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Second Piece: Will
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Penn watches the battle with glee from his vantage point some distance away. The perfect spot really, a place where he can watch both the savage melee of his WarDevimon while also watching the grueling grudge-match between Pentamon and Milleniumon. He almost breaks out in laughter as he watches the outnumbered Digidestined and Tamers struggle futilely against his creations.
"Heh…a little while longer and I'll just delete them all," he whispers, just as an energy beam slams through the back of the window, shattering it like glass. A few moments later and another window appears, now facing the assailant.
"You're not deleting anyone!" proclaims Gennai, pushing both control sticks forward and charging at the window, firing off a few more shots. Penn's window disappears once again before he can reach, reappearing behind Gennai's Mekanorimon.
"Damn! Where did you come from?!" he yells angrily. The Mekanorimon quickly spins around and does a sideways-karate chop, shattering the window yet again.
"You WILL be stopped, Penn!" yells Gennai, readying himself for more combat. The author's voice booms around the ageless Digital human as he speaks.
"Wha…how do you know my name?!"
"I have my ways. Just because we are nothing more than computer programs doesn't mean we're mindless puppets bound only to your will, Penn Sanders!" Gennai proclaims.
"What?!!"
"So, you've got a new friend now, Author?" booms another voice, only this much closer. Gennai quickly looks to the side and dodges straight down, nearly getting hit by ExMilleniumon's fist.
"Milleniumon!?" yells Gennai, as the armored Mega smirks with recognition.
"Heh, so it's you. I see you've been able to remove Piedmon's dark spore. My compliments, Gennai," say ExMilleniumon, tightening his grip around the sword he now carries, "Oh, but let me introduce myself. I am ExMilleniumon, Dark God and ruler of all the Universes…as soon as I eliminate these meddling Authors. But first…your death!"
With amazing speed, ExMilleniumon charges forward and slashes the sword several times at the Mekanorimon, but surprisingly, the much smaller Digimon is able to dodge every attack. Penn's window once again appears, this time behind the powerful Mega.
"No! Your fight is with Pentamon!" he yells angrily.
As if on cue, the aforementioned Mega rams ExMilleniumon from the side with enough force to send him sailing towards the edge of the AT Field. As Pentamon charges towards his opponent, Penn looks back towards Gennai with disdain.
"As for you…my pets will bring death swiftly, pest," says the Author.
"You have a way with words, Penn, but can you back them up with actual force?" asks Gennai as four WarDevimon surround him.
"I will enjoy watching you die, Gennai," Penn answers with a smirk.
"Likewise," is Gennai's only reply as the WarDevimon charge. Suddenly, with speed that no Mekanorimon should possess, Gennai's Digimon rams one of the oncoming WarDevimon. Swiftly, the Mekanorimon grabs its opponent's throat, pulls the monsters head in front of its beam cannon, and fires. To say the least, Penn is stunned to silence by the sight. Gennai releases the WarDevimon, letting the limp body fall to its doom and finally willing Penn to speak.
"That…that's IMPOSSIBLE! Mekanorimon is a Champion…how did it defeat my WarDevimon…? They're Ultimate-level, dammit!" he yells, his voice caught somewhere between anger and surprise.
"Fool. For a being who is supposed to know everything about us, you seem to know nothing at all," whispers Gennai, quickly spinning his Mekanorimon around and firing the beam cannon several times at the on-coming WarDevimon, successfully blasting one's arm off. Gennai charges forward and rams the one-armed WarDevimon, then one of the others comes up behind him and prepares to slash…
"JUSTICE KICK!!"
Suddenly, Justimon appears and kicks the Digimon away from Mekanorimon. Gennai turns around and stares at the Mega, before quickly realizing whom it is.
"Ryo!" yells Gennai happily, "You're here!" Within his Digi-Sphere, Ryo blinks a few times and shakes his head.
"Gennai…?" Ryo replies in surprise. The Legendary Tamer, for one, didn't expect his old friend and mentor to suddenly appear.
"Save the reunion for later!" says Sakuyamon, flying up beside Gennai, "We've got to take this chance to attack ExMilleniumon and Pentamon while the WarDevimon are not paying attention to us!"
"Heh…why don't we eliminate the WarDevimon altogether?" Gennai wonders aloud, glancing over towards the writhing cloud of Digimon in the distance.
