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"…I am a vessel of invincibility… Remember, me for all time this/ Determination is a vital part of me/ Surrender, now or be counted/ with the endless masses that I will defeat."- Disturbed, "Warrior"
Takato and Alex landed in an urban area. That became clear when they smacked into the pavement. Shaking away the cobwebs, the two could see that they were in a seemingly normal alley. They could see neither human nor digimon. Seeing no reason to stay as one Gallantmon split into Tamer and digimon. Takato pulled his hood up partially hiding his face in shadow. He motioned for the digimon and digimon hybrid to become hidden from human eyes. Then he looked at the street. Humans he could see; digimon not so much.
He put his hood back down and moved out into the crowd. As the only one who could pass for human he had to find out how much the world knew about the Digital World. Alex and Guilmon would follow from above where they were less likely to bump somebody and convince them that he or she was haunted. Picking up a discarded newspaper he scanned the usual places for any mention.
The only thing that might qualify was a mention that one year ago a widespread prank text had been sent out to all of Shabuya and later that day a "static discharge" in the form of a dragon that been briefly seen above the train station. Takato took it to mean that this continuity's Digi-Destined or whatever the equivalent was managed to stop a huge evil from crossing the barrier, likely at the train station. Though, the Digi-Destined had done in such a way that their human world was not even alerted to the presence of a different world.
Unfortunately, it also meant that Alex and Guilmon had to stay hidden and that for the time being they had no one that to even look for to ask for a kindness.
"Hey, mom," Takuya Kanabra and leader of the Legendary Warriors called out. "I'm going to be out with some of my friends before we come to Shinya's party."
"All right," his mother responded. "But you had better not be late, Takuya. And bring your phone; I want to know if something comes up."
Takuya left his house closing the door behind him. He had never intended on leaving it behind anyway. Nor his goggles, or his hat- not today. They had a significance to him and five others that his mother could never imagine. One year ago, for one glorious day, that phone had been his D-Tector, and housed the Human and Beast Spirits of Flame. One year ago today, he and his five closest friends had stopped Lucemon and gave the Digital World a chance to live without evil.
He was going to meet them and they would reminisce. He also kept a few special gifts because on that day they had been born again as Six of the Ten Legendary Warriors, thus it was also their birthday too. He just wouldn't tell Shinya that. His gifts tucked away in a backpack he left, intending on being back with the other Warriors within the half-hour.
Takuya walked into the train station and moved close by the main elevator. This was the spot they all agreed upon, and it was the gateway to the Digital World. Not that the hundreds of patrons who used it every day without issue would ever know that. He waited for the others to get off of their trains and come over. His team came from all over the area, but they had stayed in touch over the last year, with Takuya and Tommy bringing their siblings along. While the two of them were not as close as the main group over the year they both had built strong bonds and it was one of the reasons that Shinya had invited all of them to his party. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you viewed it, Tommy's older brother had needed take a large test and could not come. His gift was with Tommy.
When the Six were reunited, they hopped on a train back to Takuya's home. They were the only ones in the car. They exchanged gifts; keeping the ones they received separate from the ones they would give Shinya. Suddenly, all six of them got the same text, "Are you alone?" Below that were the options yes and no. They looked amongst themselves; this was just like the message they had gotten a year ago, except Koichi who had gotten there by following Koji. At once they nodded and hit enter while the cursor was on the yes. Then like one year ago they heard Ophanimon speak to them. "Greetings, Warriors."
"Ophanimon," the group gladly exclaimed.
"Children," she responded. Then she became serious. "I wish I was calling merely for social reasons, however that is not the case. I have called to warn you. Though you closed Lucemon's Gate one year ago, evil has returned to this world. However, it is not satisfied with existing in the Digital World, even now it moves to enter your world. To combat this threat you will again need to take up your mantle. Children, I fear great change will soon come upon us, but I trust that you will be able to overcome this as you have your other troubles. Be brave children, may we meet again."
With that their phones burst into light, and once again became D-Tectors. Each of the children smiled, they could feel the spirits power radiating from them. Not again would they have to endlessly search out the hiding places, and for the first time in a year they were whole.
Then JP frowned. "What's up?" Takuya asked him.
"How can digimon be threatening our world?" he asked. It was a question that was on all their minds. "Didn't Bokomon say that digimon couldn't survive in our world?"
"I guess something's changed," Zoe responded. The Warriors moods sank at that, they didn't know what had changed but likely it was bad.
"Lowemon," Koichi asked the purified Human Spirit of Darkness. "Did something happen to the Digital World?"
The answer surprised them. "No, while there is evil again in the Digital World, it is by far a peaceful place."
"If that's true, then what is going on?" Tommy asked.
"We're not entirely sure," Kumamon answered. "But what worries Ophanimon is not from our world or yours, but beyond."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Koji asked.
