The small valley was normally peaceful, the few surviving digimon having hidden here to escape Cherubimon's attacks. They were now cowering inside their rough homes, watching as the two groups of digimon battled back and forth. One was clearly led by Mercuremon, and had what looked like Arbormon with him, as well as a few Cyclomon for support.

The other group, though smaller, was definitely more aggressive. The leader was a winged digimon carrying what looked like a sword, and she had a Sorcerimon for backup. Hanging back was what looked like a human girl, calling instructions to the Sorcerimon. "I think they're coming this way!" one homeowner, a Patamon, gasped.

A tall figure placed a hand on Patamon's head. "Do not fear. If they get too close, I shall...Ryoko?" The taller digimon stepped forward, wings fluttering a bit. "It is her! And Sorcerimon, and...Izumi?"

"You know them?" Patamon asked, but got no response. The other digimon had already flown towards the battle, feathers trailing behind him.

== Digicross Frontier episode 13
'Divine assist! Return of the Holy Digimon, Angemon!' ==

"Stand still!" Jet Sylphimon growled, swinging her sword at Mercuremon's head.

"My, this is an unusual change for you, Izumi." Mercuremon taunted. "I never knew you to be so aggressive before. Come across another Woodmon to get beaten up by?" He smirked as he blocked another sword strike with his arm shield, and allowed a mocking laugh to escape from his lips as the mirror on his shield reflected to force of the blow, sending Jet Sylphimon crashing to the ground. "Force will not work on me, human. Give up now, and I might let Arbormon finish you instead of me." Arbormon stomped forward, fists clenched.

"Junpei? Junpei, it's me!" Jet Sylphimon yelled.

Sorcerimon, in the middle of freezing a second Cyclomon solid, saw Arbormon advance. "Ryoko!" he yelled, glowing and switching back to Sneasel.

Ryoko nodded. "I'm sending the digiegg of friendship! Digiarmor energize!"

"Sneasel, armor digivolve to...Raidramon, the storm of Friendship!"

Mercuremon frowned as he saw Sneasel armor digivolve, then move to help Jet Sylphimon. He snapped his fingers, nodding his head towards Ryoko. One of the Cyclomon nodded back, then pulled back, edging around the battlefield.

"You will not harm the girl, or anyone else here." a tall white digimon commanded. Cyclomon started to turn, then grunted as a staff was slammed into his gut, then fell over as the staff in the angel's hands spun and struck him square on the chin. "Mercuremon! Take your minions and leave this area! Hand of Fate!"

"Fool! You clearly do not know my power!" Mercuremon sneered as he held up a shield. "Offset reflector!" The bolt of energy struck the mirror, and was reflected back.

"Actually, I know it all too well!" the angel replied, moving aside and letting the bolt hit the Cyclomon that he had already knocked over. It disintegrated immediately. "Thanks. Care to help me with the rest of them?"

There was a cry to Mercuremon's left. Raidramon had dispatched the last Cyclomon, and was helping Jet Sylphimon to get up. He knew that Raidramon, with the power that Seraphimon had given him, could possibly harm him. "You'll pay for this, whoever you.." he stopped as he felt a familiar power come from the angel in front of him. "You...Arbormon, come!" With two flashes of light, Arbormon and Mercuremon vanished.

Ryoko stepped away from the rock she was taking cover behind. "Thanks!" she waved. "I didn't know that an Angemon was in the area!"

Jet Sylphimon landed, and, with a flash of digicode, became Izumi again. "Angemon?"

"Yes." Raidramon said. "In our world, Angemon like the one TK has, are the brightest defenders of peace and goodness." He stopped, staring at Angemon. "Have we met? Your scent's familiar."

"It is you." Angemon said. "I didn't recognize you at first in your new evolution. I evolved from the Patamon you met when you were trying to find your way back home."

==

"It is good to see you safe and unharmed." Sorcerimon said to the trio. "But Ryoko, I thought you had gone home with Sneasel, Hiroki, and Armadillomon. Why have you returned? And why is Arbormon loose on our world again?"

Ryoko glanced at Izumi, who nodded. "Cherubimon captured Junpei, Kouji, and Tomoki. Kouji escaped, but Mercuremon...turned Junpei and Tomoki into Arbormon and Grottomon."

