Chapter 6- Ultimate Destruction

            The Pokémon World was deserted, but that wasn't what shocked the trainers the most. Everything in Pallet Town looked bleak and gray. The houses looked like the backdrops for a world of ashes, and scorch marks littered the ground. The whole of the world gave the impression of being the remains of a fiery aftermath.

            Ash raced over to his own house. How he could tell it apart from the other gray houses, he didn't know. "Mom!" he called, darting throughout the interior of the house. "Mom! Mr. Mime! Mom! Where are you?"

            Tracey headed up to the lab, which was still smoking. "Professor? Professor!" He looked across the large spare lands that served as Professor Oak's backyard. Huh? Where are the Pokémon?

            Chloe glared at the stormy sky. "This may sound risky but I'm gonna go and see if the nearest city is nearly destroyed too." She threw her favorite Poké Ball, the one with the Dratini ear-shaped pins on it, into the air. "I choose you…Dragonite!" The dragon Pokémon emerged from the light and she climbed onto its back. "I'll be back in about five minutes."

            While Chloe was away, Ash came out of the house, his eyes filled with horror and…fear. Misty looked around at the town that was once so beautiful and peaceful. "Who would do something like this?" she wondered. And ironically at the same time as when we were in the Real World.

            Pikachu sniffed the air suspiciously. "Pika?" A strange foreboding scent was in the air but from what its nose could tell, it was not a Pokémon. It sniffed again warily.

            Chloe returned. "Viridian City looks pretty much like Pallet Town does now," she informed the others after returning Dragonite. "Oh yeah, and the Pokémon Center's demolished."

            The others groaned. "While we were in the Real World with the Digidestined, our own world was being devastated." Ash sighed in anger. "Whoever did this to the Pokémon World…if they harm one hair on my mom's head—"

            "Ash? Is that you?"

            The four trainers turned to see a boy with spiky brown hair and a purple shirt racing up to them. Ash recognized him automatically. "Gary?"

            "Gary?" Comprehension dawned on Chloe's face. A mental image of her younger self with Ash and a little brown-haired boy came to mind. "Gary Oak?"

            The brown-haired boy didn't even stop to confirm his identity. "Ash, what's going on here?"

"How long have you been here Gary?" Ash asked him in reply.

"Long enough to know Pallet Town went through a lot of redecorating." Gary glanced at Tracey. "Hey, I thought you were always at the lab with my grandpa?"

Tracey suddenly looked sheepish. "Uuuhh, he's not there Gary."

"Then where is he?"

Ash scratched his head with an embarrassed look. "Eh, funny you should ask. Y'see I have no idea where he is and—" 

Gary grabbed Ash by the front of his shirt and started shaking him. "WHAT D'YA MEAN YOU HAVE NO IDEA? WERE THE HECK IS HE?!"

            "Ack…Gary…I…don't…know!" Ash sputtered as his rival shook him back and forth.

            Misty frowned and was about to intervene but Chloe was faster. She grabbed Gary's hand and wrestled it away from Ash's shirt. "He already told you he doesn't know so don't ask him again Gary!" she snapped. "Seems you haven't changed a bit!"

            Gary stared at her for the first time…and kept on staring.

            "What?"

            He looked at Ash, then Chloe, and then back to Ash. "You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend Ashy boy and how did you get one this good-looking to be your girl?"

            Misty looked furious. Pikachu didn't pay attention as it was still searching for the source of the strange scent.

            Chloe and Ash groaned loudly, both blushing out of embarrassment. "I AM NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND!/SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"

            Gary blinked. "Then who is she?"

            "You don't remember me?" asked Chloe once she recovered. "It's like I always said…Ash is better at recognizing friends than you are Gary Oak."

            That familiar phrase caused the trainer to freeze for several minutes before he sputtered, "C…Chloe?" She merely smiled. "What the heck did you DO to yourself?!"

            Her face fell. "Oh…you don't like it?"

            "No, you're beautiful but you've changed. I never knew your eyes could turn from black to blue."

            Ash grabbed his shoulder and led him away from Chloe. While he was filling Gary in on what exactly happened to Chloe and about the Digidestined, his Pokémon continued to search for the source of the strange scent. What was it? Pikachu heard a low hiss, causing it to glance upward. High above in the sky was a large, dark blue, geometrical cube. A sinister figure stuck out of the top portion of the cube, his yellow eyes leering at the Pokémon. Several metal-clawed arms flapped in the wind.

            Pikachu panicked. "PIKA!"

            At once, the other trainers all looked up to see the "thing." Brock's jaw dropped. "That is no Pokémon!"

"No kidding!" Chloe gulped. She turned around behind them…and shrieked. "What the heck?!"

The others spun around to see another monster, this one white and somewhat bulky. He had two—mouths—on his shoulders and a red mask covered his eyes. His hands ended in sharp red claws.

