Okay, I know that this story is going a bit fast-paced, and the characters are all evolving quickly, but don't worry. After this point, it will go much slower, and I'll have a few chapters for relaxation/humor stuff. Can't keep the gang on their toes the whole time!
So here's your chapter, I guess.

Chapter Nine: The Ultimate Goal!

` Dallas sat atop Trailmon, waiting as patiently as he could for the Machine Digimon to make its way along the energy rail they rode.
` "Trailmon?" He asked.
` "Yes, Dallas?"
` "Are we there yet?"
` "No."
` "Okay"
` Dallas swung his legs back and forth, feeling the breeze as it whipped through his hair. It really was beautiful up here. When he was flying on Phasedramon, things were much faster-paced. But now they chugged along as though they were riding a cloud.
` "Trailmon?"
` "Yes, Dallas?" Trailmon asked with a bit of exhasperation.
` "Do you think your Ultimate form will be the same as the other Lepumon's?"
` "I hope not."
` "Why?"
` "Because I'm not really into swimming and water-type things like that."
` "But you blow magic bubbles."
` "That's different."
` "How so?"
` Trailmon gave an obvious sigh of annoyance. "It just is, okay? What's with all the questioning, anyway? You don't sound like yourself."
` "I don't know" Dallas replied. "I guess this all just seems so surreal to me."
` "This dimension, or the Digital World in general?"
` "Exactly."
` Trailmon sighed once more. "Maybe you should go sit with the others. That might help calm your nerves."
` "Good idea, I guess" Dallas nodded. He slipped down a metal hatch and returned to the compartment where the others sat.
` "Ah, Dallas" Jason greeted. "Other Dallas and I were just making plans about what we're going to do when we reach the temple."
` Dallas sat down with them, noting that Patamon and D Lepumon were playing some kind of game on paper. "Well, clue me in."
` AU sat up from scribbling on a piece of paper. "Well, as soon as we've all rested up a bit at the temple, we'll start the training regime. You and Lepumon will train against us, and I will be planning different excercises to help you."
` "That's it?" Dallas asked. "No special power sources, no chance events? We just do some training and Lepumon can go Ultimate?"
` AU nodded. "With the bond you two share, I doubt you need anything else. We'll take a day to rest, and we'll begin the training at six tomorrow morning."
` "Tomorrow?" Dallas complained. "That might give Tsukaimon time to find an Ultimate to open the gate himself!"
` "Nonsense" AU shook his head.
` "We figure that since Tsukaimon is from another dimension, his reputation will mean nothing in this world. It'll be difficult for him to even enlist Rookies to his cause, much less an Ultimate." Jason laughed. "So we could have as long as a month for your training!"
` Dallas frowned. "It still seems like a risk I don't want to take..."
` "Spoken like a true warrior, always expecting the worst so you wont be surprised if it happens" AU nodded. "But I really think Jason's got the right idea here. Your worries are irrational."
` Dallas nodded. "I guess that makes sense. I just feel like a huge bundle of nerves right now. I even started to bug Trailmon so much he sent me back here!"
` AU put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll be back in your dimension before you know it!"

` At that moment, the speakers went on, and the others could hear Trailmon's voice.
` "Folks, we'd like to inform you that we are approaching the Temple of Dimensions. At this time, we reccomend that you stow all personal belongings, as we may feel a bit of shaking as I figure out how to land this thing. Thank you for riding Air Trailmon, and we hope to see you in one piece at the Temple of Dimensions."
` The three looked at each-other, then immediately began to search the benches for seatbelts. Too late, Trailmon came to a rought landing on rocks, jostling both Tamers and Digimon from their seats. When the movement stopped, Trailmon reverted into Lepumon.
` "Wow" he panted. "Staying in digivolved form for so long is pretty tiring."
` He turned to see the others lying on the ground gasping for breath. "Oops. I guess I'm not very good at this yet."
` "It's fine" Dallas nodded, making sure his arm wasn't broken. "You'll get used to it. Probably."
` Jason straightened up and inspected the area. They appeared to be on a huge stone platform held up by some unknown force. In the center, a large tower rose up into the sky. It resembled an egyptian obelisk, four walls reaching up to the sky. Near the top, it tapered off into a sharp point, where a faint purple glow shone.
` "We made it, though" Jason pointed out to the others.
` "Yep" AU nodded. "This is definitely the temple."
` "It's so tall!" Patamon marveled. "How can people not notice it?"
` "They say there is really only one Temple of Dimensions, and it floats in the ocean somewhere. The Tempia Stone anchors it in the same spot in every dimension, but from below it just looks like air." D Lepumon replied.
` "Then flying Digimon could still see it, right?" Dallas's Lepumon guessed.
` "Not at all" AU Dallas shook his head. "We're so high up that any other Digimon wouldn't be able to use the thin air to fly. The pushing of their wings against the air renerates lift, so if it's too thin, they fall. That's why you have to use the Rail of Light, or else you'd fall. It's also the reason why birds on earth can't fly into space or anything like that."
` "I thought you didn't know anything about this place" Jason pointed out.
` "I'm just making assumptions" AU Dallas explained. "Normally, we wouldn't be able to breathe here either, but since the temple exists in a pocket dimension, it uses its own air, even if the space around it doesn't." He inhaled deeply. "We're breathing the air of another dimension. How does it feel?"
` "Umm... airy?" Patamon guessed. AU facepalmed.
` Jason noticed Dallas standing off to the side, staring at his digivice. "Dallas? What are you doing?"
` Dallas turned. "Ever since Lepumon reverted to normal, my digivice's screen is going all weird." he showed Jason the screen, where rows of pulsating lights were flashing. "I think it's trying to process the Digi-egg being inside it."
` Jason pulled out his own digivice and saw the same thing. Suddenly, the lights stopped, and an electronic voice issued from it.
"Alternate dimension evolution method accepted" the voice informed him. "Digivolution has been synchronized."
` "The Digi-Eggs must have allowed our digivices to adjust to this dimension" Dallas decided. "That must mean our Digimon can digivolve to Champion again!"
` The two cheered, moving back over to the others. AU Dallas was checking his pack for all their inventory.
` "I say we go explore the temple before we train, to make sure we can properly defend the temple if needed." AU Dallas informed the others. They nodded in agreement. AU packed away everything he'd gotten out, and the group took off toward the temple.

