getting real hurt.”

“So now you won’t be hiding your identity?” Mimi asked.

Daisuke shrugged and frowned, “It’s not like he doesn’t know. I mean, Wallace recognized me without dropping any hint.”

“Not even your speech pattern?” Ken raised an eyebrow, “No offense Daisuke but… You weren’t fooling any of us.”

“W-what!?” he babbled, “D-did you all know it was me!?”

“I wouldn’t say we knew at first but…” Iori replied.

“We were completely confused by your actions” Miyako confessed, “That wasn’t like you.”

“So it was a bad plan afterall…” Daisuke sighed, “Well, at least it worked with some enemies before… And with some digimon populace.”

“I think they also knew but… rolled with it” Tailmon replied.

“I feel like a complete idiot now…” he was whimpering now.

“But… I think despite that,” Hikari commented “it was really cool of you to become a superhero for those digimon while we were looking for you.”

“E-eh!?” Daisuke blinked.

“Less talk, more action!” V-mon said, “Like your secret identity says.”

“R-right!” he nodded, “There’s a gate in this area” and he pointed at a forest region in the map, “it’s activated by a lever disguised as a branch with a black rose on it.”

Later, when they reached the mountainous region via said portal Daisuke told them, the group splitted in two -- One for Daisuke and Ken, to invade the castle and rescue Wallace… And Another with the rest who would keep around and prevent troops from coming after the boys.

Gummymon asked to go with them. Mimi and Palmon were a bit torn with the possibility of them fighting Wallace… She hated the idea, she preferred to believe Daisuke, Ken, their digimon and Gummymon would be enough to prevent a battle.

They were heading to the castle with their digimon (Gummymon on V-mon’s head, Wormmon on Ken’s back) when…

Someone on the horizon was spotted. The more they approached, the silhouette of the mysterious person-or-digimon became clearer. Until they reach him and stop a few meters before.

“Wallace!” Gummymon gasped, yet he was smiling, “You’re safe!”

“So this is the Wallace person we were looking for” Ken mused, but noticed something strange. It was too easy… “Daisuke, wait.”

“So you stopped hiding yourself” the blonde said, unfazed, “Gummymon come here.”

“Don’t move!” Ken warned them, “It might be a trap.”

“A trap?” Wallace repeated and tilted his head a little. It was confusing… Who’s this black haired boy and why was he ordering his digimon to not move, “There’s no trap. I need your help.”

“That’s okay,” Daisuke told Ken, “We freed him from the brainwashing before.”

“I don’t think so…” Ken kept wary about Wallace’s quirks. It doesn’t seem right… But he never met Wallace before so how could he tell anything? Gummymon and Daisuke are trustworthy, they would know if something is off, right…?

“Why do you need our help?” V-mon voice asked, and then he took Gummymon from his head and put it on the ground. Gummymon tried to move but even himself was unable to go there.

“I need to awaken this power. But… I won’t be doing it if I don’t stop Daisuke first.”

“Huh!?” Daisuke blinked, “What do you mean!? I don’t even know what kind of power you and I have! All we got was… Nothing. Only our enemies said something about this! You know that I’m telling you the truth! We are friends, right?”

Daisuke was definitely trying to go by Mimi’s pacifism route, even if he wasn’t that great at being able to convince people with charisma. It’s harder when you’re not Mimi though…

“That’s why I need your help” Wallace smiled, “You pretend to lose to me and I get more details about said power. It’s quite a good tradeoff.”

“... You’re still falling for his lies!” Daisuke babbled, “He tricked you to come here and try to… To, uh… kill me?”

“You know I wouldn’t do that right? Please we can discover what this is if we work together, Daisuke”

“There’s something strange with Wallace…” Gummymon stepped back, “Please stop that, you’re scaring me…!”

“Why don’t you understand!?” he spat, “This is the only way to get an idea what they’re talking about!”

“Do you know that they were trying to murder me right?!” Daisuke gritted his teeth, “Because for some reason they don’t want us to get whatever-those-powers-are together!”

“They… They wanted to kill you?” Wallace’s eyes widened.

“Yeah genius, they were hunting me down like an animal. I wasn’t hiding my face for nothing!”

“... So, he sent me to kill you” and he wavered, something Wallace was hiding behind his back was spotted by Ken “I can’t believe this…”

“Now you know! Then stop this nonsense talk and come with us! We can find another way to discover the said power we hold, so please… Let’s not fight.”

“G-get out… Don’t approach me” Wallace shouted desperately as he watched Daisuke come closer “I don’t want to do it!”

“Daisuke, wait--” Ken shouted but...

“What are you sayin--” and thus he immediately summoned the Lighdra-Glaive to block a knife Wallace was wielding “Why did you try that!?”

“I warned you!!” Wallace said, wavering “Please get out of here, take Gummymon with you. I can’t control myself…!”

“What?” and Wallace involuntarily tried to hit Daisuke again, but he dodged, “Hey stop!! What’s wrong with you!?”

“He’s been controlled” Ken deduced, then glanced at Wormmon, V-mon and Gummymon with a serious glare “Can you sense if there’s any digimon around?”

“There’s one but… where I can’t tell” Wormmon said, but he and the other two digimon were frowning. “Yeah...” V-mon and Gummymon replied together.

“Hmm… Daisuke, you need to use that glaive right now!”

“WHAT!?” and he grabbed his digivice, pressed a button and he changed to his armor to avoid getting hit by the knife “I CAN’T USE IT ON HIM, HE’S NOT THE ENEMY!”

“No you idiot, you need to illuminate this place right now!!”

“Ah I see…!” he nodded, then raised the Lighdra-Glaive, “Take this!!” and the lighting gathered at the blade, forming a ball of light, which forced Wallace to cover his eyes.

Gummymon took advantage and grabbed the knife from Wallace’s hands and V-mon gave him a pair of fast legs, taking him from the ground and stepping away from Wallace.

“Where is it…??” Ken muttered, then he just… “Wormmon! Kindness Digimental Up! ”

Wormmon armor evolved into Pucchiemon, but still confused about what his partner had in mind. Until Ken pointed at a pair of eyes in Wallace’s shadow for his reference.

“Heartner Beam!!”

Pucchiemon’s beam hit Wallace’s shadow and a digimon left. It was a shadow-like creature with big eyes as wings? They couldn’t tell… Daisuke undid the lightning sphere and they all meet that creature -- Eyesmon.

“That thing!” Wallace pointed at, “That’s the thing that… Kept me unable to move freely!!”

“V-mon, Courage Digimental Up!! “ By Daisuke’s command, V-mon armor evolved into Fladramon and destroyed the shadow-like thing with his own claws covered in flames. Data bits scattered through the area where once was Eyesmon.

“Is it gone?” Gummymon asked, “Is Wallace safe?”

“I believe he is” Daisuke said, while Ken kept inspecting the area “You OK now?”

“Yeah, I think so…” Wallace moved his arm normally, it didn’t feel like someone was restraining his movements or even forcing him to do awful things “Thank you Daisuke and uh…”

“He’s Ken” V-mon said, “Ichijouji Ken. A friend of ours.”

“He got sharp eyes,” Wallace chuckled, “I tried to warn but even my tongue was controlled.”

“So you weren’t really wanting to pretend to have beaten me?” Daisuke blinked. He took the D-3 again and changed back to his usual outfit.

“Oh no, what I couldn't say was that there was a digimon controlling me. That’s odd, because…”

“Why would they let you talk normally but not reveal they were in your shadow?” V-mon mused.

“This… This is not the end” Ken said, glancing at the others “This was intentional.”

“Of course it was!” Wallace replied with a pout, “You shouldn’t have come here, you all are in danger.”

“No, We won’t leave without you!” and he grabbed Wallace’s hands, “You’re our friend and we refuse to leave you behind again!!”

“You don’t understand! They were hurting you and everyone because of me, and now they forced me to kill you I… I can’t escape, this is my fate.”

“You can’t change your fate, but you can choose your destiny” Gummymon said, gave the knife to V-mon (who devolved back to child form) and flew to Wallace’s head, where he landed “You had done that before, don’t you remember?”

“Wait… Destiny... ” Daisuke had a flash in his mind, and then he let go of Wallace's hands “... I think I got what this power is…”

“Did you!?” Everyone looked at Daisuke. It was quite odd seeing him figuring things out, but this had happened a couple of times before.

“Yeah, the Digimentals of Miracles and Destiny” he said, “Those are the hidden powers inside us.”

“But how can that be possible?” Wormmon, who also had devolved back to child form, said with a gasp “Aren’t those special digimentals only used by sacred digimon?”

“Well, Angemon and Angewomon did that once…” V-mon explained, “Do you think they’re related to it again?”

“Well, maybe. Now let’s get out of here!” Daisuke dragged Wallace with him but he hit his head on some barrier “OW! What the!?”

“I told you, I can’t leave…” Wallace sighed, “I tried before and I can only go this far.”

“No way, I didn’t come here to leave you behind again!” and then he started kicking and punching it. “GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT!!”

“There must be some way to open it,” Ken said, his chin resting on his hand, “We should go to the castle.”

“W-what!?” V-mon gasped, then looked at Daisuke acting like a real idiot kicking the barrier, “Uh Daisuke…! Use that spear-thing!!”

“Oh, good idea V-mon!!” Now he summoned the Lighdra-Glaive once again and started trying to cut it with the blade “OPEN YOU STUPID INVISIBLE BARRIER!”

“I agree there must be a way to leave this place if we go there, but how about Daisuke?” Wallace asked with some concern, pointing at the other still fighting the barrier.

“He’s fine, don’t worry,” Ken answered.

“That seems like a good idea,” Wormmon said, and climbed Ken’s back.

In the background you could see Daisuke throwing the glaive at the barrier and it bouncing back at him, making him run away from the glaive until it got stuck on the floor.

“Well, it's not like we have any other option” Gummymon shrugged, but using his ears.

“Daisuke!!” V-mon was too busy watching a 17 year old teenager fight with a barrier and lose to it.

“FINE YOU WON! I didn’t want to leave anyways!” And he walked back to the current group, sulking.

“Daisuke, calm down. There might exist a portal or something to turn the barrier off inside the castle.” Ken said, trying to comfort him.

“Whatever!” He was quite upset, “Let’s go.”

[ladyofthecastleproject]

Stingmon VS Lekismon: a Duel of Assassins

[AO3 version]

Summary:

Daisuke and Ken face Lekismon, the well-trained assassin of the enemy's army. But... Something gets revealed in the middle of the battle.

[Note: It's 2008; drabble with some twists]

Sapphmon was playing with a baby who was supposed to be Ranamon, while she kept watching the egg with tear patterns lying next to her. Said egg was Splashmon’s and it had been a while since Lightnimon brought it.

She was having a great time when she noticed something move in the trees.

“Ah, you’re back” Sapphmon smiled, “But… Isn’t that risky for us?”

It was Daisuke and V-mon, they stopped in front of her and the baby.

“We know that” he wasn’t smiling though, it was somehow concerning “I have no idea where to find Lekismon. She’s the only one left.”

“So, you’re planning to turn her into an egg too?” she asked calmly.

“That’s the only way to stop her, right?” V-mon frowned and shrugged.

“I see…” she looked at the Pitchimon playing with her, then to the boys “You came here to ask where to find her.”

They nodded.

“You won’t find her, she will find you. She’s trained to spy on the enemies and end them before they notice her.”

“Wow… that will be tough,” V-mon grimaced.

“This means we will have to be careful” Daisuke mused, “Alright, thank you Frostmon.”

“... Sapphmon. I’m Sapphmon now.”

