Female Marauder: Fun fact: Toshiro Hitsugaya, Ryo Akiyama and Koji Minamoto of Frontier share a English voice actor in Steve Staley. I didn't even realize this until I was writing chapter 10.
Minwolf: Ken is somewhat petty. In the second episode it's clear that he went after Davis probably because he felt somewhat humiliated as well as intrigued. He could have attached a ring to Veemon at any moment, but waited until Davis was awake so he could witness it, and he then dragged it out. Ken wanted to gloat over a defeated adversary because he believes himself ultimately above all humans. This time he sees TK as his worthy opponent, but isn't certain about his superiority...
digisammiegirl: TK alerted Ken that he was aware of his watching them. That made him think it would be more fun to play.
Quathis: Heh. Who says the fame is unwanted...
Force 'Hog: It's always a pleasure to learn SCP inspired someone to delve further into the fandom.
Thanks for reviewing! Now onto the chapter.
Second Coming: Providence
Chapter 10: Call of Duty II
The D-Arcs lead them west, near Shinjuku station. A digital field, larger than any they had seen, blanketed several blocks. Tiny bolts of electricity raced upon the outskirts of the fog. Takuya with his goggles, and Toshiro and Henry with shades, ran to the center of the field, a busy intersection. Kenta followed behind them. All the cars had stopped, as even the traffic lights were not visible; they appeared to be shorted out by the electric storm anyhow.
Takuya arrived first, ripping away his goggles to get a look at the Digimon awaiting them. "Holy crap!"
Perched upon a street lamp was an immense bird stretching a daunting wingspan. Its form bled static seemingly at random. The design of lightning bolts littered the blue plumage, streaking from the zigzagging tail to the tips of its jagged wings.
Henry looked at his Digivice as Terriermon eyeballed the bird from his shoulder.
Thunderbirmon
Level: Champion
Attribute: Data
Type: Giant Bird
Attacks: Thunderstorm, Spark Wing
It summons thunderclouds with a boisterous roar like thunder, and has the ability to control lightning with the horn on its forehead.
Coronamon bounced on the balls of his feet. "This one looks like a challenge. The lightning theme is a little overdone, but still."
"Which of us shall vanquish him?" SnowAgumon asked, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to load its data.
"This is a crowded area so we should take care of things quickly," Toshiro said. "There's no telling how much damage he could do to the city's power grids. Besides that, he doesn't look like he'll be easy to take down." SnowAgumon nodded and stepped forth, Coronamon not far behind.
Kenta looked from his hiding place. He'd gotten pretty good at finding places to conceal himself and still have a good view. He looked at Guilmon, who stood near him, mouth trembling from his growling. "Aren't you going to fight too?" It certainly appeared to be what the red Rookie wanted.
"Takatomon would want me to protect his friend. They can handle it."
"What if they can't," Kenta asked himself quietly. Takato had always been present, and this one seemed stronger than the others. He began thinking maybe Kazu made the right decision in staying behind. At least he wasn't in the way.
"Did you a hear that, Henry? He said we should work together!"
"I told you, I don't want you to fight," Henry told his partner tiredly. And he had meant it. The only thing that brought him here was curiosity as to how these Tamers operated. Terriermon puffed childishly.
Thunderbirmon broke away from his roost, looming over the presented Digimon like a fierce and displeased god judging its subjects. Electricity began dancing wildly around its feathers. "Thunderstorm!" The Champion flashed its wings, siring a rage of lightning above their heads. Spears of voltage streamed down with deadly intent.
It was too fast for the Rookies to dodge; both received vicious shocks, their bodies swarmed by uncontrollable spasms. Coronamon received the worst of it, wearing metallic ornaments. Screams of pain emanated from the shocked Digimon.
Terriermon felt his hackles rise as he prepared to intervene. One of his ears, curse their longness, was grabbed, holding him back. "Hen-ry! I should be helping them!"
"They'll be fine. I'm sure their Tamers know what's best for them to do." Though he said that, it was difficult to stand those pained howls.
"Oh, that's real subtle."
They endured admirably, refusing to fall from the attack. Coronamon shakily lifted his hands to the flaming crown. "Corona Flame!" A lob of concentrated fire shot from his head. The giant bird type swiftly evaded, its jagged wings cutting air. "Dammit! I can't get him like this, he's too quick!" Coronamon said, twitching.
"A problem easily remedied. White Hail!" SnowAgumon coughed up three orbs of frozen energy. Thunderbirmon dodged them as well, as intended. The orbs crystalized in the air, releasing a shower of sharp icicles that pelted Thunderbirmon.
"Execute! Kumamon Activate!"
"Crystal Breeze!" The white reptile blew a cold wind that covered Thunderbirmon's wings with a sheet of ice.
"Nice. Corona Flame!" Coronamon expelled another burst of fire from his crown. The lightning bird seemed to dive into the fire willingly. Thunderbirmon screeched fearsomely as it flew smoldering from the resulting explosion of vapor, looking worse for the wear but far from beaten.
The giant bird began flapping its wings again. Takuya was ready for it. "Execute! Raidramon Activate!"
"Thunderstorm!"
Coronamon raised his arm as his own lightning crackled in hand, drawing most of the remaining stiffness from his body. "Blue Thunder!" Two blasts collided in a shining war. The lion's was clearly weaker, but it defended him and SnowAgumon from the dangers of being electrocuted.
This didn't last, as Thunderbirmon launched another, mightier Thunderstorm. With barely the time to summon any lightning to counter, Coronamon was struck full force, launched backward. The mane on his chest stood up as if ready to walk from his body.
"Henry! Come on!" the dog-bunny cried, trying to shake off a firm grip on his ear.
The pacifistic boy shook his head, unable to keep his eyes from the electricity venting from the downed Rookie. "No. We're not going to fight."
"Why not?" Terriermon demanded.
"Because this isn't the net! You don't have to fight. Try staying neutral."
"Well there's being neutral and then there's being indifferent, Henry!"
SnowAgumon snarled. "Frozen Wind!" Thunderbirmon dipped down to avoid the frosty gale, its lightning shaped talons scraping the pavement. The great bird hugged its shadow, flying low at the reptile, its horn glossed with lightning. "Frozen Wind!" Wings tucking in, Thunderbirmon dodged the second attack, which continued on to freeze the grill of a parked car. The Champion slashed SnowAgumon across the chest without slowing. The Rookie fell with a strangled gasp, no better off than Coronamon.
"Oh crap, I told you we should have waited for Takato!" Takuya said, fumbling with cards.
"Shut up and think of something!" the winter warrior snapped.
"Looks like we can't hold back against this one. Time to Digivolve!"
Toshiro got the needed card. "Got it!"
"Execute! Digivolution Activate!" They waited for the Digimon to reach their Champion levels, but there were no signs of evolution. "What's wrong with them? Why won't they Digivolve?"
