Okay, Ryo and Cyberdramon are dead. Impmon is dead-ish. D-reaper/Beelzemon are evil. Both they and Impmon are currently in the dark dimension, though they haven't really noticed the purple rookie yet. And the worlds are in deep trouble. Even worse, the guys in the human world need to have a new leader immediately and to get a plan of some kind or they are toast. Any questions? No? Then, here we go.
With a raised hand, Destiny opened a new portal in the air. This one was composed of darker, more muted colors. But in shape and size, it was identical to the portal she had opened so the tamers and digimon could pursue their lost trio. She stood by, indicating they should enter.
"Are you coming with us?" Leomon asked.
The cloaked figure shook her head, "I am needed in the human world."
"So how do we get back then?" questioned the green and white rabbit, now in a metallic ultimate form.
"After you succeed in your mission, I will return you from the dark dimension to the digital world," the prophetess reassured them.
"Alright then," shouted Rapidmon. "Let's get the show on the road then."
Destiny watched as they stepped through. Three ultimates stepped through the opening, the portal expanding to accommodate the larger digimon. Rika, Henry, and Takato went next, crossing the threshold like it was routine. Leomon, intent on guarding his partner and the young twins in the dark dimension, lead the remainder of the group.
As the portal closed silently, Destiny slid the hood from her face. Some flickering memory tried to make its self known. It had started when she had spoken privately with Ai and Mako. She knew them. She had seen them before. In fact, she felt a strong connection to them. They felt like… friends. Like friends from her past…
She shook her head sharply, trying to dispel the lingering familiarity. Her memories were always faulty and scattered. Even if she had met the twins before, they had not known her now. And likely she would not be able to recall how she knew them anyway, so focusing on the lost memory was a waste of time and energy.
Destiny prepared a new portal to take her to the human world. The dark haired girl knew that Ryo and his partner were already gone. Another thing the tamers and their digimon would blame her for, she knew. But some things were beyond her ability to change or stop. Fate, Impmon, Ryo, and Cyberdramon: all of them died because she was bound to her duty and the prophecy.
"I can't stop what must happen," she reminded herself, "but I can help those in need that won't disrupt the prophecy."
She crossed the border between the two worlds, vanishing through the portal.
Who knew that a simple train ride can result in so much chaos? Calumon managed to pretend to be a stuffed animal for about two minutes. While Yamaki had earned a few odd looks for being a grown man holding a "toy," things had been going smoothly. Until the cheerful digimon decided to meet all the "new friends" sharing the train compartment. The tamer then spent the rest of the trip alternating between attempting to grab the floating white creature and reassuring the other passengers that they were not going crazy. The children on board loved it. One girl kept commenting on how adorable the digimon was.
Most of the people got off the train at the next stop. The girl, unfortunately, did not.
Yamaki was so glad to escape the public transportation when they finally reached the correct part of the city. As they drew nearer and nearer the location, the number of people drastically reduced. He even began to hear the occasional explosion from the battle that must be taking place.
As the badly damaged factory came into sight, a figure suddenly appeared in his path. A dark cloak concealed her shape, but the hood was withdrawn to reveal a young girl with dark hair and unbelievable deep blue eyes. The familiar cloak and the other tamers' description of her eyes identified her as the mysterious figure that had been appearing to them.
"Beware, what you will find inside will haunt your nights," she warned, skipping the pleasantries.
The man was forced to halt by the girl blocking his path, "I am not frightened by…
"Not the digimon's appearance," she interrupted. "You will feel guilt over things beyond your control to stop. You will feel that, since you are the adult, it is your fault and you should have stopped it. Do not feel that. It was too late before I appeared."
"What's wrong?" asked Calumon, seeing the girl's regret and Yamaki's growing apprehension.
"Not all will be returning home from this fight," she answered simply.
Kenta tried to find an appropriate reaction. Ryo… Cyberdramon… gone. Devimon had… killed them. It seemed too impossible to be true. Suzie's eyes were huge as she stared at where Justimon had been just a few moments before. She didn't seem to be crying anymore, but only because she was too shocked.
"…Wyo?" she whimpered.
"Dead, child," laughed the dark champion. "Dead. Just as you all will be."
He was right. They were beaten. Kenta felt, deep down, that they never stood a chance in the first place. Other than Ryo, none of them could Biomerge and their only other mega was now at the training stage. Their main, heavy-hitter fighters were in the digital world. All that were left were a bunch of second-string…
Second-string team. Side-kick. Follower. All of these phrases were how the D-arc person had described the role he had created for himself. She had told him to stop limiting himself like that. That he needed to be himself. She had said the time was coming for him to take charge.
"Guess now is that time," he muttered. "Hope I don't get laughed at as I'm splattered."
Kazu, struggling to get out of from under the trapped shape of his apologizing partner, looked up as a trio of ruby eyes glittered with cruel mirth. The boy, having seen the virus type already kill some of his friends, still felt the urge to make a wise-crack. Unfortunately, when he opened his mouth, his comments seemed to have left him as he stared at his probable death in the face.
