Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, nor do I own When the World's Not Ending, by Smartalec121 or any of their associated works.
Off the Beaten Path
Chapter: 03/ The Universe of Battle
"Rika! Come on!"
Hana's voice was buried beneath the thunderous crash of battle, but she didn't need to be heard. Taking the girl by the hand, she yanked her in the direction of the temple. Rika's feet finally fell into motion and they both broke into a run. Rika's heart was in her throat, feeling as though all sense of herself were becoming stuck in place. But now that she was moving, she felt her mind start to pick up its pace. She chanced a glance over her shoulder. Gallantmon was circling around Gaiomon, leading his attention in the opposite direction of where she and Hana were heading.
He's looking out for us, she thought with sudden realization. Just like that, she was back in that other world watching the Tamers there battle the Raremon, doing their best to safeguard the civilians around them. To safeguard her and Hana.
Get going, she heard her thoughts urge her. You're too weak for this fight. This isn't some Champion or even a Rookie. This is a Mega! Takato and the others can't fight if they have to watch out for you.
Rika's heart seethed at that, but she couldn't deny the good sense of them. So, she ran toward the temple, no longer needing to be dragged.
Yet, try as she might, she couldn't shake the distaste of fleeing when the Tamers were engaged in a fight for their lives.
###
Gallantmon parried, ducked and slashed, stabbed, kicked, and rolled to the side. Gaiomon did likewise, though with a greater emphasis on slashing and hacking as his swords were built more with that in mind. Gallantmon deflected a blow with his shield and felt his arm cringe from the force of the blow.
"Not good," Takato said to the darkness surrounding him.
"Yeah," replied Guilmon from those shadows. "He's strong. Really strong. But we can beat this guy, right?"
Takato didn't answer. Didn't dare to answer. Deep down, he could feel a swell of panic beginning to rise within him, tracing its roots all the way to the final battle with the D-Reaper. Gaiomon was strong. Terribly strong, and it was obvious he wasn't even using more than a fraction of his true strength.
"We haven't gone all out yet," Takato said, trying to stay calm. It was true enough. They still had cards to play and hadn't even made use of their special attacks yet. However, the fact that Gaiomon had also not used any attacks tickled the back of his mind, and not in a way that made him feel good.
The knight spun to the side, and Gaiomon dove past him, missing his mark by a wide margin. Sparks flew from Gallantmon's armored heels as he drove to a halt and then launched himself at his opponent. He thrust out with his lance, desperate to take him down now that he was off balance.
Except, Gaiomon wasn't. Planting one foot firmly, he thrust back with the other one, bashing Gallantmon's lance to the side before swinging up his swords once more in a low angle slash. The blades smashed into Gallantmon's shield, upsetting his already precarious balance and sending him careening to the ground. Gaiomon rushed his fallen form, attempting to finish him off. However, movement from off to the side caught his attention and he pivoted. His sword clashed with a golden shield marked with a sun-like logo, sending a shower of sparks into his eyes, blinding him. A second later, a silver hammer erupted from behind the sparks, slamming into the warrior's skull, causing an explosion of stars to go off inside his head. Gaiomon lashed out with his remaining sword instinctually, and heard a scream of pain. The darkness clearing, he saw an Antylamon falling at his feet, hammer and shield clattering on the ground. Lifting his blades, he prepared a killing strike.
"Get away from her!"
Gallantmon's enraged shout caused Gaiomon to hesitate. Sensing the fury in his voice, his swords spun to intercept knight's lance. Metal sparked and they were once more engaged in a furious exchange of blows, lance stabbing like a bolt of lightning, and swords slicing and slashing like a hurricane. Gaiomon stood his ground, sensing Gallantmon's anger rising with every second they remained locked near the fallen Antylamon. For the moment, that anger could be used as a weak point. All he needed was a moment where fury overwhelmed good sense and then…
There!
