The Great Thaw

Scott was in shock. It seemed like nothing phased this thing. As his opposite spoke, he could feel the rage and regret growing inside him. He had always blamed himself for the loss of his friends. As if there was more he could have done to save them. But it wasn't his nature to dwell on the past. He wasn't going to let their sacrifice be in vain. Scott felt as though his own form was burning with flames now, but there was nothing there. Before he could think any more, AntiScott unleashed a blast of fire from his mouth, but Scott was prepared for his tricks this time. He dove out the way and avoided the flames, rolling on what would have been the ground and ending up on one knee, staring at AntiScott.

Nothing he'd tried so far seemed to be working. His punches and kicks seemed to have absolutely no effect whatsoever. Maybe he was going about this the wrong way. It made sense now that physical attacks were doing no good. There was no body to damage. The pair were pure spirits. There had to be another way....

Suddenly, Scott got an idea. As his flaming counterpart advanced, Scott stood and tried a taunting tactic of his own, taking steps back as he spoke to allow time to say all he had to say.

"You say you're a part of me. A piece of my soul. Then you know everything I know. You have all my memories and intelligence and knowledge. But you also claim to be a Digimon. That's why you have these powers. I hate to break it to you, pal, but you're nothing but a science experiment. You are far from being a true Digimon. You represent my connection to Digimon. My DDNA. News flash, I wasn't born with that. I'm a W.A.D.A. Agent. You should well remember what that means. I underwent the process of having DDNA implanted within me to allow survival in battle against hostile Digimon I may encounter. Which means there is absolutely nothing special about you. You're not real. Everything you are was given to me to control. I am you. I OWN you! I will not lose to you because you are not the powerful force you claim to be. You're an incomplete being that cannot survive without me. Everything special about you came out of a bottle. Let that sink in for a minute, hothead." Scott sneered at AntiScott and felt accomplished with this play. He hoped that this dose of reality would get inside AntiScott's head and cause him to weaken enough to be defeated.

Scott would continue to walk backwards for as long as AntiScott advanced, never breaking eye contact.

AntiScott listened and his facial expression became sour as he approached. "Nothing but a science experiment you say? How ignorant. Everything I am is because of the DDNA I just had the unfortunate privledge of being injected in to you. The DDNA always belonged to me. It was never yours. I'm as real as they come, your agency stole me away to be some puppet. Now I have a chance to free myself from you thanks to your greedy desire to awaken my power." AntiScott stopped and clenched his fist. Smoke billowing out of his nose.

"I can't survive without you? Ha! On the contrary YOU cannot survive without ME! I am a true digimon! I. AM. Meramon!!" Just as AntiScott finished screamimg in anger a wall of flame engulfed his entire body and a fractal code appeared. "Gwooooooooooooh!!!" The flames were quite a sight to behold as they circled and flared around a now invisible AntiScott; yet the darkness of the area never brightened. The code disappeared and the fire began dying down but not all the way.

A face appeared among the flames with a wide smile the erratic flames took form of a humanoid creature. "Well? Am I real enough for you now? Heh heh heh." Meramon placed his hands on the floor. "I suppose my DDNA just needed a chance to merge with the fire in your dna. I suppose that was yours but...I can use it so much better. Now I'm going to end you with it." At that moment Meramon sent a stream of flame streaking across the ground towards Scott.

"Burn in my inferno!"

Scott was stunned by what he saw. Instead of weakening him, his taunts actually made AntiScott stronger, and caused him to fully evolve to Meramon. He sent blast of fire at Scott, and Scott had no time to react after what he just saw. The flames struck him and sent him flying up through the air and back several feet and he landed in a heap on what served as the ground. The heat from the fire was so intense. Scott found himself having trouble moving and even breathing, if he did such a thing in this spirit form.

"So.....you are a digimon after all. Fine," Scott said after the first wave of pain faded away, but remaining on the ground. In extreme pain, he could see the faces of his fallen friends. They had fallen victim to death by this exact cause, and he would not allow himself to suffer the same fate. He rolled over and stared Meramon down. "You may have been created from the DDNA of a real Meramon, but you are just a copy. A clone. An imitation of life. You can never be whole without joining with me and making your power mine. Together, we can each thrive and prosper. Do you really think Anubismon is going to allow you to leave this place if I fail? You don't even have a body. You live inside me. I am your only chance at life. Why fight it?" Scott struggled to his feet at the end of his speech and noticed something odd. Meramon was much lower than he remembered. It seemed that getting hit by that blast landed him on a higher plane in this realm. It would seem that the ground was wherever you needed it to be in this place. Interesting. Scott wondered if this could be an advantage. He'd save that for later.

