Chapter Nine: Frying Pan, meet Fire

Gatomon lifted herself from the ground, cringing at the pain from the bruise she had sustained. After crashing into the building inside the city gate, Gatomon had slowly faded in and out of consciousness. Unable to move, she watched helplessly as Seadramon swept up Tai and Rika and slithered away.

"Ugh," Gatomon groaned as she started walking towards the open gate. She passed the threshold just as Gargomon sped into view. He pulled himself back, coming to a complete stop just before he could slam into Gatomon. Behind him, a thick cloud of dust settled onto the ground.

"Gatomon, what happened?"

"Seadramon attacked us. We tried to fight him but he was just too strong. He took the others. Where's Eric and Kabuterimon?"

"Kuwagamon grabbed them." Gatomon sighed in response.

"We need to find Kari, Izzy, and Patamon, and make sure that they're safe." Gargomon walked past Gatomon and headed into the city. Gatomon turned around to follow him, but the crippled body of Leomon caught her eye.

"Oh, no." Gatomon stumbled over to the weakened leader, waving at Gargomon to gain his attention. Gargomon spotted the digimon as well, running over to him.

"Leomon, you okay?" Gargomon lifted the digimon's back to support him.

"As-as good as someone-who..." Leomon's words died off, the cynical remark fading away with him.

"Let's get him back into the city." Gatomon wrapped her arms around the digimon's legs. Gargomon grabbed Leomon's back. Together they carried the digimon into the safety of the metropolis' walls, leaning him against a building not far from the gate.

"Go close the gate, we don't want anyone getting in that isn't supposed to be here." Gargomon dashed off, grabbing the two metal doors and slamming them shut. "Leomon, are you going to be alright?"

"I think so, I just need to get to the medical center."

"We might not have that long," Gargomon ran back to the two feline digimon, "we need to make sure Kari and Izzy are safe."

"We can't leave Leomon here by himself."

"It's okay, Gatomon. Now that I'm inside the city, someone will find me soon and get me some help. They have regular patrols near the gate. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Leomon nodded to Gatomon's question.

"Let's go Gatomon." the feline left Leomon's side and joined Gargomon. "Do you know where they were supposed to be?"

"Meramon told Nanimon to bring them to the wall so they could watch the battle." Gargomon nodded, and then started running down the length of the wall. Gatomon dashed after him. They ran down the wall for a few minutes and then encountered a door that led to a stairway. The two ran up the winding staircase and encountered a trap door. They knocked the door open and leaped onto the pathway that ran along the length of the massive stone structure. Gargomon and Gatomon then ran down the path, drawing closer to the side of the wall facing the quickly dissipating battle.

"There they are!" Gargomon yelled, pointing his weapon towards a series of five specs in the distance.

"Who else is with them?" Gatomon questioned.

"I don't know, let's hurry up."

***

"Nanimon, what's going on?" Kari questioned the digimon, who was conversing the with pair of Unimon who had flown to their position. Nanimon nodded a few times to their whisperings and then turned around to confront the two humans and the unconscious digimon.

"I knew you all were up to no good, attacking Leomon like that. You're going back to the prison where I knew you belonged."

"What are talking about?" Izzy said, taken aback, "We've been up here with you the whole time. How could we have attacked anybody?"

"I have witnesses who will testify that your digimon attacked and almost killed Leomon, leaving him to die near the city gate! You're evil, and this proves it!"

"That's not true at all," Kari protested, "There must be some mistake. Gatomon would never hurt anyone from this city. She looks up to all of you."

"Enough of your lies!" Nanimon snapped his fingers, telling the Unimon to walk up behind him. "Capture those two and throw them in lockup!" The two Unimon flew over Kari and Izzy.

"Kari, run now!" Izzy pushed the girl down the path, forcing her to run away. Izzy followed behind, clutching the weakened Patamon in his arms. The Unimon were too fast for them though. The first one glided ahead of Kari, cutting her off. The second one grabbed Izzy's shirt with his teeth, yanking the boy back. "Let go of me!" He yelled.

