Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Digimon Trinity
Chapter: 134/ Episode 19: Pride before the Fall
"Apologies for calling you away so soon after you entered the human world. But there is a matter I would like to investigate…"
"More of Makuramon's nonsense, Caturamon? I saw no beam of light emanating from anywhere."
"No, nothing of that sort. The Impmon you encountered…"
"The Nightmare Soldier."
"Former Nightmare Soldier. There is something about him that I would like to investigate. If you encounter him, test him. Let him do as he will."
Indramon emerged from the mist of the digital field and his memories, his muscles flexing as their data stabilized and became solid. Oh, how he hated the limitations of the material world. The sooner he was done with this, the better. His feet crushed down on the pavement, sending a spiraling web of cracks radiating outwards, chasing after fleeing humans. He seethed at their retreating backs. To think that these weak creatures had needed to come to the aid of the digital world on multiple occasions? That digimon were often dependent on them for digivolving?
Pathetic, he thought. I should begin my primary mission. It is time that these humans finally learn…
A light flashed from off to his side, and he turned to spy three human girls just off to the side, one of them holding out a cellphone while they clutched to one another.
"I-It's huge!" said one with light-brown hair and a green sleeveless T-Shirt.
"It's scary!" said another with dark-hair, dark skin and a violet top.
"It's colored a tacky purple!" cried another, thicker-set girl with a pink, sleeveless shirt.
"Totally tacky!" they then intoned all at the same time. Another flash from the camera, and Indramon took a menacing step towards them. The earth shook beneath their feet and they then took off screaming, their last nerve breaking. Indramon laughed at this and turned away, no longer considering them worth his time. At that moment, Impmon appeared, landing before him, followed swiftly by Vajramon's former obsession, Renamon. Impmon's eyes tracking the three girls as they ran off, familiarity entering his eyes before fixing themselves squarely on Indramon.
"So!" he grinned, cracking his knuckles. "We meet again!"
###
"That's right folks, just keep panicking in this direction…"
Safely evading the police officer as he waved along the panicking crowd, Sora and Rika ran together. Biyomon flew with them, her energy having recovered enough now for independent movement. They had met up again following Indramon's initial appearance, a reunion – and a scolding from Sora – that didn't last for very long as the Deva returned once more to menace the city.
"It's never a dull day around here," Rika grumbled while Sora lagged behind. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that the adult was having difficulty keeping up, and she checked her pace.
"Are you all right?" she asked, only for the woman to wave her on.
"Keep going," the Digidestined of Love replied, wiping a hand across her forehead. "I'm a little beat from this morning. We'll catch up."
Rika nodded hesitantly before checking the officer behind them to see if they had spotted them. He hadn't.
"Be safe," she said. Sora gave a light laugh.
"That's my line," she said. "Good luck."
Won't need it, Rika almost found herself saying, only to stop as memories from previous battles played through her mind. Instead, she nodded again and turned about. Taking off again, she tried to focus on the feeling from the last battle; the one that had activated her crest. Renamon was going to need it if they were to battle the Deva. Yet, try as she might, the emotion slipped away from her.
How… How does a feeling like friendship help Renamon? she wondered distractedly. For that matter, what's friendship supposed to even feel like? What I felt at the stadium… That was just anger. Anger isn't useful for digivolving!
"That feeling you had…" came the whispered memory from her conversation with Sora. "That wasn't just anger, was it?"
Rika clenched her teeth together as the towering Indramon loomed into view. No, it hadn't just been anger, but anger had been an underlying part of it. Anger towards herself. Towards how Vajramon treated Renamon and Calumon. Calling them 'pets.'
But she couldn't rely on that. Everything she learned about digivolution warned her against it. What was she supposed to do?
Drawing closer, she saw Renamon and Impmon standing at attention in front of Indramon, who seemed to be focusing on the smaller of the two. She no longer had the luxury of figuring out this puzzle.
"Renamon!" she called out as she approached, but a look from the Rookie told her to wait. Drawing to a halt, she lifted an eyebrow in confusion at this. With a subtle nod, the vulpine digimon glanced down at Impmon as he strode up before the Ultimate, fists clenched tightly and a wild, manic grin on his face. Rika felt her heart take a plunge into her stomach.
You can't be serious… she thought.
"Quite serious," came Renamon's response through their link.
