A/N: Thanks Hikari no Destany, Impstar, mudkipmon, and Immortal Fallen Radiance for reviewing. :) I officially hate writing Grumblemon's dialogue more than Mercurymon's. _ It's actually kinda fun writing for Mercurymon. Also, I apologize about the kind-of-cliff hanger ending to the last chapter. That was just how it ended up because it would have turned out longer if I kept writing.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Digimon. Not now either. Nor now. Or now. You get the point, right?
A Changed Destiny
Chapter 9: Angels Fall Down
"Get back Cherubimon scum," warned a voice. "One step closer and I'll be more than glad to freeze you where you stand. I won't let you harm Master Seraphimon."
Takuya blinked, not daring to look away from the tip of the snowflake-shaped wand. He took a few steps back so he could get a better look. The owner of the threat and the staff was a humanoid Digimon dressed in a faded blue jumper with zippers on the legs and arms, a wizard hat, cape, and leather gloves and boots. He kept his staff held in front of him and an icy glare focused in their general direction.
"Cherubimon?" inquired Tommy. "We're fighting against him."
"Yeah," agreed Zoe, crossing her arms and looking insulted. "Why would Grumblemon attack us if we were their allies?"
"Grumblemon?" the wizard asked, doubt in his voice and his staff still at the ready. "The Warrior of Earth always tended to be hot-tempered so that isn't an excuse."
"Has he always been after his comrades' Spirits?" asked Koichi carefully.
JP decided to add onto it. "We were called here by some woman," he informed, holding out his D-tector. "We came here but it was nothing except loads of trees and some Deramon that can't cook noodles to save himself. This seems to be the only other place to go."
"Some woman? Ophanimon?" he questioned, taking a glance at the Warrior of Thunder. "So, you're not Cherubimon's goons."
"Of course not," Strabimon answered, frowning angrily. "If I was in cahoots with that stupid Grumblemon, we wouldn't be here making small talk. That door would have been knocked down and whatever is in there would have been ours."
The wizard didn't answer, looking as if he was trying to decide to allow them to enter or not.
Koichi took a step forwards, only to flinch when the wand was directed at him. "Look," he began after he mustered up his voice again, "you can see we're allies, right? We aren't fighting you, so that should mean we're not here to fight."
"Yeah," Takuya quickly agreed. "Maybe you could put that wand down."
The sorcerer Digimon sighed, shaking his head as he relaxed and lowered his staff. "This is what happens when you play guard for a long time. I'm sorry about this. I completely forgot my hospitality," he apologized. "Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Sorcermon, guardian of the Crystal Castle." After giving them a small bow, he turned with a flap of his cape and beckoned them to follow. "Please, come with me. I have something to show you." And with that, he disappeared into the castle.
The group looked between each other, unsure of whether to follow or not. Zoe shrugged; going off her driving, questionable instinct and curiosity, she walked in first. The others followed her soon after.
If the castle outside was grand, inside it was beautiful. Obscured light filtered through the crystals and windows, casting rainbows on the marble floor.
"Mama mia," she whispered. "This place is just…wow. It makes the castles back in Europe look like simple homes."
Tommy couldn't hold in his excitement, jumping back and forth from looking out the windows to playing with his shadow in the rainbows. JP reached for him and place a firm hand on his shoulder so Strabimon didn't decide to shout at the little boy—and Strabimon looked more than ready to, having been standing behind Tommy. The Warrior of Ice stopped and tried to keep himself occupied but the silence was boring him a bit. That, coupled with his burning curiosity, he asked, "What are you going to show us?"
"Someone you need to meet," Sorcermon simply answered. "You'll see in due time."
"Sounds like he's full of himself," Strabimon muttered.
"And look who's talking," Takuya quietly retorted.
"Oh, please don't start this now," Zoe pleaded, exasperated. Of course they had decided to return to their ordinary bickering after their arguing-free day.
Sorcermon shook his head. "You should be more worried about if it's a trap," he said, looking back at the taller Digimon, "especially in this day and age. But I assure you this is no trap, it's a prophecy."
"More with destiny?" JP sighed. "That voice said something about a 'game of destiny.'"
