Chapter 20 - Playing with Toys
"DOUBLE IMPACT!"
"PUPPET PUMMEL!"
"DEMON'S DISASTER!"
I hop-skipped backwards before back flipping over Behemoth. We had been going at it for quite some time now, and the fatigue was starting to get to me. I landed on one knee, and halted, breathing hard. Puppetmon threw out his hands and dark wires extended from his fingers enveloping me…
…And then they faded into nothing.
Puppetmon responded to this by jumping up and down like the spoiled brat that he was.
"WHY?! WHY?! Why can't I control you!! Grrrr! That makes me sooo mad! Beezlemon! Behemoth! I don't want to play with the toy soldier anymore! Go get them!"
"You little freak! I'll get you for this!"
Beezlemon was roaring at Puppetmon while he charged at me.
"DARKNESS CLAW!"
Sorry Beezlemon…
"JUDECCA PRISON!"
The blast from my shield knocked him back, and he landed on his head before falling over, looking pretty bruised. Puppetmon looked at me with undisguised hatred. I jumped to my feet and charged at him, hoping to take him now that Beezlemon was down.
No such luck.
Behemoth rammed me again, sending me sprawling. Puppetmon stuck out his tongue at me.
"PHBBBT! I'm done playing with you! Bye bye now!"
He draped Beezlemon over Behemoth and jumped on himself, roaring off into the twilight.
It's gonna be one of those days. Ah, who am I kidding. It's gonna be one of those weeks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scenery was beautiful. The cherry-trees were in full bloom, and their petals were scattered across the patio. The night was clear, the stars twinkling brightly against the dark expanse, and the nearly full moon was un-obscured by even a single wisp of a cloud. In the center of the elegant patio, danced several couples, but I was having a hard time concentrating on anything other than my partner.
She was dressed in a green v-necked, floor length dress with slits up the side. Her earrings were a heart shaped kunzite, and her hair was done in an elegant fashion.
I felt like a clod of dirt in my rented tuxedo.
"I'm not sure that this is such a good idea Mimi…"
"Don't be silly, Izzy. Of course it will work."
"That doesn't help the fact that my knees won't stop shaking."
"Relax, you're doing fine."
"Maybe. But what if he doesn't show tonight?"
"Then we'll try again another night."
Why me? Why?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What in the…
Upon my return, Azulongmon had made Gennai put out a call to the Digidestined. The meeting was scheduled for five minutes ago. Attendance was surprisingly low.
Specifically, Cody, Ken, and Davis were here.
Okaaay…
"So, um, where is everyone."
"On dates."
I looked at Davis. My voice was rather flat.
"What?"
"Not my fault!"
"Dates."
"Um, yeah…"
I groaned and put my head in my hands. Suddenly there was a huffing from behind us.
"Sorry I'm late!"
Joe came up behind us. I rolled my eyes.
"And where were you?"
"Studying."
"Yeah, studying with…mmph!!!"
Joe had his hand over Gomamon's mouth. We stared at him. He looked back.
"What?"
"Nothing."
I took a look around.
"Well, we're probably better off that TK's not here anyways. I ran off today because someone was opening the Dark Gates. The ones to the Dark Ocean."
Cody looked at me funny.
"You suspect TK?"
I blinked.
"No. I found out why the Dark Gates were opened, and they won't be a problem for a bit, but…"
"What?"
"Patience Davis. A digimon I know came through unintentionally, an Impmon. He's become a mega level named Beezlemon, and currently, and this is the reason we might be better off without TK, Puppetmon has control of him."
Joe's eyes were wide.
"Puppetmon…"
"Yep. Beezlemon is incredibly powerful, possibly even more so than Imperialdramon. He's more confused than anything else, but with Puppetmon controlling him…"
"You're sure it isn't an act?"
"You're the last person I would expect to ask that, Ken, but yes, I'm sure it isn't an act. Beezlemon doesn't exactly play well with others."
I grimaced.
"Sorry about the pun."
