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 notes: ********* means a scene change.
Digimon Tamers: Dark Wing
The Holy Beasts' gamble!
Disclaimer: Digimon Tamers and related elements are registered trademarks of Toei, Bandai and their respective owners and are used without permission.
"Yamaki!" Reika called from the doorway. "Another reaction's just appeared! It's huge!"
"What?!" The blond young man turned and quickly made a decision. "Relay the information here. This will be our command centre for now!"
"Understood!"
As Reika left, Lee Janyuu, also known as the Wild Bunch member Tao, turned to his Wild Bunch teammates. "Alright, it looks like we have our work cut out for us, everyone. Let's get to it!"
The rest of the Wild Bunch nodded and began tapping their computers, which Yamaki had set up in case of such an emergency. The Hypnos commander's hand clutched his silver lighter inside his pocket. "I had hoped we wouldn't need this room," he muttered to himself. "But it would have been too much to hope everything would be settled after D-Reaper was destroyed..."
"What is that?" gasped Dolphin, a middle-aged, red-haired man with glasses.
Takato and the other Tamers crowded around his computer screen as data on the new entity appeared. "That's..." Takato blurted out.
"Belial Vamdemon..." Oikawa said, recognising the beast. "I expected something like this to happen."
The Tamers turned to him. "What?"
Oikawa chuckled slightly. "To be more precise, the Holy Beasts and I expected this."
"The Holy Beasts?!"
Lopmon spoke up from where Shuichon was cuddling him. "Did Zhuqiaomon-sama send you?"
Oikawa nodded. "They suspected Devimon was up to something, and that Vamdemon would be part of it. Considering how close he came to winning, they felt it best to send a vanguard." He gestured to himself, Mummymon and Archnemon. "Us."
"But why you? Why not the Chosen Children?" Lopmon asked.
"Why not?" Archnemon retorted. "We had those brats running in circles before BlackWarGreymon turned on us!"
"Enough." Oikawa looked at the Tamers, fixing them with a piercing stare. "The Holy Beasts sent us here to help you battle the Dark Digimon. There is no need to cause conflict among ourselves. After all, we all want them stopped."
Takato nodded. "So what's your plan?"
Oikawa raised his hand, letting the orb he had shown them earlier emerge and light the room with a blue light. "Qinglongmon forged these orbs as a conduit for the Holy Beasts' powers." He nodded, and Archnemon and Mummymon showed them orbs of their own, except Archnemon's was red and Mummymon's white. "Each of us have a conduit that links us to a different Holy Beast. That's how we're here now, even though our bodies were destroyed."
"So I'm guessing you're linked to Qinglongmon, right?" Lee asked. Oikawa nodded. "And Archnemon's linked to Zhuqiaomon and Mummymon to Baihumon." Oikawa nodded again. "So that means BlackWarGreymon is linked to Xuanwumon?"
"Yes."
"So what can these things do?" Hirokazu asked, reaching out to touch the conduit Archnemon was holding. He quickly retracted his arm when Mummymon glared at him.
Oikawa coughed and glanced at Mummymon, who stopped glaring. "These conduits act as a link to the Holy Beasts and lets us call on their power if need be."
"Wow!" Kenta's eyes sparkled. "So it's like the Holy Beasts are here fighting with us?"
"It's as close as you'll get," Archnemon said. "They can't leave the Digital World without causing some sort of disaster, since they basically sustain it."
"So they sent us instead," Mummymon finished.
"But what happens if you're injuried, or killed?" Lopmon asked.
"We're already dead," Oikawa pointed out. "We'll simply return to the Digital World's spirit realm."
"Spirit realm?"
"That's where deleted Digimon go to await reconfiguration. At least, in Qinglongmon's territory." Oikawa sighed. "The other Holy Beasts have different spirit realms."
"Zhuqiaomon has Data Limbo," Archnemon said. "A deleted Digimon who is not loaded is doomed to rot there for eternity."
Lopmon became downcast. "Like the Devas."
Archnemon nodded. Mummymon spoke up. "Boss, we've still got Belial Vamdemon out there." The blue-clad disguised Digimon looked around. "And BlackWarGreymon isn't back yet."
Oikawa looked worried. "Perhaps we shouldn't have left him alone after all."
"Then let's go out there!" Hirokazu cheered. "We can handle Belial Vamdemon!"
"No!" The Tamers looked to the door as Ruki stormed in, a scowl on her face. "We have to go after them now!"
The Tamers and the others gaped as Ryo followed her in, arguing with her. "I know that, but we need to plan first! We can't just charge after them! That's Belial Vamdemon out there! An Ultimate, one of the strongest ever! We'd just be throwing our lives away!"
"But who knows what they're doing to her! I have to go!"
"I know how you feel," Ryo said, "but..."
"Ryo-san!" Hirokazu called.
Juri ran up to her friend. "Ruki!" She stopped short when she saw how upset the other girl was. "What happened?"
Ruki was about to snap at her, but stopped herself, remembering Juri was just concerned. "Renamon." She sighed. "She was kidnapped."
"Renamon?!" Terriermon repeated. "Kidnapped?!" The green-and-cream Child hopped off Lee's head. "How?"
"Ice Devimon and Musyamon surprised us," Ruki said. "The next thing I know, Ice Devimon froze us and got away with Renamon."
"It's my fault," Ryo admitted. "If I hadn't stopped to change, we would've been there to help."
Ruki ran a hand through her firey-red hair. "What's done is done," she sighed. "Let's just focus on getting Renamon back."
