The island was inhabited, but that didn't really bother Panjyamon. Lord Demon had told him to show up here and claim the island for him, so that was it. "Soon, I shall claim, this world for my lord. Master Demon, I shall freeze this world in your name!" He cast a glance at a giant frozen statue. "If this was the best this world had to offer, then it shall be a quick victory."
Inside his icy tomb, Lugia glared at Panjyamon. Just keep thinking that, he thought to himself.
Digimon Digicross 39
'Worlds Tour part 3: Ice Tyrant Panjyamon'
Seadramon reared up, getting a fix on the two Ice Devimons that were attacking him. "Ice Winder!" he yelled, spearing one with a bolt of ice. The second one, seeing its partner disintegrate, stepped back. "We're winning!"
"Don't jinx it!" Edward yelled back, cradling the baby Lugia in his arms. "No, you can't go out there, it's too dangerous!" he added as the small silver bird tried to wiggle out of his arms. He and Seadramon had been battling for hours without a break; all his pokemon were too worn out to risk in a battle like this; even Blastoise had finally fallen when the Airdramon had rammed him.
"Shining...NAIL!" A blue and white streak crashed into one of Ice Devimon's wings, shattering it and grounding the devil digimon. "Depthmon, now!" Strabimon called, jumping up and kicking the devil into the ocean. The water around Ice Devimon started to freeze, and then it broke up as a whirlpool formed, pulling Ice Devimon down underwater. A few seconds later a series of explosions ripped the surface of the water apart, and it rained Ice Devimon for a good minute after that.
Melody and Crystal ran over to Edward. "We got your message." Melody said, out of breath. "We came as fast as we could!"
"Thanks." Edward replied. As he spoke, Seadramon swam over and switched back to Penguinmon. "It's been like this everywhere I went. Digimon everywhere, all from that Dark Ocean place. All of my pokemon are out, and Penguinmon needs a rest too."
"I'm fine." Penguinmon huffed. "I've fought tougher battles against Magikarp."
Crystal looked at the baby Lugia in Edward's arms. "Where did that come from?"
Melody glanced at the infant Lugia. "Lugia trusted you with one of its eggs?" Edward nodded. "Hmm. Rare honour. Well, you'd better sit out the next few battles then. If that baby gets so much as a scratch, the mother Lugia'll freeze you solid and throw you into Mount Cinnabar volcano."
Depthmon stepped out of the water, glowed, and turned into V-mon. "Isn't that the same place you threatened to throw Davis into?"
Strabimon glanced at Crystal. "I didn't think Lugia could use Ice type attacks."
"Never mind." Melody groaned. "Honestly, you people are no fun whatsoever." She glanced over the latest battlefield. "Well, we've been at this for hours now. Think we're finished?"
"I doubt it." Strabimon said grimly. "And a lot of the digimon we've been fighting are Dark Ocean soldiers. I wonder if there trouble in the other world was a distraction to cover a real invasion here?"
Melody smirked. "Don't worry. Crystal sent a message when we first came across the Dark Ocean digimon. Her boyfriend should be here any time now."
TK and Patamon stepped out of the pokemon center. "Why is it so cold?" Patamon asked. "Shouldn't it be warm here at this time of the year?" TK nodded absently. "Relax! I'm sure Crystal's fine. That message she sent was pretty garbled. And Ryo did come here ahead of us."
"I guess." TK said. He shouted, slipping on a patch of ice. "Ice...here?"
Patamon looked around. "The pokemon center was deserted. And I don't see anyone else here."
"They might have evacuated when the digimon started appearing." TK answered. "Let's check around the town. Maybe we can find a clue there."
Crystal, Melody, and Edward headed to the nearest town. "I'm exhausted." Edward said. "I think Lugia here's been snacking when I wasn't looking." The small bird cawed in protest.
"Well, you've seen the full-sized ones." Melody replied. Although...the last time the Orange Islands were attacked by digimon, Lugia showed up to help. I wonder where he is now."