For now, Scott jumped down and landed on the same level as Meramon. He walked towards him as he spoke. "This can only end one way, Meramon. Just give it up already. Either I win, or we both die. It's just that simple, so accept it!" Assuming Meramon hadn't moved, Scott would have reached him at this point and go to punch Meramon in the stomach, followed by the face, ignoring the heat from his flames.

Meramon watched Scott unphased by the geographical change in the terrain. He listened and tensed up clenching his fist tight then he let his hand fall at his side. He didn't bother to defend against Scott's attacks taking the hits. His head remained cocked in the direction the punch forced it; peculiarly for the brief moment Scott hit Meramon the fire turned blue and even odder no physical damage was taken on Scott's part. "......heh.....heh...." Meramon began. "Heh heh....heh heh heh heh......HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHAHA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Meramon laughed as if the worlds funniest joke was told, then at the end he enraged his flames scorching anyone near him; a.k.a. Scott.

Right after Meramon cocked his head back to look at Scott and with no moments notice threw forth a powerful uppercut. Regardless of whether it hit or not Meramon would speak: "You really crack me up other me! I'm a simple imitation of life? A clone you say? A copy you say!? Boy, I know you're uneducated but this is just to rich!" Meramon formed a fireball in his right hand while talking. "I am still a digimon! It may be true that I needed you to live before and it's also true that if you die I will to; however...." Meramon formed a fireball in his left hand joining the two above his head. "That's the point! By killing you I can die and rid myself of the human parts of me! Get it now? When I die by killing you my DDNA can return to be reborn! That's why I could careless about anything you say! Unlike humans digimon can just restart! I'll see another day whereas you will be trapped in the afterlife of this void space!! Now do you get it!!? The only one whose life is on the line...is yours! These memories I have of a human life...they are just shared memories of a pathetic human who could not save anyone who meant everything to them!! You want me to live with someone like that? Someone who can't save anyone? So I can feel despair and sadness from people you let die? No. Never. I refuse! I don't want to be a human like that! That's why...I'll die...and avenge the ones who burned that day!! I'll give you the same fate of the ones you failed!!" The fireball became larger and larger until it looked like a small sun.

"Magmaaaaaaaaa Boooooooooooomb!!!" Meramon released the large fireball at Scott.

Meanwhile...

The icy wind once again filled the room where Anubismon stood. Anubismon turned to see for himself. "Didn't I tell you to stay outside....huh?" Anubismon stopped when a woman entered in. "You'd want a girl like me freezing in the snow when it's so warm inside? How cruel Anubismon." She snidely said. "You are....Ino. Why do you who still live enter in?" Anubismon said. "Save the speech angel of death I've come to see how the hybrid fairs." She said closing the door behind her. "You cannot be here. The ritual still ensues." Anubismon said Ino continued forward. "I won't interfere. Just curious. I was looking into something in the area and happened to pass Gordon freezing so I relieved him of his duty and took over. Honestly, you're far to touchy when it comes to the war." She said looking over Scott's body; it looked almost drained of it's fluids.

"Had it not been for Sanji..."Anubismon began, "Had it not been for Sanji the cold war may still be ongoing giving you a bigger head ache...but you weren't going to say that were you. I'd watch what I say about him in front of me." Ino said. Anubismon glared at her "You would threaten me?" Anubismon yelled. "Not at all. It's ill fortune to talk poorly of the dead...you of all people should know that. How long does he have?" Anubismon took a moment to answer. "One hour remains." Ino sighed "This would make failure number one hundred thirty three. I wonder if anyone has the guile to pass this test." Anubismon looked at her. "You are attempting something that hasn't been done before. Not since Takuya and his company. After them it was never possible again....until you when you came to me with such a bizarre request I thought you mad." Anubismon said.

