Have you ever wanted to kill a sock puppet? Yuma's answer surprised himself.
"Observe thine eyes upon this cornucopia of vasta thesauri! Do not tarry there as some dullard, Yuma, but lend succor to yon puer Baron! Per Jovem!" For that puppet's sake, it better be asking the serious teen for help.
"I like your words, magic man," At least that's what people assumed Goofy said. The flying dino was attempting to stuff things in his mouth he probably shouldn't be.
"Goofy! Spit that out, you don't know where it's been!" Fanbeemon shouted, more motherly than queenly.
Koji scouted ahead while Yoshi and Lalamon sentried the Restorers under her care, scrutinizing any sign of their pursuers. It did not stop Baron from diving into the heaps of metal, even the insides of a helicopter.
"I don't know how the Digital World works, but this is amazing! This feels like a real helicopter engine. This might even have some power in it! If I can find some jumper cables, I'd be able to make more complex contraptions I've never even thought of before!" The boy with spiky black hair said elatedly, an improved mood than after the events with their ambusher.
"Forsooth, methinks this diurnal passage shall unfold as a peerless concatenation of transcendent magnanimity and indefatigable fecundity! Mirabile dictu!" Mr. Leaf Petal declared… somehow.
"How are you even doing that?" Yuma finally asked.
"What?" Baron asked while the sock puppet turned.
Yuma refused to look at the googly eyes making a scrunched face. "Do you even know what you… that puppet is saying?" He knows he promised to be patient, but Yuma did not appreciate being tested cartoonishly to the boiling point.
"Errr… no? Honestly, the orphanage just kept some weird British show on 24/7. …To this day, I still don't know what they were saying," Baron rubbed his chin with his free hand, but implied how the "sock puppet" knows so many words. It would be impressive… if it wasn't so grating to Yuma's ears.
Goofy sniffed the air and squeezed through the gaps of the engine and helicopter frame. When he did, something caught his eye: bright and colorful when it should've been dark and grimy.
Meanwhile, now that Yuma was with Baron, there was a topic that needed to be discussed. "Baron? Do you remember what happened with Goofy?"
"What do you mean?" Baron looked away as he pulled his partner out, not realizing Goofy held something.
The many, many, many warnings Tai and the others specifically gave Arshan also wormed their way into Yuma's mind: never Dark Digivolve. Arshan was a special case in that his Dark Digivolution was triggered by positive emotions, so Yuma didn't know why the others feared it so much.
…Until he saw Baron and Goofy perform one. Their opponent was superior, but the one called Stanley failed. If only that could be the end of the story, but Yuma found himself in awe of the power the Dark Digivolution displayed. He could see the result of why the older generations chastised Arshan, imagining that kind of power being uncontrollable… made Yuma's body chill to his toes.
"It's just," Flashes of Arshan bleeding through his eyes, and Baron fainting from anger made Yuma recall how dangerous the power was, and he decided to drop it. However, he was distracted when he saw Goofy flying away. "Hey, where's your partner going?"
"Huh? Goofy!? Goofy!" Baron bolted after his partner, prompting Yuma and Fanbeemon to do the same.
"Waaa. Take… the first… entrance…?" Goofy slowly read what looked to be a piece of paper before his eyes spotted a truck wheel. Fanbeemon, from a higher altitude, spotted a map the curious Digimon was holding before Goofy flew into the wheel, seemingly going deep in it.
"Hey! Goofy, come back!" Baron went to the wheel to pull his partner out of it. Only when he dove in did he realize…
There was no bottom inside the wheel.
"AAAAHHHH!?" Baron yelled as he dropped in, prompting Yuma and Fanbeemon to give chase.
When they all went through, a shake caused the pile of rubble to collapse over the wheel, preventing anyone else from seeing where the Restorers went.
"... Guys?" Lalamon floated around, passing by the buried wheel entrance. "Huh, I thought I heard them here."
[?]
The memory burned as bright as the attack that almost annihilated them. He had seen Megas before, their power was outstanding, and a part of him could not believe that even with that at the older generation's fingertips they could not win against The Tyrant?
Reality gave him a sobering answer.
Experience with evil often meant liars and cowards too weak to fight their own battles. But Chronomon was a different kind of evil: a force of nature, like earthquakes or storms, that no human evolution could ever overcome, only endure.
"Kentaro?" The young man flinched, not realizing he was so gripped in fear at the presence of Chronomon. Lucky for him, it was just Ken walking up to him. "Our routes have been decided. While I don't like it, you, Rose, and Isabella are going to be a team."
Kentaro's smile faltered for a split second before he kept his poker face. Ken was one of the few people he could trust. Sure, the second generation Digidestined was the one who found and rescued him, but he who wielded The Crest of Kindness had a tale Kentaro connected to deeply, and endeared him to his mentor. Even his best poker face failed to hide the disappointment he felt in separating from Ken and Wormon.
Ken continued. "We're having one of the Blue Flare Megas chaperone you and reinforce the eastern team. But the place you and this mega are meeting in is with Lord Murmuxmon, formerly part of the Demon Lord's army. He's technically aligned with Ragna Lordmon, but he works secretly for us in hatred of the rules placed on him. He's a tenuous ally at best, so keep your guard up even as you enter his domain. He's the only one here in the Dark Area who can get you all to the east fast enough."
Kentaro nodded. Get in and get out, preferably without trouble. "Who is the Mega?"
"You've never met him, but he's an old "ally" of the current leader," As Ken finished, he heard the sound of loud stomping, enough to shake the area slightly, Kentaro's ears also picked up traces of metal. "That's probably him."
If Ken and Wormmon weren't so relaxed, Kentaro and Kotemon would assume the Digimon before them was one of the demons of the Dark Area! Bulky with a hulking form and a menacing aura, eyes sharp and fangs already bared in what should have been a relatively safe camp, and the metal, or chunk of pure firepower attached to his right arm. Kentaro made a mental note to never be directly in front of this Mega.
His Digivice lit up, revealing the creature's name. "Callismon."
"So, you're the 3rd one I have to bring along?" His voice was gruff, but oddly stoic. "Tch, the quality of humans dropped significantly."
"I do not appreciate your tone!" Kotemon pointed his blade at the Mega.
While Kenta tried to calm his partner, the Mega narrowed his eyes. "At least you're not the other two pairs. They won't shut up."
As soon as the hulking Mega said this, Kentaro and Ken heard the sound of… crying?
"Oh, no. Isabella." Ken sighed as he and Wormon went to check on her and Rose.
Kentaro also felt his mentor's exasperation; a well oiled-machine this team was not.
[East]
Goofy and Fanbeemon had the advantage of being able to fly; Yuma and Baron did not have such reward for being born that way was falling face-first into a strategically placed pile of mattresses.
…layered in years of settled dust until two unwitting adventurers scattered it into the air.
As the dust cloud rose, Yuma and Baron exited in coughing fits. However, Baron felt off, when things settled, he felt his arm, and it was bare. Opening his eyes only confirmed his worst nightmare: Mr. Leaf Petal was gone.
"Mr. Leaf Petal? Mr. Leaf Petal!?" The bandaged teen looked where he could, but found no sign of his sock puppet.
"Yuma!" "Baron!" Fanbeemon and the Gammamon, Goofy, flew over to the two.
"Guys, I can't find Mr. Leaf Petal!?" Baron turned to the others.
"Oh no!" Goofy gasped. "We gotta find him!"
