Authors Note: Only two chapters remain. I felt the quality of the last
chapter wasn't very good, so I've stepped it up a notch with this one. It's
action-packed and gets straight to the punching point.
Uh, one of my friends said the scene where Lee beats up Alex and Arik was a bit overdoing it... but I hope you guys are cool with that...
Heroes No More, Chapter Thirty-Three: The Final Battle
======================
"Bio-Merge Activate!!!"
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"DemiTyrannomon! Bio-Merge to..."
Ace's clothes ripped off him and he glew with light and began to merge into DemiTyrannomon. The two grew into a medium-sized warrior with an X emblem on his chest and hands. He has a sword strapped to his back and a gun with MetalGarurumon's head as the opening.
"...X-OMNIDRAMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
X-Omnidramon faced Shadow Nathan. Nathan laughed.
"You are pathetic! This little Digivolution trick won't fool the Shadow Overmind! For even if I am defeated, we are massing an attack that will wipe out this world like all the others!!!"
"...what do you mean?", asked X-Omnidramon. Unlike most bio-merged Digimon, he spoke in Ace's voice only.
"Well, you taking the Guardians away weakened the Servers even more.", said Nathan. He laughed. "They were all destroyed. One by one."
"What!?", screamed Ace. "No!"
"Yes! Glorious yes!", yelled Nathan.
"That's it! I'm putting you down!", growled Ace.
"I'd like to see you try!", replied Nathan.
"Then I will!", yelled Ace. He pointed his cannon in Nathan's direction. "Omni Destroyer!!!"
Blue energy collected in front of the cannon and Ace concentrated it into a beam to fire at Nathan. Nathan simply deflected the energy blast into the air. He flew at Ace all his fingers turned into deadly blades! Ace jumped back to avoid his attack and found himself on the edge of the building! Nathan leapt into the air and smash-kicked Ace with both his feet sending him tumbling down off the building.
Ace's back smashed into the neighboring building, knocking the wind out of him! He plummeted into a dumpster below. Nathan flew down there and laughed at him. Then he picked up the dumpster and hurled it onto the street! Ace fell out of it, groaning.
"Not so tough now, are we?", asked Nathan. He saw a van parked on the side of the road and picked it up, walking in Ace's direction. "Eat van!!"
Nathan smashed the van down on top of X-Omnidramon. Ace screamed out in pain, and began to feel dizzy from the head injury.
"Eat it again!", he yelled, bashing Ace repeatedly with the van. Ace was battered and bleeding, covered in bruises. He then kicked Ace across the street, sending him flying into a building. He followed it up by hurling the van into the building! The van exploded, causing the building to collapse on top of him!
"Come on Ace!", shouted Nathan. "I know you're tougher than that! Or should I got start attacking Alex or Arik now that I'm done with you?"
"No!", screamed Ace. He threw the rubble off him and leapt at Nathan, punching Nathan square in the face! Nathan rolled backwards with the attack, and then leapt up, extending his sword.
"Gotcha.", he said. He stabbed the sword through Ace's leg, and then kicked Ace in the face! He fell to the ground, bleeding and screaming in pain.
"Ace, do something!", shouted Arik. "You can't lose to him!"
(Argh... Arik is right! But I can't even stand now because of my stupid leg! I'll have to take this battle to the air... maybe I'll have better luck there...), thought Ace. Ace took flight and Nathan smirked and followed him. Everyone watched them go up.
"Who do you think is going to win?", asked Arik.
"I hate to say it, but probably Nathan...", replied Alex. She noticed Kevin had the laptop open and it was beeping wildly. "Kevin, what's going on?"
"The laptop says the Shadow Core has surfaced at last... they're preparing for the destruction of this world!", gasped Kevin. "But this also means this is our time to strike!"
"We must find the Shadow core. Once there, we Guardians can perform our ritual.", said Myotismon.
"Ritual?", asked Kevin.
"Yes. The seven of us must sacrifice our own lives to destroy the Shadow forever.", said Chris. "Wish we didn't have too... but we do..."
"What?!", shouted Earnest, Alex, Arik and Kevin at the same time.
"Leila, is this true?!", asked Earnest, looking to Leila, who was still in WarRenamon form.
"I'm afraid so, Earnest... I didn't want to tell you... I knew you would react like this!", shouted Leila.
"Well, you're my partner, I deserve to know if you're going to commit suicide!", shouted Earnest. "I forbid you to do this!"
"I'm not committing suicide! I'm saving our world!", yelled back Leila. "And you can't 'forbid' me from doing this! We're going now!"
Leila turned and flew towards the direction of the Shadow core. The other Guardians followed, and Kevin and Jijimon. Alex and Arik watched Ace and Nathan disappear into the clouds, then turned to follow them as well. Earnest glared at the lot of them and then reluctantly tagged along, though keeping his distance from Leila.
--------------------------
Elsewhere:
Shadow Lee leapt on top of a building and laughed, in Desiree's voice of course. He picked up a billboard and hurled it halfway across the city, laughing the entire time.
"This new body is awesome! Much more powerful than my previous one!", shouted Shadow Lee. "Although there are some... er... strange gender differences. I've never known what having a unit would be like... and now I wish I didn't."
Lee scanned the city. "Nonetheless, I now have more than enough power to destroy those Chosen. And they won't fight their precious Lee. Ahahaha... hmm?"
Lee looked back and saw Kokuwamon and Octopimon, they quickly hid behind a water tower.
"Interesting... they follow me...", said Lee. "Well, maybe I can make those two my first targ--"
Lee was cut off as Desiree received a mental message from the Shadow, telling her to go help protect the Shadow core, as the Chosen and the Guardians were getting closer to it.
"Of course, my liege.", said Lee, flying off. Kokuwamon and Octopimon followed, like always.