"We don't have any more answers than you, Koji," Lobomon responded. "We can only prepare at this stage."
Koji grimaced, "Wonderful."
"So what are you up to?" Agunimon wondered, half asking out of curiosity and half to lighten the mood.
"It's Shinya's birthday today," Takuya responded with a grin.
"You know," JP mentioned thinking aloud gaining a grin, "my magic act might just have gotten a much better trick."
"What do you have in mind?"
JP's idea consisted of using their Beast Spirits as part of a magic show. All they would need was a sheet as large as their two tallest BurningGreymon and KokiIkkakumon, and take turns changing. The spirits agreed because everyone needed a break now and again, besides it was a special occasion. The real trick would be finding a way to keep the sheet up so no one would see the fractal egg. Takuya was first and had just turned into BurningGreymon. Most of the guests were in awe of the trick wondering how they pulled it off. JP wasn't telling. Shinya however, seemed nervous around the Fire Beast, instinctively fearing it. Up until that point everything had been going smoothly, but when Takuya changed he set off Takato's digivice while the later was fifty kilometers away, not that far when you had a Mega's traveling speed. But that wasn't the real problem; the real problem was that out of thin air a golden gate appeared. It was ringed with Digi-code. The crowd oohed and ahhed thinking it was another trick. Those who saw JP's frown realized that something was wrong. The Warriors tensed.
Then it opened. And out were dumped a huge amount of Vilemon. The crowd screamed. They broke running from the threat; the warriors responded differently, they went into action. For more maneuverability they evolved using Human Spirits. Since everyone was avoiding Takuya anyway, he went to town using his Beast brute strength, but avoided his fire attacks for fear of harming someone innocent. Light slashed, Darkness stabbed, Ice shot and froze, and Wind, Fire and Thunder beat down the foe. In a moment of inspiration Kumamon used his Frozen Tundra attack on BurningGreymon's tail taking the form of a mace. Takuya ignited it and swung the appendage at a large cluster of enemies as they both called out their new combination attack, "Wildfire Flail." Upon making contact Tommy released his hold on Takuya's tail and continued into the center of the group unleashing the rest of the flames in an ice storm he called "Thermite Explosion."
The warriors had spread out fighting the different groups, unable to stop the flow of enemies coming from the Gate. "They just keep coming," Beetlemon said wearily. Then they heard another voice come from the Gate. For a moment everyone stopped. Then a clown came through the Gate. But as they watched the clown pick himself up they noticed that there were things wrong about the clown. His arms were too long to be human, his costume was disturbing, and he had four swords strapped to his back. The Warriors' feelings of dread only got worse when he began to speak.
"When I get my hands on those miserable brats I will make them pay for ruining my plans." Definitely not a "good guy" speech. "Especially that blonde and his MagnaAngemon partner. If not for them I would be ruling the Digital World." At that point the Mega seemed to take stock of his surroundings. "What's this? A party? Why wasn't I invited? That hurts you know, so I think I'll make you hurt!" He scanned the faces of the crowd, and his eyes were drawn to Shinya whose size reminded the demented clown of TK. Of course Takuya stepped in between them.
"Oi, Pennywise," Takuya called. "You want to hurt anyone; you have to get through me."
"Be careful, BurningGreymon, this guy reminds me of the Royal Knights," Lobomon called.
"'BurningGreymon?' I hate all Greymon! I hate all Gaururmon! I hate all Angemon!" Piedmon screamed. "It's because of a Greymon and a Gaurumon and an Angemon that I'm even here!"
"Those sound like my kind of mon," BurningGreymon stated.
"Really, then let's see if you're as good at playing my games as they were. Attack!" The Vilemon had their passions reignited by seeing their master again. The Warriors fought them off but that made them divert their attention from Piedmon, which was a mistake. This became apparent when they heard Shinya's terrified yell. The evil Phantom digimon had taken Shinya and gotten two stories up on the building that they were at. "My, my, this lovely view has made this boy hope so hard that he actually tries to fly." Piedmon threw the boy out into the air. "Too bad he doesn't have wings," the Mega cackled.
"Shinya!" Takuya raced along the ground just managing to catch his brother before the boy would have broken a bone, or worse. "Shinya, are you ok?" The boy was close to hyperventilation. "I promise, Shinya, I will protect you. No matter what!" BurningGreymon's speech was cut off as Piedmon unleashed his Trump Swords. The two he actually threw stabbed through BuringGreymon's wings and deep into his armor.
"Well, well, your armor is stronger than what I would have given it credit for," Piedmon remarked. "I'd have thought for sure that you would have been deleted by now, I guess I'll have to fix that." From the way the virus spoke he could just as easily have been discussing the weather.
