"Ugh, did you HAVE to bring everyone?" Dantella asked while wrinkling her nose. "There are way too many people here."

"Well, they all insisted," Ruri shrugged. "Plus, Mika wanted to take the stage this time around."

"Huh?" She looked surprised as Mika walked up to the stage of Hazakura's multipurpose hall to stand in front of her. "What do you mean?"

"We heard from the others about what you were diagnosed with, and once we did, we figured out what we should do," I said, recalling the conversation we had last night.

"I see... avoidant personality disorder. That explains why she was so cold and standoffish from you guys even though she needed your help in beating Nohemon..." Semo-sensei hummed. 

"She... she was shunned for not wanting friends and it got to outright bullying... her own family thought she was a burden and ignored her..." Morinomiya had tears falling down her cheeks. 

"What the ****?! That's so wrong!"  Kagami growled. 

"I agree, but... it's not like we can change it. Much as I would like to **** them all over, Ella never wanted us to get our hands bloodied over her. She... she's really sweet. She... she was just..." Asagao-san looked down. 

"Either way, we need to figure out how to stop her. You said that Schizomon used Jogress evolution?" Wynton asked. 

"Yeah," I confirmed. "And it looks like there is a different Digimon born based on the main Digimon summoned. In other words-"

"She has alternate Megas as well," Hiro grimly stated. 

"She does. It's a weird thing about her, but then again, she's always sorta looked up to Akira-ge," Tianheng sighed. "Schizomon is both very delusional and unpredictable."

"Wait, hold on... what does Akira have to do with all of this?" I asked. What did they mean...?

"That's... not our story to tell." Asagao-san looked away. "Either way, Schizomon only shows a certain type of symptom based on the mon the Jogress is based on. If it's Arturomon he has delusions and hallucinations, and if it's Setonimon he has inappropriate responses to things and  can't empathize or socialize."

"So either side is bad?" Dan asked. 

"I... wouldn't call it that. You can't call-" 

"Shin Bernard, please, we know you want to be nice, but Daiki Akira nearly killed Luno. If it weren't for... Eosmon, she wouldn't be here. She would be dead!" Dad snarled. 

"Hold on, he WHAT?!" Ichita gasped. 

"CAN WE NOT HAVE THIS CONVERSATION NOW!?"  ClearAgumon snapped. "That's in the past! Right now, we need to save Dantella! She has both Hubris and Melancholy even if it's not balanced! I'm scared her infection rate is worse than ours!"

"W-wait, s-she has both...?" Kiyoshiro asked, paling really quickly. "H-How?" 

"We... we don't know how either, but... somehow she gained both during Jogress." Asagao-san shuddered. "You saw how it affected our minds before we were rescued. Imagine Tianheng, but twice the damage."

"That... That's scary," I paled. 

"... Guys, can I..." Mika suddenly spoke up. "Can I take her on?"

"Huh?! Mika, what are you-"

"Ruri, I... I need to do this. Both my grandparents were part of that generation, and... Ugh, I'll explain later. The point is, I HAVE to do this."

"... Alright then. But please, be careful."

"Always am, my sweet rose."

"I fail to understand why you are here instead of Akashiro," she said, disdain clear in her tone as she looked at me. "I don't have any business with you."

"Well, maybe you do. I... I need to do this," she answered while looking at her, making her flinch and scowl. "What do you want?!"

"Onaka, let's go. Less talk, more action is the way to go right now." She held her new Digivice. 

"Yeah," He agreed.

"Ugh, fine! But you'll regret it!" She snarled. 

Both sides got themselves ready while the digital field activated and teleported us to a fighting stage that seemed...

"Blues, where did this one come from?..."

"Mika requested specifically for it, but I don't know why." He sighed. 

"But why... would she request a playground one?" Aoi asked. 

Ruri was frozen, though. Her eyes were wide. "This is...!"

"Ruri?" I looked back. 

"This is the playground where Mika and I met, when she..."

"She?"

"This is...!?" Dantella was shaking now. 

"I recognized it when Ruri said you hated physical contact and connecting with others," Mika said. "And that you were bullied. You were the girl from that time, weren't you?" 

"Huh?"

She looked down. "I... I once saw a girl being bullied. I... should have helped when I could. They were hurting her so badly, laughing and sneering as she tried to get away but couldn't... they made her stay and sneered when she begged them to let them go. But... I didn't, and... now because I hadn't, I... I ran, and that's how I met Ruri..."

"You... You were the girl who ran despite my pleas..."