---------------------------
In the western area of the city:
The four Chosen and the seven Guardians saw a huge swirling pit of dark energy in the ground. They all knew that's where the Shadow core lurked.
"That's got to be it!", whispered Arik.
"It is it.", said Kevin. "The laptop's sensors indicate the major dark force coming from in there..."
"So do we knock?", asked Jijimon. Kevin forced a laugh, but the intensity of the situation was weighing down heavily on all of them.
"We must go in there.", said IceDevimon. "To fulfill our destiny."
IceDevimon went to walk towards it, but Leila stopped him.
"We don't know what kind of defenses this thing has. If any of us die, we can't do anything!", hissed Leila. IceDevimon nodded and they both looked at Destinmon.
"OH, since I'M not a Guardian, I'M expendable, am I?", asked Destinmon, though he was partially sarcastic.
"Please?", asked Leila.
"Why don't you go since you're going to kill yourself anyway?", asked Earnest. Leila glared at him.
"Honestly, do you have to be so mad?", asked Leila." You're acting like a little child."
"Yeah, well you--", started Earnest, but he was cut off by Alex.
"Look! It's the welcoming committee!", screamed Alex. Shadow portals began to form in front of the main portal. All types of Shadow came out. Sword Shadow, Ice Shadow, Flame Shadow, Wing Shadow, Worm Shadow and even one deadly Queen Shadow. They were looking for a fight.
"Bring it on!", shouted Destinmon, leading the charge. Kymbiamon leapt in after him, followed by Leila and finally Jijimon. They hacked and slashed their way through the Shadow, though considerable resistance was being made.
"Cane of Death!!!", yelled Jijimon. He slashed two Sword Shadow into death. A Flame Shadow tried to melt him, but he side-stepped the blast and hurled his cane through the creature, killing it.
A Worm Shadow knocked Destinmon into the air. He looked down at the armored behemoth, which fired off dozens of missiles at him. He dodged them all by weaving in and out of the barrage.
"HOLY FIRE!!!", he screamed, pouring power onto the Worm Shadow. It resisted the attack for a moment, but eventually gave in and was destroyed.
"Looks like it's you and me.", said Leila to the Queen Shadow. It roared out and attempted to crush her, but she flew up about the Queen's foot.
"Hiya! Psychic Bomb!", she yelled. She hurled the bomb directly into the Queen's chest, but it did little damage. "Grrr...Destinmon! Come assist me!"
Kymbiamon flew upwards to avoid getting hit by an Ice Shadow, but found herself in a worse predicament when half a dozen Wing Shadow came soaring at her! She turned and fled while the followed, firing sonic blasts from their mouths. She turned and kicked one, sending it flying into the earth. Two more flew up and she bounced of their heads to gain altitude and prepared her attack.
"Starlight Velocity!", she yelled, annihilating the two of them. One other grabbed her by the leg and began to try and twist... attempting to rip her leg right of her body! She kicked it in the face, but it seemed to be of no use. It was Jijimon who came to the rescue, leaping into the air and slashing it with his staff. The two of them landed on the ground.
"You're having a hard time Kymbiamon... are you alright?", asked Jijimon.
"I... I can't fight these things! You're all Megas! I'm only an Ultimate...", sighed Kymbiamon.
"Go protect the Guardians then, we can handle ourselves.", said Jijimon. Jijimon ran to help Destinmon and WarRenamon fight the Queen Shadow. Kymbiamon looked at the main portal.
"What are you waiting for!?", asked Kymbiamon. "The Shadow are distracted, let's go in!"
Kymbiamon flew into the portal. Earnest, Arik, Alex and Kevin ran up and told the Guardians to head in. Once all of them were in, the four Chosen headed in as well.
"Oh sure, leave us with the Queen Shadow.", said Destinmon.
"Bah, we can take her... I think...", added Jijimon. Suddenly, they saw Shadow Lee for an instant before he disappeared into the portal.
"Was that... Lee...?", asked Destinmon.
"It doesn't matter! We have to defeat this Queen Shadow!", shouted Jijimon.
------------------------------
Inside the Portal:
"Whoa... this is new...", gasped Alex. The entire area was a swirling mass of black and purple energy, it didn't look inviting either. Aside from stone pillar steps leading way down beyond where they could see.
"Hmmm... the laptop says the core is located at the bottom of this staircase.", said Kevin, walking past Alex and down the stairs. Mummymon and Myotismon were right behind him.
"Does it say I'm going to be sick?", asked Alex, leaning up against Arik. Suddenly, something knocked Alex and Arik over! They looked up to see Shadow Lee standing there, grinning evilly.
"Lee! You're alive!", shouted Arik.
"It's a pity you won't be.", said Lee. Lee was speaking in his own voice now, but none of them knew he was still possessed by Desiree. He stabbed his sword through the collar of Arik's shirt, lifting him into the air!
"Agh... run!", shouted Arik. Earnest and Kevin ran and led the Guardians down the stairs. Lee looked over at Alex.
"Surprised to see me again, 'honey'?", asked Lee. He threw Arik to the ground. Alex screamed.
"What's happened to you, Lee!? You're a Shadow like Nathan and Desiree!", shouted Alex. He began to walk towards her.
"Keep away from Alex, you beast!", threatened Kymbiamon, moving between Alex and Shadow Lee. Lee simply smashed her across the face and she tumbled down a few steps before laying still.
"You monster! You're not Lee!", yelled Alex. "Lee would never hurt anyone unless they deserved it!"
"Oh, but I am, Alex. I am Lee Trainer, born on June 13, 1987. My parents were Mary and Henry Trainer. I gave my life to become one with the Shadow since my former existence was useless.", said Lee. Alex gasped.
