ATTACK OF THE NECROMANCERS

By Stormy Wizard

CHAPTER 21 – Small Digimages, big city

The Trailmon sped off into the distance, leaving Veemon, Gatomon, Gomamon and Elecmon behind. Gomamon muttered something so nasty, Elecmon coughed as though whipped in the stomach. Veemon shot a Xantes Blast out of anger, which, most unfortunately, hit the rear carriage and parts fell off it. Gatomon didn't mind, she felt like doing the same thing.

"We have to walk now" sulked Gatomon, "I HATE IT!" she kicked a stone a hundred feet in the air.
"Mode change to... Animal Mode!" Veemon stood on four legs and looked at Gatomon,
"You have it easy, Veemon" snapped Gatomon,
"I am offering you a ride" shrugged Veemon, "But if you don't want to..."
"Oh, sure, make us walk" shouted Gomamon, angrily,
"And I'm offering you that rail cart over there" Elecmon and Gomamon turned around, and saw a two-mon rail cart in a siding.
"You absolute Trouper, Vemo" smiled Elecmon, "When abouts will we meet?"
"Go to the Concert Hall in Mulgowie" said Veemon, "We'll meet there"
"See ya!" called Gomamon, and they trundled off, quite quickly.
"You really don't have to" said Gatomon, honestly, "I must be too heavy"

"Come on, we'll get there twice as fast" smiled Veemon, "Would you rather walk?"

"Oh, alright" smiled Gatomon, side-sitting on his back, "It's just I don't feel comfortable sitting on you"

"Don't think of it as sitting or riding" said Veemon,

"You're just doing this... because you care about me" smiled Gatomon, "That's really sweet!

I didn't even need to tell you I had a twisted ankle" Veemon's next sentence struck gold. Instead of asking "Really?" he said,

"Yeah, how did you do that?"

"I jumped off the train too quickly" sighed Gatomon, feeling comfortable as the wind blew her fur. Veemon was moving quite smoothly,

"I never knew you could move this fast" exclaimed Gatomon, "Am I weighing you down?"

"Oh, Gats! Sorry, I didn't notice you there" joked Veemon. Gatomon chuckled, but her eyes widened as she saw the Trailmon they were riding on come closer and closer. Soon they were level, and the digimages on board couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"Having fun there?" called Kayetomon. Veemon and Gatomon both blushed furiously, but he soon ran ahead of the Trailmon.

"Hang on, where's Elexis and Gomes?" asked Gatomon, "They couldn't have overtaken the Trailmon"

"Looks like they did" pointed out Veemon. They had passed a double line, and Elecmon and Gomamon must have overtaken the Trailmon there, because they were ahead, the cart powered by Elecmon. They waved as Veemon and Gatomon shot past, both grinning.

"Can we have a break?" asked Elecmon, "I'm getting tired"

"Me too" nodded Veemon, "Pull in that siding there"

Gomamon steered the cart into the siding and slammed on the brakes. Veemon slowed down and stopped next to them.

"Libra" Gatomon restored their energy, and they were soon ready to head off again.

"Hang on, we need to tell the others where we're going" pointed out Gomamon,

"We can just head them off at Mulgowie" said Veemon,

"Yeah, but let's do it just to be nasty" grinned Gomamon,

"That's okay, we can get Kayetomon back" agreed Gatomon, coldly, "We need a red flag or something"

They turned to Elecmon, "What do I do?" he asked, indignantly,

"Jump around next to the track" said Veemon, "Gain Trailmon's attention"

"Jump around?!" repeated Elecmon, outraged, but he shrugged and did so anyway. Trailmon slammed on his brakes and stopped level with Elecmon, "What's the matter?" he asked, "There's something up ahead" said Elecmon, realistically, "They're clearing the line right now, it'll take a few minutes" "Darn! And we were on time as well" sighed Trailmon, "I suppose these things can't be helped"

Elecmon walked down the train to where the digimages were, Gatomon, Veemon and Gomamon following,

"What's the matter?" asked Gabumon, leaning out, "I saw the strangest thing running past before"

"Gabumon, shut up" snapped Gatomon, "Now, we just want to tell you that we're meeting outside the Mulgowie Concert hall"

"Wouldn't you like to get back on board?" asked Gatsumon, "Or are you too happy with your current transport?"

