Author's Note: This is probably the longest delay I've had adding a chapter to this story. One of the reasons for the delay is because I had kind of a busy weekend. The main reason though is because this is kind of a long chapter. A lot of stuff happens in this installment.
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Chapter 7: Return of the Angels
The city of Tokyo became a war zone as a legion of NeoDevimon, swarmed through the city's skies. The Digidestined were already doing everything they could to stop the invading hoard, but many of them were already occupied with other matters. Tai, Matt, and Sora were busy fighting Ghoulmon, the false leader of the Seven Lords. Meanwhile their allies, the Tamers, were struggling against Daemon and Lilithmon. This left Joe and Mimi to deal with the NeoDevimon on their own, as the rest of the team was at the Dark Ocean.
As the battle around them raged, Justimon and Sakuyamon were starting to lose ground against Daemon and Lilithmon. The Lords of Wrath and Lust had proven stronger than they thought. Just as the demon lords were about to deliver a devastating blow to their opponents, Daemon was hit in the back by a cluster of seven gold fireballs, while at the same time Lilithmon was hit in the back by a beam of golden light. The four combatants looked up and saw Seraphimon and Ophanimon hovering in the sky above them. Daemon and Lilithmon were surprised to say the least.
"Whoever you two are, go and help the Digidestined!" Seraphimon commanded Justimon and Sakuyamon. "Ophanimon and I will deal with these fiends!"
Daemon glared at the two angels. "So at last the two of you have come out of hiding! You will soon rue that decision!"
With that, the two demon lords flew up into the sky to face their celestial counterparts. Back on the ground, Justimon and Sakuyamon stood and pondered this new development.
"Not that I'm complaining, but where did those two come from?" Justimon asked.
"No clue, but if I'm remembering right, Seraphimon is the Mega form of Patamon," Sakuyamon replied. "Shouldn't that mean that T.K. is somewhere nearby?"
"Maybe…and if I remember correctly, Ophanimon is one of the possible Mega forms of Gatomon. Maybe I'm reaching, but this could mean that Kari is back too."
"Then that would mean Lucemon was lying to us! Which means that letting him out of the Dark Ocean could be really bad!"
Justimon shook his head. "There isn't much we can do about it now. I think the only thing we can do is help stop that NeoDevimon army."
"I guess you're right," Sakuyamon agreed, and with that the two were off.
Meanwhile back up in the sky, the battle of the two angels against the two demons was about to begin.
"So this is what you truly look like, foul one," Seraphimon remarked to Daemon. "No wonder you hid your appearance with that shroud."
"You would have taken this form too had you felt the same rage against the gods that I did!" Daemon retorted. "Rage over how they stood idly by and let those of the Digital World fight each other in petty wars to the death over land! I wanted to intervene and put a stop to those pointless battles, but the gods would not allow it!"
"Is that why you joined Lucemon?"
Daemon chuckled. "Ah! So you know of my master. To answer your question, yes. Lord Lucemon saw that the only way to protect the people of the Digital World from themselves was to conquer them. It was a conclusion I had already come to. Though over time Lord Lucemon and I, along with the rest of my brethren, saw that the Digital World and those who live within it were beyond saving. So now our intention is to destroy that world and start anew, as we shall do with this one."
"You have no right to decided who has the right to live!" Seraphimon proclaimed, pointing a finger at the demon.
"Then just try and stop me!" Daemon roared as he shot a stream of hellfire at Seraphimon.
Seraphimon dodged the attack and fired back with another cluster of fireballs. Meanwhile, Ophanimon and Lilithmon were about to square off.
"I hope you enjoyed your little vacation, because now you die!" Lilithmon declared with an evil smirk.
"You are the one who shall parish!" Ophanimon proclaimed.
Lilithmon chuckled. "Confident I see. Though I guess it's well deserved since you did manage to destroy old Leviamon. By the way, aren't you curious about what's been happening to your friends while you've been gone? Such as what I did to your old boyfriend Davis?"
Within Ophanimon, Kari was enraged by the mere mention of Davis's name. Once again she wanted to break something, and she was fortunate that Lilithmon was handy. But Kari knew she had to be careful, since she was dealing with a member of the Seven Lords after all.
Ophanimon took a deep breath to regain her composure. "So…what did you do to that idiot while I was away?"
