Digital Crisis: Grand Adventure

by ManyMonsters

In a golden era of ever expanding technology, humanity enjoys peace. But these advancements have drawn the attention of beings from beyond. As worlds collide, four teens are chosen to defend both worlds from destruction. / Rated T for language and violence - As well as some darker themes. Season 4 Begins!

31. Digital Crisis: The Movie!

. . .

Grayson

. . .

"The anomaly hasn't stopped moving sir."

The older man narrowed his eyes as he watched the small red speck darting from gateway to gateway. "What the hell is it doing then?" He questioned, "It's smashing through every firewall it touches, it could have breached a hundred times now but it just keeps moving across the web..."

"M-Maybe it's looking for something?" One of his men suggested.

"But what?" Grayson demanded, more so to the screens themselves than his staff. "It's completely avoiding any major information centers, hasn't come near a Cyber Core Hub... It's heading for somewhere remote, somewhere-" Before the realization hit him, causing his eyes to widen. "Wait, where are those kids?"

"Uh..." His assistant blinked, quickly beginning to dig through the papers around him. "D-Didn't they send a memo they were going on vacation?"

Grayson's eye twitched, "And they explicitly left out where they were going... Find them, NOW!" He ordered sharply, "Before this thing does..."

Returning those sharp eyes of his to the screen, watching as this being crossed dozens of URLs in a matter of seconds. Speeding towards an unknown destination, but Grayson was becoming more and more certain in his prediction.

. . .

Digital Crisis

THE MOVIE!

~Paradise Lost~

Intro Song: Digimon OST - Butterfly - Original Version

Written and Directed by ManyMonsters

Starring

Madison Morales as the "precious cinnamon roll!"

Cody Rhodes as "Boy literally too angry to die!"

Thomas Mercer as "bootleg Jimmy Neutron!"

Kai Sarata as the "Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival!"

And Also including...

LadyDevimon as "The one who awakened something in you as a child!"

Apemon as "Punch Junky Return to Monke!"

Mekanorimon as "Gundam but worse!"

Yasyamon as "The Vegeta of this Movie, if you know you know..."

With Special Guest Appearances by...

Samantha as "What do you mean we didn't have the budget to hire her for more than a cameo?"

And Darcmon as "The most expensive talent in the business, apparently..."

As well as...

[REDACTED] As the "Movie villain I was unable to work into the main plot!"

DISCLAIMER

Only the above mentioned digimon were harmed in the making of this film...

. . .

"Are we there yet?

"No."

Far away from the city, speeding down open road, was a large van.

"Are we there yet?"

"No..."

Heading east, further inland and breaking away from major highways and main roads, open fields soon turning to rolling hills and dense forests.

"Are we there yet?"

"No!"

While inside, eight passengers watched the landscape changing around them.

"... Are we there yet?" Shamamon asked from the back for the forth time, staring out the car window as trees rolled by.

Cody tightened his grip on the steering wheel, seething at this point. "Does it look like we're there yet?"

"No..."

"Then STOP ASKING!" He barked back, "We'll get there when we get there."

Tsukaimon pouted, currently seated in Madison's lap in the middle row of seats. "But how much longer?"

"We'll be passing through town in a few minutes," He assured, "After that it's only about five miles to the cabin."

Kai crossed his arms, "I'm surprised your family has property out here in the countryside, you never mentioned it before."

"And I'm surprised I'm the only one here with a driver's license," He scoffed in response, buildings coming into view up ahead. "I mean seriously guys, I thought the joke was that I'm the least functional adult here."

Earning a laugh from Thomas, who sat shotgun after calling it. "Careful Cody, if you become too reliable we'll make you do everything around here." Grinning as he teased him, "Though offering this vacation spot was already a good start on that..."

"Whatever," He shrugged it off, "It was my grandma's idea, after I told her what went on in the digital world she insisted that 'us youngins could use a vacation'." He explained, imitating an old lady voice, "It was my grandpa's property, used to come out here and hunt with my older brother, hasn't been used in awhile though so it'll be a little dusty."

"Well I think this was a great idea," Madison added with a smile, "It's been too long since I've gone camping."

"What did roughing it in the digital world not count?" Kai joked lightly.

"Roughing it?" Kotemon chimed in from the back, "You spent most of your nights in a bed!"

"Is that right?" Cody questioned, "You know I was gonna offer you guys the three beds we have but I think Kai's getting the couch spot!"

As arguments broke out between them, in the back Kokuwamon was idly clicking his pincers together. "Hmm... I sure hope there's enough electricity there for me." Slowly reaching into a little backpack Thomas' mother had given him. He pulled out a large D battery and started to suck out the energy with his claws.

Shamanmon laughed as he watched, patting his back. "I'm sure you'll manage."

Kotemon shifting slightly to be facing them again, "Aren't we still gonna have to be careful not to get seen though?"

But Shamanmon waved him off, "Nah, Cody said it's a super small town, and we'll be out in the woods! No other homes for miles."

Kokuwamon cheered up a little at that, "I sure hope so, I just want Thomas to be able to relax..."

Causing Kotemon to tilt his head, "I thought he'd be all smiles since he got everyone home."

"Yeah," Shamanmon nodded, "What's he need to relax for?"

Kokuwamon sighed, "I'm not sure," He answered, shrugging his shoulders. "But ever since we got home, it seems like something is bother him." Before he shook his head, "So I just want to focus on helping him relax this weekend."

Kotemon and Shamanmon looked to one another, before nodding in agreement. "You know what," The green goblin put on a toothy grin. "Let's work hard and make sure all our partners get to relax!"

Kotemon nodded eagerly, "Yeah! Totally stress free environment, shouldn't be too hard right?"

"What are you all chattering about back there?" Kai questioned, looking back over his seat.

"N-Nothing!" Kokuwamon fumbled out, "Just excited about seeing the cabin!"

"Well keep your heads down!" Cody called back, "We're gonna be passing through the town in a minute, don't want anyone seeing a bunch little monsters in the back!"

Causing Tsukaimon to pout, "What about me?"

"Eh," He shrugged, "I think you're cute enough to get away with it, we'll just say you're some kind of giant foreign guinea pig or... Something."

Madison patted her firmly on the head, "Guinea big."

As their vehicle began to roll through and into the town, Thomas' eyes took in their surroundings. Noting how small this place actually was, "Cody how many people actually live out here?"

"Hmm..." He had to think about it for a moment, "Maybe like, two-hundredish?" He answered with a shrug, "Most don't live in town so there isn't much here, there's exactly one local doctor, one convenience store and gas station combo, a bar, and one pretty kick-ass good pizza joint."

But Thomas noticed something else, a newer looking building with various antennae and satellite dishes on top. "How about that place?"

"Huh?" He blinked in surprise as they pulled to a stop at the town's main intersection. "Wasn't here last time I was around, must be new."

"Looks like an internet hub," Thomas replied, making a mental note of what he could see. "Most town's have them these days, even the tiny ones, since Cyber Core is so important to most businesses."

"Yeah well don't get any funny ideas," Cody rolled his eyes, "We're out here to relax at a cabin, not bum around in town on our laptops all weekend."

Thomas crossed his arms, "Hey come on, you know I'm the only one here with a laptop."

"Exactly!"

Before long, they passed through the town and down winding roads that lead them into the woods. A short ten minute drive later, they broke from the tree line alongside a beautiful lake. One that spanned hundreds of yards, the surface clear and gently waving in the breeze.

"There she is," Cody said with a proud smirk, pointing to a cabin on the distant shore. "Casa de Rhodes."

"It's beautiful," Madison replied, eyes staring out at the lake. All the digimon in the car currently pressed up against the window as they took in the sights as well. "The entire lake is your grandmothers property?"

"Eh, sort of." Cody shrugged, "On paper, but she doesn't the towns people using it, so long as they clean up after themselves."

Kai nodded, "Right, we'll be sure not to make a mess."

Thomas sighed lightly, checking his phone. "Man, I hardly get any signal all the way out here." He pointed out, "It'll be bad if there's an emergency."

"Relax," Cody waved him off, "It's just one weekend, we can afford a few days off, I'm sure anything major can wait until Monday."

. . .

Grayson

. . .

"NO it can't wait until Monday!" The older man barked into his phone, "This is an emergency!"

Having exhausted all methods of finding them via tracing, the CS:GO team was forced to go directly to the parents, contacting one by one. Of course, the most the could offer was something along the lines of, "They're vacationing at a cabin Cody's grandmother owns." Which on the whole, was not very helpful! And now, Grayson was consulting the elder himself, with... Poor results.

"Emergency Smergency," Granny scoffed back at him, "You're just going to put my boy in danger again!"

His eye twitched, "Mrs. Rhodes you don't understand he'd already-"

"Aren't you an adult? Why are you relying on kids to do all your dirty work?" She continued, ignoring his pleas. "Not sure what else I expected from a government man, you can talk to Cody when he gets back and not a moment sooner!"

