Chapter 50 – Memories: Part 1
Deemon laughed diabolically when he saw the defeated Royal Knights with his iris-less eyes. Jesmon lay on his side, the arm blades retracted, his tail was next to him. Dynasmon lay on his stomach. His two purple wings hung powerlessly over his body and on the ground. Magnamon's head, on the other hand, was tilted forward, while his back was against the wall of a destroyed building.
All three did not move. They were unconscious. Omnimon groaned and straightened up. His trembling legs betrayed his effort. The white knight pulled his Grey Blade out of the protector and set them up in front of his body. Omnimon closed his eyes. He wavered to the side and yet he held on to his feet. Then he raced toward the enemy. He took out with his arm and hurled the Royal Knight away from him. The merged Digimon stopped for a few seconds and slowly straightened up again.
"I admire your courage, Omnimon..." said Deemon: "Although the situation is hopeless..."
"I will not… give up..." the white knight gasped and fired a faint ray of energy from his Garuru Cannon at the demon.
Deemon dodged to the side and created a black ball in his left palm. He threw them at the DigiDestined present. Omnimon's eyes widened and rushed to Tai, Matt, Meiko, Akira, and Davis. Protectively, he knelt down and wrapped them and himself in his cape. The bullet hit him on the back and the fused knight screamed in pain.
"Omnimon!" the black-haired woman shouted.
"Are you alright?" Kari's brother asked him anxiously.
"Leave..." Omnimon advised, breathing heavily.
"No! We will not let you and the others down." Sera's daughter insisted.
"You... would only... get in the way..." the Royal Knight argued: "Deemon would… attack you."
He felt that he was losing consciousness, but he had to stay awake. The fused knight slowly straightened up and pulled out his Grey Blade. The tip of the weapon pointed at Deemon and without hesitation Omnimon raced towards the enemy. He lifted his claw and hit him. The white knight dodged to the side and vigorously kicked the opponent's side, causing the demon to briefly stumble back.
Meanwhile, the Royal Knight closed his eyes in pain. His right side ached. He had to knelt to the ground in order collect himself again. His gaze briefly wandered to the DigiDestined, who wanted to finally retreat. But Deemon fired a load of electricity at them. Omnimon's eyes widened, and with the last force he stood protectively in front of them. He cried in pain before his entire body hit the floor.
"Omnimon!" shouted the brown-haired man.
"We have to move on, Tai!" urged T.K.'s brother.
He just nodded and followed his friends. The concern for the white knight, however, did not disappear.
Omnimon was screaming and had to cough several times. Weakly, he looked up to Deemon, who stood over him and smiled darkly. The enemy slammed his foot on the back of the fused Digimon, causing him to scream again.
"I'm amazed." Deemon said: "You're holding yourself for quite a long time, Omnimon."
"And I am... amazed... that you... hold back." the white knight quipped.
"So that I can let you die slowly."
"No..." he barely shook his head: "You're holding... back for another... reason."
The demon's eyes widened briefly with astonishment, but then his lids narrowed and he laughed diabolically. He increased the pressure on Omnimon's back.
"I hold... back? Don't make me laugh!" Deemon scoffed: "Why should I hold back?! Hm?! You are my enemy!"
"Apocalymon's... data... They once belonged to... Meicoomon... She tries-"
"Be quiet!" he hissed and slammed his foot again into the white knight's back: "Why would a dead Digimon want to stop me? Meicoomon no longer exists. And soon you will disappear. Then I can create a world without suffering."
"Without joy... there is no... sadness." Omnimon said.
"Isn't that better?"
"W-what?"
"Isn't that better? If no one has feelings, no one will feel suffering or exclusion. The price that you can no longer feel joy is acceptable. A world full of darkness is wonderful."
"It is... not..." he had to cough a few times: "Why... have you... changed... Deemon?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"So... I will... understand... you."
"So you can understand me?!" Deemon repeated, snarling: "What do you know?!"
"Not much... But I... want to understand you..."
"Suddenly someone wants to understand me?! That's ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous?" he asked.
"Fine. I'll tell you what happened. What Imperialdramon Paladin Mode did to me!" he screamed with anger.
A human-like digimon wandered alone through the area. He had a white cape with a black inside. At the edges of the garment you could see several strips of paper with black characters. The body was covered by a white suit, which was separated by two black belts on the abdomen. At the hip he wore a grey piece of fabric, which was knotted on the left side. An equally grey bag hung down from the piece of fabric. He wore a black jacket over his arms.
