Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or its associated products. I do not intend to gain any profits from the creation of this work. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between characters in this work and people I do not know is purely coincidental.
Episode XIX
First Strike
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.
Don Stanford
"Hey! You're going the wrong way!"
Yamato Ishida to Garurmon, First battle for Odaiba
MachineDramon's lair, or his command center, as he preferred to think of it as, was always a little quiet, filled with the steady buzz of lower ranking digimon running around doing tasks. Now, with the latest break-in and assault, possibly the work of those nosy digidestined brats, it seemed that everyone was trying to stay calm and quiet, tiptoeing their way around the boss. Nobody wanted to be the focus of a sudden explosion of the boss' temper that was liable to turn into a real explosion.
Well, nobody except for the giant green insect busy carving his way through the back of the room.
There was only a moment for the variety of Mamemon who normally manned the stations to react between the emergence of the two glowing pink swords from the wall, and the collapse of the protective layer. There was a fraction of a second more before the digimon was in their midst, chopping them to pieces with careless abandon. It took a few seconds for anyone to react, and then the small gang of Champions was out the door, not willing to interfere in a clash of titans.
In the distance alarms howled, but inside, there was a momentary silence as the dust cleared and the massive bulk of MachineDramon turned to survey his latest opponents.
"Go! Go! Go!" Ken howled, and they went.
"Hawkmondigivolves toAquilamon!"
"Aquilamondigivolves toSilphymon!" The Ultimate shot upward, clearing the desks effortlessly. In a smaller room the ceiling would have been shattered, but MachineDramon had designed this room to fit him, and Silphymon fit quite comfortably inside the towering structure.
"Armadillomondigivolves toAnkylomon!"
"Ankylomondigivolves toShakkuomon!"
With the massive metallic titan inside the room the gigantic proportions seemed to shrink rapidly, reducing the room from huge to merely comfortable. Shakkuomon loomed above everything, a tower of strength.
"ExVeemon.DNA Digivolve toPaildramon!"
Paildramon floated up on his own power, guns up and charging with power.
"Gatomondigivolves toAngewomon!"
"Patamondigivolves toAngemon!"
Angemon and Angewomon just floated in midair, staring at the giant Mega Digimon. Their faces were expressionless, but the gathering energy storming toward them was not. It gleamed of Light and all things holy, burning the air itself.
"Angemon, TK, Kari, Angewomon, keep the other guards off of us. We'll handle this guy." Ken barked, pointing.
TK raised an eyebrow but refused to challenge Ken, quickly turning and running off toward the gigantic door with the two angels and a girl in tow.
"We stay out of this." Ken told the others. "This is too big for us."
"Daemon!" Everyone gasped.
"Now, attack!" Tai yelled, and not seeing any other choice, the others obeyed.
"Agumondigivolves toGreymon!"
"Gabumondigivolves toGarurumon!"
"Biyomondigivolves toBirdramon!"
"Birdramondigivolves toGarudamon!"
The first three hurled themselves at the diminutive Mega. For a moment everything was a mess of bolts of red force and gashes of fire, and then all three of them were hurled back out of the blaze toward the others. But the remaining digimon had taken advantage of that momentary disturbance, and Daemon was faced with three newly digivolved Ultimates as the battle escalated suddenly.
Zudomon's hammer descended like the wrath of the sky, but Daemon used a force beam to deflect it into a nearby wall. That act cost him enough attention that Lilymon's Flower Cannon snuck through his defenses, blasting him back against the wall. MegaKabuterimon's Horn Buster almost nailed him into place, but the evil Mega simply held up his hand, and the huge blast careened off.
"We're a little tight in here." Garudamon complained as she rolled back onto her feet, wings breaking cracks in the ceiling.
"Oh, are your wings getting ruffled?" Daemon asked quickly. "Why don't I do something about that?"
There was a sudden concussion as the roof blew off of the building.
"And now, why don't I do something about you?" Daemon asked evilly as the others leapt at him.
For a moment it looked as if MachineDramon would say something to them, but then he simply lowered his head and charged. The tactic was simple and effective, because the Mega's strength guaranteed that he could slam his largest and most unwieldy opponent Shakkuomon into the wall. It was a clever move, immobilizing the muscles of his most physically powerful foe, and launching a deadly first strike that could have easily taken Shakkuomon out of the fight, leaving the Mega to deal with his more mobile but less powerful adversaries. The mere shock value would have crushed any normal group of humans with their digimon companions.
But MachineDramon was facing members of the most experienced digidestined team on Earth.
Two eyes narrowed down into slits, the light emerging from them transforming from pale white to bright red. In the lower kilt lights flared rapidly around in a circle, and a small circular port opened, revealing deadly cargo waiting inside. And then, before MachineDramon had a chance to do anything except recognize the sudden changes, Shakkuomon unleashed two attacks at once, and literally emptied his entire arsenal into the unfortunate ruler.
"Kachina Bombs! Harmonious Spirit!"
The two blasts did not do much effective damage other than scratching MachineDramon's finish. It did however lift the Mega off of his feet and send him cascading backwards, ending his attempt to win the battle by a technical knockout in the first move. Both of the huge digimon regained their footing slowly, rising again to battle. And in the interim, Silphymon and Paildramon swept in to deliver their firepower and really get things rolling.
MegaKabuterimon and Garudamon burst through into the sky immediately, gaining them some maneuvering room, but the others stayed level with their foe. There was a series of motions as Greymon and Garurumon threw themselves forward once more, but this time they were battered away with barely a thought and then it was the turn of the Ultimates again.
This time there was no hesitation and no tactical disadvantage. Every Ultimate and Champion powered up almost simultaneously and unleashed a devastating salvo that nearly brought the tower to its knees.
"Horn Buster!"
"Vulcan's Hammer!"
"Flower Cannon!"
"Wing Blade!"
"Pit Bomb!"
"Pummel Whack!"
"Fist of the Beast King!"
The explosions rocked the very palace itself. For a moment Sora was afraid that the result might knock the building off of its foundations. Fire and lightning mixed and matched, blasting death in all directions. Yet, when it faded, there was Daemon, hardly looking more than phased.
"That's not a good sign, is it?" Matt asked as they looked the Mega up and down.
"No, not really."
"Everybody attack!" Tai yelled, and their digimon threw themselves obediently forward. Daemon reacted, almost looking bored, his actions clearly demonstrating his disdain for the events happening around him. With a single wave of his hand a wall of force blasted those moving to attack him, sending them flying back toward the distant horizon in fury of force beams. The raw power seemed to momentarily stun the digimon facing him, and Daemon smirked.
"Now we're in trouble." Joe muttered.
TK stood waiting for the charge at the doorway to battle.
Angemon and Angewomon floated in midair above the center of the corridor, waiting for the attack that they could sense coming, but could not yet see. Beside him Kari also stood, loose and ready for the battle ahead.
In the distance there was the pounding of footsteps as heavy digimon began to thread their way nearer. Fortunately the building had been constructed with a bunker mentality, and the huge passage leading there gave the defenders every advantage, as any attackers from above would have to pass into the giant hallway from a number of different directions, causing confusion in their ranks.
