Chapter 36: Henry's Fight
It didn't take long for the Tamers to reach Zhuqiaomon's place.
The phoenix-like Sovereign was not taking it too well on how all the Devas were defeated, blaming the Digimon Tamers for his loss.
"Curse those humans! I cannot believe it! All our Devas, defeated, and one betrayed us!" Zhuqiaomon said angrily, just before he then felt a presence enter his castle, causing the Sovereign to look up and ask. "So you've come, humans?"
Takato, Agumon, Henry, Terriermon, Rika, Renamon, Biyomon, Suzie, Lopmon, Calumon, Jeri, Kazu, Guardromon and Kenta walked up the stairs and saw the phoenix sovereign looking down on them.
"So you're one of the Sovereigns?" Henry asked, before saying with a seriousness in his tone. "We need to talk."
"Why do I need to talk to scum like you?" Zhuqiaomon questioned back, where he then stated. "Because of you our world is suffering!"
"You don't understand. We know... My lord, please listen to us!" Lopmon pleaded, but her words were ignored.
"Silence, you traitor!" Zhuqiaomon snarled, before letting his rage get the better of him as he attacked.
"Blazing Helix!" The Sovereign bellowed, casting out a stream of flame from his beak.
"Look out!" Takato quickly called as he and the others all leapt aside from the attack.
Annoyed, Terriermon snapped. "Hey, bird brain. Don't attack us! We're here to talk!"
"I will not listen to your empty threats!" Zhuqiaomon said back, ready to resume fighting, but was cut in as a voice called with authority. "Zhuqiaomon, enough!"
Ceasing his hostility, Zhuqiaomon turned, as did the Tamers, where all saw Azulongmon appear before them.
"Azulongmon, why are you here?" Zhuqiaomon questioned.
"Azulongmon? So he is the one who trusted Guilmon?" Takato asked, remembering Guilmon talk of him.
Confused by his presence, Zhuqiaomon said with puzzlement in his voice. "Why do you trust these scum? They are the reason our worlds are connecting."
"Because they know of our true enemy. Master Patamon and Mistress Gatomon has told them." Azulongmon said in reply.
"You trust those two love making couples?" Zhuqiaomon asked, still reluctant in going easy on the Tamers, where he then said bitterly. "They may have helped us against Sephiromon but they are too trusting to you!"
"Hey, that cat happens to be the one who trained me!" Renamon said defensively.
"I have heard enough of all of you!" Zhuqiaomon suddenly snapped and attacked once again, starting off as he prepared to strike down Suzie, Jeri and Lopmon.
"No!" Henry called out, concern filling him at seeing his sister, her partner and his girlfriend in danger, which reflected his feelings from his D-Power, before he and Terriermon began to glow and Henry became linked to Terriermon.
"Terriermon biomerge to..." Terriermon began to say, taking up a new form as he combined his being with Henry's, forming a massive robotic Digimon, which was clad in green armour, mounted with a set of massive turrets on each of its shoulders.
And while it had an unusual rabbit-like face, it was no pushover, where it called out as Henry and Terriermon. "MegaGargomon!"
Having now become a Mega himself, MegaGargomon blocked Zhuqiaomon attack, using himself as a shield to protect Suzie, Lopmon and Jeri.
Amazed at the sight of MegaGargomon, Suzie asked. "Big brother?"
"You safe now. Leave the rest to me" Henry promised through MegaGargomon, before turning to Zhuqiaomon and asked. "What is your problem with us humans? We came to help, not fight."
"Humans think they are so superior well I will prove them wrong by crushing you!" Zhuqiaomon said back, not letting up as he continued to attack, choosing MegaGargomon as his new opponent.
"Phoenix Fire!" The Sovereign announced, releasing another wave of flame.
"Mega Missile!" MegaGargomon called back, countering as he launched off one of the missiles from his turret, striking the blaze and cancelling out the attack.
"Why don't you get it? We came to help, not to defeat you!" Henry questioned from within MegaGargomon, which made Terriermon ask. "He is a bit hot headed isn't he?"
"How dare you talk to me like that!" Zhuqiaomon snarled as he flew in the air, trying to get an advantage in his combat, but found MegaGargomon leap after him.
Watching the fight, Kazu said, impressed. "To think Henry and Terriermon Biomerge now."
"It is something." Kenta added, wondering what other skills MegaGargomon held and who would be next to show off their Biomerging powers.
Trusting Henry and Terriermon to handle Zhuqiaomon, Takato drew his focus upon Azulongmon, where he asked. "Azulongmon? You're the one who trusted my partner. Why did you give that sword to Guilmon?"
"I will explain soon, my friend" Azulongmon simply replied, watching curiously to see who would emerge the victor in the latest battle, watching as MegaGargomon leapt at Zhuqiaomon, avoiding his fire attacks and counter attacking with his missiles.
"Will you stop and listen to what we have to say?" MegaGargomon yelled, both Henry and Terriermon getting annoyed by Zhuqiaomon's actions.
"Shut it you miserable worm! Rengokusou!" Zhuqiaomon yelled back, preparing his claws to attack and rip MegaGargomon to pieces.
"Mega Barrage!" MegaGargomon exclaimed, bringing up his arms and firing off a great round of shots at Zhuqiaomon, hitting the Sovereign and dealing a fair amount of damage.
"You got him, big brother!" Suzie cheered, her face lighting up joyfully as she watched Henry and Terriermon continue to fight as one, while Lopmon was surprised that someone could actually harm a Sovereign.
Backing away and not wanting to have to harm Zhuqiaomon, MegaGargomon asked again. "Will you just listen?"
"I will not admit defeat! Never!" Zhuqiaomon yelled, losing himself to his rage and prepared to strike again, rushing at Megagargomon.
