Sword Art Kingdom: Falling Fantasy

by Jacob Pendra-Huth

The Mark of Mastery has begun for Kirito, Asuna and Leafa, where they must unlock the seven Sleeping Keyholes. However, trouble follows them into their trials, making their test more of a challenge. The Organization already got Leafa in their sights, and are attempting to bring down Kirito and Asuna, too. It is up to the two to get to the bottom of this, and save Leafa.

7. Digital World! Heart of Evolution!

Asuna's Team so Far

Necho Cat (Pina)

Magic

Thunder

Time Bomb

Sleepra

Stat Boost

Thunder Boost (x3)

Magic Haste (x4)

Magic Boost

HP Boost

Sleep Block

Confusion Block

---

Wheeflower (Petal)

Magic

Blizzard (Sacrificed for Ashika)

Blizzara

Blizzaga

Esuna

Stat Boost

Magic Haste (x2)

HP Boost

Cure Boost (x2)

Water Screen (x3)

Magic Boost

Bind Block

Sleep Block

---

Chef Kyroo (Flambé)

Magic/Techniques

Cura

Aerial Slam

Stat Boost

Fire Boost (x2)

Attack Boost

Magic Boost

Defense Boost

Fire Screen (x2)

Item Boost (x2)

---

Juggle Pup (Ashika)

Magic

Baloonra

---

Chapter 1: Dive! Vs. Brawlamari

Asuna woke up once again, diving down towards the next gate, going into the new world. She saw the objective on the gate in order for her to enter. "Defeat the Brawlamari." Asuna read, "What's that?"

Asuna soon got her answer as she saw something approach her from a distance. It was a large Nightmare, and it looked like an octopus. It had a black body with a black, purple and yellow-lined helmet-like top and a purple and yellow-lined mouth. It had four tentacles that were short, orchid and yellow-lined with bulb-like ends, and two longer tentacles of the same color, only they ended with blades attached to a black disc.

"Well, I think I found my opponent!" Asuna told herself as the Brawlimari floated in front of her. She readied her Keyblade, aiming for a fight. The Nightmare's blade-tentacles started glowing brightly, charging for an attack. Asuna anticipated the attack, and dodged it just as it thrusted both tentacles at the place she was at before.

Asuna tried to dash in closer to get to the Brawlimari, but it was moving too fast for her to catch up. "How can I fight it if I can't catch up with it?" Asuna asked herself. She noticed the Brawlimari starting to suck in strongly. Asuna felt something approaching behind, and turned just in time to see and avoid a large rock going towards the Nightmare. It was being drawn in by the Brawlimari's suction, directly in front of its' face. "Is it gonna fire that at me?" Asuna asked herself. The Brawlimari spread its blade tentacles out, then with a cross-slash, it sliced the rock into four pieces, sending them at Asuna. "Oh, no!" Asuna cried as she saw them coming. She barely squeezed through a gap within the barrage, and spread her arms out to slow herself down. "That was too close…" she sighed.

The Brawlimari spread its' blade tentacles out again, and pointed the bulb-tipped tentacles in front. It charged up energy from all six tentacles, and created a round laser barrier in front of it. It started to slow down, coming at Asuna. "It's gonna ram me with it!" Asuna cried, spreading her arms out again to slow herself down. The barrier got closer and closer to Asuna as she tried to slow herself from getting hit. Asuna hoped she was even able to avoid getting hit by the barrier itself.

---

(Insert 'Ignite' TV Size by Eir Aoi)

Without hesitating, Take the world of paradoxes,

(The scene opens with Kirito's face fading in from the left-hand side, his eyes opening as the symbol of the Original Keyblade wielders appear in the center. Kirito's face fades out as Asuna's face fades in on the right-hand side, opening her eyes as the Dream Eater Spirit symbol replaces the Original Keyblade wielders symbol.)

And shoot it with your hands

(Asuna's face fades out as Yui's and Leafa's faces fades in, back to back as they looked towards either side while Sora's crown pendant appeared between them. The crown shines brightly, then showing the title of 'Sword Art Kingdom: Falling Fantasy', with the Sword Art Kingdom symbol right behind it.)

In the warmth of fallen tears
We should've learned kindness

(The scene opens to Asuna standing on top of the school rooftops, looking out in the distance with a solemn expression. She looks down at the white Wayfinder in her hand, the ghostly image of Aqua passing by her. She closes her eyes as she clutches the Wayfinder tightly, then she looked seriously ahead, ready to proceed.)

So why do we keep hurting each other
And give birth to more hatred?

(Kirito is sitting on the porch outside his house, holding one of his kendo stick Keyblades he made in his hands, looking down at it with a serious expression. He then stands up and whips it around before stopping in his fighter's stance, as the ghostly image of Terra in his battle stance stood behind him.)

From the stinging pain I learn to be strong

(The first scene shows Gretinal at her desk, with Yui on one side, and Jackson, Latias and Cypress on the other, all looking at the screen. The next scene shows Yen Sid at his desk, with Donald, Goofy and Mickey on one side, and Sora and Riku on the other side.)

And gently blanket the future

(The next scene shows Leafa closing her eyes as she fall backwards into the black screen, only to be scooped up by the large hand of Young Xehanort. He waves his other hand forward as Heartless Oberon, Gouxus, Saïx and a black coat Recon stand around him, grinning maliciously. The screen distances from them to where Kirito and Asuna stood, angrily looking back as they charged.)

Without hesitating, Take the world of paradoxes,

(The scene next shows Kirito using Flowmotion to move around the city of Alne in Alfheim Online, taking out Nightmares that came at him, then slamming his Keyblade into the ground, causing a shockwave of energy that blasts away nearby Heartless.)

And shoot it with your hands

(Asuna appears leaping across the rooftops at high speeds with her Eaglider and Pegaslick at her side, unifying together into Dual Style: Bladecharge, and swinging her energy-extended Keyblade around, sending all Nightmares around her flying away.)

I ever so softly embrace, The sorrow that is covered in red tears

(The scene shifts to Asuna and Recon fighting with one another within the experimental lab at the top of the World Tree, Sora and Leafa's minds showing behind the two as they fought. Then it shows an open room within the top of the World Tree, and Saïx is going into Berserk mode as he faces Kirito, who roars in rage as he charges at him, determined to defeat him.)

Just as the ringing vibration, Marks the sound of the beginning

(The scene ends as Asuna and Kirito race forward towards the golden bird cage where Leafa was, surrounded by darkness and fast asleep, with Heartless Oberon and Gouxus standing in front of the locked gate, waiting for the two. Asuna and Kirito leapt at the two, producing their Keyblades to fight. Heartless Oberon and Gouxus produce their own weapons and leapt at the two, Oberon going after Kirito while Gouxus went after Asuna, and the frame freezes as they near each other, ready to attack.)

---

Asuna was just inches from the barrier, and she panicked to think she would get hit by it. Suddenly, the barrier died away, and the Brawlimari was close enough to her. Asuna could see two glowing orbs on top of its' head, and she guessed those were the weak points of the beast. She dashed to it, and started thrusting her Keyblade at the glowing orb several times. She had to dash in once more to deal a few more strikes, then destroyed the orb. "Yes! That's one down!" Asuna cheered.

The Brawlimari roared in agony, and picked up speed, keeping itself away from Asuna. It charged up its bulb-tipped tentacles, then fired a continuous laser from each of them. Asuna started avoiding them, spinning around in the air to avoid them. The Brawlimari was waving them about at random, sometimes going towards Asuna's position, but Asuna did her best to avoid them. Asuna had to keep her eyes focused and her directions right as she continued to evade the attack. It went on for about ten seconds before the lasers died out.

The Brawlimari was inhaling deeply, and Asuna figured she would be faced with another boulder. She looked behind, but didn't see any. Instead, she turned around to see the Brawlimari start shooting a multitude of violet energy balls. If Asuna had turned around a second later, she wouldn't have been able to dodge it in time. Fortunately, she was able to avoid being struck by the attack by spinning out of the way.

The Brawlimari tried thrusting its' blades at Asuna again, but she avoided it again by moving down from them. It tried smacking them downward, but Asuna quickly went to the right to avoid getting hit. It created another energy barrier, but Asuna slowed herself down, making sure the barrier didn't get to her. She was fortunately able to avoid it, and she was close to the head.

When it ducked down a bit, Asuna had a chance to engage hitting the final glowing orb. She struck it several times, backed off to avoid getting hit, then dashed in once more, and destroyed it. The final attack knocked it aways. It reared its' head, then plummeted away from Asuna, finished. "That's how you slice an octopus!" Asuna cheered, "Although, those ones have eight legs, so that's technically not an octopus." Asuna looked to see the gate open, and she dove in, consumed by a bright light.

---

When Asuna awoken, she looked about to see her surroundings. She was in a wasteland of some sort. The whole ground was rocky and unbalanced, with several other purple rocks sticking out and about like pillars, although they were all far different. Far off in the distance behind her, Asuna could see a red light that looked similar to a setting sun.

"Okay, so what kind of place did I land in?" she asked herself. She then looked up into the sky and gasped, "Woah!" It looked like a green planetoid, with blue rings of digital coding wrapped around every which-way. There were also satellite discs attached to it all around, each shining a beam of light that made the planetoid almost like a disco ball than anything.

"What is that?" Asuna gasped, seeing the planetoid, "Those rings…they look similar to the digital codes of ALO." Asuna looked about, wondering, "I wonder what kind of world I ended up in?" Pina and Petal appeared out of their cards, crying out as they appeared. Asuna looked down at their presence, then looked up at the planetoid again.

Asuna then felt something was coming, and turned to see several pink balls rolling towards her, almost like tumbleweeds. They, too, had a ring of code on each of them, only they were pink. "What in the…?" Asuna asked in confusion as Petal and Pina ducked out of their path. They rolled right past Asuna, who looked down at each of them. She attempted to touch one, but ended up getting shocked by it. "Ow!" Asuna gasped, retracting her hand.

She looked about, wondering about her location. "I should look around to see if anyone knows where I am." she told herself. She waved her Dream Eaters over to her, and together, they walked across the wastelands, wondering what the world was gonna be like.

Asuna, Pina and Petal looked about the area as they continued to walk. They discovered it to be a rugged, very desolate place to be in. Apart from the several sets of Nightmares Asuna and her team had to deal with, there wasn't really any other forms of life around. Asuna thought that maybe this world was abandoned of all forms of life. However, she dismissed that almost instantly. If it was desolate, the world wouldn't be dreaming. At least, that's what she believed.

Asuna and her Spirits were continuing to walk when all of a sudden, she heard an outcry from a young girl. "Trouble!" Asuna figured, and she rushed over to the source. She ran up a hill to see two figures, one chasing after the other.

