Author's Note: I don't know, I just wanted to write some final comments on a topic I'm already tired of discussing, may it be on reviews, e-mails or chat rooms. I try to obey the card game numbers at much as possible, but there are some points where (for the sake of the story) I don't give a damn. Besides, what's the whole deal with following the card statistics? If that were the case, then we've have a severe lack of worthy villains (Strictly speaking, Daemon sucks, Millenniumon sucks, Barbamon royally sucks, Lilithmon sucks, MaloMyotismon sucks big time, Lucemon's only powerful when he gets in Satan Mode, same with Beelzemon, Galfmon and ArcaDemon. The only not-pathetic evil Digimon left would be Leviamon and the Death-X Digimon!). Besides, if the TV show had followed the Card Game thoroughly, the first season kids should have had such a hard time with the Dark Masters and Apocalymon, same with MaloMyotismon (Imperialdramon Fighter Mode should have been enough, really!), and the Tamers should have destroyed each of the ADR series with one hit (except for the Mother, but that's what Crimson Mode was for, right?). And what about KaiserGreymon and MetalGarurumon against the Royal Knights and Lucemon Falldown Mode? Of course, if they had followed the Card Game, the four seasons would have been waaay much shorter. I just wanted to put an end to an endless argument that seems to be a constant in Digimon fanfiction……or at least give a try.

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon (duh!). If I did, I would be making a Chronicles anime instead of pissing people off with my dark stories.

Note: For Japanese names, when it ends with "to", the female equivalent is made by changing it to "ko". Hence the name "Takako".

SILENT SORROW

Chapter 17-B

Concerto of Despair

Part IV: Final Concerto

Act Four: The Fall of the Digimon Tamers

Scene Nineteen: Danger Zone

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 01:37:17

Tokyo was a ghost town. Everything was prepared for the capital city to become a battlefield. Henry watched the empty streets and the abandoned buildings with sadness as the van sped through the city towards Daemon's "headquarters", where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building had once stood.

On the seat behind him, Jeri gave her body some last moments of peace before hell. Her head was leaning against the door, and her hands slowly caressed Elecmon's fur.

The van reached a halt. "We can go any further from here." The driver stated. Henry nodded grimly and opened the door next to him. A warm sunset welcomed him. The sky that evening was a dark orange, and night was bound to come any time soon. Henry helped Suzie and Jeri get out of the van and Ryo, Hirokazu and Kenta soon followed. Yamaki's face was expressionless as he moved to what once had been Henry's seat. He gave the Tamers one last glance.

"Take care."

The vehicle hurriedly left afterwards. Henry sighed. In the end, they were alone. "Takato……please be well."

"Hmm……Henry……"

"What is it?" Henry looked at Hirokazu, the one who had called his name.

"……where's Impmon?"

True…… Henry thought, realizing that the small demon Digimon wasn't with them. It was strange, but there was no point in dwelling on it anymore.

"I don't know. Let's go."

And the Tamers began their final march. Terriermon, perched on his throne on Henry's head, felt the mixed emotions coming from the Tamers.

"Momentai!" He said before jumping off Henry. Extending his long ears, he managed to fly a few meters before landing softly on the sidewalk. Henry watched the short display, and smiled.

"Heh…momentai, is it? Okay!"

***********************************************************************

Scene Twenty: Rei's Mission, Part I

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 01:30:32

Beelzemon Blast Mode delicately landed on an empty street, and Tanaka Rei was soon standing on her two feet.

"Hmm……well……thanks a lot!" Rei said, a little freaked out for her being actually thanking a supposedly-evil Demon Lord.

"No sweat. I hope you find Pineapple Head."

"……'Pineapple Head'?"

"Guilmon."

Rei giggled for a while after realizing the association. "Oh, okay. Then I'll get going."

"Yeah, me too. My feet are looking forward to kicking Daemon's ass."

"Good luck, then!"

"Be careful, lass." Beelzemon said before flying away. Rei looked at the black demon in the sky for a while, until he disappeared behind a building.

Well, well……if I were a huge, red, reptile Digimon, where would I be?

*******************************************************************

Scene Twenty-One: Final Battle, Part I

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 01:04:07

Daemon's meditation was interrupted by frantic yelling outside his pavilion. His forces in the Eastern Quadrant were fighting the Digi-Destined, he was sure of it. The moment he stepped outside the tent, a dead Infermon fell from the sky in front of him right before bursting into data. He looked at his camp now turned into ruins, as MegaGargomon, SaberLeomon, Justimon, Antylamon, Andromon and MarineAngemon destroyed everything that moved. Given that the amount of enemies were considerably less than those in the Eastern Quadrant, and considering the fact that the Tamers are stronger, it's easy to tell that they didn't take nearly as long as the Digi-Destined to take out Daemon's forces.

Soon enough, it was only the Demon Lord standing in a sea of flames, the remains of his headquarters. Of course, there were some other Digimon scouting other parts of the city, so they also survived the Tamers' strike. However, those few survivors will be dealt with later, as they are part of a different act.

"I was expecting you, Tamers. You are late."

"If you were expecting us, then how come you defenses are so weak?" Ryo asked. Daemon shrugged.

"The only troops I need right now aren't here. They're bringing the Vessel to me as we speak. I must admit it was an intelligent idea, hiding in the Digital World, but someone like him can't stay hidden for long."

Henry narrowed his eyes to tiny slits. "Well, that leaves just one choice, then."

"Oh, really? And what would that be?"

"We'll make sure your troops have no one to give Takato to! Mega Barrage!!!"

Henry and Terriermon expected to take Daemon by surprise. However, when the smoke from the barrage dissipated, there was no sight of the Demon Lord.

"Damn………"

Ryo shook his head. "Figures……I bet we could destroy him……if we just could hit him."

"Don't forget Daemon can't hide in his own shadow! Look for the shadow!" Kazu shouted. However, it was much easier said than done, because the sky was already dark. Night had come, and there were no shadows anymore. Or better said, the whole place was one giant shadow. Daemon could easily show up anywhere. To make things worse, most street lamps had been taken down or broken. And to add to the Tamers' disadvantage, they were all ground Digimon, except for MegaGargomon and MarineAngemon.

"Watch out!" Kenta shouted as Daemon reappeared behind SaberLeomon.

"Darkness Claw!"

Daemon detected Beelzemon approaching and sank in the streets again before he could attack SaberLeomon. "Damn that demon!"

"Calm down, everyone. He's testing our patience." Antylamon said calmly.

"Then how come you're shaking!?" Terriermon replied nervously.

"Over there!" Justimon announced right before Daemon closed his right hand around MarineAngemon.

