TK:
And so it came to pass that the Archangel Michael would drive Man from the garden at behest of the Lord. He would guard the gates of Eden from then on, flaming sword in hand, so that Man would never return.
One day Man came to him at the gates of paradise. "Holiest angel." He spoke unto him. "I beg you allow me to return to paradise, for I cannot bare the cruel Earth."
"You deserve only the cruel Earth." The angel said. "You have chosen the fruit of woman over the love of God and given the serpent unto her. There is no place for you in the garden of the Lord."
"I confess my sin to you as I have to the Lord." Replied Man. "Please have mercy."
"I cannot forsake my God as you have," and with the reply Man wept at the feat of the angel. The angel pitied him, but he could not lower his sword, for although the angel loved man greater was his love for God.
A howl came from within the garden at the sound of the wails of Man. "Is that Man I hear?" It said. "Wait, and I shall comfort you."
The angel turned around and saw the wolf within the garden. "Is that you, Dog?" Man said.
"Yes my friend." The wolf replied, and began to walk toward the gate.
"Why do you answer to that name Wolf?" Spoke the angel. "The Lord would call you Wolf, not Dog. Speak not in the tongues of Man."
"My name is Dog. It is the name I was first given." the wolf unto the angel as he reached the gate. "Step aside that I might comfort Man when our cruel God will not."
With that angel stood aside, for the wolf, unlike Man, remained pure and could come and go as he pleased.
The wolf walked up to Man who took him in his arms. "Thank you oh Dog." He said. "Come with me beyond the garden and comfort me in my exile, and the cruel Earth may yet be bearable in your company."
"Don't listen to him!" The angel yelled "You still are not impure and may know paradise with the Lord!"
"My paradise is with Man, not with your God." The wolf replied.
"Then I shall go with you." The angel said.
The wolf laughed. "You are not fit for the cruel Earth." He said. "Stay here. You know it is what you want."
And with that the Wolf was Dog, and Dog wandered off with Man beyond the garden never to return, and the angel stayed as the wolf had said. He knew he was right, that he could not side with Man over God.
And yet, for the first since Man had been driven out, the angel sat and wept.
…
TK woke up shortly after that. The weekend had been gloomy for everyone with Agumon's capture, particularly since they found they could not access the computer lab on Saturdays. With the crest of hope within him, TK had been confident today would be the day to set things right. Starting the day off with such a grim reminder was not a good omen, even for him…
"I miss you, Matt." He said.
Kari:
It had been the worst weekend Kari could remember. Knowing what Tai and Agumon were going through would have been enough. Being dragged around to three or four different doctors, all of whom found nothing wrong, would have been enough too. Doing all of the above in a male body was more than enough. Kari tried to focus on Tai and Agumon, as she felt she should. Focusing on her own problem when Tai was in such pain felt selfish to her. It also helped that it took her mind a bit off of the switch with Davis. Less time spent thinking out that was better to Kari was better no matter what way she looked at it.
Never the less, she could not escape her own reality. Every day she woke up in a strange house, in a body she couldn't feel comfortable in. She had to change her clothes as him; she had to use the bathroom as him… By now at least she'd at least figured out how to do those things without looking… If only her new parents hadn't made her bathe! She felt ashamed for herself every time that happened. Then she would remember Agumon's enslavement and be glad she wasn't in his place instead. Then she would feel ashamed again for taking comfort in his suffering.
"It will all be okay." She would tell herself. "Everything will be okay on Monday when you rescue Agumon."
She had wanted to lead the digidestined for a long time, and now was her chance. She couldn't stop her friend from being captured in the first place, but she could save him now. That was the one good thing about this body.
For that reason, a part of her was sad when they found Agumon had escaped on his own. It was a very small part of her. Like everyone else she was reveling in the dinosaur's freedom. Yet in the back of mind she was kind of disappointed she wasn't the one who had freed him. This added another emotion to compete with her revelry: shame, yet more shame. That she would be disappointed that her friend was not a slave… it disgusted her. Kari did not think she ever had a thought like that before.
Despite all of it though, it was easy at this point to keep those negative emotions in the back of her mind. Tai was ecstatic. The smile on his face stayed ear to ear as they marched down the railway back toward the portal.
"And we'll have cookies and ice cream!" He said to his partner. "I'll have mine with chocolate sprinkles." Came the reply.
