Old Ones Return (VII)

*Kylie screams as DemiDevimon falls, tears streaming down her face. Cameron and Lunamon grab her under her arms and pull her after Thiera*

Lunamon:<DemiDevimon gave her life for you! Don't you dare stop fighting!> 

*Kylie pulls away from Cameron and Lunamon and begins to run on her own towards the river. Meanwhile, a scream of rage erupts Crusadermon as they fly towards Daemon from behind*

....NOOOO!


*A sparkling pink aura covers Crusadermon*

<Crusadermon Burst Mode!>

*Crusadermon Burst Mode flies at Daemon, flaming blade outstretched to stab him in the back*

*Due to eye damage, Daemon does not see the attack coming. Injured but not destroyed, he whirls around to blast Crusadermon with more fire. MadLeomon is similarly blasted back, but not destroyed. The smaller D-Reaper agents are forced to pull back from Kyubimon's attacks, but the larger ones press on. The Bacchae leap on Megidramon, mauling her & forcing her to retreat. They pour data-infused alcohol onto Ceresmon Medium's wounds to heal them. Meanwhile, the Leomon are able to destroy the false Ceresmon, allowing Ebonwumon to refocus its attacks, easily destroying the ambush party & moving towards the D-Reaper Agents. Azulongmon likewise assists with lightning blasts.*

*Crusadermon teleports around Daemon to avoid the fire, using Fist of Fear at point blank range. Cameron and Lunamon run faster to keep pace with Kylie, still heading towards the river and Biyomon*

Cyberdramon blasts the D-Reaper Agents approaching Kyubimon while Gatomon takes shots at MadeLeomon while Angemon falls back to the river, the retreat effort going nowhere.

*MadLeomon is finally obliterated. Knowing there are too many people firing on them, Kurata has the D-Reaper agents sink back into the ground to regroup, as Megidramon flies through a Space Oscillation Portal, which then closes. Daemon's body collapses in a cloud of data, Gevurah tumbling out. He turns out to be thick-bodied, but elderly, with a pointed face, white goatee, mustache, & long, scraggly white hair, of course wearing the mercenary outfit. Being no fool, he takes off running, firing wildly behind him while pulling out a Space Oscillation Device.*

Gevurah<How many have you killed now? How arrogant, that you thought that violence wouldn't come back onto you!>

*As soon as Daemon disintegrates, Crusadermon teleports in front of Gevurah, tearing away the gun and throwing it aside before grabbing Gevurah. They grab the arm holding the Space Oscillation Device with the other, break the arm, and throw the device away into the dirt. Crusadermon then flings Gevurah over their shoulder before taking off back towards the others at the river* 

<I'd love to show you your internal organs right now, however you've made a very urgent appointment with a friend of ours.>

I imagine the above post is going to be No Sell'd, so it means nothing to me.

With the opposing forces withdrawing or destroyed, those airborne presumably are in the clear to make a straight shot for the riverbank.

*Gevurah, of course, screams bloody murder & whimpers as he's hauled off. And so they collect on the river bank, the various Digimon armies facing the Tamers.*

Yamaki<So...should I hold off on activating the Juggernaut, then?>

Th"Yes, yes, wait until we find the location of this dam, you can use it then."

*She speaks as if waving off an annoying fly, complete with hand gesture, & the Tamers discover that Ebonwumon's heads have different minds.*

Left<Oi see, so dat dur Kurata header blocked up da river so we couldn't be gettin' after the dahta.>

Right<So thah's arr ahbjective, then? It’s a lang road tha’s no goat a turnin'.>

*Crusadermon lands in front of Thiera, dumping Gevurah on the ground and holding him there with a foot on his back. They exit burst mode*

<I...I can't bring her back...but I can bring you this piece of trash.>

*They gesture at Gevurah*

<Go on, he's yours. Tell me you want him out of your sight, and I'll take care of him myself.>

*Cameron moves towards Thiera, trailed by Kylie, Lunamon, and Biyomon*

As it's better than watching this 3edgy5me display, they begin making their way up the river, Taiyo waiting for Euryale which unfortunately means she has to be subject to that.

*Thiera tears herself away from glaring at Gevurah to look at the angel twins, dragon lad, & their partners.*

Th"Don't go off on your own. You'll end up like--that is, you should have seen enough Digimon trying to be heroes to know how that ends."

Right head<She's right, lassies & laddies, best be leavin' the dahm to someohne dat is noht knockin' on heaven's door.>

*Gevurah looks up, face twisted & sweaty.*

Gevurah<I--I know you. Netzach said you were always preaching about not killing. You--you must've also let Malkuth go.>

*Thiera trembles, her attention drawn back to the creepy old guy.*

Th"Yes...it's because we were trying to escort Malkuth to safety that we walked into your ambush. To think, it took a sadistic, worn out husk like you to show me the price of mercy. The foolishness of wanting to save everyone."

*As she speaks, she begins fiddling with the D-Power, though it refuses to activate.*

Th"...I suppose I should thank you."

Hideki: "We're supposed to be heroes. That is why we're here to save this world."

