Shattered Light
By: Linkmaste
Chapter Twenty Two: The Yatta Neiko Casino Part II
Author's Note: Either by the end of this chapter, you will hate me, or you will-no. No, you'll hate me. You will definitely hate me. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I own Ian, Rose, Tai, Yuki, Azazel and Lindenmon
A wizard duel was a term used in fantasy games or maybe in one of your well worn copies of Harry Potter books. It usually depicted two powerful wizards or witches battling each other in tests of magic and wit. The battle would earn awe and appraise for being so beautiful, engaging and impressive magical skills. Magic was another form of energy and in the digital world, it was just converted code. You could say magical digimon were natural hackers, possessing the ability to manipulate the data around them. However, magical digimon battles involving a cocky Witchmon and a stubborn Wizardmon that were not only twin siblings but hybrids resulted in...well chaos. Hardly what you would call 'great manipulators of digi-code'. Even further, hardly what you would call a wizard duel-more like a vicious scrap battle between two young siblings over a favourite toy.
"Aqua Blaster!" Witchmon attacked, aiming the rocket of water at the hybrid. He sidestepped it, nearly taking a nasty hit. He clapped his hands together.
"Magical Game!"
The attack spurted out of his hands and charged through, landing Witchmon and sending her into a wall. She cried out, letting out a choked sob of pain. He was strong, she admitted.
"Sis, I don't want to hurt you. Join us." Wizardmon changed back into Makato effortlessly. "See? He can fix you and we can be strong together."
Witchmon gave a dirty look and the cat spirit snarled at him.
"Azazel kidnapped our parents and you want to work with him?! You're freaking crazy!"
Makato sighed and changed back into Wizardmon.
"I'll make you see. Don't worry, sis-Magical Game!"
Wizardmon charged up the attack but Witchmon was up and bouncing onto her broom. Flying, she shot herself forward and barrel rolling herself so the attack missed her. She threw out a hand.
"Baluluna Gale!"
A rush of wind picked up Wizardmon, sending him a float. He was caught by surprise letting a gasp escape his lips.
"Shit-"
She rammed into him and they crashed into a white cell room. Witchmon gave a good slap to the wizard hybrid's face.
"Snap out of it! Azazel wants to use us! He already has a plan to use a dark spell to control digimon and destroy Primary Village! Do you really think he cares about us?"
"Of course he does! Why else would he give me all this power?" Wizardmon knocked back his hybrid sister with his staff. A glow spurted from his hands. "Electro Squal!"
Thunder clouds appeared around the room, rumbling deeply and cackling with electricity. Witchmon growled-flicking her eyes left and right. She was about to play 'dodge the lightening bolt'. The first strike almost hit her foot, but she jumped back, then spun left avoiding another powerful rod of lightening. She danced gracefully through the bolts of lightening, feeling her digimon instinct guide her-almost control her. Her heart pounded and confidence flickered in her eyes.
"Brother, I've been a hybrid for over five years," she said and flipped over an incoming 'Magical Game' attack. "Don't even try to test me on magic-Baluluna Gale!"
The hybrid shot out a powerful gust of wind that pushed Wizardmon back violently into a wall. He hit the wall with a thud and snapped his neck back. If he was human, he would have had a concussion for sure.
He let out a snarl,
"I am not weak!" Wizardmon became enraged, pointing his staff at Witchmon. "MAGICAL GAME!"
A fireball burned Witchmon instantly, making her shriek in pain. Her body was being consumed by the fire, eating her flesh and data, which made her twitch uncontrollably. She pointed her broom on the ground.
"Aqua Blaster!"
The cool sensation of water engulfed her-putting out the flames. Water beats fire, she smirked. The hybrid did not however, anticipate that Wizardmon had an attack ready in case she tried that.
"Electro Squall!"
The electricity shocked her body, making her cry out again in pain. It made her tremble, and sent her flying back into the cell bed landing on their D-Arc that Makato put down awhile ago. She groaned in pain, finding difficulty to keep her eyes open.
"Mako..."
"It's Wizardmon." he said, glaring his eyes at Witchmon. A new expression was on his face-a smug one. "And I'm more powerful than you. Soon, I'll be more powerful than anyone."