(It really IS him... no... Lee...!) thought Alex. Arik got up from where he was thrown.
"After about six years of birthday parties...", groaned Arik. "I can tell you that 'Lee' there made a mistake. His birthday is June 12th! Not the 13th! That's not Lee!"
"Argh!", groaned Lee, his voice changing back to Desiree's. "Blast! You screwed up my plan of messing with your minds!"
Alex gasped. "Desiree... but how...?"
"Surprised?", asked Lee. "As soon as Lee became Milleniumon, I foresaw my demise. So near the end of our battle, I attacked Lee with a sword. It did little damage, but what it was really intended to do was transport my spirit into his body! I am now all but invincible!"
"Invincible my ass!", shouted Kymbiamon, leaping off the floor at Shadow Lee.
"You just don't learn, do you?", asked Lee. He did a roundhouse kick to Kymbiamon's jaw and she flew even further down the stairwell.
Arik tried to get up, but Lee punched him, sending him flying backwards onto the steps, hurting his back.
"Ow... my back...", whined Arik. He was about to attack Arik again, when suddenly, Kokuwamon and Octopimon leapt through the portal and in the way of Lee's attack.
"Lee, stop!", yelled Kokuwamon. "You have to fight her control!"
"K-Kokuwamon...?", asked Lee, this time it was him talking. He shook it off and became possessed again. He hurled Kokuwamon and Octopimon into the air, injuring them both. "You're useless to me."
Lee picked up Kokuwamon and hurled him against the wall! He punched Kokuwamon into the wall, causing the poor Digimon to fall over, hacking.
Alex took a step toward him.
"Lee, you have to be able to hear me! It's me, Alex!", said Alex. "Please hear me..."
Lee turned around and blazed Alex across the face with his sword! Alex shrieked, holding back tears, but she didn't fall over. She covered the bleeding cut with her right hand and looked at Lee defiantly.
"So this is it? You're a monster now, controlled by that bitch!", shouted Alex. "You'll hurt Arik, you'll hurt Kokuwamon! You'll hurt me!!"
"N... Yes!", shouted Lee.
"What if your little sister was still alive? Would you hurt her too?! What about Allison!? Would you have hurt her?!"
"I... I... yes!", shouted Lee. Desiree and Lee were obviously fighting for control of his body.
Alex picked up the Shadow sword the Lee had used to strike her. She held it to Kokuwamon.
"So, if I stabbed Kokuwamon right now, you wouldn't care?!", she asked. Lee stared at her.
"What if I stabbed myself?! It would all mean nothing to you?!", threatened Alex. She held the sword a few inches from her stomach.
"Alex... what!?", asked Kymbiamon, struggling to get up.
"What are you doing!?", shouted Arik.
"Well!?", asked Alex. She went to stab the sword in, but suddenly, it was gone. Lee had taken it away from her before she could stab herself. She looked up at Lee, as all the Shadowy stuff disintegrated and his normal clothes showed up again. The sword disappeared as well.
"Lee... I knew you would come through for me!", shouted Alex, burying herself in his arms. She was crying now, but crying because she was so happy. The injured Kymbiamon limped up the stairs and stood by Kokuwamon and Octopimon as they watched this happy moment.
"I... Desiree is gone. She was never really there...", said Lee. Alex looked up at him, her face all wet.
"What do you mean?", asked Alex.
"I was so depressed... I went nearly crazy... it was like insanity possessed me. In a sense, that was her. But the Shadow amplified my depression and made it into hatred...", said Lee. He turned and helped Arik up.
"...which I never should have let happen."
Arik smiled. "Good to have ya back, buddy."
"What's going on?", asked Lee, looking for an update. Alex looked down the steps.
"Earnest and Kevin took the Guardians down there... but I remember Ace was having a rough time fighting Nathan, maybe you should go help him out."
"Oh my god... you're bleeding...", gasped Lee, noticing the huge cut on Alex's face. "Are you alright... did I do that...?"
"Yes. But I'm fine. Seriously. Now you have to go help Ace."
"Alright, I won't let Ace down too.", said Lee. "Ready to Bio-Merge, Kokuwamon?"
"Of course!", shouted Kokuwamon. "And I'm glad you're you again."
"Me too.", said Lee. He kissed Alex quickly and then turned to Kokuwamon and began to glow with light. "Bio-Merge activate!!!"
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"TecKuwagamon! Bio-Merge to.."
Lee's clothes rip off and he begins to fuse with his partner. They become a large Digimon, who stands on his hind feet and has two arms. The top half of him consists of energy, plus two more arms and a head. Two large cannons, much like Machinedramon's, sprouted from his back.
"...MILLENIUMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Good luck, Lee!", shouted Alex. Milleniumon looked down at them.
"The hell are you talking about?", asked Lee. "Get on."
Alex and Arik looked at each other, then grinned and hopped on Milleniumon. Kymbiamon and Octopimon got on too and Milleniumon flew out of the Shadow Portal and in the direction of the fight.
--------------------------------
The skies over the city:
Shadow Nathan and X-Omnidramon (Ace) were still fighting like two squirrels over a nut. They were relentless and Nathan was definitely the more powerful of the two.
"Hyper Blade!", shouted Ace. He took the sword off his back and swung it at Nathan who kicked it, sending it flying out into the city. Ace cursed to himself and leapt backwards, trying to create distance between himself and Nathan.
"Yes, fire your little cannon. Alot of good that's going to do you.", said Nathan, laughing. Ace cursed again.
"Damn! He knew what I was going to do!", shouted Ace.
"That's because you're predictable.", said Nathan. "I, however, am not! Observe my power!"