-X-

` "This place sure is tall" Lepumon puffed. "We must have gone up a zillion stairs by now!"
` "Lepumon, we're only on the third floor" Dallas pointed out.
` Lepumon gaped at him. "Will the torture never end?"
` D Lepumon laughed. "C'mon, brother. It's not that bad."
` Lepumon tripped over a candlestick lying on the ground. "Well I hate the stairs so much, I just want to float up in a little bubble and never have to climb them again."
` The humans ignored Lepumon's griping, looking around in awe at the new room. The stairs were designed so that each room had to be crossed before reaching the next set.
` "I feel like we should be praying or something" Jason noted. "Or at least being quiet. It IS a temple, after all."
` "But it's a Digimon temple" Dallas pointed out. "So I think we're exempt."
` They hit the next set of stairs, and Lepumon let out a groan of protest.
` "That's it" he clamored "The next window we reach, I'm jumping out. Have fun walking up this monster of a tower."
` "You're so lazy" Dallas joked.
` "Me?" Lepumon cried in fake shock. "You're the one who always wants to just fly everywhere! On MY back, by the way. I flew you guys a good 'hundred miles once!"
` "But only because we were being chased by an evil slaver's one loyal subject" Dallas retorted. "Plus, you're, like, the fastest thing in the sky! It only took us thirty minutes!"
` "That's it" Lepumon growled, reaching a window. "You're coming with me!" He bounced onto the ledge, grabbed Dallas by the hood of his jacket, and they both tumbled out the window.
` "Dallas!" Jason cried in shock. He rushed to the gap just in time to see partner and Digimon floating upward within a giant blue bubble.
` "Have a nice climb!" Lepumon called.
` AU and Jason just stared for a moment. Patamon leapt onto Jason's head and declared "That's my idea of travel. I'm goming too!" He leapt out, pushing his way into the bubble.
` Jason, not to be left out, leapt after Patamon. He barely made it as the bubble floated up out of sight.

` AU looked down at his partner, then at the stairs. They were just above the third floor, and the tower went up for miles.
` "Crud" he muttered, before returning to the climb.

-X-

` Dallas had just woken up from his four-hour nap when he heard the ragged panting of the two partners cresting the last step.
` "We...made it..." AU puffed. "It took all morning, but we made it!"
` "Did you have a nice climb?" Dallas asked mockingly. AU's only reply was to slam his fist into his look-alike's face. The poor boy shrieked as he collapsed.
` "He's my double" AU explained to a stunned Jason. "So I have no regrets."
` Jason shrugged. "Whatever. Maybe you can help me make sense of this door instead of falling asleep like a dead yam."
` "That's a horrible simile" Dallas growled, trying to stem the flow of blood from his nose. "Everyone knows I'm much more charismatic than a yam."
` "But your looks are about the same" Jason retorted.
` AU was not listening to their argument. He was gazing at the top landing. A huge construct resembling an amphitheater was a few yards away, descending down steps until reaching a pedastal in the middle. On either side of said pedastal were two giant quartz double-pyramids balanced on their tips (imagine two pyramids with their square faces glued together).
` "I'm guessing that we're supposed to do something here to to get up there-" AU pointed toward the purple sphere in the sky "-where the Tempia Stone is. But what's the trick?"
` "Those rocks look like they might help" D Lepumon noted, looking up at the crystal structures. "They kinda look like prisms."
` AU grinned. "And prisms reflect light!"
# "So then it stands to reason..." Jason added, walking over to the prisms "...That if we shoot beams of light through each one, something will happen!"
` "Alright" Dallas pulled out his digivice. "Patamon and I each have forms that can use light-based attacks. Let's do this!"

