Not owning Digimon.
AN: Yes I know this is very odd for me to do a pre-chap AN. Anyways, this chapter deals with some very, strong themes, and there are some scenes that may possibly, if read by a young person, be talked over with an adult. Just a warning to you the readers.
Crushed Ice
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A long bony claw slammed Kevin to one side. The white skeletal hand reached out and grabbed Assaultmon's arm forcing it upwards. The crimson blast of Assaultmon's attack shattered the factory ceiling. Kevin looked up in surprise. A large fossilized tyrannosaur was roaring. It was crouched down so as to fit in the building. The beast was lifting Assaultmon up by the arm.
"Is that what Shima Unimon turns into?" whispered Kevin as he watched the beast toss Assaultmon like a rag doll. It lifted a bony foot and took a step forward, its phalanges clacking on the hard floor's surface. It stood and crashed through the roof.
"Let's get out of here!" shouted Dobermon. Mark hopped up on the dog's back and Dobermon looked up. Kevin could only look up in shock. He wasn't moving. A large block of cement crashed down in front of him but he just didn't move. "Kevin come on!"
"He can't…he's in shock!" yelped Brendan as more of the roof rained down around them. Dobermon leapt forward and snatched Kevin up in his jaws and ran out of the factory as the walls started to collapse.
"Justice Massacre!" a crimson orb rammed into the large skeleton. The fossilized beast fell backwards.
"What is that thing!?" shouted Kevin finally after they had gotten a couple of blocks from the beast.
Dobermon put Kevin down and turned back to the ensuing fight. "That is Skull Greymon, an Ultimate level, viral digimon. He's a blood thirsty fighter and his attacks, Dark Shot and Double Dark Shot can level an entire city."
Kevin gulped as he watched Skull Greymon rise from the crimson blast. A large orange missile was lodged in an ivory rocket launcher. The beast's eyes were glowing bright white as it took a dangerous step forward.
"Hit the deck!" shouted Brendan as the rocket started to shimmy free from its holdings. Dobermon and the humans dove behind a building.
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"Dark Shot!"
The golden light pollution of the city went dark. A wave of evil washed around the alley and streets houses were shattered. What buildings survived were in tatters, burned and no longer stable. Many of the Digimon in the way of the blast had no chance and no warning as their data was dispersed.
D'Arcmon crashed out of the sky and rolled through the snow slamming into one of the remaining trees. Michelle, Amy and Janet were laid out on the ground. Penguinmon and Renamon were pressed up against a tree trunk.
"What just hit us?" whispered Amy. She flexed her fingers and then her arms. She slowly sat up. Janet and Michelle only looked up at the darkened sky.
"Are you guys ok?" Amy crawled over to Janet.
"I'm fine I think…" said Janet quietly. She sat up and looked over to Michelle. The tan hair girl had a look of absolute terror in her eyes. Janet moved over to her slowly. "Michelle, are you ok?"
"Darkness…." Michelle whispered. "It's everywhere, like an ocean. I can't let it get dark out…" Suddenly the girl started to shine. It wasn't a harsh light like a flashlight but more of a warm glow, a soft flesh color with the same intensity as a glow in the dark sticker.
"Michelle…" Amy reached out.
"Guardromon!" shouted Renamon. The fox leapt forward. "Renamon digivolve to Youkomon!" the blazing purple fox curled around the girls.
"Penguinmon digivolve to Saberdramon!" the blue aquatic bird glided forward turning into a giant black phoenix.
"I-I thought you guys couldn't digivolve?" Amy looked at the two champions.
"We did too, but that light…it's giving us strength," said Youkomon. The fox was still staring at the host of Guardromon that were flying over. Tankmon were heard roaring a few blocks away and now Mecha Norimon were jetting overhead.
"We have to see where they are going!" D'Arcmon flew forward. A glow was filling the angel. The girls nodded and picked Michelle up gently and got on Saberdramon's back.
