Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Mystic Digital War ❯ Chapter 17: Return to Earth ( Chapter 17 )

Last time: Apocalymon succeeded in absorbed all the Zhuqioamon Stones, digivolving to his true Mega form. While the various digidestined attempted to stop him, Mimi was apparently killed, and Michael returned to the Digital Warriors.

Meanwhile, Matt and Tai's battle ended in a stalemate. Sora left to be by herself for a while, but promised Tai she would return.

After Apocalymon's explosion destroyed Modum, Lucifer appeared to him, and both floated into the sky....

Prologue 1:

The Digimon were screaming in terror, diving under buildings and trees in a vain attempt to protect themselves as fire rained from above. The city was under attack, the thousandths one in so many days, by an unknown enemy, one that move fast and fierce.

The townsfolk screamed in terror as the shadow of darkness slowly overtook the sun. A giant object was landing. At first it appeared to be a ship, but, as the citizens of the town watched it descend, it began to resemble a giant floating serpent creature, and a teenaged blond haired girl riding on its back.

This town was composed of Gazimon, Elecmons, and Gotsumons. All of which were running in every direction, trying to escape the flying dragon, which was now firing a barrage of glowing rays at the city, adding to the reign of fire that was already being deployed by a platoon of flying, Birdramons.

One of the elders, and the head of the town council, an elderly Gazimon, exited his building and ran as fast as he could seconds before a fire blast destroyed his building. He was only inches from his former capital, when the flying dragon leading the attack landed in front of him. The girl on the dragon's back flung her blond hair behind her back, then jumped down in front of the Gotsumon.

"Hello," she said,"I am Melissa Nerez, a Dark Digidestined of the Neo-Digiworld Empire. I serve the High Lord, Emperor Apocalymon, and the Dark Master, Lucifer and Piedmon. You have a choice, either surrender this city to the Neo-Digiworld, or it will be destroyed. What is your decision?"

The elder Gotsumon stared up at her, then at his burning city. "What choice do I have? I surrender."

Melissa grinned. "Just one more city to add to our list. At this rate, Neo-Digiworld will rule the Digital World, and then, Earth!"

Prologue 2:

The wail of the fire engines were drowned out by the roar of the blaze they were trying to fight. The fire had started by a simple spark in a vacant apartment, but quickly spread to the entire building. The firefighters had started by evacuating the building. Once the people were saved, the firefighters had started to try and save the building. As they griped tightly to the fire hoses, gushing out life-saving water, they noticed that they had missed one tenant, a small child screaming from a top level window.

Despite the crowd of onlookers, a couple had managed to push their way to the front. The woman screamed. "That's my baby!" she shouted, pointing to the child,"That's my child!"

"Don't worry, ma'am," one of the firefighters said, as the others jumped onto the ladder,"We'll save him."

The couple nodded, and held tight to each other. The firefighter on the top of the ladder held his breath as the ladder drew closer to the crying child. Suddenly, a burst of fire shot from the window under the child, throwing the firefighter back slightly. "I can't get any higher!" he shouted,"The flames won't let me!"

Down on the ground, the woman started crying. "No, No! My..my child...."

"Look!" someone shouted, pointed to the sky,"Someone flying to the building!"

All eyes turned to the sky, as a figure flew towards the building. It was wearing a suit of red armor, with three horns on its head, and a mane of long yellow hair.

"He's not going to be able to get past that flame!" one of the firefighters shouted.

The figure kept his eyes locked on the child, ignoring the flames, so much so that he simply flew right through them! He crashed through the ceiling, and emerged through the window a second later with the child in his arms.

The crowd had their mouths open wide as the figure gently handed the child into his parents' open arms. The mother was able to find her voice. "T-thank you," she said, breathing heavily,"W...what are you?"

"I am a Digimon," the figure said in a raspy voice,"At least, I think so."

"W..what is your name?"

"I have no name," he said, flying away,"I simply am."

Down in the crowd, a young blond haired reporter and a short camera man in a trench coat, suddenly shot after the flying digimon. "Do you have any idea what digimon zat waz?" the reporter asked.

"No Catherine," the camera man said,"He isn't a digimon I've ever heard of before."

Catherine nodded, then said,"Look, he's landing in that alley."

The two of them shot around the corner of the building and stared into the alley. They both gasped as they watched the armored digimon glow a bright yellow, then shrunk to a smaller form. When the light vanished, a light brown haired boy stood in the armored digimon place.

Catherine gasped again, and the boy turned and saw her. He spun around and shot towards the other end of the alley. Catherine tried to run after him, but he was too far ahead, and disappeared into the darkness.

Prologue 3:

The light of the day sun slowly began to fade as night descended on the city below. The busy people below didn't notice, they kept their eyes completely focused on the ground in front of them. To many of them, star gazing was useless, the 'real' world was all that mattered. If they had been looking up, however, they would have noticed one of the stars in the black sky seemed to have exploded.

