Still now I can't help but imagine a kaiju sized Verge (Still technically a rookie but with stats so high it doesn't really matter) rampaging across enemy lines while Sparks cackles madly from atop his head.
[] You spend your time playing with Ardat, and your wards. Just, you refuse to be ridden around this time.
===
Having finished your second sandwich, and finished lunch altogether, you decide that the best use of your afternoon would be hanging out with your wards. Unfortunately upon gazing over towards the trio of young digimon, you realize that spending time with them will also mean having Ardat along as an unfortunate hanger-on. Even now, the two smaller ones are perched on the orange-haired digmon's hat; while Warren is trying to nibble at her broom. A shudder rumbles through your thick frame as the Witchmon catches sight of your stare and turns her pointy teeth up into a grin.
Why. Why would they like her? She's so much like...her. But if...if that's the price I have to pay to be with them then...
You take a deep breath and step away from the table.
So be it.
Just, you refuse to be ridden around this time around. Having the Witchmon on your back once was more than enough for one lifetime. As you approach the four mon near the tables end Ardat throws you a wink with her only visible eye, then swoons back. Your comrade dramatically raises the back of a hand to her forehead, and lets out a gasp.
"Ah such a horrifying beast!" You feel your face heat up with embarrassment at her words and the assembled digimon turn to stare at you. "I, the great master of Wind Sorcery, and most beautiful of Witchmon am faint before it's very presence, if only there were three brave digimon here to defend me!" Your wards jump into action at her words letting out *angry* hisses as they rush across the large wooden table straight towards you.
"...Heh"
Rgh. Don't...Just don't say anything!
Holding back the urge to glare at your laughing friend, you redouble your speed and dodge past the three In-Training mon as they make their leap. Play-fighting in such a crowded place while the other mon are still eating would be more than a little rude and disturb the others. As a bonus it also gets you away from the embarrassment of the situation. You really don't want to stress Frigimon out anymore, which means moving the *battle* elsewhere.
So with a deep breathe of concentration, you rush Ardat and scoop the champion up in your arms. She lets out a grasp that doesn't sound entirely feigned, but recovers quickly and continues on with her act.
"Oh no, I have been kidnapped by the beast and all his fluffy fur! You three must save me from his brutish grasp"
"What's... going on? Do-are we supposed to do something?" The newly arrived Bearmon questions in abject confusion, looking around at the rest of the table for an answer. You look down towards the ground in embarrassment, but force yourself to look up a second later after realizing what's bouncing in your arms.
"Ignore it"
"Heh, Tis a simple game-they're uh, having fun that's all" Sparks laughs before winking at you with just a hint of something resembling maliciousness, "Or mine friend is showing his undying affection for the lady Witchmon"
Whyyyyyyyyy?
You let out a groan at his words, and glare at the crippled wizardmon...who just chuckles again as Ardat plays along, throwing her claws around your neck and nuzzling her face into your chest. Disgust swells up in your core at the very notion and for a few seconds it's all you can do to not heave your lunch back up. It's soon replaced by a healthy helping of anger.
Sparks...You-you'll pay for that!
And then you're out the doors and running through the hall. No matter how much you may want to sprint out at full speed and toss Ardat into the field so you can be free of her, doing that would mean leaving Warren, Scourge and Grip behind. Because of that you're forced to stay relatively slow, moving jut quickly enough that Spiderlings are able to keep up.
The moment you finally reach the edge of the field, you drop the champion like a sack of old vegetables and breathe a sigh of relief.
Thanks the Spirits. It's over.
Ignoring the now pouting Ardat, you turn to face the coming trio of young mon and narrow your eye towards the leading spiderling.
Warren skitters through the remaining space with speed you'd expect from a rookie, then with a hiss, leaps forward. The KoDokugumon tackles your mid-section with a spin, plunging his forelegs into your gut. Of course, this does absolutely nothing by itself, (besides moving your thick fur) but you let out a yelp as if it had hurt and stumble back as if it had actually been effective in hurting you. The largest of your wards let's out a high pitched squeak of what you think is supposed to be a roar and begins mauling your hair. He's joined a moment later as Scourge and Grip leap up to assist him, bearing you to the ground. The nearly identical DoKugumon leap to your outstretched arms and let out bursts of sticky web, *pinning* you to the ground.
