Old Ones Return (VI)

*Dianamon splits into Lunamon and Kylie, then Kylie scans it with her dpower*
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Cameron:<What are those?>
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*Crusadermon just fires on him*

<Why do you all insist on yapping?>

Hideki releases the lasso, Cyberdramon looking both confused and ashamed.

Cyberdramon: "Hideki....?"

Hideki: "It's all right. There's only one left."

Bagramon<Not even remotely true.>

*Bagramon bats away the attack effortlessly.*

T"How did he do that?"

Beelzemon<He's absorbed a ton of data. He won't be easy to bring down.>

Bagramon<Since these are not phrased as questions, let's move on, shall we?>

*Bagramon reaches up, opening an interdimensional storm & reaching through. He pumps black & white data into the hole, & before anyone knows what hit them, they find themselves at the bottom of the hill, sprawled out & still seeing stars from the blast of light. The hill is now a plateau, Mervamon's Catacombs having been consumed.  The storm has stretched to cover most of the sky, & now strange claws on arms shaped like DNA strands are reaching out of it, grabbing Digimon & either destroying them to absorb their data or dragging them into the hole, with 1 exception. Bagramon walks by, jet black wings sprouting from his back.*

Bagramon<MaloMyotismon sought to use you, but we actually possess the same goal. As its name suggests, the Chaos Area is unruly, & disordered. We desire it to join the rest of the Digital World in an era of peaceful unification, same as you.>

*His hair turns black as he takes on a red glow. The armor on his chest thickens, becoming a skull-like face & growing horns. Data coalesces around his left side, becoming thick, black armor.*

Bagramon<The Great Darkness is the process by which all Digimon become of one mind & body, all connected to a singular dark energy. Now, we destroy the symbol of oppression in this Zone.>

*He points with his creepy hand to MaloMyotismon's Castle. Several of the claws arch towards it, blasting rays that are effectively very large Crimson Lightnings at it, causing it to collapse into the lava moat below itself.*
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*It identifies several Digimon: The large creature is Ceresmon & at the head is Ceresmon Medium, both Mega. Somewhere in the middle are a trio of Sirenmon (Ultimates).*
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*Zudomon roars as an explosion damages his claw.*

Ts"Depth charges."

G<I'd Digivolve, but the light would give us away!>

*So instead he goes deeper.*

Kylie:<That's Her! Ceresmon!>
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Cameron:<If you go deep enough maybe they won't see you digivolve.>
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Cruadermon:<That first part sounded alright, but the second makes it a no go.>

Why anyone is trying to talk with the asshole that's wrecking shit is a bigger mystery than the secret of soylent green (it's people), so Cyberdramon tries to rip Bagramon Edginess Mode's face off.

*Bagramon of course claws him & he drops to the ground, severely damaged. "BIOMERGE DIGIVOLUTION" scrolls across Hideki's D-Power.*

D<Surely it must be time to Biomerge NOW!>

T"I'm not certain, we may not have enough numbers to beat him. Also, you're low on energy."

*Bagramon flaps his wings, sending a wave of darkness at the group. Beelzemon stands in front, using his Darkness Claws to split it, defending them.*

Beelzemon<Whatever you wanna do, you'd better do it fast!>
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G<I don't want to chance it!>

Ts"But we have to go back up at some point!"

G<Right you are!>

*He spins, surrounding them in a bubble of ice.*

Ts"What are you doing?"

G<The bubble is cloudy, which should make us harder to see.>

Ts"They'll have other ways to detect us, so we'll still need to make a run for it."

*To this end, she uses Aero Wing on Zudomon.*
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E"So I guess we just...fly up there?"

A<I guess, but now that they're looking for us, I'm kind of worried about exposing Ceresmon with the Light of Digivolution.>

E"So we'll just use Aero Wing instead of Digivolving, no big deal."

*She slashes the card, then holds it out.*

E"Anybody else need it?"

Crusadermon:<Let's all attack together!>

*Hoping they won't be the only ones doing shit, Crusadermon flies around the uses Spiral Masquerade again*
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*Still holding on*
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*Kylie shakes her head, using her own Aero Wing card*

<We're fine, thanks!>

Hideki: "Biomerge Digivolve....?"

