Darkness. The simplicity of shadow. The mind-numbing charisma of the abyss. Upon examination, a small Red light permeates the area. No, not one. Two. Two lights, one surrounded by the other in the form of an orb. The inner light gives off a feeling of confusion. Confusion consisting of emotion: uncertainty, determination, courage, fear, love, and hatred. The confusion is what gives the light its uniqueness, its purpose, its soul. The surrounding light, while also a mass of confusion is… simpler. Loyalty, friendship, trust, glee, rage. They are both separate identities, but united as one for their purpose.

Their combined light gives off a third light. This light in itself has no true purpose; it is merely a combination effect of one light shining through the other. Soon, other lights begin to shine through, mostly in pairs. Some of the pairs are united like the red, some float astride each other. The unions are found in Green, Blue, and Grey. The two confused lights shining through one another, creating a third different light. Also, some pairs of light include Pink, Brown, Yellow, and others. These pairs aren't as interconnected, but have similar bonds; the two lights only shine faintly in sync.

The lights are surrounded by similar entities, but the newcomers are darker, more sinister, and linked indefinitely. It is the presence of these lights that causes the Reds to grow hotter and more passionately. Soon, the third Red light begins to give off energy on its own. It, like those before it, begins to shift and alter within and upon itself. The Red lights begin to mix and traverse, forming Hazzard. The third light begins to develop its own feel and power. This causes dormancy among the other linked pairs. As the three Red lights swirl and mix, they begin to fuse and coalesce into one bright Red light. The orb of Red light begins to contract, and it continues to diminish in size, but its potency grows infinitely greater.

All at once, the Red light is unbound, with a cry of…

"Final Elysian!"

Kazuhamon grunted as she toppled over Jigoku Justimon in an attempt to clear the way from the purging light, which made it to Black Saint Galgomon and completely obliterated his right leg and thigh. What the… The fused pair of symbiotic material, "Dark Blue", as they preferred to be called, (an antithesis of sorts to Ruki Makino's and Renamon's "Blue") thought. Not two minutes ago, they were going down! They were beaten! We would've won!

Jigoku Justimon looked at Dukemon in amazement and disbelief. No way… No Friggin' WAY! The Royal Knight looked down at the symbiotic figure. He didn't change expression as he relentlessly marched forward, bearing the gait of a possessed monster. Jigoku Justimon looked at his eyes: he could see the human anger from Takato, and the bestial rage from Guilmon, but there was something else, a wisdom and confidence foreign to either of the two.

The symbiotes looked on as the possessed knight held his saber aloft. Dashing forward, Dukemon swung his arm forward with the cry of, "Sieg Saber!" The spear crashed downward, slicing Jigoku Justimon in half; Dukemon, unstoppable, continued to rush forward through the slowly reforming ooze.

Ruki, from within Sakuyamon, gasped. The armored juggernaut continued its relentless parade, carving through the mass. She turned to the Royal Knights, who were equally dumbstruck at the sudden change. Omegamon thought he knew what was going on, but decided to keep his mouth shut. He meekly raised his Garuru Cannon as the symbiotes behind Dukemon prepared to attack, but then Dukemon preformed a somersault in mid-air, dashed in the opposite direction, and obliterated them, so he let it fall. Hirokazu noticed the symbiotes were having trouble reforming fast enough to survive Dukemon's assault.

Omegamon paused and watched the Carriers of the Hazzard's strange movements. Although overall just about eradicating anything in their way, they seemed to pause for a moment, as if undecided, which was abnormal, because their movements were in total harmony usually, unless there was a third…

The fused Royal Knight glanced around him; nobody seemed to be watching. Letting his eyes fade into black, the spirit of the Royal Knight spread throughout his own body until it found the dormant souls of two others, War Greymon and Metal Garurumon. Flowing throughout his body Omegamon connected himself to the two other digimon, forming a matrix of information. Greetings, warriors of Fire and Ice. I wish to converse with you on the matter at hand, concerning the abnormality of the Hazzard Warriors.

Nice to see you, too, Omegamon. I was having a nice dream about Pheonixmon just now.

Figures, you go gaga over anything that has feathers.

Shut up, both of you!

Sorry.

Yeah, what he said.

Now, to business. What are your opinions on the matter at hand?

What matter?

