Chapter 8: The Flame Battle:

The door slid opened and BetelGammamon walked through it. He found himself on the top of a huge tower. Several large pipes hung from the ceiling. Many canisters were clinging to the wall. A large bay window was in front of him. The flame Digimon took a few steps towards the window to look out.

It was a very large drop below. He could see a helicopter pad near the ground.

As BetelGammamon viewed from the window, one of the canisters suddenly unattached itself from the wall. The red dinosaur spun around as it collided with his arm. He yelped and grasped the bruise on it.

Mechanical breathing met his ears. He spun around. Darknessmon came out from the pitch blackness from the far corner. Alerted, BetelGammamon quickly went into his fighting stance.

The fire Digimon charged at the black armored Digimon. His fists lit with flames. Darknessmon blocked his attacks. The dark Digimon used his telekinesis powers to send a nearby box flying into the back of BetelGammamon's head.

BetelGammamon staggered back. Darknessmon sent more boxes flying. One of the crates hit across the red dino's chest. Another collided to the side of his face. BetelGammamon yelled and placed a hand on it. His skin was cut open and a trickle of blood began to steep out.

The dark Digimon pulled another canister using his power and threw it. The flame Digimon dodged it. The debris smashed the window behind him. Some shards made contact on poor BetelGammamon's body. He yelped in pain. Darknessmon held up his hand and charged up a massive fireball.

"Darkness Supernova!" Darknessmon called. He launched his arm down. The massive fireball shot towards BetelGammamon.

Arrestdramon, LadyDevimon, SaberLioness, Terriermon and Lopmon have just reached the balcony below the tower. A massive explosion from above stopped them in their tracks.

"What was that?!" LadyDevimon cried out.

"I got a bad feeling about this." Terriermon muttered.

They suddenly saw someone fly out from the flames of the explosion. A familiar red digimon with a blue scarf. He was covered with cuts and bruises.

"BetelGammamon!" Arrestdramon yelled.

The red digimon dropped towards the helicopter pad below. He landed with a painful bounce before rolling over until laying on his right side. He groaned in agony. He clutched his bruised arm. His left eye was bruised.

"He's badly hurt. Who could have done this?" SaberLionessmon said with a tint of worry in her voice.

"I think we're about to find out! Look!" Lopmon alerted, pointing upwards.

Darknessmon leapt out of the tower. He slowly guided himself to the pad and landed on his feet.

BetelGammamon snarled at his enemy. He slowly rose to his feet.

"Sol Shot!" he bellowed. He shot small fireballs from his hands. Darknessmon deflected them away with his right arm.

Frustrated, BetelGammamon roared and leaped up for a flying kick. The black armored Digimon dodged to one side. Darknessmon quickly got behind the fire Digimon when he was worn out and kicked him in the rear. The red Digimon collapsed to the ground again.

"You are beaten. It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself be destroyed like Gabumon did." Darknessmon retorted.

BetelGammamon growled. He quickly leapt to his feet.

"Sol Blow!" he roared. His flaming punch landed on Darknessmon's shoulder. The black armored Digimon groaned and resumed his combat with BetelGammamon.

"That's it! Get him, BetelGammamon!" LadyDevimon cheered.

"Alright! If he keeps this up, BetelGammamon will end the Regime's best warrior for good!" Arresterdramon laughed.

"Afraid not. He's going to lose." Terriermon said. Arresterdramon, SaberLionessmon and LadyDevimon looked at him in confusion. "It's clear as day that Darknessmon was holding back his true power. If he had been serious, then BetelGammamon would be deleted right now."

"Darknessmon was trying to wear him down. And when he is at his disadvantage he will strike." Lopmon followed up.

BetelGammamon stepped back for a brief moment to catch his breath. Darknessmon slowly walked up to him.

"S… SOL BLOW!" BetelGammamon yelled out. He lit his right fist on fire and launched to strike.

"No! Don't do it!" Lopmon warned.

But it was too late.

Darknessmon created a red energy blade from his right claw and slashed. The slice cut BetelGammamon's hand clean off. The red Digimon screamed in agony and grasped his severed stump with his left hand. He sanked to his knees.

