Disclaimer and Author's Notes: I don't own the Marvel or Digimon characters.
WOAH! Sorry this took so long! But a BUNCH of crap happened - after I got back from vacation, once I was done working on the Digimon movie parody which I recently posted here at FF.N, my monitor burned out, and I was left without a comp for a week. Then, after I got a new monitor, and got to work on this chapter, that weekend I had to go away for the weekend, to attend a Transformers convention in England. And then, two days after I got back, my computer got infected with a virus that deleted my files, so I had to retype this entire chapter... and THEN, I had to format my hard drive after I saved it to disk, and after THAT I had to upgrade my Internet Explorer, as the old version on my system restore pack wouldn't work any more, so THAT's why it took so long! Sorry guys! But I hope you think it's been worth waiting for!
- - -
MARVEL COMICS vs. DIGIMON!
Chapter Four
"COME INTO MY PARLOUR..."
By Chris McFeely
- - -
Roughly a mile below the streets of Manhattan, beneath the
Latverian embassy, to be specific, Victor Von Doom regarded a
wall of video screens, showing scenes of chaos throughout New
York. Monstrous creatures of all shapes and sizes were rampaging
through the city, destroying anything that got in their path, and
even battling with each other, like something out of a cheesy
B-movie.
Simply fascinating.
Victor, known better the world over as the megalomaniacal Doctor
Doom, arch nemesis of the Fantastic Four and despotic ruler of
the small Eastern European nation of Latveria, stood straight,
his arms folded behind his back, as he observed teams like
X-Force, the New Warriors, and other - notably second string -
individuals do their best to deal with the monster threat.
Where are you, Richards? Doom wondered. The absence
of the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and the X-Men was puzzling at
best - Doom had to wonder what they were dealing with that was
more important that this particular situation. Of course, that
was not to say that he was worried.
A world filled with these creatures... Doom said,
softly, as he scratched his armoured chin with a metal finger,
...could prove most useful to me...
something cried.
Doom did not even look around, as a small, cockroach-like monster
burst out from behind a console, having chewed it's way
through the wall. It flexed it's arms, and snapped it's
jaws.
I'm Roachmon! it cried. And I'm -
AWK!
Without even moving his head, Doom lifted one arm, fingers
splayed, and obliterated the creature with a laser beam from his
palm. Gritty black particles swirled in the air where it had been
standing, and then dissolved into the ether.
Doom murmured. Most fascinating,
indeed.
- - -
Back in Pier Four, everyone's attention was fixed on the
single remaining temporal window, as Angewomon struggled
valiantly against the hail storm she was being subjected to by
Storm of the X-Men.
Come on, Gatomon... Patamon whispered.
Abruptly, there was a flash of light, and Johnny Storm reappeared
inside the room, as did Davis, cradling the injured Veemon in his
arms.
Davis said. Who's winning?
Well, it looks like... Iron Man started, then stopped
short. Wait a second... where did Spider-Man go?
- - -
Only a brief twinge from his Spider-Sense prepared the
webslinger for the instantaneous transportation he underwent.
Pier Four fell away around him, and he found himself standing in
a rocky valley, boulders ranging from the huge to small littered
all around. It had been day but a moment ago, but here in the
valley, the sky was a thick black, and the light of the moon
played off the rocks, making them a dull, luminous greenish
colour.
First thing's first, Spidey said out loud,
jumping onto the nearest valley wall. Get some
bearings.
However, as the hero began to climb up the rough surface, the top
of the valley seemed to get further and further away. The faster
he moved, the faster it moved. Eventually, he gave up, and hopped
back down to ground level, which he had apparently not moved more
than ten feet off of.
Someone wants me to stay in here, he commented,
resting his fists on his hips and looking around. Hmn,
can't get out that way...
I'm afraid, a sharp voice range out, that
NO-ONE gets out!
Spidey somersaulted over, to face the direction the voice was
coming from, and saw, a little distance away from him, a female
figure standing atop one of the larger boulders. Appearing as if
she were in her early or mid-thirties, she wore a plain red dress
down to her ankles, which hugged her figure, leaving her arms
bare, to be covered by long purple gloves. A striped hat of the
same two colours sat on her head, and a pair of beady eyes peered
out at Spidey from behind violet-tinted shades, as he casually
toyed with a few strands of her long white hair. She didn't
look like one of the monsters, but based on the angel-woman Storm
was fighting, he took no chances.