Followed by a click as she hung up the phone, leaving Grayson standing there in silence. His eyes slowly turning to the nearly two dozen members of CS:GO watching him. Causing his temper to flare further, as he clenched his fists. "What the hell are you all staring at!? GET BACK TO WORK!"

"You're certainly in a good mood today, sorry I'm so late." Came the voice of the blonde haired older woman, entering the room while sipping her coffee. "Something I should know about?"

And just like that a lightbulb appeared above Grayson's head, "Angela! You need to contact your daughter."

She quirked an eyebrow, "Doable, but why?"

"SO SHE CAN CONTACT THEM!"

As the CS:GO scrambled, the unidentified data mass continued racing towards its target.

. . .

A poof of dust erupted from one of the couches within the cabin as Cody jumped onto it, laying across its entire length as he stretched. "Aaah, just as lumpy and uncomfortable as I remember."

Kai looked around as he set his bag on the kitchen table. The layout of the cabin was a single large room that was a combination kitchen, dining area and living room. With a few doors leading to the bathrooms, and the three separate bedrooms. The walls were lined with photos, many deer heads and other trophy animals. "Quite the décor you have here."

"Eh, gramps was a pretty big hunter," Cody shrugged, "Me? Not so much."

Thomas rolled in with the help of Kokuwamon and Shamanmon to get his chair up the steps, looking around at the cabins layout. "I'm gonna be amazed if I can even find an outlet around here..."

"We have electricity, smartass," Cody scoffed from his position on the couch. "Also the lake is clear and water temp is mild this time a year, so go nuts."

Madison quirked an eyebrow, Tsu currently sitting on her head. "And what are you gonna do?"

"I'm thinking a nap first, then grab some good wood and clean up the fire pit for tonight."

Kai looked to Madison as they realized his idea, "Sounds good, I think I'm gonna walk the the shore a little."

To which she nodded, "That sounds fun, we did just spend like four hours in a car so I'd love to stretch my legs."

"Have fun," Cody waved them off, not bothering to lift his at all. "Don't get lost."

"We'll do our best." Madison waved back, as the duo stepped outside, Kotemon following behind as well while Tsu remained on Maddie's head.

As the door closed behind them, Thomas watched them walking off out the window. Before he sighed lightly, shaking his head. "Guess I'll just... Hang out."

Causing Cody to perk up a bit, he sat up slowly and looked over at him. Before his eyes darted to their partners, "Hey Shamanmon, why don't you and beetle-borg go and start cleaning out the fire pit?"

"Oh? Okay sure!" The goblin grinned. "Come on!" He grabbed Kokuwamon's hand and ran right out the door. "Uh... Do you know where the fire pit is? Or what it looks like?"

With Kokuwamon answering, "I'm still trying to figure out what a beetle-borg is."

But as their talk faded, Cody sat up fully on the couch and crossed his arms. "So what's up?"

Thomas quirked an eyebrow back at him, "Nothing, camping trips just aren't really my thing." Trying to brush it off.

Cody simply shrugged, "You could have said no."

Thomas scoffed, "You were pretty vague about the details of where we'd be going." Narrowing his eyes slightly.

"I figured the fresh air would do us all some good, before the next psycho digimon shows up." Cody replied. "It'll do you some good."

"It'd do me some good to be somewhere handi-capable." Thomas remarked, crossing his own arms. "I can't even get in and out of this cabin without help." His hands slowly clenching into fists.

"Well we're happy to help," Cody assured, "You wanna go on a nature hike I'll carry you."

The boy finally snapping, "I don't want to be carried!" Raising his voice higher than he'd meant to, reigning it in as he sighed lowering his head. "I want to be able to walk..."

Cody watched him for a moment, before he leaned back a bit. "You didn't seem bothered by your chair before..." He noted, "In fact, I remember a certain sarcastic little twerp making a joke about it the first time we met."

Forcing an unwilling chuckle out of Thomas, "Yeah... I know, I'm sorry for shouting." He added, shaking his head. "I learned to live without legs a while ago, but going to the digital world and being able to move on my own... And then losing that?" He released a short, pained laugh. "I knew it was likely, but knowing doesn't make it hurt any less."

"Yeah..." Cody nodded slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. Remembering how hard the depression hit his older brother, "I know it sucks, but try to focus on the good stuff." He shrugged, "This weekend is to chill and blow off some steam." He added, standing up and making his way over. "So if you wanna break some stuff, or just scream at the lake, nobody is gonna stop you."

Thomas quirked an eyebrow at him, "And how exactly is screaming at the lake going to make me feel better?"

Cody flashed a sly grin in response, "Have you ever tried it?"

. . .

Sam and Darcmon

. . .

In the Digital World, deep within the Volcano Lab, Samantha and her partner the angelic maiden Darcmon were preparing the gateway device. All while Angela and Grayson were on a nearby Monitor watching her get it all ready.

"Alright so let me get this straight," The dark skinned young woman began while flipping switches across the console. "You found some kind of digital mass searching for them, at least you assume it is, and you didn't try to contact me first."

"Hey we don't all have a direct line to you," Grayson scoffed in response, "And Angela showed up about six hours late to work so-"

"I'm not officially on a schedule," She corrected casually, "I can technically never be late or early, I'll always arrive precisely on time."

"Can we focus," Darcmon interrupted, stepping up onto the platform. "So what's the play here?"

"We're sending the IP Gateway to you so you can intercept the data mass," Angela explained, "We aren't asking you to engage, just identify what we're dealing with while we work on relaying a warning to the others."

"Hmm," Sam's eyes looked to the map showing the Data Mass' movement. "It's pretty small for a digimon, only about 18 Gigabytes," She noted. "But its moving fast."

"If it's champion level or lower, I'll get rid of it." Darcmon assured.

"IP is locked," Sam replied, flipping the last few switches. "Activating Gateway..." Before looking into her sister's eyes, "Be careful."

Before the door in space opened in front of her, Darcmon nodded back to her sister with a smirk. "I always am." Before spreading her wings and dashing through.

Instantly she was engulfed in light and sent flying through a tunnel. Swirling ones and zeros were all around her as she passed by the streams of data. Before long it opened up into a much larger digital space, the area lit by vibrant blue and green lights that lined the walls. The Angel digimon continued flying forward, her eyes scanning everything beneath her.

"Do you see anything yet?" Grayson's voice sounded as a small screen opened up beside the angel, a second monitor appeared as well showing Sam.

"No, nothing yet..." She replied, before catching a flicker of movement. Something small, tiny even, her eyes widening as she finally locked onto it. "There!"

It was indeed tiny, no bigger than a football and shaped like a teardrop with disgusting insectoid legs. It's body was pure white, with no visible features other than two sharp, blood red eyes. It was indeed darting through the space at high speed, completely ignoring Darcmon as it flew below.

"Yeah that's a digimon alright," Sam chimed in, "But it's small, possibly newly hatched."

"But with a data mass of 18 Gigabytes?" Angela scoffed, "Impossible."

"No," Darcmon narrowed her eyes as she drew her blade. "It just means the Data is dense, this creature could be dangerous if it's allowed to Digivolve." She broke into a dive, racing towards the tiny digimon with both blade and scepter in hand. "I'll take it out before that can happen!"

"Darcmon wait!" Grayson tried to call her back, "We don't know what that thing is capable of!"

Thrusting her scepter forward once she was in range, Darcmon unleashed her heavenly thunder, attempting to catch it with bolts of electricity as they erupted from the end of her staff. But the tiny Digimon reacted with blinding speed, its legs stretching and forcing it to springboard off the nearest data stream.

"What!?" Darcmon gasped, watching as it effortlessly evaded her move. While the angels eyes struggled even to keep track of it as it started bouncing around her, pinging off data streams and gaining speed like a pinball. "I-It's fast!"

"How is this possible?" Angela questioned, "For a digimon so underdeveloped to possess this kind of speed-" She stopped and shook her head, "It nearly matches even my own digimon, and they were designed to be high speed killing machines."

The Angels eyes darted back and forth attempting to trace it, find a pattern in it's movements. "Come on... Come on..." Her grip tightening on her sword.

"Darcmon fall back!" Sam ordered, "Get out of there and we'll group up with the others t-"

"THERE!" As it made another pass, Darcmon lunged for the small digimon. Thrusting out with her blade, her speed only just barely enough. The edge of her blade glanced over it's body, cutting just between the eyes as the creature passed. "Ha!"

The digimon was thrown off course by the hit, tumbling before smashing through another data stream. It laid twitching on the ground for a moment, body trembling and shimmering as if in its death throes. But death would not claim the unidentified digimon just yet.

The gash in its surface began to writhe, the creature starting to trembling and swell. Like it's body was threatening to explode from within. Before it's eyes shot wide open and it the hole in its face erupted in purple energy, followed by an ear piercing shriek and a shock wave of pure force that sent Darcmon hurtling back through the air.