It was not a supernova, though, nor was it even a nova, the people wouldn't have known what exactly it was, only a few people on earth would be able to identify it. It was a gate to another world, a Digital World.

Something emerged from the bright flash, a creature the world below had seen only rarely. It was a large green skinned monster, with a giant mouth, two nasty tusks, and a spiked club that he swung around in the air. The creature landed on one of the many buildings that rose high into the air.

He was slightly disoriented, but he knew where he was. He laughed to himself as he began to walk towards the ledge of the roof. Before he could reach it, however, he became aware of a group of beings floating around the roof.

He knew who they were, they were the inhabitants of the world he was on, he knew they were humans, but, he didn't know they could fly! As he looked closer at the many humans hovering around the building, he realized that the square devices on his back were keeping them afloat.

He was unsure of what to do, but a soon as he took of step, one of the humans shouted out,"Stay right where you are, Ogremon!"

The creature turned to the one that called out his name. This human was slightly smaller than the others, and while the others were wearing just black jump suits, this one had a black cape flowing behind him. He also had a sharp sword strapped to his side, but the most shocking thing of all, was that his left was was bright red. "I said, don't move!"

Ogremon laughed slightly as he raised his club. When he did, he noticed that the rest of the humans lifted objects he recognized as guns pointed towards him. "This is your last chance," the human with the cape shouted.

Ogremon laughed and charged towards the leader of the group. Suddenly, he became of a sharp, fierce pain in all of his body. He turned his head and saw that all of the humans' guns were firing at him. The one with the cape smiled slightly,"I told you not to move!"

Ogremon tried to charge forward, but the guns' energy beams intensified. Ogremon screamed out in pain as he vanished from sight.

The one with the cape sighed deeply, as he grabbed a small square device from his belt and brought it to his mouth. "Orion calling base, come in."

"Base here, go head," a female voice spoke over the device.

"Ogremon has been dealt with."

"Understood. Lord Sentry is very pleased with your work Orion."

He smiled slightly,"I won't rest until every Digimon has been vanished from the face of the Earth!"

Prologue 4:

The man clicked his cigarette lighter up and down as he marched down the halls, glancing every few seconds at the doors littering the walls. "How much further?" he asked.

The man in front of him removed his right hand from his pocket and flipped through the papers in the clipboard resting in his left hand. "Room 324," he said, glancing at the numbers above the doors,"321, 322, 323, 324, here we are."

The duo stopped, and the man in the lab coat entered a number in a keypad on the wall, and the door clicked open. Lab Coat opened the door, and allowed the Cigarette Lighter man inside before he stepped in. Lying on the floor in the padded cell was a blond teenaged girl wrapped tightly in a straight jacket. When she saw Lab Coat, she started struggling to get out of the jacket.

"Is this her?" Cigarette Lighter asked.

"Yes," Lab Coat said, flipping through his papers,"Name: Unkown, Dubbed 'Alice Doe'. Age: 13, Powers: Able to control anything and everything with a computer processor in a twenty-foot radius. Mental Condition: Bi-polar disease, although her 'manic' side is almost under control. Her 'depressive' side is manly in control, as she has taken to the 'Goth' look. Admittance date: August 5, 2000."

Cigarette Lighter lightly rubbed his chin. "The date after Myotismon attacked Tokyo. Any connection?"

"Possible," Lab Coat said, "especially considering her powers to control all computer equipment."

"Explain that please."

"Well, she's sort of like R2D2 from Star Wars. She can 'plug' herself into anything that has a processor or is connected to a processor and control it anyway she likes."

"Interesting," Cigarette Lighter said,"Very interesting."

Lab Coat eyed him suspiciously. "Are you sure that you want to hand her over to them? She's very dangerous and unstable."

Cigarette Lighter sighed, as he watched Alice trying to escape from her straight jacket. "No, but I've seen the references that this Dr. Kafka has presented to me, way more credentials then the staff psychologists. She might be able to help him better then us. Prepare her for transfer."

Lab Coat nodded, and place a metal ring around Alice's head. "This will block her powers as we bring her past the security systems."

Cigarette Lighter nodded, and lead the way. As they were walking down the hallway, Alice suddenly shot her head forward, throwing the head ring to the ground. Before either of the two men could react, Alice glanced at the security camera on the wall. "Watch out!" Lab Coat shouted, but it was too late. The camera shot out of the wall crashed into Lab Coat, knocking him unconscious. She then manipulated the communication wires in the wall to fly out and wrapped Cigarette Lighter, so he was unable to move. She then used part of the destroyed camera that was still connected to the wire to cut through the straight jacket. With her arms at last free, she ran towards the large doors at the end of the hall.

Once she stepped outside, her eyes started to blur. She had not been outside for the past seven years. As she struggled down the sidewalk, she was able to catch a blurred glimpse of a figure walking towards her. "Alice Doe," he said,"I am General Yamato Ishida, and I'm here to help."

