(A/N: I had a reviewer point out that a Legendary Pokemon should be able to defeat Devimon. Yes, most definitely, but how long until that happens? How much damage will Devimon cause before he runs into a Legendary strong enough to stop him? And as we saw in the movies, Legendaries tend to keep mostly to themselves and don't always rush to solve the world's problems unless they're close by, or the situation involves them directly. Here's a few examples of what I mean. Only Mew tried to stop Mewtwo when he tried to destroy the world. Only Lugia stepped in to stop the Legendary Birds' rampage. No Legendaries did anything about the Unown taking over. Only Suicune tried to stop Celebi when it went dark. Only Latias and Latios tried to stop the DMA. Only Jirachi tried to stop Virus Groudon. Only Darkrai tried to stop Palkia and Dialga. You see where I'm going with this? Sure, some Legendaries may eventually step in to stop Devimon's takeover, but a lot of damage can be done before that happens. And if he continues to gain subordinates during that time, then he may have an army that not even the Legendaries can defeat. He tried the same thing when he tried to take over the Digital World. He was only a Champion, and there were countless Digimon strong enough to defeat him in an instant. So he started small, taking over File Island where Digimon were reborn so he could corrupt and control them, thus working his way up the latter by building his forces even if he wasn't the strongest one around. He's doing the same thing now. I hope that clears things up.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 9: Fighting Friends

Blank white eyes completely devoid of emotion stared at the DigiDestined. TK had seen this before, and it sent a chill up his spine. "No, not that."

"Wait, what happened?" asked Yolei. "What's up with their eyes?"

"TK?" Kari asked worriedly, giving the blonde boy a questioning look.

TK's fists clenched. "Devimon used his Touch of Evil on them. He did the same thing to Leomon."

"It allows him to force his will on others," Pegasusmon explained.

Davis frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means," Devimon stated arrogantly, "that your friends are now under my control."

"Oh…" Yolei muttered, "that's… really bad."

Devimon laughed. "Destroy them!"

The possessed Digimon charged forward. Flamedramon and Pegasusmon took to the air, but those that could fly followed after them. Digmon fired his Gold Rush, launching his drills, while Halsemon launched blades of wind from his wings with his Mach Impulse.

Flamedramon knocked away the drills and dodged the blades of wind. "Snap out of it, you guys. Don't let Devimon control you."

Pegasusmon bucked heads with Nefertimon while kicking away the arrows Bucchiemon fired at him. "It's no use talking to them. I've seen this before. You can resist the initial possession, but once you're under Devimon's control, your will is that of Devimon's, so you won't even want to resist. AH!"

One of Bucchiemon's arrows had struck his hip. Nefertimon broke away from him and fired a Rosetta Stone. Pegasusmon countered with his Equis Beam, and the two attacks cancelled each other out.

Scowling, Ash looked at Devimon, who seemed to be quite content to watch the battle from the sidelines. "So why didn't he just take control of them all?"

"Maybe he can't," Brock theorized. "If he's enforcing his will on them, it's likely that he can only possess so many before his will is so spread out that he can't control them anymore."

Professor Stevens glanced at him. "That… actually makes sense." He began writing some more. "A very good deduction."

Yolei growled impatiently. "That's all well and good, but how do we get them back to normal?"

"If he's taken control of their minds," said Cody, "maybe a good knock on the head will return them to normal. That is the standard brainwashing cure."

"Alright!" Davis cried. "Flamedramon, Pegasusmon, go hit them over the head!"

Ash looked at his Pokemon. "Pikachu, Bayleef, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Noctowl, Phanpy, you help out too. Go after Halsemon."

Brock held out a PokeBall. "Forretress, return." The bagworm Pokemon was drawn back into its PokeBall. "Everyone else, go stop Bucchiemon."

"Corsola, Politoed, Staryu, give 'em a hand, Misty ordered.

The groups broke up, heading for their intended targets. Bucchiemon was about to fire another arrow at Pegasusmon when Staryu flew into him with a Rapid Spin, knocking the fairy Digimon off his feet. He turned it into a backflip and landed on his feet as Staryu came at him again. This time he caught the starfish Pokemon, grabbing it by one of its points.

"Poli!" Politoed cried, and unleashed a Water Gun. Bucchiemon jumped up, taking Staryu with him as he dodged the attack. He threw the starfish Pokemon, and Politoed dodged as Staryu landed point first into the ground.

"Talon Arrow!" he cried, firing an arrow. It struck Staryu in the center of its jewel, knocking it over like a target at a carnival shooting game, then he took aim at Politoed. He fired, but Onix's tail smacked the arrow away. The rock snake Pokemon attempted to Tackle him, but he jumped up onto his head and ran down the length of his body.

