Episode Eight – A Determination to Win

 

 

Izzy – We got to the forest where the floating fortress went, and met up with Chuumon, who showed us where the fortress had landed. With Chuumon’s help, I was able to give directions to Mimi and the rest of the group on how to escape. Unfortunately, they got a bit caught up in the get-away…luckily, Conegamon and Terremotomon helped them to a safe landing. Now that we’re all back together, our next objective is to find our digimon!

 

<Digimon Opening>

 

Scene: It’s nothing but black at first. Then, we see an young Izzy peeking over his apartment’s railing, trying to watch a fight between Greymon and Parrotmon. Izzy, with his eyebrows furrowed, is trying to make out everything that’s going on. We hear a sliding door open, and Izzy looks to his right. There’s another child standing on the ledge next to his. He squints and looks at her. She’s looking straight ahead, and her eyes don’t seem to be quite awake.

 

Izzy: Huh…who’s that?

 

(Then, we hear a loud roar from Greymon, “Nova Flame!!!” Izzy whips his head back to the battle: Greymon is destroying both Parrotmon and himself in a huge ball of fire. Debris begins to fly everywhere. Suddenly, one big chunk shoots into the air, and begins to fall toward the girl. Izzy looks in panic at the girl, who is juts standing there. He hesitates, takes a few steps back, then jumps over to land on her side. He grabs her and-)

 

Izzy: AAH!

 

(Izzy wakes up, slightly breathless. The sun is just coming up over the horizon in the desert. The Maria, Allison, Joe, Matt, Mimi, and Sora are still snoring away. He looks to his right; Allison is sprawled out, mouth wide open, clutching to part of her sister’s sweater. Maria’s curled into a ball next to her violin case. Matt is sitting with his knees propped up, and looks like he’s about to fall over.)

 

Izzy: Huh. Just a dream. But…(he looks down and holds his chin)…it felt so real…

 

Allison: (getting up, and yawning widely) Guh mornin, Izzy…

 

Izzy: (looks over, smiling) Hey Allison. Sleep well?

 

Allison: (stretching) I would if I had a mattress…

 

Topomon: (hopping up) Hey sleepy-head!

 

Allison: Topomon…you’re lucky, you’re USED to sleeping on the ground…

 

Tai: (walking from the desert towards the group) Hey guys! Awake yet?

 

Sora: (rubbing eyes) Morning!

 

Matt: (groaning) Sleeping is a lot more enjoyable when you’re asleep.

 

Mimi: (stretching) It is a pain to go through this every night…

 

Maria: (feeling her back) I think my back turned upside down.

 

Mimi: (standing, fists up) All right then! I’ll just have to give you all massages!!

 

(everyone has huge eyes staring at her)

 

Izzy: Um…I’m don’t that’s necessary…

 

Mimi: Oh! It’s no problem! I learned from my mom! You’ll feel better in no time.

 

Matt: (sweatdrop) No really, we don’t need-

 

Mimi: Hmphf! So, you think I don’t know what I’m doing?! (grabs Matt, and spins him around)

 

Matt: Hey!! Wait a minute! AAAH! (Mimi starts rubbing his shoulders a little violently. Matt has a very contorted look on his face)

 

Joe: (pointing) Um, he looks like he’s in pain.

 

Mimi: Don’t be silly! I gave my last massage to Sora and after I finished she said she’d never felt so refreshed!

 

Sora: (blows a mushroom) Oh, dear…

 

Mimi: Well, Matt? How do you feel?

 

Matt: (face is sweating, and his shoulders are all hunched up) I’ve…never felt…so refreshed.

 

Mimi: Huh, funny thing, that’s exactly what Sora sai-(Tai interrupts her)

 

Tai: ANYWAY! Have you guys seen TK or Kari?

 

Izzy: Huh? (looks around, and stands up) They appear to be missing.

 

Matt: WHAT?! (jolts his head up, and then stops; he threw out his neck) Ooh…

 

Mimi: Matt! Do you need another massage?

 

Matt: (with his head stuck in the same position, turning to her, mad dancing white spots around his head) NO!! THANK YOU!!

 

Joe: (stands) But where would they be?

 

Tai: I’ve been looking for them for the past ten minutes. I don’t think they’re in the desert.

 

Matt: (head bent) Let’s go look for them now!

 

Maria: Wait. (walks over. She walks around him, inspecting him from every angle)

 

Tai: Uh…Maria, what are you doing…?

 

Maria: (still circling) Just a second. (she stops, and squints at one spot on Matt’s neck) Right. This should do it.

