Chapter 14 : Despair and dark reflection

Kylee's sleepy eyes slowly opened, to gaze at the ceiling of her bedroom. She moved with some uneasiness, not quite registering the situation.

Had this been some kind of dream? How long had she been sleeping?

As she rose from her bed, a slight pain came from one of the wounds where she had been struck.

Then as the pain came, so did the painful memories, who rushed in her mind.

She then gasped, looking around, then did realized she was indeed in her bedroom, though it nearly seemed at first like if she hadn't been there before.

"Kylee!" She heard a very relieved and desperate voice, much familiar as well : Impmon.

She felt him ram from the side before she fell on the bed again and he filled her view.

"Impmon! S-Stop that!" Kylee choked with some slight trouble.

"Sorry…" Impmon said with clear uneasiness as he removed himself from Kylee.

Kylee slowly got up, then looked at Impmon with much wondering. "What happened Impmon? Last thing I remember was that…" she started…but stopped…she didn't wanted to speak about it, the memories of the shadowed digimon striking her, only wanting to kill her.

Back then…she could have sworn that she saw clear and mad pleasure in that unknown digimon's hidden eyes. She could be almost sure of it…though his actions proved that it was indeed true.

Impmon looked a bit away, as much uncertain as Kylee, as he too remembered…

How he felt powerless as Impmon when that unknown digimon attacked Kylee.
How that digimon was clearly mocking them.

Then…he wanted to help…to save Kylee. At that moment, he had wanted to do everything, give everything for Kylee…

And it happened…He had felt the power within him. But at the same time, he had felt a clearness of mind like he hadn't. He was truly free of his own will. And he had used his power to protect Kylee.

It gave some kind of relief to Impmon that he hadn't felt before.
Despite that there may be no doubt that Kylee may be proud of him…he was very, very much uncertain.

He had become Beelzemon again…and that pained him in a way. To have that form again…when he had nearly killed Kylee. That was a horrible memory…yet a warning of what he could do if he let the power control him, not controlling the power.

"Impmon…what's wrong?" Kylee asked.

"It's…it's just…I really don't know what to think…

I became Beelzemon again…I turned into that dangerous digimon again…

I could have killed you…" Impmon said, very much uncertain. Then he clenched his shaking fists. "That damn Lizomon's right! I'm scared!" he then said, half-crying as he pounded his fists on Kylee's bed. "I'm not sure if I want to be Beelzemon because…" he added, but stopped.

"Because you're afraid to attack me, right?" Kylee asked.

Impmon lowered his head, not answering.

For a while, everything remained silent as both of them simply did nothing at all…

Then Impmon felt Kylee's arm wrap around him and hug him close.

"It's okay…I understand…" Kylee said.

Impmon wasn't quite sure whenever to protest or acknowledge, but then he saw tears slowly coming out of Kylee's eyes.

"You don't have to fight if you want to…" Kylee then said.

That left Impmon stunned. Kylee was always one who was going into fights. Sure, he usually was the one who got them into fights, but she followed on. They'd been a great team, with a strong friendship, even if someone they seemed like idiots…

But clearly…Ragnarok's repeated assaults on every of them didn't only caused physical harm…

Impmon reached out and wiped off a tear from one of Kylee's eye. Then he took up a breath.

"Kylee…we can't stop now…" Impmon said. "We can't just stop and give up, just like that. Regan, Riza, everyone needs us.

Heck, even Lizomon said they'd need all the help possible against Ragnarok!

I can fight, so I must do it Kylee! We have to! That Ragnarok freak has only wanted to mess up with us and we can't let him go away with that! We got to show him who's the boss!!!

I know that I'm not that much sure about fighting as Beelzemon…but I got to do it…I have to…

For everyone…

Especially you Kylee…" Impmon said.

Then he did something that Kylee didn't expected : He hugged her, wrapping his short arms around her waist and holding tight.

"And I'll need ya against that freak…so please go on and help me!" Impmon said, nearly crying himself.

Kylee remained stunned as she saw Impmon holding her tight. Then she returned the hug as well.

"I'm sorry Impmon…I'm really sorry. I'll try my best to help you…I swear…
I…I don't want Ragnarok to harm anyone…anymore…
He got to be stopped…
Even…" Kylee said.

