The events brought up in this chapter take place during chapter one of Cyber Ranger Guardian Story: Heroes of Oblivia

Back in their world, Takumi, Ami, Nokia, Arata, Yuuko, Yuugo, and Fei all left a Chinese diner together. Yuuko and Yuugo invited them to lunch since it was the weekend and Takumi, and Ami had the day off work.

"Ah, that was good. Thanks for inviting all of us." Takumi smiled.

"My pleasure. It's always more enjoyable to eat together like this." Yuuko replied.

"I still can't believe how much you Takumi and Ami can eat." Arata sighed.

"Hey, we can't help it if we have a youthful, healthy appetite!" Ami innocently replied.

"So, want to go grab some desert?" Yuuko asked.

"Er…how about we go walk some of this off first Yuuko?" Fei said.

"Sure."

Takumi heard a sound from his goggles and put them on. "What the- Terriermon, are you messing with the Digivice again?"

"No, no, I'm just sending a Digimail to Cherrymon."

"Oh, yeah. I've been meaning to ask about him. How's the big guy doing?"

"He's well."

"What's up Takumi?" Nokia asked.

"Terriermon's just sending a message to his guardian in the Digital World. Good thing Erika found a way to send messages back and forth between there, huh?"

"Oh, you mean Cherrymon?" Ami smiled. "Even back when Terriermon and Palmon mentioned him the first time our worlds connected, I really wanted to meet the guy. I'm glad we did in Oblivia."

"I'm glad we met him too." Arata said. "Especially considering he saved our hides when we first met the guy."

Takumi smiled as he thought back to the event. "No kidding."

Deep under Mt. Layuda a cloaked man wearing a white mask and his spikey-haired Digimon stood in front of a computer. "It seems they are back from the past. Good. Then everything played out the way it was supposed to."

"Then the hardest part of this stupid charade is over?" the vampiric Digimon asked.

"That depends. The real question is, can those children defeat Ed and his little crew now that they have the Golden Armor? If not, we have a whole new problem."

"Ah, yes, we can't carry out our plan if those fossils still have it. Hmmm…how about we put our so called "heroes" through a little test then?"

The man turned to the Digimon. "A test you say? Not a bad idea. What do you have in mind?"

Matadormon clapped his hands. A cloaked Digimon and a female Digimon approached behind them and bowed. "How may we be of service milord?" the woman asked.

"We need to make sure those wanabe heroes are up to snuff. Go challenge them to a fight."

"Your wish is our command." The cloaked one replied.

"Hmmm…" the masked man looked at his monitor. "It looks like five of them are heading to Amun's mansion."

"Huh? What do they want there?" his Digimon asked. "Did they find that hideout we built under it?"

"I doubt it, I made sure all electronic equipment was off so there would be no signal or anything to detect before we can gather a team here in Oblivia. Maybe they're curious of what happened in the past after they returned to the present and are going to look for a means to find out about Ravio's heroics." He typed into his keyboard. "Well, just in case, I'm activating the emergency lock on the hidden trap door in the library, so even if they find that switch it won't reveal the hideout."

His Digimon turned to his servants. "Alright, head to the mansion and test their strength. Off with you."

"At once milord." The two Digimon said before disappearing.

It was the day after the Rainbow Festival and shortly after Ben and his friends returned from their battle with the Oracles in the distant past. While most of the team went on a leisure walk to Rand's house, Ben, Summer, Takumi, and Ami accompanied Arata who wanted to see if the books in the haunted mansion might confirm Sabios' defeat at the hands of Ravio and co.

Angewomon flew through the sky carrying Ami. MachGaogamon carried Takumi, Arata, and Keremon and Summer's Staraptor was able to fly with her, Ben, and Pichu ridding it.

"So, do you think old Amun has something on the battle with Sabios?" Summer asked. "I mean that was kind of a long, long time ago."

"I wouldn't be too surprised." Arata replied. "That library of his is packed."

"No harm in investigating." Ami replied. "If not, we can always check out the Legends of the Oblivia Region Kyoko and Leanne have. It seems to have a lot of info of Oblivia's past."

Takumi looked down and could see the old building. "We're almost there."

"Let's hope we don't run into anymore haunted objects." Ben sighed.

Summer and Arata gave him an odd glance. "Haunted objects?"

