Digital Souls
By Wanderer D
Chapter 7
The next day they were on their way once more. X was going with them, since he was more likely to find Matt by sticking to his friends.
Leomon and X had been a hit so far. As soon as X revealed his involvement in more than one battle for the sake of justice, Leomon had talked to him nonstop, comparing notes and giving each other opinions and suggestions.
They had been going at it like two old campaigners who hadn't seen each other for 4 wars and now had to trade their mutual experiences.
The worst part was that X insisted on including Matt in most of those adventures and what he said was incredible. If that was true, Matt had changed a lot and was not the same good-natured-if-solitary friend they all loved, but a warrior who would kill his enemy without a second thought.
The thought scared Mimi like nothing else. She and Joe had left the others because she didn't want to fight anymore. Not that it had helped, since she had realized that she would have to do it at least one more time before peace finally came.
So now, she was going to gather the greatest amount of Digimon who would be willing to fight against the Dark Masters.
And she had a good start. So far she had two of the greatest warriors; Ogremon and Leomon, then there were Palmon and Gomamon of course, and Gekomon and Otamamon would be of some help, she guessed. She was sure she would find Digimon willing to help at Primary Village or it's surroundings. Then there was X.
She was actually very confused by X. He was obviously a warrior; he took care Metal Etemon in a very effective way -Ogremon had told her that he wouldn't want to fight X- and had shrugged off the death of his opponent almost casually.
Almost. That was what had her confused. X seemed to have fought dozens of battles, fighting to survive every inch of the way, but still, he was... so different from what he should be. There was a constant sadness around X, she could feel it. It felt as if he considered his own existence a paradox of some kind.
Mimi had been called many things all her life, even by Tai and the others. Many considered her to be an insensible brat that would give in to tantrums. Even T.K. thought of her that way.
But the truth was that she felt too much, and she didn't know how to deal with that empathy she had. Therefore, she stuck herself into a shell that fooled everyone. Except Palmon.
The problem was that her empathy was going crazy with X, something in him called to her and made her want to hold him in a hug and tell him that everything was all right, that he hadn't done anything wrong.
"Are you okay, Mimi?" Her faithful friend, Palmon, asked.
"Yes. It's just..."
"What?" Palmon encouraged.
Mimi let her eyes drift to X who was now chatting with Joe. "Nothing, Palmon."
Palmon looked at her a little hurt from the lack of honesty. "If you say so, Mimi."
Palmon wasn't convinced though, and she had noticed the looks Mimi had been giving X. And she wondered.
They walked for another while when suddenly X tensed looking at the forest ahead.
Leomon and Ogremon also stopped, prepared for battle. Mimi joined Joe as Palmon and Gomamon stood in front of them.
They watched as the trees in front of them parted for... a Snowman?! Joe looked at it closely and realized their error. It wasn't a snowman, it was a bear made out of snow.
"Frigimon!" Joe echoed Palmon and Gomamon.
Leomon and Ogremon relaxed their guards, and X imitated them, just as another Digimon followed Frigimon.
He looked like a man surrounded completely by flames.
"Meramon! Frigimon!" Leomon greeted. "Good to see you two!"
Ogremon growled noncommittally, and the two newly arrived Digimon looked at him in amusement.
"And I thought the people I knew were weird..." X muttered, but Palmon was able to pick it up. "Now I know why Matt was never really surprised!" he sighed.
Palmon smiled to herself. She liked X, and it was obvious that Mimi had some interest in him. She would to make her friend as happy as possible.
That night as they camped out Palmon whispered something to X, who left the group soon after.
Just as Mimi was about to complain of being hungry, someone offered her an apple.
Taking it gratefully she gave it a bite as she followed the metallic hand up to its owner; X.
She gulped down as she gazed into those deep blue eyes. She almost slapped herself. She was ten years old! Well... eleven, since quite some time had passed in the Digiworld. Still, X was either sixteen or fifteen.
Way older than her, she thought gloomily. He probably wouldn't be interested in a child.
X sat down next to her, biting his own apple. "So, Mimi, we haven't talked much since we met..."
Mimi stared at him for a moment, before turning her attention back to her apple. "Yeah, I know. I guess Matt told you about us when he was with you, right?"
X smiled. "Yeah once he told me I sounded like you."
"He did? When?" She asked, looking up.
"When I asked him why did we have to go on fighting. I wanted to end things differently, but he insisted that for the moment it was the only way." X answered.
Mimi sighed. He had sounded like her then.
"He was probably right," X continued. "But it doesn't change the fact that I wish it had been different."
"There's always another way, the problem is getting people to listen. I believe that fighting is horrible, and I always want to avoid it, but if my loved ones are in danger, then sometimes, I have to take that path to save them." Mimi told him, glancing at Spiral tower. "I think this is one of those times."
X nodded. "I know what you mean."
"I imagine you do." Mimi answered smiling back at him.
X looked at her long enough to make her blush slightly before eating his apple. When he noticed that Mimi had eaten hers, he offered her another one.
And so they stayed, silently watching the forest, the Digimon and the campfire until Mimi fell asleep.
Palmon smiled.
***
The next morning, Mimi was one of the first to wake up. She stretched and looked at the far away Spiral Mountain. She gasped in surprise and ran to wake up Joe and the others.