Oikawa shook his head. "No." Ruki turned, a death glare on her face. Oikawa calmly stared her down.
"And just who are you?" the girl demanded angrily.
"Oikawa-san was sent by the Holy Beasts to help us," Takato explained.
Oikawa spoke calmly, seemingly immune to Ruki's venomous glare. "And our main concern should be defeating Belial Vamdemon, not going after a single missing Child."
"Renamon is my partner," Ruki growled. "I am not going to abandon her to those freaks and their twisted pleasures!"
"Ruki," Ryo said, putting what he hoped was a calming hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you get some rest first, then we can discuss it later."
"There's nothing to discuss!" Ruki retorted, her eyes never leaving Oikawa's face. "Renamon comes first!"
Lee spoke up. "Do you even know where to look?" He walked up, his stare even and calm. "Renamon could be anywhere!"
Ruki looked uncertain for a moment. "Ice Devimon said something about a temple..." she said.
"And where is this 'temple'?" Lee asked. "For all we know, it could be under Belial Vamdemon!"
"But..."
"Look," the olive-skinned boy said soothingly. "we all want to help find Renamon, but right now we've got a huge rampaging Digimon out there who's probably going to try to kill us all then take over the world. I'm sorry, Ruki, but we just don't have the time."
Ruki opened her mouth to retort, but then her shoulders slumped as she realised Lee was right. "Fine." Turning, she stormed out of the room. Juri made as if to go after her, but Ruki's grandmother, Hata Seiko, put a hand on her shoulder.
"Let her be on her own for a while," she said. Juri looked up at the woman, then to the door.
"Ruki..."
**************
Belial Vamdemon stood at the centre of the devastated area of Shinjuku, smiling like a madman. BlackWarGreymon had been eliminated. The city lay prone at his feet, and a legion of card Digimon awaited his command. "Only one thing would make this perfect..." he mused.
"What in the world happened here?" Ice Devimon appeared on a nearby building which had somehow survived the battle. "And who are you?"
Belial Vamdemon chuckled. "I am Belial Vamdemon."
"Belial Vamdemon?" Ice Devimon began laughing. "So, you've evolved, Vamdemon?"
"Indeed." The huge Demon Lord Digimon flexed an armoured arm. "I am all but invincible now..." He twisted his head to fix Ice Devimon with a stare. "And where have you been?"
"We pursued Ruki to where you fought Akiyama Ryo," the winged white Digimon reported.
"And?"
"See for yourself." Ice Devimon gestured to the ground, where Musyamon was dragging a large ice block with Kyuubimon still frozen inside it. "It wasn't easy keeping just the right temperature to keep her frozen without killing her," Ice Devimon preened, "but I managed to do it."
"Excellent," Belial Vamdemon chuckled. "And with my power at its peak, I will easily bend Renamon to my will."
"I wouldn't say that," Ice Devimon told him. "Renamon is stubborn."
"Then I'll deal with her the way I should have with Tailmon," the large white Digimon decided.
"Tailmon?"
"Nothing." Belial Vamdemon leaned down, peering at Kyuubimon. "I will enjoy this..."
**************
Ruki was furious. Her partner had been kidnapped out from under her nose, and she had been helpless to do anything. And now her fellow Tamers had basically told her rescuing Renamon wasn't high on their priority list. "Renamon..." she sighed, glaring out at the city.
Something behind her stirred. "Grrrh..."
"Who's there?" she demanded, whirling around, worried that an enemy had somehow broken in. She breathed a sigh of relief Cyberdramon walked out of the shadows. "Don't do that!" she scolded, angry she had been surprised.
The cybernetic dragon didn't reply, instead walking up to the window she had been staring out of and looking through it. He growled, baring his fangs as his sight fell on the area now shrouded with darkness, where Belial Vamdemon was.
"I know how you feel," Ruki said, fixing her own glare at the area. "I want to just go there and tear through anyone who's between me and Renamon." She punched the glass in frustration. "But who am I kidding? I can't fight without Renamon..."
"Who...says?"
"What?" Ruki looked up at Cyberdramon, surprised he was speaking. Normally, he hardly ever spoke except during battle or while preparing for one.
"Who says you cannot fight without your partner?" Cyberdramon cocked his head, glancing at Ruki. "Warriors only stop fighting when they are dead."
Ruki snorted. "So does that mean you'll keep on fighting until the day you die?"
"I cannot die," Cyberdramon said, turning back to the window. "And as long as I cannot die, I will keep on fighting..."
Ruki blinked at the dragon's odd statement. She smiled to herself. "You're right." She turned and walked towards the door. "If anyone's going to help Renamon," she said determinedly, " it's me."
"Not alone you're not," Juri said, standing in the redhead's way. Leomon loomed behind her.
"I appreciate it, Juri," Ruki said, trying to push past her, " but this is my problem."
"No," said another voice. Takato and the other Tamers walked up to them. "This isn't your problem, Ruki," the goggle-wearing boy told her. "It's a Tamer problem."
Terriermon spoke up. "Renamon's one of us!"
Guardromon nodded. "We won't abandon our friends!"
"No way!" Hirokazu added.
"You can count me in," Kenta said.
"Pupipi!" MarineAngemon chirped, hovering beside his partner, throwing his support behind the others.
Lee rubbed the back of his head. "So how about it?" he asked Ruki. "Do you need some help?"
Ruki frowned. "I can handle it myself," she said, before smiling at them. "But I'll accept your offer anyway."