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"Impossible!" shouted Assaultmon. The beast had leveled three fourths of the city. The metal monster looked defiantly up at the fossilized titan. A little communications device lit up on Assaultmon's shoulder. "Guardromon, Mecha Norimon and Tankmon, report to the south quadrant power plant, we need reinforcements."
It took a couple minutes but the metal army arrived. The Tankmon encircled Skull Greymon. The bone dinosaur released a wild roar and reached out and grabbed a handful of the artillery digimon and threw them into a group of oncoming Guardromon.
"Twin Beam!" buzzed a horde of Mecha Norimon. The red arrows of energy bounced off the smooth, white bone of Skull Greymon's ribs. The beast roared angrily and whipped out its lanky arms knocking the metal digimon down like a line of tin soldiers.
"He's too strong," growled Assaultmon as he took several cautious steps backwards. "I must retreat." The metal centaur turned and galloped off. "I'll return to my mobile headquarters and retreat to the desert."
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Sorcerymon blinked. He was covered in dust and wood chips and rock and dust. The last thing he remembered was pushing Guardromon out of his house. The wizard blinked and looked around him. A fragment of a familiar staircase was all that was left of his home. The sound of battle was off to the east. The wizard turned his head. In the looming shadows of a burning battle ground, giant figures were fighting. A group of four was flying around and one giant beast was swatting at them.
Sorcerymon wasn't sure who was who, but he knew some one would need his help. He searched the surrounding rubble for his crystal staff and snatched it up. He didn't even search for his hat; he just lifted off and flew for the battle.
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Mark coughed as he rose from the rubble. Dobermon was already digging Brendan and Kevin out. A large metal mobile home shot past the alley.
"That smelled like Assaultmon," Dobermon's head shot up. "Too much like Assaultmon. He must have retreated; this city is at the mercy of Skull Greymon!" Dobermon pulled Brendan and Kevin from the rubble. "We have to stop Skull Greymon; he'll finish off the city."
"Dobermon, go," Brendan let Kevin lean on him. He then walked past Mark, "Come on we're going to higher ground."
The black dog ran back towards the factory. The looming figure of Skull Greymon towered over the buildings. The remaining forces of Assaultmon were still trying to mount an offensive but the large digimon was tossing them around like toys.
Dobermon skidded to a stop as Skull Greymon swung his arm around and slammed a group of Tankmon into a pile of bricks deleting them instantly.
"Schwarz Strahl!" a black beam shot up and hit Skull Greymon on the snout. The bone beast turned and roared. It reached forward and made a grab at Dobermon but the black dog leapt free. "This isn't looking good!" The dog swung around and growled. "Grau Realm!" Shadow spheres enveloped Skull Greymon's head and joints. The beast growled in annoyance as he shook off the attack. Dobermon leapt backwards as a bony hand crashed down near him. "No, not good at all!"
The metal digimon had already retreated. Skull Greymon was now focusing his attention on Dobermon. The large spiked hound could only run and jump. His attacks had no noticeable affect on the beast.
"La Pucelle!" A strike of bright red lightning slammed into Skull Greymon's back. The beast let out a torture roar of anguish and dropped to its knees. The small victory didn't last long. Skull Greymon was up again. He turned his wild eyes on the angel that had struck him.
"D'Arcmon!" shouted Dobermon as the canine circled around to the angel. "He's extremely strong! We have to be careful!"
"Where did he come from?" growled the angel as she dove around Skull Greymon's claws.
"Well; it's Snow Agumon's Ultimate form," shouted Dobermon. He leapt over the bony tail of the dinosaur as it turned to catch the angel.
"We have to lead it from the city! Saberdramon took the girls to where we saw the boys hiding!" Youkomon shot by and swerved around in front of the beast. "Demon Fire Ball!" a purple ball of fire flew into Skull Greymon's face. The dinosaur roared angrily and reached out to snag the fox but D'Arcmon dropped down and rammed one of her swords between the dinosaur's wrist joints. Skull Greymon screamed in pain and his arm shot up flinging D'Arcmon into the air like a poorly thrown football. Skull Greymon swung his other hand around and grabbed Youkomon like a she was the rubber ball in a game of jacks and then flung her into a forward charging Dobermon.
