Hello again, it's me. Sorry about the whole lack-of-spaces-between-scenes thing…I don't know why it did that because I did put my usual six-stars-with-lines-in-between-them breaker. Oh well…I'll just use something different.
Kaede: Hey you Baka! Shut up and start writing already!
Urusai wa ne! (shut up) (anyone know how to spell 'hello' in Japanese? I know its something like kon-ee-chi-wa but I'm not sure of the spelling…)
Kaede: Huh? Whatever. Just write the chapter already!!
P.S: I made a little mistake in the last chapter. I said that Ai, Mako and Suzy were inside the Temple with Alice and Jeri but then I said that Anubismon was also fighting. My bad. He isn't, Labramon and Alice are helping look after the kids inside.
Chapter 19Battle's can be Brutal
"Arrow Catastrophe!" Hundreds of yellow and red arrows went soaring through the air, flying straight towards the Tamers. Megagargomon flew up ahead of them and crossed his arms in front of his face, taking the full force of the attack. His sturdy armour held fast and he remained relatively unharmed.
"You'll have to do better than that!" He said.
"My pleasure!" Tuzeremon raised his arms above his head and let out an angry roar. "Arrowhead Tsunami!" He brought his arms down in a wild sweep and what looked like a massive barrel wave came crashing towards them out of nowhere. The water formed into sharp points, much like the tips of arrows and tore across the forest, throwing the Tamers back with its force. Gallantmon, who had been tossed against a tree, stood up and shook himself off.
"That's gonna leave a mark," he muttered weakly. Sakuyamon stood up beside him and looked over her shoulder at Justimon and Megagargomon, both of whom had landed at the foot of the stairway leading to the temple.
"Come on, guys. We have to focus here." She raised her staff with both hands her bowed her head. A ball of pulsing electricity formed around her hands and an odd humming sound filled the area.
"Crystal Sphere!" The energy ball shot off her staff and flew at Tuzeremon. He didn't move, simply standing there and waiting for her attack. It hit him in the forehead and the ball exploded, making his body glow with the electricity that was roaring over his body. He didn't even so much as flinch. When the attack died away he laughed and flexed his arms.
"Your pathetic little tricks won't work on me, Digimon Murderer. You have no power against me." He took a step towards her and Rika backed away a little before standing firm.
"Threaten me all you like. You don't scare me." She raised her staff and leapt into the air. Drawing a large pentagon in the air, she let loose her "Dragon Helix" attack just before Justimon combined his "Justice Burst" with it. This had clearly become their favourite attack. The giant dragon flew straight at Tuzeremon who growled and braced himself for the blow. The Dragon circled him twice, shooting blasts of amethyst fire at him before roaring and flying right into him, creating a massive explosion.
"Alright!" Gallantmon cheered. "Our turn!" He dug his feet into the ground and held his shield out in front of him. Each triangle on the outer rim of the shield started lighting up and when they were all glowing brightly, the center figure started shining too.
"Shield of the Just!" An arrow like beam of energy exploded out of his shield and connected with the fire that was still surrounding Tuzeremon. This caused an even bigger explosion and the entire area was suddenly in flames. The Tamers stood staring into the inferno before them, waiting apprehensively for any signs of life.
"Do you think he's gone?" Gallantmon asked. Vahimermon shook his head.
"I very much doubt it. He is more powerful than what he has shown. I fear this is only the beginning…"
"Quite right, old friend." They all froze in horror at the deadly quiet voice coming from within the flames. An eerie silence fell over the forest as Tuzeremon calmly walked out of them, completely unharmed and seemingly unfazed. Their attacks had done nothing.
"No!" Megagargomon said desperately. "He's not even hurt!"
"This isn't working. We need to come up with a new plan." Sakuyamon rounded on SacreAngewomon, glaring at her.
"This coming from someone who hasn't even lifted a finger to help us," Rika sneered. SacreAngewomon flinched a little at her sister's malice before sighing and raising her bow.
"You're never going to forgive me are you…" she whispered sadly. Rika folded her arms within Sakuyamon and narrowed her eyes.
"Give me one good reason why I should," she hissed in return. Tuzeremon was watching this little exchange with a sinister smirk on his reptilian face.
"Now this is entertainment. I think I'll help them along…" His eyes started glowing brightly and a crimson light enveloped SacreAngewomon.
"W-what's going on…" she was shivering with what appeared to be pain while she struggled against the light that was now threatening to consume her.
"Rika…run. I can't…hold it any-more." The light brightened and suddenly her entire body stiffened. She raised her face to Sakuyamon and smirked evilly. Sakuyamon glared right back.