"I suppose it would be useless to try to stop you," Oikawa sighed with exasparation, walking up to the group with Mummymon and Archnemon at his side. "We might as well go along as well."
Takato nodded. "Okay," he said. "Then let's go!" The others cheered as they ran out, eager to save their friend.
**************
"BlackWarGreymon..."
"..."
"BlackWarGreymon, you have been defeated?"
BlackWarGreymon's eyes suddenly snapped open and he sat up, a growl in his throat. "I am not beaten!" he snarled. He stood up, shaking his head as he pulled himself out of the crater he had caused when he had crashed. The last thing he remembered was using the shield on his back to block Belial Vamdemon's attack before being flung away by the explosion. "Who are you?"
An image appeared in his head of a massive turtle-like Digimon with a huge tree for a shell. "I would hope you would remember the one who is currently sustaining you."
"Xuanwumon." BlackWarGreymon looked around, searching for his Dramon Killers, which had been knocked out of his grasp by the explosion. "What do you want?"
"I'm just making sure you are all right." The image shook its twin heads. "Remember, since we Holy Beasts are risking much of our strength in sustaining and enhancing your bodies."
"I remember," the Dark Ultimate said. "If I die, you'll be severely weakened."
"Exactly. I would take a long time to heal completely, and until then I would be unable to fight if ever a threat struck here."
"No need to worry." BlackWarGreymon clenched his fists, willing new Dramon Killers to appear. "I'll kill Belial Vamdemon," he assured Xuanwumon. "No matter how strong he is." With that, he launched himself into the air, flying in Belial Vamdemon's direction.
**************
"Ru...ki...?" Renamon opened her eyes as she recovered conciousness. She immediately wished she didn't. A huge, demonic Digimon was eyeing her like a piece of meat, and the fact her arms and legs were encased in ice, immobilising her, didn't help. "Who...or what are you?"
"I am Belial Vamdemon," the Demon Lord said, displaying his teeth in what passed for a smile. "And you will soon call me master!"
Renamon snorted. "Never," she scoffed.
"We shall see," the Ultimate laughed, his clawed hand glowing with dark energy. "I am going to enjoy this..."
***************
Meanwhile, the Tamers had left Hypnos, leaving behind worried parents, a disappointed Shuichon, a frustrated Lopmon and a surprisingly quiet Culumon, and were en route to what Hirokazu had coined the 'Dark Area'. Oikawa, Archnemon and Mummymon were with them, though wary at making an assault so soon.
"Aggh!" Ruki clutched at her chest, her face contorted with pain.
"Ruki?!" Ryo said worriedly. "What's wrong?"
Juri ran up to her friend's side. "Ruki!" As Ruki slumped forward, the slim girl let her lean on her, supporting her weight.
"Renamon..." Ruki gasped as she tried to catch her breath. "Something's happened to her!" She looked at the others, almost pleading. "We have to hurry!"
Takato looked to the others, who silently gave him their agreement. "Let's get going," he said. "Every minute counts..."
**************
Belial Vamdemon moved his hand away, and Renamon slumped forward, her breathing quick and shallow. "Had enough?" the Demon Lord Digimon asked.
Renamon forced herself to look the monster in the eye. "I won't betray Ruki."
"Have it your way." Belial Vamdemon's hands began glowing. "It makes it more amusing for me anyway."
Renamon didn't answer, instead closing her eyes and bracing herself as Belial Vamdemon came closer...
Belial Vamdemon's claws were inches away when a sound caught his attention. "Hmmmm?" He turned, his armour and oversized shoulders blocking his view. "About time you returned."
Renamon opened her eyes and saw Fladramon, Holsmon and Digmon approach, followed by Musyamon and Ice Devimon. "..." Fladramon walked up and held out his hand.
Belial Vamdemon looked down and saw the armoured Digimon was offering him cards. "This is all you could find?"
"..." Fladramon nodded.
The Demon Lord Digimon sighed with exasperation. "Can't you speak?"
"These are cards Devimon doesn't have," Fladramon said in a monotone voice.
"Then hand them over." Belial Vamdemon waved his hand, making the cards float into the air. "I'll deal with them later." He turned back to Renamon. "But for now..."
**************
"Ghhh..." Ruki suddenly clenched her teeth and grasped at the nearest person.
"Ow!" Ryo yelped as Ruki suddenly grabbed his hand and squeezed hard. "What is it?"
Juri, walking behind them with Leomon, asked, "Is it Renamon?" Her face showed her concern when Ruki simply nodded, apparently in too much pain to talk. "Takato-kun," she called.
Takato stopped and looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"We're moving too slow," Juri said. "We need to move fast. Otherwise, at this rate Renamon might..."
"But this is as fast as we can go without giving ourselves away," Lee told her. "If we evolved and tried flying, Belial Vamdemon might find us."
Oikawa spoke thoughtfully. "I suppose if we launched some sort of diversionary attack, it might buy time for fliers to locate and rescue this...Renamon..."
"Then let's do it," Hirokazu said. "Guardromon and Cyberdramon can fly, and Marine Angemon can come with us for heavy firepower."
"I don't think we should divide ourselves like that," Lee thought out loud. "But in this case it might be best."
"Then what can we use as a diversion?" Kenta asked.
"GAIA FORCE!" The Tamers and their allies looked up, just as BlackWarGreymon flew above readying a massive fireball.