Yet another enormous monster descended from the sky. This one was smaller than the others but looked no less forbidding. He looked a red version of the Grim Reaper with glowing blue eyes and horns protruding from his head.

"Are…are these…Digimon?" Misty quavered. Togepi gave a shrill scream and retreated into its egg.

"WELL, WELL, WELL, WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?" rumbled the geometrical cube Digimon. "THESE AREN'T THE DIGIDESTINED!"

            "No duh we aren't," Ash muttered under his breath. Misty smacked him upside the head. "Shush!" she whispered.

            Tracey looked around at the enormous Digimon. "Who are you?" he asked in a shaky voice.

            The red Digimon laughed from underneath his hood. "I am Daemon."

            "You can call me MaloMyotismon," added the white Digimon with the heads on his shoulders.

            "And I am Apoclamon," finished the cube.

            Apoclamon, Daemon, and MaloMyotismon. They were the names of Digimon that the Digidestined had defeated not too long ago. The trainers knew this because of what their friends had told them.

            Daemon glanced at the trainers for about a minute and sighed. "These must be the ones we missed."

            Missed? the kids thought. Then that means…

            "What did you do to my mom?!" demanded Ash angrily. The evil Digimon glanced at him and laughed. "Tell me! What did you do with her?!"

            "Why should we tell you?" Apoclamon shot back.

            Ash growled and was about to rush at the Virus Digimon but Gary and Brock held him back. Misty glanced up at the surrounding evil bravely. "Why did you destroy the Pokémon World? We didn't do anything to you!"

            "We didn't expect to land in this world," hissed MaloMyotismon. "We actually intended to land in the area where the Digidestined live. But this portal that enabled to merge our data once again landed us here. We decided to make the best of things here."

            Tracey's jaw dropped. "That isn't right!"

            "When has life ever been right?" asked Daemon lazily. "Your world just happened to be unfortunately in our way. That's all. Anyway, you have the portal and whoever opened it to blame."

            The trainers' eyes expanded. They knew whom Daemon was talking about: T.K.

            "But enough explaining things to simpletons like you," said Daemon. "Tell us where the Digidestined are!"

            "How would we know?"

            MaloMyotismon bared his sharp teeth. "We overheard you children talking earlier."

            That was enough to explain anything. The trainers, except Gary, all gritted their teeth. There was no way they were going to let these foul beings open the portal and destroy their friends.

            "WELL? SHOW US THE LOCATION OF THE PORTAL!"

            "NEVER!" Ash yelled.

            Apoclamon drew himself even taller than before. "Why stay silent for those who don't even trust you? Why give up your lives for them?"

            "Because we care about them," Brock answered furiously. "And they do trust us. It just took them longer to realize it."

            The evil Digimon chuckled. "You're either very brave…or very foolish," said Daemon. "Just like those Digi-dimwits." He formed a large fireball between his hands. "Tell us the location or you will be forced to!"

            "Try and make us!" shouted Misty. The other trainers nodded, defiant.

            An ugly look crossed all of their foes' faces as they loomed around the kids. "YOU'VE JUST MADE THE WORSE MISTAKE OF YOUR LIVES!"

*          *          *

            Everybody except T.K. was busy lounging around Izzy's room. Well, Izzy was looking up a problem in a Calculus book but other than that, the others were just waiting for the trainers to come back.
            "I feel so much better about them," Kari said happily. "Now at least we know what's going on."

            Tai nodded. "You're right." Inside though, his insides were writhing like snakes. Maybe it was because he was started to feel worried about Chloe. Her eyes were bright and beautiful as she looked at T.K. and her smile indicated she was sorry to go. She really likes him.

            …What about you?…

            Chloe and I would never work out. It…it's just too soon to fall in love with another girl after Sora.

            …Aw, come on. You know you love her…

            I don't love Chloe! I just…oh shut up.

            …Come on Tai. Take a chance. Before T.K. or Ash suddenly decide to snatch her away from your sight. You don't meet a girl like her everyday.

            She likes T.K.!

            …How do you know?…

            I can feel it…I can feel her feelings…somehow…I know…she loves him…

            …Oh well. Tough break…

            Tai jerked himself out of his deep thoughts and focused instead on what T.K. was doing on the computer. Judging by the bored expression on his face, it wasn't that interesting.

            T.K. sighed and was about to turn off the computer but a voice rang out of one of the speakers. "Izzy? Is that you Izzy?"

            The screen flickered for about a minute before a frightened face appeared on it. A familiar frightened face. "TK?"

            "Chloe?"

            Everybody stopped doing whatever they were doing and huddled around the monitor, focusing on Chloe's face. "What's going on?"

            "T.K., I have to warn you guys. There's something wrong here in the Pokémon World. When we came back, we found everything in ruins. The trees, grass, buildings…everything!"

