The Digital Gate: Thanks for your reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or Yu-Gi-Oh GX.
"My move," announced Jaden as he drew a card. "And I'll start off with--"
"Look," Kasumi interrupted, "I don't need you to tell me what you're doing and when. Just shut up and get on with it. Silently."
Jaden stared, shocked before turning to Sephiremon. "Wow. He's rude." Sephiremon chirped in agreement.
"Dancing Pitch!" Aikomon cried, opening her beak and sending a melody out.
"Not again," groaned Suzy as she was frozen into place. "Lopmon, try to see if you can fire an attack."
Lopmon nodded. "Blazing Ice!" Small crystallline bolts fired from his mouth succesfully.
Aikomon squawked in protest and soared out of the way.
"Hah!" Suzy burst out by accident, unable to contain herself. "Didn't expect--woah!"
Yukimi had launched herself at Suzy and unexpectedly slapped her across the face. "Hah yourself," the Assasin retorted.
"At least the attack's effect is gone," Suzy replied, raising a card. "Digi-Modify! Digivolution Activate!"
"Lopmon digivolve to...Turuiemon!" A purple rabbit stood in Lopmon's place. Turuiemon leaped forward. "Gauntlet Claw!"
Aikomon desperately weaved out of Turuiemon's claws, barely succeding. "Dancing..." she began when a claw came her way. The bird Digimon ducked and began again, "Dancing..."
"Lightning Kung-Fu!" Turuiemon shouted, aiming a kick at Aikomon's chest. The attack was well-aimed and Aikomon fell to the ground in a feathered lump.
"Aikomon! Get back up," Yukimi snapped. "Digi-Modify! Digivolution Activate!"
"Tsukomon," the falcon cawed, soaring into the sky and winging back. "Spiraling Beak!"
Turuiemon stood his ground, calcuating the distance between them. When Tsukomon was about five feet away, Turuiemon shouted, "Bunny Bombardment!"
Tsukomon was forced to pull out of her dive. She shrilled in pain and went down.
"What are you doing?!" Yukimi clutched fistfuls of her hair in frustration. "You're going to let a bunny beat you?"
"Maybe you should stop being so harsh on her," Suzy said quietly. "Tsukomon is trying the best she can."
Yukimi whirled around. "How would you know?" she sneered. "Don't tell me how to raise my Digimon."
"For one thing, Tsukomon is not your Digimon," corrected Suzy. "She's your partner and lifelong friend. You can't treat her like that."
"Keep your opinion to yourself!" shouted Yukimi. "Tsukomon! Hit that bunny!"
Karou stood, looking into the sky at Taongmon. The ground he was standing on was scorched from Taongmon's previous attack. "Ryuudamon, get ready. If I know Taongmon well enough, he's liable to shoot downwards before attacking. Watch for a distraction."
"Right," replied Ryuudamon steadily.
Taongmon zipped downwards, eyes clear and focused. "Storm of Judgement!" Thunder boomed and black storm clouds rolled. Lightning crackled mightly.
Ryuudamon's head shot upwards. "Karou," he began worriedly.
"Keep focused and don't turn your head away from him," Karou ordered sharply.
"R-right." Ryuudamon turned to look at Taongmon, but a bolt of lightning startled him. Taongmon took advantage of the moment.
"Coiling Serphent!" Taongmon landed on the ground and quickly began to wrap himself around Ryuudamon. All this happened in the blink of an eye.
"Digi-Modify! Iron Body Activate!" Karou cried quickly.
Silver colored chrome crept up the sides of Ryuudamon, encasing the Digimon quickly. As Taongmon gave a squeeze, the armour fired off a pulse, forcing the Taongmon to uncoil, leaving Ryuudamon unharmed. The latter quickly raced back to his partner's side.
"Thought I told you to pay attention." Karou raised his eyebrow.
"Sorry," Ryuudamon hastily apologized.
Meanwhile, Rishou tapped his foot impatiently. "Well, are you going to attack first or do you want me to, Tamer?"
"Stop calling me that," Chazz snapped.
"My bad, Tamer."
"Let's teach him the hard way!" Ojama Yellow roared. "No one insults boss!"
"Right," Ojama Green agreed.
