"F***!!!"
One of the adults would have commented on the swearing, but her fire-sparked skin and guilt-ridden tears kept lectures at bay…
"Izzy…"
"I'm sorry, Elie…I let e'erybody down…"
Garurumon nuzzled her shell in an effort to soothe his partner when Elie straightened.
"Well, there's two things we can do. Sit here and feel sorry for ourselves or go save Ari!"
"…"
The fire was back in her eyes, and the tears evaporated…
"Let's go."
Jumping onto her partner's back, Garurumon took off like a bullet.
"Get on!" Elie encouraged, jumping into Garudamon's palm.
"Fast, or Izzy will get there ahead of us!"
"Get WHERE?" Leo wondered, jumping up with Raph, Casey, and Jake right behind him.
"Somewhere…Gabe is calling me…"
With Lillymon held gingerly in her other hand, Garudamon took to the air…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"…They're coming."
Don would've asked, but Mikey chalked it up to 'mega meditation powers'.
"Guess he called them over for pizza."
"…"
"…Donnie?"
"Gabe, we're here!"
All three turned to see Garurumon and Garudamon coming towards them.
The former slid to a halt, and Izzy flipped purposely over his head.
"How's the lair?"
"Safe for now."
Elie jumped down from her partner's palm, a grin on her face.
"DADDY!!!"
With a flying hug, she was soon swinging in his arms, laughing and giggling.
"Elie!"
Mikey looked up at Garudamon and whistled…
"Biyomon can SURE get big…"
Two death glares…
"You KNEW?"
"Ya knew an' ya didn't tell us?!"
"Um…well…you see…Elie gave me the sad eyes and I couldn't tell you because they said not to and if I did their Digimon would get all big and I'm SORRY!"
Before Raph could punch him…
"POP!"
Looking up a second time, they were met with Zudomon's impressive bulk…
Z jumped down from his head, Rosie on her shell, as Keishi followed.
"DADDY!"
With Patamon flying after her, the pink-masked Digidestined was wrapped in a warm hug.
"Rosie…Yer 'kay…"
"Z took care of me…"
Giggling as her partner landed on her shoulder, she pulled back.
"Daddy, meet Patamon. He's my partner. Pat, this is my daddy."
"It's great to finally meet you."
The orange-furred Digimon smiled.
"Rosie talked about you a lot."
And somehow, that meant the world to him…
"Elie, are ya 'kay?"
"I'm fine…"
Mikey grinned, pulling his eldest into the embrace.
"And whose this big guy?"
"Zudomon. My crest glowed right when we needed it ta."
"Z's got the Crest 'a Reliability, an' Rosie's got the crest 'a 'Ope…"
Izzy crouched down, looking her sister in the eyes before her emotions overwhelmed her.
Pulling the little turtle towards her plastron, no one thought she'd ever let go…
"Wizardmon…"
Gabe's statement snapped everyone back to reality, and they stared warily after him as he made his way to a motionless Lillymon…
'If Lillymon's here…And all our other Digimon have Digivolved but…'
The dark-masked turtle almost choked on a sob…
'They've got Lily…'
"She was attacked by Myotismon, wasn't she?"
"So what if she was?" Izzy demanded.
"Leave 'im, Izzy."
Attention shifted to a stubborn-looking Z…
"'E's a good guy."
A green glow spread from Wizardmon's hand and into the pixie Digimon…
"'E's only tryin' ta 'elp."
The plant Digimon jumped into the air, color returned along with her spirit, startled awake with buzzing wings.
"Whose…?"
"It's Lillymon, dad…Palmon Digivolved…"
Don understood…
'Lily…'
"He's a good Digimon." Rose insisted.
"He has Ari's tag and crest!"
"Ari's? She's the eighth child?" Gabe wondered.
"Yeah…"
Wizardmon held up the pink crest bordered by gold.
"Ari and Gatomon need this. Where is she?"
