I do not own InuYasha or Digimon Adventure in any way!
Speech Key:
"The" – Oral/Normal Speech
'The' – Thoughts
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE BEGINNING!
AN: I don't know if there are going to be questions about where the children with the Crests of Discord are, but I'll answer anyway. The children were originally searching out the DigiDestined to destroy them, as per Myotismon's orders. However, once he was destroyed [once] that command became invalid and as such they are just wandering children with connections to Myotismon. And also, there won't be much about them in the Adventure 1 portion, as I only used it mostly to introduce them, though it didn't happen as completely as I'd have liked, so between the point where I start Adventure 2, I'll most likely include a small interlude with a description of each of the unmentioned children with the Crests of Discord.
Okay, um, I know that this chapter is going sound more than just a little rushed, but honestly, I'm feeling really sluggish. I haven't had my daily dose of sugar and it's really starting to tick me off since I can't find anything sugary in my house…
Ah, and I have posted the first four chapters of my Digimon Frontier fic, A Different Frontier, so if you want to check it out, you're more than welcome to! Yeah, I know it's not a very original title, but hey, I'm low on sugar, so don't judge me!
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Review, but if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all!
-The Ninth Child-
xX-Not the End-Xx
-Fuji TV Station-
"This bites!" Tai kicked Myotismon's fallen mask into the rubble around them.
"That lousy fog barrier's still up," Matt said in frustration.
"So beating Myotismon didn't solve anything?" Mimi said worriedly.
It was then that Izzy noticed his computer beeping. "Hey, we've got mail from Gennai!" the auburn-haired boy called out to everyone when he'd powered on the laptop.
"Greetings my friends!" a small chibi figure that should have been Gennai danced around the screen, pointing to an attachment. "I have some great news! I think I've finally found a way to destroy Myotismon for good!"
Izzy clicked on the attachment and the background changed to what looked like a wall with strange markings on it, like an ancient language.
"Now although this may look like a graham cracker, this is actually an ancient prophecy Centarumon and I uncovered!" The chibi figure danced around the screen around for a bit before going to a certain place on the screen and running across it as line after line was translated into Japanese.
"The wings of bats will darken the sky
The fallen will invoke the name of the undead king
And the lives of nine are sapped
The hour of the beast is the time
The undead king, as the beast will arise
Arrows of hope and light will be shot
By the angels of the loved ones to protect
A miracle bestowed
The beast succumbs to that which is his fate.
Please always recycle."
"Well, I have no clue about that last part, but it's a good idea," Gennai told them, once again dancing over the screen. "Good luck!"
And with that said, the message ended and Gennai's chibi figure disappeared from the screen.
"Well that was about as clear as mud," Sora commented. "Think you can make heads or tails of it, Izzy?"
"Uh…"Izzy's eye twitched as went over the prophecy in his mind again.
"Tai, Kagome," Kari said quietly. "Maybe we should try and find Mama and Daddy."
"She's right," Kagome nodded. "It's definitely safe enough at the moment."
Tai nodded.
"I wouldn't mind stopping by my place for a bit," Joe commented.
"And I'd like a chance to change out my pajamas," Mimi said. "Or at least get a matching robe."
"Then let's go," Tai nodded. "There's no reason for us to stay here."
-Akeera Residences; A Few Moments Later-
"Sorry I'm late!" Mimi smiled as she arrived with Palmon by her side, this time dressed as she usually was. "Hey aren't we missing somebody?"
"Joe's still upstairs," Kagome looked up to where the blue-haired boy's apartment would be.
"Can someone explain just what is going on?" Izzy's father asked.
"I can do my best," Matt's father stepped forward and began doing just that.
It wasn't until a little while later that Joe, Bukamon, and Jim came out of the complex did Matt's father start issuing orders.
"You go find out what's happening at the convention centre," he said to Joe, Jim, Izzy, Sora, Mimi, Kagome, Tai, Kari, and Izzy's parents.
"While we try to find some way to break through the fog barrier," Matt's father smiled down at his youngest son. "Right T.K?"
"Right!" the little boy chirped with a grin.
-Convention Centre-
"Look there they are!" Agumon shouted as the Digimon all ran forward towards the swarm of Bakemon that floated around, standing guard.
"Tanemon Digivolve to: Palmon!"
"Yokomon Digivolve to: Biyomon!"
"Kyaromon Digivolve to: Kudamon!"
"Bukamon Digivolve to: Gomamon!"
One by one they'd digivolved, and the rookie Digimon all charged the Bakemon. Each Digimon let loose their attacks and eventually all of the Bakemon before them were nothing but particles in the wind.
"Great job, you guys!" Tai told them as he ran down the frozen escalator, his friends right behind them.
When they reached their parents and the rest of the captured adults and children, the DigiDestined they thought they'd be tired and frightened. But no one expected the sight that met their eyes.
Each and every adults lay in rows and rows, still and straight as a log, their eyes closed.
"Mom?" Sora asked, kneeling next to the dark-haired woman.
"Mama? Daddy?" Kari said quietly, kneeling next to her parents with her siblings.
"What's happened to them?" Kagome shook her head. "Do you think Myotismon did something to them before he was destroyed?"
