Chapter 4
#4 of Next Generation- The Digivolution Saga
Craigs still in creepy demon mode, and Karen gets to tie up some loose end...
Craigs still in creepy demon mode, and Karen gets to tie up some loose ends
"No Touch Old Man, Make Special Present For Demon." The black creature hissed again, standing between the fox and lizard.
"What the fuck? What are you?" the Zarrumon growled back, "Where the hell did you come from?"
"Demon Leave Old Place, Where Demon Weak. Find Here, Like. Has Good Air, No Bitter. Quiet, Good Sleep. Prey Smart, Make Chase Fun." The creature chattered, crouching down on its haunches, "But Light Come, Same When Demon Come. Bring Cat, Has Toy, Demon Wants. Cat Show Demon Trick, Demon Want Toy, But Cat Say No. Demon Eat Cat, Take Toy, Do Trick. Demon Like."
"What the hell is he saying?" The lizard growled, "He ate a cat? And what toy?"
"He means absorbed, and by the looks of it, the toy is that Soramon's staff." The old man explained, standing up slowly and brushing himself off, "Looks like you're too late to get revenge."
"Then I'll just take it out on this place!" the enraged Digimon shouted, spinning around, he shouted at the other Riders, "Burn it down! Burn it all d..."
The staff slammed into the Zarrumon's jaw, causing a sickening crunching sound. Staggering back, he stared at the creature, its featureless face unreadable. Growling, he roared at it, charging head long into it, slamming it into the side of a building. Drawing back his hand, he made ready to plunge his dagger into its chest, when an iron bar smashed into the back of his head. Stunned, he let the creature go, turning to the old fox, still holding the iron bar, a look of defiance on his face.
As he took another swing, the massive digital lizard slammed his fist into the foxes gut, sending him flying back. Charging full tilt, the lizard tackled the vulpine, slamming him into the side of his workshop. Stepping back, the lizard tried to pull the dagger free, having driven it straight into the wood behind the fox. Another screech drew his attention away as the creature swung the elemental scythe at him, barely giving him time to dodge, slashing open his stomach. Falling back, he scrambled to his feet, clutching the wound on his stomach and his broken jaw, running out of the village.
"Kh'ill 'hem," he roared, his words slurred by his shattered jaw, "Kh'ill 'hem aww!"
Turning to the fox, Craig swore, "I have to help you!" He said normally, his voice still evil though.
"Go kill that bastard then, Boy!" the old red fox growled, pointing into the shrubs, he coughed, "I got all I need right here. Come out Karen! We need to talk! And you! GO!"
Craig nodded, looking worryingly at Karen and Namico as they stumbled out of the forest, Karen running sobbing to her Grandfather's side.
"She wouldn't stay, I'm sorry, but..." Namico said hurriedly, standing a little back from Craig.
"It doesn't matter, she needs to be here. Can you help the town's people? I have other business." Craig cut her off, before looking out at the scene around him. It was utter chaos as the Fire Riders threw their destructive attacks at anything and anyone, even each other. The town's folk at least appeared more organised, using their elemental attacks strategically to beat back the other digimon, many Fire Riders disintegrating already. Craig then crouched, launching himself into the air and disappearing once again into the black sky.
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The Zarrumon staggered out of the village, calling one of the other riders with him.
"Shit, Boss, what happ...urk" the canine gurgled softly as the lizard tore his throat out, absorbing the resulting data and healing himself.
Looking back, he growled as the villagers pushed back his men, forcing them out of the village too easily for his liking. Standing to full height, he began running back towards the village. So consumed by rage, he barely heard the attack, stopping only just in time as the electrically charged shockwave torn a huge gash in the ground just ahead of him.
"You're looking for me, right?" An annoyingly familiar voice said, as its owner approached, the black skin retracting into grey fur, feline ears forming atop its head, wings shrinking into his back, "Well here I am."
"I'm gonna kill you, boy. Then I think I might have myself a little fun with some of the girls in that village, or maybe I'll just focus on that cunt feline of yours." He growled, watching as Craig showed no emotion, remaining perfectly still. Roaring, he charged.
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"Granddad! We have to get you help!" Karen sobbed, looking desperately at the old man, who was smiling softly. Suddenly he coughed, a single piece of data floating up out of the wound on his stomach. Staring at it, Karen gasped when he grabbed her hand, forcing her fingers around the symbol.
"Take my power, Karen. I may not have been able to teach you everything I wanted to, but I can at least give you my power." He said softly, the strange smile still on his vulpine face, reaching under his chest fur, he pulled out a small brass key, "And your father can give you this, back shelf, in the blue box."
"Granddad! I'm not taking your data! You have to live!" Karen sobbed, causing the old fox to scowl.
