Disclaimer: Again, I do not own any of the characters of Digimon, but the DigiDestined and their alter-egos who appear in this story are mine. With that being said, let us get back to the story...
Digimon HeroesBy DigiScanner-Shonen
Legend Five: Thunderbolts and Lightning"Alexa!" Taylor Motosuke called out to his classmate eating in the cafeteria during lunch hour.
"Taylor! What's up?" she asked after she finished taking a bite of her lunch.
"Have you seen Noah at all?" he asked as he took a seat across from her.
"No. Why?"
"Well, it's just that he was supposed to talk to the soccer coach about me being the team even though it's already been formed."
"I thought you were doing kendo in the morning?"
"That's just to improve my skill with a sword as PyroKnightmon. What I really wanted to do when I got here was play soccer. Any word from him?"
"Not since yesterday when I got my Armour. You saw how he wasn't with us today in class. Is that all you need him for?"
"Umm…no."
"What else, then?"
"You remember how we all got our Armours?" Taylor questioned as he snitched a bit of her lunch.
"Of course! First you as PyroKnightmon, then DJ as Gaiamon, after was Loren as Sirynmon and now me as Aquarimon," she stated as she swatted Taylor's hand from her food, "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I think Noah's kind of…jealous."
"Of what?"
"Us and our Armours."
"So? We're all DigiDestined. He'll get one too. He'll find his soon enough."
"That's the thing. I think maybe he's…" Taylor trailed off, hoping Alexa would understand where he was going with this.
She did.
"You don't think he'd go to the Digital World without the rest of us, do you?"
"That's exactly what I'm thinking."
"If he encounters an enemy Digimon, he's done for!" Alexa gasped as she thought of her friend dying, "You think we should go after him before he gets hurt…or worse?"
"Obviously!"
"Well, we can't."
"Why not?"
"Think about it, Taylor. If you, Loren, DJ and I all ditch class at this point in the day, the teachers would all think we're up to something. And you said it yourself, we have to keep this secret from everyone," Alexa reminded him, "We can't leave until after school."
"Who said all of us are going?"
"You mean…you and me?"
"Actually I was thinking just me," Taylor said, "If I go by myself, they might just assume I'm skipping class and give me a detention or something. I want you to cover for me while I'm gone in the Digital World."
"And just how are you going to fake your way out of the school?"
"OOOOH! My stomach!" Taylor cried out as he suddenly doubled over and fell onto the ground, "I always heard there was something living in the food here, and I guess whoever told me was right!"
People from all over the cafeteria looked from where they were to see Taylor rolling around on the ground, clutching his stomach. Some of the lunch-ladies and a couple teachers came over to check on him.
"It hurts! Oh, it hurts!"
"Why don't you come with me and lie down in the infirmary?" one of the teachers asked.
"Yeah…yeah, I think that'd be best. Ooh, it hurts!" Taylor said as the teachers helped him up and escorted him out of the lunchroom, "What did they put in the food here anyway? Ow, ow, ow…"
"You did check the ingredients in the food, right?" one of the lunch-ladies asked the others.
"I did!" a second one said.
"Uh, actually…" another said.
"You didn't check the ingredients?" the first asked.
"I thought the yakisoba was supposed to be that colour! You know, gourmet style!"
Alexa took a quick look at her own food and pushed it away, hoping it wasn't diseased or worse. She looked over to where Taylor was being escorted by the teachers. He quickly looked over his shoulder and gave a wink to Alexa as he left.
Pretty smart, Taylor, Alexa thought as she stood up and dumped the remainder of her food in the garbage bin, But why should I let you go after Noah alone? He's my friend, too!
"Ohhh…I think that kid was right," Alexa faked as she collapsed on her knees and made weird faces that made her look sick, "I just took a bite of the food and…hurmph!"
"Look what you've started!" the first lunch-lady told the third, "You've started an epidemic! We'll be fired for sure!"
"Why, why, why did I take the blue package instead of the brown one!" the thirdsobbed quietly.
"I'll help the young lady," the second lunch-lady said as she helped Alexa up and escorted her to the infirmary.
Hang on, Noah. Help's on the way, Alexa thought as she and her escort reached the infirmary and took her place beside Taylor on the bed, I just hope we didn't create this charade too late…
While Alexa and Taylor were faking sickness, Noah Ito was on a Trailmon on his way to the Digital World. Staring out the window into the dimension that connected the Real and Digital Worlds, Noah stamped his feet on the car floor. He wished this Trailmon moved faster.
