Daisuke gazed at the room with dread, his eyes shifting to every nook and cranny within the monster's room. Piemon was beyond creepy. He was insane, actually. From what he knew of Piemon, the monster had a sick habit of collecting things. On one of the many walls were weapons. There were swords, spears, whips, guns, bow and arrows, mazes, and other weapons that could be found in a boring museum or in his history textbook. They looked that old, like medieval old, stone age old. There were also props that looked like that could be used in a circus.
Daisuke frowned as his eyes shifted to the clown-like dolls surrounding the room. There were porcelain dolls, stuffed dolls and animals, and nesting clown dolls of those creepy clowns. Daisuke was not afraid of clowns (he watched the movie It after all) but the dolls were really creepy with the way they were looking at him. Their faces were all wrong as well. The way they were painted made them seem dark in a way, twisted, menacing, and not cheerful and carefree as they were meant to be for children. It felt like their eyes were following him as well and their smiles just seemed wrong and...off, like if he wasn't careful he might end up as their next victim. Daisuke shivered slightly. He was sure he wasn't going to see another clown horror movie for a good month, maybe more.
Daisuke gazed at the far wall where two huge teddy bears were laying on their sides. Those two bears were five times his size and their faces were painted to resemble a clown. Piemon was beyond creepy.
He frowned as he then gazed at the bed with a simple white lamp resting on the bedside table. Piemon's bed was elaborate and seemed innocent enough, but there was nothing innocent about the bed. The sheets were a deep red, like blood, and the pillows a deep bluish-black, the color of bruises. The wooden headboard had spikes on the top and in the center of the piece were tally marks. Daisuke swallowed nervously upon spotting the dagger resting innocently on the bed. Daisuke felt a sense of foreboding upon realizing that the marks seemed to match up with the number of Digimon hanging on the wall the two Banchos were currently staring grimly at.
Daisuke quickly turned his gaze away from Piemon's bed to gaze at his unconscious best friend, who was now in his arms. Lilimon and Mamemon were talking among themselves as they removed all the Digimon keychains from the wall and putting them into Ken's bag. Daisuke sighed for a moment as he retrieved his partner from his pocket. Piemon had dropped the Digimon when Stingmon and Mastemon flew after the crazy clown. It had been Lilimon, or Bancho Lilimon as she called herself, who found XV-mon and handed it to him before they made their way to find the other trapped Digimon.
Daisuke gazed at the blue dragon with a heavy heart. He felt so useless. All he could do was carry his best friend and pray he would be okay. He couldn't help Stingmon in the fight, since XV-mon was, well, a keychain. This sucked big time.
Daisuke closed his eyes with a sigh. He hated this feeling of helplessness. Daisuke wasn't one to sit around and wait. He was more of an action type of guy. But he couldn't do anything without XV-mon, who was a keychain at the present moment. How were they going to get XV-mon and the other Digimon to normal anyway? Only Piemon could do that and he doubted Piemon would just turn them back just because they asked nicely. Screw nicely. He was in favor of beating Piemon into a bloody pulp and force him to change everyone back.
Daisuke's gripped tighten a bit around his friend and partner as the castle began to tremor again. The battle was getting too close, really, really close. Daisuke wasn't sure what was going on, but he just hoped everyone was okay. His mind traveled to his friends, hoping they were able to hold their own against Piemon's minions. There were so many.
Daisuke didn't see any within the castle, but there was no guarantee that they weren't around. They could still be here, waiting for them to lower their guard.
And then the lights turned off, only to turn red a moment later, followed by an alarm going off.
"What's going on?" Daisuke watched as the two Digimon jumped, gazing at each other as they zipped up Ken's bag and the bag Daisuke was thankful to bring with him.
The alarm was extremely loud and annoying as a mechanical woman's voice was speaking on one of the many speakers Piemon had around this place. He must have really enjoyed hearing his own voice. "WARNING! WARNING!" If it wasn't for the creepy voice, Daisuke would have thought the alarm was one of those fire drills he had at school.
"I'm not sure," Bancho Mamemon said as he swung the bag over his shoulder.
"Something must have happened," Bancho Lilimon said as she took Ken from his arms, only to give him Ken's bag filled with Digimon that had been turned into keychains. "We should leave before something happens."
But then something did happen. From somewhere below them a wall exploded, breaking the beams that held the castle up. The castle shook violently as stone crumbled and fell apart.
And then the female voice spoke, causing them to feel true fear. "Self-destruct sequence engaged."
Ah, crap.
"Self-destruct in T-minus five minutes."
