Me: I don't own Digimon! Whoo!
Rika: Uh...what's up with you and this joyous attitude?
Me: Oh, not much-except for the fact that not only did I find my disk at the computer lab-thanks to Frozen Phoenix, who expressed her concerns and some others I might have forgotten about-but I'm already up to the 3rd chapter of this story!
Takato: Okay-last we left off, Guilmon and I Biomerged to form Gallantmon, and now we're about to take on one of the most dangerous vampires known throughout history. What's gonna happen now?
Terriermon: Yeah-what are we truly up against? Is it MaloMyotismon or what?
Henry: Terriermon!
Me: For one thing, it's not Myotismon or any other Myotismon digivolution. For another, this first battle won't end the way you think it will.
Takato: I have some concerns on how this chapter might end!
Me: If it's because of that dream you had, nothing bad will happen...to you!
Terriermon: Sure-get the rest of us all hyped up and worried over nothing.
Digimon Tamers: Tamers V.S. Dracula
Chapter III-Takato's Failure
"All right-let's show this thing it can't push us around!" Henry Wong
"Well, you know-anymore than it already has!" -Terriermon, "The D-Reaper's Disguise"
When the Tamers arrived in the province of Transylvania, Takato decided it would be a good
idea to bunk in for the night-the only thing he didn't foresee was that he and Rika would have to
not only share a room, but a bed! That's when Dracula decided he needed to test Takato's
strength, so he used his hypnotic powers on him and brought him-and Guilmon-to the
Transylvanian Alps. Once Rika, Henry and the others got there, the team of three were blasted
at, until Takato couldn't take anymore suffering! He Biomerged with Guilmon again and
Gallantmon was restored in all his glory! The question is, can the Mega Digimon truly deliver,
or is the Dark Prince truly a force to be reckoned with?
While protected by a digital sphere, Takato, through Gallantmon's eyes, looked out at Henry and Rika before refocusing his attention back to Dracula. Rika was okay, if not shaken up by the mere fact that the legendary vampire that stood before them was real! Henry, on the other hand, had taken quite a beating, and that was from just one hit only moments ago when Rapidmon had been knocked to the ground by Dracula! Narrowing his eyes, Gallantmon glared at the undead being in front of him and demanded in the dual voices of Takato and Guilmon, "If you want to drain the blood out of us Tamers, you'll have to get past me! Surrender now or I will be forced to destroy you!"
"If you could do anything to stop me, you would've done so already. And now, the battle begins!"
"So be it!" Gallantmon declared as he leaped upward in the air, his lance and shield out in front of him, poised to defeat this evil monstrosity!
Rika was worried about the outcome of this battle, but Henry remembered when he'd been in the Digital World and couldn't do a thing to help Takato when he had been attacked by Beelzemon. Terriermon was already hurt by just one attack by this vampire, and he'd been at the Ultimate level! Not even noticing his Digivice glowing, Henry fought to keep his tears from showing.
"Where are you, Jeri? Takato's got Guilmon and Rika for strength and guidance, but
Terriermon can't provide me with what I need-hear me!"
At that second, Jeri bolted up out of her bed, a worried look on her face. Almost as if he'd heard it himself, Leomon woke up at that instant as well.
"Henry...Leomon, we've got to go!"
Raising an eyebrow up, the Champion Digimon picked up his sword and sheathed it before noticing that Jeri hadn't changed from her normal attire, but had put her shoes on and bolted out of the room.
"Kazu, wake up! Wake up! Henry and the others are in danger!"
Kazu yawned impatiently as he opened up the door. "What is it, Jeri? I thought Henry was supposed to be your security blanket!"
"We don't have time for your monotonous jokes. Takato and the others are in trouble!"
"Huh-trouble? What kind of trouble?" Kazu sputtered out in surprise.
"I don't know, but if Takato, Henry and Rika can't handle it, then we're obviously needed. Now get changed, get Guardromon and come on! Catch up to us when you can."
"Got it! Hey, Guardromon-get your rusty behind up! We've got an emergency!"
While being scooped up in Leomon's arm as he leaped out from the window at the same rate Renamon had earlier, Jeri pulled out her Digivice as it glowed.
"I hope this still works..."
Biomerge Digivolution!
"Biomerge, activate!" Jeri yelled out as she transformed into data and merged with Leomon.
