As the sun began to set the following day, the Earth Tribe set to work with the allied forces not only rebuilding the damage done to the Earth Tribe's capital, but also in repairing the breach from the outer wall, the combined mystic Digimon of the five tribes working together to undo the dark flames of the Dark Lady and rebuild the broken section.
Meanwhile, LordPaladinmon and the other commanders, alongside his forces met with Titanusmon, TerraKhanmon, MasterGeomon and the three Earth Tactimon in order to discuss the Earth Tribe's entry into the alliance, with the Earth Tribe's leaders thanking the heroes and heroines for their help in the battle.
Though the Dark Lady had succeeded in collecting the fragment energy from the Divine Stone, Titanusmon vowed that his tribe would now work with the others to stop the Dark Tribe and return what was stolen from them and Witchelny as a whole.
Currently, the heroes and heroines were once again scattered across the city, with Rika once again secluding herself from her friends, even forcing Renamon to give her privacy at the same spot she sat with Davis the night before, this time alone as she stared out into the battlefield, looking upon the damage she had caused under the Dark Lady's influence.
"Rika!" A familiar voice then called out, the voice snapping the redhead out of her thoughts.
Turning her head to see Kari approaching her with a smile, the brunette moved to take a close seat beside Rika, who nodded her head as she looked back out upon the former battlefield, a deep frown on her face.
"All this damage, destruction, and it's all my fault." Rika finally said, breaking the silence, mostly to herself, the Digimon Tamer hating herself that she allowed herself to be the vessel of the Dark Lady.
Then, feeling a comforting hand on her shoulder, Rika looked over to see Kari staring back at her with understanding and care in her eyes.
"None of this was your fault, Rika. This was all the Dark Lady's doing. You had no control over any of it." The Digidestined of Light said in reply, hating to see her friends beat themselves up like this.
Shaking her head and remaining in doubt, Rika tightened her fist clenched her eyes as she started to say. "I should have fought harder, I should have been able to fight against her, I…"
Seeing tears start to form from Rika's eyes, Kari kept a sad smile on her face, before remembering something during the end of the battle, when they freed the Digimon Tamer and her partner from the Dark Lady's influence.
"What happened back there? I remember sensing hesitation for a moment when we were trying to purify you of her spirit." Kari questioned, sensing that this was the main source of Rika's anguish.
Looking up at the sky, Rika gained a sad smile as she told Kari. "She promised me everything if I stayed under her power, my parents back together, power beyond my wildest dreams…"
"Davis at my side…" The redhead then added, which left Rika slightly afraid of Kari's reaction to her words, but seeing the brunette merely smile in response, Rika continued in her tale. "I almost gave in… I almost let her win."
"But then we heard you guys yelling to fight back, and I just couldn't… I couldn't let her win." Rika finished, the red haired Tamer feeling horrible at how close she almost was to allowing the Dark Lady to keep her dark grip upon her.
"You're a better person than you give yourself credit for, Rika." Kari commented, her words and the warmth within her tone caused Rika to turn her head to the brunette, who smiled back at her with a remaining warmth.
"I don't know many who would turn down everything they ever wanted to do what is right, you should be proud of that, not let what could have happened put you down." Kari told Rika, who could not help but smile back at Kari.
In her heart, Rika felt warm and reassured by Kari's trusting words, vowing deep down that she would make the Dark Lady pay for what she did to her and Renamon when they confronted the wicked being once again.
However, the redhead's moment of self-peace was broken when Kari then grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, the brunette telling Rika with a growing smile. "Now come on, we don't want to be late."
"Late for what?" Rika asked in confusion as Kari began pulling her towards the stairwell and down the wall.
"Since Renamon is spending time with Guilmon tonight, and Davis told me about your conversation before, so…" The Digidestined of Light began to say with a sly smile as she trailed off, her words causing Rika's cheeks to flush deeply.