"No!" Kenta shouted, terrified beyond average levels. "MarineAngemon!"

"Heh." Daemon snorted. "Flame Inferno."

Jeri wasn't going to stay still while Kenta's Digimon was burned to a crisp in Daemon's hand. "Why you!? Howling Crusher!"

Daemon caught one of SaberLeomon's front legs with his free hand and threw the Data Digimon away. Justimon and Andromon were after him soon after, while MegaGargomon was already locked and loaded.

"Mega Barrage!"

"Chaos Flare!"

Daemon's attack was dodged by Justimon, but Andromon didn't have the same luck, being blasted all the way back to his Tamer. Then, the Demon Lord threw the already unconscious MarineAngemon to a confused Justimon, who stopped his attack to catch the tiny angel Digimon. Finally, Daemon used both hands to create a magic barrier that blocked MegaGargomon's attack. The Demon Lord watched quite amused how the Tamers regrouped together, while Hirokazu encouraged his partner to get up again. Kenta received the fallen MarineAngemon from Justimon, with tears on his face.

"Well, well, this could actually be quite entertaining………but isn't one of you missing?"

"Now!" A high pitched voice from far behind the Tamers reached everyone's ears.

"Treasure Axe!"

Now THAT Daemon didn't expect. The result being, of course, being slashed on the back by Antylamon's attack.

"Stupid insect!" Daemon tried turning around and strike back, but the Holy Beast Digimon was already reunited with the others, who were giving odd looks at Suzie.

"What?" The youngest Tamer said innocently.

Daemon was now kind of pissed off. "If you think one pathetic attack from an Ultimate is going to take me down……"

"Step by step, Daemon, step by step!"

"What the clown I have for a partner just said." Henry added.

This time Beelzemon started the attack. "Darkness Claw!"

Daemon caught Beelzemon's hands with his own, and proceeded to sink in the street, without releasing the other Demon Lord, who ended up smacked against the ground.

"Ow!"

"Watch out for his reappearance!" Ryo announced. Of course, no one expected Daemon to reappear right where he had sunk in the first place. Beelzemon was just getting up when he got in the end of Daemon's Flame Inferno attack.

"Damn it! Gargo Missiles!"

"No!" Ryo shouted, but MegaGargomon had already launched his strongest attack. Daemon chuckled and quickly moved away from the blast, not without making sure Beelzemon would be the one receiving it.

The next thing they heard was a huge explosion and Daemon's laughter. "Now where the hell is he-oof!"

Daemon had used the smoke to hide until he managed to get to Justimon and hit him on the stomach. When the smoke was gone, so was Daemon.

"I'm getting tired of this hide-and-seek game……" Hriokazu muttered, as he walked over to Suzie to make sure she wasn't alone.

"He knows he can't take us all in a direct fight." Henry commented. Beelzemon growled in response.

"You don't look good at all." Terriermon said to the Demon Lord.

"Blast yourself with those missiles of yours and we'll talk."

"Everyone, look up!" SaberLeomon shouted. Precisely, Daemon calmly levitated above the Tamers.

"You're too slow, Tamers! I could have killed some of you before you even could tell I was up here. But I'm not in a hurry, am I? Flame Inferno!"

All the Digimon moved away from the flames right before realizing they were aimed at those who couldn't bio-merge. Hirokazu, Suzie and Kenta waited for the worst……which never came. When they opened their eyes, Impmon lied unconscious in front of them.

"What a fool………and he calls himself one of the Seven Great Demon Lords………a real pity."

"You know, that's why people like you don't have any friends!" Justimon shouted furiously before jumping as high as possible, his Voltage Blade ready to strike. However, Daemon simply moved higher, where Justimon would never reach him. To those in the ground, Daemon was nothing but a little red spot in the sky. Daemon watched how Justimon returned to the ground where he belonged, victim of the force of gravity.

"What kind of a stupid attempt of an attack was that? Just for that idiotic action, I'm going to punish you next." Daemon announced as he, too, returned to the ground, much slower than Justimon, of course.

We have to think of a plan. Henry thought. I can't believe we've only managed to hit him once.

"Actually,' WE' is kind of an exaggeration. Suzie and Antylamon managed to hit him once."

Terriermon, you're not helping at all.

********************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Two: Guilmon's Last Wish

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:39:41

Guilmon tried sniffing around to find Takato's scent. Just like the last twenty times, he found nothing.

He had managed to reach the park he called home without being spotted by Daemon's troops. His basic survival instinct told him to remain hidden until he found Takato. Once he reunited with his Tamer, he didn't mind being spotted by Daemon itself. With Takato by his side, there was no way they could possibly lose.

His tired breath and the sweat on his aching muscles told him otherwise. He wasn't very familiar with the concept of death, but his mind unconsciously knew that he wouldn't stay in that world much longer, at least not the way he was used to.

But Lemon had died once, too, and he had returned. Did that mean he would eventually return, too? Leomon had returned because Takato had made it happen, and Guilmon didn't doubt Takato would help him returned if he died.

But……what if Takato died, too?

Slowly, very slowly, as each step was a torture, Guilmon climbed up the stairs to his small concrete hut. He wanted to keep looking for Takato, but he was so tired………

Soon enough, Guilmon was fast asleep, comfortably resting on the cold, hard floor of his "home".

************************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Three: Final Battle, Part II

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:37:50

Justimon leaned against a building, gasping for air, and waiting for a sign, any sign. They had changed roles in Daemon's hide-and-seek game, and it was Daemon's turn to "seek". They had been playing like that for a while already, and Ryo kept wondering just what was Henry thinking, separating the group like that. To make things worse, Daemon had been true to his word and had focused his attention on him. On the bright side of things, they had managed to land a few more hits. However, they were from Antylamon and SaberLeomon, and two Data-type Digimon as the group's main attackers didn't really make much of a difference.

Justimon waited; his eyes hurriedly scanning every possible direction Daemon could attack from. Of course, he never bothered to check the wall he was leaning on.

Suddenly, a pair of hands closed around his face, choking him very efficiently. Just as Daemon had always emerged from the ground, now he had emerged from the wall. Justimon struggled to get rid of the hands that were slowly asphyxiating him. Of course, Daemon wouldn't resort to such methods when he had much quicker ways to dispatch his opponents. Next thing Ryo felt was a sharp pain of at the lowest end of his back, where Daemon's knee had impacted. Then Daemon twisted his legs around Justimon's right legs, and with a swift move he forced the leg to twist to a normally-impossible angle. Justimon tried screaming, but Daemon's hands covering his face made it pretty hard.

"Flame Inferno!"

