Episode Ten: Play Time

OOC: And if he can, there's not even a way for them to save themselves. Not to mention that it shouldn't be possible to force a biomerge, because it runs on hokey friendship shit. Finally, that doesn't make sense, a clock still tells time.

*Apparently, Euryale has Digivolved. She tries to struggle against this bunnying shit.*
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*Rosemon tries to fight fire with fire, growing a rose garden beneath Cherrymon to put him to sleep & also wrapping him up in her whip to enslave him.*
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*Keeps walking. Message must have been a hallucination.*

The Knight pursues easily keeping up with them and able to overtake them at any moment should it be forced to. Taiyo stops running, Gallantmon stopping in front of her, seeing the fear she's trying to fight back as plain as day.

Taiyo: "Euryale, can you hear me?"

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Fighting to stay awake, Cherrymon grabs the whip and tries to reel Rosemon in.

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Rustling through grass and who knows what (I do!), some close together trees impede him from walking forward.

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AncientIrismon: "No, but Ornismon might have something for you."

And so the Ancient One takes flight back up the mountain.

*Goes around the trees.*
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*Stabs his arm with her rapier.*
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<"You have to run! I can't control myself!">

*Kylie pulls Taiyo away from Gallentmon*
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*They wave goodbye*

Cameron:<Hey, do you know where we can find Ornismon?>

*This is directed at the Birdramon*

Taiyo resists because maybe the Power of Love will make everything better. And still feeling rather guilty about not participating in the MetalSeadramon fight due to Euryale's stance on cowardice real or otherwise.

Taiyo: "But it's still you in there."

Gallantmon raises their lance, Taiyo cowers and flinches before being blinded by a flurry of leaves as Renamon Kohenkyo's into Taiyo's place taking the full brunt of the lance.

Taiyo: "Renamon!"

Azuma: "Patamon, Digivolve!"

Taiyo now has to run to Renamon who starts to dissolve.

Taiyo: "Why...why did you do that?"

Renamon: "If I die protecting you then I will have served a fulfilling life."

Taiyo: "But you can't. There's still so much more to do."

MagnaAngemon rushes to Taiyo & Renamon, halting at a blinding flash of light that subsides showing [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

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Motherfucker is asleep. Rosemon is now entering the territory of murderers that kill people in their sleep.

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Should be look at his hands, he can see they're quite red. And if he doesn't he can feel they're incredibly itchy. Aroma being somewhere in the area might be of some help to him in regards to what's giving him a terrible rash.

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Thankful for the mask, AncientIrismon turns around and gestures towards the mountain.

AncientIrismon: "Ornismon resides on top of this mountain."

*Rosemon ceases her attack because it's asleep. Instead, she ties it up in vines, just in case, & looks around.*
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*If he ever fuckin' gets there.*
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*Gallantmon is too in shock to respond. Yes, it's a cop out. Shut up.*

Eve:<What's going to stop Puppetmon from controlling you too?!>
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Cameron:<Thanks!>

*Biyomon digivolves and flies up the mountain*

Sakuyamon just seems to be staring off into space.

Taiyo: Renamon?

Renamon: Yes, Taiyo?

Taiyo: What did you mean that as long as you died protecting me you'd have lived a fulfilling life?

Renamon: My duty is to protect you. If it means laying down my life, I'll do it.

Taiyo: How can you say that so casually? Even if you can come back. Won't you just think the same? Isn't there anything else you want to do besides protect me?

Renamon: I want to live a happy and fulfilling life for as long as I can. I want my life to have a purpose.

Taiyo: Then stay with me. Will that be enough?

Sakuyamon partitions into the two seperate entities. Renamon in one piece with Taiyo's arms wrapped around her.

Renamon: "Yes."

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They are alone. Figuatively, but not literally. Now would be an ample opportunity to complete the task.

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The scent of cherries and roses begins to fill the air. That rash not getting any better.

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The Birdramon eye them with caution, ready to attack at any moment. At the top of the mountain is a pair of Garudamon who appear to be just if not more weary of outsiders.

From a cave flanked by torches emerges an enormous fucking bird that can be none other than Ornismon, the Garudamon and AncientIrismon bowing as it looms over the two without actually trying.

*Rosemon wanders to the edge of the clearing.*

<"(Hey! I defeated him, just like you asked!)">
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*Thinking this might be a trap, Roatha steps lightly & hides behind the trees as he peers around for any sign of friends or foes.*
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*I suppose Gallantmon also regresses, but by contrast, both components have their backs towards each other & are curled loosely into the fetal position. Guilmon is pretty obviously whimpering like he has a stomachache.*

*Saberdramon deposits Cameron and then lands, regressing to Biyomon. Both bow*
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Eve:<As much of a wonder heartfelt moment as this is we are still in danger.>

Azuma: "I wouldn't call it entirely heartfelt. But we should move."

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A Dokugomon slides down a thread seemingly out of nowhere.