“Right, thank you Sapphmon.”

And they left that area quickly.

“Ken-kun, what are you looking at?” Miyako asked, noticing Ken staring at the woods.

“He didn’t come back yet” he looked at her, “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to keep visiting Frostmon back and forth…”

“Oh, um… Daisuke is acting strange lately, he always wanted everyone to work together but now…”

“He does not want us to get involved directly” he sighed, “yeah, this is quite unusual…”

“He said to not like doing it” Iori approached and joined their conversation, “Also used some odd wording to not make it obvious to our enemies..”

“Yeah, about being stuck in a cave, dagya” as Armadimon commented, Miyako and Ken’s eyes widened.

“A… Cave?” they said and looked at each other.

“Do you think he went to the Dark Ocean this time?” Miyako frowned, “I wouldn’t expect him to go there…”

“Oh, that’s not what he meant,” Iori interrupted them, “I think he meant it as some metaphor for how Lightnimon was keeping him inside. Inside the armor I say.”

“Like… a mask” Ken vaguely remembered about his past but wouldn’t delve in it anymore as he had decided six years ago.

“Exactly,” Iori nodded.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of someone approaching from the woods. The digimon got on guard, Miyako and Iori summoned their weapons and Ken signaled them to be quiet.

They walked to the entrance of the forest and…

“Guys I got bad ne--”

“ATTACK!!” Wormmon, Hawkmon and Armadimon assaulted their visitor who was indeed Daisuke.

“WHAT THE HE--”

“Aaah, We’re sorry Daisuke!” Miyako gasped. She and Iori dropped their weapons and alongside Ken they retrieved their digimon from the top of an annoyed Daisuke.

“Ack, WHAT WERE YOU DOING!?” he growled, V-mon popped in quietly and tilted his head.

“Sorry…” Wormmon muttered.

“You said you got bad news, what is it?” Ken asked, trying to change the subject.

“Lekismon is a problem, she’s an assassin-type and might be waiting for the right moment to attack us… Or me, I’m still a target.” and sighed in disappointment.

“Oh…” Hawkmon commented, “Then, the best we can do is keep you protected.”

“I don’t want to be protected,” he said with an annoyed voice, “I hate to feel unable to do something… And I hate to be a burden. So maybe I should--”

“You said you wouldn’t run away anymore” Iori replied, “Are you going to work all alone again?”

“I…”

“I heard something,” V-mon finally spoke after watching the discussion in silence, “Someone’s around.”

“Lekismon” Daisuke muttered to them, “She might have found us…” and he ran after the shadow moving in the trees. V-mon followed him.

“Daisuke, wait!” Ken shouted, then went after him.

“You idiots what you do-- huh?!” Miyako was her arm held by Iori.

“We can’t go after them, let’s tell Takeru-san and the others first so we can make a plan first.”

“A-ah you’re right! Then let’s go back!”

“Daisuke, don’t you think this is a bad idea running after something suspicious like this!?”

Ken had completely caught up with him the moment he stopped in a close area. But he just met with Lightnimon instead. Did he change in the middle of the chase?! -- Ken thought.

“Shh, Daisuke-kun’s not here! He had to hide the moment I arrived.”

“Seriously…?” the other squinted his eyes.

“Yo, Lekismon. I know it was you… You came after that Chosen Child right? I won’t let you put your filthy hands on him!”

Also, Ken realized V-mon hid in the area to not ruin the façade. Suddenly, Lekismon appeared in front of them.

“You can’t fool me” and said with a serious tone.

“Fool you?” Lightnimon repeated, “I’m not joking, I won’t let you put your hands on Daisuke-kun!”

“I’ve been watching your moves, Chosen Child. You’re no digimon.”

“Huh!?”

She quickly found V-mon and threw him at the group, “Your pathetic play won’t work with me.”

“Ack!” V-mon growled, then he got up from the ground “How do you know--”

“... I have no time to waste.”

“Okay…” Daisuke switched back to his usual speech pattern “So you know it’s me. But I won’t let you take me without fighting!”

Ken stepped in, “Let me handle this, at least this time” and he grabbed his D-3.

Wormmon evolved into Stingmon and flew against Lekismon. She dodged and tried to punch him, but Stingmon blocked it. They repelled each other to opposite sides.

“Why?” Daisuke asked, “Let you handle this!? She’s well-trained in combat, you can’t fight her alone!!”

“I’m not fighting alone, Stingmon is with me.”

“I appreciate your abilities but” Lekismon attacked Stingmon again, “I’m not here to fight!” and he blocked her again.

“Not here to fight but are fighting us” V-mon squinted his eyes, “That’s a big fat lie.”

“You attacked me first,” and she managed to block Stingmon’s kick.

“If you’re not trying to fight us…” Ken began, “then why were you spying on us?”

She repelled Stingmon again and stood up in front of them. Daisuke summoned the Lighdra-Glaive and pointed it at her.

“Answer us!” he said seriously.

“... I came to warn you, Chosen Child. Your ridiculous play had not been fooling him nor my real master.”

“Him?” Ken raised an eyebrow.

“Duskmon,” Daisuke explained, “The digimon who… ambushed me and tried to kill me but I managed to survive.”

“How did you survive?” Stingmon asked.

“I have no idea, it was a legit miracle-- Wait, you said ‘real master’ ?! Then you don’t work for Duskmon?”

She shook her head, “My master is Beowulfmon. I was instructed to spy on Duskmon, who now  gave me the mission to end Lightnimon’s life.”

“... Sure, go on,” Daisuke said, making everyone stare at him.

“What!?” Ken exclaimed, “You… You are not planning to give him this end, aren’t you!?”

“Look, soon or later it will become hard to play both roles. So let it be.”

“But a ton of digimon we helped…” V-mon babbled.

“Then what will happen if we get ambushed again? Let me die for real this time?”

“You’re a weird human…” Lekismon shook her head calmly, “I expected you to refuse letting him be destroyed.”

“That’s no good, Daisuke...” Ken frowned.

“I’m not good at thinking okay!? If you all have a better solution, then tell me!”

“... We don’t have any idea” Stingmon looked down, “Sorry.”

“After all, they all know already… So that’s the only solution here.”

“Wait” Ken interrupted him, “You said they already know, there’s no sense ending him and leaving Daisuke alive.”

Daisuke blinked, “Huh that’s right… It would be useless… right?”

“You’re not interested in ending him, if deduced it correctly” and he stared at Lekismon, “But you had to warn us about it.”

She… smiled? They didn’t expect her to have a soft side, and then…

“You’re correct. I don’t want to. I’d like to find another solution to that, though Beowulfmon and I hadn’t found any.”

“What if we fake you being destroyed?” V-mon asked, “Then you can spend your time with Frostmon…!”

“Or keep spying on the enemies!” Daisuke added, “So, what do you think?”

“Hmm…” She rested her chin on her hand, “Interesting idea. A bit rough, but might work.”

They smiled, then…

“But… If you want it to work, you must make it realistic. I never had lost a battle before.”

“We can handle it!” Daisuke said with confidence “Leave it to us!!”

“Wait, Daisuke-kun and Ichijouji-kun went after the enemy!?” Mimi gasped, Takeru and Hikari were in silence.

“Yeah,” Miyako nodded, “and I was ready to go after them if not for Iori reminding me we needed a plan first.”

“Do you know where they went?” Tailmon asked.

“We don’t kn--”

Suddenly  a shadow flew over their heads and hit the camp’s tent. When they were to verify, another shadow came but got blocked by Stingmon. The one who was saved by the tent was Lightnimon (Daisuke) and they quickly saw Stingmon fighting Lekismon under the moonlight.

“A-are you okay!?” Hikari asked; Takeru and Iori helped him to get up.

“I’m fine… Ken is with V-mon, don’t worry” and he went back to the battle, wielding his Lighdra-Glaive.

“Ken is with V-mon?” Patamon blinked, “Why would they switch partners?”

“Everyone!” Ken came with V-mon after him.

“Ken-kun!” Miyako said, “What’s happening??!”

“Listen to me carefully” he said with a glare.

A bit away from there, Lightnimon and Stingmon were facing Lekismon and none of them were ready to give up. Lightnimon’s armor had some scratches, but it was still working nicely.

“Give up!” Lightnimon shouted, “I’m not going to let you beat me!”

Lekismon kept silent and then jumped in their direction to throw a powerful kick.

“Now Stingmon!!”

“Spiking… Finish!!”

And Stingmon’s needle hit Lekismon, repelling her directly to the woods. The group arrived moments later, to see him and Lightnimon going into the forest and disappeared.

“Did they get her?” Palmon asked, concerned.

A few seconds later, Lightnimon and  Stingmon came back. Lightni carried an egg in his arms. The kids were shocked.

“You… You turned her into a Digiegg…!” Mimi gasped.

“Sorry, it was the only way to save her,” he replied, “I need to find a place for this egg, but maybe the best choice is to keep it around for a while. Mimi-san, can you take care of her?”

“I… I can.” and she gently got the egg from his hands.

“Now I have to tell your friend it’s safe to come out, See ya Chosen Children” he bowed and then went to the woods again. Stingmon evolved back to Wormmon and went to Ken’s arms.

“He doesn’t need to keep doing this,” Ken muttered.

There, Daisuke changed back to his actual outfit and looked at Lekismon sitting on a rock.

“... I said your act--”

“I understood that,” Daisuke said, “Are you okay? You said we needed to make it realistic, but we didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m fine” she replied calmly, “Like I said, I never had lost a fight before.”

“I hope your master Beowulfmon doesn’t mind you losing at least once.”

“I will contact him immediately. Thank you.”

“I’m should be the one thanking you here” he smiled, “Later I will bring you to Frostmon--”

“I already know where she is. Now, go back to your friends” she got up and disappeared in the trees.

“Okay… Stay safe…” he said, and then walked back to the group.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Knight and the Detective

[AO3 version]

Summary:

Ken vs Lightnimon showdown, Fight the Knight!! The detective (prince) Ichijouji Ken finally reaches his conclusions and unmask the mysterious yet terrifying digimon's secrets.

[Note: It takes place in 2008; this is one of my favorite drabbles btw]

The dark night didn’t stop Ichijouji Ken from running after the mysterious shadow who had been spotted. He let the group sleep, and then with Wormmon he dived into the forest.

His investigation was leading him to a conclusion -- The mysterious digimon named ‘Lightnimon’ who had been a hot topic through the Digital World as some terrifying savior for the victims of Frostmon and Ranamon’s armies, had not been alone. He got an accomplice, a partner which probably had been doing all the dirty job for him.

However, Ken did not believe it could be him . He’s a nice person and wouldn’t hide behind a mask or pretend to be who he isn’t. The time he had done this on Valentine’s Day five years ago, Ken immediately snapped him out of it. But why would this now be an option?

Unmasking Lightnimon became Ken’s priority. If he were a digimon, then this means Daisuke had yet to be found. However, what if…

“I can’t think about it being a possibility” Ken shook his head.

“What’s wrong Ken-chan?” Wormmon frowned, he was on Ken’s back.

“Nothing… Do… Do you think that that silhouette we saw was Lightnimon?”

“Hmmm… Maybe?”

“I’d hope to be Daisuke though…” Ken whispered, “Where did you go, you dumbass…”

“If it’s not him, what should we do?” Wormmon asked this time.

“Maybe we can fight… or retreat to call for the others” Ken replied, musing about his plans.

“I… I sense something…”

“Huh?”

“Right there!!” Wormmon stared at the unknown, and threw his silk web at the bushes. Something the web hit and stuck on it. So, Ken took the other end of the silk from Wormmon’s mouth and held it tightly.