Yuma did not feel the same way. In fact, his annoyance only grew. "We should be finding a way back to Koji and Yoshino! We're sitting ducks without them."
"We can do both at the same time," Fanbeemon, as always, showed more insight than most people expected of her, finding a way to channel everyone's conflicting wants.
After Fanbeemon calmed everyone down, she turned to Goofy. "Goofy, what did you–why did you come here?"
The flying Dino lit up before he said, "I was following this!" He unrolled a colorful scroll of paper, and the three others gazed upon it.
Colors popped, with eye-catching design, but felt pointed towards with a child-like view of the world. But the main title caught their attention the most.
"The Pumpkin Carnival?" Baron read aloud the title. "Witness a show of splendor and wonder."
"I found it while Baron was taking stuff!" The white dino yelled not unlike a child hearing about an amusement park. "We should go there!"
"Well, it's technically the only route we can take." Fanbeemon looked ahead, seeing one path before them. "Alright, let's try to find where Baron dropped… his friend… then if we can't find it, we'll move on! The Digital World has a habit of making lost things move anyway."
It was a sound plan at least, but Yuma stewed in his frustrations. Why would anyone keep such a stupid object?
[Dark Area]
During their travels, Rose asked, "Who is this guy we're meeting?"
The Mega assigned to chaperone the group responded the only way he believed: with annoyed grunts. Only when Rose obliviously kept asking did he relent. "Murmuxmon is his name. Your fangled devices will explain better."
Kentaro looked at his Digivice. True enough, at the name, data lit up. "A fallen angel Digimon?"
"One of the last, considering how Lucemon AND Bagramon were both sealed away by Ragna Lordmon," Callismon kept walking uphill. "He swears allegiance to the Tyrant, but as Ken said, he has no illusions that his doom is certain under his rule."
"How can he hide his intent if Ranga Lordmon can see the future?" Rose put a hand on her chin.
"Like anything else in the Digital World under the Tyrant's rule: flip a coin or roll a dice. Lucky us, his coin landed on betrayal, so even the Tyrant is unsure if his allegiance is true or not. Even if he suspects treason, Ragna Lordmon has shown his own cunning, using previous traitors to his advantage as well," The bulky Mega saw they were reaching the top of the cliff. "We're almost there. His region should be beyond this."
No one expected to see a mansion, not the kind expected of a place known as the Dark Area: haunted with howling winds, dead trees, loud fragmented windows with spiked roofs. In fact, it was more of the opposite. Angelic was the word that came to mind. This one almost looked holy, and perhaps that was because the owner of this mansion was once counted among the holy Angels of the Digital World until he chose to be like Lucemon, Deamon and Bagramon. All of them were so quick to cast out their holiness, but this Digimon at least kept the class of one if not an angel's belief. Blue Flare knew better than to lower the guard down when entering through green pastures and golden gates, even more considering this was technically a neutral area.
Isabella groaned as she continued to hide behind Kentaro, her fellow Restorer with the same Digivice.
[Later]
It should have inspired safety, but Isabella felt unwelcome in the mansion more than the Dark Area. The angel statues chilled her to the bone: they didn't have eyes, but she swore they were boring right into the back of her head. A part of her wanted to faint again, but Ms. Rika was too scary when she was scolding her!
Even though it didn't take long, Isabella felt every second stretch agonizingly. Soon, Blue Flare reached the inside of the mansion, arriving in a dining room. On the other end of their entrance, was someone who contrasted the angelic aesthetic of the mansion. Sharpened nails to the point of looking like claws, wings so red that they looked coated in fresh blood, and eyes so piercing, he didn't need that fork he used to eat his meal.
The only sound in the room was the quiet clink of silverware being put down as Murmuxmon cleaned his mouth.
The fallen angel crossed his legs as he eyed the three humans. "So you are the newest infestation?"
He had seen better.
"You. Hiding behind the tall one," Isabella shrieked and hid back further behind Kentaro. "Too fearful of everything, or perhaps too scared and learned. I wonder? Does their phantom echoes of laughter haunt you still?"
Isabella only gawked as she peeked out and looked at the Digimon with an unreadable face. But before any response, the lord of the manor looked to Kentaro.
"Much more guarded. Practiced, perhaps even before entering here? Ah?" He motioned his face to lean on his reclined fist. "Such a barbed heart, from one simple thief?"
Knetaro bristled at the mention of "thief". But again, the fallen angel turned to Rose, pointing his gaze as Labramon growled and tried to protect her. "Your eyes show vacancy within that mind. But was it naturally like that? Or did someone impose it in you?"
"What?" Rose tilted her head.
"Are you gonna just sit there and look ugly, or are you gonna help us?" Kentaro almost sneered back.
Murmuxmon's response was to let silence fill the air… before he reached out to drink the glass of wine. "I simply wanted to see the new Generation of Digidestined; a downgrade from revolutionary flames to cooling embers. To think even the Digidestined System is decaying against the Tyrant."
"You saw them. Now, you better keep your side of the deal," Callismon closed the distance, voice edged with warning.
"You seek refuge towards the eastern part of the Digital World," Murmuxmon rose smoothly. "The doors are ready. I will show—"
His next word went unheard.
In fairness to Murmuxmon, it was hard to speak over an explosion in the direction of the mansion gates.
"What's happening!?" Rose yelled as everyone steadied themselves from the violent shaking. Murmuxmon waved his hand, revealing an orb that showed the outside area.
They only saw smoke at the entranc—a swarm of ghost, undead, and vile Digimon overrun and marred the area in seconds. The mansion's defense systems erupted to life; the statues Isabella rightfully feared impacted akin to lightning, their appearance unmissable as ear-shattering thunder—downing invaders before they realized the counteroffensive had begun.
But even though the angel statues had the advantage of surprise, the defense systems fell in a single blip before they fell to the ground…cut into pieces?
Out of the fog, IT made itself known. One haunting skeleton in burning blue ghost-fire, adorned in clothes befit for the king of the dead. Some of the angel statues attempted to attack this new being, only for the Digimon to summon a shaped-greatsword and cleave a dozen statues within seconds.
Inside, the Blue Flare's Digivice showed the new Digimon. "Necromon? Mega! The Highest Class Ghost Digimon in the Digital World!?" Isabella shrieked.
"What is he doing here?" Murmuxmon snarled as he stood up. "Tch, either the Tyrant knew or Necromon chose now to attack. If he finds you three in my lands, I'll be damned either way. Ice Devimon!"
From the wall, a new Digimon appeared, making most of the Restorers alarmed that they never noticed that Digimon.
"Bring our guests to the portal. I will deal with Necromon." Murmuxmon extended his wingspan. Without warning, he flew through his own roof, before unleashing chilling attacks at his invaders.
The lanky being called Ice Devimon, one that the Digidestined's Digivice warned for its evil and lies, politely motioned to the door behind where Murmuxmon sat. "This way. Please."
"Go," Callismon prodded the humans and their partners. "If any of Necromon's men see you, it won't be long before it reaches the Tyrant's ears."
[Murmuxmon's mansion garden entrance.]
Necromon was powerful, no one would deny that. However, as a ghost Digimon, he had a vulnerability to holy light.
Murmuxmon knew of this fact intimately.
But first, he had to make it past the small fry. Bakemon and Soulmon were cleaved into pieces, not even worth the effort of Murmuxmon's swipes. Yet it was all to get closer to Necromon, who raised his sword lazily in response to the incoming fallen mega. However, his defense was anything but. Betraying the response he had, Necronmon blocked and evaded all close range attacks of Murmuxmon, their swings decimating the area around them.
