#(Koushiro On The Top)

[taichi-x-koushiro]

"My name is Izumi Koushirou and I just recently turned thirty. I'm studying science related material at Keio University, though I've technically already graduated, I am always trying to further my education and my career goal in the field of relevant scientific research fields. My family... consists of my parents. My favorite drink is ... Oolong. My favorite food ... I lately really enjoy Chinese takeout, and dishes in general, but I also enjoy Japanese home cooked dishes. Omurice is also a favorite. I like my eggs with some ponzu. The food I hate ... there are 'some' things that I mostly just try to avoid, but I do well with that. People usually listen and try to be accomodating if I make a polite request to not be served the food. If they didn't, I would have already left. Strength: I try to maintain an open mind about the world and reality around me. Weakness: I'm actually quite obstinate. My hobbies are researching things that Interest me, including by using my computer, observing nature, and visiting museums for both educational purposes and personal enjoyment. I am an Adoptee. Because I am, my family is what could be considered by society to be a 'Non-normative family'. My parents are, I know now, without a doubt, my real parents, but my late relatives are also important. I visit the cemetary to see the family grave every Ohigan I get, even if the trip from home takes hours to reach there. And... the person that I both consider a dear friend, and love, is Yagami Taichi."

Izumi Koushiro, Probably (A.U. Concept or Not)

"...Did Yamato-san say something unusual?" "Well, it's just... Yamato was wondering, 'things' like, 'how much' I 'knew' about you, if we're 'really' 'friends'--"

[izzyizumi]

D I G I M O N Adventure ~ Koushiro{u} {"Izzy"} Izumi T.C.G Parallel C a r d + Tentomon + P U R P L E (Crest Activated) DIGIVICE {Official preview art from here!} (+Clean version!)

[koushirouizumi]

Meanwhile with DigiAdvs 02 [+O.C.s]

BLACKTENTOMON, About to Speak: ... Inter-national O.C. Chosen SHANE, +DAISUKE, KEN: ... Koushiro, smiling softly in anticipation: (Go on... it's okay. {You're Safe}) BlackTentomon, in near perfectly spoken heavy Kansai-ben {from a specific area?!}: ... HOW'S IT GOING? {How much time d'ya need???} / {What do you require (of me)}??? DAISUKE & KEN Immediately LOOKING Nearby @ Tentomon Who's Hanging Close: TENTOMON: (Don't Look At Me. I Don't Get how My World Works Either. I don't think Any of us Did.) Tentomon: (.. But at least I know MYSELF...) Koushiro, SMILING: Shane, contemplating: (... I didn't know Tentomon spoke in Kansai-ben from {certain region}.) SHANE: (I didn't exactly hear it 'SPEAK' back then... S H A N E: (It was just Roaring.) s H A N E, SENSITIVE TO NOISE: (LOUD ANGRY ROARING.) Shane: (... But it's definitely much calmer now. I should try to ask it what to do next...)

[ashxketchum]

Now it feels like we’re celebrating the 25th Anniversary 😍

This new art for an upcoming collaboration with Karatez is just simply stunning. The theme is (very obviously) “idol” and I personally love the futuristic pop concept they’ve added to the outfits. Although exact date and merch details haven’t been shared yet, they shared a few layouts of the key art.

The outfits are also great this time around because of their little references to the partner Digimon’s Perfect evolutions. Listing them down one by one as always.

Taichi: The blue markings on his jacket plus robotic arm markings on his right sleeve are a nice shoutout to MetalGreymon.

Yamato: We see WereGarurumon’s pattern on his jacket and a few belts wrapped around his hands that captures the punk-grunge vibe of WereGarurumon well. It may be Yamato’s affinity to music, but he looks extremely in his element in this art, it’s not often we see him so raring to go in official merch art (he’s more of a soft smiles guy usually).

Sora: Her gloves and the red bandana on her arm coupled with the feather in her hair are clear shoutouts to Garudamon. It’s kinda funny to me that being the girl who’s crest is a heart symbol, she’s making a victory sign while Mimi and Hikari are both making different types of finger hearts 😆

Koushiro: Honestly they were really subtle with the reference for him and even twitter couldn’t exactly answer my doubts so I’m gonna have to see Koushiro stans step up and answer whether the reference in his outfit limited to the markings on his jacket resembling AtlurKabuterimon’s chest?

Mimi: I think she’s the one with the most easy to catch references, her skirt resembles Lilymon’s and her hair tie looks like Lilymon’s flower canon. I love that she’s making the big finger heart because it’s just so very Mimi. If Yamato suits the passionate side of being an idol, Mimi is definitely meant for the cutesy visual vibe that can make fans go crazy over just a wink and a smile.

Jou: He’s wearing three belt like bracelets around one wrist like Zudomon which makes his a minimal reference though not as subtle as Koushiro’s. I do feel that they could’ve done a bit more with his look, maybe add a horn to the side of his headset? I also can’t wait to see the full art for each kid individually cuz I do think him and Yamato are wearing similar bellbottom pants!

Takeru: The feather on his headset and the yellow suspended straps are a decent reference to HolyAngemon. Considering that they wanted to keep the outfits limited to one colour per kid, I think this is the best way they could slip in the reference, though I wouldn’t have minded a few rings.

Hikari: The feather on the headset, the corset-ish belt around her waist and her gloves are very nice references to Angewomon. Keeping Hikari’s innocence as a kid intact while referencing a Digimon that is undoubtedly considered one of the most sexiest mons in the franchise would have been really tough and I salute the illustrators for coming up with this design! I also like the OG Korean finger heart she’s making, such a cute look on her.

The cherry on top are each of the Digimon partners holding supportive cheering goods for their kids. Piyomon’s love for Sora goes hard with her big name banner. Meanwhile, Agumon and Palmon kept it simple with haoris, Tailmon and Patamon too decided to go the simple route with light sticks. Gabumon, Gomamon and Tentomon seem normal from afar with their hand fans but when you get a closer look on all the hearts around Koushiro’s name on Tentomon’s fan, you know the three spent time making those themselves.

All in all, a pretty amazing illustration to be able to get merch of!

But wait that’s not all, andGallery has also teased a future cafe collaboration with Digimon Adventure on their twitter, more info will be announced on 19th Feb but they did share a preview of what to expect.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x53 - The Final Dark Digimon / Now Apocalymon

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Piemon put a lot of effort into collecting Digimon Adventure memorabilia but then Takeru mugged him and stole all of his shit.

Now the Chosen Children have been faced with a startling revelation: The Dark Masters were a symptom, not the cause. Who is the true enemy that they must face?

We open on the consumption of Spiral Mountain. What can only be described as the distortions of the Digital World finally made manifest and visible bleeds out over the wireframe of what had been Spiral Mountain, covering it all. At the top, the platform that had been the Dark Masters' home disintegrates into pixels.

The Chosen Children were up there so, y'know, they're fucked. They plunge together into the eldritch void where reality breaks. Their Digimon, still in their Perfect and Ultimate forms, fly in after them.

Garudamon: SORA!!! MetalGarurumon: YAMATO!!! AtlurKabuterimon: KOUSHIRO!!! Angewomon: HIKARI!!! Zudomon: JOU!!!

Nobody calls out for Taichi, Mimi, or Takeru. Rude.

One by one, the Children arrive at a space in the void where gravity stops pulling on them. They float, adrift in this space beyond reality.

In the dub, Tai narrates a bit for us.

Tai: Spiral Mountain is disintegrating! WATCH OUT!!! (The platform they're standing on disintegrates and the kids fall into the void) WarGreymon: TAI!!! Garudamon: SORA!!! MetalGarurumon: MATT!!! Lilimon: MIMI!!!

Tai yelling "Watch out!" as if the entire landmass you're standing on vaporizing as reality shatters around you is something you can dodge. XD He'd try, though. We all know he'd try.

They change up which Partners call out for their kid. Sora and Yamato/Matt get call-outs in both versions while both versions snub Takeru/T.K. That boy defeated Piemon and still gets no respect.

Together, the kids and their Partner Digimon come to realize their descent has ceased.

Jou: (relieved) We stopped.... WarGreymon: Taichi! Are you safe!? Taichi: Yeah.... Koushiro: What is this place?

As if on cue, Koushiro's laptop beeps to alert him to an incoming message. Not an email this time; Gennai transmits a live call, though the connection is fuzzy and starts breaking up immediately.

Gennai: This darkness probably goes on forever. Koushiro: Gennai-san! Taichi: Hey! What the hell is going on here!? Yamato: We already defeated the Dark Masters! Gennai: But the root cause of all this evil hasn't been defeated yet. Children: EHHHH!?!? Gennai: The source of darkness came from the Wall of Fire. Jou: Wall of Fire? Gennai: There was an inscription in the Ancient Dino Region. The inscription said this: Long ago in ancient times, something emerged from beyond the Wall of Fire. Just by existing, this creature warped the fabric of space-time, bringing the world to the brink of collapse. Gennai: The Digimon could not defeat it with their own power, so they called on Chosen Children from the real world to help them eradicate it. Taichi: Huh!? But that means.... Jou: There were Chosen Children before us! Sora: Then we were also called because something came through the Wall of Fire again! And that's the real enemy!

Well, that's an infodump and a half. This is what Gennai and Centarumon were talking about last episode. Something came through the Wall of Fire long ago and had to be defeated, and now it's back for more.

The revelation that there was another set of Chosen Children before the Hikarigaoka Eight raises all kinds of questions and it's unfortunate that Homeostasis is not around to answer them.

(Though it also kind of makes sense, since it hasn't been explained why Parrotmon and Hikari's Koromon "fell through a breach in reality", as Homeostasis explained. That was probably the first time the Wall of Fire creature was tearing down the fabric of reality. So Homeostasis summoned one set of Children then and there to face that one, then started preparing for the Hikarigaoka Eight to face it when it returned.)

Note: The five Chosen Children we see in the flashback here are... uh... not canon. Which is to say, what we're seeing here are silhouettes of Taichi, Takeru, Sora, Koushiro, and Yamato, along with their specific five Partner Digimon.

02 and Tri would later flesh out the Original Five more, including their own distinct set of Partner Digimon. But for the original anime, they reused five of the existing kids because the specifics of the Original Five don't really matter much to this story.

What I do find interesting, however, is that the O5 were summoned directly to Primary Village and received their Partners from some Digitama that happened to be lying around. It makes the O-5's summoning seem a bit more rushed than the careful processing of Partners, Digivices, and Crests in a lab that Homeostasis was trying to do for the H-8.

In the dub:

WarGreymon: Tai, are you alright!? Tai: Y-Yeah... Izzy: Uh, this may be a stupid question but how come we're not still falling? ...huh!?

As usual, details buried in sound effects get lost. There is no beeping sound to alert Izzy to Gennai's transmission; He suddenly has a psychic premonition and breaks out his laptop.

Gennai: Greetings. I hope nobody needed a barf bag on the way down. Izzy: It's Gennai! Tai: So you're the one who brought us down here! Matt: What do you want!? We already beat the Dark Masters. Gennai: It's true that the evil of the Dark Masters was destroyed, but the source that created that evil still exists. Children: HUH!?!? Gennai: And that source came from the Wall of Fire. Joe: What's that? Gennai: When I was searching through the Dino Ruins, I came across an ancient inscription. It told of a time long ago when a strange being appeared from behind the Wall of Fire and it was angry. You would be too if you lived with that kind of humidity. Gennai: The mere existence of this being caused a warp in space, and time was thrown completely out of whack. It threatened the collapse of the Digital World and, even worse than that, my new wristwatch stopped working. Gennai: The Digimon knew they didn't have the strength to defeat this being, so the original DigiDestined children were summoned from the real world and together they defeated the evil. Tai: What!? Then you mean...? Joe: That there were other kids just like us before we came along? Sora: And we were summoned because something else came out from behind that Wall of Fire, didn't it? Huh. And that's the real enemy.

Tai and Matt are so hostile to Gennai. XD Taichi and Yamato are frustrated too, but Tai outright accuses Gennai of kidnapping them into the darkness. Y'know, 'cause homebody Gennai who was too lazy to visit File Island in person despite having a wearable mech suit definitely conjured up the power to consume Spiral Mountain in darkness himself.

Speaking of which, I love how Gennai takes credit for all of Centarumon's research. "When I was searching through the ruins" no you weren't, you managerial shit. XD That he pronounces it "Deeno Ruins" is the icing on the cake. He doesn't even know the name of the place he's claiming to have personally done archaeology at. Management!

The dub again suggests that the creature from beyond the Wall of Fire created the Dark Masters, rather than them empowering themselves from its effects on the world. It also suggests that the thing that came through the Wall of Fire this time is something distinctly separate from the one that came through before.

I see where they're coming from. "Something came through the Wall of Fire again" could mean that the thing from beyond the Wall of Fire has returned or it could mean that a new thing has emerged. But I'm fairly certain we're meant to take both instances as the same creature. I think there's only one of him.

From here, Gennai continues.

Gennai: There was also a prophecy written in the inscription at the Ancient Dino Region. It said that, in time, a great darkness would once again emerge into this world from beyond the Wall of Fire. Yamato: A great darkness....

The children look around at the void of darkness they're in.

Jou: You mean this darkness? Taichi: Are you saying this darkness itself is our true enemy? Gennai: In a sense, I suppose. But I'm sure it has a body too. Fight with all your hearts, children!

The transmission goes fuzzy and Gennai fades away. Good luck! Gennai out!

Taichi: Wait! Don't go yet! (Transmission ends) Taichi: (angry) We're just grasping at clouds! How do we fight something we don't even understand!?

"Grasping a cloud" is a Japanese idiom about trying to do something that's flagrantly impossible.

Jou: (worried) What did he mean by that? Is it different from the enemy Digimon we've been fighting!? Koushiro: I think it means our enemy's fundamental nature is different. Yamato: We'll still win this. Because, back in the day, kids just like us defeated this same Digimon! Sora: You're right. There has to be a way.

Even Taichi seems shaken by the prospect of fighting this thing. But, at Yamato's words, Taichi nods and the rest of the team steels themselves for the battle to come.

In the dub:

Gennai: That's correct. But, unfortunately, that's just the good news. The bad news is, it also told of a great darkness that would blanket the entire Digital World. Matt: A great darkness... Huh.... Joe: Don't look now, but it's pretty dark. Tai: So is this the enemy? Gennai: In a way, yes. But I believe he has a form as well. He's, uhhh... (Static) Gennai: UH-OH, I'M OUT OF QUARTERS, GOTTA GO!!! Tai: WAIT!!! GENNAI, COME BACK!!!

Reliable as ever. XD The dub's handling of Gennai's disconnection is beautiful. Useless jiji strikes again. They put their first commercial break right here on this punchline and we return to Gennai disconnecting, take two.

Gennai: Next time I'll use a phone card, I promise! SEE YA!!! Tai: (despondent) GEEEEENNAAAAAAAAAAI!!! Oh great, how does he expect us to fight this thing if we don't even know what we're looking for!? Joe: Just my luck. The second I start enjoying my vacation, another monster tries to destroy the world. Izzy: Sorry, guys, but something tells me this isn't going to be like any other Digimon we've ever run into. Matt: Yeah? So what? The first DigiDestined kids were able to defeat something like this. Well then, so will we. Sora: Matt's right! We'll just have to find a way to do it.

"Something tells me". Was it Gennai's infodump, Izzy? Was that what told you?

Here we see the confusion over how many Wall of Fire creatures there are again. This one's less understandable. Yamato calls it, in no uncertain terms, 同じデジモン onaji Dejimon. "The same Digimon". Not another one; It is the same. Matt's description gets more wishy-washy, calling the O-5's enemy "something like this".

Suddenly, the children hear a strange groaning coming from every direction at once.

Hikari: (freaked) Whose voice is that...? Mimi: (whispers) It's creepy.... Angewomon: I can hear it coming from everywhere! Taichi: It's... It's saying something! Voice: That's right. Are our regrets to go unanswered? Sora: Regrets? Jou: Who's there!?

A giant dodecahedron appears to answer Jou's question.

Koushiro: Is this the Digimon that came through the Wall of Fire?

Yes. And no. This is about to get complicated.

As important sound effects go, the dub lands this one. They remember to include the groaning, though the kids aren't nearly as bugged by it.

Kari: What's that noise? Mimi: Sounds like a moose! Angewomon: Sounds to me like it's coming from every direction! Tai: Me too! But what does it mean!? Voice: I know who you are! You don't have the power to eliminate my sadness! Sora: Huh? Joe: Who's there!? (Dodecahedron appears) Izzy: I'll bet this has something to do with that Digimon Gennai was talking about! Tai: Either that or it's a giant cube puzzle!

I'm guessing it's a d12. The Wall of Fire creature is going to be our DM in a giant game of Dungeons and Dramons. Joke's on him, we have WarGreymon.

Already we're beginning to see the tonal difference between versions of this creature but more on that later. For now, the dodecahedron unfurls.

Aside from the top and bottom faces, all ten of the dodecahedron's other faces unfurl into podiums which release colossal metal claws. The bottom face unfurls into a spike, while the top unfurls into a podium with no claw. Instead, a cloaked figure emerges from there, revealing itself to be a humanoid creature organically connected to the rest of the structure - with blue and red pipes pumping into its gut and another black pipe pumping into its back.

Its chains are made from strands of DNA. So that gives an early hint as to where this is going.

Yamato: (stunned) What is that thing...?

The narrator chimes in to answer Yamato's question 'cause it's time for the rundown. That... is not any Digimon we've ever seen before.

Apocalymon is a Digimon in the sense that it began being included in V-Pets and Digimon games and stuff following the debut of this episode. Because of course it did.

But it's one of the few creatures in the franchise to exist beyond the Ultimate stage. As previously discussed, it didn't hatch out of a Digitama and grow up but instead entered the Digital World fully-formed from an unknown space beyond reality through an impassible barrier. Consequently, it doesn't have any evolutionary path to it. It's not from here.

Games it appears in usually give it things like "Jogress Piemon, Mugendramon, Pinocchimon, and MetalSeadramon together to create Apocalymon" or something like that. It's just there because it's the guy from the Adventure anime and it would be cool if you could have the guy from the Adventure anime.

It doesn't have a type, it doesn't have an attribute, and its level is listed as "Ultimate" purely for lack of a word to describe it.

Narrator: A mysterious Digimon whose true nature is shrouded in darkness. No, it can't even be determined if this creature is a Digimon. It can reduce all things to nothingness with its Darkness Zone.

It is to Digimon what Gozer the Gozerian is to ghosts. Even the narrator doesn't fucking know what this is, initially calling it a Digimon and then catching himself and backpedaling.

(Though an interesting detail about Apocalymon is that it has features reminiscent of some of the Nightmare Soldiers nonetheless. It's cloak gives Vamdemon vibes. Meanwhile, its coloration and overlong arms ending in sharp red claws are reminiscent of Devimon's arms and that one freakish claw that LadyDevimon has.

So it may be part of the Nightmare Soldiers lineage after all. Or, alternatively, drawing power from the reality distortions created by Apocalymon may have ironically caused Digimon to evolve in ways that resemble it. LadyDevimon in particular certainly doesn't look like that claw is supposed to be there.)

While it has no lines in this part of the original, the dub gives us more of its dub personality. As the camera lingers on the blue and red pipes coming out of its front, it quips:

Apocalymon: I am the ultimate evil, complete with hot and cold running water! Matt: What on Earth is that thing? Apocalymon: (rundown) I am Apocalymon, a mutant Digimon. My Darkness Zone attack transforms my enemy to nothingness. I have the power to turn everything I touch into total darkness.

A lot more verbose. Dub Apocalymon is just, like, a guy. A really evil guy. Completely stepping over the ambiguity of his true nature in the original, he comes right out and explains that he's a mutant Digimon. That's all. Nothing to see here. Just a big bad evil guy we need to punch.

Unfortunately, the final dissolution of reality that dumped the Chosen Children into this void isn't just happening on Spiral Mountain. In the human world, four sets of terrified parents, one single mother, and a brother all watch helplessly as the void appears in their sky.

Yuuko (Taichi's Mom): What... is that...?