He couldn't seem to remove his eyes from the battle playing out in front of him. He was aware Piemon was not the monster he had faced years ago. No, he was much worse. From what Holy Angemon and the others revealed, Stingmon and Piemon had once been friends. But some time during the war, the Digimon only knew from what they have been told by other Digimon, things had changed. If the war was as bad as he feared, then it drove the once friends apart due to the paths they'd chosen. Is was obvious Piemon chose a dark path and it had only driven him into the insane Digimon he was today.
Takeru knew Piemon had an ability to turn anything he wanted into keychains; it was something he had experienced in the past. He still had nightmares of that monster and the torment he had put him and his friends through. He could still remember the fear that filled him when he saw his brother being turned into a keychain. It still haunted him to this day.
Takeru knew he shouldn't allow his fears and hatred of the past to cloud his judgment of all Digimon of that species. Not all Piemon and other Digimon of his kind were naturally evil, cruel, or manipulative, he tried to remind himself. Wormmon was a virus and he wasn't like that. But the sinister thoughts still came, still chased all rational reasonings he came up with away.
This Piemon was not like the Piemon he met in the past. He was far worse. He was truly insane. He was a Digimon driven by hatred and that was truly frightening.
Takeru gazed at the two once friends as they fight each other. They were trying to kill one another. But unlike Piemon who was fueled by hatred, rage, and true darkness, Bancho Stingmon was fueled by his fear and protective nature that all Chosen Digimon had for their human partners.
Takeru closed his eyes for a moment, fearing for his friend. When Daisuke had contacted them about the email he had gotten, they had all panicked. Ken had been kidnapped once before, and just like the last time, it had left a horrible pain in his chest. No one but Stingmon and Daisuke knew of what Ken must be going through and his emotional state. The two had an empath connection of sorts to the Child of Kindness. Takeru had the same connection to Iori due to their bond and the same was with Miyako and Hikari. However, the connection was far stronger with Bancho Stingmon with and Daisuke for some reason.
Takeru remembered how Daisuke had been messaging them during his detention. He had mentioned that something felt off about his best friend, the emotions he was getting felt off the charts, but he couldn't figure out what. They had reasoned that Ken must be stressed out. He did have two interviews he had to attend to later in the day, ones he didn't really want to go to in the first place. None of them had expected the feelings that Daisuke had been getting from Ken was due to him being taken and tortured by an insane Digimon. And what worse, it was only to torture Stingmon for being reborn after Piemon had killed him the first time.
Takeru's hands tightened a bit as he opened his eyes. Blue eyes were narrowed slightly as Bancho Stingmon and Mastemon deflected all of Piemon's attacks once again, sending him flying towards the collapsing caste. The force was so strong that the side of the castle cracked under the pressure and collapsed to the ground. And then the cracks began to spread.
This has to end. All of this has to end. Takeru's held his D-3 a little bit tighter. This cycle of violence and hatred had to end. Ken didn't deserve to be taken away from those that loved and cared for him. All the kid wanted was to have a normal life with friends that cared for him, not because he was a genius, but because they liked him, for him. Takeru and the others had proven time and time again that they were not those people that had only befriend him just because he was a genius and fairly popular. They couldn't do anything about the interviews and commercials he was forced to attend. Ken's parents had obviously gone back on their promise. But what they could do was be there for him and remind him that they were there for him, always.
That was a promise they had all made months ago. After they had defeated Vamdemon, they had all vowed they would always be friends, that they would protect each other. Not because he was a fellow Chosen, but because he was their friend; they protected their own. With a smile, Takeru gazed at his partner and then at Iori. And they nodded. They weren't there when he was taken. They hadn't been there when he needed them as he faced Piemon alone. But they were here now and they would defeat Piemon if its the last thing they did.
"Somethings wrong," Hikari said from next to him. She had been watching the battle along with him and the others. They were all still shaken that Bancho Stingmon was the same Stingmon they knew. The castle had been shaking violently throughout the vicious fight between the three Ultimate Digimon. Many of Piemon's followers had been smart to flee into the forest as the castle began crumbling from the different impacts.
Takeru had heard many of the Digimon saying that Piemon might actually be defeated and with his defeat, they would finally be free. They had all seen the struggle he was having against Bancho Stingmon and Mastemon. Takeru realized they were fighting out of fear, out of control, and not loyalty. Now only Piemon and a few loyal Lady Devimon remained, which were easily taken care of due to the other Banchos and their Digimon.
"What you mean?" It was then when noticed Bancho Stingmon rushing towards Bancho Leomon. What's going on?