“We know you’re here. Show yourself, whoever you are!”

“My my…. You’re quite smart hm?”

That voice…

“Who’s there?!”

“What, you have been looking for me and don’t even know my name!?”

“Show yourself!” Ken repeated, gritting his teeth.

The silk started to loose as the digimon-or-human appeared from the bushes. The Lighdramon armor revealed that it wasn’t no one else than…

“It’s him, the digimon were talking about him!” Wormmon gasped.

“Who me? Ah yes, I forgot I became pretty famous” Lightnimon shrugged, “Anyway, isn’t past your bedtime Ichijouji-kun?”

Ken felt so much anger at that mysterious enemy (?) sassing him. But, instead of losing his mind, he smirked.

“I don’t sleep when I’m investigating something. Say, what makes you think you’re different from us? You said you and us have the same goal, but also threatened us to not mess with your plans. This is quite contradictory, don’t you think?”

“Kh… You…”

“Ah, this reminds me of someone who tends to lose his coolness once dealing with some critique.”

Then Lightnimon started to laugh, louder and louder.

“You think I am someone you know?” he said with a serious tone of voice, “Ichijouji-kun, you know nothing about me, but I do know you. Or you think slipping back into this cocky Digimon Kaiser persona would intimidate me?”

“You lost your mind!! I’m trying to make you get back to your senses!”

“Again you keep insisting I’m someone you know… Sigh, you’re so boring. I’m going off--”

“You won’t escape this time! Wormmon!”

Wormmon jumped from Ken’s back and evolved to Stingmon. The insectoid digimon flew in Lightnimon’s direction, but then the digimon got blocked by a Lighdramon-motif Glaive. This probably made Ken realize he was right about not only Miyako and Iori had gotten such weaponry based on their Digimentals of Sincerity and Reliability.

“I knew it… You’re him.” Ken clenched his fists, but this commentary kept stuck in his mind.

“You got one of those too!?” Stingmon exclaimed.

“Tsk, I stole it from your friend.”

“If you’re not him…” Ken said aloud, “Then where is he!?”

“You want to know? I can’t tell you where he is” he held the glaive on guard “It would put his life at risk.”

“If you know… We will make you tell it!” Stingmon attempted another kick, but Lightnimon dodged it “Where’s Daisuke-san and V-mon!?”

“Are you ignoring me!? I said I CAN’T tell that! His life’s in danger, you all saw Frostmon saying he was dead!”

“That information was incorrect though” Ken said seriously, glaring at him “The Digital Gate can only be opened by a D-3. The gate to the Digital World was locked, but someone managed to open it. Daisuke is alive, and you also confirmed it.”

“Yes, but which part of ‘His life is in danger so I can’t tell where to find him’ you two did NOT understand!?” He used the glaive to block Stingmon’s kick again, then repelled the digimon with it.

“You will tell us or else…!!” Stingmon and Ken said together.

“Or else what, you will destroy me knowing I know where he is and then ruin the possibilities of finding him again?” behind that helmet, he was smirking.

“We won’t kill you!”

“Oh interesting~ Well then, I’m not alone and you know it.” Then he snapped his fingers, making a wild claw come from the shadows.

“What?!” Stingmon dodged, and stood in front of Ken, “Is…”

“As expected, he indeed has a partner-in-crime.”

“Impressive! As expected from the prodigy genius boy” Lightmon clapped his hands and laughed, and Ken cringed at being called 'genius' by him “Now if you excuse me, I have to go. There’s more enemies around and I can’t let them attack those innocent lives.”

“We… We won’t give up!”

“Ah, you still want to fight” and then he sighed, “Isn’t it a disadvantage for you? Two against one?”

“Kh…” Ken bit his lips, “Fine, you won. You can go, but before… Allow me to ask one more question.”

“Another one?” Lightnimon said, totally uninterested in it, “Fine, fine… Go ahead. If it is about your friend he’s fine and safe but I can’t tell you where he’s hiding--”

“Oh no, I know Daisuke is an idiot but can survive alone. My question is about you though.”

Ken smirk was denouncing some tricky question, or a trap. He couldn’t fall on it.

“If you’re not Daisuke, then how do you manage to get his partner to evolve?”

Wh-what!? How did he…

Stingmon had taken that distraction to attack the clawed monster, revealing Fladramon from the bushes.

“S-shoot…!!” he muttered.

“Answer me, Lightnimon… Or should I say...”

“Fladramon, now!”

“W-what are you do--”

Fladramon’s form changed to a crimson armored version of himself, and wings of flame appeared from his back, causing a huge explosion in which both him and Lightnimon used to escape as Stingmon couldn’t pass through the flames.

“Ken-chan, he escaped…!”

“Darn it, you moron…!!” Ken thought, now knowing that Lightnimon wasn’t a digimon at all and yes…

“I’m sorry Da-- It mean, Lightnimon. I messed this up…” BurningFladramon said, holding Lightnimon in his arms.

“It’s not your fault, buddy… Ichijouji Ken’s an amazing detective after all.”

 “But now he knows…”

“Well I suppose that cannot be helped, as long he doesn’t spread the word and put their lives at risk. The trees have ears y’know?”

“Was… Was that a…”

“No, I meant literally. If any digimon from those two’s army heard us, this might put everyone’s lives in danger.”

“Don’t you think it’s the right moment to reveal ourselves?”

Daisuke did not respond, he was thoughtful. Something in his mind was going on and BurningFladramon knew.

“I’ve… Turned into some despicable person right now. Except for Mimi-san, Palmon and Gummymon… All of them do not like me. Do you think if I reveal myself they would understand?”

“We’re all friends, of course they will.”

“... But not now, we need to keep beating those meanies and save villages. We will settle this some other time.”

“Right…”

“Should we tell the others?” After Stingmon had put out the fire to prevent it hitting more and more trees and the local towns, he returned to Wormmon form.

“Hmm… I think we can--” Suddenly, his D-terminal beeped, “Huh?”

Ken took his device from his pocket and opened it. He noticed Daisuke had sent a message to him:

Ken, for the sake of everyone… DON’T tell anyone what you know. You might be putting everyone in danger if you do that. Wait for the right time, I trust you. P.S.: Put out the fire and uh, sorry for lying.

“What does he mean by ‘wait for the right time’ Ken-chan?”

“I guess he’s still been tracked” Ken mused, “If the enemies know.... They could find him wandering alone and then…”

“I don’t like that, he should’ve come back to us.”

“I know Daisuke is not a genius, but… He might have a reason for this. His ideas usually backfire, like now. So I’m concerned.”

“He admitted it was him, so I guess… We should keep it a secret like he asked us.”

“I think the same, but he’s a terrible liar. This might only work if he’s not talking at all.”

“I agree.”

... Sigh, what do you have in mind, Daisuke…

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Knight and the Prince in the Castle

[AO3 version]

Summary:

Inside the castle, a battle occurs and V-mon worries for Lightnimon’s life. Then, Wallace has the visit of a familiar face… Could Wallace be rescued from Duskmon’s hands? Or…?

[Notes: It takes place in 2008; this was the first drabble I wrote actually...]

Something was moving quickly through the corridors of this new rendition of Vamdemon’s castle. It wasn’t exactly the same place Taichi and the Chosen Children had ventured in before, but some mysterious one was built during those times.

Maybe it was all an illusion, or it was created by magic. No one knows.

The mysterious shadow approaches from the door of a room in which a special person was inside. He was running out of time, and V-mon was next to him trying to keep him cool. The digimon next to the black armored shadow -- one armor with Lighdramon motif -- was denouncing his identity. But he didn’t care at this point, he couldn’t waste his chance.

But something happened.

Once the door opened, a digimon attacked them. It wasn’t the kid’s digimon, so it was supposed to be one of the soldiers from the real bad guy.

Wielding this glaive Lighdramon-based weapon, he and V-mon dodged from the enemies attack and prepared to battle.

“What’s this?”

“Undead digimon, MadLeomon” V-mon explained, “I can handle it by myself”

“You kidding!? I won’t let you fight alone!”

“We’re here to rescue Wallace, not to pick a fight with a sentinel!”

“Sigh…” he couldn’t evolve his partner-in-crime right now…

“Why are you here?”

Wallace appeared behind MadLeomon, not amused by those two’s presence.

“We came to rescue you!” V-mon said.

“I don’t need to be rescued, go away.”

“W-wait!” the armored ‘digimon’ shouted, “You want to stay here!?”

“I don’t need to talk with you.”

“They’re using you, Wallace!”

“Leave me alone, Chocomon is gone! Gummymon is missing! And this is all YOUR fault!”

MadLeomon dashed through the corridor, trying to hit the two prey with their arms. V-mon and the incognito warrior avoided it by dodging to the edges of the field.

“They brainwashed him!” V-mon warned his companion.

“Oh really? Darn it, Wallace!”

“Brainwashed…? How can I be brainwashed if I wanted to be here!? They explained my role in this world, while you and your friends lied to me.”

“What the heck are you talking about!?” the duo dodged another blow, “Daisuke-kun and his friends did not lie to you! Their group found Gummymon, and they weren’t aware of such power!!”

Wallace’s eyes showed a spark of light to the mention of Gummymon.

“T-they… Found him?”

However, MadLeomon kept attacking their opponents with no mercy. And they didn’t attack back with the fear of hitting their friend.

“Chocomon might be gone! But we can find him” V-mon yelled, “Please, come with us!”

“I… I can’t!”

“Why!?”

“Gummymon might hate me now, he might think I abandoned him but, but…!!”

“He does not hate yo--” The armored ‘digimon’ dodged another attack but got hit by a second blow, “Khh!!”

“L-Lightnimo--”  by V-mon despair, he also got caught off guard and hit by MadLeomon’s punches. He flew away, collapsing on the ground next to ‘Lightnimon’.

“He… Stop, please! L-Let them talk, you don’t need to protect me anymore!!”

“Master’s orders is to not let you alone and fight anyone who dares to stay on your way.”

“Bu-but they’re not doing anything wrong, please stop!”

“My orders are to eliminate whoever steps in.”

“No, leave them alone! MY order is to you stop right now!” Wallace stared at the undead digimon, and the digimon somehow stopped.

“Master won’t like this…”

“Well? I’m YOUR master now, and I order you to leave them alone.”

“Yes, master Wallace…” MadLeomon stepped back, and then the boy ran to the other two on the floor.

“Please don’t die here… I would go with you but I can’t, I’ve been watched and this might not be good for either of us…”

“Ghn…” V-mon got up, and then the other very slowly.

“W-we... Can’t leave you h-here…!” the masked ‘digimon’ said.

“... I’m sorry it’s all my fault. It’s my fault that you got hurt…! It’s my fault that I got separated from Gummymon, it’s my fault that Chocomon egg didn’t hatch--”

“It’s not your fault!” he grabbed Wallace by his collar, “You got fooled and kidnapped, we couldn’t do anything to stop it before! Gummymon does not hate you, neither Daisuke-kun nor his friends!”

“We need to leave this place right now, Lightni” V-mon alerted his partner, “I feel something is coming…!”

“W-why are you talking funny?!” Wallace frowned, “That’s not like you…”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!I don’t speak funny, that’s my way to be!”

“No really, you’re talking very funny, also what’s with that get up…? You wanted to be cool and save me like your beloved prince?” Wallace smirked.

“You idiot I’m not who you think I am!! I’m--”

“Quit babbling and let’s get outta here Lightni!!”

“R-right…! We will come back for you…!” He freed Wallace and ran after V-mon.

