Into Darkness

I don't own Digimon or Dragonball Z

"What's going on? There wasn't supposed to be a storm today," Launch said back at the Kame House. "Why do we even have weather men?"

"It can't be a solar eclipse. We'd need the moon for that," Oolong said, looking at the window along with Krillin, Yamcha, and Launch while Bulma looked at the radar.

"All seven Dragonballs are now in the same place," she said, noticing one large blip on the map instead of seven individual ones. "Someone must have called the eternal dragon."

"It could be master Roshi," Krillin said.

"Or King Piccolo. I wonder which one?" Yamcha said.

"I don't wanna know," Oolong said nervously.

Far away, the Eternal Dragon towered over the landscape below. "The Eternal Dragon, you're finally here. After all this time, my greatest desire will finally come true," Piccolo said as he gazed upon the Eternal Dragon and laughed. Meanwhile Tien was struggling to move his body.

"Chiaotzu, can you hear me?" he asked his friend via telepathy.

"Tien Shinhan!" Chiaotzu shouted in surprise.

"Now I need you to listen to me very carefully, I'm losing consciousness because of that strange medicine Master Roshi gave me. This is up to you," Tien said making Chiaotzu gasp in shock. "Before King Piccolo can make his wish, make your own. Tell the Eternal Dragon that you wish that King Piccolo would disappear from this world forever."

"Okay," Chiaotzu replied.

"I am the Eternal Dragon Shenron. I will grant you one wish, tell me what it is you desire," said the dragon to Piccolo.

"At last," the demon said as Chiaotzu floated out from his hiding spot. "I wish…."

"Stop!" Chiaotzu shouted making Piccolo look over in surprise. "Make King Piccolo, disappear from this world…." Chiaotzu shouted to the dragon but before he could finish his sentence Piccolo fired a blast of Ki right at Chiaotzu hitting him directly sending him flying back which made Tien gasp in shock at what had happened as he saw his friend fall to the floor dead. "Tien….." was his last word before his eyes closed.

"CHIAOTZU!" Tien screamed mentally. "Not him! Please, not him!" he begged banging his fists on the ground.

"I despise uninvited guests!" Piccolo said in contempt.

"What do you wish for?" Shenron asked him.

"I wish to be made young again, restore my youth and power. Return to me what time has stolen. Can you do this!?" Piccolo asked the dragon.

"As you wish," Shenron answered before his eyes glowed red and Piccolo was covered in a bright flash of white light. He then shuddered and gasped as his muscles bulged and increased in mass all over his body. His skin turned a lighter shade of green and all the wrinkles on his body vanished and he grew in height.

"It is happening, his majesty is growing young," Piano said in awe.

"It worked. I'm young again, I am reborn anew!" Piccolo shouted, laughing madly.

"It worked, it worked, his youth is restored," Pilaf said as he, Shu, Mai, and Piano celebrated.

"Your wish has been granted. I will take my leave," Shenron said before Piccolo smirked at him.

"There's one more thing you can do for me," he said before he fired an energy blast form his mouth right at Shenron. The dragon roared in pain as he was obliterated in a blinding flash of light, and one single arm from the dragoon landed at Piccolo's feet before it vanished and seven stones dropped to the ground. "They are nothing but stones now. My enemies are vanquished. No one shall ever challenge me again. It is perfect, I have been reborn. I am invincible!"

"Hey look at that, it's gotten brighter all of a sudden," Yajirobe said to Daisuke as he drove his car down the road while Daisuke looked at the Dragon Radar.

"I can't get a signal on the Dragonballs. I was right someone must have already summoned the dragon," she said.

"I'd sure like to see this dragon of yours."

"I just hope that it wasn't Piccolo, there's no telling on what he could have wished for."

"Hey I think I see it, is that Korin's Tower up ahead?" Yajirobe asked as Daisuke saw a large tower reaching into the sky.

"That's it. We are nearly there," she said as they sped through the surrounding forest.

"It just went dead," Bulma said as she and the others looked at the radar at the Kame house. "The signal is gone."

"Alright, so what explanations are we looking at?" Launch asked.

"The most positive is that Master Roshi was able to summon the Eternal Dragon before King Piccolo, and if that's the case the monsters are no longer on this world," Yamcha answered.