"Pry you don't find out what he means." MachGaogamon groaned. "Anyway, time to land and-

Suddenly a red pulse blew at them, accompanied by a strange sound. The attack caused Staraptor and MachGaogamon to lose altitude. "Takumi! Arata! Ben! Summer!" Ami yelled.

Angewomon heard something and looked back in front of her. A swarm of screeching bats flew towards her. "Ah!" She turned her back at them to shield Ami as they attack her. Weakened by them she and her tamer fell towards the ground.

They all crashed onto the ground in front of the old gate leading to the Old Mansion. Save for Staraptor who was barely able to make a proper landing. Summer held on, but Ben and Pichu unfortunately were flung off when they landed. The Digimon tried their best to cushion the tamers' fall with their own bodies. "Is everyone alright?" Summer asked.

"I think so…" MachGaogamon groaned.

"Oh, great, we're under attack now?!" Arata growled. "Keremon!"

DIGIVOLUTION

"Keramon Double Warp Digivolve to…Phantomon!"

A laugh was heard. "Well, isn't that cute." A gothic Digimon resembling a woman with white skin in a black leather outfit including a mask and chains wrapped around her descended. She had black torn wings and red eyes. Her left hand was larger than the right with red long nails and there was some black spirit of sorts with a face at her left shoulder. It landed onto the gate and grinned wickedly at the group. "Dose this qualify as some kind of family reunion?"

A Digimon with a black cloak that was red on the inside appeared next to her. He had a metal, skeleton body with no legs. His arms which appeared to be made of some kind of electricity carried a metal pole with red energy coming from it resembling a scythe. "Don't compare me to the likes of him. I'm far stronger than that inferior version of Phantomon."

"Digimon?" Summer asked. "Why here and now?"

Ami scanned the female Digimon. "LadyDevimon. Ultimate Level Virus Type. A feminine fallen angle Digimon of noble presence. Apparently, due to the purity of its "Dark Side Power" the limits on its growth on personal computers is "0"."

Takumi scanned the cloaked one. "MetalPhantamon. Ultimate Level Data Type. A Cyborg Digimon and carrier of the X-Antibody. A Mechanicalized version of Phantomon."

"What are you doing here?" Summer asked.

LadyDevimon looked at them. "Ben Natsuya. Summer Minami, Arata Sanada, Takumi Aiba, and Ami Aiba. So, you're five of the kids that my master has taken such a liking to."

"Our lord has ordered us to test your strength." MetalPhantomon said. He spun his scythe in his hand and pointed it at them. "You are about to face a fierce trail, and we must confirm that you are capable of fulfilling your roll."

"Master? Role? Mind cutting the riddles and telling us what this is about?" Takumi asked.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid we cannot have you learn too much." LadyDevimon replied. "After all, spoiling some surprises may ruin his script."

"Enough talk." MetalPhantomon said as he and LadyDevimon lowered themselves to the ground. "It's time for your test. If you cannot match us in power, you are no use to us and will be disposed of here like garbage. Fight for your lives!"

"If it's a fight you want, then we'll give you one!" MachGaogamon charged at MetalPhantomon who flew into the air. He stopped and ascended after him.

Angewmomon flew up along with LadyDevimon. The angel Digimon blocked the opponent's punch with the palm of her hand and spun around in an attempt to kick, but LadyDevimon caught her foot in her normal hand. She smirked before throwing Angewomon towards the gate. Angewomon spun and recovered in the air landing on the side of the wall with her feet and pushed off to charge back into the LadyDevimon, slapping her in the face. LadyDevimon grunted before kneeing Angewomon's torso.

MachGaogamon grabbed MetalPhantomon's weapon and tried to pry it out of his hands before the phantom rammed his metal skull into his face. MetalPhantomon pushed MachGaogamon back easily while he was dazed. When Phantomon tried to attack from behind their scythes clashed. "These are some tough customers we're dealing with." Ami said. As she did a ghostly Pokemon rose from the ground behind Ben and Summer. "We need backup."

"On its way!" Ben replied as he aimed his Styler forward along with Summer. Suddenly a burst of purple, erie chains flew at Ben and Summer, trying them tightly and pinning their arms. "Hey!"

Summer grunted as she was squeezed. "What the-?!" The Ranges saw the length of their chains behind them connect to a Pokemon. "Where did that come from?!"