The two canine digimon were sent tumbling backwards into a left over wall.
"Hey! Why don't have a little of me!" screeched a voice as a large black shadow loomed over the fire lit battle zone. Saberdramon glided over head and then wheeled around and folded her wings together. "Mach Shadow!" the pulses of black plasma rained down on the fossil. The beast swept its hand up and slapped the plasma away like it was a mass of insects. Its other hand reached up and grabbed the large bird and drew it forward and inspected the avian creature before opening its maw.
"Don't worry, Saberdramon, I'll save you!" a long aquamarine digimon slithered through the air. "Ice Blast!" a wave of white struck Skull Greymon in the chest. The digimon roared angrily and threw Saberdramon into the sea serpent.
"He's strong…" groaned Seadramon as he shifted to get Saberdramon off of him. The sea dragon rose from the debris. He flew forward. "Ice Blast!" Skull Greymon lifted a bony, white hand and deflected the blast. His other hand reached out and grabbed Seadramon by the tail.
"We need to free him!" Youkomon, D'Arcmon and Saberdramon flew forward. They gathered in a group and dove at Skull Greymon. The fossilized titan swung Seadramon like a whip and the four champions went crashing to the ground.
"Take this!" Dobermon leapt up on Skull Greymon's back and ran up its vertebrae opening his mouth. "Schwarz Strahl!" The black blast slammed in between the first two vertebrae. Skull Greymon twisted angrily and bucked throwing Dobermon off of him. The dinosaur then swung his tail around and snapped Dobermon into the pile of other champion digimon. The five champions groaned and de-digivolved to their rookie forms.
"We need to run…" said Labramon. The retriever lifted a paw slowly and then dropped it. "But maybe a little nap first…."
"I couldn't move if some one pushed me…" whispered Otamamon.
There was a loud roar and Renamon looked up. "Oh no…"
"Dark Shot!" growled the voice of Skull Greymon.
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Lucemon had been worried ever since that wave of darkness had struck. The city was now in flames. Smoke was rising up. He flapped his wings. Staggering in one of the streets was a group of seven children. The angel dropped down and landed in front of them.
"Where are the others?" asked the angel as he observed the lack of digimon.
"Fighting Skull Greymon," replied Brendan quietly. The group of children staggered off to a place to sit on the crumbling remains of a wall. Steven walked slowly with them holding Ryuudamon in his hands.
"No…" Lucemon looked up where the fire was the brightest, "Is that where Skull Greymon is?"
"Yeah…" whispered the children, sans Steven, in unison.
"It's really Snow Agumon, but I think I broke him," Kevin said quietly. He pushed off of the stone wall and started to walk away.
"Kevin ran in front of Assaultmon so that he would shoot him instead of me. Lucemon, don't go," Mark ran to the angel as he prepared to fly. The boy grabbed the angel's arm. "You can't go, Skull Greymon scared Assaultmon away….you'd get hurt!"
Lucemon was about to respond when there was a large black flash. A horrible wind threw the kids into the ground. Lucemon was sent swirling backwards his wings caught in the wind's lift. Mark was sent bouncing down the street.
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Renamon winced. She opened an eye curiously. "Why are we still alive?" Her instincts told her to open her arms and a weight dropped into them. The thing plopping in her arms shook her from her mental numbness. She looked down. The blackened and burned face of Sorcerymon was looking her in the eye.
"Sorcerymon," whispered Labramon. The retriever walked up to the fox and looked at the white wizard.
"Is he…?" Penguinmon peered over the retriever's shoulder.
"No, he's still alive…" said Tapirmon. The little purple elephantine creature hovered silently behind them.
"You should go," whispered Sorcerymon. His mouth guard was burned off, revealing his stitched up mouth. Long locks of hair were burned; some were dangling in patches where the follicles had melted together. "I will hold him off…" As if on cue Skull Greymon roared. "He has drained a lot of energy already…"
"You don't stand a chance," hissed Otamamon. "We had him five to one and look at what he did to us!"
