Disclaimer: Nothing mine.
(As the music plays all the Digidestined started floating up into the sky through the rainbow portal in this order: Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, T.K, Kari and Killua. All of them looking eager to reach to go to the Digital World again)
Gokigen na cho ni natte
Kirameku kaze ni notte
Ima sugu kimi ni ai no yukou.
(The kids all fly towards the Spiral Mountain with their partners and Wizardmon. Looming over the mountains are the silhouettes of the Dark Masters)
Yokei na koto nante
Wasureta hou ga mashi sa
Korei jou shareteru jikan wa nai.
(It shows the Digimon in Ultra Level all looking ready for fighting in the next order: Garudamon, Mega Kabuterimon, Lilymon, Zudomon, Magna Angemon, and Angewomon. And then it shows VictoryGreymon and ZeedGarurumon in the end facing different Digimon)
Naniga wow wow wow wow wow.
Kono sora ni todoku no darou
Naniga wow wow wow wow wow
Ashita no yotei mo wakaranai.
(All Eight Digivices illuminate the sky, dispersing the dark clouds above. A beam of light shone down and all of the allies of the Digidestined, members of the resistance, appear with Leomon as their leader.)
Mugendai na yume to ato no
(ZeedGarurumon and VictoryGreymon fight with MetalSeadramon on the sea region)
Nanimo nai yo no naka ja.
(Mega Kabuterimon and Garudamon fight with Machinedramon's troops)
Sou sa Itoshii
Omoi mo makesou
Nani naru kedo.
(Zudomon and Lilymon fight alongside Leomon and Ogremon against Metal Etemon)
Stay shigachi na.
Imeeji dara kedo.
(Puppetmon starts shooting without discretion at any Digimon)
Tayorinai Tsubasa demo.
(Magna Angemon fights with Machinedramon and Angewomon with LadyDevimon)
Kitto to beru sa.
Oh my love.
(Killua and Piedmon face each other, the clown has his swords floating around him, while Killua is holding his something in his hand, he smiles and activates the Godspeed.)
(All of the eight Digimon launch their respective attacks at the camera in the next order: VictoryGreymon, ZeedGarurumon, Garudamon, Mega Kabuterimon, Lilymon, Zudomon, Magna Angemon and Angewomon. The camera then shows them on their Rookie forms turning to Champions, then the whole group with Killua on the front)
The desert, a familiar place for the first seven members of the Digidestined. A place where a great part of their adventure took place, while looking for their Crests. A place that now was in control of Machinedramon.
"Cough."
Right now, Tai, Agumon, Kari, Gatomon, Sora, Piyomon, Izzy, Tentomon, Killua, and Puppetmon were all crossing it through a pavement road to reach the settlement where the evil machine lord is hiding. That way, they'll free the territory from his control, like they did with MetalSeadramon.
"Cough, cough."
The heat was scorching, Killua took out his work out hoodie and tied around his waist as best as he could with just one sleeve. Tai put his goggles around his neck. Izzy was dragging his feet by carrying his computer. And Sora took out her helmet.
"Cough, cough, cough."
Puppetmon was dragging himself with his hammer, like a hermit trekking through the dessert. "Damn that Machinedramon... Why couldn't he... Built his place... Closer?!"
No one offered an answer. Some due to the heat and others because they didn't wanted to get along so casually with the former member of the Dark Masters.
The heat seemed to be their only problem so far. No having encountered any bad Digimon in their way out of the forest section to the desert.
But that was about to change.
Crash.
Killua stopped in his tracks as he heard a crashing sound behind him, it was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there. He turned and gasped at the scene behind him. "Kari!"
The youngest member of their group had collapsed face first in the road. Everyone turned back and went to look for the girl, her brother ahead of them. "Kari!" Tai called in concern.
He lifted the girl on his arms and shook her gently. "Kari? Kari?!"
Gatomon looked at her partner in worry. "What's wrong with her?"
Killua noticed the blush on her face and her ragged breath. He put a hand on her forehead and cursed. "She has a fever."
The statement brought a gasp from the Digidestined and a confused head tilt from Puppetmon. "A what?"
"She's sick, Puppetmon," Killua said. "She needs to rest... Tai, give me your telescope, I'll try to see if I can find a place for us to rest."
With Tai so busy watching over his sister, Killua decided to be the one to do it. "R-right, here." He said, handing the scope.
Killua started looking around with the object in his left eye. All around him seemed to be endless sand everywhere. Then he noticed something in the distance, a bus stop, a place with benches where the girl could rest. "Over there!" He pointed.
Tai hoisted his sister on his back and they made their way to the bus stop so the girl could rest.
It didn't took long to reach it and Sora produced a handkerchief from her pocket that Killua soaked with a bottle of precious water to put it on the girl's forhead.
"That should help to fight the fever off," Sora said.
Killua looked around with a scowl. "Between the heat, the battles, and probably Homeostasis' possession, Kari's cold must've come back full force."
Gatomon stood over the bench, watching Kari worriedly. "Kari..."
The girl slowly opened her eyes. "I'm... I'm fine, Gatomon," She said, trying to ease the cat's worries. But from her tone and the way she was panting no one buy it.
