After a trying event, the group regrouped together and sought out some shelter. Easier said than done, for there were grassy fields as far as the eye could see.
"There has to be a place around here somewhere." Kazuya muttered.
"Well I hope we find a place soon. My poor stomach can't take all this activity." Gazimon moaned, still holding his bloated stomach.
Jun let out a groan as she neared the rabbit. "Would you quit griping about your gut. I mean if you didn't want to make yourself sick you shouldn't have eaten so much."
Gazimon shot the girl a dirty look. "Hey! If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't have gotten away on that Locomon."
"Well technically speaking, it was Labramon who won it for us" Sho corrected. The canine trotted proudly beside him, knowing her massive appetite is what provided them escape.
"Yeah...well I was second so if Labramon hadn't entered then I would have won." Gazimon defended.
Behind him, Fairydramon sighed. "Trying to defend your bout of gluttony, how disgusting." She shuddered.
They had walked along for quite a while, parting ways with Wizardmon. The Champion level had proven a good ally in the fight against the Wendigomon, but his whereabouts were unknown for now. Yet somehow, they knew they would see him again. They continued for some time until they noticed something: the field seemed to end, stopping at a small cliff. Kazuya peered down and his face lit up.
"Guys! Over here!" He cried. Sliding down, the others followed. Standing before them was a cave.
"A cave? What are we bears?" Jun asked.
"You got a better idea?" Kazuya countered.
Truth be told, Jun didn't, and it was better than nothing. So everyone piled inside. It was dark, and growing more so by the second as the sun continued down.
"We can rest here for the night, then tomorrow we set out again." Kazuya instructed.
Gazimon let out a low moan and rubbed his stomach. "Finally some rest." He cocked an eyebrow to Fairydramon. "Mind if I lean up next to you?" He said closing his side to Fairydramon's own.
The dragoness narrowed her eyes and simply moved away causing Gazimon to fall.
Kazuya walked over to his digimon and shook his head. "You're hopeless."
"Eh can't blame a guy for trying." Said Gazimon.
And so everyone settled down hoping to get some rest. It was some adjustment due to the hard ground, but everyone managed. Soon they fell into a deep sleep, taking care to wash all the worries away. And in time, the morning came.
Everyone awoke suddenly, stretching out their backs.
"Okay. Sleeping on the ground wasn't such a good idea." Kazuya realized.
"You think?" Replied Jun.
"Well it was better than nothing." Chiisi added.
"Eh do humans complain a lot or what?" DemiDevimon said flapping himself upon Chiisi's shoulder.
Fairydramon fluttered her wing. "Well you have to remember, humans are not built like us, their soft and fragile. No offense." She said to Sakura.
"None taken." Sakura replied. She knew that compared to their digimon, they were quite insignificant in strength. Physically anyway. There was still the matter of their digivolution and how the humans played a part in it.
"Well I guess we should get going now." Kazuya declared. But then he noticed someone was missing. "Gazimon?" He called.
"Back here." A voice called from the back of the cave.
Gazimon sauntered his way back. He held a claw to his nose and waved the other one in the air. But what was most noticeable was his shrunken belly. "Well that was a relief, no one go back there."
It was obvious what the rabbit meant.
"Gross." Sho muttered.
"Uh Sho-chan? Labramon has to poop too." Labramon said pawing at her partner's leg.
"Ugh you don't have to tell me that!" Sho exclaimed. Labramon sat down, pouting out a whine. "Eh just go do your business."
Labramon didn't need to hear another word and zipped off into the back.
"Wow! This is really big!" Labramon exclaimed.
"We don't need to know that either!" Sho cried.
There came a great grunting, but in no time, Labramon cried. "Labramon's done!" And she zipped back to Sho. "We can leave now!"
And so they did just that, walking out of the cave into the open world. For the moment, the beauty was breathtaking, but they were at a loss.
"So where do we go?" Chiisi asked.
