Chapter 7: Digivolving Friendship:
Finally, arriving atop an intersection bridge, the Tamers and Calumon all saw the Digimon that the dark dragon Digimon had Bio-Emerged, it staring down and around the area, glaring at all through its six red eyes.
But seeing the Digimon wasn't enough, knowing they needed detail on their enemy, takato withdrew his D-Power and analyzed the Digimon.
"That's Devidramon, and you better believe he gives the evil eye a whole new meaning. Champion Level, Virus Type. And he better trim his nails soon, or that Crimson Claw attack he has could seriously hurt somebody." Takato informed, knowing he and the others would have to be on high alert if they were to defeat this foe.
"Who out there is worthy of me?" Devidramon then questioned, getting a quick answer as its amazing sight then picked up on seeing the three Digimon.
"Ah ha!" He suddenly bellowed, leaping down at the three with a mighty roar, flying past and creating a powerful updraft.
"Calumon, get back. It isn't safe." Rika said with a seriousness in her voice, causing Calumon to get off of Agumon's head and take cover behind a wall, wishing he could help fight, but believed he lacked the power to do so.
While Calumon took to his hiding spot, Agumon, Terriermon and Renamon got ready, watching as the Devidramon then landed, where the dark dragon Digimon stared at Agumon, Terriermon and Renamon, gaining a wicked smile at the opposing forces.
"Looks like I get to take out three Rookies for the price of one." He commented.
"Think again. We won't go down without a fight!" Renamon said back, before striking.
"Diamond Storm!" She called, tossing a wave of light shards at Devidramon.
"Pepper Breath!" Agumon followed up, spitting out a ball of flame alongside Renamon's attack.
"Bunny Blast!" Terriermon finished, he too adding his power as he spat out a series of green flames that shot alongside Agumon and Renamon's attack.
But as the attacks headed for Devidramon, he countered, bringing up his claw and smacking away the combined power of the three digimon as if the attack was nothing.
A little stunned, Terriermon commented with some worry in his voice. "Not good. He's stronger than I anticipated."
"Then we need some more power. Get ready everyone!" Takato said as he took out his D-Power,along with a Digimon Card and called out. "Digi Energise! Power activate!"
Sliding the Card through his D-Power, Agumon felt the effects transfer into him, before the three all attacked Devidramon once again.
-Meanwhile-
During the time the Tamers had combatted Devidramon, Impmon crashed against the floor, his being battered and bruised, but slowly he rose to glare at Guilmon, who showed no damage and stood tall and undefeated.
"Curse you, curse you, curse you! You are such a killjoy!" Impmon shouted angrily.
"You can't beat me. Just give up and stop terrorizing these humans." Guilmon said in warning.
"Never! I will never stop! And I get your powers to awaken again in you!" Impmon snapped back, continuing to vent his rage.
"I refuse to let that happen again. I'll find a way to break free of this curse." Guilmon replied.
"Gargh! You're just like those Digimon with those humans! Always caring for the weak!" Impmon retaliated.
"Digimon with humans?" Guilmon questioned as he then froze and then remembered what Renamon had said when they last met.
"You have a boy who claims to be your partner and an Agumon who looks up to you like a brother waiting for you. You're just going to leave them?" Renamon's voice asked as it echoed through Guilmon's mind.
"That's it..." Guilmon said to himself, coming to a revelation. "That vixen... Renamon... she said I have a human partner too, along with a Agumon. If I meet him... I may get the answers that I seek."
"What? You're a partner to that human to that dimwitted Agumon too?" Impmon questioned, the tiny respect he held for Guilmon's independence fading.
"Sorry, but we're done for the day. No more trouble out of you. But thanks for helping me get on the right course." Guilmon said as he then took his leave, turning away and leaving Impmon alone.
"Hey! Come back here! We're not finished yet!" Impmon demanded with a furious call, but Guilmon ignored the imp Digimon as he left to search for Takato.