"Even…if we have to kill both him and his digimon?" Impmon said. "Yeah, I know…

Lizomon did say that Ragnarok had nothing human but the appearance, right?

Perhaps he may have been really human…but it's obviously no longer the case anymore…

We'll beat him Kylee…
And we'll…kill him…if we have to…"

Both digimon and Tamer remained close, holding each other, and doing nothing else for a long while.

And on the hinge of the slightly opened door stood Riza, and Regan who was beside him, a hand on Riza's shoulder. He had a tired and understanding look in his face while Riza looked a bit more sad and discouraged. He then looked at Regan and smiled hesitantly. Regan nodded.

"It's better to leave them alone for now…" Regan whispered as he removed his hand from Riza's shoulder and started walking away.

Shrugging and nodding, Riza followed.

-

"I'm growing tired of this…"
"Finally you approve of my point of view. Can we go kill them?"
"I got a better idea…"

-

Kylee came out of her room, followed by Impmon, to find Riza and Veemon sitting on the couch in the living room. Kylee's mother could be heard washing dishes in the kitchen.

The blonde haired girl then looked around, obviously searching someone else.

"Riza, where are Regan and Lizomon?" Kylee asked.

Riza turned as she spoke to him. He then took a look toward the kitchen, then raise up to come a bit close to Kylee.

"I think your mom shouldn't know about it…but both of them are on the rooftop. Regan said he wanted a little time alone." Riza half-whispered.

"Rooftop?" Kylee thought.

-

Indeed, half-sitting on the rooftop, was Regan, and close to him Lizomon was completely laying down, a concerned gaze in his experienced eyes aimed at his partner, who was looking toward the sky.

"How I wish that'd never happened…" Regan said, a bit discouraged.

"You're talking of Ragnarok's appearance? Then if so, if he may not have appeared, then it would have meant that-" Lizomon said.

"I know, I know…" Regan interrupted. "It's far too late to change that kind of thing…

Though sometimes…I really hate him…"

Lizomon didn't move, though he knew that Regan wasn't speaking of Ragnarok…but of someone else.

"His Greatness must be understood Regan. He possesses great wisdom and saw much potential with you. Another reason of the so-many projects he had made." Lizomon said calmly, with respect in his voice.

"Yeah, yeah. That 'Lord' you so much respect. Neither human, nor digimon. Completely foreign to both the Real and the Digital World. And in a way, he became an important pillar of the Digital World's survival…sometimes I wonder how it could have even been possible…

Heck, you know as well as me many of his ways. Many times I really thought that we were rather like puppets in his hands, or pieces on a chessboard that he was playing on.

A chessboard of planetary proportions…" Regan said a bit sourly.

"I wonder if that gap between you and him may ever be sealed…though you have much in common, you know…" Lizomon said with concern again.

Regan's head lowered as he gritted his teeth. "I don't know…In so much ways…he seems so unlike any of us…even me…"

"Still, one must sometimes put aside the flesh and truly look at the soul itself. Most beings are unfortunately that ignorant…sometimes even me…" Lizomon said with clear wisdom.

"Yeah…perhaps…" Regan muttered.
"Obviously, Kylee wasn't the only feeling down." Lizomon stated after a little time of silence.
"Lizomon, I'm not heartless! I…I may be a Digidestined…but sometimes…it seems so hard…so far…how can we go, when it seems like we didn't got any results?" Regan said, turning rashly to look at his digimon, who was looking straight ahead and quite calmly.
Lizomon remained silent then turned his head to face his partner in his eyes. "Why must we go on?

Simply because we must…

Did you think I gave up long ago? Even when I had died? I could have given up after the blackness, after the pain and oblivion I felt.
No…I continued…I struggled…and in the end…I triumphed…" Lizomon said. "Yes, the situation seems grim in many ways right now, but we must go on. Not just because it's some 'duty' or whatever the hell is our destiny.

But we have to go on…because many are looking at us as those who can lead them, as that beacon of light they seek.

If we go down, so do them.

Kari felt exactly like that when she returned to the Digital World, when you met her. She was the only experienced Digidestined back then, and you and the others looked at her like if she was your leader, in many way. Did she give up? No.

However…she did thought that it was a hard task…

However, the strength of a group, of an organization doesn't depend always on the leader…but in the group itself…" Lizomon added.

Regan remained silent, half-stunned from Lizomon's words. "Kari…she really was troubled? But why didn't she said so?" he then asked.

