"Brave New World" by Luke's Dragon

A/N

Okay, so I've totally changed (wrecked) the ending to series 03 for my own plot purposes… Does that make me a bad person? I didn't like series 03, so this is my revenge…. Inspired by far too much Digimon Rumble Arena for PSX.

~~~

Chapter 6 Who Stands Alone?

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
~Taylor Benson

~~~

As we race towards the scene of the battle between the humans and the D-Reaper my mind races with far too many thoughts for my liking, I need this time to focus, to calm myself and prepare for the battle to come. In moments of tension and stress I have the most trouble controlling myself and the urge to destroy everything. Now destroying everything is all well and good if I am alone, but as there are humans, innocents who are in danger I cannot run the risk of losing control.

Yet I still cannot focus myself, I am concerned that my partner will be unable to fight again, I am concerned for the safety of the children and I am concerned that from all accounts this creature is unlike anything I have ever come up against before. What is not in my mind is my own safety, it is an issue a warrior cannot take too seriously, concern with myself would undoubtedly put me at a disadvantage in a battle, all that matters is the win, to vanquish my foe and that is all. Surviving unscathed is a minor reward, especially in situations like this. How many times can the Digital World need saving?

~~~

As we approach the battlefield I quickly try to take in the scene the D-Reaper is a massively powerful entity, I can sense the sheer destructive force that this monster possess even from a distance, this creature, much like myself was created purely to destroy. It sends a chill right through me to consider that where as I was created to destroy the Digi-Destined, this monster was created to destroy the whole world, and from all I can tell looks as though such a task is not beyond him.

The Digimon of the tamers are trying their best to fight but they are so small and powerless against him, their best attacks barely make him flinch, whereas a good hit from the blade he carries will be enough to reduce them to dust. My sensors try to pick up data on the combatants. There are three powerful Digimon, the ones know as 'Biomerged' one of whom is Gallentmon who I met before, there is a creature I identify as Cyberdramon and a few others who lack the strength to make any impact on this battle.

And there is one more figure, a small white Digimon who lacks any strength at all, but seems to be important to the humans; it cowers away from the fight, hiding behind a young girl. It is hardly worth my consideration and yet there is something worrying about him. I forget about him, with a roar Beelzamon and myself enter the battle.

~~~

My concerns about Beelzamon prove unfounded, attacking like a ruthless demon he charges straight into the fray, joining Gallentmon trying to get close enough to deliver a blow in hand to hand combat, I maintain my distance. The other Digimon seem to have the same idea, staying well back and firing whatever they can well away from the dangerous blade the monster wields. Then without warning it lunges forward at lighting speed, slashing the green armored Digimon who was firing rockets. The Digimon has no chance; his armor is no protection against the destructive power of D-Reaper. A single blow takes him down, and I feel a sinking feeling deep in my stomach.

Realizing this fight is going to take some serious effort I spring forward slicing at the monster with my claws whilst its guard is down. I feel the impact as blow after blow lands on it, and then pain as he swipes me a glancing blow with his blade, with a groan I notice that the attack didn't even wound him. Still dazed from the blow I cannot dodge as a bolt of dark energy hits me, and I feel my mind shatter.

Whatever he has done to me holds me in place unable to move as memories and feelings assault my brain, every evil deed I have ever done comes back to me all at once, a scar I though I had healed and forgotten comes racing back. So consumed I am that I barely even notice as another major blow lands home, cutting me a deep gash across my chest.

I cannot move as D-Reaper grins a sickly grin as he prepares to deliver a fatal blow, he hesitates far too long, a mark of someone who is not an out and out fighter, such hesitation can prove costly as Gallentmon and Beelzamon launch a combined attack at D-Reaper.

"Nightmare Claw"

"Lighting Joust"

The attacks could bring down anything… anything that is apart from this monster; it recoils wounded but still more than able to fight. Now angered it launches a berserk attack against Gallentmon, slicing with speed even I cannot keep up with it lands blow after blow in quick succession, exhausted Gallentmon collapses back into a boy and a lizard.