"Don't you think we tried that already? There are way too many of them!" Sakuyamon replies with annoyance. The Mekanorimon turns towards her and, within its cockpit, the pilot smirks.
"There is one item within this Universe that can give you the strength to defeat all of the WarDevimon," he explains, "In fact, it is the very item that I have been using myself in order to combat these abominations." A small point of light appears between the Champion and Mega, a point that suddenly flashes in a bright light, engulfing them both. Inside her Digi-Sphere within Sakuyamon, Rika slowly reopens her eyes to a stunning sight: a glowing golden ring floating a mere meter away from her.
"Gatomon's Tail Ring…" she whispers in awe as she recognizes the ring.
"Take it. That ring has the ability to increase a Digimon's power exponentially, which is why I've been using it as a power-up for my Mekanorimon," says Gennai, his voice echoing throughout the Digi-Sphere, "With it, you will have a power equal to that of Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and be able to stand up to Pentamon on your own. Penn won't stand a chance!"
"How…how did you…?" whispers Rika, both in awe of the ring and surprised at Gennai's knowledge of the Authors.
"Yugi Muto isn't the only one who is intrigued by our creators' technology," he simply replies. Rika smiles and nods with understanding, before quickly snatching the ring out of the air before her. The moment her hand comes into contact with it, a surge of energy unlike anything she'd ever felt before flows through her body, engulfing not only herself but Sakuyamon as well in an egg of light. Slowly, the field of light surrounding the Mega begins to dissolve, accompanied by a familiar voice:
"Earth and Moon…Sun and Stars…My world and yours…the force that binds them all…lend me your strength! Lend me the almighty power of light…of justice!" says Sakuyamon in Renamon's voice, raising a hand towards the sky, "Evil…Darkness…Chaos…halt before me! Quake in fear of the power that has been bequeathed upon me. It is the will of the Digital World for you to be eliminated…no…it is not only the Digital World's will, but the will of all living things! Now…return to the hell from whence you came!"
Sakuyamon thrusts her palm towards the horde of WarDevimon and shouts, "SPIRIT STRIKE!!" Countless numbers of fox-like spirits erupt from the Mega's hand, each one twice as potent thanks to the power-up from Gatomon's Tail Ring. Like Angels of Death, the spirits pass through bodies of each WarDevimon…taking the beasts' life with them as they vanish into oblivion. A single sorrowful moan echoes across the skies of the Digital World, before silencing with the sound of death.
"Wha…what the heck…?!" mutters Imperialdramon as all of the WarDevimon seeming drop dead and delete right before him.
"What happened…!" yells Vikemon looking around from his perch on his friend's back. As the effects of her attack subsides, Sakuyamon looks on with utter shock.
"Did…did I do that…?" she manages to say, "Have I really become that strong…?"
--
"Grr…DAMMIT!" Penn yells angrily, kicking his chair away with all of his strength. Taking a deep breath, the young man calms down and looks back around at his employees manning other computers in the large mission control-like room. Being a multi-billionaire did have its benefits, such as being able to hire the best computer technicians and programmers in the world for this little scheme.
"Sir…?" asks one of the technicians quietly.
"What?" replies Penn loudly, obviously still angry at this new turn of events.
"We have a problem," says the technician, "Someone is attempting to hack into our system and cut us off from the FF.net servers."
"Damn…it must be that 'Anti-Penn' group. Reinforce the firewalls, don't let them through!" orders Penn, looking down at his desk and glancing at the Millennium Digivice, "I'll handle the rest."
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"So…what now?" asks Vikemon, glancing over towards Sakuyamon and the others from his seat upon Imperialdramon. For a moment there is no response, everyone simply staring at the battle continuing to wage before them between Pentamon and ExMilleniumon. Finally, Sakuyamon snaps out of her stupor and speaks.
"We have to take them down," she says, flying before the others.
"Brilliant plan," replies Imperialdramon sarcastically, "How do you suppose we take down a dark god and man-made monstrosity?"
"We'll take them both on at once, moving in fast while using our strongest attacks, and hopefully catching them off guard," Sakuyamon explains, "Imperialdramon, Vikemon, Magnadramon, and I will attack ExMilleniumon, everyone else will…"
"No," says Justimon suddenly, interrupting Sakuyamon, "I will fight ExMilleniumon alone. All of you will fight Pentamon."
