Chapter Thirteen
The End pt 1: Daylight Dies
AN: I know I said I was going to write Thirteen chapters and an epilogue but I just have too much to write still so it's going to go on a little longer. I promise we'll get back to the spine crushing action sequences but first… a bit of fluff
The Rise and Fall of All We Are
Stands Before Us
Killswitch Engage-Daylight Dies
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Kari flinched again as another dull thud rocked the flimsy barricade that separated them from the Arkadimon. MegaGargomon shifted his weight to better block the door but it became clear that he couldn't hold them forever. Already, cracks were appearing in the walls around them as the Arkadimon struggled to break through. The steel wouldn't stop them for long and soon they would come, crawling, scraping, and swiping at them with their claws…
To put it bluntly, they lost. No matter what they did, the Arkadimon kept coming and coming, replacing their comrades quicker than they could slay them. Ryo and Henry ordered a full retreat back into the TV station where they hoped they could wait them out. Her friends had resigned themselves to sitting in small groups on the floor, eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, faces pale and dirty from the battle outside and silently staring into space.
A pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist as someone pulled her into a shaky hug. Kari gently squeezed T.K's hands around her waist as he softly laid a head on her shoulder.
"That wall can't hold forever…" Kari said.
"It'll hold as long as it's meant to." T.K. said, softly.
"And then what?" Kari asked, turning her head slightly to glance at his ashen face out of the corner of her eye. "What happens then?"
"We fight." He said, simply. Kari squeezed his hands tighter as she leaned back against his chest. "Hey, it's going to be alright, Kari."
"I wish I could believe you…I really do." Kari sighed, "But not all of us can be as optimistic as you TK; how do you know everything's going to be alright?"
She felt TK shoulders roll in a halfhearted shrug. "Truth be told…I don't. All we can do is…hope that everything will work out. We have to have faith in Tai and Rika."
"But we haven't heard from them in almost two hours…what if they didn't make it?" Kari asked, shaking at the thought. "Wh-What if Lucemon and Lilithmon got to them and…" Kari shuddered in horror at the ghastly images that crept into her imagination. TK sighed, squeezing her tighter against him and gently kissing her tearstained cheek.
"Come on, Kari. Lucemon is standing between Tai and Sora." Kari laughed, in spite of herself. "He couldn't be more screwed if he was covered in steak sauce and thrown into a lion's den."
Kari chuckled at her boyfriend's statement, looking into his clear blue eyes. He looked back and, for one shadow of a moment, the dull thudding and howling Arkadimon faded and there was only him and there was only her. TK hesitated for a moment, looking as if he wanted to say something but then looked away. Kari sighed, tilting his chin until the boy's troubled gaze. They just stared into each other's eyes for a moment before TK plucked up the courage to say what he needed to say.
"Hikari Kamiya," TK began, taking a deep breath and biting his lip nervously before pressing on. "I'm going to say this quickly because if I stop I'm going to lose my nerve and-"
"TK?" Kari asked, brows furrowing. "What-"
"Please, Kari, wait until I'm done." TK took another deep shuddering breath, looking back into Kari's confused, amber eyes. "Ever since I met you, almost ten years ago I knew we'd always have a special connection. That belief only strengthened as I spent more and more time with you. Kari…you're my best friend and I know I've said it more times than I could count but…I love you." Kari smiled tearfully as TK blathered on. "And…I know we've only been dating for two years but…I…I…I couldn't imagine ever being with anyone else…ever." Kari's eyes widened as she began to catch on. "And…it may be a moot point if we end up dying today but," TK reached a shaking hand under his shirt and gave a sharp tug on a chain that lay beneath his shirt. When his hand resurfaced his fingers were clenched around a small, gold ring with three diamonds set in the band.
"TK…" Kari gasped, but TK was pressing on, eyes shining.
"I was going to do this properly, once we graduated high school. I was going to take you to our secret spot behind Primary Village and tell you that you…are…the best thing that ever happened to me. I don't know if it was fate or God or maybe I just have a guardian angel looking out for me," he glanced up at MagnaAngemon who smiled at his partner before turning back to Kari's awestruck face. "But I met you just when I needed you the most. You were a friend to me when I didn't have many. You really helped me get over my crybaby shy phase and really shaped me into the person that I am today. I can't remember a time when I didn't have you in my life and I don't want to think of a time when you won't be. I…wouldn't be half as strong as I am if it weren't for you. You are my angel, my light. And if we survive this…I'm going to ask you to marry me, someday. I promise you that."
