Hey everyone. Here with a new chapter :) This chapter turned out to be a lot longer than I originally thought, which is probably why it took me so long to get it finished XD
Invincible Shinji: I haven't decided on Willis' kids yet. They will get mentioned in the next chapter :)
Sync the Dragon Tempest: thanks :)
Sweet Cari: Thanks! I really wanted to include the other Digimon seems most of them haven't been seen yet in the story :D
DinoGuy2000: Yeah things are really starting to heat up now :)
Greymon Leader Batx flashpoint: Dawn and Stacey are slowly working better together, but they'll always have their differences XD Leomon and co are on the way!
Aldamonburst: Yeah he does :) still toying with the idea to feature them in the story, but they will definitely be mentioned. Thanks for pointing Ogremon out to me too ;)
K-fanfics: Thanks. looking forward to the update on the special :)
StickInc: I think I read about that somewhere. The Digimon can digivolve to other armour forms right?
Yokai Watch: I haven't seen any Transformers stuff so my knowledge isn't all that great on it.
RSBCS: Thank you :) I'm glad you're enjoying it. The X Antibody hasn't been featured in any of the series expect for the X evolution movie. So I sorta created my own version of it for my story if you know what I mean. Dawn's Digimon won't be the only mega, this chapter will reveal who's next ;) Oh and thanks for the grammer tips, hopefully this one's a bit better :)
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed, faved etc!
Digimon 2.5 "Adventure 03"
Episode 49: "Family First?"
.:Great Canyon, File Island, Digital World:.
Leomon's group, led by Unimon were making their way across the desert like land that led towards the Great Canyon; to the place where Unimon said they could enter the human world. It had been a fair trek from the Native Forest, but they were almost there.
"This is rather exciting," Frigimon commented as he walked alongside Andromon. "I've never been outside of the Digital World before."
"Hey this isn't some sort of vacation Frigimon!" Ogremon snapped back from behind them. "The human world is dangerous. Do you realise what happens to a Digimon if they-" he was suddenly cut off when BlackWarGreymon smacked him on the back of the head from behind.
"If you want to make it to the human world in one piece I suggest you keep quiet." BlackWarGreymon warned him.
Ogremon looked over his shoulder, glaring at the mega Digimon and raising his club. "Hey I'm not scared of you; you piece of scrap Chrome Digizoid."
Lucky for him, BlackWarGreymon decide to let that comment go.
Up ahead at the front of the group, Unimon dropped down from the air. He landed on the ground at the very edge of the Great Canyon. "We're here." He announced, briefly turning to face the group.
The rest of the Digimon soon arrived at the edge and all lined up in single file to look down at the base of the canyon.
Down below, a stream of Digital Splits flowed through the valley. It was an unusual sight as the splits kept on coming at a steady pace with no sign of stopping. It was like a constant river of data.
Leomon watched in amazement. "I've never seen Digital Splits grouped together like this before…"
"Me neither," Unimon replied. "I actually stumbled upon it on my way to the Native Forest."
Wizardmon watched the splits for a moment before looking up towards Leomon. "From what I have learned from Izzy usually Digital Splits are random and appear on their own in different locations due to broken pieces in the Digital World's data but here… there must be an extremely weak spot causing the splits to flow like this."
"Hey I've heard about these Digital splits!" Ogremon spoke up. "We've been warned to stay away from them. They transport you to different locations in the human world. You expect us to help when we'll be separated in a strange land?"
"Izzy has told me the Digital Splits are only confined to the Tokyo area where the DigiDestined live. We won't be far away from each other. It's the only way to enter their world." Leomon replied, which caused Ogremon to huff and cross his arms.
Wizardmon raised his staff and waved it from side to side slightly creating an image of the TV Station. "This is the Fuji TV Station in Odaiba." He began. "It's a unique building at the edge of Tokyo Bay. This shall be our meeting place."
The rest of the Digimon nodded, memorizing the image of the building before it vanished.
"Good, now that that's settled. Let's go. The DigiDestined need us." Without hesitation Leomon jumped off the edge of the canyon and down into the valley to the surprise of the others. Just as it looked as if he was about to hit the ground, he made contact with a Digital Split and in a blink of an eye; he was gone…
Ogremon blinked, staring at the spot where Leomon had just vanished. "Uhh….."
BlackWarGreymon moved along the line of Digimon to where he was stood at the end. "If you are scared then I suggest you back down from this mission."
Ogremon snapped out of his thoughts and spun around. "I never said I was scared!" he exclaimed, raising his fist.
"Then get moving," BlackWarGreymon simply said before he shoved the champion Digimon over the edge.
Ogremon screamed as he fell rather dramatically heading down towards the stream of Digital Splits…
.:Tokyo Big Sight, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
"Vulcan's Hammer!" Zudomon raised his hammer high above his head before slamming it down upon the last Triceramon X, crushing him into oblivion.
There had been an attack on the convention centre which had been rather busy after one of its morning events. The Triceramon X and Pteramon X hadn't attacked anyone directly, but the eruption of panic amongst the crowd had spooked the X Digimon into causing damage to surrounding structures, resulting in some injuries.
Mimi, Tricia and their Digimon were stood at the entrance to Tokyo Big Sight watching as the last X Digimon was destroyed. Mimi sighed and looked around at the debris that was left over from the brief battle.
Some of the windows of the four 'legs' of the convention centre had been smashed, which in turn had showered most of the crowd in glass, causing most of the minor injuries. Joe was currently inside the building tending to the injured with the help of Akina, Cody's wife.
At that point Akina appeared from inside, dusting off her nurse uniform. She walked up and stood beside Mimi. "It's a good job we were passing," she commented. "Me and Fernanda always go to Cafeteria Mermaid every Saturday morning after my shift at the hospital."
"How is everyone?" Mimi asked.
"They're doing fine. There's no serious injuries. Mainly cuts from the fallen glass and a few sprained ankles from the initial panic of people fleeing."
Gomamon, who had just de-digivolved, approached them. "If we weren't here for Joe's medical exhibition then things could have turned out a whole lot worse."
"Izzy said in his message there are X Digimon all over the city," Mimi said. "Myotismon and the Nightmare Six are here and have unleashed them all onto the streets. He's told us to stay here and await further instructions." She then paused and turned to Akina again. "Have you heard from Cody?"
Akina sighed and shook her head. "No. He had a morning meeting in Tamachi. I've tried calling his cell phone but there was no answer."
"I'm sure he's fine," Tricia spoke up with a smile. "He and Armadillomon are probably out fighting these loser X Digimon."
Akina forced a small smile before she looked over to the debris scattered everywhere in front of them. "That's what I'm afraid of…" she murmured under her breath. After seeing the destruction that the Pteramon X and Triceramon X had just caused, and that there were even more stronger Digimon out there she just hoped Cody was alright wherever he was….
.:Fuji TV Station, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
MJ watched from the sofa as Margaret paced back and forth in front of her. "Margaret, stop pacing and sit down. Try to relax."
"I can't," Margaret replied as she continued to pace. "Dawn and our parents are missing, your uncle left and hasn't returned yet and now Stacey's gone." She rambled. "I've got a feeling something bad is happening…"
Just then, the door to Matt's office opened catching everyone's attention and Dawn walked in, followed by Agumon, Biyomon, Stacey and her two partners.
"Dawn!" Margaret immediately ran over to her younger cousin and flung her arms around her, hugging her tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay! I was worried something had happened to you."
"Easy Maggie," Dawn said, as she parted from the hug. "I'm fine. I was worried about you two. How did you escape from those X Digimon?"
MJ rose from the sofa. "Our parents showed up right before Craniamon did. They held them off whilst we got away."
Margaret's face then fell. "But now we don't know what's happened to them."