"Maybe he's fighting digimon somewhere else?" Crystal suggested. "If there are as many digimon here as on the other Earth..."
"Relax." V-mon reassured Crystal. "TK's a lot smarter than Davis. He'll be fine. Anyway, he's nowhere near here."
Melody opened her mouth to say something, thought about it, then gave up. Couldn't fault his logic.
TK and Patamon neared the edge of the town. There were more ice patches, and some snow had started to fall. "Maybe an Ice Devimon?" TK wondered.
"Hey, this building's been burned." Patamon said, looking at a wall. Moving closer, TK could see that there were black marks on the wall. "In an ice storm?"
"Some pokemon must have been fighting here." Patamon reasoned. "I can't think of any other way that...TK!" Patamon gasped, flying ahead.
"What is it? Patamon, wait up!" TK ran after his partner, trying not to slip on the ice. He caught up in a few seconds, confused. "What's all the..." TK trailed off as he saw a large pillar of ice. Worse, he saw who was inside it.
Ryo and Charizard, looking surprised.
"Are they..." Patamon stopped, not wanting to know the answer.
"They live, but only at my sufferance." TK and Patamon whirled around, and saw a massive blue digimon.
"Leomon?" TK gasped.
"Ah, you ARE digidestined." the digimon rumbled. It did bear a striking resemblance to Leomon, but this digimon was larger, blue, wearing a large cape, and had a massive axe with a snowflake-shaped blade. "I am Panjyamon, an Ultimate digimon! And Lord Demon has commanded me to conquer this land in his name!"
"Patamon, digi-"
"ICE BEAST FIST!"
--Johto region
"Run!" the redhead yelled, picking up a small white pokemon. The two boys with her took one look at the onrushing horde, and agreed with her plan.
"Where are we running to?" the younger of the two boys asked. On his shoulder, a Pikachu held on for dear life. "The swamp's back this way!"
"Ash, I don't think you and Pikachu can beat this thing!" the older, darker-skinned boy replied. "I don't think Team Rocket has anything to do with this one!"
"NO WE DIDN'T!" two white clad adults and a Meowth screamed as they tore past the trio.
"What is that thing?" Ash gasped, looking back over his shoulder. "Some weird kind of Dragonair?" The monster was long, serpentine, and hovered in the air, two wings slowly beating.
"I'm not sticking around to find out!" Misty replied (Oh come on. Like you hadn't guessed by now? -ed), clutching Togepi tighter.
"I think it might have something to do with that weird monster we saw back in Olivine!" Brock interjected. "Or those creatures that blew up the Indigo Plateau."
"Less talking, more running!" Misty snapped, then skidded to a halt. "Oh no...the swamps' gone!"
In front of the trio, where there had been a swamp was now only a dry and dusty pit. In the center, a humanoid creature made of flames. Sensing an easy prey, Meramon advanced.
-Then- it got weird.
--Orange Archipelago.
Crystal stopped suddenly. "TK." she gasped, feeling a shudder go through her whole body.
"What is it?" Melody asked.
"I think...I think something happened to him."
"Relax." Edward replied. "I'm sure he's fine. That sort of thing happens only in bad movies and romance novels." He stopped, glancing at Melody. "Ahh...not that I read any of that stuff."
Melody didn't look convinced. "Right." she nodded. "Look, we'll go to the next town, and check, alright?" Crystal nodded. "Hey, where's Kurt? I thought you'd have him out."
"He's resting. We had to fight off some Gazimon before we met you. That and the Ice Devimon pretty much wore him out. I hope that the pokemon center is open in the next town. All of my pokemon are exhausted."
Edward nodded. "Mine too. It's been a rough few days here." Lugia cawed again. "When you're older." Edward sighed. "Not even a month old and he already wants to go save the world."
"Must run in the family." Melody smiled. "How are you doing, V-mon?"