"That'll do," Ryo said, sweatdropping. He turned to Cyberdramon. "Let's go!" The black cybernetic Digimon nodded, picking him up and taking to the air.
Guardromon activated his jets. "Let's go, Hirokazu!" Hirokazu leapt onto his partner's back.
"Okay, Guardromon! Time to kick Belial Vamdemon's behind all the way back to wherever he came from!" Hirokazu cheered as he helped Kenta on.
"Wait!" Ruki cried, grabbing onto Cyberdramon's tail. "I'm going too!"
"But..." Juri said, trying to stop her. "Ruki, you don't have a Digimon..."
"That's not going to stop me," Ruki told her. "I can still fight!" She narrowed her eyes with determination. "As long as I'm still alive, I can fight!"
Cyberdramon snorted and for a moment Ryo thought he saw a smile flash on his parnter's face. The dragon shifted Ryo under one arm, flexed his tail to flip Ruki into the air, then caught her with his other hand. "We go." Without another word, he flew off, Guardromon behind him. As they left, Takato and the others continued on foot.
**************
Xuanwumon narrowed his eyes as BlackWarGreymon hurled the Gaia Force at Belial Vamdemon. "He's using up too much power..." He looked up, two of his Digicores now dim. "One to revive him, one to save him..." The turtle-like Holy Beast turned to Qinglongmon. "I fear we may have made a grave mistake..."
"No," Qinglongmon said. "We must have faith. As long as we channel our power through Oikawa and the others, Belial Vamdemon will not succeed."
Zhuqiaomon seemed uneasy. "We are taking a grave risk, Qinglongmon," he said. "By using our Digicore energy to sustain them, we risk fatally weakening ourselves."
"I have designed the conduits to cut off our supply if any of us are drained to one Digicore," Qinglongmon told him. "We will not perish."
Baihumon growled. "True, but we would be in no condition to fight if Belial Vamdemon somehow succeeded in invading the Digital World."
"I pray it will not come to that..." Xuanwumon said.
**************
Belial Vamdemon recoiled from the impact as BlackWarGreymon's attack struck him. "Arrrhhh..." The Demon Lord turned to face his foe. "Still alive?" He charged forward. "I'll be sure to kill you this time!"
"You can try!" BlackWarGreymon roared, pulling back his fist. "Dramon Killer Rocket!"
As Belial Vamdemon swatted the attack aside, he spoke to the others. "Keep an eye on Renamon. Don't let her escape!"
"She's in no condition to try," Ice Devimon commented, seeing Renamon slumped over, severely weakened from everything Belial Vamdemon had done to her. However, she gathered enough strength to fix Belial Vamdemon with a defiant glare.
"..." Unknown to her, her glare managed to stir something in Fladramon. His mind, imprisoned by the Black Gear and Evil Ring, began experiencing powerful flashbacks...
***************
....A cat-like Digimon defiantly facing Belial Vamdemon...
...BlackWarGreymon charging at him...
...A green, insectoid Digimon yelling as he stabbed at Belial Vamdemon...
***************
Fladramon shook his head. "...?" However, instead of clearing his mind, it became more jumbled instead...
***************
"Jogress Shinka!" A flash, and he remembered seeing through different eyes. "Paildramon!"
"Ultimate Evolution!" Another flash, and suddenly he was soaring high above a city. "ImperialDramon!" He flew down, shooting from a cannon on his back at a huge monstrous Digimon that stood at the centre of a large devastated area. As he did, his vision fell on a huge silver Digimon, kneeling on the ground, its eyes dark. Near its feet were what looked like its arms, one ending in a golden-orange horned head and the other in a blue wolf-like head. A cry reached his ears...
"Go for it, ImperialDramon!"
**************
"That...voice..." Flardramon clutched his head, remembering. "I know...that voice..."
**************
"You okay, V-mon?" the voice asked, the speaker a blur.
A haze descended, then cleared as the voice cut through. "Okay, everyone! Let's do it! Digimental Up!" A boy's voice...
"If I only have one wish..." the boy said, as he slowly came into focus. "It's to defeat you, Belial Vamdemon!"
**************
"!" Memories came flooding into his mind as the boy struck a chord. A boy with brown hair, wearing a pair of goggles. He had carried himself like someone who knew he could take anything the world threw at him. He was..."My... partner?" Fladramon fell to his knees.
"?" Ice Devimon turned to him. "What's wrong with you?"
"Daisuke..."
Ice Devimon leaned closer. "What?"
"I remember now..." Fladramon looked up, fire in his eyes.
"I...Burn with Courage!" The symbol of the Crest of Courage suddenly appeared in the air, blinding the ice demon.
**************
"What?" Belial Vamdemon and BlackWarGreymon froze as a light suddenly erupted from where Renamon was imprisoned. "That is..."
"So, Belial Vamdemon," called a voice. "You think I'd be your slave forever, huh?" A shadow appeared in the light. "Guess again!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Preview:
Ruki: Renamon! I'm coming!
Hirokazu: Hey! Why're Fladramon and the others fighting Ice Devimon and Musyamon?
Kenta: I think they're free!
Fladramon: Who the...Ryo?!
Ryo: Huh? Do I know you?
Digimon Tamers: Dark Wing! Two partners meet again!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's notes: To clear things up, the Holy Beasts are using their Digicores to power Oikawa and company. If they're killed, one of the Holy Beast's Digicores goes dark. Can you guess what Fladramon was remembering as ImperialDramon?
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 notes: ********* means a scene change.
