Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 30: Sakura Blossoms, Protect Your Friends Jureimon!
Dorugamon rushed down the hallways as quickly as his legs could carry him. He made a sharp turn, almost collided with a wall, and continued running. "How do we even know this is the way to the throne room?" he asked.
"It's the only way for us to go and it is better than sitting around, doing nothing." Haseo answered from his spot on Dorugamon's back. Haseo began to say something else, but stopped himself.
"And because Daemon went this way as well?" Dorugamon asked, knowing this was what his brother had been about to say.
"Exactly." Haseo replied quietly.
Dorugamon sighed as he rushed down the newest hallway. "Otouto, it's been years since that happened. For the last time it's not your fault." Haseo didn't reply, worrying Dorugamon. "Otouto?" he asked, slowing down to a stop.
"Yes it is Ryu-nisan." Haseo whispered, his voice almost inaudible because of his quiet voice and thick collar. "It is my fault all of those digimon died. And it is my fault you turned into that, that thing." Dorugamon turned his neck back and looked up at Haseo, his younger brother clearly troubled by his memories.
"Otouto." He whispered, trying to think of something to say to help his brother. "That's not true. Daemon tricked you. He tricked both of us. He used us, it's what he does."
Haseo shook his head vigorously, a small sob heard from under his collar. "That is not true." He whispered, his voice almost breaking from trying to hold back tears. "It is all my fault that all of that happened. If I could take any of it back I would, but I can't and I am forced to live with the burden of my actions."
Dorugamon made a quick move, throwing Haseo off of his back. Haseo's tearful eyes looked up at the dragon in shock, but Dorugamon wasn't finished. He bent of Haseo, glaring at him furiously. "Stop it Otouto." He growled angrily. "Please, just stop all of this pathetic self pity. He used us; we didn't know what we were doing. Well, we did but he made us not care. It's what he does Otouto, you know that. You've heard a lot of the Boss's stories about him and you know the sort of stuff he does. Please, just stop blaming yourself and think! If anything it's my fault. I'm the older brother, I should have protected you!"
The two were silent as tears slowly fell down Dorugamon's face as well. The two brothers stared at each other, both of them suddenly feeling guilty about what they had done. Haseo balled his hands into fists, trying to keep himself focused and not completely break down. Dorugamon straightened up and helped Haseo stand. The two brothers looked at each other wordlessly, both of them trying to mentally prepare themselves for facing their worst enemy, their old friend.
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Daemon walked down the hallway, humming a tune to himself. A Flarizamon, a dinosaur-like digimon made of burning flames, poked his head out of a door and gasped when he saw Daemon. Daemon waved cheerfully at Flarizamon, before pointing at him and sending a thin red beam through him, destroying him instantly.
There was no digitama left behind.
"Oh my, perhaps I should have asked for directions before doing that." Daemon quietly said to himself. "Oh well, he probably wouldn't have told me without the proper amount of torture and I'm not in the mood for torturing small fries right now." Daemon shrugged and continued walking down the corridor.
"I wonder how my pets are doing." He said quietly. "That boy and bear really are the best assistants I've ever had. They might even be better than Haseo and Dorumon would have been. Those four are so interesting, but for the sake of foreshadowing I'll mysteriously hint about what happened to Tommy's friends. That stupid Takuya and his Flamemon. They might have been strong enough to beat Lucemon when they had the other spirits with them, but even EmperorGreymon is no match for one of us Demon Lords."
Daemon stopped and shuddered violently. "Oh hell." He whispered. "If Lilithmon did that to that little Coronamon to get him one our side I wonder what she did to those two." Daemon stopped and thought about, and shuddered again. "Lucky bastards, why won't Lilithmon ever do some of that stuff with me?! For the Demon Lord of Lust she sure isn't too open with her colleagues. Oh look the throne room."
Daemon looked up at the large doors and smiled under his cloth hood. He knocked on the door gently, waited a few seconds, and then blew the large stone door off of it's hinges. "Who dares to disturb my throne room!?" PileVolcanomon roared from within.