"Destiny is a fickle thing, mind you. I wouldn't say destiny controls a person but it can shape how one can be if they defy it or try to make it come true."
"My grandma told me everyone has a destiny," Koichi added. "Some are full of great things, though we don't know what they are."
"Things happen for a reason, one way or another," Takuya added, looking at JP. "I mean, we were all chosen and met up here with no extra people who didn't get D-tectors. We all got Spirits, even that Koji kid. None of this can be random."
"We may have been chosen for this but we can easily say no if our character allowed it," JP pointed out. "I came close to leaving."
"But you didn't," Bokomon interrupted. "And here we are, wandering the Crystal Castle. Hard to believe that Lady Ophanimon called us here."
"Lady Ophanimon?" asked Zoe.
"I'll explain soon enough," Sorcermon cut in. "We're here." Sure enough, they were. Sorcermon pushed open a set of French doors and walked in. The others followed, wide eyed. The room they entered was large and the ceiling rose high above them. Large windows allowed sunlight to fall upon a large crystal hanging ten feet above their heads. Inside of it, they could see a figure was encased in it like how flies were trapped in amber stones.
They approached it, keeping their eyes on the crystal. Zoe and Strabimon involuntarily shivered.
"Behold: Seraphimon, one of the three Celestial Angels and our salvation."
"Uh, are we supposed to know who it is?" Zoe asked, trying to keep the crushing feeling in check.
"Seraphimon is one of the three chosen to rule the Digital World. You know about Cherubimon, of course. Ophanimon was the third one but…she disappeared during the raid by Cherubimon's forces less than a year ago, most likely taken by him," the sorcerer explained gravely.
"Okay…but what exactly are we supposed to do?" asked Takuya matter-of-factly. "He doesn't seem to be that talkative."
"Awaken him?" Zoe suggested suddenly. The group looked at her.
"Any idea how to do that?" asked Koichi.
Zoe shrugged. "It's…it's just some weird feeling I have…"
"There is," Sorcermon stated. "The prophecy said that the—"
A new voice interrupted him. "Let your light shine as one," a female voice echoed gently. The humans recognized it as the voice that told them to head towards the Forest Terminal.
Sorcermon's eyes widened. "Lady Ophanimon…she has been contacting you. It's all starting to make sense now. Those wayward warriors that the prophecy was talking about were guided by a distant light…" he breathed, "they were you and Lady Ophanimon…"
"How are we supposed to get our 'light' to become one?" Tommy asked. "Are we supposed to light matches and burn them together?"
"Maybe it has something to do with our D-tectors. Wouldn't be surprised since it did all of the weird stuff on our way here," JP suggested, checking out his own. Suddenly, all the devices began ringing and glowing. The others pulled them out and a beam of light shot out from the scanner end of it.
Takuya suddenly got an idea. "Hey, guys, focus them on Seraphimon's crystal."
The five beams wandered over to the crystal-encased figure, focusing on a single point near the bottom side. The crystal began to glow and dissolve, revealing the sleeping figure of a blue and silver armored Digimon with five sets of golden wings. He floated down towards them slowly.
"The prophecy…" Sorcermon gasped.
The angel landed between the humans and the sorcerer. "Lord Seraphimon, welcome back," Sorcermon greeted eagerly, quickly bowing onto one knee.
The great angel looked over at his servant. "Sorcermon, it's good to be back," he answered. "Please rise."
Bokomon made a gasping noise, dancing in place. "I-I can't believe I'm actually meeting the Seraphimon! The ruler of justice and order in the Digital World…I-I-I…" The small Digimon looked so excited that he couldn't speak in coherent sentences.
Seraphimon looked over at Bokomon, about to ask him for silence, but the look made the gnome Digimon faint then and there. "Uh…okay then," the angel Digimon said nervously. He looked over at his servant. "Tell me, Sorcermon. I've missed a lot and everything is a blurred. Can you tell me what I missed?"
"My lord, when Cherubimon attack and struck you down, Ophanimon managed to get you to safety, leaving you here until you were healed after the crisis was over."
"Ophanimon! That's right. Is she here and safe…?" he asked, his voice full of worry.
Sorcermon looked down sorrowfully before explaining that no one knew where she was. Seraphimon nodded a little. "I see," he said dejectedly.
