Chapter 5: Gumdramon vs Terriermon:
Our group of heroes stepped out of the latest Data Stream. They were on their way to the next stop on their journey. The group walked along a path through a lush forest. The trees swayed in the gentle wind.
The travelers stopped at the truck of a large tree to rest and eat.
"Hey, Guil-Sensei. What is your human partner like? I mean you were Tamer Digimon before." Gammamon asked. He took a bite of the sandwich Guilmon made for everyone.
"Same with you, Renamon. I'd like to know more of your partner" Veamon said.
"I would like to know too. Come on you two. What are they like?" BlackGatomon piped up.
"Well… I was first created by my Tamer" Guilmon replied. He placed a hand on the tree. "He drew me on a sheet of doodle paper and scanned it through his D-Power. I was such a child at first, not obeying much and usually fought on instinct. But I did play with other kids. And he fed me all the bread and peanut butter I could want! It's… kind of embarrassing now that I think about it."
"All children start off like that. No need to be ashamed of that." Lionessmon assured him.
"Plus, playing with children isn't bad. Even Impmon was jealous that you are kind with the kids" Renamon pointed out.
"Yeah. But Takato taught me so much. He trusted, loved and helped me when needed. He was more than my partner. He was my best friend. My dad..." Guilmon looked in the sky. His right eye shed a small tear. "I miss him every day."
"That's sweet." Lionessmon sniffed.
"And what about you, Renamon?" Veamon questioned.
"When I first met Rika, it was more like a business arrangement. She got the strongest Digimon. I got the power that supposedly came with a partner. Later, we became more like sisters, We would do anything to protect each other. And we did more than just battle." Renamon spoke up. She also has misty eyes at the thought of her tamer. "I miss her so much."
"Aww… sweet, foxy. I wish I had a Tamer." BlackGatomon cooed.
"So where are we heading now anyways?" Gumdramon asked.
"Well once we're there, you'll see." Renamon answered. They packed up and resumed walking.
They came from the outskirts of the forest to a huge cliff side with a huge drop. But before them was a majestic sight. A beautiful towering skyscraper city. Some of them almost reach the clouds. The sun bounced off some of the glass windows. From further away was a coastline beach.
"The New Digi City!" BlackGatomon meowed awestruck. "Oh wow! Seeing it in person is a dream come true!"
"Look at how tall these skyscrapers are." Gumdramon commented.
They turned to Guilmon and Renamon. Their eyes were closed and held each other hand. The dino was glowing in his red aura. The vixen basked in blue aura.
"Tamer Aura Search? What for?" Gammamon asked.
The duo opened their eyes and powered down.
"I knew it. Somewhere in this majestic city, the Delta Army base is here. And with it, Lopmon." Renamon announced.
"Lopmon's in this city somewhere?" asked Lionessmon. She peered down at the city.
"And Terriermon too." Guilmon said. Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"You can sense him? I couldn't." Renamon alerted.
"He turned off his Tamer Aura Search so no one could find him. But mine is sharper than any of the others. I sense he is hiding somewhere in the city too." Guilmon replied.
"Well, let's go find him!" Gumdramon cried out. He was about to run ahead but Guilmon grabbed his vest and stopped him.
"Hold it, sunshine. Unless you can bounce from a high drop, you best think again." he warned.
"Oh yeah. I forgot about the large drop before us." Gumdramon gulped. "No one here is afraid of heights are they?" He asked nervously.
"Nah. Cats always land on their feet." BlackGatomon remarked.
"We won't have to worry about the fall" Renamon said. "The shopkeeper at Digi China City was kind enough to give us these." She opened Guilmon's duffel bag and took out a small paper bag.
"What is that?" Veamon asked.
"These are Digi-Fruit. These small special foods give Digimon a special ability. The popular ones were Senzu Grapes. They heal your injuries." Renamon answered. She opened the bag and took out a small white berry between her fingers. "There are different kinds of these, growing on different trees and plants all over the Digital World. These ones right here are Light Berries."
"And what do they do?" Gammamon asked. Guilmon and Renamon held them up.
"It would be better if we demonstrate," Guilmon said. He and Renamon then pop them in their mouths. They chewed for a bit, then swallowed.
Immediately, giant white angel wings sprouted from their backs.
"What the?! Now they got wings!" Veamon cried out. BlackGatomon, Gammamon, Lionessmon and Gumdramon were too stunned to respond.
"Take one of these and you'll have wings too, They only last about a minute, so make it count," Guilmon explained.