The one being chased looked like a very young girl, with brown hair made with two pigtails, purple eyes, a pink cheongsam-style vest with yellow trimmings, white sleeves for the shirt underneath, dark red pants, and yellow tennis shoes.

The one doing the chasing looked like a humanoid monkey figure, with brown fur and a tail with a white tip. It had a purple hat with a Chinese symbol on it, with a red cloth hanging on the back of his head. He had chest and waist armor, along with gauntlets, all silver and gold-trimmed. He also had a purple scarf tied in front, a purple cloth belt with gold pieces on it, and baggy white pants.

The monkey was chasing after the young girl, who was doing her best to flee. "Come back here, you human child!" the monkey called out, "I'm taking you to my God!"

"Leave me alone!" cried the little girl.

"Hold it, you!" Asuna shouted, racing down the hill at breakneck speeds to intercept the monkey. Within a few seconds, Asuna got in between the young girl and the monkey, not having her Keyblade out, but ready to fight. Her Dream Eaters appeared at her side.

"What's the big idea, chasing this child?" Asuna demanded, indicating the girl, who was huddled behind her, grabbing her waist cloth.

"Another human?" the monkey asked, "And a more evolved one at that." He looked up and down Asuna before continuing, "Yes, yes… You might even be more suited to bring to my God than that human child."

"I don't know what you are talking about, and I don't want to know what you mean. I'm not going with you, and neither will she!" Asuna retorted, protecting the girl, "I don't even know who you are!"

"My name is Makuramon." the monkey introduced himself, "I am one of the twelve Deva serving under our Sovereign. We serve with one purpose; to find the lost Light of Digivolution, and to destroy as many humans as possible!" He pointed down to the little girl as he continued, "I was unable to bring the Light of Evolution to my Sovereign properly, so I'll just have to deal with bringing this human to him, and you…" he pointed to Asuna this time, "…can sweeten the deal with getting me into his good side again."

"If you think I'm gonna be a bargaining chip for you and your sovereign, then forget it!" Asuna retorted, backing away slightly with the girl right next to her.

"You don't have a choice in the matter!" Makuramon answered, leaping towards the two girls and the Spirits. Asuna protected the little girl as she summoned her Keyblade.

Just then, something tall came right over Asuna, and looked up just in time to see a large arm backhand Makuramon, knocking him away. It landed directly in front of Asuna, who stretched her neck up to see the tallest rabbit she had ever seen.

The fur was a muddy brown, and its' body was thin, with white armor and a tied purple scarf like Makuramon's, along with a red haramaki around its' stomach. The arms were extremely long, with its' large hands reaching its' feet. It had long lilac-colored tight pants that covered down to its' feet, and the legs were twice as tall as its' body. The head of the rabbit didn't seem to have a neck. It had red eyes, with the center of the face being white fur, three small horns, large ears with pink tips to them.

Asuna was amazed at her savior, who stood calmly in front of the girls and the Spirits. Makuramon got back up, snarling. "Antylamon!" barked the monkey, "How dare you attack a fellow Deva for the sake of these human!"

"Antylamon!" cried out the young girl behind Asuna.

"These humans are my priority." the large rabbit spoke to the monkey, "I will not let you harm them." The young girl smiled in happiness.

"Fine, then!" Makuramon snapped, a sly grin coming across his face, "If I'm not allowed to harm them, then I'll let these do that!" With a wave of his hands, two kinds of Dream Eaters came from behind Asuna, the girl and the Spirits. One of them was a bunny-like Nightmare called a 'Me Me Bunny'. The other was cybernetic, deer-like Nightmare called a 'Cyber Yog'.

The little girl whimpered as Asuna shifted targets, now ready to fight the Nightmares. "No!" gasped Antylamon, about to protect them, but got hit in the head by an orb tossed by Makuramon.

"You're not getting away." he chuckled, "I'll take care of you for defying our sovereign's orders!" Antylamon looked to the monkey, then back to the others.

"Don't worry about the young girl." Asuna assured her, "I'll stop these monsters." She readied her Keyblade, with Pina and Petal ready to fight by her side.

"Hey, what's your name?" Asuna asked the little girl.

"I'm Suzie." the girl responded.

"Well then, Suzie, I'll make sure nothing happens to you!" Asuna assured her. Suzie smiled happily. Seeing that smile helped Asuna as she charged in for the attack.

---

While Antylamon was dealing with Makuramon, and Asuna was dealing with the Nightmares, more people were arriving to the scene. To of them were young boys, possibly teenagers. One had dark blue hair, an orange vest, black shirt underneath, a yellow sweat band, dark brown pants and yellow shoes. The other had yellow-rimmed goggles, brown hair, a blue hoodie, yellow wristbands, gray pants and green shoes. With them was a small, bunny-like creature that stood on two feet, with white and pale green fur, one horn on its' head, and very long ears. Their names were Henry, Takato and Terriermon, respectively.

"I know I heard Suzie nearby!" Terriermon told the others, hopping over the hill and looking about.

"Are you sure about that, Terriermon?" Takato asked.

"Look! There she is!" Terriermon cried, pointing down to where the battles were taking place. The two boys gasped at the sight of the two fights.

"Suzie!" Henry cried.

"Who's that with her?" Takato asked, seeing Asuna in action.

"I don't know, but she's fighting against those Digimon with that weapon." Henry answered, noticing her Keyblade, "And she's deleting them, too!"

Asuna was giving it her all against the Nightmares around her. The Cyber Yog's movements were similar to that of a Yoggy Ram's, only these things used thunder-type attacks, rather than the fire attacks. As for the Me Me Bunny's, they delivered powerful attacks with their ears, from swinging them to slingshotting its' entire body, to hammer slams that caused shockwaves.

Asuna didn't notice it before, but she realized that after beating the Wargoyle in the last world, she also gained a new command slot to use, and Aerial Slam was equipped into it. Asuna utilized the situation, and unleashed the technique onto a Cyber Yog, using an uppercut slash to knock it into the air, then leaping up and slamming it back down to the ground with a downward slash, which caused it to hit a Me Me Bunny making both of them topple over.

Asuna made sure that Suzie was well protected by the Nightmares by having Petal and Pina make a barrier around her, blasting the enemies that get too close to her. Antylamon was also protecting the little girl from Makuramon, who was tossing its' orb at her. He ignited the orb on fire, attempting to finish Antylamon off, but she transformed her arms into twin axes, and slashed the orb into pieces.

Once Asuna was done with the Nightmares, she turned to Suzie, who grabbed ahold of Pina and Petal, and hugged them. "You two are so cute and strong!" she praised at them. Pina was the one that was uncomfortable, as Suzie wrapped her arm around her neck.

Makuramon gritted his teeth, frustrated at his failed attempt to stop any of them. "Curse you all!" he snarled, then to Antylamon, "You shall be accused for your treason! This isn't over yet!" The monkey leapt away, disappearing from sight.

Asuna relinquished her Keyblade, then heard someone call out, "Suzie!" It was Terriermon, racing down the hill.

At first, Asuna thought it was another Me Me Bunny, and was ready to attack when Suzie cried, "Terriermon!", and raced over to the oncoming creature. Asuna relaxed herself, quizzical at the new creature, then saw the two boys with it come down the hill.

"Suzie, what are you doing here?" Henry asked, lowering himself to Suzie's level.

"Suzie was trying to find Terriermon." Suzie answered, hugging Terriermon tightly, "Suzie then met Antylamon and that mean ol' monkey, but Antylamon and that lady saved me." She pointed to Asuna, Antylamon, and Asuna's Spirits.

Takato pulled out a white and red device and activated it, scanning Antylamon. "Her data isn't appearing on the Digivice." he noticed, "Could that mean that…"

"Well, the rabbit is the last Zodiac animal that we haven't seen, so it must be a Deva!" Henry summed up.

Asuna heard what the boy said, and turned to Antylamon. "Is that true?" she asked the giant rabbit, "That monkey did say you were a fellow Deva, right?"

"It is true." Antylamon answered, "However, since I did fight a fellow Deva, I have betrayed my Sovereign."

Suzie raced over to Antylamon. "Thank you for saving me!" she thanked her, "You're not hurt, are you, Antylamon?" Antylamon looked down at Suzie blankly, then shook its' head.

"Suzie, get away from it!" Henry cried, leading Takato and Terriermon over to it. Asuna was quite confused about the whole situation, but she wasn't prepared for what happened next.

A ball of light appeared next to Antylamon, and descended in front of Suzie. She opened her hands out to reveal a device similar to Takato's, only it was white and pink.

"What is that?" Asuna asked, kneeling down to see the item.

"It's a Digivice!" gasped Takato.

"Suzie's a Tamer…to a Deva?!" Henry asked incredulously.

"Digivice? Tamer?" Asuna questioned, not sure what to make of this.

Just then, a red beam of light shot from the large red setting sunlight, and landed on top of Antylamon. She was still as she was hit by this pillar of energy. "What's going on, now?!" Takato asked. Asuna raised her hand over her eyes to get a better look, then saw, too her amazement, Antylamon shrink down to a much smaller being. She was similar to Terriermon's look, only with brown and pink fur, and three horns on her head.

"She shrunk!" gasped Asuna, seeing Antylamon's new form.

"It seems the Sovereign relieved me of my duty." she noticed.

Henry pulled out his Digivice, which was white and green, and scanned Antylamon's new form. "It says here you're Lopmon. A Data Beast-type. Rookie-level." he read.

Asuna peered over to read all the things on Henry's Digivice. "So your 'Digivice' can analyze the monsters in this world, huh?" Asuna questioned.

Henry placed his Digivice away, and looked sternly at Asuna. "Maybe you better give us some answers before we get anywhere." he told her, "Who are you, where did you come from, and how in the heck were you able to delete those Digimon?"

"Digimon?" Asuna questioned, "I don't know what those are. But as for who I am, my name is Asuna. I come from a place far off from here."

"Are you from the real world like us?" Takato asked, stepping forward.

"You can say that." Asuna answered.

"Never mind that." Henry dismissed that, "I appreciate you protecting my little sister, but you didn't have to delete those Digimon to do so."

"So Suzie's your little sister, huh?" Asuna realized, looking at Suzie, who was playing with Lopmon and Terriermon's ears, "Well, the monsters I was fighting weren't Digimon. They were Dream Eaters, and Nightmares at that. Those things had to be destroyed."

"So, they weren't Digimon at all?" Takato asked, "Then what happened to the ones you called back?"

"You mean these?" Asuna questioned, pulling Pina and Petal out again, "They're my Dream Eaters, the Spirit variety. They're names are Pina and Petal, and I have two others named Flambé and Ashika. They're my friends."

"I get it…" Henry finally understood, "Sorry for accusing you like that. I'm Henry."

"And I'm Takato." the other boy introduced himself.

