Chapter 7 – Friend and Foe

Mr. Shadow flung off his cloak, and I gasped.

Mr. Shadow wasn't a mister at all. Mr. Shadow was a woman!

"Delia!"

I looked down at Lopmon, who stirred in my arms. 'Mr. Shadow' was their sister?

Delia, her black hair shaggy and unkempt, started laughing hysterically.

"You silly fools. All you had to do was destroy the tamers. That's all! My own siblings couldn't manage to do that much."

Justen stepped forward.

"What… what you were doing was wrong, Delia! It was wrong, and we won't do it. So – please. Stop this? Come home with us?"

Delia speared Justen with a glare.

"Wrong? I had power, and used it to get more. I could have ruled this world, and then, then we would have been taken care of. And when I could no longer do it, I sent you to do it. Now, you'll simply have to die."

She started giggling, and it broke back into hysterical laughter again. Gazimon, still up and around, stepped forward.

"You aren't their sister."

Delia looked at him coldly.

"And what would you know. You're nothing but a weakling. Worthless trash. If you hadn't been defeated last time, I would already be ruling this world."

Gazimon laughed.

"As if we would let you. You're weak. Weak, and stupid too, for revealing yourself while you're still that weak."

Delia growled at him.

"Weak am I?"

Kokuwamon stepped in front of Justen.

"He's right. You're so weak you have to possess that girl to keep from dissipating into the atmosphere. We might be tired, but we've still got what it takes to defeat you as you are."

Mushroomon nodded, and hopped out of Mica's arms.

"Yeah. We're not useless. You are."

Delia laughed even harder, and it was becoming more and more apparent that this was not Delia, at least not in the head.

"Me? Useless? You ignorant little rats! I'll show you useless! I don't need this pathetic mortal form. It was simply useful to hide this way!"

And then data came pouring out of her, reaching into the sky and forming an impossibly huge shape, even for a digimon. And when it started to finish forming, I understood. Floating there, it spoke, and despair washed over me. We didn't have a chance, not as we were.

"I… AM APOCALYMON!"

He reached a hand up from the top of the multifaceted ball he was perched upon.

"DARKNESS ZONE!"

And then there was blackness. Not in the sense that we couldn't see anything, but in the sense that there was nothing else. And we all hung like limp sacks, our digimon close beside us.

Now on an even plane with Apocalymon, it was far easier to appreciate how truly huge he was. He grinned something hideous.

"Now… which of you should I destroy first?"

His eyes roved over us all, and our slightly recovering digimon. I said nothing. Every moment would give us a better chance, not that I liked our chances, even if all of use were fresh. He finally lingered on Ai.

Oh no.

The only one of us without a digimon.

"You'll do."

"DEATH CLAW!"

One of the huge claw devices coming out of the orb sped towards her, chain slithering behind it.

---

In Hypnos, I growled.

This was what I got for being complacent and merely watching the Tamers take on the wild ones. Admittedly, they did a much better job than my initial attempts, but then something like this happened, and we were all shot to hell.

"Any progress on breaching that black orb?"

"None, sir."

I swore, and clicked my lighter faster.

"Something's happening inside, sir!"

I looked at my two subordinates.

"What is it?"

"Unknown, sir. But whatever it is, it's breaching in from the digital world. We have nothing to do with it."

"Damn. Just what we need. More trouble."

I was quiet for a long moment.

"Start up Juggernaut. Don't release until I give the signal."

"Sir!"

I growled.

"I know! I know very well that starting Juggernaut and sucking that… thing back to the digital world will likely kill those kids. But the alternative might be far worse. Arm Juggernaut. Please."

"Arming…"

---

"METAL IMPULSE!"

DeaxDoruGoramon, of all digimon, saved her, by smashing into the claw.

"What?"

"DORUDIN!"

The undead dragon's fiery breath sailed into Apocalymon, searing him. Apocalymon growled.

"You aren't invited. Tell your master I will brook no interference!"

Apocalymon smirked.

"Better yet, I'll tell him myself. TOTAL ANNIHILATION!"

A huge force came out in a wave, and DeaxDoruGoramon sped into it.

"METAL IMPULSE!"

Smashing into the wave, he opened a hole in it, one that barely missed us as he continued on to hit Apocalymon.

"Fine. If you won't die… LEAVE!"

Two claws came out and grabbed him, but he dodged. A thousand questions raged through my mind as they fought, most of them wondering just what would make DeaxDoruGoramon of all digimon save us.

---

I hurried down the streets towards the black orb, unlike most people.

People with sense.

Still, I couldn't help but think I might be needed, or that I might be the cause of it all. And if either was the case, I didn't want to miss it.

Coming to a war torn street, I glanced around.

Well, this is it, ground zero.

Wandering for a moment, I realized there was nothing I could do, and turned to leave, when I spotted something.

Or someone, rather. Rushing over, across the broken street, I helped Delia up.

"Delia? Del?"

She looked at me groggily.

"Canterson?"

"Yeah. You look… well, like crap to be honest."

She managed a half smile, and spoke with a slur. "'S what I like 'bout you. Always with the honesty."

I grunted and helped her up.

"Yeah, that's me, Mr. Honest. Let's get you somewhere else."

She started struggling.

"No. Justen 'n Mica. He took 'em. Gotta make him pay."

"You're in no condition to-"

She snarled and tried to stand up, but collapsed.

"Don tell meh what I'm in condition ta do! Kids need me. Not ready… Not ready."

I spoke softly.

"Well, unless you can fly, you can't reach them right now."

She started crying.

"Gotta wait then. Be here for 'em, ya know? Gotta wait here."

