The Rival Champions!

The Fusion Fighters stumble into the middle of a battle between Castle Bastia and IceDevimon's army, and must compete with Blue Flare to ally with the Castle.

Synopsis
<!-- Arriving in the Lake Zone, the Fusion Fighters try to find any inhabitants. However, with shivering from touching something extremely cold, Fusion Fighters find a group of Pandamon and ToyAgumon frozen. While believing the Bagra Army is behind this, Mikey then hears the DigiMelody of another dying Digimon, and rushes to the source with the others following in slight confusion. Finding the DigiMelody to be from a shattered frozen, Mikey learns from a group of crying PawnChessmon that their leader, Knightmon, was knocked into the lake after being defeated by Bagra Army and will die if no one can save him. Mikey then talks with the dying Knightmon, who tells him to just leave him and take care of the PawnChessmons. Mikey refuses, takes off his jacket and dives into the ice cold water. He manages to find the dying Knightmon and puts him in his Fusion Loader to heal, but he starts drowning as saves him.

Coming to, Mikey gets scolded by Angie for almost risking his life to save Knightmon, but Shoutmon tells her that he did the same to rescue him. Angie does agree with that, but because of that action, she and Jeremy were also dragged into the Digital World. Mikey then reloads Knightmon out of his Fusion Loader, making the PawnChessmons happy. Knightmon thanks Mikey for rescuing him and convinces him to come to the castle where the battle is occurring. After driving off the Bagra Army, Mikey and his group are introduced to the castle's princess Beastmon. Though Knightmon tells her that they have got their champion, Beastmon reveals she found another candidate: Christopher Aonuma. Meanwhile, the Bagra Army's Lake Zone invasion commander IceDevimon learns that his superior Laylamon has arrived and pleas for her forgiveness as they are joined by Reapmon, who offers his assistance.

Back at the castle, as Shoutmon and the others enjoy the feast in their honor, Mikey talks to Christopher and learns he only came for the Lake Zone Code Crown. With Christopher taking his leave when they find Jeremy, Ballistamon, and Knightmon eavesdropping, Mikey tells the three from personal experience the the youth is hiding some sort of pain and that he can not ignore it. By then, the Bagra Army resume their attack with Shoutmon, Starmon, and the Pickmons too full to participate as the Fusion Fights see Christopher DigiFusing Greymon and MailBirdramon into MetalGreymon to take out invaders. However, with IceDevimon no where to be seen, Mikey realizes he was hiding in the ice shards along with his Icemon to use the attack as diversion to sneak into the castle and kidnap Beastmon.

Luckily, getting his second wind, Shoutmon ruins the kidnap attempt as the rest of the Fusion Fighters arrive. Furious, IceDevimon absorbs the Icemon to enter his Enhancement Absorbent state while freezing Ballistamon. With MetalGreymon holding off Reapmon, Shoutmon uses the Drill Cannon to save Knightmon from being frozen before he and PawnChessmon drive off IceDevimon. With Christopher taking his leave, admitting to MailBirdramon that he was not comfortable with her cuddling, Beastmon names Mikey her champion before he collapses from exhaustion. Meanwhile, deciding to get reinforcements, Laylamon is at a gate that opens to reveal a gigantic Digimon. -->

Recap
Analyzers from the recap aired before the episode.

Digivolutions
(Number indicates order of occurrence.)

Quotes
Mikey: "There was this kid, it was a long time ago. He was in my class, i didn't know him very well. One day I found him sitting on the ground, all by himself." Young Mikey: "Hey, are you alright?" Boy: "Mind your own business, just leave me alone." Mikey: ''"So I did what he said, I minded my own business. I took the easy way out. That's when I learned the easy way isn't always the best way, it turned out he'd gotten really sick during soccer practice, he was fine by the next day. I could've just helped him, but instead I just walked away.


 * — Mikey reveals why he can't turn away from someone who needs help