On the left upper arm was a red band, which was knotted, while the long forearm was covered by a silver shield. He held a red shortsword in his hand. The right arm was completely covered by a white sleeve. The sleeve itself was obscured by several black straps that crossed and you couldn't see the hidden pistol. The end of the sleeve was fringe and it seemed as if this garment would soon fall apart. The feet were tucked up to the ankles in black boots, which looked very robust. Blonde hair covered his right arm and a black piece of fabric covered his mouth. His red eye squinted forward, while the rest of his head was obscured by a long, blue piece of fabric.
Baalmon was the perfect-level of the demon lord Deemon. However, it would take a while for him to digivolve to this level. The human-like digimon was on its way to the Palace of Heaven, a place where many angel-digimon lived. One foot at a time, Baalmon placed them on the ground. His walk was cozy and relaxed. For a short time, the human-like digimon stopped and looked into the cloudy sky. He wondered what the world would look like from above. Would everything look better than it actually was?
Baalmon himself had already experienced a lot of suffering. He had been on his own from the very start, because his digi-egg appeared somewhere and no one had taken care of it. Even as a little baby digimon he had begun to roam the digiworld. He was repeatedly attacked. But miraculously he had survived to this day. Baalmon knew only the game of naked survival. Every time he saw a digimon dangerous to him, he attacked it and usually killed it. Life had taught him that. Kill, kill, kill. Just to survive.
Baalmon shook his head. He has been standing for far too long... dangerous. He had to go further, which he did.
In the distance he saw a digimon. The human-like Digimon sought shelter to observe the stranger and kill him in an emergency. There was, however, a problem. Nowhere was a shrub or bush where Baalmon could have hidden. He loaded his hidden pistol, but still held his arm down. As the digimon approached him, he raised his face down slightly. With his eye, he looked at the stranger. Baalmon had seen such a digimon before. It was a Paildramon. They were fused digimons, which were formed from an ExVeemon and a Stingmon.
Like him, the Paildramon was a perfect-level digimon. The said digimon had a reddish-brown helmet with a horn on it and wore a green breast guard, which left a small part of his chest open. Thus you could see a grey X. He had a black ring with many spikes on his shoulders, which were also present at a Stingmon. His muscular forearms were covered by a black armor, each with a sting at the top. The five claws on the hands were able to grip things very well and also served for melee combat.
Around the abdomen also sat a green armor, which did not restrict him very much in his movements. The digimons' thighs were clad in black armor, while two pistols sat from the waist from which he could use his attack. The blue feet were also muscular, but had no armor.
Paildramon had a blue tail and four wings. The upper pair of wings was blue, but had two spines. The lower pair of wings was white and similar to that of an ExVeemon.
Baalmon noticed that the Paildramon also watched him. Before he could react, however, the stranger grabbed him by both arms and twisted them on his back.
The human-like digimon wanted to fire his pistol, but his attacker stretched his arm to the side, causing the bullets to miss their intended target, flying through the air until they had no force and landed on the ground.
The dragon man let Baalmon go and hurled him to the ground with a kick in the back. The human-like digimon looked over his shoulder at the assailant and screamed loudly. Baalmon straightened up and turned around the axis as he pointed his pistol at Paildramon. He crossed his arms in front of his body and blocked the bullets with his arm guards. The human-like Digimon suppressed a curse, lowered his arm again, and raced to the enemy. The dragon man took out the claw on his left arm guard and dipped it with purple energy. Meanwhile, Baalmon placed his short sword in front of his body.
Both digimon fought each other until the sun went down. When the sun had completely disappeared and the moon came out on that cloudless night, the two lay on the ground completely exhausted and heavily breathing. Baalmon's side hurt incredibly and he had to close his eyes so he didn't scream.
The Paildramon was not in any better shape either. He lay on his back and coughed a few times. Suddenly the dragon man started laughing loudly. The human-like Digimon straightened up and looked down at his attacker. Why was he laughing now? Both had spent their entire energy and could no longer move.
"Why are you laughing?" Baalmon asked him.
"Because I could enjoy a good fight," Paildramon replied, laughing again: "I like to fight."
"You're terrible."
"Hey!" he also pointed out and hit the human-like digimon with his elbow: "I'm just like that. But I also fight to protect others."
"Protecting others... What a ridiculous thought. I'm fighting for survival."
"I noticed." replied the dragon man: "You fight very carefully and take care that you don't get any injuries. But it is inevitable to get injuries. There are digimon who are stronger than you..."
"That's why I ambush and kill them." Baalmon got up completely, but collapsed again through his aching side.
But before his body could hit the ground, he felt the Paildramon put an arm under his armpit and support him.
