Heroes No More, Chapter Twenty-Five:
Shadow War, Part 2: All-Out Melee!
-------------------------------
Containment Camp B:
"Evil Inferno!!!"
"Cane of Death!!!"
Daemon and Jijimon did their damnest to hold off all the tiny Shadows. Daemon destroyed a cluster of them with an Evil Inferno, but two jumped on his back and began biting him.
"Argh!", screamed Daemon. Jijimon smashed them off with his cane and resumed battling a few more of them who were bounding about. They kept coming out of the floor! Nathan and Kevin backed themselves into a corner.
"Ahhh! Go away!", shouted Kevin. He swatted a Shadow with the laptop and began kicking it.
{HEY! WATCH THE METAL, BUSTER!}
"Errr... sorry Ms. Legendary Guardian, Ma'am.", muttered Kevin.
-------------------------------
Over with Alex and Lee:
Lee pressed the button and all the Chosen and partners fell out of their respective holding cells, unconscious. After a few minutes, they started to come to.
"Oh boy... now we gotta rally them all up...", said Lee.
"How hard can that be for YOU to do, Mr. Leader?", asked Alex, leaning on Lee's shoulder. Lee sighed.
A few Chosen began to come to. Tai slapped himself a few times and stood up, looking around. He looked at Lee.
"Where the heck am I?", asked Tai.
"That's a long story...", said Lee. "You're in the Desolate Server."
"The Desolate Server?!", exclaimed Tai. "Oh yeah... you guys sent us here when you ripped the dark necklaces off us. Err... sorry about that. We weren't exactly ourselves..."
"I understand.", said Lee. "That's why we're here to rescue you."
"Rescue us!?", shouted Davis. "Alright! Free pizza for everyone at my house!"
"We don't even know if you're world still exists, Davis. So don't get too happy.", said Lee. Davis was about to say something then, decided not too. All the other Chosen had waken up and were talking amongst themselves.
"You'd better let them know about the situation...", whispered Alex. Lee nodded.
"Alright people, look alive and listen up!", shouted Lee. "We are in the middle of a containment camp in the Desolate Server, and we need your help! All our partners have been captured and incarcerated in another camp... we may never see them again..."
"Say no more. You helped us, so we'll help you in return.", said Joe.
"He's right! Joe's a helpful, brave, muscular hulk-type of guy! How could we lose?", said Gomamon, sarcastically.. Joe glared at him. Alex laughed a little bit.
"It's not going to be so easy. There's a huge army of Shadows about to converge on this place...", said Lee. "You have to get ready to battle them!"
"Battle the Shadow?! Are you nuts!?", asked Amy. "We couldn't even defeat them in our own worlds!"
Lee put his hand on Amy's shoulder. "Well, Amy... now we're all together. I don't think anything can stand in our way!"
Lots of agreeing shouts came from the crowd, followed by shouts of Digivolution!
"Magnamon!!!"
"MeeeetalGreymon!! Rwar!"
"MegaSeadramon!! Hah!"
"Zudomon!"
"Lillymon!!!"
"Andromon!"
"Angewomon!!!"
"Digmon! The Drill of Knowledge!"
"Taomon!"
----------------------------
Amy and Arik finished freeing their group of Chosen and stood by, waiting for them to come to.
"God, that was alot of kicking...", sighed Arik. Allison just smiled. A few minutes later, the Chosen awoke...
"Wuh- wha? Guilmon? Where are you?", asked Takato, confused. He saw Guilmon laying a few feet away from him and ran over to his partner. Arik and Allison watched as all the other Chosen awoke as well.
"Owww... did anybody get the number of that bus?", asked Henry.
"Hey, do I know you?", asked Ken.
"No, I don't think so.", replied Henry. "My name is Henry, honored to meet you."
"Hey, I'm--", started Ken, but he was cut off by Allison and Arik, who told them the same story that Lee and Alex told their group. The Chosen listened intentively.
"You're sure the Shadow are coming here?", asked Izzy. "From my files, they've already left this world..."
Allison and Arik nodded.
"They're here... look!", screamed Carrie. Down the hall, about a dozen, flaming Shadow were rushing in their direction!
"Flame Shadow!", said Izzy. "These guys are unbearable to touch, and ruthless at that!"
"Then Digivolve your partners!", yelled Arik.
Digivices flared and Digivolutions began again...
