Gasudramon grinned as the doors opened. He had chosen this room for one purpose: it was very intimidating. The room was dimly lit, with statues of grotesque digimon lining the sides. It was the largest room in the building, even bigger than the Coliseum, and Gasudramon's elevated throne was shrouded in black. At the far end of the hall, a tiny bit of light poured in as two small boys, trembling, entered the room.
The door slammed shut behind them. They both jumped. After a few seconds of whispered consulting, they approached the darkest part of the chamber, which appeared to hide Gasudramon. They knew they were facing imminent doom, but they weren't ready to go down without a fight. When they were in range, bright golden lights flooded the throne, illuminating Gasudramon's grand face. He turned slightly, and thirty sharp teeth, coated in bright red blood, gleamed. Izzy glanced at Joe. He nodded grimly. They had come.
"So," chuckled Gasudramon, "you are all that is left of the amazing DigiDestined? Pitiful!"
"There are more," said Joe bravely, though he was shaking hard. "They are alive."
"And how can you be sure?" the horrible dragon drawled. "You believe the two girls are in my dungeons?"
"We know they are," piped up Izzy. "We had sufficient evidence that gave data supporting the attack of Mimi and Sora and the taking of them into your dungeon facilities."
Gasudramon eyed Izzy shrewdly. "I don't like detectives. I think I shall eat you first."
Both boys were terrified now, but they held a strong front image. Joe said, "You think we're alone, but we're not. Our friends are all around us. We can feel them. We'll never give up, because we know that they're right behind us, supporting us. You can give them illusions, lock them up, freeze them, but you can't get rid of them." Indeed, there now seemed to be a ghostly silver form of someone…the first that died: Agumon. It solidified into a solid-seeming silver white figure.
"Don't give up," he said, "we're right here." He moved in front of them as more shapes began to appear. Piximon was next. "Don't worry about going down fighting!" he said. "You're going to make it through this!"
Now TK and Kari. "You can get him!" they encouraged. "This guy uses slaves and delusions to get what he wants! He's a coward!"
Gasudramon's eyes had been bugging out, but now they settled back. He laughed. "So you think to use my trick? Illusions! Ha! Well, I shall not fall for this!"
But more were coming. Matt and Tai stood next to Agumon, Pixiemon, Kari, and TK. "This guys a wuss!" said Matt. "He's a monster who enjoys watching grief." "Take him down for us!" added Tai. "You can do it!"
Gasudramon was less sure now, but he couldn't let that show. He mustn't let these delusions get to him!
Now it was Yasomon's turn. "He used tricks and traps and exploited babies. This fiend doesn't deserve an honorable death!"
"Yeah!" added one of the two new shapes. Gomamon looked mad. "You deceived us instead of fighting right." "You're too weak to fight us," said Tentomon, "so you defeat others and use them instead."
Nyuraionmon materialized next. As they watched, his dark features brightened and his face got its 'good look' again. He had returned to Leomon. "Gasudramon," he growled, "you are a pathetic excuse for a digimon and should be exterminated." He sank into a fighting stance. "Whatever you two decide to do, remember that we are all behind you."
Soon the other digimon arrived: Gatomon, Patamon, Palmon, Biyomon, and Gabumon. They joined the line in front of Izzy and Joe, mouthing encouragements as Elecmon emerged. Now there sixteen shadowy figures before the two boys, and Gasudramon was losing his control. Ghosts? Never! Yet these seemed far too real to be simple tricks! He quickly regained his composure and pasted a smirk on his face.
"These shades won't do you any good. I have an army of Chengkomon at my command!" He snapped his fingers and shapes began to file in. The boys recognized them as the Chengkomon from Tor Kasa, but now there were others, as well. Tigers, lions, mice, raccoons, bears, flies, bees, fish, seals, desert rats, and so many others. The variety was staggering, and there appeared to be over a thousand of them. They lined the hall in huge rows. Gasudramon leered at the group in front of him. "Still think you have a chance?" he sneered.
Then, to his surprise, a Chengkomon stepped out of line. It was Worrapsi, the sparrow girl.
"You can't do this," she said quietly.
"What?" shrieked Gasudramon, eyes bulging with fury.
"You can't do this." Her eyes were large and brown, and now soft tears coursed down her cheeks. "For years we have waited for saviors. We did not rightfully belong in Secondary Village. But we had no choice! Your leadership was forced upon us. We never wanted it. But we heard, from the outside as more came how legendary children were destroying the evil that was corrupting our world. And we dreamed about how, one day, they would enter Secondary Village and destroy you, so we could live peacefully as we once did!"
Gasudramon thundered to his feet. "Kill her!" he screamed. Some Chengkomon turned to do that, but as they did, Tabira jumped in front and was slashed down instead. Worrapsi stared in horror at the body. "Why?" she asked. Tabira opened her mouth weakly. "I've always been a failure. Now I have given myself for a better cause, and so free myself up to aid the DigiDestined." Her spirit form appeared over the now-lifeless body and drifted towards the DigiDestined. Worrapsi followed.
"You may think you've won," said Tabira, "but you haven't. These people can be resurrected in a ritual beyond your knowledge." Izzy and Joe gaped. Their friends could be brought back?
Gasudramon chortled. "But for that they need four live ones. Worrapsi does not count."
"But there are four lives ones," said Izzy suddenly.
"And how do you know?" said Gasudramon in a dangerously quiet voice.
"Because they're not here." And suddenly everyone understood the reasoning. Everyone who had died and either supported the DigiDestined or opposed Gasudramon was here. But Mimi and Sora were not. Gasudramon's gaze swept the hall.