"You must have been feeling ill for a while now, weren't you?" Tai questioned. "Why didn't you tell us? ... Tell me?"
Kari looked at her brother with glazed eyes. "If... If we stopped because of me... Then we would have lost time... We have... To save the Digital World..." After she said that she entered in another coughing fit.
Tai frowned even deeper as she stared at her. "Kari..."
Seeing her like this, so weak and with a high fever... It remind him of something that happened more than three years ago. An event that he will never forget no matter how many time passes.
He gripped his fist and bit her lip. He couldn't allow something like that to happen. Not again.
Puppetmon for his part, stood apart from the girl. "Why can't we just leave her here? I mean it's not like Machinedramon will settle her eyes on her in this place."
Tai turned to glare at the puppet and was ready to charge at him. "You bastard-"
Killua put a hand between the two. "Allow me," Although his tone was calm, everyone heard the edge in it.
He took out the remote and cranked it up to six and was about to press it, but first he needed to learn what he did wrong. "Puppetmon, we do not let friends behind!" He scolded as he pressed the button.
"UGUHHSHhsh!" Puppetmon danced in pain as the electrical collar gave him a more powerful discharge. "What smells like copper?" He asked, while smoke sizzled out of him. Then, a lightbulb went on in his head--probably charged with the electricity of that discharge. "Wait... 'friend'? That girl is my friend?!"
Killua blinked and looked at the others, who just gave him a clueless look. He shrugged and turned to the Puppet. "Uhhhhh... Sure?"
Puppetmon broke into a grin and jump into the air. "YAHOO! I GOT A NEW FRIEND!"
Everyone sweatdropped at their captive's behavior, but immediately went back to the problem in hand.
Tai, Izzy and Killua discussed, while the others looked over Kari. Tentomon flew off to find some place more adequate for them to let the girl rest.
"Maybe this was a mistake..." Tai said. "Bringing her here."
"Tai, you know there was no other option," Izzy told him. "Either we like it or not, Kari is part of the Digidestined, we need her to fix the problems in this world and ours."
Tai sighed. "She's just in second grade, and that cold just came back full force... T.K is also that age... I wonder how Matt and the others are doing," He started rambling.
"Tai, focus," Killua told him. "There are a hundred ways to get a fever down, even if we don't have medicine. For the moment she isn't presenting symptoms beyond a simple cold. Once we find a place where she can rest and hydrate it should help her." The boy explained to calm the worried brother.
Tai still didn't seemed sure, a conflicted look ever present in his eyes that caused his two friends to sigh. They were not annoyed at him, since they know it's not his fault, but they were frustrated that they couldn't do anything to help either him or Kari. Until Kari doesn't recover, Tai's mind is going to be somewhere else.
To their delight, Tentomon came flying back. "Izzy! I found something! Let me take you guys there!"
Everyone was surprised at the insect's statement, but nodded nonetheless. And decided to trust his call.
A quick evolution to Kabuterimon later, the kids were all flying on the giant insect's back to the south.
They gasped when they saw a body of water. "I thought all the water was with MetalSeadramon," Sora said.
"Not to mention it should have gonw away back to the world below after we beat him," Izzy said, remembering when the water started vanishing after their victory over the first Dark Master.
"Meh, there are some exceptions," Puppetmon answered. "We could grab every part of the Digital World we wanted to add it to our territories."
That question being cleared, they continued to fly until they saw a bridge over the body of water that lead to big island with a city on it.
Killua's eyes buldged significantly as he saw the city, it's structure reminding him from a place from his home. "YORK NEW?!/ NEW YORK?!"
The simultaneous cries of the same word backwards brought a pause to the Digidestined and Killua. They looked at each other and Izzy spoke. "Let me guess, a city from your world?"
"Yeah, and I guess the one you mentioned is one from yours similar to this one?" Killua asked.
They all nodded.
"Cool, funny how the name are reversed." The boy said with a nod. "And this must be Machinedramon's base," He turned to Puppetmon. "Right?"
"Told you the bastard was a greedy one!" Puppetmon growled, thinking of his former comrade.
Sora gasped. "Wait a minute, that can't be right!" They looked down and noticed the architecture of the site changing drastically. "Those are from Italy!"
Then they passed by another architecture change. "That's the Arc of Triumph!" Izzy said. "It's from france!"
Killua put his hand on his chin. "Considering that your world and this one are connected, we can assume that the Digital World had replicas of those places. Then Machinedramon took them to make his base."
Kari interrupted the speculations as she entered in another coughing fit, her strength starting to fade away.
Tai looked at her with worry. "Hurry! Is there no place for us to rest?!"
They kept their eyes open and Piyomon spotted a place. "There!" She said, pointing to a mansion in the middle of a park.
Kabuterimon landed and everyone climbed out of his back as he reverted back to Tentomon.
Killua eyed the mansion and turned to the others. "Keep an eye open, we don't know if the enemy is around." Everyone nodded. "First we have to find a room for Kari to rest, then we divide and search the house to look for medicine."
Again everyone nodded and entered the big mansion, hoping to find what they are looking for.
The search in itself probed to be... Fruitless.
Sora was looking over Kari, while the rest looked for medicine.
Right now, they were looking around in the kitchen as their last resource, or for something for Kari to eat so she would recover strength.