"Because it's in her nature Regan…" Lizomon calmly answered. "She doesn't want the others to be worried of her. She wants to make sure the others are okay. In many ways, she was making a good leader, despite that our group was a lot scattered around the Digital World…and that usually, it was you and her travelling together…" Lizomon added, a slight smile coming on his reptilian face. "Holdings hands toghe-"he then said, his grin becoming far more evident.

Regan bumped him on the head. "Stop that! We never held hands!" he said, with anger rising…though his cheeks were turning red.

Despite the hit on the head, Lizomon continued to grin.

Regan breathed louder, very annoyed at his digimon before sitting down on the rooftop and looking straight in front of him, not looking at his digimon.

"Sometimes I really wonder why I got paired with some annoying and jerk digimon like you…" he said with anger.

Yet…Lizomon knew the anger was actually not completely true…
"Come on Regan…do you think of anyone better than me as a close digimon friend? Actually, I don't think there's anybody more suitable than me for you." Lizomon said with a more normal and kind smile. "We were destined to meet, and honestly, I really believe that we are a team you and I." He said.

Regan remained silent for a little while…then sighed. "You're maybe right…" he admitted. "I don't think I may have been that well with a digimon that usually acts all happily. You bring a seriousness and control to situations with great ease. You know how to keep a cool head…" Regan said with a slight smile.

"Because I'm just that good and cool…" Lizomon said with a quite overconfident and clearly exaggerated tone.

"Oh yeah, forgot about how overconfident you are." Regan said with a little smirk.

"Nobody's perfect you know…" Lizomon said, still much on the previous tone. "Though I know I'm good…"

"Hum, excuse me…am I interrupting something?"

Regan and Lizomon turned to see Kylee coming on the rooftop, having brought up a ladder to climb up on the rooftop.

"No, it's okay…" Regan said.

"Needed some time alone, were you?" Kylee asked.

Regan sighed. "Yeah, I needed it…" he said.

Kylee nodded a bit and completely came up on the rooftop before coming up closer to the Digidestined and the Digimon.

"Regan…is it…hard to be a Digidestined?" Kylee asked.

Regan was a bit dumbfounded and Lizomon brow furrowed.

"Uhm…why are you asking me this?" Regan asked. "Haven't you seen the show, so you should know about how hard it was for them, right?"

"Yeah, I saw all of them…" Kylee said. "I indeed saw how hard it was for them…though it was also a TV show, so it's always bound that it will end well." She added. "But now…things aren't the same now…you're a part of them after all now…and there are surely new threats, like Ragnarok…

So…is it hard?"

Regan was a bit unsure. He took out a long breath, then answered more seriously while looking straight in front of him again, not looking at Kylee, or Lizomon. "A lot." He simply answered.

"Did you…nearly…or been close to have died?" Kylee then asked, more hesitantly.

Regan nearly jumped at the question…then his expression darkened heavily…and so did Lizomon's.

"I have been very, very close to dying in the Digital World…and so did someone else…" Regan answered darkly.

"Oh…hum…sorry to have asked…" Kylee quickly said, and felt very, very uncomfortable to have asked that.

Regan's shoulders dropped as he remained silent for a little while. "Being a Digidestined…that isn't an easy thing.

After all, you have no idea that you're one. The moment you know of it, you're thrown in the situation without warning.

And you have to struggle through it. There is a lot of fighting, of battles that are done. And sometimes, you can get close to death.

Yet…at the same time…you discover new things…as much as you discover terrible things…you also discover some new, wonderful ones…

Being a Digidestined may be hard…sometimes near impossible…" Regan said…then a small smile can on his face. "But it can be worth it…"

"Oh…" Kylee simply said. She understood it was also a way for Regan to say that he didn't completely mind about her asking about death.

"But…for you Regan…has it been worth it yet?" she asked.

Regan looked at Lizomon, who looked at him with a determined nod.
"Yeah…I think it may have been worth it…despite the problems…" Regan said with a smile.

Kylee smiled a bit as well.

"Regan?" she asked again.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks…"
"For what? That I've saved your life or what?" Regan said a bit curiously.
"A bit…but also that you and Riza didn't come in while I was with Impmon…
And also…thanks a lot…for just being here, with us…" Kylee said with a gentler smile.
Then she raised and returned back to the ladder before climbing down. "You'll be coming?" she asked.

