Hey. First of all I'm sorry for the very long gap since I posted the last chapter .. I'm getting worse. It took me a little while to get this chapter right. Then there was some business with my laptop involving it getting sent away to be fixed. Anyway, I've finally got chapter 16 up. so enjoy!
Aster Selene: Thanks. You mean the city the other kids are in? That's Star City.
Sightbent: Yep hehe. They can be a tough team when they're together.
Sync The Dragon Tempest: Thanks. Sorry if it was a little bloody heh. I wanted to try something a bit more extreme than they do on the show.
Dragongirl19510: Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy it.
Copycat-the-Unknown: Ummm... no I dont think so hehe
Phillip Clark: That's a good idea actually, think I'll use that! and yeah I wanted to have a bit more violence than they have in the show.
fireangel08: Thanks. Yeah they've noticed the kids are missing heh.
Amethyst-Love: Hehe thanks. Sorry its taken a while in getting the next chapter out.
Flurry of Freezing Flames: Thanks. Yeah I'm gonna have VictoryGreymon and Z'dGarurumon as their mega levels. And sure I'll check your stuff out.
LoneWolfVampire13: Thanks. Glad your liking it. And Yeah it is Myotismon. But he didn't have any connection with Datamon. That was just a little side plot in the story.
Digimon Season 2.5 "Digimon Adventure 03"
Episode 16: "The One who Inherits Courage"
.:FCH, File City, File Island, Digital World:.
Tai gazed down at the city below from the hospital window. It was the morning after and they'd spent the night at the File City Hospital, which had been half a mile away from where the warehouse was.
The room they were currently in wasn't very big. It had one bed, which was fairly large, two bedside tables at either side of the bed, a few chairs and a few medical machines in the far corner at the opposite side of the room.
Tai cringed a little as his leg began to hurt again. Joe had stitched the wound up and the painkillers he had been given were finally starting to wear off. He glanced back to his daughter in the hospital bed. She was asleep and had been like that since they arrived yesterday afternoon.
The deep cut above her right eye was stitched up, whilst the rest of her body was covered in bruises and other small scratches. Her t-shirt had been taken off and thick bandages had been wrapped around her chest where she had bruised most of her ribs and cracked one. There was also a small bandage around her right wrist.
Tai continued to watch her for a little while before turning his attention back to the window.
The door on the opposite side of the room opened slowly and Sora stepped in holding two plastic cups of coffee. She walked over and placed them both on the small table by the bed before looking towards her husband.
"Tai, I brought your coffee." She spoke, breaking the silence. She didn't get a reply so she walked around the bed and over to where he stood by the window. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him from behind. She rested her head against his back, just below his shoulder. "Honey... are you okay?"
"It's all my fault." She heard him mutter. "It's my fault our daughter's laying there beaten and bruised."
"Tai its not-"
"I'm supposed to protect her but instead I just lay there whilst that creep used her as a punch bag." His voice grew a little louder.
Sora lifted her head off his back. "How do you think I felt? I was stuck outside watching that building burn whilst you and Dawn were trapped inside."
Tai sighed and lowered his head a little. "Sor' you couldn't have gone back in that building. What good would have that done to you or the baby? You shouldn't have even been threatening Datamon with that flamethrower."
"Tai don't start treating me differently just because I'm pregnant. You really think I was gonna just stand there whilst he tortured our only daughter?"
"But Sora-"
"Umm... Mom? Dad?"
Tai and Sora both turned around at the sound of their daughter's voice to see she was finally awake. They walked over and Sora sat in the small chair whilst Tai sat on the edge of the bed. Dawn cringed a little as she slowly sat up.
"How you feeling?" Sora asked with a smile.
The young Kamiya girl rubbed the left side of her abdomen. "Like I've been hit by a train." She half laughed, but cringed as her sides ached.
Her father smiled a little before sighing. "Dawn you shouldn't have done that. He was gonna kill you... and he could have killed you."
Dawn crossed her arms stubbornly. "And what do you think he was gonna do to you Dad?"
Tai half smiled. "I know, but..." he trailed off a little. "You had me so scared kiddo."
Dawn was taken back a little. She couldn't think if she had ever heard her father admit he was scared before. If she was honest, she always thought it wasn't afraid of anything. She then smiled. "Hey it's alright Dad. I'm fine aren't I?"
"You did get quite a beating." Sora spoke up. "We're really proud of you though. Just promise you won't put yourself in that sort of danger ever again okay?" she half laughed.
Dawn flashed her mother her trade-mark grin. "I won't. Not now that I'm gonna be a big sister" her grin grew bigger.
Tai and Sora both glanced at each other before looking back at their daughter. "How did you-" Tai began.
"When I woke up I could hear you guys talking about it over by the window." Their daughter replied, still grinning.
Before her parents could say anything, the door opened up and their Digimon walked in. Agumon's face lit up as he saw his human partner awake in bed. "Hey you're alright!" he hurried over and stood at the side of the bed.
"Of course I am. It'll take more than that pile of junk to take me out." Dawn smiled confidently. She then turned back to her parents. "Say, how long was I asleep for?" she asked, with a blank look.
"Since yesterday afternoon." Sora replied.
Dawn blinked a little surprised. "Wow I must have been really worn out huh?"
