SailorStar9: Chapter 33 goes up. This is Chapter 34 and 3 more chapters before this fic ends. To all my non-reviewing readers, I love you all! Will love you more if you review! *hugs all round!*
Disclaimers: I do not own the animes, expect the pairing, I hope.
Chapter 34: The Truth About BanchoLeomon!
In the Human Word, before breaking BanchoLeomon free…
"I've always debated in my heart over King Drasil's decisions. But in the end, I've always sided with the King and kept my pledge of loyalty to him intact." Craniamon remarked, kneeling before BanchoLeomon. "You must have wanted to tell me that you thought the king's way of justice wasn't justice at all. Isn't that right, Spencer Damon?"
"Spencer Damon?" Garudamon was shocked.
"My Lady, did you know about this?" Examon was stunned.
"I didn't." Lilith replied. "But I had a well-placed suspicion."
"Your daughter should be able to tell that this is he." Craniamon stood up. "The man who believed so much that the Digital World and the Human World could live together in peace that he risked everything to make his dream come true."
With a cry, Craniamon powered up.
"What are you doing?" Garudamon demanded as Craniamon punched through the solid foundation, freeing BanchoLeomon and supporting the Digital World in the golden lion's place.
"Craniamon!" BanchoLeomon gasped. "Why? Tell me!"
"I want to try believing once more in the potential that humans and digimon can love together." Craniamon replied. "Hurry BanchoLeomon, go to King Drasil."
"Craniamon…" BanchoLeomon muttered.
In the Server Tree, back in the present…
"BanchoLeomon… is my dad?" Marcus echoed in disbelief.
"No way!" Gotsumon was similarly stunned. "This is unbelievable."
"Have you lost it?" Marcus demanded. "What you're saying doesn't even make sense!"
"Oh no?" BanchoLeomon challenged. "Remember falling off the monkey bars on your sixth birthday?"
"How did you know that?" Marcus asked, touching the scar on his forehead.
"I was there." BanchoLeomon chuckled. "I was the one who carried you all the way to the hospital. Have you forgotten?"
Flashback
"It'll be okay, Marcus." Spencer soothed his wailing son. "Everybody falls down son. What is important is to get back up."
"You're lying…" Marcus stammered. "It can't…"
"BanchoLeomon never lies!" the golden lion hollered. "Isn't that right, Marcus?"
"Marcus!" Keenan shouted, the rest of the group running into the scene.
"BanchoLeomon?" Lalamon inquired.
"You're still alive?" Gaomon was similarly shocked.
"I would hope you'd have more faith in me than that." BanchoLeomon rebuked. "Inside my heart, my body is supported by two life-force energies."
"You have two?" Thomas echoed.
"Yes." BanchoLeomon replied. "After I separated from Merukimon, I did as he suggested and went in search of King Drasil. Along the way, as though destiny had intended it, BanchoLeomon and I met."
Flashback
"You've got some nerve entering my territory without permission." BanchoLeomon told Spencer. "What are you doing here?"
"My apologies sir." Spencer replied. "I'm only passing through your territory on my way to find King Drasil, the ruler of the Digital World."
"King Drasil?" BanchoLeomon echoed.
"And I'm in a great hurry." Spencer added, walking pass BanchoLeomon. "So, forgive me, I must pass."
"I'm afraid not." BanchoLeomon told him. "Not without a fight."
"What?" Spencer turned back.
"When two immovable forces meet, sooner or later, something is going to have to give." BanchoLeomon added.
Flashback
Simultaneously, the two clashed their punches with each other as the volcano erupted around them.
"Well done." Spencer remarked, lying on his back as the volcano emitting smoke.
"Thanks." BanchoLeomon chuckled, lying beside the man. "You got a few good licks in yourself. Say, what's your name?"
"I'm Spencer Damon." Spencer replied. "And you?"
"Around here, they call me BanchoLeomon." BanchoLeomon introduced himself.
"Nice meeting you friend." Spencer told him. "Better than your friend than your foe."
"And that's how we became friends." BanchoLeomon continued his narration.
"Wait a second!" Marcus cut in. "What has that got to do being my father?"
"Marcus!" BanchoLeomon hollered. "I wasn't done talking!"
"So, as I was saying," he added. "We went in search of King Drasil together. But we didn't even know if he really existed. It was like we're chasing shadows. A long time passed without us getting any clues. And then, one day…"
Flashback
Craniamon appeared before the two in a whirlwind.
"Are you the ones searching for King Drasil?" Craniamon inquired.
"Who are you?" BanchoLeomon asked.