Arata looked behind him to see the attacker. It was a purple ghost with a tall hat. He consulted his Digivice. "Mismagius. Ghost Type. Its cries sound like incantations and it appears when one least expects it."

"No kidding!" Ben grunted as he tried to free his arms. "Let me go!"

LadyDevimon laughed as she watched the Rangers struggle against the ghostly chains. "That is a technique called Embargo. It's meant to keep one from using items in battle. With this you're Stylers can't be used to call Guardian Signs."

Summer stopped squirming and gasped. "How do you know about the Guardian Signs?!"

"We know quite a bit about you…meddlers."

"Huh?"

Staraptor, Pichu, Ami, Arata and Takumi were about to run over to help the Rangers, but Mismagius used Ominous wind to blow them back. Staraptor was able to get through due to it being part Normal Type, but then it was hit with Thunder Wave and dropped to the ground. "Staraptor, no!" Summer cried.

Phantomon and MetalPhantomon engaged in a scythe duel, however Arata's Digimon was overpowered and knocked back from the impact of their weapons colliding. He then charged at the enemy with his weapon glowing. "Soul Chopper!"

"Oh please!" MetalPhantomon laughed as his energy scythe extended. "Soul Predator!"

The weapons clashed, but Phantomon's was shattered like glass. "What?!"

"Like I said, I'm far stronger. Not only do I have a powerful exoskeleton, and an X Antibody program to boast me strength, my weapon is far superior!" With another swing he sent Phantomon rocketing to the trees below.

"Phantomon!" Arata yelled.

"Winning Knuckle!" MachGaogamon threw a punch right in its jaw that hurled it a good distance.

The MetalPhantomon wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. "That…hurt. You're stronger than I thought. But if that's your best, then you really are a waste of my master's time!" He charged again with scythe in hand.

"Gale Storm!" MachGaogamon summoned a cyclone, but MetalPhantomon avoided it and continued towards him.

He grabbed MachGaogamon by the face. "Spirit Drain!"

LadyDevimon dodged a charging kick from Angewomon. As the angel passed her, she grabbed her blond hair. Angewomon screamed at the pulling at her scalp and Ladydevimon spun her around a few times before throwing her. "Darkness Wave!" LadyDevimon sent a swarm of screeching bats towards Angewomon.

"Angewmon, watch out!" Ami shouted.

Angewmon stopped herself and looked up to see the swarm. "Celestial Arrow!" Ami's Digimon shot an arrow at them, that pierced through and dissolved the swarm. She was hoping the arrow would have also taken out LadyDevimon, but when the bats were gone, she saw her opponent had vanished. "Where did-

"Got you!" Angewomon gasped and turned around in time to see a chain fly at her and wrap around her body, binding her arms to her sides. LadyDevimon laughed as she pulled on the chain with her right arm, yanking Angewomon towards her, and her eerie right hand grabbed her, encasing her arms further. She then brought her right hand over Angewomon's face. "Spirit Drain!"

Angewomon gradually felt weaker as her power was being drained from her. She screamed into the hand over her mouth and flailed her legs helplessly in a futile effort to escape as her energy was stolen from her. Her kicking slowed down after a moment and soon her legs went limp. LadyDevimon dropped Angewomon but left the chain around her. When she grabbed said chain with her smaller hand, it held her pry up and she watched Angewomon dangle by her binds. Laughing the evil Digimon looked at her larger hand while the other lightly swung Angewomon back and forth.

"Marvellous. To think a partner Digimon had this much energy." She then looked down and Ami's helpless angel who was too exhausted to even struggle. She grabbed the chain in both hands and spun in place, spinning Angewomon who was still tangled in it around, gradually picking up speed and relishing the sound of her trapped victim's scream. "Now let's see if I can plant me an angel tree!" With one more swing her chain unravelled from Angewomon's body. She sent her divebombing towards the ground. Angewomon had no control of her movement as the earth got closer and closer. Then there was a loud crash and dust flew everywhere as she made impact.

"Angewomon!" Ami shouted. As the dust settled, she looked at where her partner landed. But she could only see her from the waist down…or up depending on how you looked at it. Angewomon was half buried into the ground with her legs sticking out and her arms head, and half her torso in the ground. Her legs stayed upward for a bit before flopping down. "Angewomon!" Ami ran towards her.

"Ami, don't get too close!" Takumi reached towards her.

Ben looked up. "Takumi, look out!"