Rose was playing at the hottest table in the casino. She made quite an entrance with her 15,000 yen drop in. Looking like a queen with a handsome man beside her that kept an ear and eye out for Azazel or Kobiayashi, it made players curious to up the pot. Hands played, bets increased, and poker faces were shown all around. Rose played a few hands calmly, feeling the other players. Within fifteen minutes, she was owning the table-winning back three times her drop in. Ian leaned in,
"How ya doin' this?"
She called 'check' and threw in a few chips.
"I used to play a lot."
"Toots couldn't even beat me at Go Fish-let alone a poker game."
"Well, she didn't have to. I got in a couple of 'situations' with money. Plus, you should be playing strip-poker if she's that bad at cards."
"Funny," grumbling Ian. "ya should be a comedian."
"I am on nights and weekends, you should stop by." the sarcasm was returned by the brunette. She won the hand and raked in her chips.
Ian took another look at the casino. It was busy with people attending slot machines, and poker tables. A table far off was cheering from a large win. When he looked behind Rose, he saw the prize. Azazel and Sebia Kobiayashi were by the slot machines, bowing and chatting politely. Azazel handed the man some kind of scroll to the other man's hands. He inspected it, and looked pleased. After Azazel dipped out, Sebia pocketed the scroll and a guard whispered to his ear. The man pointed to the poker table Rose and Ian were at. Kobiayashi looked interested and a twitch of a smirk appeared on his lips. Ian turned around, he had to think quick.
"Kobiayashi commin' over-think ya can keep him busy?"
"Sure, what are you up to?"
"Using some of my natural talents." Ian replied ambiguously. He walked away, letting the fat man take the open seat. He went into his breast pocket and threw down a hefty amount of chips.
"Sambrano, put me in."
The dealer grunted and the next around was put out. Rose had a flush.
"You have a very good eye, Miss Rose." Kobiayashi said, not even pausing to toss two cards from his hand. "Raise."
"Hello Sebia, nice to see you again." Rose replied.
"I hear you're wanted by police."
"I'm always wanted, darling."
The rest folded. Pot went to Kobiayashi who had a four of a kind. A new stake was held and Rose tossed her chips in.
"What are you doing here, Rose? You abandoned the A.D.A; your aunt's pride and joy. In my books, that's the highest kind of dishonour upon you."
Rose tossed three cards, but folded.
"My family is insane. I left to survive."
"Survive?" laughed Kobiayashi in a deep boom. He had a full house. More chips went to him. "You're just a girl who has no power, no wealth, just some saggy fake breasts and that plastic smile. You'll never survive."
The comment stung Rose. Instead of retorting immediately, she put out her sake, looked at her cards, and curled her red lips into a smile.
"True, but you forgot something."
"Everyone folded but Kobiayashi and Rose. The woman bet half of her stakes and her eye brow raised in challenge. He made a grunt.
"What's that?" Kobiayashi folded as well, she must have had a winning hand.
Rose carefully flattened her cards on the table for everyone to stare at. Two fives, one jack of hearts, a two and a six. A horrible hand, but Rose's bluff paid off.
"I'm full of surprises." Rose smirked, gazing her green eyes at Kobiayashi in a triumph manner. "I'm out, Sambrano. Cash me."
The table looked in awe as the beautiful woman collected her impressive earnings (almost 200,000 yen) and blew a kiss to the pissed off casino owner. "Good seeing you Sebia. Arigato."
Rose didn't slow down her stride, cashing the chips and leaving the casino. She waited for a little while in the foyer by the waterfall and ten minutes later, Ian strolled out.
"It's a fuckin' maze in there..." Ian muttered in response to Rose's impatient glare.
"Did you get it?" Rose asked, not stopping to ask Ian how he was. He opened his suit jacket and revealed the scroll.
"Fatass never saw it comin'. Nice play back there. Where's the money?"
"Don't worry about that right now. We need to leave." Rose pressed on her radio. "Lionheart, it's Alpha Flower. We got the scroll and Azazel has no idea what's going on downstairs."
