Author's Notes: This story really did go by pretty quickly without all of the nonessential sidequests in the way... I broke the rest of the main story up into just three more chapters so yup. There's more I can go on about regarding certain sets of cases, but I'll wait until tomorrow. First off, Takumi's return and Kyoko's reveal!
Nokia whined as her tongue was completely numb. "Ack! Thtop it! Thtop it, I thaid!" she cried as Kyoko was once again refilling her empty coffee cup.
"But to think that you were a Digimon…" Yuuko stared at the woman in amazement, "How long has that been the case?"
"Now's as good time as any," Kyoko crossed her arms. "Let me explain about how I've been sharing the memories of Kuremi Kyoko. Eight years ago, when the Digital World first fell prey to the Eaters, after the EDEN beta test… I discerned rather early on that the cause of the problem lay in another world, one in a neighboring dimension to our own. It was a different sort of 'digital world', one created by humans. At the same time, in the human world, a detective named Kuremi Kyoko found out about EDEN Syndrome. She had been hired by Kamishiro Satoru to look into and expose illegal activity within his own company."
Yuuko's eyes widened in surprise. "You… she… worked for my father?"
"Yes," the Digimon in a human's body nodded. "And then she was contacted by a whistle-blower who wanted to meet with her in secret. She agreed and went alone into cyberspace." A frown suddenly appeared on her face as she continued. "However, this was one of Kishibe Rie's traps. She had the burning ambition to hold the real power of Kamishiro and have Kamishiro Satoru accused for any and all illicit dealings by Kuremi Kyoko… Even the evidence was a clever forgery. Donations to politicians, selling user data… It was just the sort of story that the media was going to be all over."
"So she already mastered her tactic of using public perception to her advantage," Takumi said as he shuddered at the woman's fearsome personality.
The detective nodded to him. "But a trap even bigger than Kishibe's was in the works… And so, Kuremi Kyoko was consumed by an Eater! She contracted EDEN Syndrome like Kishibe Rie. But she wasn't convinced it was a trap by Suedou Akemi until she learned he'd been researching the Eaters, which was only just recently."
"Suedou-san used the Eaters to attack Kishibe?" the boy knit his eyebrows together. "Why would he…?"
"He probably went ahead with it out of respect for Kamishiro Satoru," she guessed, "in order to protect him from Kishibe's ambitions."
"Suedou… and my father…" Yuuko frowned as she let it all sink in.
"And at the same time, 'this' version of me…" the woman referred to her Digimon self, "fell prey to the Eaters and entered EDEN through a gap in the wall between the dimensions. But that gap was small. The data mass had to be compressed to the level of a Digimon still in training. In that state, I could not engage in any serious activities. I needed some form of a host vessel. It was then that I found the body of Kuremi Kyoko, who had lost her mental data. I found that by replacing her mental data with my own, I could take over her body. That was how I was able to move about in the real world. However," she looked up towards the teenagers staring at her, "replacing someone else's mental functions naturally comes with major risks."
"What kind of risks?" Takumi gulped.
"Human bodies are complex," she looked into the half-cyber boy's blue eyes. "You have to sync the host and the memories to those of the body. This might have resulted in degeneration for me as a Digimon. Looking back on it, I think I was destined to find this body… that of Kuremi Kyoko. There was a perfect sync between her sense of purpose and my duties, without any rejection. I became Kyoko and Kyoko became me."
"And what about LordKnightmon?" Yuuko hesitantly asked.
"Ah, LordKnightmon fell to this planet as I did and must have synced with Kishibe Rie's body," Kyoko nodded. "From your perspective there must be no difference between LordKnightmon's actions and my own. We both ended up using another's body as a host. Takumi…" she never took her eyes off her dear assistant, "Had your body been available, I would have used it without hesitation. Do you think less of me for that?" she asked him.
Takumi stared at her in silence before a smirk appeared on his face. "It sounds like it'd be convenient!"
Kyoko chuckled at him. "Just the answer I'd expect from you," she nodded as she brought her hand to her chin.
"Well, I say that…" the boy lowered his gaze and frowned, "but in actuality… if you had used me from back then… wouldn't you have fallen to my darkness the same way LordKnightmon fell to Kishibe's?"
"But it was already at that point after the EDEN beta test that you changed, wasn't it?" Kyoko asked him. "From then on, you developed your undying devotion to protect your friends."
"Eh?" Takumi lifted his gaze at that.
"Even once you had been robbed of your memories, you strove to improve yourself, no matter the circumstances that befell you," the woman smiled at him. "It was probably for that reason that you were fated to be my assistant now…" she told him.
The boy knit his eyebrows together and gave her a very small, but extremely grateful smile. "K-kyoko-san…!" He brought his arm up to his face as he began crying. "Th-thank you…!"
"To think that you've been living as a human!" Omegamon exclaimed in amazement as a screen popped up from Nokia's Digivice.
"Oh, yeah!" Nokia blinked at her Digimon. "Even Omegamon didn't catch on. There's no way we could have figured it out."
"It might be selfish to ask you to trust a Digimon you know nothing about, but…" Kyoko looked between the three teens, "I'd like to keep working together, as we have up until now. As one of the gang."
"I think…" Takumi continued to cry, "I must have known this had been the truth for a while now… that you were a Digimon… But even so… I don't mind… because to me… you're still the same Kyoko-san who believes in me and is always saving me… O-of course, I trust you!"
"Takumi…" The woman smiled at her assistant's obvious answer but looked over towards Nokia and Yuuko to see what they thought of it all.
"Kn-knock it off, Kyoko-san!" Nokia frowned at her. "You've got a human body? And you're a Digimon inside? I have no idea what any of that means! And you'd serve up coffee that was like drinking the River Styx with a big smile on your face the whole time! You actually thought that tasted good!? So no, I wasn't totally convinced you were human."
"Hmm… I see," the woman studied Nokia's confused expression. "So what you're saying is that my creations were lacking? Let me redouble my efforts then. Give me a chance to redeem myself!"
The red-haired girl tensed up. "Yikes! You intend to kill us with coffee!? No, that's not it!" she became serious as she looked straight into the detective's eyes. "Kyoko-san has been trying all along to do something about EDEN Syndrome and the Eaters. Don't none of you see that we can't not trust her?"
"N-nokia-san, wait," Yuuko frowned at the girl sitting next to her in confusion, "is that a yes or a no?" She sighed as Takumi continued to cry across from her. "And shouldn't you be pulling yourself together by now?" The boy nodded as he tried to stifle his sniffling. The raven-haired girl shook her head at her two very random friends before looking up at the detective. "Now I want to ask something of you, Kyoko-san. The cause for the appearance of Eaters in the Digital World lies with us. And yet, why are you helping us?"
"I must bring my role to fruition," the woman answered while crossing her arms. "That is all," she smirked. "As for the incident eight years ago, you were all so young. There was nothing you could have done, was there?"
Yuuko closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she had a point.
"But…" Nokia frowned, "It's still all so terrible. Awful things happened to the Digital World and it's all our fault."
Takumi lowered his gaze. "Arata was right… It's a difficult truth to face because we no longer have an excuse to hide behind…"
"Would it have been better not to have remembered?" Kyoko asked them.
"No…" Nokia frowned. "I don't think that!" she grinned. "It's terrible, but… I'm personally glad I remembered!"
"I am, too," Yuuko nodded in agreement. "Even if I could forget the bad things, I wouldn't want to forget what's important."
"That's right!" Nokia stated. "Agumon and Gabumon, Takumi, Yuuko-chi, Yuugo-kun and Arata, too! The friends we had back then. We can't forget them. They're precious memories!"
