DIGIMON TAMERS: AFTERMATH

BOOK 3

by Vashkoda

(Disclaimer: This work of fiction uses characters belonging to Toei and Saban without their permission. I am getting no profit from it. I only do it because I think Digimon is a great show, and I want to keep the story alive!)

Author's Note: thanks again for all your kind reviews, guys!

---------------------------------------

The enormous white tiger raised its claws to strike. Ryo watched them reaching out for him, as if in slow motion.

"Hey, snap out of it!"

The teen looked down and saw Monodramon standing there, pointing a finger at him accusingly.

"You say I'm slow. C'mon, pal, think fast! Baihumon was about to let you go just now. What's changed?"

"Uh..." Ryo continued to see the claws coming down. With effort, he forced his eyes away from the Sovereign and fixed them on his partner. "The other Sovereign....they're coming! Baihumon doesn't want them to see us with him."

"Right," Monodramon nodded. "So the solution is..."

The tiger's claws extended into knife-like blades, long enough to slice even the largest digimon in half.

Ryo grabbed the cards out of his belt pack and flipped through them quickly. Finding the one he wanted, he hesitated as he was about to slash it through his D-Arc. Monodramon isn't really here, he realized suddenly. He couldn't be. I'm just hallucinating again.

So slashing a card through his own digivice would have no effect.

"IRON-"

Ryo grabbed Shiuchon's hand and thrust the card into it.

"Slash it!" he cried. When the girl paused in confusion, he snatched the digivice from her belt and--holding her hand in his--slashed the card through the slot.

"Digimodify! Clockmon's Tempus Fugit activate!"

One second, Impmon was glowing a brilliant shade of green as Baihumon's claws descended upon the group to shred them to pieces. The next, they were all safely hidden in the shadows at the far end of the room.

"-CLAW!"

They heard rather than saw the Sovereign finish his attack. The Mekanorimon cried out in glee at his master's apparent success. With their sudden disappearance, it must have seemed as if Baihumon had utterly destroyed the Tamers' data.

"What just happened?" asked Ai, having the sense to whisper.

Impmon looked red-faced and out of breath. He wagged a finger angrily at his Tamer.

"Warn a guy next time you do somethin' like dat!" he huffed. "Do you know how long it took for me to carry all of you here? Especially you!" he cried, kicking Guardromon in the foot. The metal digimon winced for Impmon's benefit, for of course the blow hadn't hurt him.

"Sorry Impmon, I'm the one who made her do it," admitted Ryo. "I'm just glad you figured out what to do."

"Ah, I see--you froze time for everyone but Impmon," explained Kazu. "That was quick thinking!"

Thanks to Monodramon, Ryo wanted to say. That was the second time he had imagined his partner was still with him. Was he going crazy? Or was a part of Monodramon really watching over him? Could this be what Shibumi meant when he said the Tamers carried a piece of their digimon inside them?

"Let's just hope it fooled them," he said, poking his head around the giant column concealing them from the Sovereign. The tiger was carefully sniffing the air, perhaps still detecting their scent. Now that they were out of sight, would Baihumon leave them alone, or reveal their presence to the other holy beasts?

It wasn't long before the other Sovereign arrived. Zhuqiaomon noticed Baihumon's preoccupied look and asked what was wrong.

"Master killed humans!" spoke up the Mekanorimon proudly before Baihumon could answer. Zhuqiaomon looked shocked as he absorbed the news.

"They come here? Told you not killed at mountain!" scolded one of Xuanwumon's heads.

"More humans out there," spoke up its twin. "My Chosen see them."

"No care about humans," snorted the avian Sovereign angrily, flapping its wings. "Here to talk about rebels!"

"Yes," said Baihumon slowly, his thoughts perhaps still on the Tamers lurking nearby. "Numbers growing. Up to something."

"The rebels!" whispered Guardromon. "Almost forgot--was going see them before you found me. Must join them! They fight Sovereign!"

"All right! An army of digimon on our side!" cheered Kazu in excitement, though he was careful to keep his voice down.

"We don't have any way to reach them," Ryo reminded him. "We're trapped here until the Sovereign leave, provided Baihumon doesn't give us away. And as for the rebels being on our side, don't forget that two of the Sovereign are our friends." He paused as he let the implications sink in.

"Even if we believe in their cause, if they've come to hurt Baihumon and Qinglongmon, we'll have to go against them. We'll have to fight their army."

"Hold on, let me get this straight," protested Impmon, joining the discussion. "We have to find a way to free Mako without letting him or the other Sovereign kill us, and at the same time, keep an army of rebel digimon from killing them or us. So which side are we on exactly?"

Ryo eyed the three Sovereign grimly. "The winning one...I hope."

"Can I ask you a question?"

