“No! Absolutely not.” Rumiko told the girl who was sitting across the table from her. “Mom, we have to go. Henry found out that there is a digimon who destroying other digimon almost as fast as the D-reaper.” Rika replied. “I don’t care. You are not going back to the digital world.” Rumiko shot back at her daughter.

“Dear, you know she has to go and Renamon will protect her.” Rika’s grandmother said. “But, but, but she could get hurt.” Rumiko muttered. “Honey, she did fine the last time. You’ll protect her from anything dangerous, right Renamon?” Rika’s grandmother asked the yellow fox digimon in the corner. “I will not let any harm come to her.” Renamon said. “ Good, then it’s settled. Rika you can go to the digital world on one condition.” Rika’s grandmother said.

 “What condition?” Rika asked. “Come home safe.” Rika’s grandmother said. “It’s a deal. Thanks grandma.” Rika said as she jumped up and hugged her. “I love you mom. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” Rika said as she hugged her mom. “C’mon Renamon. We have to meet the others in the park.” Renamon and Rika ran out of the room towards the park.

“Bout time you got here.” Kazu said as Rika hurried into Guilmon’s hideout. “Very funny Kazu.” Rika said as she looked around. All the tamers and their digimon were there except for Suzie, Ai, and Mako. “How did you get Suzie to stay home?’ Rika asked Henry. “ I left her Lopmon and Impmon to torture with Miss pretty pants. Why wouldn’t she want to stay?” Henry said. Everyone laughed.

Henry then turned serious. “O.K. everyone. Listen up. We have to get rid of this digimon before he does anymore damage. Everyone ready?”

“Let’s do it.” Kenta said as Marine angemon hovered near him.

“Sure.” Said Kazu and guardramon at the same time.

“Ready as always. Mondramon?” Ryo said as monodramon nodded his head.

“For the digital world! Right, Calumon?” Jeri asked.

“Yea!” Calumon said as he flipped in the air.

“Let’s go Guilmon.” Takato said. “Uh-huh.” Guilmon replied.

“ Do you have to ask, Henry?” Rika said.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Terriermon asked as he jumped through the digital gate.

Everyone went through the gate. This time they started falling immediately.

“Hey Takato, just like old times huh?” Henry shouted as they continued to fall. “What is the deal with all the big digital holes here?” Rika yelled as she fell past Henry. Then they hit the ground. “Okay, I have a suggestion. Let’s not do that again.” Kazu said as he climbed out of the hole he made. “Is everyone alright?” Henry asked. The tamers grouped up again and started planning.

“Is it just me or was that big palace not there before?” Takato asked as the tamers turned toward a palace just off in the distance. “I’d say that’s where the evil digimon is.” Ryo said. “So what’s our plan guys? Do we just go and attack him?” Kenta asked. There was a dead silence as the tamers looked at each other, the palace, then back at each other. “I vote that we rest up and take a crack at this digimon in the morning.” Kazu said. “Good idea Kazu. Okay, let’s rest up then regroup in the morning.” Takato said. “We should probably take watches.” Jeri said. “I’ll take first watch.” Henry said. “I’ll take second watch.  That way I get to chose who gets the next watch.” Rika grinned maliciously. There was a chorus of  “goodnights” then everyone went to bed except Henry.

Ten minutes later Henry heard a noise. When he looked up he saw Rika walking toward him out of the cave where they had camped. “Henry, I couldn’t sleep, do you mind if I watch with you?” Rika asked. Henry looked stunned for about a second then said. “Sure Rika, pull up some ground.” Rika sat down next to Henry and looked out into the distance. After a couple of minutes Henry ventured to ask “Why couldn’t you sleep?” “One reason is that half of the things in there snore and the second reason is I’m worried.” Rika said. “Why are you worried?” Henry asked. Rika looked at long and hard at Henry before she answered. “Promise not to tell?” she asked. “You have my word.” Henry answered. “I don’t want to fight. I mean look at all the pain it causes. You probably think I’m a coward now.” Rika said as she hung her head.

“No Rika, I would never think you were a coward. When you first met me I didn’t want to fight either. I just learned that I had to fight to protect my friends.” Henry said. Rika looked up at him in surprise. “Go get some sleep Rika. I think you’ll be able to now.” Henry said as he got up and offered his hand to Rika. “What about you?” Rika asked as he pulled her up. “I’ll just stand watch till I get tired and then I’ll wake somebody up. Goodnight Rika.” Henry said. “Goodnight Henry.” Rika said as she backed into the cave.

