Chapter 7: Towards the Great Digital Plain:

With the sun already up, Impmon, just waking up, blushed when he opened his eyes to find BlackRenamon snuggling against his chest, nuzzling her head against his body a little.

'Man, she is definitely more my type than Renamon.' Impmon thought as he gently stroke BlackRenamon's head, making the black furred vixen purr softly, which Impmon admitted was a little bit cute, but quickly stopped when BlackRenamon then moaned and opened her eyes.

Staring up at him, Impmon smiled.

"Morning toots." He greeted, making BlackRenamon blush from her actions, the name Impmon had called her, as well as the position she was in.

"Oh morning..." BlackRenamon then managed to say, blushing as she rose up and tried to explain herself. "Sorry. I was feeling a little lonely when I woke up, then I saw you, and I... I couldn't help myself..."

"It's alright. I don't mind." Impmon replied, continuing to show his kinder side to BlackRenamon.

"Plus, you do look cute when you are sleeping." Impmon then said, turning away as he blushed, wondering why he had said such a sappy thing, while BlackRenamon took Impmon's words as a compliment, to which she was about to reply, unsure what to say, but would say what was in her heart over her head, only for a voice to alert them and the others."Everyone, wake up!"

Emerging from their tents, everyone saw Rika and Renamon standing just outside the campsite, where Calumon asked with a tone of curiosity and worry. "What is it, Rika? What's wrong?"

"Guilmon's gone!" Rika replied, before thinking aloud. "He must have gone after BlackGuilmon again!"

"Figures he would do something like that." Impmon sighed with closed eyes and crossed arms, knowing Guilmon was letting his emotions consume him, but couldn't blame Guilmon, for he remembered feeling similar when he first Digivolved to Beelzemon and was tasked with taking down the Tamers.

"But we know where he is heading." Rika then said, making Renamon nod and say. "The Great Digital Plains"

"The Great Digital Plains? That's a very dangerous and scary place." Calumon replied, which Jeri, seeing Calumon getting upset, picked him up and gently held the Catalyst Digimon close to her, before saying. "Maybe so, but that is where we should be heading."

And while the others were in agreement with Jeri, Takato just remained silent, feeling he had lost his partner forever.

"Takato." Renamon said gently, making the brunette look up at her.

"Don't think he'll be gone forever. If we leave now, we can catch him." She told him in an assuring tone, trying to make the boy feel better and regain the undying determination that made up Takato.

However, Takato remained solemn.

"But he left us behind. He doesn't care about us now." He said, his gaze moving away from Renamon and back to the ground, allowing his negative emotions to get the better of him.

Hating seeing Takato so distraught, Rika couldn't take anymore and snapped at him.

"C'mon Gogglehead, snap out of it! Guilmon needs you. Without you he cannot Biomerge. And the only one who can bring him to the light is you" The Nonaka said, sounding both annoyed and concerned simultaneously, making Takato look at Rika in awe and took in every word she said.

"She's right, Takato." Renamon then added, standing proudly beside Rika and said. "You taught us how team work really meant and now our turn to help you."

Feeling that the combination of Renamon's kindness and Rika's yelling was just the kick he needed, making Takato smile and rise with a more confident stride.

"Thank you. I had almost given up hope on him, but no matter what happens, we've still got each other backs." Takato then said, feeling his role as a Digimon Tamer and leader take over as he faced his team and smiled.

"Come on. Let's go find him."

About to leave, Takato stopped when he noticed the flower Renamon was still holding, making him realise something.

"He gave you that didn't he?" He asked, which made Renamon nod silently.

"Yeah. He gave me this before he left, which led me to believe the friendly side of him is still inside of him somewhere." Renamon then said as she smiled, then saying with confidence. "And I am not leaving him. I love him and I am going to stand by his side."

"You love him?" Rika asked, surprised, but was interrupted when Takato smiled and said. "Then let's go be by his side. Let us pack up and go straight after him."

"Right." The Tamers replied, doing as their leader had commanded, while Renamon remained in place, held the flower close to her heart and thought. 'Guilmon, be strong. We are coming.'