"Suck my gender coding," BurningGreymon replied, wheezing out the sentence in pain.
"Such atrocious manners," Piedmon mockingly chided. "I suppose that I will just teach you some with this, Trump Swords."
"Dramon Breaker." Alex in VictoryGreymon form had placed himself between Takuya who was still holding Shinya and Piedmon who looked rather peeved at the interruption. Alex's technique sent Piedmon's two remaining swords back to him without allowing them to score a hit. "I apologize, cousin," Alex said to Takuya. "I should have intervened sooner, but when I realized that this was technically my father's and his friends fault I froze. They honestly thought that the Gate of Destiny attack finished off Piedmon, not sent him to another world. I apologize for the trouble my family has inadvertently caused you."
"That's great and all, but why did you call me cousin?" Takuya responded.
"I heard your friend call you BurningGreymon; I am a WarGreymon subspecies, VictoryGreymon, as such we are technically from the same family."
"That makes sense," Takuya said. "I guess."
"Can you stand?"
BurningGreymon put Shinya down. "Hide," the Fire Beast told the boy. "I'll be fine." Then he turned to his "cousin." "I can do more than stand." Alex simply nodded, his Instinct reminding him how much instinct drove a digimon to protect their partner.
Takuya drew the blades out of his back, with both it and his wings screaming their protest. The pain was so intense that he found himself in another place. It looked like the heart of a volcano except that instead of magma, raw fire coated everything in sight. Ahead of him the fire parted to reveal Agunimon. Takuya was surprised at the appearance of his Human Spirit, especially because said spirit seemed VERY solid. Agunimon put up a hand for silence, preventing the opening of the floodgate that held Takuya's questions. "First off we are in a part of your mind, the part that you had accommodated for us the first time you ever became a digimon. Second you are in BurningGreymon form in reality, thus you are merged with him now even here. Third you are here because the pain caused you to momentarily blackout, but if we are quick, no one will even notice. Now then, while you're here someone very important wishes to speak to you."
Agunimon motioned the path he had just come from and began to walk down it before Takuya could even question who else could be in this world if he was fused at the moment with BurningGreymon and Agnimon was right in front of him. With no real choice, the Beast followed the Human Warrior of Flame. They continued until they came to what seemed like a wall of extremely intense heat and fire. Of course, as Fire Warriors this did not bother them. Agunimon kneeled and motioned for Takuya to do the same. "I have brought him, AncientGreymon."
Takuya's eyes almost popped his helmet off. 'AncientGreymon? As in the original Warrior of Flame and the digimon that saved us on the Isle of the Lost?' Sure enough the fire seemed to be blown away revealing a quadrupedal dragon most closely resembling the Beast of Fire but having the Insignia of Fire studded around his neck in a manner similar to how Agunimon wore it as a belt, and front legs like Agunimon's. AncientGreymon also easily towered over the two digimon, and would have done so even if they hadn't been kneeling. Takuya knew that from experience.
"Greetings, Takuya Kanabara," AncientGreymon said. Takuya could not help but marvel at how similar their voices sounded only AncientGreymon's seemed to be infused with power and wisdom. As if reading his mind, AncientGreymon continued, "Because you opened yourself to us, we have become a part of you, so it should not be that odd to find we sound almost exactly alike- or that we appear to be able to read your mind." Agunimon and AncientGreymon chuckled at his discomfort, the digimon had a point but it was still creepy.
"But on to the heart of the matter. Takuya I have asked my Spirits to bring you hear because of something that happened during your fight with Lucemon. You and Koji Minamoto called Susanoomon the 'Heir of the Ten Legendary Warriors.'" 'Oh great, I'm in trouble for an off the cuff remark I made a year ago.'
The dragon again lightly laughed. "Don't worry child, I am not mad. It is true, your group as a whole is the heir to the Original Ten's power, and Susanoomon is the epitome of that. But you, Takuya, you are the only one who can claim to be my Heir. I have watched you through my Spirits and I must say that out of all who could have found them, I am glad it was you. You, whose passion was like tinder waiting to be ignited when you first stepped into the Digital World. And once it ignited, it became the strongest flame that I personally have not created. Yet you also learned restraint, you also know that the power you have is a double-edged sword and can just as easily harm those you sought to protect.
"I am sure now; I wish to offer you my full strength. Even this form will not be barred from you. Will you accept and take on the responsibilities as my heir in addition to what duties you already have as a protector of the Digital World?"
"What would those be?" Takuya asked, he might trust AncientGreymon but he still wanted to know what he was getting himself into.
"Never turning your back on an injured good fire spirit and visiting me sometimes," the Mega replied without missing a beat.
"That last part confuses me."