After getting over their stunned reactions, Gammamon, Veamon, BlackGatomon and Lionessmon each ate a berry. Soon they too gained angel wings.
"I know where the Delta Army base is." Renamon said. She flapped her wings and shot up in the air. Guilmon, BlackGatomon and Lionessmon followed suit. "Follow me!"
With Renamon leading, the four soared through the air. Gammamon and Veamon were about to follow them where they turned back to Gumdramon. He didn't eat his berry.
"Hey. You coming, Gumdramon?" Gammamon asked.
"I need the bathroom. I'll catch up to you later." Gumdramon told them.
"OK. If you need us to find you, raise your energy. We can sense your aura as you do with ours. Let's go, Gammamon." Veamon told him before they took off after the older Digimon.
Gumdramon looked around to find a good place for him to relieve himself. He then saw a construction site near the outskirts of the city, as well as an open chemical toilet. It looked like a blue holding tank with a single door.
"Hey! That could be useful." he said in relief. He made a quick dash down some pathways towards the site.
A loud sigh was heard from inside. Gumdramon finally came out with a look of satisfaction on his face. He then looked at the construction site and saw many Digimon working hard.
"Wow. Wonder what they are building." Gumdramon said as he wandered inside.
The purple dragon was too distracted to notice a crane knocking some metal pillars from a scaffolding above him.
"Little one, watch out!"shouted the Meramon foreman.
Gum looked up to see the hail of metal tubes come towards him.
"Terrier Tornado!"
A green tornado appeared from nowhere and knocked the pillars away. The purple dragon gazed at his savior.
He appeared to be a tall light green terrier Digimon with a small horn on his head. He also has some stubble on his chin. His huge ears dangled down to his arms.
He was clad with an indigo muscle shirt covered by a heavy dark green overcoat. The coat has one huge pocket on the right. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Baggy green work pants covered his legs. A silver chain necklace encircled around his neck.
Gumdramon gasped. He recognised the Digimon at once.
"Safety first, kid." the terrier Digimon said. He simply tossed a worker helmet to Gumdramon. He strolled off towards the construction tower.
"Is that… Terriermon Wong?" Gumdramon said in disbelief.
"Hey. Are you alright, kid? You shouldn't be walking around these parts." the head worker called out.
But Gumdramon did not hear him. He secretly followed Terriermon inside the tower.
Gumdramon climbed a few stairs. When he reached his destination, he hid behind a barrel.
Terriermon stood alone by himself. The beige dog-mon held a small steaming cup. His face was a mask of despair. In front of him was a desk covered with old newspapers. The headlines read:.
MAJOR FOUNDATION SUSPECTED OF PROVIDING PROFIT TO REGIME'S REIGN.
TERRIERMON WONG AIDED KNIGHTS TO KILL DUSKMON.
FORMER DIGIMON TAMER TURNED TERRORIST!
FOUNDATION DENIES INVOLVEMENT.
WONG RESIGNS AS FOUNDATION DIRECTOR!
"Man… talk about pathetic. I got totally played." Terriermon said to himself. "The foundation was just supposed to do a little support work for their so-called tournament. And the next thing I knew, I've been framed for terrorsim."
He moved away from the desk and looked upward.
'The Knights are the good Digimon. They warned me of Duskmon's plans of using the fundings to form a Regime to spread terror. I tried to aid Flamemon into stopping him. But then, someone knocked me out. When I came to, that son of a bitch had already called the police and I was detained.' he thought.
He sighed dejectedly and looked out of the window. Gumdramon watched sadly as Terriermon kept talking to himself.
"My name was cleared and Renamon and Lopmon busted me out of that jail, but it's not like things can go back to the way they were before." Terriermon mused. "Since then… my reasons for fighting have totally been flipped on its head."
'Terriermon…' Gumdramon's eyes watched in sadness.
As Terriermon sighed, he suddenly heard a voice in his head.
"Well, well, well. If it ain't the former Wong Foundation owner." Terriermon's eyes turned to a corner. He began to hallucinate Duskmon appearing behind him with a gloating stare. "Fighting still makes you feel alive, does it not? What say you, Terriermon? Why not forget what happened before and join my glorious Regime?"
Terriermon's eyes twitch to anger. His hand clenched, crushing the paper cup he was holding. Brown liquid spilled over his black fingers.
In his anger, Terriermon swung his ear around at the hallucination. It hit the wall and created a small hole in it. Gumdramon was shocked. He had no idea who he was trying to attack but he knew the green digimon was not faring so well.