Crobat swooped down and unleashed its Supersonic. Bucchiemon tripped over his own feet as he became disorientated and fell over. Geodude came down on his back, crushing him against Onix's hard stone body. Bucchiemon grunted before reaching over his shoulder and grabbing the rock Pokemon. He swung him around before throwing him at Crobat.

Corsola jumped up onto Onix and used Spike Cannon. Bucchiemon jumped up, avoiding the spikes, and fired another arrow. Onix lashed out with his tail, wrapping it around the fairy Digimon and used Bind. Bucchiemon groaned and looked up at Onix as he was squeezed.

"Heavy Beam!" he cried, firing a beam of energy at the rock snake Pokemon. Onix was blasted back, but he kept a grip on Bucchiemon. That is, until Politoed used Water Gun again. It sprayed against Bucchiemon, but also splashed Onix's tail, and the rock snake Pokemon cried out in pain, releasing the fairy Digimon.

Corsola turned to Politoed angrily. "Corsola! Cor, Cor, Corsola! Sola!"

The frog Pokemon sweat-dropped and rubbed its head bashfully. "Toed!"

A blast from Bucchiemon's Heavy Beam struck the ground between them, and the two went flying. Then a Sonic Boom from Crobat hit the fairy Digimon from behind, and he turned to the bat Pokemon and began rapidly firing arrows. Crobat dodged the arrows, but they came at it so fast that it didn't have time to do anything else.

A Sandstorm curtsey of Geodude flowed over Bucchiemon, preventing him from seeing his target, and he ceased firing. He looked around, trying to make out anything in the cloud of sand, and he was suddenly seized from behind as the rock Pokemon grabbed him.

"Staryu!" the starfish Pokemon cried, suddenly becoming visible in the Sandstorm. It unleashed Bubble Beam, and the flow of bubbles splattered against Bucchiemon.

Reaching over his shoulder, Bucchiemon once again pulled Geodude off him and threw the rock Pokemon into Staryu. The sound of wings came from behind him, and he turned around and fired his Heavy Beam at Crobat, practically at point blank range. The bat Pokemon hit a tree and went limp, dizzy swirls rotating in its eyes.

Explosions went off in the air around Pegasusmon as Nefertimon fired explosive projectiles from her armor with her Queen's Paw. He retaliated with his Mane Wind, sending a shower of needles flying from his mane. Nefertimon wrapped her wings around herself protectively, the needles showering against them, then opened up again to fire her Rosetta Stone, firing one stone slab after another.

"Star Shower!" Pegasusmon countered with a flap of his wings, sending a shower of stars that shattered the stone slabs.

Nefertimon flew into him, and they crashed to the ground with the female holy beast Digimon on top. "Beam of Isis!" she cried, firing a beam from her headdress.

Pegasusmon's long neck allowed him to turn his head enough to avoid the beam, and he countered with his Pegas Drop, slamming his head into her face. She stumbled back, and Pegasusmon got to his feet and rose up onto his hind legs. His hooves collided with her shoulder, knocking her back further.

"It may sound cliché," he told her, "but this really does hurt me more than it hurts you."

Her blank eyes stared back at him. "What a coincidence, because this will hurt you more than it will hurt me too. Nile Jewelry!"

Multicolored jewels were fired from her gauntlets. Pegasusmon grunted as they rained against him. She was right though, this did hurt him more than it hurt her. Not the attack, but the fact that she was attacking him, and how upset she would be once she came back to her senses. He knew that once she was free of Devimon's control that she would be in far more pain than he was now when she realized what she had done; they all would be.

"Equis Beam!" he cried, firing a green beam from his forehead. It blasted against Nefertimon, and she ceased attacking. He flew at her, using his Golden Noose, an attack they usually used together, and wrapped it around her. Using the rope of light, he brought her down to the ground and pressed a hoof down on her head. "I'm only doing this because I know that you will never forgive yourself if you harm one of our friends."

She glared up at him with empty eyes. "Don't do me any favors. Beam of Isis!"

The attack struck him, and he stumbled away from her. She jumped up, breaking free of the Golden Noose, and fired several Rosetta Stone attacks at him. They shattered against his side, knocking him further back with each hit. She charged at him, and he took to the sky. She flew up after him, and their battle resumed.

Despite outnumbering their opponent, it very quickly became apparent that their was a large gap in power between Pokemon and Digimon. Halsemon demonstrated this as he used his Eagle Eye, firing lasers from his eyes down at the Pokemon, each laser blasting apart the ground where it struck.

Cyndaquil provided cover for them as it used Smokescreen, preventing the bird Digimon from seeing his targets. Pikachu decided to take a chance and darted out of the cloud so he could see. Halsemon fired more lasers at him, but Pikachu used Agility, avoiding the beams. It seemed that even though Halsemon was stronger, Pikachu had the speed advantage, and he used it as he raced over to the bird Digimon.