-With Takato-
Continuing to not back down against Devidramon, the brunette continued to fight alongside Agumon and the others, with Henry stepping up in terms of power as he readied Terriermon to Digivolve again, knowing that with the help of Takato, Gargomon could be controlled.
Making him Digivolve again, Henry slid the Digivolution Card through his D-Power.
"Digi-Modify! Digivolution Activate!" The blue haired boy called, filling Terriermon with more energy and allowed him to access his Champion form.
"Terriermon Digivolve to... Gargomon!" Gargomon announced, ready to blast Devidramon to bits, all he needed now was the command of his Tamer.
And with Terriermon now a Champion, as well as Agumon and Renamon powered up by their respective Tamers and their Digimon Cards, the three Digimon attacked.
"Gargo Pallets!" Gargomon called as he shot out a barrage of bullets from his Gatling Arms.
"Pepper Breath!" Agumon followed up with a mighty cry, shooting out a blast of flame that was double the size of his first few attacks, while Renamon used her Diamond Storm, concentrating Rika's power Card within her attack.
The three attacks were more than a match for Devidramon, which caused him to roar in pain, throwing him off balance and causing the dark dragon Digimon to tumble down from the air, where he then crashed into a building, the impact not only damaging Devidramon, but also the building, where its structure became unstable, sections of the building then broke from the side and fell down, aimed for the Tamers.
Luckily they all dodged out of the way with Takato shielding Rika and Henry joining them.
"You all alright?" Takato asked before he noticed he was on top of Rika.
"We're fine but can you get off me, Gogglehead?" Rika questioned with a blush at the position she was in, causing Takato to quickly get up and apologize, he too blushing at the accidental position he wound up in, as well as part of him being so close to Rika.
However, before Rika could reply, they all heard something crash into the ground, where all turned around to see Devidramon had recovered from the initial attack and used the concern for Takato and Rika as a distraction, pinning Renamon and Gargomon to the ground with his claws, while grasping Agumon within his tail.
"Just give up there no way You can beat me, Rookie." Devidramon said with a malicious arrogance, throwing Agumon to the ground, before he began to attack, slamming his tail upon Agumon's beaten and damaged form with a relentlessness.
"Agumon!" Takato called in great concern.
"Takatomon, help me..." Agumon choked.
From seeing his partner in pain, Takato clenched his hand wanting so much to help Agumon, willing to do whatever it took to make it a reality that his D-power seemed to react to the brunette's emotions, shining brightly, not just with a powerful light of orange energy, but one of red as well, leaving him, Rika and Henry in awe, failing to notice a similar energy emitting from the gem on Calumon's forehead.
And while on his way to find Takato, Guilmon began to glow with the same red light, feeling a new power awakening within him, feeling the presence of his Tamer's very soul within him, making the Hazard Digimon question. "What's happening?"
Amazed at the feel of power, Agumon began to glow as well, but his aura emitted with an orange light, feeling something inside of him, something guiding him to what he needed to do.
"Agumon Digivolve to..." Agumon then called with a powerful voice as he changed form, his skin peeling and revealing his mainframe, before his Data rebuilt around his form, reshaping him into a powerful form of Greymon, only this Greymon wore orange body armour that coated his arms, chest and the lower half of his legs.
"Greymon!" He roared, feeling more powerful than ever before, which left all in amazement, including Calumon, who saw that behind the behemoth Agumon had become was the same Digimon he had befriended only a few hours ago.
"Amazing! Agumon Digivolved!" Henry said in awe as Greymon pushed Devidramon off of him and prepared to face him again.
Upon seeing the Champion form of Agumon, Devidramon let out a fearsome roar, one Greymon let back, before both lunged at each other, trying to gain the upperhand as they clashed against each other.
It seemed as though both were equal in strength, continuing to try and repel the other, before Greymon showed a more fearsome side to him as he bit into Devidramon's shoulder, making Devidramon roar in pain and back away.
