Chapter 21
Suddenly, a large shadow appeared below them, and Whamon flew out, ramming into Metalseadramon. "Whamon!" Miharumon said, relieved. They all swam into Whamon, who swam into the water. Miharumon sighed, feeling better now that she wasn't swimming helplessly in the water, and lay Yumi down. She whimpered as she nuzzled Yumi's neck. Matt came over, asking, "What happened?" "I don't know. She probably hit her head when she fell off Zudomon." Miharumon curled up by Yumi's side, keeping a worried eye on her. After a while, Yumi began to stir. "Yumi!" Miharumon said, jumping to her feet. Yumi's eyes fluttered open, and she asked, sitting up, "Wh-Where am I?"
"Inside Whamon." Miharumon said, nuzzling Yumi worriedly. Yumi smiled, hugging Miharumon's neck tight. Whamon decided to go up, so they ended up on top of him, fishing. Miharumon stayed away from the edge, hating water now more than ever, and watched as Palmon and Gatomon caught some fish. Yumi patted Miharumon's head, and she heard Izzy say that the weapons on Wargreymon's arms were Dramon Destroyers, so they would be the key to defeating the Dark Masters. Yumi brightened, until she saw Agumon eat a fish his size in one bite. Miharumon hit him over the head, saying, "Agumon, spit that out! You're making me sick!"
Suddenly, Joe was pulled into the water, and Gomamon said, "We've got trouble!" Miharumon looked down to see Gomamon attached to Joe's fishing line, but this wasn't the time to laugh. "What's the problem, Gomamon?" "Divermon are in the area!" "Divermon?" Yumi questioned, looking at Miharumon. "They're Metalseadramon's henchmen." Whamon explained. "Now get inside me. We need to move, quick." Once everyone was safely inside him, Izzy was on his computer. Yumi sighed. Sometimes, the sound of a keyboard was annoying, but Izzy probably had a good reason for being on his laptop right now.
After a while, everyone looked at the screen to see what Whamon was actually seeing. Yumi thought it would be useful, but Miharumon didn't see why they needed it. Miharumon said, "I wish I could Digivolve into a water Digimon so I could beat Metalseadramon's butt!" "We all have dreams, Miharumon." Yumi said, putting a hand on Miharumon's head.
Suddenly, Yumi felt a pain in her ears, and covered them. Miharumon did, too, and whimpered softly. Her ears were delicate, and sometimes hurt more. Whamon said, "Sorry, I dove a little too fast. I'll equalize the pressure." He went to the seafloor and burped. The pain in everyone's ears was gone, and Yumi smiled. Suddenly, a strange beeping came to their ears, and Izzy said, "Be quiet." No one made a sound, and the beeping died out. "I think we're safe." Yumi whispered. "We're not out of danger yet. You need to be quiet just a little bit longer." Whamon whispered. Yumi nodded, when the beeping came back, louder than ever. "They've found us!" Tai said.
Whamon started swimming as fast as he could go, while four Divermon were on their tails. Tsubasamon wriggled in Obana's grip, but she didn't let him go. He Digivolved back to Akiramon, and said, "We need to fight!" "Are you crazy? You're not going to fight!" Obana said protectively, still holding Akiramon tight. Whamon started swimming down a deep crevice, and the Divermon couldn't take the pressure. Miharumon sighed with relief, and saw Izzy talking to Kari. She went and blew her whistle, loudly. Yumi covered Miharumon's ears, though her ears were still ringing afterward. Izzy used it as sonar, and found a tunnel that should lead them to land.
As they were nearing it, Metalseadramon attacked. Miharumon snarled, saying, "I'm gonna get that water snake back for hurting Yumi! Let me out of here!" The only thing keeping her from breaking a hole through Whamon were Yumi's arms, which were wrapped tightly around her neck. They made it to the surface, and they were on top of Whamon. Miharumon relaxed, until a scent wafted past her nose. She snarled when Metalseadramon surfaced.