They were a bit too far to hear the conversation, but the part he did hear made his blood run cold. "This place is going to blow!"
Piemon knew he should have killed Stingmon when he had the chance. It was so very typical of him to use others to fight his battles. He was nothing without his friends. Piemon woke up with those thoughts as he regained consciousness after blanking out when he collided in the varies walls and towers from Mastemon and Bancho Stingmon's last attack. Piemon grunted at the way his leg twisted unnaturally upon trying to move it. The pain was unbearable, but he ignored it. It would be all worth it in the end.
"Stingmon," Piemon hissed venomously, almost painfully, as he gazed at the red light that was now lightening the room. Stupid. This situation was so stupid and infatuating. Out of all the stupid things to happen, it was this. He should have killed the other when he had the chance. He had been a mere Adult, a weakling. But no, the Banchos had gotten in the way. And now they were interfering once again.
Piemon slowly sat up from his position on the floor. He was somewhere on one of the lower levels that led to one of the two torture chambers he had within the castle. He had killed many foolish Digimon here. A variety of torture machines filled the room, but some of his favorites were the torture chair, the rack, and a huge tube-like prison where he either drowned several uncompliant Digimon or brainwashed them as he tore them apart and fused them with another Digimon.
Piemon relished at the pain and fear he caused across his own followers and those he hunted, but maybe it wasn't enough. The boy had enough strength to create this miracle, despite Piemon sucking out every drop of energy the boy had. Yet, the child had just enough strength to restore Stingmon and Mastemon to their former glory. How very sad when they realize that this little rescue was for not. For when the boy reawakens, the spell he had cast on the boy, he would be without his memories, allowing him to hear the call of the beast.
And even if they do manage to take the boy away from him, Stingmon would forever suffer when the child sees him and everyone he knew as a possible enemy. He smiled, knowing that he had fulfilled the final part of the plan No one who had ever entered the Dark Area ever returned to the Digital World until today that is. Piemon laughed. Yes, today, at long last, Grand Dracumon would be free of his prison.
Piemon remembered when he was Kunemon. He had stumbled upon an abandoned castle that was close to ruins. That particular castle, as he had come to learn, later on, was the home of the great Dracumon. Grand Dracumon had lived in that castle of many centuries terrorizing the inhabitants of the Digital World until the Royal Knights swooped in and sealed the other away within the Dark Area. He had explored the castle for three whole days. During his exploration of the castle, he had found a mirror in one of the bedrooms and somehow ended up communicating with the Demon Beast Digimon himself. The Digimon had given him immense powers and allowed him to see the truth of this war. There was no winner in this war for the vaccines where the true enemies. The cycle of death and hatred would only continue as long as the vaccines continued to believe they were better than the virals and any that didn't side with the light.
Seeing Stingmon fighting on the side of those foul vaccines had only angered him for he still believed that virals and vaccines could live in peace, in harmony, when it was obvious that it was impossible. There was too much corruption, too much bloodshed, too much hatred. In order for that to happen the world had to be anew. Piemon had at one point offered his old friend the opportunity to be a member of the Dark Masters. But he had rejected his offer and instead joined the Banchos; that had been the ultimate betrayal.
Piemon had never forgiven him for that. And yet, he still lives. Piemon audibly growled. How was it possible that he was bestowed the great honor of being partnered with a human, despite all his crimes? If it had been any other human, he may have not cared. But this was not just any human. Stingmon had stolen the very same child Grand Dracumon had promised him. The child's fate had been set before he had even been born. The child had been chosen by Grand Dracumon to be the pawn of Darkness, but he had been stolen from them. Piemon knew Homeostasis had been behind all of it. The damn entity had been trying to stop Grand Dracumon's return for years now, for it knew the child was the key.
The boy getting hit by the Dark Seed had only been the first step and Vamdemon influencing him into being the Kaiser was merely the second step to their plan. The child had been under their control, his memories altered to the point where he was unaware of Grand Dracumon dictating his every move. Wormmon being degraded and constantly insulted had only been a bonus.
It had only been a set back when Homeostasis summoned new children to stop the child. That had been so close, but the entity had not won. They could not stop Grand Dracumon's return. All was going according to plan.
Piemon smiled as he pulled out a round mirror out of his pocket and waved his other hand, casting a spell that would allow him to communicate with the Demon Beast. He smiled at the other Digimon when the image of his master appeared on the mirror. "The spell has been cast, Lord Grand Dracumon. The child is yours."
"Good," the other laughed menacingly. "Very good, Piemon. You have served me well."