Morning came and Takato was the first one to wake up. “C’mon Guilmon. It’s morning.” Takato said while he was shaking Guilmon. “More bread please.” Guilmon murmured in his sleep. Takato gave up and went outside. Takato stretched and looked around. “Henry! What are you still doing out here?” Takato asked the boy sitting near the corner of the cave. “Good morning to you too Takato.” Henry said as he got up and looked inside the cave. “Are you the first one up?” Henry asked Takato. “Yeah. Why were you out here all night?” Takato asked. “I didn’t want to wake anybody up. Sorry.” Henry shrugged as he walked into the cave and walked out with a woozy Terriermon in his arms. “Five more minutes.” the rabbit digimon moaned.

Pretty soon the rest of the tamers started walking out of the cave. Rika flashed Henry a quick smile and they all sat down over Takato’s backpack of bread to plan out their attack.

Chapter 2

“Great. It’s all set.” Takato said after they had finished planning an attack. “Yep, we run in there without a plan like always.” Rika joked. Everyone laughed. Then they set off toward the palace.

The palace door was locked. “I’ll fix that. Guardian barrage!” Guardromon said as he fired his missiles at the door. The door fell in and Kazu said, “Oh man, I have the coolest digimon ever!” The tamer’s entered the palace and found themselves in the main chamber of the palace. A digimon sat on a throne while several Geckomon sat near it. Ryo aimed his D-power at the digimon and got nothing back. “Oh great, no data. What is this guy?” Ryo yelled. “Oh wait, here it goes. Asoramon, a demon type digimon, mega level.” Ryo said as the data on his D-power disappeared. ‘Asora? Why does that sound familiar?’ Henry thought. A flashback hit Henry as he realized why it was familiar.  “In Sandscript there is an ancient legend about of group of good spirits called the Devas. They battled the evil demon Asora and prevented him from fully entering this world.” Henry’s Sensei had said. “Great, it took twelve Devas to just to fend this guy off.” Henry said. “Pitiful weaklings!” came an evil sounding voice from the digimon. “Get on the ground and show proper respect!” yelled Asoramon. Unwillingly the tamers and their digimon fell to the floor, except for two. Rika’s knees had buckled, but she had remained upright and Henry was standing firm.

“What is this!” Asoramon yelled, taken aback at the sight of two humans standing against him. Asoramon stood up and aimed his attack at Rika. “Nightmare blast!” Asoramon shouted. Henry ran over to Rika and took the attack in his shoulder. A deep bloody gash appeared in Henry’s shoulder, but he merely looked at it. “You’re going to have to try a lot harder than that.” Henry told Asoramon. “Rika, are you okay?” Henry asked the stunned girl behind him. Rika managed to stutter out “Yeah, I…I’m fine. What about…” Henry cut her off before she could say another word. “Rika, I need you to take your D-power and aim it at Asoramon on the count of three. Okay?” Henry asked. “I’m with ya.” Rika said as she gripped her D-power.

“Three, two, one, NOW!” Henry yelled as he raised his D-power and a green light shot out of it. Rika did the same and a blue light shot out. The two light streams wound around each other and shot straight through Asoramon. “No! This cannot be!” Asoramon yelled as he turned into data and floated away. Then the palace began to shake and collapse. “Get out of here!” Henry yelled. The tamers managed to get off of the ground and run through the exit.

“What…huff…happened back…there?” Takato asked after their narrow escape. “We have to get out of here.” Henry said as he reached into his pocket. When he pulled his hand out there was a green card between his fingers. “A green card?” an astonished Ryo asked. “Digi-modify! Digital gate activate!” Henry yelled. A digital gate appeared before the tamers and they ran towards it as the palace collapsed behind them.

Chapter 3

The Tamers fell through the gate into Guilmon’s hideout. “What just happened?” Jeri asked as she pushed Guilmon off her. “Dude, get off of me.” Kazu yelled as he tried to shove Guardramon off him. “Sorry, sorry.” Guardramon said as he managed to get up. “Rika, are you all right?” a worried Renamon asked. “I’m fine. Where’s Henry?” Rika asked as Renamon pulled her up. “Over here.” came a noise from the corner. Henry was sitting in the corner of the hideout while Terriermon sat next to him.

“Henry, do you mind if I ask you a question? Could you explain everything that just happened?” Takato asked. “I’ll try.” Henry said as he motioned everyone to sit down.

“I thought Asoramon sounded familiar. When I had asked my sensei about the Devas, he said that they battled a demon named Asora. When he tried to make us bow I just knew that I couldn’t give him that power. I think Rika knew it too.” Henry said as he looked at Rika. “After Asoramon tried to attack Rika I thought of using my D-power and told Rika to use hers. You know what happened up to then.” Henry said. “What about the green card?” Takato asked. “I don’t know”, Henry said, “I was just concentrating on getting out of the digital world and it appeared. It’s kinda funny. We’ve each have had a card that was the color of our D-power.” he said, indicating Takato and Rika.

