Author's notes: After my account was deleted accidentally, I rewrote some parts of Dark Wing. There is another version, Dark Wing Type 2, that I'm writing that follows the anime more accurately. But for now, I'll focus on finishing the original Dark Wing since I want to wait and see what happens in the Japanese Tamer series. I'll upload the other chapters once I've finished double-checking them. Thanks for your patience.
Author's notes: After some consideration, I've decided to use the Japanese levels, since I'm already using the Japanese names, cards and attacks anyway. Therefore:
Digimon Levels:
Child : Rookie
Adult : Champion
Perfect : Ultimate
Ultimate: Mega
Author's 'the Devil made me do it' notes: I'm aware that some people who reviewed the original Dark Wing feel there wouldn't be any point in re-reviewing old chapters. So, I've come up with an idea so devilish, Devimon would be proud. Some chapters will have major differences. Which ones? You'll have to read them all to find out! *cue evil laughter*
Digimon Tamers: Dark Wing
Flee from the enemy! Regroup to counterattack!
Disclaimer: Digimon Tamers and related elements are registered trademarks of Toei, Bandai and their respective owners and are used without permission.
"Ice Devimon...Fatal Technique! Zero Freeze...OMEGA!"
"TAKATO-KUN!" Juri screamed as the Gear screen went white. She dropped the hairpin and clutched the bars, watching as the screen cleared. She gasped.
"Takato!" Lee yelled. "Leomon! What happened?!" The blue-black haired boy ran to the bottom of the steps. "Wha?!"
Takato, Leomon and Guilmon stood at the top of the stairs, frozen in ice where they were surprised by Ice Devimon. The white-hued Fallen Angel Digimon hovered above them, smiling at his handiwork. "Hmmmm," he muttered. "Did I over-do it?"
Ruki cursed under her breath. "This isn't good..." Renamon, already injured from her bout with Ice Devimon, was having trouble avoiding the combined efforts of Fladramon, Holsmon and Digmon. Galgomon was trying to free his legs of the ice that had encased him while occasionally letting off a burst of covering fire. The redhaed glanced at Devimon, who simply hovered in the air, a smirk on his face. "What is he up to?"
'Hmph,' Devimon snorted mentally. 'This will be easier than I expected.' He looked to the top of the stairs, where Ice Devimon had frozen the light-brown haired boy, the small dragon-like Child and Leomon in their tracks. 'Still,' he reminded himself. 'I'd best not get cocky.'
"Card Slash! Super Evolution plug-In S!" Sliding her card through her blue-and-silver D-Ark, pulling it through with a flourish.
"Renamon, evolve!" As the now-familiar feeling of evolving took hold, the deceptively powerful Child kicked herself into the air as she became encased in a bright blue data 'egg'.
"Urgh!" Fladramon grunted as he was blinded by a bright light.
"Kyuubimon!" Landing, the lupine Adult slammed into Holsmon, knocking the flying Digimon out of the air. As he crashed, Kyuubimon switched targets, turning to Fladramon.
"Demon Fireball!" yelled Kyuubimon, launching orbs of blue flame at the red-hued Digimon.
Heat began gathering in the red-coloured armoured Digimon's claws, forming a ball of fire. "Knuckle Fire!" he yelled, launching a firebolt at the nine-tailed Adult.
The two attacks managed to negate each other and the two Digimon made as if to clash while Digmon went to engage Galgomon, who had finally managed to free himself. Before the battle could continue, Ice Devimon called out to Ruki.
"Ruki! Give it up! You cannot win!" As he spoke, he landed beside Takato, making Lee, who had run up to try to help, back away. "I don't want to have to treat you in such a manner!"
"Takato!" Ruki gasped, seeing what had happened for the first time. "What did you do to him?"
"He's frozen solid!" Lee called. "We have to get him out! Leomon and Guilmon might be able to handle being frozen, but Takato..."
Ruki clenched her fists in frustration as Kyuubimon landed beside her. Fladramon aimed a Fire Knuckle, but Devimon clutched the armoured Digimon's arm. "No," the Dark Messenger commanded. He turned to look at Ruki and the other Tamers. "Do not attack them." Mentally, he began planning. 'Excellent. A chance to see just what mettle these...what did Ice Devimon call them...Tamers are made of.' An evil smile spread across his face. To the three enslaved Chosen Digimon, he said, "Let's see what happens next." Fladramon lowered his arm as he, Holsmon and Digmon stepped back.