V-mon shrugged. "Fine. I'm not as good fighting on land, though."
"Not like you've been slacking off or anything." Melody sighed. "Honestly, all you do is sit around and work on your tan."
"Hey, I gotta look good, right?"
"Trouble." Edward suddenly said, pointing. "Unless it's normal for a city to be covered in ice like that?"
Crystal and Melody looked where Edward was pointing. They could see the sun glinting off several patches of ice. "Please tell me those are glass windows." Crystal whispered silently.
"Too hard to clean, with all the bird pokemon around here." Melody replied. "Come on." The three hurried down the hill.
--Johto region
The loud crash got Ash's attention. Looking back, he saw something big and red fall on the dragon-like creature, making it crash into the ground. Which was good enough, one less threat.
"Alright." he growled. "If you're a fire type..."
"Ash, I don't think this is a good idea." Brock warned. "I've never seen a pokemon like this before."
"We don't have a choice." Ash replied. "Something picked a fight with that weird dragon pokemon back there; if I can catch this one, we can make a break for it. Go, TOTODILE!" Ash reached back, grabbing his pokeball-
Just as Psyduck chose that moment to emerge. He gave a triumphant cry, and fired off a truly pathetic Water Gun before Misty managed to recall him. A part of Ash's mind noted that her usual insult wasn't there. The rest of him quickly focused on the battle. "Totodile, use Water Gun!"
"Toto...DILE!" the small pokemon yelled, unleashing a gout of water. It struck Meramon in the chest, forcing the digimon back a few paces.
Misty took out another pokeball "Staryu! Help out!" The star shaped pokemon appeared, and added its own water attack.
Angered by the attack, Meramon clenched his fists, and shouted, his body seeming to grow as more flames appeared. Totodile and Staryu were thrown back, dazed.
"Alright," Ash growled, "then we'll do it this way. Pikachu, Thunder attack!" Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder, firing off a massive bolt of electricity. This attack, however, stopped a few millimeters short of Meramon's body.
"It's like with Blaine's Magmar!" Brock gasped. "The heat around that thing's body is so high, it's created a heat shield for itself! We have to run!"
Misty glanced around. The trees were catching fire now, cutting off their escape. And there were still sounds of a gigantic struggle from behind them. "Where?" she demanded. Psyduck appeared again, challenging Meramon a second time. "Get back in your ball, you dimwit duck!" she shouted.
"Wait!" Ash said. "How about a psychic attack? A heat shield can't stop that."
"One headache, coming UP!" Misty yelled, smacking Psyduck on the head. The pokemon's arms cradled its head, and it groaned in pain. "Sorry." she whispered, hoping Ash and Brock couldn't hear her.
--Orange Archipelago
The three humans wandered around the city, awestruck. Large parts of it were covered in sheets of ice. "There's no one here."
Melody glanced at Edward. "Can't blame them. They must have been warned, and evacuated. I hope so, anyway."
They heard Crystal's voice ahead, a cry of horror. The two ran to where she was standing.
"TK." Edward gasped. "And Patamon." Both were frozen solid, a thick cone of ice over each one. Glancing to his left, he spied two more figures. "Ryo and Charizard. Who did this?"
Crystal put a hand on TK's ice prison. "Hey," Melody said to her, "we'll get them out. How about your Ponyta? Maybe it can melt the ice?"
Crystal nodded. "Go, Ponyta! Melt this ice with Fire Ring!" Ponyta appeared, and quickly wrapped TK's frozen body with a small ring of fire.
"Nothing!" Melody gasped. Despite Ponyta's attack, the ice remained undamaged by the heat.
"That's enough." Crystal said quietly. "Ponyta, return." Ponyta dipped his head sadly, and vanished back into the waiting pokeball. "I don't want to risk a stronger attack."
"Maybe I could head butt it?" V-mon offered.
Melody shook her head. "No. We want to free them, not shatter them."