Regan nodded.

Kylee then went down again, going away from Regan and Lizomon's sights.
"It was nothing Kylee…I just did what I had to do…" Regan muttered after a little while. "For both you and Riza…"

-

Some time later, Regan and Lizomon had came down from the rooftop, and also had made sure that the ladder Kylee used (and had left for Regan and Lizomon) had been put back where it was.

Regan then came back into the house and since he didn't saw any of the two Tamers or their digimon in the living room, they had to be in Kylee's bedroom.

And indeed it was the case.

"Hey Regan, Lizomon. Come in." Riza said as he saw them approaching.
"So, what are you doing?" Regan asked as he and Lizomon entered the room.

"Well, we were thinking about how we could try to stop Ragnarok." Riza answered.

"Oh, I'm impressed." Lizomon said. "Seems you are ready to strike again, all of you?"
"Yeah! We aren't gonna let that Ragnarok push us down! We'll show him how really strong we are!" Veemon said with a tight fist and determination.
"Yup, looks like that to me indeed." Lizomon said with a smirk.
"Anyway, have you decided anything?" Regan asked.
"Ehhmm…not really…" Riza answered.

"I was expecting that a little bit." Regan said with a shrug. "We never knew what to expect with Ragnarok, in all the cases."
"You mean you and the other Digidestined, right? But why did you fight him alone back then?" Kylee asked.
"…" Regan's head lowered down. "I…I didn't want the others to be harmed…" he then said.

"Uh…" Kylee was a bit troubled. It was obvious that it seemed like a touchy subject to Regan…but why? "I don't get it. Even if the others might have gotten hurt, they would have surely accepted the risk because they would want to help you…so why you didn't took their help?"

Regan was far more uneasy. However, he got lucky to avoid the subject as a new matter came into subject.

"Look!" Lizomon said as he pointed at the window, and then rushed forward.

The others, except Regan who still seemed troubled, curious also went to the window. All except Lizomon, who cringed, gasped.

From the window, they could see a dark circle forming over the city's center. Energy seemed to gather in it as it was slowly growing in size…and it seems the air was rippling at its edges…

"What is that?" Riza said.
"A portal…" Lizomon said grimly. "That's a gateway…to another world…It must be Ragnarok's doing!"

"Ragnarok? Why would he be doing that?" Veemon asked.

Regan clutched a fist. It would surely be it. The moment of their next encounter…and hopefully…for the last time…

"Whatever he's doing, we must get to the city's center and soon!" Regan said.

Lizomon turned at his partner. "Right! We can't stand and do nothing now!"

With that said, Regan quickly ran out of the room, followed by Lizomon.
"What are we waiting? Let's hurry up!" Impmon said.

Then the others followed suit and also went outside.

Regan and Lizomon were both running (flying for Lizomon) toward the city.
"We'll have to go faster than this Lizo!" Regan said.
"No problem! Leave it to me!" Lizomon replied as he flew forward of Regan and started glowing.

"Lizomon, digivolve to…Ryumon!!!"
"Ryumon, digivolve to…MetalRyumon!!!"

As MetalRyumon appeared, he lowered his tail so that Regan got on the edge before lightly throwing him on his back. Once Regan landed and seated himself to hold, MetalRyumon jumped in the air, flapping his wings before opening up his jet ports and rocketed away toward the city's center.

"Hey, wait for us!" Kylee shouted as they had come out of the house.
"Well, we'd better get our own transports then." Riza said.

Kylee picked up her new Mega/Warp Digivolution card just as Riza did. They looked at their partner, who nodded, though Impmon had a slight hesitation.

"Digimodify! Warp Digivolution Activate!!!" both Kylee and Riza said as they swiped their cards in their D-Arcs.

"Veemon, warp digivolve to…Imperialdramon!!!"
"Impmon, warp digivolve to…Beelzemon!!!"

"Okay, let's go now!" Imperialdramon said. Then he noticed Beelzemon pulling out his guns. "Huh, what are you doing?" he asked.

Beelzemon shot both pistol aimed at the sky…then a motorcycle fell from the sky and dropped right next to Beelzemon.

"You heard the kids; they need transport, so get Riza on you while I'll go on with Kylee!" Beelzemon said.