 

Matt: (sweatdrop, head still bent) Wha-what are you gonna do?

 

Maria: (smiles big) It’ll only hurt for a second.

 

Matt: WHA~?!

 

(Maria, concentrating, points two fingers at the spot on his neck. She stands still, focusing. Then, in a burst of energy, she pokes Matt’s neck hard with a loud “Yaaaa!!!)

 

Matt: (clapping his hand onto his neck) AAH! (stumbles forward, then whips his head back at her) What do you think you’re…? Huh? (he moves his neck around; it’s working fine) Hey.

 

Sora: (amazed) Wow. That’s impressive.

 

Joe: (sweatdrop) You…fixed his neck…with a karate move?!

 

Maria: Tae Kwon Do. I’ve been training ever since I was  five.

 

Izzy: Pro…digious!

 

Joe: You play the violin, AND study martial  arts? I barely have enough time for pre-med school!

 

Maria: It isn’t that easy. I never much free time at all. My life has always been really busy. I have concerts and rehearsals to go to every week! In fact, I’m playing a concerto this Satur-(freezes, a look of terror on her face)

 

 

Joe: What is it?

 

Maria: We’ve been gone…for over two days…(she slumps forward, a grey anime mark across her nose)…the concert…

 

Tai: …it was on Saturday?

 

Matt: Ah! That REALLY sucks. And you were going to play a concerto?

 

Okomon: (floats over) Maria?

 

Allison: (goes over to Maria, and puts her hand on her shoulder) Are you gonna be OK?

 

Maria: (her head is down) thinking: I can’t believe it…I’ve been practicing for that concert for as long as I can remember. I was going to play the Beethoven Romance Concerto…but… (puts head up, smiling) Don’t worry! It’s not really that big of a deal!

 

Sora: Are you sure you’re OK?

 

Maria: Mm-hm! Now, let’s focus on finding Kari and TK.

 

Tai: All right. Let’s start looking around in the forest.

 

(close-up on Joe. He still looks concerned about Maria)

 

Maria: Come on! Let’s go! (heads toward the trees)

 

Allison: Maria! Don’t forget your violin!

 

Maria: Oh. (looks back at the case lying in the sand. She walks over, picks it up, and slings the strap over one shoulder. Waits a beat, then, ) I’m ready!

 

Joe: (thinking) She was READY…for that concert…

 

(switch scenes. Matt, Mimi, Tai, Sora, Allison, Izzy, Joe, Okomon, Topomon, and Maria are making their way through the trees)

 

Allison: Does anyone find it a little ironic that we’re going back the way we came from?

 

Matt: We’ll get out of here as soon as we find TK and Kari.

 

Mimi: Hey! Do you guys see that?

 

(They come to a clearing in the trees. TK is sleeping against a tree, and Kari is sleeping on the ground on the other side of the clearing.)

 

Tai : Kari!

 

Matt: (goes over to TK) TK! Hey, TK, wake up!

 

TK: (mumbles, then rolls over and opens his eyes) Huh…? Oh, Matt!

 

Matt: TK, what do you think you’re doing? We’ve been looking all over for you!

 

Tai: Yeah! Why didn’t you and Kari come back? Weren’t you after her for guard duty?

 

TK: (stands up) Well, yeah!

 

Mimi: You have some explaining to do!

 

Topomon: Yeah, hurry before I get bored and start digging random holes everywhere!

 

TK: See, I went to find Kari, and she was a little farther into the desert…

 

(flashback. TK runs toward Kari, who’s looking past him at the forest)

 

TK: Kari! (he stops running when he reaches her) What’s wrong? Why weren’t you at camp?

 

Kari: Cupidmon. He had our digimon.

 

TK: What?

 

Kari: We’ve got to go back to the fortress.

 

TK: (narrating) I didn’t have much of a choice, so I went into the forest with her, and we starting looking around. (TK in the flashback) Kari, what are we looking for? Where did you see Cupidmon?

 

Kari: (glancing around bushes, searching) He was coming from the desert. He had a cage, and our digimon were in it.

 

TK: Ah…

 

Kari: I saw him disappear into the forest, so our digimon must be somewhere around here…

 

TK: (narrating) We kept looking, and finally…(TK in flashback) Kari, this is useless. (gets hold of her arm) You need to go back to camp and get some sleep.

 

Kari: (shaking, pulls away) NO, TK! I NEED TO FIND SALAMON!

 

TK: (hesitates from shock, then walks over to her) Then why don’t we just set up camp here for the night. Is that OK?

