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"Marky in the Middle"

It had been a long journey as Mark roused from a half-night's slumber to stare out the window of the carriage he was traveling in, only to see the star lit night sky overhead. He yawned a bit and stared out toward the caravan that trailed the hillside in front of his car; on top of each was a different Digimon who had promised to train him to be as strong as his younger brother Mac, just as they were attempting to train his older brother Max closer to the village. Magnamon stood vigil on the first carriage in the caravan. His golden armor could be seen faintly glimmering under the light of the moon above. One back showed Rapidmon, diligently glossing his gun arms over to make them shine too, though it was a fainter greenish color that he bore.

"Hey Mark, you awake?" The third mon of the party was Exveemon, still freshly evolved from his training form, he had a certain kind of brightness to his deep red eyes, but the surprise of the dragon-type's face suddenly poking through the window gave the wolf a fright and he jumped back in surprise. Exveemon frowned. "Oh, gee. I'm sorry about that, Mark." He said. "I still gotta learn how to be subtle looking like this."

"Trust me, you don't have to worry about being subtle." Mark explained. "How far are we from these training grounds?"

"Dunno, I haven't been to them in years." Exveemon shrugged. "But legend has it some of the greatest Digimon have battled here and made it sort of a legend to us. So can I ask you a question?"

"Sure." Mark said as he let the Digimon swoop the door open and swing inside to sit next to him.

"Why'd you decide to come out this way?" He asked. "It was mostly to help your brother recover his strength some and give us a little training time."

"Well, Magnamon suggested me getting a little training in like Mac is."

"Huh." Exveemon stared for a moment in confusion. "So you're trying to be like Mac?"

"Sort of." Mark shrugged. "I mean, we're supposed to have the same powers all of us. But Mac superceded us in a way even I really didn't expect. You know?" His green spotted ears flicked. "I guess I'm sort of jealous."

There was a short pause before Exveemon smiled innocently. "Oh, don't worry. That's perfectly understandable."

"Is it?" Mark asked. "I guess I'm just still sort of confused."

"Well..." Exveemon's voice trailed off a little bit. "Me too..." He added sheepishly.

The two of them continued on in silence for some time, just listening to the wheels under them as they traveled along. Exveemon had fallen asleep after a bit, stretching his arms out the other side of the cabin as his feet were propped up next to the wolf on his seat. Mark couldn't sleep, he was feeling far too excited to sleep. He looked out and wondered what kind of training he would be put through, he wanted nothing more than to match with his brother and transform alongside him. His mind wandered to Max, who had gone off to training with Sci, Bancholeomon and Bladeleomon, and what kind of progress they were facing together. It had been raining as they left the village, but with their help, the mons had been able to set up their huts so they weren't leaking for the time being. He kicked his feet up on the seat across from him as he settled down into his own.

"Hey." Exveemon interrupted his thoughts as he looked and saw his feet were almost directly in the Digimon's crotch. "Personal space." He said sternly, but cracked an unusually silly smile.

"Oop!" Mark exclaimed as he pulled his feet back. "Sorry, you're just taking up a lot of room."

"I can get back on top if you want me to..." Exveemon pointed upward.

"No, no. You're fine." Mark said. "I guess I'm just a little restless, maybe a little nervous..."

"Don't worry." Exveemon said with a sniff. "We're almost there."

"You can tell that by sniffing?"

The dragon nodded. "Yeah, it's a certain kind of smell you pick up. Kind of like the smell of a fresh cut lawn. I can just feel we'll be there soon."

"Ah, I see."

There was a subtle stop almost immediately after and Mark proclaimed his surprise. "Wow! I didn't realize we were that close."

"Huh?" Exveemon peered out the window. "We're not supposed to be there yet, we're still a good five miles from the grounds. Wonder what's going on."

The two pushed open the door to the carriage and to their surprise, spotted a familiar looking Weregarurumon standing on the other side of it.

"Matt!" The pair nearly jumped back as they said it together. "What are you doing here?" Exveemon finished the thought as the wolf pulled down the hood.

