Chapter 16: The Dark Lord's Castle
Finally coming to the castle of the Dark Lord, their final foe awaiting within, after making their way to the castle doors, Guilmon pushed them, where the seven brave heroes entered the dark and gloomy castle.
Suddenly, there was a rumble from above, which caused all to look up, shock filling Guilmon and the others to see a section of debris heading right down for them.
And acting fast as to avoid being crushed, Guilmon, Agumon, Biyomon and Patamon leapt to the left, while Gabumon, Veemon and Meicoomon ducked to the right, separating and dividing the team into two smaller fractions.
"Gabumon! Gabumon, are you ok?" Agumon called in concern, unable to see anything past the debris, before he felt some reassurance to hear Gabumon's voice.
"I am fine." The wolf camouflaged Digimon said in reply, before he informed. "Veemon and Meicoomon are also with me."
With the mass of debris separating them, even with Veemon and Meicoomon giving it their all, trying to break through the obstruction, Veemon then asked."So what do we do now? There's no way we can get past all of this."
"There is a fork in the road ahead." Guilmon informed, before suggesting. "We can meet up at the top where the fork ends."
"Alright." Gabumon said, about to take his leave alongside Veemon and Meicoomon, but just had to say. "But please take care and be careful. We don't know what other tricks the Dark Lord has left us."
Taking Gabumon's words to heart, Guilmon headed off with Agumon, Biyomon and Patamon, knowing that while they could handle themselves, he still needed to keep an eye on them, he needed to protect them and not allow anything to take them away from him again.
And while she had Guilmon and Agumon with her, Biyomon gained a small concerning glance as she looked around the castle, speaking her mind as she confessed. "It's so gloomy and grim in here. It's scary."
"It's fine. Just remember that I'm here with you. I'll step in at the first sign of danger, OK?" Agumon assured as he set a claw on Biyomon's back, rubbing it gently, which soothed the avian Digimon, causing her to give a small sigh, relaxing herself against Agumon as she said in reply. "Thanks, Agumon. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Still, this castle is pretty huge." Patamon commented, speaking the thoughts on his mind. "Can you imagine having to clean this place?"
"Maybe that is why he's taking Digimon's Digi-Cores, to make the monsters do all the cleaning?" Agumon suggested. "I mean when they aren't trying to destroy us that is."
"That might be the logical explanation." Patamon said, while Guilmon thought otherwise.
"It really ISN'T…" He said back, knowing the Dark Lord had more sinister motives than to enslave others and use their Cores to keep his castle halls clean.
There was far more to his evil.
After fighting more monsters, finding various Digi-Cores within their fallen foes, sadly none being Renamon's, the groups soon came to where the fork ended.
And though all were glad to see they had reunited and were all accounted for, they were shocked when they saw Gatomon's lifeless body lying before them.
"Gatomon!" Patamon let out in shock as all but ran over to her, nuding her with his head, but got no reaction.
Worried, Patamon had to ask. "Guilmon, is she...?"
Hating to bring such news, Guilmon solemnly nodded and said. "Yeah, her Core is gone."
Feeling a pit growing in his stomach, knowing that while Gatomon's body was with him, her Core had been extracted and was being used for another of the Dark Lord's evil creations, Patamon set a hand on Gatomon's body, where he whispered. "Gatomon, I don't know where you are, but I will find and save you, I promise."
"Look out! Above us!" Biyomon suddenly cut in, giving a warning, before all found themselves hitting the floor as they dodged a giant Demon's scythe swing over them, with Patamon pinning himself atop Gatomon's body to keep it protected from harm.
"Looks like we have company." Agumon commented as he got to his feet, looking at his friends as he proclaimed. "We must Digivolve and stop that thing!"
While they hated to fight the demon, knowing that within Gatomon's Digi-Core rested, Guilmon, Biyomon and Patamon nodded as all Digivolved to their Champion forms, ready to fight the demonic creature, before noticing that it had a small line of reinforcements, finding a horde of small imp-like monsters had appeared as back for the demon.