As Omegamon sighed in despair, Dukemon flew past him, preformed an acrobatic stunt, and sliced through Kazuhamon's left arm, following up with a flip, and crashed through Marine Devimon.

That one, moron.

Oh.

Looks like the newbie's have either inherited our old pal, Medieval Dukemon's moves spontaneously, or they're being possessed. You get three guesses.

But, if that's the case…

Maybe the others are still around! Maybe Belphemon didn't seal them away completely! He was still just waking up, after all, at the time!

Maybe, but Dukemon still isn't himself. The last time he was like this was when… well…

The idiot fell for Daemon's tricks, and got riled up over what he thought had been the…cruel seduction… of Sakuyamon. I don't blame him though; they had a thing for each other, but were too shy.

Don't remind me… Agh! Now's not the time! We need to help Dukemon!

As Dark Orange: Hirokazu flew past, Metal Garurumon grinned and drawled, You sure about that?

…

Okay, fine. But what can we do? He's starting another holocaust, just like before!

What we did last time! I hope you two remember what to do!

Sure, but if I get crowned like last time, I'm gonna rip you to shreds, Omega!

Grinning to himself, Omegamon resumed control of his body. He watched for a second as Dukemon continued his rampage, and then leapt forward.

"Grey Sword!"

The ancient blade arced outward, and caught Gram mid-swing. Dukemon's halted momentum caused him to float in the air for second, and then the recoil through him back. Unperturbed, Dukemon preformed another acrobatic stunt, and aimed his shield at the slowly reforming ooze that once had been monopolizing the battle, now barely had enough energy to reform. They had sustained sufficient damage, and had reconnected their individual wills to gather enough power to amend themselves. Dukemon, in his insane rage, had charged his shield to overflowing. Omegamon glared at the red knight, raised his cannon, and fired at the dragonic warrior at the same time that the Final Ellysian was released. In the resulting explosion, Omegamon grunted, and using his immense strength, actually detached his arms. He grinned as the heads of War Greymon and Metal Garurumon gained control, green and blue eyes flashing as the entered the smoke, retracting both sword and cannon. Omegamon himself jumped back to rejoin the other two Royal Knights and the Tamers, who were looking at him confusedly.

"Watch," he stated simply. As the dust cleared, they gasped as Dukemon struggled relentlessly against his bonds. The Dragon and the Wolf had clamped down on him, effectively restricting all movement. Grunting and panting, Dukemon continued to thrash, as his captors slowly brought him before Omegamon. Beholding the mighty warrior, Dukemon glared fiercely, before he saw Sakuyamon.

"…What…? I… wha… how… Omegamon… you… Sakuyamon… I… no… what- what's going on?"

"You went nuts, so, big and shiny here decided to make you take an airborne dirt nap." Ruki smiled, Dukemon was okay.

"Sakuyamon… how…? I thought… you had been sealed away…!"

"…What are you talking about…? Sealed… away? I'm right here, you nimrod! Stop playing around!" But in her heart, Ruki knew something was seriously wrong. "Takato… is something wrong…?"

"…Takato…? Who's that?"

Ruki gasped. He didn't remember her? How could he not? It didn't make sense! Her power failed her, and she and Renamon diffused to their original forms. Dukemon's eyes went wide.

"What…? No, it can't… be… This is some sick… nightmare…" Dukemon struggled harder against his captors. "It's not… possible…"

"Takato! Wake up!" Ruki's hand flew forward, striking the warriors helmet. Ruki bit her lip to hold in the pain, and tried to ignore the blood. Dukemon ha stopped moving, and went slightly limp.

"Wake up?" he chuckled weakly. "I wish. What happened?"

"You don't remember who are you are? Takato…"

"I told you, little girl, I'm Dukemon, though in this hell spawned place, I doubt you'd understand that."

"…EXCUSE ME! Why you punk little FREAK! Just try to say that again you pompous, overblown circus act! I dare you!" Ruki's hand flew forward again, and there was a solid clang as her fist caught the Knight's cheek plate. Dynasmon cringed slightly.

Dukemon was taken aback, and something in his golden eyes changed. Omegamon could catch traces of the forest green and brown that made up Takato's eye's unique hue and the simple yellow of Guimon's. The golden tint of Dukemon faded only slightly, but didn't disappear.

"…Ruki…? I… what the…?"