 

Kari: (her muscles relax) I’m sorry TK. I just…I’m just a little tired I guess.

 

(everything goes back to real time. TK’s talking to the group, and Kari’s still asleep)

 

TK: So, we stayed here over night.

 

Matt: That’s it?

 

TK: Yeah.

 

Tai: (big angry head) ARE YOU SURE?!

 

TK: (dancing anime spots everywhere) Y-y-yes!

 

Sora: (yanking on Tai’s ear) Stop teasing TK!

 

Izzy: Well, I think it’s safe to say that Cupidmon was taking our digimon to the fortress.

 

Tai: (walks over to Kari, softly shakes her) Kari? Hey sis, it’s time to get up.

 

Kari: (groaning, sits up, rubbing eyes) Tai? (now she’s awake) Tai! Oh! (she sees everyone else) Oh, I’m sorry everybody! I made a big mess of things…

 

Tai: It’s OK, now. Don’t worry. If you hadn’t seen Cupidmon, we would still be heading for File Island right now.

 

TK: I told them everything.

 

Tai: (turns around) Or so we think… (TK blows a mushroom)

 

Allison: I guess our next move is busting your digimon out from the fortress.

 

Scene: The forest. It’s quiet, but then, a violin is heard, softly at first. We see Joe walking through the bushes, looking around. He hears the violin, and starts to figure out where its coming from. After for looking around a little, he pulls away some branches, and sees Maria standing by herself playing her violin, her back to him.

 

Joe: Hey, Maria.

 

Maria: (stops playing, but doesn’t turn toward him) Hi.

 

Joe: We’re all ready to go. Izzy’s planned out a way to get into the fortress. Are you coming?

 

Maria: (silently packs up her violin)

 

Joe: (waits a beat) Okay. I’ll…I’ll just…leave you alone, then. (again he hesitates) Maria, I’m really sorry that you missed your concert. I had no idea…

 

Maria: (her back is turned) It’s not your fault.

 

Joe: Huh?

 

Maria: Don’t worry about it. I’ll catch up, OK?

 

Joe: OK. See ya. (he leaves, and we see Okomon poke her head out of the bushes)

 

Maria: (picks up her violin case. She waits a beat, then puts it back on the ground. She exits without her violin toward where the rest of the group is. Okomon stays hidden in the bushes until she leaves. She has a look of concern)

 

Okomon: Maria…are you just going to give up?

 

(She comes out of the bushes and floats over to the violin case. It’s heavy, but she manages to sling the strap over her shoulder and float after Maria with it. After five or ten seconds of flying, she catches up to Maria)

 

Okomon: Maria! Maria, your violin!

 

Maria: (turns around) Okomon! (sees the violin, and turns head away) Why do you have that thing?

 

Okomon: I brought it because YOU don’t have the GUTS to not give up!

 

Maria: (surprised and a bit offended) Huh?!

 

Okomon: Maria, I’ve heard you play, and you’ve got a real talent! And it’s not just that; you play like…like you’re really truly happy when you play! Why else would you be scheduled to play a concerto at that concert?

 

Maria: Okomon…

 

Okomon: But, instead of just going for it when an obstacle presents itself, you decided to take the easy route and give up. (puts the violin case on the ground) That can’t be what you really want to do.

 

Maria: It’s just…I…that concert was everything…but now it’s too late…

 

Okomon: (calms down a little, smiling) Are you sure you learned the violin solely for the purpose of performing? What if…(zoom in on Maria’s face) …it’s about something else?

 

Maria: Maybe it’s…not about the concert…

 

Okomon: (happy) That’s right! Maria, you don’t play the violin for them…

 

Maria: I play it…for me?

 

Okomon: That’s it, Maria. Now, (pushes the case toward her) why did you leave this on the ground? Are you going to quit because of one mistake?

 

Maria: (runs forward and grabs the case) I’m never gonna quit! (slings the case over her shoulder) I can’t believe it! I really lost my head back there. (looks at Okomon) Thanks, Okomon.

 

Okomon: Anytime.

 

Scene: We see an dark, empty jail cell with stone walls. After a couple seconds, footsteps get closer to the door, which opens.

 

Cupidmon: OK, everyone in!!

 

(He dumps Koromon, Tsunomon, Bukamon, Yokomon, Motimon, Tokomon, Tanemon, and Salamon into the cell)

 

Tokomon: (shakes off dust, then bares teeth) Hey, watch it!!