Tai was happy. Agumon was safe. That was all that mattered. Finally, she could be happy again…
"How endearing!" Came a voice from behind them.
The digidestined looked turned around, and on top of the arch they had passed through a familiar figure was standing.
"It's him!" Kari said. "It's the Digimon Emperor!"
"So you're the one who enslaved Agumon!" Tai yelled at him.
"I am. I take it you are the 'Tai' I've heard so much about." The slaver said. "You're quite the celebrity in this world, you know. I've heard about your adventures, how you overthrew the 'Dark Masters' that ruled this world before I came. The digimon can only sing your praises, even before I take away their free will."
Davis scowled at him.
"I must admit," he continued "I am more than a bit impressed. If couldn't suppress digivolution the way I do you might almost have a chance against me! When I hear about the monsters that pet of yours has slain, I can't help but be a bit... envious. Such a power should only belong to someone as perfect as me."
"Agumon is not my pet, he's my partner." Tai interrupted. "He's my friend."
The emperor laughed. "Friend? How quant. He is not your friend; he is a digimon. He is not even your partner any longer, he is mine."
The emperor cracked his whip and a wing of Airdramon ascended from behind the arch. Two herds of Dark Tyranamon also emerged from the hills on either side. "I suggest you return him."
"Fat chance of that!" Davis cried. "Digi-Armor Energize!"
"Gatomon armor digivolve to Nefertimon, the Angel of Light!"
The others quickly followed suite.
"…Pegasusmon, Flying Hope!" "…Digmon, the Drill of Power!" "Flamedramon, the Fire of Courage!"
The emperor leapt from the arch unto the back of Airdramon. It was not long however before Pegususmon shot the slave down and the master fell toward the ground. Agumon, seeing his captor fall, leapt from Tai's arms and dashed toward him yelling "Attack! Attack!".
The emperor landed gracefully in the sand. "So you've come back to me Agumon." He said. "I've got a new friendship bracelet for you." The slaver pulled a strange new device from his cloak. It reminded Kari of a dark ring, but that obviously wasn't what it was. It was more of a dark... spiral? Whatever it was it was thrown at orange dinosaur and hastened itself around his arm. "What is this?" he yelled, and he fell to the ground.
"Agumon!" Tai cried out, running toward his partner. Before he could reach him however the digimon stood up eyes glowing red. "Now you are mine again." The emperor gleamed, and a pepper breath flew toward the older leader.
"Look out" Davis yelled, knocking his idol out of the way.
"No, I can't let this happen again!" Kari though, but before she could react a new decree came from the emperor. "Now Agumon, dark digivolve!"
"Agumon dark digivolve to, Metal Greymon!"
The Metal Greymon that appeared was almost like the one Tai had produced before, but it wasn't. It's eyes continued to glow red, and its scales were grey instead of orange. When it let out its hideous roar it frightened Kari like nothing the emperor had ever fielded before.
"Calm down," Kari told herself. "It's just like with Andromon. A digimon of that level can't be controlled. Just talk to him and he'll be back to himself in no time."
Her brother seemed to have the same idea. Stepping toward Metal Greymon, he called out to him. "It's me, Tai! I know you remember me buddy?"
The Digimon Emperor had other words for him. "Metal Greymon attack!" They were the words to get through to him, and the slave struck at Tai with his claw.
"Look out!" Davis yelled a second time. He rushed at Tai in her body and grappled him, not allowing him to walk into his partner's attack.
"We have to restrain him!" Pegusmon said. "Nefertimon, you know what to do."
Insinct seemed to take over as Veemon replied "Golden Noose!" and Metal Greymon was quickly bound by the golden thread emitting from the flyers' feet. Unlike the usual attack however, the noose did not detach from their feet, leaving them tethered to Metal Greymon as much he was restrained himself.
Pegasusmon was startled "Nefertimon, what are you doing? Release the noose!" Kari did not hear Veemon's response, her attention was instantly drawn toward Tai and her body.
"Let me go Kari," her brother exclaimed. "I need to get to Agumon!"
"I'm sorry Tai, but if I do that he's likely to kill you." Davis replied
Unfortunately Kari's body did not seem strong enough to hold Tai's back very long, and before he could reply the first leader was dragging the second with him toward his enslaved partner.
"I need to help him." Kari herself thought. "Surely I could do it in this body."