The Shadow-layered skin on Nathan began to bubble, and suddenly, hundreds of little throwing stars burst out of it! Ace gasped in both surprise and terror. The stars shot at Ace, buzzing and whirring around him, slashing him hundreds of times! They were tiny cuts, but hurt more than one big sword would. Tiny spurts of blood were dripping from him, he was barely able to gather enough energy to talk.
"You... asshole...", groaned Ace, weakly.
Nathan flew over and clenched both his fists together, hitting Ace with all his power! Ace flew backwards in the air, managing to stay airborne... but seemed unable to do little more than that.
"Now I will finish you off, you fool.", announced Nathan.
"Millennium Cannon!!!", yelled Milleniumon, from behind Nathan. The twin blast hit Nathan in the back, causing him to yell out in pain. He looked back and saw Milleniumon floating there. Alex and the others were on a building below, watching.
"You... but the Shadow said they took care of you!", shouted Nathan in surprise.
"The Shadow were wrong, old friend.", said Milleniumon. "I don't even consider you my friend anymore, actually. Especially if you'd thrash Ace like that."
"I care not about you, Ace or anyone else! I am with the Shadow now!", yelled Nathan. "And not siding with them shall be your undoing, traitor!!!"
Nathan flew at Milleniumon who kicked him back up into the air.
"I'm the traitor!?", asked Milleniumon. "You are!"
"We shall see.", said Nathan. "After I'm done with you, I'm going for your little friends there!"
"Ahem!", shouted X-Omnidramon. "Forget someone?"
"Huh?", asked Nathan. He turned to see Ace charging up his cannon.
"Omni Destroyer!!!", yelled Ace, blasting Nathan dead-on! Milleniumon then whipped out his cannons and shot Nathan from the other direction!
"Ahhhhh!", screamed Nathan at the pain of being crushed between two energy blasts. The two blasts went right through him, killing him. They hit each other and cancelled each other out. Ace and Lee sighed, they were not very happy about having to kill someone whom they were friends with for such a long time.
"Life goes on... right buddy?", asked Ace, referring more to Allison's death. Lee nodded.
"Yeah... it does..."
---------------------------------------
Inside the Shadow portal:
"There's the core!", yelled Chris, pointing at a doorway at the bottom of the staircase.
"There's no turning back now...", said Leila. "Are you all ready for this?"
"Yeah, absolutely!", said Chris.
"I am! Seriously!", shouted Suzie.
"As am I. My life is prepared to end to ensure new life.", said Myotismon.
"Same here!", added IceDevimon.
"If I don't do this... then how could I beat up Davis anymore? Err, oh wait, I'll be gone...", muttered Mummymon, confusing himself. He just nodded.
{I AM READY AS WELL.}, said the laptop.
"So am I.", said Leila. She looked at Earnest. "Are you?"
"I... yes. I'm sorry Leila, I know you have to do this...", apologized Earnest. Leila nodded and waved goodbye to Earnest and Kevin.
"Farewell..."
Kevin gave the laptop to Chris to hold. Leila then began to talk.
"Let the powers of the seven Servers unlock the light that will destroy all darkness."
"Yamato.", said Myotismon and Mummymon, deleting upon saying the word.
"Amaterasu.", said Suzie. She deleted as well.
"Kiriban.", said Chris, deleting.
"Asuka.", said IceDevimon, deleting.
{MEGABYTE.}, said the laptop, deleting.
"And let the powers of the Servers hold the Darkness in forever. Desolate.", she chanted. She deleted too. Earnest held back a few tears. Kevin put his hand on Earnest's shoulder.
"It'll be okay..."
"I know..."
Their data swirled around and became a huge beam of light, blasting it's way through the door into the Shadow Core! The whole area began to rumble, nearly knocking Earnest and Kevin over!
"Ah! Let's get out of here!", shouted Kevin, turning to run up the stairs. Earnest gave the light beam one last look and then turned to run as well.
-----------------------------
Outside the portal:
Destinmon and Jijimon were about ready to run in and attack the Queen Shadow again, when suddenly, it roared out and disappeared. They looked around and saw the bodies of all the other Shadow types begin to disappear too.
"Does this mean what I think it does?", asked Destinmon.
"They did it! They destroyed the Shadow!!!", shouted Jijimon, jumping for joy. Earnest and Kevin ran out of the Shadow Portal as it swirled up and was destroyed forever.
"Goodbye... Leila... Guardians...", said Earnest, softly. "You will never be forgotten..."
Milleniumon landed near them and separated into Lee and Kokuwamon. Ace, DemiTyrannomon, Octopimon, Arik, Alex and Mikemon were there as well. Jijimon ran over to see Kevin and Destinmon reverted to Bouncemon and bounced into Arik's arms.
"Alex... you know that we... won't work...", said Lee, sadly. She nodded.
"I knew all along.", she said, leaning her head on Lee's shoulder. "I was waiting for you to know..."
"So... we're still good friends... right?", asked Lee.
"Yup."
"Good friends with benefits?", asked Lee.
"What do you think?", replied Alex, playfully. She pushed him to the ground and laughed. Ace rolled his eyes.
"It's always like this.", groaned Ace.
"Aw, be happy! We're heroes!", shouted DemiTyrannomon.
"Yeah but... to who?", asked Ace. "We're here in a dead Server... and we're the only Server left..."
Kevin pulled out his laptop (not the Guardian laptop) and began to check equipment that he had received from Izzy's computer a while ago. His jaw dropped.
"Oh no...", said Kevin. "No... oh no..."
"What is it, Kevin?", asked Alex.
"Our Server... it's... crashing...", said Kevin. "We're at 30% power and dropping fast... I'd say we have... an hour..."
"An hour...?", asked Earnest. "Until what?"
"Until... we... all die...", said Kevin. "The Shadow are gone, but the damage they've done is still here. We may be the winners... but we lost anyway..."