"Joe! Look at that!" she said as she shook his shoulder.
Joe blinked and rubbed is eyes, staring sleepily at Spiral Mountain. Then he looked again. "Another part is gone! It must be Tai and the others!"
Joe's excited shouting woke up everyone else in camp. X walked up to Leomon.
"What's happening, Leomon?"
"It seems that our friends have managed to defeat one of the Dark Masters." The were-lion responded.
X looked up at Spiral Mountain in the morning haze. "So that's where they are!"
Ogremon nodded as he walked up to them. "Primary Village is on our way there, we'll decide what to do from there."
"Right!" The rest echoed.
***
They entered primary village later that day. It seemed Ogremon was right about the state of the small village. The towers and the large decorated cubes that made up the village were destroyed or half buried into the ground, and the earth had a sickly grayish color.
"Nothing remains." Joe said sorrowfully.
Palmon had tears in her eyes. "Mimi..." The girl knelt next to Palmon and hugged her.
X looked at the devastation, sadly accustomed to such sights. He walked up to Gomamon as Joe shouted for someone to come out. He noticed the depressed look in the Digimon's eyes.
"Hey, Gomamon, why was Primary Village so important? Can't it be rebuilt?"
Gomamon shook his head. "First we'll have to defeat the Dark Masters. Primary village is where Digimon are born or reborn, all the eggs and youngsters stay here until they reach rookie level, under the care of Elecmon."
"Reborn?" X asked.
"Yes, if a Digimon dies and he lead a good life, he will be reborn here." Gomamon explained. "Mimi and Joe are very depressed because many friends have died but won't come back because of the Dark Masters' destruction."
"We were also hoping to find more help around here." Meramon added.
X scanned the area and soon found something. "There's a Digimon in that direction." He said pointing to a nearby lake.
The others followed him and they found Elecmon seated on a rock and throwing small stones into the lake.
"Elecmon!" Mimi shouted when she recognized him.
Elecmon looked up at the approaching group. "So, you're still around?"
"Elecmon, what happened here?" Joe asked.
"Piedmon and his group, that's what." Elecmon told them bitterly. "They came here and told me to give them the eggs and tell them how to hatch them faster, but when I refused they blasted everything!"
"We're fighting the Dark Masters, Elecmon!" Mimi said.
"What can you do? They are very powerful." The electric bunny asked bitterly.
"Look at Spiral Mountain. See those empty spaces? That's because we've managed to defeat Seadramon, Puppetmon and Machinedramon. Only Piedmon and his underlings are left. T.K. and Patamon are over there right now." Mimi answered.
"T.K. and Patamon? Those two kids?" Elecmon asked, remembering his encounter with the youngster.
Gomamon and Palmon nodded.
"Everyone is there; we're gathering Digimon to help them fight. Will you join us?" Palmon asked hopefully.
Elecmon looked thoughtful for a full second. "Sure!"
"We still have to get more Digimon!" Mimi added.
Elecmon nodded. "I might know where to find others."
"Well, let's go!" Palmon shouted.
***
They had found many other Digimon willing to fight against the Dark Master Piedmon, most of them being Gekomon or Otamamon, but still a considerable amount.
As they walked or flied in the direction of Spiral Mountain, they heard the flap of large wings. Looking up they saw Birdramon carrying Sora, T.K. and Patamon.
Next to them was a girl flapping her own black metallic wings as she also landed.
"X!" Jessie greeted.
"Mimi! Joe! Palmon! Gomamon!" T.K., Sora and Patamon shouted in recognition.
Jessie landed and hugged X for a moment, stepping back to look at him. "How've you been, X?"
"I'll tell you later, where's your boyfriend, Peregrine?" X asked.
"Matt's with Tai and Kari. They asked us to find you! Oh, and the name is Jessie when I'm in civvies."
At that moment, Mimi, -who had been looking jealously at Jessie for hugging X- decided to interrupt.
"Did you say you're Matt's girlfriend?!" She asked a little too hopefully.
Jessie nodded, smiling slyly at X. "Yeah, Matt's my boyfriend. Why? Is X up to something?"
X blushed alongside Mimi.
Meanwhile, Sora and T.K. had been staring in surprise at all the Digimon Mimi, Joe, Palmon and Gomamon had gathered together.
T.K. suddenly remembered his brother. "Hey, guys! Tai said that we all needed to be there for the battle against Piedmon!"
Joe nodded resolutely. "But where is he?"
"He's with Kari, Izzi and Matt fighting Ladydevimon!" T.K. informed him.
"What?! We have to go help them!" Leomon interrupted.
"I wouldn't worry that much." Sora commented.
"What?" Joe asked, confused. "Why?"
"We have to go as fast as we can, but Tai has Angewomon, Metalgarurumon, Wargreymon, Kabuterimon and Matt. If something can get past those five I'm not fighting it." Sora added.
"Oh, ok..." Joe looked up. "Wait, Matt? What does he have to do with all of this?!"
"You should have seen my big brother take on Machinedramon!" T.K. shouted gleefully.
Everything stopped in the camp.
"Matt destroyed Machinedramon?!" Mimi asked in disbelief.
"Well, he didn't destroy him, but he did give beat the crap out of that Digimon before Wargreymon finished the job!" Birdramon said.