"I like the sound of that. Justice always prevails in the end right?" Oolong asked.

"I sure hope that's what happened," Bulma said.

"If Master Roshi didn't win, and King Piccolo used the Dragonballs then I wonder it is he wished for," Puar said.

"From what we've heard of him, I'd say it's something diabolical like the end of the world," Yamcha replied.

"That's quite possible," Bulma said.

"Why is everyone so pessimistic around here?" Oolong asked laughing nervously.

"Bulma, give us the last coordinates from the Dragon Radar, Krillin and I will go check it out," Yamcha told her.

"You're jumping the gun you two. If you're right and Master Roshi did win, he'll try to contact us here. I think we should stay put and wait for him," Bulma replied.

"You're probably right. But I'm tired or not doing anything," Yamcha said punching his fist into his palm.

A long ways away, a vehicle zoomed across the landscape. "I'm starving, please tell me this tower we're heading for has good food," Yajirobe said.

"I would have no idea. Goku was the one who travelled to Korin tower, not me," Daisuke replied.

"You know, you never did tell me about this cat we're going to be seeing."

"His name is Korin, according to Goku he's a master of martial arts. He used to train under him a long time ago."

"Sounds like this cat knows his stuff. Who do you think is stronger, Korin or King Piccolo?"

"Hard to say really."

"You have to think about it? Man this cat must be strong, so what does he look like?"

"From what Goku told me, he has white fur, is short and has a large stomach and has big ears."

"Sounds like an ugly beast? This is a friend of Goku's? He's not going to try and eat us for breaktist is he?" Yajirobe asked, making Daisuke giggle.

"You're funny Yajirobe," she told him.

Back on Pilaf's airship King Piccolo was sitting back on his throne laughing in victory. "Let's get down to business. This world will soon be mine," he said.

"Yes, the world will soon be under our control," Pilaf said.

"Full speed ahead. Take me to the King's Castle!" Piccolo commanded.

"I don't think the direct approach is the way to handle this," Pilaf said making Piccolo look down at him.

"Do my tactics trouble you?" he asked.

"No of course not. It's just that this castle we're going to has some impressive weapons, and I thought we should maybe get an upgrade," Pilaf answered and Piccolo growled. "No wait scratch that! We don't need an upgrade our current systems should do just fine."

"You foolish twerp, now that King Piccolo has his youth restored no weapon on the planet can destroy him," Piano informed him.

"Well, when you put it like that there's no point in hanging around here any longer," Pilaf said, and his airship flew towards the King's castle.

Back with Daisuke and Yajirobe, they had finally arrived at their destination. "Okay, we're here. Wherever here is," Yajirobe said as his car landed on the ground at the base of Korin's Tower and he and Daisuke climbed out. "Funny, this place doesn't look like it has any good food."

"Don't worry, everything is fine," Daisuke told him as she looked around. "Hey, it's just like Goku described it."

"Who are you?" Daisuke and Yajirobe looked to see a young boy with black hair in a braided ponytail with a feather poking out the back of his head and he wore a vest and chaps made of leather and he held an axe in his hand.

"Hey are you Upa?" Daisuke asked the boy.

"I am. How do you know me?" Upa asked her.

"I'm a friend of Goku's," she answered with a small smile, making the boy gasp as he ran over.

"You know Goku?" he asked and Daisuke nodded. "Where is he, how's he been?" Daisuke bowed her head sadly.

"Goku… he's in a better place," she whispered, making Upa look at her in shock.

"You mean…" Daisuke nodded and Upa began to shed tears.

"I'm sorry, there was nothing I could do to save him."

"It's not your fault. If I know Goku, then he died protecting someone he cared about," Upa replied.

"You're not wrong about that," Daisuke told him as she saw a tall man who appeared to be Upa's father approach them. He was muscular, with several scars over his body and tribal face paint on his face. "Hey, you're Bora right?"

"Who wants to know?" the man asked as he stood beside Upa.

"Father, this is a friend of Goku's. I didn't catch her name," Upa said.

"I'm Daisuke," Daisuke introduced. "And this is Yajirobe." Yajirobe nodded slightly. "I'm sorry to intrude like this, but I need to get to the top of Korin's Tower." As she said this, she fell to her knees and gasped in pain.