"Nice to meet the both of you." Asuna greeted them, "If you don't mind, I would like to know more about this land, along with all of these 'Digimon' you talk about. See, I'm kinda new to this world."

"Sure, we can explain a bit." Henry answered.

Henry and Takato started explaining all that Asuna needed to know about the world she was in, which was known as the Digital World. In this world, the inhabitants were known as Digimon, or Digital Monsters, which were intelligent monsters made from data. They came in a variety of forms, and each had their own set of attacks. Digimon could also evolve in the form of Digivolution. There were several levels of Digivolution. There was Baby-level, followed by In-Training, then Rookie, then Champion, then Ultimate, and finally, Mega. Such examples were that Terriermon and Lopmon were both Rookie, and that Antylamon was an Ultimate Digimon.

Then there are the Tamers, as Henry and Takato called themselves, who own a Digimon each, and are linked to them thanks to the Digivice. Terriermon, for example, was Henry's Digimon, and Lopmon was now Suzie's. Takato has one too, named Guilmon, but they got separated by one another. It was basically like Asuna and her Spirits, only the human partners to the Digimon didn't have to fight, and the Spirits recalled into their cards.

'Monsters that come in a variety of forms, have their own sets of attacks, and can evolve into more powerful forms?' Asuna thought to herself, 'Sounds a lot like the Pokémon World. I wonder if those two are connected to one another?'

"So, how did you get here?" Takato asked, "Did you dive into a digital portal like we did?"

"Y-Yeah." Asuna lied, "I came to this world to find something."

"Well we're here to find something, too. Or rather someone." Takato answered, "Our friend, Calumon, got captured by that Deva, Makuramon."

"Yeah, I still don't get what the Deva are, but I know at least one of them isn't good, while one is good." Asuna stated, looking to Lopmon.

"The Deva are all Ultimate-level Digimon who were trying to take out the humans in our world." Henry answered, "Each Deva is represented by an animal in the Zodiac."

"Oh, I see." Asuna realized, "So Antylamon was the rabbit, and Makuramon was the monkey. That leaves ten more animals."

"We've already taken care of nine of the Deva. Only the monkey, dog and rabbit remain."

"And since Lopmon is relieved of her duty, the rabbit is out." Asuna stated, "That means only two more remain. Then, there's their sovereign that we have to deal with, after."

The team paused after speaking so much, then Henry looked to Suzie in a worried expression. "I bet now, my parents are very worried about us, now that Suzie's in the Digital World." he muttered.

"Which means we have to find Calumon THAT much sooner!" Takato stated.

"But where should we look?" Terriermon asked.

Asuna looked to Lopmon. "Do you have any idea where Calumon might be?" she asked the little rabbit, "I don't really know what it looks like, though…"

"Here, I have a picture!" Takato stated, pulling out a piece of folded up paper, and unveiling it to Asuna and Lopmon. The picture showed a white and purple creature with stubby arms and legs, large black eyes, large ears that were smaller than Terriermon's and Lopmon's, and markings on its' forehead that looked like three small black triangles surrounding a larger red one.

"Let me explain something before giving you an answer." Lopmon stated, "In order to find the Light of Evolution, our Sovereign used scraps of Digimon data, and created us, Deva, out of them."

"I don't understand at all." Suzie mumbled in a confused manner.

"In other words, this Sovereign created Lopmon, that monkey, and all other Devas." Henry clarified.

"But what does this have to do with Calumon?" Asuna questioned.

"That Digimon was being carried over to where our sovereign, Zhuqiaomon, is at." Lopmon explained, "It is just beyond the Great South Gate."

"And that place is where Calumon is at?" Asuna asked. Lopmon nodded in response.

"Which way is it to the Great South Gate?" Takato asked. Lopmon pointed towards the setting red light.

"That's Suzakumon, where our sovereign lives." she explained, "The gate is over there."

"Then, let's not waste any time." Asuna stated, "We should get going over there."

"Right!" Takato answered.

Lopmon stepped in front of the group, and turned to them, its' arms spread out wide. "I can't let you go there!" she warned them, "Our sovereign is really powerful. You will not be able to defeat him! I went against them, and look at what he did to me. Now, I don't wish to fight anyone." Suzie patted Lopmon's head, giving her affection.

"We don't want to fight Zhuqiaomon. All he wants to do is protect this world." Takato retorted, "We just came for Calumon, then we'll leave."

"But what about Suzie?" Henry asked, "I can't let her go into something as dangerous as this."

"Moumantai!" Terriermon chimed, "She and Lopmon are Tamer and partner, now."

"If you want, I'll come along with you guys, and help out with any enemies in your path." Asuna stated, "I may not look it, but I'm pretty tough."

"We've already seen you in action, so we definitely know how good you are!" Takato noted, "Wha'dya say, Henry? We can go there AND protect Suzie."

Henry looked to the team, then sighed, "Okay. But we'll only take Suzie to the front of the Gate. After that, she stays put until we find Calumon." With the plan set, the team set out to save Calumon.

Asuna and Lopmon led the team through the wastelands towards their destination. Asuna could see finally the base that Zhuqiaomon must live in, which was a large dome with spike and holes all around it. However, it was quite a distance to it, the path was uneven and all uphill, and plenty of Nightmares in between the team and their destination. Asuna and her Dream Eaters took the front, taking out the enemies left and right. She even utilized her 'Link Action: Darkest Fears' with Pina to clear out a rather larger pack in the way.

---

After about twenty minutes, they arrived on a new surface that was smooth, leveled, and reflecting the red glow of Zhuqiaomon's base. A good distance from them, the team could see a very wide gap between the ground and a waterfall that fell down who-knows-where. There was also a large, two flame-shaped pieces forming together to make the gate, with a long bridge. Asuna could only assume that this was the Great South Gate.

"We've arrived." Takato stated, seeing the path ahead.

"Beyond that gate is where your friend, Calumon, is." Asuna told them, "Not to mention that sovereign Digimon, too." The team paused to think about the risks and rewards that lay ahead of them.

"I'm tired…" moaned Suzie, sitting on the ground.

"We should probably all get some rest before going in." Asuna told the team, "We don't know how powerful the enemies we have to face are ahead." The two boys and Terriermon were reluctant at first, but they agreed that they should take a break.

"Hey, thanks for helping us." Henry thanked Asuna, "Mind telling me how you got those powers?"

"Oh, it's a long story." Asuna replied, "But basically, it's thanks to my Keyblade. It pointed me to the right direction from the very beginning." Asuna thought back to when she first gained the Keyblade, and everything she had to deal with to this day. "…It's sure brought me a long way." Asuna told herself, looking at the Keyblade in her lap.

"Hey, I was just wondering, but can all of you Deva control the Dream Eaters here?" Asuna questioned Lopmon.

"No. Most of us can, but some cannot." she answered, "I seem to be unable to use it like Makuramon can."

"That might be a relief." Asuna stated, "The Nightmares can only be controlled by those dark of heart. At least, that's what I seem to notice. My Dream Eaters are Spirit forms, and aid the good to snuff out Nightmares."

"So that's how it works, huh?" Takato stated.

"My sovereign did give me something that thought helped me control the Dream Eaters, but it did nothing." Lopmon stated, "It seems to be a recipe for something. Here…" she raised her ears up, and a ball of light came out of her, and Asuna's Dream Eater book appeared, opening up to let the light in. The team were amazed as Asuna raised her hands to catch the book, and look at which page it settled on. The Dream Eater that was on the page with the new recipe was called 'Tatsu Steed'.

"You were right, it is a recipe!" Asuna told Lopmon, "Based on the ingredients it needs, I believe I can summon a strong form of this Spirit." Asuna prepared the recipe, which composed of Rampant Fancies and Dulcet Figments. After some consideration, Asuna decided to add the Blizzara spell into the mix, since she already had Blizzaga on her roster.

"Dream Eater, beckon to my side." Asuna chanted, "Come forth, and fight with me against Nightmares!" The ingredients spun around and came together, then there was a flash of light, a puff of smoke, and Asuna's new Dream Eater appeared.

The Tatsu Steed was slightly larger than any of Asuna's other Spirits, and it looked like a sea horse with large fins. Its' main body was green and yellow, with the Spirit symbol on it. The eyes were a light blue color. The head, fins, and tail were a purplish-blue, spotted and trimmed with a yellow, pink and pale green color. The spikes going down its' tail were purple.

"Wow!" cheered Suzie, racing up to the new Dream Eater, hugging it instantly, "You made a horsie!"

"That's…incredible!" Takato stated, "It's a lot like how I made Guilmon, only I was the one who created him."

"It feels like how our sovereign created us Deva." Lopmon noticed.

"Well, however this reminds you of, I can tell you that this is how Spirits are made." Asuna explained, "Now all that's left is to give you a name…"

Suzie climbed on top of the Tatsu Steed. "Giddy-up, horsie!" she cheered, grabbing onto the neck of the now uncomfortable Spirit.

"Be careful, Suzie!" Henry warned his sister. The Dream Eater started weaving about with Suzie on it, then it shot bubbles from its' snout, which scattered about all over. This gave Asuna an idea.

"Hey, since you can shoot bubbles, I'll call you Baburu." she decided, walking over to take Suzie off of the Tatsu Steed, "Is that okay with you?" The Spirit, now relieved to have the rider off of it, cried out in agreement.

"Now for the added power." Asuna stated, placing Suzie on the ground, and pulling out all her Spirit cards, and pulling up each of their Link Boards one at a time. From all the fighting she gained from coming up here, Asuna had about 200 Link Points for all of her older Dream Eaters to work with.

Petal and Pina each had one remaining power to gain each, in which Asuna had access to now. From Pina, she gained the Spirit Ability 'Support Boost', which allowed her Spirit's support skills to last longer. From Petal, Asuna gained a Magic Boost.

From Flambé, Asuna could see that she can gain access to a couple places now that she had linked with Flambé enough. She gained herself the an added combo skill in the air, and unlocked a Secret panel, noticing more places to go into later.

From Ashika, Asuna dealt with a few Secret panels here and there, but gained access to a boost in Blizzard-type attacks, an increase in attack speed, a resistance to ice attacks, a boost to items, and a boost to stamina.

Finally, for Baburu, Asuna could only gain one new power; the Magic Spell Mini, allowing her to shrink her opponents. All other ways were either too expensive, or she needed to link with Baburu. With everything in place, Asuna placed her new Spirit with Ashika in store, so that they could gain experience for later use. Asuna didn't have to change anything in her attacks, so there was no need to pull out her Command Pad to change things about.

"Guess that'll have to do for now." Asuna stated, "I'd better start finding tons more Nightmares to take down."

As Suzie wondered where Baburu went, Takato asked, "So, if I was noticing what you did right, all you have to do is use those materials you find to create a Spirit?"

"That's the general idea." Asuna answered.