Joe fainted.
***
Piedmon's castle was barely visible, being the same hue as the ground and still a few kilometers away. It would take them at least half a day to get near it; however, it seemed that it would be a little more than that.
Gatomon was exhausted after her battle with Ladydevimon and Tai wanted everyone to be in the best condition possible for it. Matt couldn't argue with that logic, and it also gave Jessie and the others time to get back.
As he thought of this he noticed his sensors were indicating someone approaching. Looking in the indicated direction, he noticed Birdramon and Jessie about to land.
They had found Joe and Gomamon! Matt ran up to them as they landed. "Matt!" Jessie greeted.
He stopped next to her as Joe and Gomamon noticed him. "Matt!" Joe shouted, running to meet him.
They shook hands. "You look a little different, Matt." Joe noted. "Older maybe... and..." He noticed the metal gauntlets. "You've got metallic gauntlets just like X..."
"Wow! So what X told us was true, Matt? Did you really fight very powerful Digimon and beat them by yourself?" Gomamon asked.
Matt blushed. "Well, not really... wait, did you say X?"
"Yeah, our friend stood behind to keep Mimi and her army company."
Matt smiled. "Really? That's unusually gentlemanly of him."
Joe turned and grabbed Gomamon. "This is too much! Matt disappears for two days and suddenly he looks older, can kick Mega Digi-butt and gets a cute girl! Am I dreaming?"
"No, Joe, I think this is real!" Gomamon assured him.
"Humph! Matt always has the luck!" Joe complained.
Joe turned when he felt Matt's hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, Joe, I know you're joking, but don't ever wish that what happened to me happens to you."
"Guys! We've got a visitor!" Tai warned.
Looking in the direction their friend pointed, they noticed Piedmon walking their way.
Matt wasted no time and turned into Zero. Jessie looked a little doubtful but changed into Black Peregrine.
"My God! It was true!" Joe muttered.
"Guys! Stay back and let Matt, Jessie, Wargreymon and Metalgarurumon take care of him!" Tai warned as he walked forward and grabbed Matt's arm.
"Take care, Matt. I don't care how powerful you feel you are, if you get in danger Metalgarurumon will take you out of the battlefield."
Matt was touched by Tai's worry. "Don't worry my friend. I won't take a risk I don't have to."
As they ran, dashed and flew towards Piedmon, Peregrine had a good look at him.
Piedmon wore a mask that hid his face from view but left the chin and mouth out; he had half his face painted in black and the other in white; he wore baggy pants and sneakers with a twisted point. On his back he carried four broadswords.
"So our enemy is a clown?!" Peregrine asked in surprise when they were close enough.
"Don't underestimate him, Peregrine!" Zero warned. "He was able to fight off both, Metalgarurumon and Wargreymon."
Wargreymon snorted. "He caught us by surprise! He won't do so again!"
"I hope so, Wargreymon," Zero commented as they stopped. "In my line of work there's usually no second chance!"
Piedmon stopped a few feet from them and regarded Zero and Peregrine curiously. "Hmm, I don't know what the two of you hope to accomplish, but if you're trying to die faster, it's a good start."
"Shut up, Piedmon!" Metalgarurumon shouted. "Let's fight!"
Piedmon smiled viciously as he launched himself into the air and pulled out his swords.
Metalgarurumon jumped at him, but the wolf was suddenly surrounded in a ring of fire.
He then shoved a giant circus ball at Wargreymon. The Digimon was surprised by the attack and failed to react in time, becoming trapped inside the ball.
Zero dashed forward, swiping with his blade, but Piedmon stopped his attack with one of his swords.
"Shadow Blast!" Peregrine shouted, releasing a charged attack.
Unlike the times she had used it with Reploids, though, the attack didn't absorb energy; it slammed into the back of Piedmon, throwing him of balance, and giving Zero a chance to spin and cut him.
Piedmon frowned and blasted Peregrine away with an unseen force, then jumped into the air and started floating.
At that moment, Wargreymon jumped out of the circus ball, and tried to slash Piedmon. The latter was too fast and was able to avoid his attack and grab Wargreymon's arm to throw him at an emerging Metalgarurumon.
He was about to laugh when he suddenly jumped back, barely avoiding the fire surrounded blade of Zero. Seeming to stop in mid-air, Zero started spinning with his sword and Piedmon was hard pressed to stop his attack.
Zero's spin finally stopped and he landed gracefully on the ground. Zero stood up and was suddenly face-to-face with Piedmon, who did not look happy.
"You have caused me enough trouble already!" Piedmon started attacking Zero with two of his swords, and encased Peregrine and the two Mega Digimon in a large ball with an almost negligent gesture.
Zero was forced back by Piedmon's combination, swinging his sword in complicated circles and parries, trying to block the Dark Master's unexpected attack.
First one, then two strikes got past Zero's flashing sword, and it passed through the Reploid's head that he was the one that had finally underestimated Piedmon.
Piedmon smiled viciously as if he had read his mind and jumped back and away from him, unleashing his attack.
"Trump Swords!" The evil Digimon shouted as he opened his arms wide. Hundreds of swords flew at an ill prepared Zero.
