Prologue
Mimi and Joe were dead. Simple as that. They wouldn’t be coming back. They wouldn’t be reconfigured like Digimon could. They were just dead. Izzy slumped against the window, pressing his cheek to the glass, watching Tokyo beneath him and the puff of vapor his breath was causing. He wouldn’t cry, he promised himself he wouldn’t. Moments passed of being unable to move or even just close his eyes. Closing his eyes meant that they would be there in his mind and he didn’t even want his mind seeing them. He looked back at the e-mail on his laptop with sad brown eyes, listening quietly to his mom talk to Joe’s brother on the phone. He had lost his real parents in the same way that he had just lost two of his closest friends. He just couldn’t take it anymore. No more, he promised himself. Just no more.
He heard the buzzer ring and he tore his face once more from the glass window and headed out towards the front door. He pushed his red hair from his tired face, trying to compose himself for a few moments before opening the door and standing face to face with Iora “Cody” Hida. He blinked as he tried to remember the time he had first met Cody, it was a few years back when the Digimon emperor Ken Ichijouji had tried to conquer the Digital World. He remembered the little cautious Cody, certainly not the tall young muscularly built man standing in front of him, his 17 year old face, already lined with worry and age of someone much older than the small guy he once was. Izzy blinked as this symptom of age hit him, as he remember just how long ago it was since he was at that stage.
“You ok?” asked Cody with a bit of sympathy and a bit of concern in his voice. He knew exactly what Mimi meant to the computer whiz, knew what kind of impact this must have had on him and it bothered him greatly. Izzy only nodded and gestured for him to come in, taking notice of the appendaged Upomon bouncing in after him, his usual grin not there anymore.
“Of course I am, Cody. I have to cope, doesn’t everybody? How’s school doing? You must be going into your sophomore year by now. The last of the Digidestined who hasn’t hit graduation yet,” said Izzy, smiling a bit, glad for company, for just anybody. Indeed, he was, Davis, TK and Kari were graduating later this semester and it would only be Cody left in school. It was rather amazing to think how they had all grown up so quickly.
They spoke for a long while as Izzy told Cody about what had been happening in the time that the young Digidestined had been spending in America, studying for his brown belt in kendo. Izzy had just heard from Tai Kamiya and Sora Takenouchu where they had been living together up north. It had been odd at first to think of them as anything more than just friends when they first announced this, but Izzy had had his suspicions for a long time as he watched Sora’s behaviour around Tai. It really didn’t take a Numemon to figure that one out, but it had been Joe and Mimi that had really shocked Izzy. Joe had been studying in his pre-med environment at some American hospital when he had hooked up with his old friend Mimi. Apparently there was some strange chemistry between the two and..... Izzy didn’t like to think about it. Not that it bothered him, right? It’s just that he had....
“Izzy? You ok, man?” interrupted a worried looking Cody. That age was there again in his eyes, wisdom that he had gathered from so many sources. Izzy wished he had that kind of wisdom instead of the knowledge that he possessed from books. Cody’s wisdom you didn’t get from books.
“I’m fine, Cody, now what were you saying?” shrugged off Izzy, forcing himself to take a rather dispassioned look in his face that was as false as the hair on his dad’s head, but he said nothing else, only feigned interest. Cody narrowed his eyes for a moment, suspecting it, but only continued on with what he had been saying.
“Like I said, Matt Ishida’s back in town and he and TK are planning a trip to the Digital World tomorrow and I’m trying to get as many as possible to get together. It’ll be fun. And relaxing. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind seeing Tentamon again,” Cody said, bringing a small smile to Izzy’s face at the thought of seeing his old friend again. Cody only smiled at seeing that familiar smile on his face.
Part 1
A New Friend
The trip to the Digital world had been uneventful, it never was. They had all been there. Palmon and Gomamon weren’t. Takeru "TK" Takaishi wished they had. He needed to talk to them, or rather just wanted to talk to them to get their feelings. The latest fight from the New Dark Masters a year ago had left the Digidestined in pretty sad shape, but they had defeated them with the aid of their DNA digivolved Digimon, good triumphed in the end. Or rather they had hoped it had. Victory did not come at an easy price in the digital world, it seems. Since their first fight with Devimon, impossibly years ago, when Angemon had sacrificed himself to win, TK had always known the truth behind it all that in order to win, you must be ready to lay down your life. He just didn’t want to accept it.
Most of the Digimon left in the digital world weren’t even Champions, thanks to the New Masters. It had been Silphymon’s brilliant idea to destroy File Island or at least lay waste to completely annihilate the Masters’ headquarters. Cody and Yolei were both against it, but they knew it had to be done. To save the world. TK could not erase the indelible image of Leomon watching the island crumble before being taken in the shockwave. It was a moment not easily forgotten.