Yet the only thing they found was condiments and some jelly... Correction expired jelly.
Killua's eyebrow twitched at seeing the expiration date. 'This expired a hundred years ago? ... And we don't even have bread to eat it.' He sighed and put it back in place.
Tai was looking in a cabinet, Puppetmon under the sink, and Izzy on some tall shelves, using a chair to reach them. No one found anything.
Agumon entered the room with an excited yell. "Tai! Tai! Is this it?"
Everyone turned to the dinosaur who had a box for children's medicine.
Tai's face brightened immediately. "This is it! Good job, buddy!" He took the box with excitement...
... And found it empty.
Tai deflated instantly. "Figures..."
Killua sighed and closed the cabinet he was searching. "We looked every inch of this house and found nothing, our only option is going out in the city... Sora will have to stay with Kari while the rest goes out."
Everyone nodded and moved to the room where Sora, Kari and their partners were staying.
Sora was reapplying the wet rag on the girl forehead so her temperature would go down, while Piyomon and Gatomon just watched--One curious, the other worried.
When the boys entered the room, Sora turned to look at them. "Any luck?" Tai shook his head. "I see..."
"We're going to head out to this city to look someplace for medicine," Tai said.
"In other occasions we found human items scattered around the place, like that fridge full of eggs in File Island," Killua explained. "So it's not too farfetched to believe we can find medicine."
Tai walked to Kari's bedside. "How is she?"
"She started sweating a lot," Sora said. "That should help to get the fever down."
Tai smiled at her. "Thanks, Sora. Please take care of her while we are gone."
Sora smiled back. "I will."
Puppetmon raised his mallet. "Okay-dokey! Let's go on this quest!"
"You are staying," Killua declared.
The room froze at that statement. The Digidestined, specially Tai and Sora, were watching Killua with disbelieving eyes. Puppetmon turned to him with a gaping expression.
Killua realized that he should have expected this reaction and waited for the big explosion.
'Three, two, one...'
"WHAT?!"
'There it is!' He deadpanned. "Before anybody goes at my throat," He glanced at Tai, Gatomon and Puppetmon. "Here's my reasoning: We don't know when or where the enemy is going to attack, heck Machinedramon could know we are already here!" He said and took satisfaction seeing the pensative looks on his friends and ally's faces. "So, Puppetmon being our other Mega, and former Dark Masters, wilk stay here to protect the fort."
That answer seemed to satisfy the rest of the group. Although Gatomon was sending him stinking looks and Tai seemed conflicted. But didn't found any counterargument for his statement.
Puppetmon however...
"But I wanna goooooo~!" Like a child, Puppetmon threw a tantrum. He feel to the floor and started kicking around wildly and whining around.
Everyone sweatdropped at their former enemy attitude. Killua turned the level to two and pushed the button. Puppetmon received a more tame discharge. "BUHIJIJIHI!"
"Puppetmon," Killua sighed. "You remember that Kari is your friend, right?" At the looks he received, Killua rolled his hand at them.'Roll with it,' it meant. "And friends look out for each other."
Puppetmon blinked. "They do?"
"They do." Killua deadpanned. "And they protect each other."
"Oh!" Puppetmon's face lightened in understanding and got back to his feet. "I see, I see!" He clapped.
Killua nodded. "Then you know what to do, if the enemy appears, make sure Kari and Sora are safe..." He took the remote and cranked it to ten, the maximum level. "And if something happens to them and you could have prevent it... I will make sure your wood becomes charren black."
Killua's Killing Intent leaked through him and into the room. Making everyone nervous and making Puppetmon sweat bullets. "G-got it!"
Killua nodded and stopped the KI. "Good," He turned to Tai and Izzy. "Let's go!"
The boys and their partners snapped out of their stupor and nodded. Getting out of the house to get the medicine for the little girl.
Sora watched them go and whispered. "Good luck..."
Puppetmon for his part stood now in front of the door, marching in front of it like a soldier. "No one shall pass from here!" He declared.
Sora sighed at the sight of their enemy marching like that. Gatomon narrowed her eyes and sat at Kari's feet. "This is going to be a looooooong day."
Meanwhile, the search group was running around the city, looking for a place where they can find the remedy they need for Kari.
"Damn this fog!" Killua cursed. "I'm getting tired of shit like this!"
"Medicine, medicine!" Agumon chanted as he looked around. "There has to be an easier way to find it.
Izzy stopped at that and looked around. "Maybe..."
Noticing he stopped, the rest of the group turned to see him. "Izzy, what are you doing?" Tai asked, voice laced with impatience.
"Something in your mind, Izzy?" Killua asked, recognizing that look on his face.
"Yeah, I just have to find... There it is!" Izzy said running in a certain direction.
The tech genius guided the group to a phone boot with an english design. He took out his yellow computer and a wire. He connected one end to the boot and the other to his computer. "We'll lose time if we keep searching in this dense mist, I'll connected to the network to get a... There! A map from the city!"
In the computer a layout of the city appeared, showing every corner of it in a graphic.
"Sweet!" Tai exclaimed. "Now where's the medicine?"
"Search for hospitals and pharmacies," Killua said. "What's the closest one?"
