I don't own Digimon

So Riseth the Night

888

"Metal Wolf Claw!" Metal Garurumon flashed passed. His gold and blue armor shone a little in the morning light. Dominimon swung around slamming his platinum, shining blade into the blasts of ice.

"You're dog is not very strong, human!" shouted the angel as he dove forward. He flashed his sword forward unleashing a blast of lightning into the metal canine and sending him head over tail backwards through the sky.

"Metal Garurumon!" shouted Matt. Kuro was standing a little behind his father.

He was looking up at the battle. Tears were still streaking silent down his cheeks. He knew Metal Garurumon was no match for the angel.

"This is my fault…" whispered Kuro. He looked down at the black pendant on his chest. There was still a golden swirl of energy rotating slowly around the eclipsed emblem of a sun. "I should have been stronger…then Psychemon wouldn't have been absorbed by Lord Holy Angemon..." A cold shiver ran up his chest.

"Yes…you are right…it is your fault," hissed a voice in his head. "You killed Psychemon, you gave Lord Holy Angemon the power to digivolve, and now…you will end up destroying your father and your father's digimon…foolish stupid child…"

"That's true…" whispered Kuro. His eyes became distant, "but what can I do…nothing can stop Dominimon…"

"Let me in…I will destroy the angel…" replied the voice. There was a soft chuckle, "That angel is nothing compared to my true power…"

Kuro nodded softly. His eyes faded and the rims of his eyes shined soft red as the coloring swirled around his pupil. A cold smile curled across his lips. The sounds of battle rang in his ears as the angel fought the metal hound.

"Metal Wolf Claw!" shouted the distant voice of Metal Garurumon.

"Final Excalibur!" returned the voice of Dominimon.

Kuro's eyes flashed open. He looked at his hands. They had black claws. He lifted his fingers to his ears. The ridges curved up into sharp points. His tongue ran over his fangs. His clothes had changed too. They were black and had leather straps around the triceps. His father turned and a mixed look of shock and terror filled his eyes.

Kuro felt his feet leave the ground. Dominimon wasn't facing him. The angel's golden armor was shining. Kuro could see his reflection. His face was long and pasty. His eyes were bright red. His ears were pointy. His hair was stroked back and slightly pointy. The flick of a cape swept around his shoulder.

He lifted his hand. A bulb of darkness flickered on his finger. It fired forward. As it made contact with the angel it bloomed into a mushroom of black energy that swept around the city blocks. The buildings evaporated in darkness. Kuro heard his father scream something. He could feel his lips curl upward.

He looked down. Matt was on his butt looking up at him. The man's eyes were filled with terror. Kuro turned his head. Matt's metal hound was laid out on top of some rubble.

"Kuro…" whispered Matt.

"Fool…" Kuro heard himself reply. He lifted his hand again. A single finger shot forward. A marble of darkness crackled playfully on its tip.

"No!" shouted Kuro as loud as he could but he didn't feel his lips move.

"It's too late…" Kuro's body chuckled. "Say farewell to your father…and soon enough, everyone you ever knew…"

888

"Are you ready…" asked an excited Kiyoshi. He looked back at Kougi and Veemon. "We just go out and get the digimon and then come back…"

"I doubt it will be that easy," said Kougi. He patted Veemon's head softly. "Just look out there, that desert looks pretty foreboding."

"Yeah…I wonder which of the destined digimon lives here…" said Kiyoshi as he walked off the train and onto the station platform. There were cacti dotting the sandy soil.

The village rested uncomfortably in the middle of no where. The sun pounded on the roofs. The wind pelted the wooden siding with sand. The stereotypical tumbleweed swept in front of them.

Wormmon walked up next to Kiyoshi. "Just looking at this place makes me thirsty…"

"Yeah…I wonder how these guys live," whispered Veemon.

"We live really well!" called a voice from behind them. The children turned. A golden armadillo was standing there. "Hi, I'm Armadillomon."

"Cody's partner…?" asked Kiyoshi.

The golden armadillo smiled and nodded, "Yes, and welcome to Diggers' Gulch."

The newcomers smiled. Kougen looked at Veemon. "Thank goodness, that was easier than I thought it would be…"

"What do you mean?" asked Armadillomon.

"We're taking you back to the human world so you can help Cody defend it," replied Kiyoshi.

"Oh…I can't do that…" said Armadillomon. The yellow armor plated mammal smiled. "Deputymon and Starmon have asked me to help them with a certain desperado. He's been coming in and upsetting the town."