"We got other problems. White Angel and Black Demon are battling hybrid Kazu and I lost contact with Scarlet Witch. Imps One and Two are waiting outside with the parents and Calumon."
The duo frowned. Problems were expected to come from this mission but it was troubling to know that Witchmon didn't make it out with the twins. Beelzemon must be worried.
"Copy that, we'll rendezvous with the twins." Rose replied and picked up the pace to meet the twins.
"Corona Blaster!"
The attack hit HiAndromon but he deflected it back at the mega digimon. With a cry of pain, he flew back colliding with Lindenmon.
"Beelzemon! You alright?" She got up, and defended the two from an attack with her 'hands'. They tried to grip onto the hybrid's android body, but he cut one of the 'hands' with his laser sword. Lindenmon hissed in pain. The hand twitched while data fizzled around it-like it was bleeding out.
"Just give up! I'm unstoppable!" HiAndromon shouted, running forward. Beelzemon pushed Lindenmon out of the way and used his laser canon to deflect his attack. Lunging forward, Beelzemon tried to use his Darkness Claw attack, but it didn't work. The android hybrid flipped several times backwards, displaying his dexterity. The white mega stood up in front of Beelzemon.
"Linden Blossoms!"
The attack sent a white blast down the hallway into HiAndromon and he knocked a wall down. The hybrid saw several security guards come in with weapons. He jabbed a finger at the two digimon.
"Attack them!"
"Shit." Beelzemon swore using his wings to fly out of the line of fire and into a room. Lindenmon stood her ground using her 'hands' to shield herself. Bullets flew into her hands protecting her. Walking forward calmly, she caused several guards to scream and unleash more of their bullets into her, but nothing was hitting.
Idiots she thought, and unleashed her attack.
"Hands of Fate!"
Twelve translucent hands shot forward, flying towards each guard, gripping their weapons and bending them in half. Then, she commanded her 'hands' to punch the guards and knock them out. HiAndromon grunted.
"Not bad..."
"Thanks," Lindenmon flipped her hair and winked. "I had plenty of practice. Do you want to continue?"
"Killing you? Hell, yeah." HiAndromon took a fighting pose but Lindenmon clicked her tongue.
"Well, this is going to hurt you a lot more than it's going to hurt me."
"What-" The android hybrid didn't have a chance to finish his sentence. Beelzemon checked him on the side and threw him into another room. Lindenmon heard the elevator ding and the twins came out with Calumon, Tai and Yuki.
"Hey, you found them-wait where's other Ai?" The white mega asked. Ai and Mako looked upset.
"She broke the elevator and made us leave! Lindenmon, you have to help her!"
"Get the others out, I'll make sure she's okay." assured the mega. Suddenly, a guard came out from another door to their left and tried to attack the twins. Something changed inside Lindenmon-like a savage beast was now controlling her. With a 'hand' she gripped the man's neck and held him close to her. Her pupils turned into slits and the hallway got freezing cold.
"Never. Touch. My. Tamers." She let out a low growl, and barred her fangs. With a cry, she threw him across the hall and into a wall with a crack. Ai and Mako flinched at the sight of the angry Lindenmon. She spun around to meet them again. "GO!" she ordered.
They didn't need to be told twice by their partner. Ai and Mako gripped the parent's hands and dragged them out of the hallway and up a stairwell. Lindenmon flew over to where HiAndromon was in a fist fight with Beelzemon. HiAndromon just delivered a nasty right hook to the black angel digimon. Beelzemon snarled, trying to get his claws on him.
"Hands of Fate!" Lindenmon shouted and knocked HiAndromon off his feet. In fluid motion, she spun around and kicked him into the ground, cracking the floor. HiAndromon coughed and groaned.
"Beelzemon, your Ai is downstairs still." Lindenmon held out her hands to the hurt mega. "Heal Sage."
White specks flew into Beelzemon healing him partially. The mega grunted thanks and loaded his guns. Stepping his large boot onto HiAndromon, he lifted Berenjena to the hybrid's face.
"It's over HiAndromon. Change back or else ya gunna be sorry."
"Over my dead hybrid body!" HiAndromon's shoulders started to whine and power up, a blue light on one shoulder and a red light on the other. The floor cracked more under the pressure of the attack loading. With a grunt, the hybrid knocked Beelzemon's boot off him, and focused his attack on the virus digimon. "Atomic Ray!"