"I seduced him. It was actually quite easy, but then it usually is with most men. In the end though he somehow broke free of my control and rejected me, and for that I will tear him to pieces later. Still, I'd think you'd be enraged that I took what was once yours."
Ophanimon silently looked at Lilithmon up and down a few times. "Yeah, I can see how you were able to seduce that idiot. You're just his type: cheap, easy, and breathing."
Lilithmon's right eye began to twitch. "Did…did you just call me cheap?"
"C'mon, you look like an overdressed prostitute. One that looks like she's been around the bend a few times I might add. Of course you are a few thousand years old, so I'm not surprised. Though if that moron was seduced by you than his standards are lower than I thought."
At this point Lilithmon's expression twisted into one of utter fury.
"Die for those insults you sanctimonious bitch!" Lilithmon shouted as she fired a blast of black flames at Ophanimon.
Ophanimon dodged the attack and returned fire with a ray from her javelin.
In another part of the city, not too far away, Joe and Zudomon were doing their best to fight off the NeoDevimon. Zudomon had managed to destroy a few, but was starting to become overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the demon army. It seemed that the walrus warrior had reached his limit, and that he and Joe were about to be destroyed, but suddenly a caped figure fell from the sky and burned away most of the NeoDevimon. He then turned to Joe and Zudomon asked.
"You guys okay?" the caped warrior asked.
"Uh…yeah. I think so," Joe answered. "Thanks for your help whoever you are."
"No problem!" the warrior replied as he gave a thumb's up. "You two take a breather while I bust up more of these freaks."
With that, the warrior charged off to fight more of the NeoDevimon.
"I don't believe it!" Zudomon said with a look of amazement. "That's Marsmon!"
"Who?" Joe asked.
"One of the Olympus Twelve, a group of powerful Digimon who're said to defend the Digital World."
"So…he's on our side?" Joe asked still sounding a little confused.
"That would be an accurate assessment," a voice suddenly replied, causing Joe and Zudomon to turn and see a figure in black cybernetic armor approaching them. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am HiAndromon. And like Marsmon I am also your ally."
"Where did you guys come from?" Joe asked.
"Not important at the moment," HiAndromon replied as he looked at the surroundings. He then turned to Zudomon "Say, can I borrow your hammer for a moment?"
With that, HiAndromon held out his right arm to Zudomon's hammer. A green wire frame version of the hammer appeared in the cyborg's hand and turned into an almost exact duplicate. HiAndromon turned his head to the direction of another swarm of NeoDevimon that was flying towards them. The cyborg then threw the hammer towards the swarm. But rather than hitting the NeoDevimon, the hammer hit the supporting beam of a construction crane that was along the swarm's path. The crane fell and hit the swarm, trapping them under the structure. HiAndromon then stretched his arms out and fired beams of green light from his hands. The trapped swarm was completely destroyed.
"There. By my calculations there should now only be one-hundred and ninety-two NeoDevimon left," HiAndromon concluded, though an explosion caused by Marsmon that destroyed a few more of the demon army caught his attention. "Correction, there should now only be one-hundred and seventy-seven NeoDevimon left. Now then, if you two are done resting I believe we should help Marsmon deal with the rest of this swarm."
With that, HiAndromon calmly walked onto the battlefield with his hands folded behind his back.
"Well, I still don't know what's going on here, but if you're up for it buddy, I say we should help these guys out," Joe suggested to Zudomon.
"No argument here," Zudomon agreed, and with that the two rejoined the battle.
In another part of the city, several NeoDevimon had surrounded Mimi and Lillymon. Lillymon had taken quite a bit of damage and was on her last legs. Just as the demons were about to envelope the two, Dianamon and Lotosmon jumped in from above. Daianamon's eyes glowed with a blue light that caused a few of the NeoDevimon to suddenly start fighting each other. Meanwhile Lotosmon waved her staff tipped with the rainbow colored flower, releasing a powder that seemed to put more of the NeoDevimon in a trance. The fairy Digimon then waved the Caduceus in her other hand, causing the NeoDevimon in a trance to glow with a black aura and explode. Dianamon meanwhile hacked apart the rest of the NeoDevimon to pieces with her bladed staff. By the time it was over, all of the NeoDevimon that had been surrounding Mimi and Lillymon were no more.
"Oh you poor dear!" Lotosmon spoke as she looked at the injured Lillymon. "Here, let me help you."