Then, in the void, the eight Children appear with their Partners. All of the parents gasp in shock. In an easy to miss move, Yamato and Takeru's mom Natsuko suddenly grabs onto the arm of their dad Hiroaki for support. The other two couples clinging to each other had already been doing that before the kids showed up in the void.

Toshiko (Sora's Mom): (worried) Sora! Mimi's Parents: (worried) Mimi-chan!

In the dub, Apocalymon keeps talking, carrying on from his self-rundown about his Darkness Zone reducing all things to darkness. Which the parents, apparently, can hear?

Apocalymon: Perhaps I will start with Earth. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Susumu (Tai's Dad): I'd better get a new flashlight. But what about.... Yuuko: The... KIDS...! (The kids appear, as if on cue. Parents gasp.) Toshiko: (worried) Sora! Mimi's Parents: (worried) Our Mimi!

Susumu is having what we would call a himbo moment right now. Yuuko's line read gets messed up from having a line whose partition doesn't line up well with where the lip flaps need the break in the line to go.

Probably should have stuck with the original line for her, which divides very well at that spot in both Japanese and English. You can't go wrong with a half-whispered utterance of terrified uncertainty.

Back in the void, Apocalymon finally speaks directly to the Children.

Apocalymon: Hahahahaha... Do you find me ugly? It's true, isn't it? You all must have been thinking it. After all, we are the ones whose evolutionary course was blocked. Koushiro: The evolutionary process? Apocalymon: Digimon have continued to evolve again and again over the years. Did you know that some of them disappeared? Koushiro: It's inevitable that some species will disappear during the evolutionary process. If they aren't able to adapt to their environment-- Apocalymon: SILENCE!!! Children: (collective gasp) Apocalymon: (furious) "Inevitable". You think that one word can settle this matter!? Yamato: What do you mean by that? Apocalymon: (sarcastic) Does Your Highness deem us unworthy to survive? Koushiro: (backtracking) No, I wouldn't-- Apocalymon: Yes, we are the accumulated sorrow, bitterness, and regret from all those Digimon who vanished during the evolutionary process! Sora: You're the collection of all the dark hearts from the DIgimon who disappeared?

Some interesting linguistic notes. While they do use a couple of singular first-person pronouns, Apocalymon predominately refers to themselves by the plural first-person pronoun 我々 wareware. This is due to the true nature they reveal in this conversation: They are a gestalt entity formed of many beings.

They're also surprisingly emotional. They get suddenly triggered by Koushiro's use of the phrase 仕方がない Shikataganai, which means... It can't be helped. It's inevitable. This is just the way it is. Nothing we can do about it.

Poor socially awkward Koushiro was just answering the question academically without realizing he was verbally slapping Apocalymon right in their goddamn gestalt face.

Which is why Apocalymon responds aggressively with the second-person pronoun 貴様 kisama. This is on paper a very respectful term from samurai days of old used to address one's superior but has had its meaning corrupted through sarcastic and ironic usage. It's the equivalent of saying, "Oh, yes, your highness. Right away, your worshipfulness."

When Apocalymon uses it here, they're being salty and accusing Koushiro of looking down on them. They're, shall we say, a little bit bitter. Just a smidge. You might not have noticed!

In the dub:

Apocalymon: Hahahahahaha! Are you repulsed by my appearance? Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings; They're already hurt! Hahahaha... You see, I was created from all that was lost during the Digivolving process. Izzy: What do you mean by 'lost'? Apocalymon: Digimon have been Digivolving for many years now, over and over again. But there were some who weren't up to the challenge and simply disappeared. Izzy: That makes sense. Even on Earth, some species became extinct during the process of evolution. In fact, the Tasmanian tiger wolf was one of those-- Apocalymon: SILENCE!!! Children: (collective gasp) Apocalymon: Who's the one telling this story, anyway? Me or you? Matt: (snide) Alright, go ahead. Apocalymon: First, I have a question to ask. Do you believe that I am worthy of coexisting with you? Izzy: Uhh, well... Yeah, sure! Apocalymon: Oh, really? Even though I was forged from the pain and misery of all the ill-fated Digimon who vanished while attempting to Digivolve? Sora: You're entirely made up of grief and sorrow? How sad for you. Apocalymon: Sure, rub it in.

There's no verbal misstep in this version; Apocalymon just cuts Izzy off before he can start infodumping.

He also sticks with first-person singular pronouns here. In general, he's much more composed than his Japanese counterpart. Rather than throwing out bitter accusations, he randomly asks, "Am I worthy to exist?" That Izzy struggles to answer the question reflects poorly on him, but we already know he's a dick.

The language here is a bit... confusing.

The language is already a bit confusing because Apocalymon seems to be talking about species lost to the evolutionary process, not Digimon randomly dying during a level-to-level evolution. At least, that's the impression I get. They and Koushiro reference 進化の過程 shinka no katei, the evolutionary process, rather than saying that Digimon suddenly drop dead during 進化 shinka.

This makes Izzy's reference to the Tasmanian tiger wolf rather apt. Which, by the way, is also known as the thylacine, and is colloquially known as the Tasmanian tiger or the Tasmanian wolf. So far as I know, nobody calls it a "tiger wolf" but I might be wrong. Either Izzy's mouthing off again or he's actually got the better of me on this one.

The dub's been swapping out "evolve" for "Digivolve" for so long that they forge right ahead here and say "Digivolving process", the unique fantasy mechanism by which Greymon becomes MetalGreymon.

So while there's some uncertainty as to what they're talking about in the original, the dub clearly asserts that sometimes Digimon spontaneously drop dead while Digivolving. Those individuals' resentment, rather than the resentment of entire species lost to history, is what makes up Apocalymon.

Which... might also be how it's meant to be taken in the original too. It's a little confusing. To my knowledge, individual Digimon spontaneously ceasing to exist during an evolution isn't a thing that can happen but... IDK.

Now that their identity is explained, Apocalymon continues.

Apocalymon: The Chosen Children and their Digimon... We've been looking forward to meeting all of you. WarGreymon: (quietly) What...? MetalGarurumon: What do you mean by that!? Apocalymon: Listen! While we lay buried in a cold and sorrowful darkness, you were on the other side enjoying yourselves and laughing happily in the warm light. WHY!?!?

Furious, Apocalymon attacks. A burst of electricity fires out from their dodecahedron, which hits all eight children and their Digimon.

Once the shocks have passed, Taichi calls out to the team.

Taichi: Is everyone okay!? Yamato: Yeah, I'm managing. Koushiro: Yes. Sora: We're okay, Taichi.

I'm beginning to get the impression that Apocalymon is not emotionally stable.

An interesting note is that we generally don't get an explanation for why light is good and darkness is bad in media that use those things. It's considered self-evident. But in this speech, Apocalymon actually explains why the forces of darkness are forces of darkness.

Because the forces of darkness are drawing their power from them, Apocalymon, whose component entities are species banished from the light of existence, whose spirits live on only in this void.

In the dub:

Apocalymon: And now, DigiDestined and Digimon, I have been waiting an eternity for this encounter. WarGreymon: What!? MetalGarurumon: What do you mean!? Apocalymon: As I sat alone in the cold, miserable darkness of my world, I watched all of you on the other side laughing and having fun in the light! Well, now it's my turn... TO SHINE!!! (Apocalymon hits them all with a sudden electric burst) Tai: Is everybody okay? Matt: I think so. Izzy: Yeah. Sora: I'm okay, Tai. Apocalymon: Not for long.

Basically the same, but Apocalymon again doesn't sound as aggrieved as his Japanese counterpart, who is basically frothing at the mouth with jealous fury.

Speaking of which, shit's about to get gross.

Apocalymon: WHAT DID WE DO WRONG!?!?

Apocalymon proceeds to self-harm, digging their own claws into their shoulders and wrenching open their flesh. The blood and underlying gore is painted green to reduce the ick factor but. Uh. Ick.

Apocalymon: Why should you get to laugh when we have to cry!? Mimi: (shrieks and covers her eyes) NO!!! I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS!!! Apocalymon: Even those such as us have tears and emotions!

They suddenly wrench their claws back out of their shoulders.

Apocalymon: WHAT RIGHT DID THEY HAVE TO TAKE AWAY OUR LIVES AND BANISH US FROM THIS WORLD!?!?

I think Mimi's face says it all. Jesus.

This section, which is so gruesome that a 10-year-old in-universe screams "I don't want to see this," gets one big NOPE stamp from Fox Kids.

Apocalymon continues.

Apocalymon: We wanted to live. To survive and talk about friendship, justice, and love!

Apocalymon curls into themself and stabs their claws back into their shoulder wounds, with a spurt of green blood from both sides. Reaction shots of the children show that Sora, too, is averting her gaze from the gruesome sight while Jou, Takeru, and Hikari watch in horror.

Apocalymon: We wanted this body to be useful to the world! Are you saying this world has no need for us? That we're meaningless!?

(Apocalymon is the voice of my entire generation and I was not prepared for that. The kids better do something quick 'cause I'm starting to root for the Failure Amalgam.)

A close-up of Apocalymon's bleeding shoulders (I guess they pulled their claws out again) shows the bloody wounds closing themselves back up and disappearing from their body.

Koushiro: They have the ability to self-regenerate! Apocalymon: We will take control of this world. We'll establish a place for ourselves here. Anything that gets in our way will disappear! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! A CURSE ON EVERY PLACE THE LIGHT TOUCHES!!!

The dub continues scrubbing shots with all this ick in them. They do, however, use one shot of Apocalymon with the visible claw marks in his shoulders. What those are goes unexplained.

Apocalymon: Do you think it's fair that I should have to live with all this agony!? Why should you get to laugh when I am forced to cry?

The reaction shots from the kids, including Sora averting her gaze, are kept in. Though it's not clear what Sora's so freaked out and unwilling to look at.

Apocalymon: Why do you get to taste the best life has to offer while all I do is choke on its leftovers!? Answer me this! WHY DO ALL OF YOU GET THE PIZZA!?!? WHY DO I GET THE CRUST!?!?

Then we finally get Mimi's reaction.

Mimi: (shrieks and covers her eyes) Oh, I can't take all these metaphors!

Before finally rejoining the original scene order with Izzy, who is no longer commenting on the regeneration because all shots of the gore were cut out.

Izzy: Boy, this guy really holds a grudge. Apocalymon: I will rule the world and plunge it into darkness so that I don't have to be alone anymore in my misery! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Wait a minute, what am I laughing at? I'm supposed to be depressed!

It's been the case multiple times throughout the series that the dub is written as if they were doing an Abridged Parody for YouTube, and Apocalymon tops that chart.

"Why do you get the pizza and I get the crust?" is pretty out-there. They are absolutely making fun of the original through this script. Literally a bit that happens between TFS Goku and TFS Frieza.

Nonetheless, "I will plunge the world into darkness so I don't have to be alone in my misery" hits the nail on the head. That is what Apocalymon wants. They aren't trying to build themselves up. They don't want to come out into the light. This isn't an act of hope.

It's despair. They're mad at the other species who outcompeted them evolutionarily, and they want everyone to have to suffer the way they've suffered. They want to punish the world for leaving them behind, rather than to improve their own circumstances by being accepted into it.

If this were a consequence of man-made forces, Apocalymon would be a complicated and sympathetic figure. If Captain Planet started dropping billionaires from skyscrapers to thwart the impending climate apocalypse, I think a lot of us would be okay with that. It'd be a conversation, at the very least.

However, "Should we let Revenge of the Mastodon tear the fabric of reality in half out of spite?" is a bit more cut-and-dry. Dude literally just said he wants to curse everything the light touches. There is no nuance to be had here. I'm sorry your species couldn't handle the Ice Age or whatever but you don't get to take it out on the ones that did.

Once again, worked up into a frenzy, Apocalymon attacks.

Apocalymon: ULTIMATE STREAM!!!

One of Apocalymon's DNA claws morphs into the head of MetalSeadramon, then fires Ultimate Stream from his emitter straight at Hikari.

Taichi: HIKARI!!!

Angewomon throws herself at Hikari, wrapping the girl up in her arms while taking Ultimate Stream straight to the back.

Angewomon: AUGH!!! Hikari: ANGEWOMON!!! Apocalymon: Kindhearted children, that was a sign of our friendship. The next is LOVE!!! BLOODY STREAM!!!

A DNA claw morphs into Vamdemon, swinging his Bloody Stream whip at Mimi. It's Lilimon's turn to block, taking Vamdemon's lash.

Lilimon: MIMI--AHHHHHHH!!! Apocalymon: JUSTICE!!! MUGEN CANNON!!!

Mugendramon's Mugen Cannon is going for Sora. Garudamon claps her hands around Sora and takes that one to the back.

Garudamon: Sora! AUGH!!!

Kinda sexist that you're only shooting at the girls, my composite dude/tte.

In the dub:

Apocalymon: RIVER OF POWER!!! (Apocalymon shoots at Kari) Tai: KARI!!! Kari: AHHHH!!! Angewomon: (takes the hit for her) AUGH!!! Kari: AHHHH ANGEWOMON NO!!! Apocalymon: That was MetalSeadramon with his classic River of Power. And now here's Myotismon with his #1 hit, CRIMSON LIGHTNING!!! (Apocalymon shoots at Mimi) Mimi: AHHHHH!!! Lilimon: (takes the hit for her) AHHHH!!! Apocalymon: Next, Machinedramon! GIGA CANNON!!! (Apocalymon shoots at Sora) Sora: WHAAA!!! Garudamon: SORA!!! (takes the hit for her) AUGH!!!

The only point of note is Dub Apocalymon DJing the attacks he's firing.

So, yeah, that's a hell of a thing. Koushiro assesses what's happening here.

Koushiro: Could it be... Are they able to use all of the techniques from every Digimon up to this point? Jou: Then... isn't this like fighting every single one of those Digimon at once? Sora: So does that mean there's no chance of winning? Taichi: Guys! Don't let them freak you out. Get back in positions! Takeru: We just need to stay together! Hikaru: (nods) Mhm! Yamato: That's right! There's no going back from here.

This Final Fantasy-style final boss fight against a primordial concept that's been secretly powering all the villains we've faced to this point is shaping up to be a hell of a thing. But the children steel themselves for it nonetheless. There's nothing else they can do.

In the dub:

Izzy: Inconceivable! He's using all the attacks of the evil Digimon we've defeated in the past! Joe: You mean we have to fight them all over again? This is the worst recurring nightmare I've ever been awake for! Sora: Hey, we were able to beat them once! Tai: Sora's right! We did beat them! And we can do it again! T.K.: We just have to fight together as a team! Kari: (nods) Mhm! Matt: I agree. We've sacrificed too much to give up now.

Izzy deduces only that Apocalymon has the attacks of the "evil Digimon we defeated", and not every Digimon. In his defense, that is just as valid of a conclusion to draw from the evidence shown.

Joe still freaks out, but the lowered challenge level does seem to make Sora a lot more confident than her Japanese counterpart is about facing this threat.

I appreciate Matt bringing up the sacrifices they've made. The road to this point is paved in corpses, both friend and enemy alike.

Unfortunately, as the children prepare themselves to fight, Apocalymon takes it as an invitation to ramp it up.

Apocalymon: You haven't even seen how terrifying I can truly be. DEATH EVOLUTION!!!

Rare singular pronoun from Apocalymon there.

At once, Apocalymon sends all of their claws forward, snatching each and every one of the Partner Digimon. This goes uneventfully for most, though Lilimon does have to shove Mimi away so she doesn't get caught in the claw too.

Mimi: LILIMON!!!

Once all of the Digimon are in Apocalymon's grasp, they address the crowd once more.

Apocalymon: I'll make you understand how we felt, as we vanished from the evolutionary process.

Within the grip of Apocalymon's claws, the eight Partner Digimon glow brightly. Then their light fades and the claws retract, leaving the eight of them reduced to their base stages.

(Oh, so that's where the power behind Etemon's Love Serenade came from.)

Yamato: No way.... Takeru: Everyone changed back...? Patamon: Takeru, I'm sorry. Takeru: There's nothing to apologize for, Patamon. Hikari: But we can't win like this! Tailmon: Don't give up! Gabumon: It's fine. We can still fight like this! Tentomon: All we have to do is evolve again. Jou: That's right! Evolve again, everyone! Gomamon: We're on it! Palmon: I am a little hungry, though.... Agumon: That's fine. Just get fired up! Gabumon: (to the children) We're counting on all of you!

We have a plan of attack. Having the team's evolutions stripped away sucks, but there's nothing stopping them from re-evolving and getting back to business.

In the dub:

Apocalymon: You fools! You haven't even seen my true power yet! REVERSE DIGIVOLVE!!! (Claws grab everyone. Lillymon shoves Mimi away.) Mimi: LILLYMON!!! Apocalymon: I'll make you understand how it feels to be one step closer to extinction! (Apocalymon regresses all of the Digimon) Matt: They're Rookies! T.K.: He changed them back so easily! Patamon: I'm sorry, T.K.! T.K.: It's not your fault, Patamon; It's him! Kari: Great. This time, we're finished. Gatomon: You'd better leave that 'tude, Kari! Gabumon: Just because we're at the Rookie level doesn't mean we still can't fight. Tentomon: We'd Digivolve if we had the energy. Joe: That's it! Start from scratch! You can Digivolve again! Gomamon: We'd have to eat something. Palmon: Come to think of it, I am kinda hungry. Agumon: Forget food! We have the power within us! Gabumon: (to the children) But we need your help!

Palmon and Agumon's cute little exchange is turned into a full-blown problem that all of the Rookie Digimon need to overcome. But nonetheless resolved as easily, with some gumption and can-do spirit.

"I'll make you understand how it feels to be one step away from extinction" is a raw line. I love it.

The children go for their Digivices--

Apocalymon: DEATH CLAW!!!

One of Apocalymon's claws morphs into four pairs of Devimon hands. They extend, snatching the children's Crests away from them. Within the grip of Apocalymon's Death Claws, the Crests and their Tags shatter into dust.

The Chosen Children watch helplessly as their Crests are destroyed utterly.

Taichi: THE CRESTS!!! Takeru: They broke! Sora: Now we can't make them evolve! Apocalymon: I see you're beginning to realize the despair we felt from being unable to evolve! Jou: Oh my god, they broke the Crests! Mimi: If we can't evolve then how are we supposed to win this fight!?

Mimi's question is left hanging in the air as we go to our commercial break.

In the dub, Tai queues us up for what's about to happen.

Tai: Everybody, get your Crests ready! Apocalymon: DEATH CLAW!!! (Apocalymon destroys the Crests and Tags) Tai: Ah! Our Crests and Tags! T.K.: He broke them all! Sora: They won't be able to Digivolve without them! Apocalymon: I hope you learned your lesson: Always save your receipts! The warranty was probably still good on those things. Joe: Isn't this usually the time when one of us comes up with a brilliant idea? Mimi: I don't think anything can save us this time, Joe! I'm afraid we're done for!

The dub forgot that they renamed Death Claw to Touch of Evil. ...wait, why was this "death" okay but Death Evolution wasn't? Is it because it had the world "evolution" in it? Was that the naughty word?

In any case, the dub agrees that this is a good spot for the second commercial.

Following the commercial, we return to the Chosen Children freaking the fuck out. The conversation picks right up where it left off, replaying Mimi's line.

Mimi: If we can't evolve then how are we supposed to win this fight!? Koushiro: It's impossible! No matter how hard they try, Child-stage Digimon cannot defeat an enemy with the combined power of all the strongest Digimon we've ever faced! Taichi: I won't accept that! There must still be a way to win this! Yamato: How did the previous Chosen Children defeat this enemy!?

Koushiro's done the math and hahahaHAHA no, these circumstances are not winnable. Not by a long shot. We are up shit creek without a paddle here. Though Yamato raises a good counterpoint.

In the dub:

Mimi: How can we fight Apocalymon without Digivolving!? Izzy: There's no way! All the Rookie Digimon combined couldn't beat an enemy who has the power of all the evil Digimon from the past! Tai: How can you be so sure!? There's got to be a way somehow! Matt: How did the original DigiDestined kids defeat this enemy?

Basically, the same, except Mimi addresses Apocalymon by name.