"I'm not going anywhere." She raised her staff and took up a fighting stance. "You want to fight out our problems, then be my guest."
"Rika, don't! You'll kill each other!" Henry said anxiously.
"Shut it, Wong. This is between me and my own blood."
"Yes," SacreAngewomon laughed. "Your blood…which is what's going to be on the ground when I'm through with you!" With that said she launched herself at Sakuyamon who leapt into the air as well.
"Shaman Crossbow!"
"Amethyst Wind!" The attacks connected between them and exploded, throwing them back again.
"Rika! Stop it! We're supposed to be fighting Tuzeremon, not each other!" Takato called.
"Stay out of this!" Alex snarled. The red glow around her pulsed viciously and she raised her arms to the air. A ball of green and blue energy formed in her upturned palms and it started growing larger as she drew energy into it from all around her.
"Heaven's Cloud of Judgment!!" Sakuyamon growled angrily and raised her staff again. A ball of amethyst light appeared at the tip and she lifted it off. Holding out her arm, she spun in the air and threw the ball at SacreAngewomon like a discus.
"Spirit Crusher!" Just as Sakuyamon's attack hit SacreAngewomon she threw her own attack down at Sakuyamon with a violent sweep of her arms. The giant ball hit her full on and she was thrown back into the blazing inferno behind her. Tuzeremon laughed hysterically while Justimon flew after Sakuyamon. Megagargomon went after SacreAngewomon, who was lying in a pile of debris far away from them. Gallantmon, however, faced Tuzeremon angrily, his eyes blazing with pure malice. Tuzeremon simply looked at him and grinned.
"Don't you just love these touching family moments?" He smirked. Gallantmon growled angrily and held out his arm. It formed into a huge lance and he aimed it at Tuzeremon. Vahimermon was beside him, tossing a ball of white energy in his hand like it was a baseball.
"Ah, so you are going to fight me too, Vahimermon?" Tuzeremon laughed. "You honestly think that you could defeat me?" Vahimermon bowed his head and shook it.
"Not alone, no. But as you can see, I am not alone. I led you here so it is my duty to make sure no more harm comes to these children." This only made Tuzeremon laugh harder.
"Well then. I suggest you take note of the fact that they are destroying each other. I have yet to attack them again." He motioned to Sakuyamon, who had broken free of Justimon's grip and was now locked in a furious battle with SacreAngewomon, who had simply knocked Megagargomon out of her way so she could fight again.
"You monster!" Gallantmon yelled. "You're turning them against each other!"
"Not quite. You see I am merely controlling her." He motioned to SacreAngewomon. "The Digimon Murderer is fighting of her own free will. Her violence and inhumanity is exactly why we must destroy her. You are simply in the way." Gallantmon looked back at his fighting friends. Sakuyamon had just knocked SacreAngewomon into a group of trees with her "Dragon Helix" attack, which had also set fire to more of the forest. Justimon and Megagargomon were still trying to restrain them but it wasn't helping.
In the glow of the fire, that was consuming everything in its path, Gallantmon closed his eyes angrily and faced Tuzeremon again.
"You will pay for this. Even if it means destroying myself in the process, you will pay!" He lifted his lance towards Tuzeremon once more and electricity started swirling around it, gathering at the tip. He pulled back his arm and then threw it forward again, releasing a huge surge of electrical energy that flew at Tuzeremon, aiming directly for his head.
"Lightning Joust!" The ball of white energy in Vahimermon's hand grew a little and he wound up his arm, throwing it out baseball style at Tuzeremon.
"Radiant Meteor!" Both attacks combined into one larger, more powerful force but Tuzeremon simply watched it coming at him with a look of disinterest on his face. When the attack was inches from him it suddenly stopped, hovering in mid air before him.
"Pitiful," he muttered, before the attack shot back at Gallantmon and Vahimermon, twice as powerful as it had been before. Vahimermon's eyes widened a little and he disappeared but Gallantmon wasn't fast enough to move and he was hit so hard that he flew back into the fight going on behind him. The two attacks that SacreAngewomon and Sakuyamon had just launched at each other hit him instead and he yelled out in pain, falling to the ground in a motionless heap.
"No! Takato!" The Tamers watched in horror as he and Guilmon separated, lying in fragmented heaps on the ground.
"Oh my God…" Sakuyamon whispered, her eyes wide with shock. Tuzeremon took this opportunity to release his hold on SacreAngewomon. She shook her head to clear it and looked down, her eyes widening at the sight of her fallen comrades.
"What have we done…" she gasped.