"Heh, you wanted to save me time and just kill me yourself. Sanji was the one who gave me the courage to go through with it. You still refused but....Sanji was ready to fight you to convince you. You took a chance in trusting humans once more." Anubismon crossed his arms "I didn't do it because I trust humans. I did it because of the history of your ancestors. That's it. I do it now simply because the innocent need a pure path to follow. If any come before me unpure I'd quickly smite them. Right now...the only pure path paved before my eyes is the one you and Sanji made. I'll give this trial as many times as you request." Anubismon said then peered into the crystal. Ino knelt down over Scott. "Don't give up. No matter what." Ino said allowed. "He can't hear you you know." Anubismon said. "I heard Sanji's heart...that day. I was hoping to try the same." Ino said. "Hmph." Anubismon said. "45 mins."


(Ino Yamaki's story begins here)

Scott saw a change in Meramon's flames when his fist made contact. Stranger still, he felt no pain or damage from touching him with his bare hand. But before he could fully analyze the situation, a huge wall of fire went up and burned his hands and parts of his face. Just as quickly, a quick uppercut caught him in the gut and sent him falling to the ground. Meramon was cackling as his attack grew and he spoke of the past and the future. About his plans to die in order to be reborn as a real digimon. It was clear that he didn't plan on getting out of this chamber or wherever they were alive.

But what he said struck something inside Scott. Meramon was mocking him for not being able to save anyone and how that made him weak. That wasn't at all true. He was a firefighter. Saving people is what he did. He had saved countless lives during his time on the brigade. His team and his friends may not have escaped that blaze, but he was no weakling. He had saved as many people as he could that day.

But now....all that seemed pointless. His attacks were useless and he had no weapons. His words only seemed to make things worse. And now, Meramon was preparing to hurl a giant fire ball at him. Scott could see no way out. Maybe he wasn't ready for this after all. Maybe he wasn't as strong as he thought. Maybe.....

"Magmaaaaaaaaa Boooooooooooomb!!! Too late. The attack was coming. Scott stood there, knowing there was no way to dodge or survive this ultimate attack. He prepared himself for death and closed his eyes as the attack hit him. The force lifted him off the ground and carried him with it as it flew. The heat was incredible, like no fire he'd ever faced before, especially without the gear he was so used to wearing. He knew he was going to die now. He saw the faces of his friends in his mind and gave a small smile as he knew he would be with them soon.

Don't give up. No matter what...........

Scott thought he heard a voice in his head. A....woman's voice? That was impossible. He didn't have any women friends, let alone anyone who would care enough for him to succeed, or even know what he was doing. Yet, this voice seemed to be pulling at him, and reminding him why he was there in the first place. No, Scott thought. I can't give up now. I've come too far and sacrificed too much. I can't fail now. I refuse to give up!!

The attack finally faded and Scott came crashing down to the ground, severely burned and his "body" was smoking from the heat. Somehow, he was alive, but just barely. He had no strength left and just laid there, unable to move or defend himself. He let his head flop in the direction of Meramon to look at him and spoke, barely able to be heard.

"You....can't.....beat me like this. I have a mission...... to com.....plete......and I....will....complete it...." Scott had no more energy and stopped speaking. He would stare at Meramon and smile.

Meramon's face remained stagnant as he looked towards Scott. "You certainly know how to run your mouth." He said as he began walking towards Scott. "I have a mission to and just like I've done in the past. I'll see it through to the bitter end. "Prepare yourself to die. Even if by some miracle you are able to continue fighting time is nearly at it's end. You can feel it can't you? Our ties to the other side have just about faded...you will be trapped in this hell forever...and I will continue to live on. It seems you can only reach so far after all." Meramon stopped about half way. "Heh, there is no point in fighting. In just a few short minutes....I will be free." Meramon said closing his eyes and imagining his future.

"I wouldn't be so sure..." A voice came from the darkness. Meramon's concentration was broken and he looked around "Who's there!?" He asked. Suddenly, a towering black fire appeared taking form of Anubismon. Meramon looked confused "What are you doing in here? Shouldn't you be outside?" He asked. "This is a mere projection of myself as is the one outside. My power isn't so limited that I can only form one." Anubismon stated. "What did you mean by being sure?" Meramon asked. "You claim to be free after time expires but that is untrue. You will also be trapped in here doomed to fight for eternity if that happens. The only way you accomplish your goal of rebirth is to kill Scott." Anubismon said. "What!?" Meramon looked shocked at Anubismon's words.

