Digimon Adventure Tamers
Chapter 25
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon
(Play Digimon: The Biggest Dreamer: TV Size)
(Play Digimon Tamers: Avant)
When the Digidestined were trapped in a oil rig by Scorpiomon, it was up to Cody and Suzie to get help. Though shaken from a confrontation with Millenniummon, Cody was eventually able to prove himself reliable to his friends and received the Digimental of Reliability, defeating Scorpiomon in the process. Now, the children – and Millenniummon – plan their next moves.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Subtitle 2)
Move Out to the Digital World!
(Digimon Tamers OST: Lee no Theme)
"Good job guys. You were really impressive out there today from what we were told. Especially you three."
This was one of the first things Tai had said to Davis's team once they had returned from the Digital World with Joe and Kenta. The bushy-haired boy had come to the warehouse with Matt, Sora, Izzy, Henry, Kazu and Rika once they heard about the situation concerning the Digimental of Reliability from Izzy. Though some of the team wanted to help out, particularly Tai, Henry and Matt concerning their siblings, the rest of the team insisted on waiting for them to return, having faith in them getting out alive. Sure enough, they received a message from Joe a few minutes later explaining everything that had happened, including the part of Cody and Suzie getting backup, and Kenta coming up with the rescue plan. Once the team had come out of the Digital Gate, Tai's group offered their congratulations to the team, especially Cody, Suzie and Kenta, the three of them looking embarrassed slightly at getting much praise, but also happy.
"Yeah, it's thanks to you guys that everybody managed to survive today," Henry said, offering a light smile to his sister, who looked pleased with herself. Rika also nodded and gave a small smile of her own, gazing in Cody's direction as well as Yolei's.
"Good to see you're improving out there," the Digimon Queen said. The two new Digidestined had irked her repeatedly ever since they first started working together, but recent missions had opened their eyes to the dangers of the Digital World and they were beginning to slowly deal with it, and she had felt that Cody and Yolei had both begun to grow on her slowly.
"Thanks guys," Cody said with a smile, Yolei, Suzie and Kenta following him, and eventually the rest of the group.
"It wasn't really much though," Yolei conceded.
"Still, today's events and the events of the past few days have showed that we've all continued growing stronger," Izzy noted. "And now that we have the Digimental of Reliability, I think it's finally time."
"Time?" asked Hawkmon. "Time for what, may I ask?"
"To make our next move regarding the Digital World and Millenniummon," Davis answered. "Now that we've managed to get the eight Digimentals that we can get, and that Cody and Yolei have grown stronger as well as their partners, it's time we set up permanent residence in the Digital World."
"I agree," Tai nodded. "The sooner we do that, the quicker we can end this for good."
"But can we really do this?" asked Yolei, sounding unsure. "This sounds a lot different than what we've been doing up to now."
"That's because you and Cody have never really done this before Yolei," said Rika. "But us Tamers, and the Digidestined, have done this before and we've been able to get out of it unharmed."
"For the most part anyway," Terriermon muttered to himself, getting a sharp glare from Renamon.
"But how are we going to do this anyway?" asked Cody. "We don't have any idea where Millenniummon could be and we'll need a base to work out of in the Digital World."
"Well, we don't have to worry about a base in the Digital World," said Izzy. "I've been scouting places with Tai, Davis and Takato, and we have several safe places for us to operate from."
"And with our large numbers, spreading out and finding Millenniummon's base will be easy," Veemon said assuredly.
"Not to mention putting him down for good," noted Kazu.
"Don't get overconfident," said Tai. "Even if he's in Ken's body, Millenniummon is still a force to be reckoned with." Those that did face or fight Millenniummon themselves – Matt, Sora, Kari, TK, Davis, Izzy, Joe, Yolei and Cody – shuddered and nodded, knowing the threat Millenniummon could be.
"But even so," said Agumon, "we've managed to beat him before, and we can do it again!"
"Agreed!" Gatomon and Patamon both voiced.
"So, it's official then?" Tai's question was met with nods from everybody in the warehouse.
"So, are we leaving right now for the Digital World?" asked Suzie.
"No," Henry answered his sister. "Now's not the right time. You guys have just gotten home from a long hard day and fight, and we need Mimi, Jeri and the twins with us."
"Plus, we're not well equipped," Joe added. "We'll need proper medical equipment…"
"…any useful technology…" Izzy voiced.
"…a lot of cards…" Takato said.
"…and not to mention food and the right supplies, as well as a good night's sleep," Sora finished.
"Then we'll gather those tonight," said Tai. "Tomorrow morning, we leave for the Digital World!"
"Tomorrow?!" Yolei and Cody both yelped in surprise.
(Digimon Tamers OST: Shutsugen)
"But school is tomorrow!" said Yolei, realizing that today was Sunday. Tomorrow was Monday, which meant school, something that could not be missed.
"Trust me Yolei, if Millenniummon takes over the Digital World completely and comes to our world, school will be the least of our worries," Joe stated, getting surprised looks from those that knew him well. "Yeah, it sounds weird coming from me, but we can't ignore him any longer, and we need everybody, regardless of what else is going on in our lives."
"But how exactly are we going to explain a bunch of absences from the school?" asked Cody. "We're talking nearly two dozen students!"
"That is a good point," TK agreed with Cody. "Joe's got it easy since he goes to a different school, but the rest of us…"
"I might be able to come up with something for an explanation," Izzy interrupted. "But I'll need some help with that."
"In the meantime, everybody get home, gather up whatever you'll need for the Digital World, and get some sleep," said Sora.
"And don't forget to tell your families," said Matt.
"Right!" Once arrangements had been made, everybody left the warehouse, agreeing to meet up here again at 10 a.m. tomorrow. As they walked back to their homes, the children were all thinking about Millenniummon and the Digital World, and wondering what to expect come tomorrow.
(Digimon Tamers OST: Shishunki)
After bidding farewell to Yolei, TK and Kazu, Cody stood outside his apartment with an anxious look on his face, Armadillomon by his side. To say that the inheritor of Knowledge and Reliability was nervous could be an understatement. Behind the other side of the door and in the apartment was his mother, the only member of his family that didn't know the truth about him and Suzie, as well as the one who would no doubt voice her disapproval of what her son was doing, and planning on doing very soon.
Suzie stood near Cody with Lopmon on her head, a slightly annoyed look on her face. Cody had been standing in front of the door for five minutes and had not moved an inch, making her wonder what was taking him so long.
"Hey, Cody! Are we going in or what?"
"Oh! Sorry Suzie," Cody was pulled out of his thoughts. "I'm nervous about telling my mother about the Digital World. I'm worried she may not approve of what I'm doing."
"I doubt approval is something you'll need," said Lopmon. "This is something that you have to do Cody, a great responsibility that you and the rest of us must do."
"Yeah, don't let your worries of your mother get the better of you," Armadillomon chirped, looking up to his partner. "Just go in, tell her about me and the rest, and just tell her that you're going to do this, approval or no approval!"
Cody breathed deep and steeled himself, his hand gripping the doorknob. Lopmon and Armadillomon were right. Now was not the time to be nervous or worried. Now was the time to come out and be honest, something he knew he should have done the day he first received his D-3.
"Let's go." Turning the knob, Cody opened the door and walked into the apartment with Suzie. Both children took off their shoes and walked into the living room, Lopmon still hanging on Suzie's head and Armadillomon walking behind Cody. Upon entering the living room, Cody saw his mother reading a book, but she closed it and placed it down on her lap when she looked up and saw Cody standing in front of her with Suzie.
"Oh Cody, you're back. Good," Fumiko sighed, placing her book down on the small table next to her. "I was hoping to ask something of you and Suzie. When you get out of school tomorrow, do you think you could be able to run a couple of errands for me?"