"Do you remember anything about what happened?" Biyomon asked, who was stood at the foot of the bed.
The young Kamiya girl lowered her head a little, trying to recall the events of the previous day in her head. "Uhhh... not really." She admitted. "All I can remember is Datamon charging towards me and I threw that pipe as hard as I could at him. Before and after that is just a blur."
Sora smiled and stroked a few strands of hair out of her daughter's face. "It's alright now though... It's over."
.:SC Headquarters, Star City, Folder Continent, Digital World:.
"Someone let us outta here!" Veemon's voice echoed as he almost screamed at the top of his voice. But no one could hear him down below on the streets of the city. He grabbed either side of the cage with his hands and began to shake it.
Dan, who was sat with his legs crossed and his chin resting in the palm of his hand, groaned and glanced at his Digimon partner. "Veemon it's no use."
"Maybe if I try head butting it again!" The little rookie suggested, standing up straight.
"You already tried that about ten times. Stop otherwise you'll give yourself a headache." Dan replied.
Veemon slumped down, leaning against the cage. He glanced down at the small wooden table at the other side of the room where the children's digivices were all laid out. "If only you had your digivice then I could digivolve and bust us outta here."
Suddenly the door handle moved and the door opened to reveal Kamemon. He walked into the room and paused just below the DigiDestined. "You better keep it down or you'll wake Master Starmon. And you don't wanna make him madder than he already is."
Dan leaned forward to the edge of the cage. "Listen you, you better tell us what the heck is going on here!" he demanded.
"Master Starmon knocked you out and dazed you with his Meteor Shower attack before locking you in those cages."
"Just what is that freak's problem? We didn't do anything to him, or his stupid city." Dan muttered.
"Master Starmon always promised if humans stepped foot in Star City he would have his vengeance on them." Kamemon said with a slight chuckle.
"Wait – what? Star City? But this is File City... isn't it?" Margaret asked trailing off as her eyes grew wide with panic.
Kamemon chuckled. "Man he must have knocked you out pretty good." He replied. "This is Star City, the capital of the Folder Continent. File City is 1,000 miles away on File Island."
"W-what?!" Margaret exclaimed in a shriek.
"You mean we're not on File Island?!" Dan just about yelled, with Kamemon just nodding his reply. The goggle boy turned to Jonathon who was in the next cage but one. "So much for your knowledge on the portals! You got us lost!"
"This is not my fault." Jonathon replied calmly.
"We'll never be able to rescue Dawn now, if anything's happened to her you're dead Izumi!" Dan threatened angrily.
"Dan calm down." MJ said before looking down at Kamemon who was below them. "You've got to help us. We didn't mean to come here to cause trouble. We were meant to travel to File Island to rescue our friend who's been kidnapped."
Kamemon shook his head. "Sorry, no can do. If Master Starmon found out he'd have my head for going against him and the city."
"What's gonna happened to us?" Patamon asked, gulping a little.
"Whatever Master Starmon has planned for you. But just so you know, it won't be pleasant for ya." Kamemon chuckled a little before he turned around and began to head towards the door.
Gatomon jumped to her feet, her claws wrapping around the bars of the bird cage. "Hey come back! We're not finished with you yet!" she exclaimed.
But Kamemon just ignored her and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Once he was gone, Dan turned his attention to Jonathon and glared at him. "You've got some explaining to do Izumi."
"I told you this is not my fault." Jonathon protested, getting a little irritated.
"Something must have happened and interfered with the portal whilst we were travelling through it." Tentomon added.
"Exactly. So I suggest you get your facts straight before you go around accusing people Danjuro!" Jonathon exclaimed.
Dan huffed and crossed his arms. He didn't like being called by his full name. Only his parents were allowed to call him that.
.:Thunder Mountain, File Island, Digital World:.
Sharmamon burst through the main doors of the Undead King's castle and scurried down the large corridor before scrambling up the wide staircase passing servants and soldiers as he went. He climbed another flight of stairs that took him to the third floor before he ran down a small hallway with the Undead King's door just at the end.
"Master! Master!" he exclaimed as he burst through the door.
The Undead King and Garurumon X both turned to face the rookie Digimon.
"I have word that might be of great importance to you." Sharmamon bowed down.
"Go on." The Undead King urged.
Sharmamon got back to his feet. "Sightings have been made of the DigiDestined that you assumed to be dead. They have been spotted in File City and are believed to be still there."
"You're information must be wrong. The DigiDestined of Courage and his little girl are dead. They couldn't have survived that fall off the cliff." Garurumon growled.
"It's true." The rookie turned to the Undead King. "You have to believe me master. They're alive. According to my sources the DigiDestined of Courage, Love and their little girl were seen leaving an abandoned warehouse after a fight with Datamon."
"Datamon hmm?" The Undead King pondered as he moved towards the window. "I thought he was dead?" he paused and turned to Garurumon X. "Never the less, choose a strong Digimon to travel to File City. Once he is there I want him to destroy everything in his path."
"Master, isn't that a little extreme?" Sharmamon asked. "Hundreds of innocent Digimon will be hurt. All for the sake of three DigiDestined?"
"Are you still here?!" The Undead King spun around and fiercely narrowed his eyes at the rookie Digimon.