"Just go, I'll deal with him," Sorcerymon stood and balanced on the remainder of his staff.
"But…" gulped Labramon and Penguinmon.
"You must survive to fight Assaultmon, my house is gone, my city is in ruins, and I have nothing to fight for, but you do have something. Let me do this…" Sorcerymon looked up at the flailing arms of Skull Greymon.
"Come along…" Renamon whispered in her hushed voice. "Let us go, Sorcerymon will have a tough bout on his hands without having to protect us as well." The fox drew her arms around Labramon and Penguinmon and herded them off. Otamamon and Tapirmon looked back skeptically. Renamon gave a little huff, "Come on…" Otamamon and Tapirmon blinked and then went after the fox. Skull Greymon roared loudly and turned his attention to the escaping prey.
"No! Over here, you pile of bones!" shouted Sorcerymon and he lifted his hand. A burst of blue lightning struck the dinosaur in the snout. Skull Greymon turned to the more 'formidable' prey. Sorcerymon narrowed his eyes and winced, "Yeah…come after me…"
The beast released a savage howl and reached out to grab the wizard. The clawed hands were grabbing hungrily at the wizard. The little white clothed humanoid digimon leapt over the claws. Sorcerymon swung the remains of his staff into one of the fingers which, resulted in the chunks of staff shattering in all directions.
The rookies were now out of sight. Sorcerymon lifted his hands and cupped them together forming a little bluish white ball of energy in his hands. "Crystal Ball!" the orb shot forward and cracked up in the creature's snout.
The skeleton growled in annoyance and dropped down on all fours. The orange missile on its back shuddered. "Dark Shot!"
"No!" Sorcerymon pushed his hand forward. A faded blue barrier shimmered forward to meet the missile. As the two strikes met they released a blast of energy backwards and side ways and a stream of black lightning struck forward, using Sorcerymon as a conductor to the ground. Sorcerymon fell backwards. Skull Greymon had disappeared in the back blast.
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"YOUKOMON!"
"DOBERMON!"
"SABERDRAMON!"
"SEADRAMON!"
"D'ARCMON!"
The five partners to the five champions screamed as the second blast blew them backwards down the street. The girls started to cry, Brendan was stunned and Jason only looked down in defeat.
"Don't cry…" Renamon was standing on the wobbly remnants of a metal reinforced wall.
Otamamon, Labramon, Penguinmon and Tapirmon were slowly moving down the street towards them. They were bruised and singed but were not as bad off as a large portion of the city.
"We must go back…" cried Penguinmon. "Sorcerymon, he saved us when we were beaten by Skull Greymon and then he was fending him off, but…"
"That second blast doesn't bode well," said Otamamon.
"It's gotten too quiet," said Tapirmon. He floated up to Brendan.
"Sorcerymon may have done it," Renamon jumped down as the wall slumped over. She landed next to Janet.
Labramon ran up to Michelle and hugged the girl, "We have to check it out…he could be badly hurt."
"He could be dying, it's the least we could do after what he did for us, Amy," said Penguinmon as the bird latched onto the girl's leg.
"Not only that, but we have to see what happened to Skull Greymon," said Brendan. He looked at Kevin, "He may have de-digivolved too…"
The brown haired boy looked up in surprise. "Maybe…but…I did something horrible to him. I can't go…"
"Kevin, you have to go, if Snow Agumon de-digivolves and he sees you have deserted him," Mark looked at the brown haired boy. "He'll think you won't want him around anymore."
"We have to look for survivors," said Jason as he walked around.
"Yes, let us go, just to find survivors," said Steven quietly. Ryuudamon was hanging gently at the blonde haired boy's side.
The group nodded and slowly moved forward. The apocalyptic look of the city deepened as they got closer to the battle zone. Buildings were vaporized. The remnants of buildings had the photo-negatives of shocked digimon; their data injected in the standing chunks of walls. Michelle was crying softly. The others were trying to hold back tears of their own. They came to the fires. Kevin sniffed. It was too much to know that he caused this. They came first silently, and then little gasps of breath came intermittently. He couldn't look up anymore.