Piemon's smile widened at the praise, but there was something in his tone that confused him. It sounded as if this was going to be the last time they would talk to each other. Was he going to try and influence the child now? Was he going to make the boy open the portal? "Yes," he said. "With the child under your control once again, the Holy Beasts and Homeostasis will fall."
Grand Dracumon laughed and so did he. But Piemon's was strained. Grand Dracumon knew something he didn't.
"It is a shame really," he said, which made Piemon's smile falter. There was that tone again.
"My Lord?"
"I will miss having you around. You truly were the best soldier I had." Piemon stiffened, confused. What was he talking about? He wasn't going…
And then he heard it. "Five seconds to auto-destruct."
Piemon's eyes widened on their own accord. "Self-destruct? I didn't activate a self-destruct!"
"Four."
Grand Dracumon laughed. "He is very clever indeed."
"Three."
"No!" Piemon tried to shake off the pain, to escape, but he was unable to. He could not move his right leg, nor his body fast enough.
"Two!"
"Goodbye, Piemon." The mirror then shattered as Piemon looked on with tears in his eyes. All the powers Grand Dracumon had given left his body immediately, reverting him back to Kunemon. For the first time in a long time, Kunemon's mind felt so very clear. There was no anger, hatred. It was like it had never been there in the first place. But the memories of what he had done replied in his mind like a tidal wave, causing the Child Digimon sobbed. How could he let this happen? How could he have been so stupid? It was obvious now that Grand Dracumon had only been using him. Kunemon wept sorrowfully with the knowledge had he had helped a monster regain his freedom. And now everyone was in danger, because of him and his stupidity. As he reflected on what he had done, Kunemon wished he could take back all he had done and all the words he had said. He wished he could fix all the problems he had caused over the centuries, but he knew it was too late. Kunemon could not bring back the lives he'd destroyed, nor those he'd betrayed. But there was one thing, he realized, that he could do as the castle shook violently.
"One."
"Wormmon…" He would always cherish the memories of his friendship with Wormmon. The other may never forgive him, but in his final breath, in spirit, he wanted the other to know that he was truly sorry. "I'm sorry. I truly am."
Kunemon, resigned to his fate, gazed at the open hole in the wall before he was crushed and engulfed in flames. The blue sky would be the last thing he saw before he disintegrated into data and if he was lucky he would meet the other again.
From behind them, the castle shook violently as the towers exploded into a blazing fire one after the other. And within seconds of the four towers being engulfed in flames, the whole castle was covered in fiery heat and red and orange flames. Fear was all I felt as I watched the castle crumble and fall to the ground. "NO, KEN!" Bancho Leomon and Bancho Golemon held me back, preventing me from rushing to the castle to save my partner instead of entering the portal Mastemon had created. The other Chosen and Digimon were already gone, having escaped to HQ before the castle exploded. "Let me go!"
"And let you rush into that?" Bancho Golemon said. "Sorry, no can do."
"Ken's in there!" I yelled, tears filling my eyes.
"No, he's not." I stilled for a moment before turning to gaze at Mastemon. Right next to the portal that led to HQ was a second portal. The portal seemed to be moments before the castle exploded. I could see a stylish hallway, filled with rugs and banners that depicted the Demon Man Digimon. And on the other side of the portal were my friends, my partner, and all the Digimon Piemon had turned into keychains. One by one every Digimon and Human traveled through the portal, unharmed, as the sound of the castle crumbling was heard behind the group. I stopped struggling and watched as Bancho Lilimon entered the clearing, before the portal closed behind her, giving me a smile as she held Ken in her arms.
As the castle crumbled behind us, every Digimon that had been captured by Piemon flew into the forest that wasn't burning, wanting to get away from the madness around them. And then it was just them. The five Bancho, Mastemon, Daisuke, XV-mon, and Ken. Bancho Lilimon smiled as she handed Ken over to me.
Relief flooded into me as I held my partner in my arms. He was too pale for my liking and had some slight bruising where his collar was, leading to the back of his neck. He also had the beginning of bags under his eyes and his breathing seemed slow. But other then that, he was fine. I inspected my partner a little bit more as the castle's exploding echoed in the background. Ken was alive and safe again. But he was harmed because of me. I know I shouldn't be blaming myself, but for right now the guilt will stay until I have a chance to tell Ken everything. If he could forgive me, then maybe I could start forgiving myself.
"We should go," Bancho Golemon said, interrupting my thoughts. "Hopefully the kid is not that badly hurt."