But even with the added backup, as their Champion forms, Greymon and Birdramon avoided the onslaught of spears the imps threw, while Growlmon dodged the scythe of the demon, deciding to go for the big boss and allow his friends to handle the pestering imps.
"Hand of Fate!" Angemon announced as he joined in on the fight, casting his right hand in an amber light, firing the blast at the demon holding his beloved's Core.
"Sword Slash!" Growlmon followed up, slashing the demon with his sword.
"Meteor Wing!" Birdramon let out, casting her wings in flame and tossing the inferno, burning away at the imp-like creatures.
"Thunder!" Greymon bellowed, using magic over his normal attacks, summoning a stream of thunder from his staff to defeat a great horde of the imp minions.
And while the other imp monster were just about to strike a combined deadly blow on Greymon while he was distracted, Birdramon kept a watchful eye on the Digimon she loved.
"Greymon, watch out!" She called in warning, acting on her heart over her head as she leapt in the way, taking the hit herself and causing her to crash to the ground.
"Birdramon!" Greymon let out in concern, not only to see Birdramon sacrifice herself for him, but from the attack, Birdramon remained on the ground and wasn't moving.
Feeling empathy for Greymon, Growlmon called to his friend with an assuranging voice. "I'll heal her, but you have to focus on the fight."
"You!" Greymon snarled at the last group of imps, where he began to glow with a bright orange hue and then yelled with determination. "You're going to regret that!"
"That goes for what the Dark Lord did to Gatomon!" Angemon added as he glowed within a golden aura, where he and Greymon were engulfed by their lights, growing in appearance and in power.
"Greymon Digivolve to…" Greymon began to call as he allowed the amber light to alter him, changing his Data from an organic Digimon to a more machine based Digimon, where his left arm was encased in a gigantic metallic claw, from his back, a series of tattered dark blue wings emerald and what looked like a small missile system was fused to his chest.
While he retained his Greymon-like form, a metal helmet then materialized over the top of his head, spiked red hair flowed from down the back of the helmet.
And with this new form, this new power, Greymon called with a renewed might. "MetalGreymon!"
"Angemon Digivolve to…" Angemon started to say as he too began his Digivolution, accepting the power of the light within him that wanted to awaken, allowing it to be one and consume him.
His joy, his happiness, his love, his hope, all these emotions allowed Angemon to change, finding that while he lost the long blue sash around his waist, it was replaced with a pure white outfit that covered his body, finding a set of golden sashes then run themselves along his more built chest.
While his face remained concealed, it was now covered by a purple helmet, while his wings not only grew, but increased in size, now spreading out eight majestic wings.
From his left arm, a purple shield made of glass appeared, while upon his right was a golden bracelet, out of which a blade made of purple light emerged, which the angelic Digimon swung around and then announced with might. "MagnaAngemon!"
From seeing his friends Digivolve, Growlmon smiled, knowing that they had it within them to bring out such a power, before using his own powers to help Birdramon, using some of his energy to tend to her injuries, causing Birdramon to give a small groan as she regained consciousness, got back to her feet with a small wobble, before looking in awe herself to see the two Ultimate Level Digimon before them.
"Greymon... he Digivolved again?" Birdramon asked, a smile appearing on her beak as she said with pride. "I knew he could do it."
"Let's rejoin and end this." Growlmon said, before he declared. "We're getting Gatomon out of this."
"Then let's deal with these cronies. Gate of Destiny!" MagnaAngemon let out, expressing his might as he swung his blade in a circular motion, creating a gate of pure light that then took a physical form as a pair of golden door, which then opened, keeping Magnangemon and his allies fine, while sucking in the last of the imp monsters, destroying the evil creations and freeing the Digi-Cores from within.
