Chapter Eleven: Angels and Demons
AN: BEFORE YOU PROCEED, I'd just like to point out that the reason for the crumby fight scenes thus far is because I still have about TEN battles to write and I wanted the battles against Lucemon, Lilithmon and (SPOILER!) were going to be the best. I still have two fallen angels and one eight stage "Super Boss" to get through so LET'S GET DANGEROUS!! I'd also like to point out that Sora's OOC depression is a product of Lilithmon. Yeah. She's that good. That and the fact that she's had a really, REALLY bad day (Matt broke up with her, Biyomon's all messed up and she's being assaulted by demons from hell. Just not a good day…but it's about to get a little better!) Thank you for your patience and LET THE DYING…BEGIN!
I don't care what the wall is, I'm going through!-Tai, Adventure 01, The Earthquake of MetalGreymon
The animal life on planet Earth has, for some unexplainable reason, a sixth sense that senses danger before it actually happens. In instances of flood, earthquakes and hurricane attacks, animals have been shown to grow agitated, fearful and take precautionary measures to save themselves. If Tai Kamiya had known this, he would have been concerned earlier when the birds in the park suddenly took flight and the squirrels started scampering around like maniacs before the mist descended. Now, as he marched beside Matt and Rika down the avenue that would lead to the Fuji Building he began, for the first time that day, to notice that they and they're Digimon were the only living things on the street. There wasn't as much as a flick of a tail or a flap of a wing. Even the summer cicadas that were usually maddeningly obnoxious this time of year were silent. Tai glanced at his watch: 5:26 in the morning. The bakers would have been getting up by now, making the doughnuts and cinnamon rolls for the morning rush. The streets that would have contained early morning workers, grocery store owners and joggers was now as barren and as desolate as a ruin. He felt like an archeologist, stumbling upon the once great city of Tokyo.
All around him, his companions were silent, communicating only in whispers when they had to. Renamon scouted ahead, keen fox eyes leering through the mist for any signs of danger, holding up her paw from time to time when she thought she saw something; it was always a false alarm and served no purpose except for slowing down the already excruciatingly slow pace. After a night of battling Demon Lord Digimon, Tai was ready to finish the fight, once and for all.
It was getting clearer now; the mist was less thin here. Tai thought this strange, seeing as how the mist just got thicker every time a Demon Lord appeared but made no comment to either Matt or Rika. The closer they got to the building, the thinner and thinner the mist got until the stars and the brilliant full moon shone down on them, illuminating the street.
Ryo turned around. Behind him, the way they came was totally clear and he could see all the way back to the coffee shop where they had stopped before. Puzzled by this, he wondered where the mist could have got to, eyes following the disappearing walkway back, back, back, all the way to Shiokaze…
"Oh…my…God." Ryo breathed.
"What's up, Ryo?" Ken asked, turning around to face his old friend. Ken followed Ryo's finger in the direction of Shiokaze Park. When he saw what had happened, his stomach dropped and his throat closed up.
"Tai…" Ken squeaked. "TAI!"
"What? What's…" Tai's eyes widened as he saw where the mist had gone. It swirled and condensed around Sora's birthday party location, spiraling upward into the night. It climbed higher and higher until it looked like it reached the moon. For a moment the mist stopped, then vanished all together, revealing what it had done.
A tall slab of rock jutted up into the Tokyo skyline, towering over the highest of the skyscrapers. Blacker than the night surrounding it, it still gave off an ethereal glow, bleeding mist from its edges. All around him, the Digimon were getting nervous. Palmon squeaked at the sight of it, jumping into Mimi's arms while Hawkmon hid behind Yolei's skirt. Gatomon and Patamon stared at the obelisk with fear and loathing in their eyes; even Renamon seemed unnerved by its presence, tail swishing agitatedly.
"What is it?" Izzy asked Henry. "What's wrong?"
Henry and Rika exchanged a dark glance with Ryo. "It's a Hell Gate." Henry explained darkly. "Just like the one that appeared in Odaiba in our world."
"It's for when there're too many demons to Bioemerge." Rika said. "They'll open a gate straight to the darkest corner of the Digital World and let them out…"
"Who?" Tai asked. "More Mephistomon?"
"No…" Rika breathed. "Worse."
Suddenly, twin screams rent the night. Tai whipped around to seen Kari and Ken clutching at their heads, wailing in agony as TK and Yolei held them in their arms.
"Kari! Kari, what is it? What's wrong?" TK asked
"They're coming…" Kari said in a voice not quite her own. "They're coming for us."
"Who's coming?" TK asked, only to be answered by Ken
"The Children of Wrath… the Sons and Daughters of Terror… the Family of Death." Ken whispered.
"Who, Ken?" Yolei asked, looking at the gate. A low rumbling shook the ground as the Hell Gate shook with sudden force.
"Arkadimon…" Ken and Kari said in unison.
BOOM!
The peace of the night was shattered as the gate burst open, spilling thousands of dark shapes on to the ground below. From their spot, ten miles away, Tai could only make out a swarm of smaller shapes, accompanied by a host of differently shaped Digimon, looming over them. Without warning, the swarm lurched forward and began tearing down the waterfront and towards them.