"My Dad left to go look for them but he hasn't returned yet." Stacey added as she walked past the Kamiya girl and back over to the television.
Dawn followed her; her eyes fixed on the television screen. She stopped just behind Stacey watching the current news report. She hadn't realised how wide spread the invasion had been. It was showing Digimon all over Tokyo. Tokyo Tower, Haneda Airport were to name a few locations that were currently being shown on the screen. "Are those more of Myotismon's henchmen…?"
Stacey nodded. "Didn't you know? They're all over the Odaiba and Minato area. Some are even in Tamachi. Myotismon's plan is working perfectly." She explained folding her arms.
"We overheard two of the Nightmare Six talking over at the Gundam Statue. They said Myotismon wants us all captured so we can witness his return to power once he has that chest." Biyomon spoke up. "They said he's already captured three of the others."
"But we don't know who." Agumon added as he helped himself to a selection of snacks that were situated on the table.
"What?" Both MJ and Margaret gasped in unison as Stacey's eyes widened a little. "You don't think it's our parents do you…?" Margaret said, her voice a little shaky.
Dawn scoffed a laugh aimed towards the Ishida girl. "His plan is working perfectly? Some of his X Digimon are at the champion level. Does he seriously think he's gonna capture all of us with some of the Digimon we've seen wandering around here? VictoryGreymon could wipe out half of these Digimon with a single swipe of his sword."
"Have you not wondered why some of his army are so weak?" Stacey shot back calmly. "Sure some of them are at the champion level and are the weakest of ultimate Digimon but that's his plan. To lure us out into battle with those Digimon and that's when the Nightmare Six will attack."
"Just like what happened at Decks Tokyo Beach…" Patamon spoke up.
"Well we have to face the Nightmare Six sooner or later," Dawn replied. "We can't just hide away inside for the rest of our lives."
"Guys look…"
Stacey was about to throw back another response when Gabumon had spoken up, pointing to the television screen. The blonde-haired girl picked up the remote and turned the volume up.
"In the last hour there has been an attack on Tokyo Big Sight," the news reporter began. "The monsters attacked without warning, damaging parts of the building and causing many injuries. We believe the injured are being treated inside the convention centre by medical staff who were in the area. Despite this the Governor has again urged people to remain inside, or evacuate the city if possible-"
Stacey muted the television again and dropped the remote onto the coffee table. "Great, people are getting hurt now. All because Myotismon's stupid chest is here." She cast a quick glance over to the Kamiya girl. "Maybe if it was left in the Digital World none of this would have happened."
"What? So you're saying all of this is my fault?"
"Well you brought it here. Bringing that chest here was just inviting him to invade us!" Stacey snapped.
"Hey I had no choice!" Dawn protested. "I couldn't leave it there so Myotismon could end up taking over the entire Digital World!"
"But now that you've brought it here our world is in danger! He's summoned six very powerful Digimon who are roaming Tokyo right this very minute looking for all of us. Now we have six times the problem we had when we were just facing Myotismon!"
Dawn clenched her fists as she glared at the blonde-haired girl, resisting the urge to punch her…
"C'mon you two, this is no time to be fighting." MJ said looking back and forth from both of them. "We've got enough problems right now without us fighting each other."
The two girls continued to stare each other down for a moment before Dawn huffed and turned her back on Stacey, heading for the door.
"Dawn, where are you going?" Biyomon demanded.
Dawn ignored her as she left the room, not bothering to close the door behind her.
.:No.6 Battery Island, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
"Hey, let me go… let go!" Dan continued to struggle as he kicked and squirmed against Dianamon's clutches even as she entered Myotismon's castle on the battery island, walking in through the huge doors.
Dianamon ignored him, smiling as she walked further into the large room that greeted her. Behind her was Gargoylemon X who still had a tight hold of Veemon, who was also fighting to free himself. "My lord!" she called out, her voice echoing. "I have a little something for you…" she added, grinning devilishly down at the Motomiya boy who in return glared up at her.
It was quiet at first with no sign of movement. The room was empty, except for a single set of stone stairs situated against the left wall that led up to the higher floors of the castle, and Myotismon's coffin at the opposite end of the room that was stood upright against the wall. Next to his coffin was a small table with which Wisemon's book was resting upon.
Just then, the lid of Myotismon's coffin slowly slid open, causing Dan to tense up. The vampire Digimon then appeared, stepping out from within the darkness of his casket and into the light, a smile already spread across his face.
"Another guest?" he humoured himself as he began to walk towards them. "One of the children I see… very clever Dianamon. That should at least attract the attention of their parents and bring them here willingly." He added, as Dan glared up at him.
"You're not gonna get away with this Myotismon!" The goggle boy snapped back. "There are still plenty of us out there to stop you!"
Myotismon chuckled. "Not for long boy. You see I'm already starting to gather quite the collection of DigiDestined…"
Dan heard something move in the darkness to the right of him. He looked over and saw a dark silhouette move. He gasped upon seeing SkullMeramon X step out into the light with Cody and Armadillomon in front of him, bound by his chains.
"Don't worry Dan," Cody spoke up, giving Myotismon a piercing look. "The others will soon rescue us."
This caused Myotismon to chuckle once more. "Oh you think so? I'll have you know my loyal Nightmare Six are doing a fine job rounding you all up." He said, looking from Dan and then over to Cody. "It'll only be a matter of time before the rest of you pathetic DigiDestined join you here, and once I get my hands on that chest; that's when the fun will really begin… SkullMeramon X, you know where to take them."
Dianamon grinned. "I'll leave you two little ones here," she said throwing Dan onto the ground, with Gargoylemon X mimicking her with Veemon. "I have more fishing to do at the bay…" and with a flash, herself and Gargoylemon X disappeared leaving the Motomiya boy and his Digimon in the hands of SkullMeramon X…
.:Fuji TV Station, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
Dawn flung open the door and stormed out onto the roof of the TV Station. She slowly came to a stop as she looked out over to the bay, taking in the sheer stretch of ice that covered it right up to Rainbow Bridge and beyond.
It was then she realised how quiet the atmosphere was. She walked up to the edge of the roof and looked down. Usually the sounds of traffic from the busy streets could be heard, but there were hardly any cars. The nearby parks that were usually full of people on a warm day like today were empty.
Dawn grunted under her breath and turned her back on the bay. Spotting an empty soda can she ran the short distance to it and she swung her foot kicking it as hard as she could, sending it up and over the edge of the building. Sighing loudly, she sat down on a wooden crate.
What if Stacey was right? What if this was all her fault? The whole city had come to a complete stop. Buildings and landmarks had been damaged and people were injured all over a pokey little chest that they had no idea what contained that was so important to Myotismon. And now some of the others were possibly in danger…
Stacey appeared from downstairs, stopping in the doorway. She spotted the Kamiya girl with her back to her sat on the crate in a slouched position staring down at her shoes. "Hey…" she said breaking the silence. "Listen, I'm sorry alright?"
"No you're not," Dawn snapped, not even looking up.
Stacey clenched her fist a little, trying to allow the Kamiya girl's stubbornness to go over her head. "Yes I am," she said as she began to walk over. "I know we didn't have a choice other than to bring the chest back with us but-"
Dawn quickly stood up, facing the blonde-haired girl interrupting her. "We? Before you were saying it was me who brought that chest here."
"I know," Stacey cut in sharply. "I didn't mean what I said okay? I'm just worried about my Dad. After Biyomon said three of the others have been captured… well… I guess I just let my emotions get the better of me and I snapped."
"Don't you think I'm scared too? My Dad's out there somewhere too you know." Dawn shot back. "You're not the only one with family missing."
Stacey raised an eyebrow with a smile, sensing an opportunity to break the tension. "You're scared?"