Didn't see you back in Pier Four! he called to
her. Who invited you to the party?
We're both here for the same reason, she
replied. To save our respective worlds! Of course, I only
want to save it so I can destroy it, but, eh, po-tay-to,
po-tah-to... The woman emphasised her point with a shrug.
Y'know, I usually make it a rule not to hit
ladies... Spidey started, but was cut off was the woman
snickered.
Her body twisted and contorted, undergoing a bizarre
metamorphosis. She ballooned up, everything below her waist
swelling outwards, turning into a huge orb, as six spindly legs
emerged from within it. He arms widened and stretched, her hands
becoming chunky and stubby, as the hat disappeared, to be
replaced by a set of rounded horns. A hideous, grinning face, the
top half covered by a red mask, looked down on Spidey, a grin set
firmly on the lips.
...but... evidently... Spidey tried to regain his
composure, ...you AIN'T no lady!
You can call me Arukenimon! she cried. And
now... say goodbye!
- - -
CELESTIAL A-ungh! another chunk of hail smashed
into Angewomon's wrist, preventing her from firing her
attack. Not that it would have done any good if she had done -
her vision was still fuzzy from the blow to the head she had
taken moments before, and she could barely see through the hail.
In desperation, she twisted herself around in the air, looking
for something - anything - she could shelter herself with. But it
was in vain - all around her, in all directions, was nothing but
pure, unending indigo sky.
Unending sky...?
It was crazy, but it might work. With a grunt, Angewomon simply
stopped beating her wings, electing instead to wrap them around
herself. They did a fair job of shielding her from the ice, but
without them to support her, she began to fall downwards, out of
the range of the hailstorm.
Kari cried, unaware of her partner's
plan.
Storm scowled, and dove to intercept Angewomon, her hands
crackling with lightning. What she did not expect, however, was
for the angel to unfurl her wings again, and whirl around in the
air, behind Storm. The African X-Man thought she could move fast
enough to bring the hail on her again.
She was wrong.
HEAVEN'S CHARM!
Storm screamed as the cross of pink energy swept across her body,
searing her skin and costume. As it fizzled out, steam rose off
of her body, as he looked at Angewomon with glowing white eyes.
I'm afraid it will take more than th-
CELESTIAL ARROW!!
Storm's gut felt as if it were on fire as the attack tore
into her, causing her to double over in pain. She groaned, and
passed out, as the winds supporting her ceased, sending her
plummeting downwards. Angewomon turned to look at Kari, who
nodded. Quickly, the angel Digimon dove down, and grabbed Storm
by the collar, stopping her descent.
SECOND VICTORY! ANGEWOMON!
- - -
You really need to work on your anger management,
Spidey quipped, smartly vaulting over Arukenimon's head,
avoiding a stream of sticky threads projected from her hands.
And your aim.
Are you going to fight, or do you plan to talk me to
death? Arukenimon sneered, twisting around. ACID
MIST!
Arukenimon pursed her lips, and a long stream of green, acrid
vapour spewed forth, flying towards Spidey, hissing menacingly.
Well, since you asked so nicely... Spidey lifted his
hands and tapped the activators on his webshooters, quickly
forming a shield of webbing in front of him. The mist collided
with the web, and Spidey dropped it with a yelp, as it began to
bubble and spit, dissolving into a puddle at his feet. Hot
potato! he exclaimed, waving his hands in the air to cool
them off. That is SO unfair. You don't see ME spitting
acid gas at YOU, do you?
I don't see you doing much of anything!
Arukenimon hissed. With a cry, she charged towards the webbed
hero, arms outstretched.
If you insist... Spidey said, deftly side-stepping
and rolling behind her as she stormed through the spot he had
been standing in seconds before. With practised ease, he shot off
two more strands of webbing, which entangled themselves around
all six of Arukenimon's legs. She screamed, and fell
forward, smashing her jaw off a rock.