In the original, they're just calling Apocalymon "the enemy". Possibly because they might not even know that the enemy is called Apocalymon. That rundown was for our eyes only; Apocalymon might not even be in the in-universe Digimon Analyzer, and even if they are, Koushiro hasn't analyzed them.

Fortunately for the dub kids, Apocalymon's rundown there was diegetic so he's formally introduced himself. Mimi can use his name. No problems there.

Sadly, we are out of time for figuring out how to fight. Apocalymon's ready to end this.

Apocalymon: (chanting) Runani tade wa chita-emao! Runani tade wa chita-emao!

ルナーニタデーハチタエマーオー

By themselves, these noises are gibberish. However, that's because they're doing a backwards-talk spell incantation.

if you spell their words backwards (and with hiragana and kanji, which mean things), you get "お前たちはデータになる Omae-tachi wa deta ninaru." Or, "You all become data. You all become data."

Jou is the first to realize what's happening and start screaming. This grabs Sora's attention, who whips around to see Jou pixelizing before realizing it's happening to her too.

The bodies of all eight children are being broken down, reduced to data as the spell suggested.

Yamato: (alarmed) This is-- Koushiro: It's really bad! Our bodies are being broken down into digital data! Taichi: What did you say!?

The Digimon, too, are breaking down.

Piyomon: Then we.... Gabumon: ...we.... Agumon: ...WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US!?!?

There's nothing anyone can do but scream until they no longer have mouths to scream with. Then they're gone. All sixteen.

Now, in the U.S., we kinda had a big hubbub in the late 20th century about "Satan is sending messages to your children through backwards-talk on records!". So that's not happening. Apocalymon instead intones a rhyme to cast his spell.

Apocalymon: I'll take these children and use their fear / to make them digital and disappear! Ahahahahahaha! (The kids notice they're disintegrating) Matt: What's this!? Izzy: Fascinating. Our bodies are being broken down into little bits of digital information. Tai: FASCINATING!?!? Biyomon: Let's stay calm, everyone! Don't fall to pieces. Agumon: (jokey) Too late!

Tai and Matt are the only ones appropriately horrified by this. The Digimon are quipping and Izzy's downright intrigued.

The "fascinating" gag is pretty funny, though. That got me. XD

We find the children in a white void that is probably a hyperbolic visual representation of what's happening to them? IDK.

They fade in and out of existence whenever they speak. Except, briefly, Koushiro who has more to say. Naturally, the children begin to panic.

Taichi: Where are we!? Koushiro: The world of data. We've all been broken down into data. Mimi: Broken down!? Can't we go back to normal!? Koushiro: I don't know. Jou: What will happen to us if we can't turn back!? Hikari: Is this the end? Sora: I don't know! This is the first time this has ever happened to me. What do we do!? Taichi: ...did we lose? Yamato: Is it all over?

Sora, I'm pretty sure this is a universal first for, like, humanity. XD

Felt, though.

In the dub:

Tai: Ah! Where are we!? Izzy: We're information now. This is where all information gathers. It's the world of data! Mimi: Data!? I'm too young to be dating! Izzy: It's not the same. Joe: Sometimes too much information's a bad thing. Kari: Can we get back? Sora: I don't know, Kari. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before. I don't know what to do. Tai: Is this it? Have we lost? Matt: I'd say that's a pretty good conclusion.

About the same, but with less panic and more quipping.

But despite everything, the Digimon refuse to give up and let this be the end.

Agumon: Don't lose your nerve now! Taichi: Agumon? Gabumon: I'll fight to the bitter end. So don't give up hope! Piyomon: That's right! There were many times up to now when I thought it was over, but we always fought through it together! Sora: Sure, but we've been broken down into data! We don't even know if we'll be able to return to human form, let alone defeat our enemy! Jou: Even if we could make it back, they can't evolve without our Crests! Koushiro: This has never happened before. How is anyone supposed to handle being broken down into data!? NOBODY KNOWS!!! Tentomon: Tell me, Koushiro-han, In all the battles you've fought up to this point, did you always know how you were going to win? Koushiro: Eh? Gabumon: Right! There's a lot of 'firsts' on an adventure!

The Digimon have a point. This entire adventure has involved setting foot where no human has only five other humans have ever tread. Remember that time we made a cave into a wormhole between Etemon's pyramid and a random patch of desert miles away? Good times.

In the dub:

Agumon: Come on, you guys! Don't quit now! Tai: (resigned) Why not? Gabumon: Look, we can't stop fighting now just because of a little setback! Biyomon: So what if we're bits of information, we have no Tags and Crests, we can't Digivolve, and we're facing the most powerful enemy of all time. I don't see what the problem is. Sora: Listen, Biyomon. You guys have a great attitude about this whole thing, but all the positive thinking in the world can't guarantee that we'll find a way to get back to our original forms. Joe: I tried positive thinking once and I was positive about one thing: I positively hated it! Izzy: (excited) Speaking scientifically, we're the first humans to be digitally processed! Technically, we're pioneers! Like Marco Polo! Tentomon: Oh, I know what he's famous for! Marco! Agumon: Polo! Tentomon: Marco! Gatomon: Polo! Tentomon: Marco! Biyomon: Polo! Izzy: ...huh? Gabumon: In every battle, you're bound to face a number of unknowns.

Up until Gabumon's last line, the vibe on the Digimon talk is totally different here. Rather than inspirational and unyielding, the Digimon are presented as dim-witted rubes, utterly failing to grasp the severity of the situation.

Though the kids don't seem to grasp it either, as they're still delivering laugh lines. Izzy is downright thrilled to have been wiped from existence, and also queues up Tentomon for a wacky skit.

Finally, the Digimon break through. Jou-senpai is the first to come around.

Gomamon: We never knew what to do in situations like this! Jou: Jou're right! All those times....

Jou flashes back on meeting Pukamon for the first time, way back when they arrived on File Island and being attacked by Kuwagamon.

Jou: I didn't know anything about this Digimon World. It was just one thing after another that nearly made my heart stop! Gomamon: But because of you and your nakama, we were able to push through together. Jou: Yeah.... At first, I just wanted to escape this place as soon as possible....

A gentle, somber remix of the series OP Butterfly picks up.

Jou's memories turn to the Tokyo Bay, fishing Takeru out and saving him from nearly drowning when they were attacked by MegaSeadramon. Very nearly sacrificing his own life for Takeru's, and activating his Crest of Sincerity/Responsibility.

Jou: But it's because of all this that I could have experiences I never would have learned about from studying for my entrance exams. Mimi: There was a lot of gross stuff and things that made me cry. Palmon: But are you glad we became friends? Mimi: Yeah. I think meeting all of you has made me stronger.

Mimi, for her part, flashes back on the battle at Big Sight convention center when her Crest activated. She has nothing further to say as the memory plays out, with only Butterfly playing in the background.

In the dub:

Gomamon: Yeah, you didn't know how those other fights would turn out but you fought them anyway, didn't you? Joe: Yeah, that's right. We did fight! (File Island flashback) Joe: When I first got to the Digital World, I was afraid of any little thing that moved! We faced all kinds of new monsters. Gomamon: But no matter who they threw at us, we always found the strength to beat the enemy! Regardless of how big it was. Didn't we, Joe? Joe: That's right! We did! We worked together as a team. (Flashback to Joe's Crest activation) Joe: Even that time when we almost lost T.K. because he couldn't swim. Of course... (sheepishly) I forgot that I couldn't swim either... Mimi: I remember times when all I wanted to do was break down and cry. Palmon: But instead, you fought on with your new friends! Mimi: Mhm! I feel like I've become a stronger person since I met all of you! (Flashback to Mimi's Crest activation) Mimi: Like that time at the convention center when all those Bakemon were attacking. I didn't cry a single drop! ...alright, maybe just one drop.

And so we draw near the conclusion of this series the way we began it: rewriting the characters to strip out their emotional sincerity and emphasize how fierce and raring to fight they are.

Mimi's speech is pretty close to the original, but Joe's sucks. Joe's speech completely sucks. The heart has been completely torn out of it, replaced with "Yeah we kicked so much ass my dude" and a laugh line that turns Joe's sacrifice into a "Whoops, my bad!"

Moving right along, Takeru is next.

Patamon: Before I met Takeru, I thought I didn't need to evolve. But....

Nope, sorry, Patamon first.

Patamon flashes back on his first evolution into Angemon, way back when. The battle with Devimon on File Island.

In the process finally and unambiguously confirming that Patamon does, in fact, retain memories from his past life. The dub staked that position as early as the Pagumon village so that's a cookie for them that's been a long time coming.

Even if you assume the Devimon flashback is Takeru's, Patamon even being able to reference a time "before I met Takeru" is itself proof that he remembers his past life.

For his turn, Takeru takes HolyAngemon's evolution in the battle against Piemon.

Takeru: Me too. Because I met you, Patamon, I feel like I've learned how important it is to fight.

Sora's turn.

Piyomon: Sora, you were always so thoughtful. Sora: (smiling) Piyomon.... Piyomon: That's why everybody adores you so much!

Sora's flashback is the debut of Garudamon, when she let Piyomon fight Vamdemon despite fearing for her safety.

In the dub, they continue talking over the flashbacks and making jokes.

Patamon: Before I met you, T.K., I didn't think it mattered if I ever DIgivolved or not. (Flashback) Patamon: But when Devimon went to grab you and got me, I knew it was my time to shine! I became Angemon for the first time and I've been flying high ever since! T.K.: I learned something from you too, Patamon. (Flashback) T.K.: I learned that sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in! Biyomon: I want you to know that you've changed my life in many ways too, Sora. Sora: Really? Biyomon: Of course you have! After all, I've never had a best friend before! (Flashback) Biyomon: I would do anything for you! Like that time I took Myotismon's Crimson Lightning attack right in the chest! Talk about heartburn!

Patamon's recollection of events is leaving out some, uh, significant things that happened to him between then and now.

T.K.'s bit is pretty much verbatim.

Awkward joke aside, the main difference between versions for Biyomon is that she keeps it narrowly focused on herself and Sora. Piyomon said that everyone loves Sora while Biyomon focuses on her own personal feelings for Sora.

Next up: Koushiro.

Tentomon: Koushiro-han. I learned a lot by being with you. Though it did upset me sometimes when you couldn't look past your computer. Koushiro: Tentomon.... Tentomon: But that's just another part of you that I like.

Koushiro's Crest flashback is a little different, as we don't get to see his Crest shine. We only see Vademon pummeling Kabuterimon with asteroids and Koushiro looking concerned, and then the opening bit of AtlurKabuterimon's stock animation for his evolution sequence.

Gabumon: Yamato.... Yamato: You don't have to say anything. I already know.

Yamato's like, "My dude, we did not spend a whole episode in that cave just to have beef now."

He's ahead of the curve. He already had his ultimate self-actualization into his final form. It's all-a y'all motherfuckers that need to catch up.

His flashback is, of course, Digitamamon's diner.

In the dub:

Tentomon: You know, Izzy, when I first met you, I thought you were just one of those computer geeks. But after I got to know you, I realized you are one of those computer geeks! And I'm glad you are! Because where would the rest of us be without you? Izzy: Thanks, pal. Tentomon: (sniff) I promised myself I wouldn't cry! (Flashback) Tentomon: Although I wanted to cry when I felt that asteroid belt tightening around my waist but you and I took care of Vademon together! Gabumon: As for you, Matt. Matt: You don't have to say anything. I know. (Flashback) Gabumon: There was that time when-- Matt: Yeah, that's right. I remember. Gabumon: And then you and I-- Matt: (annoyed) I know. Gabumon: Remember when we-- Matt: Didn't you hear me!? I said you don't have to say anything!

Poor Gabumon. Matt's trying to have his cool guy moment from the original but unfortunately Gabumon is contractually obligated to fill the silence of the flashback, so no dice.

Tentomon's speech here isn't great, but it's not awful either. Kinda mid. Though I will say that "I felt that asteroid belt tightening around my waist" is fantastic wordplay. Well punned.

There's only two children left. Onward to the Yagami siblings.

Agumon: Hey, Taichi! When we're together, we're invincible, right? Taichi: You know it!

Yeah, okay, those two have been on the same wavelength since day one. They may be reckless idiots at times, but they've always been reckless idiots together.

Taichi's flashback is split, since his was the first Crest sequence and didn't happen as suddenly as the others. We first see his Crest activating when he braved the firewall in Etemon's pyramid, after having to come to terms with the reality that he can die for real here.

Then the other part: Rushing Etemon in the desert with his shining Crest held aloft, having learned from the Skull/MetalGreymon arc the true meaning of courage.

Tailmon: We can't let ourselves fall here. If we do, then what was my long search for Hikari even for? Hikari: Tailmon.... Tailmon: I waited so long for the day when I would meet you and protect you.

For her part, Hikari gets the death of Wizarmon and tearful activation of her Crest.

In the dub:

Agumon: You and I knew from the beginning that together we'd be an invincible team. Right, Tai? Tai: You got that right! (Flashback) Tai: Of course, I probably could have taken care of Etemon without you. But it was nice having you around. It did get me out of a few jams. Gatomon: We can't give up now! 'Cause if we do, what was the whole point of searching for Kari in the first place? Kari: Hehe, Gatomon! Gatomon: I've waited my whole life to meet you and find my purpose, and that is to protect you no matter what the cost. (Flashback) Gatomon: Whether that meant facing Myotismon's Grisly Wing attack or facing the reality of losing Wizardmon... You know that we'll always be there for you.

Gatomon and Kari's segment is pretty solid.

Tai seems allergic to emotional sincerity. However, his "I could have taken Etemon myself but YOU HELPED I GUESS" bit is pretty clearly just him ribbing his pal, and not an honestly held belief. So, in its own way, it's still an expression of the bond they share. Just, in a more macho American way.

The eight children bring it in together.

Hikari: If I'd never met Tailmon.... Jou: If I hadn't come to the Digimon World.... Mimi: If I hadn't taken this journey with all of you.... Koushiro: We wouldn't have become who we are now. Yamato: That's right! It's because our Digimon were always with us.... Takeru: Because our nakama was always with us.... Sora: Because we learned the importance of helping each other.... Taichi: We could be ourselves!

In the dub:

Kari: Boy, if I had never met you, Gatomon.... Joe: And if I had never come to the Digital World.... Mimi: And if none of us became friends in the first place.... Izzy: Then we wouldn't have become the people that we are today. Matt: You're right! We never would have won all those battles without each other. T.K.: I feel like I've grown up a lot! Sora: I think we've all grown up in a lot of ways. Tai: I've grown up too! I'm a much better fighter now!

They stay on script up through Izzy and then lose the plot. Matt and Tai talk about how cool fighting is. T.K. and Sora just say "We grew up a lot" rather than talking about the specific ways this journey has shaped them and their group.

The dub ends this bit on "I'm a much better fighter now," which. Like. Okay. Sure. That's it. That's what this journey was about. It was about Tai learning how to punch things good.

From here, we return to the human world and the frightened parents who watched their children dissolve into nothingness.

BECAUSE BY THE WAY THEY WERE WATCHING THAT. THERAPY. THERAPY FOR YEARS. THERAPY FOR THE KIDS. THERAPY FOR THE PARENTS. THERAPY.

The parents, too, refuse to give up hope.

Hiroaki (Yamato's Dad): Ganbare. (Keep going and persevere.) Shin (Jou's Brother): For the Earth. Toshiko (Sora's Mom): All of you are our pride. Masami (Koushiro's Dad): Ganbare.

From there, we move around the world to see this same distortion in the sky everywhere. People in the United States, in Italy, and in Russia gather without truly understanding what is happening to see the fate of reality decided.

In the dub:

Hiroaki: You can do it! Jim: Come on! For Earth! Toshiko: We're so proud of you, no matter what happens! Masami: Give it your all!

Solid. Hiroaki and Masami both say ganbare in the original but the dub translates them differently to avoid repetition.

After this short break to remind us what the stakes are, we return to data.

Taichi: That's right! We can't let it end like this! Sora: We can't let our adventure go to waste! Yamato: For the Digimon we've met and our nakama and our friendship! Koushiro: And for everyone else we love, waiting for us on Earth! Mimi: We.... Yamato: We.... Takeru: All of us.... Jou: ...will never look back again! Hikari: We won't allow the light in our hearts to fade out!

With that declaration, the symbols from their Crests shine from their chests as if they were still wearing the things.

(They're divided along gender lines left to right but Koushiro's an honorary girl 'cause they don't have enough to make it four and four. XD)

Dry exposition can be difficult to absorb when you aren't poring over two different sets of it for differences, which is why I don't blame the children for being surprised here. However, it's worth noting that Homeostasis explained this to them already.

It's implicitly how Hikari's unexplained Glowy Form worked in the Mugendramon sub-arc. The Digivices and Crests are just tools to help manifest and control the light that's already within the children themselves.

In the dub:

Tai: I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to quit yet! Sora: I'm with you, Tai! I won't let this whole experience be for nothing! Matt: Me neither! There's no way I'm about to let my friends down. Izzy: And besides, there's still a lot of people counting on us down on Earth! Mimi: Let's find a way! Matt: Let's fight! T.K.: We're ready! Joe: We've reached the point where there's no turning back! Kari: Crests of no Crests, we're going to win!

Tai and Sora are on-script and Matt's pretty close. Things start veering off-course at Izzy with the subtle shift from "This is for the people we love" to "Lots of people are counting on us". That's not a super big deal, though.

It's Kari's line that's the major divergence. "The light in our hearts" is... kind of an important concept for understanding why their Crest lights suddenly start shining out of their chests. But Kari just gives a "Ra-ra Let's get 'em!"

However, the dub places their final commercial break here. They come back to another take on that last bit.

Mimi: Are we together? Matt: We are! T.K.: Then let's fight! Joe: It's gonna be pretty tough without our Crests. Kari: Crests!? We don't need no stinking Crests!

It's basically the same as the first take. No explanation is given for why Kari suddenly, confidently thinks they can beat Apocalymon without their Crests.

From here, it's time to unpack what these shining symbols mean.

Agumon: The Crests! The symbols engraved on the Crests were actually your hearts! Team: (collective gasp) Taichi: Our... hearts...? Koushiro: Like the knowledge inside me and the sincerity inside Jou-san. As long as we carry these characteristics in our hearts, we don't need the Crests. Yamato: No, you're wrong. Koushiro: Eh!? Yamato: It isn't the friendship inside of me that's shining. All of your friendship is gathered inside me, and that's what made my Crest of Friendship glow! Taichi: One Crest for everyone and all Crests for one! Hikari: Then the light inside of me is for all of us!

Again, Homeostasis explained all this but I can't blame the children for not paying attention to twenty minutes of a history lecture. Homeostasis is not a very good teacher. Needs to work on improving their methods of engaging children in learning.

(Also, this is definitely what Piccolomon was talking about when he said they needed something more than just to make their Crests glow and be physically together.)

The dub takes its second crack at explaining. They fumbled the setup but at least they land the exposition.

Agumon: It's your Crests. You don't need to carry them anymore because their power has been inside of you this whole time! Tai: You mean, like... in our hearts!? Izzy: Prodigious! That makes perfect sense. It's like my knowledge and Joe's sense of responsibility. If your special traits are within you, then you don't need your Crest because your power will be within you as well! Matt: You're wrong! Izzy: Huh!? Matt: It wasn't the friendship inside me that made my Crest glow, Izzy. It was the friendship I felt from all of you gathered inside my heart and that brought the power of my Crest to life. Tai: So each person's Crest isn't powered by themselves. It's powered by the faith we have in each other! Kari: Then the light inside of me is for everyone!

Yeah, that about covers it. Good job, everyone.

Hikari's light erupts from her chest and Super-Evolves Angewomon. The other children quickly follow suit. The next like two straight minutes are the children reciting their Crests and playing their respective stock animations, which is fun to watch especially with Show Me Your Brave Heart blaring behind it but boring to talk about.

Takeru: And everyone's hope is my hope! (HolyAngemon) Koushiro: Knowledge. (AtlurKabuterimon) Mimi: Purity. (Lilimon) Jou: Sincerity. (Zudomon) Sora: Love. (Garudamon) Yamato: Friendship. (MetalGarurumon) Taichi: Courage. (WarGreymon)

I'm not typing that again. It's exactly the same in the dub except Mimi and Joe call out different Crest virtues.

