Within the confines of their room in DATS Tower, Davis and Kari both sat in meditative positions on their beds, both Veemon and Gatomon watching on intently as their partners glowed with a bright aura, while Izael stood between them, his hands on their backs as energy seemed to flow from the Light Being into the two Ascended.

Upon opening their eyes, however, both Davis and Kari found themselves in their Ascended forms, sitting in the same positions, with four lights in the shapes of humanoids around them, while before their eyes, a dark mass swirled and moved about, where they saw the darkness extending from themselves, as though their own shadows moving and forming with one another.

Then, from the darkness, a face emerged, one Davis and Kari had seen before, the same face that showed up briefly on all the monitors in Primary City before the Dark Fusion Fighters attacked, Ahriman's.

"You aren't strong enough... your counterparts will kill everyone you hold dear. But I can help you. Forgo these... insects of light, embrace me, and you will have power you can only dream of." The Fragment of Ahriman said as he gazed at both Davis and Kari, who remained in place, refusing to take the Dark One's offer.

"No. Your price is too high." Davis replied in a serious tone, where Kari then added. "We will not abandon our friends to the likes of you."

"You think you are like them? No, you are more than them. They are insects to be crushed beneath your feet, along with the rest of this accursed existence. You are me! Accept your destiny, and become living gods!" Ahriman then exclaimed, before growling as another light appeared behind Davis and Kari, revealing Izael in his true form as he placed his hands on his friends' shoulders.

"Their hearts are pure, Ahriman, and they will not free you." Izael said as the light around the Ascended Digidestined began to grow and expand, causing the dark energy to growl as it was surrounded.

"They are me, Izael, and they will realize that soon enough. Then our long war shall finally end." The Dark One replied as the Fragment was consumed in the light, the cage reforming around it as Ahriman let out a frustrated growl.

Their eyes opening once again, Davis and Kari found themselves back in their room and in their human forms, with Veemon and Gatomon all but in their partners' faces to see if they were alright, while both Ascended looked at each other and smiled, feeling the heaviness they felt for the past few days lightening up, where they looked back at Izael, who smiled down at them.

However, the moment of peace was ruined as the base's alarms began blaring, waking up and alerting everyone else as they rushed to the command room, seeing Miki, Megumi and their PawnChessmon at work as several images appeared on the monitor, showing two individuals that made Rika, Renamon, Henry, Terriermon and the older TK cringe.

The first looked almost like Sakuyamon, but her appearance was slightly different, with her armour a dark purple instead of gold, her hair black instead of white, her yin and yang symbols replaced with black circles, a dark cape and two spectral wings coming out of her back as she held a silver version of Sakuyamon's spear.

"DarkSakuyamon. I can promise you, this is not a good sign." The older TK commented, remembering all the terror this Digimon caused in his timeline, while the others looked at the BlackMegaGargomon walking alongside DarkSakuyamon.

"Ok, I hope it's not just the two of them, cause we can definitely whoop their a..." Kazu started to say, only to watch on the screen as DarkSakuyamon held her staff up as dark energy flowed around it.

Within moments, a terrifying sight appeared on the screens as legions of spectral creatures, Digimon, Appmon and others, appeared around the two Biomerged Digimon, walking alongside their summoner as they continued heading towards the city.

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Matt let out, where both TK's sighed at seeing Matt's hidden fear of ghosts getting the better of him, before the older TK then saw something floating above their enemies, a sight that caused him to pale in fear.

"No!" The older TK suddenly let out, getting everyone's attention as he moved closer to the monitors, lightly pushing Miki's PawnChessmon aside as he zoomed in, allowing the others to see what he saw, a large, floating black stone pillar with dark purple energy pulsating around it.

"That... that's a Spire..." The Older TK said in fear, turning to look and see the confused looks on the heroes and heroines' faces as he quickly explained. "Kari... my Kari, used these during her reign of terror. One is bad enough, four of them were enough to kill an entire planet!"

Hearing this explanation, the heroes were now shocked, knowing that they had to act before the Spire unleashed its devastating power, where Davis started to say. "Then we need to move and..."

However, before he could say anymore, a sudden wave of fatigue hit Davis, finding he could barely stand, a feeling Kari shared as both nearly collapsed, had Veemon, Gatomon, Tai and Sora hadn't quickly come to their aid.

"Refocusing the power to bind Ahriman's fragments took some energy out of both of you, you need to rest for a bit." Izael told the pair with a fair seriousness as he helped them stand.

"He's right, you two rest up, we'll hold out as long as we can." Tai then said, looking to see the determined looks in Rika, Henry and their partners' eyes, wanting to deal with their counterparts, two wanting to end theirs, the other two wanting to save theirs.

"Please, be careful, all of you." Kari said in reply, not fighting as Izael and their partners helped them back to their room, while the rest set off to battle their latest enemies, unaware of just how dangerous their battle truly would be.