Angemon stepped back, horrified. "They...Then the Arbormon I fought was...?"

"Junpei." Izumi said, looking down. Angemon leaned on his staff, stunned.

"As evil as Cherubimon was, I cannot imagine even he would go so far..." He looked at Sneasel. "And you and Ryoko came back to help save them?"

"Yes. Hiroki and Armadillomon are here as well; they're with Kouji, on the opposite side of the mountain. We were able to track them this far, but it looks like they split up."

"I know that area. It is the home to the Alforce V-Dramon shrine, and another village of Kokuwamon. I think you might know some of them; they are the ones who escaped from Snimon and the Goblimon tribe, which you defeated."

"It was Junpei that defeated them." Izumi said quietly. "Excuse me." she said, getting up and leaving the room.

"Izumi!" Sorcerimon called, getting up. Sneasel raised a hand, stopping him, and glanced at his partner.

"I'll go." Ryoko said, following Izumi.

"What happened?" Angemon asked quietly.

"From what Izumi told us, they were attacked by an extremely powerful hybrid named Duskmon. He captured everyone except for Izumi and, we think, Takuya. Bokomon and Neemon escaped too.

"After that, Kouji said that he somehow got his H-Spirit back, escaped, and saw Mercuremon forcing Tomoki and Junpei to become Grottomon and Arbormon. Then he ran, found us, and we went after our missing friends."

"Can they be saved?" Sorcerimon asked.

"I think so. I was almost able to free one of them using Sorcerimon's healing power. Do you know anything about that?"

Sorcerimon nodded. "Aquarius Fill can be used to heal psychic as well as physical damage." He glanced at Angemon for a second, then went on. "Now that he knows you're here, he's going to come back. Perhaps we can work together on freeing them."

==

Outside, Ryoko found Izumi leaning on a fence, staring into space. "We will get him back. Him and Tomoki. You know that, right?"

"I know." Izumi sighed. "It's just..."

"Oh my god..." Ryoko mock-gasped. "You really do love him!"

"That's not funny! He's just a big dumb jerk!"

"Who kept trying to flirt with you, and making himself look like an idiot in the process. I was there for some of it, remember?" Ryoko winked. "Come on, flattery has to count for something, right? And persistence?"

"Says the girl who falls to pieces when Kouji's around." Izumi replied, her old humour coming back. "What do you see in him anyway?"

"The same thing you see in Junpei?" Ryoko hazarded.

"You mean, someone who's totally lost without you? I can't see Kouji being like that. Well, maybe a little. He did seem to lighten up a bit after you left." She looked at Ryoko, smiling a bit. "We all really missed you and Hiroki. Especially me." Ryoko looked puzzled. "Hey, you think it's easy, being the only girl in the group? It's nice having someone I can talk to. And Hiroki's quite the little charmer. If he wasn't already taken, I'd say he would grow up to become quite the little heartbreaker."

"He's a lot like his dad." Ryoko replied. "A lot of that 'knight in shining armor' routine of his comes from his kendo classes."

"Hmm. I wonder if I should join up? As Jet Sylphimon, I use a sword."

"Well, a lot of what digimon do is instinctive. I guess the same thing goes for you." Ryoko blinked, wondering why her pokegear was ringing. "Hello?"

"Ryoko? Hey, it's Takeru. listen, I have a message!" (Want it? Wait for the 'Forever Gogglehead' special to come out. Soon, I promise. Really! -ed)

==Later that night

"Good news?" Sneasel asked as Ryoko settled into bed.

"Yeah. Takeru met up with Takuya and Takato, of all people. According to him, they and some guy named Taichi Yagami were summoned to fight some weird monster. Anyway, Takuya told him to tell us that he would meet up with us as soon as possible."

"Hm. I wonder how many digital worlds there are out there. And if everyone else is going to get pulled into them." Sneasel's expression indicated that he wasn't too happy with the concept.

Izumi stepped out of the washroom and got into her own bed. "You seem happy." Ryoko observed.

"Well, hearing that Takuya is alright and trying to find us was good news." Izumi replied. Sighing she looked at the ceiling. "Everyone's getting back together, it seems. You, Hiroki, Kouji, Takuya...all we have to do is find and save Junpei and Tomoki, and we can try to save this Digital World. Again. But that still leaves Duskmon, Ranamon and Mercuremon to deal with."

