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Gato and the other Defenders rushed out of the base through the front entrance, marching at the fastest pace possible down the road. A convoy of cars, trucks, armored personnel carriers, and even a tank or two thundered out of the base into the mid-afternoon gloom. The sound of the engines and treads echoed far and wide, sounding like the roar of angry beasts. The Defenders did not often make use of combat vehicles, but they had them for the rare occasions they were needed.

If there was a battle to take place, they were going to make it on their terms, away from innocent lives. That meant a paved highway fringed by a strip of forest and File Mountain on one side, and a wide beach sloping down to the ocean on the other. The Highway led straight into File City, and circled the entire island as the main land-based travel corridor.

Today it was entirely empty but for the Digimon, their vehicles, and support equipment, and the occasional abandoned car or truck. Since the War began, the File Highway had been shut down and restricted to Defender, Army, or Police vehicles only. If Arkadimon wanted to attack without using a Data Transfer or literally shipping in troops by sea, this was the only way.

The sky was grey with ugly clouds, which rumbled dangerously. The sun was visible only as a dim circle through them, and shadows moved slowly across the landscape. The thunderheads above would have been threatening any other day. Gato almost found them charming, given the storm that was to come.

Gato sighed, looking ahead. The File Island Military and Police forces were already there, setting up the battle lines. They laid razor wire, set up gun turrets, dropped sandbags and armored barriers, and worked as quickly as they could to completely section off from the mountainside to the ocean. Arkadimon's strange sense of "civilized warfare" was working in their favor. He was fighting to the Defenders' advantage, giving them all the chances they needed to hold him back. If he had just dropped a Core Rain right on top of them, right now, it was not likely there would be any survivors.

When Gato said as much to Leomon, he surprised her by chuckling humorlessly.

"It's not the point. He COULD kill us all, certainly. I think he knows it. But he doesn't want that. He wants to prove he's superior. He wants to decimate us. He wants to DEFEAT us. He wants us to acknowledge his superiority," Leomon said, his rumbling voice loud enough for everyone in the three nearest cars (which were travelling quite slowly in the convoy) to hear quite clearly.

"And that is how we're going to win," Leomon said confidently, "If he's overconfident enough to engage us in direct battle rather than just ENDING it, that's his biggest flaw."

"...He's not fighting like a Defender, then," Gato mused, glancing at BlackGato, who looked quite nauseous as she bounced on the bench seat of the other side of the transport.

"Exactly. Defenders don't fight battles. We fight to END battles, quickly, decisively. It isn't nice, but we go for the quick, shocking kill, in order to prevent worse brutality and bloodshed," Leomon said, his blue eyes looking down at Gato. His massive mitt of a paw gently ruffled her head-fur. She swatted it away petulantly, making him chuckle again, this time with genuine warmth.

"So that'll be our strategy, right? Cut off the head, end the threat," Gato said, crossing her arms over her fluffy white chest.

"Exactly," Leomon agreed, "The hosts, the troops, the minions, they're a distraction. We're going to let the military and police fight them. Our job is to kill Arkadimon. I don't know what will happen after that, but..."

He trailed off for a minute, before taking a deep breath and continuing, "...We have to assume the possessed hosts are already dead. Our job is to save everyone else. If killing Arkadimon kills the hosts, so be it. If it frees them, wonderful."

"...And if it does nothing, and we have millions of group-minded Arkadimon hosts running around even though the main body is dead?" BlackGato spoke up, staring at Leomon with an inscrutable expression. Gato had no idea what was running through her head; BlackGato was shielding her emotions from her. Leomon was silent for a minute again, before he responded in a flat rumble.

"If that worst-case scenario happens... We'll deal with it. We are the Defenders. We're who everyone turns to when there's no one else. And Defenders Crisis Management 101, which I personally wrote says..."

"Focus on only the next step, the next ten seconds," Gato interrupted, smirking, "Yeah, we know."

"Exactly. Our one and ONLY goal... is to kill that thing. Everything else comes after," Leomon said, nodding as he sat back, making sure his sword was strapped properly to his waist. BlackGato continued to watch him, her green eyes narrowed.

"...How can you be so calm?" she asked, her tail swishing slowly and sinuously. Leomon's shockingly blue eyes turned to her. His lips curled in the faintest hint of a smile.

"A number of reasons. I'm very, very old, and I've seen many, many things. Arkadimon is nowhere near the worst. Apocylamon, even MaloMyotismon..." he sighed, "And this is what I helped found the Defenders for. To fight what no one else could fight. Do what no one else could do. I'm calm because I have done this before."

"You've fought millions of possessed Digimon and a Digitally-engineered chimera abomination?" BlackGato asked flatly, her tone clearly expressing her disbelief. Leomon laughed, a low rumbling noise and he glanced over to Gato.

"She is more like you than I thought," he said, chuckling, before turning his attention back to BlackGato, "No, BG. I have not been in THIS particular situation before. But I have been in several like it. The lead-up to the fight is far worse than the fight itself. What I suggest to you is focusing on preparing yourself. Make sure your gloves are on tight, sharpen your claws, prepare yourself mentally. Focus on the work of it rather than the fear."

"I'm not afraid," BlackGato growled, "I'm ANGRY."

"No, you are terrified, and you are sublimating your fear with anger. It's an entirely understandable and natural response," Leomon said sternly, his light and breezy demeanor turning serious as he leaned down to stare BlackGato eye-to-eye.

"Only a complete drooling idiot would not be afraid. Fear is good. It keeps you alive," Leomon said, his bass voice rumbling deeper than the engine of the truck, "Acknowledge it. Accept it. Identify the source of it. Courage isn't the opposite of fear; understanding is. Fear comes not from a thing; it comes from the unknown and from uncertainty. And once you understand WHY you are afraid... you can overcome it."

BlackGato stared back at Leomon for several interminably tense moments, before she glanced at Gato.

"...Does he ALWAYS talk in philosophical movie-trailer quotes?" she finally asked the white kitten.

"...Most of the time, yes. But he's also right," Gato admitted, chuckling. BlackGato harrumphed and turned away to stare out at the highway as the miles passed by under the wheels.

It didn't take too long for the truck to slow to a halt. Leomon, Gato, BG, and the other riders climbed down from the back and began unloading supplies. Everything from ammo boxes, to medical supplies to communication equipment; all was carried forward.

The battle line was bustling with activity. Soldiers, police officers, rescue workers, and civilian recruits, all ran from place to place to prepare for what was coming within the next few hours. Gato had never seen anything like it. She had never seen so many Digimon up in arms, ready to fight.

And she had never seen the entire ranks of the Defenders before. Over a thousand of them, the most highly-trained elite peacekeepers in the Digital World; all of them were here just outside of File City, preparing for battle.

