Old Ones Return (VI)

*Euryale takes the arm she's not using to mop up her tears & wraps it around Taiyo's waist, squeezing tight. She continues to sob, trying to catch her breath as Ceresmon Medium waltzes back onto the scene, approaching Tsune.*

Medium<I have noticed that a human army is searching the Olympia Valley, but they are conspicuously avoiding this area.>

Bastemon<Why would they do that?>

G<Do you think they know we're trying to get into Jupitermon's city?>
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*Impmon runs along, using a Badda-Boom to light his way.*

Impmon<Don't need to. Check this out.>

*He holds the flame to the ground, illuminating a set of footprints, which resemble clawed boots.*

<"Those look exactly like the strange shoes that Mervamon was wearing. She deserted?">

Black Gatomon<No, don't even say that, Sis would never abandon me! Ya big MEANIE!>

*She claws Ophanimon's leg like an angry cat would do. Ophanimon ignores it. Meanwhile, Craniamon & King Drasil climb onto Examon, who flaps his wings, beginning to lift into the sky--but facing the opposite direction of the footprints.*

Following the footprints for great justice.

Cameron:<Maybe they're hoping we'll destroy Jupitermon for them.>
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*Crusadermon looks over at King Drasil and Examon*

<My lord? Do you have something for us to do or...?>

*King Drasil turns.*

Drasil<We are leaving this realm to attend to more important matters. Most of Kurata's forces are concentrated in the northern front. That's where you should be dedicating your efforts.>

<"Thanks for the advice, but no. We don't have time to waste if we want to find Mervamon & reunite with the others.">

*She turns to leave, giving a sarcastic backwards wave thing. Black Gatomon & Impmon follow.*

Drasil<You consider the day-to-day minutiae of these kingdoms to be more important than the fate of the Digital World?>

<"Goodbye.">

Drasil<...What if I told you that your friends entered the Northern Front after defeating Jupitermon?>
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G<And then they can destroy us.>

*Assuming that Taiyo is still holding on to the blubbering Euryale, she leans backwards in a way that suggests she wants to sit down.*

And so Taiyo helps Euryale sit.

Crusadermon:<Are they in the direct path of Kurata's forces?>
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*Lunamon lets go and runs over to Kylie*

Drasil<That is what I just said.>

*Ophanimon turns to look at him, at which point Black Gatomon starts tugging on her skirt.*

BG<Hey, you said you'd help me find Big Sis, remember?!>

Impmon<If you wanna go, I can stay here to look for the lil' tyke's sister. But I'll need some of your data so I can Digivolve again.>

*BlackGatomon sticks her tongue out at him.*

BG<Ewww, noooo, I don't want the help of some dirty little rat thing who always gets beat up!>

*Impmon shakes a fist at her.*

Impmon<What was that, you miserable, mangy little hairball?!>

BG<Waaaah, he's bein' mean to meeee!>

Impmon<H--hey, you were mean first!>
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G<I guess we could just ignore Jupitermon, see if they fight each other.>

Ts"But then the United Army might split up."

Crusadermon:<We'll give you some.>

*So they do, reverting to Lyra and Kotemon in the process*
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Cameron:<It kinda already has though.>

Azuma: "So we keep them united."

Ts"So we fight Jupitermon, then maybe, if we're still feeling up to it, we take on that base?"
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*And so Impmon absorbs the cast off data, Digivolving to Beelzemon.*

<"...Show us.">

Drasil<Of course.>

*King Drasil spreads a beam of data through his hands & a projector-quality image of a battlefield emerges. Saber Leomon fires its hair needles at a hoard of chaos-infused Digimon. They have air support from a number of Gizumon, but this is countered by Zudomon's lightning, Magna Angemon's blasts, Angewomon's & Dianamon's arrows, Ophanimon's crystals, & Ornismon's wind. When a big, red D-Reaper Agent covered in mouths comes onto the scene, WarGreymon rises into the air, charging a Terra Force.*

<"Now transmit our messages to them. In real time.">

*King Drasil frowns as a bunch of enemy forces explode.*

Drasil<What?>

<"If you can transmit visual data like this, you should be able to do it with audio data, correct?">

Drasil<Well, of course--but--do you really think it wise to distract them right now?>

*As he says this, a Gizumon's laser whizzes by a rock & narrowly misses Hitomi, peeking out from behind it along with the other non-Biomerged humans.*

Azuma: "We're stronger as a whole than we are divided."

