Digifan:
Actually, there are 6 Biomerged Digimon now. They're Gallantmon, Sakuyamon, Mega Gargomon, Justimon, Cherubimon, and now High Andromon.



Disclaimer:
Toei and Bandai own Digimon. Bandai owns Digimon World 2 and Digimon World 3. This story was not written for profit.







Guard Tamer: Associates of Anarchy
By: RB3



Chapter 11: The Amaterasu Massacres







Megadeath sighed as he entered his room in Amaterasu City. Just hours ago, the Online Tamers of Zhuqiao City had started a rebellion to retake their city. Megadeath took part in the quelling of the revolt and the AoA crushed the rebellion after a fierce battle. Despite being victorious, Megadeath did not feel like a winner at all. As he fought the rebels, he saw a fire in their eyes that most people did not have.

This fire was from a refusal to be oppressed and a desire to be free once again. He saw a people willing to fight to the death for freedom. They were a people who would never give up the fight for freedom. The AoA only won because they had superior Digimon, both in numbers and in quality. Yet, even with such power, the constant rebellions would eventually take its toll and be the death of the AoA government.

The AoA did not come to the Servers by choice. Rather, events in their home world had forced their hand. Before, the AoA used to be followers of Overlord GAIA, the genocidal AI that nearly wiped out humanity. To complete his genocide of the human race, Overlord GAIA had created the ultimate biochemical weapon, Blight. However, Overlord GAIA was eventually confronted and killed by humanity's avenger, True GAIA.

After Overlord GAIA's death, Overlord GAIA's followers had separated into various schisms. The various factions fought amongst each other, with the Guard Tamers entering the fray to purge the last of Overlord GAIA's followers. Though a world wide war was bad, the situation became worse because of the Blight. His creation would continue to plague the world long after his death.

The Blight had mutated to such a degree that it gained a sentience of its own, albeit a crude one. Like a plague, the Blight began to spread across the world. The various factions were so enthralled in their petty squabbling that they ignored all warnings of the Blight's threat. Eventually, the Blight had consumed much of Asia, and the entirety of Africa and South America. Once the Blight began attacking the lands of the factions, it was too late...



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

Megadeath reminisced on the events which brought him to this point. His memories brought him back to a news report of a horrifying massacre. "The world was shocked by a surprise attack on Washington DC by unknown creatures," began a male news anchor.

The news played footage of the slaughter; a sight that was sure to terrify even the most courageous heart. Several creatures from beyond the grave rushed into the city and began to butcher anyone that entered their sights. These creatures looked as though they were the creation of a seriously deranged mind. They were the corpses of people with greenish mould spots growing all over their bodies. These corpses were given an unholy new life and were dubbed the "Blight Spawn."

The cameraman panned from a female news reporter to a crowd fleeing from several Blight Spawn dogs and cats. The Blight Spawn tackled anyone they could reach to the ground, and proceeded to tear them limb from limb. The cameraman heard the reporter scream as a Blight Spawn dog pounced on her. An off camera Blight Spawn felled the cameraman, who dropped his camera on the ground. A gout of blood splattered on the camera before something jarred the camera and cut off the video feed.

Over the course of several months, the factions lost more and more ground to the Blight Spawn. Eventually, they were forced into hiding in the most arid and harsh areas of the world. They were also under constant threat from the Guard Tamers, who still viewed the factions as enemies due to their shady past with Overlord GAIA. One faction, the AoA held a meeting to determine the fate of their people.

In the regal walls of a parliament building, the AoA leaders discussed their course of action. "Mister Chairman, every day, we lose more of our sons and daughters to the war against the Blight! We can't go on like this! If we continue to fight, it will be the end of us all!" stated a cabinet member.

The parliament broke into discussion until Magami, then only a cabinet member, requested time for a proposal. "Sir, I recognize the dilemma we are facing. I propose that we leave this world and colonize another as our new home."

This proposal was very controversial as it meant leaving the world behind. The parliament broke into various discussions. "Order, order! Mr. Magami has the floor," stated the chairman.

"Thank you, chairman. I believe that the only way we can survive is to leave the world we have lived in for generations. My proposal entails the sending of agents into a corresponding Real World to start an information technology company. This company will use computers to create a new realm in the Digital World where our people will take refuge."