It was an intense attack, and Beelzemon felt himself get blasted away. His body hit a wall, then a table, smashing it to pieces. The mega was hurt badly, his body was covered in scrapes and fizzled code. He tried to stand up, but knelt back down in pain.
"Beelzemon!" cried Lindenmon, rushing over but HiAndromon got her leg and gripped it tight. Without a second thought, he flung her over his shoulder and onto the ground, causing the floor to crumble beneath them. The two landed among the debris into the bottom basement floor. Lindenmon screamed as several rocks pinned her missile toe wings and 'hands'. It would take her a little bit of time to get the concrete off herself.
HiAndromon grunted feeling his leg pinned by concrete. He cursed himself for not thinking about the floor deteriorating beneath him. With a swipe of his laser sword, the concrete was eliminated and he was free. Sword in hand, the hybrid walked up to Lindenmon who had got almost her wings free.
"Any last words?" HiAndromon asked. Lindenmon heaved and tried to send out a 'hand' but he sliced it with his sword, making her scream in agony.
"At least you fight until the end, I got to admire that in a hybrid like you. Goodbye, Lindenmon."
Jeri looked outside in worry. Her radio fizzled with the latest update from Rose about them getting the scroll and Azazel's status. She focused her eyes outside, to the front of the casino. Clearly, she could see the twins waiting with two adults looking composed. The woman looked relieved when she saw Calumon nestled in the arms of Yuki looking terrified, but safe. The parents on the other hand were on the verge of a break down.
Then, she saw it. Several red and blue lights along the east street, sirens whining loudly and announcing their presence. Jeri knew just from the number of them, they were heading to the casino. Taking no chances, she took the microphone.
"Cops are here! Everyone get out!"
Ian heard the radio alarm by Jeri and snapped his neck to the sound of the sirens closing in. Startled, he looked around for Ai and Mako. Luckily, they were standing by the valet parking, trying to soothe two frantic parents.
"Listen, you have to go back-my daughter is in there!" Yuki pleaded to Mako. He looked uncomfortable. Ian put a hand on Yuki gently,
"Listen, Yuki. We are gunna get your daughter back and Mako. Head across the street to the hotel. Go into room 400 and Jeri will answer. She will make sure you guys are safe."
Yuki looked even more confused,
"Who are you?"
The cop sirens got louder and louder. A crowd started to gather around seeing what the commotion was outside at the casino. A few cruisers pulled up. Rose gave the parents a shove.
"Go! Jeri will explain everything!"
"Lindy Rose?" Tai narrowed his eyes at the woman. She put out a hand.
"Question me later! Get going!" Rose gave another shove.
Being jolted seemed to do the trick, as the parents fled to the hotel across the street with Calumon in their arms. No one paid any attention to them. Ian turned to the twins.
"Munchkins, you alright?"
"We're fine. Let's go save Witchmon!" Ai was eager to get back into the battle. Her brown eyes were lit up with resolution. He nodded and turned to Rose.
"Ready?"
Rose extended a hand out but then drew back. She bit her lip, looking at the incoming swarm of police. She knew why they were here. That asshole couldn't handle her winning that damn poker game. She couldn't fight digimon but maybe she could buy them more time...
The beautiful Lindy Rose took a step back.
"...Rose?" Ian narrowed his eyes. "What are ya doin', Sunshine?"
Rose wanted to say some kind of witty comeback but nothing came from her lips. She just gave a wink and ran towards the police. She was immediately caught and thrown onto the ground. Police crowded around her, cuffing her wrists and throwing her into the cruiser.
"ROSE!" Ian shouted, but didn't move. She was buying them precious time, and he couldn't waste a single second of it. A feeling came over him, like a power surging through his body. Wings sprouted from his back and he let his digimon side overcome him.
HYBRID WARP DIGIVOULTION
"Ian hybrid warp digivolve to...Beelzemon Blast Mode!"
The change of Ian caused startled out cries and gasps from bystanders. Without waiting a second, Beelzemon scooped up his Tamers and flapped his wings powerfully. With a burst of speed, they took off to the back of the casino. He saw the hole that the other Beelzemon and Lindenmon caused.