-Moments Later-

Leading the group, Sakuyamon and MegaGargomon flew at high speeds as Gallantmon, Beelzemon, HiAndromon, BlitzGreymon, Phoenixmon, both Rosemon, HerculesKabuterimon, Aldamon, Zephyrmon, ShineGreymon, Globemon, Reivemon, Arresterdramon: QM, Shoutmon X7, Pegasmon, Gryphonmon, Angewomon, Magnamon and Ravemon flew being them, while CresGarurumon led the rest of the forces below.

Coming to a halt, the Digimon, Appmon and their partners glared at the spectral army ahead of them, seeing just past the growing dark forces were DarkSakuyamon, BlackMegaGargomon and the Spire.

"Well, isn't this a familiar sight?" DarkSakuyamon asked with a wicked smirk, before looking at the Appli Drivers, their Appmon, Azumi and Kadushimon and commenting. "With only a few others this time."

"And like last time, you will fail again, Rika!" The older TK said as he looked at the corrupt shaman Digimon, who laughed in reply, amused by the older TK's defiance.

"When will you learn, TK, that the darkness will never go away, that eventually all will be consumed by it? Or are you a glutton for failure and despair?" DarkSakuyamon asked with a grin, which grew as she saw the anger in her TK's lone eye, before looking at his younger counterpart on the back of Pegasmon, pointing her spear at him.

"That reminds me. Your fight is up there." DarkSakuyamon then said as she pointed to the Spire, causing TK's eyes to widen as he realized his dark counterpart was on the Spire.

Looking back at the others, not wanting to leave them facing their foes alone, the Digidestined of Hope saw the others nod in agreement with him, signally for him to go and leave this battle to them, where Pegasmon took off, flying towards the Spire, and the battle that awaited him and his partner.

Looking back at DarkSakuyamon and the stoic form of BlackMegaGargomon, BlitzGreymon then said in a confident tone. "Even with your little army here, you're still no match for all of us."

"Shortsighted as always, big brother." A familiar voice then said in a mocking tone, one that caused the heroes and heroines to widen their eyes in shock as they looked up, seeing the Witch Queen floating in the air above the spectral army, a dark armoured version of Angewomon next to her as both grinned down at their enemies, expressing their continued darkness.

Back at DATS Tower, having watched from a monitor from their room, both Davis and Kari shot out of their beds upon the sight of the Witch Queen and her corrupt partner, despite Izael and Sampson's protests, and quickly ran towards the roof, changing into their Ascended forms and heading out to help their friends, knowing that the Dark Kari alone was more then they could handle alone.

"Aww, I don't see my counterpart with you. Don't tell me she chickened out?" Dark Kari asked with a sickly sweet smile, adding before anyone could reply. "Not that it matters, I can sense that her and her Davis will be joining us shortly. Perhaps I'll make a present for her, like the pile of all your dead, broken corpses!"

Swinging her staff towards the heroes and heroines, DarkSakuyamon gave a dark chuckle to the sinister expressionism of her Queen, before the army of spectral creatures began rushing towards her enemies.

"Deal with your doubles while I have fun with the rest!" The Witch Queen commanded, grinning to the position of power she was in, and to the suffering she could cause.

"Gladly, my Queen." DarkSakuyamon replied with a bow, taking off after her counterpart, while BlackMegaGargomon just nodded and began walking towards his own counterpart.

"Henry..." BlackTerriermon tried to say through their shared bond, wanting to talk his partner out of this, only for her partner to reply in a dead voice. "No, Terriermon, we have to do this."

Meanwhile, as their friends fought below, TK and Pegasmon reached a platform atop the Spire, seeing TK's winged counterpart looking at the gathering dark energy, where Pegasmon landed, allowing TK off of him as he reverted back to Patamon, the pair looking at one another as they approached the corrupt Digidestined of Hope.

Keeping their eyes peeled, neither of the duo of Hope saw a partner of any kind for Dark TK, but based on his wings, both concluded that he himself was the source of his own power.

"It's funny, how similar and how different our worlds are." The Dark TK then said, not even looking back at his counterpart as he continued in his thoughts. "In your world, you defeated Devimon and moved on, while in mine, he defeated us, but kept me, raised me, and made me what I am today."

TK and Patamon blinked as they took in his words, now knowing that this version of TK was from a world where Devimon had won their battle, but found the alternate TK continuing as he said. "So many worlds, so many realities. Some, the differences are as plain as day, while others you can spend a lifetime searching for the differences. All formed by the decisions we make. When we make one choice, another world is formed from the other."

"That's the secret of the universe, billions making multiple choices, making multiple worlds, leaving an unending sea of chaos. When all this began I can't say, but the cause of it all is the same, mankind." Dark TK then added as he finally turned and faced his counterpart, who could only glare at him in reply.

"You don't know that..." TK started to say, only for his double to cut him off. "Don't delude yourself, you know it's true. Humanity is a disease, and by reviving Ahriman, I will finally cut that disease out."