The Angel digimon landed on a small platform, gripping her blade and staff at the ready. "What is this? What is it doing!?"

"Data mass is increasing in size!" Grayson exclaimed.

Sam quickly adding, "It's Digivolving, get out of there!"

But it was too late, out of the darkness emerged a new creature entirely. Similarly disturbing in design, with a pink fleshy body and long sharp slicers for arms. Spines jutting from its back, all the way up to its skull. A long thin tail dangled behind it, and it had long powerful bending insectoid looking legs. It had no mouth, only those same blood red eyes that were now locked firmly onto Darcmon.

Without any warning, the mysterious beast launched itself at her. Closing the gap at an even higher speed than before, while it's eyes glimmered with twisted glee, and both its crimson blades shined as if they were already wet with blood.

. . .

"Whooooa these trees are so big!" Tsukaimon beamed, fluttering up between the branches high above the trail. "I thought this world was just all big buildings and stuff but this place is amazing!"

"Don't get too high!" Kotemon warned as he followed beneath her, "Stay where we can see you!"

While Kai and Madison walked along further back, Madison chuckling at Kotemon's remarks. "Aww, he's all worried about her." She said, "Funny considering Tsu is probably the strongest one here."

Kai chuckled as well, "Even the strong need help some times, and while her ultimate and mega forms seem like skilled fighters, I'm not sure I can say the same about Tsukaimon." Only half joking.

"Ha! You might be right about that," Madison replied, "Though I think I prefer her staying in this form, I think if my Dad saw any of Tsukaimon's other forms he'd have a heart attack."

Causing Kai to quirk an eyebrow, "Even LadyDevimon and BelleStarmon?" Sure, Devidramon was scary, but the others-

"ESPECIALLY LadyDevimon and BelleStarmon!" She said, throwing her hands up. "I mean did you see them in the Digital World?"

Causing Kai to blush lightly as he realized what she meant, looking away nervously. "Ahem, well uh... I guess I didn't notice." Fumbling for a response, "I-I was more focused on you at the time."

Madison nearly tripped, "M-ME!?" Her own cheeks flushing.

Kai realized how that might have sounded and instantly went on the defensive, "I-I-I mean because everything was so dangerous!" He assured, arms waving defensively, "I was more focused on you and your safety!"

"Yeah!" Kotemon added from further down the trail, "Kai was very worried about you! He wanted to make sure we protected you!"

Causing Kai to tense up even further than he thought possible, "NOBODY ASKED YOU KOTEMON!"

While Madison's head was spinning, her entire face beet red. "H-H-He was worried about me, he wanted to protect me!?"

But before more could be said, a new sound echoed across the lake. A distant noise crossing the waters to reach them, it sounded like- "Is that someone yelling?" Kai questioned, looking towards the cabin.

Madison went into worry mode immediately, looking out over the lake and narrowing her eyes. "I think I see Cody, and Thomas... Maybe somethings wrong and we should head back?"

Kai nodded, "Kotemon! Come on we're heading back!"

"You too Tsu!"

. . .

"AND SCREW YOU! YOU GIANT STUPID BURCH TREES!"

"Yeah that's it! Let'em have it!"

"YOUR NOT AS COOL AS PINE TREES AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY COOL MOUNTAINS AS A BACKDROP!"

"Oddly specific but yeah go off King!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!"

Thomas slumped back into his chair, panting heavily as he finished screaming out over the lake. While nearby Shamanmon was poking at the fire pit, currently just a small flame slowly beginning to grow. It was late afternoon, the sun would be starting to set soon, the temperature slowly dropping from warm to cool, perfect time for a bonfire.

"So how do you feel now?" Cody asked, nudging his shoulder a little.

Thomas was still panting a little, but he nodded. "It defies all logic, but yes actually."

"Ha!" Cody laughed, wearing a big grin. "Ain't no logic to being pissed, you just gotta vent it out some times."

Thomas nodding slowly, "So if yelling is how you blow off your anger, you must be like... Angry twenty-four-seven." Going right back to pushing buttons.

"OH YOU THINK I'M ANGRY HUH!?" And Cody instantly had him in a headlock, nearly pulling Thomas out of his chair. "I'll show you angry, you little smartass!"

Kokuwamon was just exiting the cabin, noticing the two of them roughhousing a little as he made his way over to the fire. Shamanmon grinning as he looked to the metal bug, "I think Thomas is relaxing just fine, don't you?"

Kokuwamon nodded, "He sure does, despite Cody's rather... Abrasive approach to basically everything, he helps Thomas feel better about stuff."

Shamanmon chuckled as he turned his attention back to the fire. "Dustin, Cody's brother, is kinda the same way with him, though maybe..." Looking up just in time to see Thomas pivot his wheelchair, turning in place fast enough to sweep Cody's leg. "In a less physical way."

"Agh! Oh you think you're real smart huh!?" Cody demanded, laughing as he grabbed the chair's wheel and started tipping it. "Well big brain your way out of this smart guy!"

As Thomas was toppled from the chair, Kokuwamon yelped and started running over. "O-Okay I think that's enough!"

Managing to separate the two just as Kai and Madison appeared at the entrance to the trail, the duo approaching as Kai quirked an eyebrow. "Everything alright here?"

Cody was already on his feet, dusting off while Thomas was still sprawled out on the ground. "Yeah, why?"

"We heard shouting." Madison explained, "Thought something might have happened."

"Oh," Thomas blinked, before chuckling lightly as Kokuwamon helped get him back into the chair. "Yeah I was uh... Venting a little, sorry to worry you."

"It was actually a pretty convenient distraction." Kai thought, as his eyes looked out over the lake. "By the way, we should head into town in the morning and get some actual food."

"Yeah I'd rather not spend the weekend living off of our travel snacks." Madison chuckled lightly. "Do we wanna split the costs?"

"Nonsense," Kai waved her off, "I'll pay, my family is rich remember?"

"Oooh prodigy boy waving his cash around." Cody teased.

Causing Kai to tense up a bit, "I'm just trying to be helpful!"

"Why wait until morning?" Thomas questioned, "Sun is still up and town isn't far away, let's hit the convenience store."

Cody shrugged, "I'm down."

"What about the fire?" Kai questioned, "Looks like you've only just gotten it started."

"Our digimon can watch it," Cody replied simply, "You guys wait around here so we don't have to hide you in the back of the van again."

"We'll guard the cabin!" Kotemon assured with a proud salute.

"Alright lets go while we still got daylight." Thomas urged, rolling himself towards the van. "I've got shotgun again!"

. . .

Grayson

. . .

The CS:GO operations room was silent, watching the screen as Darcmon's battered, beaten, and bloodied limp body slowly floated through the webway in the aftermath of her fight with that thing. Her sword shattered, staff nowhere to be seen, and her wings shredded. The fight had been short and brutal, to say the least. And now the creature was simply watching her drift, before it's blood-red eyes darted to the faces watching through their screens.

Before narrowing those sharp eyes, the mysterious digimon turned and continued flying through the webway in search of its target.

"We have to warn them," Sam's voice sounded, as she opened another gateway to pull Darcmon back to her for safety. "That thing is too strong to be left running around!"

"Indeed." Angela nodded, tapping away at her own keyboard. "I did some preliminary scans of the Digimon during combat, tried to see what I could pull from it's construct."

"And what nightmares did you find?" Grayson asked, already expecting it to be something terrible.

"No higher sentient thought, only aggression and a hunter-like instinct." She explained, "All cognitive processes seem to focus on searching for an opponent with the sole goal of evolution."

"Evolution?" Grayson questioned, "But why? If it wanted energy to evolve further it could just start devouring data across the web couldn't it?"

"Core scans reveal it knows nothing but violence, unable to distinguish friend from foe, it will seek out and destroy anything that it comes into contact with." She explained, "It wants to evolve into a better killing machine, and that's why it needs opponents... Not raw data."

"So why target the others?" Sam questioned through her monitor, hauling Darcmon up onto a table before the angelic digimon de-digivolved down into Kudamon. "It could find any number of strong opponents just by going into the Digital World."

"Because it didn't come from the Digital World." Angela replied bluntly, like it was obvious.

Grayson turning his attention from the data and looked to her. "What do you mean?"

"All files have data time stamping their creation and any dates they were modified, meta-data." She explained, "Think of it like carbon dating on your files, with the information stored inside these files we can trace a creation point." Her fingers continuing to tap away at her personal keyboard, "This thing, it came from a mass of data within a conspiratorial web forum." Before she flipped the screen around, showing the laptop to him, the screen displaying a swathe of stuttering and low resolution videos.

Samanatha narrowed her eyes, starting to recognize the gloomy, rain filled images and videos. "That's..." One towering figure in particular getting her attention. "Dragomon..."

"What the hell is this?" Grayson demanded, "Are you telling me a bunch of whackjobs on 4chan created a digimon?"