"Nova Flame!" Greymon roared, spitting out a large blast of flame, which Devidramon managed to avoid, striking the building behind him and shaking those up inside, which included the two women who were under the command of the mysterious blonde haired man with shades.
"I can't believe this is happening." Riley said in worry, only for the blond haired man to say, remaining calm. "That's because it isn't."
"The public will know nothing of this debacle." He then explained, before facing the brunette and instructing. "Riley, you'll be in charge of making a convincing cover story."
"You're joking, right?" She asked, finding it hard to make up a believable reason such destruction occurred that wasn't because of monsters from another world.
But looking at her superior, seeing his expression still unchanging, she knew she had a lot of work to comply with.
Back outside the building, Greymon and Devidramon continued in their fight, each striking the other with punches and whacks with their tail, but refused to stop or allow the other to gain the upperhand.
"You think you can beat me because you Digivolved, think again, I..." Devidramon began to say, but stopped when a voice cut across him.
"Pyro Blaster!" It bellowed, just as a massive blast of flame struck the dark dragon Digimon from behind, where all were left in awe at what they now saw.
"Someone else is here? But who...?" Gargomon asked, wondering if the new Digimon joining their fight was on their side or just like Devidramon, before Greymon suddenly brightened up and cheered.
"Hey! Big Brother!" He called, his words stunning the Tamers at seeing Guilmon had Digivolved as well.
Looking at the Champion form of Guilmon, his build was like a larger form of Guilmon's, but had a set of horns protruding from his head.
Long white hair and two blade-like appendages connected to both arms, while his cloak was still clinging to his shoulders, a little undersized for his current form, but he still wore the garment.
"Guilmon? He's here? And he Digivolved too?" Takato said in shock to see Guilmon back again and wondering if he was in his right mind.
And while amazed to see Guilmon had Digivolved, not recognizing the Champion form, Rika took her D-Power out and analysed the new Guilmon.
"Growlmon. The Champion form of Guilmon. His attacks are Pyro Blaster and Dragon Slash." Rika said, sharing the information with the others.
And while glad to see Growlmon, Renamon seemed the most astonished as she said with awe in her tone. "Guilmon... he's back..."
"Was wondering when he'd turned up." Gargomon said with a small smirk as he crossed his arms.
"Big brother! Greymon's so happy to see you!" Greymon called with a cheerful smile, waving at his brother, making Growlmon look at him and let his thoughts out. "Brother? Then you must be that Agumon... so that means...?"
Looking down, Growlmon then saw Takato, who was looking at him, which made Growlmon ask. "So he's my partner huh?"
"No wonder I digivolved." The red-dino Digimon thought aloud, sensing the same power he felt within him also within the brunette.
Looking back at Growlmon, Takato sensed some worry and doubt in Growlmon's but he could tell he was not being manipulated by his evil power.
However, remembering they were still in combat, Devidramon roared as he emerged from the rubble with a great fury.
"Who striked me from behind!?" He bellowed fearsomely, before he then noticed Growlmon amongst the Digimon.
"I don't know where you come from but you're making me mad!" The dark dragon Digimon yelled, preparing to attack and destroy.
"Too bad for you. You will never harm another innocent person again! Pyro Blaster!" Growlmon roared, releasing a stream of flame.
"Nova Flame!" Greymon followed up, letting out a powerful bellow of his own as he cast out his own flames from his maw.
Both flame attacks shot from both sides of Devidramon, making sure there was no escape for the aggressive Digimon, consuming Devidramon and tearing him to shreds, utterly destroying him and leaving behind just his particles of Data.
"You guys did it!" Takato called happily at seeing his two Digimon had won the fight, as well as seeing both his Digimon again.
But some concern filled Takato as he worried Growlmon might lose control again, while worried that Greymon's change would affect his mind and make him go more primal.
"Takatomon, you ok...?" Greymon then asked, his voice and curious expression made the brunette sigh with relief to see Greymon still acting like Agumon.