Gallantmon's shield went wide as he overcommitted himself to a strike, leaving him wide open. Not to his swords, unfortunately, but a well-placed kick to his midsection slammed home, causing the crimson knight to jar to a halt in surprise. Now Gaiomon's sword swung up from Gallantmon's unprotected left, cleaving towards his skull. Gallantmon, seeing it at the last second, jerked back, but too late. The blade smashed into his helm, sheering off the upper portion of his visor that contained the snarling face of a red dragon. The knight fell to one knee as the fragments of his visor clattered to the ground, his shield rising back to guard himself against the remaining sword. Gaiomon fell back a way, content for the moment with the turnout of his attack.
The air went deathly still as Gallantmon waited, and upon seeing that Gaiomon wasn't continuing to hammer at him, hastily rose to his feet. He wasn't winded. With how sturdy his helm was, not by a longshot, but he had a growing sense that he was being toyed with. Gaiomon rotated his swords lazily, his golden eyes appearing disappointed.
"Is this all you're capable of, warrior?" he asked. "I expected first blood to go to you."
Another time, Takato might have declared that they were merely 'warming up.' But he didn't feel such bravado much these days. Instead, his focus was intent on the other digimon, searching for gaps in his guard.
"This is stupid," he said instead. "You came all this way just to fight me? Why?"
"Why not?" Gaiomon answered, hefting his blades. "News of your exploits has traveled far in the digital world. I wanted to see if it was true. So far, I am greatly disappointed."
"So, will you leave us alone now?"
"Far from it. I will delete you and load your data so that the rumors will be put to death. I tire of digimon speaking of nonsense."
"Should have known," Gallantmon sighed, wondering how they were going to end this fight. His eyes flickered over Gaiomon's shoulder and at the retreating civilians. Seeing this, Gaiomon glanced over his shoulder quickly before returning to Gallantmon.
"Ah. I see." The Mega nodded in appreciation. "Admirable. You seek to minimize harm, not to yourself but to our audience. Very well. If it will help you show your true strength to me, we shall take this elsewhere. Follow me."
With a speed like lightning, Gaiomon leapt into the air, causing Gallantmon to gawk in surprise for a moment before hastily charging after him. Such was his rush, that he missed Suzie and Kenta yelling for him to wait.
"Just great," Suzie growled once Gallantmon was out of earshot. "There goes our so-called 'plan.' Now can I digivolve to Mega?"
"I…don't think that would be good idea, Suzie," groaned Antylamon, getting to her feet. The hammer and shield she had used – courtesy of the Brave Shield and Thor's Hammer modify cards – began to dissolve.
"Don't tell me you're going to agree with Takato, again!"
"I'm afraid I must, Suzie," Antylamon said apologetically, holding her side to stem a leak of data from Gaiomon's attack. Through the power given to her by Suzie, she could feel the unresolved anger swirling within like a slick of oil on water. Mega, she felt, would be all that was needed to set that oil aflame. Sticking her lip out, Suzie kicked at the ground.
"This is stupid!"
"Stupid or not, we have to back up Takato," Kenta said, already running ahead. "I think I know where they're going! Come on!"
"Pihpihpuh!"
"They know you can get us there a lot faster, right?" Suzie asked, planting her hands on her hips. Behind her, Antylamon crouched down and lifted the girl up atop her head. Settling down, the girl grabbed hold of her partner's ears.
"Hang on tight!" Antylamon said before dashing forth.
###
From atop the shrine, the fox-masked woman – Kuzuhamon – watched as the combatants fled to a new battlefield. Unfolding her arms, she made a hmph sound. Like Gaiomon, she too was disappointed.
This Gallantmon doesn't appear to be who we're looking for, she thought, frowning beneath her mask. That struck her as a bit of a contradiction, but that came as no surprise. The incursions, after all, had also born the mark of a Sovereign, yet none were their source. Later, more refined analysis came up with a different digimon, and the latest incursion led them here. Right where there was only one Gallantmon.
The incursions came from different worlds than ours, she thought. Perhaps this Gallantmon is merely a native to this world. So why was the last incursion pinpointed here?
Movement caught her attention and turning, she saw a redhaired, young girl charging down the shrine's stone path, seemingly chasing after the Gallantmon and his companions. Something about her tickled the back of her mind.
