Me: As usual, I don't own Digimon, nor do I own "Stand Here With Me," by Creed...uh...(turns and sees only Takato near) What happened to Rika?

Takato: Well, she got so devastated by what happened before that she's taking a leave of absence until you can fix this whole thing. You're lucky that I'm still here!

Me: That's just great-her Tameresque attitude is usually the jumpstarter I need to get going! Oh, well-at least I've got her opposite to help me out!

Takato: (smiles a knowing smile) Mmm-hmm!

Me: By the way, does anyone know what "Quo Vadis" stands for? It's supposed to be one of Gallantmon: Crimson Mode attacks, by the way.







Digimon Tamers: The Lost Tamer

Chapter XIII-Grani's Sacrifice







"If the only way to make you believe is to defeat you, then so be it!" -Takato Matsuki

"Hey, Gogglehead! You weren't thinking of going without me, were you?" -Rika Nonaka









And I thought things couldn't get any worse than they already were! True, it was a touching moment when Beelzemon reunited with his Tamers and they received a Digivice, but the battle against the D-Reaper, or Reapermon, was near anticlimactic! Not only did the team hardly injure the Mega Digimon, but they either barely avoided attacks or got hit themselves! Then, when Reapermon used his Grim Slasher attack on Ai and Makoto, Sakuyamon sacrificed herself to ensure the safety of Impmon's partners. Seeing Rika in his arms after avoiding this from occurring again caused Takato to go over the edge and instead of creating Megidramon, ended up Biomerging with Guilmon to form ChaosGallantmon! Man! Now the Tamers have to deal with both the D-Reaper and ChaosGallantmon? I sure hope Rika can snap Takato out of the depression-and darkness-he seems to have fallen into!







The Tamers all watched helplessly alongside their weakened Digimon as ChaosGallantmon started to tear into Reapermon with all his strength!

"ChaosGallantmon: Virus-type Digimon, Mega level! His Judecca Prison and Demon's Disaster attacks make him even more powerful than Megidramon!"

"But-but how can that be Takato?" Rika was still struggling to comprehend how this happened in the first place and was able to have Henry wrap her wounds up with the first-aid kit. To her surprise, Ryo answered.

"Obviously, Takato still has some hidden anger unresolved from some experience he's been through a while ago, and when you apparently 'died,' that anger released itself and boom! ChaosGallantmon was born."

"The only unresolved issue he could have is from when he was sent forward in time! I've got to get through to him and make him understand."

Rika's thoughts were broken into when Reapermon was thrown in their direction!

"Move, guys!" Henry and Ryo chorused, the team barely moving out of the way in time.

"Just great! So, what are we gonna do? There's no way we can take down Reapermon 'cause Takato's too busy whaling on him, and if we tried fighting ChaosGallantmon, we'd just be shown the door out of here! If only we could Digivolve..."

"Terriermon, that's it!" Henry looked up at the bubble containing Calumon and Jeri. "All we have to do is free Jeri and Calumon from that bubble. Calumon should have the power we need to have us Biomerge with our partners."

"You think this'll work, Henry? From here, it doesn't look like Chumly's willing to play tag team." Kazu noted grimly.

"It's got to..." While looking up at Jeri with a hopeful look in her eyes, Henry whispered, "It's just got to work!"







"You've caused enough pain and torture in the Digital World and in the Real World! What did we ever do to you?!" ChaosGallantmon exclaimed angrily.

"My creators abandoned me within the confines of my own realm! I was 'doing my job,' without any complaints, when I'm suddenly blocked off from reentering the passageway back home. For years, I've spent time in here watching the Digital World and your world evolve and grow piece by piece, bit by bit, microchip by microchip."

For a moment, Guilmon's innocent nature broke through the anger Takato carried inside. "What's a microchip? Is it a new kind of potato chip?"

"And so-" Reapermon continued on before Takato could chide his partner. "-I've managed to create my own Agents loyal to me and only me and who are willing to do only what I tell them to do!"

"Yeah? Well, I've got a friend who's willing to listen to me, too. Grani-attack!"

Roaring proudly, Grani waited until Ai and Makoto got off his back and then flew toward the Virus Digimon.

"Yuggoth Blaster!!"

Reapermon roared in silent agony as this attack made contact, revealing wounds on his body.

"That's one point for you...but only one! I, on the other hand, have reached three-and we both know how that happened, don't we?"

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Demon's Disaster!!" Holding up his sword tightly, ChaosGallantmon aimed it directly at the wound Grani made. It sent out a stream of fire that struck Reapermon on impact.

"Impressive. I can see you're not holding back. But this is still not enough! No matter how high up you try to go, I will always be stronger than you! ADR's, attack the humans!"