Unlike the soldiers and police and other members of the army, the Defenders almost seemed to be lazy. They weren't helping build the defenses or to move equipment or prepare weapons. Many were sitting or reclining, or doing light, simple tasks like loading or doing maintenance on weapons.

The simple fact was that any one Defender was worth twenty or thirty normal soldiers. With their training and the ability to Digivolve, they were the most valuable combat assets that the Digital World had. In the coming battle, they would be doing most of the work, fighting harder and fighting longer than anyone else. It was better that they rested and conserved their energy for when it was needed than to waste it helping build fortifications and prepare, when there were plenty of Digimon doing the job already.

Someone handed Leomon a datapad. The lion's blue eyes scanned the readout. He nodded and tossed it to Gato. Fumbling for a moment, Gato managed to catch it and take a look. It was a troop dispensation report. The numbers seemed encouraging at first. It was the largest force ever mustered in the history of the Digital World; over 50,000 Digimon ready to fight and do what was necessary to save everyone.

...It wouldn't be close to enough. Dataflow and satellite scans showed an army over two million strong heading their way. And then there was Arcadimon himself. The allied forces could not gain a clear image of him, but the heat and data scans were less than encouraging. He was a mass larger than most other Digimon in his forces, towering over them.

They would arrive in four hours. Gato sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, handing the pad to BlackGato, before skipping to catch up with Leomon.

"Leo--" Gato began. The massive lion turned on his heel with surprising grace for a being so huge.

"I know, little one. I understand our situation just as well as you do," Leomon said, anticipating what Gato was about to say, and interrupting her before she could say it. He knelt down in front of her and placed his paws on her shoulders, leaning in to whisper.

"First, the numbers don't matter. A million, two million, however many there are, it doesn't change what we have to do. All it does is intimidate us and weaken morale. Don't focus on the numbers. Focus on Arkadimon himself," Leomon growled.

"And second?" Gato asked.

"I've seen the DigiDestined perform miracles with my own eyes. I've seen impossible odds beaten. Instead of worrying about the odds we face... try figuring out how we're going to make a miracle happen ourselves," Leomon said. He stood up and walked away before Gato could say another word.

Gato bit her lip and shook her head in frustration. She did not believe in miracles.

******

Gato lay against a line of sandbags, dozing softly. Like most cats, she had the uncanny ability to nap anywhere if she so wanted. She usually chose not to do so; she felt like she was wasting time. However, if it meant conserving her energy for the fight ahead, it was best that she tried, even if it felt unnatural to be dozing with death rapidly approaching.

"...They're here," growled a Coronamon she vaguely recognized from the Cloud Continent Defenders. Climbing to her feet, Gato peered over the sandbags and felt a cold chill down her spine.

The enemy lines spread from one end of the horizon to the other, as far as she could see. The sheer number of them was terrifying. This far away, they appeared as nothing more than a swarm of black dots, approaching by the road, the air, and the sea. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that the terrain would force them to approach on land in a considerably narrower battle-line. It did little to blunt the intimidation she felt.

Over the next hour, Arkadimon's army resolved itself into a massive host of red-eyed, glowing-chested Digimon. Every species was represented. Every level from Baby to Mega. And all of them marching, moving, even breathing in unison. Those that could fly did so. Many rode in vehicles, but most marched on land. Those that were most at home in the water skimmed the choppy, storm-tossed waves, or approached as black silhouettes from below the darkened waters.

Their silence made it all the more terrifying. It would be one thing to face a screeching, slavering horde. Or another to face a disciplined army, shouting commands or threats or battlecries.

Arkadimon's forces marched in complete silence. It made sense; there wasn't much to say, when every single one of them shared the same consciousness, the same thoughts.

Gato heard commands being shouted on her side of the battle lines; generals and captains alike shouting to get the soldiers into formation, and to steel their morale.

The Defenders, positioned in the center of the allied forces' lines, stood and began organizing themselves as well.

Gato took a deep breath as she watched the hordes approach. All of the Defenders were preparing themselves in their own ways. Some were psyching themselves up, others doing whatever rituals they needed to comfort themselves. Gato, for her part, was doing something of the opposite. She was trying to achieve a state of calmness. Of focus. Of absolute single-minded determination.

The world took on a crystalline clarity to Gato's perception. She could hear the rumble of thunder, more natural than the tromping thunderous footsteps of the approaching force. The air was moist and cooling rapidly. The storm would break soon.

Gato almost smiled at the cliche.

And then, first as a silhouette, obscured by the massive number of Digimon in front of it, she saw it. The entire allied forces reeled, momentary panic setting in at the sight of the real enemy.

Arkadimon had Digivolved again.

It was well over a hundred feet tall. Its footsteps were a thunder all its own, shaking the ground, causing trees to sway with every mighty fall.

To Gato's strange relief, it had not changed much in shape. While its previous forms had varied wildly in twisting its misshapen body into increasingly horrifying forms, it still resembled its Ultimate form quite strongly. It was white in color, massive bony armor plates covering its body, open to reveal writhing purple muscle fiber and tentacles underneath. Four bony wings, strung with purple membranes erupted from its back, looking far too small to lift such enormous bulk off the ground. Its chest and pelvis had formed into a shape that reminded Gato strongly of an open fang-filled mouth, its spine bent to curve behind it, creating the bizarre optical illusion.

The head was blank. Its slitted red eyes had migrated down, one on each of its massive bone-armored forearms. Gato had no idea how the thing could even see properly, but she imagined that with over two million host bodies to see through, it did not matter much. It let out a roar, a bone-chilling shriek of a sound that cut straight to Gatomon's core, forcing her to cover her ears.

"...Ehh. I could take 'im," a raspy voice said, nonchalantly. Gato frowned and looked beside her, where Gazi leaned against the sandbags, smirking.

"...Uh... What?" Gato asked, nonplussed.

" I could take 'im! Me and Arkadimon. 'Mon to 'Mon, I think I could beat him up," Gazi said, smirking.

"....Gazi, no offense, but you still have trouble Digivolving to Ultimate consistently," Gato said, staring at the cat-rabbit.

"No, I think he's right," said Agu from Gato's other side, a wide grin on his saurian face, cracking his knuckles, "Gazi's come a long way. I think he'd be a pretty good match for Arkadimon."

"I think Sala could take him on. That lil' girl would wade through these guys as if they weren't even there, march up and beat the living daylights out of Arkadimon," Gabu said, leaning against the sandbags on the other side of Agu. Catching on, Gato chuckled.

"Probably. I wish I hadn't sent her away. With her here, things would be easy," she said, standing up straighter. She looked over to either side of her. The File Island Defenders were gathering up front, watching the waves of enemies approaching. The only ones missing from their ranks were Flora, Tento, Armadillo, Hawk, and Goma.

