Hey Folks! I'm sure many of you are surprised to see an update this fast, well, to be honest, so am I. Anyways, don't expect lots of fast turnarounds like this, though I'll strive to get more with only a week delay!
Last Time: Justimon, MetalGarurumon, and Matt rushed ahead to Imperialdramon's crash site, only to get attacked by Sakuyamon. It seemed like Sakuyamon was being controlled, but when Justimon attempted to destroy the digimon he thought was controlling her, he only met thin air, and one of Sakuyamon's attacks. After she knocked out Justimon, Sakuyamon pretty much kicked everyone else's ass, until Gallantmon showed up to stop her. Only, he was interrupted by EmperorGreymon.
Disclaimer: I don't own. Seriously, if I did I'd buy myself a computer that doesn't like to shut itself off like my current one does.
Chapter 13 Gallantmon vs. EmperorGreymon
Takato
"Lightning Joust!" Gallantmon released a blast of blue energy at his target, obliterating it and the building right behind it. "Lightning Joust!" Gallantmon then swung his lance around, hitting several more Diaboromon who were rushing towards him, destroying them in a second as well.
I think that's the last of them. Takato said as he panted for a bit inside Gallantmon. He turned towards the city where the rest of the rescue team had disappeared to. We should catch up to the others.
Right Takato! Guilmon replied, finally responding to Takato. He'd been mostly silent throughout the brief fight with the Diaboromon, something that was normally unthinkable for the red dinosaur like digimon. The only time he was this quiet was when he was taking everything completely serious.
Takato wasn't surprised that Guilmon was taking this seriously, since the one thing that was guaranteed to make the red dinosaur like digimon serious was the other Tamers and their partners being in extreme danger.
Gallantmon took off through the city, travelling as fast as he could in the direction that the others had taken into the city.
Of course I should have thought about how I'd find the others before deciding to separate from them… Takato thought to himself as Gallantmon sped through the city. Almost in response to his thought, what looked like a large explosion appeared in front of him, drawing his attention.
That looks promising. Takato said aloud, heading right for the explosion, increasing Gallantmon's speed as the sounds of fighting reached him. Gallantmon jumped into the air as he neared the sounds of battle, climbing the side of a building in hopes of using the high ground to his advantage in the fight he was about to enter into.
The sight that greeted him wasn't anything close to what he was expecting when he finally reached the top of the building. Below him was what was once a fairly standard city block, but it had been transformed into a wreckage filled disaster area. There was a deep gouge through the center of the street, leading to a halfway collapsed building, which had several people, Tamers judging by the digimon partners running with them, running towards it.
In addition to this, several of the building had signs of recent battle damage on many of the floors, and scattered around the street were several craters, which looked like they were fairly recent. In the center of this, and advancing towards a fallen MetalGarurumon and Phonixmon, was Sakuyamon.
What the…Takato said inside Gallantmon, instantly confused by what looked like Rika's Biomerged form attacking all of them. Sure, something like that had happened in the past, but Rika and Renamon had been controlled by another digimon at that time.
That must be what's going on. Takato thought to himself, coming to the only conclusion that made any sense for why Sakuyamon was attacking the people below him, and knowing what he would have to do now. What he had promised Rika that he would do.
Gallantmon watched Mistymon attempt to stop Sakuyamon, with little success, and that spurred him into action, jumping from the building towards Sakuyamon.
"Jeremy, you should know that the only ones who even have a chance of hurting me are actual Mega-Levels." Sakuyamon said, as Gallantmon flew down the side of the building towards her. Before he could get to her though, she had already attacked Mistymon, and sent him flying.
Damn it! Takato shouted within Gallantmon as Mistymon was sent flying. Why does this always happen? What is it about Rika that always causes her to be the one who is controlled by some psychotic digimon?
"Well, then how about this? Lightning Joust!" Gallantmon fired of a blast of lightning, aiming at the ground right in front of Sakuyamon, sending her flying across the street.
"Gallantmon!" Sora exclaimed he landed right where Sakuyamon had been standing.