            "How…how did that happen?"
            Chloe's image smiled regretfully. "Apparently, you've got your old friends to thank for that. Recognize these names? Daemon, Apoclamon, and…wait…I almost got it…MaloMyotismon."

            An icy feeling settled in every one of the team's stomachs. Oh no.

            "They came into our world via the portal that you opened…at least I think. We refused to tell them how to get into your world so now we're in the middle of battle of life and death!" Chloe's face looked worried but she spoke bravely. "There isn't much you can do for us. If they find the portal that leads to your world, you have to be ready."

            "But you guys are back there with them!" protested Davis. "We can't leave you guys in a jam!"
            Chloe smiled sadly at him. "I'm afraid you'll have to."

            Ash ran by the screen. "Listen, we don't care what happens to us. All that matters is that you're safe. If they destroy you, we're doomed…not that we're not doomed right now."

            "I can't leave you guys," said T.K. desperately. "Get out of there and come back here!"

            Chloe shook her head. "We can't. They'll figure out your location. Just have confidence. Don't worry."  She looked at T.K. in the eyes, the only place where they were truly safe. "Please don't worry."

            Tai looked at her sad face. "But Chloe…what if you guys don't make it?"

            "I'm…it doesn't really matter does it Tai?" She was still smiling desolately. "I mean…at least we go down fighting right?"

            A call from inside the computer caused everyone to jump. Ash grabbed Chloe's hand. "CHLOE, MOVE!"

            Before the Digidestined could comprehend what was happening, they saw a giant wave of red light hurtling toward the screen. There was the sound of breaking glass—and then nothing.

            "Guys? GUYS!"

*          *          *

Chloe nervously looked at what was left of her computer. Good thing Ash moved her, otherwise…I don't even want to think about what would happen otherwise. She shivered and tossed a Poké Ball out. "Umbreon go!"

Gary grinned sideways at her. "You have an Umbreon? So do I!" He threw out his own Poké Ball.

"Umbreon, Shadow Ball!" they both chorused in unison.

The two Dark Pokémon leaped to the front of their trainers and conjured huge spheres of dark energy to hurl at MaloMyotismon. They bounced harmlessly against his armor. "Heh, that tickled."

"Pikachu, use Thunder and hurry!" commanded Ash.

Pikachu nodded. "PIKACHUUUUUUUUUUU!!"

All three Digimon were struck by the bolts of lightning hurtling from the sky. While they winced from paralysis, Chloe turned to Dragonite. "Use Hyper Beam!"

The colossal orange beam rocketed towards the evil Digimon. Since there was not much room to move, they had to take the attack.

"How much more of this can we take guys?" Misty asked.

"Uh…I dunno. I lost track of time," said Ash sheepishly.

Brock looked at Chloe. "The Digidestined know we're here right? Did you tell them about what's going on?"

She nodded. "With any luck we'll see them again—if we live through this."

"I wouldn't count on that," said Apoclamon. His yellow eyes flashed and before the trainers could predict what was happening, an electrical cage surrounded Misty and her Pokémon, locking them in.

"MISTY!"

She pounded on the sides of the cage, but the result only shocked her hands. "Ash, help!"

Ash raced over to her. "Pikachu, use Thun—"

"Don't be an idiot Ashy boy!" griped Gary. "If you use electricity on that cage, it's only gonna hurt her!"

It didn't take a rocket scientist to know Gary was right. Chloe commanded Dragonite to fly in and use Wing Attack, but the cage seemed invulnerable.

"Hang on Misty," Ash called. He pulled out another Poké Ball and threw it. "Cyndaquil, use Skull Bash!"

"Cyndaquil. Cynda…quiiiiiiiiiil!" The tiny yellow-and-black Fire Type raced at the cage and slammed its head against it again and again. Nothing happened—except Cyndaquil got an enormous headache.

The evil Digimon burst out laughing. "Having fun?" Daemon hissed evilly.

Gary and Tracey glared back at the hooded monster. "Umbreon, Bite attack!" Gary commanded.

Tracey threw out a Poké Ball. "Scyther, use Slash!"

"Pathetic humans." Daemon formed a giant spherical fireball in his hands. "EVIL INFERNO!" The fireball engulfed Scyther and Umbreon, as well as Gary and Tracey. When the smoke and flames cleared, the boys and their Pokémon lay stretched out on the ground, badly scorched.

"NO!" Chloe called upon her own Umbreon. "Use Shadow Ball!"

"Umbreon!" The Pokémon conjured a sphere of dark energy and hurled it at MaloMyotismon.

MaloMyotismon flinched, but grinned. "Want to save your friends?" He fired red beams from the two mouths on his shoulders. "CRIMSON MIST!"

Chloe grabbed onto Umbreon's neck. "Teleportation." Using her psychic power, she transported Umbreon and herself away from the attack.