Ruki tore her eyes from the guards patrolling outside their cell to glance curiously at Leomon.

"Why not? Seems I've got plenty of time to kill." She sighed and let her body slide down the corner of the room, wincing as she made contact with the cold stone floor. The desert above might be scorching hot, but in the rebels' underground base, it was near freezing. She clamped her jaw shut to keep her teeth from chattering.

"You say to Wizardmon that I have a Tamer...."

It took half a second for Ruki to realize what he was getting at.

"You already know who it is," she stated flatly. Leomon studied her a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Tell me-" he began hesitantly, his tone almost pleading. "Why does she not want me?"

Ruki's breath escaped in a hiss, creating a small cloud of steam in the chill air.

"Because she's a coward."

Leomon's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"She hasn't always been," Ruki amended quickly, hoping Leomon could see that she was only trying to be honest. "But Juri's different now than she used to be. You're... different."

"How are we different? I do not remember any change."

"That's the point. She doesn't want you to remember. That's why she won't let herself get close to you."

Leomon mulled over her response in silence. At length, Ruki added, "If you really want to know, I could tell you."

The digimon shook his head. "No. Juri know what best. She will tell me when I need to know."

Ruki was slightly disappointed--but not too surprised--by his response.

He deserves a better partner than Juri, Ruki thought angrily to herself.

"Like you?"

Renamon stood before her. But strangely, as if this were a dream, Ruki wasn't at all surprised to see her there. She did, however, feel slightly ashamed that the fox had heard her thoughts.

"No, of course not," she muttered. Looking into her partner's eyes, she added, "No one could ever replace you, Renamon. You know how much you mean to me."

The digimon nodded silently. It was the truth.

"Don't give up on me, Ruki. I haven't given up on you."

"I won't," she promised. But Renamon had already vanished.

What was that?! she wondered fearfully, suddenly realizing that her encounter couldn't have been real. Was I dreaming? Or did I just see a ghost?

Ruki didn't want to think too hard about that last possibility. She had to believe that Renamon was still alive, and that she would find her and bring her home safe.

But first I have to get out of here, she thought desperately, looking around at their cell. Leomon might have been strong enough to force the bars, but he was still recovering from his injury. It really is too bad I can't digivolve other digimon, she grumbled. Although...was that really true? Makato had, after all, biomerged with a digimon that was not his partner. Of course it was unclear what the side effects had been. It was obviously painful, judging from Impmon's reaction.

Ruki looked at Leomon as she considered her options. No, she realized, I just couldn't do that to Renamon.

Footsteps approached their cell. Ruki sprang to her feet and braced herself for an opportunity to escape. The door swung open to reveal several Hangyomon, who watched the two prisoners warily as they held their harpoons at the ready.

"What's going on?" Ruki asked, hearing a loud commotion in the halls above.

"Leaving desert," one replied, a note of relief in its voice. The water digimon had obviously been uncomfortable in the dry desert heat.

Ruki and Leomon followed them through the tunnels until they reached the surface. The sunlight was almost blinding after being underground for so long. Yet even after their vision had adjusted, they had to blink and wipe their eyes several times before they were forced to accept that what they saw was no illusion.

The rebel army filled the entire desert valley. Although they could spot a few Rookies darting back and forth delivering messages, the bulk of the force was made up of Champions and Ultimates--those whose lives were forfeit under new laws of the Sovereign.

"All right, I'm impressed," muttered Ruki under her breath as she surveyed the army. "But without any Megas, these guys don't stand much of a chance against the Sovereign."

"I agree," said a voice behind them. They turned to see Wizardmon observing them shrewdly.

"That is where you come in."

Many hands reached out and grabbed Ruki and Leomon, carrying them to a pair of wooden poles sticking up through the sand.

"What's going on?" cried the Tamer as Leomon roared and struggled. Despite their efforts, the two were bound tightly to the posts.

"You told us you were fighting the Sovereign. You said you wanted to help, but that you couldn't digivolve, and thus were of no use to us. But you were wrong. You can still help our cause."

Three Revolmon lined up in front of them. Ruki didn't like how things were looking.

"Perhaps when you are alive, your data can only help one particular digimon evolve," said Wizardmon, raising his staff. "But when you are dead, it should not matter who loads your data. Having a Mega on our side will greatly improve our chances. If you believe in our cause, then you will agree that what I do is necessary."

"Please don't," choked Ruki, overcome with fear. This was her worst nightmare come to life. She had no backup plan, no means of escape. No one knew where she was; no one was coming to rescue her. She was facing her own extinction and was completely helpless to stop it.

She turned to look at Leomon. Rather than struggle against the ropes, he struggled to stay on his feet, keeping his back straight and proud. He still hadn't recovered from the other night, but he refused to let the others spot any weakness. He kept his eyes locked on the Revolmon with a look of calm defiance.