The crimson-masked turtle bit her lip, fists trembling at her sides…
"They've got 'er…"
Z seemed to tense, then clenched her jaw as frustration leaked through her teeth.
"We'll go find Angie and Lily." Keishi offered.
"A'right…be careful."
As the ninja and Jake went off, Elie looked up at the sky for wisdom…
"It's Myotismon!"
And so it was, with bats flying about him and poor Gatomon in his grip…
"…We're goin' in."
The concrete exploded, and Izzy smirked…
"Snimon and Tuskmon…The same trick won't work on US twice! BUDDY!"
The Crest of Friendship began to shine…
"Garurumon, Digivolve to…WEREGARURUMON!!"
"WHOA…'E's pretty cool…"
"Thanks, pop."
"Garuru Kick!"
"You guys go on." Garudamon encouraged.
"We can take these Digi-clowns."
"I know ya can, little man. Hurry, though."
"Right."
The group headed for the front door…
"Tento, take us to the top floor!"
"I'm on it! Tentomon, Digivolve to…KABUTERIMON!!"
Jumping onto his back or clinging to his ankles, they tightened their hold as he took straight to the air.
"Faster, Kabuterimon! We need to save Ari!"
The pace quickened, and soon they were busting through a Japanese-style wall…
"ARI!!!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She was frightened, terrified, but she was fighting to hide it.
'Angie wouldn't be scared…' She reasoned, eyes locked on Phantomon's scythe…
'Even if they took out Metalgreymon, she'd never stop fighting back…'
The song was bubbling up in her throat again…
Quiet as a whisper, they floated out onto the air…
"Someday/When we are wiser/When the world's older/When we have learned/I pray/Someday we may yet live/To live and let live/Someday/Life will be fairer/Need will be rarer/Greed will not pay/God speed/This bright millennium/On its way/Let it come/Someday…"
Voice steadily growing stronger…
"Someday/Our fight will be won then/We'll stand in the sun then/That bright afternoon/Till then/On days when the sun is gone/We'll hang on/Wish upon the moon…"
Steadily building her courage…
"There are some days dark and bitter/Seems we haven't got a prayer/But a prayer for someday better/Is the one thing we all share-."
She was cut off by the door slamming open, and the gold-masked turtle almost flinched.
"Is this the eighth child?"
"It seems so…"
Ari almost trembled as Shredder roughly grabbed her arm.
"We should've known the eighth child would be a turtle…"
He turned to look over at Myotismon.
"We should do this quickly. Her sister can be quite…FIERCE…when protecting her…"
"…"
The evil Digimon gave her a piercing look, but the little Digidestined managed to find the strength to keep eye contact.
"Why do you show yourself now? Don't you know what we're going to do to you?"
"I-I have a pretty good idea…"
The petite turtle seemed to stand taller.
"A-And I know Angie will come to save me."
"Little one, that's the idea."
Her blood ran cold…
'Gatomon…'
She could see the worry and the pain and the scars of a wounded spirit still fighting back…
'The screams…'
Ari closed her eyes…
'They're back…and they're so much LOUDER!'
Gatomon seemed to sense her distress and began to struggle.
"Then why?"
"…S-Someone had to stop you…"
Her voice gained strength, COURAGE, as if her sister was by her side…
"Someone had to stop you from hurting innocent people!"
"Well, what a thoughtful little girl you are."
Smoke filled the air as something busted through the far wall…
"ARI!!!"
Izzy jumped through the smokescreen, fire on her hands.
"Leave my cousin 'LONE!"
The flames made Shredder back off, and Ari fell to her knees as Gatomon broke free of Myotismon's hold.
Jumping to her partner's defense, the cat Digimon seemed to bristle.
The others jumped down from Kabuterimon, who seemed to try and straighten in the large room…
"Together again…But not for long. Grizzly Wing-!"
"Electro Shocker!"
"Flower Cannon!"