"Here we go." he grunted and swooped down. In the basement floor, he saw several bodies lying around, and broken walls. Obviously, there was a battle.
"This is where we last saw them." Mako said dropping out of Beelzemon's grasp. He shouted Lindenmon's name. Ai did the same. No one responded.
A noise caught the twins and it sounded like Lindenmon's cry. Opening a link, the twins screamed at the sensation. They did not expect a rush of pain to greet them, but it did like a blow to their bodies. It felt like Lindenmon's 'hands' was cut badly. Opening their eyes, they saw through their partner's eyes, in the sub basement looking up at HiAndromon's face. Ai and Mako snapped back and shut off the link. They knew where she was now.
"Down here!" the two children cried, running to the room with the collapsed floor. Behind them, they heard a low groan.
The other Beelzemon was limping over to them looking like he had been through a rough time. His helm was split open, showing his face partially. He had his hand covering his abdomen, where he had a wound. His wings looked funny, almost crooked. The twins and Beelzemon ran towards the hurt counter-part.
"Easy, ya gotta lay down." Beelzemon tried to get his counter-part to stop but he slapped his claw hand away.
"Lindenmon is stuck down there with HiAndromon. We gotta...ugh, save her."
The hybrid Beelzemon swooped down, flapping his wings and looked around. There, he saw HiAndromon slicing Lindenmon's Hands of Fate. She looked injured. He charged forward, tackling the cyborg mega and he smashed him into the wall. With strength, he lifted HiAndromon high up with his claws.
"Ya ain't touching my toots, hunkin' junk of metal."
"H-How? I blasted you!" The hybrid's brown eyes widened in shock.
"Let's say you're seeing double." Beelzemon smirked. He looked back at Lindenmon.
"Toots? Losin' ya touch?"
"Oh shut up, Impy!" Lindenmon growled and broke herself free of the concrete. Ruffling her wings, a white dust covered herself.
"Heal Sage!" Her strength returned in a breathless rush. Her body shivered from the heal and for a second, she felt completely fine. Then it hit her that her two 'hands' were cut and oozing with data. Her eyes narrowed into slits.
"You...bastard! You'll pay for damaging my hands!"
Beelzemon held out an arm, preventing the assault. Lindenmon halted.
"Nah, he's outta juice. Ya can't even keep this form can ya?"
To answer his question, HiAndromon cackled with data-threatening to break apart. Beelzemon growled.
"Change back! You can't keep your form up."
"I...I'd rather die." spat HiAndromon.
"No! Kazu, stop!" Lindenmon cried but it was too late. A burst of data caused HiAndromon to break apart and the young teenager was in Beelzemon's claws, slumped over, and unresponsive. Beelzemon touched the hybrid's neck feeling for a pulse. He was gone.
"Shit..." Beelzemon muttered. He let Kazu slump to the ground, sitting half up against the wall. He closed the teen's eyes. It was strange looking at the dead body of someone he would consider a friend in another world. The concept of Kazu doing this...it wasn't pleasant to think about.
"Azazel will pay for this." Lindenmon said in a low voice.
Ai, Mako and the injured Beelzemon dropped down carefully. They looked at the other two and the body of Kazu with a blank expression. Lindenmon floated over to her partners.
"You two shouldn't see this-"
But the twins ignored her and went up to Kazu. Kneeling down they mumbled a sorry past their lips. The twins didn't want people to die because of them, but it was a hard fact that someone would get hurt. Ai and Mako looked at Beelzemon, their partner.
"Did he give you no choice?"
"He wouldn't change back...he just used up everythin' he had." he replied, trying to figure out what his Tamers were thinking. Ai sighed and said something so grown up, it gave an uneasy feeling to the hybrids.
"This world is becoming bleaker by the minute. How much death are we going have to see?"
Mako looked around recognizing where they were. Witchmon must be around here. He told his partners his discovery and dashed down the hallway-she must be in one of the cell rooms! He was followed by the injured Beelzemon who looked like he was in discomfort with every step. Mako turned to him.
