Disclaimer: I own nothing here except the plot.

Ch. 3 – Gallant Confrontation

Gallantmon CM stood there, holding his stomach where Shadow had recently kicked it hard. He had not been injured, but pieces of his red armor fell off onto the ground like shards of glass from a broken window.

"Well, it would seem you are different from the others. I'll actually have to give some effort into defeating you," Shadow said.

"What! You mean Ryo, Henry, all the others, you weren't even trying!" exclaimed Takato from his data sphere.

"Yes, sad isn't it?"

"What's really sad…is the fact…you would turn on us…after all we did for you…Shadow…" Rika said as she got up.

The two warriors turned and looked in surprise as a weak Rika, supported by an injured Renamon came over to the two.

"Rika! Are you ok!" cried the angelic knight digimon.

The young girl nodded and looked at Shadow. She was surprised to see a black and purple aura billowing and swirling around the hedgehog.

"Renamon, do you see that?" she exclaimed.

"See what?"

"Look at Shadow! Can't you see the strange aura around him?"

"Rika, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. There is nothing around Shadow, though I do sense something strange about him."

Takato looked at Shadow. He too could see the aura, but doubting Guilmon could see it, said nothing. He lunged forward and slashed his sword at Shadow, but the black hedgehog turned rogue, grabbed it and snapped it in two. Gallantmon threw away the useless hilt and brought his lance forward. It glowed brightly as he readied his devastating attack.

"Final Justice!"

The energy beam shot at Shadow but he easily deflected off into space.

"That…did NOT just happen," Rika said. Gallantmon was even more shocked. "How can he do that? If he deflected my attack just like that, then his power must be ENORMOUS!" Shadow flew up at him and grabbed him by the throat.

"Do you think that you can defeat me so easily with an attack like that?" Gallantmon said nothing. "I'll give you one last shot, then you die," said Shadow.

With that he threw the mega backward, who backflipped and flew up into the air. He began to glow a bright red energy as he readied his most powerful and devastating attack.

"Rika! Renamon! Keep him busy for a few more minutes!" cried Gallantmon.

The two partners nodded and Rika took out her digivice.

"Biomerge activate!"

"Renamon biomerge to…Sakuyamon!"

"Sorry Shadow, no hard feelings. Spirit Strike!"

Sakuyamon launched her attacks which bound Shadow. But he simply laughed maniachally. The mega gawked at him. "Laugh at this! Ameythyst Wind!" Her attack flew at the black hedgehog. It hit him hard, but even that did little to harm him.

"Takato! If your gonna hit him, now's the time!" shouted Rika from inside Sakuyamon.

"Alright Shadow! Now eat this! CRIMSON LIGHT!" he cried, throwing his Gungnir at Shadow. It flew at him as a red streak, but when it struck Shadow, it stopped. Shadow was now glowing red himself and Takato knew what was coming.

"SAKUYAMON! MOVE! GET OUT OF THERE!"

"CHAOS…BLAST!"

A huge red explosion erupted from Shadow's body. Everyone in the city looked on in awe as a huge cloud of smoke rose out of the park.

At Hypnos…

"Riley! What's going on!" shouted Yamaki.

"Sir, were detecting a lot of powerful energy coming from the park. It must be those kids," she replied.

"I'm also detecting an increase of digital energy from the strange entity that bioemerged not more than an hour ago," said Tally.

"Riley, get a hold of communications. I want no one to know what's going on until we know for sure. Tally, contact the military, tell them to not engage until we know for sure who the enemy is," he replied as he made his way out of the room.

"And what will you be doing sir?" Riley asked.

"Someone has to notify those kids' parents," he replied. With that, he walked out of the room, heading toward his office.

Back at the park…

The dust began to settle as the smoke from Shadow's attack began to drift away. The scene that was revealed showed complete destruction. The trees surrounding the battle zone were either knocked over, burnt to nothing or had caught on fire. The ground was scorched and an enormous crater now occupied the area. Above its center, floated Shadow. He floated over to the side and landed. Before him, lay a bare-chested Takato. His entire upper body was exposed, which was covered in blood and bruises and his right eye was swollen shut. Takato was barely conscious now. Rika ran up and held his head in her lap. Shadow walked up and grinned a dark grin. Rika, her arms bruised, her shirt and pants torn, her face cut, and her ponytail was undone, her red hair falling messily onto her shoulders, stood nearby. She held her left arm as it had been broken. Renamon and Guilmon were both badly beaten and weak.