- - -
Everyone shielded their eyes as Gatomon, Kari and the
unconscious Storm reappeared in Pier Four with a flash. Angel
gently picked up Storm, as Wolverine removed his cigar from his
mouth long enough to grunt with distaste.
THE NEXT CHOICE IS MADE! the voice cried.
Immediately, everyone looked around the room, attempting to
discern who had been taken to do battle this time. After a few
seconds, it became apparent that everyone was still here.
No-one is missing! Iron Man addressed the ceiling.
Who have you taken?
Another temporal window blinked into existence, replacing the one
which had displayed Storm and Angewomon's battle. It showed
a desolate mountain peak, dead and grey, with a pitch-black sky
above, and a jagged rocks below. The window zoomed inwards, to
the very top of the mountain, to show the first of the
combatants.
On the peak, a tall figure stood, his entire body clad in black
leather. Two huge leathery swings fanned out from his shoulder
blades, and disproportionately long arms clad in black and brown
straps hung at his sides, the fingers on each hand ending with
sharp, deadly talons. The bottom half of the figure's face
was the only part of skin exposed - it was sickly grey in colour,
and fangs grew evident in his mouth as his lips peeled back in a
sneer. To top off his demon-like appearance, two long horns
protruded from either side of his head, and the red orbs which
were his eyes burned in their sockets like fire.
Tai breathed.
Izzy exclaimed. Devimon was
destroyed! Apparently, the instigators of this impromptu
embroglio do indeed possess the ability to transcend the barriers
of time!
Never mind all that, Sora said, trying but failing to
conceal her fear of the demonic Digimon. Who's he up
against?
In answer, the temporal window shifted its focus, and panned down
the mountainside, to show the second combatant, perched,
gargoyle-like, on a rocky outcrop. He too was clad completely in
black, which shimmered with blue highlights when what little
light there was struck it at the right angle. The body was a
massive collection of muscles, a white spider decal running
across his wide chest, while two huge white eyes scanned the
area. As everyone watched, the figure's mouth opened,
revealing two long rows of large, discoloured fangs. The jaw was
elongated, and a prehensile tongue crept its way out of the
mouth, coated in green drool, which ran down the combatant's
chin.
Johnny Storm cried.
Davis leant in closer to the window. Ten
bucks on Venom!
Triathlon replied, slapping the money down on
the table.
Believe it or not, Davis, Yolei said, sighing,
we've got to support Devimon!
- - -
Devimon allowed his gaze to drift downward, as the sound of
grunting reached his ears. His eyes flashed brighter, briefly, as
he saw Venom clambering his way up the mountain at what was
admittedly an impressive speed.
Devimon said, out loud. This creature
believes itself to be worthy to do battle with me. Well, it shall
find that Devimon is more than a match f-
Devimon was cut off in mid-sentence, as Venom reached the peak
and drove into the demon, tackling him to the ground, laughing
insanely. His jaws snapped, mere inches from Devimon's face.
The Digimon scowled, and kicked out, throwing Venom off, over his
head. He jumped to his feet, and spun around to face Venom.
You will fall before me, creature! he screamed at the
symbiote villain. And the Digital World will be mine!
The innocents of our world say different! Venom
bellowed, lunging at the dark Digimon once again.
- - -
Put... me... down! Arukenimon choked out. She
found it hard to speak properly, given that she was presently
being whirled in a circle through the air, her feet still bound
by Spider-Man's webbing, which the hero was now holding, as
he spun on the spot, dragging her around with him.
I never refuse a lady, Spidey replied, ...but I
guess I won't refuse someone like YOU either.
Spidey came to a dead stop, and released the webbing, sending
Arukenimon flying forward, to crash head first into a large
boulder.
That's gonna leave a mark in the morning, Spidey
noted, as the spider woman staggered back to her feet. She was
missing a few teeth, and one of her horns was bent, as a trickle
of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
That... all... you got...? she rasped.
Spidey sighed. You don't know when to quit, do ya?
I'd better put you out of my misery...
The hero quickly performed a short running jump, and a
microsecond later was flying towards Arukenimon, his leg
stretched out ahead of him, preparing to deliver the final blow.