"Pikachu!" he cried, unleashing a Thunder Shock. Halsemon countered with Tempest Wing, spinning around to create a tornado around himself as he flew at the electric mouse Pokemon. Pikachu gasped as he plowed into him and got sent flying. Still spinning, Halsemon flew into the Smokescreen, the heavy wind blowing away the cloud.

"Bay!" Bayleef exclaimed, and lashed out with a vine as the bird Digimon passed. It coiled around Halsemon's spinning body, but this proved to be a mistake as the vine wrapped around him more and more until Bayleef no longer had anymore length and was yanked into the air. "Bayleef!"

Noctowl bravely flew into the bird Digimon's path and screeched. Halsemon stopped spinning and hovered in the air in front of it, Bayleef hanging beneath him, her vine wrapped around the bird Digimon's hind leg. Noctowl's eyes began glowing as it used Hypnosis, and sleep inducing hypnotic waves flowed over the bird Digimon.

"I can do that too," Halsemon replied as he realized what the owl Pokemon was doing. "Udjat Gaze!"

His own hypnotic waves poured from his own eyes, easily overpowering Noctowl's. The owl Pokemon ceased attacking and began nodding off as its flying became sluggish.

"Phan!" Phanpy cried on the ground and used Hidden Power, firing circulating balls of energy at the bird Digimon. Halsemon grunted as the attack hit, and the hypnotic waves stopped coming. Noctowl shook its head and used Confusion.

Halsemon cried out as he was struck by a blast of psychic energy. He flew at Noctowl, slashing with his talons, knocking the owl Pokemon away. In retaliation, Bayleef tightened her vine around his leg to the point where it cut off his blood circulation. Halsemon glanced back at her, then suddenly flew down towards the ground. He pulled up at the last moment, but Bayleef hit the ground hard enough to form a crater, and her vine went limp, allowing Halsemon to pull his leg free.

Cyndaquil and Totodile leapt forward unleashing Flamethrower and Water Gun. Halsemon snarled at them as the attacks struck his side, and Phanpy used the opportunity to ram into him on his other side with its Rollout.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.

The electric mouse Pokemon charged forward. He leapt into the air and attacked, the bolt of electricity striking Halsemon. A growl escaped the bird Digimon, and he took to the air, escaping the onslaught of attacks.

"How much is it going to take to break the spell?" Brock wondered out loud.

"Bayleef, Razor Leaf!" Ash shouted.

The leaf Pokemon crawled out of the crater. Shaking her head to clear it, she fired several leaves up at Halsemon. The bird Digimon deflected them with his Tempest Wing, then stopped spinning to fire an Eagle Eye down at her. Phanpy came to her rescue, jumping into the attack's path and using Defense Curl to defend against it.

Before Halsemon could attack again, Noctowl collided into him with its Sky Attack. Doubling back, it unleashed a Whirlwind, and Halsemon was caught up in a heavy windstorm, making it impossible for him to fly properly.

"Mach Impulse!" he cried, firing blades of heated wind from his wings. The windstorm caused the first blade to miss, but the second one hit its target, and Noctowl dropped from the sky as the wind died down.

"Pikachu, Totodile," Ash called, "combo attack!"

The two Pokemon nodded. Totodile unleashed a spray from his Water Gun, and Pikachu followed up with a Thunder Shock, electrifying the water. The electric stream sprayed against Halsemon, and he cried out. Turning to the five Pokemon on the ground, he began repeatedly firing lasers down at them, not even giving them a chance to attack as they continued to dodge.

Digmon stabbed forward with his drill hand. Flamedramon caught it with his claw, but had to jump back as the bug Digimon came at him again. "Come on, Digmon, old buddy, I know you're not so weak as to let Devimon control you."

"I'll show you who's weak," Digmon replied. "Rock Cracking!"

He buried his drills into the ground, cracking it apart. Flamedramon took to the air, using the heat from his body to allow himself to hover. "Fire Rocket!"

He launched several fireballs down at the bug Digimon. Digmon took to the air as well, and sped towards Flamedramon. The dragon Digimon let himself drop to the ground as Digmon swiped at him, attempting to use his Rock Cracking on him.

"Gold Rush!" Digmon cried, launching his drills at Flamedramon.

"Flame Shield!" the dragon Digimon cried, encasing himself in a sphere of fire. It protected him from the attack, but not from Digmon charging at him with new drills. Flamedramon dropped the fiery barrier and countered with his Flame Fist. His fiery fist collided with Digmon's drill, shattering it. A new one immediately materialized as Digmon struck with his other drill, only to strike Flamedramon's other flaming fist.

The two continued to exchange blows until Flamedramon duck down as Digmon punched out at him, allowing the dragon Digimon to throw Digmon over his shoulder. He whirled around to face the bug Digimon again, holding up his claws threateningly. "Don't do this, Digmon. We shouldn't be fighting each other."