Meanwhile, Juri had redoubled her efforts, trying to pick the lock. "Takato-kun...Leomon...Just hold on..." Then, as if an omen, the pin snapped. Juri held the now useless hairpin up. "Oh no...what do I do now?"
"How about sitting back and letting me handle it?" replied a familiar voice.
Juri quickly got up and looked around. "Who's there?" she asked.
"Relax," the voice told her. "It's just me." Juri turned to where she thought the voice was coming from. "Up here!"
"Huh?" Looking up, Juri saw a ventilation opening. "That voice...Impmon?"
"Took you long enough," the Child grumbled through the grill.
"What are you doing here?" Juri asked, surprised.
"Let's just say you're lucky Renamon isn't afraid to ask for help if she thinks she needs it." Juri saw a glow through the grill. "Now hold on, I'll be right there," Impmon called. "Night of Fire!"
"Hmmm?" Devimon looked around. "What was that?"
"What was what?" Fladramon asked.
Devimon cocked his head, straining his superhuman senses. "I heard something. It sounded like a dull explosion of some sort."
"It might be part of the building collapsing," Holsmon suggested. "We have been hurling attacks all over the place. We must have damaged the structure."
"Perhaps..." Devimon mused. "Still." He called to Ice Devimon. "Ice Devimon! I'm going to go check on the girl. I'll leave things here to you!"
"Right," acknowledged the other Fallen Angel. "Leave it to me."
Devimon nodded as he began sinking into the ground. "Do not underestimate them," he reminded. "Humans can be very unpredictable."
"Stand back!" Impmon told Juri as he raised a gloved finger. A flame appeared at the tip of the bandana-wearing Child Digimon that grew larger as he pointed it at Juri's cage. "Night of Fire!" The flame struck the door, blowing the lock off. "Okay! That ought to do it!"
"Thanks, Impmon!" Juri said as she pushed the door open. "Quick! We have to help Takato-kun and the others!"
"Don't worry," Impmon smirked. "Now that I'm here, whoever did this is as good as loaded!"
"Brave words, Impmon," called out a terrifying voice. Devimon rose out of the ground, a smirk on his cowled face. "Let us see if you can live up to them!"
"Make your choice, Ruki," Ice Devimon said to the red-haired Tamer. "Become my Tamer, or watch this boy as he freezes to death." The white couloured Digimon shrugged. "If he dies, it makes no difference to me."
"You..." Ruki cursed as Kyuubimon stayed by her side, giving her silent support. "I...I..."
"Card Slash!" interrupted a voice. "Meramon!"
"What?!" Ice Devimon said in surprise, whirling around in the direction of the voice. His eyes widened when he saw Juri standing there, her hand still raised after slashing the card through her D-Ark. "Who are you?"
"That voice..." Ruki whispered to herself. "Juri? Is that you?" Though she wasn't able to see her because Ice Devimon and the frozen forms of Takato, Leomon and Guilmon were blocking her view, there was no mistaking her friend's voice.
"Yeah!" Juri called down. As they spoke, Leomon's hands began glowing and his eyes became a firey shade of red. "We have to hurry!" Juri continued. "Impmon's trying to hold off Devimon! We need to help him!"
"You'll have to go through us first, girl," Ice Devimon told her. "And that will not happen!"
"Burning...Fist!" Leomon roared, exploding out of his icy prison. Taken by surprise, Ice Devimon didn't have time to react as the maned Beast Man Digimon lunged at him and lashed out with a powerfully built leg, knocking the icy demon into the wall. Following up with a roundhouse kick, Leomon sent Ice Devimon flying off the top of the stairs, landing just behind Ruki and the others. "Get out of the way!" he yelled as he stood on the top step, both hands glowing, one with a red light, the other with a gold light. "Burning...Fist of the Beast King!"
Launching both his attack and Meramon's, Leomon sent twin balls of energy streaking towards Ice Devimon. "!!!" Seeing the danger he was in, the white Fallen Angel folded his wings and braced for impact. "Urgh!" He gritted his teeth as the combined techniques pushed him back. "Hah!" he taunted as the attacks finally faded. "Not good enough!"
"It was enough, Ice Devimon!" Kyuubimon's voice sang out.
