Chapter Thirty-Three
AN: Well not much to say this time. Actually managed to get it out earlier than I expected! And there's only 9 more weeks left of school before I graduate! I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED!
Davis groans, struggling to get back to his feet. His head was pounding in pain from hitting the icy ground so hard after getting hit by what had felt like a steamroller.
"Yggdrasil, what Golemon did we piss off?" He mutters, dazed, his maroon eyes struggling to focus in on…anything. He could see Ryo standing in front of him, her face icy pale, her eyes widened in shock and horror.
The figure standing between him and Ryo wasn't that tall, but he could definitely tell it was a girl. No man had curves like that. Then there was the fact that her entire body was glowing. Not extreme glowing, but a faint, golden light like the warmth of the lava lamp he kept in his room. At first he thought it had to be some kind of Digimon. But no Digimon, as far as he knew, wore tight jeans and a old T-shirt.
His eyes widen slightly, because suddenly, he knows who this person is, but his mind can't accept what his eyes are telling him. No way…no freaking way…
"Lily, what the HECK?!"
Lily's lips curl back in a snarl as she's facing both Ryo and Daemon, the two of them both too stunned and horrified to really act.
"Are her eyes…." Ryo's voice trails off. "…Are her eyes…gold?"
"H-huh?"
Ken scrambles back to his feet and places himself in front of Ryo, ignoring her protests. "Lily, it's us! Don't you recognize us?!"
"I…don't think she does…" Wormmon says nervously as Lily's snarl grows deeper, curling her lip to show fangs glinting in the night.
"Enough of this foolishness." Daemon says firmly, taking a step forwards. "Lily, I don't understand what's going on but you must desist immediately."
"You honestly think that's going to be enough?" Monodramon deadpans, and Daemon mutters, "It's how we handle it when Lucemon has a temper tantrum, all right?"
Lily's growling stops slightly and she slowly studies him, eyes narrowing as though she's trying to piece together a memory.
"Thatta girl…" Daemon mutters, his tone way more gentle and soothing than you could ever believe a Demon Lord of Wrath could have.
Ryo's hand snaps towards her gun as the look of slight confusion on Lily's face quickly slides into something much different—a look of dangerous cruelty.
"NO!"
The blast of light seems to be aiming straight for Daemon, before suddenly changing course and hitting Ken instead, screams of horror erupting from all who were watching., the attack scoring a deep gorge in the ice that seemed at least a meter thick.
Ken hits the icy ground like a discarded doll and lies there, motionless, and Ryo's and Davis' screams of horror and rage seem to overpower the wind.
"TRAITOR!"
Wormmon lets out a strangled gasp as Ryo charges forwards and Lily's head snaps around, her eyes flashing with dark amusement. "Ryo, look out!"
Lily's knuckles glow with light energy as she aims a punch at Ryo's head that possibly could have knocked the human girl's skull in, and probably would have as well, if Stingmon's hand didn't curl around her wrist and send her flying backwards.
She lands, shrieking like a thing possessed, and Stingmon flies protectively in front of Ryo. "I don't want to fight you, but I will if I have to." He growls, looking into those emotionless eyes. This COULDN'T be Lily. It wasn't possible.
Lily bares her fangs in contempt and charges forwards, her hands glowing bright light, slashing downwards. The blades of light form an X-shape that slams into his chest and he staggers back before flying upwards. She snorts, her own wings ripping free from her back and soars after him.
"Wormmon! Be careful!" Davis yells. Veemon clenches his fists. "I should be helping him, for crying out loud!"
'You can't fly, buddy." He sets his jaw in frustration, trying to fight back the feeling that he's going to be horribly sick. "…There's nothing we can do."
"SPIKING STRIKE!" Stingmon shouts, his arm surrounded in the pink energy, the blade forming as he slices down at her. He doesn't intend to actually hit her, only to freak her out. But Lily just smiles darkly and the next second, when he slices down at the spot near her shoulder, she's suddenly behind him, kicking downwards with the force of any angry Champion Digimon.
He slams downwards and her fists shine with gold light again, before forming another X-shape. Stingmon lets out a scream of agony as the light punches right through his left wing. He slams into the ground hard, smoke rising from the ground.
"STINGMON NO!"
Monodramon snarls desperately, squinting his eyes tight to try and force the darkness he feels raging up inside of him growing stronger and stronger every second.
Ryo slowly turns her head to look back over at him, her eyes widening with horror. "Monodramon…wait….don't….."
Lily smirks and takes a few more steps forwards as Stingmon struggles to get back to his feet.
"Enough!" Daemon's voice barks out as Lily just snarls in response and starts forming a ball of light between her hands again. The streak of fire freaks out both bug and girl, both of them jumping back with shrieks, Stingmon throwing his arms up to protect his face.
Davis whirls around to glower at Stella. "What the heck are you doing?!Why are you just standing there?!"
Stella hisses with frustration, Tsukaimon fluttering next to her. "….What am I SUPPOSED to do?" She growls. Her shoulders are tense and her face is pale. "….I….don't….."
"…." He looks over at her. He's never seen her like this before. "….You have to do something." He insists. "It's your responsibility as leader!"
Stella clenches her teeth with frustration. This is exactly like before. Her freezing up when her team needs her most!
Lily snarls and charges forwards, Daemon raising the flames slightly to try and dissuade her, but she forms the blast and directs it right at Ryo and Ken.
"MOVE!" Stella slams into her and knocks her out of the way, the two of them sent sprawling down the icy bank along with Ken.
Her hair is covered with icicles and such as she struggles to push herself back upwards. Glancing over at Ryo she gasps out, "Are you okay?"
Ryo's eyes are full of fear as she frantically shakes Ken's shoulder. "Wake up…please….please…Ken!"
Lily's eyes however, reflect only the flames, no emotion, no recognition, just flames tainted with gold from her irises.
"Something's wrong." Davis mutters, his fists clenching so tight that the fingernails cut into his palm.
