Things in the real world are affecting the digital world. That's obvious, has been for awhile now, but still. To see more and more of the lands succumb to this is grim to watch, even for Seth. He stares at the map his digivice provides and exhales as more desperately blinking red lights gleam. "I wish," he mumbles, feeling that now familiar tingle spreading through his fingers that's been with him, growing in intensity since he met that Tonosama Gekomon. "I wish there was a way just to cleanse everything all at once. To correct all of the wrongs in this world."
"Seems like you want to do that everywhere, even if no one really agrees with your technique," Lana says, also staring at the map with a frown on her face.
He doesn't really care for her, none of them do, she's too shrill and opinionated, and sometimes that gets in the way during battles, but he shrugs it off. "I have gotten quite used to that by now."
Her lips twitch upwards. "And yet you continue fighting for whatever it is you apparently believe in. It'd almost be commendable, if it wasn't so absolutely insane."
He smirks at her. "I suppose everyone who brought about change to the world all had that said about them at one point or another."
She rolls her eyes. "Isn't that the standard line of a dictator wanna-be?"
"I'm no dictator," Seth says softly. "I just want things to be better, is all. Here and on earth."
Lana hums, her gaze distant as she stares off into the distance. "Don't we all, Seth. Don't we all." She apparently loses interest in their conversation when he doesn't give her much of a response and flounces off to bother someone else.
He sighs once he's alone, continuing to tap at the device, lost in thought. "Alright, guys, let's go," he calls out, finally choosing a village to help first.
Lana, AJ and Asuka all crowd around him as the digivice activates and sends them through in a brilliant flash of light. They all regroup and look around the rocky terrain they find themselves in, AJ frowning as he steps forward. "Where are we headed then?"
"Should be right around here," Seth says, glancing around. "The flashing light is right on top of where we're standing." But everything is flat, just rocks and gravel as far as the eye can see. "Weird," he mutters.
But then Lana lets out an exclamation and Seth looks up quickly, finding her staring at the side of a cliff. "The village must be here!" she exclaims and Seth walks over to her, freezing as soon as he sees what she means.
There's a wooden handle built into the side of the cliffwall, and when he gingerly pushes at it, a camouflaged gate swings open, allowing entry into the line of homes and other buildings that appear within. "Damn," Seth breathes out, thoroughly impressed. "This must have taken ages to design and build like this."
"A hell of a security measure though," Lana says, eyes wide as she peers in at her discovery.
"Yeah," Seth mumbles, wondering anew about the alert on the digivice. How could a place like this possibly get in danger? But he wanders in, anyway, casting a quick glance around.
There are creatures milling around peacefully, going on about their day, talking and laughing genially with those they come upon. Everything is calm, peaceful, and Seth can't imagine the reason behind the flashing red light on his map guiding him here. So he does the only thing he can think to do. Heads deeper inside, AJ, Lana and Asuka close behind, and begins to talk to a Gazimon that wanders by, and stops when he beckons it.
"I have no idea," the Gazimon says, a confused look on his face. "Everything is peaceful here, as you can see. We never have any issues. A Digimon goes out once a week for supplies, but beyond that, we have everything we need within these walls."
Seth looks around, honestly impressed by the time and careful planning a place like this must have taken to build. There's even blue sky above because a section taken out of the cliffhead overhead allows natural light to pour in. "Is it alright if I talk to this digimon?" he wonders.
"Uh, sure," Gazimon says, shrugging. "Might have to wander a bit to find him, he's usually really busy." He leads the way, poking his head in houses here and there. Seth glimpses the inside of a couple of them as well, eyes widening as he takes in the architecture of the buildings built into the side of the cliff. "There he is! Flame Wizardmon!"
A red clothed Digimon turns at the shout, and tilts his head down to smile at Gazimon. "Ah, Gazimon!" He hesitates upon seeing Seth and blinks, his eyes widening. "Oh, Digidestined. Yes, of course." He bows at Gazimon before turning his focus back to the others. "Please follow me. We have much to discuss."
