A Different Kind of Healing

Too late...?

~Meanwhile, back in the digital world~

"GYAHHH!!" Shoutmon roared in pain, tightly clutching his earphones as Taiki's voice rang loudly through! 'Taiki, we have got to find a better way to communicate...' He thought, turning the dial of the black rims on his earphones down as he'd done many times before, often muting overly chatty delegates. Shoutmon's face paled adopting an almost stony expression. "Leomon, I'm going to need that bag NOW!" Shoutmon said, his voice slipping into urgency! "I'm sorry, I don't have time to explain! What Wisemon is doing is super time sensitive!" Leomon's face twisted into a confused, slightly worried frown, but he nodded turning back to the children. "Sorry kids! The king has to go! Everyone say bye now!" Shoutmon waved nervously hoping they wouldn't group around him like last time as a chorus of "BYE!" and "BYE KING!" Filled the air. Tying the burlap sack in a brown, leather string, Leomon quickly tossed it over to the silently panicking Shoutmon, still very curious about the whole situation yet wanting to conserve the king's privacy. In one fluid motion, Shoutmon leapt high into the air, snagged the sack and tied it firmly onto his belt. With a quick "Thanks!" He rocketed off leaving the confused anthropomorphic Lion and a group of digital monster rookies to stare after him. 'Hang on Akari, I'm coming! I won't let you die, NOT TODAY!' He snarled flashing his pearly white dagger-like teeth as his determination fueled every step!

As he ran, he noticed the foliage of a nearby forest, Lilamon and Stingmon's forest to be precise, just to the left of him. His cocky smile widened "THE FOREST!! YES! Last time I cut around it thinking I had more time, but if I cut through it, it may save time! Time... I don't have a moment to lose!" Without a second thought, he plunged directly into the thicket of the forest, rapidly, and quite noisily, tearing through without hesitation accidentally upsetting a small hive of Kuwagamon! Without warning, they began to flood from the massive opening completely surrounding Shoutmon! He screeched to a halt, "DAMNIT!" a fierce growl ripped from his throat! He quickly raised a hand summoning forth his mic "CRAP! I DO NOT NEED THIS RIGHT NOW! KUWAGAMON, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" He roared, his icy eyes narrowing dangerously. "I SERIOUSLY DON'T HAVE TIME TO PLAY WITH YOU RIGHT NOW!" The Kuwagamon screeched in unison and all rocketed towards the king! Shoutmon stepped back glancing in all directions looking for any possible escape route. Even he knew he couldn't take on this many at once! 'What is going on? Usually, the Kuwagamon are solitary creatures... they never build hives... Something's wrong...' A dangerously furious roar spilled from his desperate soul before he just dove forwards into the fray, completely giving up on the escape plan! HIs once cocky smile now marred with anger. "IF MY FRIEND DIES YOU'LL REGRET EVER CHALLENGING ME! ROWDY ROCKER!!" He screamed into his mic leaping high into the air and bashing the nearest Kuwagamon squarely on the head with all his might! "SCREEEEE!!" It instant fell only to be replaced by another one.

"ROCK DAMA-OOF!!!" Three of them rammed into him into the ground so hard it formed a large crater, from behind and began piling on top of him. Shoutmon's eyes widened in horror as Taiki's voice again rang through Shoutmon's earphones in a desperate cry! "SHOUTMON, WHERE ARE YOU!?! WE NEED YOU HERE NOW! CAN YOU HEAR ME??" Shoutmon squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth from underneath the large pile of bug-type Digimon. "Akari... I'm so... so sorry..." two crystalline tears began to bead at the corners of Shoutmon's eyes. "I'm so sorry... I failed you..." Shoutmon balled his rubber fingers into a shaky fist, then slammed it into the ground creating another small crater! It was as if Taiki could sense Shoutmon's dire situation because the next thing he heard sent a jolt of hope rocketing through him! "SHOUTMON, DIGIVOLVE!" Shoutmon gasped! His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as he was instantly enveloped within a bright golden light! HIs cocky smile quickly returned he then shouted, "OK! SHOUTMON, DIGIVOLVE TO.... OMNISHOUTMON!" The energy from the digivolution erupted in a massive explosion sending the pile of Kuwagamon flying in all directions. Omnishoutmon jumped into the air and pounded his chest. "ANYONE ELSE WANT SOME?!?" With a symphony of furious hisses, two of the remaining Kuwagamon charged him at once again only to be caught and bashed into one another.