Digimon Inheritance: A Heroic Lion's Turbulent Times (Finished)

[] Talk to *Boy* the Elecmon: Ogremon's apprentice seems like a nice enough rookie. You wouldn't mind talking to him, learning why he wants the position... and maybe testing his mettle. Caretakers can't be weak after all.


===

Resisting the urge to yawn, you stand up and take a look at the daycare's current set of wards. *Boy* is even now ferrying the cornucopia of sleeping mon to bed in the smaller building. You recognize a few of the species such as Jyarimon (Like Thresh was) Pagumon and even a Punimon. Something you vaguely remember being. At least, before you digivolved to Tsunomon anyway.

Though there are others that you don't recognize such as the small yellow digimon on four tiny legs or the one with big ear-hands, and grey fur.

"Fight me."

Your attention is drawn away from the young Mon and to Beat, who's currently staring at Ogremon intently. The older champion shrugs, but his mouth betrays his mood with a wry smile.

"Feh, why not? Just not here. It'll wake the brats up." With that he waves the dark Stingmon deeper into town. You feel a pang of regret over not asking the caretaker to spar first, but shrug it off. Hopefully you'll be able to ask later.

In the meantime your attention drifts back to the champion's apprentice and find that Sparks is already approaching the rookie.

"Tch, hey, *Boy*. Where'd ya get that flute?"

"Oh, uh this?" The Elecmon questions presenting his instrument to your friend. "Made it myself!.. well kind of. I had to ask for some help around town to uh, make it... but urmm, the design was my idea!"

"Mhrm…" The FlameWizardmon's hand lashes out faster than the Elecmon can react and snatches the instrument away to examine. A sad smile gradually blooms on your closest friend's face as he finishes looking it over. Then he tosses it back to the flabbergasted rookie with a nod.

Stiffening before, wishing to look over it presently. What is he witnessing here that I cannot?

"Sparks, do you recognize it?"

"Yeah. Heh, Yeah I do Verge. Gramps had one just like it. Played it a couple times when I was around… but it was always so friggen' sad."

"Gramps? Who's uh, who's Gramps?" *Boy* tentatively questions giving your morose friend a concerned look.

"He was our caretaker." You explain, reaching forward to every so lightly pat the armor digimon's back. "Gramps guided us upon the earliest stages of our path."

"Strongest rookie we ever knew." Sparks adds with a small chuckle. "Kicked the butt of a Flamemon more times than I could count."

Flamemon…

You take a deep, calming breath determined not to lose yourself to wrath.

"A Flame… mon?"

"The rookie stage before… Agnimon."

"The Legendary Warrior!?"

"Correct."

"Whoa…"

"Yeah, deleted a couple champions too. Had this real powerful spell to boost his lightnin'. I didn't think anymon coulda beat him in a fair fight."

"He sounds really cool!"

"Yeah… yeah he was kid. Yeah he was." Sparks murmurs trailing off to gaze at the ground.

"Was?.. Oh, I'm sorry. What... happened?"

"He tried to save my family." You growl, making the rookie flinch. "Then Count knocked him out and let a DarkLizardmon burn him."

"And I'm going to burn both those bastards for it."

"O-okay…" The rookie swallows audibly and takes a step back. You wince at the nervous ticks, and take another deep breath to reign in the anger.

"Sorry for making ya nervous. Blegh, go ahead and keep gabbin' with him Verge I've got something to deal with." He jerks a thumb over towards Pit, who's still frowning into his empty bowl.

"I see… good luck."

"Tch, won't need it." He scoffs, flashing you a thumbs-up. With that the two of you share one last melancholic smile and he trudges off towards the moping angel.

You stare at Ogremon's apprentice silently, struggling to think of something to say. However all that does is cause the red rookie to shrink in on himself like he's in some sort of danger.

Sorry.

"So… what…-"

Think Verge! Think! What did you ask Ogremon?!

"- made you choose the path of a caretaker? Few mon are willing to dedicate themselves to the role." This seems to lessen the Elecmon's worries as he breathes a long sigh and actually puffs himself up.