'Time to go!" Tai called out as the Digidestined bolted past them, TK carrying Kari and Yolei and Joe supporting a still drowsy Ken. They tore down the remaining hundred yards, Renamon kicking the door down and holding it open as the Digidestined and their Tamers carted through. Renamon slammed the door shut, the howling, scraping, screaming demons still a few miles off.
Panting with exertion, Tai scanned the building where Matt's father worked. He used to think that the building where Matt's dad worked was the coolest building but had the ugliest lobby. The developers had sprung for the hotel approach, having one sliding glass door with the rest of the building blocked off with solid concrete, tiled with marble. Now, as he studied the low counters and solid concrete wrapped steel support pillars, Tai was thankful that they had gone for security instead of aesthetic purposes. Already, Beelzemon and Renamon were pulling the ironclad filing cabinets out of the wall, stacking them up to make barriers they could hide behind. Without even a word between them, they quickly converted the main hall into a defendable fortress.
"Okay," Rika said. "They're going to send in the little buggers first; In-Training and Rookie. If there's a choice, go for the in-training, the little white ones. They're weak, but they can absorb your Digimon. They'll pave the way for the big boys. Once they come in, they're going to blow the front of the building off so the Champion, Perfect and Mega Arkadimon can get in. We need to make sure they don't knock out the support beams or else the whole place is coming down. Henry, Matt and Beelzemon are in charge."
"What about me?" Davis asked.
"No.":
"Awww…."
"What about me?" Tai asked looking at Rika.
"You're coming with me." Rika said, shuffling her deck. "The only way we're going to stop these Arkadimon is if we nip them at the source and that means going up to take out Lilithmon and Lucemon. From the looks of things, it looks like they're packing Megas so we need MegaGargomon, Justimon and MetalGarurumon here to even the odds. Besides…" Rika said, locking eyes with him. "This is personal."
"Looks like Takato's already started your work for you…" Henry replied, pointing up through the glass ceiling at the dueling figures in the sky.
"Nazar Nail!"
Night air filled Takato's lungs as Gallantmon Crimson Mode flew through the wall, tumbling through the air until one of the inter building walkways caught him. He landed, flaring his wings and spinning his sword Blutgang in his left hand and Gungir in his right as he glared through the hole he had just come through. Through he crumbling wall, Lilithmon daintily floated out on black wings, hand on hip while her claw hung by her side.
"Gallantmon, Gallantmon, Gallantmon…" Lilithmon taunted softly. "If you wanted to spear me that badly, you should have just asked."
"Shut up!" Gallantmon cried.
"Men really should be more forthright with their feelings; I wouldn't have wasted time with "Rika" if I knew this is what you were af-"
"Invincible Sword!" Gallantmon leapt off the walkway, Blutgang flashing in the light of his wings as he brought it down on Lilithmon's head. The demon ducked sideways, swiping at him with a claw as he passed.
"Naughty, Naughty…" Lilithmon reprimanded. "Didn't mummy teach you not to hit ladies?"
"You barely qualify." Gallantmon hissed. "Final Justice" A shaft of Light erupted from Gungir and flew at Lilithmon.
"Phantom Pain!" Lilithmon opened her mouth and spewed a dark mist that collided with the Gungir Blast
"Come on, Sir Knight." Lilithmon waved the mist away. "If you want me, you got to get a little physical." Lilithmon lashed her claw out, only to be deflected by a spear twirl as Gallantmon leapt up to her walkway platform.
"Guilmon." Takato said, inside Gallantmon. "Can you get a bead on Yokomon? Do you know where she is?"
"I'm trying Takato but LOOK OUT!" Takato looked up again to see Lilithmon soaring at him, claw extended. "Sora's across the way, in that building over there but you can't get to her! The room is solid concrete!"
Before Takato could respond, something sharp ripped through Gallantmon's left wing. He clutched his left shoulder in agony, noticing a large chunk of feathers missing. He looked behind him to see Lilithmon blow his missing feathers back at him from their place in her Nazar Nail.
"She knows that the only place she can hurt us is our wings…" Takato said thoughtfully looking over at Lilithmon, primed for another attack and back at the wall that separated him from Sora and Yokomon
"Time to even the odds. Follow my lead, boy." Gallantmon sheathed Gungir and held Blutgang loosely in his left hand, both wings flared up as big as they could go He waited as Lilithmon flew at him, ready to tear his head with one Nazar Nail. Takato willed himself to be patient; it was like Rika always said.
"Remember, Gogglehead, a good Tamer never takes the fight to an opponent. They wait until the opponent brings the fight to them…"
Gallantmon patiently waited as Lilithmon drew closer and closer. As she dove for his other wing, it folded and Lilithmon lost her momentum as she flew tumbling through the air and into the wall. Takato smiled when he saw the cracks in it. Without another word, Gallantmon marched over to Lilithmon and grabbed her by her wavy, black locks.