Toshiro's turquoise eyes scanned the inactive Rookies. "I think the lightning from Thunderbirmon's attack is interfering," Toshiro said. "Shit, what are we gonna do?"
Henry froze at his partner's remark. He let go and Terriermon turned to face him with pleading eyes. Was he being apathetic? He looked over at Takuya and Toshiro, the stress of battle weighing on their faces. They were worried about their partners making it through the battle, precisely a fear he avoided by not letting Terriermon fight. Could he stand by on the sidelines as their Digimon were destroyed? He was convinced violence wasn't the answer, that it only degraded all parties involved no matter who the victor was, but he didn't see any choice between that or doing nothing. Why didn't they just stop?
"It's okay," someone next to him said. Henry was startled, and when startled, he slid into a stance. The person was wearing red and black goggles staring at the conflict, arms crossed. "Henry," he said, starting the other boy, "it is not a sin to fight for the right cause. When it comes to protecting what's close to our hearts, there is no greater purpose in battle. That is why we must fight."
Henry relaxed, at least in body. "But Digimon can do more than kill each other!" he proclaimed.
Takato nodded. "Yeah. That's why I envision a world where there are no longer Digimon who see more than survival of the fittest. Every one of them will know there is life beyond the cycle of destruction. However, until we reach that age of enlightenment, the fact remains that there are people who need to be protected, and only we Tamers are fit for the task."
"To protect," the half-Chinese boy said. "Is that the reason we met?" Henry asked, looking down at the cheerful Terriermon. "To do something only a Tamer and his Digimon partner can do together?"
"I can't answer that for you, nor can anyone else. No matter how crucial, fighting is more than a necessity: it's a choice." Takato raised his goggles, staring at Henry with red eyes. "My choice is to fight. What's yours?"
Thunderbirmon circled like a vulture. The Rookies were paralyzed, unable to do anything against the giant bird as it moved into position to strike them dead. Static climbed over Thunderbirmon's feathered appendages as they swished. "Spark Wing!" Countless electrified feathers streamed from the tips of its wings.
"Coronamon!"
"Hyorinmaru!"
"Digi-Modify! WarGreymon's Brave Shield Activate!"
Terriermon abruptly joined the fray holding a golden hexagon in front of the immobilized Digimon; charged feathers bounced harmlessly off the shield like droplets of rain off an umbrella. The dog-bunny peaked at the Champion, grinning madly. "De-nied!"
Taking in the scene, Takuya breathed a sigh of relief. "That was close, huh?"
"Yeah," Toshiro said. The heir searched out the Tamer who had come through for them, surprised to see Takato standing next to him. "That bastard," he growled, "he's already here."
"What, seriously?" Takuya asked. "Man this is embarrassing. Hey, I think Coronamon and SnowAgumon are waking up!" Takuya said as the two Digimon began to stir. "Let's try again while we have the chance." Toshiro nodded.
"Execute! Digivolution Activate!"
"Coronamon Digivolved to... Firamon!"
"SnowAgumon Digivolved to... Seadramon!"
The winged lion shook himself as if shedding water. "That's better." He smiled down at Terriermon, looking ready to gobble him up. "Thanks for the help, Terriermon."
"We are in your debt, but this battle is ours."
"Aw, you guys still get the fun part," the dog-bunny said, letting his shield deteriorate.
"Water Breath!" Seadramon used his body as a large hose, spraying water over Thunderbirmon. The giant bird short-circuited, treating the Tamers to a high-pitched crow. Barely able to stay airborne, Thunderbirmon swayed like a kite as Firamon took to the sky after him.
"Execute! JagerLowemon Activate!
"Dark... Master!" A dark lion shaped aura projected around Firamon, its open mouth clamping down on the fowl. Thunderbirmon released another screech before falling to the ground, twitching. Firamon landed and doubled back, closing in on the weakened Digimon; one of his treading paws ignited to deliver the finishing blow.
Firamon's winged shoulders carried him skyward before he arched down. "Fira Claw!" His blue eyes widened and the vaccine type was forced to abandon its pounce. The blaze around his paw died out as he cut back with the other Digimon.
"What's wrong, buddy? You had him!" Firamon's Tamer said. He peered at downed Thunderbirmon and noticed the human figure standing almost on top of it. "What the fuck is he doing?" Takuya asked in outrage.
Toshiro narrowed his eyes. "That's what I'd like to know."
Kazu Shioda stood next to the thrashed Thunderbirmon, looking down on the creature with an almost renounced expression.
"Move it, Kazu, it's dangerous to be that close to a live Digimon!"
The visor wearing boy resentfully glared at Takato with intensity, leaving the Gogglehead overcome with astonishment. Kazu reached inside his pocket and tore out his card reader along with a single card. His gaze turned back to the giant bird, losing none of its strength. "You don't want to die here, do you? Do you!" he asked fanatically.
Thunderbirmon regarded him with weary eyes. "No," the Champion croaked.
"Then become my Digimon!" Kazu ordered. "I am your Tamer!" A brilliant gleam enveloped the card he held. He wasted no time in slashing it through his card reader. A series of numbers ran through the scanning device's screen before it illuminated, transforming to shape the palm of Kazu's hand. The D-Arc had a blue body and yellow buttons.
Kazu pointed the device at his new partner. A ray of light shone over the Digimon, healing all its wounds. Rejuvenated, Thunderbirmon stood and stretched its wings to their full height. The Champion locked eyes with Kazu. "Tamer..."
Takato stared. "What the hell just happened?"
(Digimon)
The Digidestined were walking through the dense and humid jungle. Tai was leading, with Davis and Veemon in the rear, and everyone else between the Goggleheads. The tangled growth blocked much of the sky, so they didn't fear a strike from the Airdramon. That didn't stop some heads from tilting up on occasion.
Cody was walking silently, his heart finally feeling like it may not burst from his chest. He worried about Huey and TK, and could tell he wasn't the only one. Just thinking about all the excitement from earlier sent tremors through his body. Cody belatedly recognized Kuwagamon as the same Digimon that had almost crashed the plane he was on four years prior. He relayed this to Izzy.
The computer whiz nodded. "Yes, now that you mention it I do seem to recall Kuwagamon crystalizing the wing of an airplane. It's a good thing Biyomon was able to stop it from crashing."
Biyomon flapped her arms excitedly, almost taking off from the ground "Oh! Biyomon remembers that! I even had to Digivolve. Those were good times."
Cody looked at Biyomon, then at Tentomon, his mind began putting two and two together. "Wait, I remember seeing a giant bird and another really big bug. Could it be that you two are..?"
"Yep, that was us," Tentomon confirmed. "No autographs please. And I prefer the term 'insectoid.'"
"I know this is long overdue... On behalf of my family, thank you for saving us." Cody bowed to them. "Without you I would not have had the chance to be here today."
