Old Ones Return (VI)

*Mrs Sorenson embraces her children, then they follow IceLeomon. Lyra gets one last hug as well, before waving as her parents head off*

Lunamon:<See you guys soon!>

*She jumps up and down, waving*

OOC: When did any Leomon have a staff?

Kentaro and Kari approach Azuma and Hitomi.

Kentaro: "I don't think we've met. I'm Kentaro, Azuma's brother."

Hitomi: "Hitomi."

With a speedy introduction amd goodbye, Hitomi's parents step up to say their goodbyes to her, Mr. Alla pulling Azuma off to the side.

Mr. Alla: "I'll admit, I don't think you're right for her, but if she's happy with you then I'll just have to get used to it."

Azuma: "Um....thank you, sir?"

They then follow IceLeomon, Taiyo's parents lagging behind.

OOC: IceLeomon has a staff like a snowflake. Or maybe that's IceLeomon X. It doesn't really matter, though, because the X Leomon are basically just Leomon-type Digimon with some new gear.

Mrs. Psyche<I won't say, "Goodbye." We'll see you soon.>

Mr. Psyche<Good luck, Thiera.>

*They get in their obligatory hug & set off.*

Mrs. Rakshashi<Everything will be okay, Honey.>

Mr. Rakshashi<Yeah, can't you reboot her files, or something?>

E"No. Listen, until we know what happened, don't go making promises like that to Taiyo's parents. I--don't want them to lose her again--because of me."

Mr. Rakshashi<Don't talk like that, it's not your fault!>

Mrs. Rakshashi<Yes, I'm sure you did everything that they could.>

*Euryale is looking past them, watching Taiyo's parents with a frown.*

E"You should go to them. They'll leave you behind, at this rate."

*So they hug her & set off. MadLeomon enters a cave further down, & of course IceLeomon is following him.*
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*Assuming Sakuyamon stepped off of the tree at some point, she promptly falls through the space between worlds, & finds herself falling towards the desert surface of the Digital World. She also sees that, on the horizon, there are a number of rock formations that look like antenna. In this area is a Space Oscillation Portal, which begins pumping out trucks, Gizumon, & other Digimon shapes. The trucks stop at various distances from the portal, & people get out, beginning to set up fences & tents.*

*Everyone and their partners wander together, everyone looking a bit blue*

OOC: IceLeomon X-Antibody has a mace. While regular IceLeomon is just Leomon only blue.

Not feeling up to taking on an army, they bugger the hell off.

OOC: A mace is basically a staff.

Reg<You ready? Who're these losers?>

*He jerks his thumb to the assembled Digimon.*

Devimon<We are waiting to greet Lady Venusmon.>

Reg<She ain't comin' back, is she?>

Meramon<Of course she is! Lady Venusmon would never abandon us!>

Reg<Well, whatever. Ready to meet the White Tiger of the West? If not, too bad.>
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*Their options aren't very good. That they can see, there's another camp being set up in the destroyed village & another near the cave where Zudomon met his end. There closest data stream is far off to the northwest, possibly beyond the ocean. However, she soon realizes that she is very close to the orb in the sky that all of the data streams are emerging from.*

That is likely their best bet, so they fly towards Apollo's golden orb.

Kylie:<Yep!>

*She tries to look excited, but in reality just looks sad*

*Assuming she's flying towards the enormous blue orb representing the human world & NOT trying to fly into the sun--in fact, let's just assume that she heads into a data stream, at which point she winds up back at the city where they killed all of the Gotsumon. She finds that seaweed has started growing up the mountain sides, but can't permeate the paths & platforms that are still moving around from the gear system. The mountain side is marked with craters from when Kurata came through here, & some of the platforms have fallen into the ocean, where they whir around in circles, half-submerged, their rail-&-gear systems making for makeshift petals.*
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*The crowd of Venusmon worshipers is still standing around whenever they leave.*

Ts"Where is it?"

Reg<Really?>

*They journey to the west. When they arrive at the river, Regulumon jabs his sword into the water a few times until he finds a spot that he can wade across. A few swanmon honk angrily at him & flap away.*

Ts"Gomamon?"