"Child are you alright? You look ill," Bora asked, a note of concern in his voice.

"I picked a fight with someone who was way out of my league," Daisuke answered. "That's why I need to get up Korin tower. Would you be able to help me?"

"She nearly got herself killed," Yajirobe said, making Upa and Bora look at him. "She tried to pick a fight with a terrible monster named King Piccolo. She thought it was smart to fight him."

"I know Yajirobe; I'm an idiot, don't start rubbing it in," Daisuke told him. "Anyway, from what Goku told me this Korin guy taught him and made him stronger when he last came here, so I'm thinking he can do the same for me."

"You're gonna climb the tower?" Upa asked shocked, and Daisuke nodded in reply. "But that's crazy, you're in no shape to climb anything. You'd never make it."

"You should rest here a few days child. You should recover from your injuries first," Bora advised her.

"Don't worry. Yajirobe is gonna take me," she replied.

"Say what!?" Yajirobe shouted in anger.

"You're strong enough to climb up the tower," Daisuke said.

"Well thanks for the vote of confidence but there is no way I'm climbing that tower with you on my back!" Yajirobe shouted before Daisuke shouted back.

"You don't really have much of a choice Yajirobe! I need to get to the top of that tower and I'm too weak to climb it on my own! Besides from what Goku said, Korin has lots of food at the top of the tower. He said it was the most delicious thing he's ever tasted!"

"Delicious?" Yajirobe asked, and Daisuke nodded.

"So are you going to help me climb the tower or not?" Yajirobe groaned.

"Fine, you'll have to hold on tight. I can't help you if you fall," he said, picking her up and slinging her over his shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you," Daisuke said gently.

"Allow me to assist you on your way," Bora said to them before he picked Yajirobe up and faced the tower. "Ready to go?" he asked them.

"Have a safe trip," Upa told them.

"We'll try. Thank you for your help," Daisuke said to him, and Bora nodded before letting loose a shout. With all his might, he threw Yajirobe and Daisuke up the tower like a rocket. They flew through several clouds before Yajirobe grabbed onto the tower.

"Ow my hands," he said before he and Daisuke looked at the tower and gasped.

"You've got to be kidding me. We flew all that way and still can't see the top!" Daisuke shouted in disbelief. "When Goku said this thing was tall he wasn't joking around."

"Let's go. Nobody is eating my beans!" Yajirobe shouted before he began to ascend the tower rapidly. "We'll be there in no time."

Meanwhile, Tien stood over the bodies of Chiaotzu and Master Roshi. "Please forgive me. I wish I were with you right now," he whispered, thinking back to how Master Roshi missed with the Evil Containment Wave resulting in his death. He then heard a noise and looked to see a large airplane flying towards him.

"We're here, this is the last location the Dragonballs were spotted," Bulma said.

"Let's check it out," Launch said, brandishing a firearm.

"Wait. There could be enemies we don't know about, let's circle around first," Yamcha said.

"I have a better idea, let's keep flying south. Staying here is suicide," Oolong said before Bulma pushed him to the side.

"Hey, down there. It's Tien!" she exclaimed, and Tien smiled when he realised who was in the ship as it landed, though the smile vanished when the others joined him and saw the dead Master Roshi and Chiaotzu.

"Master Roshi," Yamcha said.

"How could this have happened?" Bulma asked, tearing up.

"First Goku, then Daisuke, and now Master and Chiaotzu," Krillin said sadly.

"Tien Shinhan, we're the only ones left. We have to work together to defeat Piccolo," Yamcha told him.

"I'm sorry Yamcha. There is something that I must do alone," Tien replied. "It is the only way. I must learn the secret of the Evil Containment Wave, it is why I was spared."

"You can't do it alone. We'll learn it with you," Krillin told him.

"That's not an option. It's impossible to do this technique unless you witness it first hand, like I have done," Tien explained.

"No Tien," Yamcha protested.

"Don't argue with me. My mind is set, I have nothing left to lose," Tien said as he opened the capsule which held the plane he, Roshi, and Chiaotzu used and he flew off. "Goodbye my friends," Tien thought as he flew off, leaving the others behind.