DIGIVOLUTION/SPIRIT EVOLUTION ONLINE #
` "Patamon, Digivolve to... Angemon!"
` "Execute, Spirit Evolution! Djinnmon!"
` The two Digimon landed in a cloud of data. AU Dallas looked on, surprised.
` "I can't do that" he noted, gazing at Djinnmon.
` "Let's do this!" Angemon declared, flying over to one of the prisms."Hand of Fate!" The beam of light shot forth, hitting the prism and flashind across the way. It hit the second pedestal with no apparent effect.
` "We have to fire at the same time" Djinnmon decided. He prepared his sword, charging it with energy. "Shooting Star!" he fired a brillian star-shaped beam from his sword.
` "Hand of Fate!" The light beam raced toward it.
` The two techniques met dead-center. Immediately, the prisms lit up, sustaining the beams on their own.
` Between said beams, the area above the pedestal began to flash. A violet light came down from the sphere above, turning the contact point a deep violet. Finally, this formed into the shape of a doorway.
` "That's a pretty awesome way to open a door." Lepumon noted.
` Djinnmon chuckled as he became Dallas again. "You said it! But I feel like I just dug a tunnel to Mars, that was so exhausting!"
` Jason frowned. "But you've been sleeping all morning."
` Dallas waved a hand in dismisal. "How about you go chech things out, Jason. I'll stay here for a minute, and other me will keep me company."
` Jason shrugged. "Alright. If you wanna give up your chance to be first to see the Tempia Stone, be my guest." He turned and stepped through the portal, all the Digimon following him.
` AU sat down next to his lookalike. "Patamon didn't look tired at all, so what's up with you?"
` Dallas frowned. "I lied. I need to ask you something in private."
` AU frowned. "Alright, if it's so secret that your best friend can't hear, then ask whatever you need to."
` Dallas took a deep breath. "Is my father still alive in this dimension?"
` AU froze up. "Not that question, Dallas. That's the one thing I can't answer."
` "So you don't know" Dallas deduced.
` AU shook his head. "I know. I know exactly whether he's dead or alive. But I'm not the one who can answer that question."
` "Please" Dallas begged. "I need to know."
` AU frowned. "Time and Space are confusing things. What happens in one world could come five years later in another."
` "Alternate Realities" Dallas nodded. "Infinite as grains of sand on the beach. Just like Mr. Matsuki explained."
` AU stood up. "I'm sorry I can't tell you, Dallas. But you must figure this one out on your own. There is an order to things."
` Dallas nodded. "I understand. Thank you." He turned to the doorway. "So, what say we take a look at a magic rock?"
` AU smirked. "It's not magic. It's a disturbance created due to quantum anomalies within the stone, creating a ripple in the dimensions and forming a bridge to where you want to go."
` Dallas simply stared. "I didn't understand a word you just said."
AU just laughed. "Let's go."

-X-

` Tsukaimon was easilly angered. Even HE would admit that. Despite trying to act cool and calculating, some things really made him mad.
` Things such as the Orochimon sitting before him.
` "Whaddya mean nobody is going to help me?!" He demanded. "I am a member of the Dark Legions, servant of the great Lord of Wrath. You can't just say nobody will listen!"
` Orochimon's multiple snake heads seemed close to boredom as he waited for the Rookie to finish his rant. "You may think you're some big important general in your world, but here nobody has even heard of the Dark Legions. Trying to coerce others into helping you by saying you're a member of an organization that doesn't exist isn't exactly the right tactic."
` "But it DOES exist!" Tsukaimon insisted.
` "And I believe you" Orochimon replied. "There are many things in the Digital World that its inhabitants do not understand. But I am not like the others. I am not even from this world."
` Tsukaimon frowned. "What exactly are you implying?"
` "I'm saying that I came here from a different dimension. Your dimension, in fact. I am one of the few people on the planet who know of your little empire."
` Impmon smirked from a nearby corner. "So if you believe us, why don't you help us get to that temple? You're an Ultimate, and we could definitely use your help."
` "It's not that simple" Orochimon insisted. "I may be able to help, but first you need a way to get to the temple in the first place. I know of its location, but there is only one way we can get to it-space travel."
` Tsukaimon took a second to process this, then groaned. "Aw crud! They're still around in this universe?"
` "Who?" Goblimon asked.
` "The Starmon Corps" Tsukaimon replied. "They're an annoying group of Digimon who love music and attention. They also happen to be the only group I know of that has the capabilities of space travel."
` "So we just ask them to take us to the temple and we're home free." DemiDevimon remarked.
` "It's not that simple" Tsukaimon said. "The Starmon, by nature of their namesakes, emit powerful auras of light, and I can't stand to be around their power!"
` "That's going to be a problem" Impmon nodded. "The four of us are dark Digimon, so we'll become weak if we get close to them."
` "Then we'll have to bargain for one of their ships" Orochimon input. "And they'll be sending their strongest warrior for a duel before they give it up. The Starmon are extremely possessive, so they wont accept any sort of payment. Trial by combat is their only way."
` "Then we'll be ready" Goblimon growled. "And we'll beat that guy into a pulp!"
` Tsukaimon nodded. "Oh, we'll beat him. But once whoever it is is unconscious and no longer emiting their light aura, they may still be useful." He nodded to Orochimon. "You've got yourself a deal."