"Gee, one of our friends is possessed, the other is unconscious, and to top it off, we're lost in the middle of the Artic! What was your first clue?" Veemon demands, his voice growing slightly more shrill.
However, his eyes widen in horror as Davis bolts towards Lily. "Have you gone CRAZY?!"
"Motomiya, come back!" Daemon roars as Davis yells, "I've got to at least TRY and reach her!"
"Ken…Ken…" Ryo's tone becomes increasingly desperate as Monodramon stands by her side. He feels a sudden tightening in his chest, and his growl becomes increasingly more enraged. How dare anyone hurt his partner like this? Hasn't she been through enough already? To loose ANOTHER person she cares for?!
The darkness seems to rise up more and more inside of him, despite his best efforts to keep it under control. No, no, no, he can't loose it, not here, not with so many injured, they wouldn't stand a chance…
Lily snarls a warning at Davis as he approaches her, another orb of light forming in her hand. Her eyes gleam with menace and she spits out a, "Get back, Digidestined brats, unless you want your inners scattered all over this place."
"I'd rather not." Davis admits, trying not to let his knees knock together. "I'm kind of fond of my innards, to be honest with you."
Her eyebrows knit together slightly and she snorts. "Idiot…" But the voice seems different somehow than the previous snarl.
"Davis…" Veemon whispers, about ready to bolt forwards, when Daemon grabs him by the tail, lifting him up in the air slightly.
"Let me go! I can't just let him get blasted to bits as well!"
"Silence." Daemon growls, his blue eyes narrowing. "Let the boy try. Is she acting aggressive right now at all?"
The Demon Lord is right. Lily's face is still slightly blank, but when Davis says, "I know. I really am. I mean, you and Yolei tell me so enough times, right?", her mouth curls in…what looks like the barest hint of a smile.
Veemon struggles not to gape in disbelief. "She can hear him?!"
"A part of her can, yes." Daemon murmurs. Davis w asn't sure quite what to do now. Lily was still eyeing him far too intently for his liking, but that hint of a snicker on her face…Yggdrasil knew she;d given him that look plenty of times before.
Ugh, he really, really wished Tai would be here. Tai would know what to do in this situation. And certainly if anyone could make Lily truly snap out of whatever was going on with her, it would be Tai.
Wait a minute…that was it…
"Lily…I'm going to do something you're probably REALLY REALLY not going to like but I think it's going to help you so please don't kill me later!"
"…What is he talking about?" Stingmon asks deadpan before his eyes widened in disbelief. For Davis had suddenly leaned forward and done the unthinkable. He just full on kisses Lily on the lips.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…That…."
"…Did not just happen…."
Lily's eyes shoot open and she lets out a strangled cry before punching Davis in the face and sending him sprawling backwards. Veemon rushes forwards, panic obvious, but then Lily shouts in her normal voice, "YOU COMPLETE #$$% IDIOT YOU! DON'T…EVER…!"
"Lily?!" Davis grins even though he's sporting a black eye, quite the shiner too, and Daemon breaths a sigh of relief.
Lily's eyes flicker back over to where Ken is barely starting to stir, and sees the look of fury Ryo shoots her, and her face pales. "Oh Yggdrasil almighty…." She breathes. "Not again…" Backing away she whispers desperately, "Not again, please!"
"Again?! Lily, what are you talking about?"
She cringes, bending over from pain, and Daemon reaches out to grab her and she lets out a scream of "DON'T TOUCH ME! You have to GO! RUN!"
"Run…? Run from…?"
There's a low growl behind them….a growl that seems to be coming from the Earth itself. Davis glances down and seems small pebbles of ice trembling and manages to gulp.
…"….Uh…Davis…" Veemon's voice comes out as a squeak. "I….think she was talking….about that…."
Davis slowly turns his head around, feeling like he's been thrown into a ridiculous horror movie. Climbing over the slopes of the massive icy hills around them, the dark creature's red eyes gleam. It's massive, it's terrifying, it's….
"A GIANT BUNNY?!"
"Cherubimon?!" Ryo gasps, her eyes widening with shock as it raises itself to its full height. Stretching its arms to the ceiling it lets out a roar, and thunder crackles above, lightning streaking across the sky.
"RYO! LOOK OUT!"
…
Mimi sighs, leaning into Izzy's arms as the two of them stand in the middle of the hospital lobby. "I'm just glad they let us out, finally."
"All thanks to my wonderful abilities at persuasion." Lilithmon says with a sly smile. Izzy shudders. The sort of stuff Lilithmon had been offering in exchange to being let out had been…frankly scarring.
"I can't believe that it's all finally over." Mimi murmurs, pressing her head into his chest. Izzy sighs. "You know…Millenniummon is still out there, right? We're going to be ending up in situations just as dangerous as that, possibly even worse before this war is over."
"I know but…" She looks back up at him. "But…we still beat Vademon, did we not? The monster who caused you so many problems." A hint of a smirk appears on her face. "Don't tell me you're not at least happy about that."
"Well…maybe a little." Izzy says with a chuckle. "…I'm proud of you too. Mimi, you were amazing back there. You didn't back down once. You….you were amazing back there."
"…Thanks…." Mimi says softly. The two of them stare at each other for a couple of moments more before Lilithmon lets out a very exaggerated yawn. "Oh HONESTLY, You two call that a romantic moment?! This SNORE-FEST?!"
"Go away…." Izzy moans, burying his face in Mimi's hair as both of them blush scarlet. However Lilithmon's far, far from done.
"You call this ROMANCE! There should be passionate snogging, and burning eternal flames, and desire so strong it causes electrical appliances to fry!"
"…When has that ever happened? In reality?" Mimi says deadpan. "That sounds like something out of a bad Twilight fanfic."
Lilithmon shoots her daggers. "I HAPPEN to like Twilight young lady!"
"Oooh…."
"Yes." She says, crossing her arms over her ample chest, as Izzy buries his face deeper in Mimi's hair, though she suspects, to cover up mocking laughter now instead of hiding a blush of embarrassment.