"Woah. Do it slowly. Otherwise you will really die." the dragon man admonished him.
"You..."
"Don't you want to travel with me?" he suddenly suggested: "I travel alone and sometimes even fight for naked survival."
Baalmon looked over Paildramon. He was exceptional. Never before had a digimon, whom he had fought, made him such an offer. Should he accept the offer or reject it? He didn't really trust the dragon man. Too many bad experiences made the human-like digimon doubt.
Paildramon looked to the ground depressed. He had guessed that this Baalmon did not want to accept his offer.
"U-understand..." he said disappointed: "I can understand your mistrust, others. Well then, fare-"
"No. I..." the human-like Digimon interrupted him: "I... I would be happy if you travel with me. You are strong. And our chances of survival increase the we work together."
"I didn't think so... But you're right, Baalmon."
It was the first time Paildramon had said his name. And it made him happy. Baalmon handed his hand to the dragon man and nodded to him cheerfully. Paildramon looked down briefly before taking his hand and shaking his hand. Both already suspected that they would travel together for a very, very long time. With one goal: they were fighting only for survival.
And that could have been the case if they hadn't met a Gabumon desperately trying to help his friend, who had fallen down a cliff and was badly injured. The two friends were understandably suspicious at first, but the dragon man could not leave such a small digimon alone. The human-like digimon, however, had great concerns. He feared too much that the Gabumon was just playing something and attacking them from behind while they dropped their guard. As the three digimon looked down the cliff, they recognized an unconscious Agumon at a ledge. It had wounds everywhere, but seemed to be fine.
"Agumon!" cried Gabumon, trying to wake his friend: "Agumon! Why do you have to do something stupid?"
"What did the guy do?" Paildramon asked him.
"Agumon thought there was something to eat... He climbed down, but slipped and hit his head. I..." the reptile digimon looked to the ground: "I'm very worried about him. Please, help him."
"Hm..." Baalmon began to think: "The wind is too strong to fly, Paildramon. You would risk your life if you flew down to the Agumon."
"I agree, Baalmon," the dragon man confirmed his friend's guess: "I would have to have stronger wings to get the little one there."
"But you have to help him!" Gabumon cried desperately: "Agumon is a part of my soul!"
"A part of your soul?", Paildramon's eyes widened: "You... You can fuse with him?"
"Y-yes... our ultimate-levels can fuse. We're far stronger that way" the reptile digimon said: "But it consumes a lot of energy, so we can only sustain the fusion for a short time."
"I'm going to climb down and get your friend." Baalmon said, then began to climb down.
In order to do so, he rammed his red sword into the rock face to have a better grip. The wind whistled powerfully into his ears and he closed his eyes briefly. The human-like digimon was just hoping he didn't slip. Baalmon checked a column with his foot to see if he could hold on to it. When he couldn't find a hold there, he tried another column, which gave him more support. So, he worked his way up to the rocky cliff and the dinosaur digimon. Shortly before he reached the Agumon, he slipped. Paildramon, horrified, shouted his name and, despite the Gabumon's warning, jumped off the cliff after his friend. The eyes of the human digimon widened as his friend put on his four wings to reach him faster.
"Baalmon!" cried Paildramon, grasping his arm before trying to flap his wings vigorously to intercept the fall.
But both were too heavy for the little wings to carry.
/I have to... I need to get stronger... I have to protect Baalmon.../, shot through the dragon man's head as a light formed around his body: "Paildramon digivolve to... Imperialdramon Dragon Mode!"
The light faded and a full-blown dragon appeared before them. Some of its blue sheds were covered by black armor. Had a long, blue scaly tail and walked on four strongly built legs, which were also wrapped in a black armor. Three golden claws sat on each claw. There was also a sharp blade on the front leg pair, which was directed forward. On the back of Imperialdramon Dragon Mode was a cannon, from which also two orange wings sprouted. The white mouth was open and revealed a number of pointed teeth. On the head was a white armor, which was shaped on the forehead and had two ends. One was facing forward, the other backwards. Two other spines were at eye level on the white armor and pointed towards the cannon. Beneath the white armor sat an orange one, which also had two spines. However, these stood sideways. Silver-grey hair grew from the back of his head.
The armored dragon rushed after his friend. Eventually he managed to grab him by the collar and hurled him high into the air. Surprised, Baalmon screamed before landing on Imperialdramon's back.
"Guh..." groaned the human-like Digimon.
"Sorry... Baalmon," said the armored dragon, flying to the rocky cliff: "Can you get the Agumon?"