"Dad?" Mimi tried shaking her father awake, but to no avail. "They're not waking up. What's happening?"
"They're still alive," Jim announced. "They all are. But they seem to be in some kind of trance or something."
Kari looked around at all of the people. "Is this all our fault, Gatomon?" Kari asked quietly.
The feline Digimon's ears dropped as she didn't know how to answer the question.
"It isn't," Sora told the young girl. "We just have to find a way to break this spell and they'll all wake up."
"Besides," Kagome added. "If you think it's your fault, then I'm sharing the blame, too. He was looking for the both of us, remember? You didn't know, so they couldn't find you, and I knew, but I kept myself hidden. So if you blame yourself, then we're both to blame."
Kari said nothing as she burrowed herself into Kagome's arm, pulling Gatomon into the embrace with her.
All across Odaiba, bats flew around in small packs, feeding on the fallen Digimon and those that were left behind when Myotismon had been destroyed.
The nine children with the Crests of Discord wandered about the city aimlessly with no true purpose. Their orders to destroy the DigiDestined had now become invalid because Myotismon was gone and so they wandered because they didn't know what else they could do, their minds blank and their souls still entwined in the web of the power belonging to the crests they wore.
-Convention Centre-
"So what's the deal here?" Matt asked as he, T.K, and his father came to where the unconscious people were being held.
"Physically they seem to be asleep," Jim reported. "But no matter how hard you try, they won't wake. It's like they're in some kind of coma."
"Well, at least we know one thing," Patamon spoke up. "The first part of the prophecy came true."
"What?" the others gasped. "When was that?" Tai asked.
"We saw Myotismon's bats were going around feeding on the remains of fallen and live Digimon," Gabumon explained.
"Okay so that part's covered," Izzy nodded. "But what about the rest? No one's calling out Myotismon's name and just what is the 'Hour of the Beast'?"
(AN: I'm going to change the concept of the Hour of Beast here a touch.)
"666," Matt's father told them grimly. "Six minutes past the sixth hour on the sixth day of a month."
"Sounds like triple six is our unlucky number," Tai commented.
"But today's the fifth," Mimi pointed out. "So what are we supposed to do before then?"
"We rest," Kagome spoke up.
Everyone but Tai and Kari protested at the idea, her siblings looking at her knowingly.
"Look," Kagome explained. "I know that you don't want to leave anyone here, I don't either, my parents are here, too, remember? But think about it, we've all been up and running since early this morning and maybe even before that because of Myotismon's henchmen. If anything, I think we all should get a good night's rest before tomorrow."
Everyone quieted when they heard the raven-haired girl's reasoning and grudgingly admitted that she was right.
"But where are we going to go, then?" T.K asked.
"There's no way we can all go home and them come back here just as quick," Mimi added.
Everyone looked at each other before turning to Izzy. The auburn-haired boy was lost in his thoughts, needless to say that when he came out of them, he was surprised to many an eye on him.
"Well," he started slowly, "From my calculations, the closest place from here would be the apartment complex Joe and I live in. The only logical thing to do at this point would be to go there and get some rest; girls in one of our homes and the guys in the other."
And so it was decided that
"Then the rest of you can stay in our house," Jim told them. "I have a walkie-talkie with me and I handed the other one off to Joe, so if there's been any changes here, I'll be able to tell you."
With the arrangements settled, the group of children, Digimon, and the few adults with them headed back to Akeera Residences.
The~Ninth~Child
-That Night; Izumi Home-
"Hey, Kagome?" Sora asked as the girls all crawled into the makeshift bed Izzy's mother had made up for them in the sitting room after shifting a lot of furniture off to the side.
"Yeah?" Kagome said from where she was tucking a drowsy Kari in.
"Why did you tell Myotismon that you were the Eighth Child?" the orange-haired girl asked, lying down by Biyomon, who was curled up, asleep.
"If I didn't," Kagome said softly, stroking Kari's hair until the young girl was fast asleep, her arms hugging Gatomon to her, "Then they would have gotten to Kari. And I couldn't let that happen; she's my little sister and I'm supposed to protect her."
"You really care about your family, don't you?" Mimi asked gently.
Kagome nodded. "I'd give my life if it meant saving the ones I care about." She looked at Mimi and Sora. "That includes you all, too. I may not have known you for very long, but I know enough to tell you that I'd do anything to protect my friends."
"I guess we know why you have the Crest of Compassion," Palmon whispered with a yawn.
"Indeed," Kudamon said with pride, curling up above Kagome's pillow.
The~Ninth~Child
-Kido Residence-
"Hey, Tai?" Matt whispered hesitantly, once T.K and everyone else was asleep.
"Yeah?" the brown-haired boy looked to the blonde in curiosity.
"I'm really sorry about what happened today," Matt apologized. "About letting Kagome getting taken by Myotismon. I really did try stopping her, but—"
"You don't need to apologize," Tai broke in. "Kagome's always been like that; she'd do anything to save anyone she cares about. She gave herself up in Kari's place, right?"
Matt nodded.
Tai nodded, this time to himself. "I figured that'd be it. She'd never let Kari go straight into any trouble and she's doing her best to keep Kari out of it. But what happened with Kagome and Myotismon? No one's telling me anything and I have a feeling that something big happened while I was gone."
