Disclaimer: Midnight-Avery and I own nothing recognizable from Digimon. The only thing we own is the plotline, as well as the OC, Cameron Hunter. If anything changes, we'll let you know.

-- Digimon Battles, School Exams and Emotional Overloads --

Last Time:

A tall Digimon in tribal robes and cape, wearing a large and spooky-looking mask with spiked mane. "Hmm, seems you little Tamers are all alone, no Digimon to help you. This'll be a piece of cake."

"I hate my mom so much right now," he muttered. Rika sent him a questioning look. "She made me leave my Digivice and cards at home."

"Well Gogglehead, that's why you sneak them out," she grinned, reaching back into the large blue bow that was at the end of the ribbon trying her kimono together, and pulled out her Digivice and pack of cards. His eyes widened in awe, and she winked, before looking up to the Digimon. "Renamon, time to play."

Chapter Seven:

Virus

The fox Digimon phased into existence near her Tamer, pupils already dilated into slits and fur bristling with battle-fever. Fists clenched, Renamon glanced over her shoulder at Takato. "Smelled him long before he fully crossed over. Guilmon's on his way."

Before the Goggle Boy (who wasn't wearing his Goggles this evening) could thank her, she dashed off, crystals already forming in her paws. Seconds later, a Diamond Storm was unleashed into the air as she leapt towards the threat.

Rika was just getting info on her D-Arc now. "Baronmon, Champion-Level Digimon. He's a Virus type, with attacks called Dancing Meteor and Storming Knives."

"Let's see how well he dances," Renamon snickered, phasing in and out of view as she rushed him. "Power Paw!" A series of quick and fierce punches pounded into Baronmon's side, and he hissed in pain, stumbling backwards.

"That all you got?" he recovered, standing up. His grin was dangerous, plain evil. "Try to keep up. Dancing Meteor!"

A swirl of dark energy appeared between the two Digimon, and a mass of meteors came roaring through, plummeting towards Renamon. With almost a smirk, she dodged left and right, only coming close one, singeing fur on her thigh.

However, her confidence in her step caused her to be sloppy, and she was caught off guard by Baronmon streaking through the meteors to attack with vicious force. "Storming Knives!" he cried, and several golden daggers came flying from the depths of his cape, tipped with rubies.

They sliced through Renamon's fur in a few areas, causing deep cuts that weakened her movements and slowed her down in pain. Taking his opportunity, he floored her, landing a kick to her torso with his thick brown boot.

"Renamon!" Rika called worriedly. Her eyes narrowed at the Digimon harming her Partner and she fished a card from her holder, activating her Digivice. "No way Renamon's going down without a fight! DigiModify! Digivolution Activate!"

"Rename…Digivolve…to…Kyuubimon!" A burst of strength and energy hit the fox Digimon and she jumped up, baring her teeth. Just as she was about to leap forward and retaliate against Baronmon, a red blur came from the tree line on the right and smashed into him, taking him crashing onto the pavement.

Guilmon rolled with the Champion, his claws digging into its robes in order to stay put. Eyes viral and teeth bared, the Rookie took a few vicious bites at him, before rearing back and unleashing a Pyro Sphere right into its mask.

It went flying off, creating sparks on the stone ledge where it crashed. Guilmon had been thrown off by the force of his attack, and skidded back on his hind legs, staring at the angry and disfigured face of what had been a Goblinmon before Digivolution had granted it a viral Champion Form.

Baronmon snarled, baring his ugly yellow teeth at the two Tamers and their Partners. "Master!" he yelled, eyes darting furtively back to the tree line where his Digital Field had appeared. "Give me the virus strain and I'll eliminate these two! They won't last!"

For a moment nothing happened, but a vicious hiss emerged from the shadows, forming a confusing strain of words, too fast and jumbled for the Tamers or their Digimon to understand. But Baronmon seemed to catch it, because he was grinning madly again, wringing his hands together.

They soon realized it was because a strain of black energy was drifting forth from the remnants of his Digital Field. They'd seen this viral energy before—a week and a half ago, when Millenniummon had given IceDevimon the power to Digivolve into his Ultimate form.

"Is anything ever simple with you clowns?" Rika muttered, adjusting her kimono as she took a step forward, Kyuubimon at her side. She intended to take this thing down before it gained some extra kick. "Kyuubimon."

"Got it," the fox dipped her head, leaping forward and thrusting her body into a roll. "Dragon Wheel!" The blue fire gathered and gathered as she spun, and she let loose the stream of flaming dragons.

It sped towards Baronmon, hitting him just as the black energy strain did. It caused an explosion of dust and energy, sending the Tamers and their Digimon Partner skidding back a few feet. Shielding their eyes, Rika and Takato watched as the dust cleared—leaving only a mass of black, maroon and purple behind.

"What…what is that?" Takato questioned.

Slowly, the mass began to move, and one after another, two black wings uncurled from around the Digimon before them. It had thick maroon fur on its goat legs and forearms, followed by purple and orange clown-like sleeves, a grey goat-like face complete with horns, black wings and a furry tail.

"Guess he took my clown jab seriously," Rika gulped, uncomfortable with the horrific enemy before them. Baronmon had truly looked like a joker—a clown as she'd called him—but this one?

Her D-Arc beeped and she looked down, reading the information off the holo-display screen. "Mephismon, Ultimate Level. A Fallen Angel Digimon, Virus type."