With the light of their hearts, the children are able to re-establish themselves and recompile their data back into reality, in Apocalymon's void.

Apocalymon: What!? Taichi: WE WON'T LET YOU HAVE YOUR WAY!!!

We end here, with the Children powered up and ready for round 2 with Apocalymon. Some of whom, I'm sorry, look absolutely adorable in their Get Fierce poses. XD Jou, Mimi, Koushiro, and the two eight-year-olds really can't pull off the Let's Throw Down look.

In the dub, Izzy offers some narration in case what just happened was unclear.

Izzy: We did it! We reassembled ourselves! Apocalymon: What!? Tai: You're dealing with the new and improved DigiDestined! Narrator: You won't want to miss the final battle that decides the fate of two worlds. Tune in to the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

Because the narrator pauses the animation to talk, we get to really linger on the combination Fierce Looks and Attempted Fierce Looks. XD

Assessment: So here we are. The true threat behind the veil of reality itself that's been creating the distortions in the Digital World. The Actually Truly Seriously For Realsies final boss. Until sequels happens.

With regard to the "Did Apocalymon create the villains or did they just draw power from Apocalymon?" question, it's not super clear. Gennai said only that Apocalymon is the root cause of their evil and that they drew power from the distortions Apocalymon made in reality.

But Apocalymon's ability to conjure up images of the villains and use their attacks makes the matter murky. It was said that Apocalymon can use the powers of every Digimon they've faced up to this point. But Apocalymon only uses the villains, so it's ambiguous whether that means "Every Digimon" or "All the villains we had to fight".

The dub stakes out "Apocalymon created them" pretty unambiguously. I can't say with certainty that they're wrong or right. I can say that if they were all in league with one another, they didn't act like it. Devimon and Etemon, in particular, seemed to be doing their own thing and had no sense of alliance with the other villains.

There's no indication that any of them even knew Apocalymon existed. Which doesn't necessarily mean Apocalymon couldn't have created them, but if they did, then the villains didn't seem to know that they did. IDK

In any case, whether it's reality or the children's journey, everything comes to an end next episode.

[one-idea]

I’ve been thinking about my Zoro Arc and I need to work out the villain. I know one is going to be a devil fruit user that is attacking Zoro’s old dojo/village. (The secondary villain is Koushiro Zoro’s old Sensei but I’m still deciding if he is an antagonist or a straight villain)

Part 1

Part 2

I want it to feel like a real arc with an enemy that is a threat. So I know I want the devil fruit user to have a zoan fruit. More specifically a mythical Zoan fruit. And I know I want them to be almost impossible to cut.

So where do you go when you need a monster? DnD monster manual of course! And I have some ideas.

We got two camps of thought humanoid monster and monster monsters

We will start off with the humanoids

First we have the death knight

This ideas actually wouldn’t be a zoan but would have a fruit like Brook that keeps him alive. Maybe he’s an old member of the shimotsuki family and is angry with Koushiro’s actions (his desire to hand of the soon to Zoro, someone out side of the family/giving Zoro the sword, and maybe the murder of Kuina👀 I’m really starting to lean into the idea that Koushiro killed his daughter)

This would mean that not only does Koushiro want to take Wado Ichimonji from Zoro but so does the creature he came to fight.

With an armor class of 20 and hit points of 180 it makes the. Near impossible to hit and hard to whittle down their health. It would be a long fight

The second camp is monster monster

First you have a Behir

They are creatures that are a mix between centipedes and crocodiles that can breath lighting.

I really like them because it means Luffy has an advantage against their lightning breath like he did in Skypia. But they are also known to physically coil around their victims like a python and consume them whole so he’s not completely safe.

Its armor class is 17 and hit points 168. A hard beast to fight but not impossible.

Second is the Bulette

They are known as land sharks and are massive predators that live to feed. They are tunnelers digging underground and popping back up.

With an armor class of 17 and hit points of 94 they are hard to hit but easy to take down if you can get some hard hits in.

And finally you have the Tarrasque

Tarrasques are crazy with armor class of 25 and a hit point of 676. Almost nothing can hit them and even if you did you would barely damage them.

Like I almost don’t want to uses it because of how broken it is. The thing is 50 feet tall and is known for its legendary destruction. Like it might actually be to hard to fight.

What do you guys think. I really like the Behir or a Death Knight.

I want the crew to have to fight while Zoro is also going through it emotionally. His job is to protect the crew. But the crew is here because of him. Fighting one of the craziest things they’ve seen. It’s not going down no matter what they do. The crew is getting hurt.

And the person who called him here is acting like Zoro, and more importantly Zoro’s crew aren’t worth dirt because they are pirates. Normally Zoro wouldn’t care, but they came here because Zoro was honoring his teacher and his friends memory, and now Luffy and the others are in danger.

(Top this off with the realization of how Kuina died, and the person Koushiro actually is and it will be fantastic) (like I said I’m really starting to lean into “twist villain” Koushiro.

[genork-the-fandork]

Cavalry

Word Count: 644 Prompt: Second Year A/N: Although the prompt is mainly a reference to Our War Game, I played with the story we're told in 02 - that is, the day the Chosen gave up the power of their Crests. I like playing with Hikari and Takeru's way of being part of and yet separate from the 01 cast in that they're very different. Not in a bad way! But in a very excellent one. @takariweek

Hikari and Takeru had had a silent agreement ever since they first met—whatever happened, they would stick together. If all else failed within this tightly knit group of Chosen, they would have each other. Hand in hand and side by side, they would defend the Digital World and Earth. Or, less seriously, they would tuck themselves away while the older kids talked about older kids things. They had more important things to talk about.

They had been summoned back to the Digital World for some mysterious purpose. Supposedly, they would find out more when they got there. Koushiro and Taichi were working out the strategy for how to get there while the others offered their own suggestions. Takeru and Hikari, however, sat apart from the others, waiting. Though they were certainly mature enough to join the "big kids" discussion, they often chose not to. It was pointless, Hikari had pointed out. Even when their brothers did listen, they did not truly hear them. So concerned were Taichi and Yamato with their safety that it would take a miracle to trust them with their ideas.

Not that Takeru was particularly bitter about this. Neither was Hikari. They preferred each other's company, where they could come up with a failsafe plan, should anything go awry. Like knights, or angel knights, as Hikari teased, they were the cavalry, ready to swoop in and save everyone at the last possible second. What were Angemon and Angewomon for, if not to make dire circumstances go away?

"So Yamato just—went into the computer?" Hikari whispered, leaning forward in such a way that her hair fell over her face.

Takeru wanted to say he could remember it clearly, but his memory was unreliable in this fact. One moment, his brother had been beside him, and the next, it was as if he was watching a movie on the screen, featuring Yamato and Taichi. Even Koushiro couldn't say for sure what he'd seen. The scene had filled Takeru with a sense of wonder and fear all at once, and he hoped never again to experience that feeling. "Yeah," he said, staring down at his hands. "He sure does have a close bond with Gabumon, huh?"

Hikari's hands folded on top of his, and he glanced up at his friend's smiling brown eyes. Well, some days they looked more amber than the chocolate brown of her brother's, but that was a secret Takeru kept locked away. If he let slip such a thought, she would surely tease him. Even if it would make her smile. "We all have close bonds with the Digimon," his friend gently reminded him. "I don't think they can beat our bonds by a landslide." Hiding her mouth behind her hand, as if that would prevent Taichi or Yamato from hearing, she added, "They need a little extra help—you know, because they're dummies."

The giggle that erupted out of Takeru was a bit loud, and he caught his brother glancing over his shoulder at them. Blue irises, so like his own, zeroed in on their joined hands. A slight smirk climbed up Yamato's face as he turned back to the others, but Takeru could feel the heat that expression had induced. Before he could take his hands away, however, Hikari squeezed them. He looked to her, seeing that her own face was a bright shade of pink. For a moment, they stared at each other. Then they laughed, still holding fast to each other's hands.

Neither they nor the others saw it, but their Crests briefly appeared in a flash of light on the spots over their hearts. It would be the last time the power of Hope and Light would be theirs to hold, for the Digital World had more need for it than they. Yet in this moment, it was all theirs, and it tied them together.

[that-green-haired-swordsman]

Found this on Pinterest and it's not meant to be taken too seriously, but yeah, I get where this comes from. Usually you see Zoro being pictured as either a sex machine or as aromantic/ace, and literally never anything in between, and I personally believe that either of these takes is true. It's a manga of the shonen genre and follows the respective, genre-based rules. My interpretation of the character is that he undoubtedly puts his goal(s) on top of everything else. Luffy gets to become the pirate king. Zoro himself is going to be the world's strongest swordsman. Period. BUT. These ambitions go hand in hand with a sacrifice, at least to Zoro. This is going to be a long read and I have to digress a bit so please be patient lol.

Zoro has lost the person most important to him and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He couldn't protect Kuina. Now, we don't know his own knowledge of his parents, but I always assumed that his desire to become stronger and stronger is a direct result of the loss of his parents, something he witnessed, but couldn't do anything about it either. So he chose to follow his father's footsteps and became a swordsman, trained in Koushiro's dojo, driven by anxiety. He made friends with Kuina who died too. And then he swore to himself that never again he would anyone ever become close to him. He traveled alone and at first and kept his distance to Luffy, Nami and the others.

But there's no way to fight human nature. Slowly, he allowed himself and them to get closer and he found it comfortable to be around them, but accepting that they're his friends also multiplies his anxiety and ultimate weakness: losing someone again. He not only wants to become stronger to be the WGS, he also thinks it's the only way to protect his loved ones. When he struggles with an opponent, he can be seen training even harder afterwards. He takes the night's watch. He guards the ship. He only sleeps when someone else is awake. He tells the others to escape when it's dangerous. He tries to take incoming damage alone. He refuses that anyone sacrifices themselves and knocks them out should they try (Sanji @ Thriller Bark). He keeps things a secret. He holds back emotions to remain collected and supportive. The further along they travel, the more of his humanity he has to lose in order to keep them all safe.

Back to the original intention of this post. Zoro has kind of a soft spot for women who need help with something. They just trigger his protective instinct. But he also tries to keep away from any woman because they'd weaken him. And he can't afford to be weak. A woman by his side would mean he'd have to look after her, provide for her, protect her, make sure she's alright, take better care of himself in order to be there for her, all things he simply can't afford and which distract him from his goal (he would think that way, being a bit traditional). Maybe he doesn't trust himself to remain as determined as he was once he's in a relationship. Maybe he's afraid that his partner would try to talk him out of his goal and stand in his way. Which leads me to think how a woman has to be in order to be a good match for him?

We've covered that a woman often triggers his protective sense, I'm not sure though if that is what he finds an important trait. I like to imagine that a woman he'd be interested in has to be similar to himself - independent, strong, able to defend herself, not afraid to put him in his place, self-confident and courageous and most importantly be supportive and understand how he rolls. He wouldn't have to worry about her as much then (he'd still be worried though of course lol). So yeah, ZoTash all the way!

However, even if they'd fall in love during the series, he'd not give in to his feelings before he would have reached his goals, due to the above mentioned reasons. He'd ask her to wait or he wouldn't open up to her until he's the WGS, and then reunite with her and be like "Hey sorry you had to wait" and you know how loyal he is, he'd stay with her until the end of his days. And I think that's another reason why he's not dating a woman - he wants to make sure that she's THE ONE. He's not interested in an affair or something not serious. He's there for the long run. He doesn't give away his heart so easy. He could even play hard to get, to check if his love interest really means it. He wants to protect himself from heartbreak and loss, afraid to experience it ever again.

He wouldn't be a perfect lover, but try hard to be the best version of himself.

[bagerfluff]

Hello!

I'm bagerfluff.

I'm a trans bisexual bager man who loves to write. I'm a male and non-binary reader blog and I only write for male reader and non-binary. If you like what you see here then you might like my Ao3. I'm multifandom with changing interests.

I hope you have a good day, night, or afternoon and don't forget to drink water :)

Banners made by @cafekitsune

Miscellaneous

Harry Potter

Stranger Things

It (2017)

Teen Wolf

Voltron

Legend Of Zelda

Riordanverse

Pokémon

Digimon

A Date With Death

Corrupt Digidestined Digimon Digivolution Lines

Favorite Digimon Group Member

Requests Are Closed

I write one-shots, headcanons, and drabbles for male and nonbinary readers, no females or fem aligned readers, so fem DNI.

I don't write for OC's. - I will now write smut - no fem readers

For smut. I only do top dom male readers x characters. Every character I write for will be over 18, the one thing I won't do is under age.

I count a drabble as a fic that is below 500 words. If you have a different opinion, that is fine, but this one is mine, so please don't be rude about it or rude to anyone else opinion. :)

And apology in advance if I don't do them for a while I can sometimes forget stuff.

IT - Eddie Kaspbrak, Bill Denbrough, Stanley Uris, Richie Tozier, Beverly Marsh,

STRANGER THINGS - Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Max Mayfield,

HARRY POTTER - Anyone in Harry's era and Marauders era, but no adults. So, no adult versions of Remus, James, Regulus, etc

RIORDANVERSE - Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Nico di Angelo, Leo Valdez,

POKEMON - Gladion, Goh, Hop,

DIGIMON - Takeru Takaishi, Koushiro Izumi, Kouji Minamoto,

A DATE WITH DEATH - Casper x Reader, Casper x OC

[danwhobrowses]

One Piece Chapter 1094 - Initial Thoughts

And we are back again

Another week break has been rough but we're back with our Straw Hats in Egghead

Let's see how it goes

Spoilers for the Chapter, Support the Official Release

Starting with a Shimotsuki-themed colour spread; Zoro in the middle of course but you have Kozaburo, Koushiro, Kuina on the right, Yasuie, Ushimaru (plus Onimaru) and Ryuma (Zombie and I think regular) to the left. Seems only Toko is left out among the confirmed Shimotsuki

Well that's an ominous title as we pick up right where we left off

Graphical reminder that the Gorosei are above Vegapunk in chain of command

The Mark IIIs have started their assault on the Navy though as the VegaTank 8 sticks to the cloud path with its special wheels

Sanji's lady senses immediately pick up where Bonney is, as he darts into her direction

Vegapunk like 'a lady radar's not real but ok' XD

Bonney is under attack though, with a guy using like a shell Monk's Spade

Bonney been packing heat this whole time?

Gratuitous ass shot in a splits cartwheel while firing a gun

The attack is non-fatal, since it's called 'Near-Death Experience'

A Yohoho in the chat for the navy guy hit with it, he was suddenly bones for a second, and now there's the trauma

Bonney runs right into a Mark III but this one's not on our side

Old Lady Vice Admiral Bluegrass has commandeered this Mark III with her Ride-Ride Fruit, which allows her to command anything like a vehicle

Whoa lady the aging effects are temporary cool it down

Bonney once again stutters at the sight of her father's visage, which allows Sanji though to get the jump in to save her

Shell Spade man's attack is Whack-an-Otter, which I guess means he might have an Otter-based skill or fruit

With Bonney in hand Vegapunk drives to Sanji to make their escape

Back with Luffy vs Kizaru, and both are showing signs of fatigue

Kizaru's doing a lot of dipping out of the fight

The two, Zoro and Lucci then sense something though, the ominous aura felt by Jinbe and the other Vice Admirals

Also Nami, Chopper and Usopp are accounted for tending to Stussy

Saturn makes the order, all Pacifista are to cease

Knowing the chain of command, Atlas confirms that a Gorosei must be here

What the? WHAT IS THIS?

There's literally a summoning circle there!

Why did he need a boat if you just just summon him?

Marines are told that Saturn is coming, but you also have to be a certain rank (Commodore) to witness his arrival, all others must avert their gaze

This ritual circle is making a lot of emissions

I mean, the revision of '5 Elder Planets' makes sense and all but then you gotta use a pentagram to summon them

A non-Commodore didn't listen and gets immediately killed

no seriously WHAT IS THAT?

Saturn's fruit is not of this world, he's for sure an awakened zoan, black fire scarf like Lucci and Kaku wonder if the colour is reflective of alignment, but he's got like spider legs and a ram's horns and fur, also finger claws

My guess is the Ushi Oni, as Naruto fans would know it as the Gyuki aka the Eight Tails, they have toxic breath too

What's interesting for the Ushi Oni is that they do frequent around water, and have been attributed to poisoning water sources, maybe the Gorosei are the devils of which the fruits are named?

The Vegatank is knocked off its course by Kizaru, who barely missed the tank

Luffy's on his popeye energy, but he has to dodge one of Kizaru's laser, turning him into a spinning top again

But he uses the momentum for an ACOC Hook punch called a 'White Star Punch' in scanlations, sending the fist through the head much like he did with Kaido's face

Also some stars popped out for the headache Kizaru's gonna get

That seems to be Luffy's final blow though as he runs out of gas, right as Saturn recognizes him as Nika

I know the spider legs are intimidating but I just can't stop seeing Dr Kureha's trousers, Oda likes those flame legs

The Vegatank 8 is alas the most recent casualty of Egghead, but all its passengers are safe

...if not standing right in front of a towering Gorosei

There's some cold introductions between Saturn and Vegapunk

But Bonney is going straight for the kill, grabbing a sword and plunging it into Saturn's chest

Dialogue implies that the Gorosei must've commanded Kuma's personality wipe, maybe we'll cover what she saw next chapter

It has been 5 weeks since we have seen our wife, our queen, our light of the Revolutionaries, Nico Robin. WHERE ARE YOU HIDING HER ODA?

Well things continue to get more complicated.

We all knew Saturn would have to get involved but I don't think we were expecting a full demon summoning shit to go down. With Luffy exhausted in front of him too it's falling down to Sanji, Bonney and Franky to help him and the Punks escape.

Part of me feels like Kizaru will recover too, you don't see him KO'd after all. I am hoping that Zoro just finishes Lucci quickly after this though because I still don't buy that Lucci's in the Billion beri tier. Jinbe seems to be aware of the threat moreso that Nami, Chopper and Usopp so I wonder if he'll jump into action at all.

But obviously I doubt Bonney's stab has done anything really to Saturn, except probably invoked his rage from 'she's just a little girl' to *Kill Bill Sirens*. But I do very much hope we see that flashback, maybe Kuma will come in to save everyone again, either pawing Saturn away or pawing the Sunny away with the Punks and Crew.

There's still also the threat of Blackbeard there, that would definitely be a fruit he'd want, maybe the Yami Yami no Mi was the fruit of a former Elder Planet? But it could also invite an unlikely alliance. Or the Revolutionaries simply show up? Speed not really on their side though unless Dragon kinda flies there. Caribou gonna jump in an steal the Gorosei, clutch move of the century XD

Many directions things can go, but I very much need to know that Robin's safe and sound.

[izumikoushiroweek]

Koushiro Week Dates Announcement

Event tag: izumikoushiroweek2023  

Details beneath the cut! <3

How it works: There are no specific daily prompts for Koushiro week. Every day, you can select as many prompts from the prompt ideas list as you'd like, or you can treat every day as a free day! There is only one day with a special theme:

Saturday, October 7 is reblog day! I would love to include everyone in this event, even folks who cannot generate new content- we're all busy, after all! However, please do not reblog any content that has already been reblogged to this event blog. If you forgot what you submitted last year, please check the archive! I will also give our beautiful archive a special post on reblog day!

Current Prompt Ideas

Last year's events had more prompts than anyone could hope to tackle, so I will keep the suggestions! I will also slowly add to them over the following weeks. Please feel free to suggest ideas!

Current Rules

(Both the prompts and rules are subject to change/development. Over the following weeks, I will make a new rules post with the corrected tag and any other necessary tweaks.)

Template source

Icon source

Event mod: @ahiddenpath

Attention @digievents, thank you as always for your incredible work on behalf of the community <3

And now, in the spirit of Koushiro, a discussion of data! Here are the results of the interest survey!

Thank you all so very much for your responses! Of the 87 Chosen polled, 42 people, or 48% of responders, indicated that they cannot participate. That leaves about 52% of responders, or 45 people, who planned to participate at the time of polling.