"I guess that means that you can create as many Spirits as you want, huh?" Takato stated, "After all, they were just materials to begin with. Even if they disappeared like those other Nightmares did, you can replace them with a new one, right?"

"Don't you dare go there!" Asuna snapped at him, realizing what he meant, "My Spirits are not just tools for me to use to recycle. Each one I create is important to me, like they were my own family. They have their own set of emotions, and are willing to fight alongside me because they care for me. To say that they are nothing but materials is the same as stating your Digimon are nothing but data."

Takato looked down, thinking about Asuna's words. "You're right. Sorry about that." he apologized.

"In any case, we'd better find your little friend." Asuna stated, gathering the group together.

"I'll go in with Asuna and Terriermon to try to find Calumon." Takato decided, "I know you're worried about your little sister, so you can stay here with her and Lopmon. We'll be fine as long as we're in there together."

"I guess…" Henry agreed half-heartedly.

Just then, Asuna detected something and shouted, "Duck!" The group ducked in time to see a large something pass over them, and cause an explosive landing close to them. They looked up to see who was the cause of it, and saw someone sitting on a motorcycle in the middle of a crater.

Though it was a Digimon, it also looked like a biker. He was well-built, wearing a leather jacket and pants, with armor pieces on its' shoulders, gauntlets, armored leggings and boots. There was a red scarf tied on his left upper arm, a long armored tail, and a purple half-helm, which Asuna could clearly see the spiky white hair coming in the back, and not just the one pair of eyes, but a third, middle eye, too.

"It's Beelzebumon!" Takato gasped.

"Who?!" Asuna asked, turning to the team.

"He's WAS our friend." Henry stated, "Now, he's sided with the Deva."

"Really? It's just you guys?" Beelzebumon asked in a disappointed tone, "I was hopin' for a challenge by taking on all you Tamers, but it looks like I'll deal with you leftovers!" He reached into his back, and pulled out two twin-barrel pistols, pointing them at the group.

"Why are you trying to kill us?!" Takato demanded, "We use to be friends, right? Back when you were Impmon, you played with us at the park!"

"That was before I evolved!" Beelzebumon huffed back, "Check it, I'm a Mega-level Digimon. I got all this power thanks to the Deva, and I agreed to take you out of the picture. The Impmon you guys know is dead!"

"You're doing this just because you have great power now?!" Asuna asked, infuriated, "I don't know what your deal it, but to me, that's bullying!"

"Shut it! I care even less about you, since I've never met you before!" Beelzebumon spat, "Maybe you should take a hike before you try my patience!"

Asuna wasn't gonna back down, although she did feel a powerful amount of energy from this guy. If he was right, and he was a Mega Digimon, then that would mean she would be fighting a tough opponent.

"Henry!" Terriermon called out.

"Right!" Henry responded, pulling out a card. He pulled out his Digivice, and slid the card right through the slit on the side of the device. "Digi-Modify! Matrix Digivolution Activate!" Henry declared. In an instant, Terriermon was surrounded in a brilliant light. "Terriermon Matrix Digivolve into…!" he chanted, and Asuna turned to see Terriermon grow in size, and change look all together. "…Rapidmon!" He finished, standing right next to Asuna.

Terriermon, now Rapidmon, was more mechanical than before. He was quite big, mainly green, white and with small bits of red. Its' hands now became arm cannons, with three red, pincer-like fingers. Its' legs were made of a soft texture, and its' boots were green and white, and pointed. There was also, what looked like, a pair of black gatling guns attached to one another on his back. The head was sticking out of the armored body, with bright blue eyes, and large mechanical ears that were green and red-tipped.

"So this is Digivolution." Asuna gasped, looking up at Rapidmon.

"Oh, please!" Beelzebumon huffed, "Fighting someone like you is way too easy!"

"Don't underestimate me!" Rapidmon declared. He leapt up and shouted, "Rapid Fire!" He fired two missiles from his arm cannons, which made contact with Beelzebumon on his bike. When the smoke cleared, Beelzebumon sat there, not even phased.

"That barely tickled." he chuckled, then fired his guns at Rapidmon. The attack struck his ears, and the force sent him flying backwards, over the team, and collapsed onto the ground. Asuna was just stunned. Rapidmon was so easily knocked down by a pair of Beelzebumon's guns. Asuna had to wonder if that was the power of the Mega Digimon.

"If…If only Guilmon was here." Takato murmured, wishing his partner was here. Asuna looked to Takato, then heard Beelzebumon chuckle as he pointed his guns at the group again. Suzie started to cry in terror, and she hugged Henry. Lopmon also looked worried. All of this was what Asuna needed to take action.

She summoned her Keyblade, and charged forward at Beelzebumon, summoning Pina and Petal as well to her side. "No, Asuna!" shouted Henry, "That's way too dangerous!"

"So you want to fight me, eh?" Beelzebumon asked amusingly, "Fine by me. What can a human do to me, anyway?!"

Asuna leapt forward, her Keyblade glowing brightly. "I'll show you!" Asuna declared, and she unleashed her Quadruple Pain Rapier Skill onto Beelzebumon. The attack didn't throw him off the bike, but Beelzebumon did fall back first on the butt of the bike. Asuna backed off, making sure to keep her distance.

"She made him flinch when Rapidmon, who is Ultimate, wasn't even able too?!" Lopmon gasped, "Who is this human?"

Beelzebumon straightened himself, but he was both surprised and pissed off. "How in the hell did you do that to me?!" he barked.

"Don't even think I'm done with you." Asuna stated, "I won't let you hurt them!"

"We'll just see about that!" Beelzebumon snarled, revving up his motorcycle. Asuna could see he was gonna go all out on this one.

Beelzebumon drove forward towards Asuna, who fired a Blizzaga spell. Beelzebumon pulled off a wheelie, and the spinning wheel of his bike broke apart the Blizzaga with ease. Asuna was stunned at this, and the speed of the motorcycle crashed into Asuna, sending her flying.

"Asuna!" shouted the boys.

"Heh! So ends that human!" Beelzebumon, aiming towards the others.

Asuna took some serious damage, but she was still able to move. She activated her Payback Thrust, and unleashed her Shooting Star Rapier Skill in midair, sending herself flying right into Beelzebumon, making him lose control of the motorcycle, and causing him to miss the others only barely. He spun around as Asuna landed onto the ground, determined to keep fighting. Petal used its' healing spell to restore her stamina.

"You little brat!" he snarled, and he dashed forward again on his bike. Asuna was prepared for this, and leapt to one side as the bike passed her. Pina unleashed musical bolts while Petal sent vines from underground to strike the wheels of the bike. Both proved ineffective. "What are you aiming at?!" Beelzebumon asked, pulling out one of his pistols, and firing it at the two Spirits. Pina avoided it, while Petal moved back barely, and got hit by the shockwaves and rubble made from the bullets. "Petal!" Asuna shouted, racing to her Spirit.

Beelzebumon turned his bike around hard, and raced towards Asuna, continuously firing at her. Asuna weaved around the shots, and unleashed a Thunder spell to stop him, though the lightning bolt barely did anything. "Was that suppose to be an attack?!" Beelzebumon laughed, "Please! That was next to nothing!"

'That attack didn't do anything to him.' Asuna thought to herself, 'Guess he's a lot tougher to deal with than I thought.'

Beelzebumon was close to Asuna, using his other hand to reach out and slash Asuna with his claws. Asuna saw it, and ducked, barely avoiding it. She attempted to slash him with her Keyblade, but Beelzebumon drove ahead to avoid it. He turned around and drove head-first into Asuna again. Asuna unleashed her Aerial Slam technique. She tried to uppercut the bike into the air, but the power behind it was so strong, Asuna was sent flying backwards instead, tumbling to the ground.

Asuna struggled to get up, and raised herself on her hands and knees as Beelzebumon stopped the bike to stare at her. "What's wrong? You upset that your attacks won't work on me?" he taunted to her. Asuna glared back at him, realizing just how formidable he was.

"I admit, you're better than the average human, but I've become the strongest Digimon in the world! Someone like you can never defeat me!" Beelzebumon pulled out his second pistol, and pointed it at Asuna. She tried to stand up, but was unable to do so.

Pina and Petal joined right next to Asuna, standing in front of her. "What are you two doing?" Asuna moaned, "Go, get outta here!"

"Hmph! So your little buddies want to die first, eh?" Beelzebumon asked, "Fine by me!"

"No!" Asuna shouted, raising one hand to stop him. She was afraid of losing her Spirits, just as Takato mentioned.

Suzie was crying out of fear, hugging Lopmon. Henry was kneeling down to Suzie, looking back desperately to Rapidmon, who was struggling to get up. Takato was tensed up, wishing he could do something to fight against Beelzebumon. Finally, he shouted with all of his might, "GUILMON!"

There was a few second interval between his shout and what came next. A pillar of pink, digital energy shined down from the sky, landing right next to the Tamers. Asuna and Beelzebumon turned to witness this happening. When the pillar of light disappeared, four Digimon and four humans stood there in its' place.

From Asuna's view, she could see a large red and black-spotted, dinosaur-like Digimon with two boys on top of it, gripping onto its' horns, and a bronze-colored robot hanging onto its back. Then there was a kyuubi with white and yellow fur, a red and white-striped collar tied around it, and a girl as young as the two boys hopping off of its' back. Finally, there was a large humanoid lion, who had an orange body and a yellow mane, and was carrying another young girl in his arms.

"Growlmon!" Takato said excitedly, coming to the large dinosaur Digimon.

"What the heck is going on here?" the girl on the kyuubi asked.

"Takato, I missed you!" Growlmon responded. Takato stopped in front of him, acting sort of hesitant, then looked down, thinking back on something.

---

(Flashback) Inside the large library, slash school room, Takato, Henry and Terriermon were standing in front of a man who's body was transparent. This man's name was Shibumi. Takato had his Digivice out, and the screen on it was projecting an image thanks to small, glowing creatures known as Digi-gnomes. The image was a scrap of paper that had a drawing of Guilmon on it.

"That's my notebook!" Takato gasped. He watched as balls of digital data converged on the picture, then analyzed the picture, and finally, created Guilmon right before their eyes.

"Is this the Digimon you created?" Shibumi asked Takato, who looked stunned.

"That's our friend, Guilmon." Terriermon answered.

"I see. The Digi-gnomes must've used your drawing as a model to create a Digimon using scraps of data, in order to communicate." Shibumi understood. Guilmon kept replicating itself, until there was about a half-dozen images of the same Digimon projecting from Takato's Digivice.

"Guilmon…is just data?" Takato asked, incredulously. (Flashback ends)

---

"…He's nothing but data." Takato mumbled, "He was made by scraps of data."

"Takato, what's wrong?" Growlmon asked.

