Story Six: Trouble in the Ranks
Alex stared off into the night, his fellow Digi-destined talking, eating, discussing regular, everyday teenager stuff. Their Digimon acted like Tapirmon, as a pig, devouring every last scrap of food in sight. Kunemon, who was munching on some herbs, watched Alex as he stood, looking determinedly forward, out at the vast Digital World.
"Hey Kunemon?" Tapirmon asked. "How come Alex is just standing there?"
"He's a little weird." Kunemon explained. "You see, Alex bears the Crest of Darkness, so he's a lot more ruthless then any other Digi-destined, not to mention the Collector messed with his mind."
"He's got some serious issues." Penguinmon said.
"Stop talking about him like that." Kunemon growled.
"Oh, yeah?" Penguinmon lifted his beak in the air. "What're you gonna' do about it, worm boy?"
Kunemon snarled, and jumped Penguinmon in a rage. Soon, the other Digi-destined noticed this, and broke them apart. Alex turned, and walked over to the two Digimon, very serious.
"What is the meaning of this confrontation?" Alex asked.
"Penguinmon was talking #$@! about you." Kunemon explained.
"Is this true?" Alex asked Penguinmon.
"No! The worm's lying!" Penguinmon waved his arms hastily.
Alex looked at both, and lifted them by their necks. "We have enough to worry about with the Collector and his gang of evil people. The last thing we need is you two fighting. In short, you'll both apologize to each other, and then we'll get some rest before searching for the bad guys."
Kunemon and Penguinmon glared at each other, both refusing to start.
"Well?" Alex asked, eyeing them.
"I'm…" they began, before a loud roar shook the area. Two reddish Tyrannomon walked out of the bushes, looking at the Digi-destined.
"There they are!" growled one. "Get them!" The two dinosaur Digimon charged forward.
"Electro Thread!" Kunemon launched a webbing from its mouth, which electrocuted the Tyrannomon.
"Super Slap!" Penguinmon hit another with its wing. The Tyrannomon kept coming however, and the two Digimon Digi-volved.
"Kunemon, Digi-volve to… Musyamon!"
"Penguinmon Digi-volve to… Veedramon!"
The two champs attacked the Tyrannomon, fighting viciously. It soon became apparent that both were trying to outmatch the other. Soon, however, with the Shogun Sword and V-Blast attacks, the Tyrannomon were defeated.
But, that didn't necessarily mean the battle was over.
"Admit it, I'm the best!" Veedramon boasted.
"You? Ha! I'm experienced in battle, kid. I've been through some tough guys. You ain't half as good as Neomon." Musyamon replied.
"According to Alex, you had to go Mega to beat him." Veedramon snorted.
"That's another thing." Musyamon continued. "I can Digi-volve to Mega. You can't beat that."
"Wanna' bet, ninja boy?" Veedramon asked.
"ENOUGH!" Alex finally shouted. "Both of you! Look at yourselves, boasting your egos, fighting amongst yourselves! Well, it stops here! If you two want to fight each other so bad, then tomorrow morning, Cyclonemon and AeroVeedramon will go at it!"
"Alex?" Adam asked. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Once they duke it out, they'll see why they shouldn't be fighting."
Alex whispered. "Trust me, this'll work."
Little did they know, MetalTyrannomon was only a few feet away, watching
with great interest. "If I get those two out of the way…" he thought, "I'll
eliminate the two biggest threats and be able to pick off the other Digi-destined
like sheep!"
The next morning, Penguinmon glared at Kunemon from across a stretch of land. Both were eager to battle, never taking their eyes off each other.
"Digi-volve." Alex stated simply. Kunemon and Penguinmon now faced each other as Cyclonemon and AeroVeedramon, as they had agreed to.
"Alex, this is pointless." Angela said. "They'll destroy each other."
"That's exactly what I'm counting on." Alex replied, leaving the other Digi-destined at a loss for words. "BEGIN!"
The fight began like most others, as the two Digimon exchanged physical blows before actually attacking, but the battle soon heated up…literally.