"Now."
"What?" TK looked back at Kari who was smiling at him through teary eyes.
Kari wiped her eyes before speaking again. "TK…we may not make it out of here. There is a swarming hoard of demonic Digimon lurking outside, ready to swallow us whole once they break through. We could die right now and never have that little night you described…as cute as that sounded, I think our friends at the door have other plans." She took a deep breath and looked back with fierce, determined eyes. "Ask me now."
TK felt his stomach knot as he lowered himself to one knee, taking Kari's hand between his. "Kari Kamiya, you have made me happier than I ever thought anyone could be. And, if you'll let me, I want to spend the rest of my life trying to return the favor. Kari…will you marry me…someday?"
Kari squeezed his hand tightly, looking into his questioning blue eyes with more affection than she had ever shown anyone. "TK…" She knelt down on the ground beside him, grasping his hands in hers. "I would marry you right now, if I could." With that, she swiftly pressed her trembling lips against his. Instantly, the whole room filled with applause as their friends (who they didn't know were watching until just then) cheered, clapped and (in Matt's case) wolf whistled. TK looked back at Kari who was wiggling her ring finger, expectantly. TK slipped the ring on her finger before joining her for another kiss.
It was some time before they broke away, looking back at each other before noticing Justimon standing beside them with a head cocked to one side. He regarded them for a moment, looking over his shoulder before looking back at TK and Kari.
"Did you mean that?" he asked. "Would you marry him right now if you could?"
"Well…" Kari looked back at TK. "Yes. If I could, I would do it right here, right now." She laughed. "Of course we wouldn't be able to but-"
Justimon interrupted. "Well, in the Digital World when two Digimon want to get married they either have to get a blessing by a Sovereign or a sanctified servant of a Sovereign. That would include anyone in the clergy, ship captains, doctors, caretakers, army generals or someone charged with a sacred task like, say…imprisoning the Demon Lords in a pit of fire. Technically…a Holy Warrior could perform the ceremony and you'd be legally married in the Digital World."
TK and Kari looked up at Justimon. "So you could do it?" TK asked hopefully
"Nope!" Justimon said as their faces fell. "I wasn't charged by the Sovereigns, I'm just a nice guy. But I know someone who was…question is, are you serious? You really want to get married when you're sixteen? Cause…a little fact that Cyberdramon clued me in on just now, Digimon don't know the meaning of the word "Divorce." You can always get legally separated in the human world or not bother get married but as long as you set foot in the Digital World, you two will be considered married…for life. Now a swarm of Arkadimon has the effect of rushing a decision like this but on the off chance we survive…you're stuck with each other."
Kari bit her lip, looking at TK. "We should wait, you know until we're ready…" he said, blushing and looking away. "I mean…Tai and Rika are going to pull us through-"
"Yes." Kari looked back at TK who looked back, struck. "I'm in; are you?"
TK flashed a toothy grin. "I asked you, didn't I?" he looked back at Justimon. "So, you sure Henry will do it?"
Justimon scratched the back of his head. "Umm…he technically can't…"
"So we'll have to wait til Rika gets back?" Kari asked.
"Ummm…no."
"Well, Justimon you just ran out of Digimon there." Matt said, crossing his arms.
"Yeah…unless you count…" TK and Kari both gasped, coming to the same realization at the same time. "Noooooo…"
"Yep." Justimon said.
"You're not serious." TK said, eyes glazing over.
"Yes, I am."
"You want, him to marry us?" Kari squeaked. "No way…nooooooo way."
"Okay then, fine…" Justimon said, walking away.
TK and Kari shared a pained look before shrugging. "Justimon, WAIT!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
"Dearly Beloved…" Beelzemon squeezed through clenched teeth as Justimon continued to glare at him threateningly. In less than five minutes, they had constructed a mini alter out of broken masonry and filing cabinets and TK and Kari now stood, hands clasped with Matt and Yolei on either side of them, friends watching. "We are gathered her today to witness the…aww do I have to say it?"
Justimon cocked his Blitz Arm and Beelzemon rolled his eyes and turned back to the happy couple who were grimacing at their reluctant pastor.