Another seemed to still have his voice, however quaky.
"Devimon, we won't let you win."
The dark champion turned his attention to the source of resistance. A dusty figure, his dark hair coated in grey powder and flecks of rubble, stood atop a broken slab of concrete. His glasses were miraculously unbroken. In his arms, he held a grey creature topped with bright orange lock of hair. The boy's expression was one of determination.
Kenta continued, "We won't let you keep hurting people. Me and Bukamon will not stand by as you pick us off. Chances are you'll reduce us to a smear on the ground, but that doesn't mean that we won't try anyway. Because that's what we do. We do the right thing even if it seems impossible."
As Devimon laughed at the youth's pitiful speech, the digimon didn't see the effect the words were having. The loss of their friends had been so painful and disheartening. But somehow, the dark-haired boy seemed to radiate optimism.
Kenta took a step forward, glaring at the champion. He caught sight of the hole they had entered through earlier. Two… no three shapes framed the hole. The boy easily recognized Yamaki, Calumon, and the enshrouded figure who had spoken to him earlier that day. The trio's expression held signs of shock, confusion, and, in the case of the girl, regret. But the tamer had bigger things on his mind.
"Tell me, child," the dark creature asked. "You are a helpless human. Your digimon is a tiny in-training stage. How do you plan to stop me alone?"
"He's not alone, batboy," Kazu's voice rang out. Somehow, he and Guardromon had finally wiggled free. The boy shook his cap, trying to reduce the coating of dust on it, and replaced it on his head. He helped Suzie and Lopmon to their feet as he continued to speak. "Kenta's my buddy and even if he can't win a card battle to save his life, I'll stand beside him against anyone. Even murderous freaks like you."
Suzie, still looking upset, muttered, "I want Henwy back. I want Wyo back." Suddenly, her face hardened. "And I want you gone. I want you gone away because you awe scawy and mean. And I don't like you. Me and Lopmon and my fwiends will make you go away."
The child's statement seemed to amuse the dark creature even more than Kenta's. He threw back his head and laughed at the absuridity. All that the tamers seemed to have was an in-training, a rookie, and a champion. Even though he had expected them to crumble at the loss of their teammates, including the boy that Devimon had observed fulfilling the role of leader, he was still confident that he would easily win.
Yamaki stood at the crumbling opening, trying to make sense of what was before him and what he was hearing. A tall, black, intimidating monster loomed over the tamers and their digimon. But not all of them. A brown-haired youth, Ryo, was missing along with his purple reptilian partner. As the children spoke, and he studied their expressions, the girl's earlier words became obvious. The man realized horribly that the two were gone. Permanently. How would he be able to tell his parents?
The girl beside him, her tone soft, addressed the grown tamer, "It is not your fault. Their fates were already sealed. But that does not make it any easier, does it? Still, their deaths will not be in vain."
Yamaki and Calumon stared in shock at the girl, the digimon's ears contracting as he sensed his partner's troubled thoughts. Her gaze was steady and unwavering. Slowly, she sighed in resignation. Her next words sounded memorized and likely more of the prophecy.
"'The blood glare is where the true threat lies. And only there can you prevent defeat. Duos shall become singles and their power will increase. Some will discover the best way forward is to go back…'" She seemed to be staring at the small grey shape in one of the children's arms. "'… while others will learn the true meaning of leadership.' I am truly sorry that this has come to pass and I take no pleasure in the loss, but I learned long ago that some things are beyond anyone's ability to stop or change. You have to keep going or hope is lost."
"You just told me a boy just died," whispered Yamaki slowly. "A child is dead and you don't seem disturbed at all."
"I know. And you and the rest may hate me later, but for now Devimon still stands. Kazu, Kenta, and Suzie followed Ryo. But now they must stand on their own." Her voice had become a monotone as she spoke. "Do you choose to return to Hypnos and to tinker with deadly programs for a solution? Or will you and Calumon stand beside them as tamers, regardless of the danger? Choose your path, Yamaki."
Without any visible hesitation, the man removed his sunglasses from his face. A white figure clung to his blond hair patiently. As he reached into his pocket, a slight grin formed.
"I always did say this is not a job for children," he commented as he pulled out his white D-arc.
The dark haired girl nodded slightly to herself. Abruptly, a light shone from his D-arc and the red symbol on the digimon's head began to glow.
"You are a true tamer, Yamaki," the child informed him. "And you have provided the others with the rest of the help needed."
As soon as these words left her mouth, the three humans and three digimon standing before Devimon were engulfed in blinding light.
The landscape was dark and barren. And unfortunately, they were standing near the only other thing in sight: the D-reaper. Its pink form seemed to be radiating an eerie pinkish glow, giving the sky immediately overhead a dark, stormy, purple tinge. The over-sized crazed program seemed to ooze evil. But it also had a faintly translucent quality to it. It was as if it was a ghost of itself, but it still seemed mostly solid.