As the ADR's started to attack the other Tamers, Takato's thoughts were only on Rika and his failure to save her. A part of him felt the injury that Rika had taken on the chest earlier, but he soon forgot that.

"You always gave me the strength within to believe in myself, even when I didn't want to fight, you would always be my shelter if I needed it...and now, you're gone."







You always reached out to me and helped me believe...

All those memories we share, I will cherish every one of them!

The truth of it is there's a right way to live, and you showed me!

So now you live on in the words of a song...you're a melody!







"Don't worry, Jeri-we'll get you and Calumon out of here as soon as possible." Henry insisted calmly, beating at the bubble with his fists again and again, but to no avail.

"Henry-just let us Digimon handle this. We'll just say you weakened it for us." Terriermon quipped cynically as he, Lopmon and Susie were floating a few meters away from the bubble.

"Bunny Blast!!"

"Blazing Ice!!"

The two attacks flew toward the bubble and hit precisely...then, bounced off and back toward the three of them!

"Ahhhhh! Duck, Lopmon, Tewwiermon!" Susie cried out while yanking the two Rookies out of harm's way.

"Whew! Thanks, Susie. I'll never complain about eating broccoli again-or at least until we get back home." Terriermon replied. Lopmon nodded in response.

"You can say that again."

"I would, but misery must love company, 'cause those Agents are back!" Terriermon screamed as they were attacked by the remaining ADR's!

"Blazing Ice!!"

"Terrier Tornado!!"

Both attacks bounded off of the approaching ADR's, causing them no fatalities whatsoever!

"Just great! You mean to tell me we gotta Digivolve to beat these guys?" Terriermon spat out irritably.

"Maybe...if I could Digivolve." Lopmon replied sadly.

"Don't give up, Lopmon. There's always hope-Henwy taught me that." Susie insisted calmly. Henry stared at his sister for a few moments before realizing something he should've figured out long ago-she was finally starting to grow up, and she still looked to him for advice. Turning back to the captive Jeri and Calumon, Henry cleared his throat and spoke from the heart.

"Jeri? This probably isn't the best time to tell you this, but I just can't go on without telling you the truth-I lied to you! I want to continue being with you, and my parents have accepted us being together, as long as you and I don't do...You know." Blushing along with Henry, Jeri simply nodded in agreement and waited for him to finish.

"Anyway, when you told me what your father said, I got nervous. I don't think I'm strong enough to face him and tell him that we're together..." Henry beat at the bubble once more before allowing the floodgates to open and his tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, Jeri! After all this, I guess I'm not as good a Tamer as I thought I was."

"Don't you even think that, Henry Wong!" Jeri demanded calmly, yet firmly a second later. "You are a good Tamer, and a strong one, too-why else would you have wanted to help Takato when he and Rika were ambushed by Beelzemon back in the Digital World? Why did you try to protect me when Takato let his darkness take over and Megidramon was created? I may have doubts about myself, but I'm not gonna sit here and let you drown yourself in pity any longer. No matter what happens, I'll always love you, and I'll always be with you. And we can talk to my father together."

"M-mind, body and s-spirit?" Henry stammered, not even seeing his Digivice glowing by his side.

"Always." Jeri declared, reaching for Henry with outstretched arms. To her surprise, her arms passed through the bubble and enveloped the Tamer in a tight hug. Seconds later, Jeri and Calumon were free!

"Yay-way to go, guys! Jeri isn't sad anymore and you two are all happy again!" Calumon cheered.

"Maybe so..." Henry and Jeri focused their attention upward. "...but what about Rika and Takato?"







Chorus: 'Cause you stand here with me-now...yeah!

'Cause you stand here with me-now...yeah!







"Henwy, what's this?" Confused, both Tamers and Calumon looked down to see Susie holding a blue Modify card in her hand!

"Aaahhh!" Henry facefaulted in surprise while Jeri and Calumon smiled. "How'd you-where'd you-"

"Just teach her how to swipe the card, silly." Jeri suggested while heading back over to a joyous Leomon, the In-Training Digimon flying alongside her.

"O-okay. Susie, to swipe a card, you just say, 'Digimodify,' then with a card like this, you add after that, 'Matrix Digivolution, activate,' got it?"

"Mmm-hmm!" Eager to please her big brother, Susie swiped the card through her Digivice in one shot.

"Digimodify! Matwix Digivolution, activate!"

A second later, Lopmon felt extreme power flow through her as a second Modify card ended up in Henry's deck.

"Okay, Henry-are we ready to take on the D-Reaper?"

"You got it, Terriermon! Digimodify! Matrix Digivolution, activate!"