I can't wait to get there. I'm going to find my own Armour, I know it. It must be so cool to become a Digimon knight, Noah thought as he sped through the void, I was jealous the first time Taylor did it in Seren Field. He was able to defeat an evil Digimon just by believing in himself and fighting with all his might. DJ, Loren and Alexa must feel that way too when they Knightmon Digivolve.
I was shocked when we all heard we were the DigiDestined, children destined to free the Digital World from evil. I mean, the five us? Me, the new kid in school, the brainy girl, the coolest guy in school and a girl with the biggest crush on the cool guy? DigiDestined? We sound more like a ragtag group of outsiders than prophesised warriors. I was sure they must've made a mistake in selecting us as the DigiDestined, but then again we did see Trailmon in the Real World.
I didn't want this at all. With my mom's sudden disappearance, my dad was never really the same. He's just barely hanging onto his job as an electrician. I had to help fend for both of us. With my mother just leaving and my father trying to cope with his sadness, I'm surprised I've lasted this long.
I guess I partially owe that to covering up my feelings. I ask about others, trying to be their friend. Yep, that's Noah Ito, everyone's best friend. Be there for others, be the one to goof up, be the funny one, yeah that's me. Help others with their pains to ignore your own. Like growing up without a mother.
If Mom didn't just leave, maybe it wouldn't be like this. Now with me being a DigiDestined, if I disappear too…
The dimension got brighter and brighter, stirring Noah from his thoughts.
But I have to do this. It's my destiny. And I have a feeling that I'm not just defending the Digital World, but the Real World too, in a sense. Besides, how many other kids my age get to travel to another world and transform into legendary heroes?
Almost immediately after it got the brightest, the light died down to reveal that Noah was travelling through a big cavern. Torches lit the way as the Trailmon slowed down. Rocks jutted out of the ceiling, looking as if they'd fall any moment. The cave seemed to get larger as the Trailmon slowed down. After a moment, the train stopped completely and Noah stepped out of the carriage and onto the platform. He read the overhanging nameplate: "Kobuzi Cavern Terminal".
"Thanks, Kettle," Noah said as he turned around and thanked the small, yellow coloured, green-eyed transportation Digimon.
"Anytime, kid. Call me back when you're done here. Hope you find what you're looking for!" Kettle called back while he chugged out of the cavern.
"So do I…" Noah whispered to himself. Just was he thinking, skipping school to go to the Digital World without the others? If an evil Digimon came out to attack him, he'd be dead meat for sure!
Shaking the thought from his mind, Noah got close to one of the torches lighting the cavern and used it's light to read his Digivice's map. A two dimensional map of Kobuzi Cavern appeared on the map. Searching for a signal that could look like an Armour, Noah read something near what looked to be a colony of Digimon.
"I really hope nothing bad happens while I'm here," Noah said as he stepped off the platform and walked beside the tracks for a couple of meters before he entered a tunnel that turned to the right. Seeing that the tunnel was dark, Noah quickly went back outside and grabbed one of the torches before heading back in.
"And I hope nobody will miss this thing."
Raising the torch to lead the way and reading his Digivice to show him the way, Noah trekked through the tunnel for not two minutes when a sudden drop came upon his path. He fell down into the darkness with the torch flying from his hands. Screaming as he fell, he landed hard onto the ground with a sudden "THUD!" He landed on his back with the torch just a few feet from his left hand. Sitting up, he found that his stomach twigged in pain.
"Oooh…that's really gonna hurt in the morning," Noah joked as he picked himself up and rubbed where he was hurt. Taking the torch again, he took a moment to recompose himself and pressed on through the tunnel.
All right, he thought, The map says that the colony is ahead around a kilometre. Maybe someone there will know about the Armour. Unless there's suddenly another DigiDestined who comes at the last minute, the Armour is so mine.
Following the path once again, Noah picked up his pace by jogging. In about twenty minutes, he arrived what appeared to be the colony. Standing on a plateau just a few feet above the colony, Noah gazed at what he saw. Buildings were carved out of the cave's rocks and surrounded Noah on almost all sides. Two tunnels, both on the left and right sides of the colony, looked like an entrance to a mine of some sort. Numerous Digimon walked out of the tunnels, carrying giant rocks on their backs as they moved. They deposited the rocks in a giant machine that seemed to grind the rocks up and turn out a powder of some kind, which was kept in a small jar. None of them really noticed Noah at first, but then some began to stop and stare.
"Uh oh…busted…" Noah gulped as he feared a confrontation with all of the Digimon.