"You ready?" Kari asked after a moment.
"Sure am." TK hefted the staff one more time, feeling its comforting weight settle in his hands. He exhaled quickly and deeply, attempting to clear his longs for the coming confrontation.
"TK." Angemon's voice was deeper. "I know you've helped in the past but this may be a bit over your heads."
"I agree." Angewomon responded. "It would be wise for you to retreat at this point. Withdraw at our signal."
"I'm not leaving." TK insisted stubbornly.
"You can't be the hero here." Kari touched him on the arm with a light, gentle touch. "You'll only get in the way. Don't risk your life trying to interfere in the jobs of others."
TK smiled reluctantly, showing that he agreed with his friend's thoughts, even if he did not particularly enjoy the logical conclusion. With practiced ease he brought the staff down again, leaning on it heavily as he smiled to the two angels.
"Thanks TK." Angemon told him, just as the first wave rounded the corner.
A group of Mekanorimon tramped in, clearly serving as the assault troops, a mobile battle shield protecting those in the rear ranks. They attempted to cover their unprepared assault by firing a massive barrage of Twin Beams as they rounded the corners from all directions.
Around the two angels the barricades that Machinedramon had set up to protect himself from the encroaching enemy served their purpose admirably. Incoming blasts of energy and fire were quickly diverted away, blasting harmlessly against heavy metal alloys, scouring paint and burning off the mirror-like shine of some of the chunks of armor, but the fortifications erected to protect his lair, huge blocks of metallic armor blockading the passage, remained untouched.
"Hand of Fate!"
"Celestial Arrow!"
Two different blasts of white hot energy ripped toward the enemy, the force savaging the first Mekanorimon they hit, denting armor and shaking up internal components, driving the unstoppable digimon backwards. In instants red blasts and white were criss-crossing the region, blasting holes in walls and armor as the battle was truly joined.
"Split up! Air attack!" Paildramon roared as he soared away from the backblast of his own attack, floating backwards effortlessly on his wings and his own internal power. At the pre-arranged signal the other two Ultimates also wafted away, putting distance between themselves and their targets.
"Desperado Blasters!" Paildramon went into rapid fire mode, and let his rapid-fire attack put a crimp in Machinedramon's plans. Paildramon did not have a powerful attack, in fact it was rather weak, but it was fast. He could fire more shots in a minute than a squadron of other digimon, and he was trying to make every one of those count.
"Static Force!" Silphymon used a blast of concussive force to physically hurl the Mega backwards before soaring off out of range of counterattack.
"Kachina Bombs!" This time the razor edged serrated blades did not just fly at Machinedramon, they actually circled overhead before turning around and slamming back down, battering at the Mega with astounding force.
"Not bad." Machinedramon gasped while the Ultimates let their energy recover for their next set of attacks. "But try this! Giga Blaster!"
The blasts of yellow energy were horribly inaccurate, but they did not need to be accurate. The explosions from them bracketed the maneuvering Silphymon, shaking the unfortunate digimon like a cork in a storm. For a moment Silphymon just hung there, and then his image plunged to the ground.
"That's more like it. Dragon Fire!" For a moment Machinedramon's huge claw loomed over the form of the recovering Ultimate, and then there was a sudden flicker of movement before he could strike.
"Cable Captor!" Paildramon reached out with his grapnels, hooking Machinedramon's deadly attack and diverting it enough so that the Mega did nothing more but hammer harmlessly into the floor. At the same time Paildramon gasped with the effort needed to divert that strike, panting as his muscles tried to fail him all at once. Machinedramon simply raised his claw and threw it violently toward the wall. Paildramon, still attached via his grapnels, was hurled into the wall with enough force to knock him temporarily senseless.
And the Shakkuomon was there, locking arms with the Mega. Machinedramon might have been a Mega, but that did not guarantee his victory in a struggle of purely physical dimensions. It appeared that all of the training that Armadillomon and Cody had been doing was paying off, because the huge metal titans held firm for a moment, both struggling against each other. If they had possessed sweat glands huge rivers of the stuff would have been rolling down their skins, but both of them refused to back down.
"Get up!" Yolei screamed as a woozy Silphymon got to his feet.
"Come on!" Davis yelled.
"You can do it!" Ken screamed.
Paildramon staggered upright and looked at the battle. The two struggling digimon were still going strong, but it looked like Shakkuomon was weakening. His huge metal arms were beginning to tremble, and his eyes were starting to move wildly.
"Go!" Paildramon's two partners screamed as one. Their crests flared, for the first time acting in concert, and the colors mixed in a swirling rainbow, resolving into a sudden flash of brilliant white color as the two urged their warrior on.
"Paildramonmega digivolve to
Everyone stopped what they were doing as they held their breath in anticipation. From the corner where Paildramon had been standing there was a flash of light, which quickly resolved into a huge figure, bearing a huge cannon on his back, eyes flaring an angry red. As the light solidified the mammoth-sized warrior digimon shook off his ephemeral nature and roared into battle, thundering over the earth with huge claws, knocking Machinedramon aside.
"ImperialDramon!"
"Now that's more like it!" Davis yelled, trying to encourage his partner.
"It's a whole new ballgame now." Ken admitted.
Daemon threw Garurumon off one more time, and this time the wolf transformed back into Gabumon before anyone could do anything.
"Were at a serious disadvantage!" Izzy yelled at the others. "Our digimon are starting to run low on energy. We've got to do something."
"Tell us something we don't know!" Sora responded anxiously as Garudamon was knocked from the sky by a single one of Daemon's force beams, sweeping the sky like a searchlight.
"I would but I can't" Izzy responded.
"Horn Buster!" MegaKabuterimon responded to Daemon's provocation, meeting another force beam head on. The attacks neatly canceled, but even the legendary stamina of Izzy's partner digimon was clearly beginning to flag, the insectoid looking as if he was having problems staying in the sky.
"We can't give up." Tai muttered to himself, but nobody was listening anymore. All around him he could hear the crash of his friends trying their hardest, fighting a battle he had recklessly lead them into, but he could do nothing, nothing, to stop it. For a moment he realized how overpowered they were, how much trouble they were in, as the attacks started again. Daemon was not even tiring yet, and their digimon were exhausted.
A voice in the depths of Tai's mind began to whisper the truth, that he was getting them all killed.
"Now!" Piximon yelled.
With a sudden ferocity that belied their supposed Champion level status, Leomon and Ogremon leapt into the fray, fists and weapons moving furiously. Leomon chopped madly at anything that he could hit, sword cutting deep into the cloth covering Daemon's body, teeth bared in ferocious concentration. Ogremon was howling savagely, club whirling and fist flying, launching more attacks than anyone would ever have thought possible. For a moment Daemon was sent reeling under the combined attacks of the two Champions, temporarily staggered by the sheer volume of the confrontation, and the repeated blows raining in on him. But only for a moment.
"Enough!" He cried, and the two Champions were blasted off in a furious rush of energy. Only then did Daemon look up into the second part of Piximon's hastily assembled plan.