"Now that we know his power, I think we can take him." Sneasel answered. "Tricky, but not impossible. If we could get Kouji's B-spirit back and teach him how to double spirit evolve like you do..."

"I don't think it's something that I can teach." Izumi replied. "Irismon came to me, remember. I guess Ancient Garurumon would have to come to Kouji, though I doubt he'd appreciate us setting Piedmon on him." Impishly, she glanced at Ryoko. "But if you're that anxious to have him all tied up..."

Blushing, Ryoko hurled her pillow at Izumi.

==Elsewhere.

"This changes everything." Mercuremon growled, glaring at Arbormon. "I want there to be no hesitation. Destroy all three, understand. Leave the angel and his follower to me." Arbormon nodded.

"Going somewhere?" Ranamon asked sweetly. "Maybe doing a little bird- hunting?"

"Stay out of this." Mercuremon replied gruffly. Seraphimon's digi-code, so close, Mercuremon thought.

"Oh, that's no way to speak to a lady!" Ranamon pouted. "I just thought you might need a few loyal minions." As she spoke, her smile became more predatory. "In return for, say...half of Seraphimon's digicode?" Mercuremon's startled expression was far more reward than Ranamon had hoped she'd get. "Oh come now, we all know that that winged pretty-boy has Seraphimon's digicode in him. And those dreary Cyclomon just won't cut it."

She doesn't know that that black cat has some of Seraphimon's digicode, Mercuremon realized. "Of course, your offer is...reasonable." Mercuremon replied, making a show of resignation. "But what forces can you offer?"

Smiling, Ranamon snapped her fingers. A red-clad digimon stepped forward. "You summoned me, Lady Ranamon?"

"FlaWizarmon, dear? You and I are going to help Mercuremon. I want you to pull the wings off of an annoying butterfly for me."

FlaWizarmon bowed. "It would give me great pleasure to defeat your enemies, Lady Ranamon."

You must be kidding me, Mercuremon thought.

==Late Morning

It was an odd group, Izumi thought to herself. Up ahead, Ryoko was talking to Angemon about this digital world, Sneasel walking with them. Sorcerimon was keeping pace with Izumi. "I am pleased to see you are well. When I heard rumours that the Chosen Children had been wiped out by Duskmon, I wasn't sure what to believe."

"It was close. If it wasn't for me finding my way to Ryoko and Hiroki's world, I might not have survived. And they've helped me here too." Izumi stopped. "I think..." Izumi stopped as she heard a cry from ahead. Sneasel had darted forward and evolved to Yashamon, tensed for a fight. "What is it?" As she spoke, Angemon flew up, trying to spot the enemy.

"Enemies, several of them!" Yashamon called. "Ryoko, stay with Sorcerimon!"

"Oh, please!" Ranamon said, casually walking forward, followed by what looked like a small army of various digimon. "Don't go. We have so much to...discuss." She winked at Yashamon, eliciting several growls and snarls from the digimon following her.

Mercuremon pushed himself through the digimon, glaring at Izumi and Ryoko. "Where is the one with Seraphimon's digicode?" he noticed Yashamon, and grinned. "So, you decided to try your hand against me, eh outworlder? And I suppose you shall oppose me as well, humans? Make it easy and turn over Seraphimon's digicode."

"And then what?" Izumi yelled back. "You'll turn us into slaves like you did Junpei and Tomoki?"

"How about you return them to us, and we'll let YOU live." Ryoko added. Sneasel nodded in agreement.

"Hmph. Defeat all of us, and I might consider it." Ranamon replied. "GET THEM!" she called to her army. Every digimon charged at once.

"Double Spirit Evolution...Jet Sylphimon!"

The next few minutes were a confusing melee of energy blasts, sword strikes, clouds of ice and acid, and one truly impressive Diamond Scourge from Jet Sylphimon, wiping out an even dozen of Ranamon's fans with a single swipe.

"Not bad." Ranamon commented. "A pity you just took out all of my lower level followers. The hardcore legion is coming in now!"

"For Lady Ranamon!" FlaWizarmon shouted, fiery sword held high.

"Hand of Fate!" Angemon shouted, feeding FlaWizarmon a bolt of pure light, sending the swordsman flying into a bush. Angemon landed, and slammed his staff into two Meramon, forcing them back.