"Like hell I do! I thought I could get my son's compassion out of you, leave you more like that stubborn beauty of a mother you have, but it seems I've failed." He growled angrily, his face then suddenly softening, "You may be like her in many ways, my girl, but you're like him too." He said softly, gurgling in his throat as he held tightly onto Karen's wrist, his data now flowing freely from him into her. Looking into her tear filled eyes; he smiled again, whispering, "You have his eyes, Karen, and his courage. Courage I could never fully understand, courage to care for anyone who needs it, courage to love freely, courage to be yourself. I wish I could have had that courage, even for a day..." He trailed off, pushing the key into her hand as the last of data began to peel away from his face, "He wanted you to have it, he wanted you..."
Karen stared at the blade sticking out of the wooden wall, tears streaming down her face. Feeling somebody gently rub her back, she sobbed. She watched her tears fall, watched as they seemed to glow, before hitting the ground and disappearing. She felt emotions rage up inside of her, a sudden realisation of just how much her grandfather had loved her, growing, filling her body to bursting point. Turning to look at Namico, she asked, "What's happening to me?"
"I don't know," she replied, "I really don't know."
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The Zarrumon panted, staring wildly at Craig, who appeared completely unaffected. Roaring again, he launched himself into another charge, which Craig dodged as easily as the previous attacks. Now thoroughly annoyed, he swung his fist into the air, slamming it into the ground as he roared his attack.
" Ignition Fist!" the flames surged out, forming a ring of fire around Craig, the heat causing him to start sweating, the other digimon appearing completely unaffected.
"Nice," Craig laughed, going into an actual attack stance now, "Let's quit playing, alright? Now we fight!"
Both fighters screamed as they charged, shouting their attacks as they met, sending a massive shockwave soaring across the green fields.
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"Oh Sovereign, Karen!" Namico gasped, staring at the vixen, "You're beautiful!"
"I...I am?" Karen stuttered, grabbing a piece of mirror lying on the desk, looking at her reflection in the soft glow of the candle, "I am!"
"And you got those breasts you wanted," Namico chuckled, poking Karen's new bust, causing the fox to blush, "And they're not too big."
Karen looked down at the blue and white feline, who was now almost a foot shorter than her. Karen could see that Namico was annoyed by this, but was still happy her friend had grown more powerful and had just grown more. Reaching up, she took the blue box off the top shelf, and set it on the desk. The key turned easily, clicking in the lock. Karen stared at the lid, slowly opening it, revealing a piece of folded paper inside.
Taking the paper, she read the letter aloud, tears starting to pour down her face again.
"To My Karen,
I hope you are as beautiful as your mother is, I don't doubt that you will be, but I also hope you will be like me. If you are reading this, it means my father, your Grandfather, has died. I hope he forced you to absorb his data as I did to him while I dictated this letter, so that you could have a link to me through him. The band inside this box is called a Focus Ring, and is an extremely powerful type of Digi-quip. Use it well, and don't worry, it shrinks to fit.
Love,
Your Father, Elland"
"A Focus Ring?" Namico asked, taking the large golden bracelet out of the box. Looking at the sobbing Karen, she took her hand and slipped it onto her wrist, watching it glow momentarily, shrinking, before it formed a solid band of gold flush against her bright red fur. Taking the taller girl in her arms, Namico comforted her, before whispering in her ear, "We need to go help Craig, Karen. He'll need our help."
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Craig gasped as he hit the ground, sliding several meters before coming to a stop. Pushing himself up shakily, he looked around for the staff. Unable to find it, he swore, staggering to his feet. Looking around again, he saw the hulking shape of the lizard digimon limping towards a group of Riders at the bottom of the hill, some already with drivers on, their cores glowing with fire as they belched out smoke. Screaming, Craig started to run down the hill, after the Zarrumon.
Hearing the scream, the lizard spun around, spotting the approaching feline. "You want a fire, boy?! I'll give you fire!" he yelled, continuing down the hill. Just as he was about to reach the first of the Riders, he heard a manic scream, a ball of white hot flame soaring past him, actually singeing his scales and striking the ground in front of his own massive Rider before exploding, sending shards of molten metal tearing through the air as many of the machines and his men were annihilated. The shockwave blew him back up and into the air, landing heavily at the top of the hill. Staggering to his feet, he stared at the bright red vixen, a golden band glowing softly on her left wrist, other red patterns shining on her hips, stomach and arms. Bearing her teeth, she growled at him.
"No, I will give YOU fire."
"Who the...? Where the fuck did you come from?" he spluttered, stepping backwards.
"You killed my Grandfather, and now I will kill you!" Karen screamed, launching herself at the much larger lizard.
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"Karen!" Namico screamed, as the tall, attractive girl walked out into the middle of the fight between the last of the Fire Riders and the town's folk. Staring in awe, she watched as Karen held up her hand, the barrage of fire from the Riders halting in mid-air, before whipping her hand around and sending them all flying back. Turning to Namico, she called out. "Help to drive back the last of them; I need to find the bastard who killed my grandfather." Before running out of the gates, hurling several more attacks back at the Riders.
