Thanks a lot Forte.

Forte: I didn't know that channel had Gilligan's Island.

Beelzemon: At least we switched him to another one before he ran.

Machinedramon: (Bent over, and hands on butt.) Excuse me, but I think you REAR-ended me.

Beelzemon & Forte: . OH GOOD GOD!!!!!!!!! NOT ACE VENTURA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 22 - Forte's challenge.

The four Digi-humans take Forte to a park bench, where their parents were sitting.

"Huh? Who's your new friend Nicole?" Rika asked.

Forte then steps forward.

"I'm not a friend per say. I just need to speak with you Tamers."

The Tamers then got up, and had a bad feeling about the kid.

"Who are you?" Henry asked.

"That's not important right now. anyway, an evil Digimon named Reapermon has appeared, and he must be stopped. I'd do it myself, but I can't beat him alone. That's why I'm here. I'm asking for your help, but first, I want to see if you and your Digimon are strong enough."

"."

"Fight me. And I promise this. if you don't try to win, I will kill the Digimon fighting me. As for your children, they had no choice but to bring me to you. otherwise, I'd expose them as part Digimon."

". You're serious????" Ryo asked.

Forte scowled.

"Just because I'm young doesn't change the fact I'm powerful."

"You really ARE serious." Takato said.

"That I am, Takato Matsuki."

"You know my name???"

"ENOUGH!!!! Will you accept my challenge??"

"I don't see a reason to."

"Humph. cowards."

"HEY! WE ARE NOT COWARDS!!!!"

"Then fight me."

The Tamers knew that they'd probably regret it, but they accepted.

The Digimon were reluctant at first, but Forte convinced them he was dead set on fighting them. Terriermon, being arrogant, decided to fight first.

"Are you really going to fight me as a Rookie? You should digivolve to Champion at least."

"Just watch me win."

Forte then brought his right hand out from under the poncho, and raised his fist up.

"You need to learn a lesson."

Then Forte put his index and middle finger up, and a small fireball appeared above them. This surprised everyone, but Renamon found it familiar.

"And that lesson is RESPECT!"

Forte then threw the fireball. Terriermon cockily sidestepped, but it exploded, throwing the tiny Digimon forward, and into Forte's grasp.

"Are you still going to fight me as a Rookie?"

Terriermon then squirmed out of Forte's grip, and backed away a bit.

"Henry, maybe I SHOULD digivolve."

"All right."

DIGI-MODIFY! DIGIVOLUTION ACTIVATE!

"Terriermon digivolve to.Gargomon!"

Forte looked over his opponent. Then he was glad he chose this abandoned warehouse district as the battlegrounds, or the Digimon's stray shots could kill someone.

"Fine then."

Forte then formed a sword out of energy, and held it, ready to use it.

"COME ON!"

Gargomon fired at Forte, but Forte anticipated this, and brandished his sword, using it to deflect the shots that wouldn't miss. Several of the shots hit Gargomon.

"UGH!!!!"

"Come on. I expected more fight from you."

As Gargomon tried to get up, Forte changed the sword into a whip of energy, and lashed at Gargomon's feet.

"Pathetic."

Then Forte used his mind wind to blow Gargomon into Henry.

"Who's next to try?"

Renamon certainly didn't feel at ease about this opponent. She could have sworn Impmon said something like that to her when Forte told Terriermon he was going to learn a lesson. Renamon didn't bother trying to fight as a Rookie, and had digivolved to Kyubbimon.

"FOX TAIL INFERNO!!!!!"

As the flaming blasts surged at Forte, he decided not to taunt her by allowing them to hit.

"RIVER OF POWER!!!!!!"

As the blast surged at Kyubbimon, the Tamers easily identified the attack as a MetalSeadramon's. Kyubbimon took the blow hard. She reverted to Renamon, and Forte smirked.

"From what I can tell, you can't fight well alone."

"This doesn't make sense. why aren't we just hunting down this 'Reapermon'??"

Forte frowned. Takato had a point. Forte then realized he was enjoying the battles.

"Humph. Well. Fine. go hunt him. I was testing to see if you had a chance though. Together, you do, but it's small."

Then Forte felt something. it was power. coming from the children.

"GAH!!!! Hmm. Your kids, however, maybe be a whole new league altogether.."

"What???" Tony wondered.

"There's a perfect balance of human and Digimon in you four. None of you truly compete with me, but you can stop Reapermon. If I don't get to him first."

"WAIT!!!!!!!"

Forte left, and they wondered why Forte was acting so odd.

Machinedramon: Could you PLEASE not use the remote on me again?

Forte: Sure. I DON'T want to hear you act like Ace Ventura again.

Beelzemon: Whatever.