Asuna used this diversion to heal herself, and gather her Dream Eaters in order to get with the group. "What's going on here?" Asuna asked, "Who are all of you?"

"These are the other Digimon and Tamers." Terriermon answered, pointing to each Tamer and Digimon as he introduced them. "That's Takato's Digimon, Growlmon, the Champion form of Guilmon. That's Rika and her partner, Kyuubimon, the Champion form of Renamon. That other girl is Jeri, and her partner Leomon. Those two guys are Kazu and Kenta, though I've never seen that Digimon before."

"I'm Guardromon." the robot introduced himself, with Kazu walking next to him, "Pleasure to meet you, human."

"Guardromon's my Digimon partner." Kazu stated pompously, "So are you a Tamer, too?"

"Not exactly…" Asuna answered, "But my name is Asuna. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Kazu answered, slightly blushing at Asuna's kindness and beauty.

"Beelzebumon!" Kyuubimon called out, "What are you doing?!"

"Shut it, you stupid fox!" Beelzebumon shouted, "I'll kill you along with the rest of ya!" He fired shots at Kyuubimon's feet, and she leapt backwards.

"That's not nice!" Asuna shouted, unleashing a Blizzaga spell.

Beelzebumon did a donut with his bike, smacking the Blizzaga with his tail. "You had your fun, kid! But playtime's over!" he shouted, driving towards Asuna, Terriermon, Kazu and Guardromon. "Pyro Blaster!" Growlmon shouted, roaring a stream of flames from his mouth. Beelzebumon avoided the attack, still coming in on the motorbike.

He almost got close, but Kyuubimon pounced at Beelzebumon, knocking him off of his bike. Both Digimon tumbled across the ground, then coming to a standstill. "Kyuubimon!" cried out Rika, seeing how much damage her Digimon took from the fall, "Kyuubimon, you have to Digivolve!"

Kyuubimon rose to her feet as Beelzebumon did, who pulled out his guns. Kyuubimon leapt forward. "Dragon Wheel!" she shouted, spinning into a ball, igniting into blue flames, and sending it in the form of a dragon towards Beelzebumon. The flames wrapped around his arms, burning them and making him drop his guns. However, due to the serious injuries she gained from the fall, she collapsed to the floor.

"Kyuubimon!" Rika shouted again, worried for her partner.

"Damn you, Kyuubimon!" growled Beelzebumon, shaking of the burns, and readying his claws as he approached the fallen fox.

"Stop!" Asuna shouted, racing with Petal, Pina and Growlmon towards the fight.

"That's right, Growlmon!" Takato shouted, now infuriated from what he had done to the team so far, "Beelzebumon…no, Impmon…He's become a demon! He has to be taken down! Destroy him!"

Asuna stopped and turned to Takato, surprised at this demand. Jeri was also worried about his change of attitude. "Takato…" she muttered.

An uppercut from Beelzebumon onto Growlmon switched Asuna's attention back to the enemy at hand. Growlmon collapsed to the floor, injured by the attack. "You wait your turn." he warned the Digimon, turning back to Kyuubimon, "I want to take care of this one first, for making a fool out of me!" He raised his claws, ready to go.

Asuna went in to rescue Kyuubimon, and in an instant upon blocking, she found herself wrestling with Beelzebumon, pushing against his claws with her Keyblade. "I already told you; I won't let you hurt them!" she repeated to Beelzebumon, struggling to defend Kyuubimon, who opened her eyes to see her protector.

"Impmon…" Kyuubimon moaned, "Please…open…your eyes…"

"Shut it!" Beelzebumon shouted, pressuring Asuna with great force, "I'm gonna kill you, right here, right now!" With a free hand, he swung his claw at Asuna, knocking her aways, towards her Spirits and Rika. She rolled over to see Beelzebumon raise a claw, then plunge it towards Kyuubimon. However, the attack was stopped by Leomon, who grabbed his arm. Jeri gasped at her Digimon's daring.

"It seems to me that all you are doing is following someone else's orders." Leomon noticed, "What you are doing is foolish."

"Who the heck are you?!" Beelzebumon demanded, but got answered with a fist to the face by Leomon.

"You think power has to do something with evolution? That's total nonsense!" Leomon told scolded, "Killing these children will also not make you strong. I've already discovered what it means to be truly strong."

Even from a distance, Asuna could feel the bloodlust of Beelzebumon. He roared in rage at Leomon as he lunged forward, and stabbed Leomon straight through the chest. Everyone was shocked at this scene, especially Jeri. "Leomon!" she shouted as her partner fell backwards, the hole in Leomon's chest glowing around the ring as it grew bigger, and Leomon started to fade away.

Asuna and Kyuubimon rose to their feet, angered by Beelzebumon's attack. "Why..do you not understand?" Leomon moaned, "Why won't you listen…?"

"We gotta help Leomon!" Asuna shouted, taking a step forward.

"It's too late." Kyuubimon stated, "He…killed Leomon." Asuna looked to her, then to Rika, who's expression unfortunately agreed with her. She looked to Jeri, who was crying, unable to accept this. Kazu and Kenta were now afraid of Beelzebumon, knowing he really could kill them. Henry was hugging Suzie, preventing her to watching what was happening. Takato, above all, was infuriated.

Asuna turned back, seeing Leomon's head remaining as he slowly disappeared into a sparkling of lights. All he could do was stare at Jeri. However, it wasn't fear he was showing in his face. He was accepting his death. "Maybe…this was my own fate…" Leomon said before he disappeared entirely. Jeri screamed in agony, seeing her true partner vanish before her eyes.

Asuna watched the lights of Leomon rise into the air, then suddenly, absorbed by Beelzebumon, taking all of his data. "I load the strongest, and become stronger myself!" Beelzebumon declared, "That is what I will continue to do, and I'll keep on doing until no one can beat me!"

Asuna glared at Beelzebumon, infuriated by his actions, and his choice to live. Her emotions were carrying her as she gripped her Keyblade tightly, ready to stab it through Beelzebumon, like how he did to Leomon. Both Petal and Pina looked to Asuna, worried about her anger.

However, there was someone who lost control of all of their anger. "You're terrible…" Takato stated through gritted teeth, "How can you do something so heartless? HOW COULD YOU?!" Growlmon's anger, influenced by Takato, caused him to Digivolve, transforming into the cyborg dinosaur Digimon, Wargrowlmon. Both roared to the top of their voices.

"So you went Ultimate, huh?" Beelzebumon asked Wargrowlmon, "But it makes no difference. I'm a Mega Digimon. You will die without even scratching me."

"Then I'd better step things up, too." Asuna told herself in a deadly tone, getting Kyuubimon and Rika's attention. She turned to Petal, and declared, "Let's do it!" Petal looked scared at Asuna's anger, but it nodded hesitantly. It focused itself with Asuna, merging with her. "Link Style! Wavesurfer!" Asuna shouted, unleashing a watery-blue aura around her.

Both Asuna and Wargrowlmon charged forward, Asuna using her Keyblade like a surfboard, and Wargrowlmon using the jets on its' back for boosted speed. Asuna got to Beelzebumon first, spinning her Keyblade at Beelzebumon, who avoided it. Wargrowlmon attempted to slash him, but Beelzebumon leapt over that.

"You two don't stand a chance!" Beelzebumon shouted, firing his pistols at the two. Asuna created a barrier with her Keyblade by spinning it in front of her, and the bullet aimed towards her bounced off. Wargrowlmon got struck in the shoulder, but he wasn't even phased as he roared forward.

"That's right, finish him!" Takato roared to his partner, "That demon doesn't deserve to live!"

"Takato, stop…" Jeri muttered, scared of his actions.

Asuna unleashed her Aerial Slam technique, uppercutting Beelzebumon higher into the air, then reappearing above him, slamming him back to the ground. She continued her assault, diving down from the sky on her Keyblade, shouting in anger as she did so. Beelzebumon rose to his feet, and whipped his tail around, smacking Asuna and sending her flying.

Wargrowlmon attacked when Beelzebumon was open, chomping down onto him. "Why you…!" he growled, and he stabbed the cyborg dinosaur in the forehead, slamming him to the ground.

"You can't be defeated by him, Wargrowlmon!" Takato shouted angrily, "We gotta get stronger. You gotta digivolve!" He thrusted his Digivice forward, demanding a digivolution.

Suddenly, the sky started to turn red and electric sparks coursed about. Asuna had gotten up from the attack, and was able to see the dome where Zhuqiaomon was suppose to be at started to glow bright red. The red glow traveled along the bridge, causing the thorns around to glow, followed by the gate, for which Wargrowlmon was close to. There was a ball of dark red energy that emanated from where the two tips on each side of the gate met. The symbol on Wargrowlmon's cybernetic chest started to glow. Wargrowlmon started to roar vigorously.

"What's going on?!" Henry asked, vocalizing everyone's thoughts. Flames streamed from the gate, surrounding Wargrowlmon and becoming a pillar. "Is he evolving?" Henry asked.

"That's right, Digivolve!" Takato roared, vengeance displayed across his face, "Become a Mega Digimon!" Asuna watched as Wargrowlmon's shape changed within the pillar. The more he changed, the more Takato's face lost his anger, turning into regret.

When the flames disappeared, a huge, demonic beast stood in the place of where Wargrowlmon was. It was dark-red and white, with a snake-like bottom half, with an upper half that looked like a demon. It had black upper arms, shoulder guards with the same symbol that glowed before, blades going along its' lower arms, yellow and red wings, and a monstrous face that expressed nothing but rage.

Takato started to back off, fearing what he had created. "What have I done?" he mumbled, seeing his partner, "Did I…want to turn you into this?" Asuna was already on her knees, and rose to her feet, looking up at the monster's face, horrified. Even Beelzebumon was backing off from it. It was a monster born from vengeance.

The monster charged forward at Beelzebumon, who leapt away at him. "STOP IT!" shouted Jeri, fearing Wargrowlmon's new form. As Takato watched his partner go out of control, his Digivice started to form cracks all around it. It was dropped, and it crumbled away into nothingness. Takato's connection to his partner vanished.

While still merged with Petal, Asuna surfed over to Henry, Suzie and Lopmon. "What is going on with Takato's Digimon?!" Asuna asked as Henry pulled out his Digivice, scanning.

"It has become Megidramon. A Mega-level Virus type." Henry read, then looking at Asuna, "It really has become a Mega level…"

Asuna looked at Takato, who was grasping the fact that this was his precious partner's new form. "Between Beelzebumon and Megidramon, I wonder…" Asuna spoke her thoughts, "…could Mega levels be born out of a thirst for power? Is this really what Mega Digimon are suppose to be?" Henry looked to Asuna, her words also bringing up that question.

Megidramon whipped his tail out at Beelzebumon, wrapping it around his torso tightly. He attempted to chomp him, but Beelzebumon grabbed its' jaws with his hands, keeping him at bay. "What's with you?!" he grunted, "You're way stronger than how I remembered!" The drool from his mouth was steamed upon Beelzebumon, burning him.