A small Digimon dropped the rock it was carrying and flew up to Noah. It was purple, had yellow eyes and could be described as flying hamster. Two bat-like wings extended from the top of its head. The Digimon circled the DigiDestined boy, looking him over from all sides. As the Digimon did this, Noah's Digivice activated and read off the statistics of the Digimon.
"Tsukaimon," it read off in its usual electronic voice, "A Rookie level, Viral-type Mammal Digimon. Contrary to its viral nature, it is quite friendly and peaceful; however, it will attack with its full force if provoked. Attacks include Purple Fog and Slamming Attack."
"You're human, aren't you?" Tsukaimon asked in a young girl's voice as it landed at Noah's feet and looked up at him.
"Yeah…" Noah answered nervously.
"And that's a Digivice, is it not?"
"Uh-huh…"
"And you're not from this world, are you?"
"No…"
Tsukaimon ran her eyes over him one last time and smiled with a certain satisfaction. She turned back to her brethren.
"Get back to work! You know what will happen if he finds out that we're slacking off! Keep moving!" she shouted back. The Digimon looked at each other, picked up their rocks and continued working. She turned back to Noah, "Follow me. I'll show you around."
"Okay…" Noah said, sighing in relief at not having to fight a whole colony of Digimon on his own.
"I'm Tsukaimon, by the way," Tsukaimon told the boy as she guided him down to the colony, "I'm one of the many workers here in Kobuzi Cavern. This area has been famed for its many minerals that are found nowhere else in the Digital World."
"Oh! You mean like the Cumulus Clouds in Cumulus Valley?"
"Yes, like that. We export it and make profit from the sales of it. Mining the minerals were all we knew and we enjoyed it. Then, he came."
"He?"
"Yes. Raptordramon. An agent for the Dark One. He came to oversee our progress and take all of our minerals to fuel the Dark One's army. He kept rambling on about how Kokatorimon was stupid trying to farm clouds when rocks are so much easier to mine. He also relished the fact that Kokatorimon got what he deserved from the Mythic Knightmon. You were the one who defeated Kokatorimon, no?"
"No…" Noah said sadly, reminded of the battle in Cumulus Valley and how he couldn't help even though he wanted to, "It was my friends."
"Are your friends here with you, then?"
"No. I'm here by myself."
"Why?"
"I'm actually here tracking a signal coming from around the colony. Do you know anything about it?"
"Sort of. Raptordramon is forcing us to mine not just for the minerals, but for something he calls an 'Armour'."
"Armour?" Noah got excited just hearing the word, "Then there is one around here?"
"Hmmm…I don't believe so. Perhaps it is just some kind of new mineral we haven't mined yet."
"Darn it…"
"Why don't you come over to my house? We can talk some more over something to eat," Tsukaimon suggested.
"That'd be great," Noah agreed. He hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. Climbing stairs carved directly out of the cavern walls, Noah and Tsukaimon reached a small house. Crawling inside to enter, Noah saw a small table and a chair to one side, a cupboard at the back and a little bed on the other side, "Kind of small, don't you think?"
"Well, I am a small Digimon," Tsukaimon answered as she pulled a jar out of the cupboard, opened it and handed it to Noah as he sat down on the bed, "This is some Derdrain Powder. It makes for a good spice. It can also be eaten on its own as well. Try some."
Reaching into the jar with his fingers, Noah scooped out some of the powder and licked it off his fingers.
Tastes like…tofu, he thought, Ah, well. It's better than nothing at all.
"You are a DigiDestined, aren't you?" Tsukaimon asked as she took another jar of the powder and began to eat some.
"Of course."
"How many of you are there?"
"Five of us. Me, Taylor, Alexa, Loren and DJ."
"You have the power of the Mythic Knightmon?"
"Well, the others do. I'm the only one who can't Knightmon Digivolve."
"Knightmon Digivolve?"
"Yeah, it's how we change from humans to the Mythic Knightmon you Digimon have been looking for."
"Interesting…"
"So far we've defeated Dinohumon, Strikedramon, Kokatorimon and MarineDevimon."
"Those are some of the Dark One's most feared enforcers! Raptordramon is also one of them!"
"Really? Then saving the Digital World should be a breeze as soon as I find my Armour!"
"Not quite. The Dark One has many more powerful Digimon under his control."
"Yippie…" Noah groaned after licking some more of the powder off his fingers, "Like what?"
"Well, there are enforcers, like I mentioned. But there are more powerful dark Digimon under the Dark One's control. I've only heard them mentioned once, but even then, it sent shivers down my neck."