"Huh?" The teen looked up and saw MachGaogamon falling towards him. He got back, but the impact of his Digimon landing near him knocked him over.

"Takumi!" Arata ran over to him.

MetalPhantomon cackled as he leered over them. "Grave Scream!" A red pulse rained down on Takumi, Arata and MachGaogamon, making them drop to the ground.

"AAAAAGH!" Takumi tried to cover his ears. "Make…it…stop…"

"I can't move…" MachGaogamon groaned as he was effectively pinned to the ground.

Ami was pulling Angewomon's legs, trying to get her out of the ground when she heard the scream and turned her head back. "Takumi! Arata!"

Summer saw LadyDevimon land on the ground in front of Ami when she wasn't looking. "Ami, LadyDevimon's right in front of you!"

"Huh?" Ami looked at the Digimon as she shot her chain at her. "Eeek!" She tried to shield herself with her hands but all that did was let it coil around her wrists. Ami looked at her bound hands before she was pulled over to LadyDevimon shrieking. She landed on her front at LadyDevimon's feet. "Oof!"

She was pulled to her knees by her wrists and LadyDevimon laughed as she kneeled to her level. "Well played darling. But still not good enough. You'll never protect Oblivia from them at this rate."

"Them? Who's them?"

MetalPhantomon leered over the Digimon and the tamers trapped in his soundwaves. "Oh, with this energy I took from your partner I bet I can defeat those four on my own! We won't even need you lot around!"

"I suppose not." LedyDevimon smirked wickedly as she gripped the chain holding Ami's wrists in her right hand and walked over to her Digimon, dragging the struggling Cyber Sleuth on the ground behind her. With her left hand she reached over and grabbed one of Angewomon's ankles and with a bit of effort pulled her out of the hole she made impacting into the ground. She went back into the air, dragging Ami and her motionless Digimon high into the sky.

"Am…i…!" Takumi grunted as he tried to get up, only for MetalPhantomon to increase the power of his attack, pushing him harder against the ground.

Ami looked down at the ground bellow. She was being held high up and immediately stopped struggling. Freeing her hands would not be worth falling from this height. LadyDevimon licked her lips as she saw her face. "Yes…go ahead. Show me your fear. Cry. Beg me for mercy. It will make for a sweet parting gift before you die…" She lifted up Angewomon by her leg higher. "Or would it be more agonizing for you if you were to see your partner fall first?"

Then Angewomon who was presumably unconscious held her hands together and swung back. "Holy…Light!" She swung forward and threw a burst of light at LadyDevimon. The Digimon screamed as she was engulfed, and the chain shattered.

Ami screamed as she started to fall, but her Digimon swooped in and caught her. "Phew. Thanks, Angewmomon. That gave me a fright." She noticed her Digimon was panting heavily. "Hey, are you alright?!"

"That…that took…everything I…had left…"

They looked up at the hissing LadyDevimon. "Oh, you will regret that! Darkness Wave!" She summoned a swarm of bats at them. Angewomon turned her back to the attack to shield Ami again as she was hit. Both of them started to fall. "I'll destroy you!" LadyDevimon rushed towards the falling teen and angel with her claw.

"Ami!" Takumi shouted.

Suddenly, long vines flew out of the trees nearby. Just as LadyDevimon was about to reach Ami, a set tangled around her arm. "What?!" More flew at her binding her arms to her sides and her legs together. "Gah!"

More vines came out doing the same to Ami and Angewomon, stopping their fall. "Eeek! Now what?!" Ami yelped as she and her Digimon were tied up again.

"What is that?!" MetalPhantomon looked at the trees trying to see the attacker but then cherries flew from them that exploded upon contact with him. His attack on Takumi, Arata and MachGaogamon stopped as he flinched before more vines shot out and tied him up as well.

Then Ami and Angewomon were gently placed on the ground in a sitting position before they were untied. "What's going on?" Ami asked as she got up as soon as she was free. Angewmomon, who had lost all her strength dropped to the floor before she reverted back to Palmon.

Takumi noticed that all attention was on the lookout for the attacker and looked at the Rangers. "MachGaogamon! Staraptor, quick!"

"Right…!" MachGaogamon reached towards Summer's Pokemon. "Anti-Stun!" With that last action he dropped to the floor and reverted back to Terriermon.