"BETELGAMMAMON!" Arresterdramon yelled in concern.

The spectators from the balcony could only watch as BetelGammamon yelled in agony, clutching his arm.

"There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you." Darknessmon warned.

BetelGammamon looked up at his opponent. He was grasping in pain. He was bruised and bleeding all over. He was crying through the injury he has just received.

"BetelGammamon, you do not realize your importance. You've only began to discover your power. Join me and I will complete your training" Darknessmon offered. "With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the Digital World!"

"I'd never join you!" BetelGammamon spat angrily.

"If you only know the power of the darkness!" Darknessmon responded. "Gabumon never told you what happened to your father, didn't he?"

"He told me enough!" BetelGammamon snarled through gritted teeth. "He told me you killed him!"

"No." Darknessmon answered. There was a slight pause before he responded with a shocking response. "I am your father!"

"W…What?!" SaberLionessmon stammered.

"No! How can this be?!" Lopmon cried out.

"T… There's no way!" LadyDevimon blurted.

"Darknessmon is Gammamon's daddy?!" Arresterdramon's eyes shot open in shock at this.

But the one Digimon was shocked at this news most of all was BetelGammamon himself. His eyes widened with fear and shock. His pupils shrank small. His mouth slowly opened in denial.

"No… Nooo… That's not true! That's impossible!" He blurted out.

"It is the truth, little one and you know it." Darknessmon spoke.

BetelGammamon fell to his knees and bang his left fist to the floor. "NNNOOOOOOOOO!" He sobbed.

"You can destroy Duskmon. He has foreseen it. It is your destiny. Join me and together we'll rule the Digital World as father and son!" Darknessmon offered.

Terriermon snarled through gritted teeth. "BetelGammamon lost his will to fight. It's over now!"

Just then, a wall of fire surrounded the helicopter pad. Darknessmon lost his focus on the young Digimon and looked around. He turned his head upwards. A familiar red dinosaur with a red kasaya and orange pants landed between the two. He rose up and glared at the black armored Digimon.

"It's Guilmon!" SaberLionessmon cried in relief.

"He sure has a knack of showing up at the last second" Lopmon said.

BetelGammamon gazed up at Guilmon. He used his remaining hand to tug at his pants.

"Guil-Sensei… please… tell me he's lying! Darknessmon is not my daddy! Isn't he?" He pled.

Guilmon did not respond. He kept his glaze at Darknessmon.

"Even the Digimon Hero knows the truth." Darknessmon mused.

"No! Please, Guil-Sensei! Tell me he's lying! Guil-Sensei! Please!" BetelGammamon sobbed as he tugged on Guilmon's trousers more.

"I'm sorry, BetelGammamon." Guilmon answered sincerely. He raised his claw and slammed at the back of BetelGammamon's neck. He reverted back to Gammamon and passed out.

"Why did he do that?" Arresterdramon cried out.

"We gotta retreat!" A voice called out to them. They all turned to see Flamedrawomon rush up to them. "We gotta leave! This place is burning down. The battle with Impmon has caused a chain reaction."

"Flamedrawomon! Didn't you hear? Gammamon's father is…" Arresterdramon tried to explain but the fire armored digimon lifted her hand.

"I know. I was horrified as much as you. But right now, getting Gammamon away from here is our top priority." she said.

"You may be right. Let's get out of here." SaberLionessmon sighed. She lowered herself so that Flamedrawomon and Terriermon could climb onto her back. She leapt off the balcony and dashed off. LadyDevimon held onto Lopmon and flew off after them. Arresterdramon hesitated but he followed his friends out.

The air shimmered behind Guilmon. Renamon walked by the fallen Gammamon's side.

"Take Gammamon and get him as far away as you can." Guilmon commanded. "I'll do my best to hold off Darknessmon."

"Can you possibly stop him? He is powerful, you know." Renamon questioned.

"I don't know. But I do not plan to die here." Guilmon answered.