Magical Girl-esque transformation with lots of light from which comes justice in the form of Kamenridermon.

Justimon's arm transforms into some kind of laser sword thing and they take flight, slicing up Bagramon Edginess Mode's chest.

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Hitomi: "Thank you."

Hitomi accepts the card and uses it.

D<I can't Digivolve right now!>

Beelzemon<A little busy right now!>

*Minervamon grabs her sword & uses it to flip herself over, creating a fissure. Bagramon takes to the sky to avoid it, disengaging from his attack on Beelzemon so that he can swing his axe-arm at Crusadermon & blast lasers from the eyes in his chest at Justimon. Beelzemon whips out the Berenja & fires several shots at his head & chest. Seemingly unbidden, bombs drop out of the tear in the sky towards them & a trio of arms reach down, firing a Crimson Lightning at each of Bagramon's attackers.*
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*Presumably, they all try to fly up, but the second they get anywhere near Ceresmon, a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] causes the Digimon to lose their balance and orientation, veering off-course, falling, and even turning upside-down. The humans are likewise affected, so Euryale grabs on to Agumon's wings to keep from falling off.*

E"We--we just want to talk! Please, we--urk--mean you no ha--harm!"

Agu<Nauseous? Me too....>

E"Please don't--barf on me...."
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*Predictably, just before they break the surface, the ice is shattered. Zudomon takes off into the sky, doing his best to weave between blasts from Cannonbeemon. He shifts to hold Tsune in his claw so that he can pull out his hammer & return fire--that is to say, lightning, which is especially useful in detonating the missiles shot at them.*

Ts"Should we fight them?"

G<I'd prefer it if we could make a quick escape!>

*Up ahead, they spot a mountain range with what looks like an enormous tornado on top.*

*Biyomon jumps off and digivolves to Karatenmon, who then uses Feather Flare to destroy the missiles*

<Let's head to the mountains!>
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*Lunamon starts wobbling and nearly flips over*

Kylie:<We're your...allies!>

*She clamps her mouth shut to stop herself from barfing*
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*Crusadermon flies over the axe then uses Fist of Fear on the asshole*

I don't know how the hell a small-ass dog is supposed to carry a grown-ass woman, but whatever trying to avoid sickness.

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Justimon flies and weaves about to avoid the blasts, their arms changing to a relatively normal form before blasting Bagramon with energy bursts.

*Minervamon is able to vault herself away from the Crimson Lightning & hold her sword over her to protect against the Virus Grenades. The axe clips Crusadermon's foot, also spraying some kind of acid on him. Add in the virus grenades & the Crimson Lightning & Crusadermon is on the ground in no time, armor breaking up unless he's in Burst Mode, & if he was in Burst Mode all of this time, the aura is blinking in & out.*

Bagramon<These are the fruits of simple-minded aggression.>

*Bagramon uses chest lasers to defend himself, then flaps a wave of darkness at Justimon, with Thiera, Beelzemon, Minervamon, & DemiDevimon behind him.*

Bagramon<Soon, your souls too will join the Great Darkness.>

*He reaches into a dimensional vortex. His arm appears behind DemiDevimon. Turning around, Beelzemon is just barely able to hold it off with Darkness Claws, but it's clear that data is being sucked from him.*

Beelzemon<Urgh...FIST--OF THE BEAST KING!>

*As he repels Bagramon's ghost arm, Thiera grabs DemiDevimon, shielding her in her arms.*

D<I don't get it, why aren't the Royal Knights doing anything?! They were just here!>

T"They're waiting for the situation to become so bad that Crusadermon feels forced to join them."
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Ts"But what about the storm?!"

G<My hammer can redirect the lightning, but we should fly lower so we can land if the wind is too much!>

*He goes lower & gets a couple of good shots on the Cannonbeemon, damaging their laser cannons & forcing them off-course.*
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E"Bacchusmon sent us!"

*The singing abruptly stops. Euryale & Agumon hang in the air for a while, trying to wrestle their stomachs back under control.*

Justimon stands their ground so as not to get blown back tus toppling those other clods.