Seth leaves Gazimon's side with a quick thank you, falling into step with the Flame Wizardmon. "You... are you in the same evolution line as...?"
"As Wizardmon," Flame Wizardmon says with a faint smile, twirling his weapon, a strange staff shaped like a match. Another blue one sticks to his side, Seth examining both of them with some curiosity as the digimon tries to explain. "Yes, I am." He scrubs a hand over his jaw and hums. "He is much more modest and bashful than I am. My side of the line cares little about such things, we are fine with showing our face to the world. Even if sometimes that's the last thing the world desires to see."
Seth nods, feeling a certain tug of camaraderie at this. "Yeah," he mutters, careful not to look at the others in this moment. "So you may know the reason why we're here, but there's been a distress signal originating from this village, and we just wanted to make sure that everything's alright." He casts another quick glance around, still seeing nothing more than happy villagers going on about their days cheerfully. "Perhaps it was activated in error, however..."
Flame Wizardmon stops and looks at him, blinking a few times. "Well, no, actually. It was done on purpose." Seth doesn't even get the chance to ask before Flame Wizardmon has him pinned down, both staffs pressed to his throat and side. "If anyone moves, he dies," he says simply.
Asuka, AJ and Lana hover, watching on anxiously, unsure what to do, as Seth looks up at Flame Wizardmon. "Why would you do this?" he gasps, not liking the sensation of the staff pressing tighter against his throat every time he speaks. "We came here to help you!"
"That's why," Flame Wizardmon says through gritted teeth. "I need... I need you to help me." His voice sounds different, strained, and Seth stares up at him in horror. "I was possessed by something the last time I left this village, and it's taking everything in me not to... not to set everything aflame right now. The village is designed in a way that some will survive, but... I can't... I won't... hurt anyone."
Seth stares up at him and Flame Wizardmon trembles, the force of his will keeping him from actually attacking. "If I move, will you let me go?"
"No promises," Flame Wizardmon forces out. "I've been holding off the darkness this long, but..." His eyes flash, stained black all of a sudden, and Seth gasps as the staffs dig deeper into his flesh, thrumming with heat. "No!" Flame Wizardmon yells out, suddenly looking normal once more. "You need... you need to move quickly." He's pale, the strain obviously getting to him, and Seth quickly scrambles out from under the staffs, ignoring the sudden twist of pain in his side.
"Betamon!" he orders, and his digimon quickly digivolves. Stingmon and Kabukimon joins the fray a minute later, and Seadramon nods at them before they turn to face Flame Wizardmon, still gasping and struggling to contain his power.
"Please," he mutters, before his entire being gets overwhelmed by darkness again, a twisted version of blue flames bursting from his staffs, from his fingers, from his very eyes, as his screams echo throughout the land.
Seth freezes, watching him lose himself to the darkness, and swallows hard. "Seadramon," he says, and his partner moves, approaching Flame Wizardmon carefully. Stingmon and Kabukimon are close behind, but none are sure what exactly to do.
Seadramon rears back and launches forward, water drenching the area around Flame Wizardmon, and they all watch tensely as the attack dissipates.
"Ooh, nice try," a distorted version of Flame Wizardmon greets them once things are somewhat back to normal. "I can appreciate that. But I appreciate this more!" Seadramon is suddenly struck by something, a wave of flames slamming across his body, and he is sent flying into one of the cliffwalls, immediately crumbling and dedigivolving.
Seth gapes at his partner, Betamon laying motionless before him. "Betamon!" he cries out, running to him.
Stingmon and Kabukimon face Flame Wizardmon next, and he just laughs at them. "Do you really think, after seeing what I can honestly do, either of you have any chance at defeating me?"