"I'd love to…" Cody started answering before looking to Suzie, who gave him a look of encouragement to continue on. "…but I'm afraid I won't be able to. To be honest, I won't be able to go to school tomorrow, and neither will Suzie."
"What?" Fumiko asked, looking at Cody in surprise. "Why not? Are you two not feeling well?"
"We're fine, Mrs. Hida," Suzie replied. "But nobody may be for long."
"Wh-wha-what are you talking about?" Fumiko looked extremely confused at the answers her son and guest were giving her.
"Mom…" Cody said, looking up at his mother with a look of regret on his face. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while now. Grandpa has known this, but you haven't yet, and I'm sorry for keeping this a secret from you for so long."
"A secret?" asked Fumiko, her attention now solely on Cody. "What exactly do you mean?" Instead of answering, Cody turned his head to look at something behind him.
"It's okay, you can come out now." Cody stepped aside, and to Fumiko's great surprise, a yellow creature that she guessed was an armadillo walked into the living room, a bright smile on his face.
"Well, howdy there!" the creature said, greatly shocking Fumiko. "The name's Armadillomon! You must be Cody's mother!" Fumiko said nothing; she could only look at the small creature before her, her eyes huge and wide, and her mouth hanging open.
"What's wrong?" Armadillomon asked, cocking his head to the side. "Is she okay, Cody?"
"I think she's shocked to see you," Cody replied, Suzie nodding along.
"Cody…please tell me I'm imagining things and your toy didn't come to life," Fumiko finally said after a whole minute of staring at Armadillomon in disbelief.
"You're not seeing things Mom," Cody said, walking over to Armadillomon and bending down next to him. "And he's not a toy. He's a Digimon."
"As am I." Fumiko's shock grew bigger when she saw Suzie's brown rabbit toy jump off Suzie's head and land on the coffee table, bowing before her. "My name is Lopmon, loyal Digimon partner to Suzie." Again, Fumiko lost the ability to speak for a few moments, staring at Lopmon before falling back into her chair.
"Cody, what's going on here?" she finally asked, looking from Armadillomon to Lopmon and back again. Cody opened his mouth to answer, but was stopped by a nearby door opening and his grandfather coming out of a room.
"Fumiko, I was wondering if you would be able to get some more Chu-Chu Juice when you go shopping tomorrow. I have some kendo lessons to teach tomorrow and I won't be home until 7."
"Dad, what do you know about this?" Fumiko asked, gesturing to the two Digimon in the living room. "Cody says you know something about…this." Chikara looked at what his daughter-in-law was gesturing to, and he had a small look of surprise on his face upon seeing Lopmon and Armadillomon show themselves.
"Ah. I see. Cody has decided to finally tell you."
"Tell me what?" asked Fumiko. "What's going on?"
"Let us all take a seat first," Chikara sat down on the couch. "And perhaps get some refreshments before we all enter explanations."
A half-hour had passed once Cody and Suzie were done explaining everything to Fumiko. They would have been done in ten minutes, but they had to take some extra time to explain the Tamers and their home when Fumiko asked Suzie what she meant when Suzie said she came from another dimension with her brother and friends.
"And now, Millenniummon is becoming more aggressive towards us and we have to focus entirely on stopping him," Cody said to his mother. "That's why starting tomorrow we're staying in the Digital World until Millenniummon is defeated and Ken is brought back home to his family."
"I see," Chikara said, nodding and sipping his tea. "Well Cody, all I can do is ask that you do your best and stay safe. The same goes for you as well, Suzie."
"What?!" Fumiko looked at her father-in-law, bewildered. "Dad, what are you saying?"
"Nothing that has already been said," Chikara answered. "Cody will go to the Digital World one way or another, as it is a great responsibility that he has been chosen for. There is no point in trying to stop him, and the same can be said for Suzie."
"Well, considering I am from another dimension, that's a moot point," Suzie muttered.
"You can't be serious!" Fumiko said, getting up from her chair. "He's not getting involved in this at all! This has nothing to do with him or us!"
"This may not have anything to do with us," Chikara said calmly, "but definitely Cody."
(Digimon Adventure OST: Kanashimi 2)
"But Dad, he could die!" Fumiko said, her eyes beginning to water slightly. "I don't want to lose him like I lost Hiroki."
"You won't lose me, Mom," Cody insisted. "I promise I'll come back home. If Dad was still here, he'd do the same thing as well. If he knew the danger and pain the Digimon were going through, he'd risk his life to save them…like he saved you and me before I was born. If I refuse to help my friends fight Millenniummon and protect the Digital World, I feel like I'd be insulting Dad's memory. I want to do this. I have to. If we don't, then Millenniummon could come to our world and destroy everybody. But he won't as long as I can do something about it."
"Well said my boy," Chikara said softly, drinking his tea again, Suzie and Lopmon nodding in approval. Fumiko said nothing, simply falling back into her chair and placing her hands over her face, a heartbroken expression on it. Seeing her mother like this made Cody look extremely sad and he walked over to Fumiko, placing his arms around her in an embrace.
"I'm sorry Mom."
"No…I'm sorry Cody," Fumiko said, returning the embrace and holding Cody close to her tightly.
"Why are you apologizing?" Armadillomon asked her. "You're his mother, aren't you supposed to worry about him?"
"Indeed," Chikara agreed with the yellow mammal Digimon. "If this conversation didn't happen, only then would it have been wrong. Now then…" the old man stood up from the couch. "Who wants dinner? I believe there may be some curry that could be made."
In his bedroom, Davis sighed as he sat cross-legged on the floor, putting various stuff that he would need for the Digital World into his backpack. Though he wanted to stay focused on what do once in the Digital World tomorrow, he needed to focus on the now, which was packing his things for the trip and talking to his parents. But at the same time, he could only wonder about Ryo. Though he knew Ryo to be one of the toughest kids he had ever met since Tai, even he had his limits and there was no telling what sort of torture Millenniummon was putting Ryo through.
'Then again, Millenniummon is still Ryo's partner, as much as I hate to admit it,' he thought to himself. 'So hopefully he hasn't hurt Ryo much.'
"Hey, Davis?" The burgundy-haired boy turned his head around to see Jun walk into his room, a tray with food and a drink in her hands. "I brought your dinner for you."
"Thanks," Davis said, returning to packing.
(Digimon Adventure 02 OST: Konran~Shutsugeki~Fuan)
"So, you're really leaving tomorrow?" Jun asked, placing the tray on the floor and sitting down next to Davis.
"I am," he answered. "You know what to do while we're gone, right?" Jun answered with a nod.
"Yes. Yolei, Henry and Izzy have been showing me the Digital Gate program and the entire grid map. If anything happens in a place you guys aren't at, I'll let you know right away."
"Good," Davis said, ceasing his packing once he felt he had enough supplies and food, and he began eating his dinner, Jun watching him with a concerned expression.
"So, you're really going to tell Mom and Dad tonight?"
"Hey, I have to," said Davis. "Cody's telling his mom and grandpa, so it's only right that I tell Mom and Dad as well, and about time as well. There are several other things I'll want to say to them."
"If that's the case, then I'll be with you," Jun said, knowing what Davis's intention was. "This involves me as well, you know."
"Thanks Jun," Davis wrapped and around his sister, touched at her gesture. "You're a good sister. Flawed, but good."
"The same can be said for you little bro," Jun smiled and returned the hug. "Now shall we tell them? They're in the living room right now watching TV."
"Wow, they're actually here for once," Davis muttered, walking out of the room with Jun. Sure enough, they both saw their parents sitting on the couch with their backs to them and their attention on the TV in front of them, which was switched to a news channel. Davis opened his mouth to speak to them, but the words died down when he saw what was playing on the screen.