One thing is receiving Daemon's attack from a distance. Receiving it on the face at point-blank is a completely different thing.

Daemon fully emerged from the wall while Ryo and Monodramon slid down the wall to the cold floor, unconscious. Daemon extended his hand towards the fallen duo.

"And now, for the finishing blow……" Daemon muttered while he prepared one of his Chaos Flare attacks.

"Mega Barrage!"

Daemon received the full power of Henry's attack and was sent flying against the very wall he had just emerged from. The wall gave up against the force of dozens of missiles and fell apart, and Daemon fell inside the building. MegaGargomon hurried to pick up Ryo and Monodramon, not without noticing Ryo's leg twisted in a weird fashion.

"Damn……"

MegaGargomon escaped right before the building collapsed under its own weight.

*********************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Four: Final Battle, Part III

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:30:18

MegaGargomon landed where the other Tamers had reunited again. Hirokazu and Kenta carried the unconscious Ryo and Monodramon and placed them next to MarineAngemon and Impmon. Antylamon and Suzie looked everywhere for any sign of the enemy. Henry moved over to SaberLeomon.

"Any sign of Daemon?"

SaberLeomon shook its head. "None in the last fifteen minutes or so."

Henry told them of his short encounter with Daemon after Ryo was defeated.

"I managed to hit him, so at least he must have weakened, but I seriously doubt he's dead."

Andromon nodded alongside his Tamer. "He isn't going down that easy." Hirokazu stated. Everyone nodded……and Suzie screamed.

A few meters away, while the other Tamers were busy talking, Daemon had surprised Antylamon. Now the two Digimon were struggling on the ground, the Holy Beast holding Daemon's hands before they could do the same they did to Justimon and MarineAngemon. SaberLeomon was the first to assist Suzie's partner.

"Infinity Arrows!"

Daemon flew upwards, away from SaberLeomon's pin missiles. "Flame Inferno!" He shouted, his attack aimed towards Antylamon, who quickly jumped up then leapt away from the flames.

"Gargo Missiles!"

Daemon moved a few yards to the left, moving away from the straight line the missiles were making. Hirokazu looked at his partner.

"Andromon! Destroy the missiles!"

"Got it! Spiral Sword!"

The attacked sliced the missiles like a knife on butter, forcing them to explode in mid-air. Just like Hirokazu expected, the force of the explosion was enough to knock Daemon away until he hit a building.

"Alright! We got him!"

"That was great, Kazu!" Jeri cheered. MegaGargomon, SaberLeomon, Andromon and Antylamon rushed to end the battle once and for all.

"Flame Inferno!"

The sudden attack took them by surprise and interrupted their advance. Daemon emerged from the smoke cloud he had created when he impacted the building and dashed towards Antylamon.

"Treasure-"

"Chaos Flare!"

Antylamon interrupted her attack and ducked to the side to evade the attack, giving the Demon Lord enough time to reach his true objective.

"Gatling Missile!" Andromon launched tow missiles from his chest towards the quickly approaching enemy. However, Daemon caught the two projectiles with his bare hands and only stopped running when he was three yards away from Andromon.

"Flame Inferno!"

The missiles exploded right in front of Andromon, and their forces combined with Daemon's attack were enough to knock Andromon out of commission.

"Howling Crusher!" SaberLeomon attacked from behind, but Daemon flew upwards once again. Now in mid-air, he looked at the Tamers' main weakness: Hirokazu, Kenta and Suzie. He extended his hand to shoot one of his attacks at them.

"I don't think so! Treasure Axe!" Antylamon jumped at the flying Digimon and tried to slash with his weapon, but Daemon caught her midway with his free hand.

"Flame Inferno."

Daemon's attack blasted Antylamon back to the ground. Suzie ran to pick her fallen friend, not noticing that Daemon was still focused on them, only to receive a Chaos Flare as soon as she landed. Two consecutive attacks from the Virus-type Mega Digimon were enough to force the Data-type Antylamon to de-evolve to Lopmon. Henry watched in horror how his sister disappeared in an explosion of dark energy. But Daemon wasn't done with Suzie and her partner, of course not.

"And this is for daring to touch me, insects. Chaos Flare!"

"SUZIE!!!" Henry cried as the dark blast got closer and closer to his little sister. Jeri was much closer and she might have been able to save Henry's sister, but she was too terrified to even move. Suzie was unconscious, so she didn't even know what was about to happen…and then she was grabbed and tossed away.

Then next thing the Tamers saw was Shiota Hirokazu being blasted by Daemon's attack. His body fell hard on the street and rolled several meters before finally stopping, almost twenty-five meters away from the place he received the blast. Henry, Jeri and Kenta stayed completely still for a while, trying to understand what had just happened. Henry looked at his sister. The fact that she wasn't laying on a pool of her own blood was kind of relieving, but Henry knew she needed medical assistance as soon as possible. The same applied to Hirokazu, of course. However, Henry and Terriermon seriously doubted Daemon would make a break to let them take their comrades to the shelter.

Henry was furious. Beyond furious, I mean. Maybe he wouldn't be able to take his sister to the hospital. Maybe he'd even die with her. But Daemon was getting the beating of a lifetime.

Henry wouldn't stop yelling as he blindly unleashed MegaGargomon's entire arsenal towards Daemon. SaberLeomon simply watched, overcome with sadness while Terriermon tried to make his Tamer stop. But Henry didn't stop. Not even when the machine Digimon ran out of ammo. MegaGargomon kept firing and firing, refusing to admit the continuous clicking of his weaponry. Daemon calmly emerged from the ground, not even a scratch on his crimson cloak.

"So foolish, Tamer. Even in the very end, you still amaze me with your stupidity."

MegaGargomon was about to resort to hand-to-hand combat when an explosion from far away interrupted him. The explosion was accompanied with multicolored lights and the familiar sound of a building falling down. Daemon sighed.

"So my troops in the Digital World have failed, and the Vessel has returned by himself. Of course, I should have dealt with him personally since the beginning. And it seems he still refuses to admit defeat."

SaberLeomon looked at the smoke cloud rising up from afar. Kenta, too, approached her for the same reason. "Jeri……it's them, right?"

"Takato……and Rika……they have returned………"

Daemon looked at MegaGargomon once again. "Well, it seems our little game must reach an end right now. I have to get the Vessel before my battalion of Diaboromon destroys him."

With that said, Dameon once again disappeared in the shadows, only to reappear next to SaberLeomon in the blink of an eye. In a moment notice, Jeri's Mega Form was trapped in a barrage of Daemon's attacks. Her urgency to protect Kenta from what would be instant death forced her to receive every single attack, and she, too, ended up unconscious with her Digimon in her arms. Kenta, too, fell victim of the shockwaves produced when the multiple Chaos Flare attacks impaled SaberLeomon's body.