"Rapidmon!!!"
"WarGrowlmon!!!"
"MegaKabuterimon!! Mrr..."
"Denimon!"
"MetalTyrannomon!!! Gragh!"
"Garudamon!"
"Savomon!"
"Halsemon! The Wings of Love."
"MagnaAngemon!"
"BlackMetalGreymon!!!"
"Attack!", shouted Allison, as the Digimon charged at their Shadowy foes. The Flame Shadows stopped running and formed a wall, blasting pillars of fire at the Digimon.
"I'll block it! Tri-Beam!!!", shouted Rapidmon. The huge triangular energy wall, absorbed all the attacks. MegaKabuterimon jumped down.
"Horn Buster!", grunted MegaKabuterimon. He knocked the Flame Shadow over like bowling pins!
"You did it! You defeated them!", exclaimed Tom.
"Not yet...", muttered Yolei. "Look!"
The Flame Shadow all raised from where MegaKabuterimon had lain them. They blasted MegaKabuterimon and Rapidmon, who flew backwards, crashing through the floor!
"Great, all we need is a big pit...", said Sarah.
"Pit this!", shouted Denimon. She leapt forward and sliced a Flame Shadow with her claw, killing it. MetalTyrannomon and Garudamon ran in, but MagnaAngemon told them all to stop.
"I know the easiest solution! Gate of Destiny!!!", shouted MagnaAngemon. He created a huge vortex that began to suck all the Flame Shadow into it. A few flew in, but the rest were managing to keep their footing.
"Someone knock them in!", said TK. WarGrowlmon flew in behind the remaining ones.
"Atomic Thrusters!", bellowed WarGrowlmon. He shot the remaining Flame Shadow through the gate, and MagnaAngemon closed it. Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Good work. But there's many more where that came from.", said Allison. "Follow me and Arik, we'll show you the way!"
Allison and Arik turned to head down another corridor. All the Chosen and partners followed them.
-------------------------
"Blast! It looks like another forty of them!", screamed JJ. Dozens of Ice Shadow poured through a hole in the wall that the Chosen were going to try to escape from. They began to freeze the Digimon!
"Hey! Magnamon!", shouted Davis. "Fight back!"
"It's... tough... arr! They freeze upon... touch!", grunted Magnamon, almost fully frozen. Lee and Alex led the Chosen back as the partners engaged the Ice Shadows.
"Mega Claw!!", growled MetalGreymon. He smashed a few of them into dust, but two leapt onto his claw as it was stuck in the ground.
"Aiiigh!", howled MetalGreymon. His claw was frozen to the ground! He reared back, but couldn't budge it. The Ice Shadows howled and began to blast him with ice beams. Tai balled his fist.
"How do we beat these things!?", asked Tai.
"I don't know! They're... nearly... invincible!", shouted Rika.
"They mass! We need something that can take alot of them out at once!", suggested Cody. Tai and Rika nodded.
"Then I got just the weapon we need!", shouted Tai. "MetalGreymon, Digivolve!"
Tai pulled out his Digivice and MetalGreymon began to react to it's energy.
"MetalGreymon! Digivolve to... WarGreymon!!!"
The golden warrior broke free from the ice and smashed the Ice Shadows aside easily.
"Terra Force!"
The energy wave destroyed most of the Ice Shadow, as the other partners cleaned up the mess. Lee groaned.
"At this rate, we'll never get out of here alive...", growled Lee.
"Lee!!", screamed Alex. Lee looked at Alex, who was with Amy, Kala and Kari. [i]Girl's club?[/i] thought Lee.
"What?!", asked Lee.
"Behind you!!!", shouted Alex back. A Sword Shadow plunged a sword down into the ground near Lee, Tom and Davis. The three of them jumped back, but the Sword Shadow knocked Tom and Davis over. It went straight for Lee!
"Calm down Shadow buddy... you don't want to do anything drastic!", said Lee, backing away. (Oh, what the hell am I doing? These things aren't even coherent! That's what makes them so dangerous... they have no emotions!)
"Help!", shouted Lee.
"Everyone is engaged! From MegaSeadramon to WarGreymon!", shouted Tom. "There is no help!"
Lee screamed. Alex screamed for him. The Sword Shadow raised one of its limbless blades. Lee prepared to die... but...