"I think Kagome got mad and she kind of…" matt trailed off before leaning over to whisper the rest into his friend's ear.
Tai covered his mouth as he guffawed. "That's Kagome for ya. She probably didn't mean to do it, but then again, anytime she's provoked protectively, you'd better watch out!"
"But still man, I'm really—" Matt tried.
"Seriously, stop it," Tai said sternly. "It wasn't your fault. Okay, so it was kinda your fault, but I'm not blaming you for anything, so stop blaming yourself. You couldn't have stopped Kagome if you tried, so don't beat yourself up about it, okay? Now, we'd better get some sleep before tomorrow rolls around."
-Across Odabia-
"Come," came a malevolently familiar voice. "Come to me…"
The children who owned the Crests of Discord lifted their heads at the order and stopped in their tracks. All over the city, each of them slowly turned in the direction of the near-demolished TV Station.
"Come to me, my children," the voice beckoned. "Come to your Master…"
That said, the children and their Digimon slowly began walking in the direction they'd glanced in, their master's orders giving them purpose in their blank minds.
-Convention Centre; Early the Next Morning-
"Myotismon; Lord and Master," one of the adults said in a monotone voice, sitting up as though in a trance.
"Wha—?" Jim snorted awake,, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Myotismon; Lord and Master," another few adults sat up, joining the chorus.
"What the—?" Jim cut himself off as he rushed over to the awakened adults. "Hey!" He tried shaking the adults out of their trance, but to no avail. They continued to stare straight ahead, unseeingly, as they continued to chant the same phrase over and over again.
Fumbling through his pockets, Jim brought out the walkie-talkie he'd brought with him and switched it on. "Joe? You and your friends might want to check this out; everyone's waking up, but they're still in some kind of trance. Here, Listen to this." He held the device close to the nearest adult, letting the chant filter into the device.
-Kido Residence-
Joe shot up from the makeshift bed he and his friends had made when he heard the familiar crackle of the walkie-tallkie go off. He walked over to it and pressed a button, listening to the message his brother had relayed.
With each word that he heard, Joe's eyes grew larger and larger until they were large enough to the point where he looked as though he were visibly panicking. "Guys! Wake up! Wake up! WAKE UP!"
Everyone woke up with a start, groaning about the early hour, but stopped when they saw the frantic look on their older friend's face.
"What's going on?" Izzy asked.
"Listen to this," Joe said seriously, pressing a button on the walkie-talkie. "Myotismon; Lord and Master." Filtered through the small speaker over and over, more and more voices being added with every passing moment.
"What the—" Tai said alarmed.
"Jim's sending this straight from the Convention Centre," Joe told them. "Another part of the prophecy's come true. Remember? 'The fallen will invoke the name of the undead king'."
"The hour of the beast," Matt muttered. "What time is it?"
"5.45 in the morning," T.K muttered, rubbing his eyes.
"We only have a little over fifteen minutes until the Hour of the Beast," Tai gritted his teeth. "Come on, we've got to get the girls and head over to the TV Station!"
"But why the TV Station?" Matt's father asked. "IF the people are all at the Convention Centre, wouldn't it make more sense to go there?"
"It would," Izzy nodded. "But we defeated Myotismon at the TV Station. And what better place to come back than the place he was defeated?"
"Okay, get the girls and climb into the van," Matt's father ordered. "I'll do my best to get you there on time."
"Right!" The DigiDestined and their Digimon gave a nod, all fully awake by now.
-Fuji TV Station-
"We're not going to make it!" Kagome said worriedly, looking at the time on her digivice; the small numbers on the screen worried her. 6.04AM.
The DigiDestined all watched in horrific awe as Myotismon's bats swarmed from all over the city to the TV Station.
Unfortunately, by the time they'd finally reached their destination, the clock had already struck 6.06AM.
"We're too late!" Tai exclaimed.
"That can't be Myotismon," Joe said in disbelief. "Myotismon doesn't look like that!"
"If that is him," Matt commented. "Then he's definitely been on steroids…"
"I think that's his true form, you guys," Sora said suddenly. "Remember the prophecy? This must be his true form as the beast! 'The undead king, as the beast will arise.'"
(AN: I won't be describing this new version of Myotismon since you readers must have already watched the episode or checked out the DigiWiki pages.)
"Let's go!" Agumon turned to Gabumon before both Digimon ran forward, Digivolving along the way.
"Agumon Digivolve to: Greymon!"
"Gabumon Digivolve to: Garurumon!"
The new version of Myotismon turned around and gave a great roar, the sheer power of it, nearly knocking the two champion-level Digimon off their feet.
"Say hello, you pests, to the new and improved VenomMyotismon," DemiDevimon snickered.
"VenomMyotismon?" Tai asked.
"Yup!" DemiDevimon smirked. "He's the King of the Undead, where he's the 'un' and you're the 'dead'!"
"More energy!" VenomMyotismon ordered. "I need more energy!"
"No problem, Boss!" DemiDevimon assured the giant Digimon. "There's all those people waitin' for ya. But for now, here's a couple appetizers!" He turned around and gave a sharp whistle.