"HEY! What are you doing? Cut it out! OW! Stop it!" Lilithmon cried, kicking and flailing as Takato dragged her to the edge of the walkway, tossing Gungir so it landed in the wall that Sora was behind, marking it. Then, one hand tangled in the screaming Demon's hair, he started to spin her around like a hammer. Faster and faster he picked up speed until they were a red and black blur. With one almighty heave, he launched her high into the air, drawing Blutgang as he did. He did a few warm up swings as he waited for the howling banshee to come down to his level.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!! I'LL MAKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND SUFFER FOR THIS!! SHE'LL WISH SHE WAS NEVER CONCIEVED ONCE ME AND MY INCUBUS FRIENDS ARE DONE WITH-"
CRACK!
Like a Home Run Derby King up to bat, Gallantmon collided the blade with Lilithmon's spinning form. At the speed she was going, she abruptly changed course and flew, screaming into the hilt of Gungir. The force of her impact drove the spear clean through the wall and through the other side, along with Lilithmon.
"YES!" Rika cried, punching the air. "Take it to her, Goggles! Give her the Royal Knight treatment!" Gallantmon looked down for a second, spotting Rika and the others before jumping through the wall, sword flashing.
"That's Takato?!" Tai asked, looking up at the knight who floated through the hole he made after Lilithmon.
"Come on!" Rika cried, running for the stairs. "Takato's got Lilithmon all stitched up but Lucemon's still up there. My D-Arc says he's on the dome of the sphere. Renamon, let's go!"
"Ready, Agumon?" Tai asked, Digivice glowing
"Let's get it on!"
"AGUMON WARP DIGIVOLVE TO…WARGREYMON!"
"RENAMON BIOMERGE TO…SAKUYAMON!!"
Tai looked down from WarGreymon's horn at Matt and the others. "Take care of yourselves."
"Just wipe out those Demon Lords so we can go home." Beelzemon said
"Tai!" Tai locked gazes with Matt, his blue eyes misty. "Tell her…I'm sorry."
Tai flashed a somewhat shaky smile at Matt. "You can tell her yourself when we bring her back. I'm not letting you get out of this one with a letter!"
Matt chuckled as Sakuyamon looked up and with one almighty leap, crashed through the glass with Tai on her heels, soaring through the air. As they passed the hole in the wall, Tai could just make out Gallantmon clashing with Lilithmon (who had somehow got his spear.) and an unconscious figure, swirling with dark mist.
"SORA!" Tai called out but before he could rush to the rescue, Sakuyamon grabbed WarGreymon's horn and dragged him up after her. "LET ME GO!!" Tai bellowed at Sakuyamon. "Take us back!"
"There's nothing you can do, Tai!" Sakuyamon said, looking back. "Takato knows what he's doing and if you were to get involved now, you would only screw his rhythm up."
"But…" Tai said, looking back at the shrinking gap in the wall.
"Don't worry; Takato will take care of Sora once he's taken care of Lilithmon. Right now, we have bigger fish to fry.
They floated up, high over the dome of the Fuji building, looking down at the hoards of Arkadimon that tried in vain to get inside. A blast of white light shot through the front door, scattering a squad of Rookie and In-Training to the winds. Tai could see some of the bigger ones now, one large one with wings and a horn seemed to be directing the flow of battle on his end, barking orders and observing the clash from behind his own lines.
"I thought you would come…"
They were shocked that a voice so soft could carry such great distance. Lucemon had his back to them as he surveyed the battle below. The Arkdimon were struggling, and as the Perfect Arkdimon pressed, they began to gain ground. Below them, the doors creaked and caved in.
"Did you know that the Digital World wasn't created in one try?" Lucemon asked. Sakuyamon tightened her grip on her staff and said nothing as WarGreymon simply stood, glaring at the Demon Lord.
"The first world the Makers created was perfect, in every way." Lucemon said, reveling in the sight of battle. "There was no death, pain, suffering or struggle…so it was destroyed. The Makers thought that the purpose of life was pain and suffering." Lucemon let out a mirthless laugh. "I dared to suggest otherwise and I was branded a heretic and cast out of heaven."
"You thought humans were inherently evil and you imprisoned the Sovereigns, that's why you were thrown out." Tai said
"I DARED TO SPEAK THE TRUTH!" Lucemon roared, turning his head to face them. "You claim to be so righteous, so pure, so good. And yet, still, you nearly killed each other when Daemon released his crest power." He lightly fingered the chain around his neck. "All your morals…your so called "virtues" are merely a mummer's farce; ready to crumble in the face of opposition."
"Enough of your talk, it makes me sick." Sakuyamon hissed in twin voices, pointing her staff at the angel, accusingly. "You sought the power of the Sovereigns, a power no mortal should ever possess. You wanted to rule the Digital World with supreme authority. You sought to make yourself as powerful as a God!"
Lucemon threw his head back and let out a high, cruel laugh. "Foolish child…is that what your masters have taught you? I do not now and never have desired the power of a God."
"Then why did you kidnap Sora and Takato?" Tai asked, arms crossed. As long as he was talking, he might as well get some answers.
"Freedom." Lucemon said. "I sought freedom."
"For yourself and the other Demons?" WarGreymon grumbled. "Freedom from Hell?"