"Don't you dare start playing games again, Takato! Or I will crush you."

"She'll have help," Renamon affirmed, eyes cold.

"Is Renamon okay, Takato? Did we do something? Guilmon doesn't remember…"

"I… why are there… voices in my… head…?"

"Whoa! Brain Freeze! What the… urggh…!"

Omegamon eyes widened. "It's a struggle for dominance!"

"What are you talking about?" Ruki glared at the white Knight.

"The ancient spirit of Dukemon has awoken from his slumber. Long story, trust me. Unfortunately, he's struggling against Takato and Guilmon. Obviously, this isn't good. If he manages to dominate completely, the other two will be lost. And if Takato and Guilmon's union beats him, then they won't be able to stand against the symbiote. Oh, shoot…"

"Thanks for that, hot shot. Judecca Prison!"

A black ray of hot death erupted from the mass of the symbiotes. Ruki screamed as she felt the searing heat peel away at her skin. She was losing consciousness as she fell into Dukemon's arms. Wait, what?

Ruki groaned as she opened her eyes. Dukemon was holding her and Renamon in his arm, while his shield, Aegis was propped up against his back. Looking over his shoulder as the heat dissipated, the crimson knight's eyes narrowed as a black, familiar form marched out of the muck. Putting down his charges, Dukemon whipped around and met his adversary.

He gasped as he beheld his challenger. Standing before him was… himself, but in black and silver armor as opposed to his own red and gold. Sickly Green eyes met his own, but a cruel confidence easily distinguished them. The Red Knight marched slowly toward his perverse double, but before he could get close, the black figure melted into thin air,

"Whassamatta, ya goodie-two-shoes? Couldn't see that comin'? DEMON'S DISASTER!"

A dark stream of energy hurled itself to Dukemon. The air burned as the green arc screamed piercingly, flying at the crimson knight. A crash followed, and smoke billowed from the crater left by the impact. The Dark Knight reappeared, glaring haughtily at the bruised form lying in the ditch before him. Ruki gasped at the sight of Dukemon, armor shattered, leaking red energy.

Takato grunted in pain, as he slowly tried to get up. His consciousness was fuzzy at best, and he could only barely feel Guilmon. "Come on…! Get… get up! Got- gotta…" He willed his every fiber to stand, to be able to fight for just a moment longer. He reached inside himself for the power necessary, the strength to keep going. He delved further into himself than ever before, accessing his own soul. And there, he found a strength he'd never found before.

Dukemon stood up, glowing brightly. He lifted his arm, holding the saber aloft, and then he flung it forward. Flying true, Chaos Dukemon avoided the fatal blow only barely, as it snagged his cape. Grunting in pain (the cape was a symbiotic part of him, after all), he attempted to shift his position by turning back into symbiotic mass. But, Dukemon was still one step ahead. Chaos Dukemon froze as his original counter part held Aegis before him, planting his feet squarely.

It was over; he couldn't do a thing to stop it. This fight had progressed too far, Chaos Dukemon realized. He stared with fear as the red shield burned brightly. Dukemon was about to release the power, he would be fried toast. No matter what he could do, he was still pinned, and the blast radius at point blank was enormous.

"Ura Izuna!" Thousands of foxes of dark energy erupted from Kuzuhamon's staff, colliding with Dukemon, knocking him to the side, peeling off his armor and flinging him into the air.

"TAKATO!" the Tamers cried out.

Kuzuhamon twirled her staff rapidly, doing a strange dance in conjunction with the spin. Leaping into the air, she centered her staff, and the distorted air exploded, pouring Dark Energy into Dukemon, and forcing his smoking body into the ground. As Ruki screamed shrilly, Omegamon came to the bleak, yet overpowering conclusion.

"…We've lost…"

Clzh: SORRY! This took us so long to write! Homework has been catching up, and we're just coming out of a case of severe writer's block!

Clzh-X: That, and Overlord.OS's main system crashed, so we had to start fresh. Sorry again.

Yamato Takeru: …Idiot, the system crashed because you thought the driver was a friggin' CARD DEALER!

X: So?

Goddra2: That's the problem. We're all losers!

Nom De Plume: So what? Society sucks as a whole. Losers are the ultimate!

Clzh: Enough! We're sorry the system sucks, it's been improving. See ya next tme!