Lotosmon waved her Caduceus, causing Lillymon to glow with a white aura. When the aura faded, Lillymon found that her injuries were completely healed.
"Thank you," Lillymon told Lotosmon.
"Who are you guys?" Mimi asked.
"Don't worry. We're on your side," Dianamon assured her. "I am Dianamon, and this is Lotosmon."
"Where did you guys come from?" Lillymon asked.
"We'll explain later. Right now there are more of those creatures rampaging through the city. We have to stop them before anyone is hurt."
Mimi and Lillymon nodded, and with that the four went off to fight more of the NeoDevimon army.
Back at the park, Omnimon and Hououmon were continuing to fight Ghoulmon. The demon proved to be quite powerful, and it did not help that there were quite a few NeoDevimon helping him. Just as it had happened a few times before in the battle, Ghoulmon fired a powerful red beam from his central eye, which Omnimon would barely manage to deflect with the sword from his WarGreymon arm. At the same time, Hououmon had to fight off a few more NeoDevimon. It seemed like there was no end to the battle, but suddenly QueenChessmon jumped in and knocked some of the NeoDevimon away with her staff. The chess queen then spun around like a twister and sliced the NeoDevimon to pieces with the sword blades that made up her skirt.
Meanwhile, Alphamon stepped up behind Ghoulmon. The eye demon seemed to sense Alphamon's arrival and turned to face him.
"Foul creature of the Digital World! I, Alphamon, shall put an end to thee!" Alphamon proclaimed.
Ghoulmon roared in response and fired another death ray from his central eye. The ancient knight took off into the air several seconds before the beam hit. As Alphamon ascended into the air, the metal wings on his back fully unfolded to reveal massive golden feathers.
"Stand back, all of you!" Alphamon commanded to those still on the ground. "Digitalize of Soul!"
The sky suddenly became dark, and covered by a magic circle made of green light. From the center of the circle emerged the head of a massive white dragon. The dragon opened its jaws and fired a blast of golden flames that hit Ghoulmon and completely vaporized him. With its task complete, the dragon receded back into the circle and the sky returned to normal.
Not too far away in the sky, Daemon and Lilithmon had seen the creature that Alphamon had summoned.
"It…it can't be!" Lilithmon spoke with an expression of utter shock. "Only Alphamon can summon that dragon!"
"It would appear that he has returned," Daemon stated gravely. "We must destroy him now!"
The two demon lords were about to leave to confront Alphamon, but before they could, Seraphimon and Ophanimon hit them with another attack.
"If you two want to try fighting Alphamon, you're going to have to get through us first!" Seraphimon declared.
"If that it the way it has to be, then it seems we have no choice!" Deamon replied, and with that the battle resumed.
Back down at the park, Alphamon had landed and began walking towards Omnimon. Within Alphamon, Arthur had noticed something about Omnimon.
"Perhaps it is just me my ancient friend, but it seems that Omnimon looks similar to you," Arthur observed. "Although that could just be because both of you are knights."
"I had noticed the similarity as well," Alphamon agreed. "It is possible that after I was created, Yggdrasill seeded within other Digimon the potential to evolve into beings like myself."
"Who are you?" Omnimon asked.
"A friend," Alphamon replied.
"Where did you come from?"
"That is a story that will take some time, but it will have to wait until the current crisis is behind us." Alphamon then turned and saw Tai, Matt, and Sora standing not too far away. "You two could only be Matt and Tai, and you young lady must be Sora. I have heard many thing about you."
"How did you hear about us?" Matt asked.
"You will learn that in time," Alphamon replied.
"Hey! Quite being so damn mysterious!" Tai complained. "We're in no mood for games right now!"
Alphamon sighed. "I can see you have little patience. But the time for explanations shall have to wait."
"He's right. There are still more of those creatures rampaging through the city," QueenChessmon agreed.
"Well, it shouldn't be too hard of a battle now since you just destroyed the leader of the Seven Lords," Sora theorized.
Alphamon was visibly started by Sora's remark. "Who told you that the creature I slew was the leader of the Seven Lords?"
"Daemon and Lilithmon for one thing," Matt answered. "They said Ghoulmon was their leader when he appeared."
"Those two have lied to you!" Alphamon told them. "The true leader of the Seven Lords is far more terrible. He is a Digimon of unspeakable power known as Lucemon."