"No…freedom for you. For them," he gestured at his army. "For half of her," with a jerk of his thumb over at Sakuyamon. "For all Digimon who have suffered under human tyranny!"
"Human tyranny?" Renamon spoke alone. "What madness is this? Without humans, we would not exist. The humans created us; created you!"
"To be their pets! Their slaves!" Lucemon strode up and down, agitatedly. "They are but weak, stubborn and foolish. They created the Sovereigns not as a means to aid us, but as a tool to enslave us. Through their Digi Gods they control our lives, subjugate us to horrible conditions and call it destiny." Lucemon scowled. "Even now, in the heat of battle they send us to fight their wars. Don't either of you see?" he pleaded, turning to WarGreymon and Sakuyamon. "You don't have to serve these pitiful little meat bags anymore! You are WARGREYMON! A titan amongst Digimon! You could go to war for you and win great prizes for yourself instead of tagging along with your master here!"
"Tai is not my master." WarGreymon said, looking down at his partner. "We are friends, partners, equals."
"Equals? So he consulted with you before bringing you here?" WarGreymon said nothing. "Your silence speaks volumes. Going after his precious little Love was his battle, and yet you were still caught in it. You could have been hurt, killed, destroyed but he wouldn't have cared as long as his mate was safe." Tai blushed red and glared at Lucemon angrily.
Lucemon sighed. "As I said before, I do not wish to possess the powers of your crests."
"Then…why did you come here?" Tai asked. "Why do you want us so badly?"
Lucemon smiled, floating into the air. "To drown your hearts in sorrow and despair so that your crests would never trouble me again. I do not wish for the power of the Gods…I wish to destroy it." Lucemon pointed at Tai. "You and your friends will drown in the darkness of your hearts and so your Sovereign Power will grow cold and die.
"You'll have to get through me first." WarGreymon snarled, stepping in front of Tai.
"And me." Sakuyamon echoed, stepping beside WarGreymon.
Lucemon smiled somewhat sadly. "The hounds are loyal to their masters…so be it. Any Digimon who stands with the humans casts their lot in with theirs and will be treated accordingly. Your world is at an end." Lucemon mocked, addressing Tai. "The tyranny of the Sovereigns is over and the Age of Digimon is at hand!"
Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, gotta kill them, kill them all, except the humans, kill the Digi Traitors…smash, grind cut cut cut and kill kill kill
"Come on, come on…"
Who's that?! Human! No, Digimon! Who that?! Kill?!
"Come on you ugly mother, come and get me…"
Sniff Sniff. Digimon, yeah, definitely Digimon. Must kill, must kill, must kill,
"That's right…come to me…Come to Justimon you little Rookie punk."
What say?! Don't care: Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill
"JUSTICE KICK!"
The Rookie Arkadimon's single train of thought came to a screaming halt, bringing his foot down on the poor Rookie's head. It's pink, misshapen head caved and he vanished. Justimon panted heavily; by his count that was the twenty second Rookie he destroyed in the last half hour. They were coming by the droves now, Stubby pink Rookies swinging their arm scythes in circles while vaulting the barriers, little white In-Trainings, skinny little legs clacking noisily on the tiles while looming over them, Snarling Perfect Arkadimon lashed out.
"FREEZE…TENTACLE!!" Justimon jumped sideways as the Perfect Arkadimon lashed out with his tentacle, deleting a row of Rookies instead.
"Stand back; we got this!" Ryo looked back to see Paildramon line up his Gatling guns aimed at the Perfect Arkadimon
"DESPERADO BLASTER!!" Energy bullets whizzed on either side of Justimon as he charged down the center. The bullets ripped holes in the demon's data as Justimon vaulted off a downed Champion and into the air.
"THUNDER…" he primed his Accel Arm and aimed for the top of the Perfect's head. "CLAP!" There was a deafening clap of thunder as the arm smashed into the long, white face. The Perfect screamed in horror and Justimon fell through the cloud of data and smashed his fist into the ground
BOOOM!
A shockwave ripped through the earth, driving a crack in the concrete and sending scores of Arkadimon howling to their doom. Across the field, the Digidestined cheered and a new life surged through the combatants.
"If I had a hammer," Zudamon sang, driving his hammer down into a cluster of Arkadimon. "I'd a'hammer in the morning," Boom! "I'd a'hammer in the evening," Boom! "All over this land!" Boom!
"Hey, save some for the rest of us!" MagnaAngemon laughed, swinging his sword through a rogue Rookie.
"You're one to talk!" Lilymon giggled, wielding her Flower Cannon like a bludgeon. "You've had more than your fair share!"
"So what does that say about us?" MegaGargomon asked, having long since ceased his missle fire and was now just stomping and kicking Arkadimon like ants.
"Hey, this isn't a contest!" Angewoman said, disapprovingly. "This is serious business!"
"Betcha I kill more Champions than you!" MetalGarurumon howled, launching a barrage of rockets right into the heart of the demon cluster.
"OK: now it's a contest." Angewoman shot a quiver of arrows at a Perfect looming over Aquiliamon.