"Oh it was nothing. Really, Biyomon did all the work. At least I was able to hit Kuwagamon today, haza!"
"I wonder," Izzy muttered to himself, tapping his chin. "Davis, how about you?" he suddenly asked the Gogglehead behind him.
"Huh, wha'zat?" Davis sputtered, shaken from his own surveillance of the area.
"Where were you four years ago when the Digimon invaded our world?" Izzy asked.
Davis blinked as the gears in his head began to churn audibly. "Uh, back then my family and I were being held at the convention center."
"So you were one of the kids Myotismon brought in when he was looking for Kari," Gatomon said. The feline honestly did not recall if she had seen him back then. She'd had bigger worries than distinguishing every brat shoved into her face.
"Anyone else starting to see a pattern?" Izzy asked the others.
"You're thinking each of the new kids has a previous connection to the Digimon," Tai said.
"Exactly. I can't know for certain unless I get a chance to ask Yolei. For the moment, though, I believe my hypothesis very likely."
"But surely there were other kids who have had contact with Digimon. Does that mean there could be even more Digidestined we don't know?" Cody asked.
"An excellent question, my young protege. One that only time will answer."
The green eyed boy frowned deeply in thought. "It's seems like every answer only brings new questions to mind."
"That's because you have a mind for learning," Izzy said with approval. "With patience and persistent, we can all find the answers together."
Cody nodded, his frown upturning. "That sounds good."
A green blur soundlessly dropped from the canopy, slipping into the middle of the group without warning. Before any incidents of friendly fire could occur, they all recognized it was TK.
"Don't sneak up on your friends like that, you jerk!" Davis bellowed, eyes wide. Normally Kari would have admonished him for that, but she was in total agreement on this one.
TK blinked underneath his shades. "Sorry. I'm just used to sneaking around." He looked over his shoulder at the embarrassed Huey. "Are you good to walk now?"
"Yeah," the afro-child mumbled. The look in his eyes was caustic. Huey felt quite foolish for being lured into the Emperor's trap. TK bent at the knees, allowing Huey to the dignity of his feet. The young boy steadied himself. He hardly felt like throwing up at all. A vast improvement.
Tai nodded, looking them over. "The both of you alright? Where's Patamon and Dorumon?" A rustling behind the group caught its attention.
Gatomon looked back, finding Patamon nose to nose with her. She shrieked in surprise, giving Patamon a good laugh. "You toad! You worm! You did that on purpose!"
"I'm certain I don't know what you mean," Patamon said with a smile stretching his wingspan.
Dorumon stalked over to his partner, nuzzling against his hand. Huey gave him the attention he sought, fingers brushing against the red jewel embedded in his forehead. "We'll do better next time," Huey assured. His Digivice began beeping incessantly; Davis and Cody's were as well. With his free hand Huey checked the Digivice. "It's reacting to something in the area."
"Ours aren't doing anything," Kari noted. Tai and Izzy looked at their equally unresponsive Digivices. Lately they seemed to do little else than bring them to the Digital World and showcase their obsolescence in the face of new challenges.
"Do you think it could be more Digieggs?" Davis asked aloud to no one in particular.
Tentomon and Biyomon shared a glance. "Well, there is that vacant temple nearby," Tentomon mentioned offhandedly.
"The Digivices could be detecting something from inside there," Biyomon said.
"Only one way to find out," Tai said. "Which direction is the temple?"
"Northeast," Tentomon answered.
Huey nodded. "That's the direction my Digivice is indicating."
"Mine as well," Cody said.
Davis blinked as everyone stared at him for final confirmation. "Heh, west is left, right?"
Following a brief explanation on navigation, the group made its way to a temple nestled into the heart of the jungle. Greenery surrounded it on all sides, yet the immediate area around the building was virtually untouched by plants or time. The massive stone construct was reminiscent of a Mayan pyramid, successive layers of smaller rectangles piled onto one another, crested by a relatively small temple. It reminded Patamon a little too much of Spiral Mountain.
They began climbing the seemingly numberless stone steps built into the pyramid, excluding Tentomon who opted to fly. The sun was much more far gone before the Digidestined reached the top. They crossed the temple's interior. Despite being modeled after an ancient civilization, electricity seemed to have a hand lighting the inside.
After passing a stretch of damp hallways, one last staircase was before them. Atop these stairs were two pedestals, each holding up a Digiegg, one with the Crest of Knowledge, the other with the Crest of Love. The Digidestined and their partners situated themselves in the midst of four stone columns bordering the mystical artifacts.
"Alright, we got some excellent cardio and we found two Digieggs. Give it a try, Izzy," Tai said.
The computer whiz approached the yellow, purple marked antiquity. He reached out, fingers almost brushing against it. Before making contact Izzy pulled back, shaking his head. "No, there's no need for me to."
TK blinked. What?
"What do you mean 'there's no need?'" Tai asked, confused. "Someone's got to lift that Digiegg."
"Yes, but not me. It isn't my place. There are new Chosen Children who have been selected to wield these Digieggs. That's why I'm able to confidently leave things in the hands of my successor," Izzy said, looking intently at Cody.
"Me?" the green eyed boy asked in a stupor.
Izzy nodded. "You've got what it takes to move this Digiegg: a mind for learning. It's yours, Cody. Go ahead and pick it up."
"Well if you think I should..." Cody neared the stone foundation that was almost as tall as he was. He reached forward and plucked the Digiegg of Knowledge from its long-standing resting place.
Tai's eyes widened. "Just like with Davis and Huey." He checked the other, untouched, Digiegg. "Then this one must be for Yolei."
"Most likely," Izzy concurred.
"Welcome to the poachers club, Cody!"
Cody looked at the object that fit well in his hands. A purple ray jumped from the egg, and TK's D-Ultima gobbled it up. A light identical in the color spectrum sprang from the emptied pedestal.
Tai squinted. He swore someone decided to test Digidestined by enduring seizure inducing light shows.
The heavyset form of a sleeping Digimon came into being. The top of its yellow body was encased in a thick shell segmented into square plates. There were red markings on his forehead, including a diamond-shaped blot, much like Dorumon. His eyes, green like the one who freed him, opened as he leapt from the fading light.
The Digimon yawned, claws politely covering its mouth. "That was a good nap. Howdy, I'm Armadillomon. Thanks for waking me up, partner," he said to Cody.
"Partner?" Cody said, amazed.
"Yep, you got the Digiegg of Knowledge, that means we're partners."
Cody smiled and nodded. "Ah. I'm Cody Hida, pleased to meet you."
Kari, who had been fiddling with her D-Terminal, said, "Hey, everyone! Sora made it to the Digital World, and she brought Yolei with her!" From the corner of her eye, she noticed TK discreetly heave a sigh of relief. Biyomon was especially ecstatic.