"Enough of this insult, Necromon!" Murmux seethed as he gathered energy long untapped.
"Although Fallen, I still have access to holy light! Behold, Transgression Purge!"
A blast of light thundered into the King of Ghosts.
…Right?
[Inside the mansion.]
"Sounds like Murmuxmon has it handled," Callismon ran down the hall with Ice Devimon and the other Blue Flare Restorers. "How long till we get to the portals?"
"We are already here," Ice Devimon did not stop floating forward. "But behind these doors are portals to different parts of the Eastern Digital World, not the one your leader requested. That is further down… to that green door."
He pointed ahea—but something meteored between Blue Flare and their destination, creating a shockwave that made the Digimon protect the humans.
As the dust settled, they all saw Murmuxmon rising to his full height.
"Sire? You have returned so soon?" Ice Devimon floated towards his mast—
Yet something was wrong. Everyone else saw Murmuxmon looked… clunkier… than his first appearance.
"STEP BACK!" Callismon shouted too late as the fallen angel Digimon swiped his hand, cutting his servant in half, shattering him like glass before traces of him vanished into dust.
"What's going on!?" Kentaro yelled as Blue Flare Digimon slid into combat stances.
"AH! Our Digivices are reacting!? But we've already seen," Isabella trailed off as she picked up the new Data her Digivice showed her. That was odd: why was the Digivice showing them the data on Murmuxmon again?
Only… Isabella and soon Rose's expressions went pale. Kentaro looked at his Digivice, also showing a new data stream.
"Wait. What?! Why is it saying a Digimon called Metamormon!?" In his Digivice, and the others, it revealed a Mega before them was not Murmuxmon, but instead a giant, blob-like creature that… could…
…transform into Digimon it fights and gain their powers…
Oh.
Oh no.
"Did you say Metamormon!? Wait, that means it was never Necromon who attacked us, it was him!" Callismon cried out before he saw the fake Murmuxmon step forward. The mega grunted before aiming his arm cannon. "Rodeo Bullet!" The bullet rocketed through the air, but even its speed paled to Metamormon's transformation. The Shape-shifting digimon turned into Necromon, and in equal precision split the incoming blade in half, making the two parts whizz past him.
But when those two bullets made contact, they exploded, cutting the group off from the door to their destined location.
Callismon knew he made a mistake before he turned to the others. "GO! Take any of the doors, they'll still lead to the east!" He turned back in time to counter the False Necromon with his own claws. "I'll hold him off!"
"What! B-But what if we," Isabella started to panic until Impmon grabbed her hand.
"Big furball's got a point, Isa! Better away than taken to the Tyrant! Now move those glitchy legs of yours!"
"Follow, Mistress!"
"Hurry, Kentaro! We must make haste!"
The Blue Flare Partner Digimon didn't waste time and made their partners run through the closest door. When they did so, they saw an archway with blue swirling energy. But they needed to move fast. The ground of the mansion shook violently; although they couldn't see, they could feel Metamormon take the form of something gigantic. The room started to break under his weight, and all six Blue Flare members dove into the portal…
…As a giant dragon claw smashed the archway beneath its heel.
Black Imperialdramon: Dragon Mode dwarfed the purple mega. It turned its empty gaze towards a defiant Callismon.
"Come then! You scare me not, shape-stealer!" The mega stomped hard, breaking the floor beneath him under his aura and weight. "I am Callismon! First meant to be the herald of a New Digital World, the data of Arkadimon flows through my core! Witness me, as I usurp even you!" The mega roared, charging head-first into the dragon's glowing maw.
[?]
Yuma sighed as he still did not find a sign of that… thing…
"Is this Mr. Leet Metal?" Goofy picked up the object and showed it to Baron.
Baron turned quickly, but his hope also left with the same speed. "No… that's just a rock. And it's Mr. Leaf Petal."
"Oh. … Is THIS Mr. Leap Lethal?"
"Goofy, you're showing me the same rock."
Yuma exhaled deeply. He was about to suggest moving toward this "carnival" until both of their Digivices lit up in a way neither had ever seen before. When they did, around a corner of trash, light began to shine.
Yuma acted fast, "Execute: Spirit Evolution!" A flash of light later, Mushamon appeared with his sword drawn. He turned, ready to strike first to defend the others, but his eyes widened when he saw what was before him.
"Auuuhhhh?" "Ow! Who's leg is that?" "Leg? Where's my sword?" "I think it's on… who's touching me?" "I will hurt whoever disgraces my lady!" "That was so scary!"
Baron peeked out with the other two Digimon. He saw humans! … in a dogpile-meets-twister gone wrong. One he actually recognized.
"Isabella?"
The name made the brunette look up. "Huh? Hey! It's… you two! … W-Who were you again?"
"Oh yeah!" Impmon pointed to the Yuma. "You're that wannabe Digimon then! The weirdo, the royal wannabe, and the one few sparks short of a lightbulb!"
"Wannabe!? I am the Future Queen of the Digital World!" Fanbeemon declared.
"And Baron's not a lightbulb, silly!" Goofy cried out, not realizing that tag was meant for him.
The other two pairs with Isabella and Impmon, began to pick themselves up. "Oh wait! Wow!" Rose looked delighted as she ran ahead up to a surprised Yuma. "They said that the Titans were once Digidestined who can turn into Digimon, but I never thought I'd see the 4th Generation up close! How is it being a Digimon?"
Yuma sighed, not realizing there was another Stefania among them. "And you must be… Rose, right? I think Marc told me about you."
"WHOOOAAAAA! You're really pretty!" Goofy flew up to her. "You should be a part of Baron's family!"
"Family?" The blonde tilted her head.
"GOOFY!?" Baron hit an impressive high note while grabbing his partner out of the air, his face embarrassed red. "Ignore him! Please ignore him!"
"How dare you! None shall harm my lady!" Labramon snarled at the pair.
"Yeesh, it's too bad we don't have leashes in the Digital World." Impmon shrugged his shoulders and put his hands behind his head.
Meanwhile Kentaro perked up at what the Mushamon said. "Marc? As in Marcy? So you guys must be the Xros Heart Restorers then… well, I guess this isn't as bad as a while ago."
"A while ag…?" Yuma trailed off when he, and everyone else, turned to where the tree pairs came from: an archway with swirling energy. However, it cracked and rumbled before collapsing into pieces.
"I-Is Callismon alright?" Isabella asked.
"..." Kentaro closed his eyes to give a moment of respect to the rude Digimon. Sure, Callismon was blunt… but he was honest. That was a trait Kentaro would always respect, and when things went south, the Digimon carried his mission to protect them. The moment passed, and he knew they had to move. "We don't know. But we still have to meet with the other Blue Flare Forces."
Yuma perked up at that. "There are Blue Flare forces near here? Why?"
"Sorry, classified!" Kentaro turned, using a fake smile to greet the other 2. "But I have to ask, what are you two doing here?"
"Oh! We're on our way to the Pumpkin Carnival!" Goofy raised his paws.
"A Carnival?" Rose and Isabella asked.
Fanbeemon looked around. "Alright, I think we all have questions. But for now, let's get a move on! Something tells me our friends here are on the move, and we are too! When we walk, then we can compare notes!"
"A well-spoken plan," Kotemon nodded after hearing the words.
It wasn't long before the 7th Generation Digidestined caught each other up to speed.
"There's a Digimon that can take the form of any Digimon and use it as its own?" Yuma cried out in shock. "Does that include the Tyrant, or even the Lord Knights?"
