Malkavian Madness Network
Other Systems => Digimon: Digital Adventures => Topic started by: MrParaduo on January 13, 2023, 06:52:54 PM
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"Mauna Kuhikuhi. Directory Mountain. Throne of Earth and Fire. Highest peak in all Waihona. Since the island first 'rose from the Net Ocean, the shield volcano has stood in silent vigil over all who live in its shadow. Lava flows make toxic the very air the higher one climbs; and her eastern cliffs ever run black, red, and gold..."
In the light of the late afternoon, Alemana stared at nature's towering monument. Even with the wind blowing from the west, he could still make out the sour stench of Sulphur, deadened though it was by earthen tones of dry dirt and dust. Menehunemon stood beside the tamer, his expression concealed as ever by bushy beard and unkempt hair. Yet what both of them stood on was what drew the rest of the group's attention. Built into a cliffside overlooking a rocky lava dome and crater, the Gateway heiau was perhaps the largest of its kind any of the tamers and their digimon had seen. The structure of what buildings were visible looked more at home in South America's Machu Picchu than anywhere in Hawaii: a veritable citadel of rough stone that formed parallel terraces between large, narrow bunkers. At the center of it all, however, was a ziggurat, surrounded by a garden of grass, trees and medicinal herbs, the scant greenery that was to be found for miles.
"See the pinnacle?" asked kuku, pointing to the ziggurat with his ko'i. "That's where the Gate to the human world will open up, assuming no one's dumb enough to blow up the heiau while we're in here."
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To say he was in awe of the mountain was an understatement: Alemana seemed to stare at the monolithic peak with a sense of reverence that he hadn’t exhibited before. It was a sight that he honestly could say he never really beheld, so he would stare at the mountain in silent admiration for several minutes before speaking.
“And you say this is where Varamon calls his turf?”
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The dwarf nodded. "The Mo'omon hold Kuhikuhi as the heart of all Waihona's rivers, and when it rains, the mountain's lava-tubes become flooded, whether from lava, water or boiling hot steam. Such raw, natural power is considered sacred to the Mo'omon tribe, and to see the elements war with each other is nothing short of holy awe." Menehunemon the lowered his gaze, stroking his beard as he grumbled. "Once, long before Varamon's tenure as chieftain, the lizards interpreted the clashing of elements not as a war for glory, but as a natural cycle; that in order for creation of new life to take root, destruction must do away with that which has stagnated. Much like how the barren mountainside turns to fertile soil after a volcanic eruption."
"Now it's their tribe that's grown stagnant," said Renamon, the vulpine appearing out of thin air beside Al. "When you follow a leader who has no equal, you see no reason to better yourself, especially when Varamon's reputation does all the work for you."
"Hmph, very astute, alopeke. But don't let that fool you. The Mo'omon are zealots, and see their chief as second only to the Akua. Unless Varamon goes down or tells them otherwise, they won't give up. Especially once he's on site."
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“Then let’s not let the lie of him being close to the gods continue. We already proved that he’s nowhere close to Kumon’s level.. now we are going to show that he’s not immortal either.” Al said, glancing at Renamon, Kuku.. and back to all his friends. “He has to pay for what he’s done to the kids who came here before us.. and make sure it doesn’t happen to the kids who come here after us.” And his eyes landed on Wormon. “And we can’t ignore what he and his tribe have put all the Digimon on this island through either…”
(“I think we should let Wormy know that we know who he is, before we do this big fight.”) he silently mused to Renamon.
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("Agreed,") thought the vulpine. ("We can't afford to risk sabotage once we come under siege.")
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(“Keep an eye on Ike.. we don’t want him to accidentally punt Wormon.”)
He would then take a breath. “But before we do this.. Wormon. I have a question that I’ve been meaning to ask.. but it didn’t seem like the right time. Wormy be honest.. you’re Stingmon aren’t you?”
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If there was any back-chatter while Al was speaking, it all went silent as everyone glanced between the tamer and the caterpillar.
"K-Kali--what?!" stammered Kukuimon.
"Since we first met," said Renamon. "Back in the swamp, we've been watching you, but kept quiet until we were certain of our suspicions."
Gazimon stepped forward. "You mean to tell me we've been walkin' around with a bonafide assassin this whole time--"
"--and didn't think it was worth mentioning till NOW?!! finished Ike.
"I'M SHOUTING TOO!!" yelled Eyesmon.
Menehunemon slammed the butt of his ko'i on the stone tiled ground. "Everyone pipe down!" he said. "Loud noises travel far and fast up here!" The dwarf cleared his throat. "It's true that Stingmon is the Champion level form of Wormmon, and while she might be a pain in my hoki, Renamon's no amateur when it comes to detective work. Wormmon, what do you say to the charges?"
All eyes were on the caterpillar now, his expression a cipher as he scanned the group. Somewhere in the distance, the wind moaned a solemn note.
"...And if I am?" he asked, voice level and clear. "What exactly do you intend to do?"
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Alemana would wince at the shouting and would hold up his hands
“Kuku is right, we shouldn’t be yelling ..” he said quietly as he knelt in front of Wormon, though he addressed the whole group. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want anyone to do anything rash and possibly hurt each other. And the reason I ask .. because I want to know why you helped me… you could’ve left me to die.. but you didn’t- you helped me. And I want to think that it you did it with truly good intentions. But I need to know the truth. I don’t want to hurt you again- never again..”
His voice wavered at the end.. he seemed truly conflicted- hurt even.
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The caterpillar regarded the boy, only to turn to one side as he looked away. "Then you thought wrong, Alemana."
Just then, Wormmon turned solid white, vanishing behind coruscating rings of data. Gasps from the group were near drowned out by the familiar noise of digivolution--with everyone's digimon partners moving to shield them.
"Wormmon, digivolve to----STINGMON."
So was the insectoid assassin born anew, staring down at Alemana and Renamon. Yet even as he loomed over everyone, he did not move an inch.
"I hate humans," he said. "Since the ruination of my home island, I have sworn in Kumon's name to eradicate their presence within the Digital World." Renamon's eyes narrowed as Stingmon raised gauntleted hand to the scar of his chest, tracing the groove from one side of his torso to the other. "I have killed human and digimon alike in my quest, and know full well what I am for it. That you spared my life, even after my efforts to claim your own, cannot quiet the screams of my comrades as they burned all around me."
"Then why the hesitation?" asked Menehunemon. Of all the people there, he rivaled Stingmon's calm veneer. "Come on, keiki, if you've got the guts to digivolve after all this time, have the dignity to be honest with yourself."
"...I needed to see it with my own eyes," said the assassin. Alemana couldn't say how, but he knew the insect was now staring at him, and him alone. "Never have I seen a human, let alone a child, wield the power of Kumon and live. That the Akua's Ki'i lay trapped within a digivice, I could not afford to let you die until you brought it back out. Yet again and again, new information came to my attention, and so my objectives changed and adapted."
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The fact that he could Digivolve at will shocked him.. but he held his hand in front of Renamon to keep her from leaping in his defense.
“I can’t change the past.. I can’t undo what was done to you and your friends.. but I am truly sorry. And I have never stopped regretting what we did to you too. But the fact that you did survive, it made me glad.. because I wanted to try to reconcile.”
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[Hmm... roll Persuade.]
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[Rolling: 4 1 4+ 6=15 ]
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"Death is not so easily reconciled," said Stingmon, though his words fell softer than before. "Be that as it may... you have shown courage, more than most digimon were they placed in the same scenario as you and yours. I will accept that it was the will of the 'Akua, and not mere chance or treachery, that you carry all four of Waihona's Ki'i." Turning, the assassin walked past the others towards a stone wall overlooking the barrens below. He only looked back after putting one foot atop the edifice. "This battle is yours to face. I shall not interfere."
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Alemana looked down, but he nodded “I understand. But I just want to say this,” he then looked up at him, a sad smile on his face. “I hope that one day, we can truly be friends.”
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Stingmon held the boy's gaze, his antennae shifting, swaying in the wind. With no more words to say, the assassin took flight, vanishing in a mirage-like haze moments after.
"He's gone," said Eyesmon, her namesake scrutinizing every direction. "I can't see him anymore..."
"Is it really okay to just let him go?" asked Ike. "He could be lying about everything he just said."
"I don't think we could've kept him tied up even if we wanted to," reasoned Vivi.
"And killing him would have just proven him right about digimon tamers," said Renamon.
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“It’s gonna be okay guys. He’s not going to mess things up for us.. I can feel it.” He said as he gently leaned against Renamon. “So.. let’s get ready, this fight isn’t gonna be easy..”
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As Renamon put a paw on Al's shoulder and rest her cheek atop his head, Menehunemon began walking away. "First thing's first," said the dwarf. "We need to power up the heiau's Gate system."
Everyone glanced at their neighbor. They could see the tension, the weariness in how they held themselves. But so too was there resolve, and as they nodded amongst themselves, they began to follow the ancient digimon towards the ziggurat. Only Eyesmon hesitated, the dark dragon staring up at the sky where Stingmon had been, before she slithered after the others.
"I was hoping to go over this after MachGaogamon got here," said Menehunemon. "But right now, we need to get you up to speed. In order to activate the Gate, each tamer needs to channel their respective Ki'i power into the heiau's core. The good news is: we have all four of the Ki'i we need. The bad news is - from what you've told me: Lonomon's Ki'i's seen better days. This means we're gonna have to add a few extra steps to opening the Gate. Now, zapping Malie's digivice with three 'Akua's worth of power isn't what I'd call safe, especially since Kumon's is overcharged. That's why we need to channel the first three into a safe enough medium for Malie to siphon off power from."
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“Wouldn’t it be better to go over this after we beat Varamon? We can’t even get to the gate if he’s around..”
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"We can't risk having some critical part of the heiau being destroyed in whatever fight him and the Mo'omon bring. Repairs could take years to finish."
"Years?!" echoed half the group.
"It might look like an old stack of rocks, but the system it represents is extremely complex. But! If we power the Gate, I can transfer excess energy into fortifying the whole place. Making it safer for you to cut loose without breaking anything important."
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Alemana balked at that. They didn’t have years to wait for fixes! Whatever was going on back home, they had to find Lonomon was soon as possible.. if the Heiau broke and they were stuck here for that long.. who knows what would happen?
“Okay.. okay so what do we do? How do we charge up the Gate and the Ki’i from here Kuku?”
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"Directly below the ziggurat here, there's a chamber I've been remodeling: four platforms surrounding a sacred object that'll act as a medium for all that holy energy we're going to be working with. Lemme show you."
Entering through an archway to the side of the monument, and down a flight of stairs the ancient digimon revealed the promised locale: a large chamber with a pyramid ceiling. The stonework was seamless, polished, and almost gave a faint, white glow despite its obsidian-black surface. Four ring-shaped platforms stood in perfect symmetry around a stone dais, atop of which was a rounded stone with a hole just above its center. It stood out not for its shape, but because it and it alone was made from porous, volcanic rock.
"...Looks like an old, stone food pounder," mused Malie.
"Looks like your only way home to me," countered kuku, "So shush. Winding back to what I said, each of you tamers need to stand in one of those rings. You'll each need to hold up your digivices and visualize your Ki'i shooting energy out of the screen and into THAT stone. Meanwhile, your partners'll be on standby to pull you out if something goes wrong."
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" asked Renamon, folding her arms.
"Hmph, you'll know it when I tell you, alopeke. What matters is making sure each Ki'i puts out the same amount of energy as the rest. Alemana's and Malie's Ki'i are gonna be the trickiest since they'll have to actively concentrate and watch for any changes in the output of their digivices."
"Oh," said Malie, the girl's smile vanishing as fast as Stingmon. "Well now we're in trouble..."
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Following with everyone else.. he whistled as they entered the Ziggurat chamber.. and when he lay eyes on the stone, and heard what Malie said- his mind couldn’t help but envision Kuku using said relic like a giant meat tenderizer, laughing maniacally as he squished panicking lumps of cartoonish meat… and he nearly turned blue as he tried to keep himself from laughing.
.. but his cheer fell away just as fast as Malie’s smile as he looked at her.. and playfully bopped his knuckles on her shoulder
“Hey it’ll be okay, we got this!”
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Chuckling, the longhaired tamer nodded, returning the knuckle bob.
"How long'll this take?" asked Vivi.
"I don't know," said Menehunemon. "That's why we've gotta do it now while we've still got time." The dwarf then twirled the tip of his ko'i as he directed everyone to their positions. By his words, Al and Malie took opposite ends from each other, the two able to see their other's face through the hole in the strange stone. From there, Vivi took the platform to Al's left, while Ike took the one to his right. The digimon, meanwhile, took position behind their tamers, just outside of the ring.
("Nervous?") asked Renamon, the vulpine resting on one knee.
"TAMERS!!" called Menehunemon. "Digivices at the ready!"
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(“Never,”) Alemana said confidently. They had come this far.. he couldn’t be scared off by the possibility of danger now. Holding up his Digivice, he nodded. “Ready!”
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[Alright, roll me Perception 3 times.]
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[Rolling: 2 4 2 + 6= 14
3 6 5 = 14
4 6 3 + 6 = 17]
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"Ready!" said Vivi.
"Ready!" said Malie.
"Yep, got it," said Ike.
"Focus on the stone!" said Menehunemon. "Visualize your Ki'i firing a beam of light into it!"
Alemana felt the air in front of his digivice pop, and in its wake he felt the pressure change. In a flash of light, his legs buckled as crimson energy shot out from his digivice, spiraling in a mad helix of fire and heat! Such was the raw force of the miracle that it threatened to push him off his feet!
"Al!" cried out Renamon, her words near drowned out by the roaring of the divine conflagration!
"Don't enter the ring until I say so!" warned Menehunemon, his voice somehow piercing through the din of noise.
Concentrating, Alemana continued to picture a straight beam of light. A small shift came over the helix in response, the width narrowing bit by bit. It bought the tamer enough time to check the others. He could see Ike behind a brilliant orb of golden light, like a second sun, the blonde backpaddling away from the edge of his platform as he found his footing. Vivi was doing better, with ocean blues firing at the stone like a drill of pressurized water. As for Malie, Al couldn't see her, the wild powers of Kumon were threatening to blind the boy as he looked straight ahead. He redoubled his efforts, focusing hard on the image in his mind, detailing every inch of what he saw in his mind's eye. As he did so, the spiral grew tighter and tighter, till at last it was a solid beam of red light. But the more strength of will put into controlling the miracle, the more it seemed to fight him. Al could feel beads of sweat pouring down his face, only to evaporate just as fast as the heat intensified. It got to a point where he had the back of his hands pressed against his chest, struggling to keep the digivice from punching a hole through him or else send him flying!
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“Right.. okay here we— Holy shi—!” The sudden torrent of divine energy nearly threw the digivice from his hands as he attempted to get the beam under control, grinding his feet and hissing through his teeth as he felt the relic fight him.. but he fought it back as hard as he could. “C’mon.. come ON! Get it together..!” He growled out, his glare from the blinding scarlet light growing deeper as his Digivice pushed against his chest with almost crushing force.
“Just.. fricking.. do what I want you to do! I didn’t .. come all this way.. just go have you go out of control and ruin everything!!!”
While he was talking about the energy… it could easily be interpreted that he was saying this about himself.
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Blistering heat crackled in the air. Alemana could feel his lungs burning as he breathed it in. A swell of pressure and crimson light gathered around his digivice, and like a needle the beam went thin as it surged towards the central stone!
Ike and Vivi were already maintaining their own beams, their Ki'i's far from the intensity of Alemana's. But as the three powers made contact, the ritual stone was bathed in a radiant aura of scintillating colors! Circuit-patterns came to life all around the dais, slowly spreading outward across the floor.
"You're doing it, Keiki!" called Menehunemon's voice. "Maintain the connection!"
The combined miracle was fierce. It was taking every bit of Alemana's willpower to not fall to his knees or let go of his digivice. With the tempering of Kumon's power, though, he could see Malie. Her forelocks were being pushed out of her face by powerful wind as her digivice glowed a flickering green. It was like a candle in the middle of a storm, struggling to stay alight.
The glow of the floor's circuitry had reach the walls now, climbed up towards the apex of the room's ceiling. Just like that, a feeling in Al's gut invaded his thoughts. As the room became fully awash in divine energy, as the heiau's circuitry reached its zenith, a sounds like an inverted *BANG* pulled everyone's attention to the ritual stone. Four streams of light lay in its hollow center, like threads of living color. Red, yellow, blue, green. In the moment of awakening, the moment all was achieved - the green thread frayed and split. In tandem, the stone cracked, then shattered. The shards shot outward, only to hang in the air... then suddenly, everything became pulled towards one, single direction: Malie's digivice. Like a blackhole, her coral-orange digivice pulled at the other lines of power, siphoning everything and threatening to pull the other tamers along with them!
[Roll Endurance -5]
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[ Rolling: 5 2 6 + 8- 5 = 16]
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On point, Alemana pulled back against the vortex, his fingers digging into the grooves of his digivice. It was all he could to do to hold onto the vision in his head as he fought the current at every turn. He could hear Menehunemon shouting something, but with the wind howling in Alemana's ears, the boy had no chance of making anything out. He could still see Malie. He could see the steel in her eyes, even as she her struggled to stay standing. How much longer could she hold up.
A new image appeared in Al's mind. Thoughts spanning back to an old story he had learned when he was growing up in Hilo. From it, he saw it: two chains of thread twisting together. An idea began to take root.
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Panting, feeling his legs almost buckle as this breathtakingly strenuous miracle was taking shape, that story came to him.. and despite his exhaustion.. a smile crossed his face as he held tight to the digivice.
“We’re tying the ti rope,” he said… his voice louder than he expected it to be, and part of him thought that he must’ve sounded crazy when he said such a thing.. but he couldn’t help it.
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[Gain +1 Inspiration]
With those words, the idea crystalized inside of Al, and with it, change took hold of the energy escaping his digivice. No longer was it threatening to tear out of his hands. Instead it became like a tether made taut between two points, unphased by the raging wind that otherwise battered Vivi and Ike's. With it came a sudden drop in the vortex' intensity. Al could hear the others over the wind!
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Seeing such a reaction, he would look at the others… seeing that they were still having trouble. “Hey guys! I have an idea! We have to be like King Kamehameha’s servants and tie the Ti leaves together to make a rope!”
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"Like WHAT?!" called Ike, the blonde pulling his digivice this way and that.
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“Like the story! You know! The one thing where the guys make a rope to make sure the kings canoe doesn’t float away while they look for him! You gotta do that .. but with the Ki’s energy! That should help stabilize it!”
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A pulse raced through the air, causing a sudden pull between the trio.
"It's worth a shot!" said Vivi, regaining her footing. Moments later, her own digivice formed blue replica of Alemana's tether. Al could see Ike's lips moving as he glared at his digivice like a mad dog. He almost dropped it when a tether of his own solidified.
At that moment, all three tethers met in transit, wrapping around each other to form a singular chord of tricolored energy. Thusly formed the divine rope shot towards Malie's digivice, disappearing inside the vortex. A sphere of light surrounded the longhaired tamer's digivice, and suddenly she was floating inches off the floor. The vortex continued to pull, yet no longer was Malie at risk of being pulled in, her hands clasped around her digivice, eyes wide and entranced.
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He would watch as both of them were able to do the same feet.. and he gasped as he watched what was happening with Malie’s digivice
“It’s working.. oh my god it’s working!” He shouted, beginning to laugh as his anxiety turned into genuine joy.
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A sonorous, metallic chime echoed out from Malie's digivice. The sphere of light surrounding it expanded outward in the blink of an eye, and as if in response, each of the other tamers' digivices ceased in projecting divine power. As the last of the "Ti rope" sank into Malie's digivice, the girl returned to earth... before dropping to her knees.
"Al!" came Renamon's voice, the vulpine catching the boy as he almost went the same way as Malie.
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“That.. was awesome..” he said as he collapsed..leaning against Renamon, giving her a bit of a goofy grin
“Hey there, beautiful..!”
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Sighing, Renamon smiled as she pulled the boy in for a hug.
