Episode Nine: The Beast

Saberdramon:<All abroad?>

*Cameron, Kylie, and Lunamon climb onto one of his legs. Eve is picked up by Rapidmon*

Salamon glances back at the ruins as the island fades from view.

Salamon: "What did you say about MetalSeadramon?"

Sanzomon: "The first of the Dark Masters. Four Mega-level Digimon serving under Millenniummon. After MarineDevimon's defeat, it siezed control of the rest of the world's oceans and when your group left this world, it reshaped the world into what it is now."

Patamon: "And no one else can defeat it?"

Sanzomon: "Neptunemon was sealed within its undersea palace some time ago and Vikemon of the North has only been able to fight it to a standstill."

Azuma: "Where are you taking us?"

Sanzomon: "To see Anubimon. In order to undo the damage done to you, you must go back to where the damage was inflicted in the first place and confront what harmed you."

Azuma: "You want me to go back to that place?"

Sanzomon: "I will not force you to do anything you do not want to do, but it is the only way."

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Taiyo considers boarding Saberdramon's other leg with Renamon as she's unsure if WarGrowlmon will be doing any carrying or how many people he can take if so.

R"You know, I'm sure DoruGreymon can carry a lot of people."

E"Wargrowlmon, too."

L<Where would we even sit?>

*Euryale turns around.*

E"Well...can't sit on his back or tail, or else the thrusters would roast you alive. I guess there's some room on his shoulders...or feet."

*She turns back.*

E"But the important thing is that he CAN carry a lot of weight, really!"

*Aroma giggles in spite of herself. Catching herself, & seeing Euryale's smile, she forces a scowl that looks more like she might have indigestion.*

Eve:<I think it's just Taiyo who needs a ride so...>

Azuma: "Is it up to me to...."

Sanzomon: "No. That is not something one person can do. Being apart is for the best when your opponent is MetalSeadramon. It won't waste time trying to hunt you down individually. It will want to destroy you all at once."

Azuma: "Being away from them is the best option."

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Taiyo looks at Aroma, uncertain of what's really going on with her before boarding Saberdramon with Renamon.

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At the bottom of the sea in a cave, illuminated by crystaline cocoons containing Digimon forgotten by time locked in a stasis for many years.

Mermaimon: "Why do you not attack them?"

MetalSeadramon: "Why do you question me? Do you feel empowered in front of your children? So empowered you forget your place and who rules the ocean?"

Mermaimon: "I ruled over these waters before your DigiTama was created!"

MetalSeadramon: "How the mighty have fallen. Now you rule nothing and you can only watch your children slumber for eternity."

*Lalamon Digivolves & takes Aroma. Then, presumably, they fly."

Saberdramon:<Hold on tight!>

*So everyone takes flight, Rapidmon flying beside DoruGreymon*

Hitomi: "Who is Anubimon?"

Sanzomon: "Anubimon resides over the "souls" of the fallen judging them and either condemning them to the World of Darkness or returning their data to the Village of Beginnings. It is one of the few Digimon that can freely move between the Digital World and the World of Darkness."

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That island is a patch of sand and nothing more, smaller than the island they had previously come from. Another island is visible further north and another to the east.

R"Well, this is annoying. Because, somehow, even though we were looking right at it, we couldn't tell anything about it."

E"Maybe there was fog, or something?"

R"Whatever."

*So they look AT the islands, trying to discern their MAJOR FEATURES.*

*The others due as well, looking for something with vegetation*

Azuma: "And it's going to send me to the World of Darkness?"

Sanzomon: "Not willingly. It will take some persuasion."

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Being the only one to remember the functions of the Digivice, Taiyo fiddles around with it bringing up the 3D map. The northern island features a palm tree while the eastern island features a couple trees that do not belong there.

Taiyo: "Which one should we go to?"

E"Palm tree might have coconuts."

Lunamon:<That other island looks weird anyway.>

They approach an island that is mostly desert, a pyramid in the distance. Sanzomon jumps off of Whamon while the other two slide down its face and try not to hurt themselves too badly.

Sanzomon: "Thank you, Whamon."

Whamon moans or something, whatever whales do before leaving.

Sanzomon: "Come. Atop the pyramid is a lens, we can view the progress of the others."