"Eh…?!" Rika just managed to squeak through with an array of emotions.
Growing within, surprise, shock, fear and surprisingly, excitement overtook Rika, who was not completely sure how tonight was going to go down.
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On the other side of the city, Mikey and Shoutmon were walking with Haru, Gatchmon, Astora and Musimon, the Digimon King and his Red General wanting to make sure the young Appli Driver and his partner were alright physically and mentally.
"So, how are you guys doing after all that?" Shoutmon asked as he looked at the pair, who both let out sighs of frustration.
"We're alright, but that was so not Groovy!" Asotra replied with his eyes closed as he and Musimon pointed their index fingers downwards, the music Appmon adding with his own sigh and disapproving tone. "Not Groovy at all."
"What on earth was that even like?" Haru then asked, the Appli Driver fairly curious to what his friends were feeling during their possession by the Dark Lady.
Seeing Astora look up at the sky for a moment with his arms behind his head and taking a moment to think on the question, the Apptuber tried his best to describe what happened to him and Musimon.
"It was like being surrounded and floating in darkness, watching everything from the sidelines, and feeling nothing, just cold and distant, like nothing mattered, not until we felt Lightbearer Ophanimon's light, that is, and then we knew he had to fight back." He informed, the blond shivering alongside his partner as they remembered the experience, as well as the Dark Lady's whispers in their minds, leaving them numb to everything that was happening.
"Well, I'm just glad it's all over. Eri was very troubled seeing you like that." Gatchmon then informed, remembering the struggle ShogunOujamon was going through as they fought against their possessed friend.
"I hope she is alright." Musimon then said in reply, before looking to his partner to see the worry expressed upon Astora's face.
Looking ahead, however, the group then saw took in the sight of the pink haired idol and Dokamon heading right for them, her presence causing Astora to smile in response, oblivious to the fact that that he could not see Eri's eyes with the way she held her head down, nor the look on concern in Dokamon's eyes.
"Hey, Eri, I'm glad you're here, I…" Astora started to say in his usual cheery voice as Eri got closer, only to come to a sudden halt as the pink haired girl then grabbed the collar of his shirt.
Taken aback by Eri's actions and nervous, believing Eri was about to attack him as punishment for allowing himself to fall under the Dark Lady's manipulation, Astora was left in further shock as Eri claimed his lips in a love, passionate kiss, the sight stunning Mikey, Shoutmon, Haru, Gatchmon, Dokamon and Musimon.
'So Groovy…' Astora thought blissfully as the girl of his dreams continued to show her love and kiss him, while Eri didn't care if others were watching, refusing to hide her emotions and feelings anymore, not when she could have easily lost the boy of her dreams.
Breaking the kiss after a few minutes for air, her cheeks flushed as she looked into Astora's eyes, Eri then grabbed the blond's hand and began dragging him in the other direction, calling out over her shoulder with an authoritative voice. "Dokamon, don't follow us, or I'll Big Bang Punch your lights out!"
Watching the pair move away from them, most likely in order to find a more secluded area, Mikey, Haru, Shoutmon and the three Appmon blinked their eyes and sweatdropped at the sight, looking at one another as they tried to figure out what to do next.
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Set in a similar position to Rika and outside the city walls, Marcus let out a frustrated cry of rage and fury as he slammed his fist against a nearby rock, the force generating enough power to leave a fair crack in the hard surface.
Feeling angry and frustrated at his enemy, at the entire situation of him and his friend's being trapped in Witchelny, and at how his foe tried to use Yoshi against him, Marcus felt stuck, that he couldn't do anything to help those he cared about.
'I don't care who or what she is, I'll make her pay for all she has done!' The auburn haired DATS officer thought to himself as he punched the rock again, furthering the cracks within the stone and ignoring the small pain within his hand from his actions as he thought of the Dark Lady and what he would do to her.