Without anyone saying as much, a moment's rest went all around for the group. Alemana could feel the dry itch of a sunburn all across his face and hands as the adrenaline began to wear off, alongside a dull ringing in his ears, and massive thirst. It wasn't lost on him that Kukuimon hadn't begun his Gentle Song, or the fact he could see neither leaf nor mask of the piglet.
"Drink," said Renamon, steeping water from Al's canteen into the boy's mouth.
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He would chuckle.. and drank, before coughing
“Thank you Rena.. withered Kukuimon ?”
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"He's fine," said the vulpine. "Kuku's taking care of him."
Al could feel the knot in Renamon's stomach like it was his own. Glancing out of the corner of his eyes, the tamer could see the other pairs were sitting up, though Eyesmon was bringing Malie on her back towards Vivi.
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“Wait.. wait did they get hurt..?!” And he sat up .. that pit growing as he looked at Malie
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Renamon put the canteen down to spare a paw to push against Al's chest. "Slow down," she said. "We'll find out soon enough. Right now, we need to check on you. How are you feeling? Any dizziness or blurred vision?"
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And he would wave her off a bit “I’ll be okay! I just wanna know if those two are alright!” Well then.. his priorities are elsewhere
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"If you pass out halfway there, you won't do anyone any good," said the vulpine, her tone measured and calm. "Now sit. The sooner we go over this, the sooner we can go and check on the others."
[Roll Endurance with a +2 from Renamon]
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“…Fine..”
[Rolling: 3 2 6 + 8 = 19]
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Renamon went over basic questions Al expected to hear from a nurse, down to asking things like "On a scale of one to ten, how much pain are you in?" and "Can you breathe deep for me?" as she checked her tamer's pulse. From there, they moved onto reflex exercises, where Al almost fell back on his knees when he tried to stand up. Even so, the vulpine let it go when Al managed to steady himself on the second try. She acted as physical support for the boy as they made their way towards the others.
As the two approached, they saw Menehunemon from behind, the ancient digimon looking down at one of Malie's blankets. "Hmm, that should do for now," he said, stroking his beard. "The little pua'a's tougher than he looks, that's for sure."
"Kuku," said Renamon. As the dwarf turned around, Al could see Kukuimon was laid out atop the blanket, eyes closed but belly rising and falling.
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His responses were quick, and despite the exhaustion and discomfort he would shuffled over.. and when he saw Kukuimon in a such a state he felt a pang of guilt as he gently reached forward and softly rub his belly
“What about Malie..?”
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"She's sleeping," said the dwarf, "You and her? You've got some major willpower, keiki."
Al could feel Kukuimon's breathing as he touched him, his breath smelling of his namesake candlenut. The small digimon would stir in his sleep, eyes screwed shut, but never enough to fully wake.
"Do we know what's going on?" asked Renamon.
"Only theories," said Menehunemon. "Without access to Malie's digivice, I can't get raw data on his condition. My best guess is: Kukui is reacting to the unfiltered power of the 'Akua now flooding said-digivice. Tamer Digimon become connected to their partners through the digivice, it's what allows for digivolution, long distance communications, everything. By that logic, that same connection means Kukui is being exposed to what divine energy that wasn't safely contained in Lonomon's Ki'i." The dwarf then turned to face Alemana. "Keiki, I need to know what happened after the ritual stone shattered. You did something to the ritual, but only after everything went south, 'ae?"
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“Are they gonna be okay?!” Alemana asked, looking down at the sleeping piglet , and glancing at Malie’s also sleeping form with concern… and he sighed “I.. don’t know what happened exactly- one minute the energy was going out of control.. the next minute I thought about an old fable from back home and somehow the Ki’i reacted to it and got the power under control..”
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"They'll be alright," said the ancient digimon. "I'll make sure of it. As for what happened... well, it wasn't what I had in mind, but I gotta admit, it was pretty inspired." Menehunemon then turned towards the center of the room. There, all that remained of the ritual stone were broken shards of rock and powdered dust. "I should've known that hunk of junk would crap out on me. The difference in power between Kumon and Lonomon's Ki'i isn't equal."
"Do we have enough power to keep the heiau safe?" asked Renamon.
"Hmph, for now. But without the stone, I'll have to operate everything manually. Between that and fixing Kukuimon up, I don't think I'll be able to join the fight once Varamon gets here."
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He would gently pat Malie’s head as he sighed as he looked at Kuku
“We’ll make it work.”
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The dwarf nodded. "Someone should go keep a lookout for MachGaogamon," he reasoned. "I'm sure any Mo'omon nearby'll be looking our way, too, after that energy spike we just had."
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“Me and Renamon can go, I think we could use the air.” He said and he gently nudged Renamon “c’mon.”
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Taking Renamon's hand, the boy made his way outside, the warm breeze of the mountainside making his skin itch. Yet, as he breathed it in and walked under the boughs of the ziggurat's garden, he found his strength returning, at least enough to walk unassisted.
"This area is very exposed to the sky," said Renamon, the vulpine scanning the scene. "Even with the few trees planted here, it should be easy for air-support to take out Mo'omon that bypass the walls." Though her exterior was calm, Alemana could sense his partner's anxiety, no matter how hard she tried to buried it, tried to hide it. "Typhoon Cannons from Kapualeimon should be minimal, unless Varamon knows we've stabilized the heiau. If so, he'll likely fire only during the initial assault, when both he and his 'mon are out of harm's way."
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And when exposed to the open air.. he would gently lean against her as he listened to her observations. “That’s possible.. though I really hope he’s not so arrogant he’d try to damage the Heiau. If anything.. we don’t have years to waste trying to fix whatever they break. The longer we’re stuck here.. the worse things are gonna get for the server without Lonomon..” he said as he looked out across the mountain.
“I just hope we can do this without going out of control too. Kukuimon’s Tutu was right.. this power we got? It’s wild.. furious.” And he hugged her arm. “And it can spiral out of our hands and cause a lot of damage- like with the rock. And yet..” he trailed off, as if afraid you admit something that had been on his mind.
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Renamon laid a paw on the boy's cheek, guiding him till he was staring into her silver-blue eyes. She said nothing, yet in those eyes of hers, Alemana both saw and felt what his partner meant. They were the same eyes she had when she rescued him from Stingmon, the same eyes that had looked up at the moon from floor of their cabin on the Smiling Simon. They were the same eyes that stared back at him in the rain, when she was at death's door during Devidramon's rampage. Those eyes, weathered by sorrow and loneliness, also shined as if by an inner radiance as bewitching as they were sincere. There was pain. But most of all, there was love.
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And as they stared at each other.. his eyes softened as he felt everything she felt.. and a smile crossed his face. “You know what..? Even if the worst happens, we will pull through. We’ve done it before, and we’ll keep beating the odds until we fall- and we’re never gonna fall!”
-
The vulpine smiled. "My thoughts exactly," she said. That's when her ear started twitching. Furrowing her brow, she looked up, drawing Al's attention towards the sky. From the clear blue sky, something was falling towards them, the air screaming in the distance like a steam-powered whistle. Lower and lower the pitch got, as a familiar face streaked from on high just to come to a sudden stop that rattled the trees and popped the ears of anything and everything nearby.
"Aloha 'auinalā, folks!" laughed MachGaogamon, the cyborg's sunglasses and perfect teeth shining in the sunlight as he flashed his signature grin. "Howzit!"
"TOO LOUD!!" shouted Renamon, the vulpine pulling Al in as she covered his ear with a paw, and one her own with another.
"What?"
"I SAID TOO LOUD!!"
Realizing the problem, Mach turned off his jets, causing them to retract into his back as he landed on the ground.
"Right, my bad," he said, rubbing the back of his head after lifting his shades onto his forehead. "I'm just glad to see you guys're still in one piece!"
-
He was about to say something when he saw her ears twitch- and then MachGaogamon dropped from the heavens, and he would cover her other ear as he winced “H-hey, Mach!” He shouted before sighing in relief before gently rubbing and scratching her ear.
“We’re glad you’re okay too! We just.. there is a lot about this world that none of us fully understood..”
-
"Tell me about it," said the canine cyborg, thumbing over his shoulder. "I only just now got a chance to get away from the chaos down in Cypher Bay."
"Chaos?" echoed Renamon. "Is it the Mo'omon?"
"You know it," he sighed. "Where's the rest of you? I got something you'll wanna see."
-
“What’s happened?” Al asked, standing now as his expression became much more alarmed than it had a minute ago.
“And they’re resting inside.. what’s been going on?”
-
MachGaogamon frowned. "War," he said.
Within the sanctuary of the inner chamber, everyone sat in silence. At MachGaogamon's request, Eyesmon created a working television. The sad smile on Mach's face as he plugged a wire from his gauntlet into the machine was not lost on anyone, nor the lines of encryption that cycled down the left lens of the cyborg's sunglasses. Suddenly, the screen was filled with the special effects of Jelstation News Network.
"++Breaking news!++" came Jellymon, the anchor giving a sharp glare. "++Cypher Bay has become an active warzone! All across the city, Mo'omon have begun sabotaging critical infrastructure en masse, using guerilla tactics on key officials before disappearing just as fast!++" Scenes from across the city began playing. Though Alemana recognized only a few of them, from the harbor where the SS. Paradiso was, to the Kaura Arena, fires were blazing over streets flooded with water. Digimon were panicking as they fled from gangs of Mo'omon, while others were driving them back with equal ferocity. "++All of this, happening not even a week after the attempted gas-bombing of the Kaua Arena! From an undisclosed location, Mayor Kokatorimon had this to say++"
A new digimon appeared, sitting behind a desk in a lavish yet windowless room. It looked like a rooster. A giant, black-combed rooster, with red eyes that had slit pupils.
"++Folks--I say folks, I tell you what!++" it said with a definitively southern-state accent. "++It has come to my attention that we are under assault! Varamon has made a declaration, I tell you now! He's MAD!! MAD, I SAYS!! He's gone done an' hired a HIT on YOURS truly!! JUST CAUSE I LOOK LIKE A CHICKEN HE THINKS HE CAN EAT ME!! WHY?!! Why you gotta do a thing like THAT?!! CALL MACHGAOGAMON!! CALL THE TASK FORCE!! I'M HEREBY CALLIN' A STATE OF EMERGENCY HERE!!++"
"++When asked for further comment, the mayor was subsequently sedated++" said Jellymon. "++On that note, I am STILL waiting for the rest of my newsroom to get there butts back in here! As the face of this company, I'm calling out to YOU, dear viewers, to beat the tar out of every last lizard that answers to Varamon! Curb stomp a mudhole in them for me! YOUR NEWS QUEEN DEMANDS IT!!++" There came a sudden crash off camera, drawing the anchor woman's murderous glare. "++GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!! CAN'T YOU SEE WE'RE LIVE?!!++" What proceeded to happen before the groups' eyes was the camera going to an angle as Jellymon pounced on a Mo'omon, the smaller digimon strangling the reptilian with her arms as her tendrils whipped at anything and everything that got near her.
Mach pulled the plug, and a pregnant pause filled the room.
-
“… Well at least Jellymon knows what to do.” Alemana said as he looked at the others,band they could see grief in his eyes.. and a spark of rage.
“We gotta end this… Varamon’s gotten away with too much. We’re gonna stop him.. we’re going to kill him.”
-
The others looked at Al, nodding.
"Wait," said Ike, the blond facing Mach, now. "If this is still on-going, aren't you needed back there? Don't get me wrong, I'm really glad you could come, but Cypher Bay's your home."
"Don't worry about it," said the cyborg. "The taskforce isn't just for show. Working with security teams all across the city, they should be able to handle this."
"I'm sure Shades' havin' a ball right now," mused Gazimon.
Mach chuckled, a bit of warmth coming back into his voice. "Oh yeah. That mon's been shooting for the stars since day one! With people like that, Cypher Bay's in good hands!" The cyborg folded his arms, closing his eyes as he let his head hang forward. "Normally, I'd never risk leaving town when it's in trouble... but the only reason they'd need me is if Varamon himself was coming. That's why I feel like I can be here, because I know the Dragon himself'll be coming."
-
“And when he shows up, we’re gonna be ready for him. He’s gonna learn who’s really the most powerful on the island!”
-
The group cheered to that, though weariness from the ritual was still evident. At this point, both Malie and Kukuimon were awake, but struggling to maintain focus. Malie, head bobbing up and down as she snored, held a blanket-wrapped Kukuimon in her arms, the piglet squinting against the light of the room.
Seeing this, Mach looked at Al, Renamon, then Menehunemon.
"They just finished helping me with something," said the dwarf. "They'll be ready when Varamon gets here."
Mach relaxed his posture. "Gotcha," he said smiling. "This whole team, you've guys've pulled through some of the toughest scrapes Waihona's got to offer. A certain river captain says you even somehow managed to punch Varamon a full quarter of the island away!"
"We did?!" asked Eyesmon.
"Yep! They're thinking of calling it the Alemana Trench, after the crazy son-of-a-gun that clocked the old lizard!"
-
Al’s eyes grew wide as he heard that, and his cheeks took a more cinnamon hue from embarrassment
“They want to name it after me..?” He asked, before hiding his face in Renamon’s ruff
-
Renamon chuckled as her tamer buried his face in her, the vulpine wrapping her arms around him before brushing her paw through his hair.
"Eh, not the name I would've gone with," said Ike, shrugging. "But I guess it works."
"How is Chamelemon?" asked Renamon. "Is he and the Smiling Simon still alright?"
"They're hold up at the Snailmon Village," said Mach. "Been sending me encrypted messages ever since Al's message spread across the island. He's how I know the rough estimate of Varamon's war party, and how long we've got before he gets here."
"Which is?" asked Gazimon, trailing off.
"Sundown. Looking to take advantage of low visibility to take away the edge we've got overlooking the barrens."
-
"I think calling it the 'Iakopo Trench' would be equally weird," Al quipped back, but he would playfully pull away from Renamon and give him a small side hug before then going to Malie.. kneeling beside her "How are you feeling?" he asked.. the knowledge that Varamon would be there at sundown taking a back seat as he checked on Malie.
-
Pulled from her daze, the longhaired tamer smiled at the boy. "Eh, a little winded," she said. "How about you, Kukui?"
"All good," said the masked plant, his voice dull in pitch as he blinked away the sand in his eyes. "Mahalo for asking."
-
Gently petting the top of his head, he would give her a side hug as well before looking back at Mach. "So we have until sundown... Any advice on how we should get ready?" he asked "We haven't had too much experience with doing siege stuff.. unless you count breaking into the Green Lady's lair..."
-
"You know, I heard something about that," mused the cyborg. "Didn't that go off without a hitch?"
Al could feel the second-hand embarrassment radiating off Renamon's face. "It was a team effort," she said, looking away.
Mach exchanged looks with Alemana, the cyborg raising his brow before winking to the tamer. "And what an all-star team it is," he said. "You guys aren't even in your prime yet, and you're already aiming for the big leagues! You guys pull this off, and they'll be singing your names till Waihona sinks into the sea!"
"Apapap--don't give anyone ideas," said Menehunemon, but the cyborg only laughed.
"Alright, getting straight to business. A siege like this is a lot different from what you guys pulled with the Green Lady. Instead of attacking, we'll be defending. We already know that the Mo'omon won't stop until they're either given no choice, or Varamon's beat, so we have our victory condition. The sooner Varamon's taken down, the better our chances of winning. Problem? The battlefield." Typing something onto his gauntlet, Mach caused a section of it - barely larger than Al's thumb - to slip aside. In its place, a light blinked into view, revealing a 3D map of the heiau as it fell upon the floor. "The heiau is built into the mountainside," he said. "Mo'omon lack anything you'd remotely call skill with a shovel, so we don't have to worry about them coming up from under us. But the grooves in the barrens make perfect trenches, and the lizards are good at sprinting between cover. This, and the fact it'll be happening at sundown means visibility from our airborne fighters'll be limited, as will ranged attacks, since those will light up your position from a mile away."
"Doesn't Varamon wanna fight us himself?" asked Vivi. "I thought that's what he wanted: a good fight against equals."
Mach shook his head. "Nah-uh, Varamon doesn't see us as equals. If I know him, he's after Al and Renamon. The rest of us are side-orders he can do without--and before you even think about challenging him to a one-off," he said eying Al. "Remember: Varamon's out for blood, he won't give you a second to react once he's got you in his sights."
-
Hearing all of this praise, and feeling Renamon’s own embarrassment caused his own flushed face to burn even redder as he looked at his friends “We’d never get as far as we have without everyone here. I’m just good at working with a team.. and this is the best team there is!” He said, beaming at everyone. His mood would darken a bit as they listened to Mach’s break down.. and as they looked at the map and the crevasses he pointed out, he rubbed his chin in thought.
“If that’s what their goal is, getting to cover as fast as possible… we gotta do something to make that cover sound like the less attractive option- give the illusion that it’s safer to handle us head on than risk the crevasses…” he muttered before he glanced at Eyesmon and Vivi.. and then a devious, fox like smile crossed his face. “You said you can make bombs and things with Deceptive Illusion, right?” He asked.. his eyes practically glittering.
And when MachGaogamon warned them about how ruthless Varamon would be should he single Renamon and Al out.. the boy would meet his gaze. “I know, and that’s why we have to do it. Like you said, the Mo’omon won’t stop unless Varamon is stopped. And he won’t stop unless he gets Renamon.. or we kill him. And tonight? He’s gonna die.” His resolve was like iron- but Mach could see a deep sense of regret behind the young human’s eyes.. and that was why he was chosen. A warrior doesn’t relish in bloodshed, but is devoted to fighting for what he believes in and who he loves and wishes to defend. And the boy in this moment had the eyes of a warrior who was ready to risk everything for that goal. It was something that was almost nostalgic- in a way. Familiar.
-
At the suggestion, Eyesmon's lips stretched out into a grin. A terrible grin. A terrible, wily, devious grin.
"Yep, leave it to us," said Vivi, smirking as she noticed her partner.
Mach stared back at Alemana, his golden eyes unwavering. Yet Al could see a change in the cyborg upon hearing his words.
(Just like him,) thought the kahuna.
He broke eye contact, forcing a smile on his face. "If you're set on it, I guess I can't stop you," he said. "In that case, the real strategy is making sure you can beat him at his own game. We'll start by bettering our chances at getting him to agree to a trial by combat."
"Should be easy enough," reasoned Renamon. "We use his pride as a unkillable warrior to lure him in. If his Mo'omon get here before he does, we capture one and have them deliver the challenge."
"Works for me," said Mach. "That just leaves winning the actual fight."
-
And he would give the dark dragon a pat on her snoot when she did so, and he nodded at Renamon’s suggestion. “We’ve caught them before.. wrangling a Mo’omon won’t be hard.” He then chuckled darkly “Wouldn’t it be funny if we caught the sneezy one…”
-
"I mean, it's been so long," mused Renamon. "He has to be ready for another round by now~"
Menehunemon cleared his throat. "Once we've got our messenger squared away," he said. "You'll still need to watch your backs. Even if you get Varamon to agree to a match, and swear off any tricks, that won't matter if he's already put his plans into motion. I'll be down here maintaining the heiau, so I won't have time to keep the lizards from waltzing in."
Renamon chuckled. "Kuku, no one's buying the frail old mon routine."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it, alopeke! What I'm SAYING is that sabotage is still possible. No slacking off just 'cuz we're this close to the goal!"
"Leave it to me and Gaz," said Ike. "We'll boobytrap every corner of this dump and then some!"
"Couldn't have said it better myself, boss!"
"I'm with you guys all the way!" said Mach, his smile wavering as he raised his hands up. "But we still gotta talk about the fight itself!"
Malie then spoke, her quiet voice somehow pulling everyone's attention. "I'm with Mach on that," she said. Sitting on her knees, she looked up at Alemana. "Al, even with our best fighters ganging up on him, Varamon almost mopped the floor with you. And Magatsurimon--" she looked down, biting her lip. Haunting images of the dark fox surfaced within Al's mind on hearing her name. "You can't win two-on-one with him. There's too big of a gap in power between you."
The room fell quiet. Menehunemon began stroking his beard; Mach shook his head at the floor with hands on his hips.
-
“Hey easy Renamon, language!” He said as he then cleared his throat too.. and gave Ike and Gaz a thumbs up “You got this—“ and his smile wavered, then fell as Malie brought that up.