They jumped from the corridor’s window, and mysteriously V-mon evolved to a Fladramon with flaming wings sprouting from his back. Wallace watched them vanish in the horizon, as the other guards reached the floor they were on.

Filled with doubts, the boy couldn’t tell what was said by that mysterious knight.

Somehow, he felt that ‘digimon’ was familiar…

“What are you doing, Daisuke?” was all he could think about.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

First Encounter With The Chosen Children

[AO3 version]

Summary:

The 02 group moves to the latest Daisuke D-3 signal caught by Koushiro's Digital World map, in a city area. Frostmon attacks them and makes an announcement, which shock the entire team. The mysterious Lightnimon is also around, but what are his plans...?

[Note: It takes place in 2008; Inspired in Deltarune's "A CYBER WORLD?" track]

As the group moved on in the search of both Daisuke and Wallace’s whereabouts, they heard stories of some mysterious warriors fighting evil digimon and troops from an unknown enemy.

At first, Ken thought: Must they be Daisuke and V-mon? But nothing made sense. Why would they act all alone… And why would Daisuke never message them back? That seemed suspicious.

“Now, where should we go?” Hikari asked, as they sat in a cafe in that area’s city.

“We could ask Koushiro-san” Wormmon suggested “He can catch the digivice signal from his computer right?”

“He’s searching right now, and it led us to this place“ Miyako replied “But it seems they’re not here anymore.”

“How?” Armadimon asked, “This is a big city, dagya. How could they leave that fast? XV-mon and Lighdramon cannot fly or run to another area that quickly, dagya.”

“I doubt it” Iori mused, “If they fly over the city they might have more room to leave quickly. On a reasonable height, they can fly in a straight line anywhere.”

“Ichijouji-kun?” Mimi asked Ken, who was somehow too quiet discreetly looking at the other digimon next to them chatting about something “Are you okay?”

“H-Huh?” he immediately looked at the group again, “Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts.”

“Then… he might not be that far from us,” Tailmon said, “Let’s walk around and ask for information. One of those digimon might know something.

“Right!” The group agreed. But Ken was again focused on that convo between a Floramon and a Gumdramon.

“Ken-kun?” Miyako frowned.

“A-ah I agree!”

“Did you hear that, a black armored digimon saved a town miles away from here” They heard everywhere they went people talking about this.

“Oh right, they’re called Lightnimon right?”“I want to evolve into one when I grow up!”

In the shadows of that city, Lightnimon heard those rumors and such and…

“I don’t understand… All we did was kick some vile digimon troops out of a village.”

“But we’re getting famous! I want to eat some ramen right now and--”

“No, we can’t do this. We might call attention from the enemies and that group of humans.”

“H-huh, I thought you--”

“We’re in this city because we heard about another assault happening. We’re here to protect people.”

“Oh alright… Then, what should we do?”

“Hmm… We gotta investiga-- Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

Lightnimon looked to the other side of the street, seeing a mysterious and buff bird walking around. Yes, Frostmon was there.

“I guess I spotted a flying rat” and he smirked.

Being that troubled, Frostmon tried to track her enemies after casually finding them in the way and following the group cautiously. Her troops were searching for them as well.

With no luck, the big bird growled. Wonderful, she had them in her hands and now…

“Where did those brats g--”

“Hello, birdie!”

“ACK!” She looked behind her and saw the same small armored digimon that another time again “Oh it’s you, the pipsqueak from the fairytales.”

“Did you call me pipsqueak aga-- AHEM, yeah it’s me.”

“I have no time for that! Even after some of my areas being abysmally taken away from me.”

“Oh? Is it something bugging you?” Although this felt an attempt to be nice, he was in fact mocking her. The helmet prevented his facial expressions from ruining his façade, that smirk he had right now would’ve denounced his intentions “Would like to talk about this?”

“I’m not a loser like Ranamon says! The Chosen Children are in this city and I will ambush them, and before they are captured I will tell them that their leader is dead!”

Lightnimon’s eyes widened with that revelation.

“So… Their leader is gone” he began “Wow, I never expected for that. And they’re here!? Yeah, it might hurt…”

“Now if you excuse me--”

“Oh wait, I think I can help you.”

“I don’t need your help”

“I’m fast and I can find them quickly!” he babbled, “This city is my hometown!”

“Hmm, right. If you fight them, hold them until I arrive.”

“Roger!”

And she left. When Frostmon had vanished in the horizon and he was aware she couldn’t hear him, he stomped his foot.

“Dang, they’re in danger… How do I warn them?? Hmm… Buddymon.”

“Huh?” Buddymon had just arrived when he heard his name “W-what?”

No matter what the Chosen Children asked, none of the digimon residing or visiting the city heard about Daisuke or Wallace’s whereabouts. None of them saw any of the two, or even knew one of them was in town.

“What should we do now?” Patamon pouted, “How can they hide themselves like this!?”

“It’s okay, let’s message him” Takeru said, and took his phone from his pocket. But once he opened the inbox, a Tyrannomon appeared and attacked them.

Patamon evolved into Angemon and blocked the enemy’s attack with his rod.

“Takeru!”

“Right, I will take everyone to a safer place” and the boy ran to the panicked digimon, leading them to the exit. Moments later another enemy appeared, chasing Miyako and Hikari. Their digimon were fighting right now.

“W-where those come from!?” Miyako shouted. She spotted Mimi and Iori coming, with more Tyrannomon chasing them and their digimon trying to protect them.

“They surrounded us!” Mimi panicked, Gummymon (Terriermon) was in her arms. Togemon couldn’t use her thorns recklessly or else she would hit everyone else around, including the kids and Mimi, and the innocent digimon in the middle of the crossfire.

Not only Togemon, but also the group’s digimon could end up hurting and causing damage to the buildings if they used their attacks. So all the Chosen Children could do was run away and lure the enemies to a place they can fight freely and without hurting anyone.

“What should we do?” Gummymon asked with a frown.

“Oi, this way!!”

Someone called them, and the group only saw a hooded small creature waving at them. Takeru and the others ran towards the mysterious digimon, with their partners and enemies coming next. They couldn’t reach the hooded one, but felt something familiar in it.

When they reached the exit of the urban area of the city, they were able to fight for real. The small hooded digimon (nicknamed Buddymon) took the opportunity to leave and hide from the others’ sight.

“Heaven’s Knuckle” “Coconuts Punch” “Nile Jewelry” “Tail Hammer” “Red Sun” “Spiking Finish”

The combined attacks knocked out the army of Tyrannomons. Hidden somewhere in the battlefield was Lightnimon, keeping an eye on the group and making sure Frostmon won’t appear in front of them. Buddymon looked around and said:

“We did it, we saved them… I mean, they saved themselves but we helped to save the city.”

“Yeah, but there’s something off here…”

“What do you mean by that?”

“They didn’t try to attack the group once they reached that area-- Oh shoot I…!!”

“Well done, human children” Frostmon appeared at the top of a knocked out Tyrannomon. Lightnimon clenched his fists from his hidden spot “You’re trapped now. And I have orders to make any of you suffer slowly as we take control over the Digital World and banish humans from it!”

“What!?” Miyako shouted “Why would you do that!?”

“You took Wallace away from us” Mimi snapped, “And then now you talk about banishing us!?”

“Wallace is a human, don’t you know?” Gummymon added.

“Tsc! A human will change history to a world none of you existed in!” Frostmon said, smirking, “Ah, did you know your beloved leader with goggles?”

“D-did you capture Daisuke-kun too?” Hikari gasped.

Frostmon excitement in delivering the news caused her to laugh loudly and disturb everyone, including the hidden duo who only could watch this in silence.

“Yes. And we eliminated him.”

“Y-you… eliminated him!?” The kids exclaimed, the shock in their faces was delightful. Miyako knelt on the floor, Hikari started to cry, Takeru and Iori stared at the big bird with mixed feelings, and Mimi was comforting Hikari.

However, Ken’s reaction changed from shock to confusion: The gate was closed and locked and none of us could open it from outside, and if Mimi-san were already here it would lead to her being the one who unlocked it. But her digivice is a normal model, so the only person who could do this was…!!

“YOU’RE A LIAR!” The digimon attacked with no mercy, but Nefertimon was the only one to not move. She looked at kids and was reaching the same conclusion as Ken’s.

Frostmon managed to hit everyone and make them all return to child form by her power. Done, she had no reason to keep fighting them, and then she dramatically left with a dark snow storm which froze her own lackeys.

“D-Daisuke is dead?” Miyako was still petrified.

“... I… Don’t know” Hawkmon and the others walked back to the group.

“... I refuse to believe it” Ken said.

“Hey kiddos.” A voice came from somewhere, and the kids got ready for another fight. Iori summoned the Submari-Sword and the digimon got on alert.

“Who’s here!?” Iori shouted.

A shadow popped out from a corner and stood in front of the kids. Lighdramon-esque armor with an odd color palette and suspicious aura.

“What is this Lighdramon rip-off digimon… (dagya)” Everyone but Mimi, Palmon and Gummymon said together, squinting their eyes at that creature.

“Excuse me?! I’m not a ripoff-- AHEM, I have some big news for you kiddos.”

“He suddenly sounded familiar now…” Takeru blinked. Lightnimon flinched discreetly.

“I’m no enemy but I’m no ally” Lightnimon chuckled, “You want to know… The truth?”

“The truth?” Hikari frowned.

“Your friend is not dead, BUT can’t say much about it… The time I saw him he had been hunted by the enemies.”

“Do you know where Wallace is?” Gummymon asked.

“Wallace-who?” he stroked his chin, “I don’t see any other human than your friend. If the human I saw was the one you’re looking for… Spiky-messy hair, goggles, shorty, V-mon as partner…?”

“So you know where Daisuke-san is?” Iori asked, pointing the sword at him.

“Let’s see… He’s not in this city anymore… I only saw him but then he vanished like a ghost.”

“A ghost!?” Patamon gasped.

“Not that he’s dead! I meant I got distracted by some good food and he disappeared.”

“Then that’s all you know” Ken said, “Thank you for the information--”

“Nuh-uh, don’t be all friendly with me. We’re not allies, nor enemies. We’re like rivals. If you mess with my plans…” he did the throat-slitting gesture “Got it, kiddos?”

“Are you threatening us, dagya!?” Armadimon hissed.

“Take it as you want, hehe”

“I don’t like you!” Miyako, and she got her D-3, “Hawkmon--”

“Oh look at the hour, I need to go. Can’t waste time with human children” he shrugged, “We may cross our paths again but the next time… It may not end well.”

“YOU MASKED-MON!!”

And he ran away from there, laughing. The others were just… confused at it. Miyako was the one who took more offense than anything.

“Ugh, what’s with that digimon!?” she growled, “Is he an enemy or not!?”

“He saw Daisuke-kun and was kind enough to tell us after what said by Frostmon?” Hikari mused.

“I don’t think he’s an enemy” Mimi muttered, the group looked at her, “Let’s keep an eye on him though…”

“Ichijouji-san?” Iori looked at Ken who was too silent and probably lost in his thoughts again.

“... It’s nothing. Let’s move on. If Daisuke’s not here… We must keep looking for him.”

“Indeed.” Hawkmon agreed with a nod.

Lightnimon returned back to Buddymon, in the same spot they were before.

“Did you… Really need to do that?”

“What?”

“Threatening them! Why did you do what!?”

“Because I can’t let them ruin my plans, bud” he sighed, “They’re all friendly and nice, our enemies are cruel and soulless. This is a battle I have to win all alone.”

“Making them your enemy is not a good idea!”