Kentaro and Isabella froze at the mention of the Lord Knights. The memory of Chronomon brought them back to the moment of sheer horror at the raw power of one of the Tyrant's most trusted warriors.
"I don't think so," Rose put a hand on her chin. "If I had the power to transform into any of those guys, even Ragna Lordmon, I wouldn't be bossed by them. Even if Metamormon could transform into them, I don't think he could ever capture the power behind his masters. Our seniors have mentioned that the tyrant and his elite guard are all basically Digimon Gods."
"Metamormon is still a powerful Digimon to have under The Tyrant's thumb," Baron thought out loud. "The longer we're here, the more powerful Ragna Lordmon seems."
Yuma and Kentaro grimaced. They knew their seniors—the revered older Generations—were formidable. Yet they still underestimated the sheer power under The Immortal, a force that had usurped all old pantheons, heroes, and villains before them.
"If Ragna Lordmon supplanted the old gods, then we can do the same to him!" Fanbeemon proudly declared. "Even the Tyrant needed help in the 5th Generation! We just need to strengthen our forces and reveal the secret of his Immortality!"
"Y-You think we can find it when smarter, braver, and more amazing people haven't?" Isabella put her hands together.
Fanbeemon huffed up to make herself taller as she flew. "I believe what Tai said: Ragna Lordmon chasing after us has to finally give us leads on his secret! That plan hasn't failed yet! And even Arshan revealed that our power can affect him! We have a chance, we can't give up for those that have got us to this moment!"
Yuma could not help but be moved by Fanbeemon's charisma. Kentaro was more skeptical, but he silently agreed that there was a chance, slim as it was.
"I like your gumption, little lady!"
The Digidestined flinched in alarm at the new voice. They all searched the junkyard around them, but Goofy noticed something: a top hat that was pristine, new, and was the same logo above the Pumpkin Festival Map. But Goofy tilted his head, why did it sound like the voice came from it?
To Goofy's astonishment, the hat sprang to life—twirling and leaping with a flourish that seized the attention of every Restorer. It spun high overhead, it stretched into a gargantuan spectacle, forcing even the most guarded members to clutch their Digivices while mirthful laughter rippled through the crowd. In a blink, the hat shrank and flipped over itself, returning to its humble size as if nothing unusual had occurred.
Then, with an animated flourish, a lanky and well-dressed hand materialized. It paused, theatrically surveying the room, before plunging into the hat in a nod to the classic trick of pulling a rabbit from a hat. Instead of a cute furball, out emerged a sharply dressed figure with shimmering blue wings—only, it was glaringly headless!
With a snap of its fingers, the headless body beckoned to the hat once more. With one swift tug, it yanked out a gyrating, laughing pumpkin that spun wildly in midair before landing squarely atop the headless form. "Ahahahaha!" the pumpkin cackled before placing the tophat snuggly on the head. "Welcome, one and all, to the Pumpkin Carnival! I am but the humble ringmaster, Noble Pumkinmon!"
Digivices lit up at the introduction, revealing the Digimon before them was indeed who he said he was. However, many soon realized the level next to the Digimon's name: Mega.
With a snap of his fingers, the area shifted, folding akin to a kaleidoscope. Walls of underground junk transformed before revealing the group to be in the middle of screaming Digimon, bright colors, games, flying balloons, roller coaster—
Noble Pumpkinmon corralled their attention as he summoned a staff, gave it a flourishing twirl before it made a resounding clack when hitting the stone path they stood on now. "Welcome, one and all, to the Pumpkin Carnival!"
"Whoaaaaaaa!" Goofy gasped in awe at the pumpkin-themed amusement park before them.
Yuma was more weary. This was Digimon Magic, and his only reference was… Nanami. She could have killed them if not for her specific orders. Not to mention he was powerless with how she ambushed their protectors. His eyes narrowed at the animated Mega before them. "What is this place?" He asked, hand gripping his Digivice.
"It is a place of wonder and fun! After all, you followed one of my maps!" The ringmaster motioned to Baron, who held Goofy's parchment. "Now, come along, and see the sights this place has to offer!"
Noble Pumpkinmon showed the place off, while doing so The Restorers couldn't help but observe the area around them: Digimon were playing, eating cotton candy, waiting in line and watching shows by other Digimon. Loud music traveled and carried across this secret wonderland and the only screams they heard before were ones of joy as the roller coasters twirled over their heads without rails, obviously powered by the ringmaster's magic.
Rose looked around, cooing in awe. Labramon guarded her partner, eyeing any running Digimon from getting too close if they meant harm to her mistress. Isabella eyed shows, specifically Digimon using cards, while Impmon noticed the lack of his partner's "glitching". Baron went to chase after Goofy, but it wasn't long before he also seemed to get caught in the fun pace of the area. Fanbeemon looked around, fascinated by how the rollercoasters ran and if it was possible to replicate them with technology rather than magic. Kotemon eyed the contest of strength, limbs trailing to the hilt of his blade with interest.
But that left Kentaro and Yuma; Both of them only felt warrier the longer they followed the hosting Noble Pumpkinmon. Kentaro disliked the idea of magicians, using smoke and mirrors to hide the truth.
Yuma? He was already annoyed by Baron's insistence on Dr. Leaf Petal. But now? A powerful Digimon was using his great magical abilities to… to…
"This is nothing but a farce!" Yuma exploded, no longer having the patience as he snapped and pointed to Noble Pumkinmon. "You've got power to take on a Paladin, and instead of even protecting people, you're using it on superfluous hedonism!"
SNAP!
Noble Pumpkinmon snapped his fingers. At the sound, a bubble surrounded The Restorers. Yuma made a motion to activate his Digivice, but faster than he could react, the tip of Noble Pumpkinmon's staff found itself pressed against his neck. The Ringmaster Digimon's eyes were empty and everyone else watched…
Before the lights returned into the pumpkin wizard's eyes. He sighed, retracting the staff but still floating before Yuma.
"You are not wrong," he said softly, his tone stripped of the usual flamboyance. "But take a look at them," He gestured toward the other Digimon laughing and enjoying the rides. "They've trudged through thorned paths and shed tears like rivers. How can I just stand there, and let everyone stew in this… despair? And the only way out is to give them hope, and hope blooms from joy and bravery."
Kentaro's jaw tightened, his fingers clenching into a fist. "But you're lying to them," he snapped.
Noble Pumpkinmon's gaze softened, heavy with the burden of his own truths. "Perhaps I am," he conceded, "But can true justice and courage grow without wonders and joy to nurture them, to be worth fighting for? I've learned from humans: you must love something with all your heart, to be willing to fight those that threaten it."
Yuma suddenly silenced himself. While he wasn't wrong to call out the waste of power, he didn't realize that Noble Pumpkinmon was protecting these Digimon in his own way.
"Ah, that reminds me, I met a new friend that is excited to meet you." Noble Pumpkinmon undid the bubble and took out his hat. Like before he pulled something out of it, but it was…
"Baron, thou art a boon unto mine eyes, and 'tis most heartening to behold thy noble visage! Gaudeo ex animo in conspectu tuo!" Mr. Leaf Petal flew over to Baron, obviously animated by the Mega's magic.
Yuma felt annoye— "Mr. Leaf Petal!" Baron cried out before he hugged the now-flying sock puppet. "You can fly!"
… Suddenly, Yuma froze. The look on Baron's voice looked so filled with relief and joy. His mind thought back to a different time.