"Ummm," Izzy typed fast and the results appeared. "There's twelve and the closests is right here," He pointed to a spot in the map.
"Then let's go!" Tai said, running out of the boot first than anyone else.
"Tai, wait!" Agumon cried as he ran after his partner.
Killua sighed. "This is going to be all day, isn't it?" And ran out of the boot after the goggle wearing boy.
"Wait for me!" Izzy called as he unplugged his computer off the boot and running after his friends, with Tentomon in toe.
Not realizing the mistake they committed.
"The connection has been cut," Hagurumon, a Digimon with the shape of a gear, informed Machinedramon.
They were in the middle of an underground base, beneath the city. And they are looking at a screen with the exact same map Izzy just accessed.
Another Hagurumon turned to the giant Dark Master. "It's seems they are looking for hospitals and pharmacies!"
Machinedramon's eyes beeped red and he opened his mouth. "Hospitals... Pharmacies...?" He questioned slowly. "Show... Them..." He requested.
"As you wish!" The two Hagurumon displayed the map. "This twelve places, master!"
"The Digidestined must have someone injured amongst their group. And since we know where they are going to be and from where they came from, we can triangulate where that weak link is.' His mind processed. "Deploy... Troops." He ordered. "Long Live... The Metal... Empire!"
"Long Live The Metal Empire!" One Hagurumon cheered.
"Long Live The Metal Empire!" The other echoed.
All around the city, different Digimon with metal bodies were dispatched.
Most of them were Mechanorimon, Guardromon, and Tankmon.
But in the air, Machinedramon's right and left hand were summoned. Two Digimon that ruled over the skies and were ready to bring chaos and destruction in their master's name.
They roared and flew off to chase the Digidestined. They were Megadramon and Gigadramon, two of the most powerful Dramon Digimon out there. Both had similar characteristics; a snake-like body, with metal claws that acted like cannons. The difference between them was the color, Megadramon was orange while Gigadramon was grey, and their wings, Gigadramon had metalic wings while Megadramon's were made of flesh.
They were the most trusted soldiers in the Dark Master's side, and the responsibles of executing their mater's last result.
The plan Ground Z.
Tai felt a shiver run down his spine the moment he set a foot in the hospital. Traumatic memories coming back to him as he stood still, like a statue, in the waiting room.
He was back being an scared eight year old. A scared, and guilty, eight year old. Waiting for the doctors, waiting for his parents.
He remembered he turned around to see the look of despair, and anger, on his mother's face when she arrived. She demanded him one question that he was fearful to answer. "Where is your sister?!"He bit his lip and clenched his fists, trying to push down the feeling of guilt building in his stomach.
"Hey."
A tap on the shoulder brought him back to reality. He turned to see Killua giving him a worried stare. "You okay?"
"I... Yeah, sorry..." He apologized.
"We can't have you spacing out like that," Killua mock-scolded.
Tai nodded, grateful that his friend kept him grounded in reality.
"Guys!" Izzy called out from behind a door. "I found it! The room with the medicines!"
Tai's mood lightened at that... But it soured as quickly as they started looking for it.
There were a lot of medicines, but none of them had an accurate specification of what they were for. "Which one is it?!" He demanded angrily.
Killua bit a curse. "I could identify them if It could read them!" He growled. "They are all in japanese or other language!"
Izzy rummage around a cabinet. "If Joe was here then he would know, his family is full of doctors."
Tai groaned. "Uggg, just when we need him the most!"
"Had I known this would happen I wouldn't have sent him or Wizardmon away!" Killua growled, angry at himself.
"Don't kick yourself about it, Killua," Tentomon reassured him.
"You just said it, you couldn't have known," Agumon said.
Killua didn't say anything for his friends' sake, but inwardly he kept kicking himself. 'There was still the possibility of one of us being hurt, or needing medical attention, and I sent the two that could have been useful to help about it away!' He cursed his lack of foresight, and started to blame himself about the situation.
"I know!" Izzy suddenly exclaimed. He went to a phone in a desk and disconnect it to connect his computer to the net again. He started typing rapidly. "I'll search in the network of the hospital which medicine is used for the cold."
"Lord Machinedramon!" One of the Hagurumon said. "The signal appeared again, it comes from this hospital!" He told him, signaling one of the twelve hospitals.
Machinedramon growled. "Sent... All... Units!" Inwardly he chuckled. 'I got you now, Digidestined!'"Yes, my lord!" The two gear Digimon responded.
Around the city, all the Digimon changed their course towards the western side, from earth and sky.
The hospital was slowly being surrounded by the Metal Empire.
"The is this one?" Tai asked, holding a flask that said 'ZE-22/Y-ZE.'
"Yes, there's no doubt about it," Izzy nodded, closing the computer.
"Finally," Killua said with a relived smile. "Let's get out of here."
"Fire." Machinedramon ordered, from his underground base, once he confirmed his troops were in position.
The whole hospital started shaking and the lights went out. The group yelped as they felt the tremor, and covered their heads by instinct, while the bottles of the other medicines fell from the shelves.
"What's happening?!" Agumon asked.
Killua opened the door. "Doesn't matter, get out!" He told them.