From behind one of the buildings nearby, the nine children with the Crests of Discord came forward, their Digimon right behind them.
"Look!" Sora cried out. "It's those kids again! They must all have the Crests of Discord!"
"Oh no!" T.K exclaimed, "What're we gonna do? We were supposed to stop 'em from getting those!"
"There's nothing we can do," Kagome told the boy gently. "Not anymore. Those crests have already bonded with those kids. Do you know how to destroy them? Because right now, I think that's the only way to stop them from being all zombie-like right now."
"We need to destroy the crests and defeat their Digimon," Izzy remembered. "Gennai said that that was the only way to stop them."
"Except I don't think we can do that," Kagome said, frightened. "Look!"
And look they did. When they turned to VenonMyotismon, they found a disturbing sight meeting their eyes. Each child's eyes and their crests glowed as a wispy substance the same hue as their crest was drawn out of their mouth by VenonMyotismon, who was coaxing the substance and the crests into his palm. The nine Digimon belonging to the De-DigiDestined were dissolved into particles of data that were absorbed into the wispy collection in the giant Digimon's palm.
The DigiDestined and Matt's father looked on in disgust and horror when they saw VenomMyotismon swallow the wispy collection and crests, leaving the children to collapse onto the ground, their skin sickly pale, and their bodies growing cold.
"What did he just do?" Kari asked worriedly.
"He's taken their souls," Matt's father clenched his fist. "He's taken their souls and now he's going to go after the people at the Convention Centre."
"I hope you enjoyed those appetizers, Boss!" DemiDevimon exclaimed. "'Cause there's a full course meal waiting with your name on it!"
"Thanks, but I think I'll have a little snack first!" VenonMyotismon smirked, taking in a deep breath, sucking the small bowling ball with wings into his mouth and swallowing once inside.
"You guys can't take him on like this!" Tai shouted to Greymon and Garurumon.
"Digivolve!" Matt shouted.
"Greymon Digivolve to: MetalGreymon!"
"Garurumon Digivolve to: WereGarurumon!"
"Shall we flip a coin to see who goes first?" WereGarurumon asked.
"No need," MetalGreymon told him. "Allow me; Giga Blaster!"
WereGarurumon jumped atop on the torpedoes and launched his attack the moment they collided with VenonMyotismon's body. "Wolf Claw!"
"He's not even fazed!" Tai said in disbelief.
They all watched as WereGarurumon climbed up the giant Digimon and launched an attack at his face. "Garuru-Kick!"
Unfortunately, while the attack did some damage int eh form of a cut in the Digimon's forehead, no one expected the pink tentacle-like objects to spring out of the cut and grab the wolf-like Digimon.
"Mega-Claw!" MetalGreymon launched his retractable claw at the cluster of tentacles, cutting WereGarurumon loose.
"Just what are we going to do?" Mimi asked. "Anything we do just bounces off him!"
It was then that the two Ultimate-level Digimon came crashing down, de-digivolving back to their rookie forms.
"What just happened?" Matt asked Izzy.
"He must have found some way of draining their energy," the auburn-haired boy told them.
"Look!" Izzy's father pointed at something.
Right now, VenomMyotismon was launching multi-colored bolts out of his abdomen and they all watched in surprise as a building that was hit wasn't just demolished, but digitized into particles of data.
"I probably should've brought the camcorder…" Matt's father said in awe.
"Come on, Patamon," Gatomon told the small winged Digimon suddenly. "Let's fly."
"Wait, we're coming with you," Gomamon interjected, getting ready to digivolve, as did the rest of the Digimon.
Gatomon shook her head. "I only need Patamon for this; seriously, it's nothing personal, but if my plan doesn't work, then you'll be needed and I just want you guys to save your strength."
"Then we're behind you one hundred-percent," Palmon nodded with the rest of the digimon.
"We're putting all our trust in you," Kagome told the feline Digimon. "Both of you."
"Gatomon Digivolve to: Angewomon!"
"Patamon Digivolve to: Angemon!"
"Brace yourselves!" Matt's father shouted as VenomMyotismon's foot hovered over the group and their Digimon, all huddled together.
"Goodbye, DigiDestined!" the giant Digimon laughed minaically.
It was when the giant Digimon was about to step on all of them did the two angel Digimon make their move.
"Hand of Fate!"
"Celestial Arrow!"
The two attacks managed to knock the Mega-level Digimon back a few paces, but not by much since he was still up and running.
"This doesn't look like it's going to be easy," Angemon warned.
"No one said it would be," Angewomon retorted.
"Well well," VenonMyotismon chuckled darkly. "I shall enjoy devouring the two of you! Angel food happens to be one of my favourites!"
"Why is that Digimon so much bigger than the rest?" Izzy father asked out of the blue.
"Search me," Izzy opened his laptop to the Digimon Analyzer. "Okay, so I thought he was fully digivolved, but it looks like Myotismon found a way to digivolve even further; some Mega-Ultimate level."
"That's not fair," Matt pointed out. "It's like changing the rules in the middle of a game."
"Go Angewomon!" Kari shouted.
"You can do it, Angemon!" T.K called up to his partner.