Flora and Tento, while each Defenders in their own right and formidable combatants, were much more valuable for their technical and scientific skills. Both of them were still back at File HQ, monitoring the situation with every single scanner and satellite that they could task.

Goma was still at File HQ himself, nestled down at the main monitor consoles in the command center. While the battle was taking place near the ocean, where he would be considerably more powerful than in any other situation, Goma volunteered to remain behind and lend his tactical expertise to the allied forces. While he would be monitoring the Defenders more than anyone else, it would be his duty to inform the soldiers and police and other forces of the changing tactical situation.

Likewise, Armadillo's job was to shore up and repair the base as much as possible. If the worst came, it would be Armadillo's job to secure a route for the survivors to escape to the human internet. The unspoken part of this was that with the Digital World fallen, the human Internet would not last very long...

Hawk, however, was actually there on the battlefield. But he remained in the back of the allied army. Like the other Defenders who weren't on the front lines, his specialty made him far more valuable elsewhere. In his case, as the chief medic of the File Island Defenders, he was working with the allied medical corps, both other medic Defenders, army doctors, and volunteers with medical expertise. He would avoid combat as much as possible, and spend his time evacuating the injured from the battlefield, patching them up into fighting condition again (if possible), and sending them right back into the fray.

Gato turned her attention back to Arkadimon's horde. She was not particularly surprised to see the Dorumon that Arkadimon had chosen to be his personal voice marching at the front and center of the enemy ranks. She resisted the urge to order Biyo to put a bullet between its eyes. It would be counterproductive at best.

The entire enemy force funneled into the narrow strip of beach and highway that the allied forces were massed upon. Gato sighed in relief. It had worked. It was still an insane number of foes to face, but they'd only be attacking head-on, rather than from their flanks. It seemed Arkadimon's warped sense of honor also meant using truly lousy war tactics.

The enemy forces came to a halt about a mile out from the fortifications. Gato glanced over at Leomon, whose expression was inscrutable, his eyes locked onto Arkadimon. BlackGato's claws tightened on the sandbags, her claws digging in.

"What're they doing?" Guil whispered, frowning.

Biyo, who had unfolded her sniper rifle and perched the bipod on the sandbags in front of her, pressed her eye to the scope. Her beak turned down in a grimace as she looked through and reported, "A f-few of them are approaching. They're being led by... I think it's a D-Dorumon. I've got a c-clean shot.."

"Don't fire," Gato said, her tail flicking, "We'll play this by Arkadimon's rules for now. That means don't kill the messenger. Literally."

Biyo gave a curt nod, acknowledging the order as she lifted her talon from the trigger, and rested it on the trigger guard. However, she kept her aim trained on the purple-furred dragon's forehead, her eye pressed firm to her scope.

"FREE DIGIMON OF THE WORLD!" the Dorumon shouted, its voice echoing across the soon-to-be battlefield. Gato winced, wondering how it was yelling so loud; even at a distance of about half-a-mile, its voice was making her eardrums ache. All she could guess is that Arkadimon used some other Digimon's ability to amplify its voice; maybe a Shoutmon. A quick question to Biyo confirmed that.

"We can hear you, thank you. You might want to turn down your voice a few thousand decibels before you deafen us. If we're to have a meaningful conversation, it might help if we didn't have tinnitus," Leomon shouted back, his rumbling roar of a voice not needing the same amplification to be heard. Chuckling and nervous laughter came from the allied ranks.

"My apologies," Arkadimon said through the Dorumon, his voice still echoing loudly, but less painfully, "It is an honor to stand before the legendary Leomon, founding member of the Defenders, friend of the DigiDestined, warrior--"

"Can we move this along?" Leomon interrupted, crossing his arms over his muscular chest, "I'm well-aware that I am very old and very famous, and do not need to be reminded of it by an abomination. If you wish to observe all the niceties of warfare, that's fine for you. But we are not here to indulge you. We are here to kill you."

Cheers erupted along the allied ranks at Leomon's words. The Dorumon grimaced and Arkadimon gave a low, rumbling growl.

"Very well. Then allow me to... speed things along, if you so wish. Surrender, lay down your arms, and be consumed. Become part of me, and bring true peace to the Digital World," Dorumon said, a hint of pique in its voice. Arkadimon's crimson eyes on its arms were narrowed into malevolent slits.

"No," Leomon said flatly, speaking before the Dorumon's last word had even finished echoing.

"Then in rejecting my offer of peace, you have chosen the path of pain and death. You will--"

"Biyo, please end this?" Leomon asked, ignoring Dorumon's tirade. A grin crossed the pink bird's face as she sighted in and pulled the trigger. Gato heard the distinctive "CRACK-HISS!" of her rifle firing, and (squinting hard to see) saw a splash of red, followed by the sparkle of data-fragments atomizing.

Dorumon's voice, so loud and booming, had become a barely audible whimper. Leomon glanced down at her.

"Gato told me not to k-kill the messenger. I killed the Shoutmon instead," Biyo said, grinning playfully. Leomon laughed and nodded his approval. More applause and even some jeers and taunting came from the allied ranks. They stopped as a column of light suddenly exploded upward from where the Dorumon was standing.

"DORUMON, WARP-DIGIVOLVE TO..." its voice called, no longer needing another Digimon's power to be amplified enough to hear from the Defenders' positions.

"ALPHAMON."

In the fluffy purple dragon's place, now stood a towering knight, armored in black with gold trim. An enormous broadsword with a wicked curved edge was held in his hand. A ragged black cape swept behind him, blowing in the storm winds, as lightning cracked down.

"...How in the Nine Digital Hells did he do that?!" Pal exclaimed, looking horrified, "If they can all Digivolve, then we're totally fuuuuucked!"

Goma's voice cut in over the Defenders Brand comm-channel, "Tento and Flora are already informing me that that's exceedingly unlikely. Judging from the energy signature, he basically overcharged the Dorumon's data, forcing it into a Digivolution."

Flora's voice added, "Pretty much. He must be pissed at you guys, because he basically killed that Digimon. He might be walking around right now, but his lifespan is measured in hours. I'm gonna guess that Arkadimon isn't gonna waste the rest of his host bodies like that..."

"We don't know WHAT he's going to do," Gato replied, "So stand ready."

There was no visible signal from Arkadimon. It didn't roar. It did not gesture. But nonetheless, suddenly, a mass of its forces ran forward, rapidly closing the gap to the Defenders' ranks.

"DEFENDERS! GO!" Leomon snarled, vaulting over the sandbag to meet their charge.

"This is it," BlackGato sighed, resigned.

"See you on the other side," Gato said, patting her paw. They held hands, only for the briefest moment... and then both vaulted the sandbags to join the other Defenders who charged after Leomon.