"That's not gonna happen," the Unimon holding him mumbled.

"Please, we're not your enemies. We're trying to help this world!" Kari proclaimed to the Unimon ahead of her.

"Liar!" Unimon opened his mouth to grab the girl.

"Lightning Paw!"

"Gargo Laser!"

The two attacks came out of nowhere, knocking the two Unimon off of their feet.

"What's going on here?" Gargomon yelled as he landed in front of Izzy, blocking him from Unimon's grasp.

"You and your scum partners maliciously attacked General Leomon, and now we will arrest and kill you, you heartless bastards."

"We didn't attack him!" Gatomon yelled, pushing Kari closer to Izzy and Gargomon. "Leomon was attacked by Seadramon, and we pulled him back into the city so he would be safe!"

"No one believes you." Nanimon smiled as the two Unimon lifted themselves off of the ground, surrounding the four tamers/digimon. Gargomon growled: he may have landed a heavy blow with a surprise attack, but in a fair fight the Unimon would quickly overpower them.

"Gatomon?" Kari said nervously behind her partner.

"We will get out of this, Kari." Gatomon glared at the horse-like animal in front of her.

"I'd like to see you try." The Unimon laughed.

"Now grab them and take them to the prison." Nanimon commanded. The two digimon pulled their heads back to attack. Gatomon and Gargomon entered a defensive pose.

"You aren't going to be taking those four anywhere." a voice from behind them said ominously. Nanimon and the Unimon facing Izzy turned around, revealing the figure behind them to Izzy and Gargomon. Kari looked back as well, but Gatomon stood face to face with her Unimon defensively. Behind the group a few yards away stood Woodmon, and behind him Yolei. They stared evilly at the seven preparing for battle. Behind Kari, the second Unimon was stunned, and he began stumbling backwards.

"You're not trying to leave, are you?" Unimon jerked around, as well as the others who were staring at Woodmon. Garurumon and Matt were blocking the other path down the wall.

"What a surprise, evil tamers coming to the rescue of their evil friends. Who knew you cowards could be so bold."

"What are you talking about?" Yolei laughed, "They're your friends, not ours. Woodmon, take the Unimon and Nanimon out." Woodmon and Garurumon closed in on the group.

"Get them!" The Unimon sprung from their positions overlooking the digidestined and confronted Woodmon and Garurumon.

"Howling Blaster!" Garurumon's attack crashed into Unimon2's back, knocking him down. Unimon then threw himself up, stabbing Garurumon with his horn.

"Branch Drill!" Woodmon rushed at Unimon1, but the digimon widened it's jaw and grabbed the digimon's arm, stopping him.

"Gargomon," Izzy whispered to his partner, "This is our chance, grab me and Kari and let's get out of here." Gargomon silently nodded. He placed himself between Kari and Izzy, watching the two battles to make sure they weren't watching. He then wrapped his arms around the two children, hoisting them up. Gatomon silently jumped onto Gargomon's back.

"Hold on tight." Gargomon whispered. Gargomon then leaped of of the side of the wall, falling down to the earth below, away from the city and the battle brewing on the platform above. His actions were unobserved by the malicious digimon above him.

***

"It's so dark." Tai murmured. "I don't think there's a light in this place." Tai was referring to the darkness of Devimon's citadel. He, Rika, and Eric had been thrown into separate cells, far away from Agumon, Renamon, and Motimon's locations. Their digivices had been taken away as well.

"Close your eyes." Eric told the boy from another cell a few yards away. "If you keep them open and you can't find any light, it'll drive you insane."

"Is that another wonderful lesson from your military family?" Rika commented sarcastically.

"No, something a tour guide at a cave told me." Rika sighed at Eric's words. "Maybe we'll get lucky though. We could go so insane that we start to hallucinate and imagine television." Eric chuckled.

"Stop making jokes." Rika said dryly. "I don't want to hear it."

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood, Rika. It's too depressing down here, I don't want to get so depressed I go into a coma."