"Only what you wanted to do," Tuzeremon laughed. "You are destroying each other and its so much fun to watch."
"No," Sakuyamon whimpered, shaking her head desperately. Justimon flew down to Takato and Guilmon and lifted them into the air. He handed them to Sakuyamon and pointed at the Temple.
"Take them inside and stay there." His voice was firm and almost angry and Sakuyamon actually flinched at it.
"But…you need me too fight out here!" She said, trying to sound reasonable, but her voice was quivering slightly.
"As long as Tuzeremon can control SacreAngewomon, you aren't going to be able to help us," Megagargomon said. "Besides, Takato and Guilmon will be safer if they have you there to protect them."
"But…"
"Just go!" Justimon snapped. It was so unlike him that Rika found herself unable to protest. She flew away from the battle and Tuzeremon snarled angrily.
"Where are you going? Come back!" He yelled. He made a move to go after her but Justimon, Megagargomon, SacreAngewomon and Vahimermon all stood in his path.
"Back off…" Justimon barked. The Tamers and Vahimermon all stood at the ready and Tuzeremon smirked.
"Fine. If you will stand in my way then I will simply destroy you first!" He raised his arms up and growled.
"Arrowhead Tsunami!" The attack hit them all hard and they were thrown apart. The only good thing the water from the attack did was to put out all the fires. Tuzeremon cackled menacingly and held his arms out in front of him.
"Arrow Catastrophe!" The red and yellow arrows all hit their marks and exploded on contact, leaving the already injured Megas in an even closer state to deletion.
"Now perhaps you will understand that you cannot defeat me…" He lifted his head and his eyes started glowing a deeper crimson than they already were. Flexing his arms and quivering with power, he growled and hissed as his body burst into green flames.
"Gaia Force…" he snapped his head down towards them and raised his arms to the sky. "…Omega!" The earth beneath them was rumbling and parts of it cracked loose. An almighty ripping sound crashed across the area and a huge ball of rock, earth and energy lifted itself from the ground. It burst into green flames – identical to those on Tuzeremon's body – and with a flick of his arms it rolled through the air towards the immobile Megas. Tuzeremon laughed triumphantly as his attack came nearer and nearer to his prey but he gave an angry and startled snarl when it came to a very abrupt halt, inches from its closest target, which happened to be Megagargomon.
"What is the meaning of this?" He roared. "Who dares stop my attack!" He looked around angrily but froze when two huge figures appeared above him. They were merely silhouettes but their identities were unmistakable. Tuzeremon dropped immediately to his knees and bowed his head.
"My Lords." The red from of Zhuqiaomon gave an almighty flap of his wings and Tuzeremon's attack disappeared. "Masters…why have you stopped me from destroying them?" Tuzeremon asked, his voice filled with fear and respect.
"Do not question us, Tuzeremon!" Boomed the white-blue figure of Azulongmon. "Return to the Red Castle immediately!" Tuzeremon stiffened but nodded. He stood up when the two Sovereigns disappeared and growled menacingly at the Tamers.
"Your luck is immeasurable. We will meet again…" With that, he leapt into the air and vanished. Justimon struggled to his feet and looked up to where Tuzeremon had once been.
"Oh-kay…what just happened?" He asked, his hand searching the back of his head in confusion.
"I…dunno." Megagargomon was helping SacreAngewomon to her feet while Vahimermon sat crossed-legged in the air.
"I fear that the Sovereign have only called him back for a short time. We must be on guard and intensify our training if we hope to survive another battle. Come, we must go inside." He turned and floated back to the castle, Justimon and Megagargomon following quietly (and tiredly) behind. SacreAngewomon sighed sadly and de-digivolved to her rookie and human form. Folding her arms across her chest, Alex walked solemnly beside Koronamon, wanting to take as much time to get back to the temple as possible. What if Takato was seriously hurt…or worse because of that stupid battle she and Rika had had. What if he didn't make it? And worst of all, what if Rika didn't either. She had been badly injured when she'd left because, as much as she hated to admit it, Rika and Renamon were not as powerful as Alex and Koronamon. Things were looking worse than ever between Alex and Rika and if they didn't solve their problems soon then it was likely that they never would.