Gato was a close combat specialist. This far away, her attacks were useless, and while she could chuck a knife a decent distance, she had no hope of hitting anything with any accuracy from this range. Her only choice was to bound forward on all fours, zig-zagging as bullets and special attacks pelted towards her. Lightning, icicles, fireballs, energy bolts of all shapes and colors speared out from both sides of the battlefield, creating mighty explosions in the center where they collided.

Agu spat Pepper Breath as he ran, his fingers intertwined with Gabu's paw as the lizard-wolf laid down an obscuring shield of icy flames. Gabu's Blue Blaster was a mid-ranged attack, but its icy flare did a decent job at freezing and deflecting incoming enemy fire.

Guil likewise fired massive explosive flame spheres at the enemy Digimon, while Rena danced around him, flitting in and out of sight with unbelievable speed. Shards of crystal flashed from her, striking incoming projectiles and spearing targets across the battlefield.

Gato could hear Biyo's rifle's HISS-CRACK again and again. In the chaos, she could not see what targets the bird was aiming at, but had absolutely no doubt that she was hitting them inerrantly.

And then, surprisingly quickly, Gato found herself in the fray. Her body collided with a Bearmon, shoulder-checking it to the ground. She slashed with her claws, perforating it in a single slash. She pounced away, leaping at the next nearest target with a glowing red spot on its chest: a Blizzarmon. She tucked and rolled, its twin axes slicing the air under her, and slashed at its neck. Its head fell away, even as she used its body to springboard towards another foe.

Veemon was back-to-back with Palmon. His fists, feet, and forehead slammed into Digimon after Digimon, breaking bones and shattering skulls. Pal's Poison Ivy lashed out, thorny vines whipping with vicious force. Billowing clouds of pollen wafted from the plantgirl's petals, paralyzing or poisoning any unprotected Digimon unwise enough to breathe in. Fortunately for the Defenders, the enemy forces were downwind.

Pata spat out explosive balls of compressed air, detonating with shockwaves that concussed foes; sending many broken and flying through the air. Gazi's claws slashed and cut, sparking with bioelectricity that stunned foes long enough for him to finish them. His face was tight, somewhere between a feral snarl and a sickened grimace; the grim work he was doing going against his nature.

BlackGato was, as always, a force of nature; an ebon whirlwind that shredded any foe who dared to approach. She spun and slashed, she tore and ripped, she lashed out with bone-snapping kicks, palm-strikes that caved in chests, elbows that shattered skulls. At her back, Imp threw explosive fireballs like grenades, chucking them this way and that. Detonations sent bodies sprawling and ruined as his projectiles did not even need to hit properly to do damage.

And then there was Leomon himself. The mighty figure who blew away his foes with powerful punches. Each sweep of his legs felled five enemies. His short-sword flashed, parting limbs and heads from bodies, sometimes even bisecting foes entirely. And his Fist of the Beast King simply pulped any Digimon unfortunate enough to not dodge aside.

And that was just a sampling of the chaos at hand. As the two battle-lines collided, hundreds of attacks flew back and forth. The Defenders did their job; they fought. They fought like the world depended on it. They fought as if millions were resting on their shoulders. They fought with the fury of people who knew that this was their last stand, and they would either come out victorious or die to the last man... and that there would be, and could be no surrender.

It was a surprise to Gato, then, that as she turned to face another foe (a Keramon), that she saw open space at the end of the field. Indeed, the Defenders were thinning out the enemy ranks at a prodigious rate.

Gato yelped as the Keramon's claws slashed at her face. She barely managed to draw her head back and avoid losing an eye. Instead, the tip of its claw sliced into her cheek, sending crimson dribbling down her fur. She returned the favor by cleaving the Keramon into five pieces with several rapid slashes of her own claws.

"What's going on? Why's it... getting easier?" called Guil, panting as he jogged over.

"This was just a test. To probe our fighting capacity," Leomon growled, stomping on a Chuumon and shattering it to data shards, "Look. They're waiting."

Indeed, what the Defenders had faced seemed to be only a couple of thousand of Digimon. Hundreds of thousands; millions remained, watching with glowing crimson eyes and impassive expressions. As the Defenders cleared out the remaining Arkadimon forces, they began to form ranks again, preparing for the next assault.

"Is that all you can do?" Alphamon called, its mellifluous voice echoing across the field.

"Hardly," Leomon called back, "But thank you for the warm-up. Some Defenders need a bit of exercise before they hit their stride."

"Indeed. Then I shall give you plenty more opportunity to burn some calories," Arkadimon replied, speaking through the black knight. Gato glanced at Leomon, wishing he REALLY would stop taunting the horrific abomination against nature.

Sure enough, Arkadimon had responded to the provocation by sending another, even larger mass of his troops towards the allied ranks. They charged with unnerving silence, no battlecry, no jeers or shouts... just the pounding rumble of their feet.

"Gato, come here. I think it's about time we let loose," Leomon called. Gato blinked and nodded, bounding over to his side at the front of the Defenders' line.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Fine. Nothing but a scratch," Gato said, truthfully.

Gato wiped the blood off her cheek with the back of her glove, throwing the red droplets to the ground. Cracking her knuckles, she stepped forward beside Leomon and took a deep breath.

"Ready, little one?" Leomon asked, crossing his arms as he glanced down at her. He radiated a sense of both power and calmness that steadied Gato.

"...This is what I was born to do," Gato stated simply.

"Very well then," Leomon said with a rumbling chuckle, "Why don't you have the honors then?"

"Right," Gato agreed, holding up her left paw, showing the Brand to the approaching horde. She quickly tapped several sparks of light on it with her right claw, and the entire design turned a brilliant blue.

"DIGIVOLUTION AUTHORIZED TO MAXIMUM," she announced, her voice loud enough to echo even over the din of combat.

"MAXIMUM DIGIVOLUTION, CONFIRMED!" Leomon shouted after repeating the process with his own Brand. Across the entire battle line, every Defender's Brand shined like blindingly bright sapphires.

"GATOMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..." Gato shouted to the skies.

"LEOMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..." echoed Leomon.

"BLACKGATOMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"AGUMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"GABUMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"PALMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... TOGEMON! TOGEMON, DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"BIYOMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... BIRDRAMON. BIRDRAMON, DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"GAZIMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... SANGLOUPMON. SANGLOUPMON, DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"VEEMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... VEEDRAMON. VEEDRAMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... AEROVEEDRAMON. AEROVEEDRAMON, DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"PATAMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... ANGEMON. ANGEMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... MAGNANGEMON! MAGNANGEMON, DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"GUILMON, DIGIVOLVE TO... GROWLMON. GROWLMON, DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"RENAMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"IMPMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..."

Their voices were echoed by others, hundreds of other Defenders, all standing with them. Blinding light, brighter than the sun, radiated outward. The release of energy alone from the massive group of changing Digimon was enough to blast away hundreds of the approaching Arkadimon hosts, sending them crashing into their allies in piles of broken bodies.