"It has been two months since the disappearance of young boy genius Ken Ichijouji," said the reporter, standing outside of an apartment building. "There has still been no leads or ideas of his current whereabouts, and anybody who may have an idea of where he is are encouraged to step forward and inform the authorities. While some people believe young Ken has run away and may never return home, or is dead, his parents, who we spoke to in an interview, are optimistic about his return." The picture changed to Ken's parents sitting in their living room. Both of them looked heartbroken, but Ken's mother was the most heartbroken, sobbing into a handkerchief and not saying much.
"He'll be back," Ken's father said, sounding hopeful. "I know he's still alive somewhere. It won't be long."
"He…" Ken's mother attempted to speak, but it was difficult through her sobs. "Ken…is such a kind boy…" Davis clenched his fist in anger at the scene before him. The longer Millenniummon held a grip on Ken, the more heartbreak it would create for Ken's parents.
"Now or never," he muttered to himself and walked further into the living room. Grabbing the TV remote off the coffee table, Davis turned off the TV, much to the surprise of his parents.
"Hey!" his father said in shock.
"Davis, what was that about?" asked his mother. "We were watching that!"
"It was just the same news about Ken's disappearance, nothing new," Davis grumbled angrily. "Besides, there's something Jun and I need to talk with you about, and it's very important."
"So maybe you can divert some attention to us for a change?" Jun asked, walking up to Davis and standing next to him.
"O-okay then," Mr. Motomiya said, sitting back on the couch with his wife. "What do you want to tell us that's important?"
"Hold on, we're not all here yet." Davis walked back to his bedroom and poked his head into it. "Hey buddy! That's your cue!"
"Hold on a moment!" a high voice came from the bedroom. The two adults in the living room were confused, as they didn't recall Davis coming home with any friends, which was why they were surprised at who they saw walk out of Davis's room and into the living room: a small figure that looked like a blue dragon with four fingers on each hand and red eyes.
(Digimon Adventure: Iya na Yokan)
"Hi there!" the small figure greeted the couple. "The name's Veemon!" The two grown-ups said nothing and could only look at the small figure before them in bewilderment. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mrs. Motomiya was the first to speak.
"Um…h-hi there."
"Wow," Mr. Motomiya said, looking down at Veemon. "You are a really small fellow, aren't you? And the costume is definitely strange, but very life-like. How do you pull off the four fingers?"
"That's because this isn't a costume," said Veemon. "This is what I really look like."
"Wait, it is?" asked both elder Motomiyas. Veemon nodded and Davis knelt down next to him.
"Veemon isn't a little person at all," he explained. "He's my Digimon partner, as well as one of my best and closest friends."
"Digimon?" Mrs. Motomiya asked, tilting her head to the side. "What is that, exactly?"
"You know what Digimon are," Davis said, his hands moving up to the bottom of his shirt. "They were the same ones that attacked Odaiba and rounded us up at Big Sight four years ago, the same guys that gave me this." He moved his shirt up, revealing the jagged scar on his side.
"Oh…this again," his mother sighed and rolled her eyes, her husband doing the same.
"Davis, that's not what happened at all," his father said. "Nothing of that sort happened, it was an accident that you got that scar –"
"Yes! It! Did!" Davis yelled loudly, cutting them off. "Stop trying to deny that a Digimon attack happened four years ago, because we were right in the middle of it! And you can stop trying to cover up how I really got this," he gestured to his scar again and dropped his shirt back down over it, "because I sure as hell didn't get this running through the balcony door by accident. I may have been clumsy a few years back, but not that clumsy. Besides, you think anybody would get a scar like this from getting cut by glass? If I did, then I would have a few more scars on my body!" The bearer of Miracles gave both his parents a piercing glare, Jun and Veemon sharing the same look as him. Both parents looked at their children and the small creature with shock in their faces before looking down at the floor with slight regret.
"It…it was just a little hard to take in was all," said Mrs. Motomiya. "One day everything was fine and normal, and then the next…"
"That's still no excuse," snapped Jun. "Like it or not, Digimon are very much real, and one of them gave Davis that scar."
"Then why is there one in our apartment right now?!" asked Mr. Motomiya, gesturing to Veemon.
(Digimon Tamers: Shutsugen)
"Because, like I said before, Veemon is my partner and friend," answered Davis, placing a hand on Veemon's shoulder. "He's not like the other Digimon from Big Sight. He's a really good Digimon, and there are other Digimon like him. Tai, Kari, Sora, and some of my other friends have Digimon partners of their own."
"For how long?"
"For some of them, like Tai and Kari, they've been Digidestined for four years since the Big Sight incident," Davis answered his mother. "I've been a Digidestined for three years, and as for a couple of my friends, they've only recently become Digidestined back in April."
"We've been fighting a really powerful and evil Digimon called Millenniummon, who we've fought in the past before," said Veemon. "He's also the reason Ken Ichijouji has disappeared."
"Millenniummon has possessed Ken and he's been slowly taking over the Digital World," said Davis. "We've been going to the Digital World every day for the last few months to fight him, but we've been getting nowhere near beating him, and he's been getting more dangerous, even capturing one of our own. That's why starting tomorrow me and my friends are going to the Digital World and we're going to stay there until Millenniummon is dead and our friends are rescued."
"What?!" Mrs. Motomiya asked in complete shock. "Absolutely not! This sounds completely dangerous from what you've told us Davis, there's no way I'm letting you go there!"
"Mom, for your information, I know how dangerous this is," Davis fired back. "I was in the Digital World myself three years ago. It wasn't a pleasant experience, but I made it out alive. And I've been coming out of the Digital World every day alive ever since April, though the experience still hasn't been pleasant. This is something that I can, and must do, with or without your permission."
"Even so, you can't just up and leave on short notice!" his father insisted. "Especially with school still going on. Your grades have been abysmal Davis, and you need to focus on them more if you want to make it as an adult."
"This is more important than school," Davis replied with a glare. "And when you're talking about my grades, do you mean my grades from three years ago? I'll happen to let you know that my grades have improved quite well over the last few years because I decided to start paying attention…in some classes that interest me at least. I'm a lot smarter than you, and most people, think I am. And I also can be a fast learner. I just don't like showing it off that much."
Both his parents looked at Davis in surprise.
"They…they have?" Mrs. Motomiya asked.
"We didn't know that," said Mr. Motomiya with a guilty look.
"Well, maybe if you were in our lives for more than five minutes a day, you would know!" Jun snapped angrily. "Seriously, these last few years you're not home much with us! You're either at work, which I can understand since you have two kids to care for, or you're hanging out with friends, which is nearly all of the time! Our friends know more about us than you, our parents!"
"Yeah, sometimes I can't help but wonder if you ever did want kids if all you do is either ignore us or not be at home!" Davis yelled, causing both parents to stare at their children in wide-eyed disbelief before looking down at the floor. Neither of them could say anything to counter their claims, for they knew deep down that Davis and Jun were right about them.
"Please understand…" Mrs. Motomiya said, finally looking up at Davis and Jun. "Your father and I, we always did want to have children, but…"
"It was unexpected," Mr. Motomiya stated with a sigh. "Your mother and I had just graduated from college and we had gotten married. Having a child was in our plans, but we wanted to wait at least a year or two so we could focus on finding a home and getting a job. But, on our honeymoon…we had, well, a little too much to drink, and things got crazy with the two of us in bed."
"Okay, moving on!" Jun said, her face scrunched up as she realized what her father was talking about.
"I found out that I was pregnant with Jun three weeks after the honeymoon," Mrs. Motomiya continued. "It threw us both for a loop since it tossed our plans out the window so soon. But, we just went with it and had Jun."
"And it was easy for us," said Mr. Motomiya. "At least, at first. Then three years passed and we made the same mistake of getting it on after a few drinks, and…"
"I was born," Davis guessed, getting double nods for an answer.