“I know.. but the problem is that we need that sort of power to even keep up. Even if all four of our digimon attacked him from all sides.. I doubt they’re strong enough to do more than scratch him before he flattened them.. we need something more than what we have.. we gotta reach higher, somehow..” he then shivered “Without.. her-“
-
Renamon wrapped her paw around Al's hand, stroking the side of his thumb.
"...Hey now," said Mach. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" The cyborg canine pointed a thumb at his face as he flashed his signature smile. "You got the big kahuna backing you up! I may be old, but I know my way around a good fight!"
-
And he would return the squeeze as he gave an uneasy smile. “Oh no, I wasn’t forgetting you. But I couldn’t possibly have you shoulder all the burden for our sakes. It’s because of us that Varamon’s the way he is.. we should be the ones to fix it.” He then did his best impression of MachGaogamon’s thumbs up
“But I’m not gonna say no to your help in the fight!”
-
"That's all I needed to hear!" laughed Mach. "Alright gang, we got us a game plan." Gesturing them closer, the cyborg put his mechanized hand in front of him for everyone to put their own atop. Vivi would help Malie up, allowing her to put Kukuimon's foot at the very top of the pile. "Say it with me now," said Mach. And together, the group cried out:
"Be the heat! Reach for the sky! Fight the power! IT'S TIME TO FLY!!"
Between Al's words and the cyborg's rallying cry, everyone got to work. Eyesmon was the first to set up shop, creating a replica security terminal like the ones used by the Gwappamon. From the various monitors, Vivi was able to link her digivice in to show Eyesmon's progress as the dark dragon flew about the barrens. Between her, Mach, and Gazimon, Eyesmon was able to plant bombs in key points of interest within the mountain trenches. The fact they looked exactly the same as the bomb they found under the Kaua Arena was not lost on anyone. Once her task was complete, both she and Renamon would commence lookout routines across the territory, watching for even the smallest trace of reptilian activity.
Not to be outdone, Gazimon and Ike scrambled across the heiau's stone citadel. Pitfalls were expected, so instead they made false walls and doorways with soot, mud, and charcoal to confuse anyone that got inside. Plus, the VR sets that Mo'omon used would have trouble telling the facades from solid shadows.
Yet with every hour, the shadows of Mauna Kuhikuhi stretched like long, jagged claws, digging deep into the mountainside in anticipation of the setting sun.
"So it all comes down to this," said Menehunemon. Standing in the inner chamber of the ziggurat, the dwarf ruminated as Mach and Alemana went over battle tactics. Malie was busy helping Vivi spot out potential boltholes through the terminal, while Kukuimon got as much sleep as he could. For his part, Menehunemon breathed deep, nodding as he approached the central dais. His mistake had been in trying to measure the power of the 'Akua through something as mysterious and evolving as a digivice. Perhaps it was pride that had put the tamers at risk, pride in thinking centuries of studying the wondrous machine made him capable of such calculations.
Menehunemon sank the base of his ko'i into the central dais, the heiau taking to it as if a long lost part of itself. Grunting, the dwarf took a cross-legged position as he sat down. No more wasting time. Even one mistake could jeopardize the mission, and as he muttered words older than the island itself, he was swore within his heart not to make another. A phantasmal pillar of light surrounded the dais soon after, a low hum pulsing beneath the ground. Glyphs of Digicode danced lazily through the air, in and out of sight - and for miles around, the heiau became a beacon in the encroaching darkness.
Hidden from view by her powers of stealth, Renamon listened to the wind from her place atop a wall overlooking the barrens. Eyes closed, arms folded, she waited...
The sound of loose earth, the sudden stop of a growing breeze, the vulpine's ear twitched and she knew the enemy was here.
"We've got company," she said, her voice reaching Alemana's digivice. Opening her eyes, she looked out onto orange horizon, and saw her prey. The silhouette of a reptile's tail, otherwise invisible to the naked eye, disappeared into a trench further afield but on approach towards the citadel. "Permission to intercept?"
-
"Yeah!!"
And Al would go on to help his friends as best he could, before talking and planning with MachGaogamon as best as he was able, hoping to glean as much tactical advice from the millennia old Kahuna.
____________
"Copy that. If its a Mo'omon be sure to bring him back so we can put the next phase of the plan into motion. Be careful, okay?"
-
"Come on," mused the vulpine. "You know me, I'm always careful."
[Alright, roll Stealth for Renamon, with a +2 from circumstance]
-
[Rolling= 4 2 6 + 4 = 16]
-
*Rollz*
Going silent, Renamon leapt from her perch to the barrens below, moving downwind to avoid her scent being picked up. Footfalls were timed to match with the sounds as sand grains scratching at the dried, cracked earth. Keeping low to the ground, she could keep the wind from shifting around her as much; masking her approach. It didn't take long for her to catch her quarry's second mistake: footprints. Sure enough, they were Mo'omon tracks, blurred though they were -- likely from methodic use of their tail. To their credit, they blended in well with the volcanic earth, but it was clear to Renamon they'd rushed it.
The vulpine's eyes narrowed. Rather than follow the trail, she scanned the immediate area surrounding the trench.
(There you are...)
Focused on a collection of rocks, bunched together beneath a blanket of ash, Renamon crept forward. Every movement was precise and measured, her eyes never straying, her ears listening for threats from behind. Her heartbeat was tame, her breathing hushed, not even the wings of a butterfly were as quiet as she was now. Then, with her back arching and her claws extended, she struck. A jabbing motion at the base of her palm struck at the stone--and instantly, the Mo'omon's disguise was lost! Warping as it did back into its true form, it motioned to cry out, but was silenced by a punch to the gut. The reptile heaved forward as the wind was knocked out of its lungs, and without missing a beat, Renamon had it in a sleeper hold.
"Night night~" she whispered in his ear, then all went to black for the Mo'omon.
Renamon didn't tarry. She knew others were likely nearby. As she slung the larger digimon's over her shoulder, she grimaced at the weight, but bore it, racing back towards the safety of the heiau.
("Al,") she thought. ("I've found one. I'm bringing him back to camp.")
-
(“good.. that means phase one of our plan is complete. Just be careful when bringing him back!”) Al responded, and he would glance at his Digivice to keep tabs on everyone’s positions. Things were progressing about as he predicted, so far..
-
Al only had to eyeball Renamon's progress on the screen to see that carrying her newfound Mo'omon was slowing her down. Besides the lizard's bulk, the terrain was rough. A mixture of loose dirt and igneous rock that fought back against her attempts at digging her claws into it for an extra push.
("Can't believe how heavy he is,") she thought. ("Can't tell if it's all muscle or just the thin atmosphere getting to me.")
Adjusting her grip on the captive, Renamon made short jumps from one spot to another, grimacing at how little distance she was making. Then, just as she hopped onto an elevated boulder, her ears twitched. Her eyes wide, she shot a glance over her shoulder. Out of the shadows, two Mo'omon leapt, their claws catching the light of the setting sun!
[Alright, make your move! You can choose to drop the Mo'omon and fight, or try to outmaneuver them with a lizard boi in tow.]
-
[Shes gonna fight.. she can take any of them back!]
-
[True enough! xD ]
[Roll Initiative for me, real quick.]
-
[Rolling: 5 2 5 + 6 = 18]
-
*Rollz*
Sidestepping the two-pronged attack, Renamon turned to face the enemy head on.
[Alright, Renamon has first shot. Remember: she's still carrying a Mo'omon ;) ]
-
Dropping her quarry, Renamon would circle so that both Lizards were in front of her.. and she gave a grin
”Withering Storm.” and she let loose a flurry of smoldering arrows!
[Rolling: 6 1 6 4 6 5 2 = 4 suxx!]
-
[Dodge: 5 6 2, 2 2 4 = 2 suxx = Hits = [(DMG +2) - Armor, the target is Weakened.]
5 6 6, 4 5 5 = 4 suxx = Miss]
Perhaps knowing a threat for what it was, one of the Mo'omon began moving before the attack's name was finished being said. His colleague was not so fortunate, moving to duck and tumble only to get caught in the side by the vulpine's arrowheads.
"Saber Claw!!" hissed the first, charging towards Renamon. In this, his comrade would mirror him, clenching his teeth as he made to strike the vulpine's opposite flank.
[5 5 2 5, 4 3 1= 3 suxx
6 2 1 5, 5 4 4 = 3 suxx]
-
[8 damage- armor]
She would then smirk, leaping backwards in order to dodge the two lizards
[Rolling: 3 6 1 5 2 4 5= 3 suxx
5 2 6 5 6 1= 4 suxx]
And once she had both of them in her sight again.. she hit them again! ”Withering Storm!”
[Rolling: 5 2 3 6 5 5= 4 suxx!]
-
Despite their near synchronized strike pattern, the glinting claws of the Mo'omon swiped at thin air in spite of the data from their VR visors.
[Dodge: 5 6 4, 5 5 1 = 4 suxx = Miss
4 5 2, 2 2 2 = 1 suxx = Hits = [(DMG +3) - Armor, both targets are now Weakened]]
This time, Mo'omon 1 took the brunt of the attack instead of his brother-in-arms, snarling as he shielded his face from being impaled. Renamon could see the effects of her power weakening them. The way they buckled their knees; the rents in their hide as the arrowheads remained embedded in them. Even thusly wounded, though, they two reptiles pressed the attack, their clawed martial arts aiming to cripple her.
[3 2 1 5, 2 1 4 = 1 suxx
3 2 1 5, 5 4 4 = 2 suxx]
-
[11 damage -armor]
Renamon would give a bit of an animal-like snarl as her attack hit, and she would then try to dart away from their attacks once again.
[Rolling: 4 1 3 6 5 3 1 =2 suxx
6 3 2 5 4 4= 2 suxx]
and she then darted forward, paw reared back towards the first Mo'omon she wounded "Red Paw!"
[ Rolling: 1 2 2 6 4 6 5= 3 suxx]
-
[Dodge: 2 1 3, 2 2 2 = Hits = [(DMG +3) + BIT) - Armor] = 4
Lifesteal = Regain Health equal to CPU = +1]
Just inches from her target, the vulpine ducked and spun on one foot, enabling her to maintain momentum as she dodged, then landed a direct hit on her foe's abdomen. Renamon's paw glowed with foxfire as she sapped the Mo'omon's data. Wounded, the reptile back-stepped out of Renamon's reach, taking a defensive stance while his comrade can in from behind!
[Rolling: 1 4 3 6, 3 4 2 1, 6 6 3 = 3 suxx]
-
Renamon would look over her shoulder and then leap, aiming to flip over her attacker
[Rolling: 2 5 1 6 2 4 5= 3 suxx]
And with a smirk she landed- both in her sights ”Withering Storm!”
[Rolling: 6 3 5 1 6 4 6= 4!]
-
[Dodge: 1 2 4, 1 5 1 = 1 suxx = Hits = [(DMG +3) + BIT) - Armor] = 4 = K.O
5 3 4 = 1 suxx = Hits = [(DMG +3) + BIT) - Armor] = 4 = K.O]
Outmaneuvered and overpowered, both Mo'omon cry out before the one nearest Renamon fell onto his comrade, driving them both to the ground.
"Sorry, boys," mused the vulpine. "Better luck next time."
-
And that was when alemana would contact her with the digivice
++”Renamon are you okay? Your vitals were spiking! Did you get attacked?”++
Ever since he discovered that they could speak with each other’s thoughts, he used his digivice’s communication feature less and less frequently with her.. but he was using it now.
-
"Nothing I couldn't handle," she said. "Two Mo'omon tried catching me from behind. They're sleeping it off now." Renamon then glanced over the barrens, eyes narrowing. "I'm not sure how fast I'm going to get back into the heiau carrying one of these clowns. At the rate I'm going, the other two might wake up and slow me down even more."
-
Al would sigh in relief
“Good. But that’s a problem..” he took his head from the digivice as he looked about in thought.
“Maybe Eyesmon can take our prisoner and bring him up here, and you could get back here faster. Or if that’s not an option,” he then paused.. and she could feel his hesitation, the discomfort
-
The tamer was barely halfway through the dark thought when Renamon interrupted. "++That won't be necessary++" she said. Her words were sharp, as if to cut at an arrow in midflight. The love in her words, however, was soon clouded over by anxiety... or was it exasperation? "++Have Eyesmon rendezvous at my position. Once she's en route back to the heiau, I'll make my way back on foot++"
-
That caught him off guard, and he couldn’t help but smile as he answered her. “You’re right. I’ll have Eyes come meet you,” and before he switched over, he then added “Thank you, Rena..”
And after a lingering moment he would end the call, and select Eye’s number. “Eyesmon.”
-
A warm chuckle echoed in Al's mind, the image of Renamon kissing the back of his head finding its way into his thoughts.
Boo--
Before the first receiver tone even finished--
"++ALY-POO!!++" erupted the dragon's voice in Al's ear. "++Don't worry, I. Heard. EVERYTHING. I'm already on my way over to pick up the trash!++"
-
And he would wince, nodding “Okay good! Once that’s done, we’ll have what we need.”
-
For the next fifteen minutes, everything progressed like clockwork. Alemana watched through the visual feeds as Eyesmon met up with Renamon. The expected posturing was done in less than a few words, and Al could see that Renamon had managed to pin the remaining Mo'omon between and under two boulders. It wouldn't hold them forever, but being this close to Varamon's expected arrival, precautions were warranted.
At Mach's suggestion, the lone Mo'omon captive was brought to a secluded room elsewhere in the citadel. It was too dangerous to let the soon-to-be-messenger see what was going on in the ziggurat's inner chamber. The new room was a small bunker, barely larger than Al's bedroom back home. With Mach unable to enter, Eyesmon too it upon herself to keep the Mo'omon locked in place, possessing his shadow while the others deliberated on wording, phrasing and presentation.
"We'll need to keep it short," reasoned Renamon, just outside the bunker. "Varamon could arrive at any minute."
"I did some long range scouting," said Mach. "Managed to pick out three Kapualeimon climbing up the mountain 5 clicks south-by-south-west of here. They may be a distraction meant to hide the more mobile, faster Mo'omon units. In which case, Varamon's much closer than that."
-
With everything progressing as it was, and hearing what the tribe was doing Alemana would take a calming breath as he nodded "Right. Okay, youll relay this message to Varamomn: We challenge him to a battle to prove just who is the strongest on this island, once and for all. A fight to the death. We die, he proves he was strong enough to stand up against Kumon. He gets deleted, and the entire tribe vows to protect Waihona and to never terrorize the digimon of the island ever again!"
-
The Mo'omon ceased struggling against Eyesmon's power on hearing Varamon's name. It was almost unnerving how still the reptile could be. The visor it wore over its eyes only made it harder to guess what it was thinking. When at last it spoke, it did so with a steady rasp.
"Maopopo i'au. I shall deliver your message, human..."
-
“Go, then. Tell him that it’s not going to be like last time. This time it’s going to be a real battle.” And he nodded to Eyesmon “Let him go.”
He would then sigh.. glancing out to see MachGaogamon
“Have they always been like this? The Mo’omon I mean.. they couldn’t have been this bad all the time..”
-
Eyesmon would pull away from the Mo'omon's shadow, putting herself between it and Al as she watched the reptile's every movement. The Mo'omon stared at the dark dragon, holding her gaze for but a moment, before running out the door.
"I'mma follow 'em," said Eyesmon. "Just to be sure he doesn't pull a fast one on us."
As the thousand-eyed shadow raced after the messenger, Al would approach Mach and ask his question. A question that left a tired look in the cyborg's eyes.
"Maybe once," he said, supporting the wall with his back. "Kuku's mentioned that they once kept to themselves, focused more on testing their limits within the jungle, rivers, and mountainsides. If that's the case, it was way before my time. Varamon was already chief of the tribe when I was born." The kahuna folded his arms, taking a deep breath. "Back then, the Mo'omon were still getting used to him. They were bored of fighting the same wild digimon, sure, but they still sparred with each other for the sake of self-improvement and chance at becoming chief. None of that matters when Varamon left a power gap as deep and wide between him and the other tribesmon as he did." Behind his sunglasses, he stared out at the setting sun, his golden eyes distant and mirthless. "I only ever knew a handful of Mo'omon around that time. And only one of them well enough to call a friend..."
-
Alemana listened.. brow furrowed in thought until-
“Wait, you were friends with one of them? Maybe they can help us then!” Alemana said, not really thinking as he spoke. “Do you still keep in contact with them?”
-
Renamon stopped the boy, laying a paw on his shoulder. When Al looked at her, she shook her head before gesturing with her chin towards Mach. The cyborg had closed his eyes. The wind moaned as it blew through his blue-and-white fur.
-
He looked over at his partner, confused “What’s wrong?” He asked as he followed her paw and saw Mach.. a deep sense of regret came to him. “I’m.. sorry..”
-
"Don't be," said the cyborg, letting a small smile cross his face. "Honestly? I can't remember the last time I talked about him with anyone. Heh, boy did we get on each other's nerves. He was the tall, dark brooder, and I was the outgoing meathead... but still, he was like a brother to me." Pushing off the wall, Mach rolled his shoulders and popped his neck. "I've lost too many friends to Varamon to sit this one out," he said, stretching. "Even if you guys weren't in danger, I've been waiting for a chance to fight him head on. I don't care who gets the last hit in, as long as Varamon's tyranny comes to an end, and I'm there to see it happen."
-
Al still looked ashamed for being so insensitive, but he nodded and gave a bit of a smile as well. “It sounds like you guys were quite the odd ducks, but I can see how you’d be friends.” And he then thought about Ike, and the others a moment after: it brought a genuine chuckle from the boy. “Like I said before, I’m not gonna say no to your help. But I promise we’re gonna stop him for not just that Islanders.. but your friend Mo’omon too!” He said, pumping his fist, as if expecting a bump.
-
At this, Mach chuckled. Stepping forward, he reached out with a mechanized fist, and returned the gesture.
"We're in it to win it, Al," he said. "No holding back."
The hour of twilight was upon Waihona. As the sun neared a fingernail over the western horizon, Al, Renamon, and MachGaogamon stood at the gate to the heiau citadel. In silence, they watched their enemies arrive on the far end of a natural bridge that arched over a barren lavatube. Said-bridge was wide enough to form a circular courtyard, atop of which tiles had been etched into the iron hard surface; no doubt designed with the intent of ritual combat in mind. No Mo'omon ventured near it, instead choosing to stand, crouch, or kneel in groups of three on their side of the bridge. Their scales glimmered in the dying sunlight, creating the illusion of movement. But each was still as a statue. Watching. Waiting.
That all changed when the echo of slow, heavy footfalls broke the silence. In unison, the Mo'omon turned to look over their shoulders, kneeling as they found the source. The Dragon of Waihona had arrived.
Gone was Varamon's sash of digivice trophies. As he approached, his tail swayed left and right, his gait as relaxed as any king wandering amongst loyal subjects. How he dwarfed them in size and presence, the Mo'omon flowing aside like water to avoid touching his shadow, only to move back into position upon his passing by.
"So here we are at last," said the dragon, smiling, his voice smooth even as it rumbled from deep in his throat. Al could see how Varamon's dagger-like fangs glistened in the light, even as wisps of toxic gas leaked from the tubes embedded in his neck. Memories of how Magatsurimon had torn them free resurfaced in the boy's mind. "Word of my people claims you seek to face me in mortal combat."
-
And as Al saw him.. that sickly anger tickled the back of his mind and he would hold Renamon’s paw, squeezing it tightly. “Yeah.. here we are. And you know what’s gonna happen right?”
-
Renamon held the boy's hand, her eyes narrowing on the dragon as her fur bristled.
The smile on Varamon's face remained unphazed. "Tell me, Chosen of Kūmon."
-
“It’s simple really. This is your last fight, Varamon. We’re going to put you down like just like how you’ve put down all those partner digimon. And when it’s over, your tribe will finally be free… and so will the entire island.” His words were straight forward, almost cold.. but Renamon could feel the remorse behind them.
-
"A bold declaration. And from a worthy enemy. That it should all come to this moment, here in this sacred place, I wonder, is this the providence of fate, or poetic happenstance?"
Mach stepped forward. "The 'Akua are on our side, Varamon! No one else dies but you!"