Kylee looked a bit uncertainly at the motorcycle. "Hum…you mean…on this?" she said while pointing at the motorcycle.

"Of course! You're expecting me to go on a bicycle or what?" Beelzemon replied back as he went on the bike. "Come on the back and hold tight okay?"

"Though…Imperialdramon can go fast you know, so why not all of us going on him?" Riza asked.

"I'm pretty sure that the Ragnarok freak must be waiting for us, and probably has some surprises for us, like guards. So we'd better split up to confuse them." Beelzemon answered.

"You got a good point. Okay, I'll go on with Riza while you carry Kylee with you." Imperialdramon said.

Riza, still a bit uncertain, nodded before getting on Imperialdramon who then formed his forcefield on his back.

"Be careful Kylee!" Riza shouted from Imperialdramon's back as the digimon rose in the sky.

"Yeah, you too!" Kylee shouted back.
"Come on! Hop on!" Beelzemon said impatiently.

Kylee then went on the motorcycle, sitting behind Beelzemon.
"You're sure that you can drive it safe?" Kylee asked with some fear in the voice.
"Well…we'll see…" Beelzemon replied. "Hold tight!"

Just as Kylee wrapped her arms tightly around Beelzemon's waist, the biker digimon started up the engine and both were now rushing fast toward the city.

-

MetalRyumon was already some distance ahead of the others, approaching the city. He then raised his head to look at the portal in the sky, and then noticed something else.
"Regan, watch out! We're about to be attacked!" MetalRyumon said.
"Digimon?" Regan asked.
"No! Something else!"

As Regan tried to look a bit in the front what he could be, he saw dark shapes flying in the sky that rushed toward them.

MetalRyumon then arced on the side as two dark forms rushed past him. As they neared, Regan could notice that they were not completely shapeless. They had wings, a tail, feet and a head with a maw. In some ways, they looked like small dragons covered in dark shrouds. Though the dragons themselves rather had lack of features. No details were visible on their 'skin'.

"What do you think these are?" Regan asked to his digimon.
"I don't know but I'd prefer not to find out what they could do to us!" MetalRyumon replied. "Hold tight Regan!"

Just as Regan did, MetalRyumon suddenly spun on himself, pointing at the creatures that were coming back at him.

"Strato Cannons!" he shouted before unleashing volleys of energy blasts from his cannon, aiming at the two small 'dragons'. Both were caught dead by the blasts and instantly vanished in a puff of dark smoke as they were destroyed.

"They seem easy to beat…" Regan commented…then heard more flapping of wings as he looked behind them, toward the city's center, where hundreds more were rushing toward them.

"Or…perhaps not…" Regan added grimly.
MetalRyumon turned toward the city again, letting out a roar as he charged again, as more small 'dragons' charged at him and Regan.

-

Imperialdramon too flew quickly toward the city, rapidly approaching the center.
"What are these?" Imperialdramon said surprised.
"What's wrong?" Riza asked.
"There's something that's coming to attack us!" Imperialdramon said.

More of the same 'dragons' charged toward Imperialdramon.
"Positron Laser!" Imperialdramon shouted as he fired out a beam at the creatures, dispersing and destroying many of them as the beam poured in the flock of creatures.

Still, they didn't look deterred at all.
"You better hold on tight Riza! I don't think that they're gonna let us pass that easily!" Imperialdramon said.

-

Beelzemon and Kylee were too rushing toward the city's center.

"Beelzemon, look! Up!" Kylee said, trying to point upward despite holding on Beelzemon.
Beelzemon looked up and saw MetalRyumon who was flying around in a macabre ballet, surrounded and pursued by hundreds of small black shapes.
"What are those things attacking MetalRyumon?" Beelzemon said.
"You don't know what they are? I thought you'd know." Kylee said.
"I may know what another digimon is, but I don't think these are digimon at all!" Beelzemon replied back.

As he made a sharp turn in the roads, both he and Kylee heard a strange shrieking sound.
Then black lightning suddenly rushed up near them to explode on the ground near them. Kylee looked toward where it came from to see more of the strange black shapes, noticing that they looked like small dragons…though they obviously weren't friendly at all.
"Beelzemon, more of them near us!" Kylee shouted rather needlessly as Beelzemon removed a hand from the handles to pull out of his pistol and aim it at the 'dragons' and fired.