"What?"
"You just said you were scared."
"Hey you said you were scared too!" Dawn shot back defensively.
"No, I said I was worried. You said you were scared." The Ishida girl teased, folding her arms across her chest. She could see Dawn clench her fists, trying to control her anger once more. Stacey smirked. "Relax, I'm just trying to ease the tension here… Truth is, I am scared. I've been scared ever since that night when Myotismon came here. When I came home from the Digital World I thought I would be safer here... But since that night it hit me that Myotismon can get me anywhere… and now that my Dad might have been captured I feel somewhat alone right now."
"Why do you always associate yourself with being alone?" Dawn questioned. "In case you haven't noticed; I'm here, and so are Margaret and MJ and our Digimon."
"You wouldn't understand. You're the captain of the soccer team. The leader of our group. You wouldn't know what it's like to feel like the outcast."
"Hey, believe it or not I do know what it feels like," Dawn shot back. "When I first joined the soccer team I wasn't exactly welcomed by all of my team mates. My coach had taking an instant liking to me after seeing me play, and the captain of the team didn't like the fact a girl could play better than him. He, along with a few of his friends, made me feel like I didn't fit in, that I didn't belong on the team. But I didn't quit and lock myself away in my room. I kept on fighting for my place on that team. I never gave up and now, three years later, I'm the captain. So just because you had a rough time when you were younger doesn't mean it has to be like that now. You broke free from Myotismon and now you are part of our team. Don't forget that. It's okay to feel scared now that he's here, but you're not gonna face him alone."
Stacey blinked, a little surprised. She knew deep down she wasn't alone, as she was surrounded by her family and friends… but despite that she still had that empty feeling inside that she couldn't quite understand…
The silence between the two girls was then broken when they heard voices echoing from inside the staircase that led to the roof. "Do you think they've thrown each other off the roof yet?" SnowAgumon's voice could be heard before he, Gabumon and Agumon appeared in the doorway. The three rookie Digimon stopped upon seeing the two ten year olds stood in silence.
"Hey… is everything ok?" Agumon asked, a little nervously.
The two girls glanced at each other, neither showing much expressions on their faces, before Stacey turned her head to look over towards their Digimon. "Everything's fine." She said. But then something caught her eye in the distance as her gaze shifted past her partner.
"What's wrong?" Gabumon asked.
Stacey walked over to the edge of the roof. "There's smoke coming from the Maritime Museum." She replied, pointing out across the vast stretch of Odaiba to where the museum was situated at the edge of the bay.
Dawn walked over, standing beside her and took out her mini telescope. She held it up to her eye, enlarging the museum, which was modelled after the ship Queen Elizabeth II. Smoke was indeed coming from the museum in three different places. "I see the smoke… but I can't see what's causing-" Suddenly something moved through her line of vision. "Wait, there!" she moved her telescope up and spotted a small pufferfish like Digimon hanging off the red metal rod that was on top of the ship's funnel. "There's a Digimon there… he's small but it looks like he's causing a lot of trouble."
Stacey borrowed the mini telescope to look for herself. The small Digimon was bouncing off parts of the ship throwing energy bombs; seemingly entertaining himself. "Don't be surprised. It's just another one of Myotismon's cronies sent to lure us out into a trap…." She paused as she lowered the telescope to see Dawn taking her digivice off her belt. "Uhh what are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" Dawn replied as she released her Digital Ring from her digivice. "Me and Agumon are gonna take care of that puny little Digimon." She was about to place the ring into her crest when Stacey grabbed hold of her wrist; preventing her from doing so. "Hey!"
"Didn't you listen to a word we talked about downstairs?" Stacey said. "It'll be a trap. The Nightmare Six will be just waiting for us to go tackle that Digimon, and you know they are out to capture us all."
Dawn pulled her arm back, freeing herself from Stacey's grip before taking back her mini telescope. "I'm not gonna let that Digimon go around causing damage to everything. I'm tired of hiding away whilst they're out there." She placed the ring inside her crest. "Agumon, time to digivolve."
"AGUMON WARP DIGIVOLVE TO… VICTORYGREYMON!"
Stacey frowned as the light faded, revealing VictoryGreymon. "You're gonna get yourself caught."
The Kamiya girl climbed up onto her partner's back. "No we won't. It's only a tiny Digimon. We'll be back before you know it."
"Well, if you find yourself ambushed by the Nightmare Six, don't say I didn't warn you." Stacey said folding her arms. She watched as VictoryGreymon leapt off the rooftop before flying down in the direction of the museum. She sighed and turned heading back towards the staircase.
"Stacey?" SnowAgumon said, causing her to stop by the doorway. "You know she's right. We can't let a Digimon who's causing damage roam free."
Stacey exhaled loudly, still with her back to her partners. Of course, she knew Dawn was right. She just didn't want to admit it. "I know…" she muttered under her breath. She glanced over her shoulder. "Well c'mon then. What're you waiting for?"
.:Maritime Museum, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
VictoryGreymon soared down, passing by underneath the train tracks that were directly above the road, giving Dawn the chance to jump safely off his back and onto the museum's car park. Once she had landed, he levelled up and dropped down, standing beside her.
"Hey, where did he go?" Dawn said, looking up at the ship's funnel to see the Digimon had now disappeared.
VictoryGreymon stepped forward, looking around. The car park was empty, and smoke was still rising from parts of the museum's main building. No one was around, as they had mostly probably fled from the initial attack. Something then caught VictoryGreymon's eye. Something metal twinkled from amongst the bushes that were directly in front of them at the opposite end of the car park as the sun emerged from behind the clouds…
The next thing he knew, several spikes came shooting out from amongst the leaves.
"Look out!" As quick as a flash VictoryGreymon jumped in front of his partner and raised his sword; protecting them both from the attack by wielding it up and down blocking each spike.
Once the last spike fell limp to the ground, Dawn stepped out from behind her partner as her ears picked up the sound of a sneaky chuckle coming from inside the bushes.
"As luck would have it… I've been searching all morning for you DigiDestined."
The owner of the voice emerged from the bushes revealing himself to be Pukumon X, the Digimon they had spotted at the top of the museum's mast. He was a small Digimon with long muscular arms. His round body was blue, with a light blue tattered tail and his head was masked by a metal helmet, which had spikes sticking out on top.
Dawn scowled at the small Digimon. "Well your luck is about to run out… get him VictoryGreymon!" she ordered.
VictoryGreymon grasped his sword in both hands and leapt up into the air, raising it above his head. As he descended, he swung his sword down intending to take out the X Digimon with one blow…
But Pukumon X was quick and in the blink of an eye he darted to the left, and VictoryGreymon's sword struck the ground, breaking apart the concrete.
The mutant Digimon chuckled, floating in the air just above and behind VictoryGreymon. As quick as a flash, he sprung forward. He dove down and punched VictoryGreymon in the back.
VictoryGreymon was knocked face down onto the ground. He grunted and swiftly pushed himself up only to be punched twice again in the side of the face; first from the left side and then the right. The third punch was strong enough to daze him, causing him to drop his sword.
Pukumon X showed no mercy by immediately going on the attack again. He charged through the air from above, withdrawing his right fist as he prepared to strike with his most powerful punch.
VictoryGreymon gasped and quickly picked up his sword before jumping back, preforming a backflip and skidding back across the ground coming to a stop just in front of where Dawn was stood, just in time as Pukumon X pounded his fist into the ground, leaving a huge hole.
"C'mon VictoryGreymon. Don't let this puny Digimon push you around!" Dawn exclaimed.
VictoryGreymon grunted as he stood up straight. "I have a feeling this puny Digimon is at the mega level."