Not needing to be told twice, the Digidestined bolted out of the room in an instant, with Killua coming out last. They ran to the exit, climbing down the stairs.
And when they reached it they froze. Because they saw a whole army of mechanical Digimon waiting for them.
"The enemy is here!" Tai cursed.
"Why now of all times?!" Killua got ready to battle, letting his Ten form around his body.
One Mechanorimon's chest shined and he aimes a beam at the door. "Dazzling Beam!" A red attack was launched, barely missing the group and vaporizing the gate.
"There's too many!" Izzy said. "Run!"
They turned back and ran inside of the hospital, not wanting to test their luck against so many opponents.
They turned around a cornet on one of the hallway in the hospital to get away from the army of doom at the front door, when suddenly a wall cam crashing down.
They skidded to a stop as the cloud of debris dispersed and revealed a Tankmon pointing at them with its multiple guns.
"How did they find us?!" Tentomon asked.
Izzy's eyes narrowed. "They must've seen us coming here..."
Tai clenched his teeth. "We have the medicine, why now?!"
"They have us cornered!" Killua clicked his tongue.
As if to prove his point, a Mechanorimon appeared from the way they came from. The red sphere in its chest shined brightly.
Killua looked around and noticed that their two enemies were going to launch their attacks at the same time, and he saw a door right a his and his friends' side.
"Dazzling Beam!" The Mechanorimon launched his attack.
"Hyper Missile!" The Tankmon launched his ammunition at them.
And Killua kicked the door open and dragged his friends in, just before both attacks collided.
When they did, there was an explosion that covered that hallway of the hospital. The group jumped out of a window that lead outside of the hospital and ducked to avoid the explosion.
"The medicine?!" Killua questioned.
"I have it!" Tai exclaimed. "Let's get out of here!"
They ran away from the hospital, hoping to make their way back to the mansion.
That wasn't going to be an easy task.
With a luck that rivals none other, they found a deserted building to hide.
The army was restless and they continue on searching from them all around the city.
At one of the top floors, Killua, Tai and Agumon watched them roam the streets.
"At this rate we won't make it to the mansion," Killua said, crossing his arms.
"How many are they?" Tai groused in frustration.
Agumon got back up. "I know! I'll become VictoryGreymon and charge through them!"
"No," Killua said. "You need to save strength for when we find Machinedramon. At best we will need you as Metal Greymon."
"Wait a minute, please," Izzy said as he was typing as fast as he could. "We can't just go out there with so many enemies outside, at some point our Digimon's strength is going to worn out."
"Then what do we do?!" Tai asked, his calm almost burned out.
"I'm tracking down their positions and then we can trace a safe route for us to get back with Kari and the others," Izzy explained.
"Our priority is not to fight, but to deliver the medicine," Killua reminded.
Tai sighed. "You're right..."
Izzy smiled as his plan worked. "I got it! I found our enemies positions!"
In the screen in Machinedramon's base, they pinpointed their objective's position.
"My lord," The Hagurumon said. "They are in sector B1-29!"
Machinedramon's eyes glowed red as he transmitted new orders to his subordinates. "All Units... Go to... B1-29!"
As one, all the machines around the city moved towards the place where their master ordered them to go.
The two flying Dramon all prepared to attack.
Gigadramon will cover Megadramon's back while the latter will charge through the building.
Those kids will fall before him.
Izzy gasped as he saw the dots in his computer starting to move, and gather around the building where they were hiding. Tai noticed his distress. "What's happening now?!"
"T-the enemy is gathering around this place!" Izzy said. "But how?!"
Killua's eyes widened as he saw the wire that Izzy used to connect his laptop to the network. "Izzy! Unplug the computer, now!"
Izzy looked at him and his eyes widened in horror and understanding. "Darn it! The access!" He unplugged his computer, cursing his carelessness.
But it was too late.
"Incoming!" Agumon said, poiting to the window. Megadramon was coming closer.
They got up and moved out of the way. The giant Digimon roared as his head was the only thing to fit inside of the building.
Killua glared at the creature and flared his Nen using his Ren. "Agumon, evolve to Greymon and follow my lead!"
Agumon nodded. "Okay!"
"Agumon Digivolves to... Greymon!"
Killua jumped over the dragon's head and his Ren turned into Ken, and using Ryu, the combination of Ken and Gyo, he brought both fists together and delivered a double ax strike to the monster's forehead.
It let out a roar of pain and Killua backflipped out of his way. "Greymon! Aim for the mouth!"
Greymon ran and placed himself in front of Megadramon, who had his mouth open in pain. "Nova Blast!" The fireball was launched and it was swallowed by the snake.
It caused a small explosion inside of the reptile that made him slumped over, since it didn't explode to data they assumed it was just unconscious.
Izzy looked out of the window. "There's a similar one out there!" He said, pouting to Gigadramon. "And I checked, they're both of the Ultra Level!"
"We can afford to face these two and a whole army at the same time," Killua said. "Time to go!" He said, pointing to the opposite side of the room.
Tai nodded. "Okay!" He got his Crest out. "Greymon!"
"Got it!" Greymon nodded. "Get on my back!"
At the top of Spiral Mountain, in the mansion built for the Dark Master, one Digimon watched everything with amusement.