"Get the job done properly and go petrify your mouth Gatsumon" retorted Gatomon, "We can go twice as fast as you can"

"Is that a challenge?" asked Biyomon, "Fine, the first one to Mulgowie wins"

"Mulgowie Station" added Orpheumon,

"Ride 'em raw, Gats" cheered Kayetomon. Gatomon slashed his nose, and decided to ride on the train instead, just so Veemon could go faster.

"Good luck, Vee" she whispered, 

"Is it ready now?" called out Trailmon,

"See you there" said Elecmon, and the other four digimages ran back. Elecmon told Trailmon it was clear, and he began to move again. Elecmon and Gomamon quickly backed out of the siding and followed Trailmon down the tracks, thankfully dividing into three lines. Trailmon was on the left, and the digimages on the middle. Veemon ran along the third line, avoiding incoming trains quickly. Elecmon was driving his cart more faster now, and Trailmon realized a race was occurring, and accelerated to full speed. Unfortunately, Veemon couldn't compete with the other two's power, and fell back. He jumped on the back of Trailmon's last carriage, holding onto a twisted piece of metal he had wrecked earlier. Gomamon was leaning down to make the cart go faster. The cart pulled ahead, but, most unfortunately, Trailmon disappeared suddenly. Gomamon saw the station and hit the brakes, smiling. There was no sign of Veemon or Trailmon.

"You're late" Gabumon was standing, triumphant on the platform, Trailmon behind him,

"How... you bint!" snapped Gomamon, "Elex, he used his time spell!"

"Gabba, you whopping great lump!" panted Elecmon, "You Cheated!"

"Who... Cares?" panted Veemon, jumping on the platform, in his being mode, "We're here now, so let's get some FOOD!"

"Ho, yeah, you're right" nodded Elecmon, his stomach making noises, "We'll have it at the café over there" he pointed above the station, where steps led to an outdoor restaurant, 

"Well, it's been very interesting meeting you again" said Leomon, "But from here, it seems our paths split once again"

"What do you mean?" asked Saphenamon,

"I'm catching a second train to Jansodaile" said Leomon, "Goodbye, and good luck against Bardmon" He climbed the stairs, and went over to another platform to wait for another Trailmon.    

"Let's get brunch" groaned Dillomon, "I got refunds on you four's tickets, we've got forty digidollars left"

"That should be enough" nodded Saphenamon, "You three look mackered"

"We... are" panted Veemon, and slowly walked up the stairs,

"Gawd, give us a break" muttered Gabumon, and pushed Veemon to the top, because he was causing a traffic jam, "You decided to play the hero and fight Calitanamon so don't complain to me"

"And did you decide to help when you saw Calitanamon beat us up?" growled Veemon,

"No you didn't. At least the other three aren't as selfish as you are"

"Well, they're prepared to kill themselves for your little crusade..."

"If I hadn't got out, we'd probably be still on the line halfway here with Calitanamon still on top" retorted Veemon, "He would've probably got bored and decided to blow up the entire train, there was a lot of innocent lives on board too"

"Did you say, 'Hey guys, We need to get Calitanamon off this train, can you help?' No you didn't!" growled Gabumon, loudly,

"I would've thought by now you didn't have to be ordered around like a little pet, but I'm wrong" snapped Veemon, "The humans aren't here anymore, Gabumon, realize that!"

He had touched a nerve. Gabumon seethed for a second, then swung a punch. Veemon was knocked backwards,

"You wanna fight?"

Veemon retaliated with a powerful swing at Gabumon's nose. It began to bleed severely, but Gabumon was much stronger than he was, and used his claws to swipe at Veemon's chest, drawing blood. Veemon was really cheesed off now, flames appeared in his hands...