"TK and Kari have gathered before you, their friends and family…and a hoard of angry, violent, killer demons to…um…get married and stuff." Beelzemon added. "I've known TK and Kari for about…three and a half hours now and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that they will spend the remainder of their lives together…considering the remainder of their lives is only going to be like twenty min-"
"BEELZEMON!!" Justimon warned but before he could finish his thought, the doors broke. MegaGargomon fell back as the solid metal door they fashioned out of old filing cabinets. The rising sun and dozens of demons immediately flooded the room, crashing the incredibly awkward ceremony.
"Sorry folks," Justimon said, leaping over the happy couple and drawing his Blitz Arm and immediately emptying it into the gathering crowd. "PRIVATE PARTY!!" The Digimon immediately leapt into battle as Father Beelzemon drew his shotguns. "BEELZEMON! DO THE READER'S DIGEST VERSION!!"
"Since they seem so determined to interrupt, I'll make this short." He emptied a shotgun into a wailing Champion's head. "Do you, Hikari Kamiya take OH NO YOU DON'T YOU SON OF A-!!" Beelzemon blasted a Rookie poised to jump on Kari's head, causing the blushing bride to flinch. "Like I was saying, do you take…um…" he tapped his chin with his shotgun, trying to remember TK's name
"Takeru Takaishi." Matt called as MetalGarurumon bit off another demon's arm.
"Thank you…what he said…do you take him to be your husband for…richer or…poorer in good times and…well, right now?"
Kari ducked flying brick dislodged from the wall before looking back at TK. "I do."
Beelzemon wheeled around and shot another round of ammo into the writhing Perfect's chest. "Do you, Takeru Takaishi take Kari DIE YOU DEMON SCUM…Kamiya to be your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health…sickness being the more likely of the two as long as you both shall live…which shouldn't be that much longer but…you know."
TK beamed at Kari. "I do."
"Then," Beelzemon said, while strangling a rouge Arkadimon. "By the powers vested in me, by the great and Glorious Sovereigns of the Digital World, I now pronounce you hitched for life. You may now GO TO HELL AND DIE!!" Beelzemon bashed a Rookie's head in with the butt of his shotgun before turning back to TK and Kari. "You may now SHOOT HIM IN THE HEAD!! SHOOT HIM IN THE HEAD!!" Beelzemon called to Justimon who was grappling with a Mega, dodging his attacks. "You may now-" Beelzemon was cut off at a Perfect tried to swallow him whole. TK and Kari stared dumbstruck as the Perfect glared back at them. Suddenly, Beelzemon pried his mouth open, straining with the force of keeping his jaws open.
"KISS HER ALREADY!!" He bellowed, emptying his shotguns down the unfortunate Arkadimon's throat.
With tears in their eyes, hands clasped and a battle raging around them, TK and Kari Takaishi shared their first kiss. Even though they were sweaty and dirty, even though Arkadimon were trying to kill them, even though there was no dress, no flowers, no cake, no reception, no church, the witnesses consisted of their friends and a pack of killer demons and their pastor was a Demon Lord, Kari didn't care. She couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding
(AN: Kay, Takari moment over, back to the killing)
"SHINE HAMMER." Lucemon raised his arms in a feeble attempt to block the massive fist that drove downwards on top of his head. He and ShineGreymon had taken their fight high above the swarming Arkadimon below, flying at each other like two birds in battle.
"PARADISE LOST!" Lucemon sailed in with a vicious right cross, connecting with ShineGreymon's chin and sending him flying back a few feet. ShineGreymon flared his wings, blasting burst after burst of white hot light from the tips and straight at Lucemon. The fallen angel ground his teeth, dismayed at how little his attacks affected the awesome Digimon before him. It seemed no matter what he did, he couldn't make a dent in the shining armor. All his power was reduced to nothing in his foe's presence.
"Give it up, Lucemon and you may survive long enough to be sent back to Hell!" ShineGreymon taunted.
Lucemon cracked his neck. "My dear boy, have you ever been to Hell? You ever rotted in a pit of eternal flames? I think not. I would rather not exist than return!" Lucemon launched a ball of dark matter at ShineGreymon who divided the blast with a flourish of his blade. ShineGreymon leapt forward, driving the blade down only for Lucemon to duck sideways. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gallantmon, Sakuyamon and a Digimon he couldn't recognize nervously circling him and Lucemon. Before Tai could mouth his question, Lucemon was at him again, driving punches and kicks into his armor, accomplishing nothing except for filling the air with hollow ringing sounds and making Tai's head hurt. ShineGreymon grabbed his foot, slammed his head against the lip of a building and tossed the angel into the sky.