Pukumon X rose from the ground, hovering in the air. "That's right. Don't be fooled by my size. You may think I'm a small Digimon but I'm stronger than you... Needle Squall!" He positioned his body and launched the spikes on his head all at once directly at Dawn and VictoryGreymon.
VictoryGreymon immediately began to swing his sword every way possible successfully blocking the attack, like he had done beforehand. "That didn't work the first time." He mocked once the attack had ceased. He grasped his gigantic sword in both hands and jumped up into the air. "Dramon Breaker!" he swung his sword down towards Pukumon X, but the little Digimon swiftly moved out of the way easily dodging it and the sword slashed through thin air.
"Nice try but you're gonna have to be a lot quicker than that." Pukumon X taunted, earning a glare from both VictoryGreymon and Dawn.
.:Fuji TV Station, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
Stacey, Gabumon and SnowAgumon ran down the large steps that led out of the side of the TV Station which met with the Symbol Promenade bridge. They ran along the path towards the bridge, which would lead them in the direction of the Maritime Museum.
"Let's make this quick and get back to the TV Station before my Dad finds out we left." Stacey said as they turned onto the bridge.
None of them had noticed a mousy blonde haired woman standing in between the Symbol Promenade bridge and a smaller bridge that led to a hotel opposite across the road. She had spotted them as they had approached the bridge and her eyes were fixed on them; specifically, Stacey…
"They couldn't have gotten themselves into too much trouble since they left ten minutes ago." Gabumon panted as he ran alongside his partner.
"We are talking about Dawn you know-Hey!" Stacey felt someone grab her arm, holding her back.
"Stacey…?"
The ten-year-old froze upon hearing her name in a voice that was a very distant memory. She slowly turned around, her body tensing up as she looked up at the woman who had hold of her arm.
The woman was tall with short hair and brown eyes; a striking resemblance to the woman in photos Stacey had in a photo album that was currently stashed away at the back of her wardrobe.
Surely it couldn't be…?
"…M-Mom…?"
Kana Tonaka, previously Ishida, smiled warmly as she gently let go of her daughter's arm. "I knew it was you… I recognised Gabumon." She said light heartedly.
Stacey remained silent as she continued to stare up at the blonde-haired woman; unable to speak. Was this real? Was her mind playing some awful trick on her? She hadn't seen or spoken to her mother for six years and now here she was standing right in front of her.
Kana sighed, standing up straight. She wasn't at all surprised by her daughter's stunned silence. "C'mon, I'm staying at the hotel across the road. There's a small café inside. We can talk there."
"Talk?" Stacey murmured finally finding her voice. Her mother hadn't spoken to her for years and now she wanted to talk?
Kana placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Please?" she said, somewhat pleadingly.
Stacey turned to her two partners who were standing in silence behind her, specifically Gabumon as he was the one who knew what Stacey had been through all those years ago, even when her mother had left prior to her receiving Gabumon on her fifth birthday.
Gabumon gave a small approving nod.
The Ishida girl sighed. She briefly looked beyond the bridge to where she could see the top of the Museum. She knew Dawn would need help, as there was a likely chance one of the Nightmare Six was lying in waiting for them... but despite that, she found herself following her mother back over the bridge towards the hotel…
.:Maritime Museum, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
VictoryGreymon jumped back, blocking each punch that came his way with his sword. The constant defence he had to keep up was starting to tire him out, not to mention the growing frustration from not being able to launch his own attack.
Pukumon X grinned mischievously as he noticed VictoryGreymon's reflexes were starting to falter. "Give… up?!" he taunted as he dealt a powerful blow as he said the word 'up'. The strength from the punch forced VictoryGreymon to stumble back, almost losing his balance. Pukumon X then turned to face Dawn. "Your partner is beginning to tire. Being bigger doesn't always mean victory… so I suggest your Digimon should apply for a name change." He sniggered.
Dawn glared up at him, as did VictoryGreymon who was hunched over slightly using the break in the attack to catch his breath.
"But seriously though, it's been fun toying with you but I don't want to waste anymore of my strength. So, to save your embarrassment just come back with me to Myotismon's castle and-"
"We're not going anywhere with you; you mutated bowling ball!" Dawn snapped, interrupting him.
Pukumon X smiled somewhat smugly. "Well… maybe if I destroyed your partner you won't have a choice… Needle Squall!" He bowed down and fired the spikes from on top of his head with full force.
"Victory Charge!" VictoryGreymon was quick to retaliate. He lifted his sword and preformed a unique technique that created an invisible energy that reflected opponents' attacks.
The spikes came to an abrupt stop in mid-air, and in a split second they were travelling back to where they had been launched with the same amount of force.
Pukumon X gasped, but he had no time to defend himself and his own spikes embedded his body. He wailed in pain as the force threw him back and he tumbled to the ground, rolling to a stop. Dazed, he was brought back to his senses when the ground underneath him shuddered as VictoryGreymon slammed his sword into the ground inches away from him.
VictoryGreymon bent down and grabbed the small X Digimon with one hand; his grip around Pukumon X's body, trapping his arms. He lifted him up so he was in eye level with himself. "If Myotismon wants us at his castle he's going to have to do a lot better than sending a puny little Digimon to capture us." He taunted, tightening his grip a little. "Did you seriously think you could destroy me?"
Pukumon X cringed slightly, but it turned into a grin and he chuckled to himself. "And did you seriously think I would come out here with no back up? I was prepared in case you DigiDestined were stubborn enough to decline my invitation." Although his arms were still trapped by his sides; he managed to click his left fingers.
Dawn and VictoryGreymon looked at him a little confused as nothing happened at first, but suddenly the ground began to shudder under their feet.
Behind them, in the large empty carpark on the opposite side of the road, the ground exploded sending pieces of debris to fly everywhere as something blasted its way from underground through to the surface.
Dawn spun around at the sound of the explosion and looked on in astonishment at the gigantic machine type Digimon that was now stood in the middle of the carpark. "Wow… what Digimon is that? It looks like a cross between a dinosaur and a bulldozer…"
The Digimon did indeed look like a dinosaur that had been fused with construction equipment. He had two long arms with shovels on the end, as well as a long neck with a drill for his nose. He had two more drills on his back and two for tails. On the lower part of his body, in between his legs, he had another large shovel.
Pukumon X chuckled. "Meet Breakdramon X, the ultimate dragon of destruction." He proclaimed proudly. "His Tazer Strike attack can smash mountains… so you can imagine what it'll do to those buildings over there…"
Dawn's attention immediately shifted to the buildings to the right of them, with the first one being the Tokyo International Exchange Centre.
"If you don't let me go and surrender Breakdramon X will flatten those buildings with one blast."
Breakdramon X growled before he slowly began to turn his body around so he was facing the buildings. He began to start up the drills on his body once he was directly facing the Tokyo Exchange Centre…
VictoryGreymon narrowed his eyes, glaring at the mutant Digimon. He knew he had no choice. Squeezing Pukumon X one last time, he tossed him to the ground. He grasped his sword and snatched it out from the ground and leapt up into the air. He soared underneath the rail bridge and straight towards Breakdramon X, who was preparing to fire the drill on his head first. VictoryGreymon flew upwards and shoulder barged the X Digimon in the side of the face breaking his aim just as the attack was fired.
The drill soared up into the sky, clipping the side of the building, before disappearing through the clouds…
Breakdramon X snarled, his attention now on VictoryGreymon who was hovering in the air just above him as Dawn ran underneath the train tracks and across the road to join her partner in the larger carpark.
The Kamiya girl stopped at the edge. "Oh great… this fight just became a whole lot harder…"
.:Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
"So, you have a Gabumon just like your father huh?" Kana said as she sipped her tea. Her comment was met with silence from her daughter.