"What?!" Ice Devimon twisted around, his eyes widening as he saw Kyuubimon using her Fox Flame Dragon technique. "Aaah!" Unable to move in time, the ice-cold Adult was struck squarely on the chest, the flames burning him as he yelled in surprise and pain.
"Leomon!" Juri said, running up to her partner. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Juri, you're safe?" Though he tried to hide it behind his warrior's facade, his relief was reflected in his voice.
"Yeah," his slim partner replied. "But Takato-kun..."
Leomon looked out the corner out of his eye and saw the boy and his partner Digimon still frozen. "Don't worry," he told Juri. "I still have some of Meramon's energy left. Step back." As the brown-haired girl moved out of the way, Leomon raised his hand, gathering the last amounts of heat energy the Meramon card had granted him. "Burning Fist!" As his hand became covered in flame, Leomon knelt beside Takato, using the heat from Meramon's Burning Fist technique to melt away the ice. In moments, Takato was free.
"Takato-kun?" Juri whispered, stepping closer.
Takato's eyelids fluttered as his vision slowly cleared. "K-Katou-san?"
"I'm here, Takato-kun!" the girl replied.
Takato struggled to speak. "I'm glad you're...okay..." He suddenly fell over, forcing Juri to leap forwards to catch him.
"Takato-kun!"
"I'm okay..." the boy whispered, shivering. "Just...cold..." He turned his head. "G-Guilmon...?"
"I'm okay, Takato!" came the voice of his partner, who had managed to break out of the ice with much less damage than his human friend. "How about you?"
"I've been better..."
Juri was shocked at how cold the boy was. "Leomon," she said. "We have to get Takato out of here! We need to warm him up fast before he catches pneumonia! I'll go get Ruki and Lee-kun, you try to get Impmon! He's in one of the rooms at the end of this hallway!"
Her large, powerfully built partner nodded. "Right." He turned to Guilmon. "Guilmon, I'm relying on you to protect Juri while I'm gone!"
"Okay!" Guilmon chirped, nodding. "Don't worry!"
Leomon glanced from Guilmon to Takato, who was shivering in Juri's arms, to Juri, who had a worried expression on her normally cheerful face. "I'll be back soon," the Adult told them as he turned and ran down the hallway.
"Night of Fire!" Impmon yelled, hurling a fireball at Devimon, who avoided it with ease.
"I'm impressed," admitted the Dark Messenger. "Fighting a battle you cannot win simply to save your friend? Such courage and determination is rare in one of our kind."
"What do you mean, 'our kind'?" Impmon demanded.
"Why, we of the Darkness, of course!" the Dark Messenger explained. "You must realise you and I are both beings of Darkness."
"Beings of Darkness?" The purple Child level repeated. His face twisted into a snarl. "Not a chance!" He yelled. "I'm nothing like you!"
"Be that as it may," Devimon told Impmon as he folded his arms across his chest. "you cannot deny what you are."
Clenching his gloved fists, the bandana-wearing Digimon growled at the larger Adult. "Just watch me!" he yelled, bring both his hands up and reaching out to his opponent. "Summon!" A circle of blue light appeared between his hands. Devimon raised a bemused eyebrow.
"Do you expect to defeat me like that?"
Impmon smirked. "Nope. But it should be enough for THIS!" Shards of ice shot out of the circle.
Devimon raised a hand to deflect them, but then realised something. '!!! He's isn't aiming at me!' he thought. "Above?!" he said aloud, looking up as the ice shards struck the ceiling. The impact jarred the rotting ceiling, collapsing it onto Devimon and burying him just as Leomon burst through the door.
The Beast Man Digimon screeched to a halt. "Juri sent me here to help," he said to Impmon. "But it seems I'm too late."
Impmon smirked, snapping his fingers. "Heh. Piece of cake." Devimon's hand suddenly burst out of the rubble, blazing with a malicious purple light.
"I think we'd best withdraw while we have the chance," Leomon said, picking Impmon up and running back in the direction of the others.
Digmon and Galgomon fought a running gunbattle, dodging and weaving as they fired at each other.
"Big Cracker!"
"Gattling Arm!"
Meanwhile, Lee and Ruki had helped Juri ease Takato down and were taking cover behind an overturned table. "Ghh...we're pinned down!" Lee said, wincing as a stray fireball landed nearby.