"I knew she could do it," Tai said proudly. He wondered why she didn't tell him directly. Was she being passive-aggressive? "Do you know how far out they are?"
"She says they'll be here in about fifteen minutes. I don't really like them being on their own." Kari glanced at TK and bit her lip. "Maybe someone should-" The temple rattled violently, causing Kari and Davis, standing close to the steps, to stumble. TK steadied them both with a hand on each of their backs.
"What was that?" Davis asked angrily.
"I think the Emperor just found us," TK said. "Form a line down the steps and hold onto each other's shoulders." Single file the humans walked down the steps, TK at the front.
Tentomon and Biyomon flew. Gatomon nimbly crept down the steps. Patamon grabbed hold of Veemon and Dorumon before looking back at his former DNA partner. "You need a hand?"
"Naw, I got it. Diamond Shell!" Armadillomon curled up into his hard shell and rolled of the platform, meeting the Digidestined at the bottom of the staircase. Patamon soared down with his two friends in tow, reaching the ground almost instantly. A tremor caught Gatomon as she reached the bottom, sending the feline crashing into him for the second time that day.
"I thought that cats were always suppose to land on their feet."
"Oh shut up."
They carefully made their way out of the inner sanctum, with the steady crackling of explosions echoing loudly. After reaching the top of the outermost stairway, a familiar squadron of Airdramon pass overhead. Shortly after the zephyr serpents exited line of sight, the temple shook again.
"He's bombing the place!" Davis cried. He then noticed Jurassic creatures with Dark Ring collars setting fire to the trees surrounding them. "And he's burning down the forest! That sick prick!"
Izzy urgently said, "We have to get out of here before this place comes down around our ears!"
"No! The other Digiegg is still in there! If the temple collapses now who knows if we'll get another chance to recover it," Tai protested.
"Going down with the ship doesn't stop it from sinking, Tai!"
Tai growled. "There has to be something we can do!"
"If Yolei was here..."
"I can get her." The Children of Courage and Knowledge looked at TK, who volunteered. "I can bring Yolei here quicker than anyone. Everyone whose able should stop those Digimon from tearing the temple apart. The rest of you should retreat."
"Power Guillotine!" No sooner had TK spoken then Kuwagamon seemed to arrive out of nowhere, slamming his mandibles against the stone steps, creating an intimidatingly wide gap between useable footholds. He stared at them menacingly, as if daring them to make a move.
"That's inconvenient," Huey intoned dully.
Davis grit his teeth. "I was getting tired of running anyway. Let's stand our ground and fight!"
Cody's eyes widened. He looked down at Armadillomon doubtfully. "Fight? But how do we..?"
"The magic words are 'Digi-Armor Energize,'" Armadillomon said. "If you say that, I'll be able to Armor Digivolve."
"Are you sure you want to?" Cody asked. He looked reluctant.
The mammal type nodded. "I'm ready to fight, Cody. Just lend me your strength."
"I'll do my best." Cody took a deep breath, clearing his mind. "Digi-Armor Energize!" A violet light bathed his new partner.
"Armadillomon Armor Digivolved to..."
The Rookie was incased in layers of earth molded into an insectoid shape after his predecessor: four arms, and strong wings under a thick exoskeleton. From the mineral cocoon burst five steel drills, two attached to each upper arm and one acting as the Digimon's nose. The Crest of Knowledge adorned his back, emphasized by the yellow of its hide.
"...Digmon: The Drill of Power!"
Davis and Huey followed suit, shouting, "Digi-Armor Energize!"
"Veemon Armor Digivolved to..."
"Dorumon Armor Digivolved to..."
"...Flamedramon: The Fire of Courage!"
"...Raptordramon: The Grin of Darkness!"
"Well, TK," Patamon said, "everybody's doing it."
TK nodded. The Crest of Knowledge burned the D-Ultima. "Digi-Armor Energize!"
"Patamon Armor Digivolved to..."
His ears transformed into leafy antenna, eyes becoming compounded and red like a housefly's. Four gloved arms sprouted from his thorax, two legs from the abdomen. Where a wasp would have a stinger, there was a fully functional rotating gatling gun. The Crest of Knowledge flagged his wingspan, etched in brown.
"...Mothmon!"
"Everyone else with me!" TK unsheathed the golden blade of his D-Ultima and slashed open a portal.
"W-what is that?" Kari asked, staring eyes wide at the tear he'd created.
"Something that will get us off the collapsing pyramid and safely to the ground. Trust me," he added, not wanting to waste time arguing or explaining.
Kari nodded as she bravely jumping through the golden riff, Gatomon following after her. Izzy reluctantly did so as well, wishing he'd more time to study the anomaly; Tentomon went after him. Tai directed Biyomon in next. He looked to Davis, Huey and Cody. "Move it you three!"
Cody looked at Digmon unsurely, thinking he was abandoning him. Digmon, picking up on this, merely nodded. "It's okay Cody, go. I'll take care of this." The boy slowly nodded before stepping into the dimensional gateway.
Digmon turned his eyes to Kuwagamon. "I think you could stand to learn a little appreciation for architecture. Gold Rush!" He fired his drills like missiles into Kuwagamon, propelling him down the long flight of stairs and introducing him to dirt. The drills returned to Digmon as if magnetic attraction was at hand; it was a good thing, too, because he wasn't finished.
"Rock Cracking!" Digmon rammed his drills all at once into the stone steps. An avalanche of rocks tumbled down, burying Kuwagamon. "Now you just sit there and think about what you've done."
"Meet you at the bottom, Flamedramon," Davis said.
"Right! Fire Rocket!" The blue lizard hurled himself, streaking through the air, tackling one the creatures setting the forest ablaze. The dinosaur type retaliated with a powerful claw. Flamedramon rebounded off a tree. "This one is going to be tough."
Huey stared at the portal, his stomach lurching. He decided on the lesser of two evils. "I'll take my chances with Raptordramon," Huey said, hopping up onto his partner's neck.
"Distract those Airdramon and be careful about it. Mothmon, take care of the Tyrannomon before we're smoked out," TK said. He hated leaving them to fend for themselves, but the threat of a forest fire was more immediate. And Mothmon's aim wasn't equal to his enthusiasm...
Huey nodded before Raptordramon took flight with vigor. Mothmon fluttered into the air, giggling in anticipation. The blond motioned for Tai to go into the portal before following him in.
At the base of the pyramid, TK landed on his feet, which was more than could be said of the others. Each of them looked faintly ill, sprawled out on the grass. Even the Digimon looked wobbly.
Kari groaned, recovering. "Note to self: the next time anyone opens a glowing hole in the air and tells you to jump in, don't." Gatomon helped her to her feet.
"What's wrong with you guys?" TK asked, hefting Cody from the ground. The young boy dizzily tried to hold himself up, all of his kendo footwork abandoning him.
"Nausea... Is this a common side effect of traveling through the gateways your Digivice creates?"
