The entire group was back together, but there was no cause for celebration.
Their digimon were so weak from continuous digivolving, they could barely
stand. The underground had been crushed. Joe, Mimi, Sora, Biyomon, Gomamon,
Gabumon, Izzy, Michael, everybody had been captured. Only Agumon was still
with them, along with Ken and Wormon, except Ken was only there since he
had no other allies now that the underground was gone.
"We've got to keep moving." Ken said. "Myotismon most likely has forces searching in the area."
"Since when did we take orders from you?" Davis angrily questioned.
"Since I am the only one with more than half a brain. If I didn't realize Lillymon was a traitor, we'd all be decorating cells along with Joe and the others." Ken replied with a huff.
"Listen, Ken, look at all our digimon." Kari pointed to the group. All the digimon sported bruises and tiny cuts from their previous battles with Lillymon, Myotismon and various other digimon. Patamon had already fallen asleep on TK's head, his bullet wound sporting a few drops of dried crimson blood on his abdomen. Gatomon's eye was still swelled shut and the previous battles had reopened the wound her counterpart gave her on her back. Armadillomon had a large bump on his head from Lillymon's blast; he just woke up a few seconds ago. Hawkmon had a puffy eye as well from Gomamon's spire induced rage, plus a few bruised ribs from Evil Gatomon and Myotismon. Veemon's ankle still hurt from that fall he took from Lillymon's bio-dome, and his subsequent battles with Lillymon had also taken their toll. All of them had gone through so many digivolutions and battles, and had barely eaten since they arrived in this alternate reality. None of them had the strength to digivolve again. Even holding their rookie forms was a bit of a challenge. "If we get attacked, they're going to be of no help."
Ken was going to yell at her for speaking out of turn to the Digimon Emperor, but he realized she was right. This pathetic group wouldn't be able to take on a Gazimon in their condition. The only reason they escaped in the first place was a stroke of luck and skill on his part. But as much as he hated to admit it, he needed their protection. "I forgot you were all so soft." Ken pointed to an old arcade. "We'll take refuge in there for a few hours. It's a safe a place as any."
Everyone grumbled, but followed Ken inside anyway, not noticing a figure watching them enter from a dark alley. Kari took her backpack off, which contained some food she got from the underground, as well as Wizardmon's magic rod. They had eaten a bit in Joe's Church, except for TK, Davis and Veemon. They finished off their meager meal, giving the bulk of the food to TK, Davis, and Veemon. Ken finished his crackers from his secluded corner. He didn't eat with commoners. Ken stood up with a flurry of his cape. "I suggest you sleep. I plan to be far away from this place as soon as possible."
"Why are we taking orders from him?" Hawkmon questioned. He was in no mood to put up with Ken's ego.
"He's our only help in this world, I hate to admit it." Yolei replied. What did she ever see in that arrogant jerk? "He might know how to stop the spires."
"Worry about that later." Cody replied. "We should get some sleep." For the inevitable upcoming battle. And I plan on being on the winning side. Cody thought to himself as he curled up next to an arcade machine along with Armadillomon. Soon the whole group was asleep, the day taking its toll.
Veemon was having a horrible nightmare. He was in the middle of a darkened room. Ladydevimon was in front of him. Veemon had never met Ladydevimon face to face, but the sight of her now filled Veemon with dread. Two identical Gatomon were chained to the wall on either side of her. "It's a simple test Veemon. One is your Gatomon, and one is ours. Pick the right one, it should be easy for the one you love." Ladydevimon then disappeared, leaving Veemon and the two Gatomon.
"I'm the real one!" The Gatomon on the left called.
"No, she's not!" The Gatomon on the right replied.
"She's a liar!" The left Gatomon shouted back.
"You're the liar!" The right Gatomon countered.
Veemon looked back and forth, trying to make up his mind. Ladydevimon's voice spoke from the darkness. "Choose quickly.."
"I eh.um." Veemon stuttered. Veemon couldn't tell the difference. He pointed to the right one. "Her."
The chains of the right Gatomon snapped off, and the free Gatomon rubbed her wrists. "Veemon?"