"Hey guys." Matt said. "We just happened to cross the same path to the training grounds." He said. "Mac insisted on coming to help." He turned with a squinting expression to the familiar shapes speaking with Magnamon on the front car.

"Trey came too?" Mark asked, noticing the Dorulumon standing next to him.

"Yeah, we were traveling together." Matt shrugged. "How are you guys holding up?"

"Nervous as hell." Mark chuckled.

"I'm doing good, have you seen my new form?" Exveemon flexed his arms with a furious "HUHHH!" which made Matt stifle a laugh. "It's pretty amazing isn't it?"

"Yes, it is." Matt said. "I'm impressed."

Exveemon smiled broadly. "Hee, I knew you would be."

"Hey guys." Mac said as he and Trey approached their car. "Guess we'll be travelling together to the grounds. You guys have any room in there?"

"I think we can make the room, bro." Mark said as he and Exveemon scooted to the side, allowing the pair to enter the car and sit down beside them. "I thought you guys would be headed back by now."

Mac shook his head. "Nah, I'd love to see what kind of training you'll be in for here." He said. "I'm sure it'll be pretty rigorous."

"Great." Mark said unenthusiastically.

"Aren't you excited?" Matt asked. "I would be, I mean come on. To have the kind of power you guys have?"

"It's not like it was handed to me either, I had to work for it just like you do." Mac said. "Just because I'm your kid brother doesn't mean I was better or more special than you."

"I know. I just..." Mark sighed. "I always feel like I'm in between you and Max's accomplishments is all."

The carriages started again and began to move forward, though this time on a slope that tilted the inner cabin only slightly to keep the passengers in their seats. "You shouldn't feel like that." Mac said. "I just got lucky, and I doubt Max has had much luck either, he's only started training."

"You're probably right." Mark said. "Maybe I can get a handle on it first for once." He winked as the carriage moved on a little faster now.

It took a little over twenty minutes until Mark noticed the vehicles came to a stop and the Digimon began to disembark. Mark climbed out first and when his feet met the ground it felt like it was weak to the point where it moved under him. "Whoa-ohh!" He exclaimed as he watched the ground ripple away from his feet like he'd just stepped onto a waterbed.

"Oh, you'll get used to it." Rapidmon said as he approached. "The gravity is a little different here. It affects the ground, warps it so you feel every vibration. It's supposed to teach you how to balance while at the same time giving you the support of a soft spot to land on if you're knocked down."

"That's really specific." Mark said as he observed the location.

The spot looked like a perfectly normal meadow. It was almost completely encompassed by forest except for the path they had come down and the immediate area they were now standing in. The grass was about ankle height, so not too long, but Mark began to question calling it grass when he bent down to pluck a blade and found that it stretched instead like a rubber band, snapping back into place as soon as he let it go. A cool breeze was coming down the hillside to their backs, and it made Mark's fur flutter with its chill. He shivered a bit, but then began to stretch his arms out to try and shake off the cold instead.

Magnamon and Rapidmon approached an old fire pit in the center of the immediate area and lit a fire that rapidly spread among the ashes, soon illuminating the pit and bringing an orange light to dance their shadows around. The glow also seemed to shine off their bodies as though they were absorbing power through the flames. Calmly, Mark approached the two of them, who turned to face him.

"Are you ready to begin your training Mark?" Rapidmon asked.

"I am."

"Then---defend yourself!"

Magnamon charged in first, it was like a blur against the dark night and the bright fire. Instantly it seemed he was next to Mark and bringing a fist across the wolf's jaw. Mark had no warning, but still he managed to block the first blow. The second; coming from the dragon's foot, was a little more unexpected and he was thrown back ten feet from the impact. He hit the ground and rolled backward and bounced back to his feet. Rapidmon was next as he brought his gun arm up and began to shoot a volley at him. Mark dodged, using his natural canine reflexes, but each shot was too close and by the time he recovered from the gunfire, he met Rapidmon's tackling shoulder, that knocked him back another few feet.

"Come on, Mark!" Mac shouted from the sidelines. "Keep light on your feet, try to transform!"