Edward frowned. "Then we'll have to find the one who did this and ask him to undo it. That's how this sort of thing usually works, isn't it?"
"Usually, yeah." Melody looked around. "So, where do we start?"
"Follow the ice." Edward replied. "I think I can see a large spire up ahead." The four set out.
--Johto Region
"Psyduck, CONFUSION!" Misty commanded. Psyduck's arms fell limp, and the pokemon's eyes glowed bright blue. Meramon stopped, baffled, then his eyes went wide as he started to levitate!
"Hey, what's going on?" Meramon demanded.
"He can...talk?" Ash gasped. "So he is one of those creatures from Olivine."
"Digimon, that's what they were calling them!" Brock said.
"Rrrr......RRRARRR!" Meramon yelled, flames flaring up again. There was an audible 'pop' as the blue aura around Meramon collapsed, throwing Psyduck back.
"Psyduck!" Misty gasped. She screamed as Meramon reached a single, blazing hand for her. Ash ran forward, grabbed Misty by the waist, and pulled her back. "He's too strong!" Ash growled, something Misty thought she'd never hear him say (And before you ask, Togepi was safe in Misty's backpack -ed).
Psyduck charged forward, small claws raised for a Scratch attack. He got to within a foot before Meramon's heat drove him back. "Psyduck, GET OUT OF THERE!" Misty yelled. Instead of listening, Psyduck made a show of standing between Meramon and the humans. "Psyduck!" Misty screamed again.
"Burning Fist!" Meramon cried, thrusting a massive fist down at the small yellow duck pokemon.
Misty struggled to get out of Ash's grip. She noticed that Brock had retrieved Psyduck's pokeball, which she didn't remember dropping. However, Psyduck was moving around too erratically for the recall beam to hit it.
Finally, Psyduck tripped, and a fiery explosion sent him flying. Screaming, Misty reached for her pokemon. As she did, a small sphere of light appeared in her hand. At that moment, Psyduck glowed white.
"Psyduck!" Ash gasped. "Is he evolving?"
"Psy?" Psyduck cried, confused by the unusual sensations flooding him. "Psy...Psy... Psypsypsypsy..." as he landed, his shape changed. "Golduck!" the pokemon cried, as his evolution completed.
"Golduck!" Misty gasped. "He managed to evolve." She stopped, looking at the small silvery rectangle in her hand. "Did this thing have something to do with it?" she wondered, looking at the digivice.
--Orange Archipelago.
Melody cursed to herself as she slipped on another ice patch. The area had become a continuous...glacier now, rather than being a collection of small ice patches. Crystal, slightly ahead of her, offered her a hand up. "Thanks." Melody dusted her knees, the jeans she was wearing now muddy from the ice.
"No problem." Crystal replied. Beside her, Kurt, her Eevee, was out, his own small claws up to the task of ice climbing. "Are you okay, Kurt?"
"So far." Kurt replied. "Glad I'm furry though."
Penguinmon waddled over. "Speak for yourself! This place is great!"
"Speak for yourself." V-mon groaned. "I'm freezing my tail off here."
"Deal with it." Melody answered. "We have to free Ryo and TK."
"Uh-oh." Edward said, pointing. The Lugia he was carrying cawed in protest.
"Lugia!" Melody gasped. The digidestined stared, awestruck, at the image of the giant pokemon, frozen inside a shell of ice.
"He looks mad." V-mon whispered.
"I'd be." Kurt replied.
"He was nothing." Panjyamon snarled, stepping out from behind Lugia's prison. "DIE, DIGIDESTINED!" He ran forward, axe swinging in a wide arc.
"Dodge!" Edward yelled. "Penguinmon, digivolve!"
"Penguinmon, digivolve to...Seadramon!"
"Crystal! Digivolve me to Espeon. I can use recover techniques then!" Crystal nodded, holding her digivice out. "Eevee, digivolve to...ESPEON!"
"Like you gotta ask!" Melody said, nodding to V-mon.