Kagome looked up at the two angel Digimon flying above, keeping the giant Digimon busy. 'Angels…That's it!'
She turned back to auburn-haired boy. "Izzy, what did that prophecy say about angels?"
Izzy sat on the ground and typed away on his computer, bringing the prophecy back up and recited from it.
"Arrows of hope and light will be shot
By the angels of the loved ones to protect
A miracle bestowed
The beast succumbs to that which is his fate"
"But what does it mean?" Mimi asked.
"The two angels must be Angemon and Angewomon," Kagome explained, "and the ones they've been sent to protect are Kari and T.K."
"But who are they supposed to shoot?" Sora asked.
"Allow me to explain," Tentomon spoke. "Say that I'm a guardian angel; who's guardian am I: Izzy's. Who does he love—"
"My parents obviously," Izzy interjected. "I was just getting to that, but Kari and T.K don't just have parents; they have older siblings."
"Brothers to be exact," Kagome added.
"But why would you want t shoot arrows at your loved ones?" Izzy questioned. "Sounds dangerous to me."
"Maybe it's because they're an angel's arrows," Izzy's mother told them. "Don't you remember Cupid? He shot arrows of love."
"That sound kind of corny, don't you think?" Izzy sweat-dropped.
"As ridiculous as it sounds," Kagome cut in, "your mother has the right idea."
"I agree!" Tentomon nodded. He turned to Tai and Matt. "All we need to do is have you two get shot by Angemon and Angewomon's arrows of love—"
'Light and hope, actually,' Kagome corrected mentally.
"Let's not be hasty, the auburn-haired boy cut in. "Shouldn't we think about this first?"
"It's the only thing we have to go on, though," Mimi pointed out. "As dangerous as it is, it's the only thing that makes sense right now and nothing else seems to be working."
"Then let's see these arrows of Hope and Light," Tai announced.
"You've got to get them to shoot at us," Matt told the two young children. "They'll only do it if you tell them to."
"Are you sure?" Kari asked. "You really want them to shoot you?"
"What if you get like dead or something?" T.K asked worriedly.
"Won't happen," Matt told them. "Right?" he looked at Tai.
"Definitely," Tai nodded.
Kagome walked up behind the kids and placed a hand on their shoulders. She gave them a soft smile and a small nod when they looked up at her.
"Okay, listen up, Angemon," T.K said, holding up his crest as it began to glow.
"You, too, Angewomon," Kari added, her crest glowing as well.
Both crests shot beams of light to the child's respective Digimon. Kari's light forming a bow and arrow for Angewomon, while T.K's formed a gold arrow for Angemon.
"This is going to sound kinda crazy," T.K told them. "But we need you to shoot Matt and Tai with your arrows!"
"Sounds kind of dangerous to me," Angewomon commented.
"But it makes sense," Angemon pointed out as they both raised their arrows to position.
"Are you sure about this?" Gabumon asked.
"What if the prophecy's wrong?" Agumon added.
"You guys want s a miracle to happen or not?" Tai asked rhetorically.
"Miracles do require a little faith," Matt reminded them.
"Scared, Tai?" Matt looked at his friend.
"Nope, you, Matt?" Tai glanced at the blonde.
"Piece of cake," the blond replied. "But maybe I'll just hold onto your hand, so don't chicken out or anything."
"Same to you," the brown-haired boy smirked as both of their crests began to glow their respective colour.
Despite the dire situation, Kagome found herself sweat-dropping. 'They're both trying to act all macho…can't they just admit that they don't feel okay with this?'
"One miracle—" Angemon began.
"Coming up!" Angemon fninshed, with both launching their arrows at their intended target.
But when the arrows hit Tai and Matt, a bright light exploded around them all.
An orange glow overtook Agumon and a blue glow overtook Gabumon as their forms changed.
"Agumon Warp Digivolve to: WarGreymon!"
"Gabumon Warp Digivolve to: MetalGarurumon!"
(AN: I won't be describing them either since we all should remember them from the episodes.)
"Who're they?" Sora asked in awe.
"WarGreymon, Mega Level," Izzy recited from his Digimon Analyzer. "It says here his attack is Terra Force. He gathers energy from all around him and focuses it in the palm of his hand. MetalGarurumon, also Mega Level, has his Metal Wolf Claw attack. He shoots a powerful cold blast at his enemies and them blows them to pieces!"
"They've digivolved to Mega…" Tai breathed.
"And just in time, too," Matt added. "We'll need them to beat VenomMyotismon."
They all watched as WarGreymon shot himself at VenomMyotismon, an orange glow covering his body and expanding when he came into contact with the giant Digimon, throwing him back a mile or so.
"In the car!" Matt's father called. And with that, the DigiDestined and their Digimon piled into the van once more and they drove to where the location of the battle had shifted..
"Metal Wolf Calw!" MetalGarurumon shot a barrage of missiles at the giant Digimon, encasing him in ice.
"Frozen solid!" Matt grinned.
"But not for long!" Kagome shouted. "Look!"
By the time they'd arrived, VenomMyotismon had digitized several other structures and blown up even more by shooting out mutlicoloured beams from his eyes.