“We’re not enemies, it was a bluff” he blinked, his voice sounded confused “You know that. Or why the heck would we protect them from the shadows?”

“You’re strange, Lightni…”

“Whatever, we need to follow them and keep the innocent digimon safe from the evil guys as well.”

The mysterious Lightnimon seems to have a soft spot for the Chosen Children. And Ken seems to slowly get some interest in the masked digimon.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Rise Of The Whirlpool Reliability

[AO3 version]

Summary:

A bounty hunter appears and hunts down the 02 group and Mimi. Paired with Gummymon (Terriermon) and separated from Armadimon, Iori struggles to protect the small digimon and himself from the enemies. When they reach a dead end and are about to lose... A light comes from his digivice and protects them. What is this?? Another of those Digimental Weapons!?

[Note: this takes place in 2008]

Gummymon (in Terriermon form) was in danger, being held by Iori who was running away from the enemy. He got lost from the others and especially from Armadimon. He had no idea what to do, but he couldn’t fight against a tough digimon like that. Gummymon won’t evolve to Gargomon in any scenario, so this pair was unlucky.

After spending a good time just following the boy in silence, the bunny-like digimon whispered:

“I’m sorry…”

“No, it’s not your fault” Iori stopped running and hid behind a tree; he whispered back, “We were careless. I’m trying to contact the others but… My phone and D-terminal are not working.”

“That’s bad…” Gummymon frowned.

A roar was heard, and then, they had to leave quickly. Iori pocketed his devices, grabbed Gummymon from the floor and left the woods. They entered an ancient ruins area and stepped into one of the abandoned houses. He closed the door. A lion-like digimon -- Liamon -- passed by outside.

He tried to contact the others again. But no success. What should they do now?

“... If Wallace were with us, I could evolve and help you” the digimon was frowning.

“This is just an unfortunate incident. It’s okay,” Iori tried to comfort him, “We promised to take you back to Wallace-san and we will.”

“I know but… We need nowhere to run now. We’re stuck.”

Iori looked through the window, and saw Liamon was searching for them.

Outside, and watching the group split up by the bounty hunter Zamielmon and his Liamon lackeys, Lightnimon bit his lip (even if no one could see that thanks to the helmet) and Buddymon’s red eyes showed concern for those humans and digimon.

“You know we can’t do anything about this” Buddymon whispered, “Unless you want us to be discovered.”

“I know, and I’m not good at thinking,” he muttered back, “But I also hate to sit and watch…!”

“... Me too. Then, what should we do?”

“Attack from distance” he replied, "you’re good at long-ranged targets now right? We got to do this without being caught!"

“Alright! Leave it to me!”

Armadimon ended up with Ken and Wormmon. It was a bit of a surprise that Iori wasn’t with them, and this made the armadillo digimon a bit worried. Not that he doubted Iori’s abilities, but more that Iori would need his assistance and he’s not around to deliver it.

“Did they leave?” Wormmon asked Ken, clutching to the boy’s leg.

“Hmm… I hope so”

“Then, we should go seek for Iori, dagya”

“Not yet” Ken squinted his eyes, and saw a Liamon in the horizon  but was… distracted by something else? Ken, Wormmon and Armadimon tried to guess what was happening but all they saw was smoke. And then a quick light until the smoke vanished and there was no Liamon anymore. “Huh?”

“What was that (dagya)?” Wormmon and Armadimon said together.

“Could it be Daisuke?” Ken mused, “But…why?”

“It doesn’t seem to be Daisuke-san at all” Wormmon replied, “But now we can go find Iori-san”

“You’re right… He might need our help” Ken nodded and then grabbed his D-3 to check for a digivice’s signal. Strangely, there was a signal around them… But Another a bit far away “Hm? Well, the one closer might not be Iori-kun, so…”

“Ah, maybe he went in that direction!” Armadimon pointed at the visible ruins in the distance in the sky.

“Then, let’s go check there first.” Ken nodded and the trio left in the ruins’ direction.

Miyako and Hawkmon were alone, but managed to work together against the Liamon. With that mysterious weapon the Digimental of Sincerity took form, she felt able to aid in battles a little better. And, with her good abilities in games she could apply some of those techniques in real-life situations… At least now.

She aimed at the trees and hoped for the best, she waited Horusmon to paralyze the enemy with Udjat Gaze and threw the shuriken against the trees surrounding Liamon. The trees were cut and fell over the lion-like digimon. Since she wasn’t aiming to kill them, that was just to buy them time and escape.

However, she noticed something running like the wind over their heads and a fire blast sound was heard. She looked back and saw Liamon, who was almost breaking through the tree debris, being destroyed by it.

“What… H-How cruel…”

Horusmon stopped, “What was that…?”

They saw a human-sized silhouette at the distance. Daisuke wouldn’t be that cruel to destroy enemies if they’re not dark towers right? But then… He once had pointed out a valid reason as to why Imperialdramon had destroyed SkullSatamon…

“Did you see that?” Horusmon said, “It was… A human?”

“It’s not Daisuke though, if it were him he would’ve come to meet us” she sighed, “Well, let’s find the rest!”

“Ok!”

Iori and Gummymon were still stuck. The Liamon and now another Liamon were walking outside, and soon or later they would sense their presence and invade that house.

“What are you doing?” Gummymon asked, scratching his head with his ear.

“Trying to find something to use for defense” and the boy answered, inspecting the room.

“But… Can you do it?”

“I can try at least… I practice kendo,” he said, “I can try to use something to knock them out and we run away from here.”

“Oh. Then, I will help you find something” and the small digimon started examining the place with him.

“Thank you,” Iori smiled, then returned looking for something that could work as a kendo stick, or something to throw against the Liamon.

Mimi and Hikari were together, Palmon and Tailmon were right now facing the Liamon chasing them. Both of them didn’t want to hurt the wild beast, but were running out of options.

“Cat Punch!”

Tailmon punched Liamon, jumped back and looked at Palmon, “Now!”

Palmon used her vines to pull the trees down against Liamon, burying it. Tailmon looked at the girls, and said:

“Don’t worry, Liamon’s fine. This will give us a chance to escap--”

“Watch out!!” Palmon used her vines to catch Tailmon and throw her at the girls, then ran and ducked as some flames came from their heads, hitting the Liamon and destroying it.

The girls looked at the scene. This was indeed a horrible thing.

“What happened!?” Hikari babbled “L-Liamon is…”

Mimi saw a shadow at the top of the trees, and once noticed something in the mysterious figure, her blood boiled.

“Yes, but let’s not think about it for now,” Tailmon replied, “Let’s find the rest.”

“Ok!” the girls and Palmon said.

Takeru flew on Pegasusmon, trying to block Liamon’s way from catching them. Despite him and Patamon being able to fight, they feared more of those enemies coming. When they reached a dead end, Takeru held tightly on Pegasusmon.

“Silver Blaze!”

The digimon got hit and stepped back. But another one came from the edges and surprised them. Takeru closed his eyes waiting for the worst but a fire blast hit the Liamon, destroying it. He and Pegasmon opened their eyes and saw a human-sized creature fighting the remaining Liamon.

“H-huh?”

It had a spear-like in hands, but some smoke coming from the flames caused by the battle made Pegasusmon and Takeru's vision blurred. Suddenly a big shadow appeared, slicing Liamon with a claw. Liamon got destroyed and the two shadows vanished quickly.

“What happened?” Pegasusmon asked, “Takeru, are you OK?”

“Y-yeah…” the boy replied, “Did you see that? Two digimon appeared in the smoke…”

“I couldn’t see them very well, let’s find the others.”

“Roger.”

“Ah, can this work?” and Gummymon showed a broom he just found and grabbed with his ear.

“Yes, we can use it for something. Thank you Gummymon,” and Iori gently took it from his ear. The boy removed the head of the broomstick “Done, let’s get out of here.”

“Okay…” the digimon flew to the top of Iori’s head.

Iori opened the door slowly, gave a peek outside and slowly opened the door. He walked outside quietly trying to pass through the Liamons, and while this was working… Gummymon was unable to hold a sneeze.

The Liamon noticed them, and ran to attack. Iori used the broomstick to defend Gummymon and himself, aiming at the digimon’s head. He hit it with all of his strength, but it broke. Liamon tried to hit them with its paw…

“Blazing Fire!!”

Gummymon shot a tiny ball of energy on Liamon, which hit it and caused a little explosion on Liamon’s eye. The lion enemy stepped back, and gave Iori time to escape…

“Guh!”

… Only to be hit by the other Liamon in the area.

“I-Iori!” Gummymon said, getting up from the ground, “Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine…” he responded, and then tried to find something else to protect himself and Gummymon from the next attack.

“W-watch out!!” the bunny-like digimon shouted.

Iori deeply wished for Armadimon to be there, but he had promised to help Gummymon find Wallace at all costs!

“I can’t… Die here…!” 

The digivice beeped, and a light came from it, hitting Liamon in the face and making it back off. The light stood in front of Iori, and he realized it was the Digimental of Reliability. The digimental changed its shape to a sword made by Submarimon’s harpoon. However, when Iori grabbed it, its spikes disappeared and he was able to repel Liamon’s next attempt at attacking them.

“What’s this?” Gummymon asked, “A sword?”

“I have no idea what it is, but… It will serve to protect us” He took Gummymon with one hand and stood on guard. Ready to repel any attack from the Liamon duo surrounding them.

The Liamons attacked, and Iori used that sword to repel their attacks. He was going well until he got cornered. Gummymon decided to charge a stronger and bigger energy ball but it wasn’t needed.

Fire came from the top of some ruins’ pillars and destroyed the Liamon. From the fire, the mysterious human-sized shadow stood in front of Iori, without realizing he was still there.

“That must be the last one” Lightnimon said, looking at the horizon “Now where did they go--”

Iori attacked him with the sword, thinking that digimon was one of the enemies. But Lightnimon was faster and dodged it quickly. The sword now was pointing at him, with Iori on a defensive stance.

“Ah, you’re there.”

“Who are you and why did you destroy those innocent lives?” Iori interrogated him, with a serious and casual tone.

“Oh… Those digimon might be reborn” Lightnimon shugged, “Take it easy.”

“Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“I’m just a digimon passing by” he chuckled, “Oh, I think your friends are coming. See you ~”

“W-wait a second--”

And Lightnimon ran away, but didn’t leave the abandoned town. He just hid behind a house and met Buddymon there.

“Iori!!” Armadimon was seen approaching from a distance. He was accompanied by Ken and Wormmon, who was in Ken’s arms.

“Armadimon, Ichijouji-san?” Iori blinked.

“I’m happy that you’re okay, dagya!”

“We’re glad that you’re fine too” Gummymon smiled, “huh where’s the rest?”

“Still lost I guess...” Wormmon said.

Suddenly, an arrow passed through their heads and hit the wall. When they all looked where it came from, they all met Zamielmon clapping his hands.

“Bravo.”

“You!” Armadimon growled, “Iori, evolve me!”

“Knowledge Digimental Up!”

Armadimon armor-evolved to Digmon and then he immediately had activated his upgraded form -- he became more of a rhino digimon, with still some bug details. DrillDigmon  dashed in the direction of Zamielmon with his drill claws spinning. Zamielmon dodged and tried to hit him with an arrow, but Stingmon surprisingly appeared from nowhere and caught him in time.

“ACK!”

DrillDigmon’s driller paw hit Zamielmon, though the opponent shot an arrow from his foot. Iori’s digimon stepped back. Stingmon stood in an offensive stance, ready for a new assault.

“Two against one is unfair.”