"Hey! Remember me?!" Beelzemon was just striding through the crowd, blasting any Arkadimon who got in his way. "Lord Beelzemon?" BLAM! "Ring any bells?" BLAM! "What about you, tough guy? You want a piece of this?" BLAM!
Justimon drove his Voltage Blade through another Champion's chest, kicking off his dissolving form and floating into the air, to survey the battle. His hearts plummeted when he saw the line of demons stretching all the way back to the gate, swarming over buildings, just waiting for their chance to fight. It didn't matter how many they killed, there would be another dozen to take their place.
"Ryo, what is it?" Ken called out, looking up at Justimon. "What's wrong?"
"I hope you guys aren't tired," Justimon said, loading his Blitz Arm and taking aim. "Cause it's going to be a long night." Ryo's heart sped up as a fresh wave of Rookies charged their post. I hope Rika and Tai are having more luck than we are
Sakuyamon roared, leaping forward. "Spirit Kick!" she charged her heel and lunged at the smiling Demon Lord.
"Dramon Destroyer!" WarGreymon lunged with his claw and Lucemon who still hadn't budged an inch.
It all happened so fast, Tai wasn't quite sure what had just happened, but he blinked and WarGreymon and Sakuyamon were hurtling overhead and into another building. He looked back at Lucemon who was checking his cuffs, nonchalantly.
"This fighting is pointless." Lucemon said. "We Digimon are of the same sort; we should be allies."
"Don't…" Sakuyamon gasped, clutching her side with one hand and her staff with the other. "Ever…compare us to you. You…are just a spoiled little brat who didn't get what he wanted for his birthday so he goes and throws a fit. That's all you are, Lucemon; a glorified BRAT!"
"PARADISE LOST!" Sakuyamon reeled as Lucemon sailed in with an uppercut, sending the shaman Digimon spinning through the air. Lucemon flew up, driving a knee into her stomach before knocking her earthward with a double fist. Skauyamon plummeted like a stone towards the rooftop, crashing through and down through the floors below.
"SAKUYAMON!" WarGreymon cried in horror. Howling with rage, he barreled forward, claws out ready to skewer the fallen angel.
Lucemon ducked his blow, planting a foot in his chest and sending him sky high. WarGreymon tumbled through space as Lucemon checked his nails, almost boringly. Then as WarGreymon tumbled back to earth, Lucemon shot up, driving his fist into WarGreymon's back.
"WARGREYMON!!" Tai cried. WarGreymon's eyes widened in pain and shock before glazing over and going dark. Lucemon dropped him to the roof, rolling him over and laying his arms across his chest. Tai staggered blindly forward, seeing nothing, not the raging battle, not the fallen angel, nothing except for his fallen partner.
"Agumon…" He said softly, eyes clouding with sudden tears as Lucemon turned away in disgust. WarGreymon had been still for sometime, the ethereal glow gone from his armor. "Come on…get up. This guy's got nothing on you! You can take him, I know you can!" Sniff. "Everybody's counting on us; Kari, Matt, Joe, Mimi, Izzy, Davis, Ken, TK, Cody, Yolei…Sora. They're all pulling for you…we can't let them down…"
"Tai…" WarGreymon cracked open an eye.
"Yes! You're up! We can do this, just go in and give it to him. Keep your head down and-"
"Goodbye…" WarGreymon said.
"What? What are you saying?" Tai looked on in shock as Agumon, his partner and one of his oldest friends, began to break up and dissipate.
"Agumon, no! No you can't leave, not now!" Tai desperately tried to grab on to the Mega's arm but his hand simply passed through. "Come on, hold on! Y-you can make it. J-just hold on…hold on…"
"Tai…I'm…sorry." WarGreymon choked out as his data began floating into the air.
"No…" Tai sobbed. "I'm s-s-sorry…I just dragged you up here without talking to you about it…I'm sorry…th-this was my fight…you didn't have to help me with it…"
WarGreymon lifted his claw up, placing what was left on his partner's shoulder.
"That's…what…friends…do…" And with that, the Dragon of Courage, exploded in a flash of white light and a stream of data.
Gallantmon charged Lilithmon, swinging Blutgang over his head ready to strike as Lilithmon stood, shakily. He drew back, spinning right to strike at Lilithmon's exposed wing.
CLANG!
Gallantmon fell back as his sword ground against her rigid, sharp wings. She smiled at him through a mask of pain. "You're not the only one with tricks up their sleeve." She swiped at him with her Nazar Nail, causing him to fly back as she plucked a wing from her back, swinging it in a figure eight. She smiled at the shivering Sora, closing her eyes and inhaling the mist deeply. "Now," she said, blood red eyes opening. "Let's play." Her Nazar Nail grew together, fingers melding to form a sharp looking lance tip on the end of her arm. Gallantmon held Blutgang and Gungir in his arms, ready to strike. He leapt forward, poised to-
"SORA!!" Both Gallantmon and Lilithmon looked up in surprise to see WarGreymon standing at the mouth of the room, a young man on his horn, hair wildly blowing in the wind. Even in the heat of battle, with a Demon Lord standing not ten feet from him, he couldn't help but feel a geeky sense of awe as his childhood hero floated in front of him. Before he could say anything, Sakuyamon appeared and dragged him upwards and out of sight. Takato had only a moment to breathe before Lilithmon was upon him again, she swung hard, digging the blade into the wall, cutting off a chunk of concrete as she did. Gallantmon ducked the blow, slamming a mail backed gauntlet into her stomach and driving the hilt of his blade into her chin. Lilithmon staggered back, swinging her Nazar Lance in a huge circle, shooting it at Gallantmon and wrapping it around his arm, dragging him in and kicking him out the room into free space.