MegaGargomon charged at Daemon, no longer able to rely on his long distance weapons. Already done with SaberLeomon, Daemon swiftly jumped upwards making a high flip above the giant fortress Digimon and using a Chaos Flare attack to hit him on the back of his head. Once MegaGargomon's huge body was on the ground, Daemon had no problem in repeating the same performance he did on every other Mega Digimon he had defeated before. Of course, making MegaGargomon de-evolve took a little longer due to his formidable resistance. However, it was just a matter of time before he relented, being face-down and unable to counterattack in any way.

*******************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Five: The Rise of the Savior

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:15:28

Satisfied with the result, Daemon looked around, at the unconscious Tamers and their Digimon. He could kill hem, of course. He could easily burn their bodies to ashes and data now that they were incapable of fighting back. Why he didn't do it, it will never be known. Maybe out of respect for their effort or maybe he wanted them to entertain him some more after he obtained the power of God. After all, bringing Chaos and disaster to the Universe without any resistance is kind of dull.

He looked away, where he could detect the Vessel's presence. A fight was taking place over there, and he truly feared his Diaboromon would forget his instruction of capturing the Vessel alive. Who know, maybe they'd even want his powers for themselves.

His body raised itself above ground level, levitating over what had just been the Tamers' last battlefield. He began his ascension to fly over where the Vessel was fighting when a voice from below stopped him.

"You're not done here yet, Daemon."

A strong breeze blew over the place. Night was already a constant, and it was quite a cold night. Two small eyes stared at Daemon with fiery determination.

"A corrupted and weak Digimon like you will never be worthy of the Divinity. Your filthy hands will never even touch the eternal beauty of the Vessel of God, and his powers will never be tainted with your evil. And since my Tamer friends have failed to destroy you……it seems I'll have to do it myself."

Daemon landed again, utterly surprised at what he had just heard. "I beg your pardon?" He said, his demonic eyes fixed on the small Digimon who dared to challenge him.

In the blink of an eye, the Digimon disappeared, completely taking Daemon by surprise. "What the hell!?" The Demon Lord exclaimed, and the Digimon reappeared right next to his head, turning around and using his long ears to hit the side of Daemon's head.

While Terriermon calmly fell on the ground, Daemon was sent flying against a building which collapsed with the sheer force of the impact. Daemon broke through the opposite wall and finally stopped at the outer wall of a house in front of the destroyed building, on the other side of the adjacent street to the one he had been just fighting the Tamers until recently. The small Digimon patiently waited for the dust to clear away, and then he slowly walked over to the other street, where Daemon was just getting up.

"Blazing Beam." He said, and instead of his usual tiny green energy bullets, a fully developed beam of green energy surged from his mouth, blasting Daemon all the way inside the house whose door he had just been standing next to. Terriermon wasn't wasting any time, and he followed Daemon inside the house. However, his visibility was considerably reduced with the explosions' smoke and debris.

"Chaos Flare!"

Terriermon dodged and lunged at the direction the dark attack came from. He was going to slash with his ears again, but Daemon ducked to avoid them. Then, he extended his right arm to grab Terriermon, but the rookie Digimon grabbed it with his petit hands and used them as support to make a back-flip, landing right behind Daemon. He then slashed the air with his ears. Daemon evaded the two sonic booms, which collided with the wall behind him, filling the room with dust once again.

"Now where did you-"

"Blazing Beam!"

The beam struck Daemon right on the chest, sending him all the way back to the street. Still on the ground, Daemon watched how Terriermon attacked with his ears once again, but he evaded the attack by jumping to his left, making Terriermon hit nothing but asphalt. Daemon looked at the small Digimon and the indentation his ears made as they hit the street.

"What……the hell……are you?" Daemon managed to say between breaths. To his surprise, he was getting tired. "You're not a Digimon!"

"Perceptive as always, aren't you, Daemon?" Terriermon answered calmly. "I'm not a Digimon, at least not in the strict definition. I, too, was created by the Higher Entity, since I'm an element in the grand scheme of things."

Terriermon moved one step ahead. "Just like Calumon was once the catalyst of Digimon development, the Shining Evolution, I am the catalyst of God, the Divine Evolution. One day, I'll initiate the Ritual of Divine Ascension, the day the new God will be revealed, one born from both human and Digimon. Until that day arrives, I'm looking after the Thread of Destiny, living among those who one day will fight in the Last Holy War. Just like Takato and those created by Project Asmodeus, I am an existence above both humans and Digimon, above the Royal Knights and the five Sovereigns, even above Goddramon and Millenniumon themselves. I am the Savior."

********************************************************************

Final Act

Death and Un-Death: With All My Love

Scene Twenty-Five: After All, the Pain Will Soon Be Gone

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:38:00

I'm done.

"Took you long enough." Takato muttered. This simple sentence caught Rika's and Renamon's attention. That was to be expected, since Takato hadn't said a thing in almost three hours. Rika and her partner walked over to the Omni-Tamer, who didn't seem to acknowledge their presence. Still sitting with his back leaning against a large rock, Takato continued his conversation with Ruki.

Shut up, you! It's already a miracle that I can create a Gate with almost zero energy!

"Well, you seem to have more than enough energy to argue with me. Besides, it's my energy you're using, Ruki. You don't hear me complaining."

Ruki remained silent after that short exchange. Maybe she didn't want to waste Takato's energy by replying. Very slowly, Takato struggled to stand up. Renamon hurried to assist him, to which Takato responded with a grim smile.

"Thank you."

"You're wel………"

Renamon couldn't finish her own sentence after looking at her own hands, now stained with Takato's blood. She looked at Takato's t-shirt, which had long lost its original blue color. Without any warning, she lifted it to reveal Takato's torso. Rika would have blushed if the sight hadn't been so shocking.

Every single bruise, scratch and wound Takato had ever had seemed to have returned for payback. From the wounds caused for fighting Daemon to the scratches he got when he fell off the family's dinner table when he was 4 years old.

"What……what is this?" Renamon muttered while Takato lowered the shirt and covered his body.

"My body is collapsing. I can't hold my own energy anymore."

"A-are you okay?" Rika insisted. "Does it hurt?"

Takato sighed and walked away from the couple. "Pain is but a state of the mind." He said before opening the Gate to the Human World with his Omnivice. As soon as a stable Gate emerged from thin air, Takato stumbled and fell on his knees in exhaustion. Rika and Renamon hurried to help him get up.

