Old Ones Return (VI)

Kylie:<Oh, uh, we better talk inside.>

*She heads back in and sits on the bed*
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*Lyra runs as fast as she can, Kotemon following behind*
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*Ornismon attempts to avoid as many of the Cannonbeemon's attacks as possible before using Tempest on the group*

*A couple of the Cannonbeemon crash into each other, dissolving into data as they fall. The rest weather the storm & keep firing lasers. They've lost most of their air support, but more reinforcements are emerging through the Gizumons' portal & they can easily outlast Ornismon. The situation on the ground is even worse. Diaboromon uses an energy shield to protect himself from the maelstrom, & as many infected Digimon as it destroys, more just keep coming. The water tornado is now taller than the castle, but it's wobbling, clearly unstable. Plesiomon surfaces down the battlefield.*

<"Come on! We're getting out of here!">

*Magna Angemon was able to take care of the Mantaraymon, but of course, a bunch of infected Whamon start ramming her from all sides, Mermaimon doing little but being tossed around in the current. Half a dozen pirate ships set sail from the port, only 2 not in some state of disrepair, & of course, they are immediately fired upon by D-Reaper Agents & Gizumon. Down below, more Mantaraymon are coming for Magna Angemon, but so far, Bastemon, Renamon, & Taiyo have escaped detection.*
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E"Agreed. Just one second."

*She uses Frozen Wind on Agumon, who puts Hawkmon on ice & starts dragging him into the room. Euryale follows, with Hitomi, & closes the door.*

E"I'm almost positive that this army is headed for the Dark Area. The only question is what they'll do with us."
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*She leads them through a winding path, which eventually starts heading up a hill. At the top, they can see what appears to be a giant snake skull.*

Azuma uses the Darkness Wave card which MagnaAngemon attacks the Whamon with, following up with blasting the Mantaraymon with Soul Banisher.

*Ornismon soars down while avoiding attacks as much as possible*

<Where are we headed?>
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*Still running*
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Kylie:<I think they expect us to fight with them!>

OOC: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

*The Mantaraymon know he's there & so are able to swim around. They attempt to latch onto him & drag him down to the bottom of the sea. The Whamon is wounded from the Darkness Wave, but still alive.*

<"Anywhere but here!">

*She grabs Ornismon with her tail & swims as fast as she can to get away from the lasers being shot at them. When the maelstrom spills all over the palace & beach, Diaboromon fires a blast at Ancient Mermaimon, but Neptunemon jumps in front of it all cliche-like. He fires a spike out of his spear at Diaboromon, holding his chest. Diaboromon, of course, dodges.*

N<Do you think this will be enough to destroy me?>

Diaboromon<No, but they will.>

*He points to the converted Ebidramon who descend on top of the pair. Ancient Mermaimon tugs Neptunemon out of the dogpile & swims into the ocean, Diaboromon launching himself after them & the Ebidramon entering the water. The boats are no match for the D-Reaper agents, & all but 2 of them are sunk. The survivors climb onto the remaining boats, which manage to ram through the blockade, but of course, the D-Reaper agents turn around & keep firing. Bancho Leomon & Regulumon manage to jump onto the palace roof, but disappear into a cloud of dust as the whole structure collapses.*
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E"But what if we don't? That's what I'm concerned about."

Agu<Should we make him talk? Or are you still worried that he might alert the army?>

*He points to the frozen Hawkmon, unceremoniously shoved into the corner.*
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*Because nobody asks questions in this RP, like maybe, "Is it a good idea to just walk into a giant snake skull with a stranger?" Minervamon leads them up the hill, where said giant snake skull opens, revealing a tunnel descending deep into the earth lit by torches on the walls. The exit closes behind them.*

Impmon<So what's Mervamon want for helping us? What's the catch?>

Minervamon<No catch! We just want to destroy our common enemies.>

*Lyra is too busy getting pulled around*
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Lunamon:<Kill us and then tell our friends it was the Dark Area digimon?>
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Ornismon:<What about the Leomon?!>

MagnaAngemon stabs at the Mantaraymon with the Excalibur.

<"If there's a way out, they'll find it! Now de-Digivolve so we can dive!">

*Coincidentally, the 2 Leomon start attacking the Ebidramon to keep them from following. Tsune sends a wave at the D-Reaper agents to help the ships get away. Once one of Mantaraymon is dissolved, the rest start electrocuting MagnaAngemon. Having spotted Taiyo, Renamon, & Bastemon, the Whamon move in to gobble them right up.*
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E"Possible. Whatever the case, I say we just fly out of the window & head to the Southwest Sea on our own."

Agu<But if this army starts a war in the Dark Area, that could put the rest of our friends in danger.>

E"That's true. But we can't stop Jupitermon AND the Bio-Hybrids at the same time."

