|
|
Yolei took another look at the Digimon Empress. It really is this universe's Kari, she thought. It was a bit hard to tell -- the Digimon Empress wore a jumpsuit sort of reminiscent of Ken's Digimon Emperor costume, but in black and pink. She was also wearing a mask, and had her brown hair pinned up in a bun behind her head. Still, Yolei knew it was the alternate Kari -- her voice was unmistakable, even though Yolei had never heard her universe's Kari speak with such arrogance. This universe's Gatomon stood by her partner, and Yolei had never seen the expression on the cat Digimon's face before -- very sad, but with a hint of rebellion in her eyes.
The Digimon Empress removed a whistle from her pocket and blew it. A Shellmon with a Dark Ring on it rose out of the water behind her. "Shellmon, take care of them."
"This is why we had to stay behind," alt-Joe said softly, so the DIgimon Empress wouldn't hear. "We need to give the others time to destroy the Control Spire. Gomamon, we have to create a diversion. Use some of that great Gomamon charm."
"Okay," alt-Gomamon walked up to the Shellmon. "Why did one Shellmon take the other Shellmon's lunch? Because it was shellfish!"
Shellmon apparently didn't like the joke: he roared and tried to swat alt-Gomamon. "That's the great Gomamon charm?" alt-Joe wondered.
* * *
"We're gonna need some firepower to take out those Frigimon," alt-Davis said. "Everybody Digivolve!"
Ken looked at Wormmon. "Can you Digivolve?" he asked.
"I can try. Wormmon Digivolve to... nope." Wormmon shook his head. "The Control Spire is blocking it."
"But... " Ken shook his head. In his world, Wormmon could Digivolve around Control Spires sometimes... perhaps because he was a Virus type, unlike the others' Digimon. Apparently, the Spires were slightly different here.
"Don't they have Control Spires where you're from?" alt-Davis asked. "You have to have to Armor Digivolve."
"I don't have a Digi-Egg," Ken explained. He didn't say that was because the others needed Digi-Eggs to fight the Digimon Emperor -- himself.
"You don't?" alt-Ken asked. "Guess you'll have to sit this one out."
"Digi Armor Energize!" "Veemon Armor Digivolve to... Flamedramon, the Fire of Courage."
"Digi Armor Energize!" "Hawkmon Armor Digivolve to... Halsemon, the Wings of Love."
"Digi Armor Energize!" "Patamon Armor Digivolve to... Pegasusmon, Galloping Hope."
"Digi Armor Energize!" "Wormmon Armor Digivolve to... Bucchiemon, the Spirit of Kindness."
Ken stared at the Digimon alt-Wormmon had become. He had often speculated about an armor form for Wormmon, but he hadn't pictured this. It was small compared to the other Armor Digimon -- a little shorter than him. It had a cute harmless look to it, almost childlike, or like a stuffed animal. Two long pink antennae sprouted from its head. Pointed ears and small wings also added to its general pixie-like appearance. "So that's what Wormmon's Armor form looks like," Ken said to himself. "I would have thought it would have been bigger."
Alt-Ken grinned. "Don't let his appearance fool you, Ken. Bucchiemon packs a lot of power in his attacks."
Alt-Flamedramon advanced on the Frigimon "Fire Rocket!" he yelled, sending a burst of fireballs at the Frigimons' Dark Rings.
"Target the Control Spire!" alt-T.K. yelled. Alt-Pegasusmon, alt-Halsemon and Bucchiemon nodded.
* * *
"You know, Shellmon has no sense of humor," alt-Gomamon said as he dodged another attack.
"Try the knock knock jokes," alt-Joe suggested.
"This isn't working," Yolei said. "Digi Armor Energize!"
"Hawkmon Armor Digivolve to... Shurimon, the Samurai of Sincerity."
"That's a new one," alt-Cody said. "Digi Armor Energize."
"Armadillomon Armor Digivolve to... Digmon, the Drill of Power."
"You come in from the left, I come from the right," Digmon told Halsemon.
"Right," Shurimon said.
"No, left," Digmon said. "Target the Dark Ring."
The Digimon Empress glared at the DigiDestined. "You just have to make this more difficult. Two Digimon against one is hardly fair"
"Since when do you play fair?" alt-Cody asked.
"My game, my rules. Shellmon might not be able to handle two Digimon, but I am never out of ideas or slaves." She again raised her whistle to her lips and blew. "Ebidramon, I command you to come out!"
Ebidramon appeared out of the water. "I can handle this," alt-Digmon advanced towards Ebidramon "Rock Cracking!"
Ebidramon dodged alt-Digmon's attack and latched onto him with its front claws. It began dragging alt-Digmon into the water.
"Um... guys? Little help here?" alt-Digmon yelled.