“You’re right. Well that sums it up for me.” Takato said. “Hey Guilmon, I bet I can make it to the pond before you.” Takato said as he raced out. “No fair, Takatomon! You got a head start!” Guilmon whined as he went after Takato. “Play!’ Calumon yelled as he started running. “Guess I’d better follow them. Thanks Henry.” Jeri said as she walked out. “Yeah, thanks Henry. You want to play in the pond Marine Angemon?” Kenta asked. “Sure.” Marine Angemon said as they walked out. “Dude, I can so totally beat you in a race.” Kazu said to Guardramon. “Not a chance.” Guardramon said as he ran out of the hideout. “Wait! You big doofus. I’m supposed to say Go!” Kazu yelled. “GO!” Guardramon yelled back. Kazu ran after the fleeing digimon. “Monodramon, you can go with them if you want. I just wanted to tell Rika something.” Ryo said. “Okay.” Monodramon said as he trotted off in the direction off the pond. “Rika?” Ryo said. “What?” Rika asked. “I just wanted to say that…uh, you really are a stronger tamer than me. And I know who you really belong with now.” Ryo said with disappointment in his voice. Rika looked at Ryo for a second and said “Thanks Ryo.” Ryo left the hideout and ran toward the pond.

“What did he mean by that Rika?” Renamon asked her tamer. “I’ll tell you what it means. It means that mphh humh.” Terriermon said as Henry clapped a hand over his mouth. “Renamon, could you possibly take Terriermon over to the pond?” Henry asked. Renamon grabbed Terriermon, nodded to Rika, then disappeared with Terriermon. “Henry…I wanted to take you for …saving my life.” Rika stammered out. “I had to protect you Rika. I really care about you. What was that?” Henry said as an enormous explosion occurred outside of the hideout. The pair ran out into the park and found a large digimon in front of them. “ No! It can’t be. It’s Asoramon!” Rika yelled.

Chapter 4

“BWAHAHAHA!” Asoramon laughed. “You pitiful humans actually thought you destroyed me! I used an Aliasmon to test your power!” Asoramon boomed at the two tamers. “Great! Aliasmon can take on the identity of any digimon they’re commanded to.” Rika said. “I have a feeling that this is going to be a lot harder than last time!” Henry yelled. “Nightmare Blast!” Asoramon yelled. Henry pushed Rika out of the way, but the attack still hit her in the leg, leaving a bloody gash. “Rika!” Henry yelled.

“Rika.” Renamon said as her fur rose. “Digimon.” Guilmon said. The digimon ran back towards the hideout. The other tamers quickly realized that a battle was going on and ran in the direction the digimon had gone.

“Nightmare Claws!” Asoramon yelled as the rest of the tamers came in to the clearing. The attack hit Henry and blew him away. When he hit the ground he was a bloody mess. Rika pulled herself over to Henry leaving a trail where the blood had ran off her leg. “Henry, please get up. We have to destroy Asoramon. Please Henry, don’t give up.” Rika told Henry. The bloody hand clutching Henry’s D-power raised itself and Henry nodded to Rika. The light shot forth like before, but Asoramon was not destroyed. “Is that the best you can do!” he mocked. “Jeri, we have to help them!” Takato yelled. “Takato, let’s do it!” Jeri yelled back. The two raised their D-powers. Jeri’s staticky D-power shot forth a yellow light that twined itself with the red one that shot from Takato’s D-power. Asoramon started to break up slightly, but it wasn’t enough.

Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo added the lights from their D-powers by aiming them at Asoramon. Asoramon screamed, but he still hadn’t disappeared.

“Diamond Storm! Bunny Blast! Pyrosphere! Guardian Barrage! Kahuna Wave! Mono Boom!” the digimon yelled as they used their attacks on Asoramon. “NOOOOOO!” Asoramon yelled as his data finally broke apart and was absorbed by all the digimon.

“Rika!” Renamon yelled as she ran to her tamer’s side. “How did Asoramon come back? I thought he was destroyed.” Takato asked Jeri as they ran toward the hurt tamers. Renamon helped Rika onto her feet. Rika answered Takato’s question by saying “An Aliasmon. He took Asoramon’s form.” In the meantime Terriermon had ran over to what was left off his tamer. “Henry? Wake up Henry. You have to wake up. We won. Henry?” Terriermon asked Henry. Henry didn’t wake up though. “Renamon, we have to help him.” Rika begged her partner. “I’ll do what I can Rika. Jeri? Can you help Rika walk?” Jeri instantly went to Rika’s side while Renamon scooped Henry into her arms. “We have to get them to a hospital.” Renamon said. “West Shinjuku Hospital is right up the street.” Kenta volunteered. “Dude, then what are we waiting for?” Kazu asked. The tamers set off in the direction of the hospital.