Soon night fell and Yajirobe saw the top of Korin's tower not far from him and Daisuke. "Hey Daisuke, we've nearly made it to the top!" he yelled before noticing Daisuke was snoring loudly. "You no good lousy….! How can you be asleep at a time like this!?" Despite his shouts, Daisuke continued to snore.

Tien meanwhile was flying his airplane over a frozen wasteland when he heard Yamcha's voice. "Tien Shinhan, come in. Tien! Are you there?"

"This is Tien Shinhan," Tien answered.

"Come back, Krillin and I will master the Evil Containment Wave and fight Piccolo with you. Did you hear me!?" Yamcha asked.

"Tien listen, we'll collect the Dragonballs again. That way we can revive Master Roshi and Chiaotzu," Bulma said.

"That's not an option. Once King Piccolo got what he wanted, he destroyed the dragon," Tien informed her, and the others shouted in shock.

"Did he say destroyed?" Bulma asked nervously.

"Then there's no other choice but to fight. Tien, do you hear me?" Yamcha asked but Tien didn't respond and Yamcha groaned in defeat.

"If anyone is going to die, then it's going to be me and only me," Tien thought.

At the base of Korin's tower, Upa and his father looked far above. "I wonder if Korin will be able to help Daisuke get better," Upa said.

"If that is so, it is better it happen not immediately," Bora told his son who looked at him confused. "Daisuke is a warrior. From what I saw when we met, she was as strong as Goku. Once she is healed she will re-join the battle. But this new adversary is strong enough to defeat both her and to kill Goku. I do not think he will be easy to eliminate, even if Daisuke received extra training,"

Meanwhile, Daisuke and Yajirobe had almost reached the top of the tower. "I can practically taste that food now," Yajirobe said licking his lips.

"Almost there," Daisuke told him as Yajirobe continued to climb the tower, climbing ever closer to the top. Soon they arrived and Yajirobe carried Daisuke up the final set of stairs before he set her down before collapsing.

"I'm exhausted," he said panting heavily.

"Just rest for a while," Daisuke told him.

"You climbed all the way up here with Daisuke on your back, you must be strong and very stupid." Daisuke turned to see a white cat matching Goku's description of Korin carrying a wooden staff in his arms.

"Master Korin? And how did you know my name?" she asked him.

"That's Master Korin!?" Yajirobe asked, sitting up as Korin approached.

"Yo," he greeted. "And yes I know who you are Daisuke, I also know that you took a butt whooping from King Piccolo to try and avenge Goku's death."

"That's right, how did you know that?" she asked him stunned.

"Just because I live above the world doesn't mean I don't see what goes on down below," he answered, making Yajirobe look over the side of the tower down to the Earth below.

"How can you possibly see what goes on?" Yajirobe asked him.

"You're looking in the wrong place," Korin answered. "Over there." He pointed to three jars. Yajirobe then walked over and lifted the lid of one and looked into the water. "I also know of how you came to this world Daisuke, and what happened to you and your friend," he whispered to Daisuke who gasped and looked at him. "I know your next question, and no. I cannot do anything to separate the two of you, you have become a single being." His words caused Daisuke to bow her head in sadness. "Now onto different matters, why did you come here?"

"Because Goku told me how he trained under you and got stronger. King Piccolo is a menace and needs to be stopped. I was wondering if you could train me like you did Goku," she answered.

"I see. Well you can't train an injured body, so here," Korin said walking over to a basket and he tossed a green bean to Daisuke who caught it.

"A Senzu Bean, Goku told me about these," she said.

"What!? That's the food you were talking about?! I risked my life and this is all the food that's up here!?" he asked before grabbing the basket and began to eat handful upon handful of Senzu Beans, frightening Korin while Daisuke watched on confused before to her shock, Yajirobe fell to the ground and his stomach expanded in size. He groaned.

"Yup. Really stupid, you only need one bean since they last a person ten whole days," Korin said as Daisuke ate the bean in her hand and swallowed. Moments later, her eyes widened.

"Whoa!" she exclaimed as she felt all her injuries heal. "I feel amazing!"