Kazuya looked to his digivice and pressed some of the buttons. The screen altered until it formed into a map. Least like one of those LCD screen games.
"How's anyone supposed to tell where anything is?" Kazuya asked. "I guess we could try going this way." He suggested.
Suddenly, a gray blur zipped ahead. "Well I'm raring and ready!" The blur said, revealing itself as Gazimon.
"Well we need a plan Gazimon." Kazuya warned. "I mean it's not like we have a clear one in mind."
"Yeah and we got that freak SkullMeramon chasing us." Jun interjected.
"Not to mention all those brainwashed digimon." Sho added.
"Well you got to remember, they are just victims in this." Sakura also added in.
"Victims or not Sakura, we can't show them any quarter." Said Fairydramon.
Gazimon flexed his muscles, striking a pose that clearly meant danger. "Eh I can take them! Last time Skull Face got lucky! This time I'll show him!"
"My my, empty the tank and he's ready to go." DemiDevimon snickered.
Just then a grumble brought everyone's attention to Labramon. "Labramon is hungry, can't we find something to eat soon?" The digital dog pouted, holding her head down between her legs.
"Let's just get moving." Kazuya suggested.
And that's what everyone did. They left that spot and moved forward. They weren't sure of where to go, but anywhere was better than just standing around. Yet as they continued to walk, they noticed something ahead. It was small, and rectangular, and brown in color.
"Look! A sign!" Penguinmon pointed out.
Indeed it was a sign, and moving forward, they could tell what words lay upon it.
Betaville
Just ahead
Ville? That meant town, and the very idea of a town made the group light up. A place where they could rest, plan, and most of all,
"Food! We can get food! Labramon can fill her tummy!" Labramon cheered.
Fairydramon winced as she heard Labramon speak. She held her own misgivings towards what she was hearing, or rather who was saying it. Nevertheless, she composed herself and spoke up.
"Betaville? Well I say it's a location. What say you Kazuya?"
Kazuya stared at the sign, hand cupping his chin, and nodded. "Why not? I mean it's not like we have any other place to go."
And so it was unanimously decided. This was where they would go, and they would certainly find something that could help them.
So walking ahead, the group set off, but as they walked, Labramon heard something in her ear.
"Psst!"
Labramon ignored it, flicking her ear back as if dealing with a troublesome flea.
"Psst! Labramon!"
There it was again. Labramon was certain she had heard something. Looking behind her, she noticed that Fairydramon was trying to get her attention.
"Oh?" Labramon looked up at Sho, then to Fairydramon. Though she didn't want to leave her Sho's side, she had to see what Fairydramon wanted. The both of them trailed behind, taking care to keep an eye on the party, but keeping their distance all the same. Privacy of course.
"What is it Miss Lizard Face?" Labramon innocently asked.
Fairydramon let out a mini groan. "Please, call me by my proper name: Fairydramon."
Labramon tilted her head and closed her eyes briefly. "Okay...Fairydramon." The canine giggled.
"Actually my dear girl, I wanted to talk to you about something." Said the reptile.
"About what?" Labramon asked, her voice innocent all the more.
Fairydramon considered her words carefully. "How shall I put this? Well it's just about your manner of speech."
"Labramon's speech?"
"Yes the way you talk."
"But Labramon thinks Labramon talks fine."
"And that's where the problem lays. You see. Your speech patterns have been growing progressively grating as of late."
"Grating?" Labramon didn't quite understand the word. "What does grating mean?"
Fairydramon sighed, trying her best not to overly complicate Labramon's already childlike mind.
"Well, put bluntly, it is another word for annoying." Fairydramon explained. "Now I mean no offense, just being honest is all."
"But how is Labramon being annoying?" Labramon honestly asked.
"Well my dear canine, it's just that your speech sounds very childlike and primitive." Fairydramon explained. "It was cute at first, but after a while it can get very irritating."