But yet, she couldn't. Even more than her brother was by Davis, she was restrained by fear.
"I… I can't move!"
Like his former partner, Metal Greymon could not be held indefinitely. He quickly snapped the golden noose. Veemon and Pegususmon were pulled down with it crashed into the dirt next to Gatomon and Digmon.
"Agumon, stop!" Tai yelled still dragging Davis toward the dinosaur as he inched toward him. Perhaps fortunately, the dinosaur was too focused on the digimon that had bound him rather than his weaker partner.
"Giga Blaster!" he screamed, and missiles flew forth from his chest. They impacted the armor digimon and regressed them back to rookie.
The emperor laughed manically. "With the dark spirals and Metal Greymon I will control the entire digital world!" With the aid of an Airdramon, he mounted the head of his new slave.
Tai continued to inch toward them. The emperor did not care. With the armor digimon defeated he had already won.
"Good bye insects!" He declared. "Your pet Agumon is mine forever!" and then the emperor and his slaves flew away.
"This can't have just happened!" Kari yelled in her mind. "We had Agumon; we literally had him with us and now…"
She felt tears rolling down her eyes.
"I'm sorry Agumon… I'm sorry, brother."
She couldn't bare to look at him. She had had the chance to be the leader she had wanted to be and she couldn't handle it. She couldn't even move! And now Agumon was paying for her mistakes...
No one said anything after that, nothing Kari could hear anyway. She was too focused on her own failing to notice any whispers around her. She did, however, after an amount of time she couldn't begin to guess, hear a loud "HEY!" coming from down the train tracks.
"It's Yolie! And she brought Matt with her!"
Finally looking up the failed gogglehead could see that was true. A cart soon stopped in front of them with Matt, Yolie, and Hawkmon.
"Hey guys" the older digidestined said to the group. "Mind filling me in on what happened while I was away?"
The group proceeded to do that. Kari did not contribute. She could not even bare to listen, but her attention was eventually drawn back to the conversation by the sound of a loud "whack."
Her brother was on the ground with a red spot on his face. Matt was above him recoiling his fist.
"What are you doing!?" Davis yelled before she could. "You guys are friends. Friends don't fight!"
To both of their surprise, Tai thanked his rival as he got up.
"I needed that, thank you."
"You're welcome Tai. I'd do it again." Matt replied.
"I was blaming myself for something totally out of my control. That isn't helpful. We need to stay focused on getting Agumon back, not that we lost him." The older leader said.
"That's true, even if it means we have to fight him." His rival replied. "I'm sure Agumon would rather be beaten by us than remain a slave."
"Agreed, we have to be ready to do what it takes to save him." Tai continued. He turned to the group. "Guys, I don't really know how to say this, but…"
"Allow me to explain, if you don't mind." Gatomon interjected. Tai nodded and the digimon turned to address the group as well.
"When you see Agumon, you better be ready to knock him as hard as you can, you hear!"
The other digimon yelped in agreement. Matt and Tai even applauded her. Kari still did not understand, but she found her own partner's agreement hard to argue with. Before long the group had mounted the mine cart Yolie had come in on, and were racing down the tracks in search of the captive digimon.
There was limited conversation as they traveled. Perhaps the others were thinking about this confusing situation they were in as well. It was definitely what Kari was thinking about.
Eventually the current gogglehead notices a faint buzzing sound in the distance, she turned toward it and noticed a familiar digimon flying toward them.
"Hey look!" She decreed to everyone. "Tentomon is coming!"
The others turned and greeted the incoming insect as well. After returning the favor, he turned to Cody and said "You might wanna check your e-mail. Izzy says he found something."
The youngest one did so. Looking back up to the group he said, "Looks like Metal Greymon has been spotted down the tracks."
"That's good to hear." Tai said. "Before long now we'll have to catch up with him."
Addressing the whole group again he continued, "Remember, we have to be willing to fight Metal Greymon, even if it means he might get hurt. With all of us together I now we can take him on."
"Agreed," Matt repeated. "but, just in case, Tentomon, I need you to track down Garurumon and bring him to us. Got it?"
"Okay." The digimon responded, flying off to get him.
Kari realized this would be another chance for her to atone for her past failures. She also realized she needed to understand her brother's advice to do it.
"I still don't get that." She said, making herself take initiative. "Are we really willing to hurt Agumon?"