"It was easy at first with just one kid, but two kids made it hard for us, since it happened earlier than we wanted to," said Mrs. Motomiya. "And some of our old friends from our school days had also been asking us out…"
(Digimon Adventure 02 OST: Seijaku)
"So instead of just turning them down and simply raising your kids, you just decided to up and leave them every now and then just because you wanted to hang out with your friends, and because you had kids early because of a mistake that you made," Veemon said, looking at them with a dark glare. "What kind of people are you?"
"If you really did care about us, then you would be with us here at home instead of out there hanging out with other people," Jun said, looking hurt.
"Kids, please understand…" Mr. Motomiya started, but was cut off by Davis.
"No, I think we do understand. You made a mistake, but instead of owing up to it and facing it, you've been trying to dodge out of it. That's not what you should be doing at all as parents!" Neither adult could say anything else, realizing that their children, and their son's Digimon partner, were absolutely correct in everything that they said to them.
"You're right," Mrs. Motomiya finally said. "It was wrong for us, and…we are truly sorry."
"If you do want to try and start over with us," said Davis, seeing that both his parents were regretting their actions, "then maybe we can start after I get back from the Digital World."
"But…how long are you going to be gone?" Mr. Motomiya asked rather worriedly.
"Maybe a few weeks, maybe a month," Davis answered, unsure of the time they would be in the Digital World. "However, given the numbers and strength we have, we should only be a few days at best."
"And are you involved in this Jun?"
"I am," Jun answered her mother. "Sort of. I'm not a Digidestined like Davis or the others, but I have been learning about the Digital World's grid map and how to operate it, so I'll be providing outside technical support while everybody is in the Digital World."
"I really am sorry about dropping this on you on short notice, but I'm leaving tomorrow and I was one of the only ones left that didn't tell his family about the Digital World," said Davis. "I can't afford to let Millenniummon continue his reign of terror any longer."
"We understand," Mrs. Motomiya said finally. "Just…please be careful. This Millenniummon, from what you've told us, sounds like he can be very dangerous."
"I know," Davis said, clenching his fists in determination. "And so can I."
(Digimon Adventure 02 OST: Ankoku no Hohoemi ~Digimon Kaiser no Theme~)
Millenniummon sat in his screen room, searching through the map on the only screen lit up in the room with an intent expression on his face. He had been scanning through the map ever since returning to his base this afternoon. The sea battle the Digidestined were embroiled in against his minions gained his attention more than he thought, as the radar on the base was able to detect a surge of dark energy far off into the ocean. Suspecting what it was, Millenniummon had immediately begun the scanning for more of the energy signature.
"Let us see…it should be right around…here!" Millenniummon stopped the scanning and had the map zoom in on an area in the ocean. The image cleared up to reveal a massive black hole sitting in the middle of the body of water, swirling around like water draining from a sink.
"Finally!" Millenniummon chuckled, pleased with his findings. "At long last, my quest is finally over. Once I've obtained the last piece I need, I shall finally finish off the Digidestined. Those that refuse to serve me, I shall kill them then. After all, Ryo is the only one I need alive for my future. I shall come out on top! Nothing can stop me now."
"Don't count on it…"
"Huh?" Millenniummon straightened up at the voice's sound. "Who said that?"
"Who do you think it is, you sick freak?" the voice asked, and Millenniummon stopped short. It was a voice he recognized instantly, but it could not be possible.
"Ken! But how can you speak? Your body belongs to me now!"
(Digimon Adventure OST: Kuroi Inbou)
"Not for much longer," Ken said in Millenniummon's head. "The only reason you were able to take possession of me is because you caught us all off-guard…and I was still feeling sorrow and regret over my actions towards Wormmon and my friends. But I was still able to watch while you've been possessing me. The more I saw Davis and the others keep fighting for me and both worlds despite everything you've thrown at them, the more it's given me the strength to fight back against you. You've been so fixated on my friends and your plan that you've completely ignored me. And I'm taking my body back!"
"N-NO!" Millenniummon yelled, his head splitting open as he felt Ken fight him for control over the body. "I…will not…let you deny me my plan! Not when I'm so close!"
"You underestimate me, Millenniummon. And you underestimate the Digidestined and Tamers!"
"You think you can…regain control?!" Millenniummon growled, feeling Ken gaining control more and more. "You're not strong enough to hold me down…for long!"
"Maybe," said Ken. "But that will be enough time for me to do something…"
"W-What?!" Millenniummon yelled loudly for a second before the yell died down. The body dropped to the floor with a thud, not moving for a few moments. Soon, a hand twitched and pushed the body off the floor.
"F-Finally!" Ken gasped, relieved to be back in control of his own body, albeit temporarily, after a long period of torture and misery of being possessed. But he could already feel Millenniummon slowly regaining control; he wouldn't hold back the mad tyrant forever.
"Have…to move…fast!"
"Come on…" Ryo grunted, pulling at the leg of the bed in his cell. In the time that had passed since being brought here, the Tamer had been planning his escape from this lair. He had been talking with Monodramon through his D-Arc. Every six hours, Millenniummon would send a Bakemon servant to bring him a meal to his cell to eat. The plan was simple: The next time a Bakemon came in, Ryo would knock him out with a piece of his bed, which was metal, and run out to free Monodramon. The purple dragon was being kept in his own cell in a prison block that was created to hold any Digimon unfortunate enough to wander into the Emperor's territory and weren't strong enough to be given Dark Rings.
'With any luck, we might be able to free the prisoners Monodramon saw before Millenniummon is able to catch on to our escape,' he thought as he finally succeeded in breaking off a leg. 'I haven't seen him since he brought us here. Whatever he's working on, he must be completely fixated on it. So hopefully, he won't notice the escape until it's too late.'
The loud sound of thumping from close outside caught Ryo's attention, and he turned to the door to see it open and reveal Millenniummon standing in the doorway. Ryo gave a sigh of annoyance, knowing it was a matter of time before his insane former partner came to him again.
"Okay, what do you want now?" he asked, deciding to roll with it.
"It's not…what I want, but what I need…" Ryo's eyes widened slightly at the voice. It wasn't Millenniummon's voice, but rather…
"Ken?!"
(Digimon Adventure 02: Yogiru Fuan)
"Yes, it's me," Ken said, looking up at Ryo with pleading eyes as he slumped against the doorway. "I've managed to fight off Millenniummon's possession, but…AGH…I can't hold him back for much longer. It's only a matter of time before he gets back in the driver's seat. Listen to me, Ryo! You have to get out of here, fast! Get Monodramon. Find Davis and the others…warn them!" Ken yelled in pain again, staggering into the cell and dropping to his hands and knees.
"Warn them about what?" Ryo asked, running over to Ken and supporting him up. "Ken, what's Millenniummon doing?"
"He…he's rebuilding his old body," Ken answered through gritted teeth. "He's been collecting data on the Digimon he needs, and he's already finished building Machinedramon. He just needs one last Digimon to complete Kimeramon, and then he'll use Calumon to fuse them together."
"Calumon?" Ryo asked before a sudden thought of horror came to him. "Wait, is Calumon here as well?!"
"He is," Ken said, his hands clenching as he continued fighting back Millenniummon. "Millenniummon's been using him to Digivolve his slaves, mostly to find the Digimon he's needed to form his body again, and also to give the others a hard time."
"Then I have to go get him!" Ryo said, heading for the cell door.
"No!" Ken stopped him. "You'll only have enough time to get Monodramon and escape. I can feel Millenniummon coming back in…hurry Ryo!"
"Ken…" Ryo said, looking at Ken's struggling form with a sad look on his face, unable to help his friend.
"HURRY!" Ken practically screamed to Ryo. The older boy nodded and immediately bolted down the hall for the Digimon cells. Saving Ken and Calumon would have to come later.
"It's up to you now guys," Ken whispered to himself before he dropped to the floor, losing consciousness, and his fight for control against Millenniummon.
"Cells…cells…" Ryo said to himself, bolting down the base as fast he could. Descending further into the base, the Tamer soon found himself in a dark room lined with numerous prison cells. He knew Monodramon was in one of these cells from the talks they had through Ryo's D-Arc during their captivity but he didn't know which one it was.