Sharmamon quivered before turning around and bolting out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Garurumon X snarled and stamped his foot down. "This is not going as we planned. The father and daughter are still alive and now that little brat's escaped taking the Port Stone with her."
The Undead King simply chuckled. "Do not worry. She is no threat to us right now. But be patient. We will deal with her in due time."
.:FCH, File City, File Island, Digital World:.
"Mmm that's better." Dawn grinned happily as she finished off her chicken noodle soup. She pushed the tray away and leaned back against her pillow that was propped up. "I don't think I've eaten anything in almost two days."
Sora giggled. "It looks like both of you haven't." She commented as she gazed over at her husband who was greedily eating his food.
Tai paused and looked at his wife with a blank look and with his mouth still full he asked; "What?"
There was a quick two knocks on the door before it opened and Joe and Gomamon entered the room. Joe was dressed in his white lab coat and had a stethoscope hanging around his neck and was carrying a clipboard in his right hand.
He smiled, as he pushed his glasses up a little. "How's my patient doing? Feeling any better?" he asked as he walked over to the foot of the bed.
"A lot better now I've had a meal." The young girl replied.
"By the looks of it you've had way more than just one meal." Gomamon mocked, motioning to the few empty plates and bowls on the bed.
"Hey I was hungry!" Dawn protested. "Besides, I gotta get my strength back up ready for the next fight." She grabbed her red t-shirt that lay on the armrest of the chair and pulled it on over her head.
Joe chuckled a little before writing something on the clipboard in his hand. "Sorry but you're gonna have to take a break from the fighting for a while until those ribs heal up properly."
"W-what?!" Both Dawn and Agumon spluttered out in shock.
"Sorry. But you can't risk yourself getting injured more. You could do some serious damage if you do." The Digimon doctor replied.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a huge explosion and the whole hospital shook with the force. The windows rattled and the vase of flowers on the bedside table fell to the floor, smashing into several pieces.
"W-what was that?!" Biyomon cried out in shock.
Tai ran over to the window and pushed it open before leaning out to take a look. He looked down the main street that was directly opposite the hospital. "There's a Digimon attacking the city!" he exclaimed.
Agumon quickly joined his human partner at the window. He could just about see over the windowsill. "That's SkullMammothmon X!" He gawped as he watched the Digimon swing his trunk down into the ground. "He's a mega level Digimon... but why is he attacking File City?"
Tai narrowed his eyes a little. "I bet I know why."
Downtown, SkullMammothmon X charged forward and rammed his head into the side of a Trailmon. The small Digimon passengers screamed and scrambled out of the carriage and scattered everywhere in the street.
The skeletal monster released a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the streets of File City. Spotting four small Candlemon scurrying away, he opened his mouth and spat out a dark sphere of energy. It struck the four rookies destroying them instantly, their screams still echoing. He then turned to his left and did the same attack killing an Apemon and a Moosemon.
Garurumon X appeared on the roofs of one of the small buildings. He grinned sinisterly as he watched the mega Digimon continue on his rampage. "That's it SkullMammothmon X. Just as the Master demanded. Do not stop until every living thing in this city is destroyed. I want those DigiDestined dead and this time we're gonna finish the job."
SkullMammothmon X roared in response before blasting the windows out of a small fruit store.
Back at the hospital everyone was gathered at the window. The trail of smoke and destruction was growing bigger. The blue sky was gradually being overtaken by the thick smoke from the fires.
Dawn was stood on one of the chairs as she was a little too small to see out of the high window. She had her elbows propped up on the windowsill and was staring out of her mini telescope.
"He's gotta be here for us." Tai muttered.
"Are you sure?" His Agumon asked, glancing up at him.
Tai nodded. "He has to be. Why else would an X antibody Digimon attack File City? I bet you word's gotten back to the X Army that we're still alive and they've sent SkullMammothmon to finish the job."
Joe walked away from the window sighing loudly another explosion rocked the building. His glasses slipped down his nose a little but he quickly pushed them back up. "We've got to do something. Digimon could be injured out there." He commented turning back to face the others.
Sora nodded in agreement and also left the window with Biyomon following her.
"Then what're we waiting for? Let's go take care of that bone head!" Dawn exclaimed.
Tai continued to stare at the huge X Digimon that was gradually getting closer to the hospital. The beast swung its trunk around destroying the side of a building. "Sora..." he began, still looking out of the window. "I want you to take Dawn and get as far away from here as possible. Me and Joe will handle SkullMammothmon X."
Sora blinked at her husband. "W-what? You can't be serious?"
"Yeah c'mon Dad I can stay and fight!" Dawn protested from beside him.
"No you can't Dawn." Tai shot back, turning to face her. "You're still too weak and I'm not risking you getting more hurt than you already are. You heard what Joe said."
Dawn clenched her fists a little in frustration. "I'm not weak Dad!"
"It would be for the best Sora." Joe spoke up, coming up from behind her. "If what Tai thinks is true and this Digimon is really here looking for him and Dawn, then she will be more vulnerable right now."
Sora turned to face her friend and looked at him before sighing and glancing at her husband by the window. "But what about you? You're not exactly fighting fit. Why don't I stay and fight while you take Dawn to safety?"