-X-

` The Tempia Stone really was the most beautiful thing Dallas had ever seen. It sat eight feet tall and was shaped like a perfect quartz crystal. It was a deep shade of purple, seeming to have infinite depth. Dallas stared into it and could see the universe.
` "Careful" AU Dallas warned. "There are stories of people going insane if they stare into the stone hard enough. It's so powerful that you can see entire universes inside."
` Dallas quickly averted his eyes. The mesmerizing surface did indeed feel like it contained universes. Mr. Matsuki would have loved to see this. "Got it. Don't stare at the crystal unless you want to explode like in Indiana Jones."
` "That was a horrible movie" AU declared. "How do aliens have anything to do with ancient relics?"
` "What are you two blabbering about?" Jason asked, walking over with the Digimon.
` "Nothing important" Dallas replied. "So we're here. What now?"
` AU looked around the area. They were in an open area which contained only the Tempia Stone. The room was quite large, easilly extending 100 feet in any direction, then dropped off into space.
` "You know, we could probably do all of your training up here if we wanted." He commented. "There's plenty of space to work with, and we should be able to set up a decent camp. Plus, Tsukaimon's team can't possibly open the door on their own, since none of them is holy species. We'd only have to open it from this end."
` Patamon grinned. "Sounds great, but I'm super hungry now. Let's eat!"

` The group brought out the supplies they had. Most of it was AU Dallas', since the other two hadn't restocked their supplies since they'd left Clock City.
` Regardless, strange and exotic plants which tasted like strawberries were consumed, along with a variety of Meat apples. This was washed down with flasks of Digiberry cordial which AU had saved for a special occasion.
` "I think that meeting myself and seeing this place qualifies as a special occasion" He confided in Dallas.
` Soon, the group became tired. They all settled down, the humans in sleeping bags, the two Lepumon laying by the still-warm embers of the fire, and Patamon stretched out on Jason's face. None of them could have expected what was about to happen.

-X-

` "You've got a lotta nerve coming here" SemiStarmon growled at Orochimon. "Do you really think the boss is just gonna give you a ship to use? Don't make me laugh!"
` Orochimon stood-or rather, coiled-firm. "Let me speak to him. I'll make the arrangements."
` "Alright. Your funeral" SemiStarmon sighed in annoyance. "Yo, Justimon! This guy demands to speak to you!"
` A shadow appeared in the doorway, before a tall Digimon stepped through. He was mostly humanoid, but had sharp clawed hands and a dragon-like head. Around his neck was a long scarve that whipped in the chilly wind outside the Starmon Corps.
` "Listen here, Orochimon" Justimon spoke, his voice causing a shiver to run through the beast Digimon. "You want one of our ships, and it's obviously for some dark purpose-"
` "I'm insulted!" Orochimon declared. "What angry purpose could I have? I have always been at peace with your people."
` Justimon was not amused. "You fell from the sky and started destroying everything in sight a year ago."
` "A minor bit of confusion" Orochimon insisted. "I had been separated from my home and was confused. It could have happened to anyone!"
` "You had scars all over your body, as though you had just been fighting."
` "Protecting my territory only" Orochimon held firm.
` "And this was around the time that Tamer boy started taking out all the dark Digimon. Plus, you've never told us exactly where you came from in the first place."
` Orochimon growled. "This is pointless. I impose no ill will against your people, so why wont you help me?"
` "That isn't our way" Justimon shook his head. "You wont let us take you personally, because your "passengers" cannot stand our auras. Therefore, you must win the rights to posess one of our ships through trial my combat."
` Orochimon nodded. "I understand that. So let's get on with it then!"
` "Our champion is otherwise involved, and it is well after nightfall. You will duel in the morning."
` Orochimon gave a sigh. "Fine. Send your champion to Lowpoint Peak with the ship tomorrow. I'll wait there for him."
` "Very well." Justimon nodded. "But if you're planning anything, or I'm given the slightest reason not to trust you, I assure you that I will personally see that you are destroyed."
` Orochimon shuddered. "I get the picture." With that, he slithered back into the hills.