Labramon pondered that for a moment. "So you think Labramon should talk differently?"
"Well maybe just a tad. I mean we are not baby digimon anymore." Fairdramon reminded.
That was true. Labramon had long moved past the baby stage and was now a rookie. But she still couldn't help it. Or maybe she could? There was one way to try.
"Well Labramon doesn't want to be annoying. What should Labramon do?" Asked Labramon.
Fairydramon lit up and smiled. "Why I'm glad you asked for I was thinking perhaps I could become your speech teacher?"
"Speech teacher?" Labramon repeated.
"Yes, someone to help you speak properly." Fairydramon explained.
Labramon's tail began to wag and her face lit up. "Okay! Labramon wants to do it! When can we start!?" Labramon excitedly asked.
"Hey guys! Try and keep up!" Sakura's voice called after.
Looking ahead, the pair could see they had fallen behind a great deal.
"Well we can pick this up later my girl." Fairydramon explained. "Why don't we go join the rest of the group?"
"Okie dokie!" Labramon said tilting her head and wagging her tail all the more.
The two joined up with the rest of the group and continued on their way. But in a short while, they soon reached what appeared to be a new sight in the distance.
"Look houses!" Sho cried.
Indeed they were houses. Large enough ones, suitable for even humans based on their sizes. Further inside lay a town square with brick paths that lead throughout the town.
"I guess this must be Betaville." Said Sakura.
"It would appear so." Fairydramon concurred.
The group settled inside, taking in the sights and finding something was eerily amiss.
"Isn't it strange that we haven't seen any villagers yet?" Chiisi noticed.
Everyone looked about, and found no trace of a single digimon.
"Wait!" Labramon sniffed the open air. "There's digimon here!"
"Are you sure?" Sho asked.
"Yeppers!" Labramon barked. "There are definitely digimon here."
Looking about, they found no trace of any digimon. Not a scale, or tuft of fur. They turned their eyes finding nothing, then lo and behold, something crossed their eyes. Here it was, a brief hint of orange, just vanishing past a windowsill.
"Hey I saw something!" Gazimon exclaimed.
Everyone else saw it too. "Hey come on. Come out!" Kazuya yelled.
"Yeah come out if you know what's good for ya!" Jun added.
"Jun!" Kazuya snapped.
"Oh come on this hiding crap is getting annoying." Jun reasoned.
Suddenly, there came the creak of the door up ahead. From it something slowly stepped out. An orange clawed leg. Attached to that was a reptilian body, very befitting that of a dinosaur. A small orange dinosaur.
"Goodness it's an Agumon." Fairydramon noted.
Agumon, the flat nosed monster. It looked like a miniature dinosaur, an orange dinosaur to be precise. But the features didn't end just there, but ended with a black top hat along with a black sash around the body. The word "Mayor" stood out in bold white letters.
The nicely dressed Agumon walked over with a timid stance, claws fidgeting as if one were twiddling their thumbs. Looking behind him, the Agumon seemed to try and gain his courage to speak. He waited for an invisible signal before he finally uttered.
"I assume you are here for protection money?" He asked.
"Excuse me?" Kazuya expressed in a confused tone.
"Look we're a little behind, but I swear we will have it by next week." The Agumon mayor made an excuse.
Kazuya looked to Gazimon and the others, confusion etching in him all the while. "Um I think you have us confused for someone else."
The mayoral reptile blinked his eyes and stared at the group widely. "Really? You're not with the Fugamon gang?"
"I don't even know what a Fugamon is." Jun replied.
The mayor breathed a sigh of relief. "It's alright everyone! They're not with them! You can come out now!"
The moment he said that, digimon began to pile out of the houses. Agumon, Gabumon, a mixture piled onto the streets, each showing off a calming relief.
"Man they look happy." Kazuya realized.
The mayor Agumon walked up to them, clearing his voice as he did. "I do apologize for the less than cordial greeting to our village. I'm the mayor and I want to be the first to humbly welcome you to Betaville."