The three Digidestined and their two Digimon were greatly shocked by what Alphamon had just told them.
"Did…did you say Lucemon?" Tai asked as the terror of the mistake he had just made was beginning to dawn on him.
"That is correct," Alphamon confirmed with a nod. "And from your reaction it seems you've heard the name before."
"Lucemon spoke to us from the Dark Ocean," Matt explained. "He told us he was an ally who could help us take down the Seven Lords, but he needed our help to escape. So we sent a few of our friends to the Dark Ocean to free him."
"Then you may have just doomed two worlds!" Alphamon declared gravely.
Back at the Dark Ocean, Davis, Ken, and Lucemon were discussing how to break the seal on the Devil's Gate.
"Are you sure that the Omni Sword is strong enough to break that big chain locking the gate?" Davis asked.
"Positive," Lucemon replied. "The sword is a weapon that was prophesized to be able to cut through darkness. I'm certain it can break the seal."
"Well then, I guess we should give it a shot. Ready Ken?" Davis asked.
"I think so," Ken replied, though he looked uncertain.
"Okay then, do it Imperialdramon!" Davis commanded.
"On it!" Imperialdramon replied as he suddenly began to glow with a white light. "Imperialdramon mode change to…Paladin Mode!"
With his transformation completed, Imperialdramon's armor and wings had turned white. In his hands he carried a giant white swords with gold letters written in the language of the Digital World written down the side of the blade. With one swing, Imperialdramon brought the sword down on the chain and cut through it. With the chain broken, the Devil's Gate swung open to reveal a swirling vortex of white light.
"Quickly, into the gate before it closes!" Lucemon told them as he flew into the vortex.
Davis, Ken, and Imperialdramon followed the Angel Digimon through the gate, followed soon after by Yolei flying on the back of Aquillamon. Ankylomon, who was carrying Cody and an unconscious Izzy and Tentomon entered the vortex, and the gate soon closed behind them.
Back over Tokyo, Seraphimon and Ophanimon's battle with Daemon and Lilithmon raged on. Both sides were evenly matched, but finally Seraphimon fired a cluster of gold fireballs at close range that went through Daemon's chest. Meanwhile, just as Lilithmon was about to slash Ophanimon with her claw, the female angel stabbed Lilithmon in the chest with her javelin and fired. The two demon lords began dissolving into partials of data and evaporated into the air. The Lords of Wrath and Lust were no more.
Meanwhile directly below on the ground, a vortex of white light opened up, and Lucemon emerged with Davis's team. Once they were all out, the vortex closed behind them.
"Wow! That thing set us down in the human world," Davis observed sounding impressed. "Well buddy, looks like you're finally out."
"Yes. Allow me to thank you for your help," Lucemon responded in a deep hate-filled voice that surprised the group. "Grand Cross!"
With those words, Lucemon fired ten white fireballs arranged like a cross at Imperialdramon, which not only knocked the dragon warrior to the ground, but also caused him to split back into Veemon and Wormmon.
"You helped me to escape from that wretched prison, so for that I will allow you to live for now," Lucemon told the group in his original child voice. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to have a word with the duo that just destroyed my two remaining comrades, angel to angel."
Lucemon flew up into the air to confront Seraphimon and Ophanimon. All around on the battlefield below, the rest of the heroes had noticed the arrival of the dark angel
"I am Lucemon, the Lord of Pride and leader of the Seven Lords!" Lucemon announced to Seraphimon and Ophanimon, though his voice echoed loud enough for those on the ground to hear. "Although I suppose my second title has little meaning, as you and your comrades have destroyed my fellow lords."
"You're Lucemon?" Ophanimon asked in disbelief.
"Are you surprised by my appearance?" Lucemon asked with a wry expression. "I suppose you were expecting me to look more hideous as you have been told that I am evil. The truth is, good and evil are merely labels. If my beliefs happen to match yours, than you consider me to be good. But if my beliefs are totally different from yours, then I am considered evil. My beliefs clashed with those of the gods, so they and those who worshipped them branded me as evil. And I can see that the belief has endured through the centuries. I'm sure that I would've been viewed differently if I had won the war, for history is written by the victors."
"What do you want of us?" Seraphimon asked.
"Very well, I shall come right to the point. I wish for you to join my cause. You've proven to be quite powerful, and as I'm sure you're aware I could use replacements for my fallen lords. Join me and together we could remake both worlds into a paradise."
