Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon

Chapter Sixteen

Bug Swarm

Ken, Yolei and Mimi were in Factorial Town.

"So, you and Joe finally did it!" Yolei said happily.

Mimi shot her a dirty took.

"Which is considerably more than you've done I notice." she said scathingly.

Yolei narrowed her eyes.

"Shut it you, its your love life we're talking about."

Mimi sighed.

"I just didn't expect it that was all. One minute he's usual Joe, the next he's snogging me. Rather well I might add."

"What about Izzy?! Yolei asked gently.

Mimi smiled sadly.

"Izzy's fine, but he's more a little geeky brother. Joe, well I know he doesn't seem like it, but he's sort of, more manly. More like a boyfriend."

Yolei smiled.

"Ooh, Mimi's in love!" Palmon said happily, sparing Yolei the necessity.

"I'm not in love. For heaven's sake, we only just had our first kiss."

"Will you give him a second?" Yolei asked excitedly.

"Maybe I promised him one. And he did look after me when we were chasing the Dark Masters. Or when they were chasing us, whatever way round it was."

Palmon smiled.

"He's a good guy. He has my approval."

Mimi looked at her in surprise.

"You never approved of Michael." she said irritably.

Yolei looked at her in shock.

"You dated Michael?"

"For a while. Nothing serious though. We both knew it wouldn't last. But it was fun while it did."

Yolei hit Mimi on the arm.

"I'm your friend! You're meant to tell me these things!"

Mimi smiled.

"I tried, but you were ogling Ken at the time. So I told Kari and Sora instead."

Yolei shot her a dirty look.

"Besides, I needed a break. He went on to date some other girl called Ellen, another Digidestined. She has a Hagurumon."

Yolei smiled.

"It's still great that you and Joe are finally going out. About time."

"Like I said, we've only just had our first kiss. Maybe he didn't expect to come back."

Palmon grinned.

"Well, he did. I listened to the wind, and cast the trees, to get the news. Devitamamon's gone. He was killed in Mount Panorama. Gomamon warp digivolved and wiped him out."

Ken, who had been ignoring them, and talking with Hawkmon and Wormmon, turned.

"How do you know that?" he asked.

"It's easy see."

She took a bowl out of Mimi's bag, and set in front of them. She then picked up some of the moss that was growing on one of the buildings, and caught a couple of leaves that were blowing in the wind. She whirled the bowl around three times, and then put some water in it. She then swirled it around some more, and then drunk the water. She then peered into the bowl, and smiled.

"Ebemon's gone! Tentomon got him."

"You can tell that just from those wet leaves?" Wormmon asked in confusion.

"Oh yes. It's an ancient art. Don't know how the others are faring though. You can only do it if you have plant from a specific area. Hang on, I'll do it again, to see what's going on here."

Two minutes later she had it.

"Strange. The mechanical Digimon have all left. Only a couple are left."

"That explains why the place is so quiet." Hawkmon said.

"It says one of the Covenant has moved in."

Mimi sighed.

"Oh great. Well at least we're on the right track."

"Who?" Ken asked.

"Cant tell."

Then a voice came from nowhere.

"I'll give you a clue. He's big, black and bad."

"GranKuwagamon?" Wormmon answered, before anyone could stop him.

"Correct!"

GranKuwagamon then buzzed out of an alley and landed on top of a building, his jaws clicking.

"Cheers Wormmon." Ken said tiredly.

"Your welcome."

GranKuwagamon gave an evil laugh, and sped down at them.

"Palmon warp digivolve to…Rosemon!"

"Hawkmon warp digivolve to…Valkyrimon!"

"Wormmon warp digivolve to…Mantismon!"

The three of them were ready as he attacked.

"Lightning Arrow!"

"Roses Rapier!"

"Pincer Cannon!"

The attacks hit GranKuwagamon in the head, and sent him crashing into several buildings.

"That was familiar." Rosemon said happily, as they leapt after him.

"X Scissor Claw!"

He sped out of the rubble, and his massive black pincers fasted around Rosemon.

"Oh no!" Mimi cried, as the massive black bug flew up into the air with her in his grasp.

"AAAH!" Rosemon screamed.

"Laser Javelin!" Valkyrimon cried.

The beam punctured one of GranKuwagamon's wings, and as he screamed out in pain, he let Rosemon go. She landed on top of an iron girder, and looked up, just in time to see him bearing down on her.

"Forbidden Temptation!"

The petal attack crashed into his vulnerable belly, and he flew upward, right into a waiting Mantismon.

"Yellow Fever Flame!"

The sickly yellow flame poured from his fists and crashed into GranKuwagamon, knocking the lethal black bug off course, and he flew off.

"Good work pal." Ken called up.