-X-

` At the top of a distant hill, two warriors prepared to battle. One was a silvery Digimon shaped roughly like a guitar pick with arms. The other resembled a high-tech grey gear floating in the air.
` "And so we meet again" Pickmon grinned. "My eternal rival, this will be our greatest battle yet."
` KoHagurumon yawned "That's what you say every time, Pickmon. And yet you have yet to truly defeat me."
` Pickmon grew angry, straightening his black glasses. "I defeated you the last time we met!"
` "That was a draw" KoHagurumon shook his head. "I will not wield this time."
` "So we begin then" Pickmon grinned. Suddenly, he launched forward, preparing to impale KoHagurumon.
` "Pico Gear!" KoHagurumon declared, launching a small blue gear at his foe. Pickmon took the hit at the tip of his point, causing a small explosion. Stalwart, he continued on to strike KoHagurumon.
` "You can't defeat me!" Pickmon cried.
` "We'll see!" KoHagurumon jumped into the air, collecting light around his form. "KoHagurumon, digivolve to..." Metal clanked on metal as the gear Digimon grew, sprouting two new cogs to use as arms. "Hagurumon!"
` Pickmon stared at his rival, who was now composed of three gears, the central one bearing his face. "Big deal. I've got enough power to rival that easilly."
` "Then how about you back those words up, if you can." Hagurumon grinned and launched a gear at Pickmon, who leapt out of the way.
` "Fine! Pickmon digivolve to..." Pickmon exploded with energy, taking on a golden hue and becoming a five-pointed shape. "SemiStarmon!"
` "Alright. Now tihs is interesting! Cog Crusher!" Hagurumon launched more gears at his newly evolved foe.
` "Meteor Squall!" SemiStarmon summoned down bolts of light, destroying the gears in quick succession. "Is that the best you can do?"
` Hagurumon launched more gears, each one flying faster than the last. SemiStarmon barely avoided each one, until a lucky shot took him in the side. He spiraled backwards, crashing into a boulder.
` "We both know who's going to win this fight" Hagurumon stated. "Give up already!"
` SemiStarmon shook his head. "I've got one final trick up my sleeve, which I've been saving for just this occasion." He leapt into the air and began to shine again.
` "No way!" Hagurumon muttered. "He can't be that strong already!"
` "SemiStarmon digivolve to..." another five pointed shape attached to the back of SemiStarmon, then began to spin and create propulsion. He grew larger as he rocketed around, light trailing behind him. "ShootingStarmon!"
` "Wishing Impact!" ShootingStarmon rocketed toward Hagurumon, blasting him backward with his cosmic aura. The attack was so powerful that Hagurumon abruptly reverted into a Digi-Egg.
` "Crap" ShootingStarmon muttered. "Didn't mean to do that."
` The egg began to float away, slowly at first, but then gaining speed.
` "I'd better follow it" ShootingStarmon decided. "I'd hate to be rubbing this in his face while he can't even remember it."
` With that, he raced off after his incapacitated rival.

-X-

` "The first thing any good Tamer needs to learn is that you wont always have your partner to help you out." AU explained. "If you get separated and aren't able to operate alone, it's pretty much curtains." He tossed a straight wooden rod to Dallas "So I want you to start out by showing me the self-defence you already know."
` Dallas nodded. He hefted the rod and dashed at AU. He gave his best karate cry and brought the stick down in an overhand swing. Before he even realized what was happening, AU shifted to the side, grabbed his wrist, and stuck out one foot. The result was Dallas flipping over onto his back, stunned.
` AU tossed the rod back to him, which had come loose from Dallas's grip during the botched attack. "I'll admit that was definitely enthusiastic, but there were several flaws in your technique."
` Dallas listened carefully, rubbing his bruised shin as he did so.
` "First of all, an all-out assault can be suicidal if your foe has his guard up. Going into a fight with your fists and not your head is the biggest mistake many people make.
` "Secondly, the battle cry may help you hype yourself up, and even intimidate some opponents. But like I said before, if your enemy is on par with your own skill level, doing this just makes you look stupid."
` Dallas blushed a bit. "I'll try to remember that."
` AU continued. "Remember; in a fight, gravity can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. If your foe is off-balance, it's that much easier to disarm and defeat them.
` "Likewise, if your foe is able to catch you stumbling, or throwing your weight around too much, they can turn your momentum into a weapon. Don't ever get caught tripping up in combat, or you could go down in an instant."
` Dallas nodded. "Got it. Avoid brute force, intimidation only works for the weaker foes, gravity can suck sometimes."
` AU grinned. "That's just how I would have replied. Now, shall we begin again?"