"Why were they not killed?" he asked. "Who saved their insignificant lives?" He snapped his head around to face Caniinya. "You are in charge of prisoners; why didn't you kill them?" Caniinya looked uncertain. She cast a quick glance at Felina, who smiled with mock benign. Caniinya shook with rage.
Gasudramon was not pleased. "Your rivalry is well known," he roared, "but you have no need to practice it within my court!"
Before he could continue, a shining golden light filled the room. A beautiful woman with a face as bright as the sun floated to the ground. As she came nearer, the silvery ghosts grew brighter. In the dark room, they seemed like the sun and the moon. In a firm but gentle voice she commanded, "Bring out the others." There was a great rush and several hastened to obey. Before long, the comatose forms of Mimi and Sora were brought and laid down on the floor before Izzy and Joe. The ghosts formed a circle around them as the lady levitated directly above. She closed her eyes and a pressure built up in the room. She began to sweat. Suddenly, Gennai appeared, looking quite young. He joined the feminine figure and held her hand. She seemed to relax a bit, but the pressure built stronger.
To Gasudramon horror and anger, Felina approached. She pushed her way through the crowd and paused outside the circle. Then she closed her eyes and raised her hands, beckoning. From all over the crowd, those who were loyal to Felina unconsciously took a step forward. Felina looked around, and then called out, "This is a thing that must be done for the good of both realms. Behold, your Mother, Stragini!" There was an audible gasp, and a slight smile appeared on the bright, straining face of the woman. Felina continued. "She is calling on her great power to restore those who have saved our land many times over, and they will continue to protect us – if they live. Her Radiance's great son, the Genesis, is helping, but the effort is too much! Join your Mother! Help her with this thing! Together, we can accomplish anything!" And Felina again closed her eyes.
But this time, it was an almost unified surge. All the Chengkomon came forward, despite Gasudramon's dangerous glares and screams. They came around, forming circle after circle, ring after ring, around the four DigiDestined and the dead. Even Caniinya came; no one could resist the need to help Stragini, Mother and Beginning, and the Genesis, Son and Creator. The golden glow grew brighter, the silver glow more intense, and in a flash of light the pressure grew almost unbearable, then simply disappeared. The light abated.
The silvery figures remained. Gasudramon did not.
With a howl of grief, terror, and fury, he flung himself into the air and beat a retreat for the doors at the end of the hall. But the ghosts were regaining their color, and now Chitaro ran forward with a little gift.
"I stole it from the Dark Masters," he informed Joe and Izzy as he handed them a digivice swirled with colors. And even before the ghosts looked normal, together they held it up. And then two other hands joined theirs; Mimi and Sora were awake and well. Triumphantly they turned their faces to it as it glowed, everyone knew exactly what to do.
"Agumon warp-digivolve to WarGreymon!"
"Gabumon warp-digivolve to MetalGarurumon!"
"Gomamon warp-digivolve to MarineAngemon!"
"Tentomon warp-digivolve to HerculesKabuterimon!"
"Palmon warp-digivolve to Rosemon!"
"Biyomon warp-digivolve to Phoenixmon!"
"Patamon warp-digivolve to MagnaAngemon!"
"Gatomon warp-digivolve to Magnadramon!"
HerculesKabuterimon, Rosemon, and Phoenixmon flew after Gasudramon and caught him in midair. "You may be an Ultimate," said Rosemon, "but now we're Megas!"
"Revenge is sweet," snarled HerculesKabuterimon. "But doing justice is better!" finished MetalGarurumon as he raced to block the door.
Gasudramon broke away and started for a wall.
"Out of the way!" yelled WarGreymon. "Nova Force!" The orange tornado threw Gasudramon around and dumped him to the floor. "Allow me!" said MetalGarurumon, coming up from behind. "Ice Wolf Claw!" The guns opened up and shot out beams of blue, encasing Gasudramon in ice.
"Your turn," said Magnadramon to MagnaAngemon. He nodded.
"Gate of Destiny!" he called, drawing the circle. Then he flew to the side and watched as it unlocked, opened, and began to suck in Gasudramon.
"Wait," said Stragini. MagnaAngemon quickly closed the gate and it disappeared.
"Do not do that," Stragini said. "There will be a time when the Dark Dragon will be needed. Put him instead in this." She held up a compact disk. Izzy took it, put it in his recovered laptop, and downloaded the program. Then he stood up and backed away. HerculesKabuterimon picked up the frozen Gasudramon and placed him by the computer. Light shone out of the laptop, and Gasudramon was sucked in. Izzy took out the disk. It had turned black.
"Now," said Stragini. MagnaAngemon opened the Gate of Destiny again, and it sucked in the disk. Gasudramon was defeated.
Or was he?
Well, I think I tied up
all the loose ends…or did I? Heh heh…review, please. By the way, there WILL be
an epilogue, and there will the resurrection and the Genesis and all that be
explained. Note to Teishin Izumi: *Sticks out tongue.* See?? They DIDN'T die
completely. I know this was suddenly very dramatic. The epilogue will no doubt
be extremely anti-climatic. Ah, well. This fic is the longest and oldest of all
my fics. It's also the first I started and I the first I've finished. Sniffle.
I can't believe it's over! Well, I'm past my morbid fascination with ways of
killing people (I hope) and now I can happily continue with my funnier fics! In
fact, I'm working on Wish Upon a Jellybean Sandwich right now! Well, so long,
stay tuned for the much-needed epilogue!