“I remember when that bully pushed me down. You told him to get lost; I don’t understand why you did that. You put yourself in his way to protect me; me! I mean, I’m nothing special, you know? I’m just a screw-up, but you, you took the time to get to know me. And I know I can’t pay you back for everything you’ve done for me, but changing the flowers every once in a while will have to do. And I know you like white, so I got you white.” Mayer sat next to a tombstone in a group of other marked ones that stretched as far as the eye could see. Whether it was war or natural causes, everyone came to rest here, including his best friend Sokka, “I don’t know what to do without you, Sokka. You’re my best- I don’t- it’s just that I didn’t know what else to do after you died, so I hooked up with Riko and Dargo. They’re kinda cool, and I’m learning a lot, but it’s a pain. It’s a lot different from what you and me used to do. If we were walking down the street or something and someone was messing with us, we’d just fight them, right? Well, it’s different with the human because he’s this smart strategist. And Dargo, too. It’s like they know what to do when stuff goes wrong. And I just sit there not knowing anything. They’re training to fight this war that’s on, but I’m only doing it to get the prick that killed you. It’s a different life, buddy, but I don’t think it’s my life.”

Leaning against the tombstone, he watched the sunset. Fresh flowers lay upon the grave, and the Agumon talked to his friend for old time’s sake. It was all he had left now…

((This thread is just for character development. No battles, please.))

(Hope you don't mind if I mod this little venture, do you? And I promise, no battles ^^)

"You there. What are you doing?"

Standing adjacent from the Agumon, in distance measured by three headstones away, stood a feline form. Her black fur glistened with the evening sunset. Her ruby eyes remained focused on the reptile in question as her ears twitched slightly. Her expression wasn't that of being on edge with the Agumon's presence, but nevertheless she was alert.

At her neck, was a rather interesting piece of jewelry. A black collar hung at her neck in a comfortable fashion. But it was the collar held that was most interesting, which was a black sphere. Looking as if it were a black pearl.

But it was when she saw the flowers placed on the gravesite by Mayer that the Black Tailmon understood why he was here. "I see...paying your last respects to a loved one?" she replied calmly before turning toward the other graves.

"Not many digimon or tamers come to this land to pay their last respects to loved one. So many lonely graves remain bare..."

The voice startled Mayer into jumped up, poised for defense. She seemed to be friendly enough, but then again, the Agumon wasn't really looking for friends in a graveyard.

I see...paying your last respects to a loved one?

"Yeah." Mayer's eyes went back to the tombstone, "He's my best friend."

Not many digimon or tamers come to this land to pay their last respects to loved one. So many lonely graves remain bare...

"Yeah, well, none of them had me for a friend. I owe a lot to this guy; he gave me more than I'll ever know and the least I can do is keep the flowers fresh." Mayer looked to the Black Tailmon, "Are you like a guardian or something? I didn't mean to intrude."

The Black Tailmon nodded silently, reserving her smile for very special occasions. But nevertheless, she did show a degree of friendlyness toward the reptile. "Indeed. I am Lady Ebony. Guardian of the Talisman of Darkness and the Talisman of Psychic."

Her gaze tore away from the Agumon and feel onto that on the grave he was standing by. "I am amongst a group of digimon who guard these powerful talismans of elements. Unfortunately, many of our memebers have been slain so those who remain take on the task of guarding a second talisman."

"But I digress." Lady Ebony could feel the night comnig upon them, soon it would be the bewitching hour. "It is a comforting sight to see someone of the living paying tribute to a fallen comrad. Tell me, who was this friend of yours you think so highly of?"

"He was more like a brother." Mayer kept his eyes on the tombstone, trying not to cry in front of the stranger, "His name was Sokka. We grew up together and looked out for each other when times were rough. He taught me some things that helped us survive on the streets since we were a little less fortunate than others. Anyway, he was killed when the mall in Digital City was attacked by some dark tamers."

He remember the trouble/fun they used to get into and wondered if all this fighting was worth it, "I don't know what I'm supposed to do without him. I joined this tamer and his partner, but I don't know what to do now. Have ever had a tamer?"

The Black Tailmon slowly shook her head, she was but a wild digimon. Void of having much contact with humans and digimon alike. "Sadly, I do not. My only responsibility is to that of which I'm guarding. I know nothing of what it's like to be under the partnership of humans."

But a smile did manage to creep its way onto her furry face. "However, it sounds as if you and your friend were inseperable. I can only wish I had such an unbreakable bond. But I suppose, even in death, they are never really gone."

"I guess it is, but I guess when you're the guardian of something, you can't afford to have friends." The Agumon looked to the Black Tailman, admiring her black and white stripes, "So what about these talismans are so important?"