There was a silence in the group, as no one could come up with anything to say.
==============================
Uh, one of my friends said the scene where Lee beats up Alex and Arik was a bit overdoing it... but I hope you guys are cool with that...
Heroes No More, Chapter Thirty-Three: The Final Battle
======================
"Bio-Merge Activate!!!"
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"DemiTyrannomon! Bio-Merge to..."
Ace's clothes ripped off him and he glew with light and began to merge into DemiTyrannomon. The two grew into a medium-sized warrior with an X emblem on his chest and hands. He has a sword strapped to his back and a gun with MetalGarurumon's head as the opening.
"...X-OMNIDRAMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
X-Omnidramon faced Shadow Nathan. Nathan laughed.
"You are pathetic! This little Digivolution trick won't fool the Shadow Overmind! For even if I am defeated, we are massing an attack that will wipe out this world like all the others!!!"
"...what do you mean?", asked X-Omnidramon. Unlike most bio-merged Digimon, he spoke in Ace's voice only.
"Well, you taking the Guardians away weakened the Servers even more.", said Nathan. He laughed. "They were all destroyed. One by one."
"What!?", screamed Ace. "No!"
"Yes! Glorious yes!", yelled Nathan.
"That's it! I'm putting you down!", growled Ace.
"I'd like to see you try!", replied Nathan.
"Then I will!", yelled Ace. He pointed his cannon in Nathan's direction. "Omni Destroyer!!!"
Blue energy collected in front of the cannon and Ace concentrated it into a beam to fire at Nathan. Nathan simply deflected the energy blast into the air. He flew at Ace all his fingers turned into deadly blades! Ace jumped back to avoid his attack and found himself on the edge of the building! Nathan leapt into the air and smash-kicked Ace with both his feet sending him tumbling down off the building.
Ace's back smashed into the neighboring building, knocking the wind out of him! He plummeted into a dumpster below. Nathan flew down there and laughed at him. Then he picked up the dumpster and hurled it onto the street! Ace fell out of it, groaning.
"Not so tough now, are we?", asked Nathan. He saw a van parked on the side of the road and picked it up, walking in Ace's direction. "Eat van!!"
Nathan smashed the van down on top of X-Omnidramon. Ace screamed out in pain, and began to feel dizzy from the head injury.
"Eat it again!", he yelled, bashing Ace repeatedly with the van. Ace was battered and bleeding, covered in bruises. He then kicked Ace across the street, sending him flying into a building. He followed it up by hurling the van into the building! The van exploded, causing the building to collapse on top of him!
"Come on Ace!", shouted Nathan. "I know you're tougher than that! Or should I got start attacking Alex or Arik now that I'm done with you?"
"No!", screamed Ace. He threw the rubble off him and leapt at Nathan, punching Nathan square in the face! Nathan rolled backwards with the attack, and then leapt up, extending his sword.
"Gotcha.", he said. He stabbed the sword through Ace's leg, and then kicked Ace in the face! He fell to the ground, bleeding and screaming in pain.
"Ace, do something!", shouted Arik. "You can't lose to him!"
(Argh... Arik is right! But I can't even stand now because of my stupid leg! I'll have to take this battle to the air... maybe I'll have better luck there...), thought Ace. Ace took flight and Nathan smirked and followed him. Everyone watched them go up.
"Who do you think is going to win?", asked Arik.
"I hate to say it, but probably Nathan...", replied Alex. She noticed Kevin had the laptop open and it was beeping wildly. "Kevin, what's going on?"
"The laptop says the Shadow Core has surfaced at last... they're preparing for the destruction of this world!", gasped Kevin. "But this also means this is our time to strike!"
"We must find the Shadow core. Once there, we Guardians can perform our ritual.", said Myotismon.
"Ritual?", asked Kevin.
"Yes. The seven of us must sacrifice our own lives to destroy the Shadow forever.", said Chris. "Wish we didn't have too... but we do..."
"What?!", shouted Earnest, Alex, Arik and Kevin at the same time.
"Leila, is this true?!", asked Earnest, looking to Leila, who was still in WarRenamon form.
"I'm afraid so, Earnest... I didn't want to tell you... I knew you would react like this!", shouted Leila.
"Well, you're my partner, I deserve to know if you're going to commit suicide!", shouted Earnest. "I forbid you to do this!"
"I'm not committing suicide! I'm saving our world!", yelled back Leila. "And you can't 'forbid' me from doing this! We're going now!"
Leila turned and flew towards the direction of the Shadow core. The other Guardians followed, and Kevin and Jijimon. Alex and Arik watched Ace and Nathan disappear into the clouds, then turned to follow them as well. Earnest glared at the lot of them and then reluctantly tagged along, though keeping his distance from Leila.
--------------------------
Elsewhere:
Shadow Lee leapt on top of a building and laughed, in Desiree's voice of course. He picked up a billboard and hurled it halfway across the city, laughing the entire time.
"This new body is awesome! Much more powerful than my previous one!", shouted Shadow Lee. "Although there are some... er... strange gender differences. I've never known what having a unit would be like... and now I wish I didn't."
Lee scanned the city. "Nonetheless, I now have more than enough power to destroy those Chosen. And they won't fight their precious Lee. Ahahaha... hmm?"
Lee looked back and saw Kokuwamon and Octopimon, they quickly hid behind a water tower.
"Interesting... they follow me...", said Lee. "Well, maybe I can make those two my first targ--"
Lee was cut off as Desiree received a mental message from the Shadow, telling her to go help protect the Shadow core, as the Chosen and the Guardians were getting closer to it.
"Of course, my liege.", said Lee, flying off. Kokuwamon and Octopimon followed, like always.