"Yeah, those beans will sure do that to you. You should be back to full health soon," Korin told her. "Now I wanna make sure I have this right. You want me to train you the same way I trained Goku?"

"Yes."

"Sorry kid. But I don't see it happening," Korin said.

"What!? What do you mean?" Daisuke asked him.

"It's not like it was a crash course when I taught Goku, he mastered the master. And you've surpassed how strong he was at the time. Still that won't be enough, many great warriors have tried what you are thinking of, but he still manages to kill everyone. Even Master Roshi fell before him,"

"What, King Piccolo killed Master Roshi!?" Daisuke shouted and Korin nodded sadly. Daisuke growled in anger. "First Goku, and now his Master. Piccolo!" she shouted, running for the stairs heading down the tower.

"Wait. You must not face him in anger," Korin told her.

"I have to fight him. He's killed too many people already."

"Cool down and think for a moment. If you seek him now he'll kill you," Korin told her.

"I'm not afraid of him, nor am I afraid to die. I won't hide in some tower while he destroys the world!"

"Well if she's not afraid to die I think she could take a sip," Korin mumbled.

"Pardon?" Daisuke asked.

"Ultra-Divine Water," Korin answered. "It's like the stuff Goku drank when he was here but that was for amateurs. This is the real stuff."

"How is any different from the sacred water Goku drank a long time ago?"

"Actually, a huge difference. Sacred Water is just water with a little kick in it, no magic whatsoever, but Ultra-Divine Water had mystical properties and a magical zing."

"So if I drink this I'll get stronger?" Daisuke asked, and Korin nodded.

"The water would increase your already impressive abilities. But you'd need to track it down in order to consume it. It's a perilous journey far to the north in a maze of ice. To obtain the water you must navigate this icy labyrinth, the liquid is hidden somewhere in the cave. There are many confusing paths but only one exit. It's easy enough to get in, the trick is getting out. Once inside you can find yourself wandering aimlessly for weeks or even years. Many brave explorers have attempted to navigate the maze but none have ever returned."

"I still want to go. I'm not afraid of some maze, I need to find the Ultra-Divine Water," Daisuke told him. "You're coming with me right Yajirobe?"

"Are you nuts? Why would I voluntarily go to such a dangerous place? I'm out," he answered before walking down the flight of steps to the lower part of the tower where he found several pots. A pot separate from the others stood to the side, and he curiously walked over to it and looked in. "Hey that looks like ice cream," he said reaching into the pot, before he suddenly fell into said pot just as Daisuke and Korin entered the room.

"So how long will it take me to get to the maze? I don't have the Nimbus Cloud and if I flew it would still take forever," Daisuke told Korin.

"Simple solution, hop into that pot and it'll take you right to the maze," he said, pointing to the pot Yajirobe had fallen into just seconds before, and Daisuke nodded and walked towards it. "Wait, before you go, you must know of one thing you must stay clear of."

"And that is?"

"Darkness, and this is not just any darkness it is blacker than night. It obscures the Ultra-Divine Water in illusions so cunning you might never escape once in its snare," Korin answered.

"I'll be careful," Daisuke replied, jumping into the pot. Immediately she felt her body jerk and go flying in an indeterminate direction, causing her to scream as she fell down the pot. Daisuke ended up landed hard on a floor made of ice. "Suffering Succotash," she said getting to her feet, holding her back momentarily.

"Daisuke, once you retrieve the Ultra-Divine Water, return to this spot and I'll pull you back up," Korin's voice echoed from above.

"Right," she replied walking towards the maze. "I don't know how that cat's gonna do it, but hey, who am I to judge a talking cat that knows martial arts," she added mentally as she walked through the maze before seeing Yajirobe. "Yajirobe, did you fall into the pot by mistake?"

"You could say that. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going back up," he answered walking off, and Daisuke followed him. "It's freezing, if I don't get out of here soon I'm going to become an ice cube."

"Yajirobe, the pot is the other direction," Daisuke told him making him stop and look at her.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I hate being cold. I don't even like cold food," he said as both turned around and walked back the way they came, but stopped when they came across three tombstones made of ice. "We didn't pass these on the way in, are you sure you know where we are going?" he asked Daisuke who shrugged. "Stupid ice." He kicked a tombstone which toppled over revealing a frozen person. "I don't know his story, but if we stick around here we'll share the same fate as him." Both noticed a crack forming on the ice below them, and they shouted and ran off with the crack following them.

