Disclaimer: Although the severely warped and twisted imagination is my own, Digimon Xros Wars and its characters are the property of Akiyoshi Hongo, Bandai, Toei Animation, and TV Asahi.
| Digimon Xros Wars | Xtra | Part 10 |
The shrine came into view up ahead. As they continued to approach a huge shadow blew past them with enough speed to blow them over from the wind pressure alone. Whatever it was, it must have been very large and very fast.
"That must have been Yatagaramon," Shoutmon quickly got back on his feet ready to fight.
"Mach Shadow!" A Sabirdramon swooped down at high speed and sent a shadow of itself to knock Shoutmon to the ground again before rising back into the air.
"Damn," Shoutmon grumbled as he lifted himself from the dirt again. "These guys are definitely a problem."
"It looks like what we need to do first is give them fewer targets," Taiki realized. And it just so happened that he had a relatively easy way to achieve that. He held out his Xros Loader to set his plan in motion. "Shoutmon, Ballistamon, Dorulumon, Starmon, Pickmonz, Digi Xros!"
"Digi Xros!" The digimon all came together to assume the familiar form of Shoutmon X4. "Shoutmon X4!"
"In that case," Crystal held herself up on one elbow while holding out her Xros Loader, "I can make us more difficult to hit. Reload, Lighdramon and Gururumon!"
Once the two beast digimon had materialized from her Xros Loader, Crystal quickly pushed herself onto her feet and climbed onto Gururumon's back. "Lighdramon, since you'll be a less visible target, I want you to take care of Akari and Zenjirou. If those over-sized birds are going to be blasting at anyone, it should be me and Taiki."
"As you wish," Lighdramon nodded and dashed away to swiftly retrieve the specified humans.
Zapmon was clinging purposefully to Crystal's shoulder. "Are you sure this is such a good idea?" The small dragon really wasn't sure what the girl was thinking. Gururumon didn't blend in with the environment and he wasn't as fast as Lighdramon, but given the circumstances, Zapmon supposed he was going to have to be fast enough.
"I think I've got this covered," Crystal tried to assure her. Gururumon had already sped over so they could retrieve Taiki.
Taiki got up off the ground and heaved himself up onto the large wolf's back behind Crystal. "But with your team spread out on the defensive like this you won't be able to use your best Digi Xros." He was all for Crystal looking out for their friends, but he wasn't sure what she was planning by cutting down so much on her offensive capabilities.
"Trust me," Crystal responded. "We aren't going to need it."
Lighdramon remained constantly on the move to make himself a virtually impossible target for the shadowy avian digimon that continued to loom up above. Gururumon wasn't so lucky and frequently found himself having to maneuver around incoming attacks, sometimes just narrowly avoiding being hit. However, Crystal had put her faith in him for this task and Gururumon had no intention of letting her down so he pressed on as best he could.
Shoutmon X4 was having the worst luck. He was the biggest target in the area which meant that every time he did manage to cut down one of the Sabirdramon another would blast him from behind. He was strong enough that he could withstand the near constant impacts, but it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to launch a counterattack.
Strabimon moved quickly so that he was able to run vertically up Shoutmon X4's back so that he could get high enough to launch himself at one of the surrounding Sabirdramon to strike with a glowing kick. "Licht Bein!" He landed lightly on the ground once his attack was finished and looked skeptically at Shoutmon X4. "Is that really the best you can do?"
"I'm just getting started," Shoutmon X4 retorted.
Several Renamon revealed themselves simultaneously, having hidden themselves in Shoutmon X4's shadow waiting for an opportunity to strike. They dashed vertically upward on all sides and threw themselves at several of the circling Sabirdramon as glowing shards began to form over their crossed arms. "Fox Leaf Arrowheads!" The glowing shards easily hit their mark, thereby reducing the number of enemies in the vicinity. Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the Renamon all disappeared from view again.
Crystal decided this would be a good time to initiate the other part of her plan. She glanced over her shoulder at Taiki, "Now, while they're still disoriented, we can even the playing field by Digi Xrossing Shoutmon X4 with Zapmon to make him disappear!"
Zapmon was rubbing her hands together expectantly. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
"Alright," Taiki agreed. "Let's give it a try."