"WHAT?!" yells Valkyrimon as everyone immediately spins toward Justimon, their eyes wide with shock, "Are you nuts?! You'll get killed if you fight him by yourself!!" Justimon avoids their gazes, instead looking down at the glowing blade his right arm and hand had become.
"It's the only way…" he mutters.
"No, Ryo!" yells Sakuyamon, Rika's voice noticeably more prominent than Renamon's, "That is suicide! I won't let you…!"
"Stop being so selfish, Rika!" Justimon yells, his voice sounding much like a growl, a voice Rika never knew he had, "It doesn't matter what you want or what I want anymore! This is beyond us! We aren't fighting for just the Earth or just the Digital World, but entire Universes with countless people inhabiting each! My life is just too insignificant at this point."
Everyone is speechless; none of them can come up with any response…any reason for Ryo not to throw his life away.
"Ryo…" whispers Sakuyamon.
"I am the only one capable of fighting ExMilleniumon and coming out alive. We are inseparably bonded…he is the shadow to my light. As long as I live, he lives…and, hopefully, the other way around is true as well," says Justimon, "Rika…this is a personal matter. ExMilleniumon is my partner. It doesn't matter at all that he has become evil incarnate…deep down inside is the one I call my friend…Monodramon."
For a moment, the two Megas' gazes meet and in their hearts they both realize a simple unifying truth: their love for each other. Justimon quickly turns away and stares at the monstrosity his partner has become.
"Ryo," Gennai finally says, "If this is the road you have decided to take, then there is nothing I can say or do to stop you. I know you won't fail us…I believe in you. Good luck." Justimon turns towards the Mekanorimon Gennai sits within, a feeling of gratitude and surprise overcoming him.
"Go get 'em, Ryo!"
"Ryo, go teach that freak a lesson he'll never forget!"
"I believe in you Ryo! We're behind you all the way!"
"Take out ExMilleniumon, then together we'll defeat Penn!"
"ExMilleniumon doesn't stand a chance against you!"
"Ryo…" says Rika, Renamon's voice completely absent now, "Just promise me one thing: that you'll come back…to me."
Justimon slowly nods and replies, "…I promise."
--
"Stand still and DIE already you insolent fool!" howls ExMilleniumon, slashing his sword at Pentamon, who simply dodges yet again. From his floating window, Penn once again smirks with satisfaction.
"Give up. When compared to my almighty powers, you are nothing but a pathetic computer program," says Penn, angering the already annoyed Digi-God.
"You are nothing more than an ignorant human, Penn! How DARE you speak to me that way!" ExMilleniumon yells angrily, finally grabbing Pentamon with his left hand and slashing its arm off. The evil Mega smiles at the sound of its opponents blood-curdling scream of pain, only to have that smile washed away as the arm simply regenerates.
"No, you are the ignorant one, my friend. I own this world, what I want to happen happens. The only reason you are still alive is because I want you to be. You would be wise to keep me entertained otherwise you will meet the same fate as all of the other Digimon in the Digital World," replies Penn grimly. ExMilleniumon growls as he glares at Penn icily.
"If you were half as wise or intelligent as you claim to be, you would've killed me already," he mutters, keeping quiet enough for Penn not to hear. If his intuition is correct, then it is possible that this Author is unaware of his ability to traverse Universes. Maybe he is aware of the ability, but just refuses to acknowledge that a simple 'computer program' is capable of such a feat.
"As soon as I kill your precious pet, Penn, I'll be sure to pay your universe a personal visit," thinks ExMilleniumon as he raises his sword and prepares to charge at Pentamon once again.
"MEGA CRUSHER!"
A massive explosion envelops Pentamon in smoke and flame as a sphere of energy suddenly collides with the monstrosity, sending it reeling as more attacks arc out of sky and onto its hide.
"What the…?!" yells Penn, obviously caught off guard as a familiar figure flies up before ExMilleniumon.
"Koibito," whispers the Dark God as Justimon slowly raises his arm-blade to a battle stance.
"It is time for us to end our eternal struggle…once and for all," he says. An unreadable expression crosses ExMilleniumon's face as another explosion rips across Pentamon's hide, illuminating the air behind Justimon with a bright background of light.
"So be it," replies ExMilleniumon as he charges at Justimon and slashes his sword, "Your blood upon my hands will stand as a testament to my superiority over all reality!" Skillfully, Justimon parries the attack, although ExMilleniumon does not seem surprised at this in the slightest.