"We have to be." The Chrisitan interjected. "That's the only way we can save him."
"No offense TB, but I was asking Tai." Kari responded. As much as she liked him she valued Tai's opinion more in digidestined matters.
"Wait a minute… what did I just call him?" She thought quickly.
The thought was not quick enough to act upon before "TB" responded. Raising his voice he said "Full offense, I'm actually trying to save Agumon! What's your plan?"
Kari did not know how to answer that. She had never heard her friend address her like that. Before she could find her words and another loud "whack" filled the air.
It was not Tai and Matt rough housing again. That would have been expected at this point. Davis and his rival fighting would have been the next logical step; seeing it happen shouldn't have been a surprise. From the perspective of most of the people in the carts however, it was not Davis and "TB" that were fighting... Apparently taking the full offense the blond had directed at his form, Davis had punched him in the face, with Kari's fist.
"Shut up TK." He said. "That conversation was between leaders, not them and you."
There was silence for several seconds after that. No one it seems knew how to respond that. The punched one especially seemed stunned. Kari had never seen a look like that on his face before. "Shocked" would be the first world Kari would pick to describe it, but that she didn't think that really did it justice. It almost looked "disturbed" or even "betrayed."
The current gogglehead now had a chance she had not anticipated. Fighting Agumon to free him was one thing, but this fighting Davis and TI TK had been doing was something else entirely. Finally, she had her chance to stop it. Now that she was leader she could not allow it to continue, to escalate like this. She had to take initiative like she failed to do against Metal Greymon.
"Kari, why did you do that?" She said intervening.
Her body replied "TK had it coming. I'm tired of him undermining my, erm, excuse me, your leadership like he has all this time."
"That's no reason to make it physical!" the real Kari continued. "Say you're sorry! You could have hurt TJ… I mean TK."
"But I'm not sorry."
"Now you're undermining my leadership!" That was how Kari would have responded, however before she could a laugh rang out. Everyone turned to see Matt and Tai laughing hysterically, losing their posture almost to the point of falling over.
"Wow, you guys really are our siblings aren't you?" Matt managed to get out as he regained his composure.
"I know right! That was something I'd expect from Davis!" Tai added.
"Why are you laughing?" His true sibling responded. "I'm trying to defuse the situation."
"Don't." The older leader replied. "Like Matt said, they are our siblings. If we can make friends by fighting why can't they?"
"But you didn't make friends that way, did you?" Kari meekly replied.
"We did, actually. You weren't there in our last adventure, but before I was officially leader, Matt and I had very different ideas about how the group should be run. I don't think we ever would have settled things if I hadn't literally knocked him through the snow." He turned to his rival "No offense, bro."
"None taken." Matt replied
Whatever her brother had just described it must have been before even Kari joined, let alone Davis. It would be as alien to her as it was to him. She knew the stronger digidestined hadn't gotten along, but she had always assumed they resolved it peacefully. They had never fought since Kari joined team, not physically anyway... Had they?
"This is crazy!" Yolie interjected.
"Yeah, I think the best way to make friends is with a nice game of checkers." Cody added.
"I call winner." Matt replied.
"Right now the important thing is catching up to Metal Greymon." Tai said.
No one objected to that. Kari kept thinking back to Tai and Matt's fighting in the past. Despite what they had said, she couldn't remember them going physical like this…
Then she remembered they had done more than that. Tai and Matt had indeed fought since she joined, and in a very big way, during the campaign against Puppetmon. Kari had only vague memories of the event, having spent most of it possessed, but WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon had indeed fought each other when Matt physically revolted against his leader. It had effectively taken an act of divine intervention to stop them.
Was this really like that? Interventions aside, Matt had stopped his attack then when he was convinced the group belonged together. Why couldn't something similar happen with T…K and Davis?
Before she could answer that a new thought came to her mind. "Was that applicable to Metal Greymon now?" Surely it must be. Then again, he is under mind control now. Matt was just... deceived.
"Why did I have to become leader now?" She lamented internally.
Davis:
Stupid TK!" was all Davis could think for the first few minutes after his fight with him. It didn't take long for his thoughts to come back to the more pressing issue, however.
"Agumon is still captured." He thought "And we're still gonna have to fight him..."
The former google head still did not want to fight his idol's partner, though even he knew it was an awkward thought to have right after punching his own rival.
