Chapter 15: Agumon, Patamon and Gabumon Rescued
Tracking through the volcano region, the heroes decided to take on their Champion forms as to cover more land and to have a slight advantage should they come across any of the Dark Lord's forces.
"So this is where you last saw Agumon and the others?" Growlmon then asked ExVeemon, earning a nod from the blue skinned dragon.
"Yeah. I just hope they are alright." He replied, expressing his genuine concern for his friends, the emotions he expressed in such a primal form, caused Meicoomon to smile, finding it kind of cute.
But speaking her mind, the feline Digimon just said. "Well I don't know about the rest of you, but it just looks like lava everywhere."
Though she had to agree with Meicoomon, failing to see any signs of life outside of their own, changing the subject, Birdramon asked a question she knew was on everyone's mind. "So Wizardmon, who is stronger, you or the the Dark Lord?"
A little surprised at the question, but knowing it was bound to arise eventually, Wizardmon gave his honest thoughts in his answer.
"That is a tricky one." Wizardmon replied, thinking carefully, knowing his own strengths and having observed many of Dark Lord Impmon's skills, but he was unsure of what other powers his foe held, if there were any dark secrets he kept as a final resolve.
However, Meicoomon smiled and said with confidence. "If it comes to a fight between you two, you'll come out on top. I'm sure of it."
"Maybe I would, but I'm not a big fan of conflict." Wizardmon then said with a continued modesty, before informing Meicoomon and the others. "Besides… defeating the Dark Lord is your mission, not mine."
"I just wonder if we can." Growlmon said with some doubt, which faded as Wizardmon said with confidence. "You can. I am sure of it."
While Growlmon and the others felt better, they all stopped as they felt a powerful energy and a low rumbling sound coming towards them.
Confused by the noise, ExVeemon asked. "What's that?"
"Sound like growling." Wizardmon said, before theorizing. "It must be a dog, or a pack of dogs."
"Let's be careful, this growling could have belong to…" Wizardmon then said, before all watched with shock as a giant three headed dog headed burst from out the ground before them, flames uproaring as the beast made its appearance, while the ground shook violently.
And as the dog looked down, snarling viciously, Wizardmon warned. "That's Cerberus, the guard dog of the Underworld!"
Feeling her fear levels rising, Meicoomon managed to ask. "You know this dog?"
Wizardmon nodded.
"Yes, this is one of the Dark Lord's powerful creations, a beast of great and fearsome power, but it needs three Digi-Cores to power it." Wizardmon informed as he gazed at the snarling beast.
"Three? But how could…?" ExVeemon began to ask, before Growlmon gasped and cried out. "Oh no! Look! Over there!"
As the other three turned toward Growlmon's direction, to their horror, and to Birdramon's dread and growing despair, Agumon, Patamon and Gabumon were all lying on the ground, lifeless.
"Agumon… no…" Birdramon let out, wanting to fly over and check on Agumon's body, but was forced back when one of Cerberus' heads released a breath of ice, just managing to strike her wing, damaging her slightly, to the point she had to land for a bit in order to recover.
"He's got Patamon and the others' Cores." ExVeemon called, feeling angered to see his friends continuing to be used to give life to more and more freakish creations at the Dark Lord's hands.
"That does it! Vee-Laser!" He announced, releasing a beam of orange energy that formed as a cross shape at the demonic dog creature.
"Regal Fan!" Meicoomon followed up, tossing her fan at the beast, hitting the middle head.
"Pyro Blaster!" Growlmon called, using what knowledge he had observed from the first attack and spat a sphere of flame at the ice spewing head, believing it would deal the most damage.
"Tower of Flame!" Wizardmon then declared, casting a tower of flames around the monster, burning away at the gigantic beast.
From the attacks, Cerberus then roared and struck back, launching a direct attack at Meicoomon as it tried to lunge at the feline Digimon, where ExVeemon acted on his gut, quickly spreading his wings out and taking flight as to grab Meicoomon in his arms and escort her to a safe distance.
Worried, ExVeemon asked. "Are you alright, Meicoomon?"
"Purrfect now..." She replied, purring a little as she nuzzled herself against ExVeemon's chest, causing him to blush at her show of affection, namely in the middle of a battle.
However, while Meicoomon remained in her amorous state, Birdramon had recovered from the ice attack and was left staring solemnly at Agumon's lifeless body.
"Oh, Agumon. I can't believe you lost your Core as well. I wish that it wasn't you we had to fight. I failed you." Birdramon said sadly, feeling as though there was part of her that was repelling her, as if part of Birdramon had lost her will to keep going.