Chapter 17: Return to Earth

On the roof of an apartment building overlooking the Tokyo skyline, Tai took a deep breath. "Ahh," he said,"I always loved the morning air, you know. When I was little, I would just love to get up at the crack of dawn, run out onto the balcony and watch the sun rise. Of course, when I got older, I wasn't able to wake up in time, but, when I could, I always enjoyed just standing up here, watching the morning sky."

"I assume there is a point to this story?"

Tai smiled slightly as he turned around and faced the Digital Warriors that were able to be with him that morning; Michael, Takato, Henry and their Digimon. They were also joined by Oikawa and Daitiamon. "Yes," he said to answer Oikawa's question,"This is what we're fighting for, the freedom to enjoy something as simple as the ability to enjoy the morning air."

"You are a hopeless romantic," Agumon said, crossing his arms.

"What's our game plan, General?" Michael asked.

"I don't know," Tai said, smiling slightly,"I need to think of one."

"Just like Kasumi, huh?" Takato said.

"Kasumi?" Tai asked.

Henry shot him an evil glance. Takato paled slightly. "I, ah, just someone we knew."

"Oh," Tai said, then shrugged,"Whatever."

"Anyway," Michael said,"Whatever you decided, General, I'll be behind you."

"You still trust me?" he asked.

"You trust me?" Michael asked.

Tai's smile returned,"Yeah, I guess I do."

Oikawa crossed his arms and scoffed. "Well, isn't this just sweet. While you two are up here bonding, Apocalymon and the Dark Masters are conquering the Digital World, and they're going to be a thousand times worse than I was. I am out of here."

"Wait," Tai called after him,"Are you sure?"

"I'm not going to wait while the Digital World is conquered. I may be nothing more than a digimon trying to be human, but I'm not going to make the same mistakes as I did before. The Digital World is meant to be free, and I'm not going to stand around, planning and bonding, while the digimon are, once again, brought under domination."

"You of course realize that the Digital World is going to welcome you with open arms," Michael pointed out,"Heck, I'm not even totally sure why we're doing it."

"I realize the awkwardness," Oikawa said,"And I thank you for allowing me to recuperate my strength after the so called Day of Apocalypse, but, I must take my leave of you now."

Tai nodded. "Then, good luck."

Oikawa smiled slightly. "I have the D-terminal that Izumi gave me. If you need me, call." He and Daitiamon walked to the stairwell and disappeared.

"I'm glad he's gone," Terriermon said, jumping onto Henry's shoulder,"He was a real downer."

"But he is right," Betamon said,"We should be doing something about this Neo-Digiworld."

"We will," Tai said,"But I don't want to plan anything without everyone's input, so we'll have to wait until they get home from school. Wow," he said,"School. I haven't been in school in seven years. If I hadn't of been placed in that coma by Piedmon, then I'd be.. I'd be a senior in high school right now."

"Actually," Gatomon said, practicing her balance on the roof's ledge,"Izzy, Sora and the rest have already graduated from high school."

" Wow, I didn't really realize how long I was away until now. Geeze, I...wow...."

"Don't worry," Michael said, placing his hand on Tai's back, as they walked down the stairs,"You're a natural leader, and that's something you can't be taught."

Tai shrugged. "I guess so. Still, maybe Izzy can tutor me or something.."

Noriko sighed impatiently as she, Kari, and Davis walked down the side walk. "We're going to be late for school!"

"We've got to get Ken," Davis said, rounding a corner to an open feild,"I'm not going to forget by best friend."

The trio found themselves in a cement parking lot, staring up at a large office building with the words, 'I-Industries," written over the doors. "Is this where Ken told us to meet him?" Kari asked.

"Yeah," Davis said, straining his neck to see the top of the building, "I didn't think Ken lived here!"

"I live a few buildings down, but, this where I needed you to meet me."

The trio looked back down and saw Ken and another person exiting the building. "Hey guys," he said.

"Hey Ken,"they said.

"Guys," Ken said,"this is my brother, Sam. He's the head and owner of this company."

The three Digital Warriors gasped. "What?"

The older boy behind Ken smiled and bowed. "You must be Davis," he said, pointing at him. He then looked at the two girls. He pointed at Kari and took a guess. "Noriko?"

"That's me," the one behind Kari mumbled, crossing her arms.

"Don't mind her," Kari said,"She's just afraid that we won't get to school on time."

"Shoot!" Sam said, suddenly looking at his watch,"I'm sorry, but I've got to get back to work. I'm in the middle of a very important experiment. It was a pleasure to meet you." He bowed, then ran back into his building.

"And we've got to get to school," Noriko said, grabbing Kari and Davis's arms,"We're going to be late."

"Well..." Kari said,"We've got to change first."