(I DONT KNOW WHY MY SPACES DONT WORK)
Henry was first to enter Alex and Jeri's room, where they had left them with the other kids. When Rika and Renamon had come in with the unconscious forms of Takato and Guilmon they had rushed to put them both on the beds and MarineAngemon had begun healing them at once. Rika was now sitting in the corner of the room, occasionally shooting Takato a terrified look before dropping her gaze again. Her arms were folded across her chest and she refused to talk to anyone, even Renamon. Ryo gave her a half-guilty look, noticing that she was badly hurt too. Renamon had allowed MarineAngemon to heal her but Rika hadn't let him come near her. While Henry walked over to Takato to make sure he was okay, Ryo made his way over to Rika to talk to her. He was angry with her and he had absolutely no intention of apologizing for yelling at her. It was her own fault that she felt like this now. If she hadn't fought back then Takato wouldn't have been hurt. He sat down beside her and looked straight ahead of him. When he and Cyberdramon had de-digivolved Cyberdramon had reverted back to Monodramon because of the energy loss they had sustained during the battle. When Ryo had sat down Monodramon had run over to Rika and hopped into her lap, curling up against her and falling asleep almost instantly. She looked down at him before glancing at Ryo, who wasn't looking at her. She hugged Monodramon to her chest and sighed.
"Look…Ryo. I'm sorry, ok? I didn't mean to hurt Takato. I just…"
"You just nothing!" He snapped. "What were you thinking? Why in the hell did you fight back? You're smarter than that, Rika!"
"I know!" She cried angrily. "But…but, oh God! I don't know why I fought back ok! I was just so damn angry and when she attacked I just…did the first thing I could think of!" The other Tamers were looking at them now and Ryo had stood up, bearing down on her angrily. She wasn't flinching, despite her quilt and the pain she was in. It was at that moment that Alex and Koronamon came in. Every (conscious) eye in the room turned to them and Rika scowled. She threw Ryo a very dirty look before stalking out of the room. Alex watched her go for a second before running after her.
"Rika, wait!" She called.
"Stay away from me!" Was Rika's vicious reply before their voices died away. Ryo, who was shaking with anger, gave a frustrated sigh before walking out of the room too, taking the route leading away from Rika and Alex. The room was deathly quiet as everyone stared helplessly at the door.
"Uh…what just happened?" All eyes turned to the bed and Jeri gave a delighted squeal.
"Takato! You're okay!" She launched herself at him and hugged him so tightly that he was in danger of suffocating.
"I'm f-fine, Jeri," he managed to gasp out while trying to pry her off his neck. When he finally had her off Takato turned to Henry who was holding a tired Alice in his arms.
"So…what's going on? What happened?" Henry sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling Alice into his lap. Jeri gave her a confused look at this but said nothing, intending to pump her for information later. Takato didn't even notice. He was too wrapped up in Henry's retelling of the battle and the argument between Rika and Ryo.
"I don't get it. Are you saying that Rika and Alex did this to me?" He asked. Henry nodded and Takato frowned. "Well, I'm sure they didn't mean it."
"No, they didn't, but it was still wrong of them to be fighting in the first place," Henry replied.
"Is that why Ryo was so angry with Rika?" Henry nodded again and pulled Alice closer, using her as a comfort source while he thought.
"I've never seen him so upset before. I mean he's usually very controlled and calm. He really blew up at her. And you know what Rika's like. If you yell, she yells right back," he said quietly.
"Yeah, I know…she's kinda scary when she's like that. What about Alex? Is she still being controlled?"
"No, he released her when they almost killed you. I think he wanted to let her see what she had done."
"What I'm more concerned with is why the Sovereign stopped Tuzeremon from killing you guys," Alice piped in. She had been silent ever since Rika and Renamon had arrived with Takato and Guilmon. "After all, they are the ones sending the Devas over to kill Rika and anyone helping her. Why would they stop their second in command from doing just that?" Henry sighed and shook his head.
"I don't know. If you ask me, this whole thing is getting far to complicated."
"I agree," Takato said, his hand searching the back of his head on confusion.
"Maybe Vahimermon could help us understand…" Jeri suggested. They all stared at her for a moment and she blushed. "Well…it seemed like a good idea…"
"That's a brilliant idea, Jeri," Henry said reassuringly. "Vahimermon's a Deva so he should have some idea of what's going on."
"Takatomon…pass the peanut butter…" They all face vaulted comically when Guilmon yawned in his sleep and simply rolled over.
"He even dreams about food…sheesh…"
(I DONT KNOW WHY MY SPACES WONT WORK)
"Rika…please, will you just listen to me?" Alex grabbed Rika's arm when they came to the Temple's main hall.
"Listen to what, Alex? More lies? I think I've had enough of those to last me a life time!" Rika snapped, pulling Monodramon, who she had neglected to put down after she had stormed off, closer to her chest.
"I never lied to you about anything, Rika. I just didn't want to tell you because I thought it would be a little too much for you to handle after grandma's death…"
"Don't you dare call her that!" Rika hissed. "She is not your grandmother. And for your information, I'm not as weak as you seem to think I am. I would've handled it just fine!"