"Takato, you haven't answered my question."

Takato looked at Rika and smiled. It reminded Rika of the way he used to smile to her. But it was nothing but a shadow of his former joy.

"It hurts more than you could possibly imagine. But it's okay. After all………"

Takato slowly stepped ahead and walked inside the Gate. Renamon finished Takato's sentence before entering the Gate.

"After all, the pain will soon be gone."

****************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Six: Source of Tears

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:35:44

Rika was the last to come out of the Gate. She hadn't even set both feet on the ground when the Gate became unstable and collapsed right behind her. In front of her, Takato had also collapsed, and Renamon was on her knees, looking at her.

"Rika!"

The redhead hurried next to Takato, who looked at her with a weak smile.

"Seems like……I won't…be able to…fight Daemon…anytime soon, huh?"

Rika's eyes watered, but she kept her resolve. "Stupid Gogglehead!"

"Hurry……help the others……they need you right now."

"I couldn't possibly leave you here!"

"Yes……you can……your mission…is over. You have looked after me……these days……now you have……to fight for your life……"

"Takato………"

But Takato didn't answer. He was unconscious. He didn't even flinch when one of Rika's tears fell on his cheek.

"Damn you, Takato……I have cried more in these last few days than in my entire lifetime, and it's all your fault!"

"Shhh! Rika, be quiet!"

Rika looked at her Digimon, who was busy scanning the surroundings. Then, Rika heard it, too. A quiet growl. Soon came another one, and other one after that. They were coming from everywhere.

Rika took Takato's hand in hers. They will not have you, Takato. They won't take you away from me!

*******************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Seven: At Last, His Face

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:36:54

Rei was exhausted. She had tried looking for Guilmon everywhere, but she didn't have any idea where to look in the first place. If she knew a little more about him, she would have known where to look, and she'd have found him in no time. However, her searching would take her somewhere else. It's the way the Thread of Destiny works, and her destiny was about to be changed forever.

Running frantically through the empty streets, she was strangely relaxed. She hadn't met any of Daemon's minions since her arrival.

Rei turned at the next corner, and bit her mouth.

It took her a while to recognize the Digimon as "Diaboromon". Exactly a dozen of them walked together in a straight line. They weren't looking in her direction, giving her enough time to hide behind the nearest wall.

Suddenly, the Diaboromon stopped.

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:35:44

Rei felt an awkward sensation in her chest, and a cold wave went down her spine. The Diablomon dispersed their original formation and continued her advance separatedly. Rei carefully followed them and watched how they separated even more, growling and grunting together in a primitive attempt at communication. When Rei realized they were making a huge circle, she tried to catch a glimpse of what was on the center.

Her body froze and her hands covered her mouth before any sound could come out of it.

Matsuki Takato was on the middle of the street, accompanied by Nonaka Rika and Renamon. Rei slowly made her way to a building and locked herself inside it. The Diaboromon were hiding pretty well, but by Renamon's reaction Rei could tell they had already been detected.

She cursed her fate for being nothing but a dead weight. There was nothing she could do. So she only watched.

*******************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Eight: In Life and Death, I Love You

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:31:32

What are they waiting for?

Those were Rika's thoughts as she waited for the enemies to appear. The growling and snarling had grown stronger, so it was obvious they knew she knew they were there.

"They're waiting, watching……hunting." Renamon muttered.

Finally, one of them appeared. Rika's D-Ark immediately revealed the opponent's stats.

Diaboromon, a Mega-Level Digimon, type and attribute unknown. This Digimon feeds on Computer Networks' data, generating viruses and failures all over the net. Its main attacks are Catastrophe Cannon and Tentacle Bug.

"Oh, not good."

Eleven more Diaboromon appeared around Rika and Renamon. "Not good at all." Renamon added. Rika's grip on Takato's hand tightened, and the weight of days of running away and coping with Takato's weakness returned to her with full force. She felt tired, very tired, but she wouldn't give up just yet.

"It looks like the others will have to wait a bit longer for us, huh?" Rika said to her partner. Renamon nodded, silently admiring her Tamer's determination.

Rika looked at Takato, who quietly rested, oblivious to everything around him. "Don't worry, you're not going anywhere just yet."

She pressed her lips against his, in what would be their last kiss. Rei gasped inside her hiding place.

"In life and death, I love you, Goggle………Takato."

Finally, Rika stood up and faced the Diaboromon. "Let's put an end to this, Renamon."

An end to everything……

"Bio-merge, activate!"

"Renamon, digivolve to……Sakuyamon!"

The shaman Digimon stared at her opponents with burning anger. "So……who's first?"

Three Diaboromn attacked together. Sakuyamon blocked the first one with her staff, knocked the second one away with a roundhouse kick and hit the third one with the staff. "Three against one……almost fair, huh?"

The other nine Diaboromon attacked together, and Sakuyamon rushed to meet them. The first one attacked, and she ducked hitting its chin with her staff and punching him away. Another one slashed Sakuyamon's back with its claws, and she returned the gesture by lowering her body and kicking its feet, making it lose its balance. Sakuyamon then jumped, kicking a third one on the head and hitting another one with the staff. A fifth Diaboromon jumped even higher and knocked her down, pinning her against the ground. Sakuyamon used her feet to push the offender away right before noticing four Diaboromon aiming their Catastrophe Cannons at her. She quickly got up and stabbed the lower tip of her staff on the nearest Diaboromon's chest, jumping to the side when the other enemies fired their strongest technique. The Diaboromon who had the staff on his chest received the full blast, which was powerful enough to destroy him. The eleven remaining enemies didn't waste time and absorbed their fallen ally's data. They resumed their attack as soon as they were done.

Sakuyamon blocked the first one with her left arm, kicked a second one before it could attack, but the third one hit her right on the stomach, followed by an uppercut. Sakuyamon rolled on the ground for a while, and the Diaboromon followed her. Sakuyamon quickly got up.

"Spirit Strike!"

The Diaboomon quickly dispersed to evade the four fox spirits, and Rika could focus her attention on the closest one without fear of the others attacking for a few seconds. She jumped at the lone opponent and used her staff to hit him, first on the chest, then on the face. The Diaboromon tried to land a hit, but Sakyamon used its arm to gain enough impulse to leap above him and get behind him. They both were in the middle of the fall when Rika made a 360° turn and kicked the Diaboromon on the side, knocking him against a building. The building Rei was hiding in.

"Spirit Strike!"

This time, the four foxes hit right on their target, but the building didn't resist the multiple impacts and began to collapse with a loud rumbling.