"Spiking Strike!!", shouted a voice. Stingmon burst through the wall, blades extended, and ripped through the Sword Shadow like a hot knife through butter! Ken jumped through the opening, followed by Arik.
"Ken!! You saved me!!", shouted Lee, excitedly. "After... what I did to you..."
[FLASHBACK]
"Is it my turn!? Oh goodie! MOLTEN FLARE!!!", shouted TecKuwagamon. He raised a claw and pured fire all over Stingmon, who screamed and fell to the ground, burning.
"That's the way to fight!", shouted Leila, who had regained consciousness. Lee ran past her and leapt over next to Ken, grabbing his arm.
"Let go of me! You don't have the right to touch me!", shouted Ken.
"I have a right to figure out why you were a pacifist this morning and why you aren't now! And I think this has something to do with it!", retorted Lee. He grabbed the black necklace around Ken, and ripped it off the boy's neck!
[END FLASHBACK]
"Yeah... well. I wasn't exactly myself then...", said Ken, sadly. "I have a history of being controlled by dark powers..."
"Oh, come on, Ken! We were all controlled!", protested Davis.
"Yeah... it's not like we could help it...", muttered Tom.
"Well, thanks Ken. And thanks to all of you... now, I have one favor to ask...", said Lee. Allison showed up with her group of Chosen.
"Gee, Lee... what favor could that be?", asked Allison, sarcastically.
"Something about partners?", asked Amy. Allison nodded. Lee looked around.
"Yeah, but we're short Earnest and Ace's group... what could've happened to them...?", asked Lee. Allison shrugged.
"Look, we can't spare time here!", said Allison, taking charge... simply because she has a long history of loving to boss Lee around. "I think Lee and I should take a few of you and head to the third Containment Camp... while Alex and Arik with their group... wait for Earnest and Ace. And Kevin and Nathan."
"Oh?", asked Alex, suspiciously. "That sounds like a... great plan."
"Alright then.", said Lee. "Sora, Izzy, Takato. With us, we need flight power! Amy, JJ and Ken... your company wouldn't be turned down either."
WarGreymon blew a huge hole in the wall with his Terra Force and held his hand out, as if inviting them to go through. The lot of them ran out into the Desert and climbed aboard Garudamon, MegaKabuterimon and WarGrowlmon. They flew off into the distance. Alex scowled at the sight of Allison and Lee sitting atop MegaKabuterimon with Izzy, Amy and JJ.
"Allison...", muttered Alex.
--------------------------------------
WarGrowlmon and Garudamon flew along in the lead, frantically scanning for any Shadows that could be lurking in the Desert below. MegaKabuterimon took up the rear, allowing Lee to finally relax.
"This is brutal.", said Lee. "What if our partners are... dead?"
"We don't know that...", replied Allison. "We'll just have to wait and find out."
"I'm sure they aren't.", said Amy. "We were locked away pretty good, so they should be as well."
"Mmm-hmm.", agreed Izzy. "But aside from the partner issue, I was wondering if we may discuss something more serious."
"Shoot.", said Lee. "I'm about ready for anything at this point."
"Our worlds...", said Izzy. "From Desiree's computer files, I learned that the only thing that can eradicate the Shadow's core is the seven Guardians. How many have we found?"
"Two. Megabyte Server and Desolate Server.", said Lee.
"So... five to go. And they're in our worlds...", muttered Amy.
"If your worlds even still exist.", sighed Lee. Amy gave him an angry look, then realized that statement could be true.
"I'm sure they do. The Shadow seem to be concentrating the mass of their forces here...", said Izzy, scanning the area. "But I wonder... what's left...?"
Amy, Izzy and JJ became unnaturally sad. Allison nudged Lee, who gave her a 'What did I do?' look. Lee sighed and looked up at the nightfall. He noted that the Desolate Server had two moons.
"Well, it could be worse... you could still be slaves for Desiree!", said Lee, forcing a smile onto his face. JJ looked at him.
"At least then we didn't have to worry about it...", muttered JJ. Before Lee or anyone else could respond, they heard a shout from Takato.
"Shadows spotted! Some sort of flying type!", yelled Takato. Everyone looked to see Dragon-like Shadows circling around WarGrowlmon! They were attacking Garudamon as well!
"What are they!?", asked Allison, shocked at the hideousness of these new creatures. Izzy scanned them on his D-3.