"Monodramon! Where are you?!"
"Ryo?! Ryo! Ryo, I'm down here!" The Legendary Tamer followed his partner's voice down the hall and was soon greeted with the sight of Monodramon standing right up to the bars of his cell, a relieved look on his face.
"Monodramon! Thank goodness."
"I'll say!" chirped the purple dragon. "How did you manage to escape?"
"No time to explain!" Ryo answered, and he drew out a card with his D-Arc. A quick swipe of the card gave Monodramon Digmon's drills, allowing him to break his way out of the cell.
"Come on," Ryo picked up his partner. "We have to get out of here before it's too late."
"Oh, I'm afraid it's already too late," a dark voice said from behind. As Ryo and Monodramon turned around, a foul stench hit their noses. Covering their noses, the duo was greeted with the sight of two Raremon, massive grey Digimon that looked like lumps of garbage and metal, and with a bad stench coming off them. Standing between the Raremon was WaruMonzaemon, a dark evil version of Monzaemon.
(Digimon Adventure OST: Shuugeki! Soshite…)
"Lord Millenniummon was able to sound the alarm," WaruMonzaemon said. "And his orders are to bring you back to him."
"Forget it!" Monodramon snapped at the black teddy bear. "We're getting out of here!"
"Who said you had a choice?" asked WaruMonzaemon, raising his arms. "HEARTBREAK ATTACK!" Hearts of pure blackness flew from his chest and barely hit Ryo and Monodramon, who jumped back into Monodramon's cell.
"He's got Raremon and WaruMonzaemon as guards," Monodramon told Ryo. "Quite smart really. The Raremon's stench and WaruMonzaemon's Heartbreak Attack and keep any escaping prisoners from getting far."
"Unfortunately for them," Ryo pulled out his D-Arc again, "we're not normal prisoners. If we're going to break out, then we need to cut loose."
"And we need to do it fast!" Monodramon noted, the D-Arc flashing brightly.
"Come out, little Tamer!" WaruMonzaemon taunted, advancing towards the cell with the Raremon. "It's no fun if you hide in a cell."
"Who said we were hiding?" A flash of light engulfed the area, forcing WaruMonzaemon to cover his eyes from the blinding light. When it died down and he could see again, the three guards were greeted with the sight of Justimon standing before them. Though his face was covered completely, they could have sworn that he was glaring at them heatedly judging from his stance.
(Digimon Adventure OST: Teko wo Yattsukero!)
"One warning: Get out of my way," the cyborg Digimon said, raising his right arm and turning it into his Critical Arm, a red blade protruding out of it.
"Never!" WaruMonzaemon roared. "Raremon, subdue him!"
"ACID SLUDGE!" The two grey masses puked out blobs of greenish-brown acid at Justimon, but he cut through the attacks easily with his blade.
"Your stench won't put me off this time!" Charging forward, Justimon swung his arm with a yell of "VOLTAGE BLADE!" The blade cut through the two Raremon easily, dissolving them in moments.
"HEARTBREAK ATTACK!"
"JUSTICE BURST!" Justimon's arm quickly turned into his Blitz Arm and fired bursts of energy that destroyed WaruMonzaemon's hearts and sent him flying off his feet.
"I gave you a warning," Justimon said as he charged forward, switching back to his Critical Arm. Shocked at the speed of his opponent, all WaruMonzaemon could do in his final moments of life was scream as the blade cut through his body. The top half burst apart before it could hit the floor, and his bottom half followed suit.
"Let's keep going!" Ryo said inside Justimon, and the fused Digimon ran out of the prison, fighting his way past any guards that Millenniummon alerted to his presence.
"Damn you, Ken!" Millenniummon snarled, staggering back into the monitor room. Moments after Ryo escaped from his cell, the deranged Digimon managed to regain control of Ken's body and sounded the alarm to stop Ryo. Sitting down in his chair, Millenniummon brought up every camera in the base, looking for his former partner. It did not take long as he found Justimon plowing his way through many Digimon guards, eventually making it out of the base and to the forest nearby, destroying Control Spires on the way.
"He's too far away now," Millenniummon growled, turning off the screens. "Any Digimon I send after him will be destroyed. Though I suppose it hardly matters now. If I am to finish my body in time and not worry about all of the children, then I shall need more powerful Digimon at my disposal. I need…masters."
"How much further are we going to run, Ryo?" Monodramon asked as Justimon ran through the forest.
"I think we're at a safe distance from Millenniummon's base," Ryo answered. "But we shouldn't break up just yet. We need to find a Digital Gate that will take us back to Japan so we can warn everybody."
"Ryo…do you think we'll be able to save Ken?" asked Monodramon. During their escape, Ryo explained to Monodramon how he was able to escape his cell, and the dragon Digimon was surprised to hear that Ken was able to fight off Millenniummon's control, but saddened when he was told it didn't last long.
"I know we can save him," Ryo said determinately. "That's what we came back home to do, and that's what we'll do!"
(Digimon Adventure 02 OST: Saa, Digital World e Ikou!)
Morning came upon Odaiba, and the Teenage Wolves' warehouse was full of noise as the assembled Digidestined and Tamers met up as promised, all of them carrying bags filled with food, extra clothes, sleeping bags and other necessary items for roughing it out in the wild.
"Okay, is everybody here?" Tai called out to the large group. He received nods from everybody. "Are you all packed?" They nodded again. "Have you all made out your wills?" Nobody nodded, though the original Courage wielder could've sworn he heard someone – possibly Impmon – chuckling at the joke.
"Save the dark comedy for later Tai," Davis walked up to his mentor and turned to look everybody in the eye. "All right everybody…this is it. I don't think I need to remind you what's at stake today. Everything is on the line: The Digital World, this Earth, the Tamers' Earth, our entire future! That bastard Millenniummon has been toying with us and taking the fight to us every step of the way. But today is where the bull stops! Today…we take the battle to him! We get our friends back! And we end the reign of terror on the Digital World! Now who's with me?!"
"YEAH!" Everybody yelled out at the top of their lungs and raised their fists into the air.
"Then let's not waste any more time!" Takato declared. "Jun, bring up the gate!"
"That was the first thing I did when I came in here!" Jun showed off the computer and the program to everybody. "Just say the word!"
"DIGITAL GATE, OPEN!" At Davis's command, the blinding bluish-white light flashed over the entire warehouse, sucking the large group of twenty humans and nineteen Digimon into the computer, leaving Jun all alone in the warehouse.
"Good luck, everybody," the teenage girl whispered to herself as she looked at the computer. "Come back safe."
"Everything is almost in place," Millenniummon said to himself, standing in a hangar bay in his base. "Now I just need one final person." Raising his hand and concentrating everything into creating a portal in the air, the dark Digimon focused on a specific day and watched as the inside of the portal revealed a forest. And standing in the middle of the forest was MetalGarurumon and a younger Matt standing in front of a Digimon that Millenniummon knew well: his former fellow Dark Master Puppetmon.
"Wh-why aren't my powers working on you?" Puppetmon asked the duo of Friendship in fear. "Why can't I control you?"
"Because there is no way he'll obey someone who kills the people he calls friends while not feeling sorry for it," Matt answered, glaring hard at the Digimon that was shorter than him. "You're pathetic, Puppetmon. Nobody would ever work for a psycho man-child like you."
"What?!" Puppetmon yelled, first looking shocked before glaring back at Matt. "Now you've really pissed me off!" The small Digimon charged at MetalGarurumon, a truly fatal mistake.
"You always were a fool Puppetmon," Millenniummon said as he watched MetalGarurumon prepare his Metal Wolf Claw attack. "But you do have your uses."