Cody, serious as always, got straight to the point.
"So where are they?"
I shuffled my feet nervously.
"I don't know."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"So what? We split up and find them, then we kick their asses!"
"Davis!"
I cleared my throat to get their attention.
"Actually, Davis has the right answer. We need to find them before they cause more damage."
Ken nodded.
"Right. Davis and I will go north, and you three can go south, all right?"
I nodded.
"If you see them, call the others immediately. Let's go."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I watched the stars from my apartment balcony. Something was up, I knew it. Joe was kind and responsible, and never did anything without purpose.
So why exactly did he suddenly rush out with some flimsy excuse?
It was more than a little odd. There was a slight ringing from his pocket, and he excused himself to answer it. When he came back his eyes were a little wild.
"Sorry Carmela, we'll have to do this another time."
"Why? What happened?"
"Some friends of mine got into trouble and I need to go help them."
"You mean they need you to bail them out again."
"Huh?"
"Joe, your friends keep getting into trouble. I was in some of your classes last year, remember? You made some excuses about your friends then too."
"Carmela, it's not what you think. They just need some help with something they can't handle alone. I'm sorry, but I have to go."
And he just rushed out the door.
I sighed.
Joe was a mystery; one I hoped I would figure out soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't get it. What is it about him that seems off? Why can't I bring myself to trust him?
I looked forward. Takato was in front of us, wearing that black shirt, jeans and his single glove. I suddenly heard a crunch under my shoe. I stopped and looked down. Underneath my foot was a black and red digivice that was in the shape of Joe's.
Takato's digivice…
And it was now shattered beneath my foot.
"Takato…"
He looked back over his shoulder at me, a half formed smile on his face.
"Yeah Cody?"
"Um, I well…"
I gestured down at my feet. He frowned for a moment, then gave out a little laugh.
"I never did have any luck with these things."
What the…
"You're not… worried?"
He glanced over at Joe.
"No. I'm not. It's not my real digivice anyways, just a decoy that Azulongmon gave me so I could fit in."
"His world would be a hostile place for him right now…"
Suddenly it hit me. Why I didn't trust Takato.
Why? Why can't he go home?
Well, the only way to learn anything is to ask…
"Why can't you go home Takato?"
He looked at me, then down at his shoes.
"It's a long story."
"I imagine we'll have time as we walk."
He nodded slowly.
"With Azulongmon's restrictions, I can only give you the abbreviated version, but…"
"Go ahead."
He nodded at Joe, and we continued walking. He stopped and rested his hand on BlackGuilmon's head.
"You smell Impmon boy?"
"Nope. Sorry Takatomon."
"It's okay boy."
He patted BlackGuilmon on the head.
"My friends and I were traveling the digital world in southern continent to rescue a friend. Eventually, we encountered Beezlemon. My friend, Jeri… she had a Leomon for a partner you know? Beezlemon deleted him in an instant. And there's no primary village in the southern quadrant either."
His voice was pained.
"I went nuts after that. I digivolved BlackGuilmon here, a regular Guilmon then, into his ultimate form, but we weren't strong enough. So, in my anger, I got BlackGuilmon to go mega. He turned into Megidramon. We were both crazy with bloodlust then. Megidramon deleted Beezlemon, but my friends were horrified at what I had done. So I left."
"So you just ran from your friends? Sounds a little odd to me."
"No. That wasn't all of it. I tried to go home first, but my parents were killed by… well, it doesn't matter. They were dead. I destroyed those responsible, but…"
"But…?"
He shrugged.
"When I woke up, I was in the Dark Ocean."
"Oh."
Joe looked at Takato a little oddly.
"Was it the same Beezlemon we're going after?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you so convinced of his innocence?"
"Because everyone deserves a second chance."
I nodded a little. Then I remembered what started all of this.
"If that wasn't your digivice, where is yours? Do you even have one?"
He chuckled.
"Yeah, I've got one."
His glove glowed then, and the symbol on the top rose up. He gestured at it.