"Them?"
"Yes. The Dark One's most trusted lieutenants. They are known as…"
As Tsukaimon was about to finish, a booming voice came from below.
"FASTER!"
Noah and Tsukaimon crawled out of Tsukaimon's house, hid on the ground and saw from their hiding spot some kind of orange animal almost entirely covered in steel armour. A metal helmet covered its head except for its mouth. Its arms were small but armoured while two curved steel wings extended from its back as it shouted out orders.
"Move your butts, maggots! There's no rest for anyone until I find that Armour in your stupid mines!" it shouted out.
"Raptordramon, I presume," Noah whispered as he pulled out his Digivice to check the Digimon's stats.
"Yes, that's him," Tsukaimon confirmed.
"Raptordramon," the electronic voice once again read off, "A Champion-level, Vaccine-type Android Digimon. Caution should be used when engaging this Digimon in combat as its mixture of feral animal instinct and robotic intelligence make it difficult to defeat. Attacks include Ambush Crunch and Crash Charge."
"There's no way I can beat that thing on my own," Noah whispered doubtfully.
"Keep working, grunts!" Raptordramon commanded as he looked over all the Digimon workers, "Absolutely no rest under I find the Armour! That's what was wrong with those other idiots! They didn't think to find the Armours of the Mythic Knightmon! And with those kids finding them, my master's plan could unravel should the kids find all the Armours! But if I find them first, I can use their power to defeat these kids, these so-called 'DigiDestined'! Then I shall find favour with my master!"
Raptordramon then turned slowly towards Tsukaimon's hut and looked directly at the area that the two were hiding in. "Isn't that right…Tsukaimon?"
"Wh-what? Tsukaimon?" Noah turned to look at the Digimon who he thought was helping him, "How did he know…?"
Tsukaimon looked at Noah and took in a big breath. "Purple Fog!"
Tsukaimon let loose a giant cloud of purple smoke from her mouth towards Noah. His eyes burned as he inhaled the fog. He coughed as he tried to clear away the smoke, but to no avail as he lost consciousness and fainted onto the ground, feeling betrayed.
Noah Ito awoke slowly. He tried to move his arms, but found that he could not. He was tied up with the rope attached to an overhanging machine that Noah realised was the machine that grinded up the rocks to get the minerals the Digimon mined for. He looked around, trying to assess the situation and find out exactly what happened when he saw a crowd of the mining Digimon staring straight at him, with Tsukaimon and Raptordramon on either side of him.
"Tsukaimon…how could you?" Noah asked as he turned to the small Mammal Digimon, who avoided his gaze.
"She was acting under orders from me," Raptordramon told the boy, "I knew that DigiDestined were coming to the Digital World seeking Armours to defeat my master and figured that it would only be a matter of time before they came here to find one. I feared I'd have to take on all of them at once, but seeing as you have come alone and are unable to 'Knightmon Digivolve', as you put it, I see the odds are in my favour."
"Let me go, you metallic moron!" Noah struggled to get out of the ropes.
"No. I don't think I will. You see this machine? No doubt you've seen what it can do to the rocks in this area, squeezing out the minerals the Digimon need. I wonder what would happen if one of the DigiDestined was put in here? Let's find out, shall we?" Raptordramon asked as he moved his claw to the button that would activate the machine.
"You orange, robotic, son of a…"
"Flattery will get you nowhere, DigiDestined," Raptordramon said as he pushed the button. The machine roared to life as the Vaccine-type Digimon signalled for Tsukaimon to lower the rope, which held Noah into the machine. She did as she was told and slowly, Noah was lowered to the machine, "However, there is a chance to save yourself, boy. I want information from you. Information about your teammates. Why are you here? Why can you invoke the powers of the Mythic Knightmon? Where did that thing on your arm come from?"
"Can't tell you what I don't know," Noah said in a sing-song, mocking voice.
"Then rest in pieces," Raptordramon sneered as Tsukaimon lowered the rope even more.
Noah looked down and saw giant buzzsaws whirling, their teeth hungry to grind whatever came their way.
This is it, isn't it? Noah thought as he came even closer to the machine, I'm going to die, here and now. Taylor and the others will be fighting on their own. Dad's completely going to lose it when I don't come home. I'll never get the chance to try and find out why Mom left. Well, better to go out fighting, right?
Noah closed his eyes and waited for the end. He wondered if it would hurt. As his feet got dangerously close to the buzzsaws, two voices cried out his name and he suddenly felt himself get jerked to the side, away from the machine. Noah opened his eyes to see if he was dead yet, and saw something he didn't expect to see.
