OK This chapter was to be longer...But some things happened that prevented me from writing more than I intended. I'll try harder next chapter ^^ Enjoy and please comment.

---

Flame vs Flame


Max and Flare both stepped into the arena. It was apparent on their faces that neither of them wanted to go through with this battle. Etemon was rambling but neither one of them paid attention, and it wasn't until Etemon finished his speech that Flare spoke out. "I want to see what you learned Max. Don't go easy on me or I swear I'll roast you like a turkey!"

"Same goes for you Flare. Show me that power that beat Devimon." Max replied with a smile, he decided to remain in his Guilmon form for the fight, it was easier for him to maintain the light that way. Now was as good a time as any, if you're gonna go in then go in big. He shut his eyes and focused the light inside him around the soles of his feet. After which he charged after Flare in a blur in an attempt to catch him off guard, But Flare anticipated his first attack, catching Max's leg before he could land a kick to his side. "Didn't expect you to have the time to counter."

Flare snickered, holding Max's leg in his hand and sent Max flying forward into one of the stadium walls. "I know you Max! I've traveled with you long enough to know how you battle."

With that, Flare's arms lit up in a pair of bright flames. "Now that you're open...Take a Pyro punch!" He motioned one arm at Max to punch at him, a dragon head charging right at Max and would have had time to do some serious damage, had Max not managed to get up on his feet! He caught the Dragon in his paws and flung the flame into the air. When Flare launched the second dragon head, Max had barely any time to react and had to let it splash over his face, knocking him back down.

"Ooooh! It looks like Max is down! Probably still winded from yesterday's match up! But really folks...can you really expect a Rookie to be any match for a champion?!" Etemon rambled on, feeding the crowds excitement in battle.

"You know what...you have a point Etemon." Max mouthed out, pulling himself up with a growl. "I guess I'll have to turn up the flames!" Max growled, a warm light enveloping his hand and blinding the crowd momentarily. His paw shifted, changing into the head of a lion, Leomon to be exact, with a steel blade running through it's jaws, essentially becoming a living cutlass. "Sorry about this Flare...But I do have to win this match."

Blade shook his head, a look of distaste on his face as he observed the battle from the stands. "Taking a page out of your own uncle's book. How cliche to use a digimon's core to bond them with your body as a weapon."

Suddenly, the eyes on the lion head started moving, keeping it's gaze on Flare. "Comeon kid, let's show them what this new power of yours can do!"

"You got it Leo." Max smirked, leaping into the air and slashing at Flare's side, and had it not been for the light barrier he concealed around the weapon it would have cut the armored digimon clean in half. Still it had all the force of a Leomon's attack and sent Flare staggering back and nursing a really bad bruise on his ribs.

Flare rubbed at his sides, not at all enjoying the painful sensation of that sword slicing at his side, but he was grateful for the restraint Max was putting on his new style. "You're fighting more aggressively Max. I didn't think you'd change Leo's soul into a weapon like that."

Swinging his arm blade to the side, Max smiled. "When we were back on your island, Leo came to me in my inner world and said that one day I'd learn to use his core to aid me out here. He'd become a physical being once more. Though I only realized what that meant last night after Doru nursed me back to somewhat fighting shape."

"Somewhat?" Coronamon cried out, bouncing on the bed and keeping his eyes set on the holo screen. "He was one foot in the digi hospital!"

Flare grumbled, watching Max prepare for another attack but wasn't going to let him. "Pyro tornado!" The digimon turned human cried out, launching a flaming roundhouse kick in Max's direction, only to have it guarded by the broad end of the blade.

"Sorry Flare, I can't allow you to win..." Max responded, a saddened look on his face, and a tear sliding down his cheek, he pressed the blade toward Flare's chest and pinned him to the stadium wall. "I have to stop Myotismon's twisted games and I can't do that if I can't talk to the royal knights. Forgive me..."

With that, Max pulled away from Flare, both he and Leo shouting mid swing. "Slash of the beast king!" Midway, the blade transformed into a lion's paw, claws extended in flames as they pierced through Flare's chest plate, even with the light barrier, it had enough force to shatter the defensive shielding the armor would have provided. Max's sword descended back into Leo's gullet, soon reverting back into Max's regular paw, both of which started glowing as he focused the light energy into them. "Twin Rock breaker barrage!"

And that was all she wrote, While Flare was busy dealing with the burning effect of his slashing attack he pounded into the Agunimon's exposed chest with a flurry of punches that with the added shockwave, started cracking the stone walls designed to protect the audience from the competitors attacks. After ten consecutive strikes, Max halted his attack and Flare fell face first into the stadium floor.