"Do you want me to-"
"No. I got it, kid." Beelzemon grunted, jerking his arm and kept marching forward. When he entered the door at the end he saw Witchmon on the ground, looking beat. Her attire was burned and damaged, with pieces of fabric flickering into data, then back into solid matter. Her eyes were focused on the Wizardmon across the room who had a fireball in his hand-ready to strike. Something struck Beelzemon when he gazed into those brown red eyes, a sense of familiarity that he couldn't shake off. A memory of Makato's face flashed in his mind, and he gasped.
"...Mako?"
Wizardmon looked at the injured Beelzemon. His gave a smirk and pointed his staff at the mega.
"Beelzemon...like my new form?"
Anger sparked in Beelzemon. Not only did Azazel cursed Ai, kidnapped Tai and Yuki but also, he kidnapped his Mako and changed him into a hybrid as well. It was like watching himself go down the same path-the path that held power, and death.
"What was the deal?" he growled, stepping between him and Witchmon. The human Mako took this opportunity to hooked an arm carefully around the sorceress digimon and escorted her out.
"No-Beelzemon-"
"Sh! He'll be fine." Mako hushed and got them out of the room.
"The deal was I get the power of being a hybrid...and I get to save Ai. No thanks to you." Wizardmon held out a hand. "Magical Game!"
Beelzemon jumped away from the fireballs easily.
"For what? There's always a catch, Mako!"
"Just running a few errands for him. I heard the commotion outside. I believe my first order of business is taking care of you all. But, since you're my partner," In a bright light, Makato appeared. "I'll say this only once. Leave."
Beelzemon stood still.
"You're my partner, even though ya are acting fuckin' stupider than a Raremon. I ain't goin' anywhere." Beelzemon looked at the young boy's eyes. No dust was in them and they were the same brown eyes. Makato wasn't cursed...
Wizardmon returned and he shot out a ball of electricity with a flick of his wrist. "Electro Squall!"
Being a mega, Beelzemon had no problem dodging the attack.
"Mako. Come home with us. We'll figure out a way to save Ai without Azazel. He's ain't a good guy."
"He gave me power! That's more than what you ever did, huh? Little Mako can't do this and little Mako can't do that! I'm tired of being little Mako!" cried Wizardmon and threw more attacks in a fit of rage.
Out in the hall, the hybrid Beelzemon, Lindenmon, and Ai met up with Mako and Witchmon. She looked injured, but she was going to heal. Lindenmon sent some her 'Heal Sage' to refresh Witchmon. Panting, Lindenmon warned that if she kept healing everyone, she was going to de-digivolve. Beelzemon pulled out the old scroll. He knew this wasn't in any old language, this was in digi-runes. He looked to the hybrid witch.
"Can ya read digi-runes, Witchmon?"
"Yeah...I haven't in awhile, though." Witchmon put a finger to her lips, receiving the ancient scroll. Unravelling it, she examined it carefully. Words passing her lips silently, earning stares from the others. She looked up,
"I need a minute."
"Oh, C'mon! It's a few words!" Ai cried running her hands through her hair. Witchmon glared.
"Excuse me, who is the magical digimon here? Me. Shut it, and let me read this."
"Who the fuck-" Ai was dragged back by Lindenmon who scolded the girl for swearing, and harassing Witchmon. Mako looked at the hallway, worried.
"Beelzemon? Do you think the other you will be alright with Wizardmon?"
"He knows what he's doing." Beelzemon replied. "A champion ain't gunna give him any trouble."
Witchmon gasped, looking up and down the scroll as if she was double checking the words. The digi-runes were a little tricky. It was like reading Shakespeare; certain words didn't exist in Witchmon's vocabulary. Finally, she figured it out.
"There are two ways to dissolve the Shatter Light." Witchmon handed the scroll to Beelzemon. "One is for the victim to be deleted."
"Okay, pleasant-the other way?" The hybrid hoping for something less gruesome.
"Love." she simply said. "Any act of love can break the spell."
"That very...typical." Beelzemon slapped a hand to his face. "So, we gotta be mushy to break the spell?"
"Super mushy." confirmed Witchmon, her face looking relieved. "At least, it isn't a complicated way. I read a few spells that require an eye of an Agumon! How gross is that?"