Beelzamon is now the only powerful Digimon who can fight, staring straight at D-Reaper he charges headlong attacking with no thought of anything like defense, and it costs him dearly, he has no time to prepare any defense from a wild slash and crashes to the floor badly wounded. D-Reaper can now take his time and gloat in the most stomach churning way. It takes nothing to beat the other Digimon and they fall in seconds. It turns its attention to the girl and the white Digimon; it laughs with the confidence of someone who is sure they will win.

Tentacles burst from the monster as it is covered in a black glow they wrap around the girl and the Digimon and begin slowly to draw them both into the blackness that now dominates the scene. Beelzamon slowly picks himself up from the ground and dives at the girl, I see him grab onto her and struggle to pull her to safety. But as strong as he is he cannot break her free, instead he too is wrapped by the darkness and drawn towards the nightmare creature.

And D-Reaper's laughter is all that I can hear now, mad laughter, laughter of someone who has everything to laugh about. Our efforts failed before we even began, we could not even harm the monster and yet I know I could, if I could summon up all the power of the Terra Destroyer and catch him unaware I know I could win this fight.

That of course would involve moving and not bleeding to death first of course.

~~~

This looks to be the end, I can hardly move although whether this is from injuries, or the fear that creature has put into my head I cannot tell. My eyes still work, and this is not a good thing because it means I can see what is happening but this time I am powerless to do anything.

The Digimon belonging to the humans lie broken and battered, their energies failing them and they are helpless rookies now. The children range from heroic if fatal courage of trying to fight this monster, to absolute despair standing as motionless as myself just watching the carnage unfold.

Beelzamon and the strange white Digimon are lost, absorbed by D-Reaper no doubt and it would seem there is no hope for them… No hope for us either as the creature locks its sights on me, grinning the sickly grin of someone who knows you are powerless to resist. At least I can console myself that I never gloated at a victim when I cut them down. I would have never stalled so long… And when a miracle happens that stalling can prove fatal… A voice in my head that I haven't heard for so long awakens me.

We have one last task to do.

I cannot

We must… Or all this is for nothing

I know, but I still cannot do this

You can. You Must. You are strong

I am not that strong

You are strong enough for this

Perhaps.

You are more than a monster

I know that now. Too late, but I know that.

And now I am free, the power holding me just seems to melt away, like ice from an inferno, and I stand with the stance of one with a purpose. If this is to be my last act then so be it. I have never been one to believe in regrets. With the feeling that a world has just been moved from my shoulders I feel a strength rushing through my body, and I know that I can do this.

D-Reaper has underestimated me, he still moves with the self assured slow walk of someone who wants his target to suffer and fear before death, but I have no fear of the likes of him, and I have suffered more than enough for this or any other life. And I smile, not the smile of a madman laughing at the rain, but the smile of someone who has just got the joke.

With a roar powered by everything I feel inside I leap into the air, and memories fly home, everything I have done races past my mind. The faces of those who I have slain, the voices of those who I have saved all rush past me and then fly out of my mind, like birds escaping, it feels at last that I am alone inside my mind. I focus every emotion I have ever felt as it flies past, all into the palm of my hand and a physical embodiment of my life and soul.

"Terra Destroyer!"

The blow strikes its target, for a brief moment there is an unbearably bright flash of light, and then the sound of nothingness, he is gone.

~~~

And I hit the floor, wounded beyond the limits that anything should ever have to endure. My armor cracked in a thousand places, my body broken inside and out. I see figures moving in a slow motion kind of way as my vision fades to black and white or perhaps so many shades of gray...it is impossible to tell. Although isn't that always the way for me?

I have been close to the edge of oblivion before but this time I know it is the end as I lie here for what seems like a lifetime but is probably closer to brief seconds, although maybe seconds and lifetimes aren't all that different when you think about it. I don not think about it, it doesn't matter any more, nothing matters anymore. All the darkness and light begins to fade away into one, into nothing. And I feel a sense of calm and peace washes over me because at last I have found my way back home.