"Out of the van!" Matt's father shouted when a beam hit a building, which hit their van, causing it to somersault a few times before settling on its roof.
"That's it," Gomamon said determinedly once they were out of the vehicle. "I'm tired of just sitting around here. We can't just do nothing while our friends get creamed."
"But what can we do?" Joe asked. "We've already tried and failed."
"Then we keep on trying," Sora told him.
Mimi nodded. "Our parents have always protected us. Now it's time we came through for them."
"Let's go!" Kudamon told the rest of the Digimon.
And with that, they all rushed into battle, digivolving along the way to their Champion levels. But it didn't stop there as the rest of the Digimon continued to digivolve into their Ultimate forms.
"Togemon Digivolve to: Lillymon!"
"Kabuterimon Digivolve to: MegaKabuterimon!"
"Reppamon Digivolve to: Chirinmon!"
"Birdamon Digivolve to: Garudamon!"
"Ikkakumon Digivolve to: Zudomon!"
"Everyone!" WarGreymon commanded. "Attack together!"
"Vulcan's Hammer!"
"Wing Blade!"
"Heaven's Gale!"
"Hand of Fate!"
The DigiDestined watched as the attacks were launched only to converge at VenomMyotismon's abdomen.
"And now to wind things up! Mega Claw!" WarGreymon spun around rapidly until he was spinning fast enough to conjure an orange twister around him, striking the giant Digimon's abdomen as well, this time piercing through his body.
The giant Digimon let out a cry of pain before falling to the ground, WarGreymon coming to a stop in the air behind the Digimon.
"That did it," Matt's father said with relief.
"I don't think so," Sora said worriedly.
They all watched with disbelief as VenomMyotismon stood up with a roar. "Did you really think you could defeat me? You've only awakened the beast within!"
It was then that a small—thing popped into view from the hole WarGreymon had created.
"What the heck is that?!" Mimi said with disgust.
"You've gotten in my way for the last time, DigiDestined!" the giant Digimon roared. "Prepare to die!"
'What do we do now?'
'I wish I could've done more.'
'I let everyone down again.'
'Maybe we should surrender.'
These were just some of the thoughts running through everyone's head. But it was Tai's thought and belief that changed everything.
'I will never give up against the likes of you!' the brown-haired preteen thought.
Suddenly, the crests each child wore began to glow brightly with their respective colour.
"Everyone, look!" Tai pointed out to his sisters and friends. "Our crests; they're all starting to glow!" He looked up at VenomMyotismon and then back at his crest before turning to look at the rest of the DigiDestined. "Surround him, hurry!"
Once they did, a ray of light the colour of each crest shot out from their respective crest, reaching up to bind VenomMyotismon, preventing him from moving.
"That little thing…" Kagome narrowed her eyes at the little being in the pouch before turning to her brother. "Tai! The little thing in his body!"
"The what?" Tai whispered looking at the small creature.
"Curse you DigiDestined! Waaa! Waaa!" the little thing cried out in outrage, though it was more comical than anything with its squeaky voice.
"Of course, maybe that's what represents his true form," Tai breathed. "WarGreymon!"
"Pass me the ball!" WarGreymon shouted to MetalGarurumon who stood near the fallen globe structure of the TV Station.
With a grunt, the metal wolf Digimon passed on the structure like it was any soccer ball to Digimon armoured in gold.
"SHOOT!" all the DigiDestined shouted together.
With a solid kick, WarGreymon launched the globe structure straight at the little being in VenomMotismon before following it up with his own attack combined with MetalGarurumon's.
"Terra Force!"
"Metal Wolf Claw!"
Upon impact, VenomMyotismon's body warped in shaped and twitched as he screeched in pain and denial. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The DigiDestined and their partners watched as the giant Digimon disappeared piece by piece into particles of data.
Cheering broke out the moment the last piece of Myotismon dissolved into data.
Kagome and the other laughed as Tai did happy dance while carrying Koromon around in his arms.
-A Little While Away-
The moment VenomMyotismon had been destroyed, unseen by the DigiDestined, nine coloured wisps traveled through the skies to their rightful owners.
One by one, each wisp entered the cold body of one child that had previously been possessed by a Crest of Discord, returning the colour and life to their bodies.
"What happened?" a girl asked.
"What are we doing here?" another boy asked.
"I want my mommy!" a voice cried.
The nine all huddled together to watched the rapidly clearing sky in confusion and awe. Yes, it seemed that everything was going to be just fine with the nine children. But then again, they never noticed the small black marking on the sides of their necks…
-Fuji TV Station-
"Hey look!" Sora called. "The sky's clearing up!"
"Finally!" T.K laughed.
However, the faces of relief and delight were wiped off their faces and warped into shock once they took a look into what should have been a clear-blue sky. The sky was now dark with strip running through it, the strips showing images of upside down land and water in them.
"What's happened?" Kagome asked.
"That's not possible," Joe said faintly, "There's a giant island floating in the sky! Upside down!"
Kari gasped as she clung to Kagome and grabbed Tai's hand.
'What's going on now?!' Kagome thought worriedly.
"Things are just getting weirder," Tai said. "But why? What's going on now? And just when we just defeated Myotismon!"