"But," the wizard Digimon pointed his staff at the humans, his voice full of hope as if he had just remembered about the humans. "These humans have been in contact with her. Lady Ophanimon has been guiding them here."
Seraphimon looked at them. "These humans?" he asked, almost disapprovingly. "They're children, though. What good can children do in times like these?"
"Hey, just to have you know, we've been kicking butts since we got here," JP retorted, insulted.
"They also have those what-its," Neemon added. "Erm, what were they called?"
Bokomon—who was just recovering from his fainting spell—stood up and whapped the yellow rabbit over the head with his fist. "Excuse my moronic friend. These humans are the Legendary Warriors chosen by the Spirits that haven't been captured by Cherubimon's goons," Bokomon elaborated.
"Really? That's quite a job for those of your…stature," Seraphimon said, impressed. Takuya wasn't too sure if the statement was completely a complement or an insult.
"Look," Takuya began in an irritated voice, "we've been running up and down the Digital World. We've had problems and had the snot kicked out of us, let alone fighting someone we don't even know. I've got no problem with saving people but we don't know what the heck's going on!"
"Yeah," agreed Zoe, putting her hands on her hips. "We deserve an explanation for the crap we've been through."
"If it'd be all right with you," Koichi added nervously.
For several minutes, Seraphimon looked at them, astounded. Sorcermon looked at them carefully and between his master and them quickly. The silence felt almost unbearable until Tommy dared to speak.
"Please?" he squeaked.
Seraphimon nodded. "Very well. You do deserve an explanation. Cherubimon, Ophanimon, and I ruled the Digital World with your Spirits under our watch. For a while, Cherubimon disappeared but when he came back, he came seeking the power of a single rule instead of it being divided between the three of us and so attacked the two of us, striking me down. As Sorcermon mentioned that Ophanimon sealed me away so you humans could revive me."
Sorcermon continued from where his master left off. "And in time as well," he stated, lifting his wand parallel to the ground. A holograph of a planet with holes in it like Swiss cheese appeared out of the snowflake end. "As you can see, the Digital World is in a crisis as more and more parts of it are being taken by Cherubimon."
Seraphimon looked at it grimly. "I never imagined it could have gotten so bad this quickly. We need to find Ophanimon at once."
"We'll help!" Tommy piped up.
The angel looked at them. "No," he said firmly. "You're job has been fulfilled. You may hold the Spirits but you're only children and war is no place for children. It would be best for you to get home."
Finally, it was Strabimon who spoke against it. "Didn't you hear what these kids said?" he demanded. "We've been fighting all the way to this moment and you're telling us to tuck tail and bow out quietly? I have been traveling with these kids and they may not seem like the greatest warriors but they're all too thick headed to even think about backing down."
"Well, not in so many words," Koichi added, "but Strabimon is right."
Seraphimon looked towards the dark haired human and the wolf Digimon, eyeing them curiously. "How do you have the symbol of Light yet you speak as if you're not a human yourself?" he asked.
"Because I'm not human," Strabimon replied sharply. "I'm half of the Legendary Warrior of Light. He's the holder of the Spirit." Strabimon indicated to Koichi. The boy couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride in the wolf Digimon's statement
"Really?" Seraphimon asked, his interest peaking. "How is it that the rest of you don't have partners like this boy?"
The rest of the humans looked between each other. They had been wondering that same thing for a long time but never really found an answer…or even an understandable hypothesis. "We don't know," JP replied. "It's just how it ended up."
Seraphimon studied the two for a minute. "There's something more," he spoke. "The boy…you are different from the other. The Spirits I hold are connected to me and I, holding the Spirits of Light and Wind, can tell something's off. In fact, you feel almost the opposite of the element you represent…"
"What?" Koichi asked, tilting his head to the side in bewilderment. "What does that mean exactly?"
"Well, that explains that weird feeling I keep having," Zoe interrupted. "If you're connected to the Spirits, then I must be connected to you with the weird telepathy thing."
"Most likely," Seraphimon answered, nodding towards the blonde.
"Wait, what did you mean by what you said?" Koichi spoke up, trying to get an understanding about his statement. His voice and face reflected his confusion and concern. "What's wrong with me?"
