Those who Battle Together Stay Together
Unbeknownst to any of the heroes, Myotismon was observing them and reporting the information to his five leaders. "Inconceivable," Beelzemon shouted. "Is there no Digimon powerful enough to stop those children?"
"If I may," Myotismon was saying, "I would like another chance against them."
"Are you sure," Duftmon asked out of concern.
"My wounds have healed after my last encounter," the vampire replied. "I'm ready for another battle. Besides, I'll have to face them myself sooner. As the saying goes: 'If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.'"
"Indeed," Beelzemon said in agreement. "However, if you should fail, we will have to deal with the Digidestined ourselves."
"Don't fail us," Neptunemon warned.
"I won't," Myotismon promised. "They still have a way to go before they can reach the Digimon sovereigns. Unfortunately for them, the journey stops at the end of Sheer Valley." He ended the connection and began making preparations.
As the heroes were passing through the Valley, they noticed many different dragon-type Digimon. Some were fighting for sport, others were scavenging for food, others were digging in the walls and ground to expand their territories.
Mokuba checked the map on his computer again. "According to the map, the Hard Mountains are just on the other end of this Valley. We should make it there by tomorrow night."
"And once we get to the Mountains, how much longer until we finally meet the Digimon sovereigns?" Joey asked.
The raven-haired boy looked at the map again. "Well, according to what I found out from Noah, it's a three-day trek through the Mountains. After that, it'll take at least five more days for us to reach the palace."
"You can't be serious," Tristan complained.
"Well, what'd you expect?" Duke asked. "We're crossing an entire digital continent."
"But couldn't we make the trip shorter by taking a train or a plane?" he asked.
Mokuba understood how he felt. He wasn't used to this ordeal either. "I agree. I am getting tired of all this walking."
"You're not used to this the same way I am," Kaiba said to his younger brother. In all the other worlds, Kaiba was used to walking long distances without transportation. Still, he agreed that his brother needed to rest a while.
"I don't mean to complain," Mokuba apologized. "It's not that I don't like adventure. I just didn't think it'd be this rough." He smiled as he thought differently. "On the other hand, if I want to go on an adventure in any of the other worlds, this is a good way to start."
Emily agreed. "This can be a way of helping you prepare for anything such as being able to take care of yourself and having the resources you'll need. It's like practice."
"Come to think of it," Yugi was saying, "Mokuba, have you been to any of the other worlds?"
He nods and explains, "There's the time Rebecca and I went to the world of the Sailor Scouts with Seto. I've also been to the Secret Garden a few times. There I met Rin, Kohaku, and Shippo and we've gotten along with each other. I've even visited the village in the feudal era a few times."
His brother smiles and says, "Mokuba always comes home telling me about his friends and their activities."
"I'd also like to go on my own Pokémon journey someday too," the younger brother added.
"You mean by yourself?" Emily wondered.
He actually hadn't thought of that yet. "Well, by myself, I don't mean on my own, alone. I'd like to take Rebecca along with me. That is, if she'd want to come with me."
"Who's Rebecca?" Guilmon asked.
"Oh, that's right, you don't know." Mokuba reached into his knapsack and pulled out a heart-shaped picture frame with a picture of a young girl with blonde hair in pigtails and turquoise eyes shielded by glasses. "This is my girlfriend, Rebecca Hawkins."
Guilmon looked at the picture and commented, "She's cute." Agumon looked and agreed. Kaiba just turned away in disguist.
"Maybe when this is over, I'll take you home with me and introduce you to her," Mokuba offered Guilmon.
"Absolutely not," the older brother snapped. "In the first place, we can't guarantee that the Digimon can come home with us. In the second place, I don't want that little geek involved in all of this."
The first concern was understandable. The Digimon may not be allowed to follow their partners back home to their world. As for the second concern, clearly Kaiba did not like Rebecca. But Guilmon wondered if the older brother was just concerned and didn't want harm to come to Mokuba's girlfriend.
Still, everyone had to agree that they couldn't make empty promises to their Digimon. But Mokuba was starting to feel upset, like his hopes had been crushed. "Excuse me," he said grimly. "I need to be alone for a while." He walked ahead of his friends with Guilmon following him.
"Nice going, Kaiba," Agumon scolded. "Have some compassion."