The Defenders shifted and changed, growing larger, more powerful, unleashing the true strength hidden within them. Armor appeared, cloaking bodies; weapons manifested in hands, and raw, unadulterated power radiated from the Defenders as they transformed.

With a flash of power, the Defenders stood, transformed and battle-ready in their most powerful forms.

"OPHANIMON!"

"SABERLEOMON!"

"RASIELMON!"

"WARGREYMON!"

"METALGARURUMON!"

"LILLYMON!"

"GARUDAMON!"

"ASTAMON!"

"ULFORCEVEEDRAMON!"

"SERAPHIMON!"

"WARGROWLMON!"

"SAKUYAMON!"

"BEELZEMON!"

The light faded to reveal a grand force of armored Digimon, radiating raw power. Gato had transformed into a furious blue-green-armored angel. Eight golden wings flared from her back. A golden lance was gripped in her hand, as she lowered her head. Her face was obscured by a helm with a golden cross symbol on the front. Gato, or rather, Ophanimon, slashed at the air, testing her weapon as she readied herself.

The other Digimon in the line were likewise transformed into majestic armored forms or legendary beasts. Beside Gato, Leomon had taken on the form of a massive, saber-toothed lion; his hunched quadruped form roiling with barely contained power. Streaks of crimson marked his face and body as he roared defiantly at Arkadimon.

"DEFENDERS! WE HOLD THE LINE!" SaberLeomon shouted, as the rest of the Defenders held their hands or claws or weapons high, echoing his call.

The second wave of Arkadimon's forces broke upon them like a thundering wave, crashing into the Defenders with tidal power. The Defenders did not lose an inch of ground. With their vastly increased strength, they held back the ocean of bodies, slashing, pulverizing, blasting, burning all in their way.

As before, Arkadimon did not seem to have the capacity to use any sort of advanced tactics to control the bodies he possessed, particularly with this many. He could only send them rushing forward as a mindless mob, trying to bury the Defenders.

Ophanimon whirled her lance, striking out with both the bladed end and the shaft, battering aside her foes. With the strength and power of a Mega at her disposal, the Rookies and Champions Arkadimon sent en masse were easily battered aside with little effort. She waded through the enemy troops, seeking out the real threats in their midst, the Ultimates and Megas.

The other Defenders did much the same. They slaughtered their way through the enemy forces; but let most pass by to assault the allied lines behind them. The soldiers and police and volunteers opened fire, a hailstorm of bullets and special attacks tearing through Arkadimon's forces.

There were multiple simple reasons for this strategy. First, there were just too many for the Defenders to take down as they swarmed forward. The Defenders just had to trust the allied army to handle whatever got past them, and to hold the line.

Second, the Defenders were there to handle what the allied soldiers couldn't. While thinning the ranks for the allied troops was a goal, the main goal was to take on the enemies that were just too powerful for the normal soldiers to face.

Ophanimon, indeed, saw her first Ultimate among the throngs, a MetalEtemon. Her lips downturned in a grim sneer, she flared her eight wings, propelling her toward it. Its eyes glowed red as the A-Core in its chest throbbed and pulsed like a visible heart. It turned to face her, its steel fist swinging at her face. Ophanimon leaned out of the way with ease, and buried her lance clean through it. She lifted it bodily into the air, and flicked her weapon, sending the MetalEtemon crashing into more of the enemy mass, before it shattered into data fragments.

Without hesitating, she scanned the crowd, looking for another high-level target. A Bulbmon caught her eye, another Ultimate. She turned to face the machine as it stomped foward, hissing steam and smoke from its boxy, angled brass form.

Before she could get there, a giant sphere of roiling flames slammed into it, detonating with the force of a bomb, sending bodies flying, and instantly immolating everyone within a large radius of the Ultimate. Ophanimon turned to look, to see WarGreymon hovering above with a cocky grin visible under his metal-plated helmet.

"C'mon. We're wasting time with the small fry. We get Arkadimon and this all ends!" he called down to her.

Ophanimon opened her mouth to call out to him, to warn him not to do what he was about to do; but it was too late.

"GREAT TORNADO!" he snarled, whirling about so quickly that energy radiated from him. He flew forward, cutting a vast swathe through the troops ahead.

"Dammit, Agu!" Ophanimon cursed, giving chase, "You're getting out of position!"

"That's what I tell him all the time. He's gonna get himself killed, reckless IDIOT!" growled another voice. Ophanimon glanced to her right to see a massive steel-clad wolf bounding on all fours beside her. The half-

"We'll have to watch his back for him, since he can't be bothered to do it himself," Ophanimon grumbled, "C'mon, Gabu..."

"He's lucky I love him, otherwise I'd leave him to die," MetalGarurumon snarled angrily, his energy boosters propelling him at profound speeds along the ground. His claws slashed, slicing through foes as he chased WarGreymon.

Ophanimon glanced behind her. The other Defenders were still behind, focusing on holding the line. While WarGreymon was right; they had to get to Arkadimon, the simple fact that DOING so was going to be a heroic, nearly-impossible feat in and of itself. The massive, bony figure seemed content to wait at the back of its army, watching from afar.

Ophanimon saw a flicker of movement from the corner of her eye.

"AGU! 9:30 HIGH!" she shouted quickly.

WarGreymon twisted in midair, bringing his massive clawed gauntlets up and crossing them defensively across his chest. It was just in time, as a huge curved black blade came down and deflected away.

Alphamon pressed the attack, slashing again and again, forcing WarGreymon back.

"If you think you are simply going to fly over my army to get to me, you are mistaken. It will not be that easy," Alphamon said, speaking Arkadimon's words like the mindless puppet he was.

"Coward! Why don't you do your own fighting?! Why hide behind these innocent people?!" WarGreymon snarled, outraged. He lashed out with a mighty kick, but Alphamon whirled, his cape obscuring WarGreymon's view.

WarGreymon acted on instinct alone, evading to the side as fast as his steel wings could carry him. It was a good thing too, as the sword thrust out. He cried out in pain as the blade caught him along his thigh. WarGreymon swatted Alphamon's sword aside, and swung a claw in a retaliatory slash; but the black knight was already out of reach. Blood sluiced down WarGreymon's leg. It was painful, and bleeding quite a bit, but it did not seem to be deep or impairing his movement in any way.

"I AM doing my own fighting. These bodies are an extension of me. My mind controls their bodies. I feel what they feel. I see through their eyes. They ARE me..." Arkadimon retorted flatly through Alphamon.

"NOT what I meant, dipshit!" WarGreymon snarled, using his tail to swat Alphamon away, "And you know it!"