Gallantmon ignored the red haired Digidestined, instead focusing on Sakuyamon, who was getting to her feet.
"Sakuyamon, I don't know what's happening with you, but you need to stop right now." Gallantmon said as he raised his lance towards Sakuyamon. Takato still hoped that this was some crude joke, or some words might break through whatever mind control Sakuyamon was under.
"Oh, like you're actually going to attack me Takato." Sakuyamon said in an almost taunt, dashing Takato's hopes. "You couldn't bring yourself to do it."
If only that were true… Takato thought to himself before his mind replayed a memory from several years before…
~Flashback~
Takato walked through the dimly lit hallways of the HYPNOS infirmary, doing his best to avoid the many nurses and doctors who were bustling about the facility, which was surprising large, at least to Takato. Despite the fact that HYPNOS was supposed to be a relatively small, secret organization, its infirmary was the size of an entire hospital wing. This had turned out to be a good thing however, as the entire infirmary was filled with injured people.
Most of the people were Tamers, or HYPNOS field agents, and all of them had been injured in the same incident, which was one of the reasons there were dozens of nurses and doctors running around.
Takato dodged another nurse, before catching sight of an obnoxiously large amount of brown hair out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see Tai Kamiya, the real Tai Kamiya, as in the leader of the Digidestined Tai Kamiya, sitting, his arm in a sling and his head bandaged, playing some card game with several younger Tamers and their partners.
Tai had arrived here from what the Monster Makers were saying was an alternate dimension, a few months previously, and had been trying to find some way to get to his own dimension when this latest digimon incident had occurred.
Takato paused for only a second, watching as Tai interacted with the young Tamers and their partners, all of whom were also injured to some degree. He envied the way Tai was able to interact so easily with the other Tamers, since it was something that Takato still had difficulties with. After a few more seconds of observation Takato continued on his way, since he wasn't here to see Tai.
The room he was looking for was at the farthest end of the infirmary, which afforded its single occupant a degree of privacy most of the others in the infirmary didn't have. Takato reached the door fairly quickly, and paused outside looking in.
Rika Nonaka sat alone in the room, staring up at the ceiling, not seeming to notice anything around her.
Takato hesitated for a second before stepping into the room and closing the door, which seemed to startle Rika slightly.
"Hey." Takato said quietly as he sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"What do you want goggles?" Rika asked, her voice much colder than it had been in a while. In fact, it reminded him of how she used to talk to him, when they first got their partners.
"Don't do that Rika." Takato replied, sighing internally at Rika's standard defense method. She always tried to wall herself off if she felt threatened by something emotionally, or if she was hurt emotionally. She never seemed to be able to just open up and talk about it.
"Don't do what?" Rika replied, which earned her a look from Takato.
"Don't wall yourself off from your friends, from me." He replied, and this time Rika snorted.
"Yea, like any of you still want to talk to me after this." Rika replied, looking away from Takato. "How could anyone still want to talk to me after what I did?"
"I still want to talk to you." Takato said immediately, and Rika glanced at him for a second before turning away.
"Yea, well you've always been kinda thick goggles." She replied. "You'd be better off finding someone else to bother all the time."
"Shut up Rika." Takato answered, his voice coming out harsh. That was more than enough to get Rika to turn and look at him. "I know who I'm best off bothering. I don't need you to tell me anything."
"Taka-" Rika started to reply, but Takato just cut her off.
"And another thing, no one blames you for what happened." Takato continued over Rika's protests, knowing he had to get all of this in before she tried to say anything else. "You weren't in control of yourself. You didn't do any of that, it was all NeoDevimon, and no one blames you, so stop doing this self-blaming hating yourself thing…"
Crap, I kinda lost it there at the end… Takato thought to himself as his speech sputtered out at the end, but it still seemed to have the desired effect on Rika, who was looking at him wide eyed for a second. I just hope this snaps her out of her funk.
