The water rocked the swan boat gently, reminding Tonya of her time in Piximon's strange cave…
Of course, back then, she didn't have to pedal the boat…
Jenny wasn't thrilled with the idea, either, but she seemed to have gained stamina since the last time she'd pedaled a bike.
At home, she wouldn't be able to go twenty minutes without a break, and whined until she got it.
So far, from what the redhead could tell, her older friend hadn't asked for a break in roughly an hour.
"How are you two doing?"
"We'd offer to help you, but…"
Both Digimon grinned…
"Our little legs won't reach the petals!"
"If you two don't quit that, I'm throwing you off the boat for an hour." Tonya threatened.
"You wouldn't!" Agumon replied from the roof.
"It's what my mom did. And now I see the appeal."
"TONYA!"
"Jenny, you'd never let her do that, would you?"
Glaring at Gomamon's wide green eyes from the swan's head, Jenny frowned.
"I'll help her tie you two to the propeller."
"JENNY!"
"Or we could tie them to the back like skiers and skip them across the lake behind us…"
"That's a good idea, Jenny…"
"TONYA!"
"You two WOULDN'T!"
"And what's going to stop us? Little fish?"
"I'll bite you!" Agumon threatened.
"You'll be biting yourself." Tonya reminded, smiling smugly.
The rest of the ride was filled with grumblings and 'You'd-Better-Not's, but the girls didn't seem to mind.
Actually seemed proud…
Hitting shore, Tonya swung out, taking a moment to stretch her legs as Agumon climbed down from the boat's roof.
Jenny stepped out into the water instead, enjoying the coolness soaking into her sneakers and the bottoms of her jeans as Gomamon jumped to her head.
Unlike most people, she enjoyed feeling her socks squelch and her jeans hug her skin…
"Are you done? We kind of have business to take care of."
"Oh, yeah…Sorry…"
Smiling sheepishly, Jenny stepped onto the shoreline, shaking any excess water from her shoes.
"Where are we headed?"
"…Look up."
Blinking a moment, the blonde obeyed, immediately spotting the castle up on the small 'mountain' before them…
"OH…I knew that!"
"SURE you did…"
Rolling her eyes, Tonya smiled, not realizing how much she'd missed Jenny's unique brand of humor.
"Come on."
Starting up the stairs, the redhead was really starting to reconsider pedals on a boat…
Her legs were really pulling, but she pushed on, pulling Jenny behind her as the blonde began to slow.
Agumon took hold of her other hand to help him keep up, and Gomamon watched as the castle came closer and closer.
"Are you SURE the signal's coming from in there?"
Tonya took a moment, releasing her partner's hand so he could cling to the loops of her shorts, to check her Digivice.
"Definitely. These two red dots are us, obviously, so this one must be whoever we're looking for."
"Who ARE we looking for?"
"The little red dot doesn't talk, Jenny. How am I supposed to know?"
"What, you're not a psychic?"
"NO, Jenny. NO ONE is psychic."
"I think Steph's mom would disagree with you there…"
"Let's not start that rant…"
"Still, this castle is HUGE! What's that style?"
"Japanese."
"COOL…"
Shrugging, she smiled in amusement, and they finally reached the top of the stairs.
Looking up at the huge double doors, the teen ran a hand through her hair, turning to face a slightly-winded Jenny.
"What do you think is in there?"
"With our luck, we'll be attacked by a giant mound of Nume-Sludge…Or a giant cockroach…"
"Don't even joke about that…"
"Why?"
"Cause it might be true…"
Pushing the doors open, all four blinked in surprise to see so many Digimon and Spirit Evolutions rushing around like headless chickens.
"Those are Gekomon and Stripes." Gomamon informed, pointing out the green frog Digimon and their striped zebra counterparts.
"And those are Otamamon and Fluffies." Agumon added, motioning to the purple tadpole Digimon and their bushy-tailed partners.
"Guess they're old enough to have bonded…" Tonya noted.
"Not like they seem dangerous, either." Jenny agreed.
"Hey, guys! Can we talk with you for a sec?"
One Gekomon and Stripes stopped, probably not expecting visitors, and Gomamon stepped forward.
"What's the rush?"
"What's the rush? The princess wants a hot fudge sundae with extra sprinkles right now!"
"A hot fudge sundae?"
"Nope! The princess says she wants some ice-cold apple juice and a huge salami sub!" Another Stripes interrupted.
"Salami?"