Seraphimon was about to answer but a sudden crash from behind the humans interrupted him. They quickly looked behind them to see Grumblemon standing in front of three other humanoid Digimon. Crumbs of the crystal doors were scattered before him. "There humans are!" he shouted, pointing towards them. "Grumblemon here to repay for humiliation! Grumblemon brought reinforcements this time."
The only female Digimon of the group tilted her head to the side as she eyed them and smirked. "Name's Ranamon. I'm sure you're all charmed," she stated with a heavy accent. She looked as if she was adapted for water having blue skin and light blue armor and a one-piece swimsuit.
"You're in a world of hurt now," a wooden robot Digimon said. "This'll be cake for us, righ' Mercurymon?"
"Of course, Arbormon. If these whelps we see yonder art the problem that Grumblemon hath been having, then this shalt be easy. They looketh pathetic."
"Tougher than look," Grumblemon stated rather hurtfully. "They got Beast Spirit."
"Beast Spirit or no, it shalt not matter," Mercurymon smirked at the humans. "We shalt take their Spirits and Seraphimon's Fractal Code in Cherubimon's name."
"My, my, there are so many to choose from," Ranamon giggled. "I just don't know where to start?"
"Enough of your empty taunts," Seraphimon threatened, which seemed out of character for an angel. "Tell me where Ophanimon is! NOW!"
"Like me care!" Grumblemon grunted, readying his hammer for an attack. "Me just want Spirits now!"
"Then bring it!" was the answer that Takuya gave as he stepped forwards, D-tector gripped in his hand. The others with Spirits followed and the four Spirit Evolved immediately.
Zoe backed up a few feet after the boys were done forming into their respective Hybrid forms. "If only I had my Spirit then I can show that dofus a thing or two," she muttered.
Agunimon was the first one to attack, sending a flaming punch of fire at the four opposing enemies, who easily dodged it. The other three ran into battle. Gargoylemon attacked Mercurymon and Ranamon using a small bunch of statues that he summoned but Ranamon easily flipped out of the way and Mercurymon disappeared all together. Beetlemon attempted to strike Arbormon with an electrified knuckle hammer and Kumamon launched a small batch of snowballs at Grumblemon but the two enemies easily jumped out of the way.
Ranamon smirked. "What a lesson in combat," she taunted, as if bored. "You guys might as well be fighting a bunch of shadows. Sugah, let me show you how a Warrior fights." Ranamon held her hands above her head and a dark cloud condensed over her head. "Drainin' Rain!"
The cloud floated over to its creature's enemies and all the water in the cloud fell down on the few that got trapped under it. Ranamon lazily traced her finger across the battlefield and Kumamon, Beetlemon, and Gargoylemon found themselves doing more running than fighting in order to not get stuck under the stream of water.
Arbormon and Grumblemon used the chance to attack with either a roundhouse kick or a swung hammer, sending the four into the crystal wall with enough force to leave an indent in it.
Zoe gasped. If only…she thought. W-would I have really made a difference if I even had my Spirit? She felt even more useless but she knew that she couldn't do anything but watch as the four enemy Warriors went in for the Spirits.
"I won't let you get them!" exclaimed Sorcermon, suddenly stepping forwards along with his master. The two launched attacks—ice shards for Sorcermon and small light balls for Seraphimon respectively. The light balls had missed their mark, only by an inch but it was enough to send Ranamon and Arbormon sprawling forwards. The ice shards easily stuck into Grumblemon's back. Mercurymon, however, was able to retaliate, absorbing the ice shards into one mirror and sending them out the other but instead turned black and flew faster than when they were first launched.
Sorcermon wasn't fast enough to dodge the reflected attack and ended up taking the brunt of it as it tore his clothes and pale skin as well as destroying his staff. He slumped to the ground and Seraphimon was at his side immediately, helping his comrade to his feet. The angel was then forced to become airborne in order to dodge a punch from Mercurymon.