"I'm just being realistic," the older brother argued.
Max agreed. "We have to think about these things. While we've developed strong bonds with our Digimon, we have to accept that we don't belong in each other's world."
"But we belong together, so doesn't that alter the situation," Bakura asked.
"Well, yes and no," she answered.
"Max, our Digimon have waited their entire lives for us," he reminded her. "It wouldn't be fair of us to let them live the rest of their lives without us."
Renamon gently touched Max's arm. "There's something you must know. It's another fact about Digimon being bound to a human partner. When a Digimon is defeated or has spent its last energy, the Digimon's information can easily be reconfigured as long as its partner is alive. But if a human partner dies-,"
"So does his Digimon," Emily finished. "Without being bound to that partner anymore, the Digimon can't be reconfigured."
"That's like saying both of their souls have to depart," said Yugi.
"Don't despair," Duke was saying. "We can come and go between worlds and time moves differently between worlds, right?"
"Yeah, but we won't really know the time difference until we return to our world and come back to Digiworld at a later time," said Joey.
Meanwhile, Mokuba was sitting next to a watering hole. Guilmon was sitting beside him. The raven-haired boy gently petted his partner. "Thanks for being here for me."
"I'm your Digimon, Moki. I'll always be here for you," the red dragon promised.
Mokuba smiled and hugged his partner. "I shouldn't be too sensitive. I know my brother means well and I know he's right. It's just that sometimes when he gets mad whenever I mention Becca, I think he's trying to tear us apart and doesn't approve of our relationship. But when I think about it, he's only looking out for me. I know he wants me to be safe and he wants what's best for me."
"You're very loyal to your brother, aren't you?" Guilmon asked.
He nods and says, "We're all each other has. Our parents died years ago and we were adopted by our cruel stepfather, but Seto stopped him and took control of his empire and changed it for the better. Most of all, he did all of that for me."
"Really?" the red dragon asked.
"It's true," the raven-haired boy replied. "Seto may seem rash and arrogant most of the time, but whatever crazy action he takes, he does it for the people he cares about. He worked so hard, but nothing he ever did would gain our stepfather's appreciation or satisfaction. But my brother never let that stop him. He kept pushing himself, struggling, all so he and I could have better lives. He still does all of that even now. Seto continues to put himself in harm's way and suffer for me and I owe it to him to see him through to the end."
Guilmon was amazed with his partner's dedication. He nuzzles himself and says, "I like that about you, Mokuba. You're so loyal and so understanding."
"Thanks, pal," Mokuba said, petting his partner. "I try to be." He really did. He met other people like him who had older brothers and would always do everything for them. He understood their pain and imagined their struggles. He even saw the bond Joey and Serenity shared and saw how loyal they were to each other and always supporting each other and was happy for the both of them.
That made Mokuba start talking about them. "You know, Guilmon, Joey and Serenity have it harder than Seto and I do. You see, when they were young, they were separated by their parents. Serenity lives with their mother and Joey, well, he used to live with their father, but not anymore since he got his own place."
"That is hard," Guilmon said in acknowledgement. "And they still try so hard to be together."
"And when you get down to it, each other is all that they've got too," Mokuba added. "That's why I feel strongly for those two."
Guilmon stood up and suggested, "Let's get back to the others. I'm sure they're all worried about you."
Mokuba agreed and was about to follow them until he heard a roaring sound. He and Guilmon saw a black dinosaur-like Digimon with red stripes, blue eyes, and green spikes on his back. Mokuba looked at the information on his digivice. "Whoa, DarkTyrannomon, a virus-like version of the original and slightly stronger. But he's still a champion."
"DarkTyrannomon can be aggressive, but I've never seen one act this hostile," said Guilmon.
"We've got to stop him before he causes any devastation," Mokuba declared.
His partner agreed and began feeling energy building up inside of him. "Guilmon, digivolve to… Growlmon!" He charged up to DarkTyrannomon and held him back with his strength. The virus Digimon was several feet bigger than Growlmon and even stronger and began trying to use his strength to force him away. Growlmon pushed him aside and unleashed his Pyro Blaster. DarkTyrannomon cut through it using his claws and he slashed Growlmon.