Tonya's eyes narrowed as the pieces took shape in her mind…
"What are you talking about?" A third Gekomon voiced.
"The princess said she wanted a Caesar salad and M&Ms!" His Spirit Evolution agreed.
"Caesar salad and M&Ms?"
Jenny quirked an eyebrow in confusion…
"Weird taste…"
As the three Gekomon and their partners started to fight, Tonya sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"Why don't you just make all of it?" Agumon suggested.
"But they're all wrong!" An Otamamon interjected.
"She wants a frilly green dress with bows!" His bunny-girl agreed.
"Nope! She wants a green suit!" Another bunny Spirit Evolution piped up.
With all the shouting going on, even Jenny couldn't hear her own thoughts.
"This princess must be one spoiled piece of work." The eldest noted.
"Yeah, probably a little brat."
"Hey, didn't you guys say you were in a hurry?" Gomamon wondered.
"You're right!"
As the whole fight broke up into a scattered mess, Tonya blinked in confusion.
"JEEZ…Poor guys…"
Music started up, like trumpeters, and all eyes turned upwards to the grand staircase before them.
"The princess has arrived!"
All four froze at the sight before them…
"MEL?"
The brunette stopped in surprise, green strapless dress swaying like leaves around her ankles.
"Tonya? Jenny?"
Smiling sweetly, she stepped down the steps gracefully, and Palmon raced after her excitedly.
"Hi, guys!"
"It's nice to see you."
"It's great to see you guys again, too." Tonya admitted, smiling.
"We've just got to-."
"Why don't you join me up in my room?"
Jenny knew when someone was dodging a subject…
She WAS the master, after all.
Tonya seemed to sense it too, but just grabbed Agumon's hand as Mel turned back towards the stairs.
"Mel, have you been alright?"
"I've been fine."
Neither of them believed the smile that crossed the brunette's face, and Gomamon looked down at his partner.
"Jenny?"
"It'll work out, Goma-Goma…Calm down…"
"So the selfish princess was Mel?" Agumon whispered, confused.
"But she never…"
"I know, Agu…I know."
'This doesn't feel right…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Jokester, how are things at the Gekomon castle?" Midnight wondered lazily, spinning a spear-headed sword lazily between his fingers.
"They're going perfectly. That girl is being spoiled rotten! Her Crest of Sincerity will never glow!"
"Really?"
Standing to tower over the weaker Spirit Evolution, his eyes narrowed.
"You wouldn't be underestimating her, would you?"
"O-Of course not, Lord Midnight!"
"I would hope so…"
Almost carefully, his claws put pressure on Jokester's throat, keeping him at arms length.
"You wouldn't want to be punished again, would you?"
"N-No, my lord…"
"Good."
Releasing him, Midnight turned back to his throne, picking up the forgotten lace choker.
"Be sure that you get her this time, then."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're glad you're safe and all, but we've gotta go."
Mel stared at the two, and Tonya was beginning to wonder if they'd grown extra heads on the way there.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Yeah…You are." Jenny replied.
"We kinda have the others waiting for us."
"Come on, you need to change."
"I'm not changing."
"Do you KNOW how hard it'll be to walk in that?" Tonya wondered.
"I'm not walking either."
Emerald eyes narrowed, and the redhead was concerned when she saw they were a few shades darker than she remembered…
"We're not carrying you, your royal highness." Jenny retorted.
"I'm not going."
Even Palmon's eyes widened, and all gazes locked on Mel's stony features.
"What?" Tonya forced out.
"I'm-Not-Going."
"Oh, yes you are!" Jenny put in.
"If we're going to save both worlds, we need you! You can't stay here!"
"Of course I can. There's no guarantee we can, so why put myself in unnecessary danger? Besides, I have everything I could want here."
"You don't have your friends."
Tonya's soft words made the younger girl pause…
"I don't need friends."
"That's a lie." The redhead asserted, fists clenched.
"What happened to the Mel I used to know? She'd never say things like this!"
"If you don't like it, then get out!"
Palmon gasped, feeling the warring in her partner's heart as hurt flashed across Tonya and Jenny's face.
The Mel she had known had long since been buried, like a new force had come in and taken over her body.
Palmon knew her friend was in there somewhere, crying for this harsh treatment…
The plant Digimon really just wanted to help…
"Do you know what we went through to get here?" Tonya wondered.
"We came because we need you, Mel…"
"I don't even want to know."