"I am our King's most faithful Royal Knight, Craniamon." Craniamon replied.
"A Royal Knight?" Spencer echoed.
Looking at each other, Spencer and BanchoLeomon burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Craniamon demanded.
"We're not laughing at you." Spencer replied. "We're just glad. You see, sir, this is the first sign of evidence we've encountered that King Drasil even existed."
"I see." Craniamon noted.
"Now we know that he's not just a myth." Spencer added. "Will you please take us to him?"
"Absurd!" Craniamon retorted. "You really think King Drasil would allow an audience with such a lowly human as yourself?"
"Why do you insult humans?" BanchoLeomon defended his partner.
"Why not?" Craniamon challenged.
"Humans have the power of emotions inside them" BanchoLeomon reasoned. "Something we Digimon lack."
"The power of emotions?" Craniamon mocked.
"That's right." BanchoLeomon replied. "When a Digimon combines itself with a human's emotions, an unlimited potential is born."
"Then show me." Craniamon requested, pulling out his Duo-Solar Spear. "Show me this unlimited human potential you speak of!"
At that, Spencer and BanchoLeomon nodded at each other.
"Charge, D.N.A Burst Mode!" Spencer called forth his D.N.A Charge.
"What?" Craniamon exclaimed as BanchoLeomon burst into flames.
"BanchoLeomon, Burst Mode engaging!" the golden lion declared as he powered up.
"Burning Bancho Punch!" he countered Craniamon's spear, throwing the spear out of Craniamon's hands.
"Is this the power of human potential?" the Royal Knight inquired, stunned at the display of power.
"Why is the earth shaking?" Spencer asked as a tremor shook the ground.
"That was sluggard, human." King Drasil's voice echoed in his head.
"There's a voice in my head." Spencer remarked.
"Mine too." BanchoLeomon added. "It's echoing."
"I never thought that human emotions could boost the power of a Digimon to such a high level. This has truly surpassed my expectations." King Drasil remarked, taking the form of the Server Tree.
"Is that…" Spencer gasped.
"King Drasil." Craniamon finished his sentence. "This is the first time he has presented himself in a physical form."
"Finally." Spencer gaped.
"The Digital World ruler." BanchoLeomon added. "At last, we meet."
"The true future between humans and Digimon should have started right then and there." BanchoLeomon continued. "But disaster reared its ugly end at the worst possible time."
"I still remember the day Kurata attacked the Digital World." He growled. "Sad."
Flashback
Without warning, the Gizmon fired their eye beams at two of the Deputymon, disintegrating them into digieggs.
"King Drasil has ordered your imprisonment while we retaliate against the humans for their unprovoked, merciless attack." Craniamon told Spencer after throwing him into a cell.
"Please don't." Spencer begged. "It was one human acting alone. You can't punish the whole race just of one mad man! Humans and Digimon can live together in peace."
"Impossible." Craniamon scoffed. "The damage the humans have caused is too great. The pain and sorrow they have inflicted on us can never be erased."
"Fighting hatred with hatred only breeds more hatred." BanchoLeomon commented. "Can't you see?"
"Whose side are you on, BanchoLeomon?" Craniamon demanded.
"If we do not break the cycle of hatred, it will eventually lead to our ruin." BanchoLeomon told him. "Digimon and humans need to work this out."
"Are you suggesting that we Digimon are the only ones who must suffer for this violent assault?" Craniamon challenged. "Is this what you'll ask of those who have lost their homes? To those who have lost their loved ones?"
"Craniamon!" Spencer argued. "Please just have faith in humanity once more! I promise this kind of tragedy would never happen again. I will stake my life on it."
"Your life?" Craniamon scoffed.
"Yes." Spencer replied.
"I will vouch for him." BanchoLeomon added.
"BanchoLeomon." Spencer turned to his partner.
"This man would never lie." BanchoLeomon insisted.
"It's not up to me." Craniamon replied.
"King Drasil!" he gasped, turning towards the light behind him.
"I will hold you to your promise, human." King Drasil replied.
"Considering the risk Spencer put on his own life, King Drasil accepted his plead and spared the Human World." BanchoLeomon added. "However…"
Flashback
"It's show time!" Kurata declared as Gizmon's beam was fired through Merukimon's chest. Merukimon leapt to attack Gizmon XT just as the man-made Digimon was about to fire it's eye beam at Lilith. Changing its target, Gizmon XT fired its charged up beam at the gravely wounded Merukimon. The attack hit right onto Merukimon but not before the Mega level Digimon punched its head off.
"What? Merukimon?" Spencer exclaimed.