"STOP IT!" screamed Gatomon, jumping between the battlers, "Go away, Gabumon"

The horned yellow being turned around and left the station. Biyomon followed him, "Yeah, get lost you fat yellow jerk!" shouted Veemon, his face bruised, his chest bleeding.

All the digimages were shocked, Gabumon and Veemon usually got on quite well. Veemon stormed over to the café and sat down. He breathed heavily, trying to calm down.

"That was... really heavy" muttered Gomamon, "I hope that won't happen again"

"That's what happens to strong guys" said Gatomon, "Tai and Matt have big rows, but they get along well afterwards, the same with TK and Davis, though it doesn't really get to that. Davis normally backs off. Don't worry, it'll be okay later"

"I hope you're right" said Elecmon. Veemon looked okay now, and the others joined him.

Gomamon was surprised at Gatomon, normally a girl would get really angry at their boyfriend for having a big row in public, but he supposed Gatomon didn't think it was too harmful, after all, she had experienced much worse at Myotismon's,

"What are we eating?" asked Armadillomon,

"For forty digidollars, we can try a group meal" said Veemon, in his normal rusty voice, unlike his fearsome growl a few minutes ago, "There's ten of us, right?" 

"Yeah" nodded Elecmon, "So we can spend four digidollars on each of us"

"That was easy" pointed out Armadillomon, "Okay, what can we get for four digidollars?"

They worked it out and had a very refreshing meal. The large bubble in their stomachs popped as food replaced them.

"Whoa, that's good!" sighed Veemon, rid of his fatigue, "How about we have a look around the place?"

"We have no money left" pointed out Gomamon, "Hang on, what's this?"

He saw a coin on the ground, it was a genuine digidollar, "That's lucky" he exclaimed, pocketing it, "There's another one!" he picked up a two-digidollar coin, "Wow, someone must have a hole in their pockets, look around, everyone"

It was quite a lucrative forage. They found ten digidollars on the ground, and more seemed to appear as they were looking. Veemon noticed a small ching every time Dillomon moved.

"Arma, stop" he said. Dillomon looked confused,
"What?" he asked,
"Shake around a bit" said Veemon. Dillomon shrugged, and jumped twice. There was a metal rattling sound every time,
"What's that noise?" asked Gatomon, looking up,
"This piggy bank here" said Veemon, pointing to Dillomon, "There's money in his armour"
"Oh, so that's where it went" smiled Dillomon, "In Myotismon's place, I hid it in there for safekeeps"
"How much?" asked Saphenamon,
"More than a hundred" said Dillomon,
"You Trouper, Arma" said Orpheumon,
"Anyway, how are we gonna get the money out?" asked Armadillomon
"Piniata principle" said Gatomon,
"What's that?" asked Dillomon,
"We'll have to shake it out" explained Gatomon, "I have no idea though, you weigh a tonne"
"Maybe an Earthquake can do the trick" thought Elecmon aloud,
"Gawd, fine" huffed Dillomon, "Don't look"
He waited until everyone turned their backs, and opened up his armour. Coins fell out of it,
making a heavenly sound.
"DON'T LOOK!" he snapped, as Gomamon turned slightly, "Okay, now"
Everyone turned around, a hundred digidollars at Armadillomon's feet.
"Um, how did you do that?" asked Gomamon,
"My armour has to have some sort of emergency release" shrugged Dillomon, 

"Great, we can go on the shopping spree after all" smiled Gatomon, picking up the money.

"Vemo, Elex, you follow her" whispered Gomamon, "I wouldn't trust her with that cash.

Here's the list, oh, and you take the bag" Gomamon was surprisingly organized. On the list was useful items like "Bandages" and "Antidotes", maybe going out with Orpheumon did him some good after all.

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Gatomon was an absolute terror at the shops. She picked up completely irrelevant items, and Veemon had to act extremely hard so she wouldn't make him buy it. Elecmon bought the items on the list, and smiled as Gatomon was pleading Veemon for a pretty crystal, but walked over as Veemon let out a loud moan.