---------------------------
In the western area of the city:
The four Chosen and the seven Guardians saw a huge swirling pit of dark energy in the ground. They all knew that's where the Shadow core lurked.
"That's got to be it!", whispered Arik.
"It is it.", said Kevin. "The laptop's sensors indicate the major dark force coming from in there..."
"So do we knock?", asked Jijimon. Kevin forced a laugh, but the intensity of the situation was weighing down heavily on all of them.
"We must go in there.", said IceDevimon. "To fulfill our destiny."
IceDevimon went to walk towards it, but Leila stopped him.
"We don't know what kind of defenses this thing has. If any of us die, we can't do anything!", hissed Leila. IceDevimon nodded and they both looked at Destinmon.
"OH, since I'M not a Guardian, I'M expendable, am I?", asked Destinmon, though he was partially sarcastic.
"Please?", asked Leila.
"Why don't you go since you're going to kill yourself anyway?", asked Earnest. Leila glared at him.
"Honestly, do you have to be so mad?", asked Leila." You're acting like a little child."
"Yeah, well you--", started Earnest, but he was cut off by Alex.
"Look! It's the welcoming committee!", screamed Alex. Shadow portals began to form in front of the main portal. All types of Shadow came out. Sword Shadow, Ice Shadow, Flame Shadow, Wing Shadow, Worm Shadow and even one deadly Queen Shadow. They were looking for a fight.
"Bring it on!", shouted Destinmon, leading the charge. Kymbiamon leapt in after him, followed by Leila and finally Jijimon. They hacked and slashed their way through the Shadow, though considerable resistance was being made.
"Cane of Death!!!", yelled Jijimon. He slashed two Sword Shadow into death. A Flame Shadow tried to melt him, but he side-stepped the blast and hurled his cane through the creature, killing it.
A Worm Shadow knocked Destinmon into the air. He looked down at the armored behemoth, which fired off dozens of missiles at him. He dodged them all by weaving in and out of the barrage.
"HOLY FIRE!!!", he screamed, pouring power onto the Worm Shadow. It resisted the attack for a moment, but eventually gave in and was destroyed.
"Looks like it's you and me.", said Leila to the Queen Shadow. It roared out and attempted to crush her, but she flew up about the Queen's foot.
"Hiya! Psychic Bomb!", she yelled. She hurled the bomb directly into the Queen's chest, but it did little damage. "Grrr...Destinmon! Come assist me!"
Kymbiamon flew upwards to avoid getting hit by an Ice Shadow, but found herself in a worse predicament when half a dozen Wing Shadow came soaring at her! She turned and fled while the followed, firing sonic blasts from their mouths. She turned and kicked one, sending it flying into the earth. Two more flew up and she bounced of their heads to gain altitude and prepared her attack.
"Starlight Velocity!", she yelled, annihilating the two of them. One other grabbed her by the leg and began to try and twist... attempting to rip her leg right of her body! She kicked it in the face, but it seemed to be of no use. It was Jijimon who came to the rescue, leaping into the air and slashing it with his staff. The two of them landed on the ground.
"You're having a hard time Kymbiamon... are you alright?", asked Jijimon.
"I... I can't fight these things! You're all Megas! I'm only an Ultimate...", sighed Kymbiamon.
"Go protect the Guardians then, we can handle ourselves.", said Jijimon. Jijimon ran to help Destinmon and WarRenamon fight the Queen Shadow. Kymbiamon looked at the main portal.
"What are you waiting for!?", asked Kymbiamon. "The Shadow are distracted, let's go in!"
Kymbiamon flew into the portal. Earnest, Arik, Alex and Kevin ran up and told the Guardians to head in. Once all of them were in, the four Chosen headed in as well.
"Oh sure, leave us with the Queen Shadow.", said Destinmon.
"Bah, we can take her... I think...", added Jijimon. Suddenly, they saw Shadow Lee for an instant before he disappeared into the portal.
"Was that... Lee...?", asked Destinmon.
"It doesn't matter! We have to defeat this Queen Shadow!", shouted Jijimon.
------------------------------
Inside the Portal:
"Whoa... this is new...", gasped Alex. The entire area was a swirling mass of black and purple energy, it didn't look inviting either. Aside from stone pillar steps leading way down beyond where they could see.
"Hmmm... the laptop says the core is located at the bottom of this staircase.", said Kevin, walking past Alex and down the stairs. Mummymon and Myotismon were right behind him.
"Does it say I'm going to be sick?", asked Alex, leaning up against Arik. Suddenly, something knocked Alex and Arik over! They looked up to see Shadow Lee standing there, grinning evilly.
"Lee! You're alive!", shouted Arik.
"It's a pity you won't be.", said Lee. Lee was speaking in his own voice now, but none of them knew he was still possessed by Desiree. He stabbed his sword through the collar of Arik's shirt, lifting him into the air!
"Agh... run!", shouted Arik. Earnest and Kevin ran and led the Guardians down the stairs. Lee looked over at Alex.
"Surprised to see me again, 'honey'?", asked Lee. He threw Arik to the ground. Alex screamed.
"What's happened to you, Lee!? You're a Shadow like Nathan and Desiree!", shouted Alex. He began to walk towards her.
"Keep away from Alex, you beast!", threatened Kymbiamon, moving between Alex and Shadow Lee. Lee simply smashed her across the face and she tumbled down a few steps before laying still.
"You monster! You're not Lee!", yelled Alex. "Lee would never hurt anyone unless they deserved it!"
"Oh, but I am, Alex. I am Lee Trainer, born on June 13, 1987. My parents were Mary and Henry Trainer. I gave my life to become one with the Shadow since my former existence was useless.", said Lee. Alex gasped.
(It really IS him... no... Lee...!) thought Alex. Arik got up from where he was thrown.