Valkryimon shook his head.

"That's not the end." he said certainly.

"He retreated didn't he?" Yolei asked as she walked towards him.

"Yolei! Don't go on the girder!" Rosemon shouted, as she had just leapt off it.

Yolei looked at her in confusion, and just as she was about to do as she was instructed, GranKuwagamon shot up from underneath them, taking Yolei in his hand, and flying upwards, cackling evilly.

"Little fool! Now I will destroy the Digidestined!"

He raised her up to his mouth and let go, letting Yolei fall towards his gaping maw.

"YOLEI!" Ken screamed.

"Thunder Arrow!"

The arrow hit GranKuwagamon in the side, and the massive black bug slammed to the ground, jarring loose several windows and tripping up a lot of dirt and metal.

Yolei was screaming as she fell to the ground. Rosemon was too far away, and Valkyrimon wouldn't reach her in time.

"I've got ya!" Mantismon said as he caught her in his arms and put her down on the ground beside Ken.

"Thank you Mantismon." she said weakly, then collapsed into Ken's arms.

"Are you alright?" he asked in concern as Mimi ran over.

"I don't want to do that again." she said weakly.

"Is she alright?" Mimi asked as she arrived.

"She'll be fine." Ken answered, and looked at the battle.

GranKuwagamon was on the ground, but was holding off all three of the Digimon.

He then slammed his fist into Valkyrimon, who crashed down beside them.

"We're wearing him down. His tactics are surprise attacks, and then retreat into the shadows to strike again. He isn't as much of a warrior as someone like Boltmon." he reported.

Rosemon screamed as GranKuwagamon slammed her into the sewers below.

"That doesn't mean he isn't a good fighter." he said, and then leapt back into the fray.

"Feral Sword!"

Valkyrimon dug his sword into GranKuwagamon's back, and the bug screamed in pain.

"Enough of this! Grand Darkness!"

Blackness surrounded them all, and they couldn't see a thing.

"Ken!? Where are you?" Mimi asked in a scared voice.

"Where are you both?" Yolei asked fearfully.

"I'm right here. Where are the Digimon?"

"We're over here." Mantismon answered.

"Shoosh! He hunts via sonic sensors, as well as by his eyes. No sense in making it easier." Rosemon said from somewhere up ahead.

"X Scissor Claw!" roared GranKuwagamon.

Rosemon gave a scream, and then there was no more.

"Rosemon!?" Mimi cried desperately.

"He got me. Valkyrimon, Mantismon, if you can hear me, get out of here!" Palmon cried piteously.

"Zone Black Hole!"

"Oh not good!" Valkyrimon said, and they ehard the sound of scrambling.

"Valkyrimon!"

"I'm being sucked in!" Valkyrimon yelled in despair.

"This is ridiculous!" Ken moaned, afraid that GranKuwagamon could attack at any time.

"Yellow Fever Flame!"

They suddenly saw a spout of flame make a hole in the darkness. They looked towards it, and saw Mantismon.

The fire spread a little outwards, and they saw Valkyrimon, being dragged along the ground, despite the fact that he had stuck his sword into it.

"HELP!" he cried.

"Kids, are you alright?" Mantismon demanded as he used his flame to get to Valkyrimon.

"Mantismon! Behind you!" Ken cried in terror.

"X Scissor Claw!"

The pincers fasted around Mantismon, and threw the dark green bug away. He then stomped towards Valkyrimon, who was holding onto his sword for dear life.

"Bye bye!" GranKuwagamon said evilly, and he raised his foot.

Then, two bent legs crashed into the black bug, and GranKuwagamon stumbled to the ground.

"Damn it! Blasted fool! I could have fallen into my own attack!"

Mantismon grinned.

"Let me help you do it properly this time then. Pincer Cannon!"

Hundreds of tiny little streaks of light poured from his mouth and impacted against GranKuewagamon's forehead.

"You call that an attack?" he demanded.

"No. They will though." he said with a smile.

"Smiley Bomb!"

Ten green bombs of energy then crashed into GranKuwagamon, who yelled out in pain.

"Mamemon?" Palmon asked in confusion.

"Metal Smirk Bomb!"

Five more attacks then crashed into him, and he roared in fury.

"Zone Black Hole!"

Mantismon then slammed into him before he could fire the attack into the darkness.

"We need rid of the darkness!" Mimi cried.

Palmon smiled.

"I may be able to help."

She got slowly to her feet, and looked determined.

"Palmon digivolve to…Togemon!"

"Togemon digivolve to…Lillymon!"

The small Ultimate smiled.

"Sunburst Shine!"