"What's the matter?" he asked,

"I've lost the crystal!" groaned Veemon, leaning backwards, gripping both of his ears in frustration, "Calitanamon blew it off! It's halfway back! I'm so STUPID!"

"Calm down" soothed Gatomon, as a townsperson approached them,  What's the matter?" she asked,

"Have you seen a crystal anywhere?" asked Gatomon, "It's got a string around it, and it's all clear until you touch it"

"I saw something like that at the Concert hall" answered the womon, "Yeah. Escromon's guarding it. Maybe you can take a look?"

"Okay, thanks" smiled Veemon, and walked quickly out of the shop, making Elecmon have to tell Gatomon to put the jewelry back. 

Veemon noticed, as he walked down the streets, that a lot of female digimon were eyeing him in an interested sort of way. Gatomon noticed this too, when she caught up and immediately held his hand, giving a snooty look at the offending woman.

"Veemon, don't look so cute"

Veemon had the impulse to burst out laughing, but he fought it. He tried to look as uninteresting as possible, but this made things worse.

"Darn it, now you're posing!" snapped Gatomon, then she playfully slapped his side, "You're trying to get me closer aren't you?" she asked, "Then you got it, Veemon, you veracious flirt" she flung her arm around Veemon, who looked pleadingly back at Elecmon for assistance, "You got yourself into the girl business, Vemo" he shrugged, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The girls were still smiling at Veemon, no matter how coldly Gatomon looked back. Thankfully, Gomamon and Armadillomon were absent, because they would probably laugh themselves to death, and Gatomon would get even crosser having to revive them. Elecmon was certainly sniggering, but made things better by waving to the girls, who looked away immediately, embarrassed. Finally, the three of them reached the concert hall, where the other digimages were waiting. Unfortunately, Gatomon didn't release her grip, making Gomamon and Armadillomon snigger. But they stopped when Veemon and Gabumon made eye contact. Gabumon's nose was still covered in blood, and Veemon's white belly was now red from the wound, even if Gatomon and Biyomon healed them. It was a long pause, but finally,

"Sorry, Vemo" muttered Gabumon,

"That's okay" replied Veemon, releasing the tension of the moment. Gatomon and Biyomon were both impressed, they had settled it like gentlemon.

"So, the twiddle triplets finally decide to turn up do they?" asked Saphenamon impatiently, then she turned around, "The crystal's just there, let's nab it"

The crystal was in a glass case on a velvet cushion. Nearby, behind the counter, was a fat digimon with silver fur all over, and had triangular ears. He looked quite grumpy, this must be Escromon.

"Hang on, we'll try not to get attention" said Gatomon, "We'll do this properly. I'll hypnotize him..."

"Gats, no" said Veemon firmly,

"Bums to it" muttered Gatomon. Everyone laughed, "Alright then, Veemon, you do it, if you know how it's done"

Veemon walked over to Escromon who looked up, "Yes? Are you registering?"

"I was wondering if you came across a crystal lately"

"As a matter of fact, I have" answered Escromon, indicating the glass case, 

"Well, the thing is, that I lost that crystal, and I was wondering if I can get it back..." began Veemon,

"Can you prove it?" asked Escromon,

"Yes, I can" nodded Veemon, "It glows rainbow when I hold it..."

"You can't fool me, you thief" snapped Escromon, "Now get out before I call the police"

The other digimages ran over, noticing Escromon's shouting, "Move it, you foolish reptile, I've got business here" said Escromon, getting out a notebook, "Your names are..."

"Did you get the crystal?" Orpheumon asked Veemon,

"Oh, so you want it too" asked Escromon, putting the book down, "Too bad, it's the prize for the dance contest tomorrow night, that is if we can get a band in on time"

"That's ours!" yelled Gomamon, "Give it back, you mighty smut!"

"No" said Escromon, simply, "It's a pity for you it isn't a rude word contest"

"Yeah, you can shove that crystal up your..."

