Chapter Twenty Eight: Separation

Kumo: Finally back to some action. I hope you enjoy!

Hawk: Man, it’s good to be back to writing.

+_

“Mobilise; let Aegiomon know. Petermon didn’t take enough troops to battle a force that big.” D’arcmon looked at the group as Tinkermon flew out of the tent. “Time to prove your worth.”
“You want us to deal with your mess? No thank you.” Tammy scoffed but no one else said anything. “Please don’t tell me you guys are considering this?”
“Tammy, think about it,” Faeremon urged.
Tammy sighed. “Whatever.”
D’arcmon circled an area on a map and then walked back over to the group with it in hand. “I would like to request that Cayden and Liomon stay behind.” She looked around. “Where are they?”
“Liomon heard fight, they’re probably halfway there already.” Agumon looked to the others and then ran out of the tent. The others followed, excluding Jade.

D’arcmon raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got an issue, Jade Nedzweski?”
Jade whispered, “I don’t want to fight…”
“If you don’t fight then hundreds of Digimon will die. Your friends might too.”
“My partner’s dead, and now I’m stuck with the strange egg. I’m— I’m useless already.”
D’arcmon smirked. “Jade.”
“What are you smiling about?” Jade barked.
D’arcmon placed her hand on the egg. “For now, take my sword.” She withdrew the blade from the scabbard and held it out to Jade. “And I’ll look after the egg.”
Jade tentatively took the blade. “It’s heavy.” She groaned, her arms shaking as she held it up.
“You’ll get used to the weight; now, go on. Go with your friends.” She held out the scabbard and the map. “Don’t hold them up.”

+_

“Iron Trust!” Aegiomon leapt through a crowd of Aruraumon, moving past the extending vines. He focussed his gaze on their leader. The golden bird Digimon, Sinduramon. He felt a vine touch against his arm, numbing the appendage and sending pain ricocheting up it, but, now, Sinduramon was in arm’s reach. Sinduramon struck down the Impmon, who were Aegiomon’s comrades, who had surrounded him with ease and a lack of care that made Aegiomon feel sick.

Leaping through the air, Aegiomon clasped his hands together, bringing them down on Sinduramon’s back. “Stun Beat Blow!” Electricity exploded from his fists, sending Sinduramon burrowing into the ground. Turning, he struck the nearby Aruraumon and grabbed onto the vines of another, spinning around and launching it away. He leapt after it, electricity sparking up and down his body. He yelled loudly to his comrades, “Don’t lose hope!”

His own forces had just entered the fray but Petermon’s small force was quickly depleting. Just ahead, he saw his next opponent. It looked like a bipedal bird with some metal armour on the chest. “Silphymon.” He clenched his fist as he saw the data of his allies flying through the air around him.
The Digimon saw him coming and roared, “Static Force!” A green energy ball formed on its hands and was unleashed.
Aegiomon was mid-air with no way to avoid the attack. He felt something snag onto his clothing and pull, dragging him out of the blast. Looking out of the corner of his eye, he saw a wolf-like Digimon.
“Howlmon, throw him!”

Aegiomon was launched through the air, flying underneath the blast as Silphymon tried to catch up with the situation. Spinning, so his legs were first, Aegiomon tensed the muscles. “Iron Trust!” He unleashed a powerful double kick as he reached Silphymon, tearing straight through to the other side and springboarding back into the air as soon as he touched the ground.

+_

“This is a blood bath…” Tammy whispered. Next to her, was everyone except Hawke, Howlmon and Liomon.
“I don’t like it.” Holly gripped tightly onto Blackmon. “Can we go back?”
“Iontramon, let me go!” Aiden yelled as his partner held him down. They were stood atop a hill as the battle waged below. Data was spiralling up almost continually from the field as the Digimon fought ruthlessly. Neither side was giving an inch and now their reinforcements had arrived, it looked to be an even battle.

“Tammy, the only way to turn the tide of this battle and help is for us to intervene now.” Faeremon looked at her and nodded.
Tammy shook her head. “You can’t move when you’re Caermon and besides, they’re doing fine.”
“If we help that’ll reduce the casualties.” He looked her in the eyes but she wasn’t budging.
“That’s enough for me.” Jade drew the sword from the scabbard on her hip and slid down the hill.

Cayden called out, “Jade!”
“No fair, she gets to go!” Aiden yelled. “I need to be leading this team!”
“Cayden, what do we do?” Holly looked up at him, almost tearful.
“I— I don’t know…” Cayden’s eyes flickered across the field as he watched both Jade and Hawke engage in combat. His own partner was lost among the mess of Digimon too, and he had no way of knowing if she was still alive.
“We go home.” Tammy looked down at the ground, shaking her head. It was too much. “I’ve had enough of dress up now. I want to go home.” She looked over at Agumon but he didn’t have the gall to look back. “Please, Agumon.”
He began to speak, in a slightly defeatist manner, “Tammy...”
“Please, I’m done.”
Agumon looked back at her but couldn’t muster any words.