"Fufufu, well, well, Digidestined. You are all fairing well against Machinedramon's army," Piedmon chuckled as he sipped on whine, watching the events on the screen connected to his giant telescope. "Ah... Now then, will you continue on with good luck... Or will you all fall against the Metal Empire?" He asked to no one in particular.
His sight focused specially on a mop of white hair. "And anomaly... You aren't as interesting as the last one... But you are certainly putting a show by taking Puppetmon," He chuckled. "If you keep it up... Maybe you'll gain my respect.
He sipped and continued with the show. Waiting eagerly for his turn to act.
Puppetmon's betrayal was a set-back, but the show must go on! And he was a master at improvising. The play got more interesting that way.
"Greymon Ultra Digivolves to... Metal Greymon!"
With the Digidestined and Killua on his back, Metal Greymon broke through the window and hovered in the air with his withered wings.
"Metal Greymon!" Killua said, calling the dinosaur's attention and pointing down. "Get them!"
"Giga Destroyers!" The twin cannons were blasted multiple times.
Explosions rang across the streets and the different Tankmon, Guardromon and Mechanorimon circling around the building were eliminated.
"Guys! Behind us!" Tai said, poiting back.
They turned to see Gigadramon and Megadramon pursuing them.
"Shit!" Killua cursed. "Metal Greymon!"
"On it!" He turned around and faced the twin dragons.
"Dark Blast!" Megadramon shot missiles at them from the cannons on its hands.
"Gigabyte Wings!" The wings of Gigadramon glowed red and he shot six beams of energy at them.
"Giga Destroyers!" Metal Greymon shot many missiles at them, consecutively.
They impacted and caused an explosion that destroyed many buildings around them, the Digidestined and Killua having to duck to cover themselves from the debris and glass flying around.
Metal Greymon took the chance to flew away and land in an alley way to shrink back to Agumon.
Killua used Zetsu for good measure and pressed his back against the wall along with the other. "Quiet..." He said.
Everyone waited with halted breaths behind the alley way. A moment later, two long, serpentine bodies flew passed the alley way and they let out their breaths.
"Let's move," Killua said and received nods of confirmation.
With stealth, they moved through the streets to not call the attention of any other members of the metalic army.
Hagurumon turned with fear to Machinedramon. "We... We've lost the signal of the enemy, sir."
Machinedramon didn't say anything. He took a deep breath and let out a growl. "Grrr..." His subordinates weren't at fault here, at least not the ones present, so he reigned his temper in. 'Doesn't matter. Worst comes to worst I activate the plan Ground Z. Digidestined, Anomaly, you won't escape me.'
Inside of a church were they decided to hide, Izzy held his head low. "I'm sorry... It's because of me that they've been tracking us down..."
Tai grabbed the neck of his shirt with one hand, while he kept he medicine safe in the other. "You almost got ourselves killed! What is wrong with you?!"
Killua shoved him away from Izzy. "Tai, calm down! There was no way he could've known!"
"He should have been more careful!" Tai wasn't listening to reason and he lunged at the boy again. "Kari's condition is getting worse and he just put more obstacles in our way!"
Killua blocked him and Agumon and Tentomon helped. "Tai, don't!"
"This isn't like you, calm down!" Agumon reasoned.
Tai finally calmed down and backed down. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I just..." He moved back and then he collapsed to his knees. "Damnit!"
Everyone watched him in worry, Izzy stepped forward. "I'm sorry again for being so careless, Tai."
"Tai," Killua started. "There's something else bothering you, right? I know you are worried by Kari's condition but... It's like you fear something even worse could happen to her."
Tai was silent for a moment and then he spoke. "There was one occasion... Where I almost killed Kari..."
They all gasped, eyes widening and jaws dropping. "WHAT?!"
Killua was the only one who didn't voiced his surprise, his rational part telling him there was more to it, although his face did showed surprise.
"It... It happened when I was in second grade and she was in kindergarten," Tai started elaborating. "Kari catched a cold, just like the one she's having, and didn't went to class. When I arrived home... She was awake and watching TV, so I thought she was feeling better so..." He shuddered. "So I took her out to play football..." He took a deep breath. "We... were playing and then... Then she kicked the ball wrong... And I scolded her for that!" He yelled angrily, at no one but himself. "Then she collapsed and... And had to be taken to the hospital."
Everyone kept quiet as Tai continued to tell his story. This was a burden he had within himself and that was explaining the why of his actions. The way of his protective nature over his sister, well beyond a simple role as the older brother.
Pretty much like Killua did when he came full disclosure to the Digidestined about his past and the situation with Gon, now Tai was doing the same about his fear of story repeating itself.
He wasn't finished with the story though.
"In the hospital... Kari fought for three days to stay alive," He said. "The stress her sick body had when she played with me was too much!" He exclaimed. "And... And when she came back home... You know what she said?" He asked with a bitter laugh. "I'm sorry I didn't kicked the ball right."
Killua winced at that and a thought he had for quite a while since he'd known Kari was confirmed; the girl was too good for her own good. And the fact that she didn't blamed Tai definitely hurt him even more. He should know, he shared the same feeling of letting someone down and not getting blamed for it.
Now more than ever he sympathized with Tai.