*Yep, still in burst mode. Crusadermon tries to get up again*

If we join this guy, will the others ever forgive us?
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Kylie:<Yeah! He sent us to you for help!>
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*Karatenmon follows and continues firing on the cannonbeemon*

*It's not easy, but Crusadermon gets to her feet. The aura blinks even faster. Whatever arm Justimon is using starts to melt as Darkness Bagramon keeps flapping, backing up in order to catch both him & Crusadermon in the evil wind.*

T"That may be our only option."

D<You know he'll just find a way to use us!>

T"We don't have enough Megas to fight Bagramon, and we're too vulnerable to find anyone else! We need assistance!"

Bagramon<You know as well as I that King Drasil is deceitful & self-serving. Allow him within your ranks & he shall sow only discord. I alone can spread justice. Observe.>

*Darkness Bagramon claws open another dimensional vortex. Through it, they can see Mephistomon & GranDracmon flying over the remains of MaloMyotismon's castle. GranDracmon releases a freezing breath from his dog heads & Mephistomon follows up with a wave of darkness, destroying several armored Digimon on the ground. Before they can absorb the data, Bagramon reaches through, somehow reformatting them into a platoon of Grademon Vice, which then leap to attack the dark duo.*

Bagramon<See how I've nearly brought the Dark Area under control already? Let go of your fears. Submit to my justice.>
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[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and the assembled each feel a swelling warmth in their chest, accompanied by pain & nausea--a mixed feeling, much like lovesickness--their heads begin to cloud as a voice commands them to fly up on top of Ceresmon's back. A voice they feel compelled to obey.*
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*Of course, as they approach, the winds grow stronger. It isn't long before Zudomon is forced to land. When lightning strikes, he uses Vulcan's Hammer to redirect it. Whatever Cannonbeemon were still following them are swiftly destroyed, their data scattered in all directions.*

G<This must be Jupitermon's city. How do we get in?>

Ts"It doesn't matter, they're not here--they're waaaaay out that way."

*She points to the direction indicated by her D-Power. They can also see a few search lights, presumably on helicopters, approaching that general direction.*

Justimon: "Pain and destruction is not justice!"

Justimon takes flight, its arm transforming into a larger version of its default shape going into to give Bagramon a right hook.

<King Drasil, if you can hear us I want to join the Royal Knight! Please help us!>
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*Karatenmon lands as well, regressing to Biyomon*

Biyomon:<Can we get get to them?>
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*They do as the voice instructs*

*The next thing they know, they're waist-deep in bushes before a rock formation, with this [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Digimon emerging from said bushes. Euryale & Agumon look around, the former unable to help having her eye drawn to the figure. They can hear another [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] that has nothing to do with Sirenmon's attacks & everything to do with me being a fruit.*

A<Wha--what happened?>

E"And who are you?"

<I am the Medium of Ceresmon. My Sirenmon commanded you to come before them & tell them the truth of your visit. They determined that you were worthy to meet with me, & so you were not flayed alive.>

A<...That's good.>

Medium<I agree with you that Jupitermon's actions as of late have been most heinous.  His senseless violence has brought devestation to the woodlands of the Dark Area & the inhabitants of those forests. I would prefer to maintain our friendship, but if he will not yield, I shall not hesitate to destroy him & his city.>
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G<It would be a long trip, but we probably shouldn't stay here anyway.>

*He redirects another strike of lightning & his hammer begins to glow red.*

G<I can't keep doing this all day.>
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*Darkness Bagramon is on the ground from being punched in the jaw when a blast of white fire shoots down from the sky. He rolls away from it before it blasts a hole where he once was. King Drasil walks out of the blaze towards Crusadermon.*

King Drasil<Bagramon. Still running & hiding from me, I see.>

Bagramon<I've no need to hide, my right arm was hewn from one of your branches, & can easily rend the rest of you.>

King Drasil<A valid point. Take it from him, Craniamon.>

*Bagramon is blasted back by a supersonic wave that dispels the pillar of fire. Craniamon stops spinning his weapon & dashes towards him, turning his head towards Justimon.*

Craniamon<You take his left side & I'll take his right!>

Beelzemon<I'll get him from behind!>

*Beelzemon sprouts wings, flying over Bagramon & shooting Apocalymon's claws out of the way. Crusadermon, Thiera, & DemiDevimon are defended by a force-field emanating from King Drasil. Data coalesces into King Drasil's right hand, becoming a cruciform white sword with a golden handle. His left hand glows similarly gold-white.*