Aiden burst out from underneath Iontramon and charged down the hill.
“Aiden!” Iontramon yelled as he watched his partner slip and begin to roll straight into a pack of Aurumon. The owl Digimon awaited him eagerly.
Agumon realised immediately what was going on. “They’ve been given orders to kill you all!”
“What?” Tammy screamed, shocked.
“Then Aiden is...” Holly peered over the edge.
Cayden looked between Aiden and Tammy. “Tammy, we have to go.”
Tammy sighed. “Fine.”
“Aiden, press the button on your Digivice!” Holly screamed as he rolled.

Aiden shouted, in pain, “This one?” He fell onto the ground, closing his eyes and pressing the button. Flecks of red exploded from the Digivice, flying up the hill and encasing Iontramon in an egg. It grew to a size they all remembered.

Inside, Iontramon’s body warped, the data peeling back to his exoskeleton. The skeleton extended upwards and outwards at the top, like a tree. Colour began to spread across the skeleton, aqua skin forming except for the branches which warped into wing-like structures. Blue feathers began to attach as a royal blue robe wrapped around the newly-formed chest and hung down his lower body. The legs and arms solidified and a large chunk of ice appeared next to his right hand, compacting to form a thin pole. A helmet formed over most of his face and blonde hair exploded out, only to turn white as cold radiated from his core. Stalactites formed on his wings and white fur began to adorn the robe as he spun his staff around. Striking the egg, it shattered.

“Hand of Emotion!” The Digimon flew off the edge, his fist glowing with blue energy. Aiming it downwards, he unleashed a beam to tear through all of the Aurumon around Aiden. He flew down, picking his partner up and shooting back into the air to avoid the attacks.
“Wow…” Aiden stared in amazement at his new partner. “You’re stronger now.”
“Aiden, we can still choose not to fight.”
“Please, Iontramon,” Aiden begged, grinning as he watched all the commotion going on below.
“It’s IceAngemon now.” He sighed. “Hold on tight.” Flying down, he spun his staff around, generating wind, and then brought it down on the ground. “Frozen Throne!” Ice exploded outwards from the point of impact and the Digimon closest to him froze solid.

He placed Aiden down and flew through the frozen Digimon, zigzagging through the ice sculptures. Flying to the side, he avoided a strike from a charging Bullmon. “Hand of Emotion!” The blue bull Digimon exploded into data and the beam of energy continued to travel through, tearing apart the gaggle of the same Digimon that were fighting behind.

IceAngemon flew into the air, Pteramon surrounding him as soon as he left the ground battle. Missiles flew at him from all directions but he didn’t panic. Holding out his hand, he closed his eyes and as soon as he felt his staff fly into his grasp he spun it around. “Angel Ice.” A shell of ice formed around him but was destroyed instantly by the missiles. Flying through the smoke he gripped the staff as it reformed, launching it like a spear to impale the Pteramon ahead. “Angel Ice!” he moved his arms to the side and spikes burst from either side and impaled the nearest Pteramon. The staff flew back to him, data trailing from it, and he struck the Pteramon behind himself, sending it rocketing into the ground. Glancing to the side, he saw that the others were with Aiden now and breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking up, he held up his staff as a Pteramon nose-dived straight at him. The force pushed him downwards but he managed to bash away the metal bird Digimon before he reached the fighting below. “Hand of Emotion!” Spinning around, he tore through all of the remaining Pteramon around him and watched their bodies fall to the ground as they turned to data. He shook his head. “Pity.”

+_

“I wish I had more power,” Liomon pouted as she leapt through the air, bouncing off Diatrymon’s shoulder. The Digimon took flight, flying after her. “Ignite!” she unleashed balls of fire into the air but they were all missing. “Now this is a fight I can dig my teeth into!” Grabbing onto an Aruraumon, she launched the Digimon into the air towards Diatrymon. “Roar!” Diatrymon—and those around Liomon in a small radius—froze. Bouncing off the shoulder of another Digimon, she then used the body of Digimon she had thrown as a stepping stone to reach Diatrymon. Landing on its back, she bit into its neck. “Nibble!” Pulling backwards hard, she unleashed a fountain of data and then rode the body down to the ground as it disintegrated. Grinning widely, she looked for her next opponent. Something bigger this time. That was when she spotted it on the horizon. The ultimate opponent.

