[] Chastise Sparks for being so ruthless about using other digimon like that. Revenge or not, you should have limits. You think really shouldn't ever think of his friends as tools; that's… just wrong. The bond should always be genuine.
===
After a few seconds of thinking it over you frown down at Sparks, initially unsure of how to respond. What your friend just told you, what he'd said. It had been...
Wrong.
The one armed Wizardmon suddenly looks a lot less sure of himself, and he fidgets nervously in place as the silence stretches on. He tentatively breaks it first, cold eyes tinged with sudden concern.
"What-what's the matter Verge"
"That, what you just said. It's not right" you state, a ting of anger creeping its way into your voice. "We shouldn't just...use him" You picture the medallion packed tightly away in your pack and grimace. "Beat wants to be our friend Sparks and well, you.. Make it sound as if he's be used only for revenge. Li-like some sort of tool."
That's not what a hero would do.
"Pray tell, what exactly is wrong with that notion?" The champion questions,
"We seeketh revenge do we not? Tis only the natural way that we use such assets to our advantage." Your friend tilts his head in obvious confusion seeming to not even realize how his speaking had changed again. Intense sadness overflows at your core, but you hold back tears and push through with a response.
"Sparks.
I'm your friend. So was Fu, and...Flamemon" The last word of your sentence sets the crippled mon to clench his fist, but you press on. "That bond we have, that Beat can have. It-I think it should always be...genuine. I mean I'd never use you like that, and you.
You wouldn't use me that way, right?"
Your friend stumbles back from the question almost like it had been a physical blow and rapidly shakes his head.
"Never!" He practically screams, a shred of absolute horror working its way into his voice. You sniff, continuing to hold back tears and stare at him harder.
"Do you-do you really think that I'd-that I'd..." Despite his face covering, you can see the Wizardmon's eyes flash with a sudden bout of sickness and realization. He flees from your tent, which is quickly followed by retching sounds.
That night, he doesn't come back to sleep beside you.
===
Repulsa laughs, a horrible screech that could scar stone. One sharp claw, glowing a sickly purple cuts down the side of your face, severing flesh and scoring bone. Half your world fades away under screams, then Agnimon's body collapses into nothingness.
You don't wake up screaming, after having the nightmare nearly every night for the past month; you've gotten used to the feeling.
===
By the time you wake up on the fifth morning, Sergeant Scratch has changed back to his more *normal* form, I.e. that of a Gladimon. Sparks purposely avoids your attempt to make conversation, using Ardat as a shield so he can avoid the interaction.
Having the drowsy Witchmon cling to you is uncomfortable as always, but thankfully the announcement of breakfast from Pidmon sways her from your side.
After the meal is Scratch makes an announcement that the group should make it into the town just around lunch time. The rookies traveling with your group for the most part get in a more cheery state at the announcement that they'll be arriving at their new home today, all except for the Bearmon. He seems almost disappointed with the expression on his face, though you're really not sure as to why.
The sergeant sets Beat to spar against Sparks while on the move, with the condition that your close friend not use any magic. Considering the crippled digimon's rather hefty handicap, he hadn't yet trained very much in the art of close quarters combat, and thus you're subjected to the sight of Beat smacking the crap out of him.
Your superior vetoes a morning training session, and instead orders you to triple down on studying the Flame Shroud spell. That in of itself normally wouldn't be so bad, but the Ultimate level digimon had been making you study twice a day already. While you like fiddling through the numbers and losing yourself in the concentration required to figure components out, doing it so much just gives you a massive headache.
Not that you hadn't been making progress. Far from it. The morning sees you manage to get roughly halfway through the entirety of the coding. While that part is relatively easy, the *comprehending* aspect is much harder to get through. While you'd learned to bring out your internal energy into both holy and healing effects (which themselves are closely linked) fire itself is a wholly different beast. Furthermore the *continuous* effect of keeping it over a surface while minimizing the reflection back towards the user is nearly mind-boggling in its complexity. Though unlike when it comes to the physical aspects of training, you've never shunned the mental stress that comes with studying. It's a challenge, and while you don't relish such a thing, you're not going to let such a simple thing like *being hard to understand* defeat you!
(Flame Weapon Shroud: 4/18->9/18)
=
The next thing you know, Ardat is shouting for the Coredramon on guard to open up, and the large metal portcullis is being noisily lifted up so your expanded part can pass through. Your leader wastes no time in handing out orders.
"Fledgling Pidmon. Inform the Mayor and garrison about the presence of a second Gloaming Lord south of here." The angel digimon snaps off a quick salute before flying off. "Fledgling Witchmon"
"Yes sir?" Ardat grins, pressing a hand to her rather ample chest. "
What can I the master of wind Sorcery do to help?" Scratch turns away from the feminine digimon, and pauses for a second before replying.
"...Take the rest of the squad and escort the rookies to Frigimon. Meet me back at the gate this evening."