"I... the real reason I have Gluttony isn't only because of Ruri, it's because of... the unfulfilled desires... it's like how Violet's greed was for everyone's smiles. I wanted to... I wanted more than anything to gain the power to fulfill those desires. To help, to stop the pain, to... make amends. Of all the people that had to be involved, you, you had to be involved, and I-"

"You made my life miserable! How the **** is it okay?!" She suddenly snarled. 

"It's not! And I'm sorry! I know that I'm the reason you're here today! I... I'm... I can't change what happened before but..." Mika looked at her straight. "I... will save you."

She can't change what happened in the past...?

"As if I need it! I have everything I ever need with Perfectio!!"

"But does it truly make you happy?! Does doing whatever Perfectio want truly erase the pain you have?!" 

"I...! Grrrrr! Shut the **** up!"

"No! I... I had so much time to think over it during the Sin Code arc. When I... was overwhelmed by it. I just... my mind wasn't just thinking of filling my stomach. It wasn't just feeling hungry all the time. It was... it was regretting. I'm done regretting! I'm done letting all of what I've done get to me! It stops me, stops Onaka from reaching what we truly can reach, from... finding friendship. Companionship. All these regrets remind us that we aren't gonna be okay 24/7. We will make mistakes, we will fail but... isn't it worth fighting for in the end?! So!" She held out her hand. "Dantella, I am going to free you from that mark! And it's okay if you don't forgive me. It should only be given once you're ready. I'm willing to wait for that until the day I die!"

I gasped quietly. She... She had a point there. 

Wasn't it... Wasn't reaching our full potential worth fighting for? For those who we wronged, as a way to remind ourselves to stop letting the darkness shackle us down?

I... I found that inspiring. How Mika was willing to shed all of that to help someone she wronged. I didn't feel embarrassed this lesson came from someone younger. I felt that... sometimes the younger generation knew more than I did. 

It wasn't scary, it was part of life; learning from those around us, and I had missed that crucial part growing up. It wasn't until I met Mei, who was four years younger, until I met the others that I finally accepted that learning from others, regardless of age, was worthwhile and meaningful. 

Mika... thank you. You reminded me of a very important thing I had forgotten after Perfectio showed up.

"You..." Dantella's eyes widened, but then the marks glowed on her forehead as she screamed, Jazamon glowing brightly. 

"Onaka!" Mika seemed prepared for this outcome, though. "We're going to take Schizomon down, so no holding back!" 

"Got it!"

Soon, Yokubarimon and Schizomon were facing each other, and Mika commanded, "Endless Blasters!"

"Destroy her! Phrenic Evil!!" Dantella screamed while holding her head.

The two attacks, one from a weapon, the other a spell, collided, but Yokubarimon, no, YamiMothmon appeared as the fog cleared up.

"You devolved?!" Aoi gasped. 

"Hubris and melancholy won't get anyone anywhere! And neither will the revenge you all seek! It will only hurt and hurt and hurt! Let's stop that cycle! Let's change the world with the light instead of the darkness!" Mika yelled. "YamiMothmon, you with me?!"

"Mika, always have, always will! I won't turn my back on you as you stuck with me even after seeing Violet get overwhelmed! Even though I could see the fear in your eyes, you still fought for what you wanted and that is the real treasure! Kashiwagi Mika, you and I! We will break through and..."

"WE'LL GET HER BACK, NO MATTER WHAT!" Both of them chorused.

"SHUT UP! SCHIZOMON, DESTROY THEM WITH SPLIT MIND SCREECH!!"

Schizomon roared and sent off a powerful screech. As I covered my ears, I was expecting Mika to actually counter but-

She didn't. Instead, we could hear the screams of both of them as a loud boom echoed, the shockwave enough to send us flying. My back hit the wall and I groaned, but managed to get up to see...!

"Mika! OnakaZetsuboumon!!" Shiramon gasped. The two were lying on the ground, looking very weak as well...

"They... They hadn't dodged it?!" Dan paled. "Oh no this is ba-"

"Dantella-jie!!" Suddenly, Tianheng moved past us, running up to the stage and hugging Dantella, who looked... Exhausted but also happy as she hugged back, a smile forming. The mark was no longer present too!

Mika was supported by Ruri while Angoramon carried OnakaZetsuboumon as ToyAgumon hugged Jazamon. "W-We thought you wouldn't be released!!!"

"I-I thought the same too..." He sniffed while hugging back. "I don't know how... or why the marks broke when she let it hit."