The dragon chuckled, "Die? MachGaogamon, what do you know of death?" The question lingered in the air. Mach furrowed his brow as he stared back at the reptile chieftain. "You prostrate yourself before the 'Akua, yet as a warrior kahuna, you do little to avenge those taken in battle. What hold does death have over those who live forever? What purpose does hānau hou, digital rebirth serve if not to make one's mistakes meaningless?"
("Digital rebirth?") echoed Renamon in Al's mind, the vulpine glancing down at the tamer.
-
“Who knows? Maybe it is fate.. or maybe you’ve just finally met your match. But either way, MachGaogamon and Renamon are gonna ki-“ his words died in his throat
“Digital.. what?”
-
Where once the dragon was smiling, now it was a crooked grin. "You mean, all this time within our world, and you don't know? Kahuna," he said, glancing back at Mach. "E 'olu'olu e hana i kāu hana. Enlighten your would-be saviors."
The cyborg growled over the metallic sound of his fists tightening. "When a digimon dies, a number of things can happen to its digicore. One, if their data was corrupted, or centered itself on completing unfinished business prior to deletion, its digicore runs the risk of retooling itself into a ghost or warped version of itself to cope."
("Like Oboromon,") thought Renamon.
Mach continued. "Two: if the digimon's data remains unabsorbed, its digicore will eventually rebuild itself overtime, becoming a digi-egg. This process can be sped up by reincarnating via the womb of a still-living digimon, but risks changing the nature of the original digimon in unexpected ways."
"Precisely," said Varamon. "And how carefree it must be for them, to charge headlong into danger knowing they can so easily be brought back during a time where there is no war, strife or famine. Masking their cowardice behind hollow acts of valor, at best." The dragon lifted his claws, palm up, as if basking in rain that only he could see or feel as he gazed up to the darkening heavens. "Only through absorbing the data of the slain can sacrifice hold any meaning. And what a glorious means by which to live on."
Al felt a sudden pressure in the air, as if gravity was welling up directly beside him. With MachGaogamon at its heart.
"Stop it," he growled.
"To live on in others and be part of something greater than one's self," mused Varamon.
"That's enough!"
"To give of one's self for the victory of all."
"KNOCK IT OFF!!"
At a speed Al could only catch as a flicker that carved the ground into a small crater, MachGaogamon was a blue blur that appeared directly in front of Varamon. The force of the cyborg's punch sent a shockwave that would have vaporized a lesser digimon, yet the Dragon of Waihona had diverted its trajectory at the last minute, causing it to slam into his awaiting forearm! Neither of them waited for the other to respond. Before Al knew it, the two were clashing; mechanized boxing against bone-breaking Kapu Kuialua!
-
Those words were all but forgotten as MachGaogamon struck forward- and any questions or accusations Al would’ve levied would have to wait as he held up his digivice
”Digi Armor Energize!!” he shouted, his digivice glowing as a pink spark lit the screen, bathing Renamon in its power and purpose! It was risky.. but he wanted to lead with Karamon. She was a smaller, more nimble target- one that could fight from angles Kyubimon couldn’t. Not only that.. her size made it less likely that she might get in MachGaogamon’s way accidentally- and who knew? Perhaps it would make it more difficult for Varamon to hit her!
-
"Renamon, armor-digivolve to--KARAMON!!"
The armored vulpine was already rushing forward by the time the flash from Al's digivice subsided. Jump-jets ignited as she pushed off, the sparks and embers like cherry blossom petals as Karamon flew close the ground. As she approached, she cork-screwed out of the way of an incoming strike from Varamon's tail. This gave Mach an opening, the cyborg landing a haymaker to break the cross-guard Varamon had set up.
"WINNING KNUCKLE!!" howled the blue canine, taking aim with a mechanized fist. The speed and power behind it, Varamon had no choice but to divert it from hitting him square in the chest. Up close now, Karamon could feel the shockwaves, her enhanced vision able to see the heat in the air and bubble of force it left in its wake. But now the tables were turned, with Mach exposed and Varamon aiming to strike. No! Now Mach was the one blocking, deflecting strike aimed at his joints and exposed hide!
[Roll Initiative!]
-
“Help him out Karamon!”
[Rolling: 5 2 4 + 9 = 20]
-
*Rollz*
[Mach: 26
Varamon: 25]
[Since those two already went, I'll give Karamon a turn. ;) ]
-
Karamon would jet up into the air, body twisting in a spiral of pink flame as she then burst forward- arm pulled back befor rocketing forward
”Kitsune Kumite!!!”
[Rolling: 5 1 6 4 3 2 4 5 1= 2 suxx]
-
[Dodge: 5 2 2, 2 5 5, 6 6 5 = 6 suxx = Miss]
Seeing the attack coming, Varamon bent backward as Karamon came flying at him, dodging her blow and smiling all the while. He was about to reach for her with his claws, as if to pluck a butterfly in midflight--only for Mach to intercede.
"Don't even try it!" the kahuna snarled, his hands grabbing the dragon's. Flashing their teeth at one another, their muscles tensed as they pushed the weight of their bodies against each other. Yet while the cyborg scowled, the dragon could only smirk. Again, a shockwave fired off as they began trading blows, too close and fast for either to do anything but martial arts.
[Mach has instigated a clash with Varamon.]
-
Alemana would scowl, but then he would gasp as an idea hit him
(“He sets it up, we capitalize!”)
Karamon nodded, and would then flash forward again
”Kitsune Kumite!”
[11 damage- armor]
She wasn’t done yet, though , as she would zoom around to the other side, turning the jets on her feet on the Dragon! ”Foxfire Jet!!”
[9 damage - armor]
-
With every strike of her first attack, Karamon felt how hard Varamon's hide truly was. The dragon's back, while exposed, showed little reaction to each subsequent strike, getting little more than a chuckle from him.
"ʻOlu'olu," he mused, wrestling his grip and Mach's as both ultimates dug their heels into the stonework. When Karamon made to set the dragon's back aflame, Varamon swiped with his tail at the fox, putting the angle of her thrust off-center. "So, the alopeke has learned a new trick. What good is armor, however, if it cannot piece my scales?"
"Allow me to fix that!" barked Mach, breaking off from Varamon's grip only to wrap his arms around the dragon's waist. Jet-engines shot to full length from the cyborg's back, and roared to life as he launched skyward! Mo'omon and allies alike watched as the two digimon spiraled higher and higher - the dark sky unable to conceal the glow of blue fire as it arched towards the mountainside! Through the scope in her helmet, Karamon could see Varamon pummeling Mach, fists as big as the canine's head hammering shoulders and ears even as they raced towards the ground at breakneck speeds!
-
Seeing the rather lackluster effect of her attacks, Alemana would grit his teeth. He had expected the Ultimate to be tough.. but not that resilient. Karamon was able to fight toe to toe with a creature as powerful as Oboromon as a relative equal- yet Varamon could shrug off her attacks like they were nothing. And Magatsurimon was able to tear into him with seeming ease.. was this the power of an Ultimate level digimon—?
Before they could try another assault- Al gasped as Mach took to the sky- alarm on his face “Mach!! What are you doing..?!”
-
Too late, by the time his words reached the cyborg, the canine kahuna was already setting his plan into motion.
It was all MachGaogamon could do to hold onto his fell passenger. Crushing his arms as hard as he did against Varamon's spine, it wasn't enough to keep the Dragon occupied. Already, Varamon changed tactics by flashing his claws and digging them into the cyborg's back. The tropic wind buffeted the two hard enough to hide how sharp a cry Mach made through clenched teeth. Still, he focused on, concentrating on the streams of data pouring across the inside of his sunglasses. Projections of their trajectory weren't good; they were moving off course! A silhouette of his body blinked onto view, damage to his shoulder was flashing red, and his head couldn't take much more punishment from Varamon. He had no choice. Time to shift gears.
A moment's thought was all it took for the kahuna to kill his engines. The sudden weightlessness of the two ultimates was enough to give Varamon pause, more-so when Mach seemed to let-go of him, only to wrap behind the Dragon with one arm. His free hand grabbed the back of his nemesis' head, even as Varamon pulled his claws--still lodged in Mach's back--along till it tore at the digital gridwork beneath. But the kahuna didn't give him the satisfaction of another whine, instead, he howled as he reignited his jet-engines--all the way down to the mountainside. Far from the heiau but still visible, the two struggled to make sure the other would hit the ground first, Mach's deafening howl rang in Varamon's ears all the way, buried beneath the roar of volcanic rock against the Dragon's face as the cyborg dragged his enemy along. Boulders the size of buildings blasted aside from the sheer force of the impact, MachGaogamon not stopping -- his eyes burning golden! A vicious crack stretched across the left lens of his sunglasses--igneous shrapnel hitting hard and fast at him and Varamon both!
But Varamon was far from done. Instead of clawing at the cyborg, he lifted his leg and dug it into the rock, once more diverting the force of Mach's maneuver to spin them on his heel! The sudden change sent them crashing into a wall of rock, splitting it in twain!
-
Al was shocked as he watched them go up, up, up.. no words describing the fatal majesty of the two titans as they ascended into the heavens- only to turn start plummeting a few moments after they reached their apex. He watched- mouth agape in a mix of awe and horror as the pair fell back to the mountaintop- his eyes fixated on them. Karamon’s vantage point afforded her a perspective that her tamer didn’t have.. and her sudden wave of panic and realization flooded into the boy as he knew what she knew.
“No.. no! Don’t do it Mach!!” He screamed- Though his voice would never reach them. Once they made an impromptu pact however- he was silent- stunned.
-
From the ruined rock, a visible shockwave erupted, and in the growing dark, Al could see at its center was Varamon and Mach, their fists colliding with each other's. From the ranks of Mo'omon, Al spotted one begin to rise, only for the reptile's neighbor to pull them back down, shaking their head as they looked at one another.
"(Al,)" thought Karamon. "(We need to get back into the fight. Even if only as a distraction or harrier, we can't let MachGaogamon face him alone.)"
-
Shaken from his stupor, Al nodded “You’re right.. go get him!”
And the Digimon would rocket towards Varamon, and launched an attack at the back of his head ”Dharma Flames!” she shouted as she threw rings of pink fire at the dark lizard!
[Rolling: 4 2 6 4 1 1 5 3 1 5= 3 suxx!]
-
[Lesse, a negative ranged Called Shot means she's Sharpshooting, which means she gets a bonus DMG equal to Stage Bonus, but accuracy is penalized by the target's RAM and DMG penalized by target's CPU. That said, Varamon is in a Clash, so I'll negate the accuracy penalty.]
[Total = (3 + (DMG + Stage Bonus)) - (target's CPU + Armor)]
Reaching the distant fighters at record speed, Karamon lit the scene in fire, striking where Varamon's neck met the base of his skull. The Dragon burned, was even pushed forward by the impact, but continued to block, dodge and strike at MachGaogamon. A single punch hit square on the cross-guard Mach put up to guard his chest, pushing the cyborg several feet away despite him digging his foot-claws into the igneous ground.
"Kahuna," mused Varamon. "What was your plan here? To throw me into the lua pele's caldera? And I thought you prided yourself an honorable warrior."
Mach spat to one side, glaring back at the Dragon. "You mean like how you tried to bomb the Kaua Arena?" he chided. "Full of innocent digimon and warriors alike? What kind of honorable warrior resorts to terrorism?"
"One that has grown tired of waiting." As if to make his point, Varamon charged forward. But Mach wasn't about to let it happen. His mouth wide open, the cyborg howled with such force and at such a frequency that Karamon could see the ultrasonic waves blast the Dragon, tearing at the rock around, beneath, and behind him!
-
[9 + champ bonus - that stuff]
Alemana would feel his knuckles cracking as he stared at Varamon with building rage.. his breath growing more shallow each passing moment. How dare he try to claim he had honor? Bombing people wasn’t anything but an act of cruelty— not counting the sudden sounds of several of Eyesmon’s bombs going off at that moment- and he would stare daggers at the Dragon before suddenly covering his ears. If looks could kill…
Karamon, in contrast, was far more proactive: launching into a flurry of blows! ”Kitsune Kumite!”
[Rolling: 3 6 2 4 1 2 6 3 1 4= 2 suxx]
-
Against the continuous stream of ultrasound, Varamon forced one step in front of the other, his body appearing to lag like a video being streamed with a poor internet connection. Only by digging his foot claws into the ground was the reptile able to resist being pushed back. Mach only relented when he saw Karamon flying towards Varamon.
[Dodge: 3 1 3, 6 2 6, 3 5 2 = 3 suxx = Miss]
Now it was Karamon's turn to fight head-to-head. Despite the lag-effect on Varamon, the Dragon moved inches away from one palm-strike to the next, dodging the precise and powerful strikes by only a hair's length. If there was any consolation, it was the fact that Varamon wasn't smiling anymore.
"Lua Komodo!" rumbled the Dragon, his voice low as he stared down at Karamon.
[Rolling: 4 2 6 2, 1 6 2 4, 4 1 2 3, 4 5 3 6 6 = 5 suxx]
-
Karamon would gasp, but she immediately jet backwards, bringing her arms up to block the attack
[Rolling: 6 2 3 6 5 2 5 4= 4 suxx- hits]
-
Time slowed to a crawl. In a moment of shared adrenaline, neither Al nor Karamon heard anything but the beating of their own hearts. The armored digimon could see the blow coming, could see Varamon's palmstrike racing towards her. Why couldn't she move? Then suddenly, a voice broke through it all.
"NO!!" cried Mach, and in a blue flash, the cyborg shoved Karamon aside. His golden eyes went wide, he felt it when Varamon struck at the base of his spine, the cracking of spinal data, the rupturing of vital systems. So terrible was the blow that the earth gave way upon the cyborg hitting it, belly first. Even from the heiau, Al could feel the seismic activity of the kahuna's impact.
"Mach!" cried Karamon, the vulpine landing on her feet several yards away.
"D-dammit!" cursed the cyborg, struggling to lift himself up. The best he could do was push against his forearms, glowering down at his balled fists.
"...Get up," said Varamon, the Dragon's words sharp and devoid of mirth. "I have no use for a foe if they refuse to get back up."
"Why, Mach?!" asked Karamon. "I could have taken the hit! Why would you leave yourself open like that?!"
The cyborg didn't answer, his eyes barely open as he winced and gritted his teeth.
"Asinine," said the Dragon. "Has fear of losing another comrade to me given you a martyr-complex, kahuna?" Crouching down, he grabbed Mach by the back of his neck, lifting him up to his eye-level. The damaged lens of Mach's sunglasses was missing now, the cyborg glaring back at the Dragon, snarling. "Perhaps I should tell you more about the bomb you mentioned, hm? Maybe that will put the metal back in your spine."
At this, the blue canine smirked. "I couldn't care less," he said. "Coming from you? It's all bad, no matter how you slice it!"
Varamon's eyes narrowed on Mach. He then released the cyborg, ignoring the wet cough that escaped the kahuna as he landed back on the ground. What he didn't see was the wink Mach gave Karamon as the Dragon turned to face the vulpine.
"Since the day that I learned of Digivolution," said Varamon. "I have always been fascinated by it. Even now--especially now--it is perhaps my greatest passion, rivalled only by my love of combat." He punctuated his words with a swish of his tail, hammering it against the mountain. "Beyond simple age, even digimon not bound by human masters can rise in level when the right conditions are met. Hence why so many of us long for battle, to unlock our TRUE potential! Imagine how disgusted I felt when I uncovered the secrets beneath the island's heiau."
"What secrets?" asked Karamon, her words as sharp as she was wary.
"The Dark Area. Through it, Digimon too weak to deserve digivolution grasp at power they are ill-equipped for. They run rampant like mindless beasts, only to devolve back into their wretched old selves again. A waste of life and effort... yet even so, I found a way to make use of it."
"Wh...what?" breathed Mach.
"Digimon are more likely to ascend to the next level when forced to confront a greater threat. My bomb, using toxin taken from desecrated heiau, would have forced the weakest among those exposed to transform via Dark Evolution. Those of greater worth would then fight with their lives on the line, either rising to the next level, or becoming fodder for the rest of us."
-
Alemana’s face paled- as much as it was able to as he saw what was coming- and he was already shouting.. something, he wasn’t sure what. But when Mach flew in from nowhere and took the hit..and he was now shouting “No! No no no!” And he began running- only to stumble- and Yelp as some rubble almost clattered atop of him, stalling him. “W-why?! That was stupid, MachGaogamon..!” He called out, his voice panicked as he looked over the damage.. and it looked bad. But when Varamon started talking about Evolution… he looked up at the dragon in abject shock
“Dark Evolution…? Why would you..” images of Devidramon and Magatsurimon played in his mind.. and his fists were clenched so hard they almost bled
“Why would you do that?! Who is that really helping?! You’re just causing pain!”
-
The dragon turned, staring at the boy. "Pain?" he echoed, letting a dry chortle soon follow. "Pain without purpose is a waste. Complacency without risk is a waste. Too long have I spent waiting for a worthy foe to rise. Even under constant threat, the digimon of Waihona fail to measure up, no matter how many times I spare their miserable lives -- all in hopes that they might harness a vendetta to focus on my destruction."
Alemana could see something glowing inside MachGaogamon's fist. The same red-black flames that wreathed Kumon's Ki'i. The cyborg was trying to hide it, pretending to clutch at his gut as he lay the palm of his hand against the ground.
Varamon continued. "And then you come along, kanaka. Blessed by none other than the Warrior 'Akua himself. Even while your alopeke pet was in the throes of Dark Evolution, you were able to call upon the power of the divine and do what no digimon has been able to. Perhaps I should repeat the process. Shall I delete MachGaogamon, here and now? Would absorbing his data send you into such bloodthirst that Karamon would become the fiend from before? Would tearing her apart give you the strength to warrant Kumon's attention, favor, and will, to slay me?"
-
“So what.. you’re doing this because your bored? Because you feel like you don’t have anything that can challenge you?! That’s your reason? You’d hurt others and make their lives miserable just so they might rise to your level and give you something to do?!” His tone as growing angrier as he talked.. but when he noticed the flames.. it distracted him for a moment.
They changed when Varamon threatened both digimon.. and he felt a pulse from his chest- from the Digimon.. making him wince.
Karamon felt it too- a building heat between the two of them.
“Don’t.. you dare… I won’t let you …!” He rasped. “This power.. it’s not a toy for you to play with..! It’s meant to protect the island.. to help digimon grow!”
-
Chuckling, Varamon shook his head. "One cannot protect anything," he said. "If they are too weak to protect themselves. But if you despise what I'm doing, then come, try and stop me."
"(Wish granted,)" snarled Mach under his breath. "(You sick kanilehua.)"
A terrible rumble shook the earth. No... the very mountain itself. Enough to cause the distant Mo'omon to looked amongst themselves as they whispered and shuffled in place. Enough to be felt by the tamers and digimon inside the citadel. And enough to give Varamon pause, the dragon glancing towards the peak of Mauna Kuhikuhi. None of it, however, was enough to pull either Alemana or Karamon's attention away from the Dragon. Not when nearby stone began to crack open, not when pressurized steam vented out in noxious plumes of Sulphur, vapor and smoke. And especially not when lava erupted like blood from a stab wound all around them.
"Life is too precious to be used up and discarded so!" said Karamon. "Whether human or digimon, we are more than just milestones to be brushed aside by the likes of you!"
-
“This world is more magical and amazing than anything I’ve ever seen.. and I wanna see see Kuku and Tutu’s dream be fulfilled.. where the digital world and our world can join together and humanity and the Digimon can all be friends.. and that means that we have to stop you.. and save Lonomon! That world can’t exist if you’re gonna be here, ruining lives and bringing misery!” He said.. and he felt that pulse.. that seemed to be linked to the eruptions around them. But amongst the conflagration- he felt a spark of an idea.. and Karamon felt it as well- a smile was shared between the two of them.
“But fine- you’re obsessed with evolution? Well get ready, because we have a combo for you that’ll knock your socks off- thanks to Stingmon! Do it, Karamon!”
With a smirk on her lips, Karamon would rocket away from Varamon, twirling and creating a blinding vortex of pink flame. ”Karamon, Slide Evolution!” and from within the inferno, green flames would begin erupting as well- and her body was partially visible, flenced to a wireframe of green-pink energy as it became a familiar four legged shape. Then the flames collapsed and coalesced- and with a flash of light and smoke: ”Kyubimon!!”