"Show yourself or else!" Volcdramon cried.
Daemon flapped his wings, blowing the large cloud of dirt and debris away from him. He stared at the two shocked digimon, although they couldn't see it. "Guess who?" he said menacingly.
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Celena led the group as they ran down the hallway. Lunamon floated next to her, occasionally looking back worriedly. "Stop doing that, I keep thinking the Demon Lords are right behind me." Rai said anxiously.
"Nope, the Demon Lords went another way." Lockheed said.
"When?" Jasper asked, panting from his ten year old body being forced to run so much
"Just a little bit ago. They all went down somewhere else, I can tell because there scent is fading. But something else is coming this way now. It's big and evil but I think," Lockheed stopped running and put his nose to the air. Everyone else waited for the blue dragon. "Yuppers, it is familiar!" Lockheed cried suddenly.
"Is it one of the bad tamers?" Mushroomon asked.
"No, I'm not sure where I've smelled this scent before." Lockheed answered. "Sorry, but I don't know who it is. It's not like it's someone I know, more like it's just close to someone I know." He frowned and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Is it wise for us to be standing here while whatever it is, is coming down the hall to kill us?" Sakura asked.
"Good point, let's move guys!" Celena ordered. The group set off again but Jasper went slower than before. The group cried in shock as a fireball flew down the hallway and exploded near them. Jasper tripped and fell, narrowly avoiding another shot. "What the hell is shooting at us!?" Celena cried.
"I don't know but we need to help Jasper." Sakura answered. "Digisoul Charge!"
Mushroomon digivolved to Woodmon and before Jasper could stand on his own he picked the boy and swung him over his shoulder. He charged forward with surprising speed, picking Lockheed up as he ran by. The others were shocked to see Woodmon moving so quickly. "Wow," Sakura said in awe, "Woodmon can really move when he's protecting someone."
"Again, should we really be standing here?" Hawkmon asked.
"Right, after that tree." Rai said as the group continued fleeing. Fireballs would fly at them occasionally but luckily whoever was shooting them had horrible aim. However, the fireballs exploded when they hit the walls and caused dirt and rocks to fly everywhere. The debris was more dangerous that the attacks themselves.
It was inevitable though. They were running from one of the Demon Lord's servants and in the end they were bound to have to fight whatever was attacking them. One more fireball crashed near Sakura, throwing her down to the ground. Woodmon rushed over and helped her up, but their pause was long enough for the hulking monster to catch up to them.
"Ni-chan!" Lunamon shrieked when she saw her brother. How she could tell was beyond the rest of the group. The monster in front of them didn't look a thing like Coronamon did.
The monster in front of them was very big. It had a massive mane of wild and tangled dark blue hair. It rested on all fours, although guessing by it's body shape it could probably stand on it's hind legs if it wanted to. It had the overall shape of a line, covered in black fur. It had several metal attachments and armor, some pieces of which were covered in blue flames. Drool ran down his snarling face, and his red eyes glowed with a wild desire to tear into the group.
"Lunamon, what happened to your brother?" Sakura asked warily.
"It looks like he dark digivolved again. Only this time a lot bigger." Rai answered for her.
"Can we beat that thing?" Woodmon asked fearfully.
"I don't think so." Jasper answered as he pulled closer to the large tree and Lockheed. "He looks really mad about something." He said fearfully.
"I don't think he's mad at something, I get the feeling he's mad at us." Celena said, preparing herself for when the monster attacked.
The beast growled loudly, making the team cringe. Lunamon began sobbing lightly as she stared at her brother. "Coronamon what happened to you?" she sobbed quietly.
"It doesn't matter; we just have to beat this thing." Rai answered. "If we take him out then he'll be purified like last time, right?"
"R-Right." Celena stuttered, failing to hide all of her fear. The four of them took out their digivices.
"Digisoul Charge!" the group cried all but Sakura since Mushroomon had already evolved.