"It's a passionate tale of romance, heartbreak, passion, blood, and IZUMI ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME?!"
"But…the main girl is so…." Mimi's voice trails off. As someone who'd spent ages trying to fight monsters and at the age of 14, the idea of someone completely without a backbone and totally reliant on a man sort of sickens her. "Besides, vampires aren't sexy." She adds firmly, mental images of Myotismon standing there smirking as the bats flew around them, trying to eat them alive, and Lillymon's scream as she was nearly murdered by him. "Far from it."
Lilithmon sniffs. "Honestly. You're just like the other Demon Lords. Absolute complete and utter cynics when it comes to young love."
"…Uh huh."
Lilithmon opens her mouth to continue this debate, but suddenly there's frantic shouts of "MIMI! MIMI!"
Mimi's eyes widen slightly just as two people completely barrel Lilithmon down as they try to get to her. Uh oh…"M-um?! Dad?!" She stammers, feeling her cheeks flush with nervousness as she sees her mum, her usually perfect hair now in array, her eyes wild with terror, her Dad's tie undone and flopping behind him in a mess.
Izzy takes a quick step back as the two parents glomp her. Her mother sobs as she wraps her arms around Mimi. "Oh sweetheart...when they called and said you were at the hospital…!"
"Mum, I', fine! Really!" She exclaims, trying to gently disentangle herself from her parents without making them upset, but no luck.
"We thought we got you away from all this Digimon nonsense when we moved here to America." Her father says, his voice choked. He shoots Izzy a steely glare. "How could you drag her into this again?!"
"Wha-…?"
"Daddy!" Mimi manages to yank herself free and shoots them both a fierce glare. "You can't talk to him like that, this isn't his fault…"
"We're going home." Her mother says shakily, not letting go of Mimi for a minute. "We're going home right now."
"Mum…" Mimi steps away. "You don't understand, do you? I'm a Digidestined."
"You're an eighteen year old girl! You should be focusing on shopping, on getting to college, not fighting monsters…or…or being with them who cause nothing but problems!"
"Sir just let me…" Izzy begins but her father steps in front of his wife and Mimi, glowering at him, an expression that seems totally wrong on this usually gentle man's face. "Let's go you two. And tell that flower Digimon…" He says shakily as he walks out the door. "We have had enough. We're not letting her be put into danger anymore."
"But she'll be in more danger without us!" Izzy shouts as Mimi's parents force her out the door, not harshly, but they're clearly not willing to let this one go.
"Izzy!"
"Mimi!"
Lilithmon still lies on the floor, looking annoyed. "Does anyone want to help me up…?" She mutters. "Ah well." A goofy smile appears on her face as she hears Izzy shouting and Mimi frantically calling his name. "Ah. I get my Romeo and Juliet story full of passion after all."
….
"Edan, have you gone completely insane?"
Edan scowls, folding his arms. "You know full well I have to do this. You know I can't just sit back when things like this are going on…."
D'Arcmon shakes her head. "You've never battled on your own before Edan…."
"And we have to start sometime, don't we?" He insists, his green eyes full of a determination she's never seen before. Her eyes widen slightly but she continues stubbornly, "Sira told us to stay behind, remember? You really want to disobey the boss' orders? You know she wouldn't like this…."
"Uh huh. You realize ALL the other Tamers disobey Sira on a near regular basis, right? Adelina's done it about thirty times the last time I counted, and Dilbert….too many times to count." He says with a deadpan expression.
D'Arcmon sighs. "….But you're not….Adelina or Dilbert…."
"Wow, that's a far cry from the whole, "You're just as important as any of the other tamers" speech you were giving me earlier. Or did you just say that to make me feel better?"
"No that's not…." Her voice trails off and she sighs. "…Edan….I haven't even reached the Mega level yet, all right? Don't you understand? It's not so much that I don't think that you can handle it, I just don't know….if I'm the one whose ready for it."
The two of them stare at each other for a moment longer and Edan sighs before pulling her into a hug. "…C'mere…." D'Arcmon rests her head on the top of his shoulder like she usually does, and he murmurs, "We're going to be okay. I promise you. I may not be the strongest tamer…okay….I'm not anywhere near the strongest...or the bravest….but I swear I'll watch out for you, and the others. I'm tired of hiding in the darkness. Maybe….maybe now it's our turn to prove that we're more than everyone thinks we are…."
"…"
She slowly looks up at him. Her face is hidden mostly by her mask but she brushes a strand of hair from her face and closes her eyes. "….You know…maybe….you're right. And…." She holds his hand and squeezes it. "…All right. Let's do this."
Edan smiles at her before turning back to the computer and punching in a few more buttons. The light shimmers slightly before expanding to form the portal. The two of them glance at each other once more and nod, before getting ready to jump through.
That was when the explosion happened. Both of their heads whipped around, eyes widening in shock, as panicked yells from the rest of the worker Digimon echo throughout the base.
"WHAT THE HECK?!"
"…We're under attack?!" Edan breathes, disbelief in his green eyes. The Tamer base hadn't been attacked ever since it had been set up. D'Arcmon lets out a low growl, her eyes narrowing down to slits. "Only a Tamer can open the gate to Versandi."
Edan glances back at the screen where Lily's signal…has once more disappeared. He swallows. He doesn't understand what the heck is going on, she couldn't be a traitor…could she?
"Edan, we need to focus!" D'Arcmon's wings spread out as she grips the sword at her belt. "Are you ready to figure out rather or not you're as tough and willing to fight four your comerades as you said you were?"
There's a brief moment of hesitation as she looks at him, and then Edan's eyes harden slightly and he flips his Digivice over in his hand. The steel blade hums as he grips it, the two of them standing next to each other, their blades shining in the light of the computer room.
"Let's do this." He says flatly. D'Arcmon rolls her eyes. "Don't try to be cool, it really doesn't suit you."