"I know that now but…please Rika, I don't want to fight with you. You're my sister…"
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are…and I know that you're angry with me but I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do to take it back but if I could I would." Rika shook her head and turned away.
"You don't get it. I'm not angry with you because you lied. I understand that, despite the fact that it was still wrong. Right now the only reason I'm angry with you is because he left because of you!" She was breathing heavily and Alex gave her a stunned look.
"W-what are you talking about? Made who leave?"
"Our father! He only left because he wanted you! He hated me and he still does. It's your fault he left Mom and me…it's your fault that I had to live without my father. Just because I wasn't Miss-Perfect-Daddy's-little-angel!"
"Oh yeah! Well its because you weren't Miss-Perfect-Daddy's-little-angel that I had to grow up without my mom! That's no better than what you went through, Rika. In fact, I'd say its worse!"
"Worse than your own mother trying to turn you into your sister?" Rika snapped in return. This silenced Alex and Rika glared at her angrily.
"No…it's not worse than that and I'm sorry you had to live with that Rika. But that was mom's decision, not mine." Rika dropped her gaze and shut her eyes. Alex was right about that, she knew that. It was her mother's own fault that she had pushed Rika away. But it still didn't make her feel any better. It did, however, make her realize that she wasn't angry with Alex so much as her mother and father. For what they had put her and her sister through. Turning back around to look at Alex, Rika's eyes softened a little.
"Look, I don't want to argue with you about this anymore. I'm sorry I blamed everything on you…I know it's not really your fault…" Alex smiled warmly at this. She knew how much that had taken for Rika to do.
"Thanks and I'm sorry I never told you all of this earlier."
"Whatever…" Rika glanced back down the corridor they had come from and frowned. There was still one argument left unsolved.
"You're worried Ryo's still upset with you, aren't you." Alex smiled at her sister and actually rolled her eyes. "Don't be thick. He's probably just a little pissed off that we fought each other like we did. He won't stay mad at you for long." Rika turned to her and hitched Monodramon a little higher into her arms.
"You don't even know him. How do you know he doesn't completely despise me?" She asked, although she knew he didn't.
"I don't need to know a guy to know that he won't stay mad at someone he totally adores for very long. You do realize that right?"
"That he like's me? Of course I know that. He told me," she said with a light shrug, wondering why in the hell she was telling Alex something so private. Alex giggled and Rika rolled her eyes.
"You mean he actually told you?"
"Yes…why?"
"How kawaai!! What did you tell him back?"
"What!?" Rika gave her sister a horrified look. "That has nothing to do with you!" Alex only giggled again and Rika frowned.
"Aw, come on, Sis." Rika's frown deepened at this. "You can tell me…ooh, did he kiss you yet?" Rika's eyebrows shot so high that they were in danger of disappearing in her hair.
"God!" She said in exasperation. "You're even worse than Jeri!" Still laughing madly, Alex just watched as he sister walked off in search of Ryo, glad that things between them were finally getting better.
(I DONT KNOW WHY MY SPACES WONT WORK)
Two eyes stared darkly into the bright screen before them, the only light in an otherwise black room. A sinister sneer spread to those eyes and a calm, evil laughter echoed through the quiet room.
"So…you are beginning to resist me, oh Mighty Lords. I guess I'll just have to work a little harder, won't I?" The laughter became louder and more hysterical as the computer screen lit up the figure. Displayed before him was the entire battle, the Sovereign and the Tamers, each boxed neatly into their own little files.
(I DONT KNOW WHY MY SPACES WONT WORK)
There you go! All finished! I'll try to post the next chapter soon but I won't be at home from 26 December. I'm going to my gran's house because my parents are going fishing and I we go to the same place every year, I'm sure you can see why I'm bored with the place.
Kaede: Hey! Would you mind calling Koronamon off! He's chewing my shoes again!
Heh heh…good boy Koronamon…
Kaede: I heard that you Baka!
KitsuneRika-Wolf sticks out her tongue and pulls her eye anime style Neener neener neener. Ha ha! Go Koronamon go!! Bye folks, have fun during your holidays!
Kaede: Ah! That ones' still on my foot you over stuffed Dino!!
Merry Christmas everyone!! Go Koronamon go!! Woohoo!!!!
(SORRY ABOUT THE LONG WAIT BUT MY COMPUTER IS BEING A BIATCH.I CANT EVEN ACCESS THE INTERNET, LET ALONE FANFICTION. HAPPY HOLIDAYS)