 

Cupidmon: I wouldn’t talk so rough if I were you! I’m the one in charge of your rations! (slams the door, humming as he walks away)

 

Koromon: I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but we’ve really hit rock bottom, guys.

 

Tsunomon: Yeah! I think I chipped my horn!

 

Tanemon: My petals are about to wilt!

 

Bukamon: Hey Motimon, when was the last time we ate?

 

Motimon: It feels like it’s been years!

 

Yokomon: Cheer up, guys! We won’t be in here forever!

 

Koromon: (as all look at Yokomon) And what exactly makes you say that?

 

Salamon: Do I have to wear a sign? Check it out, I’m at the rookie stage!

 

Tokomon: Salamon…? But that must mean…

 

Motimon: You found Kari!

 

Salamon: We passed over her when Cupidmon was taking us to the fortress. I only wished I could have had enough time to digivolve again…

 

Bukamon: Don’t you fret! As long as Kari saw you, we should all be expecting a rescue pretty soon!

 

Koromon: I dunno…(hops up on the ledge of the barred window, staring across the moat into the forest) We’ll just have to wait and see if Tai and the others can make it.

 

Scene: Izzy is on his laptop with the rest of the group around him. Maria and Okomon enter)

 

Joe: Maria!

 

Mimi: Maria, you came!

 

Maria: (smiling) Of course, I did! I’m no quitter!

 

Izzy: That’s good to hear. Especially since you have half of our ammo.

 

Maria: Huh? (looks at Okomon, then sweatdrops) Oh yeah…

 

Allison: That would have been a real bummer to try to bust out the digimon with only one champion!

 

Maria: (hands on her hips) And let you hog all the glory? No way!

 

Matt: (as Maria and Allison giggle and ramble away) You’d think they were gossiping about boys or something…

 

Tai: (snickers)

 

Kari: (smiling, but then hears something) Huh? (she looks at the fortress) Hey! You guys, look over there!

 

Joe: Huh?

 

(We see numerous flying digimon coming out of the top of the fortress, which begin to flap their wings and dive at th digidestined. They look like black Birdramon)

 

Maria: AAH! They’re coming this way!

 

Izzy: (types on keyboard) Those are Saberdramon. They’re at the champion level.

 

Cupidmon: (from the top of the fortress yelling) My, what a smart lad!

 

(All look up at the digimon, and then hit the dirt as five or six Saberdramon dive-bomb them)

 

Sora: The digimon at the top of the fortress! Is that a Saberdramon, too?

 

 Cupidmon: EEEH! WRONG!! (he takes an arrow out of his quiver, and aims it for a couple seconds) That’ll cost you! (he lets go of the arrow which heads straight for Izzy)

 

Tai: Watch out!!

 

Izzy: (dodging the arrow while still clutching his laptop) WAAH!

 

Saberdramon: Black Saber!

 

Allison: They’re attacking us!

 

(digivolving sequence…”Topomon…digivolve to…! Terremotomon!”)

 

Maria: Let’s get this show started!

 

(digivolving sequence…”Okomon…dgiviolve to…! Conegamon!”)

 

Conegamon: Psychic…BLAST! (Her attack disintegrates the Black Saber)

 

Izzy: Looks like we’ll have to go with plan ‘B’.

 

Maria: There was a plan ‘A’?!

 

Allison: Terremotomon, try to get to the fortress while we take care of these over-grown crows!

 

Terremotomon: Got it! (She begins digging furiously, dirt flying everywhere)

 

Conegamon: (soars up into the sky, then parachutes her wings) I’m up here, you cowards!!

 

(The Saberdramon all start upward. Terremotomon is making her way under the moat, a trail of shaken ground indicating where she is)

 

Cupidmon: Surprise! (He dive down and tackles Terremotomon’s back)

 

Terremotomon: (exploding out from underground) AAH! (lands in the middle of the moat, holding up her guard) That hurt!

 

Cupidmon: Pardon me, I haven’t introduced myself, have I? (strings and arrow and shoots it at Terremotomon) Piercing Shot!!!

 

Terremotomon: (curls in a ball. The arrow hits, but doesn’t stick, and falls to the ground. Terremotomon then uncurls and picks up the arrow) Hey! This looks just like the arrow we found at Primary Village!

 

Joe: Of course! This is probably the same digimon that kidnapped our digimon!

 

Cupidmon: AS I was saying, my name is Cupidmon. I am a Ultimate-level digimon, and loyal subject to the Dark Triad. My Piercing Shot will be the end of you, I PROMISE!

 

Matt: He’s an Ultimate!