The crowd remained silent, since Max summoned the cutlas to replace his paw, and then the furious attack on his comrade nobody had any idea what to say. Even Etemon was speechless but he shook it off when he realized the match was over. "Summoning a living weapon, mastering control of the light and securing his spot in the finals we have Max! Seems that be it Champion or Rookie, this one could be going places, much like RD in the previous round!"

Listening to the now raging cheers and celebration by the fans didn't uplift Max at all. In fact it took everything he had not to just crumble to the ground and start crying. But he still had a job to do, and he knew what was expected of him so while Flare was still unconcious, he started taking in the Agunimon into his drooling jaws. He would have enjoyed his friends flavor a little more if he'd not had to do it in such a mean way. Once Flare was safely tucked away within the warm confines of his stomach he let loose a great belch, not as earthshaking as RD's but still enough to get the crowd applauding and cheering.

"And with a sagging gut and another victory in the bag, Max is going on to the finals! Everyone give him another round of applauds!" Etemon smirked, listening to the cheers of their audience as Max waddled out of the ring.

Blade shook his head, smirking. "First that...Dracomon...and now this Max. Both of them control the light but neither of them seem to understand the severity of the situation."

"They understand plenty." Growled Smithy, The battle scarred Leomon walked past Blade, it was obvious that the two of them didn't get along. "They just don't accept loss like that, or people toying with their lives. We're used to it...they're not."

Inside the hidden base below Starlight, Growlmon watched his son stepping into the hallway, belly sagging and swaying as he dissapeared into the darkness, saddened by his own son's victory. "I wish I could be there to comfort you...RD please look after my boy..." He muttered quietly, closing his eyes as he turned away from the screen. He couldn't bare to watch Max upset.

It took the better part of ten minutes for Max to make it back to the hotel room. Half due to fatigue, and the other half because of the weight resting inside his stomach, but eventually he made it through. Plopping down back first onto the mattress there. There was a short YIPE, as Coronamon was sent flying thanks to having been on the bed prior. "Ack! Hey you almost sat on me you know!"

When Max didn't respond however, Coronamon lowered his voice, rubbing Max's stomach. "Hey...There wasn't anything else you could have done. And I'm sure Flare understands."

"I...hurt my friend though." tears started streaking down Max's cheeks, groaning at the touch of his belly. "I...We were going to battle eventually. But this was deliberate! Myotismon wanted me or Flare to put the other out of commission. It worked...and now it's just RD and myself."

Fang growled, lightly punching Max's stomach, forcing a belch out of his brother. "Don't blame yourself! Blame Myotismon, we won't let him get away with this. And with just you, RD, Coronamon and myself left we should make sure to do our very best. Heck... Mr. Smithy's already made preparations."

This got Max's attention, he looked at Fang. "What do you mean...he's made preparations? You mean there's something I haven't been told?"

Coronamon and Fang both stared at each other, before nodding in unison, Fang took the lead in explaining though. "Don't freak out...but erm...Jesse is digifat now. He's a part of RD temporarily until your uncle can repair his armor."

"He's what?!" Max pulled himself up, staring at Fang over his gut. "Why didn't you guys tell me?! So then...what does this have to do with it, is Smithy going to upgrade the armor? Or is there something else."

This time, Coronamon stepped in with a grin. "Actually yes. He's going to upgrade his armor thanks to a donation from Fang. But at the same time, he's set RD up for quite a surprise. See...erm...well I don't know if I should mention it as you might take offense to it."

Max sweatdropped, not actually liking the sound of that in the slightest. "What do you mean?"

"It's simple." Fang poked Max's stomach, giving it a few rubs to calm his brother down. "I can't explain it in full because Smithy left some parts out. But he did tell us before RD came in to eat him the other day that their new union is crucial."

"Union? He ATE Jesse. They didn't merge!" Max pulled himself up, but was pushed back down by Fang. "What was that about? Let me go talk to my uncle!!"

Fang shook his head, frowning. "I'm sorry Max but I can't. You're too injured. Now I want you to lay down and sleep for the rest of the day. Let RD interrogate Smithy, he's supposed to be searching for the Leomon right?"

Max nodded, sighing as he laid his head back and rubbed over his stomach, the sounds of digestion already taking place within. "Yeah, Flare asked him to go looking for Smithy to find some answers. I just hope RD doesn't tear at Smithy for holding out on the details."

Coronamon shook his head, climbing out of the bed to get a glass of orange juice for Max to relax. "I doubt it. Given Smithy's power level I don't think RD is crazy enough to tango with your Uncle. He'll restrain himself hopefully."

Guzzling down the orange juice, Max wiped his scaled lips of any excess and laid down, letting Fang and Coronamon glide the blankets over his form. Right now sleep sounded good, and he hoped whatever Smithy had in mind would give them an edge in battle.

(To be continued)