While Sakuyamon continued her battle against the ten remaining Diaboromon, Rei frantically looked for a way out of the building that was about to fall down on her. The initial explosion caused by Sakuyamon's Spirit Strike had destroyed the main entrance. Rei moved to the other side of the building, desperately looking for an emergency exit, when the tremors resonated with the building's structure, which broke and came down, floor by floor.

Rei quickly looked up, and managed to see large clumps of concrete and other materials before the first large piece of debris hit her head and knocked her out. Five seconds later, she was buried under what once had been an office building.

In that precise moment, both Takato and Guilmon opened their eyes at the exact same time. The reptile Digimon sniffed the air and, after days of futile attempts, he finally detected Takato's presence. Tiredly, he got on his two feet and resumed his march, not thinking about the pain, the exhaustion or anything. He just had to be with his Tamer. What happened after that, he didn't care.

As for Takato, he turned his head to the sound of battle. He watched Rika fight alone against ten Diaboromon, trying to keep them all at bay, but eventually receiving a blow or two. He wanted to help her, he had never wanted to help someone so badly before, but he felt so tired……and Guilmon wasn't there, either. That was Takato's last torture: to helplessly watch Rika fight to exhaustion in an impossible-to-win confrontation that could only end up in death.

*****************************************************************

Scene Twenty-Nine: Terriermon's Last Stand

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:10:19

Terriermon's body was slammed against a wall, but the small Digimon didn't lose his focus and immediately jumped to the side before Daemon's claws pierced through his body. Terriermon counterattacked with a headbutt on Daemon's face which made tumble a few steps backwards.

"Blazing Beam!"

"Chaos Flare!"

Both attacks hit on their targets, and both Digimon flew further away from each other. Daemon slowly got up, and so did Terriermon, but the rookie took his time. Even if he had the power to rival Daemon's attacks, the fact remained that he had the body of a rookie Digimon, and such a body couldn't resist such an amount of power much longer.

Hurry up! Adam!

"Terrier Tornado!"

Terriermon's body began to spin creating a small twister. Daemon would have laughed at such a miserable-looking special attack, if such twister hadn't started to grow bigger and bigger, extending upwards in the sky. When the Terrier Tornado was the size of a REAL tornado, it began its slow advance towards Daemon. No matter where Daemon ran or flew, the giant twister followed, finally swallowing him in.

The Demon Lord could barely breathe as he was the victim of an endless barrage of hits from every direction. To make things worse for him, the spinning speed seemed to increase even more with each hit he received. Realizing that he wouldn't be able to resist much longer, he switched to desperate measures.

"Flame Inferno!"

And the twister transformed in a spiral of flames. Both Terriermon and Daemon cried in utmost agony, until the tornado finally exploded and both Digimon fell on the ground, breathing heavily and extremely exhausted.

"Damn…….DAMN IT!!!" Terriermon cursed, shouting at the top of his lungs. It was his last chance to destroy Daemon, and he had failed.

******************************************************************

Scene Thirty: My Last Thoughts for You

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:06:38

Sakuyamon retreated, but the Diaboromon were quick and many. Now eight remained, but it had taken everything from both Rika and Renamon to get rid of those four who were already destroyed. She dodged a fist going her way, and replied with a fist of her own. An enemy hit her from behind and she fell on her knees. She hit several legs with her staff, and then blocked a Diaboromon with both arms. She quickly got up and jumped up to try to get away, but her movement was predicted, and a Diaboromon was already in mid-air, ready to knock her back to the ground.

Rika groaned in pain and spit some blood accumulated in her mouth. Sakuyamon stood up and attacked.

"Spirit Strike!"

Once again, the enemies dispersed and Rika attacked one of them. She managed to land several hits before it fought back, and Rika quickly jumped away and turned to attack another one. With a powerful battle cry, Sakuyamon pinned another Diaboromon against the ground and made a hole on his face with the tip of her staff. The Diaboromon burst into data under her body, and Rika quickly turned to face the remaining seven opponents.

The fight ended rather quickly, though. Sakuyamon released another Spirit Strike, and the Diaboromon, now fully conscious of Sakuyamon's strategy, dispersed in two groups of three. The first group fired their Catastrophe Cannons, which Sakuyamon evaded with relative ease, while the other one used their Tentacle Bug attacks, which were a little trickier. However, that was just a distraction for the last remaining Diaboromon, who simply approached Sakuyamon unnoticed and hit her as hard as he could. Sakuyamon tried to stand up as soon as her body touched the floor, but she wasn't fast enough to avoid the six incoming Catastrophe Cannon attacks.

Renamon fell unconscious on the spot, while Rika rolled a few times before reaching a halt. "Damn it……" she muttered, unable to hold her tears anymore.

"Not like this……it can't end like this……"

She felt her body going numb and her eyelids starting to close. She turned her head and her violet eyes met Takato's, who looked at her with tears coming out of them.

"Takato………" she whispered. "Sorry………"

She wanted to extend her hand to him; she wanted to touch him one more time.

Rika fell unconscious.

Laying on the cold street, Takato couldn't see them, but he could hear the Diaboromon approaching him. Would they take him to Daemon, or maybe they would kill him on the spot?

No………no, no, no!!!

Takato began a struggle against himself, fighting his own weakness; his body slowly began to react to his mind's orders once again.

Takato, what do you think you're doing!?

Now in a sitting position, Takato swiped the tears with the back of his hand.

My life means nothing anymore! I'll dead soon, and I'll be nothing but a memory. But I can't leave like this, not like this! I won't leave until I make sure Rika and the others have a future ahead of them!

His legs trembled as he got up, facing the seven remaining Diaboromon with courage beyond human levels, barely withstanding the pain, ignoring his body's cries, asking him to just lie down and die.

Just when the first the Diaboromon was about to strike, a red blur knocked it down to the ground. Takato sweatdropped. "……Guilmon?"

"Takato!" The large rookie Digimon happily walked over to his Tamer's side, rubbing his face against Takato's t-shirt. "Takato smells weird."

"Yeah, it's blood. Not my favorite scent, either."

"Guilmon was waiting for Takato! Guilmon wants to be with Takato forever!"

"……thank you, Guilmon. Ruki……"

Bio-merge sequences activated.

I'm glad we met, Ruki.

I'm glad to be here this precise moment. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

"Bio-merge activate!"

"Guilmon, digivolve to………Gallantmon!"

As soon as the evolution was over, Gallantmon fell on his knees, breathing heavily. "Great……"

The Diaboromon were a little confused, trying to identify the newcomer. Gallantmon slowly got up and charged his lance. "Lightning Joust!"

The attack took the Diaboromon by surprise, hitting one of them and destroying him instantly. Takato raised an eyebrow.