What he did not expect, however, was for Arukenimon to morph back
into her human form, shrinking down so that he sailed straight
over her head, and slammed full force into the rock wall behind
her. Arukenimon stood up and took on her Digimon form again,
grinning from ear to ear.
Mommy, I think I have an owie... Spidey garbled.
When I'm done with you, you'll have a lot more
than just one... Arukenimon cackled, seizing the
hero's shoulder, and hoisting him into the air.
- - -
Devimon screeched with pain as Venom's claws raked across
his chest, cleaving his costume and his flesh. As he stumbled
back, Venom casually licked Devimon's blood, which was a
dull purple in colour, off his fingertips.
Mmm... yummy... Venom said, licking his lips,
flicking spittle everywhere. We wonder... what do digital
brains taste like?
Devimon scowled, spreading his wings, and soaring into the air.
Regrettably, you'll never find out! he roared.
TOUCH OF EVIL!
The demon lord's palms crackled with purple energy, as he
thrust his arms forward, sending bolts of energy screaming
through the sky, which exploded on the ground around Venom. He
hissed, as the alien symbiote which was his costume shivered, the
heat from the blasts proving to be strong enough for it to
consider uncomfortable. Venom lifted an arm into the air, and a
rippled travelled along his arm, to erupt as a tendril from his
hand. It launched itself into the sky, easily snagging
Devimon's wrist, and flowing over him. The Digimon tugged at
it, but it merely stretched instead of breaking.
Come on DOWN! Venom laughed, firing off more
tendrils, each of which wrapped around one of Devimon's
limbs, dragging him down toward Venom's waiting maw.
- - -
Tense, isn't it? Daffy Duck inquired of
DemiDevimon.
I wish you'd quit doing that, the bat replied,
and the Impossible Man shifted back to his normal shape.
You have no sense of humour, y'know that? the
imp told him.
Get off my back, pickle-head, DemiDevimon snapped.
You're just pissy because your team is losing...
We're NOT losing!
Are so!
Are not!
Are so times infinity!
Times infinity - plus one!
There was a pause.
Ooh, you've won THIS round, bat boy...
- - -
Spider-Man tugged on Arukenimon's fingers as she
tightened her grip around his neck, a glint of madness evident in
her eyes.
Any last words? she hissed.
Spidey nodded, and rasped something out so quietly that
Arukenimon could not decipher it.
Arukenimon shook the hero, and moved her head in
closer.
Again, Spidey choked something out that she couldn't hear
properly.
she yelled in his face, moving closer still.
I said... Spidey whispered, ...how many fingers
am I holding up?
Arukenimon's eyes flicked to the side to see Spidey's
raised hand, his index and pinkie fingers held up, as the other
two stabbed down on his webshooter activation button, blasting
Arukenimon square in the face at point blank range with a wave of
web.
The villainess shrieked, dropping Spider-Man and clawing at her
face, making choking noises as a few strands of webbing found
their way into her throat. Spidey got to his feet, and grabbed
her by the collar with both hands.
Nighty night.
In one smooth movement, Spider-Man hoisted her towards him, and
brought his head forward, delivering a shattering headbutt, which
made everyone watching back in Pier Four wince.
Spidey dropped Arukenimon, and wobbled backwards, clutching his
skull.
he said. Ow, ow, ow, ow,
owowowowowowowOWWWW!!!
Aw... poor baby... hurt yourself...? Arukenimon
snorted out, getting back to her feet and tearing the webbing off
her face. With a long groan, she lunged towards Spidey once more.
- - -
Devimon continued to struggle as Venom's symbiote flowed
over his body, sucking him in, dragging him down, through the
air. As he reached ground level again, he was pulled in against
Venom's body, and the symbiote fully surrounded him, flowing
down his throat and up his noise, suffocating him. Venom stood
strong, as the writhing mass on his chest that was Devimon
struggled underneath the symbiote.
There's no fun in killing them first... Venom
drooled, ...better to eat them fresh...
The symbiote parted, and Devimon's head erupted from beneath
the viscous black ooze, while the rest of his body was
immobilised.
Snack time, Venom told him. Ooh, this model
comes with the twist-off cap...