"Please make sure you don't. I have something important to tell you when you return. Lionessmon and BlackGatomon included." Renamon responded. She bent down and carried Gammamon under her right arm. She then picked up the cut off hand.

"Of course. I'd look forward to it. Alright. Escape now." Guilmon spoke up.

Renamon nodded and shimmered away, taking Gammamon with her. Guilmon turned his attention to the evil digimon before him.

"Have you come to destroy me, Digimon Hero?" Darknessmon asked.

"I will do what I must." Guilmon spoke quietly. He got into his fighting position.

"Then you will die braver than all the rest." Darknessmon stated coldly.

The two then leapt at each other. They slammed their fists together which created a shockwave that erupted around the area. The Hazard marked Digimon blocked a roundhouse kick from Darknessmon with his arm. He followed up with a claw slash that the black armoured Digimon avoided.

They withdrew before both summoned a ball of fire from their palms.

"Fireblast!"

"Pyro Ball!"

They launched the fireballs at each other, creating a massive explosion at impact.

The others regrouped at the outskirts of the grassy field. Veamon and Gumdramon looked down at the still unconscious Gammamon. They tried to ignore his missing hand .

"This day's been pretty harsh on him. Not only losing his hand, but it was his own dad who did it." Lopmon sighed. Renamon gave her the severed appendage.

"Poor Gammamon." Gumdramon spoke solemnly.

"Terriermon and I are going back. Guilmon's holding Darknessmon back but he may need some support." Renamon explained.

"But that black digimon is so powerful. If Guilmon can't stop him, what help will you be?" Lionessmon asked. "Not being negative or anything but seeing how powerful Darknessmon is…"

Renamon smirked. "You underestimate him. And us."

"That is true. There is one thing about him, he is never one to mess with." Terriermon agreed.

"Then let us come too." BlackGatomon offered.

"No. We need you to stay put and help Gammamon recover. We'll be back soon." Terriermon pointed out.

The terrier digimon held onto the vixen's shoulder and they vanished.

"Don't worry. Those three are veteran Tamer Digimon. They know what they are doing." Lopmon reassured the others.

"Pyro Sphere!" Guilmon shot out a fireball from his maw. Darknessmon blocked the attack and skidded back. He raised his hand in the air and a massive dark nova appeared from it.

"Darkness Supernova!" He threw the giant ball of fire down on the red dinosaur. A massive explosion came from its place.

Darknessmon landed in front of the massive dust cloud. He noticed something was wrong. As the smoke cleared, Guilmon was levitating several feet off the ground. Twenty massive flaming boulders surrounded him.

"What?!"

"Flaming Boulder Slam!" Guilmon bellowed. He threw his hands down. As if at his command, the boulders all rained down on the dark Digimon. Darknessmon was struck by many flaming rocks and groaned as each impact was laid down on him.

Guilmon vanished into the air. Darknessmon looked around for him. The red dinosaur suddenly reappeared very close to him.

Guilmon bulked his arm up before landing a powerful uppercut to Darknessmon's face, shattering some pieces of his mask off.

The air shimmered and Renamon and Terriermon appeared. They saw the red dinosaur standing over the fallen black armor digimon.

"Guilmon. Are you alright?" Renamon asked.

"Whoa. You actually got him" Terriermon gasped.

"Yes. I may have won the fight. But the war is far from over." Guilmon admitted. They watched as the black armored Digimon slowly rose to his feet. He slowly spun around to face them. Under the shattered right corner of his mask, they saw amber-colored scales. His eye has a green iris and a red pupil. There was a scar over his eyelid.

Terriermon's eyes widened as he saw his face. "You! You're the one who warned me and Flamemon about Duskmon's plans that day. You're… the Digimon Knight, Agumon!"

"Agumon?" Renamon yelped as she covered her mouth with both paws.

"Agumon is gone. I am what remains." Darknessmon panted. With part of his mask destroyed, it sounded like he was speaking with two voices.

"But why? Why side with Duskmon after you know what he was planning?!" Terriermon shouted. "You're one of the heroes. So why…"

Guilmon raised his hand to make Terriermon not go on anymore. He gazed at the Digimon that was once Agumon.