"Let's get him!" Shurimon cried confidently. He and Coredreamon charged at Flaremon, he roared his challenge back at them. Shurimon jumped into the air and cried "Kusanagi!" He whipped his green spring-like arms forward, unleashing his two shuriken at the lion. The lion only had to roar to unleash a strong enough energy to knock the stars out of the way.
"Blue Flare Breath!" Lockheed roared as he spewed out a jet of blue fire. Flaremon smiled as the flames washed over him, igniting his own fires even more. His claw shot out and knocked the dragon back down the hallway.
"Something tells me you're not the best choice for this battle." Sakura said, trying not to insult Lockheed. Lockheed only grunted in return.
"Branch Drain!" Woodmon cried as his smaller arms launched forward and wrapped around the lion. To everyone's surprise the lion became tangled within the branches, immobilizing him completely.
"Autumn Blow-Down!" Shurimon cried as he spun around and turned into a tornado of leaves and shuriken. The wind rushed towards Flaremon, and passed through him. The blades and leaves cut into him, making him roar in anger and pain. Shurimon rematerialized on the other side of him, a smirk hidden by the white cloth covering his face.
"Oh yeah, nice job Shurimon!" Rai congratulated.
"Oh no, that only mad him angrier!" Woodmon cried as Flaremon began pulling on the branches tangling him up. Fire engulfed his body, burning Woodmon's limbs. Woodmon cried out in pain and tried pulling back, knocking Jasper off of him. He tried escaping his own trap, but Flaremon let out a malicious laugh as he pulled the branched closer, pulling Woodmon along.
"Lekismon I know he's your brother but we have to do something!" Celena cried. Her hand was covered in her glowing pink digisoul again, but this time stronger. "Digisoul, Full Charge!"
"Lekismon shinka, Crescemon!" The taller rabbit-like warrior appeared in a bright light. She readied her blades, but she clearly wasn't completely behind her attack. "Nuova Luna!" she cried reluctantly as she began slashing the air with her crescent blades. The air froze and became glowing crescents that flew towards her demented brother. The blades struck the branches, freeing them and causing Woodmon more pain.
"That isn't helping!" Woodmon howled in pain. Flaremon kicked his flames up even hotter and Crescemon retaliated by sending more waves of ice. Woodmon was stuck in a demented game of tug-o-war. The branches tied around Flaremon were being burned to ashes while the branches closer to him were being frozen rock solid.
"You're only hurting him even more!" Sakura cried.
"Crescemon!" Celena cried frantically.
"I can't hit Ni-chan!" she answered worriedly.
"This is kind of funny if you think about." Rai chuckled.
"Yuppers, but kind of sad too." Coredramon agreed.
"Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?" Shurimon mused to himself.
"Pins and needles, pins and needles, oh oh oh pins and needles!" Woodmon howled in both comedic and depressing pain. His branches finally broke apart altogether, unleashing the flaming lion. He roared triumphantly while Woodmon looked down at the two remaining stubs of his smaller arms, one stub was cold and frozen while the other was charred and burnt.
"Oops." Crescemon said apologetically.
"My arms, I'm disfigured!" Woodmon cried in anguish. "I'm hideous, nobody look at me!"
Flaremon took this chance to send a massive fireball at the group, knocking them all away. Crescemon stood up, glaring at he brother. "Please stop this Flaremon, we're siblings!" Flaremon seemed reluctant for a moment but he shook his head, drool flying everywhere. He glared at his sibling, ready to strike her down.
"This is horrible." Sakura gasped as Flaremon created a fireball and knocked Crescemon away. "Woodmon we have to help them!" Sakura cried. Woodmon ignored her as he whined over his broken limbs. "Woodmon please, we haven't even done anything yet!"
Woodmon stoped whining and turned his blue eyes to Sakura. "What do you mean?" he whined.
"You and I haven't done anything worth while yet!" Sakura cried. "We haven't taken down any evil digimon, we were hardly any help when our group was fighting together, and the only reason you can digivolve is because you could before I met you! As much as I hate the pun, we're more useless then Sakura before the Shippuden time skip!"