"Oh give it a break before I puke on your uniform."
"I find myself wishing I had just flown."
Biyomon nodded. "You said it."
TK frowned. He didn't remember having this problem with the Virus Busters. Had he cut the portal improperly, or not widely enough? This was at least his intended destination... He didn't have time to think about it. "Are you guys going to be alright while I pick up Yolei and Sora?"
Tai suddenly gathered the will to jump to his feet. "We'll be fine! Just get Yolei here so she can get that Digiegg before the temple collapses! But, uh, you might want to warn them about that portal thing first."
"Oh no! I didn't get the chance to explain we were under attack," Kari said. "Should I send them a message?"
"Don't bother, I'd be there before it was sent." TK slashed a portal behind him with an almost lazy reach, falling back into it.
Davis snorted. "Show off."
Gatomon's eyes picked up Flamedramon having difficulties with the same Tyrannomon. "I think I'll keep myself busy." She scampered over to help out. "Lightning Paw!"
"Pop quiz!" Mothmon proclaimed with excitement as his wings carried him to the south side of the pyramid. "How many rounds of ammo do I have to go through before you're all lying on the ground?" he asked cheerfully. The Tyrannomon snarled at him. "Wrong! The correct response is: this much! Morphon Gatling!"
With unabashed laughter, Mothmon unleashed a hail of gunfire on each of the four Tyrannomon, pelting them mercilessly with slugs made from his scales. The Dark Rings were demolished under the barrage. The Tyrannomon fell as puppets with their strings. Mothmon was disappointed; he wanted to blast more stuff.
His red eyes looked up at the Airdramon. Using his gun was too risky, as he could end up shooting Huey. He had other means of attack, not as effective, and certainly not as fun, but it could take out one Champion.
Mothmon stealthily climbed in altitude, seeking out one of the mythical beasts on the outskirts of the combat box. Maneuvering around a pair of large tattered wings, Mothmon latched onto a mane of fiery hair with all four arms. "Energy Siphon!" His victim's body glowed purple as he absorbed the stamina from him.
The Airdramon broke formation and thrashed in an attempt to throw off the parasitic attack. Mothmon gave a hard yank on the hair in his grasp; Airdramon reacted not unlike a trained elephant. Mothmon pulled a few more times, getting a feel for how the air serpent responded. The bug grinned as he imagined how to take down more than one of them. "Airdramon Slice!" Mothmon steered the holy beast into the flank of his squadron and released him; he collided bodily with two others in a knotty mess of blue scales. The manufactured hydra Mothmon created crashed the ground, leaving three enemies airborne.
Mothmon smiled. That had been a lot more fun than he anticipated. The data type dared to try his hand again when he felt a twitch in his Digicore; he clutched his thorax in surprise. "Uh oh. I think I absorbed too much energy..." He retreated to the ground, wishing Huey and Raptordramon luck. They should be getting support soon, anyhow.
(Digimon)
A golden rift appeared in the dense woodland before a startled Sora and Yolei, and out stepped a boy in green. "TK! How did you-"
"We don't have much time; the temple is under attack and could give way any moment," he said urgently, his eyes sweeping over them. Yolei was in her Digital World gear, as he expected. "If we're going to recover the Digiegg it has to be now."
The redhead blinked and nodded before turning to Yolei. "Ready? Here comes the scary part."
Yolei tore her perplexed stare from TK. "I've gone this far, I'm not running now."
TK nodded, happy to hear it. He cut another portal. "This will take us there. Oh, and... you should brace yourselves." They all entered the portal, arriving at the base of the pyramid where the others were. The two girls swayed on their feet, but didn't seem to have it as badly as the others. This baffled TK.
Sora had a slight migraine and her ears were ringing, bit she still caught the distinctive sound of her name being called by her Digimon partner. Biyomon flew into her arms, and Sora was amazed that she stayed on her feet.
"Biyomon, it's good to see you again."
"I missed Sora so much!" The pink bird cooed, nuzzling her beak against the uniform.
When her head cleared, Yolei took in the chaos surrounding her. Fires were burning the trees, a small cat and a blue lizard were fighting a tyrannosaurus, and she thought she heard what might be the sound of gunfire crackling in the background. In the sky were a legion of winged snakes dogfighting a back bird Huey was riding, and bombing the severely damaged pyramid that towered over everything in the area.
The youngest of the Inoue family gulped. "So the egg is up there?" she asked, some nervousness creeping into her voice.
"Don't worry, we can make it if we're quick about it," TK said.
Yolei nodded. She looked to the reunited pair. "Sora, you should probably wait out here while we go inside," she suggested.
Sora squeezed Biyomon in her shock. "Not happening! I'm the one that convinced you to come to the Digital World. I'm not going to abandon you during the most dangerous moment!"
Yolei smiled. "Thanks, Sora. That really means a lot, because my knees won't stop shaking."
"If Sora's going, I'm going to!" Biyomon said.
"TK." The blond looked over and locked eyes with Tai. "Make sure they get out safely." TK nodded seriously.
"Both of you, come over here, it's time to go," TK said. When they were standing on either side of him, TK wrapped an arm around each of them.
"Hey, what the!" Yolei's face illuminated.
"Hang on tight," he instructed. TK jumped, high, putting maximum pressure on his legs so there was little recoil for the girls. Yolei shrieked and clutched him tightly enough he was certain it would have strangled a normal human. Sora seemed to take it well, though she did grab at her skirt with her free hand. They lost momentum just near the top, landing safely at the apex of his jump.
He released Sora and Yolei once certain of their steadiness. Biyomon landed next them. "Wow, TK, I didn't know humans could jump like that!"
"Neither did I," Yolei grumbled as she recaptured her breath. She shot him a faintly accusatory look.
"The Digiegg is this way, right? Let's hurry," Sora said, grabbing Yolei's gloved hand and running down the corridor. TK and Biyomon followed. The Airdramon attacked less frequently than before, probably Huey's doing, but the temple was collapsing under its own weight; the building shook constantly as a reminder of its growing fragility.
They were closing in on the inner sanctum when the temple gave a particularly apocalyptic shrug, causing the girls to trip. TK couldn't tell if one dragged down the other as both girls went down. A large chunk of the ceiling broke off above their heads. Sora screamed and Yolei covered her helmet with her hands in the brace position.
"Sora!"
Biyomon's shriek was the last thing they heard.
(Digimon)
Huey noticed the air battle had fallen into something of a routine. The Airdramon would begin the cycle by bombarding the temple. Raptordramon would attack and dog them off. The Airdramon regrouped and attacked Raptordramon, who would be forced to dodge a variety of attacks for his own sake and that of his partner. The Airdramon would give chase, ultimately returning to attack the Digiegg's haven. Then the cycle repeated.