Veemon walked up to Gatomon. "Is that you?"
Gatomon placed her paws on Veemon's shoulder. She kissed him on the lips. Veemon closed his eyes, returning the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her back. Gatomon broke the kiss after a minute and smiled at Veemon, answering his question. "No."
Gatomon pushed Veemon back with surprising force. Veemon landed on the ground, just in time to see the Gatomon he just kissed plunge her claws into the chained up Gatomon's belly. Veemon tried to scream as the real Gatomon's from broke up, Veemon's name worded on her lips before she was completely gone. The lights suddenly completely dimmed out, leaving a grieving Veemon in near darkness. Veemon watched in horror as he could barely see two blue eyes moving towards him, and a gold ring flashing behind the eyes. Evil Gatomon began singing softly as she advanced. "Veemon, Veemon, a brave digimon at heart. Can't even tell his girlfriends apart."
A thousand gold rings and two thousand blue eyes filled the room, and a thousand voices chorused as the eyes moved closer and closer to Veemon. "Veemon, Veemon, a brave digimon at heart. Can't even tell his girlfriends apart."
Veemon awoke with a start, sweat pouring from every blue pore of his body. He looked around, blinking twice in the darkened game room. Dragon type digimon tended to have decent night vision, so he could see rather well even with the lack of light. Everybody was asleep, but Veemon focused on Gatomon. She was asleep, curled up in a little ball. Veemon got up, tiptoeing not to wake anyone, although they were so tired a herd of Monochronomon wouldn't wake them, Veemon figured. He went over to Gatomon and knelt down by her. Veemon studied her closely. Could this be the real Gatomon? So far Lillymon had fooled him, twice. Gatomon fooled him and everybody else as well. How could he be sure this was his Gatomon? Veemon put a finger gently on her cheek.
Two strong paws grabbed his arm. Before Veemon could take a breath, he was flipped up and over into the next room, landing in a well of plastic multi colored balls. Veemon blinked in surprise as he swam in the sea of colors. "Oops." Gatomon was perched on top of the side of the pool, a look of shock on her face. "Sorry Veemon, I just."
"Tossed me like a rag doll?" Veemon smiled. "Boy you have fast reflexes."
Gatomon smiled back. "I just felt something brush my cheek, and when I woke up, I saw a digimon standing over me. I didn't take a close enough look. I guess I've been a bit high strung lately."
"My fault, I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that." Veemon rubbed his head and closed his eyes, laughing uncomfortably as he lay in the toy balls.
"Why were you over me?" Gatomon asked quizzically.
Veemon blushed. "I.er.wanted to make sure you were you."
"And how did you plan on doing that?" Gatomon jumped into the ball pit as well. "That bitch even fooled Kari." Gatomon swore, even surprising herself. She didn't realize how strong her feelings where against her doppelganger.
"Well, I thought I knew how you looked like pretty well, I mean I've been staring at you ever since I got out from under that digi egg, you'd think I'd be able to recognize an imposter." Veemon answered.
"You've been staring at me?" Gatomon was actually taken aback by this. Veemon had a crush on her? She was surprised Davis kept his mouth shut about it, although Gatomon would have thought she had noticed Veemon's crush on her. Gatomon had not really given any serious thought about it before. But Veemon was a brave digimon, and obviously infatuated with her. Not to mention he was cute, if not very well spoken.
"Um.no.er.yeah.I mean.oh boy." Veemon was stumbling all over himself. He tried not to make himself sound like some sort of stalker, but the words weren't coming out so well. His lisp became worse the more he fumbled for the right words. He was becoming so flustered that Gatomon began to chuckle, which slowly turned into a muffled laughter. Gatomon saw Veemon's face turning red, giving his blue face an off shade of purple. She couldn't contain her self any longer. Gatomon fell on her back in the colored sea, covering her mouth with her paws in order to keep from waking anybody else, although everyone was so far asleep it would take a raging battle to wake any of them up. Veemon stopped trying to vainly explain himself. "Is something wrong?"
"Sorry Veemon." Gatomon wiped a tear from her eye. She calmed down enough to speak regularly. "I guess I just needed that. I haven't laughed since I arrived in this world."