“TK?” said a whimpering voice, shattering his moments of reverie. He looked over his shoulder to see the worried face of Tokomon. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had seen his beloved partner in his Training form, looking so cute and all. He had always been Patamon even in the real world. He greeted Tokomon with a rub to the head as he looked over to where the others were. Miyako "Yolei" Inoue was sitting with her friend Hawkmon while lounging back into the arms of Ken Ichijouji. Off in the corner, eating noodles was Davis Motomiya. TK remembered with a grin how Daisuke (God how Davis hated that name, it was as bad as Takeru) used to have the most indomitable crush on Kari before he accepted his future with a lovely girl named Yoki. He felt much the same way about Kari, he just found it hard to talk about it. No more today, he thought to himself firmly as he found the box inside his pocket. You’re going to do it, Takeru Takaishi. Today you’re going to ask her.
Kari and Sora were somewhere with Gatomon and Biyomon, probably picking berries or something. Meanwhile there seemed to be forming an engaged soccer match between Tai Kamiya and Ken. Both in a semi-pro league, they found it necessary to play whenever possible. Koromon and Minomon found themselves engaged in idle chatter, bored out of their minds. And Izzy? Izzy was just sitting there by himself with Pabumon in his lap, contemplating the infant Digimon as if he expected it to digivolve right there. To this, TK got up and walked over to Izzy, asking as he walked, “You ok, Izzy?”
“You know, I wished everyone would stop asking me that. Of course I’m fine, TK,” replied Izzy with the most insincere smile he could muster. He could write a computer program, but he sure couldn’t lie, never could. TK studied his eyes for a moment before Izzy finally continued, “We all were affected. I’m not going to stand to be any different, ok?” He stood up and took a final glance towards TK and grinned his Izzy grin that lately, the girls had been going for. TK was rather glad to see that grin, he had missed it. Izzy made sure little Pabumon was tucked in his coat as he said with a wry smile "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to digivolve my way into some lunch." TK only laughed, which brought a confused look from Tokomon, but TK only shook his head and the Digimon realized it was some kind of joke, he had just never heard digivolve used out of its proper context like that. Tokomon yawned tiredly, exposing the rows of deadly teeth that made him look so deadly for a fluffy bunny that was so cute.
TK watched him walk away and sighed, sitting down next to Tokomon. Few words were exchanged, but they knew what the other was thinking. It was then that he realized that Matt wasn’t among the group anymore and he wondered.
"What is that!?" Matt yelled, diving behind a tree, staring at the large green creature that pursued them. Tsunomon jumped along behind him, narrowly missing the creatures' claws. He had just gotten his blonde hair cut nice and short, the way he liked it these days, he didn’t need it any shorter like say beneath his neck.
"Aridomomon!" Tsunomon replied running ahead of Matt. Yamato glanced around the tree at the large insectile Digimon flying around. It's body was greenish and it had huge jaws, jaws that could eat someone not so careful to step in their path like the Elecmon who had just bought it a few minutes ago. Matt swallowed hard, hoping he wouldn't be the next one in.
"Why is he after us?" Matt asked running behind Tsunomon. "Is he evil or what?!"
Another duck as he looked to the horned fur ball next to him. The plaintive eyes looked back and Matt could tell that he wished he could be Gabumon at least.
"He's normally a good Digimon..it could be a black gear or ring?" Tsunomon suggested. The forest was thinning up and both Digidestined and Digimon were running out of ideas. Tsunomon couldn't digivolve, he still didn't have enough energy to do it. Matt turned around in desperation and stuck his fist in the air, holding his digivice high. Nothing happened. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"Tsunomon??" Matt yelped ducking to the ground, as Aridomomon jumped over him. "...but I could be wrong." Matt drug himself up and ran out behind a small group of trees. This might be able to provide shelter for a short time until he could figure things out. How are we going to get rid of him?, he thought desperately glancing around. Nothing offered any chance. A few trees, some bushes and a cliff...That could work but how could he manage it?
A sudden roar interrupted his thoughts as Matt looked up, unbelieving at the Digimon that flew over him in a hurtling leap. It was huge, and it looked like a giant turtle. It almost reminded Matt of Zudomon, but there were tremendous differences, but the concept was there. Even Tsunomon looked speechless. The new Digimon growled at Airidomomon then dived at it, snapping at its tail and wings whilst swiping at it with its massive paws. Airidomomon squealed and recoiled from the hit. It glared at the new Digimon for a few indeterminable moments, then turned tail and ran.
"All right!!!" a voice from behind another tree startled Matt. "Good going, Warturtlemon!!" The massive turtle Digimon turned his head and smiled for a moment before starting to glow and return to a smaller shape, sort of resembling a large bunny rabbit with long floppy ears and the bluest eyes that sort of reminded Matt of a cross between Gatomon and a puppy dog.
"Who's there?" Matt asked, confused. He picked Tsunomon up defensively. A girl stepped out from behind a tree, oblivious to Matt and Tsunomon. She somehow matched her Digimon. Her long reddish blonde hair had the same gleaming quality to it and her fiercely blue eyes were identical. Matt only found himself lost in the realization that in appearance she looked almost a good match for Mimi in a lot of places and it bothered him to think that way.