"Are you kidding?" Gomamon scoffed, breaking the tension. "He's a guy, not to mention the leader. You're hurting his pride there Sora."
Sora couldn't help but smile a little at the rookie's comments. She then sighed and nodded slowly. "Alright we'll go."
"What? B-but Mom!" Dawn stuttered stubbornly. "I still think I should stay and help fight! If Dad can stay, then I'm stayin'!"
Tai looked down at his daughter. "Please just go kiddo. I need you and your mother to look after each other." He then bent down to her height. "I know you want to fight every battle but you can't right now. You'll be an easy target when you're not up to full strength. And this Digimon is a mega level. You and Agumon can't match up to that sort of power."
"But-"Dawn began to protest. But she knew no matter how hard she tried her father wasn't about to give in to her this time. She sighed and jumped off the chair before walking over to her mother who had started heading for the door.
Joe walked to the doorway with them. "Take the side entrance and follow the road for a few miles. There's a forest behind a small neighbourhood. You should be safe in there. We won't let SkullMammothmon X come any further than this hospital." He explained as he opened the door for them.
"Okay, thanks Joe." Sora paused in the doorway and turned to face her husband. "Please be careful honey." She pleaded.
Another explosion from outside rocked the entire hospital. Sora took one last look at her husband before darting out of the room followed by Biyomon and Agumon and finally Dawn.
Tai sighed before unclipping his digivice from his belt. "Okay, let's get down there. We can't let SkullMammothmon X get any closer to this hospital. We can't risk sick Digimon getting hurt."
Sora opened the side door of the hospital and quickly slipped out, followed by her daughter and their Digimon. The bearer of Love quickly peeked her head around the corner and saw SkullMammothmon X in the middle of the street.
The streets were crowded with Digimon screaming and running everywhere. SkullMammothmon X released a thunderous roar before slamming his trunk into a lamppost, causing it to topple over.
Sora took hold of her daughter's hand. "Stay close Dawn." She glanced down the road that Joe had instructed her to take. The buildings were slightly shorter and small houses could be seen in the distance, which was probably the neighbourhood Joe mentioned.
Dawn slipped her hand out of her mother's grasp and peered around the corner of the hospital and watched as SkullMammothmon X destroyed a group of Mekanorimon. She growled under her breath in disgust. "I don't see why Dad's making us run away. Me and Agumon can take this guy." She muttered.
Biyomon stood behind her partner's daughter and placed a wing on her shoulder. "Believe me Dawn; your father knows what he's doing. Agumon's the only one that can digivolve to the mega level and can stand any chance against SkullMammothmon X." She explained. "You and Agumon are still at the rookie level really. You'd be crushed like a bug against a mega Digimon when you're only at the champion stage."
Dawn lowered her head and traced her fingers over the red goggles that hung around her neck. She was supposed to be the leader. Leader's don't turn and run from battles. Weren't they supposed to stay and fight no matter what?
The centre of File City shook as the Terror Force attack from WarGreymon missed its intended target of SkullMammothmon X and exploded in the middle of the road, clouding the area in a dusty thick fog.
"Vulcan's Hammer!" Zudomon slammed his giant hammer into the ground, shooting an arrow shaped wave of energy at the skull Digimon.
It blasted SkullMammothmon X head on and he staggered back a few steps from the force. Regaining his composure, he snarled under his breath angry that he had been struck by a weaker Digimon. He roared vigorously and fired a black sphere of energy from his mouth, only to have Zudomon bat it away with his hammer like it was a baseball. The attack struck a nearby building, blowing the door and windows out.
WarGreymon retreated back beside his human partner. "This is gonna be tough Tai." He spoke. "Being an X Digimon he's going to be slightly stronger than the average mega level Digimon."
"Then you're just going to have to try a bit harder!" Tai replied, demandingly.
Joe glanced at the bearer of Courage. "Tai don't go too crazy. Remember where we are. There are Digimons homes and businesses at risk here, with some already destroyed. We can't afford to be reckless with our attacks."
"Then what do you suggest we do Joe?" Tai asked, turning to face him. "We've got to be ruthless to take him down!"
"Mega Claw!" WarGreymon charged forward and swiped his right claw towards the X Digimon. But SkullMammothmon X skidded out of the way before swinging his trunk and striking WarGreymon from behind, sending him crashing to the ground.
Garurumon X leapt down from the roof of the building he was stood on and landed on the ground next to SkullMammothmon X. He smiled slyly as he took a couple of steps forward. "Well I must say it was quite a surprise to hear you survived after that almighty fall a few days ago."
Tai took his attention away from the battle after hearing the X Digimon's voice. He narrowed his eyes. "Garurumon X." He muttered under his breath.
"Huh? That's Stacey's Digimon partner?" Joe gawped in surprise.
"Not anymore!" Garurumon X snapped. "That traitorous little brat went against me and my master and now she stands alone." He then paused and glanced around the small group. "Where's the child? Hiding her are we?" his eyes averted to the building just behind Tai and Joe; the hospital. "Too injured from that battle with Datamon to fight is she?" he mocked.
Tai was taken back a little at how Garurumon X could possibly know about their encounter with Datamon...
"We're not telling you anything." Zudomon grunted, raising his hammer up slightly.