"Ew." Lindenmon, Ai and Mako made a face.
In the cell room, Beelzemon looked at the panting Wizardmon. Attack, after attack, the hybrid tried to do some kind of damage to his partner but Beelzemon dodged, or deflected the attack away. The hybrid crashed onto his knees, buckling at the lack of power he had. Data flickered, causing the mega to take a sharp breath. If Makato kept this up...he was going to die.
"Mako, stop." Beelzemon cautiously walked forward. Guilt washed over him, how hurt had his partner felt this whole time. "Ya gotta come home with us, we miss ya-"
"NO!" Wizardmon cried, but no attack came. Tears ran down the hybrid's face freely. "You don't love me! You only like Ai cause she's like you! I was just a human kid! You're only paying attention to me now because I'm a hybrid!"
Beelzemon knelt down to Wizardmon, and closed his eyes. This was risky but maybe if he changed, it would make the hybrid less tense. It was like letting a part of himself erase all the anger within himself. Letting go, he changed into Impmon. He hadn't been in this form in such a long time. The rookie looked at his partner square in the eye, feeling tears worm their way through.
"Mako, I love both of ya. Human, digimon, or whatever. I could give less of a shit. I just want both of ya safe. Please, let's stop fightin'. I'm sorry, I spent more time with Ai, I felt so horrible for what happened to her, I kept myself with her and I forgot how ya felt about that. I swear it ain't never gunna happen again. I can't lose both of you...I can't even think about losing one of ya."
Wizardmon stood completely still data still flickering. Something deep within his memory hatched, like it had been locked away. A girl and a double of Impmon told him something...something important:
"With great power comes a terrible sacrifice. Love breaks all spells and will reveal the truth. Do not shy from those who give help. Protect those who cannot protect themselves."
For some reason, Azazel's reasoning became less and less coherent. It was like he had pulled the cotton out of his ears, and clarity ringed. What was he doing? How long had he known his partner and Ai for? They would never try to hurt him, purposefully. And...he missed them. He missed home. Wizardmon's lip quivered and his eyes flickered brown.
"Impmon!"
Makoto changed back and slammed his body into Impmon's into a hug, sobbing tears. Locks of brown hair stuck to his face, that was slick with sweat. His body heaved and shook, letting the love wash over him. The feeling of being back together with his partner made him feel better. Impmon returned the hug, grateful that his partner wasn't about to die.
"Hey, I gotcha munchkin." Impmon chuckled. "I ain't never gunna let ya go that easily."
In the corner, the purple D-Arc glowed, shaking and clattering on the ground. It lifted itself up and floated over to Makato. Wavering a little, it prompted Makoto to open up his hand. He complied and with a sigh it rested on his palm. Impmon looked unmoved.
"Cool, at least ours ain't a million smitherines. Shrimp ain't never gunna hear the end of it from me. Let's go."
"Shrimp?"
"Yeah, the other me is here with the cavalry."
"Hang, on. Other you? Calvary?" The hybrid boy was dragged out of the cell by Impmon. He followed down the hallway and saw a strange white digimon, a replica of Beelzemon with large black wings, Witchmon, a young girl with brown hair and a replica of him.
"These guys are from an alternate reality-yada, yada, yada, they are completely annoyin' so the sooner we figure out how to solve Ai's curse, the sooner they get their asses outta here-"
"Impmon!" Witchmon ran over, hugging the two of them. "Are you guys hurt?"
"Nah, munchkin. I'm okay." Impmon peeled himself off her. "Take it easy on each other, eh? I don't wanna be breakin' up fights between two hybrids all the time.
"Ai..." Makoto looked down. Witchmon shook her head.
"I'm just glad you're okay Mako...I'm so sorry you felt like that. Please, I missed you so much. Let's stop fighting, okay?"
Makoto looked at Witchmon and Impmon, feeling warm from the reunion. He did miss his partner and twin sister.
"I miss you too, guys...I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking-Azazel...he was twisting words against me."
"That's what he does, we're going to stop him." Witchmon said. "And then we can figure out how to fix both of us. Good news is that we know how to stop his Shattered Light spell."