"Since remembering my brother… and also Arata-san as well…" Yuuko smiled.
"We have to go to them, right?" Nokia asked.
Kyoko chuckled at the girls. "Just the answer I'd expect from you two," she nodded. "And moreover… it's a very human answer. Wouldn't you agree, Takumi?"
The boy tensed up as she looked towards him for his opinion. Takumi closed his eyes to put his thoughts together before suddenly opening them and shaking his head. His answer should have been obvious. "Of course!" the boy nodded in determination, ready to do whatever it takes to correct their past mistakes. "Let's go! Ever onward to the shining future!" he declared. "I'm ready for my next assignment, Kyoko-san!"
Kyoko nodded as she began scanning the city's Digital Waves. "The first thing we have to do is to put a stop to Duftmon's plans," she stated.
"Right!" Takumi nodded along with his two friends. The teens quickly gathered around the detective's desk as they began planning for their next operation.
"Duftmon will reuse the Digital Line that was used in the Paradise Lost Plan," she crossed her arms. "He is going to fuel it with a massive Digital Wave. Should Duftmon acquire enough energy to make a large enough hole in the Dimensional Wall… he will evolve into a Digimon with power that far outstrips even that of Examon."
Yuuko frowned at that thought. "If that happens, it'll be checkmate for us."
"Yeah…" Takumi narrowed his eyes.
"Mmmf…" Nokia crossed her arms. "So, no way to continue after that? Well, we better get up in his business!" she smirked.
"Hmm," Kyoko nodded. "That's where I thought we could put a new spin on the Rescue of Kamishiro Yuuko Plan and put that into action. Last time, we only stopped the Digital Wave flow," she reminded the teens. "To better control Duftmon, we need to steal the energy he's already absorbed and weaken him."
"Is… is that even possible?" Yuuko asked.
"We'll make it possible," Kyoko smirked, "By making use of the skills of the hackers and," she nodded to Nokia, "also the Tamers."
Both girls gasped in surprise. Takumi only grinned at that though. "What exactly do you have in mind for us, Kyoko-san?" he asked.
"Here's the general idea…" Kyoko began relaying instructions to them, "We set up hacking at each EDEN Spot and change the structure of the Digital Line… so that it doesn't emit Digital Waves anymore but rather absorbs them."
"So then," Yuuko brought a hand up to her mouth, "when Duftmon connects to the Digital Line to collect energy, Duftmon will instead have his energy drained away." She closed her eyes and chuckled. "The biggest trolling strategy ever!"
"The perfect plan for Yuuko the Blackhearted!" Nokia grinned.
Yuuko blinked at her. "Eh? Black…hearted…?" she glared at Takumi who was snickering at Nokia's side.
"Perfect, indeed," the boy laughed.
"So yeah," Nokia crossed her arms and smiled at their friend, "say hi to Rebellions for me, Yuuko-chi!"
"No," Kyoko shook her head and seriously looked at the leader of Rebellions, "this role is for you to play, Shiramine Nokia!"
"Yeah!" Nokia nodded. "Good luck, Nokia… huh?" She let it sink in for a moment before tensing up. "Say what!? Me…!?"
"I think Nokia-san is perfect for the job too," Yuuko smiled at her. "The Rebellions is a unique organization that only Nokia-san can lead. Plus, I can't go back to being Yuugo. No," she frowned to herself, "I don't want to go back to being behind him." She smiled up at Takumi as he was the one who taught her that.
"Uhh… B-but…" Nokia knit her eyebrows together. "But what about hackers like Zaxon and Jude? I don't see a way I could bring them all together! No, it's impossible!" she exclaimed. "If you need a must-win plan, then I'm not…"
"That's not like you, Nokia," Omegamon frowned at her. "What have you always said at times like this? Everything will work out!"
"Omegamon…" Nokia stared at her partner.
"I believe you can do it too, Nokia!" Omegamon nodded to her.
"Yow… What is this!?" Nokia crookedly smirked. "Suddenly I'm feeling all like I CAN do it!" She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "Oh yeah," her eyes snapped open. "Yeah, that's right! I did always say that. But, Omegamon, this time is a little different!" she told her Digimon.
"Huh?" Omegamon stared at her in confusion.
"It's not that everything will work out… I…" Nokia put on a determined expression. "I'll. MAKE. It. Work. Out!" she yelled. "Kyoko-san! Yuuko-chi! Takumi!" she nodded to them. "I get it. It's all good! I'll make it work somehow! Leave it to me!"
Kyoko chuckled at the girl's newfound drive. "Okay, I'm leaving it to you… Takumi, Yuuko, and I will hit Duftmon," she smirked. "His fortress is the New Metropolitan Building in Roppongi," she told the other two teens with a stern nod.
"Okay, okay, so when we're ready," Nokia grinned, "we'll meet you at the New Metropolitan Building." She raised her arm into the air and let out a determined shout. "Rebellions, to me!" she cried before taking off.
"We're just about the tipping point," Kyoko stated, "The showdown with Duftmon."
Takumi closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "I'm charged up and ready to go," he said as he opened his eyes. "Let's do this!"
Takumi stared at the distorted building with wide eyes. His breathing hitched as the massive shift in the Digital Waves was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Yuuko frowned at him in concern. "Are you sure you can handle this?"
"No," the Cyber Sleuth shook his head, "but we have to press on. Right, Kyoko-san?"
The regal knight Digimon nodded as they stared at the building's entrance. "Fighting between the humans and powerful Digimon has already broken out in the area around the Metropolitan Building," she noticed. "Magnamon and UlforceV-dramon are preventing the battle from expanding… It's only a matter of time before the scale increases. And there is a powerful force field near the top level of the Metropolitan Building," she said as she looked up. "Duftmon may be there." Takumi and Yuuko shared a nod before they all started for the massive labyrinth.
Halfway up the building, Dynasmon quickly barred their way to the elevators and frowned at the black-armored Digimon standing with the two humans attempting to foil Duftmon's plans. "You are the Ultimate Digimon working with Omegamon to aid the humans? Enemy though you may be, I applaud your ability to have defeated LordKnightmon."
"I merely lent my strength to the others," the Digimon known as Kyoko stated.
"But without your or Craniummon's powers, LordKnightmon would not have been beaten," Dynasmon pointed out. "No… That is not certain. Can one who has lost his just cause still attain victory?"
"If you wish it, I would happily resolve this without violence."
"That is not possible," the white Royal Knight shook his head. "We are already far beyond that now."
"Don't you think that the utter destruction of the 'real' world is a mistaken course of action?"
"Needless to say… Even I may look evil in your eyes, I have but one path to follow, one path to believe in!" Dynasmon prepared himself for battle. "Come, my comrades! And you humans! Which path is correct? Let a test of strength decide for us!"
"Very well," the black knight sighed before looking at the two hackers accompanying her. "It seems we have no choice but to fight. Are you both ready?"
Yuuko nodded as she quickly ordered Gaioumon to attack. "Use your Phosphorous Fire Attack!"
Takumi knit his eyebrows together and sent his team forward. "We won't lose!" he cried out as MetalGarurumon (Black) and Darkdramon sped towards the white Royal Knight. Behind him, Mugendramon began charging his cannons. "Attack!"
"Gigastick Lance!"
"Metal Fang!" MetalGarurumon (Black) howled as he bit down on Dynasmon's arm.
The draconic warrior let out a roar as his hands glowed with energy. "Dragon's Roar!" he fired a powerful shot from his palms in the hopes of casting the metal wolf aside. He left a clear opening though which Yuuko used to her advantage.
"Gaioumon! Phosphorous Fire Slash!"