Noriko stopped. "What?" she asked, turning around.

"We can't go to school wearing jeans and a t-shirt. We have to wear uniforms."

"You mean those skirts?" Noriko asked,"Oh, you've got to be kidding."

"Hey," Ken said,"You don't look that bad in a skirt."

"That was before I found out I wasn't always a girl," she pointed out.

Ken put a disgusted look on his face."You don't have to keep reminding us!" he said, as they walked off.

"There, she's finally asleep."

Matt looked up from the couch and smiled slightly, as the blond haired teenager closed the door to the guest room. "Thanks so much, Rumiko, I really appreciate it."

She walked over to a plate of fruit laid out on the table. "Yeah, well," she said, grabbing an apple slice,"Just don't let her know that those clothes I gave her, I was about to give to the Salvation Army."

"Somehow, I don't think that she'd really mind," Matt said, joining Rumiko at the table.

"Yeah," Rumiko said, munching on another apple slice,"She's got a real depressing thing going on. All she really wanted were the darker clothes. She really liked a black dress that I wore when I was an extra in an American movie."

"You were in a movie?" Matt asked, his eyes open wide.

"Only an extra," Rumiko clarified, washing her hands,"So, where did you pick Alice up anyway?"

"From a government building. I was just taking a walk when she charged out. She needed help, and, after we started talking, I found out what she could do, and thought that she might be useful to the Digidestined."

Rumiko sighed. "I hope this doesn't backfire." She glanced at her watch,"Oh shoot! I've got a photo shoot in twenty minutes!"

"Well," Matt said, standing up,"Can I call you, or something?"

"Yeah," Rumiko said, opening the apartment door,"I'd like that. Good bye. She turned around and almost tripped over two kids standing outside the apartment; a girl with red hair, and a dark haired kid with glasses.

"You!" Matt said, pointing to the girl,"Rika! What are you doing here?"

"Matt," Rumiko said,"Do you want me to get TK?"

"No," he said,"No, I'll be fine, thanks."

"Okay," she said, silently slipping by Rika, then running down the hall.

"What are you doing here?" Matt asked, yanking Rika and the boy into the apartment.

"We, that is, Kenta and I, want to join your team," Rika said.

"Why should I trust you?" Matt asked.

Rika was stuttering, when Kenta spoke up. "We're from the future."

"What?" Matt asked.

"Yes," Rika said,"And..and I'm the child that Rumiko Makino is carrying. I'm your daughter...Dad."

"School," Davis sighed, staring at the large doors that a crowd of students were pouring into,"I haven't been here in over two years. I hope I'll be able to keep up."

Kari laughed slightly, placing her arm around his shoulder," I'm sure you'll be just fine. Your father was a weapons designer, I'm sure you'll be able to keep up."

Davis sighed again. "My father...my sister...."

"I'm sorry," Kari said," I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay," Davis said, smiling slightly,"I'll always miss them, but...I guess I'm part of your family now, huh? I've even used your name as an alias...."

"Why did you do that anyway?" Kari asked,"If you're looking for your sister, why don't you use your real name?"

"Because there a certain government agencies that are looking for 'Motomiya'. I'd prefer to keep my appearances to a minimum."

"I don't care," Kari said, kissing him on the check,"I just wish that someday I could use your family name."

"Can we please get inside?" Noriko said, tugging on her skirt.

Kari gave her a funny glance. "What's wrong? Is it too short?"

"Yes!" Noriko said, adjusting the skirt again,"I've never worn a school uniform before, so this is a real new, uncomfortable, experience for me."

"Yeah," Kari said,"I hate these things."

"Well," Davis said, looking at his own uniform,"I've got to say, I look pretty snappy."

"You and me both," Ken said, adjusting his tie,"So, are we going to stand out here all day?"

"As much as I hate the idea of going back to schook," Noriko said, continuing to adjust her skirt,"I really want to sit down, it might help."

"So, Noriko, can I ask you something?" Ken asked as they walked into the building.

"What?" Noriko asked.

"Before you found out you use to be the real Ukyo Oikawa, did you ever have any...mental problems?"

Noriko thought for a long moment, then said,"No, I don't think so, but, don't forget, I was only 'Noriko' for the past seven years, and I had no idea who I really was."

"Why are you coming back here?" Davis asked.

"Because, I don't remember everything from my, ah, 'previous life,' for some reason."

"Oh."

"Well," Kari said, leading them into a classroom,"Here's homeroom."

The classroom was a mess of chattering students and flying paper airplanes. The four digidestined maneuvered to a group of desks in the front of the classroom, next to a real short brown haired guy.. He nodded at each of them. "Hi."

"Hi, I'm Hikari Kamiya, this is my cousin, Davis Kamiya," she said, using the alias Davis chose for himself,", and this is Ken Ichijoji and Noriko Oikawa."