"Lucemon?" asked Kougi.

"Huh? No…not Lucemon…a digimon named Antylamon," said Armadillomon as he turned. "Him and his gang of desert hares has been messing with stagecoaches, and harassing people in town…"

"Then we should stay and help…" said Kougen. He pulled on his blue flame jacket.

"Indeed," replied Kiyoshi. He looked at Armadillomon. "Are there any places to stay…?"

"Yep, Hyougamon's Saloon!" smiled Armadillomon, "I've been staying there for almost a year." Kougi and Kiyoshi looked at each other. Armadillomon chuckled and turned. "It's this way."

888

The saloon was full. Gazimon and Gizamon occupied the room. The grey rabbit digimon were playing cards and the yellow and orange furry, frog-like digimon were eating. Behind the counter was a large, blue, muscle bound digimon with ice white hair. He had large fangs running out of his mouth.

"That's Hyougamon," whispered Armadillomon as he climbed the stairs up to the small apartments that were positioned adjacent to a balcony that hung over the main bar room. "He's more bluster than bite but his Ice Club will still leave you shivering. Come on to my room."

"Who's that…?" Wormmon pointed down at a yellow armored digimon with red stripes on its arms. It had white and purple butterfly-like wings and white and purple ears.

"That's Butterflymon, she's Hyougamon's waitress and singer, not to mention her Sweet Pheromone keeps Hyougamon's patrons coming…" replied Armadillomon.

The children and their digimon followed the armadillo up the stairs. It wasn't much a bed and a desk and since Armadillomon didn't have any thumbs it really just meant he had a bed. Kiyoshi sat on the desk chair and Kougi sat on the ground with Veemon and Wormmon. Armadillomon hopped up on the bed and looked at them.

"Well…this is…umm," Kougi looked around, "exciting…"

"Don't worry," smiled Armadillomon. "Antylamon usually makes a raid at about dusk. You'll see a lot of action then."

"Right…" whispered the boys.

888

"Antylamon," A voice surprised Antylamon. The chocolate grey rabbit turned. He had a black bandana around his neck and had a black cowboy's hat on his head. A boy was standing in the entrance of the cave hideaway Antylamon and his gang had made in the mountains over looking the village. Antylamon narrowed his eyes and lifted his long arms. The claws on the end of his arms glowed bright red. The boy smirked and unfurled twelve white wings, "Oh don't bother…" The winged child lifted his hand and a shock wave knocked Antylamon against one of the cave walls.

"Who are you?" growled the rabbit as he peeled himself from the wall. He growled softly.

"I am Lucemon," replied the boy. He walked forward and sat at the table and flicked through the gold and jewels on the table. "Pathetic…you insignificant beings all seem to only enjoy riches…" A smile cut across the child's face. Lucemon flicked his eyes up. "I have an offer for you…"

"I am not your employee, and I refuse to be your flunky, boy," replied the rabbit and he turned.

"Oh…you wouldn't want to have all the gold in Digger's Gulch?" asked Lucemon with a bemused tone.

"You can't get the gold…I've tried…those two imbeciles, Starmon and Deputymon have stopped me, I don't know how. Those two fools have enough dumb luck between them that it seems to always beat my power" growled Antylamon. The rabbit pulled his hat down over his eyes.

"Oh, no amount of luck can stop me…but I must ask you to get rid of the digi-destined within the village," said Lucemon the child lifted and dropped the gold coins with a sigh of boredom.

"If you are so powerful, destroy them yourself…" returned Antylamon.

"Oh but it is so much more fun if you do it…" replied Lucemon with a smirk. "I like to watch…"

Antylamon growled. "I am not your toy. Destroy them yourself!" Antylamon made a move to turn but a medallion caught his eye.

"I think you'll want to do it…" said Lucemon. The medallion glowed and Antylamon blinked.

"Those brats won't stand a chance," growled Antylamon. The boy smiled and turned.

"Don't let me down, bandit…I do hate being let down…" said Lucemon. His eyes shifted to a distant grey and he opened his wings and disappeared into a flurry of movement. His voice rang through the cave, "I'll be watching, Antylamon."

The rabbit turned and pressed a button on an intercom, "Saddle the Monochromon we're going into town, now."

"Boss?" asked a somewhat hoarse but squeaky voice. "It's not near dusk."

"It doesn't matter we're going for something special," replied Antylamon. He released the button and sat back.

888

Kougi and Kiyoshi were lounging on the floor when there was a scream outside. The sound of a savage roar rang through the air.