A few yards away, Jet Sylphimon shouted a raptor's cry, swooping down and slashing through a group of Woodmon, reducing them to digieggs in an eyeblink (vengeance is mine... ah, I mean hers! -ed). "Who's next?" she demanded. A second later, an explosive projectile slammed into her, sending her sprawling onto the ground.

"Arbormon." Yashamon hissed.

"That's right." Mercuremon, who had been staying out of the battle, observed. "I've taken care to strengthen Cherubimon's hold on him, so there'll be no getting him back, outworlder." Glancing at the mind controlled hybrid, he went on. "Arbormon...go finish them." Wordlessly, Arbormon nodded, glowed, and slide-evolved to Petaldramon.

"Ryoko! We have to weaken him first!" Ryoko acknowledged this, sending the digiegg of Friendship to Yashamon. "Yashamon, slide evolution...Raidramon! Angemon, Sorcerimon, keep Ryoko covered! Thunder Blast!" Petaldramon ignored the bolt of lightning, not noticing as the gash torn in his side knitted itself back together. "Okay Junpei, let's see how much of me you remember! Lightning Claw!"

Petaldramon reared back, letting out an unholy squeal as Raidramon's attack opened a large gash in his head. Jet Sylphimon gasped, letting FlaWizarmon, who had recovered, get in a good shot with his sword. "Junpei! Snap out of it! Ryoko, we have to force him to slide evolve back to Arbormon. Tell Izumi she has to strike Petaldramon, or we might never get him back."

Ryoko glanced at Jet Sylphimon, now in a swordfight with FlaWizarmon. "Izumi! You have to help Raidramon!"

"That's enough of that! Ranamon, slide evolution...Calmarimon!" Two of the beast digimon's tentacles shot out, wrapping around Ryoko's throat. "Tell me, is the sound of your neck snapping like that of a digimon's?"

"Ryoko!" Raidramon shouted. "Put her down, you witch!"

"I don't think so! Now turn over your spirits, missy," she snarled, indicating Jet Sylphimon, "and Seraphimon's digicode," this at Angemon, "and I might not snap her neck and tear her limbs off. Well?"

"I'm impressed." Mercuremon said. "I had no idea you had such a cruel streak in you, Ranamon."

"Well, how else can I keep all my loyal fans in line. Right?" Silence. "I said RIGHT?"

"Yes, Lady Ranamon!" (Note: Ranamon insisted they always call her Ranamon, even when she's in her beast form. -ed) the remaining fans chorused. These few remaining were the truly fanatical, the rest having bolted when they saw Ranamon's B-Spirit form.

"Good. Now, you-" she stopped, smelling ozone. She glanced at Raidramon, trembling with rage. "Nice show, honey, but..." she stopped as a ghostly figure appeared behind him. "Seraphimon...YOU have Seraphimon's digicode!"

"And you have Ryoko. Release her or die." The ground around Raidramon was starting to blacken now. Calmarimon suddenly considered that attacking Ryoko might not have been the smartest move she had made.

"Why should I?" Calmarimon replied. Her next words were lost, drowned out by Raidramon's roar, which even made Petaldramon take a few steps back. His power is astounding, Mercuremon thought. I can see why Cherubimon desires it so!

Raidramon's mouth opened, a bright blue ball of energy forming in it. "Rrrr....THUNDERCLASM!" he roared, unleashing a bright blue beam of energy, smashing into Calmarimon. The electrical discharge forced her to drop Ryoko, and managed to push the massive beast hybrid back, knocking her over.

"No!" Calmarimon shouted as she felt something fly out of her grasp. It arced in the air, and landed, as if directed, right in Ryoko's hands.

"This is..." Ryoko gasped.

"The Beast Spirit of Light!" Sorcerimon gasped. "Ranamon must have had it with her!"

"And I'll take it back!" Calmarimon roared, charging forward.

"Leave her alone!" Jet Sylphimon snarled, flying to intercept Calmarimon. "Di Massima...DIVIDASI!" The energy wave from the sword stopped Calmarimon in her tracks. Stunned, she was too late to defend herself as the air hybrid flew in, sword swinging.

Ryoko winced as she heard the sword bite into Calmarimon's face. Calmarimon toppled over, reverting to Ranamon. "My lady!" FlaWizarmon yelled, running over to his mistress' side. "What have you done to her?"