The Digimon clad in samurai armor roared as he swung his swords at Dynasmon. The Digimon known as Kyoko quickly called for her glowing white sword too. "Holy Sword Gradalpha!" she charged at Dynasmon.
"Everyone, get down!" Takumi cried as Mugendramon's eyes lit up.
"Mugen Cannon!" the metal dragon roared.
Dynasmon tried to counter the blast by channeling all of the energy in his body to produce a gigantic wyvern. "Breath of Wyvern!" All of his opponents were pushed back, but the white Royal Knight winced as the side effects of his attack drained him of his strength.
MetalGarurumon (Black) howled as he launched a missile from a port on his stomach. "Garuru Tomahawk!"
Gaioumon rushed in behind the black metal wolf and crossed his blades together. "Phosphorous Fire Attack!"
"Digitalize of Soul!" The black knight supporting them quickly fired supplemental shots to further weaken Dynasmon. She soon summoned her blade again and rushed forward. "Holy Sword Gradalpha!" Dynasmon let out a pained cry but he still didn't fall so the mantle-wearing knight called out to her assistant and have him end the battle. "Takumi!"
The Cyber Sleuth had his team surround Dynasmon and raised his arm. "Xros—"
Dynasmon roared as he refused to be taken out in such a manner. The draconic Royal Knight began to concentrate the last of his power into one more attack, even if it would cost him his own life. "Dragon Collider!" His energy took on the form of phantom dragons before converging around the Cyber Sleuth and his team.
"Digitalize of Soul!" the black-armored knight quickly intercepted the attack by summoning a wide magic circle to act as a barrier.
Yuuko flinched from the searing heat but worriedly looked towards her two comrades. She let out a relieved sigh to know both the detective and her assistant were safe, but she frowned at the defeated Royal Knight's glowing body. "He… ended up destroying himself…" she muttered before standing at Takumi's side. Looking over at her friend, she noticed the red-haired boy was sympathetically frowning at the laughing Royal Knight.
"This, this is good…" the fierce Digimon chuckled to himself. "To martyr myself for my path… An honorable end!" he nodded. "I reached the end without wavering in my faith! My life will conclude in annihilation! The Way of the Knight is in death and discovery!" he laughed before his body completely disintegrated into data.
The Digimon known as Kyoko took in a deep breath and sighed. "Was his laugh a bit silly to you?" she asked both frowning teens.
"Not really," Takumi seriously replied. "He lived the way he wanted to, without doubting neither himself nor his lord. Even if it cost him his life, it was his choice in the end. He accepted his fate without question. Whether he was in the right or not is a different matter altogether. Right, Kyoko-san?"
She nodded to him. "It's all down to the will of Yggdrasil," she stated. "Both sides determine the course of events now. The Royal Knights and a single program… No matter how powerful you may be, you cannot run from destiny."
"I know," the boy muttered as he lowered his gaze. "That's why we need to face the future with everything we've got."
"Of course," Yuuko nodded. "No matter who we face, we can't afford to hesitate."
"Y-yeah…" the Cyber Sleuth hesitantly nodded as he clenched his fists. Although it was faint, he could sense an Eater's signal somewhere higher up in the building. Even if I hate to do this… I have to… "I can't allow my resolve to falter…" Especially against you… Arata…
Takumi looked up towards the helicopter pad and paused when he spotted Arata standing before Duftmon. The Royal Knight was kneeling as electricity sparked around him and Arata was only watching. Takumi closed his eyes and took a deep breath before climbing up to face his friend. "Arata…"
"Oh! You came…" the older boy turned to face the red-haired teen. He raised an eyebrow at Yuuko and the large black Digimon behind Takumi but shrugged. "He's still 'recharging'," he told them, pointing to Duftmon behind him. "I'm thinking I'll eat him once he's charged. No, that's not it," he frowned as he focused his attention on the blue-eyed boy staring at him with such a serious expression on his usually cheery face. "The truth is… I was waiting for you, Takumi."
"Yeah, I know," Takumi nodded. "It's just like you to wait for me, Arata," he gave the older boy a wry smile. "I'm glad you did… It's time we both faced our one regret, right?"
Arata knit his eyebrows together as he realized the younger boy regained his memories too. "Do you remember?" he asked, hanging his head. "Way back when? It's okay to laugh. I was such a dork. I said I would protect you all. But actually, I was just scared." The raven-haired hacker began to tremble. "I was scared and I… I left him behind."
Yuuko frowned at her brother's best friend. "Arata-san!"
"Come on, Arata…" Takumi sadly lowered his gaze. "It wasn't like I was any better…"
"You tried to help Yuugo back then though, didn't you?" Arata lifted his head up to study the Cyber Sleuth. He smiled at how much Takumi was able to change. He had grown so much from the meek boy he used to be. "Thanks… on behalf of my best friend. But I'm sorry…" he shook his head. "That was supposed to be my job. And it's one I'm finally ready to do. That's why I've been eating, eating, and eating…" He grabbed his right arm. "I've gained so much power. And so…" He walked towards Takumi and called forth a strange glowing door with his Eater arm. As he passed through it, his entire body changed and what once was Arata was now a strange humanoid Eater creature.
Yuuko's eyes widened at the ghastly sight. "Huh!?" She was about to call Gaioumon out, but Takumi quickly held his arm out in front of her.
"Yuuko…" the boy spoke in a serious tone as he never took his eyes off Arata's new form. "Please leave Arata to me…"
"Takumi…?" she stared at the redhead in surprise as he didn't hesitate in calling out his team.
"Darkdramon, Mugendramon, and…" he looked towards the dark lance-wielding knight at his side, "ChaosDukemon…" The soft-hearted teen knit his eyebrows together as he remembered how he failed to prevent both Dukemon's demise and his friend's descent. "Arata…" He clenched his fists before narrowing his eyes on the monstrous being before him. "This time for sure…" he brought his gloved hand to his heart, "I'll definitely reach you!"
The being that used to be his friend shook his head at the redhead. "Don't interfere," he begged of Takumi. "Get out of my way. Forget my past. And let me do it all over again. Just don't look at my… hideous form. I'm asking you as my friend! And… so…" He focused his attention on the Cyber Sleuth's powerful Digimon. "GIVE ME YOUR POWER."
"Arata!" Takumi called out to the older boy as he sent his team forward without reserve.
Despite Takumi's request, Yuuko also wanted to join the battle, but the Digimon detective at her side stopped her. The girl looked up at the regal knight in confusion. "Kyoko-san…?"
The Digimon shook her head as she focused her attention on her assistant. "This is a battle Takumi needs to fight on his own. He needs to reach Arata with his own strength and perhaps then, the two of them will be able to overcome their past. It wouldn't help either of them for us to interfere."
The former Zaxon leader worriedly watched as the Cyber Sleuth dodged the tentacle spikes shooting up from the ground towards him. Takumi had on a look of determination neither Yuuko nor the Digimon known as Kyoko had ever seen before. He truly was prepared to use every ounce of his power to save Arata. His blue eyes glowed as he seemed to want to cry, but Takumi let out a roar before trying to reach out to his friend again. "Arata!"
"Cluster of Tyrant!" the monstrous teen roared as he tried to devour his prey.
Takumi dodged another tentacle as he scanned his friend's data. "Eater Adam…" he blinked as he noticed that the creature resembled Eater Eve in some ways. "I see…" He knit his eyebrows together before calling out a string of orders to his team. "ChaosDukemon! Charge up your Chaos Shot!" The knight's shield began to glow as he began gathering energy into his Gorgon. "Darkdramon! Mugendramon! Don't let up your attacks!"