"Who said I was blaming myself?" Rika suddenly asked in a half shout, startling Takato, who looked back to see her eyes narrowed. "Geez you stupid goggle head, coming in here and yelling at me like that for no reason. Can't you see I'm in the hospital?"
Takato couldn't help but smile as Rika seemed to return to her normal abusive self. He'd been worried the entire time they'd been talking that she'd been too affected by what happened this time.
"Takato?" Rika asked, in a much quieter voice than normal.
"Yea, Rika?" Takato replied, also lowering his voice.
"Thanks." She replied, taking his hand as she smiled at him, something Takato still wasn't entirely used to, even after all the time they had been dating.
The two of them talked for another thirty minutes or so before Takato had to leave for a meeting with Yamaki. Just before he reached the door however, Rika called out his name, causing him to turn back towards her.
"Takato, I want you to make me a promise." Rika said, and Takato nodded for her to continue. "If something like this happens again, where I'm being controlled and attack you or our friends, I want you to promise that you'll stop me, no matter what."
"Rika, I highly doubt something like this will happen again…" Takato started to say, but Rika just help up a hand.
"Just promise me Takato." She pleaded, and Takato nodded after another few seconds of thought.
~Flash-forward~
That day and that promise all flashed through Takato's mind in a second as Gallantmon faced off with Sakuyamon, and Takato knew what he had to do.
"Normally you'd be right." Gallantmon replied, barely even looking at Sakuyamon. "But I made Rika a promise if something like this were to happen, and I'm not one to break a promise."
Gallantmon dashed forward, Gram extended towards Sakuyamon, who seemed frozen on the spot, looking completely surprised that Gallantmon was actually attacking her.
Ok Guilmon, we're going to attack Sakuyamon until she dedigivolves. Takato told his partner in the second they were dashing forward. Then she won't be a threat to anyone, and we can free them from the mind control.
Right. Guilmon replied simply, focusing on their charge.
Gallantmon started to charge up a Lightning Joust as he got closer to Sakuyamon, with every intent of ending the battle in a single attack. His blow however never landed, as something grabbed a hold of Gram before he could fully charge the attack. Gallantmon had the chance to see red, yellow, and orange before he was sent flying away from whoever had stopped his attack.
Gallantmon flew through the sky until he crashed into one of the surrounding buildings, and part of the way into it.
What was that? Takato asked as he slowly pulled Gallantmon to his feet.
It was a digimon! Guilmon replied, and Takato managed to keep from sighing at his partner's response. And a powerful one! It stopped our attack with his bare hand!
Takato didn't reply to this right away instead focusing on getting Gallantmon to his feet.
Did you recognize him boy? Takato asked his partner after finally getting Gallantmon to his feet.
No, but his head looked like WarGreymon. Guilmon replied, and Takato nodded. Guilmon had watched Digimon Adventure with him enough times to recognize most of the digimon shown on the show, especially Takato's personal favorite digimon, from the show that is.
Before the two of them could continue their conversation, what looked like a pillar of flame flew past the hole they'd blown in the window, followed by several more. Gallantmon looked over to where he'd been, and got his first good look at his attacker.
The digimon was about the same size as Gallantmon and was covered in ornate red, and yellow armor, and his head could have been an exact replica of WarGreymon's. This digimon was obviously some form of Greymon, though Takato knew none of Tai's partner's forms looked like that.
The digimon had a giant sword plunged into the ground in front of him, and seemed to be directing nine pillars of flame, which looked more like flaming dragons than pillars of fire now that Gallantmon had gotten a good look at them.
The nine dragons seemed to be harassing most of the Tamer and Digidestined digimon that were still on their feet.
Ok, this guy is starting to piss me off. Takato said inside of Gallantmon before having Gallantmon jump out of the building, charging an attack as he did so.
"Lightning Joust!" Gallantmon sent a blast of blue energy flying right at the digimon, who didn't have the time to avoid the attack. It hit him right on, causing an explosion. Gallantmon knew the attack had done some damage as the harassing fire dragons disappeared when the attack hit.