"Agumon. Gabumon wanted to tell you this before your fight with him. He was sorry. For all of it." Guilmon said sincerely. "He was sad that he had killed his best friend that day. He failed you that day."

"Guilmon…" Renamon whispered.

"I am not Gabumon's failure, Digimon Hero." Darknessmon acknowledged. "You two did not kill Agumon." He then answered in a dark tone. "I did. Just as I am about to destroy you all."

"Then the Knight who tried to help us before is dead." Terriermon said with a glare.

"Come on, Guilmon. Let's get out of here. Gammamon will want to see you." Renamon said to her companion.

"Hang on. I want some words left to say." Guilmon responded. He turned back to Darknessmon. "If you had become all evil, why did you hesitate to kill Gammamon? You couldn't afford to kill him can't you? Your own son. It proves one thing… despite what you say or what you believe in… there is still good in you. That's why you couldn't destroy Gammamon then and I believe you won't do it now. Don't bother tracking us down. We'll come to you for the final battle."

Guilmon turned around to rejoin Renamon and Terriermon. He held onto their shoulders. They heard Darknessmon spoke up.

"There's still good in me?" Darknessmon railed himself. He chuckled at first before laughing out loud at this info. "What nonsense! It's too late for me anyway."

"Give up your evil ways, Darknessmon. It's not too late to turn back to the light. Trust me, I speak from experience." Guilmon countered.

Darknessmon remained back to calm and looked at the group. "Very well. If you come to me when the time is right, you will bring my son to me too. He will be mine, I'll promise you that, Digimon Hero."

"We'll see about that."

The trio vanished all together. Darknessmon rose to his feet and walked to the center of the pad.

Darknessmon heard someone was slow clapping him from behind. He turned around. The black clothed form of BlackGuilmon stepped up to him.

"The former knight known as Agumon. Fallen to darkness by Duskmon. Managed to beat his son but lost to my brother. How interesting." BlackGuilmon mocked.

"You… I know very well whom you are. What is it that you are scheming?" Darknessmon questioned. "I know you have no intention of joining us."

"You're right, I'm not. But I came to you because I have a plan you can give to Duskmon." BlackGuilmon stated.

"A plan?"

"Yes. You and your Regime must destroy entire continents of the Digital World. Starting with the Sovereigns Land. Do that, and I am sure you will lure both my brother and your son to you." BlackGuilmon offered. He gave a evil grin.

Darknessmon's eye narrowed at this thought. He stepped a few paces towards the black dino. "Tell me more."

Gammamon had just woken up. His eyes brimming with tears as the truth hit him hard. He held his chopped off hand which Lopmon handed over to him. Veamon and Gumdramon rubbed his back to try to get him to calm down. The air shimmered and the Digimon trio returned.

"Oh thank the sovereigns you're alright." BlackGatomon chirped. "Did Guilmon win?"

"Oh he won alright but he didn't kill him. He let him go." Terriermon answered. He gave Guilmon a questioning look.

"I still can't believe it. Darknessmon is Gammamon's old man." Gumdramon said.

"Why didn't Elder tell me?" Gammamon sobbed. Tears landed on his lap. "He told me Darknessmon betrayed and murdered daddy."

"Your father was seduced by the darkness that cloud his heart." Guilmon stated. He put his hand on Gammamon's shoulder so the white digimon could look at him. The red dino rub his head. "He ceased to be Agumon and became Darknessmon. So when that happened, the good Digimon that was your father was killed. So what Gabumon told you was the truth, from a certain point of view."

"What do you mean by certain point of view?" Veamon asked.

"Before leaving your village, I read the diaries that Gabumon left behind to tell me about what has happened. So now I know why your father fell to Duskmon's sick commands." Guilmon inquired as he sat down. "It's a long story."

"Please, tell us what happened." Renamon requested.

"Alright but I can tell you one thing before we start. Agumon was a good Digimon. I'll explain." Guilmon responded. All gathered around to listen to his story.