"Tsukaimon?" Noah asked in disbelief as Tsukaimon began to untie his ropes, "What are you doing?"
"Yes, Tsukaimon…just what are you doing!" Raptordramon demanded.
"While I was tying you up, I used your Digivice to call for help from your world. And here it comes," Tsukaimon said as she made a motion for Noah to look to the side and saw Taylor and Alexa making their way to him.
"Guys! How'd you get here?" Noah asked in disbelief.
"Well, during lunch, I concocted a brilliant escape from the horrors of the lunchroom by…" Taylor began.
"He rolled on the floor a lot and complained about the food," Alexa finished.
"You didn't have to tell him outright, you know…"
"And for that they let you out of school?" Noah asked as Tsukaimon finished untying his ropes.
"Actually, we got taken to the infirmary and had shots…"
"I still owe you a few hits for that, Taylor…" Alexa punched Taylor's arm a few times where he was shot.
"OW! Ow ow ow!"
"Can you two save it for later?" Noah asked as he picked himself up and Taylor, Alexa and Tsukaimon got up with him.
"So, more DigiDestined. Three, to be exact," Raptordramon counted, "Where are the other two?"
"They're back home in case we fail," Taylor said as he readied his Digivice, as did Alexa, "Noah, get out of here."
"No way! I came here to find an Armour to help fight, and that's what I'm going to do!"
"Not if I finish you all off and find it first! Crash Charge!" Raptordramon cried as he positioned his wings in front and charged towards the DigiDestined. Tsukaimon got in front of the group and yelled out her attack.
"Purple Fog!" Tsukaimon's attack spurted out purple smoke that confused Raptordramon's senses momentarily, "Hurry up and Knightmon Digivolve, you two! Save Kobuzi Cavern!"
"Right! Let's go!" Taylor called out as he and Alexa thrust their arms out and used their free hands to press the desired button they wanted as they called out:
"Knightmon Digivolution, Activate!"
"Courageous Flame!"
"Serene Water!"
Fire and water spurted out of the DigiDestined's Digivices and formed rings that circled their bodies and burned/washed off their clothes. The rings then came together to create the Armour of heroic Digimon of the past. In a moment, Taylor Motosuke and Alexa Hidoyuki became…
"PyroKnightmon!"
"Aquarimon!"
The purple fog cleared and Raptordramon now stood before the Mythic Knightmon of Courageous Flame and Serene Water.
"So that's 'Knightmon Digivolution'. How interesting. Not! Crash Charge!" Raptordramon resumed his attack, charging towards the group. PyroKnightmon took his sword while Aquarimon readied her trident. Both of them took a defensive position as Raptordramon's metallic wings met the Dragonforce Sword and Poseidon Trident. The combined strength of the two Mythic Knights was enough to force Raptordramon's steel wings into a stalemate.
"Noah!" PyroKnightmon cried out while struggling to keep Raptordramon at bay, "Get moving! If you want to get that Armour, go find it!"
"Oh, yeah!" Noah said as he leapt off the platform and headed towards one of the side tunnels where the Digimon mined.
"No you don't!" Raptordramon shouted as he used his tail as a kind of whip that knocked PyroKnightmon and Aquarimon off their feet, "That Armour is mine!"
Raptordramon began to rush off after Noah when he was suddenly blocked by some of the miner Digimon.
"What are you all doing? Do you want to suffer my wrath!"
"We've been suffering since you came here, Raptordramon," Tsukaimon said as she flew overhead to where Noah was going, "I think its time the suffering stopped. Take him out, guys!"
The miner Digimon began to pile on top of Raptordramon. Not too long after, he was covered by Digimon, but that wouldn't stop him. He used his wings to brush them all off. As the Digimon were thrown back, PyroKnightmon took this as a chance to fight.
"Dragonforce Sword!" he shouted as he charged up with flames and was in Raptordramon's face before he could blink. Using his wings as a shield, Raptordramon fought with the sword as PyroKnightmon tried to find a weak point to strike.
"Ambush Crunch!" Raptordramon cried as his neck stretched out and he bit PyroKnightmon's neck.
"AAARRGHHH!" PyroKnightmon collapsed onto his knees, clutching his neck, "Alexa…! Go!"
"Got it!" Aquarimon said as she ran towards PyroKnightmon and leapt over him, twirling in mid-air as she did. She landed behind Raptordramon and was about to use her trident when Raptordramon quickly turned around and ran over Aquarimon before she could blink with another Crash Charge, "NO!"