Digimon Tamers: Dark Wing
The Holy Beasts' gamble!
Disclaimer: Digimon Tamers and related elements are registered trademarks of Toei, Bandai and their respective owners and are used without permission.
"Yamaki!" Reika called from the doorway. "Another reaction's just appeared! It's huge!"
"What?!" The blond young man turned and quickly made a decision. "Relay the information here. This will be our command centre for now!"
"Understood!"
As Reika left, Lee Janyuu, also known as the Wild Bunch member Tao, turned to his Wild Bunch teammates. "Alright, it looks like we have our work cut out for us, everyone. Let's get to it!"
The rest of the Wild Bunch nodded and began tapping their computers, which Yamaki had set up in case of such an emergency. The Hypnos commander's hand clutched his silver lighter inside his pocket. "I had hoped we wouldn't need this room," he muttered to himself. "But it would have been too much to hope everything would be settled after D-Reaper was destroyed..."
"What is that?" gasped Dolphin, a middle-aged, red-haired man with glasses.
Takato and the other Tamers crowded around his computer screen as data on the new entity appeared. "That's..." Takato blurted out.
"Belial Vamdemon..." Oikawa said, recognising the beast. "I expected something like this to happen."
The Tamers turned to him. "What?"
Oikawa chuckled slightly. "To be more precise, the Holy Beasts and I expected this."
"The Holy Beasts?!"
Lopmon spoke up from where Shuichon was cuddling him. "Did Zhuqiaomon-sama send you?"
Oikawa nodded. "They suspected Devimon was up to something, and that Vamdemon would be part of it. Considering how close he came to winning, they felt it best to send a vanguard." He gestured to himself, Mummymon and Archnemon. "Us."
"But why you? Why not the Chosen Children?" Lopmon asked.
"Why not?" Archnemon retorted. "We had those brats running in circles before BlackWarGreymon turned on us!"
"Enough." Oikawa looked at the Tamers, fixing them with a piercing stare. "The Holy Beasts sent us here to help you battle the Dark Digimon. There is no need to cause conflict among ourselves. After all, we all want them stopped."
Takato nodded. "So what's your plan?"
Oikawa raised his hand, letting the orb he had shown them earlier emerge and light the room with a blue light. "Qinglongmon forged these orbs as a conduit for the Holy Beasts' powers." He nodded, and Archnemon and Mummymon showed them orbs of their own, except Archnemon's was red and Mummymon's white. "Each of us have a conduit that links us to a different Holy Beast. That's how we're here now, even though our bodies were destroyed."
"So I'm guessing you're linked to Qinglongmon, right?" Lee asked. Oikawa nodded. "And Archnemon's linked to Zhuqiaomon and Mummymon to Baihumon." Oikawa nodded again. "So that means BlackWarGreymon is linked to Xuanwumon?"
"Yes."
"So what can these things do?" Hirokazu asked, reaching out to touch the conduit Archnemon was holding. He quickly retracted his arm when Mummymon glared at him.
Oikawa coughed and glanced at Mummymon, who stopped glaring. "These conduits act as a link to the Holy Beasts and lets us call on their power if need be."
"Wow!" Kenta's eyes sparkled. "So it's like the Holy Beasts are here fighting with us?"
"It's as close as you'll get," Archnemon said. "They can't leave the Digital World without causing some sort of disaster, since they basically sustain it."
"So they sent us instead," Mummymon finished.
"But what happens if you're injuried, or killed?" Lopmon asked.
"We're already dead," Oikawa pointed out. "We'll simply return to the Digital World's spirit realm."
"Spirit realm?"
"That's where deleted Digimon go to await reconfiguration. At least, in Qinglongmon's territory." Oikawa sighed. "The other Holy Beasts have different spirit realms."
"Zhuqiaomon has Data Limbo," Archnemon said. "A deleted Digimon who is not loaded is doomed to rot there for eternity."
Lopmon became downcast. "Like the Devas."
Archnemon nodded. Mummymon spoke up. "Boss, we've still got Belial Vamdemon out there." The blue-clad disguised Digimon looked around. "And BlackWarGreymon isn't back yet."
Oikawa looked worried. "Perhaps we shouldn't have left him alone after all."
"Then let's go out there!" Hirokazu cheered. "We can handle Belial Vamdemon!"
"No!" The Tamers looked to the door as Ruki stormed in, a scowl on her face. "We have to go after them now!"
The Tamers and the others gaped as Ryo followed her in, arguing with her. "I know that, but we need to plan first! We can't just charge after them! That's Belial Vamdemon out there! An Ultimate, one of the strongest ever! We'd just be throwing our lives away!"
"But who knows what they're doing to her! I have to go!"
"I know how you feel," Ryo said, "but..."
"Ryo-san!" Hirokazu called.
Juri ran up to her friend. "Ruki!" She stopped short when she saw how upset the other girl was. "What happened?"
Ruki was about to snap at her, but stopped herself, remembering Juri was just concerned. "Renamon." She sighed. "She was kidnapped."
"Renamon?!" Terriermon repeated. "Kidnapped?!" The green-and-cream Child hopped off Lee's head. "How?"
"Ice Devimon and Musyamon surprised us," Ruki said. "The next thing I know, Ice Devimon froze us and got away with Renamon."
"It's my fault," Ryo admitted. "If I hadn't stopped to change, we would've been there to help."
Ruki ran a hand through her firey-red hair. "What's done is done," she sighed. "Let's just focus on getting Renamon back."