"It's gaining on us!" Daisuke shouted looking back as the crack continued to chase them.

"Yeah no kidding!" Yajirobe replied as he jumped and Daisuke did the same and they watched as the crack slowed to a halt just as they landed in front of it. "Is it over?" he asked before both he and Daisuke heard a growl and suddenly the wind picked up blowing snow everywhere. "This isn't good." Both he and Daisuke saw a large mound of snow and ice come to life in front of them and it roared. "Argh! An ice monster!"

"I don't know just how strong that thing is, but I don't think we should stick around to find out!" Daisuke shouted.

"For once you have a good idea," Yajirobe shouted back, and both he and Daisuke ran away from the snow monster with it lumbering after them. It waved its arms sending a gale force wind at them, knocking them off their feet, and Daisuke landed on Yajirobe's stomach. They noticed they were sliding down the path made of ice and the ice monster stopped following them.

"That was close," Daisuke said in relief as she looked in front of her where her eyes widened. "Hold on Yajirobe!" They neared a ramp and flew off it before smashing into several ice formations on the roof of the cave. A moment later they landed before continuing on when suddenly they fell down into a ravine below. Daisuke tried to catch herself with her Ki, but found that her Ki slipped away even as she tried. The two screamed as they fell into darkness.

Daisuke groaned as she slowly opened her eyes and blinked, her eyes then shot open and she stood up and looked around. "What the heck? No this can't be. This is the valley where MaloMyotismon was defeated, before he opened that portal and sent me and Gaomon here," she thought.

"There she is!" Daisuke turned as she heard a voice she thought she'd never hear again.

"Kari….TK…Cody…Ken…Yolei?" she asked stunned as her friends ran up to her.

"Daisuke, we've been so worried," Kari said hugging Daisuke who slowly returned the hug.

"You were?" she asked.

"Yeah, when MaloMyotismon hit you and your partner with that last attack, we didn't know if you had survived or not," TK told her.

"Last attack?" Daisuke asked. "We weren't hit by anything, MaloMyotismon opened a portal. It sucked MirageGaogamon, MaloMyotismon himself, and me into it."

"Are you sure you're alright Daisuke?" Yolei asked tentatively. "I mean, that last attack looked bad so it's completely okay that you're confused."

"What do you mean? How long has it been?" Daisuke asked, her confusion edging into distress.

"Daisuke," Ken began, "It's barely been a minute since that battle was over. How long did you think it was?"

"A minute?" Daisuke was blown. There was no way, something was wrong. "It's been months! For that matter, how am I back here?"

"Back from where?" Kari asked. "Did you go somewhere?"

"Yeah, I was sent to some other world where I was experimented on by a mad scientist for months. Can't you see my blue hair and tail?"

There was a brief silence. "You don't have a tail and your hair looks completely normal Daisuke," Cody tentatively pointed out.

Daisuke quickly checked behind her, and saw to her horror that there was no tail. A quick yank pulled one of the hairs from her head off and it was her old mahogany coloured strands. This couldn't be. Had everything been a dream?

"You're safe now," TK said quietly. He pulled her into a brief hug. "Look, let's go back home to the Human World and work everything out okay?"

"Y-yeah," Daisuke muttered. "Was it all a dream? But it seemed so real." A brief check revealed that she was unable to access her Ki. Was it even real? She couldn't feel a thing. Suddenly a thought occurred. "Wait, where's Gaomon?"

The others shared confused glances. "We didn't see him," Ken admitted. Terror began to engulf Daisuke. She couldn't lose him. Even if losing him the first time wasn't real, she remembered the feelings of despair. Suddenly all of the people present heard a voice.

"Ma'am! Don't listen to them, they're nothing more than illusions! Ghosts from the past that are here to trick you," Gaomon warned Daisuke.

"What are you talking about Gaomon?" Kari asked plaintively. "We're just as real as you! Why are you saying that?"

"Exactly," Gaomon agreed. "You are just as real as me. That is to say, not real. Please ma'am, think back to the last thing you remember. Remember what Korin told you?"