The dark guardian noticed how the Agumon was watching her, mainly eyeing the black sphere at her neck. Placing a paw to her neck, she began to explain the origins to the treasures.

"These talismans, they each represent the thirteen elements. Fire, Wind, Lighting, Earth, Ice, Water, Psychic, Darkness, Light, Metal, Time, Space, and Gravity. Each of these precious treasures enchances the user's own element ten fold. You can only imagine the kind of power a digimon could have if they ever got their hands on a single talislman."

"Should a digimon try to gain one of these talismans and abuse their power, their own elemental power would increase dramatically. That, is why guardian were brought about. To guard and protect these treasures, and to ensure no digimon would even abuse their power." Lady Ebony explained.

"It must be great to be able to watch over something that has some importance." Mayer pulled his eyes away from Lady Ebony down to the headstone, "He used to watch over me."

Curiosity hit him again, and the Agumon looked back to the talisman, "So, there's a guardian for every talisman, huh? You guys must be very wise-"

He stopped himself, hesitant on what he would ask next. Trusting a stranger with your inner emotions was risky business. He'd learned on the street that emotions would get him killed, and since this being seemed to be quite powerful, he'd rather not cross that line. But despite his street-smarts, Mayer had never come across a pain like what he felt. Lady Ebony was a stranger, but she seemed friendly enough, "So, do you know anything about loss? What I mean is, do you know how to deal with it or how I should?"

Alas, that was one thing the young cat had in common with the dinosaur. They both had lost someone that was near and dear to them. "I did..."

"Being a guardian...it takes much responsibility. But also poses great risk. Many of our former guardians have been slain by those of wanting the treasure we guard. All in the persue of gaining great power for their own element. We have already lost the guardians of Time, Gravity, Space, Psychic, and Wind."

Remorse and sadness filled the red eyes belonging to Lady Ebony as she continued on. "I lost a dear friend to me...killed by a Gigadramon while trying to protect the Psychic Talisman. The beast was trying to retrieve it for his master, but the guardian at the time would have no such thing. He fought that beast valiently until his last stand."

It was then, she tightened the hold on something she held within the palm of her left paw. She opened it to Mayer, revealing a gold chaimed necklace. At the end of the chain was a small medallion, its shape taking the form of a eye. Within the middle of the eye rested a purple jewel pupils and iris.

"This, was the thing he tried to protect so fiercely." The Black Tailmon blinked back tears, she was beginning to become emotional again. She quickly rememdied the situation, taking a deep breath and collecting her thoughts again.

"This is the fate that befalls guardians like myself. Eventually, someone will strike me down. And eventually someone will take over guarding my treasures. This is a fate no one can escape when they take on the role as guardian."

"But..." She turned to face Mayer, the calm look had returned to her eyes were sadness and remorse once were. "Just because someone has left this world. It does not mean they are gone completely. Do you not still hold memories of your friend? They may not be physically alive, but they live on within ourselves, within our memories."

Mesmerized by the talisman, Mayer didn't know how to respond. He'd been listening to her tell the story of her friend lost in battle. It made him sad, but it also made him realize something. For everyone who has it bad, there is always someone who has it worse. He and Sokka may have shared a rough life on the streets of Digital City, but the Guardians are destined to die at the hands of the greedy and tyrannic. Compared to that, Sokka's life was quite decent, and as long as he kept him in his memories, Mayer knew it'd be okay.

"Wow." The Agumon commented, "That really helps. Thanks a lot, Lady Ebony."

He looked to the horizon and saw that the sun was almost done. It painted the sky a reddish-orange, kissing that part of the world goodnight, "Listen, I should really get back. My tamer is gonna be worried enough. I'll be here almost every week, so if you wanted to talk or something, that'd be cool."

With that, Mayer bowed to her, then to the grave of his friend, and made his way to the exit. Feeling a little better about his grief, he knew his friend would always be with him. And even more importantly, he just might have made a new one.

The dark guardian gave the Agumon a curt nod as he bowed to her, and bowed in respoect to the grave that laid beside him. She watched him leave, even after Mayer's figured had disappeared within the setting sun.

Would he really come back to pay them both a visit? It was something to hope for, at least the spirit of the one called Sokka would be at peace. Knowing that his friend was moving on with life in a new light.

"A chance to talk...?" Ebony had really 'talked' to anyone since the untimely passing of her dear friend. The idea of simply spending time alongside Mayer talking of anything and everything was a bit new to her.

But it was an idea she would eventually grow to enjoy.

The Black Tailmon smiled. "Farewell for now, young Agumon." With that said, she turned away to return into the shadows once more. Her duty as guardian never ended, it will forever be filled with many hardships. But at least her life could now be filled with some more pleasant times.

(Mayer gets .05 DEP for spending time with Lady Ebony ^^)