ATTACK OF THE NECROMANCERS

By Stormy Wizard

CHAPTER 8 - Wizardmon's Return

"Vee, where did you get that ring?" asked Gatomon, noticing the ruby on Veemon's fourth finger,
"It'sh a fire ring, we found it in a cave" explained Veemon, "We found a Thunder and Water ring too"
Elecmon and Gomamon held up their rings, Gatomon looked envious, and turned around. Veemon sighed,
"Go with your instincts" whispered Gomamon,
The seven of them continued their stroll, until Gomamon collapsed,
"Ugh, I'm sooo tired" he moaned,
"There's a big house over there" pointed out Biyomon, looking at a manor, "Let's see"
They ran over to the house and knocked on the door. Someone extremely familiar answered.
"Wizardmon?!" asked Gatomon, utterly shocked, "I thought you were destroyed"
"It's been a while, Gatomon" said Wizardmon. He was dressed in a shabby padded suit, and wore a deep purple cloak with a skull button. He had his mouth covered, he had messy tan hair, and he wore a worn out pointed hat with a skull on the buckle.
"What happened?" asked Gabumon,
"I was reborn" answered Wizardmon, "It took a very long while because I was destroyed in the real world, but remember that digimon don't die. However, I believe that you seven are cursed so this can't happen"
They nodded. Wizardmon had been Gatomon's friend when she was Myotismon's slave. He assisted the digidestined in the real world in their fight, and toward the end, he had blocked Myotismon's attack and was destroyed. He appeared four years later as a ghost to warn them about Oi Kawa, Malomyotismon's puppet, and now, he was there, looking them all in the eye.
"Come in" he said, "Gennai gave me a lot of compensation for taking so long to regenerate, so I bought this house"
Wizardmon's house was bursting with the unexpected. Even the short route from the front door to the kitchen was quite a trauma. Biyomon looked in the mirror, and it shouted back in her voice, "Do something about your lyres!" and a magic comb buzzed around Gomamon like an angry bee.
"I see you seven are very good digimages now" said Wizardmon, making eight cups appear out of midair and dropped on the table, filling with drinks,
"Yeah, it's been really interesting" said Gatomon, sipping her drink, "I'm glad you're back, I was worried that I'd never see you again"
Veemon felt a tiny pang on the back of his neck. Nothing was there when he felt it,
"Have you learned your Ultimate spells yet?" asked Wizardmon,
"No" confessed the seven of them,
"Maybe I can help you a bit there" said Wizardmon, "You all look tired, you can sleep here tonight"
"What'sh up with all the curshesh around here?" asked Veemon, looking at the candelabra, that began spinning on its own,
"I've been experimenting with digimagic, but unfortunately there's been a lot of failures" said Wizardmon. The spinning candelabra began to shoot embers everywhere. Wizardmon stopped it, and extinguished a fire on Gabumon's fur.
"I'm terribly sorry" he said,
"So, how can you help us with digimagic?" asked Gatomon,
"I'll find some books tonight, and tell you all tomorrow" said Wizardmon, "I've been a bit forgetful lately"
He turned to the others,
"Who are you?" he asked Armadillomon. Dillomon was in his standing knight mode, and didn't look very much like the Armadillomon they had known before. Gatomon re-introduced him and Gomamon, who was also not very familiar, and Wizardmon turned to Veemon,
"Uh, Yeemon?" he asked uncertainly. Gomamon raised his eyebrows, grinning. Veemon corrected him,
"Ah, yes" said Wizardmon, "You defeated Chimeramon didn't you?"
Chimeramon was the digimon emperor's Ultimate creation, a fearsome digimon that almost wiped out everyone in the emperor's base, but Magnamon defeated him.
"I see you've defeated Ardeuxmon as well" added Wizardmon, noticing the three rings, "You must be powerful then"
"Yeah!" smiled Veemon, remembering the holy ring he was going to give to Gatomon later. Elecmon and Gomamon would give out the other three later on too.
"Well, I can sleep easier knowing that you seven are in charge of stopping the Necromancers. I saw what happened in their mansion, well done"
"How...?" asked Gatomon, but Wizardmon pulled a crystal ball out of his cloak, and it showed Bardmon.
"Want to eavesdrop?" asked Wizardmon, and he cast a spell on the ball. Bardmon's voice filled the room,
"Ugh, I can't believe those rookies defeated us" he barked,
"One's a champion" added Shamonesmon,
"But that rookie, Veemon, almost defeated me in one hit!" continued Bardmon, "We need to have a plan next time"
"Their power is great when they are together" said Zyndromon, "We can barely do damage because of their defences, and if we do, their supporters heal them"
"But if we catch them apart" said Lorheasmon, "We could take them off much easier"
"I did manage to get them apart" said Shamonesmon, "But they might now have a defence against teleporting too. It's really easy, all you do is focus hard on the spot you're on right now"
"Aha!" smiled Elecmon, "Thankyou, Shamonesmon, that'll do nicely"
"Maybe if we team up too?" suggested Zyndromon, showing no signs of hearing Elecmon,
"That might just work" said Bardmon, "Very well, we shall try to collapse them tomorrow, and when we do, they'll drop like rabbits! Gwahahahaha!"
"Ugh, that laugh is so irritating" said Gatomon, "Turn it off"
Wizardmon cast a spell, and the crystal ball turned transparent.
"You see what this means?" he asked the five of them, "You need to be strong, otherwise they will defeat you. Grow strong on the inside, as well as the outside. We will talk again tomorrow"