"Hyper Heat!" Cyclonemon launched a fire ball from its clawed hand, but AeroVeedramon lifted himself into the air, dodging the attack.
"Try this! Magnum Crusher!" AeroVeedramon shot down, slamming its fists into the ground, sending shock waves towards Cyclonemon, who stood through the attack, barely phased.
"My turn." Cyclonemon replied, and held out a claw, apparently doing nothing.
"Well?" AeroVeedramon looked around. "Where's the attack?"
"Directly above you." Cyclonemon replied. "Dark Shot!" A large ball of black energy shot forward, slamming into AeroVeedramon's chest. Caught of guard, the Digimon was sent crashing to the ground, greatly weakened.
"Alex, we have to stop this!" Adam said. "They'll kill each other!"
"If anything, they will respect each other." Alex replied. "But, your Penguinmon's a hothead. I suggest you convince him to cool off before the team falls apart."
Adam nodded, as the two continued to watch the raging confrontation.
"V-Blade!" AeroVeedramon launched a 'v' shaped blast from its joined claws, which slammed into Cyclonemon, weakening it as well.
"Now, it ends!" Cyclonemon promised, opening its mouth. "Darkness-" Cyclonemon was cut off by a blast of fire striking the field. It hadn't come from AeroVeedramon.
Instead, a swarm of Tyrannomon, DarkTyrannomon, Drimogemon, and Monochromon erupted from out of the bushes, attacking the unprepared Digi-destined.
"Destroy them now! While they are weak!" MetalTyrannomon ordered as he leaped in.
"Volcanic Strike/Blaze Blast/Fire Blast!" the Monochromon, Tyrannomon, and DarkTyrannomon all cried as one, launching their fire balls forward. Cyclonemon and AeroVeedramon easily deflected the attacks however, before the Drimogemon slammed them with Mole Claw attacks.
Alex turned to the others. "Digi-volve. I'm going in." He pulled out his sword, and ran into the battle, locking his sword with the claws of a Drimogemon.
Soon, Mammothmon, MegaSeadramon, and Scorpiomon joined the fight, as the five Digimon (and one human) battled the hordes of minions, MetalTyrannomon finally joined the fray, locking up with AeroVeedramon.
"What's the matter, tough guy? No more tricks?" MetalTyrannomon asked. "Metal Claw!" He slammed AeroVeedramon against the ground, weakening him with each hit. It looked like a loss for the flying fighter, when an unexpected savior arrived.
"Dark Shot!" Cyclonemon flung the black sphere at MetalTyrannomon, sending him flying. MetalTyrannomon landed quite easily on his feet, however. AeroVeedramon and Cyclonemon eyed each other, and nodded.
"You'll both die! Energy Gauntlet!" MetalTyrannomon unleashed twin energy blasts from his clawed hands.
As one, Cyclonemon and AeroVeedramon rang out their attacks.
"Darkness Beam!"
"V-Blade!"
The two attacks easily overcame the energy attacks, slamming into MetalTyrannomon.
"Aaah!" the metal dinosaur screamed, as he knew his end was near.
"Now! While he's weak!" Alex cried to the others.
"Mega Ice Blast!" MegaSeadramon launched the frozen water from its mouth, frying MetalTyrannomon's circuits.
"Tusk Crusher!" Mammothmon unleashed the two tusk-like missiles, hitting MetalTyrannomon dead on.
"Scorpion Sting!" Scorpiomon finished the assault with a blast of energy from its tail. MetalTyrannomon screamed as parts of his body broke off. He realized he was beaten, and fled.
Seeing their leader defeated, the remaining minions retreated, leaving the Digi-destined victorious again.
The Digi-destined noticed Kunemon and Penguinmon glaring at each other, before turning, crossing their arms (or fins, or tail, or whatever…)
"They respect each other." Alex said, as he predicted.
"Indeed they do." The Collector had been watching this display. "But,
that won't help you much, little fools. My next opponent is the best there
is!" He pressed a button on a nearby control panel. "They don't call me
'the Collector' for nothing!" He laughed evilly, as a large Digimon flew
from his base, with its orders ready to fulfill.