Story Six: Returns
As Kari had said, their departed friend, and his Digimon, Kunemon, stood on a platform, amongst the remains of Diaboromon. Xanatos and Devimon used the opportunity to split, and the other Digimon de-Digivolved, leaving the Digi-destined face to face.
"Don't act so surprised." Alex stated simply. "I've saved you on many occasions, Kari. This is just a walk in the park for me."
Kari walked up to him. "We missed you so much." As it seemed she was about to embrace him, he moved back.
"We have no time for reminiscing." Alex told them. "We must pursue our enemies."
"What are you talking about?" Cerac asked. "Diaboromon is dead!"
Alex shook his head. "I destroyed a copy. We prevented his actions here, but even now, he is winning the battle. You see, Diaboromon and Xanatos planned this whole thing. Their goal was to send you after Diaboromon's copy, you exact three, leaving the others without Ultimates. Our friends are being beaten as we speak."
"Then, we need to go help them!" T.K. was about to exit when Alex grabbed onto him.
"No. It wouldn't matter if you left now or not." Alex sighed. "Diaboromon has all ready beaten them. However, he has done this to draw the other Digi-destined inward. Your friends Matt, Sora, and Joe, are about to enter the Digi-world to battle him."
"How do you know all this?" Kari asked.
"I was given insight." Alex replied simply. "Now, I must take my leave."
"What?" T.K. asked. "You're back for a few seconds, and now you take off? Just like that?"
"I am going to America." Alex explained. "I must get our only other active team member: Willis."
"Jeez, man!" Cerac rubbed his head. "How many Digi-destined are there?"
"Almost a hundred last I checked." Alex replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me." With that, he and Kunemon disappeared into the internet.
"Alex…" Kari whispered.
"What's a matter?" Cerac asked T.K. "She like that guy or something?"
T.K. snarled a reply. "Everyone likes her."
Cerac looked at Kari. "Well, now that you mention it, she is kinda'-" T,K. grabbed him around the neck.
"Do us all a favor, and shut up, okay?"
Later, the three Digi-destined emerged from the internet, and found their friends lying amongst the wreckage on the ground, their Digimon beaten as well. They went and tended to the others, Cerac to Davis, Kari to Yolei, and T.K. to Cody. Their Digimon helped them as well, and they walked towards the Digi-port, to find Matt, Sora, Joe, Garurumon, Birdramon, and Ikkakumon all waiting for them.
"Okay, what happened?" Matt asked. "Did you guys defeat Diaboromon?"
"If anything, we just slowed him down." T.K. replied. "We destroyed one of his copies, and the real him almost took out our friends."
"Almost is an understatement." Everyone turned, to see Xanatos and Devimon standing near the Digi-port, grinning widely.
"You're Xanatos, right?" Matt asked. "The kid who keeps messing with us?"
"And surely you wouldn't forget me." Diaboromon them emerged from the trees behind Xanatos, grinning widely. "After all, I destroyed those three."
"Well, here's three you won't destroy!" Matt promised. "Get him!"
"Howling Blaster!" Garurumon unleashed a large blast of blue energy from his mouth.
"Harpoon Torpedo!" Ikkakumon launched a number of horns from his head, which exploded outward into missiles.
"Meteor Wing!" Birdramon flapped upwards, and sent a storm of fireballs raining down.
"Hand of Fate!" Angemon sent out a blast of energy from his fist.
"Celestial Arrow!" Angewomon launched from her bow an arrow composed of light.
"Ninja Blade!" Ninjamon directed the slash at Devimon, as the other attacks hit Diaboromon. Both evil Digimon endured the attacks however, laughing insanely.
"Web Wrecker!" Diaboromon laughed, launching a huge beam of energy from his chest, which struck the five Champion Digimon, causing Garurumon and Ikkakumon to de-Digivolve into Gabumon and Gomamon. Birdramon and Ninjamon had been hit, but were not badly hurt, while Angemon was merely signed by the blast. Angewomon, on the other hand, had lifted up to attack.
"Heaven's-" she began, when Devimon popped up.
"I think not! Evil Wing!" Devimon then struck Angewomon, sending her crashing to the ground.
"Enough of this!" Matt cried out. "Gabumon, Warp-Digivolve!"
The Digimon obeyed the order. "Gabumon, Warp-Digivolve to…" Gabumon passed its Champion and Ultimate stages, emerging as a metal-plated, flying, savage wolf Mega Digimon. "MetalGarurumon!"
Diaboromon smiled. "Ah, my old foe. So good to see you again. A pity I must destroy you. CABLE CRUSHER!" he launched his massive arm outwards.
"Giga Missile!" MetalGarurumon's chest opened, and a large missile shot from it, exploding against Diaboromon, sending him tumbling backwards.
"Ingrate!" Diaboromon roared, angry.
"Allow me to even the score!" Devimon flapped up. "Touch of Evil!" He extended one hand forward, sending waves of dark energy straight towards MetalGarurumon's mind.