The digimages had a great time in Wizardmon's mansion. They even had the luxury of a warm bath, like the one the older digidestined appreciated at Devimon's fake mansion. Despite Biyomon's disgruntlement, they saw no reason why they shouldn't mix genders, there was only one large bath after all. They all tried to relax, but it was hard,
"Don't sink, Ieemon" joked Gomamon, floating past. Veemon had his feet firmly placed on the shallow area of the bath, and was attempting to relax, but he kept jumping every second, scared of slinking down into the deep area and ending up on the bottom,
"Come on, Gabba" called Elecmon and Gatomon. Gabumon was deciding whether or not to go in the water. If he did, he would have to take off his fur in front of everyone, Armadillomon began clapping, encouraging him to go in, everyone else followed suit. Gabumon huffed, flung his fur off and jumped in, creating a large wave that wet the whole floor. Everyone cheered, but it didn't last long. Gomamon was now spooking everyone by diving down and tickling their feet. He could hold his breath for a heck of a long time. However, he found teasing Veemon to be a mistake, when the blue dragon retaliated and lifted him up out of the water, but Gomamon reached down and tickled his armpits. Veemon dropped him, and Gomamon tripped him up. They play-wrestled, laughing, disturbing everyone else. However, Gatomon was splashed, and the pair paused, awaiting the explosion,
"Right, that does it!" she snapped, and joined their fight, easily winning, even when Veemon and Gomamon teamed up. Their game ended when Veemon almost drowned when they were drawn to the deep area. They left the bath and had some dinner, all occasionally glancing at Veemon, who was shaking quite hard, no matter how much Gomamon and Gatomon apologised.

