Alright, I know it seems everything has been happening to Impmon lately. There are several reasons for that. Like he's one of my favorite characters, so I usually put him in the spotlight. Next, part of him makes up the new, improved D-reaper and that does make things interesting. Also, I have something important for him in the near future, so he has to be ready for his fate. But don't worry; Jeri, Kenta, and Ryo are going to have their moments soon. I'll bring those three into the spotlight soon. But until then, we have a few others to check in on. Like a certain evil rookie…
"Master," called DemiDevimon softly. The tiny bat could tell his master was distracted through his connection, but four of the humans and four of the digimon were gathered together in one place. A perfect target, isolated and secluded, he couldn't pass up an opportunity like this. All he needed was a few drones and he would gain the master's eternal gratitude. But to get the new drones he had to ask his master for them first. "If you want me to destroy them, now would be the time. Just say the word and I'll sic the monster of the month on them."
After a moment, the rookie received an answer. "Destroying the other prophesied members in the digital world. No spare tools." DemiDevimon didn't know which of his master's dual voices were creepier: the main one that resembled a sweet girl deprived of all feelings or the darker male one that was dripping with anger and hatred. But it was better to align one's self with powerful beings rather than to worry about how scary they seem. "Can't send any to you."
The dark flying digimon felt his hopes sink. From his hiding place, he could see the tamers and their partners while he was concealed by tree branches and leaves. How would he remain important to his master if he didn't have anything to work with? DemiDevimon needed to be important. He wanted to have an indispensible role once the master took over. And in order to do that, he had to remove these human and digimon from the picture.
"However," the master continued, the red eye on the bat's face widening, "Can provide more power to the tool already there. Much more power. Enough to destroy the targets."
His yellow eyes glittered in anticipation. While the small virus type would rather be the boss of a couple of drones, he would not say no to more power. He was already nearly invincible. What more could he receive?
"Great! Bring on the power boost," he grinned evilly. "I'll take out those guys for you. I won't fail you like the others. Kiwimon and Manipumon were losers."
"Wait. Busy in the digital world," explained his master, "But soon you will destroy them."
DemiDevimon took flight. When the time came, he would need the perfect battleground. The digimon and their human partners would come to him anyway. Why not make them fight on his terms?
As the digital creature glided through the sky, he didn't consider an important fact. His master, the D-reaper, intended to destroy all humans and digimon that had evolved too far. This by definition meant all of them. So why would it help digimon to gain power and keep them around?
Because once the D-reaper regained a true physical form, all its tools would no longer be needed and would be easy to dispose of. They would be destroyed simply by cutting off their power supply, so why not use them until then?
How could she keep doing this? Just stand by while horrible events unfold? Destiny shook her head, trying to dispel the doubts. Prophecies had to be fulfilled or else everything would fall apart.
If death was the price, then so be it. But she had to ensure that events turn out right. She could have warned them. But all that would have done was increased the suffering. She had seen cases like this before. How often a single or a few lives lost prevented hundreds, thousands, or even millions from dying? Destiny knew this and understood. It didn't make what was to come any easier.
She liked them: the humans and digimon. That was part of the trouble. Those who survived would hate and blame her. They would ask why she didn't stop it from happening. If she could prevent what was to come, she would. But she was as powerless to save their friends as she had been to save her own.
Destiny silently asked them for forgiveness as she prepared to stand aside and allow fate to take its course. The breeze stirred her cloak gently as she stood beneath the trees. She would watch. Watch as a prophecy is fulfilled. Watch as someone die. It was her duty and she would always do it. But she hated it.
Polydromon, the creepy mixture of multiple digimon and an apparently revived-somewhat D-reaper, took a large pink-goo-and-red-wire hand and smashed down on the closest hut. The defending wall was already reduced to splinters. One of the smaller heads, for some reason located on one of the left elbows, was an orange reptile's face. The miniature face opened its mouth and spat a fireball at another hut. The flames flickered up through the wood and caused the fleeing digimon to continue their screaming.
Floramon tugged at the tired rookie's arm, "You can't win. You can't even fight. Listen, we're sneaking the in-trainings and sick digimon out the back. Head towards the lake. That area is safe now."
"Come on," Impmon argued, glancing at the giant monstrosity uneasily. "There is no way I'm going to be smuggled out like I'm helpless."