Gallantmon landed between the remaining Tamers and Digidestined and the Greymon digimon.
"Gallantmon!" Several of the people behind him called out as he landed.
"Everyone stay back, I'll take care of these two." Gallantmon replied, waiting for the smoke in front of him to clear. The sight that greeted him wasn't what he was expecting. The Greymon digimon was holding its sword like some sort of projectile weapon, and pointing it right at Gallantmon.
"Dragonfire Crossbow!" The digimon shouted as the blade suddenly shot forward, right at Gallantmon, who quickly pulled his shield, Aegis, into place to block the attack. The shield protected Gallantmon, but he was still sent flying backwards from the attack, landing several hundred feet back from where he'd been standing.
"Pyro Dragons!" Gallantmon looked up to see the digimon in the air above him, pointing his reformed sword at him, just before the nine flame dragons from before erupted from his body, heading for Gallantmon.
"Lightning Joust!" Gallantmon quickly swiped Gram around, which allowed the attack to be less focused, and hit all nine of the dragons, destroying them. (AN1)
"Very good Takato." The digimon said as it landed, and this time Gallantmon could actually tell that there were two voices coming from the digimon, two familiar voices.
"Tai, Agumon?" Gallantmon asked as the digimon landed across from him.
"Who else did you expect it to be Takato?" The digimon replied, and Takato was sure it was Tai and Agumon.
But when did they get a Bio-merged form? Takato asked aloud, speaking to himself.
Well, sometime after they left. That's the only time they could have. Guilmon replied, obviously not understanding that Takato was talking to himself.
"I'm sure you're wondering when and how I got a Bio-merged form, right Takato?" Tai and Agumon's Bio-merged form asked, and Gallantmon simply nodded. "Back in my dimension, a few months ago Agumon and I were able to Bio-merge into this form, EmperorGreymon. As to how, I'm not really sure, but parts of my digivice are designed to be like yours, remember?"
"I guess that makes sense." Gallantmon replied cautiously. "But why are you attacking us if that's really you?"
"Well, that's pretty simple." EmperorGreymon replied. "You are interfering in Lord Bagramon's plans, so I've got to kill all of you."
"What?" Gallantmon managed to get out, hoping that he'd heard EmperorGreymon incorrectly.
"I said, I've got to kill you." EmperorGreymon replied. "I mean, that's not that hard of a concept to understand is it? You've been trying to do the same thing to Lord Bagramon since he came here to benevolently rule this dimension."
"Would you listen to yourself?" Gallantmon asked, shaking his head. "Do you realize the nonsense you just said?"
"I didn't say anything that didn't make sense." EmperorGreymon replied, "I just have to kill all of you here. That makes perfect sense."
"Really, killing all of your friends here is something that makes sense?" Gallantmon asked, gesturing around him. "Killing me and the other Tamers, all of your Digidestined friends, your sister, Sora?" Gallantmon had gotten to a shout at that point, hoping that he could say something that would break the mind control.
"Kari." EmperorGreymon said slowly. "Sora." EmperorGreymon slowly lowered the arm that held his sword, and both parts of Gallantmon started to hope that they'd actually done it. "Kari, Sora…" EmperorGreymon said again, before letting out a shout and grabbing his head.
"EmperorGreymon!" Gallantmon exclaimed, taking a step towards the other digimon, which turned out to be the wrong move.
"Dragonfire Blast!" EmperorGreymon swung his sword up, unleashing a blast of fiery energy at Gallantmon. Gallantmon didn't even have the chance to block the attack, which hit him across his chest and sent him flying backwards once again.
Agh! Takato exclaimed within Gallantmon, literally feeling the burning sensation across his chest from EmperorGreymon's attack. The attack had left a deep gouge in Gallantmon's armor, leaving the once pristine white armor ripped open.
Takatomon! Guilmon called out, also feeling the pain from the attack, but more worried about his partner.
I'm fine boy. Takato managed to say, one hand holding his chest. He's very powerful, probably even more powerful than we are right now.