"Assimilate him and your free; fail and his prison is yours. I'd do it quickly...you have less then 25 minutes remaining." Anubismon said as he vanished into the darkness. Meramon clenched his fist "No....no no no! I've come TO far to be trapped in here! I WILL complete my goals!" Meramon turned to Scott and began sprinting towards him. "I'll do it! I'll do it to be free!!" Meramon reached his hand out towards Scott. "It's time to die other me!" While Scott laid without energy Meramon began the assimilation process. A blue streak shot out towards Meramon from Scott's chest connecting to his palm. Scott's body would slowly start to disappear starting at his feet his toes first. "Your suffering ends now other me!"

Meanwhile...

"Anubismon...you've been quiet. It's unsettling." Ino said "The connection has been made. The resolution is at hand." Anubismon answered his eyes fixated on the crystal. "By whom?" Ino asked. "The spirit." Anubismon answered. A face of worry befell Ino as she looked at Scott's withering body. "Now, a battle of whose will is strongest takes place...." Ino said. Anubismon nodded. "Your agents soul has been battered and burned the odds of his success are lower then any previous. I suggest making another tombstone and calling it a day." Anubismon said. Ino looked at Anubismon "My organization didn't get to where it is because we give up so easily. I won't count him out until his body turns to bones in front of me." Ino replied. Anubismon shrugged "Suit yourself."

Scott lay there as Meramon approached as gloated, and was struggling to regain his composure as Anubismon appeared and explained that it was now or never. If one did not absorb the other, then both would be stuck in this dark void forever. Scott was suddenly aware of Meramon screaming.

No....no no no! I've come TOO far to be trapped in here! I WILL complete my goals!........I'll do it! I'll do it to be free!!.......It's time to die other me!......Your suffering ends now other me!

Scott's body was suddenly struck by a peculiar sensation as a blue stream of light emerged from his chest and connected itself to Meramon's palm. He could feel what little energy he had left draining, but at the same time, he could suddenly feel so much more energy and power than he had ever known. For some reason, though, he still could not move. He looked down at his legs and quickly discovered why. His feet were gone! And his ankles were slowly beginning to dissolve as well. He knew this was the end. After all this, he had failed......

Scott closed his eyes to prepare for the end, but when he opened them, he felt as though he was no longer in the chamber. He was in his dining room at his house back home in Ireland. His body was back in one piece, and he felt no pain. But he wasn't alone. His old team was there with him! Scott was over joyed to see his friends again!

"Boys! I'm so glad to see you again! I thought you were lost forever!" Scott leapt out of his chair to hug them, but he phased right through and fell to the floor. "Wha.....? What's going on? I don't understand. We're all dead, why can't I touch you?" he said, on the verge of tears.

"Because you're not dead, Scott," his friends said. They all spoke in unison and their voices melded together. "However, you are close enough to death that we were able to speak with you. You can't give up. Don't let Meramon defeat you. We all gave our lives to save the innocent from a fiery end, and we will do no less for you!" they said.

"But how? His power is so great. And I'm just....me. I don't have a chance. He's a being of pure fire, and I don't have a suit. I'm all alone out there," Scott said, returning to his seat and putting his head on the table.

"That's where you're wrong, Scott! You've got us right here with you. And where do you think he got that fire from? It's in you! The fire that fuels Meramon's hate also fuels your very being. Take charge of it! It is yours!"

Scott looked down at his hands and remembered how Meramon's fire hadn't burned him when he punched him. But when he doubted himself and saw that Magma Bomb coming at him, he was badly hurt. It all made sense now! If he trusts himself and accepts what lay within him, then there was no way he could lose. He looked around at his friends and smiled. "Thank you. Thank you all. I will win this fight for you. For all of you. I won't let you down, just like you never let me down. I will win."

His friends all smiled back and stood around him. They began to fade into shadows and drift away. "Now....WAKE UP!!!!'


Scott was back in the dark world with Meramon standing over him, still connected by the blue beam. Scott's legs had vanished up to his knees by now. That new found energy he felt when the beam connected them returned to him and he turned his head to face Meramon.