His shot nailed a few of the creatures though they still continued to chase after the Tamer and his digimon.

"Let's see if they follow us!" Beelzemon said with some amusement.
"Beelzemon, it's no time for games! We got to get to the city's center!" Kylee reminded at Beelzemon, though getting panicked.

-

He was waiting for them.

Wearing a ragged red hooded cloak this time, which had many dried blood marks on it, Ragnarok was waiting at the center while he was creating out the portal in the skies above.

He also waved a hand, which was covered by grey gloves, which had dried blood on them as well then a few dark balls of energy appeared floating in front of him.

And within them appeared the images of Regan, Riza and Kylee at this moment. All three of them were either looking serious, worried or panicked.

"Hehe…I hope you enjoy those little battles and being close to death…

Because I can assure you that it'll be a real pleasure compared to when you will come to me…" Ragnarok muttered.

-

MetalRyumon spun around in the air, dodging the dark lightning fire of the small 'dragons'. He then flapped his wings hard, sending out his Freezing Wings attack, turning many of his attackers into small ice statues that started dropping toward the ground.

"MetalRyumon, we better hurry!" Regan shouted.
"You know, I'd like to as well, but they aren't really letting us going." MetalRyumon replied, clearly annoyed at the creatures.

-

As for Imperialdramon, the battle had turned a bit different.

All the small 'dragons' had merged into one giant dragon-like beast that seemed made out of pure darkness.

The beast let out a dangerous roar before punching at Imperialdramon's neck. The dragon digimon raised a paw to block out his opponent's lunge, and then threw himself toward the dark beast.
"Hey Imperialdramon, watch out!" Riza shouted as he tried to hold on as best as he could.
"Sorry…" Imperialdramon said as he pulled himself away from the dark behemoth who then opened his maw before unleashing a stream of dark lightning energy at Imperialdramon who fortunately managed to dodge it.

"Positron Laser!" Imperialdramon shouted as he replied back with his beam attack, hitting the monster square in the chest, making it stagger in the air.
"Hit it again!" Riza shouted.
"Positron Laser!" Imperialdramon repeated his attack again, this time striking the monster in its mouth.

The monster roared before exploding, it's dark 'matter' dispersing in the air.

"Good job Imperialdramon!" Riza said. "Now let's go!"
"Right!" Imperialdramon replied as he turned and went toward the city's center again.

-

Things weren't exactly the easiest for Kylee and Beelzemon either. They were rushing in the city streets on Beelzemon's motorcycle, followed close by a pack of the small 'dragons' who were constantly firing out their dark lighting blast at them, missing every times, though it was always close.

"Hold out Kylee!" Beelzemon suddenly warned.
Kylee didn't had enough time to ask when she felt the motorcycle 'bump' and get on something heavy, followed by the noise of crushed metal and glass.

She looked down and behind to see that Beelzemon had just run over a car…which then exploded, caught by many of the blasts sent by their pursuers.

"I hope that the owner was insured, otherwise that's gonna be hard on him." Beelzemon said.
"Beelzemon, we got to get rid of them!" Kylee said.
"Well, what do you think I've been trying to do?!" Beelzemon snarled.
"Instead of out-running them, can't you find something else to stop them?" Kylee asked.

Beelzemon continued to keep his eyes on the road and what was coming ahead, along with making the bike swerve to dodge the incoming fire from their pursuers until he noticed a large tanker truck, with its container filled with gas, in their way. Obviously, the driver had left it.

"Okay Kylee, you better hold on really tight!" Beelzemon said.
Kylee quickly obeyed as he felt her holding him tighter.

He pressed on the pedal more, pushing the motorcycle to its limits as he rushed toward the truck…though not exactly the truck.

Toward yet another car.

He pulled up on the bike, pulling up the front wheel as they 'climbed' on the car, but this time, Beelzemon also managed to ram one of his legs on the car itself, pushing them…up.

And into a long jump that made both Kylee and Beelzemon 'fly' over the tanker truck. At the same time, Beelzemon heard Kylee scream…in obvious fear.

As they landed with a hard 'bump', Beelzemon looked back to see the 'dragons' flying above, around and beneath the truck to catch up to them.

Beelzemon didn't lost time. He pulled out his pistol again before firing it another time…

Aimed at the truck's container this time…

As the ball impacted on the container, it exploded, bursting into a large ball of flames that consumed all the small 'dragons'.