As they watched, the ground around them started to crack, and the floors were shifting about, causing everyone to separate. "What's going on?!" Rika asked, standing on the ledge of one of these cracks. Henry and Asuna looked to Megidramon, noticing the symbol on his chest glowing in intervals. It was only then that Asuna realized what that symbol was; It was a hazard sign. "That sign must be showing that Megidramon's powers are effecting the Digital World, too!" Henry summed up.

"Henry!" shouted Suzie. Henry and Asuna turned to see her and Lopmon being separated by them thanks to the shifting grounds.

"Suzie!" shouted Henry, leaping over the crack to save his sister. As the trio were separated by Asuna, Rapidmon came in, and saved them, carrying them to a safer place.

Asuna heard an outcry, and turned to see Pina on a floor pieces separated from the others. It was also starting to crumble underneath. "Pina!" Asuna shouted, terrified for her Spirit's safety. She pulled out the Spirit's card, and raced towards the nearest piece close to Pina. "Return to your card, Pina!" Asuna begged. Pina looked to Asuna, fearful at first. "What's the matter?" Asuna asked, seeing her partner. She then recalled how angry she felt when Leomon was killed. She didn't notice it before, but she could see her Spirits were scared of her anger.

Asuna looked at her watery-blue aura which was Petal merged with her. "I scared my Spirits with my rage…" she told herself, then feeling her Spirit merged with her, she said, "I forced Petal to merge with me, and I didn't really notice her feelings until now." Asuna's eyes started to tear up, regretting what she had felt before. "I'm sorry." she apologized, "I…I didn't meant to scare you. I almost felt that you guys were…" She recalled what she had snapped at Takato before about her Spirits being friends. She almost went along with what Takato said before.

Just then, Asuna noticed that the platform Pina was on had little time left. It started to collapse. Asuna had to react. "No!" she shouted, and she leapt over the gap towards Pina. She air dashed to get in close, then she grabbed Pina in one arm, used her Keyblade in its' surfboard form, and rode it all the way up and back to where she was just as the platform totally collapsed. She almost didn't make it, but she used her Flowmotion on the rock to push herself back up to the surface again.

Asuna released Pina, and her bond with Petal ended, reverting her back to normal. "Guys, I'm sorry for getting angry at you. Especially you, Petal." Asuna apologized, turning to her flowery Spirit, "Can you guys forgive me?" Petal and Pina looked to one another, nodded, then smiled at Asuna. Petal showed flower petals onto her, expressing its' kindness. Asuna giggled slightly. "You guys are the best." she mumbled.

The roar from Megidramon drew her attention, and she looked up to see him still struggling with Beelzebumon. "This world is going out of control!" Asuna gasped, looking all about, then at Megidramon, "The only way of minimizing the damage is if I stop Megidramon." With all the shifting grounds, Asuna could see the Tamers were separated from one another. She could see Takato with a terrified Jeri, yelling for his partner to stop. "Sorry, Takato, but this is for your partner's own good!" Asuna declared, and she charged forward, with Petal and Pina at her side.

Asuna had to go across the cracks, avoiding the rising and falling floor pieces as she did so. She was about halfway there when she saw the view of Beelzebumon pressed to the floor, trying his hardest not to be eaten by Megidramon. Asuna noticed a bright light in the sky, and looked up to see Makuramon returning, descending in a ball of light.

"What are you doing?" he asked Beelzebumon, "If you don't end this fight, not only will this domain of our sovereign be destroyed, but the whole world! Honestly, why did Caturamon even allow you to Digivolve?"

"Just shut it!" Beelzebumon answered. He used one hand, extended it out to Makuramon, and grabbed his head. Asuna was stunned at his actions, and stopped in her tracks.

"Wh-What are you doing?!" the monkey Digimon demanded, struggling to break free, "I'm a Deva, a servant of our sovereign, the one who gave you that power! Without that, you would've been the same weakling as before!"

"Who cares!" chuckled Beelzebumon, then using an extra bit of strength, he turned Makuramon into data, absorbing it.

"He's completely heartless!" Asuna growled, seeing what he had done. Petal and Pina looked up at Asuna, who looked down at her Spirits. "Don't worry, guys." she assured them, "We can stop him and Megidramon if we work as a team, with our feelings as one!" The two Spirits agreed whole heartedly, but Petal looked suddenly exhausted. "Guess that fight before strained you." Asuna assumed, "Take a rest. I'll have Flambé handle things from here." Asuna swapped the two Spirits, then charged.

Asuna leapt up and unleashed a flurry of stabs behind Megidramon. "Hey, you're opponent is me!" Megidramon looked back at Asuna, who saw the rage in its' eyes. Using its' snake-like tail, it flung Beelzebumon into the air, and sent him flying into one of the cracks. Asuna heard a crash as he hit the side below them.

(Cue KH2.5 ReMIX OST 'Vim and Vigor')

Megidramon reared itself at Asuna, who got into her battle stance. "Asuna!" Takato shouted.

Asuna knew he feared for his friends safety. "For the sake of this world, I will put you down!" Asuna declared at Megidramon.

Megidramon lunged forward, attempting to chomp Asuna. She leapt to one side, avoiding the attack. Pina unleashed F Minor bombs while Flambé used fireballs tossed from his frying pan. Megidramon pulled itself back, and roared at the two Spirits, causing them to be pushed away by the shockwave.

Asuna unleashed her Thunder spell onto Megidramon, followed by her Balloonra spell. The combination of attacks struck Megidramon hard, and he faltered a bit. It turned to Asuna, unleashing a wave of flames from its' mouth. Asuna flipped over it, and felt the flame's heat on her back. "That might've done more than burn me if I got hit by that!" Asuna realized.

She then noticed the tail of Megidramon come out to meet her. It wrapped itself around her body, and she gasped for air as the demon dragon rose into the air with its' wings, glaring up at Asuna. "Stop, Megidramon!" shouted Takato, trying to reach out to his partner.

Asuna had her weapon arm free, but she dropped her Keyblade. She recalled it to her hand once more, made it glow, and unleashed a Quadruple Pain Rapier Skill onto the tail. The damage weakened the grip on Asuna, and she freed herself. She got onto Megidramon's tail, and she felt her Flowmotion activate. She started grinding down his tail, almost like a piece of railing. While it was unexpected, she wasn't gonna falter, especially since there was an open mouth at the end of the ride. She disappeared off of Megidramon's tail, reappearing on the side of his face, stabbing into him repeatedly.

Asuna continued to fight with Megidramon, who unleashed chomps, attempted to squeeze Asuna with its' tail, unleash roaring shockwaves, and spewing waves of flames. Asuna, Flambé and Pina all did their best to avoid the attacks, and heal themselves should they get hit. All the Tamers could do was watch Asuna in action, amazed at her daring.

Asuna could see that Megidramon was on its' last legs, and the glowing hazard symbol on his chest piece was still shining. "That's where we need to strike!" Asuna realized, turning to Flambé and Pina, "C'mon, guys! Let's attack it together!"

The trio charged forward at Megidramon, who unleashed another wave of flames. Flambé went in front, and used both its' frying pan and pot lid shield to protect the team from the flames. Pina was holding Flambé in place by pushing from behind. Asuna waved her Keyblade, and unleashed a Blizzaga spell. The freezing attack opened up a hole in Megidramon's flames.

Asuna, Pina and Flambé charged through the hole they made, and leapt up at the Megidramon's chest. Asuna pulled her Keyblade back, then thrusted it forward with all her might. Pina swung its' tail around, a stream of musical bars emanating from behind. Flambé twirled its' frying pan, then slammed it forward. The three attacks collided with the chest piece with great force. The hazard symbol died down, and the chest piece shattered. Megidramon was sent skidding backwards, falling down to the ground on its' back, its' mouth open. Megidramon was still alive, but unconscious. Megidramon had fallen.

The moment Megidramon fell, the quakes and forming cracks around the ground stopped. Everything went still. Asuna and her Spirits stood there, exhausted, but alive. The other Tamers were still okay. Most of them were gathered together, excluding Jeri and Takato. Rapidmon and Kyuubimon had reverted to their Rookie-level forms, Terriermon and Renamon, who had the same colors as she was in her Champion form, but she was a bipedal fox spirit with one tail.

Takato leapt over the gaps to Megidramon's side, looking at his partner's face. "Megidramon…" he mumbled, "I'm so sorry. I caused you to become this." Asuna looked sympathetically at Takato. She then looked to Jeri, who looked at Takato with his partner. Her Digivice that was linked with Leomon was in her hand, the screen going blank due to Leomon's death.

There was a moment of silence, then Asuna heard something rise from the crack behind her, and turned to see Beelzebumon leaping out, landing onto the ground. "What happened to all the shaking?" he asked, then saw the scene before him. After looking from the Tamers, to Takato next to the fallen Megidramon, then finally, to Asuna, who glared back at him, with her Dream Eaters also looking angrily at him.

"Oh, I got it…" he understood, "You must've taken that demonic dragon down before me!" Asuna gritted her teeth, insulted at what he called Megidramon. "Guess I underestimated you completely." Beelzebumon chuckled, "I didn't expect a human like you to take down a Mega Digimon. Before I kill you, tell me how you are able to do that?"

"If you must know, it wasn't me who took Megidramon down." Asuna answered, "It was me, Pina and Flambé. Our combined strength was able to calm Megidramon down."

"I see…" Beelzebumon muttered, pulling out his guns, "Well, if that's the case, I might as well kill you and your little partners!"

"You can try doing that, but you won't be able to be as strong as we are now!" Asuna shouted at him.

"Oh, yeah?" Beelzebumon snarled, "I've already absorbed so much data from defeated Digimon, that I've become the most powerful Digimon in the world. Taking your powers will make me even stronger! I may not be a sovereign like those Deva say, but I am a demon!" Asuna could see that Beelzebumon was beyond reasoning right now. However, she also knew that she and her Spirits would find it difficult beating him by themselves.

---

Away from them, Takato still knelt next to Megidramon, pondering about what Shibumi said, and how he felt about his Digimon partner. "This isn't right!" he told himself, "Because even if he's made of data…even if he's the Digimon I created, Guilmon is still my friend! We played, talked, laughed and fought together." He rose to his feet, and hugged his partner. "Guilmon! Come back to me!" he cried out.

Just then, Megidramon's eyes opened. At first, they were a glowing red, but then the glow died away. "Ta…ka…to…" he moaned.

Takato looked up at his friend. "Guilmon!" There was a bright beam of light, surrounding Takato and Megidramon. Asuna and Beelzebumon turned to witness it.