Agu<So it's a question of which one is more dangerous right now.>
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*Eventually, the tunnel widens into a large cavern lined with stone. There are more tunnels leading off in different directions, but more important is the circular marble table at the center. Sitting cross-legged at said table is Mervamon & Craniamon on one side & Mervamon with a Devimon on the other.*

Mervamon<It seems they're here. Would you like to introduce yourself first?>

King Drasil<At least SOMEONE has some respect for divinity.>

*When he stands & turns towards the Tamers, the Devimon growls under his breath. King Drasil folds his arms behind his back & approaches the Tamers, apparently oblivious to Taiyo's & Wizardmon's glares.*

King Drasil<Most of you are new, but some will recognize me as King Yggdrasil, or King Drasil for short, the rightful King & God of the Digital World.>

T"Yeah, I remember you. You tricked us, pulled Taiyo's soul out of her body, & threatened to kill her."

King Drasil<Yes, I encountered Taiyo recently. She claims that the human girl Euryale & her partner successfully Biomerged recently. I conclude that either this is a lie, or my tactics were successful.> 

*Wizardmon shoves past King Drasil.*

D<Hey, why'd you bring this jerk here?>

Mervamon<I didn't. He came to see you. Or, more specifically, Kotemon.>

MagnaAngemon keeps stabbing at the Mantaraymon while still trying to blast the Whamon with Darkness Wave.

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Hitomi: "Disable the ship."

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Hideki: "Removed Taiyo's soul....?"

*Lyra and Kotemon look at one another, then Kotemon goes up and grabs Lyra's free hand*

Lyra:<I'm Kotemon's partner. What do you want with him?>
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*Ornismon regresses to Karatenmon, holding Cameron in his arms, and prepares to dive*
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Kylie:<I like that idea! That way we won't have to hurt any of his followers!>

E"That's not how it would work out. Look."

*She points out of the window, showing that the bulk of the army is on the ground.*

Agu<Also, all of the Digimon I saw boarding this ship can fly. Jupitermon clearly knew we'd think of that.>

Lopmon<If they see anything suspicious, they surely won't just allow us leave, or else we might warn the Dark Area. Our only hope would be to sneak away, but we would have to let them march into the Dark Area uncontested.>
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*Thiera looks at Hideki.*

"Yeah, he pulled it out & said he'd crush it if Euryale didn't Digivolve Agumon to Mega."

King Drasil<With the way you all still cry about it, you would think that I had actually done it.>

"The point is that you manipulated & threatened us?"

King Drasil<So?>

*Thiera just stares at him with that unmistakable expression of someone who doesn't know how to handle a question that retarded.*

King Drasil<Now that you have admitted to lacking any legitimate complaint, I have come to recruit Crusadermon into my Royal Knights. The Royal Knights are tasked with protecting the Digital World, especially in these trying times. Why, at this moment, Examon is patrolling the skies, Dynasmon is assisting Saber Leomon in battle, my previous Crusadermon is healing from injuries so extensive that he had to be converted to a Leopardmon, & Gallantmon is heading to a Veemon Village to look for more valiant souls to defend the Digital World.>
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*I was not expecting Taiyo & Renamon to do nothing to defend themselves. I guess Mermaimon tries sticking an anchor into one of the Whamon & Plesiomon rams another., allowing Bastemon to get them to safety. Plesiomon spots MagnaAngemon coming back up to the surface, armor cracked & static pouring out of him.*

*Kylie flops back onto the bed*

<I wish we had our own army to scare off this one.>
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*Lyra looks at Thiera and Wizardmon, eyes wide with fear*

<Ummm....>

MagnaAngemon heals himself so he can return to battle.

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Hideki: "Why would anyone cooperate with you? You're no different than the enemy."

Craniamon<Watch your tongue! King Drasil personally saved me from the menace of YOUR kind!>

Drasil<I can handle this, Craniamon.>

Craniamon<Yes, of course. My deepest apologies, My King.>

*He bows even though King Drasil can't see it.*

Drasil<There was a time when your remark wouldn't have been far from the truth. I saw the destruction that you humans rained down on my world & thought of nothing but your complete eradication. Then it came to pass that humans & Digimon stood together, fighting against my final solution, & I knew that world needed me no longer. But now Kurata has come to THIS world, & this is surely no coincidence.>

*He holds out his hand, making a little hologram of Kurata, who even sneezes & adjusts his glasses.*

Drasil<I must use every tactic & power in my arsenal to crush that sniveling worm.>

*Of course, he crushes the hologram, which stumbles back & seemingly makes a begging gesture before it is crunched into data.*

Drasil<What have you to gain by refusing me? I can grant you powers that even Kurata does not possess. You could do more for this world than a mere Digimon Tamer ever could. I would only ask that you occasionally see to special missions for the good of the Knights.>
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*Mermaimon & Plesiomon use energy & sonic scream to repel the Whamon & head after Taiyo. Plesiomon's form becomes faded as it nears the last of its energy.*
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E"But we don't, so we have to make a decision."