"Well it's a pleasure Mr. Mayor, but what has got everyone so afraid?" Sakura asked.
The mayor adjusted his sash and sighed again. "The Fugamon Gang. They've been terrorizing this village for a while." The mayor remarked sadly. "Ever since the Digital World became a sorry state, they've been harassing our poor village endlessly."
As the mayor indulged his story, everyone listened well, especially Kazuya. A chord was struck with the goggle headed boy, and he knew how to fix that.
"Well sounds like we need to teach this guy a lesson!" Kazuya suddenly declared.
"What?" Everyone else exclaimed.
Kazuya felt a bit sheepish as he felt all eyes on him, but put that aside as he regained his composure.
"Well why not? I mean we were brought here to save this world." Kazuya reasoned.
"Yes from a greater evil, not some random gang." Fairydramon reiterated.
Sakura was about to agree with her partner, but stopped short when she saw Kazuya's expression. He was looking straight at her, eyes slightly pleading to agree with him. Honestly, the mayor's story has stricken her too, and she knew that chord wouldn't be so easily abandoned.
"No, we should help!" Sakura suddenly piped up. "I mean it's the right thing to do!"
The others held a look of consideration before finally submitting.
"Eh what the hell. I think we could use the exercise anyway." Jun agreed.
Penguinmon shivered nervously but kept it hidden. "Well...alright...I mean we are helping the village." And he did agree, helping was good. Despite his fear he wanted to do the right thing.
The other digimon looked the same, all ready to go forth and fight against this unknown enemy.
"All right everyone! Let's head out!" Kazuya declared.
They were about to go forward, Kazuya boldly taking the first step, when suddenly, he felt a tug against his sleeve.
"Um Kazuya? We don't know where we are going." Chiisi stated.
That alone was enough to turn Kazuya's triumphant face to a face fault. "Oh right. Turning around, he addressed the Agumon mayor. "Um Mr. Mayor? Where exactly does the Fugamon gang live?"
The mayor adjusted his sash before clearing his voice. "They lie down at Bite Caverns. Just beyond the village." The mayor said pointing ahead. "Just follow the path leading up and you'll come by them. But be warned, Fugamon is a fierce opponent."
Kazuya flashed the mayor a confident grin. "Trust me. We got this."
And so the group set off, past the village and following the path. As they did, they all wondered what would happen.
"So do we really have a plan or anything?" Sho was the first to ask.
"Plan? Who needs a plan? We just go up to this Fugamon guy and get him to stop." Kazuya explained.
"Yeah I'll get him to stop all right." Gazimon likewise shared in the confidence. "He just need to taste my Champion form and bam! Done."
"Really confident there rabbit. I mean after you got your rear kicked royally by SkullMeramon." DemiDevimon quipped.
Gazimon shot him a glare. "So did you."
"True. But I'm at least showing caution." DemiDevimon explained. "I mean we don't know this guy, and we don't know what he is capable of."
"I do admit, the virus type has a point." Fairydramon agreed. "After our last defeat, we shouldn't be too careless."
The other digimon looked downtrodden, especially Labramon and Penguinmon.
"I didn't like getting beat up." Penguinmon admitted.
Labramon let out a low whine. "Labramon too."
Once Labramon spoke, Fairydramon shuddered. Labramon's primitive speech was getting to her.
"Oh come on. They're just a bunch of punks." Gazimon boasted. "We can handle them."
DemiDevimon remained silent, tasking at the boldness of the rabbit digimon. "My aren't we well prepared."
Chiisi read his partner's face, "You have doubts?" He asked.
DemiDevimon gave a look of surprise, feeling as if Chiisi could read his mind."Eh not that, but I think we should exercise some caution."
"I agree, but part of me thinks we can handle a bunch of bandits." Chiisi said.