Now, who might you be?
###
Rika stood at the main entrance to the temple, having halted there at the last second to look back at the battle again. Hana frantically yanked on her arm, growing more and more furious with her hesitations.
"Rika! What are you doing?! We've got to get inside! What is wrong with…?!"
"Oh, stuff it," Rika snapped, breaking free from Hana's grasp. "And sorry for saying that!"
"Buh-wha?" Hana gaped, staggering back in stunned surprise. Rika didn't give her time to recover. Instead, she kicked off her heels, grateful to be rid of them and started in the direction that the Tamers had run off in. As she did so, she felt a touch of hesitation. She had heard Gaiomon's words. His assessment of Gallantmon's abilities and the suggestion that he was holding back because of her and Hana's presence. They drudged up another memory. One of her alternate self making a snide comment at her expense.
"I'm sure you'd make a great asset to the team."
Rika's nose rankled at that, yet she started to take a hesitant step backward. If she got in the way at a critical moment, who knew what would happen. Wouldn't it be better to try for a more opportune time?
"Rika!" Hana's hand fell on her shoulder, causing her to jump. And just like that, all her thoughts and fears came together in one mad rush, flashing in her mind so quickly she could barely understand what she was seeing, save for one. The faces of the Tamers who had died, yet living in a world where she became a Tamer.
She didn't remember breaking free of Hana's second attempt to drag her into the temple. She only found herself charging across the stone ground, the skin of her bare feet none too happy with her for their lack of protection. She ignored them.
The Tamers don't run away from danger, she thought fiercely. If I can help even a little bit, then I will! I'm not running away from this!
###
Gallantmon chased Gaiomon into Gyoen park. The dragon warrior was waiting for him, swords hung casually at his sides.
"Is this an appropriate setting?" Gaiomon asked. "Will you show me your full power here?"
"I don't get this," Gallantmon said, hefting shield and lance. "What's the point of you fighting me?"
"Why do you humans breathe? Why do we digimon load data? For me, it is like that. I am a digimon. I battle. I load data. I grow stronger. It is the way of things."
From within the orange data sphere that housed him, Takato remembered what Henry had said about digimon being programmed to fight. It had been a point of contention between the half-Chinese Tamer and Terriermon in their early days. Henry disagreed with him at times as well at points in those early days when he found himself becoming enthusiastic for battle. And he did feel enthusiastic.
Gallantmon's gaze dropped down to his lance, another memory coming to mind. Not one from a friend, but an enemy.
"Humans and digimon exist only to destroy or be destroyed."
"Humans desire total annihilation, therefore their existence is pointless."
"You do not deserve to exist!"
His memory drifted further, remembering Beelzemon; how his obsession with growing stronger led to the murder of Leomon. A fact only made possible because of what humans – what Henry's father and his friends – programmed into digimon.
"Takato!" came Guilmon's voice from the darkness surrounding him. "Momentai! You know that what the mean, scary D-Reaper said isn't true! Remember all the times we've played tag in the park? Or just ate and made ourselves so full our bellies ached? Or what about when we played hide and seek? Or watched sunsets? Or ate ice cream? Those aren't all about fighting."
Gallantmon's eyes rose with Takato's, but the boy within still felt doubts gnawing away at him. For four years now, it seemed like all digimon ever did now was come to the real world to pick a fight. Not all of them of course, but enough that it seemed like the only progress he made in the world involved making wreckage. Yet, Guilmon's words did strike a chord in him.
"I don't want there to be fighting between digimon or humans," he began softly. "And there's more to life than just fighting."
"More to life than just fighting?" Gaiomon scoffed, hearing the weak conviction in Takato's words. "And you don't want digimon or humans to fight?" The Mega lifted his swords. "And yet, battle drives invention. Eliminates weakness. You fight as well, don't you? You didn't reach the Mega level by being soft. You defeated the D-Reaper by fighting against it! Same for the Devas and even the Sovereign, Zhuqiaomon! You've stood up to gods and all you have to say is, "I don't like to fight?" You're fighting me even now!What mockery is this?"