"They're called Wing Shadows. A bit obvious, but to the point.", read Izzy.
"MegaSeadramon! Give them the DTE attack!", commanded Amy.
"Stingmon! Get in there, front and center!", yelled Ken, from on top of Garudamon. The flying Digimon were unable to fight with their present cargo. Stingmon flew up to a Wing Shadow and impaled it with his Spiking Strike.
"One down, seven to go!", shouted Stingmon. He turned around to see a Wing Shadow behind him. "Oh, well, how are you today? I was just leaving--"
The Wing Shadow sliced Stingmon with its razor sharp wing and he fell into the sand below! It moved in for the kill, but was halted as a tail wrapped around it's body. It growled in anger and struggled to get free.
"I think not.", said MegaSeadramon. She swung the Wing Shadow around and then threw it into two of its brothers. "Thunder Javelin!!!"
The electrical blast destroyed the three Wing Shadows. But dozens of razor blades were flung at her from all directions. She roared in pain and began to fire more Thunder Javelins into the air! One accidentally hit MegaKabuterimon!!!
"Argh!", MegaKabuterimon grunted and accidentally dropped Lee, Allison, JJ, Izzy, Andromon and Amy!
"We're gonna dieeeee...!", screamed Lee. Suddenly, Garudamon picked them up and flew high into the air!
"Heading my way?", asked Sora.
"Any way you're going, pretty lady.", said Lee. He then noticed that he could see the Containment Camp from here. "Which I hope is that way!"
"Wait! Let us down!", said Izzy. "We'll help our partners fight these guys!"
"Yeah! DTE never backs out from a fight!", shouted Amy.
"That's right.", added Izzy.
"Geez... could you guys have any more of an ego?", asked JJ. Amy stuck out her tongue at him. Garudamon let Amy and Izzy off, then flew towards the third Containment Camp, along with WarGrowlmon.
"Why did you hit me!?", shouted MegaKabuterimon.
"It was an accident!", yelled back MegaSeadramon.
"Accident this!", growled MegaKabuterimon. He slugged MegaSeadramon, sending her flying through the sand! Izzy, Amy and Ken's jaws all dropped.
"MegaKabuterimon! What the hell!?", asked Izzy.
"Rrragh!!!", MegaKabuterimon fired a Horn Buster at the three of them, who ran for cover.
"Ok, Izzy... why is he shooting at us!?", asked Ken.
"He must have got hit by a Possess Shadow when we weren't watching!", grunted Izzy. MegaSeadramon leapt up and viciously attacked MegaKabuterimon! Amy cocked an eyebrow.
"MegaSeadramon too!", screamed Amy. "They're both possessed! Where's Stingmon!?"
Ken pointed, and Stingmon was presently engaged with about three Wing Shadows. Amy and Izzy sweat-dropped.
"Prepare for the battle of the Mega-Mon's then...", sighed Izzy.
-----------------------------
Containment Camp B:
Kevin and Nathan ran down a hallway, with Daemon and Jijimon right behind them... and about 30 Sword Shadow behind them!
"We're so screwed!", shouted Kevin.
"Don't give up! Right, Daemon?", asked Nathan.
"Boo-yah!", shouted Daemon. He turned and blasted an Evil Inferno right in the center of all the Sword Shadows, destroying some, sending some flying, and disorienting others.
"It won't slow them down for long! Go go go!", encouraged Jijimon. Kevin and Nathan darted down a hallway to see Alex and her group of Chosen.
"Guys, we've been looking everywhere for you!", shouted Alex.
"And us for you! Yikes!", said Kevin. A Sword Shadow leapt over to him. WarGreymon slugged it and it deleted. Magnamon flew over to deal with the mass of Sword Shadow pouring through the hall. Davis and the others introduced themselves to Kevin, as Nathan and Daemon went to get some air.
"Sure is nice outside... eh, Daemon?", asked Nathan.
"Well, its better than having swords plunged into you, that's for sure.", said Daemon. "Hey, did you hear something?"
"No...", said Nathan. "Why?"
"Cuz I swear I-- Nathan! Look out!", shouted Daemon. A Possess Shadow flung itself into Nathan. Before Daemon could react, another one flew into him! The two of them smiled evilly.
"Finally. I have a vessel I can communicate with those pathetic humans in.", said Nathan, though it obviously wasn't him speaking. "They will learn the true power of the Shadow soon enough..."