"METAL WOLF CLAW!" As the ice blast completely enveloped Puppetmon, Millenniummon raised his hands, a white light covering the marionette the same time the ice hit him. When MetalGarurumon's attack ceased, Puppetmon was nowhere to be seen, Matt assuming the point-blank attack obliterated him. But neither him nor MetalGarurumon saw the light behind Puppetmon taking him away from 1999.
"Oof!" Puppetmon grunted as he landed on the floor. Pulling himself up, the marionette Digimon looked around the hangar bay. "What's going on here? Where in the world am I?"
"You're in the future Puppetmon," Millenniummon answered, "and you're here because I saved your life."
"Huh?" Puppetmon looked up at Millenniummon. "Who are you supposed to be?"
"Come now Puppetmon," Millenniummon chuckled darkly. "Surely you recognize your old friend…Machinedramon."
(Digimon Adventutre OST: Kyoufu no Ashiato)
"Machinedramon?!" Puppetmon gawked. "Is that really you?! Geez, you really let yourself go!"
"I possess this human body, you idiot!" Millenniummon snapped. "But I will have a new body to call my own very shortly. And I am no longer Machinedramon. I am now Millenniummon. And as I said before, I saved you from MetalGarurumon's attack by bringing you here four years in the future."
"The future?!" asked Puppetmon. "Since when could you do time travel?"
"Since I fell shortly after you did and became stronger than ever," explained Millenniummon. "In my current form I am only at a fraction of my power, and I seek to regain my original body. I am very close to achieving my goal, but I need the Digidestined stalled long enough to do so."
"Wait a minute," said Puppetmon. "The Digidestined are still alive in the future?"
"Yes," Millenniummon answered. "I made a grave miscalculation during my original encounter with the Digidestined, and Piedmon was a fool who decided it was more important to play games with the Digidestined and toy with them. It led to his downfall…much like yours!"
"I resent that," Puppetmon grumbled. "But still…are you saying they managed to even beat Apocalymon?"
"Yes," Millenniummon answered. "And despite my new powers, my body was greatly damaged and it forced me to enter this," he gestured to Ken's body. "But I have seen all the possibilities and outcomes in the upcoming battle Puppetmon. Victory shall belong to me this time…and it can belong to you as well, if you aid me."
"What do you need me for?" asked Puppetmon. "You said something about needing the Digidestined stalled while you finish your new body?"
"Yes," said Millenniummon. "I still need one more Digimon to finish my body, and I must head out to the ocean to retrieve him. But the Digidestined are close to finding this base, and what is more, they have grown in numbers after our final encounter years ago. While I have never approved of your obsession with toying with your enemies rather than destroy them in one fell swoop, I need you to distract a good number of the Digidestined in the meantime."
"How exactly do you expect me to do that?" Puppetmon asked skeptically. "I was barely able to survive five of those brats before MetalGarurumon showed up! And you expect me to fight them on my own again?!"
"Calm yourself," Millenniummon reassured his former Dark Master ally. "I plan on giving you your own playground to use against the Digidestined…as well as some special friends."
"Really?" Puppetmon was now smirking at the response. "What kind of friends are we talking about?"
"How much…further…Ryo?" Monodramon asked through labored breathing as Justimon kept running through the forest at top speed. "We've been running for hours on end."
"I think we've gotten far enough," Ryo replied. "Let's stop here." Justimon finally stopped near the edge of the forest and split back into Ryo and Monodramon, the latter falling on his back.
"Damn…Millenniummon had been making sure I was well fed, but it hadn't been enough for me to go on much longer as Justimon."
"Thankfully, there's some fruit on these trees that look safe, so you can eat these," Ryo gestured to the trees around them. Monodramon climbed up a nearby tree and began eating all the fruit he could find, regaining his energy.
"So, Ken said Millenniummon just needed one more Digimon to complete Kimeramon," Monodramon recapped everything Ryo told him after they escaped Millenniummon's base. "Something tells me it's Devimon."
"I'd be surprised if it isn't," said Ryo grimly. "We can't keep running for much longer. We have to get to the others and soon!" Ryo's thoughts were suddenly cut off when he heard a beeping from his pocket. Fishing out his D-Arc, the source of the beeping, Ryo gasped in shock at what he saw.
"Well, I'm all charged up again," Monodramon leaped off the tree. "And I'm ready to start going again. How much longer until we find a Digital Gate?"
"I…don't think we need to find one," Ryo said, showing his D-Arc to Monodramon. The screen was showing a holographic map of their area, with several red dots on the far end of the map.
"Wait, that's the tracker for our D-Arcs!" Monodramon gasped in realization. "The others must be nearby!"
"According to this, they're 200 miles from here," said Ryo. "Let's not waste any more time!" A flash of light later, and Cyberdramon was flying for the location at top speed.
(Digimon Adventure OST: Bokutachi, Digimon!)
"Welcome, welcome!" Piximon greeted the large crowd of Digidestined that appeared in front of him from the Digital Gate, his gaze focused on all of their bags packed. "I see you've prepared yourselves for war!"
"That's right Piximon," Tai said. "And we're not leaving here until Millenniummon is vanquished!"
"That's the spirit!" Piximon chirped. "Follow me to my house! We already have our safe houses prepared, so all we'll need to do is split you up into different groups for each safe house—"
Suddenly, a large black figure dropped down from out of the sky and landed in front of the team, blocking their path. A large cloud of dust was kicked up from the landing, blocking everybody's view of the newcomer.
"What is that, one of Millenniummon's servants?!" Kari asked as Piximon and some of the Digimon took battle stances.
"Or is it a wild Digimon?" asked Kenta. Davis and Veemon's eyes widened at the familiar figure that they could make out as the cloud began dissipating.
"Wait, that's not an enemy!" Davis's words proved true when the cloud was gone completely, revealing a familiar black dragon Digimon.
"Cyberdramon!" Tentomon exclaimed in surprise.
"Then that must mean…"
"Hey guys!" Takato was cut off by the familiar face of Ryo, who leaned to the side to show himself on Cyberdramon's back.
(Digimon Tamers OST: Yukikau Hitobito 2)
"RYO!" everybody gasped in surprise.
"How did you escape Millenniummon's base?!" Rika asked as Cyberdramon transformed back to Monodramon, his face looking grim like Ryo's.
"It's a long story, so here's the short version: Ken was able to fight off Millenniummon's possession long enough to help us escape. By now, Millenniummon has probably regained control, and he's almost finished with his plan."
"Was Ken able to tell you what his plan was?"
"He did TK," said Ryo. "Millenniummon is planning to recreate his old body."
"What?!" Kazu gasped. "How's he planning to do that?"
"He's been collecting data on all the Digimon he needs," explained Ryo. "He's been building new versions of Machinedramon and Kimeramon, and once they're finished, he's going to use Calumon to fuse them together…"
"…and then he'll jump out of Ken's body and into his new one!" Henry realized. "That must be why he took Calumon!"
"And he's almost done," said Monodramon. "He just needs one more Digimon to complete the project: Devimon."
"Devimon?!" asked TK and most of the Digidestined familiar with him.
"How's he gonna get data on Devimon?" asked Gomamon. "His kind aren't exactly easy to find around the Digital World."
"Not really, but there is one place he can find Devimon's data," said Rika. "And that's the Dark Whirlpool."
"The…what?" Kari asked with a shiver. Whatever the Dark Whirlpool was, it didn't sound like a very good place. And her suspicions were confirmed with Kazu's answer.
"The Dark Whirlpool. It's…it's hard to say what it was exactly, since the show didn't go into much detail. But apparently, it's a whirlpool far in the middle of the Digital World's oceans, and apparently, it's home to the data of some of the darkest Digimon there, Devimon included. It appears very rarely, and there are some fan theories that believe it to be an entrance into the Dark World."
"What?" Kari began shivering more at the mention of Dagomon's world.