DemiDevimon shrugged his wings. "Yeah, Fugamon is just a Champion level, I guess we can handle that."
The group continued on, heading up the path, taking care to not stray. The further they got up, the more they noticed how the trees continued to broaden.
"Wow. With all of this cover, it's easy to get ambushed huh?" Sakura noticed.
As the trees towered high, they couldn't help but feel they were being watched. It was a repeat of the Kunemon fiasco. Yet Labramon's nose quickly told if something was amiss.
"Labramon doesn't smell anything." Labramon announced.
Fairydramon shuddered as Labramon spoke. Her improper speech becoming all the more grating. Yet, the dragoness managed to keep it together for now. But as they walked along, the feeling of being watched ever ceased to end, and for good reason.
XXX
"Boss! Boss!" The Agumon watchmen said as he put down his telescope. He ran over, past his fellow Agumon and some Gabumon, towards a large brown digimon.
"What is it?" A gruff voice asked.
"There are some people coming. I think their human!" The Agumon said hopping up and down.
"Human?" The brown digimon repeated.
"Yeah, five humans and five digimon. They were coming from the village!" The Agumon continued.
The brown digimon cracked his knuckles. "So they got some protection eh?" He sniggered to himself. "Well I say we give am a welcoming party."
The Agumon saluted, "You're the boss!"
As the dinosaur digimon scurried off, the brown one looked confidently. He was itching for a good fight, and these new arrivals could provide him the exercise he needed.
XXX
The group traversed further on, past the trees and looking ahead. It had been more of the same as they walked, but they pressed on regardless. They couldn't deviate away from this mission, otherwise the village would be doomed.
"I just wonder what we're looking for?" Sakrua asked.
"You know? Something that stands out." Kazuya explained.
"Do you even know what that is?" Jun asked.
Kazuya thought for a moment, then rubbed the back of his head. "Actually I'm not sure."
Jun looked aside. "Well that's unsurprising."
Kazuya shot the girl a look. "Do you anything uplifting?"
"Hey I'm plenty uplifting. I just point out the obvious." Jun defended.
"I'll give you the obvious." Kazuya grumbled.
Sakura was quick to catch on and quickly got between the pair. "Why don't we just keep on walking hmm? I mean we won't solve anything by arguing."
Kazuya and Jun glared at one another before nodding and looking ahead.
"There, that's good." Sakura soothed. "Now let's just move on."
As they continued their walk, Chiisi nudged himself over to his sister. "Good save sis."
Sakura let out a sigh. "Sometimes it's really hard."
For the bespectacled girl, it truly was. She often was a peacekeeper, even back home, but this was somewhat of a new experience for her.
They continued to walk further up, keeping on as they grew closer to their goal. Yet as they traversed, they found something ahead. There lay a sign and imprinted upon it were words.
Turn Back!
Signed
The Fugamon Gang
"Oooh, sounds so fierce." Jun mocked.
Sho observed the sign, stepping backwards as he read it. "I dunno, this seems like a bad idea."
Kazuya on the other hand wasn't so worried. "Eh their just trying to scare us away. I say we go forward." Kazuya continued to walk without a care in the world. Just when he was about to take another step forward, he felt something impact against his back.
"Watch out!" Fairydramon's voice called.
Kazuya's foot trailed against the patch of ground, but as he watched, it suddenly gave way and fell into a pit. There at the bottom lay a bed of spikes.
"Woah!" Kazuya exclaimed.
He could feel the shock etch within him. He could just feel the spikes breaching his skin, but the sensation of pain never reached him, for he never touched the ground.
"Huh?" Kazuya muttered, only to hear a grunt above him. He looked up to see Fairydramon holding on to him for dear life. The dragoness fluttered over to the other side and dropped him before plopping herself upon the ground. Feet first of course.
"My. Good gracious. You are a solid chunk my dear boy." Said Fairydramon.
Kazuya wasn't sure what that meant, but he was grateful to the dragon digimon. "Thanks."