"Leomon Biomerge to...SABERLEOMON!!!"
Minutes later, SaberLeomon raced as fast as he could toward the Transylvanian Alps, huffing loudly as his feet struck the snowy streets.
"Hold on, Henry, Takato...I'm on my way!"
"Lightning Joust!!" Gallantmon screamed as bolts of electricity flew out from his lance and were launched towards the Tamers' adversary...to hit nothing but dead air! The vampire had changed himself into a bat, to avoid that powerful attack.
"Just great-not only can this guy pack a mean punch, he can change into a rodent?" Terriermon said.
"Bats aren't rodents, Terriermon-they're mammals." Henry noted cynically.
"Mammals, rodents-they still inhabit this Earth, right?"
"Well, if he's gonna dodge that, then there's no way he can avoid this!" Takato yelled out as he held out the shield in place of the lance. Instantly, the triangles started glowing.
"You have no idea what kind of powers I possess, do you?" Dracula started laughing as he changed back into his human form and quickly kicked Gallantmon across the face, stopping him from launching his attack and sending him to the ground!
"Ahhhhh!" Takato cried out in pain as he felt that kick strike his jaw. A second later, he heard Rika's scream of pain and remembered-even though they hadn't had to take on any kind of evil forces for almost half a year, Takato and Rika were still connected!
"RIKA!" Gallantmon screamed in Takato's voice, worried that the attack had done more damage to her than it had to him. Looking back up at the Mega Digimon, Rika offered a brave smile, gave him a thumbs up even as Renamon raced over to check on her-who'd deDigivolved from Taomon minutes ago-and wiped the blood off her chin so it wouldn't be noticed.
Gallantmon had noticed it, however, and his anger started to increase. He rose the lance back up to the sky, and bolts of energy snaked out toward Dracula.
"You would dare to hurt the woman I love?! You may know about us, but you've never seen what happens when humans and Digimon join forces and work together! Lightning Joust!!"
The Dark Prince roared in agony as he was greatly injured by the Virus-type's powerful attack. Despite that, the vampire still had a wicked smile plastered on his pale face as he rose to his feet and started speaking in Latin.
"What is he saying?!" Rika demanded heatedly, still feeling the force of Dracula's kick across her face.
"It's some kind of spell, that much I know. What its purpose is meant for...we'll just have to wait and see." Renamon responded grimly.
"Well, I'm not waiting around to see who's gonna fall first-Dead Boy, or Takato and Guilmon! You ready, Henry?"
"As I'll ever be." Henry rose his Digivice to the sky at the same time Rika grabbed her Digivice and held it up high.
Biomerge Digivolution!
"Biomerge, activate!" Henry and Rika chorused as they both transformed into data and merged with their respective Digimon.
"Terriermon Biomerge to...MEGAGARGOMON!!!"
"Renamon Biomerge to...SAKUYAMON!!!"
As SaberLeomon finally reached the peak of the Transylvanian Alps, Kazu and Guardromon were able to catch up to them, thanks to a "borrowed" Speed card from Kenta's deck.
"What took you so long?"
"Hey-it's hard getting this guy up at three something in the morning, then forcing him to stay up while you're explaining only half the details! Now, come on-weren't you the one who said Takato and the others needed our help?"
Inside her sphere, Jeri grunted in irritation. "If I weren't in my Mega form..."
"Ignore him, Jeri. Right now, we must concentrate on finding Henry and the others."
"You think you know how powerful humans and Digimon are when they work together? You haven't seen anything yet, buddy! Mega Barrage!!"
The vampire grunted as he barely managed to avoid the numbers of missiles aimed at him, still chanting in Latin.
"Amethyst Wind!!" Sakuyamon's attack was sent toward Dracula as a flurry of sharpened petals aimed for his head.
Continuing his spell, Dracula nimbly leaped upward in the air, already knowing what the Mega Digimon would do next.
"You think that's gonna stop us? I think not!" MegaGargomon, Sakuyamon and Gallantmon instantly took flight, ready for anything that the vampire would do.
Dracula then smirked as he completed his spell and immediately, a number of black balls appeared around his body. He grabbed one, and threw it with precise aim.
