Takato and his mother were standing in front of their bakery and looked up into the skies.
"Well, Takato, I've pretty much given up telling you and your friends to stay out of danger," Mie said with a wink. "So given how things are right now, I'd say you have two possibilities: Either you be a good boy, stay home where it's safe and wait until the adults have taken care of the problem at hand... or you go out there and kick anyone's butt who turns our city into a war zone!"
Takato stared up at his mother in disbelief. "You... you mean it? I mean... isn't it d'Arcmon who leads this assault?"
Mie grinned. "Son, I know Magnadramon would never send in her troops if she doesn't have a good reason. And while Ai's and Mako's mother is a good person, she tends to go overboard at times. So if you should decide to go and help, try to only attack those who actually endanger the people of this city. If it is Ai's followers who start an attack on the fleet, attack them. When d'Arcmon orders an attack that might cause too much destruction, stop her. Anyways, I'm sure you'll make the right decision... as will I."
"You... you will go up there as well?" Takato wondered.
"Do you think I'd miss this?" the dinosaur warrior grinned. "No way! Besides, I'm not gonna go rogue or anything, I'm just gonna go up and offer d'Arcmon my help. With me and the pals on her side, she's probably not gonna try something she or anybody else would regret later on."
"So our main worry is what Ai is going to do..." Takato murmured.
Mie nodded. "Yes, and if you take in regard what her followers are able to do AND the fact that she's a Demon Lord, trouble is pre-programmed."
Takato sighed. "I just wish we didn't have to fight her... after all, she's a fellow Tamer, isn't she?"
"Well, just like I already said: I believe you will find a way."
Guilmon came running out of the house. "Takato, Rika's on the phone! She says she wants us to come to the edge of the park at once... and she also added that if we are late again, she would Flare Bullet our buttocks!"
Takato grimaced. "Who went and made her leader? Oh, right, Kei, I forgot... good going, cousin, thank you very much..." he grumbled sarcastically.
"I guess I will go and inform Leomon and Sheperdmon as well," Mie sighed. "Too bad Roshi's still to weak to fight... we really could have needed him, given that he is Azulongmon's Champion..."
"For the last time, Roshi, you're not going, and that's final!"
"Dangit, Rumiko, that's d'Arcmon up there! Someone has to make sure she reduces the casualties to a minimum."
"I think she can handle her job just fine," Rumiko said sternly. "You are in no shape to fight. I only allow our girls to go because they still can digivolve... can you?"
Fuchsmon stared at the ground. "No..." she muttered sullenly.
"Hey, it's no big deal, Dad!" Rika smiled. "We'll be back in no time. And who knows, maybe we can even pilfer one of those guys little wands, so we can turn you back..."
"I seriously doubt that anybody else besides Ai's angels can use their wands, Rika," Renamon spoke up.
Fuchsmon sighed. "Still, there's gotta be SOMETHING I can do... I hate having to sit home all day long while I know that my little girls are in danger."
"Who's the little girl?" Bimon grumbled while sitting in a corner of the living room. He didn't dare to speak up louder, in fear Rumiko's mother might hear him.
"Leave your snide remarks to yourself and go get your son a glass of water!" Rumiko demanded. "Don't you see how upset she is?"
"I see it..." Bimon chuckled while going into the kitchen. "And I like it..."
"But seriously, Dad, we'll think of something. You won't have to stay like this forever," Rika told her transformed father.
Roshi sighed. Even though she was on the same eye level as her younger daughter, she couldn't help but feel proud of her. "Rika... I now realized how horrible I must have sounded every time I reprimanded you or Renamon. I'm sorry... and I want you to know that I am actually very proud of what you two managed to accomplish."
Rika and Renamon looked at each other in surprise, then they smiled at their father. "Thanks, Dad! That really means a lot..."
"Here's your goddamn water..." Bimon growled as he brought a glass.
"Careful, or I'll have mother wash your mouth out with soap," Rumiko glared.