"Damn it, just shut up!" Rika yelled. Although she couldn't see it, Eric flinched at her outburst. "What the hell is your problem? This isn't some game or movie. You're not the goofy guy on the side who provides comic relief to keep the gang in a good mood. We're a bunch of kids who were ripped out of our lives and given this huge responsibility that we're not ready for. Lives are at stake, and all you're doing is joking around!"

"You think I don't understand what's going on here?" Eric had stood up and felt his way to his cell's bars. "You don't think that I'm scared to death that something is going to happen to me, or Motimon, one of you guys, or T.K.? I know this isn't a game, Rika, but I can't just sit here, being dreary about every thing, otherwise I'm going to go insane!"

"She's right Eric." Tai interrupted. Eric and Rika both turned in the direction the sound came from. "You're not helping anyone. We're in an almost hopeless situation. You shouldn't be acting like a damn jester. It's just not the time." Eric, shocked by Tai's decision to back Rika, backed away from the metal bars of his cell and sat back down against the wall.

"You're right, I'm sorry." Eric whispered. His soft words echoed loudly against the empty walls of the dungeon. "We're in a virtual hell, here, and I've been acting like an ass."

"It's alright." Tai assured him. "It's just your nature."

"It's not just that, Tai. I've been so damn selfish ever since I got here. I thought I was trying to help everyone else, but I think every thing I did was entirely in my own self-interest."

"That's not true. You put yourself in extremely dangerous situations to help all of us."

"No. When we were trapped on that cliff, I wanted to get away so desperately. When I attacked Stingmon, I kept telling myself that I was doing it to help you escape, but I knew and still know that I was just trying to get out of there."

"I told you." Rika said angrily.

"Rika, don't-" Tai was cut off.

"She's right Tai. I think I've put you guys in more danger acting this way. I put everyone in danger when I ran off to confront the army attacking the metropolis. I thought I was helping since I had a little bit of training, but I just got you two captured, and I almost got Kabuterimon and Gargomon killed. Motimon's in really bad shape right now because of me. I can't believe I'm so stupid!" Eric knocked the back of his head against the wall.

"Just forget about it, okay?" Rika mumbled.

***

"Devimon sir," Joe walked up to his master, who was watching a battle ensue in the training pit.

"What is it Joe?"

"An Airdramon just came in and reported that Yolei and Matt have failed their objective. The last two digidestined escaped and are somewhere on the mountain."

"No doubt making their way up here to try and save their friends."

"What do you want to do, sir?" Devimon sighed, then looked into the almost empty room below him. This area was the only room in the entire castle that was fully lighted, so Devimon could examine it properly. He watched below as Ikkakumon and Tyrannomon dealt vicious attacks on each other, training each other for future battles.

"Ikkakumon's training seems to be progressing very well, don't you think?"

"Uh, yes sir. He's doing very well."

"Do you think he deserves a break?"

"Um, if you feel that's best, sir." Devimon walked over to a panel sitting on a pole near the edge of the landing he was on, which overlooked the training pit. He pressed a button on the panel, activating the intercom.

"Ikkakumon, Tyrannomon, stop training and take a break. Tyrannomon grab a training blindfold and stand front and center." Devimon relieved the button on the panel, deactivating the PA system. Ikkakumon crawled over to the drinking fountain while Tyrannomon walked over to a large box at the edge of the arena. He pulled a large, dark, sheet out of the box which was used for sensory training. He then dragged his large body in front of Devimon, bowing to his master.

"Place it on." Tyrannomon complied.

"What are you doing, master?" Joe questioned.

"You see Joe, I don't need to waste anymore time hunting down these digidestined and wasting our efforts when they seem to get away every time. So instead of sending a force of digimon to capture them, I'm going to send one digimon who just destroys everything he sees." Devimon raised his arm, aiming it at the Tyrannomon. A series of nine black gears then formed out of Devimon's limb and flew towards the unsuspecting servant.