The boy bowed. "I'm Ryo Akiyama." He watched as the quartet sat down, then said, "Wait, Kari Kamiya? The Digidestined?"

"Digital Warrior, actually," she said, smiling slightly,"but, yes, the same person."

"Wow," Ryo said, leaning back in his seat,"Who would have thought that I would met a hero today!"

Kari started to blush. "Stop!" she said, laughing slightly.

Ryo looked at Davis, who was sitting on the other side of Kari, and Noriko and Ken, who was sitting behind them. "You're the Master of Courage, aren't you?"

"Davis," he said, holding out his hand,"Nice to meet you."

Ryo shook his hand, then looked behind them. Ken was organizing his school supplies, while Noriko was now adjusting her green top. "You're Noriko Oikawa, the daughter of Ukyo Oikawa."

"Yup," she said, now adjusting her hair,"Let's just keep it at that."

"What?" Ryo asked, confused.

"It's a very long and confusing story," Noriko said, finally happy with her appearence,"I might tell you about it later."

Ryo just nodded slowly, then looked at the seat behind him. "And you're Ken Ichijoji, you were in Santa Carea! Cool!"

"Yeah," Ken snapped,"And I also found the first Zhuqioamon Stone."

"Oh," Ryo said, looking to the ground,"Apocalymon...Yeah, I saw Catherine DeGual's news reports. I was practically glued to the television set. I also saw the coverage of General Ishida's conference acquitting General Kamiya of all charges. It's sick that the Digidestined are clinging to him like lost sheep."

"I like this guy!" Davis sat, panting him on his back.

"Well, if he doesn't stop talking about my brother like that, he's going to get a fat lip."

The quartet of Digital Warriors plus Ryo turned around and saw a boy and a girl standing behind them. "Who are they?" Ryo asked.

"I'm Takeru Takashi, and this is Miyako Inoe," TK said,"I thought you were glued to your television set during Catherine's news reports."

"Whenever she started talking about you guys, I just changed the channel," Ryo said, turning back around.

"I really like this guy!" Davis said, slapping Ryo on the back.

"You're going to regret that!" TK said, running to Davis, when Yolei held him back as best as she could, while Ken did the same to Davis.

"What are you trying to do?" Kari hissed at Davis,"Trying to get us all expelled?"

TK took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "Fine, we'll settle this tonight."

"Where and when?" Kari asked.

"The Nerima Department Store, Midnight," TK said, pointing his finger in Kari's face,"If you don't show up, then your new Crest of Courage is worthless!"

Kari growled at TK, then he and Yolei left. "Kari," Noriko said, shocked,"I've never seen you like this before."

"I know," she silently said, as she sat back into her seat,"It's just, ever since we split from the Digidestined, I've....I've had so much...anger towards TK. When we first landed in Modum, when we fought each other for the first time...I...I really wanted him to stop him, no matter what. That's why my Crest of Light was destroyed, I betrayed it." She reached around her neck and pulled the Crest of Courage so she could see it. She smiled slightly. "I guess, it was courageous, so the Digital World gave me the Crest of Courage instead, and Takato gave Tai that strange Essence of Fire instead."

"Whoever said life was easy should trade shoes with us, huh?" Ken whispered as the teacher walked into the classroom.

"Tell me about it," Noriko mumbled,"At least you're the same person you always were."

Takato was lying on the couch, lazily clicking the remote, trying to find something to watch on the television. "Daytime programing," he muttered,"Always did hate it."

"Gotcha!" he heard Terriermon shout out. He turned his head to the right and smiled slightly as he watched the Digimon seated around the table playing cards. Terriermon had just lucked out by assembling a Full House, beating all the other hands.

"How do you keep doing that?" Betamon asked, throwing his cards onto the table.

"I know you're cheating," Gatomon said, nodding to Veemon,"I just have to find out how."

Takato twisted his head around to the kitchen and saw Tai and Michael eating an early lunch at the table, while Henry was reading the newspaper."That's a good idea" Takato thought, turning back around and flicking to the news station, "Maybe I can learn something that can help us."

He flicked the channel to the news station and gasped when he saw Catherine behind the news desk, with a very interesting news footage on the smaller screen. "Hey guys!" he called out,"I think you'd better see this!"

Tai and the others ran to where they could see the t.v. "Quick!" Michael said,"Turn it up!"

Takato complied. "...and so," Catherine continued,"zis strange being who zayz he iz a digimon, zaved ze child from ze burning building. Agnimon, az zis report haz named him, after ze Hindu God of Fire, haz been zeen in other parts of ze city az well, rescuing people and ztoping crime. Perhaps he iz a hero zat zis city needs."

"What about us?" Guilmon protested as Takato turned off the television.

"Agnimon, huh?" Tai said, rubbing his jaw,"Someone call Izzy. I need to talk to him about this."