When I made the poll, I indicated that I would hold a weekend event if the largest group was, "I can't participate, but I look forward to the entries." There are a lot of incredible events, and folks are busy, so I projected that this group would be the largest!

However, with 45 individuals interested in the event, I worried that smushing all the entries into two days might crowd each entry. Every Koushiro piece deserves to shine, so I compromised on a four day event- essentially a long weekend, plus a reblog day :D I'm hoping that the shorter duration will ensure that no one pushes themselves too much, while still allowing each entry time at the top of the Koushiro Week blog.

I can't wait to celebrate Koushiro and Tentomon with this amazing community! I'll update you with more info as we go, but for now, stay curious, explore everything, and don't forget to sleep and take care of yourself! <3 <3 <3

[beginningobserver]

[RE:CONNECT - blog v.] Link 1 - The eggcounter aftermath.

[AO3 version]

The mysterious DigiEgg who appeared on February 21 2012 was witnessed by everyone in Tokyo. Not only Daisuke and his friends.

Among them, two peculiar people saw it and received this strange message on their digital devices. Those two… were connected to a certain person involved in those events. …

…

“A giant DigiEgg…”

A 20 year old young woman with brown hair tied in low pigtails checked the news on the morning of February 28th. She was at the reception from the local hospital she worked at. A pink digimon looking like a rabbit -- Cutemon -- was next to her, also looking at the screen, with a concerned look.

“I hope it’s a bad digimon like the one from the last time…” Cutemon frowned, “Those… Eosmon, like that person named Koushiro alerted once on the Chosen Children Network.”

“Yeah,” she nodded in agreement with her digimon.

Suddenly, they witnessed someone climbing the Tokyo Tower. Cutemon and the human girl felt their hearts skipping a beat. The digimon screamed:

“W-why is that person risking his life like that?! If he falls from that height he will…!!”

The woman looked at the mysterious trespasser climbing, and while she was nervous watching it…

“W-why does this boy look… familiar to me?”

They watched the boy falling from the tower, and the woman winced while the digimon covered her eyes.

“Look, Nakajima!” a male coworker who was also watching it called her attention, “A bugman-like digimon caught him! It’s okay!” He noticed the other was pale and in shock. As always, Nakajima Ayame has a soft heart and cares for everyone, even if she doesn't know them.

“Huh??” She glanced at the screen once again, Cutemon gasped:

“Ah!! Ayame! It’s a Stingmon! One of the Chosen Children saved that person’s life!!”

“Thank goodness…” Ayame sighed in relief, her body felt more relaxed and she calmed down. Still… Something in that stranger on the TV seemed familiar.

…

“Man, there are a ton of crazy people these days, huh” A 20 year old young adult man with his bangs dyed blonde, short haired and with an earring on his left ear sighed. He commented with the person to whom he was delivering a meal.

“I wonder if that kid will be okay…” The elder frowned. The man was watching the TV news when the delivery boy arrived.

“Well, the digimon just saved the trespasser so I guess it will be fine!” The delivery boy chuckled lightly, “It’s common to see those little fellas around right…?”

“Yeah. Do you think the big boy at the top of the tower will be a good one or a bad one?”

“No clue… All I know is they’re taking care of that already,” the boy shrugged, “If it is a menace, I’m sure those people with digimon will take care of it. They are always doing it.”

“True…”

“Well, I’m going. I have more deliveries to do! Thank you for choosing our services!”

…

The moment the ominous egg hatched, Ayame was leaving from her shift while the delivery boy’s deliveries had been finished and he was just nearby the Tokyo Tower.

Both, from different places, looked at the digimon which hatched from the egg -- A pink giant digimon that resembled…

“Ukkomon…?”

Ayame received a photo from the delivery boy right now:

[Hiroomi]: Hey, isn’t this creature familiar to you??

“Who’s Ukkomon, Ayame?” Cutemon asked, she tilted her and frowned.

Ayame turned to Cutemon, and she explained, “A digimon from a friend who disappeared a long time ago… But it can’t be that same digimon, can it?”

A few seconds later, the big pink digimon started singing Happy Birthday …

“Huh…??”

Hiroomi, on the other end, blinked: “Happy Birthday…?? Is it serious??”

Happy birthday dear Rui--

“Rui…?”

They didn’t expect to hear that name again. Hiroomi immediately dialed Ayame’s number this time:

“Did you hear that too?! Or was it just me??”

She answered, staring at the big digimon in the horizon, “Yes, I heard it too. That digimon said ‘Rui’...”

“It can’t be a coincidence anymore, Ayame-san!”

“... Yes, it can’t be.”

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Cutemon asked, noticing the girl’s stare at the pink Ukkomon.

“That digimon is indeed the one connected to him . What is he doing now…?”

"Beats me! But do we know any other Rui person whose birthday is February 29th?"

“...”

Ayame’s frown could mean many things: But one of those meant she was mildly worried about this. Why did Rui-kun suddenly appear like that? Why is Ukkomon big and at the top of the Tokyo Tower…?

Many questions popped in the girl’s head. 

In the morning of February 29th…

The news was everywhere about the giant unknown digimon and the other three ones fighting it. To Rui, this made him a little uneasy: He was the cause of all of that confusion, the source of it.

But, on the other hand… He had just solved a big problem in his life.

“... We’re really bad at communicating,”

He repeated the same thing he had said when the small egg appeared in his hand once Daisuke and the others beat Ukkomon, but this time unamused by the footage on his TV screen.

He had no digimon eye in his face anymore, so it meant he didn’t need the eyepatch or to avoid contact with other people. But… knowing that he was running away from the police and accidentally made six people and their digimon get involved in it…

“You shouldn’t have pulled that trick on everyone,” he sighed, but his tone was a little more sassier than upsetting. It was like he meant that to himself too.

He didn’t expect to become… Some sort of criminal or something. Maybe he wouldn’t get arrested if he explained what happened?

His phone rang, it was one of those people from last night. Oh right, he had given them his number… Or they had given their phone numbers in case he needed a little help.

The name on the screen said ‘Daisuke-kun’. He answered the call and then…

“Doooooooooooooooon’t worry about the news or whatever is happening, Rui! We got it covered! We have a ton of people who can prevent all of us from the cops sending us to jail!”

“H-Huh…?” Rui blinked.

“Hikari-chan’s big bro who’s my former soccer club senior works for the government so yeah! He…”

V-mon’s voice was heard from the distance, “Taichi was yelling at you this morning because we got in real trouble--”

[off-phone] “I don’t need to tell Rui that, V-mon!! It will ruin his big day! Let the big boy have a peaceful birthday, ok??”

“You… got yelled at by someone?” He frowned, though since it wasn’t a video call there’s no way Daisuke could see it.

“Nah! Taichi-senpai is a chill guy! It’s just… It’s just that we didn’t tell him about that. And Ukkomon’s teeth-tentacles might have broken something by accident.”

“...” Rui sighed again.

“Aa-ah, it’s not YOUR fault t-tho!! Imperialdramon and the others might have made Ukkomon scared and he attacked us!! But everythin’ is fine, right?!”

Rui turned to the egg, “You broke a few things, once you hatch please apologize ok?”

“Nah, digimon battles break stuff a lot, it’s not Ukkomon’s fault if he broke something. Nobody’s dead or hurt.”

“Is this your plan to make me calm?” this time he was… playful?

“... N-no, I mean…!! Do you wanna hang out and do something?!”

“I… I don’t think I should…” he took it back, maybe it’s not the right time to be teasing someone you just met.

“Nah dude! Pretty sure everyone wants to compensate for the messy eggcounter we all had!”

“ ‘ Eggcounter’… ?”

V-mon’s voice was heard again, “You did a pun? In English?”

[off-phone] “H-hey, I’m trying to cheer him up ok?!”“By making a terrible pun like that?”“Excuse me, it was an eggcellent pun ok?”“Look! You did another weird English pun again!!”“Leave me and my egg-puns alone, V-mon!!”

That somehow made Rui laugh, those two were indeed funny.

[off-phone] “See?? He laughed! This means my job is done here!”“English puns with eggs make you crack a smile ?!”“Yeah I-- Wait a minute, did you just…”“...”

“I’m sorry I don’t think it’s a good idea--”

“Oh no no, everything is 100% fine! But if you don’t want to do anything we will understand.”

“...” he looked at the egg again, thoughtful.

Daisuke and the others definitely were trying to befriend him… He didn’t know if he should just accept it. They all started on bad terms somehow, him being a little difficult to talk to them and then being interrogated like that… Also he had this little impression he had made those six upset with what he had said.

Was he ready for that, though?

“Sorry, last night it was just--”

“Oh, ok then…”

“But… Thanks for the snowball fight. I… It was the first time in a while that I had one.”

“Oho! See, Iori was angry for starting it but I knew it was what all of us needed! A little fun doesn’t hurt y’know??”

He smiled, “Yeah, I agree.”

“Anyway, if you wanna hang out another time don’t hesitate to call us!”“Daisuke… Look at the clock we’re getting late for work--”“OH CRAP!! SEE YOU ANOTHER DAY, RUI!” and he hung up before Rui could even say anything else.

“... Daisuke-kun is… really an interesting guy, don’t you think?” He turned to the egg and talked with it again.

Even if the Ukkomon DigiEgg couldn’t answer him yet , he thought he should start talking more with Ukkomon. Well, Ukkomon might be just listening to him for a while… Until the egg hatches.

[taichi-x-koushiro]

@taikouvember!

Prompt: What is your favorite aspect{s} about their relationship/dynamic with Mimi?

(In this ficverse, Japanese Crest names are referred to; so Mimi reflects Junshin/{Purity} but yes, this AMV had a Mimi focus within the wider story!)

Note: -This video’s embed may randomly not display at times, Showing like it’s “down”, but it’s not at this time! {It usually happens late at night[s] or seemingly when Tumblr is {seemingly} experiencing very high traffic} If that happens, please consider watching the Direct link here! (If it seems permanently down, please leave a comment or tag to notify me!)

Note: Many more AMVs for this series have been made since this particular one, which could be considered an “New Phase” (or in-between point) of the 2nd-to-3rd phase/set of AMVs! {As in, the next series of AMVs I had initially planned to make; many more have been Inspired to be made since!!} Please see this post, made later than this post was, for most of the rest of the AMVs + edits currently in this series!

Digimon Adventure/02/Tri ~ x Kagerou Project / Mekakucity Actors “Imagination Forest” AMV [Music © Jin] [VOCALOID : IA] featuring main implied DUO/SHIP: Jou Kido x Mimi Tachikawa {JOUMI} + side implied + Taichi Yagami x Koushiro(u) Izumi [KOUTAI]/[Taishiro(u)] + Koushiro Izumi + Mimi Tachikawa [KouMi] {as mostly Platonic or Friendship}

PAST AMVS / VIDEO EDITS IN THIS SERIES: Kagerou Daze (Heat-Haze Daze) / Children Record / RED / Additional Memory and Imaginary Reload music edits for KageDaze / Days (short edit) / Lost Time Memory / Yesterday Evening / Summertime Record/ Shounen Brave / Outer Science / Headphone Actor (short edit) / DAZE (short version / TV Size OP) / KOUSHIROS ? CYBER JOURNEY / Brave Heart x Kaien Panzermast / Night Tales Deceive [Yobanashi Deceive] / [KOUSHIRO’S] Imaginary World / Mekakushi Code [Blindfold Code] / Ultramarine Rain

REPEATVERSE/EXTENDED STORY INTRODUCTION: HERE (*note: extended summary contains some spoilers for the fic) [however, it also explains the worldbuilding involved and plot setup!] (* It’s ok to start on/only watch this current AMV!) [*You may understand the story/implied timeline of things better if you begin from my “Kagerou Daze” AMV, though it’s also not required! “Children Record” is also recommended as a starting point/upbeat song!]

part of my Taishiro [Taichi x Koushiro] REPEAT?_ ficverse (please note any and all notes/trigger warnings for said ficverse!!) [Seriously, please note the warnings] (please note any and all warnings for Kagepro’s plot too if you look into that!!) - no, it’s NOT a direct parody (but v[ERY] inspired) (if you can’t tell) - watching it in HIGH(ER) QUALITY at the original Youtube link is encouraged! - to do so, go to the original youtube link, click “HD” button, then “1080p”!

- short version of implied story/plot of this series: T I M E L O O P S (This AMV was initially completed/Debuted around June 13, 2020) Side ships, AMV specific notes & LYRICS/TRANSLATION under ‘read more‘!

Keep reading

[koushirouizumi]

{from here}

[ashxketchum]

MY DEPRESSION HAS BEEN CURED MY SKIN IS CLEAR MY CROPS ARE FLOURISHING ALL BECAUSE OF THIS ONE IMAGE THIS IS THE YEAR OF ADVENTURE PANDERING LETS FUCKIN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Let's break this down one by one ~

This is such a good Sora fit I don't even know how to explain how very much OG Sora this is, the pink tones of the overall sporty outfit perfectly capture all levels of her personality. To top it off she's sharing flower themed cream sandwiches with Piyomon AAAHHH the subtle reference okay merch team you can take a w. Not to mention Sora is perfectly matching with Taichi and the fruit in her sandwich is orange stoooopppp itttt!!!!!

TAICHI OMG who is dressing this boy because that's the most he's ever jocked as a 11 year old. The sweatshirt, cargo pants, matching wristband and the sense to put his goggles down, he is winning the sporty casual fashion show for sure. And of course him and Agumon are enjoying some chicken popcorn, love how they weren't even subtle with the packaging art we all know Japan's favourite fried chicken brand anyway 🤣

Yamato. YAMATO. Y A M A T O. You're 11 can you tone down the cool guy heartthrob behaviour for a minute because I am losing my mind THE DOGTAG CHAIN IM GONNA SCREEAAAMMM ACTUALLY I AM SCREAAAMING AAAAHHHHHHH. He looks so good, there is absolutely no wrong element in his entire outfit, everything is perfectly paired up, a fashionista is among us. The little thumbs up over the onigiri that Gabumon is offering him?? Is he telling Gabumon that he's okay with having one and Gabumon can have the rest because that's the sweet, protective, kind, caring baby he is at heart???🥹🥹🥹The blue and green gradient in the background tho?? Mimato math is mathing bestiesss 🤣

Takeru is just a lil guy, but such a perfect lil guy!!! I like how his outfit has the similar green shade as his anime outfit but they still chose to gave him a new beanie instead which doesn't really match the colour tone of the rest of the fit but it's Takeru so we know that he can pull any hat off and that's what he does!!! Him and Patamon sharing burgers, okay mood, but why is he looking so surprised? I need to know what happened, did he spill some sauce on his overalls? Was the burger too hot to bite? WHAT HAPPENED TAKERU????? 😢

Jou, I see you paired up the plaid pants with a nice long, muted, warm toned jacket BUT I SEE THAT PURPLE SHIRT POKING IN FROM INSIDE and excuse me sir but why that purple with the plaid 😭 I need to see a version where Jou isn't wearing the jacket so I can make an informed rating on this outfit but may I add that in the full merch pic he has paired this look with green and white sneakers...I cannot defend you I am sorry Jou, please try brown loafers next time 😭 But outfit aside, Jou eating a taiyaki with Gomamon is lowkey funny I just know that Gomamon cracked a Marching Fishes joke at least once.

Koushiro...I will not go into detail but I will say it's cute that you have a sweater with a little K on it, it's also very cute that there is a splash of orange in your outfit, who's attention are you vying for it isn't subtle at all bby boy and I am grateful you matched your shoes to your sweater even if the socks are definitely a choice and that blue with orange is also definitely another choice. Good to see your are making choices. I like that him and Tentomon are sharing dango, it's always nice to see Koushiro's fondness towards Japanese traditional snacks hinted at in some way.

MIMI. QUEEN. SLAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!! YOU NEVER EVER MISS MY SWEET BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL. The pastel tones matched with the grey stockings for contrast, that beret and the fuzzy hem boots, you just know she shops at Takashimaya and Isetan and anything below it will just not do 👏🏻 Plus Sora and Mimi are wearing the same tones, which probably means that they pre-planned the outfits together, cuties!!! Also Crepe is such a Mimi™️ choice of dessert but I always get teary eyes when I see Palmon mimic Mimi's gestures, there is just so much love and admiration between them for each other, pure childish wonder 💚 And the crepe even has a cutesy character face on it, which kinda looks like Monzaemon, though I can't be sure but if it is then another win for a subtle reference. Not to mention both Yamato and Mimi look like they've dressed in a more cool and elegant style than the rest like they might be on their way to a date THE MIMAT MATH IS MATHING YALLL!!!

Hikari looks super cute, I think there isn't much official art of her in casual clothing for OG stuff so it's nice to see her in a more cutesy fit suited to her age. The hairband matching the cardigan is such a nice touch!! I can't recall any other casual outfit for OG design Hikari except the War Game and Memorial Party dress, so I think this would be the first time we see Hikari with a hairband and it just looks adorable. Of course she is sharing an ice cream with Tailmon, it's kinda their brand now but like Takeru she's making a surprised expression, perhaps she wasn't expecting Tailmon to offer her a bite of her ice cream?

To conclude, this is probably the best OG artwork we've gotten since Idk maybe the Rainy Day stationery series. This will be sold in advance at the Kamio Store booth at Anime Japan 2024. No other details were mentioned, but the event booth sale feels like a pre-sale before the goods become available more widely at other outlets, hopefully, at some stores that international fans have access too as well.

Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.

Ayushi out.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x52 - The Holy Swordsman! HolyAngemon / Piedmon's Last Jest

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Yamato and Sora picked the worst time to go spelunking. Fortunately, Jou vanquished Sora's insecurities through reason and logic and Gabumon vanquished Yamato's with indignant toothmarks. They returned just in time to stop Taichi from getting himself killed, as tends to happen when he's left unsupervised.

Now, together, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon stand against Piemon. Which you may think will go either very poorly or very well, depending on which spoileriffic episode title you read.

We open on the Chosen Children taking cover behind a ridge, sending the two Ultimates out into the fight.

Yamato: Get him, MetalGarurumon! Taichi: WarGreymon! This all ends after we defeat Piemon! Piemon: But can you defeat me? Ahahahahahaha!

Piemon is very amused by his terrible comeback. He forms a ring of fire over his head while he mocks the children. MetalGarurumon is less amused, however, and takes the obvious bait.

MetalGarurumon: We will defeat you!

MetalGarurumon rushes Piemon. Piemon tosses out the ring of fire he was flagrantly telegraphing, which MetalGarurumon flies straight into. It constricts around his midsection, burning him and bringing him to the ground.

WarGreymon: MetalGarurumon! Piemon: And this one's for you.

Piemon summons a large ball, which emerges from the ground under WarGreymon's feet. He tries, futilely, to balance on it for a couple seconds before slipping and falling on top of MetalGarurumon. Piemon laughs merrily at his jest.

(WarGreymon, you can fly.)

In the dub, Tai uses the establishing shot to lead us in and remind us of what's happening.

Tai: Now that we have two Mega Digimon, let's destroy Piedmon once and for all! Matt: Go get him, MetalGarurumon! Tai: Come on, WarGreymon! Take care of this clown! Piedmon: So... I'm a clown...? Then I'll act like one! CLOWN TRICK!!! (Piedmon forms the ring of fire) MetalGarurumon: I'll get him! (lunges) Piedmon: Try jumping through this hoop! (Fire ring takes down MetalGarurumon) WarGreymon: Whoa, are you okay!? Piedmon: Why don't you join us? We're having a ball! (Balancing ball appears under WarGreymon) Piedmon: Hahahaha! Bravo! Sorry if I caught you off-balance! Round and round he goes; Where he lands, nobody knows! Hahahahahaha!

Dub Piedmon is chewing all of the scenery and it's fun. XD

In the original, MetalGarurumon flew straight into a telegraphed attack because he was baited by the worst comeback in history. In the dub, he's acting on Yamato's plan of "Get him". They changed his motive, but retained the pure essence of dumbness permeating the doomed charge.

Piemon's attacks here don't have a name in the original, but the dub calls them Clown Trick. Which makes more sense than last episode, where Clown Trick was their name for his finishing move, Ending Snipe.