***

Meramon dragged his defeated comrade towards the city gate. The beaten Apemon mumbled something as they made their way back to the safety of the walls, persuading Meramon to stop and check on the digimon.

"Apemon, what is it?" Meramon leaned down to hear the digimon's quiet words.

"Why-why did they attack? Did-they do any serious damage?" Apemon's words were tired and far apart.

"No, my friend. They didn't take anything. They just attacked us for no apparent reason. We defeated as many of their soldiers as they defeated ours."

"So, it was all for nothing?" Apemon leaned back, too tired to continue speaking.

"Come on, buddy, let's get you home." Meramon continued to pull Apemon to safety, passing the countless other survivors who were dragging other victims of the attack back to the city. While pulling his comrade, he noticed that it was becoming increasingly easier.

"Apemon?" Meramon looked back at his friend, and his face dropped in horror. His legs were quickly fading away into data. "Apemon, no!" He turned around to comfort the digimon.

"It's... okay... Meramon..." Apemon slowly faded away, "I'll... I'll see you... in a few...." Apemon's data fully faded, dissipating into the air. Meramon smashed his fist into the ground in anger.

"Devimon," he growled. Meramon's anger had more than tripled due to the fact that ever since Devimon had appeared on the island, not one fallen digimon had come back as a digi-egg. Meramon had lost countless soldiers and friends due to the wrath of the dictator, and now somehow he was preventing them from returning as fresh digimon.

"Damn it."

"Meramon!" a voice snapped the ruler out of his angry trance. He lifted his head to see a Centarumon galloping towards him.

"What is it?"

"It's Leomon." Meramon's face filled with dread.

"No." he lifted himself up and sped towards the city, the Centarumon close behind. He made it to the city gate in record time to see a crowd gathered in front of the Transport Service.

"Leomon!" Meramon yelled as he pushed his way through the crowd. He made it to the center to see his friend leaning against the building, close to death.

"No, my friend, how did this happen?"

"The digi... the digi-destined..." Leomon drifted off.

"Where's the medic?" Meramon screamed to no one in particular.

"They're coming sir." Nanimon appeared behind him.

"Nanimon, go check on our tamer friends. Make sure none of them were hurt. I don't want-" Nanimon cut the ruler off.

"I'm afraid that wont be possible sir."

"Why not?" Meramon growled.

"They were the ones that did this to him."

"You lie!" Meramon twisted around and towered over the other digimon.

"I'm not sir. I have plenty of witnesses who all claim to have seen the digidestined beat our general, and then leave him by this building to die."

"I- I can't believe it. But the crest of courage-"

"It must have been false sir. He must have been using some other power to convince you to let them go."

"I can't believe this, where are they now?"

"They escaped with their allies sir. It seems the invasion was just a ploy to free them from our grasp."

"And I fell for it." Meramon shed tears of flame.

"No one blames you Meramon, any one of us would have been fooled by that false crest within the boy."

"But not you, Nanimon. You saw through them from the start. I'm sorry I didn't believe you before."

"Let's leave the past in the past, Meramon, and just focus on the future. I think we need to mount a counter attack on the citadel. A well executed one that will cause minimum casualties on our end."

"I agree. Call the war room together, we have some planning to do." Nanimon smiled evilly and turned towards the capitol building. Finally, he thought.

***

"Harpoon Torpedo!" Devimon watched as Joe's Ikkakumon efficiently defeated the countless training enemies who were entering the arena.

"Your Ikkakumon is gaining strength much faster than I anticipated, Joe. I'm very- I guess proud of you two. If you keep going like this I might just have to place a new team leader for the tamers."

"Thank you for your kind words, master." Joe bowed his head in respect, "But I don't think I'm anywhere close to Ken or Yolei's strength and wisdom."

"We shall see." Devimon smiled. The unfortunate events that had occurred over the past few days were beginning to reconcile themselves. Most of the new digidestined had been captured, the metropolis was in shambles, and soon he would have consumed enough digi-cores to ascend to Myotismon. Everything was going according to plan. While he was chuckling on the inside about his successes, a Pipismon flew in to give him some news.