-I told you not to butt in! You never listen—you're exactly like a bully—no, worse because you lie about being our friend! Bossing us around like you know best? Who gave you the right?!-
Was… he doing the same mistake as last time?
"Yuma?" Fanbeemon's voice brought him back to the moment as he shook his head.
"Listen," Yuma went back to the Ringmaster. "We need to keep going. We were separated from our friends. They need us."
"Umm, more like we need them to protect us…" Baron pointed out before he shrunk when all eyes turned at him.
"Hmm," Noble Pumpkinmon rubbed his chin. "Tell you what, for reasons I won't disclose, I can't really allow free travel. I have a special guest I'm taking care of, and I'm trying to get them to a safer area. With how my magic works, if I let you all off now, I'd be attracting attention from people I don't want. So, until I know it's safe… how would you like to do me a favor?"
"What is that?" Rose asked.
"How would you all like to work in my lovely carnival!?" Noble Pumpkinmon made a showy motion.
"We have to work in this place?" Impmon looked around. "Not usually my style, but I kinda dig the colors."
"Work, with you?" Kentaro raised his brow. "Look, we really need to get go…"
It was then, the group heard a familiar sound: the rumbling of an empty stomach. Yuma and Kentaro turned to see both Baron and Isabella red-faced as both of their stomachs decided to perform a duet at that moment.
"I'm sorry, I haven't eaten!" Baron clutched his stomach while Isabella pulled her hood up.
Noble Pumpkinmon smiled at both of the young Digidestined. "Now now, even soldiers can't march on an empty stomach. I'll have my finest chefs give you meals fit for a king!"
Isabella looked over to Kentaro, but then looked away in shame. To be honest, even before they were attacked by Metamormon, they had traveled a long distance to get to Murmuxmon's mansion. They did need rest, and this was probably the only safe zone before getting with the other Blue Flare members.
Kentaro exhaled deeply. "Alright, we'll stay. But I'm not doing the job."
"Well, we can discuss that over a hearty meal! Now, come along, people! We've got food to share!" The Ringmaster spun his cane as he led the humans forward.
…
…
"So that's the Mega Digimon? The one protecting the target? He's a powerful one for sure, managing this entire place by himself." The figure fished for his belt… taking out a familiar card. "Unlucky for him, I have just the card to stop Magic Users."
[North]
Mega Gargomon smashed a shock-wave-making hook kick into Spinomon's head. The 3rd Generation Biomerge flowed into his next combat stance as a master martial artist would, launching his fist into the lower neck of the False 5th Generation and shouting, "Burst Shot!"
Henry and Terriermon's voice overlapped as they unleashed a volley of missiles at point-blank into their opponent. Vicious? Perhaps, but their fight was going on too long. Bio-Spinomon was more durable than expected, taking on long range barrages of the green Mega. And while Spinomon lacked good range options, Henry didn't want the Paladin hounding him as he tried to find Arshan. They had to at least knock him off his feet before they could escape, but nothing they threw long-range would knock him down.
But, while the smoke cleared, they didn't see sign of Bio-Spinomon, was he finally dow—a combination of a war cry and a dinosaur roar was the only warning as Bio-Spinomon snaked from below and clamped his fangs into Mega Gargomon's right gauntlet.
Henry screamed in pain before he was forced to detach the gauntlet or lose his entire arm!
Bio-Spinomon spit the metal to the ground as Mega Gargomon clutched his injured but free arm. "Strong you are, 3rd Generation. I was not aware you knew Chinese Martial Arts."
"Man," Terriermon's voice echoed inside the fusion. "This guy is not going down! Do we just use our ace-in-the-hole, Henry?"
"We might have to; we dragged this fight for too long," Henry gritted his teeth. However, his heightened senses felt something above them…
"Darkness Impact!" Faster than a blink, something smashed into the head of Bio-Spinomon, creating a shockwave laced with dark energy. The blow smashed the Bio-Hybrid to the ground; this time, the smoke cleared to reveal Ivan, beaten and unconscious.
However, standing over the beaten paladin was someone Henry knew personally. The Biomerge was undone, revealing Terriermon and Henry with his arm injured.
Henry stood tall and looked at their "helper". He spoke with a calmness one felt before a storm. "Beelzemon."
"It's you," The Demon Lord of Gluttony turned over to the 3rd Generation Digidestined. "I was wondering why I felt 2 Megas duking it out here." A bit too close to the secret base, the last thing he needed were Paladins on their way here.
"Well, we totally had him until you showed up!" Terriermon huffed as he climbed on Henry's head.
"I see you've still got that same old sass. Why was that unchanged?" Beelzemon rolled his eyes as he picked up the down Ivan. "Hey, you!" he pointed to Henry. "You wouldn't happen to be in charge of a brat named Arshan, would you?"
"That kid is breaking records faster than Takato," Terriermon blinked while Henry remained on task.
"How do you know Arshan?"
"Well, let's see, maybe it's because I found him and that annoying runt in the middle of important business!" BZ was also about to reveal important information. However, before he could speak, a new voice spoke out.
"Beelzemon. Demon Lord of Gluttony."
A sudden, unnatural chill crawled up Henry's spine, mirrored in the way Beelzemon and Terriermon tensed beside him. That voice—it hadn't come from Ivan. And yet, before any of them could react, their bodies moved on instinct, falling into battle-ready stances. Their bodies knew before their mind did: they had all become deadmen walking.
A figure, around the same size as a human, stood before the Demon Lord and Digidestined wrapped in a full dusty cloak. But gaps in the cloak revealed an eerie blue glow beneath his person, and deathly green eyes.
Beelzemon, a Demon Lord, one of the strongest groups of Digimon before the Tyrant's rise… shivered in fear.
Why?
He had seen those eyes and that blue light before… as it tore through other Demon Lords at the climax of the 5th Generation's war.
"I have returned to finish my lord's work: your eradication," In one fluid, deliberate motion, the figure swept aside his cloak, revealing the embodiment of artificial evolution.
Before them stood the Lord Knight, Snatchmon.
"Shit!" Beelzemon knew even hesitating meant a fate worse than death. He took both—his only gun and fired at one of the new ruling gods of the Digital World. The Lord of Gluttony's bullets could down dozens of Ultimates with a single round, so it should have rend a measly champion.
But Snatchmon was no "measly" champion. The blue of his claws ignited, moving with speed faster than even that bullet. He swiped his claws at the attack, cutting the gunfire in 2 and causing it to fly off trajectory in different directions… with still enough power to pierce and fly through several boulders and explode…
"What are you doing, Beelzemon!?" Terriermon shouted. Henry tried to use his Digivice, but he moved too fast and his injury from Ivan made his arm spasm in pain. "Shoot him with both of your guns!"
"I can't!" BZ shouted as he fired one after the other, but Snatchmon only walked forward, swatting away bullets that could down megas as if they were nothing but pieces of wet tissue. "That idiot pair of yours stole my other gun! And Behemoth!"
The building and overwhelming pressure coming from the Lord Knight… ceased.
"... Someone… stole from you?" Snatchmon repeated, his eyes unchanged but his tone showing traces of confusion.
BZ clicked his tongue but relented in his shooting. If he tried to attack now, all he'd do was make that abomination angry. "Yeah, that annoying brat and fire runt stole my gun and my bike while I was sleeping."