I was initially a little peeved that Tai didn't say "Let's finish this clown once and for all," but then it turned out he was saving it for his next line. Calling someone a clown is a child-friendly burn in the U.S. so you obviously can't pass that up.

So, round 1 to Piemon. Time to regroup and figure out a plan for round 2.

Koushiro: He's toying with us. Taichi-san! Taichi: Hang back for now. Yamato: Agreed. Let's gauge the situation first.

How sick do you think Koushiro is hearing that? Taichi was telling him that all last episode and was nearly beaten to death for it. Fortunately, Taichi seems to have forgotten that he was on death's door between episodes so he's all good now.

Maybe MetalGarurumon brought him back to life too.

Piemon: I think it's time I struck the final blow. TRUMP SWORD!!! Taichi: Careful! We don't know where they might come from!

At the end of last episode, the boys vaporized this attack with a combined assault. But Piemon's got more where that came from, and this time he makes it trickier. The swords separate and flicker out of visibility to make it--

MetalGarurumon: Sensor Catch! WarGreymon, left by 45 degrees! WarGreymon: Got it.

Oh, never mind then. With MetalGarurumon backing him, WarGreymon easily deflects the first incoming sword with his Dramon Killer.

MetalGarurumon: Next, to the right! WarGreymon: Whuh!?

WarGreymon whips around in time to deflect not just one but all three of the other swords, flanking him to try and capitalize off the first's distraction.

(Clever trick. Clever clown trick, if you will. Ahaha ha ha.... Oh no, where did this sword come from?)

MetalGarurumon: I'll handle the rest.

The four swords regroup for their next pass. Firing blue beams from his snout, MetalGarurumon vaporizes them all.

In the dub, Izzy's exchange with Tai and Matt is less argumentative.

Izzy: He thinks this is just a big game! Tai: Well, I'm tired of playing around! Matt: Let's not be hasty. He wants us to make a mistake.

Here, it's Tai getting impatient and Matt coolly telling him to chill. In the original, it's Koushiro getting impatient with both Taichi and Yamato presenting a united front on where we go next.

You know. Because. Taichi and Yamato being united is kind of the big thing going on right now.

Piedmon: What's the matter? Don't want to play with Uncle Piedmon anymore? TRUMP SWORD!!! Tai: Be careful of the swords! Hey, wait... Some of those swords aren't real! MetalGarurumon: WarGreymon, I'm picking up the real swords on my sensors. Over to your right! WarGreymon: Cover me! (WarGreymon deflects the first sword. Then, without a word from MetalGarurumon, whips around and deflects the other three.) Piedmon: (triumphant) WAHA!!! MetalGarurumon: METAL WOLF SNOUT!!! (vaporizes the other swords)

Metal Wolf Snout. XD They are absolutely taking the piss with that one. I swear the dub is written like an Abridged Parody sometimes.

This fight is completely different. First off, the dub interprets the swords suddenly disappearing to mean that there are a bunch of extra illusory swords floating around alongside the four real ones.

I'm not going to bag on them for that. That's a cool idea and it still plays into the idea that MetalGarurumon's sensors will be the key factor in winning this exchange.

But... then the action kinda goes to shit. I don't like that they took out MetalGarurumon's precise instructions as well as him redirecting WarGreymon's attention to deflect the other three swords.

It's a small moment but super important for the theme of Yamato's arc. Remember "There are some things only you can do"? Both Yamato and recently Jou have been about it lately.

We saw WarGreymon face down Trump Sword on his own last episode, and he got decimated by it. He simply can't keep his attention on all of the swords at once. This moment is here to demonstrate how MetalGarurumon's unique abilities can push WarGreymon through an encounter that he can't win with his own strengths.

This is thematically important choreography.

From here, the boys go on the offensive.

MetalGarurumon: That attack won't work anymore!

WarGreymon nails Piemon with Gaia Force, sending him flying.

Taichi: We've got the upper hand! No more waiting around, Koushiro! Everyone, evolve and attack him together! Koushiro: Here we go, team. SUPER EVOLUTION!!! Tentomon: Let's go! Gomamon: Count me in! Andromon: Wait!

Andromon cuts in, warning the others. Piemon is up to something.

In the dub:

MetalGarurumon: Looks like the joke's on you, Piedmon. (WarGreymon hits Piedmon with Terra Force) Tai: Alright! Nice shot! Izzy, have everyone DIgivolve and attack! Izzy: You heard him, guys! Now it's our turn! Tentomon: I'm in! Gomamon: Me too! Andromon: Caution!

Taichi calls out Koushiro here because he and Koushiro have been having it out since last episode over keeping Tentomon in reserve. Koushiro's been chomping at the bit to get in this fight, so Taichi singles him out to say, "Okay, finally, now you can jump in."

The dub version of this is absurdly redundant. Tai tells Izzy to tell the team to evolve and fight, rather than just... telling the team to evolve and fight. They're all right there next to him; No need for a middleman.

In any case, Piemon's up to something. He holds out a simple white cloth.

Jou: What the? Is he waving the white flag to surrender? Sora: That pose... Is he saying there's no trick involved?

Calling Piemon out as setting up a magic trick, Sora seems to have hit the nail on the head. Piemon slowly turns the cloth back and forth, revealing it to be a plain white cloth with nothing on either side.

Taichi: Is he going to pull out a pigeon next? WarGreymon: PLAYTIME IS OVER!!! Piemon: Is it, now?

WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon rush Piemon. He tosses the cloth out in response. It expands in the air, growing into a large sheet that blankets the both of them. After a short crackle of pink energy, the sheet falls flat on the ground.

Taichi: WARGREYMON!!! Yamato: METALGARURUMON!!!

The boys run out onto the field to check the now-flat sheet. Piemon tosses another cloth, taking them as well. As before, it blankets the two boys and crackles with pink energy. Then it too goes flat.

Hikari: ONII-CHAN!!! Takeru: WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM!?!? Piemon: Allow me to show you!

Piemon lifts the two sheets and throws them into the air. The boys and their Digimon are gone! It's magic! What a performance!

Oh, shit, this is bad for us.

In the dub:

Joe: A white flag? Maybe he's trying to surrender to us. Sora: I don't trust him. I think he's got another trick up his sleeve. Tai: Hey, why don't you make yourself disappear? WarGreymon: PLAYTIME IS OVER!!! Piedmon: But I'm just getting started! (Digimon get cloth'd) Tai: WARGREYMON!!! Matt: METALGARURUMON!!! (The boys run out there and get cloth'd) Kari: What happened!? T.K.: I don't know.... Piedmon: (revealing) TA-DAAAAAAAA!!! Thanks for coming; Next show's at 7:30. You've been a GREAT crowd! Goodnight!

"Why don't you make yourself disappear!?" XD That one got me.

Also super love Piedmon's expanded last line. He's doing a fantastic job this episode.

On the original's side of things, I like the casual and unimpressed "Is it, now?" retort to WarGreymon over the more indignant response in the dub.

Now for the burning question: What exactly happened to Taichi, Yamato, and their Partners?

Jou: THEY VANISHED!!! Tentomon: WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!?!? Koushiro: (furious) WHERE DID YOU SEND TAICHI-SAN AND THE OTHERS!?!? Piemon: They're still right here, are they not?

Piemon feigns ignorance over Koushiro's accusation, then holds out his hand to show them what he means. As he opens his hand, he reveals a pair of keychains in the image of Taichi and Yamato.

Piemon: Look. And these ones too. Look!

Holding out his other hand, he reveals keychains of WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon.

Sora: H-He's turned them into dolls! Piemon: That's right. To reward them for trying so hard, I've made them part of my collection. Ahahahahahaha! So, who wants to go next?

What a dick! So, on a scale of 1 to Oh Shit, losing both of our Ultimates in the fight against the strongest Dark Master rates about a 13.

Yamato and Taichi's dramatic reunion after Yamato finally accepted himself and self-actualized made such a difference in this battle. XD

I jest. If Yamato hadn't come back, then Taichi and Agumon would have died last episode. Just because they didn't strike the final blow, that doesn't mean their reunion didn't matter.

Piemon may have had the keychain trick in his back pocket this whole time, but it was only Yamato joining the fight that pushed him hard enough to use it and sent us on to this next stage.

In the dub:

Joe: HE MADE THEM ALL DISAPPEAR!!! Tentomon: Well, at least he didn't saw them in half. Izzy: What did you do to Tai and Matt, Piedmon!? Piedmon: I hold the keys to their existence. And I need a place to put them, so I made a couple of keychains. (Piedmon reveals Tai and Matt) Piedmon: I think I'll hang these two on my backpack. (reveals the other two) Sora: What kind of sicko turns people into keychains!? Piedmon: I'm not a sicko! I'm a collector and these new items have such sentimental value to me. Ha! Haha! DAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Now, who wants to be next!?

Dub Piedmon is a lot more menacing here, rather than the playful tone that Piemon strikes. They also use his final declaration, "Who wants to be next!?" as the cliffhanger for the first commercial break. Good timing.

Cut to the fire cave. ...fire cave? Yes, that's right, the fire cave.

It's a cave that fire shoots out of. Alternating between horizontal flames and vertical flames pouring out of two separate holes. Gennai approaches, piloting that Mekanorimon from the flashback.

(...that was a Metal Empire goon that he temporarily hijacked. How are they friends now? There is an offscreen redemption arc that I need to see.)

Gennai: Centarumon, is this it? Centarumon: Oh! You managed to come? Yes, that's right. This is the Wall of Fire from the prophecy written in File Island's ancient ruins. (Gennai opens the hatch to see for himself) Gennai: But could it really have come through these flames? Centarumon: That's what the prophecy said. Gennai: Unbelievable!

Ominous! Obvious firewall pun aside, something has breached said firewall.

We, uh, need to revisit Centarumon's name for a second, because the situation there's a bit fuckier than I previously understood when I was doing his original episode.

So. Officially, his name is ケンタルモン Kentarumon. The intent here is clearly "Centaurmon". But. That's not. The correct spelling of Centaurmon. It should be ケンタウルモン Kentaurumon. In the process of turning this Romanized Greek word into Japanese, they missed a letter.

Wikimon calls him Centalmon while the dub goes for Centarumon, both for the same purpose. They replace the hard K with a soft C as is appropriate for the word "centaur" but leave the end misspelled. I'm siding with the dub on this one because the "Centaru" does a better job of looking like a misspelled "centaur" than "Cental" does.

The dub returns from commercial here to a bit more lighthearted tone than the original.

Centarumon: LOOK AT ALL THIS FIRE!!! This is terrible; I didn't bring a single marshmallow! Gennai: Centarumon, I came as fast as I could. Centarumon: Oh, Gennai! I'm glad you made it. Gennai: Is this it? Centarumon: Yes, this is the mystical wall of fire the ancient prophecy on File Island describes. Gennai: Really? What do you say we barbecue? (Gennai opens the hatch to see for himself) Gennai: Incredible! Is it really true that he had to make it across these flames? Centarumon: I know it sounds crazy, Gennai. But that's what the prophecy says. Gennai: Unbelievable!

This scene's a little dry, so the dub adds some levity. This has the effect of removing the ominous tone of the original, however. They're having a serious conversation about something bad that's about to happen, setting the stage for our final adversary.

The more casual tone fails to capture that vague sense of foreboding. We don't know what they're talking about but they're super friendly about it, like they're chatting about a friend's achievement.

"Oh, yeah, Tai jumped right through the electric fence without hesitation." "That's CRAZY!"

Neither of them seem too perturbed by the idea of something coming through here.

Back at the fight, Piemon has clipped his new keychains to his coat. They aren't attached to anything but instead awkwardly clipped to the fabric itself. The kids beat a hasty retreat.

Piemon: Hahahaha! Andromon: HIDE IN THAT CAVE!!!

The children run for a small cave entrance under the roots of one of the darkness realm's dead trees. However, Sora realizes that Andromon is not among them and turns back.

Sora: ANDROMON!!! Andromon: I'll hold him off. Sora: But-- Andromon: SPIRAL SWORD!!!

Before she can argue further, Andromon whips around and launches his Spiral Sword at Piemon. Piemon deflects the projectile with his sword, then closes distance.

For a short time, Andromon's metal armor allows him to deflect and parry Piemon's strikes.

Jou-senpai grabs Sora by the arm, forcing her to retreat.

Jou: RUN, SORA-KUN!!! DON'T LET ANDROMON'S GESTURE GO TO WASTE!!! Sora: (anguished) AUGH!!!

For Andromon, things are going well. He even manages to go on the offensive between blows, missing two punches but landing a solid hit with his third and pushing Piemon back. This buys him an opening to fire his Gatling Missiles,

For a moment, it seems as if they hit Piemon dead-on. But then Andromon sees the edges of the cloth coming down around him.

In the dub:

Piedmon: Huhuhahahaha HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Andromon: Get into that cave! (Sora realizes) Sora: ANDROMON!!! Andromon: Don't worry! I'll hold him off! LIGHTNING BLADE!!! (Andromon and Piedmon briefly fight) Sora: (anguished) Andromon! Joe: (pulling Sora) We've got to get out of here, Sora! Andromon's buying us more time! Sora: (wailing) WAAAAAUGH!!!

In the original, it's a little ambiguous as to what happened when the missiles landed. We didn't see Piemon get away, but the way he suddenly enshrouds Andromon in his disappearing cloth from an unseen location seems to imply an answer. He probably did that shonen anime thing where the dust clears and the bad guy's eerily not there because he dodged so hyper-fast you didn't notice.

But it's also possible he took the hit and tanked it with his Ultimate 'mon strength.

The dub has Piedmon grunt in pain when the missiles hit, indicating that not only did he tank the attack but that it hurt him. Still won the fight thanks to the cloth, though.

Inside the cave, the children find things are not so safe as they may have hoped.

Their path comes to the edge of an overhang above a great cavern. The path gives way in this massive room, with the only exit being a similar overhang across the ravine. Curtains are hung along the cavern's walls, with only a pair of trapezes offering a means of passage.

Tentomon: W-What is this place? Sora: It looks like a circus ring. Koushiro: It seems the path continues up ahead. Jou: But how do we get over there!?

Tentomon flies across, gesturing at the trapezes.

Tentomon: You'll have to swing across using these. Hurry up! Tailmon: Hikari, hold on tight! Hikari: Mhm!

Hikari holds onto Tailmon while the latter uses her natural agility to cross the trapezes. They make it across with ease. Tailmon deposits Hikari on the opposite cliff, then goes back for the others.

Takeru makes the jump to the first trapeze by himself. Jumping off at the midpoint, he grabs onto Tailmon's paws and she delivers him safely to the other side. Patamon flies across to join him.

Sora goes next, with Piyomon unhelpfully clinging to her back. Then Jou and Koushiro throw Gomamon to Tailmon, since the poor little sea mammal can't jump himself. Then, the last two on the ledge, Jou loads Koushiro up on the first trapeze to--

Piemon: You won't make it.

Piemon enters, holding Andromon's keychain in front of him.

Jou: ANDROMON!?!? Koushiro, GO!!!

Piemon casts one of his disappearing cloths, but in the moment before it takes him, Jou-senpai gives Koushiro a hard shove on the trapeze. Then he's gone.

Koushiro: (tears in his eyes) JOU-SAN!!!

It's for nothing. A second cloth wraps around Koushiro on the trapeze. By the time it reaches Tailmon, Koushiro is gone too. Tentomon furiously charges at Piemon.

Tentomon: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO KOUSHIRO-HAN!?!? GYAH!!!

Predictably, Piemon takes him too.

Piemon: (singsong) Look, I ca~ught it, I ca~ught it! It's u~useless to run!

In the dub:

Tentomon: What kind of place is this!? Sora: It looks like a giant circus tent! Izzy: Whatever it is, I don't like it. Hey, there's a way out across this canyon! Joe: My only question is, how do we get to it!? Tentomon: (flying across) The only way is to use these swings like a trapeze artist. But don't look down! There's no net! Gatomon: Kari, hold me tight and don't let go! (Gatomon takes Kari across) Tentomon: Not so easy to fly, is it? (T.K. goes next; Gatomon grabs him) Gatomon: What do you carry in that backpack!? Bricks!? (Gatomon delivers T.K.; Sora's turn) Sora: Ow! Gatomon, you've gotta trim your claws! (Joe and Izzy launch Gatomon) Joe: Away you go! (Joe prepares to send Izzy) Piedmon: Don't you want to take your friend along? Joe: ANDROMON!?!? GO, IZZY!!! (Joe pushes Izzy and gets taken) Izzy: DAAAUGH!!! JOE!!! (The cloth takes Izzy next) Tentomon: Don't worry, Izzy! I'll save you! (Tentomon rushes in and gets taken) Piedmon: Now you see them and now you don't! They're dropping like flies.

The dub adds in some quips to break up the silence when the kids make the trapeze jump. Apart from that, it's mostly the same.

As a villainous boast, I like Piemon's entrance line asserting bluntly, "You won't make it." There's something bone-chilling about a monster stating matter-of-fact that it's too late to run and then immediately proving it when you try. 10 out of 10 on the horror movie scale.

Meanwhile, the playful taunt of "Don't you want to take your friend?" in the dub is also a great entrance line. Tonally, they're very different, but they're both solid "Oh shit he's here" announcements.

Meanwhile, there's one last person who's finally ready to join this party.

Mimi's nakama doesn't get to "But how did we get up here?" their way onto the big bowl-shaped platform at the top of Spiral Mountain or fly on Birdramon's talons. No, they have to fucking climb with ropes.

We join Mimi with Lilimon shoving her butt to try and help her climb.

Lilimon: Nnggh... Yegh... You're too heavy... I can't push you up! Mimi: Liar! I'm not that fat, am I?

It seems Mimi has amassed a small army of Gekomon and Otamamon now, not just the pair. Some have made it to the top and are working at pulling up the ropes, but many more cling to ropes around her.

Gekomon: Mimi! It looks like the fight's already started geko! Mimi: There's so many of us! Isn't there someone in our nakama who can fly!?

As Mimi exclaims that question, the shadow of Unimon passes over her and the many hanging Gekomon and Otamamon.

In the dub:

Lillymon: Ugh! Mimi, I'm getting exhausted! Mimi: Really? That's strange; I feel fresh as a daisy. Gekomon: Mimi, get up here! It looks like the battle's started! Mimi: Oh, it's just my luck! I finally bring all the reinforcements and all they want to do is hang around!

This is a goofy scene in both versions, with the Lilimon exchange having punchlines predicated in Mimi's vanity in the original and her ditzy screwball tendencies in the dub.

But for the second part, the dub's gag doesn't really engage with the scene. She riffs on the animation, with Unimon's passing shadow now entirely divorced from the context of the scene.

Back in the trapeze room, Piemon inspects his new keychains.

A pair of sparkles under his eyes reveals that Koushiro's keychain is locked in the crying expression he had when he was taken.

Piemon: My my, you're still crying even after becoming a doll? You must be lonely without the rest of your nakama. Just wait; You'll all be together soon.

Skipping the trapezes, Piemon leaps across the gorge in a single bound. He pursues the Children into what appears to be a building interior, with brick walls and wooden floors. He calls out into the building, his voice and his footsteps echoing through.

Piemon: I told you it's useless to try and escape. Why not accept your fate and come quietly?

The children don't answer. They're hiding beneath the floor, silently waiting for him to pass.

Piemon: (receding footsteps) That's strange. Maybe they're over here.... Sora: (whispers) I think he's gone to another room--AHHHH!!!

Without warning, Piemon's sword thrusts down through the floor, splitting the air right between Sora and Hikari. The girls shriek, flinching away from the attack.

Piemon: HEY, I FOUND YOU!!!

He conjures his other swords to stab down through the floor as well, scattering the children who are forced to try and dodge in their tight confines. Hikari, terrified, buries herself in Sora's arms.

Piemon: Try this! (more stabs) Hikari: IT'S OVER!!! Sora: NO, IT'S NOT!!! Piemon: (jovially) It might be.