Zero turned a sharp left avoiding one, jumped slightly up avoiding the next, then crouched in mid-air letting another pass. For a moment it seemed that gravity had no hold on him as Zero dashed forward loosing two more blades, however as soon as he finished his dash one of Piedmon's blades managed to nick the unarmored biceps, then another slashed his thigh as he spun right and he was barely able to turn his head away and avoid a direct hit in the face, but the blade still cut his cheek.
The rest of the swords smashed safely into the ground around him, but Piedmon used the opportunity and threw another sword with deadly accuracy at Zero, managing to pierce the Reploids stomach.
Everyone stared in horror at Matt. Tai and the others could see the sword sticking out of his back.
Piedmon smirked, expecting Zero to become digidust. But Zero didn't disappear, and he managed to shoot a blast that wiped the grin of Piedmon's face as he was sent sprawling.
This distraction was enough for Peregrine and the others to break free.
"Zero!" Peregrine shouted.
"Matt!" Metalgarurumon echoed her.
Both flew towards the fallen Digidestined as Wargreymon took the opportunity and started smashing the recuperating Piedmon.
Metalgarurumon and Peregrine laid Zero away from the battleground as T.K., Sora, Joe, Izzi, Kari, their respective Digimon, Tai and Andromon ran towards them.
Matt noticed T.K. approaching, and tried to grab Peregrine's hand. "Don't let him see..."
But it was too late. The Digidestined were staring in shock at Matt's wounds.
A thin line of blood was sliding down Zero's cheek, and the thigh and arm wounds had similar fluids. However, where Piedmon's sword had gone through, sparks flew and cables were visible.
"Oh, Zero..." Peregrine murmured, looking at the wound. It was bad, but Zero's nanites would heal him if he rested. But she had to take the sword out.
As Peregrine removed the blade, a tear streaked T.K. crawled next to his brother.
"Matt?!" T.K. asked shakily.
"Don't worry, T.K., I'll be alright... I just need..." Matt started to answer as a small trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth, then Zero's self preservation programming kicked in, shutting him down so the nanites would get all the energy needed for repairs.
"Matt?! MATT?" T.K.'s stomach grew cold as his brother closed his eyes and went limp. He started crying when he felt Peregrine's hand on his shoulder.
"It's ok, T.K., he's just sleeping so he can heal faster." The female Reploid assured the young boy.
T.K. looked at her and nodded bravely as Patamon flew up to him trying to comfort him.
"Matt is a robot?!" Joe was speechless.
"A Reploid." Peregrine corrected. "But, Zero is Matt. No one knows how it happened, but he's got a human soul in that body." She looked down at T.K., who was sobbing a little. "But never doubt it, he's Matt."
Just then Tai shouted in surprise. Turning around they weren't able to see Wargreymon.
"Take care of Matt! We'll cover you, right Metalgarurumon?" Peregrine ordered, standing up and starting to charge her blaster.
"Right!" The Mega Digimon answered.
They both left, flying towards Piedmon.
The clown Digimon erected another fire barrier between the Digidestined and their fighting friends. Piedmon was tired of them by now, so he pulled out his handkerchief and threw it at Metalgarurumon and Peregrine.
The white handkerchief extended up until it was able to cover both he quickly removed it and the two fighters were turned into key chains. He grabbed them from the ground; he then covered Tai, tuning him into a key chain too.
The others watched in horror the scene just as Centaurmon and Genai arrived.
"Digidestined!" Genai summoned them. "For you to finally face your destiny you'll have to cross that fire!" The old man told them.
Everyone looked at the firewall dubiously. Zero opened his eyes.
"Listen guys, go, I'll stop Piedmon in the meanwhile..." Zero told them, standing up slowly. The nanites had done enough to close the wound somewhat, although he still had a long way to go to be fully healed.
Seeing that they were still doubtful, Zero shouted and dashed towards Piedmon, his sword flashing.
"Go, Digidestined!" Andromon ordered. "I'll help Matt."
He ran towards the battling figures of Piedmon and Zero as the others looked at each other.
T.K. was the first to stand up. "Let's go!" he said to the others.
***
"Let's rest here for a moment, Mimi. You look very tired." Lillymon said, hovering near her as she sat on a cliff overseeing much of what they had already advanced.
They were now surrounded by hundreds of Gekomon, and even by the legendary unicorn-pegasus mix, Unimon who had also stopped in a nearby cliff.
"I think I heard screams and explosions at the top of the mountain, X." Mimi told her new friend.
"Yeah, I know, but rest a few minutes or you'll drop once we get there." X reasoned.
Mimi thanked him silently and regarded him for a moment. Even though they had been climbing all day he didn't seem tired at all.
"Aren't you tired yet, X?" Mimi asked.
"Nope, I'm okay, but if you're gonna fight you've got to rest." He insisted.
They sat silently for a while, as Lillymon, Palmon's fairylike Digivolution flew around helping the Digimon that had remained behind.
"Tell me, X, do you think we'll make it?" Mimi asked as she watched the struggling Gekomon climb.
"Sure! We've got all your powerful Digimon, Matt, Peregrine and me!" X sad, trying to cheer her up.
Mimi smiled at him and hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Thanks, X!"
Lillymon looked up from where she had helped Frigimon get a hold on the cliff again, and smiled.