They attack in sequence, Warren aiming for your throat while the two others scratch at your chest. After a few seconds of the tickling sensation you rip a paw free from the binding and push them off. Now sporting a happy grin, you roll to the side, coming up onto all four paws-
-just in time to take the straw head of a broom to the face.
"He's on the ropes!" Ardat cackles, winding her focus back for a second swat. "Get him my brave minions! Defeat him for your queen"
*Hiss!*/*Hiss!*
"Yessss"
Despite the Witchmon's presence you can't help but continue to grin as your family rushes forward. All is well, if only for a little while.
===
Authors Note: Normally I'd have waited until everything was done, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to finish the second half of the update tonight.
Warren skitters through the remaining space with speed you'd expect from a rookie, then with a hiss, leaps forward. The KoDokugumon tackles your mid-section with a spin, plunging his forelegs into your gut.
That is a misconception my young padawan, the spidersongs have legs! They are called forelegs... But are still legs! He can't punch if he doesn't have fist!
Your *fight* with the four digimon lasts for a good half hour before your wards finally tire themselves out. You gather the trio up quickly and deposit them on your back so they can rest in peace. Upon noticing that your wards are in need of a nap, the feminine digimon stops assaulting you with her broom, and does something unexpected.
She clears her throat, makes sure her broom is firmly planted in ground, and then starts to sing.
As loathe as you are to admit it, the soft gentle lullaby she producesis nice. It lulls your wards to sleep quickly enough, and even makes you feel a bit drowsy. While pleasant, Ardat's words also end up being saddening since the act of singing reminds you distressingly of Lunamon. When it's over you're not quite tearing up, but it's close.
How...how can something like that come out of someone like her?
The combined stress of seeing how Frigimon had reacted to the bad news and the constant spell studying makes the idea of a nap quite appealing. With nothing else to really do for the afternoon (and since moving might wake your wards), you cross your paws, put your head down and settle down for a nap of your own.
You tolerate the Witchmon's presence nearby, even if it's only this once.
=
When you next find yourself awake the sun is beginning to trail down through the sky. Afternoon fades away into evening and you realize with a sinking sadness that it means you'll have to leave soon.
The next thing you notice is an unfamiliar pressure on your side. Ardat mutters something in her sleep and squirms a bit, rubbing her head against the purple fur of your paw. You open your mouth to scream, but snap it shut before more than a peep can get out.
That's still enough to wake up your wards, who erupt up off your back and land in front of your head. Warren and his brothers frantically look around for the source of your distress, but upon finding nothing turn to look at you in confusion.
"S-sorry..." You mumble, trying to hold back a wince.
Your red-clothed comrade blearily wipes her eyes, takes one look at the sky, then leaps up to her feet.
"Nonono! We overslept! Scratch is waiting for us!" She exclaims in a more than slightly panicked voice, reaching out with one arm and grasping your fur "Come-on, come-on we've got to go!" with one nearly effortlessly yank, the champion painfully pulls you up to your feet and then sprints off towards the mansion where Sparks and Beat are presumably staying. You take a step after her, but pause as Warren lets out a sad-sounding chitter.
Instead of running after the Witchmon, you turn around sweep the three In-Training mon into a hug and say your goodbyes.
"I'm sorry for leaving so soon again." You mumble, doing your best to hold back tears. "Please don't make trouble for Frigimon while I'm gone, she's been through a lot." You half-plead. Scourge and Grip let out understanding nods, but Warren shakes his head and jumps forward, wrapping his legs around your paw.
Ever so delicately you begin to pry the in-training away without brute force (which is hard without thumbs) and pause as he suddenly begins to glow a familiar white.
"KoDokugumon Digivolve To!"
The weight on your paw increases dramatically as your ward expands in the blink of an eye, going from smaller than your spread paw to the length of your entire arm.
"Demi-Dokugumon!"
You blink in surprise as eight green eyes stare up at you in surprise. Warren skitters down from your front limb and examines his more developed forelegs with surprise and awe. After a moment he looks at you again and nods his head. Scourge falls over onto his side, while Grip stays frozen, just staring at his bigger brother.