Veemon blushed again. "I hope you don't think I'm some sort of pervertmon."
Gatomon waded through the balls next to Veemon. "Not in the slightest. I think it was very sweet, if not very eloquent." She gave Veemon a hug, wrapping her arms around Veemon's back.
Veemon returned the hug, unsure what exactly it meant. A hug as a friend? A companion? Or maybe something a little more....When Gatomon kissed him lightly on the lips, which nearly bowled him over. "MMmmm?" Gatomon wasn't sure why she kissed Veemon all of a sudden. Maybe because of that Gazimon in Myotismon's castle? Maybe she did think of Veemon more of a friend? Gatomon wasn't sure. So much had happened. Maybve she was just proving to herself that she was not like that Evil Gatomon from this world, that she was able to show she cared... Veemon broke the kiss, blown away. He had had a crush on Gatomon for almost as long as he knew her. He had always wondered what it would be like to kiss her, and in fact had imagined what it would be like, although he never thought it would be in a toy bin of colour balls in an alternate universe. But Veemon was happy it happend just the same, to be honest he had always been afraid that Gatomon had a crush on Patamon, not him. Veemon ran a hand over Gatomon's ears. "I could stay like this for the rest of my life." Gatomon and Veemon hugeed tightly.
"A very easily obtained goal." Gatomon and Veemon looked up, just in time to see Phantomon shimmer into view. "Geno-scythe!"
Veemon and Gatomon leapt in opposite directions, Phantomon's attack slicing the pit in half. Plastic balls flew everywhere. "Vee Headbutt!" Veemon cried, charging Phantomon with his rock hard skull. Phantomon countered with his metal ball, knocking Veemon into an old car racing machine. Veemon's soft groans could be heard from the wreckage.
"Lightning claw!" Gatomon's claws moved liked a flash of light. Phantomon swung his ball again, his chain wrapping around Gatomon's neck as she flew past.
Phantomon held the cat above the ground off her feet, chuckling as Gatomon struggled for air. "Do we really need you? We already have one Gatomon."
"NO!" Kari jumped off a pinball machine, landing on Phantomon's head. He dropped Gatomon in surprise, the feline gasping for breath.
Phantomon threw Kari off him. The young girl landed on the ground with a grunt, knocking the wind out of her. She was lifted off again by Phantomon's ball and chain, which he wrapped around her arms and body, after removing her D3 digivice. The rest of the group had awakened from the sounds of battle, and had run into this room shortly after Kari. "Come everybody, we've got to help Kari!" Davis shouted.
"Digivolve to Angemon, he destroyed Phantomon in our world!" TK shouted at Patamon.
Phantomon brought the blade of his scythe to Kari's neck. "I am in no mood to fight." Kari was too petrified to speak as the razor edge rested against her skin.
"Ladydevimon wants us alive." Cody warned, reminding Phantomon.
"I know that.Cody." Phantomon almost said Lord Delta, but stopped himself. "But Ladydevimon wouldn't mind if I scarred up this pretty face, am I right?"
(You're probably right.) Cody thought. (Ladydevimon's only requirement was breathing.) Another figure had crawled up on to an arcade machine behind Phantomon. (Had Phantomon brought help?)
"Now, throw your D3's over here." Phantomon pressed the blade into Kari's skin. "Now."
"Don't do it!" Kari shouted as she struggled, but Cody, Yolei, Davis, and TK complied anyway, throwing their four digivices in a pile under Phantomon. Everyone then turned and looked at Ken. Ken smirked. "I care nothing for any of you. Don't expect me to give up mine."
"That's a shame." Phantomon replied. "I don't think this girl will be getting too many dates when I'm done with her."
"NOT AGAIN!" The figure jumped on Phantomon, grabbing the blade and twisting with what seemed to be inhuman strength. Phantomon dropped his ball and chain as he battled his new opponent.
Kari fell to the ground, throwing the chain off her. She looked up as an older boy with long brown hair and shattered goggles grappled with Phantomon. "Tai?!"