Kyuubimon growled, standing protectively before the two teens. Apparently, it didn't matter what Mephismon was, she was intent upon chasing him away from her loved ones. "Be gone, Demon."

"Demon?" Mephismon cackled, his voice eerie and dangerous. "You are one to speak, Vixen. Those are not Holy Spirits you wield."

"At least I have chosen to redeem them," she hissed, kicking off and leaping towards him, a fierce determination in her eyes. As fast as Kyuubimon was—Mephismon was faster. In a flash, his claw came up and caught her by the throat, leaving her dangling in mid-air.

"A poor choice," he sneered. "Siding with the humans always makes Digimon weaker, vulnerable, humane. You've been tamed. There isn't a place for you in the Digital Realm anymore."

His hold increased and tightened, causing her to cry out. She struggled against his grip, but the Ultimate was stronger, finally throwing her away when he had had enough of her whimpering. Breathing heavily, she lay on her side at Rika's feet, trying to regain a normal breathing pattern.

Growling fiercely, Guilmon took his opportunity, barreling into the Digimon. "Rock Breaker!" he roared, and his head gained a layer of rock-like energy so that when he smashed into Mephismon—it knocked him onto his rear.

Hissing, he beat his wings once and rose to his feet again, charging at Guilmon and grabbing him as he flew, lifting the dinosaur clear off his feet. As Takato and Rika cried the Digimon's name, he was rammed into a tree, Mephismon pinning him there. His lidless eyes scanned the red Digimon, practically glowing in the darkness of the branches.

"You're not squeaky clean either—you're a Virus type," Mephismon cackled. "You'll make a fine first victim."

"Guilmon!" Takato yelled, running towards him despite Rika's protests. The demonic opponent simply had to wave his hand and the teen went flying, landing on the grass in a heap. He was growing tired of this game—it was time to finish what he'd come here to do. In one swift movement, his claw covered in black ooze, and he rammed it into Guilmon's stomach. "Black Sabotage!"

The twin roars that broke the air next were enough to make Rika and Kyuubimon's skin crawl. First was Guilmon, as the attack began to take into affect, the black ooze spreading up his body. Second, was Takato, who fell back into the grass, writing in pain.

"Takato! Guilmon!" Rika yelled worriedly, panic seizing her. She held her D-Arc so tight her knuckles turned white, and she flipped through cards frantically. Finding the two she needed, she stood straight, at the ready. "DigiModify! Recharge Activate!"

Kyuubimon gained an ethereal glow then, and strength returned to her, causing her tail to spark back to life with vibrancy. But things were not done—Rika held another card. "Mephismon's all about black magic, so let's see what a little white magic'll do," she smirked. "DigiModify! Crystal Fire Activate!"

Kyuubimon's blue flame gained volume and power, turning pure white in the process. With a nod from Rika, she leapt forward, roaring. "Fox Tail Inferno!"

The shower of white fire hit Mephismon dead on, and he was not prepared, completely indulged in his attack on Guilmon. The crystal fire seeped in through his dark skin, burning, tearing and cleansing. A roar erupted from his lungs as he fell, letting go of Guilmon. The fire spread, and as Kyuubimon added a Dragon Wheel into the equation, Mephismon burst into data.

But his contact with Guilmon had not gone ignored. The red dino Digimon sat there, looking dazed, blinking at his surroundings. However, he wasn't exactly red anymore.

"Guilmon?" Kyuubimon frowned, de-Digivolving as she stepped towards him. "Are you alright?"

Hearing his name seemed to snap him back into place, and he stared up at her, blinking his bright yellow eyes. "BlackGuilmon."

"What?"

"My name…is BlackGuilmon," he corrected her, and I was then he realized that his colors had been reversed. His body was now black, with red stripes—the opposite of what it had been. Also, the hazard sign on his chest seemed to be glowing slightly.

"What's wrong?" Rika inquired. "What did Mephismon do to you?"

"He's fine, don't worry about it, Ri," Takato chuckled, joining them. He looked fine for a guy who'd been twisting in pain moments before. In fact, he too looked different. His hair was slightly darker, messier, and his eyes—his eyes were much redder than red-brown, not to mention more vibrant and daring. He was also smirking, which was uncommon for a boy who always wore a smile, and his posture seemed different too—more confident, cocky.

And then it hit her.

Out of all the Tamers and DigiDestined, Takato had always been more connected to Guilmon than anyone else was with their Partners. When battles occurred he was usually the first to feel his Partner's pain, and was the first to discover Bio-Emerging, becoming one with his Digimon. She'd always wondered if it was because Takato had created Guilmon himself, an anomaly within the Digital Realm.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," he smirked, breaking her from her thoughts. "Just seems like an upgrade to me."

"But…Mephismon…his attack," Rika stammered, confused by his nonchalant behavior. Usually Takato would be frantically pointing out Guilmon's difference and trying to figure out what was wrong. "You were both writing in pain before Kyuubimon destroyed him!"

"Yeah, thanks for that, by the way," Takato stepped forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Don't know what would've happened if you hadn't saved BlackGuilmon and I."

He was actually using the altered name. Now she knew something was wrong.

She opened her mouth to ask if he was sure he was fine, but she got no further, because the usually shy, dorky and sweet Gogglehead had just closed the gap between them, crashing his lips onto hers.

And just as unnaturally—she responded.