The Digimon of the D-Brigade quickly charged up a dense ball of dark matter. "Dark Roar!"
"Catastrophe D!" the mechanical dragon roared as he launched his destructive warheads from every port on his body. As the missiles exploded, Mugendramon charged forward with his right arm pulled back. "Mugen Hand!" he tried to crush Arata with his arm.
The tall Eater charged up his free hand with a sphere of dark energy before slamming it into the Virus Digimon's arm. "Interrupt Handler!"
Darkdramon tried to help but Mugendramon was knocked back into him. Both Digimon tried to shake it off and prepared to charge their opponent again but their fatigue got the better of them. Takumi frowned as he called for them to retreat. Looking towards ChaosDukemon, he saw that the dark knight was done charging his attack. "Alright! Go for it, ChaosDukemon!"
"Chaos Shot!" All of the energy gathered into Gorgon was immediately channeled into Balmung and the Dark Knight Digimon fired it at Eater Adam, knocking him back.
The once-human monster refused to fall though as he began charging his power. "Power Lust!" He grunted as his body ate up parts of him but he jammed his right arm into the ground to attack. "Cluster of Tyrant!"
Takumi winced when one tentacle spike scratched his left arm as he dodged backwards, but he didn't really worry about himself as he noticed Mugendramon was caught in the web of spikes. The Cyber Sleuth quickly loaded him back into his Digivice and decided to call for a Digimon with aerial capabilities. "Rosemon! Let's go! Darkdramon, ChaosDukemon! Cover her!"
Both Virus Digimon obeyed as they circled Eater Adam and stalled for time for Rosemon to emerge. "Terrible Gaze!" The eyes on Darkdramon's right gauntlet lit up as it emitted a strange beam, numbing Eater Adam.
"Spiral Wailer!" Lightning spiraled around Balmung and ChaosDukemon stabbed their opponent with it.
With a roar, Eater Adam shook off the shock of the attack and charged up a ball of dark energy again. "Interrupt Handler!" He missed but didn't really mind as he began powering up again. "Power Impulse!" He let out a painful cry as his body consumed even more of itself, but he still continued fighting anyways. "Cluster of Tyrant!"
"Rosemon!" Takumi called out the Data Digimon to counter it.
"Rose Velvet!" The ground erupted into a bed of thorns and tentacle spikes resulting in both sides taking damage.
Infuriated by how long it was taking to defeat the soft-hearted boy, Eater Adam let out a sharp yell as he charged up his remaining energy. "Power Runaway!" The power-hungry humanoid raised his arm up. "Cluster of—"
"ARATA!" Takumi yelled as his Digimon preempted their opponent.
"Ivy Hug!" Rosemon stabbed a vine into the ground, resulting in more vines to erupt and bind Eater Adam.
Darkdramon pointed his gauntlet towards the unnatural figure and further restrained him with a numbing beam. "Terrible Gaze!"
"GO!" the Cyber Sleuth roared, now that the monstrous being was completely still. "CHAOSDUKEMON!"
ChaosDukemon prepared his lance and charged forward with all of his might. "Duke Charge!"
Takumi didn't flinch as Eater Adam was run through by his Digimon. He only watched as their foe remained still for a moment before the creature dropped to his knees in defeat. The Cyber Sleuth wordlessly called his team back and walked up to his downed friend. "Arata…" Takumi frowned as he couldn't bear to see his friend like this.
"I WILL…" Eater Adam struggled to raise his hand towards Takumi to eat him. "I WILL…"
"Takumi…" Yuuko frowned as she also found Arata's state painful to watch. "Help him!" she pleaded with the redhead. "You helped me, didn't you!?" She looked over towards Eater Adam and shook her head. "Arata-san, at this rate, you're going to…!"
Takumi stared at the creature trying to reach out to him. "A…rata…" He wanted to do the same but for some reason his arm wouldn't move.
"Why are you hesitating?" the Digimon known as Kyoko asked him. "Are you uncertain? Whether you can do it alone? Whether he'll even hear you?" Takumi frowned as she always seemed to know exactly what it was that bothered him. "Don't underestimate yourself…" she told her assistant, "or him."
Takumi's blue eyes widened as he turned to her in surprise. "E-even now… you still believe… I can do it…?"
"He'll hear you," she nodded to him. "How do I know? You two are friends, right?"
Takumi looked away from the Digimon before noticing Yuuko staring expectantly at him. The boy noticed she seemed to believe in him too and he quickly turned to face Arata. "Of course we're friends," he reminded himself. Takumi raised his right arm and winced as the air became thick with Digital Waves. He let out a pained cry out as he Connect Jumped straight into Eater Adam. "Arata…!"
The Cyber Sleuth found himself in the strange black and white network again. Much like before, his entire body felt as though it were being roughly sanded. He ignored it though as he dove straight for Arata.
"What did you come here for?" his friend asked him with a frown. "Did you need another look at my pathetic self?"
"You're not pathetic, Arata," Takumi frowned back.
"You're incredible, you know," the older boy enviously studied his childhood friend, "Always able to do the right thing straight away."
"It's something I learned from you and Yuugo," Takumi wryly smiled. "You were the one to tell me to stand up for myself, right? The two of you were always so cool and brave…" He looked down at himself. "I wanted to be exactly like that too…"
"But I'm not like that," Arata pointed out. "I can't do anything. I'm always just worried about how it'll look. And it ends again without me being able to help a friend," he lowered his gaze. "How pathetic is that?" he asked in a broken tone.
"You're not pathetic!" Takumi repeated himself as he continued further into the network.
"I'm such an idiot," the older boy derisively chuckled. "I kept telling myself that since this world was digital, Yuugo would be safe, since none of it was real. But that's not the case. And I knew it better than anyone, since I watched the whole thing happen." He hid his frown behind the collar of his jacket. "Curse Suedou for having made us forget something that important." He closed his eyes. "And look at me, putting the blame on someone else. I'm a disgrace," he continued to chuckle. "Whatever the case, I shouldn't have forgotten. I was the one who decided to run and leave Yuugo behind."
"Arata!" Takumi tried to reach out for him, but the older boy knocked his arm aside.
"Shut up! Don't worry about me!" he snapped. "I don't need your sermons," he stated, "or your pity, either! What else could I have done? Was there some other way!?" He clenched his fists together and glared at his weak self. "There's no way a kid like me could rival the genius of Suedou! I can barely even compare to you! I wanted more power, even after dogging him!" Arata closed his eyes and shouted at the top of his lungs. "What else could I have done to save Yuugo!?"
"Arata…" the Cyber Sleuth lowered his gaze as he couldn't answer the older boy.
"I'm so pathetic," the raven-haired hacker stated once again. "How could I face you all…? I can't go back…"
"I keep telling you! You're not pathetic!" Takumi cried out as he went straight into the deepest part of the network. "And I'm definitely bringing you back, whether you want me to or not!"
"You don't give up easily!" Arata stated in annoyance as the redhead kept coming after him. He kept his back turned towards Takumi as he refused to leave. "Don't worry about me!" He scowled when he felt Takumi still advancing towards him anyway so turned around to tell him off. His dark blue eyes widened though as he saw the younger boy jump into the air with his fist pulled back.
"Arata!" Takumi roared as he punched his friend's face with as much force as he could. "You dumbass!"
The taller teen staggered a bit before getting up. When he looked around him though, he realized he was back on the roof of the Metropolitan Building. "You!?" he glared at the boy heavily panting before him. "Why did you bring me back!? I should've stayed the way I was!"
"Are you asking for another beating?" Takumi's blue eyes flashed. "You dumbass!"
"You idiot!" Arata snapped back before punching the younger boy.