Mark barely heard his brother's words as he readied himself into an attack pose. His hands sparked as he rushed the other two Digimon. Magnamon easily dodged Mark's flying kick then deflected his blows as Rapidmon came in from the other side. Mark ducked back and blocked as both of them tried to strike him in the center, there was a flash of energy but he still failed to produce enough power to block the followup strike from the both of them, which knocked him up into the air. Immediately, Magnamon threw himself into the air and struck Mark several times with a flurry of attacks, kicking him away as Rapidmon lined up a shot and blasted the wolf. The explosion was immense and threw Mark back almost twenty yards before he came crashing back to the ground. As they said, the ground softened the blow, but the grass made a wave about as tall as Matt's height before disappearing.

"Nnnh..." Mark grunted a bit and groaned as he got up, dazed from the onslaught.

"Mark--" Mac started for him, but was surprised to feel Trey's hand grab his wrist.

"No Mac. You need to keep resting, you can't get involved now..."

"Hang on Trey." Matt said as he stepped in and grabbed Mac's other arm and tried to pull him away. "Maybe two against two would be better odds. I mean, Mac's got to keep training his new powers anyway..."

"But Mark's got to learn his own powers, he can't just rely on his brother to come in and help whenever he gets in trouble--"

"He's not relying on anything, we're just evening up the odds a little. Come on, Mac..."

Again, Trey pulled back on Mac's arm. "No, no, no. You don't get it, Mac didn't need his brothers' help when he transformed, all he needs to do is wait for it to happen--"

"Wrong, brother. I don't know what you're talking about, but Mark's taking a huge beating out there. I think he should help and train a little bit--"

"ENOUGH!" Mac roared, throwing his arms back and pulling them out of the brothers' hands. "You two need to quit arguing with each other and apologize and stop pushing me around the middle while you're at it!"

The pair went silent as Mac stormed past them and toward Mark, who was just getting off the ground. Extending his hand, he pulled Mark back to his feet. "Hey b-bro..." Mark said, putting a hand to his forehead. "They're really letting me have it, aren't they?"

Mac smirked. "Well, you did volunteer for it." He said. "It's nothing amazing to transform like I did, once I got it, it became easy to understand. Our powers work from our emotions. The more balanced our state of mind is..." He poked a finger against Mark's forehead. "Then the more power we produce from the heart." He did the same motion to the center of the wolf's chest. "You understand?"

Despite the look of confusion that drained off the wolf's face, he still nodded. "I think so..." He said.

*BOOM*

The sound of something exploding jarred their senses from concentrating on the sparring and turned the entire group's attention to the forest. As they watched, they could see flames rising from the trees. If it were to spread, they would all be in danger.

"The forest!" Exveemon exclaimed.

"What happened!?"

"Everyone up here!" A familiar voice came from overhead called their attention to Omnimon, who had come in out of nowhere.

"Omnimon? What are you doing here?" Magnamon asked as the powerful Digimon settled down onto the ground.

Omnimon's gaze was set toward the gape in the forest treeline. "Look." He said. "I sensed the disturbance from miles away, the destruction has been getting greater..."

Looking back toward the forest, Mac took a step forward as he saw a figure emerging from the forest. His armor was shining off the moonlight above, but it didn't provide much illumination to the already black armor. "Who is--" He pondered for a moment.

As the being came closer, the sound of his metal treads stomping on the ground could be more clearly deciphered, a massive round shield attached to his left arm a long joust in place of his right. His identity had become much clearer as Magnamon pointed out. "Gallantmon?"

"No..." Matt said. "Not completely."

"ChaosGallantmon!" Mark exclaimed as the armored Mega Digimon came toward them, his pace quickening as he lowered his body and charged at the fire.

"RAAAAAAHHHHH!" He roared furiously as he swung at the group. Everyone leaped and rolled out of the way, but realized only a second later that he wasn't aiming at them in particular, but the fire he slashed through suddenly exploded into multiple fiery spirits that then chased after them.

Magnamon landed on the grass as the fire creature attacked him. He reached his arms up and blocked its attack before realizing that it looked exactly like him. He gasped and threw his body weight forward, pushing it back. It hissed at him and its claws burned into his wrists. "Ahh! These things are as strong as we are!"