"This is my digivice."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was about to ask Takato about why his digivice was so different from any other model I had seen when a rumble screamed through the night. We all looked in the direction it came from.
"DOUBLE IMPACT!"
Takato narrowed his eyes, then pointed his palm at BlackGuilmon. A red light burst out.
Flash
Digivolution_
BlackGuilmon Flash Digivolve to… BlackWarGrowlmon!
I looked at Cody and nodded.
Digivolution_
Gomamon Digivolve to… Ikkakumon!
Ikkakumon Digivolve to… Zudomon!
Armadillomon Digivolve to… Anklyomon!
"RADIATION EDGE!"
BlackWarGrowlmon slammed into the bike with his arm blades and held it fast. It had two riders, Puppetmon, and what was obviously Beezlemon.
"VULCAN'S HAMMER!"
"TAIL HAMMER!"
The motorcycle, Behemoth, was slowly pushing BlackWarGrowlmon back, while our attacks had no effect. Next to me Cody was e-mailing Ken and Davis. Takato seemed to be stuck in the same position as his digimon. Then they both screamed at the same time.
"ATOMIC…"
"…BLASTER!"
BlackWarGrowlmon finnished the attack, and twin beams shot out of the cannons on the sides of BlackWarGrowlmon's chest plate. They hit the bike at close range and it shattered like a pane of glass. Puppetmon and Beezlemon attacked.
"PUPPET PUMMEL!"
"DARKNESS CLAW!"
Then Takato reached for his waist.
DIGI-MODIFY! Power Activate!
BlackWarGrowlmon, who had been struggling to hold Beezlemon's claw back, suddenly had no trouble; in fact, he reversed the move and charged into Beezlemon, thrusters flaring. Puppetmon's attack simply pinged against the armored exoskeleton.
"Wow! You really beefed pineapple head up Takato. Time was that would never have worked."
Takato smirked.
"This is only the beginning."
Puppetmon looked really steamed.
"Beezlemon! Stop holding back and destroy this fool! The other two are mine!"
Puppetmon charged at us.
"HORN AND TUSK!"
"MEGATON PRESS!"
Zudomon's attack managed to knock Puppetmon off balance, and then Anklyomon body slammed him. Puppetmon threw him off almost without effort.
"PUPPET PUMMEL!"
The attack headed straight for Anklyomon.
"I don't need any of these weak toys!"
"You monster! I won't let you destroy him!"
Cody ran out and straight for his digimon, while something rooted me in place.
"ANKLYOMON!"
Digivolution_
Anklyomon Digivolve to… Scorpiomon!
The newly evolved Scorpiomon was thrown back, but was not as heavily damaged as Anklyomon would have been.
"Zudomon!"
"Right Joe! VULCAN'S HAMMER"
"TAIL BLADE!"
The attacks knocked Puppetmon back, but I knew it was only a matter of time.
He is mega after all.
"DOUBLE IMPACT!"
BlackGuilmon shot back through our melee, and Takato followed.
"BlackGuilmon! You okay boy?"
Puppetmon just laughed.
"HEHEHEHE! We broke their toys! Now for the last laugh! Stay here toy!"
Beezlemon looked at Puppetmon with a look of undisguised hatred.
"When I get loose you toothpick, you are one dead tree! I AM NO ONE'S TOY!"
"HEHEHEHE! Just watch the show, toy! PUPPET PUMMEL!"
Zudomon was slammed back, and he dedigivolved.
"Gomamon!"
He leered at Scorpiomon next. One attack later and Cody was cradling Armadillomon. He looked at Takato and BlackGuilmon next.
"You're a big toy, but you're not very durable! Only the toughest toys will do! I don't want to play with you anymore!"
He raised his hammer, and time itself seemed to slow as he brought it down.
"PUPPET PU-"
"GIGA DEATH!"
Puppetmon was suddenly slammed back by the oversized hand of Imperialdramon: Fighter Mode. I looked up with relief to see Ken and Davis being set down gently by the dragon-man. Davis grinned.