EmperorGreymon advanced towards the still unmoving Gallantmon, his sword held on his shoulder as he approached him.
We're going to have to fight him with everything we've got if we want to defeat him Guilmon. Takato said as he started to push Gallantmon to his feet.
Does that mean I get to fly again? Guilmon asked, knowing what Takato was referring to right away.
Yea boy. Takato replied before looking inside himself for the familiar feeling of his digivice.
Many people didn't know it, but it was still possible to feel your digivice after Bio-merging with your partner. There weren't many things you could do with your digivice while Bio-merged, so most of the Tamers who could Bio-merge didn't ever both with it, but Takato did. There was one thing Takato's digivice could do that the others couldn't.
Crimson Mode, Activate! Takato exclaimed, just before there was a rush of power around him.
Outside, Gallantmon was covered in a crimson sphere of energy, which caused EmperorGreymon to take a step back, simply from the sheer force of the power. After a few seconds the sphere shattered, revealing a changed Gallantmon.
The huge gouge in his armor from EmperorGreymon's attack was gone, completely repaired. His armor had turned more ornate and almost completely crimson. He had eight white wings on his back which were spread open, ready for flight. Gram and Aegis had been replaced by two other weapons, a lance of light, Gungnir, and a sword of light, Blutgang, energy weapons that had no physical form.
"What's this?" EmperorGreymon asked, looking over Gallantmon's new form.
"This is the Crimson Mode, and it will be what frees you from Bagramon's control." Gallantmon replied before flying forward, Blutgang held in front of him.
"Royal Saber!" Gallantmon exclaimed, and a more powerful version of the Lightning Joust flew out from Blutgang. EmperorGreymon barely had the chance to block the attack with his sword, and even then the sheer power of the attack sent him flying.
"You can't hope to stand up to me in this form EmperorGreymon, you may as well surrender now." Gallantmon said, floating in the air above EmperorGreymon.
"Dragonfire Blast!" Gallantmon swung Gungnir around at block the attack, but EmperorGreymon followed it up with another, which succeeded in forcing Gallantmon back.
"You sure did get cocky as soon as you got into that new outfit." EmperorGreymon said before jumping into the air, heading right for Gallantmon.
"Final Elysian!" Gallantmon unleashed a massive blast of white light at EmperorGreymon, who was forced to stop his charge to defend against Gallantmon's attack.
"Pyro Dragons!" EmprorGreymon unleashed one of his own attacks at the Final Elysian, but the nine dragons simply slowed it down, rather than stopping it all together. EmperorGreymon was sent flying out of the sky by the attack, and Gallantmon pressed his advantage, heading right for him.
"Invincible Sword!" Gallantmon called out, and Blutgang started to glow with energy. Gallantmon swung Blutgang down on EmperorGreymon, hoping to finish him off with that last blow. "You're finished!" Gallantmon exclaimed as he attacked. EmperorGreymon however managed to get his own sword up to block the attack.
"I don't think so." EmperorGreymon replied, and his blade started to glow with energy. "Dragonfire Blast!" The attack hit Blutgang, sending Gallantmon into the air, though he didn't take any damage from the attack.
How did he manage to block Invincible Sword? Takato asked aloud as he had Gallantmon dive back down towards EmperorGreymon. It should have cut through his sword easily.
Guilmon didn't get the chance to reply as Gallantmon closed in on EmperorGreymon, who dodged his diving attack easily.
"You're going to have to be faster than that!" EmperorGreymon taunted before sending another blast at Gallantmon. Gallantmon simply blocked the attack before charging at EmperorGreymon, who wasn't able to get away that time.
The two digimon exchanged a flurry of blows, Gallantmon's advantage of two weapons was seemingly cancelled out by EmperorGreymon's sheer speed. He was able to stop all of Gallantmon's first blows, and then dodge the follow up one.
"Is this the best you've got?" EmperorGreymon asked as the two digimon put some distance between them. Neither wanted to admit it, but the two of them were so evenly matched neither could gain an advantage over the other one.