"I think that poor rock could use a break." Someone then remarked, the voice causing Marcus to turn around and calm down a little to see Yoshi walking towards him with a more warm and kind smile on her face.
"Yoshi, I…" Marcus started to say in a downcast voice, feeling horrible that he was forced to fight her, but found himself silenced as Yoshi gently placed a finger on his lips.
Looking into Marucus' eyes, the auburn haired girl smiled at him with a light in her eyes he had rarely seen before.
"Marcus, you have nothing to apologize for." Yoshi told Marcus with a smile, adding as her smile grew. "You fought with everything you had to save me from an enemy unlike any we've faced before, and for that, I am always grateful. You were brave, determined, and that is the Marcus I love."
Saying her peace, Yoshi removed her finger from Marcus' lips, before replacing it with her own, pressing her lips against his in a deep and loving kiss.
At first, Marcus' eyes widened in shock and awe toward Yoshi's actions, before relaxing as he not only returned the kiss, but showed his confidence.
Sliding his arms around her waist, Marcus pulled Yoshi closer to his body, deepening the intimate moment shared between him and the auburn haired DATS officer, which Yoshi quickly acted to as she wrapped her arms around Marcus' neck, the two lovers enjoying their moment together and allowing the rest of the world to fade around them.
Not too far off and wanting to check on their partners, Agumon and Lalamon stopped as they saw the pair making out, the small plant-like Digimon pushing Agumon back and turning them back toward the city to allow their partners to have the time with one another, to express their love.
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As the expressed feelings continued to show themselves, back at the inn, Nene lay on her bed within the room she and Mervamon were sharing.
With the amazon Digimon giving her partner some breathing space, this allowed Nene to lay deep in thought.
Twice now, she had been used by their enemy against her friends, and it bothered her to no end.
And it didn't help that she had been used in the past by AxeKnightmon, and as a bargaining chip by Olegmon.
'At least I didn't have to fight Tagiru this time.' The brunette thought to herself, trying to find the positives, if any, within the recent conflict.
Breaking from her thoughts as a knock on the door caught her attention, Nene turned from her bed and saw Tagiru standing at the doorway with a light blush on his face.
"Hey…" Tagiru said as the Digimon Hunter slowly entered the room, his presence causing the idol to sit up on her bed and reply with her own blush. "Hey back…"
"I just came by to check on you… and to see if you were alright." The Superstar said in reply as he looked at the brunette, who smiled as her blush grew to hear the swarm sincerity in his voice, wishing that she could muster the courage to tell him how she really felt about him.
"I'm alright." Nene said in reply, happy to have Tagiru by her side, before both teens jumped when the door behind Tagiru suddenly slammed shut, which was followed by the sound of several locks clicking.
"Uhh, guys…?!" Tagiru questioned in concern as he rushed over to the door, but found it sealed shut from the outside.
"Sorry to do this, Tagiru, but we are sick and tired of you two dancing around each other!" Tagiru and Nene heard Gumdramon call from out the hall, his words causing the pair to not only widen their eyes, but also look shocked as the Superstar Digimon then declared. "So we're not letting you guys out until you finally confess to each other and let us all move on from this!"
"Don't be too gentle with her, Tagiru. I want to see her limping tomorrow." The duo then heard Mervamon add with a cheeky tone, her words causing Tagiru and Nene to blush bright red at what Mervamon was hinting, which caused Tagiru to try to break down the door, mostly out of fear that Nene would reject him, a feeling the brunette idol felt as the possibilities ran through her head.
Gulping lightly, seeing that his and Nene's partners would not let them out until they talked, Tagiru turned and walked to the bed, sitting down beside the brunette as both held blushes on their faces, not looking at one another as they tried to think on what to say.
But finally mustering her own courage, Nene looked to Tagiru out of the corner of her eye and said. "Tagiru, I… I heard you back at the inn, before we went to the Water Tribe, after that night."