"You think?!" Ruki retorted. Fladramon crashed into the wall above them, showering them with debris. "Let's just Card Slash and get them!"
Lee glared at her. "No! They're doing this against their will! We can't just kill them!"
"Well, I'm open to suggestions!" Ruki replied as Galgomon somersaulted over the table, landing between the two Tamers.
"Sorry for breaking up the tender moment," he joked, peering over the edge and ducking as Digmon fired more drills at him. "Gattling Arm!"
"We have to do something!" Juri begged them as she tried her best to warm Takato. "Takato-kun needs help, and soon!"
"Fireball!" Guilmon yelled, launching a large ball of flame at Holsmon, who countered with a Tempest Wing attack, slamming into the Child and sending him flying. Meanwhile, Ice Devimon and Fladramon were double-teaming Kyuubimon, pushing her back. The lupine nine-tailed Digimon was able to hold her ground against them, but only just.
"We can't do anything while we're pinned down like this!" Lee cursed as Takato moaned. "We need help, and soon!"
"I'm afraid there will be no help forthcoming," Ice Devimon said, suddenly appearing out of the wall. "This time, you're mine, Ruki," he said, reaching out for the red-haired girl.
"Not while I still draw breath!" Kyuubimon yelled, ramming Fladramon and knocking the fire Digimon off his feet. Before the armoured Digimon had struck the ground, Kyuubimon was already charging at Ice Devimon, determined to protect her Tamer. "Demon Fireball!"
"You only delay the inevitable!" Ice Devimon taunted as he began dodging his opponent's attack. "Only I am worthy of a Tamer as powerful as Ruki is!"
A voice cut through the air, making the white-clad Fallen Angel Digimon look behind him. "You aren't even worthy to speak her name, let alone claim to be her partner!" Ice Devimon's eyes widened as Leomon charged down the stairs, Impmon behind him. "Fist of the Beast King!"
"Urgh!" Leomon's aim was true, and the blazing lion's head shaped blast sent Ice Devimon careening into the ground.
"Night of Fire!" Not to be out-done, Impmon launched a fireball at Holsmon, forcing him to swerve in mid-air. Seeing his opportunity, Guilmon coiled his legs under him and leapt up, pulling back his right arm.
"Rock Breaker!" His claws covered with flame, the small Demon Dragon lashed out, catching Holsmon on the side of his head. Disoriented, the armoured Digimon crashed into Digimon, sending them both through a wall.
"Now's our chance!" Lee decided, helping Takato up. "Let's get out of here!"
"Kyuubimon!" Ruki called. Her partner ceased her attack on Fladramon, who had tried to jump her from behind. Kicking out with her hind legs, she managed to wind the red-hued Digimon before running to Ruki's side and allowing both female Tamers to climb on her back.
Juri spoke to her partner. "Leomon! Take Takato-kun and let's go!" Nodding, Leomon gently picked up the shivering boy with a well-built arm.
"Guilmon, go with Leomon!" Lee ordered as he ran for the door. Guilmon nodded and ran alongside Leomon as the Beast Man Digimon and Kyuubimon ran for the door. "Galgomon, cover them!"
"Okay, Jen!" Taking aim, the gun-armed Digimon began walking backwards, watching as Ice Devimon and the armoured Digimon rose to their feet. Impmon stayed beside him, his hand ready to launch a Night of Fire technique.
Devimon appeared out of the shadows, his eyes glowing brightly in the fading light. He gave a deep, terrible laugh as his hands began glowing dangerously. "Hahahahahahahaha!"
"Okay!" Lee yelled at Galgomon and Impmon as he waited by the door, letting Kyuubimon and Leomon leave first. "Run!" Needing no further invitation, the two Digimon turned and made a break for the door.
"What are you waiting for?" Ice Devimon roared at Fladramon and the others as the Tamers fled. "After them!"
"Leave them!" Devimon called as the armoured Digimon began running after the Tamers. "They are unimportant. We must move to a new location, in case they return in force."
"Then we'll crush them if they do!" Ice Devimon swore as he turned to face Devimon.
"We have more important things to consider," Devimon told his fellow Fallen Angel. "Come, we must transfer the Black Gate somewhere safer." Turning, Devimon walked into the shadows, beckoning Ice Devimon and the others to follow.
Ice Devimon glanced at the door before following the Dark Messenger. "Another time...Makino Ruki."
