With a swarm of Numemon in tow, Kokatorimon strode off to ambush the kids sunning themselves by the pool. There's a saying about joy turning to sorrow—Kokatorimon was about to demonstrate it.
"Kokatorimon, where are you going? I haven't properly thanked you for the hospitality—what's the rush?" Tai lounged there, unbothered, looking past Kokatorimon and the Numemon at the huge dinosaur behind him—the "thank-you" he had in mind was obvious enough.
"Hmph! Tai was right after all—so this really is one of Etemon's ships," Matt said, eyeing Kokatorimon with a look that wasn't deadly on its own… but the blue wolf at his back made anyone uneasy.
"And it looks like we've got you surrounded," Joe added, pushing up his glasses as he and the massive Ikkakumon sealed off Kokatorimon's last escape route. Izzy peered down from Kabuterimon's back; Kokatorimon glanced up at the flying beetle with naked envy.
"Alright then—enjoy our hospitality." Tai's signal came; Greymon belched out a Nova Blast, and the others let loose their signatures. Screaming, Kokatorimon tumbled off the stern in a cloud of smoke. At that moment, a black cable trailing from the stern snapped and dropped over Kokatorimon, then, like it had been dosed with pure adrenaline, writhed to life and cocooned it tight.
"Haha! I can fly at last!" While Tai and the others figured the problem was solved and were about to go back to swimming, a harsh noise buzzed from above. Tai looked up—an all-black parrotlike Digimon hung in the sky, beak gaping in a dopey grin. His goggles flashed data: "Dark Parrotmon—Giant Bird-type, Ultimate. Special move: Sonic Destroyer—an attack using the lightning on its head."
Before Tai could act, Dark Parrotmon dipped its head at the kids. "Sonic Destroyer!" A flash rippled over its crown; numbness crashed through their bodies. As consciousness slipped, one thought flickered through Tai's head: "Taken out in the dumbest way…"
Mimi and Sora, still blissfully unaware in the bath, hadn't the faintest idea what was going on outside.
A black light flickered around the parrot—and Kokatorimon's form returned. It clomped down the corridor, kicked in a cabin door—two beds, spotless, no sign of the occupants. "Where are the DigiDestined?" It barged into Sora and Mimi's room—also empty.
"Bawk-bawk… over here!"
Hearing the shower, Kokatorimon booted the bathroom door—and froze. The water was running, but no one was there. The window stood open. It poked its head out and saw wet footprints on the deck below. "They can't have gone far," it muttered.
Barefoot, wrapped in towels, Mimi and Sora sprinted down the hall with their partners. The second they'd heard it enter, they'd bailed out the window—no time to grab the clothes they'd left in the room.
Too bad: before they could get away, Kokatorimon loomed in front of them.
"That's Tai's Crest," Sora said. Hanging from Kokatorimon's wing was a Tag with a Crest slotted in—familiar to both girls at a glance.
"Spiral Twister!" "Poison Ivy!" Biyomon and Palmon attacked, and Mimi and Sora used the opening to run the other way. Kokatorimon was laughably weak—its Champion-class body could shrug off Rookie attacks, but it couldn't lay a claw on either Rookie.
The girls burst onto the top deck, only to find nowhere left to run. Biyomon and Palmon raced out after them. "Evolve!" they cried, and by the time Kokatorimon reached the deck, two Champions stood ready—Birdramon and Togemon.
"Meteor Wing!" "Needle Spray!" Their strikes overwhelmed Kokatorimon; it couldn't even hit back.
"Damn it…" Black cables snaked up from beneath the liner, coiled around Kokatorimon, and sank into its body. Mimi and Sora flinched at the sight.
When the cables retracted, Dark Parrotmon hovered over them again.
"Meteor Wing!" "Needle Spray!" The same attacks did nothing to Dark Parrotmon.
"Sonic Destroyer!" Birdramon clawed for altitude. Togemon, as a plant-type, blunted the electric strike as best she could, planting herself between the girls and the blast.
Birdramon, now higher, fired another Meteor Wing. Togemon charged in, swinging—straight, hook, then Prickly… Needle Spray. She was giving it everything—but it barely registered on Dark Parrotmon.
Tai blinked awake to a giant parrot trading blows with a giant bird and a giant… plant. He fought to focus—behind Togemon, Mimi and Sora stood tense, clutching towels. Tai sat up, nudged Agumon—no response. He sighed. "Guess we debut the flower fairy early."
He keyed the Super Digivolution program with practiced ease. As the outmatched Togemon braced for another exchange, a surge rose within her. Mimi stared—the Crest at her chest lit up. The Holy Program flared; a beam lanced through the Crest and bathed Togemon.
A pure white cactus flower bloomed atop Togemon's head. Her massive body dissolved into motes, nourishing the bud. It opened—and a tiny, delicate fairy burst forth.
"Togemon, digivolve to… Lilymon!"
A Fairy-type Digimon born from the heart of a beautiful blossom; she looked like a human child, but concealed the power of an Ultimate. Her special move was pressing her wrist-petals together into the barrel of a Flower Cannon.
"Lilymon?" Mimi breathed.
"Mimi… do I have terrible taste?" Lilymon asked, glancing back.
"Not at all! You look beautiful—so cute!"
"Thank you." Their exchange carried none of the tension of battle.
"Lilymon, Mimi—maybe pick the time and place? Enemy first?" Sora was done. This was a real fight, and these two were chatting?
Lilymon moved. In the air she traced a ring of blossoms and hurled it at the climbing Dark Parrotmon. The moment it touched, the dark bird shrieked like it had been branded.
Lilymon brought her wrist-petals together. "Flower Cannon!" The blast hammered Dark Parrotmon and broke it down into data.
Light washed over Lilymon again—and faded, leaving Palmon back on the deck.
Clothed now, Mimi and Sora roused the others. Faced with an unmanned luxury liner, no one quite knew what to do.
"I've decided—this ship is ours. We'll call her Adventure." Tai planted a foot on the bow, grand as a captain.
The kids traded a look. "Tai… can you pilot it?"
"Nope."
"Then—"
"You forget, this is the Digital World. I checked the bridge—there are only two buttons, forward and reverse, and one wheel. Easy."
"Adventure, set sail!" Their shout rang over the decks as the Adventure turned toward Piximon's territory.
And the journey rolled on.
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