This frustrated Huey, because he knew that while they delayed the demolition, the Airdramon were still succeeding, slowly but surely. Even when Mothmon had taken out three of them, that left three more to the deed.
Apparently the Digimon Emperor noticed the pattern too. When Raptordramon moved to intercept them, the skull faced Champions split in four different directions. The cyborg Digimon watched confused, not knowing which to go after; neither did Huey.
The Airdramon regrouped high above them and plunged toward the temple. Their bodies, coordinated, entwined, forming a blue helix. Each of them gathered flames around their mouths that blended together until they formed a burning twister.
"God Tornado!" With no hope of stopping it, Raptordramon was forced to dodge. The meteoric fireball struck the battered roof with a deafening thunder that made Huey cringe.
"Aw, shit."
(Digimon)
A dead quiet air dominated. No force dared to break the grip of its silence.
She hadn't felt a thing, which made it a much less painful death than feared. And even knowing that her life was over, she somehow wasn't disappointed with her choice to venture into the Digital World. Yolei wished she could have seen more of it. She wondered if Sora made it out. She almost laughed. All that... for an egg.
"Ridiculous," she said, and her voice reverberated. That was what happened when you were a spirit. She heard a gasp in the darkness, and recognized it as Sora's. She sighed. "So they got you to, huh? Well being dead isn't as bad as I thought."
"Yolei... open your eyes."
The lavender haired girl snapped the lids of her eyes apart, not even remembering closing them. "I'm still alive? I'm still alive!" Yolei let out a scream of joy. "Aha! Take that you rocks!" She felt a tapping on her shoulder and looked at an astonished Sora who was pointing up. She looked and found herself short of breath.
The boulder she thought had crushed them remained stationary over their heads, held in place by an unseen force. Yolei flinched instinctively, but after several moments of not being crushed, she felt relieved, though confused as to how gravity was being defiled. She heard a grunt and noticed TK.
His hands were focused into something that looked like the English nine. The tips of his fingers were pressed together, turned white from the pressure he applied. It occurred to Yolei how quiet it was, compared to earlier when the temple was continuously rumbling. It was about this time Yolei noticed pebbles and rocks of all sizes frozen in descent. She realized, in deep shock, that TK was keeping the entire building from falling apart.
"Move," he said in a strained voice, eyes shut as tightly as hers must have been. "Move. Get. Egg. Can't. Hold. Long."
Sora tugged on her arm. "Yolei." The younger girl only nodded. Unable to stand as close as it was to their heads, they carefully crawled from underneath the boulder, helping each other stand. Biyomon flew over, saying how worried she was in barely comprehensible words. They took several steps back in the direction of the Digiegg they sought, unable to face away from TK as he struggled.
His eyes, holding the tint of mauve, opened to glare at them.
"Let's go," Sora said, getting the message. They turned and ran full speed down the hallway, no longer having to worry about tremors tripping them up; though they remained careful of debris that had already fallen, some of which was trapped in the air. Very shortly the two girls reached the inner sanctum. Some rubble cluttered the final set of steps, but that wasn't enough to stop the Digidestined.
"Is that it?" Yolei asked upon reaching the pedestals, noting that one was empty. Sora looked at the silver colored artifact, keenly aware of the emblem tattooed on it.
The Crest of Love.
"Yes," she answered, "this is it. Take it, Yolei. Use it in defense of the Digital World."
The bespectacled girl nodded and stepped forward to do what she had adventured to do. She grasped the thin wings of the artifact and gave a mighty heave. "There can only be one!" Yolei shouted, raising the egg above her head. She bashfully thunked herself on the head. "Sorry, I always wanted to say that."
The egg hiccuped a crimson ray of light that shot down the hallway in TK's direction. Sora recognized this as something Tai mentioned the previous day. Yolei examined the Digiegg on all sides. "Now what do I-" A pillar of light revealed itself, shooting toward the damaged roof.
Within this light was a large bird not unlike Biyomon. A face of white feathers and a body of red. The Digimon wore a belt as a headband, which held up a single feather not indigenous to its body. The bird jumped to the ground, landing on large yellow feet.
He looked at Yolei with clear blue eyes. "Greetings, my dear. I am Hawkmon. I've been waiting for you. May I have your name?" he asked politely.
"Yolei," the girl said slowly. An hour ago she was fiddling with a hard drive. Now she had just picked up some mythical egg and hatched a talking bird with spectacular manners. The Digital World was undoubtedly a strange place, but it was growing on her.
"Yolei, I would like to fight with you!" Hawkmon propositioned fervently.
"I'd love to help out, but I don't really know how to fight, so..."
Hawkmon seemed quite eager to answer this. "Saa! In order for me to Armor Digivolve, you must say 'Digi-Armor Energize.'" The bird looked at the other pair. "And who might you be?"
The four felt a series of terrible quakes pulse through them in quick succession. Floating chunks of debris started dropping to the ground. TK's hold was slipping.
"What the deuce? I do believe this is no time for further introductions."
"That's an understatement!" Biyomon said. "Hurry, outside!"
Cautious not to trip, the two humans managed down the steps and out of the inner sanctum. What must have been tons of rock crashed behind them as the chamber fell in on itself. As their feet hammered the ground, a downpour of granite chased them every step. The temple was collapsing, and TK could only delay it.
It wasn't long before they saw the blond. He was sweating, a vein of effort visible on his forehead; TK looked to be in a great deal of pain. He saw them and the fall of rock approach. "Go," TK rasped as loudly as he could, sounding asphyxiated. "Don't stop for me; I'll catch up."
Yolei and Sora looked at one another before nodding. As they raced toward TK, each of them grabbed one of his arms in theirs, plucking him off his feet. His eyes protested, but his concentration remained on stopping them from being crushed.
"Hawkmon!" Yolei called as they neared daylight. "What happens when you Armor Digivolve?"
"I will become imbued with the Digiegg of Love's strength!" the flying Rookie answered.
"Will you get bigger?"
"Certainly!"
"And will you still be able to fly?" the Digidestined asked, trying not to bite her tongue.
"What kind of bird would I be if not?" Hawkmon asked, affronted. "Certainly not a proud one."
"Good. Sora, we're gonna jump!"
Sora balked, almost losing her balance and dropping TK. "We're gonna what?"
"Trust me! It'll be okay!" She clutched the Digiegg in her hand. It responded to her by giving out a lovely glow.
Seeing this, the tennis player relented. "Alright. You believed in me so I'll believe in you."
"On three! One!" They fell in perfect step together, certain doom on their heels and uncertainty at their fronts. "Two!" TK's arms were pinched tightly as he saw the moment to let go. "Three! Hooooorrrraaahhhh!" Yolei roared as she and Sora leapt high over the demolished steps. "Digi-Armor Energize!
"Hawkmon Armor Digivolved to..."