"Oh shut up." He grumbles as she smirks over her shoulder at him. The door to the computer room starts to buckle, the sound of enemies slamming their weight against the steel over and over again.
"Come and get some…." Edan mutters through clenched teeth. The hinges on the door finally give way and blood spatters the ground as the blades swing in unison.
….
Joe grimaces as he helps the injured woman down the steps, and calls over his shoulder, "That's the last of them Dilbert!"
"Good, because it's certainly not the last one of these!" Dilbert calls back over his shoulder, his dagger stabbing a Dobermon in the throat and his glower intensifying as it burst into data. Joe clenches his teeth and looks back over. The only good news was that it appeared that Darkdramon was on his last legs as well as those who were fighting him.
Dilbert's Lilithmon rakes her talons directly down the monster's spine, and he lets out a roar of pain as even more of his data fluctuates up towards the sky.
She snarls in frustration, landing beside Gennai and Ikakumon once more. "It doesn't make any sense. Surely a mere Mega would have gone down by now, correct?"
"You might think so." Gennai's tone is surprisingly calm and unconcerned. His eyes are grave however, but oddly enough they seem more fixated on the lackies Dilbert continues to fight off.
Ikkaumon huffs. "What are you bothering about the little fish when we've got this gigantic shark trying to eat us all?"
"Have you ever heard of piranhas?" Is Gennai's strange reply as he stares over at the broken down train. Lilithmon's eyebrows knit together in confusion before suddenly the sound of low growls echoes throughout the valley.
Darkdramon struggles to remain on his feet, and there is actual real fear in his eyes now, real panic. She whips her head around to see Dilbert giving her a confused and alarmed look, because the grunts had lost interest in their human prey. They were instead walking towards them….no…walking towards Darkdramon…
Darkdramon lets out a defiant snarl and pulls his lips back, but they continue walking forwards, as though they have all the time in the world, a predator like gleam in their eyes.
Suddenly Lilithmon knows exactly what's going to happen. Shuddering she whirls back around, cringing and the sound of Darkdramon's screams echo. None of these Digimon are that powerful, but there are so many of them, and he's already so badly weakened from the battle…She hears the sound of Ikakumon retching as the screams increase in volume and pain.
"They're after his data." Gennai says softly. "That's all these monsters care about, is getting more data, and if they can't get it from us…."
"Oh Yggdrasil…." Ikakumon mutters. "I did….NOT…need to see that." He still looks a bit queasy, and Gennai glances over at them. "You needn't worry about striking them at this moment." He says calmly.
"Oh yeah?" Lilithmon demands, her eyes narrowing. "And what's to stop them from coming after us now?"
Sure enough now that….their old master had met his….untimely demise…several of them were eyeing the Digidestined and their partners now.
"Uh…Gennai…?" Joe asks nervously, as Dilbert steps in front of him. Crescemon grimaces and gets ready to battle, her axes brandished, but Gennai shakes his head. "No need to worry my friends. I have everything under control."
"That's great." Crescemon says, her tone a little less gentle than usual, her breathing more labored than usual after fighting for hours. "But if you do…..could you maybe hurry up and I don't know, actually do it?!"
Gennai smiles slightly before pulling something out of his coat sleeves. Joe's eyes widen as he realizes what it is….a remote…with a big red button that looks just perfect for pushing.
"…Oh dear."
Gennai's smile turns oddly devilish, and just as the first Devimon springs he presses down on it. The explosion was possibly one of the biggest that Joe has seen in a long time. The first thought is of WarGreymon's Terra Force, though of course it can't possibly be as powerful as that. Terra Force can wipe out an entire mountain, but this explosion does a pretty good job of wiping out the entire enemy force.
Smoke fills the clearing and Lilithmon coughs, brushing smog out of her face. "Why didn't you do that EARLIER?!"
"Couldn't," Gennai shrugs nonchalantly. "Couldn't act until I was sure that the civilians were out of the way." He brushes off his sleeves and then says calmly, "Shall we continue onwards after we help the people?"
"….Continue where?" Crescemon asks, slightly confused and fighting back feelings of suspicion of this man who had just appeared out of nowhere and was clearly much more powerful than he looked.
"To find what you seek." Was the vague answer as he walks past Dilbert and Joe.
Dilbert's eyebrows knit together, clearly annoyed by this vague answer, but Joe was…used to Gennai by now. "Do you mean the Destiny Stone?" He calls. "You know where it is?"
"No…."
"This guy is really getting on my nerves." Dilbert mutters. Joe laughs sheepishly. "Gennai is…well he's Gennai. It's hard to explain."
Gennai pulls out another device out of his pocket—something that looks oddly like an Ipod, holding it up to the face of the annoying man from before. Blustering, the older man frantically backs away. "What the…just what do you think you're doing sir?!"
"Relax…." Gennai murmurs, pressing the side button as the screen flashes. The man's face suddenly goes oddly slack, and he moans, rubbing his head. "…W…where am…."
"He has a freaking memory wiping device?" Ikakumon gapes. "…Dear Yggdrasil…."
Gennai flashes a smile over his shoulder. "Who do you think helped all of the Tamers get their fun little devices?"
…
Davis had been nearly killed about a thousand times during his career as a Digidestined. He'd faced evil egomaniacs, possessed friends that had turned into evil man-eating dragons, fought battles in the pits of hell itself. He never in his wildest, weirdest dreams, ever believed that he would die at the hands of a gigantic bunny.
The bunny's eyes glow a creepy yellow n the darkness—its fur was a deep shade of purple, with a strange blue jester collar around his neck. It was at least about fifty feet tall. Davis' eyes widen as the creature's mouth opens slightly to reveal a strange sort of purple looking…diseased goop that looks absolutely revolting.
"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!"
Ryo's eyes widen as Monodramon lets out a completely feral sounding snarl. "…Monodramon what is it?! MONODRAMON!"
"Darkness…." Monodramon hisses, his yellow eyes narrowing down to slits. "So much darkness…and power….raw power….been a long time…since I sensed something like this…" The tone in his voice soinds less angry now more…hungry.