"We're not leaving here without you!" Jenny decided.
"We wouldn't leave if you made a giant caramel gorilla and had it throw us out the window!"
"Jenny, I don't think she CAN…"
"Exactly!"
Plopping down, the blonde crossed her arms determinedly with Gomamon.
"I'm not leaving without you!"
Tonya nodded in agreement, hands on her hips as Agumon stood tall.
"No Digidestined left behind, remember?"
Palmon felt the recognition, deep in their bond, and it flashed weakly in the emerald irises…
"Well, we'll see about that."
Grabbing a bell, she rang it clearly three times before the front door was blocked off by Gekomon, Stripes, Otamamon, and Fluffies.
"Uh oh…"
"Remove them from my room at once!"
"Yes, your highness!"
Agumon cried out as he was suddenly lifted into the air, along with the others, and Jenny started shouting.
It wasn't coherent in the slightest, not even to her, as they were pulled out through the hallways.
Gomamon finally covered her mouth, and Tonya twisted to catch hold of her partner.
"Agu!"
"Why are they listening to her, anyway?!"
When the group beneath them suddenly stopped, the four were unceremoniously dumped on the clean stone floor.
"OW…"
Having landed on her shoulders, but in the air and legs twisted awkwardly, Jenny had every reason to feel pain…
Sitting up, Tonya rubbed the back of her head and looked up at the sad-faced expressions before her.
"Do you really want to know?"
Blinking in confusion, the redhead shared a look with her older friend before both nodded.
"Yeah."
"We wanna know."
Once on their feet, the two girls followed them through some other hallways.
"Mel won't find us?" Gomamon questioned.
"Nope."
"Are you sure?"
"Definitely."
"Why do I get the feeling this won't be good?" Tonya voiced aloud.
"Because she obviously did something bad…"
The outdoor path led to a large room, cut off from rest of the castle and almost hovering over the lake water.
Within was a massive stage and lights, sound equipment, and…
"That's one UGLY frog-woman!"
"…I think that's a guy…"
"Oh…Sorry…"
Smiling sheepishly, Jenny ran a hand through her hair as Gomamon sighed.
"He's better as a guy, at least…"
There was a giant man, with the dark, sharp scales of an alligator and the tail and jaws to match.
"Holy Jebus…He's pretty cute."
"Jenny!"
"What? I guess I'm into the whole big, reptile thing. I like my men muscley!"
Tonya massaged her forehead, unwilling to process that remark, and turned to the Gekomon, Otamamon, and their partners.
"So, who are these guys?"
"They're Shogungekomon and Spearclaws."
"Are they dead?" Agumon wondered.
"No, they're very much alive."
"They've been asleep for more than three hundred years!"
"Lord Shogungekomon was very proud of his voice, and entered a singing contest."
"He lost, and been sleeping ever since. Only a voice as beautiful as the one that beat him can revive them."
"And what brought Mel into the picture?" Gomamon questioned.
"A little Digimon and his coyote partner told us about a girl with a Palmon that could sing beautifully."
"We brought her here to awaken them, but…"
"At first, she was unbelievably nice. Never asked for anything, even when offered. But…"
"One day, this dart busted through a window and hit her."
Tonya's eyes widened, adrenaline rushing through her system at the very thought.
"She seemed alright…But then it was like she was becoming a new person."
"Her Palmon agreed, said their bond was weakening somehow…"
"Now, she won't stop making excuses about being unable to sing."
Jenny sighed, looking towards Tonya.
"What do you think, Red?"
"It's definitely Demidevimon and Jokester. This must be one of their schemes to keep Mel's crest from glowing."
"What are we gonna do?"
"…We'll have to try and wake him up ourselves."
"Um…You can. I can't sing for sugar-coated pancake bombs."
"Fine, fine…"
Tonya climbed up onto the stage, grabbing the microphone, and everyone watched her curiously as she found the right music…
"Gokigen na chou ni natte kirameku kaze ni notte/Ima sugu kimi ni ai ni yukou/Yokei na koto nante wasureta hou ga mashi sa/Kore ijou shareteru jikan wa nai…"
Jenny was a bit surprised…
She'd never heard Tonya sing in Japanese, and definitely not that song.
Wasn't 'Butterfly' the Japanese song for an anime?
