Mukuro: So, the penultimate chapter is upon us. As this story reaches its final climax, I hope you will read through to the end. We're almost done!

Disclaimer: I do not own digimon, and that goes for the action figures, videogames, cards, and everything else.

Digimon: Dawn of the Shadow

Chapter 49: Will of Fire, Part 3


"N-Nekomumon… was… eaten…" Jami said, collapsing to the ground.

"Unfortunately, that seems to be the case." Hiruko said.

"So that's it then." Marcus said, sitting down. "We're doomed."

"Look. ShadowGulfmon isn't moving. After absorbing something as holy as Nekomumon, he probably won't be able to aim accurately for a while. Riyo bought us a little time at great cost to himself, so it's time we used it." Hiruko said. Though in reality, Riyo's our only hope.


"Where am I?" I asked, looking around the world of white.

"Welcome, Riyo." A voice said, and the same man walked up, smiling.

"You again?!" I shouted.

"Hello, Riyo. You remember who I am yet?" The man asked, smiling.

"No, I…" Suddenly, the memories came rushing back. The hand on my head, the carefree smile, everything.

"…Dad…" I said.

"It's been a while, kid." My dad said, smiling.

"Dad… why? Where are we?" I asked.

"This is the world inside your soul. It's empty because you don't know what's in your heart. You're still not completely resolved enough to do this." My dad said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Riyo, to get out of here you have to force your way out ShadowGulfmons' throat. If you manage to do that and become stronger, then you'll succeed in saving your friends."

"But dad, what about you?" I asked.

"My time is at an end. All I am is an essence of a spirit. I'm the last wall that you have to climb over to reach maturity. Now, I ask you: if you could decide between going home and risk fighting against God, which would you pick?"


"Darn it! I feel so helpless!" Kai shouted, punching the ground.

"Well, I for one am not going to give up. Riyo's still alive, and I believe in him." Jami said.

"Me too." Ren said, walking up. "Riyo managed to beat me, so it's the least I can do to believe in him.

"In that case, there is something you can do." Hiruko said.

"Reallly?! What?!" Jami shouted.

"Hold out your digivice like this." He said, sticking his arm out while holding his digivice.

"Okay, then what?" Jami asked.

"Focus all your energy in your digivice and channel it straight into Nekomumon. Use every last ounce of your energy to help him." Hiruko said. Then, his digivice started glowing, and a sphere of light shot out and entered ShadowGulfmon, as Hiruko fell to the ground.

"Okay!" Jami said, holding up her digivice. Don't worry, Riyo. I'm coming.

"Okay." Ren said, holding out his digivice.

"Aw, what the heck." Kai said, sticking his out, followed by the others.


"What do you mean?!" I asked.

"Here, I have two doors. One of them leads to the outside, where you might be able to force your way through, and the other leads back to our world, where your mom is waiting."

Mom… I thought, staring at the door. Suddenly, a sphere shot down into the world next to me, which my dad picked up.

"Hm… a digi-sphere… Mind attribute, too." He said, tossing it to me.

Then, several more started falling towards us.

"Let's see… Wind, Lightning, Power, Earth, Light, Dark, Chaos, Ice, Fire, Courage, Energy, Water, Nature, Aura, Metal, well, it looks like you have every attribute here except one." My dad said, handing the spheres to me, and they shot into the air and circled around me.

"So, Riyo. Have you decided what you're going to choose?"

"Yes, I have." I said, turning around.

"Father, no matter how much I want to go home, I would never do so now. I have a responsibility to the digital world, and I can't leave now." I said.

"Is that your final word?"

"Yes."

"I see. You've past your final test, Riyo. You're no longer a little kid. You're officially a man. I'll allow you to go through this door." He said, stepping out of the way.

"Dad, whether as dream, illusion, or ghost, I'm glad I got to see you again." I said.

"Yeah, me too. I just wish my time wasn't ending so soon. But remember, Riyo. I will always be with you." He said as his body and the world slowly dissolved into nothingness.


"Sigh…" Riyo's mom said, laying her head down on the table.

"Riyo… where are you…" She said, looking at the ground.

"Well, Anne, I can see you've barely changed this place." A voice said, smiling.

"It can't be…" Riyo's mom said, turning around.

"Ryosuke!" She shouted, grabbing onto Riyo's dad, crying.

"Hey, it's been a while." Ryosuke said, smiling.

"How… how did you get here…?" She asked.

"Well, before my final departure, I decided to pay one last visit here to see you. I also came here to tell you one last thing.

"What?" She asked.

"Stop being so depressed over Riyo's disappearance. He's not a little kid anymore. If you're going to get along without me, you'll have to have faith in eachother.

"What?! We do perfectly fine!" She shouted, whacking him over the head.

"Yeah, sure. Just remember, I'll be waiting for you on the other side." Ryosuke said, lightly kissing her before disappearing.

"That idiot…" Riyo's mom said, smiling.


I thought as I ran through the door. Suddenly, another sphere appeared in the palm of my hand.

Dad…

"Willl…" I said, looking at the symbol etched on it.

When my eyes opened, I saw a ring of spheres floating around me.

So this is my true strength… I thought, letting lose a blast of energy, shooting me out of ShadowGulfmon.

"You foolish human! How dare you?! I will emerge the world in darkness! You cannot fight your destiny!" ShadowGulfmon shouted.

"Maybe… maybe not… but I will try." I said, flying into the air.


"Alright, get the machine ready. We'll bring those kids home today." Jarrod said.

"Jarrod, we might have a few small problems. It seems that the digital world is being encompassed by a wave of darkness. This might not work." Yamaki said.

"Wait, are you sure?" Jarrod asked.

"Only one way to find out."


Mukuro: So, as I said before, this is the second to last chapter. Just one more to go through.