A barrage of missiles struck Alphamon from behind. They did not detonate in fiery concussions; instead they sent icy waves of mist billowing out with each impact. Ice crackled and snapped as it formed on Alphamon's armor, freezing him.

"METAL WOLF CLAW!!!" MetalGarurumon snarled, leaping into the air as his boosters propelled him. His claws raked Alphamon's back, shattering the ice and sending the black knight reeling through the air.

"Gabu, I had 'im!" complained WarGreymon.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that," MetalGarurumon said, glaring at his lover, "We're not here to play fair, we're here to win."

"EDEN'S NEEDLE!" Ophanimon cried, coming up behind Alphamon. The knight wheeled in midair, spinning out of the way before the angelic lance pierced his spine. Ophanimon let loose a stream of rather unangelic profanity as her prey escaped a killing blow without a scratch..

"Dammit, I HAD him!" she snarled.

"I saw you coming from behind," Alphamon said, emotionlessly, "...You may be... 'watching WarGreymon's back, since he won't do it himself,' but I have millions of eyes to watch my own back."

Ophanimon looked down. Sure enough, dozens among the masses of possessed Digimon were staring up at the battle from below. She cursed again. So much for attempting to assassinate Alphamon. This was going to be much harder than she thought...

*****

Back on the Defenders lines, the former BlackGato, now Rasielmon, slashed with her clawed gauntlets and fired bolts of mystical light at any foe who dared approach too close. The dark feline had transformed into a majestic golden-armored figure. Massive golden wings sprouted from her shoulders, the feathers as sharp as blades. She still maintained some vestiges of her feline heritage. The headpiece she wore had a certain resemblance to cat-ears. The massive golden gauntlets that covered her arms, and the curved shape of her legs were still quite feline.

A massive ruff of white fur surrounded her neck, curving up and around behind her head, attached to the collar of her armor.

It was as if in transforming to Mega, she had shed all the darkness in her, and revealed the radiance she kept hidden from the world.

To her back, she could hear Imp, now Beelzemon, firing away with his twin sawn-off shotguns. The little imp had taken on the form of a black-helmeted demon. His leather jacket and pants deflected incoming gunfire from an enemy solider, his clothes far tougher than they might appear. Beelzemon cursed and swung around, placing the barrel of his right-hand shotgun under the Digimon's chin before pulling the trigger.

"I gotta tell ya, BG, this SUCKS!" he complained over the roar of his gunfire.

"And?" Rasielmon asked flatly, casting another spell and casting a series of spears of light that pierced several possessed Digimon, ending their misery in a blast of power.

"Nothing! No greater point to be made, no commentary. This just SUCKS!" Beelzemon replied. Rasielmon's lips quirked upward in what might have been the ghost of a grin.

Lillymon flew in from overhead, landing lightly beside the two. Her Flower Cannon blazed, sending roiling beams of energy into the massed forces, flower petals and leaves swirling about in the wake.

"SaberLeomon just gave orders, guys!" she called, "Megas are to push forward. Ultimates are to hang back and help hold the line at the fortifications!"

"That's our cue, toots," Beelzemon said, a feral grin on his face.

"Thank you, Pal," Rasielmon said, glancing her way.

"Nothin' ta thank me for. But go fast! Gato, Agu, an' Gabu are out o' position and engaged with Alphamon!" Lillymon shouted.

"...Right," Rasielmon agreed, "I'm on my way."

"I'm comin' too, toots," Beelzemon said, patting her armored shoulder, "I'm not leavin' you alone in this mess."

"Then hang on, because we're going to fly," Rasielmon said, wrapping her arms around him. Beelzemon had just enough time to yelp in protest, before they were in the air, streaking towards Alphamon.

Lillymon watched them go, frowning deeply, a pain in her heart. She wanted to go with them, to help in any way she could. To help her best friend end this fight. But she was not powerful enough. She could not Digivolve to Mega.

She resolved to take her training more seriously. Gennai willing, there would never be a crisis like this again. But if the Nine Digital Hells broke loose and chaos reigned again, the former Palmon swore that she would never get left behind again. She would stand with her friends, come hell, high water, or the very end of the Digital World.

*****

WarGrowlmon, the former Guilmon, snarked as he slashed with his mighty blades, cleaving his way through the enemy forces. He was already getting tired, the strain of Digivolution taking its toll on him. Gato had trained him well, but she had not trained him for THIS.

He grit his teeth, refusing to tire. Mind over matter. He stomped forward, charging down a SkullMeramon, crushing it under his clawed feet as he systematically tore it apart.

His reaction was slow. He did not notice a BioDarkdramon drawing a bead on him. He winced. He was caught dead to rights.

"Amythyst Wind!" a quiet, feminine voice called, somehow audible and echoing over the din of battle. Cherry blossoms manifested out of nowhere, whirling around the BioDarkdramon. The petals flashed, whirling like a tornado, and literally tore the cyborg dragon to shreds.

WarGrowlmon blinked in surprise as Sakuyamon landed beside him and moved back-to-back with him.

"R-Rena?! What are you doing? Leomon ordered all Megas to push forward!" he said, blinking in shock.

"It took me this long to finally have a chance to be with you, Guil," Sakuyamon said, her voice as quiet as usual, "Leomon can give orders. I am respectfully ignoring them to stay with you."

"...Well... I SHOULD argue and tell you to go... But..." WarGrowlmon said slowly, "...Fuck it. If we survive this, I'm pinning you down and humping you until we pass out right here on the battlefield."

Both the mighty steel-clad dragon and the delicate Taoist fox warrior fought on, both blushing deeply.

*****

Garudamon slashed with her arms, sending "kamaitachi," blades of vacuum and air pressure at the Rookies and Champions that charged towards her, cutting them to pieces. Her beak was turned down in a grimace as she backed away, trying to create more space between herself and the encroaching army.

"I HATE this," she grumbled, "I s-should never see an enemy this c-close, except with a 20x scope on my rifle."

"Well, Biyo... As much as I love watchin' ya pop heads from miles away, with this many targets, I think you'd run outta ammo too quick for a sniper rifle t'be much use," Lillymon replied, landing next to her. Her Flower Cannon mowed down an entire line of Arkadimon's hosts, vaporising them.

"Pal, I hate Digivolving. I hate ACTUALLY fighting. I hate being this close to s-so many people who wanna kill me... And in case y-you forgot, something weird or awful ALWAYS h-happens to m-me every time we have some sorta crisis," complained Garudamon, "I was the first to get a Black Collar, I was the first brainwashed by the Cult of Belialmon, I was the first i-infected by that s-stupid Virus..."

"Well, I'll tell ya what. I'm here, an' I need someone ta protect, since... Well, I'm... not strong enough to fight with the others..." Lillymon admitted, shaking her head, her petal-hair swaying. Garudamon glanced over her shoulder at Lillymon and gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll fight t-together. Y-You protect m-me, because y-you're way stronger than me; and I'll do m-my best for you," Garudamon said.