Gatomon stomped on Gomamon's foot, and they gathered in a group "There's another way to get that crystal back" whispered Gatomon, smiling, "And it'll be fun"

Veemon felt his stomach fall a few inches as Gatomon looked at him, "I... can't dance" he objected,

"It's not hard" whispered Gatomon, although everyone snorted as the mental image of Gatomon and Veemon dancing came to mind, "Gabumon can stop time, that'll give us ages to practice, and we're not exactly up against the world champions, just against the bints of this place"

"Hey, hang on" muttered Betamon, "Aren't we supposed to go to the Tree of Life?"

"The crystal's just here" said Veemon, quickly, "It'll be pointless having a big struggle there and coming back here for it"

"That's enough, Betamon" said Saphenamon, thinking moves ahead, like Betamon would probably say 'It's just you that can't fight without it', and they might find themselves with another row on their hands. Betamon silenced, looking cross.

"And we can learn how to play music" added Elecmon, "You'll be fine; we can play songs that you've practiced"

"Yeah, we can all be embarrassed together" added Biyomon, "Gabumon and I are trying"

"You're on" said Gatomon, smiling. Gabumon, Veemon and Kayetomon thought they had swallowed live moths as their partners whisked them away to practice, and whispered threats like, "We'd better win, or you'll never hear the end of it"

"Poor fellas" sighed Elecmon, "Okay; we'd better get started... Hey! Gabba! You need to stop time!"

"Oh, right" said Gabumon, looking very relieved, "Stone Time!"

The whole concert hall glowed silver, and everything except the digimages stopped moving. "Hang on, we have to learn how to play before you can learn how to dance" pointed out Armadillomon,

"Nah, we'll be fine" said Gatomon, picking up a portable stereo from the cupboard behind Escromon,

"I've got an Idea!" said Veemon in mock excitement. He walked over to the crystal case and took the crystal from it, "Easy!"

"But that's no fun" said Gatomon, putting the crystal back, "We'll win it the honorable way, and prove that we're good guys"

"But we're wasting time" pointed out Veemon, "Bardmon's probably out ravaging the world by now"

"He can't do anything when we're still alive" said Gatomon, "So the only thing he can do to threaten the digital world is attack us, and I think we both know what I'll do if he interrupts our dancing"

"Anyway, what instruments are we going to try?" asked Elecmon, standing on the stage and looking at the various instruments. Gatsumon was already sitting behind the drums, practicing.
"This looks cool" shrugged Gomamon, who mode changed to Land mode on his way to the stage and picked up a bass guitar. He played a small riff, and grinned,
"I know how to play this one" said Armadillomon, standing behind the keyboard, and began choosing his favorite mode.
"This is a strange one" thought Elecmon aloud, examining an Oboe, and trying it out, "But it's great"
"What about us?" asked Betamon, "We can't play anything"
"Wanna bet?" asked Gomamon, giving Betamon a pair of round hammers,
"What do I do with these?" he asked, indignantly,
"You hit that thing over there" said Gomamon, pointing to a metal xylophone. Betamon's talons were a nuisance at first, but he soon found a good way to play, and got good at the metallophone.
"Now, you" said Elecmon, looking at Orpheumon, "Um, maybe the chimes'll do for you"

"Yeah, that's fine" shrugged Orpheumon, and stood below the chimes, stroking them with her clawed flippers, making a heavenly noise.

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If Gabumon hadn't stopped time, practice would have taken two weeks, but it hadn't taken a second. The digimages were taking a break, when Gabumon approached Veemon, who was writing in the diary, he snapped it shut,

"Do you want to write in it too?" asked Veemon, knowing what the somber look on his face meant, "Fine, but you've got to take the oath"

"Oath?!" asked Gabumon, confused,

"Of course, I can't let anyone write in this" shrugged Veemon, "This thing contains dark secrets, and if opened, shall wreak havoc on the universe if the oath is not taken"

"Rrright" muttered Gatomon, turning away,

"Well, alright" sighed Gabumon, and took the oath. Gatomon was sniggering, but Gabumon signed his name under the oath, and Veemon handed the diary over,

"I bequeath this to thee" he joked, making Gatomon snort,

"Gawd, don't be so nerdy, Veemon"

"I'm not"

"Oh, it's guy talk is it?" she asked, "Who else writes in the diary?"