"Kindamon!! That was great!!" she exclaimed running up and hugging Kindamon. "That'll teach him to mess with us, huh?" Her voice was rather harsh, as she was yelling, but there were tones of pride in every word. It had been clear by the redness of her cheeks that this volume was caused by tiredness, not just a very bad vocal modulation.
"I know! He ran away! But shouldn't we make sure that the boy is okay?" Kindamon answered, glancing around to find Matt and Tsunomon. Matt kept quiet for a moment, not really enjoying being called a boy still, he was over 20 years old! But somehow he kept his anger in check as he glanced down to Tsunomon.
"Oh right. Sorry! I kinda got caught up in the fight." the girl smiled sheepishly. She turned decisively and walked over to Matt. "Hi." she offered her hand out. "I'm Jessie." Matt shook her hand, looking a little lost. What was she doing here? Was she another Digidestined? Could there be more? He had seen the past, knew that they were the Digidestined by seeing the Digitama. The others had their eggs scattered about the Digital world. Which was this one?
"I'm Matt..how did you get here?" he blurted, unable to understand her sudden appearance. It was rather rude of him and he could see that she was rather taken aback. No wonder Sora had left him, but he only shrugged as she pulled a digivice out of her pack and offered it to Matt.
"This thing came flying at me when I was walking home from school. I'm not sure what happened when I caught it but the next thing I knew I was here,” she explained as she gestured with her hands to the forest. Her face became a little strained. "We came back frequently to battle the New Dark Masters, but today we were only policing.”
It was then that Tsunomon invariably opened his trap. “Matt and I are one of the Digidestined! We helped to stop them.” Matt groaned softly at Tsunomon’s bragging. This Jessie had to be a Digidestined too, or she wouldn’t be here with a digivolving Digimon. That and the tag hung around her neck...... It was so long ago that he wore the Crest of Friendship around his neck. Hers was the Crest of Faith. He recognized it from something Jenni had shown him, but no one would ever wear it because no one knew where to find it. Well, apparently she had found it, but it was not glowing. She had not activated it yet.
Jessie must have realized he was staring at her because she blushed a bit under his gaze, wishing he wasn’t so cute and so decided to change the subject to the sudden absence of both Tsunomon and Kindamon. "Hey..where did your Digimon go...and where's Kindamon?"
It was that moment that both Digimon came running back, frantic looks on their faces as Airidomomon came swooping into the clearing, just missing their heads. Jessie dropped to the ground, hauling Matt with her as she pulled out her digivice. Matt watched as white light shot from it , enveloping the area with a brief white light.
The Digimon known as Kindamon stood there for a moment, beginning to pulse with energy. “Kindamon, digivolve to....” he called as his body began to grow, shifting as the ears came back and hardened into a thick shell and limbs became more muscled. “Warturtlemon!” Meanwhile beside him, Tsunomon was undergoing a similar process though less severe as his body sprouted from the head, the horn changing as he digivolved into the familiar guise of Gabumon.
Gabumon shot forth first, firing his Blue Blaster attack in a wave of blue light that seemed to bounce off their opponent, but it was quickly followed by the giant Champion Digimon who reared back a fist, yelling “Aqua Fist!” as he slammed the blue glowing hand forward against Airidomomon. The punch connected and it was all that was needed as the insect crumpled back, holding his thorax with a groan. He fell to the ground, buzzing a little in a few final twitches.
"Is he alive?" Jessie asked, stepping close to the hulking form of Airidomomon. A sharp breath answered her question as he twisted his head over to her and looked. "What's wrong with you, Airidomomon? You're a good Digimon!" Jessie asked with pleading eyes, Warturtlemon standing over her.
The large bug just closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and rasping, "It was her. She made me...she's too strong. She can control..weaker Digimon..you two must leave...find help.." He moaned, his eyes clearing before immediately glossing over and he growled warningly.
"Let's get out of here." Matt ordered. He had seen too many battles to know that this was a good time to do so. He acted as if he were under a Dark Master spell, but he knew they had all been eliminated. So what was his problem? He had a very bad feeling about this and he needed to talk to Tai about it now. “C’mon, let’s go. We can't fight him like this if we have to," he spoke with his words of commanding wisdom, looking about before a hand grabbed his collar and yanked. He blinked as he found himself on the brown shell of Warturtlemon, lurching back towards where the others were and he closed his eyes, imagining how the others would react to this as Gabumon just groaned beside him, obviously not having a good day all of a sudden.
Part 2
A New Threat
“What?” exclaimed TK, his blue eyes snapping open and his head whipping up as Matt finished telling him exactly what had happened, about a half hour later. Tokomon also looked up, unsure of what he had just heard. The Digidestined had gathered around Matt, Jessie, Kindamon and Gabumon, listening to the story of their encounter with unbelieving ears. Sora sat there, toying with her red hair in thought, trying to think of what may have happened. Yolei and Hawkmon sat there, nervously trying to contemplate a course of action. The rest sat there and listened, each pondering their own fates regarding this matter.