"My pleasure. Someone had to do something since your partner didn't have the foresight to sense danger." Fairydramon retorted darkly towards Gazimon.
The rabbit shrugged and carelessly replied, "What did I do?"
Fairydramon snorted in irritation and looked away from the rabbit. "Well anyway we should exorcise caution when proceeding forth."
The others shared a consensus on the matter, all save for Kazuya.
"Oh come on. I mean the hole is pretty deadly, but what else can they throw at us?" Kazuya asked without fear. "I bet this was the bet they could do. What kind of traps can two bit bandits come up with anyway?"
Without much to do, they traveled forth. They continued and in short order, they quickly discovered how wrong Kazuya was. So many traps and tricks awaited them. In fact, the order from which they premiered in was so vast that it would be pointless and cumbersome to list them all without a visual aid. But in short order, they made it up, and looked very weary.
"Dang. I thought those hammers would have done us in." Kazuya quipped.
"Not as bad as those blow darts." Gazimon added.
Yes they had indeed endured a lot, but now they had made it to their destination. So it seemed. There lay a vast home, a large manor esque formation. There was no yard, only a series of rocks and broken land.
"Place looks like a dump." Jun commented.
Kazuya shared her sentiments, but looked on ahead with an expression of determination. "Well I guess we've arrived." And he led them inside carelessly. Sakura noted this.
"Are you sure we should just barge on in?" Sakura asked with skepticism.
"Like I said, their just a bunch of two bit bandits, what can they do?" Kazuya restated.
Suddenly, a great upheaval occurred as several figures emerged from the ground. They leapt up from every nook and cranny until they were swarming. Agumon, Gabumon, the entire yard was filled with them. They surrounded them on all sides, each one looking very fierce and ready to fight.
"You were saying?" Jun said to Kazuya as she raised her right eyebrow.
The digimon stood ready. "My companions! Prepare to do battle!" Fairydramon boldly proclaimed.
However, the only digimon that wasn't the least bit concerned was Gazimon. The scruffy rabbit strode forward without a care in the world.
"Eh these guys are just Rookies, easy enough to handle, with a little juice that is." He cocked an eyebrow to Kazuya.
Kazuya was a bit confused at first, but quickly understood as he saw the digimon eying his digivice. "Oh! Right!"
Holding up his digivice, it began to glow, and that very glow covered Gazimon.
"Gazimon digivolve to! Genkimon!"
In a brilliant flash, Gazimon was replaced by the visage of Genkimon. Upon reaching his Champion form, Genkimon flexed a pose and darted his eye to Fairydramon.
"Just sit and watch babe okay?"
Fairydramon looked taken aback by the sudden display. "Babe?"
Before any elaboration could be divulged, Genkimon leapt into action. He dove at the Agumon and Gabumon and tore through them easily. They threw themselves at him but he shook them off.
"Genki Rush!" Genkimon cried as the blue aura coated him. Using it, he plowed through the hoard of digimon flunkies.
"Wow! He's really doing it!" Sho exclaimed.
Even Fairydramon had to admit, she was rather impressed. "He's still showboating though." Some things wouldn't change though.
Genkimon had beaten all of the Agumon and Gabumon when suddenly something burst through the front doors.
"What's the big idea!?" The large creature bellowed.
It was a digimon, but a large one, around the size of a man. The creature looked identical to an Ogremon, except instead of green skin, it had brown. It's loin cloth was a tiger striped pattern, but other than that, it was an Ogremon recolor.
"Boss Fugamon!" The Agumon and Gabumon cried happily.
The group looked as the Champion level digimon stomped his way out of the house, brandishing his club.
"So you're the boss huh?" Kazuya proclaimed.
Fugamon glared at the boy. "Yeah I'm the boss, what of it?"
"The village sent us to stop you from terrorizing them!" Kazuya said with his fist clenched.