Staraptor now free rammed into Mismagius, knocking it down and freeing Ben and Summer from the Embargo. "Thanks, Staraptor." Summer smiled, relishing her freedom. "But what was that?"

"Pardon me." A tree came walking towards them. It had a face, a moustache and six arms. One of which carried a cane.

"Who are you?!" MetalPhantomon growled.

Palmon stood up. "Cherrymon?!"

"Cherrymon?" Ami asked. "Wait, as in the one who raised you and Terriermon?"

Terriermon perked up. "Yeah, that's definitely him!"

The old Digimon chuckled. "Well, well, little ones. Still running into trouble, I see."

"A Digimon that knows Terriermon and Palmon?" Ben asked.

"Hmm…" He took a look at Takumi and Ami. "Red hair, yellow clothing and a pair of goggles each. Would I be right to assume you two are these human partners Terriermon and Palmon keep telling me about? Takumi and Ami Aiba, if I recall."

"Uh…yes sir." Takumi replied.

"Ho, ho! I knew they weren't the type to make stuff up, but I found all those stories of there's a bit hard to believe. I suppose there's no room for doubt after meeting you. A true pleasure it is. I always hoped they'd make some reliable friends."

"What is the meaning of this?!" LedyDevimon yelled, struggling in the vines restraining her. "Release us this instant!"

"Hmph. What a rude way to make a request. Oh, very well. But first let me take back what you stole. Physical Drain!" Cherrymon's vines glowed a bright green.

"What are you-Ngh! Gaaaaah!"

"N-no! My power…!" MetalPhantomon growled.

Once he was done, Cherrymon's vines roughly dumped the two Digimon into the ground. "Terriermon, Palmon." The vines then went over to Takumi and Ami's Digimon and wrapped around them. They glowed again.

"My strength is back!" Terriermon said.

"Yay! Thanks, Cherrymon!" Palmon smiled.

"Can you Digivolve again?" Ami asked.

"Sure can!"

"We can't underestimate them again." Takumi said. "Ami, let's go all out and finish this!"

"You don't mean…"

"Oh, I do." Takumi put on his goggles and a burst of yellow aura surged around him.

"Okay!" Ami put hers on and green aura burst around her.

As they were getting up, LadyDevimon and MetalPhantomon shielded their eyes from the shine. "What is this?!" LadyDevimon growled.

"Oh!" Cherrymon watched in awe.

DIGIVOLUTION

"Terriermon Double Warp Digivolve to…MegaGargomon!"

"Palmon Double Warp Digivolve to…Rosemon!"

"Well, I'll be!" Cherrymon smiled. "So, these humans really do give you kids strength!"

"That's right!" MegaGargomon said. "This is the power Takumi and I made with our bond!"

"Alright, Takumi and Ami!" Ben rooted. "Now it's our turn Summer!"

"Right!" the two Rangers fired their Stylers.

"Go, Guardian Sign! Hitmontop, come forth!"

"Go, Guardian Sign! Bidoof, come forth!" Two Pokemon appeared before Ben and Summer. They faced the Mismagius.

"And what do we have here?" Cherrymon asked. "More of these Pokemon…summoned by the humans?"

MetalPhantomon growled. "It can't be! Nobody said anything about them reaching Mega Level!"

"Calm down." LedyDevimon said as they stood back up. "We need to strategize. Listen, you just go for the bigger one and I'll get the girl. They're a Vaccine and Data type so if we pick on their weaknesses, we should still be able to win."

"Fine." MetalPhantomon rushed towards MegaGargomon. "Soul Predato- He swung his Scythe but MegaGargomon caught it in one hand.

He smirked as his opponent struggled to pull his weapon free. "Nice toy." He snapped in in half with one hand.

"Gah!" MetalPhantomon backed up and looked at the stick in his hand. "What?!" He was then punched in the face.

Rosemon and LadyDevimon were in the air again. Ami's Digimon swung her whip at the opponent, but she turned into a flock of bats to evade and flew past her and reformed behind her. "Yah!" She threw her chain and it coiled around Rosemon trying her up again. "Got you! Now to take back that energy!" She charged towards Rosemon with her hand held out. "Spirit Drai-

Rosemon turned around and raised her arm, effortlessly breaking the chain doing so and caught LadyDevimon by the wrist. "Nice try." she smirked. Then she kicked LadyDevimon so hard she flew upward. The fiendish Digimon was jerked to a stop as Rosemon's whip coiled around her pinning her arms to her side. She screamed as Rosemon started spinning her around. "Now let's see if I can plant me a goth tree!" After a few hard swings, she swung LadyDevimon down and let her go. The evil Digimon screamed lauder as she rocketed towards the ground and crashed into it hard, shooting dust everywhere. Comedically she was left in the same condition Angewomon was when she did this to her. LadyDevimon's legs were sticking out and upward and she was buried into the ground, from her head to her hips.