"That's different." part of him said. "TK had it coming! Agumon is the victim here." Davis didn't quite like it, but he found it hard to think of a counter argument.
While he tried anyway a beep came from his D-Terminal. He looked down at the screen and realized the device looked and sounded now exactly as it did when the previous digieggs had been found.
"Guys," he shouted to his friends "I think we've found a digiegg!"
They quickly began to slow the cart. A large rock into view and as they approached it, they clearly saw the digiegg Davis had detected sticking out of the ground nearby. Managing to stop the cart directly in front of it, they got out and took a closer look.
"It looks like it has the Crest of Friendship on it." TK said. "You think that means it's yours Matt?"
"Maybe?" Matt replied.
"Maybe not too." Tai added. "I couldn't pull the Digiegg of Courage up, and Izzy and Sora couldn't get love or knowledge."
"Kari and I managed to get hope and light." TK countered.
"True," Tai responded. "If nothing else, I say you get the first try Matt."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." his rival replied.
Matt walked up to the egg and attempted to lift it. He failed.
"Welp, I guess it wasn't meant for me after-all." Matt sighed. "Darn."
Tai smirked. "I bet it's mine then!" He rushed over to the egg and tried to lift it as well. He couldn't.
"Dang, I was hoping I'd get to show you up again, Matt. That will have to wait."
The musician rolled his eyes. "Whatever, anyone else wanna try?"
All of the younger digidestined tried, except for Davis. All of them failed: TK, Yolie, Cody, even Kari in his body. After that everyone's eyes turned toward him. "You're up next sis." Tai said.
"I..." Davis began "I don't think I can do it."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't think I understand friendship." the former google head replied. "I still don't understand what you were saying about Agumon..."
"Come on Kari," Tai said. "you know you're better than that. You have a lot of great friendships. We all do. Try to lift the egg. What's it gonna hurt?"
Unable to argue, the former gogglehead stepped down to the egg and attempted to lift it. Like everyone else, he failed.
"I knew I couldn't do it..." he sighed.
"It's okay, none of us could." His new brother replied.
Their conversation was cut short however by the sound of a loud buzzing heading toward them. The digidestined looked toward it, and saw a bee like digimon flying toward them, its dark ring clearly visible.
"Flymon!" Tai said. "You guys need to take it down."
Davis did not need to be told twice. "Digi Armor Energize!"
"Gatomon Armor Digivolve to Nefertimon, the Angel of Light."
Yolie quickly followed his lead.
"Hawkmon Armor Digivolve to Halsemon, the Wings of Love."
Their armor digimon took the air and engaged the slave, but before they could land a blow the Flymon let out an attack of its own. The buzzing from before came back, only much, much louder. Davis had never felt a pain to measure up to the earache he felt now. He covered his ear, but still the pain persisted. He fell to his knees, barely able to stand.
Then, the buzzing stopped. Davis looked up at the Flymon, seemingly at the same time as the others, and they saw it falling back, but in its claws, was Patamon.
"Patamon!" TK cried out. He instantly gave chase to the fleeing digimon.
Davis quickly followed after the blond, and then everyone else followed him.
Before they could catch up with the slave however, a larger more monstrous form came over the horizon, the corrupted Metal Greymon with the Digimon Emperor riding on its head.
"Where do you think you're going?" They tyrant cackled.
"Not you again!" Kari whined.
Flymon flew up to its master and presented the captive Patamon.
"You let him go right now!" TK yelled.
"I don't think I will." The emperor replied. He pulled out a dark spiral. "From what I hear about 'Peidmon,' the creature that beat him makes the perfect next addition to my collection."
Veemon flew toward them, seemingly about to attack. "Rosseta…"
His partner cut him off. "Stop Nefertimon! You might miss and hit Patamon."
The sphinx landed beside him. "True..."
"We have to separate Patamon from the emperor." Halsemon said.
"I don't see how we can." Davis replied.
The former gogglehead noticed TK looking at him. Davis could not make sense of the expression on his rival's face. He did not think TK understood what to make of him at all. He turned to Kari, the expression on his face still mysterious.
"We need to attack." He said sternly to her. "You're the leader, order it!"
"I..." Kari stuttered "What about Agumon? What about Patamon? We can't risk hurting our friends, can we?"