-Meanwhile-

Reaching the edge of the Great Digital Plains, Guilmon walked slowly, only to be blocked off by black versions of Agumon, Gabumon, Veemon and Impmon, to which he drew his blade for battle, but stopped when a familiar voice called out from the sky. "Leave him."

"This one is mine. Let him through." The voice commanded, making Guilmon snarl, knowing the voice belonged to BlackGuilmon.

The black copies obeyed and moved aside, allowing Guilmon to move past and towards the plain, where Guilmon walked across a bare digital field, noticing the floor was blue and looked digital, the sky was dark green, while bolts of blue and purple lightning came striking down.

But even with the abnormalities, Guilmon walked on till he saw his enemy standing before him.

As if he had predicated his arrival, BlackGuilmon turned around to face him.

"So you decided to come alone?" BlackGuilmon asked, turning to face Guilmon, where he then said. "But I am glad you did. If anyone else interfered, my mastermind plan cannot be completed. All I acquire is your death."

Guilmon scowled, feeling BlackGuilmon was hiding something, but kept silent as he watched his corrupt side approach him.

"This sword I wield is my ultimate plan. I used it to absorb the souls of countless Digimon I destroyed in battle into this blade. And once I kill you and absorb your soul, it will be complete." BlackGuilmon said, making Guilmon brace himself and say in reply. "I've got a better idea. How about I destroy you both?"

BlackGuilmon cackled at Guilmon words, amused by the pathetic attempt to be a lone hero and said. "You think you can stop me? Don't forget that I was born from you. The only thing that makes us different is I don't need others to help me gain power."

"I know, and that is why it's my duty to defeat you." Guilmon replied, before saying. "Whatever it takes, anything to save Renamon and the others."

"Hmph. You still cherish them, even though you're fighting me alone?" BlackGuilmon mocked.

"Don't look down on me. I haven't been training hard to let it all go to waste." Guilmon said back in reply.

"Now if you're so confident in your own blade, come and try to take my soul!" He then said, making BlackGuilmon smirk as he held his blade, just as lightning struck again, before Guilmon leapt towards his dark side, where both swung their swords, which clashed against each other in a powerful blow, leading to an all out battle between the Guilmons

The two continued to clash their swords back and forth, before BlackGuilmon swung his sword with force, though Guilmon blocked it with his sword and was send back where he landed on his feet and saw his black self charged at him, but then swung his sword, making him block it, but was still send flying back for another time.

And after Guilmon recovered, he and BlackGuilmon charged and clashed again, where their swords locked in a stalemate.

"You have improved... just a little." BlackGuilmon admitted, but then smirked and asked. "But you think that be enough to stop me?"

"Enough of your babbling. Let's finish this!" Guilmon snapped back as he broke BlackGuilmon's defence and kicked his dark half in the chest, causing BlackGuilmon to skid back, but glared at Guilmon, who charged at him, to which BlackGuilmon mimicked Guilmon and charged back, the world slowed as they neared each other.

-Outside-

"We're approaching the Great Digital Plains!" Henry called as all the Tamers and Digimon headed towards their destination.

But before they could reach the Digital Plains, the Black Digimon blocked the path once again, shocking BlackRenamon at seeing the black Digimon like her.

"This is not good." BlackRenamon said, before explaining. "These Digimon were also created by BlackGuilmon, but unlike me they are willing to serve him."

"Then we have to deal with them first." Impmon said, stepping forward, where he then added. "But we'll create an opening so Takato, Rika and Renamon can go after Guilmon. They are the best ones to help him."

"You sure you guys will be alright by your own?" Takato asked, but was interrupted when the black Digimon were each enveloped in darkness, Dark Digivolving to BlackWarGreymon, BlackMetalGarurumon, DarkFlamedramon and DesBeelzemon.

"We'll be fine." Terriermon answered for the others, before standing beside Impmon and saying. "You've gotta hurry towards Guilmon and destroy BlackGuilmon. Go!"

While knowing the dark forms of the Digimon in their way were tough, Takato, Rika and Renamon knew their friends were just as powerful and had faith in them, making them nod and run past them, towards the Plains.

And seeing they had Digimon to fight, the black Digimon chose not to chase Takato and the girls, but to destroy Impmon, Terriermon, the traitor of their group and her new allies, who all braced themselves as they prepared to take down the dark Digimon.