"That's the imps out of the way. Now we have to save Gatomon!" MetalGreymon said, turning his focus upon the demon containing Gatomon's Digi-Core, where he opened up the ports on his chest, casting out a series of missiles as he bellowed. "Giga Missile!"
"Mic Throw!" Birdramon followed up, throwing her mic.
"Pyro Blaster!" Growlmon roared as he released a stream of flame from his maw.
With their united power, the three attacks hit the demon, to which it was about to rise and try and retaliated, but froze up when MagnaAngemon appeared before it.
"Judgement Slash!" The angelic Digimon called as he ran his blade down along the demonic creature's body, the powerful slash, brought the demon's reign of terror to a deadly end.
And with the demon down, Gatomon's core was freed, where it returned to Gatomon's body, causing the others to revert back to their Rookie forms and for Patamon to return to Gatomon's side, wanting to be there for his love when she awoke.
"Nyyyyaaa…." Gatomon let out as she slowly rose on fours and stretched her body out like a cat, smiling as the first thing that came to her line of sight was Patamon, not only happy to see him safe, but she found the caring smile on his face very endearing.
"Gatomon…" Patamon asked in hope.
"Patamon!" Gatomon called back as she tackled Patamon to the ground and smothered him in kisses.
"I knew you would come to rescue me... I just knew it..." She said, continuing to kiss and nuzzle her face against Patamon's, leaving Patamon blushing at the affection the feline Digimon was expressing.
"Easy there, kitty. Try and settle down. I would have ended up like you too if it weren't for Guilmon." Patamon said honestly, where both turned to look at Guilmon.
"Guilmon! You came!" Gatomon cheered in joy, jumping up and down as she rushed over and happily hugged Guilmon.
"I am glad you're alright." Guilmon said, blushing a little at the hug, knowing how amorous Gatomon could get, but he knew her heart belonged to Patamon.
"So, Gatomon, how are you feeling?" Agumon then asked, his voice not only catching Gatomon's attention, but it also earned him a hug from the feline as she said in reply. "Much better, thank you. Now let's meet up with the others!"
"Seems someone's chirpy." Biyomon commented with a small smirk, finding Gatomon showing so much affection to all her friends a little funny, but was silenced when Gatomon hugged her too.
"Ok..." Biyomon then said, before asking. "Should we leave now?"
"Yeah. Let's hope Gabumon and the others are alright" Guilmon said.
-Meanwhile-
With Gabumon, Veemon and Meicoomon, the trio were passing a room full of treasure chests, the sight of which was one of awe to the trio.
"So many treasure chests!" Gabumon said, while wondering how the Dark Lord acquired such a wealth.
But acting on his thief traits, Veemon cheered, rushed over to the treasures and called in joy as he began to grab at whatever he could get his hands on. "The treasure room! We found it! You snooze, you lose! I'll have this, and that, and that too…"
"Hey! Save some for me!" Gabumon then snapped, but found Veemon wasn't listening, only getting Veemon saying back with a defensiveness. "Paws off! It's all mine!"
As Gabumon and Veemon continued to bicker, Meicoomon thought with a sneakiness in her mind. 'Think I'll just help myself while they're at it.'
However, the fight over treasure was forgotten as they reached the end of the room, shocking all to see Gaomon passed out, where Gabumon gasped.
"Gaomon!" The wolf camouflaged Digimon let out as he rushed to the lifeless body of Gaomon and held her in his arms.
But like Guilmon's team, the group found themselves up against a fearsome foe of their own, a giant portrait monster based on Dark Lord Impmon that held Gaomon's Digi-Core.
"Another painting monster?" Veemon asked, remembering his fights with the variety of creatures in the Desert Zone, before the V marked Digimon braced himself and called with confidence. "Let's trash this thing! Wormmon I might need your power again."
At this, Veemon and Meicoomon accessed their unique powers of Digivolution to become Palidramon and Meicrackmon, while Gabumon Digivolved to Garurumon, knowing that while he wasn't as powerful, he would do all he could for his friends and for the Digimon he loved.