“You sent a ton of Liamons against us (dagya) !!” Stingmon and DrillDigmon shouted. Stingmon was stomping his foot on the floor and pointing at the enemy, while DrillDigmon snorted angrily.

“Tsc tsc, you were a bigger number, but now I can handle you two even if it is unfair.”

Zamielmon jumped and aimed his arrows at the kids and shot a blast of arrows at them. Iori reflected some with his sword, also DrillDigmon and Stingmon had to run and help him reflect those.

“Haha, you think you can beat m--!!!”

Horusmon’s Red Sun, Nefertimon’s Curse of Queen, and Pegasusmon’s Silver Blaze special attacks hit him and he was forced to cease his attack. Oh no, all of those people!? He can’t deal with them…!

“Surrender, Zamielmon” Nefertimon said with a serious voice, “Or else…”

“What will you do huh?”

And then this was when he realized he had committed a huge mistake. The rest of the digimon attacked him simultaneously, and then Nefertimon and Pegasusmon tied him in a pillar. The group left next, leaving him behind.

Hours later...

“... Sigh. I should’ve not picked that job…” Zamiel pouted. The sun was almost down and he was still trapped in that pillar.

Until a shadow appeared in front of him, and cut the golden rope tying him with a glaive.

“H-huh!?” the bounty hunter blinked, and looked at the mysterious shadow in front of him “Wh-why did you… Wait, who are you and why did you help me?”

“I’m not helping you” the silhouette responded coldly, “Actually, I’m doing you a favor. You were hunting my friends so I can’t let you run freely in this world.”

“Your friends?? Wait a second, you’re those humans’ friend!? So you are--”

“Buddymon.”

A bigger shadow appeared behind the human-sized one, and all Zamielmon could see was those red eyes shining in the dark.

“P-Please have mercy!”

But the terrifying silhouette raised those terrifying claws against him. Zamielmon tried to hit both of them with an arrow. The glaive repelled it to the side, and the shadow gritted his teeth.

“You think you can escape? Just for that attempt to kill us, I will have no mercy.”

“I… It s-slipped!! I s-swear it wasn't an attempt--!!”

Buddymon attacked him with his claw, slashing him and destroying him immediately with a fire blast. Zamielmon’s screams echoed through the area, but it wasn’t satisfying but rather upsetting. He really hated doing this.

“Let’s go.”

“Right, Lightnimon.”

They left before the kids or any enemy’s troops could find them.

Mimi and Palmon decided to keep on guard while the 02 team and Gummymon were asleep. As the oldest of them, she was a bit upset with what they had witnessed. It was borderline cruel and it bugged her badly.

It was when Palmon noticed something moving in the bushes and called her attention. Mimi immediately got up and went there, with Palmon next to her. Oh it was…

“You didn’t need to do that!” she muttered at someone, “We could handle this all alone, and without murdering those Liamon! Why did you do that!?”

The shadow was silent, and it was like that digimon-or-person wasn’t unable to talk.

“Don’t do that again!”

“... Sorry.”

That was all the mysterious uninvited guest said to her.

“Otherwise, thanks for caring about us” she added, “We’re about to move, did you find anything about Wallace?”

Palmon looked to the group sleeping in the distance, just to make sure they’re not caught talking with whoever was. And the moment she noticed Tailmon moving, she quickly warned Mimi and their friend (?) about this.

Mimi looked back at the group and then to the stranger, “Sorry about that but you have to get out of here now.”

And the shadow nodded in agreement, leaving as soon as possible from there. Mimi returned to the group, and pretended she didn’t leave her spot.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

Golden Digimental Weapons • The Final Battle!! (part 2)

[← PREVIOUS]

The reveal that the ‘light’ Daisuke and V-mon saw for an instance and saved them from Duskmon’s deadly beam was Beowolfmon caught both off guard. Beowolfmon and Duskmon kept clashing weapons, and said actions were completely destroying the place.

“So, this was how you two got saved” Ken commented, “A wolf-armored knight saved you…?”

“Yeah, now I remember!” Daisuke babbled “It had the form of a wolf, but I thought I was seeing things…”

“Well, that does not help much,” Wallace said, “We need to get out of here.”

“And leave him behind!?” Daisuke stared at him, “No way! Also, we need to beat this meanie as well, it’s our job to deal with evil digimon like Duskmon!!”

The clashes stopped and Beowolfmon stood in front of the group, and the gusts caused by the battle stopped.

“That’s right, we need to stop Duskmon” the wolf warrior looked at them, “You need to purify him.”

“Huh, how can we…” Miyako started a question but immediately bit her tongue and took her D-3 from her pocket, “N-No, wait! I know the answer!”

“You know?” Fauermon looked at her, and she nodded at him “Ah, that’s right… the trick with the digivices must work.”

“We need to fight him” Gummymon said seriously, and gave a glance at Wallace “He hurt you, and I won’t allow it to happen again!”

“G-Gummymon…” Wallace wavered, his hands were shaking. Then, Daisuke put a hand on his shoulder, “Daisuke?” he looked at the other.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to fight. You already lost Chocomon, so I can see why you don’t want to lose Gummymon too.”

“Leave it to us, Wallace-kun,” Ken added, then Wallace smiled.

“Thanks… I…”

“No, you stay here with Mimi-san, Lilymon and Lekismon while we will fight Duskmon” Takeru spoke, pulling Wallace to the corner of what used to be a wall. Lekismon realized they were trusting this kid and his digimon to her.

“Alright, I will protect him” she positioned in front of Wallace & Gummymon, like a living shield. “Leave them to us,” Lilymon nodded.

“Ok,” Daisuke looked at them, “Jogress evolve you all. Ken, Iori, we need your brains.”

“Right.”

“Miyako, Hikari-chan, Takeru, distract him.”

“W-what about you!?” Mimi asked with a gasp.

“You see, I got this lance-thingy and an armor so--”

“Glaive,” Ken corrected him, “And no, it’s too risky to throw it like a lance.”

“W-wait, Glaive and Lance are not the same thing!?” Daisuke blinked.

“Ichijouji-san can teach you more about glaives later,” Iori interrupted them “let’s focus on the current issue.”

“That’s too risky, Daisuke-kun” Hikari gave him a serious gaze, “We won’t let you do that. You will be next to Takeru-kun, Miyako-san and me this time”

“A-ah um… F-fine?”

Fauermon, DrillDigmon and Angewomon returned to the child and adult forms, respectively. Hawkmon and Armadimon evolved into Aquilamon and Ankylomon and then jogress evolved with each of their partners into Silphymon and Shakkoumon.

Ken and Iori, pretty much the “brains” of that combo, started studying the opponent dodging from the light arrows and shuriken. Shakkoumon worked as a powerful barrier repelling and absorbing any attack directed at the kids. Paildramon and Silphymon were in melee combat with Duskmon.

This seemed like an easy battle, but… Duskmon was sly like a fox and still had control over the Eyesmon horde, The attackers started to destroy the Eyesmon flock, before they could dive into their shadows.

“Ah little pests, I guess we should make this fair.” Duskmon snapped his fingers and a flock of Eyesmon started to consume his body.

“W-what is he doing?” Shakkoumon asked. “D-don’t tell me he’s…”

The shape turned into a digimon the size of Omegamon, but the body was covered with eyes in its right side and creepy mouths in its left side -- Abbadomon Core. 

“That’s no good, Wallace…” Gummymon frowned.

“Now… We’re on a par with the power level.”

More and more Eyesmon came. The ones escaped by Hikari and Takeru’s sights were slashed by Miyako and Daisuke with their Shuri-Shuriken and Lighdra-Glaive. Lekismon also destroyed the ones coming into their direction. Lilymon attacked the ones coming from the opposite direction with her flower cannon.

“We need to fight!” the long eared digimon said, “Wallace?”

“I…” Wallace held Gummymon tighter, “I don’t want to lose you too…!”

“They’re so many!!” Miyako growled. “Oi, keep those pests away from us, Miyako!!” and then Daisuke's babbling was heard.

Wallace looked into Gummymon’s face and then to the battle. Shakkoumon kept releasing beams and clay disks at the endless waves of Eyesmon. Hikari and Takeru seemed quite exhausted shooting with the Neferti-Crossbow and Pegasus-Bow. Silphymon and Paildramon were still attacking Abbadomon, but the creepy digimon managed to dodge their attacks and hit them with his right side’s lance and shot at them with his right side’s machine gun..

The kids and their digimon were watching their own guard at least. Wallace now looked at Beowolfmon, and he seemed to be doing a beautiful swing of his blade, slashing Eyesmon trying to invade his shadow.

 “I don’t know…” the boy sighed, and he fell on his knees “This is all my fault--”

“No! It’s not!” Gummymon stared at him, and then used his long ears to carefully grab Wallace’s head and make the boy look directly at him, “It’s not your fault. Chocomon’s egg not hatching is not your fault, not even that Daisuke had been brainwashed by Duskmon to act all alone. Or that you almost tried to kill him or lead them to a trap.”

“W-wait, Daisuke was… Brainwashed too?”

“Wallace, have you forgotten that you choose your own destiny?”

“No I… I didn’t.”

“Fate can be unchangeable, but…”

“... Destinies can and we choose them.”

The boy got up and grabbed his digivice, “Let’s go Gummymon!”

“Right!”

And thus, Gummymon evolved into Gargomon. And a light flashed from Wallace’s digivice, calling Beowolfmon’s attention. Then the wolf-armored warrior shot a beam into the digivice, causing the Digimental of Destiny to appear in front of them.

“There it is” Abbadomon’s eyes flashed and then he tried to steal that power, only to be repelled by a powerful aura of light caused by Beowolfmon “You!!”

“I won’t let you touch that child.”

“Neither us,” Mimi added, “Lilymon!”

Lilymon shot her flower cannon's attack at Abbadomon, even if it wasn’t effective. She had to fight! She had to protect Mimi and Wallace!

“Wallace!” Gargomon looked at the boy, who touched the digimental only to start altering its shape… A Bazooka with Golden Rapidmon’s features appeared in Wallace’s hands.

“Incredible!!” Miyako was astonished.

“Isn’t a Bazooka too dangerous for a dude like him?” While Daisuke… Not much.

“Duskmon!” Wallace shouted, “You want this power? Then… GET IT!”

And the moment Beowolfmon and Lilymon jumped to the side, Wallace shot a golden beam at Abbadomon and the Eyesmon crowd, throwing them away from the group.

“Whoa, whoa whoa” Daisuke babbled, “Watch out with it!!”

Gargomon started firing at the Eyesmon crowd coming to attack them, destroying each of the enemies with that rapid fire.

“Daisuke!” Ken looked at the goggle boy, “It seems that Wallace-kun’s weapon caused a good damage at Duskmon’s body. It’s our chance now!”

“Right… We need a miracle to happen here” and the Lighdra-Glaive disappeared from his hands. He grabbed his digivice and the same light came, and Beowolfmon just resonated with that as well, sending a light beam at the digivice’s flashing light.

Daisuke silently gasped at the mysterious light changing into the Digimental of Miracles, and once he touched it, it turned into a bright shining light that consumed his hand and once the light vanished, a glowing golden gauntlet with Magnamon’s features had been worn in his right hand.

“W-what is this!?” he asked rhetorically, then he noticed more Eyesmon coming “Uh so…?” he pointed at the pesky enemies and blue plasma started to charge in his hand “Oh so… We go kaboom now?” and he opened his palm, throwing a big projectile against them.

“T-that’s quite dangerous don’t you think?” Iori stuttered, while the rest just… Yeah, no one wanted Daisuke to keep that power.