The parliament debated this controversial proposal and there were many supporters for both sides of the argument. The AoA held a popular election which resulted in 60% of the people voting Magami into office. One there, Magami wasted no time in enacting his plans, creating the new realm under the guise of creating the new virtual reality game, Digimon Online. As a result, Amaterasu Server was created, followed by Ikaruga, Izumo, Yamato, and finally Asuka.

Everything seemed to progress smoothly until tragedy struck Amaterasu Server. A massive explosion rocked its Admin Centre, resulting in a high death toll numbering in the hundreds. A car bomb had been driven and detonated into the Admin Centre's east wing. It had been flooded by thick black smoke and people coughed as they fled the area. The east wing housed the Digimon Lab for the city, and many Online Tamers were visiting the facilities at the time. A similar bombing had occurred in Zhuqiao City at the same time.

These bombing came just minutes after another bombing in a Chrome Digizoid mine in the North Sector. At the bottom of the mine was the central computer that controlled the fail safes that prevented death and injury. This bombing took down the computer and allowed the victims of the later bombings to die rather than respawn at a nearby crypt. The people were angry and demanded that someone pay for these crimes. Magami denounced the attacks and vowed to hunt down the perpetrators wherever they may be.

It wasn't long before Amaterasu News broke the story on the culprit responsible for the bombings. "Breaking news, official sources have identified the group responsible for the Amaterasu terrorist attacks as 'Hypnos.' We bring you live to Susan, who is standing before the Admin Centre with details," reported a male reporter.

"Thanks Tom," said the reporter named Susan. "Hypnos is a group of Real World radicals who view the AoA's presence as colonialism and conquest." The news displayed a picture of Shibumi on the TV. "They are led by this man, Goro Mizuno, who also goes by the name of Shibumi. His Hypnos group is believed to have ties to other extremist groups who want to expel the AoA from the Servers."



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

These events had led Megadeath and the AoA to this point. "Are you okay Megadeath?" asked one of Megadeath's Hagurumon partners.

Megadeath broke out of his reminiscing. "I'm fine," he replied.

"We just got new orders," said Megadeath's second Hagurumon partner. "A mob is in front of the Admin Centre, protesting the war. We're supposed to go there and provide security."

Megadeath sighed. "Oh great... And I just came back from fighting a rebellion! Oh well... Let's go guys."

Megadeath and other AoA soldiers and Digimon landed on the roof of the rebuilt Amaterasu Admin Centre in their helicopter. As Hagurumon Two had said, there was a sea of people as far as the eye could see. Some of the people waved signs in the air while others were chanting anti-war slogans to denounce the AoA's war. The mass of people congested the road, effectively blocking the way to the Admin Centre. Megadeath and his comrades moved to the streets in preparation to quell the protest should it turn violent.

"No war on the Real World!" cried a protester.

"War on the Real World is unjust!" cried another protester, who was holding a sign with a picture of Destromon attacking Tokyo crossed out. The protesters advanced on the riot police, chanting anti-war slogans all the way.

The officers raised their shields in defence and held their ground. The AoA brass grew impatient with the police's inability to break up the protest. "Megadeath, do you copy?" asked Megadeath's commanding officer.

"Affirmative," replied Megadeath.

"Proceed with operation Alpha six. Eliminate all rioters!"

"Sir, with all due respect, these people are defenceless!"

"As you were, Megadeath. Proceed with operation. Eliminate all rioters!"

"I will not attack defenceless civilians!" protested Megadeath, before turning to his squad. "All units: abort mission and return to base. I repeat: abort mission and return to base!"

"All units belay that order. Detain Megadeath, his Digimon, and then proceed with the operation."

Megadeath's squad immediately turned against him and attempted to capture him. He took great offence and flattened the first soldier that moved on him with a haymaker. A strong, orange- skinned tyrannosaur Digimon, Greymon, blindsided Megadeath with a fireball. Megadeath's three Hagurumon partners immediately retaliated by pelting the offending Greymon with jet black gears. Eventually, they too were overwhelmed by the other AoA soldiers and Digimon.