Both attacks were diverted, blasting a hole in a wall leading out to a rooftop garden.
"It's getting a little noisy here. Let's go somewhere quieter."
Ari squeaked when something lifted her into the air, and clung to her partner.
"ANGIE!!"
But…
Angie wasn't there…
Where was she?
The others ran after them into the garden, where they were met with a small army of Foot Ninja.
"Shit…" Z cursed.
"WEREGARURUMON!! WE NEED A LITTLE 'ELP UP 'ERE!!"
"GARUDAMON!!"
"ZUDOMON, GET YER SHELL UP 'ERE!!"
Weregarurumon blocked Myotismon's path, fists at the ready as Shredder joined him.
Garudamon was flying up with Zudomon, but if he tried anything right then…
"Kabuterimon, help them!"
"Kabuterimon, Digivolve to…MEGAKABUTERIMON!!"
As the Ultimate-level Digimon surrounded the evil one, the ninja jumped into action.
"Come on!"
The Digidestined jumped into action as Ari crouched down, trying to filter out the noise of battle…
"G-Gatomon…I-I'm scared…"
"Everything will be okay, Ari."
Earth rumbled and sparks flew, and Gabe tried knocking out just as many assailants with his Bo staff as Elie and Rosie tried hand-to-hand combat, Patamon helping them out with his Boom Bubble.
"Horn Buster!"
A flick of the wrist, and he was heading for Weregarurumon…
"Buddy, watch out!"
Before Izzy could jump to her partner as he was knocked off the building, Hun grabbed her from behind and made sure she couldn't break free.
"F***! Put me down 'fere I decide ta barbeque yer sorry ass!"
A blast struck Myotismon from behind, and attention shifted to Wizardmon.
"Ari, catch!"
Her fingers curled around the crest now in her hands, and she looked at it in surprise before looking back up at the Digimon…
"Wizardmon…You're okay…"
"So, you're still alive."
"That's right. It'll take more than the likes of you to destroy me!"
"Ari, put on your crest!" Elie shouted.
Ari nodded, putting the trinket around her neck…
Poor Wizardmon was blasted back, and Myotismon turned to the youngest turtle.
"Now give that to me, you little brat."
"No!"
"That wasn't a request!"
There was a flash, a wall of water, and Hun was kicked back, freeing Izzy.
"Whoa…"
Ari's face brightened…
"ANGIE!"
The sky-masked turtle smiled, giving a faint whistle.
"Man…You guys sure started the party without me! We don't really like that, do we Greymon?"
The dinosaur Digimon seemed to agree, looking menacing behind her.
"What took ya so lon', Fearless."
"Sorry, but I had to pick something up along the way…And we ran into a bit of trouble starting with a 'B'."
A whip of water knocked down a score of Foot Ninja, revealing Lily.
"LIL!"
"Looks like we got here just in time."
The blue-eyed Digimon smiled.
"LILLYMON!"
"Lily, you're okay!"
Angie's good mood seemed to vanish, and she turned to Myotismon and Shredder.
"You two messed with the wrong little sister. I won't let you get away with it!"
Pulling out a Digivice, she threw it to her sister.
"Ready, Ari?"
"Ready!"
That's when Demidevimon swooped down, stealing the device from her hands.
"OW!"
"HEY!"
"Go get them, Phantomon."
Angie turned her anger to the Digimon approaching them.
"Time for some payback, Greymon!"
The Crest of Courage gave its light…
"Greymon, Digivolve to…METALGREYMON!!"
"Get 'im!"
"Show him what we're made of!"
"Giga Blaster!"
The attack disintegrated before even reaching the vampire Digimon, and the crimson-eyed turtle gritted her teeth.
"Horn Buster!"
"Vulcan's Hammer!"
"Wing Blade!"
"Flower Cannon!"
Every single attack disintegrated, but the turtle's didn't have time to curse thanks to a second wave of Foot Ninja.