"This is perfect," Impmon laughed, glancing at Renamon over his shoulder. "Watch this, furball! I'll prove to you I'm strong even without digivolving! That is unless you're too chicken to fight me, you dorky donkey!"
Indramon let out a low chuckle, amused by the Rookie's antics. Does he really believe he can defeat one such as me?
Evidently, he did, as Impmon continued to rant on, lighting a fireball above his finger.
"Get ready for a world of hurt! And you'd better just stay out of my way, you neon hairball. This is between me and the purple pony!"
Lifting a paw, Renamon began to approach the diminutive digimon, her eyes full of warm concern. "Impmon, you don't stand a chance. Let me…"
"Stay away!" with a cry of Badda Boom, Impmon whirled about and flung the fireball at the kitsune. She didn't move in response, allowing the attack to sail past her harmlessly. Impmon gaped at her, seemingly shaken by his action, as though he had just crossed a line somewhere. Yet, Renamon's eyes, still so warm and full of concern, remained fixated on his, imploring him to reconsider. Shaking himself, Impmon spoke one word.
"Please."
The oddly respectful tone caused Renamon to frown inwardly. It sounded as though he were asking her to respect something. Something in this act was vital to him. She thought back to his behavior at the bridge and how he had been acting out, damaging property and attempting to prove his strength. She could understand this, and yet she saw how utterly fruitless it was. Facts were facts. Even at her level, no matter how many times Rika slashed modify cards, she would need to digivolve in order to match up to the Deva. A mere Rookie could not hope to stand up to an Ultimate.
"Do you want to be destroyed?" she asked, retracting her paw. "Is that it?"
"Go away," Impmon replied, his tone soft. It felt as though he had surrendered himself fully to this course of action. Continuing to talk, his voice grew more animated. Angry even. "I don't need your help or your pity. Now get out of here before I blast you! I said beat it! This is my fight! Don't get in the way!"
"I'd be glad to fight you both," Indramon broke in, starting to feel rather bored from watching the exchange.
"Wait a minute, she's got nothing to do with it!" Impmon shouted, shaking his fists in the air. "This is between you and me!"
Stomping forth, he placed a finger to his temple and clenched his eyes shut. "Right, let's do this!"
Humming loudly, both hands fell in front of him and his eyes reopened. Smoke began to circle together in front of him, forming first one ring. Then two. He reached deep…deep into himself for all the power he could muster. He thought back to what he had told Renamon before about the power being within himself. He had to believe it. Now more than ever it had to be true! "Inferno Funnel…Fire!" Impmon began, clenching his teeth together tightly before suddenly leaping into the air, throwing his hands skyward. Darkness fell about him and a fireball shot up from the ground at this, and with a final downward swing of his arms, hurled it at Indramon…where it promptly evaporated against the Ultimate's armor with a small poof.
"Oooh!" Indramon broke into laughter at this meager attempt of an attack. "That tickles!"
Impmon gaped in stunned amazement. His attack… His best and strongest attack… It had done nothing!
He didn't have long to contemplate this turn of events as Indramon lifted a bronze-clad hoof back and…casually – with no more hurry than if he were swatting a helpless bug – smashed it into his face. Impmon flew back with a cry of pain, stars blazing across his vision while his body screamed. For a moment, the world around him swirled. He saw Renamon, standing there, watching him while behind her stood the red-haired girl…and some newcomer with a pink bird approaching. Then he saw the sky…a clear expanse of gold. He heard the sound of beating wings and giggling laughter. Of joy instead of the mocking kind he heard all his life, but the sound brought him back to Indramon, who sneered at him. His laughter was of the kind he hated. The kind that always told him he would never amount to much. The kind he got from IceDevimon or any of the Nightmare Soldiers.
Including Renamon.
His vision righting itself, he forced himself to his feet.
"Is that the best you got? A little old lady with a handbag full of marshmallows could hit harder! It's time to teach you a little thing I like to call humility!"
With that, Impmon charged forward…smack right into the next swing of Indramon's hoof, sending him flying again with a scream.
###
"Um…" began Biyomon as Calumon lighted to the ground next to Rika's feet. "Shouldn't we do anything?"
"Rika!"
As though the universe was providing support to the pink bird digimon's concerns, Takato, Henry and Guilmon came rolling up behind them. Terriermon tensed on Henry's shoulder as the two boys quickly took stock of the situation.
"A Deva!" Henry cried out before looking at his partner. "Terriermon, you know what to do!"
"Wait."
"Huh?"