Crusadermon:<We are the heroes. At least compared to these fucks.>

*They increase the pressure on Gevurah's back. Cameron puts his hand on Thiera's shoulder. Lunamon looks at those wandering away, then speaks up very loudly*

Lunamon:<You think they would at least pretend to care that...well you know. No wonder they can't biomerge.>

*Kylie glares at Lunamon*

<I'm not apologizing.>

BanchoLeomon<Sometimes, the most heroic thing you can do is ask for help.>

*His ears twitch.*

Bancho<I have pretty good hearing, you know. Even with the battle raging around me, I heard that DemiDevimon asked you not to change.>

*He stares intently at Thiera, who looks away.*

Bancho<Do not stop trusting in your heart. Your partner never did.>

Th"She was wrong to trust me. Because of that, she's...gone."

Bancho<But she left with no regrets, save for the pain that you would feel in her absence. You would have to remove your own heart to truly lose a bond like that. A part of her will always be with you. Do not despair. Be brave. Remember: You have a lion's heart.>

*Meanwhile, SaberLeomon, standing on shaky legs, sniffs Gevurah, who cringes. Agumon separates from the group tending to Ceresmon Medium & limps up to Euryale, panting & clutching his side.*

Saber<He may be more useful alive than dead. The Sovereigns can probably imprison him.>

A<Good news...we were able to...chase off...Megidramon...hey, where's...Demi...Devimon?>

*His face falls when Euryale looks away from him. He's known her long enough to recognize when she's trying to hide tears. Tsune & Gomamon don't tear up, but similarly avoid his gaze, Tsune with her fists in her pockets, angrily kicking a pebble.*

Azuma: "We have to press on. We have to succeed if we want to avoid further loss of life."

*Lunamon rolls her eyes at Azuma, then moves over to Agumon, whispering in his ear*

<She's dead...she died to save Kylie, Cameron, and I.>

*Cameron squeezes Thiera's shoulder*

<He's right, you know.>

*Thiera gives a great sniff & tears fall to the ground at her feet. Eventually, she falls to her knees, sobbing in earnest & shaking her head, hands over her face. BanchoLeomon puts an arm on her other shoulder, then looks to Azuma.*

Bancho<For the moment, we are far stronger than you. We will destroy the dam, and assign a squad from the Black Chessmon Empire to protect you, in case Kurata attempts another ambush. Use this time to decide where your powers would best be focused, upon regaining your strength.>

Yamaki<Juggernaut would suck up the very data that you are trying to collect. However, I may be able to prepare Yuggoth, as support fire.>

Bancho<I appreciate that.>

*Meanwhile, Agumon is shaking his head as a contingent of PawnChessmon, a Rookchessmon, a QueenChessmon, & a KingChessmon take up formation around them--KingChessmon in the back. Other chessmon set to patrolling the area. One PawnChessmon in particular lifts up its visor, Betsumon winking at Cameron with its creepy grin. Nearby, the Bacchae are helping Ceresmon Medium back to her feet.*

A<That's...how can that be? We've always managed to get out of tight spots before.>

E"He said...he said we were foolish to think that would last forever."

*Cameron hugs Thiera with one arm, while using the other one to gesture furiously at Betsumon*

<He's back!>

Biyomon:<Uhhhh...?>

*Biyomon looks around, confused*

*Cameron shakes his head, then focuses his attention back on Thiera. Kylie and Lunamon sit nearby, not wanting to interrupt. Crusadermon looks around at the group*

<Can we get this asshole tied up or something?>

Hideki: "Haven't you broken him enough?"

*SaberLeomon swats Gevurah, who jerks slightly, then goes rigid, gaze frozen in fear. Meanwhile, Euryale pulls slightly away from Taiyo & Thiera peeks out of her fingers, glaring at Hideki.*

SL<I will take him to Azulongmon, if you don't mind moving your foot.>

Th"It will never be enough."

*Crusadermon removes their foot, then regresses to Lyra and Kotemon, both of who flop on the ground. Cameron continues hugging Thiera, his cheeks red and streaked with tears*

Lunamon:<Yeah, remember what he did!>

Taiyo looks at Euryale, confused.

Taiyo: "What's wrong? Err...I mean, what's...."

She's not good with words.

Hideki: "We don't have to sink to their level."

*Euryale stares at her like she has at least 7 heads.*

E"What isn't wrong?"

*Meanwhile, continuing to glare coldly at Hideki, Thiera removes Cameron's arm from around her, rears up to her full height & advances on Hideki, speaking in a quiet, measured voice.*

Th"Oh, so you know just how to handle this, don't you? Funny, that didn't seem to be the case moments ago. When you were running off like a coward & not looking back."

*Apparently wanting to avoid this incredibly awkward situation, SaberLeomon grabs Gevurah in his jaws & bounds off towards Azulongmon. Meanwhile, except for the contingent assigned to protect them, the army begins moving up the river bank.*

*Cameron stands up as well, standing slightly behind Thiera close enough to grab her if necessary. Kylie tries to move between them, only to get waved away by Cameron. Lyra and Kotemon get up and brush themselves off, Lyra staring at the ground*

Taiyo: "Sorry...."

Hideki: "We don't have to be like them and cause death and destruction everywhere we go. Haven't we done enough of that?"