"Birdramon snap out of it!" She then heard Meicoomon call, looking over to see the feline Digimon jump out from Exveemon's arms and go back to the fight. "We need your help to rescue Agumon and the others."
"If the roles were reversed, I know Agumon would do anything to save you!" Meicoomon then declared, dodging as the ice casting head spat out a series of iceballs, which Meicoomon managed to dodge and repel with her grace and her fan.
"Use the pain of loss to achieve power greater than anyone could achieve!" Wizardmon added with encouragement, beliving in Birdramon, while Growlmon and ExVeemon held the two Cerberus's jaws with their paws, holding him in place.
"We believe in you, now it's time you believed in yourself!" ExVeemon called from his position, groaning as he felt the pressure of the Cerberus' head intensify. 'And sooner would be better than later.'
"ExVeemon, let's use our tails!" Growlmon said making the blue dragon nod and both whack the dog back with both their tails.
"But... it's Agumon we're up against..." Birdramon said, expressing a continued reluctance, imagining herself attacking the real Agumon, imagining a dark side of her purposely bringing pain to the Digimon she loved.
However...
"Birdramon, if you love Agumon, then you must do all you can to save him!" ExVeemon then called, knowing that while he was no expert on love, sometimes love would make others do crazy things, certain that if there was ever a time with Renamon's Core in such a state, Growlmon would go all out to bring back the foxy Digimon and destroy what dark monster was using her power.
While birdramon remained with her doubts, Cerberus then shot a fireball from another mouth, which Growlmon slashed away with his sword, making the dino Digimon then called out "Birdramon, focus! What would you do if Agumon was in your shoes! Show this beast how powerful love is!"
At his call, these words reached Birdramon as she turned to the Cerberus monster, seeing it about to launch an attack on her, only Birdramon took flight and struck back.
"Meteor Wing!" She bellowed, casting her wings in flame and releasing the inferno at the three headed abomination, pain filling her as she believed she had harmed Agumon, but she knew she had to do the right thing.
"You guys are right. I cannot let despair get the best of me. Agumon needs me, and I won't let him down!" Birdramon let out as she began to glow in her pink aura. "Agumon, my love. I am going to save you no matter what!"
From Birdramon's call as she allowed the light to consume her, altering her form, Meicoomon smiled.
"I knew you could do it!" She called, before she too glowed with a bright aura, only a dark purple light surrounded her figure as both Digmon took on new forms.
"Birdramon Digivolve to…" Birdramon began to say, where the pink aura around her continued to grow and gather in flame as the avian Digimon's size changed drastically, towering over her allies and revealing her new appearance as the combination of energy and fire died down, revealing Birdramon in a more humanoid build, her feathers turning a dark shade of red, her talons turning to mighty looking clawed hands and feet, while a pair of massive wings spread from her back, where she let out with a great call. "Garudamon!"
"Meicoomon Digivolve to…" Meicoomon started off as she too grew in size and in power as they dark purple energies enveloped her.
But unlike Garudamon, her height wasn't as drastically altered, but met the size of Exveemon, before she allowed the dark purple energies become one with her, allowing the others to see the new form of Meicoomon, seeing she had a more shapely figure, her tail extended from down her tailbone, with the fur puffing it up, making it look almost like a scorpion's tail.
However, what threw her friends off the most from her alterations was that due to her golden fur and her body, she almost looked like an alternative version to Renamon.
But making sure she was unique and not just a Renamon clone, the feline called with her own might. "Meicrackmon!"
Overcoming his initial surprise, ExVeemon smiled at the sight.
"They did it!" He called, pride filling him to see the girls had achieved such forms.
"Unbelievable. I Digivolved as well." Meicrackmon said as she examined her new body, before confessing. "I was afraid I might get stuck in my Vicious Mode, but I guess the trust you all showed in me kept that from happening."
"Vicious Mode?" Growlmon asked with some confusion and a little concern to such a term.
"Yes. I have two forms. The pure form you see me in now, and then there is my Vicious Mode, which makes me a madcat." Meicrackmon replied, recalling how she had used such power in the past, only to awaken as Meicoomon and see the devastation she had caused.
"But thanks to your trust in me and Veemon's love for me, I can use my pure form." Meicrackmon said, facing Exveemon and looking at him with a loving smile, feeling a warmth in her heart, knowing it was normally placed with a terrible darkness during her frenzies, but no such feelings were part of her now.
Looking at herself, amazed at her size and the power she felt, as she cupped her massive breasts, Garudamon asked. "Is this because of my desire to save Agumon?"