***
End Chapter 7
By Wanderer D
Chapter 7
The next day they were on their way once more. X was going with them, since he was more likely to find Matt by sticking to his friends.
Leomon and X had been a hit so far. As soon as X revealed his involvement in more than one battle for the sake of justice, Leomon had talked to him nonstop, comparing notes and giving each other opinions and suggestions.
They had been going at it like two old campaigners who hadn't seen each other for 4 wars and now had to trade their mutual experiences.
The worst part was that X insisted on including Matt in most of those adventures and what he said was incredible. If that was true, Matt had changed a lot and was not the same good-natured-if-solitary friend they all loved, but a warrior who would kill his enemy without a second thought.
The thought scared Mimi like nothing else. She and Joe had left the others because she didn't want to fight anymore. Not that it had helped, since she had realized that she would have to do it at least one more time before peace finally came.
So now, she was going to gather the greatest amount of Digimon who would be willing to fight against the Dark Masters.
And she had a good start. So far she had two of the greatest warriors; Ogremon and Leomon, then there were Palmon and Gomamon of course, and Gekomon and Otamamon would be of some help, she guessed. She was sure she would find Digimon willing to help at Primary Village or it's surroundings. Then there was X.
She was actually very confused by X. He was obviously a warrior; he took care Metal Etemon in a very effective way -Ogremon had told her that he wouldn't want to fight X- and had shrugged off the death of his opponent almost casually.
Almost. That was what had her confused. X seemed to have fought dozens of battles, fighting to survive every inch of the way, but still, he was... so different from what he should be. There was a constant sadness around X, she could feel it. It felt as if he considered his own existence a paradox of some kind.
Mimi had been called many things all her life, even by Tai and the others. Many considered her to be an insensible brat that would give in to tantrums. Even T.K. thought of her that way.
But the truth was that she felt too much, and she didn't know how to deal with that empathy she had. Therefore, she stuck herself into a shell that fooled everyone. Except Palmon.
The problem was that her empathy was going crazy with X, something in him called to her and made her want to hold him in a hug and tell him that everything was all right, that he hadn't done anything wrong.
"Are you okay, Mimi?" Her faithful friend, Palmon, asked.
"Yes. It's just..."
"What?" Palmon encouraged.
Mimi let her eyes drift to X who was now chatting with Joe. "Nothing, Palmon."
Palmon looked at her a little hurt from the lack of honesty. "If you say so, Mimi."
Palmon wasn't convinced though, and she had noticed the looks Mimi had been giving X. And she wondered.
They walked for another while when suddenly X tensed looking at the forest ahead.
Leomon and Ogremon also stopped, prepared for battle. Mimi joined Joe as Palmon and Gomamon stood in front of them.
They watched as the trees in front of them parted for... a Snowman?! Joe looked at it closely and realized their error. It wasn't a snowman, it was a bear made out of snow.
"Frigimon!" Joe echoed Palmon and Gomamon.
Leomon and Ogremon relaxed their guards, and X imitated them, just as another Digimon followed Frigimon.
He looked like a man surrounded completely by flames.
"Meramon! Frigimon!" Leomon greeted. "Good to see you two!"
Ogremon growled noncommittally, and the two newly arrived Digimon looked at him in amusement.
"And I thought the people I knew were weird..." X muttered, but Palmon was able to pick it up. "Now I know why Matt was never really surprised!" he sighed.
Palmon smiled to herself. She liked X, and it was obvious that Mimi had some interest in him. She would to make her friend as happy as possible.
That night as they camped out Palmon whispered something to X, who left the group soon after.
Just as Mimi was about to complain of being hungry, someone offered her an apple.
Taking it gratefully she gave it a bite as she followed the metallic hand up to its owner; X.
She gulped down as she gazed into those deep blue eyes. She almost slapped herself. She was ten years old! Well... eleven, since quite some time had passed in the Digiworld. Still, X was either sixteen or fifteen.
Way older than her, she thought gloomily. He probably wouldn't be interested in a child.
X sat down next to her, biting his own apple. "So, Mimi, we haven't talked much since we met..."
Mimi stared at him for a moment, before turning her attention back to her apple. "Yeah, I know. I guess Matt told you about us when he was with you, right?"
X smiled. "Yeah once he told me I sounded like you."
"He did? When?" She asked, looking up.
"When I asked him why did we have to go on fighting. I wanted to end things differently, but he insisted that for the moment it was the only way." X answered.
Mimi sighed. He had sounded like her then.
"He was probably right," X continued. "But it doesn't change the fact that I wish it had been different."
"There's always another way, the problem is getting people to listen. I believe that fighting is horrible, and I always want to avoid it, but if my loved ones are in danger, then sometimes, I have to take that path to save them." Mimi told him, glancing at Spiral tower. "I think this is one of those times."
X nodded. "I know what you mean."
"I imagine you do." Mimi answered smiling back at him.
X looked at her long enough to make her blush slightly before eating his apple. When he noticed that Mimi had eaten hers, he offered her another one.
And so they stayed, silently watching the forest, the Digimon and the campfire until Mimi fell asleep.
Palmon smiled.
***
The next morning, Mimi was one of the first to wake up. She stretched and looked at the far away Spiral Mountain. She gasped in surprise and ran to wake up Joe and the others.