Gallantmon floated in midair as his opponent flew out after him, dragging her blade on the ground before jumping into the sky. They stared each other down, the sounds of battle above and below made any talking useless, not that they had much to say to begin with. Suddenly, as if agreeing on a silent cue, they attacked. Gallantmon swung high, leaping back as Lilithmon ducked the blow, spinning low to strike at his waist. Gallantmon caught the blade, sending her back as he pushed off. In the heat of battle, they had both forgotten special attacks; this was a fight, and a dirty one at that. Matter like these could only be resolved by physical violence.
With an almighty kick, he sent her flying into an abandoned office building across the street, tossing his sword in after her. There was a resounding clang as the blade was deflected back, caught in his left arm and poised to strike again.
Lilithmon lunged wildly, fighting like maniac, slashing, swinging and thrusting without thought. What she lacked in discipline, she made up for in pure stopping power. Lilithmon grabbed Gallantmon by his brestplate, throwing him up into the floors above with a crash of concrete. He spun up, landing on his feet to see Lilithmon flying after him, sword ready to strike.
Gallantmon raised Blutgang high, colliding with Lilithmon in a way that shook his whole body. Lilithmon flew back down, crashing through floor after floor on her way to the lobby. Gallantmon dove after her, sword held with two hands above his helm. As he reached the lobby, he lunged for Lilithmon's prostrate form only to strike the ground as she rolled away.
BOOM!
The building started to shake and shiver as a shockwave ran from Blutgang to the support beams. Gallantmon and Lilithmon shared a glance; not a chance in hell they were leaving. The clashed once more, sparks flying as their steel collided. Bricks and pieces of molding fell and were used as projectiles propelled by sword play. Lilithmon sent a piece of concrete flying at Gallantmon, gasping in shock as he divided it with his sword and sent both pieces flying back at her.
CRASH!
She flew through the glass doors and sailed away as the building collapsed behind her. She landed with a rolling thud in the middle of the demon battle. She dragged herself to her feet, brushing her hair out of her eyes as she smugly surveyed the damaged building. That was that; he couldn't have survived that…
"Lilithmon." She scowled to see the knight standing by the DigiDestined, Gungir and Blutgang at his sides.
"Gallantmon!" One of the humans cried. Between them, the demons surveyed the combatants on either side of them. They suddenly felt very venerable; very exposed.
"Stay out of this, Ryo." Gallantmon said, setting himself up.
"Yes, let mummy and daddy talk, little boy…" Lilithmon sneered.
"This is between me…"
"And Him…"
The Arkadimon in the middle of the two looked confused, unsure if they should fight of flee. Before they came to a decision, the two struck, blades swinging like pinwheels in the sun as the Demons struggled to escape. Anything that was in their way was cut to ribbons by their fury. Gallantmon didn't see the hoards of demons that opposed him; only Lilithmon. They finally hacked and slashed their way into the middle, clashing blades and sending a shockwave that exterminated half of Arkadimon's demon army. The Arkadimon struck, making no distinction between Royal Knight and Demon Lord as they tried to destroy the ones who had slain their comrades. Gallantmon skewered a Rookie while fending off another attack from Lilithmon. Lilithmon slew the Arkadimon without a second thought, pausing only to strike at Gallantmon. The battle raged on this way for some time until Lilithmon grabbed Gallantmon around the neck.
"Let's go somewhere a little more…private." With that, she hurled him skyward and back towards the building.
"Agumon…" Tai said quietly, grasping at the data stream that had once been his best friend. He felt numb and hollow inside as if Lucemon had reached in and pulled out his heart.
"Your little pet is gone…" Lucemon mocked, circling the fallen DigiDestined leader. "Your friends are all going to die…your love lies bleeding life on the floor below us…" Lucemon paused, placing his hands on the boy's head. "Game Over…" Lucemon remarked softly. "You lost."
"Let's play a new game."
Lucemon looked up in time to see a purple heeled boot connect with his face. He jerked back away from Tai, sliding along the roof and coming to a stop just before the ledge. Sakuyamon cracked her neck, glaring at the fallen angel with an angry smirk on her face.
"The new game is called, Kick the Demon Lord. Ready? Set. Go!" Skauyamon launched Lucemon off the ledge with a kick, grabbing his long, blonde hair and snappping him back an slamming into the roof tiled. She flipped in the air and landed heel first on Lucemon's chest. Kicking, stomping and slamming her sharp heeled boots into the Demon's chest, Sakuyamon beat out a freakish dance as she ground Lucemon into the roof. Lucemon recovered, grabbing her leg and swinging her into the ground like a sack of potatoes. Skauyamon twisted out, aiming a kick at Lucemon's head which he ducked and returned with a spinning back hand. Skauyamon caught his fist, flipping him on his back and dropping an elbow on his chest.