Seizing each of Devimon's horns in his hands, Venom began to
twist them in opposite directions, threatening to snap the
demon's neck and tear his head clean off.
Usually... nngh... Venom grunted, we prefer
to... ungh! ...suck through the left eyeball... rggh! ...but in
your case, we will... make... an exception...!
Devimon resisted the urge to cry out as the pain grew. Summoning
every bit of energy he had, he focused all his strength into one
hand, which began to shimmer with purple energy once more. Venom
felt the heat underneath his skin.
Venom hissed. What is...?
Venom cut himself off with a scream, as Devimon's arm tore
itself free from the symbiote, and he seized Venom about the
head, his palm pressed hard up against his face.
TOUCH OF EVIL!
- - -
As Arukenimon slumped to the ground in a heap, Spider-Man
realised that she hadn't been lunging at all.
She was utterly unconscious.
THIRD VICTORY! the now-familiar voice cried.
With a groan of his own, Spidey flopped down on to a smallish
rock, nursing his head. Mental note, he told himself,
never, EVER, do that again...
Hey, you mind gettin' off me?
Spidey jumped up with a start, looking back to see Matt dusting
his lap off. He looked around, and found himself in Pier Four
once again. He rubbed his head, and winced again.
Geez, I think I gave myself a fracture, or something...
Daredevil, could you use your radar to... Daredevil? Where'd
he go?
Don't know, T.K. said, gesturing at an empty
spot on the couch, but I'll wager it's wherever
Yolei and Hawkmon are, too.
- - -
Though technically blind, Daredevil was blessed with enhanced
versions of the other four senses, as well as a radar sense which
allowed him to effectively everything around him.
So it was that Daredevil was easily able to tell that he was no
longer in Pier Four, but rather, appeared to be in a huge forest.
Trees stretched in all directions, as far as his unseeing eyes
could see, each of them towering at least a hundred feet in
height. Right now, he was standing in the middle of a clearing,
and, maybe twenty feet away, through the trees, he picked up two
heartbeats moving towards him.
A quick sniff of the air, filtering out the smells of the forest,
allowed Daredevil to identify their scents - one was the
purple-haired girl he had seen in Pier Four earlier, while the
second was the bird creature who had been with her. The
girl's heartbeat was racing, but the bird's was
comparatively normal.
Silently, Daredevil scaled the nearest tree, until he was perched
on a branch about thirty feet above ground level. And there, he
waited.
Minutes later, Yolei and Hawkmon arrived in the clearing.
He must be around here somewhere... Yolei muttered.
I feel that it would help if we knew who we were looking
for, Hawkmon pointed out.
I don't care who he is! Yolei chirped, grinning
and clasping her hands. If he's a superhero, then
he's buff, and I wanna find him!
Hawkmon rolled his eyes. You don't even know if it IS
a
Yeah, yeah... Yolei grumbled. Anyway,
you'd better get ready. Reaching a hand into her
pocket, Yolei produced her D-3 and D-Terminal. Digi-Armour,
Energise!
There was an electric scream from the D-Terminal, and a beam of
green light shot from it into the D-3, which began to spew energy
from it's small screen. Out of the energy, a small oval,
about the size of a fist, appeared and floated through the air,
towards Hawkmon, and began to move in circles around him.
Hawkmon, Armour Digivolve to...
As Daredevil watched, the bird began to glow, and change in
shape. When the light subsided, a creature looking nothing so
much like a cross between a samurai, a pot plant and a couple of
Slinkies stood in his place.
...Shurimon! The Samurai of Sincerity!
With a whirr, Shurimon's legs extended, and he rose up, to
look around himself, carefully scanning the horizon.
See anything? Yolei called up.
Not yet... Shurimon replied... and then, his yellow
eyes locked in on Daredevil, sitting on a tree branch not ten
metres away. He faced him straight on.
Daredevil said.
Shurimon responded.
And then, before either combatant knew it, the battle had begun.
- - -
Venom shrieked horribly as Devimon's attack scorched his
face, the symbiote falling victim to one of it's only two
weaknesses. It thrashed around wildly, losing it's hold on
Devimon, who tumbled free from it's oily grasp, still
holding on to Venom's head.