Lucemon righted himself, glaring at ShineGreymon. "All this over a ruined birthday party? That seems a little extreme, don't you think?"
"You…hurt…Sora." ShineGreymon snarled, his twin voices echoing with Tai's anger. "I've devoted entire portions of my life to making sure that doesn't happen…and then you and your little pals waltz in like a bunch of tourists at a tea ceremony…kidnap the birthday girl…send demons after my friends and erect… a… freaking… DEMON GATE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CITY!! You put us all through hell tonight, Lucemon." ShineGreymon raised his blade at the battered Demon Lord. "I'm just returning the favor." He spun in with his blade, driving it down, as Lucemon lunged to the side. The pocket of air that divided in the blade's wake slammed into Lucemon, sending him tumbling through the skies, slamming into a neighboring building.
ShineGreymon twirled his sword, staring intently at the hole he had just created and waiting for Lucemon to reappear. Suddenly, the top of the building exploded and Lucemon burst forth with a huge chunk of roof in hand. Drawing his arms back, the dislodged piece of masonry came spinning towards him at breakneck speed. Tai raised the dragon's arms, slicing the building piece in half only to see Lucemon come flying straight through the two pieces. Tai felt a jerk on his neck as Lucemon grabbed ShineGreymon's armor with his left hand and landed a solid blow with his right, sending him spinning through the air. Lucemon caught the dragon's talon and flung him down to the ground, smashing into a hoard of Arkadimon as he did. Lucemon watched in triumph as the demons swarmed over his enemy, covering his red and white armor in a pulsing, multicolored mass.
Lucemon sighed in satisfaction. "Bold…" he admitted. "Too bold. It looks like I won after-"
"AMETHYST WIND!"
Lucemon's head snapped up in time to see a maelstrom of crystal shards hurling towards him. He threw his arms up to defend himself but was thrown back by the force of Sakuyamon's attack, rolling over and over in mid air as he hurtled towards Gallantmon.
"FINAL JUSTICE!" Gallantmon twirled his staff like a baton, blasting a white hot beam of energy out of the spinning spear. Lucemon spun around, right into a very angry Phoenixmon.
"SUZAKU SWORD!" The flaming blade that had destroyed Lilithmon broke over his back and sent him high into the sky where a heavy, armored hand caught him.
"No…" Lucemon breathed as ShineGreymon glared down on him through his helmet. "How did you…"
"Please…you call that a power slam?" Tai and Agumon sighed in unison. "Let me show you how it's done." ShineGreymon rocketed towards a skyscraper, slamming Lucemon into the top floor window. Igniting his wings, he raced down the side of the building, slamming Lucemon's head through floor after floor after floor until he hit the bottom with a sickening crash of glass and concrete. ShineGreymon slammed him into the ground, flying back up into the sky. The tips of his wings glowed with energy as the skyscraper began to collapse around Lucemon's unmoving body.
"SHINING BLAST!!" He cried as the power charged in his wings burst forth, flying out at all angles before condensing and driving down through the top of the building, causing the whole thing to come crashing down around Lucemon. The dust settled and all that remained was a broken, beaten Lucemon crawling out of the wreckage. With GeoGrey Sword in hand, ShineGreymon floated down to Lucemon.
"No…no! No no no no no no no no no NO!" Lucemon wailed, beating the ground with his fists as he started to break up. "This can't be happening…I can't lose! I can't be defeated! I'm…Lucemon. I'm the most powerful Digimon in the Digital World!! I unlocked the secrets of Digivolution and taught them to the entire Digital World!! I chained the Sovereigns for almost ten years!! I CAN'T LOSE!! Not me!! Not again! NOT AGAIN!!"
"Haven't you ever heard, Lucemon, that pride go'eth before the fall?" ShineGreymon twirled his sword, driving it into the ground beside Lucemon. "You were so upset when the Sovereigns spurned your ideas that you sought to destroy them. Rika was right; you are a toddler. A toddler who hasn't learned how to lose yet. Well, hate to break it to ya, buddy but you lost. We won."
To Tai's surprise, Lucemon started chuckling as he dissolved into data. He was beaten and battered beyond recognition and yet he still managed to pull a gruesome, twisted smile. "You…haven't…won…yet…" he laughed darkly as he vanished into the morning air. "Not…yet…" his Crest dropped to the ground with an ugly thud and lay, blackened in the dirt.