Beelzemon then half-turned the motorcycle as he put on the brakes and looked toward the truck now in flames.

"Yep, that got rid of them!" Beelzemon said with a smile. He looked back to try to look at Kylee…despite the obvious fact she was still gripping on him. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm…I'm never…ever going…on that bike…ever…" Kylee mumbled, still shaking.

Despite the situation, Beelzemon chuckled a bit. "At least now we won't have to rush out as if in a race anymore." Beelzemon said.

He then pushed on the pedal once more and started driving toward the city's center once more.

-

Imperialdramon flew nearer to the city's center, which was unusually cleared. Then a large explosion surprised him, coming a bit from above.
Riza looked up to see MetalRyumon coming up.

"Nice to see you!" MetalRyumon said.
"You know, you could have waited for us." Imperialdramon said.
"Where's Kylee?" Regan shouted from MetalRyumon's back.
"She with Beelzemon on his bike!" Riza shouted back.
"Let's hope that they're coming soon." MetalRyumon said.

-

The city's center was in fact a large park. But as MetalRyumon and Imperialdramon landed and let their partner down before de-digivolving, they could see now that everything of the park was dead. All the vegetation and nature was no more, only a blank, dead ground.

"That's horrible!!!" Riza said.
Regan said nothing, simply tightening up a fist.
They then heard the sound of a motorcycle coming up close and they turned to see Beelzemon arriving with Kylee.

As Kylee and Beelzemon stepped down from the bike, it vanished as Beelzemon reverted to Impmon.

"Are you okay Kylee?" Riza asked.
"I've been a lot shaken up…thanks to Beelzemon's driving…" Kylee replied.
"Hey, like I had a choice with all those little monsters following us." Impmon said.
"So you too fought up those monsters?" Lizomon said.
"You as well?" Veemon asked.
"They were obviously some guards of Ragnarok…" Regan said.
"Obviously…but where is he?" Riza said as he looked around.
"He's close…I can feel it…" Regan muttered.
"Ragnarok!!!" Kylee shouted. "Come out!"

No answer…

Then…darkness coalesced in front of them before Ragnarok appeared, wearing his red cloak.

All three of Lizomon, Impmon and Veemon readied themselves to protect their partner.
"Hehe…welcome again, Digidestined and Tamers…" Ragnarok spoke.
"Ragnarok…why are you here? What are you trying to do?" Riza asked.

"Why and What?" Ragnarok said. "If I am here, it is because I must, for I have to cleanse the impurity of living creatures…

As for what am I doing right now…I thought you already knew…" Ragnarok said.
"Yeah, the portal…but where does it lead?" Lizomon said. "You aren't just opening up a portal for show. You intend to bring out something from it, so where does it lead?"

"Brilliant thought from you again Lizomon! I couldn't expect any less from you." Ragnarok said. "Yes, I am bringing something through this portal…

In fact, I am opening a gateway between this world and the Digital World…"

"The Digital World? Why?" Kylee asked.
"Evil digimon, that's why…" Regan said, having realized the truth. "He wants to let evil digimon come into our world to destroy it."

"Ah…nicely thought as well Regan…Of course it should have been expectable as well." Ragnarok said with some pleasure in the voice.

"You seem to be so much expecting things from Regan and Lizomon. What about us? We're really strong too!" Riza said.

"Really? Are you truly sure to know everything about Regan?" Ragnarok said.
"Huh?" Kylee and Riza were surprised. "Regan, what does he means?" Kylee asked.

"Perhaps I should 'explain'…" Ragnarok said as he raised his hands and started pulling off the hood…

As they saw the face, Kylee, Impmon, Riza and Veemon gasped, extremely surprised.

For the face was nothing more than exactly the same…as Regan…

Only his eyes were of a blood red color and his hairs were grey.

Even his clothes were the same as Regan, only of a different color and looking rather ragged and splattered with some dried blood. Gray gloves, purple shirt, a dark sickly green coloured vest, black pants and grey and black coloured shoes.

"That's…who are you?" Kylee said, looking a lot surprised and worried.
"Who am I?" Ragnarok, the 'other Regan' said, raising his arms, displaying himself more. "I think it should be obvious…" he finished with a cunning smile.

Regan looked angry and uncertain, his fists tights…but shaking a bit.