+_

Howlmon tore through a group of Aruraumon with his claws, Hawke keeping close behind him. “Wolf Flare!”
“Behind you!” Hawke called, jumping back as Howlmon spun, fire bursting from his maw to incinerate another Aruraumon that was trying to take the opportunity of Howlmon’s distraction.
“Hawke, be careful.” Howlmon cautioned, briefly glaring at Hawke before leaping on another group of the plant Digimon.
“I know.” Hawke grumbled, ducking as an Impmon jumped over his head to attack another Digimon.

+_

Petermon pursed his lips together, whistling a tune. All of the Digimon in the area around him froze and then he snapped his fingers. His allies regained movement and the Hyokomon began to cut through the frozen Biyomon. Spotting Allomon ahead, he charged. It unleashed a stream of fire, causing the air to ripple. Moving to the side, he spun his sword around and gripped it so the blade was perpendicular to his body. Touching the ground briefly, he twirled around, cutting into the leg of the dinosaur Digimon. Leaping back, he yelled, “Twinkle Shoot!” He launched the knife with a purple thread trailing behind for him to hold. The blade burst straight through the head of Allomon and the data from it exploded.

A blade appeared above Petermon’s head; it was red in colour and attached to a green humanoid insect Digimon, Stingmon. Pulling his own blade back, he held it in front of him to block the rapid onslaught of attacks. Diving to the side, he avoided a fatal blow. He threw his blade, wrapping the thread attached around Stingmon’s neck, and then launched himself into the air.

He could hear Stingmon’s wings beating close behind and the stream of silver needles that flew at him were further proof that he wasn’t safe. He stopped. Spinning, he began to move his blade swiftly to block the needles. After a few seconds, he started to fly, still managing to deflect the multitude of weaponry that was being hurled at him. “Snipe Sting!” The brown mask across Petermon’s face tore off and his beaming smile erupted as he gripped his blade tightly. He thrust with the blade but Stingmon knocked it away. Spinning the blade in the air, he grabbed hold of the metal and smacked Stingmon’s blade away from his own throat using the hilt. Flipping it again, he ducked under the other arm and brought the blade through Stingmon’s attacking arm, severing it. Stingmon didn’t panic and stabbed Petermon in the shoulder immediately. Data shrouded the two as they began to unleash attacks and counter attacks.

Spotting an opening, Petermon’s blade began to glisten gold. He punched Stingmon’s blade, impaling his own hand on the blade and holding it there to prevent escape. Plunging his blade straight through Stingmon’s chest, he brought it down and then continued to slash repeatedly, tearing Stingmon apart strand by strand until the insect Digimon faded away and it was only his own data that was spiralling upwards.

Tinkermon pressed her back against his. “You need medical attention!” She blocked a vicious attack from an Aruraumon.
“Don’t worry about me, Tink.”
“Pete, I always worry!”
“Duck!” Petermon pulled her head down, flipping over a vine whip and launching his blade to finish off the Digimon. “We have to turn the tides, Tink. Let’s go!”

+_

“Howlmon, duck!” Hawke yelled as a javelin hurtled towards them. His partner did as he was told but as the javelin touched the ground a huge explosion launched them—and many other Digimon—across the battlefield.
“Hawke!” Aiden started running over, IceAngemon close behind. A javelin crashed into the ground behind and launched them both over, landing in a heap with Hawke and Howlmon.
“Aiden, you shouldn’t have...” Hawke groaned, leaning back against the large rock face.

“Ignite!” Liomon leapt off the back of another Diatrymon, unleashing balls of fire at the humanoid Digimon in the sky. With a mostly white body, it blended into the sky but the golden bird on its shoulder and shiny armour made it easier to track. The balls of fire crashed into Valkyrimon, but the Digimon simply flew through the smoke they created and aimed the arm with the golden bird on at Liomon.
“Flare, attack!”
The small bird took flight, but was in front of Liomon in an instant, cutting into her data with its sharp metal claws and throwing her at the cliff.

Liomon crashed into the rock, rolling down and closing her eyes exhaustedly. “I can still—!”
Cayden ran over, picking her up. “We have to escape!”
“Over here!” Jade pointed to the cave that burrowed into the mountain with her blade. Turning, she slashed through an Aruraumon, booting the remains away afterwards.

Tammy ran past Jade, rushing inside with Faeremon close behind. Holly carried Blackmon past as the others clambered up. Groaning, Hawke looked up at Valkyrimon. It was a Mega level Digimon—they didn’t stand a chance. Cayden grabbed hold of Aiden’s wrist, tugging him away. IceAngemon planted his staff in the ground as a javelin flew towards them. “Frozen Throne!” A wall of ice exploded upwards and outwards from the staff.
“Hawke!” Howlmon looked to the cave and then back to his frozen partner.
“Right.” Hawke shook himself and then ran towards the others as they fended off the rookie Digimon who were trying to chase them inside.