A strong gust of wind signaled the arrival of Gallantmon and Sakuyamon and another Digimon that ShineGreymon couldn't recognize. He hadn't mentioned it earlier, but now that the fight was over he couldn't remember who that Digimon was. She (this much was certain) was staring at him from beneath a golden, bird shaped helmet, eyes wide. ShineGreymon pushed his way past a jubilating Gallantmon and Sakuyamon to stand face to face with the Digimon (AN: FYI, Biomerged ShineGreymon is smaller than Marcus' ShineGreymon. He's the same size as Gallantmon.)
The Digimon smiled from beneath her visor and said one word that made his heart do a backflip and land somewhere between his kidneys. "Tai…"
The mighty Dragon of Light, who had just slain a Demon Lord without fear now regarded the small, bird warrior Digimon with a look of wonder. 'S-Sora?" the titan breathed softly.
Phoenixmon shook her head. "Phoenixmon. But yeah…it's me."
ShineGreymon tentatively reached out a hand, lightly stroking an iridescent wing with the back of his mailed gauntlet. As he did so, Phoenixmon ran her hand over the dragon's breastplate, afraid to trust her own eyes in case this was another illusion. The touch seemed to register inside as Tai felt long, slender fingers run themselves over his chest and Sora shivered as his strong hands gently caressed her shoulders.
"You're…beautiful." ShineGreymon managed to say after a long while of looking at the radiant force before him.
"So are you." She replied softly, lightly grazing her fingers over the blue jewel set in his stomach. They found themselves staring at each other for the longest time, until Gallantmon broke their silence by clearing his throat, stretching his angel wings as he regarded ShineGreymon.
"Umm…thanks for taking out Lucemon and saving the city but…do you two know each other?"
"Oh, right." Phoenixmon said, blushing. "Takato, this is my friend Tai. Tai Kamiya."
"Hey." ShineGreymon said, raising a claw in salute
"Hi…" Gallantmon managed to squeak out before Sakuyamon interrupted them.
"You guys!" Sakuyamon called over to them. "Look." She was pointing across the water where the lingering obelisk still jutted out of the earth. "The Hell Gate."
"What about it?" Phoenixmon asked, ruffling her wings.
"Well…when Daemon attacked Odaiba in our world, he brought the Hell Gate with him, but when he left it vanished." Sakuyamon picked up the Crest of Pride, twirling it back and forth, thoughtfully before handing it to Tai. "So why is this gate still here?"
"Maybe Lucemon didn't summon it…" ShineGreymon suggested. "Maybe a high level Arkadimon did."
"No…they came through and you need to be in this world to summon a Hell Gate." Gallantmon stared at the gate with a look of loathing. "Why isn't the gate vanishing? We beat all the Demon Lords! We have their crests! So where are the Arkadimon getting their power from? Who brought them here?"
"Guys…" Phoenixmon said, softly. "When Lilithmon was torturing me…she kinda let slip about the Demon Lords' "Little Friend" she gazed thoughtfully at the burning dome of the sphere. "I wonder who they meant."
They were silent for a moment as they contemplated the implications of Sora's statement.
"Maybe Beelzemon conjured it." ShineGreymon growled. "He used to be a Demon Lord, right? What if he's been with them all along?"
"No…Beelzemon's downstairs fighting with the others." Sakuyamon looked down. "It isn't him; he wouldn't put his life on the line just to turn around and betray us. Besides, the Sovereigns would have sensed his intentions before they sent him with us. Believe it or not, he's the last person it could be."
"Who could be powerful enough to maintain a Hell Gate and inconspicuous enough to slip our notice?" Gallantmon said, thoughtfully. "That would take a Demon of incredible power and the only one who could do that is another…" He trailed off and then his eyes grew wide behind his visor. "No…"
Sakuyamon looked at him for a moment before echoing, "No…."
"What? What is it?" Phoeniixmon asked.
"He didn't…" Gallantmon gasped
"He did…"Sakuyamon moaned
"Did what?" Phoenixmon asked.
"It's the only explanation…" Gallantmon said, staring blankly at the gate
"That son of a bitch, he did it…" Sakuyamon snarled
"Did what?!" ShineGreymon demanded.
"He raised a Demon Lord to fill Beelzemon's chair." Gallantmon growled.
"What? What do you mean?" Tai felt an unfamiliar pit of fear creep into his stomach.