Agumon Warp-Digivolved to Wargreymon and distracted Metalseadramon as Gabumon, Gomamon, Biyomon, Tentomon, Miharumon, and Akiramon Digivolved to Garurumon, Ikkakumon, Birdramon, Kabuterimon, Haramon, and Kazumamon. Kazumamon lifted Obana into his arms as Yumi jumped onto Haramon's back. As they made it to shore, Haramon turned to see Wargreymon in Metalseadramon's mouth. Haramon snarled, and jumped at Metalseadramon, shooting a Howling Tornado. He barely flinched, and she used Slashing Fangs. It barely left a dent in his armor, and he swatted her away with his tail. She fell into the water, and he used his tail to hold her under.
Yumi ran to the edge, yelling, "Haramon! Haramon!! HARAMON!!!" She didn't know what to do, and jumped into the water. Kazumamon shot a Piercing Arrow at Metalseadramon, but the large Digimon's grip on Wargreymon and Haramon didn't slacken. Yumi saw Haramon in the water, and tried to free her. Unfortunately, Metalseadramon's tail was split at the end, and one end of it wrapped around her midsection, trying to force all of the air out of Yumi's lungs. It was too much, and the air escaped her mouth in small bubbles. As Haramon saw Yumi's eyes flutter closed, Yumi's crest began to glow, and Haramon Digivolved to Endohmon. She used a shuriken to cut at Metalseadramon's tail, making him release her, and used Leaf Hurricane.
He released Yumi, and Endohmon grabbed her, swimming to the surface. She was standing on the water, holding Yumi in her arms. She raced to the shore, laying Yumi down gently, and turned to face Metalseadramon, who was threatening to eat Wargreymon whole. She used Leaf Hurricane, distracting Metalseadramon as Wargreymon fought loose of his hold. Endohmon ran over the water, and, as she was running, took out some exploding tags, and did a hand sign as she skidded to a stop. The tags began to glow and wrapped around Metalseadramon's neck. "On the count of three." She said, looking at Wargreymon. He nodded, but, before he could attack, Whamon tackled Metalseadramon, who used River of Power to blow a hole through Whamon's head.
"WHAMON!!!"
Endohmon's anger got the best of her as she did a hand sign, blowing up Metalseadramon as Wargreymon used Mega Claw. With Metalseadramon defeated, Endohmon calmed down, and went to shore, Dedigivolving to Iinomon. She licked Yumi's face, and Yumi's eyes fluttered open. "I-Iinomon…" Iinomon barked with joy, jumping onto Yumi's chest and licking her face with a happy tongue.
Everyone else Dedigivolved and were next to a mortally injured Whamon. His last words were "Digidestined, save this world." Before he drifted apart. Iinomon said, tears in her eyes, "I promise we'll stop them, Whamon. I'll make sure of it." Yumi turned to Metalseadramon, and saw him disintegrate as well. Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling and they looked to Spiral Mountain. The part of it that was ocean was disappearing, getting reconfigured. "Well, that's one Dark Master down, three to go." Yumi said, and Iinomon, nestled in her arms, said, "And soon, there won't be any left!" Yumi smiled, until she looked behind herself to see Mimi making some small shrines.
The smile vanished, and she said, "But we have lost some good friends." Iinomon's ears lowered as she nodded. Yumi kneeled down next to Mimi, asking, "Who are these for?" "That one over there is for Wizardmon, the one next to it is for Piximon, the one over there is for Whamon, and this one…" She put her hands on the shrine, "Is for Chuumon." Yumi put a comforting hand on Mimi's shoulder, saying, "They'll come back. They'll be reborn at Primary Village, and then everything will be like before." Iinomon nodded, and Tai said, "What better reason to defeat the Dark Masters than payback for making our friends leave!" "I'm not going!" Mimi said decidedly. "Every time we fight, we lose another friend!"