"We won't know until we try!" Stingmon yells, rushing forward. He doesn't even get close, however, before flames wash over him and send him crashing back to the ground as well, Modoki Betamon laying there, twitching and suffering after dedigivolving.
"Right," Flame Wizardmon drawls before turning to Kabukimon. "And how about you?" he asks the floral digimon, tilting his head with a smirk.
Lana's standing to the side, holding Gatomon tightly, relieved that her partner's never felt the need to get involved in one of these battles, when Asuka turns to her and snaps something in Japanese. "What was that!?"
"Let Gatomon fight," she says, pronouncing each word slowly and carefully.
Lana gasps. "Absolutely not! Gatomon doesn't want to fight! Do you?" she asks, turning to her Digimon, expecting an immediate denial. She's stopped short by the yearning in her partner's wide blue eyes, however, swallowing hard. "Gatomon...?"
"I never fought because I could tell it wasn't what you wanted from me," Gatomon says slowly. "I've tried to be a good partner and listened to your wishes, but this one time, I have to refuse! We must defend this village, and other villages like it!" She breaks free of Lana's grip and dashes forward, amazingly quick and agile.
"Wha... but..." Lana's hands tremble as she watches the small creature approach the battle, so steadfast and sure in her decision. "I..."
Asuka claps her on the back. "This is what they are meant to do," she informs her and Lana glares back at her before turning her focus back onto her partner, frightened.
Kabukimon acknowledges Gatomon with a slight incline of her head before turning her focus back onto Flame Wizardmon. She shakes her head, bright red petals dancing around them, distracting Flame Wizardmon briefly, before Kabukimon emits a powerful glow, a massive beam of light bursting from her and impacting against Flame Wizardmon, sending him back a few feet and diminishing some of the flames around him.
He only staggers briefly, however, before regaining his footing and aiming his staff at the two digimon. "Not going to be that easy!" he snaps at them, about to attack again when Gatomon moves closer, her eyes flashing dangerously at him. He stops short and stares deep into them, wavering as she hypnotizes him.
Gatomon holds it for as long as she can, but there's something pressing back against her control, and before she's ready, it snaps, her energy fading as she collapses against the ground. She thinks she hears Lana yell from a distance, and Kabukimon flies forward to try to attack again, but everything is muffled, happening very slowly. Is this what dying feels like? she wonders, struggling for each breath. "I can't... I won't die like this!" She forces herself up right once more, trying so hard just to see what's happening around her.
Arms enclose around her and she gasps, Lana's warmth surrounding her. "I won't let you get hurt like this!" Lana wails, clinging to her.
"You... you shouldn't be here," Gatomon gasps out. "I'm... I'm sorry I failed. I tried..."
"You did incredible," Lana tells her, wiping futilely at her own eyes. "Really- I'm so-"
Gatomon lets out a weak cry. "Lana!" Where Kabukimon is at, Gatomon has no idea, but Flame Wizardmon is lurking behind them, just about to attack, and- "LANA NO!"
Then there's a bright flash, and Lana gasps as her digivice floats out before her, a tag and crest joining together and coming to a rest in her palm. "Determination," she breathes out, clutching it close to her chest. "Gatomon, you know what to do!"
Indeed, Gatomon does, closing her eyes and allowing the healing power of digivolution to pour through her. "Gatomon digivolve to..." Her body grows, some feline features remaining, even as she turns into a more humanoid shape. She's about Lana's height, taking on a bellydancer's form, sheer fabric covering her mouth, flowing red hair pouring down her back. She has leopard spotted legs, and obnoxious bejeweled claws. Gold encircles her waist, her arms, her ankles, and the two tails that whip around behind her.
Lana lets out a soft scream. "You're gorgeous," she cries out, staring on in awe at her partner.
"Bastemon," she says softly, kneeling before Lana and glaring over at Flame Wizardmon. "I sense the darkness within you. It's so clear. You're lost to it, but I am here to rectify that, and save this village that has meant so much to you."