"He elevated a lesser Digimon to Demon Lord Status!" Gallantmon frantically looked around as if the answer to his problems would suddenly appear if he did. "There's still a Demon Lord on the loose and until we stop them, that Hell Gate isn't going anywhere! We need to split up; Phoenixmon, scan downtown, ShineGreymon, take uptown, Sakuyamon and I will scan the waterfronts around the-"
"Can't we do anything down there first?" Phoenixmon interrupted, looking down at the Arkadimon below. The fight had taken a dramatic turn for the worst; their friends were surrounded, Digimon on the outside, protecting their human partners. Justimon, Beelzemon, MagnaAngemon, Angewomon and Beelzemon were all lashing out into the demon hoard while the others formed a shield around the humans behind them. "We have to help them!"
"How?!" ShineGreymon asked, looking for a good target to send an attack at. "There must be thousands of them down there! Where do we even begin?"
Sakuyamon turned to Gallantmon. "What do yout think?"
Gallantmon cocked his head in thought. "I was thinking a Cable Reaper special with a hint of Indramon for flavor..."
Sakuaymon snorted. "You think that will work?"
"Why not?"
"Too many Digimon, Too little time."
"Well what were you thinking?"
"I was thinking you had a better idea!"
Phoenixmon looked uncertainly at ShineGreymon who just shrugged. "I don't know, either..." Before turning back to the bickering Megas
"How about a Zhuqiaomon Run?"
"A what?"
"You know..."
"You lost me, Goggles."
"Knock out the big guys and hope the others scatter!"
"Anyone feel like explaining this to us?" Tai asked, hopefully. Gallantmon and Sakuyamon looked back for brief second before continuing with their discussion.
"What about...a Runaway Locomon?"
Gallantmon started to protest but then cocked his head in thought. "Yeah...that will work..."
"You know what to do, Gogglemon." Gallantmon nodded knowingly, drawing Gungir, flying high into the sky and launching it into the heavens.
"You know..."Phoenixmon said to Sakuyamon as they watched Gallantmon soar off into the sky. "I take back what I said earlier...you just might be Takato's type..."
Sakuyamon kept her back to Phoenixmon to keep her from noticing the effect Rika's emotions were having on the color of the Digimon's cheeks. "You know...for such a small bird, you sure have a big mouth..." Phoenixmon shook her head as Gallantmon spiraled higher and higher.
"What exactly is he going to do?" ShineGreymon asked, head cocked to one side. "And what in God's name is a "Runamay Locomon?"
Sakuaymon smirked to herself. "You'll see..."
Gallantmon peaked high above the battle below. Cocking his arm back, he loosed Gungir into the heavens with a mighty throw of his arm. It spiraled into the sky and out of sight as Takato raised a hand to direct the attack. "QUO VADIS!" There was a deafening silence and then a shaft of light beamed down from on high and slammed into the ground, releasing shockwaves of light that disintegrated any Arkadimon it touched while leaving their friends unharmed. There was an unholy cry of anguish as the Arkadimon tried in vain to escape the purging light. The air filled with a thick cloud of data as the remnants of the Arkadimon returned to the Digital World. In a few short seconds, the hoard had vanished and a wild cheer loosed itself from the survivors below. Gallantmon caught the weapon as it came back to him, floating back to land beside Sakuyamon
"THAT'S a Runaway Locomon." Sakuyamon said, noting the astonished looks on the faces of Phoenixmon and Gallantmon.
"Wow…" Tai gasped. "That was incredible…you totally wiped them all out"
"Thanks…" Takato said, bashfully. "Coming from you, that means a lot."
"We would have liked to have you on our side when we were facing Apoclymon and the Dark Masters..." Phoenixmon said, equally impressed
"Trust me when I say this; I would have LOVED to have been there!"
Sakuyamon rolled her eyes. "Jeez, Goggles, for once in you life be cool…"
"Err…right…sorry" Gallantmon said, sheepishly. That was Takato; one minute he was eradicating hoards of swarming demon scum and the next he was geekily squealing like a Trekkie at Comic Con.
"Guys…" Phoenixmon's shaky voice brought them back to their senses as she pointed towards the burning dome. Most of the top half had gone, falling onto the street below. The remaining half was shattered, cracked like a broken egg as a small, dark shape huddled in the center of it, surrounded by the thick, choking smoke. Gallantmon exchanged glances with Sakuyamon and ShineGreymon and the four of them hesitantly floated over to the hollowed out dome.
"Unbelievable…" Sora mumbled. "We've been staring at it the whole time…you fought Lucemon just above the seventh Demon Lord…" With a powerful flare of her wings, Phoenixmon sent a gust of wind to clear the smoke away. As the haze lifted, she suddenly wished she hadn't.