"Can we play?"
"DOUBLE IMPACT!"
"PUPPET PUMMEL!"
"DEMON'S DISASTER!"
I hop-skipped backwards before back flipping over Behemoth. We had been going at it for quite some time now, and the fatigue was starting to get to me. I landed on one knee, and halted, breathing hard. Puppetmon threw out his hands and dark wires extended from his fingers enveloping me…
…And then they faded into nothing.
Puppetmon responded to this by jumping up and down like the spoiled brat that he was.
"WHY?! WHY?! Why can't I control you!! Grrrr! That makes me sooo mad! Beezlemon! Behemoth! I don't want to play with the toy soldier anymore! Go get them!"
"You little freak! I'll get you for this!"
Beezlemon was roaring at Puppetmon while he charged at me.
"DARKNESS CLAW!"
Sorry Beezlemon…
"JUDECCA PRISON!"
The blast from my shield knocked him back, and he landed on his head before falling over, looking pretty bruised. Puppetmon looked at me with undisguised hatred. I jumped to my feet and charged at him, hoping to take him now that Beezlemon was down.
No such luck.
Behemoth rammed me again, sending me sprawling. Puppetmon stuck out his tongue at me.
"PHBBBT! I'm done playing with you! Bye bye now!"
He draped Beezlemon over Behemoth and jumped on himself, roaring off into the twilight.
It's gonna be one of those days. Ah, who am I kidding. It's gonna be one of those weeks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scenery was beautiful. The cherry-trees were in full bloom, and their petals were scattered across the patio. The night was clear, the stars twinkling brightly against the dark expanse, and the nearly full moon was un-obscured by even a single wisp of a cloud. In the center of the elegant patio, danced several couples, but I was having a hard time concentrating on anything other than my partner.
She was dressed in a green v-necked, floor length dress with slits up the side. Her earrings were a heart shaped kunzite, and her hair was done in an elegant fashion.
I felt like a clod of dirt in my rented tuxedo.
"I'm not sure that this is such a good idea Mimi…"
"Don't be silly, Izzy. Of course it will work."
"That doesn't help the fact that my knees won't stop shaking."
"Relax, you're doing fine."
"Maybe. But what if he doesn't show tonight?"
"Then we'll try again another night."
Why me? Why?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What in the…
Upon my return, Azulongmon had made Gennai put out a call to the Digidestined. The meeting was scheduled for five minutes ago. Attendance was surprisingly low.
Specifically, Cody, Ken, and Davis were here.
Okaaay…
"So, um, where is everyone."
"On dates."
I looked at Davis. My voice was rather flat.
"What?"
"Not my fault!"
"Dates."
"Um, yeah…"
I groaned and put my head in my hands. Suddenly there was a huffing from behind us.
"Sorry I'm late!"
Joe came up behind us. I rolled my eyes.
"And where were you?"
"Studying."
"Yeah, studying with…mmph!!!"
Joe had his hand over Gomamon's mouth. We stared at him. He looked back.
"What?"
"Nothing."
I took a look around.
"Well, we're probably better off that TK's not here anyways. I ran off today because someone was opening the Dark Gates. The ones to the Dark Ocean."
Cody looked at me funny.
"You suspect TK?"
I blinked.
"No. I found out why the Dark Gates were opened, and they won't be a problem for a bit, but…"
"What?"
"Patience Davis. A digimon I know came through unintentionally, an Impmon. He's become a mega level named Beezlemon, and currently, and this is the reason we might be better off without TK, Puppetmon has control of him."
Joe's eyes were wide.
"Puppetmon…"
"Yep. Beezlemon is incredibly powerful, possibly even more so than Imperialdramon. He's more confused than anything else, but with Puppetmon controlling him…"
"You're sure it isn't an act?"
"You're the last person I would expect to ask that, Ken, but yes, I'm sure it isn't an act. Beezlemon doesn't exactly play well with others."
I grimaced.
"Sorry about the pun."
Cody, serious as always, got straight to the point.