"Pat, you need to help!"
Raph was about to ask what the little Digimon could POSSIBLY do…
"Patamon, Digivolve to…ANGEMON!!"
"Now what?"
"Hand of Fate!"
Phantomon disintegrated in defeat, and it seemed Myotismon was now in great pain from the blow…
"Have you had enough, or do you want some more?!"
"Actually, I was about to ask YOU the same question!"
He whirled around to face Ari…
"Grizzly Wing!"
Angie's heart stopped…
"NO!!!!!!"
The blow landed, but…
It didn't hit who they thought it would…
Silence, harsh and cold and it made Ari's heart ache…
"WIZARDMON!!!!!!!"
"Next time, don't get in my way!"
The little gold-banded turtle caught him before he hit the ground, tears rolling down her face…
"Wizardmon! Wizardmon, don't go! PLEASE!"
"Are you…alright, Gatomon?"
"You saved me…I'm sorry…"
"About what?"
"Sorry I got you involved in this…"
"Don't be sorry…I don't have any regrets…If I hadn't met you…my life would've had no meaning…I'm glad that you and I were friends…"
"…Friends forever…"
"Thank you for everything, Gatomon…"
"Wizardmon…you'll be okay…"
Her Digivice began to glow, burning Demidevimon…
Angie caught it once he dropped it in pain.
"ARI!"
She barely caught the Digivice when the Shredder was looming over her, gauntlet raised…
'No…'
Everything seemed to slow down, but she ran forward faster than she thought was physically possible…
She saw the realization cross Ari's face…
"ANGIE!!!"
Suddenly, she was there, shell to the enemy and arms around her sister in a hug as the spikes fell…
"Don't worry, Ari…I'll protect you…"
"A-Angie…"
Blood spurted, and the pain seemed to numb her voice as it covered her shoulder and neck in crimson…
Weak, she swayed before hitting the concrete, arms still hanging around her sister's waist…
"No…ANGIE!!!"
"Foolish girl…"
"ANGIE!!!"
There was a roar of rage, and Metalgreymon knocked Shredder back with his metal hand as he growled and snarled.
"M-Metal…greymon…" She called weakly, but he still heard.
Nuzzled her gently with his metal head as the others seemed to just be realizing what had happened…
All the fighting as ceased, and Leo stepped forward almost in disbelief…
"Angie…"
'Not like Artemis…PLEASE…'
"Are you…okay, Ari?"
"Angie, don't go…"
The tears made her eyes seem like watery pools of sadness…
"I couldn't…Angie, I don't want you to go!"
"Everything will…be okay…"
Angie coughed, blood escaping her lips as she tried to hold on, vision blurring…
"Don't give up…on me…You need…to be brave…for me, okay?"
"I-I'll try…"
Ari felt the tears burn…
"Pl-Please…don't go…"
"…I'm sorry, Ari…"
You could see the light leaving her eyes…
"I don't…think I have a choice…"
Almost gone, and the darkness was so inviting…
NO!
She needed to say it!
"Just know…I love all of you so much…Will you tell…the others for me?"
A soft nod…
"B-But you c-could tell them y-yourself! Y-You'll be okay!"
"…I'm sorry…"
It was like she felt the soul departing…
"ANGIE!!!!!"
Izzy took a step forward, eyes hazy with tears…
"Fearless…"
Weregarurumon had come back up, but she hardly noticed…
"My friend…Ya basturd…"
Her eyes were filled with wrathful indignation…
"YA KILLED MY FRIEND!!"
Her crest began to glow so bright that even Weregarurumon shared the light…
"Angie, no…"
Lily felt her heart hurting…
"Angie, we didn't want you to go…"
Tears…
"ANGIE, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO?!"
The Crest of Sincerity shed its light, and Lillymon felt the power flooding through her veins…
"No…I should've known…"
Gabe tried to hold back a sob…
"Why didn't I know it would hurt this much? I just…"
He closed his eyes…
"ANGIE, COME BACK!!"