"It doesn't matter." The X Digimon's gaze fell upon the bearer of Courage. "I'll hunt down your little girl and personally see to it that she's finally taken care of."
"Over my dead body!" Tai exploded angrily about to lunge forward but Joe held him back.
Garurumon X took a step forward, showing his sharp teeth as he grinned. "That can be arranged."
WarGreymon skidded across the ground, standing protectively in front of his human partner. "You made a mistake coming here. I should just destroy you right now!" He threatened.
Garurumon X chuckled. "Go ahead. I'm surprised a Digimon at your level hasn't taken the opportunity already." He mocked. "It would be a piece of cake for someone like you."
WarGreymon raised his claws in a terrorizing manor. "Don't tempt me." He snarled.
The champion X Digimon continued to chuckle, which only irritated both Tai and WarGreymon more. "The only reason you won't destroy me is because you still see me as that little brat's Digimon partner. You don't have it in your heart to destroy me. Just admit it."
Tai clenched his fists and stared at him angrily. He knew deep down it was true. Even though Garurumon X was evil and working for the enemy, underneath it all he was still Stacey's Digimon partner. How would Stacey and even Matt react if WarGreymon killed what was, and maybe still, the young girl's best friend?
Garurumon X smiled. "Just as I thought. Pathetic... SkullMammothmon X, destroy them. I'm going after the child."
"Oh, no you don't!" WarGreymon lunged forward. He brought his right claw back and prepared to strike it at the X Digimon. But SkullMammothmon X blocked his path, forcing him to come skidding to a halt.
"Grand Charge!" The skull Digimon lowered his tusks and stampeded towards the mega level in front of him.
WarGreymon held his claws up as SkullMammothmon X slammed into him, and the dinosaur Digimon felt his feet slowly sliding back as he tried to stop the force from his foe pushing him back. He grunted as he continued to push hard against SkullMammothmon X's weight. "Zudomon, s-stop Garurumon X!" he hollered to the ultimate Digimon. "We can't let him find Sora and Dawn!"
Zudomon glanced up and saw Garurumon X was perched on top of a high building. "Not so fast... Vulcan's Hammer!" he roared as he flung his metal weapon up into the air.
Garurumon X bent down and leaped up, soaring in the air and landing on the opposite building. Zudomon's hammer missed its target and returned to its owner like a boomerang.
"Sorry I can't play your little game but I have more important things to attend to." Garurumon X declared before be leapt off the building and moved from one to another in long jumps.
"NO!" Tai bolted away from Joe and ran for a few hundred yards before he gradually came to a stop as the pain in his leg returned. He looked up and saw Garurumon X was already too far ahead, heading in the direction his wife and daughter had gone. He just hoped they'd found somewhere safe. He couldn't leave Joe and Zudomon to fight SkullMammothmon X. They wouldn't stand a chance.
WarGreymon roared as he used all his strength to push SkullMammothmon X away from him. The skull Digimon tripped over a lamppost that lay broken on the ground and fell onto his side. WarGreymon then jumped up into the air, bringing his hands together. "Terror Force!" he created his huge sphere of energy in between his palms and thrust it over his head.
It hurtled down towards the ground and hit SkullMammothmon X head on. The mammoth monster was thrown back in the air and crashed into a small food stall at the edge of the pavement. He slowly pushed himself up, staggering a little.
Joe glanced at the bearer of Courage. "Tai go ahead and catch up with Sora. Me and Zudomon will take care of SkullMammothmon X."
"But Joe he's a mega Digimon! Zudomon doesn't have a chance!"
The bearer of Reliability kept his eyes focused on the skull monster, who was still staggering and limping slightly. "WarGreymon's weakened him. Zudomon will be able to finish him off without a problem. Now go! Before Garurumon X finds them first."
Tai was hesitant at first. But he knew Joe could handle himself. He wasn't that nervous worrying kid he was when they first entered the Digital World. Tai climbed onto WarGreymon's back, who jumped up into the air and soared across the buildings in the direction Sora and Dawn had gone.
As they left the battle behind, they both heard one final 'Vulcan's Hammer' from Zudomon before SkullMammothmon X's scream could be heard echoing across the city....
.:Fileville, File Island, Digital World:.
Sora, Dawn and their Digimon partners had not stopped running since they had left the hospital. They were now in the small neighbourhood, Fileville ,that was situated on the outskirts of the Native Forest. There were small wooden houses that were built in the traditional Japanese style, each with their own front garden.
A few Digimon were out in their gardens. They paused as they watched the two humans and Digimon run past, unaware of the events that were happening in the city centre.
Agumon paused for a second and glanced back to look where they had come from. The smoke could still be seen clouding the blue sky and the roof of the hospital could just be made out in the distance.
"Agumon c'mon!" his partner called.
Agumon snapped out of his thoughts and spun around to see the others had ran in between two houses and climbed over the white wooden fence that separated the garden from the Native Forest behind. He scurried over and scrambled over the fence before landing on the other side next to Dawn.
They then disappeared into the thickness of the forest. They battled their way through bushes, low hanging tree branches and over grown plants. But they soon made it out and into a small open space. The ground was covered with dry and crisp leaves and there seemed to be a make-shirt path that lead deeper into the forest.