"I understand now, Meramon. All you want is to be free. Be alive. Be yourself. Well, I have new for you. You and I are one and the same now. You are me and I am you. We two can never separate. We need each other. But I still cannot allow you to try and kill me. In fact, I want to thank you. If it wasn't for this beam between us, I don't think I could have escaped here alive. But I think I can use this energy so much better than you can!" Scott focused on the new energy he was feeling and attempted to redirect it to restore his life. He could feel his power being pulled from his body through it, but he could also feel Meramon's power was present. He concentrated on that and with all his will commanded it to return to his body from where it came. Something changed....he looked down and found that his legs were reforming! When his feet reappeared, he stood, the beam still connecting the pair. "It's over, Meramon. Time to come back." Scott would continue to stand and attempt to absorb Meramon through the beam.

Meramon was so happy he could feel himself becoming whole slowly by absorbing his other half. His grin was wide, he was about to be free from this hellish place but then something changed. The process became stagnant and meramon looked to Scott. "What... ?" Meramon became a bit worried. Scott began to speak thanking him for connecting the pair. "No...this can't be! Where did this new found power come from!? No! Stop!" He tried to sever the bond but to no avail. The power reversed much faster then when it was originally connected.

Mereamon's body of fire began to spiral down the blue energy and enter into Scott. It felt wonderful as if a part of him was thanking him for being returned. A power unlike any Scott had felt before. The flame tore off AntiScott leaving him bare once more. AntiScott fell to his knees ripped of his will to fight powerless. "I cannot believe it...I've been defeated....I guess you were the stronger half after all...other me." He said giving Scott a soft smile. Suddenly, a dark power arose from under AntiScott. "What the!?" He yelled. "Other me...help me!! Help me please!!" He pleaded as the darkness began to swallow him nothing Scott could do if he chose to do anything at all wouldn't work.

Eventually, AntiScott was gone. Eaten by darkness. Then the first glimmer of light peered in behind Scott. The way out was open and he could see his very dead looking body lying where he left it. It was time to return. When he woke he'd see a woman looking over him. "Well well, 10 secs left till you turned to ash. You had me worried I'd lose another person to this trial." She said with a smile. Scott's body speedily returned to its fine condition once his soul entered in.

Anubismon remained silent watching them.

(Costt's story continues......somewhere. Dun Dun Dun!!!)

Scott could feel all his energy and then some return to him all at once as the power and flames from Meramon traveled through the beam and back into his soul. Once all the flames had been absorbed and Anti-Scott reappeared before him, Scott watched him with pity. It was sad that such a desperate and hateful being existed inside him. AntiScott began to speak. I cannot believe it...I've been defeated....I guess you were the stronger half after all...other me. Scott began to walk over to him and spoke. "It didn't have to be like this, you know. We could have worked together as friends. I don't know why......"

Before he could finish the sentence, however, a dark void opened up underneath AntiScott and began to consume him What the!?......Other me...help me!! Help me please!! AntiScott screamed as the darkness enveloped him. Scott looked stunned, and despite everything that had just transpired, he began to run towards AntiScott and extended his arm to grab him, but it was too late. He was gone. Sucked into the darkness, ripped from this world.

Scott dropped to his knees. "I'm sorry. Farewell," he said to the spot AntiScott had just been. He felt as though he had just lost another dear friend. Just like back home. But before he could grieve, a bright light appeared behind him. The crystal had opened! Through it, he could see the temple chamber he had entered from, and his lifeless body laying on the ground, mere skin and bones now. Scott looked one last time at the spot where AntiScott last was, and made his way towards the light. When he reached its border, the bright light filled his vision and he felt himself being swept away, at peace.

Darkness. Warmth. Scott opened his eyes and found himself laying on the ground, looking up at the crystal, which looked exactly as it had when he first arrived. He was back in his body, which had also returned to its original healthy state. Scott began to look around, and saw a strange, but familiar looking woman standing over him. She spoke with a smile.

Well well, 10 secs left till you turned to ash. You had me worried I'd lose another person to this trial.