His crest's glow even gave Megakabuterimon's strength a boost…
"Angie…Don't go…"
Elie felt something crack in her chest…
"ANGIE, WE LOVE YOU!!"
The Crest of Love gave Garudamon strength…
"Damn, Angie…I knew ya would but…ya didn't have ta…"
Z tried to hold back the damn heat in her eyes…
"We just want ya back…I mean…"
She couldn't hold in all of the pain…
"ANGIE, WE NEED YA!!"
The Crest of Reliability made Zudomon shine…
"Angie…Please come back...Everyone's hurting…"
Rosie closed her eyes, clenching her fists…
"Angie…"
The tears were just so HOT…
"ANGIE, WE NEED YOU BACK!! PLEASE!!"
Her crest made Angemon glow even brighter than he had before…
"Angie…My chest hurts so much…"
Ari shook her head, tears flying…
"We just need you back…You can't just leave…It's not your time…Please!"
She buried her face in the motionless plastron…
"PLEASE, JUST COME BACK!!"
Her crest glowed brighter than the others, and seven beams of light came from the objects, centering on her heart…
The Crest of Courage even began to glow…
Friendship, Sincerity, Knowledge, Love, Reliability, Hope…
Light…
There was a light coming from her cold skin, warm and almost alive…
Ari moved forward as if she knew what she needed to do, and kissed the cool forehead.
Life…
The glow brightened, then sank deep within before the chest seemed to jump as the heart restarted.
A gasp as the lungs began to bring in air, and crimson eyes flew open.
"…Ari?"
"ANGIE!!!"
It was like the air was charged with joy and relief and thoughts of bloody revenge as they all converged on the she-turtle.
It seemed the light had even healed her wounds into light scars, but she still didn't seem at full strength…
"Angie…"
Ari was still crying, burying her face into her sister's stomach…
"I missed you…"
"I'm sorry…"
The Crest of Light glowed so bright everyone was enveloped in its warmth…
"Gatomon, Digivolve to…ANGEWOMON!!"
Everyone looked up at the angel in surprise…
"Myotismon, Shredder, you've tried to destroy the Digidestined and attempted to conquer Earth. In doing so, you have ruined the lives of Digimon and humans alike. How can you justify yourself?"
"I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you! It is my destiny to plunge this world into darkness and become king of the Digital World, and no angel or Digimon has the power to stop me!"
"Myotismon, don't you have any regrets for the things you have done?" Angemon questioned.
"Nightmare-!"
"Heaven's Charm!"
"My power…It's growing!"
"Everyone, give your power to Angewomon!"
"Horn Buster!"
"Flower Cannon!"
"Vulcan's Hammer!"
"Wolf Claw!"
"Wing Blade!"
"Giga Blaster!"
"Hand Of Fate!"
The attacks converged into the golden ring, and a white line of lightning went into Angewomon's hand…
"Celestial Arrow!"
It pierced Myotismon through the heart, or where his heart would've been, and he disintegrated, seeming to take the Shredder with him.
Angie grinned, standing weakly…
"See? What did I tell you guys? I knew we'd do it!"
"Let's just get outta 'ere. This place gives me the creeps…" Izzy joked.
The flying Digimon took them all down to street-level before they all Dedigivolved to their In-Training or Rookie levels.
"We finally defeated Myotismon!" Lily cheered.
"FINALLY!" Z sighed.
"Rosie, what's wron'?"
"The sky."
"What? Why?"
Ari pointed up.
"The fog is still there! And it's getting thicker!"
Leo sighed, looking to his brothers…
"Didn't they already defeat him?"
"It seems they haven't…" Don admitted.
"But…He's gone…" Gabe muttered, hugging Motimon closer.
"Maybe not…" Angie muttered…
"…Maybe we just made him stronger…"