Mako gasped and wheezed as he ran through the mucky waters of the sewer system underneath Tokyo. His wings were covered with a disgusting layer of filth and slime, and was so tired that he nearly slipped and fell down.
But he could hear the voices of his pursuers. "He went that way!"
"Quickly, catch him! Lady Lucemon won't pay us until we brought her that boy!"
Mako had no strength left to run. He leaned against one of the walls and panted heavily. He knew that the Numemon and Sukamon would come around the corner every minute, but he just couldn't keep it up anymore.
Shortly after his escape from Lucemon's tower, the hunt for Twilimon had begun. Not only did Lucemon send her Disciplinary Squad after him, she also put a bounty on his head. And now all the cash-hungry and unscrupulous Digimon thugs in town were after him, and also even a few human gangs.
He couldn't fly without catching their attention. And on the street, the Disciplinary Squad had the advantage of using all the children on the street as their informants. So the only thing he could think of was escape down into the sewers.
Of course that was where all sorts of slime and mutant Digimon live, and they would do anything for money. And now they had chased Twilimon to his complete exhaustion.
Mako looked around the corner. In the dim light, he could see the shadows of the Numemon... they were already around the next corner. If he didn't leave now, they would find him. But his legs didn't quite work as he wanted them to...
Just when he thought that everything was over, he felt a strong hand grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back before he could even yelp.
Two dozens of Numemon came slithering around the corner. They were accompanied by four big and smelly Sukamon.
"He has to be around here somewhere," a Numemon said. "I've seen him run into this tunnel."
"He can't be far, search everywhere!" one of the Sukamon commanded.
"Yes, boss!"
Mako grunted when he stumbled backwards, against a muscular chest. A deep and amused voice grumbled: "Careful now, boy, you're safe now. I think we managed to trick them."
Mako turned around. He had seen the tall lion-man before...
"You are... Jeri's father... aren't you?"
"That's correct," Leomon nodded.
"But how... I mean, how can you still be on your Champion level? Ai... I mean, Lucemon turned everyone into children... and the children into adults."
"I know that," Leomon said. "But her spell only affects Tokyo, no, all of Japan. And since we are in the Digital World right now..."
"The... Digital World?" Mako murmured as he looked around. They were standing at the edge of a big forest, and in the distance, he could hear the sounds of the ocean.
"The western coast of the continent Server," Leomon explained. "I brought you here through a small rift... most of the passageways between Tokyo and the Digital World are currently guarded by Lucemon's allies, but Baihumon dug several of these small rifts."
"Baihumon...?" Mako wondered.
"Yes, he is, as you might know, one of the Four Sovereigns and the Guardian of the Western Hemisphere. His claws have the ability to create digital ripples, causing the Digital World to tear apart when he starts digging. He rarely uses that ability, but right now, I was glad he did it, or else I wouldn't have been able to save you."
Mako bowed in front of his elder, as he was been taught by his mother. "Th-thank you, sir!"
"It was the least I could do, you are one of my daughter's friends. Still, I can't forgive myself for not being able to protect her... I only managed to get here because Calumon brought me here, just before Lucemon created her magical sphere around Japan."
"Calumon?" Mako asked.
"Yes, he was sent by the Four Sovereigns. They are interested in helping you, Mako."
"Help... me?" the young Hybrid wondered. "Help doing what?"
"Turning your sister back to normal, of course!" Leomon said.
"They could do that?" Mako gasped.
"It is possible, although it won't be easy. You need to get more comfortable with your new form, which was created to act as a counterpoint to Lucemon, who is an Angel who gave in to the temptation of darkness. You have been born as a Devil, but you are willing to fight as a warrior of light."
"I... I'm still too weak..." Mako murmured. "I thought I could bring back Ai, but... there was only Lucemon left."
"Lucemon has buried your sister deep underneath her own personality. You may be able to unbury her, but you need help, and lots of training. Well, that's the reason why the Sovereigns had Calumon save me as well... you need a good trainer."
"Please!" Mako shouted and folded his hands. "Please help me become stronger! If they are right and I am the only one who can bring my sister back... I will do anything, just please train me!"
"Calm down, young one, I never said I wouldn't," Leomon smirked. "On the contrary, I'd be happy to teach you."
"R-really?" Mako stuttered.
"Yes, but I need some help. There is someone who knows this area better than me, and he has trained many young Digimon that wanted to become stronger warriors."
"Who is he? Does he know of our problem?"
"He knows, and he is already here," Leomon said as another Digimon stepped out of the shadows of the forest. He was even taller than Leomon himself. "Mako, meet my older brother, BanchoLeomon!"
The huge lion-man wore a black cloak and hat and carried a long sword. He looked down at the young Hybrid with piercing eyes. Mako could feel the raw power coming from his body and almost didn't feel worthy to be this strong warrior's student.
"So, you are a Digimon Tamer, as well as a Hybrid, huh?" BanchoLeomon finally asked.
"Y-yes, sir!" Mako nodded. "My sister Ai and I are the Tamers of Impmon..."
"The Rookie form of Beelzemon... I see..." BanchoLeomon grumbled. "But what do you think you little boy can do against the Mistress of Pride?"
"Sir, I don't know what I can do... but whatever happens, I will try and do everything I can to help my sister," Mako swore.
BanchoLeomon exchanged a quick glance with his brother and smirked. "Well spoken, young Hybrid, but that means we're going to have a lot of work waiting for us. You know, this isn't the first time I've trained a Hybrid..."
"Not?" Mako asked in surprise. "Who did you train?"
"My son..." BanchoLeomon said in a voice that was filled with grief. "Leormon... he was the Digimon partner of my niece Jeri... He sacrificed himself to protect her, gave his own life... like a true warrior... I am very proud of him, but I still wish he would still be alive..."
"I'm... sorry for your loss, sir..." Mako said. He felt guilty because he knew who was responsible for the death of Jeri's partner... it was Beelzemon.
BanchoLeomon scratched his head. "Well, no need to get sentimental. One good way to make sure that you don't end up like Leormon is: Do. Your. Best. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" Mako said and fought the urge to salute in front of the veteran warrior.
Both Leomons nodded at each other and smiled. "Good!" Leomon said. "Then I think we should let you rest for a while, you are pretty exhausted... and maybe a bath would be a good thing."
Mako looked at his slime-covered wings and blushed. "Yeah, that would be nice..."
"Tomorrow, we will begin with the training," BanchoLeomon said. It wasn't a suggestion.
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(Posted Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:35)
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