 

Maria: (shouting up to Conegamon) Conegamon, we need your help!

 

Conegamon: (swatting at the Saberdramon) I’m…a little busy…right now! (She succeeds in throwing a couple Saberdramon, but they keep coming)

 

Saberdramon: Black Saber!!

 

(The attack hits Conegamon, and she starts falling)

 

Maria: CONEGAMON!! (She starts to slide down the side of the moat)

 

T.K.: Maria!!

 

Tai: What are you, crazy?!

 

Maria: (sliding to a halt at the bottom of the moat, yelling back) No, just determined!! (she looks up and sees Conegamon getting closer and closer) CONEGAMON!! WAKE UP!!

 

Conegamon: (still falling, her eyes slowly open, she then look around, and parachutes her wings right before she lands on the ground next to Maria)

 

Cupidmon: Hmm. Looks like you all will need to be taught a lesson.

 

Scene: Inside the jail cell with the in-trainings and Salamon, who are all asleep. Koromon hears the battle outside, and wakes up. He hops over to the barred window and gazes out at the moat where Terremotomon and Conegamon are battling Cupidmon.

 

Koromon: Ah! Hey guys, you gotta wake up! Something’s going on down there!!

 

(The other digimon slowly wake up)

 

Tanemon: (climbing onto the ledge) Hey!! Look, it’s Mimi!!!!

 

Koromon: Huh? Hey, it’s Tai!!

 

Bukamon: There’s Joe!! I can see him!!

 

Yokomon: Look, it’s Sora!!

 

(they’re all getting really excited, all shoving and pushing around to see through the window, which only has room for about three of them at once)

 

(Switch back to Cupidmon’s battle)

 

Terremotomon: Rolling Spikes!! (She rolls toward Cupidmon, who dodges it. Terremotomon then rolls up the side of the moat, flinging herself into the air, with her arms/blades stretched out, ready to body slam Cupidmon)

 

Cupidmon: Piercing Shot!!!

 

(The attack hits Terremotomon in the stomach, and she doubles over in mid-air. Silence. We then hear Terremotomon crash to the ground.)

 

Cupidmon: (smirking) Not very wise to show your weak spot to your opponent.

 

Allison: (shaking) Terremotomon…

 

Maria: (running to Terremotomon) Terremotomon, are you OK?

 

Cupidmon: Ah-ah-ah!! (he aims another arrow at Maria, and lets it fly)

 

Conegamon: NO!!! (she dives at Maria, and shields her with her wings. The arrow hits Conegamon’s shoulder, and she roars in pain)

 

Maria: (from beneath Conegamon) CONEGAMON!!

 

(Conegamon takes out the arrow, which is wet with blood, and then faints. Maria stands there, unable to speak)

 

Cupidmon: (slings his bow over his shoulder) Well, that was fun while it lasted. You might as well give up now. I know for a fact that these were the only digimon you own.

 

Tai: (clenched fists) That…lowsy…

 

Sora: What are we gonna do…?

 

Maria: (still in shock, but then hears something) Huh? (looks up at the fortress, and sees the intrainings in the window)

 

Koromon: Tai! I’m coming!!

 

Salamon: (gnawing on the bars) We…can’t let him win!! (stops to catch breath)

 

Maria: Those digimon…

 

Bukamon: Come on, guys, pull harder!! We’ve got to move these bars!

 

Maria: (thinking) They’re so weak, yet…

 

Yokomon: Bubble BLOW! (her attack hits the bars, but the metal stays intact)

 

Maria: (thinking) They’re still trying…

 

Tsunomon: (trying to pry the bars open with his horn) Grrr…

 

Maria: (talking out loud) They’re not going to give up…(furrows her eyebrows) …and neither will I!!

 

Cupidmon: Huh?

 

Maria: (yelling) I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP!!!

 

(Her crest suddenly glows bright, filling up the entire area with light)

 

(digivolving sequence: Maria’s crest shoots up, then deposits its energy into Conegamon…”Conegamon…digivolve…to!!” Conegamon’s fur begins to shine, and her wings turn to jell, and re-form…She then turns into a streak of light, and all we see are her glowing eyes…she turns into a dragon-like creature with smaller feather wings. Her tail has five balls of glowing light trailing off it…her head is emblazoned with a crescent moon…she has no arms or legs, and flies around… “…Psyconegamon!!”)

 

Maria: (staring at her glowing digimon) She…digivolved again!

 

(all staring in awe at the floating rabbit-dragon)

 

Psyconegamon: Cupidmon…it is time for the REAL battle…