Takumi quickly recovered before throwing another punch at Arata. "Better an idiot than a dumbass, you dumbass!"
Yuuko watched as the two boy exchanged blows without restraint. She sighed before turning around to face the Digimon behind her. "Kyoko-san…"
The regal knight shook her head as she shared the girl's sentiments. "Give it a rest!" she finally called out to Takumi.
"Not yet!" Takumi grunted as Arata managed to catch him in the jaw. The shorter boy roared as he tackled into the raven-haired hacker and punched him in the stomach. "Arata! You dumbass! If it's your fault we left Yuugo behind, it's my fault Yuugo was in danger in the first place, right!?"
Arata shoved Takumi off of him and punched him once more. The older boy panted as he watched the younger boy reel backwards. "Dammit!" Arata yelled out in frustration when Takumi continued coming at him.
"You… dumbass…!" Takumi gasped as he swung his fist at the older boy but missed.
"You have no right!" Arata scolded him as the younger teen finally wore himself out. "What was that!? I don't GET you!" As they both caught their breaths, he waited for Takumi to explain himself but the redhead only glared at him as though his reason was obvious. Takumi's attitude only infuriated the older boy even more. "Come on, say something!" he yelled, grabbing the younger boy by his shirt.
The redhead closed his eyes and finally managed to relax his breathing. After a while, he looked up at his friend with a small smile on his face. "Welcome home, Arata…"
"H-huh…!?" Arata stared at him in disbelief but let him go.
Takumi began to chuckle but winced as his body suddenly flickered into static. He let out a painful cry as everything hurt and it wasn't just because he had a fistfight with the older boy. "Ngah!"
"Takumi!?" Yuuko worriedly ran up to him.
"Y-you…" Arata's eyes widened in worry. "That's…"
Takumi tried to reign in his destabilizing data and soon his body was back to normal. He let out an uneasy chuckle before it grew into his usual easy-going laugh. "No worries!" he cheerfully smirked. "I'm fine!"
"Th-there's nothing wrong…?" Arata frowned at him. "But your body is…"
Yuuko knit her eyebrows together but paused when she spotted something strange. "Ah, look out!" she warned both boys.
Takumi winced as the electrical barrier around Duftmon intensified. "Arata!" He quickly grabbed his friend's arm and pulled him back to safety.
"Were we too late!?" Yuuko asked.
"No…" the knight behind her replied as she sensed a powerful Digimon coming towards them.
"Hey!" an optimistic voice called out from behind them. "Sorry I'm late! It's Akkino, everyone's favorite star!" Everybody turned to face the leader of Rebellions and Omegamon. "Could it be I might be running a teeny bit late? I really messed up!" Nokia grinned at them.
"Hurry, Nokia!" Omegamon told her.
"Roger that, Omegamooooon!" she cheered before bringing her phone up to her ear. "Okay, folks! Are you ready!?"
"Yeah!" a Tamer called out to her.
"All set!" another boy stated.
"Ready when you are!"
Nokia chuckled at her hacking team's responses. "Okay… Let's go!"
Takumi smirked as he sensed the Digital Waves beginning to reverse. "All right, Nokia!"
Duftmon groaned at the sudden reversal in the flow of energy. He let out a painful cry as his power drained out of him.
"Yay! Major success!" Nokia cheered. "Keep going! Suck out the energy until he's dry!"
"You did it, Nokia-san!" Yuuko praised her.
"Yeah! I did it, Yuuko-chi!" Nokia smiled at her. "Can I have a present? I want a present!"
Yuuko chuckled at her randomness. "But you could have contacted us for orders," she pointed out. "There wasn't any need to come here, was there?"
"Huh?" Nokia blinked at her.
"If you had contacted us when you were ready, we could have timed this better," Yuuko broke it down for the oblivious girl.
"Huh? But at the strategy meeting…" Nokia blinked. "Hey, Omegamon?" she looked up to her Digimon for some backup. The Royal Knight averted his gaze from her and hung his head from embarrassment. "Huh? What gives with the silent treatment?" Nokia asked him with a nervous smile. "Hey, Takumi?" she turned to the Cyber Sleuth. "Didn't you ask us to come at the strategy meeting?"
Takumi stared at her in silence before finally reminding her of what really happened. "Actually, you kinda volunteered. You yelled it out and then darted off like a hare." He crossed his arms and let out a bright chuckle. "It's just another day on the Nokia Express…"
"Oh, my… I see…" Nokia knit her eyebrows together in confusion. "Is that how things went? Or was it like this? Or like these? Like which?" she further confused herself.
"Yeah… All aboard the Nokia Express!" Takumi began mimicking a train, prompting Yuuko to sigh at their stupidity.
"Nokia," Omegamon nodded to his tamer, "let's apologize."
"Yeah, I'm sorry," Nokia nodded to them with a bright smirk on her face, "For having darted off like that…" she nervously chuckled.
Arata stared at the three younger teens as he hid his frown behind his jacket's collar. He closed his eyes as a snicker managed to sneak its way past his lips. Nokia turned to face him as he tried to hold in his laughter. "I knew it," the older boy ended up letting it all out. "You are all idiots. Or jerks! How can you all talk like that at a time like this?" He shook his head as he began tearing up. "It's no good… I can't…" he completely gave into his laughing fit. He wrapped his arms around his abdomen. "Oh, my stomach hurts!"
"It's not that funny, is it, Arata?" Takumi asked him with a crooked smile on his face. "This is just how we always are…"
Yuuko frowned at the older boy. "Um, Arata-san?"
"He's broken…" Nokia stated.
"Shut up!" the older boy snapped at them. "All of this is your fault!" He sighed before calming himself down. "I think I blew a gasket." He smiled at his friends before slipping his hands into his pockets. "That's right… If I had just… trusted you jerks… all along from the start…!"
"But at least you're back," Takumi smiled at him.
"Yeah…" Arata's expression softened as he studied the boy's kind smile. "You also went through a lot… Sorry, Takumi."
"Don't worry about it," Takumi shook his head. "What's important is that we move past all of that. We still have important things to do after all." He looked up towards Duftmon as a serious expression washed over his face. "It's time we ended things…"
Duftmon let out a cry and dispelled his barrier before he could be completely depleted of energy. "Urk! What is this!? I'm… losing my… power!?" He stared down at his body in frustration. "How did the likes of humans ruins LordKnightmon's—no, my plan! How is this possible!?"
"Duftmon…" the detective Digimon approached the remaining opposing Royal Knight with her assistant at her side. "Your scheme has been foiled."
"You…" Duftmon studied the black knight. "What are you?"
"My name is Alphamon," she declared.
"Alphamon!?" Duftmon's eyes widened.
"Wh-what!?" Omegamon stared at Alphamon in surprise. "The Legendary 13th Royal Knight! You actually do exist!"
"Legendary!?" Takumi blinked a few times before the two Royal Knights in his Digivice began speaking up.
"So my master's stories were true after all!" Jesmon exclaimed. "Alphamon… the missing leader of the Royal Knights!"
"Yes…" Craniummon nodded. "The Aloof Hermit who shoulders the burden of Yggdrasil alone…"
"Aloof Hermit…?" Takumi frowned at such a title as it didn't seem to fit her image. "But…" he shook his head and tried to make sense of it all.
"Even I'm surprised by the turn of events," the purple knight mused. "To think you've been directly working under Alphamon all this time…"
"It's no wonder you were able to help me become a Royal Knight, Takumi!" Jesmon stated in awe.