Daisuke stretched her memory back. She had fallen into darkness… wasn't she warned about a Darkness that would try and trap her in illusions? So this place… her friends, they weren't real? Suddenly a hole in that theory appeared. "So why can't I use my Ki? Why is my appearance back to normal?"

"That's because of course you're not in a stupid illusion," Yolei scoffed.

Ignoring Yolei, Gaomon continued to address his partner. "I can't answer that, but that doesn't change that this is an illusion. Trust me. What do you feel in your heart?"

Thoughts flew through Daisuke's head. What did she feel in her heart? Suddenly she found her answer. She levelled her eyes on her friends… no, the image of her friends. "Someday I will find a way to see them again. But for real, not by some illusion designed to trick me!"

"You need to calm down Daisuke!" TK yelled at her. Daisuke merely glared at him before looking at the Gaomon illusion.

"I still can't use my Ki. Gaomon, can you digivolve?"

"Yes ma'am." Daisuke focused for a second and a digivice formed in her hand. She pointed it at Gaomon who began to glow.

"Gaomon….Warp Digivolve too…..MirageGaogamon!" her partner shouted as he transformed into his Mega form.

"We'll stop this madness!" Yolei yelled. "Come on everyone!" Several flashes of light later, Shakkouamon, Silphymon, and DinoBeemon appeared, staring down MirageGaogamon.

"We'll bring you back to your senses Daisuke," Cody claimed.

Daisuke gritted her teeth. "Come on MirageGaogamon! Let's banish these illusions for good."

"Yes ma'am! Full Moon Blaster!" A huge beam of energy burst forth from MirageGaogamon's chest plate towards the three Ultimates in front of it. All three of them quickly took to the sky to avoid the explosion. They did not waste a moment before counterattacking.

"Justice Beam!" Shakkouamon cried, and two beams of red light blasted towards MirageGaogamon. The powerful Mega easily avoided the attack, but was forced to pull back, when Shakkouamon, without stopping, swept the beams towards their target. Quickly disappearing in a burst of speed, MirageGaogamon reappeared a hundred or so feet behind his target, chest piece glowing with energy.

Before he could continue, DinoBeemon flew at incredible speed at MirageGaogamon before glowing. "Blinding Luminosity!" Before MirageGaogamon could react, DinoBeemon's body glowed before sending out a blinding white light that seared the Mega's eyes, causing him to cry out and stagger back.

"I forgot that he could do that," Daisuke cursed. "It's just like Tien's Solar Flare." She looked up for a moment before blanching.

"MirageGaogamon, behind you!" Unfortunately, blinded as he was, her partner was unable to counter Silphymon's appearance from behind.

"Astral Laser!" the feathered Ultimate shouted before wrapping its arms around MirageGaogamon's torso.

"Justice Beam!" Daisuke saw Shakkouamon fire its red beam attack towards the blinded Mega and to Silphymon who was hanging onto him. The beam collided with him and a huge explosion ensued. MirageGaogamon fell from the air and crashed into the ground, creating a crater. He climbed to his feet, armour visibly damaged and blackened by the assault. A perfectly intact Silphymon blurred into sight a moment later.

Immediately his attackers followed up.

"Justice Beam!"

"Static Force!"

"Irritant Buzz!"

A beam of red light, a scarlet sphere of energy, and several shockwaves flew towards the shaken MirageGaogamon, but the Mega was no easy prey. He disappeared in a burst of speed, leaving the attacks to collide with the ground harmlessly.

"Double Crescent Mirage!" he shouted, and fired curved shockwaves at both Shakkouamon and DinoBeemon.

"Kachina Bombs!" Shakkouamon intoned, firing several clay disks from its waist area to intercept the attack.

"Irritant Buzz!" DinoBeemon's own attack moved to intercept the incoming move. Unfortunately, the Ultimates' attacks were unable to fully cancel MirageGaogamon's Double Crescent Mirage and were sent flying backwards by the force of the attack.

Silphymon immediately moved towards him. "Astral Laser!" What looked like a clone of Silphymon was fired from its body towards MirageGaogamon who tried to dodge only to find the clone chase him. A quick slash cut the attacker down, but even as his claws made contact the clone exploded into a burst of energy. Only a moment later MirageGaogamon burst from the explosion cloud.