"I'm a bit busy." Shurimon dodged Shellmon's Aqua Blaster attack. "Double Star!"
"Digmon!" alt-Cody yelled as his Digimon was pulled under water.
"What's taking the other so long?" alt-Joe wondered. "We need Ikkakumon."
A loud explosion came from the direction of the Control Spire. "They destroyed the Control Spire. Now, you can Digivolve!" alt-Joe told alt-Gomamon.
"What?" the Digimon Empress yelled.
Alt-Gatomon sighed. "He said, 'they destroyed the Control Spire. Now, you can Digivolve.'"
"That was a figure of speech!"
"Well, you don't have to get bent out of shape about it," alt-Gatomon muttered.
"Ready?" alt-Joe asked.
"You bet! Gomamon digivolve to... Ikkakumon."
Alt-Ikkakumon dived into the water. "Harpoon Torpedo!" The hit caused Ebidramon to release alt-Digmon. Alt-Digmon struggled to the surface. "Gold Rush!" The hit on the Dark Ring shattered it.
Meanwhile, Shurimon had managed to back Shellmon up against the cliff face. "Double Star!" The hit broke the Dark Ring. Both Ebidramon and Shellmon decided they didn't want to stick around and quickly departed.
"No!" the Digimon Empress yelled. "Wait a second... your Digimon was over destroying my Control Spire and here at the same time. You cheated!"
"I didn't cheat!" Yolei yelled back. "I'm from another world... Ken and I are here on a mission."
"Really? You should stick to the truth... you have no talent for lying. I'll just have to figure out how you did it myself." The Digimon Empress blew on her whistle. An Airdramon swooped down and she and alt-Gatomon jumped on. "Goodbye, DigiDestined. Until we meet again."
* * *
"Why didn't you tell me it was the alternate Kari?" Yolei demanded. She and Ken had returned to the Real World. Yolei had used Gennai's credit card to get herself and Ken hotel rooms. The clerk had asked about their parents, but Yolei had made up some story about a school trip. The clerk still looked suspicious, so Yolei had given him a large tip.
Yolei and Ken were seated in Ken's room. Hawkmon and Wormmon were enjoying some take out. at the table, while Yolei and Ken talked.
"I wasn't sure," Ken said. "I thought it could be. She wasn't there, and my alternate self was. But I didn't want to worry you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Ken." Yolei said. "This does give us a whole bunch of problems. How can we get the Crest of Light from the alternate Kari when she is so wrapped in darkness?"
"I shouldn't have come," Ken said. "Wormmon can't Digivolve around those Control Spires... we tried. Davis or T.K. or even Cody would have been a better choice."
"Yeah, but can you imagine Davis or T.K.'s reaction to the Digimon Empress?" Yolei said. "'Kari? Nooooo! Say it ain't so, Kari!'" she added, in a passable Davis impersonation.
Ken smiled at that. Yolei continued, "Anyway, you have something Davis, T.K. and Cody don't have -- an insight into the mind of the Digimon Empress. The circumstances that helped turn you into the Digimon Emperor probably are similar to whatever affected Kari."
"Thank you, Yolei." Ken said. "I asked my alternate self to tell me a bit about how he became a DigiDestined. Do you remember T.K. and Kari telling us about how Myotismon was looking for the eighth child four years ago?"
"Yes."
"Myotismon had a Crest and Tag to locate the child. In our universe, he had the Crest of Light. In this universe, he had the Crest of Kindness."
"Your crest? So your alternate self was the eighth child?"
"Apparently. The older DigiDestined managed to locate Wormmon in the Digital World and bring him with them to the Real World. They then tried to beat Myotismon to the eighth child. Tai thought it might be Kari, but eventually Myotismon located my alternate self. The DigiDestined came to my alternate self's rescue. This world's Gatomon and a Digimon called Wizardmon came too. Gatomon was a bit confused -- I think she must have had some memories of being a DigiDestined's partner, so she switched sides.
"Anyway, Myotismon was about to kill my alternate self, when Wizardmon took the blow for my alternate self. Ken said that Wizardmon told him, as he was dying, that he knew he had to protect him... that he would have to protect Gatomon later."
"Wonder what he meant by that?" Yolei asked.
"I don't know. Did Wizardmon exist in our world?"
Yolei nodded. "He died protecting Kari and Gatomon from Myotismon. Later, his ghost appeared, right before we defeated you. It told us that you weren't our true enemy and we needed to save you from the darkness."
"I wonder how Wizardmon knew that?" Ken asked. "When I was the Digimon Emperor, nobody believed I could be a good person, except for Wormmon." Ken stood up. "We need to bring Kari back to the right side, too."
"But how do we do that?" Yolei asked.
"I don't know."