"They're all staring at me," June thought as she walked through the halls. She kept her head down to avoid the piercing gaze of her fellow students, staring at her from their lockers. She was afraid of returning to school with her burn mask on, but her grandparents wouldn't let her. She knew that they understood her feelings about her burn mask, but, they couldn't afford a private tutor.

She hung her head even lower, only watching her feet moving. She turned her head slightly and caught her reflection in one of the glass trophy cases; a normal girl's body wearing a red uniform skirt and brown top, but, her face, it looked like a monsters.

"I'm such a freak!" she thought, her tears starting to sting her sensitive flesh under her mask. "I hate it here! I wish I could just go to school with my friends in the Digidestined, but I live too far from that district! Oh, it's just not fair!"

"June."

She looked up and broke into a smile. "TK!" she cried, dropping her books and hugged him,"I'm so glad to see you!"

"You didn't have much luck with your burn mask, huh?" he said, sympathetic.

"Yeah," she said, looking to the ground. She looked back at his face,"What are you doing here?"

"Matt wants to see us about something," TK said,"Then we've got a duel with the Digital Warriors at midnight."

"Really?" June asked,"Maybe that'll help me feel better."

"Come on," TK said,"We're going to be late."

"Ah, it's about time!"

"I'm sorry I am late, sir," the man with the cigarette lighter said, walking into the conference room,"There was a slight problem at base. One of our troubled patients escaped."

"Good Heavens!" one of the people at the table said,"Which one?"

"The girl that is able to control electrical devices."

"Oh no!" one of the women said," What are you doing about it?"

Cigarette Lighter was about to answer her, when another figure entered the room. "Why didn't you wait for me?" he asked Cigarette Lighter.

"Sorry," he shrugged.

"Mr. Ichijoji," the military man said,"Welcome."

Cigarette Lighter looked at his watch,"I think we should get started."

The man wearing a military uniform stood up,"Yes, good, good. " He pointed to an older man wearing a business suit,"This is the President of Tokonawa Electronics, Mr. Hakado."

"How do you do, sir?" Cigarette Lighter asked, bowing.

"My company is extremely interested in funding your 'Digimon Bounty Hunters'. Could you give me some background information?"

"Of course sir," Cigarette Lighter said,"These invaders, called Digimon, come from a place called 'The Digital World." We are not sure how this world came to be, but we do know that it exists."

"How do you know?" Hakado asked.

Sam stood up and said,"Now, I'm sure you all remember the invasion of Tokyo fifteen years ago by a Digimon Invader?"

"Yes," one of the women said,"My son was one of the children taken prisoner by that vampire."

"His name was Myotismon," Sam continued,"and he was defeated by a group of children calling themselves the Digidestined. After defeating Myotismon, they journeyed to the Digital World and faced Apocalymon in the skies over Tokyo. The government officials then started to research this Digital World. We tried to talk to the Digidestined once they returned, but we could never find them. Then, four years later, Digimon started to invade all across the country. The mysterious Digidestined reappeared and brought the Digimon back to the Digital World. The rulers of the various nations then received mysterious e-mails telling them that the gate between both worlds had been sealed again. Now, it appears that seal is weakening."

He walked closer to the table,"In order to combat these invaders, the government has sanctioned the use of Digital Bounty Hunters, whose job it is to find the Digimon invaders, and destroy them. My organization, Hypnos, operates as a government for the various bounty hunters. I, in my Lord Sentry guise, and the supreme commander of all Digimon Bounty Hunters in Tokyo. "

"Does your organization simply hunt Digimon?" Hakado asked.

"We also do research into these Digimon, trying to find out why they are here, and, more importantly, how they form into real beings on Earth," Cigarette Lighter said.

Hakado nodded. "What about these humans that are partnered with Digimon? They too battle invaders, do they not?"

"Yes," Cigarette Lighter said,"Due to that digidestined reporter, Catherine DeGual, everyone knows who the Digidestined really are."

Hakado nodded. "This..Hypnos organization, how do you operate."

"Well, sir," Cigarette Lighter said,"our command center is operated by two technicians, Ms. Tailey, whom we call Recorder, who operates as just that, and Ms. Riley, called Tracker. She is my second-in-command. Between the two of them, they alert me to the presence of a Digimon that has broken through, or 'bio-merged'. We call these Wild One. After a wild one has bio-merged, the Hunters are alerted."

"Now, tell me about the Hunters."

"My chief commander is a man called Orion. He has been outfitted with cybernetic implants that give him enhanced strength, speed, and stamina, as well as the ability to fly. The hunters use a variety of weapons including projectiles, and up close fighting, such as swords and knives."

Hakado nodded. "Are you working on any projects currently to aid you?"

"We are working on a project code-named Juggernaut," Sam said," My apologies, but it is classified."

Hakado nodded. "Right, well, I must say, I am pleased with what you have told me. I will think it over, and get back to you tomorrow with my answer."

"Thank you sir," they both bowed.