A divine wind created by the wings of three birds washed over him, creating a sleek aerodynamic mold to fill. Hawkmon's feathered arms were worn on the shoulders like a pelt as the Digimon evolved a new set of brawny talons. The bird's head was crowned by a bladed mask with the Crest of Love.
"...Halsemon: the Wings of Love!"
The wind guardian swept underneath the falling humans and captured them on his back. Yolei saddled in close to the shoulder blades, Sora holding on behind her, and the barely conscious TK lying between the girls on his stomach. Biyomon flew after them, impressed by the speed with which the Armor Digimon aviated. Behind the fleeing party, the temple imploded on itself like an ill-prepared souffle, crumbling to pieces.
"Set down near the others!" Yolei said over the screaming breeze. Halsemon's keen eyes located a group composed of humans and Digimon on the ground. He landed in the midst of them.
Tai ran over to them, his smile congratulatory. "You got the Digiegg, good work!" Tai looked over the newest addition to the team like a new car. He noticed TK's condition and groaned. "Oh no, what happened to him this time?" His jaw began to ache as the Gogglehead anticipated another punch from Matt.
"TK overdid it again, didn't he?" Kari asked exasperated.
"He stopped the temple from falling apart, it was incredible!" Yolei gushed. "We might not have made it out if he hadn't..."
Davis gawked. "He did what now?"
"Let's chat latter. The Tyrannomon are taken care of; and Cody and Digmon are digging ditches around the fires. But Huey could use some help in the sky. Mind lending him a hand destroying those Dark Rings?" Tai requested as he helped Sora down from the flying mount, careful to avoid looking up her skirt. He helped unload TK as well; the blonde stubbornly insisted he was okay.
Yolei looked up to see the dogfight raging harder then ever. She nodded. "Let's go, Halsemon!"
"Hang on tight," she was told once again. This time she was prepared. Halsemon swiftly jetted away as red blur. TK looked to Patamon.
He nodded. "I need to burn off some energy anyway."
"Right," TK said. The Crest of Love glowed on the D-Ultima. "Digi-Armor Energize!
"Patamon Armor Digivolved to..."
He became a red-winged blue bat not much larger than his Rookie form. Every appendage was adorned by metallic sickles. Large pink ears stood from his head.
"...Pipismon!"
The bat took off to join the aerial battle once more.
Huey was starting to get worried. After the temple had been unquestionably destroyed, the Airdramon began to pursue them in earnest without any distractions. Raptordramon was doing his best but once again it was only a matter time before they succeeded in wiping out their target.
"Hey, Huey! Over here!" The afro-child looked behind him. Riding up behind the air serpents was Yolei on Halsemon, and Pipismon flying by their side. He was relieved that she had managed to retrieve the Digiegg. "Let's take 'em out!"
"Allow me to go first," Pipismon said. "Crazy Sonic!" The mutant type stretched his mouth and out poured a disorientating sound wave from his ringed throat; it hit the Airdramon exclusively, causing them to lose their sense of direction and fall from their tight formation, making them easy to pick off.
The sharp edges of Halsemon's helmet glowed red. "Mach Impulse!" Halsemon unleashed two crescent blasts that skimmed the necks of two Airdramon, cutting through the Dark Rings.
"Now, Raptordramon. Attack!" Huey commanded. The cyborg performed a half loop before diving out of it and falling upon a confused Airdramon, turning the predator into prey.
"Ambush Crunch!" He liberated the Digimon with a snap of his mighty jaws.
The three holy beasts staggered away on their wings. Kuwagamon managed to dig himself from the rubble and flew off, no longer the Emperor's slave. All five tyrannomon, some more tender than others, walked free, and the fires had been extinguished.
The Digidestined were victorious.
(Digimon)
Sitting in his chair, the Digimon Emperor chuckled to himself. "That was a fun game; they're surprisingly resourceful. And I learned lots of interesting things too. Let's have another match soon, TK... Now what Digimon shall I play with next?"
(Digimon)
"So what do you think?" Tai asked. "The new Digidestined are really shaping up to be something, huh?"
Izzy nodded congruently. "Indeed. I never would have imagined they'd do so well so quickly. It's almost embarrassing how out of our element we were compared to them."
The Gogglehead chuckled. "They do have the luxury of wise elders to guide them. Speaking of which," he turned to Sora. "You did an awesome job getting Yolei here."
"It was nothing," Sora said modestly. "Yolei had it in her all along. And... and... did you just call me an elder?"
"Er, ah, I meant it in a good way..."
"Oh really?" Sora asked, a teasing grin on her face. Tai swallowed heavily. "Well anyway, if we have to leave the Digital World in the hands of someone else, I'm glad it's kids like them."
"I for one think we still have a lot to offer," Izzy said.
"That's right," Tentomon agreed. "We're not out of the game yet. We can still show these kids how it's done."
"We'll keep checking into the Digimon Emperor and see if the we come up with anything," Biyomon volunteered.
"Just be careful about it," a concerned Sora said.
Davis threw his head back and laughed. "We showed the Digimon Emperor a thing or two. I bet he'll think twice before messing with us again." Veemon nodded.
"And if he doesn't, we'll make him think a third time!"
"It was a pleasure working with you, Yolei. Can I continue to rely on our shared strength?" Hawkmon inquired formally.
"Absolutely," Yolei guaranteed. "We're a team now, after all." She noticed Huey walking toward her.
"Hey. Thanks for the save," Huey said, ducking his head gratefully.
Yolei waved him off. "Eh, we're all Digidestined, right?"
"Think nothing of it, my boy," Hawkmon said unassumingly. Huey's eye twitched but he merely nodded to the red bird. Dorumon bounded around them excitedly.
"You were fast! I wonder who's faster, you or me," the vaccine type said. There was no confrontation in his tone, just honest-to-goodness curiosity... and perhaps the desire of a contest.
"Who indeed... Shall we find out on another day?"
"Un! Let's fly together!"
"Oh boy, I'm so tired my shell's already asleep. What do you say we pick this up tomorrow, Cody?"
Cody gave formal bow. "I'm honored to be your partner, Armadillomon. Let's work hard and find all the answers of the Digital World."
Davis approached the other D3 equipped kids. "Welcome to the team. I'll try not to make you new guys look too bad," Davis said, cocksure. "If you need any pointers, just come me."
"This is your second day here," Huey muttered.
Yolei crossed her arms. "Are you kidding? I just put Indiana Jones to absolute shame."
The bowl-haired boy coughed. "Digmon did put out those fires. I'm sure that will return to us as good karma."
Izzy observed the growing discord. "Then again, maybe they're more like us than I initially thought..."
"Break it up, you brats! It's time to head back!" Tai called.
"So... do you plan to have a brush with death every time we come here, or just on schooldays?" Kari asked in no ambiguous way.
"The Digital World is a dangerous place," TK said blithely.
Kari huffed. That wasn't something she needed to be told. "TK... weren't you being rash?"