"Wh...what happened..." Ranamon asked weakly, trying to get up. She felt FlaWizarmon's arms around her, but was too weak to brush him away. She turned to face her loyal follower, then blinked, puzzled, as she saw him flinch. Then she saw the scar on her face in the reflection of FlaWizarmon's eye. "No...no...NOOOO!" she wailed.

"This will not go well." Mercuremon snarled, vanishing.

"Now!" Raidramon yelled, reverting to Sneasel. "Digivolve me to Sorcerimon! Angemon, attack!"

"Hand of Fate!" Angemon shouted, pouring all the power he could into his attack. It struck Petaldramon, managing to force him to switch back to Arbormon.

"Sneasel, digivolve to Sorcerimon! Aquarius Fill!"

"Ryoko, take cover!" the other Sorcerimon said, running over to help. "Aquarius fill!" The two energy blasts struck Arbormon, unable to react quickly enough.

"My lady..." FlaWizarmon sobbed. "What you have done...can...never be FORGIVEN! FlaWizarmon, evolve to...FireGaroumon!" Out of the sudden spiral of digicode, a blood-red digimon, slightly resembling WereGarurumon but more muscular, and carrying two oversized swords, seemingly carved from living flames themselves. With an incoherent yell, he leaped at Jet Sylphimon, swords barely visible.

Jet Sylphimon barely had time to bring her own sword up, trying desperately to block the berserk digimon's attack. She heard Ryoko calling to her, but could not spare the time to reply.

Ryoko's Sorcerimon saw all this out of the corner of his eye, and wanted desperately to help. "No!" the other Sorcerimon called. "I cannot do this alone! Help me free Junpei first, we might not get another chance! She will be fine, Irismon's spirits will protect her long enough for us to finish this!" Grimly, both Sorcerimon concentrated on freeing Junpei.

Angemon saw the two Sorcerimon focussing their energies on Arbormon. "Let me help as well!" Angemon's wings spread out, motes of light collecting in them. "Hand of Fate!" he shouted, driving all his power, and that of Seraphimon's, into the energy beam. For several long seconds, the three beams of energy converged on Arbormon, who was unable to move.

Finally, Arbormon glowed again, and became Junpei. Restored, the boy fell to the ground, unconscious. Behind them, they heard Izumi cry out. She had tried to fly up, but her foot was grabbed by FireGaroumon, and the insane digimon had slammed a flaming fist into her gut. Her evolution was broken by the attack, and the human girl landed heavily on the ground.

"No!" Ryoko's Sorcerimon yelled. "HyoRetsuzan!"

"Crystal Cloud!" FireGaroumon waved a hand, the power cancelling the attacks and sending both ice digimon flying.

"Junpei! Wake up!" Ryoko screeched. "Wake up!" she repeated, as FireGaroumon advanced on Izumi, still unconscious, raising one sword into the air, flames licking across the blade.

==

"Wh...where am I...Someone calling me?"

"Junpei!" a voice urged. "Wake up."

"Can't. Tired."

"Wake UP! That girl you've got the hots for? She's about to get eviscerated by a mad digimon!"

"Girl...I..Izumi?"

"Yeah, her. Wake up! MOVE, SOLDIER!"

==

"For your crime, you shall die on my blade!" FireGaroumon intoned. He glanced at Ranamon, almost catatonic now, and his expression twisted into one of pure hatred. "BURN!"

"No you don't!" someone called, as something hard and metallic hit him. FireGaroumon got to his feet, and saw him. Human, blue and gold, and the mark of...Lightning! "Get away from her you monster!" Blitzmon snarled, cracking his knuckles.

"You're in my way." FireGaroumon growled. With a shout, he charged, one sword swinging, the other sword aimed in front of him. Blitzmon dodged the swinging sword, while punching the second sword out of FireGaroumon's grip, crackling electricity as it fell.

Sneasel crawled over to Ryoko. "I see we were successful. I just hope he's strong enough."

"What about Angemon?" Ryoko asked.

"He and Sorcerimon are keeping an eye on Ranamon. There's no telling if or when she might snap out of her state. And I don't have the strength left...to..." he collapsed, drained. Ryoko cradled her partner in her arms, keeping her eyes on the fight.