"That damn brat!" Beelzebumon snarled, redirecting the barrels of his pistols at the light, "Disappear!" He fired both guns, and the bullets shot at Takato and his partner.

"Takato! Megidramon!" Asuna shouted in a panicked tone.

It seemed like time seem to slow down around Takato and Megidramon. In an instant, Megidramon vanished, only to be replaced by Guilmon, who was a small, red dragon with a white belly, black marking all about, and wing-like ears. He was still laid on its' back, and Takato had his head raised towards him.

"Guilmon…" sobbed Takato, glad to have his buddy back.

"I'm here…" Guilmon muttered in response.

Takato nodded. "Thank you for being here, Guilmon." he thanked his partner. Suddenly, he noticed Beelzebumon's bullets come at him. Guilmon's eyes glowed red, as the shadow of Megidramon's tail appeared, whacking the bullets away. Asuna and Beelzebumon were both surprised at this.

"Takato, let's fight together!" Guilmon decided, getting to his feet as a circle of light beneath their feet.

Takato rose to his feet, determined. "Right, let's work together, like we always do!" he responded, "I won't hide behind Guilmon again! I'll fight alongside!"

The two were consumed in the bright light of energy, which shot a double-helix stream into the air, surrounding them. "This light!" Asuna gasped, shielding her eyes to see what was happening. Asuna could barely see both Guilmon and Takato merging into one being.

"Guilmon Biomerge to…" Asuna heard Guilmon chant, then saw a new figure in the light. "…Gallantmon!" Both Guilmon and Takato shouted together.

Gallantmon was a Digimon about the size of Growlmon, and he looked like an armored paladin. He wore white, red and gold-rimmed armor, the hazard symbol still on its' chest, and a red cape hanging behind. In one hand, he carried a large and durable shield, with markings that almost looked like the sun. In the other, his hand became a lance.

"This is…another Mega Digivolution." Asuna realized, "Both Guilmon and Takato became one!"

"What the hell is going on here?!" Beelzebumon snarled.

"This is the true evolution." Asuna answered, turning to Beelzebumon with a stern expression, "You tried to become stronger, evolve your powers by taking other people's power, giving up your own heart to become a devil. However, that's the worst way to evolve. True evolution is connecting your heart with the people you know, empowering each other to strive forth into new levels of power, far beyond what you know." Asuna smirked at a thought. "It's just like my friend, Sora, says: My friends are my power!" Pina and Flambé both looked ready to fight. The silhouettes of Petal, Ashika and Baburu all showed themselves behind Asuna, displaying their friendship for her.

Gallantmon walked up right next to Asuna, and the two looked to one another. "So you think I don't have true power, huh? That my way of life is wrong?!" Beelzebumon demanded, getting their attention, "Before you say that, you should try defeating me!" He placed his guns away, and brandished his claws.

"You sold your soul to the devil, and became one." Gallantmon spoke, and it sounded like both Takato and Guilmon were speaking as one, "For that reason, I cannot forgive you!"

"Neither can I!" Asuna added, "Let's go! Pina! Flambé!"

Asuna and her Spirits focused as one, then merged together. "Dual Style! Ghost Drive!" Asuna shouted, bursting with a shining, plasma-green aura. Asuna stood at the ready, with Gallantmon pointing his lance towards Beelzebumon. For a moment, the two sides paused to look at one another, then they charged, beginning the fight.

They leapt over the crevices in the ground, clashing blade and lance with claws. Both sides canceled each other out. The three combatants turned to their opponent in midair. Asuna used her Ghost Drive to teleport directly next to Beelzebumon, slashing him repeatedly. He attempted a side-swipe, but Asuna teleported away, reappearing right behind him and slashing him repeatedly again. She kept going around him confusing him as she slashed at him repeatedly in the air.

The moment Beelzebumon landed on the ground, he spread his arms out. "Darkness Claw!" he shouted, swinging all around, attempting Asuna should she reappear out of teleportation. He wasn't able to hit anything, however, and when he stopped attacking, Asuna came charging in, thrusting repeatedly around him by thrusting and teleporting away, finally ending with a downward slash.

Asuna teleported away from Beelzebumon again, landing with her back turned to him. When she turned, she saw Beelzebumon shake off the attack, angered, and charge at Asuna. She was saved by Gallantmon, who blocked his claw with his lance. "Damn you!" he snarled at Gallantmon, trying to get him out of the way. Gallantmon held his ground, and was pushing back, finally swiping him aways from him and Asuna.

Henry pulled out his Digivice, scanning Gallantmon. "His name is Gallantmon. A Holy Knight Virus Digimon. Mega level." Henry read.

"So he's a Mega Digimon." Renamon stated.

"Hold on, where's Takato?" Rika asked, looking about.

"So what if you're a Mega Digimon." scoffed Beelzebumon, pulling out his two pistols, and aiming them at Asuna and Gallantmon, "Do you think your blade, lance and shield can stand a match against me?"

"I'm positive we are." Asuna retorted.

"Bullets fired from someone who sold his soul will never hit me!" Gallantmon declared.

"Let's test that, shall we?!" Beelzebumon stated, and from the air, his motorcycle fell right down next to him. Asuna knew that he was even more trouble on his bike.

Beelzebumon got on and drove at the two, firing his gun at them. "Get behind me, Asuna!" Gallantmon told her. Asuna nodded, and leapt behind as he held out his shield in front. The bullets kept ricocheting off of it as Gallantmon dashed forward, flying across the ground. Asuna was racing right behind, swerving left and right to keep in the sight of Beelzebumon. There was an open ravine between each side. Beelzebumon and Gallantmon leapt over it, clashing. This time, Beelzebumon had the upper hand with his motorbike, and knocked over Gallantmon. Asuna teleported next to Beelzebumon, ready to attack. He predicted this, aiming his gun at her. She gasped, and flipped herself in midair to avoid the gunshot, landing on the ground as Beelzebumon landed his motorbike away from her.

With the motorcycle, Beelzebumon beat the other two in speed, and his guns provided long-ranged capabilities. Asuna's magic was fast and strong, but she was still unable to catch up to Beelzebumon's speeds. Even teleporting to the side of him was difficult, as he was always having his guns ready to shoot at her. As for Gallantmon, while his shield could protect him from the gunshots, he couldn't match his motorcycle's charging strength.

"What's the matter? Can't keep up with my soulless bullets?!" taunted Beelzebumon, now circling the two combatants as they stood back to back, avoiding the gunfire he delivered.

"He's fast!" Gallantmon stated.

"We just need an opening to attack him!" Asuna stated, watching the circling enemy. Then an idea came to her. "Gallantmon, if I can get him off of his bike, can you destroy the bike?"

"I can try." Gallantmon answered, "What do you have in mind?"

"I only have a little bit of my Ghost Drive left, so I'm gonna have to put it all into this one attack!" Asuna stated, "If it fails…no, I won't fail!"

Asuna separated from Gallantmon, racing towards the edge of the circle Beelzebumon was making. "Hah! Trying to run away?!" Beelzebumon asked, taking a sharp turn to get at Asuna, "That's right, run like a cowardly human! You realized that you have no way of beating me!"

He came at her from behind, and it looked like he ran over Asuna. "Asuna!" shouted Gallantmon. She was fine, however, using her teleportation to avoid it on time.

"Heh! So you're trying to pull another fast one!" Beelzebumon scoffed, pointing his guns to either side of him, "Go ahead and try. It's pointless!"

"It's not the side I'm aiming for." Asuna's voice spoke up, and she reappeared directly on the head of the bike, "It's the front!" Beelzebumon was startled, and Asuna pulled off an Aerial Slam, knocking Beelzebumon off of his bike, skyward. Asuna reappeared right above him, and slammed him back down into the ground. "Gallantmon, now!" Asuna shouted.

Gallantmon had moved directly in front of the bike's path. "Lightning Joust!" Gallantmon shouted, making his lance shine brightly with a blue aura, then launching the energy forward into a stream of holy energy. The attack struck the bike, and destroyed it.

Beelzebumon was stunned at this. Asuna smirked as she landed onto the ground in front of him, separated with her Dream Eaters. "Now you don't have those precious wheels of yours." Asuna stated. Beelzebumon gritted his teeth, then roared as he charged at Asuna.

As Gallantmon lowered his lance, he heard and outcry, and turned to see one of the Deva, the dog-like Caturamon, approaching the other Tamers, particularly Lopmon in Suzie's arms. "Caturamon…" Lopmon muttered seeing her former ally.

"You are a Deva, yet you are protecting a human?" Caturamon questioned, "That's an unforgivable sin! For that, I shall punish you, traitor!"

"Do what you want with me, but please, don't hurt the human! She is innocent!" Lopmon stated, "Suzie, please let me go!"

"No! I won't!" Suzie barked.

"It seems the human you choose to protect is also willing to die, too!" Caturamon stated, "I will destroy her and all of them, for desecrating the sovereign's lands with their existence!" He leapt forward, pouncing towards Suzie and Lopmon.

"Suzie!" shouted Henry as he and Terriermon raced towards her. Suzie protected Lopmon by embracing her.

"Lightning Joust!" shouted Gallantmon, thrusting a beam of energy towards Caturamon. It struck Caturamon, who was stock-still in the air, paralyzed by the attack.

"No! I, defeated?! By humans?!" he bellowed, then he vanished into thin air.

Asuna and Beelzebumon were still fighting as Beelzebumon saw the Deva being struck down. "Just what I needed." he said with a smirk. He dashed forward towards the Deva.

"Wait!" Asuna shouted, pursuing him.

Beelzebumon leapt up and turned around to Asuna. "You stay there!" he declared, and using Makuramon's data, he created a sphere around Asuna, trapping her within."I'll take away your powers after I get an upgrade over here!" he chuckled, and he flew towards the destroyed data of Caturamon, absorbing it.

"No!" Gallantmon gasped, seeing Beelzebumon absorb what he had defeated.

Asuna stabbed her Keyblade at the orb trapping her, but she couldn't break it. She started to feel weak. The orb was not only trapping her, it was weakening her. "I can't get out of this…" she moaned, feeling herself losing energy, and she fell to her knees.

Gallantmon saw this, and attempted to charge in to save her. "Not so fast!" Beelzebumon shouted, flying in from behind, grabbing the hero's head, and thrusting it into the ground. "I'll make sure you join her afterwards!" he sneered into his ears.

"Asu…na…" Gallantmon moaned, struggling to get Beelzebumon off of him.

Asuna tried to unleash her Thunder spell onto the orb, but it was useless. "I can't get out…" Asuna moaned, "And I can't find the strength to free myself…" Just then, Pina and Flambé came to her rescue, striking the bubble with a combo of strikes, from Pina's musical tornado slash, plus Flambé's back-to-back frying pan strikes. The attacks started to crack the orb from where they attacked, then it started to spread, then it shattered, dropping Asuna to the ground.