Ruki drew courage from the sight. She turned to the Wizardmon, her voice now firm and commanding as she ordered him to let Leomon go. "Let him join your army," she argued. "He doesn't need to be sacrificed along with me!"

"He is no good to us," stated the Wizardmon matter-of-factly. "He is weak. I see how he leans against the pole for support, though he tries not to let it show. How long would he last against the Sovereign, or even one of their Chosen? No, this is the way it must be. Everyone here is willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. We cannot allow the Sovereign's tyranny to continue. A free land is worth such a price." He turned towards the Revolmon.

"Ready? On my mark..."

"DRAGON WHEEL!!!"

Wizardmon was thrown back several yards as a coiling white dragon erupted out of the sky and slammed into his body. Ruki looked up in surprise. A giant golden fox now stood in the dragon's place.

"Kyuubimon?" she asked, not daring to believe that it was true. The digimon came up behind her and snapped the ropes with her teeth, proving that this time it was no illusion.

"Shoot her!" ordered the Wizardmon, climbing back to his feet.

The Revolmon aimed their barrel-chested bodies at Kyuubimon, but she dashed aside to draw their fire away from the prisoners. Ruki ran to help Leomon undo his bonds.

"Justice Bullet!"

"Fox-Tail Inferno!"

The attacks collided in midair and exploded. Kyuubimon suddenly materialized in front of Ruki and used her body to shield the girl from the blasted debris.

"Climb on!" the digimon shouted urgently.

"I can't! I still have to free Leomon!" Ruki replied, trying unsuccessfully to undo the twisted knots.

Kyuubimon growled in irritation before snapping the ropes herself. Leomon massaged his wrists and nodded at her gratefully. His eyes suddenly widened at something he saw behind them.

"Magical Game!"

Leomon shoved Kyuubimon out of the way and wrapped his arms protectively around Ruki. Wizardmon's attack struck him full in the back, sending him to his knees.

"Leomon!"

The lion digimon wore a look of defeat as his form began to glow white. In seconds, his data was stripped away until only a small, rabbit-like digimon remained.

"Come on!" cried Kyuubimon, grabbing the sad-looking Elecmon by the scruff of the neck as she motioned for Ruki to climb onto her back. Ruki did as she was told, clutching handfulls of her partner's fur to keep from falling off as the digimon leapt over the startled Revolmon and began dashing away from the army.

"How did you find me?" asked Ruki breathlessly, holding on for dear life.

"Heard signal," mumbled Kyuubimon through a mouthful of fur. She pointed her muzzle at the D-Arc hanging from Ruki's belt. "What it mean?"

Ruki looked down at her digivice and saw that it had become active. She smiled in relief. "It means we're partners; friends. We help each other become stronger."

"So what Wizardmon say true? You can make me go to Mega?"

"Careful Ruki," warned Elecmon, frowning up at Kyuubimon. "She come from rebel army. Maybe a spy."

Kyuubimon growled, loosening her grip on the smaller digimon and threatening to let him fall. "I not part of army. Only came here to follow signal."

"It's all right, Elecmon," Ruki reassured him. "I know we can trust her!"

Kyuubimon halted suddenly, and Ruki nearly flew over her neck. She readjusted herself and took a look around to see why they had stopped.

A wall of fire rose up before them, blocking their path. Far overhead, she heard the flapping of wings and looked up to see three Birdramon circling above them.

"Surrender!" they screeched, spiraling downward. "No escape!"

Ruki jumped off her partner's back. Kyuubimon let Elecmon drop to the sand, where he glared at her in irritation.

"How about you surrender instead!" shouted Ruki, feeling her courage return now that her digimon was back with her. "You bird-brains don't know who you're up against!"

In reply, the Birdramon hovered in place and flapped their wings even faster, feeding the flames until they burned with blinding intensity.

"Meteor Wing!" they cried, sending flaming missiles shooting towards them.

"Fox-Tail Inferno!" shouted Renamon. A ball of blue flame erupted out of each of her nine tails, taking out the nine meteors the Birdramon had sent down.

"That will not work--fire cannot beat fire," Elecmon pointed out. "Let me help!"

Now it was Kyuubimon's turn to glare at him as he climbed onto her back. "Ready?" he asked, his own nine tails crackling with energy.

"Fox-Tail Inferno!"

"Sparkling Thunder!"

Kyuubimon's fireballs were now laced with electricity. The Birdramon had released another volley of meteors in defense, but the flames only cancelled out each other--the electric attack continued to arc through the sky and shot two of the Birdramon at full power.

Stunned, the injured digimon were forced to land. The third one dropped altitude until it hovered so close that they could feel the heat radiating off its body. It began to flap its wings faster.