"...Deal. Now let's kick some ass," Lillymon said, grinning. Garudamon nodded as she got back-to-back with her. Then there was no more time to talk.

*****

"How many of these guys ARE there?!" snarled Astamon. Gazi's Ultimate transformation took the form of a humanoid wearing a pin-striped purple suit of impeccable tailoring. He wore a grey trenchcoat over it, and a long ragged crimson scarf draped his shoulders. Most of his head and face were not visible, as he wore the head of a horned panther over it. A pair of scaly purple wings sprouted from his back. Astamon's red eyes peered through the panther hood, shifting from side to side as he looked for targets, which he promptly mowed down with what was clearly an old-fashioned Thompson machine gun.

"Nyahh, see? There's all the mooks ya could possibly wanna plug fulla holes, see?" said UlforceVeedramon, grinning as he slashed with the twin energy blades extending from the back of his hands. The mighty blue dragon-knight wheeled and kicked, punched, and slashed, every move ending a life.

"...Why do you keep talking to me like that, Vee...?" asked Astamon vaguely, staring in confusion at UlforceVeedramon.

"It's because he thinks you look like a 1930s gangster. Which... I mean... ya kinda do," said a shining golden angel, firing blasts of blinding gold light from the palms of his hands. Seraphimon held up a glowing shield, letting a wave of incoming attacks scatter harmlessly off the barrier. Astamon frowned and took a moment to properly look at himself.

"I... uh... I guess... maybe? Whatever, Pata, let's just... keep fighting," Astamon sighed, wincing as his machine-gun clicked dry. He ejected the drum magazine and threw it like a frisbee, catching a Gotsumon and knocking its rocky head from its shoulders.

"Nyah, see? You'd better put a call on the horn for that sweet patootie like a hep cat; before the fuzz comes and puts the kibosh on us and sends us to the big house!" UlforceVeedramon continued nasally.

"....I have no clue what any of that means, and I'm not sure I want to," Astamon said, rolling his eyes as he reloaded his weapon before firing off a fresh burst at a pouncing Leopardmon. The bullets struck, sending it sprawling aside before it shattered.

"....I think... he wants you to go catch up with Gato... maybe?" Seraphimon suggested, "I don't speak bastardized 30's slang."

"Why me? I'm the weakest of the three of us. You guys are Megas, and even if you weren't, I'd still be weaker because I haven't mastered this yet," Astamon objected, "Besides, Leomon wanted all the Megas to move up."

"You've gotta make tracks like the flatfoot you are, and avoid makin' a brodie while you beat these brunos with that gat o' yours. Now get those gams movin' and find our moll! ....Nyah, see?" UlforceVeedramon said, looking at Astamon with tears of mirth in his eyes.

"....Vee, you're an idiot," Astamon said flatly.

"Indeed he is. And I have no idea what the heck he was talking about, but, yes, you should go help Gato. It's BECAUSE we're stronger than you that we should stay back here and take out any Ultimates or Megas that get past the others," Seraphimon said, "So we're trusting you to help her. We love her... and we're putting her in your hands because we know how much you love her too."

"Vee... Pata..." Astamon said, honestly touched to his core by the trust the other boys placed in him.

...Until UlforceVeedramon ruined the moment by saying, "Yeah, she's the bee's knees, see? Now go find the pip so we can have a ring-a-ding-ding and avoid the kiss off, dig?"

"That's it! I am NEVER EVER Digivolving near you guys ever again!!!" Astamon sighed, racing off while UlforceVeedramon broke down in hysterical laughter, and Seraphimon had to protect him until he could compose himself.

*****

The battle against Alphamon was not going well. Arkadimon had not just forced it to Digivolve, but he had overclocked its systems. Already formidable, it was overpowering the combined forces of Ophanimon, WarGreymon, and MetalGarurumon. Even when Rasielmon and Beelzemon had joined the fray, it had easily kept up with their attacks, holding them off.

"BLADE OF THE DRAGON KING!!!" shouted Alphamon, whirling as it made a wide sweep with its massive sword. WarGreymon crossed its gauntlets defensively again, blocking the strike. It skidded backward, reeling. MetalGarurumon slipped behind WarGreymon, pressing himself to the dinosaur-man's body, trying to help him weather the blow.

It only worked partially. Alphamon's sword did not pierce WarGreymon's desperate defense, but it sent both Digimon sprawling to the ground painfully.

"Argh, dammit!" WarGreymon growled, flipping back to his feet.

"...This isn't working, Agu," MetalGarurumon grumbled, shaking his head dazedly.

"...We need to go further. Sync up, Gabu..." WarGreymon said, after a moment's thought.

"...Oh, boy. It's been, what? ...6 cycles since we did this..." MetalGarurumon sighed.

The dinosaur and wolf retreated from the front line, letting the others take over the fight for them. They stood side by side, both silent as they closed their eyes in concentration.

"Synchronization rate at 67%. We need to get higher," MetalGarurumon said softly.

"Just breathe deep and slow. Follow my rhythm," WarGreymon murmured, "...And remember. I love you."

"I know. I love you too, you big lugnut," MetalGarurumon agreed, a hint of a smile on his muzzle. The two fell silent as they breathed deep, holding it for a moment, letting it out slow. Repeated it, again, and again. Slowly, their breathing matched each other, their heartbeats beating in time. Their very thoughts were as one as they both concentrated on their goal and how much they cared for one another. They could feel it, their desire to become one with each other uniting them.

"...Synchronization at 95%," MetalGarurumon announced after a moment.

"Let's do it," WarGreymon announced. "WARGREYMON, DNA DIGIVOLVE TO..."

"METALGARURUMON, DNA DIGIVOLVE TO..."

Both figures were enveloped in blinding light, an enormous shockwave radiating out from them into the battlefield. Their silhouettes blurred, seeming to slide towards each other and merge into one.

"OMNIMON!" both voices shouted from one mouth.

Where an orange and gold dinosaur warrior and a blue and yellow cybernetic wolf had stood, a white knight now hovered majestically. His left arm resembled WarGreymon's helm, while his right was in the shape of MetalGarurumon's head. The white knight's eyes narrowed.

"All right. Let's see how you deal with ME," he said, his strange combination of voices calm and determined. He kicked off the ground, leaping into the air to rejoin the fray.

*****

Ophanimon's lance speared forward, surrounded by a nimbus of glowing power provided by Rasielmon. Alphamon's blade clashed with it, the recoil sending all three Digimon flying backward away from one another.

"Why fight me, sisters?" Alphamon asked, glaring at Ophanimon and Rasielmon. He gestured at the crowd below them, millions of Digimon.