Takatomon, the armor's starting to get too hot… Guilmon called out inside of Gallantmon, and Takato could feel it as well. Crimson Mode had several drawbacks to it that kept Takato from using it every battle. For one, it required a lot of energy, from both him and Guilmon, to use. Another drawback is that it had a time limit. The sheer power that Gallantmon released is what turns his armor crimson. It is crimson with heat from the power that Gallantmon releases, and for that reason cannot be maintained for long, as the armor would melt off of him.
Ok, I guess we're just going to have to finish him off quickly then. Takato replied, knowing that what he was about to do could kill Tai and Agumon. He'd been holding back from using full power attacks throughout the fight because he didn't actually want to kill the digimon across from him, just knock him out of his mega form. I guess there's no more time for that, since I'm the only one with a chance of stopping him. Takato thought to himself. We have to get him into the sky though, otherwise the others might get hurt.
Ok Takatomon.
Gallantmon suddenly shot straight up into the sky, and EmperorGreymon didn't waste any time chasing after him.
"Running away isn't going to help you out Gallantmon!" EmperorGreymon called out as he chased after him.
"Who said anything about running?" Gallantmon replied, turning to face EmperorGreymon.
Ok, this should be high enough, Takato said out loud. I just hope that this work.
Gallantmon cocked back Gungnir, taking aim right at EmperorGreymon.
"Crimson Light!" Gallantmon threw the spear right at EmperorGreymon, who held up an arm to catch the thrown weapon. What he wasn't expecting however was the blast of crimson energy that shot out from the spear before it hit him, hitting him square in the chest. (AN2)
"Ugh." EmperorGreymon let out a grunt before falling backwards in the air, and right out of the sky. Gallantmon watched him fall for a second before descending after him. EmperorGreymon hit the ground, hard, head first, which caused a massive crater to form where he had hit the ground.
Gallantmon landed next to the crater, and as soon as his feet hit the ground, his armor shattered, revealing the normal Gallantmon for a second, before he started to glow and split into Takato and Guilmon.
The two partners landed on their feet, and after a second approached the crater, looking in. At the bottom of the crater, Tai and Agumon were sprawled out, unconscious.
"It worked." Takato breathed out, letting out a sigh of relief at the same time. Takato looked back down at the two, wondering if they were still under Bagramon's control. Looking at the two of them from where he was standing, Takato could make out some sort of band on Tai's head. He would have thought that it was some fashion thing that Tai decided to wear, if it wasn't for the matching one on Agumon's head.
Before Takato could wonder what they were however, they both shattered into a dozen different pieces, which then proceeded to turn to dust.
"What the hell?" Takato asked, before there was the sound of a large explosion behind him. He turned around quickly, and was rather surprised to see that there was another battle going on.
~Chapter End~
So I didn't end it on the same cliff hanger! How about that? Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed that chapter. Also, yes, Rukato was the winner of that poll I set up nearly a year ago, and I got that kinda kicked off this chapter. If you're not a fan, sorry, but there won't really be an overbearing amount of it, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal. And there will be a good explanation of why Jeri's out of the picture. Until next time!
So, for Gallantmon Crimson Mode's attacks, I know I didn't use the exact attack names from the show, but honestly I like these ones better. If you look on the wiki it gives you the names for them, and what they do.
AN1 When I saw less focused, I mean the attack isn't the normal attack. Its not a straight shot like it normally is, but is able to be used as a whip of sorts, blocking the attack. If I didn't really explain it well, feel free to let me know and I'll try to explain it better.
AN2 So yea, Crimson Light is supposed to be the attack that kills a lot of bad guys, not a highly focused power attack like I used here, but I decided to modify it a little bit. Basically instead of releasing it against a bunch of enemies, Gallantmon focuses it on one enemy, who takes the full force of the attack.
Review Replies: First off thanks to everyone who reviewed. I think last chapter was the most reviews I've ever gotten in a single chapter, so you guys are awesome!