Nobody asked your opinion. XD

In the dub, Piedmon doesn't comment on Koushiro's tears. Additionally, as usual, the sound design misses some details. His echoing footfalls setting the isolating tone of the scene are gone, as is the eerie silence punctuated by a lack of music. He steps silently and the usual "We're in danger" BGM plays.

Piedmon: (mocking) "Hello, my name is Izzy and I'm very smart. Although I didn't know how to stop me and my friends from being made into keychains!" Wahahahaha, I love a good puppet show! (Piedmon jumps across) Piedmon: Ah, so you want to play hide and go seek? Mm, okay, I love a good game! Now, let's see... if I were a little pest, where would I hide? ...maybe you're in this room over here.... Sora: (whispers) I think we're out of danger for now--WHOA!!! (She is stabbingly wrong) Piedmon: PEEK-A-BOO!!! (More stabbing) Sora: RUN FOR IT!!! Piedmon: OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!!! (stab stab)

Aww, they cut the funny exchange between Hikari, Sora, and Piemon.

"Olly olly oxen free" is an old phrase used during children's games like hide and seek, back in the day before children were banished indoors by a changing society that no longer welcomes them in public. It indicates that the game is over and you can come out now.

Piemon raises his sword for another strike. Thankfully, he's not the only one offering unsolicited opinions at this time.

Angewomon: HOLY ARROOOOOOOW!!!

(I love that she makes a finger gun when she shoots Holy Arrow. I never noticed that before. It's a consequence of using the joint where her thumb connects with her hand to steady the arrow while she aims it, I think, but the result is fantastic.)

Angewomon's arrow strikes the blade, shooting the sword out of Piemon's hand.

Piemon: What the--!? Angewomon: Run, Hikari! Garudamon: Hurry, Sora! Hikari: Angewomon! Sora: Garudamon!

Standing there excitedly shouting their names is neither running nor hurrying. Let's see some hustle, ladies. A man is trying to stab you. :P

Garudamon and Angewomon engage Piemon to try and buy time. Garudamon hits him dead on with her Shadow Wing, which he casually tanks. He does, however, move when Garudamon tries to crush him with her talon. She buries herself in the weak floorboards, and he lays down one of his disappearing cloths on her from there.

With Garudamon out of the picture, Piemon turns his attention to Angewomon. His Trump Swords pin her to the wall by her wings, and he collects her from there.

(Speaking of small details I just noticed, the Trump Swords have different handles. In the shot of Angewomon getting pinned, you can see a heart, a diamond, and a club. Presumably the other one is a spade. That's neat.)

The dub does a great job with the surprise Celestial Arrow too, though they might have overlooked that the arrow doesn't hit Piemon directly. That's a very tiny thing; It's interesting to me that they change his reaction of shock and surprise to a pain grunt.

Piedmon: NGGHH! Angewomon: RUN, KARI!!! Garudamon: Hurry, Sora! Kari: It's Angewomon! Sora: Garudamon!

From there, the fight plays out with no extra dialogue or censorship.

Sora, Hikari, and Takeru emerge from the floor in another style of building entirely. They crawl out from under a huge floor tile in time to hear Angewomon's final scream echo down the halls.

Sora: Takeru-kun! Takeru: W-What? Sora: Take Hikari-chan and get out of here. Takeru: Eh!? But what about you? Sora: Listen to me very carefully. There's no question at this point that Garudamon and Angewomon have both been made into dolls. You are the only one who can protect Hikari-chan now. Do you understand?

She's right. They have two Digimon left: Gomamon and Patamon, and Gomamon's Partner is already gone so he can't evolve. Takeru is the last Chosen Child standing with the ability to fight.

Takeru: But Sora, you-- Sora: Don't worry about me. Do you understand? Takeru: (reluctantly) ...yeah. Sora: No matter what happens, you have to get out of here. Takeru: (more confidently) Got it. I'll make sure to keep Hikari-chan safe.

Sora turns Takeru around and gives him a push to get him going.

Sora: Now, hurry up and go! Takeru: Let's go, Hikari-chan!

The youngest children make their retreat, leaving Sora to face Piemon alone.

In the dub:

Sora: T.K., come here. T.K.: What is it? Sora: I want you to take Kari and get out of here! T.K.: But what about you? Sora: Listen to me, there isn't much time. Piedmon has the rest of our friends and if he gets us, we're doomed. T.K., please, you're the only one who can protect Kari. You have to be brave. Now get going! T.K.: I won't leave you! Sora: Don't worry about me; I'll be fine! T.K.: (reluctantly) ...alright. Sora: No matter what happens, just keep running. T.K.: Okay, Sora. I promise I'll do whatever I can to protect Kari. (Sora turns T.K. around and gets him moving.) Sora: Right. Hurry, go! T.K.: Come on, Kari! Let's go!

"If he gets us, we're doomed" is a terrible line but setting that aside.

In the original, there is no question that Sora is going to sacrifice herself. She lets that hang over the conversation, engaging with Takeru with the expectation that he's strong enough to face that reality.

She's still clearly acting with intent to protect the youngest among them, but she talks to him as one of their nakama.

Dub Sora lies to T.K., adding in the false reassurance that she'll be okay so that he doesn't have to think about her fate. She also adds in the line, "You have to be brave," which isn't something that Takeru needs to be told. He faced down an angry puppet with a magnum revolver and won. His bravery is already well-established.

Sora's conversation with T.K. has the vibe of a parent's last words to their helpless child in a disaster film or something before they die. You have to be strong now, keep your sister safe, I'll meet up with you later (lies), get going and don't look back. Which, as an interpretation of Sora and how she interacts with younger children, is a vibe that works pretty well.

But it comes at the cost of once again downplaying T.K.'s strength and conviction in a scene that's partially about his strength and emotional fortitude. This late in the game, he doesn't need to be lied to and puffed up. He knows what the stakes are and what's about to happen to Sora, and he can make the hard choice.

While Takeru, Hikari, and Patamon go on ahead, Gomamon makes a few short hopes to try and keep up, then stops. He looks back at Sora.

Gomamon: Sora! I'll fight with you. Sora: Don't be stupid. You can't even evolve, so what can you do here?

Harsh. Uh, he can summon infinite fish out of seemingly thin air even without a clear source of water. I'm not saying that's going to be enough against Piemon. but I'd give it better odds than your proficiency at soccer and adequacy at floral arrangement.

Maybe if we throw enough fish at PIemon, some of them will manage to swim away with his swords. He'll probably summon new ones but it will feel like we're doing something!

Gomamon: Sora! Sora: If you get made into a doll here, how will you face Jou-senpai and the others later, knowing that they risked their lives to protect you!? Now get out of here! HURRY!!!

Reluctantly, Gomamon turns back around to go. But it's too late. Piemon bursts through the floor, holding up Angewomon and Garudamon's keychains.

Piemon: Hahahahahahaha! Did you not have time to run away? Well, it's only a matter of time before you become dolls anyway. Gomamon: THAT WON'T HAPPEN!!!

Suddenly, Gomamon lunges for Piemon's coat, snatching Yamato's keychain away.

(Maybe if you attached them to something sturdier than coat fabric, this wouldn't have happened to you.)

Gomamon: SORA, CATCH!!! Sora: (catch) TAKERU-KUN!!!

Gomamon throws the keychain to Sora. Sora prepares to throw it at the same time Piemon prepares a vanishing cloth. In a difference of microseconds, Sora wins the quick-draw and sends the keychain onward an instant before he takes her.

(That shuts me up for shit-talking her athleticism. Her sport doesn't even let you throw things like that! That's raw ability.)

This should be a meaningless gesture. Takeru and Hikari went around and a corner a moment ago so Sora should not have line-of-sight on them anymore. Fortunately, because a plot hole has opened up to warp time and space, Takeru and Hikari are now straight ahead down the path trying to open a huge door. Takeru can not only see what she's doing but receive the keychain in his hands.

(Did the creators change their minds mid-scene and forget to alter Takeru and Hikari's escape path?)

In the dub:

Gomamon: Sora, I wanna stay and fight with you! Sora: Don't be ridiculous! You can't even Digivolve without Joe so go before Piedmon gets here! Gomamon: But Sora-- Sora: Gomamon, Joe risked his neck to protect us and if Piedmon turns you into a doll, his sacrifice will mean nothing! Now please help T.K. and Kari; There's not much time! NOW GO!!! (Piedmon arrives) Piedmon: WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Look, I only need five more keychains for my collection and then I'll have the whole set! Gomamon: NOT IF I CAN HELP IT!!! (Gomamon swipes Matt's keychain) Gomamon: SORA!!! Sora: (catch) T.K., CATCH!!!

XD Piedmon excitedly sharing his new keychains like a neurodivergent kid info-dumping about his hobby, to one of the "keychains" he's trying to collect. Perfect. Perfectly written, perfect delivery, 10 out of 10. Hahahahaha.

With Sora gone, Piemon turns his attention to Takeru and Hikari.

Piemon: Now, where do you think you're going?

Piemon asks, and the camera slowly pans down to show Gomamon beneath his boot. It's unclear if he's talking to Gomamon or to the kids, but he isn't wrong either way.

They don't answer him. They push the huge door until finally it opens, releasing them back outside. Unfortunately, all that awaits out there is a balcony overlooking the realm of darkness far below. They're up in the observatory now.

Patamon: Oh no! Takeru: It's a dead end! Hikari: What now!? Piemon: Ahahahahahaha!

Piemon laughs us all the way to the commercial break.

The dub riffs off Piedmon having Gomamon underfoot.

Piedmon: In order to succeed, sometimes you have to step on people along the way! Wahahaha! (T.K. and Kari get the door open) T.K.: Quick, let's run! (Balcony) Kari: We just ran out of room! T.K.: This isn't the escape plan I had in mind.... Patamon: Now, what!? T.K.: Can we jump? Kari: It's too far! Piedmon: Nahahahahahaha! Welcome to the dead end! Come be a keychain like your friend.

"Can we jump?" Yes, T.K. Don't worry, the jagged rocks will break our fall. Among other things.

Piedmon is having so much fun right now. XD

We return from commercial to Takeru and Hikari trying to make plans.

Hikari: W-What do we do? Takeru: We have to go down. Hikari: It's too high! I won't make it down without falling. Takeru: But we can't climb up.... Patamon: Hey, Takeru? What's that?

Patamon calls Takeru's attention to a woven basket with a lid sitting in the center of the balcony.

Takeru: What is that?

Takeru approaches the basket, pulling off the lid to reveal a rope coiled up inside of it.

Takeru: Ah! It's a rope! We can use this to get down!

Unfortunately, the rope has other plans. Of its own volition, it uncoils from the basket and ascends into the sky, climbing up into the dark clouds above.

Both Kids: Wha--!? Patamon: Ah! Takeru: What is this!? Hikari: How far is it going to go? Takeru: It keeps going up....

Finally, the rope seems to reach its destination, affixing to somewhere beyond the clouds and holding tight.

So. You know. That seems super untrustworthy but desperate times and all....

The dub skips the commercial break and keeps the scene right on going.

Kari: We can't just sit here! T.K.: We've got no choice; We have to climb down! Kari: It's too high, T.K.! If we slip, we're goners! T.K.: Kari, we're going to have to try! Patamon: Look, T.K.! Where'd that basket come from? T.K.: Who put that there!?

Uh, that basket has been sitting on the balcony since they got out here. Though we don't know exactly what it is, we see it a couple times in wide shots of the balcony. Its origins are not the mystery; Its contents are.

The dub accidentally invented a mysterious benefactor whose identity will never be revealed because the basket was here the whole time.

T.K.: A rope! We can use it to climb down the side of the mountain. (Rope ascends) T.K.: Uwah!? Patamon: Whoa! I didn't know you were a snake charmer, T.K. Kari: Do you think we should climb it? T.K.: I dunno. Mom always said never to take candy or rope from strangers.

That is a weird thing for her to specify. Sound advice, but still weird. XD

Tonally, these quips don't vibe well. This is the height of tension. We could die sort-of in the next ten seconds.

Takeru tests the rope to see if it will hold.

Takeru: It's fine. The rope is holding steady. Alright, climb up, Hikari-chan. Hikari: But.... Takeru: Don't worry. Just climb. Hikari: (reluctantly) Okay....

Hikari takes the rope and begins to climb, with Takeru following up after. They only make it part of the way before Piemon blows open the doors, and our very last Digimon steps up to fight.

Patamon: I'll hold off Piemon!

Takeru's face says everything you need to know about this plan.

In the dub, T.K. backtracks over his awkward comical naysaying a second ago.

T.K.: (thinking) What am I thinking? We have to climb it! Sora told me to be brave no matter how scared I get. T.K.: (frightened) Looks dangerous; You go first. Kari: (disappointed) Oh. (Kari starts climbing) T.K.: That's it, Kari! Pretend you're in gym class! (T.K. climbs up after her) T.K.: LISTEN!!!

...nothing happens after T.K. shouts listen. We hang silently on them for a moment, then cut from there to Piedmon slowly approaching the doors. It takes about ten seconds between T.K. saying that and Piedmon blowing off the door.

So unless he could somehow hear Piedmon's soft, barely audible footsteps through the very heavy door from halfway up the rope, I have absolutely no idea what he wanted Kari to listen to.

Piedmon: OPEN!!! (Piedmon blows the door off) Piedmon: I must quit this. It costs me a fortune in new doors! Patamon: Keep climbing! I'll distract him!

So, yeah, the dub of this scene sucks. T.K. lets Kari go up first because he's too scared to do it himself. That sucks. I think they're trying to do the "(eyeroll) My hero, how brave" gag, but either way, it's pretty much the peak of the dub disempowering Takeru.

The reason Takeru sends Hikari up first is pretty clearly so that she can be the first to reach safety. He's doing what Andromon, Jou, Koushiro, and Sora all did before him: Sending someone else ahead first. So that if only one of them makes it out, it will be Hikari.

Evolving, Angemon throws himself into melee with Piemon.

Angemon's always been fantastic at hitting above his weight class, able to hang with the Perfects in fights with Vamdemon and his goons, and he shows it again here. He parries Piemon's sword strikes with his Holy Rod before taking a hit to the side and backing off. That's when things happen quickly.

Piemon tries to follow up by throwing a sword into Angemon's face. Angemon ducks under the blade and counters, coming in and slamming the tip of his Holy Rod into Piemon's forehead to knock him off-balance.

Before Piemon can recover, Angemon closes distance. Piemon jumps to try and escape, but Angemon swings his rod and slams the side of it into Piemon's gut. The hit takes the wind out of him, sending him stumbling for a second before he falls on his back.

Takeru: Now, Angemon!

With Piemon on his back, Angemon takes the opportunity to back off and prepare his signature attack, Heaven's Knuckle. But, before it can hit, Piemon puts up an energy shield and pushes the attack back, repelling it back into Angemon himself.

Hikari: Angemon!

The dub censors a bit of this fighting. Piemon landing a hit on Angemon and Angemon thocking Piemon in the forehead are both cut. After Angemon's parries, they cut to the sword toss, then cut the scenes together to segue straight into Angemon hitting Piemon in the gut.

Credit where it's due, the splicing's pretty good. It comes through like it's one fluid motion; Angemon ducks under the sword and then swings his rod and hits Piemon's gut. If you didn't know another move was supposed to be between these two, it'd be easy to miss that they did anything. Still, I'm left once again wondering what makes certain hits acceptable but others not.

T.K.: You get him, Angemon! Piedmon: CLOWN TRICK!!! (Piedmon repels Hand of Fate) Kari: Angemon, no!

So I guess this, too, is Clown Trick. What a versatile attack.

Kinda surprised the vanishing cloth isn't Clown Trick, now that I think about it.

Once Piemon's retaken control of the fight, he puts a hard stop to it.

He's got another bolt of energy waiting when Angemon lands, hitting him dead center and throwing him from the balcony. As Angemon falls, Piemon's Trump Swords pass through at once, clipping his wings.

Takeru: ANGEMON!!!

Leaving some feathers behind, Angemon falls from the observatory, hitting the ground far below. His Holy Rod clatters to the ground beside him.

Takeru: (crying) ANGEMOOOOOON!!! Hikari: Takeru-kun! Takeru: Hikari-chan!? Takeru: (thinking) I have to pull it together, or I'll scare Hikari-chan. Takeru: Angemon will be fine, so keep climbing! Hikari: Okay....

Hikari starts climbing again, but it's too late now. One of Piemon's Trump Swords slashes the rope over her head. There is no escape now.

Hikari: AHHHH!!! Takeru: Hikari! Piemon: I told you, there's nowhere you can run to. Hahahahahaha!

Panning down, we see that Piemon has begun to climb the rope after them. They can't go forward and Piemon is behind. There truly is nowhere left to go.

In the dub, Piedmon calls his Trump Sword attack when the blades hit Angemon.

T.K.: DON'T GIVE UP!!! (Angemon falls) T.K.: ANGEMON, NO!!! Kari: I'm scared! T.K.: It's okay! T.K.: (thinking) Great, now Kari's afraid. I can't let her see that I am too. I've got to be brave! T.K.: Angemon will be fine, but you've got to keep on climbing! Don't let that joker Piedmon scare you! Kari: Okay.... (Sword slashes the rope) Kari: AHHHH!!! Piedmon: You've reached the end of your rope! Ahahahahaha!

Sorry, T.K., but I think that joker Piedmon is doing a pretty good job of scaring her. Boy practically asked for this to happen.

Since coming out onto the balcony, the quips have been pretty bleh, but I liked Piedmon's rope quip.

Piemon climbs the rope, closing in on the two helpless children.

Angemon lifts his face out of the dirt, straining weakly.

Angemon: Takeru....

But it's too late for Takeru. Piemon grabs him by the ankle, pulling him downward on the rope.

Takeru: Augh! Piemon: See, I've caught you! Hikari: Takeru-kun!

Hikari turns around, grabbing onto Takeru's wrist to keep him from falling.

Takeru: Let go of my hand! He'll get you too, Hikari-chan! Hikari: No, I'll never let go! Piemon: Hehehehe... THEN FALL TOGETHER!!!

Piemon releases Takeru's leg and swings his blade, severing the rope behind the pair. With no magic rope above and no magic rope below, Takeru and Hikari scream and plummet to their doom, with Hikari still hanging onto Takeru's wrist.

Angemon: TAKERU!!! HIKARI!!! Piemon: NYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Then Hikari loses her grip and they fall separately.

In the dub:

Angemon: T.K...! (Piedmon grabs T.K.'s leg) T.K.: NO!!! Piedmon: Sorry if I gave you a wedgie! Kari: Let go of him! (Kari grabs T.K.'s wrist) T.K.: Let go, Kari! Or he'll get you too! Kari: No, I won't let you go, T.K.! Piedmon: Sounds like you two are falling for each other! (slash) Angemon: T.K.!!! KARI!!! Piedmon: Ahahahahahahaha!

As T.K. and Kari fall, the dub finally takes their second commercial break.

Piedmon, don't ship it. They're eight.

I mean. People do ship it. It's one of Adventure's most popular ships. I think it might be the most popular, at least since 02 took Tai/Sora out behind the sports shed and gave it the Old Yeller. But wait until one of the shows where they're older!

As Takeru and Hikari fall to their doom, Takeru suddenly notices his new fashion accessory.

Takeru: AHHHHHH!!! Takeru: (thinking) It's hopeless!

The Yamato keychain clipped to his backpack jingles as he falls. He opens his eyes, turning his head to see where the sound is coming from. Unclipping Yamato, he holds his brother in his hand and examines him.

Takeru: (thinking) Onii-chan....

Takeru hears the sound of his brother's harmonica, and Yamato's voice. It's unclear if he's imagining what Yamato would say to him in this situation, or if the keychain is communicating with him in some way.

Yamato: Takeru. Don't lose hope. Takeru: Onii-chan! Yamato: As my little brother, you can't give up no matter what. You have to muster all of your strength, until the very end. Takeru: I won't give up! Until the end, I'll never give up! If we die, then this world and our world will die out with us! THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T GIVE UP!!! ANGEMON!!!

Over in the dub, as usual, they don't pick up on the little details buried in sound effects. Rather than the jingling of Yamato's keychain, they write in their own reason for T.K. to suddenly notice it.