All eyes turned on Renamon in confusion.
"Wait?" Henry asked, baffled. "Why should we wait?"
"He wants to do it himself," she explained simply. "We should respect his wishes."
Takato looked at the scene just in time to watch Impmon crashing to the ground again. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone!" he said with horror at the beating Impmon was taking. The Rookie was shaking now as he struggled to get to his feet. It wasn't his imagination. He was having noticeable difficulty standing.
"That…That doesn't make any sense!" Sora stammered out, looking at Renamon in bewilderment. "This digimon's a danger to the city, isn't he?"
"Nonetheless, this is Impmon's fight. We must not get in the way."
She felt as though she had a better understanding of what Impmon was looking for and what needed to be done. Seiko had told her once that sometimes a burnt hand teaches best. Impmon was so wrapped up in his delusions or whatever else there was that prevented him from seeking partnership with humans and digivolving that he was going to risk getting himself killed to prove himself right. She didn't know what he encountered in the time since he left the Nightmare Soldiers, but this bitter experience was needed to wean him off his imaginings and bring him back to reality.
She just needed to be ready to catch him before his delusions took things too far.
Impmon fell back with another cry and a thud, and though he rose up quickly, he knew the 'battle' was quickly taking its toll on him. His breath came out hot and heavy and every inch of him hurt from all the bruises that were adding up on his body. Indramon wasn't even trying and he felt as though he were being punched by boulders.
This…This can't be happening… he coughed loudly.
"This really is a valuable lesson you're teaching me," Indramon smirked. Coughing again, Impmon clambered to his feet and grinned defiantly up at him.
"It's better than your stupid Sovereign could teach you! Your Sovereign's dumber than mud and twice as ugly! What's all this about 'our god' you moron? Why don't you go worship some toilet paper?"
Planting his hands on his hips, Impmon laughed loudly, his eyes closed and turned skyward. A mistake, as he had only a slight gust of wind as warning that his opponent's mood had changed before his hoof slammed into him, this time with murderous force that sent Impmon flying, digital blood spilling from his mouth.
"I will not allow you to insult my master!" Indramon shouted. With a cry, Sora took out her digivice.
"I can't stand this anymore! I'm not…!"
"Leave him be."
Renamon's voice cut across her terror as Indramon stomped over to Impmon, his shadow falling over him. Sora looked at her, baffled.
"Renamon! This is ridiculous! He's going to get killed out there!"
The vulpine digimon said nothing, continuing to watch and gauge the situation. Impmon lay flat on his back, his breath coming out even harsher than before.
I think… I think I felt something break from that… he rasped, rolling to his side with a groan.
"So, little fool, have you had enough?"
Impmon forced himself up, wincing as something inside him ground together.
"N-Not a chance…" he choked out. "I'm just getting my second wind!"
Though with the way he felt, there was no second wind. He could scarcely breathe. His mind raced. Never mind winning, how was he supposed to fight this mule-face?
From his place on Henry's shoulder, Terriermon shook his head. "I'm in agreement with Sora on this one," he said. "Normally, I wouldn't complain, but don't you think this is going a little too far? What do you think, Henry?"
Henry clenched his fists. Normally he would be against this as well, but Renamon… For some reason she was willing to allow this to happen.
It's as if…she wants him to defend his pride or something, he thought. That must be it. For a lot of digimon, single battle is how they define themselves! Maybe that's why Impmon is facing him!
"Come on Impmon, you can do it!" he shouted suddenly, punching his fists into the air, much to Terriermon's surprise.
"Wha…?!" the long-eared digimon balked in surprise. "Henry, have you lost your mind?"
"That's right!" Takato shouted as well, quickly catching on himself. "Give him the ol' one-two!"
Impmon looked up at them, quite surprised by the sudden show of support from his two former playmates. Yet, this made him angry. It left him feeling as though he were weak and in need of cheerleaders when the chips were down.