"Sting Strike!" Palidramon announced as he began the battle, harnessing Wormmon's power, using the power to draw out a set of long blades from his gauntlet, which he tried to run along the painting creature, but found it to be more flexible than its counterparts, dodging and swinging itself under every single slice.
"Fan Toss!" Meicrackmon then called as she jumped up and attacked, hoping to catch the painting monster off guard, managing to deal some damage into their enemy as her fan made contact with their foe.
Seeing Paildramon and Meicrackmon start the fight and giving it their all, Garurmon joined in, refusing to allow a Level divide what he knew was a strong bond he shared.
"Howling Blaster!" He let out, casting out an icy blue flame from his mouth, but found the painting monster not only countered the attack with a great uproar of wind, but the impact of the wind not only forced Garurmon's flames back at them, it also knocked all three Digimon down, damaging them greatly.
Groaning a little as she picked herself up, Meicrackmon questioned. "That painting shoots fire?"
"The one we faced back in the Desert Zone was able to use a similar trick as it copied Beautymon and Dorumon's moves." Palidramon said in reply.
From Paildramon's words, Garurumon realized that while Gaomon's Digi-Core was being used against them, so were her attacks, turning her skills and her timeless efforts against them, which brought up a rarely seen anger from out of Garurumon, where he snarled and roared at the painting. "You dare use Gaomon's power and mock her? I will never forgive you for this!"
Giving off a great howl, Garurumon's body was circled by a dark blue aura as he began to change, feeling his emotions allowing him the same level of power as his friends, a power he would use to set Gaomon free.
"Garurumon Digivolve to…" Garurumon stated to say as he embraced the power flowing through him, feeling it altering his body structure as he rose from his hind legs and clenched his front paws, finding them turning to a pair of arms as he was given a more humanoid build.
Continuing to allow the power to alter him, Garurmon's found his right arm covered in cloth, his hand set with a gold knuckleduster, while a pair of torn pants covered his lower body.
At first glance, it looked as though this new form of Garurumon belonged on the side of evil, namely due to his fearsome appearance and the skull pattern on the left leg on his pants, but sensing the good remaining in him, Paildramon and Meicrackmon knew they now had another powerful ally on their team, where he threw his head up and howled. "WereGarurumon!"
While stunned at his Digivolution, surprised at his change in stance, Paildramon was taken aback by something else. "Wha? Garurumon's got pants now?"
"I have so much more than a new wardrobe." WareGarurmon replied, keeping his gaze on the painting monster, before he leapt up and let out. "Allow me to show you!"
"Moonsault Kick!" WereGarurumon then let out as he flipped around and slammed his foot into the paining with all he could, finding that his kicks had increased drastically in terms of power with his Digivolution.
But reacting to the attack, the painting then threw itself forward, slamming the upper section of its body into Meicrackmon, before doing the same to Palidramon.
While WereGarurumon looked fearsome, he showed his care, his selfless side to always put his friends ahead of anything else as he made a small meal, finding his food helped restore some of the health Paildramon and Meicrackmon had lost.
And seeing his friends would be alright, WareGarurmon faced the painting, where he proclaimed. "We must rescue Gaomon! I won't let her suffer anymore!"
"Then playtime is over! Felt Made!" Meicrackmon announced, using her unique power to create a copy of herself, which lunged at the painting monster.
"Desperado Blaster!" Palidramon followed up, firing off a series of shots from the cannon set upon his sides, knocking critical damage at it.
"Now to end this! Wolf Claw!" WereGarurumon called with a great might, rushing in and slashing his claws along the painting, tearing it to bits and ending the fight once and for all.
With the monster down and defeated, Gaomon's Digi-Core was free, where it returned back into Gaomon's body, the sight of which caused Gabumon to rush back to her side, resting her head on his lap.