He and Crystal both held up their Xros Loaders while declaring in unison, "Shoutmon X4, Zapmon, Digi Xros!"
"Digi Xros!" As soon as the digimon came together the transformation was immediate. Shoutmon X4 turned jet black with only an intermittent pattern of lightning bolt patterned stripes to show his original coloration. Now he would easily be able to blend in with the dark environment. "Shoutmon X4 Eclipse!"
It seemed to work because the Sabirdramon were having trouble finding him even though he hadn't actually moved from where he had been standing. However, when one of them accidentally brushed against him, the Sabirdramon was knocked back by a powerful jolt of electricity. Apparently the electric field Shoutmon X4 Eclipse had gained from Zapmon was amplified to the point that it formed a natural barrier around his body. That meant he didn't actually have to attack the Sabirdramon in order to damage them.
"Now the real fight begins," Shoutmon X4 Eclipse looked meaningfully at Strabimon.
"We'll see about that," Strabimon was still being defiantly skeptical. Even if he was somewhat impressed by this new Digi Xros, he wasn't inclined to say so.
As Shoutmon X4 Eclipse continued gradually cutting down the flock of Sabirdramon he was eventually impacted by a much larger avian digimon, one not so easily troubled by the electrical barrier surrounding Shoutmon X4 Eclipse's body. It looked like the boss had finally decided to show himself. He quickly spun around to intercept Yatagaramon with his sword. Energy began to crackle at specific points on Yatagaramon's wings before being channeled into the avian digimon's third leg to form a powerful blast that struck Shoutmon X4 Eclipse full on in the chest. "Mikafutsu no Kami!"
Shoutmon X4 Eclipse staggered back from the blow, straining to hold the Digi Xros together.
"Hey, no giving up now! I won't stand for it!" Zapmon offered what might have been intended as encouragement.
"You don't got to tell me twice," Shoutmon X4 Eclipse pushed himself stubbornly onto his feet, leaning on his sword for support. "That big bird is going down!"
The only problem with that was that he had lost track of Yatagaramon's position while he was momentarily dazed. But then, he wasn't exactly in this battle alone.
"Exceeding Light Dash!" Several Kudamon became fast moving beacons of light with their earrings shining brightly as they darted deftly across Yatagaramon's huge body to expose him. That was all the help Shoutmon X4 Eclipse needed because now he could see his opponent.
He raised his sword, electricity crackling along the blade, and swung it forcefully at Yatagaramon emitting a powerful energy wave to engulf the avian digimon. "Shocking Burning Star Slasher!"
The Kudamon moved swiftly to get away before Yatagaramon became engulfed by the attack. And, with their leader finally eliminated, the remaining Sabirdramon immediately fled from the battlefield in an effort to escape suffering the same fate. The digimon that had composed Shoutmon X4 Eclipse separated once the Digi Xros was no longer necessary.
"Now that's what I call teamwork!" Zapmon gave Shoutmon a quick pat on the back.
With the threat posed by Yatagaramon eliminated, the team was able to regroup before continuing the rest of the way to the shrine where the priestess was said to be imprisoned. However, once they got there it really didn't look like Miko Sakuyamon was much of a prisoner. In fact, she emerged from the shrine to greet them.
"It looks like we finally found someone capable of ridding us of all those pesky birds," she spoke appreciatively. "It would appear that the rumors about the unparalleled power of human generals possessing Xros Loaders with the ability to utilize Digi Xros were true after all."
"I'm sorry," Akari decided to voice her confusion. "It's just, somehow, you don't seem like a prisoner."
"Well," Miko Sakuyamon confessed. "Not anymore. In truth," she explained, "I sealed myself within the shrine to conceal the actual whereabouts of this Starlight Zone's Code Crown. Although, it would seem that one of my more avid supporters wasn't very happy with that decision." She looked meaningfully at Strabimon who blushed and looked away in defiance. "As long as Yatagaramon was preoccupied with breaking through my magic barrier, he would have refrained from going after the local digimon."
"You shouldn't have to make that kind of sacrifice for us," Strabimon protested stubbornly. "We are more than capable of defending ourselves."
"Then I suppose you wouldn't want Sakuyamon to find out about how you were nearly captured yourself," one of the Renamon that had accompanied him interjected.