Her blue eyes focused on his green eyes sternly. She gave every impression she was about to smack him on the head. Yikes… If digimon had mothers, Floramon would make a very intimidating one that no child would ever argue with.
"Are you going to be that selfish?" she asked. "What will you accomplish? You'll get killed and then what? Is your pride or whatever worth leaving Ai, Mako, and the rest of your friends alone?"
The purple rookie blinked. When the over-grown weed phrased it like that… the twins would need him. If he acted as stupid as he had with Indramon and challenged Polydromon himself, he would end up splattered and his partners would be left to deal with it. And this time, they would not be nearly as ignorant of the truth.
"Fine," growled Impmon, "But you aren't allowed to do something stupid either. That thing is not a normal digimon. It's a lot worse."
The flowery digimon nodded and pointed towards the back of the village from the main gate. The purple rookie stumbled in the indicated direction. Polydromon was continuing its destructive rampage, ripping open roofs and crushing buildings. The villagers scurried below the swinging arms. Suddenly, Floramon shouted angrily.
"No! Not our garden!"
Impmon spun around to see her glaring up at the mix-and-match creep. And yes, she seemed to be defending several rows of plants. After all that talk about not acting suicidal and now there she was throwing away for a couple scraggly weeds. How stupid can you be?
"Stamen Rope!" she shouted, but her attack didn't even faze the giant. In fact, it barely noticed. She tried again with a cry of "Rain of Pollen!"
The thick cloud did nothing to Polydromon physically, but it caught the creature's attention. The multitude of red eyes turned down towards her. Floramon stood her ground, defending the source of her village's medicine and food. The creature reached down towards her.
"Stupidity: party of two," Impmon grumbled, aiming at the descending hand. "Badda Boom!"
The fireball, smaller than his standard couple-scaring size flames, didn't even singe the monster, but Polydromon was glaring at the purple rookie now. The smaller digimon returned the look.
"Impmon: the lower form of Beelzemon," the Jeri-sounding voice identified. "The digimon that destroyed Leomon."
"Old news," he snarled, "Moving on to the next mistake. I've already heard that one from you. Try to keep with the times and pick a more recent fault."
The creature obliged with the deeper voice laced with cruelty, "Digi-pet. Slave to the humans. Giving up all that power because of a little guilt. Traitor."
"Again, old news. Your buddy Tapirmon's twisted dream was worse than your sad attempts. Get some new material, moron."
Both voices spoke this time, "Must destroy all members of the prophecy. Once all of you are gone, all humans and digimon will be destroyed as well."
"You are insane," snapped Impmon. "The others splattered your D-reaper goo last time. Why would you win this time? And what's with the double voice thing? Isn't it bad enough for a huge creep like you to talk like a little girl?"
The second left arm shot out and grabbed the purple digimon roughly. Polydromon raised the struggling shape so that its main beady eyes were focused on his emerald gaze. The monster stared emotionlessly at the rookie.
It opened its thin mouth slowly, "All must be destroyed."
The grip around him began to tighten cruelly, leaving Impmon gasping and futilely struggling. And then the cavalry arrived.
"Hurry up," Jeri called, surprisingly leaving the others behind. As soon as they had realized that the village, Floramon, and Impmon were in danger, the whole group took off. Now Jeri was leading the pack. "Can you go any faster?"
"Renamon and I've already done this sprint today," pointed out Rika. "Sorry if we can't keep up as well."
Actually, they weren't that far behind. Concern was giving the tamers and digimon speed. But the screams and crashes that grew in volume as they neared, they wondered if it was already too late.
As they burst into the clearing, all of them were stunned by the monstrosity looming over the wreckage that had been the village earlier that day. The pink goo and twisting red wires brought back memories of their battle in the city to save Jeri. But hands and faces of hundreds of digimon reached out through the grotesque shape. There was no logic to the placement. Randomly an arm or a head appeared on the creature. And hundreds of blood-red eyes stared from the various faces.
"It's like Kimeramon, only worse," gasped Takato, referring to the Frankenstein-like creation by the Digimon Emperor on the television show.