Hearing the boy next to her give an audible gulp, the idol continued in her speech as she looked at him and questioned. "Tagiru, why would you think you don't deserve me?"
Looking at his hands for a moment, Tagiru clenched his fist as he then decided to just say it as he then looked up at the ceiling and started to say. "Because you're perfect! You are amazing, kind, the type of person who could have anyone they want, not a loser who's been lucky…"
But as Tagiru turned to Nene, his rant was cut short as the girl of his dreams placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled him into a passionate kiss, one the Superstar melted into as he closed his eyes, placing his right hand on Nene's cheek as the pair let out their repressed emotions.
Breaking the kiss, seeing that Tagiru's face was just as flushed as her own, Nene smiled lovingly and told the Superstar. "You are no loser, I saw that the moment we met. You are brave, caring, and handsome. It was you who saved our world, that and many, many more reasons why I fell for you, and no one else."
Unable to process words to reply to Nene's confession, Tagiru merely acted instead, leaning in and kissing the girl of his dreams once again as she wrapped her arms around his neck, while outside the door and listening in as best they could, Mervamon and Gumdramon turned to one another and grinned to their success.
As Mervamon gave a single proud thumbs up, Gumdramon remained expressing a huge grin, the duo overjoyed, to at least hear that their partners were now together, and would let them out in the morning.
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With Guilmon out with Renamon for the night, the pair excluding themselves to the forest for the time being, Takato gave a small sigh as he and Jeri made out in his room, the brunette pushing her lover back onto the bed and kissing him with more passion than ever before.
"Never do that to me again…" Jeri said through her kisses, adding as she kissed along the Tamer's neck and collarbone. "That is twice now, and it scared me to no end…"
"I'll try to tell the bad guys not to manipulate or brainwash me again…" Takato groaned in reply through the feeling of Jeri's lips and hands on his body, though he knew, try as he might, he could not keep that promise, but would do whatever it took to make Jeri feel better.
Feeling Jeri's lips leave his being, Takato opened his eyes, where he took in the sight of his girlfriend removing her dress, allowing her lover to take in her bra, panties and amazing figure, before leaning in and kissing him once more, letting his hands roam her body as they continued to express their love for one another.
"I'm going to make sure you know how much I love you tonight…" Jeri told Takato as she broke the kiss, staring into Takato's eyes with love and desire as the pair showed their passion for one another for the entire night.
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A few rooms down from Takato and Jeri's room, Takuya and Zoe were in the midst of their own passionate moment with one another.
Moaning and sighing as her lover kissed around her breasts and thrust his cock into her folds, Zoe was greatly enjoying the pleasure she felt, while ensuring Takuya too enjoyed their time together,.the blonde doing her best not to tear apart his back with her nails as he took her.
"I… I guess we're even now…" Zoe managed to comment as she looked upon Takuya with a sly grin, remembering how her lover saved her from Draculmon's control, and now she had helped and done something similar for Takuya.
Leaning in and kissing her girlfriend in a passionate kiss, enjoying the moment between them, Takuya took a moment for air, before looking down at Zoe and commenting. "I won't ever think about it like that… when it comes to you, I won't hesitate to do what I have to do to save you from danger… I love you, Zoe..."
Her heart melting to hear Takuya's words and the emotion within, Zoe wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled her lover into another passionate kiss, the Warrior of Wind greatly enjoying his lips against hers as the pair made love to each other for the entire night, letting their fears and worries disappear until the next day.
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Growing deep within their own love and acting deeper on their feelings for one another, within their own bedroom assigned for them, and after having Agumon and Biyomon give them some time alone, the naked forms of Tai and Sora were set deep in the midst of a deep and passionate kiss, while the orange haired Digidestined rested herself atop Tai's chest, moaning through her kisses as she guided her hips along Tai's member.
Feeling his hands roaming her body, Sora continued to moan in joy, the pleasure continuing to overtake her, which was reflected within Tai, who looked up and upon Sora with his unyielding love.