Phantomon threw Tai off. His ball and chain flew back to him by his own mental command. Tai got up and held up his fists. "I lost her once, I won't lose her again!" His eyes, once filled with madness, were replaced with one's filled with anger and determination.
"You have no say in the matter." Phantomon raised his blade.
"Let's get that dirty laundry sheet y'all!" Armadillomon announced.
Phantomon swooped down, picking up the digivices in his sleeve. "And how do you plan on doing that as mere rookies?" Phantomon turned to Tai. "You die first, for daring to attack me."
"I won't let you!" Agumon leapt at Phantomon, welling up a fireball in his mouth.
Phantomon struck the rookie reptile with the back of his scythe before Agumon could shoot. Agumon flew back, hitting the wall hard. "As I said before, you have no say in the matter." Phantomon charged Tai, his blade raised. Everyone watched in horror.
"I will not allow this nightmare to continue!" Tai pulled out two objects from behind his back. "I've had enough of my personal hell, it's time for one of yours!" He pointed an aerosol can at Phantomon, spraying the contents at the ghost.
Phantomon chuckled as he stopped his blade inches from Tai's face. "Hair spray? You truly are mad."
"Actually, for the first time in years, I can think clearly." Tai took the second object and held in front of the first. Tai flicked the lighter on. Phantomon screamed as he was engulfed in flames, his greatest weakness. His shawl burst into fire as Phantomon let out a blood-curdling scream.
Phantomon screamed as he twisted left and right, trying to beat out the blaze. The digivices dropped from his sleeve and on the ground. Tai picked up Agumon. "Grab them and let's get out of here!"
Everyone instantly complied. Tai ran out of the building last, carrying Agumon's slumped form. He placed Agumon gently on the street, and looked at the group, till he found Kari. "Kari?" Tai whispered.
Kari broke into tears, hugging Tai. "Tai, you're back!"
Tai was crying too, years of emotion pouring out. "I'm sorry. I let you die. Then you came back. I thought it was a trick, my mind and I almost let you die again." Tai fell to his knees, Kari going along with him. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't let it happen again, couldn't."
"Hush Tai. It's ok." Kari hugged Tai tighter. "I'm here now."
"NOT for much longer!" Phantomon flew out of the arcade. His shawl was black and charred. Before anyone could react, Phantomon's chain wrapped around Tai's neck, pulling him off the ground.
"TAI!" Kari screamed as Tai was yanked from her grasp.
"We'll stop him!" Agumon announced as he stood up weakly.
Phantomon smirked. "You and what army. That one? Oh wait, that's mine."
A quick glance behind them saw several viral digimon advancing on them. "Get out of here!" Tai screamed as he struggled with Phantomon.
"We won't leave you Tai!" Kari screamed.
"I won't either Tai! Pepper Breath!" Agumon fired a blast of flames at Phantomon, but the ghost dodged as he flew up in the air out of reach.
"Whoever you are, protect my sister." Phantomon carried Tai higher up in the air. "Don't let her die again!" Tai's voice screamed as him and Phantomon disappeared over the skyline.
"We'll digivolve and save him!" Gatomon cried.
"Not a good idea." Ken pointed to the army, a block away. "We're outnumbered and outpowered. I don't see any point in getting captured ourselves."
"Ken is right." Agumon had a new mission in life. "I made a promise to Tai."
Kari was crying too hard to make much sense. Agumon grabbed Kari's hand, following the rest of the group into a dark alley.
Phantomon dropped Tai on top of the rooftop. Black rain poured from the heavens. Tai hit the ground with a thump. "Now you die for attacking me."
Tai got up, rubbing his sore neck. "I saved my sister. Something I failed to do years ago."
"I hope you enjoy that thought. It will be your last." Phantomon raised his blade over his head. Lightning flashed behind him.
"Flower Cannon!" Phantomon looked up, just in time to see the blast hit him. He burst apart into atoms, as his death scream echoed.
Lillymon landed on the roof as Phantomon's scythe dropped to the ground, it bursting apart as well. "Shouldn't have let the others get away. The Council of Five doesn't like failures. Now we have to come up with a new plan. Luckily, we already have one, and I couldn't have a pathetic sheet screwing things up."