"Gale Claw!" he roared, and he spun like a hurricane, a whirling cyclone of claws and razor edge. Silphymon tried to fly away, but was unable to escape him. Engulfed in MirageGaogamon's attack, it was torn into pieces that evaporated into data particles.

"Silphymon!" Yolei and Kari screamed in anguish. Daisuke flinched as if verbally struck, and shrunk down for a moment before shaking her head.

"Just an illusion," she muttered, but her chest still hurt from the tears on the images of her friends' faces.

By now the other two Ultimates had recovered and were ready to resume their assault. Another Justice Beam and Irritant Buzz were sent towards MirageGaogamon, but they didn't even come close to hitting the speedy Mega. He made a beeline towards DinoBeemon and in an instant was upon him.

A slash of his claw was narrowly dodged before DinoBeemon attempted to retaliate with an attack of his own. Unfortunately, for him, the claw only screeched down MirageGaogamon's powerful armour. A second claw swipe from the Mega connected, driving deep gashes down DinoBeemon's torso.

In response, DinoBeemon began to glow. "Masquerade!" he shouted, disappearing into a blur of speed that even MirageGaogamon couldn't track. Only afterimages revealed the Ultimate's path. This time each strike was aimed at a damaged section of MirageGaogamon's armour, slicing into it painfully and causing him to recoil.

"Kachina Bombs!" Shakkouamon added, and several clay disks joined DinoBeemon in bombarding the blue Mega.

Panicked, Daisuke yelled up to MirageGaogamon. "Use Gale Claw!" He immediately began to spin around until he was surrounded by a whirlwind that blew DinoBeemon and the clay disks away. When he stopped spinning, the extent of his injuries became clear. He was bleeding from multiple locations, his armour was cracked in many places, and he was panting heavily. "You need to finish this!"

"Yes ma'am," MirageGaogamon agreed. He turned to face DinoBeemon and Shakkouamon who now flew next to each other. "Full Moon Blaster!" He immediately began to charge up his body's energy, but his opponents were loath to allow him the time. They immediately moved to assault MirageGaogamon, but to their horror the Mega flew but a few feet back, leaving them directly in front of the charging attack. A moment later, a huge energy beam blasted forth. Within an instant it engulfed the two, completely annihilating DinoBeemon who was right in front of it and badly injuring a further away Shakkouamon.

"DinoBeemon!" Ken cried out, though this time Daisuke was able to ignore the pain in his voice.

"Justice Beam!" Shakkouamon yelled, desperation filling its voice. The red light streaked towards MirageGaogamon who dodged and immediately retaliated.

"Double Crescent Mirage!" In Shakkouamon's injured state, it was unable to dodge the attack that blew it into data particles. With the fall of the last Ultimate, TK, Kari, Cody, Yolei, and Ken began to fade.

MirageGaogamon returned to his Rookie form and turned to face Daisuke. "It was just like old times," he said sadly. There was a pause before both smiled at one another.

"Hey Gaomon, thank you," she said.

"What for? It is I who should thank you ma'am. For being allowed to fight by your side one last time."

Daisuke kneeled down and wrapped her arms around Gaomon tightly, who hugged back. Tears flowed down both of their cheeks.

"It is my time to leave, I was but an apparition sent to help you…now I must go."

"I know. I know, I….love you Gaomon, and I miss you so much. Every day since that happened, I think about you. All the fun we had together when we first met, and all the times after that. Will we ever see each other again?"

"I can't say," Gaomon said. "But knowing I'm within your heart is enough for this illusion."

"I promise you, I will find the one who did this to us, and I'll make him beg for mercy," Daisuke told him.

"I know you will," Gaomon said as he began to vanish slowly.

"Goodbye my friend," Daisuke said, kissing Gaomon on the forehead who smiled at her before he turned into small fireflies. They flew into the sky before vanishing, and Daisuke smiled sadly as tears fell from her eyes.

"Darkness! You think some illusions are going to stop me!? They won't! I'm going to find the Ultra-Divine Water, and you can't stop me!" she shouted clenching her fist.

The end of the chapter

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