Chapter 7: Facing the Fire Together
Weeks passed by, and Terriermon began to heal with support from his friends. Renamon didn't dare mention Impmon's name again, especially in front of Terriermon.
Jeri became a Tamer, too, with Leomon as her partner.
Then, just when things were starting to look normal again, Calumon was Digi-napped by the monkey-Deva, Makuramon! The original three Tamers, Jeri, Kazu and Kenta went to the Digital World to rescue him, but they were separated.
Takato, Henry and Terriermon were currently walking aimlessly through the desert when the white rabbit-Digimon's ears perked up.
"That was Suzie!" Terriermon cried, and Henry's expression turned worried.
"Wait, what did you say?" Henry stuttered, wanting to make sure he'd heard correctly.
"I heard her! And she's close by, too!" he pressed.
"Are you sure?" the indigo-haired boy asked. His partner nodded.
"Would these ears lie to you?" Terriermon cracked, and Henry looked up ahead, worried about his little sister.
Suddenly, the spaceship they were in seemed to change direction, and Takato grabbed onto his friend's arm to keep his balance as it exploded into tiny pieces at their backs. The trio free-fell through the air and crashed to the ground.
"Well, that was entertaining!" Takato muttered dryly.
Shaking himself off and standing on the tips of his back-paws, Terriermon just managed to glimpse his Tamer's little sister in the distance. She was being attacked by Makuramon!
"Suzie!" Terriermon called, running forward whilst a brown bunny-Digimon appeared and succeeded in fighting off the enemy.
"Terriermon!" the little girl cried, running toward her brother, his partner, and Takato as they caught up. The danger now out of the way, the newcomer De-Digivolved just as a Digivice materialized in Suzie's hands. Henry's eyes widened.
"But…that little Digimon's a Deva! Does—does that mean Suzie's a…?" Henry trailed disbelievingly.
"Suzie, are you all right?" Terriermon inquired, and his Tamer's sibling grinned.
"I'm okay! I finwy have a bunny of my own!" Suzie squealed happily, hugging her new partner.
"That Digimon looks like a chocolate-flavored me! This is weird…" Terriermon murmured. Henry pointed his Digivice at the female.
"She's called Lopmon. Her attack is Blazing Ice."
All of a sudden, a laugh rang out, causing Terriermon to step in front of his Tamer and Suzie. At first it sounded like any other evil laugh, but when the figure appeared, Terriermon was frozen to the spot.
It was Impmon.
Henry's eyes widened at the new appearance. Instantaneously he pushed Terriermon behind him, extending his arms.
"What do you want Impmon?" Henry demanded frostily. He would be damned if he let that troublemaker lay a claw on Terriermon! Or on Suzie, for that matter…
"Ah, now that's cold! It don't sound too nice on ya. Personally, I liked ya much better when ya simply allowed me to have fun with yer little rodent!" Impmon mocked with a smirk, making Terriermon tremble and release a shuddering breath as he clung to his partner's leg. Henry glared deeply, hatred burning in his eyes.
"If you even try to touch Terriermon, I'll show you no mercy! You're a monster, you know that? It's no wonder you don't have any friends with how cruel you can be!" Henry yelled.
The adolescent had never felt so enraged in his life. Terriermon was recovering, yes, but because of this fiend, there was a central part of him that would probably never return: his confidence.
Impmon was taken aback by the words, by all of the loathing directed towards him. It almost made him cower and want to somehow do something to make up for his actions. For the briefest of moments, he wondered if he was doing the right thing.
He had clearly broken Terriermon like he'd wanted…so then why didn't he feel proud of himself? Why was there a small portion of him that felt remorse?
Before he could contemplate this further, he felt the dark energy burning inside his body. It enflamed his spirit and surrounded him in a dark glow. The shadowed light faded, and he had Digivolved.
"Beelzemon, a Virus-type Digimon. The Ultimate form of Impmon," Takato recited.
He felt totally helpless. Terriermon was too scared to Digivolve, Lopmon had lost the ability to Digivolve since her Deva powers were taken, and he himself couldn't do much without Guilmon…
Henry frowned determinedly, continuing to stand protectively in front of Terriermon. He had to protect him from Beelzemon.
"Henry, Terriermon has to Digivolve! It's the only choice we have!" the Gogglehead cried, worry flickering in his eyes. Henry clenched his fists.
"We...we can't! Terriermon's not over his fear yet, and I can't let him be hurt again!" Henry's voice was but a hard-pressed whisper.
But his own feelings were cast to the wind when his sister ran forward. Terriermon and Lopmon both gasped in surprise, and the older of the boy's eyes widened.
"Hey, you big meanie cweature, you weave my bwother and Twerriermon alone or Lopmon's gonna change into Antylamon and hurt you!" Suzie cried, stomping her foot and glaring angrily at Beelzemon.
"Suzie, don't!" Henry screamed, terror literally searing his throat as he tried to reach for his sister.
But it was too late. An annoyed Beelzemon had sent his Corono Blaster spiraling toward Suzie! Forgetting all about his fear, Terriermon darted out from behind Henry and into the fray. "Terrier Tornado!"
His attack collided with the oncoming one, and the collision was so jolting that it sent Terriermon flying backwards. Suzie, who had shrunk to the ground in fear, began crying, and Henry picked her up in his arms before running over to Terriermon.
"Terriermon! Are you all right?" he asked worriedly, then added with a weak smile, "You protected Suzie even when you were scared! Thank you!"
Terriermon responded in kind before standing up and facing Impmon. His tiny legs were quaking badly.
"I hate you! Not only did you torture me, but now you attack Suzie?" Terriermon shouted, beginning to stumble over his words when Beelzemon gave him a leering smirk and took a step closer to him. "You may have hurt m-me I-Impmon but I w-won't l-let y-you h-hurt my friends! I-I'm n-not s-scared o-of y-you a-anymore because I know I'm not alone!"
Terriermon stood his shaky ground and was immediately relieved when Henry's strong arms wrapped around him as if to keep him upright, to reassure him that there was nothing to be afraid of.
This time when Terriermon looked into Beelzemon's eyes, he truly began to believe that he and Henry could beat him together.