"Is she…?" Veemon began to ask, before all heard her groan as she slowly opened her eyes, rubbing her head as she tired to recall the events that lead to her current position.
"Where am I? I remember the Dark Lord sucking me up in that portal, then the rest is a blank." Gaomon said, regretting she couldn't recall anymore information she knew would help her friends, but finding herself within Gabumon's lap changed her mood to a more grateful and joyous one.
"Gabumon!" She let out happily as she set her arms around him and hugged him, expressing her joy and her love, keeping Gabumon close to her as she whispered. "I am so glad you came. You saved me."
"I'm glad you're alright." Gabumon replied in a gentle tone, keeping Gaomon close to his chest as they remained in their embrace, before Gabumon rose, carrying Gaomon in a bridal style hold, knowing her head still hurt a little and that they still had to reunite with Guilmon, save Renamon and stop the Dark Lord.
"Come on. Let's meet up with the others. Guilmon is here and he'll be happy to see you." Gabumon informed, finding his words caused Gaomon to look at him with a smile.
"Sir's here? Thank you, Gabumon. My head's a bit messed up, so would might I request a quick rest before I return to combat?" Gaomon replied.
The question made Gabumon smile, where he was about to welcome Gaomon to rest, but looking down at her, he found she couldn't help but fall asleep, finding the expression on her face cute as she nuzzled her face into his chest.
And while happy to see Gaomon would be alright, Meicoomon had to say. "I just hope Gaomon's alright."
-A short while later-
After awakening and finding the warmth of Gabumon's body keeping her relaxed, Gaomon looked up to see Gabumon, who turned his head down and smiled back at her.
"Feeling better?" He asked, not wanting to push Gaomon, while finding he didn't mind carrying her.
"I am better now. Thank you." She replied, gently pulling herself out of Gabumon's embrace and getting to her feet, though she kept herself close to Gabumon as the group continued to delve deeper in the castle.
And after a fair distance, not only did they reach the top, but the two groups found that they had reunited.
"Hey, Gabumon! You're alright!" Agumon cheered, emotions Gabumon shared as he smiled back at his best friend and said. "Agumon, I'm glad you made it."
"Hey, you rescued Gatomon, too! Great!" Veemon said when he noticed Gatomon was back on the team.
"Yep. Glad to see me again, Veemon?" Gatomon teased as she showed off her playfulness a little, making Patamon chuckle, knowing Gatomon was back as her kinky self.
"Is she always this kinky?" Meicoomon asked, sweat dropping at Gatomon's antics, where Agumon, Biyomon, Veemon and Patamon replied with a simultaneous 'yes'.
"Sir! It's good to see you again!" Gaomon said as she reunited with Guilmon, starting off with her usual respect and regulations as she gave a salute, before allowing herself permission to show her feelings as she hugged Guilmon, an action Guilmon returned, having missed Gaomon.
"Gaomon. Thank goodness you're alright" Guilmon said in relief, keeping his hands at a respectable distance, not wanting to send the wrong idea to her or to get Gabumon upset.
"This is great. We're together again!" Veemon then cut in with a cheer, grabbing both Meicoomon and Gatomon, hugging both feline Digimon and finding that from the joy, both shared his hug.
"Hold on, Veemon. There's one Digimon left we have to save. Someone important to us and Guilmon" Agumon informed.
"Oh right... I forgot about the sexy vixen among us." Gatomon said, part of her a little embarrassed she had failed to notice the lack of Renamon in their group.
"We still need to find and rescue Renamon." Guilmon said sadly, certain that the Dark Lord had something truly sinister for the Digimon he loved.
"She is deeper in the castle." Gaomon said, before she asked. "What are your orders, Sir?"
"We all go in this together." Guilmon said in reply with a serious tone, one Gaomon and the others all respected as the group ventured deeper in the castle, with two goals in mind: Rescue Renamon and defeat Dark Lord Impmon.