They were sitting at a small table by the window of the hotel whilst Gabumon and SnowAgumon were seated a few tables behind them in the corner enjoying a plate each of snacks.
Stacey just stared down at her cup of tea in front of her. She honestly didn't know where to look, or what to say. The woman sat opposite her was her mother… yet it felt as if she was sat in front of a stranger.
Six years was a very long time and being four years old when her mother left it was extremely difficult to remember anything about her. She could remember small things, but even those were very faint memories.
One of the things she couldn't remember, which pained her, was her mother and father being happy…
Kana looked across the table to her daughter. She knew this wouldn't have been easy. She had been missing from the little girl's life for so long; something she deeply regretted. She traced the rim of the teacup with her thumb. "So… how are you doing at school?" she asked.
"Stop it…." The young girl murmured, speaking for the first time since arriving at the café.
"Sorry?"
"Just stop it!" Stacey repeated louder rising to her feet and catching the attention of her two partners. "You can't just show up and act like everything has been fine for the past six years!" she exclaimed. "It's not been fine, and it's not fine now! In case you haven't noticed there is a Digimon invasion all over the city and you choose this moment to come and find me?! I don't need this right now!"
She couldn't help it. The words just flowed out of her so easily. After six hard years, her life was finally beginning to feel normal again. But now, so quickly, it felt like her whole world had been thrown upside down once more.
Kana sighed. "Stacey please," she said, begging her daughter to sit down. "I wasn't expecting you to welcome me with open arms. I know you must have a lot of questions you want answers to and that is why I am here. I understand it must have been extremely hard for you, and your father, over the years and for that I am deeply sorry. I was already here when these 'Digimon' appeared. Truth is, I've been here for four days now trying to build up the courage to see you."
Stacey remained standing for a moment. Her fists were clenched, her knuckles turning slightly white as she tried to calm down from her outburst. Her mother was right. She did have questions she wanted answers to. Questions she had been asking herself since she could remember… and she knew if she wanted answers to these questions she would have to listen to what her mother had to say. She sighed and sat back down in her chair.
"I'm sorry. I know this is a bad time but when I saw you on that bridge I knew I had to take my chance." Kana pushed her teacup away from her a little, resting he arms on the table. "I'm sure your father has told you that things had gotten so bad between us we couldn't live together anymore. Our marriage just broke down like some marriages do. I felt I'd be more comfortable moving back to Adachi with your grandparents where I knew more people. Once I found my own place things became a little hectic and-"
"Is that why you never called?" Stacey muttered, staring down at her cup once more.
"At that time, yes." her mother replied, slowly nodding. "My new job had me working a lot. I always meant to call once things settled down…. But the longer time went by, the harder it became. After so much time had passed I guess I believed you wouldn't want to hear from me again."
Stacey turned her head away, a few tears forming in her eyes as those memories of her sitting by the phone every birthday came flooding back. "You were wrong…" she whispered. "I always waited for you to call, especially on my birthday and at Christmas. Dad always told me not to get my hopes up… but a small part of me always thought you would prove him wrong… In the end, it turned out I was wrong."
Kana stared at her daughter in awe. She had always imagined what she had put her daughter through over the years she had been gone, but to hear those words straight from the blonde-haired girl's mouth was like a knife through her heart. "Stacey… I know I've made a mistake…one of the biggest mistakes a parent could make. I've regretted it for years. But surely everyone deserves a second chance? All I want is to be a part of your life again. I know it's not going to happen overnight, but if you are willing to give me that chance I can start to make up for the time we have lost."
Stacey didn't move from her position as she stared down at the floor. She didn't know. She was so confused she didn't know what to think. When she was younger she used to dream of the day she would see her mother again. She had missed her so much when she left, but as she grew older the pain grew less and she became content with her life without a mother figure.
But now her mother was here, a small part of her wanted her back in her life. She had felt angry and upset at first upon arriving at the café, but now that had almost gone… and her mother was right; people did deserve a second chance. After all, she had been given a second chance by her friends…
… But then there was the possibility of leaving herself open to abandonment again… what if she did allow her mother back into her life? And then a few months down the line they lost contact again? Stacey couldn't live through that a second time.
"I… I don't know…" she whispered truthfully. "I…... I have to go," she panicked and quickly stood up, pushing her chair back as she did. She swiftly left the table, heading for the door.
"Stacey wait!" Kana called after her, turning around in her chair. "I…... I want you to come back to Adachi with me!" She blurted out.
Stacey froze, her hand on the handle of the door. She slowly turned around to look back over to her mother. "What…?"
.:Funenokagakukan Train Station, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
VictoryGreymon swung his sword, blocking Breakdramon X's tail drills that came his way. He then united the shells on his back into a shield and held it front of his body as the X Digimon lowered his head and fired the drill on his nose. The drill 'clanged' as it struck the shield and fell limp to the ground.
Breakdramon X snarled as he scooped up a large chunk of rubble with one of his shovel arms and flung it him.
VictoryGreymon swiftly reattached the shells onto his back. He swung his sword and sliced through the rock, splitting it in two. "This Digimon won't be easy to take down." He split his sword and attached the pieces to his arm. "Trident Gaia!"
The energy beam struck Breakdramon X in the side of the face, only denting the metal on his lower jaw.
Pukumon X chuckled as he hovered high in the air above Dawn. "That's all your lousy attacks will do. Breakdramon X's metal is tough and he does not falter from the damage his body suffers." He said, earning a scowl from the Kamiya girl.
Breakdramon X growled and hurled another two chunks of rubble using his two shovel arms, which VictoryGreymon easily stopped with his sword. "Tazer Strike!" Immediately after, he aimed all his drills and fired them simultaneously.
The attack was too quick for VictoryGreymon and the drills struck his body. He wailed as he was thrown from the air and crash landed on the ground. He lost his grip on his sword, which landed a good few hundred feet away.
"VictoryGreymon!" Dawn yelled across the car park to her fallen partner.
Pukumon X grinned. "Okay Breakdramon X, we've had our fun so finish off that dinosaur and get the girl!" he ordered.
Breakdramon X growled and slowly turned his head to face the smaller X Digimon who was hovering just in his eye level. He narrowed his eyes, snarling.
"What are you waiting for?" Pukumon X demanded. "Get him while he's down!" he exclaimed pointing to VictoryGreymon who pushed himself up from the ground and looked up at them.
Dawn smirked. "Looks like your backup isn't very good at taking orders huh?"
Pukumon X gritted his teeth, shooting a glare at the Kamiya girl before turning his attention back to Breakdramon X. "What is wrong with you? I said attack you piece of rusted junk!"
Breakdramon X responded by raising his right shovel arm and with a swift motion he turned and swatted Pukumon X out of the air.
Pukumon X shrieked as he hit the ground, bouncing to a stop. A little dazed, he rolled over to see Breakdramon X raise his right leg…. "No! What are you doing?!"
The machine Digimon didn't hesitate and before Pukumon X could get out of the way he stomped his foot down upon the small Digimon; crushing him into pieces of data.
Both Dawn and VictoryGreymon stared in shock as Breakdramon X released a triumphant roar that echoed across the empty car park.
VictoryGreymon rose, resting on one knee. "It looks like this Digimon doesn't take kindly to being bossed around. We have to stop him before he decides he wants to destroy everything!" he jumped up and sprinted over to his sword, picking it up in his right hand. He quickened his pace and launched himself at the X Digimon, slicing his sword across the weak spot on Breakdramon X's left leg.
Breakdramon X wailed as he lost his balance, slumping to the side a little as his leg gave way. He narrowed his eyes; his attention firmly fixed on VictoryGreymon who was now airborne and circling around to strike again. As VictoryGreymon prepared to attack, Breakdramon X launched the drill from his nose.