"A sign of humility and sincerity, determination too... Of wanting to repent..." Blues' eyes widened suddenly. "Of course! These marks respond to those! Asagao broke out when Kagami's determination to be themself shined, Hiro's sincerity and determination to befriend Morinomiya saved her, Koutarou's sincerity of wanting to connect and empathise to Tianheng helped him win despite his Sloth Sin Code, and now, Mika's humility and desire to repent and help Dantella broke the marks because Hubris and Melancholy can't process those emotions! It  overloaded them!!"

"Does that mean we found a surefire way to save the others?!" MusosIatreiamon grinned. "Aww yeah!!"

"That is just awesome!!" Aoi smiled from Mika's other side before it turned deadpan. "But Mika, please leave recklessness to Ruri. That's her thing."

"Wha- Hey! It is NOT!"

"So says you."

"Angoramon, back me up here!"

The only response was a smile and a chuckle, making her pout despite the grin on her face.

"Hey, Mika, was it?" Dantella suddenly called out as she moved towards Mika, making her nod while looking away. "I... I'm so sorr-"

"I know. Your injuries prove that. And... Maybe you're right. Maybe Perfectio's vision isn't all that right. Either way, it was hurting all of us here, so... I... Want to thank you for saving me from the marks. It wasn't pleasant, to say the least."

Mika's eyes widened, and she teared up as she limped over. "I... Can we please start over? You and me?"

"Even though I nearly killed you with that blast?..."

"I... I should have helped you out that day. I wanted to say this for so long, but then you disappeared and I carried the guilt for so long, even after meeting Ruri... Now..." Tears were falling down her cheeks. "Finally, I... I can say all of that..."

"I... I'm grateful you're learning from it," She awkwardly said while looking away. "So... Friends?"

"Of course!" Mika smiled as she walked over and tried to hug her, only for Dantella to run behind Asagao-san and poke out. "T-This is going... To take some time..."

Mika blinked, and Ruri and Aoi shared a glance before the three giggled.

"She is ADORABLE!" Aoi laughed as a light tint of red appeared on her face.

"So true!!" Kirahoshiimon cackled.

Jazamon was nodding along with a solemn expression which only made her yelp, "JAZA!!"

We all burst out laughing, and I walked over as well to the former Perfectio Digimon, making them turn as I went to my knees on the ground and said, "I know... That I can't be forgiven easily. That I probably never will. But... I won't force you to forgive me. Even if you don't fully trust me and probably never will, I... I'll accept whatever you give me. It's not for me, it's for you, and I'm sorry that my insanity drove you to become..." I gestured to the chaos around us. "I will work hard, but I won't force you to comply. Mika taught me that."

The six Digimon shared a glance before Tukaimon finally spoke up, "You sure? Even if it's hard?"

"Of course." I meant every single word I had said, and it seemed to have carried as they all smiled a bit and hugged me slightly. 

It was warm, and nice. I really, really did feel happy about this.

Angoramon began, "Forgiveness is like a bonfire. It builds up and up-"

"Until it burns down again."

Huh?

"ROBINHOODMON, SPECTRAL ARROW!"

No one had time to react.

We all had let our guards down. Just one tiny moment...

And as Bokomon screamed in pain, a cylindrical item rolled out of his knee... All the way to red and white shoes...

My stomach dropped. No... No. No no no no no no!!!

"Thank you for letting your guards down, everyone. It helped me get what I needed."

They were smiling demurely as they held the cylindrical item, as Bokomon screamed again while two very familiar symbols glowed on his forehead, a heavy purple mist surrounding him.

They were... They had been...

I had... I had been helping...

It suddenly felt like I was in the freezer as Tak Uju said, a feminine tone clear in their voice, "Thank you... For letting me have the Spirit Evolution data."

+ SPIRITUAL DIGILEMMA +

"Uju, what the ****?!" Ryubo-san snarled.

"That voice! You were the one Tianheng was talking to!!" Shiramon gasped.

"Why the **** hadn't you idiots said anything?!" Dad had to be held back by Benton and Philomena as he snarled at the former Perfectio members. "WHAT THE **** HAVE YOU DONE TO BOKOMON, TAK?!"

I was on autopilot now, running to Bokomon to check on him. "Boko! Oh God please, please, please!! Please don't die!!"

"Oh don't worry. The Code doesn't kill you." Another voice made us turn to see a humanoid Digimon land beside Uju. "It just... Breaks you inside out."

"You're RobinHoodmon!?" Remdepiamon gasped. "Wait don't tell me...! Uju... Uju is your partner?!"