Shadow War, Part 2: All-Out Melee!
-------------------------------
Containment Camp B:
"Evil Inferno!!!"
"Cane of Death!!!"
Daemon and Jijimon did their damnest to hold off all the tiny Shadows. Daemon destroyed a cluster of them with an Evil Inferno, but two jumped on his back and began biting him.
"Argh!", screamed Daemon. Jijimon smashed them off with his cane and resumed battling a few more of them who were bounding about. They kept coming out of the floor! Nathan and Kevin backed themselves into a corner.
"Ahhh! Go away!", shouted Kevin. He swatted a Shadow with the laptop and began kicking it.
{HEY! WATCH THE METAL, BUSTER!}
"Errr... sorry Ms. Legendary Guardian, Ma'am.", muttered Kevin.
-------------------------------
Over with Alex and Lee:
Lee pressed the button and all the Chosen and partners fell out of their respective holding cells, unconscious. After a few minutes, they started to come to.
"Oh boy... now we gotta rally them all up...", said Lee.
"How hard can that be for YOU to do, Mr. Leader?", asked Alex, leaning on Lee's shoulder. Lee sighed.
A few Chosen began to come to. Tai slapped himself a few times and stood up, looking around. He looked at Lee.
"Where the heck am I?", asked Tai.
"That's a long story...", said Lee. "You're in the Desolate Server."
"The Desolate Server?!", exclaimed Tai. "Oh yeah... you guys sent us here when you ripped the dark necklaces off us. Err... sorry about that. We weren't exactly ourselves..."
"I understand.", said Lee. "That's why we're here to rescue you."
"Rescue us!?", shouted Davis. "Alright! Free pizza for everyone at my house!"
"We don't even know if you're world still exists, Davis. So don't get too happy.", said Lee. Davis was about to say something then, decided not too. All the other Chosen had waken up and were talking amongst themselves.
"You'd better let them know about the situation...", whispered Alex. Lee nodded.
"Alright people, look alive and listen up!", shouted Lee. "We are in the middle of a containment camp in the Desolate Server, and we need your help! All our partners have been captured and incarcerated in another camp... we may never see them again..."
"Say no more. You helped us, so we'll help you in return.", said Joe.
"He's right! Joe's a helpful, brave, muscular hulk-type of guy! How could we lose?", said Gomamon, sarcastically.. Joe glared at him. Alex laughed a little bit.
"It's not going to be so easy. There's a huge army of Shadows about to converge on this place...", said Lee. "You have to get ready to battle them!"
"Battle the Shadow?! Are you nuts!?", asked Amy. "We couldn't even defeat them in our own worlds!"
Lee put his hand on Amy's shoulder. "Well, Amy... now we're all together. I don't think anything can stand in our way!"
Lots of agreeing shouts came from the crowd, followed by shouts of Digivolution!
"Magnamon!!!"
"MeeeetalGreymon!! Rwar!"
"MegaSeadramon!! Hah!"
"Zudomon!"
"Lillymon!!!"
"Andromon!"
"Angewomon!!!"
"Digmon! The Drill of Knowledge!"
"Taomon!"
----------------------------
Amy and Arik finished freeing their group of Chosen and stood by, waiting for them to come to.
"God, that was alot of kicking...", sighed Arik. Allison just smiled. A few minutes later, the Chosen awoke...
"Wuh- wha? Guilmon? Where are you?", asked Takato, confused. He saw Guilmon laying a few feet away from him and ran over to his partner. Arik and Allison watched as all the other Chosen awoke as well.
"Owww... did anybody get the number of that bus?", asked Henry.
"Hey, do I know you?", asked Ken.
"No, I don't think so.", replied Henry. "My name is Henry, honored to meet you."
"Hey, I'm--", started Ken, but he was cut off by Allison and Arik, who told them the same story that Lee and Alex told their group. The Chosen listened intentively.
"You're sure the Shadow are coming here?", asked Izzy. "From my files, they've already left this world..."
Allison and Arik nodded.
"They're here... look!", screamed Carrie. Down the hall, about a dozen, flaming Shadow were rushing in their direction!
"Flame Shadow!", said Izzy. "These guys are unbearable to touch, and ruthless at that!"
"Then Digivolve your partners!", yelled Arik.
Digivices flared and Digivolutions began again...