"Yeah," chimed Ojama Black. "Attack!"
The three brothers shot towards Rishou. The Assasin barely looked their way as Daiyoumon flicked the Ojamas with his tail.
"If you don't wish to make the first move, I will," warned Rishou. He leaped into the air and fired three cards.
Aairlmon jumped in, shouted, "Unvor's Breath!" and burned the cards.
"Zyatch Swipe!" A dragon like Digimon lunged in, slashing the air with his claws. The Digimon managed to hit Aairlmon and the Digimon fell backwards.
"What is that?" Chazz stared at the Digimon.
"Meet Sweliocmon," Rishou smirked. "While your pathetic Digimon burned those cards, as I thought he would, Daiyoumon digivolved, catching you two off guard."
"There!" Henry panted, pointing towards a stray beam of light. "That's our camp."
"Great," Yazuki groaned. "My feet are killing me."
Rika twitched. Nearly everyone had complained about their feet. She was losing it. "Quit. Whining. Now," she ordered through gritted teeth.
"We better hurry," advised Ryo. "Wildcat's getting cranky."
A voice suddenly pierced through the darkness. "Henry? Is that you?"
"Takato!" Henry called. "Make some room; we've got company!"
Minutes later, introductions had been made and everyone was seated in a large circle. "So," Henry said simply, "we need to get there as fast as we can."
Takato nodded. "Got it."
Every Tamer stood up and busied themselves; some checked through their cards, others went through battles plans and some just focused on panicking.
"What happens if we lose?" asked Kazu nervously.
"Then we're dead," Terriermon replied.
"My mom wouldn't like that," Kenta panicked.
"No, she wouldn't," agreed Terriermon. "She'd love it!"
Henry gave his partner a sharp look. "Not helping. And watch your manners."
Terriermon sulked.
Takato shouldered his backpack. "Ready guys?"
"And girls," Jeri reminded him.
"And girls," Takato added. Everyone nodded. "O-kay! Count off!"
A sigh rippled through the Tamers as Syrus and Alexis gazed in confusion. "Come on, Takato," Ryo pleaded. "Not that..."
Takato frowned. "Yes that! Now, count off! One!"
"Two," Guilmon chimed in.
"Three," Henry mumbled.
"Four!" Terriermon cried enthusiastically.
"Five," grumbled Rika.
"Six," Renamon calmly added.
"Seven," sighed Ryo.
"Eight," snarled Cyberdramon.
"Nine," chirped Jeri.
"Ten," Kazu put in.
"Eleven," droned Guardromon.
"Twelve." Kenta glanced around nervously.
"Thirteen!" MarineAngemon squeaked.
"Fourteen," muttered Yazuki unhappily.
"Fifteen." Meinumon's voice held no emotion.
Silence. Takato waited for the last two numbers, but none came. "Where's sixteen and seventeen? I mean Suzy and Lopmon?" he demanded.
Terriermon rolled his eyes. "Fighting, remember?"
"Oh yeah." Takato snapped his fingers. "Let's get going! Digi-Modify! Digivolution!" Rika echoed him.
"Growlmon!"
"Kyuubimon!"
"Okay." Takato glanced around. "Jeri, you, Kenta, and MarineAngemon come with me on Growlmon. Henry, you and Terriermon go with Ryo on Cyberdramon. The rest go with your partners. Any questions?"
"I think I'm too big for Guardromon," Kazu called out. "And you forgot about the duelists."
"Oh. Right. Alexis, you go on Kyuubimon with Rika. Kazu and Syrus...go with Yazuki on Meinumon. Guardromon, go on Cyberdramon. Did I miss anyone?" Takato glanced around.
"Don't think so," Ryo answered.
"Move out!"
"Takato...we're not in the army..." Terriermon told him.
"Himitsu no Yami!" Tsukomon shrieked, firing off a wave of what seemed to be darkness.
Turuiemon hurriedly leaped out of the way. "Lightning Kung-Fu!"
Tsukomon dodged but was unable to evade the volley of kicks and punches sent her way. She shrieked again; this time in pain.
Yukimi's fists were clenched so tightly that her nails began to pierce her skin, drawing blood. "What are you doing?!" she demanded. "Focus!"
"And what are you doing?" Suzy calmly asked.