"Partially, the all Digimon have a Core that the initial egg forms around, where this monster's core came from I cannot say." She said simply, "But this forum was a hosting site for any and all things related to Dragomon's invasion attempt."

The head of the operation clenched his fists. "We shut down any and all circulating videos and imagery of the event, put a lid on it..."

"And yet some of those most fervently fearful and hunting for the truth, persevered." She stated, "The mass of information stored here however, was almost entirely deleted when a moderator of the site wiped the larger posts, one of your boys I'm guessing... But that data didn't just go away."

Sam was slowly understanding, "If it had just been deleted, it'd turn into junk data in the Digital World, then be repurposed into Eggs at somewhere like the Dum Dum Factory."

"But because the entire URL was locked down, the data had nowhere to go." Angela surmised, "It stagnated, like a rotting corpse until it melded with a wayward Core... And now we have this." Sending the image of the creature up onto the main screens. "What I could pull from the data I got during battle labels the monster, so we at least know what we're fighting."

Grayson swallowed dryly, "A-And what is it we're fighting, exactly?"

"Arcadiamon, now in Rookie Stage," Angela answered, "And it knows only battle, as well as those who fought Dragomon, and it's hunting them to evolve."

"Sir!" One of the other members jumped up from his seat suddenly. "We've got a location on the others."

Grayson's eyes darted to him, "How?"

"By breaking a few rules and digging up property purchasing records for the Rhode's family." Another staff member chimed in. "Says a plot of land nearly Three-Hundred Acres was bought near a tiny little town out in the middle of nowhere."

"And said tiny town is right on Arcadiamon's path." The first added. "ETA to emergence and breach in the towns hub is estimated fifty minutes."

"Get us a link to their Core Hub, try to get a signal to the kids from there, send word to the cyber warfare division to start setting up firewalls around the hub, we might be able to slow it down." Grayson ordered quickly, "And alert nearby emergency services to start evacuating the area!"

. . .

"Hmm... You think we should get dark chocolate or regular for the smores?" Cody questioned, looking to Madison as they stood before the diminutive candy section at the towns convenience store.

Madison thought about it for a moment, before shrugging. "Both?"

"Because Kai is paying?" He questioned.

To which she just grinned and repeated, "Both."

Cody shrugged, "Both is good."

"Just make sure you'll actually eat everything we buy," Kai added from nearby, crossing his arms as he watched them. "I don't like wasting."

"Relax," Cody waved him off, "I'm sure whatever we don't eat Shamanmon will finish off."

Kai rolled his eyes at that, "I said I'd buy for our weekend meals not for Shamanmon to gorge himself." He stated firmly, "Only buy what we need."

Madison popped up from behind Cody, "Kai, can I get an extra package of sour gummy bears? They're Tsu's favorite..."

He tensed up a bit, crossing his arms. "Well... If they are her favorite..."

"Yay!"

Cody narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "I'm sensing a double standard here..."

Meanwhile, Thomas was sitting outside the store, deciding not to bother trying to weave his chair between the aisles. Watching the sky overhead, sun slowly setting and falling behind the trees that lined the surrounding horizon. Stars were starting to become visible in the sky above, the towns people were beginning to disappear from the streets into either the one bar this town had or returning to their homes.

"Huh?" Thomas blinked as his phone started to buzz in his pocket. "The moment I get signal huh?" He muttered, pulling it from his pocket only to see a familiar number. He answered it without a second thought, "Hello?" And at the same time the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, coming towards town from the highway.

"Are you with the others and your digimon!?"

He sounded panicked, "Uh, not exactly, what's going on?"

"You've got a Digimon heading right for you!"

. . .

Back at the cabin, Shamanmon and Kotemon were sparring with one another beside the fire. Club and Kendo stick batting off one another as Kotemon attempted to get the better of his foe with skill and grace, while Shamanmon somehow remained on even ground through sheer brute force and stamina.

All while Tsukaimon and Kokuwamon watched, the small purple digimon pouting as she looked out over the lake. "When is Maddie gonna be back?"

Earning a short laugh from Kokuwamon, "They've only been gone for a little bit, I'm sure they'll be here soon." Before he noticed a little purple blinking light on the laptop sitting nearby, "Oh? Thomas got a message!" He said excitedly, making his way over.

Tsukaimon tilted her head, "Should you really be going through his messages?"

"No," The beetle replied, "But a purple light means it's from the Digital World, so it might be Sam or Darcmon!"

"What!?" Both Kotemon and Shamanmon exclaimed upon hearing him.

"Let's see... Just click here, aaaaand open!"

Instantly the message was raised to full screen showing a video, on display was Sam, and she didn't look happy. "Oh thank god Thomas you-" Before realizing she was looking at a Kokuwamon, who was incidentally standing so close to the camera it was impossible to see past him. "Kokuwamon? Where's Thomas? Where are you!?"

"At camp," He answered, blinking, "Thomas and the others went into town to get snacks, what's wrong?"

"Oh dammit," She cursed, stepping back from the monitor, "You need to get to them now! We've got an emergency!"

"What do you mean?" Shamanmon said as he butted into the frame beside Kokuwamon, "What's going on?"

"A powerful digimon is heading right for you guys," She explained, "It already crushed Darcmon, everyone in that town is in serious danger!"

"Darcmon!?" The goblin gasped.

"This is bad!" Kokuwamon threw his hands up, "Really bad! We have to go now!"

"On foot?" Kotemon added, equally starting to panic. "It'll take way too long!"

Shamanmon turning to them both, "Then we'll try to hitch or a ride or something, come on!" Looking to Tsukaimon, "Tsu you can fly so you should go ahead of us, you'll get there faster!"

Kotemon blinked, "That's actually a great idea, go Tsu!"

She was in the air in seconds, worried about her partner. "I'm on it!"

Kokuwamon and the other started to run, following the road they had taken into camp. "We'll be right behind you!"

. . .

"Attention All Citizens!"

"This is an emergency evacuation!"

"A dangerous chemical spill nearby has released hazardous toxins into the air!"

"Everyone must vacate the town immediately!"

"Not bad, Grayson has definitely played this game before." Cody said with his arms crossed, as he and the others watched from a nearby alley.

While out in the streets, emergency vehicles with flashing lights were guiding people out of their homes and leading vehicles safely towards the freeway. Trying to clear the small town as quickly as possible while a perimeter was being set up around the Cyber Hub. Luckily everyone was agreeable enough to the threat, something the townsfolk knew they wouldn't be able to hide away from, dangerous enough to scare them into moving fast.

"So this... Arcadiamon, is coming after us?" Madison questioned.

Thomas nodded, "Grayson said it already beat Darcmon in the net, easily too... And we don't have much time until it reaches the hub."

"How much time, exactly?" She pressed worriedly.

"About ten minutes, give or take..."

"The town will be empty fast at this rate, but not that fast." Kai noted, "We should try to lure it away once it appears, maybe try to lead it out of town?"

"Would that work?" Cody questioned.

"I don't see why not," Thomas shrugged, "I bet it's tracing us through the signal that comes from our Digivices, can't say for sure it'll work the same once it's off the network but we don't have much choice."

"And leading it out of town will help protect the homes too." Madison added, "We can't have another city ruining catastrophe."

Thomas nodded in agreement, "Right, we'll work together to lead it away while one of us heads to the cabin to grab our Digimon."

"Whoa what do you mean 'we'?" Cody scoffed, "You should go with whoever is driving back to get our digimon."

"What?" Thomas looked taken back, "I'm not running away, not while you guys and everyone else here is in danger!"

"Bro," Cody held up his hands defensively, "I'm not trying to put you down, but if this thing put the beat down on Darcmon it's dangerous, if that chair tips you're done for."

"And that's the risk I am deciding to take," He replied sharply, "I'm a part of this team too!"

"Remember what I said in the digital world?" Cody asked, "How we gotta play to our strengths? Yours isn't exactly mobility."

Thomas clenched the arms on his chair, "And guess what? My brain isn't gonna help us when this time breaches and is trying to kill everyone!" He shouted at him, "So let me help you!"

"The only thing your helping is yourself find an early grave!" Cody barked right back, refusing to back down. "You can help by staying safe, so take your crippled ass out of town!"

Madison attempted to intervene, "Thomas come on, we can take the van and find our digimon."

Kai nodded, "We're wasting time."

Thomas rolled his chair closer, hitting his limit and ignoring the others. "Say it again, and I'll show you how handi-capable I am."

Cody leaned in, unfazed by his threats, "You got some stones making threats like that without a leg to stand-" But without even letting him finish, Thomas reached up and grabbed Cody's head before slamming his own forehead right into the older teens nose. Making Cody stumble back and fall on his butt, clutching his now bleeding nose. "Gah! Fffuck!" He cursed in pain, wincing as he glared back at Thomas. "That's a cheap shot!"

"Well I learned it from you," He retorted, a bit of Cody's blood running down his forehead. "Still think I can't look after myself?"