Dawn was arched over, holding her right side as it ached terribly. She tried to catch her breath as she glanced up at her mother. "S-so, now what do we do?" she asked, in between breaths.
Sora looked around at her surroundings. "We have to wait here for your father." She then looked to her left and then her right. "C'mon, let's find a bigger and a better lit space."
Dawn, Biyomon and Agumon followed Sora down the small path. They walked in silence and a slight breeze blew from behind them, sending a shiver down Dawn's spine.
She glanced behind her for some unknown reason. She felt like something was behind her. The place was dark due to the large trees towering above them. She shrugged off the feeling and hurried to catch up with her mother and their Digimon, realising she had dragged behind a little.
Once Dawn was beside him once more, Agumon spoke; "This place gives me the creeps."
"Only because you're scared of the dark." Dawn joked, nudging her Digimon partner in the ribs playfully.
"I am not!" the small reptile retorted.
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
The two friends continued to squabble and Sora sighed but couldn't help but smile a little as she listened to their bickering. She just hoped the new baby would take after her this time, and not her husband.
They reached the end of the path and it opened up into a slightly larger space. The ground was covered with dead prickly grass that crunched when trodden on. There was a slight gap as the trees didn't quite meet in the middle, which allowed the sunlight to seep through making it a little brighter.
Biyomon glanced up at her human partner. "Do you think Tai and Agumon are ok dealing with SkullMammothmon X? I kinda feel bad leaving them like that."
Sora smiled a little. "They'll be fine. They've got Joe and Gomamon helping them." She then paused and then glanced around their surroundings. "Although I have to admit, I don't feel all that safe in this forest..." she trailed off.
Dawn heard a twig snap from behind her. She spun around and gasped in shock, staggering back a little and almost tripping up over a raised tree bark in the ground. "M-Mom..." she stuttered, her and Agumon backing away slowly.
Sora turned to face her daughter. But her eyes widened and she leaned forward and grabbed her daughter's shoulder, pulling her safely behind her. "W-who are you?" the bearer of Love demanded a slight stutter in her voice.
Dawn peered out from behind her mother and studied the mysterious figure in the shadows that had joined them. Whoever it was; was dressed in a long black cloak that covered his entire body. He was a tall figure and seemed to be floating in mid-air as his feet could not be seen and his piercing blood red eyes were staring directly at her and her mother.
The figure took a couple of steps forward into the small clearing and into the light, which forced Sora to push herself and her daughter back away from him.
Biyomon jumped in front of her human partner. "Whoever you are, stay back!" she threatened, holding her wings up at either side.
The figure chuckled quietly to himself. "Well we finally meet, DigiDestined."
Sora continued to study him. The voice had a familiar ring to it but she couldn't quite place it. Was he a Digimon or human? His figure certainly resembled a human from underneath his cloak.
"You made a mistake separating from the others." He spoke darkly, his blood red eyes narrowing slowly. "You should have stayed in the city." He then launched himself towards the mother and daughter. He flew through the air and underneath his cloak, his arm could be been stretching back and preparing to throw a punch.....
"BIYOMON DIGIVOLVE TO... BIRDRAMON!"
As Birdramon soared through the air towards the hooded figure, Sora led her daughter away and over to a large rock at the edge of the clearing and hid her behind it. "No matter what happens stay down okay?" she told the young girl before she sprinted away to join her champion Digimon.
"B-but Mom, wai-" Dawn stopped in mid sentence whist she and Agumon remained crouched down behind the rock.
Birdramon lowered her head and collided with the mysterious being, but he just jumped off her from the impact and withdrew back a couple of hundred yards. As soon as he landed on his feet Birdramon jumped up into the air and spread her wings out. "Meteor Wing!" she flapped her wings down, releasing a stream of flames.
The figure revealed his gloved hands from beneath his cloak, although his arms could not be seen. He formed a sphere of black energy in the palms of his hands before thrusting it upwards towards the champion Digimon.
Birdramon jerked to the left, barely missing the attack, which continued to soar upwards bursting through the trees and up into the sky above.
.:Fileville, File Island, Digital World:.
WarGreymon soared over the small houses of the Fileville neighbourhood on the lookout for Garurumon X. But he then spotted the black sphere of energy bursting out of the treetops and into the sky. "Wow... did you see that Tai? What was that?"
Tai watched as the attack disappeared above. "I have no idea. I just hope Sora and Dawn are safe right now.."
.:Native Forest, File Island, Digital World:.
Birdramon crashed to the ground just in front of Sora as she took another blow from her attacker. She squawked in pain from the blast that had struck her chest.
The figure chuckled under her breath and began to walk towards them. "Do you really think you can defeat me? You obviously have no idea of the power I truly posses."
"Just who are you?" Agumon demanded as he and Dawn continued to watch from the rock they were knelt behind.
The hooded figure turned around to face them. "I am the ruler of this world... I am the Undead King.
Dawn scoffed a laugh. "Well you certainly look Undead. It looks like you died a looooong time ago." She laughed again.
The Undead King snarled at the girl's comment. He spun his body round so he was fully facing her. "I'd watch your cheek if I were you child." He formed a ball of black energy in his right hand as he studied the young girl crouched behind the rock. He narrowed his eyes, which fell upon the goggles hung around her neck. "The goggles... that face." An image of Tai when he was eleven flashed before his eyes. "It's the face of their leader... she must be the daughter.." he held his attack with both hands it made it slightly bigger. "I should have known the same cocky attitude as your father."