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Hideki: "Is this actually happening?"

Lyra:<We can talk to Azuma and Hitomi! They aren't fighting or anything.>
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Lunamon:<Ceresmon said she could take out Jupitermon herself, so we can take our both!>

Medium<I most certainly did not say that. Perhaps I was wrong to consider helping you, if you're so willing to let me do your dirty work.>

Ts"We're just going to stand here all night & not get anything done, aren't we?"
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Drasil<...Speak.>

O<"WarGreymon, can you hear me?">

*WarGreymon flies around some lasers.*

W<"I'm a little busy at the moment!">

O<"I can see that. Do you need our help? Where is Taiyo?">

W<"She is in another part of the battlefield. Yes, please come help.">

*WarGreymon yelps as she's blasted in the chest by a laser. The other Digimon defend her from the hoard of things.*

Hideki: "Should we be distracting them?"

*Lunamon's ears droop*

<I didn't mean it like that! I was trying to say that you were really strong and even Jupitermon would fear you...>
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Lyra:<Thiera, what're you trying to say here?>

<"How do we know he's telling the truth? What if this whole thing is something he's fabricated?">

W<"King Drasil would only lie if he had a good reason!">
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Medium<I am quite certain that is what you intended.>

Ts"I'm just gonna sit here until you people make up your minds."

*Tsune sits down, crossing her legs & arms & looking off in the direction of Jupitermon's city, the tornado discernible by the occasional blast of lightning.*

L<Should we not be in more of a hurry? Some of your friends are still in danger.>

Hideki: "Does that sound like something she'd say? Didn't King Drasil remove Taiyo's soul?"

Cameron:<Well, I'd rather fight Kurata first then deal with Jupitermon. I'm not sure if that's a strong idea, but it's what I'd rather do.>
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*Lyra stares off into space*

Oh my god...what have we done?

*Kotemon grabs and squeezes her hand*

<"No it doesn't. He's faking this.>

Drasil<You are basing your judgments on knee-jerk emotional reactions. What makes you so sure that your human friends wouldn't see the big picture? I can take you there right now--then you can see for yourselves.>
==========================
Ts"That sounds like an idea to me."

Medium<They ARE the greater threat to the environment.>

Hideki: "I'd sooner believe them than you."

*Lyra slumps to the ground*
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Cameron:<Then it's settled, we attack Kurata's forces first. Anyone have good strategy in mind?>

<"If you take us there, we may not be able to easily get back. You would have us right where you want us.">

Drasil<But if your presumptions are

Azuma<Please, we need help!>

*The Leomon are herded away by the Gizumon's lasers, at which point that extremely large green beetle D-Reaper thing punches WarGreymon into the rock that the humans are behind, cracking it. Angewomon & Dianamon shoot at it, prompting the hybrid Digimon to launch globs of chaos at them.*

Beelzemon<Why don't you just ask 'em somethin' only they'd know? Somethin' that didn't happen in the Digital World?>

*BlackGatomon jumps up & down, her hair standing on end & a faint hiss in her voice.*

BG<Because we're wasting time while my sister could be in danger!>

Craniamon<Your friends are in danger, but it looks like your associate clearly doesn't care about that. So why preference her over them?>
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Ts"Iunno, Euryale tends to come up with those."

L<We Devas tended to function as individuals, and even after joining with humans, I never acted as a leader.>

Bastemon<My people aren't great fighters. I always just let 1 of the Leomon tell us what to do.>

*She squats & begins to lick her hand.*

Hideki: "Azuma, how did you join the others?"

*Lyra gulps, then looks up at the image*

Lyra:<Hey Tsune, remember when we met Kotemon and Gomamon together?>
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*Everyone looks at Euryale*

*Euryale barely looks up at them.*

E"What do you want me to do? I don't know, I said to attack Jupitermon."
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Ts<Oh yeah, that was fun!>

Azuma<I met them at Hypnos.>

*Ophanimon points her javelin at King Drasil.*

O<"Okay, you are obviously faking this!">

Craniamon<You DARE raise your weapon against King Drasil!?>

BG<Come on, just forget this jerk & let's GO!>

Beelzemon<I agree with her, this guy's just distractin' us.>

Craniamon<Insolence all around!>

*King Drasil narrows his eyes.*

Drasil<I came to your aid today & now I'm offering to bring you to your friends. I've even inducted one of you into my Royal Knights. Don't turn your back on me.>