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Kari muttered as the Digital Warriors stood in front of the doors to the Nerima Department Store,"I think Tai's starting to rub off on me."

"What do you have to worry about?" Izzy asked, glancing up from where he was kneeling in front of the door,"You're not the one who's disabling the security system."

"What are you all so worried about?" Davis asked, staring at the starry sky,"We're just breaking and entering."

"I know you've been in the Digital World for the past two years," Ken said,"But breaking and entering is a crime now."

Davis gave him a sarcastic glare, then turned back around. "How much longer?"

"Have you ever tried reprogramming a security system so that the police don't come flying here because someone is tampering with it?" Izzy asked over his shoulder.

"Yeah," Tentomon buzzed by,"It's not easy."

"You have no idea what to do," Veemon said.

"I do so!" Tentomon said, crossing his arms.

"Maybe you guys should be more focused on the battle," Noriko's Kunemon said, from his partner's shoulder.

"If there is a battle.." Mina's Agumon muttered,"I can just imagine the Digidestined laughing at us, while they're in a nice heated apartment."

"If you're cold, why not digivolve to Mearamon?" Mina asked.

"I'm in," Izzy said, as the doors to the mall poped open.

"Let's go," Kari whispered,"And be very quiet!"

The inside was a typical mall set up, with stores lining the two levels, with an escalator in the middle connecting the two. The lights were all off and the mall was blanketed in darkness.

"There's no one here," Gatomon said, jumping off of Kari's shoulder.

"I told you this was a set-up!" Mina's Digimon said,"The police are probably on their way right now!"

Suddenly all the lights in the mall flicked on. "I see you're here!"

The Digital Warriors shot their heads up and saw the Digidestined living the balcony looking down to the lower level. TK was grinning in the center of the group. "So you do have the guts to show up, huh?"

Kari was struggling to get her anger under control, as the Digidestined descended to the floor level to stare the Digital Warriors in the face. "It looks like you're all here," June said,"Kari, Michael, Noriko, Ken, Izzy, Mina, Master of Courage, and...wait, Rika told me, Kazu, right?"

"Rika?" Kazu asked,"You've met Rika?"

"She's our newest member," Yolei said.

"If Rika's joined them," Kazu said,"They may have a serious advantage over us."

Davis was slightly worried, but he couldn't lose face in front of his enemies. "You're all here too I see!" he said, showing off to the Digidestined,"TK, Yolei, Cody, Joe, Derek and Mask.

"But you're missing the our new member!" Derek said, opening his hands to the escalator,"Meet Alice!"

The escalator started moving on her own as Alice rode it to the floor. She was wearing a black-gray dress with large crosses on the short skirt, black socks to her knees, and she had her blond hair in two streams on the side of her head.

"So what's that Gothic girl going to do?" Noriko asked, crossing her arms,"She doesn't even have a Digimon!"

TK smiled. "Show them."

Alice raised her left arm towards an electronic store on the bottom level, then quickly pointed it towards the Digital Warriors. Instantly, all computers, televisions and cell phones crashed through the store window and rained on the Digital Warriors.

"I can control all electronic devices in a twenty foot radius," Alice explained, lowering her hands.

"Oh crud," Ken said.

"Attack!" TK ordered.

"Patamon digivolve to Angemon! Angemon digivolve to Magna Angemon."

"Hawkmon digivolve to Aquillamon!"

"Armadillomon digivolve to Ankylomon!"

"Gommamon digivolve to Ikkakumon."

"Crabmon digivolve to Colemon!"

"Alruamon digivolve to Ninjamon!"

"Gatomon digivolve to Angewomon!"

"Kunemon digivolve to Kuwagamon!"

"Wormmon digivolve to Stingmon!"

"Tentomon digivolve to Kabuterimon!"

"Veemon digivolve to Exveemon!"

"Betamon digivolve to Seadramon!"

The walls of the small mall were rocked as the Digital Warriors and the Digidestined met in battle. Magna Angemon and Angewomon shot towards each other, two angels of good, were now angels of destruction, tearing into each other as hard as they could. Aquillamon and Kuwagamon butted heads in an area to the right, a bird of prey, and an inject of war, neither one ready to yield to the other. To the left, another insect of war waged war against a fierce dinosaur. Both Cody and Ken contained themselves from leaping into battle themselves as Stingmon and Ankylomon battled one another. Ikkakumon and Kabuterimon felt regrets as they fought each other, but they knew that it had to be done. The Master of Courage and Mask had no such feelings in their hearts. They believed that they first met each other as enemies, not knowing that they were really the lost siblings they were searching for. They mercilessly ordered their Digimon into battle, following their orders so well.

As their fellow Digital Warriors fought their match-ups in the Digidestined, Michael and Kazu tried their luck against Alice. Guardromon and Seadramon hovered around the human, unsure of how to proceed. She was just a human, even a simple attack could kill her. "Please, you're just flesh and blood," Seadramon said,"Give up."