Tai stood up, just in time to get a fist full of sleep pollen in his face. He fell back to the ground, asleep. Lillymon walked up to Tai and picked him up his collar. "You'll love this plan. You have an important part."
"We've got to keep moving." Ken said. "Myotismon most likely has forces searching in the area."
"Since when did we take orders from you?" Davis angrily questioned.
"Since I am the only one with more than half a brain. If I didn't realize Lillymon was a traitor, we'd all be decorating cells along with Joe and the others." Ken replied with a huff.
"Listen, Ken, look at all our digimon." Kari pointed to the group. All the digimon sported bruises and tiny cuts from their previous battles with Lillymon, Myotismon and various other digimon. Patamon had already fallen asleep on TK's head, his bullet wound sporting a few drops of dried crimson blood on his abdomen. Gatomon's eye was still swelled shut and the previous battles had reopened the wound her counterpart gave her on her back. Armadillomon had a large bump on his head from Lillymon's blast; he just woke up a few seconds ago. Hawkmon had a puffy eye as well from Gomamon's spire induced rage, plus a few bruised ribs from Evil Gatomon and Myotismon. Veemon's ankle still hurt from that fall he took from Lillymon's bio-dome, and his subsequent battles with Lillymon had also taken their toll. All of them had gone through so many digivolutions and battles, and had barely eaten since they arrived in this alternate reality. None of them had the strength to digivolve again. Even holding their rookie forms was a bit of a challenge. "If we get attacked, they're going to be of no help."
Ken was going to yell at her for speaking out of turn to the Digimon Emperor, but he realized she was right. This pathetic group wouldn't be able to take on a Gazimon in their condition. The only reason they escaped in the first place was a stroke of luck and skill on his part. But as much as he hated to admit it, he needed their protection. "I forgot you were all so soft." Ken pointed to an old arcade. "We'll take refuge in there for a few hours. It's a safe a place as any."
Everyone grumbled, but followed Ken inside anyway, not noticing a figure watching them enter from a dark alley. Kari took her backpack off, which contained some food she got from the underground, as well as Wizardmon's magic rod. They had eaten a bit in Joe's Church, except for TK, Davis and Veemon. They finished off their meager meal, giving the bulk of the food to TK, Davis, and Veemon. Ken finished his crackers from his secluded corner. He didn't eat with commoners. Ken stood up with a flurry of his cape. "I suggest you sleep. I plan to be far away from this place as soon as possible."
"Why are we taking orders from him?" Hawkmon questioned. He was in no mood to put up with Ken's ego.
"He's our only help in this world, I hate to admit it." Yolei replied. What did she ever see in that arrogant jerk? "He might know how to stop the spires."
"Worry about that later." Cody replied. "We should get some sleep." For the inevitable upcoming battle. And I plan on being on the winning side. Cody thought to himself as he curled up next to an arcade machine along with Armadillomon. Soon the whole group was asleep, the day taking its toll.
Veemon was having a horrible nightmare. He was in the middle of a darkened room. Ladydevimon was in front of him. Veemon had never met Ladydevimon face to face, but the sight of her now filled Veemon with dread. Two identical Gatomon were chained to the wall on either side of her. "It's a simple test Veemon. One is your Gatomon, and one is ours. Pick the right one, it should be easy for the one you love." Ladydevimon then disappeared, leaving Veemon and the two Gatomon.
"I'm the real one!" The Gatomon on the left called.
"No, she's not!" The Gatomon on the right replied.
"She's a liar!" The left Gatomon shouted back.
"You're the liar!" The right Gatomon countered.
Veemon looked back and forth, trying to make up his mind. Ladydevimon's voice spoke from the darkness. "Choose quickly.."
"I eh.um." Veemon stuttered. Veemon couldn't tell the difference. He pointed to the right one. "Her."
The chains of the right Gatomon snapped off, and the free Gatomon rubbed her wrists. "Veemon?"
Veemon walked up to Gatomon. "Is that you?"
Gatomon placed her paws on Veemon's shoulder. She kissed him on the lips. Veemon closed his eyes, returning the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her back. Gatomon broke the kiss after a minute and smiled at Veemon, answering his question. "No."