"VIRUS GRENADE!"  Thousands of miniscule bullet/mines rained down on Ash and Pikachu. When the smoke cleared, they were found stretched across the ground.

Misty screamed. Brock tried to run towards his friend but succeeded instead by getting caught in a cage of his own.

Chloe looked from MaloMyotismon, to Apoclamon, to Daemon. "I am in so much trouble."

"CRIMSON MIST!"

"GIGA CANNON!"

"EVIL INFERNO!"

She closed her eyes and muttered, "Teleportation." She warped away from the attacks and they smashed against the ground. Whew! That was close. Chloe suddenly felt her head become slightly dizzy. Ooohh no. Not now.

"VIRUS GRENADE!"

"Teleportation." Chloe transported herself next to the unconscious Ash and Pikachu. Her head began to throb with pain. "Umbreon…" she gasped out. "Use…Hidden Power…"

Umbreon concentrated on sending dark energy waves at all of the Mega Digimon. Keeping them distracted gave Chloe time to check on Ash's condition. "Ash…Ash…come on, wake up. Ash."

Daemon tore himself away from the numerous energy waves and managed to toss a fireball in her direction. "EVIL INFERNO!"

Chloe closed her eyes as she held Ash's body to her. There is no way I'm letting them take him. Even if I have to use all of my energy.

A voice rose above the roar of the attack. "REFLECT!"

Chloe's eyes shot open at the sound. The fireball bounced off a glowing blue shield held in place by tall strange cat-like being except Chloe had never seen anything look less like a cat. He had a long purple tail and what appeared to be a cord running from his head to his neck. One of his hands was holding up the shield effortlessly.

"Who…are…you…?" she whispered hoarsely. "Are you…a Pokémon?"

He looked down at her from his position calmly. His face seemed feline but almost human as well. His violet eyes, for the moment blue, narrowed slightly.

A cough from below indicated that Ash and Pikachu were stirring. Ash raised his head from Chloe's protective arms and goggled at the strange being. Though his vision was blurred, he could see enough. "Mew…two?"

Mew…two? the psychic girl thought vaguely. What happened to Mew-one?

The being known as Mewtwo charged up a dark energy sphere and hurled it through the Reflect shield at the Mega Digimon. THWAM!
            Contact with the sphere sent all three of them flying backwards. Apoclamon grunted in pain as he glared at Mewtwo. "What sort of trickery is this?"

Finally, Mewtwo spoke. "This is no trickery; it is real."

"How dare you invade on our destruction on these diabolical human beings!" growled MaloMyotismon.

"These diabolical humans as you call them are residents of this world," Mewtwo replied calmly. "As am I."

Daemon growled underneath his red hood. "Who are you anyway!?" he demanded angrily.

A slight smile played across the corners of Mewtwo's mouth. "I am Mewtwo, the most powerful Pokémon ever created. Do not underestimate me."

Chloe chose this time to recall Umbreon back to its Poké Ball before looking up at Mewtwo. She forced herself to use telepathy. "Mewtwo…or whoever you are. You have to take us away from here. There is nothing that can be done at the moment."

            At the sound of her telepathic voice the Pokémon glanced down at her in surprise. he had not realized she was psychic.

            "Please…at least get Ash out of here. You can't take these guys on alone. They are not from this world."

            Mewtwo nodded once to show he understood before his eyes once again glowed an eerie blue. Ash, Chloe, and Pikachu felt their bodies glow as well. "I will do as you ask. Stay close."

            Chloe's mouth turned up in a weak smile. "Thank…you…"

"You have no right to take them from us!" Apoclamon declared as Mewtwo hovered above the ground with Chloe, Ash, and Pikachu.

"And you have no right to their destruction whatsoever," Mewtwo retaliated smoothly before they vanished in a flash of light.

"Should we follow that them?" asked Apoclamon. MaloMyotismon shook his head.

"No. They'll be back. After all, they'll want to rescue their friends won't they?" He turned around to look at Misty, Brock, Tracey, and Gary. "Now tell us the location of the portal…unless you want to die before doing so."

"I'd rather do that!" Misty spat at him.

MaloMyotismon chuckled. "Temper, temper. Oh well, it doesn't matter. We know it anyway due to your journey back here."

Tracey's jaw dropped in shock. "But…you were spying on us?"
            "Exactly."

"Then why did you make us fight when you knew where the entrance was all along?" Gary demanded. "Seems like a whole waste of time to me."

The evil Digimon chuckled. "To you yes. But to us, no. Your friends will return to save you and the Digidestined and they'll just be walking into a trap."

Misty gulped. Ash, Chloe, wherever you are. Be careful you guys. You have to find a way to stop these evil creatures before they destroy the others—and us.

End of Chapter 6

(A/N: Yea, yea, yea! Chapter 7 won't be long now. Yea!)