It was the same fear he had. The same fear he did not know what to do with. Davis had not had much time to miss his leadership position since he received his new body, but now he was relieved not to have it, not to have to make a decision like that.
The emperor laughed manically. "Aw, the magic of friendship!" He said. "Don't worry Patamon, you won't have to remember you useless friends much longer." He moved the dark spiral toward his captive. "In a few seconds all you will remember is what it's like to be my slave!"
TK charged toward his partner, yelling out his name. Metal Greymon responded by shooting out his claw.
"Get down!" Tai responded, jumping on his rival's brother pushing him out the way of his partner's attack.
"You could have died!" Tai said, apparently learning from his earlier mistakes.
The emperor conintued moving the dark spiral toward Patamon, before he made contact however, a loud howl filled their ears as Garurumon leap from atop the rock and snatched Patamon from the Flymon's claws.
"Exellent timing buddy!" Matt cried out.
The wolf landed and ran back toward the digidestined. He released Patamon at the same time Tai released TK. The released partners embraced eachother.
"Tai, TK, Garuruon… they all put themselves in a lot of danger for their friends." Davis said.
It was the second time Davis had seen a digidestiend put themselves in such danger to save their partner. He couldn't help but be impressed by it. Tai impressing him was par for the course, but TK? It was an awkward feeling he couldn't escape.
Veemon seemed impressed by it too.
"If I were the one being captured, would you do that for me?" He asked
"Ma… maybe?" He former leader replied.
"Maybe!" His partner asked harshly. "What about definitely?"
Matt mounted his digimon. "Garurumon and I are going to break the dark spiral." He said.
"What about Agumon?" the wolf replied. "Can we risk hurting him?"
"We have no choice," his partner said. "Isn't that right Tai?"
"Absolutely!" Tai yelled. "Everyone, attack!"
"Digiarmor energize!" Cody responded.
"Armadillomon armor digivolve to Digmon, the Drill of Power!"
Even in her earlier hesitation, Kari bent to her brother's call.
"Veemon armour digivole to Flamedramon, the Fire of Courage!"
The newly evolved digimon joined Garurumon in an assault on Metal Greymon as did Halsemon. Veemon however, stayed near his partner. Davis knew he could sense his doubt.
"You still don't want me to do this, do you?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, I still don't want to hurt Agumon, he's our freind." The former gogglehead replied.
"Meanwhile all of the emperor's other slaves get attacked and freed." Veemon replied. "What a wonderful way to show your friendship by leaving Agumon in bondage."
Davis had no response to that.
The dinosaur cried out as an attack from Halsemon hit him. Davis had no response for that either.
Tai did, however. When the bird said "I'm sorry Agumon." Tai answered "Don't be, you did what you had to do."
Garurumon gnawed at the dark spiral only to be swatted away.
The older leader turned to Davis. "You need to join in too. We need your help."
"I really don't want to…" he replied.
"I'm afraid sometimes you have too."
"I can't."
"You don't understand friendship at all." Veemon spat. He reverted back from Nefertimon to Gatomon. "But hey, let's have it your way. I'm sure Agumon will appreciate it."
They both had to leap out of the way as Metal Greymon launched his claw.
"And now he's going to hurt me." The new cat lamented.
Patamon leapt from TK's arms and flew toward him.
"Don't worry Gatomon, I'll protect you."
Metal Greymon attacked again, this time aiming for Patamon. Veemon pushed him out of the way.
"I'll protect you too." He said.
Davis was moved by it, and by everything that had happened.
"He's right isn't he?" Davis thought to himself. "You have to be willing to do what it takes to help your friends. Even if that means putting your own life on the line… or even theirs."
Turning his thoughts into words, he said "Partner, I'm your friend!" It was then that his digivice began to glow. The digiegg no one could lift, now glowing with the same blue light, lifted itself off the ground and began to fly toward Davis. Veemon's expression turned into a smile. "I knew you'd come around, partner!"
"No way!" Yolie said. "Does that mean Kari has two digieggs? What does that mean?"
"Maybe it means Gatomon can become twice as powerful? Cody responded
"Looks like the egg is yours afterall, sis!" Tai said. "Why don't you show us what it can do!?"
Davis did not need to be told twice. "Digiarmor energize!"
"Gatomon, armor digivole too, Rabbitmon, the Leap of Freindship!"