` Within an hour, the bruise on Dallas's shin seemed to be the least painful of his collection. AU knew his every weakness and maneuver, and was using them to his best advantage.
` "It's rare that you get to learn from yourself, because you can develop a totally different style than what you're used to. This means you totally cover your bases and can beat out those who try to extort your weaknesses." AU told him.
` And it was true. As time went by, Dallas was starting to realize that AU's every technique was his own, only sharpened and honed to glisten. Soon, both fighters had an array of bruises, and Dallas could anticipate nearly every move AU pulled.
` "It's almost like knowing what your enemy will do next" AU replied when Dallas brought it up. "You know what you would do, which in turn lets you know what I'll do. But I can turn this to my advantage by either varying from what feels natural just to trip you up."
` A lot of the more technical bits sailed right over Dallas's head, but he got the basics. It reached the point that not even AU's mixed tactics could throw him. By the time they broke for lunch, Dallas was totally drenched, yet felt like he could take out an army.
` He looked over from his meal to see Jason engaged in his own training, and began to listen in.

` "True strength doesn't come from power alone. It comes through skill and adaptability. You could pound at the top of a pillar all day long and barely leave a dent, or you could hit it from the side and break it much easier."
` Jason tried to keep up. Angemon was trying to teach him about adaptation: being able to react to almost any situation. So far, he was having trouble grasping the idea.
` Angemon sighed. "Think of it this way: If a man is holding out a shield, and you only try to attack from the front, what happens?"
` "You can't do much" Jason replied "The shield is strong and hard to get through."
` "Precisely" Angemon nodded, glad that Jason was starting to understand. "So how would you get around this problem? How do you adapt to the situation?"
` Jason was quick to answer. "I guess you'd have to get around the shield. You could attack from behind, or at least from the sides. That would let you attack his vulnerable points better."
` "If you are fast enough" Angemon nodded. "But suppose your foe is much faster, or you're too slow to get around their defense?"
` "You could try to catch them, trip them up to get an opening. Or you could just hold them in place to pound 'em."
` Angemon nodded. "See, you need to be able to adapt to any scenario. If your enemy has dozens of weapons to attack with, the logical choice is to disable or avoid them. If they have a certain weak point which is only revealed at certain times, seize the chance when it comes!"
` "Like a boss in a videogame." Jason surmised. "They always have a weak spot, but you can only reach it some of the time."
` "That's the basic idea" Angemon nodded. "Now, let's get some target practice in." He gestured to a row of statues and miscelaneous items he'd found in the tower. "Each one of these has a weak spot somewhere. Your job is to find it and use it to defeat them."
He snapped his fingers and the first statue began to move.
` Jason gasped as the stone effigy of a club-wielding Digimon came toward him. He lifted his wooden rod and blocked a fast swing from the stone club. He searched over his opponent for a weakness, but found nothing. Dodging another swing, he dashed around behind the statue, where he noticed a bit of cracking around its back. Thinking quickly, he jabbed his rod into the crack, sending lines spiderwebbing across until the statue crumbled.
` "Good!" Angemon nodded. "Here comes the next one!"

` "Now focus your power" D Lepumon ordered. "Make it flow through your body, filling every crevasse. The power must not be constricted in order for you to attain your optimal strength. When it fills you entirely, you will feel the change. You may start to feel lighter, stronger, more powerful. But it will also sap away your energy faster, so it's a good idea to fill yourself as quickly as you can before digivolution, and not afterwards."
` Lepumon nodded, trying to feel the flow of power. "I think there's something there. It's like my body is full of light..."
` "Good" D Lepumon nodded. "Now focus on the power, let it grow within you until it is ready to be released!"
` Lepumon screwed his eyes closed in concentration. His fur stood on end as he felt currents of energy pulse through him. "I feel it!"
` "Good! This is the key to digivolving to Ultimate. You must let your power flow, then push it outward as your partner invokes your power. The result is the ignition of your energy, pulsing so much power into you that you can exceed Champion form."
` Lepumon began to pant a bit. "I don't think I can do this much longer."
` "Go ahead and release it" D Lepumon nodded. "You did very well for your first time. We're done for now."
` "That's it?" Lepumon asked in surprise. "That's all the training you're giving me?"
` "You already posessed most of the qualities you needed: Determination, to do what you needed to. Strength, to exceed your boundaries. Skill, to allow you to fight. All that remained was finding the power within yourself."
` "Great" Lepumon grinned. "But what do I do now? I can't watch Dallas. He's being a bit boring right now."
` "Are you kidding?" D Lepumon asked. "This is the most important part!"