After dinner, one by one, the digimages went to bed. Gatomon stayed up to talk to Wizardmon, she sat on the living room window ledge, while Wizardmon remained standing.
"How have you been going all this time, Gatomon?" asked Wizardmon,
"I've been okay" answered Gatomon, "Kari's taken good care of me"
"I'm glad" smiled Wizardmon, "Do you still feel safe around her?"
"No" sighed Gatomon. She had one main problem, she didn't feel safe at any time. This was probably because of her problems being raised at Myotismon's, of all the cruelty she was given, and the fact that there was no escape from it. Gatomon had one main thing on her mind, to find someone to hide behind, and feel safe around. One person came to mind.
"Do you know anyone else you feel safe around?" asked Wizardmon. Gatomon told him her problems several years ago, and he had attempted to help her along the way.
"I think so" said Gatomon, "Yes I do" she nodded, her mind on Veemon. She realised what she felt around him now, it was the safety she had been longing for all these years. Veemon would do anything to keep her safe, and would probably have to be down and out before he'd let her get hit.
"That is very good" nodded Wizardmon, "Just curious, how far in digimagic are you?"
"Around the middle" shrugged Gatomon. Wizardmon grasped her shoulder, then turned around. Gatomon looked, he had vanished. She looked out the window, appreciating the beauty of the stars.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Veemon had a nightmare. He and his allies were fighting Lorheasmon, and one by one, his allies were killed in various ways, with Gatomon having the worst death, and then Lorheasmon would laugh, and then kill him. Veemon awoke, then fell back to sleep, and dreamed about the deaths again, this time, the was fighting Zyndromon, and then Shamonesmon, and finally Bardmon. Veemon couldn't handle it anymore, he went downstairs, and bumped into Gabumon,
"Oh, hello" he said cheerfully, "You can't sleep too?"
Veemon shook his head,
"Let's talk" said Gabumon, walking up to the window, sighing, his unfortunately stinky breath creating a mist on the glass. Veemon stood next to him, leaning against the window still, the flowers on the other side spinning slightly,
"What about?" he asked, wondering on earth Gabumon could be on about.
"Girls" sighed Gabumon,
"What'sh the matter?" asked Veemon, he was certain that Gabumon needed some help in something, Veemon was pondering his answer prehand.
"I need some help" confessed Gabumon,
"Why are you ashking me?"
"Well, you've been lucky, Gatomon likes you" pointed out Gabumon
"Oh" blushed Veemon, "Who do you like?"
"Err, Biyomon" confessed Gabumon,
"Well, you're in luck" smiled Veemon, "She kinda likesh you too"
"But how do I ask her?" asked Gabumon
"Wait for the moment" said Veemon, "You'll know when it comesh"
"Ho-kay" sighed Gabumon, "Thanks for that. Do you think Biyomon would like flowers?"
"No, that'sh trying too hard" said Veemon, shaking his head, "Jusht lishten to what she shaysh, and throw in shtuff here and there, and it should go fine"
"Goodnight" said Gabumon, and went to bed, Veemon went downstairs
Gatomon was sitting in the window couch, looking at the moon.
"Can I shit down too?" asked Veemon, Gatomon looked disgusted at him, but then stopped immediately,
"Oh, you were lisping, sorry" she muttered, embarrassed. Veemon sighed,
"Sure, you can" said Gatomon. The small blue dragon sat down.
"Remember when we first met?" asked Gatomon. A small pulse shot up Veemon's spine. When a girl asks you that, things are bound to occur well.
"Yeah" he answered,
"Back then, I admit I thought you were a bigger loser than Davis and Gomamon combined" continued Gatomon, "But now..." she shook her head, "Why do you like me?"
"Your eyesh" answered Veemon, "They remind me of shappiresh"
Gatomon blushed,
"Alsho, I like it when you laugh" continued Veemon, "It shoundsh sho... right"
"I like you because you're... so... devoted" said Gatomon, "When you took that death spell that Kilhamon cast, that really made me go through a lot, and when I got out of that maze in my mind, I liked you, even if you lisp like a four year old, and not to mention, you don't look very impressive"
Veemon looked down. He didn't have a very muscly body, he had a small build, and his white stomach made him look like a pet animal, but in the three years since he had been out of the cave, he had grown a few ripples, plus he now had a sort of six-pack, if he heaved in his stomach,