Terriermon's ears extended to its full span. "Holy crap! Coro and Arshan stole from Beelzemon!? Those two are climbing up my list for favorite Digidestined pair! Sorry, Guilmon, it's kinda been a while…"
"Terriermon," Henry chided but kept his eyes on Snatchmon. From what he knew of this Lord Knight…
To the Demon Lord and the experienced Digidestined, Snatchmon turned on his heel, facing away from them.
"If you are not at your best, there is no point in this hunt," The Lord Knight dismissed. "Granted, my Lord told me I was meant to fight a different Demon Lord than the one of Gluttony."
Henry and Beelzemon's eyes widened.
The Demon Lord scoffed. "What the hell? There's only 3 of us left, and I'm sure as hell Daemon isn't near this area."
"Is he talking about Lucemon? I mean, last time we all saw him…" Terriermon tilted his head.
Snatchmon turned his head slightly to them. "Do you truly believe the Digital World isn't above the resurrection of the gods themselves? Especially when binding them to their last hope?"
Henry's eyes widened. "Wait, are you saying—"
"I will leave," Snatchmon eyed something on Beelzemon's person. He turned and offered his claw outward. "In exchange, hand me that Paladin."
Beelzemon looked over at Ivan near his feet. Paladins, he could handle… Lord Knights? The Demon Lord of Gluttony picked up the unconscious man and threw him at Snatchmon, who caught the giant man with ease, and slung him over his shoulder. A dust cloud covered the two's retreat, and as soon as it passed, both Snatchmon and Ivan were now long gone.
Although it looked somewhat silly for a Cyborg Digimon to lug around a giant man, it did not detract from the fact that Beelzemon, Henry, and Terriermon had just escaped death.
"Shit!" Beelzemon kicked the dirt, which was akin to breaking a huge chunk of land. "I sent my men after those two. If a Lord Knight is also after them…"
Henry knew what that meant. "We need to go. Do you have a way to track them?"
"I get the feeling we're not going to be needing it." BZ had no idea how right he was.
[East]
Isabella usually stood by the wayside and let others like Rikku and Kentaro, and even Nikky choose her actions for her. Why would she make a choice? The Digital World was a dangerous place, where anything done could be their last—they almost died even when things went right! So why did the Digital World pick her: a loser? She just wanted to crawl into a corner and never leave it again!
…
But, here in the Pumpkin Carnival, she couldn't help but feel drawn to one of the many stage shows in the area. Where Digimon, from anywhere and anyone, could walk up the stage and perform. They weren't actors picked and trained by Noble Pumpkinmon, but more than likely other refugees. Some of them weren't that good, but it didn't stop the crowd from cheering… and lau—
{"Too fearful of everything, or perhaps too scared and learned. I wonder? Does their phantom echoes of laughter haunt you still?"}
Murmuxmon's words clawed their way to the forefront of the brunette's thoughts. She frowned. She could never do that again…
"Do you want to join?"
"Wha!?" Isabella stood straight up and almost lost balance as she saw Noble Pumpkinmon beside her.
"I said, do you want to join?" Noble Pumpkinmon caught her before she fell.
"Oh, no! I couldn't!" Isabella shook her head and hands. "I'm not good enough to go up there."
"Hmmm," The Ringmaster Mega sat in the air, his hands supporting his head. "Say, ~theoretically~, if you were to go out there and perform, what would you do?"
Isabella paused for a moment, then picked out her DigiModify cards. "... I used to do card tricks… I liked them… alot." She sighed before putting the cards away. She admitted she thought about doing tricks with them, but with how rigorously RIka drilled them, she was afraid of the idea of making party tricks with tools that ensured their survival.
With a flourish and a twirl, the ringmaster offered Isabella a deck of cards that appeared in his hand. "Show me."
"I-I can't! I'm not prepared, I haven't done it in a while," While Isabella was making excuses, Impmon was about to speak up. But a quick wink from Noble Pumpkinmon stopped him.
"You'll be amazing." The Mega said as he gingerly placed the deck into her hands. "I know you will."
Isabella could only stare at the cards in her hands before she began to fiddle with them. Impmon had no idea what she was doing, but he saw her… no longer looking as anxious and jittery as she always was.
The brunette opened her eyes, with a confidence her partner had never seen before. Her hand moved, making the cards coil like a spring. With a release, they leapt from her hand, one after the other straight into her other hand, the soft whisper of the cards slapping into each other before, with a flourish of her own, Isabella finished her first Card Spring.
"Kudos!" Noble Pumpkinmon repeated again as he clapped his hands. "A wonderful display of cardistry!"
"A-Ah! Oh no, it was just a simple trick, anyone can do it…" Isabella looked away.
"Are you crazy?! Where was that Isa all those other times?!" Impmon smiled as he patted the back of Isabella's leg. "If I had known about this, I would have gotten you those cards sooner!"
"B-But I can't do this when I-I'm in front of a crowd…" The brunette muttered under her breath.
"What about some magic then?" Noble Pumpkinmon raised a finger. "I know a little courage spell that I use when I have to deal with a crowd."
"Wait, you can do that?!" Isabella cried out. As he nodded, she thought about it. "I mean, I'd like not being afraid all the time."
Noble Pumpkinmon stood up to his full height. "Alright, repeat after me: I choose."
Isabella stood up straight. "I choose."
"Bravery over…"
"Bravery over…!"
"Fear." Noble Pupmkinmon finished.
"Fear…?" Isabella repeated, but was confused.
"I choose bravery over fear." Noble Pumpkinmon brought the phrases together.
"T-That," Isabella blinked. "That doesn't sound like a spell.I-I thought you'd use actual magic, though."
"Oh but it is," The Ringmaster fixed his hat. "Magic is all about will, and if you believe in these words, even your woes will fade."
The brunette frowned after hearing that.
"Don't believe me? But remember this: fear is not always a bad thing, but you must always question it. Ask yourself, why are you afraid? And what would you do if you weren't bound by it?"
Isabella only stared at the Ringmaster as he stood to his full height and vanished into a puff of sparkles. She never… thought to ask why she was so afraid… or what she would do if she didn't have it.
"Huh, you okay, Isa?" Impmon asked, noticing a new look on his partner's face as she eyed the deck of cards given to her by the Ringmaster.
"... I… don't know."
[Baron]
This was amazing! This was stupendous!
"Why are we looking only at junk, Baron?" Goofy asked his partner.
The flying sockpuppet spun around Baron's head. "O, Goofy! Prithee, in conspectu tuo behold a veritable hoard of treasure—a cornucopia of riches that doth confound mortal ken! Mirabile dictu!"
"I don't know what you said, Mr. Leaf Petal, but I like the sound of it!" The dino Digimon pointed to the floating sock puppet.
"It's just… most of the stuff here is still in good condition!" Baron looked at the junkyard, seeing things like radios and even electric blankets. "This is the highest quality junkyard I've ever been to!"
"One's trash," The Digidestined pair, and the sock puppet, turned to see Noble Pumpkinmon appear beside them. "Is another's treasure, as they say." He finished the saying. "Now, what brings you here, young Baron?"
"Well, I just…" The young black-haired teen rubbed the back of his head. "I wanted to work on making stuff. It's probably weird, huh? Putting so much work on this?"
The Ringmaster tapped his cane twice as he hummed. "Or maybe… you care for things people throw out… because you see the potential in it that you wished others saw in you?"
Baron's eyes widened as he stood in stunned silence.
"You are a kind soul," Noble Pumpkinmon reached forward and picked up a cracked clock. "They hurt you, but you in turn wish to heal the pain the others have inflicted on you."
Baron looked down. His memory flashed back to… that night. Everything was a blur, but he could not forget the emotions that thrashed destructively.