VictoryGreymon swooped to the right, just missing it.
"Oh no! It's heading straight for that building!" Dawn exclaimed as she watched the drill carry on along its path towards the hotel Stacey was currently inside…
.:Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
Stacey stared back at her mother, her hand still on the handle of the café door. "…. What?" she gasped under her breath.
Kana stood up and walked a few steps away from the table. "I want you to come home with me. Not permanently. I would never expect you to move away from all your friends… but if you came and stayed for a few weeks, to visit your grandparents too, then if you enjoyed it then maybe-"
"How can you ask me that?" Stacey interrupted. "You except me to leave right now? The city is under attack!"
"Exactly." Kana stated. "It's too dangerous here. People have been evacuating because of these monsters and I want you to do the same…" she paused and sighed. "I knew this day would come…"
"What?"
"I know your father is heavily involved in all this. I know these monsters are not all bad, Gabumon is a very friendly Digimon… but it was hard for me to accept that my husband and his friends fought monsters… and to be honest I never approved of you becoming one of them either when he told me you would be receiving your own Digimon someday."
"We're called DigiDestined." Stacey said sharply.
"Please Stacey. From what your father has told me he had been through when he was your age, I don't want you going through the same thing."
"You have no idea what I've been through…" the ten-year-old muttered under her breath, but it went unheard to her mother. "… Mom," she said hesitating a little at first at saying that word. "You don't understand. I can't leave my friends…"
"I know it will be hard leaving your friends behind, but don't you understand Stacey? You'd be much safer away from all this."
Those words struck the Ishida girl. She would be safer…. She would be hundreds of miles away from here, away from Myotismon. He would never find her in Adachi…. Maybe it wasn't such a crazy idea…
Just then, Stacey was suddenly broken from her thoughts by the sound of an explosion from outside; immediately followed by the whole building shaking.
"What was that?!" her mother shrieked.
Gabumon and SnowAgumon jumped down from their chairs and ran after Stacey, who had bolted out of the door.
"Stacey!" Kana shouted.
Outside Stacey ran across the small bridge and around the corner, continuing to run up to the edge of the Symbol Promenade bridge. She gasped, stopping at the safety rail upon seeing Breakdramon X. That's when she noticed the smoke emitting from the side of the hotel. The drill had hit the side of the building and then struck the road below, leaving behind a large crater.
Her two partners ran up behind her. "Wow… who is that Digimon?" SnowAgumon gawped.
"How could we forget? Dawn and VictoryGreymon could be in trouble!" Gabumon added.
Stacey had been so preoccupied with her mother she had completely forgotten they had been on their way to help Dawn. What had been a very small Digimon had now turned out to be a very big problem. "C'mon, let's go." she said, just as Kana was hurrying towards her. "Stay here!" she told her mother as she and her two Digimon ran onto the main section of the promenade bridge.
"No wait! Stacey come back!"
But her plea fell on deaf ears as her daughter didn't stop; running as fast as she could across the Symbol Promenade Bridge.
.:Izzy's lab, Minato, Tokyo:.
Tentomon flew up in front of the large computer screen on the wall, specifically looking at the smaller screen on the right that was displaying the social media websites. "Izzy, more and more Digimon are being spotted across the city!" he exclaimed in a mini panic, waving his arms about as more posts appeared. "If it carries on at this rate they'll have us completely outnumbered!"
"I know Tentomon," Izzy replied as he kept his head down in front of his computer. "Don't worry I've formulated a plan to deal with all these X Digimon. Right now, I'm focusing on trying to locate the others who are still unaccounted for."
Tentomon flew back over to his partner. "Have you heard from Kichi or Jonathon?"
"Yes. They're on their way over here as we speak. They were caught up in the middle of a Garbagemon X attack at Tokyo Tower but they're fine."
Across the other side of the lab, Haruhiko was sitting at his computer desk. He sighed when the computer beeped and a message 'No Results' flashed up on the screen. He cast a glance over his shoulder to Tai and Agumon who had been standing behind him. "I'm sorry but I can't get a reading off Dawn's digivice, and I won't be able to until the DDS is fixed. Whatever has attacked our system has somehow spread to your digivices as well, which explains why you can't get any Digimon readings on them either."
Tai sighed a little irritably and stood up straight. "I'm going to go look for her." He said. "C'mon Agumon."
Izzy immediately looked up from his screen and watched as Tai and Agumon headed for the door. "Wait, Tai!" he called, standing up from his desk. "I need to you stay here for now."
Tai stopped, turning to face the red-haired man. "What? Izzy, I've been stuck in this lab all morning. Myotismon has moved his entire army into the city and I don't know where my daughter is!"
"I know, and that's what I'm working on right now. I'm working the best as I can to find out where Dawn, and the others are. I'm in constant contact with everyone else who will let me know the moment they see or hear from them. So, until the DDS is back up and running the last thing I need is you and Agumon heading out into the city where I can't hold down your location."
"That's the least of our problems…"
Everyone turned their attention to the entrance to the lab after hearing Matt's voice to see him walk in followed by Gabumon, Veemon and lastly Davis who closed the door behind him.
Matt walked further into the room so he was standing with Izzy and Tai. "Dan's been captured," he began. "And we think Myotismon has TK and Kari too."
"What?" Both Izzy and Tai gasped.
Davis sighed loudly as he turned to look at Izzy. "Me and Dan went to the bay to help that boat that was stranded in the ice like you asked. Dianamon, one of the Nightmare Six, showed up. She was the one who froze the bay. It was a trap to lure us there. That's when she told us of her wish to capture us, and that Craniamon had already captured two of the others."
Gabumon nodded. "We assume she was referring to TK and Kari as MJ and Margaret arrived at the TV Station and said Craniamon had attacked them, and that TK and Kari had stayed to hold him of whilst they escaped."
"I told MJ and Margaret to stay inside the TV Station with Stacey. When I returned to Decks Tokyo Beach there was no sign of TK and Kari, or Craniamon," Matt explained. "That's when we noticed Davis and Dan out on the bay."
"Okay that's it. Izzy, we can't waste any more time in here doing nothing. Not now Myotismon has started capturing the others." Tai said.
Tentomon flew over, hovering beside his partner. "I think now is the time to put that plan of yours into action Izzy."
Izzy sighed nodded. "You're right. It's a little premature than I would have liked, but I guess we have no choice now."
"What plan is that?" Agumon asked.
"We're going to need Ken and Wormmon." The bearer of Knowledge turned to Davis. "Davis, I know your priority is to rescue Dan, but I need your help first." He said, with Davis nodded in response. "We need Imperialdramon. Imperialdramon is the only Digimon with the ability, and the attacks, to wipe out the X Digimon throughout the city."
"You mean when we took out all those control spires all over the world?" Veemon spoke up.
Izzy nodded. "Yes. It will the fastest way to deal with them. Once the X Digimon are dealt with we can then concentrate on the Nightmare Six and Myotismon, as well as rescuing the others."
"And how long will that take? Myotismon has my little sister Izzy, and it's not the first time either!" Tai exclaimed.
"Tai, I know how you feel. Don't forget my little brother is there too. But do you think bursting in there is the best option? You'll end up getting captured yourself. Izzy's right; we need to deal with all these X Digimon first."
"It will be much easier to deal with Myotismon and the Nightmare Six knowing there are no more Digimon loose in the city." Tentomon added.
Jim, who had been at his desk in the far corner of the room, rose from his seat as something caught his eye on the television screen. "Uhh… Tai..." he spoke up, grabbing the man's attention. "You better look at this..." He walked around his desk and picked up the remote; turning the volume up on the television, which was showing a news report.