Veemon was the first to speak. “So did one of them survive?” Veemon was always the master of putting it rather bluntly and so he did as the blue dragon Digimon sat next to Davis who was fiddling with his aged goggles. Davis had always kept the goggles even if he didn’t wear them anymore, but he always kept them on his belt, it brought him a bit of comfort in leadership. Not that he was the leader anymore, Tai had reclaimed that title when they had battled the New Dark Masters.
Gatomon shook her head, taking a quiet breath, her blue eyes glancing about. “Not this soon. They couldn’t even have been reconfigured this quickly. They’d still be like Pabumon, or even still in their tamae. Still, I think they may have been deleted for good, one can only hope....” she mrowred for a moment, toying with her tail ring. She remembered the joy of finding it when Gennai had given it to her after their defeat of MaloMyotismon. She remembered how it allowed her to warpdigivolve into MagnaDramon when they had fought Koriosmon. It was their first major victory over the New Masters. Shakkuramon and ImperialDramon had managed to take out the virus Digimon in a long exhausting battle that had left Primary Village in a complete mess. She blinked for a moment as she realized most eyes were on her and she shrugged as if to punctuate her statement.
Kari sighed and shook her head, standing up and turning to Jessie. “We’re going to need all the help we can get if they survived. Our Digimon are as drained of power as it is. It’s been a few months since we fought them and even now only a few of us are back to Rookie, Gatomon being the only Champion among us. If Kindamon can digivolve to Champion, we could use her,” she sated, then sat next to Gatomon. TK watched her for a moment and nodded in agreement. Sora, then Yolei and Cody, and the rest of them each in turn, nodded their agreement. Jessie seemed to blush brighter, not used to this kind of attention.
Ken smiled to her and squeezed her arm in a bit of comfort. “Welcome to the team. They’ll get used to you. They always do, even if you’re new,” he spoke in his warm tones. He knew what it was like to be the new kid. How long had it been since he was their enemy? Since he was as bad as the Masters? He watched as Jessie only nodded and smiled. “C’mon, let’s go home. If there are killer bugs about, we should regroup,” he said.
The next day, they had all returned home, pondering their fates and futures, wondering if they could take a second wave of such power. TK sat quietly with Kari on the steps of her apartment building, talking quietly of their plans to scout the digital world for signs of disturbance. Gatomon and Tokomon were still playing somewhere, they had been for hours, or hours it seemed to TK. He knew this was probably a good time to talk, but he wasn’t sure if this was the right time. He knew he wanted to ask her, but he wanted a peaceful moment and with this shadow, it just seemed to be non-priority at the moment.
She had excused herself to take a phone call when Tokomon came up, snuggling against his leg, chirping happily before stopping, noticing TK’s attitude. “TK? What’s wrong? Are you sad about this new enemy?” he asked a bit plaintively, his tongue absently licking his large teeth.
TK could only shake his head. “We don’t even know who “she” is. The only female we fought was Sampamon. We destroyed her though in the destruction of Infinity Mountain. I know it. Perhaps she survived somehow, I don’t know. I just have a very bad feeling about this,” he replied. He looked up as he watched Kari come out with a frightened look and he knew from experience that look meant one thing: Tai was in trouble.
“Tai and Sora. They’re in the Digital world. In trouble. Yolei’s headed there now with Cody. We need to go, so Shakkuramon and Silphymon can help out if they need it,” whimpered Kari as she grabbed up her pack, making sure that the pink gripped D3 digivice was still clipped to the side as Gatomon came bounding up to her heels. TK sighed as he scooped up his shoulder pack and slung it about him, straightening his long coat that he had become so accustomed to in the past couple of years, Tokomon perching on his shoulder bag before burrowing inside under the flap. Kari paused for a moment to think of how he look so much like Joe with that shoulder bag, but she caught herself, trying not to remain in that memory. It had been painful to think of Joe as dead, he was so much like a bigger brother.
The digital portal went a bit more turbulent than usual, mostly due to the frantic rush of the Digidestined as they raced to the alternate universe where their friends were in danger. No sooner had they arrived, then Yolei saw the fiery form of Birdramon slam to the ground nearby as she jumped with a startled cry. Hawkmon stepped forward, ready for action as Yolei unhooked her red D3 and thrust it forward and the area flashed with a few multiple lights as others behind her did similar.
“Armadillomon digivolve to....” cried Cody’s partner as he grew, his tail hardening to a steel ball, spikes growing out of his shell, “Ankylomon!”
“Hawkmon digivolve to.....” shouted the bird Digimon as his size as well grew, his feathers becoming longer and more prominent, twin horns sprouting from his head, “Aquilamon!”
Yolei and Cody, satisfied that their Digimon were ready for fighting until TK, Kari and any others may arrive to provide reinforcements. They could see Tai, Sora and Agumon clustered behind an overturned cart in the waste of Farm Village. Just beyond they could see a lone figure just standing there in a cloud of smoke and upturned dust.