"Don't ever do that to me again, Tai… I was so scared I was going to lose you…" Sora moaned through her kisses and through the great pleasure of her lover inside of her, silently vowing to make the Dark Lady pay for her latest attempt on their lives.
"I promise, Sora…" Tai just managed to say through his pleasure, the older of the Kamiyas breaking from Sora's lips and moving his lips down his lover's body, leaving Sora moaning with desire as she and Tai continued to express their deep passion throughout the night.
All the while, and deep within his mind, the Digidestined of Courage silently vowed to protect his girlfriend, his sister, Davis and their friends from the Dark Lady's evil, no matter what it took.
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As their friends enjoyed their moments of peace and of love, and with Gatomon managing to convince the V marked Digimon to follow her to a more secluded area, heading off for some 'alone time' of their own, Kari to act on her desires for her own lover and to drag Davis down the hallway to their room, the brunette's lips barely leaving her beloved's as they kissed passionately, the pair clumsily trying to get to their room so they could continue in their actions.
Feeling Kari's hands roaming along his body and almost trying to strip him, Davis maintained what focus he could as he wanted to present a gift to Kari, one he was eager to give her.
"Alright, handsome." Kari finally said as she broke from Davis' lips and placed her hand on the door to their room, where she gained a sly smirk as she added with a growing sultry purr. "I got a surprise for you, but I need you to close your eyes for me."
"Wait, what…?" Davis started to question, surprised that Kari had too prepared a gift for him.
However, silenced as his love placed a finger on his lips, where she stared at him with almost puppy-like eyes, Kari said with an irresistible pout. "Please?"
Sighing in defeat and knowing that he would do anything for Kari, Davis complied, the maroon haired closing his eyes as he heard the door open and felt his girlfriend pull him into the confines of their room.
"Alright, open your eyes, my love." The maroon haired Digidestined heard his girlfriend then say with a continued allure in her tone, which furthered Davis' curiosity.
Opening his eyes, however, Davis was taken aback, the maroon haired Digidestined blushing deeply to the sight before him.
Posing on his and Kari's bed, and resting on her side was the near naked and enticing form of Rika, the Digimon Tamer having stripped back down to her bra and panties, with her hair now down and sharing a bright red blush on her face as she and Davis recalled their experience back at the inn, though this time, neither of the girls were drunk.
"I talked with Rika, and after tonight... we'll see how things go." Davis heard Kari tell him from behind as she walked around, revealing that in the moments he was taken aback by Rika's appearance, the brunette had taken the time to strip down to her bra and panties herself, where she joined the redhead on the bed, both giving Davis an enticing smile.
"So, handsome, ready to enjoy your present?" Kari then asked seductively and with a growing sexual confidence, though deep within, Kari was mentally blushing at what she was doing.
But for Davis, she would do anything for her love.
Unable to take his eyes off the sight before him, of having the near naked form of the woman he loved and the near naked body of a pure beauty that was Rika Nonaka, each holding desire in their eyes, Davis slowly approached the bed, which led to the sounds of moaning and pleasure to fill the room for the rest of the night.
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As the sun rose the next morning, and after a good breakfast and packing up their belongings, the heroes, heroines and Novicmon stood before Titanusmon, his court and LordPaladinmon, where the small mystic Digimon noticed the content expressions on most of the humans' faces.
"What's up with them?" Novicmon asked as he looked to Shoutmon, who coughed into his fist and said discreetly. "It's… complicated."
"Looks like someone had a little fun last night." Jeri then whispered teasingly to Rika in fair interest, the red haired Tamer almost beaming as she looked over Davis with a smile, replying in her own dreamy whisper. "You can say that."
Standing up from his throne, Titanusmon looked down upon the heroes as he informed them. "You will be pleased to know that we have agreed to join the alliance against the Dark Tribe. Together, with your help, we will make the Dark Lady pay for her transgressions and reclaim what was stolen!"
