I had intended on updating yesterday but schoolwork got in the way. Unfortunately I'm starting to run behind. cringes Trying to remedy that but no promises. As it is I'm not sure when I'm going to update next. Chapter 19 is about half-way finished but the rest of this week is looking really full, with tests and field trips and friends taking up most of my time. So I'm apologizing beforehand.

Notes about this chapter: Not much to say except I'm starting to think that some of the characters are getting a little out of character, I'm trying to fix that. The whole Kenta liking cream puffs thing was a spur of the moment idea. I really have no idea if he does like cream puffs, but he seemed a cream puffy person. That and peanut butter didn't go. The cream puffs came from Calumon's affinity for them, if you wanted to know. Last thing, I decided it was about time I gave some semblance of an explanation about how there can be alternate Real Worlds and Digital Worlds. In future chapters I might go into a more in-depth explanation but for now…Same goes for the Shining Digivolution idea.

Also, it has come to my attention that a question mark next to an exclamation point no longer works. So whenever you come across a question that has an exclamation point at the end, it's because the question mark was deleted. Not because of an editting problem.

Reviews:

GemmaniGirl: lol, funny review! Loved it! Like I said at the end of last chapter, I couldn't resist the temptation. sheepish grin Hope you like the conclusion!

DragonKitsune: glares shiftily You do realize that I wanted to make it worse, right? And that I had to restrain myself from letting Beelzemon full range in this chapter. pouts It's not fair! scowls moodily Well enjoy your K+ chapter, lil sis.

Shadypenpen: Okay, first of all, I absolutely loved your in-depth review. Second of all, said review greatly influenced chapter 19. You gave me plenty to think about in view of the ending of this story. However, I'm sorry to say there won't be any higher evil operating in the shadows. Myotismon controlling Owikawa is about as higher as I'm going to get. It simply won't fit in the way this story is going and I'm too lazy to rewrite the plot outline I've got down. That, and I'm trying to finish this story before Christmas. blushes Sorry if that seemed kind of negative. I really did enjoy reading your review, with all the different concepts and alternate ending outlines my overactive imagination supplied me with. It was fascinating! And, like I mention already, you reminded me of the one thing I disliked about the ending of the second season and influenced the next chapter (and the original ending of this story). So go you! I look forward to your next review! I hope you really enjoy reading this chapter!

foxbane: Mimi, the policewoman…bursts out laughing You're right! That's exactly what she looked like! Thanks a bunch for pointing that out! Boy do I feel really stupid for not noticing that. As for Davis' rabid courage, glad you enjoyed it! Personally, I thought he had an insane moment there, lol. I hope the Demon Dark Lord showdown will be to your liking. Until then, enjoy the present chapter!

Final Genesis: I sense intrigue. grins Perfect! I hope this chapter whets your appetite for some more!

Bonnie Mizuhara Asakura: Okay, one: There never was any Takouji to begin with. Two: When a person is first attempting to write a somewhat romantic story, they don't start out with yaoi. Three: Even if I was the best romance writer in the world, I would never write a story featuring gay guys. Alright? If you like slash, that's fine with me. But don't insult my preferences or ideas of what makes a good story. And finally, four: Thanks for taking the time to review this story even though you are adamant about not reading further. waves pleasantly Bye!

kaze karter: gasps You haven't seen the second or first season! The second was my favorite out all of them! Sheesh, those tv people better get the reruns up soon. I hope you like this chapter as much as the last one!

SuperMegaGirl: lol, thanks for the review! I managed not to have a heart-attack this time! Sorry that this chapter is a bit late. Hope you enjoy it though!

Disclaimer: I don't digimon, and Kenta doesn't own the cream puffs. Those belong to Calumon.

Chapter 18

In the Dark

Ken reflexively gripped Beelzemon's hand, trying to pry the clawed-fingers off of his collar and allow life-giving oxygen freer passage down his windpipe. "I said drop him!" Mimi yelled. "I'm not going to tell you again!"

Two of Beelzemon's three eyes glanced over at the gun-wielding girl then back again at the boy he was slowly suffocating. With a self-suffering sigh, the digimon relinquished his hold on the youth. Ken let out a surprised yelp as he landed rather hard on the stone floor. He sat up with a wince of pain and gingerly rubbed his lower back. "That's going to leave a mark," he grumbled half-heartedly to no one in particular.