"Yes. Your feelings have made you into something more powerful." Wizardmon said in reply, before calling with confidence. "Now use those feelings to save your friends!"
"Let us wrap this up! Whirlwind Strike!" ExVeemon cut in, launching himself and slashing the monster several times with his knife, dealing a fair amount of damage.
"Spin Attack!" Growlmon followed up, spinning and striking the beast with his sword, which made the Cerberus monster growl at the attack and retaliate, launching himself at Growlmon and ExVeemon.
But before the beast could strike, Meicrackmon then called out "Modesty Stun!"
From her cry, Meicrackmon showed the mastery over her body as she used the slender appendages sticking out of her back and restrained the beast, before paralyzing it with the stinger on the end of her tail.
And with what she had started, they knew Garudamon could finish.
"Go for it, Garudamon! Finish this mutt off so we can save Agumon and the others!" ExVeemon called out.
"For you, Agumon. I will save you!" Garudamon cried loudly as she flew in the air, set her whole being in a giant blaze of flame as she shot down and yelled. "Wing Blade!"
From her power and the speed that came with her attack, it sliced the heads of the beast clean off, ending the Cerberus creation once and for all, leaving its body to fall in defeat.
"We won!" Growlmon said with pride, before he returned to his Rookie form, ExVeemon reverted back to Veemon, Garudamon back to Biyomon and Meicoomon back as her Champion form.
With Cerberus's defeat, three Digi-Cores left the remains, the sight causing Biyomon to rush to Agumon's side and for Veemon to held over and lift Patamon up, wanting to ensure his pal woke up, leaving Meicoomon to check on Gabumon.
And giving it a moment, the three Cores then entered back into Agumon, Patamon and Gabumon's bodies, causing the trio to stir as they slowly awoke.
"Agumon…" Biyomon let out hopefully, shaking him a little on his back.
"Urrgghhhh…." Agumon just groaned as he slowly rose from his belly, got to his feet and turned, where a relief filled smile appeared on his face.
"Biyomon… You're safe." He said, about to gently hug the avian Digimon, only to stop as Biyomon began to tear up and wrapped her wings tightly around his being, sobbing into his chest as she let out. "Agumon...! You're back... You're safe... I am so happy...!"
"Hey, take it easy, Biyomon." Agumon said, blushing at Biyomon's actions, before returning the love as he gently stroked her back, the feel of his claw running softly along her feather back causing Biyomon to give a calmed smile.
"Patamon, you're alright too!" Veemon said, happy to see his friend awake.
"Yeah, but I cannot believe Dark Lord Impmon also took my Digi-Core." Patamon said, before commenting to the position he was in. "You can put me down, Veemon."
"Oh... sure thing pal." Veemon replied with a small grin as he put Patamon down, allowing the winged Digimon to flex his body, to get used to being in control of his body again.
"Whoa. Now that was scary." Gabumon said as he rose, noticing Meicoomon by his side, smiling at him, where she said. "Gabumon, thank goodness. You're back too."
"And I have Veemon to thank." Meicoomon added, looking at the V marked Digimon and informing. "Without him, I wouldn't be able to Digivolve to Meicrackmon and not go nuts."
"But how'd you managed to get back here? Did you find…?" Agumon began to say when a familiar voice called out to them.
"Agumon, Patamon, Gabumon! I am so relieved you three are safe." Guilmon said as he approached the three, causing the rescued Digimon to smile and rush to join Guilmon.
"Oh, Guilmon! You came!" Agumon said, happily hugging Guilmon in thanks, before Patamon happily added. "You saved us!"
"Thank you. We really owe you one." Gabumon said happily and with respect, he too hugging Guilmon with Agumon sandwiched in between, leaving Guilmon smiling as he said in reply. "I am just glad you all are back."
"And you bet you owe Guilmon. That rescue wasn't what you call an easy win." Veemon muttered under his breath, his words causing Patamon to look at Veemon and say "Err… what was that Veemon?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Veemon quickly replied, ending the subject.
"So that just leaves Renamon, Gatomon and Gaomon. Where could they be?" Guilmon asked, concerned about his beloved golden vixen, the kinky white cat and the loyal wolf-like Digimon.
"They've been taken to the Dark lord's Castle again!" Agumon said, where he theorized. "No doubt Impmon has some horrid plans for them."
"I'm not looking forward to that, but we must get cracking." Patamon said, causing Gabumon to nod and say "We will do it together. Gaomon and the others need us."
"So that's six Digimon rescued?" Wizardmon asked, catching Guilmon and the attention of the others as they heard Wizardmon give a faint chuckle and turn around.