"Hey, stick a sock in it, if I wanted your help then I'd ask…" he began, only to be cut off by another attack from Indramon's hoof. He didn't get a chance to recover as the horse Deva continued to pummel him, raining blow after blow down upon him. He screamed. He cried. Every blow forced them out of his mouth. He couldn't stop them, and he found himself hating himself for every one that was torn loose by the never-ending pain. He wasn't supposed to be beaten this easily! He had been chosen by Apocalymon himself! He was…
A Demon Lord…
All thought and sound vanished from his mind and he saw a vision of a creature, tall and imposing with a fell-mask, beak-like in appearance, cast over his face, allowing three, bloody eyes to see out of it. Claws bound by steel and leather held within their grasp an orange, round creature with wings attached to its head. It struggled, but it was helpless and unable to break free. Down below, trapped in his shadow, were two humans, a boy and a girl. His rat-like tail whipped about extatically at their helplessness. This was how it was supposed to be! This was what it was all about! Crushing and defeating enemies and then…
"Time to load 'em up, boys," he laughed at the tiny, orange digimon. It swelled up, preparing a final attack, but he squeezed all the harder and…
The vision was destroyed with another crash from Indramon's hoof and Impmon collapsed to the ground. He didn't stay there though. Indramon wouldn't allow him too until he had thoroughly learned his lesson.
Rika looked back and forth between the two boys, Sora and her partner worriedly.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked Renamon. The sight of Impmon being beaten like this was starting to get to her now as well. This was no longer a battle. It was cold-blooded torture.
Renamon… What are you thinking? she thought, feeling her heart unexpectedly reach out for the tiny Rookie.
"Soon…" came the only response from the vulpine digimon, more to herself than to the girl. She sounded as though she were calculating something, but what Rika couldn't fathom.
Impmon fell again onto his back, and this time his body began to distort and pixilate. Takato and Henry's mouths fell open in horror, recognizing the signs that Impmon was now dangerously close to being deleted. Sora looked at Renamon, her eyes dark and angry. How could she even consider allowing this?
For that matter, why am I just standing back and letting her stop me?
"You have a lot of heart for a weakling," Indramon said, towering over the defeated Impmon, "but your fate was set when you stood against me."
"Are you really sure about this?" Rika asked, her voice becoming desperate. Renamon's eye twitched. "It's now or never Renamon!"
"Not just yet," came the reply. Sora made a disgusted sound.
"Biyomon!" she shouted, and as though her voice had been a signal, Guilmon broke free from the group and charged forward.
"I can't watch any more, come on!"
"Yeah!" Takato shouted, joining him. Biyomon took to the air just then and Sora raised her digivice high.
"Biyomon! Digivolve!"
Light glowed from the digivice's screen and data began to swirl around the pink-bird Rookie. Indramon lifted his hooves, preparing to put the finishing touches on his 'lesson' to Impmon, uncaring for what had been asked of him. Caturamon could go hang himself for all he cared! This digimon was just another weakling, and not one that the world would soon miss. His hooves began to drive towards the pavement where Impmon lay, still pixilating and unable to move. Rika felt a flash of fear. Takato, Guilmon and Biyomon… They weren't going to make it in time!
"Soon…" Renamon said again, and this time Rika's fear leapt out from her chest and into her voice.
"How about now, Renamon?!"
And just like that, Renamon dashed forth and snatched Impmon from off the ground and out of harms way. Indramon's hoof crashed down and smashed into the street, striking nothing more than the pavement beneath it.
"That's enough!" she said, setting Impmon down and rising to her feet. Indramon swung about to face her, harrumphing in amusement at the sight. Well, he supposed he could let Impmon go. He did well for a weakling, and in either case, he was not his true target. The tainted ones were.
Hacking, Impmon lifted his head up at Renamon. "Thanks, I had him right where I wanted him!"
"Right…" Renamon replied flatly before Indramon's voice caught her attention.
"You have sealed your fate as well," he snarled, lifting a hoof up to smash it into the kitsune. This time, there would be no holding back. This time, he would…
"…Birdramon!"
The light of digivolution broke apart and in the next instant, Indramon found himself being assailed by a fiery bird as she slammed into him, claws snatching into his arms and finding purchase. With a cry of surprise, he cursed himself for ignoring the evolving digimon and quickly strove against his new opponent. It didn't take long to swat the Champion away, but the bird rose up into the air, flinging fire at him as she regrouped.
Now the battle – the true battle – was joined.
"Digivolve, Rika!" Henry shouted, lifting his digivice, and Rika nodded.
As Rika and Henry prepared to digivolve their partners, Takato instinctively whirled about, his eyes falling upon Calumon as he stood there, watching the scene play out. Before the boy's eyes, the little red triangle on his head began to glow softly. Takato nodded to himself, the thought he had about the tiny digimon starting to solidify.
I'm sure of it now, he thought before spinning back toward the battle. "Guilmon! Digivolve!"