"We will never join you!" Ophanimon declared. "You would kill our friends and family, as well as several innocent people to achieve your twisted version of peace! We will not allow you to succeed! We will die to protect those we care about!"
At this, Lucemon began to break into an evil laugh that seemed so unnatural coming from one with such an innocent child-like appearance. "I see! So you would die to protect those who abandoned you both to darkness? Do you have any idea how flawed those who you would protect have proven to be? Since you've been gone they have fought amongst themselves and given in to their darkest desires. They are sinful creatures who are hardly worth your protection."
"Perhaps they are flawed, but flawed or not we still care about them, and we will fight you to protect them!" Seraphimon proclaimed.
Lucemon raised an eyebrow. "Is that your final answer?"
"It is useless to try and convert these two to your cause Lucemon!" a voice interrupted. "They are far too pure of heart to be twisted to your warped views."
The three Angel Digimon turned to see Alphamon hovering near them.
"Alphamon, I see you survived the final battle after all!" Lucemon observed in an amused tone. "I must admit I am pleased by this unexpected development. Remaking two worlds would not be as fun without the challenge of dealing with you."
"Fight me if you wish, I will be more than happy to oblige. But if you are to fight me, then do it at full strength! I know for a fact that you evolved passed your current form during the war!"
Lucemon chuckled. "Ah yes, I almost forgot that I regressed to my Rookie form to try and make it easier to break free of that wretched pit that Yggdrasill cast me into. But now that I am free, I can return to my Ultimate form."
Suddenly Lucemon began to glow with a black aura that caused him to change. When his transformation had finished, Lucemon had grown into an adult form that was a bit more muscular. Instead of a toga, he was wearing a bodysuit that had black sleeves and pants and a white torso. On his legs he wore knee-high white boots with gold wings on the ankles, feathered wings on the right and batwings on the left. On his hands Lucemon wore white gloves over hands with clawed fingers. On his chest was the symbol of a gold sun. The wings on Lucemon's right side remained white and feathered, while the wings on his left side had become black batwings. His blond hair had grown longer, and his face had become more effeminate.
"That's more like it," Lucemon declared in a high effeminate voice. "Now then Alphamon, we can resume our ancient battle, but I will give you one chance to join me. Think of what we could accomplish if we were on the same side."
"You must be mad to think I would join you!" Alphamon defiantly responded. "We were created to protect the Digital World, not conquer it!"
"Ah, but conquering it and protecting it are the same thing. Though at this point it is best to destroy everything and start with a clean slate."
"In Yggdrasill's name, I will destroy you!"
"Again, you are welcome to try. But before you do there is a certain matter I must attend to. Until we meet again Alphamon."
With that, Lucemon vanished in a blinding flash of white light.
"Where did he go?" Seraphimon asked.
"We will have to deal with Lucemon at another time," Alpahmon told the two angels. "Right now we should meet back up with the rest of the team and your friends."
Back on the ground, the Digidestined had assembled back at the park; their Digimon already reverted back to their Rookie forms. Justimon and Sakuyamon had already split back into the respective pairs of Ryo and Cyberdramon and Rika and Renamon. Alphamon had landed on the ground before them. QueenChessmon stood next to him on his right, while Marsmon stood on his left. Seraphimon and Ophanimon landed next to Marsmon. HiAndromon took a position next to QueenChessmon, and Dianamon and Lotosmon stood next to HiAndromon.
"Who are you guys?" Tai asked.
"We are…Team Excalibur!" Alphamon announced, and with a blinding flash the eight Mega level Digimon split back into their human/Digimon pairs.
The Digidestined and their two Tamer friends were shocked to say the least that Team Excalibur was made up of people who could Biomerge with their Digimon. But they were far more shocked to find that T.K. and Kari were among them. After a moment, Davis began running towards the team.
"Kari, you're alive!" Davis exclaimed joyfully as he ran to Kari.
When he got close enough, Kari punched Davis in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Author's Note: I had thought up that brilliant scene where Kari punched Davis back when I was working on Home by the Sea. It seemed like the perfect way to end a chapter, and I'm thrilled that I actually got to write it.
In the next chapter we have the touching (and in some places tense) reunion that I'm sure everyone had been waiting for. I'll try to have it done as soon as I can. In the meantime, please review and let me know what you think.