"V-mon, digivolve to...Depthmon!"
"Pathetic!" Panjyamon roared. "I am an Ultimate Digimon! I can defeat you all with but a fraction of my power! FROZEN FIST!"
Seadramon shot forward, the ice attack breaking on his hard head. "Cute! But where I'm from, that'd just be a nippy autumn breeze! ICE WINDER!" Panjyamon caught the attack on his axe, whirled, and drove his fist into the bottom of Seadramon's jaw. "Okay, that hurt..." Seadramon was knocked over by the force of the blow.
Panjyamon tried to advance, then stopped as Kurt's psi attack tried to bite into his mind. The ice digimon fell to one knee, hands clutched to his head, axe clattering to the ground. "Depthmon! DO IT NOW, I CAN'T HOLD HIM MUCH LONGER!" With a roar, Depthmon charged, clawed hands extended. He managed to make two powerful swipes, managing to dig into Panjyamon's torso.
"You WORMS!" Panjyamon howled, backhanding Depthmon and managing to break free of Kurt's psychic attack. He scooped his axe up with one hand, swung it, and slammed the blade into the ground. "Frozen Shockwave!" he cried, the attack throwing Seadramon, Depthmon, and Kurt away. Even the humans were sent sprawling on the ice. "Now it ends." Panjyamon, axe in both hands now, advanced.
"Dragon Wheel!" A huge bolt of blue fire slammed into the Ultimate digimon, pushing him back.
Caryl Kyashi glared at Panjyamon. "You froze my boyfriend. Kyuubimon, get him!"
--Johto region
"Hydro Pump!" Misty called, recognizing Golduck's sudden intake of breath. The pokemon exhaled, sending a huge gout of water smashing into Meramon. Unlike the two Water Gun attacks, this attack did manage to punch through the protective coat of flames, and do some real damage. Not a lot, but Meramon's howl of pain confirmed that he felt it.
"I don't know how he did it, but Golduck's attacks are having a lot more effect!" Ash said. "Can he keep it up?" Overhearing this, Golduck gave the trainer a thumbs up, then returned to his opponent.
Despite the pain Golduck's Hydro Pump was causing, Meramon stepped forward, face twisted in rage and agony. "You won't send me back! I'm going to rule this place!"
"Pikachu, he's weakened now!" Ash suddenly said. "THUNDER!" Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder, and called down a massive bolt of electricity. Weakened, Meramon was unable to deflect the bolt, and was struck down. "Alright!"
Misty sighed. "I'm glad that's over. And I'm really glad that you finally...whaaa?" the humans blinked as Golduck glowed again, and switched back to Psyduck. Blank expression on his face, Psyduck looked up at Misty, confused. "Psy?"
"I knew it was too good to be true." Misty groaned. "What is this?" she wondered, looking at the digivice in her hand.
"I think I saw some of those trainers in Olivine with ones like it." Brock reasoned. "Maybe we should go find them."
Ash slumped. "But I was ready for my next gym battle..."
"You...miserable vermin! I WON'T BE BEATEN!" Meramon roared, getting up. "I'll burn each of you...huh?" Meramon stopped, looked up...
Just in time to get flattened by a giant red dinosaur. "Good work, Tyrannomon!" someone called. A boy, about Brock's age, ran over. "You three alright? I was tied up with Airdramon, so I couldn't get to Meramon here until just now."
"I'm fine..." Meramon moaned. "I'll destroy you all later..."
The boy sighed. "Idiot. Anyway, I'm Josh, from out of town."
Ash smiled. "I'm Ash from Pallet Town, this is Brock, and that's Misty." He glanced at Tyrannomon. "Is that a Dragonite? I didn't think they came in red."
Josh shook his head. "That's Tyrannomon, at least for the next few seconds." As he spoke, Tyrannomon glowed, and shrank into a small light brown dinosaur. "Now he's an Agumon. Confused yet?" he added with a small smile.