Within his mind, Venom could hear the anguished mental screams of
his alien other, as it was tortured by the extreme heat. He
attempted to lash out at Devimon, but could not build up the
strength to do so.
It burns! he screamed. IT BURNS!!
With a grunt, Devimon picked Venom up off the ground with one
hand, and threw him aside. The symbiote madman skidded along the
rocky mountaintop, as Devimon spread his wings again, and swooped
in low, grabbing ahold of both of Venom's shoulders with his
hands, and flying upwards, into the dark sky.
Venom lashed out with weak tendrils, which collapsed before they
could even reach Devimon - the symbiote would take time to regain
it's strength. Release us...! he commanded.
As you wish.
In an unwitting vertical parody of Spider-Man's treatment of
Arukenimon, Devimon released his hold on Venom's shoulders,
allowing him to plummet downwards. In a few seconds, Venom
smashed into the mountainside, and continued to roll on down,
dislodging rocks as he went. The symbiote leapt up and down,
jerking around on his body as Venom fell, rolling over and over
himself. Normally, the symbiote could have absorbed the force of
the impact, but not in it's now-weakened state.
With a final crash, Venom arrived at the bottom of the mountain,
battered, bruised, bloody... but not beaten. He struggled to
stand, the symbiote slowly regenerating itself as Devimon floated
down.
We will make you pay! Venom hissed. WE WILL EAT
YOUR BRAI-!
Venom never got to finish his sentence - though the end was
obvious - as he was buried under roughly a hundred tons worth of
rockslide, that he had created himself on his way down. Only his
forearm was left sticking out from under the pile of rubble, and
as Devimon set down on the ground, the symbiote on it slowly lost
it's viscosity, and flowed off to make a small black puddle
on the ground.
Those who seek brains, Devimon said, absently toeing
a small lump of rock around, evidently do not have any of
their own to begin with.
- - -
Davis grumbled and forked the ten bucks over to Triathlon, who
took it gleefully, and was then treated to a mild sting behind
the ear from the Wasp.
FOURTH VICTORY - DEVIMON!!
Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in... Davis muttered.
Hard to believe Devimon winning anything is a good
thing... Tai rubbed the back of his neck.
It's two-for-two right now, Iron Man folded his
arms. We can't just keep fighting... there's got
to be some way around this. We can't just let a world
die!
Thor cried. We have saved two before, and
we shall save two again!
(Author's Note - Thor's talking about the events of
Heroes Reborn: The Return #4 - if you don't know
what that is, don't worry, they just saved two worlds in it,
okay?)
Well, that's just peachy, Goldilocks, Wolverine
snorted, but you go any ideas as to how?
You would do well not to question the Son of Odin, little
man... Thor growled, his fingers tightening around his
hammer, before Captain America stepped in front of him.
Now's not the time, the patriot ordered.
There's already enough fighting going on without you
two starting any more.
Thor grunted, and turned his attention back to the temporal
window, as Daredevil and Shurimon continued their conflict.
- - -
High above the city, within the walls of his fortress, the
Digimon Emperor pursed his lips as he studied his various
screens.
Another world... he said. The real world... but
not the real world I know as my own...
What are you planning, master? Wormmon asked,
quietly, as he scuttled into the Emperor's throne room.
Nothing that need concern you, you worthless little
maggot, the Emperor snapped back. Now, get out of
here before I get NASTY.
Wormmon cowered before the Emperor, and backed up out of the
room, as the boy returned his attention to the visuals.
he murmured. Most fascinating,
indeed...
- - -
TO BE CONTINUED!
- - -
NEXT:
The conclusion to
SHURIMON vs. DAREDEVIL!
And also:
DIGMON vs. THE THING!
WOLVERINE vs. WEREGARURUMON!
PIEDMON vs. THE GREEN GOBLIN!
Don't you dare miss Chapter Five:
"CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, NINJAS TO THE RIGHT...!"
- - -
MORE PICTURES!
This time around, we have Spidey vs. Arukenimon, and Shurimon vs. Daredevil! I'm working on Venom vs. Devimon, so it should be ready for the next time!
CLICK ME, YOU CRAZY DAMN FOOL, YOU!
- - -
But for now... wtite a review!
- - -