"I'm assuming Bokomon already figured that since the others can Fragment evolve, the other Digivice guardians had already been defeated, yet he let down his guard once his partner helped him get comfortable with me, which, believe me, wasn't easy," Uju coldly spoke while getting a DIM card out of the cylinder and inserting it into the red and yellow-rimmed Digivice they had taken out from their pocket. "Honestly, I thought that I was done for multiple times with how much I disclosed. Turns out you were more trustworthy than I thought."

"So yesterday was a dud?! You pretended to point out stuff so that we could trust you!?" Ruri yelled.

"Sis, please... Please stop this!!" Morinomiya pleaded. "This is wrong! You don't have to go through with this!"

"I'm afraid I already am too deep into this. Please don't blame the others, though. It was either dealing with the guilt of not being able to help or struggling with amnesia, and I don't want to erase our memories together." Uju's eyes softened. "We made that pact to keep our memories intact, no matter how dangerous it got. RobinHoodmon, you ready?"

"Of course." He nodded, and Uju attached his Digivice to his wrist while some Fractal Codes showed up as RobinHoodmon disappeared into the codes.

No... NO NO NONONO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!

He scanned them over and yelled, "SPIRITO... EVOLUTION!!"

RobinHoodmon Fragmented Evolve to!!

"DysMonarchmon!"

A humanoid Digimon with light blue butterfly wings and a long red tail, not to mention a golden wreath adorning its head floated above us. It didn't look like any gender either...

"That was really easy," The new Digimon remarked. "I was expecting more of a challenge from the people who took down a multiversal threat."

My hands were shaking as I looked at Bokomon, who was definitely not holding up well with how deep the injury had been...

The amount of sorrow and guilt made way for harsher emotions as I felt my blood just boil.

That... That piece of ****!!!! THEY....!!!!!

Staggering up to my feet, I felt the anger culminate, grabbing out my gun and aiming it at the Digimon. "I don't ****ing give a ****ing **** about your weak excuses! YOU... YOU ****ING *******! I TRUSTED YOU! AND YET YOU... YOU... YOU HURT MY PARTNER!?! I WILL END YOU! I WILL SLAUGHTER YOU! I WILL MAKE YOU PAY! YOU WILL SEE RED BY THE TIME I'M DONE WITH YOU! YOU WILL BURN IN THE DEEPEST PITS OF ****!" 

I didn't know anything else.

The only thoughts coursing through my head?

Make them PAY.

MAKE THEM HURT.

MAKE THEM BEG FOR MERCY.

I WILL DESTROY THEM!!!!!!!!

"DON'T HURT FRIEND!!!"

Wait, Pump!? He was supposed to be at hom-

Pumpmon Evolve to...!

"Ke... Kekkekekee..... KEKEKEKKEKEKEKKEKEKKE!!!" This laugh... Oh Kami, if I thought that the first time he showed up was scary, this was absolutely nightmare fuel. "Jo~ Ker~ Mon~ Is~ Here~ so~ Let's~ have~ fun~!"

"****! We need to stop Jokermon!!" Hiro yelled. 

I was frozen, even as Blues tugged me away. I...

My emotions, my dark, evil thoughts... It had... turned Pumpmon into this... this monster. 

Now that I thought of it, the first time... hadn't it been... my fault as well? 

Bokomon being hurt... It was my fault... If I had been more careful, if I had... If I had been skeptical all the time, maybe... just maybe...

Tears fell down my cheeks as I hugged Bokomon gently.

Oh ****ing ****, what have I... What have I done?

🐲 Camera Switch 🐲

"Dan!"

"Got it, Dia!" We activated their Mystic Forms with the rest of the AB while the others got out of the way, with Shin Gao joining us alongside the other former Youth Division members.

"Dan, do we do what we did back then the first time?" Drago asked me.

"I... I don't know, Drago. Something is telling me this is going to end badly for us if we do that." 

Being attuned to the energies around me thanks to the Genesis power (something I had to learn to regulate my body and ensure I wasn't corrupted again) helped out a lot right now. I couldn't see it, but I could sense a dark presence in Jokermon. Something I hadn't felt before. It wasn't the Fragmented Codes, no it was something else... I didn't know what it was, but it had activated in Pump and we had to help him snap out of it. 

"Dan, we need to ensure that he's contained in the field. Can you use your Aquos ability to form a dome?" Shin Gao asked. 

"I could," I said while grabbing an Aquos BakuCore and throwing it down onto myself, activating the shields as I concentrated. I felt the water all around us in the digital field react as I also tapped into the Ventus and Diamond abilities. Earth constructs formed around us and various shields were manifested. I could feel Drago's power go down to 500G when I did this, and I had to be supported by Uncle Jinhyuk once I was done, but it was pretty protected now. We couldn't hurt the others, especially Mika and Dantella who were probably wounded and exhausted from the battle. 