Digmon was on his feet again. "Then who should we be fighting? Gold Rush!"

"Flaming Rocket!" Flamedramon cried, covering himself in a fiery aura and charging through the flying drills to plow into Digmon. With the bug Digimon out of the way, he turned to Devimon. "I know who."

He flew towards the fallen angel Digimon, who had seemed to have been enjoying watching the friends fighting with each other. He turned to Flamedramon as the dragon Digimon flew towards him and smirked. "You're the fool, Devimon. You've been one ever since you dabbed with the forces of evil. Fire Rocket!"

Devimon countered with his Deadly Nail, knocking away the fireballs. "What you and your human pets fail to realize is that the darkness is eternal, but the light can always be snuffed out. Evil Wing!"

He fired a blast of energy from his wings. Flamedramon attempted to block it with his Flame Shield, but Devimon'a attack forced its way through it, blasting the dragon Digimon backwards.

Groaning, Flamedramon got to his feet. "And what you fail to realize, Devimon, is that the light can always be reignited. And even the smallest spark will chase away the deepest of darkness."

Devimon laughed. "How poetic. Very well then, shine your light. It will only attract insect."

His choice of words were too precise, and Flamedramon figured it out a moment before a certain bug Digimon buried his drills into his back. Whirling around, he knocked away Digmon's drill, and the two began exchanging blows again.

Chuckling, Devimon rose up into the sky to get a better look at the battles taking place. Those foolish DigiDestined had thought that they had the jump on him with their superior numbers and levels, but he had turned the odds in his favor. Victory was within his grasp. The Pokemon weren't strong enough to defeat their Digimon opponents, and Flamedramon and Pegasusmon were holding back out of fear of hurting their friends, a courtesy that would not be returned.

"Soon I will not only have my revenge," he said to himself, "but I will rule this world, and all within it."

As he watched the battle, a shift in the wind drew his attention. He turned just in time to see an orange fist glowing with energy right before he took a Mega Punch to the face. He fell from the sky, hitting the ground hard as whoever hit him roared loudly.

The sound drew the attention of Trainers and DigiDestined alike, and Ash's face lit up. "It's Charizard!"

"Char!" the flame Pokemon roared, breathing a stream of fire for good measure.

"Who's that?" Kari asked.

Misty stepped forward, smiling. "That's Charizard. The Pokemon who never used to listen to Ash."

The boy in question sweat-dropped. "Did you have to introduce it that way?"

"Charizard was off training with other Charizard in Charicific Valley," Brock added. "Earlier Ash had called it to help fight Devimon."

"Dude," Davis exclaimed, "you own a dragon? That's awesome!"

Misty gave him a look. "Charizard isn't a Dragon type."

Davis blinked. He looked from her to Charizard, then back again before pointing at the flame Pokemon. "What are you talking about? It's a fire-breathing lizard with horns that can fly. How is it not a dragon?"

Devimon got to his feet, his red eyes narrowing. His hand came up and rubbed his sore jaw; that creature's attack had actually hurt. "I don't care what kind of Pokemon it is. Very soon it will be a dead one."

Charizard just snorted and flew over to Ash. The young Trainer joyfully threw himself at the flame Pokemon, hugging him. "Charizard, it's great to see you, buddy."

"Charizard."

Ash knew the reunion would have to wait, and glared at Devimon. "You see that guy, Charizard?"

"Zard."

"That's Devimon. He's very bad. He wants to hurt people. Do you think you can beat him?" In answer, Charizard breathed a stream of fire into the air. Ash beamed. "Alright! Then go get him. And don't hold back, he's very dangerous, and will even try to kill you."

"Char!" The flame Pokemon marched over to Devimon. Puffing himself up, he spread his wings, attempting to make himself look bigger. "Zard!"

Devimon chuckled. "It looks like I found an opponent in this world who may actually be able to entertain me for a bit. This should at least provide me with some exercise."

Charizard growled irritably and breathed more fire into the air, attempting to intimidate him. This only seemed to amuse Devimon as another snicker escaped him. "You may be strong in your world, but let me show you what real strength is, my fiery friend. When this battle is over, you will bow down to me." His grin widened. "That is, if you survive."

(A/N: Charizard has arrived! Did you forget about him? How will this affect the outcome of the battle? Defeating Devimon should free the others from his control. A Pokemon as strong as Charizard is about as strong as the average Champion. But then again, Devimon is stronger than your average Champion. Can Charizard pull it off, or will Devimon defeat him? And what of the others? Right now the Pokemon's teamwork is allowing them to hold their own against the possessed Digimon, but that won't help them for long. I don't normally like keeping my fans waiting on a cliffhanger for battles, so I'll try and get the next chapter out sooner. No promises though.)