"Yeah, I might not have Exshveemon's mushcles anymore, but then again, who shaysh I have to change for people to like me?" said Veemon. Gatomon looked at him,
"You have changed" she pointed out, "You're now a stronger, smarter and better person than that blue lizard who I fought with against Malomyotismon"
Veemon didn't know whether to feel offended or flattered by this statement. Gatomon had described him as a lizard in those days, but now she described him as a dragon. That was a great improvement.
"Anyway, before, I didn't feel safe anywhere" continued Gatomon, "So much bad stuff has happened to me, and I felt so vulnerable to it. But, ever since you blocked that attack, I feel safe around you, that's why I like you now, you're the one haven from the storm"
"So that's the real reason" thought Veemon to himself,
They paused.
"Did you like my digivolved formsh, Gatsh?" asked Veemon, "I can call you Gatsh, if that's okay"
"Yeah, it's fine" sighed Gatomon, wishing he wouldn't lisp, "I didn't really like your digivolved forms" she admitted, holding her claws up,
"Exveemon looked cool, but he was a bit dumb" she put one claw down, "Raindramon was too weird with Davis" Veemon blushed, "Flamedramon... now that was a fella who impressed me, but... no. I've got to get to know the guy before I like him. He was too pointy and tall anyway, and Magnamon's too hard to come by. But Veemon's smart, will protect anyone with his life, is a cute, good friend and is a good size, but what I like about him most, is his emotions. When he's sad, his ears and tail droop down. When he's angry, he's more scary than Malomyotismon, to the bad guys of course, and when he's happy, it seems to lighten the whole room. And when he's nervous, he either scratches his ears or bites his claws and goes all quiet" she paused, watching Veemon scratch his ears nervously, "What about my digivolved forms? Did you still like me then?"
"Well... no" answered Veemon, "Nefertimon, Angewomon, they all had mashks, shee? And they'd block out your fashe"
"You'd even turn down Angewomon for me?" asked Gatomon, her eyes lighting up,
"I only judge a girl by her fashe, and I can't name any with a better one than yoursh" shrugged Veemon,
"What about Magnadramon?" asked Gatomon, "She didn't wear a mask"
Veemon laughed,
"Gatsh, Magnadramon'sh way too big" he sniggered, "Anyway, I shtill think you're better"
Gatomon smiled. She never knew Veemon could be this charming. They had further conversations about this and that, until there was a small pause. Gatomon turned, and looked into Veemon's eyes. He looked back, in his normal cheerful way. Something was fluttering away in Gatomon's stomach as though her dinner was alive, which it probably was, after all, this was Wizardmon's place, but something else was happening too.
"Huh? She's all moisty eyed" thought Veemon,
"Holy Aphanemon, he's so turning me on" thought Gatomon. She never realised how warm and friendly Veemon's gaze was, but she did then, she had the urge to try out something she'd only ever seen humans on television do. She leaned forward.
"I wonder if she'll..." thought Veemon, but the young blue dragon's train of thought was interrupted by the next moment.
They both shut their eyes, and everything from there seemed to go naturally. The crystal chandelier above them lit up magically, it looked magnificent. They leaned back, smiling.
"I've been meaning to give this to you" said Veemon, opening his hand. He kept it clenched tight all day yesterday, Gatomon was impressed,
"Oh...my...gawd... Vee, it's beautiful" she breathed, examining the diamond ring,
"It's a holy ring" said Veemon, "I hope you like it, I nearly died trying to get it, you know, Ardeuxmon"
"I love it" smiled Gatomon, putting the ring on her tail, just above her healing ring, "This is so sweet of you, Vee" she hugged the blue dragon, who patted her shoulder, smiling at how soft Gatomon's fur was. They embraced for about five minutes, then Gatomon yawned and got up,
"Thanks again" she smiled, and went upstairs, Veemon walked into the dining room, his heart rate higher than ever.

How will Veemon and Gatomon feel about each other now? Will Gabumon gather up the courage to ask Biyomon out? What will the digimages learn from Wizardmon tomorrow. Why didn't Veemon lisp in the last few lines? Find out in chapter 9 of Attack of the Necromancers

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