"Shit!" Namico shouted. Looking around desperately, she spotted who she was looking for, one of the Ocsunemon who used water attacks. Ducking behind cover after cover, she managed to leap beside the dark blue fox, who was panting hard.
"What attack do you use, what does it do?" Namico shouted over the sounds of battle.
"It forms a wall of water, using it as shield." The fox gasped, staring at the feline.
"Can you send it over the Riders, cover them in water?" Namico asked, grinning when the vulpine nodded, "Do it now!"
Standing up from behind his cover, the fox screamed out his attack, sending the wall of water flooding over the surprised Digimon, making them curse and hurl even more attacks at them.
"Now what?" He screamed as the small wall they were behind was pummelled by fire.
"Now run!" Namico screamed as she leapt out from behind the wall, drawing the attacks of the Riders' away. Drawing back her arm, she yelled out her attack, sending the bolt straight into the freshly sodden earth, " Lightning Spear!"
The electricity crackled as it hit the water, travelling through and into the surprised Riders, electrocuting them, leaving several paralysed and most as forming clouds of data. She hit the floor as the last volley of fire sent by the Riders rained down around her, burning her skin and fur. Finally, the fire stopped, and she gasped in relief. Lying there she watched as many of the Ocsunemon gave chase to the few Riders who'd escaped, dodging around the clouds of data.
Angry, Namico screamed at them, her voice cracking painfully in her throat, "Absorb the data, you fools! Get stronger!"
"No," Namico jumped when the blue fox who'd helped her spoke, kneeling down next to her, "It's yours, you were the one who beat them."
"But you need..." Namico croaked, her voice cutting out.
"No, you need it more," he said, picking her up, and carrying her to the clouds of data. Slowly, the symbols began to land on them, being absorbed into their skin.
Feeling her strength return and her wounds heal, Namico looked up at the fox, and asked, "And why are you absorbing some as well?"
Laughing, he answered, "Well, I helped, didn't I?"
Namico chuckled, lifting herself slowly out of his arms. Gasping, she felt a pressure start to build in her chest, her fur standing on end as tiny sparks crackled across it. The fox staggered back, shielding his eyes as she began to glow brightly. A sudden burst of electricity filled the air, sending the water fox leaping back, cringing in pain as it passed through him. Looking up from where he had fallen, he stared in amazement at the feline now standing in front of him. She was slightly taller than she had been, the burnt green material of her toga was now a long flowing roman-style dress of white trimmed in electric blue, her ankles and wrists now bearing three rings of the same colour, another having formed around her neck. Looking down in her new form, Namico smiled at him, her white fur seeming to glow in an unearthly way in the light of the few fires not yet extinguished.
"I look amazing," She said excitedly to the fox, "I look amazing! I have to show Karen! And Craig!"
Namico started to hurry off, but stopped, spinning around, she walked up to the Blue vulpine and kissed his head gently, a slight spark jumping between them, before saying, "Thank you," And hurrying off.
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"Get back, you bastard!" the giant lizard screamed, Karen struggling in his grip as he pressed the shard of metal to her throat, "One step and she dies!"
"She's not the one you're after!" Craig replied, "Take me! Take me instead!"
"Why? This one another one of your little pieces of meat?" He cackled, flicking out his serpentine tongue, "Then maybe I'll keep her anyway!"
"No!" Craig dissipated the Wind Blade attack over his hand, holding both above his head, "She's just a friend, leave her alone!"
An evil grin on his face, the lizard looked at the unarmed feline, before shouting, "Fine, You come here, I'll let her go!"
"Deal!"
The two males stared at each other as Craig approached slowly, hands still above his head. He smiled at Karen as she watched him walk slowly closer. When they were finally only a few feet apart, Craig looked at Karen, a silly grin on his face.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine, but I need to tell this guy something that I don't want you to hear, okay, so block your ears."
Karen stared at Craig in confusion, but still nodded, placing her fingers in her ears. Satisfied that she couldn't hear, Craig looked at the lizard, who grinned down at him.
"So, what did you want to tell me, cat?" He hissed a wicked smile on his face.
"I'm not that stupid, dumbass."
"What?" The Zarrumon stared at Craig in confusion as he quickly pressed a button on his watch, his gun quickly forming in his hand.
Pointing it at the surprised reptile, he added, "And I'm also not dead." before pulling the trigger, blasting a hole between the reptile's eyes.
Karen screamed as she felt the shockwave from the gun pass through her, scaring her half to death. Opening her eyes, she stared at the disintegrating form of the Zarrumon, and at Craig, who was absorbing the data. Once the last of the strange symbols had disappeared into him, he looked down at her, a tired smile on his face. Then he collapsed into her arms.