A/N: I have a ko-fi page now! If you want to help me stay caffeinated to keep the words flowing, my account name over there is corneroffandom. Thank you! Either way, enjoy the chapter.

The line of evil digimon seem unconcerned as Calumon cries and struggles for freedom, tears beading down his large eyes. "Please," he begs, screams as Shinsuke, impatient, shakes him. "Let me go!"

"He has served his purpose," Kinkakumon says coolly. "If you wish to destroy him, I won't stop you."

It's a level of cruel callousness that Seth recognizes from his time in the Authority and it disgusts him. "How dare you!" he yells over at her. "He's a part of your team!"

"He's a source of energy," she corrects him, flicking some dirt from her skin. "We are all as strong as we need to be, so he can be done away with at your leisure."

Despite the coldness in Shinsuke's own eyes, his lips seem to be twisted at this and Seth takes a couple of steps towards him, relieved when he tosses Calumon over, Seth easily snagging the little guy out of the air and hugging him close. "You're safe," he tells the whimpering thing, marveling at how tiny he is. "It's ok, we'll take care of you."

"Disgusting, soft humans," Kinkakumon says with a disinterested flick of her hair. "Let me show you how you should handle weak, pathetic creatures like that one." She eyes the Digidestined keenly, smirking as she spots James Ellsworth standing next to Carmella, holding onto Choromon while SunFlowmon protects them both. She lunges forward and Carmella squeeches, falling back as James instinctively pushes her to safety, struggling as Kinkakumon digs her nails into his baggy sweatshirt. "You all deserve to die!"

Her skin is starting to crackle with electricity, James squeezing his eyes closed as he whimpers and struggles to free himself. "Please," he says, shaking his head as he can feel the friction of the electricity approaching his body. "Don't do this!"

And then a slap like a gunshot echoes through the clearing and Kinkakumon freezes in surprise as she realizes that Carmella's slipped between them, slapping her soundly across the face in defense of James. "Don't even look at him," she says threateningly and Kinkakumon blinks, reaching up to press her fingers where Carmella had made impact.

Not that it hurt. Kinkakumon glares down at her and shakes her head. "I'd almost respect your stupid bravery but it's a waste of time because now I'm going to kill you first, instead of your little boyfriend." She moves so quickly that Carmella barely has time to react as she throws James aside and grabs Carmella, lifting her spiked club up. "I was going to show him some sort of mercy," she says. "Electrocute him until his heart stopped, probably... but you..." She laughs. "You dared to lay a hand on me, so now... I have to make it a point that I show no grace to those who disrespect me." The foremost spike has just scraped against Carmella's throat, a scream frozen on her lips, when a flash of grey streaks forward, a harsh sound like a bell ringing sending everyone in the area to their knees, Kinkakumon gaping as Goatmon slams into her, thick horns digging into the vulnerable flesh of her abdomen. "HOW!?"

James struggles to sit up, dragging Carmella to his side, where he stubbornly stands before her. "You won't hurt her while I'm around," he forces out, clearly still in pain from both hanging from the cage, Asuka's attack, and getting thrown around just moments earlier. "Because she's... she's my homegirl, and I'll never stop doing my best to defend her." Trembling, Carmella presses her face into his shoulder and he pats her back as she drenches his shirt with tears. "You've made her cry," he adds, his voice growing even angrily as Goatmon rebounds and buries his horns into Kinkakumon yet again. "Make them all pay, Goatmon!" he yells out, a strange energy filling the air as James and Goatmon both start to glow brightly, Carmella gasping as a tag and crest appear, spiraling around them before James claims it, staring down at it. "Passion," he breathes out, squeezing Carmella a little tighter before turning to his partner. "NOW!"

Goatmon digivolving into a tall, magestic flying beast with piercing eyes and a wide wingspan, talons that look like they could tear through someone as easy as touching them, is so James that no one can make sense of it. "Garudamon!" the creature introduces himself before rushing towards Kinkakumon. "You will PAY!"

To her credit, Kinkakumon tries to fight back, spinning forward and sending her club towards Garudamon, but it's too little too late. Flame eats up it, tears at her hands, and she screams as her weapon melts into her flesh, leaving her frozen and twitching in agonizing pain. "NO!"

"CRIMSON... CLAW!" Garudamon roars, tearing towards her and sending his aflame talons straight through where Goatmon's horns had already weakened. Data scatters and fills the air around them as everyone freezes, watching Kinkakumon delete with only a few, choked gasps as she struggles to wrap her fingers around the base of her mostly useless club once more.

"Please no," she forces out, but is too far gone to manage anything more as her body shatters into little pieces, Garudamon turning and looking back as James cups Carmella's face, staring into her eyes for a few moments... before she leans forward and kisses him, gratitude and fear and a number of other emotions welling up within her.

Unfortunately there are still seven digimon remaining now, so none of them let their guard down as they turn to face the daunting line of creatures eager to get revenge for Kinkakumon. "Bring it," Seth grumbles, hugging Calumon close to his chest as they wait to see who will make the next move.