Blitzmon and FireGaroumon wrestled with each other, neither one able to overcome the other's strength or defences for the moment. Finally, FireGaroumon, with a surge of mad strength, managed to push Blitzmon back, the hybrid nearly crushing Izumi. Blitzmon glanced at the human, and saw the beginnings of several nasty bruises, some singes on her clothing, and a few burn marks on her arms. Suddenly, Blitzmon darted forward, and caught FireGaroumon with a hard right hook, sending teeth flying everywhere. A second blow slammed into the wolf digimon's stomach, driving the air out of his lungs.

"You...you shall pay..." FireGaroumon wheezed.

"Blitzmon, slide evolution...Bolgmon!" Blitzmon glowed, and shifted into what looked like a giant humanoid tank, gatling guns for hands and a massive gun barrel coming out of his head. The treads at Bolgmon's base bit into the ground, and he surged forward, slamming into FireGaroumon and sending him flying. Then, Bolgmon slammed his arms into the ground, aiming the cannon at FireGaroumon. Ryoko watched as energy was pulled into the cannon, hearing a faint whine and feeling static in the air around her. "Field...LEVELLER!" Bolgmon shouted, letting off a massive blast of energy, impacting right in front of FireGaroumon. The flare from the blast blinded everyone, and the sharp crack of the particle cannon firing nearly deafened Ryoko and Sneasel. Still angry, Bolgmon kept firing at the same spot.

Trying to shake the ringing in her ears off, Ryoko ran over to Bolgmon. "It's over. Stop firing, you've beaten him! Junpei!"

Abruptly, Bolgmon stopped, was surrounded by digicode, and became Junpei. "Oh...Ryoko?" he asked, voice faint. "You came back..." Energy utterly spent, he passed out.

==

Izumi's first reaction on waking up was understandable, considering the day she had had. Her eyes opened, slowly focussed, and the pink blur resolved into Junpei's face, he having just leaned over to see if Izumi was alright.

"KYAAAA!" Izumi shrieked, nearly leaping out of the bed. She recovered, though she still couldn't believe it. "J...Junpei?"

"Hey, thanks for the hearing test." Junpei groaned, rubbing his left ear. "Did I get him?"

"By about the third blast from that particle cannon, yes." Sneasel answered, still in Ryoko's arms. "It is good to see you again."

"I thought it was you!" Junpei shouted, running over and hugging both Ryoko and Sneasel. "Thank you. If you hadn't come, I might still..." he trailed off, shuddering a bit.

Izumi started to get up, then noticed she was wearing her night-gown, and not her regular clothes. "Ahh...where are my clothes? Junpei?" she asked, voice getting a little hard.

Junpei shook his head. "It was me, relax." Ryoko answered. "Your clothes got a little singed by whatever FlaWizarmon turned into. Some of the village residents are fixing them now. And they're lengthening your skirt a bit."

"Oh, thank heavens!" Izumi sighed. "I should have bought pants when I had the chance. "Junpei?" she asked. "What is it?"

"Umm...I survived, right? Don't you owe me a kiss?"

"You're not going to hold me to that, are you? Could I at least get some clothes on?"

"Oh come on!" Junpei almost shouted, exasperated. "I said kiss, not elope! Oh, I give up." he sighed, dejected.

Smiling, Izumi wrapped the bedsheet around her, and walked to Junpei. "Thank you." she whispered, kissing him on his cheek.

"Well, that went well. Now we have Junpei back, plus he has the two Wood spirits, and we have Kouji's B-Spirit back as well." Izumi blinked as Sneasel said this. "Ranamon dropped it."

"Well, should I put it in my D-Scanner?" Izumi asked.

"No, let's have Ryoko give it to him personally." Junpei suggested. Ryoko blushed.

"Oooh, I like that!" Izumi said.

==

FlaWizarmon cradled Ranamon. "Fear not, Lady Ranamon. I shall not desert you, like those other fools have." Ranamon sat there, hand over the scar on her face. "I shall make them pay, my love. All of them."

"Pay...no, FlaWizarmon. I want that girl Izumi for myself. I'll scar her like she scarred me, and that will be the beginning."

==

Next Episode

Ranamon discovers who Cherubimon is taking direction from, and makes her own deal with this new enemy. Also, Sorcerimon and Angemon must decide whether or not to leave their home and begin wandering again.