Mokuba began blaming himself. This is all my fault. Growlmon's in trouble because of me. He can't fight this bully by himself, but what can I do? I shouldn't have walked away from my brother when he was only looking out for me. I'm sorry, Seto. You were only looking out for me and I walked away. Forgive me, Brother. I need you.
His tear landed on his digivice, causing it to emit a powerful light and shine on his partner. "Growlmon, digivolve to… WarGrowlmon!" He donned a cyber-like armor and grew large in size.
Mokuba looked at the information on his digivice. "WarGrowlmon - ultimate level. Special attack: Atomic Blaster." He looked at his partner and asked, "But how?"
"You made it possible, Mokuba," WarGrowlmon answered. "I told you you're a very understanding person. You understood the trouble we were in and that you needed help. And if you look down on your digivice, you'll see it for yourself."
He did look down and saw the symbol on the screen. "That's the sign for empathy. That means this is my element."
"That's right," said WarGrowlmon. "Your empathy towards your friends and your concern for me helped me to digivolve. I sensed it and became what you see here." He refocuses his attention on the battle and attacks with his Atomic Blaster, bombarding his opponent with torpedoes in his chest. DarkTyrannomon fell back in defeat. He cowered before his opponent, but suddenly, he began converting into data.
A sinister laughter filled the area. "I know that laugh," Mokuba was saying. "He's here."
Myotismon appeared before the two partners. WarGrowlmon shielded his partner with his cybernetic claws. "I commend you, young man. You fared well against DarkTyrannomon."
"Are you the one who sent him on that rampage?" the boy asked.
"Indeed, but I had no further use for him anymore after you defeated him," Myotismon answered. "You and your friends are so close, yet so far. I'm afraid your journey ends here, though." He spreads his arms out and unleashes his Grizzly Wing. WarGrowlmon continues to protect Mokuba.
Suddenly, a blast of fire attacked the swarming bats. "We're coming, Mokuba!" Kaiba's voice cried.
He looked and saw his brother riding on Greymon. "Seto, Greymon," he cried.
"Yet more interference," Myotismon groaned.
The older brother jumped down. "Listen, Myotismon, I have no patience for bullies and I will not forgive you for harming my brother!" Greymon attacks again with Nova Blast, but Myotismon uses his mind power to extinguish the flames. Kaiba looks back at Mokuba. This happened because I made my brother get upset. But I can make things right again by being here for him and protecting him. He also looks down at his digivice. If I can just concentrate on my element and let its power fill me, then that may give Greymon the strength he needs to digivolve. He places his digivice close to his chest and begins concentrating, letting his wisdoms flow through him. He opens his eyes and cries, "Digivolve!"
Sure enough, it was working as his digivice glowed and its light began to envelop his partner. "Greymon, digivolve to… MetalGreymon!" He looked like a cyborg version of himself with a robotic arm and a machine-like breastplate and an iron helm over his head and metallic wings on his back.
The brunette looked at the information on his digivice. "MetalGreymon, an ultimate Digimon with the power to make the area shake with his movements. His attacks include Mega Claw and Giga Blaster." He looks back at his opponent. "I know you don't like to play fair, Myotismon, so I suppose you won't mind if two ultimate Digimon battle you."
"Not at all," he replied. "It won't make any difference."
"We'll see," Kaiba told him. MetalGreymon reached for him with his Mega Claw, but the vampire whilplashed him with his Crimson Lightning. Together, the ultimate dragons attacked, launching their Atomic Blaster and Giga Blaster. Myotismon used his mind power to disintegrate them into particles of data.
"Did you honestly think you could defeat me with those silly little toys?" Myotismon taunted, and his opponents began degenerating back to their in-training forms. "I'll return soon and when I do, I will defeat you." And the vampire began taking his leave with his swarm of bats flying beside him.
The two brothers picked up their partners. "Mokuba, are you all right?" the older brother asked.
He nods and says, "Gigimon was protecting me when he was WarGrowlmon." He looked down at his partner with concern. "It's okay, Gigimon. You did your best. And you saved me and that's what really counts." The stubby red Digimon smiled weakly.
"Damn," Kaiba grunted. "Even two ultimate Digimon weren't enough to defeat Myotismon."
"That means we'll need everyone's help," said the younger brother. The older brother agreed and together they carried their Digimon and rejoined their friends.