*Gomamon hops in & grows to Ikkakumon. The others step back to avoid the rush of water.*

Ikkakumon<Ewww, it's so muddy in here!>
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*Meanwhile, the group of parents is gathering in the cave, which IceLeomon lurks beside. The Aquas are still unsuccessfully trying to get away from MadLeomon, but are much quieter now. Meanwhile, the Psyches & Rakshashis are outside, around the Shikasus, since they were all lagging behind. Mrs. Rakshashi elbows Mr. Rakshashi in the chest & points to them. He shrugs & has this face like "why me?" until she elbows him again, at which point he steps up to them, his arms at his sides.*

Mr. Rakshashi<Excuse me!>

*He bows slightly.*

Mr. Rakshashi<I don't think we've met yet. I am Euryale's father. Behind me is my wife.>

*Behind him, she clasps her hands at her waist, & also bows, smiling.*

*The Sorensons wander to the parents standing outside, staring at MadLeomon as they pass, while the Kornels huddle near the entrance*

Mr. Sorenson:<I'm glad we weren't the ones carried out kicking and screaming.>

Mrs Sorenson:<I understand how they are feeling, I...just feel so powerless right now.>
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*Biyomon become Saderdramon, and Cameron, Kylie, and Lunamon all get on*

Saberdramon:<Anyone else need a lift?>

Azuma: "If only you could turn into a horse."

Patamon: "What are you talking about?"

Anyways, Patamon Digivolves and carries Azuma across the lake. Salamon goes Ultimate and does the same with Hitomi.

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Renamon: Is something troubling you, Taiyo?

Taiyo: I just want to get back to the others. I want to see my parents.

They continue on their way, looking for a data stream.

===================================

Iori: "No, no we haven't."

He bows slightly.

Iori: "I'm Iori and this is my wife, Loren."

She bows slightly in a manner that may as well not be a bow.

Loren: "Pleased to meet you. I'm sorry this couldn't have happened at a better time."

*The city is still a bunch of mountains sticking out of the ocean, making the only data stream in view the one that she came through, which has taken a hard right & is heading further out to sea. She could choose to go through it & hope for the best. Should she decide to keep exploring, she's hovering over platform sticking out high above the ocean. This connects to a path which winds down one of the mountains. Or she could just keep flying around & hope she doesn't degenerate hundreds of feet above sea level.*
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Ikkakumon<That would have been a nice offer, a little earlier. OW!>

Ts"Sorry."

*Tsune climbs up Ikkakumon, who begrudngingly treks through the river. A herd of Peckmon rushes in to get a drink, making a wide berth around them as Ikkakumon & Regulumon climb up out of the water, covered in mud. Up ahead is a rolling hill & then a series of caves. The biggest cave by far has a carving of a tiger's head over it, with lapis lazuli set in for eyes, & pearls for teeth.*
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IL<Hey, we need you to stay in the cave until the stragglers catch up. We use these to transport to the human world, so that nobody gets accidentally dragged along.>

ML<Funny that. Used to be everyone's dream.>

Mr. Rakshashi<The pleasure is mine, though it would be better under better circumstances.>

Mrs. Rakshashi<I'm Ceto. You can call my husband Ryota, if you want.>

IL<Wait, what happened?>

ML<Taiyo missing.>

*IceLeomon looks back.*

IL<"Missing" how?>

ML<Dunno. Maybe holes got too big.>

*Lyra and Kotemon climb onto the other claw*

Saberdramon:<Anyone else?>
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Mrs Sorenson:<Something must have happened during the fight.>

Azuma: "Would've been better if it were the Cave Of Wonders."

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The land on the path and revert.

*The path doesn't change because it doesn't know what they want.*
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Reg<What? Just stay low, follow me, & don't make any sudden movements.>

*Once he's far enough inland & Tsune gets down, Gomamon reverts & tries to roll around to get the mud off of himself. Regulumon haunches his shoulders slightly, sheathes his sword, & knuckle walks into the cave. The inside of the cave, as it turns out, holds an enormous saucer of water that could be a pool & a white cushion not unlike one of the ones from Venusmon's bath house. There are also other tunnels extending farther into the cave.*
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IL<If part of the Digital World collapsed, she may have simply found herself transported somewhere else.>

Ryota<"May"? What else could have happened?>

IL<Try not to think about that. Next stop, human world.>

*The people inside of the cave seemingly vanish as it turns into a spiraling white void.*

They crawl along or whatever Regulumon is doing.

===================================

They walk along the path.

*Saberdramon reverts and they all follow*

Ts"Uh, I don't think you have to walk EXACTLY like he does."

*From high above them, in one of the side passages, a large pair of glowing green eyes opens.*

T"Then again, it might be a good idea."