"You no longer fight to save the Digital World... I AM the Digital World, and I do not need saving!" he said, smirking, "You and your feeble Defenders have only three options... Become part of me by accepting the blessing of an Ark-Core... Allow me to consume you and become part of my very being... or die. I do not wish to kill you..."

"How about option four? We kill your 'avatar' here, and then come for you?" Rasielmon growled, lifting her greatsword, gripping it with both gauntlets. Ophanimon frowned beneath her helm.

"...Arkadimon... You really have no idea, do you? You are completely clueless..." she said, shaking her head. Alphamon cocked his head, as the massive creature behind him made the same movement.

"Why do you say that?" Alphamon asked.

"How can your world be a paradise? I can't imagine a lonelier world than one where no one can disagree with you... No one can argue, or give opinions... No friendship... No hatred... no love. Did you even realize that not ONE Digimon ANYWHERE gave themselves to you willingly? You imposed your will on them, forcing them to become part of your 'perfection.' I... pity you," Ophanimon said, choosing her words carefully. Her words rang out across the battlefield like a clarion, echoing far and wide. Arkadimon made a sound like a roar and Alphamon looked as if he had been clubbed upside the head.

"You... pity... ME?!!" Alphamon growled in outrage. Ophanimon nodded slowly.

"Yes, I PITY you! You are so angry, lonely, and selfish that you can't see the wonders of this Digital World! You are so focused on following in Devidramon's footsteps and creating your 'Arcadia,' that you can't see anything outside yourself!" Ophanimon growled, gripping her lance.

"How... DARE YOU!!!" Arkadimon snarled, "I am the most perfect being that has ever been created! You pity ME? You should be begging me for what I have to offer... You... If it weren't for you, BlackGatomon would be mine..."

"DIE!!!" he roared, striking down at Ophanimon. She held up her lance in defense, catching the massive curving blade with the shaft. Under her helmet, her eyes went wide as the blade cleaved clean through the golden metal of her weapon and came down towards her.

Rasielmon shoulder-checked Ophanimon out of the way, but now she was in the path of the blade. She put up a magical shield, closing her eyes behind the clear green visor as she expected the cold, slicing pain of the blade.

Instead, there was a loud, rapid bang. Steel shot slammed into both the blade and Alphamon, deflecting his weapon away from Rasielmon.

"Don't you dare, you sonovabitch! You don't DARE touch them while I'm here!" Beelzemon snarled, firing his weapons as fast as he could pull the trigger. Pellets rang off Alphamon's armor, leaving hundreds of microdents and scratches.

"...Very well. I shall remove you, THEN I shall touch them," Alphamon said bluntly.

In a flash of movement so fast he appeared as nothing more than a black streak, he disengaged from Ophanimon and Rasielmon and flew at the demon. Beelzemon gasped, bringing his guns up.

Alphamon whirled, lashing out with a kick. He caught Beelzemon's wrist, knocking his left gun out of his hand. The demon responded by bringing his second weapon to bear.

The black knight slashed downward with both hands, the blade moving so fast that Beelzemon never saw it. His shotgun fell away, cleaved apart. Beelzemon tried to bring up his fists to defend himself, but Alphamon was already slashing upward.

The blade caught Beelzemon on the right side of his face, slicing into the helmet... and into the eye beneath. Beelzemon recoiled on instinct, pain taking over everything as he was half-blinded.

"ARRRGH!!!" Beelzemon cried, blood spraying from his face as Alphamon's sword swung again, catching him across the chest. Alphamon wheeled and slammed the hilt against his temple, fracturing Beelzemon's helmet.

He flew to the side, out of control. A blinding light engulfed him, his silhouette shrinking and altering. When he reappeared, he had devolved back to Impmon. Rasielmon swooped in, catching him before he hit the rocks behind him.

"MEDIC!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, carrying the half-conscious scamp back towards the Defenders frontline. Ophanimon and Omnimon engaged Alphamon, preventing him from giving chase.

*****

Rasielmon streaked across the battlefield, tears likewise streaking down her cheeks. Her golden armor was stained with Imp's blood.

"MEDIC! HAWK! I NEED YOU! PLEASE!!!!" she cried into her Defenders Brand.

"I'm here, lass, down here!" Hawk's voice replied. She saw the brown-feathered bird jumping up and down, waving his hands at her near the back of the allied forces. She flared her wings, adjusting her angle to land near him.

She gently tipped Imp onto the ground, before devolving back to BlackGato to conserve energy. She gently took Imp's hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Hang on, Impy, Hawk's here. He's going to make you better," she whimpered.

"Relax... I've... never been better... than I am with... you with me..." Imp gasped. Hawk kneeled down beside Imp, using his Brand to scan the scamp's injuries, even as he pulled bandages out of his first-aid kit.

Hawk frowned as he looked at the bioscan of Imp's injuries, and said, "I can't treat these on the battlefield, lass. I've got to evacuate him."

BlackGato grit her teeth and nodded curtly, "Whatever it takes to save him, do it... please."

"BG..." Imp wheezed weakly. BlackGato rushed to his side and held his gloved hand in hers, kneeling beside him.

"No... need ta stay. Need ta fight..." Imp groaned, looking out of his good eye at her. BlackGato hook her head, folding her tasseled ears back.

"You were nearly cut in half, Impy. Your part in the fighting is done. Let Hawk save your stupid life," she whispered.

"Dammit... I really wanted... to blast that sonovabitch," Imp gasped, "P-Promise me you'll get 'im fer me."

"I promise. I'll fight hard enough for the both of us," BlackGato said.

"I'm breakin' my promise... I was s'posed ta go wherever you went..." Imp's voice was growing weaker, and he squeezed her paw tighter. BlackGato gasped, tears welling up in her large green eyes.

"How'd you even remember that? You were completely under my Cat's Eye Hypnosis!" she asked. Imp chuckled.

"You ain't as good as ya think ya are. It actually wore off like... two minutes earlier, an' I faked it... so it wouldn't be awkward ta confess," he laughed. BlackGato actually smiled. It wasn't a smirk, or a grin. It was a full, honest, true smile. It was the first time he had seen her smile in months, since her personality had matured. She leaned down and kissed him deeply, trying not to move him.

"I love you, Impy," she whispered.

"I love you too, BG..." Imp whispered back, pressing his palm to her face. She pressed her hand to his, then turned to Hawk.

"Get him OUT of here, already," she ordered, "I've got to go kill this thing."

"He won't die. I won't let him, lass," Hawk said earnestly, already calling other members of his medical team to help him evacuate Imp. BlackGato allowed herself the luxury of watching him go.

Wiping her tears, BlackGato banished her worry for Imp. Instead, she delved wholeheartedly into her fury and rage.

"BLACKGATOMON. WARP DIGIVOLVE TO.... RASIELMON!"

******