"Yeah, but thanks for saving us." Brock replied.
"Well, I was really here for the house hunting. Know any good places to live?"
--Orange Archipelago
"That's it, Kyuubimon, walk all over him!" Caryl yelled. Kyuubimon gave no indication of having heard her; the digimon's attention was focused on avoiding Panjyamon's oversized axe.
"Caryl?" Crystal asked. "Not that I'm complaining, but what are you doing here?"
"I told that idiot not to leave me behind again!" Caryl almost snapped. Crystal stepped back, she noticed that Caryl's eyes were a bit red, and her hands were shaking a bit. "But he had to go off and be a stupid hero!"
Melody shook her head. "Get used to it. I think it's a guy thing. Really, they should just leave the world saving to us, right?" Crystal nodded.
"Umm...pay no attention to me." Edward sighed. "Not like I ever went charging off like an idiot."
"Ehh...sorry!" Melody said. "I didn't mean you."
"Kyuubimon!" Caryl yelled. Missing a step, the fox digimon was caught by the flat side of Panjyamon's axe, and thrown away, dazed.
"Get him!" Kurt yelled, psychic aura flaring. Beside him, Depthmon got up, hands out, ready to generate another vortex. "NOW!" Kurt commanded. A cone of water wrapped around a beam of psychic energy; the combined attack struck Panjyamon.
The ice lion digimon was furious with the digidestined now. "FOOLS! I'll destroy you all!" He charged forward, wild swings sending Kurt and Depthmon flying away.
"Not if we destroy you first!" Seadramon replied, darting forward, wrapping himself around Panjyamon.
Kurt and Depthmon got up. "You're too badly hurt!" Crystal gasped, taking her pokeball out. "I'll send-"
"No." Kurt replied. "We're the only chance this place has."
"We can't leave or he'll destroy everything here, including Lugia, Ryo, and TK." Depthmon added. "I don't know about you, but I think I can go a few more rounds."
"As can I." Kyuubimon said, staggering over. Caryl stepped forward, clearly worried. "I am fine, Caryl. I'll just need to rest after this is over." Kyuubimon's mouth twisted into a small grin. "And seeing the punishment you have planned for Ryo should keep me entertained...for a while."
Crystal couldn't help but smile at the thought. "So let's finish this creep and free TK."
"And everyone else." Melody added. Blushing a bit, Crystal nodded.
"Alright...Morning SUN!" Kurt called, drawing upon the available daylight to heal his wounds. Standing beside him, Depthmon felt some of the move's effects as well, his energy returning as well.
Panjyamon stepped back. "No! You're mad!"
:They are NOT!: Lugia's psychic shout stormed in Panjyamon's mind. Out loud: "I have faced much colder foes than you, digimon, and I have won. You and your master do not know of the forces that guard this world." There was a loud cracking sound; the ice prison holding Lugia shattered, allowing the legendary pokemon to fly up, wings spread. "Now feel this world's fury!" Lugia's mouth opened, a deep, low cry coming out.
"Depthmon...Espeon...DNA digivolve to...Shiryumon!" The digimon was long, silvery-blue and metallic. It vaguely resembled an Airdramon, though it had a pair of arms and hands just in front of its wings. Shiryumon roared, challenging Panjyamon. Lugia flew over, hovering above and just behind Shiryumon.
"I'm not impressed." Panjyamon snarled. "One or one hundred, I'll take you all on! Ice Axe!"
Shiryumon dove forward, ducking under Panjyamon's swing. "Dragon Blade!" he shouted, tail glowing with blue energy. Twisting in midair, the dragon digimon brought his tail up, around, and down on top of Panjyamon. The ice digimon parried the tail with the shaft of his axe. However, it shattered, and the tail continued down, cutting a long scar down Panjyamon's chest.
Panjyamon staggered to his feet. "Now, feel my fury." Lugia intoned. Around the battlefield, small gusts of wind seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Get clear!" Edward cried, grabbing the baby Lugia and running.