Landing a few feet away from Al, she gave him a reassuring, energetic smile.. and he found himself mirroring that grin.
And he would hold up his Digivice.. and instead of a spark of crimson on a black screen.. there was a neon red sprite of Kumon’s Ki’i emblazoned on it… and Kyubimon’s body became enveloped with the crimson fire!
”Kyubimon Super Digivolve To,” and the flames intensified around her as she reared onto her hind legs- her height growing ever so slightly as she did so. Her burning forelegs seemed to change shape and structure- her torso becoming less bestial and more human like.. her hindlegs also changing as the others— her tails all wrapping together to form one singular appendage. One of the last changes visible was her nuzzle- it started shrinking- as if receding into her code..!
She would then give a twirl, the flames billowing away and harmlessly dying before they touched anyone or anything.. and Alemana gasped in utter wonder.
At first she resembled Renamon- though she was much taller.. and her muzzle much shorter.. and along the golden fur covering her face were numerous pale gray markings that almost seemed to resemble war paint. Atop her head was a tiki mask, resting as it were a hat or a visor atop her head..the eye holes being conveniently placed so her ears could stick through them- holding the mask in place on top of her crown. She also was wearing clothing- which was new- a wine red top that extended down her waist until her lower midsection- revealing a shock of white fur along her belly.. and there was a skirt of.. water? That draped down her legs until it reached her ankles- obscuring everything but her three toed feet, the claws seemingly made of volcanic rock. But her arms, specifically her hands and her forearms.. they seemed to be made of the same material- as if she were wearing gauntlets of burning stone. And where once were nine tails was just one.. but it’s fur shone with a bright radiance like the sun was shining upon it.. even though it was the dead of night!
”Kahunimon.”
-
[Gain +1 Inspiration]
Radiant as the dawn, the new digimon stood. All who gazed upon her, whether from Eyesmon's camera feeds, or directly in her presence, found all wayward thought silenced.
Mach struggled to keep his head up, yet the strength of presence he felt would no be denied his full attention. "Ka...hunimon...?"
And in Alemana's memories rang forth the words of Kahuna Gesomon in Syakomon's voice.
A kahuna shall rise, a kahuna shall dance! And with it bear the dragon's roar, a shadow's lament!
That was when the tamer noticed he was wreathed in an aura of translucent, red fire.
"Alemana," spoke the vulpine, her gaze turning over her shoulder. "Don't be afraid, Kumon's power will shield you from the heat. As long as you stand with me, I will not want for greater power!"
-
It seemed that those words of prophecy regarded Renamon after all- well not Renamon but..
“Kahunimon..!” And immediately his thoughts flashed to the painting in Hookmon’s room.. and he would look at his partner with equal awe. When the fire envelopes him as well- he felt a moment of fear, but it was calmed immediately by her words, and he smiled up at her, having to crane his neck a bit to properly meet her gaze. “I know. You’re amazing, Kahunimon!” He said with an enthusiastic grin, before looking at Varamon — his expression devoid of the conflict that it had before.
“I hope you’re not disappointed, but the other one isn’t gonna say hi today. Get ready Varamon, cause this is where the battle really begins.. and you’re gonna be in for the fight of your life!”
And with that Kahunimon cracked her fists together.
-
The Dragon lowered his gaze, letting his head hang forward. All around him, molten rock flowed like rivers of liquid flame. The sky rumbled, choked with soot and thunderclouds; the earth trembled, threatening to collapse beneath his feet. He began... chuckling, then laughing, laughing till he had no choice to throw his head back and roar maniacally to the sky.
"YES!!" he roared, pumping his fists. Only now, in the under-light of the lava flow, could Al see the damage that had been done to one side of Varamon's face. How his scales had been shorn off from Mach's maneuver. The Dragon's eyes were wide, intense, and the shadows that dug into his face as he grinned wide his wicked teeth only made infernal his visage. "At last! A worthy foe! Our battle will be LEGEND!!"
Tail trashing, the Dragon charged forward with raw abandon!
-
And with that Kahunimon strode forward through the lava- only to leap and bring one arm back. ”Pele Punch.” and her burning fist flashed forward towards Varamon, her expression stern- but supremely confident!
[Rolling: 3 4 1 6 5 3 4 6 6 1 3 5 3 2= 5 suxx!]
-
[Varamon enters Offensive stance. Dodge = 9x0.5 = 4.5 = 5 dice]
[Gain +2 to DMG from Naturewalk: Fire.]
[Called Shot: Sharpshooting. Attack adds Stage Bonus (+3) to DMG. Penalty to Accuracy = Target's CPU (4)]
[Dodge: 6 4 3, 2 2 = 1 suxx = Hits = DMG (13) + 1 + 3 + 2 = 19 - Armor (17) = 2 Damage. Varamon suffers Burn.]
So great was Varamon's hunger for sport, he came charging at the newly-born ultimate. But Kahunimon was not fooled, she saw the trap for what it was, when she made to strike, the Dragon side-stepped, aiming to claw at her water-veiled sides. Instead, Varamon felt the full fury of her fist! The strike crushing at the simulated bone beneath the Dragon's disfigured face. So intense was the heat it melted what scales remained and burnt the ruined tissue blacker than night!
Varamon spun backward, stopping himself just as he rounded back to seeing Kahunimon. The Dragon raised his wrist up to his chin, brushing aside a rivulet of crude liquid from his now broken jaw. He chuckled to himself, his shoulders trembling.
-
Leaping back as if dancing, Kahunimon would then twirl, skirt flowing with the motion- along with that golden tail.. it’s radiance growing more blinding. ”Sunfire Lei,” she said, almost dismissively. Before her motion ended, a stream of golden light erupted from her tail and attempted to wrap around Varamon like a rope, a lasso, in order to drag him to her for another attack.. another ”Pele Punch!”
[Sunfire Lei: 4 5 5 1 6 3 5 2 1 4 6 1 5 3= 6 suxx
Pele Punch: 1 3 2 4 1 1 6 3 5 4 6 1 3 5 = 4 suxx]
-
[Dodge: 1 2 4 3 1 = Hits = (DMG + 6 + 2) - 17 = 2. Varamon is Pulled. Burn activates. Varamon takes DMG equal to 1 per meter pulled (max of 4). Total 8 damage.
[Dodge: 1 6 5 3 = 2 suxx = Hits = (DMG + 2 + 2) - 17 = 0. Varamon takes 1 damage.
Taken by surprise, Varamon's burns intensified as he was entangled in golden light. Such power set the wounded half his face aflame! The Chieftain of the Mo'omon laughing as he was pulled towards Kahunimon. The moment she readied to strike him, the Dragon proved he had learned from before, and narrowly dodged the full brunt of her burning fist!
Stepping back at several paces, grinning like a mad beast, Varamon clenched the muscles of his body. The tattoos that wrapped around his arms glowed a pallid gray. In a matter of seconds, the Dragon's skin began to shed from his body, and with it the wounds he had suffered... all, except, for one. Tracing the length of his reknit jaw, Varamon felt the scar of exposed, cauterized flesh. He grinned.
"A scar," he said, letting the word hang in the air as if tasting a delicacy unheard of. "No one's ever left one so deep that my 'Ili Nahisa technique could not undo it."
("His tattoos,") thought Kahunimon. ("We need to ruin them. Otherwise he'll heal himself the moment he feels the tide's turning.")
Meanwhile, the fountains of lava spewing from the vents in the mountainside had began to reach the Mo'omon army. The furthest away were already racing for higher ground, only to watch as their comrades scrambled across the bridge towards the citadel's main gate. For whatever reason, they went no further, watching the rivers of fire pour down into the lavatubes beneath the bridge. Others, however--those safest away from the heat, stared up in awe as they beheld the primordial chaos of the mountain. Lighting struck from on high atop the volcano's crown, whilst earth melted and roiled around their Chief and his three adversaries.
-
Alemana felt that thrill of excitement as Kahunimon began to turn the tables on Varamon, and though the dark dragon was able to refresh himself.. Alemana seemed more emboldened than anything.. the flames of Kumon working to combat feelings of shock or despair at the sight. No.. he felt a moment of sympathy for Varamon: this was a perfect test for Kahunimon, to really demonstrate these new powers.
(“That’s what we’ll do, then. But you’ll have to hit him harder.. overwhelm him. He thinks he’s untouchable, even now… show him just how wrong he is, Kahunimon. We aren’t gonna let him hurt Mach.. or our friends.. or anyone else!!”)
The Ultimate would give a silent nod as she sized Varamon’s rejuvenated body with a composed look of interest… and a small smile crossed her lips. ”I am going to leave more than scars, Varamon.” she said as a strange calm seemed to emanate from her- the sort that came before a hurricane.
”Kapua Aspect!”
A burst of heat then erupted from her body like a shockwave- as her musculature grew taught, more defined.. her fur more wild, a darker shade of gold.. those silver face markings glowing as more appeared on her body.
[Kahunimon now has a + 6 to Accuracy, Armor, Dodge, and Damage for six turns, and will regenerate 6 wound boxes every turn for six turns.]
-
[Hell yeah! NOW we're rocking it like heavy metal!! >8DDD ]
Snorting, Varamon tucked his fists in before charging straight at Kahunimon.
"MEA-MAKE DESPOILER!!" he roared, belching a dark miasma so thick it threatened to suffocate as much as blind. Using the toxic cloud as cover, he then closed the distance and made to swipe at Kahunimon's legs. "LUA KOMODO!!"
[Rolling: 3 1 4 3 1, 6 1 5 2 6, 1 6 4 4 1, 1 6 = 5 suxx]
[Rolling Called Shot (-4 from Kahunimon's CPU): 3 3 3 1 5, 1 6 2 6 5, 3 2 2 = 4 suxx]
-
[Rolling: 4 2 3 5 1 6 2 5 3 5 3 1 3 1 6 2 1 2 5 4 2= 6 Suxx
Rolling- 1: 4 1 5 5 3 1 5 6 6 5 6 1 2 6 3 5 3 3 1 2= Holy Fuck 9 Suxx?!?!?]
Kahunimon would give a rapid spin, the heat from her body blowing away the toxic gas.. and once it was clear she gave Varamon a serene smile as he swung at her.. only for her to effortlessly dodge around him- opening him up for her counter attack.
”Pele Punch!”
[Rolling: 1 5 5 5 5 5 2 6 2 3 2 5 6 6 3 3 3 3 3 4= 9 suxx again?!]
-
[Pfffffft!!]
[Dodge: 6 6 2, 6 3 4, 1 3 4 = 3 suxx = Hits = (DMG +6 +6 +2 from NW: Fire) - 17 -4 from Finesse = 6 Damage. Varamon suffers Burn again, and is fucking awake]
The sheer power behind the dancer's fist was only eclipsed by how far she could reach. Varamon, ever alert, had darted back the moment Kahunimon had dispersed his miasma, only to find white hot pain crash into him as the vulpine ultimate stretched the length of her arm out to land the blow! And all in one fluid motion! Once more, fire engulfed the Dragon, burning him, licking at its scarred flesh. But if the fiend knew fear, it did not show on his face. If anything, his smile couldn't get any wider or more hideous.
"MORE!!" he bellowed, leaping towards her yet again. Fist and claw alike swiped and shot at the holy digimon, and she responded in kind, how different the two danced. It defied all words in its primal grace. "LUA KOMODO!!" roared the Dragon, striking again with unrelenting force! A feint, meant to distract Kahunimon as her foe surged forward, mouth wide open. "DEATH MAW!!"
[Rolling: 3 1 4 4 5 4, 1 6 1 2 5 3, 3 1 1 3 6 = 4 suxx]
[3 2 3 6 5 4, 4 2 3 2 6 2, 6 4 5 2 3 = 5 suxx]
-
Kahunimon merely smiled in a riled up, predator way in response to that, and Alemana could feel that she as elated: Varamon was definitely tough enough for this test of her newfound powers.. and in a strange way, both of them were thankful for that. When he went on the attack however, she leapt into action!
[Rolling: 5 6 3 1 2 2 1 3 5 5 6 1 4 3 3 1 3 2 5 1 1= 6 suxx
Dodge- 1: 6 1 3 6 1 4 5 3 4 4 3 6 6 5 6 4 4 1 5 6 = 9 Suxx, jfc]
And Alemana watched how Kahunimon, even in the throes of this life and death battle she moved with such agility and grace that it really looked as if she were dancing with Varamon rather than trying to kill him, weaving and dodging him with such skill.. it almost looked easy. This duet of death was then punctuated by a gyration of her hips and a quick pirouette-like spin- that skirt spinning with her ”Wave Crash Dance!”
A wave of boiling water the spiraled from the skirt and then flooded towards Varamon, aiming to crash into him!
[Rolling: 5 1 4 6 3 6 4 4 2 4 3 1 1 2 1 5 3 5 6 4= 6 Suxx]
-
[Dodge: 1 3 4, 5 3 2, 4 5 6 = 3 suxx = Hits = (DMG + 6 + 3 + 2) - (17 + 4) = 3]
The hissing of steam as blistering, boiling hot water struck Dragon scales pierced through the din of the volcano. Varamon cried out, laughed out, reveled in the wave of agony as it flooded over his body. Pillars of white vapor plumed up into the chaos of the sky, leaving behind a Dragon whose arm was now but an extension of his facial scars.
"YES!!" He cheered. "No more healing! No more tricks! Only when death is on the line can one truly know the GLORY OF LIFE!!"
Again he charged forward, and again he danced with Kahunimon. Not in all that time was a single motion wasted, everything in tandem, everything in rhythm. Again he made to strike with Lua Komodo, this time in an effort to force Kahunimon into sidestepping into a new cloud of his toxic miasma.
[Rolling: 1 4 1 1 4 3, 1 5 2 1 2 4, 3 5 2 2 4 = 2 suxx, blech
3 3 2 3 5, 6 3 6 2 4, 6 1 1 5 3, 4 2 = 5 suxx]
-
This caused Alemana to breath more quickly- his heart almost pounding out of his chest, though not out of fear- but exhilaration. Kahunimon would give a sharp bark of laughter as she met him step for step, the pace of battle serving as its own accompaniment
[Rolling Dodge: 5, 6, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, 6, 4, 6, 4, 2, 5, 2, 2, 2, 4, 1, 3, 1= 5 suxx
Dodge- 1: 3, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 4, 1, 2, 4, 6, 3, 4, 4, 5, 1, 1, 5, 3, 2= 3 suxx]
She was able to dodge his strike once again.. though this time Varamon was able to outmaneuver her and force her to leap into the toxic mist in her attempt to get away. This victory was soured as that golden light shot from the dark mist, aiming to drag him towards her for another Pele Punch!
[Sunfire Lei: 1, 4, 1, 2, 5, 1, 5, 6, 1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 3, 4 = 7 suxx
Pele Punch: 1, 2, 4, 2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2, 6, 3, 6, 4, 4, 3, 4, 6, 2, 4 = 3 suxx]
-
[DMG = ((14 +4 from Finesse +2) - (11 +6) = 3. Kahunimon is Poisoned, taking unalterable DMG equal to her CPU for 4 turns. She is also Blinded, taking a -4 penalty to Accuracy and Dodge for the same amount of time.]
[Dodge: 4 5 4, 3 2 4, 1 4 3 = 1 suxx = Hits = ((DMG +6 +6 +2) - (17+4)) = 6 damage. Varamon is pulled, triggers Burn.
[Dodge: 6 1 6, 1 3 1, 2 6 = 3 suxx = Miss]
Poison seeped into Kahunimon as she breathed in the noxious malaise, yet so in kind was Varamon bound in the burning light of the dancer's tail. A calculated risk. The Dragon took advantage of having blinded Kahunimon, dodging her oncoming blow the moment he was free of her tail.
"LUA KOMODO!!" he roared, taking aim at her legs once more.
[Rolling: Called Shot means -4 ACC from Kahunimon's CPU, and +3 to DMG.
2 3 3, 2 4 1, 3 5 2, 2 5 4 3 = 2 suxx]
-
[Rolling-4: 3, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 4, 6, 3, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 1= 2 suxx, hits. His damage -17]
Coughing, eyes stinging, Kahunimon would then hear him coming and attempt to leap over the dragons’ attack- but she misjudged how close he truly was due to the poison clouding her eyes, and he caught her legs , causing her to cartwheel and tumble to the ground. The moment she hit the ground however, she sprung up, relying on her hearing to attempt to get a bead on him as she struck with a powerful jab!
”Pele Punch!!”
[Rolling: 4, 5, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3, 5, 2, 1, 2, 5, 6= 4 suxx]
Like what had happened before whenever he and his partner were synchronized so intimately, Alemana could feel these blows, and he cried out .. chest burning from poison and a throbbing pain in his legs.. but he didn’t falter or take his eyes off the fight. “You got this.. don’t let him beat you!”
-
[DMG = 14 + 3 = (17 - (17 - 4 from Finesse = 13) = 4. Kahunimon loses half her movement speed from injury to leg. She also suffers 4 Poison damage.]
[Dodge: 1 5 6, 6 3 6, 5 3 2 = 5 suxx = Miss. Varamon takes Burn damage.]
The Dragon cross-blocked the strike, setting the dancer's forearm between both of his, only to turn left as he bent the knee. From there he grabbed Kahunimon's arm with one claw, before aiming to dislocate it with an uppercut to the elbow!
[Counterblow activated. Lua Komodo. Called Shot to elbow. Kahunimon can only apply 1/2 her dodge pool. If it hits, she can only apply 1/2 her Armor rating.
Rolling (-4 penalty from CPU): 2 6 1 6 3, 3 1 2 2 4, 5 1 2 = 3 suxx]
-
[Regenerate 6]
[Rolling Dodge: 6, 5, 5, 2, 5, 2, 5, 5, 1, 1 = 6 suxx]
Snarling, Kahunimon was able to pull free and dodge to the side, only stumbling slightly , she then spun about, Skirt boiling and roiling with the motion. ”Wave Crash Dance!” she shouted - a war cry as another scalding wave rushed over Varamon- and she followed up with another Pele Punch- ears flicking madly as she tore along with the surf!
[Wave Crash Dance: 2, 3, 2, 5, 1, 2, 6, 4, 6, 5, 4, 5, 1, 3, 6, 4= 6 suxx
Pele Punch: 5, 5, 3, 6, 4, 6, 1, 6, 1, 6, 6, 3, 3, 1, 4, 2= 7 suxx]
-
[Dodge: 5 4 4, 4 1 1, 6 4 2 = 2 suxx = Hits = (DMG +6 +4 +2) = 25 - (17 +4) = 4]
[3 5 6, 3 3 6, 6 5 = 5 suxx = Hits = (DMG +6 +2 +2) = 23 - (17 +4) = 2. Varamon continues to Burn like the forges of Isengard.]
[Kahunimon takes 4 unaltered Poison damage]
Intune with the nature of fire, Kahunimon's sense of smell and hearing were unhindered by the wrath of the volcano she danced upon, able to sense Varamon through vibrations in the ground, the subtle shifts in the wind, and the sour, acrid stench of the Dragon's breath. Blinded though she was, she found her target, and heard the cadence of his roar pierce the encore of scalding water.
But the Dragon, for all the pain he suffered, all wounds he endured, could only laugh, eyes wild as he licked at gray of his teeth.
"Such ferocity!" he rasped. "Such MANA!! Let all the world burn to ash around us, for I have FOUND--MY--EQUAL!!"
Varamon raced forward, over half his body alight in golden flame and still hungry for war! And as he danced with the blind Kahunimon, neither he nor she nor even Alemana noticed the figure that slipped onto the battlefield. The sudden gloom cast over MachGaogamon forced the cyborg to look away from the battle, a tall figure standing over him.
"Y-you..." the kahuna breathed.
"The Digital World still has need of you," said Stingmon, the assassin's calm demeanor at odds with the mountainside. That Mach could hear his voice over the riot of noise was a miracle in and of itself.