Acknowledgements:Thanks to Buretsu for pointing out some mistakes.
Reviews, comments, suggestions and criticisms (constructive or otherwise) are welcome and can be sent to Withoutmorals@antisocial.com
Author's notes: After some consideration, I've decided to use the Japanese levels, since I'm already using the Japanese names, cards and attacks anyway. Therefore:
Digimon Levels:
Child : Rookie
Adult : Champion
Perfect : Ultimate
Ultimate: Mega
Author's 'the Devil made me do it' notes: I'm aware that some people who reviewed the original Dark Wing feel there wouldn't be any point in re-reviewing old chapters. So, I've come up with an idea so devilish, Devimon would be proud. Some chapters will have major differences. Which ones? You'll have to read them all to find out! *cue evil laughter*
Digimon Tamers: Dark Wing
Flee from the enemy! Regroup to counterattack!
Disclaimer: Digimon Tamers and related elements are registered trademarks of Toei, Bandai and their respective owners and are used without permission.
"Ice Devimon...Fatal Technique! Zero Freeze...OMEGA!"
"TAKATO-KUN!" Juri screamed as the Gear screen went white. She dropped the hairpin and clutched the bars, watching as the screen cleared. She gasped.
"Takato!" Lee yelled. "Leomon! What happened?!" The blue-black haired boy ran to the bottom of the steps. "Wha?!"
Takato, Leomon and Guilmon stood at the top of the stairs, frozen in ice where they were surprised by Ice Devimon. The white-hued Fallen Angel Digimon hovered above them, smiling at his handiwork. "Hmmmm," he muttered. "Did I over-do it?"
Ruki cursed under her breath. "This isn't good..." Renamon, already injured from her bout with Ice Devimon, was having trouble avoiding the combined efforts of Fladramon, Holsmon and Digmon. Galgomon was trying to free his legs of the ice that had encased him while occasionally letting off a burst of covering fire. The redhaed glanced at Devimon, who simply hovered in the air, a smirk on his face. "What is he up to?"
'Hmph,' Devimon snorted mentally. 'This will be easier than I expected.' He looked to the top of the stairs, where Ice Devimon had frozen the light-brown haired boy, the small dragon-like Child and Leomon in their tracks. 'Still,' he reminded himself. 'I'd best not get cocky.'
"Card Slash! Super Evolution plug-In S!" Sliding her card through her blue-and-silver D-Ark, pulling it through with a flourish.
"Renamon, evolve!" As the now-familiar feeling of evolving took hold, the deceptively powerful Child kicked herself into the air as she became encased in a bright blue data 'egg'.
"Urgh!" Fladramon grunted as he was blinded by a bright light.
"Kyuubimon!" Landing, the lupine Adult slammed into Holsmon, knocking the flying Digimon out of the air. As he crashed, Kyuubimon switched targets, turning to Fladramon.
"Demon Fireball!" yelled Kyuubimon, launching orbs of blue flame at the red-hued Digimon.
Heat began gathering in the red-coloured armoured Digimon's claws, forming a ball of fire. "Knuckle Fire!" he yelled, launching a firebolt at the nine-tailed Adult.
The two attacks managed to negate each other and the two Digimon made as if to clash while Digmon went to engage Galgomon, who had finally managed to free himself. Before the battle could continue, Ice Devimon called out to Ruki.
"Ruki! Give it up! You cannot win!" As he spoke, he landed beside Takato, making Lee, who had run up to try to help, back away. "I don't want to have to treat you in such a manner!"
"Takato!" Ruki gasped, seeing what had happened for the first time. "What did you do to him?"
"He's frozen solid!" Lee called. "We have to get him out! Leomon and Guilmon might be able to handle being frozen, but Takato..."
Ruki clenched her fists in frustration as Kyuubimon landed beside her. Fladramon aimed a Fire Knuckle, but Devimon clutched the armoured Digimon's arm. "No," the Dark Messenger commanded. He turned to look at Ruki and the other Tamers. "Do not attack them." Mentally, he began planning. 'Excellent. A chance to see just what mettle these...what did Ice Devimon call them...Tamers are made of.' An evil smile spread across his face. To the three enslaved Chosen Digimon, he said, "Let's see what happens next." Fladramon lowered his arm as he, Holsmon and Digmon stepped back.