Looking at her, she didn’t seem much. She was tall, but slight, her pale grey skin cloaked in a outfit of darkest black, crisscrossed by stitches, skulls emblazoned at various points of her body, typical of a virus type Digimon. Tattered wings twitched behind her as she held outstretched proportionately wrong long arms with large claws. It was here eyes that were haunting, a deep crimson color that seemed to be powered by a fiery furnace of the soul within. Or the lack of one.
Cody and Ankylomon led the way out into the battlefield, watching, waiting for something, anything to occur from this silent figure. His brown eyes blazed defiantly at this unfamiliar figure. “All right, who are you? And what have you been doing to the Digimon? Can’t you see that they’re too weak for you? What is your problem?” he angrily shouted.
The Digimon snorted a bit and remained silent before speaking with a melodic voice that was so hauntingly familiar, “I am your death and I am your destruction. But if you wish, know me only as Deviwomon. You can’t possibly defeat me like that, I’m too powerful for you. Completely.” She cracked her long spidery fingers, grinning a bit cruelly.
Tai took the moment to step forward, Agumon by his side. His digivice, gripped tightly in his white-knuckled hand, glowed slightly with power. “We’ll see who’s powerful. Agumon, think you can do it?” asked Tai with grim determination. The orange tyrannosaur Digimon nodded once as Tai held out his digivice, the words of the prophecy scrawled around the core glowing for a moment before firing a light towards Agumon.
“Agumon warp digivolve to......” cried Agumon as he glowed brightly, his form rapidly growing into Greymon, then the cyborg armour and wings of MetalGreymon sprouted, then the armour coalesced around the entire body as the wings turned into a war shield that split in two as he took a humanoid form, “WarGreymon!" No matter how many times Tai had seen Agumon digivolve, and it had been thousands of times, he never got over the sheer awe of watching such a small fry like Agumon transform into the awesome beast of MetalGreymon or even better into the tremendous fighting force known as WarGreymon. To see him grow and change and mutate, it was like something he could only imagine what it was like and what it was not his to have as he looked down upon his glowing digivice, the words of the prophecy that allowed his Digimon to achieve its Mega-level seemed to stand out a little more against the glowing contraption.
Behind them, Birdramon was standing, but in the white light shining from Sora’s digivice as the power of her new love gave her new strength. They had to stop this new threat here at the bud before it blossomed. A cry of power shot through Birdramon as suddenly the flames of her wings seemed to overpower her as her form took new shape, drawing more and more power, drawing closer to the threshold of digivolution.
Watching this transformation and the one about to occur, Deviwomon frowned. Had these kids dared to challenge her? Perhaps WarGreymon could provide an interesting fight for a while. Amusement, nothing more. Her wings spread as she lunged forward towards the digivolving Birdramon, slashing out with her Nightmare Claw attack. It was enough to drop the giant bird Digimon to the ground for the count, the satisfying glow of draining power feeding her before she looked up to face the approaching Aquilamon and WarGreymon, noting the flanking Ankylomon behind her. Did two Champions and a Mega truly hope to defeat her? She had considered herself above even the Megas, although she wasn’t sure exactly what she was anymore.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden blast of a searing energy-packed Hand of Fate blast that staggered her for a moment. A side glance was all she needed to see the Angemon flying towards him, followed by more of those kids. Another Champion, this could be interesting..... They had gathered together, perhaps to attack as one. Had she not her trump card, she might have been concerned with straining some muscles. She would wait for them to come at her.
TK was worried. He and Angemon were here, but they weren’t close enough to Anklyomon to form Shakkuromon and it bothered him a bit. Angemon could handle well on his own, sure enough, but one never knew. A flash of light behind him told him that Gatomon’s DNA was combining with Aquilamon’s to form Silphymon. It was a little odd to see what essentially looked like a bird-human, but it was a little more odd to hear them talk. Two speak as one, too much discomfort even if he tried for years to get used to it. He watched WarGreymon leap forward, but before he could even attack, he was cut down with a side kick! Was anyone so fast? Not since Diablomon had there ever been someone who could match WarGreymon like that! TK found himself wishing for his brother to help create Omnimon, truly the most powerful of all Digimon, formed from two Megas into a new level, but what?
Ankylomon was the next to strike with his diamond hard spiked Tail Hammer, but Deviwomon took the hit without as much as a grunt, grabbing it into her hands and using the moment to uproot the powerful Champion from his feet, swinging them into the group of Digidestined and Digimon, sending them flying. The Digimon rolled for a few moments before suddenly shrinking down to Armadillomon as his power just seemed to leave him. Cody gasped in shock, having never seen Ankylomon so easily beaten like that.