"Whoa……I still got it!"

The Diaboromon, not unsure of what to do anymore, charged at Gallantmon together and knocked him down to the ground. "Or not……"

Still on the ground, Gallantmon looked at Rika and Renamon, still unconscious.

Rika……my last thoughts shall be for you.

*************************************************************

Scene Thirty-One: Huanglongmon's Tamer

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:04:13

Everything was dark. Only a faint spark of white light shone in the distance. Beyond the limits of matter, a soul wandered alone, trapped in an unknown limbo. But everything has a reason, and every living thing lives for a purpose.

"Quite surprising, really? I know a lot about humans, but this is the first time I've actually seen one."

Rei, or at least, the essence of what is known as Tanaka Rei looked up and gasped at the giant Digimon standing before her. In the middle of the darkness, blocking the little spark of light, a huge beast with dragon features stood on four legs wide as sequoias. His body glowed thanks to its golden scales and twelve red Digi-Cores floated on his back next to a set of golden spikes on both sides of his body.

"A……a Digimon!?"

"I am Huanglongmon, guardian of the tree of knowledge, and eternal keeper of the realm of the pure, the center of the Universe: the Apex."

"…………neat."

"Of course, it is to be expected. Ignorance is bliss, and your ignorance is completely understandable."

 "I don't know if I should feel insulted of thankful. Where am I, anyway?"

"Don't you remember, human?"

"Well, I do remember watching Sakuyamon fight those Diaboromon, and then an explosion, and then………" Rei remained silent.

"And then you died."

Huanglongmon moved around Rei, revealing the tiny light in the distance.

"I am a God of Digimon, so I can interrupt the flow of souls every once in a while, whenever I find it necessary. Follow that light, and you shall reach the afterlife."

Rei looked kind of sad. "I'd rather not, but I guess I don't have any other choice……right?"

"Wrong. Why do you think I bothered to stop you here?"

"………that's a good point. So, what do you want from me?"

"You know of Digimon and the Digimon Tamers."

"Yeah, I guess."

"And you also know of Matsuki Takato."

Rei would have blushed if she weren't in limbo. "Well, not that much as to know him, but……"

"You know enough, human. You were able to tell he is not the ordinary human, yet you have no idea how truly important he is."

Rei felt strangely glad. This Digimon also recognized Takato's greatness, just like she did.

"Don't misunderstand, human. Takato represents a great power, but he also hosts a terrible threat. But that depends on the way the wheels of time turn."

Huanglongmon lowered his head, his reptilian eyes fixated on Tanaka Rei.

"Your soul is clean of sin, and your intentions are correct. Your eyes show the energy of youth and the spirit of a warrior. You shall help me create the new Digital World."

*******************************************************************

Scene Thirty-Two: Across the Tears

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:01:00

The ground trembled when a Catastrophe Cannon exploded on Gallantmon's shield. Takato shouted and launched a Lightning Joust at the offender, who evaded it easily. Gallantmon jumped to the side to dodge an incoming physical attack, and used his shield to repel a third Diaboromon. Three Diaboromon launched their Cannons together, and Gallantmon jumped high up, followed by the other three Diaboromon.

"Takato's Star Shower!"

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:00:45

The Aegis' plasma machine gun made it impossible for the Diaboromon to get any closer, and Gallantmon landed safely a few yards away. However, those enemies who had stayed on the ground attacked with their Cannons once again, and Gallantmon barely had time to raise his shield. Blocking three combined beams was extremely difficult, and Gallantmon felt his energy being drained by the simple act of blocking their attacks. Meanwhile, those Diaboromon who weren't firing their cannons dashed around Gallantmon and attacked from behind. Gallantmon jumped aside and the Catastrophe Cannons forced the three Diaboromon to cancel their attack, giving Takato enough time to prepare an attack of his own.

"Shield of the Just!"

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:00:30

Gallantmon's beam sent one Diaboromon to oblivion, but gave two of them enough time to attack Takato from both sides, slashing the holy knight's face with their sharp claws. Gallantmon tumbled and fell to the ground, and the five Diablomon lunged at him to continue their rampaging attack.

Gallantmon blocked the best he could with his shield, but ten sets of claws embedded with dark energy thanks to their Tentacle Bug attack slowly pierced through Gallantmon's armor. Takato groaned and cried with every slash, consumed by desperation, his will to fight being the only thing that kept him still going.

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:00:15

With one last deafening cry, Gallantmon released his remaining energy in a powerful explosion that forced the Diaboromon to retreat. When the holy light was gone, Gallantmon was no more, and Takato and Guilmon stood next to each other, having reached the limit. The five remaining Diaboromon, only driven by their berserker instincts, aimed their Catastrophe Cannons at the Tamer/Digimon duo. Takato didn't blink; he just looked at his right hand, where his Omnivice, no longer able to feed from Takato's energy, was in the verge of shutting down.

Ruki……

Taka…to………no more………sorry………

It's okay……thank you……

Takato looked at Guilmon, delicately petting his head. "Good job, Guilmon."

Finally, he looked at Rika. "I guess……this is goodbye."

The five Diaboromon fired together………and Matsuki Takato was no more.

*********************************************************************

E.T.D. (Estimated Time of Death): 00:00:00

In that precise moment, every world, every universe froze for an instant. It was as if every tree, every rock, and every particle of dust in every dimension mourned for the loss of a man amongst men.

In the Eastern Quadrant, Kamiya Hikari and Ichijouji Ken felt a sharp pain in their chests.

In the Eastern Quadrant, Takaishi Takeru fell on his knees and cried.

In the Eastern Quadrant, Kamiya Taichi looked at the dark sky and began to cry for no reason.

In the place known as "Infinity", Goddramon witnessed with sorrow how the eternal thunderstorm that covered the skies of Infinity finally subsided.

In the Dark Ocean, a Tamer and his BlackTerriermon looked at each with the unconscious certainty that something important had happened.

In a shelter near Mt. Fuji, the glass of water Matsuki Mie held with her right hand broke for no apparent reason.

In the streets of Shinjuku, a Demon Lord and a Terriermon stopped their battle when the presence of the Vessel of God couldn't be detected anymore.

In the very center of the Digital World, at the top of the Spirit Pillar, Huanglongmon, Dorumon and Tanaka Rei gazed to the east simultaneously.

In a hidden laboratory somewhere inside the Apex, a fake Gennai sighed in relief, while checking on the baby resting inside an incubator.

In that same laboratory, trapped inside a glass vial, a girl with chestnut hair and almond eyes smiled.