"Joe! Look at that!" she said as she shook his shoulder.
Joe blinked and rubbed is eyes, staring sleepily at Spiral Mountain. Then he looked again. "Another part is gone! It must be Tai and the others!"
Joe's excited shouting woke up everyone else in camp. X walked up to Leomon.
"What's happening, Leomon?"
"It seems that our friends have managed to defeat one of the Dark Masters." The were-lion responded.
X looked up at Spiral Mountain in the morning haze. "So that's where they are!"
Ogremon nodded as he walked up to them. "Primary Village is on our way there, we'll decide what to do from there."
"Right!" The rest echoed.
***
They entered primary village later that day. It seemed Ogremon was right about the state of the small village. The towers and the large decorated cubes that made up the village were destroyed or half buried into the ground, and the earth had a sickly grayish color.
"Nothing remains." Joe said sorrowfully.
Palmon had tears in her eyes. "Mimi..." The girl knelt next to Palmon and hugged her.
X looked at the devastation, sadly accustomed to such sights. He walked up to Gomamon as Joe shouted for someone to come out. He noticed the depressed look in the Digimon's eyes.
"Hey, Gomamon, why was Primary Village so important? Can't it be rebuilt?"
Gomamon shook his head. "First we'll have to defeat the Dark Masters. Primary village is where Digimon are born or reborn, all the eggs and youngsters stay here until they reach rookie level, under the care of Elecmon."
"Reborn?" X asked.
"Yes, if a Digimon dies and he lead a good life, he will be reborn here." Gomamon explained. "Mimi and Joe are very depressed because many friends have died but won't come back because of the Dark Masters' destruction."
"We were also hoping to find more help around here." Meramon added.
X scanned the area and soon found something. "There's a Digimon in that direction." He said pointing to a nearby lake.
The others followed him and they found Elecmon seated on a rock and throwing small stones into the lake.
"Elecmon!" Mimi shouted when she recognized him.
Elecmon looked up at the approaching group. "So, you're still around?"
"Elecmon, what happened here?" Joe asked.
"Piedmon and his group, that's what." Elecmon told them bitterly. "They came here and told me to give them the eggs and tell them how to hatch them faster, but when I refused they blasted everything!"
"We're fighting the Dark Masters, Elecmon!" Mimi said.
"What can you do? They are very powerful." The electric bunny asked bitterly.
"Look at Spiral Mountain. See those empty spaces? That's because we've managed to defeat Seadramon, Puppetmon and Machinedramon. Only Piedmon and his underlings are left. T.K. and Patamon are over there right now." Mimi answered.
"T.K. and Patamon? Those two kids?" Elecmon asked, remembering his encounter with the youngster.
Gomamon and Palmon nodded.
"Everyone is there; we're gathering Digimon to help them fight. Will you join us?" Palmon asked hopefully.
Elecmon looked thoughtful for a full second. "Sure!"
"We still have to get more Digimon!" Mimi added.
Elecmon nodded. "I might know where to find others."
"Well, let's go!" Palmon shouted.
***
They had found many other Digimon willing to fight against the Dark Master Piedmon, most of them being Gekomon or Otamamon, but still a considerable amount.
As they walked or flied in the direction of Spiral Mountain, they heard the flap of large wings. Looking up they saw Birdramon carrying Sora, T.K. and Patamon.
Next to them was a girl flapping her own black metallic wings as she also landed.
"X!" Jessie greeted.
"Mimi! Joe! Palmon! Gomamon!" T.K., Sora and Patamon shouted in recognition.
Jessie landed and hugged X for a moment, stepping back to look at him. "How've you been, X?"
"I'll tell you later, where's your boyfriend, Peregrine?" X asked.
"Matt's with Tai and Kari. They asked us to find you! Oh, and the name is Jessie when I'm in civvies."
At that moment, Mimi, -who had been looking jealously at Jessie for hugging X- decided to interrupt.
"Did you say you're Matt's girlfriend?!" She asked a little too hopefully.
Jessie nodded, smiling slyly at X. "Yeah, Matt's my boyfriend. Why? Is X up to something?"
X blushed alongside Mimi.
Meanwhile, Sora and T.K. had been staring in surprise at all the Digimon Mimi, Joe, Palmon and Gomamon had gathered together.
T.K. suddenly remembered his brother. "Hey, guys! Tai said that we all needed to be there for the battle against Piedmon!"
Joe nodded resolutely. "But where is he?"
"He's with Kari, Izzi and Matt fighting Ladydevimon!" T.K. informed him.
"What?! We have to go help them!" Leomon interrupted.
"I wouldn't worry that much." Sora commented.
"What?" Joe asked, confused. "Why?"
"We have to go as fast as we can, but Tai has Angewomon, Metalgarurumon, Wargreymon, Kabuterimon and Matt. If something can get past those five I'm not fighting it." Sora added.
"Oh, ok..." Joe looked up. "Wait, Matt? What does he have to do with all of this?!"
"You should have seen my big brother take on Machinedramon!" T.K. shouted gleefully.
Everything stopped in the camp.
"Matt destroyed Machinedramon?!" Mimi asked in disbelief.
"Well, he didn't destroy him, but he did give beat the crap out of that Digimon before Wargreymon finished the job!" Birdramon said.