Yukimi whirled to face her. "You...you...you shut up! I know what I'm doing!"
"Then explain," Suzy retorted coldly, "why Tsukomon is getting hurt."
"Because your...your bunny is beating her," hissed Yukimi.
"Guess again," Suzy snapped as Turuiemon landed next to her. Aikomon collapsed in a heap onto the ground. "And Turuiemon is not my bunny. He's my friend. Just like Tsukomon. And how do you treat her? By screaming and yelling."
As Suzy's words finally registered, Yukimi's face turned paler and paler. She dropped to her knees and stared blankly at the ground. "No...way..."
Suzy watched her without a word. "I don't know if your coldness is Akuonimon's doing but..." she trailed off. "This battle is over."
"Hey, what's up with Suzy and that other girl?" Aairlmon asked, looking somewhere else instead of focusing.
"Huh?" Chazz followed his partner's gaze and saw Suzy standing over Yukimi, more serious than he had ever seen her. Turuiemon stood behind her and Tsukomon--correction, Aikomon lay sprawled on the ground.
Daiyoumon lunged forward, snapping his teeth.
"Woah!" Aairlmon jerked back. "Chazz, help!"
Chazz fumbled with his cards, chose two, and swiped them.
"Touhimon!" A familiar looking griffin landed in the field. "Kaze Burst!"
Daiyoumon hesitated too long and was forced to brace himself. The wind came stronger and stronger as Daiyoumon was sent farther and farther back.
"Now!" Chazz yelled.
"Griffin Rage!" yelled Touhimon. A burst of fire appeared from Touhimon's beak, shaped in the form of a griffin. It struck Daiyoumon straight on.
Weary from the long battle, Daiyoumon finally collapsed, reverting back to his Rookie form. "No!" cried Rishou.
"Finally," sighed Touhimon.
GinRyuumon galloped forward. "Tekkoujin!" A spear shot from the Digimon's mouth and made its way towards Taongmon.
"Fool," snorted Taongmon. "Just because you digivolved doesn't mean you can beat me." The dragon Digimon moved his head and the spear shot past him. "What did I tell you?"
"Look out," Karou smirked.
"For what?" Taongmon snapped when he felt his eyes suddenly widen in pain. He clutched his side. "What?"
"Blind spot," replied Karou. "Did you think I'd forget?"
"You..." Taongmon began when Karou cut him off.
"No," he said. "Us." Karou got into a stance. "Digi-Modify! Helper's Light!"
Karou took on a glow as GinRyuumon absored his partner's energy. "What kind of card is that?" Taongmon shouted, losing his composure.
"One that can only be used by friends!" GinRyuumon answered. "Seiryuujin!"
Taongmon cried out in pain. He crumbled, transforming into Hidrakemon as he fell.
"Never underestimate us," Karou warned, placing a hand on GinRyuumon.
"My move!" Jaden announced. He began to draw when a sudden cold wind swept over him. "What?" he wondered as digivices began beeping.
Kasumi narrowed his eyes. "I told him I could handle it."
"This is bad!" Takato shouted, glancing at his D-Power. "Something big is heading towards where Suzy and the others are!"
"How big?" asked Terriermon.
"Really big," Takato answered, his face pale. "It's..."
Ryo didn't need to hear Takato finish his sentence. He already knew the Digimon's name. Every Tamer in the group did.
As Suzy felt the familiar wind, her muscles tightened. "Not him...not now..."
"We have to get ready," Turuiemon mumbled uncertaintly.
"How?"
Rishou stared at the sky, his fist clenched. "Why is he here?"
"Who are you talking about?" Chazz wanted to know.
"Must be someone bad," figured Touhimon, "or they wouldn't be acting like this." He nodded towards everyone else.
Them? Chazz glanced around. Suzy looked pale; Turuiemon's expression was one of fright. Karou's eyes were afraid and his body was tense. Ryuudamon's evolution looked like a mixture of anticipation and repulsion. Yukimi had no emotion whatsoever. The same went for Jaden, Sephiremon, Ikarimon, and Kasumi. Aikomon was still knocked out.
A chilling laugh swept throughout the field. A voice, all too familiar, asked, "Miss me?"
TBC