"Sir, I just received word that DarkTyrannomon was dropped onto the mountain successfully. His blindfold was taken off and the Airdramon who transported him escaped safely before the digimon could attack them. Also, your lunch is ready."
"Perfect." Devimon was filled with glee. "Joe, have some guards bring the new tamers to my chamber. I need to kill them now just in case by some miracle DarkTyrannomon fails and the other tamers make it up here safely."

"Yes sir." Joe walked away, towards the door. Pipismon followed. Devimon couldn't suppress his laughter. He bellowed his happiness to the entire arena. Everything was once again going according to plan.

***

"This way." Gargomon whispered to the digidestined behind him. Gargomon led the group around a bend in the mountain that led up to the citadel. "Just a few more corners and we'll be at this huge partially flat field. It has tons of big boulder's that we'll be able to hide behind."

"Izzy, do we even have a plan for how to get the others out of that castle?" Kari whispered to the boy in front of her.

"Not yet Kari, but we will think of something. We just need to get somewhere safe from Nanimon and Devimon's forces." Gargomon pulled his arm back, indicating to the others to stop. Izzy, Kari, and Gatomon shoved themselves into the wall of the mountain, waiting for Gargomon to tell them when it was safe. He lowered his hand a few seconds later.

"An Airdramon just passed by, but we're safe now." Gargomon headed around another bend of the mountain. The others followed. They created a chain that was slowly winding around the mountain, until Gargomon stopped them again.

"This is where the field is." Gargomon slowly peered around the corner. "It looks clear, let's go." Gargomon turned the corner, walking slowly into the partially horizontal plane, leading the others. As Izzy, Kari, and Gatomon made their way onto the less exposed area of the mountain, Garogmon suddenly jerked back, trying to shove the three back onto the mountain path.

"Gargomon whats-" Izzy's eyes suddenly widened as he saw what Gargomon had tried to get them away from.

"It's too late now. He sees us." Gargomon complained.

"What is that?" asked Kari, looking at the behemoth that now towered above them.

"It's a DarkTyrannomon." Gatomon replied. The fear in her voice brought no comfort to her human partner.

***

T.K. began crying, just like he had done a thousand times over the past two days. He wasn't crying because of the darkness, nor because of the fact that he was in a prison, nor because deep down he knew what fate awaited him. He was crying for his brother. The other thoughts escaped him as he contemplated how his brother could have possibly turned evil. He was only gone for 10 minutes, T.K. kept telling himself. How could Matt have been here for an entire year when he was only gone for 10 minutes. Only 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes.

T.K. stopped crying. He suddenly realized what he had to do. His brother had been taken over by some evil force, and he had to save him. T.K. didn't know how he was going to do it, but he knew that if he found his digivice and Patamon that somehow he could defeat Devimon and save his brother. He lifted himself off of the ground and felt around in the darkness for the metal bars that separated him from freedom.

"Hey!" he yelled into the nothingness. His high pitched voice echoed loudly against the walls. "Hey Devimon! I know you're out there somewhere. Let me out of here you bully! Are you afraid of a little kid. Just let me and my brother go, we've never done anything to you, please!" T.K.'s random and loud blurts were met with a laugh from somewhere in the darkness.

"Who's there?" the young boy yelled.

"Close your eyes." the voice responded.

"Why?" T.K. asked angrily.

"Because I'm about to turn the lights on, and it'll burn your eyes if you are suddenly exposed to light after having been in darkness for so long." T.K. complied. As the lights turned on, T.K. could make out the light passing through his eyelids. He slowly opened his eyes, exposing himself to the faint light. It wasn't bright, but it was enough to make T.K. squint. As his eyes came into focus, he could make out a tall figure opening his prison door.

"Devimon wants to see you now." He walked into the cell and grabbed T.K.'s arm.

"Who are you?" T.K. growled.

"Don't worry, I'm just the jury. Devimon's the executioner."

***