Dokugumon: "The task was to eliminate it. You cannot show mercy on the merciless. But this will suffice."

From the surrounding foliage come a swarm of KoDokugumon which mob Cherrymon. Within short order they disperse and Cherrymon is no more.

Dokugumon: "You have saved a lot of lives, Child of Purity."

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Aside from the scent, there is nothing visible but more foliage. He can hear the faint shouting of a familar pair of voices.

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Ornismon: "Rise."

The Garudamon and AncientIrismon rise to their feet.

Ornismon: "Child of Reliability, why have you come?"

*They do*

Cameron:<You summoned me, lord.>
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*Moving!*

Rosemon<That was--couldn't you put him in prison, or something...?>
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*Doing the same shit he's been doing.*
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*Euryale & Guilmon make no movement nor acknowledge them in any way.*

Taiyo: "It wasn't your fault."

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Dokugumon: "In this primal domain, the only form of justice is exile or death. One of Puppetmon's minions would not obey the lord's order to leave which only leaves death. Why should a murderer be allowed to live when its victims will never have that opportunity?"

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The scent of cherries gets weaker, but the scent of roses remain. There is also a sudden influx in spider webs to walk through until he stumbles into a clearing where a giant spider is discussing the death penalty with a fairy thing.

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Ornismon: "That is beyond my abilities. The powers that be chose to put you in my domain. You came to my sanctum when you could have went the other way. Why?"

Cameron:<Uh...the other way seemed darker and we heard bird calls in this direction.>

*Still not responding.*
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<"What? Did you just say that murder is justified because murder is wrong?">

R"Wait a minute--Aroma?"

Taiyo reaches to touch Euryale's shoulder.

Taiyo: "Euryale?"

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Dokugumon: "How many more lives would have been lost if it were allowed to continue living? You aided in the destruction of many other Digimon and now you choose to change your moral stance? How do you plan on defeating Puppetmon who has driven many of TyrantKabuterimon's & Ornismon's subjects from their homes and robbed many others of their lives? By saying stop doing that? You were chosen by the King of Bugs to be its successor. This is your chance to start living up to those expectations."

Dokugumon shoots a thread from its ass as a spider does and takes off into the canopy above.

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Ornismon: "This world is full of many dark paths. Many of which you and your kind have already travelled. Why should that one in particular be any different?

A Biyomon comes flying up, damn near barreling Cameron over.

Biyomon: "Sire, more of Puppetmon's minions are in the area. They've....they've slain...."

Ornismon squawks, furious.

Ornismon: "This is not our conflict yet that wretched toy insists of trying to drag us into it. Child of Reliability, prove you are worthy of that title. Eliminate those that ignore my desire for neutrality. Return when the task is complete."

*Rosemon looks down in the dumps.*

R"What, are you taking that thing seriously? Big talk about being unwavering & worthy & what the fuck ever by someone who wanted you to do their dirty work, then ran away from the conversation."

*Rosemon looks at him.*

Rosemon<So you think I'm right?>

R"Uh--well--I think you know what your own opinion is."

Rosemon<Oh...well...how did you get here? Are you okay?>

*Roatha shrugs.*

R"Walked, I guess, & I've been poisoned, so not really."

*He shows off his hands.*
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*Despite trying to hide it, Euryale can be heard taking sharp, sobbing breaths. Her eyes are squeezed shut, but not tight enough to prevent the free flow of tears.*

*Everyone stops and heads back*

Kylie:<Euryale, you didn't do anything wrong.>
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*Cameron nods, and Biyomon digivolves and picks him up*

Saberdramon:<Which direction?>

Taiyo kneels down to hug Euryale.

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Biyomon: "In the forest below....They're....they're everywhere."

The Birddramon sentries all sqwuak, disturbed by something.

AncientIrismon: "This isn't the first time Puppetmon's minions have attacked anyone that strayed away from the mountain."

*Euryale & Guilmon keep doing what they're doing.*
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R"We should go back to the others, now."

<"But Puppetmon's still around. What if he doesn't let us.">

R"Hmm...we could try to go after him directly?"

<"Well, we ARE in his territory. Or so I'm told.">

*Saberdramon nods and flies down there. Once there, he digivolves to Karatenmon*

Taiyo: "Please say something."

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There's a lot of rustling in the trees and surrounding foliage as something or a group of somethings move about, watching them. Waiting for an opportunity to attack.

R"But how do we know which way to go? I doubt it would be on the map."

*He checks anyway.*

<"Well, if we assume that his domain or whatever is roughly circular, we could just keep heading in this direction.">
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E"I can't--I can't--!"

*She covers her face in her hands as best as possible. Dorumon waddles over to Guilmon & headbutts him, also receiving no response.*

Cameron:<We know you're out there. Let's get this over with.>
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*Kylie makes this a group hug*

Lunamon:<GROUUUUUUUUP HUG!>

*Eve sends the missing people a message*

Are you guys still alive?

-E