"Nani ga wow wow wow wow wow kono sora ni todoku no darou/Dakedo wow wow wow wow wow ashita no yotei mo wakaranai…"
Tonya wasn't half-bad, actually…
"Mugendai na yume no ato no nanimo nai yo no naka ja/Sou sa itoshii omoi mo makesou ni naru kedo/Stay shigachi na imeeji darake no tayorinai tsubasa demo/Kitto toberu sa on my love…"
Shogungekomon was starting to twitch…
"Ukareta chou ni natte ichizu na kaze ni notte/Doko mademo kimi ni ai ni yukou/Aimai na kotoba tte igai ni benri date/Sakenderu hitto songu kikinagara…"
His little vine was starting to rise, ever so slowly…
"Nani ga wow wow wow wow wow kono machi ni hibiku no darou/Dakedo wow wow wow wow wow kitai shitetemo shikata nai…"
Jenny was tapping her foot, smiling, hoping they were going to help Mel…
"Mugendai na yume no ato no yarusenai yo no naka ja/Sou sa joushiki hazure mo waruku wa nai ka na/Stay shisou na imeeji wo someta gikochinai tsubasa demo/Kitto toberu sa on my love…"
The Gekomon were starting to hop up and down, and the Otamamon high-fived…
"Mugendai na yume no ato no yarusenai yo no naka ja/Sou sa joushiki hazure mo waruku wa nai ka na/Stay shisou na imeeji wo someta gikochinai tsubasa demo/Kitto toberu sa on my love…"
Maybe, just maybe…
"Mugendai na yume no ato no yarusenai yo no naka ja/Sou sa joushiki hazure mo waruku wa nai ka na/Stay shisou na imeeji wo someta gikochinai tsubasa demo/Kitto toberu sa on my love!"
As the music ended, everyone looked up at Shogungekomon and Spearclaws…
To see they were still asleep.
"This is going to be harder than I thought…" Tonya admitted, putting down the microphone.
"Well…Any OTHER bright ideas, Red?"
"I don't hear YOU coming up with anything." Tonya retorted, jumping down easily from the stage.
"What if I help?"
Everyone in the room jumped, whipping around to see Palmon step out of the shadows…
"Palmon, what are you doing here?" Agumon asked.
"…I want Mel back."
Sympathetic, Tonya crouched before the lone Digimon, smiling warmly.
"Don't worry. We'll get her back for you, Palmon."
"How are we going to do that?" Gomamon wondered.
"I've got a plan…"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidgeting with the knobs, Tonya nodded to Jenny as she pulled on the headphones.
"I hope this works, Red…"
"Stop being such a baby, Jenny."
"Whatever, Ms Genius. So, what exactly are we doing?"
"THIS is a recording machine."
"Uh huh."
"Connected to THAT karaoke machine."
"Uh huh."
"And once Palmon gets Mel to sing INTO the karaoke machine, we RECORD it."
"Uh huh."
"…That's it."
"…It might work."
Gomamon skittered away from the balcony doors, hiding against the brick wall.
"Hide! She's coming!" He whispered.
Jenny ducked, hoping the recording would be a good enough quality so they wouldn't need to try this again…
Then…
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Tonya may have gotten the brunt of it, what with her sensitive hearing and the headphones…
But DAMN, could Mel scream! Jenny was practically dazed, almost falling over…
'We're screwed…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So, you thought you'd pull a fast one on me?"
Tonya, annoyed with the moist scents in the air, clung to the slightly-rusted bars.
"Mel, you've got to listen to me! We're your friends!"
"We're only trying to help you!" Agumon added.
"You tried to trick me."
"For your own good, you thick-headed royal mess!"
"Don't you remember who you were? What about HER?!" Gomamon agreed.
"Don't you feel ANYTHING? You're locking up your friends and running the Gekomon and Otamamon ragged!" Tonya shouted.
Looking away, as if to avoid their shouts, Mel began to leave…
"MEL!"
Pausing as Palmon ran to the edge of the cell, gripping the bars, the brunette waited for her to continue.
"You know no one loves you more than me, so this is really hard to say…"
The plant Digimon sniffled, looking right into her partner's eyes…
"This new Mel…"
A moment for her to collect her courage…
"I HATE YOU!!!"
Pain crossed the teen's face, and Palmon felt the agony sear the small piece left of her old partner…
"Well, it's nice to know how you really feel!"
Storming away, Mel felt their bond pull, and the small section of her left cried out forlornly for her partner…
Palmon closed her eyes, tears sliding free of her lids…
'Mel…Come back to me…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The darkness was foreboding, pushing against her and trying to pull all the air from her lungs…
Mel was screaming on the inside, flailing and trying to escape, but she was a prisoner within her own body.