"I… understand now." the rookie's surprisingly deep voice says, a far cry from the noises he would make before. "I will make you proud." He bows his head in a subservient nod. You hesitantly nod back with a nervous smile, trying to hide your anxious jitters, and scramble off towards the mansion's front doors.
You're unsure what to say, unsure of what to even think, so you run away.
Ardat throws the doors open a few moments later, carrying Beat and literally dragging a protesting Sparks behind her as she sprints out of the building. You hurry to join them, and spot the crying form of Drop waving goodbye out of the corner of your eye.
Hurrying forward after the trio, you sprint at top speed through the town, but even when carrying your other comrades the Witchmon is still fast enough to leave you in the dust. It's only a few minutes later that your gasping form reaches the gate where the rest of your squad is silently waiting.
Sergeant Scratch doesn't glower, or say anything to your or the others' detriment. He waits for you to catch your breath, then begins to speak. The champion calmly explains that you'll all be meeting someone named Angewomon and her squad for the next mission, which gets a literal squee from Ardat, and a happy fist-pump from Pidmon. Normally you'd be curious about the actions, but Warren's evolution and the statement he made are all that fills your nervous mind.
The Gladimon leads your squad out through the portcullis and down the road for the third time, and the travel transitions into the schedule you'd gotten used to. Tutoring on how to understand the Flame Shroud spell, more sparring with the overly excited Pidmon, and finally a last bout of independent study before sleep.
You're walking late during the next morning when suddenly a massive dark shadow flashes over your party. It's followed by a booming roar that shakes your very bones, before an enormous four legged digimon crashes down to the earth in front of your party. Dirt explodes out from where its massive feet set down, and you can't help but flinch back in sudden surprise and fear as the helmeted head turns to focus on you.
Sparks steps forward, his staff upraised and glowing with mystical power, but before his spell can finish Scratch's hand lashes out like a whip, ripping it free from your friend's grasp.
"Hey-!"
"Good call! His actions had ninety-eight percent certainty of leading to his deletion if carried out." A robotic voice calls out, cutting your friend off. For a second you think it might be the massive armored mon, but then a small round being, one looking to be made almost entirely out of metal with a few patches of flesh, leaps up over the steed's head and lands lightly in front of Scratch. "Sergeant."
"Initiate MetalMameon." The Gladimon dully replies, before tilting his body to look up. Three other large figures fall from the sky in various positions surrounding your squad. Beat tenses up, Sparks raises his empty hand and you try to resist the urge to start digging away.
"Angemon!" Your winged friend cries, dashing forward in an attempt to wrap the taller angel up in a hug. He's thwarted however as the larger holy digimon brings a hand down, grasping Pidmon's helmet and keeping him just out of arms reach.
"You're a bit too large for that now." Angemon kindly smiles back, lightly patting Pidmon's armored head. "It is good to see that you've kept up your training, the fight against our enemy is a never ending one. We must always be vigilant for the Holy Lord above, praise be to him!"
Your friend wastes no time replying in kind, and moments later the two are interlocked in an isolated feedback loop consisting of a mixture of praising their god and cussing out the Gloaming.
I...Huh. So that's where he gets it.
Further thoughts are interrupted as a rumbling sound cuts through the air. You turn just in time to see a large blue humanoid dramon snatch Ardat up into his arms. The grinning Witchmon cackles happily, returning the hug.
"How's the Digital World's future leading lady doing?" He rumbles, moving the Witchmon up to rest on his shoulder.
"The Master Of Wind Sorcery is still on the task Exveemon!" Ardat shouts in reply, grinning up a storm.
"Yoho, how fun." *Exveemon* nods in a serious fashion, though you can pick out a hint of mirth "Now, why don't you introduce me to your new friends!"
You feels the urge to interject here and point out that none of your group aside from maybe Scratch actually consider themselves her friends, but you figure that contradicting the big scary Dramon brimming with power is not a good idea and wisely choose to stay silent.
"Sure!" Your comrade chirps waving her broom to point towards you. "The Drimogemon and Wizardmon over there are Verge and Sparks! That Wormmon beside them is Beat! They're on a journey of revenge!"