"Now that Greymon is big and not Agumon anymore, what do we do?" The dinosaur Digimon asked, wanting to be Agumon again.
"Hmmm... that's a good point." Henry said, knowing it was not the best to have a giant dinosaur Digimon hanging around in the streets.
And while the boys showed concern for their friends, Rika showed she only cared about herself as she cursed under her breath. "Damn it... now Renamon is the weakest one here."
"We need to get you back to the park, and see what we can do." Takato said, about to rush back to the park, but then saw Growlmon give a small stern look at him, which make Takato know what Growlmon wanted as he gave his first partner a stern look in reply.
'You came for answers, didn't you?' Takato asked quietly to himself, knowing there was tension to be handled.
-A while later-
While Henry, Terriermon, Calumon and Rika did their best to hide Greymon, Renamon stood beside by the tree as to sneak in and watch Takato and Guilmon, the pair stood by the swings for a private talk.
Luckily, Guilmon had mastered his power of Digivolution and De-Digivolved on his own without too much trouble, where he then cloaked his form once him again.
"Renamon told me about what happened to you... about the Digital Hazard inside you and the path you have chosen." Takato said in a serious tone.
"So you created me, you gave me life." Guilmon said, before questioning. "Did you have anything to do with the Digital Hazard inside me at all?"
"No. I'd never do anything like that to you, Guilmon. Please believe me when I say I would never put you at harm. I don't know how you got that power but I'll never put that in you." Takato replied, hoping Guilmon to believe his words.
"That's good to hear that you aren't responsible for this evil." Guilmon said, relieved for a bit and then he told his Tamer. "If you want to know how that Digimon showed up, Impmon was the cause. I saw Devidramon trapped in a field of energy before Impmon broke it open. It was just after Devidramon left that Impmon tried to fight me and wanted to awaken my dark powers again."
"I had a feeling someone like him would be involved." Takato said, which made Renamon scowl at Impmon's involvement in Devidramon's release.
"Guilmon, I am so glad to see you are a good Digimon. When we saw you the first time, I thought I had created a monster. But it turns out you have a conscience. I am happy to see you face to face at last." Takato then said, feeling pride in himself and happiness inside his partner.
"I feel the same way." Guilmon said in reply with a small smile, before he turned away, confusing Takato, before realizing what Guilmon was thinking and made him offer. "You're leaving again? You know you can just come with us, right? We can start fresh as partners and as friends."
"I'm not ready to be accepted as your true partner just yet. I still have fear of myself. Now that I have my answers from you, I still need time. Just keep Agumon and Renamon protected for me okay?" Guilmon replied, the last of his request a small surprise to Takato at Guilmon mentioning Renamon, but nodded, respecting the wishes of his Digimon.
"I understand. You do what you have to do and I'll wait for your return." Takato said with a continued trust within Guilmon, backing away slightly to allow Guilmon to know he was free to do as he wished now.
"Don't worry. I'm sure we will meet again." Guilmon said, walking past his Tamer, where he smiled and added. "And when the next wild or evil Digimon threatens makes his appearance, I'll be there. You stay safe."
"You too, Guilmon. I'll be there with you in spirit where you go, my friend" Takato said, before Guilmon gives a thumbs up and walked off, his cloak flapping in the wind.
"You're just going to let him go?" Renamon then asked, making her presence known and causing Takato to face the foxy Digimon.
"You're his Tamer so you should force him to stay." Renamon then pointed out.
"I'm not that kind of person. I know that Guilmon fears himself if he loses control again. When the time comes, we can convince him to join us, but now's not the time." Takato replied, his words surprising to Renamon at the selflessness and insight.
"And when that come times, you and Agumon will be the ones to convince him to join us." The brunette then said with a continued confidence, which left Renamon stunned.
As Takato headed off to join Greymon, doing all he could to get Greymon back to Rookie form again, Renamon looked upon the path Guilmon had gone by as she said quietly. "Good luck, Guilmon..."