"I didn't! Ogremon told me I had to be one after I digivolved to rookie!"

Ogremon forced him to be his disciple? He seemed more honorable than that.

".. Is that true?"

"Yep! He's been training me since I was…" The mammalian digimon pauses to start counting via his claws. It's painfully slow, but through meditation you've gained patience. Finally after two minutes and eight seconds he nods to himself and holds out both paws to display separate digits. The left is a two, while the first is a one.

Three? No. Then he'd just use one paw. So. twenty-one.

"..since I was 21 days old? And that was... 20 days ago?" You nod along with his explanation, before bidding for him to continue with a wave of your paw,

"Right, the others didn't ask but, I don't really mind it. Ogremon's going to leave soon so this place needs a caretaker. And I mean I do like uh, doing it. Playing with the others is fun and I can even take long naps since the town is safe. Don't know why Ogremon is so insistent on training me. Not like I've even seen a feral digimon."

"Caretakers must be strong."

Like Gramps.

"That's what Ogremon says." He grumbles with an errant shrug. "But I don't like fighting. Violence it's… hrm. Not fun. I like games better. Doesn't stop him from forcing me to train every night." You tilt your head at the young digimon, a bit confused at the complaint. You'd love to be able to train every night against a digimon that strong…

Not as a rookie…

You cough once, dispelling the sudden wave of sorrow and flash the Data-attribute a quick smile.

Sparring. Maybe… yes.

"Would you be willing to show me what you've learnt?"

"Show you, like fight? Uh…" *Boy* swallows again and you can't resist letting out a rumble of laughter.

"Zehahaha. No, I will not *fight* you. I just wish to see your skills."

"Oh. Okay then! Sir! Just, sorry if my lightning stings."

"... that will not be a problem."

=

As it turns out, his lightning does in fact sting. Albeit only when it manages to land on a sensitive spot such as your nose. He doesn't do any actual damage, it's just a little shocking. Otherwise your thick fur and body can take his blasts without feeling much of anything. It just kind of disperses harmlessly; much to the rookie's chagrin.

In the following minutes as he bounds around you begin to take note of the subtle differences between this mon and Gramps. At least when it comes to movement. Your caretaker had been quite speedy for a rookie, but also measured. He employed few if any wasted movements and… now that you think back on it, he was eternally tired. Even after going through long naps, the old mon still moved about like there was a weight pressing down on his body.

Despite being larger than him, *Boy* is comparatively much lighter on his feet. Practically bursting with energy and happy to cartwheel around without thought of how it's slowing him down. He's also not nearly as skilled, rather the rookie's fighting reminds you more of Flamemon's eager and wild attacks then Gramps calculated style of combat.

Now and then you make a very careful, slow swipe at him in an effort to make the rookie dodge and it's here that you note a very definite lack of balance. Especially when he tries to swap into a more bipedal stance. He's still *decent* at evasion and gaining distance, but that alone will rarely win combat.

So you begin making suggestions, utilizing your own experience in the subject to point out how to properly move about on two limbs and switch between the two stances without falling over. You cite that that finding proper balance is mayhaps the most important part of combat. Proper posture brings the ability to block, dodge or attack without trouble, while a poor stance will stop one from doing much of anything.

As he starts to run out of juice, you take notice that so far he's only been utilizing his power for ranged shock attacks. Namely Sparkling Thunder and Lightning Knife. Which while effective won't help him too much if an enemy manages to close in.

"Tell me, do you possess any experience in fighting at close quarters?"

"A little? Ogremon's mostly been telling me to focus on *what works* for me. Which is my uh. Thunder. None of the other rookies are really interested in fighting except the Commandramon, but they shoot… things. I urm, just haven't had much chance to practice?" The Elecmon flashes you a worried smile, clearly expecting some sort of tongue lashing.

"I see."

Hmm. Our body shapes are similar. Perhaps similar enough… yes.

"Then watch." With that you rear up and raise both paws, settling into your most common stance.