Azuma: "I'm certain they made it far."

Sanzomon: "That is why your Digimental rejects you."

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Taiyo: "Onward?"

*Fly.*

*Indeed*

They enter the pyramid, Hitomi spots a wall featuring their current adventure. Between the appearance of Kuramon and them crashing down on the beach is a segment showing the Digital World being shaped into the mostly aquatic realm it is now. The events at the Dark Ocean, the battle with Diaboromon, and the events in their world nowhere in sight.

Hitomi: "Are journey is being recorded?"

Sanzomon: "Yes. Major events within the Digital World have been recorded. From the beginning when the world was created to the rise of the Sovereigns and the Warrior Ten and so on."

A large section of wall depicts a large group of humans and a multitude of Digimon.

Azuma: "That was the previous group?"

Sanzomon: "Yes. But we do not have time for any history lesson. We must see Anubimon."

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The crowd sees the island exactly as described by the map that is the only one to actually know how it works being the only one not dumb. The shoreline shows signs of a battle from some time ago, the remains of an old campfire and a pile of half buried seaweed.

Taiyo: "We were here before."

High above them, a Blimpmon passes by, watching them and relaying information.

E"Well, that's good, we might be able to use some of our old--what is he doing?"

*After checking its level & all of that shit, Roatha & Dorugreymon fly up to confront the Blimpmon.*

*Rapidmon follows*

Rapidmon:<Hey, who are you?!>

*I guess Saberdramon lands*

At the top of the pyramid, they meet the pyramids guardian Anubimon who watches the others through a large lens.

Azuma: "They made it far."

Sanzomon stands beside Anubimon, watching the events unfold.

Sanzomon: "Machinedramon is surveying them."

Anubimon: "Indeed. What brings you and two of the Chosen Children here?"

Sanzomon: "I have a favor to ask, Anubimon. It's not as easy as any other favor I have asked of you."

Anubimon's ears droop, not looking too happy.

Anubimon: "What is it you need?"

Sanzomon: "I need you to open a pathway to the World of Darkness for the Child of Hope."

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The Blimpmon does not react in any way and continues hovering in place, watching them.

Taiyo and Renamon disembark from Saberdramon's foot.

D<Get out of here.>

*If it doesn't leave, he charges its ass. Aroma & Lilamon go to check the tree for food.*

*Rapidmon fires on it if it doesn't react or anything. Kylie and Lunamon hop off, then Sabderdramon dedigivolves to Biyomon*

Lunamon:<I'll go look for crabs!>

*And so she runs into the shallow water*

Azuma: "Still psychotic."

Anubimon: "Why would you want me to do that? Hasn't going there.once already done enough?"

Hitomi: "More than once."

Anubimon: "I beg your pardon."

Hitomi: "We've been there more than once. The last time took part of him. I want it back. I want him back."

Anubimon looks to the lens where the Blimpmon explodes spectacularly as blimps often do as it dissolves into data then to Hitomi and finally Azuma.

Anubimon: "Very well. Come with me, Child of Hope."

Sanzomon: "Thank you, Anubimon."

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The Blimpmon explodes.spectacularly as blimps often do, dissolving into data, the explosion probably audible on the next island wherever it may be.

In the tree are coconuts so big should one fall on Aroma it'd crush Aroma dead.

There is surprisingly no aquatic animals along the shore or in the shallows.

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Elsewhere in the Digital World, Machinedramon watches the scene that Blimpmon was relaying, the screen cutting to static when it's destroyed.

Machinedramon: "These rats are worthless. Why does MetalSeadramon insist on not destroying them as they're available? Their strength has been severely limited by not having the corrupted Last Knight at their disposal."

Piedmon: "Oh my Machinedramon, talking to ourselves are we? Don't feel bad, I do the same. And I wouldn't worry about the past, but the future instead. Two of them are set to achieve the level of Mega, but on the other hand they'll have to be guided into that as they won't go willingly. Oh my look at me, talking to myself."

D<Uh...wasn't trying to kill it.>

*Doesn't matter, as they are in the air. Lilamon shoots down the coconuts.*

*Everyone makes sure they are clear of the giant coconuts*

Rapidmon:<It was probably a spy.>

*Eve crosses her arms and mutters something*