Shuuwai: Haha, ye a I know It was kinda mean, but it keeps people interested! And thanks! I tend to forget stuff like that from time to time, so when I do remember, I always put it in to the story. But I know exactly what you mean.
OliverWoodLuvr: Yea, this one still had a cliffhanger, but it was different. And yea, you could say that they're in a load of trouble. And yea, you'll have to wait a little while longer for a good explanation of what was going on, though there were some hints. And yea, I've always thought that life or death situations make people forget their differences, so that's what's going on here. And the whole chapter's Takato centric, so how about that?
The Other guy: You know, my email won't even display all of your review, and I'm very tempted not to reply, just because its so damn long…seriously, your review replies add like 1000 words to every chapter…not that it's a bad thing, I'm just stating a fact. Any ways, nice story you got there. I suppose I could mention the next button's been there since like, April, but I won't. Me, a sneaky bastard? For posting chapters at a consistent pace? I guess that does make me a bastard. And why would I do that? Some people don't have profiles, and I want them to review. This story hasn't gotten any anonymous flames yet, so there's no reason to. And no, you can't have Jeremy. And ok, I won't reply to your mentions of previous chapters either. Ok, I will talk about Rika…it seriously wasn't intentional. It just worked out that she would be the one under mind control…honest, it wasn't intentional, but I decided to make it seem that way, as you see with this chapter. So you do like my cliffhanger scheme! I'm glad! And you don't have to worry about that. I can personally guarantee you that their relationship won't be identical to Tai and Matt's, similar yes, but not identical. And no physical violence. And thanks! I know what you mean, and hopefully this chapter kept the action that way. Also, question, how you like the one week turn around? Nice, right?
Japboix1: haha, I'll take both! I didn't really intend for it to get that out of control, it just kinda happened that I could do it, and I was like, why not? And you'll have to wait a little longer to find out about that. Some major hints next chapter, but nothing concrete until the chapter after.
Squee the magical bunny: Thanks! And yes, they are most certainly going to be in this fic. The next arc will focus on them!
Cipriana: I'm glad you've finally caught up! And yes, Barbamon is the Demon Lord of Greed, but he hasn't been in the story yet. I think you're thinking of Bagramon, whois simply a General for one of the Demon Lords (or I could be wrong, let me know) Thanks! Yea, I'm expecting most people weren't expecting Tai to turn, but he didn't really get much choice in the matter. And yea, Ryo's still off in a crater somewhere, which is leaving everything to Takato, and don't worry about Matt, he'll get some good, not getting his ass kicked, action soon. And that is the question to ask!
PrincessOfDestiny14: haha, I'll keep that in mind. And yea, there is a bit of that, isn't there? And you're getting close, but still not quite there.
Nightwatcher55: nope, sorry. He's a different guy from the one on Xros Wars.
Pokemon-35055: Ok, done.
TaioraWarrior: Why a little kid? That's what I'm really wondering? Why the little kid? Haha, anyways, I'm glad you liked the ending, since I did as well, it was a great way to get into this chapter. And what…high…I never write when I'm high…honest! Haha. And yea, I thought it was pretty good. I was trying to convey some of the old Rika dislike of Ryo. Yep! And yea, apparently the jerk has been reading along the whole time and only decided to announce it after I hit chapter 13…
Doctorjaws: haha yea, that always happens, but I like making people comment about it, makes me laugh at least. Thanks! I liked all of that chapter as well, personally. And thanks! I like to think I've got a pretty good balance of keeping people interested without frustrating them too much with my cliffhangers. Ok. And no problem. I like to hear what my readers think all the time. And yea, I think I'm not going to kill her off, after quite a bit of deliberation. I don't really have a better role for her, but I also don't have a good reason to kill her off, so I won't.
SoulReaper1103: Thanks! I'm glad you found the time to catch up! And that's good. I never really try to give a perfect description, since I figure most people will just look these guys up. And good to hear!
Wintersmith: Thanks! And yep! Nothing like a good crack on the head to start it off. And yep, they probably would.