So it was time to fight. Not just Pump, but...

"I hope you didn't forget about me," DysMonarchmon mildly hummed as they hovered near us.

"Why the **** would we forget about the person who caused this in the first place?" Ichita snarled, his Aura flaring up. 

"Why? Why did you even do all this?" I asked.

"You... You will never get it. The only person who... who would get it hates me now." Was that regret I sensed in their tone? "You won't get what it feels like to be judged over feeling differently. How others judge those with mental illnesses." 

Huh? 

"But... Tell Eos that I'm sorry. That I... genuinely enjoyed our time together, and I wish that Bokomon had been anyone else's partner. Anyone but theirs. ... Not that they would believe me anyway." They chuckled sadly. "Dysmorphic Arrow!" 

Wha-

An purple arrow manifested as they used their branch arrow to shoot it toward our dome, making a small but significant incision as they flew out.

"****! Shun!" I yelled. 

"Don't worry, I got it!" He nodded. "Hydorous! Coral  Shield!" 

"Understood!" He shot an attack while Ajit blocked Jokermon. "You won't be leaving! Pharol, Aurelus Purification!"

Pharol roared as he launched the bright attack and sent it Jokermon's way, but the Digimon dodged and got surrounded by Nillious, Trunkanious, and Blitx Fox while Sarki roared, "Pandoxx! Heat!"

"Don't worry Sarki, I got this!" Pandoxx answered as he blasted the Digimon back. 

"... Ehehh.... EHEHHEHEHEHEHHEH!!! LUNATIC SLASH!!" 

What?!

"Blitz Fox!" 

"Nillious!" 

"Trunkanious!" 

"Pandoxx!!!!" 

"What the heck, that's way stronger than before!" Ichita gasped. 

"Drago! Genesis Cannon!" I commanded while throwing the BakuCores at him. 

He roared, going up to 1700G as he charged up-

"Gaia Magicar~"

A circle appeared under Drago, and he didn't have time to dodge before he got blasted point blank. 

"Drago!!!" I screamed, my Mystic form also falling apart as he rolled back up. "Oh my God, this is... really bad..." 

"He's strategic as heck, too," Wynton agreed. "How do we...?" 

"We still need to beat him. Even if I don't want to, since he's a friend," Leo frowned. "Ichita, keep an eye on his Aura. Tell us if the darkness is fully gone."

"I... Alright then," he nodded. "I'll keep D and Drago safe, so... please be careful, guys." 

They all grinned as Athena reminded us, "We're the top students of the Bakugan Academy. You guys rest up and let us take the reins." 

"Of course," I couldn't help the grin forming. "You stay safe too, okay?" 

They waved before they rushed in with the others to attack Jokermon. 

Something felt off about him, though. Something about the aura... it wasn't Hubris... 

Melancholy was fitting, but... it wasn't. It was only around 3% of the entire aura.

"Chi, something about the aura..." I turned to him.

"Agreed," He said. "I was feeling off too. Around 4% of it is the Code, but... what about the other 96%?"

4%? Darn, I was close! 

Still, I said, "We need to get a sample of that aura, but how...?"

"Oh, let me handle that," Winnie suddenly said as she and Onyx landed. "MythiSoul does capture aura pretty well." 

"Feathers, you ready for this?" Onyx asked Falcron and Lumagrowl, both of who nodded.

"Beisan, Emeruda?" 

"Of course." 

The two shared a grin before they rushed into the fray, their clothes glowing as Winnie used her gold to grab something in thin air, but judging by ChiChi's nodding, it was the right one. 

"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand!"

Oh Kami, I really hoped we could beat him... He was definitely very powerful now, and... if we didn't... 

I shuddered to think of the chaos he would leave in his wake. 

🐲 Camera Switch 🐲

The dome soon broke down, making me rush over, panic filling my heart as I ran to them. "Oh Kami, oh Kami please tell me he... he wasn't..." 

Dan gave a gentle sigh, but he showed an unconscious YukimiBotamon.

I fell to my knees, the sheer intensity of the relief and guilt I felt making my knees buckle.

I had... I had done this to them. I had... I had...

If I... Hadn't been born... Maybe... It would have been better...

"Maku-" I pushed Hiro aside as I ran.

Where? I didn't know.

All I knew was that... The others were not safe. I had... Caused this.

I... Didn't deserve them. Not after everything.

venusaura owns Lumagrowl.