Dawn tensed up and was taken aback by his comment. She didn't have time to think why he knew her father because the Undead King suddenly charged towards her, the attack in his hand gradually getting bigger...
Agumon quickly jumped on top of the rock, protecting his human partner whilst Birdramon shot up from the floor and flew through the air, head butting the Undead King away from them before he had chance to release his attack.
.:Fileville, File Island, Digital World:.
Garurumon X jumped from rooftop to rooftop across the small neighbourhood. Digimon below watched as he soared over their heads. The wolf Digimon sniffed the air. He had this ability to smell out humans close by. And right now he was picking up Sora and Dawn's scent.
He jumped down from one of the rooftops and landed on the small dusty pavement. The place was quiet and he scanned his eyes across the area for any signs on movement. He sniffed the air once more. The human scent was getting stronger, which meant he was getting closer.
The wolf Digimon smirked to himself as he crossed the small road and stepped onto the pavement on the other side. He glanced down and saw footprints in the soil that led towards the fencing that separated the houses from the forest. Two footprints were Digimons and the other two were defiantly human.
"Perfect." He grinned to himself. He was about to follow the footprints when all of a sudden something smacked him across the face. The unexpected attack sent him crashing into one of the garden fences.
"You're not going anywhere." WarGreymon growled as he skidded to a halt in front of the wolf Digimon.
Garurumon X recuperated himself and got to his feet. He snarled under his breath. "You interfering fools." He began to circle WarGreymon. "You really think following me is going to save that little brat? I'll just destroy you two first then go after her." He pounced at the mega Digimon.
WarGreymon reacted quickly and held his arms up defensively. He squatted Garurumon X away, but the wolf Digimon continued bouncing back, trying to sink his teeth into WarGreymon's skin. "You really think you can beat me?" the mega taunted as he continued to block each attack that came his way.
Tai watched as the mega and champion Digimon continued to battle it out, throwing punches and kicks at each other.
"Fox Fire!" Garurumon X opened his mouth and released his lethal blast of ice.
WarGreymon jumped up into the air, dodging the attack. He put his hands together and formed his attack. "Terror Force!" he deliberately aimed it just in front of Garurumon X, but close enough so he got a good blast of the attack.
The wolf Digimon howled as the Terror Force struck the ground inches away from him, but still sent him flying due to the force. He slammed into a large tree and slumped to the ground.
WarGreymon landed on the ground and immediately lunged forward. "Mega Claw!" he brought his right claw back, before thrusting it forward and slicing it through the trunk of the tree. It slowly titled forward, making a cracking sound.
The mega Digimon jumped back and watched as the tree gradually fell over and landed on top of Garurumon X, pinning him underneath. "Timber." He muttered mockingly under his breath.
"Hey look!" Tai exclaimed from behind his Digimon. He was pointing at the footprints in the soil. He followed the trail up to the white fencing. That's when he heard the faint but familiar sound of Birdramon's attack from the depths of the forest.
WarGreymon was stood behind the bearer of Courage. "That was Birdramon." He replied gruffly. "They could be in danger."
"C'mon!" Tai rushed over to the white fencing before climbing over it.
WarGreymon shone brightly as he began to shrink and de-digivolved back to his rookie form. As soon as he was back to Agumon, he sprinted after his partner. "Hey Tai wait for me!" he called as he too scrambled over the fence.
Tai didn't stop running through the thick bushes of the forest. Not even when a sharp thorn scratched over the cut on his leg. He pushed low hanging vines and branches out of his way as he continued in the direction of where he had heard Birdramon. "Sora!"
He burst out onto the small path, the leaves rustling under his feet. Agumon soon joined him from behind and they both looked around for any sign of Sora, Dawn or their Digimon. Then, there was a sudden painful screech from Birdramon.
Tai spun around at the sound of the bird's cry. It sounded close. He bolted down the path with his Digimon partner close behind. "Sora!"
.:Native Forest, File Island, Digital World:.
Birdramon squawked in agony as she crashed to the ground, skidding across the prickly grass before slowly coming to a halt in front of her human partner.
"Birdramon!" Sora gasped watching her Digimon fall. She clutched the Crest of Love that hung around her neck. "You're gonna have to digivolve again."
"Not so fast." The Undead King muttered under his breath.
"BIRDRAMON DIGIVOLVE TO..."
Just as Birdramon began to glow and slowly changed shape and grow taller, the Undead King quickly thrust a sphere of black energy at the digivolving Digimon. It struck Birdramon with full blast and she wailed in pain as the whole area was clouded in a thick dusty fog.
Sora coughed as the dusty fog got caught in her throat. "B-Birdramon!" she cried out. Once the fog cleared, she gasped loudly upon seeing Biyomon lying motionless on the ground. "Biyomon!" she sprinted over and crouched down beside her partner. "Biyomon speak to me." She begged.
The Undead Dead king chuckled. "Now, that wasn't too hard was it... now to finish the job." He began to make his way towards the unsuspecting Sora and Biyomon.