Gatomon pushed Veemon back with surprising force. Veemon landed on the ground, just in time to see the Gatomon he just kissed plunge her claws into the chained up Gatomon's belly. Veemon tried to scream as the real Gatomon's from broke up, Veemon's name worded on her lips before she was completely gone. The lights suddenly completely dimmed out, leaving a grieving Veemon in near darkness. Veemon watched in horror as he could barely see two blue eyes moving towards him, and a gold ring flashing behind the eyes. Evil Gatomon began singing softly as she advanced. "Veemon, Veemon, a brave digimon at heart. Can't even tell his girlfriends apart."
A thousand gold rings and two thousand blue eyes filled the room, and a thousand voices chorused as the eyes moved closer and closer to Veemon. "Veemon, Veemon, a brave digimon at heart. Can't even tell his girlfriends apart."
Veemon awoke with a start, sweat pouring from every blue pore of his body. He looked around, blinking twice in the darkened game room. Dragon type digimon tended to have decent night vision, so he could see rather well even with the lack of light. Everybody was asleep, but Veemon focused on Gatomon. She was asleep, curled up in a little ball. Veemon got up, tiptoeing not to wake anyone, although they were so tired a herd of Monochronomon wouldn't wake them, Veemon figured. He went over to Gatomon and knelt down by her. Veemon studied her closely. Could this be the real Gatomon? So far Lillymon had fooled him, twice. Gatomon fooled him and everybody else as well. How could he be sure this was his Gatomon? Veemon put a finger gently on her cheek.
Two strong paws grabbed his arm. Before Veemon could take a breath, he was flipped up and over into the next room, landing in a well of plastic multi colored balls. Veemon blinked in surprise as he swam in the sea of colors. "Oops." Gatomon was perched on top of the side of the pool, a look of shock on her face. "Sorry Veemon, I just."
"Tossed me like a rag doll?" Veemon smiled. "Boy you have fast reflexes."
Gatomon smiled back. "I just felt something brush my cheek, and when I woke up, I saw a digimon standing over me. I didn't take a close enough look. I guess I've been a bit high strung lately."
"My fault, I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that." Veemon rubbed his head and closed his eyes, laughing uncomfortably as he lay in the toy balls.
"Why were you over me?" Gatomon asked quizzically.
Veemon blushed. "I.er.wanted to make sure you were you."
"And how did you plan on doing that?" Gatomon jumped into the ball pit as well. "That bitch even fooled Kari." Gatomon swore, even surprising herself. She didn't realize how strong her feelings where against her doppelganger.
"Well, I thought I knew how you looked like pretty well, I mean I've been staring at you ever since I got out from under that digi egg, you'd think I'd be able to recognize an imposter." Veemon answered.
"You've been staring at me?" Gatomon was actually taken aback by this. Veemon had a crush on her? She was surprised Davis kept his mouth shut about it, although Gatomon would have thought she had noticed Veemon's crush on her. Gatomon had not really given any serious thought about it before. But Veemon was a brave digimon, and obviously infatuated with her. Not to mention he was cute, if not very well spoken.
"Um.no.er.yeah.I mean.oh boy." Veemon was stumbling all over himself. He tried not to make himself sound like some sort of stalker, but the words weren't coming out so well. His lisp became worse the more he fumbled for the right words. He was becoming so flustered that Gatomon began to chuckle, which slowly turned into a muffled laughter. Gatomon saw Veemon's face turning red, giving his blue face an off shade of purple. She couldn't contain her self any longer. Gatomon fell on her back in the colored sea, covering her mouth with her paws in order to keep from waking anybody else, although everyone was so far asleep it would take a raging battle to wake any of them up. Veemon stopped trying to vainly explain himself. "Is something wrong?"
"Sorry Veemon." Gatomon wiped a tear from her eye. She calmed down enough to speak regularly. "I guess I just needed that. I haven't laughed since I arrived in this world."
Veemon blushed again. "I hope you don't think I'm some sort of pervertmon."