"Vulcan's Hammer!" Zudomon howled. He had used the momentary advantage that Ogremon and Leomon had provided to sneak steadily closer to his opponent, and now he brought his hammer down with all the force he could bear, slamming his blow into his foe as hard as he possibly could. Daemon collapsed under the blow hammered flat into the ground, pounded out like a pancake.
"Horn Buster!" MegaKabuterimon blasted off one last shot.
"Flower Cannon!" Lilymon soared in for the kill, flitting off to one side and lowering her deadly cannon.
"Wing Blade!" Garudamon lofted skyward, sending one last driving blast down at the fallen leader.
"Pit Bomb!" This version of Piximon's attack was especially vicious, and it left a huge hole in the ground.
"Nova Blast!" Greymon fired off one huge ball of flame before de-digivolving back into Agumon.
"All right!" Tai yelled.
"We did it!" Sora agreed.
"I tire of this foolishness! It's time to end this game. Evil Inferno!" From the ground beneath Zudomon's hammer a wave of flame burst out. After a handful of moments that barely comprised the beat of a heart, Gomamon came flying out, landing crumpled in Joe's arms. Daemon strode out of the flames, looking ruffled and extremely upset at this latest turn in events.
"We can't lose." Tai whispered, but his words sounded hollow, even to himself.
"Plan?" TK asked tersely under his breath as he and Kari hid together behind a huge metal bulwark, trying to keep out of the way. Above him he could hear the whine as bolts of red fire leapt overhead, countered by the occasional shots of their two angels working together in tandem.
"Working on it." Kari muttered.
"Wonderful." TK replied, and briefly stuck his head out to get a quick look at what was going on.
Most of the Mekanorimon were down or injured thanks to the angels' extraordinary powers, but the angels must have been running a little low on power because the volume of fire they were directing at their enemy had slackened considerably. Now the crowd coming forward was different digimon, a squadron of rolling Tankmon making up the middle, backed by a group of Vilemon and RedVeggiemon on each side, each group trying to get up the middle to strike at their adversaries, but hampered by their need to let someone else go first.
"Stalemate." TK replied as he drew his head back in.
"Something's got to happen. We can't keep this up forever." Kari reminded him.
"Let's see." TK muttered and closed his eyes. For a brief moment he was on the path to the Heart of the World, and power began to gather within him. Not much, but enough for what he needed. Then the blocks in his mind, and in the Heart itself activated, and the sparks of power died and were quickly extinguished in his grasp. Then there was only nothing left except the faint memory of what power felt like.
"No dice." He responded as he opened his eyes.
"We'll think of something." Kari laid a comforting hand on his arm, but even that was no longer comforting.
"Giga Cannon!"
"Positron Laser!"
The two blasts met in midair and threw everyone backwards. By the time that Ken was able to pick himself off of the floor again the two Mega level digimon were locked in physical combat again, trying to shove the other back. Apparently the energy reserves they were drawing on for their attacks was limited now, because neither was using them.
"Well, this is just great." Davis muttered as he tried to get back on his feet, overturning the desk that had fallen on him.
"They're too equally matched." Cody observed.
Unfortunately for the good guys the last explosion and the resulting shock wave had been just a little too much for the other digimon. Silphymon had managed to stagger back upright, but clearly was unable to add much to the conflict for some time. Shakkuomon was built to absorb energy, but even he looked beat, lying embedded in the wall unmoving.
"It will take them a few moments to restore themselves to full strength." Ken noted analytically, while part of his mind was wondering how he could continue to be so calm.
"How long?" Davis asked as he finally managed to get up.
"I really don't know. We used a lot of power trying to overwhelm him earlier." Ken shrugged verbally and physically.
"Aren't they stronger now?" Cody asked.
"Judging from examination, I would say yes." Ken replied. "They've done at least three times as many attacks as they did against BlackWarGreymon, and we went as close to all out as we could have in that battle. They're certainly much stronger, but Machinedramon is no slacker. I don't know who will win."
"Go ImperialDramon!" Davis yelled.
"It's all up to you now." Yolei whispered.
"We need to get out of here fast!" Izzy yelled.
"We can't leave, we can't give up now! We have to" Tai began to protest.
Matt did not even bother to reply. He exchanged a look with Izzy, and then slammed Tai in the temple as hard as he could. Tai immediately collapsed and went limp, but Matt picked him up, staggering under the weight.
"So now what?" Matt asked the computer genius.
"MegaKabuterimon!" Izzy howled. "It's time to go!"
As a huge barrage laid down on Daemon continued to blind the angry Mega the others quickly boarded the huge red insect. Scrambling up the sides of the smooth shell, trying to ignore the sporadic explosions coming from behind them, six children, three rookies and two champions scrambled rapidly aboard.
"No, it's time to go!" Izzy pointed forward and slowly, ponderously, MegaKabuterimon rose up. Power began to build as the Ultimate sped away from the castle, but it felt like moving through solid lead.
"We're going to slow!" Mimi shouted.
"Everyone, get ready." Leomon turned around from where Matt was feeding Gabumon an emergency shot of day-old bread.
"Ahhhh." A scream faded off as Lilymon de-digivolved to Palmon and landed in Mimi's arms. A second later there was a flash and then a de-digivolved and exhausted looking Biyomon was lying there too.
"You may be able to fly faster than me." The confident voice of Daemon sounded a little raspy now. "But you can't outfly this. Evil Inferno!"
"Try to stop it!" Leomon howled to the others. "Fist of the Beast King!"
"Pummel Whack!"
"Blue Blaster!"
"Pepper Breath!"
"Digital Barrier maximum power!" Piximon held his staff in trembling paws, a barrier blocking the depleted firestorm for a moment, deflecting it around the beetle they were riding. For the moments in which he held the barrier they used it like a jet, surfing off on the wave of force from behind. Then the flames died off and Daemon vanished, swallowed up by the distance. Even so, his last words rang in their ears.
"Cat and mouse digidestined. Cat and mouse."
"They're getting closer." Angemon rumbled deep in his chest. He was conserving energy now, waiting for the melee combat that was sure to come after this.
"I know that Angemon." Angewomon returned, staring further down the passageway where the smaller Champion digimon were dodging from barrier to barrier in attempt to stay out of firing range.
"Isn't this the time when one of us usually comes up with a brilliant idea?" TK asked, following in the footsteps of Joe so many years earlier.
"I don't think we have one this time." Kari responded.
From above they could hear the sounds of Angemon's staff striking solid flesh. It appeared that the battle had disintegrated into one of melee combat. Here the pressing weight of enemy numbers would quickly overwhelm the angels in combat.
"Well, if we go, I just want to say that I love you." TK held Kari by the shoulders and looked seriously into her eyes.
She blushed bright pink, and smiled up at him, temporarily banishing fear. "I love you too TK. And we'll both fight to the bitter end."
"Let's go do some damage Kari." TK smiled at her. And then there was a warmth from his chest as golden light spilled outward, illuminating the room brightly, banishing shadows into the far distance. Time stood still as the golden radiance worked its way outward, its purpose both familiar and potent.