"Hah! How's the view from down there?" Ami mocked. The only reply she got from LadyDevimon was some muffled noise as her upwards legs flopped down. "FYI Rosemon, if you're trying to plant a tree, I think you need to burry her deeper then that."

Rosemon's whip coiled around LadyDevimon's ankles. "Oh, I can manage that."

LedyDevimon yelped as she was pulled out of the ground and spun around again. Even faster. "NononononononononNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She was flung into the ground so hard all that could be seen this time was a hole shaped like her.

MetalPhantomon was grabbed by the arms as MegaGargomon headbutted him repeatedly. The eerie Digimon getting gradually more and more dazed with each hit he took from the much bigger Digimon. "Ow…! Gah…! Oh…! Dah…! Sonava…!"

"Hitmontop, Sucker Punch!" Ben's Pokemon spun around before charging into Mismagius, knocking it back.

"Bidoof! Crunch!" Summer Pokemon jumped up while it was stunned and bit it. While it tried to shake the little Pokemon off, Ben and Summer caught it. It then threw Bidoof off it and ran away.

LadyDevimon burrowed her way out of the ground and growled. Just as she came out, MegaGargomon threw MetalPhantomon into her. "Curse you!" the woman growled. "If we could land just one hit…!"

Rosemon floated over to MegaGargomon and sat on his shoulder leisurely with one leg over the other. "Okay. Let's test that theory. You get one shot."

"What?"

"But you better not hold back." MegaGargomon said. "Because if it turns out you're wrong…you're gonna regret it."

MetalPhantomon growled. "Don't you dare mock me! Grave Scream!"

"Darkness Wave!" LadyDevimon's attack was aimed at Rosemon and MetalPhantomon's went for MegaGargomon's head. But neither had much effect besides making them slightly flinch.

"Annnnnnnnd regret it is." Takumi grinned.

"How is this possible?!" LadyDevimon shuddered. "We have the Type advantage! Even in Mega Level that should have done more damage!"

"Clearly you weren't listening." MegaGargomon said. "This isn't just Mega Level power. This is the power of the bond we share with Takumi and Ami."

MetalPhantomon looked at the twins standing nearby. "What are you?"

"We're Cyber Sleuths." Ami replied.

"And we're the ones who will bring humans and Digimon together." Takumi added.

LadyDevimon sceptically laughed. "Yes. I see now. Now wounder our master has such high expectations of you…So bonds are the source of your power then? In that case, let's test to see how much you cherish those bonds." Suddenly she and MetalPhantomon disappeared.

"Where'd they go?" Arata asked.

"AH!"

"EKK!"

Everyone looked towards Ben and Summer. MetalEtemon held Ben's arms in his massive hands holding him up in front of him and LadyDevimon had her chain wrapped around Summer, pinning her arms and legs and had one arm wrapped around her waist with the other hand holding her chin up. "Ben! Summer!" Takumi yelled.

"Well? What now?" LadyDevimon smirked. "If you're going to destroy us, you'll have to obliterate these little humans too."

"Darn you!" Ami growled.

"Will you surrender? Or win this battle at the cost of your friends?" MetalPhantomon cackled. "Think carefully now. You don't want to regret your choice." The two Digimon laughed as the others panicked.

"Nightmare!" A purple explosion set off behind both of them. They yelped as they let the Rangers go. Phantomon was behind them. "You didn't keep your eyes on the birdie."

"Why you…!" LadyDevimon glared at him.

"Ben, Summer, get away!" Ami yelled.

The evil Digimon tried to snatch the Rangers up as they ran again, but vines flew at them and tied them up again. "Oh, that's quite enough of that!" Cherrymon said. "No good troublemakers like you should be taught a lesson! Cherry Bomb!" From his leaves, cherries flee at them that exploded upon contact.

"Ow! Owowowowow! Stupid tree! Stop that! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" LadyDevimon grunted.