After landing on the ground and putting the sorcerer Digimon down, he turned and faced the enemies. The two fallen regrouped with Mercurymon and Grumblemon, ready to launch a rare group attack. He formed seven glowing orbs in his hands yet again and fired them. The seven divided up and attacked all four, breaking through the attempted shields made by Ranamon, Grumblemon, and Arbormon. The attack hit three of their intended four targets. The knight Digimon absorbed it and redirected it away from him towards the young blonde.
Zoe saw it coming and ducked as quickly as she could. The attack flew right over her head and smashed into the crystal wall behind her, creating a gaping hole in the wall to the outdoors.
Seraphimon glared at Mercurymon. "You dare hurt a defenseless human?" he demanded.
"I dareth," Mercurymon replied, savagely smirking.
Agunimon, Beetlemon, Gargoylemon, and Kumamon forced themselves up and went to join the blue armor angel. "Let us help!" Agunimon demanded.
"No, you all go back to your homes and world. This is not a place for children to be!" Seraphimon answered forcefully. "I cannot fight them and keep you safe all at once."
"We won't!" Kumamon answered, voicing all of the humans' stubborn decision.
"Besides, we don't know how," Beetlemon added.
"Find a way then," Seraphimon replied. "Children should not be involved with matters of a world that is not theirs, as noble as it may seem. Leave everything to me."
"How are you certain that we can't help?" Gargoylemon asked. "You just awakened and they're our enemies too."
"Not a chance," Agunimon stated, turning his eyes away from the angel Digimon. "Koichi's right, they're our enemies too and they attacked us. You need us as much as we need you." As if to ground his point in, he and Beetlemon raced forwards, launching attacks while Gargoylemon sent in an angel statue to attack with an orange beam to allow his comrades to get a hit in.
Mercurymon easily passed them as his three comrades engaged the Flame and Thunder Warriors. Gargoylemon and Kumamon saw him coming and quickly brought together their freezing wind attacks and aimed them towards the oncoming Warrior of Steel. At the same time, Seraphimon was readying his own attack.
Mercurymon easily disappeared in order to escape the effects of the freezing wind. A few seconds later, he appeared right in front of Seraphimon just as the said angel fired off the shinning orbs, absorbing them and firing them back at point-blank range. The force of the attack and the power knocked Seraphimon off his feet and the amplified power was enough to damage him so much as to reveal his Fractal Code.
The scream of agony rippled through the air, catching the attention of all the Warriors in the vicinity. Mercurymon placed a hand on the code and it streamed into a ball in his hands. "To the victor goes the spoils," he smirked as he watched the black mass disintegrated into a small light blue egg.
Everyone had a look of astonishment on their faces. The rest of Cherubimon's Warriors were more in shock because of how easily Mercurymon had gotten the Fractal Code. Zoe and Gargoylemon suddenly felt a pang in their hearts, as if something had just died. Of course, it had to be related to Seraphimon.
"Ironic, nay?" Mercurymon asked, breaking the silence. "He darest stand in Cherubimon's way but his Fractal Code wouldth be used for his enemies."
"No," Sorcermon breathed, casting his eyes towards the floor. "Our world's last hope…Lord Seraphimon's gone…"
"It can't be over that quickly!" a feminine voice shouted. Before anyone had a chance to even know who it was, Zoe had grabbed the egg in her arms and raced towards them. "It can't be over just yet! If we have his egg, maybe he'll be born from it!"
As absurd as it sounded to the humans, it made perfect sense to the Digimon. Sorcermon snapped his head up, hope filling his eyes again. "That's right," he exclaimed.
Bokomon, standing next to him nodded. "Digimon can come back. I don't think I remember telling them this, but it is true."
"That's only if the egg isn't destroyed, sugar," Ranamon stated, stepping forwards. She manipulated the water on the floor to fly towards the human girl but Kumamon easily froze the small wave before it hit Zoe. Beetlemon and Agunimon went in to cover the retreating blonde and Gargoylemon picked her up and fell back in line with Kumamon. In minutes, they found themselves surrounded against the wall again.
"And the last problem shalt be gone," Mercurymon said, a wicked grin on his face.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Sorcermon answered with a determined voice. The next thing the human Warriors knew, a blinding light behind them blinded their opponents. "Come on!" shouted Sorcermon to the humans. They followed the voice, adjusting their eyes to the brighter light before it turned dark. Somehow, the explosion of glass had turned them into their human selves but it didn't matter. Right now, what mattered was getting away from the four evil Warriors and making sure that the egg was safe.