Ai and Mako slid down off Leomon's shoulders, their eyes huge and terrified. Jeri was nearly shaking as she saw the creature. It looked so much like the being that had used her to hurt so many. The same creature that had tried to destroy everything by using her emotions as fuel had twisted all these poor digimon into this horror. The girl felt mesmerized by the creature's similarity to the D-reaper.
"Put him down!" an angry voice shouted suddenly.
Floramon stood near the monster, being pulled away by another pair of vegetative digimon. They seemed to be determined to get her away just as much as she seemed to be determined to remain. Her gaze reached upwards towards the creature.
"Impmon!" cried Ai horrified.
Everyone looked where the child pointed. The purple rookie was held in the tightening grip of the giant. Unlike earlier, his eyes were alert and clear. He definitely was aware of his surroundings and wasn't happy about it.
Three tamers exchanged glances. Henry, Rika, and Takato pulled out their D-arcs, holding tightly.
"Jeri," instructed Henry, "You and Leomon help the Floramon villagers get out of here. We'll deal with the D-reaper look-alike. Ai and Mako. Stay back and safe."
As the others followed his directions, the trio of humans and their partners glared up to where Impmon was being squeezed painfully. The giant beast holding him stared down at them.
"Rika, Henry, Takato, Renamon, Terriermon, Guilmon," the creature identified, its voice young, female, and monotone while at the same time deep, male and cruel. Its next words were slower, as if considering the implications of the next two's presence. "Jeri… Leomon? Beelzemon destroyed Leomon? Illogical! His presence is illogical."
A choked out gasp from the slowly suffocating digimon answered, "We're pretty illogical. Get over it, jell-o jerk."
"That's it," snapped Rika. "Time to take out this bozo."
"Polydromon is the perfect tool," the giant claimed. "All will be destroyed," it announced as it tightened its grip further, causing Impmon to release a strangled scream of pain and his friends to take action.
"Guilmon Biomerge digivolve to… Gallantmon!"
"Terriermon Biomerge digivolve to… MegaGargomon!"
"Renamon Biomerge digivolve to… Sakuyamon!"
The three megas charged towards the creature, the boys aiming for the right arms to distract while Sakuyamon flew straight for the captive rookie. Polydromon smacked her flying with its free left arm. The fox-lady tumbled through the air and crashed into a tree.
The deeper voice, Beelzemon's voice they realized, chuckled evilly, "I always wanted to crush you pathetic digi-slaves for your stupidity. Now I will. But some are even worse traitors than you."
"Lightning Joust!" shouted the knight digimon, aiming for the main red-eyes of the creature. As the smoke cleared, Polydromon looked unchanged.
The green robotic dog cried out, "Gargo Missile!" He fired at the same eyes, hoping that it would work like it did with Manipumon. But his attack was as ineffective as Gallantmon's. "What?"
"Decoy," the Jeri-voice explained. "Weakness of tools hidden. Real red eye, real connection, concealed in plain sight."
"Amethyst Wind!" announced the yellow mega, her attack striking multiple faces on Polydromon to no effect.
The darker voice of the monster continued his earlier taunts, "Weak pets to humans. All of you. None of you would leave behind your leashes and bindings to the pathetic human race. But you," his crimson gaze turned to the weakening struggles of Impmon. "You left the trappings behind and gained real power with a clever deal. And you give it up and go crawling back to those stinking brats and begging that cry-baby child for forgiveness. All because she didn't want you to get hurt after your victory against Leomon and you felt guilty then. You should have used her naïve weakness and killed them later."
Gallantmon tried to get near the purple rookie, but he was forced to dodge the other left hand. MegaGargomon tried to use his similar size to Polydromon to free the digimon. Even with the four large free arms, the monster could have possibly been challenged to keep its own. But its red eyes, all of them, narrowed towards the giant mega.
"Binding Snare!" the dual voices announced.
The twisted red wire unwound from the creature's torso and snagged the dog robot, pulling him away from Polydromon and tangling the mega's limbs.
"Not… brats or… cry-baby," Impmon half-gasped and half-hissed in pain, addressing his captor. "Stupid… freaky D-reaper… wannabe. Talks… like Jeri… and me. But… dumber… and uglier... and a... loser."