Flame Wizardmon laughs at her, the fire surrounding him growing with each breath he takes. "Big words from such a pretty little kitty," he mocks her. "Unfortunately my power is almost at levels sufficent enough to raze this entire place to ash!"
But Bastemon moves quickly, even faster than he can realize, and the words have barely left his mouth before she's upon him, unfazed by the heat and flames surrounding them. She hums to music only she can hear, starting to sway her hips, moving her arms enticingly, eyes fluttering as he watches her.
"What are you doing? Do you think I would fall for such base, humanistic urges? There's..." But he's clearly distracted by the movements of her body, how she gazes upon him raptly. The flames surrounding him start to flicker, weaken. "I..."
Somewhere between one glide of her body close to his and the next, sharp pain blossoms along his midsection and he chokes out a wheezing gasp, staring down at her claws embedded in his side. "Just breathe," she tells him tensely. "Almost done."
"You... I..." His eyes roll up in the back of his skull, the fire licking around him fades away, and he collapses at her feet.
She slowly extracts her claws and licks the data off of them lazily, before lifting her head up to the sky. "Lana," she calls out, and her partner quickly scrambles.
"Yes?"
Their eyes lock and Bastemon smiles. "Thank you for trying to protect me this entire time. But more so, thank you for allowing me to fight when needed." She walks forward and rests her hand over Lana's, closing her eyes as the power of their bond thrums through her, washing away the whispers of the darkness she'd absorbed from Flame Wizardmon. "I ... need to rest for awhile after this. But I'll still be me. Don't forget that, ok?"
"Bas- Bastemon?" Lana breathes out, her lips trembling.
"It's going to be ok," Bastemon tells her with a small smile. "It will."
Lana reaches out to her, fresh tears pouring down her face as Bastemon shatters into pieces before her. "No!" She collapses to her knees, cradling what's left of her partner's data before it too drifts away, drawn by the wind. "No! Bastemon! Come back!"
Seth, AJ and Asuka gape on from their partners' sides, no one sure what just happened exactly.
Time passes, Flame Wizardmon regroups fairly quickly. Whatever Bastemon had done to him, he's already healed from, barely limping as he walks back to the heart of the village. "My best guess," he says, looking sadly at Lana as she mourns the loss of her partner. "Bastemon drained the darkness from me, and her core... was too unstable to maintain itself while she fought the intrusion." He stares at the ground, a mournful twist to his usually calm expression. "I don't know what else to say but to thank you all for helping me, for saving my village. I have no doubt that if left alone, I would've destroyed this entire place and killed many of the digimon residing here."
It's a weak comfort to Lana, still lost in her grief, and she barely reacts as they walk back to the digiport and take their leave of the village. Seth, AJ, Asuka, they all cluster around her quietly, none sure what to say as they cling to their partners, unwilling to even think about if it should one day happen to them. Lana ignores all of them, walking on as steadily as she can with tears dripping down her face. The first glimpse of Luke's cave is a relief and she stumbles towards the digiport, not wanting to deal with anything or anyone else.
She's still standing there, half-listening to the muffled tones of Seth's voice as he discusses whatever with Luke, growing more and more impatient just to go home, when the guardian of the digiworld walks up to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. She grits her teeth but forces herself to look at him anyway, narrowing her eyes as Luke smiles sadly at her. She can't understand what he's trying to say but things suddenly come to her in a sharp rush of clarity as he holds something out to her. A digiegg.
"...I'll still be me. Don't forget that, ok?"
She gasps, reaching out for it with trembling fingers. "Bastemon?"
"It arrived awhile ago," Luke says with a faint smile, his words still a little muffled over the ringing in Lana's ears, but audible enough for her to understand. "My best guess, Bastemon needed time to recover from the darkness she absorbed. She will return to you as soon as she's strong enough."
Lana sobs, clinging to the egg. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She nuzzles it close, sniffling. "I promise, I won't take our second chance for granted."