"Ken! Are you alright?" Wormmon inquired panicky as he scurried over to his human partner.

Ken tiredly nodded, "Yeah, I think I'm starting to get used to this sort of thing."

Beelzemon scowled over at Mimi, "You can put that thing down. I'm not going to attack. All I want to know is where Lucemon is."

Davis limped into view, testing his weight precariously on the leg he had used to trip the mega digimon. "And why do you want to know that?"

"So I can tear him from limb to limb, pluck the feathers from his wings one-by-one, roast his remains slowly over a –"

"Okay, okay! I get it!" Davis interrupted, his hands held high in a stop-motion. He looked slightly green.

"I so did not need that mental image," Mimi moaned as she clutched at her stomach weakly.

Beelzemon shrugged unconcernedly, "You asked."

Ken wearily stood up. "I guess it worked then. Good job Kenta." No one answered. "Kenta?"

"I think he fainted," came MarineAngemon's high voice.

Veemon appeared next to Davis, confused, "Why'd he faint?"

"Fear, I think," Wormmon answered, "He fainted about the same time Davis tackled Beelzemon."

Mimi bit her lip nervously, "Hey guys, is it just me or is this fog getting thicker?"

Ken glanced around, "You're right. We should get out of here. Davis, you and I can carry Kenta out of here –"

"I can do it," Beelzemon broke in. He picked up the limp form of Kenta and swung him over his shoulder. "I don't suppose I could have my gun back?" he asked Mimi. The girl blinked at him in surprise before handing the gun back to its owner.

"Okay, everyone get into a line and hold onto the person or digimon in front of you so we don't separated. MarineAngemon, you can stakeout in my pocket, if you want. You're a little too small to be on your own in this," Davis said. MarineAngemon nodded and took refuge in the breast pocket of Davis' jean jacket.

The group got into a line, Davis at the head with Mimi, Palmon, Veemon, Ken holding Wormmon, and Beelzemon holding Kenta strung out behind him. "Where are we heading?" Beelzemon asked from the rear of the line. Looking back, the fog was so thick Davis could hardly see the tall smudge of Beelzemon's figure.

"The main room. That's where the others are."

"Anybody got a light?" Davis asked abruptly after a couple of minutes of wandering through the even thicker fog.

"So we are lost!" Mimi hissed out venomously, voicing the doubts she had been having aloud.

Davis gave a distracted shrug as he peered into the shadows. "Not sure."

"What about Flamedramon?" Ken inquired. "His fire attacks worked before as a light."

Davis glanced back behind him at the group. He could only see as far Palmon's arm, the one that Mimi was holding. "Alright, let's try it." Davis reached into his pant's pocket and drew out his D-3. "Digi-Armor Energ–"

"Davis! Your digivice!" Mimi cried suddenly as the digivice in question glowed with the energy of digivolution.

MarineAngemon poked his head out of Davis' jacket. "Shining Digivolution!" the little mega squeaked with absolute joy.

"I think I speak for everyone here when I say 'huh'?" Veemon piped down the line, staring in utter confusion at his partner's digivice.

"The Shining Digivolution, also known as Calumon," Beelzemon murmured in something that could be akin to awe as he gazed upon the light.

Mimi brightened, "That's right! Takato said that Calumon was digivolution, and that the Guardians of the Digital World sealed that power into Calumon to keep it safe!"

"So…what does this have to do with anything?" Davis asked completely perplexed by the whole conversation. Who cared that the light was digivolution anyway?

"When the Shining Digivolution wasn't sealed, digimon lived peacefully at mega level. Once it was sealed, most of the megas were attacked by the D-Reaper which reduced them to digieggs. They were lucky to evolve into rookie level. It was extremely rare to ever find a digimon at champion. The only ultimates were those that worked for the Digimon Sovereigns or those with a Tamer," Beelzemon stated, eyes narrowing slightly at this last.

Ken's brow furrowed into thought. "But the digimon in our Digital Plane aren't all megas either…which would mean that the digivices…" Ken's eyes widened dramatically. "Our digivices hold the Shining Digivolution. That's why our digimon can't digivolve without them!"

Mimi frowned, "But the other wild digimon can digivolve by themselves. Not easily, but they can do it."