Meanwhile, Juri had redoubled her efforts, trying to pick the lock. "Takato-kun...Leomon...Just hold on..." Then, as if an omen, the pin snapped. Juri held the now useless hairpin up. "Oh no...what do I do now?"
"How about sitting back and letting me handle it?" replied a familiar voice.
Juri quickly got up and looked around. "Who's there?" she asked.
"Relax," the voice told her. "It's just me." Juri turned to where she thought the voice was coming from. "Up here!"
"Huh?" Looking up, Juri saw a ventilation opening. "That voice...Impmon?"
"Took you long enough," the Child grumbled through the grill.
"What are you doing here?" Juri asked, surprised.
"Let's just say you're lucky Renamon isn't afraid to ask for help if she thinks she needs it." Juri saw a glow through the grill. "Now hold on, I'll be right there," Impmon called. "Night of Fire!"
"Hmmm?" Devimon looked around. "What was that?"
"What was what?" Fladramon asked.
Devimon cocked his head, straining his superhuman senses. "I heard something. It sounded like a dull explosion of some sort."
"It might be part of the building collapsing," Holsmon suggested. "We have been hurling attacks all over the place. We must have damaged the structure."
"Perhaps..." Devimon mused. "Still." He called to Ice Devimon. "Ice Devimon! I'm going to go check on the girl. I'll leave things here to you!"
"Right," acknowledged the other Fallen Angel. "Leave it to me."
Devimon nodded as he began sinking into the ground. "Do not underestimate them," he reminded. "Humans can be very unpredictable."
"Stand back!" Impmon told Juri as he raised a gloved finger. A flame appeared at the tip of the bandana-wearing Child Digimon that grew larger as he pointed it at Juri's cage. "Night of Fire!" The flame struck the door, blowing the lock off. "Okay! That ought to do it!"
"Thanks, Impmon!" Juri said as she pushed the door open. "Quick! We have to help Takato-kun and the others!"
"Don't worry," Impmon smirked. "Now that I'm here, whoever did this is as good as loaded!"
"Brave words, Impmon," called out a terrifying voice. Devimon rose out of the ground, a smirk on his cowled face. "Let us see if you can live up to them!"
"Make your choice, Ruki," Ice Devimon said to the red-haired Tamer. "Become my Tamer, or watch this boy as he freezes to death." The white couloured Digimon shrugged. "If he dies, it makes no difference to me."
"You..." Ruki cursed as Kyuubimon stayed by her side, giving her silent support. "I...I..."
"Card Slash!" interrupted a voice. "Meramon!"
"What?!" Ice Devimon said in surprise, whirling around in the direction of the voice. His eyes widened when he saw Juri standing there, her hand still raised after slashing the card through her D-Ark. "Who are you?"
"That voice..." Ruki whispered to herself. "Juri? Is that you?" Though she wasn't able to see her because Ice Devimon and the frozen forms of Takato, Leomon and Guilmon were blocking her view, there was no mistaking her friend's voice.
"Yeah!" Juri called down. As they spoke, Leomon's hands began glowing and his eyes became a firey shade of red. "We have to hurry!" Juri continued. "Impmon's trying to hold off Devimon! We need to help him!"
"You'll have to go through us first, girl," Ice Devimon told her. "And that will not happen!"
"Burning...Fist!" Leomon roared, exploding out of his icy prison. Taken by surprise, Ice Devimon didn't have time to react as the maned Beast Man Digimon lunged at him and lashed out with a powerfully built leg, knocking the icy demon into the wall. Following up with a roundhouse kick, Leomon sent Ice Devimon flying off the top of the stairs, landing just behind Ruki and the others. "Get out of the way!" he yelled as he stood on the top step, both hands glowing, one with a red light, the other with a gold light. "Burning...Fist of the Beast King!"
Launching both his attack and Meramon's, Leomon sent twin balls of energy streaking towards Ice Devimon. "!!!" Seeing the danger he was in, the white Fallen Angel folded his wings and braced for impact. "Urgh!" He gritted his teeth as the combined techniques pushed him back. "Hah!" he taunted as the attacks finally faded. "Not good enough!"
"It was enough, Ice Devimon!" Kyuubimon's voice sang out.