"Then we have to stop Millenniummon!" TK said, his face showing great anger. "If that is true, then he can't be allowed to get Devimon's data! Ryo, where's his base?!"
"Follow us," Ryo said as he used a Blue Card to Digivolve Monodramon to Cyberdramon again. "And any Digimon that can Digivolve into fast forms, do it!"
"Right!" In a matter of moments Raidramon, Birdramon, Kabuterimon, Halsemon, Kyubimon, Garurumon, Pegasusmon, Nefertimon, and Guardromon were running or flying for the base as fast as they could. During the ride to the base, Davis thought about his talk with Takato and Kenta from early this morning before they entered the Digital World.
FLASHBACK
"So Henry brought this up the other day, but I wanted to confirm it with you guys, since you and Kazu are big Digimon fans," Davis said to Takato and Kenta, having pulled them to a corner of the warehouse for some privacy. "Is there really a Digimental in Millenniummon's base in there that has my Crest on it?"
"Yeah, it's true," Kenta nodded. "Ken found it during his early days as the Digimon Emperor. He couldn't really get it to work right, but he saw how much energy was flowing through it, so he installed it in the base as a power source."
"Millenniummon's dark influence on Ken must have made it difficult for him to use it properly," Veemon said to himself. "So is the Digimental for Davis, like the Digimentals of Hope and Light were for TK and Kari?"
"It is," said Takato. "And if we get it, it can help turn this fight with Millenniummon around in our favor."
"And we'll be able to win!" Guilmon raised his arm in agreement.
"If that's true, then maybe it can free Ken," Davis said hopefully, looking at his old Crest. "My Crest of Miracles has been able to get us out of impossible situations before. Imagine what a Digimental of Miracles could do."
"What kind of Digimon will I be able to Digivolve into with it?" asked Veemon.
"Not saying anything just yet," said Kenta. "But it will be an ace."
END FLASHBACK
'Whatever that ace is, it better be enough to get Millenniummon out of Ken's body and destroy him before he's able to jump bodies,' Davis thought with a hard look in his eyes. 'Because if it isn't, I swear I'll beat Millenniummon out of Ken myself!'
After nearly an hour of running, the Digidestined and the Tamers found themselves in a vast rocky area where multiple Control Spires were erected, which was no doubt the location of Millenniummon's fortress. They stopped moving when they saw Cyberdramon slow down above them.
"Damn it!"
"Ryo, what's wrong?" Izzy asked, the Digimon letting their passengers off before De-Digivolving. Ryo walked over to a large crater in the middle of the area, an angry look on his face.
"We're too late. Millenniummon's already moved his base out."
"What?!" Yolei ran over and looked down at the hole in shock and confusion. "This huge crater used to be Millenniummon's base?!"
"It was," said Kazu. "I guess he decided to take to the skies."
"Wait, the base could fly?!" asked Cody, looking at the hole below them. "But that's impossible! A structure that ginormous couldn't possibly be capable of flight!"
"You forget quickly Cody, this is the Digital World," Izzy said. "The impossible is always possible."
"How very true." Everybody in the vicinity froze at the sound of a familiar dark voice. "Everything is quite possible in the Digital World, including rebirth…such as my own." Looking up at a nearby mountain, the children gasped when they saw Millenniummon standing above them. Gazing down at them through the sunglasses of the Digimon Emperor, Millenniummon leaped off the mountain and landed gracefully in front of his enemies, the confident smirk on his face never leaving.
(Digimon Tamers OST: Panic)
"You!" Rika growled angrily. "I see you're still here even after your base up and left."
"Yes," Millenniummon replied. "I had it set on autopilot so I could stay here and greet you. By now my base is nearing the ocean, and it will only be a matter of time before it reaches the Dark Whirlpool."
"And you're not going to be there when it does!" TK said defiantly. "You think I'm just going to let you use Devimon's dark data to recreate your old body?! We're stopping you right now!"
"You might as well give it up now Millenniummon, you've lost!" Tai demanded. "We outnumber and out-power you in your current state, and any Digimon you send after us will be beaten back!"
"Now let Ken go, or we'll force you out of him!" said Davis.
"I'm afraid not," said Millenniummon. "I still need Ken's body a little longer. And do you honestly think I would use common Digimon against you? I know full well of the power you possess when you're all together. That's why I did some very special recruitment."
"What do you mean, special recruitment?" Ai's question was answered a split second later when a loud laugh rang out through the area, causing the children and their partners to look around wildly for the source.
"What is that?" asked Armadillomon as the laughter came much closer.
"That laugh sounds familiar…" Gomamon said, eyes narrowed. "And it also sounds bad."
"I've been waiting a long time for this, Digidestined!" The earth began shaking wildly and a pillar of dirt and rocks erupted from the crater, followed by a long snake-like figure. The figure flew into the sky and looked down at the Digidestined and Tamers, who could now see the features of the Digimon: A long, serpentine body clad in silver and gold armor, multiple fins, and silver hair poking under a helmet with a long sharp blade and a snout shaped like a cannon.
"Digidestined! I believe you're familiar with my former ally from the Dark Masters…" Millenniummon gestured up to the massive Digimon. "METALSEADRAMON!"
"There's another Seadramon?!" Cody gasped.
"Yeah, and he's the most dangerous one!" Kenta said, looking at his D-Ark. "MetalSeadramon. Data attribute Cyborg Digimon, Mega level! His entire body is coated in Chrome Digizoid metal, and he's said to be the fastest of all aquatic Digimon, able to attack on land, sea, and in the air! His special attack is a powerful stream of energy from his snout called River of Power. What's more, he was one of the four Dark Masters that served Apocalymon and warped the Digital World like crazy!"
"There's no way that's the same one from before!" Joe said in shock.
"Oh, but I am!" the snake Digimon fired back at Joe. "I've been reborn thanks to Millenniummon's power over time! He was able to gather my data from the time of my death and was able to reconstitute it here in the future. And now it's payback time, brats!"
"Think again!" Tai whipped out his Digivice in an instant. "We beat you before, and we'll do it again! Agumon!"
"Guilmon, let's get in there!" Takato pulled out his D-Ark and began glowing with his partner. "BIOMERGE ACTIVATE!"
(One Vision: Dukemon Version)
"GUILMON BIOMERGE TOOO…GALLANTMON!"
"AGUMON WARP DIGIVOLVE TOOO…WARGREYMON!"
"Get him like last time, buddy!" Tai yelled up to his partner.
"MEGA CLAW!" WarGreymon flew up at MetalSeadramon, his Dramon Killers outstretched. MetalSeadramon charged for the dragon man in a collision that saw the serpent move at the last second and send WarGreymon off course before his claws could reach their target: MetalSeadramon's head.
"Nice try, but I'm not falling for that same trick twice!" MetalSeadramon taunted.
"Here's a new trick then!" Gallantmon flew up and aimed his lance. "ROYAL SABER!" The lightning blast hit MetalSeadramon in the side. Growling from the slight pain he felt, the former Dark Master lunged for Gallantmon; his massive maw nearly engulfed the Royal Knight had WarGreymon not knocked him out of the way.
"That's it! RIVER OF POWER!" WarGreymon didn't have time to move and he was sent flying into the air as MetalSeadramon's energy beam slammed into his body, a yell of pain escaping him.
"WarGreymon!" Kari and Tai yelled in worry as they saw smoke curling off WarGreymon, his armor cracked slightly from the attack.
"Not good!" Henry said in worry. "MetalSeadramon's Data attribute trumps WarGreymon's Vaccine!"
"You're even more foolish than I thought you were WarGreymon!" MetalSeadramon cackled, coiling his tail around WarGreymon and squeezing him tightly. "HELL SQUEEZE!"
"Hang on, WarGreymon!" Gallantmon called out and flew for MetalSeadramon, the latter cruelly chuckling at WarGreymon's pained screams.
"MetalSeadramon, stop fooling around!" Millenniummon called up. "You know what to do!"