The AoA soldiers and Digimon imprisoned the Hagurumon within a pocket dimension while others chained Megadeath up. They loaded the prisoners onto a humvee and drove it back to base. The remaining AoA soldiers and Digimon took positions around the protesters and opened fire. Chaos erupted on the streets of Amaterasu as the protesters fled in panic. One of the shots felled a young woman, who was eventually trampled to death by panicking people.

A Digimon ascended to Mega level in a burst of golden light, becoming a massive mechanical dragon. This biped creature, Machinedramon, shelled the crowd with the guns mounted on its shoulder. Each shot punched giant craters into the ground and left charred corpses strewn about. Some of the more courageous Digimon attempted to buy time for the people to escape by resisting the AoA military. Among these resisters was an Ex Veemon, a biped dragon with blue scales and white wings and underbelly.

The Ex Veemon fired a beam from the "X" shaped emblem on his belly. Several other Champion level Digimon joined with him and struck the Machinedramon with concentrated fire. The attacks connected with the chest of the Machinedramon with no effect. The Machinedramon turned his attention onto the other Digimon and proceeded to shell them with energy blasts. They were cut down with deadly speed and crumbled into data.

The massacre continued with more and more people being blown to pieces by energy blasts. When the violence finally subsided, the crowd had been dispersed completely, but those that thousands that still remained were all dead. The Digimon victims had been disintegrated; their flooding the air around the Admin Centre before vanishing. Though the supporters of reform had been extinguished, the flames of rebellion only burned brighter.



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

The battle raged on in the Central Park, where the AoA clashed with the resistance forces of Asuka. From the south came the forces of Suzaku City, led by Suzaku Leader, filled with dark Digimon and Digimon native to the seas, jungles, and swamps of the south. From the east came the forces of Seiryu City, led by Seiryu Leader and their allies. The fighting was fierce and brutal, with each side exchanging fire endlessly.

Pharaohmon directed his troops from the back lines. He was flanked by a pair of Mummymon bodyguards, whose eyes scanned for enemies from the openings in their bandages. Appropriately, the two Mummymon were mummies like Pharaohmon was. Unlike Pharaohmon, they were common soldiers that lacked the regality of their master. They carried assault rifles, wore a purple bandanna on their heads, and had white bandages covering their bodies. The two Digimon looked less human due to their grey, lifeless skin and clawed feet.

"Enemy attack!" cried the voice of an alarmed Digimon.

The mummies looked at the direction of the sound to see other Digimon being felled by AoA Andromon. The Mummymon placed their bodies in front of their master to protect him. However, Pharaohmon made them move out of the way so he could deal with the enemy himself. He used his Necro Mist ability, spraying a violet, toxic haze onto the Andromon. The Andromon began to cough and gag as the Necro Mist rendered them totally helpless.

"Okay guys, get them!" ordered Pharaohmon. After being pelted by fire from the Mummymon, the Andromon crumbled into fragments of data.

The AoA occupation of Asuka began to collapse under the pressure of the invasion. Plumes of flame and black smoke rose into the air as buildings and vehicles were reduced to ruins and wreckage. Behind enemy lines, a flash lit the sky and a Bulbmon tumbled out of a rift in time-space and landed with an earthshaking thud. In several columns of light, Amar as Marsmon and the Biomerged Megas of the Tamers appeared.

"Our orders were to secure the area around the Admin Centre. Let's get to it!" exclaimed Esmeralda over the radio.

Sakuyamon made the first move and used her Amethyst Wind technique to blow several magical cherry blossom petals. The petals flung several AoA soldiers and Digimon into the ground, and drew the attention of other troops. A clown-like Digimon with a supernatural aura confronted the Digimon priestess. Rika recognized the Digimon as Piedmon, a Digimon from the TV show and one of the Digidestined's major enemies.


====================Digimon Analyzer====================
Name: Piedmon
Attributes: Virus type, Mega level, Dark element

This clown is a powerful illusionist and one of the most cunning tricksters amongst Digimon kind. A Piedmon was one of the four Dark Masters who terrorized the Digital World in the TV show.

Special Abilities/Traits:
Flight, undead

Trump Sword - Piedmon's swords, the Trump Swords, can be swung or thrown up to four at a time as projectiles. Some of the swords may be illusions, so beware.