"Digi-modify!" all three Tamers intoned as one as they slashed their evolution cards through their digivices, purpose surging through them, uniting them as one. "Digivolution activate!"
And just like that, shells of data surrounded the three Rookies as they began to pronounce their evolution.
"Renamon!"
"Terriermon!"
"Guilmon!"
"Digivolve too…"
"Kyubimon!"
"Gargomon!"
"Growlmon!"
The shells of data exploded apart, and just in time, as the ropes binding the great shell to Indramon's back evaporated. Lifting away, the seashell hovered over in front of him, and the Ultimate took it into his hooves, aiming its throat at the newly evolved Champions.
"I hope you feel that you've increased your odds," Indramon mocked, preparing himself for the attack he was certain was coming. This was the reason why he had been chosen to come to this world and confront these Tamers.
Makuramon may say nonsense about the Catalyst being a weak digimon, but his reports on these three were very thorough.
As expected, the three digimon were all glowing now; each one with a different color. Blue, green and red. Tormenting the Impmon had done something to them, and as such, it had activated the power that lay within them. The power that had defeated Gulfmon and Sinduramon.
Power that it would use against them.
Kyubimon's tails spread out and blue fireballs lit up along their tips. Growlmon reared back, a burning red light forming in the back of his throat. Gargomon lifted his arm cannons and they lit up with emerald light. As one, they attacked, and as expected, they merged into one, nigh-unstoppable torrent of golden fire. Placing one end of the seashell to his lips, he brayed upon it and the throat of his weapon glowed. The Tamers' attack burned headlong into it, and was sucked harmlessly inside. Releasing it from his mouth, Indramon felt power coursing through him and he laughed loudly, the shock of the children and their digimon giving him no end of pleasure. No wonder these digimon had defeated a Mega! With power like this, even at the Champion level they could devastate any Deva! A blue haze of light surrounded him and his body began to swell and grow.
Sora stood stock still, trying desperately to think of a way to counteract this. She hadn't expected anything like this, and couldn't think of a time when they had faced an enemy that absorbed attacks and grew stronger from them.
"Fall back…" she whispered, her voice shaking before she spoke louder. "We've got to fall back!"
Impmon for his part, struggled to get back to his feet. His data had managed to stabilize enough now, but he was a mess. That voice was back now, calling for someone named TK. Pleading with him to help him digivolve. That there was no way for them to win if he didn't. Impmon groaned with pain.
"You mean… I have to digivolve to get stronger?"
He felt something tickle in the back of his mind. Some kind of…trickle, though what it was, he couldn't say. The voice seemed to though and he felt – for the first time – the ghostly presence seize on this sensation like someone dying of thirst.
"TK!" the voice shouted and Impmon wavered on his feet, feeling dizzy. That voice… Was it really someone else? Was it his? Something… Something was wrong with him. He felt that he was losing himself. The voice called louder, and the trickle grew, becoming brighter. He felt…
"I was chosen by the Sovereign," Indramon continued, taking aim with his seashell. "Did you really think you could defeat me with paltry tricks such as these? Now allow me to show you what a digimon of true power can do!"
"Bring it," Impmon coughed.
And bring it he did.
"Horn of Desolation!"
Cupping the end of the shell to his mouth like a horn, he blew into it and the power stored within launched out in one ferocious surge of fire, crashing into the three gathered Champions and exploding, sending them flying backward with a scream of pain before devolving back to their Rookie forms. Gasping in sudden pain, Takato clutched at his chest and fell to one knee.
"So much for the Trinity," Indramon said, turning toward Birdramon. "Now there is only one who can stand against me."
"N-Not just her…" Impmon gasped, finally finding his footing. "I'm still here!"
Indramon ignored him however and lifted his shell-horn, taking aim as Birdramon circled about, screeching loudly. Impmon gnashed his teeth together. He wasn't even paying attention to him! How…How dare he?!
TK…
That trickle… A thin sliver brightened and now Impmon seized it! He felt a little better now. A little stronger. Tightening his fists, he glared at the Deva.
"What, are you afraid to fight me, hah? Afraid I'll digivolve?! I'll load you… I'll load you!"
Indramon turned toward him curiously. There was something in the look of the Rookie's eyes…
"So be it," he declared. "Prepare to meet your doom!"
With a ferocious battle cry, Impmon drew upon that silver thread he felt glowing within him and charged.
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