Ryo shakes her head wildly, lunging forwards to try and grab her partner by the arm. "Monodramon, don't do this. Don't do it, I swear! Not here, not now, you idiot, MONODRAMON PLEASE!"
Stella growls as she takes a step forwards. "I'm not freezing up this time. We're taking this one on."
"I certainly hope you're not planning on leaving me out of this." Daemon says, his bright blue eyes narrowing down to slits. He turns his head-"…Wait…where's….."
"We can't think of Lily right now!" Tsukaimon shouts, flying forwards. "Give me a boost, Stella!"
"Absolutely!"
"TSUKAIMON WARP DIGIVOLVE TO…SERAPHIMON!"
Seraphimon stands proudly, snow glinting on his armor, Daemon beside him. The irony wasn't lost on her at all—her partner and the "fallen" version of himself standing next to each other, ready to head off into battle.
Veemon scowls with frustration and looks over at Davis. "We should be helping them…."
"NO!" Daemon glances over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing fiercely. "Find Lily! That is an order!"
"But…" Davis begins and then freezes when Daemon's hand appears full of flames suddenly. "You really don't want to find out what happens…." Daemon says icily. "When people directly disobey me."
"…."
"Shall we go find Lily now?" Veemon says with fake cheerfulness, exchanging side looks with Davis.
"Sounds good!"
"Darn, you have the two of them completely whupped." Seraphimon mutters, his lips quirking in the barest hint of a smile on his normally serious expression.
Daemon smiles darkly. "Years of being Lucemon's second in command gives you some….good practice….especially after years of having to keep Lilithmon and Barbamon in line."
"I have no doubt of that." Seraphimon chuckles, then his eyes narrowing underneath his mask. "Shall we defeat this monster?"
"After you." Daemon says with a smirk, the two of them suddenly dodging at unbelievable speed as the spheres of dark energy come crashing down on them.
Stella winces slightly as blasts of ice slam down on her face, so sharp that it even cuts her skin. "Get back to Ryo and the others!" Seraphimon bellows as he streaks forwards, forming orbs of light around his own self. "SEVEN HEAVENS!"
The light slams into the dark, pushing against each other, straining before exploding into a fierce explosion that sends Seraphimon sprawling backwards.
Daemon growls, the flames around his body growing ever bigger. "EVIL FLAPPING!" The flames shoot upwards in the form of what appears to be a gigantic tower before coursing outwards. The heat is so intense cracks form along the surface of the ice, and Ryo gasps, her eyes widening. "DAEMON STOP! YOU'RE GONNA GET US ALL KILLED YOU IDIOT!"
The flames slam into Cherubimon and he falls backwards, the attack much more forceful than Seraphimon's. It's unclear of rather or not Cherubimon was still weakened from the fight with Alexander earlier, although obviously Daemon and the others would have had no way of knowing that. Or, if, when it comes down to it, Daemon is simply the more powerful Demon Lord.
The rabbit Demon's heavy body slams into the ground and even more cracks form, this time the ice shattering completely in some places, tipping over. Ryo screams as Ken slips from her grip and slides down towards the dark water. "NO!"
Without even thinking, without even considering how dangerous it surely will be, Ryo plunges downwards….her body screams at her as the icy water embraces her….the water floods into her eyes, near blinding her as she scramble around desperately to get a hold of something, anything. She sees a flash of something pale and sees Ken slowly sinking into the darkness. She kicks out fiercely and her fingers reach, miss, and then….finally….finally….they wrap around his own pale hand. She kicks upwards and gasps as she breaches the surfaces, and feels the warmth of another pulling her upwards.
Stella's face is absolutely pale as she takes in Ryo's shivering form—Ken coughs weakly, stirring as Stingmon rushes forwards, calling his partner's name as he lands next to him desperately. "Are you hurt?! I was going to grab you but before I could Ryo…"
"You IDIOT." Stella hisses, looking absolutely furious with Ryo. "Do you have a freaking DEATH WISH?!"
Ryo is shivering too badly to respond, her body shaking, her wet clothes dripping. Stella hisses with frustration. She knows that if it weren't for the fact that Daemon is practically turning the Artic into his own personal spa, than Ryo would probably be dead by this point, or so badly frozen they would have had to drop everything and get her to a hospital immediately. As it is, the girl is too weak to even get up, much less run if she has to.
Cherubimon roars, his fist extending at an unbelievable rate and socking Daemon right in the chest, this time throwing the Demon Lord back. He raises one hand, electiricty crackling in his palm, before what looked like a massive freaking LIGHTNING bolt forms inside of his hand, and he roars, before plunging it downwards at the Demon Lord.
Just then Seraphimon charges forwards with a defiant roar, slashing his sword Excalibur downwards and slicing the enemy's palm open, causing the monster to roar in pain and send the attack crashing into the mountanius slope on the other side of the icy ground.
Seraphimon allows himself a smirk but then his eyes widen in disbelief as the massive wound that slowly heals over, Cherubimon's face pulled in only a slight grimace before he smiles lopsidedly, crookedly, disturbingly.
"…I have to admit…" He mutters, raising his sword again. "…I was not expecting that…."
…
Matt yells as he continues to fall downwards, the black expansion seeming to be nothing but darknes.s He wonders if he will ever stop falling, when, instead of falling on spikes embedded in the ground, or something that seemed fitting for a creepy pit like this, he fell on something…soft?
"What the?!"
"Ow…" A very familiar voice groans. "Ishida you have about ten seconds to get off of my back before I take a chunk out of your leg. Don't think I won't." She growls.
"Renamon?!" Matt scrambles off of her. "What the heck are you doing in here?!"
"Well I got bored and decided to take the scenic route back to you guys." She deadpans. Matt shoots her a look and she responds with an irritable, "I got dragged in here same as you, I've got to assume. And I really don't have time for this, I have to find Lily!"