Clown Trick - Piedmon can produce a variety of circus-related effects with this ability. For example, Piedmon can throw rings of fire or blasts of light with Clown Trick.

Piedmon wore the most gaudy clothing ever imaginable. He wore a frilly red coat, a pair of baggy green pants, and yellow boots. Covering his face Digimon was a mask with a black right half, and a white left half. This mask left his jaw exposed, which was covered by white cosmetics typical of a clown. Strapped to his back were four sheathed swords arranged like the letter "X." The clown Digimon began his attack by flinging four Trump Swords.

In response, Sakuyamon launched a Spirit Strike, with each of the four elemental foxes striking one of the swords. The two attacks neutralized each other, returning the two Digimon back to where they started. Sakuyamon blew cherry blossom petals at Piedmon, who countered by firing rings of flame and burning the petals. Once again, the two Digimon were locked into a stand still, as they each measured the other.

"Why don't we get up close and personal, hmm?" asked Piedmon, as he drew a Trump Sword.

Sakuyamon entered into a combat stance in preparation to fight with her staff. The clown Digimon made the first move and charged at Sakuyamon. The sword clanged against the staff as Sakuyamon parried Piedmon's opening blow. The two warriors exchanged blow after blow on the ground and in the air, but each combatant parried the other's attacks. Eventually, Piedmon broke the stalemate, slashing Sakuyamon across the cheek. The wound stung, and a minute amount of data leaked out of the cut.

Piedmon made a decapitating swing for Sakuyamon's head, but overextended and left himself open to attack. She ducked under the offending swing and smashed Piedmon in the stomach and through the window of a supermarket. The glass window shattered into an uncountable number of shards and scattered all over the floor. The clown Digimon landed in the produce section, crashing through the displays and getting fruit juice splattered all over his body. Piedmon was disgusted as he picked himself off the ground.

Piedmon threw a volley of four Trump Swords but when Sakuyamon tried to swat them away, they unexpectedly vanished. Suddenly, the real swords blindsided her and racked her body with so much pain that she collapsed. Piedmon hovered over her and prepared to stab downwards to finish her off. Sakuyamon recovered and rolled out of the way, and Piedmon's sword went into the ground instead.

Piedmon looked up only to see a storm of cherry blossom petals flying his way. Before he knew it, the petals were on him and he was blown back into the supermarket. She followed with a well-placed Spirit Strike that fatally pierced through Piedmon's body. The clown Digimon crumbled into bits of data before vanishing into thin air. Sakuyamon took a deep breath in relief and as her constituents, Rika and Renamon, relished their hard fought victory.

Gallantmon blasted an AoA Digimon into oblivion before calling Akira on the radio. "Akira, we've taken over the Admin Centre. Go in and clean them out!"

A minute later, a flash of light appeared in the sky as a Bulbmon materialized. It dropped onto the east wind of the Admin Centre, crashing through the roof and landing on the ground with a thud. The AoA in the lobby were surprised, but regained their bearings shortly and opened fire. Their shots had no effect on the polyhedral Digimon. A hose and nozzle emerged from Bulbmon and spewed roaring flames. It swayed back and forth, flooding the whole lobby with fire and forced the AoA to take cover.

In a flash of light, two hulking suits of powered armour appeared. They were metal robots with clawed hands and feet, and a crimson sensor on its hands and chest. Each carried a large, energy firing Gatling gun that was far too heavy and bulky for a human. The pilots were visible through a dome at the top; one of which was a ghostly Bakemon and the other a Guard Tamer soldier. Below this dome was a fleshy left eye that peered out of one of several vertical slits. These robots were Mekanorimon aligned with the Guard Tamers.


====================Digimon Analyzer====================
Name: Mekanorimon
Attributes: Virus type, Champion level, Metal element

Mekanorimon is a Digimon that can not act on its own, and needs a pilot to control its actions. The Guard Tamers equip it with weapons and use it as a suit of powered armour for breaching hostile areas.

Special Abilities/Traits:
Flight, controlled by a pilot

Twin Beam - Mekanorimon's main weapon is a potent beam fired from a crimson sensor located on his chest.