Brother……you have the power to create miracles. Asmodeus shall die after giving one last miracle to the world. The time of humans, Digimon and Tamers is over. The time of angels, demons and knights is upon us again.

***************************************************************

Final Scene: The Last Miracle, Part I

Brother? Brother, please open your eyes………

Are you sure he'll wake up? He looks pretty beat up.

Oh, shut up, you! He's much stronger than he looks!

Hey, we have no doubts on that!

Takato opened his eyes……to more darkness. "I……did open my eyes, right?"

A face popped up from nowhere. "Oh, sure you did!"

Takato was looking at a girl about his age, who looked awkwardly similar to…… "Do I know you?"

"I got it! You look exactly like Takato!"

"One word for you, DC: DUH!" BlackTerriermon replied.

Takato looked at the small Digimon. "BlackTerriermon?"

"What's up, buddy?"

Takato tried to get up, and got quite a surprise. He could get up with no problems at all. No pain, no groaning, no nothing. "Hey, I can stand up!"

"Yay." BlackTerriermon muttered sarcastically.

"But……how come it doesn't hurt?"

"Well, that's obvious, silly!" Gabrielle said before hugging Takato as tightly as she could. "That's because you're dead!"

"I think she's the only one who can say those words with honest happiness." DC muttered.

"Amen, father." BlackTerriermon replied.

Takato didn't bother to stop Gabrielle from hugging him, but that didn't stop his curiosity. "But, really, who are you?"

"I'm BlackTerriermon's Tamer. You may call me DC."

"That's because he forgot his real name!"

"Of course I didn't!"

Takato sweatdropped. "Okay……and you are……"

Gabrielle looked up and smiled. "What? Do you think the guys from Project Asmodeus just did some hocus pocus and you were born?"

"You mean……"

"Oh, no, of course they made several attempts and mistakes before you, their first success, were finally born. I am one of those mistakes. I am Gabrielle, a misspelling of Gabriel, the Archangel of the Moon. That would make me your sister."

Takato blinked. A lot. Gabrielle chuckled. "Hard to swallow, huh?"

"Not really………I've seen many weird things lately."

"And you're the weirdest of them all!"

"BlackTerriermon!"

"Besides………" Takato smiled. "……I've always wanted a little sister."

Gabrielle sniffed and hugged Takato even tighter, unable to hold her tears of joy. "Technically, I'm older than you, brother………"

Takato pouted. Gabrielle chuckled. "……but 'little sister' will do just fine."

"Aww……isn't this one lovely reunion."

"Knock it off, you." DC muttered. "Gabrielle, are we here just to say bye to Takato before he goes to the afterlife, or what?"

Gabrielle ignored DC's words. Her brother was here, holding her, just like she had always dreamed. She couldn't let go of that just yet. She knew there would be other times, but……

"Give me a name."

"Huh?"

"Brother, please give me a proper name. 'Gabrielle' is an angelic name, just like 'Asmodeus'. Unlike you, I don't have a real name. I want to feel I'm your sister. I want to be a Matsuki, too."

"Then you shall have a name. You are my sister, my twin sister; hence you'll have my name. I'm very happy to meet you, Takako."

"I am Takako." The girl muttered as she cried on her brother's chest.

A minute later, Takako finally let go. "Thank you. Now, go to the light."

Takato look at the light at the far horizon. "Do I really have to? I……I promised I wouldn't die until I created a future for my friends……I feel like I failed them."

Takako gently placed her right hand on Takato's cheek. "I just said 'go to the light'. I never said 'die'. Takato, you, like me, carry within yourself the power of God. You have the power to alter the original scheme of things. You have already changed the Thread of Destiny so many times, I'm certain you'll have no trouble doing it again."

Takato looked at DC and BlackTerriermon, who shrugged and smiled. "Don't look at us, we're just her escort."

"Brother, you said you would be able to destroy Daemon if your will to live is greater than his will to destroy everything. Are you still willing to believe that?"

Takato wanted to ask her how in God's name she knew he had said such words, but he felt he had little time. So he just nodded.

"Then go to the light and prove yourself. You are no longer 'Asmodeus' or 'Chaos'. If you succeed, you shall become the perfect human existence. You shall become Adam-Kadmon, the first true human."

Takato made a step back and looked at the light that called him. "Will we meet again?"

Gabrielle smiled. "If you succeed, we'll meet again. And we'll never be apart anymore. If we meet again, I promise I'll be with you forever, brother."

"I'm looking forward to it." Takato said before disappearing within the light.

An instant later, there was nothing but darkness, and Takako, DC and BlackTerriermon stood quietly in the middle of it.

"Will he be okay?" DC wondered. Takako turned towards him and stuck her tongue out.

"Of course he'll be okay. He's my brother, you know?"

"Jeez, talk about family pride."

"So……what now, Ga……Takako?"

"Well……" Takako inched dangerously close to DC. "I'm going to leave home at once. I was kind of tired of being in a glass tube all the time."

"Are you sure you'll be able to do it by yourself?"

"Of course! Did you forget who I am?"

"Oh……of course not. So, what do I do?"

"You? Well……are you up to fighting a God Digimon?"

DC gulped. "Forget I asked………"

Takako laughed and pointed at a random direction. "Onwards, my brave Sandalphon! The real adventure now begins!!!"

****************************************************************

Final Scene: The Last Miracle, Part II

Terriermon and Daemon weren't done dealing with Takato's death when a second explosion sent tremors all over the city.

Terriermon's eyes widened as a pillar of white light surged from the exact place Takato had died a few second before. For a moment, both Digimon forgot all about fighting, they were too amazed by the sight in front of them. At the distance, ten giant angelic wings emerged from the pillar of light and extended through the whole city, bathing every corner with holy light. A soft breeze refreshed Terriemon, and a shower of angel feathers poured from the sky. He looked at Daemon, whose initial surprise had changed into sheer terror.

"What……WHAT IS THIS!?"

"This?" Terriermon replied as he caught a feather with his tiny hands. "This is what you were after since the beginning, Daemon. The power of God."

Terriermon looked at the ten wings, which had begun to shrink and retreat to the pillar of light, which was also fading.

"Looks like in the end, the good ones did win, after all. There's no need for me to fight anymore."

And with no further ado, Terriermon dropped to the ground, unconscious.

A few blocks away, the wings of light had returned to their normal size. Gallantmon Crimson Mode looked at his hands, still uncertain of what had just happened. Around him, only the still-unconscious Rika and Renamon remained. The Diaboromon had been destroyed by the sheer force of the holy pillar of light.

"Let's put and end to this."

****************************************************************

****************************************************************

Next: Silent Sorrow, Epilogue: Prelude to Tomorrow

Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)