"Now if you'll excuse me, I've an Armour to find and a DigiDestined to disembowel!" he told them as he ran after Noah.
While the fight was happening, Noah and Tsukaimon had retreated to a tunnel that Noah was now reading on his Digivice. He knew that there had to be something here.
"Where is it? Where is it!" Noah asked desperately as he searched the map on his screen for a signal that could pertain to an Armour, "It's got to be in here! It has to be!"
"Hold on! I think I've found something!" Tsukaimon said as Noah rushed over to see what she found. In the rock wall they were looking at, there appeared to be a glint of yellow.
"That's got to be it!" Noah cried as he began pushing away rocks to uncover the Armour. In about five minutes, the Armour was uncovered and placed on the rocky floor. The Armour was comprised of a rounded helmet that covered the top part of the head with eyeholes, triangular shoulder-pads, leg-guards with built in knee-guards, arm-guards, a giant breastplate that covered both the front and back, two straps with square pieces that appeared to be worn on the thigh and rounded metal boots. Covering the top of the helmet, back of the breastplate and on the square thigh pieces was yet another strange symbol that Noah couldn't read. The Armour was coloured a light yellow with a bit of navy blue here and there.
"All right! This is it!" Noah shouted in joy as he leaned close to get his Digivice to scan the Armour.
"Why, yes it is!" a voice suddenly came from out of nowhere and Noah and Tsukaimon turned to face Raptordramon standing at the tunnel entrance, "Thank you for unearthing it for me. Now hand it over!"
"No way! This one's all mine and I'm not letting someone else take it!"
"Fine then. I'll take it by force! Crash Charge!" Raptordramon charged toward Noah with his wings in front of him, ready to take down the boy. Noah braced himself for the hit, but instead of seeing Raptordramon right in his face, he saw Tsukaimon taking the hit for him.
"Tsukaimon!" Noah caught the little Digimon in his arms and turned her over to face him, "Tsukaimon! Are you okay?"
"Fine…just fine…" Tsukaimon groaned, "Noah…hurry and use the Armour before Raptordramon…Hurry!"
"Right," Noah said as he laid Tsukaimon behind the rocks they unearthed to rest.
"At last…" Raptordramon said as he approached the Armour, grinning evilly, "The power of one of the heroes of old…the power to fight with immense strength…the power of the Mythic Knightmon…"
"Is mine!" Noah cried as he thrust his arm out toward the Armour and the screen glowed. The Armour reacted to the Digivice by glowing as well and flying into the Digivice.
"NO!"
"Yes!" Noah cheered as he saw the Armour on the screen with the word 'READY' imposed over it, "All right!"
"Give me that Armour…now!"
"Don't think so! Let's see what this thing can do!" Noah said as he thrust his left arm down to the left and used his right hand to push the button he wanted while crying, "Knightmon Digivolution, Activate! Rumbling Thunder!"
A burst of lightning shot out from the screen before splitting into many different rings which circled Noah, who took a position that looked like he was bracing himself for what was about to happen. The electric rings fried his clothes off him before coming together and forming armour. The boots, thigh straps, arm-guards, shoulder-pads, leg-guards and breastplate appeared on the boy's body. As the final rings circled his head, Noah didn't bother to close his eyes as the rings came together and formed the helmet that had the symbol on top of it. Noah's hair at the back stuck out of the helmet and his eyes had now changed to a purple colour. Placing his hands overtop of each other in front of him, he formed a large lance-like weapon out of a burst of lightning. Jumping and somersaulting in mid-air, he quickly slashed the weapon across a few times before coming into a martial arts, 'bring-it-on' sort of pose as a fierce thunderstorm raged behind him, announcing his arrival. Finally, the new Mythic Knightmon announced himself.
"Zeumon!"
"Zeumon!" Raptordramon looked on in shock, "The Mythic Knightmon of Rumbling Thunder!"
"You know my name not two seconds and already you know who I am? I'm touched!" Zeumon responded in a voice that was, and at the same time wasn't, Noah's voice.
"You won't exist long enough for that feeling to last! Ambush Crunch!" Raptordramon stretched out his neck to bite Zeumon, but Zeumon had seemed to disappear just as Raptordramon reached him.
"Over here!" Raptordramon heard just before he felt a smack to the head. Raptordramon recovered quickly and saw Zeumon appear before him.
"Grrrr! Crash Charge!" Raptordramon charged again, but just like before, Zeumon had disappeared just as Raptordramon reached him.