As they raced down the small brick hallway, they could hear the echoing boom as the wall began to collapse and pounding footsteps followed, accompanied by a shouted taunt from Grumblemon. Finally, they came to a stop in front of a glass door.
"In here. Take this Trailmon as far as it'll go." Sorcermon pressed a button and the door lifted, revealing the back of a yellow Trailmon in a glass tunnel. The group rushed in and boarded the Trailmon; Zoe, Tommy, JP, Bokomon, Neemon, and Strabimon got into the back while Koichi and Takuya stepped on the side rails and turned back to check the progress of their pursuers. They were surprised to see Sorcermon standing in the doorway, unmoving. The approaching figures of Grumblemon, Ranamon, and Arbormon could be picked out of the shadows now but he still had time to board the Trailmon.
"Sorcermon, come on!" shouted Zoe. "If you don't, they'll kill you!"
"That doesn't matter right now," the sorcerer answered, giving them a hard stare.
"What do you mean?" Takuya demanded. Was he really suicidal?
"The DigiEgg is all that matters right now. Find a way to get Seraphimon back," he stated, closing his eyes. "The Digital World is in your hands now. You're our last hope." Then, the door began to close. The last thing they saw of him was him turning around, ready to fight to his last breath. Just then, the Trailmon started to depart.
"Sorcermon!" Tommy shouted after him, ready to jump out of the Trailmon in order to help him but JP and Strabimon that kept him from doing so "Wait, we won't leave you!" Tears were forming in his eyes. A few words from Strabimon and JP made the boy give up his endeavors. Instead, he slumped down and allowed the tears to run down his cheeks. He knew full well of what would happen.
The five humans were all shaken. Zoe clutched the egg close. Was this what Seraphimon meant by that they were in the way and unneeded? Were they always need saving? Could they not save a single Digimon that helped them?
JP looked towards the now gone door where Sorcermon was now either still fighting or dead. His head soon bowed, wishing that Sorcermon at least hurt one of them before he fell.
Takuya quietly thanked him, keeping his eyes forwards in hopes that he wouldn't break into rueful tears. Don't worry, Takuya thought, remembering the spellcaster's last words. We won't fail. This may not be the destiny I thought I had but this is our job now. There's no backing out.
Koichi thought about what Seraphimon's words in hopes to keep the sudden reminder of the death of Sorcermon and lingering feelings of his late grandmother's death. "You feel almost the opposite of the element you represent…" What exactly did that mean? The boy kept his hand on the baseball cap so he wouldn't lose it in the wind as he thought about it. Did this mean he wasn't supposed to be there? If Mercurymon hadn't killed Seraphimon, what would the angel have said to justify the accusation? Koichi felt a small bit of hatred in the pit of his stomach, hatred directed at himself for not being more demanding with his question and also at Seraphimon for making the statement.
The boy shook his head. No, now wasn't the time. He quickly locked it away as the Trailmon kept going, water droplets occasionally hitting his legs. What was more important was saving the Digital World from Cherubimon-and his brother.
Chapter 9: End.
Who thought Bokomon was annoying? God, I don't care if it seems out of character for him to act that way! He was just so much fun to write, I just bent over laughing when he fainted from Seraphimon's look. It bothered me that Bokomon didn't give any reaction to one of his surviving leaders! And so, viola! Bokomon turned fangirl…er, fanboy. XD Looking over the episode, I caught some SeraphiOphani hint. Well, I think the CherubiOphaniSeraphi triangle is kind of cute, if you remember the comment Zoe made in the episode where they go to save Ophanimon.
As for Gargoylemon's attack Black Statue, there are two shown effects. One is the Angemon statue that can attack (as given by Wikimon) and the other is just summoning and throwing statues at the opponent (as shown by Xros Wars). I'm going to use both attacks overall but the latter will take up the English name of Black Statue's name, Statue Bomber.
Um...I'm not too sure what to add. ^^; Well, I have a new homepage if anyone's interested. XD That's about it. Hope you enjoyed.