Bancho Leomon nodded at his comrade's comment and concern. "I will prepare the room for him," he said as he turned to enter the portal with the other two Banchos. "Meet me in the medical room, Bancho Stingmon. I want to make sure there is no lingering magic on him." I nodded. Piemon was versed in all types of dark magic. He could have done something to Ken that may not be physical. There could be a whole book of harm and damage he could do in a short amount of time and that greatly worried me. And then the three Banchos were gone, leaving only me, Mastemon and Bancho Lilimon. Daisuke and XV-mon had been hesitant to leave mines and Ken side, but they too entered the portal seconds after Bancho Leomon, Bancho Golemon, and Bancho Mamemon to join the others.
We all stood in silence for several long minutes, not saying anything as the flames grew, destroying the castle and the surrounding forest that had been abandoned for centuries.
"He's going to be okay, Love," Mastemon said softly as she stood next to the portal. "He's stronger than you think."
"I know," I said. I knew my partner was very strong. He had faced darkness, more than one person should, and managed to come back from it, slightly scarred but still in one piece. He had beaten Millenniumon's attack. He had beaten Vamdemon's influence. He had beaten the World of Darkness, twice. And he had beaten Piemon. Ken was by far the strongest person I knew. And I knew he would beat this and come back stronger than ever.
With those thoughts in my mind, I, finally, lifted up my gaze to my two female friends. But before I could express my gratitude, my words got stuck in my throat. Floating silently over Bancho Lilimon's shoulder was Kunemon. He was very transparent in his ghostly form and it seemed only I was able to see him. If there was one word to describe my old friend's current mood and that would be guilt.
Kunemon's whole body expressed his guilt and shame, from his droopy antennae to his slouched posture. But what really caught me by surprise were the tears falling down his face. "I'm sorry," he said. "I allowed him to use me…I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you."
I couldn't find the words to express how surprised I was to see Kunemon and to hear him apologize. I had wanted to hear this for some time now. I had known deep down that Kunemon had not been himself. I could feel this very dark energy whenever I was around him. This energy was not my friend, but something else. But over time, I had been unable to reach my friend as the darkness around him only grew and grew. Piemon had been unsavable. Yet, here was he now.
"Can you forgive me?" Can I forgive him? I should, after everything he'd done. But, despite the deaths, the insults, the threats, and the harm to my partner, I could not bring myself to hate him. He was like a brother to me.
I bowed my head slightly in both gratitude and acceptance. "Thank you." Kunemon had gotten the message as he smiled watery at me. Bancho Lilimon nodded at him.
"It's no problem," she said as she gestured for me to enter the portal. "We should hurry up and get him checked out." I nodded at her. Bancho Lilimon entered the portal next. I stopped in front of Mastemon, knowing she could see the spirit of Kunemon.
"Kunemon, tell us," she said, softly, "who was controlling?"
The Child Digimon did not hesitate in his response. "Grand Dracumon." We gasped. No. Not him. "He wants the child. He is the key to his return." My only reaction was to hold my partner tighter. No again. I could not allow Ken to be used again by some sick and twist Digimon.
"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have listened to him."
"Oh, Kunemon," Mastemon said softly. "Everything will be alright."
"How?" He asked, sorrowfully. "As long as the spell is in place, Grand Dracumon will be able to control the child from the inside."
"Because," she said, "I have already destroyed all dark magic when I bonded with him. Any attempts he tries will end in him hurting himself. He is safe." Relief washed over the both of us, but Mastemon was not done. "This is not your fault, Kunemon. Grand Dracumon is a very vile Digimon and I am not surprised he would try something like this. But he will no longer be a treat to us or any other Digimon or Human in the future. I have made sure of that."
Kunemon smiled at her. "Thank you." Kunemon soon began to fade as his soul started to turn into data. He was going to be reborn.
"Kunemon?" I spoke up then before he completely disappeared. "I forgive you." Kunemon was very surprised as I added: "Me and Ken will see you at the village soon."
From next to me, Mastemon smiled and nodded. "I forgive you too."
Before he was gone, Kunemon laughed. It was not a laugh that was filled with evil intent, anger, hatred; it was filled with pure love and immense relief. "Thank you."
"Goodbye, old friend," I said as we watched Kunemon completely disappear. As I watched his data float away in the direction of File Island, I felt a deep sense of sadness for him. Yet, I was so happy that he would be reborn. I would soon have the friend I knew all those centuries ago and loved as a younger brother was a good feeling. "Come on." Mastemon looped her arms around my arm. "They are waiting for us." I nodded at her and walked into the portal, knowing for here on out all would be better.