"Angemondigivolves toMagnaAngemon!"
TK had always believed that MagnaAngemon was almost a mega himself, being the most powerful Ultimate they had ever discovered. He had been enough to single-handedly hand setbacks to Piedmon, and his strength was so, to use Izzy's word, prodigious, that he had even stood even with BlackWarGreymon.
Now the powerful Ultimate stood in midair, burning with golden radiance. He stood there, his huge purple sword, glowing with unearthly and heavenly energies extended from one arm, his wings haloing him as if he truly were descended from heaven. The helmet shielded him from revealing his expression, but from his posture, there was little doubt of the determination that would lurk within.
"Gate of Destiny!" While the others stood there, watching in mute stupefaction, stunned by the sudden appearance of the Ultimate, he took advantage of the distraction. The sword traced a golden circle in the air, quickly resolving into a golden gate that rotated its way open. Suddenly the enemy guards were screaming, trying to get away, but to no avail. Patamon had once told TK that the Gate of Destiny called to all evil, and now those of evil intent were finding themselves in trouble. As the currents of power pulled them inside they let off horrible howls and devastating screams, but they had no effect on the angel's posture. As to what his expression was as an entire legion of troops was decimated, TK could only guess.
"Wow." Kari could only say.
"Good job partner." Angewomon floated down, looking a little tired, but MagnaAngemon barely moved.
"There is still a battle to be fought." His voice was as deeply resonant as TK remembered, and it echoed as if he was in a cave instead of a hallway.
"True." Angewomon admitted. "Let's go."
"I'm tired." MegaKabuterimon sounded exhausted to tell the truth, his flight path dropping ever closer and closer to the ground. "Can't keep this up much longer."
"Find a good place to crash." Izzy told him, and then turned back to the others. "Brace yourselves. We're going in a little fast."
"Meadowlooks so nice" MegaKabuterimon's voice faded off.
"Quickly!" Leomon shouted, and then he and Ogremon had grabbed the others, using themselves as shields to protect the more fragile humans. All Joe knew was that he was suddenly pressed into hard green skin a second before
CRUNCH!
MegaKabuterimon hit the ground like rock, skidding along for a handful of seconds before glowing brightly and returning to his form as Tentomon. This left the rest of the digidestined and company flying along and bouncing off of the ground as they tried to stop. Fortunately the meadow, though lined with mountain pines, was rather large, and they had plenty of time to stop.
"I'm never going to move again." Leomon muttered after a while.
"I don't think I can." Ogremon groaned.
"We'll have to do something. Let's try and get through it together." Mimi had managed to stagger upright. Her landing had been cushioned by Joe, who was still in a state of shock.
"That's a nice thought Mimi." Izzy grumbled after a while. "But we're in no shape to do anything right now."
"Are we all alright?" Biyomon groaned after a moment.
Mimi did a quick count. "I think we are, but Tai's still out cold."
"That's no problem at the moment." Matt groaned and sat up, quickly holding his head. "If he's still in one piece we'll do fine."
"So what now?" Sora wanted to know.
Suddenly, without any warning, a voice roared out of the distant clouds. "You may have escaped me for now digidestined, but I'll soon have you again within my clutches."
"How about we get out of here. Now." Mimi suggested.
ImperialDramon grunted in anger, impotent rage feeding the furnace of his enraged battle prowess. His main weapon, his back mounted cannon was now unable to bear on his enemy. Machinedramon, quickly analyzing the risk that the other Mega meant, had charged rapidly, slamming into his opponent, and forcing the cannon to point upward, toward the ceiling. Now both digimon struggled hand to hand, body to body, their weapons unable to bear on each other. Machinedramon had the advantage, as his attack had forced ImperialDramon to tilt back, making his front legs wave off of the ground, almost rendering him useless. Without the leverage provided by his normal frame ImperialDramon was terribly off balance.
"Go for it ImperialDramon!" Yolei howled. "Teach that joker a lesson."
"It's not working, is it?" Davis whispered quietly to Ken.
"We need some way of distracting Machinedramon enough for ImperialDramon to finish this off. Machinedramon has to be running low on power by now, but if ImperialDramon can't bring his firepower to bear, nothing is going to matter." Ken replied just as quietly.
"Come on guys, wake up!" Yolei yelled at their recumbent Ultimates.
Silphymon struggled forward a few steps, and then fell down again, this time de-digivolving back into Hawkmon, who looked positively exhausted. Shakkuomon did not look much better, still not moving.
"Come on Shakkuomon. Don't give up now." Cody pleaded, but his pleas were not enough to reenergize his companion.
"ImperialDramon, it's up to you now!" Davis yelled.
"You've got to get him to shift his weight." Ken shouted.
But at that moment the tenuous balance shifted. Machinedramon managed to leverage his opponent up far enough that he was even more vulnerable, and no longer able to fight back properly. Now, his footholds removed ImperialDramon acted like a giant turtle, about to be flipped on his back, and helpless to prevent this.
"Go, go!" a muttered prayer, but there was nothing Ken could do before ImperialDramon was tilted over and rolled onto his back
As the huge Mega hit the ground, struggling to get back upwards, Machinedramon recoiled backward, raising his fanged visage to the heavens in a scream of primal fury. For a moment Ken stared spellbound as the huge Mega loomed over his fallen defender, back arched and howling to the sky. Then the moment passed, but Machinedramon was still strangely enough still howling at the sky. After a moment of confusion, Ken stared at the others, but they were watching this spectacle in shock.
Then Machinedramon pitched forward, and the problem became immediately apparent. There, on Machinedramon's back, right where the power cables attached themselves to the tremendous Giga Cannons, was MagnaAngemon. His purple sword, energies in the shape of brilliant lightning bolts running down it, was anchoring firmly to Machinedramon's exposed vitals, and for a few precious seconds it was clear that the angel had damaged the Mega, perhaps fatally. But then Machinedramon seemed to get his senses back under control again, and threw himself forward, knocking MagnaAngemon forward again. The angel merely disengaged, flying off with a gust of wind from his eight wings, putting distance between himself and his enraged opponent.
Machinedramon looked around with glaring eyes to find his attacker, but froze at a new sight. With the help of Angewomon, ImperialDramon had righted himself once more, and now stood facing his enemy, eyes blazing a ferocious red. Beams of energy from all over the world were gathering at the muzzle of the mighty cannon he carrier, and the awesome jaws were already parted to deliver the death sentence.
"Positron Laser!"
Blasts of fire in the form of elemental destruction focused themselves on the powerhouse to the laser, until that same fire burst forth in a tidal wave of destruction. A triangularly shaped beam of death spewed from the housing of the cannon, pitching forward and blasting directly at the heart of Machinedramon. The mutant machine jerked backwards in shock, but this time he was also propelled by the fire of his adversary, and that fire spelled death. There was a flash of brilliant light, and then an explosion, and then the Mega level digimon was no more.
"All right!" Davis jumped three feet up in the air as ImperialDramon disappeared in a flash of light and returned to two in-training digimon. They were soon joined by a crowed of exhausted rookies and one tired champion, only to be grabbed and hugged joyfully by a full set of humans.