Terriermon panted in frustration. "I can't move forward until I settle things once and for all."
"But…" he closed his eyes at his indecision. "What should I do? Do I kill him with my own two hands? And betray everything Henry wants me to be?" He reopened them. "I just… don't know."
'Terriermon looked pretty down. But hey… maybe Guilmon, Renamon and Lopmon can help him. Since Gammamon and Veamon could sense me, I'll raise my power so they can find me here.' Gumdramon thought. He stepped away from the barrel and began to quietly power up.
On top of a small skyscraper, a lone Digimon was seen standing on top. She was glowing in a pink aura.
It was Lopmon.
A red beret sat on her head which covered her back horn. She was cladded in a turtleneck, sleeveless, navy thong leotard with a harness attached. She wore green combat gauntlets. A holster was strapped around her left leg.
She opened her eyes and smirked as she saw six figures coming from the sky.
"They're here." She said.
Renamon and Guilmon floated down before their friend. Their wings vanished after they land on their feet. BlackGatomon, Lionessmon and Veamon safely landed behind them. Gammamon however fell on his head and laid on the ground.
"Gammamon, are you ok?" Veamon asked. She rushed to him and lifted his head in her arms.
Gammamon's eyes swirled around. "Gammamon head sure is spinnnnnninnnnnggggg."
Lopmon and Renamon embraced each other warmly. "Renamon, it's good to see you again."
"Likewise, Lopmon." Renamon responded.
Lopmon then looked at Guilmon and checked him out. "Hard to believe that you are the same Guilmon I knew. I was told you were training but never thought you hit a growth sprout too."
"We all did but it's good to see you again, Lopmon." Guilmon smirked.
Veamon and Gammamon walked over to the brown Digimon. "Hello. It's nice to meet you, miss Deva." Veamon said, remembering her title from before.
"Ex-Deva. I am a Tamer Digimon you know." Lopmon corrected. She then looked at them, Lionessmon and BlackGatomon. "And you four are?"
"Oh. These are Gammamon and Veamon from Misty Village. And these are BlackGatomon and Lionessmon whom I met at a Regime slave base." Renamon introduced.
"That explains why you're wearing a slave outfit." Lopmon said looking at the clothes the vixen was wearing.
"So what's the situation with yourself and Terriermon?" BlackGatomon asked.
"Well I haven't found him but I have a hunch he is somewhere still in this city. And there's a Regime Base not far from here on the mountain side. Impmon was said to be held up there." Lopmon replied.
"Impmon…" Guilmon and Renamon gave a stern glare together.
Gammamon and Veamon were about to ask more, when they picked up Gumdramon's aura.
"Guys! That was Gumdramon's aura. He is at the construction site!" Veamon alerted, which caught the others' attention.
"Wait. He is sending us a message. Terriermon is also at the site." Gammamon called.
"He found him?!" Lopmon cried out.
"Then there's not a moment to lose." Guilmon demanded. "Follow that aura. We'll be right behind you."
Gumdramon sighed as he got his aura across. He gave a great smile. But then a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"What are you doing?!" Terriermon scolded. Gumdramon yelped and turned to see the terrier Digimon glaring at him.
The purple dragon moved away and faced him. "We have to find you, Terriermon. I know you're trying to keep a low profile but the Digital World is in peril and we need you."
"What's the big idea? You think YOU can save the world?" Terriermon growled. "And why seek me out?"
"Because you're my hero. I've been searching for you ever since you came out of that jail. We need you to help us again, Terriermon Wong!" Gumdramon cried out.
"You're a fool if you think you're good enough to save this world!" Terriermon shouted.
"Of course we will! We'll save it together, all of us! Excalitai!" Gumdramon responded. He was a little hurt by Terriermon's words.
"Then let's see if you can back your words after dealing with this!" Terriermon declared. He than dashed towards Gumdramon. "Bunny Blast" he hollard before firing a bolt of green energy point blank at the dragon's chest.
Gumdramon was thrown back and crashed into some barrels. He slumped over, seemingly knocked out.
"Is that it? What a joke. Do yourself a favor and go home. And don't bother seeking me out again." Terriermon frowned and started to walk away.
"W-Wait…"
"Huh?" Terriermon spun around and saw Gumdramon glowing with a bright violet light
"I can't let you stay like this. I dreamed of you training me... saving the world with my idol..." Gumdramon struggled to his feet. "I know what happened to you. And that is why… that is why… I will not let despair crush you! I gotta make you see the light!"