"She's always like that!" He said, tears falling from his eyes. "She never says if something bothers her or if she feels bad about something until it gets bad! I'm... I'm not even sure if she wanted to come to this world or not, when she heard that this world and ours was in danger... She would have never said no, that's just like her!" He exclaimed in frustration and anger.
Killua looked at his friend in sympathy and looked at the others to see their reactions. Agumon was about to cry at the story and at seeing Tai so vulnerable like that, and Tentomon and Izzy looked down cast with the boy saying. "I... I see, Tai."
"That's why I feel so frustrated!" Tai continued his rant. "I'm suppose to protect her here, yet I'm sitting ducks... Unable to do anything!" He gripped the hand with the medicines letting his tears fall freely with a variety of emotions.
"Right now."
He stopped and turned to see Killua, who just gave him a leveled look. "You are unable to do anything, right now. We can always come up with a plan to get out of here and go back to the mansion. We all want to help Kari, we just need to cool out our heads and come up with a plan." He told him.
Tai looked at the white haired boy for a moment. "Killua..." Then he got up and dried his tears. "Okay, you're right."
Killua nodded. "Good. Izzy," he turned to the redhead. "Do you have a program that can hide our connection to the network? That way we can track our enemies without them tracking us."
Izzy nodded. "I do, let's look for some port of access."
It didn't took long for them to find one in the church where they were hiding. It was an office that probably belonged to some priest or something like that.
Izzy connected his computer and started typing. "If this works correctly then our signal shall be readed in all of the city, that way they won't pinpoint us!"
Everyone watched as the tech wiz made his magic. Crossing fingers that it would work and they can get a free pass back to their friends
"A new signal of access- Eh?!" Hagurumon's announcement turned to shock when he saw the screen.
"...What?" Machinedramon questioned.
"The signal... Is all around the place!" The two Hagurumon signaled to the map, the yellow dot that represent the Digidestined covered every inch of the city. "What does this mean?!"
Machinedramon's mechanical eyes narrowed as he stared at the screen. "Grrr..." While his mind worked. 'They are hiding using some sort of program... It seems I am left with no choice but one...'
The map on Izzy's computer showed blue dots around the city. "Those are the enemies, right?" Agumon asked.
Izzy nodded. "Yeah."
"Why aren't they moving?" Tai asked.
"Machinedramon is probably the one monitoring the connections to the network," Killua said. "Now that we've confused him, he can't give orders to his army, they are the ones sitting ducks."
"Now is our chance!" Izzy said. "Let's get out of here and back with the others!"
Everyone nodded and moved.
They got out of the church and using the map as an indication they avoided the army swarming the city.
Tai smiled with hope. 'Hang in there, Kari...'
Machinedramon came to a decision. "Plan... Ground... Z.
The Hagurumon gasped. "But sir, that plan will-"
"Plan... Ground... Z!" He reiterated.
The Hagurumon gulped. "At your orders, my lord." they said and turned to the screen. "Initiate the plan: Ground Z!"
All of the army received the message and all around the city they got ready.
The group watched as Gigadramon and Megadramon flew higher than ever and just stayed there. Floating.
"What are they planning now?" Tai couldn't help but ask.
And in the mansion...
Puppetmon opened the window to see the two snakes hovering. "Ooooh thing one and thing two! What are they... Oh... MACHINEDRAMON YOU CRAZY SONNUVA-"
And the plan started.
"Dark Blast!" Megadramon started firing his missiles to every building in the zone.
"Gigabyte Wings!" Gigadramon did the same, firing lasers to every zone he could see.
Buildings fell down in blazes of fire, and some just collapsed when their structures were compromised. Leaving nothing but debris and disaster behind.
Down in the floor, the group watched in horror as thet destroyed the city without any kind of remorse or fear.
"W-what are they doing?" Agumon asked in horror.
Killua realized it. "Fuck! They went a step ahead!"
"What do you mean?" Tentomon asked.
Izzy explained. "They are not going to look for us anymore... The plan backfired... Now..."
"... Now they'll destroy the city to kill us." Killua finished with clenched teeth.
That caused a gasp to come from their friends. The gravity of their situation downing on them, at realizing the lengths their enemies are ready to take.
The Hagurumon kept their master inform. "Army A-1 and A-2 destroyed the east sector!"
"Gigadramon and Megadramon, or team A-3 if you prefer, destroyed the mid-east sector!" The other said and turned to Machinedramon. "But no sign of the Digidestined..."
Machinedramon's eyes glowed red. "Grrr..." He growled. 'It's time...'
Megadramon flew over the group's head and straight ahead.
Izzy paled. "It's going to the mansion!"
"No... Kari!" Tai took on a full sprint to reach the house.
"Tai, wait!" Everyone called for him and ran behind him.
As they ran, Killua considered using Lighting Speed to reach the house first. But what if he wasn't fast enough and got drained before a big fight? Or if he makes it there and he is surrounded by enemies, all alone?
'You will lose.'
He. Hated. HIM!
But he did make a good point. If he reached the mansion and was out of breath and energy to face the enemies there then he would lose.
He had no choice but to stick with his friends and to hope to reach the others in time, before Megadramon did.
'And besides, Puppetmon is with them. He won't let anything bad happen to them... Right?'