"So where are they?"
I shuffled my feet nervously.
"I don't know."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"So what? We split up and find them, then we kick their asses!"
"Davis!"
I cleared my throat to get their attention.
"Actually, Davis has the right answer. We need to find them before they cause more damage."
Ken nodded.
"Right. Davis and I will go north, and you three can go south, all right?"
I nodded.
"If you see them, call the others immediately. Let's go."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I watched the stars from my apartment balcony. Something was up, I knew it. Joe was kind and responsible, and never did anything without purpose.
So why exactly did he suddenly rush out with some flimsy excuse?
It was more than a little odd. There was a slight ringing from his pocket, and he excused himself to answer it. When he came back his eyes were a little wild.
"Sorry Carmela, we'll have to do this another time."
"Why? What happened?"
"Some friends of mine got into trouble and I need to go help them."
"You mean they need you to bail them out again."
"Huh?"
"Joe, your friends keep getting into trouble. I was in some of your classes last year, remember? You made some excuses about your friends then too."
"Carmela, it's not what you think. They just need some help with something they can't handle alone. I'm sorry, but I have to go."
And he just rushed out the door.
I sighed.
Joe was a mystery; one I hoped I would figure out soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't get it. What is it about him that seems off? Why can't I bring myself to trust him?
I looked forward. Takato was in front of us, wearing that black shirt, jeans and his single glove. I suddenly heard a crunch under my shoe. I stopped and looked down. Underneath my foot was a black and red digivice that was in the shape of Joe's.
Takato's digivice…
And it was now shattered beneath my foot.
"Takato…"
He looked back over his shoulder at me, a half formed smile on his face.
"Yeah Cody?"
"Um, I well…"
I gestured down at my feet. He frowned for a moment, then gave out a little laugh.
"I never did have any luck with these things."
What the…
"You're not… worried?"
He glanced over at Joe.
"No. I'm not. It's not my real digivice anyways, just a decoy that Azulongmon gave me so I could fit in."
"His world would be a hostile place for him right now…"
Suddenly it hit me. Why I didn't trust Takato.
Why? Why can't he go home?
Well, the only way to learn anything is to ask…
"Why can't you go home Takato?"
He looked at me, then down at his shoes.
"It's a long story."
"I imagine we'll have time as we walk."
He nodded slowly.
"With Azulongmon's restrictions, I can only give you the abbreviated version, but…"
"Go ahead."
He nodded at Joe, and we continued walking. He stopped and rested his hand on BlackGuilmon's head.
"You smell Impmon boy?"
"Nope. Sorry Takatomon."
"It's okay boy."
He patted BlackGuilmon on the head.
"My friends and I were traveling the digital world in southern continent to rescue a friend. Eventually, we encountered Beezlemon. My friend, Jeri… she had a Leomon for a partner you know? Beezlemon deleted him in an instant. And there's no primary village in the southern quadrant either."
His voice was pained.
"I went nuts after that. I digivolved BlackGuilmon here, a regular Guilmon then, into his ultimate form, but we weren't strong enough. So, in my anger, I got BlackGuilmon to go mega. He turned into Megidramon. We were both crazy with bloodlust then. Megidramon deleted Beezlemon, but my friends were horrified at what I had done. So I left."
"So you just ran from your friends? Sounds a little odd to me."
"No. That wasn't all of it. I tried to go home first, but my parents were killed by… well, it doesn't matter. They were dead. I destroyed those responsible, but…"
"But…?"
He shrugged.
"When I woke up, I was in the Dark Ocean."
"Oh."
Joe looked at Takato a little oddly.
"Was it the same Beezlemon we're going after?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you so convinced of his innocence?"
"Because everyone deserves a second chance."
I nodded a little. Then I remembered what started all of this.
"If that wasn't your digivice, where is yours? Do you even have one?"
He chuckled.
"Yeah, I've got one."
His glove glowed then, and the symbol on the top rose up. He gestured at it.