"What?!" Ice Devimon twisted around, his eyes widening as he saw Kyuubimon using her Fox Flame Dragon technique. "Aaah!" Unable to move in time, the ice-cold Adult was struck squarely on the chest, the flames burning him as he yelled in surprise and pain.
"Leomon!" Juri said, running up to her partner. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Juri, you're safe?" Though he tried to hide it behind his warrior's facade, his relief was reflected in his voice.
"Yeah," his slim partner replied. "But Takato-kun..."
Leomon looked out the corner out of his eye and saw the boy and his partner Digimon still frozen. "Don't worry," he told Juri. "I still have some of Meramon's energy left. Step back." As the brown-haired girl moved out of the way, Leomon raised his hand, gathering the last amounts of heat energy the Meramon card had granted him. "Burning Fist!" As his hand became covered in flame, Leomon knelt beside Takato, using the heat from Meramon's Burning Fist technique to melt away the ice. In moments, Takato was free.
"Takato-kun?" Juri whispered, stepping closer.
Takato's eyelids fluttered as his vision slowly cleared. "K-Katou-san?"
"I'm here, Takato-kun!" the girl replied.
Takato struggled to speak. "I'm glad you're...okay..." He suddenly fell over, forcing Juri to leap forwards to catch him.
"Takato-kun!"
"I'm okay..." the boy whispered, shivering. "Just...cold..." He turned his head. "G-Guilmon...?"
"I'm okay, Takato!" came the voice of his partner, who had managed to break out of the ice with much less damage than his human friend. "How about you?"
"I've been better..."
Juri was shocked at how cold the boy was. "Leomon," she said. "We have to get Takato out of here! We need to warm him up fast before he catches pneumonia! I'll go get Ruki and Lee-kun, you try to get Impmon! He's in one of the rooms at the end of this hallway!"
Her large, powerfully built partner nodded. "Right." He turned to Guilmon. "Guilmon, I'm relying on you to protect Juri while I'm gone!"
"Okay!" Guilmon chirped, nodding. "Don't worry!"
Leomon glanced from Guilmon to Takato, who was shivering in Juri's arms, to Juri, who had a worried expression on her normally cheerful face. "I'll be back soon," the Adult told them as he turned and ran down the hallway.
"Night of Fire!" Impmon yelled, hurling a fireball at Devimon, who avoided it with ease.
"I'm impressed," admitted the Dark Messenger. "Fighting a battle you cannot win simply to save your friend? Such courage and determination is rare in one of our kind."
"What do you mean, 'our kind'?" Impmon demanded.
"Why, we of the Darkness, of course!" the Dark Messenger explained. "You must realise you and I are both beings of Darkness."
"Beings of Darkness?" The purple Child level repeated. His face twisted into a snarl. "Not a chance!" He yelled. "I'm nothing like you!"
"Be that as it may," Devimon told Impmon as he folded his arms across his chest. "you cannot deny what you are."
Clenching his gloved fists, the bandana-wearing Digimon growled at the larger Adult. "Just watch me!" he yelled, bring both his hands up and reaching out to his opponent. "Summon!" A circle of blue light appeared between his hands. Devimon raised a bemused eyebrow.
"Do you expect to defeat me like that?"
Impmon smirked. "Nope. But it should be enough for THIS!" Shards of ice shot out of the circle.
Devimon raised a hand to deflect them, but then realised something. '!!! He's isn't aiming at me!' he thought. "Above?!" he said aloud, looking up as the ice shards struck the ceiling. The impact jarred the rotting ceiling, collapsing it onto Devimon and burying him just as Leomon burst through the door.
The Beast Man Digimon screeched to a halt. "Juri sent me here to help," he said to Impmon. "But it seems I'm too late."
Impmon smirked, snapping his fingers. "Heh. Piece of cake." Devimon's hand suddenly burst out of the rubble, blazing with a malicious purple light.
"I think we'd best withdraw while we have the chance," Leomon said, picking Impmon up and running back in the direction of the others.
Digmon and Galgomon fought a running gunbattle, dodging and weaving as they fired at each other.
"Big Cracker!"
"Gattling Arm!"
Meanwhile, Lee and Ruki had helped Juri ease Takato down and were taking cover behind an overturned table. "Ghh...we're pinned down!" Lee said, wincing as a stray fireball landed nearby.
"You think?!" Ruki retorted. Fladramon crashed into the wall above them, showering them with debris. "Let's just Card Slash and get them!"