Madison was by Cody's side, offering him a rag for his nose. "Thomas, I'm sure Cody isn't trying to offend you he's just trying to protect you." Attempting to be the voice of reason, "In his own... Brash way."

"The way he runs his mouth about my legs doesn't offend me." Thomas said, rolling past the two of them. "But acting like just because I'm this chair I can't keep up, does." He said simply.

Cody rolled his eyes, still clutching his nose in the rag in an attempt to stop the bleeding. "Come on you know this is-"

"Just stop," He cut him off sharply. "I'm not your brother, you don't have to look after me."

That particular gut punch finally being enough to shut up the abrasive young man. Who simply bit his tongue, shaking his head as he slowly pushed himself up, brushing off Madison's attempts to help him. He looked at Thomas as if he was going to try and get the last word in, when the entire conversation was interrupted by a burst of light from the Cyber Hub.

"Dammit," Thomas' eyes were on it in an instant, watching a ray of light erupted through the roof of the building. "We're out of time!"

All around the building, agents of the CS:GO drew their weapons and had them aimed towards the light beam. As the diminutive form of Arcadiamon emerged from within. Stepping out onto the rooftop, looking down over the streets with those blood red eyes. They darted from person to person, as if searching for the ones wielding Digivices.

"That's the digimon?" Kai questioned, "It looks tiny..."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Thomas replied, "We need to get our digimon now!"

"Weapons free!" The order came from an officer in the streets, a hail of gunfire erupted from the men and women surrounding the building. Their bullets did little more than bounce off the pink creature's hide, as it looked around at them in confusion, like it wasn't even sure if this was an act of aggression. "Break out the EM Weaponry!"

A truck rolled up to the building, a large gun turret in its rear bed. A woman at the controls, aiming the excessively long barrel at the target. "Firing!"

A static, buzzing noise ripped through the air as the weapon unleashed it's payload. Firing a bolt of electricity that warped the air around it as it flew, almost like some kind of railgun. No doubt some kind of experimental weapon meant to be used against Digimon.

And it did find some success, as the bolt struck Arcadiamon in the shoulder, punching a hole clean through it's body!

"Holy shit," Cody blurted out, "Damn we might not need to help after all!"

"No, something isn't right," Thomas replied, holding up his phone. The screen displaying some kind of scanner, "The data mass of the Digimon, it isn't going down!" As that same energy began to bleed out, surrounding Arcadiamon's body once more. "It's increasing rapidly! I think it's digivolving!" A gust of force ripped through the streets, shattering windows all throughout the town center.

"MAaaadddiiiieee!" The young girls head whipped around to see Tsukaimon fluttering over the nearest rooftop. "Where are you!"

"Down here!" She cried, waving her arms. "How did you know-"

"Sam sent us a message!" She explained quickly, flying down to them and looking towards the light. "The others are on foot though!"

Madison nodded, looking to the boys. "You three go get your digimon, we'll force this thing out of town."

"You sure?" Kai questioned, "Remember we can't use our Crests in the real world, you won't be able to digivolve to BelleStarmon."

"Then Devidramon and LadyDevimon will have to do." She answered. "Now GO!"

Arcadiamon emerged in its new form, reaching the champion stage. It was much larger than before, standing just over ten feet tall while crouching on its long powerful legs that ended in three sharp talons. It's bladed arms had been replaced by long, powerful limbs with oversized hands at the end. While it's entire body was sickly shades of orange, green and red, and a pair of tiny underdeveloped wings sprouted from it's back.

"FIRE AGAIN!" But before the trigger could be pulled, the beast lashed out. One arm jutting forward, stretching like rubber as the hand grabbed that EM weapon by the barrel crushing it in an instant.

Before Arcadiamon retracted it's arm, throwing it's head back and unleashing a strange undulating noise that was almost close to laughter. While the agents opened fire with their already proven inneffective weapons, and began a forced retreat.

While the other teens made a break for the car, Madison pulled her Digivice and looked to her partner. "You ready?"

To which she nodded, flying forward. "Let's GO!"

Digivolution

"Tsukaimon digivolve to!" Her body enveloped in light, a shell as she rapidly grew in size. The once tiny adorable creature becoming something nightmarish, a twisted dark dragon as great tattered black wings erupted from her back. With long arms ending in wicked claws, and a deadly pointed tail tracing behind her. "Devidramon!"

Arcadiamon's eyes were drawn to the light instantly, tilting it's head in confusion.

"HraaaAAGH!" Devidramon lunged right out of her digivolution, one might claw catching the monster off guard and pushing it right off the rooftop. Nails digging in, as she carried it into the air.

"Now! Get it out of town!" Madison ordered, racing in the street as she tried to keep up.

"Right!" Devidramon snarled out, taking aim as she cocked back her arm. "Crimson CLAW!" Putting all her weight behind the swing as the claw holding Arcadiamon glowed blood red, she smashed it into the earth and began dragging it towards the outskirts of town, avoiding the buildings as best she could but still succeeding in tearing up some fences and clipping rooftops.

Arcadiamon quickly had enough of being pushed around, and without warning kicked up into Devidramon's arm. The impact sending a jolt through her entire limb, forcing the dark dragon to let go. Arcadiamon sprung up off the ground, racing right at it's attacker with one arm drawn back. Throwing it forward, the arm extended just like before and smashed into Devidramon's chest with enough force to completely reverse her flight path, sending the great digimon smashing into the side of a house at the edges of town.

"Grrnngh! Can't let it force me back!" She hissed out, pushing herself up as Arcadiamon jumped in to attack again. Instead of allowing it to close the distance, she spread her wings. "Demonic Gale!" Unleashing a torrent of dreadful winds with the flap of her wings. The force enough to push Arcadiamon further out of town, into the empty fields that had already finished their harvest for the season.

Arcadiamon landed on its back, tumbling through the dirt before it bounced right back up onto it's feet. Narrowing its eyes sharply, excitement filling it upon finding a more worth opponent to propel it's evolution onward. It's body trembled with that excitement, as it dug both feet into the ground like it was preparing for something, bracing itself against the dirt.

Devidramon flew above, holding up both claws as they began to glow red once more, "Crimson Claws!" Lunging for the it, attempting to slice the invader to ribbons in an instant.

The earth beneath Arcadiamon cracked as it launched itself straight up at her, weaving between the slashes and flying right past her head. Devidramon tried to catch it with its tail, trying to skewer the creature, but Arcadiamon caught the limb. Before it began to spin around mid air, pulling Devidramon with it, spinning her at high speed as it gained more and more momentum.

Madison watched in shock, seeing the digimon that must have been less than half her size pull off the feat. "Tsu!"

Before it whipped her into the ground with all that built up momentum, slamming her into the earth and causing the dragon to form another crater. Before Arcadiamon came crashing down right on top of her, both arms coming together as the hands began to glow. And just as Devidramon started to rise from the dirt, Arcadiamon slammed into her back from behind, the force causing a massive shockwave that sent dirt and dust billowing sky high as Tsu was forced deeper into her own crater.

Madison was running towards the crater, worried for her partner when Arcadiamon jumped right out of the dust cloud. "Ngh!" She slid to a halt, as the beast landed in front of her. "Oh crap..."

It glared down at her, sensing her to be one who held a digivice, before it began to release that same undulating laugh from within it's body. Before slowly beginning to raise one of its mighty arms.

"What... Do you think... You're doing!?" Devidramon's shadow suddenly cast over Arcadiamon, as she loomed over him from within the crater. "Touch Maddie... And you're DEAD!"

Digivolution

"HRAAAGH! Devidramon Digivolve too!" She began to rise, folding her arms in together across her chest and hugging herself tightly. Her wings curled around her own body as well, like she was cocooning herself in darkness. Before her body began to warp and become surrounded by light. In a final, glorious eruption that pushed away any remaining dust and smoke, the wings unfurled to reveal the dark beauty of the fallen angel in the air. "LadyDevimon!"

Arcadiamon's attention was now fully on this evolved foe, as Madison began to run clear of the area once again knowing things were about to get loud.

"You guys better hurry..." She thought, taking cover behind an old fence. "I don't know if Tsu can keep this up forever."

. . .

"You need to slow down." Kai said, tightly holding his seatbelt.

"You need to shut up." Cody barked back, the van currently speeding down the road, well above the legal limit.

"We need to get our digimon fast to help Madison," Thomas chimed in from the back, "But we also need to get back alive, so slow down!"

"Oh so now you suddenly care about your well being?" Cody replied sharply.

"There's a difference between dying to help people and dying because your driver is a dumbass," Thomas shot back, clearly still heated over their argument as well. "You dumbass!"

"Alright THAT'S IT!" Cody turned partway as if he were going to slug Thomas in the seat.

"Eyes on the road!" Kai barked, grabbing the wheel as he saw something on the road ahead. "BRAKES!"