"Regan…I don't understand…" Riza said.

"Perhaps a little more of explanation may be needed…" another voice said as small form of darkness appearance right next to Ragnarok before it formed into a digimon…

But not any digimon…

It looked exactly like Lizomon…only it was of a pure black color with dark red eyes filled with evil intent. A dark grin was on the digimon's face.

"That voice…you're the one who 'offered' me that power and manipulated me to kill Lizomon!" Impmon said as he pointed at the black Lizomon.

"Ahh, so you are smarter than I thought…" the black Lizomon said.

Lizomon started growling like a wild beast, his form now arched, as if readying to pounce on the black Lizomon.

"Well, nice to see you too again, puny original…" the black Lizomon said.
"Like I wanted to see you again, faker!" Lizomon replied with extreme harshness and anger, in such a way that the Tamers and their digimon hadn't seen of Lizomon.

"What's…what are they?" Veemon asked uncertainly.

"Yes…I haven't completely told everything about Ragnarok…and myself…" Regan said, his fists still tight.

"Is he…would he be…your twin brother?" Riza asked.
"No…" Regan said. I'd never want to have him as my brother.
The only thing that he has of human right now is his appearance. He got nothing else of human!" Regan added more loudly, pointing at Ragnarok.
"I don't get it…" Kylee said

"Ragnarok…he was born…through me…

It was my emotions that unleashed him…
I once fell into a deep anger…and at that time…it awakened Ragnarok…who took control of me…
But I managed to take my control back, but he had already pulled his spirit out of me. However, we managed to destroy him again.

But he reappeared…
And obviously he has been thinking that the best way to deal out with those who had been the most troublesome to him was to 'imitate' them…" Regan said.

"It takes one to know one…" the other Regan said with a little glee, yet still with a dark grin.

Regan glared at the other 'him'. "He managed to create a form to look mostly like me…and from some data that he had managed to get from Lizomon…he created a virus copy of him, a BlackLizomon.

That BlackLizomon is very much 'similar' to Lizomon in terms of power, so he's a dangerous match.

And later on, we discovered that both could bio-merge.

That's why I wanted to deal with him quickly in the Digital World…and alone with Lizomon…

Because it's my responsibility. It's because of me that he came out, so I have to deal with him, once and for all!" Regan finished.

"So…you could say that these two…they are a dark reflection of us…a kind of 'opposite'…" Lizomon added.

"Opposite…" Kylee repeated.
"He'd be you…if you were evil…" Impmon said. "Regan's been always nice with us, and obviously making sure that we were all right. This 'other Regan', Ragnarok, he wants nothing more than killing things and cares for no one but his sorry self!

I'm really having enough of you now…I'll help out Regan and Lizomon…because they deserve it…" Impmon finished as he stepped forward, coming to Lizomon's side.

"Yeah!" Veemon said as he came up to Lizomon's other side. "I'm sure that Regan would have never wanted to let out this Ragnarok if he knew! It's surely not really his fault, and we'll help him for that!"

Regan looked at the digimon with surprise…then he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He turned to see Riza having put his hand and looking at him. "Hey, we're with you Regan. You deserve it." He said.

Then he felt another hand on his other shoulder and looked at Kylee, who had put her hand as well. "You helped us…so we'll help you Regan…

Just like the other Digidestined would have wanted to do…" she said.

"The others…" Regan thought. Yeah…they would have surely helped…if not for Regan having been incredibly obstinate in wanting them to go away…and even in destroying the way in for them as AtmaRyumon.

"Thanks…" he said to the Tamers.

"Ah…friendship…you really think it will be enough?" the other Regan said.
"Oh yeah it'll be enough!" Veemon said.
"You can be sure that we'll show you our power, what is the power of friendship." Impmon added.
"You will not win Ragnarok. We won't let you win. We will stop you, for we're strong enough to do so." Lizomon said.

"Yeah, we're Tamers and we'll protect our world!" Riza said.
"You messed up with us for far too long! Now we'll teach you a real lesson of life!" Kylee replied.
"Ragnarok…we finish this…once and for all…" Regan then said.

Ragnarok smirked before laughing. "Very well…come to me!

Come to your end…" he finished as BlackLizomon slowly stepped forward, readying to fight.

Impmon, Veemon and Lizomon readied themselves against him.

"This is it…" Kylee thought.