Oikawa shook his head. "No." Ruki turned, a death glare on her face. Oikawa calmly stared her down.
"And just who are you?" the girl demanded angrily.
"Oikawa-san was sent by the Holy Beasts to help us," Takato explained.
Oikawa spoke calmly, seemingly immune to Ruki's venomous glare. "And our main concern should be defeating Belial Vamdemon, not going after a single missing Child."
"Renamon is my partner," Ruki growled. "I am not going to abandon her to those freaks and their twisted pleasures!"
"Ruki," Ryo said, putting what he hoped was a calming hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you get some rest first, then we can discuss it later."
"There's nothing to discuss!" Ruki retorted, her eyes never leaving Oikawa's face. "Renamon comes first!"
Lee spoke up. "Do you even know where to look?" He walked up, his stare even and calm. "Renamon could be anywhere!"
Ruki looked uncertain for a moment. "Ice Devimon said something about a temple..." she said.
"And where is this 'temple'?" Lee asked. "For all we know, it could be under Belial Vamdemon!"
"But..."
"Look," the olive-skinned boy said soothingly. "we all want to help find Renamon, but right now we've got a huge rampaging Digimon out there who's probably going to try to kill us all then take over the world. I'm sorry, Ruki, but we just don't have the time."
Ruki opened her mouth to retort, but then her shoulders slumped as she realised Lee was right. "Fine." Turning, she stormed out of the room. Juri made as if to go after her, but Ruki's grandmother, Hata Seiko, put a hand on her shoulder.
"Let her be on her own for a while," she said. Juri looked up at the woman, then to the door.
"Ruki..."
**************
Belial Vamdemon stood at the centre of the devastated area of Shinjuku, smiling like a madman. BlackWarGreymon had been eliminated. The city lay prone at his feet, and a legion of card Digimon awaited his command. "Only one thing would make this perfect..." he mused.
"What in the world happened here?" Ice Devimon appeared on a nearby building which had somehow survived the battle. "And who are you?"
Belial Vamdemon chuckled. "I am Belial Vamdemon."
"Belial Vamdemon?" Ice Devimon began laughing. "So, you've evolved, Vamdemon?"
"Indeed." The huge Demon Lord Digimon flexed an armoured arm. "I am all but invincible now..." He twisted his head to fix Ice Devimon with a stare. "And where have you been?"
"We pursued Ruki to where you fought Akiyama Ryo," the winged white Digimon reported.
"And?"
"See for yourself." Ice Devimon gestured to the ground, where Musyamon was dragging a large ice block with Kyuubimon still frozen inside it. "It wasn't easy keeping just the right temperature to keep her frozen without killing her," Ice Devimon preened, "but I managed to do it."
"Excellent," Belial Vamdemon chuckled. "And with my power at its peak, I will easily bend Renamon to my will."
"I wouldn't say that," Ice Devimon told him. "Renamon is stubborn."
"Then I'll deal with her the way I should have with Tailmon," the large white Digimon decided.
"Tailmon?"
"Nothing." Belial Vamdemon leaned down, peering at Kyuubimon. "I will enjoy this..."
**************
Ruki was furious. Her partner had been kidnapped out from under her nose, and she had been helpless to do anything. And now her fellow Tamers had basically told her rescuing Renamon wasn't high on their priority list. "Renamon..." she sighed, glaring out at the city.
Something behind her stirred. "Grrrh..."
"Who's there?" she demanded, whirling around, worried that an enemy had somehow broken in. She breathed a sigh of relief Cyberdramon walked out of the shadows. "Don't do that!" she scolded, angry she had been surprised.
The cybernetic dragon didn't reply, instead walking up to the window she had been staring out of and looking through it. He growled, baring his fangs as his sight fell on the area now shrouded with darkness, where Belial Vamdemon was.
"I know how you feel," Ruki said, fixing her own glare at the area. "I want to just go there and tear through anyone who's between me and Renamon." She punched the glass in frustration. "But who am I kidding? I can't fight without Renamon..."
"Who...says?"
"What?" Ruki looked up at Cyberdramon, surprised he was speaking. Normally, he hardly ever spoke except during battle or while preparing for one.
"Who says you cannot fight without your partner?" Cyberdramon cocked his head, glancing at Ruki. "Warriors only stop fighting when they are dead."
Ruki snorted. "So does that mean you'll keep on fighting until the day you die?"
"I cannot die," Cyberdramon said, turning back to the window. "And as long as I cannot die, I will keep on fighting..."
Ruki blinked at the dragon's odd statement. She smiled to herself. "You're right." She turned and walked towards the door. "If anyone's going to help Renamon," she said determinedly, " it's me."
"Not alone you're not," Juri said, standing in the redhead's way. Leomon loomed behind her.
"I appreciate it, Juri," Ruki said, trying to push past her, " but this is my problem."
"No," said another voice. Takato and the other Tamers walked up to them. "This isn't your problem, Ruki," the goggle-wearing boy told her. "It's a Tamer problem."
Terriermon spoke up. "Renamon's one of us!"
Guardromon nodded. "We won't abandon our friends!"
"No way!" Hirokazu added.
"You can count me in," Kenta said.
"Pupipi!" MarineAngemon chirped, hovering beside his partner, throwing his support behind the others.
Lee rubbed the back of his head. "So how about it?" he asked Ruki. "Do you need some help?"
Ruki frowned. "I can handle it myself," she said, before smiling at them. "But I'll accept your offer anyway."