Chapter 5

‘Where am I?” Rika wondered.’ She was sitting in complete darkness. ‘Wait, what’s that?’ A scene had appeared in front of her. “It’s kinda like those plays Grandma and I went and saw.” She thought to herself. She saw a little boy getting beat up by a little blue-haired boy. The other boy got hurt and the blue-haired boy was horrified. He ran away. Rika was surprised when she heard his thoughts. ‘I have to hold back. I shouldn’t fight. It’s wrong.’ the boy thought. “Wait!” Rika yelled. The little boy disappeared.

In a few seconds the same boy appeared except he was a few years older. He had his back against the wall while a bunch of others boys had him surrounded. Rika heard one of the boys say “Stupid kid, go back to your own country! Oh, that’s right. You’re Japanese and Chinese. Get him.” He said to the other boys. The boys started punching him, but the blue-haired boy didn’t fight back. “Stop, I don’t want to fight you.” The blue-haired boy said. “Fight back!” Rika yelled. The boy didn’t seem to hear her.

He soon disappeared as was replaced by the boy Rika had recognized as Henry. She wasn’t surprised when she saw herself. “Digimon are just data.” She heard herself saying. Rika thought to herself ‘Was I really that cruel?” Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to find the real Henry standing next to her. “Rika, I’m so glad I found you.” Henry said. “Henry is this your memory?” Rika asked. Henry sat down next to Rika and sighed. “Yes it’s my memory. The ones you saw have become a nightmare. That’s why I kept watch the entire night when we were in the digital world. It’s happened to you too Rika.” Henry said. It was Rika’s turn to sigh. “I think we need to see your memories Rika. It could be the way to make the nightmare end.” Henry said.

There was a flash and a little girl with red hair and light streaks appeared before the two. “Where’s mom?” the girl asked her grandma. “She went out for awhile honey. Why don’t you go to bed?” her grandma replied. The little girl walked off into the hall and the two tamers heard her thoughts. ‘Mom is never here. She doesn’t love. No one does.’ The girl thought.

The girl disappeared. An older version of her showed up. She was wearing a skull t-shirt and walking out of a digimon card battle arena. The tamers heard her mumbling to herself. “I can’t believe that jerk Ryo actually beat me. No one should be able to beat me. I have to be the best. I just have to be.” This girl faded away and was replaced.

The same memory that Henry had had also been tormenting Rika. The memory faded and the two turned to each other. “Rika you’re going to wake up now. You’re in West Shinjuku Hospital. Your mom and grandma and Renamon are there. The curtain will be drawn on the bed next to you. Terriermon and I are in there. Don’t give up Rika. I’ll be awake in a few hours.” Henry said as he hugged Rika. Rika stared at Henry and then a bright white flash made her blink.

Chapter 6

Rika opened her eyes and found herself in a hospital room. Her mom and grandma were crying as they sat next to her bed. Renamon stood watch at her side. “Rika!” Renamon cried. Rika sat up and hugged Renamon. She turned around and said “Mom, Grandma, I’m okay. I’m fine.” Rumiko hugged her daughter while her Grandma cried tears of joy. Rika turned to her right and found a curtain behind Renamon. “Renamon, please open that curtain.” Rika asked. Renamon hesitated, but she drew the curtain back.

Henry was behind the curtain and Terriermon was sitting on the bed crying. ‘It’s just like he said.’ Rika thought. She turned to Renamon and exchanged a look with her digimon. Renamon nodded and helped Rika out of her bed. Rumiko objected, but stopped her protests when she realized what Renamon was doing. Renamon set Rika down in a chair next to Henry’s bed. “We’ll be outside Rika.” Rumiko said. Rika grabbed Henry’s hand and waited.

Three hours passed when Rika felt her hand being squeezed. She looked up to find Henry smiling at her. Terriermon had not noticed that Henry was awake. Henry turned to his partner and said “Momentai.” Terriermon fell off the bed in shock. Henry managed to maneuver all his bandages and give Rika a hug. “The nightmares stopped.” He whispered in her ear. As if sharing the same thought they kissed each other.

Terriermon clambered back on the bed and said “Momentai. Now that we’re all awake can we tell everyone else?” Henry and Rika nodded and Renamon grabbed Terriermon so they could break the news to the other tamers. Rika turned to Henry and said “Henry, back at the hideout, before Asoramon attacked, you said that you really cared about me. Did you mean it?” Rika asked. “Of course I meant it Rika. I love you.” Henry said. “Good,” Rika said, “because I love you too.” The hugged again and the other tamers came flooding into the room.

 “Thanks for helping us beat Asoramon.” Henry said. “We couldn’t have done it without you two.” Jeri said. All the tamers smiled.

Epilogue

Takato finally asked Jeri out on a date. They are now going steady. Ryo was disappointed about Rika for awhile, but he got over it when he realized that there were hordes of girls waiting to date the famous Digimon King. Kazu and Kenta have started their own digimon card-training lessons. Rika’s leg has healed. Henry also healed fully. Henry and Rika started dating when they got out of the hospital. They’re still together.

The End