Gatomon waded through the balls next to Veemon. "Not in the slightest. I think it was very sweet, if not very eloquent." She gave Veemon a hug, wrapping her arms around Veemon's back.
Veemon returned the hug, unsure what exactly it meant. A hug as a friend? A companion? Or maybe something a little more....When Gatomon kissed him lightly on the lips, which nearly bowled him over. "MMmmm?" Gatomon wasn't sure why she kissed Veemon all of a sudden. Maybe because of that Gazimon in Myotismon's castle? Maybe she did think of Veemon more of a friend? Gatomon wasn't sure. So much had happened. Maybve she was just proving to herself that she was not like that Evil Gatomon from this world, that she was able to show she cared... Veemon broke the kiss, blown away. He had had a crush on Gatomon for almost as long as he knew her. He had always wondered what it would be like to kiss her, and in fact had imagined what it would be like, although he never thought it would be in a toy bin of colour balls in an alternate universe. But Veemon was happy it happend just the same, to be honest he had always been afraid that Gatomon had a crush on Patamon, not him. Veemon ran a hand over Gatomon's ears. "I could stay like this for the rest of my life." Gatomon and Veemon hugeed tightly.
"A very easily obtained goal." Gatomon and Veemon looked up, just in time to see Phantomon shimmer into view. "Geno-scythe!"
Veemon and Gatomon leapt in opposite directions, Phantomon's attack slicing the pit in half. Plastic balls flew everywhere. "Vee Headbutt!" Veemon cried, charging Phantomon with his rock hard skull. Phantomon countered with his metal ball, knocking Veemon into an old car racing machine. Veemon's soft groans could be heard from the wreckage.
"Lightning claw!" Gatomon's claws moved liked a flash of light. Phantomon swung his ball again, his chain wrapping around Gatomon's neck as she flew past.
Phantomon held the cat above the ground off her feet, chuckling as Gatomon struggled for air. "Do we really need you? We already have one Gatomon."
"NO!" Kari jumped off a pinball machine, landing on Phantomon's head. He dropped Gatomon in surprise, the feline gasping for breath.
Phantomon threw Kari off him. The young girl landed on the ground with a grunt, knocking the wind out of her. She was lifted off again by Phantomon's ball and chain, which he wrapped around her arms and body, after removing her D3 digivice. The rest of the group had awakened from the sounds of battle, and had run into this room shortly after Kari. "Come everybody, we've got to help Kari!" Davis shouted.
"Digivolve to Angemon, he destroyed Phantomon in our world!" TK shouted at Patamon.
Phantomon brought the blade of his scythe to Kari's neck. "I am in no mood to fight." Kari was too petrified to speak as the razor edge rested against her skin.
"Ladydevimon wants us alive." Cody warned, reminding Phantomon.
"I know that.Cody." Phantomon almost said Lord Delta, but stopped himself. "But Ladydevimon wouldn't mind if I scarred up this pretty face, am I right?"
(You're probably right.) Cody thought. (Ladydevimon's only requirement was breathing.) Another figure had crawled up on to an arcade machine behind Phantomon. (Had Phantomon brought help?)
"Now, throw your D3's over here." Phantomon pressed the blade into Kari's skin. "Now."
"Don't do it!" Kari shouted as she struggled, but Cody, Yolei, Davis, and TK complied anyway, throwing their four digivices in a pile under Phantomon. Everyone then turned and looked at Ken. Ken smirked. "I care nothing for any of you. Don't expect me to give up mine."
"That's a shame." Phantomon replied. "I don't think this girl will be getting too many dates when I'm done with her."
"NOT AGAIN!" The figure jumped on Phantomon, grabbing the blade and twisting with what seemed to be inhuman strength. Phantomon dropped his ball and chain as he battled his new opponent.
Kari fell to the ground, throwing the chain off her. She looked up as an older boy with long brown hair and shattered goggles grappled with Phantomon. "Tai?!"
Phantomon threw Tai off. His ball and chain flew back to him by his own mental command. Tai got up and held up his fists. "I lost her once, I won't lose her again!" His eyes, once filled with madness, were replaced with one's filled with anger and determination.
"You have no say in the matter." Phantomon raised his blade.