"No matter what it takes, ExMilleniumon, I will stop you," Justimon replies. ExMilleniumon narrows his eyes and grips his sword a bit tighter.
"Then this shall be our final battle," he remarks. Without another word, the rivals charge at each other and slash, their blades meeting in a shower of sparks as the two cross paths. ExMilleniumon pulls back slightly before launching a blinding hail of swipes with his sword, a barrage that Justimon is barely able to dodge as he weaves his way around each slash.
"Grr…" growls Justimon, swooping in, "Give back my friend!"
"I am your partner! That Digimon was nothing more than a fraud…I am the one you are destined to bond with!" Exmilleniumon yells back, just barely moving in time to parry a stab by his opponent.
"No! I've never had a partner…" mutters Justimon, spinning and delivering a powerful kick to ExMilleniumon's face, "And I never will!" ExMilleniumon flies back slightly due to the blow, but quickly recovers before falling to the ground.
"What? What are you saying…?" he wonders out loud.
"Partners…children destined to bond with a particular Digimon…" Justimon says, "I don't buy it. I don't believe in fate…I make my own."
"Idiot! I know your fate, and it is to die by your partner's hand!" yells ExMilleniumon icily, slashing down at his partner once again. Justimon doesn't move to dodge the blow, simply blocking it. He glares right into the dark god's eyes.
"No," he mutters quietly, "There is no such thing as fate and you are not my partner."
"Fate is what brought us together in the first place!" yells ExMilleniumon, "You are in severe denial, Akiyama! Accept it! I am your partner!"
"My partner…" whispers Justimon, lowering his head slightly, "A partner is a Digimon I have bonded with…I never bonded with you…"
"Ever since I discovered the truth, I have considered our battles as our own form of bonding," replies ExMilleniumon, "Tough love."
"Milleniumon…" whispers Justimon. The Digimon has never spoken to Ryo in this way before; it is almost unbelievable. Ryo, in a way, wants to believe him…to accept him as his partner. But…
"Ryo…" replies the dark god, "I never could understand why I couldn't kill you. I had so many chances…yet I never took them. Now, I understand. It was something that was so basic that I couldn't comprehend it at first. When I realized what it could mean, I had refused to accept it. You must have felt the same way…you never killed me either, just sealed me away. But, it wasn't until I fused with Monodramon did I decide to accept it. Ryo, I am your partner."
"You make it sound like we're soul-mates…" Justimon says, bringing a smile to his opponent's face.
"Maybe that's how this works," replies ExMilleniumon, "I can't help what I've become, Ryo, and I doubt I have the willpower to change either. Ironic isn't it? Your archenemy is also your destined partner."
"Milleniumon…although, through some all-powerful mystic force, we may have been meant to be partners, it hasn't turned out that way. To put it frankly, we simply aren't. In my other home-world, partners are determined through the emotions and actions of both the Tamer and Digimon, not fate," says Justimon, a bit of guilt in his voice, "Monodramon is the closest I have to a partner. He is my best friend…the one I have truly bonded with. We…we are not friends. Maybe someday, if our circumstances change, but at the moment we are not friends at all. I'm sorry, but you are not my partner, Milleniumon."
ExMilleniumon stares at the smaller mega silently for a moment before forcing himself to look away. Ryo watches him, hoping to get some hint of what he is going to do next just by studying his face, yet at the same time doesn't want to know.
"For the first time, he opened up to me…shared with me his thoughts on our situation…and I rejected him. I'm so cold…" Ryo thinks, still feeling guilty. He almost didn't want to tell him, but ExMilleniumon had to know the truth.
"Then I am sorry as well," whispers the dark god, suddenly launching towards Ryo and running his sword through Justimon's body right up to the hilt. ExMilleniumon looks into Justimon's masked face and can imagine the look on Ryo, his eyes wide with shock and surprise pale. The young man opens his mouth to say something, but no words come out.
The ghostly visage of ExMilleniumon's face appears behind Ryo within the Digi-Sphere and whispers to him, "They say the truth will set you free."
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Digimon Shift: Initiation is written by Seth Turtle. Digimon Shift: Last Piece is written by Pkmatrix and has been written with Seth Turtle's permission. Any and all original characters in these two stories are copyright of Seth Turtle. For a disclaimer covering all other copyrighted material appearing in this story, please check my profile.