"We did it." Ken smiled.
"We sure did." TK responded.
"So what next?" Yolei asked.
"Hopefully we finish this." Kari responded grimly.
"Once and for all." Davis looked outward grimly, his eyes fixed on the invisible presence of Khartan.
First Strike
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.
Don Stanford
"Hey! You're going the wrong way!"
Yamato Ishida to Garurmon, First battle for Odaiba
Well, nobody except for the giant green insect busy carving his way through the back of the room.
There was only a moment for the variety of Mamemon who normally manned the stations to react between the emergence of the two glowing pink swords from the wall, and the collapse of the protective layer. There was a fraction of a second more before the digimon was in their midst, chopping them to pieces with careless abandon. It took a few seconds for anyone to react, and then the small gang of Champions was out the door, not willing to interfere in a clash of titans.
In the distance alarms howled, but inside, there was a momentary silence as the dust cleared and the massive bulk of MachineDramon turned to survey his latest opponents.
"Go! Go! Go!" Ken howled, and they went.
"Hawkmondigivolves toAquilamon!"
"Aquilamondigivolves toSilphymon!" The Ultimate shot upward, clearing the desks effortlessly. In a smaller room the ceiling would have been shattered, but MachineDramon had designed this room to fit him, and Silphymon fit quite comfortably inside the towering structure.
"Armadillomondigivolves toAnkylomon!"
"Ankylomondigivolves toShakkuomon!"
With the massive metallic titan inside the room the gigantic proportions seemed to shrink rapidly, reducing the room from huge to merely comfortable. Shakkuomon loomed above everything, a tower of strength.
"ExVeemon.DNA Digivolve toPaildramon!"
Paildramon floated up on his own power, guns up and charging with power.
"Gatomondigivolves toAngewomon!"
"Patamondigivolves toAngemon!"
Angemon and Angewomon just floated in midair, staring at the giant Mega Digimon. Their faces were expressionless, but the gathering energy storming toward them was not. It gleamed of Light and all things holy, burning the air itself.
"Angemon, TK, Kari, Angewomon, keep the other guards off of us. We'll handle this guy." Ken barked, pointing.
TK raised an eyebrow but refused to challenge Ken, quickly turning and running off toward the gigantic door with the two angels and a girl in tow.
"We stay out of this." Ken told the others. "This is too big for us."
"Daemon!" Everyone gasped.
"Now, attack!" Tai yelled, and not seeing any other choice, the others obeyed.
"Agumondigivolves toGreymon!"
"Gabumondigivolves toGarurumon!"
"Biyomondigivolves toBirdramon!"
"Birdramondigivolves toGarudamon!"
The first three hurled themselves at the diminutive Mega. For a moment everything was a mess of bolts of red force and gashes of fire, and then all three of them were hurled back out of the blaze toward the others. But the remaining digimon had taken advantage of that momentary disturbance, and Daemon was faced with three newly digivolved Ultimates as the battle escalated suddenly.
Zudomon's hammer descended like the wrath of the sky, but Daemon used a force beam to deflect it into a nearby wall. That act cost him enough attention that Lilymon's Flower Cannon snuck through his defenses, blasting him back against the wall. MegaKabuterimon's Horn Buster almost nailed him into place, but the evil Mega simply held up his hand, and the huge blast careened off.
"We're a little tight in here." Garudamon complained as she rolled back onto her feet, wings breaking cracks in the ceiling.
"Oh, are your wings getting ruffled?" Daemon asked quickly. "Why don't I do something about that?"
There was a sudden concussion as the roof blew off of the building.
"And now, why don't I do something about you?" Daemon asked evilly as the others leapt at him.
For a moment it looked as if MachineDramon would say something to them, but then he simply lowered his head and charged. The tactic was simple and effective, because the Mega's strength guaranteed that he could slam his largest and most unwieldy opponent Shakkuomon into the wall. It was a clever move, immobilizing the muscles of his most physically powerful foe, and launching a deadly first strike that could have easily taken Shakkuomon out of the fight, leaving the Mega to deal with his more mobile but less powerful adversaries. The mere shock value would have crushed any normal group of humans with their digimon companions.
But MachineDramon was facing members of the most experienced digidestined team on Earth.
Two eyes narrowed down into slits, the light emerging from them transforming from pale white to bright red. In the lower kilt lights flared rapidly around in a circle, and a small circular port opened, revealing deadly cargo waiting inside. And then, before MachineDramon had a chance to do anything except recognize the sudden changes, Shakkuomon unleashed two attacks at once, and literally emptied his entire arsenal into the unfortunate ruler.
"Kachina Bombs! Harmonious Spirit!"
The two blasts did not do much effective damage other than scratching MachineDramon's finish. It did however lift the Mega off of his feet and send him cascading backwards, ending his attempt to win the battle by a technical knockout in the first move. Both of the huge digimon regained their footing slowly, rising again to battle. And in the interim, Silphymon and Paildramon swept in to deliver their firepower and really get things rolling.
MegaKabuterimon and Garudamon burst through into the sky immediately, gaining them some maneuvering room, but the others stayed level with their foe. There was a series of motions as Greymon and Garurumon threw themselves forward once more, but this time they were battered away with barely a thought and then it was the turn of the Ultimates again.
This time there was no hesitation and no tactical disadvantage. Every Ultimate and Champion powered up almost simultaneously and unleashed a devastating salvo that nearly brought the tower to its knees.
"Horn Buster!"
"Vulcan's Hammer!"
"Flower Cannon!"
"Wing Blade!"
"Pit Bomb!"
"Pummel Whack!"
"Fist of the Beast King!"
The explosions rocked the very palace itself. For a moment Sora was afraid that the result might knock the building off of its foundations. Fire and lightning mixed and matched, blasting death in all directions. Yet, when it faded, there was Daemon, hardly looking more than phased.
"That's not a good sign, is it?" Matt asked as they looked the Mega up and down.
"No, not really."
"Everybody attack!" Tai yelled, and their digimon threw themselves obediently forward. Daemon reacted, almost looking bored, his actions clearly demonstrating his disdain for the events happening around him. With a single wave of his hand a wall of force blasted those moving to attack him, sending them flying back toward the distant horizon in fury of force beams. The raw power seemed to momentarily stun the digimon facing him, and Daemon smirked.
"Now we're in trouble." Joe muttered.
TK stood waiting for the charge at the doorway to battle.
Angemon and Angewomon floated in midair above the center of the corridor, waiting for the attack that they could sense coming, but could not yet see. Beside him Kari also stood, loose and ready for the battle ahead.
In the distance there was the pounding of footsteps as heavy digimon began to thread their way nearer. Fortunately the building had been constructed with a bunker mentality, and the huge passage leading there gave the defenders every advantage, as any attackers from above would have to pass into the giant hallway from a number of different directions, causing confusion in their ranks.
"You ready?" Kari asked after a moment.
"Sure am." TK hefted the staff one more time, feeling its comforting weight settle in his hands. He exhaled quickly and deeply, attempting to clear his longs for the coming confrontation.