"He's gone." Craniamon informed him.
"No…" Spencer muttered in horror. "No! This is all wrong. What are Yushima and Sampson doing?"
"That's not all, Spencer Damon." Craniamon added. "I've heard another disturbing rumor, your son Marcus is also here in the Digital World."
"My son's here?" Spencer echoed.
"It seems he came here in search of a man named Kurata." Craniamon replied. "But he has not found him."
"Let me out of this prison right now!" Spencer demanded. "I have to find my son!"
"He can't." BanchoLeomon told his partner.
"BanchoLeomon." Spencer turned to the golden lion.
"I'm sorry Spencer, but you promised King Drasil. You placed your life on that vow. Even though I vouched for you to King Drasil, you know deep down in your heart, that you must keep your word as a man." BanchoLeomon reminded him, ignoring Spencer's frustrated growl.
"I know you are right." Spencer admitted. "But…"
"Marcus…" he sank to his knees, slamming the floor in helplessness. "Marcus… Marcus!"
Sometime later…
"It is time to begin Spencer Damon's execution. Do you have any last words?" Gallantmon declared as the Royal Knights, minus Alphamon and Examon surrounded Spencer who was standing on a platform, bound and blindfolded.
"Please don't." Spencer replied.
"What?" the Royal Knights exclaimed.
"My son…I want to be able to mold my son into a fine young man." Spencer replied. "I can't leave this world until then."
"You dare to use your last words for the purposes of begging?" Craniamon retorted. "How dare you call yourself a man!?
"Execute him." King Drasil ordered.
"Don't touch that man!" BanchoLeomon intervened, placing himself before his bound partner.
"BanchoLeomon, what are you doing?" Gallantmon demanded.
"Does this mean you're betraying the Digimon and siding with the humans?" Craniamon inquired.
"My deep friendship with this man prevents me from allowing him to suffer his fate at the hands of the Royal Knights." BanchoLeomon replied.
"BanchoLeomon!" Spencer gasped.
"Forgive me." BanchoLeomon turned to him, powering up and releasing his powered-up fist into Spencer's chest.
"Hear me, King Drasil!" the golden lion turned to the Digimon ruler when Spencer collapsed before him. "This man believed in the peaceful existence between humans and Digimon. He gave his life for this cause. So in honor of this man's dedication, spare the other humans."
"To honor your friendship with the human, I will grant your request, BanchoLeomon." King Drasil replied.
"Forgive me, Spencer." BanchoLeomon apologized to his still alive partner after the supposed execution. "This was the only thing I could do to save you."
"BanchoLeomon." Spencer croaked weakly.
"Spencer, please trust your life to me." BanchoLeomon told him.
"My life?" Spencer echoed.
"Become one with me." BanchoLeomon elaborated. "It's the only way we'll be able to fool King Drasil. If you unite with me, you'll be able to watch over Marcus as he grows. Although, you'll only be watching from inside my heart."
"Okay." Spencer agreed. "I'll trust my life in your hands."
Grasping the Digivice Spencer held out, the two merged in a burst of light.
"Then you…really are my dad." Marcus was stunned.
"You've gotten so big, Marcus." BanchoLeomon smiled, placing a fatherly hand on his head.
Marcus chuckled for a while before slapping his hand away.
"Hey!" he snapped. "Wait a minute, why did you keep it a secret? Don't you think you should have told me about this sooner? I mean really, come on!"
"Even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn't." BanchoLeomon replied. "I had to hide it. If King Drasil found out I told you, I could never have returned to you again."
Flashback
"Now you're inside of me, Spencer." BanchoLeomon replied.
"Let's go. Kurata must be defeated." Spencer told his partner within him.
"Yes." BanchoLeomon agreed and he turned to go.
"I will not allow it." King Drasil barked.
"King Drasil." BanchoLeomon turned to the glowing orb of light.
"Fools! Do you think you could deceit an all-knowing being like myself?" King Drasil remarked as he entered Spencer's body. "As your punishment, I will now take this body as hostage. If you ever tell anyone that you have Spencer Damon's life-force energy inside of you, then I'll destroy this body forever. Until then, I will enjoy it for my own purposes."
"But why?" Gotsumon inquired. "What need does King Drasil have for that body?"
"It was a test." Thomas realized. "He wanted to know if humans were worth saving if King Drasil could see life through human eyes, then maybe he would change his mind. I guess I didn't see enough."
"I think his eyes are closed." Yoshi retorted.
"Yeah." Lalamon agreed. "He's not living life as a human, he's just living a Digimon in a human body."
"I have seen enough!" King Drasil declared as he used his power to burst out of the rubble.