Takato's eyes remained on Gaiomon's as he eased into a combat stance. There was no getting through to him, just like there had been no getting through to the many others he fought over the years. All too often, he felt like he was just talking to a brick wall. Once again, a great sense of exhaustion welled up within him.
I just feel…so tired of this.
Gaiomon stood there, seemingly waiting for him to make a response. When one didn't come, he tsked.
"Fine. Show me your conviction with your actions then."
He charged.
Electricity burned at the tip of his lance and Gallantmon thrust out just as Antylamon came in for a landing behind him. There came an explosion in front of him as trees burst apart and wooden limbs were sent flying through the air. Gaiomon erupted from the smoke, unharmed and his swords licked out. Using his shield to block them, he stepped inside their reach and thrust again, attempting to stab skewer his opponent. Gaiomon stepped to the side and raked at his shield arm, attempting to hack it off. Takato grimaced at the sharp pain, feeling the metal buckle a little under the impact. It held though, and Gallantmon swung his shield to the side, its wider surface managing to clip Gaiomon and cause him to stagger.
"Now, Suzie!" he shouted.
"Digi-modify! Ophanimon's Eden Javelin activate!"
"Eden's Javelin!"
Lifting one arm, a golden lance formed in Antylamon's hand. Thrusting it forth, a beam of white light shot out like a bolt. Seeing the incoming attack, Gaiomon crossed his swords together to form a makeshift shield. The light struck them hard and the viral Mega's clawed feet dug deep trenches in the ground as he was pushed back.
Yet, almost as soon as the attack came, it winked out of existence. Antylamon fell to one knee, a glow forming around her body.
"Antylamon!" Suzie shouted. "What's happening?!"
"I feel weak. I don't…" The Ultimate's body shrank suddenly, releasing all the excess data she had built up, leaving only Lopmon.
"Aw, nuts," Gallantmon cursed, realizing what must have happened. Her injury must have been worse than we thought!
Charging forward, Gallantmon laid into Gaiomon before he could regroup, lighting sparking at the tip of his lance with every blow. He hadto finish this fight and fast!
"Gaia Reactor!"
Gallantmon blinked as light began to concentrate around Gaiomon. He barely had enough time to realize what was going on before the light detonated, and a wall of force and heat slammed into him. In the next instant, the boy within felt as though he were floating, and all noise was silent. It was rather peaceful. No fighting. No shouting. No pain. Just silence and a floating emptiness.
"Takato!"
That voice. A girl's voice, calling out to him from the darkness. Her voice was urgent. He frowned, trying to trace it. She knew his name, yet for the life of him he couldn't remember hearing her voice before.
"Takato! Watch out! Takato!"
Gallantmon's eyes snapped open to find Gaiomon standing over him, swords raised over his body and a baffled expression on his face. At his feet, a girl with fiery red hair tied back into a tight ponytail, wearing a puffy, black dress. In one hand, she held a rock, and her face was covered with soot. All about them, a fire raged. The girl was shaking with fear, but her eyes blazed with a fierce determination.
"B-Back off!" she shouted before a coughing fit suddenly overtook her. The girl doubled over, hacking from the smoke she just inhaled. Gaiomon slowly lowered his swords.
"You are afraid, but you also have heart, human. I am impressed. You remind me of a Viximon I know."
"Don't patronize me," the girl coughed. "I'm scared witless. But I p-promised…"
Her voice tattered and she doubled over again, her coughing fit growing worse. From within his data sphere, Takato attempted to move, but his limbs were sluggish and heavy. Something was wrong. He felt as though something was missing. Like there was a great void in his head.
"Guilmon?"
No answer came to him. Takato felt a flash of panic. What was going on?
"Guilmon! Are you there, boy? Please tell me you're okay!"
Nothing, but he felt his partner. He wasn't dead.
Knocked out?
"Guilmon! You've got to wake up! There's someone who needs our help!"
The girl fell to her knees, choking badly on the smoke now.
"I p-promised I wouldn't run," she gasped out, still trying to speak to Gaiomon. Clearing her throat, she locked eyes with the dragon warrior. "So, leave. Him. Alone!"