Alice smirked at him. "All who try at anything eventually must fail or give up!" she said, throwing her hands towards them. A hailstorm of computers flew from the customer service booth, crashing into the two Digimon. She moved her arms to a phone store on the right and wiped them towards the Digital Warrior Digimon. A barrage of cell phones smashed the digimon, hitting Seadramon in the eye, and Guardromon in the nose.

"This is starting to hurt!" Seadramon said, ducking to avoid another cell phone.

"Knock her unconscious or something," Michael whispered into his Digimon's ear.

Seadramon shot forward and wrapped his tail around Alice, restricting her movement. "How's that?"

Alice's body suddenly coursed with electricity. Seadramon screamed in pain, unwinding his tail to let Alice free. Guardromon shot towards her, when Alice opened her palm and fired a blast of red light that sent Guardromon flying backwards.

"How did she do that?" Kazu asked.

"I don't think we can take her for granted anymore," Michael said.

Alice shot her hands into the air, bringing underground wires from under the floor into the air to the digimon. She closed her fist, wrapping the wires around Guardromon, then she pulled her fist down. The wires pulled down, taking Guardromon with them, smashing him into the balcony.

"That's it!" Seadramon said,"Ice Blaster!"

Alice raised her left palm, creating a circle of light. The beam of light slammed into the light circle and disappeared.

"This is getting bad," Kazu said, ducking a piece of computer equipment,"We've got to do something, fast!"

Alice then caused a barrage of computer to crash into Seadramon's head, while Michael visoucly rushed out of the way. She then turned and made a set or razor sharp circuit boards to rip across Guardromon's chest.

"Hold on guys!" Kabuterimon cried, ducking to avoid one of Ikakkumon's missiles. He quickly shot an energy attack at his foe, then flew towards his fellow Digital Warriors, jumping in front of Guardromon to block Alice's attack, which now ripped into him instead.

"This was a private affair," she said, her voice low,"But nothing is private is it? Everything must be brought out into the world, only to be destroyed by it."

"She's really depressing," Michael commented as Izzy rushed over.

Alice raised her hands and fired a circle of blue light that shot into Izzy's Digivice. Suddenly, Kabuterimon screamed out in pain and shrunk into Tentomon.

"Ah!" Izzy shouted.

"What happened?" Tentomon asked.

"She overrode my Digivice," Izzy said.

"That's not all," Alice said,"I can use your Digivice as a port to infect the other Digital Warrior Digivices."

Seadramon glowed brightly and regressed him to Betamon, while Guardromon fell to unconsciousness. Their human partners turned their heads around the mall, watching as the Digital Warrior Digimon regressed to their lesser forms.

"Izzy!" Kari cried, as she and the rest of the Digital Warriors ran over to him,"What just happened?"

"I've infected all of your Digivices," Alice said.

"You're great!" Derek said,"I really mean it! You're good!"

Alice smiled slightly. "Watch this." She lowered her head and started to grimace in pain. Two bulges appeared in her back, then the back of her dress was ripped apart as two large wings emerged.

"Wings?" TK gasped.

"She's a Wiant...just like Mimi!" Yolei said.

"Mimi...Wiant...?" Izzy thought.

Alice's wings shot open and a cyclone of blue light formed around her body. She closed her fists, shot her head back and screamed.

"What's she doing?" Michael shouted.

"Creating some sort of electromagnetic pulse!" Izzy said.

Alice placed both of her palms together. "Now it's your turn to visit the darkness," she said. The blue cyclone disappeared, only to reappear in her palms. She shot it forward, where it rammed into the Digital Warriors, sending them crashing through the doors of the mall and landing outside.

"We've got to finish this," Kari said, jumping up.

"We can't," Izzy said, sadly,"An electromagnetic pulse hit, meaning all electronic devices are useless, including our digivices. I suggest we run before the Digidestined come after us."

"What are your orders?" Michael asked.

Kari looked at her injured Gatomon, then at the destroyed doors to the mall. "Let's get out of here, quickly. The police will probably be here any minute."

The Digital Warriors quickly got to their feet and ran, failure in their heats.

Next: A mysterious assissing sends both Digi-teams to a sinister laboratoy on the water front which will rock the Mystic Digital War world to its core. Introducing..the Digimon Emperess! And what is her conection to Takato? Next, Mystic Digital War: Chapter 18: Troubles!

Author's note: Well, I had no idea that there were so many people that wanted a Tai and Anna love story. Well, it's not that many people, but, there was one...highly opinionated reviewer. I didn't appreciate the swear word, but..there will be more of Tai and Anna in this chapter, and Tai's feelings towards Anna and Sora. (I don't know why, but for some reason, I enjoy the image of Tai and Matt having many female associates, maye because they're the main charecters. Oh well.)