Swinging his arm to summon his sword, Mac noticed that the fire apparition didn't create one. "Matt! Trey! De-digivolve! Now!"

"What?" Matt grunted as he was wrestled down by his Weregarurumon fire form.

"Do it!"

Both of the Digimon immediately changed back to their normal forms, as a reaction, the two fires also transformed. No longer Digimon, Omnimon easily obliterated them with a sweep of his sword, allowing Matt and Trey to get up again. Magnamon and Rapidmon both came in at the dark Gallantmon but he simply raised his shield and deflected their attacks off him, sending them flying in another direction. "I'll show you!" Exveemon exclaimed as he descended down on Gallantmon with a punch to his shield as he landed. "Take that! And that!"

"Pathetic gnat." Chaosgallantmon said as he swiped his weapon and knocked Exveemon off his feet. "You will not deter me from my mission. I was ordered by Piedmon to destroy the village which you protect, and I will destroy it!" He looked down at Mark, who had run up to face him. "None shall stop me, least of all, you pathetic wolves." He raised his spear and brought it down toward Mark. Mark didn't flinch, but was surprised as Omnimon took the blow and tried to force Gallantmon back.

"Mark! Go!" He shouted at the wolf. "Your brother and I will fend off Chaosgallantmon, you and Exveemon must go to the village and ensure they are evacuated before his fires can reach it!" Suddenly, the large Digimon was swatted by the dark beast and knocked back as Mac joined in the fight, using his sword to hack and slash at the monstrosity.

"Mac! I'll help!" Mark shouted.

"No! Omnimon is right, you need to get out of danger and help the village!"

Mark growled at this direction; they were miles from the village, there would be no way Gallantmon would reach it on foot so easily, not if he were facing all of them.

"AHH!" Mac grunted as he was swiped aside and Chaosgallantmon stormed in the direction he had been heading.

"Stop this!" Mark shouted as he propelled himself into the air to strike the Digimon back.

"Away, pest." He said, simply shrugging the wolf's attack off and sending him into the ground. "You are of no challenge to me, I have a task to complete!"

"Mark! Go!" Mac recovered and jumped back into the fray.

"Weregarurumon!"

"Dorulumon!"

Trey and Matt jumped in, now able to Digivolve again, they attacked ChaosGallantmon as well, but he was like a tank in motion, continuing to move even at the odds stacking up to slow him down.

"You must ensure the villagers remain safe!" Omnimon shouted at the two of them. "You're not powerful enough yet to fight him, go!"

Exveemon took off like a shot, flying up into the air as Mark glanced and realized that he was being brushed off for not being strong enough, he too ran back in the direction of the village.

How could they think Mark wasn't strong enough? Just because he hadn't been able to attain his ultimate form didn't mean he would be useless in a fight... but as he looked back and watched Omnimon with his arms around the large Digimon's body, all of his friends lighting up the night with their attacks, but he continued to move in the same direction, he realized that there was more at stake here than ever.

Reaching the top of the hillside, he knew he had a chance to get back faster and Mark kicked off the ground hard, entering a semi-flying state. He bounded and felt the power of his Saiyan powers wrap around him. It wasn't his complete power, but it would be enough. After six or seven enormous bounds, he could see the village under the glow of the moonlight. Candles lit in some of the windows while torches along the exterior told him that Exveemon had made it there first, hitting the ground running, Mark ran to the gate where the Digimon was waiting, Sci, Bladeleomon and Bancholeomon were also nearby. Their looks as sullen as Exveemon's as Mark approached.

"What's going on? Where's Max?" He asked.

"Max... went dark with his power activation." Sci said softly. "He is no longer here..."

"What? Max activated his powers and disappeared? Where does that leave us?"

There was the sound of something that whistled through the air as a powerful blast hit the walls of the village, causing everything to shake around them. Looking toward the dark woods, Mark could see the familiar gaze of ChaosGallantmon making his way toward them as Mac, Matt and Trey hung off of him trying to slow him down by whatever means possible. Even Magnamon and Rapidmon continually blasted him with their attacks, but the shots bounced off. Anger seethed through Mark's body as his fur began to glow with his Saiyan power.