The Mekanorimon stormed into the lobby with guns blazing, moving down those few AoA who couldn't retreat behind cover in time. Their guns banged endlessly as they pinned the AoA down with suppressive fire. An AoA soldier peeked out of a side door and opened fire, drawing the Mekanorimon into returning fire. From the balcony across the lobby, a soldier peeked out and fired a rocket into the Bakemon's Mekanorimon.

The resulting explosion floored the powered armour Digimon, leaving a blast hole in its chest. The Guard Tamer's Mekanorimon turned to the attacker and mowed him down with a barrage of energy. He dropped from the balcony and landed on the floor with a thud. More Guard Tamer soldiers and Digimon poured into the room and began shelling the balcony with explosives. The AoA sustained heavy casualties and were forced deeper into the Admin Centre.

Outside, a Guard Tamer jet copter made a beeline for the skies above the Admin Centre. As it hovered in place, it beamed in Digimon, including two more Mekanorimon. The Mekanorimon smashed the door open as they led the march into the Admin Centre. Immediately, a hail of energy pattered against their armour, to which they replied by returning fire. The copter's door slid open and several soldiers in exoskeletons jumped out and followed the Digimon in.

The Guard Tamers and Digimon swept the building, gunning down any AoA soldier or Digimon that resisted their capture of the Admin Centre. It did not take long before the Guard Tamers had taken complete control of the building. They pinned the AoA leadership in the heart of the Admin Centre before they chose to surrender. This event caused a surge of morale to ripple across the Asuka invasion force, propelling them to victory.

Asuka City had been liberated, and the Tamers reunited after being separated for so long. Suzie ran to her brother Henry and he gave her a big hug. "Henwy!"

Henry had been worried to death about Suzie and was relieved to see she was unharmed with his own eyes. "Suzie, I'm happy to see you're alright!"

She grabbed Terriermon from Henry's shoulder and put him into a vice-like hug. "Terwiermon, I missed you so much! Are you happy to see me?"

"Uggggh... Acch..." gasped Terrierimon.

"Akira," began Henry. Akira turned to face Henry. "Thanks for taking care of my sister. It means a lot to me."

"Hey, no problem at all," dismissed Akira. "I have a sister too; an older one actually. I know how you feel."

Nearby, the Rika and Seiko made their own reunion. "Rika, I'm so glad to see you! You don't know how worried I was!" exclaimed Seiko, as she hugged her granddaughter.

After the reunions, Shibumi came to give a bittersweet report on his progress with the Admin Centre's central computer. "I've got good news and bad news. Which would you to like to hear first?"

"The good news," requested Takato.

"I was able to hack into the computer and shut down Asuka Server's shield. We're free to leave whenever we want!" Everyone was elated to know that they could return to the Real World.

"Brace yourselves, here comes the bad news," predicted Terriermon.

"Yeah, I couldn't do the same to the other Servers," admitted Shibumi. "We're going to have to find another way in."

"I knew it!" muttered Terriermon.

"How can we stop the AoA if we can't even get to them?" asked Rika.

"Did you try the codes from the Bulbmon?" asked Henry.

"Yeah, but the AoA changed the access codes," replied Shibumi. "I've tried every hacking trick I know, but nothing worked. We're going to have to look for another way of getting into the other Servers."

"Let's let this go for now," recommended Seiko. I think I speak for everyone when I say I'm tired." Everyone agreed unanimously.

Akira called Central Command to send a jet copter for pick up, and soon, everyone returned to the Real World. When they laid eyes upon Tokyo City, they were shocked to see it in ruins. Many buildings had been levelled, and huge blast craters littered the streets. The devastation formed a trail that led eastward towards the Odaiba area. Firefighters were desperately attempting to extinguish a fire that had erupted in a nearby office building. The sights stirred old memories of Vikaralamon's rampage through the Shinjuku area.

"Look at all the destruction!" exclaimed Henry.

"What happened here?" asked Jeri. She looked over at the Hypnos Towers to find that the trail of destruction ended there. At the end was the largest of all the blast craters in the entire city.

"Did a Digimon Bio-Emerge while we were gone?" asked Renamon, as she glanced at the crater.

"We should talk to Yamaki as soon as possible," stated Takato.