"No, that can't be right," Armadillomon hopped down and ran to his window. He looked out over the dusty village. A large grey heavy armor scaled digimon was roaring as a group of well dressed Gekomon ran and hid. A large, grey, bipedal rabbit walked forward. Two smaller purple rabbits walked behind him. They had bandanas around their mouths. They had red gloves on their hands. "Antylamon and his Turuiemon gang…"

"I thought you said…" started Veemon.

"I did, but something is off…" Armadillomon narrowed his eyes. "Antylamon's eyes are glowing red…"

"What?" Kougi and Kiyoshi looked up. They hopped to their feet and traversed the small room to the window. Antylamon had an Otamamon in its hand and was waving it around.

"Give me the Digi-Destined!" shouted the rabbit. "Give them to me or I shall destroy this tadpole!"

Kougi looked at Kiyoshi. The boy's eyes were dark and a grim frown was chiseled across his face. He looked down at Wormmon, "If he wants the Digi-Destined, let him have them!" Kiyoshi slid out of the window and onto the wooden fire escape. The bug digimon climbed out of the building after his partner. "Get him, Wormmon…"

The bug looked up at Kiyoshi. He nodded and leapt down. "Wormmon digivolve to Stingmon!" the bug disappeared into a gold light only to reappear as a large blue wasp with a magenta blade of energy glowing from its armored forearm. The armored bug warrior shot down and slashed forward. Antylamon was taken by surprise and dropped the purple tadpole. The amphibian gave a small yelp as it hit the hard dusty ground and then it scrambled off.

"So the humans are here," chuckled the rabbit. He looked up at where Stingmon had appeared and saw a human standing up on the fire escape of Hyougamon's saloon. He raised his claws and they glowed bright crimson. "Bunny Blades!"

Five crimson arcs of energy flew up at Kiyoshi. The boy yelped in fear and fell backwards.

"Meteor Squall!" five streamers of light flashed and eliminated the blades. A metallic star with arms and legs walked forward. Two eyes were visible in a black patch in the star's epicenter. "You're early, Antylamon. What happened to our sundown showdowns?"

"Starmon!" growled the rabbit. He drew his arms up. "You are a hindrance I will no longer have to suffer!"

The star digimon narrowed his eyes and a glow filled him. His arms gained tassels as did his boots. He grew taller and more muscular. He pointed his finger forward, "Yeah, Starmon digivolve to Super Starmon, uh huh…"

"And here I always thought it was the cowboy that killed the rock star…" whispered Kougi.

"Your little power boost won't save you this time, sheriff!" shouted Antylamon. He flung his arms forward, "Arm Bomber!" two large shockwaves of energy swept down the dusty street and slammed the star backwards sending flying backwards.

"Veemon, Starmon needs our help!" yelped Kougi as he jumped down the fire escape.

The little, blue dragon leapt down, "Veemon digivolve to Veedramon! V-Breath Arrow!" The little blue dragon turned into a large blue dragon with a V-scar on his chest. A fiery 'V' shot down at Antylamon. The rabbit growled and slapped its hand up defensively slashing the V into oblivion. "Turuiemon, take care of these clowns." The two purple hares nodded and growled. "Super Starmon, prepare to lose your shine…"

The purple hares leapt up and snapped the metal platforms on the back of their hands releasing hundreds of rocks at Veedramon and Stingmon. The two destined digimon leapt out of the way. Antylamon took an angry step forward.

"Not so fast rabbit!" shouted a rough sounding voice. A man with a torso shaped like a gun and a bandana around his mouth and his yellow eyes glowed from under hat, "I think you need a little trimming, hare!" He lowered the revolvers in his hands on Antylamon. "Justice Bullet!" pulses of gold shot at the rabbit. The grey rabbit leapt backward as the pulses shot past. The gun digimon swiveled around and continued firing as Antylamon back flipped out of the attacks ways.

"Fool!" growled the rabbit and he flicked his claws forward. "Bunny Blades!" The crimson claws slashed forward and cut the gun digimon up badly.

"Deputymon! My number one groupie!" shouted Super Starmon as he ran over to his companion. The star held his buddy as Deputymon started to waft away in waves of dust.

"Don't worry about me…I finally get to go to that big round up in the sky…" whispered Deputymon as the last of him disappeared.

Super Starmon turned on Antylamon. "Oooh, boy you're going to the Heart Break Hotel now…"

8888

Dear me…what a shaking state of events. And can this newcomer rival Lucemon in power? What will happen to Kuro?