King Drasil<Come, Crusadermon, that I may lay hands on you & knight you. Only then shall you be one of my Royal Knights.>

*Up above, Examon weaves between Apocalymon's claws. He slashes left & right, cutting the claws that tried to attack him before pointing his lance into the tear in the sky, shooting an enormous golden laser up into it. Bad news, Mephistomon & GranDracmon are emerging from the portal with what's left of the Grademon behind them.*

*Crusadermon gets down on one knee and bows its head*
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*Cameron helps Biyomon back up*

Cameron:<Then let's go!>
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*Kylie and Lunamon bow*

Kylie:<He tried to get us to join him! We stopped Susanoomon but the rest of the army got away...>

Justimon does as instructed, arm taking on its sword form.

*King Drasil puts his hand on Crusadermon's head & the glow spreads throughout her body. He then taps the sword on both shoulders. Once he's finished, he stands back, the glow & sword both fading. Crusadermon doesn't really feel any different.*

King Drasil<The observance program is now downloaded into you, Crusadermon of the Royal Knights.>

*He looks to Thiera & DemiDevimon.*

King Drasil<I can also restore to you the Light of Digivolution, should your Renamon & your Agumon join my ranks.>

T"We can't make promises for people who aren't even here."

D<Yeah! Plus, I don't trust you not to put something gross into me!>

*This fine conversation is interrupted as GranDracmon & Mephistomon both blast King Drasil from behind with darkness. His shield is shattered by their attack & he falls to a knee, looking rather pissed now that his human shell is cracked.*

<Mephistomon Digivolve to--Gulfmon!>

*Meanwhile, Bagramon uses his evil eyes to try to blast Craniamon, who blocks with his forcefield before striking, forcing Bagramon to block with his right arm. Once behind him, Beelzemon uses Corona Destroyer to counter his evil wing shit. The last avenue of attack left to Bagramon is his left arm, which he sticks into a dimensional storm, causing it to appear under Justimon, grabbing at his left foot. The remaining Grademon also charge at his attackers.*
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*They set off.*

G<We should take one of the streams, then I can get us there by going under the water.>
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Medium<They made it to the Dark Area, where Bagramon & Apocalymon reformatted them into a platoon Grademon Vice, assuming control over them.>

E"Wait, what's going on in the Dark Area & how do you know?"

*She steps back, revealing that she was wading in some kind of reflective pool. She waves a hand over it, revealing the scene of the battle in the Dark Area.*

Medium<I am that which you call "nature.">

Hitomi: "How many humans are there?"

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Justimon stabs into the hand.

*Crusadermon flies up and uses Spiral Masquerade on the hand*
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Lunamon:<That's awesome! Could...you show use where Kurata and his forces are?>
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*Walking!*

Medium<Those questions are not relevant at this time. There are others on their way.>

*She waves her hand over the pool again. It ripples, showing Ikkakumon waddling across the ground, stopping when he sees the raining rocks. Agumon squints while Euryale closes her eyes & breathes in a deep sigh.*

A<I can't see whether or not Taiyo is with them.....>
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*As mentioned previously, Ikkakumon, having swam them most of the way, stops when he reaches the raining rocks.*

Ts"It says they're in there, but how is that possible?"

G<There's a big bird up there.>
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*Gulfmon & GranDracmon both blast Crusadermon, because she turned her back on her enemies. In a flash of light, King Drasil changes to his giant stone form, blasting the Grademon so that Craniamon can focus on Bagramon. He twirls his weapon, cutting apart the skull on his armor. Beelzemon flies up & uses the Corona Blaster & the Berenja to shred his wings. Bagramon withdraws his hand as he collapses from all of these attacks.* 

Bagramon<Even if you destroy this body, it will not stop the Great Darkness! All Digimon which I have anointed are linked in both body & spirit!>

*Meanwhile, Thiera & DemiDevimon do the only thing that they can do, hiding behind some fallen trees with the D-Power's force field.*

Kylie:<Can the Sirenmon let them up too? They're our friends!>
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Cameron:<Are you sure? It looks more like a mountain to me.>

Biyomon:<It's a bird that looks like a mountain.>
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*Crusadermon moves and counters with their own blasts*