"Gumdramon digivolve to…" yelled. The light from his body became blinding. Terriermon had to shield his eyes.
After the radiance dimmed, Terriermon gulped. Gumdramon's body had changed. He is now a tall, bipedal dragon with purple scales, blue eyes, a long tail, and a pair of purple wings. He wore a red armor similar to his vest covering his torso and wings. A pair of black leather waders covered his legs with twin straps behind him and a black sleeve with a three-pronged kunai on his tail.
"Arresterdramon!" he bellowed.
"He digivolved? How?!" Terriermon gasped. He didn't have time to react as Arresterdramon rocketed towards him.
"Spiral Shredder!" Arresterdramon called. The champion level Digimon spun around in hyperspeed. He slammed into the terrier digimon which pinned him against the wall.
"Mach Flicker!" The dragon announced. He repeatedly punched Terriermon all over his body.
Terriermon then slumped to the ground in pain. Arrestermon stopped and panted. He sadly looked down on the crumpled body of his hero.
"Listen, Terriermon. Hear me out. Cyberdramon told us everything back at my village. Renamon and Lopmon were worried about you." Arresterdramon explained. "If you're worried about what happened back all those years ago, please don't be. We all know you were set up."
Terriermon exhaled. "So you heard too. Then you know I cannot go back. And I am not sure what I am fighting for anymore. So please… leave."
"Momentai. Did you somehow forget? You said that all the time."
Terriermon's eyes shifted past Arrestdramon. Guilmon, Renamon, and Lopmon were standing around him now. A few new faces were coming up the stairs behind them.
"Guilmon…" Terriermon whispered. He hasn't seen his best friend for seven years. He then looked down. "Sorry you had to see me like this. This goofball of the group turned terrorist. Quite a joke, huh?"
"That's enough! Do you have any idea what you've done? You made us all worried." Renamon snapped.
"Terriermon, I understand you don't want to see anyone till you get your head cleared. But hear us out. The Regime has taken everything we cared about. Impmon, Cyberdramon, Guardromon and MarineAngemon, they switched over to their side. It's us alone now. We cannot win without you!" Lopmon said.
"This one here, Arresterdramon… he worships you. He does so much roleplaying as you. You don't want to let him down, do you?" Veamon added.
"So what? You all came to scold me?" Terriermon retorted. His eyes wavered over Guilmon. He was still doubtful.
"Scold? As if. We only wish to help. At least, take Gumdramon and train him. Be his teacher. Like me and Renamon. We've taken students of our own." Guilmon fired back. "If fear of yourself stays your feet, you won't be able to move forward. You want to make Duskmon pay for what he did to you? Then open your eyes and heart. Join us in battle! Let's be a team again!"
Terriermon's eyes looked up at him in shell shock. Lopmon then knelt down so their eyes met.
"I've been searching for you all this time. I broke into a Regime prison to save you. I wouldn't do that for a terrorist. Please, don't give up hope. Come and fight with us again. I'd be happy about it. I've missed you so much." she said.
Terriermon struggled to say anything back. He then exhaled and slowly rose to his feet. He dusted himself off and turned to Arresterdramon.
"You. I know a good place where we can spar for real. Then we'll see if I can be of any use to you guys or not." Terriermon said.
"Thank you. You won't regret this, Terriermon!" Arresterdramon said joyfully.
"So is Terriermon in?" Gammamon asked.
"I need some time to think this through. Give me a few days and I'll give you my answer." Terriermon told the others.
"That's fine. I know the people who can help you now are Gumdramon and Lopmon." Renamon nodded.
"Yeah, we can use a quick break while we wait for your answer." BlackGatomon chirped.
"Let's go." Terriermon said to Arresterdramon. He then turned around to leave where Guilmon called him back.
"Terriermon, we were all so worried about you. I am glad to see you're alright. I promise I'll fill you in on with my side of the story once you've decided. I really missed you, my friend." Guilmon said. He gave a sincere smile.
Terriermon give an unseen genuine smile in return. "Yeah. Me too, Guilmon. Oh, and Renamon, Lopmon, thanks for freeing me. I owe you."
The two female Digimon smiled. Terriermon and Arresterdramon walked off together.
"Well we got some time left to kill before he give us an answer. So, let's go shopping and hit the beach!" Lionessmon suggested.
"As long as I don't go in the water, I guess it's fine." BlackGatomon murmured.
The female Digimon all nodded and went downstairs. Guilmon turned to Gammamon. The white Digimon gave him a friendly smile. The red dino was more worried, however.
The hardest part was yet to come.