Lee glared at her. "No! They're doing this against their will! We can't just kill them!"
"Well, I'm open to suggestions!" Ruki replied as Galgomon somersaulted over the table, landing between the two Tamers.
"Sorry for breaking up the tender moment," he joked, peering over the edge and ducking as Digmon fired more drills at him. "Gattling Arm!"
"We have to do something!" Juri begged them as she tried her best to warm Takato. "Takato-kun needs help, and soon!"
"Fireball!" Guilmon yelled, launching a large ball of flame at Holsmon, who countered with a Tempest Wing attack, slamming into the Child and sending him flying. Meanwhile, Ice Devimon and Fladramon were double-teaming Kyuubimon, pushing her back. The lupine nine-tailed Digimon was able to hold her ground against them, but only just.
"We can't do anything while we're pinned down like this!" Lee cursed as Takato moaned. "We need help, and soon!"
"I'm afraid there will be no help forthcoming," Ice Devimon said, suddenly appearing out of the wall. "This time, you're mine, Ruki," he said, reaching out for the red-haired girl.
"Not while I still draw breath!" Kyuubimon yelled, ramming Fladramon and knocking the fire Digimon off his feet. Before the armoured Digimon had struck the ground, Kyuubimon was already charging at Ice Devimon, determined to protect her Tamer. "Demon Fireball!"
"You only delay the inevitable!" Ice Devimon taunted as he began dodging his opponent's attack. "Only I am worthy of a Tamer as powerful as Ruki is!"
A voice cut through the air, making the white-clad Fallen Angel Digimon look behind him. "You aren't even worthy to speak her name, let alone claim to be her partner!" Ice Devimon's eyes widened as Leomon charged down the stairs, Impmon behind him. "Fist of the Beast King!"
"Urgh!" Leomon's aim was true, and the blazing lion's head shaped blast sent Ice Devimon careening into the ground.
"Night of Fire!" Not to be out-done, Impmon launched a fireball at Holsmon, forcing him to swerve in mid-air. Seeing his opportunity, Guilmon coiled his legs under him and leapt up, pulling back his right arm.
"Rock Breaker!" His claws covered with flame, the small Demon Dragon lashed out, catching Holsmon on the side of his head. Disoriented, the armoured Digimon crashed into Digimon, sending them both through a wall.
"Now's our chance!" Lee decided, helping Takato up. "Let's get out of here!"
"Kyuubimon!" Ruki called. Her partner ceased her attack on Fladramon, who had tried to jump her from behind. Kicking out with her hind legs, she managed to wind the red-hued Digimon before running to Ruki's side and allowing both female Tamers to climb on her back.
Juri spoke to her partner. "Leomon! Take Takato-kun and let's go!" Nodding, Leomon gently picked up the shivering boy with a well-built arm.
"Guilmon, go with Leomon!" Lee ordered as he ran for the door. Guilmon nodded and ran alongside Leomon as the Beast Man Digimon and Kyuubimon ran for the door. "Galgomon, cover them!"
"Okay, Jen!" Taking aim, the gun-armed Digimon began walking backwards, watching as Ice Devimon and the armoured Digimon rose to their feet. Impmon stayed beside him, his hand ready to launch a Night of Fire technique.
Devimon appeared out of the shadows, his eyes glowing brightly in the fading light. He gave a deep, terrible laugh as his hands began glowing dangerously. "Hahahahahahahaha!"
"Okay!" Lee yelled at Galgomon and Impmon as he waited by the door, letting Kyuubimon and Leomon leave first. "Run!" Needing no further invitation, the two Digimon turned and made a break for the door.
"What are you waiting for?" Ice Devimon roared at Fladramon and the others as the Tamers fled. "After them!"
"Leave them!" Devimon called as the armoured Digimon began running after the Tamers. "They are unimportant. We must move to a new location, in case they return in force."
"Then we'll crush them if they do!" Ice Devimon swore as he turned to face Devimon.
"We have more important things to consider," Devimon told his fellow Fallen Angel. "Come, we must transfer the Black Gate somewhere safer." Turning, Devimon walked into the shadows, beckoning Ice Devimon and the others to follow.
Ice Devimon glanced at the door before following the Dark Messenger. "Another time...Makino Ruki."
Acknowledgements:Thanks to Buretsu for pointing out some mistakes.
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