".. huh?" You ignore his questioning look and flow into the first movements of your base martial kata. Thanks to the power of repetition the self-taught movements are instinctive at this point and you proceed through the well-practiced circuit with one smooth action after another. Blocks, close ranged counters, powerful swipes and even a hint of grappling, you show him the very core of your martial style. And when it's done, his eyes are wide.

"Was that… fighting?"

"Yes. And no." The rookie's face scrounges up in confusion, prompting another chuckle. "The *Kata* I use is just practice. It hones my movements without the need of true battle."

"Hehehe, attacking air does that?" Your gaze hardens. "S-sir!"

"If applied and practiced properly. If not, then no. It would not help."

"That's… cool. C-can I try it? Please?" He asks with no small sense of hope. You look the tiny digimon over examining, his twitching ears wavering tailfeathers and slightly watery eyes. There's no way you can refuse the request..

"Aye."

The next couple hours hours are spent walking him through the patterns of your kata. With a watchful eye you carefully correct his stances, shifting his feet here, moving his forelimbs there. Next are the movements, he's far too rigid in some places and loose in others. Plus his limbs are shorter than your own, so it requires some adapating so he can do it *properly*.

Still, *Boy* picks it all up fast, picking up on the subtle changes much speedier than anything you managed as a Drimogemon. Much like Agnimon was, he's a natural when it comes to combat.

All the training with him, it all feels... vaguely familiar.

Eventually the young digimon pushes himself to the point of exhaustion and does have to take a break. But you're not entirely willing to let things end there and instead bring up another topic that could help him out in a fight.

"Impressive skill and dedication." You murmur, giving the panting rookie an approving nod. "But there is more to consider for one such as you."

"Re-really?"

"Yes. Gramps was able to use his power in tandem with his physical strikes. Which was in part what made him so deadly. As an Elecmon you too should be capable of wreathing your body in lightning to aid a tackle, or charge your tail feathers to harden them."

"Those are great ideas!.. Sir. Urrm. I will try them, but. They sound hard."

"I imagine so… but you are a good student. You will learn"

"Th-thanks!"

With that silence stretches out between you again. Though not for long as Beat and Ogremon arrive a short while thereafter.

The Stingmon's everything is cracked, from his head to his clawed feet. However despite his injuries the champion carries an aura of satisfaction. Ogremon meanwhile is basically untouched, barring only a few shallow cuts on his body, yet he shares the same satisfied look.

Evening comes swiftly, marking the end of your stay at the *daycare* and you all part ways in good spirits. Even Pit seems better after Sparks… did whatever he did. However the FlameWizardmon does do something odd before departing. He hands Ogremon's apprentice a yellow tome.

You're not sure why but… it feels oddly fitting.

===Authors Note: Proprs to @TempestK for doing beta work on this update. Next half with vote should be up pretty late tonight or tomorrow morning.

The journey through town to Bulwark's local fort is a pleasant one. Sparks whistles a tune on your shoulder, Beat limps along, hurt, but satisfied and Pit openly preaches at the surrounding mon about the Host's greatness. You meanwhile are riding off the high that came from teaching *Boy*. Even if it's slightly tempered by a somber feeling of nostalgia.

With sunset fast approaching most of BaroTown's inhabitants have gone indoors, leaving the streets nearly barren.

Mayhaps I should instruct more digimon in my style?.. no. That would take time away from my training. Perhaps after Repulsa, Count and his servants have been felled.

With everything going so well, you're entirely caught off guard when a burnt, smoking figure stumbles into the path and raises one shaking hand.

"H-healing…" Agent Karatenmon rasps before collapsing down to one knee. The blackened, barely surviving mon only manages to stay upright through virtue of her sword being planted in the earth, but even then it's close.

She lives?

"Spirits! You're alive?!"

"Agent Karatenmon! Mega Heal!" A pulse of holy power surges out from Pit's weapon and washes over the wounded mon, but it barely affects her injuries.

Right healing!

You rush over and hastily add your own spellwork in an effort to help save the avian digimon from her wounds. As the two of you work, small pieces of metal and wood are forced out of the injured agent's body, clear shrapnel from some sort of explosion.