"You're talking about..." TK began to say, expressing a further anger.

"Killing everyone and everything that ever lived and will ever live. I will make the only logical, real choice in existence." Dark TK said as he began walking towards TK and Patamon, bloth glaring at him as the Digidestined of Hope stated. "You're insane."

"It doesn't matter really, there's probably some version of you that thinks I'm the best." Dark TK said, before appearing right in front of his counterpart, whose eyes widened at seeing his double not only moving so fast, but having his right fist extended, covered by a dark miasma, similar to what he saw Dark Tai release, as he prepared to strike.

"Patamon, Warp Digivolve to...!" Patamon quickly let out, before being enveloped in golden light, transforming into his Mega form as he announced with might. "Seraphimon!"

Moving quickly, the angelic Digimon grabbed his partner and moved him before Dark TK could strike, his fist slamming into the black marble, where he turned and looked at TK and Seraphimon as he stood back up.

"You really should have brought back up, but no, you have to see this through to the end, my very existence bothers you too much to trust stopping me to others." The fallen Digidestined of Hope said, grinning as he added. "And I am the same."

"If we really are alike, then you know this is wrong. You were a good person once." TK then replied, wanting to get through to the young boy he used to be, only to see his counterpart frown.

"Good? Never, after all, I was human." Dark TK replied as he rushed at Seraphimon, who barely had time to bring up his arms in defense as he was pushed back, groaning against the strain as the dark version of his partner pushed him back, both him and TK taking in Dark TK's words as they thought in unison. 'Was human?!'

-Meanwhile-

"Spirit Strike!" Sakuyamon declared, sending her fox spirits out and toward the spectral army, where, much to the shaman Digimon's relief, the ghostly Digimon and Appmon dissolved in wisps of smoke, noticing her allies able to fight off their enemy, despite being outnumbered.

"Dark Spirit Strike!" A familiar voice then called out, this causing Sakuyamon to quickly put up her mystic barrier as dozens of black spirit foxes shot at her, this causing Rika and Renamon to let out groans as they tried to hold back the dark energies striking against them, before looking to see DarkSakuyamon floating before them.

"Not too bad. Maybe if you surrender, I'll show you a few things, and maybe even help you get something you want." DarkSakuyamon offered with a smirk, her words causing Sakuyamon to growl as she swung her weapon and refocused.

"You have nothing I want." Rika said through her Biomerged form, remembering what the older TK said about her counterpart as she prepared to fight.

"Oh, please. We both know what you want, for Davis to be yours." Dark Rika said in reply, smirking as she saw her double tense as DarkSakuyamon continued. "Ahriman will make worlds of our own, where we both can have Davis, and no Kari to interfere in our desires. You might say you're her friend, that you are ok with her and the man of your dreams together, but we both know the truth. Deep down, you hate Kari... despise her for having Davis while you watch from the side. You can't deny the truth."

Smirking as she watched her counterpart shake, DarkSakuyamon then frowned as Sakuyamon took another fighting stance, saying with pure conviction in her voice. "Yeah, it's true, but you know what? In the end, I wouldn't trade Kari's friendship for anything. And as for your promise, I might be with a Davis, but not my Davis. I won't betray my friends just to live in a fantasy world."

"Then you'll join them in death!" DarkSakuyamon declared as she rushed at her double, who braced herself as their spears clashed with one another, sending out a shockwave of energy as the shaman Digimon truly began their battle.

.

.

.

"Mega Barrage!" MegaGargomon declared as the ports upon his shoulders opened up, releasing a set of missiles, destroying a large suave of enemies.

However, turning, MegaGargomon tensed up a little as he saw his double walking towards him.

"Wait, we don't have to fight one another." Henry said, trying to reason with his double, only for the BlackMegaGargomon to shake his head no.

"Yes, we do. This is our punishment for the mistakes we've made." Dark Henry replied through his Biomerged form.

"Seriously, do you think Takato, Guilmon, Rika or Renamon would want this?!" Terriermon questioned, as he too tried to reason with the guilt driven version of his partner, before the rabbit-like Digimon added after a moment of reflection. "Well, Takato and Guilmon would try and talk you out of this insanity, who knows what Rika and Renamon would have thought back then?"

Rolling his eyes at Terriermon's comment, though knowing he might be right, Henry focused on his double and said. "You know this is wrong, that this won't change anything. Please, help us!"

"Who are you to judge what is right or wrong? Just because things worked out for you and your world, doesn't mean you can tell me what we should or shouldn't do." Dark Henry replied in anger.

"Henry, please." BlackTerriermon pleaded, but his partner didn't listen, where MegaGargomon knew that to get through to his double, he would have to use his fists.

Surveying the battle, looking for who to strike first, the Witch Queen smiled wickedly at the fighting, sensing her counterpart and her love coming closer and closer, where Dark Kari felt a dark glee, looking forward to the events to come.