"Alphamon… the Aloof Hermit…" the Cyber Sleuth tried to let it sink in as he continued to stare at his boss in surprise. "Leader of the Royal Knights…"
The regal black knight shook her head at her assistant. "Don't think about it too deeply," she told him, prompting the boy to nod in understanding. "Although, I have to admit," she chuckled, "this is the first time I've ever publicly revealed myself to the other Royal Knights."
"Why show yourself now?" Duftmon asked her. "And as my enemy!?"
"I exist to control the Royal Knights," Alphamon simply stated. "My purpose is to keep them from running amok."
"Amok, you say!?" Duftmon sneered at her. "It is the will of Yggdrasil to destroy the human world and protect the Digital World!"
"Indeed, but I was also sent here by Yggdrasil's will," she told him.
"Don't be absurd," the lion knight scoffed. "There's no way the will of Yggdrasil would ever block my path! If you are his chosen, then make the right choice! To save our world, mankind must be destroyed! Humanity's immature and foolish misdeeds are what caused the Eater menace to bring our world to the brink!" He cast his cold gaze onto the red-haired boy standing at her side. "Look at them. Their foolishness will lead them to their own destruction as well!"
"That is not for you to say!" Omegamon cried.
Alphamon nodded in agreement. "Foolishness is but one part of humanity. I have also seen their capacity for growth," she said, looking at her assistant fondly. "Let us therefore trust them."
"Alphamon…" Takumi gratefully smiled at her.
"Duftmon…" Craniummon shook his head and frowned at his former comrade. "You of all people should understand that standing against Alphamon is to stand against our lord Yggdrasil himself."
"Enough of this pointless banter!" Duftmon declared, refusing to acknowledge such a stance. "If both of us claim the will of Yggdrasil, then our conflict is also the will of Yggdrasil! In other words… the winner represents Yggdrasil's true will!"
"You fool…" Alphamon sighed.
"You are the fool," Duftmon glared at her, "for making the wrong choice! How sad that I must meet my final comrade-in-arms only to bid you a final farewell at the same time!" He looked down at the human at her side. "You dared to steal some of my power! Mock me not! I am Duftmon!" he cried, "The most powerful of the knights!" He raised his sword and let a roar as he prepared for battle.
Alphamon looked down at her assistant. "Are you ready, my dear Watson?" she asked him.
"Of course!" Takumi cried out as he brought a hand up to his Digivice.
"Let's go," the thirteenth Royal Knight stood at his side. "It's time to get to work."
"Understood!" Takumi nodded with a smirk.
"Tch," Arata grabbed his side and winced. "If I had known you'd managed to get over your soft-heartedness, I would have brought Infermon with me for backup…"
"You should leave this to us, Arata," the younger boy worriedly frowned.
"Yeah, I've got it," the raven-haired hacker reluctantly growled. "I'm in no condition to fight anyway…"
"Nokia!" the Cyber Sleuth called out to her. "I'm counting on you and Omegamon to watch Arata!"
"Just leave babysitting Geeta to me!" Nokia grinned.
"You're as annoying as always," the older boy grumbled.
"Arata really is back," Takumi lightly chuckled to himself before looking towards the other girl at his side. "Yuuko, will you lend me a hand this time?"
"I was getting restless watching you earlier, so of course!" the raven-haired girl nodded as she sent Gaioumon forward. "Let's go! Use your Phosphorous Fire Attack!"
Takumi quickly rotated ChaosDukemon and Rosemon out for a fresh pair of Virus Digimon. He nodded to his third Digimon to keep Duftmon busy while BlackWarGreymon and MetalGarurumon (Black) loaded. "Go, Darkdramon!"
"Demon Stab!" Darkdramon struck at Duftmon with his Gigastick Lance.
Duftmon quickly brought his sword up to counter him and he lifted his gaze when he noticed Alphamon also charging towards him her blade out. "Holy Sword Gradalpha!"
On the lion knight's other side, Gaioumon crossed his Kikurin swords together. "Phosphorous Fire Slash!"
Duftmon pushed Darkdramon away from him and leapt back before swinging his sword in an arc. "Aussterben!" A wave of energy shot out from the arc he cut out, throwing his opponents back. He could have followed it up with another attack, but instead, he positioned himself in a strange fencing stance.
Gaioumon was the first to recover so charged the Royal Knight again. He swung his right sword at Duftmon but the lion knight swiftly countered it with his rapier. The samurai-like Dragon Man winced as Duftmon slashed at his armor and quickly retreated before Alphamon clashed her sword against the Royal Knight.
Duftmon growled as the tip of his sword began to glow. "Ernste Welle!" he cried as his weapon fired explosive energy at the Aloof Hermit.
Alphamon was prepared with a counter though as she brought her right arm up. "Digitalize of Soul!" Her green beams of energy cancelled Duftmon's shots. The black Royal Knight brought her sword up again and slashed at the lion knight.
Duftmon let out a pained cry but tightened his grip on his sword. He was about to attack again but he sensed a Digimon speeding at him from above. "Dramon Buster!" BlackWarGreymon crashed into the ground where Duftmon once stood. The Jet-black Dragon Warrior quickly pulled his Dramon Killers free from the roof and began swiping his claws at the Royal Knight.
Duftmon frowned as he sensed another Digimon behind him. "Metal Fang!" MetalGarurumon (Black) lunged forward and tried to bite the Lion Knight. Duftmon managed to dodge the side but frowned as he was met with another enemy.
"Phosphorous Fire Slash!" Gaioumon cut off his means of escape.
Darkdramon quickly boxed him in as he pointed his Gigastick Lance at Duftmon. "Terrible Gaze!"
Duftmon cried out as his body became numb. He willed his body to move and managed to swing his sword in a wide circle. "Aussterben!" The four Virus Digimon blocked the attack as they skidded back away from the Royal Knight. Duftmon frowned though as he searched around for Alphamon. His eyes widened as he spotted a fluttering blue mantle in the air. He lifted his gaze to see the legendary Royal Knight point her arm at him.
"Digitalize of Soul!"
"Everybody!" Takumi cried out. "Xros Combo!"
As she fell from the sky, Alphamon called for her sword again. "Holy Sword Gradalpha!"
"Dramon Killer!"
"Metal Wolf Claw!" MetalGarurumon (Black) charged forward through the air with his wings extended, trailing ice behind him as he rammed into Duftmon.
"Gigastick Lance!"
"Phosphorous Fire Slash!"
Alphamon rose and looked down at the defeated Royal Knight. She offered her hand to Duftmon but the lion knight frowned at her as she was foolish to think he would give in now. "That I might be defeated…" he gasped before glaring at the boy approaching her side, "That unrivalled justice could falter here…" He began to laugh. "That's it! Destruction must be Yggdrasil's will! Now that my end is here, I finally see the light! May the will of Yggdrasil utterly destroy the human and Digital World alike!" he cursed them. "There is no greater proof than my perishing here!" He struggled to rise as he continued to laugh. "Worlds far and wide, be destroyed! Vanish, like me, leaving no trace behind!" Even as the data comprising his body began to decompose, he maniacally laughed until his form completely broke down.
Takumi frowned at the Digimon's fate. "Duftmon…"
Alphamon shook her head at her assistant as there was nothing to have been done about the Royal Knight's misguided interpretation of Yggdrasil's will. "There are no more Royal Knights to oppose us."
Omegamon nodded his head in agreement. "Now, we just need to find a way to handle the mass of Eaters who've come from the Digital World."
"Well," Nokia thought about it, "we could take them down one by one? But hey, there's a legendary Royal Knight here!" she exclaimed looking up at Alphamon. "She can use legendary power and do legendary stuff!"
"No," Alphamon shook her head, "That would take too much time."
"In that case," Arata smirked, "our only option is to ask you-know-who for help."