Tai felt tears silently sliding down his face as he gazed into the cloud of Agumon's data. He was gone, slain by Lucemon and yet…why wasn't he disappearing? Other Digimon vanished into data as soon as they were slain but Agumon's data lingered in a small, bright orange cloud in front of him.
Tai…
Tai looked back at Sakuyamon and Lucemon but they were locked in battle and neither of them had spoken his name.
Tai…
Confused, Tai looked around for the voices. They spoke at the same time, saying the same thing. Tentatively, he looked back at the cloud before daring to voice his hope.
"A-Agumon?" he asked
No…
Tai's heart sank as the voices responded.
I am something different now…something stronger, perhaps…
"You mean…you digivolved?" Tai eyed the cloud apprehensively.
Yes…and no. In my final moments I channeled all my power through the core of your Digivice to try and Digivolve past WarGreymon. It seems I was missing something…
"Agumon…who is that in there with you? It sounds like you DNA digivolved with someone but I can't tell who…what do you mean you're missing something?"
Tell me, Tai. If you could fight in my stead, would you?
"I…I would. I would in a heartbeat but…I'm only human…I can't even dent Lucemon."
You don't know until you try…
"What?!"
Tai…I want help you but I need your power…I need your strength…I need your courage. I need you to strike Lucemon, just once.
"But…I don't know if I-"
ARE YOU THE CHOSEN ONE OF COURAGE OR OF COWARDICE?! YOU GIVE ALL YOUR FAITH TO YOUR FRIENDS AND SAVE NONE FOR YOURSELF!! Believe in yourself the way I believe in you and together we will put an end to this madness, once and for all!
Tai looked back over at the fight. Lucemon had thrown Sakuyamon off the building, gazing down at her before turning his gaze back to Tai. Tai glared at the angel, standing up and clenching a fist.
"Game over…no, we're not done yet." Tai stood up, striding over to Lucemon as the angel walked towards him, smiling to himself.
"You bring these things to my world…" Tai was talking to Lucemon, walking faster now. "Demolish half my city…hurt my little sister…kill my friends and neighbors…and try to destroy the crests." Tai broke into a run as Lucemon was only a few hundred feet away. His digivice was blinking wildly, blinking three words over and over. The cloud of Data was following him, hovering behind him and casting light ahead of him "I can forgive you for all that…but you ruined Sora's birthday." Tai flew at Lucemon. "And for that…YOU'RE MINE!"
Driving forward with all the strength in his body, Tai drove his fist forward and slammed into Lucemon's head.
There was a flash of white light and Tai was gone.
"I never said anything."
Sora gathered her arms around herself as she tried in vain to stave off the biting cold that the snow on the ground caused. For the past few hours she had to watch the scene over and over again. She knew all the words by heart, even Tai's heartbroken gaze had burned itself into her thoughts, haunting her every time she tried to close her eyes.
"I never thought you would look twice at me…" Sora whispered. "For the longest time…all those times in the digital world…I can't tell you how many nights I cried my eyes out, thinking about you and how you…" Sora bit her lip. "How we would only ever be friends…" she allowed herself a smile. "I was so…excited, when you sent me that e-mail but you just brushed it off like it was nothing…so I moved on. That's the thing about me, Tai. I need Love. Give it…feel it… without it, I just shrivel up and die like a flower without water." Sora heaved a sigh. "I didn't think you would ever feel the same…"
Sora looked up. Tai was pushing her inside, letting the door close after her. Sora stood up, walking over to where the boy stood. "Stupid Tai…you should have told me right there…you missed your chance. I loved you, you big idiot, and you couldn't see that." Sora sighed. "I should be over you…but why is this scene still playing?" Sora strode angrily around in the snow, angry tears welling up for the first time in hours. "Why is this what Lilithmon is using to get to me? I'm over Tai! I am!"
"Are you?"
Sora spun around. Standing in the snow, not twenty feet away was Biyomon. Sora looked back to see the girl's Biyomon commenting on how exciting it was that so many people were here to see Matt play. Sora turned back to Biyomon who stood there in the snow, head cocked to one side, staring back at her.
"Are…are you real?" Sora asked.
"You know what?" Biyomon tapped her beak thoughtfully. "I'm not sure any of this is real."
Sora sighed in relief. "At least you can hear me." she moved over to where her partner stood, kneeling down beside her. "Biyomon, what am I going to do? Am I just going to have to s-sit here while I have to watch…that over and over?" She swiped at her eyes. "I-I-I don't know if I c-c-can…"
"Sora! What's wrong with you?" Sora sat back at her partner's sudden outburst, falling on her butt as Biyomon glared at her. "I think I've put up with this wishy washy Sora for long enough!" Biyomon paused, taking deep, angry breaths. "What happened to you, Sora?" she asked, her voice softer. "What happened to that tough, independent girl I met all those years ago? What happened to the girl who carved her own path, regardless of what others said? Look at you now; crying in the snow and brooding over the ghost of Christmas past!" Biyomon's eyes began to tear up as well, but lost none of their intensity. "For the longest time…ever since you left the digital world, you've changed, Sora. I didn't want to say anything but you really have, and I HATE IT! Ever since MaloMyotismon's defeat you've really forgotten who you are! You're totally dependant on others' opinions, you're self sacrificing to the point of insanity, you hang on to things that you should have let go and you throw away the things you should keep!"