The bombardment went for a whole twenty seconds before stopping. "Ha…ha…is that the best you got?" MetalPhantomon wearily mocked.

Cherrymon panted. "J…just give me a second."

"Huh?"

Cherrymon took out a bottle of water, screwed of the cap and took a long drink. "Ah! That's better. Being old sucks, I tell ya." With what sounded a lot like a gun reloading, more cherries appeared on his branches. "Cherry Bomb!"

"Aw nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuts!" MetalPhantomon yelled as he and Devimon were bombarded again. Eventually they exploded.

"No! I went too far!"

"Don't worry." Takumi and Ami held their hands towards the shards and absorbed their data into their Digivices. "We'll have their data restored so they can be reincarnated. Hopefully as good people."

"Really? You'd do that even after what they did? You really are the kind-hearted humans Terriermon and Palmon portrayed you as."

MegaGargomon and Rosemon went back to their Rookie forms and ran over to him. "Cherrymon!"

The Digimon laughed as he let the small Digimon climb onto him. Phantomon returned to Rookie form as well as the others walked over to him. "So, you two are the Cyber Sleuths. My little friends here told me all about you."

"You know this guy?" Arata asked.

"We heard a bit about him from Palmon and Terriermon." Ami replied.

"That's right. They said Cherrymon raised them." Takumi replied. "I honestly wanted to meet him myself. Never thought we'd find him like this though."

Ben scanned it. "Cherrymon. Ultimate Level Virus Type. A Digimon with extremely elevated intelligence and power called "Lord of the Forrest". It lures Digimon that are lost into the forest into getting even deeper in the dark woods so they never get out. It also uses its fog to create illusions to trick prey then use ivy to capture prey for its own nutrition-Okay, what?" the Ranger murmured getting gradually more and more creped out.

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea!" Palmon said. "This Cherrymon is a good guy!"

"Oh, pay the boy's gizmo no mind child." The Digimon replied. "It's true on average we Cherrymon tend to be wicked or scheming. Like that no-good brother of mine and his idiot friend Woodmon. Lousy energy hoarders. I sure wish they'd learn to stop causing people trouble. Anyhoo, it's like they all say. Always a few bad cherries in every bunch."

"How long have you been in this world Cherrymon?" Terriermon asked.

"For a while now. Been worried about all the trouble those Pokemon Pinchers have been stirring up on these here islands. Though I hear you kids have been giving those delinquents a well deserved thrashin'."

"How do you know about that?" Ami asked.

Cherrymon laughed. "When everybody passing you by thinks you're just another tree in this forest you overhear a lot of things from many people."

"Cherrymon is one of the wisest Digimon in the Digital World." Palmon said. "He taught us all sorts of things as we grew up."

"So, he's your guardian then?" Arata asked.

"That's a good way to put it." Cherrymon replied. "Thanks to you it seems like things are finally becoming more stable in the region. I do appreciate that. So, what brings you kids here?"

"We're just heading over to the Old Mansion." Palmon replied. "We're looking for information and that place is full of books."

"Ah, building up on knowledge eh? I recall you saying you and your human friends are detectives?"

"Yup, yup, yup!" Terriermon nodded.

"Well, be carful. I've been hearing all sorts of shady rumors of that place. Stuff about flying plates, and a ghost of a white boy and other nonsense."

"…What and a what?" Summer asked. Takumi and the others went quiet.

"Say, Cherrymon, would you like to come with us to Rand's place?" Ami asked. "We're gathering the data of the wild Digimon there so it should be safe."

"Thanks, but I'm happy with staying in Noire Forrest. Those grey Pokemon are a nice bunch once you get to know them. And there's also that little pink Pokemon that comes around every now and then. But do feel free to pay an old Digimon a visit whenever ya want."

"Of course!" Terriermon smiled.

"Well, I shouldn't be keeping ya." Cherrymon put Palmon and Terriermon down. "It was nice meeting all of you. Best of luck with your future endeavors."

"Thanks." Ami smiled.

As Cherrymon left, the others watched. "Well, that was a pleasant surprise." Palmon said.

Terriermon nodded. "Yeah. Never thought old Cherrymon would end up here."

"He really is a nice guy." Takumi smiled. "I'm glad I met him."

"Well anyway, what was with those two?" Arata asked. "It sounded like they were sent by someone."