Matrix Digivolution!

"Lopmon Matrix Digivolve to..."

"Terriermon Matrix Digivolve to..."

"ANTYLAMON!!!/RAPIDMON!!!"







As the two Ultimate Digimon started taking out the remaining ADR's, the others watched ChaosGallantmon and Reapermon from their positions until Rika couldn't take anymore!

"That's it! I'm not watching Gogglehead fall back into this-this-whatever this is all because I tried to help out a friend. Renamon, we're going to help!"

"How? You're practically running on empty, since you did get stabbed while being Biomerged." Ryo objected impatiently. "And your still bleeding!"

Touching the spot on her body where Reapermon's Grim Slasher attack had nearly taken her and Renamon out, Rika hissed under her breath and wondered why Takato hadn't passed out alongside her earlier.

"He was probably too engulfed in his own grief and anger to even think about the pain, Rika." Hearing Renamon's thoughts break into her own, Rika felt a momentary lapse of anger, but it passed.

"Still, I can't let him be destroyed in his grief. Let's go!"

"Hey, guys."

"Huh-? Jeri, Calumon! You guys are free!" Kenta yelled out excitedly.

"Bone Duster!!"

"Judecca Prison!!"

"Yuggoth Blaster!!"

WHAM! The three attacks made contact and shook the team off their feet, even though they were flying in the air!

"What can we do?" Jeri asked worriedly.

"Just hope that Rika can pierce that gigantic armor Takato's wearing and hope for the best." Kazu spoke up.

As for ChaosGallantmon, he was furiously lashing out at Reapermon, who was laughing evilly, playing with the infuriated Mega Digimon!

"You said you wanted to use your full power, so use it!" ChaosGallantmon demanded.

"As you wish-Tamers, say goodbye to your leader! Burning Tornado!!"

"Gogglehead, look out!" Suddenly, to Takato's joy and surprise, Rika and Renamon appeared in front of him and the approaching attack.

"Rika...NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" Forcing himself to deDigivolve, Takato flew as fast as he could, enveloping Rika and pulling her-and Renamon-out of the way of the attack, which whizzed by them entirely.







Just when fear blinded me, you taught me to dream

I'll give you everything I am, and still fall short of what you've done for me!

In this life that I live, I hope I can give love unselfishly!

I've learned the world is bigger than me-you're my daily dose of reality!









As Guilmon and Renamon headed back over to where the Tamers were at, Takato finally acknowledged the pain on his chest and would've fallen forward if Rika hadn't eased him onto Grani.

"How...? I thought I'd lost you again!"

Grinning despite herself, Rika playfully slugged Takato on the cheek. "Never. And what's up with falling back into the Dark Side, huh? The old Gallantmon wasn't good enough for you?"

Feeling tears trickle down his face, Takato turned away from Rika and got off of Grani. "I just...I just wanted to hurt the D-Reaper the way he hurt you...us. I wasn't thinking clearly, I guess, and instead of becoming Gallantmon, I ended up creating an enemy that could rival his strength! Did I...did I hurt anybody?"

"Nope. You did, however, make all the other Digimon go back to being Rookies, though, except for Guardromon, Leomon and Marine Angemon."

Turning to see Impmon, Guilmon, Renamon and the others, Takato's tears fell down even harder. "I guess that wasn't showing good leadership, huh? Me blindly running-flying-out into a battlefield without even trying to see if you were okay? I'm sorry, Rika!" Crying softly, Takato pulled his girlfriend into a gentle hug, noticing the wrappings around her body. "You were right before-I'm not a good Tamer! If I was, I wouldn't have caused all this pain-"

"Okay-once and for all, stop it! You are a good Tamer, one of the best, if not the best! You brought me out back into the light when no one else would give me the light of day or a second thought back at my school. Even my mom didn't care about me that much-or so I thought. You taught me that emotions don't make you weak-they give you strength, friends, family, people who care about you...and people you've grown to love."

Takato felt Rika's hand wipe away his tears and he blushed a deep red, unconsciously feeling in his pocket for a certain box, which was still there.

"You-you mean, you're not angry with me for lying to you?"

Blushing slightly herself, Rika shook her head. "How could I get angry with a silly Gogglehead like you?"

"Touching, I'll admit. But, I'm afraid time is up-for all of you! Burning Tornado!!"

Takato and Rika turned in shock to see Reapermon's main attack head directly toward them. Holding onto each other tightly, they braced themselves and waited for the end to arrive. Shrieking loudly, Grani flew in front of the two Tamers and took the fiery attack head-on!

"Grani... NO!!!" Takato screamed, trying to help, but Rika held him back.