"Lil…" Matt's voice trails off and it takes about all he can muster to fight the urge to beat his head against the side of the pit. "She got captured again didn't she?"
"If Lily were here, you know she would slaughter you for the "again" statement right?"
"MATTTTTTT!"
"…Oh no."
Renamon tackles the blonde boy out of the way just in time, because MetalGarurumon nearly squishes him when he lands there.
"You do know you can fly right you idiot?!" She shouts, glowering at him. "There wasn't any need for that!"
"….Er…"
"You are both idiot." Renmon says deadpan, though the fear in her eyes is obvious, and the way her claws keep twitching and her teeth clenching like she's fighting the urge to bite someone's face off.' Matt glances over at MetalGarurumon before looking back at her.
"…Look, Renamon, we'll find her, I promise. Everything's going to be all right."
"Fine words." She mutters, her ears pinning back. "It's just so….so FREAKING UNFAIR! Even despite everything I do, despite how careful both Lily and I are, despite how she's become ten times less reckless than she used to be….I still can't protect her." Her ears droop. "…I still keep failing her."
There's silence for a moment before Matt shakes his head stubbornly. "You're not failing her Renamon. I may not know exactly what's going on, but I know that you two look after each other just as fiercely as any Digidestined and their partner would." He shoots her a fierce look. "I know we've had this speech about a million times before, but sometimes crap just happens. Because there are power hungry creeps in this world who just can't let Lily be, that's not her fault, that's not your fault. And trust you me, if she has been kidnapped and we get our hands on the git who did it, then we're going to make the creep wish he was never born." A faint smirk appears on his face as he drawls, "That is, if Lily doesn't make him plead for death first."
Renamon still looks terrified for her partner, but Matt's words slowly cause her to calm down, her fur slowly settling and her hackles lowering. "….You're right." Renamon chuckles darkly. "I doubt even Myotismon himself could fully control her. Even if she doesn't have her powers anymore….."
"Exactly. Whoever is messing with our group, will never get away with it ever again."
There's a low growl and Matt glances over at MetalGarurumon. "….Was that you?"
MetalGarurumon's eyes narrow down to slits, "We're not alone…." Both he and Renamon force a protective stance around Matt, their canine senses scanning through the darkness. Renamon's teeth go back in a growl as her ears flicker backwards, searching for even the slightest hint of sound. Suddenly…wait….but that would mean….shooting forwards she grabs Matt around the waist and backflips into the air, ignoring his yells of protest, just as emerald flames shoot upwards right where he had been standing.
"W-…WHAT THE?!"
"METAL WOLF CLAW!" MetalGarurumon roars, his weaponry opening up once more to reveal several guns that shoot forwards and impact with the flames. There's an explosion of ice and flames, and there's a giant green crystal wall standing in the middle of the dark cavern, glistening eerily.
"W-whoa…." Matt breathes, staring in disbelief as Renamon can only nod, gaping slightly. MetalGarurumon however, tenses, ready for battle, which is a good thing because moments later there's a furious roar and something big, dark, and heavy crashes into him, sending him sprawling backwards.
The creature has three slavering heads, a whip like tail, and six gleaming red eyes glowering at MetalGarurumon. MetalGaruurmon snarls back in response as Renamon mutters, "A freaking Ultimate? Come on, that Cerberumon can't honestly think that he can beat MetalGarurumon."
Matt clenches his teeth, hating the doubt that fills his body, hating that he's not sure that his partner will be okay as he mutters, "Don't be so sure."
MetalGarurumon doesn't flinch away from the flames shot his way—he charges through them, the fire scorching at his metal armour, and he roars, lunging forwards and trying to sink his fangs into the demon dog's neck.
Cerberumon snarls and lashes out with the wicked looking claws on his paws, causing MetalGarurumon to let out a howl of pain as he staggers backwards, deep rents in his armour.
"No!"
MetalGarurumon snarls with fury, pushing himself back up to his paws and snapping a quick, "Get Matt out of here!" to Renamon, before lunging forwards at his opponent again.
Renamon nods and grabs Matt by the back of the shirt, her superior strength making it easy for her to drag him protesting down the dark tunnels.
The Cereberumon laughs darkly. "Your efforts are futile. No one escapes my darkness, no one!"
"Well…." MetalGarurumon murmurs, pacing in front of him, like any predator looking for an opening would, "There's always a first time for everything, isn't there…?"
Cerberumon's eyes narrow down to slits and he appears about ready to lunge again before MetalGarurumon says darkly, "Oh, before we start in the cliché death threats and violence, I would like to ask you something."
"And what makes you so sure I'll answer?"
"The fact that I've yet to meet a villain who can resist the overwhelming power of the monologue." Is MetalGarurumon's response, a sneer obvious on his robotic muzzle. "It's in your data to gloat. Besides if what you say is true, and there's no way Matt and Reanmon can escape anyway, then you have nothing to loose, do you?"
"…." Cerberumon's teeth flash back in a snarl then turn into a smirk. "What are you so concerned about that you would waste your time with questions? Jealous of how my strength is so much greater than yours, even though you're a…level above me?" He asks with a sneer. "The very idea of levels will mean nothing anymore during Lord Millenniummon's new reign!"
"And why is that pray tell?" MetalGarurumon growls. "No matter what your Lord claims, there will always be those who are weak and those who are strong, nothing will ever change that."
"So you might think. But look at me now. I used to be the weakest Digimon in my village…the single one that could never even digivolve to Champion….and now…because of Milleniummon's Dark Spore….I will never be overlooked ever again!"
MetalGarurumon's teeth show. "True strength does not come from the witchcraft and darkness of others. You may think you have increased so much in power, but you are completely reliant on your master. You are nothing but a mere puppet!"
"And what are you?! Your strength is not your own either, if it comes from that pathetic sack of flesh that you carry around and insist on protecting only because he himself gives you strength. And yet you dare try to claim that you are better than me?"