"Mimi…" Yumi could find no words to comfort Mimi, though Matt gave Tai a piece of his mind about how they needed to stop and think about their friends once in a while. Yumi said, "STOP FIGHTING!!" Everything was quiet besides Mimi's crying, and Yumi said, quietly, quiet sobs shaking her throat, "We're all supposed to be friends. Why are you two fighting if your friends?!" Iinomon whimpered softly as she nuzzled Yumi's hand. They didn't answer her, and Joe, trying to change the subject, said they should keep moving. There was an uneasy silence as they walked through a strange forest. Iinomon was on Yumi's shoulder, looking at everyone through sympathetic eyes.
She saw Kari stop, and perked her ears. Yumi took the hint and stopped. When Kari caught up with them, Tai told her and Gatomon not to wander off. Yumi didn't like this tense atmosphere, and wished she could do something to dispel it. She sighed, when the ground they were walking on began to move. Iinomon nearly fell off of Yumi's shoulder from the sudden jolt, and Yumi asked, "What's going on?!" "The grounds moving!" Izzy said. They jumped off, and that land started moving, too! Iinomon was growing tired of this, and everyone climbed into the trees.
Tai tried to convince everyone to fight whoever it was, and it nearly got him and Matt into another argument. Obana was holding Akiramon on her lap, and said, "It's not like Koromon can keep Digivolving, Tai. Let him rest for a while longer." Suddenly, she disappeared, and Akiramon nearly fell out of the tree. "Obana!" Yumi cried, as Iinomon jumped to the spot where she was. Then, Izzy disappeared, and then Tai. Soon, the only people left were Matt, T.K., and Yumi. Iinomon looked around, worried, and Yumi asked, "Where are they?" Neither of the boys could guess, until they disappeared. Yumi called out to them, but there was no response. "Oh, come on!" She was trembling slightly.
She was worried that they might be getting hurt, and she didn't even know where they were. Suddenly, she disappeared, and reappeared with Matt and T.K. "Matt! T.K.!" She was relieved that they weren't hurt, when a voice came from the forest. She tensed, hearing the voice come closer, and Puppetmon appeared behind T.K., covering his eyes for a moment. "Puppetmon!" She growled, wishing Iinomon was with her. "Oh, look at that. Are you scared?" "Scared of some rotting wood?! Not likely!" She snarled, crossing her arms. "Well, it's not like your little doggy friend can save you now." "She'll come." "I doubt it." "Doubt it all you want, but she's coming to get me!" Yumi said stubbornly.
"Maybe she doesn't care enough to." That shook Yumi deep, and she said, uncertainly, "You don't know her…" "Yumi, don't listen to him! He's just trying to scare you!" And it's working, Yumi thought, as her knees shook, no matter how much she willed them to stay steady. "Why don't you come play with me? You and T.K. would make great playmates!" "I refuse." She said, her voice a bit shaky. Matt was getting protective, and Puppetmon threw a red ball that wrapped around him, making him fall, heavily, to the ground. Yumi ran to Matt's side, and Puppetmon said, "Are you coming with me or not?" "I'm not!" She said, defiantly, and T.K. agreed.
"Well, one of you needs to come with me, unless you want me to destroy him." Yumi stood up, towering over Puppetmon, and said, "There's only one word I have to say then." "What?" She breathed deeply, before yelling, as loud as she could, "IINOMON!!!!!!!!" He could hear a savage snarling coming towards them at a fast pace. He took his hammer, aiming it at Matt. "If you harm him, it'll be the last thing you ever do." She said darkly, T.K. behind her. "Well, one of you are coming with me, whether you like it or not!" He grabbed T.K., and disappeared. "T.K.!!!" She yelled, but she got no answer.
She tried to untie Matt, but it proved nearly impossible, when the ground started to move. Suddenly, when it stopped, everyone was there. "Iinomon!" Yumi cried, as Iinomon jumped into her arms, knocking her over. Gabumon cut Matt free, and he said that Puppetmon had taken T.K. Everyone agreed that they should go and save him, when Kiwimon appeared. "No one is allowed to disturb Master Puppetmon's playtime. You're all staying right here." Iinomon snarled, jumping to the ground. "Make us!" He used Pummel Peck, and Iinomon dodged, using Puppy Wail. Kiwimon dodged as Iinomon and Koromon Digivolved to Miharumon and Agumon.