"TK." Angemon's voice was deeper. "I know you've helped in the past but this may be a bit over your heads."
"I agree." Angewomon responded. "It would be wise for you to retreat at this point. Withdraw at our signal."
"I'm not leaving." TK insisted stubbornly.
"You can't be the hero here." Kari touched him on the arm with a light, gentle touch. "You'll only get in the way. Don't risk your life trying to interfere in the jobs of others."
TK smiled reluctantly, showing that he agreed with his friend's thoughts, even if he did not particularly enjoy the logical conclusion. With practiced ease he brought the staff down again, leaning on it heavily as he smiled to the two angels.
"Thanks TK." Angemon told him, just as the first wave rounded the corner.
A group of Mekanorimon tramped in, clearly serving as the assault troops, a mobile battle shield protecting those in the rear ranks. They attempted to cover their unprepared assault by firing a massive barrage of Twin Beams as they rounded the corners from all directions.
Around the two angels the barricades that Machinedramon had set up to protect himself from the encroaching enemy served their purpose admirably. Incoming blasts of energy and fire were quickly diverted away, blasting harmlessly against heavy metal alloys, scouring paint and burning off the mirror-like shine of some of the chunks of armor, but the fortifications erected to protect his lair, huge blocks of metallic armor blockading the passage, remained untouched.
"Hand of Fate!"
"Celestial Arrow!"
Two different blasts of white hot energy ripped toward the enemy, the force savaging the first Mekanorimon they hit, denting armor and shaking up internal components, driving the unstoppable digimon backwards. In instants red blasts and white were criss-crossing the region, blasting holes in walls and armor as the battle was truly joined.
"Split up! Air attack!" Paildramon roared as he soared away from the backblast of his own attack, floating backwards effortlessly on his wings and his own internal power. At the pre-arranged signal the other two Ultimates also wafted away, putting distance between themselves and their targets.
"Desperado Blasters!" Paildramon went into rapid fire mode, and let his rapid-fire attack put a crimp in Machinedramon's plans. Paildramon did not have a powerful attack, in fact it was rather weak, but it was fast. He could fire more shots in a minute than a squadron of other digimon, and he was trying to make every one of those count.
"Static Force!" Silphymon used a blast of concussive force to physically hurl the Mega backwards before soaring off out of range of counterattack.
"Kachina Bombs!" This time the razor edged serrated blades did not just fly at Machinedramon, they actually circled overhead before turning around and slamming back down, battering at the Mega with astounding force.
"Not bad." Machinedramon gasped while the Ultimates let their energy recover for their next set of attacks. "But try this! Giga Blaster!"
The blasts of yellow energy were horribly inaccurate, but they did not need to be accurate. The explosions from them bracketed the maneuvering Silphymon, shaking the unfortunate digimon like a cork in a storm. For a moment Silphymon just hung there, and then his image plunged to the ground.
"That's more like it. Dragon Fire!" For a moment Machinedramon's huge claw loomed over the form of the recovering Ultimate, and then there was a sudden flicker of movement before he could strike.
"Cable Captor!" Paildramon reached out with his grapnels, hooking Machinedramon's deadly attack and diverting it enough so that the Mega did nothing more but hammer harmlessly into the floor. At the same time Paildramon gasped with the effort needed to divert that strike, panting as his muscles tried to fail him all at once. Machinedramon simply raised his claw and threw it violently toward the wall. Paildramon, still attached via his grapnels, was hurled into the wall with enough force to knock him temporarily senseless.
And the Shakkuomon was there, locking arms with the Mega. Machinedramon might have been a Mega, but that did not guarantee his victory in a struggle of purely physical dimensions. It appeared that all of the training that Armadillomon and Cody had been doing was paying off, because the huge metal titans held firm for a moment, both struggling against each other. If they had possessed sweat glands huge rivers of the stuff would have been rolling down their skins, but both of them refused to back down.
"Get up!" Yolei screamed as a woozy Silphymon got to his feet.
"Come on!" Davis yelled.
"You can do it!" Ken screamed.
Paildramon staggered upright and looked at the battle. The two struggling digimon were still going strong, but it looked like Shakkuomon was weakening. His huge metal arms were beginning to tremble, and his eyes were starting to move wildly.
"Go!" Paildramon's two partners screamed as one. Their crests flared, for the first time acting in concert, and the colors mixed in a swirling rainbow, resolving into a sudden flash of brilliant white color as the two urged their warrior on.
"Paildramonmega digivolve to
Everyone stopped what they were doing as they held their breath in anticipation. From the corner where Paildramon had been standing there was a flash of light, which quickly resolved into a huge figure, bearing a huge cannon on his back, eyes flaring an angry red. As the light solidified the mammoth-sized warrior digimon shook off his ephemeral nature and roared into battle, thundering over the earth with huge claws, knocking Machinedramon aside.
"ImperialDramon!"
"Now that's more like it!" Davis yelled, trying to encourage his partner.
"It's a whole new ballgame now." Ken admitted.
Daemon threw Garurumon off one more time, and this time the wolf transformed back into Gabumon before anyone could do anything.
"Were at a serious disadvantage!" Izzy yelled at the others. "Our digimon are starting to run low on energy. We've got to do something."
"Tell us something we don't know!" Sora responded anxiously as Garudamon was knocked from the sky by a single one of Daemon's force beams, sweeping the sky like a searchlight.
"I would but I can't" Izzy responded.
"Horn Buster!" MegaKabuterimon responded to Daemon's provocation, meeting another force beam head on. The attacks neatly canceled, but even the legendary stamina of Izzy's partner digimon was clearly beginning to flag, the insectoid looking as if he was having problems staying in the sky.
"We can't give up." Tai muttered to himself, but nobody was listening anymore. All around him he could hear the crash of his friends trying their hardest, fighting a battle he had recklessly lead them into, but he could do nothing, nothing, to stop it. For a moment he realized how overpowered they were, how much trouble they were in, as the attacks started again. Daemon was not even tiring yet, and their digimon were exhausted.
A voice in the depths of Tai's mind began to whisper the truth, that he was getting them all killed.
"Now!" Piximon yelled.
With a sudden ferocity that belied their supposed Champion level status, Leomon and Ogremon leapt into the fray, fists and weapons moving furiously. Leomon chopped madly at anything that he could hit, sword cutting deep into the cloth covering Daemon's body, teeth bared in ferocious concentration. Ogremon was howling savagely, club whirling and fist flying, launching more attacks than anyone would ever have thought possible. For a moment Daemon was sent reeling under the combined attacks of the two Champions, temporarily staggered by the sheer volume of the confrontation, and the repeated blows raining in on him. But only for a moment.
"Enough!" He cried, and the two Champions were blasted off in a furious rush of energy. Only then did Daemon look up into the second part of Piximon's hastily assembled plan.
"Vulcan's Hammer!" Zudomon howled. He had used the momentary advantage that Ogremon and Leomon had provided to sneak steadily closer to his opponent, and now he brought his hammer down with all the force he could bear, slamming his blow into his foe as hard as he possibly could. Daemon collapsed under the blow hammered flat into the ground, pounded out like a pancake.