"Ma'am we thought the Gloaming deleted you! Mega Heal!"

"Stole the… discs. Blew up… my shop. Gloaming, bastards."

"How'd ya survive?" Sparks interjects, peering closely at the barely-feathered swordswomon.

"Mega Heal!"

"I was below… listening to their transmissions… heard me and… set them off… managed to slide up… just before."

"Heh, course ya had secret room."

You hurry through the last few lines of coding to finish your spell, which manages to bring most of her feathers back into existence and heal most of the remaining damage.

"You listened to their transmissions." Beat states, cutting into the conversation. "What did you learn?"

"They're calling in a dark-zone cursed Valvemon!" She squawks shooting up into the air.

"A Valvemon?"

"Valvemon is a machine digimon which boasts one of the greatest sizes among all vehicle Digimon. It's body is fully capable of housing a small army of champion-level forces."

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

Oh.

"Large machine digimon. Carrying many Gloaming soldiers."

"Shit."

"Holy God."

"Good."

... it could be a good fight. But...

"Can we not alert Bulwark of it's presence?" You question, prompting the avian digimon to shake her head.

"His temple isn't in their jurisdiction. Bulwark is contracted to protect the town and nothing more." She pauses to turn her attention to your Pidmon friend. "Astamon's band of assassins plan to strike Baromon's temple at sunfall." Your superior(?) explains before glancing up at the setting sun and flinching. "We don't possess much time. Sergeant Pit, I hereby conscript your squad to assist my mission. I will not allow them to render my toiling in this backwater useless!"

"Yes ma'am!" Pit straightens up and throws the Ultimate a salute. "What mission shall we undertake for the Lord's glory?!"

"Enthusiasm. Good." The Karatenmon rolls her shoulders and takes a breath. "I'm done playing pretend. We're striking Baromon's temple and taking him by force."

"Ah-Attacking the temple?!"

They struck no blow against us.

"Yes. We'll eliminate any acolyte that gets in our way, restrain Baromon and-"



"No." Pit interrupts, his voice low and hard.

"What was that Sergeant?" Your friend ignores the emphasis of his rank and slowly floats up, moving to match the Ultimate's hardened gaze with his own.

"We are not striking his temple."

"If you hold your position in the Host to be of any value, then yes you wi-"

"By the Lord Up High! We. Will. Not!" The angels wings erupt into a golden inferno, bathing the world in a warm, powerful light. Karatenmon flinches back from the display, her dark feathers smouldering anew from the heat. "Leave." The agent glares back at him, her sword hand(talon?) twitching-only to freeze as Beat's stinger lands against the back of her neck.

"Tch, don't even think about it." Sparks snaps, summoning an orb of azure fire into existence over the red end of his matchstick. You rear up, glaring at the Ultimate and unleash a low threatening growl.

"We will not contribute to senseless slaughter."

"You'll regret this." Karatenmon spits, carefully floating away from the Stingmon. "Six months of Host resources wasted! The Choir won't stand for-!"

"Yeah, yeah. We'll rue the day. Now scram before we decide you're better as raw data." The Ultimate shoots your entire squad a last glare, then soars off upwards with an audible *Boom*.

Without looking back, Pit begins to speak again, his voice filled with barely restrained anger.

"Verge. Beat. Sparks. Ideas, now."

=== Choose One:

[] Follow the Agent's orders and go try and help kidnap Baromon. Removed due to prior character choices.

[] Wendimon may be able to prevent this situation from spiraling out of control. Find him and explain the situation. The officer might be able to end the conflict before it begins. At least you hope he can, the champion might join their attack instead.

[] Sparks thinks the most practical options will be to inform the temple and set an ambush Valvemon and the *Stalkers*. But you haven't even been there and don't know what forces the old mystic even has besides Hanumon.

[] Your group could use what's time left to to warn Ogremon and see about rallying the town to help against what's coming. After all they really seem to care for their founder.

===Authors Note: Welp this is pretty late. Sorry guys.