The touching scene made the others smile. It was like a family was together again. However, Beelzemon had little patience now and marched over to his counter-part.
"What took ya so long?" he demanded, staring down at Impmon.
"Can it, Shrimp." Impmon replied. Makoto pointed at finger, looking slightly pale.
"Is that really you?"
"Yeah, an annoying hybrid version of me."
Beelzemon ruffled his feathers in annoyance. "I ain't the one who obsesses over a stupid T.V show-"
"-At least I ain't some sissy that plays a guitar-"
"-HEY! I play damn well at guitar-"
"ENOUGH!" Lindenmon shouted. She looked at Makoto with a soft gaze. "Do you remember me, Mako? Back when we snuck into Hypnos to save Ai and Impmon?"
Makoto's eyes widened.
"...Lindy?"
Impmon waved an hand. "Yeah, she's a hybrid too. They're all one big happy family. Still annoying too and managed to trash her hair."
Everyone else laughed and Lindenmon folded her arms. "Looks like you got that mouth still as Impmon."
"Tsh. My mouth never left, toots." Impmon smirked. "C'mon let's get outta here and grab the parents, Jeri, cream puff, and eat! I swear, I never been so hungry before in my life-"
The dialogue stopped there. In fact, everything stopped there for Impmon. A yellow spear burst from his chest violently. The impaled Impmon let out a cry of agony, so shrill that everyone stopped in their tracks-frozen into place. Data spilled out, dissolving at an alarming rate. When the object was pulled back out from Impmon's body, he gave a groan and slumped to the floor, feeling everything go numb.
The only voices that could be heard was Witchmon and Makoto's.
"IMPMON!"
They sprinted towards him, failing to catch him from hitting floor. Picking him up gently, they stared in complete horror at their partner's wounds. Everyone was in utter shock.
Impmon hacked, feeling dizzier and lighter by the second. So, this is how it ends he thought watching his data disappear. Dammit...he promised Jeri he would come home...
"No...no!" Witchmon cried, tears running down. Makoto's eyes were red and puffy. Both were unsure of what to do. They held Impmon tighter and tighter, but he was disappearing faster and faster.
"Munchkins...listen to me." Impmon coughed. "I think...I think I gotta go for a little while."
Beelzemon stared aghast at the scene. No, no, NO! This ain't right! He turned to Lindenmon with a desperate look in his eyes.
"Heal him!"
"I can't." she cried. "It's too-" she turned away, sobbing. There was nothing she could do. He was dissolving into data. The beloved rookie was far too gone for aide.
"...don't fight." Impmon coughed harder. His lower half of his body had dissolved completely. "Munchkins, stay together...okay?"
"Okay, Impmon." the twins both said, holding their dear partner as tight as they could, wishfully thinking they could prevent him from leaving. For a split second, Impmon saw two five year old children who were so worried about him. Back when he almost died at D-Reaper.
"Shrimp?" Impmon turned his head to Beelzemon.
"No...you can't fucking die!"
"Shrimp...I forgive ya. Can ya just let me do that?"
Beelzemon knew what he meant. That conversation weeks ago when they first met. He was forgiving him for his past misdeeds. The emotion raged within him, like a caged monster. He was forgiving him? It wasn't fair! He didn't deserve it! But...it was him. Despite the differences, they were both the same when they killed Leomon. The same 'mon that never forgave themselves for that horrible misdeed. Now, it was changing.
"You bastard...I...I understand." Beelzemon gritted his teeth, trying his damn best not to cry. A few tears rolled down his cheeks. He couldn't argue with himself. Whether it was because the fact that he was watching himself die, or the fact that everything was happening too fast-it was impossible to tell. He let out a cry of frustration. Impmon turned back to his Tamers.
"Munchkins, remember...I'll always love ya."
Impmon exploded into data. For a few seconds, Makoto and Witchmon couldn't understand what happened. Their hands twitched. One second ago Impmon was there and now...
Time spun up again. The purple D-Arc that Makato held had crackled and now just emitted a static noise-signalling that the worst has come true.
Impmon was gone.
Author's Note: ...
...
...
...
...
...See you next week.