"Yes, I do." MetalGarurumon growls. "The bond Matt and I share goes both ways, and it always will. If we were not close to each other, than I wouldn't receive the power that I have at all. The strength I have comes not from him, but from our bond, which is something that you will never be able to understand. If power is what you seek than you shall never be able to obtain it!"
Cerberumon snarls, completely outraged now before springing once more. "EMERALD BLAZE!"
The plate on MetalGaruurmon's chest opens up as he roars, "GARURU TOMAHAWK!" releasing what looked like a very big missile, the explosion colliding with the flames and rocking Cerberumon's entire lair.
…
Renamon skids to a halt and growls in frustration. There seems to be absolutely no way out of this darkness. No escape route, the sun blocked out completely, the paths just continuing on and on.
"Yggdrasil's flaming underpants!" She curses with frustration. Matt just groans. "Please, please, can we not talk about the goddess' underwear? I'm half-afraid we're going to get ourselves smited everytime you people say that."
"Oh come on, Yggdrasil doesn't smite people anymore."
"ANYMORE?!"
"Look, we don't have time for this." Renamon says with more grim stubbornness than they've heard in a long time. Matt can hardly remember the last time he's seen Renamon looking this serious. Usually she can be distracted by some sort of food, or, in actuality, a chewtoy. He's not even joking.
Matt pulls out his Digivice and growls in frustration. "Gah, no signal, you've got to be kidding me." He mutters, half ready to throw the thing against the wall. "According to this we're like…nowhere near Tai and the others."
"What?" Renamon blinks. "But that's not possible, is it? I mean…surely…it must just be that the signal is messed up."
"I'd like to think so." Matt mutters, clenching his jaw. "But I learned a long time ago, not to discount any possibility when it comes to you Digimon."
"Oh…thanks?" She says awkwardly, confused as to rather or not that's supposed to be a compliment or a complaint. Shaking her head, she glances back up at the place where the ceiling would have been, if it wasn't all darkness. "Wherever you are Lily…stay safe…."
…
Datamon continues to run through the corridors of his old base. Well, running might be a strong word, he thought, dismissing the idea that he could possibly be frightened of that Digidestined brat and her partner, the overgrown parrot. However the sensation of fear was still there. He'd have to report back to Millenniummon about this failure. How he had had the three Digidestined children in his grip and had failed to infect a single one of them with the Dark Spore. Oh, his Lord would not be pleased, would not be pleased at all. There went his chances of showing up that other, pathetic lackey, his lord's so-called second in command. Hah. Everyone knew that twerp didn't have what it took, even after months he hadn't been able to eliminate the Digidestined and he'd had more than several opportunities.
Perhaps he could come up with some sort of story that his Lord would buy, some sort of excuse that would make it so his punishment would not be so great. Yes instead of one Digidestined and her partner, he'd make it about a thousand enemy Digimon instead. And he'd been completely swarmed, he hadn't stood a chance, really, what could he have done…?
Yes….yes that would work very well. A smile crosses over his robotic face and he has to fight the desire to burst into triumphant laughter. And he'd be back, that was for sure. Even if his base fell, he'd return, and he'd create even more Control Spires, and more slaves for the master's army, and surely, soon, they'd completely overwhelm the Digid-"SPIRAL TWISTER!"
The green flames shoot into the robot and sending him flying, crashing into the ceiling. He gasps, the wind completely knocked out of him and just barely manages to grab a rod on the other side of the room with his long, extendable arms, to flip over the pink bird Digimon as she charges at him in complete fury. Biyomon spins back around, her eyes blazing, claws extended. "You're not going to get away with this mess this time Datamon. You've made your bed, dug your own grave. Now deal with it"
Datamon sneers. "You honestly think you can defeat me? You couldn't protect your partner the last time, remember?"
"That was last time." Biyomon says grimly. "I wasn't as strong then as I am now. You forget who I've faced since then Datamon. I fought back a vampire who could have taken over all of the human world. I took on the Dark Masters themselves, even Apoclyamon. You're nothing compared to those monsters."
Datamon's eye twitches in rage, his robotic fingers trembling. "Don't you dare…don't you dare say that I am lesser…" He hisses. "I am far more intelligent than any of them!"
"And yet you let Etemon, possibly the stupidest villain we ever faced, walk all over you?" Biyomon questions.
"SHUT UP!"'
His fingers snap and spread out once more as he roars, "DATA BOMB!" The blasts of viruses shoot forwards, seeking to not only badly injure Biyomon from the impact, but also to completely correode her data itself.
Biyomon's eyes narrow down to slits as she calls out another fierce "SPIRAL TWISTER!" The flames shoot forwards and Datamon laughs. "You really think that your pretty little flames can block my ARGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He screams, covering up his one good eye as Biyomon had managed to redirect her attack, and it had hit him in the face instead, and as he howls in pain, Biyomon flips over several of his bombs, forming another Spiral Twister that tore through the last one. "I told you that you weren't getting away with this!" She seeths, as her entire body shines with energy once more.
"BIYOMON DIGIVOLVE TO…BIRDRAMON!"
The giant phoenix's wings spread out, cramped in this small area, but her talons slam down, pinning Datamon to the ground. He stares up at the giant monster that moments ago, he thought was no threat at all. No consequence. But now….now he is afraid…
"You will learn what happens…" Birdramon growls. "When you threaten those who I love."
…
Sora yells as she's slammed onto the ground, her doupleganger leaning over her with a sadistic smirk on her face that seems so, so very wrong.
Sora squrims, struggling to get free, but the fake-Sora pins her to the ground, and growls low, close to Sora's ear, "Now everyone will know that I'm not the failure here. That I'm not just some mistake. I'm the one that deserves to exist, not you!"
"What are you…"
"You don't know what it's like…" The fake-Sora hisses, her face contorted into fury, "to be stuck as the one person who represents everything your master failed at. This is my last chance to prove that I'm more than a symbol of his mistake, and so help me, I'm going to do it!"