"So this is the D-reaper," muttered Leomon, studying the mass.
"Yep, the goop of doom," Rapidmon commented dryly.
"Do we have a plan?" asked Takato.
Henry nodded, "Rapidmon, WarGrowlmon, and Taomon combine their attacks together while Leomon keeps us from being absorbed by the D-reaper. That way, they can concentrate on the fight instead of protecting us."
"Interesting plan, boy," a cruel male voice sneered, "but pointless. You can't beat me."
Out of the pink mass stepped a dark figure. He slid through the D-reaper as if he was a part of it. Ruby eyes glittered from under a smooth helmet. He also had the same slightly translucent quality as the blob. His gaze flitted from the various members of the group.
"Beelzemon," Taomon easily identified.
"The smart part of him anyway," he admitted. He turned his attention to the leonine digimon standing protectively near Jeri and the twins. "Didn't I already kill you? It's kind of disappointing to find all that hard work gone to waste."
"Talisman of Light!" shouted the yellow digimon, writing a symbol in midair.
"Naughty, naughty, fox-face," he laughted, leaping backwards. "I was still talking."
Rapidmon pointed out, "You never stop talking. Rapid Fire!"
As he had with Taomon's attack, the slightly see-through digimon side-stepped the attack. But this time, he also drew a pair of guns from their holsters.
"Double Impact!"
The green shape cried out in pain as the shots made contact. Even if he looked like a ghost, Beelzemon was apparently as solid as the rest of them.
"Atomic Blaster!" announced WarGrowlmon.
"Darkness Claw!" called the leather covered creature, slashing through the red ultimate's attack.
As the group stared in amazement at his feat, the red-eyed being sneered at the small figures near Leomon.
"Ai. Mako. Aren't you going to come over and say 'hi' to your partner? I'm sure we have plenty to talk about," he asked with false innocence, reaching out a clawed hand towards the distant pair beckoningly.
"You're not our partner," the girl whispered.
Taomon cried, "Leave them alone. Thousand Spells!"
"Darkness Claw!" His sharp fingers slashed the red pieces of paper to shreds.
Taking advantage of his opponent's distraction, WarGrowlmon growled, "Atomic Blaster!"
Snarling as the blast hit his back, Beelzemon spun towards the red, metal-covered dinosaur. "Double Impact!" With a moment of relative peace, he remarked to the youngest tamers, "Of course I'm your partner, twerps. At least, I'm part of that loser."
"Not anymore," exclaimed Mako just as the metallic rabbit flew towards Beelzemon.
"Rapid Fi…" he tried to shout, but the dark creature grabbed a hold and flung the green digimon into WarGrowlmon.
"Double Impact!" he cried, firing at the pair of ultimates.
As the light slowly faded, three new figures were revealed. Each one was a digimon and unique. None of the humans were in view, but that was to be expected as Kenta, Kazu, and Suzie now found themselves in a mental bubble within the new megas.
Suzie and Lopmon were now a tall shape with large hands. Pale shades of pink along with white gave the digimon a cuddly appearance. A large, clown-like collar encircled her neck and large wing-shaped ears stretched from a sweet face to maintain the similarity of the creature to a rabbit. The name Cherubimon appeared in their mind.
Guardromon and Kazu were replaced by a being made of dark grey metal that seemed similar to a more complete Andromon. His oversized hands ended in pointed fingers while his shoulders were topped with a red, metal cap on the left and a blue one on the right. Beneath his helmet, a hint of blue face demonstrated the digimon was not purely a machine. This pair could hear the name HiAndromon clearly.
The final two, Kenta and Bukamon, now had formed a huge shape. Anyone who saw the creature would immediately comment on his similarity to a prehistoric aquatic dinosaur or the Loch Ness monster. He was white with blue stripes along his back and sides. Down the serpentine neck and along the spine was orange hair. Even if he had four flippers and looked out of place on land, he somehow floated off the ground. His name, as far as the boy can tell, was Plesiomon.
Kazu's voice rang out from his location within the Biomerged mega, "Dudes, we have just crossed the line into extreme awesomeness. Okay, what's the plan, oh fearless leader?"
Kenta was shocked to realize his friend was addressing him. "Wha… When did I become leader?"
"When you made the cool, heroic sounding speech," he answered.
Devimon was growling darkly as he studied his changed opponents. His crimson eyes narrowed. He no longer appeared amused. Even if he was practically invincible, the prospect of three megas was not a positive one.
"Alright," decided Kenta firmly. "We strike together."
"Atomic Ray!" shouted the metallic digimon.
"Lightning Spear!" the vaccine type rabbit announced.
Opening his mouth, the aquatic creature cried, "Shaking Pulse!"
And that is just kind of awesome. Battles galore! Hope you are enjoying it. Like I said before, I have to put a lot of effort into battles and I hope they are turning out alright. Can you guess what I have in mind yet? Can you predict what is coming? If not, then I hope you do like what is coming.