She tottered in place, but didn't' fall yet. Using the last of her strength, she hurled her rock at Gaiomon, where it bounced harmlessly off his chest. The girl slumped to the side and collapsed to the ground.
Gallantmon's eyes widened in time with Takato's.
Not again… He looked about, but he couldn't see any of the others. Where were they? Dead? If so, then he was this girl's last hope.
"Guilmon! We've got to move! We've got…to…move!"
Memories flashed within him. All the battles they were in. All the friends that he lost. His friends especially. Failed. Failed each and every one of them. Most of all, Jeri. She died because of him. Because he couldn't see what she was going through. Henry, Ryo and Kazu died because he wasn't by their side. And now, Kenta, Suzie… This strange girl whose name he didn't even know. They were either dead or dying. He was failing them too! And he would fail the city if he didn't stop Gaiomon here and now!
The data surrounding his sphere began to swirl faster, and a glow began to emerge in the center of his being. He felt something stir in the darkness around him, and Guilmon's voice, slurred and confused, broke through.
"Takatomon?"
"Guilmon! We can't let Gaiomon win!"
He felt Guilmon's presence grow stronger. He was fighting now to catch up and reconnect to him. Takato reached out toward the darkness and the light blazing within him grew even brighter. A memory stirred within them both, and with it came a voice.
"Do you want to fly, Gallantmon?"
"A part of you will always be with us, Grani!"
The light burst free and Gallantmon's armor glowed as he surged off the ground. White armor flared, becoming a deep crimson. His red cape disappeared, replaced by ten glowing, angelic wings. A crystalline core formed within his breastplate, marked by the sign of the Digital Hazard and his helm became sleeker, more dragon-like than before. His gauntleted hand grabbed hold of Gaiomon by the throat and the dragon made a startled, choking sound. With a powerful yell and a mighty flap of his wings, he propelled them away from the burning park with such tremendous force that the smoke was swiftly cleared away. What trees remained standing amidst the carnage creaked, and then shattered, collapsing to the ground as their flames were snuffed out.
A sudden hush fell over the ruins of Gyoen Park. A figure, tall and lithe, dressed in a miko-robe and wearing a purple fox mask moved amongst the charred trees, stopping first at two unconscious humans and their digimon. One of them, MarineAngemon, remained awake and alert, if a bit rough around the edges. He had barely managed to throw up a barrier in time, but the force of Gaiomon's detonation still flung them backward and burst the heart-shaped bubble that was their protection. The tiny pink fairy looked frantic and exhausted, yet still manage to glare daggers at Kuzuhamon. She nodded to him respectfully.
"I mean no harm," she said to the tiny Mega as she knelt down to check the human's pulse. It remained strong and his breathing was normal. She suspected he would wake up with a bit of a headache though.
The shaman moved next to the child and her partner. Unlike Kenta and MarineAngemon, they had no protective barrier against Gaiomon's attack. Both were out, but neither seemed the worse for wear beyond what looked like a nasty bump to the head. They had both been low enough to the ground as well, preventing them from inhaling the worst of the smoke. The Lopmon's injury as well had been healed by the reduction in level, though she looked quite bruised nonetheless.
Fortunate, she thought. Gaiomon, you were reckless.
She moved on then to the other girl, who had thrown rocks at Gaiomon. This one worried her, as her breathing was shallow. She had gone in after the explosion with no regard for her own safety, despite clearly being afraid.
Impressive spirit, she thought, brushing back the girl's bangs. The human stirred and opened her eyes. She didn't see Kuzuhamon. Not yet. Rather, her eyes were drawn to the crimson knight fighting in the sky, angelic wings shimmering with sparkling light against the blue background.
"Pretty…" she whispered before her eyes closed again.
"You require healing," Kuzuhamon said, rolling the strange girl onto her back. Placing a hand over her chest, a light formed between the two of them and Kuzuhamon began to murmur a soft song. As she did so, she tilted her head to one side. There was something odd about her. A touch of something that felt almost angelic. Not the girl herself per se, but more like a mark or fingerprint. There was something more as well. But what?