"N-not yet," huffed the cyborg, wincing as he tried to push himself off the ground. "I need to--"
"You need to heal." The assassin then offered out his hand to the canine. Mach hesitated, glancing back at Kahunimon and Varamon's duel. A smile crossed his lips, golden eyes glimmering in the molten glow of lava. Nodding, he clasped Stingmon's gauntlet, and began powering his jet engines.
"You got this guys," he said under his breath. Then, guided by his comrade, he made for the citadel's walls.
"Mea-Make Despoiler!!" Roared Varamon, belching forth more of his dark miasma. Obfuscating his scent, he then ducked low and made to bite Kahunimon with his Death Maw!
[Rolling: 2 4 5 2 5 2, 4 6 6 5 2 2, 6 5 5 5 1 = 9 suxx finally!]
[5 3 2 2 1 3, 1 1 6 3 3 6, 1 6 1 3 5 = 5 suxx]
-
[Regrnerate 6]
[Rolling Dodge: 5, 6, 6, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5= what the Fawk X’D 9 suxx= miss
Rolling Dodge -1: 5, 6, 2, 2, 5, 3, 2, 5, 2, 5= 5 suxx= miss]
Kahunimon somehow, someway was able to avoid both of Varamon’s blows, even blinded, injured,and suffering from poison.. and she would leap into the air, the flipping motion causing a deluge of boiling water to cascade down upon the dark dragon ”Wave Crash Dance!!” she cried- it seemed that she gained an urgency.. perhaps excitement? Or a desire to inflict a final.. Decisive blow?
[Rolling: 5, 2, 4, 1, 6, 1, 6, 1, 4, 3, 4, 4, 1, 5, 1, 5= 5 suxx]
-
[Dodge: 3 6 6 6 4, 4 5 5 = 5 suxx = Hits = (DMG +6 +2 +1) - (17+4) = 1 ]
The dragon's smile fell away, his eyes wide. In the span of a heartbeat, still reaching with wicked maw wide; black wisp of deathly miasma trailing from behind dagger fangs and claws; missed their mark. Through fire and water, through poison smoke and white stacks of boiling vapor, the Dragon of Waihona roared his final breath. A cloak of fire and vapor enveloped Varamon, yet all could see his form pixelate and shudder. No... more as if, his form struggled to contain something within. Undulating and swelling beneath the skin. From the center of his chest, a beacon of purple light pierced through the killing veil, till the air was filled with streams of binary code.
[Finish him!]
-
Alemana nearly felt his heart stop, his breath still as he saw Kahunimon- despite everything- knock the great dragon onto his back. But when he saw that swell of light.. that beacon of purple code and energy- he found his voice.
“End this, do it now Kahunimon!!!”
And as she came back to the rock below, she reared one molten fist back.. and then drove it into that glowing spot on his chest. “This is for Mo’omon, kanilehua."
-
Like a hammer to the anvil, Kahunimon's fist struck true, and from it sparked a light unlike any Al had ever seen: incandescent ribbons of data like living diamond flowed like water as Varamon's Digi-Core burst outwards in holy fire. That it failed to blind the boy, even as it enveloped him, Kahunimon, and all creation with it... made clear his mind as he heard a voice echo the words:
H A N A... M A I K A 'I...
The white void faded. A warm breeze from the east blew through Alemana's hair. The sound of stone settling into place all around him. Gone was the fire, the lava, and the storm above. Beneath a sky of countless stars, Mauna Kuhikuhi no longer raged. In the light of a lunar eclipse, Kahunimon towered larger than life over the Hawaiian boy, staring down at him with eyes as soft as the moonlit glow that bathed her being.
"Al," she said, smiling. "We did it...!"
-
Al watched as she delivered the final blow, and even though there was relief, exuberance, and pride that they were able to do it.. he felt that even now.. even for Varamon.. there was a faint sense of sadness. So as he dissolved into nothing, the boy closed his eyes and would pray.
Great Akua.. when he comes back.. please let MachGaogamon’s friend come back too. Him and all the other digimon ..
When he opened his eyes he would see Kahunimon standing above him, and he would stare up, up into her eyes.. a smile on his own face.
“Yeah.. yeah we did..!” And he would jump as high as he could, trying to hug her.
-
Just as Al jumped, the giant digimon swooped in and snatched him from the air, spinning on her heels as they broke into laughter. She held the tamer like a doll in her paws as she pressed him against her bosom. In her paws, the honeyed scent of Lehua flowers caressed Al as much as the warmth of her touch.
-
He laughed as well, and he rested his head against her chest, looking about as she spun him “Is this how you felt when you were Viximon?” He wondered aloud
-
"That depends," she mused. "Do you feel as adorable as I believe you are? You're practically a baby~" Kahunimon held her tamer high above her head, her eyes shining in the orange-red of the eclipse. She let go of Al the moment he reached the length of her arms, sending him flying high above the scene--only to catch and spin him the moment he came back within range. If Al had any word of protest or comment, it was lost in the silence that came upon meeting a deep and tender kiss.
-
His dark cheeks became a cinnamon color as she said that “Hey, I’m not a Bab-“ and he then yelped as he was tossed into the air “AAAAAA-“ and then he was suddenly caught! “H-holy he—“ he began, only to be silenced by the kiss.. and he would hug her neck
-
Her eyes closed, Kahunimon would not be moved to break away from Al. Even as her form began to glow in the light of devolution, she held on, her arms wrapping around the boy's waist as she shrank back to the size of Renamon. Only then, when Alemana's feet were on solid ground and the vulpine became the size of a small kit, did she release him, Viximon purring as she rubbed her cheek against his.
"Hey!" called a voice from on high. At long last noticing the world around them, the pair looked up to see Ike waving to them atop Gargoylemon, the living statue gliding towards them. "You guys need a lift?!"
-
And as that balance of power shifted, he would kiss the top of her tiny head “Now who’s like a baby?” He asked playfully- before looking up to see Ike and Gar
“Hey! And yeah!”
-
Ike didn't wait for his partner to land. The moment it was safe to jump, the hat-wearing Samoan jumped off and landed mere feet from his fellow tamer. A sharp grunt and wavering twitch threatened to collapse the grin on his face, but no, he pressed on, laughing as he jabbed Alemana in the side before trying for a headlock. By that time, Gar had touched down, his own laughter booming alongside the flap of his wings.
-
And Al would plop Viximon on his shoulder as he attempted to pull the other out into a hug, Laughing along with him. He then almost felt his legs buckled “woah.. I’m tired all of a sudden.”
-
"Good!" said Ike. "Means the rest of us can take it from here! C'mon!"
Thus prompted, Gargoylemon reached out and wrapped his massive claws around them, one tamer per hand. The loud *THOOM!* of his beating wings, as the four took to the skies, sent a gust of cooling wind that blasted away dirt and ash from off the ground. The higher they went, the more Al was able to see: Waihona bathed in soft, subtle reds, pinks, and oranges. All against the deepest blue that the night sky had to offer.
Atop his shoulder, Viximon nuzzled into Alemana's neck as she closed her eyes, her gentle breaths a lullaby as she felt fast asleep.
Almost home...
Late was the hour. Close to midnight, according to Al's digivice. Adrenaline still held say over his mind, no matter what the rest of his body told him. Even Kukuimon's Gentle Song failed to fully bring him under, but why would it? Victory had been achieved, but the Gateway would soon be active. At a time like this, even Malie was restless, pacing the way she did in the ziggurat's inner chamber.
Alemana glanced about the room. Mach was only now getting back on his feet, thanks to Kukui. Vivi and Eyesmon were still at their workstation, looking over the camera feeds. As for Ike and Gar, they'd gone outside to patrol. No need for last minute surprises. Al's attention, however, was pulled back to the central dais. A warbled *PWING* chimed in the air as the pillar of light faded, and Menehunemon stood up from meditations.
"Almost ready," said the dwarf. His joints popped a hard staccato as he stretched, only to gawk at the middle distance and cry aloud when a crackling sound erupted from his back. "Gck-! A little help!"
-
Everything was a blur, it almost didn’t feel real. So much so that he didn’t do much but hold Viximon like a cat, gently petting her as he came to terms of what they had accomplished. They had done what was seemingly impossible- they defeated .. killed Varamon. And they were about to go home, it felt almost unbelievable. But here they were, this chapter of their journey was over- now all they had to do is go back home, rescue Lonomon, and save the world. Yeah, were it so easy..
But Al knew they could do it: if they could stop Varamon, they could do anything. When Kuku got up, or tried to before every bone seemingly exploded.. Al was snapped out of his introspection. “Are you alright?” He asked, moving to help the ancient digimon.
-
"Yeah yeah," he grunted, taking Alemana's hand. "Never better." Using the tamer for support, Menehumen began pounding at his back with his free hand. "Hoooo-oh, should've stretched before I sat down. Let this be a lesson, keiki, never get old."
At this, Viximon giggled, the kit no longer able to feign sleep. "Kuku," she said. "You've ALWAYS been old."
"Hmph, smart-aleck. Bust out my back helping you cross between dimensions, and this is the thanks I get? What a ripoff."
Viximon's ears perked, the kit tilting her head by the faintest micrometer. But when Kuku began laughing, she relaxed again.
"Viximon," said the dwarf. "Why, I can still remember the last time I saw you this way. Crazy little trouble maker, always biting at my ankles."
"Ew, I did not!" pouted the kit, her smile fierce despite protest. "That's just icky, kuku!"
The dwarf could only laugh as he straightened his posture. Releasing Al from his grip, he then looked up at the boy, past his bushy beard and mane of hair. "I felt it when you two digivolved to Ultimate level." he said. "Even through the noise coming off Mauna Kuhikuhi, I just knew you'd pulled it off."
-
“I don’t think I can stop it from happening, not unless I did something like Kukuimon’s Tutu did,” Al said with a slight smile as Menehunemon righted himself, and he glanced down at Viximon “I dunno.. I could see you doing that!” He said with a laugh, gently poking at her belly. When Kuku mentioned Kahunimon, Al’s smile grew more somber, but still genuine.
“I don’t know how to explain it.. but I knew we could do it too. I didn’t expect her to be THAT powerful though. Magatsurimon was strong.. but Kahunimon was like on a completely different level- it was insane!” He said.. his tone growing a bit more enthused now as he held Viximon up to his eye level. “You always just blow me away with how amazing you are!”
He then looked over to MachGaogamon, bringing the spherical fox to his chest before bowing. “But we wouldn’t have been able to get that far if you weren’t there. Thank you MachGaogamon!”
-
The cyborg's ears twitched as he heard his name, turning to face the trio.
"He mea iki, cousin!" he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "But I think I should be the one thanking you. And... also, apologizing."
"Apologize?" echoed Viximon. "Apologize for what? If it's for getting hurt just to look cool in front of me, we'll call even."
The kahuna laughed, cheeks turning red. "Yeah, I guess that's part of it." Mach then looked down at the floor, a soft smile on his lips. He took off his ruined sunglasses, examining them. "Over 1k old, and I can still pull off a rookie mistake," he mused. "Seeing up close what Varamon's capable of, I knew I couldn't let you guys take a single hit from him. I wanted to tank everything he gave out, and throw it back at him... but it was like fighting a shadow. I let him get inside my head, and almost wound up barbecue for it."
-
“You don’t have to apologize for that.. we have done that too.” Al said as he looked away, glancing at his fellow tamers. “But we had help. And besides.. what sort of champ doesn’t make a fumble every now and then? That just helps pump up the crowd!” He said , his grin becoming more cheeky.
-
"Hah! Sounds like I should be taking notes from you," the cyborg mused. "Yeah, we should totally talk shop before you guys hit the trail! With Varamon out of commish, you and I are standing at the top as Waihona's best fighters!"
-
That made his cheeks redden again “I dunno about that.. my friends are really good too!” He said, though he would hug Viximon a little tighter for a few moments before he then gave a sigh
“I can’t believe that we’re about to go home. It feels so weird, doesn’t it?”
-
"All our hard work is finally paying off," said Viximon.
"That reminds me," said Menehunemon. "Keiki, you still have that astrolabe?"
Al recalled when the Green Lady had given him Hookmon's treasure, how she'd been disguising it as the the pearl around her neck. Since then, it'd been safe inside his digivice, waiting for this very moment.
-
“You can say that again, Kitmon,” he teased, before giving Kuku a nod. “I do. One sec!”
Carefully maneuvering the tiny fox in his arms, he would pull the astrolabe from his digivice and gingerly handed it to the ancient digimon.
-
"You're a Kitmon!" countered Viximon.
On being handed the device, kuku traced the etchings along its surface with his calloused hands. "Hemolele," he said. "The final touch. I'll be up topside putting this in. Should be ready within the hour if not sooner."
"Really?" came Malie's voice. Turning, Al saw the girl approaching, with Kukuimon in her arms. "We're really going home," she said, catching herself. "We're gonna see our families, our friends, our--!"
She squeezed Kukuimon close, her eyes welling up with tears.
-
“Nuh uh, you are!” He teased again, nodding as he gave Kuku a smile “Good, thank you.” He said as Malie came up to them. “Yeah, it’s gonna be so good to see everyone after everything we’ve been through..” and then he thought about Ghostmon.. and Keilani. That was when tears began dripping down his face as well.
“I saw my sister back in the marsh, the Ghostmon made an illusion of her. I tried to not think about what it could mean.. but after everything we’ve learned since then I’m almost completely sure she was here… but I don’t know if she’s back home or not..”
-
"Sister?" echoed Mach. Standing up, the cyborg walked over just to kneel down to the two tamers' eyelevel. "You have a sister here, too?"
"We don't know," said Viximon. "Like Al said, we saw Ghostmon near the 'Uhane Swamp that take the shape of humans that came into contact with the Digital World."
Mach paused for a moment, rubbing his chin as listened to the tiny fox. "...Hey now," he said, smiling. "It's gonna be alright, 'cous. You know why?" He then flashed signature grin as he gave a mechanized thumbs up. "Cuz you've got me on your team! Leave it to me, if your sister or any more humans show up on Waihona, I'll find 'em and bring 'em home!"
"But how?" asked Malie. "The Gate's powered by the 'Akua's Ki'i. Once we're gone, how're you going to get it running again?"
"Heh, I'll find a way," said the cyborg. "And that's a promise."
-
Alemana gave an uneasy smile. He wanted to be relieved.. but he didn’t know if Mach would find his sister. He didn’t know if she was even still in the digital world, or even if she was alive. Damn it.. why didn’t he ask the Green Lady about this when he had the chance..?
“Thank you, Mach. If there are any other kids here, I know you’ll find them. After all.. Varamon isn’t around to hunt them down anymore.. !”
-
"Now you're talking!" Mach chose then to fold up his shades, spinning them around a digit in a quick flourish before putting them back on. They no longer had any missing pieces, or even a scratch on them. "Kahunimon, was it? Then from one kahuna to another, I swear I'll find your sister."
Malie smiled, wiping the tears from her face. In turn, Kukui and Vixie smiled as they exchanged looks.
-
“Her name is Keilani, and she will be a teenager-she’s gonna be twenty this year actually.” Al said, wiping his face. He doubted that she was wandering about Waihona.. but it didn’t hurt to tell him her name at least.
-
"Keilani... I'll remember that. Once you guys are safely on your way back home, I'll start poking around for her."
"Hey Mach," said Viximon. "I've got an unrelated question: during the fight with Varamon, how did you get back?"
"Huh? You mean with a busted back and whacked-out guidance system?"
"Yeah, that."
"Heh, would you believe me if I said Stingmon helped me out?"
-
“Thank you.” He would sigh- and then had a double take. “Wait, Stingmon was here? So much for staying out of the action,”
His smile couldnt help be be more genuine at that. “I knew he had good intentions.”
-
"Yeh," chuckled Malie. "He's a nice murderer."
"Malie," chuckled Kukui, "You're doing it on purpose, aren't you."
"You know me so well."
MachGaogamon continued. "I doubt he's stuck around to say his goodbyes, but if he has, it'll be incognito. Seems the proud, silent type."
"Probably sulking about having to help the humans," mused Viximon. "Even if only by pixie."
"Pixie?" echoed Kukuimon.
"Proxy," said Malie.
The kit raised her chin high. "Nah," she said. "Pixie's way cuter."
-
At that, Al couldn’t help but laugh, kissing the top of her noggin as he hugged his partner
“Never change, Viximon.”
-
Giggling, the kit wagged her tail as she basked in everyone's affection.
"H'alright," mused Mach. "I'm gonna head up for some fresh air. Catch you guys in a bit."
As the cyborg turned and left the chamber, Alemana saw Vivi get up from her workstation before the computer dissipated into countless, bubbling, blue, pixelated cubes. It was at that same moment both Al and Malie's digivices began beeping.
"Hey guys!" said Vivi. "Me and Eyes just finished uploading the footage we got from the big fight! Once we get back to Hilo, we're thinking of editing it into a movie, just for us!"
-
“Alright, see ya soon.”Al said before he looked at his digivive- and turn back at Vivi
“Wait.. you guys recorded everything? Like the whole fight?”
-
Like a geyser of darkness, Eyesmon erupted from Vivi's shadow, "Down to the last second, Aly-poo~!!" she said, every last one of her violet-colored eyes fluttering as the dragon neared kissing range of Alemana's face.
"Nnnn-nyo!" countered Vixiemon, batting the champion away with a swat of her paw.
Meanwhile, Malie finished unlocking her digivice, familiar battle sounds soon playing as her face became illuminated by the screen. "Wow," she said, "That's some high definition! Way better than what we were seeing on the monitors before!"
"Hmph, you're welcome," said Eyesmon, turning her back to Vixiemon to sashay her hips(?) on over to Malie.
-
Al would feel his ears turn red as he looked away, too bashful to say anything
-
"Uh, Al?" said Vivi. "You alright? You look like you swallowed a bug."
"He's fine," said Vixiemon. "Thanks for the gift, Vivi! I'll make sure he watches it."
-
He would mumble a thanks as he then look around “Where is Ike?”
-
"Still outside," said Vivi. "He and Gaz've been keeping an eye on the five Mo'omon that stuck around."
"They're still there?" asked Kukuimon.
"Yep. Been waiting just outside the main entrance. Sitting on the bridge in a row."
-
"So... I think we gotta tell them our demands."
-
"Demands?" echoed Eyesmon.
-
"Yeah.. they have to protect Waihona now."
-
Hearing this, the others nodded amongst themselves, before following Al and Vixiemon outside, leaving the ziggurat's inner chamber for the last time.
Silence hung over the garden. Even as the Mo'omon knelt before the gathered group, their scaled hides danced with light as the moon neared its zenith. Mach, seeing no threat, had coordinated with Ike and Gazimon to bring the five up from the main gate without tripping any of the remaining boobytraps. It was only when they saw Alemana and Vixiemon that the leader of the reptiles spoke up, but not before his comrades knelt down and bowing their heads to the duo.
"For over a millennium, the Mo'omon of Waihona were united under the banner of Chief Varamon. In his reign, many traditions were cast aside under the belief that his rule would be eternal. Those of us who thought better either did nothing or were slain in active defiance. Those who fled were forced into hiding, always in fear of Varamon's inevitable pursuit." The lead Mo'omon surveyed the garden from where he stood, the sound of a gentle breeze swaying through the trees. "Those of us who bore witness to the miracle of the sacred mountain, and the death of one thought nigh unkillable, await and accept your judgement, Chosen of Kumon."
-
And as Alemana listened, he would gently hug his partner as he then took a deep breath before speaking. “When I challenged Varamon, I gave a stipulation: the tribe would dedicate themselves to protecting and serving the people of the island, to make up for Varamon’s tyranny. If I were to ask you all to honor this.. would you do it?” He asked, looking at the lead Mo’omon.
-
The leader bowed his head. "If that is your decree, then we shall etch it upon our hearts. But know this, for it is true: not all our kin will believe what happened here was just, nor see it as reason enough to change their ways. And now that Varamon is no more, the role of chieftain stands empty."
"A succession crisis," Vivi thought aloud.
MachGaogamon nodded. "Yeah. Not to mention there'll be plenty of 'mon out to get payback for what happened today, and then some."
"Kaua kīvila looms on the horizon," said the lead Mo'omon. "Even in victory, our ability to serve Waihona will be hamstrung."