Joe fainted.
***
Piedmon's castle was barely visible, being the same hue as the ground and still a few kilometers away. It would take them at least half a day to get near it; however, it seemed that it would be a little more than that.
Gatomon was exhausted after her battle with Ladydevimon and Tai wanted everyone to be in the best condition possible for it. Matt couldn't argue with that logic, and it also gave Jessie and the others time to get back.
As he thought of this he noticed his sensors were indicating someone approaching. Looking in the indicated direction, he noticed Birdramon and Jessie about to land.
They had found Joe and Gomamon! Matt ran up to them as they landed. "Matt!" Jessie greeted.
He stopped next to her as Joe and Gomamon noticed him. "Matt!" Joe shouted, running to meet him.
They shook hands. "You look a little different, Matt." Joe noted. "Older maybe... and..." He noticed the metal gauntlets. "You've got metallic gauntlets just like X..."
"Wow! So what X told us was true, Matt? Did you really fight very powerful Digimon and beat them by yourself?" Gomamon asked.
Matt blushed. "Well, not really... wait, did you say X?"
"Yeah, our friend stood behind to keep Mimi and her army company."
Matt smiled. "Really? That's unusually gentlemanly of him."
Joe turned and grabbed Gomamon. "This is too much! Matt disappears for two days and suddenly he looks older, can kick Mega Digi-butt and gets a cute girl! Am I dreaming?"
"No, Joe, I think this is real!" Gomamon assured him.
"Humph! Matt always has the luck!" Joe complained.
Joe turned when he felt Matt's hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, Joe, I know you're joking, but don't ever wish that what happened to me happens to you."
"Guys! We've got a visitor!" Tai warned.
Looking in the direction their friend pointed, they noticed Piedmon walking their way.
Matt wasted no time and turned into Zero. Jessie looked a little doubtful but changed into Black Peregrine.
"My God! It was true!" Joe muttered.
"Guys! Stay back and let Matt, Jessie, Wargreymon and Metalgarurumon take care of him!" Tai warned as he walked forward and grabbed Matt's arm.
"Take care, Matt. I don't care how powerful you feel you are, if you get in danger Metalgarurumon will take you out of the battlefield."
Matt was touched by Tai's worry. "Don't worry my friend. I won't take a risk I don't have to."
As they ran, dashed and flew towards Piedmon, Peregrine had a good look at him.
Piedmon wore a mask that hid his face from view but left the chin and mouth out; he had half his face painted in black and the other in white; he wore baggy pants and sneakers with a twisted point. On his back he carried four broadswords.
"So our enemy is a clown?!" Peregrine asked in surprise when they were close enough.
"Don't underestimate him, Peregrine!" Zero warned. "He was able to fight off both, Metalgarurumon and Wargreymon."
Wargreymon snorted. "He caught us by surprise! He won't do so again!"
"I hope so, Wargreymon," Zero commented as they stopped. "In my line of work there's usually no second chance!"
Piedmon stopped a few feet from them and regarded Zero and Peregrine curiously. "Hmm, I don't know what the two of you hope to accomplish, but if you're trying to die faster, it's a good start."
"Shut up, Piedmon!" Metalgarurumon shouted. "Let's fight!"
Piedmon smiled viciously as he launched himself into the air and pulled out his swords.
Metalgarurumon jumped at him, but the wolf was suddenly surrounded in a ring of fire.
He then shoved a giant circus ball at Wargreymon. The Digimon was surprised by the attack and failed to react in time, becoming trapped inside the ball.
Zero dashed forward, swiping with his blade, but Piedmon stopped his attack with one of his swords.
"Shadow Blast!" Peregrine shouted, releasing a charged attack.
Unlike the times she had used it with Reploids, though, the attack didn't absorb energy; it slammed into the back of Piedmon, throwing him of balance, and giving Zero a chance to spin and cut him.
Piedmon frowned and blasted Peregrine away with an unseen force, then jumped into the air and started floating.
At that moment, Wargreymon jumped out of the circus ball, and tried to slash Piedmon. The latter was too fast and was able to avoid his attack and grab Wargreymon's arm to throw him at an emerging Metalgarurumon.
He was about to laugh when he suddenly jumped back, barely avoiding the fire surrounded blade of Zero. Seeming to stop in mid-air, Zero started spinning with his sword and Piedmon was hard pressed to stop his attack.
Zero's spin finally stopped and he landed gracefully on the ground. Zero stood up and was suddenly face-to-face with Piedmon, who did not look happy.
"You have caused me enough trouble already!" Piedmon started attacking Zero with two of his swords, and encased Peregrine and the two Mega Digimon in a large ball with an almost negligent gesture.
Zero was forced back by Piedmon's combination, swinging his sword in complicated circles and parries, trying to block the Dark Master's unexpected attack.
First one, then two strikes got past Zero's flashing sword, and it passed through the Reploid's head that he was the one that had finally underestimated Piedmon.
Piedmon smiled viciously as if he had read his mind and jumped back and away from him, unleashing his attack.
"Trump Swords!" The evil Digimon shouted as he opened his arms wide. Hundreds of swords flew at an ill prepared Zero.
