"Well, it can't hurt to ask, right?" BlueCeratomon shrugged. "I mean, how bad can someone be who sends his creepy-looking bat Digimon minions and lives in a dark and damp, abandoned laboratory that's in ruins and infested with Numemon?"
"You're kidding, right?" Canismon, who was currently carrying Kitmon, sweatdropped.
"You know, this would be the time Rika would say: No way!" Terriermon pointed out.
"Oh, I forgot to mention: Our master also has CANDY!"
"Yay!" Kitmon tried clapping her stubby forelegs. "Wanna go! Wanna go!"
"Well, so much for that..." Renamon sighed.
"I say we go," Nalamon said. "If he would harm us in any way, he wouldn't send his servants to get us... and if it was a trap, I believe we'd be able to handle it."
"I agree," Ceratomon nodded. "We are nine, and they are just four... provided that he hasn't more minions than those."
Kenta sweatdropped. "Nine? Are you counting the baby and the Non-Hybrid Tamers with no available Digimon partner as well?"
"Am no baby!" Kitmon protested.
"Figures Jeri would agree with Takato," Kazu snickered. "I mean, she would follow him everywhere, right?"
Nalamon and BlueCeratomon blushed. "Sh-shut up..." the blue dinosaur hybrid murmured.
"So you have agreed?" the Pipismon asked in their simultaneous way of speaking.
"Looks like we did..." Canismon replied with a sigh. "Lead the way..."
"Of course! Please, if you would step this way..."
----
Alice threw the empty drawer down to the floor. "Nothing! Dang, where could grandpa have hidden those accursed documents?"
"Maybe those slime Digimon took them," Ivan suggested. "And you are cute when you are angry... although I would never admit that I think this way about you..."
"Stop thinking out loud!" Alice growled, sounding almost as if she was in her Hybrid form. "And do you really think those Numemon were intelligent enough to do anything with those papers? Now stop looking at your photos and help me search!"
With a frown, the big man pocketed his photographs and walked over to a cabinet. "She really is cute when she's angry..." he muttered as he walked past his female companion.
Alice gritted her teeth.
----
"Say, why does your master live down here?" Canismon asked as they followed the Pipismon through the darkness. Curiously, no Numemon had shown up since they were in the company of the three bat Digimon.
"The master prefers to live secluded," the Pipismon answered. "He doesn't like big crowds, a group as big as yours is the maximum he can bear."
"Then why did he invite us in the first place?" Terriermon muttered.
"Don't be so rude!" Nalamon scolded. Terriermon just shrugged.
"It is a valid question," the Pipismon said. "You see, while the master prefers to stay secluded, he enjoys the company of guests... and since it has been such a long time since he had any enjoyable company, he agreed to welcome you, in spite of you being a group. He has even prepared a meal and wishes to have dinner with you."
"Well, that sure sounds promising!" Kazu said, licking his lips. Ceratomon nodded.
"Dinner?" Renamon wondered. "Is it already that late?"
"When living below the earth, one tends to forget time, as there is no visible way of telling what time is it," the Pipismon explained. "Here, it's this door..."
BlueCeratomon looked through the door and saw another stair leading down. "There's another level down there?" he asked in surprise.
"Our master has managed to keep most of the lower rooms tidy, so it would be more pleasant for him or potential guests. He also has two guest rooms, should you decide to stay for the night."
"Well, it is kinda late to go back home right now..." Ceratomon said.
"Are you crazy?" Canismon whispered into his ear. "We don't even know what this guy is up to and yet you already plan to stay for the night?"
"Well, I am tired..." Ceratomon protested weakly.
The Pipismon with their sensitive ears overheard the conversation. "We assure you, there is no need to be suspicious," they said. "Although the choice if you wish to stay is entirely up to you, of course!"
"Well, let's just see who this 'master' person is," BlueCeratomon suggested. Nalamon nodded.
The Pipismon guided them to a big door at the end of the corridor. They were right: In comparison with the upper floors, this basement level was much more tidy. The lamps at the ceiling weren't working, but someone had made up for that by attaching small torches to the walls.
"The master is now ready to welcome you!" the Pipismon said. "Please, come in!"
The Hybrid Tamers entered... and found themselves standing in a big laboratory room, with many machines and old equipment standing in the corners. But most of the room was provided with fine furniture that seemed to be out of place in such a modern, even if ruined, laboratory like this.
A big table was placed in the middle of the room, covered with a white cloth and various dishes. An enticing smell was coming from the different types of food that were placed there. Tall candles were providing the room with light, although the end of the table, on the other side of the room, was shrouded in shadows.
A tall, four-legged Digimon was sitting at the table. It needed no chair because of its size and four limbs, but it was eating from its dish with dignity. It resembled a fox, but different from Kyubimon. Its face looked similar to a mask, while a Yin/Yang sign was visible on its haunches. Its tail also had the shape of a curved blade, or sickle.
The unknown Digimon smiled at the Hybrid Tamers. "Hello, you must be the other guests our host mentioned."
BlueCeratomon scratched his head in confusion. "So... you are not this 'master' the Pipismon told us about?"
"Oh no!" The stranger laughed. "My name is Reppamon. I am a wanderer, new in town! I was just looking for a place to spend the night, when I found this abandoned laboratory and met with the master. He invited me to stay the night, so I accepted. You'll see that he is indeed a mellow person."
"Now that's good to hear," Terriermon spoke up. The others nodded.
At the Pipismon's urging, they sat down at the table. "Please, help yourselves to food and drinks," they said.
"Where's the candy?" Kitmon asked as she looked at the table. "I wanna candy! CandycandyCANDY!"
"You know, too much candy isn't good for your teeth," Reppamon said with a smile.
"I still wanna candy!"
Reppamon chuckled. "What a cute child! Is she yours?" he asked Canismon intriguingly.
"Wha...? NO!" Canismon shouted. "I'm just... looking after her for a while."
"She is... well, I'm her sister," Renamon spoke up.
Reppamon smiled. "Oh, in that case I'm sure she will grow up to be a beauty just as her older sister."
Renamon blushed. She wasn't used to such praise, and in her eyes, the handsome youngster Reppamon was indeed very handsome.
"Well then," Kazu asked just as he stuffed some bread in his mouth. "Where is this guy who has invited us?"
"I am here," a calm voice came from the other end of the table, out of the shadows. "I thank you all for accepting my invitation."
Suddenly, another candle flared up and illuminated that end of the table, so they could see who was sitting in the big armchair.
"I am Myotismon," the master of the sub-basement said with a smile. "I welcome you to my humble abode."
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(Posted Tue, 15 May 2007 16:19)
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