"Wow, that was a bad pun." Woodmon said quietly, unsure of what else to say. His blue eyes glared suddenly as he nodded. "But you're right, we've hardly done anything at all! I'll have plenty of time to lament over by lost limbs later, for now we have to do something! We'll prove that we're great partners just like everyone else."
"Uh, guys?" Jasper said weakly.
"Yeah Jas?" Sakura asked.
"Uhm, as cool as that character development speech was we kind of need help." Jasper answered weakly. Shurimon and Corderamon had been taken down by Flaremon and had dedigivolved. Crscemon was facing off against her brother but couldn't bring herself to do anything but dodge and use weak attacks. Woodmon and Sakura looked at each other and nodded.
Sakura was covered in her digisoul, which her crest died a deep red. Her digivice changed like the others had before. The majority of it was bright red, with the three buttons being pink. The crest of love glowed a gentle crimson under the screen of the digivice. Sakura's digisoul concentrated to her hand. "Digisoul, Full Charge!"
"Woodmon shinka," Woodmon was covered in a bright green light. The group gasped when he revealed himself, even Flaremon stopped his savage attack. What had once been a living log was now a full grown tree. He had several strong tentacle like roots and two very strong branches that ended in claws. Two holes on his face glowed with small lights that were his eyes. His previously torn up head was replaced by a large tree head covered in leaves and blooming cherry buds. "Jureimon!" he cried as he let Sakura onto one of his branches.
"Let's see if you can burn through these!" he cried as several of his roots surged toward Flaremon, binding him once again. Flaremon roared as he set himself on fire again in an attempt to burn away Jureimon's branches but the tree only laughed. "My bark is even thicker than ever. And if you think that's bad, have some of my bite! Senbonzakura!" he cried. His tree head began shaking violently as the cherry buds bloomed. Within the buds were several glowing balls of light that pelted Flaremon with large explosions as they flew at him in waves.
Flaremon gasped in pain as the pink smoke cleared. He let out a weak roar at Jureimon who only glared back. "I'm not sure what happened to you Coronamon but I can tell you're in a lot of pain. I'm sorry, but it's my job to protect the people I love and right now you're the biggest threat there is. I'm sorry, but good bye. Great Forest!" he cried as his arms and roots shot into the ground. Seconds later Flaremon was impaled by a storm of sharp roots that flew out of the ground.
"Ni-chan!" Crscemon cried.
The trees retreated immediately, leaving Flaremon behind. He fell down, his head bowed quietly. He didn't growl or stir at all. He slowly looked up at Jureimon and smiled. "Thank you." He whispered as the flames began engulfing his body. The group watched in a solemn quiet as Flaremon was reduced to a pile of ashes.
"Ni-chan." Lunamon whispered, tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but it had to be done." Mushroomon apologized.
"I know." Lunamon cried lightly. "I'm just glad he's not in whatever pain he was in." Lunamon flew back and hugged her partner tightly. Celena hugged her in return, letting the small rabbit cry on her shoulder.
"It's okay Lunamon." Celena comforted as she smiled at the ashes. The ashes slowly fell away, revealing a red digitama under them. "We'll see your brother again someday."
"I've got it!" Hawkmon cried, making everyone jump. "Adam isn't here!" The group was silent as they looked around; realizing Adam and Arcadimon were nowhere to be seen. Everyone slowly turned to Celena, who sweatdropped when they all stared at her.
"I can't believe I lost my brother." She sighed quietly.
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"Adam we're lost." Arcadimon said matter-of-factly.
"I know that!" the ten year old answered angrily. "I can't believe it too. I thought Celena was right in front of us, but then she just disappeared. Oh man, what are we going to do!?" Adam cried loudly, his voicing echoing down the hallway.
"Hey!"
Adam and Arcadimon looked behind them to see the source of the voice. They frowned when they saw the new arrival and his digimon partner.
"Wow." They squeaked.