Silphymon took their shot by launching themself into the air, their hands forming the molecules of the air around them, drawing the static electricity into their palms into their Static Force, propelling the blast forth at their enemy, the area about her lighting up in a white blast. There was a collective hush from the Digidestined as they struggled to get up from the impact of the rolling Ankylomon. Sora had been struck hard and Tai and Kari were watching over her with fervent vigil. Biyomon was on her way over, limping greatly, most of her pink color drained from her. Cody was making sure Armadillomon was in effect, unharmed. But right now, all eyes were on the tremendous impact dust cloud.
The clouds were still swirling as Palidramon and Warturtlemon entered the scene, Davis, Jessie and Ken hot on their heels. Davis looked to Yolei and grinned, “We miss the show already?” Yolei waggled her eyebrows later before turning back, her humour suddenly fading away as her mouth dropped open to see a figure still standing there.
Deviwomon didn’t even look scathed by the ferocious blast that once annihilated a mountain. Her wings probably were a bit more tattered and her clothes were a bit smoky, but nothing. She had barely even felt the blast. If this was the best that they could do...... She wondered what the WarGreymon fellow was waiting for.... To drain his energy would be unbelievable..... Or to make him her slave... Why wouldn’t he attack? Was she missing something? The others had tried and failed. These two new additions would barely do anything. She could recognize a Champion and one of those pseudo-Ultimates.
Palidramon opened the next attack, firing away with his Desperado Blasters, but the high energy shots simply rebounded off Deviwomon who lunged forward, gathering the shadows into her hands for a few seconds, then releasing a Dark Sphere attack that knocked Palidramon back a few steps, the pseudo-Ultimate staggering a bit to regain his composure. WarGreymon took this moment to finally join the battle. He had been trying to protect the Digidestined, should the need arise, but he could see the offense was getting nowhere as he feinted a right swipe with one of his massive armoured claws, but Deviwomon easily sidestepped. He swung around with a sweeping side leg sweep, but his opponent easily back-flipped over it like an acrobat might play an audience.
“Come now, aren’t you supposed to be the best of them all, WarGreymon?” taunted Deviwomon as she ducked easily another lunging attack, leaving WarGreymon’s face in the dirt, growling and muttering as he climbed back to his feet. He was indeed losing ground, but that was impossible! He was the most powerful Mega-level Digimon in the Digital World, yet how could he be being taken to school like this? He ducked a quick side-kick, falling back into a teso teku stance, able to move in any direction forward, should he need it. Her next attack was as he expected, a quick lunge that he sidestepped and brought the blade of his elbow slamming down onto the small of her back, resulting in a satisfying grunt as she bit the dust now.
“I can be powerful when I need it. How about a little Terra Force!” responded WarGreymon as he drew his energy all into one enormous ball of raw energy. Every time he did that he could feel a small drain in his power and he wondered to himself how soon this battle would be over and who would be the winner? He leaned back to give maximum heft to his attack as he whipped at her, everyone covering their eyes against the raw explosion of such power detonating, the area lit like an orange sun-lit savanna for what seemed like countless seconds. A Static Force blast may not have stopped this evil one, but surely a Terra Force blast would. Very few could survive it for long.
“Mother of God.....” were the next words and they were from Davis. Something told Kari that the Virgin Mary wasn’t going to do any good in this situation either as they all watched Deviwomon just stand there, brushing herself off from all the dirt and dust, looking no different than when Silphymon had attacked her. Tai watched with bug eyes and open jaw. They couldn’t see WarGreymon’s face from their vantage point, but it was a good guess that his expression was the same.
“You just don’t get it, do you, Digidestined? I am stronger than all of you, even combined and yet still you come, why? Are you that eager to die?” continued to taunt Deviwomon as if she didn’t have a destructive power just flung at her, “Maybe I’ll kill you some other day.....” She only smirked, then spread her wings out and with that, she was gone into the sky, leaving the Digidestined to lick their wounds.
It was a tough journey back home, but they made it. Most of them. Tai and Kari had taken Sora to the hospital where she had been hurt in the battle, leaving the others to congregate at the park. The park had changed with them as they grew, becoming more of a solitary place to rest for some, but for the Digidestined, it had always been a place to go for gathering. For TK, it was something rather personal. It was a sanctuary where he could be alone or with Kari. He had remembered the memories of fighting with Davis... And how he would come here to sit by the river and watch it go to the sea. There was something strangely calming about that. Kari had followed him once there and so she knew of his secret spot. It was their secret spot and only they knew of its significance.
Yolei and Davis were the first to show up, DemiVeemon and Poromon hot on their trails. Cody and Upomon showed up a few minutes later. Matt pulled up in his pickup truck with Tsunomon, riding on the dashboard. Someone else was with him and when he opened the door to let her out, they could see it was Jessie carrying a small little Digimon named Traylomon, that looked like a smaller version of Kindamon, tiny and white, almost resembling a small tailless puppy dog with large blue eyes and floppy ears. It was almost cute. Ken had called earlier and said that he’d be late. No one questioned why. There was only one more missing member that they needed. Izzy. Izzy had been upset that he and Pabumon had been unable to do anything in the battle with Deviwomon. Kari had counseled him that it wasn’t his fault, that he’ll be ready the next time.