"Horn Buster!" MegaKabuterimon blasted off one last shot.
"Flower Cannon!" Lilymon soared in for the kill, flitting off to one side and lowering her deadly cannon.
"Wing Blade!" Garudamon lofted skyward, sending one last driving blast down at the fallen leader.
"Pit Bomb!" This version of Piximon's attack was especially vicious, and it left a huge hole in the ground.
"Nova Blast!" Greymon fired off one huge ball of flame before de-digivolving back into Agumon.
"All right!" Tai yelled.
"We did it!" Sora agreed.
"I tire of this foolishness! It's time to end this game. Evil Inferno!" From the ground beneath Zudomon's hammer a wave of flame burst out. After a handful of moments that barely comprised the beat of a heart, Gomamon came flying out, landing crumpled in Joe's arms. Daemon strode out of the flames, looking ruffled and extremely upset at this latest turn in events.
"We can't lose." Tai whispered, but his words sounded hollow, even to himself.
"Plan?" TK asked tersely under his breath as he and Kari hid together behind a huge metal bulwark, trying to keep out of the way. Above him he could hear the whine as bolts of red fire leapt overhead, countered by the occasional shots of their two angels working together in tandem.
"Working on it." Kari muttered.
"Wonderful." TK replied, and briefly stuck his head out to get a quick look at what was going on.
Most of the Mekanorimon were down or injured thanks to the angels' extraordinary powers, but the angels must have been running a little low on power because the volume of fire they were directing at their enemy had slackened considerably. Now the crowd coming forward was different digimon, a squadron of rolling Tankmon making up the middle, backed by a group of Vilemon and RedVeggiemon on each side, each group trying to get up the middle to strike at their adversaries, but hampered by their need to let someone else go first.
"Stalemate." TK replied as he drew his head back in.
"Something's got to happen. We can't keep this up forever." Kari reminded him.
"Let's see." TK muttered and closed his eyes. For a brief moment he was on the path to the Heart of the World, and power began to gather within him. Not much, but enough for what he needed. Then the blocks in his mind, and in the Heart itself activated, and the sparks of power died and were quickly extinguished in his grasp. Then there was only nothing left except the faint memory of what power felt like.
"No dice." He responded as he opened his eyes.
"We'll think of something." Kari laid a comforting hand on his arm, but even that was no longer comforting.
"Giga Cannon!"
"Positron Laser!"
The two blasts met in midair and threw everyone backwards. By the time that Ken was able to pick himself off of the floor again the two Mega level digimon were locked in physical combat again, trying to shove the other back. Apparently the energy reserves they were drawing on for their attacks was limited now, because neither was using them.
"Well, this is just great." Davis muttered as he tried to get back on his feet, overturning the desk that had fallen on him.
"They're too equally matched." Cody observed.
Unfortunately for the good guys the last explosion and the resulting shock wave had been just a little too much for the other digimon. Silphymon had managed to stagger back upright, but clearly was unable to add much to the conflict for some time. Shakkuomon was built to absorb energy, but even he looked beat, lying embedded in the wall unmoving.
"It will take them a few moments to restore themselves to full strength." Ken noted analytically, while part of his mind was wondering how he could continue to be so calm.
"How long?" Davis asked as he finally managed to get up.
"I really don't know. We used a lot of power trying to overwhelm him earlier." Ken shrugged verbally and physically.
"Aren't they stronger now?" Cody asked.
"Judging from examination, I would say yes." Ken replied. "They've done at least three times as many attacks as they did against BlackWarGreymon, and we went as close to all out as we could have in that battle. They're certainly much stronger, but Machinedramon is no slacker. I don't know who will win."
"Go ImperialDramon!" Davis yelled.
"It's all up to you now." Yolei whispered.
"We need to get out of here fast!" Izzy yelled.
"We can't leave, we can't give up now! We have to" Tai began to protest.
Matt did not even bother to reply. He exchanged a look with Izzy, and then slammed Tai in the temple as hard as he could. Tai immediately collapsed and went limp, but Matt picked him up, staggering under the weight.
"So now what?" Matt asked the computer genius.
"MegaKabuterimon!" Izzy howled. "It's time to go!"
As a huge barrage laid down on Daemon continued to blind the angry Mega the others quickly boarded the huge red insect. Scrambling up the sides of the smooth shell, trying to ignore the sporadic explosions coming from behind them, six children, three rookies and two champions scrambled rapidly aboard.
"No, it's time to go!" Izzy pointed forward and slowly, ponderously, MegaKabuterimon rose up. Power began to build as the Ultimate sped away from the castle, but it felt like moving through solid lead.
"We're going to slow!" Mimi shouted.
"Everyone, get ready." Leomon turned around from where Matt was feeding Gabumon an emergency shot of day-old bread.
"Ahhhh." A scream faded off as Lilymon de-digivolved to Palmon and landed in Mimi's arms. A second later there was a flash and then a de-digivolved and exhausted looking Biyomon was lying there too.
"You may be able to fly faster than me." The confident voice of Daemon sounded a little raspy now. "But you can't outfly this. Evil Inferno!"
"Try to stop it!" Leomon howled to the others. "Fist of the Beast King!"
"Pummel Whack!"
"Blue Blaster!"
"Pepper Breath!"
"Digital Barrier maximum power!" Piximon held his staff in trembling paws, a barrier blocking the depleted firestorm for a moment, deflecting it around the beetle they were riding. For the moments in which he held the barrier they used it like a jet, surfing off on the wave of force from behind. Then the flames died off and Daemon vanished, swallowed up by the distance. Even so, his last words rang in their ears.
"Cat and mouse digidestined. Cat and mouse."
"They're getting closer." Angemon rumbled deep in his chest. He was conserving energy now, waiting for the melee combat that was sure to come after this.
"I know that Angemon." Angewomon returned, staring further down the passageway where the smaller Champion digimon were dodging from barrier to barrier in attempt to stay out of firing range.
"Isn't this the time when one of us usually comes up with a brilliant idea?" TK asked, following in the footsteps of Joe so many years earlier.
"I don't think we have one this time." Kari responded.
From above they could hear the sounds of Angemon's staff striking solid flesh. It appeared that the battle had disintegrated into one of melee combat. Here the pressing weight of enemy numbers would quickly overwhelm the angels in combat.
"Well, if we go, I just want to say that I love you." TK held Kari by the shoulders and looked seriously into her eyes.
She blushed bright pink, and smiled up at him, temporarily banishing fear. "I love you too TK. And we'll both fight to the bitter end."
"Let's go do some damage Kari." TK smiled at her. And then there was a warmth from his chest as golden light spilled outward, illuminating the room brightly, banishing shadows into the far distance. Time stood still as the golden radiance worked its way outward, its purpose both familiar and potent.
"Angemondigivolves toMagnaAngemon!"
TK had always believed that MagnaAngemon was almost a mega himself, being the most powerful Ultimate they had ever discovered. He had been enough to single-handedly hand setbacks to Piedmon, and his strength was so, to use Izzy's word, prodigious, that he had even stood even with BlackWarGreymon.