"I think you've got enough firepower now, so my work here is done." He informed, but stopped when he heard Gabumon ask lowly. "You' re leaving?"
"Yes, but I leave the rest up to you. I know this is goodbye, but there is no doubt in my heart that we meet again very soon. Best of luck." Wizardmon said in reply, before he headed off.
And while he was slowly fading from their perception with each step, Guilmon kept up his smile as he simply said. "Thank you, Wizardmon, for all of your help."
With Wizardmon gone, the Digimon then focused on the latest events.
"Wow, Biyomon. I need to catch up if I need to reach Ultimate like you did. You're grown even more powerful. I am so proud of you." Agumon said, his words and honesty caused Biyomon to blush and say. "Aww, you're too kind, Agumon."
"I just hope I can continue to live up to your expectations." Agumon then said, wanting not only to prove his strength to her, but to keep her happy, imagining him on Garudamon's left breast as Greymon, doing all he could to give her pleasure.
"I do hope Gaomon's ok. I hate to think what the Dark Lord would do to her." Gabumon then said, imagining the empty shell that was Gaomon's body and the shadowed beasts that could use her energy for their own lives.
"Me too. I need to get Gatomon back pronto." Patamon said, sharing similar thoughts to Gabumon, hating the thought of a pure Digimon like Gatomon being used against him.
"Renamon…" Guilmon just said in sadness, feeling that whatever was planned for the vixen would somehow be worse than the fates of those that had fallen at the Dark Lord's hands.
"Hey, don't worry you guys. We'll save them." Meicooomon said reassuringly, before all headed off and to rest at the next Inn, to regroup and recover the energy they had lost, knowing things were going to become the most challenging of times.
-At the Inn, next morning-
Guilmon awoke in his room to see Patamon and Gabumon in his room, the sight to see his friends remaining and uncaptured left Guilmon smiling.
"Hey you two, what's up?" Guilmon asked.
"Well we couldn't sleep too well last night because in one room, Agumon and Biyomon were in a heated mating season." Gabumon said, trying to be discrete and respect their privacy, but the noises Agumon and Biyomon made continued to fill his head.
'Oh, Agumon!'
'Oh, Biyomon!'
'Oh, boy!' Gabumon thought with a grin.
"And it seems Veemon and Meicoomon are really letting loose in another room at the same time." Patamon said, remembering the time he and Gatomon did it.
"Sheesh. First it's Patamon and Gatomon. Then Gabumon and Gaomon and now those four." Guilmon said, sighing as he added. "Which means their tag moves would be awakening soon."
"Tag moves?" Patamon asked.
"When two Digimon are devoted to each other, they can create new attacks together." Gabumon informed, before reminding. "Like when I was Garurumon and Gaogamon helped me perform our Wolf Wheel attack."
"Could you organize attacks in Rookie form, or more?" Guilmon asked, wondering just how strong the bond was and what it's true powers could do.
"Yes, of course. Gaomon and I actually thought of more attacks afterwards." Gabumon said, recalling how he and Gaomon managed to spend a little time alone, working as one to come up with new attacks, some resulting in him tripping and falling on top of her, not that they minded.
"Then I wonder what attacks me and Gatomon could do." Patamon said, imagining the combined powers of Angemon and Gatomon's light overwhelming the forces of darkness.
"Same with me and Renamon" Guilmon said, which left Guilmon in a silent sadness as the thought of Renamon not by his side came to mind.
When they came out of their room, Biyomon and Meicoomon were in deep bliss as Agumon and Veemon helped support them, keeping the girls from falling to the floor.
"So how was it?" Gabumon asked, trying not to notice.
"It was heaven..." Biyomon and Meicoomon said together, before the pair kissed their respective lover.
"Sorry if we woke you up" Agumon apologized, all the while blushing as Biyomon continued to show her love, planting her beak around his neck and kissing it, while Meicoomon purred and nuzzled herself against Veemon's body, making small remarks on how good he smelt.
A little embarrassed by the position they were all in, Guilmon quickly suggested. "Well let's eat and then head out."
"Agreed." Patamon said in reply, following Guilmon and hoping some breakfast would help pass this moment.
After paying for the Inn's services and setting themselves back on track, arriving onto the peak edge of the volcano, the group saw a huge dark castle in the distance and knew that was where Dark Lord Impmon resided.
"So that's the Dark Lord's Castle? Let's go in and save Renamon, Gatomon and Gaomon! And then show that dark lord what we think of him! Let's go everyone!" Guilmon called, his words filling his team with courage as all charged in, ready to end the evil of the Dark Lord once and for all.