A horribly twisted, misshapen, mutated mound of flesh sat in the pit like an ugly duckling hatched from an egg. Its skin was a pallid, yellow color, so transparent that all the arteries and veins that pumped through it were visible to the naked eye. Its legs were practically nonexistent, melded together in a blob of flesh and attached to a black metal apparatus that covered his torso. Thick, black tubes were connected to the monster's frail looking back and chest and fed into the apparatus below. Its long, bony arms were crossed under his thin neck. It's head was huge and bald, with long, sharp teeth jutting out from his mouth and empty, soulless eye sockets where two eyes should have been. Despite its fragility, the strange Demon Lord made the four Megas very, very uneasy.
"What…is it?" Sakuyamon asked, tightening his grip on her staff. "Is that the Seventh Demon Lord?"
"He's the one that controls the Arkadimon…" Gallantmon said. "When I was fighting Lilithmon down there, the Arkadimon attacked the both of us…I don't think that Lucemon and Lilithmon ever had control of them…he must have conjured the Hell Gate…"
"But why is he all…frail looking?" ShineGreymon said, crossing his arms. "He doesn't look all that powerful; in fact, he looks downright unhealthy."
"He must be stronger than he looks," Phoenixmon said, thoughtfully as they flew closer.
"That's not saying much; he doesn't look very strong." Sakuyamon mumbled dryly. "I don't think he can see us; Can he even hear us?"
"I don't think so." Gallantmon said, tapping his sword on the edge of the building and producing a low ringing sound. The creature didn't look up, didn't even move. "What should we do?"
Sora was silent for a moment. "Take him out. But be careful."
Gallantmon and Sakuyamon lingered back while ShineGreymon and Phoenixmon circled in, weapons drawn. The closer that they got to the creature, the greater the feeling of overwhelming hopelessness became. Their wings felt heavy and they had to land to keep from falling out of the sky. ShineGreymon approached the seemingly deaf, dumb and blind Digimon, creeping along the ground as Phoenixmon flanked him from the other side. They looked at each other for a split second before acting. They raised their swords over their heads, counting a silent one…two…three…and…
"GREEEEEAOOOWWWWW!!"
A horrible scream rent the air as the misshapen monstrosity opened his snaggle toothed gullet and loosed a paralyzing howl. ShineGreymon froze in mid swing as one long, pallid arm lashed out and snared the crest of Pride from ShineGreymon's neck. With the other, he plucked Lilithmon's crest and drew the blackened objects inward towards his chest. His head snapped up, rapidly snapping back and forth between ShineGreymon and Phoenixmon. Then, letting a slow, deep, hissing laugh he smiled his yellow fangs at them.
"T-T-T-T-T-T-Tai…" The monster stuttered out, sounding like a CD skipping over a scratch. His voice sounded rasp, faint and harsh at the same time. The way he spoke Tai's name filled him with fear and loathing; it was an unnatural, unholy noise that set his hairs on end. "And Sor-Sor-Sor-" the monster slapped the side of his head. "Sora." His vacant eyes glared at them both while his mouth held the eerie grin. "its sssssssooooooo gooD to SEEEEEE you Both…it's bEen so looOOoooOOoooOooooooooooOoong since we've had the chance to ch-ch-ch- damn…WhAt iS wORd…chat…yesssssss ChAt-t-t like this."
"Who are you?" Tai asked, brandishing his sword and stepping in front of Phoenixmon slightly. "And what's wrong with you? Why are you talking like that?"
The beast raised a hand to his chest in offense. "You mean? you don't r-r-r-r-r-r-r-rrrrecognize me?! I am not! surprised…NO I AM NOT…because I seem to have…ah…changed, yes, that's it…I have chaNGEd since last we met-t-t-t-t-t-t-t…"
"How have you changed?" Sora asked, readying her blade. "What do you mean by that?"