The van lurched forward as Cody's foot hit the floor with the brake pedal, screeching to a halt. As everyone was almost thrown forward from their seats, Cody gripping the wheel tight as they finally stopped. In the road ahead of them were all three of their partners, all looking like deer caught in the headlights. "HEY!" Cody barked out the window, "You morons should be walking on the SIDE of the road not in the middle!"

"Sorry!" Shamanmon waved, "But we're in a hurry!"

"No kidding," Thomas said, sliding open the side door. "Come on Kokuwamon!"

"Right!" The metal beetle nodding, running around to the side of the vehicle to help Thomas out.

"What are you doing?" Kai questioned, "Just load into the van and we'll turn around."

"Mekanorimon will fly me back faster," He answered simply, pulling out his digivice. "Madison might need help so we can't afford to waste time."

Cody scoffed, "Stubborn little-"

But Kai interrupted him, "Alright, we'll be right behind you so hang on and we'll take that thing down together."

Thomas nodded, "Try not to let hot head get you into an accident."

Digivolution

"Kokuwamon Digivolve To!" The metal beetles body igniting with light as he grew in size, Thomas being enveloped as well before a greater machine appeared in his place. Thomas in the drivers seat, hands on the controls, "Mekanorimon!"

"Full power to the thrusters," He said, flipping various switches as they took flight. "Let's go!" Blasting off at high speed, racing back towards town.

While Kotemon and Shamanmon climbed into the vehicle, both panting heavily, "Hang on guys!" Cody ordered as soon as the door was closed, pulling a u-turn and speeding back towards the town. He could see large plumes of dust and smoke, "That little shit, why can't he just listen?"

"Maybe because he's been hanging around with you?" Kai suggested.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean!?" Cody demanded.

Kai scoffed, looking at him in disbelief, "You can't be serious, don't tell me you haven't noticed."

Cody blinked, anger dissipating for a moment, "Noticed what?"

Kai shook his head, "Cody, Thomas might have denied it when you were arguing, but he does look up to you the same way a brother would." He explained.

"Tch, yeah right," Cody scoffed, "If he really did then why wouldn't he listen to me?"

"If your older brother told you to sit back and chillout while he did something incredibly dangerous, would you?" Kai questioned simply.

"What? Of course not, I'd-" The realization slapping him right across the face. "Oh... Aww shit..."

"And if that same brother then looked you in the eyes and told you that you'd just slow him down or be a burden," Kai continued, arms folded over his chest. "How would that make you feel?"

"H-Hey I never said... Those exact words..." Cody beginning to understand the hole he'd dug for himself.

"But you certainly implied them, and incase you haven't noticed," Kai chuckled lightly, "Thomas is a pretty smart kid."

Cody gripped the wheel tighter, watching Mekanorimon's thrusters disappeared into the distance, before he narrowed his eyes and put his foot to the floor with the gas pedal. "Dammit, you better not get yourself killed Thomas," He muttered, "If you die before I can apologize, I'm gonna kick your ass!"

. . .

"Death Claw!" LadyDevimon cried out, extending her razor sharp nails as they glowed crimson and slashed across Arcadiamon's arms. The beast blocking the attack with a crossguard before it jumped and delivered a high powered kick. "Agh!" Sending the fallen angel digimon soaring across the fields, though before she could strike the ground her course was corrected by her wings, and she flew high into the air. "Darkness Wave!" Spreading her arms and wings wide, unleashing a swarm of red-eyed bats.

Arcadiamon narrowed it's eyes, it tried to jump over the attack but as it launched itself high into the air the bats chased right after it. Swarming around the monster while it swiped and tried to get rid of them, growling as they began biting and tearing at its body from all angles.

"Now begone, return to nothing!" LadyDevimon commanded, slashing a hand through the air as her demonic side showed more and more. But watching the bats attacking, she could see those same cracks beginning to form, the beasts body was beginning to undergo another change. "No! If this thing Digivolves again-"

"All Power to main weapon!" A voice sounded nearby, the dark digimon's head turning to see Mekanorimon hovering to stop in the air. "Target locked, beam fully charged, FIRE!"

"TRI-BEAM LASER!" Mekanorimon's chest roared to life, as the three lenses unleashed absolute devastation. A great beam of light firing and ripping through the sky towards Arcadiamon. The wild digimon not seeing the blast coming from within the swarm, and took the full brunt as it was completely engulfed by the attack!

"Woo!" Madison cheered, "Great work Thomas!"

A shrill scream echoed across the fields as the light beam sent the smoldering corpse of their foe into the ground, Mekanorimon landed nearby while LadyDevimon hovered overhead. "Nice shot." She noted, taking the time to catch her breath, "Hopefully that was enough to halt it's evolution."

"I'm not taking any chances," Thomas replied, "Preparing to fire again, all power to main-" His words hitching as he saw the blinking red light on his control panel, "Dammit, lenses are overheated... Unload Gyro Cannisters!" He ordered, pressing a few more buttons, disengaging the safety measures. "Maximum Yield!"

"Gyro Break!" Mekanorimon cried, the silos on its shoulders opened up and began launching a hailstorm of small mechanical discs, each one a powerful explosive device that would no doubt finish the beast.

"Darkness Wave!" LadyDevimon added her own assault to the mix, unleashing a swarm of bats to make sure Arcadiamon was unable to escape the blast.

But before either strike could land, the smoke and dust was blown away as a pillar of darkness erupted from the earth. Shooting straight up into the sky, as the explosives blew up harmlessly against its surface and the bats were burned to ash. The pillar was at least twenty feet in diameter, and reached high overhead. The ground shook, as a shadowy figure began to take shape within.

Insert song "Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 OST - Become Villainous"

Standing nearly twice as tall as before, it's entire body now appearing more heavily armored than the exposed skin it had before. With fully developed wings, sharp claws and mouth finally splitting it's emotionless visage with a twisted, eager grin filled with sharp teeth. Those blood red eyes, and another at the center of its forehead, all glowing through the mass of dark energy.

"Th-This data mass is insane!" Thomas exclaimed, "Did it only digivolve to ultimate or did it jump straight to the mega stage!?"

"Thomas you need to get out of there!" Madison shouted into her digivice, "It's staring right at you!"

Thomas felt his entire body tense up as he looked up from the monitors to meet eyes with Arcadiamon. A chill ran through his body, the monster not just staring at Mekanorimon but right into Thomas' eyes as well. Every natural instinct he had was screaming, like he needed to drop everything and escape as fast as he could. But in the last second, when he thought Arcadiamon would attack, those eyes darted up to-

"Tsu RUN!" Thomas screamed.

A great gale was released in all directions as Arcadiamon launched itself right at her, crossing the distance with incredible speed. And in an instant giving Tsu flashbacks to Mephistomon. One mighty arm grabbed ahold of her, squeezing the fallen angel tight in its monstrous grasp, "AAAAAGH!" She cried out in pain, while Arcadiamon just began releasing a low, twisted laugh.

"Stop!" Madison cried out, "Let her go!"

Before Arcadiamon raised it's other hand, a mass of energy beginning to form in it's palm. He held it right up to LadyDevimon before letting her go. The orb ignited and exploded right against her body, doing no harm to the monster but it sent Tsu soaring, burning as she flew through the skies. Her body crashing down at the edges of the field, before immediately changing back into her rookie form, completely knocked out.

"Lenses are ready to fire!" Mekanorimon barked, "Come on!"

"R-Right!" Thomas gripped the controls again, "Disabling safety measures, acquiring target, hang on buddy!" Arcadiamon looked to them, snickering wickedly as it angled itself in a dive straight towards them. "FIRE!"

"TRI BEAM LASER!" Unleashing an even larger burst than before, this time sparks and smoke blew from Mekanorimon's back as the system overloaded. The beam engulfed Arcadiamon, but did little more than slow it down.

The monster raced right through the blast, it's silhouette getting closer and closer until it emerged right in front of them. Cocking back one arm as the beam sputtered out, it slammed the mighty fist right against the machine's body, rocking Thomas in the cockpit and sending them flying. The boy inside gripping his chair for dear life as they tumbled, crashing and smashing across the ground as bits and pieces of Mekanorimon were left behind, the canopy utterly shattered by the time they rolled to a stop.

Mekanorimon laid on his side, body in tatters, sparking and leaking oil. While Thomas was half hanging from the cockpit, nearly laying in the dirt just outside, his body covered in scrapes and bruises.

"Heheheh..." The shadow of Arcadiamon loomed over them, not content to let them rest while Mekanorimon was still in this form.

"Furious SPIKE!" Arcadiamon looked up just in time to take a series of sharp yellow quills to the face, some hitting it's eyes and making it stumbling back while hissing in annoyance. "NOW!"

"Twin Strike!" The second attack came from behind, as Yasyamon emerged from the shadows and thrust both his blades into where he thought the joints in its armor were. Sadly, he found no such opening, "Dammit, that hide's too thick!" As the weapons were turned aside by the thick natural plating.