Fuchsmon ignored Bimon's remark and accepted the water. She drank a few sips and sighed again. "Still, I really wish I could do anything to help..." she murmured.
Suddenly, her eyes bulged out and her hands reached for her tummy, while she felt an unpleasant rumbling coming from down there. The rumbling then relocated itself to a lower region...
"Ugh... dammit..." she grumbled.
"Roshi? What's wrong?" Rumiko asked with worry.
Fuchsmon grimaced and covered her already fur-covered private parts with her paws.
"Excuse me," she squeaked and dashed towards the bathroom. Seconds later, they all were able to hear disgusting squirting sounds coming from that direction.
Everyone's eyes were directed at Bimon, who was rolling around the floor with laughter.
"All right... what did you just give him?" Rika demanded angrily.
Renamon, who had run into the kitchen, came back out with a small bottle. "I take it you put this into his water, didn't you?" she frowned. "Dr. Sukamon's Squirt Compound... guarantees diarrhea for the following three days."
"Where would he get a bottle of that stuff?" Rika wondered.
"Hahahahahah, did you see the look on her face? That stuff really is priceless, oh man, it's killing me!"
"All right, bozo, you've had your chance," Rumiko's mother grumbled as she approached him. "If normal spankings aren't enough... I know just what to do with delinquent children like you!"
She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room.
"What? Where are you taking me? Unhand me right now, or else... no, what are you planning to do...? No, let me go, LET ME GO!!"
Renamon sighed. "Mom, will you be all right with him and Dad?"
"I guess I'll be fine," Rumiko said. "Besides, I already raised two little tykes, so doing it again won't be so hard." She winked.
Rika sweatdropped. "Rena and I COULDN'T have been this horrible, could we?"
Their discussion was interrupted by the creaking of the bathroom door, when Fuchsmon opened it just wide enough to stick out her little muzzle.
"Rumi-chan... could you come here for a second?" she squeaked.
Rumiko looked puzzled, but followed her distraught ex-husband's wishes.
"I really have a bad feeling leaving them behind," Rika whispered to her sister. "Do you think we can risk letting Dad and Bimon stay under the same roof?"
"Well, what's the worst thing that could happen?" Renamon asked.
Rika shivered. "Please, Rena, don't ever ask something like that!"
Their mother came back out of the bathroom and gave off a heavy sigh. "Well, it looks like your father will have to wear diapers for the next few days."
Mako was clinging to a road sign and cried pitifully.
"Mako, please, let go already and come back. You can't stay here the whole day," MarineAngemon pleaded.
"Ai doesn't like me anymore..." the TinyDevimon sobbed. "Mom doesn't like Ai anymore... why should I go back home? I'd rather stay here... forever..."
"Don't say that, Mako," MarineAngemon said. "It's not true. Your mother loves Ai very dearly, it's just that... well, parents have to be strict with their children every now and then. As for Ai... I'm sure she will come back to her senses in no time."
Mako looked up at his teacher with teary eyes. "Promise?" he sniffled.
MarineAngemon smiled. "I promise."
Mako let go of the road sign. "Mom and Ai will forgive each other?"
"I'm sure of it," the small, marine angel nodded.
Just then, a dark shape came soaring above their heads. MarineAngemon's heart sank like a rock when he recognized the warships.
'Oh no... that's the Heavenly Fleet! Oh for Azulongmon's sake, not now...'
"Citizens of Tokyo, I'd like to have your attention!" a booming voice was coming from the flying temples. "This is General d'Arcmon from the heavenly army of Magnadramon speaking. At this moment, one of the most dangerous terrorists and most wanted criminals is hiding in your town. In case you haven't heard of her yet, it is the Demon Lord Lucemon! We advise you to stay in your houses and wait until we have dealt with him. There is no need to worry, we only will use holy weapons that neutralize evil energies, so no human or Digimon that is not tainted with dark data will come to harm. As soon as the terrorist is caught, we will leave your airspace again and return to the Digital World! Please cooperate and nothing will happen to you."