"I know!" MetalSeadramon swung his tail down and released WarGreymon. The armored warrior dropped to the ground and landed with a crash, reverting to his Rookie level.
"Agumon!" Tai ran over and picked up his partner, who was groaning in pain.
"FINAL ELYSION!" Gallantmon's shield blast flew at MetalSeadramon, but the massive sea serpent was able to maneuver his body out of the path of the attack, speeding past him and for the children. None of the Digimon had time to Digivolve as the Dark Master rammed through the Digidestined, knocking them off their feet. Using his speed, MetalSeadramon came back around and dodged Gallantmon's attacks, knocking the children around again. Going back up again, MetalSeadramon turned his gaze, focusing on a small group that consisted of Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, Rika, Jeri and their partners.
(Digimon Adventure 02 OST: Furi no Tatakai)
"You punks are finished! RIVER OF POWER!" The energy beam flew from his snout and hit the ground his targets were standing on cracked apart and revealed a chasm that they fell into, disappearing from sight.
"Tai! Matt!" TK and Kari called out for their siblings.
"Jeri!" Takato yelled from inside Gallantmon.
"Don't worry about them," said Millenniummon. "Your friends will be all right. I'm sure Puppetmon and his new playmates will take good care of them."
"Puppetmon?!" TK yelled in worry, remembering the psychotic wooden Digimon. MetalSeadramon let out one final laugh before he dropped down into the chasm he created.
"Damn you, Millenniummon!" Davis yelled angrily. "You know you can't beat us all together, don't you?!"
"Perhaps," replied the dark Digimon. "I certainly can't afford to deal with all of you. And now you have a choice: You can gather what's left of your forces and stop me, or you can help your friends." Millenniummon vanished in a dark portal, his evil smirk the last thing they saw.
"Okay!" Yolei snarled, Gallantmon landing next to her and transforming back to Takato and Guilmon. "Now he's really pissed me off!"
"Hold it together Yolei," Ryo said. "We can't afford to be caught off-guard more than we already are."
"What are we supposed to do now?" asked Mako. "Our friends are in trouble, and if Millenniummon gets his old body back, we may need everybody to fight him."
"Mako's right!" said Impmon. "So, what's it going to be?"
"As much as I hate to say it, we have to let Tai and the others deal with Puppetmon and MetalSeadramon themselves," said Ryo.
(Digimon Tamers OST: Setsunasa ~The Biggest Dreamer~)
"That's not a good idea," said TK. "As much as I don't want to see Millenniummon reborn again, I can't let Puppetmon have his way with my brother or my friends. Not again." The child of Hope remembered how Puppetmon toyed with Matt and turned him against the Digidestined, and it was something he did not want to see happen again.
"Plus, Millenniummon said Puppetmon had several other Digimon with him besides MetalSeadramon," said Gatomon. "They could be very strong Digimon in their own right."
"Maybe, but we got to have faith that they'll get out of this," said Davis. "Tai, Sora and the older kids have been doing this for four years now. They beat these guys before, and I know they can do it again."
"And it's different from four years ago," said Ryo. "Before WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon were the only Mega Digimon, but now they have four other Mega levels to fight."
"Yeah!" Kenta agreed. "And, they've also got Rika and Jeri with them. Rika's one of our strongest Tamers, and Jeri can hold her own."
"…you're right," TK said. "I'm sorry, but I didn't count on Puppetmon returning."
"None of us did TK," Kari reassured him. "But we should have expected this by now with Millenniummon. It's not the first time he brought our enemies back to fight us."
"If we're all agreed then, let's stop talking and start moving!" Davis held up his D-3. "Veemon!"
(Digimon Adventure: Brave Heart)
"Okay!" Veemon leaped up in a flash of blue light. "VEEMON WARP DIGIVOLVE TOOO…IMPERIALDRAMON!" The massive dragon hovered over the remaining Digidestined before landing next to them.
"Everyone on Imperialdramon!" Davis called out, climbing on his partner's back. The rest of the Digidestined were fast in getting on Imperialdramon, the great dragon taking flight.
"Any idea of where Millenniummon's base flew off to?" asked Betamon. Imperialdramon visually scanned the area below him, eventually resting his sight on a straight line of Control Spires leading west, to the ocean.
"I see a path," Imperialdramon growled, heading for the body of water in the distance. "The smarmy bastard wants us to come to him."
"Then let's not waste his time much longer," Davis slammed his fist into his palm, ready for battle like the other Digidestined.
(Digimon Adventure OST: Ijou Jitai Hassei!)
Deep down in the chasm, the rest of the team found themselves in a freefall, blacked out from the attack. Puppetmon watched the scene with wicked glee through a monitor screen in a room, giggling like a child on Christmas morning. Behind him were MetalSeadramon and several other Digimon hidden in the shadows. The marionette Digimon turned to them, a glimmer in his eyes.
"It's time to play, my friends! You know who you want, so have at them!"
"Yeah!" The Digimon turned and left the room, each taking a different door that led to special areas that Millenniummon and Puppetmon created for them. Once they were gone, Puppetmon sat back in his seat and kicked his feet up, watching the screens with joy.
"Let the games…begin!"
(Digimon Tamers OST: Days ~Aijou to Nichijou~ TV Size)
END CHAPTER 25
Geez, it's been nearly seven months since I've last updated this story?! Man, I have got to get better with this story.
Anyway, I do have some good reasons for the very long delay. When I last updated in July, I was absolutely swamped. I would come home from work late and tired, and I could only write several sentences before I decided to call it a night and hit the hay. Add in the holidays and getting sick, and I was sidetracked for quite some time.
There have also been a few things that have occupied my time lately as well. The last few months I've been watching Youtube reviewers, namely Lewis "Linkara" Lovhaug, host of Atop the Fourth Wall, and James Rolfe, known better as the Angry Video Game Nerd. If you haven't seen them, then I highly recommend you watch them, as they are quite funny and informative with what they review.
Also, I've become hooked to Mystery Science Theater 3000, and it is the funniest show that I have ever seen. They have full episodes on Youtube, and if you haven't seen MST3K, then go find some of their old episodes. You will love what you see.
Another thing that has also been occupying my time involves comic books. Recent events that have happened in Marvel and DC Comics, namely DC Comics (Heroes in Crisis specifically), have left me pissed off at the current management of both companies, and in the wake of the success of Avengers: Endgame, which basically ended an era for Marvel movies, I've decided to start my own versions of Marvel and DC, with some ideas of my own, as well as inspiration from comics, movies, TV shows, fanfictions and other fans. They have very good stuff, and they ignore some of the more stupid and crappy things that have happened in the comics over the last few years (like Heroes in Crisis, the absolute WORST comic I have ever read yet in my life).
The final thing is the recent developments in Digimon news. It's been confirmed that Last Evolution: Kizuna, coming out this month, will end the Adventure series as we know it. And on April 9, 2020, Digimon Adventure will be rebooted, focusing on Tai and the 01 Digidestined. And instead of 1999, the season's events will take place in 2020. With this new developments, I was left wondering where this story would go from here, if I should continue it, leave it in limbo, or just take it off the site. But I decided to not let this get to me. I'll keep writing out new chapters, I'll update when I can, and I will see this thing through to the end!
Oh, and one more thing: My story is now on the website TV Tropes on the Fanfic Recs page for Digimon! If I keep writing out this story, or if someone is interested, I hope this will be able to get its own page on the site, like other Digimon fanfictions such as Zero 2: A Revision or the Tamers Forever Series.
Anyway, thanks for continuing to read during my absence, thank you for the reviews, and thank you all for your favorites!
Next time on Digimon Adventure Tamers: As Davis and Ryo's team head for Millenniummon's base, Tai's group find them separated, facing dangerous familiar faces from their past!
Chapter 26: The Games of Hell! Puppetmon