Sorry for the long wait! I got busy with life, ahahaha... Now that it's summer and things are calming down, I'll be writing a lot more thanks to the influx of available time. Whoot! Things still haven't diverged much from canon but starting next chapter is where the changes will become apparent - small ones, then bigger and bigger as the story goes on.
Vamdemon sneers as the resplendent angel falls limp against the ground. "Pitiful. I told you, did I not, that such power would never master me… No matter. This is the end, Chosen Children. As always, I am victorious."
The smallest child - he assumes he's partnered to the Angemon he'd just bewitched - seems ready to cry, screaming: Patamon, Patamon, Patamon…. Good. No more resistance from that one, broken and mindless as he is, and Vamdemon will enjoy punishing that child in particular for bringing light and holy power against him. In such worthless amounts too, bee stings rather than sword strokes, as if to add insult to mild injury.
Petite hands snatch at his arm, dragging him backward, and he hisses; it's the fairy he cursed earlier. He wonders fleetingly how his spell was undone before casting Lilimon into the ground, again and again until her grip loosens. The AtlurKabuterimon jets toward him next, but that's even easier; another hand motion, and another redirected attack, sending the irritation into another human construct. Don't these children know despair yet-? But he cuts his thought short, remembering – that prophecy, that wretched thing, he still isn't quite in the clear and this is the worst possible time for poor word choice or pride to tempt fate –
Best to finish quickly. Within seconds he crosses the distance of the battlefield, and the angel-child is in his grasp; the Eighth had vanished in the struggle, alongside those treacherous servants Wizarmon and Tailmon – he'll relish her blood, their data - , but they will not be difficult to relocate now and in the meantime, well, Vamdemon believes in tying up loose ends before they become problems. He smirks, faintly, ignoring the cries of the other children – for the moment. "I've found that human children taste awful and they don't have much to them, but surely a Chosen Child's blood will be preferable."
The brat wasn't saying anything anymore, just choking on tears and snot. Vamdemon tilts his head – ack!
He drops the boy and hisses at something raw and biting cutting at his flesh. As cerulean light erupts around him he understands; it's that wolf-child, out of sight until now, no doubt carrying that holy device. He writhes and shakes, trying to throw him off – this is a light that burns far worse than anything the angel could have done and how could a human boy –?
"Takeru! Run!"
The boy's eyes widen. "Onii-chan!"
The deeper voice callss again. "It'll be fine! I'm not going to let go and I'm not letting him get you! Go!"
The other children look shocked, dismayed – but the angel-child, this Takeru, backs up very slowly, staring with wide eyes. Then- "No!"
What? The boy stands up, looking straight ahead. "You hurt Patamon. You hurt everyone! If I'd believed in Angemon, we would've stopped you. If I believe in him now we will!" The child cries out to the angel, desperate, and a golden aura burns around him.
Damn you-!