“You… YOU!!” Abbaddomon came right against them, but the goggle boy punched him away from them with a blue plasma beam in the format of a fist “I WON’T LET YOU WIN!”

“Now everyone!"

They all attacked together -- Paildramon, Silphymon, Shakkoumon, Galgomon, Beowolfmon, Lekismon, Miyako, Takeru, Hikari, Wallace and Daisuke shot their long-ranged attacks at Abbadomon, causing a big explosion.

Digicode appeared as Duskmon emerged from the dust, and the children pointed their digivices at him, pressing a button in their holy devices to purify him.

After those screams, Duskmon turned into… Another humanoid digimon -- He had a lion-like helmet. His burgundy armor and golden wings were fancy, and there was no evil area around him anymore. All of the kids’ digimon returned to their child forms, except for Tailmon.

 “You’re finally back to your senses, Raihimon,” Beowolfmon smiled.

“Raihimon?” They all, except for Lekismon, exclaimed.

“Yes…” Raihimon nodded his head, shameful “I’m sorry for the misfortune i had caused to the Digital World and those children”

“The power of darkness must be balanced,” Lekismon explained, “The warriors and holders of the power of Darkness can be easily corrupted by it.”

“Ah um… We’re not planning to do anything with those!” Daisuke and Wallace babbled quickly and by Beowolfmon’s snap of fingers, the two golden Digimental Weapons turned back into golden lights and went back to his armor.

“So… Duskmon wasn’t evil?” Miyako blinked, she started to be a little confused about that.

“Possibly Raihimon got consumed by the power of darkness and then turned into Duskmon” Iori theorized, “Just like the time Ichijouji-san used the D-3 to dark evolve Agumon.”

“Oh um… I have a theory for that” Ken said.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to ask him?” Wallace suggested, and the three looked at him.

“He has a point,” the three admitted.

“Before asking, you need to fix your mess!” Daisuke squinted his eyes, “You brainwashed the digimon, Wallace and me. Lots of digimon lives have been lost!” and he pouted like a toddler “At least they will be reborn as digieggs…”

“I will help to restore the balance of the Digital World, and to reconstruct the places destroyed by my selfish intentions.”

“Better you do!” Miyako gave Raihimon a dead glare, “We don’t know what was wrong with you, but if you do that again--”

“Miyako-chan calm down” Mimi interrupted her, “I think he regretted what he had done, right?”

“Yes, I’m ashamed of this whole mess…” the lion warrior responded calmly.

“Then, it’s okay,” she smiled.

“You sure, Mimi-san?” Wallace asked.

“He said he will fix the mess and restore the places destroyed so I’m okay with that.”

“Yeah, me too…” Daisuke shrugged, “If he ain’t causing a fuss anymore, we can let him go.”

“When he said ‘me too’ he’s also referring to the mess we caused as well” V-mon spoke.

“Of course I meant that! But don’t arrest me for digimon crimes, please?”

They all laughed, except for Raihimon, Bewolfmon and Lekismon. Daisuke pouted again:

“That’s not funny! I really meant it! I’m too young for jail!”

Wallace and Mimi returned to New York, the 02 group to Odaiba. Wallace was a bit bugged by what had happened to them all, and most importantly about how this had been his first adventure in the Digital World.

He went home, after saying goodbye to Mimi. Gummymon was in his arms, still wondering what to say to Wallace. Basically, the poor digimon felt a bit distant from him…

“Are you thinking about what Raihimon said?”

“Um… Yeah.”

“Light and Darkness are just labels given to the powers of Life and Death. For some reason, that power can overwhelm its holders. I think something in the depths of the Dark World sent a virus that corrupted me.” “A virus?” the kids exclaimed. “Like an eerie gust of wind.” “...” Wallace was quiet for a moment, but then “Something like this… Happened to Chocomon, a long time ago. But now his digiegg…” “Oh, this means… The egg’s data must be corrupted.” “W-what!? C-corrupted!?”  the boy gasped.

Wallace and Gummymon arrived at their apartment. His mom and Amy weren’t home, so he went right to his room, where a digiegg was lying on the desk, on a pillow and under the desk lamp’s light.

“Good evening, Chocomon” the boy smiled, put Gummymon on his bed and sat on his desk chair, “You won’t believe me, I went to the Digital World and… I did some not so nice things, but Daisuke and the others helped me.”

“Wallace…” Gummymon frowned, “Do you think Chocomon will hatch someday?”

“Of course he will!”

“It had been a while…” The tiny digimon with long ears sat on the edge of the bed, swinging his short legs like a child.

“No rush, come out once you feel ready” the boy spoke softly with the egg, and gently rubbed it with his hand, “We’re waiting for you. Gummymon, me… Daisuke and the others… You would love Mimi-san and Palmon too! So, don’t worry.”

After a short pause, he added:

“We forgave you.”

In the morning… Gummymon was sleeping on the top of Wallace’s stomach, both too deep into the dreams of previous adventures they had with those kids and the digimon.

When…

A crack was heard.

A sleepy duo opened their eyes slowly and then, a pinkish slime-like digimon popped from a hatched egg.

Wallace got up from his bed quickly as Gummymon jumped and floated in the room, landing on the boy’s head.

They screamed together “Chocomon!”

The pinkish brown baby I -- Kokomon -- smiled at them.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Knight and the Chosen Children

[AO3 version]

Summary:

Hikari catches Mimi talking with Lightnimon, and this causes a huge conflict between the kids and Mimi. With no other options, the group follow her to what they believe to be a trap. Then, the 02 Team and Mimi meet Lightnimon, who finally reveals a shocking secret.

[Note: It's 2008; There's more drama between Mimi and the kids but, well, it's the lightest of those drabbles. You know, for fun.]

The group, Mimi, Palmon and Gummymon were heading to the next area after saving more and more digimon from Ranamon’s troops. None of them heard about Frostmon anymore, but rumors were spread about some digimon seeing her and the terrifying Lightnimon together.

Ken hated to believe in rumors by experience, but Daisuke never sent him a message after their first reencounter in a while. He would send a message right now, but… Not a very intelligent idea if it could ruin Daisuke’s persona.

“So, where do you think they took Wallace-san?” Iori asked, the group had stopped to eat and find supriments like food and wood for bonfires “And where would Daisuke-san be right now?”

“Those are tough questions to answer,” Miyako frowned, “We’re looking for two people and only one we know something about.”

“You don’t think Daisuke-kun is dead, right Miyako-san?” Takeru asked her, “I agree with Ichijouji-kun, he wouldn’t let it happen…”

“Besides,” Tailmon said, “V-mon is with him so we shouldn’t worry about them. They must be fine. If something bad had happened to Daisuke, V-mon would be the first to come tell us.”

“Hmm…”

“What’s wrong Ken-kun?” Miyako looked at him, and then everyone in silence focused on the boy.

“I’ve met Lightnimon before.”

“You did!?” they all, except for Mimi and Palmon who weren’t present at the moment.

“He mentioned he knows where Daisuke is,” he explained, making everyone come closer to him but then he added “Though he said he couldn’t tell me that.”

“UGH, that digimon is getting on my nerves!” Miyako stood up and kicked a pebble away from them, “I’m so tired of that mean masked-mon! I want to smash him with my own hands--”

“If you do that, wouldn’t it be impossible to learn where Daisuke is?” Gummymon raised his ear, as if he was asking permission to talk.

“He’s right, Miyako-san” Hawkmon said, “We can’t hurt him.”

“I don’t like that guy. It’s not nice to threaten people like he did, dagya.”

“I’m curious about what he knows,” Iori mused, “If he’s on our side, why would he warn us about not getting in his way?”

“Maybe he’s just a bully” Patamon replied with a shrug, “Maybe--”

“Mimi-san did not return yet…” Hikari wasn’t totally into that conversation, so she was whispering that to herself. She got up and went after Mimi, with Tailmon following her with her concerns.

“Sigh, we didn’t get any success” Then, Hikari heard a familiar voice, following it until find…

“It’s okay, you’re doing all your best” … Mimi talking with Lightnimon. But he wasn’t attacking her!? “I’m sure we will manage a way to find Wallace and save him.”

“Yeah, about that…” Lightnimon was speaking very casually and was familiar to Hikari. However they didn’t notice her and Tailmon there hiding behind those trees, “We invaded their headquarters after I got the information from Frostmon, but… We couldn’t get him out of there.”

“Oh… I hope we can get a chance to take him away from those evil digimon…” Palmon commented, “Huh, I think there’s something watching us…?”

“Shoot-- I will meet you later, please inform the others to go to that place I told you.”

“Ok, we will.” Mimi nodded and Lightnimon vanished.

Mimi and Palmon then started to head back to the group, only to find Hikari and Tailmon in front of them. Both the girl and cat-like digimon were staring at Mimi, not very satisfied with what they heard.

“Hikari-chan?” Mimi gasped, “Why are you--”

“You’re working with him all this time!?”

“I-It’s not what you think!!” Palmon babbled.

“We heard you three talking about Wallace and to lead us to a place” Tailmon said seriously, “He’s planning to ambush us.”

“No, he’s not” Mimi stared back, “You don’t understand how he feels!”

“He attacked us, Mimi-san!”

“It wasn’t his intention! He… He wants to talk, just that.”

“Maybe we should go, if he knows where Daisuke is…” Tailmon mused, “But better we don’t let our guard down.”

“He won’t do any harm” Palmon frowned, “It’s not a trap, he really wants to talk with you.”

“How can we trust him?” Hikari pouted, “How can we trust you Mimi-san?”

And then Hikari & Tailmon left, running back to the group.

“Mimi, isn’t this…”

“I know, we need to calm them down or they will attack Lightni-kun.”

After both girls were back, there was a huge anticlimactic atmosphere caused by this. Ken, who was the other person to know about Lightnimon, couldn’t let things be like this… But he also had no idea what Daisuke was planning to do.

They decided to follow Mimi to the place she mentioned, miles away from the enemy’s territory.

If was a trap, or not, they didn’t know. But once they reached said place, they saw Lightnimon on the top of a tree, and once he saw them approaching, he went down.

 “Oh greetings, my beloved Chosen Children” he greeted them with a bow.

“What do you want!?” Miyako went straight to the point, impatiently “I don’t like you and I don’t want to hear you! But you forced Mimi-san to send us here so--”

“Whoa whoa, hold on your rage girl I won’t do anything!” he babbled, “I just wanted to tell you where Daisuke-kun is, or rather… Show where he is.”

“You will!?” Them, except Mimi, Palmon, Ken and Wormmon, exclaimed.

“Yeah, I will” he nodded, then he grabbed his helmet, “So, the answer is… He’s her--”

But the helmet didn’t come off. Miyako, Takeru, Iori, Hikari and their digimon tilted their heads.

“Darn it, not now!!” He was now acting kinda familiar to them “Stupid helmet, I can’t take it off!”

“What is he doing, dagya?”

“I guess he wasn’t that dangerous...” Patamon blinked.

V-mon got out of the trees, Mimi and Palmon went to help him in silence. Everything was getting much more confusing as before.

“I will pull it, ok?” “Why don’t you use the digivice for this?” “And ruin my cool entrance?!” “Ok Palmon let’s do this” “Ok, Mimi!”

“What…”

Ken’s impatience was growing and he was very unamused right now. Wormmon as well, as the digimon was shaking his head in disapproval.

“What’s going on here?” Hikari asked.

“Ok! One, Two, Three--!!” and then Mimi, Palmon and V-mon managed to remove that stupid helmet from his head. They all fell on the ground, but even more confused noises were heard from the group.

“He’s here!” and with this, helmetless Lightnimon stood back in front of the group.