"No, not always." The orphan admitted.
When the mega spoke again, it was not in a tone of scolding or coddling, but of pure statement. "I am not surprised. I've heard and witnessed the best of humans succumbing to their darkness here," The Ringmaster handed Baron the clock. "But our darkness is also an intrinsic part of us. It can not be and should not be killed or conquered, but rather understood and accepted."
Baron looked up to the Digimon with equal parts wonder and curiosity. "How do you know this?"
"... Let's just say… in order to be who I am now, someone full of smiles, I…" In his mind, flashes of a red triangle and a formless being bent on the destruction of all condensed into the singular moment of him picking up dust… that was once his dear friend. "Had to go through a lot of frowning."
The raven-haired teen looked down and fished a ring out of his pocket, thinking of his own tragedies involving a grandpa and granddaughter.
"But," Noble Pumpkinmon fixed his hat. "If you want something here, it's all yours."
"W-What? Really?" Baron looked between the junk and the Ringmaster.
"I see no one else lining up to take this," He motioned around him, where no one was seen. "Besides, I want to see what you can bring out of them." With a wink, he vanished once more, leaving Baron alone.
"Well, I'm gonna need a workshop… maybe if I evolve you, Goofy, you can help move some stuff. Digivolve!" Baron lifted his Digivice as the meter reached full. The energy coalesced into his partner, transforming him…
"Goofy Digivolve to…Wezen Gammamon!" However, instead of the bipedal forms of Sol or Sora, a green, triceratops-like Digimon appeared.
"Huh? Wezen Gammamon?" Baron looked at his Digivice as he read the new fluff of Goofy's form. Why did his Digimon have such an odd branching path?
" I introduce myself as Dexter," Goofy's new form corrected, signalling he too had another personality. "Fear not, Baron. By the time my iterative computational protocols have fully converged, I shall have engineered a dynamic, self-organizing biological laboratory complete with integrated nanoscale systems and emergent cellular networks!"
…
"What?" Baron found himself performing the slowest blink he had ever done in his life.
Luckily, Mr. Leaf Petal flew beside Baron. "Come forth with haste, O Baron! We dally as the sun's golden chariot doth wane! Tempus fugit, and lo, idle hands be the devil's toil! Let not the creeping shadows of tardiness ensnare us, lest we be branded as sluggards unfit for noble endeavor!"
As the two went forward, Baron was left behind with only a hand on his mouth.
"... You know, I'm starting to remember why I repressed my memory on that TV show…"
[Rose]
The more she learned, the less she seemed to know. Rose sighed as she sat on a bench.
"Is something the matter, my lady?" Labramon asked her partner.
"Well," Rose surveyed other Digimon, larking with a fountain that made bubbles that were the size of chairs. "It's been a while… but I still don't remember anything."
"Is something wrong with that?" Labramon tilted her head.
"I just…" The blonde girl sighed, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "I thought I'd get something. But what Murmuxmon said caught my attention. I was completely empty… and maybe someone did it to me." She looked to Labramon. "Did… you see anyone when we met?"
"No, my Lady. The only thing in that area were Eaters and you. Had it only been the latter, I would not be here this day." Labramon spoke.
Rose leaned her cheek on her palm. "... How did someone steal my memories? … WHY did they do it?" Try as she might, Rose tried to think back before she woke up in the Digital World. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't even get vague…
Wait… now that she focused on it…
"Ow!" Rose held her head after a moment. Again, her memory was akin to grabbing water in a palm, always slipping through her fingers. But this time? She didn't see vague shapes, but her body felt a terrible pain.
"My lady, are you hurt?" Labramon showed concern as she tried to help her human not unlike a regular earth dog would.
"I-I'm fine," Rose said as the pain faded. "Hmmm, do you think Noble Pumpkinmon can restore memories?"
"Alas, if I could, I would have already," Speak of him, and he will appear. The Ringmaster arrived in a puff of smoke behind Rose. "But my magic is not based on something so intricate. And I will admit," He put his hand on where his chin would be before leaning to observe Rose. "I do have the feeling someone tampered with you. Though, I am not the scholarly type, and can't pinpoint this uncanny feeling I sense."
"Are there Digimon that can deal with memories?" Rose asked.
"There are, but… your case feels as if it was done by something beyond a single Tapirmon. But I suppose I'll arrange a meeting between you and one."
Rose's features lit up. "Oh!? Thank you!"
"With pleasure, my dear." Though, at the back of his mind, Digdestined were meant to be the white-blood cells of the Digital World. Something was amiss if one of them had their memories erased, more than likely on purpose. But why? How? And who?
[Kentaro]
Kotemon swung his signature blade in a downward motion… cutting the "test your strength" board in two.
"How is that?" Kotemon placed the black blade near him, looking proud of his accomplishment.
"Hey!" A Pandamon shouted and pointed at the Digimon sword user. "I told you to use a hammer! This isn't what I meant when I said test your strength!"
"One cannot cut a board with a hammer."
"You're not meant to cut it!" The Pandamon shouted.
Kentaro ran up to his partner before he used his Restorer Program to fix the game. After apologizing, he and Kotemon left the area.
Yet, Kentaro noticed the dour air around his partner. "What's the matter, Kotemon? It was pretty clean slash you pulled off. Granted, it wasn't in the right game… and there's not really a carnival game where you can cut things like…"
As he trailed off, he saw Kotemon stop in his tracks.
"Kotemon?"
"... Have I…" From what Kentaro knew, Kotemon was a noble soul. So why was he like this? Maybe he was about to get his answer as the kendo Digimon continued. "Been helpful?"
"What?" Kentaro stopped in his tracks. "Of course you are, Kotemon! You're a strong Digimon, and even for a champion, you can take on an ultimate and win! With my help of course."
Even though Kentaro tried to comfort his partner, it didn't stop the little one from stooping. "If I was truly strong, I wouldn't have upsetted you."
"Upset me? What makes you…" Kentaro paused for a moment. He WAS upset, but not at his partner. He was upset over being separated from Ken, from losing Callismon, and from the worldview of Noble Pumpkinmon. That wasn't even counting the other details of him trying to watch over the scared Isabella, and the too curious Rose and trying to get all three of them to the other Blue Flare base… to perform Operation Titan Fall.
"I apologize," Kotemon said, "If I had done something more during Metamormon's assault…"
"Hey, hey! It's not your fault," Kentaro leaned to his partner. "If it wasn't for you getting us to safety, we all would have had it much worse."
"Oh," Kotemon tilted his head. "But I still could have done more."
"Well, the others say we'll have to get our bond to be stronger to reach the higher levels. I'm glad we technically saw it with Nikky, but I'd rather not be in a near-death scenario." Kentaro shrugged his shoulders.
Kotemon lifted his head. "Then… are we not close enough?"
Kentaro rubbed the back of his head. This conversation was getting harder than it was supposed to.
Kotemon looked up, "I want to be closer with you, Kentaro."
Although the rookie meant well, Kentaro's mind lurched at those words, especially recalling—
{Such a barbed heart, from one simple thief?}
There is a trauma that resurfaces once in a while, with Murmuxmon's words and Kotemon's, the usually flippant and confident adolescent broke into cold sweat. Someone also wished to be closer to him, to earn his trust… but it was all a lie to further his own selfish gains.
Young Kentaro never trusted again.
But that was a problem, wasn't it? For Kentaro to help Kotemon reach the next level, he had to give him that same trust left broken for years.
