Dolph leans against the rocky outcrop leading away from Luke's zone, watching the various Smackdown Digidestined walk around. Zack is nearby, playing with Patamon, and glances over at him when he exhales. "Hey, bro, what're you up to?" he asks, lifting Patamon up and giving him a little extra height when he flutters his wings.
"Just thinking, kid," he says, casting a glance down at Impmon before facing Zack. "I'm considering some changes, but that's neither here nor there. Let's see what's on the map today, ok?"
Zack nods, his brows furrowing. "Ok, bro." He pulls out his digivice and examines it. "There's a couple, but I think this one is the worst of the two." The red gleam over the village on the other side of the map is brighter, a little shaky as if the situation is destablizing rapidly. "We should check this one out."
"Looks like it," Dolph agrees, calling out to the others. "We have a mission, guys."
Those with digivolved partners use them to transport the others and they stare around at the village, once a calm, prosperous place. Now it's wreckage, buildings sliced into pieces and data thick in the air. "Damn," Dolph mumbles as the group of them approach. "This looks... pretty awful." They've seen some bad things during their time in the Digiworld, experienced even worse, but this is close to the top of the list.
Seraphimon nods from where he's holding onto Zack, Beelzebubmon hovering near him. "Where should we begin?" he wonders. They approach the village, Apollomon following right behind with Shinsuke watching closely. They've just entered when a rotating flame cuts between them, Zack and Dolph both relieved when their partners move quickly, just avoiding the worst of the heat. "Who's there?!"
The three mega level digimon move in circles, keeping an eye out for the origin of the attack, Zack, Dolph and Shinsuke hopping off to make sure their partners aren't distracted by trying to protect them from wayward attacks. "So," Zack says, glancing around at the other digidestined with partners still in baby form who had been kept behind for safety reasons. "Everyone ok?"
"Yes," the group choruses, anxious and a bit impatient with what's going on around them. "How long will it be until we can help in situations like this?" Chad asks, a little off balance without Jason with him.
"I'm not sure," Zack says. "You have to wait until your partners digivolve. It'll just happen when they're ready. Just be patient and keep safe, watch us. It'll work out."
None of the newer digidestined look thrilled at this but Zack has already spent too much time out of the village, so he returns and looks around. "Anything?"
"No," Dolph says. "It's been quiet." They glance around some more, Shinsuke flying overhead on Apollomon's shoulder, looking down at the village below. "Anything?"
"No, I see nothing," Nakamura yells back down at them. Zack and Dolph have just exchanged glances when there's another wall of flames dividing them, sending Apollomon careening down to the ground.
"Shit," Dolph exclaims, he and Zack running towards where Nakamura landed hard. Zack leans down and checks on the man while Dolph casts another look around, trying to spot the flames. "Beelzebubmon, go look!"
The partners both rush around, trying to find the cause of these attacks, this damage, before Beelzebubmon freezes where he's standing and stares down, confused, at a drill like sword protruding from his midsection. "Do- Dolph," he chokes out. Before he can say anything else, the sword is pulled back out and he collapses, Seraphimon moving just in time to grab him before he hits the ground.
"Zack!" Seraphimon screams, settling Beelzebubmon down carefully and lunging towards where the sword came from. "SEVEN HEAVENS!" Holy energy crashes down all around, burning into every possible hiding spot, before his sword appears in his hands and he lunges forward towards where he senses that the most impact had occured. "EXCALIBUR!" He hits paydirt, the sword going straight through Grey Knightsmon's body and cleaving him in two since he's already weakened from the earlier attack, deleting him immediately.
Seraphimon takes in a deep breath. Lands heavily on the ground and walks slowly over to Beelzebubmon's limp form, Dolph and Zack kneeling near him. Nakamura looks a little worse for wear, and Coronamon seems to be unconscious, but the digidestined is on his feet, and it's better than nothing.
Seraphimon drops down next to Beelzebubmon and rests a hand on his chest. "I would heal you," he says sadly, "but my power is pure and yours is steeped in darkness... and I am unsure what affect it would have on you. It might make things worse for you."
"I refuse to change," Beelzebubmon says weakly. "I will accept... this... end." He looks at Dolph. "I was leery of having a partner. But you were a good one. Never forget that." His hand shakes in Dolph's grip, but they ignore this and Dolph nods weakly.
"You... were the best partner I could've asked for," Dolph tells him. "This has been some of the best and frightening moments of my life. Thank you for that."
Beelzebubmon smiles at him, an expression that looks so similar to Impmon's that it's painful. Especially when he shudders and data pours faster from the wound in his chest. He deletes slowly, eyes fluttering, and Dolph holds him for as long as he can until he disappears into a pile of data that drifts away on the wind. "Dammit," Dolph breathes, Zack reaching out to touch his shoulder. "No... not like this..."
They sit there for awhile, Zack pressing his forehead between Dolph's shoulderblades to try to support him, when Dolph speaks up. "My plans... I think I'm going to be leaving WWE soon... which means I won't be able to come to the digiworld anymore." He sniffs. "I guess maybe that decision is what brought this on. My losing my partner. I was going to abandon my responsibilities, I deserved this. But Impmon... he didn't..." He closes his eyes, shakes his head.
"Neither of you did," Zack says, pulling back to look at him. "You're really going to leave?"
"I think so, kid," Dolph exhales. "It feels like it's time."
They're still sitting there, silently considering all that's happened in the last half an hour, when data particulars begin to reform in Dolph's hands. He blinks and stares down. "Is this...?" They've seen it before. When Alicia's partner was deleted, when Ricardo's partner was destroyed in battle.
"I think so," Zack says, leaning in to get a closer look as a black digiegg with red stripes finish forming. "I think Impmon's getting a second chance, bro."
Dolph sniffs. Wipes his eyes. "What timing." He hugs the digiegg to his chest and looks at Zack. "I guess I can join the rest by becoming an earth bound digidestined."
Zack nods. "I... I'm gonna miss you, bro."
"I'm going to miss you too, kid." He forces a smile, hugging Zack with one arm and his digiegg with the other.
Things may change a lot in the coming weeks, but he thinks Zack will always be his best friend, and Impmon will always be by his side in one way or another.