"-People are being urged to stay away from the area as initial reports are claiming the monsters are engaged against each other in battle. Substantial damage has already been caused to the Maritime Museum, and the carpark opposite."
By this point everyone had joined Jim in front of the television. "That's not far from the TV Station…" Gabumon commented.
The news report then began to show the photos eyewitnesses had been sending in once more, which had what had caught Jim's attention in the first place. As soon as the first image appeared, Jim paused the television.
The photo, taken before Pukumon X's demise, clearly showed him and Breakdramon X in the foreground with VictoryGreymon behind facing them… and in the very bottom corner, Dawn could be seen in the background.
"It's Dawn!" Agumon exclaimed.
"Wow… that Digimon is huge…" Davis commented, referring to Breakdramon X. "Talk about little and large…"
Izzy immediately loaded up the Digimon's data on his tablet. "They're Breakdramon X and Pukumon X. Both strong mega Digimon, especially Pukumon X considering his size…" he explained. "Okay Tai, I'm sure-" he was forced to stop what he was about to say when he turned to face Tai, only to see he and Agumon had both vanished with the door to the lab open a jar. Izzy frowned. "Tai..."
"He never listens Izzy," Matt said placing a hand on the red-haired man's shoulder as he walked past. "Me and Gabumon will go after them."
"What? Matt, I just told Tai-"
The bearer of Friendship interrupted him by taking his cell phone out of his pocket and holding it up. "Relax Izzy. I have my cell phone with me. If Tai and Agumon run in to the Nightmare Six they're gonna need me and Gabumon."
Izzy sighed, a little defeated. "Alright. Keep me updated.… and try and not get yourselves captured okay?"
"Got it!" Matt responded with a wave as he and Gabumon left the lab.
.:Funenokagakukan Train Station, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
"Trident Gaia!"
Breakdramon X grunted as the beam of energy from VictoryGreymon's sword struck one of his shovel arms, leaving a large dent in it. Inspecting the damage, he growled and smacked Dawn's partner out of the sky with his other arm in a fit of rage. "Destroyed Rush!" Using both his shovel arms, he repeatedly began to strike the ground at high speed, tearing up the concrete.
The ground began to split from the pressure. The momentum grew, and the ground exploded throwing pieces of rubble into the air, as the large crack split into two, one heading straight towards VictoryGreymon, and the other towards Dawn.
VictoryGreymon jumped up and tried to out run the oncoming attack. But just as he was about to leap up into the air, it caught up with him and exploded; the force of the blast throwing him to the ground, with Dawn suffering the same fate.
"Ahhh!" The Kamiya girl screamed as she was thrown forward; summersaulting to a stop on the ground.
"Dawn!"
Dawn cringed a little as she pushed herself up, resting on her hands and knees. She looked to her left to see Stacey, Gabumon and SnowAgumon running towards the fence that separated the carpark and the Symbol Promenade park. "Stacey? About time!" she exclaimed.
Stacey reached the fencing and placed one foot up and grabbed the wire, preparing to climb it. But before she could hoist herself up, she was pulled back by someone grabbing her arm. "Mom?!"
Kana pulled her daughter back, away from the fence. "Stacey what are you doing?"
"I told you to stay at the hotel!" Stacey shot back, shrugging her mother's grip off her arm.
"There is no way I am letting you near that thing!" Kana exclaimed, motioning to Breakdramon X. "Look at the damage it's causing. You could be killed!"
Another explosion was heard as Breakdramon X fired one of his drills; missing VictoryGreymon and blasting the ground to pieces. The machine type Digimon then began to scoop up rubble with his shovel arms and continuously hurl them.
VictoryGreymon quickly formed his shield from the shells on his back, protecting himself. The force from each chunk of rubble hitting his shield moved him back slightly; his feet sliding along the dirt.
"This is exactly why I want you to come home with me. I know I haven't been in your life but that doesn't stop me from worrying about you. How can I return to Adachi knowing my only child is living in a city crawling with monsters?"
Stacey froze, forgetting what was happening around them as those thoughts returned once more… Her fears of Myotismon would disappear in Adachi. She wouldn't have to constantly look over her shoulder. She would be with her mother….
Another explosion, as both Breakdramon X and VictoryGreymon's attacks collided, snapped her from her thoughts.
What was she thinking? Her mind was so muddled right now she had seriously been contemplating leaving her father and her friends to escape her fears and secure her own safety? She had no idea she could be that selfish…
Stacey's eyes widened and she quickly shook her head. "No…"
"Stacey-"
"No! I can't leave. Maybe if you had been in my life more you would understand how important my job as a DigiDestined is."
Kana blinked, surprised. "Your job…?"
As the two warring Digimon clashed again, the force from the blast threw Dawn to the ground…
Gabumon looked through the fence worriedly. "Stacey… they need help."
Stacey didn't reply, but she had heard her partner as she continued to stare up at her mother. "Yes. I'm a DigiDestined. It's my job to protect the city from bad Digimon. I can't leave my father and my friends to fight this battle on their own. I'm not running away from all this. My friends gave me a second chance and I owe it to them to stand and fight alongside them!"
The screen on Stacey's digivice began to shine brightly as a new Digital Ring appeared within it…
"Dramon Breaker!" VictoryGreymon raised his sword above his head and swung it down in another attempt to disable the machine Digimon's left shovel arm. After failing, he continuously swung and slashed his sword, hacking away at the metal.
Growing irritated, Breakdramon X manoeuvred one of his two tails so the drill was pointing at VictoryGreymon before he fired it at point blank range.
VictoryGreymon screamed as the blast threw him away from Breakdramon X and he crashed in to a heap of rubble.
"VictoryGreymon!" Dawn cried out. She was still on her knees and was about to get up, but she froze when Breakdramon X turned his long neck and looked directly at her. "Uh-oh…"
Breakdramon X roared and extended his right shovel arm outwards towards her…
Dawn turned to run, but she was immediately met with his shovel slamming into the ground; blocking her path. The shovel then began to move towards her, as Breakdramon X retracted his arm. "Ah!" Dawn lost her balance as the dirt under her feet was pushed up and she found herself being dragged towards him.
Stacey turned her head, seeing the Kamiya girl was in danger. "Sorry Mom," she said glancing up at the blonde-haired woman. "But my friends need me more right now."
Stunned, Kana watched on as Stacey climbed the fence and jumped down into the carpark, with Gabumon and SnowAgumon following.
Dawn's eyes widened as she was dragged closer towards the gigantic Digimon. She watched as he opened the large shovel in between his legs; preparing to scoop her up.
Stacey stopped running a safe distance away from Breakdramon X. She pressed the button on her silver D-Power, catching her new Digital Ring in her hand before she slotted it into her crest…
Gabumon and SnowAgumon charged forward either side of their human partner…
"GABUMON… SNOWAGUMON… DNA WARP DIGIVOLVE TO… ZEEDGARURUMON!"
Gabumon and SnowAgumon merged, transforming into their mega level form. The glowing light faded revealing ZeedGarurumon. He looked like MetalGarurumon, except he was a darker shade of blue and was equipped with his large 'Zeed Cannon' on his back.
ZeedGarurumon charged across the car park and leapt up. He head-butted Breakdramon X's shovel arm causing it to lose its grip on the ground; thus, freeing Dawn.
Dawn, who had her eyes shut tight, opened them when she felt herself stop moving. She was then immediately scooped up by VictoryGreymon who flew her safely to where Stacey was standing.
Breakdramon X growled menacingly at ZeedGarurumon, who was stood in front of him. He raised his right shovel arm, preparing to strike. But he paused when ZeedGarurumon was joined by VictoryGreymon.
"Ready to crush this oversized tin can?" VictoryGreymon said.
"You bet." ZeedGarurumon replied.