-
Alemana would frown.. but he then had an idea “Well.. show them the truth. Show them how Varamon was defeated, and by who. And let them know that when she comes back, Kahunimon expects the tribe to fall in line with what was agreed upon.”
-
The other Mo'omon exchanged looks as their leader frowned. "Show them?" he echoed. "Kalahala, but while we can record visual data through our visors, and even share it between tribesmon--"
"Will be enough," said Mach. "Sure, it's not the same as front row seats on the night of the fight, but the message's loud and clear."
"...We can only promise that we will try."
-
“And that’s all I ask, please.” Alemana said as he then looked down at Viximon
“You guys are finally free to go back to your old ways and other stuff.”
-
The Mo'omon said nothing. As one, they gave a final bow to the pair, before taking their leave of the garden. One, however, stopped halfway to glance over his shoulder, first at Al and Viximon, then over at MachGaogamon. Nodding, the reptile then disappeared along with his fellow tribesmon.
Alemana felt a shift in the wind. Out of the corner of his eye, he then realized Ike had pulled an Eyesmon and was now staring at him with a smirk on his face.
"Back to your old ways and other stuff?" he quoted.
-
As he watched them leave, he looked over his shoulder “Yeah, and?”
-
"Never pegged you the type to half-ass it at the last minute," snickered the blonde. "You just that tired, or is all the attention finally getting to you?"
-
“Yeah yeah, laugh it up pretty boy. I’m tired okay? Look at Vixie!” And he held up the kit
-
Ike did as bade and saw the tiny kit stare back at him with glassy eyes, one blinking at a time and out of sync with the other. The Samoan sucked in his lips, his cheeks swelling till he burst out laughing.
"Gaz!" he cried. "You seeing this?!"
"Every bit've it, boss!" laughed the chimera.
One by one, the others joined in, the funnies proving contagious to point Al could even hear Viximon giggling inside his head.
Just as it seemed like everyone would die by their own lack of self-control, a powerful *THOOM* filled the air from behind them. Turning, they saw light shine forth from the peak of the ziggurat. A kaleidoscope of colored energy thrummed towards the moon above, only to split and branch off like the canopy of a banyan tree. To every twig, a star seemed impaled, and soon a ghostly ring of digicode spun around its width like a halo, and then other ring formed and hovered atop the tree's crown.
"Woah!" said Malie. "Is that the gateway home or the world tree?!"
"What's a world tree?" asked Kukuimon. "Is that what humans live on?"
"No time like to present to find out," mused Mach. "Kuku should be at the top of the stairs waiting for you guys!"
-
And Al would laugh as well.. though once that .. tree of energy was formed, his eyes widened as he held Viximon up so she could see
“Oh wow..look viximon!” He said as he would look to the others.
“Let’s go then..! We’re almost home!” He said as he looked up at MachGaogamon “And thank you— for everything!”
-
Viximon could only stare at the brilliant light, her eyes transfixed upon the every changing colors of the canopy. But even such a sight could not hold her attention for long, as she and Al heard Mach sniffle as the cyborg rubbed his nose against the length of a metal finger.
"A'ole pilikia," he said, smiling. "It's been one heck of a wild ride. And yours is only just getting started!"
"Mach?" said Viximon. "You gonna be okay?"
"Aw yeah," laughed the cyborg. "I'm just no good at long goodbyes. Just remember what we talked about earlier, okay?"
-
Al smiled “I won’t forget. And don’t worry.. we’re gonna be back..!”
-
Mach gave Al and Viximon a casual two-finger salute. "You got this!" he said, winking.
Viximon looked up at her tamer, nodding to him.
"Wait," came Mach's voice. "Al..."
Al looked over his shoulder. The cyborg had his mouth hanging open, as if the words he wanted to speak were caught in his throat.
-
The boy salutes back and turned around to start leaving, only to look back around. “Huh? What is it, Mach?”
-
The kahuna stared back at the boy, a silent chuckle on his lips as he flashed his signature grin. "Be the heat! Reach for the sky! Fight the power! It's time to fly!"
-
That made his grin become more enthusiastic as he nodded and pumped his fist as he looked at the others “Well you heard him! We can’t ask for a better send off!”
-
The others cheered, some even shooting a fist towards the sky as they called out their farewells to the blue canine. Mach could only do the same, smiling as he watched tamer and digimon climb the ziggurat.
"Well Noa," he said to himself. "Ready or not, that boy of yours is comin' home..."
From atop ziggurat--the highest point of the heiau--the group looked skywards, and saw not a tree, nor even the moon. Surrounded on all sides by coruscating light, the group saw constellations flicker and take shape like living images. All throughout, the hum of energy held a low note, as if the preamble of a thousand voices in concert.
"Take each others hands and form a circle," bade Menehunemon, the dwarf standing just outside the ring the others stood within. "Those without 'em, hold tight to your tamer!"
Nodding, everyone followed through, with Malie typing her blanket into a harness for Kukuimon. Eyesmon wrapped herself around Vivi, and from there the tamers and remaining digimon held hands.
"You guys nervous?" asked Ike, his palms sweaty in Gazimon and Al's grip. "It's fine! We're gonna make it! This is what we've all been waiting for!"
"Boss," whispered Gazimon. "You're cuttin' off circulation over here...!"
-
“Hey, hey it’s gonna be okay Ike. Just look at how relaxed Viximon is!” Alemana said as he gave the other boy’s hand a reassuring squeeze, said kit looking almost catatonic- once again blinking out of sync as she yawned from atop his head. It had been a very long day after all.
“Hold on tight, okay Kitmon?”
-
"Stahp... talkin t'yerslf," said the droopy kit. "Y'kitmon."
"Really hope this works," chuckled Vivi.
"It has to work!" said Kukuimon.
"ALMIGHTY POWERS TAKE US TO THE SKY HOLE!!" cheered Malie, the girl punching upwards with Vivi and Al's hands to the accompanying howls of Eyesmon.
The world seemed unable to disobey such an order, for the next thing Al knew, he was rising off the ground!
Smirking, Menehunemon raised his foot up. "A hui hou kākou," he said. And like the hammer against the readied highstriker, he stomped the stone beneath him--and in an instant everyone within the ring shot up towards the heavens! Everyone began screaming, some with smiles, some with trials, no wind-resistance pummeled or stymied their ascent! Beneath them, Waihano became a shrinking mass of pink and green in an ocean of warm blues! Above them, neon-colored circuitry flowed into existence like crashing-waves in a stream of 1s and 0s!
-
“Don’t pass out now, you’re about to see our world for the first time!” Al said with a laugh, before then looking Menehunemon “We will bring Lonomon back, I promise!”
And with that they were flying off, and he gave a startled cry, which became a whoop of excitement as the went up, up, and up up! The island below them getting smaller and smaller..
-
The higher they went, the faster they got. Gone was the world below. Only streams of digicode and alien shapes remained. Suddenly, Al felt his arms tense up, with one under more pressure than the other.
"Wh-what's going on?!" asked Ike.
"Are we spinning?!" asked Vivi.
"Al, don't let go!" cried Viximon, the kit digging her paws into her tamer's skull as hard as she could!
-
Al would gasp as this started happening and would tighten his grip on his friends hands “Hang on!” He shouted.. wincing at Viximon’s tiny claws dug into his scalp
“We’ll make it!!”
-
Everything beyond the circle was fading to white now. The pressure on Al's limbs growing by the second.
"I can't hold on!" someone shouted.
"Don't say it just FIGHT IT!!" barked another.
The light was becoming blinding, the pressure too intense. Al was forced to screw his eyes shut just to concentrate everything on not letting go. A terrible roar filled his ears, drowning everything else out! He shouted out his lungs only for something reeking of gasoline to invade his sinuses and cut through his mind.
*THOOMPH!!*
Alemana hit something, and the world went still. Gone was that sense of weightlessness, replaced by a dull, aching soreness in his shoulder. The roaring noise form before was fading, drifting away. He could feel his heart pounding in his throat. When he motioned to feel for Ike or Malie's hand, all he felt was strips of something... grass?
-
“Don’t let go, don’t let go!”
But it was too late, as he closed his eyes he suddenly was grasping at nothing. “Viximon!!” He cried out as he tumbled, spun faster.. faster..
And then he hit what felt to be the ground.. though he didn’t open his eyes for a good moment. “Viximon.. Are.. are you still here?” He asked, afraid to open his eyes.. afraid that he was going to wake up from a dream and everything he had been through was nothing but in his mind..
-
When the tamer opened his eyes, he saw little change. Everything was dark, the smell of gas from before now buried under what was like copper and the damp headiness of a greenhouse. His eyes adjusted. Surrounding him, he saw ferns bushes, and not far away, a road. Not just any road. Even in the dark, he'd recognize it anywhere. It was the very same road he used to get to school every day! The roaring noise? A car that nearly ran him over! He could see its tail lights shrinking as it drove on--like nothing had happened!
He was home...
-
Al would gasp.. and then he would look around frantically- getting his bearings. As he realized where he was.. he began laughing. It was surreal.. it felt like it had been forever since he saw this street or these bushes.. and then he hurriedly pulled out his Digivice- hoping it was still transformed and changed. “Come on.. where the heck are you Viximon..” he said aloud, looking along the bushes as he fished the device out of his pocket.
-
Before the existential dread that all that he endured, all the wonders and horrors of the Digital World, had been a contrived hallucination wrought by a vehicular brush with death; Al found what he'd hoped for most. It wasn't the alien device that had once been his smartphone and now lay somewhere beside his feet. It was the small bundle of soft, yellow fur that lay to one side mere feet away from him. Chest rising and falling, ears twitching to the sound of insects chirping all around.
-
Part of him registered the fact that his digivice was by this feet, and when his eyes locked onto the small form of his partner he scooped up the former cell phone and crawled to Viximon as fast as he could. “Viximon..!” He said as he gingerly picked the little ball shaped fox up. “Hey.. come on say something..!”
-
Viximon's tiny mouth motioned. Alemana swore he could hear something, but so faint was the digimon's voice. But as he put his ear to her lips, he finally made it out.
"Kitmon..."
-
Hearing her voice, all his anxiety bled away as he then chuckled and tickled her belly. “You’re the kitmon…” as he then held her against his chest. Once he realized that she was okay.. he glanced down at his Digivice, and immediately he would call his mom. The others, he had no doubt they were alright. But after over three weeks of being unable to talk to his parents, the temptation to talk to them was far too much to resist. They must’ve been worried sick about him!
-
Viximon gave a quiet giggle, listening to Al's heartbeat as she rested her head against his chest.
Booop... booop... booop...
The receiver picked up, and with it came a voice he'd known since his earliest memories.
"++Hello?++" said his mother. "++Al, are you there?++"
-
His heart leapt in his throat
“Mom..”
And then the damn broke
“Mom, I missed you so much! I thought I was never gonna see you or dad or Kei ever again! I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner!” He started babbling
-
The sudden burst of raw emotion rocked Viximon wide awake as her bloodshot eyes snapped open and her ears stood on end.
"++Al! AL!!++" repeated his mother, trying to cut through wave after wave of Al's babbling brook. "++Al! Where's the fire?! Yes it's late, but are you okay? Where are you?++"
-
“W-what? But I’ve been gone for so long..!” He was shocked.. she didn’t sound distraught or worried that he had been gone at all…
“Uh mom..? This is gonna sound really weird.. but how long have I been out?”
-
"++Al, it's a quarter to six. Dinner's almost ready, and your father just got home. Do you need me to come pick you up?++"
-
Quarter after six? That couldn’t be right- it didn’t make sense! But he would pull the phone from his ear.. and look at the date.
-
In solid Reseda-green text, Alemana saw September 27th, 2030. The same day Al had left for the Digital World.
"++Al?++" his mother continued. "++Al? You still there?++"
-
He was stunned. All those weeks in the digital world.. and not even one day passed here in his world? He didn’t know what to say.. that was melting his mind to even try to wrap his mind around it. But at his mothers questions, he would snap out of his fugue.
“What? Oh. Nah.. I’m fine. I’ll be home soon, I’m halfway there. I’ll talk to you later mom.. I love you!”
-
Al could already hear Jen Sonson holding in a sigh before she spoke again. By that same token, so too could he hear the warmth in her words. "++Love you too, sweetie++"
"I wonder if food in the human world tastes different from the stuff back home," mumbled Viximon, stifling a yawn.
-
He would reluctantly say goodbye, and hung up as he hugged Viximon “You’ll find out soon kitmon.” He then sighed “We gotta call the others. We have to set up a time when we can group up again.” And with that- he would start a group call.
-
"Yer a kitmon."
Halfway through dialing, Al was interrupted by a call. It was from Ike! The moment he answered was the moment his ear was blasted with hysteric laughter.
"++IT WORKED!!++" screamed Ike's voice. "++AL!! IT FUCKING WORRRRRRRK!!++"
Another call chimed in. Vivi!
"++Al?!++" she echoed, almost drowned out by Ike's whooping and laughter. "++Ike?! Is that you?!++"
"++VIVI!! WE DID IT!! WE MADE IT SCOTT FREE!!++"
-
“No you are,” he countered as he answered in surprise “He- GAH! Hey Ike- please stop yelling! Hey Vivi! Wait.. what about Malie?” He asked.
-
"++I'm trying her right now!++" yelled Vivi, her voice just loud enough to pierce Ike's and what may have been Gazimon's incoherent cheering! Long, heavy seconds went by. Ike's voice was starting to break down into hoarse coughing fits and chuckling. It was funny when, despite having faced death in the face over a dozen times, the ping of a text message was what startled Al and the others.
It was from Malie. The text was a garble of letters and typos mixed in with a fish-, nut-, prayer- emoji.
"++CNT COM 4ONE?++" said Vivi.
"++NED SALt FiSH?++ said Ike.
-
He was equally confused, typing “Are you okay?!”
-
Everyone fell quiet. For five minutes, they waited for a response.
*PING!*
A thumbsup-emoji appeared on screen.
-
Taking a breath of relief before then typing “Gud. When you have time.. we gotta plan a meet up.” And then he turned his attention to the others “Tonight we are gonna talk again.. we have to get situated with our families band stuff again. Cause I don’t know how I can get out of… school tomorrow- huh.. yeah, school.”
-
"++On a Saturday?++" asked Ike.
"++Hey yeah++" said Vivi. "++You guys saw the date too, right? Have we really been gone for only a few minutes?++"
-
He would frown “Tomorrow is Saturday?” And then his eyes would narrow.. but then shoot open “Oh shit- it’s Saturday! I have a basketball game—!”
-
"++Let's pick this up later tonight, like you said++" reasoned Vivi. "++I gotta find my folks and give them a hug!++"
"++Aw crap!++" said Ike. "++My folks're gonna ground me for sure! Cya guys later!++"
[Aight, we're gonna transition over to Al making it home. Feel free to describe it and the surrounding neighborhood as well as what awaits him on the other side of the door. ;3 ]
-
“Bye guys, talk to you soon!” And he would hang up.. and glance down at the adorably sleepy Viximon “Alright.. ready to see where I live?” He asked, gently petting one of her ears. As luck would have it his backpack - something he had thought lost- was laying in the bushes and was a convenient baby carrier and hiding place for Viximon : he just opened it up and softly put her inside. Zipping it enough to hide her, but keeping it open enough so she could breathe and was able to peek out at the sights of this strange new land.
The journey was unremarkable, he would pass through a neighborhood that was relatively well off and was quite pretty- seeming almost like it could be a retirement community with how.. tourist friendly everything looked. Colorful flowering plants seemed to be on every median as he crossed one street, then the other.. a sense of anxiety starting to fill his mind. He didn’t know what to do about Viximon.. did he try to keep her hidden? Pass her off as some sort of stuffed animal that he found on his way home? A weird thought exotic animal ? None of these were particularly believable.. but he had no idea what to do. He might be able to keep Viximon hidden for awhile.. but what about Renamon? Even with Kohenkyo, there was only so much he could try to justify: they already had a dog and two cats.. could he even convince mom and dad to take on another pet if Renamon tried to hide as a regular, mundane animal..? Surely she couldn’t just be invisible all the time either. Pretending to be a human… maybe. But there as no way they’d let him have some stranger around all the time- hell.. he was sure he was gonna have to fight tooth and nail just to get his parents to let his team, his new family, hang around- though he definitely wasn’t going to take no for an answer on that front.
Damn it.. he wanted to show Vixi his home, but now that he finally WAS home.. so many factors had to be accounted for! And all too soon.. he as walking up the drive way of his house: a moderately large two story affair, with a large front yard and a garage. Once he was at the door he took a deep breath- which calmed him not at all- and knocked at the door.
-
The first knock was all that was needed for loud barking to erupt from the opposite side of the door. Again, Viximon was pulled from sleep, her eyes shoot up as she sat up in her backpack of (broken) solitude. The baying grew louder and in tandem with a staccato clattering--followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. When the door opened, light from inside was the first to greet him, then the *THOOMP* of something against the wooden barrier, then the face of a barking pitbull as the poor thing tried to escape and lunge at Alemana. But as the gap widened, Al came to stand before a face he'd not seen for nearly a month, though it may as well have been an entire lifetime ago.
[Aight, describe Al's mom and pupper. ;3 ]
-
The dog was decently large for a pitbull, the cashew brown fur short as a long tail wagged up a storm as Al gave a sudden gasp as the canine pushed its way past the door and jumped.. trying to tackle that boy. (“Hold on Viximon…!”) Al thought as he stumbled and lost his balance- taking the backpack in his arms and rolling so he hit the ground instead of the backpack.. which the dog began snuffling at with immediate curiosity, snorting and puffing. The woman at the door was shocked for a moment, but would give a surprised laugh at the sudden “attack”, before trying to pull the dog away from his prize- though viximon did get a face full of dog snot as he snorted directly into the opening. It was easy to tell that the woman as related to Al, she looked like an older, more matronly version of his sister.. dressed in jeans and a tee shirt with the logo of the animal hospital she worked at.
“Mom…” and then without being able to help himself he began tearing up
-
"Hey, kiddo, I-" the woman paused, her brow furrowing. "Al? What's wrong?" But as Cashew continued to harass the hidden Viximon, Jen grabbed the dog by the collar, reeling him in. "Alright, Cashew! Break it up! Break it up!"
The dog whined even as he wagged his tail and rubbed himself against Al, the chaos obfuscating the spitting noises that came from the tamer's bag.
"Here, sweetie," grunted Jen, offering out her hand to him. "Lemme help!"
-
He would get up, and give his mother a tight hug.. the backpack momentarily forgotten.. and the dog would return to sniffing the backpack.. whining
-
Al felt the soft touch of his mother's hands against his back, her arms wrapping around to hold him close.
"Al? Al you're scaring me. Did something happen on the way back from practice?"
The boy could hear Cashew barking again, the dog playing fake-out with Al's bag. When nothing happened, the canine began sniffing at the opening in the zipper, only for a tiny yellow paw to smack him square on the nose, quick as blinking.
-
“No I..” he then realized how strange he was being. “I just had a long day, is all.” He said with a smile as he reluctantly let her go. “I-I’m fine, really!” And he would then gently shoo Cashew away from the backpack and sling it over his shoulder- saving Vixi from her new best friend.
“Silly boy..” and he reached down to pet his dog. “I’m just gonna go upstairs and get ready for dinner, okay?” And he would adjust the backpack, and stepped into the house, heading for the stairs. Once he got up to his room, he quickly closed the door behind him.. and slid down to the floor.. taking it all in. His room wasn’t all that special for a twelve year old boy: it was surprisingly neat, with a bed against the wall and a large tv standing atop a long dresser, a game console sitting beside it. On the other side of the room was a desk with an impressive computer set up, and a lot few books: one or two being about software design and general programming, the others being science fiction books.
“I was starting to forget what my room looked like..” he quietly said, unzipping lol he backpack
“I’m sorry about that, Viximon. Cashew wasn’t scary was he?”
-
Viximon turned her face away from Al's as she blew her lips together. "Lotta slobby kisses," she rasped. "Seems nice, though--"
A low growl interrupted the kit. In tandem, both she and Al looked down to see the walls of her midsection wobble. Yellow cheeks turned brilliant pink.