Going back to the mansion wasn't that hard, with the help of Izzy's map. They knew which turns to take and what shortcuts to use, always avoiding the enemies.
And there, still standing, was the mansion where they're friends were. Everyone broke into smiled at seeing it still intact.
Which meant that all of their friends were all safe and sound inside of the house, and there was no sign of Megadramon around.
"It's... Still... There!" Izzy panted.
Killua smiled
Tai smiled and walked forward. "Kari..."
The happiness died in an instant.
Killua heard a whistling sound and looked up. Eyes widening in horror when he saw a bomb falling towards the house.
He ran for Tai and shielded him with his body. "TAI!"
An explosion occurred and they were sent flying back by the shockwave it caused.
There was a ringing sound for a moment after the explosion and Tai and Killua sat up. They both stared at the charred remains of the house in horror.
Killua was shaking in place. 'No... No... Nononononononononononononono... NO! NOT AGAIN!' Images of an arm flying over his head and the yellow eyes of a horrid creature flashed by his eyes. "No..."
"Everyone... Can't be..." Izzy shared his disbelief as he stared at the burning debris.
"Kari!"Tai's voice cracked as he screamed his sister's voice. "KARI!"
But it doesn't matter how much they didn't wanted to be truth, facts were facts.
The house was destroyed... With their friends inside.
Then a new whistling sound coming from above.
"Another missile!" Izzy gasped.
Everyone looked up, but the only one capable of getting to his feet was Killua, thanks to years of training, the others couldn't move because they were processing because of the shock.
But something else saved them.
"Puppet Mallet!" Four spheres of energy impacted against the missile, detonating it before it reached them. The group gasped and looked back.
Puppetmon was standing there, with a triumphant grin on his face. "Hahahaha! Take that, thing 1!"
From behind him, Sora, holding a still sleeping Kari, Piyomon and Gatomon appeared. "Tai, you guys are back!" Sora said.
Relief washed over the group as they saw their friends' safe and sound. Killua voiced that relief. "Everyone... How did you got out."
"Puppetmon saw the bombardment coming and he told us to get out of the house," Piyomon said.
"Puppetmon?!" The group exclaimed in shock, looking at the puppet Digimon that had a cocky grin on his face.
"Am I the best or what?" He asked.
"Puppetmon..." Tai stared at the former Dark Master in surprise. "Thank you..." He said with a genuine smile.
Killua walked to him and patted his back. "Good job, Puppetmon."
The puppet scratch his upper lip. "Nah, it was nothing..."
Sora looked at them. "Did you find it?"
Izzy nodded. "Yeah, Tai has it."
Tai showed the bottle with the medicine for Kari's fever. "Here it is."
Before they could do something with the medicine, the ground started shacking and breaking apart.
A hole was formed and from it a giant being appeared from it. Its red eyes shining and looking down at the group in front of it. "Digidestined... Anomaly... Traitor!"Everyone took a step back, except for Puppetmon who gripped his hammer and gave him a glare. "Machinedramon!" He said. "DIE! PUPPET MALLET!"
The various balls of energy were launched at Machinedramon from the cannon in the giant hammer.
But then a green barrier appeared in front of the lord of the Metal Empire, protecting him from the attack.
Puppetmon's eyes widened. "WHAT?!"
Gigadramon and Megadramon hovered over Machinedramon, dutifully. "We won't let you harm Lord Machinedramon!" Gigadramon declared.
"End of the line, Digidestined!" Megadramon declared.
From his lower back, Machinedramon's cannon was being loaded by an organic substance.
"Everyone take cover!" Killua said, pointing to a building behind them.
"Last one's a rotten egg!" Puppetmon declared, losing his bravado after his attack failed.
They all ran inside in the hopes of escaping the attack. But Machinedramon wasn't going to let them get away that easily. He looked at his subordinates and they understood.
They readied their weapons and were ready.
"TRIPLE DESTRUCTION CANNON!"Six blast of energy were launched from the respective cannons in their bodies. Yellow blasts of destruction meant to kill their preys.
The attack impacted the lower part of the building, creating a giant hole where the whole building started falling in. No one inside of it was going to be safe from it.
The Digidestined, Puppetmon and Killua all fell down that giant hole. The group splitting again in two. One one hand was Puppetmon, Tai, and Izzy with their respective partners. While in the other were Sora, Kari and Killua, with the girls partners.
Kari had woken up because of the attack and watched as Tai fell to a different part, away from her. "TAI!"
Tai watched helplessly as his sister was once again separated from him. After so much struggle, it was all for nothing! "KARI!"
Killua looked at his brown haired friend and yelled. "THROW IT!" He yelled.
Tai got the message, as he heard Killua's scream, and nodded. He grabbed the bottle and launched it to the white haired boy.
Killua caught it and was about to say something more, but the darkness where they were falling grew darker... Yet darker.
He couldn't see where his friends were...
And then... Nothing.
(Next time on Digimon X and X Hunter)
Once again, the group has been separated. Now they travel through the underground facilities of the Metal Empire.
Machinedramon gives them chase, with allies that will make sure the Digidestined don't make it out alive.
Next time on Digimon X and X Hunter: Bye X Old X Friends.
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