"Gomes" answered Veemon, "Nobody else, apart from me and Gabba"

"Aw, well, we've all got to remember our feelings one way or another" shrugged Gatomon.

Unbeknownst to Veemon, she hit a tiny diary in her left paw glove. Her right glove had fell off, just before Gomamon had finished off Shamonesmon, and she looked slightly lopsided, but refused to take her other one off, it concealed her greatest feelings, speaking of which, she was writing a lot about Veemon these days. 

When Gabumon resumed the concert hall, the twelve of them stood in front of Escromon,

"I'm telling you, you're not getting the crystal" repeated Escromon,

"What if we win the contest?" asked Gatomon,

"Then you get it" said Escromon, getting out a notepad, "But that is if we find a band"

"And you got it" smiled Elecmon, "We'll play tomorrow night"

"I hope you're not singing" said Escromon, glaring at Gomamon, "Well, can you have a demonstration?"

The six playing digimon stood on the stage, and played very well. Everyone in the hall clapped.

"Well done" smiled Escromon, "The contest is on after all. Very well, what are your names?"

The next day, Gatomon insisted that she and Veemon practiced all day. Veemon moved grumpily around, making Gatomon cross.

"Why are you all stiff?" asked Gatomon, after a disastrous episode when they both fell right over,

"This is ridiculous" muttered Veemon, "Just because you three are competing, we should just get the crystal and go"

"Come on" sighed Gatomon, "If we win, I'll... make it worth it"

Veemon's eyes widened, that was surely a good reason to dance, with the prospect of gaining new heights in Gatomon's affection,

"Okay, one more try" said Gatomon, fiddling with the CD player, "Now, try again"

Gatomon was very surprised. Veemon was moving around much easier now, it felt a lot like gliding. He was even leading, and danced excellently. The musicians stopped practicing to watch, mouths open in awe. At the end of the song, Gatomon felt almost dizzy with satisfaction,

"Oh, wow!" she exclaimed, in a happy tone, "I never knew you danced that well" Veemon blushed. They watched Biyomon and Gabumon, who were hardly graceful, but were doing tricky moves quite well. Saphenamon and Kayetomon were just enjoying themselves, and the others made a mental note to keep ten meters away from them at all times. Gomamon and Orpheumon decided to take a break, and give dancing a go, but they were both hopeless. Gomamon was walking around in his Aqua mode these days, mainly to keep Orpheumon satisfied, they both kept falling over, laughing, making everyone else smile.

When the contest started, the band played a song to which the others had practiced a lot. Gatomon was purposely brushing her fluffy tail on everyone else's' nose to make them sneeze and lose control. Veemon frowned at her when he discovered what she was doing, but it was soon forgotten over the very well played song. Biyomon and Gabumon were going fine, and Saphenamon had finally learned to dance properly, but she still bumped into others, and Kayetomon had to apologize.

"Those two think they're so great" muttered Biyomon, glaring at Gatomon and Veemon,

"Come on, don't ruin it, Byz" pleaded Gabumon,

"How about you use your time digimagic once more?" asked Biyomon,

"No, Gats'll take my head off" objected Gabumon, who knew what was going on, "And I don't even know what Saphenamon will do" he looked uneasily at Saphenamon’s long claws and tall body. 

"For me?" asked Biyomon, sweetly,

"That's cheating" said Gabumon, "You know how bad it is to cheat"

"She is" said Biyomon, looking meaningly at Gatomon. Every dancer within two meters was suffering severe hay fever, "By the way, the others won't mind, just as long as we get the crystal"

Gabumon sweatdropped, he didn't really want to win, but wouldn't like to be around Gatomon and Veemon if they did win, "What's life without fun?" he asked, "Fine, I'll do it, but please revive me when Gatomon kills me?"

Will Gabumon survive the wrath of Gatomon when he snatches her victory? Will they get the crystal back? Find out in Chapter 22 of Attack of the Necromancers...

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