"Sure." Baalmon carefully climbed to the unconscious digimon and lifted it up.
Then he jumped back on the back of his friend, who flew to the Gabumon a short time later. Imperialdramon and the human-like digimon smiled as the reptile digimon hugged his friend.
He woke up and asked, exhausted:
"Gabumon? What happened?"
"You... you..." Gabumon quipped: "You IDIOT! What were you thinking?! I've been worried about you!"
"Sorry..." the dinosaur breathed before his green eyes fell on his rescuers: "And who are you?"
"We saved you," the armored dragon said.
"Really?" asked Agumon, before his stomach began to growl loudly: "I am hungry..."
"You really are incorrigible..." Gabumon groaned, but had to laugh slightly.
Baalmon also laughed and bent down to the two rookie digimon. He handed them both an apple and watched as the two friends ate them happily. After they had eaten, they both smiled and nodded.
"Agumon warp-digivolve to... WarGreymon!"
"Gabumon warp-digivolve to... MetalGarurumon!"
The two ultimate-level digimon bowed to two friends.
"Thank you very much." MetalGarurumon said: "You don't know how much we owe you."
"Exactly... I'm so glad you helped me." WarGreymon said sheepishly: "I have to admit that sometimes I act inconsiderately and get in danger..."
"What does "sometimes" mean, WarGreymon? You often get into trouble."
"What does "often" mean here?! I just get into trouble sometimes..." he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
At least he wanted to, but he collapsed because of the pain in his back. Quietly swearing, WarGreymon noticed his body began to tremble. He groaned as the mechanical wolf squeezed his muzzle into his friend's back. He suppressed a pain sound.
"Looks pretty bad, WarGreymon." MetalGarurumon said: "It would be best if we fuse briefly. As soon as we re-fuse, I'll take half of your injuries."
"Is this the case with fused digimon?" was Baalmon's question.
"Yes. I'm also one, Baalmon." Imperialdramon said: "I was born out of a fusion between an ExVeemon and a Stingmon. Before I could sustain the fusion, the damage I had received was equally shared. So, I was able to survive the most serious injuries."
"And... what does it feel like?" began the human-like digimon.
"My two adult levels are one and the same Digimon. Imagine that I am made up of two souls who have the same thought and act as one. In the beginning, I always said "we" when I fused."
"That's exactly what we feel." MetalGarurumon confirmed: "Well, WarGreymon. Do we want to?"
"Yes..." he nodded to him: "WarGreymon!"
"MetalGarurumon!"
"DNA digivolution to..." both shouted unison before the two wrapped themselves in a light.
The lights of both ultimate-level digimon shot into the air and united before a bright sphere landed on the ground and faded.
"Omnimon!" shouted the fused Digimon.
"Wow..." Baalmon marveled.
"Not bad." Imperialdramon said: "You're just so overflowing with strength."
"Thank you," Omnimon said in a voice that had a strange resonance: "We are very grateful to you again for helping Agumon."
"Um..." the human-like Digimon took a step back and didn't know what to say.
He had never met a fused Digimon before, who spoke so funny. Basically, he had never met another fused digimon other than his friend and travel companion.
"We know how other digimon react to my fusion. We... I can't decide how to talk." Omnimon said.
"It's easiest if you just speak with the I-term." suggested the armored dragon: "You should also try to maintain the fusion for as long as possible. This will make it easier for you to speak in the I-term at some point. And vice versa."
"What do you mean?" asked the fused Digimon.
"Once you start to speak fluently in the I-term, it will be much easier to maintain the fusion. By using the We-term, your ultimate-levels are not yet 100 percent synchronized. Only when you are 100 percent synchronized will you have no problems to maintain the fusion. At least that was the case with me, Omnimon."
"I see... Do you mind if I join you?"
"Absolutely not," Imperialdramon said smiling: "I would be happy for someone who had the same problems as me."
Baalmon didn't like the idea at all. He didn't want anyone else to travel with them. What was the armored dragon thinking? Didn't he think of him? For the first time in his entire life, the human-like digimon felt something strange. A feeling he didn't know... and that feeling frightened him immensely. What was this feeling and why did he feel such a great rage at Omnimon and Imperialdramon? Why did his friend just agree? Why? Why, why, why, why?!
Baalmon clenched his hands to trembling fists and he gritted his teeth. The fused digimon split again into WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon. Both looked battered and yet they slowly went in one direction. Imperialdramon followed them as the human-like digimon looked to the ground.
"Are you coming, Baalmon?" his friend asked him.
"Yeah..." he replied, hurrying after the three.