"After about six years of birthday parties...", groaned Arik. "I can tell you that 'Lee' there made a mistake. His birthday is June 12th! Not the 13th! That's not Lee!"
"Argh!", groaned Lee, his voice changing back to Desiree's. "Blast! You screwed up my plan of messing with your minds!"
Alex gasped. "Desiree... but how...?"
"Surprised?", asked Lee. "As soon as Lee became Milleniumon, I foresaw my demise. So near the end of our battle, I attacked Lee with a sword. It did little damage, but what it was really intended to do was transport my spirit into his body! I am now all but invincible!"
"Invincible my ass!", shouted Kymbiamon, leaping off the floor at Shadow Lee.
"You just don't learn, do you?", asked Lee. He did a roundhouse kick to Kymbiamon's jaw and she flew even further down the stairwell.
Arik tried to get up, but Lee punched him, sending him flying backwards onto the steps, hurting his back.
"Ow... my back...", whined Arik. He was about to attack Arik again, when suddenly, Kokuwamon and Octopimon leapt through the portal and in the way of Lee's attack.
"Lee, stop!", yelled Kokuwamon. "You have to fight her control!"
"K-Kokuwamon...?", asked Lee, this time it was him talking. He shook it off and became possessed again. He hurled Kokuwamon and Octopimon into the air, injuring them both. "You're useless to me."
Lee picked up Kokuwamon and hurled him against the wall! He punched Kokuwamon into the wall, causing the poor Digimon to fall over, hacking.
Alex took a step toward him.
"Lee, you have to be able to hear me! It's me, Alex!", said Alex. "Please hear me..."
Lee turned around and blazed Alex across the face with his sword! Alex shrieked, holding back tears, but she didn't fall over. She covered the bleeding cut with her right hand and looked at Lee defiantly.
"So this is it? You're a monster now, controlled by that bitch!", shouted Alex. "You'll hurt Arik, you'll hurt Kokuwamon! You'll hurt me!!"
"N... Yes!", shouted Lee.
"What if your little sister was still alive? Would you hurt her too?! What about Allison!? Would you have hurt her?!"
"I... I... yes!", shouted Lee. Desiree and Lee were obviously fighting for control of his body.
Alex picked up the Shadow sword the Lee had used to strike her. She held it to Kokuwamon.
"So, if I stabbed Kokuwamon right now, you wouldn't care?!", she asked. Lee stared at her.
"What if I stabbed myself?! It would all mean nothing to you?!", threatened Alex. She held the sword a few inches from her stomach.
"Alex... what!?", asked Kymbiamon, struggling to get up.
"What are you doing!?", shouted Arik.
"Well!?", asked Alex. She went to stab the sword in, but suddenly, it was gone. Lee had taken it away from her before she could stab herself. She looked up at Lee, as all the Shadowy stuff disintegrated and his normal clothes showed up again. The sword disappeared as well.
"Lee... I knew you would come through for me!", shouted Alex, burying herself in his arms. She was crying now, but crying because she was so happy. The injured Kymbiamon limped up the stairs and stood by Kokuwamon and Octopimon as they watched this happy moment.
"I... Desiree is gone. She was never really there...", said Lee. Alex looked up at him, her face all wet.
"What do you mean?", asked Alex.
"I was so depressed... I went nearly crazy... it was like insanity possessed me. In a sense, that was her. But the Shadow amplified my depression and made it into hatred...", said Lee. He turned and helped Arik up.
"...which I never should have let happen."
Arik smiled. "Good to have ya back, buddy."
"What's going on?", asked Lee, looking for an update. Alex looked down the steps.
"Earnest and Kevin took the Guardians down there... but I remember Ace was having a rough time fighting Nathan, maybe you should go help him out."
"Oh my god... you're bleeding...", gasped Lee, noticing the huge cut on Alex's face. "Are you alright... did I do that...?"
"Yes. But I'm fine. Seriously. Now you have to go help Ace."
"Alright, I won't let Ace down too.", said Lee. "Ready to Bio-Merge, Kokuwamon?"
"Of course!", shouted Kokuwamon. "And I'm glad you're you again."
"Me too.", said Lee. He kissed Alex quickly and then turned to Kokuwamon and began to glow with light. "Bio-Merge activate!!!"
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"TecKuwagamon! Bio-Merge to.."
Lee's clothes rip off and he begins to fuse with his partner. They become a large Digimon, who stands on his hind feet and has two arms. The top half of him consists of energy, plus two more arms and a head. Two large cannons, much like Machinedramon's, sprouted from his back.
"...MILLENIUMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Good luck, Lee!", shouted Alex. Milleniumon looked down at them.
"The hell are you talking about?", asked Lee. "Get on."
Alex and Arik looked at each other, then grinned and hopped on Milleniumon. Kymbiamon and Octopimon got on too and Milleniumon flew out of the Shadow Portal and in the direction of the fight.
--------------------------------
The skies over the city:
Shadow Nathan and X-Omnidramon (Ace) were still fighting like two squirrels over a nut. They were relentless and Nathan was definitely the more powerful of the two.
"Hyper Blade!", shouted Ace. He took the sword off his back and swung it at Nathan who kicked it, sending it flying out into the city. Ace cursed to himself and leapt backwards, trying to create distance between himself and Nathan.
"Yes, fire your little cannon. Alot of good that's going to do you.", said Nathan, laughing. Ace cursed again.
"Damn! He knew what I was going to do!", shouted Ace.
"That's because you're predictable.", said Nathan. "I, however, am not! Observe my power!"
The Shadow-layered skin on Nathan began to bubble, and suddenly, hundreds of little throwing stars burst out of it! Ace gasped in both surprise and terror. The stars shot at Ace, buzzing and whirring around him, slashing him hundreds of times! They were tiny cuts, but hurt more than one big sword would. Tiny spurts of blood were dripping from him, he was barely able to gather enough energy to talk.