"Hand of Fate!" Devimon was then blasted away by Angemon's attack. However, the distraction gave Diaboromon enough time to send out another Cable Crusher, this time, slamming MetalGarurumon straight back to its In-Training form of Tsunomon.
"Keep fighting!" Cerac encouraged.
"Koga Star!" Ninjamon launched a set of ninja stars forward, but was surprised to see them intercepted by a new attacker.
"Minotaur Gattling!" a storm of bullets shot into the fray, cutting the ninja stars apart. Everyone turned, stunned, to see Minotarumon enter the fray.
"What the…what are you doing?" Matt demanded.
"Serving the true ruler of the Digital world." Minotarumon explained. "Did you really think I was good? You fools never realized I merely wanted to restore chaos to this land. I made good with Diaboromon after I plugged him back in."
Diaboromon smiled. "Indeed he did. Now, we three have formed a great alliance. None can defeat our combined might."
"We can." T.K. promised them.
"Wanna' bet?" Minotarumon asked. "Try dodging this…Dark Side Quake!" He slammed his massive metal arm into the ground, forming a large crack. The ground began to split apart, as some of the Digimon fell through, becoming injured.
"Death Claw!" Devimon extended his arm, striking Angemon. The angel Digimon fell unconscious, reverting back to his Rookie stage of Patamon.
"Earthquake Drill!" Minotarumon's mechanical arm began to spin wildly, as he upper-cutted Ninjamon, sending him back to his Mushroomon form.
"They're too powerful!" Gomamon said.
"We must withdraw." Birdramon agreed.
"Hurry!" Kari said, hoisting up Yolei. "Back to the Digi-port!" Cerac and T.K. picked up Davis and Cody, and ran towards the advanced computer system they used to enter the Digital world.
"Don't let them escape!" Xanatos cried.
"Minotaur Gattling!" Minotarumon launched a torrent of bullets after the Digi-destined, but they were deflected by Birdramon's Meteor Wing.
"We're almost there!" Cerac told the others, as he pointed his Digi-vice at the computer. "Digi-port, open!" With that, he, Davis, Mushroomon, and Veemon all went in. Kari, Yolei, and their Digimon followed, as T.K. and the others approached the Digi-port.
"Cable Crusher!" Diaboromon launched his arm, faster than the Digi-destined
could run. It slammed into the computer console, breaking it apart, and
severing their connection to the real world.
T.K., Cody, Sora, Joe, and Matt all turned, their beaten Digimon watching
as their enemies approached. "No…"
Izzy leapt away from the computer, as Cerac, Davis, Kari, Yolei, and their Digimon all crashed onto the carpet of the computer lab. They rose weakly, Davis and Yolei starting to gain consciousness.
"Huh?" Izzy wondered. "Where are the others?"
"Wait…where's T.S.?" Davis asked wearily. "And why are there five Izzys?"
"You mean…they didn't make it out?" Cerac asked, looking at the computer in surprise. "No…"
"Diaboromon has captured them." Izzy explained. "He's taken them to the same place he has the other Digi-destined…at INFINITY MOUNTAIN?"
"Infinity Mountain?" Kari asked.
"It's a place back on File Island." Izzy explained. "It seems as though Diaboromon has our friends locked up in Devimon's old castle. A convenient place, considering the Digimon alliance."
"We have to get him!" Davis said, heading towards the computer.
"No." Izzy told Davis, holding him back. "They're too powerful, and you're in no shape to battle them. We have to wait until Alex and Willis get back. Because, as of now, we seven are the only hope."
"What about the others' parents?" Yolei asked. "Aren't they worried?"
"I can assure you they are." Izzy nodded. "I told them that their kids got locked up in their schools. The excuse has held up for the past three days, but I don't know how it can last."
"It'll have to." Cerac replied simply. "We've got to defeat Diaboromon.
We have to save the Digital world!"
Back at Infinity Mountain, Minotarumon tossed Matt, Sora, Joe, T.K., Cody and their Digimon into the holding cells with the other Digi-destined.
"You'll never get away with this!" Tai told Minotarumon. "The others will rescue us!"
"I'm counting on it." Diaboromon said as he appeared. "Minotarumon, Xanatos and I shall watch over these miscreants."
"All right." Minotarumon nodded. "What do you want me to do?"
"Yeah, boss, what's the plan?" DemiDevimon asked as he and Xanatos walked in.
"Minotarumon, go to Colorado, where Willis lives. Destroy him and that Alex fellow. Those two pose the largest threat." Diaboromon explained. "Leave no one alive."
Minotarumon bowed. "As you command."
Diaboromon smiled as he left. "Yes. All that remains now…are seven Digi-destined. They will fall as well. And then, we shall rule this world!"
Diaboromon laughed maniacally, while Xanatos grinned. The captive Digi-destined
sat in a great deal of shock and fear, aware that the worst…was yet to
come…