"Now you see me…" Zeumon taunted as Raptordramon turned around to face Zeumon again and the Mythic Knightmon disappeared, "…now you don't! Lightning Javelin!"
A bolt of lightning grazed Raptordramon's side and the enemy Digimon roared in pain before Zeumon appeared to take the weapon back from where it was rooted beside him. Twirling it around him as he did, Zeumon stood before the downed Android Digimon.
"How you like me now?"
"The same as before…I don't!" Raptordramon cried as he performed an Ambush Crunch before Zeumon could react. The monstrous teeth were aimed for Zeumon's face, but the knight Digimon was keeping them from crunching down on his face with his hands. While this was happening, Raptordramon quickly unfolded his wings and performed another Crash Charge. The metallic wings drove into Zeumon as he yelled, "Take off the Armour and give it to me!"
"Nuh-uh…and by the way…your breath…STINKS!" Zeumon quickly took his weapon and shoved it into Raptordramon's mouth while pushing him back. Quicker still, he grabbed the weapon back and prepared for Raptordramon's next attack, "Come on!"
"To take a quote from you, 'Now you see me…now you don't!'" Raptordramon sneered as he disappeared just the same as Zeumon did a few moments ago.
"He can copy my speed…" Zeumon noted quietly as he looked around for his enemy, "Come out and fight like a 'mon!"
"Funny coming from someone who just a moment ago was pulling the same tactic on me!" Raptordramon's disembodied voice came from somewhere, "I can read enemy movements, and thanks to my robotic half, I can copy them as well! You see!"
Raptordramon quickly appeared out of nowhere and used Ambush Crunch on Zeumon's left leg. After he bit it, he quickly disappeared again.
"Owww!"
"Ha ha ha! Now you can't go this speed anymore without me spotting you. Not that it matters, since I'm going to delete you! And once I'm done with that, I'll go after your friends!" Raptordramon cried as he continued to use Ambush Crunch on various parts of Zeumon's body.
"Aaaaghh!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Noah! Hang on, man!" Zeumon heard a voice coming from the tunnel entrance. He turned to see PyroKnightmon and Aquarimon rushing in to help him.
"No! Tay! Get back or he'll move the attack!"
"What!"
Before PyroKnightmon could say anything else, Raptordramon moved his attack to the other Mythic Knightmon. Ambush Crunches were now bombarding the two transformed DigiDestined. Zeumon, now finished from the attack, used his lance-like weapon as a crutch, heaved over as bruises from Raptordramon began to affect Zeumon's stance.
What now? Noah thought from inside Zeumon, He can copy enemy movements. If he's copied my speed, then when Taylor and Alexa fought him, he copied their moves as well. He's too fast! I can't attack him without him…wait! DJ fought this same battle against Strikedramon! He beat him by using an attack that sent out rocks on all sides. There was no way Strikedramon couldn't get hit by that! But I can't attack like that! The others might get hurt…
Then, Zeumon thought of it. Standing up straight, Zeumon put his weapon at his side. He moved farther down into the tunnel, turned to face where his friends were fighting and began to run full speed at them. Just a couple feet away from them, he jumped over, twirling around as he did.
Got to do this right…Trust the Digimon instincts, Noah. Trust them, he thought as he leapt over his friends. His eyes closed, he pulled out his weapon and readied it, Let them focus on Raptordramon's location…
Time seemed to freeze for a moment as Zeumon, hanging over the place of battle, focused on the movements of Raptordramon's patterns. Sensing a rhythm, Zeumon focussed on it for a moment. In his mind's eye, he pictured Raptordramon moving to attack his friends.
He's right…
His eyes snapped open.
THERE!
Using his stick-shaped weapon, he thrust it into what he thought was Raptordramon's body. He hoped it was. He prayed it was. As Raptordramon screamed in pain, he knew it was. Zeumon landed on the other side of the Knightmon while Raptordramon tried to quickly recompose himself for the next attack.
"Noah…is that you?" PyroKnightmon asked as he stood upright.
"Yeah, it's me," Zeumon answered, "Ain't I cool, though?"
"That you are, that you are…"
"Before we all get into how cool Noah looks now, can we finish off Raptordramon first?" Aquarimon asked.
"Sure thing."
The three Mythic Knightmon brandished their weapons as Raptordramon finished recomposing himself.
"I cannot be defeated! I know over a hundred tactics from past enemy Digimon! I cannot be defeated!" Raptordramon cried.