-
“Yeah, he’s really friendly. Wouldn’t hurt a fl-“ he then paused, and then hr began chuckling “Hungry huh?” He would then get up, and walked to the desk, opening a drawer
“I can’t take you down to get food yet.. but I have a bag of tender bites- a type of meat snack- to hold ya over” he would hen get a plastic plate and put out about half a dozen meaty pieces .. laying the plate on the floor
-
Without wasting a second, Viximon pounced on the stationary prey, ravishing it with her face for every spec and crumb. The tiniest burp escaped her seconds later as she sat on her hind legs.
"Pretty tasty!" she chirped. "Got any more?"
-
He would grin, and pour out a another handful for her “here you go!”
-
The fact that the tasty morsels needed to first fall onto the plate was no excuse for not devouring them, as Viximon began snatching them out of the air. As she proceeded to suckup the rest of the spoils, Al heard a yowling as it emanating from under his bed. Two eyes with slit pupils met his gaze, just as the cat they belonged to sauntered out of the shadows to greet him.
[Aight, who's the cat? ;3 ]
-
“Easy, don’t get a tummy ache okay?” He cautioned with a smile on his face, only to almost jump as he heard the cat voice itself. He turned to see a calico cat slink from the space under his bed.. and he gave a sigh of relief. “Heya Cinnamon,” he said as he knelt down and began to pet the top of her head “Play nice, Vixi here is your new roomie!”
-
"Hi, nice to meet you!" said Viximon.
Cinnamon gave Al the most deadpan look a cat could muster as she sat down in front of Viximon's dish, tail swishing left, then right, at its own pace.
"Hm? You hungry, too?" asked Viximon. But when the feline didn't respond, the kit tilted her head to one side. "You don't talk much, do you? That's okay. I can respect that."
-
Al watched this polite introduction with a smile, patting the cat, and then her
“She doesn’t talk the same way you and I do, Viximon.”
-
"Huh? Why, is she sick?"
-
Al would give a good natured chuckle, she really did remind him of a small child when she was in this form sometimes. “Well no.. at least I don’t think so. Cats just have a different language than humans do. Same with dogs! But when you get to know her, you’ll start to be able to understand what she means pretty well!”
-
Cinnamon closed her eyes, slow and deliberate, as she let Al pet and explain, her purrs vibrating through the boy's finger tips.
"Ohhh," said Viximon. "I get it now. She talks through her grumblies!" Standing up on all fours, the kit began echoing back the purring sounds Cinnamon was making, causing the cat's ears to stand up. Seeing the source, Cinnamon leered at the tiny vulpine, a half-assed growl emitting from her fuzzy lips. Viximon giggled, continuing the 'conversation' even as Cinnamon stood up and sauntered over towards Al's desk chair for a nap.
A knock soon came from the door.
"Al?" he heard his mother say. "You coming down for dinner?"
-
“Yeah, she kinda does!” He said with a laugh, watching as Viximon “talked” to Cinnamon, and he would rub her ear. When his mom knocked on the door, he jumped “Crap, I’ll be back after dinner.. try to keep quiet so mom and dad don’t get suspicious okay?” He whispered
“Coming , mom!”
-
Viximon made no promises, too busy pawing at Cinnamon's tail as it dangled over the side of the chair, twisting and coiling in expectation of the next fox-pat.
[Alright, give me a monologue of Al reacclimating to being home that night, from eating a prepared dinner, to chatting with his parents, to showing in hot water and wearing fresh clothes to bed. What thoughts race through his mind as he cuddles with Viximon that night?]
-
Beaming at her actions, and would wave goodbye as he went downstairs.
______
Dinner was much harder for him to process than he expected. Being home, safe and sound with his parents, his pets, and all the comforts that came with them made it almost seem like his journey within the digital world was nothing more than a vivid day dream. But it wasn’t. He had danced with death and glory both and had accomplish things he could’ve never even imagined, and he wanted to share everything with his family- let the dam break and let the deluge of wonder, terror, and pride free.
But..
Hono-Kapumon’s warning was clear: There were people, powerful people who were very much aware of the Digital World and it’s inhabitants. People who saw them as an opportunity to gain power and dominance over both worlds. People who extorted children and forced them into working for them as soldiers and weapons. He loved his parents.. but he had no idea what would happen if he just started blabbing about Viximon, his friends, and their mission to essentially save an entire world. Maybe they would just chalk it up to him having an overreactive imagination.. but what if they didn’t? What if they believed him, but decided to tell somebody.. possibly the wrong somebody? That was something he didn’t want to think about, so he would try to act as normal as possible- recounting events of a school day he barely even remembered, laughing, and listening to his parents talk about their day. He then would claim that he was tired and went to bed early, giving his mom another hug and his dad a high five- though he was then stopped, his father asking if he hurt his hand at school. The boy quickly denied it, and would bid them goodnight. But when he returned to his room and scooped up Viximon for the night.. he spent a long time just staring at the ceiling.
His dad saw one of the scars on his palms- the ones scorched into his flesh by Kumon’s Ki’i. And he had no idea how to explain how he got them.
-
[Gain +1 Inspiration.]
The shrill note as the whistle blew, the cries of dozens all around; noise reverberated off the walls and basketball court as the final scores were set. A narrow game, but it was Alemana's team that had the last laugh. Distractions, let alone a lack of practice, had kept the boy from making the winning shot, but no one could deny the fancy footwork he'd made playing defense. No, what had distracted him most was seeing Ike, Vivi, and Malie sitting on the indoor bleachers. It took forever to get away from the team and even his parents, but eventually Al made it outside to find the others waiting.
There they were, in the shadow of the school's main building, sitting on a bench. Vivi was the first to see Al, the spectacled tamer waving him over as she got up from her seat. Al's attention soon landed on what she was carrying in her arms. At first, it looked like the blue, disembodied paw of a massive plushy, with a red eyeball flanked by two fleshy antennae on the stump of what would've been the wrist.
"Al!" said Vivi rushing over to meet him. "Congrats on the big win! Your team was amazing!"
-
Al had expected to be rusty.. but he was able to hit his stride by the second half. Seeing his friends watching his game though, that almost caused him to fumble a couple occasions - but he was glad they were there. When the game ended and they narrowly won, he would grin and cheer with his teammates.. though with a great amount of effort he was able to slip away and meet them.
“Hey guys! I didn’t think you’d actually convince your parents to come!” He said.. and then he looked at the strange little creature “Is that Eyesmon?”
-
"I didn't," said Ike, holding a spherical gym-bag on his lap. "I slipped out've the house first chance I got."
When Al addressed the little paw-creature, it curled into a fist, averting eye-contact at all costs.
"D-d-d-d-d-don't look at my face, Aly!" it squeaked. "I'm hideous!"
"You're fine, Tsumemon," said Vivi, the girl giving an awkward chuckle as she looked back up at Al. "Yeah, turns out interdimensional travel knocks you down a few levels."
"Pfft," said Malie, the longhaired tamer wearing a brilliant, coral-colored blouse. "You ain't seen nuthin'."
-
“Well.. that sounds like you, pretty boy.” Alemana said as he then chuckled as he knelt down to look at Tsumemon, a big grin on his face “What are you talking about? You’re adorable Tsume!” He said as he pat between her antennae.
“You can come out, Viximon!” He called out, before looking at Malie.. taken aback by how pretty her outfit was
“W-what do you mean?”
-
Smiling, Malie swung her legs up onto the bench, revealing a familiar bucket that'd been hiding behind them. Leaning forward, she pulled the bucket out, not caring that her hair touched the ground, to reveal the biggest surprise yet. There, halfway submerged in water, was the most colorful green and orange fish Al had ever seen. One might've mistaken it for a Hawaiian trigger fish by the patterns on its flanks, except for the following major points: one, it was as big as any of the other baby digimon Al had seen; two, it was using its fins like hands to hold onto the rim of the bucket; three, it had the biggest, sweetest eyes that ever blinked up at the boy; and last but not least: it had a snout like that of a certain piglet where its mouth would have been.
"A-aloha!" mumbled the fish, brown eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
"FISHY!!" cheered Viximon, the kit popping up from behind Al's shoulder, tail wagging like mad.
"N-no! I'm Humumon!" said the fish digimon, trying to give a sidelong glance with the happiest smile on his face.
-
Alemana would gasp.. and he would gently reach out to boop the little fish creatures nose “Aren’t you a cutie patootie?” He asked, laughing as he reached up to let Viximon
“Is Pagumon in that bag?”
-
A muffled voice from said-bag was quick to respond, with a familiar ear-wing slipping out through the gap in the zipper to form a thumbs-up. "Right here!" said Pagumon's voice.
"We're real lucky you guys devolved when you did," sighed Ike. "Dunno how we're gonna be able to keep everyone under the radar once you digivolve back."
-
“We will deal with that when we have to. Maybe we can let them play for a bit, let them explore out here while we talk- because we definitely gotta talk.” And he would look at Vixi “Whet do you think?”
-
"Yeah!" said Viximon. "That sounds like fun!"
"Yes!" said Pagumon. "FINALLY!! I've been suffocatin' in this bag for too long!"
As the blue ball slipped free of confinement, and Viximon zoomed in and out and all about the tamers' legs, Humumon struggled to peek over the lip of his bucket.
"Eh? B-but what if we get caught," he asked, watching Tsumemon bounce onto the ground.
"Duh, we'll stick to cover!" said Viximon, the kit propping her forelegs against the bucket.
"B-but cuz! I can barely walk on land!"
"Quit bein' a wuss!" said Pagumon, smacking the bucket from behind. "Just get your butt movin' already!"
The force by which the blue ball's wing-hand smacked the bucket caused it to tremble and capsize, Humumon flailing his fins about as Viximon zipped aside from the oncoming tidal wave. Humumon cried out as he was carried away by the stretching puddle, giving Vixi and Pagu something to chase as Tsumemon scuttled into a nearby bush.
-
“Watch out for each other okay? And don’t go too far! People might come looking around even on a Saturday!” He said, laughing as he saw the group scamper off into the bushes as he looked at his friends, his expression becoming more serious.
“I’m sure you all know this already.. but all that time we were over there.. barely any passed on this side. That.. kinda changes things. I don’t think we have a lot of time to find Lonomon. Months might’ve already passed in the digital world since we’ve gotten here.. maybe even years. So.. does anyone have any ideas on how we’re supposed to find the Akua..? I’m open to suggestions.”
-
Looking down, Vivi adjust her glasses. "Won't lie," she said. "Ever since we got back, Me and Eyes--er, Tsumemon've been thinking about what our next move should be. Idea one is: we get Tsume back to Eyesmon so she can ghost the internet for clues, but even that might get dicey."
"Yeah," said Ike. "Big Brother's prolly watching for digi-hackers. I know I would be. No telling what kind of security they've got ready in the wings."
"My dad works for the National Guard," said Malie. "Maybe he could help."
Ike blinked. "Wait, what?"
"Mal, your dad works for the Hawaiian National Guard?"
"Yep, he works at the base here on the Big Island. Then again, I'm not sure if he'd listen to us, even if we showed him our digimon."
"Of course not!" snapped Ike. "He'd probably lock us up and throw us to his damn supervisors!"
"HEY!! Don't talk like that about my dad!"
-
“They might be an option, yeah. But I agree with you, Vivi.. if we are gonna have Eyes be a cyber sleuth we gotta be careful and avoid drawing attention..” and he then turned his head to look at Malie in surprise- though his expression became in of exasperation at Ike’s reaction. “Hey hey! We don’t need to be pointing fingers at each other’s parents! I’m sure her dad is a really good guy! But I do agree that we should try to keep the Digimon on the DL- unless we run into a situation where we have no choice but to get loud.. or we find someone we know for sure we can trust. No, I’m not saying your dad is a bad guy,” he quickly added. “But one of his bosses could be in league with the bad guys..”
-
Malie and Ike looked away from each other, crestfallen.
"Al's right," said Vivi. "My mom's a reporter, but I really don't want her finding out until we've got a better idea on what to expect."
"My mom's a cop," mumbled Malie. "And I don't think she'd listen to me."
"You're army AND the thin blue line? Man, why's everyone else got folks with cool jobs?"
Vivi shrugged. "I mean, my dad's a garbageman, but I think he's cool."
-
“My dad is a teacher and my moms a vet.. we all got parents who do lots of different things. But Malie’s parents aren’t any less trust worthy than mine, or Vivi’s or yours Ike. Right now we should probably assume that all our parents at least have one connection to someone who has ties to people we really don’t wanna gain the attention of.” He said.. his own expression becoming a little demoralized as well.
“But hey.. what was your second idea, Vi?” He asked, putting on a smile.
-
"Well, the next option could be looking into anything remotely digimon-related, including other tamers in our area."
"That's right!" said Malie. "We're not the first to come back from the Digital World! Honu-kupunamon said she sent kids back using Lonomon's Ki'i."
"Except most of those kids probably don't have partners anymore," reasoned Ike. "They probably think they just had a really vivid dream, if they remember anything at all."
-
“That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any who have partners. That’s why it won’t hurt to at least try to search them out. Though we have to be careful.. no guarantee that they aren’t working for the enemy- whoever the enemy is.” He then have a bit of a hopeful smile “But who knows.. we could have more friends than we realize too.”
-
Ike gave a flat, lop-sided smile, nodding in agreement.
"The last idea I got," said Vivi. "Is trying to use the Ki'i."
"What," said Ike. "Like, Geiger-counters or something?"
"Yeah, I know," she said, chuckling out a sigh. "It's not exactly hashed out, but, maybe the 'Akua can point us in the right direction. The only hiccup with it is--besides relying on them being able to communicate with us outside of the Digital World--if trying to activate them will get caught on some super, sensory detector the government might have that we don't know about. Eheheh."
-
“Wait..that last one might be a good idea. I used Kanemon’s Ki’i to find Kanaloamon’s in Hookmon’s Vault.. maybe we don’t have to make bursts of power.”
-
"I like it," said Malie. "Divine GPS for the win!"
That managed to get a chuckle out of Ike, the Samoan pulling out his digivice as he began unlocking it. "It's... not a bad plan," he said.
"Is that your professional opinion?" mused Vivi.
"Pfft, alright, it's a great plan," he said, smiling. "Happy now?"
Laughter broke out amongst the four. First stifled, now out in the open. The sound of a sharp note in the distance pulled Al's attention away to look over his shoulder.
"Alemana!" called out a middle-aged man, one hand to the side of his mouth while the other waved high above his head. Noa Sonson, father of Alemana Sonson.
[Aight describe Papa Sonson. ;3 ]
-
“It at least gives us a direction to start from,” Al would laugh along with them.. though he gave a quick jump as he heard his fathers voice call to him. (“We might have to leave Viximon, so get ready to tail us if we do. If not, don’t worry about it- keep playing or whatever it is you guys are doing!”)
He then would wave at his father “Hey dad!” He called out as he looked at his friends “I’ll see what he wants, and then get back to you guys, okay?” He promised as he began to walk towards his dad.
Said father was hard to miss: dressed in a blue polo shirt and brown khaki pants.. he looked like any other parent who went out to watch their child compete in a sports event. It was hard to argue that he was Al’s father as one got closer, the familial resemblance impossible to ignore between father and son.. though he definitely had what Al considered to be the dorkiness that could only belong to a teacher and a writer. Lean and seemingly not overly muscled, decently handsome for his age from a a certain point of view, Al sometimes felt embarrassed by his fathers relative goofiness compared to the more grizzled or hard boiled dads a few of his teammates.. especially with those obnoxious sunglasses he wore everywhere.. to a twelve year old.. his dad seemed as lame as lame could get!
“What’s up dad?”
-
("Aw, okay,") said Viximon. ("Tsume just tried face-hugging Pagumon, but I'll keep an eye out!")
Meanwhile, as Al approached his father, the tamer saw the man raise his arms up. "Hey there, champ!" said Noa. "What's the hold? I thought we were headin' out for a victory 'cone at Dairyman's.*" Looking up and past Al's shoulders, Noa stared at the others sitting by the bench. "New friends?" he asked.
*This setting's Dairy Queen.
-
Al almost laughed as he then looked up at his dad
“Oh yeah? That sounds great!” He then looked over at his friends “These guys are my best friends.. I’ve known them for awhile!” He said with a smile and looked back at his father, not really thinking about what he said. Viximon’s amusement at the other digimon’s shenanigans bleeding into his mind and muddling his ability to mediate his thoughts.
“Could they come with us?”
-
"Best friends?" echoed Noa. "How come you never told me about any of them? Did you meet online or something?"
-
“Uh, yeah! You can say that!” He said waving his hands in an nonchalant manner, grinning like any other kid, showing that both hands had the scars
-
"WOAH!!" Noa caught Al by the wrist, staring square at the boy's palm. "Geez, what happened to your hands, Al? Is this from practice?!"
-
This caused the boy to to stutter, his smile now gone “Well, uh… these are-“ he fumbled. This was what he was worried about!
-
"These don't look fresh, either! When did--"
Just as it seemed like the jig was up, the two were interrupted by the blonde interceptor that was Ike. "Ho there!" said the Samoan, rushing between Al and Noa. "You're Al's dad, huh? That's awesome! Name's Ike! Real great to meet ya! Cool game going on back there, do you coach?"
Noa took a step, he motioned to speak, only to bump into Malie behind him.
"Woooow!" said the longhaired tamer, beaming with her arms behind her back. "You really do look like each other, huh? My mom says I take more after my dad. Do you know him?"
-
Al couldn’t say it, but the relief he felt and the returning smile was all the thanks he needed to give “Yeah, do you know her dad? He’s part of the Guard in town. And her moms’ a cop! How cool is that dad?” He asked, closing in from around Ike now- capitalizing on the distraction.
-
"Well that's great," said Noa. "But--"
"Aloha Mr. Sonson!" said Vivi, the spectacled tamer cutting him off. "My name's Vivian Kamaka, but everyone just calls me Vivi!"
"Aloha, yes, could I just--"
As the swarm of kids roiled on all fronts, Noa's attention was pulled away when phone began vibrating in his pant-pocket.
"Aw geez, it's your mother," he said. "Just a second--"
-
“What do you think mom wants, dad? That’s pretty weird, isn’t she at work today?” Al asked. He had to admit, hanging up on his dad and keeping him off balance was kinda funny! “You should answer!” He said with a more enlarged grin
-
Noa shook his head as he struggled to unlock his phone. "Ugh, Al, head for the van. If you're friends are coming, it's now or never."
-
“Okay! Well come on guys, let’s go!” He said as he would motion for everyone to follow him.
(“You guys might have to sneak somewhere safe for follow us.. we are all leaving—“)
-
("Understood!") thought Viximon. ("Be seeing you soon, kitmon~!")
And on that final note, Al hurried along with tamers in tow, the gang racing after him as he led the way towards the family van. For once in what felt like forever, they talked and laughed about things any kid should. Like how tight a seatbelt felt, how funny the video they saw on the internet was, and what kind of ice cream was the best. On a whim, as Al got comfortable and buckled up, he checked his digivice, going over all the stuff he still had in storage. Among the assorted gear, and foodstuffs and apparel, there was one item he had no memory of ever seeing before. The tag said "GIFT" in capital letters. Curious, and seeing his father still busy on the phone, he pulled it out from storage. A literal bunch of bananas materialized in his lap, garner gasps and laughter from the other tamers. Tied to it, however, was a note, written in print:
As promised, keiki. I always pay my dues.
~Kuku
A golden sun was rising over Hilo, Hawaii. And soon it'd be feeling the heat.
"Yeah... yeah, I know, Jen... I swear, something's up, I--huh? Another one? Where? Jesus... alright, we'll keep it under wraps for now. I'll see you when you get back. Love you, too."
Noa hung up the phone, holding back a sigh as he looked to the canopy of nearby trees, watching as they buffered the school from a harsh wind.
"Huaka'i pō," he said, a shadow crossing his face. "The Nightmarchers are back again..."
CHAPTER COMPLETED
Epilogue! +2 EXP +2 DP
Dragon Slayer! +5 EXP +5 DP +5 Inspiration
Rainbow Traverse! +3 EXP +3 DP +2 Inspiration
Dance of Fire! +2 EXP +2 Inspiration
For What's Next to Come! +1 EXP +1 DP +1 Inspiration
Total: 13 EXP, +11 DP, + 10 Inspiration!