"Like who? We defeated Red Eyes and Blue Eyes." Summer shrugged.

"That woman-like Digimon…" Ami muttered. "Her attack reminded me of Myotismon's."

"Yeah, it could have been him." Takumi said. "But what's this about our role?"

"Questions for later." Keremon said. "Let's get the answers we came for first."

"He's right." Ben replied. "We can work out the rest in time. For now, to the library." What they never noticed was a camera hidden on the stone wall that viewed everything.

The orange-haired Digimon and masked man watched from a monitor. "Well, I'll be. Looks like LadyDevimon and MetalPhantomon were taken down." The Digimon said. "Though it did require some…outside interference."

"If they went all out from the start that Digimon would not have been needed." The man replied. "Hopefully, this will serve as a lesson to be more cautious. Still, their Mega Level power is quite impressive. Perhaps we should warn Myotismon?"

"Nah. Let's let this be a surprise for him."

The man sighed. "You are one strange Digimon."

"Oh, come now, think of the fun!"

"Well, I suppose if we alert him and he tells Purple Eyes, he might in turn tell Ed. We want the Pokemon Rangers and Cyber Sleuths to win this upcoming battle after all. Speaking of Purple Eyes, let's see how he's doing, shall we?" He made an input on his computer and it showed video feed from a camera hidden in the cave behind Silver Falls.

Myotismon laughed as he pressed FanBeemon onto the floor with his foot. "How bold of you to come her alone. Maybe next time learn your place and call someone more capable of holding their own, say Ben or the Cyber Sleuths?"

"Get off me!" Fei yelled as two Pinchers pressed her against the ground with her wrists behind her back. Three Steelheads had Kyoko, Leanne and Nema with their hands tied behind their backs. "How are you creeps still around?!"

A man dressed in purple laughed as his men took some rope and started tying Fei's hands together. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise. Looks like we get an extra hostage." He then turned to his other prisoners. "Now if there are no further interruptions, I say it's time to get to our interview." Fei was forced to walk over to them. She tried kicking one of them forcing the Pinchers to tackle her back to the ground. She put up a bit of a struggle. Her flailing legs managed to hit them a couple of times before one of them finally held her legs together long enough for the other to tie her ankles up. They lifted her off the ground carrying her by her shoulders and her legs.

The masked man looked at the display in exasperation. "She just charged into enemy territory without telling her allies, who have no idea what's happening. …Now I'm really concerned whither or not they can defeat the Societea."

"Eh, it'll be fiiiiiiiiiiiiine. Those four old thieves won't stand a chance. Plus, in a worse case scenario, we could always try using her powers to…I dunno, make me Digivolve, create a weapon of mass destruction or something? Oh, oh! Maybe we can brainwash her and have her fight them, that sounds like fun!"

The man looked at what his Digimon was pointing at. An unconscious, humanoid Digimon with butterfly wings trapped in some strange machine emanating electric bands around her wrists and ankles. "…She's important for the final phase of our One World Plan. Analysing her and finding out her secrets is our priority, using her should be saved as a last resort. Besides, as she already proved when you battled her, she has resistance-perhaps even immunity-to tampering with the mind."

"Eh, I guess so. Anyway, once the fortress rises, we won't need those old timers anymore. Still, can you believe the Societea? Do those old fools really think they're fit to control this world? What a joke!"

"Now, now, to be fair…" the man took his mask off. "While they may not be worthy of my treasures, they aren't the oldest ones here, are they?"

Their laughter echoed throughout the buried remains of the Dark Temple.

Takumi had his Digivice in his hand so everyone could hear Terriermon. "So, what were you telling Cherrymon in your mail?" the detective asked.

"Just letting him know that everyone is doing fine, you and Ami are putting in more hours so your mom can be home more, we're working on a system for Digimon rights before bringing them here, etcetera, etcetera."

"I see. When we do establish an EDEN for humans and Digimon to coexist, I hope he'll be among the Digimon who come over." Ami smiled.

"I'm sure he will." Palmon replied. "Until then, we just need to make sure everything works out."

So, no familiar faces this time other then a brief mention of the Cherrymon and Woodmon from the Fighting Beetles Case in Hacker's Memory and a certain someone and his Digimon from Next Heroes during Battle For Oblivia. And yeah, Angewomon vs LadyDevimon and MachGaogamon vs MetalPhantomon were kinda anime inspired fights.