"B-Biyomon…what are you…"
"You aren't unloved, you're just feeling sorry for yourself. You upset that Matt broke up with you, and that's understandable. But Lilithmon is feeding off of that. She's getting stronger and pretty soon Gallantmon won't be able to stop her!"
"G-Gallantmon?"
Biyomon wiped a tear away from her eye. "Sora, it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Takato and Guilmon are fighting as one to take out Lilithmon but they can't do it alone. They need our help. Tai needs our help."
"Tai?!" Sora felt her stomach twist in a way it hadn't twisted since she was fourteen. "He's here?"
"Yes, Sora. He came to get you out of here. He's here with Matt and Mimi and Izzy and, and…everyone! They're all here because they all love you, Sora." Biyomon paused, feeling braver. "Some…more than others…"
Sora shook her head. "You're just imagining things Biyomon. That ship sailed a long time ago." Sora looked down to see Biyomon touching her knee.
"Sora…you know that's not true…"
"Yes it is…he would have said something by now if he felt like I did…if he's so in love with me, why would he just sit by for four years while I dated Matt? He had so many opportunities to tell me, all those after fight talks, those long hours studying or all those tennis matches he…was…at…" Sora looked vacantly off as realization struck her like a bolt of Crimson Lightning.
"Because…maybe he didn't need to…" Biyomon said, gently.
"He didn't need to…" Sora echoed, looking back at the two teenagers, going through their dance again although this time was like looking at them through a fogged lens. As they faded from sight, something fluttered down, from the sky. A small, crisp, white envelope landed in Sora's lap. Curiously, she pried it open, nearly dropping it when she read the first words.
Dear Sora,
I'm sorry I made fun of your hair. I know you haven't been this mad at me since I forgot to tell you I threw up in your hat. You say you love thunderstorms, so what's a few raindrops between friends?
Love, Tai
Sora smiled, wiping a few tears away as she did. "Stupid Tai…" she said to herself, half laughing, half crying. "Stupid me, for that matter…but does this mean, what I think it means…" Sora glanced down at Biyomon who smiled, reassuringly at her. Sora took a deep breath, working the thought over in her mind.
The misconception that most people labor under is that realizing that you love someone is supposed to be a giddy, gleeful, hot pink fireworks feeling. What people don't understand is that feeling is the onset of infatuation, not love. Now, infatuation may one day lead to deep, everlasting love but it usually takes time to get there. But for Sora, and a handful of others in the history of the world, falling straight into love is a terrifying experience. It starts as fear, fear building in the pit of your stomach as you hope, pray you're wrong. That it's a crush, that you'll get over it. But when you realize that crushes don't typically get the kind of happiness and security that you feel when they're around you. Crushes fantasize about weddings; Sora actually thought about the marriage. With a crush comes teenage fantasy and desire, idolizing their object of affection as supernatural; Sora couldn't stop thinking about how plain goofy his hair was and how he never tanned evenly in the summer. A crush will fade and disappear with time but love…true love, as corny as it sounded, was everlasting. Sora closed her eyes, bit her lip and let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding.
It can't be…he's my best friend!
But…maybe, he really meant, "Love, Tai."
Oh, God…what does this mean?
Even as Sora deliberated, she began to feel slightly warmer. The snow had stopped falling and the ice cold wind had lost its bite. The words wouldn't make it to her lips; even if they could, it was the wrong time to say them. He wasn't here…and if Biyomon said was true, then he needed her help.
"Hang on, Tai." Sora whispered, drying the last of the tears she would cry that day. "We're coming."
She folded the letter up, gently placing it in her coat pocket, not once wondering how it got there or why it had come, only glad that it did. The boy and the girl had stopped their endless conversation, staring at her as if noticing her for the first time. Sora looked up, smiling as they turned back to their conversation, trying desperately to remain normal. She smiled, smugly to herself and strode over to the pair of them, suddenly knowing what she had to do to get out of the nightmare world. The visions shot a nervous glance at her as she approached, but pretended not to notice, continuing with their scripted dialogue. Shooting a patronizing glance at the girl with the cookie box, she grabbed the young man by the scruff of his jacket, and softly pecked him on the lips.
The effect was instantaneous. In a flash of light, Sora vanished.
Her Digivice was the only thing left, blinking three words, over and over: the same words that Tai saw before dissappating
BIOMERGE
DIGIVOLUTION
ACTIVATE
AN: THAT"S RIGHT KIDS IT'S MORPHING TIME! That was my longest chapter even and I won't be able to update til Thursday so R&R and I'll be back with more!
Thanks
DOTMW