Outside, she was stoic, frozen, and the brunette was struggling as if chained down.
Etemon and Devimon were baring down on her, with Babyface and Bloodtongue, and she wanted to GET AWAY…
The Gekomon and Otamamon appeared with their own Spirit Evolutions, and she wanted to plead with them.
'Help me! Please!'
"You have to help."
"We don't think so."
"You didn't sing, even when we did what you said."
"Why you-!"
'I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I couldn't help myself! Please, help me!'
"So long."
"Take care of it yourself."
As the black swallowed them up, more forms seemed ready to come out and greet her.
It was Tonya and Jenny, Digimon at their side, with Palmon…
'Pal! Pal, I need your help! PLEASE!'
"You have to help me."
"Sorry, we only help our friends." Tonya replied hotly.
"Why? I thought you LOVED being a princess." Jenny added, scowling.
"Have you forgotten what you've done to us?"
"It serves you right!"
Palmon was the only one left now, and Mel was almost crying on the inside…
'PAL! PAL, HELP ME! I CAN'T BREAK FREE!'
"Palmon."
"I hate you, Mel."
The pain cut through to her heart, and she was screaming internally as her partner disappeared into the darkness…
'PAL! PAL, COME BACK!'
As the enemies bear down on her, the chains snapped, tears blurring her vision…
"PALMON!!!"
Suddenly, she was awake, panting and cold and in her room, with the window open and the drapes fluttering.
Moonlight made the room seem surreal, and she looked up blearily to see Steph's warm dark eyes.
"Mel, do you know what that dream was trying to tell you?"
She nodded, sniffling, holding onto the older brunette's hand as tightly as possible.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't want to!"
"It's alright, Mel…" Steph soothed, crouching down beside the bed.
"As long as you know what you did wrong, you can fix it."
"…I-I'm sorry…"
"I know, Mel. You need to tell them."
Kissing the younger girl's forehead, Steph smiled, as if no harm were done…
"You're a good girl, Mel. They know that. You just need to remember."
Everything blurred together as Mel nodded…
"I promise, Stephie…"
The next thing she knew, the room was empty, her crest shining and her window open, letting in a cold wind.
"Stephie?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking past the curtain, Mel let loose a breath, waiting for Palmon and the others to arrive…
Hiding behind the thick cloth, the green-eyed girl straightened out her old clothes.
The doors closed loudly, signaling that everyone was present, and she walked out to the microphone.
Eyes downcast, she waited for the whispers to die down…
"I know that I've been a little selfish brat, and I'm…"
The tears shimmered behind her lids, and she tried to hold them back…
"I'm so sorry!"
Silence reigned as she bowed, sobs choking her throat.
"I have no reason to think any of you will forgive me, but I really am sorry! I don't know what happened, but I promise it'll never happen again!"
Mel straightened, cheeks flushed as she tried to hold it in.
"I know you must hate me…But I'll gladly sing for you, and then you'll never have to see me again."
Her voice hitched, but Mel forced herself onward.
"I've treated you all so horribly, and I can't say sorry enough to make up for it."
"Oh, Mel…"
Palmon ran through the crowd, eyes tearing up as well as she felt their bond, full and strong and warm, throbbing in her chest.
Climbing up onto the stage, she hugged her partner, tears wetting her skin.
"I'm so glad you're back!"
"P-Pal…"
"I never hated you, Mel! I hated the person that took you over!"
"I-I know, Pal…"
Returning the embrace, they held each other close, glad to feel their bond and hear each other's heartbeats…
"I love you, Pal…"
"I love you too, Mel…"
"Sing! Sing!" The crowd chanted, happy to see everything resolved, and the brunette stood up, still holding Palmon's hand.
"Thank you…Everyone…"
"Start the music!"
The lights dimmed, one landing on the singer as the music started up…
"Today I'm gonna ride away/And feel the sun throughout my hair/Finally free to be who I wanna be/Who that is I don't really care…"
Tonya grinned, putting a hand on Agumon's head as the music flowed over them…
"'Cuz I've got friends who love me/Blue skies are above me/My blonde hair is everywhere…"
Jenny locked eyes with Gomamon, relaxing now that she knew everything really WOULD end alright…
"Sweet sixteen/Gonna spread my wings/Sweet sixteen/It's my chance to shine/Sweet sixteen/Discovering/Sweet sixteen/So much more to life/Sweet sixteen…"
Everyone was enjoying the sound, and Shogungekomon's vine was beginning to rise…
"Drivin' down to the club where we go to dance/Radio is blastin' and the top is down/There ain't nothin' in my way/'Cept the traffic of L.A…"
"Jeez, I LOVE this song!" Jenny shouted.