"Disable the drills!" Stacey commanded, as her mother watched on from the edge of the park.
"Yeah stop him before he turns his attention back to those buildings!" Dawn added.
Their Digimon leapt up into the air, with ZeedGarurumon circling from the right and VictoryGreymon circling from the left.
"We need to find his weak spot ZeedGarurumon!" VictoryGreymon exclaimed. "Most of his body is covered in metal and he doesn't falter from damage it takes."
"I'm on it… he'll have a chink in his armour somewhere."
Breakdramon X didn't know which way to look, or who to pin his target to. He snarled and swung his tail towards Stacey's partner.
"Zeed Cannon!" ZeedGarurumon immediately fired his cannon, blasting the drill away.
VictoryGreymon split his Dramon Breaker. "Trident Gaia!" he fired a powerful blast from his sword, hitting the drill on Breakdramon X's nose.
Breakdramon X cringed. Upon opening his eyes, he caught sight of ZeedGarurumon flying past his line of vision. "Tazer Strike!" he fired all the drills on his body, each one flying through the air and homing in on ZeedGarurumon like missiles.
ZeedGarurumon, who had his back to the gigantic Digimon, flew up and over so he was now facing the oncoming drills… The four laser sights on his snout began to glow, and a stream of energy bullets were fired. They all locked on to the oncoming drills; destroying them upon impact. ZeedGarurumon continued his charge towards the machine Digimon. "Full Metal Breath!" He simultaneously fired his Zeed Cannon, alongside all the other weapons throughout his body.
The wave of ammunition hit Breakdramon X one after the other, slamming into him from the side with such force it mowed him down. He began to tip over as he lost his balance, and he wailed as he fell; hitting the ground, causing a mild tremor.
"That's stopped him!" Dawn cheered, as Stacey smiled.
Breakdramon X roared helplessly as he moved his shovel arms and tails in a bid to push himself back up, but due to his weight it was useless.
VictoryGreymon descended a little, his eyes falling on the very bottom part of Breakdramon X's body that was now showing. "ZeedGarurumon!" he called, pointing his sword down to the machinery parts that were exposed. "There. That has to be his weak spot."
"I think you're right," ZeedGarurumon replied. "That's the only part of his body that is not protected. Let's attack will full force!"
"Trident Gaia!" VictoryGreymon fired the energy blast from the tip of his sword…
"Zeed Cannon!" ZeedGarurumon bowed down; aiming his cannon before firing it…
The two attacks merged as one, gaining more strength as it thundered down towards the fallen X Digimon. It hit, blasting through the exposed machinery and tearing through his body.
Breakdramon X wailed, and sparks began to ignite throughout his body as he began to malfunction. His whole body began to glow as VictoryGreymon and ZeedGarurumon's attack built up pressure inside…
Kana watched in awe from her position by the fencing as the gigantic monster suddenly exploded into tiny pieces of data, which floated up into the sky before disappearing. As Breakdramon X's echoed scream slowly vanished, it left the destroyed car park in silence. "…. It... it vanished…" she mumbled under her breath. She observed the damage that had been left behind. Most of the ground had been ripped apart, leaving huge mounds of rubble everywhere. Kana's eyes then fell upon her daughter.
She had never witnessed Digimon fighting before, and until this day she had never quite understood what her ex-husband had experienced when he was a child. Now she had to accept her daughter was part of this as well. Even though it was dangerous; from what she had just witnessed it did look like Stacey was in control and had good friends to support her… and maybe trying to take her daughter away from all this was the wrong thing to do, and in fact her only child was more grown up than she had originally thought…
With the two girls, Dawn rubbed the back of her head as their two partners, still in their mega forms, joined them. "Hey uhh… thanks for arriving when you did." She said laughing a little meekly. "A few more minutes and I'd have been toast."
Stacey, initially a little surprised by the appreciation, smiled and folded her arms. "Well I did warn you. I knew it wouldn't be too long before you landed yourself in some kind of trouble." She joked, causing Dawn to frown at her. Just then, Stacey remembered her mother. She turned her head in the direction of the park; only to see Kana wasn't there anymore. Stacey froze, staring at the spot her mother had been standing. "She left…" she murmured.
"Huh? Who left?" Dawn questioned. She then remembered when Stacey arrived earlier she wasn't alone. "Who was that woman you were with?"
Stacey sighed, her back still towards the Kamiya girl. "My mother." She replied.
"What?!" Dawn exclaimed. "How-"
"Perhaps she went back to the hotel," ZeedGarurumon interrupted, knowing his partner wasn't ready to go in the details of why her mother was here. "We can go back there if you want."
.:Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
Kana arrived at the end of the Symbol Promenade bridge, glancing at the damage caused to the side of the hotel from earlier. She walked across the smaller bridge and towards the hotel. As she approached the main doors, she heard something behind her.
Turning to look over her shoulder, she saw ZeedGarurumon standing there having just landed on the ground.
Stacey jumped down from her partner's back, remaining by his side. There was a moment of silence between the mother and daughter, before Stacey finally spoke. "Why did you leave?"
Kana sighed, turning to face her properly. "I'm sorry. After seeing you fight that monster I realised it was a mistake to want to take you away from here. You've grown up with these Digimon and by the looks of it you have some good friends too. I was wrong to think showing up after so long and taking you away from everything you know was the right thing to do. I guess I have to admit it's a part of who you are, and if I hadn't of been absent in your life then perhaps I would already know that and would understand it a whole lot more."
Stacey stared at her mother a little surprised, but she didn't show it. "What if… I wanted to go?
Kana blinked, her turn to looked surprised.
"I mean not right now," Stacey quickly added. "But… when this is all over and everything is back to normal… I might, you know…"
"You would…?"
Stacey nodded. "Yeah. I'll admit back there I almost wanted to go… if you knew what I had been through the past six months you would understand why… but I realised I can't be that selfish. I can't run away from my fears. I need to be with my friends right now Mom."
Kana nodded slowly smiling slightly. "I understand."
.:Symbol Promenade Park, Odaiba, Tokyo:.
"We better get back to the TV Station before Biyomon sends a search party for us." Dawn said, sat on her partner's back, as he flew over the tops of the trees in the park.
"Do you think Stacey will be ok?"
"Yeah, she can take care of herself. She said she was gonna go talk to her Mom and then come straight back to the TV Station."
After mentioning Stacey's mother, Dawn's thoughts turn to her own mother. Sora was on the other side of the world, no doubt aware of what was happening back home. On the news it had said the Haneda Airport had been closed too, so how was her Mom going to get back?
Dawn sighed and stared down at the ground that past by below them, watching VictoryGreymon's shadow. But then his shadow was joined by someone else's; a slightly larger shadow moving at the same speed behind them. "Huh?"
Before she could alert her partner, an electrical energy blast suddenly struck them from the side. The force threw VictoryGreymon out of the air and down to the park below.
"Ahh!" Dawn lost her grip on her partner's back and she was thrown off, landing in a heap in the middle of the park's pathway. A little dazed she groaned and pushed herself up. "Agumon!"
Her partner was lying motionless a few hundred yards away from her; now back in his rookie form.
The Kamiya girl scrambled to her feet and dashed across towards him. "Agumon!" she exclaimed as she reached him. She dropped down onto her knees. "Agumon, are you ok? Say something?"
"Urgh…" A small and dizzy grunt escaped the rookie's mouth. He slowly opened his eyes. "What… just happened?"
Dawn was about to reply, but the ground suddenly shuddered underneath and the same shadow from before loomed over them. Both looked up to see ShadowSeraphimon had landed right on top of them.
ShadowSeraphimon smiled as he looked down at the young DigiDestined and her partner at his feet. "You two aren't quite out of the woods just yet..."
To be continued…