Kotemon wasn't like him. Not a liar, an honest—...soul…
The purple-eyed young man stood there in time-slowing silence as he had a new realization: Kotemon is honest. He wanted to be "worthy" and "closer" to Kentaro, and not once has he ever lied in their time together.
Kentaro hated liars, even people like Noble Pumpkinmon, who lied for the greater good. He respected Callismon's blunt honesty, rude but also true.
Yet, seeing these types of people, suddenly made him turn inward. He never showed anyone what he was feeling, he never trusted anyone, even if they've probably earned it.
He was so busy protecting himself from a past trauma, did he ever heal from it?
That was the problem of it all: Kotemon was honest, but Kentaro was a liar as well… just like the one who ruined his life.
"Kentaro?" Kotemon asked before the older teen suddenly left on his heel. "Kentaro!?"
"Stay there!" The black-haired adolescent screamed, his eyes widening after realizing he had done something wrong. "I-I need a minute."
Without waiting, Kentaro fled, leaving a stunned Kotemon alone amongst a crowd.
The rookie only watched Kentaro leave him. "... Was it… my fault?"
[Yuma]
Was… he at fault? Yuma sat down and brooded, as thirteen-year-olds do. Though, most 13-year-olds were not stranded in an alien world under the direct rule of an immortal usurper who can dethrone even gods and demons.
But even such an extraordinary circumstance did little to change the fact Yuma Yumeragi felt disillusioned by his own actions.
"Alright," Fanbeemon flew to her loyal vassal. "What's wrong, Yuma?"
Yuma wanted to say nothing, but Fanbeemon has proven to him that she's wiser than she appears, aside from her bouts with GD. "Noble Pupmkinmon reminded me of… a bad memory. I thought I was doing better, but a part of me wonders if I'm making the same mistake as last time."
"What was the mistake?"
Yuma gripped his hand tighter in response to the memory. "I… misjudged a situation, and everyone suffered for it."
"Well, I wouldn't know what THAT'S like! Oh-hohohohoho!" On second thought, maybe it was a bad idea to tell Fanbeemon that. "But, do not worry, Yuma. As Queen…"
Yuma saw Fanbeemon get distracted as she eyed something.
"What's wrong?" Yuma asked as he looked at where his partner was, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"I thought I saw one of the others? I think?" Fanbeemon tilted her head. "Wait, no… none of them were wearing a cloak." The self-proclaimed Queen followed where she thought she saw the figure.
"Huh? Cloak? Funbeemon, what do you mean?" Yuma asked as he followed his partner.
Yuma and Funbeemon ended up racing towards the center of the great carnival, in a tent where Noble Pumpkinmon was putting on his own dazzling show. Digimon cheered as the Mega performed one showy act after the next, but Funbeemon was the only one looking around with panicked emotions.
"Yuma, I don't like this! My bad feeling is getting worse!" The flying Digimon said over the crowd.
"Funbeemon," Yuma caught up. "What are you talking—"
"Biomerge initiate!"
Yuma realized too late: that was a human voice before an explosion of brown light blinded everyone in the area from above, including Noble Pumpkinmon.
Before the light faded, something meteored into the stunned Noble Pumpkinmon, causing the entire Carnival to freeze in its tracks, and attracting the attention of all other Restorers in the area.
Yuma and Funbeemon reached the edge of the crowd bleachers, looking at where the Ringmaster was previously. As the smoke settled, Yuma's eyes widened as his Digivice revealed a new figure.
"Hi Andromon. Mega Level." A Mega-Level Digimon!? Wait, did that mean he was a Paladin!? Not only that, that voice he heard—
"Sorry to rain on your show, Ring Master!" The Hi Andromon acted nothing like Yuma expected: instead of a cold and calculating machine, it acted cocky, proud. But what was more alarming were the odd glowing chains around the Ringmaster, restraining him and seemingly nullifying his magic! But how could a mechanical Mega incapacitate a magic…
{"Biomerge initiate!"}
"No," Yuma gasped as his mind replayed the war cry before the explosion of light. It reminded him too much of Henry Wong, the 3rd Generation's highest level.
"Buuttttt!' Hi Andromon grabbed the downed mega by the collar and pulled him close. "The Tyrant knows your little secret. And he sent me, the great Kazu Shioda of the 3rd Generation, to get it!"
"Oh. Oh shit." Yuma realized the situation they were in: a 3rd Generation Digidestined PALADIN was here, one who could use cards just as Henry, Marc, Kentaro, and Isabella could. That was how this Hi Andromon had anti-magic capabilities and acted so weird!
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Noble Pumpkinmon struggled, but try as he might, his magic would not activate under these glowing chains. "You know the Tyrant's visions are 50/50! Whatever you think we did, we didn't!"
"Maybe, but it's still worth checking!" Kazu shouted for everyone to hear. "He told me the Digi-Entelechy is here after escaping Chaosmon!" Yuma's mind raced while Kazu spoke. The Digi-Entelechy? Wait, Tai and the older Generation told him what—or who— "That's right, he knows you picked up and saved the Light of Digivolution itself, Calumon!"
Yuma had this sinking feeling that this bad day was about to get catastrophic.
[East]
At the opposite edge of the junkyard, temperature dropped as ice rose across the border. A mighty blizzard flew in with only pale blue eyes glowing fiercely beyond the blinding snow.
The Ice Titan was on the move.
[Author Notes]
SCREW THIS CHAPTER IN PARTICULAR. It was sooo hard to write, but I'm glad to finally get it finished. We finally see what the East Team is up to, and it looks like they're teaming up with some Blue Flare members! Expect more of that in the future.
Now, it's finally revealed the 4 Titans of the cardinal directions.
North: Water.
West: Thunder.
South: Earth.
And now East: Ice.
I hope you all know what that means.
I admit, this chapter kinda surprised me. The reason why it was so hard to write, was because I wanted to give characters their due. When I gave one, I realized I had to be fair and give it to everyone as well.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And just so you know, it's almost been a year since this SYOC began, meaning this story's birthday is just around the corner!
Whooo a huge milestone. Man, time flies. Not to mention it's been pretty hard but fun to write.
While I like to say I have a chapter ready for that proper anniversary, my life is picking up and I'm incredibly drained from this chapter, so the chance of me finishing on time… well… it's not zero but definitely lower than 50%. Regardless, thank you again for reading, and I hope you leave a review!
[The Coin Toss that Decided everything.]
As much as Angewoman hated to admit it, she was thankful towards Dark Knightmon.
"I'm surprised," The Ultimate said to the knight after returning back to Etemon's film crew. "There actually is some chivalry in you."
Dark Knightmon stared at her before he fished for something in his person, revealing a coin. "Do not thank me. Thank this coin. It decided your fate."
Angemon felt a pit in her stomach. "What do you mean?"
"An opportunity presented itself to me: either save you and the others… or take your Restorer and return to Ragna Lordmon. I did not know where my future lay, so I let destiny decide for me," He rolled the coin between his fingers before grabbing it. "I shouldn't be too surprised, fate tends to favor you humans in all but the demise of the Tyrant."
Angewoman was stunned to hear that. They were a coin toss away from being utterly screwed over!? A part of her was furious that Dark Knightmon STILL had not learned from his vile ways… or… maybe he had?
He could have not said that the coin decided to save their lives. He could have ignored the call even. But, he was honest and chose to save their lives when the moment came.
Angewoman sighed. This was giving her a headache. While Darknightmon still was someone to be wary for, she was more worried for poor Marcy…