"Piedmon... Myotismon... masters have demanded that I destroy your village." He said, raising his weapon. "Chaos Shot!" He roared as he jabbed his spear outward and black bolts of energy fired from the tip.

Like mortar, the blasts hit the village's wall with extremely loud screams of energy that flew right past Mark's head. He cringed, still shocked and afraid of the chance of being struck, but all the bolts missed him by inches. He growled and tightened his fists, full of a renewed resolve. "You're not taking this village!" He shouted before leaping into the air and aiming his attacks down on the attacking Digimon. "HYAAHHHHHH!" His cry echoed as he came down, just short of the warrior. He punched, but ChaosGallantmon's shield easily deflected the punch, making Mark cry out in pain as he was kicked backwards and away from the attacker's onslaught.

"Pathetic. Do you think I would fall to someone so weak?" He asked, his voice echoing darkly as he spoke. "You will not stop me from my task."

"How about us?" Bladeleomon's voice seemed to come out of nowhere as the glisten of his swords in the darkness suddenly illuminated the warrior's attention. ChaosGallantmon began to duck and avoid Blade's attack but was sucker punched from below as Bancholeomon ascended with a painful uppercut, putting the villain's face back into the line of fire.

"HNN!" Gallantmon grunted as he went rigid and felt the sting of Bladeleomon's swords coming down onto his neck. The swords made a clang as they connected, but did not damage his armor in the slightest.

"Thousand Spells!" Sci called out to activate his attack. Instantly sigils of light surrounded the warrior and wrapped him from head to toe in them before suddenly setting off an explosion so powerful that it even scooted Mark back three feet, but the explosions did not phase Gallantmon.

"No!" Magnamon exclaimed.

"It didn't even phase him, brother what are we going to do?" Exveemon added as he took a step back from this unstoppable force.

"Tri-beam!" Rapidmon shouted as he threw his arms out to create a triangle of light that shot from his many blasters. It encroached quickly on ChaosGallantmon but he simply raised his shield and deflected the attack. "That's--not possible!" He shouted as he came back to the ground. "That blast should have been able to disassemble anything in its path! His shield is intact!"

"I must do as I have been commanded..." Gallantmon repeated as he deflected Bladeleomon's followup attack.

"V-Laser!" Exveemon cried out, charging up the energy in his chest and blasting a laser at the Gallantmon. Again, he deflected the blast with his shield.

"You fools are giving me the power I need..." ChaosGallantmon said, just barely audible above the attacks.

"King Lion!" Another blast from Bancholeomon which was again deflected by the shield.

"We're not phasing him!"

Suddenly, Mark noticed the energy buildup in the shield. "Stop! Guys! Stop attacking him, he's absorbing your spells!"

"Fools!" The voice of Myotismon suddenly rang out as the looming clouds of a thunderstorm approached. "You shall be your own destructors! ChaosGallantmon! Do it now!"

The glowing shield came forward as everyone else was thrown back, Mac jumped in between Mark and the warrior. Summoning his sword again, Mac began to form a barrier of light that incredibly began to surround the village.

"HA!" ChaosGallantmon exclaimed, unleashing what looked like a lightning bolt of energy that hit the barrier.

Mac grunted and crumbled to his knees as the bolt hit, it was so much power that the wall began to develop cracks in them. "He's... strong." He said. "One more shot like that and the village is done for!"

"What do we do?" Mark asked, placing a hand on Mac's shoulder.

Mac turned to his brother and smirked. "Only one thing to do, if that blast comes through I'm going to need to take it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Digivice within. "Hey promise me something, will you?"

"Mac?" Mark said, unsure of his brother's thoughts.

Mac placed the Digivice into Mark's hand. It flashed for a moment, then again went dark. He turned to see the others, trying to deflect or interrupt ChaosGallantmon's attack, but it only seemed to make him even stronger. Turning back to his brother, he smiled. "Hold onto that for a little bit, okay, bro?" He asked. "You're my big brother, so I'm trusting you with it."