"I can't say that I know anymore about it than any of us do," Izzy told them. "I'm checking feed from all around the world, but looks like no satellite or radar can pinpoint exactly what that place up in the sky really is."
It was then that people started flooding the area from the ferry that had just gotten to port.
The group watched as T.K met up with his mother, though Matt and his father were a little more awkward with the reunion than anything.
"Check this out," Izzy said suddenly. "The air force is sending everything they've got to identify that giant land mass in the sky, but so far they've got nothing. For now, however, they're declaring it as highly dangerous."
"I know it's nice that T.K, Matt, and Izzy have their familiaes with them," Mimi commented, "And I don't want to seem jealous, but I really hope my parents are okay."
"I know how you feel," Sora agreed.
'So do we…' Kagome thought sadly. 'I hope you're okay, Mama, Papa…'
"Hey!" Tai called out, seeing a light in the distance.
"All right!" Joe exclaimed. "It's my brother…hey, I didn't say he could ride my scooter…"
"How are our parents? Is everyone all right?" Mimi bombarded the older male with questions the moment he took off his helmet.
"Everyone's okay," Jim grinned. "The moment that monster disappeared, they wall stopped the chanting and woke up from whatever spell they were under!"
His face grew serious, though, when he pulled his hand-held radio out of his pocket. "Now let's take a look at what the news is saying about that stuff in the sky…"
He extended an antenna, turned a dial, and pushed it before anyone could hear anything.
"The latest report we have from the Air Force chief of staff, confirms that the mysterious land mass in the sky is not an illusion," a woman's voice reported as fuzzy images of the news feed played across the screen. "It is very real, and after several confrontations, apparently very dangerous."
"It's covering the entire sky," Joe spoke.
"It's got to be Myotismon again," Matt said determinedly.
"But that's impossible, right?" Tsunomon asked. "We defeated him."
"It does sound a little hard to believe that it's him doing that when he's gone," Kagome confirmed.
"You heard the news report," Joe told them all, "It's definitely dangerous, so who else could be behind it?"
All the while Izzy had been looking into the sky, his eyes narrowed upon one thing in particular. 'There's something familiar about that mountain… But it couldn't be, could it?'
"Hey, Tai," the auburn-haired boy looked over to his friend.
"Yeah?" Tai answered.
"See if you can get a closer look at that mountain over there," Izzy told him, pointing to one of the many mountains within the sky.
"Whatever you say," Tai pulled out a small telescope out of his pocket and started looking around at the different mountains. "Hey, which one are you talking about?"
"The big one right there!" Izzy said, his finger still pointing to that one peak.
"Oh yeah, like that help—Ah!" Tai exclaimed.
"What?" Izzy asked. "Did you find it?"
"What I found," Tai said in astonishment, "is a jetliner!"
Everyone looked up into the sky at this, and sure enough, there were the tell-tale lights of a jetliner in the air, headed straight for the land mass in the sky.
Tai watched as the plane drew closer and closer to the land mass before taking an unexpected nosedive. "The place was headed straight for whetever's in the sky, but before it could reach it, it just started falling!"
"Biyomon!" Sora nodded at her partner.
"Biyomon Digivolve to: Birdamon!"
The small bird that was now the large firebird flew into the sky, trying to get to the plan as fast as she could, when she spotted something familiar.
"What's Kuwagamon doing here?" she asked no one in particular. The firebird watched as the insectoid Digimon flew past the jetliner's wing, only for it to freeze over with a silver substance.
She hurried to the plane just as the vehicle started spiraling out of control. Birdramon went up underneath the plane in an attempt to slow it down, but to no avail, the pressure and weight added together were just too much for the firebird.
"Birdamon Digivolve!" Sora shouted, her crest glowing once she said her piece.
"Birdamon Digivolve to: Garudamon!"
"You go and help, too, buddy," Izzy told his partner.
"You got it!" Tentomon saluted his intelligent friend. "Tentomon Digivolve to: Kabuterimon!"
"I'm coming, Garud—Wha?" Kabuterimon headed for Garudamon, but stopped when he saw Kuwagamon buzzing around. "Kuwagamon? What's he doing here? Electro Shocker!" the ball of electricity was launched at the insectoid Digimon, but instead of hitting him, like it should have, the attack passed right through him, as though he were no more than a mirage.
"Don't touch him, Kabuterimon!" Garudamon warned her companion, remembering just what had happened when Kuwagamon had passed over the jetliner.
The insectoid Digimon did as he was told and dodged Kuwagamon before going up to help Garudamon land the plane somewhere safe.
"It's great that you got everyone down safely," Tai said, "But how'd Kuwagamon get here?"
"He came out of that land in the sky," Yokomon chirped.
"Then I was right," Izzy nodded. "That continent in the sky is really the Digital World."
"WHAAA?!" Joe cried out in shock as the rest of the DigiDestined looked into the sky with surprised and worried expressions.
"So that must be why you recognized that mountain," Matt commented.
"It's does look sorta familiar," Mimi added.
"But how'd it get there?" Sora asked.
"Hey guys!" Jim called out to the group of children. "Listen to this!"
The DigiDestined and their partners hurried over to where the older male was and crowded around him, their Digimon right beside him.