The emperor laughed at this new form. "A bunny? Really? What a joke! Do you really think that can defeat Metal Greymon?"
The pink rabbit Veemon became was less intimidating than Flamedramon or even Nefertimon, but it was a lot bigger, almost the size of Garurumon. Maybe it was just loyalty to his partner, but Davis could not help but believe it stood a better chance.
"I'll show you!" The new rabbit said. He leapt into the air, very high into the air. He landed on Metal Greymon's arm and bit and slashed at the dark spiral… it did no visible damage.
"Ha!" The slaver laughed again. "Fun fact, dinosaurs are stronger than bunnies!" His slave swatted the Rabbitmon away as it had Garurumon.
Veemon landed gracefully near his partner. Matt rode up to them. "We need to attack together." He said. "Come with me."
"Can I do that?" He looked to his new brother.
"Of course you can." Tai said. "I know it."
"Alright!" The former leader said, climbing onto his partner as well. "Let's go!"
Both of the mounted digimon charged the slave.
"Blue Blaster!" Garurumon yelled, shooting his icey breath toward the dark spiral. Metal Greymon dodged the attack.
"Carrot Bomb!" Veemon yelled and shot a giant carrot from his mouth. It hit the dark spiral and exploded. The dinosaur could not dodge both attacks. The dark spiral shattered.
"What!" The emperor yelled.
Metal Greymon quickly regressed back to Agumon. The tyrant on his head fell to the ground saved only by the intervention of an Airdramon slave. It flew away, taking its master with it.
"We did it!" Davis yelled.
Tai embraced Agumon. "I'm so glad to see you safe again. Sorry I if I hurt you."
"I'm sorry if I hurt you too." His partner replied.
Davis rode back up the group and dismounted. Tai went up and hugged him too.
"Thank you so much Kari. You were amazing!"
Davis did not think he had ever had a compliment that sincere.
The trip back to the portal was slow. But it was the most satisfying one he had ever had. All of his gloom melted away.
Jun:
"Where is it?" June asked herself for the 3rd or 4th time.
Monoe had been teasing her about not having a cell phone ever since she got hers months ago. Now that Jun finally had one, and a much better one from what she could gather, she was ready to rub it her friend's face. Unfortunately for her, one of the first things she did with her new toy was to put it... somewhere she couldn't quite locate.
After searching her room for a second time, the phoneless girl decided on another approach. She went to the landline and called her new number. She could faintly hear it ringing in the distance... definitely not in her room though. Hanging up she walked down the hall in the direction she heard the ringing. At the end of the hall she found the door to her brother's room.
"Figures" She said dryly. "The dumb runt probably stole it."
Davis had been asking their parents for a phone too. Apparently, that Tai boy he idolized had gotten one even early than her friend. They were hesitant to give him one. Cellular phones were still relatively newfangled in 2003. Most adults had one now, but teens and kids? That was a luxury as well as privilege, and one mother and father had really not trusted their son with. When Monoe got her phone and Jun got the desire for hers, it had taken a while to get her parents to trust her with it either, but it had been done. Now, unlike her brother, Jun was now the owner of the latest model, much to the former's chagrin. Jun still remembered her brother's complaints last week. "No fair, Tai's dad got Kari a phone as well as Tai!" Hearing it made her appreciate the gift all the more; being envied was an additional rare privilege for her. She didn't think the brat would go so far as to steal out of envy though.
"The idiot probably just wants to talk to Tai with it." She said with disgust. For all the love Davis had for Tai there was none lost on her end. Envy was an emotion she felt frequently, even if it was rarely direct at her.
Jun walked into her brother's room and began searching it. She didn't find anything on the first go through. "Was the ringing not coming from here?" the still phoneless girl thought. There were other rooms along the way to Davis's. She was about to inspect one of them when she realized her search of this room was a bit hap-hazard. She had checked in the dresser drawers for example, but what about under the dresser, or behind it? "Is Davis smart enough to hide something well?" His sister asked herself. "Eh, I'm here anyway, I might as well look."
She crouched down and looked underneath the dresser. Seeing a small box there she pulled it toward her. Getting up she opened the box and found a folded-up piece of paper within.
"It's not my phone, but the brat is definitely hiding something." Jun thought. Curious she unfolded the paper and began to read it.
"To the worth recipient:
The rings enclosed are my gift to you. Any two people that put the rings on will switch bodies."