"What are you--?" Mark was surprised as his brother hugged him.

"I'll be back for it soon, I just need you to keep an eye on it." He said before finally turning to face ChaosGallantmon. "Come on Gallantmon! See if you can get that blast through me!" He said as he formed a field around himself that was so strong even the incoming tackle from Exveemon knocked him back. The force was strong enough to blow everyone off the Digimon's back, leaving only the two of them on the battlefield.

"Shield of the Injust!" ChaosGallantmon roared with so much force that the air around him shot out like a tornado as the blast was launched from the shield, streaming in a straight line for the village behind Mac.

Mac crouched down, collapsing the field around him into a single, powerful barrier.

The connection didn't make any type of sound for a whole second, and then the explosion was powerful enough to send everyone flying backwards as though they were caught in a gale force tornado. The wall of the village managed to hold up after some loud clattering noise but the blinding light that filled the area made no evidence of that either as the explosion spread out and out further away from the impact, The radius of the explosion rippled around where Mac stood and he was suddenly blown away, vanishing from sight completely.

"Mac! No!" Mark exclaimed, unable to move due to the sheer forces at work.

Soon, the explosion cleared and the ringing in everyone's head subsided. ChaosGallantmon was the only one still standing after the strike, though he looked considerably weakened by the experience. To his shock, the village remained in one piece, despite the fact everyone else was strewn across the ground. He tried to take a step forward, but found his leg weak and crumbled to one knee, exhausted. "H-How is this possible?" He asked aloud. "I was... invincible... but now... my power is drained."

"You fool! You've used your energy on the attack and the wolf interfered!" Piedmon now shouted from the heavens. "Return at once ChaosGallantmon, we will try again, and you will be punished for your failure."

The cringe on Gallantmon's expression was absolute. But while everyone else was recovering, he managed to get back to his feet. "You think you've won..." He said. "But your most powerful ally has been destroyed!" He pointed out. "When you see me next... you... and your village shall finally be obliterated..." His words faded almost as rapidly as he did, and ChaosGallantmon vanished into the shadows that he'd earlier emerged from.

"No! Mac! Mac! Where are you!?" Mark shouted, getting back to his feet and running to the spot of warmth where Mac stood not two minutes before.

The fallout from the blast left a wide trail of destruction in the hills behind the village. Mac took the blast and directed it toward the mountains, that had to be where he was...

Mark joined the others, despite their worries of what they might find, he had to know where his brother was, even if the worst had happened...

"Guys! Over here!" A voice brought a sense of hope and dread to Mark as Magnamon shouted it out and the others began to rush to the spot.

The blast had gone nearly all the way up the mountain, leaving a wake of destruction in its path. Trees burned, still on fire, or missing entirely in the furious forces that had sent Mac up the hill. A massive explosive mark of black in the side of the mountain just two hundred feet under the summit seemed to be the last sign of the blast, but Mac was nowhere to be seen.

After what seemed like hours, Mark too had gone missing. Trey and Matt eventually found him, sitting alone in the crater that appeared to be Mac's ultimate fate. His hand clutching to the Digivice he was given.

"Mark? What are you doing here?" Matt asked.

"We're going to find him, don't worry." Trey said. "Why don't you get some rest?"

"Rest?" Mark said, glaring at the two of them. "I am not going to rest until the fiends responsible for this pay for what they've done!" He clenched the Digivice tighter, causing a surge of blue light to swirl around his hand. "I don't care how much training it takes..." He said, ignoring the expressions of surprise from the other two. "But I am going to avenge Mac for this! He gave me the one thing he cares about most in this world and I will make sure we find him one way or another... Myotismon and Piedmon are going to pay!"

There was a brief pause before Matt spoke up. "Oh hey, Mark? I think your training is complete..." He pointed out.

Gasping, Mark looked down at himself to find that he had finally changed into the super Saiyan that his brother had been able to. Holding onto the pain, the fear and the determination to avenge his brother had allowed him to finally unlock his new form. Again he reaffirmed his grip on the Digivice. "I will avenge you, brothers... I swear it!