"Do something!" cried Elecmon to Ruki, recognizing that a more powerful attack was about to be unleashed.

Ruki might have lost her nerve had Kyuubimon not been with her. But now, she felt confidence burning inside her even hotter than the Birdramon's flames. She grabbed the top card out of her belt pack and slashed it through her digivice.

"Digimodify! Power boost activate!"

Now Kyuubimon, too, was glowing. White light burned off her fur as if she were on fire. The fox digimon barred her fangs into a grin.

"Dragon Wheel!" she shouted. With the Birdramon hovering so low, Kyuubimon's attack was able to reach it. The spiraling white dragon closed its fangs around the Birdramon's neck as the creature let out a howl of pain. In seconds, the digimon's body shattered into a million bits of data. Kyuubimon stood still while the data flowed into her.

"Cutter Shoot!"

They jumped back in surprise as they heard the attack called out. A loud blast behind them told them that either the attacker had missed, or that they hadn't been the target.

"Look!" cried Elecmon. They turned to see the bodies of the two Birdramon they had stunned, now fragmenting into data. It seemed the digimon had had time to recover, and were trying to sneak up on the group from behind...until someone else had taken them out.

A gold-colored digimon emerged from the shadows. It was a humanoid dragon-type, with a long white horn emerging from its snout. Ruki's D-Arc identified it as a Gold V-dramon.

"Thanks," she said, smiling at it in gratitude. But the digimon did not smile back.

"You misunderstand. I just did not want them to bring you back to Wizardmon. Rebels should not be allowed to digivolve. Only Chosen can." With those words, the golden 'V' across its chest began to gather energy and glow.

"Cutter Shoot!" it cried again, as the V shot outwards and struck Kyuubimon in the face. The fox digimon slowly shrank as her data melted away, leaving a smaller digimon in her place. Ruki cried out in horror and ran to Renamon's side. She now glared at the digimon in hatred.

"Much better," said the Gold V-dramon, smiling at last.

"You are one of the Chosen!" Elecmon cried in realization. The larger digimon laughed.

"Yes. I pretended to be a rebel so that I could learn what they were up to. Now I will bring my report to the Sovereign, and you as well."

While the two were talking, Ruki inched over to Renamon, who was trying hard to stay on her feet after being drained by Gold V-dramon's attack.

"Renamon, we can't let this guy beat us," she whispered. "I can evolve you to Mega if you have faith in me." The fox's eyes strayed to the digivice in Ruki's hand. At last, she nodded.

"Matrix Evolution!"

Ruki was surrounded by light, and felt more at peace than she had ever been. It was so easy to smile now, to laugh...to believe that everything would be alright. She could hear something pounding against the evolution sphere and assumed Gold V-dramon was trying to break through it, but she did not panic. She knew with calm certainty that he would fail, and that joined with her partner, she had nothing to fear.

Welcome back, she said to Renamon.

It's good to be home, the digimon smiled in return.

"Sakuyamon!" they cried out in celebration, breaking free of the sphere.

"So the rumors are true," snarled the Gold V-dramon, backing away. "Humans are the cause of the worst transgressions. You dare to evolve to Mega and challenge the Sovereign themselves!"

In the blink of an eye Sakuyamon was beside him, the end of her staff poised just centimeters above his head. Gold V-dramon's eyes nervously darted back and forth from the weapon to Sakuyamon's face.

"Your masters are unjust. They punish their subjects for doing what is in their nature to do. You cannot stop digimon from evolving, from striving to improve themselves and accomplish greater things. If you do, this world will become stagnant with bitterness and unachieved potential. Digimon will have lost their will to fight, their will to live!"

"Evolution is the path to chaos!" shot back Gold V-dramon with a growl. "The rebels are organized only because they have a common purpose. If they succeed, what then? They are unlearned, undisciplined. If they are given the power to destroy, they will continue to rampage and ravage the Digital World until it is a barren wasteland. I will not allow that to happen!"

Sakuyamon raised her staff and floated a few paces away from him. "We both want what is best for this world," she added gently. "But your master's methods are cruel and extreme. Go back to them now if you wish. I will not fight you."

The golden digimon narrowed his eyes at her warily, wondering if it was a trick. When it seemed Sakuyamon was telling the truth, he finally turned his back to her and ran.

"He will lead us to the Sovereign," said the Mega, looking down at Elecmon. The rabbit-like digimon nodded, and together they followed the golden figure, being careful not to let themselves be spotted.

But one pair of eyes was already upon them.

"So you were telling the truth," the Wizardmon said softly to himself. "This may indeed be the key to the Sovereign's destruction." He turned to a Pico Devimon who was hovering nearby, waiting for orders.

"Tell our forces we leave at once."