Now the powerful Ultimate stood in midair, burning with golden radiance. He stood there, his huge purple sword, glowing with unearthly and heavenly energies extended from one arm, his wings haloing him as if he truly were descended from heaven. The helmet shielded him from revealing his expression, but from his posture, there was little doubt of the determination that would lurk within.
"Gate of Destiny!" While the others stood there, watching in mute stupefaction, stunned by the sudden appearance of the Ultimate, he took advantage of the distraction. The sword traced a golden circle in the air, quickly resolving into a golden gate that rotated its way open. Suddenly the enemy guards were screaming, trying to get away, but to no avail. Patamon had once told TK that the Gate of Destiny called to all evil, and now those of evil intent were finding themselves in trouble. As the currents of power pulled them inside they let off horrible howls and devastating screams, but they had no effect on the angel's posture. As to what his expression was as an entire legion of troops was decimated, TK could only guess.
"Wow." Kari could only say.
"Good job partner." Angewomon floated down, looking a little tired, but MagnaAngemon barely moved.
"There is still a battle to be fought." His voice was as deeply resonant as TK remembered, and it echoed as if he was in a cave instead of a hallway.
"True." Angewomon admitted. "Let's go."
"I'm tired." MegaKabuterimon sounded exhausted to tell the truth, his flight path dropping ever closer and closer to the ground. "Can't keep this up much longer."
"Find a good place to crash." Izzy told him, and then turned back to the others. "Brace yourselves. We're going in a little fast."
"Meadowlooks so nice" MegaKabuterimon's voice faded off.
"Quickly!" Leomon shouted, and then he and Ogremon had grabbed the others, using themselves as shields to protect the more fragile humans. All Joe knew was that he was suddenly pressed into hard green skin a second before
CRUNCH!
MegaKabuterimon hit the ground like rock, skidding along for a handful of seconds before glowing brightly and returning to his form as Tentomon. This left the rest of the digidestined and company flying along and bouncing off of the ground as they tried to stop. Fortunately the meadow, though lined with mountain pines, was rather large, and they had plenty of time to stop.
"I'm never going to move again." Leomon muttered after a while.
"I don't think I can." Ogremon groaned.
"We'll have to do something. Let's try and get through it together." Mimi had managed to stagger upright. Her landing had been cushioned by Joe, who was still in a state of shock.
"That's a nice thought Mimi." Izzy grumbled after a while. "But we're in no shape to do anything right now."
"Are we all alright?" Biyomon groaned after a moment.
Mimi did a quick count. "I think we are, but Tai's still out cold."
"That's no problem at the moment." Matt groaned and sat up, quickly holding his head. "If he's still in one piece we'll do fine."
"So what now?" Sora wanted to know.
Suddenly, without any warning, a voice roared out of the distant clouds. "You may have escaped me for now digidestined, but I'll soon have you again within my clutches."
"How about we get out of here. Now." Mimi suggested.
ImperialDramon grunted in anger, impotent rage feeding the furnace of his enraged battle prowess. His main weapon, his back mounted cannon was now unable to bear on his enemy. Machinedramon, quickly analyzing the risk that the other Mega meant, had charged rapidly, slamming into his opponent, and forcing the cannon to point upward, toward the ceiling. Now both digimon struggled hand to hand, body to body, their weapons unable to bear on each other. Machinedramon had the advantage, as his attack had forced ImperialDramon to tilt back, making his front legs wave off of the ground, almost rendering him useless. Without the leverage provided by his normal frame ImperialDramon was terribly off balance.
"Go for it ImperialDramon!" Yolei howled. "Teach that joker a lesson."
"It's not working, is it?" Davis whispered quietly to Ken.
"We need some way of distracting Machinedramon enough for ImperialDramon to finish this off. Machinedramon has to be running low on power by now, but if ImperialDramon can't bring his firepower to bear, nothing is going to matter." Ken replied just as quietly.
"Come on guys, wake up!" Yolei yelled at their recumbent Ultimates.
Silphymon struggled forward a few steps, and then fell down again, this time de-digivolving back into Hawkmon, who looked positively exhausted. Shakkuomon did not look much better, still not moving.
"Come on Shakkuomon. Don't give up now." Cody pleaded, but his pleas were not enough to reenergize his companion.
"ImperialDramon, it's up to you now!" Davis yelled.
"You've got to get him to shift his weight." Ken shouted.
But at that moment the tenuous balance shifted. Machinedramon managed to leverage his opponent up far enough that he was even more vulnerable, and no longer able to fight back properly. Now, his footholds removed ImperialDramon acted like a giant turtle, about to be flipped on his back, and helpless to prevent this.
"Go, go!" a muttered prayer, but there was nothing Ken could do before ImperialDramon was tilted over and rolled onto his back
As the huge Mega hit the ground, struggling to get back upwards, Machinedramon recoiled backward, raising his fanged visage to the heavens in a scream of primal fury. For a moment Ken stared spellbound as the huge Mega loomed over his fallen defender, back arched and howling to the sky. Then the moment passed, but Machinedramon was still strangely enough still howling at the sky. After a moment of confusion, Ken stared at the others, but they were watching this spectacle in shock.
Then Machinedramon pitched forward, and the problem became immediately apparent. There, on Machinedramon's back, right where the power cables attached themselves to the tremendous Giga Cannons, was MagnaAngemon. His purple sword, energies in the shape of brilliant lightning bolts running down it, was anchoring firmly to Machinedramon's exposed vitals, and for a few precious seconds it was clear that the angel had damaged the Mega, perhaps fatally. But then Machinedramon seemed to get his senses back under control again, and threw himself forward, knocking MagnaAngemon forward again. The angel merely disengaged, flying off with a gust of wind from his eight wings, putting distance between himself and his enraged opponent.
Machinedramon looked around with glaring eyes to find his attacker, but froze at a new sight. With the help of Angewomon, ImperialDramon had righted himself once more, and now stood facing his enemy, eyes blazing a ferocious red. Beams of energy from all over the world were gathering at the muzzle of the mighty cannon he carrier, and the awesome jaws were already parted to deliver the death sentence.
"Positron Laser!"
Blasts of fire in the form of elemental destruction focused themselves on the powerhouse to the laser, until that same fire burst forth in a tidal wave of destruction. A triangularly shaped beam of death spewed from the housing of the cannon, pitching forward and blasting directly at the heart of Machinedramon. The mutant machine jerked backwards in shock, but this time he was also propelled by the fire of his adversary, and that fire spelled death. There was a flash of brilliant light, and then an explosion, and then the Mega level digimon was no more.
"All right!" Davis jumped three feet up in the air as ImperialDramon disappeared in a flash of light and returned to two in-training digimon. They were soon joined by a crowed of exhausted rookies and one tired champion, only to be grabbed and hugged joyfully by a full set of humans.
"We did it." Ken smiled.
"We sure did." TK responded.
"So what next?" Yolei asked.
"Hopefully we finish this." Kari responded grimly.
"Once and for all." Davis looked outward grimly, his eyes fixed on the invisible presence of Khartan.