"Enough!" Azulongmon called as he cut in, firing off a blast of thunder between the duo as he called the battle to an end.
"This is a waste of time, beside the humans have won. Zhuqiaomon, stop this foolishness and hear these kids out." Azulongmon then said, which made MegaGargomon point out with some frustration. "That's what we are trying to do."
"Ok, you can say what you like. If he doesn't listen, I will stop him myself." Azulongmon said to the Tamers, trust clear in his tone, which Takato respected.
"Azulongmon, I still think you..." Zhuqiaomon began to say when Takato cut in "We know the truth, of our true enemies, the ones who will put both our worlds in peril. We also know about the D-Reaper and we know about Sephiromon."
Caught by surprise at Takato's words, Zhuqiaomon questioned with shock in his voice. "What? You already know about them?"
"Well aren't you are quite a detective?" Came another voice as two more Sovereigns appeared, surprising Takato and the others to see a tiger-like Digimon cast in blue and white striped fur, alongside a massive twin headed turtle Digimon that had a whole tree growing out of its shell.
"Ah... Baihumon and Ebonmon. Thank you for coming." Azulongmon said, glad to see his fellow Sovereigns.
"We've come here to ask to put our differences aside, stop trying to conquer the Real World and help us stop this D-Reaper and defeat Sephiromon." Takato called out as Henry and Terriermon reverted back and join the group.
"But why should we trust you?" Zhuqiaomon questioned, still suspicious, before pointing out. "You annihilated our Deva warriors!"
"But we sent them to attack them, so is it our fault they were taken down?" Azulongmon scolded, leaving Zhuqiaomon at a loss of words.
"Then why did you send them to attack us?" Renamon asked, sounding a little confused.
"It was all to push you to your Digivolution and make you all stronger, however, they were corrupted. While they were serving us, they were unwilling puppets for Sephiromon. That is why I told Guilmon the truth, why I trusted him and gave him that sword, and to see how powerful your bond is. The D-Reaper was supposed to be sealed in their own world but due to us expanding it and our power, we awakened it and it's returning. Therefore, it's our fault this is happening. And with the Digimon you defeated, it became even stronger." Azulongmon said in reply.
"Even Gorillamon?" Henry asked, shock filling his tone, just before Baihumon and Ebonmon nodded.
"That's why we need Calumon to use the Shining Light, to help all the Digimon Digivolve so they could confront this threat." Baihumon then informed.
"I see... but we need to see what this D-Reaper is like." A voice then said, where all turned to see Ryo and Cyberdramon appear behind them.
"Where'd you come from? Don't tell me Cyberdramon is here for a fight?" Rika questioned, where she and Biyomon prepared to take down Cyberdramon if he tried to strike Guilmon.
"Relax. He's on calmer level now." Ryo said, where Cyberdramon nodded solemnly.
"He fought Guilmon at the temple and he removed Cyberdramon's rage." Renamon informed.
"And where is Guilmon now?" Cyberdramon asked, noticing Guilmon was lacking from the group.
"He returned to Master Patamon's temple, so he could finish his training and can prepare for Sephiromon." Takato said in reply, hoping the training was coming along.
"Everyone, I will show you where the D-Reaper would emerge from. We must focus on the D-Reaper for now. We shall leave Sephiromon to Guilmon when the times comes." Baihumon then said.
"Trusting our lives to that Digital Hazard dinosaur would be dangerous, but I guess we have no choice." Zhuqiaomon said with reluctance.
"We can trust Guilmon, because I trust him with all my heart. He will conquer the darkness inside of him beforehand, and I know he will master its evil and turn it to good." Renamon said, confidently and heartfelt.
"Thank you all." Biyomon said.
While glad to see the Tamers and Sovereigns getting along, curious, Calumon asked. "But why do you need my Shining Digivolution?"
"To help all Digimon fight this threat." Ebonmon said, where he then added with a sincerity in his voice. "I am sorry if Makuramon harmed you in any way, we had no intention of that."
"To tell you the truth, it's true we sent those Devas to attack you, but each one of them had been corrupted by Sephiromon's evil, wanting to conquer the Real World rather than help push your Digivolutions." Azulongmon informed.
"So with Vajramon interested with Guilmon and Indramon kidnapping Renamon? That was all Sephiromon's doing?" Rika asked, causing Azulongmon to nod.
"Then Sephiromon plots to conquer the Real World before destroying the Digital World." Ryo said.
"Sephiromon... I'll never forgive him for what he's done, putting my friend's lives in peril and making Guilmon's life start off with such misery." Takato said, clenching his fist with anger, but he kept it under control.
"Now all of you come with me as we show you what this D-Reaper looks like." Ebonmon then said, lowering his heads and allowing the Tamers to board his back, where the group traversed through the Digital World.
As the group continued to advance to their destination, Azulongmon moved closer to Ebonmon, as to speak with Takato and Agumon.
"I know Guilmon was cursed by Sephiromon and attacked many Digimon, but it wasn't his fault. He can be redeemed so that is why I trust him with our plan. I gave him that sword to carry out our true desire. Right now, Master Patamon is training him to find the light. So don't worry and leave the Digital World to him and us." He said, which made Agumon nod.
"I just hope big brother is alright." Agumon replied with an obvious concern in his voice, where Takato set his hand on Agumon's shoulder and assured. "He will, Agumon. He will."
At the said temple, Guilmon held his sword in the air as he swung it around as he stood atop a mountain, trying to find the light within the Digital Hazard and preparing for his showdown against Sephiromon, while Master Patamon and Mistress Gatomon watched on, confident in Guilmon and his strength.
-Meanwhile-
In a dark mountain range of the Digital World, a small red dangerous blob emerged through a crack, which would be the start of an untold chaos and destruction to come to both worlds.