*Euryale tenses & Thiera screams as it darts towards them. The light falls on the horrible beast to reveal Calamon, who lands in front of them.*

Cala<Hey, I remember you guys! But what're you doing way down here?>

*He tilts his head, retracting his ears.*

Reg<Could ask you the same question, Pipsqueak. Make yourself useful & go round up a bunch of Digimon to follow IceLeomon & MadLeomon to the human world. Aim for Ultimates or Champions.>

*Calamon's ears flare out again as he waddles out of the cave at a rapid pace.*

Cala<Okie-dokie!>

*Euryale & Thiera watch him go, Thiera holding a hand to her chest & trying to catch her breath. Tsune watches Thiera with a raised eyebrow.*
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*Assuming everyone enters the portal, they find themselves in the park at dusk, behind some bushes. A Hypnos Agent walking by flashes his light into the fog, but promptly finds himself knocked out cold by a blast of ice.*

Ryota<(How are we going to sneak out of the city?>

IL<(Hmm...we could use the subway tunnels. Then perhaps steal a boat or a plane.)>

Ryota<(You make us sound like international criminals. And would you even know how to drive those vehicles?>

IL<(How hard can it be?)>
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*As mentioned previously, this path curves down towards the ocean, where the platforms that would normally lead to the other mountains have fallen in the sea &, evidently able to float, they sputter around in the water like little boats going in circles. Looking down, they can see that, should they choose to follow the spiral path down the mountain, it will gradually slope into the ocean near the moving rocks. They occasionally see caves along the path, but there is nothing inside of them, save for the occasional burn mark or crater.*

*Mr Sorenson looks sick*

Mr Sorenson:<Let's not do a plane.>
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*Kylie and Lunamon wave*

Cameron:<Best scary monster yet.>

Azuma: "It's nice knowing, he's okay."

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Renamon tenses up at the idea of having to play leap frog to cross over at least until Taiyo gives her wings.

So Taiyo jumps across platform to platform while Renamon waits for her to finish crossing.

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Kentaro: "Harder than you'd think. Those things aren't exactly left lying around."

Cala<I should try to sing like that girl did! RAAAAAAAH!>

*Thiera blushes & turns away from the cave entrance, at which point she yells again, because the next thing to emerge from the darkness is an enormous white tiger, bigger than their Digimons' highest forms, with 4 red eyes, thick armor around its face & feet, & 12 floating orbs around its abdomen, which bathe the cavern in a pale golden light. He tilts his head & speaks gruffly.*

Baihumon<You have no reason to be afraid. I am not as belligerent as Zhuquaiomon.>
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*Taiyo falls on her ass as the rock continues sputtering around in a circle. She starts to slide back into the sea, but the instinctive tension of her muscles creates enough friction to keep her on board, albeit uncomfortable.*
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IL<Depending on who our reinforcements are, they might be able to help as well.>

*IceLeomon then breathes a cold mist, which gradually spreads to blanket a large area. Ceto begins shivering, so Ryoto puts an arm around her. Mr. & Mrs. Psyche huddle under Mr. Psyche's jacket.*

ML<I keep you warm.>

Mr. Aqua<Terrific.>

IL<It may be cold to you, but it will also keep you hidden until we can get to the subway.>

Azuma: "That's reassuring. I think."

Salamon: "Dummy, show some respect. You don't see us snarking your gods."

Azuma: "Oh....sorry."

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Taiyo holds on for dear life. She tries to stand, Renamon flying over to support her.

Renamon: "I won't be able to carry you in this form, but I may be able to at least stop you from falling."

===================================

The huddled masses, follow the snow beast.

*Following!*
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*Everyone bows low*

Lyra:<Uh, thanks for seeing us.>

*The wind catches Renamon's wings & the platform stops sputtering around in circles, now headed straight for the mountainside.*
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*When they approach the hazy outline of the gate, IceLeomon nods to MadLeomon, who sets the Aquas on their feet & bounds to the gate. There's some noises & then MadLeomon bounds back onto the scene.*

ML<All clear. Take van.>

Mrs. Psyche<Are they--?>

ML<Knocked out.>

IL<In the human world, we can't be sure who is evil & who is simply misled.>

*The Aquas take several steps back, looking over everyone & then over their shoulders.*
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*Thiera hurries into a kneeling position because it's a big fucking tiger. DemiDevimon kind of curtsies with her wings, but then flies to the ceiling & hangs upside-down. Gomamon bows his head, but Tsune pointedly looks away & crosses her arms, mumbling that she doesn't want to bow to THEIR gods. Agumon takes a sitting & head-bowing position that might just be falling asleep. Euryale steps forward.*

"I don't think we have time for formalities. Kurata is getting stronger."

Baihumon<Yes, I have realized this. We will never win if we do not find ways to start disabling his advantages. But we have another problem: The army painstakingly assembled by the Leomon is drifting apart. Jupitermon refuses to ally himself with what he perceives as evil Digimon. There is also dissention in the Dark Area & the Southwest Sea. Further, as Zuquaiomon never favored the idea of an alliance in the first place, he is threatening to pursue his own goals if we cannot maintain order.>

Kylie:<We're about evenly matched with the biohybrids now that we can biomerge!>

Cameron:<Looks like we have to get the army back together.>
---
Mr Sorenson:<Where do you think you're going?>

*He gestures at the Aquas*