Disclaimer: Own Digimon, I do not. (Yoda Speach! YAY!)

This story takes place after Digimon Zero-Two but before Tamers. It seems Renamon was slightly childish at one time.

Tailmon was relaxing quietly beneath the shade of a tall tree, watching the shadows of leafs contently as an occasional wind rustled through. The sky was clear, the weather warm, and the wind was cool. Not cold enough to blatantly contradict the warm, but a comfortable lower temperature.

Hardly anything could ruin such a day.

"Agreed," said a voice from beside her, answering her unspoken words.

Tailmon, in retaliation, pointed her claws at the source without as much as a glance. "The last thing I need right now," she purred, "Is some Candmon slapping on a hat and calling itself Wizarmon reading my mind."

Beside her sat a leather clad man wearing a cape with a skull brooch clasping the lower lapel, and a steeple hat. The interior of his weathered blue cape had a disarray of strange symbols etched in white, and the upper collar of the cape covered the lower half of his pale face. His hat, also of weathered blue and with a belted Red-Eyed skull at the base of the steeple, covered a mess of long blond hair that was tied back into a loose ponytail, leaving his pointed bangs dangling in his eyes. Leaning over his shoulder, though he grasped it with a ready gloved hand, was a carven Blackwood staff with a golden cracked egg in the shape of a sun atop.

He looked thoughtfully up into the tree.

"Leaf…book…tree…nope! Not talking in rhymes."

Because he had a valid point, Tailmon spared a glance. The Wizarmon winked.

"Wizarmon?"

He motioned her to be silent. This, naturally, made her irritable. There were questions that needed to be asked to prove if this was indeed the Wizarmon she once knew or simply an imposter. There were even more questions that needed to be asked if this turned out true. Despite her cattish curiosity, she obliged. Minutes passed.

"What are you waiting for?" Tailmon whispered

Wizarmon sighed and pointed up into the upper regions of the tree.

"Found him!" a voice called.

The wizard murmured the feline at his side, "That."

Leafs began to rustle and branches began to groan. A swift, tall figure somersaulted from unseen areas of the tree and landed gracefully before the pair. Another small figure glided soundlessly through the air and perched on one of the lower branches. The third and last small figure fell out of the tree and landed on his head with a low 'Thunk'.

Tailmon jumped to her feet, trying to keep the unknown trio in her sights.

Wizarmon calmly addressed the tall fox-like creature. "You cheated, Renamon. You were after me before Patamon even finished."

"No she wasn't!" the winged hamster exclaimed from the tree.

Renamon merely gave a faint grin. "Surely my meager tracking skills pale in comparison with your art. Even if I took a head start, you must be able to avoid such a dilemma if one such as that did occur."

The wizard shrugged nonchalantly. "Is Veemon going to be alright?" he inquired, the creature now twitching on the ground.

"His head is harder than it looks, he'll be fine." Tailmon growled. Having identified Patamon and Veemon as friends, she now focused solely on Renamon. "Anyone care to tell me what the hell is going on here?"

"Hide-and-Seek," squeaked Patamon. "He kept us looking all morning."

"Hide…and Seek?" Tailmon glared at Wizarmon.

"I was bored." He gave another shrug.

"We won," Yelled the slightly slurred voice of Veemon, "pay up!"

"If I won, I would've gotten bragging rights." Wizarmon explained to Tailmon. "I owe them a story or two." The Red-Eyed skull glanced around. "What'll it be?"

"Tell us of your travels!" Patamon jumped from his perch, landing beside Veemon who was still lying on the ground.

"Dark Masters," Grumbled Veemon.

"I fought the Dark Masters. I've had enough of them to last me a lifetime."

"One for Dark Masters and one for my travels," tallied Wizarmon. "Renamon?"

"Whatever's good with you."

"Tailmon?"

"I'm not sticking around for a story." She growled, finally turning away from Renamon.

"I would appreciate it if you would," Wizarmon murmured.

"Give me one good reason why I should." She snapped.

Wizarmon's Red-Eyed skull focused on Tailmon, his own green eyes gave her a heated stare –most likely magically enhanced-, and his brooch seemed oddly 'seeing'.

"Night Raid"

Tailmon winced as if the words had been a physical blow. Night Raid, the favored attack of Vamdemon. The attack to which Wizarmon gave his life to spare her and Hikari. The Wizarmon before her was either the genuine article or else a very educated copy. Tailmon sat without another word, neither acknowledging the words nor ignoring them.

"Thank you," Wizarmon whispered. "Now," he addressed the other three, whom were watching the drama unfold. "Quite frankly, the tales of my travels don't appeal to me at the moment. Which Dark Master did you have in mind, Veemon?"

"The best one!" he responded, finally pulling himself into a sitting position.

"Pinocchimon it is."

Patamon blinked. "Don't you mean Piemon? He was the strongest…"

"Who lasted longer after actually starting their attack?"

Patamon didn't answer.

The resting wizard's eyes betrayed a hidden smile. "Shall we begin?"

READ & REVEIW PLEASE!

If at anytime in this story you are unsure of my logic, please feel free ask me in a reveiw or PM.