Zero turned a sharp left avoiding one, jumped slightly up avoiding the next, then crouched in mid-air letting another pass. For a moment it seemed that gravity had no hold on him as Zero dashed forward loosing two more blades, however as soon as he finished his dash one of Piedmon's blades managed to nick the unarmored biceps, then another slashed his thigh as he spun right and he was barely able to turn his head away and avoid a direct hit in the face, but the blade still cut his cheek.
The rest of the swords smashed safely into the ground around him, but Piedmon used the opportunity and threw another sword with deadly accuracy at Zero, managing to pierce the Reploids stomach.
Everyone stared in horror at Matt. Tai and the others could see the sword sticking out of his back.
Piedmon smirked, expecting Zero to become digidust. But Zero didn't disappear, and he managed to shoot a blast that wiped the grin of Piedmon's face as he was sent sprawling.
This distraction was enough for Peregrine and the others to break free.
"Zero!" Peregrine shouted.
"Matt!" Metalgarurumon echoed her.
Both flew towards the fallen Digidestined as Wargreymon took the opportunity and started smashing the recuperating Piedmon.
Metalgarurumon and Peregrine laid Zero away from the battleground as T.K., Sora, Joe, Izzi, Kari, their respective Digimon, Tai and Andromon ran towards them.
Matt noticed T.K. approaching, and tried to grab Peregrine's hand. "Don't let him see..."
But it was too late. The Digidestined were staring in shock at Matt's wounds.
A thin line of blood was sliding down Zero's cheek, and the thigh and arm wounds had similar fluids. However, where Piedmon's sword had gone through, sparks flew and cables were visible.
"Oh, Zero..." Peregrine murmured, looking at the wound. It was bad, but Zero's nanites would heal him if he rested. But she had to take the sword out.
As Peregrine removed the blade, a tear streaked T.K. crawled next to his brother.
"Matt?!" T.K. asked shakily.
"Don't worry, T.K., I'll be alright... I just need..." Matt started to answer as a small trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth, then Zero's self preservation programming kicked in, shutting him down so the nanites would get all the energy needed for repairs.
"Matt?! MATT?" T.K.'s stomach grew cold as his brother closed his eyes and went limp. He started crying when he felt Peregrine's hand on his shoulder.
"It's ok, T.K., he's just sleeping so he can heal faster." The female Reploid assured the young boy.
T.K. looked at her and nodded bravely as Patamon flew up to him trying to comfort him.
"Matt is a robot?!" Joe was speechless.
"A Reploid." Peregrine corrected. "But, Zero is Matt. No one knows how it happened, but he's got a human soul in that body." She looked down at T.K., who was sobbing a little. "But never doubt it, he's Matt."
Just then Tai shouted in surprise. Turning around they weren't able to see Wargreymon.
"Take care of Matt! We'll cover you, right Metalgarurumon?" Peregrine ordered, standing up and starting to charge her blaster.
"Right!" The Mega Digimon answered.
They both left, flying towards Piedmon.
The clown Digimon erected another fire barrier between the Digidestined and their fighting friends. Piedmon was tired of them by now, so he pulled out his handkerchief and threw it at Metalgarurumon and Peregrine.
The white handkerchief extended up until it was able to cover both he quickly removed it and the two fighters were turned into key chains. He grabbed them from the ground; he then covered Tai, tuning him into a key chain too.
The others watched in horror the scene just as Centaurmon and Genai arrived.
"Digidestined!" Genai summoned them. "For you to finally face your destiny you'll have to cross that fire!" The old man told them.
Everyone looked at the firewall dubiously. Zero opened his eyes.
"Listen guys, go, I'll stop Piedmon in the meanwhile..." Zero told them, standing up slowly. The nanites had done enough to close the wound somewhat, although he still had a long way to go to be fully healed.
Seeing that they were still doubtful, Zero shouted and dashed towards Piedmon, his sword flashing.
"Go, Digidestined!" Andromon ordered. "I'll help Matt."
He ran towards the battling figures of Piedmon and Zero as the others looked at each other.
T.K. was the first to stand up. "Let's go!" he said to the others.
***
"Let's rest here for a moment, Mimi. You look very tired." Lillymon said, hovering near her as she sat on a cliff overseeing much of what they had already advanced.
They were now surrounded by hundreds of Gekomon, and even by the legendary unicorn-pegasus mix, Unimon who had also stopped in a nearby cliff.
"I think I heard screams and explosions at the top of the mountain, X." Mimi told her new friend.
"Yeah, I know, but rest a few minutes or you'll drop once we get there." X reasoned.
Mimi thanked him silently and regarded him for a moment. Even though they had been climbing all day he didn't seem tired at all.
"Aren't you tired yet, X?" Mimi asked.
"Nope, I'm okay, but if you're gonna fight you've got to rest." He insisted.
They sat silently for a while, as Lillymon, Palmon's fairylike Digivolution flew around helping the Digimon that had remained behind.
"Tell me, X, do you think we'll make it?" Mimi asked as she watched the struggling Gekomon climb.
"Sure! We've got all your powerful Digimon, Matt, Peregrine and me!" X sad, trying to cheer her up.
Mimi smiled at him and hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Thanks, X!"
Lillymon looked up from where she had helped Frigimon get a hold on the cliff again, and smiled.
***
End Chapter 7