Agu<In other words, Taiyo's group or the others.>

E"For all we know, it could already be too late for Taiyo's group."

Agu<But if you stay here to fight, will your heart be here or there?>

E"There is no easy solution. No matter which option we pick, we lose."

*She smashes her fist against the wall.*

E"Damn it!"

Lunamon:<We need to go to the group who has the best chance of still being alive for us to help!>
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*Karatenmon continues following I guess*
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Lyra:<Can you guarantee we won't have to hurt our friends ever?>

MagnaAngemon fires Darkness Wave at the Whamon while Renamon and Taiyo continue to flee.

*They manage to slip by the Whamon. Eventually, deep in the dark sea, the Digimon all regress back to Rookie.*

Ts"Damn it!"

G<Well, at least we seem to have lost 'em. Think it's safe to go up & try to find the others?>
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Drasil<A moment to process your request...yes.>

D<Whoa, whoa, you can't seriously be considering joining this jerk, can you?!>

*She brushes past him again & points a finger in his face.*

T"There's no low he won't sink to for power. Nothing he won't sacrifice. Sure, he'll protect this world from the enemy, but who's to say he won't destroy it to keep it from them?"

Drasil<I do not appreciate this blatant blaspheming in my presence. What have you risked for this fight?>

*His image flickers, briefly cycling through the forms of Hideki's, Thiera's, & Eve's parents before returning to his own.*

Drasil<Can you honestly afford to simply hope that you are powerful enough to achieve victory?>

*Wizardmon turns her head to glare at King Drasil, shaking with rage.*
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E"If I can't fight to save anyone, I'll fight for revenge--I'll kill Jupitermon for double-crossing us!"

Lopmon<Um, are you sure that's wise?>

E"He wants a fight. If the only thing he'll answer to is force, let's see how he likes Terra Force."

OOC: That was awful.

Hitomi: "Anger won't help anyone."

*Lyra falls to her knees, covering her face*

Lyra:<I don't know anymore! I just want to be powerful enough to protect everyone!>
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Kylie:<We can't take his army alone, but if we could convince them to join us...>
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Cameron:<I guess so.>

*Bastemon shoots right for the surface.*
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Drasil<Think about my offer, & beseech my aid when you decide to stop allowing the stubbornness of your allies to control you. Until then, I will be watching you.>

*In a burst of static, his voice becomes highly roboticized as his image changes to that of a giant eyeball.*

Drasil<I WILL BE WATCHING YOU.>

*He & Craniamon disappear in a flash.*
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E"Well, we can't. What we CAN do is destroy as many as possible before we have to regroup."

Agu<I agree. You can try to offer a truce, but I don't think they're going to give us much of a choice.>

Kylie:<I'd like to try before we go blow them all up.>
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*Cameron and Biyomon follow*
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*Kotemon puts his arms around Lyra, who is still on the ground*

Swimming to the surface.

E"By all means, try."

*Euryale opens the window.*

E"Think we can biomerge?"

A<We could try.>

*So they glow & come together in a flash of light, forming Wargreymon.*

<"Well...apparently wanting to hack Jupitermon to pieces counts as a 'strong shared goal.'">
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*When they emerge, they see the 2 boats off in the distance. Mermaimon immediately swims over. Like a dolphin. A freak dolphin.*

Ts"Should we go there, or just leave?"

Bastemon<Don't be ridiculous, we came here to negotiate. Also, I want to be out of the water now.>

*So she starts swimming over too.*
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*Wizardmon crosses her arms & looks away defiantly. Thiera rakes a hand through her hair. Minervamon runs off down one of the halls, pretending to be an airplane. Eventually, Impmon stamps his foot & curls his hands into fists.*

Impmon<Grrr--HEY! Isn't someone gonna say somethin', already?!>

Mervamon<My apologies, I did not wish to interrupt your prior business. Greetings. I am Mervamon, the Sensual Darkness, the Mistress of Malice, & the Lady of the Night.>

Impmon<Sheesh, have enough titles, lady?>

Mervamon<It wasn't that long ago that Lilithmon was untimely taken from us, damn her soul. I'm still in a bit of an experimental stage.>

T"I think that last one is actually a euphemism for a prostitute."

Mervamon<Oh ho. Even better.>

*She licks her lips. Thiera blushes & fidgets, holding onto her arms like she's cold. Mervamon chuckles at her obvious discomfort.*

Swimming like people and animals that should not be swimming.

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Hideki just seems more uncomfortable. Although not from being a sheltered white kid like Thiera, but rather because he's just an awkward emo kid.

*Swimming*
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*Lyra gets up with the help of Kotemon*

<So you're the boss around here?>
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*Lunamon and Kylie biomerge as well*

<It's always the first thing to try!>