Crystal and Melody glanced at each other. "Lugia's legendary power...." Melody gasped. "Come on!"
"What?" Caryl asked. "What isAUGHHH!" As she was speaking, Kyuubimon switched back to Renamon, grabbed Caryl, and started running after the others. "Renamon!"
"I can sense the power that Lugia is building up. It would be best to not be in the area." Renamon replied. "You know what is happening?" She asked Melody as they all dove for cover behind a large rock.
Melody and Edward both nodded. "Lugia is the Guardian Beast of the Sea." Melody answered. "But he's also known as the King of Storms. If he is ever angered, he can unleash his most powerful attack."
Edward nodded again. "Aeroblast." he breathed. "Keep down, Betamon." he added, pushing the rookie digimon down.
Back at the fight, Panjyamon stared defiantly at Lugia. "You will never win! Even if I fall, the rest of the Dark Ocean shall avenge me! Your power means nothing to us!"
Lugia stared back. A second later, his wings glowed bright blue, and the gusts of wind began to gather. "AEROBLAST!" Lugia cried, both physically and mentally. With one motion, he brought his wings down, and hurled a massive bolt of energy at Panjyamon. It bisected the digimon, the ice spire he stood in front of, and the mountain that was behind the spire.
Edward gasped, awed by the raw power Lugia had just unleashed. He glanced down at the baby Lugia in his arms, who had watched the whole thing in rapt silence. "When you're older." He finally whispered. "-Much- older." The baby Lugia made a slight disappointed sound.
With a nod to the digidestined, the giant Lugia turned and headed back to the sea. :The rest, I leave to you. Take care.:
The ice holding TK and Patamon prisoner shattered. TK fell to his knees, his whole body numb from the cold. His D3 clattered to the ground, hands unable to grasp anything.
A pair of warm hands gently gripped TK's shoulders. "TK." Crystal whispered, helping him up.
"Crystal?" TK asked, still a bit dazed. "The last thing I remember, we were attacked by-"
"Shh..." Crystal replied. "It's all right. We took care of Panjyamon."
"You bet we did!" V-mon spoke up.
"V-mon and Kurt were able to DNA digivolve." Melody explained. "They became...oh..." Melody trailed off, realizing that neither TK nor Crystal was listening. "If only I had a camera." she sighed.
"You wish." Kurt muttered. "You should see how she gets when someone just mentions his name." Still no response.
"You idiot!" Caryl yelled at Ryo, also freed from the ice. That got through to TK and Crystal, who hastily broke apart, both red faced. "Why'd you go and run off on me? You know you could have been hurt."
"Well-"
"Don't give me that!" Caryl continued. "You were frozen inside a block of ice! I...I thought I'd never see you again..." she trailed off.
Ryo smiled. "I promise. No more running off. Your tears are punishment enough for me." Blushing, Caryl turned away, flustered.
"I suddenly feel ill." Renamon muttered.
"Matt suggested that line." Charmeleon whispered. "Not like it ever works on Mimi, though."
Edward rubbed his head. "So, is that it? Are all the digimon back where they should be now?"
"Last I checked, Earth was clear." TK replied. "And I don't think the invasion was as widespread here. I'll check with Professor Oak before I head home."
Melody walked over. "Why don't Edward and I check with Professor Oak? I think the two of you need some time together." Both TK and Crystal stammered.
"You think that line's going to work on me? Come back here!" Caryl yelled, chasing after Ryo.
--Dark Ocean
Demon frowned as the reports came in. "Well, that was a spectacular failure." He glanced at Metal Devidramon, partially buried in a Control Spire, writhing in torment. Some distance away, Sneasel watched her comrade suffer.
"Time to rethink my plans."
Next Episode So far, the digidestined have been able to tell the sides. But Kari, Kyle, and Izzy are about to learn that not all evil comes from the Dark Ocean. Next, on Digicross Episode 40:
'Third Option'