"I suppose it would be useless to try to stop you," Oikawa sighed with exasparation, walking up to the group with Mummymon and Archnemon at his side. "We might as well go along as well."
Takato nodded. "Okay," he said. "Then let's go!" The others cheered as they ran out, eager to save their friend.
**************
"BlackWarGreymon..."
"..."
"BlackWarGreymon, you have been defeated?"
BlackWarGreymon's eyes suddenly snapped open and he sat up, a growl in his throat. "I am not beaten!" he snarled. He stood up, shaking his head as he pulled himself out of the crater he had caused when he had crashed. The last thing he remembered was using the shield on his back to block Belial Vamdemon's attack before being flung away by the explosion. "Who are you?"
An image appeared in his head of a massive turtle-like Digimon with a huge tree for a shell. "I would hope you would remember the one who is currently sustaining you."
"Xuanwumon." BlackWarGreymon looked around, searching for his Dramon Killers, which had been knocked out of his grasp by the explosion. "What do you want?"
"I'm just making sure you are all right." The image shook its twin heads. "Remember, since we Holy Beasts are risking much of our strength in sustaining and enhancing your bodies."
"I remember," the Dark Ultimate said. "If I die, you'll be severely weakened."
"Exactly. I would take a long time to heal completely, and until then I would be unable to fight if ever a threat struck here."
"No need to worry." BlackWarGreymon clenched his fists, willing new Dramon Killers to appear. "I'll kill Belial Vamdemon," he assured Xuanwumon. "No matter how strong he is." With that, he launched himself into the air, flying in Belial Vamdemon's direction.
**************
"Ru...ki...?" Renamon opened her eyes as she recovered conciousness. She immediately wished she didn't. A huge, demonic Digimon was eyeing her like a piece of meat, and the fact her arms and legs were encased in ice, immobilising her, didn't help. "Who...or what are you?"
"I am Belial Vamdemon," the Demon Lord said, displaying his teeth in what passed for a smile. "And you will soon call me master!"
Renamon snorted. "Never," she scoffed.
"We shall see," the Ultimate laughed, his clawed hand glowing with dark energy. "I am going to enjoy this..."
***************
Meanwhile, the Tamers had left Hypnos, leaving behind worried parents, a disappointed Shuichon, a frustrated Lopmon and a surprisingly quiet Culumon, and were en route to what Hirokazu had coined the 'Dark Area'. Oikawa, Archnemon and Mummymon were with them, though wary at making an assault so soon.
"Aggh!" Ruki clutched at her chest, her face contorted with pain.
"Ruki?!" Ryo said worriedly. "What's wrong?"
Juri ran up to her friend's side. "Ruki!" As Ruki slumped forward, the slim girl let her lean on her, supporting her weight.
"Renamon..." Ruki gasped as she tried to catch her breath. "Something's happened to her!" She looked at the others, almost pleading. "We have to hurry!"
Takato looked to the others, who silently gave him their agreement. "Let's get going," he said. "Every minute counts..."
**************
Belial Vamdemon moved his hand away, and Renamon slumped forward, her breathing quick and shallow. "Had enough?" the Demon Lord Digimon asked.
Renamon forced herself to look the monster in the eye. "I won't betray Ruki."
"Have it your way." Belial Vamdemon's hands began glowing. "It makes it more amusing for me anyway."
Renamon didn't answer, instead closing her eyes and bracing herself as Belial Vamdemon came closer...
Belial Vamdemon's claws were inches away when a sound caught his attention. "Hmmmm?" He turned, his armour and oversized shoulders blocking his view. "About time you returned."
Renamon opened her eyes and saw Fladramon, Holsmon and Digmon approach, followed by Musyamon and Ice Devimon. "..." Fladramon walked up and held out his hand.
Belial Vamdemon looked down and saw the armoured Digimon was offering him cards. "This is all you could find?"
"..." Fladramon nodded.
The Demon Lord Digimon sighed with exasperation. "Can't you speak?"
"These are cards Devimon doesn't have," Fladramon said in a monotone voice.
"Then hand them over." Belial Vamdemon waved his hand, making the cards float into the air. "I'll deal with them later." He turned back to Renamon. "But for now..."
**************
"Ghhh..." Ruki suddenly clenched her teeth and grasped at the nearest person.
"Ow!" Ryo yelped as Ruki suddenly grabbed his hand and squeezed hard. "What is it?"
Juri, walking behind them with Leomon, asked, "Is it Renamon?" Her face showed her concern when Ruki simply nodded, apparently in too much pain to talk. "Takato-kun," she called.
Takato stopped and looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"We're moving too slow," Juri said. "We need to move fast. Otherwise, at this rate Renamon might..."
"But this is as fast as we can go without giving ourselves away," Lee told her. "If we evolved and tried flying, Belial Vamdemon might find us."
Oikawa spoke thoughtfully. "I suppose if we launched some sort of diversionary attack, it might buy time for fliers to locate and rescue this...Renamon..."
"Then let's do it," Hirokazu said. "Guardromon and Cyberdramon can fly, and Marine Angemon can come with us for heavy firepower."
"I don't think we should divide ourselves like that," Lee thought out loud. "But in this case it might be best."
"Then what can we use as a diversion?" Kenta asked.
"GAIA FORCE!" The Tamers and their allies looked up, just as BlackWarGreymon flew above readying a massive fireball.
"That'll do," Ryo said, sweatdropping. He turned to Cyberdramon. "Let's go!" The black cybernetic Digimon nodded, picking him up and taking to the air.