The Tamers, Akira, and Esmeralda rushed over to the Hypnos Towers to get the scoop. They eventually found the other Tamers in deep thought in a nearby room. "Hey! You guys made it out!" exclaimed Kazu.

"Yeah," replied Guilmon.

"What happened while we were gone?" asked Rika.

"This Digimon named Destromon popped up somewhere in the ocean and walked all the way to Tokyo. It wiped out the American and Japanese navy before coming into the city," replied Kenta.

"...But we stopped him, yep, and guess who Biomerged to Mega to do it?" asked Kazu.

"Let me guess; you?" asked Takato.

"Why how did you know?" replied Kazu. Kazu proceeded to describe everything that happened. "I guess this means I'm as good as Ryo now..."

Rika was put off by Kazu's boasting. "Oh please, anyone can tame Digimon better than that hack!"

"I guess the AoA decided to make an unwanted visit," commented Darkfryer.

"A O what?" asked Kazu. Akira told Kazu and the others about who the AoA were.

"Wow, that's some cool video game!" said Kenta.

"Man, I should play Digimon Online more often!" said Kazu.

"That was no game," said Henry.

"Yeah, we're getting shot at by terrorists and you think it's fun?" asked Esmeralda. Kazu and Kenta shrugged their shoulders.

"Hey kids," began Yamaki, before he noticed the others had come in. "Oh, you came back! I'm glad to see you. We have an emergency. Someone broke in and accessed Hypnos' files! Those files contain sensitive, top secret information."

"What is in these files?" asked Akira. "I mean, what might the AoA be looking for in the Hypnos files?"

"AoA?" asked Yamaki. Akira realized that Yamaki was not in on what happened in the Servers. He told him about the battles against the AoA and the liberation of Asuka City. "Hmm, I believe the AoA would certainly be interested in Juggernaut and Yuggoth for starters..."

"What is Juggernaut and Yuggoth?"

Yamaki explained what Juggernaut and Yuggoth were. Both were names of special programs that Hypnos used to deal with Digimon who Bio-Emerged into the Real World. Yuggoth was a special program designed to delete a Digimon as it tried to breach the Real World-Digital World barrier. Yuggoth had been converted into an energy weapon to fight the D-Reaper and installed on Grani, an artificial life form that served as Gallantmon's transport. Since Yuggoth had already been used as a weapon, it could be converted to be even deadlier in AoA hands.

Juggernaut was a program that created gateways to the Digital World. When activated, it acted like a small, artificial black hole. Hypnos used Juggernaut as a vacuum to suck all the Digimon from the Real World back into their own world. Unfortunately, Juggernaut's first use backfired and allowed the tiger Deva, Mihiramon, to enter and attack the Real World. Fortunately, the Tamers were able to intervene and eliminate the Deva before he could cause any serious damage.

Hypnos used the Juggernaut program again to stop a destructive rampage by the pig Deva, Vikaralamon. Their plan would have worked, had it not been for the interference of the monkey Deva, Makuramon. Despite these failures, the Juggernaut program truly shined when it was employed against the D-Reaper. Hypnos used it to devolve the renegade D-Reaper program to such a degree as to wipe it out of existence. It wouldn't be too difficult to for the AoA to turn Juggernaut into a weapon as well.

"I see," said Akira.

"Destromon was probably a distraction so they could break in and get the files," noted Lillith.

"Yeah, I have no doubt about it, but we can't really do anything about it right now," said Yamaki. "Why don't you take a rest? I'm sure you're all tired. We can discuss what to do a little later."



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

The Tamers took Yamaki on his advice, and the Tamers' families and friends planned a celebratory dinner for the homecoming of the Tamers. They discussed the plan, deciding that each family should contribute some food for variety. In their home the Nonaka family were busy preparing for the dinner. The doorbell rang and Rika answered the door to find the Matsuki family on the other side.

"Oh hi, come in!" said Rika. The Matsuki family entered and hung up their coats on nearby hooks.

Rumiko Nonaka, Rika's mother, greeted the Matsuki family, and looked at the desert pastries they brought with them. "Wow, those look delicious! My mouth's watering already!" Rumiko received the pastries and set them aside in the kitchen.