` "Like with many things, negative emotion can inhibit your partner's ability to digivolve" AU explained to Dallas, who was holding a meditative stance. "The concept of chi can explain and assist with this. In ancient cultures, humans were said to have chi flowing through them, which is how they understood the concept of blood. They believed that chi flows through your body, traveling through pools known as chakras. There are seven of these chakras found in the body, and each is essential in order for chi to flow. Each chakra is inhibited by a negative emotion. Resolving with these emotions allows your chi to flow. Incidentally, it's also what helps your Digimon achieve Ultimate level. Another name for the Ultimate level is Perfect. This means that your body and mind are in perfect harmony, allowing your energy to flow."
` "So you're going to teach me about digivolution using human methods?" Dallas confirmed.
` AU nodded. "You'd be surprised how often digital concepts and human concepts coincide. But back to my explaination.
` "There are seven main chakras in the body. I'll explain from the top, then we'll work our way back up.
` "Starting from the top, there is the Sahasrara, or Crown Chakra. It is located at the crown of the head and deals with cosmic energy. It is blocked by worldly connections. Greed is a powerful force, and you must never delve into it. It is man's greed for worldly things that is his downfall.
` "The second chakra is the Ajna, or the Brow Chakra. This chakra deals with Insight, and is blocked by Pride. When we are prideful, we can lose sight of our goals, even lose our ability to reason.
` The Vishuddha, or Throat chakra is, well, in the throat. It deals with truth, and is blocked by lust. Lust is probably one of the most decieving things in the world. People want things, you know, and about four of the chakras actually deal with man's attraction to the world. Lust blocks out truth, because it is based solely around deception.
` "The Anahata, or Heart chakra deals with love-which is rather appropriate-and is blocked by envy. People love to be the center of everything, and they become envious when others are more important. Love is truly caring about others, not just thinking of yourself.
` "The fifth chakra is Manipura, or the Stomach chakra. It deals with willpower, and is blocked by sloth. If one does not have the will and determination to do something, they become slow, weak, and oblivious. Sloth is a great sin, only true willpower can ovecome it.
` "Next is Swadhisthana, the Sacrum chakra. It deals with pleasure, and is blocked by wrath. No man can enjoy what he has when he is vengeful and angry with the world. Only when you overcome wrath can you be at peace.
` "And finally, we have the Muladhara; the Root chakra. It is located at the base of the spine, and deals with survival. It is blocked by gluttony. When someone does finally get what they want, the worst thing they can do is fall into comfort with only that thing. Gluttony makes us forget that man's basic instinct in the world is to survive. If we forget that among our 'necessities' which aren't really necessary at all, we succumb to Gluttony."
` Dallas was silent for a moment after this long speech. "That's amazing. But it sounds familiar for some reason..."
` AU continued. "Even though the idea of chakras may seem a bit silly, the methods of resolving them will help you to unlock Ultimate Digivolution."
` Dallas nodded. "I'm ready to start."
` "Good" AU grinned. "Now clear your mind. It's time to begin."

-X-

` SuperStarmon stood on a hill evaluating his opponents. Below, there was Orochimon and four others talking together. Soon, they would notice him and the ship.
` Then the battle would begin.

` "He's late" Tsukaimon noted, trying not to let SuperStarmon know he'd been seen.
` "Doesn't matter" Impmon sniffed. "Let's get this over with."
` "Alright" Orochimon turned. "SuperStarmon! We see you and are ready to do battle!"
` "As you wish, Orochimon" SuperStarmon nodded. "Haley Squall!"
` The unexpected attack streaked down in the form of blinding comets. Orochimon quickly dodged this as SuperStarmon rushed in for the attack.
` "Inferno Blast!" Orochimon launched a cloud of green fumes, surrounding SuperStarmon, who sniggered.
` "Is this the best you can do?" he demanded.
` "Nope" Orochimon smiled. One of his secondary mouths opened, and SuperStarmon saw a flame ignite inside.
` "Oh sh-"
` The cloud of alcoholic fumes ignited, sending waves of heat crashing into SuperStarmon. He crashed to the ground, and Tsukaimon grinned. "Now!"
` The four Rookies digivolved, quickly pouncing on the fallen star. all four, plus Orochimon, attacked together.
` "Icy Freeze!"
` Crimson Claw!"
` "Touch of Evil!"
` "Pummel Whack!"
` "Inferno Blast!"
` SuperStarmon couldn't take it. In a single combined blast, he collapsed into his Rookie form, SemiStarmon.
` "Get to the ship" Tsukaimon ordered. "We're going to the Temple of Dimensions."

-X-

` Dallas looked around at all the things he feared. He saw the men who had taken his father away. He saw Mercurymon with ihs evil smile. He saw Wendigomon leering evilly down at him.
` "Concentrate" AU called from somewhere above. "The first chakra is the most versatile of the seven. It deals with Gluttony, but also with fear. In order to survive, you must overcome your fears. You fears collect around you like a shield, blocking you off from the power of survival. Gluttony forms from anything. You can have a collection of greatest fears or joys, anything that gives you a reason not to survive on your own. You must rid yourself of the things that collect around you in order to survive."
` The leering faces grew scared, and Dallas raised his staff from the earlier exercises. Without hesitation, he dashed forward and slammed the rod into each enemy, crushing them into smoke.
` "Good" AU congratulated. "Moving on. The Chakra of Pleasure, blockedby wrath. What do you have that makes you wrathful?"
` Dallas immediately thought of Mercurymon. He had hurt Lepumon and tried to kill them all. It was his fault Dallas was here in the first place.
` "You must accept that there are those in the world who will oppose what you think is right. You must accept that these people will stand against you, and not let it enflame your anger."
` Dallas nodded. Mercurymon's smile became a frown, and he too dissolved.
` "Good. Now for the third chakra: Willpower. What inhibits your willpower?"
` Dallas thought, and the images came once more.