"This is my digivice."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was about to ask Takato about why his digivice was so different from any other model I had seen when a rumble screamed through the night. We all looked in the direction it came from.
"DOUBLE IMPACT!"
Takato narrowed his eyes, then pointed his palm at BlackGuilmon. A red light burst out.
Flash
Digivolution_
BlackGuilmon Flash Digivolve to… BlackWarGrowlmon!
I looked at Cody and nodded.
Digivolution_
Gomamon Digivolve to… Ikkakumon!
Ikkakumon Digivolve to… Zudomon!
Armadillomon Digivolve to… Anklyomon!
"RADIATION EDGE!"
BlackWarGrowlmon slammed into the bike with his arm blades and held it fast. It had two riders, Puppetmon, and what was obviously Beezlemon.
"VULCAN'S HAMMER!"
"TAIL HAMMER!"
The motorcycle, Behemoth, was slowly pushing BlackWarGrowlmon back, while our attacks had no effect. Next to me Cody was e-mailing Ken and Davis. Takato seemed to be stuck in the same position as his digimon. Then they both screamed at the same time.
"ATOMIC…"
"…BLASTER!"
BlackWarGrowlmon finnished the attack, and twin beams shot out of the cannons on the sides of BlackWarGrowlmon's chest plate. They hit the bike at close range and it shattered like a pane of glass. Puppetmon and Beezlemon attacked.
"PUPPET PUMMEL!"
"DARKNESS CLAW!"
Then Takato reached for his waist.
DIGI-MODIFY! Power Activate!
BlackWarGrowlmon, who had been struggling to hold Beezlemon's claw back, suddenly had no trouble; in fact, he reversed the move and charged into Beezlemon, thrusters flaring. Puppetmon's attack simply pinged against the armored exoskeleton.
"Wow! You really beefed pineapple head up Takato. Time was that would never have worked."
Takato smirked.
"This is only the beginning."
Puppetmon looked really steamed.
"Beezlemon! Stop holding back and destroy this fool! The other two are mine!"
Puppetmon charged at us.
"HORN AND TUSK!"
"MEGATON PRESS!"
Zudomon's attack managed to knock Puppetmon off balance, and then Anklyomon body slammed him. Puppetmon threw him off almost without effort.
"PUPPET PUMMEL!"
The attack headed straight for Anklyomon.
"I don't need any of these weak toys!"
"You monster! I won't let you destroy him!"
Cody ran out and straight for his digimon, while something rooted me in place.
"ANKLYOMON!"
Digivolution_
Anklyomon Digivolve to… Scorpiomon!
The newly evolved Scorpiomon was thrown back, but was not as heavily damaged as Anklyomon would have been.
"Zudomon!"
"Right Joe! VULCAN'S HAMMER"
"TAIL BLADE!"
The attacks knocked Puppetmon back, but I knew it was only a matter of time.
He is mega after all.
"DOUBLE IMPACT!"
BlackGuilmon shot back through our melee, and Takato followed.
"BlackGuilmon! You okay boy?"
Puppetmon just laughed.
"HEHEHEHE! We broke their toys! Now for the last laugh! Stay here toy!"
Beezlemon looked at Puppetmon with a look of undisguised hatred.
"When I get loose you toothpick, you are one dead tree! I AM NO ONE'S TOY!"
"HEHEHEHE! Just watch the show, toy! PUPPET PUMMEL!"
Zudomon was slammed back, and he dedigivolved.
"Gomamon!"
He leered at Scorpiomon next. One attack later and Cody was cradling Armadillomon. He looked at Takato and BlackGuilmon next.
"You're a big toy, but you're not very durable! Only the toughest toys will do! I don't want to play with you anymore!"
He raised his hammer, and time itself seemed to slow as he brought it down.
"PUPPET PU-"
"GIGA DEATH!"
Puppetmon was suddenly slammed back by the oversized hand of Imperialdramon: Fighter Mode. I looked up with relief to see Ken and Davis being set down gently by the dragon-man. Davis grinned.
"Can we play?"