It was several minutes before they finally saw the figure of Izzy walking down the path and a familiar face buzzing behind him. It was Tentamon! He had digivolved into Rookie form and he seemed more relieved to be like that than the Baby Pabumon. Still, Izzy looked a bit distant. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why he was so glum.
TK bit his lower lip to ask Izzy of his status, only nodded to Tentamon and began the meeting. “I’m sure you all know why we’re here. There’s a new threat to the digital world and we’re not sure yet what to make of this Deviwomon...” said TK. He didn't want to think of what she reminded him of, Devimon, their very first opponent. He closed his mind so not to think of how Angemon perished and promised himself that none of the Digimon now would do so. “For those of you who are concerned, Sora is still in serious condition at the hospital. I know, Cody, you are bothered by this because it was Ankylomon that caused her injuries, but it wasn’t his fault, it was Deviwomon’s and we have to face that. We can’t wait for her to recover, not while this new menace or any others may threaten the digital world. We’re going in tomorrow to see if we can find out why exactly she’s here and where she came from. And we’re not coming back until we stop her!” TK emphasized this by throwing down his bucket hat. He paused for a moment, thinking. His brother had gotten it for him years ago when they went to their grandmother’s for summer vacation. It was right before Diablomon threatened the Internet and the entire world. Thanks to Omnimon, they had defeated him. But that was almost ten years ago, why was he thinking of it now? Was there something? Was it...... Omnimon..... He knew why Deviwomon looked so familiar. VamDevimon wore the same outfit and Vampamon had the same kinds of attacks. “They did it...” he whispered. Matt looked up, being the first to catch TK’s revelation. TK looked up into his brother’s eyes and Izzy caught the silent exchange, his own mind furiously processing until he stopped, realizing the same thing.
“They couldn’t have...” questioned Izzy, even though he knew that it was the most likely possibility, “There’s no other explanation for it though.... The New Dark Masters DNA digivolved. But they were all Ultimates and one Mega.... Is it possible for a Mega to digivolve further?”
Matt spoke up for a moment. “Why not? You keep forgetting Omnimon was made from two Megas. There has to be a level beyond that,” he spoke quietly, then fell silent again. Jessie hugged Traylomon tightly to her as she tried to think of what they could possibly do. Davis remained silent, contemplating DemiVeemon. Matt looked up and continued, “When WarGreymon and MetalGaruromon fought Piedamon, they too were out-matched. But we still managed to defeat him, nothing’s too strong for us..... not if we believe.”
They all remained silent on Matt’s words as Davis stood up and walked down to the river, thinking and looking up into the darkening sky. Strange, there was a cluster of stars he had never seen before. Yolei had long taught him all the constellations on a quiet night in the park together, but these seemed to be new... and falling! Was there a meteor shower tonight and why were they coming towards them?
Davis took an involuntary flinch back towards the group as the rest of them all stood to look up at the falling points of light that were now almost in reach, or so it seemed. They could all feel some kind of strength from each of the points of light. TK found a glimmering shard of hope of this sign and as if in response, one of the points of light hovered in front of him, then materialized into a tag around his neck, bearing his Crest of Hope! The other lights found their way to the necks of the other, each bearing their old Crests on them. Even Davis, Cody and Yolei bore tags with new Crests on them.
“I thought we could use them, so I asked Jenni to release the power of the Crests back to us,” interrupted a voice from behind as Ken walked up to them, his own Crest of Kindness around his neck, shining brightly, “They’ve saved the digital world before. They can do it again.” TK nodded, Patamon on his shoulder nodded as his Crest of Hope gleamed. Matt was the next to stand next to him, Tsunomon looking proud to see the Crest of Friendship once more around his partner’s neck. Izzy gazed with a pure smile on his face to see the Crest of Knowledge resting in his palm, then he nodded firmly, followed by Tentamon’s firm nod. Davis looked at his own tag, bearing the Crest of Valor shining back at him, then he picked up DemiVeemon and walked to them. Yolei and Poromon exchanged looks, then got up, the Crest of Heart swinging from her neck. Cody and Jessie were the last to stand, scooping Upomon and Traylomon into their arms, the Crests of Strength and Faith bright in their tags. Somewhere, in a distant hospital room, they knew that the Crests of Courage, Love and Light were glowing brightly. They were a team, united in power and purpose, yet the newer Crests did not glow. Izzy knew that they needed to activate Crests of Valor, Heart, Strength and Faith, but did they have the time?
Meanwhile, in another time, in another place, in another world, Deviwomon walked among the Ruins. Here, her predecessors once ruled. She could almost whisper their names and hear them call out to her from beyond. Devimon, Myotismon, Piedamon, Arukenimon, VamDevimon..... The list could go on if she wanted it to, but she was better than any of them. It was mere historical fact, it served no purpose to her. She was a Mega-level, born of Ultimate darkness. She could remember, crawling from new birth from the smoldering rubble of what once was Infinity Mountain. She and the one who now stood before him. MagnaDevimon. Even the name made Deviwomon tremble in fear as she beheld the warrior of metal and darkness before her. He was purer than she, he demanded her respect and he got it. Soon they would rule. They would destroy those destined to stop them and they would rule. She would be his queen, she was confident of that.