Ken pondered this for a moment. "Their emotions activate the digivolution. So maybe the Digivolution isn't exactly sealed inside our digivices yet they can harness its potential."

"So," Mimi broke in, "our digivices are connected to Calumon?"

Ken stared at her in surprise, "You might actually be right!"

"Whoa, rewind the tape and hit pause! Digital Plane? What the heck is that!" Davis, who had been mouthing wordlessly in bewilderment for some time now while his eyes darted back and forth from the speakers as though watching a tennis match, interrupted finally having found his vocal chords.

"The Digital World is made up of several levels, or parallel planes," Beelzemon explained. "You can access these different planes by different means."

"Like how we can enter our plane through a computer," Mimi suggested, "or how Takuya's group can enter by a Trailmon."

Ken nodded, "We theorized that per Digital Plane there is a Real World, or a Human World. Though it is possible to get to the other planes while in the Digital World, there is only one entrance to and from the Human World."

Davis blinked, "Okay, so basically it's a bunch of alternate realities connected by these different planes?" When he got their consent, he continued, "So what's this Shining Digivolution thing?"

"The light coming out of your D-3, idiot," Mimi drawled. Davis flushed and glared at the older girl. Mimi rolled her eyes, "It's digivolution. The ability for digimon to evolve to the next level." Mimi suddenly blanched, "Someone shoot me now! I sound like Izzy!" The teen shuddered violently in utter horror.

"Hey…uh guys? Where are we?" came Kenta's panicked voice.

Beelzemon glanced up at the body tossed across his shoulder. "So you finally woke up? Good, I was getting tired of dragging along a deadweight. You really need to consider cutting back on the cream puffs." Kenta yelped as Beelzemon slung the boy off his shoulder and onto the floor.

Ken squatted next to the teen. "How are you feeling?"

"We–We won?" Kenta stammered out, wide eyed as his glasses slipped down his nose.

Ken smiled, "Yeah, thanks to you. MarineAngemon got the dark spore out of Beelzemon. We're on our way to meet the others and join in the fight again Lucemon and Owikawa."

Kenta pushed his glasses back into place and gave a weak, shaky smile, "Oh. That's–That's good."

MarineAngemon wiggled out of Davis' pocket and flew over to his Tamer. "You okay now?"

Kenta's smile strengthened, "Yeah, I'm okay now." His gaze met Davis'.

Davis nodded in acknowledgement, "Let's go." He held up his digivice and the Shining Digivolution parted the darkness.

"Lucemon digivolve to…Lucemon Chaos Mode!"

BeoWolfmon involuntarily took a step back from the ultimate. "This is bad."

"Ah gee, whatever gave you that idea?" Sakuyamon asked sarcastically.

"Yeah well, I think it's about to get worse," TK replied.

And indeed, it did. Owikawa suddenly arched his back and screamed. Out of his mouth shot the dark energy he was so fond of using. The man slumped limply to the ground, unmoving. However, the children's eyes were focused on the dark energy that was expanding and contracting into a solid, 3-D form.

Tai's eyes bugged out, "Oh crap." Next to him, Matt swore violently.

"This isn't possible," Joe murmured.

Izzy turned deathly pale. "It can't be!"

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no," Sora chanted, eyes wide with fear.

TK stared in growing horror, "Is that…"

Kari clutched onto the shoulders of Nerfertimon. "Myotismon," the eighth child whispered.

The figure smirked, "Not quite. I used to be Myotismon, true. However, now you may call me MaloMyotismon."

Kazu gasped as he checked his D-Power, "This guy's a mega!"

BeoWolfmon's eyes zeroed in on the other, smaller digimon. "And what about Lucemon?"

Kazu checked and flinched, "He's by-passed the champion level and went straight into the ultimate level! Shouldn't that be illegal or something!"

"Even if it was, do you really think he'd care?" Justimon retorted sourly.

Kazu winced, "Point taken."

Zephyrmon turned to Izzy, "What now?"

Izzy started and stared at her, "I…uh…"

"We attack," Tai spoke, vengeance returning to his eyes. "We attack with all we got. And we win!"

Well, that's the end of Chapter 18, and as I said at the beginning of this chapter, I'm not sure when I'll get Chapter 19 up. It is currently half done but the rest of this week is pretty full. grimaces My apologies.

Reviews welcome!