The answer came almost immediately. She was the incursion.
Lifting the girl into her arms, Kuzuhamon rose to her feet.
"You and I need to have a little chat," she said before fading from view, much to MarineAngemon's sudden panic.
###
Gallantmon, now fully empowered by his Crimson Mode, shot skyward, punching through clouds and sending them scattering with the force of his flight. Gaiomon struggled, but Gallantmon's grip remained tight around his throat. Despite how obvious his defeat was now; he felt a surge of excitement rushing through him.
"Yesss…" he hissed gleefully. "That's the spirit! Show me your full potential!"
Gallantmon's eyes flashed at that and he came to an abrupt halt. Rearing his arm back, he threw Gaiomon away from him, trusting that the Mega would be able to handle flight on his own. He did, and the dragon warrior massaged his neck, confused.
"You still refuse to fight me? Even with the power you have?"
"I will, if you force me to," Takato and Guilmon said as one. Raising their hands, a sword and a double-bladed spear materialized in their grasp. Blutgang and Gungnir shone bright beneath the sun. "I cannot allow you to do as you want and I can't abandon the people below."
"So, you do have conviction after all. You are not what I was led to believe." He grinned, still massaging his neck. He tilted his head just then, as though he were listening to a voice that only he could hear. A moment later, he gave Gallantmon a respectful bow.
"I'm afraid that this match is over. Congratulations. This is your win. Perhaps next time, you will be able to delete me, as all battles must naturally end."
"Wait, what?"
In answer to Gallantmon's question, Gaiomon faded from view and within seconds disappeared completely, leaving the knight alone in his confusion.
He didn't hover there long to consider what Gaiomon's retreat meant. With a flap of his wings, he hurled himself back to the ground, where, with a deft landing, his form glowed and broke apart, depositing Takato and Guilmon, once more separate, back upon the earth.
"Suzie! Kenta!" he shouted. "Lopmon! MarinAngemon!"
"Pihpih!" came the frantic reply.
"Takato!" Guilmon pointed over to where the bespectacled boy lay, his partner making panicked motions with his tiny wings. Wasting no time, Takato ran over.
"Are they okay?" he asked. MarineAngemon did a cartwheel and nodded his head. The only communication that he was capable of getting across without Kenta awake to translate for him. Takato breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness," he said, relaxing a little. He didn't stay relaxed for long however and quickly looked around. "Ah! That girl! Where is she?"
"Pihpuhpih!" MarineAngemon answered, pointing in the direction that he saw the girl fall earlier. No one was there. But that didn't mean she was gone.
"Guilmon?" Takato asked, turning to his partner. The dinosaur was already on it, his nose sniffing the air. Briefly, Takato wondered if his nose would be able to find anything, given all the smoke and flames that had previously filled the air.
That's stupid, he thought. Guilmon's found plenty of people under worse conditions than this. There's nothing he can't find.
Yet, Guilmon frowned, clearly confused about something. Making his way about, he continued to sniff the air. The dinosaur digimon didn't know what girl his partner was talking about, so he just looked for fresh scents that weren't their own. He stopped at one spot near the imprint they made in their Mega form. There was definitely the smell of a person there. The girl, if his nose was not mistaken. And someone else too. Another digimon.
Continuing his detective work, his nose snuffled, taking in as much of the scents as he could. Yet try as he might, the smells stopped here.
"Well, boy?" Takato asked, approaching. Guilmon looked at his partner apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Takato. But I don't think I can find her. I smell another digimon here. Maybe it took her?"
Takato's face grew pale as his lips parted in utter shock. "No," he said in a hushed voice. "Not her too. Not…Not another one."
Guilmon approached his partner and nuzzled his stomach.
"Momentai, Takatomon. I don't think she's dead. We'll find her."
He felt the boy go rigid against him. The stormy scent returned and muscles quavered. Takato's hand fell on his head, patting him gently.
"We will," he said. His voice shook, but there was determination behind it. "I promise, if it's the last thing I do, we'll find her. We're not losing anyone anymore."
9