"Now, you will be destroyed, pathetic human," he said. "Shadow, please! Don't do this!" Rika pleaded. "Sorry, I have to," he said.

"WHY! I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE GAVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU COULD HAVE EVER WANTED!" she shouted.

"It's just who I am," said Shadow coldly.

Rika froze right then. "I do things my own way and those who interfere will be destroyed. And your interfering," Shadow stated. He then turned and headed her way. Rika backed away in fear, falling over a rock and crawling toward the wall. Unable to scramble up, she turned and her eyes widened in terror as Shadow stood over her.

"Please! Stay away from me!" she screamed. At this Shadow became furious. He grabbed her by the neck, holding her up off the ground. She began crying out, as he grabbed her left arm. The hedgehog held her shattered limb and grinned as he tightened his grip. Her vision blurred as she screamed in absolute agony. "SHUT UP!" he shouted. With that he gripped her neck and prepared to snap it. Rika gasped and choked for air. "Poor, pathetic girl. You shouldn't have interefered," the hedgehog said.

Someone…Henry…Ryo…Renamon…someone help me! Takato…please help me! TAKATO I NEED YOU! She screamed in her mind.

"LET HER GO NOW!" shouted Takato. He was standing up and he was furious.

"How can you possibly be awake? That attack should have killed you, put you into a coma at the very least," Shadow said.

"I SAID PUT HER DOWN NOW!" he yelled.

"Hm. Takato, look around you. Do you honestly believe you have enough strength to defeat me? Look at your pathetic friends," he said, almost laughing.

Up to this point, Takato was not aware of the battle that took place while he was out the first time. When he saw them lying there, he began to become enraged.

"I…WONT LET YOU…GET AWAY…WITH THIS!" he snarled.

Shadow smirked, but he soon began to notice that Takato was changing. He was shaking, trembling as his rage turned into energy. Clouds formed overhead and the wind blew hard. Lightning flashed and Takato raised his head up, his teeth clenched. For a split second, he flashed gold. He continued to do this as it intensified. The hedgehog and the girl stared in awe, as a gold light began to surround Takato.

"I WONT LET YOU…AAHHHHH! ENGHHH!"

With that, gold light erupted from his feet, and his brown hair, which had been floating the whole time, stood up in spikes and glowed a gold color. His eyes turned green and he glared at Shadow.

Shadow was dumbfounded at what he saw. Along with the head changes, the muscles in his body enlarged to where his outer appearance reflected a small amount of the power that had awoken inside him.

"What?" cried Shadow.

Not waiting for a response, Takato flew forward and punched Shadow in the gut. The hedgehog, who up till now had seemed invincible, doubled over in pain and shock. He released his grip on Rika, who was caught by Takato. He then roundhouse kicked Shadow into the wall of the crater. Takato flew up and out of the crater and his eyes glowed white. Instantly, all the tamers and their digimon, including Guilmon, warped to a clearing in the park, far from the battlefield. They were still unconscious as Takato layed Rika down, stroked her face, kissed her and warped back to the crater. Shadow stood up, rubbing his stomach.

No…it isn't possible…how! HOW DOES HE POSSESS THE ABILITY TO BECOME SUPER! Shadow screamed inside his head.

Takato, as if sensing his thoughts, spoke to him. "I don't know what this power is, but if it enables me to defeat you Shadow, then I'm going to use it…all 100 percent of it!"

Next time on TDHOCC: Takato uses his new found powers to take on Shadow head on. The hedgehog is surprised at the dramatic power increase that the boy has gone through. Feeling threatened, Shadow unleashes his full power as the other Tamers, as well as the entire city looks on. Does Takato have what it takes to take on Shadow? Find out next time in:

Ch. 4 – Super Tamer Takato

R&R please