Jeri saw the scores of fleeing digimon weaving through the rubble of the village. The place was a complete loss. What wasn't crushed was in flames. Floramon, the one that had greeted them so nicely that morning, was still trying to keep her position near the monstrous creation of the D-reaper. Every time Jeri thought about the D-reaper, the girl felt a deep sense of guilt. Was this how Impmon felt when he thought about her or Leomon? She focused her thought back to the present.
When they reached the flowery digimon, Leomon laid a gentle hand on the stubborn Floramon's shoulder. "You can't stay here. You and your village must evacuate."
"But what about our homes? Our garden? Your friend?" she asked, gesturing up to Impmon as the megas battled overhead.
The tamer looked at the vegetative creature kindly, "You can always rebuild. Buildings can be repaired and plants re-grown, but your lives are harder to recover. We'll save Impmon. You must lead your people to safety."
Slowly, the digital being nodded. She allowed the other Floramons who had been attempting to lead her into the forest to do so. As she and the last of the villagers vanished into the shadows of the tree line, Floramon spared a final glance at the burning remains of their home.
Jeri looked up to her partner's face. His expression was grim as he glared at Polydromon. He was a champion and didn't stand a chance fighting it. But he felt should be. This monster was created by the D-reaper. The D-reaper who had captured the girl. Leomon wished he could have protected her from that. But he couldn't and now she felt as guilty as if she had caused that chaos. He had seen this since she learned of its return.
"Jeri, they should be safe now," the leonine digimon reasoned. "Should we not go back to guard the younger children?"
She nodded suddenly, trying to ignore the explosions, shouts, and other sounds overhead that were beyond her control. "Before the twins do something stupid. Those kids are likely to try and help if we aren't there to stop them."
Beneath the looming branches of the various trees that bordered the clearing, two small brown-haired shapes huddled. The terrified twins shivered as the older kids and their partners attacked the giant grasping their best friend. Impmon was in danger and they didn't know what to do. Should they go out towards the pink and red creature? Or should they stay here like Henry told they?
"Greeting Double Single," a calm female voice announced as a cloaked figure approached them. The stranger looked and sounded like the one from the D-arc as she stepped out of the shadows towards the nervous children. "I come to bring you important information of what is to come. But you must not repeat what I tell you to the others or even mentioned this conversation at all."
"Who are you, D-arc lady," whispered Ai.
As the figured pulled down her hood to reveal dark brown hair, deep blue eyes, and a human face, she answered carefully, "My name is Destiny and no matter what happens, I'm your friend and not your enemy. Many things are about to occur and everything will seem to be going wrong. But you must remember a few important things," Shouts of battle and the monster's taunts rang out, nearly distracting the twins from her instructions. "First, Impmon has made you two promises: to always return to you and to always protect you. He would never let you down if he can help it."
"How do you know?" Mako asked suddenly, "Do you know him?"
Her eyes darkened, looking sad as she continued, "Let's say I knew someone like him. A lot like him. Second," she reached into Ai's dress pocket, pulling out a certain piece of red cloth the child still had with her. The older girl tied it to the young tamer's head to hold the increasingly messy hair back. When she finished, Ai looked like she was wearing a red neckerchief like an old woman would. But she seemed unconcerned by her appearance and Destiny assured, "no matter how hopeless life may seem or how great the evil appears, you must understand, 'though you may tread in the shadows of death and the heartless seeks your destruction, in the darkness is the light. One who is lost to the darkness will still live while dead, and that life will enough to face the personal demons that haunt his dreams.' Understand me?"
The pair of tamers shook their heads as the older girl grinned sadly. She patted their heads gently and turned away. As she stepped back into the shadows of the forest, she called back a reminder.
"Do not forget: you have not seen me. And as deep as the darkness that surrounds you might be, the light shall shine equally as bright."
Before the confused children could question her, another strangled gasp from Impmon reminded them of the situation. They spun around to where the megas fought to free him. Ai and Mako stared horrified as the monstrosity continued to slowly tighten his grip while batting away the other digimon like flies. Destiny was already gone.
Exciting, isn't it? I know that it still seems like it still all about Impmon. Because right now it still is. Soon though, I'll bring on the coolness to some of the others. Promise, Jeri is going to do something cool! And things are about to get exciting in the human world too. DemiDevimon is going to demonstrate some real power soon. So hope you like it so far and keep reading my story as I keep updating. I may slow down now that school has started up again, but I'll keep it coming.