I sighed and nodded.

"Okay, Del. We'll wait here."

---

"DORUDIN!"

DeaxDoruGoramon streamed green fire out of his mouth at Apocalymon's head as he kept moving, dodging claws.

"BIG BANG!"

This wave was short ranged, but powerful, catching the attacking dragon by surprise, knocking it back.

"DEATH CLAW!"

The claw shot out, but DeaxDoruGoramon was playing possum, and spun in place, dodging the claw, but grabbing the chain in his own. With a roar of triumph, he yanked.

I gaped, not believing what I was seeing, DeaxDoruGoramon actually yanking Apocalymon forward.

"METAL IMPULSE!"

Slamming hard into the digimon flying towards him, Apocalymon was driven heavily back and seemed to be unconscious.

DeaxDoruGoramon, however, turned towards us, specifically me. I cringed, and tried to back away as he came closer, but it didn't work well.

"No… af…"

He's… trying to talk?

"No… afraid. F-friends."

"You want to be friends?"

I could tell he was struggling to get words out.

"A… Always friend. Always be friends. P-promise."

Oh… no.

"Doroon!"

The dragon struggled.

"Hard. Dragon-"

"DEATH CLAW!"

He was cut off by a roar when Apocalymon's attack smashed into his back between his wings.

Mako yelled.

"Hey, don't sucker punch my friends!"

DIGI-Modify! Matrix Digivoluion Activate!

Matrix

Digivoluion

Impmon Matrix Digivolve to… Phelesmon!

And as if that set off a chain reaction, all of the others swiped blue cards as well.

Lopmon Matrix Digivolve to… Antylamon!

Mushroomon Matrix Digivolve to… Cherrymon!

Kokuwamon Matrix Digivolve to… MetalTyrannomon!

Gazimon Matrix Digivolve to… BlueMeramon!

"DEMON'S SHOUT!"

"ICE PHANTOM!"

"ARM BOMBER!"

"NULEAR LASER!"

"PIT PELTER!"

Sonic waves, an ice form, multiple explosive pellets, a large laser and cherry bombs all slammed into him.

Apocalymon wasn't harmed by the attacks, but like anyone else, when he was attacked, he covered himself, leaving him open to a heavy hitter.

"DORUDIN!"

Apocalymon screamed in pain as he was washed over by a wave of fire. He recovered with a snarl.

"DEDIGIVOLUTION CLAW!"

---

I put the phone down. I was quiet for a moment.

"Activate Juggernaut."

They looked shocked. "Sir!"

I slammed my fist into the table. "We've got no choice. These orders come directly from the top."

They bit their lips, but complied. I sighed. "And may the Kami have mercy on our miserable souls."

Come on. You kids have made it out of impossible situations before. Do it again.

---

Delia was more coherent now, if mostly tired, so I figured she'd be okay.

Didn't mean I was just going to leave her there.

That as when a hole opened in the sky, directly above the black orb shimmered and opened into a patch of green. I looked up at it, and got to my feet as it began pulling the orb into it.

Delia got up beside me. She wobbled, and I had to steady her. Her voice was frightened.

"What's going on?"

My own was soft.

"They're send it into the digital world."

Delia started getting hysterical again.

"What? But if they do that what'll happen to Justen and Mica?"

"I don't know, Del. But they'll make it."

She started sobbing again, and I did my best to comfort her.

---

Well, that's odd.

There was a tingling feeling all around me. It was throwing off Apocylamon's claws, too. Most hit, but the one heading for DeaxDoruGoramon, Doroon, as off enough the mega was able to dodge.

I grabbed Impmon as he flew almost past me, and he bowled us over, causing me to summersault back. What I saw astounded me.

There was a hole into the real world in the bottom, directly under Apocalymon.

But how to get there…

I proved a moot point a moment later as we all began falling. Then we stopped falling as we crashed into Doroon.

I gasped in relief when I saw we had everyone gathered oh his back. I looked over at Ai and gave her a thumbs up. I let out a 'whoop' of victory as Apocalymon was sucked through a hole in the sky.

Then we started shaking, and I realized that our dragon friend was having trouble getting us to the ground. The pull of the hole was too strong now that it wasn't blocked by Apocalymon.

Suzie was yelling

"Hold on! It's closing!"

But he bucked then, and I lost my grip on Impmon.

"Impmon!"

He reached a paw down.

"Mako!"

I gave Ai a big grin, tossed her the digivice, then jumped for Impmon.

---

I didn't understand the look Mako was giving me when he tossed my our digivice. Not until he jumped after Impmon. As he grabbed onto Impmon I realized what he as doing.

By weighing Impmon down he was giving the hole time to close.

But once it closes…

I turned toward Doroon's head.

"We need to circle back!"

I heard him grunt, and we started back around. We were almost there, and Mako was reaching his other hand out for mine, when disaster struck.

A black claw attached to a chain sailed down out of the hole and encased them, before slithering up and through.

"MAKO!"

And the hole closed.

Mako's…gone. What do I tell mom?

---

The birthday party a week later was… subdued. Yamaki had confirmed that Mako had reached he digital world alive, but that they'd lost track of him a few minutes later.

Ai had been adamant that Mako's presents be put in his room for when he got back. So, I gave Ai the book I got her, and carefully placed my gift for Mako on his bed.

Lopmon tugged on my hair from her position on my head.

"It's okay Suzie. He'll be okay, he's got Impmon with him."

My mood was not cheered.

"And Apocalymon."

"He'll still be okay."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because we have to be."

"Yeah."

We walked home, but my mood didn't change much.