"We now bring you some new footage of truly bizarre scenes," the woman reported. "No official explanation has yet to be given what you see here." The screen flashed with images from all round the world with Digimon appearing in each one. But what got the kids the most was the one with Kuwagamon next the plane that had just been rescued.
"Kuwagamon again!" Yokomon pointed out. "And if we try and touch them, we'll freeze just like that plane's wing!"
"And when I fired my Electro Shocker," Motimon added, "it passed right through him."
"Just what is going on here?" Tai clenched his fists.
Kagome, meanwhile stood a little off to the side, close enough to hear what had been said, but far enough to be close to Kari and Salamon, who's appeared just after Myotismon had been defeated.
"Is that your world up there?" Kari asked her partner.
"I think so," Salamon shook her head. "But I definitely remember it being right side up!"
"This is a little disturbing," Kudamon commented.
"What?" Kagome asked. 'Knowing that we're looking at your world from a whole different perspective?"
"The fact that we're seeing it at all," the fox-like Digimon said grimly.
"Hang on a second," Izzy said, getting everyone's attention. "I think I get it now. We've been home for a few days, but time passes by much faster in the Digital World, so years and years must have passed by now."
"And since we left when the Digital World was such a mess," Koromon added, "It's only had years and years to get worse! I can only imagine just what everything looks like now!"
"And all the problems in the Digital World," Sora said in realization, "have become our problem here in our world."
All the DigiDestined and their Digimon looked up into the sky with shock gracing each other's faces.
"Then that's that," Tai said determinedly. "We've got to go back!"
"But how do we get there?" Kagome asked.
"The last time we went," Joe remineded them, "Our digivices took us there. You guys can try it."
"You're coming too, Joe," Izzy chuckled. "We're all in this together."
"Okay, then, digivices out, everyone!" Tai said as they all stood in a circle. They all held their arms out with their digivices in the palms, screen-faces up.
"Next stop: The Digital World," Tai announced, trying to keep the mood light, "Keep your hands and feet inside at times!"
"Here we go!" Matt said as the digivices glowed and shot out a beam each in unison that combined to form a larger multicoloured beam of light that led from the ground straight into the sky.
"Good work," Izzy nodded. "This light must be here to guide us."
"And all we have to do is follow it!" Kari pitched in.
"Back to the Digital World," T.K added.
"T.K!" came the voice of his mother.
"Oh," the young blonde boy turned around to face his mother. "I'm sorry I have to go again, Mom, and just when we got back together."
"You can't!" T.K's mother denied.
"Let him go," Matt's father said quietly, but loud enough for all to hear. "We've made some selfish decisions of our own, remember? We have to let them do this; this could just be even more important than we realize."
The dirty-blonde-haired woman said nothing as her eyes filled with tears.
"You have to understand that the world is doomed if we don't go!" Matt tried reasoning. "We're doing this to protect you, Mom!" T.K nodded in agreement.
"Matt…" the woman said, her tears finally spilling over her cheeks.
"You guys better get going, then!" Jim said, trying to lighten the atmosphere even if a bit. "Although it's hard to believe that the fate of the world rests with a bunch of kids like you!" He winked at the group. "I guess if the sun doesn't come up tomorrow, then we'll at least know you failed!"
Izzy's mother, however, seemed to take this in a whole different way. "Stop it!" She scolded. "You've got to have faith in your brother and his friends; what they're doing is extremely brave!"
"Whoa, sorry lady," Jim waved his arms back and forth, "I didn't mean anything!"
'Yeah you decide to joke about that when it really could be the end of the world,' Kagome shook her head. 'Smooth move…'
"It's okay, I know he was only joking," Joe said, his eyebrow twitching. "Besides, I'm going to make darn sure the sun does come up!"
"Joe!" Sora giggled. "I never knew you have it in you!"
"What a man!" Mimi added as they all broke into laughter.
Joe just slumped as he realized just how he was acting, and while he didn't notice that he'd slumped right into the beam of multicoloured light, he did notice when he started rising in the air, a panicked expression on his face.
"I guess it's time to go!" Tai explained as they all ran into the beam with their Digimon.
"Matt! T.K!" their mother called out to them. "Take care of each other!"
The two brothers only waved, though matt looked away with an awkward flush.
Jim and Izzy's waved their goodbyes to their respective family members.
"I love you, Sora!" Sora's mother called out. "I'll be right here waiting for you when you get back!"
"Bye, Mom," Sora whispered. She cupped her hands over her mouth. "Bye Mom!"
"Mama! Papa!" Mimi cried out, tears spilling over her cheeks.
"Be careful, Sweetie!" Mimi's parents called out together, holding each other as they watched their daughter and her friends disappear into the sky.
"Bye Mama, Papa!" Kagome called out as Tai hugged her to his side with Kari clutching their fronts.
"Bye Mama! Daddy!" Kari yelled.
"We'll see ya real soon!" Tai shouted to their parents.
"Be careful, Tai!" Airi Kamiya called back to her children.
"And be sure to take care of your sisters, Tai!" Ryo Kamiya reminded his son.
"Don't worry!" Kari shouted, "We'll all be back!"
Ciao,
TsukiyoTenshi