Asuna struggled to rise to her feet, and was given a boost thanks to Pina, getting under her and raising her upper half up. Flambé used its' Curaga spell to heal Asuna. "Thanks, you guys…" she thanked her Dream Eaters as she rose to her feet. They cried out in response.

Asuna turned to see Gallantmon had gotten Beelzebumon off of him some time ago, and the two were combating with one another. "I gotta get into the battle again." Asuna stated, "Beelzebumon is a powerful opponent, but we need to defeat him with everything we got!" Pina and Flambé both got in front of Asuna, calling out to her. For some reason, Asuna was starting to understand her Dream Eaters slightly, knowing what they were saying. "You want me to do what?" Asuna questioned their idea towards her.

---

In the battle, Gallantmon had knocked Beelzebumon back, then head-butted into him. Beelzebumon dropped one of his guns as he was carried off by the Holy Knight. "Let go of me!" he shouted, getting himself out of Gallantmon's grip, and leaping off of him. As soon as Gallantmon skidded to a halt, he looked up to see Beelzebumon fall to him at full force. Gallantmon dodged in time, and Beelzebumon landed onto his feet, but the force caused pieces of the floor to rise up from the ground, then fall into the ravines.

Beelzebumon charged at Gallantmon again, but he pulled a faint, disappearing before he got close to him, and came up to the side with a roundhouse kick, sending Gallantmon falling face first. Beelzebumon retrieved the gun he dropped before, and returned to Gallantmon, who raised his head, only to see the barrel of the gun pointed at him.

"It's all over now!" Beelzebumon told Gallantmon.

"No!" Takato's voice cried out from within Gallantmon. He was unable to avoid the attack.

Suddenly, a series of bubble bullets, balloons, and a bomb struck Beelzebumon to the side, causing him to stagger away from Gallantmon. He shook his head, then turned to the direction of where the attack came from. Asuna was there, and so were Ashika and Babaru next to her, replacing Pina and Flambé. All three of them unleashed their attacks at him simultaneously, Asuna having used Balloonra.

"Nice one, you two." Asuna commended her Dream Eaters, "Not bad for your first battle." Ashika and Baburu happily cried in response.

(Cue Digimon's 'Butter-Fly' Perfect Final Version)

"Damn you!" Beelzebumon snarled at her. He then got slammed back by the rising Gallantmon, sending him flying into a risen piece of the floor. Gallantmon turned to Asuna, who nodded assuringly.

"Thank you, Asuna!" Takato thanked her from within Gallantmon.

"Don't think I'm over yet." Asuna stated, "In fact, I'm just getting started!" Asuna and her Spirits focused as one, and they united together. "Dual Style! Rising Wing!" Asuna shouted, unleashing a bright blue aura, and small forms of her Undine wings produced themselves on her back.

Asuna charged forward, flying at Beelzebumon, who leapt of the side, raging to attack. He swiped at Asuna with his claw, but she ducked under it, returning with a sweeping uppercut at his chest. She kept striking him with a flurry of windy attacks, ending with a whirlwind that tossed Beelzebumon knocked him into the air. He flipped upside down, and started firing his gun at Asuna, who stood still as the bullets missed her. She rose up into the air again, making her Keyblade shine, and unleashing her Quadruple Pain directly at his chest, knocking him back into the boulder again, this time making an imprint of himself.

Gallantmon charged up his lance once more. "Lightning Joust!" he shouted, and thrusted his lance, unleashing a stream of energy at Beelzebumon. The attack struck him, and he was carried along, breaking through multiple boulders before crashing into the ground in a puff of smoke, close to where Jeri was kneeling at, still grieving for Leomon. Asuna flew backwards towards Gallantmon's side, her Keyblade raised in front of her face.

"Damn you all…!" Beelzebumon growled, getting to his feet, and shooting both guns at the two. Gallantmon and Asuna didn't move. Asuna's Rising Wing created strong winds around her, which brushed off the gunshots away from her. Gallantmon's armor was too strong to be damaged by the gunshots. They kept their stance until Beelzebumon realized that he ran out of bullets in both of his guns.

"It's over, Beelzebumon." Gallantmon stated.

"All the pain you have caused this day…" Asuna followed.

"…Shall be put to an end!" both of them finished.

Asuna charged up the winds around her Keyblade as she pointed it towards Beelzebumon. Gallantmon raised his shield, aiming it towards the same target. Asuna prepared her Blizzaga, which was growing stronger thanks to the winds. "Shield of the Just!" Gallantmon shouted as his shield glowed brightly, the red and yellow markings on it shining distinctively on it.

As soon as they charged up their attacks, both fired. Asuna unleashed Blizzaga at a faster and more powerful rate than before. Gallantmon's attack became a much larger red stream of energy from his shield. Both attacks went alongside one another as they went towards the petrified Beelzebumon. "This can't be! I'm the strongest!" he shouted before being consumed by both attacks. There was a great explosion, and both Asuna and Gallantmon lowered their weapons, ending their attacks. They knew, without a doubt, that they defeated Beelzebumon, thanks to their teamwork.

When the smoke died away, Beelzebumon was on his knees. "D-Damn it…" he moaned, unable to move from his spot. He was in complete pain. Asuna and Gallantmon approached the weakened Beelzebumon.

Gallantmon raised his lance to the side of his neck, ready to deal the final blow. "You're finished, Beelzebumon." he told him.

"I lost…" Beelzebumon moaned, "I absorbed so much power from so many Digimon, and I still lost."

"That's the thing; You lost because you didn't become stronger at all." Asuna told Beelzebumon, "You thought killing others, and taking what they had was the key to power. That kind of power is something we didn't use to defeat you. Our hearts, and our bonds with our friends and comrades are what made us strong enough to beat you."

Beelzebumon looked to Asuna, then lowered his head. "Go ahead." he told Gallantmon, "Finish me off, and take my data." Jeri rose to her feet, still looking at her Digivice.

"I can't forgive you for what you done…" Takato told Beelzebumon, "You killed Leomon, hurt my friends, and did such horrible things to so many Digimon. I can never forgive you!" Gallantmon pulled back his lance, ready to thrust. "I shall send you to Hell, where you belong!" Gallantmon declared. Asuna wasn't gonna stop his actions, and neither was Beelzebumon. However, there was one person who did.

"Stop it!" Jeri shouted out. The cry made Gallantmon miss his target, sending his lance right underneath Beelzebumon's armpit, hitting the ground. Asuna was also surprised at her outcry. "Please stop, Takato." Jeri told her friend, "I don't want to see anyone else die, okay?"

Asuna and Gallantmon both looked to her, surprised. "Jeri…" Gallantmon whispered. Asuna could see Jeri's eyes, and it reminded Asuna of her times in SAO, scared of seeing people die, too. In a way, Asuna could see what Jeri was feeling.

"Why did you stop him?" Beelzebumon question Jeri's motives, "I'm the one…who took Leomon's power." He rose to his feet, looking at her.

Tears started to fall from Jeri's eyes as she answered, "Even if you were to die, Leomon won't return. I don't want to feel this sadness again! So please, no more fighting…" She fell to her knees again, her tears pouring down her face.

Asuna and Gallantmon glowed brightly, the Spirits, Guilmon and their partners returning to normal. They approached the weeping Jeri. "Jeri, I…" Takato started to reach out, but he held back, not sure what to do.

Asuna, on the other hand, knelt down, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know what it feels like to lose people important to you." she told her, "I had friends who I had lost, some defeated in battle against monsters, others from incurable diseases. I have grieved for losing them, too, wishing not to feel this pain anymore. But what matters is that we keep the memories of them in our hearts. As long as we do that, then our sadness will fade in time, and they can continue to live within us. Leomon still is alive, inside your heart." Jeri looked up at Asuna, tears still pouring in her eyes. Asuna's eyes started to moisten as well, but she smiled at her, sticking to what she had said.

Beelzebumon watched Jeri and those comforting her, and thinking back to his time as Impmon, how he didn't want to tie himself down to any human, that he would be his own partner, living his own life. He also wanted to become stronger, and tried facing opponents that were stronger than him, only to fail. He so wanted to Digivolve, that he gave himself up in order to become stronger. He absorbed the data of all other Digimon around him, defeating them one by one. Yet, even after all that, he was still not able to defeat the humans and their Digimon or Spirits. "What the hell was all of this for?" he snarled, getting the group's attention before turning around and leaving, broken.

Asuna continued to look on at where Beelzebumon left. "That was incredible, what happened to us." Takato stated, looking at his hands.

"We did it together, Takato!" Guilmon stated happily, rubbing his head on Takato, "We were able to fight together!"

Takato smiled and nodded. "That's right. I got to fight with you!" he agreed. Just then, there was a bright light, and a new Digivice appeared for Takato and Guilmon, white and light yellow. Both Tamer and Digimon caught it together, and the two smiled happily at one another. No matter what happened, they had each other's back.

Asuna helped Jeri out as she brought her over to the other Tamers, with Takato and Guilmon right next to her. Babaru and Ashika were excited to be right by Asuna's side, too. "Pina and Flambé figured you two would be able to help me finish off the fight, and they were right." Asuna stated, looking at her Spirits, "You know, I feel my connection to my Spirits getting stronger after this ordeal. It made me not only understand how important my care is for you guys, but also what it truly means to evolve and become stronger." The other Tamers looked to Asuna, seeing her smile happily at her Spirits.

Just then, a Sleeping Keyhole appeared above the gate to Zhuqiaomon's base. "Hey, what's that?" Kenta asked.

"Looks like a shining keyhole." Renamon stated.

"It's my way forward." Asuna answered, stepping forth, "I have to get going. There are other places that need my help."

Asuna turned to Takato and Guilmon. "Guys, I'm counting on you to help protect your friends." she ordered them, "As for the rest of you, keep fighting. Become stronger, and awaken the true evolution inside of each of your hearts."

The Tamers all agreed in their own fashion. Jeri still felt sad, even after what Asuna told her before. 'I hope she can overcome this loss, and become stronger, too.' Asuna thought to herself. Asuna turned back to the Keyhole, and waved her Keyblade towards it. A beam of light shot out, hitting the Sleeping Keyhole, and shattered open the light onto the world. Asuna closed her eyes as she was bathed in the light, feeling it take her towards the new world.

---

Next time on SAK FF:

Kirito: While wandering through a digital world, I come across a guy named Beelzebumon, who's lost his will to keep fighting. From what I hear, he had done a lot of cruel stuff in order to become the strongest, yet he still can't achieve it. He needs to realize that all the pain and regret he's feeling right now shouldn't keep him down. I'll make sure he understands!

On the next 'Sword Art Kingdom: Falling Fantasy'

Digital Valley! Heart of Resolve!

Kirito & Asuna: The Dreams have yet to be discovered!