The beast let out a dark, low, chuckle hissing through his teeth as he did. "Wellll….what happened wassssss….During the ReConFigUrAtiTing processssss…something went WRONG, WRONG, WORNG, WRONG!!….W…R…O…N…G…WRONG! So very. Very very, very, very, very, very Wrong and NoW I Am a SheLL of my former sellff…." He popped his neck with a series of sickening cracks. "I must have trrrrrrrravelled the Digital World for years and years and years and YEARS!! Half…A…Life…Time…I waSTEd on Searching for new… friends….Like yours to HELP ME!! And so I found them…hee, hee…my NEW FRIENDS…ho,ho, hee…imprisoned by the cursed Sovereigns they were…hee…hee…imprisoned in FIRE and Flames and…Darkness so I did a naughty thing, I did…you want to know what it was?? REAllY?? OKAYYYY I'll Telllll you……I… let… them… out…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA." ShineGreymon tightened his hold on his sword as the Digimon threw his head back and laughed. "I Let them out! And…And…And… and they took good care of me they did…oh, yesssssss….they brought me back here…where it all began, so long ago…." He looked around the cityscape with hollow, lifeless eyes. "Oh…Tokyo…how I've missed you …"
"You didn't answer my question; who are you?"
"Still, STILL you do not know me…but it has beeen a while…yessssss….Soooooo young you were….when you stood in that same spot, bold as brrrrassssssss….and….cast…me…down." He hissed, softly. "I thought…brrrrrrrrrringing you back here would help jarrrrrrrr your memory…."
Tai froze and felt Sora freeze beside him. "I know that voice…"
"Ssssssince New…YEARS…IT HAS BEEN…"
"No…impossible…." Phoenixmon gasped, coming to the same conclusion Tai had.
"Impossible…Noooooo…no no no no no no no no no no nien, nyecht, nah, naaaaaa,…veeerrrry possible, true in fact, SSSSSSSORA…."
"I know your name…"
"Then SP-SP-SP-SPeaK it…"
"I never thought you'd return…" he growled. "Not again…"
"BuT I DiD!!" The Demon Lord cackled. "Heeeeeeere's MEEEEEEEEEE!!"
Phoenixmon gasped. "What the hell happened to you?"
He only smiled his mirthless, cold smile, all trace of mania vanished. "Hell happened to me…In Fire and Flame I was Consumed…Twisted…misshapen…deformed…Reborn…Demon…Lord…Myotismon…Lord…of Darkness" Opening his mouth, he reached down his gullet and pulled out a blackened Crest on the end of a long chain. He held it up for them to see. "And now…SinCe yOu'Ve brought mE the others…" He held up the Crests of Lust and Pride. "I...will grow stronger…"
"NO!" Tai shouted as Myotismon chained the three crests together and opened his mouth. Leaving Phoenixmon behind, he charged forward, blade drawn, ready to slay Myotismon. The data around him was swirling, collecting in a thick, dark mist and covering him from view. ShineGreymon soared as fast as he could towards the emerging figure. He had to stop him before he crossed over, before he could absorb the Crests. He was almost there; the data hadn't fully converged yet. With one almighty swing of his fist, he drove the GeoGrey Sword forward…
The mist dissipated, vanishing with a swing of the sword, leaving nothing behind…
"YES!!" Gallantmon cried, punching the air. "You did it, Tai!
ShineGreymon looked back at Gallantmon, a cold feeling of dread growing in the pit of his stomach. Was it over? Was it that easy? Was Myotismon really gone this-
Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap
Tai's heart plummeted as he looked up to see the source of the mocking applause. His eyes traveled up from the shiny, gold buckled black boots, up the finely tailored black pants, up to the black jacket, embroidered with silver and gold, to the pale, handsome face, set with cold blue eyes and capped with a head of long, jet black hair. His black feathered angel's wings beat in time with his gloved hands, beating out a mock applause as he hovered over the four Megas.
"Bravo…bellisimo!" the newly formed Myotismon cheered, all traces of his flawed speech gone. "That was truly a valiant attempt, young Kamiya; you're a credit to your Crest. But," He raised a hand to the rising sun, clenching his fist and as he lowered his arm back to his side, the sun reversed its trek across the skies and the city was once again, plunged into darkness "It's not over yet. I told you when we met that it was my destiny to cover the world in darkness," Myotismon said, softly. "Today…I intend to fulfill it."
AN: Breakdown!
Yes, Myotismon is back
No, he's not quite the same.
After MaloMyotismon was defeated, his data didn't reconfigure properly (hence the misshapen form and the garbled speech)
The Demon Lords cared for him after they released him.
After consuming the Crests of Lust and Pride, along with his Crest of Darkness, he managed to Digivolve into Demon Lord Myotismon.
Read
Review (It fills me with resolve to finish the story! We're almost done! Three more fights and then the Epilogue!!)
Paz
Amor
DOTMW