Matt asked where T.K. was, and got mad when Kiwimon didn't answer him. "Matt, calm down." Yumi said, but her words didn't seem to work. Gabumon tried to Warp-Digivolve, but Matt's crest refused to glow. "Matt, why can't I Digivolve?" Gabumon questioned. Kiwimon took this opportunity to use Pummel Peck. Biyomon Digivolved to Birdramon, and blocked the attack. She used Meteor Wing, and defeated Kiwimon. When she Dedigivolved, Matt got mad, thinking they'd never find T.K. now. Suddenly, T.K.'s voice came into earshot, and everyone turned to see him running up to them, with Patamon on his head.
Everyone ran up, congratulating, and Yumi saw Matt start walking away. She smiled to T.K. before following Matt, with Miharumon by her side. Obana saw them disappear into the shadows of the trees, but she thought they were just going for a walk or something, and didn't say anything. They were walking on the edge of a lake, and Yumi stayed silent, thinking he just needed some time to think. He stopped, and asked, "Why'd you come?" "Because I'm worried about you. You've been acting weird. Matt…what's wrong?" He turned to her, and sighed, saying, "I just…I feel like a fifth wheel."
She understood the comparison, and said, "But…you're not." "I thought I had a purpose, to protect my little brother, but…he's grown up. This place has changed everyone for the better, but not me." "Matt…" She couldn't think of any words to comfort him, when Miharumon snarled. Yumi looked forward to see a large tree Digimon. "Cherrymon." Miharumon said darkly. "I see you want to change." Cherrymon said, directing it at Matt. "So what if I do? It's not like you can help me." "Actually, I can." Matt seemed interested, and Yumi said, glaring at the large Digimon, "If you're tricking us…!" "Why would I do that?"
"Just tell me…how I can change." Matt cut in. Yumi was about to protest when Cherrymon said, "In order to change, you need to defeat your rival." "My rival?" "Look into the lake, and you'll see the face of the one holding you back from being as strong as you could be." "Matt, don't listen to him." He ignored her protests as he looked into the water. She stood beside him, and saw Tai's face appear in the water. "Tai?!" She questioned, disbelieving. Cherrymon, ignoring Yumi, said, "You need to defeat Tai in order to change." Matt was thinking, and Yumi said, "Matt, you can't! Tai's your friend!" "You're right. Tai's my friend!" "You don't really believe that. Not in your heart of hearts, anyway." "What…are you saying?" Yumi questioned, looking at Matt.
"Friendship, comrades, loyalty…" He looked at Yumi when he said that last part, "They're nice words, but that's all they are…words." "YOU'RE WRONG!!" Both were surprised by Yumi's sudden outburst. "THEY'RE NOT JUST WORDS! THEY'RE REAL!" "But…how can you be so sure?" Yumi looked at Matt as he finished his question, and said, "Because…I feel that they're there. I feel a connection with them, something not easily broken." Her gaze softened. "They're my friends, and so are you, and I'd do anything to protect my friends, even give my own life." She gripped her crest tight, "And that's what I think my crest means. Don't you believe in yours?"
Cherrymon said, "It's time to make your decision. Either defeat Tai or be content with walking in his shadow forever." Yumi saw Matt's indecision, and said, "Matt, you need to make this decision, but we can't make it for you." Gabumon nodded. "You need to believe in yourself. Whatever you decide to do, I'll be right there beside you." Gabumon nodded. Yumi nodded, saying, "I'm sure you'll make the right choice." She kneeled down next to him. "You always have friends. You have Gabumon, me, Miharumon… You're never alone." His crest began to glow, and Gabumon Warp-Digivolved to Metalgarurumon.