A look of sheer terror had appeared on Mako's face. "Mommy..." he whispered. "Oh please, Mommy, don't... not Ai... she's not bad... oh please don't..."
"Sshhh, Mako, it's all right... everything will be fine, I promise..." MarineAngemon whispered while hugging the distraught child.
But while he made sure to stay calm so Mako would not be agitated any more than he already was, he inwardly was getting angry.
'Whoever has made the decision of employing the Heavenly Fleet... will have to answer for that!'
Then he sighed. 'Impmon, where in the world are you when your Tamer needs you?'
Impmon was crouching on a tree branch in the park, watching the entrance to what has once been Guilmon's hideout closely. He knew he was at the right place, since just seconds ago, he had seen one of the little angels fly in there.
'I'm here, Ai...' he thought to himself. 'Don't worry, my Tamer... I will make sure that virus data won't corrupt you any more...'
The MAGNADRAMON'S GLORY was floating over the park, its massive shape casting a dark cloud over the trees, and even though they knew that the massive battleship was manned by Angel Digimon, and armed with weapons of cleansing, the people living in the surrounding apartment blocks looked out of their windows with worry.
On the flagship's bridge, Mie was standing behind d'Arcmon. Her tail was swishing around nervously.
"I hope you're happy," she grumbled. "Your little fleet has caused disturbances in the whole town. People are afraid, activists for children's rights are condemning our actions and the politicians are mad as heck because the Sovereigns haven't informed them about this act... or even asked for admission."
"This does not concern them," the angelic general proclaimed. "This is about capturing a terrorist from the Digital World, a terrorist of the danger level A. This threat justifies a military operation. Besides, it wasn't me who made this decision, it was Magnadramon herself."
"And the only reason I don't go up there and kick her holy butt is that she is a mother herself. I still can't see why she would allow this, though... giving a mother the order to take down her child..."
"It's not like I'm going to kill Ai," d'Arcmon growled. "The holy rays will purge her body from the evil influence of Lucemon. And it was me who volunteered for this mission. Magnadramon even asked me if I wanted to sit this mission out."
"I still think this plan is crazy..." Compsomon grumbled. "Remember, I'm only here because I want to make sure that you and your bunch of devoted zealots don't get carried away and do something stupid."
"And because Zhuqiaomon ordered you to help us," d'Arcmon added with a dark glare.
"No, not really," Mie said, shaking her saurian head. "I couldn't care less about what old feather-butt thinks."
"Compsomon!" d'Arcmon hissed. "That's blasphemy!"
"So? We're not in the Digital World, d'Arcmon! And I am a citizen of Japan now. I make my own decisions. And I decided that leaving everything to you might be dangerous."
"Do whatever you want," d'Arcmon grumbled. "As long as you don't interfere with our operation..."
"I will even help you in case we are attacked," Compsomon said. "I don't like what Ai and her little angel troupe are doing either. But they are children, d'Arcmon, remember that!"
"I've been there, Mie..." the general whispered. "I have talked to her. Can't you imagine how I must have felt? I couldn't sense Ai in her. Her voice was unlike everything my little angel would have said... only Lucemon remains. I must save her, Mie!"
Mie stayed quiet for a while. "Listen, I can understand you, I might even do the same in your situation... heck, I would kill to make sure that Takato and Guilmon are safe. And not just because it's a saurian instinct. But I still say that employing the fleet is over the top."
"We will see, Compsomon..." d'Arcmon whispered. "We will see."
One of the TinyAngemon fluttered down in front of Ai's throne. "Yo, Ai!" he said while saluting. "The big battleship's directly above us. I swear, that thing's bigger than my dad's truck..."
"Are they doing anything yet?" Ai asked.
The boy shook his head. "No, they're doing nothing. Maybe they're waiting..."