One by one the other families came to the Nonaka home. The second family to come was the Wong family, who brought ingredients for shark's fin soup, a Chinese delicacy. Next came the Kato family, who contributed two bottles of fine French wine. Eventually, each Tamer's family and their friends in Hypnos came with a contribution to the dinner. The last to come was Akira, Esmeralda, and their Digimon, who had brought some strange food.

Amar showed Rumiko the two large jugs he carried with him. "Since the kids can't drink wine, we brought along something that everybody can drink."

"What is it?" asked Rumiko.

"It's soy milk," replied Esmeralda. "...But not just any soy milk. This soy milk is vitamin-enriched, and coconut flavoured."

"Mmmm, sounds delicious! What did you bring, Akira? Apples?"

"Actually, meat apples," corrected Akira. He pointed at each type of meat apple in turn. "The ones with brown centres are beef, the pink ones are pork, yellow is chicken, and the white ones are mutton." All of the apples were coated by a fragrant blend of powdered spices and ready to cook.

"Sounds interesting. I'd like to try them."

"We treat them in the Digital World the same way you treat meat. I need to cook'em up so can you show me where the kitchen is?"

"Oh sure," replied Rumiko.

Rumiko showed Akira to the kitchen, passing by Yamaki, who began a toast to the safe return of the Tamers and their victory in Asuka Server. The adults clinked their glasses together and took a sip from their wine. After finishing work in the kitchen, the dinner started and everyone sampled the bonanza of food. They savoured the smooth, tasty shark's fin soup of the Wong family to the exotic dish of seasoned meat apples.

"These taste great!" admitted Guilmon.

"Yeah," agreed Terriermon. "What were they called again?"

"Seasoned meat apples," replied Esmeralda.

"They taste great, but the texture is a little unusual," said Riley.

"I guess it's because you're used to eating normal meat," suggested Esmeralda. "It's not easy to get normal meat in Digital City. Most of our land is desert so we need as much of its as possible for vegetables. We eat meat apples because they use less resources to raise than animals."

The dinner finished with pastries from Takato's bakery. Guilmon elated since he was able to get delicious Guilmon bread. It was shaped like his head and filled with sweet melted peanut butter; his favourite kind. Lillith tasted some of Yoshie Matsuki's apple strudel and found it very sweet with a velvety texture. Suzie loved the soy milk that Esmeralda brought to the party. After dinner, the adults stayed a little longer to have conversations and gossip.

Rika decided to walk off her meal and eventually made her way to the garden outside of her home. She spotted Takato talking to Jeri, Kazu, and Kenta, the other members of his class. She kept her eyes on Takato constantly, not realizing she was staring at him. She couldn't take her eyes of him and her heart began to race. Rika was so enthralled that when Esmeralda came to talk to her, she didn't even notice.

"Rika?" Esmeralda looked at Rika, and then followed her line of vision to the Takato and the others. "Rika!"

Esmeralda's voice jarred Rika back to reality. "Huh? Oh sorry! I didn't know you were there."

"I was saying that I enjoyed tonight's dinner. What was so fascinating?"

"Oh nothing..."

"Nothing, hmm? From the look of you, I'd say you were staring at Takato..."

"I was not!" objected Rika, who turned beet red, giving herself away in the process.

Esmeralda smiled. "Ooh, Rika's got a crush on Takato!" she chimed.

"I do not!" objected Rika, but she blushed, her face turning red and betraying her once again.

"You've got it bad for him, girlfriend!" chuckled Esmeralda. "Ooh! I know! Why don't you tell Takato how you feel? He's right there; I'll bring him over so you lovebirds can get together!" Esmeralda made several kissing gestures with her lips before going to Takato.

Rika was more embarrassed than ever at the thought of Takato finding out. "No, wait!"

Esmeralda pulled Takato out of his conversation with his classmates and brought him before Rika. "Did you want to see me, Rika?" asked Takato.

For a moment, Rika was speechless. "Oh, it was nothing, nothing at all..." said Rika, as she averted her gaze.

Takato went back to Kazu, Kenta, and Jeri, disappointing Esmeralda greatly. "Why didn't you tell him? You had the perfect opportunity!"

"I can't. I just can't." Rika walked away, leaving Esmeralda to wonder what was going on.