Matt, Yumi, and Miharumon got on Metalgarurumon and he started running. Metalgarurumon was going to prove that friendship and loyalty were more than just words, and Yumi didn't want to think where all of this might go.
They got off when they saw a strange Digimon about to suck Kari and Gatomon into a trashcan. Metalgarurumon used Ice Wolf Claw, defeating the Digimon easily, as the others walked out of the trees. As Metalgreymon Dedigivolved to Agumon, he ran to Metalgarurumon. Metalgarurumon shot eye beams, making Agumon stop in his tracks. "What are you doing?" "It's a challenge. Digivolve to Wargreymon, because I won't miss next time!" Yumi feared that Matt would choose to fight, and Miharumon whimpered slightly, wishing she could stop them. Agumon Warp-Digivolved to Wargreymon, and they began a vicious fight, taking to the skies. Before Yumi knew it, Matt and Tai were fighting, too.
Yumi felt tears sting her eyes as she saw them fight. Soon, it was too much, and she yelled, "STOP!!!!" Suddenly, a bright light washed over them, and they were all taken to a world of glowing white. Metalgarurumon and Wargreymon had Dedigivolved all the way back to Tsunomon and Koromon. Kari said, "In this world, there's a balance of light and dark, but when the darkness becomes too powerful…" The once white room turned black, "It upsets the balance." Suddenly, the city came into view, showing Greymon and Parrotmon going into that white light in the sky. "Kari, how do you know this?" "I think someone is using Kari to communicate with us." Izzy explained.
Obana nodded, holding Akiramon. "Why did you choose us to be the Digidestined?" Yumi questioned, a hand on Miharumon's head. "When a Digiegg came from our world to yours, Tai and Kari were able to make him Digivolve and protect them." They were lifted into the air. "I'll show you." As they flew towards the large white hole in the sky, they saw rays of light pointing at them. It was…strange, seeing a younger version of yourself. "That light is analyzing your data." "Oh." Yumi said absentmindedly. They went into the light, and were soon in a large room, full of machines and other bits and pieces of complicated machinery.
"They're checking the balance between the light and the darkness." Yumi saw a glass case, and saw nine Digieggs, each with a Digivice and a crest. Everyone went to look, and Kari explained that, since Tai and Kari were able to make Greymon Digivolve, they were chosen, and the others because they had something in common with them.
Yumi said, "If those Digieggs are for our Digimon, then where's Miharumon's Digiegg?" "See for yourself." Yumi looked around to see Iinomon running around, tripping over herself, laughing. "She was the first to hatch, so we wanted her to protect the others when they did hatch, since she was the oldest. Of course, that's a big responsibility for such a young Digimon, but the day she promised was the day Piedmon attacked." Suddenly, the door opened, and Gardromon and Mekanorimon stormed the place, blasting the workers. Iinomon was under a machine, shaking with fright, until Piedmon went up to the glass case.
When he grabbed the tags and crests, she jumped out, using Puppy Wail. He obviously blocked the blow easily, and was about to attack her when a younger Gennai swiped at Piedmon with a sword. Gennai jumped into a Mekanorimon, and lifted Iinomon in with him, grabbed the Digieggs and Digivices, and flew away. Gardromon flew after him, and hit him so hard that he dropped Gatomon's Digiegg. They heard Iinomon tell Gennai, but he couldn't get it now. The images ended there, and the strange being released Kari. They were back where they'd been before the light had transported them, and they waited for Kari to wake up.
"Matt, now we know why we're the Digidestined, and we should let bygones be bygones." Tai said, trying to fix what he thought he'd broken. "Sorry, but I need to go." "But…why?" "I need to be find myself, Tai. I need to do this." No one was going to protest, and Yumi said, "I'm going with you." "But…" "No buts. I'm going, and you can't stop me." She said stubbornly. He knew he couldn't stop her, and said, "Fine." "Bye, guys! We'll meet up with you guys later!" She said, following Matt, though neither her nor Miharumon had a clue of where they were going.