"Takuya which would you consider worse dying or 'living' being trapped forever unable to move, speak, hear, feel, taste, or smell? That second option is very close to the existence I have now. The only thing keeping that from being my existence is the ability to speak with the other Ancients, to my spirits, and now to you. To put it bluntly, only through you can I experience the world. I do not regret my decision but, I have been alone for a very long time and it has made me feel my age. Fire is not meant to age Takuya. It is a young, energetic element. Aging kills it. But breathe fresh air and new kindling and it becomes young again, I believe you can make me young and strong again, what I ask is that you be that revitalizing breeze; that freshly cut log."
Takuya thought before nodding. "Excellent," The Ancient spoke. "I am aware of what is happening outside. As I have said before, I now hold nothing back from you, if you wish you could take this form and crush that clown like a bug beneath your foot. However, I am also aware that doing so would likely harm those you with to protect. And to attain Aldamon you first have to separate, leaving you open. If I may make a suggestion- introduce him to the Emperor."
"But for that I'd need Tommy and Zoe's Spirits," Takuya replied disappointed. "And I'd still have to split."
"Takuya, EmperorGreymon is a Fire Warrior, thus I am the one who gave you that form, I can grant it to you now," AncientGreymon told him. "However without the other four Ancients working with me in harmony the form will be less powerful. But it will still be greater than that of Aldamon. Aldamon is the physical fusion of your two spirits; EmperorGreymon is the fusion of the states of Fire they represent."
Takuya was lost. That seemed to be happening a lot this afternoon. This time it was Agunimon who explained. "I represent fire calm, the small comforting fire that brings a smile to a child's face. Warmth, comfort, and sustained survival. BurningGreymon represents fire at its most volatile, the intense inferno that can reset a forest in a matter of minutes. Destructive and creative."
Agunimon knew that Takuya wasn't convinced on the creative part considering the example. "Takuya some types of trees will only reproduce when subjected to the heat of a wildfire. Wildfires also clear away much of the small brush what would choke out the slower growing tree saplings. That is the type of fire that BurningGreymon represents. Before with Seraphimon making sure your D-Tector could handle it, we could match pieces together to form a flame with some qualities of both, however it also had some of the same issues as both.
"EmperorGreymon is different. He, like AncientGreymon, is Protecting Fire. One that comforts our allies and strikes down our foes. What Ophanimon did was make your D-Tector able to handle that kind of power. The other spirits harmonized the power AncientGreymon supplied, refining it. Giving that form existence can still be done, but because AncientGreymon also has to be the one refining the power now he will not be able to focus as much on supplying it."
"And as for needing to split," AncientGreymon continued. "Have you never tried digivolving? After all, while most of your spirit forms are in fact hybrids because EmperorGreymon represents the same type of fire as I, I can… bend… the rules a bit." Takuya could swear the dragon was smiling. EmperorGreymon's sword rose from the fiery ground, blade still buried. "Take up your sword once more, my heir, and show them what we can do." Takuya grabbed the hilt by both hands and pulled.
Back in the fight he continued like he had never had an interruption. "In fact, I'm just getting warmed up!" A fire spread from his feet and seemed to consume him in an egg. "EmperorGreymon."
"No way," Tommy breathed, taking a moment from the slaughter to look. "How did Takuya do that?"
"Don't worry about it right now. Just make sure that these guys don't hurt anyone," JP responded launching more Vilemon into the sky. "Hey does it seem like there are a lot less to anyone else? And was that kid here before?" Beetlemon motioned to Takato. The boy in question seemed completely at ease in the situation and unknown to the Warriors, Guilmon was a big reason in the reduction of opponents.
EmperorGreymon charged in first. Peidmon blocked the massive blade with one of his Trump Swords. Then Alex came him from behind Takuya, dragging his blade behind him before leaping over the locked opponents swinging his own massive sword forward. Piedmon used his second blade to block the maneuver but the force on the evil Mega's arm was so great that it was thrown behind him. Alex managed to get off a mid-air swing going almost completely against his own momentum and lopped off the arm that was holding off EmperorGreymon. Making use of the opening EmperorGreymon took out Piedmon's other arm. As Alex set his feet they both delivered a synchronized stab, both three inches to their respective right side of the line of symmetry busting through the other side. Then both Greymon backed up and prepared a distance attack with his blade. "Trident Gaia." "Dragon-fire Crossbow." Both blades split in triplicate before spitting out a powerful attack. The two fire blasts met at Piedmon and detonated in a sphere of heat and light. As the Dark Master faded away Takuya searched for his hiding adversary.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked.
"There was no Fractal Code, which means that it was a fake," Takuya responded.
"In my world which is where Piedmon was from, digimon just dissolve when they die. So that was actually normal." The assurance seemed to calm Takuya down. The Fire Warrior looked at his blade and he saw AncientGreymon smiling in the reflection.
"Thank you, AncientGreymon."