"They have nicknames?" Exveemon's rumbling voice interjects.
"Yep! They all walk the dreary path I too have chosen in search for that which cannot be found! For-"
You automatically begin tuning Ardat out, and instead turn towards the third figure that had arrives. Almost immediately you're beset by a tide of anger and fear upon seeing what it is. A tall female digimon with eight wings. Those emotions are quickly squashed as Sparks puts his hand on your shoulder and gives you a firm grip.
"Thanks." You murmur, before looking back at the angel.
I guess that must be Angewomon? So, is she an Ultimate?
The holy mon looms over Sparks with her hands on her hips, and *stares* down at the Sergeant with a smirk. If she was hoping to make the Gladimon flinch or back down, then you have a feeling that Angewomon is going to be sorely disappointed.
Silence stretches on for a few more seconds before she sighs, reaches back behind her back and pulls out a large metal flask. You frown in confusion as she unscrews the cap, puts the now free container to her lips and then throws her head back, loudly drinking whatever is inside.
"Imperiu..." Scratch's voice is tinged with a hint of disbelief. "Are you really-" The Angewomon holds up the index finger of her free hand, motioning him to wait a second, then continues loudly gulping whatever liquid is inside. Six seconds later, she finally lowers it from her lips and let's out a satisfied "Aaah!"
You've never seen Scratch glower at anyone like that before. Heck you didn't think he could.
"All *Hicup* Done!" The angel announces, before using a gloved hand to wipe at the corners of her mouth.
"Orders."
"Yeah, yeah." Angewomon waves her free hand dismissively before screwing the cap back onto her now empty flask. You get the distinct impression that the digimon is rolling her eyes behind that helmet. "We've been assigned to wipe out a Gloaming fortress Southwest of here that's critical in their efforts for their expansion and Yadda yadda yadaaaaa." She places the flask back behind her back where you're pretty sure she must have a bag, then withdraws a crumpled bit of paper and tosses it down towards your leader. "Here, read'em yourself. We're on sabotage duty. Gonna bust some heads out front while you're supposed to-" The Ultimate level digimon nearly laughs as she brings up to fingers with each hand and makes air-quotes for the next word. "*Dig* your way through the caves to hit them where they don't expect." You narrow your eyes at the angel and nearly snarl. What's wrong with digging!?
The sheer disregard she shows your leader and utter lack of decorum is mortifying even for a recent recruit like yourself, but you have a feeling that speaking might bring her attention on you and she's too scary for you to even consider that a possibility.
"We lack the power for a direct assault." Scratch states after a moment of reading."They have considerable forces."
"Yuuuuup" The Angewomon nods. "So don't screw up. We have four days to take it. Then their reinforcements show up." She lets out a vicious grin "So we do it in three." She looks past the Sergeant and towards Beat then laughs. "And you have a rookie along too, that's just great." She lets out a snort of derision, ignoring the Wormmon's heated glare, and sweeps her arm towards the massive armored flying mon. "Now get your Fledglings up on the Maildramon and hold right. We don't have all day." With that she turns away, flaps her wings once and soars up into the air.
"Divine's breath," Angemon sighs in what sounds like disappointment, stepping forward to stare after the rising holy mon. "I miss being your subordinate, Sergeant Scratch"
"Yoho, I don't!" Exveemon laughs. "This one's more fun! Er, no offense, sergeant."
"*Fun*." The male angel replies, in what's almost a scoff. "You mean disrespectful, brash and a complete bi-" He stops halfway, to glance towards Pidmon. "-it of an annoying person." he finishes before shaking his head.
The blue champion steps forward up beside the Maildramon and helps Ardat up off his shoulder and onto the larger Dramon's back. Which, now that you look at it, seems to have some sort of rudimentary saddle strapped to it. Well, saddle might not be the best word; it's more along the lines of a large box.
"Any of you need help?" He questions. Beat lets out a "tsk" of annoyance, then proceeds to grapple up to the saddle without assistance. Sparks follows suit, albeit with a jump.
You tentatively raise a paw-and find yourself immediately seized in the humanoid Dramon's clawed hands.
"Wow..." He says in sudden surprise, lifting you up towards the saddle. "You're really fluffy."