Fugamon scoffed a laugh. "Sounds like those wimps to send someone else to do their dirty work." The ogre digimon raised his club high, ready to smash. "Well, which one of you runts is going to be first?"
"This one!" Genkimon shouted, before charging himself up in another "Genki Rush". The attack pushed Fugamon into the house, breaking a portion of the wood.
"Evil Hurricane!"
Suddenly, Genkimon was thrown out of house, flying back first into the ground. Out came Fugamon, spinning like a tornado.
Genkimon got to his feet, shaking himself off. "Okay. Lucky hit, but maybe you'd like some of this!? Genki Blast!"
The orb of energy shot forth, heading straight onto a path towards Fugamon. Fugamon stood his ground, and readied his free fist. "Damn Cloud!" From his fist shot forth an electrical sphere of energy. It collided with Genkimon's attack, bursting it into nothing.
"Aw come on!" Genkimon griped.
Fugamon let out another scoffing laugh. "Is that the best you can do runt?"
A vein twitched in Genkimon's head. "R-r-r-runt!? I'll show you runt!"
With a roar, Genkimon leapt forward, landing upon Fugamon and roughing about. The two struggled sand fought with one another at a rapid pace, punching and kicking. Frankly the group watched it all, seeing it more of a cat fight than anything.
"Is this really how everyone pictured it?" Jun asked.
"Yeah I have to admit this seems kind of petty." Sho concurred.
"You know? Has anyone ever tried asking him to stop?" Sakura wondered.
"Stop?" Kazuya repeated.
"Well stop stealing." Sakura clarified.
Everyone looked to each other. To be honest, no one had ever thought of it for they had grown too used to fighting in this world. Sakura was the first to try it. Without any fear, Sakura walked over, Fairydramon trailing behind her for protection.
"Um excuse me, Mr. Fugamon?" She asked.
"Not now!" Fugamon spat.
"Yeah! Can't you see we're busy?" Genkimon said.
"Well I mean I was wondering, if perhaps you could stop stealing from the villagers?" Sakura asked. "Pretty please?"
Fugamon looked at the girl like she was crazy, but that left him open to another Genki Blast. He countered with another projectile attack, hitting the saber tiger square in the face. As his opponent was knocked down, he stomped forward, club brandished.
"Sorry kid, but this is how the world is now." Fugamon explained. "It's either eat or be eaten, law of the Digital World."
As Fugamon loomed to Genkimon, he came to a stop as Sakura stood in-between them.
"Sakura! What are you doing!?" Fairydramon demanded.
"This needs to stop!" Sakura stated firmly.
"Get out of the way kid!" Fugamon snapped.
"No!" Sakura continued to express. "If you hadn't figured it out, the Digital World is in a lot of trouble, and we can't have us turning on one another. We all have to stick together and work towards a better future!"
"Does she always give corny speeches like that?" Jun deadpanly remarked.
"Shut up." Replied Kazuya.
Sakura stood her ground, no matter how much Fugamon glowered at her. The ogre digimon looked ready to smash her, but he too held his ground, holding himself back from delivering the killing blow. Sakura's fierce gaze softened as she stared at the digimon.
"Please. Don't do this." Sakura pleaded.
Fugamon's club trembled in his grip, all the more finding his desire to smash the girl dissipating. The small Fairydramon stood in front of the girl defensively.
"Well what choice do I have!?" Fugamon bellowed. "This is the way the world works now!"
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.
Fugamon continued to shake, his club nearly falling from his grip. "Everywhere there is destruction and death. Nothing can beat the Fallen Angels. It's foolish to go against them!" Fugamon fell to his knees. "I tried and tried, but I couldn't beat them. No matter what, all I saw was my world coming apart. So I figured, why not go with the flow?"
"But that's not the way to do things." Sakura pleaded. "You can't just give up because things are bad. That's what my friends and I are trying to do." Sakura said, although she used the term loosely considering Jun was in the party.