"Rapidmon!!!"
"WarGrowlmon!!!"
"MegaKabuterimon!! Mrr..."
"Denimon!"
"MetalTyrannomon!!! Gragh!"
"Garudamon!"
"Savomon!"
"Halsemon! The Wings of Love."
"MagnaAngemon!"
"BlackMetalGreymon!!!"
"Attack!", shouted Allison, as the Digimon charged at their Shadowy foes. The Flame Shadows stopped running and formed a wall, blasting pillars of fire at the Digimon.
"I'll block it! Tri-Beam!!!", shouted Rapidmon. The huge triangular energy wall, absorbed all the attacks. MegaKabuterimon jumped down.
"Horn Buster!", grunted MegaKabuterimon. He knocked the Flame Shadow over like bowling pins!
"You did it! You defeated them!", exclaimed Tom.
"Not yet...", muttered Yolei. "Look!"
The Flame Shadow all raised from where MegaKabuterimon had lain them. They blasted MegaKabuterimon and Rapidmon, who flew backwards, crashing through the floor!
"Great, all we need is a big pit...", said Sarah.
"Pit this!", shouted Denimon. She leapt forward and sliced a Flame Shadow with her claw, killing it. MetalTyrannomon and Garudamon ran in, but MagnaAngemon told them all to stop.
"I know the easiest solution! Gate of Destiny!!!", shouted MagnaAngemon. He created a huge vortex that began to suck all the Flame Shadow into it. A few flew in, but the rest were managing to keep their footing.
"Someone knock them in!", said TK. WarGrowlmon flew in behind the remaining ones.
"Atomic Thrusters!", bellowed WarGrowlmon. He shot the remaining Flame Shadow through the gate, and MagnaAngemon closed it. Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Good work. But there's many more where that came from.", said Allison. "Follow me and Arik, we'll show you the way!"
Allison and Arik turned to head down another corridor. All the Chosen and partners followed them.
-------------------------
"Blast! It looks like another forty of them!", screamed JJ. Dozens of Ice Shadow poured through a hole in the wall that the Chosen were going to try to escape from. They began to freeze the Digimon!
"Hey! Magnamon!", shouted Davis. "Fight back!"
"It's... tough... arr! They freeze upon... touch!", grunted Magnamon, almost fully frozen. Lee and Alex led the Chosen back as the partners engaged the Ice Shadows.
"Mega Claw!!", growled MetalGreymon. He smashed a few of them into dust, but two leapt onto his claw as it was stuck in the ground.
"Aiiigh!", howled MetalGreymon. His claw was frozen to the ground! He reared back, but couldn't budge it. The Ice Shadows howled and began to blast him with ice beams. Tai balled his fist.
"How do we beat these things!?", asked Tai.
"I don't know! They're... nearly... invincible!", shouted Rika.
"They mass! We need something that can take alot of them out at once!", suggested Cody. Tai and Rika nodded.
"Then I got just the weapon we need!", shouted Tai. "MetalGreymon, Digivolve!"
Tai pulled out his Digivice and MetalGreymon began to react to it's energy.
"MetalGreymon! Digivolve to... WarGreymon!!!"
The golden warrior broke free from the ice and smashed the Ice Shadows aside easily.
"Terra Force!"
The energy wave destroyed most of the Ice Shadow, as the other partners cleaned up the mess. Lee groaned.
"At this rate, we'll never get out of here alive...", growled Lee.
"Lee!!", screamed Alex. Lee looked at Alex, who was with Amy, Kala and Kari. [i]Girl's club?[/i] thought Lee.
"What?!", asked Lee.
"Behind you!!!", shouted Alex back. A Sword Shadow plunged a sword down into the ground near Lee, Tom and Davis. The three of them jumped back, but the Sword Shadow knocked Tom and Davis over. It went straight for Lee!
"Calm down Shadow buddy... you don't want to do anything drastic!", said Lee, backing away. (Oh, what the hell am I doing? These things aren't even coherent! That's what makes them so dangerous... they have no emotions!)
"Help!", shouted Lee.
"Everyone is engaged! From MegaSeadramon to WarGreymon!", shouted Tom. "There is no help!"
Lee screamed. Alex screamed for him. The Sword Shadow raised one of its limbless blades. Lee prepared to die... but...