"That's right," a man's voice spoke up.
"S-suedou!" Yuuko's eyes widened as the scientist suddenly climbed up the stairs leading to the helipad. She nervously looked over towards Takumi but noticed he was still his calm self.
"I was wondering when you would show up," the Cyber Sleuth said, tilting his head to the side.
"My, my…" Suedou smirked back at the boy. "I see everyone's here," he nodded at the group of teenagers gathered together. "Oh, Arata-kun?" he blinked at the oldest child in surprise. "You've given up on evolution?"
"I trust these people," Arata told him, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I ain't buying your crap anymore," he frowned.
"I see," Suedou nodded. "Well, that's fine, I suppose," he shrugged.
"Since you're here… I'm assuming that means you have a plan, right?"
"Excellent, Arata-kun," the man smiled at him, "A brilliant deduction. Let me get right down to the explanation. To end this disastrous situation, all we can do is send the Eaters infesting Tokyo back to the Digital World."
"What!?" Omegamon tensed up.
"If we release the Digital Wave that is pooled in the Digital Line, the Dimensional Door will open," Suedou continued. "That will attract the Eaters, then in they go! Happily, the Digital Line is already primed, thanks to the energy you took from Duftmon. This plan can be executed at any time now."
"That's absurd!" Omegamon glared at him. "You would further doom my Digital World!"
"Yeah," Nokia frowned at the adult, "we're not letting that happen!"
Alphamon remained silent as she considered the plan. Takumi crossed his arms and closed his eyes. The two took in a deep breath as they thought it over carefully.
"Of course, I won't let such a thing happen," Suedou's smile widened. "It would just mean the end of our evolution. Did you know that the Eaters have what could be called a 'main unit'?"
"The Eaters'… main unit?" Arata knit his eyebrows together.
"Yes, yes!" Suedou nodded and brought a hand up to his forehead. "The 'Mother Eater' itself! Eliminate that and all the other Eaters will be wiped out in turn!"
"Where is this Mother Eater?" Alphamon asked.
"Deep in the Digital World," the scientist replied, "Yggdrasil's core. Yggdrasil, the host computer that can be called the creator of your world… has been worn away by the Mother Eater and has lost most of its functionality. This may be the reason why you Royal Knights have broken ranks with one another."
"Wait…" Omegamon frowned as he realized something. "If we know where the Mother Eater is, then we should go to Yggdrasil and remove it! Why do we need to send the Eaters back?"
"Unfortunately," Suedou shook his head, "you'll never be able to get close to Yggdrasil by charging in blindly. The wide-scale loss of functionality includes Yggdrasil's security system. It will be unable to discern whether anyone who approaches is friend or foe. I surmise the instant we enter the Digital World, we will be dealt with as bugs. However, seeing as the Eaters are all a part of the Mother Eater, they're a different story," he smiled. "If we can send Eaters that have incorporated a program of my devising back to the Mother Eater en masse… we could attach them to Yggdrasil and temporarily take control of the security system."
"And then we eliminate the Mother Eater," Arata finished for him.
"Hmm…" Alphamon stared at the scientist. "I think I follow you."
"There is no other way to remove the Eater threat from both worlds," Suedou stated.
"Oh boy," Nokia frowned to herself. "I'm totally clueless here. So like, this is our only choice, right?" she asked Yuuko and Takumi.
"It would appear so," Yuuko said.
Takumi finally opened his eyes and nodded. "I hate to admit it, but Suedou-san's right…"
The man smiled as that was probably the closest thing to a compliment he was ever going to get from the red-haired boy. "Now, to put this plan into action, there is one request I need to make of the Royal Knights. Opening the Dimensional Door is a simple matter. However…" he frowned, "I am dubious as to whether enough Digital Wave energy has accumulated in the Digital Line to actually KEEP the Door open. That is why, after the Eaters are in the Digital World and until Mother Eater is eliminated, I need you to hold the Door open from the inside."
"Leave that part to us," a dignified voice stated.
Although a bit surprised, Omegamon turned to face his ally. "Magnamon!"
"Everyone!" Nokia happily cried out as the golden Royal Knight was accompanied by Veevee, Sleipmon, and even Gankoomon and Examon.
"We'll be joining them too, Takumi!" Jesmon stated as he and Craniummon suddenly emerged from the Cyber Sleuth's Digivice.
Takumi nodded to them both. "I'll leave it to you then!"
Suedou chuckled at the sight of the remaining Royal Knights gathering. "Now isn't this heartening! Let us open the door to a new age! A new world! Speaking of which, let's make some quiet adjustments to the Digital Line." He looked over to the two legendary hackers there on the roof with him. "Arata-san, Yuuko-san, would you help me? Oh, and let's not forget Akkino-san either!" he smiled at Nokia.
"Eh!? Me too!?" Nokia blinked at him before frowning at the brazen man. "But wait, what do you mean 'don't forget me'?"
"Dear me!" Suedou smirked at her. "You've simply showed you've got a rather unique knack for hacking the Digital Line, is all!"
"Why not ask Takumi then?" Nokia looked over at the boy standing at her side.
"Hm?" the blue-eyed boy blinked at her. "I'm not really a hacker. I'm a Cyber Sleuth," he shrugged. "Plus… he has his reasons to not ask since I have my reasons to decline."
"That's right," Suedou nodded. "He's quite sensitive to changes in the Digital Line after all. Come now. You are a proud tamer of EDEN, are you not?"
"Really?" Nokia nervously smiled.
"It's alright," Takumi told her. "Go ahead. The three of you are leaders of the top hackers of EDEN after all!" He grinned at his three friends. "Jude, Zaxon, and Rebellions! There's nothing you three can't hack past together!" he nodded.
"All right, then, everyone," Suedou looked at the three hacking legends. "I'm counting on you." He pulled up a terminal and began typing. With the extra help behind him, he smirked as sparks of electricity began to gather on the roof. "Okay… Right now!"
Takumi flinched as a bright light pillar of light shot into the sky, opening a hole into the clouds. Magnamon quickly took off into the air. "Okay, let's dive on in!"
"Got it!" Veevee stated as he flew up too. "We'll push it wide open from the inside!"
"It seems crazy," Jesmon frowned, "but we've got no other choice!"
"Hmph!" Sleipmon smirked at the novice Royal Knight but followed the new recruit up anyways.
"For our lord Yggdrasil!" Craniummon cried as he boarded Examon's back.
Gankoomon crossed his arms as he did the same. "Let us see the results of our training as Royal Knights!"
Examon let out a fearsome roar and flapped his mighty wings to take off into the sky.
The seven Royal Knights disappeared into the thick clouds and Takumi watched as a strange pattern appeared around the circular hole that had opened up. After a while, his body began to tingle as Eaters from all over the city began to rise into the sky too. "Ah…!" his blue eyes widened as he tried to pretend he was okay. "Everyone, look…!"
"Whoa!" Nokia stared at the rising Eaters. "Amazing!"
Arata smirked at the two girls standing at his side. "Good work…"
"The Eaters are being sent back…" Yuuko stated in amazement.
Suedou continued working and soon the floor lit up as a large circular seal appeared underneath him. "There!" he exclaimed. "The door has opened! This 'magic circle' connects to the Digital World. Whenever you're ready…" he nodded to Alphamon and Takumi.
"Let me ask you one thing," the detective Digimon stated.
"Yes, yes, what is it?"
"You said we must eliminate the Mother Eater, but do you have an assured means of doing so?"