“The Digidestined know of our presence?” demanded MagnaDevimon as he towered over her. She knew who was most present in his creation, she didn’t even have to think about Belialmon to see him right there. True, the others were there, all genetically combined to achieve perfection. They had digivolved their way past perfection, yet what were they? They were perfection and they both knew it.
“Yes, my lord. They are.... aware. I had my fun with them. They are not as powerful as you would think. Their only worthy warrior could not even harm me, yet I did not allow the others to DNA digivolve. Remember, I know to keep them weak. In their weakness, we may find strength,” smirked Deviwomon.
MagnaDevimon scowled for a moment. “They are not to be underestimated, remember. They are in possessions of their Crests,” rebuked the mighty dark lord. Deviwomon gave him a confused look as to how he acquired this knowledge, but he raised a silencing claw. “Jenni is still among us. We did not destroy him as thought. As such, he has caused the seal to revert back into the Digidestined’s strength in their Crests. Remember, we are powerful enough, but still gather together our forces. We shall avenge ourselves while revealing to them our new forms. Our moment of triumph is to crush them...”
“And the prophecy?” inquired Deviwomon. She spoke of the tablet found by them in which it stated that only through hope and faith could they be defeated. Of course, MagnaDevimon had destroyed the tablet, so no other would learn of it and destroy him. Now it would only be chance fate that the Digidestined could ever possibly win.
The Digidestined, such pathetic fools... Even in the end, they wouldn’t be able to see the grand scheme of things... Destined to save the digital world.... from evil? It was easy and convenient to demarcate Digimon into good and evil, vaccine and virus... but the truth? There were only Digimon... And a greater state of mind above such petty concepts as positive and negative, black and white, good and evil... Power. Power was that state. Soon he would have that Power all to himself. That was his destiny. He could call himself a Digidestined. Digidestined to rule.
Part 3
A Hero Falls
Davis had broken open a couple of eggs and they had begun frying them on the pan that Yolei had brought along along with enough food to last them a week. Matt’s stomach was growling, but he knew that there were a whole bunch of Digi-mouths that wanted first crack at it and there wouldn’t be much left afterwards. Oh, well, he thought, let them have their meal. They’ll need the energy...
Izzy was sitting alone, looking at his wallet, his face a quiet study. Ken glanced over and got up, going over to him. A quick glance over the shoulder of the genius told the other that Izzy was looking at a picture of his family and another picture he knew was Mimi. Izzy looked up, his eyes plain and simple. “I know I won’t see any of them again. Call it a feeling. I know I won’t....” he stated plain and simply.
Wormmon looked up from Ken’s foot. “Of course you will, Izzy,” he reasoned. Izzy looked at him and Wormmon shivered at the empty look. He was so alone. He could see it in his eyes. Had loneliness completely burnt him out? He had remembered when Ken had looked that way back when he was the Digimon Emperor..... He saw that look in his nihgtmares still.
In another place, where none of them could see, a darkness was taking form among the vegetation as Deviwomon looked on, shaping it with her taloned hands. “It is time to strike once more. Arise, DarkLilymon! Destroy!” commanded Deviwomon as the darkness coalesced into the form of the aberration that formed from the blackened vegetation. She gestured again and a thousand pillars of shadow grew forth from the ground, growing arger in size and shape.
TK was quietly thinking to himself when Davis approached him. He nodded quietly to the other, taking off his hat. “You going to ask her, TK?” Davis asked. TK could only smirk. How long ago had it when Davis had the most incomparable thing for Kari? He nodded once and smiled a bit, his blue eyes shining a bit more as he clenched his fist and headed toward the group. He never got there.
The explosion took Davis off his feet and he saw TK lift up into the air and into the brush. He knew TK wouldn’t be getting back up for a while as he groaned in pain. He opened his eyes and he saw, was it Lillymon? No, it couldn’t be. He heard a startled cry from Kari and he focused a little more. It looked like Lilymon, but her appearance was all wrong. The ultimate Digimon was dressed in darker clothing like a black and grey flower and she was approaching the rest of the group. A thundering roar snapped even farther into consciousness as a DarkTyrannomon burst through the brush.
“Veemon digivolve into....” cried the small blue Digimon as Davis’s digivice caught him up and increased him in size and strength, the transformation marked by markings on his chest and a horn sprouting from his foresnout, “ExVeemon!”
ExVeemon lunged at DarkLilymon, but was knocked back into a sprawl, but Aquilamon and Ankylomon were right there to back ExVeemon up, knocking back DarkLilymon by strength in numbers. A flashing black light from a distance and Stingmon exploded over the hillridge, a crimson spike extending from his wrist armour.
More soon.....
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