"Spiking Strike!!", shouted a voice. Stingmon burst through the wall, blades extended, and ripped through the Sword Shadow like a hot knife through butter! Ken jumped through the opening, followed by Arik.
"Ken!! You saved me!!", shouted Lee, excitedly. "After... what I did to you..."
[FLASHBACK]
"Is it my turn!? Oh goodie! MOLTEN FLARE!!!", shouted TecKuwagamon. He raised a claw and pured fire all over Stingmon, who screamed and fell to the ground, burning.
"That's the way to fight!", shouted Leila, who had regained consciousness. Lee ran past her and leapt over next to Ken, grabbing his arm.
"Let go of me! You don't have the right to touch me!", shouted Ken.
"I have a right to figure out why you were a pacifist this morning and why you aren't now! And I think this has something to do with it!", retorted Lee. He grabbed the black necklace around Ken, and ripped it off the boy's neck!
[END FLASHBACK]
"Yeah... well. I wasn't exactly myself then...", said Ken, sadly. "I have a history of being controlled by dark powers..."
"Oh, come on, Ken! We were all controlled!", protested Davis.
"Yeah... it's not like we could help it...", muttered Tom.
"Well, thanks Ken. And thanks to all of you... now, I have one favor to ask...", said Lee. Allison showed up with her group of Chosen.
"Gee, Lee... what favor could that be?", asked Allison, sarcastically.
"Something about partners?", asked Amy. Allison nodded. Lee looked around.
"Yeah, but we're short Earnest and Ace's group... what could've happened to them...?", asked Lee. Allison shrugged.
"Look, we can't spare time here!", said Allison, taking charge... simply because she has a long history of loving to boss Lee around. "I think Lee and I should take a few of you and head to the third Containment Camp... while Alex and Arik with their group... wait for Earnest and Ace. And Kevin and Nathan."
"Oh?", asked Alex, suspiciously. "That sounds like a... great plan."
"Alright then.", said Lee. "Sora, Izzy, Takato. With us, we need flight power! Amy, JJ and Ken... your company wouldn't be turned down either."
WarGreymon blew a huge hole in the wall with his Terra Force and held his hand out, as if inviting them to go through. The lot of them ran out into the Desert and climbed aboard Garudamon, MegaKabuterimon and WarGrowlmon. They flew off into the distance. Alex scowled at the sight of Allison and Lee sitting atop MegaKabuterimon with Izzy, Amy and JJ.
"Allison...", muttered Alex.
--------------------------------------
WarGrowlmon and Garudamon flew along in the lead, frantically scanning for any Shadows that could be lurking in the Desert below. MegaKabuterimon took up the rear, allowing Lee to finally relax.
"This is brutal.", said Lee. "What if our partners are... dead?"
"We don't know that...", replied Allison. "We'll just have to wait and find out."
"I'm sure they aren't.", said Amy. "We were locked away pretty good, so they should be as well."
"Mmm-hmm.", agreed Izzy. "But aside from the partner issue, I was wondering if we may discuss something more serious."
"Shoot.", said Lee. "I'm about ready for anything at this point."
"Our worlds...", said Izzy. "From Desiree's computer files, I learned that the only thing that can eradicate the Shadow's core is the seven Guardians. How many have we found?"
"Two. Megabyte Server and Desolate Server.", said Lee.
"So... five to go. And they're in our worlds...", muttered Amy.
"If your worlds even still exist.", sighed Lee. Amy gave him an angry look, then realized that statement could be true.
"I'm sure they do. The Shadow seem to be concentrating the mass of their forces here...", said Izzy, scanning the area. "But I wonder... what's left...?"
Amy, Izzy and JJ became unnaturally sad. Allison nudged Lee, who gave her a 'What did I do?' look. Lee sighed and looked up at the nightfall. He noted that the Desolate Server had two moons.
"Well, it could be worse... you could still be slaves for Desiree!", said Lee, forcing a smile onto his face. JJ looked at him.
"At least then we didn't have to worry about it...", muttered JJ. Before Lee or anyone else could respond, they heard a shout from Takato.
"Shadows spotted! Some sort of flying type!", yelled Takato. Everyone looked to see Dragon-like Shadows circling around WarGrowlmon! They were attacking Garudamon as well!
"What are they!?", asked Allison, shocked at the hideousness of these new creatures. Izzy scanned them on his D-3.
"They're called Wing Shadows. A bit obvious, but to the point.", read Izzy.