"King Drasil!" everyone gasped.
"You worthless humans." King Drasil growled. "You've created chaos and violence throughout your history, never stopping to realize that you're the very cause of your own troubles. I don't need to live in a human's body to realize that. That's why, you must go."
"That's not true!" Marcus argued.
"Agumon." Marcus blinked.
"The King of Digimon should know that humans and Digimon fight best when they're side-by-side." Gaomon added.
"Gaomon." Thomas muttered.
"Me too!" Lalamon chirped. "I love my human partner, Yoshi."
"Lalamon." Yoshi smiled.
"I agreed." Falcomon added. "Keenan is my closest friend."
"Falcomon." Keenan turned to the bird as the four rookie Digimon nodded at each other.
"Digimon and humans are friends." Agumon insisted.
"You speak treason!" King Drasil barked, releasing his energy attack.
"Pepper Breath!" Agumon fired his attack to counter the energy beam, only to have the energy beam overwhelm the fireball.
"It's no use!" Marcus looked as BanchoLeomon as he shielded Keenan. "He's too strong. What do we do now?"
"Comes a time when a man must risk his life to keep a promise he made to his friends." Spencer passed his mental message to his son.
"Now is that time." BanchoLeomon added.
"Dad?" Marcus blinked when the golden lion turned towards King Drasil.
"Marcus, watch over your mother and your sister." BanchoLeomon told him as he walked towards the Digital World ruler.
King Drasil growled, firing an energy beam at the golden lion who took it straight on. Ignoring King Drasil's added-on attack, BanchoLeomon pressed forward.
"Dad, no!' Marcus called out, realizing what BanchoLeomon's intention.
"Consider your rule overthrown!" BanchoLeomon told King Drasil as he tightened his hold on him.
"What?" King Drasil gaped.
"Now Marcus. Use your D.N.A Charge. Destroy the two of us now!" BanchoLeomon demanded.
"What are you asking me to do?" Marcus was shocked. "I can't!"
"Do it! It's the only way!' BanchoLeomon insisted. "You have to!"
"But…" Marcus protested.
"No buts!' BanchoLeomon hollered. "Do it! Hurry Marcus. Please! Now!"
"But dad!" Marcus muttered, before letting out a war cry.
"Marcus!" Yoshi gaped at the sudden flare in the teen's D.N.A Charge as Keenan watched on awe at his surrogate older brother.
"Marcus." Thomas blinked.
"D.N.A Charge Overdrive!" Marcus growled.
"Agumon double warp digivolve to ShineGreymon!" Agumon declared as he evolved.
"Let go!" King Drasil demanded. "Why would you possibly want to sacrifice yourself for a human?"
"You said if I ever told the secret, you'll destroy Spencer's body." BanchoLeomon replied.
"We're going to make sure you keep your word. Spencer told King Drasil.
"Marcus! Destroy the two of us now!" BanchoLeomon demanded.
"Oh dad." Marcus mumbled. "Please no."
ShineGreymon fired his attack as Marcus shut his eyes, unable to see his father perish.
"Marcus, thank you." Spencer looked at his son within BanchoLeomon's body.
"Dad!" Marcus screamed as the two were engulfed in ShineGreymon's attack which demolished the Server Tree.
In the Human World…
"Daddy?" Kristy gasped.
"Do you feel that?" Omnimon asked his companion.
"This power surge." Magnamon added.
"Everyone, do you feel it?" Lilith asked the Royal Knights in the sky above Mount Fuji.
"Yes My Lady." Gallantmon replied. "King Drasil has fallen."
"Now do all of you understand that his word was not absolute?" Lilith questioned.
"Yes I do." Gallantmon replied.
Back in the Digital World…
"I don't believe it. King Drasil has been defeated." Falcomon remarked.
Bye dad. Marcus bid a silent farewell.
"Let's go back." Keenan interjected. "To Hu-mon World."
"Keenan's right. We still have more work to do." Thomas agreed.
"Yeah." Marcus nodded. "Let's go, ShineGreymon!"
However, the ground shook beneath them as King Drasil appeared in his true form.
"Foolish humans!" King Drasil barked. "There can only be one punishment for trying to destroy the King of the Digital World; permanent deletion."
SailorStar9: I can't believe I finished this chapter! *Faints from shock* In the next chapter, after BanchoLeomon and Spencer's destruction, King Drasil has become 'King Drasil 7D6' and is heading to the Real World to eliminate it. DATS rush to stop him and Lilith reveals the connection between King Drasil and herself. What will happen next? Stay tuned to find out.