She waved her hands, and solar energy burst from them, spreading out and dispersing the darkness, revealing the dire straights Valkyrimon was in, the five MetalMamemon, and ten Mamemon, and GranKuwagamon, who was glaring down at Mantismon from atop of a building.

"Flower Cannon!"

The attack went into the black hole and exploded, and the hole shut, allowing Valkyrimon to get to his feet.

"You little bitch! You have stopped me attack! You should have just stayed down!"

Lillymon screeched in terror as the massive bug shot straight towards her.

"Laser Javelin!"

The attack hit GranKuwagamon, and the bug skidded to the ground, and realised that he had had it. He then flew upwards.

"Oh no you don't. You don't try to feed me to a black hole and get away with it! Feral Sword!"

Valkyrimon sprang up, and dug his sword into GranKuwagamon 's wing. The black beetle gave a cry of pain, and he hurtled downwards.

"Flower Wreath!" Lillymon said, and she bound him up, and jammed his pincers together.

"Thanks Lillymon. Now I'll finish him." Mantismon said, and he zoomed straight at him.

GranKuwagamon gave a great laugh as he burst out of Lillymon's bonds, and he dashed at the Ultimates.

"Zone Black Hole!"

The Mamemon's screamed in terror as they were nearly sucked up, but Mantismon was upon GranKuwagamon.

"X Scissor Claw!"

Mantismon avoided the attack.

"Pincer Cannon!"

"Grand Darkness!"

The small beams of light forced the dark mist back into GranKuwagamon's mouth.

"Oh heck! Zone Black Hole!"

"Yellow Fever Flame!"

Mantismon flew in a circle around his opponent, surrounding him in a burning ring of fire. The fire then trapped GranKuwagamon in a pillar of flame, dispersing the black hole.

"I'm trapped!"

He couldn't go out without being destroyed by the flame, and he couldn't go up as he couldn't fly anymore.

"Mantis Sting!" Mantismon boomed.

His two spiky legs joined together to form one long, red sting, and he plummeted straight towards GranKuwagamon.

"NOO!"

GranKuwagamon screamed and tried to cover himself but it was too late. He sprang into the flame, and Mantismon plunged right through his head, sting first. With one last mournful noise, GranKuwagamon was gone.

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The battle was over. The three Digidestined gathered together to talk with the Mamemon and MetalMamemon, now that the darkness had gone.

"We knew a Covenant member would eventually come here, so we waited behind to ambush them after we got everyone else out. That's probably where we were when your friends were here." the lead MetalMamemon said.

"You were willing to go against the Covenant alone?" Yolei asked as she held Poromon.

"Yes. We've always been alone. It's a trial of being a mech Digimon. Other Digimon think we're too susceptible to reprogramming. They don't trust us. Now, we see the folly of that."

"Join the Resistance. Even if you are mistreated, as soon as we tell them what you did here, they'll accept you." Mimi urged.

"Yes, I think we will. We'll be glad to fight by your side."

"Is that why you took so long in the darkness?" Ken asked Minomon, who was in his arms.

"Yes. I heard them coming, and I asked them to hurry up and give us a hand."

"And we were glad you did." Palmon said to the Ultimates.

"And we're glad we did too." a Mamemon said.

With that, they left Factorial Town and headed back to Freezeland.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Boltmon frowned nervously as he entered Ghoulmon's chambers. Thank the gods he had discovered the location of the Resistance's new base, or he would be dead meat.

He knocked and entered.

Ghoulmon was sitting on his black throne, waiting for him.

"GranKuwagamon is dead. I saw the darkness appear and then disappear in Factorial Town. He is dead. What did I tell you would happen!?"

His eye glowed green.

"Wait! I have important news!"

The green glow faded.

"Speak, and if its good, it may spare your life."

"I know where their new base is! In the Whamon who used to live in the city's beach cave. They've used the Drimogemon to tunnel under it for miles. It's a massive complex now."

"How do you know this?"

"Common sense."

"If you say so."

Boltmon then handed Ghoulmon the information, and Ghoulmon smiled evilly.

"Well done Boltmon. You have given yourself a new lease of life. Recall SkullMammothmon and HiAndromon. We go to destroy the Resistance once and for all! Summon all available forces!"

Boltmon bowed and left. Ghoulmon smiled.

The end was near for the Digidestined.

Now that GranKuwagamon has gone, there's only half the Covenant left! Hooray!

But the enemy is moving in on the Resistance base. Big battle coming up next chapter, and our new allies should make the fight a bit more interesting than the last one.

Revelations next chapter, and more trouble for one of our couples (bet you'll never guess which one).

Also, the mention of Michael and his girlfriend is important, watch out for that in later stories.

Im away for the weekend, but I will try to do the battle before we go back to school (must we?) on Wednesday.

So, until next time, please read and review!