"Sorcerymon!" yelped Janet. Kevin's eyes lifted a little to see a broken white figure lying on the ground. Beside the white figure was a plush pink ball with little ribbons for ears. Something in him snapped. He ran up to the ball and cradled it in his arms.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Kevin cried heavily in the soft pink ball. "I'm so very sorry. If I had known…"
"Kevin…" whimpered a little voice against his chest. "You're crushing me…."
"Sorcerymon!" Janet, Amy and Michelle were crowded around the digimon. His face was now completely charred. The little stitches around his mouth were severed and blood trickled lazily down his temple. His eyes were closed and a portion of his right, pointed ear seemed to have been burned off. His clothes were smoldering and patches were burned through. His arms were at odd angles his legs didn't look much better. His chest was barely lifting up and a rough rasp crackled from his lips when his chest fell. The wizard opened his eyes. They were a cream color, completely clouded.
"Please…Mr. Leomon, don't make me sit in the corner…" whispered the sorcerer. The muscles around his eyes tensed as he winced. "Why does it hurt so?"
"Sorcerymon…please…" Amy was crying. Tears fell on the digimon's face and trickled down along his burned face.
"Lucemon…" Janet turned to the angel, "please, Lucemon, please…"
Mark looked up at the angel. A wince covered Lucemon's face as he slowly walked forward. He looked down at the wizard. A cold sigh escaped his lips. Sorcerymon looked so much like Wizardmon. Lucemon lifted his hands and softly touched the wizard's body. The angel instantly pulled back. "His body is so broken…he's bleeding everywhere on the inside…There isn't much I can do…"
"Do what ever you can!" yelped Amy as she nearly pushed the angel towards the prone, defeated wizard.
"There is only one thing I can do…" whispered Lucemon. He lifted his eyes to Mark. A little tremble caused the angel's hands to flutter. "Forgive me, Sorcerymon, I hope this doesn't hurt too much…." The palms of Lucemon's hands glowed bright white. "Divine…."
"What is he doing!?" yelped Amy as she leapt for the angel.
"Feat," There was a pulse of light. Lucemon looked away and his wings drooped. The light faded revealing the last of Sorcerymon's data wafting away. Janet and Michelle looked in shock. Lucemon turned to face them. Amy, who had stopped when the burst of light erupted from the angel's palms, blinked and then continued forward. Her fist clenched she struck the angel across the jaw.
Lucemon didn't avoid it nor did he attempt to block it or even react to it. He looked at Amy quietly.
"You killed him!" shouted Amy she lifted her fist again and prepared another strike. Her fist flew at the angel again.
Lucemon's hand shot up and caught Amy's arm at the wrist. "He was already dead, even if I expended all of my energy into him, I could not heal Sorcerymon enough for him to have survived. I can only hope that his reformat is quick and painless." Amy looked at the angel in shock. Lucemon released the girl and walked past her without saying another word.
"Where'd Kevin and Koromon go?" asked Steven as he looked around. "For that matter, where's Jason?"
"Foot prints…" said Labramon dazedly. "Should we…?"
"Not quite yet…" said Janet quietly. She looked down the street. "Otamamon, maybe you should go after them just in case, but the rest of us should look for any survivors."
The children nodded, except for Amy who was silently trying to keep the tears back. They split up and started their search. Janet took Amy by the arm and gently walked with her.
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AN: Thanks to Alforce and to Lodis.
I know this is a very fast update, but this is one of those chapters that have been like a highlight that I've wanted to post since I've written it. This was…a chapter that when put in context with the others I hope shines, but the problem is, I'm afraid it will greatly out shine its neighbors. I think I'll explain why I chose Skull Greymon later; I want to see the reaction to it. The only problem I have with this chapter is that it feels too dark, it's kind of like a funnel, this chapter's edges were almost too steep for me to dig out of and I hope the next chapter is good enough for you. Till then have fun, and REVIEW…hehe…