"Ready, guys? GO!" PyroKnightmon ordered.
The three heroic DigiDestined/Digimon rushed forward.
"Poseidon Trident!"
"Dragonforce Sword!"
Aquarimon and PyroKnightmon used their weapons to damage Raptordramon on either side as they passed him on the side. Zeumon, meanwhile, jumped into the air and aimed his stick-shaped weapon downwards toward Raptordramon.
"Thunder Charge!" Zeumon cried as he fell towards the Digimon. His Lightning Javelin charged up with electric energy, focused mostly at the point where Raptordramon's body would cushion itself.
"No! You wouldn't!" Raptordramon screamed at him.
"I would!" Zeumon responded as the javelin pierced Raptordramon for a moment before Zeumon rolled behind him, joining PyroKnightmon and Aquarimon on the other side. Zeumon finished in the same pose PyroKnightmon had done when he defeated Dinohumon.
Raptordramon exploded into tiny data bits a moment after Zeumon finished in the pose. Zeumon stood up, raised his now glowing Lightning Javelin and absorbed all of the data, adding to his own strength. After it was done, he turned to the others for their input.
"Now that…was cool," PyroKnightmon smirked.
"I know. I'm good…" Zeumon grinned. Then, he seemed to remember something, "Hold on a second!"
Zeumon then went back to the rock pile where he had laid Tsukaimon to rest during the battle. He knelt down next to her.
"You okay?" he asked. She stirred from where she was and opened her eyes, looking upon Zeumon for the first time.
"Noah…?"
"Yeah…it's me."
"Wow…No wonder Raptordramon was after the Armour."
"Uh-huh."
"I'm sorry for ratting you out to him back there. I was just so afraid for my own life. Then I realised that you were one of the chosen ones to save the Digital World, so I put my faith in you to save Kobuzi Cavern from him."
"No problem."
"I'm sure the other Digimon want to express their gratitude," Tsukaimon said as Zeumon picked her up and cradled her in his arms, "Why don't you three go out there and hear their praises?"
"You're coming, too. You saved me from Raptordramon a couple times. You should get an even amount of praise, too," Zeumon said as they walked forward out of the tunnel and into the cries of grateful Digimon. Noah, within Zeumon, heard the thanks of all the Digimon.
Maybe it won't be so bad, being a DigiDestined, he thought, If after every battle this will happen. Besides, how many other kids my age can become heroes in another world? Four others, at least. I'll be risking my life again and again, but I'll keep that from Dad and make some kind of excuse. It won't always be fun, but it's my responsibility as a DigiDestined. I just wish Mom could see me now…
Zeumon smiled as he became lost in the praise, the power of Zeumon and his thoughts of a new world to defend.
If this is my destiny…I welcome it.
In another part of Kobuzi Cavern, a lone Rookie Digimon stopped running from the colony where the battle had taken place. He rested for a moment as he continued thinking about what he had seen. He had actually seen a Mythic Knightmon.
Not the first one, either.
He pulled out a small communicator from underneath a piece of cloth he wore. Switching it on, he awaited a linkup from where he was calling to. In a moment, a mysterious figure appeared on the small screen.
"What is it?" the ominous voice demanded.
"Boss…I've seen another one," the Rookie Digimon told him, "This makes five of them I've seen."
"Interesting…So they have come back through these children…How are the children reacting to this?"
"They're still new, but they appear to be adapting quickly. The one with Zeumon's power was able to focus in on Raptordramon from an abnormal speed level just a couple minutes after Knightmon Digivolving."
"I shall notify my master immediately. Good work."
"Should I take 'em out?"
"No…just continue to watch them for now."
"Yes, sir…"
"Oh, and one more thing…"
"Yeah?"
"When, and only when, the DigiDestined are destroyed will I keep my end of our bargain. Not a moment before, understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very good. I await further news on the DigiDestined's progress. End transmission link."
The communicator switched off and the Digimon put it back underneath his bandana. Keep checking on the DigiDestined? Keep being unseen by the enemy? Keep taking orders from…him?
But if the little Digimon kept doing what he was told, soon his boss would keep his end of the deal. Finally, the Digimon would have the power he always wanted. The power he craved. The power he needed to have at any cost. That's why the Rookie Digimon was doing this for him.
To get the power he wanted, Impmon would do exactly what he was told.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Now that the five DigiDestined have the power to Knightmon Digivolve, what adventures await them? How will their new lives as DigiDestined affect their Real World lives? Can they save the Digital World from the Dark One? There's only one way to find out…review!