"Ahhhhh!!!" MegaGargomon screamed in shock as the ball not only hit, but drained the Mega Digimon of his energy and forced him to deDigivolve into Henry and Terriermon!
"Spirit Strike!!" Sakuyamon yelled out loudly; three dragons, colored red, blue and green, snaked out at Dracula seconds later. Grabbing another ball, the vampire tossed it, and the three dragons disappeared from sight.
"Crystal Sphere!!" Instantly, a shield appeared around Sakuyamon and Gallantmon, protecting both Tamers and Digimon inside. Shivering in fear and anticipation, Calumon watched from his position behind a rock near Henry and Terriermon's prostrate forms.
"Gee, with MegaGargomon out, I wonder how worse this night can get?"
"Ahhhhhh!!!" Sakuyamon screamed as a second ball of dark energy penetrated her shield and struck her on the side, forcing her to deDigivolve into Rika and Renamon before striking the ground! Takato grunted as he felt the impact of that attack, but didn't black out like Rika, Henry and the Digimon had.
"I'm impressed. The last person to ever last this long in a battle against me was just as formidable as you and your friends are. But, even though my previous adversary thought the battle was won, I returned, just as strong as ever. And now, with your strength flowing through my veins, I shall make my reign an eternal one!"
As the Digimon, Henry and Rika got back up, they heard Dracula's last words. "...I shall make my reign an eternal one!"
With narrowed eyes, Gallantmon brought his shield upward in place of the lance. The triangles started glowing until the final three in the middle glowed brightly. Grunting lightly, Dracula plucked one last ball of evil energy before throwing it!
"Shield of the Just!!"
Time seemed to slow down at that second: the moment Gallantmon's attack was launched at the vampire, Dracula's energy ball split the attack in two, struck the shield and forced the Holy Knight Digimon to bend his arm back. Time was restored to its normal flow as Gallantmon was hit directly in the chest!
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!" Takato screamed in agony and pain as the Virus-type spiraled helplessly to the snowy ground below.
"And you thought you would be a match for me, in this form? Think again..."
With a weak groan, Gallantmon collapsed in defeat as he deDigivolved into Takato and Guilmon as Dracula floated near the two of them, bared his fangs and leaned down at Takato's protruding neck.
"Guardian Barrage!!"
"Howling Crusher!!"
The vampire hissed angrily as he barely avoided the two attacks at that moment. Even though they were severely weakened, the Tamers turned to see...
"Kazu! Jeri! Where have you guys been?" Calumon asked joyously as he ran up to Guardromon and SaberLeomon.
"It's a long story. We'll tell you about it later." Kazu noted calmly. "Let's show this freak show he doesn't mess with the Tamers-hit 'em again, Guardromon!"
"Guardian Barrage!!"
Dodging the attack once more, Dracula started chanting another spell in Latin while floating back in the air.
"Can't this guy do anything else besides speak in foreign languages and shoot energy balls at us?" Terriermon asked irately.
"That would give a whole new meaning to the term, 'kick us while we're down,' wouldn't it?" Rika retorted sarcastically.
Completing his spell, Dracula threw something that, to the naked eye, looked completely invisible to the others. The Tamers waited a few seconds, but nothing happened.
"Gogglehead, Renamon, it's time for take 2! This time, we're not backing down-"
Rika grunted as she tried to reach for her D-Power, but found that her arms wouldn't move!
"What happened, Rika?" Takato asked worriedly.
"It's Dracula's doing. He cast another spell, and it appears to have caught Rika!" Renamon spat out. The vampire in question laughed evilly as he changed into a bat and flew away, Rika floating right behind him!
"Rika...come back, please!" Takato pleaded as he forced himself to his feet, but couldn't do anything else except stand up.
"It's no use, my friend. As long as the spell is initiated, your 'soul mate' is trapped within my bubble. It would be a shame if it were to be deactivated from this height. I will require another match, to see if you have learned not to underestimate me. Tomorrow night, after you have healed your wounds, you shall meet me at my castle promptly at midnight."
Struggling to hide his tears, even though they were falling rapidly down his face, Takato cried angrily, "You just wait, Dracula! That was just round one! Next time, things will be different!"
That battle didn't go over very well! What is Dracula gonna do to Rika, anyway? And will Takato and the others be able to defeat this vampire, without the entire team? Find out next time on Digmon: Digital Monsters!