Arcadiamon growled as he turned towards him, swiping with one mighty claw. Yasyamon just barely dodging it as he jumped back, while a flash of yellow appeared in the sky above. "Hammer of the Beast KING!" Bringing both glowing fists together, Apemon slammed his arms down on the back of Arcadiamon's neck, the impact carrying enough force to bury the monster up to his knees in the dirt. "Go now Cody, Kai!"

Having been hanging back, Cody and Kai rushed towards Mekanorimon, "Thomas? Thomas you alright?" Cody questioned, checking him over to make sure he wasn't seriously injured.

"J-Just a concussion, probably..." He groaned out, wincing in pain as they started moving him.

"Careful with the glass," Kai added, "We need to get out of here."

"No shit," Cody grunted, getting Thomas onto his back before looking to Kai. "Go find Maddie, make sure she's alright."

Kai nodded, "Right, stay safe."

As they split up, Cody began heading for the edges of the battlefield, towards town. "Alright smart guy, you gotta have something cooking in that big brain of yours." He said, while far behind Yasyamon and Apemon attempted desperately to give Arcadiamon the runaround, switching off on attacking and evading to keep him off balance.

"Sorry," Thomas grunted out, "I've got nothing... Without a gateway we can't force him back, the hub's destroyed so that's out of the question." He explained, "At this point, it's either us or him, and we aren't looking too hot right now."

"Hmph, well I'm not counting us out just yet."

On the battlefield, Apemon brought up both arms just in time to block a mighty swing from the monster. The impact sent him sliding back across the dirt almost one hundred yards, while his arms were left shaking, nearly broken. "Gnngh! D-Dammit..."

While Yasyamon tried clipping the monsters wings, attacking the fleshy appendages in hopes of slicing them clean through. But just as he went for the attack, the strange tentacle mass that made up the lining on his wings began to move, lashing out at Yasyamon and binding his body, "Wh-What the hell is this!?" He demanded while struggling against the hold.

"Disappear!" Arcadiamon sneered, before turning with all his might and hurling Yasyamon across the field, aiming low to make sure the blade warrior smashed into the ground as much as possible before grinding to a halt at the streets just outside the fences. Before turning back towards Apemon, spotting the monkey still standing. "Hrrngh... Heheheh..."

Apemon grit his teeth, "Smug bastard... You're lucky I can't digivolve!" But with a power gap like this, would it even matter? As Arcadiamon began marching towards him, Apemon took a step back, before gasping as his foot stepped on something that crunched. "Huh?" Not even realizing he was nearly on top Mekanorimon's wreckage, "Crap..." Racing to the machine digimon, he tried to help get him up. "Hey! You still with me? Come on we have to get you out of here!"

"Hmm?" Mekanorimon groaned, his one eye blinking back to life, "Oh... Hello Apemon, are you enjoying the vacation?" His words slurred and dazed.

"Geez Arcadiamon must have really rung his bell," Apemon realized, "Yeah it's going great, now move it!"

"No... No I don't think I can," He replied weakly, sparks flashing from his broken pieces. "Even... Even if I wasn't busted up, I can't do much more than basic motor functions without Thomas piloting me..." Before releasing a short, pained laugh. "I-I guess you could say, he and I are both crippled..."

Apemon blinked in surprise, not at all aware of his friends weakness. "What?"

"You... You go on," Mekanorimon urged, "I'll... I'm just slowing you down... I-I think I can still take him out, b-but you can't be near me."

"What are you talking about?" Apemon questioned confused.

"My core," He said, before coughing roughly a few more times. "My core has... Absorbed the cores of many other digimon from the factory, I-I think I've got enough juice left to overload it, b-blow that monster away."

"Yeah and yourself!" Apemon argued, "Not happening!"

The footsteps of Arcadiamon were getting closer, Mekanorimon winced as he looked up at Apemon. "I'm not asking permission... J-Just get out of here, while you still can..."

Apemon looked back at the approaching monster, gritting his teeth. "No, I won't leave you behind!" He declared intensely, turning fully to face the oncoming Arcadiamon, "I'm not moving from this spot!"

Cody was panting by the time he reached the edge of the field, carrying Thomas past the fences before setting him down. "Alright, we can take cover here for a minute."

Thomas however, was less focused on their safety and more on their impending doom. As he stared down at his digivice, he sighed heavily. "Hey... I'm sorry for earlier, I was being immature and stubborn."

"No shit," Cody replied quickly, "But... I wasn't being much better." He admitted, shaking his head.

"You were just trying to protect me," Thomas argued, "I was acting like-"

"Like me," Cody cut him off, "I'm flattered really, but you gotta find a role model that's less of a dumbass."

Managing to get a laugh out of Thomas, "Oh man... We really are screwed aren't we?"

Looking out towards the battle, Cody could see Apemon was currently face to face with Arcadiamon. The monster was bearing down on him, looming over both the golden monkey and Mekanorimon. "Big time..." As he absentmindedly pulled out his digivice, "But I'm not throwing in the towel just yet."

The ape in question held Arcadiamon's twisted gaze, "You think you're really scary huh? Well I'm not running!"

While Mekanorimon argued, "A-Apemon please... Just get out of here!"

Arcadiamon raised both arms, like he was intending to crush Apemon with a mighty blow. "Die."

But as he brought them down, Apemon brought both his arms up, catching Arcadiamon by the wrist. "Gnnngh!" A wave of force was released between them, as they struggled against one another. Well, Apemon struggled, the ground beneath his feet cracking and the bones in his arms splintering from the weight he was trying to resist. "No! I won't die here!" He declared passionately, "I won't let you get past me!"

On the other side of the field, Kai had Kotemon on his back, while Maddie held Tsu in her arms, both digimon unconscious. "No, Apemon's going to get himself killed!" Madison exclaimed.

Kai narrowed his eyes, "Come on, we have to think of something... Anything!" Cursing internally, "If only we could digivolve, use our crests!"

"That idiot," Cody narrowed his eyes as the gust of wind from their struggle reached them at the fences. "But I guess I can't blame him..."

"What's he doing?" Thomas questioned, unable to see from his seat on the ground.

"Apemon is protecting Mekanorimon," Cody replied, clutching his digivice tighter. "I guess I didn't realize they've been playing brothers too."

Thomas smiled faintly, "Heh, brothers... Right," Looking down at his digivice again. "You really think so?"

To which Cody looked down at him, "Hey, you can't pick your family." Before flashing a smug grin, "But you can find them, just like those two digital idiots have." Before Cody extended his hand, fingers clenched around his digivice, offering to bump fists with Thomas. "And all things considered, you're a pretty awesome little brother."

Thomas nodded, feeling a sense of pride in his chest as he held up his own hand clenched around his digivice. "And you were right, you do make a pretty kick ass older brother." Bumping knuckles together, holding them in place.

"Oh yeah?" Cody's grin brightened further. "Kick ass enough to let me meet your family?"

"Nah they'd probably still think you're a gang member." Thomas replied, before bursting out into laughter, Cody quickly following behind him, the two finding some small moment of humor despite the direness of the situation.

Without warning, their Digivices began to shine between their fingers. Causing both Thomas and Cody to pause in their laughter, watching as each screen pulsed and began to glow brighter. Unsure exactly what it meant, but they had a feeling. Cody pulled Thomas up, and together they aimed their Digivices out over the field, "Come on, give us something!" Cody shouted, as they began to glow brighter.

"Help us end this!" Thomas added, "TOGETHER!"

Arcadiamon's weight was becoming too much for Apemon, his entire body screaming at him to give in and collapse beneath the pressure. But even as the ground beneath his feet began to break, he refused to budge.

When suddenly he felt a burning sensation in his chest, familiar yet different than ever before. "Wh-What is this!?" His body beginning to glow.

Mekanorimon gasped, suddenly feeling like he'd been brought back to life, despite his injuries he felt filled with energy. "S-Something's happening!"

A familiar voice echoing in all four of their heads.

"Are you ready?"

And in unison, all four of them answered.

"Hell yeah!"

Jogress Digivolution

Arcadiamon was blown back by the burning light that erupted around his prey, the monster growling in annoyance but also excited by the concept of more fighting.

"Apemon!"

"Mekanorimon!"

"Jogress Digivolve too!"

Apemon's body made up the frame, a tall and powerful form with a larger upper body and strong arms as he grew in size. While Mekanorimon's body, his parts, all converted into armor and weapons coating the body. Completely covering Apemon in heavy cybernetic armor, advancing the savage ape warrior right into the future. Heavy metal gauntlets formed over his hands and forearms, while four heavy barrels capped with lenses appeared on his shoulders, two on each side. The lower canisters were marked, one with a plus sign and the other a minus, while the left upper barrel lens was marked with Cody's Crest, and the right marked with Thomas'.

When the lights faded, the newly formed warrior stood before Arcadiamon, matching him in size and presence. Clutching his fists tightly as electricity sparked from his fingers.

The monstrous digimon tilted his head confused, "Hnngh... Where did they go? My... Prey?" He questioned, growling lowly. "Are you... My prey?"