"Did he now?" Miko Sakuyamon spoke thoughtfully. For some reason this caused Strabimon to look down at the ground in a distinctly sulky manner. "If he had been captured it would have been a terrible loss for all of us."
"I promise I'll be more careful next time," Strabimon spoke insistently.
"That really won't be necessary," Miko Sakuyamon smiled at him. Strabimon's face immediately went red and he was forced to look away again.
"So then Strabimon must have had the Code Crown the entire time," Taiki realized.
"I felt it would be safer if I didn't have it with me," Miko Sakuyamon explained. "However, it would seem Strabimon is even more reckless than I originally anticipated. Nevertheless, there was no harm done and we were able to meet the infamous team Xros Heart along with the strong general who will one day reunite this Digital World. You are indeed worthy of receiving this Zone's Code Crown."
"You can't be serious," Strabimon began to protest.
"What's the matter Strabimon?" Miko Sakuyamon stepped closer and patted him on the head. "You have fought alongside them and you have seen their strength for yourself. Do they still not meet with your approval?"
Strabimon sighed heavily. There was just no arguing with her. He pulled the Code Crown from where it had been concealed within one of his clawed gloves and reluctantly handed it over to Taiki.
"Just remember that your victory here wasn't yours alone," Strabimon pointed a clawed finger at him. "And I'm only willing to acknowledge you because Sakuyamon-sama believes you are worthy."
With that, Strabimon ran off into the night. He didn't want to be surrounded by all those humans and digimon when he was already feeling so incredibly flustered.
"Don't mind him," Miko Sakuyamon smiled reassuringly. "He really appreciates all that you've done for us even if he won't admit to it."
"That's okay," Taiki could understand that. "Besides, he was an awfully big help to us too."
After that, they were invited to rest at the shrine until they were prepared to leave for the next Zone. There was some confusion when Zenjirou made the suggestion that they should probably stay until morning and one of the local digimon had to explain to the group that the Starlight Zone was a land of endless night, but once that was cleared up it wasn't really that big a deal. And the fox-like digimon inhabitants of the shrine expressed their gratitude to Xros Heart by providing a generous amount of food and room for everyone to sleep.
"So Zapmon must be a pretty versatile digimon, right?" Akari commented while they were all sitting down to eat.
"That's true," Crystal responded. "Although, it helps that I've had a lot of time to experiment with my team to see the results of different Digi Xros combinations. That versatility has gotten my team out of some pretty tight spots."
"So you must have taken all that into consideration when you decided which digimon to bring with you once you started thinking about leaving the Resort Zone," Taiki observed.
Crystal nodded. "I wanted to put together a strong team without leaving the Resort Zone completely defenseless. So, while the digimon I brought with me might not look like much individually, they support each other really well and that makes them much stronger together than they would ever have been on their own."
"Of course," Slashmon interrupted. "The same is also true whenever you human generals with Xros Loaders choose to join forces with each other. The Xros Loaders resonate with each other and the resulting Digi Xros receives power channeled from each of you as you have seen through Shoutmon X5 and today's X4 Eclipse."
"So that's why you weren't worried during the battle earlier," Taiki realized as he looked back at Crystal. She must have planned on supporting him the entire time.
"Pretty much," Crystal responded. She grinned sheepishly. "My only real concern was keeping us all alive until we managed to beat Yatagaramon."
Once they were all good and rested, at what might have constituted morning in some other Zone, the group was finally ready to depart to the next Zone. Strabimon returned to see them off, although he ducked behind a door frame in an effort to avoid being spotted.
"Good luck to you on the rest of your journey," Miko Sakuyamon bid them farewell along with the rest of the fox-like digimon who had provided assistance to Xros Heart during their stay in the Starlight Zone.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: Well, I think my vision of the Digital World based on my experience with watching Digimon Xros Wars has become a little more sophisticated since I originally began working on this story. I really wasn't expecting for Strabimon to be such a tsundere, but then it isn't the first time I've had a minor character become something entirely unexpected. And Kiriha still hasn't forgiven me for that incident with the Tokomon last chapter. Anyway, this seems like a reasonable place for me to leave off for the weekend. If I'm feeling up to it next week I might make another update or two, unless I decide to give some attention to one of my other stories instead. As always, I hope you all have enjoyed reading.