"MegaSeadramon! Give them the DTE attack!", commanded Amy.
"Stingmon! Get in there, front and center!", yelled Ken, from on top of Garudamon. The flying Digimon were unable to fight with their present cargo. Stingmon flew up to a Wing Shadow and impaled it with his Spiking Strike.
"One down, seven to go!", shouted Stingmon. He turned around to see a Wing Shadow behind him. "Oh, well, how are you today? I was just leaving--"
The Wing Shadow sliced Stingmon with its razor sharp wing and he fell into the sand below! It moved in for the kill, but was halted as a tail wrapped around it's body. It growled in anger and struggled to get free.
"I think not.", said MegaSeadramon. She swung the Wing Shadow around and then threw it into two of its brothers. "Thunder Javelin!!!"
The electrical blast destroyed the three Wing Shadows. But dozens of razor blades were flung at her from all directions. She roared in pain and began to fire more Thunder Javelins into the air! One accidentally hit MegaKabuterimon!!!
"Argh!", MegaKabuterimon grunted and accidentally dropped Lee, Allison, JJ, Izzy, Andromon and Amy!
"We're gonna dieeeee...!", screamed Lee. Suddenly, Garudamon picked them up and flew high into the air!
"Heading my way?", asked Sora.
"Any way you're going, pretty lady.", said Lee. He then noticed that he could see the Containment Camp from here. "Which I hope is that way!"
"Wait! Let us down!", said Izzy. "We'll help our partners fight these guys!"
"Yeah! DTE never backs out from a fight!", shouted Amy.
"That's right.", added Izzy.
"Geez... could you guys have any more of an ego?", asked JJ. Amy stuck out her tongue at him. Garudamon let Amy and Izzy off, then flew towards the third Containment Camp, along with WarGrowlmon.
"Why did you hit me!?", shouted MegaKabuterimon.
"It was an accident!", yelled back MegaSeadramon.
"Accident this!", growled MegaKabuterimon. He slugged MegaSeadramon, sending her flying through the sand! Izzy, Amy and Ken's jaws all dropped.
"MegaKabuterimon! What the hell!?", asked Izzy.
"Rrragh!!!", MegaKabuterimon fired a Horn Buster at the three of them, who ran for cover.
"Ok, Izzy... why is he shooting at us!?", asked Ken.
"He must have got hit by a Possess Shadow when we weren't watching!", grunted Izzy. MegaSeadramon leapt up and viciously attacked MegaKabuterimon! Amy cocked an eyebrow.
"MegaSeadramon too!", screamed Amy. "They're both possessed! Where's Stingmon!?"
Ken pointed, and Stingmon was presently engaged with about three Wing Shadows. Amy and Izzy sweat-dropped.
"Prepare for the battle of the Mega-Mon's then...", sighed Izzy.
-----------------------------
Containment Camp B:
Kevin and Nathan ran down a hallway, with Daemon and Jijimon right behind them... and about 30 Sword Shadow behind them!
"We're so screwed!", shouted Kevin.
"Don't give up! Right, Daemon?", asked Nathan.
"Boo-yah!", shouted Daemon. He turned and blasted an Evil Inferno right in the center of all the Sword Shadows, destroying some, sending some flying, and disorienting others.
"It won't slow them down for long! Go go go!", encouraged Jijimon. Kevin and Nathan darted down a hallway to see Alex and her group of Chosen.
"Guys, we've been looking everywhere for you!", shouted Alex.
"And us for you! Yikes!", said Kevin. A Sword Shadow leapt over to him. WarGreymon slugged it and it deleted. Magnamon flew over to deal with the mass of Sword Shadow pouring through the hall. Davis and the others introduced themselves to Kevin, as Nathan and Daemon went to get some air.
"Sure is nice outside... eh, Daemon?", asked Nathan.
"Well, its better than having swords plunged into you, that's for sure.", said Daemon. "Hey, did you hear something?"
"No...", said Nathan. "Why?"
"Cuz I swear I-- Nathan! Look out!", shouted Daemon. A Possess Shadow flung itself into Nathan. Before Daemon could react, another one flew into him! The two of them smiled evilly.
"Finally. I have a vessel I can communicate with those pathetic humans in.", said Nathan, though it obviously wasn't him speaking. "They will learn the true power of the Shadow soon enough..."