"Then we will wait, too," Ai smiled and leaned back. "I will be fair and give mother the first turn."
"Um... Ai, I wouldn't say that this is a game..." one of the older ChibiAngewomons stated.
Ai glared at the girl with fiery eyes. Meekly, the girl stepped back and wrapped her wings around herself.
"This is a game," Ai proclaimed with a smirk. "A game of hide and seek. We have to stay hidden until they've found us. Only that we won't run away."
She turned to face Manami. "Have you brought the volunteers?"
Manami nodded. "Yeah, they're all waiting outside."
Ai smiled. "Good. You stay here and proceed with the plan. I will go and talk to them."
She spread her wings and flew out of the throne room. She left her temple, and when she was in front of the entrance (which still looked like Guilmon's old hideout), she gently hovered down until her feet touched the floor.
In front of her, a gang of adult ruffians, thugs and street fighters were waiting. A bulky man with a bald, tattooed head and a leather jacket stepped forth.
"Hey, yer the leader of those shrimps, aren't ya?" he asked.
Ai tilted her head and looked at him queerly. Finally, she nodded.
"Well, yeah, mah boys and I've been thinkin'... we know you and yer little bunch don't exactly like our kind... dats why yer always turnin' others into lil' kids, fuzzy animals and other stuff... and when the other lil' shrimp told us that you'd leave us alone if we help ya, we decided it'd be best if we came... and, well, here we are."
Ai smiled. "You are all bad men, I hope you know that."
No response came. The burglars, robbers, thieves and hijackers all looked at the ground and into the air, but not at the little angel in front of them. It was pretty distressing for them, but they were afraid of the little girl.
Ai glared at them. "I SAID: I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT!" she thundered.
Mortified, the criminals fell to their knees and bowed their heads. "We know, we know!" they chorused.
Ai giggled. "That's better... now, I'm just doing this because I feel generous, and I need some help... and you are willing to help me, aren't you?"
"O-of course!" the bald man was quick to respond.
"Very well... than it's settled. You will be my new, special squadron against the Heavenly Fleet of my mother."
"Um... us? Against dat thing?" the man asked in disbelief.
"Of course you will have to change before you could take on a heavenly battleship," Ai smirked. "So be... PREPARED!"
She shouted the last word, spreading her arms and wings to their fullest span, and showering the criminals with a barrage of bright beams that were projected from her whole body.
The hoodlums cried out when the light hit their bodies and fell to the ground, their bodies twitching in agony. And then, slowly, their bodies began to expand...
"We have waited long enough," d'Arcmon said. "I will now make my announcement."
"You do that..." Mie grumbled, having a very bad feeling about the whole situation.
d'Arcmon walked up to the speaker in front of her. "Attention, members of the Lucemon cult... your time is at hand. You have been warned multiple times, but now our patience has worn thin. What we are now doing is to your own good..."
"General!" a MagnaAngemon shouted. "Look!"
d'Arcmon and Mie gasped when they saw the six massive shapes that came rising from underneath the trees. They were almost as big as the MAGNADRAMON'S GLORY itself, and armed to the teeth with cannons. The metal spikes that were attached to their front were aimed at the Heavenly Fleet menacingly. Small, mechanical arms were attached to their giant form, and they looked at the flagship with glowing eyes.
"Blimpmon?" Mie shouted when she recognized the blimp-shaped Machine Digimon. "She has a squadron of Blimpmon?"
"How...?" d'Arcmon asked. "How could she have hidden them in the park?"
"d'Arcmon, look!" Mie hissed and gestured at the front Blimpmon. "Up there! Isn't that..."
A tiny, twelve-winged angel had appeared in the skies above the Blimpmon fleet. She landed on top of the biggest Blimpmon with spread wings.
"That's her!" d'Arcmon's crew members shouted nervously. "It's Lucemon!"
Ai smiled and pointed her finger at the MAGNADRAMON'S GLORY.
"Attack," she said... and giggled.