"There's nothing we can do for him now..."







Chorus: 'Cause you stand here with me-now...yeah!

'Cause you stand here with me-now...yeah!

(On and on, we sing this song...)

'Cause you stand here with me...!









The Tamers and Digimon watched sadly as Grani finally emerged from the smoke left in the wake of Reapermon's attack...badly injured and fading in and out. Even though Rika tried to stop him, Takato flew over toward the metallic dragon.

"Grani...why? Haven't we suffered enough without you having to sacrifice yourself, too?"

For the first time, without yelling out his main attack, Grani spoke in a gravelly voice.

"Had to...protect you...and s...soul mate..."

Gasping, Takato felt the tears return full force, and he didn't try to stop them.

"You must...merge with...partner..."

"Huh?" As the others came in near Takato, he eyed Grani with a confused look. "What are you talking about?"

"Biomerge...with Guilmon...while there's...still time left..."

"Go for it, Takato. What do ya got to lose?" Terriermon asked, he and Lopmon reverted to their Rookie stages after defeating the last of the D-Reaper's ADR's.

"A good friend, but it's a chance I've got to take! You ready boy?" Takato asked, feeling confident in himself once again.

"Mmm-hmm. Ready, willing and able, Takatomon!"

"Can the others join in?" Calumon piped up, the triangle on top of his head glowing once again.

"Yeah-you aren't planning on leaving us out of this last battle, right, Gogglehead?"

Laughing while blushing, Takato quickly shook his head. "No, no, of course not! I was just gonna suggest that Calumon have you guys Biomerge-Calumon, Jeri?! When'd you-? How'd you-?"

"It's a loooooong story." Henry said briefly.

Turning to face Reapermon, Takato declared defiantly, "You'd better watch out, D-Reaper, 'cause the Tamers are about to show you what we can do when we work together!"







On and on we sing, on and on we sing, on and on we sing, on and on we sing, on and on we sing, (On and on we sing this song)

On and on we sing, on and on we sing...

(On and on we sing this song)

On and on we sing, on and on we sing...

'Cause you stand here with me, 'cause you stand here with me, 'cause you stand here with me 'cause you stand here with me, 'cause you stand here with me...

'Cause you stand here with me...! (song ends)







Biomerge Digivolution!

"Biomerge, activate!" Takato, Rika, Henry, Jeri and Ryo chorused, each Tamer changing into data and merging with their respective Digimon one last time.

"Guilmon Biomerge to...GALLANTMON!!!"

"Renamon Biomerge to...SAKUYAMON!!!"

"Terriermon Biomerge to...MEGAGARGOMON!!!"

"Leomon Biomerge to...SABERLEOMON!!!"

"Monodramon Biomerge to...JUSTIMON!!!"

"Beelzemon: Blast Mode, activate!" Impmon yelled out, instantly changing into his Mega mode.

Before any of the Digimon could go into action, Grani shrieked loudly as he dispersed into data and forced Gallantmon to absorb it! Gallantmon roared in pain, whereas Sakuyamon grunted in surprise.

"New data...instructions on how to improve power levels...Mode Change, activate!" Gallantmon roared bravely, vanishing in a blaze of light.

Mode Change activated!

"Gallantmon Mode Change to...GALLANTMON: CRIMSON MODE!!"

Where Gallantmon once was, a cooler, and hotter, Mega Digimon was in his place! Instead of his cape, a significant number of wings adorned his back, the sword was no longer mergable with his right arm, but looked like a normal sword held firmly in his left hand, and the most obvious change was that he was completely covered in red!

"Whoa! Grani's sacrificial move caused Gallantmon to transform into Gallantmon: Crimson Mode! His Invincible Sword attack is extremely hot, but this 'Quo Vadis' stuff sounds a little high-tech for Takato to handle."

Kazu looked away from his Digivice to eye the new and improved Gallantmon, who started speaking in Takato and Guilmon's voices. "Reapermon, in your quest to pursue power, you have not only managed to corrupt me, but you have killed someone who I deeply trusted with my life, and now to prove to you that we shall not back down until you are defeated, I challenge you to take on all of us Mega Digimon and see if you can defeat us without blinking!"

Laughing manically, the D-Reaper stared Gallantmon in the eye. "I accept your challenge, and when you are defeated, try not to take it too personal. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

"YAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" At that instant, Gallantmon, Sakuyamon, MegaGargomon, SaberLeomon, Justimon and Beelzemon raced forward to engage Reapermon in battle one more time!

Finally-Gallantmon: Crimson Mode has appeared! Can the Tamer team come through together as a team and take down the D-Reaper once and for all? Find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!