Placing his hands on the ice, IceAngemon could see through to the other side. The javelin crashed into the ice and shattered it all instantaneously, tossing him backwards like a wad of paper.

Aiden grabbed hold of his partner’s head, looking up at Valkyrimon with fury in his eyes.
“Aiden, leave it.” Tammy grabbed hold of him and pulled him inside as IceAngemon changed back into Iontramon. Faeremon and Hawke pulled the otter Digimon inside, breathing a sigh of relief. At least for a second.

“Get down!” Tammy screamed, running into the dark cave.
Cayden turned to look for the reason behind her screaming and saw a javelin hurtling straight towards the cave mouth. He dived down, shielding Holly and Aiden as they sat with Hawke. Jade stood, watching it, almost willing it to strike.

The javelin flew past them, crashing into the wall of the cave. There was a sudden rumble, the earth around them shaking, as the cave mouth collapsed. They were trapped.

+_

Coughing, Holly slowly opened her eyes. Looking around for the others, she found that she had been closed off via fallen rocks. The rocks had formed an insurmountable wall, which she was incapable of climbing.  “Guys?” she called out, looking around. She couldn’t even see Blackmon.
“Holly?” Agumon pushed a rock off his clawed foot, rubbing it.
“Agumon!” she ran over to the sound of his voice but it was impossible to see any further than just in front of her face.
“Human…” A light flickered on from the wall of the cave, two more quickly following and illuminating the area. The voice was scary but Holly was thankful for the light.

Spotting her partner, she rushed over as Agumon slowly stood up. “Blackmon!” The little Digimon wasn’t moving but she could see his little chest rising and falling.
“Holly, I don’t think we should stay on our own for long. Let’s try and find the others.” Agumon touched her gently on the shoulder and she nodded.
“We’ve got to be brave.” Looking around, she spotted an opening. The area she had been trapped in was only small so she had no other choice. Picking up Blackmon, she walked into the unknown. “Could you turn on some more lights please, Mister Cave!”

+_

Jade groaned as she sat up, rubbing her head. Nothing came into focus for a moment, then she realised that it was because there was nothing to focus on. It was pitch black in front of her.
“Not something I want to do again...”
Jade turned towards where she’d heard the voice. “Was that you, Cayden?” she asked, feeling around with her hands.
“Yes.” Cayden make a sound of pain. “Sorry, stubbed my toe.” Jade felt something soft, and poked it gently.

Suddenly, something grabbed her wrist, forcing it upwards. Jade gasped in surprise, then a faint light appeared behind her and she realised it was Hawke, sprawled on the ground. She’d never realised he could glare so viciously. “Sorry.”
Hawke let go of her wrist. “Who else is here?” he asked, still not letting up his glare.
“I’m here.” Cayden spoke. “Liomon’s there, but she’s unconscious.” He walked over to the other two, holding out his arm for Hawke to take. The younger teen pointedly ignored it, standing on his own.

“Me and Tammy are over here!” Faeremon called, waving his arms. The trio moved towards the Digimon. While Faeremon was standing, Tammy was still flat against the ground. Her eyes were closed.

Hawke looked down at where Tammy lay. One of her legs was buried in a small pile of pebbles. Hawke’s breath caught in his throat.
“Hawke, are you alright?” Cayden asked. “You’ve gone pale.”
“I’m fine.” Hawke’s tone was unconvincing, but Cayden decided not to push him further.
“Who are we missing?” Jade asked.
“Aiden, Holly and most of the Digimon,” Cayden replied.
“I’m here,” Aiden announced, climbing over a small pile of rocks, which were running across the room. “Iontramon and Wolfmon are over here as well.”
“So it’s Holly, Blackmon and Agumon missing,” Faeremon said.

Jade poked Tammy in the stomach suddenly, and the girl groaned, curling up even as she woke. The pebbles burying her leg clattered to the ground. “What?” she asked groggily.
“You’re sleeping in mud.” Hawke spoke levelly.

It was barely a second later that Tammy was standing three feet away, glaring at the spot she’d been lying on. “Who let me sleep in mud!?” she shrieked, her voice echoing slightly.
“Are any of you hurt?” Cayden asked.
“I wanna bite whoever did that,” Liomon growled, slowly regaining consciousness.
“We’re all right,” Iontramon replied, climbing over the pile of rocks. Wolfmon soon scrambled up behind him.