-X-

` "We're getting close" Tsukaimon decided. "I can feel it."
` "The temple is within range." Orochimon nodded. "Prepare to attack."

-X-

ShootingStarmon was running out of power, but he needed to follow the egg at any cost. It was rising higher, toward what appeared to be a floating island.
` "Where is KoHagurumon going?" He asked himself. No answer came, of course. The egg could not speak.
` Undeterred, he increased his speed. Unknowing about the future about to befall him.
` "...Pride can be a man's undoing if he allows it. It can uproot mountains and destroy cities. It can even destroy those we love. The opposite of Pride is Insight. Do not let your insight be clouded by what appears to be so."
` Dallas thought about his fights alongside Lepumon. Each time, he'd felt confident about winning, and it shocked him whenever he lost.
` "Losing is part of life, but if you believe you are invincible, then your pride swells, and not in a good way. Accept that defeat is still an possibility, and you will be filled with Insight."
` Dallas breathed and nodded. The visions dissolved again.
` "Now for the most difficult one of all-the Crown chakra this deals with cosmic energy, and is blocked by worldly attraction, or Greed. What things anchor you to the world?"
` Several things popped into Dallas's mind at once. "Jason, his best friend. Hannah, his sister. His mother, his friends, there were just so many things.
` And there was his father, beneath the belief that he would someday see him again.
` "This final chakra is the most difficult to accept, and in some cases impossible. Greed, worldly attarction, is the one thing that keeps us from rising up Heavenbound. To fully clear yourself of negative emoions, you must disengage yourself from all worldly pleasure."
` Dallas's eyes snapped open. "What? How can I just give up on everything and everyone?"
` "Worldly attarction is the hardest to give up, but it is the only way." AU's voice was stern. "You must give away your connections to the world!"
` Dallas struggled to perform this act, but it felt as if he were trying to move a mountain.
` "Dallas!" Jason called suddenly. "There's something big down there, and it's coming toward the tower!"
` AU cursed. "They're already here! Dallas, you must cast off your connection, now!"
` But Dallas was already acting. He stood and raced toward the edge, Lepumon trailing behind him. "We'll have to take care of this now!"
` "It's suicide!" AU called. "You can't best them!"
` Dallas ignored him, leaping straight out into space.

SPIRIT EVOLUTION ONLINE

` "Execute! Spirit Evolution!" Dallas scanned his fractal code and grew, becoming Djinnmon. He turned upright in his fall and pulled out his sword. "Exalted Wish! Air!"
` Light arced downward ahnd became a torrent of air, stopping his fall and leaving him standing before Orochimon.
` "Stupid boy" Orochimon growled. "It's time for your destruction!"

END

` I appologize for my long absence, but I hope this titanic chapter makes up for it. I've been in Europe for the past month and couldn't post. So, yeah. I'm sorry.
` The next chapter will conclude this mini-arc. To be honest, I'm getting a bit tired of it.
` Now, trivia time!
*SemiStarmon is a fan-created name for Starmon 2010. He is considered a Rookie Digimon.
*Lepumon's original design has been around since 2006 when I first read the Digimon Adventures manga. His original design was named Bunnymon, but he has not changed otherwise since the day I created him.
*Hyokomon is the fastest-growing Digimon in the story thus far, going from Fresh to Super Ultimate in about ten chapters (spoiler).
*The last part of Dallas's training is taken almost directly from Avatar: The Last Airbender. A few chakras were cut out due to time constraints.
*Lepumon's original Ultimate Form was Warpdramon, whi could teleport anywhere at will, but was later replaced with his new Ultimate form.
*Jason will not have to undergo the same training as Dallas for complex reasons which wont be fully explained for a while.
*KoHagurumon is extremely important, but will never be seen in this story again after the next chapter.
*Orochimon uses both the original and dub versions of his Inferno Blast attack. The original has him shooting out a cloud of sake (wine) to intoxicate foes. The dub changes it to a fire-based attack for obvious reasons.
*Anybody notice something special about the seven "Fallen Emotions"?

That's it! Here's a preview of the next chapter!

Chapter Ten: The Road Less Traveled By

After Dallas fails to unlock his Ultimate potential and suffers defeat, another way seems to be the only option. But can Dallas trust this new teacher?

Even Fire and Ice have a Dark side...