(Insert song - Digimon Frontier - The Last Element)

"I am neither Apemon or Mekanorimon," The voice of both digimon making up his form spoke through him. "I am the one who will defeat you!" As he clenched that super charged fist, thunder rumbled in the sky above, "Raijinmon!"

From the edges of the field, Kai and Madison stood by attempting to nurse the wounds of their digimon. "They... Fused together?" She questioned.

Kai nodded slowly, "So it would seem..."

"Did... Did anyone know they could do that?" Madison replied, looking over at him.

To which Kai simply shrugged, "Nope."

On the opposite side of field, the passionate young man was fist pumping. "Looks like we're going into overtime!" Cody exclaimed with a big grin, "Kick his ass! MechaApemon!"

While Thomas looked at him dumbfounded, "He literally just said-"

"HRAAGH!" Arcadiamon lunged for his new foe, throwing one of those mighty fists.

But Raijinmon blocked it with his own punch, their knuckles meeting and sending a shockwave through surrounding fields, tearing up more earth. The cyborg warrior narrowed his eyes, noticing the damage already done to the area. Before he smirked beneath his helm, "Catch me if you can!" And took flight, launching himself high up into the sky with incredible speed.

Arcadiamon chased right after him, taking the bait in an instant. "Finally... A real fight!" His claws began to flow with that terrible power, he lunged for Raijinmon with intent to release the explosion right against his body.

In a flash, or rather in a bolt of lightning, he vanished before Arcadiamon's eyes. Thunder rumbling right in the monsters face, before a second boom sounded behind him. Arcadiamon looked back just in time to see the wrists of Raijinmon's gauntlets rotating, whirring and glowing with super charged lightning. "Drums of Raijin!" And they were aimed at his lower back.

The sky lit up, and a violent thunderclap echoed for miles around as the burst was released. The blow sent Arcadiamon flying across the sky, far and away from the battlefield below, until they were soaring over the forest. Raijinmon flew overhead, drawing back his fist and releasing another heavy handed blow. Arcadiamon blocked this time, but the force still sent him hurdling towards the lake below.

The monster spun mid flight to level out, hovering just over the surface of the water. It's eyes wide with glee and mouth split in a wild grin, he charged at Raijinmon with reckless abandon. "More! Show me MORE!"

Raijinmon scoffed as he clenched his fists, "You really only know violence and destruction huh?" Before dashing forward, cocking back his own fist as it began to charge with more power. "I almost feel bad for you!"

"Gnngh!" Arcadiamon hissed in pain, as this time when their fists met, Raijinmon's strike tore right through his body. Removing the monsters entire arm below the shoulder. Arcadiamon began to release a low chuckle, slowly breaking into a full blown manic laugh. "Yes! MORE! I want MORE!" He flew up into the sky, holding his remaining arm over his head. His entire body was starting to crackle and shift, the hole in his arm glowing as he'd done before. While a great mass of dark energy started forming overhead, growing larger and larger, swallowing up the very moonlight and casting a shadow over them all!

Raijinmon narrowed his eyes sharply, "You won't get the chance to evolve again!" The lenses on all four of his shoulder cannons began to glow brightly, the sky around Rainjinmon sparked and crackled, like the atmosphere itself was becoming super charged!

"DISAPPEAR!" Aracadiamon roared, hurling the enormous black orb, it's size mighty enough to not only swallow up his foe but level most of the surrounding area. And that wasn't even accounting for the explosion that would likely follow!

But Raijinmon seemed unfazed, "Full power..." Clenching his fist, assuming a stance to give all four barrels ample firing support. "STORM CANNON!"

All four lenses unleashed brilliant bursts of light, the ones on the side with Thomas' Crest were Golden, while those on the opposite side with Cody's Crest were a brilliant silver. The beams merged together, spiraling like a divine drill meant to pierce the heavens themselves.

They cut clean through Arcadiamon's insane attack, piercing the energy and dispersing it harmlessly before reaching the monster himself. The beast barely even having time to raise it's arms in defense before the blasts consumed it. Carrying him higher and higher into the sky, burning away the body of this highly resilient monster. Until even the tiniest specs of data were reduced to smoldering dust in the lower atmosphere...

Raijinmon remained there for a moment, as if waiting to see if it were possible for Arcadiamon to return from that. But when the silence remained, he turned and began flying back to town, and towards his partners. Slowing down and landing at the fields edge, before kneeling down to be less imposing. "It's over."

"Sure hope so," Cody chuckled, "After an attack like that I think even Mephistomon would be nothing but dust."

"So, you're Raijinmon." Thomas noted, as Cody pulled him up, one arm over his shoulders to give him support. "Is this fusion evolution going to become a regular thing?"

To which Raijinmon shook his head, "I was created in response to the bond you formed, the culmination of the friendship you forged into brotherhood." He explained, "My return may rely entirely on you two, so be nice." He added with a chuckle.

"Well hopefully we'll be able to summon you again in a bind," Cody replied, flashing a toothy grin. "You've got a hell of a right hook, it's kinda nice to be on the side with unstoppable power for once."

Raijinmon quirked an eyebrow at that, before he slowly stood up fully. "Maybe..." His eyes drifting up to the sky, "But I have a feeling... My power will be inconsequential, before long." Before he looked back at them, as his body began to glow. "Good luck."

In a flash, his body separated into silhouettes of light. They looked like the forms of Apemon and Mekanorimon at first, before rapidly shrinking down into two small balls. One was quite familiar to Thomas, the little metal toy looking Digimon with red lenses for eyes, MetalKoromon. The other however, was mostly covered in orange fur with a single bit curved spike on its head.

"Uh... Is that you Shamanmon?" Cody asked, tilting his head. While MetalKoromon slid forward, beeping in Morse code and spinning around his companion.

"Oh right, you've never seen me in this form!" The little fluffy digimon snickered, "Tsunomon, for now anyways."

"And MetalKoromon," Thomas introduced, "You guys did good work."

"Couldn't have done it without you two." Tsunomon answered, "I'm just glad it's over!"

Cody nodded, looking out over the field to see Madison and Kai approaching, each one carrying their partners. Before he looked towards the rather scuffed up city behind them, "Yeah... It's a shame it had to ruin our vacation."

"Who's to say it's ruined?" Thomas asked, "We've still got two days left!"

Causing Cody to blink, "Oh yeah..." The realization dawning on him as he grinned, "Oh HELL Yeah!" Fist pumping, "Let's get back to the cabin and have ourselves a victory party!"

"Wait!" Thomas held up his hands to try and stop him as Cody began dragging him towards the others. "Shouldn't we report to Grayson!?"

"Screw that guy, I wouldn't be surprised if this was somehow his fault!"

. . .

Grayson

. . .

The older man's eye twitched, as Cody's last words came over the comms inside the control room courtesy of one of the agents at the battle ground. "Sir, do you want me to pursue?"

Grayson sighed heavily, shaking his head. "No, leave them be." He said, slumping back down into his chair. "Let's just be thankful this is over... Someone get me a drink, a strong one."

His assistant popped up beside him, the fiery redhead holding a glass of clear liquid. "I think water would do you better," She said with a smile. "With how much you've been sweating, I'd almost think you were really worried about those kids."

To which he grunted in annoyance, snatching the cup and sipping it's contents. "No, I had a feeling they'd pull some mystical digital bullshit out of their butts to save the day... But still," He other hand gripping his chest, "They certainly almost gave me a heart attack doing it..."

The assistant chuckled in amusement, "Young and full of passion, aren't they sir?"

"Damn teenagers..." But as he said back in his chair, staring up at the screens showing the final moments of Arcadiamon's battle, he narrowed his eyes sharply. "So we know where the data came from that made this thing, but what about the Core?"

. . .

? ? ?

. . .

"That was quite an impressive display."

"Indeed, it's amazing what you can do with the right reformatting of some junk data."

"Were we able to recover any of Arcadiamon's data?"

"No, but we have backups."

"Good, then it's only a small setback."

"Of course, and with those children and the CS:GO warding off threats from the other side..."

"We have all the time in the world bring our plans to fruition."

. . .

Hey I said I'd be back in June and it's still June right XD

Welcome back! And thank you everyone for your patience while I put all this together. I actually almost started posting the new season a few days ago before this idea came to be, and I just went with it and threw this together for everyone, some good dumb movie fun that might have a sequel eventually who knows :D

On the topic of Raijinmon, his existence and the events of this movie are as canon as you want them to be. If I had all the time in the world to work on this story Him and Arcadiamon would have gotten a full Arc of events, but alas... Don't expect Raijinmon to be taking center stage again any time soon, as much as I love the underused Digimon I don't want to rely on fusion when we've got more Mega Forms right around the corner ;3

Season three will begin in about a week, I'm just putting the finishing touches on Part 1 of it, and I'm happy to say we're in for a wild ride!

Until then, I'll see you guys again soon!