"And I've got friends who love me/Bright stars shine above me/My blonde hair is everywhere/Mamma loves me and a sister who shows me, and a daddy's always there…"
Mel was lost in the words as Shogungekomon seemed to start waking up, Spearclaws stirring…
"I wanna know what it feels like/I need to see it from the inside/I can taste a bit of what I will find/So much more to life/Sweet sixteen…"
Mel closed her eyes, far-gone from reality…
"I wanna know what it feels like/I need to see it from the inside/I can taste a bit of what I will find/So much more to life/Sweet sixteen!"
Something crashed, and the spell of her voice was broken as Shogungekomon stood with a thunderous sound.
Everything screeched to a halt as Spearclaws seemed to snarl, and Palmon stood in front of her partner.
"Who was making all that racket?!"
"We were having such a nice nap!!"
"Not me!" Jenny shouted, rushing away with the crowd as Shogungekomon stepped out where they were.
Ducking, Mel hugged Palmon close as he went right over them, eyes widening as Spearclaws towered over the pair.
"Oh no…"
Stone was crumbling as chaos ensued, and the brunette moved to shield her partner, face stern.
"I won't let you hurt her."
"Musical Fist!"
The Gekomon, Otamamon, and the other Digidestined were blasted straight out of the room, and Palmon tensed.
"Mel-!"
Pulling knuckledusters on, Spearclaws pulled back his fist…
"Electric Punch!"
As the attack raced for them, the brunette pushed Palmon away…
"MEL!"
"Rabbit!"
The sudden light from her charm stunned the alligator-man…
"Melanie, Spirit Evolve into…LUCKY FEET!"
"Palmon, Digivolve to…TOGEMON!!"
Zooming out of range, Lucky Feet skidded to a halt, glaring as her fluffy tail twitched.
"That's not very nice! I wake you up after three hundred years, and you try to kill me!"
"That was YOU?!" Both Shogungekomon and Spearclaws thundered.
"Uh oh…"
A blur now, she raced to Togemon's side as quickly as possible, ceiling falling all around them…
"Light-Speed Jabbing!"
Destroying the debris, Togemon defended her partner as well as she could before the much-larger Shogungekomon stalked towards them.
"Togemon…"
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
Everyone was stunned, looking out to see Trickster, Ikkakumon, Tawny, and Greymon on the shore with the others.
"Watch who you threaten, you overgrown slime-sucker!"
"Get him, Greymon!"
"Nova Blast!"
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
"Musical Fist!"
Shogungekomon's attack cancelled both of theirs, and Spearclaws jumped down to meet them with his fists crackling…
"Frog Kick!"
"Electric Punch!"
"GREYMON!"
Tawny's Crest of Courage began to shine…
"Greymon, Digivolve to…METALGREYMON!!"
"Transformation of Courage into…Courageous Tawny!"
Metalgreymon caught the massive Digimon on his helmet, throwing him back up as Togemon and Lucky Feet got down.
Courageous Tawny leapt up, kicking Spearclaws right after his partner, and hit the shore once more, blades bursting into flame.
"Giga Blaster!"
"Blazing Courage!"
The whole building went down on the pair, and the transformations fell away as the sun began to rise.
"Guess we took care of him! Right, Koro?"
"What a waste of sexy muscle…"
"JENNY…"
"What?!"
Mel smiled brightly, hugging Palmon to her chest like the plant Digimon was a stuffed animal.
"Thanks, guys. I couldn't have done it without you."
"What are friends for?" Jenny replied, grinning.
"No Digidestined left behind. You said that, remember?"
"Yeah…"
"Now it's time to head back to meet up with the others." Agumon reminded.
"Let's go!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It seems you two did fail."
Midnight yawned boredly, long black coat swirling like smoke around his ankles.
"Personally, I'm finding your failures boring as of late. What do you think, Myotismon?"
"It has gotten rather tedious. Let's make sure this is the last time, then."
"You can have the pleasure."
Midnight smirked, turning to head into the darkness…
"I have to get ready for my date…"