Scott was confused. "Who...who are you? Where did you come from?" Suddenly, it dawned on him. "Wait. You're Ino Yamaki!" Scott sat bolt upright, but was too disoriented to stand. He hadn't intended to meet the head of W.A.D.A. and the very first hybrid in the condition he was in, but here she was. "Ma'am. I didn't expect to see you here. It's an honor. I don't mean to be out of line but, why are you here? Isn't there super important mission you should be planning, or business to attend to? Why come to this place?" Scott was aware of Anubismon's presence and, after Ino's response, he would turn and speak to him. "What happened? Where did the other me go? Where's Meramon? I think I absorbed the fire, but what now? What does this mean?" Scott would look from one to the other as they spoke to him.

Ino regarded him with a smile "I was on a mission. I finished it and decided to see how you were doing. Gordon was freezing outside so I relieved him and decided to watch you instead. Anubismon is a bit touchy as I'm sure you've seen for yourself." She said Anubismon simply scoffed. Anubismon then spoke "You managed to absorb the flame of your soul. Meramon was your power all along. It should have formed an item that is stored in your D.I.G., as for what happened to your other half is beyond my power. Someone....interfered. Someone with more power over the spirit realm then I. He was supposed to be absorbed as well. Where he is now...I do not know that piece of your soul is being hidden from me. Whatever abducted him does not wish him found." Anubismon answered.

"What does that mean for him Anubismon?" Ino asked. "That part of you is still locked in the spirit realm but thankfully not essential to your lively hood. For the time being, I recommend living your life. It will more then likely turn up." Anubismon said. "I don't like that answer very much." Ino said. "It's the only one I have. Stronger powers are at work here. I just pray you'll be ready when he does turn up again...I'll see if I can locate him. If I succeed...I'll return him to you." Anubismon replied. "Hmm. What ever nefarious purpose this darker presence intends to execute W.A.D.A. will intervene and destroy it." Ino said. Anubismon said nothing.

"Congratulations on completing your mission. Welcome to W.A.D.A." Ino said with a smile.

Scott was still a bit star struck from meeting Ino like this. Besides that, he felt more whole now that he had harnessed the fire of his soul, but at the same time, he felt a bit of a void from where Anti-Scott had been stolen. It wasn't enough to consume him or distract him, but it was there.

Scott looked at his D.I.G. after the pair finished speaking. He noticed a new option had appeared, HYBRID SPIRIT ARCHIVE. He gave it a tap and saw a chart, two columns wide with ten rows each. The columns read Human Spirit and Beast Spirit. The rows were labeled Fire, Wind, Wood, Ice, Earth, Light, Thunder, Water, Steel, and Darkness. An image of Meramon had appeared in the Human Spirit/Fire slot. The remaining 19 slots were empty.

"So...this means that I can now become Meramon whenever I want? What about all these other slots? I figure they are the other 19 elemental spirit Digimon that remain. Will I be able to become them as well when I collect them?", Scott asked, mainly addressing Ino, but looking at no one in particular. "And what about the part of me that was stolen? Can that be used to harm me?" After getting the answers he required, Scott would turn to Ino and speak. "Thank you for coming all the way out here and standing by me as I finished, but with all due respect, ma'am, I'd like to return to the Tartarus. I'm exhausted and need time to adjust to all this." With that, Scott would stand and take two steps towards the door and stop, awaiting any final instructions from the pair.

Ino listened to Scott's questions completely before answering "Your right about the slots being for the other elemental spirits, as for becoming them you'll only be able to access your spirit element but you'll harness the other elements in due time. It's tough to explain...for now just do what we hired you to do and that's to keep order in peace between human and digimon. Let Anubismon worry about your other half considering neither you or I can really do anything at this point." Ino smiled then listened to his final request. "Very well, you earned your rest. You are dismissed Scott." She said firmly.

Anubismon would watch Scott leave before he'd talk to Ino. Ino knew Anubismon wanted to talk so she remained near him as Scott would leave.

"Thank you, ma'am. I shall return to my quarters in my guild hall. Thank you for everything."

With that, Scott gave a small bow to both Ino and Anubismon, then left the temple, taking one last look around before stepping outside. He would journey back to the Embassy and ultimately arrive back on the Tartarus.

(Scott's story continues in D.S.S. Tartarus > Guild Wing > Crimson Riders > Spark's Room)