Guardromon activated his jets. "Let's go, Hirokazu!" Hirokazu leapt onto his partner's back.
"Okay, Guardromon! Time to kick Belial Vamdemon's behind all the way back to wherever he came from!" Hirokazu cheered as he helped Kenta on.
"Wait!" Ruki cried, grabbing onto Cyberdramon's tail. "I'm going too!"
"But..." Juri said, trying to stop her. "Ruki, you don't have a Digimon..."
"That's not going to stop me," Ruki told her. "I can still fight!" She narrowed her eyes with determination. "As long as I'm still alive, I can fight!"
Cyberdramon snorted and for a moment Ryo thought he saw a smile flash on his parnter's face. The dragon shifted Ryo under one arm, flexed his tail to flip Ruki into the air, then caught her with his other hand. "We go." Without another word, he flew off, Guardromon behind him. As they left, Takato and the others continued on foot.
**************
Xuanwumon narrowed his eyes as BlackWarGreymon hurled the Gaia Force at Belial Vamdemon. "He's using up too much power..." He looked up, two of his Digicores now dim. "One to revive him, one to save him..." The turtle-like Holy Beast turned to Qinglongmon. "I fear we may have made a grave mistake..."
"No," Qinglongmon said. "We must have faith. As long as we channel our power through Oikawa and the others, Belial Vamdemon will not succeed."
Zhuqiaomon seemed uneasy. "We are taking a grave risk, Qinglongmon," he said. "By using our Digicore energy to sustain them, we risk fatally weakening ourselves."
"I have designed the conduits to cut off our supply if any of us are drained to one Digicore," Qinglongmon told him. "We will not perish."
Baihumon growled. "True, but we would be in no condition to fight if Belial Vamdemon somehow succeeded in invading the Digital World."
"I pray it will not come to that..." Xuanwumon said.
**************
Belial Vamdemon recoiled from the impact as BlackWarGreymon's attack struck him. "Arrrhhh..." The Demon Lord turned to face his foe. "Still alive?" He charged forward. "I'll be sure to kill you this time!"
"You can try!" BlackWarGreymon roared, pulling back his fist. "Dramon Killer Rocket!"
As Belial Vamdemon swatted the attack aside, he spoke to the others. "Keep an eye on Renamon. Don't let her escape!"
"She's in no condition to try," Ice Devimon commented, seeing Renamon slumped over, severely weakened from everything Belial Vamdemon had done to her. However, she gathered enough strength to fix Belial Vamdemon with a defiant glare.
"..." Unknown to her, her glare managed to stir something in Fladramon. His mind, imprisoned by the Black Gear and Evil Ring, began experiencing powerful flashbacks...
***************
....A cat-like Digimon defiantly facing Belial Vamdemon...
...BlackWarGreymon charging at him...
...A green, insectoid Digimon yelling as he stabbed at Belial Vamdemon...
***************
Fladramon shook his head. "...?" However, instead of clearing his mind, it became more jumbled instead...
***************
"Jogress Shinka!" A flash, and he remembered seeing through different eyes. "Paildramon!"
"Ultimate Evolution!" Another flash, and suddenly he was soaring high above a city. "ImperialDramon!" He flew down, shooting from a cannon on his back at a huge monstrous Digimon that stood at the centre of a large devastated area. As he did, his vision fell on a huge silver Digimon, kneeling on the ground, its eyes dark. Near its feet were what looked like its arms, one ending in a golden-orange horned head and the other in a blue wolf-like head. A cry reached his ears...
"Go for it, ImperialDramon!"
**************
"That...voice..." Flardramon clutched his head, remembering. "I know...that voice..."
**************
"You okay, V-mon?" the voice asked, the speaker a blur.
A haze descended, then cleared as the voice cut through. "Okay, everyone! Let's do it! Digimental Up!" A boy's voice...
"If I only have one wish..." the boy said, as he slowly came into focus. "It's to defeat you, Belial Vamdemon!"
**************
"!" Memories came flooding into his mind as the boy struck a chord. A boy with brown hair, wearing a pair of goggles. He had carried himself like someone who knew he could take anything the world threw at him. He was..."My... partner?" Fladramon fell to his knees.
"?" Ice Devimon turned to him. "What's wrong with you?"
"Daisuke..."
Ice Devimon leaned closer. "What?"
"I remember now..." Fladramon looked up, fire in his eyes.
"I...Burn with Courage!" The symbol of the Crest of Courage suddenly appeared in the air, blinding the ice demon.
**************
"What?" Belial Vamdemon and BlackWarGreymon froze as a light suddenly erupted from where Renamon was imprisoned. "That is..."
"So, Belial Vamdemon," called a voice. "You think I'd be your slave forever, huh?" A shadow appeared in the light. "Guess again!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Preview:
Ruki: Renamon! I'm coming!
Hirokazu: Hey! Why're Fladramon and the others fighting Ice Devimon and Musyamon?
Kenta: I think they're free!
Fladramon: Who the...Ryo?!
Ryo: Huh? Do I know you?
Digimon Tamers: Dark Wing! Two partners meet again!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's notes: To clear things up, the Holy Beasts are using their Digicores to power Oikawa and company. If they're killed, one of the Holy Beast's Digicores goes dark. Can you guess what Fladramon was remembering as ImperialDramon?
Reviews, comments, suggestions and criticisms (constructive or otherwise) are welcome and can be sent to Withoutmorals@antisocial.com