"Let's get that dirty laundry sheet y'all!" Armadillomon announced.
Phantomon swooped down, picking up the digivices in his sleeve. "And how do you plan on doing that as mere rookies?" Phantomon turned to Tai. "You die first, for daring to attack me."
"I won't let you!" Agumon leapt at Phantomon, welling up a fireball in his mouth.
Phantomon struck the rookie reptile with the back of his scythe before Agumon could shoot. Agumon flew back, hitting the wall hard. "As I said before, you have no say in the matter." Phantomon charged Tai, his blade raised. Everyone watched in horror.
"I will not allow this nightmare to continue!" Tai pulled out two objects from behind his back. "I've had enough of my personal hell, it's time for one of yours!" He pointed an aerosol can at Phantomon, spraying the contents at the ghost.
Phantomon chuckled as he stopped his blade inches from Tai's face. "Hair spray? You truly are mad."
"Actually, for the first time in years, I can think clearly." Tai took the second object and held in front of the first. Tai flicked the lighter on. Phantomon screamed as he was engulfed in flames, his greatest weakness. His shawl burst into fire as Phantomon let out a blood-curdling scream.
Phantomon screamed as he twisted left and right, trying to beat out the blaze. The digivices dropped from his sleeve and on the ground. Tai picked up Agumon. "Grab them and let's get out of here!"
Everyone instantly complied. Tai ran out of the building last, carrying Agumon's slumped form. He placed Agumon gently on the street, and looked at the group, till he found Kari. "Kari?" Tai whispered.
Kari broke into tears, hugging Tai. "Tai, you're back!"
Tai was crying too, years of emotion pouring out. "I'm sorry. I let you die. Then you came back. I thought it was a trick, my mind and I almost let you die again." Tai fell to his knees, Kari going along with him. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't let it happen again, couldn't."
"Hush Tai. It's ok." Kari hugged Tai tighter. "I'm here now."
"NOT for much longer!" Phantomon flew out of the arcade. His shawl was black and charred. Before anyone could react, Phantomon's chain wrapped around Tai's neck, pulling him off the ground.
"TAI!" Kari screamed as Tai was yanked from her grasp.
"We'll stop him!" Agumon announced as he stood up weakly.
Phantomon smirked. "You and what army. That one? Oh wait, that's mine."
A quick glance behind them saw several viral digimon advancing on them. "Get out of here!" Tai screamed as he struggled with Phantomon.
"We won't leave you Tai!" Kari screamed.
"I won't either Tai! Pepper Breath!" Agumon fired a blast of flames at Phantomon, but the ghost dodged as he flew up in the air out of reach.
"Whoever you are, protect my sister." Phantomon carried Tai higher up in the air. "Don't let her die again!" Tai's voice screamed as him and Phantomon disappeared over the skyline.
"We'll digivolve and save him!" Gatomon cried.
"Not a good idea." Ken pointed to the army, a block away. "We're outnumbered and outpowered. I don't see any point in getting captured ourselves."
"Ken is right." Agumon had a new mission in life. "I made a promise to Tai."
Kari was crying too hard to make much sense. Agumon grabbed Kari's hand, following the rest of the group into a dark alley.
Phantomon dropped Tai on top of the rooftop. Black rain poured from the heavens. Tai hit the ground with a thump. "Now you die for attacking me."
Tai got up, rubbing his sore neck. "I saved my sister. Something I failed to do years ago."
"I hope you enjoy that thought. It will be your last." Phantomon raised his blade over his head. Lightning flashed behind him.
"Flower Cannon!" Phantomon looked up, just in time to see the blast hit him. He burst apart into atoms, as his death scream echoed.
Lillymon landed on the roof as Phantomon's scythe dropped to the ground, it bursting apart as well. "Shouldn't have let the others get away. The Council of Five doesn't like failures. Now we have to come up with a new plan. Luckily, we already have one, and I couldn't have a pathetic sheet screwing things up."
Tai stood up, just in time to get a fist full of sleep pollen in his face. He fell back to the ground, asleep. Lillymon walked up to Tai and picked him up his collar. "You'll love this plan. You have an important part."