“Scratches.” Hawke shrugged; he felt able to breathe again.
“We were lucky,” Jade commented. “That javelin barely missed us, and the rocks landed pretty close to us all.”
“Where’s Holly?” Aiden asked.
Everyone paused, realising that Holly still hadn’t appeared. “Holly?” Jade called.

Soon everyone had spread out, calling her name or just searching in the dim light from Liomon’s—now alight—tail. The cave brightened up occasionally when Wolfmon breathed fire.

After a few minutes of searching—and Cayden cursing after falling over a large rock he couldn’t have seen—Hawke turned to Tammy, annoyance in his eyes. “Why haven’t you made it brighter in here?”
“What are you talking about? Why are you asking me that?” Tammy looked back at him, her lost expression shrouded in the shadows.
“Get your Digivice out.” Hawke sighed, realising he’d only explained the Digivices properly to Holly.
“When will you stop demanding like that?” Tammy pulled it out anyway.
“Now squeeze the sides. Don’t look at it.”

Tammy followed suit, and blinked when a bright light poured from the device, blinding her even with it pointing away. “Nice.”
“Can ours do anything?” Aiden asked, looking over at Hawke with curious eyes.
Hawke sighed. “They all do different things.” His face darkened, him obviously trying to avoid the most painful memories. It didn’t quite seem to work. When he spoke again he was quieter, a slight tremor in his voice. “White heals, green gives energy, red gives invisibility and mine can teleport things. We never found out what the blue one did.” Hawke looked up towards Cayden. “Sorry.”
Cayden laughed nervously. “Don’t worry about it.”
Hawke looked away, having to centre himself.

“Holly’s not here!” Tammy called, walking back. She looked worried.
“What?” Spiritmon asked, suddenly nervous.
“Please, no...” Hawke whispered, his face rapidly paling.
“Wait.” Jade pulled out her Digivice, pressing buttons randomly until she managed to find the map feature. She figured out the zoom quickly enough - pinching the screen - then looked at the six dots showing where everyone was. Five were in a cluster, but the sixth was moving away from them. “She’s moving somewhere.”

Hawke had done the same as Cayden, glancing around to try to find which direction Holly was moving. “She’s behind these rocks.” Hawke commented, looking towards a pile of rocks that seemed to reach the ceiling of the cave. “We can’t get over there.”
“Can’t you move them?” Aiden asked, pointing at the larger rocks. “With your Digivice, I mean.”
“Teleportation only works with living things, and I can’t move things somewhere out of sight, and if we lifted them out of the way the cave could collapse.” Hawke looked around, trying to find a way past the wall.
“There’s some pathways over here!” Tammy called, pointing the torch towards the back of the cave.

The group walked over to the girl, Hawke glancing his Digivice every few seconds. “What’s down there?” Jade asked. A faint light came from the rightmost of the five tunnels.
“I’m going this way.” Hawke walked towards the leftmost tunnel. “You guys do whatever you want.”
“Oh no you don’t.” Tammy grabbed Hawke’s shoulder, stopping him. “I’m coming with you.”
Hawke sighed. “As I said, do what you want.”
Jade called out, “What’s that?”
Tammy turned towards Jade, ready to give a sharp response. Suddenly, something grabbed hold of Tammy and she screamed.
“Tammy!” Faeremon flew towards his partner.

It seemed to be a giant hand, cut off from the arm at the wrist, that was grabbing Tammy. Almost as soon as it had hold of Tammy, it dragged her down one of the tunnels, next to the one Hawke planned to head down. Faeremon flew after her, gold dust trailing from his fingers. “Snap!”

The entrance snapped closed as soon as Faeremon passed the threshold, a smooth wall that blocked off the way for the others. “What... happened?” Aiden asked.
“Wolfmon,” Hawke ordered, turning to run down his tunnel even as his partner ran after him. The two entered the tunnel, and the cave closed behind them.

“We’re being split up...” Cayden looked around for the next attack; there was something in the cave with them.
“At least we know those two have their partners,” Jade said. “We need to figure out if we head into one of the tunnels.
“We have to find Holly and Hawke!” Aiden protested. “And Tammy too, I guess,” he added as an afterthought.
“What’s that?” Iontramon asked.

The ground had begun to shake slightly, and the six began looking around warily. There was a sudden, violent shake and they were all thrown to the ground. Pillars of earth began to shoot up, separating them. When the ground stopped shaking, there was only one way for each of them to go.

+_

Hawk: Well, this chapter is done. I bet you’re all wondering what could wait for them in this cave. We know... Mostly.

Kumo: More than a good chunk of this was Hawk and I love how it ended up. Let us know what you think!