"Heavens! Didn't I explain?" Suedou smiled at her. His eyes glowed as he stared at her precious assistant. "Of course there's a way to do it. We extract the foreign object trapped within the Mother Eater: the mental data of Kamishiro Yuugo." Three of the four teenagers stared at him in surprise as he continued to explain his theory to them. "I believe Eaters were never meant to prey on data from life forms such as humans in the first place. But once Yuugo was devoured, their dietary habits changed. Incorporating human mental data was what first gave Eaters their present form."
"I thought so," Takumi knit his eyebrows together. "Yuugo's foreign data prompted them to evolve even further."
"Yes, they evolved," Suedou nodded to him. "The Eaters are now protecting his mental data as it was the impetus for that very evolution."
Yuuko brought her hands up to her mouth as she gasped. "Onii-chan…"
"It's held very carefully, deep within their core," Suedou surmised.
"You can't mean… the same place my brother said the Eaters were keeping him trapped?" Yuuko asked.
"Inside…" Nokia nervously grinned, "that Mother Eater thing?"
"Ultimately, he serves as a type of core," Suedou nodded. "If my theories are correct, when we remove him, a very interesting phenomenon will occur. Reversible programs being overwritten… Time being turned back on itself."
"Even time…!?" Takumi frowned at that.
"What!?" Arata's eyes widened.
"The Eaters' memory integration network is beyond our understanding, our imagination, and even our ability to comprehend," Suedou stated. "They are always sharing information and always making choices, but every instant is remembered! They have no concept of a capacity limit, nor any concept of time. They simply remember!"
"How…? How can that be?" Nokia asked.
"You're thinking it's not possible, correct?" Suedou stared at the surprised girl. "Then what about the things you all re-experienced recently, about what happened to you eight years ago in EDEN and the Digital World? What you saw is what LordKnightmon downloaded from Eater memories and recreated in virtual reality."
"R-recreated…?" Takumi felt his chest tighten as it had felt more than just a reenactment to him.
"She probably made some adjustments as part of her nasty little trap," Suedou shrugged, "but still."
"Why?" Omegamon stared at the man. "Why… do you know all this?"
"To be truthful, I am a part of the Eaters now," the scientist crookedly smiled as he scratched his head. "Or, more accurately, I merely have special access to their network."
"So that was how you pulled off your tricks!" Arata glared at him as he slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Cracking and tricks are the same thing," Suedou told him. "You could do it too if you wanted to, Arata-kun," he smirked.
"Are you for real?" the boy stared at him.
Yuuko smirked at the arrogant older teen. "If Arata-san can do it, then so can I."
"What!?" the leader of Jude frowned at her.
"Yes, of course!" Suedou exclaimed. "Anyone can do it! But human beings reject these possibilities on an instinctual level and you are no exceptions. This is because of your having been unable to realize true, unlimited potential while having been overtaken by Eaters once previously. Out of all of you though, the one closest at mastering such skills is Takumi."
"Takumi!?" Arata and Yuuko shouted in surprise.
"Eh!?" The Cyber Sleuth tensed up as all eyes turned towards him. The boy sheepishly scratched his cheek. "Me…? Unlimited potential…?" He chuckled at the thought. "That's going a bit too far, isn't it?"
Suedou chuckled at Takumi's feigned cluelessness. "But let's save that discussion for another time," the man stated. "It's a rather long story. Anyway, if the 'key data' that triggered the Eaters' evolution into to their current form were to disappear… my calculations indicate that time will rewind itself to a point before Yuugo's mental data was devoured by the Eaters eight years ago. The present will become a future that never happened and this 'proper' past will be our new present."
"Umm…" Nokia turned towards Alphamon with a wide grin on her face. "Excuse me… Take it, Kyoko-san in our studio audience!"
"This phenomenon is feasible in the Digital World," Alphamon nodded. "And with the material and digital realms having assimilated with one another, nothing is beyond the impossible at this point."
"Without a doubt!" Suedou exclaimed with a bright smile. "When the Eaters cause time to reverse, I wonder what effect will be seen in the 'real' world through the connection with the Digital World. It's possible that EDEN Syndrome will disappear. After all, it will be as if the cause of it never existed."
"You're talking about the law of causality, right?" Arata knit his eyebrows together. "I was beginning to think along those lines, too. But how do we get Yuugo out?"
"That shouldn't be any problem, I would think," Suedou smirked at him. "You've already experienced it, Arata-kun."
Everyone stared at Takumi in surprise again, prompting the redhead to blink at them. "What?" he asked. "It's just a simple Connect Jump," he shrugged. "What's with those looks?"
Arata frowned at the redhead. "Wait, hang on. If EDEN Syndrome disappears…" His eyes widened at a sudden thought. "That means Takumi and Yuugo can return to their original bodies, right!?"
"Eh!?" Takumi's blue eyes widened too. "I completely forgot about that!"
"That's kind of out of left field…" Nokia nervously pointed out. "It's a solution I totally hadn't even imagined."
"But right now, anything's possible," Arata pointed out. "Rescue Yuugo and bring him and Takumi home. The grand finale will be a happy ending," he smiled.
Yuuko smiled at the thought of her friend and brother returning to normal. "This might be out of left field too or maybe it's wishful thinking, but I can't stand waiting here doing nothing. I want to go see my brother."
"Yeah!" Nokia nodded. "Definitely!"
"My… body…!" Takumi stared down at himself in disbelief. "Even more… I can undo everything…" he muttered to himself. He prepared himself for the portal but paused when he noticed Suedou stepping into the center of the magic circle first.
The man chuckled to himself as he waved to them. "See you later," he nodded before disappearing into the Digital World.
"Suedou-san!" Takumi frowned as he started after the man, but Alphamon held him back. "Alphamon…?"
The Royal Knight looked down at her assistant. "I'd like to say that we should carry on as well, but…"
"What's the matter?" Yuuko asked.
"At present, the Digital World is a very dangerous place," the detective Digimon stated. "We don't have a lot of time, but it makes no sense to just rush in and make mistakes. Do you have anything left to do? If so, take care of it before we proceed. When you're ready, we'll head for the Digital World!"
"Alphamon is right," Omegamon nodded. "I've grown very fond of your world. I don't want to leave with any regrets. Once you are ready, just let me know. I'll be waiting here. We don't have much time, but preparations are important," Omegamon reminded them. "Go finish up what you need to do."
"Yeah," Takumi looked between his exhausted friends. "We had a lot of tough battles today. Let's rest up before heading out!"
"Let us return to our detective agency then," Alphamon nodded.
Final Notes: And so here's a complete list of Takumi's current team: SaintGalgomon, HiAndromon, Rosemon, MetalGarurumon (Black), BlackWarGreymon, ChaosDukemon, Darkdramon, Mugendramon, and SaberLeomon. So yeah, after all of this, Dukemon is actually revealed to be safe and you can actually talk to him but because he was in the Eater network, he's too weak to really be of much help. I didn't really mean to kill him off here, but I didn't really find a suitable place to put down that he was okay... So he's not okay... That and I really wanted to give Takumi ChaosDukemon. Besides plot taking away Jesmon and Craniummon, I don't think I would have allowed Takumi to have kept them anyways because they're the best Royal Knights, defense-wise. Jesmon's omni-counter Schertgeist and Craniummon's impenetrable God Bless is way too abusable... As for Examon and Gankoomon showing up... Examon really doesn't have much of a personality in this game, probably because he's being corroded by Eaters. I just thought I might as well bring him back with whatever remaining strength he has... I mean... it's not like Takumi destroyed him or Arata ate him... Gankoomon... I don't get him... Wouldn't he want to save the Digital World? That's what he wanted to teach Jesmon... Either way, bringing the rest of the Royal Knights together under one banner sounded pretty good to me since this would further contrast Alphamon's and Duftmon's stances.