"Was I?" he asked with an arched brow.
"If it were anyone else the answer would definitely be yes; however, anyone else can't do what you can. So maybe you aren't reckless with your life the way I thought," Kari admitted. "Still, it seems to me like you're always willing to put yourself in the thick of it, but you're afraid to let anyone else be in danger. Although that makes sense considering..."
TK's blue eyes widened considerably as Tai's words from yesterday struck like lightning. It's not courage unless you're facing your real fear.
"We're not made of glass is all I'm saying."
"Yeah. I get it, Kari," the blond said, nodding. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Albeit I am wondering if you can stop a couple tons of rock, what else can you do?"
TK stared at the distant mountains. "I'm capable of things you can't even imagine."
Kari blinked, uncertain if she was relieved or troubled by that.
"So it looks like you've got two new Digivolutions, big ears," Gatomon said.
Patamon nodded, though he wished she'd stop calling him that. He was starting to get self-conscious. "Yeah. And there could be more to discover." Gatomon reached over and gave him what could be considered a very mild version of her Lightning Paw.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You're taking it for granted." Gatomon sighed. "I miss flying."
"Oh, do you now?" She looked over at him, not trusting that laughing tone, but he had disappeared. Gatomon felt small hands under her arms and froze. "Then maybe I should give you a ride," he whispered in her ear.
Before she could even manage a scream, Patamon snatched her from the ground. They rocketed up, climbing the sky until everything beneath them was shrinking. From this high up she could really admire what Digmon had done to the terrain; that is, if she weren't busy screaming in terror. Patamon came to a gradual stop just before they were kissing clouds. A feeling of weightlessness grasped her for a good minute before the pair went cascading toward land with gravity at their backs. They were no longer flying; they were falling with style.
Gatomon couldn't find the breath to muster anything louder than a gasp. The ground was zooming into focus as they plummeted on a crash course. Patamon's ears flapped at the perfect speed to slow their descent, allowing the seamless transition from falling to sitting. The bat-pig landed them precisely where they started, no one the wiser of their journey. Which is why, as the group made its way to the Digiport, no one knew why Gatomon clung to Patamon as if her life depended on it.
"I... swear...when I... can let go... I'll...kill..you.."
Patamon chuckled. "Your death threats are so cute."
Once they made it to a television with no earthly business being where it was, Yolei stopped in her tracks, her gloved hands flew over her mouth in horror. "Oh crap! Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmyod!"
"What is it, Yolei?" Sora asked, before a similar look passed over her face. "Uh oh."
Tai stared at them. "What's going on, and is it contagious?"
"I left for the Digital World from my room! I've been gone for hours! My parents probably think I've been kidnaped!"
"And I left my shoes there! They probably think I kidnaped you! Or maybe they'll think I was abducted too... and they'd still call my parents!"
"You... room.. a what?" an unusually befuddled Izzy attempted to ask.
"You found a way to the Digital World from your home computer?" Cody asked. "Isn't the computer lab the only way here?"
Yolei pounced onto the tv. "Take me home!" she screamed at the box. "Take me home right now damn you!"
"Don't leave me behind! I'm not a kidnaper!" It couldn't be said who Sora was trying to convince of that.
Cody blinked. "But, Yolei, don't your parents work until a little later?"
The lavender haired girl was suddenly filled with promise. "You're right! I can still beat them home!" Yolei fumbled with her Digivice before pointing it at the tv. "Back to my room!" she ordered. The small box sucked her in whole, along with Hawkmon.
"See you all another time! Bye Biyomon!" Sora said hastily before departing as well.
"Hey, wait a minute!" the Child of Knowledge called futilely. He sighed. Izzy wouldn't be able to sleep thinking about it. Maybe later he could email Yolei and find out exactly what happened.
Tai scratched his head. "Weird. Still, they've got the right idea; we better get home before the rest of our folks wig out."
They went into the Digiport, landing in a pile of limbs on the other side, though it was probably no coincidence that Gatomon was comfortably sitting on Patamon's head. TK ended up in the chair once again.
"What the! You guys brought your Digimon with you?" Tai asked.
At the bottom of the heap, Davis felt a pressure on his head; he felt pressure everywhere, but this one wasn't particularly painful. He looked up to see a small blue creature mussing his hair. DemiVeemon smiled goofily.
"They just followed us on their own," Cody said, not in disapproval. He gazed at the squishy yellow creature, wondering how it could become something as destructive as Digmon. "Why did they get so small?"
"These are their In-Training forms," Kari said.
Dorumon seemed to have shrunk as well, now a tiny bowling ball with legs. "Maybe it's so they're more manageable?" Huey guessed. Dorimon used his proportionateley wide mouth to latch onto his hand, almost breaking skin. Huey winced. "Or maybe not."
"Perhaps they can't maintain their forms because this world is new to them?" Izzy coughed. Someone's shoe was crushing his sternum.
"This is all really just fascinating, but... could you guys get off me?"
Once they had untangled themselves with several blushing apologies, the Digidestined exited the school with the light of a full moon hanging over them. They walked to an intersecting street corner before having to part ways.
"You kids will be alright on your own tomorrow, won't you? I've kind of been neglecting my schoolwork to chaperone, and I don't want to fall behind," Tai said sheepishly, scratching his head.
Davis snickered. "Go take a nap, old timer. I already told you to leave it to us, right?" The older boy chuckled at his confidence, laying a hand on Davis' spiky head.
"Call me that after you can take the soccer ball from me, punk. Kari, let's get home and see what Mom has in store for our iron stomachs. We'll see you guys," Tai said. He, Davis, Kari and Izzy walked down one street, leaving TK, Cody and Huey to another.
The three boys walked to the apartment complex. There weren't any sirens or police vehicles in the parking lot, so they figured Yolei was home in time to avoid raising any alarms. Cody bid them goodnight and proceeded to a higher floor with Upamon in his arms.
"Are we going to tell your mom about the Digimon?" Huey asked, juggling Dorimon, who insisted on nibbling his arms.
TK shook his head. "I'll probably tell her tomorrow. For the moment, we'll keep it quiet." Huey nodded without objection and they entered the Takaishi residence. When the door closed behind them, Nancy called from her office.
"TK, is that you? You have a package on the counter."
"Okay, thanks, Mom," he called back, signaling for Huey to sneak Dorimon into the guestroom. Patamon silently flew to his room to wait for him. TK checked the parcel in the kitchen, a pink cardboard box. Intrigued, he tore the single strand of tape and opened the lid. His heart stopped.
Guilmon bread.
When he found himself able to breath again, TK noticed a card stuck to the lid's interior.
-The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Give it up, you know that was an awesome twist.
Okay, so I'm going for an update on SCP's second anniversary. A third update in less then a month? Madness!
Come on people, I'm feeling like the fandom is already dead! Review!