...Why does everyone say that!?
Scratch is the last to join the squad, as Pidmon decides to fly beside Angemon for the length of the journey.
=== During the journey over you talk to:
[] Sparks: The Wizardmon seems to have recovered from what happened, but you want to talk to him anyway.
[] Scratch: You're curious, overwhelmingly so, about what the heck just happened. He's an ultimate too isn't he? Why did she act like that towards him?
[] Beat: Your friend(?) seems to be taking Angewomon's comment rather badly. You want to make sure he's okay and try to reinforce that you and Sparks are there for him.
General Fighting Skill: 27/100->28/100
Flame Weapon Shroud: 9/18->11/18
===Authors Note: Man I did not think I was going to get this done tonight! Heh. Thanks to @Knight-Radiant for the art. Thanks to @no. And @TempestK for their beta work.
She's... Not necessarily wrong either. At this point, Verge's statblock probably resembles a freshly evolved Champion Drimogemon. A solid field engineer if not a front-line fighter if you will.
Man though, Verge must be huge if he passes as a Champion Drimogemon at this point.
[X] Scratch: You're curious, overwhelmingly so, about what the heck just happened. He's an ultimate too isn't he? Why did she act like that towards him?
Oh man, she's the worst and I love it. Certainly not your typical woman of the cloth. I'd definitely like to learn what her deal is.
Okay, so Angemon is himself putting up an overly clean front to be a good influence on Pidmon, who is himself putting up a similar front. That's interesting.
In general, this group is looking like a good time.
Edit:
Oh yeah, and Warren's a rookie now, I somehow totally forgot to mention that. That's... a thing. He must be quite beefy for a freshly-evolved rookie if he was physically comparable to a weak one before digivolving. Stronger than Verge was at the start of the quest at least.
She's... Not necessarily wrong either. At this point, Verge's statblock probably resembles a freshly evolved Champion Drimogemon. A solid field engineer if not a front-line fighter if you will.
Man though, Verge must be huge if he passes as a Champion Drimogemon at this point.
[X] Beat: Your friend(?) seems to be taking Angewomon's comment rather badly. You want to make sure he's okay and try to reinforce that you and Sparks are there for him.
Let's reaffirm our social links after that fiasco. Also, I have to agree with Angemon, she's a raging bitch and a callous one at that.
[X] Beat: Your friend(?) seems to be taking Angewomon's comment rather badly. You want to make sure he's okay and try to reinforce that you and Sparks are there for him.
Also, I have to agree with Angemon, she's a raging bitch and a callous one at that.
[X] Beat: Your friend(?) seems to be taking Angewomon's comment rather badly. You want to make sure he's okay and try to reinforce that you and Sparks are there for him.
[X] Beat: Your friend(?) seems to be taking Angewomon's comment rather badly. You want to make sure he's okay and try to reinforce that you and Sparks are there for him.
[X] Sparks: The Wizardmon seems to have recovered from what happened, but you want to talk to him anyway.
Drunken Angewomon, huh, somehow I find that lewd, in good way that is
But thinking a bit more about it, it makes sense I suppose, given the ever going conflict between Host and Gloaming, you probably don't make it up to ulimate in the host without losing somebody in the process
[X] Scratch: You're curious, overwhelmingly so, about what the heck just happened. He's an ultimate too isn't he? Why did she act like that towards him?
[X] Scratch: You're curious, overwhelmingly so, about what the heck just happened. He's an ultimate too isn't he? Why did she act like that towards him?
[X] Beat: Your friend(?) seems to be taking Angewomon's comment rather badly. You want to make sure he's okay and try to reinforce that you and Sparks are there for him.
Do you think it's possible that the reason why Beat hasn't evolved yet despite having super high stats and being in very desperate situations is that he doesn't meet the personality requirements for any of his potential evolutions?
We know that was the reason why Gramps never made it past Rookie.
If that is indeed the reason why he hasn't evolved yet, the progress we've been making on getting him to open up and be more friendly is probably getting him closer to evolution.
[X] Beat: Your friend(?) seems to be taking Angewomon's comment rather badly. You want to make sure he's okay and try to reinforce that you and Sparks are there for him.