“Daisuke (-kun/-san)!?”

“Was it really needed, Daisuke?” Ken gave him a serious glare, gritting his teeth.

“No but… I thought it would’ve been a great idea--”

“YOU,” Miyako shouted and pointed at him, “YOU WERE PLAYING DEAD ALL THIS TIME?! HOW DARE YOU?!”

“There’s a reason we couldn’t tell you before” Gummymon flew and landed on Daisuke’s head, “He told us.”

“Huh?” Wormmon exclaimed.

“I didn’t die, but it was too close to it” Daisuke began, now that they had setted up their camp in that area, “I don’t know how I escaped but… I did. I was sure they would go hunt me again, so I had this idea of pretending to be a digimon.”

“Then once we were done with some discussion, we found Mimi and Gummymon lying unconscious on the forest” V-mon added, “We woke them up and they explained that Wallace got kidnapped by a bunny digimon”

“We met that digimon before” Daisuke explained, “She’s Lekismon and an emissary of the big bad, the one who tried to personally eliminate me.”

“In other words… You were playing the spy role for us?” Armadimon asked.

“Yeah... kinda,” V-mon chuckled nervously.

“I’m not a great actor nor a spy, so it was hard to keep things going” Daisuke shrugged, and then looked at them, “V-mon had to hide most of the time, And I had to speak differently and less than my usual. And anytime I slipped… It was too risky.”

“But Wallace knew it was us, though he was quite brainwashed by the enemies. He couldn’t come with us” V-mon sighed, then “I’m sorry Gummymon.”

“It’s okay, at least we know where he is now”

“About that… Maybe we should consider… planning something about it” Daisuke said with a serious tone, “The enemy’s headquarters is full of soldiers. We couldn’t get anything else and Wallace might be controlled again if we don’t hurry.”

“I see,” Ken mused, “So this whole reveal to us is to discuss a way to invade this place and save Gummymon’s partner…”

“Yeah and that it’s sad to do things alone”

“What will happen to Lightnimon now?” Hikari asked, concerned.

“Daisuke and him can’t appear in the same place sadly… But if he disappears and I appear, it will be suspicious.”

“So you will keep doing this?” Palmon frowned.

“I hate to make you guys sad but yeah… I have no other option.”

“Isn't it risky now that we had this meeting?” Iori mused, “We know you’re him and this makes our reactions totally different from before.”

“I know, but I can’t hold it for much longer! If I kept attacking y’all it would hurt more.”

“You have no idea what to do now?” Tailmon asked.

“I think we can help with this,” Hawkmon said and looked at the others, “If we work together we can help Daisuke-san to keep the enemy away from Lightnimon.”

“But how?” Palmon asked.

“Hey, what if…” Takeru whispered to them.

“That’s brilliant Takeru!” Daisuke grinned, “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you!”

“To make it work we all need to keep this as a secret” Ken added, “So please, don’t lose your composure.”

“Right!!” they all said together.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Knight and the Frigid Bird

[AO3 version]

Summary: Lightnimon faces Frostmon for the last time, which could put a risk to his own plans. It’s now or never, after all!! But… Frostmon learns the terrible truth, one that could put her own life in danger!!

[Note: It takes place in 2008; it was one of my attempts to write some action-like drabble]

According to her ally, the Chosen Children were up to north of the region, but when she noticed none of them were there except a ton of marks hinting at a terrible battle. Frostmon wasn’t that smart, not like Ranamon and Lekismon, but she was able to spot a rat in this scheme.

The Chosen Children had already passed by there, And saved those digimon captured by her troops. The villages near to the lake were abandoned, probably the kids and their digimon led them to another place. Without a reason to stay, Frostmon decided to leave.

But…

“I will destroy that armored digimon once I find him again” she clenched her fists. Maybe it was a bad idea to team up with someone she barely met once.

As she headed to the south, she found a certain shadow following her footsteps. It drove her madly, feeling the fear of being her master trying to punish her for all of her mistakes and failed tasks.

Then… She heard voices from a distance. It was the Chosen Children’s voices, they were still around! Maybe she can… Or couldn’t she? It doesn’t matter , Frostmon sped up and approached them, only to be blocked by…

“Lightnimon!”

He put his forefinger in front of his “mouth” and said “Shh, they might hear you!” in a whisper.

“What are you doing here?! I thought you had ambushed them all for me!”

“I got… A better idea” he chuckled, “Follow me.”

“What, they’re going in the opposite direction!”

“Yöu will never get’em if you are closed minded. Don’t you trust me, Frost-chan?”

“I do but…”

He laughed, “What? It’s just a shortcut. Also, I’ve sent your soldiers against them. It’s everything working, don’t worry~”

“Hohoho, then show me that shortcut so I can finally end their lives quickly and be praised for doing something right!!”

“So you crave for validation…”

“Yeah I do… Ranamon and Lekismon are more successful than me-- This isn’t your business, now show me the shortcut!”

“F-Fine… This way.”

The 02 Team plus Mimi had to fight those evil BlackGarurumon packs sent by Lightnimon. With them busy, they wouldn’t witness whatever he had in mind… However, Ken was afraid of those actions. Now knowing Lightnimon was indeed Daisuke, he couldn’t stop his concerns right now.

What would he be working with the enemy…? Again, Ken was afraid of the idea that…That Daisuke had lost his mind completely. Perhaps brainwashed? They have yet to find Wallace (someone he never met before) because of being another target of the unknown menace.

But he didn’t know what Daisuke was about to do right now. Neither Frostmon could predict it.

She was afraid, walking far away from their enemy. It doesn’t feel like a shortcut anymore…

“We’re still walking?”

“Yeah, just a little more and we will find it.”

“Find… Find what?”

“You will see, don’t worry. Everything is going well, I say… Too perfect.”

“Huh? What do you me--”

He stopped next to the edges of the forest. That place was in the depths of the forest, in which it was a place away from the lakes which could give her advantage. Oh no, was this a trap!?

“W-what are you doing, this isn’t a shortcut this is…”

“Oh don’t get me wrong… This is a shortcut… for your end.”

Frostmon eyes widened. The anxiety and fear was consuming her mind. She couldn’t do anything… She was at a disadvantage.

“W-what!?” she babbled, “I thought you were my…”

“Ally? Friend? I never said we were partners in crime or something...”

“Kh…! H-how dare you--”

He removed from his pocket a very strange device she recognized. Then, she felt chivers down her spine.

“W-where did you get this--”

He muttered something, and then from the trees, BurningFladramon emerged.

“Y-you!! How do...!?”

“I have no time to waste with you. So, BurningFladramon please do the honors.”

“Who are you!?”

“Yes, Lightnimon...” the crimson armored Fladramon nodded and dashed into Frostmon’s direction.

Frostmon blocked his claw, and looked at the smaller ‘digimon’ coming wielding a Lighdramon-motif glaive. She shoved BurningFladramon away and dodged from Lightnimon’s weapon. This left her at disadvantage again, since BurningFladramon attacked her from behind.

“Ugh! What… What do you plan to do!? Wh--”

Lightnimon managed to slash her with an electrical cut, still not powerful, but stunt her leg.

“I won’t die here…!!”

Even with one leg stunt, Frostmon was able to block BurningFladramon’s attacks, and hopelessly tried to freeze Lightnimon before he could attack her all again.

“Enough! Ice Darts!!” And she used her own sweat to freeze with her elemental, then threw it against Lightnimon, who managed to repel them with the Lighdra-Glaive.

“You can’t beat two against one” Lightnimon said seriously, “Now surrender and let us send you back to the Village of the Beginnings!”

“NEVER!”

“You’re kinda stubborn, ain’t you?!” he hissed, “Then we will do it forcefully!”

He threw himself at her, with the Lighdra-Glaive ready for a new attack, but she managed to escape from the new attack. BurningFladramon came right after her, but she repelled him.

“Gh, don’t use your power yet” Lightnimon warned him, “It will give her some water to use against us.”

“I’m not using it!!!” the dragon-like digimon replied, “I know that”

She blocked their attack again. Frostmon then noticed her stunted leg was starting to move again, and used her other leg to hit BurningFladramon’s stomach, making him hit the trees.

“B-BurningFladramon…!!”

In his act of despair, Lightnimon did not expected Frostmon to slash her claws on him, damaging his armor and making him roll away from her by the impact.

“L-Lightnimon!” BurningFladramon screamed. Then, he got up, wings of flame came from his back and he flew to his partner, stopping behind him and stood in guard, “Are you okay, talk to me, please…!!”

“Ugh…” He got up very slowly, “I’m fine… The armor protected me…”

But the slash on his face made the helmet break, revealing part of his face. With this, Frostmon gasped, and her fears came true.

“Y-you… You’re alive?!!”

“Hehe… I can’t die here” Daisuke removed the helmet, totally revealing his face.

“I-Impossible!!”

“Now, BurningFladramon!”

“KNUCKLE… HEAT!”

A constant blaze of fire hit Frostmon, who was screaming of pain. Lightnimon -- Daisuke -- took the digivice from his pocket again and pointed it at his opponent. He pressed a button, and a light hit Frostmon.

“Cease fire” he ordered, and then the D-3 light reverted her back to a lesser form, Sapphmon. He pocketed the digivice again and approached her.

“Why… Why didn’t you eliminate me?”

“Because, uh….” he began “You don’t deserve it, and I think you can be free now.”

“You know I saw your face, this means I’m not--”

“I don’t feel like you would tell someone” he shrugged, “Now don’t make me regret leaving you alive, save yourself and fly away from those jerks. You don’t need their validation to live. Find your own purpose, fight for it.”

“W-what are you so compassionate!?”

“Because… I’m a person who doesn't like to see others throwing their lives away.”

She got up from the ground, and nodded, “Alright, you gave me this new life to care about. I will protect you, I will give you two protection for their dark ice element.”

She clapped her wings, and started conjuring some magic spell on them. It was… strange, but both V-mon (who had devolved to this form) and Daisuke felt something like a frigid aura around them.

“It’s done,” Sapphmon said and smiled “I wish you two good luck, Chosen Child and Digimon.”

“T-thank you for… protecting us” Daisuke nodded, “And sorry for all the trouble I gave to you, I think deep down we became… Friends?”

“Friends…” Her eyes shined like stars, then she grabbed his hand and shook it “Thank you, for being my friend and giving me another reason to live!”

“Now go, find a safer place to stay. The rest will be handled by us.”

She then flew away, waving at them and vanished through the skies.

V-mon looked at the broken helmet on the ground, “So… Is it the end of Lightnimon now?”

“Eh, I don’t think so…” Daisuke grabbed his D-3 again, and pointed at the broken helmet. The digivice’s light restored the broken part. He did the same with the broken parts of his armor. Then, he put the helmet on again.

“I thought… We would...” V-mon frowned.

“Just a little more, I promise you we will go back to the group. But we still need to track down Ranamon and stop her army too.”

“Can’t we do this as a group?”

“... If the bad guys learn I’m alive they… Might attack everyone again.”

“If we’re together, we can prevent this from happening!”

“Yeah but… Are you sure we can do this? After all, I attacked them…”

“Let’s explain everything to them! Mimi, Palmon and Gummymon can help!”

“F-fine… But I will keep using this to investigate things. Y’know, If Lightnimon suddenly vanishes and Daisuke appears…”

“Ah I see… Then, let’s find a way to solve this together!”

“Yeah, thank you for being with me here V-mon” he smiled but it wasn’t visible due to the helmet covering his face.

“Hehe” V-mon smiled back, and scratched the back of his head.

“Now… Let’s go.”

“Right!”