T.K.: (thinking) I'm sorry I let you down, Matt! ...wait a second! (T.K. grabs the keychain off his backpack) T.K.: (thinking) Matt! What would he say? Matt: T.K.! Don't ever give up. T.K.: ...Matt!? Matt: You can do it, T.K. I have faith in you. But it won't help if you don't have faith in yourself. No matter what happens, you have to fight to the very end. T.K.: I promise you, Matt! I'll never give up the fight! Kari: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! T.K.: If I don't do it, then this world and our world will be destroyed! I have to do it for Matt, for Angemon, for everybody!

I see the way you carefully talked around the phrase "If we die" but it works. I also love how they opted to have Kari scream for four straight seconds rather than find a way to pad the dialogue out, since they had too many lip flaps to pace it the same way as the original.

Though I am a little irked at the line, "I have faith in you but it won't help if you don't have faith in yourself." Filthy rich coming from Matt when, historically, the problem was always Matt's faith in him, not his own faith in himself. More deflection, I guess.

In any case, I hope that pep talk was real because it shows remarkable character growth and pays off Yamato's cave revelations in a big way. Whether it is or not, Takeru refuses to surrender even in the face of the impossible. And finally, at long last, the Crest of Hope shines.

Angemon: (reinvigorated) TAKERU!!!

Takeru's hope fills Angemon with power, and it's time for the very last new evolution sequence of the first Adventure. Angemon CHO-SHINKAAAAAA!!!

HolyAngemon catches Takeru and Hikari in his arms.

Takeru: Angemon Super-Evolved!

HolyAngemon says nothing in reply. He smiles down at Takeru, then ferries the children safely to the ground below. Time for the rundown.

HolyAngemon is a Perfect-stage Vaccine-type Archangel Digimon. From what I can tell, HolyAngemon was created for the anime. Specifically, the earliest appearance for him that I can find is the anime's tie-in Digivice V-Pet, released in July of 1999 and featuring evolution chains for all seven original Partner Digimon going up to Perfect.

Which is right around the time the kids were invading Nanomon's pyramid and finishing off the Etemon arc. Japan does not give a fuck about spoilers. "We're going into the arc where everyone gets Perfect evolutions. Buy this toy to find out early what they all are! If you don't buy it, don't worry, we'll put them all in the new closing credits."

He wouldn't make his first appearance in the regular V-Pet series until Virus Busters, released one week after this episode debuted, nor in the TCG until November of 1999 when the kids were fighting Vamdemon's Odaiba siege in Tokyo. So he's in a kind of a funny place where the TCG got to him before the anime did but the anime kinda got to him before the TCG.

Narrator: HolyAngemon. On his left arm is his Beam Shield. On his right, the holy sword Excalibur. An archangel Digimon with eight glittering wings. His special attack is Heaven's Gate.

If you're hoping for more information on what "Beam Shield" means, I have none. Those words are in English. That's just what it's called. I guess it blocks beams? He has Excalibur, though, so that's pretty neat. It's a laser sword that comes out of a wrist-mounted beam emitter.

So Excalibur is a beam, but the Beam Shield is not a beam. It's a hard chunk of material that's more of a pauldron than a shield.

I have no idea what's going on with this Digimon.

In the dub, he's called MagnaAngemon. Because... Angemon is fine but Holy is forbidden, I guess. Same reason Holy Arrow had to become Celestial Arrow. The word "magna" is Latin for "great" or "large".

This makes both of their names funny. The redundancy of "holy angel" implies that his prior form has secretly been Insufficiently Holy Angemon this whole time so y'know maybe he should work on that. Meanwhile, in America: "Big Angemon. The biggest."

T.K.: Angemon! I knew you could Digivolve! (MagnaAngemon sets T.K. and Kari down) MagnaAngemon: (rundown) I am MagnaAngemon. I have eight shining wings and a Beam Shield. I wield the mighty sword Excalibur and my devastating attack is the Gate of Destiny.

Between "Hand of Fate" and "Gate of Destiny", it seems the team has settled on predestination as their go-to swap-out for Heaven.

With the children safe, HolyAngemon turns to confront Piemon.

Piemon: What.

Piemon angrily throws a vanishing cloth to capture HolyAngemon.

HolyAngemon: Take the sword of judgment!

Excalibur slices through the cloth. Because it is cloth and Excalibur is a sword.

(This is what the others were missing: Sharp edges. Always bring a pocket knife on survival excursions, kids. ...super embarrassing for WarGreymon, though.)

With his second swing, HolyAngemon slashes Piemon's midsection, cutting all the keychains free and sending Piemon hurtling to the ground below.

In the dub:

Piedmon: Chew on this! (cloth throw) MagnaAngemon: I'm not hungry. (MagnaAngemon slashes the keychains free) MagnaAngemon: I guess my sword trumps yours.

"Chew on this!" "I'm not hungry!" is a pretty weak replacement for a line as raw as "Take the sword of judgment!"

But then he comes back with the Trump Sword burn and that's fantastic.

As an aside, I love what the dub does with MagnaAngemon's voice. HolyAngemon's voice sounds about the same as Angemon's in the original, but a bit sharper and more commanding. MagnaAngemon's voice gets a lot deeper and has an eerie calm about it. Additionally, his words sound artificially synthesized and his lines echo, as if they were coming through a speaker in an empty cave or something.

It all comes together to give MagnaAngemon a profound "Booming Voice of God" resonance in his line deliveries.

Watching Piemon fall, HolyAngemon does not follow up. He prioritizes healing the party instead.

HolyAngemon brings the keychains down to ground, then calls Holy Disinfection. His wings shimmer with rainbow energy, shining a healing light on the keychains that purges them of this strange status ailment.

Taichi: Guys... We're back to normal!

OH GOD THEY WERE CONSCIOUS DURING ALL THAT. Well, that's fucking horrifying.

Again avoiding the H word, the dub calls this Magna Antidote.

MagnaAngemon: Now to bring our friends back to normal. MAGNA ANTIDOTE!!! (MagnaAngemon heals everyone) Tai: Wow! What a weird dream! I had an incredible urge to carry some keys.

Time for some team reunions.

Takeru, Hikari, Yamato, and Taichi run to each other, both pairs of siblings cheerfully embracing one another.

Takeru & Hikari: ONII-CHAN!!! Taichi: HIKARI!!! Yamato: TAKERU!!! Thank you! You were amazing. Takeru: Only because my big brother was there to cheer me on! Yamato: (confused) Eh?

I think Yamato's confusion confirms that Takeru was imagining what he'd want Yamato to say to him. He was having a one-sided conversation with a conscious Yamato doll, who only saw Takeru suddenly burst out with a surge of confidence.

Tentomon, meanwhile, gushes over HolyAngemon.

Tentomon: WHOA!!! When did you evolve!? You look so cool-- Piemon: Haha, is that right? Tentomon: EE-YEE-YEE-YEEP!!!

Angemon whips around in the direction that voice came from, while Tentomon falls to the ground in a flailing panic. This isn't over yet.

In the dub:

Tai & Matt: KARI!!! / T.K.!!! Kari & T.K.: TAI!!! / MATT!!! Matt: You did a great job, T.K. T.K.: If it wasn't for your advice, I don't think I would have been able to do it! Matt: Huh? Tentomon: Wow! When did Angemon digivolve!? You look great! Turn around, let me see! MagnaAngemon: Very well. (MagnaAngemon turns to the side looking worried. A second later, Tentomon flails and falls to the ground.) Tentomon: AUGH!!!

The animation doesn't line up with the joke the dub's trying to make here. But the idea of the gag seems to be that MagnaAngemon turned around at Tentomon's behest, inadvertently swatting Tentomon with his wings and knocking him to the ground.

Piemon, furious, storms towards the children.

Piemon: I had planned on mercifully keeping you as my dolls instead of killing you, BUT YOU'RE SO DETERMINED TO DIE!!! SO BE IT!!! I'LL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT!!! DAHHHHHH!!!

I mean. He says that but "mercifully keeping them as dolls" was Plan B after murdering them all one-by-one failed. I don't think Taichi's barely conscious near-corpse at the end of last episode appreciated Piemon's mercy very much.

Piemon raises his hand, and the ground erupts all around them. Countless strange little gremlin Digimon emerge, filling the sky and the terrain around them.

Tentomon: GYAH!!! They're coming out everywhere! What are these creatures!?

To answer his question, those swarming creatures are the rather bluntly named Evilmon, an Adult-stage Virus-type Imp Digimon. They're from the Sega Saturn V-Pet, the same one that debuted Angewomon and LadyDevimon.

Narrator: Evilmon. A darkness-type Digimon that loves to fight. Their special attack is Nightmare Shock.

And there's like a hundred of them so. Y'know. Have fun with that.

The dub names them Vilemon. Uh, okay. Evilmon may be a bit on the nose but Vilemon isn't that much better.

Piedmon: So, those DigiDestined think the Dark Masters are that easily defeated, hmm? Hahahahaha! Well, guess again! You're not the only ones with an army of friends that can help you! TA-DA!!! (Piedmon summons the Vilemon swarm) Piedmon: This is more fun than a barrel of flying monkeys! Piedmon: (rundown) DigiDestined, meet the Vilemon! Their Nightmare Shock will give you a rude awakening!

Very different vibe with Piedmon. Piemon is losing his shit right now, ranting furiously and vengefully about how he's going to slaughter them all. Piedmon, on the other hand, remains cool and collected, and is still making merry jokes.

He also isn't talking directly to them, courtesy of the reframing from last scene, so they only seem to become aware that he's still around when the Vilemon swarm moves in around them.

Speaking of which, the swarm of Evilmon surrounds the children. There are so many of them.

Jou: We're surrounded! Koushiro: There's nowhere left we can run. Takeru: But we aren't going to lose! Yamato: Yeah! We're turning this around! Taichi: That's right! As long as the Chosen Children and Digimon stand united, these little freaks-- Mimi: WAIT!!! DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME!!!

Mimi charges into the fray atop a gleaming white Unimon, leading her army straight into the carnage.

Sora: (shocked) Mimi-chan! Lilimon: Thank goodness! We made it in time!

Ogremon makes the first move, swiping away three Evilmon with his club.

Ogremon: I hate enemies that swarm. EVERYONE, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!! HAHA!!! Taichi: ALRIGHT, TEAM!!! IT'S THE FINAL BATTLE!!! Digimon: YEAH!!!

It is not the final battle.

Together, Mimi's army and the Partner Digimon pour into the Evilmon horde. MetalGarurumon begins the battle, scattering a group with a stomp.

Elecmon shocks a cluster of Evilmon, incapacitating them long enough for Unimon to fire his Holy Shot, an exploding ball of energy shot from his mouth, into the crowd. The successful combo attack prompts Mimi and Sora to high five each other.

Mimi & Sora: YES!!!

Ogremon slams his Haouken into another trio of Evilmon.

Jou and Koushiro watch from behind a rock with their Partner Digimon, while Mimi's army continues to work together surprisingly well. The Gekomon and Otamamon lure in a trio of Evilmon and retreat, right into Yukidarumon, Meramon, and Andromon.

The latter of whom is not part of Mimi's army but he counts now.

In the dub:

Joe: We're surrounded! Izzy: Oh no! We can't escape! T.K.: Come on, toughen up! Matt: I'm with you, T.K.! Tai: Our only chance is if we all combine our powers together! But the problem is, we're still missing some of our friends.... Mimi: Wait for me! (Mimi rides in on Unimon, leading her army) Mimi: Sorry we're late! Sora: It's Mimi! Lillymon: Are we too late for the party?

Tai's line here is totally different. In the original, he is all set and ready to try and do this with the seven of them. Taichi's not thinking about Mimi here because. Like. She left a while ago and he's made peace with that. He has no reason to be thinking of her now. He's thinking only with the resources they have on-hand, and he's got his game face on. He's ready to fight.

In the dub, Tai doesn't think they can win this and queues up Mimi's cavalry charge by implying that her impending return is their only hope now.

(Ogremon swats three Vilemon) Ogremon: PUMMEL WHACK!!! Nice slice! I guess I'm gonna have to work on my swing, huh? Hehehe! Tai: Alright, gang! Give them the full Digimon attack!

During the combo attack, Elecmon and Unimon call their attacks as Super Thunderstrike and Horn Blaster respectively.

Sora & Mimi: (high five) NICE SHOT!!!

Ogremon's Haouken is also, as usual, renamed Pummel Whack.

Not to be left out, Tentomon and Gomamon quickly evolve and then Super-Evolve so that Zudomon and AtlurKabuterimon can join the fray.

Zudomon obliterates a group of Evilmon with his Hammer Spark. Piemon chooses that moment to get in the thick of it, casting out his Trump Sword - only for AtlurKabuterimon to see him coming and blast his swords out of the air with a shot of Horn Buster.

This is followed by the goofiest-ass shot of Jou, Sora, Mimi, and Koushiro rising from the scenery doing V for Victory poses. XD

With the army engaging the Evilmon, the Partners move in together on Piemon. It's time for the Chosen Children's most powerful technique: dogpiling on an asshole's face.

Lilimon gets the first shot off with her Flower Cannon. Piemon deflects her shot, then tosses his vanishing cloth. But that's not happening this time; Angewomon's Holy Arrow tears through the cloth and narrowly misses a hit on Piemon, who sidesteps quickly.

He can't dodge everything, though. As he's evading the Holy Arrow, Garudamon lets off her Shadow Wing, which hits him dead on and sends him flying from the blast.

Piemon: DOWAAAUGH!!!

Piemon's face in the instant before the Shadow Wing hits him is priceless. A picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Up in the sky, HolyAngemon calls Heaven's Gate. He carves a circle in reality using Excalibur, which opens up into a huge golden door.

Taichi: What is that? Takeru: Ah! It's opening!

As Heaven's Gate opens, the hordes of Evilmon are pulled inside of it. HolyAngemon explains.

HolyAngemon: Evil things are drawn inside the Gate, where they will be consigned to oblivion. Piemon: Eh!? WHAT!? WarGreymon: Let's wrap this up. MetalGarurumon: Yeah!

WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon hit Piemon together, blasting him with a simultaneous Gaia Force and Double Tomahawk. The blast throws him into Heaven's Gate with the rest of his forces, which closes and seals around him as soon as he's inside.

(Y'know, given that he spent most of the episode chasing the kids around with an Instant Kill move, it's fitting that Piemon himself falls victim to an Instant Kill in the end. Ultimately, HolyAngemon collected him.)

Then, explaining what "consign to oblivion" means, the Gate disintegrates into pixel dust as if it were a dying Digimon. A wave of golden dust ushers outward from the disintegrating dust, washing over the Dark Masters' platform and down into the Digital World below. As it goes, the stripe of Piemon's darkness realm recedes from Spiral Mountain.

The dub explains Gate of Destiny like this.

MagnaAngemon: GATE OF DESTINY!!! (The gate pulls in all the Vilemon) Tai, Matt, T.K., and Kari: Wow! Piedmon: Huh!? WarGreymon: Hey! Remember us?

They...

Do not.

Explain Gate of Destiny. At all. They remove all dialogue referencing the gate beyond a simple "Wow" and leave it completely ambiguous as to what the fuck happened to the show's penultimate villain.

Weird choice, guys.

With the very last Dark Master finally defeated, the Chosen Children take a moment to savor their victory. Their long ordeal is finally over.

Taichi: (smiling) It's over. Yamato: Yeah... Both: Huh?

Taichi and Yamato turn and notice Mimi's army cheering their victory and waving to the children. This is their big moment too. Taichi and Mimi wave back, but Taichi's a little confused.

Taichi: Eh? Ogremon is here? Why and how? Mimi: Oh, yeah, you don't know what happened. You see.... Koushiro: Huh? A message from Gennai-san.

Once Mimi's caught Taichi up on the events of her sub-arc, the group gathers around Koushiro's laptop.

Sora: Might be a congratulatory email. Taichi: (griping) Oh, what is it now? Koushiro: (reading) Nonsense! Taichi: (annoyed) What did he write? Koushiro: Our true enemy is not the Dark Masters. Taichi: HUH!?!?

That gets Taichi's attention. He whips around, shocked.

Koushiro: Our true enemy is a creature whose very existence creates the distortions in the world. The Dark Masters merely drew their power from those distortions. Taichi: Then... who's our real enemy--WHOA!!!

Suddenly, the ground beneath the children's feet shakes violently.

Lilimon: What's happening!?

A fissure opens in the ground between Lilimon and Angewomon, forcing them to fly from their positions. A spray of red energy pours out of Piemon's observatory, and the sky turns as black as it was before. The episode closes on the ominous implication that something worse is about to happen.

In the dub:

Izzy: The last remnants of Spiral Mountain are disappearing! The Dark Masters' control over the Digital World is finally gone! Tai: Good riddance!

The final commercial break comes here and we return on the shot of Mimi's army waving. In the process, Matt's line and his and Tai's sudden surprised faces are cut.

Digimon: BYE!!! / TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES!!! HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!!! Tai: You know, I'm starting to think we have a strange looking group of friends. Mimi: They might not have the best fashion sense but they're the best friends we've ever had! Izzy: Hmm... We have email from Gennai. Sora: What's it say, Izzy? Tai: Not now! I need a nap! Izzy: It's coming in now. Tai: Is he congratulating us? Izzy: Gennai says here that the Dark Masters aren't the real enemies. Tai: HUH!?!? Izzy: It says here that the real enemy is an evil force whose very existence warps the Digital World and created the Dark Masters. So according to this, I don't think we're out of the woods quite yet! Tai: Wait a sec! If it's not the Dark Masters, then who do we fight next--wh-WHOA YAHHHH!!! (Earthquakes) Angewomon & Lillymon: What!? (Fissure opens and red energy blackens the sky) Mimi: WHAT'S HAPPENING!?!? Narrator: What is the evil force that Gennai was warning the DigiDestined about? Find out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

The funny "Wait, why Ogremon" exchange doesn't make it into the dub, which is a shame. Plus side, they do capture Taichi's annoyance at hearing from the useless old codger, as he sees him.

An interesting note: The dub says that the True Enemy created the Dark Masters, which isn't quite accurate. The True Enemy created the distortions in reality, as a passive consequence of existing within it.

This creature's existence is steadily breaking down the fabric of reality itself. This is what the "distortions in the Digital World" that we've been hearing about since we first met Gennai have been all along. The true nemesis was never Devimon or Etemon or Vamdemon or even the Dark Masters; They were all just evil Digimon who drew power from the distortions created by this thing.

We've been battling symptoms all this time. Evil Digimon made stronger by drawing power from the distortions. But there's no implication here that they are in league with the source or even that they are aware of its existence. Only that they found reality straining and breaking down, and promptly went, "Fuck yes, I can use this!"

Something is happening that is destroying both realities. And all of these guys have been opportunistic parasites riding its coattails who thought they could profit off the end of the world.

Assessment: Can you imagine if Piemon won here? This is the guy. Leader of the Dark Masters. When Homeostasis conceived their plan to create the Chosen Children, this was what it was for. It was Piemon they were afraid of. It was Piemon they were right to be afraid of, as it was Piemon who broke through their defenses and nearly strangled this entire countermeasure in its crib.

This was Homeostasis's last, best hope for thwarting the Dark Masters and the growing instability in the Digital World. What a victory this would have been for Piemon to not only vanquish the Chosen Children, but to collect them as memorabilia. To store them on his trophy case as a reminder of the desperate, futile lengths the world went to in order to try and stop him.

This. Right here. This fight. This is what it was all for. I mean, it's not really, the next fight is what it was all for. But so far as anybody knew, this was what it was all for.

There's an interesting implication that Yamato's behavior towards Takeru was suppressing his Crest this whole time. That he needed Yamato's validation, needed his brother to believe in him, before he'd have the strength of will to achieve Super Evolution like the others.

Mimi's cavalry charge gives me life. I legit spent the entire episode wondering when she'd get here. I remembered HolyAngemon and the Heaven's Gate finisher, so when Angemon Super-Evolved and Mimi still wasn't here yet, I was beginning to worry that they'd make her a punchline or something by having her show up after the fight was over.

But nope. Mimi's army to the rescue!