"Ba!" What can some runt think she can do!?" Fugamon scoffed in disbelief. He took his club, raised it high and charged forward.
"Sakura! Move!" Fairydramon warned.
But the girl stood her ground. Fugamon continued forward, club raised and ready to smash. But as he neared, he found his conviction fading. His desire to crush dissipating. At last, he came to a complete stop.
"Dang it kid, just move why don't ya." Fugamon said, his voice dropping in defeat.
Sakura stared up into his eyes and shook her head. "Please, just stop this."
Fugamon stared back at her, and his face fell. "Ugh what am I doing?" He asked himself.
"Boss?" An Agumon walked up concerned for his leader.
"I just don't know. I mean I thought by doing all this, I would be doing what the world wants?"
"What in the Digital World do you mean?" Fairydramon asked.
Fugamon sat down, head downcast and his mind full. "When the Fallen Angels appeared, everything went to hell. So I guess I just went to hell with it." The ogre sighed.
Sakura stared at him sympathetically. The other kids and their digimon joined up with her, checking her to see if she was alright.
"I gotta admit Kodiro, didn't think you could get him to stand down." Jun said with a hint of impressment in her voice.
"Of course she could do it! She's amazing like that." Kazuya cheered.
Sakura blushed. "Thanks guys."
Fugamon let out another sigh, gathering the attention of everyone present. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. I thought I had to do this because this was how the world was now, but I'm just tired."
Sakura broke away from the group, walking up to Fugamon without fear. "Well, maybe you should try a new approach with your life?"
"New approach?" Fugamon repeated.
"Well you have all these digimon, and you're strong, so maybe you could protect others?" Sakura suggested. "Like that village for example. This could be a better use of your skills."
Fugamon considered things for a moment, listening well to the girl's words. "Hmm? You know? Maybe you're right!"
The Agumon and Gabumon let out gasps of surprise. Fugamon stood tall and projected his voice. "All right listen up! From now on we're going to protect the village and ward off all sorts of harm! You got that!?"
The Agumon and Gabumon were at a little loss of words. But they quickly complied and saluted. "Yes Boss!" They chorused.
And so things were settled. Fugamon and his men stayed behind to prepare themselves for presentation. The kids and their digimon went on ahead to tell the villagers the good news. Though a history still remained between the two sides, they knew it would be settled in time.
"You really think it will work out?" Sho asked.
"I dunno, but it's a start." Kazuya replied.
Suddenly, Labramon popped up with a happy yip. "Labramon has hope!"
Fairydramon shuddered at Labramon's vocal patterns yet again, but put them aside for now. There would be time to address that later.
The dragon looked up at her partner and smiled. "I'm proud of you Sakura."
"Well I didn't really do much." Sakura humbly stated.
"That's an understatement." Said Kazuya.
"You did good sis." Chiisi said giving his sister a slight jab.
Sakura blushed again, pleased with herself. "Stop it, I'm going to get a swelled head." Sakura joked.
The group continued on, down to the village and ready to tell the good news. As they walked, Gazimon snuck down towards Fairydramon.
"So? Pretty impressive with all that fancy foot work and strength right?" He leaned in close, nudging her all the while.
Fairydramon narrowed her eyes, "Touch me again and I'll stuff your tail up your nose."
That alone got Gazimon to back off. But he wasn't the only one who wanted to talk to her.
"Um? Fairydramon?" Labramon innocently asked.
Fairydramon picked up on it, for Labramon didn't call her by the dreaded nickname of "Miss Lizard Face". "Yes Labramon?"
"When do you think we can start on Labramon's...I mean my speech lessons?"
Hearing that made Fairydramon perk up. "All in due time my girl. All in due time."
A/N: Well I'm back. After months of silence I finally posted a new chapter. Sorry it took so long, but life was just sapping my motivation. A lot has happened but one important thing is I finally got a Nintendo Switch.