"You... asshole...", groaned Ace, weakly.
Nathan flew over and clenched both his fists together, hitting Ace with all his power! Ace flew backwards in the air, managing to stay airborne... but seemed unable to do little more than that.
"Now I will finish you off, you fool.", announced Nathan.
"Millennium Cannon!!!", yelled Milleniumon, from behind Nathan. The twin blast hit Nathan in the back, causing him to yell out in pain. He looked back and saw Milleniumon floating there. Alex and the others were on a building below, watching.
"You... but the Shadow said they took care of you!", shouted Nathan in surprise.
"The Shadow were wrong, old friend.", said Milleniumon. "I don't even consider you my friend anymore, actually. Especially if you'd thrash Ace like that."
"I care not about you, Ace or anyone else! I am with the Shadow now!", yelled Nathan. "And not siding with them shall be your undoing, traitor!!!"
Nathan flew at Milleniumon who kicked him back up into the air.
"I'm the traitor!?", asked Milleniumon. "You are!"
"We shall see.", said Nathan. "After I'm done with you, I'm going for your little friends there!"
"Ahem!", shouted X-Omnidramon. "Forget someone?"
"Huh?", asked Nathan. He turned to see Ace charging up his cannon.
"Omni Destroyer!!!", yelled Ace, blasting Nathan dead-on! Milleniumon then whipped out his cannons and shot Nathan from the other direction!
"Ahhhhh!", screamed Nathan at the pain of being crushed between two energy blasts. The two blasts went right through him, killing him. They hit each other and cancelled each other out. Ace and Lee sighed, they were not very happy about having to kill someone whom they were friends with for such a long time.
"Life goes on... right buddy?", asked Ace, referring more to Allison's death. Lee nodded.
"Yeah... it does..."
---------------------------------------
Inside the Shadow portal:
"There's the core!", yelled Chris, pointing at a doorway at the bottom of the staircase.
"There's no turning back now...", said Leila. "Are you all ready for this?"
"Yeah, absolutely!", said Chris.
"I am! Seriously!", shouted Suzie.
"As am I. My life is prepared to end to ensure new life.", said Myotismon.
"Same here!", added IceDevimon.
"If I don't do this... then how could I beat up Davis anymore? Err, oh wait, I'll be gone...", muttered Mummymon, confusing himself. He just nodded.
{I AM READY AS WELL.}, said the laptop.
"So am I.", said Leila. She looked at Earnest. "Are you?"
"I... yes. I'm sorry Leila, I know you have to do this...", apologized Earnest. Leila nodded and waved goodbye to Earnest and Kevin.
"Farewell..."
Kevin gave the laptop to Chris to hold. Leila then began to talk.
"Let the powers of the seven Servers unlock the light that will destroy all darkness."
"Yamato.", said Myotismon and Mummymon, deleting upon saying the word.
"Amaterasu.", said Suzie. She deleted as well.
"Kiriban.", said Chris, deleting.
"Asuka.", said IceDevimon, deleting.
{MEGABYTE.}, said the laptop, deleting.
"And let the powers of the Servers hold the Darkness in forever. Desolate.", she chanted. She deleted too. Earnest held back a few tears. Kevin put his hand on Earnest's shoulder.
"It'll be okay..."
"I know..."
Their data swirled around and became a huge beam of light, blasting it's way through the door into the Shadow Core! The whole area began to rumble, nearly knocking Earnest and Kevin over!
"Ah! Let's get out of here!", shouted Kevin, turning to run up the stairs. Earnest gave the light beam one last look and then turned to run as well.
-----------------------------
Outside the portal:
Destinmon and Jijimon were about ready to run in and attack the Queen Shadow again, when suddenly, it roared out and disappeared. They looked around and saw the bodies of all the other Shadow types begin to disappear too.
"Does this mean what I think it does?", asked Destinmon.
"They did it! They destroyed the Shadow!!!", shouted Jijimon, jumping for joy. Earnest and Kevin ran out of the Shadow Portal as it swirled up and was destroyed forever.
"Goodbye... Leila... Guardians...", said Earnest, softly. "You will never be forgotten..."
Milleniumon landed near them and separated into Lee and Kokuwamon. Ace, DemiTyrannomon, Octopimon, Arik, Alex and Mikemon were there as well. Jijimon ran over to see Kevin and Destinmon reverted to Bouncemon and bounced into Arik's arms.
"Alex... you know that we... won't work...", said Lee, sadly. She nodded.
"I knew all along.", she said, leaning her head on Lee's shoulder. "I was waiting for you to know..."
"So... we're still good friends... right?", asked Lee.
"Yup."
"Good friends with benefits?", asked Lee.
"What do you think?", replied Alex, playfully. She pushed him to the ground and laughed. Ace rolled his eyes.
"It's always like this.", groaned Ace.
"Aw, be happy! We're heroes!", shouted DemiTyrannomon.
"Yeah but... to who?", asked Ace. "We're here in a dead Server... and we're the only Server left..."
Kevin pulled out his laptop (not the Guardian laptop) and began to check equipment that he had received from Izzy's computer a while ago. His jaw dropped.
"Oh no...", said Kevin. "No... oh no..."
"What is it, Kevin?", asked Alex.
"Our Server... it's... crashing...", said Kevin. "We're at 30% power and dropping fast... I'd say we have... an hour..."
"An hour...?", asked Earnest. "Until what?"
"Until... we... all die...", said Kevin. "The Shadow are gone, but the damage they've done is still here. We may be the winners... but we lost anyway..."
There was a silence in the group, as no one could come up with anything to say.
==============================