"I'm in charge? I mean yes! You can depend on the most beautiful of..." The sergeant vanishes into a grey blur away before she finish the sentence leaving her to trail off into a slump. Ardat recovers from it fairly quickly however, and thrusts her boom into the air in what's supposed to be a dramatic pose.
She proceeds to give a small speech (only a mere sixty-eight seconds long) to the gathered rookies before setting off towards the orphanage. You glance towards Sparks and Beat, contemplate going over to talk to the former, but end up putting the interaction off upon realizing thing someone is going to have to inform Frigimon that her friend is gone. That puts a damper on your mood right quickly.
Much like when you and Sparks had first arrived, the foreign rookies gawk at the sight. Seeing so many champions and rookies flitting around the place was surprising at first, but by now the both of you have kind of gotten used to it. It's a far cry from the small numbers present in a village but you've learned there are bigger places yet.
Upon reaching the mansion itself, you watch with moderate interest as Ardat swaggers up to the large door, then feel your eye virtually glue itself to the door as you wait for Frigimon to answer it.
Only
she doesn't.
It flies open, smacking the waiting Witchmon straight in her nose and knocking the humanoid digimon onto her ass. You catch sight of a blue figure sprinting out the doors, three of her stubby legs working furiously as she carries a bowl of something towards the single Wormmon in your party.
Drop skids to a stop in front of your friend(?) tears barely held back as she presents the smaller rookie with bowl what you guess to be some sort of food. Beat blinks several times in rapid succession, first at the present then at the Otamamon. You can see his natural reaction (I.e. grunting noncommittally) being suppressed as he tries to be more friendly.
"...Thank you"
"Thank you?" the rookie gasps in surprise.
"Beat thanked me!?" The dam bursts, tears of happiness roll down the *Goddesses* cheeks as she sweeps him up in a crushing hug.
Your viewing of the event is interrupted as a familiar voice calls out.
"Oh my, are you okay sweetie?" Frigimon lowers a mitten-like hand down, and gently helps the cape wearing champion to her feet.
"AHaHaHa!" Ardat laughs, twirling her broom in one clawed hand before slamming the straw head to the ground.
"There's no need to even ask Ma'am I the-"
"Yes, yes sweetie, I know" Frigimon cuts her off, her head to look over the gathered digimon. "Where's MudFrigimon?" The rapidly forming pout on your comrades face dies before it can start. Sparks takes a nervous step back, and you wince.
"Well he…" Ardat trails, clearly off not knowing what to say.
Several of the rookies behind you burst into wetworks, giving Frigimon her answer.
"Oh" the friendly champions voice is small, barely audible over the crying, "Then...come here all of you. I...lunch is just about ready. Let's." The caretaker breaks off, making a sound that sounds suspiciously like a barely suppressed sob "Let's get some food in your tummies. You little sweeties must have gone through a tough time" *Sniff* "It's okay, you're all safe now"
Seeing the caring mon's reaction to the news is nearly enough to force tears out your own eye, but you follow her example and keep them contained. The sandwiches she serves for lunch are surprisingly soggy.
The presence of Warren, Scourge and Grip thankfully helps cheer you up a bit, and seeing them try and then fail to terrorize the newly arrived rookies is funny enough. Especially when the Bearmon's warning growl sends the smaller pair of brothers running back to hide amongst your fur. Warren as the bravest of the trio actually goes so far as to growl back, but doesn't actually attack. Their little staring contest lasts a whole three minutes before Ardat uses a gust of wind to sweep your ward to her side.
Frigimon does her best to introduce the newly arrived rookies to their new home, but MudFrigimon's death clearly weighs heavily on the champion despite her attempts to hide it.
Because of Scratch's orders, your afternoon is technically free for you to do what you want.
===Choose One:
[] You spend the time hanging out with Beat, Sparks & Drop. It's time for you to talk to your friend again, and maybe find out about how the latter two mon met.
[] You spend your time playing with Ardat, and your wards. Just, you refuse to be ridden around this time.
[] You head to the gym to work out: (Note: Gym Training counts as 2 progress towards next talent tier Talent instead of 1)
-[] Strength: (Heavy Weights) 4 Strength, 1 Fortitude, 1 Endurance
-[] Fortitude: (Autopuncher) 4 Fortitude, 1 Endurance 1 Strength
-[] Endurance: (Low Resistance Track) 4 Endurance, 1 Agility 1 Strength
-[] Agility: (High resistance Track) 4 Agility, 1 Strength, 1 Endurance
===
Stat Changes: (Special Training) (BP: AgilityX2, Fortitude, StrengthX2, Spirit)
Strength: 225.75->227.75
Fortitude: 192.00->194.00
Endurance: 199.50
Agility: 172.25->173.75
Special: 159.50->163.50
Spirit: 143.25->145.00->146.75
Fighting Skill->27/100
Basic High Programming->25/100
===
Authors note: Not the most gripping update I suppose. But this one fought me a little bit. Beta'd by @TempestK