Hearing the words of the Earth Tribe's leader, the heroes, heroines and Novicmon cheered, happy to see that their efforts were not in vain, before seeing MasterGeomon approach them with an item in hand.
Within the chief mystic's hands was a golden statue shaped like a mountain, with dark green light emanating from it, a portion of the Divine Stone's power for the heroes to use on their journey going forward.
Taking the item from MasterGeomon's hands and handing it to Novicmon to store with the other fragments they had, Davis looked to the Leaders of the Earth Tribe and said. "Thank you. We promise we'll use this wisely and return it when this is all over."
Looking to LordPaladinmon, the maroon haired Digidestined then commented. "We will return them all when this is over, that is a promise."
"One I know you shall keep." The Light Digimon replied with a trusting tone and nod, before TerraKhanmon questioned. "Where will you go next?"
"We're not sure, there are only four more tribes we need to visit, any suggestions?" Veemon asked in reply, hoping that their allies could help point them in a direction.
"The lands of the Frost Tribe are not far from our borders." GraniteTactimon replied, before IronTactimon added. "But those lands have been silent for almost a thousand years, none know what has been happening in their domain since."
"Then we'll have to see for ourselves what is going on." Tai remarked, getting a nod from the others, before bidding their farewells to the Earth Tribe leaders and their allies, making their way out of the palace and towards the city's walls.
Before the humans, Digimon and the Appmon reached the gates, however, Davis placed a hand on Kari's shoulder, getting her attention as he took a box out of his bag and told her. "I wanted to give this to you last night, but we kind of got distracted."
"I still can't believe that Gotsumon kept working even during a battle like that." The Digidestined of Miracles then said, his words confusing Kari briefly, before her eyes widened in awe as Davis opened the box before her.
Inside was a necklace with a pink crystal, one expertly crafted to resemble the Crest of Light, which Davis took out and gently clipped around Kari's neck, the brunette happily running her fingers along the item, before letting her emotions take over.
Leaping forward, the Digidestined of Light wrapped herself around her boyfriend and kissed him passionately, a sight that caused the rest of the heroes, heroines and Novicmon to smile, even Rika, who accepted that while she would never have Davis' heart, there would always be a place for her at his and Kari's side.
Continuing their journey, the heroes and heroines felt renewed, ready to take on any challenge the Dark Lady threw at them next.
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"My Lady, the energy from the Divine Stone has been stored with the other fragment energies in our possession." Charonmon said to the Dark Lady with a bow, the leader of the Dark Tribe sitting in a chair within her chambers as she looked back at her advisor, sensing an eagerness within him.
"There is more?" The Dark Lady questioned, causing Charonmon to express some unease as he nodded in reply.
"My scouts… they have found it, they have found the ruins." The chief mystic of the Dark Tribe then informed his Mistress, where he saw her nod her head in reply.
"Go, retrieve it. Bring it back to me." TThe Dark Lady commanded with a wave of her hand.
"Thank you, my Lady, I shall not fail you." Charonmon said in reply, before disappearing in a wisp of darkness, leaving the Dark Lady to herself.
Alone, the leader of the Dark Tribe then rose to her feet, before her helmet turned into pure darkness, melting into her armour and allowing her true face to be revealed, while her wings did the same, melting into her back.
Turning, the Dark Lady then picked up the golden orb, holding it in her hand as she smiled.
"It can work! It can truly work! We just need four more, four more and everything can finally begin. Soon, soon we'll be together again, my love." The Dark Lady said with glee as she held the orb, which began to glow slightly, the Data particles within trying to speak as best they could and reach the being before them.
Soon, everything would be as the dark being desired, and the world will burn if it gets in her way.
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Author's note: Thus ends the Earth Tribe arc, with a little steaminess. But what is Charonmon after? And what awaits the heroes and heroines now? Stay tuned as the adventure continues.