Dawn gasped. She had sat back and watched too long. "C'mon Agumon, it's up to us now!" she leaped over the rock with Agumon behind her. They ran over to the fallen Biyomon and Sora who was still knelt on the ground.
Sora glanced up to see the Undead King slowly approaching her. She tensed up, her back straight as she continued to clutch Biyomon closely to her.
But then her daughter and Agumon suddenly skidded in front of her defensively. Dawn took hold of her goggles and pulled them up, placing them on her forehead. "The fight's not over yet." She muttered. She unclipped her digivice and held it upwards. "Digital Ring, Release!"
"AGUMON DIGIVOLVE TO... GREYMON!"
The Undead King was forced to take a couple of steps back as the light faded around Dawn's partner, revealing Greymon. But he chuckled mockingly as he studied the champion Digimon. "I'm afraid you'll have to do better than that child. Against my years of experience you two don't stand a chance."
Dawn clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. "Go on Greymon. Show him just how strong you are." She commanded.
"D-Dawn what're you doing?" she heard her mother demand from behind her.
Greymon roared and lowered his head before charging towards the Undead King. With a little flick of the head he was about to strike with a side head butt, but the Undead King simply glided to the right and out of the way.
The champion dinosaur lost his footing and staggered forward a few steps before crashing into some bushes and plants. He scrambled about and turned around to face his foe but was met with an immediate strike from the Undead King that blasted him in the face.
"A rookie champion. How amusing." The Undead King chuckled.
Greymon snarled as he got to his feet. "I'm just warming up." He said gruffly. "Nova Blast!" without hesitation he opened his mouth and released his fire attack.
The Undead King raised his arms up, holding them in a cross like shape in front of his face and swiped them through the fireball destroying it instantly as if it was a puff of smoke. "I'm in no mood to play these childish games." He formed a fiery, dark purple energy in the palm of his hands before thrusting it forward as a deadly beam of power.
It hurtled through the air as quick as a flash before slamming into Greymon's chest. He crashed to the ground, the area shaking a little with the force. He skidded backwards a little before coming to a slow stop. He remained there unmoving.
"Greymon, get up!" Dawn demanded her fists clenched. "C'mon!"
The Undead King turned his attention away from the fallen champion and to the ten year old girl. "I warned you child. That was just a small sample of my powers. If I were to be my strongest you would be dead before you hit the ground." He began to proceed towards them. "Now, I'm afraid your time is up."
Dawn staggered back, protecting her mother. "Stay back!" she threatened. "I won't let you hurt her!" she stuck her right arm protectively whilst her left hand remained in a tight fist as the Undead King continued to grow closer and closer to her.
"Sora!" there was a faint call from the in the depths of the forest before seconds later Tai and Agumon burst out into the small clearing.
They both came to a sudden halt when they saw the mysterious dark figure stood meters away from Sora and Dawn. "W-who are you?" Agumon spoke up.
The Undead King ignored the overgrown lizard's comment and glanced at Tai before looking back at the young Kamiya girl. "I admire your courage child. But I'm afraid it won't save your life." He prepared his deadly attack between both of his hands, creating a large black sphere of energy that kept on growing.
Dawn remained firmly in front of her mother. "You're gonna have to kill me first before you touch my Mom!" she spoke bravely.
The Undead King smiled sickeningly, although no one could see his face. "Very well." He snarled, about to release his constantly growing attack....
"No!" Tai and Agumon were about to sprint forward, but Tai's crest, along with Sora's, began to glow brightly in their respective colours. "Huh?" The bearer of Courage glanced down at the crest hanging around his neck.
Suddenly, a beam of orange light, and a beam of red light from Sora's, shot out from their crests before merging together just in front of Dawn's chest. The young Kamiya girl took a step back due to the bright light and she felt something around her neck.
Once the light had faded she looked down and saw there was a circular shaped object, almost like a medallion hanging from her neck by a piece of thick string. It was a gold colour, with a wide orange rim. The Crest of Courage was engraved on it in the middle in a light orange colour. And just circling around the crest was a small slit.
Dawn gawped at her new crest as she took hold of it in her right hand. Her digivice then gave two quick beeps and vibrated. She unclipped it from her green belt and looked at it. There was a small golden ring flashing in the middle of the screen.
A second later, the screen flashed and the small ring burst out from her D-Power. It glided down in the air like a feather before it slowly slotted itself into the small slit that circled the Crest of Courage. Once the ring was in place, the crest symbol shone brightly before engulfing Greymon, and the whole area in a dazzling white light.......
"GREYMON DIGIVOLVE TO... BURNINGGREYMON!"
The light faded around Greymon to reveal his new ultimate form... BurningGreymon. He was almost the same size as his champion form and was covered in red, white and gold armour. His long red tail with gold lines on swished from side to side and two large bird wings, identical to Birdramon's wings, sprouted out from his back.
"Whoa...." Dawn gazed up at BurningGreymon. She was expecting her Digimon to digivolve into MetalGreymon, just like her father's. She looked down at the crest in her hand. The Crest of Courage and the gold ring were still glowing brightly.
The Undead King took a few steps back as BurningGreymon towered over him, his body still glowing slightly from the crest power. The Undead King had just witnessed something he hoped wouldn't happened. He had just witnessed Dawn Kamiya get just that little bit stronger...
To be continued...