Sora glowers angrily up at her, but she can't help but feeling the pity that rises through her veins. She knows that this person is not her—that this person is just a clone, and that her heart has been twisted through Datamon's darkness one too many times to ever be redeemed. Hurting Kari and Yolei, and the hate she sees in the girl's eyes now, proves that she can't redeem this girl. Not now anyway. Sometimes…sometimes you can't be merciful, even though that's what she wishes she could show.
"You're not going to say anything…" The faux Sora growls, pressing a knife blade against Sora's neck. "You're not going to try to appeal to my humanity are you? Because I promise you I never had that."
"…I'm sorry." Sora says softly, before striking out with a kick that actually sends the copy stumbling backwards with a howl of pain, clutching her stomach. Sora doesn't hold back and quickly slams her fist into the girl's face, yelling when her evil twin sinks her teeth into her arm.
The two of them are then pulled back down to the ground, both wrestling, punching and kicking each other in every way possible.
The number of Datamon's lackies continues to grow. Barbamon deflects three missiles shot from the incoming army of Andromon before letting out a cry of pain as one of them unexpectedly hits him in the side, and he drops to one knee.
Barbamon's jaw clenches in frustration, struggling to stand back up as delighted expressions appear across the faces of the flunkies. Well as delighted as a bunch of robots could possibly look.
"We have him now." One of the Guardromon states without emotion. "Even the mighty Demon Lords crumble beneath the power of Millenniummon's army."
Barbamon slowly looks up as the rest of the robots aim at him. They're taking their sweet time. They know he's seriously injured and they know there is next to nothing they can do about it.
"I may not be the strongest of the Demon Lords…." Barbamon mutters quietly, trying to ignore the aching pain in his side as he struggles to get back up, winces slightly, and then continues to push his body. There are startled cries from the robots, and one of them asks, "Lord Andromon he is attempting to…"
"Let him. He doesn't have the energy left to fight anymore."
"…A foolish presumption." Barbamon snorts. His legs almost give way again and nearly bring him to his knees once more, but his eyes have a strange sort of glitter in them. "Allow me to educate all of you. For a Demon Lord, the battle is not over until we SAY it is."
He raises his staff once more just as Sora is kicked in the head by the clone and falls to the ground unconscious.
The clone smirks and advances forwards only to stop, freezing as she looks over her shoulder and sees Barbamon's staff shining with dark energy. Her eyes widen in shock and horror. "STOP! SOMEONE STOP HIM! ALL OF YOU, KILL HIM NOW!"
The missiles fly forwards a moment too late. Barbamon lets out a roar of viciousness as the darkness itself seems to be obeying his call, flying into his staff. It shines even brighter and for a moment, there seems to be complete and utter silence. And then….the explosion.
…
"…Wha…."
Head…pounding….aching…memories fluttering through my brain at a rapid pace, so fast I can't hold onto them, can't grasp them. Fleeting impressions of a cold laugh, a red light and then searing, horrible pain, and then….being held by some boy and…
"Ack…." Squinting my eyes tighter shut my hand rests on top of my forehead.
"Lily…Lily wake up…please…."
My….name…do I….even know…is Lily my name? Is that who I am? Everything about the past seems to be nothing but a vague blur. Another voice echoes inside my head, this one painful, and it seems to be trying to squash out all of the memories.
"Obey the master…obey…obey….your only function is to obey…."
"NO! That's NOT who you are Lily! You have to fight it!"
"Obey…obey…"
"LILY!"
"YOU WILL LISTEN-!"
"YOU HAVE TO HEAR ME!"
"WILL ALL OF YOU SHUT UP?!" I roar, my eyes finally snapping open. There's a strange silence and concrete presses against my body. Coughing, I rub at my face as the first voice says frantically, relief in every syllable, "Lily, are you all right?!"
The little figure in front of me can't be more than about three feet tall, her face hidden by green hair, two horns sticking out. "…"
I stare at her for a moment before she asks desperately, "You know who I am right?!"
"Ralts…?" I mutter, pushing myself upwards. Her relief flows over me in such a crushing wave it makes my head start pounding again.
"You idiot. I mean I wasn't really worried about you, but you've caused a heck of a mess."
"…What do you mean?" I ask slowly, confused. Glancing around the room I'm in that's when I realize exactly where I am. In the middle of. A. FREAKING. CELL.
"….Please tell me this is a very, very stupid joke." I say through clenched teeth. My one Pokemon gives me a look that seems to signify what a complete moron she finds me.
"Oh $$%^^. AGAIN?! REALLY?!"
"Wow. Exactly how often has this happened to you?" She enquires, her tone clearly implying that she's wondering what sort of a moron she teamed up with.
I give her a look that lets her know I am not above shoving her out of the nearest window. Unfortunately there are no windows big enough to throw out a really annoying Pokemon, just small slits in the wall. Rolling my eyes I mutter, "You just wait until Sira hears about this. She will never ever ever stop lecturing me."
"You don't sound all that overly concerned for someone who is being held against her will." Ralts comments.
"Because this happens all the freaking time. You get sort of numb to the whole thing, to be perfectly honest with you."
"…I really hope I don't ever reach the stage where kidnapping is considered normal."
"Heh. Stick with me, and you will." Suddenly there's a noise from the other end of the cell. My hackles rise as my head turns, and Ralts inches in front of me, holding out her little arms. I see there's some weird bundle in the corner, and, pressing my finger to my lips, I nudge forwards.
First, I prodded the lump with a stick inside my cell. Then, I threw a couple of rocks at it. Finally, Ralts got sick of my more cautionary approach and exclaims, "Oh for Arecus' sake!" and uses her Psychic abilities to turn the poor smuck over.
My jaw drops, as I take a look at that beaten face. "D-Damien?!"
AN: Hehehehheheheh. The plot thickens. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I won't be uploading next week, as I plan to take time off to work on my original story, because my muse for that one keeps tapping me on the shoulder and nagging me. Isn't writing weird that way? It's never the story you're meant to be working on XD