Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Mystic Digital War ❯ Chapter 18: Troubles ( Chapter 18 )

A young woman with curly blond hair held a microphone close to her mouth as she spoke,"Zis is Catherine DeGual reporting live. For zose of you juzt joing us, Apocalymon and ze Dark Digidestined joined forces to establish ze Neo-Digiworld Empire by conquering lands in ze Digital World. Back on Earth, a strange being I named Agnimon appeared to zave a child from a burning building, zome sort of digimon zat changed to a human.

Ken revealed to ze Digital Warriors zat his older brother Sam owned his own company. Later, Sam appeared to be in league wiz a group of digital hunters called Hyponos.

Ze Digidestined and Digital Warriors tried returned to zeir normal livez, only to fight each ozer in a duel. The Digidestined gained ze upper hand when a Wiant named Alice joined zeir group. Ze Digital Warriors fought bravely, but ze Digidestined were victorious.

Chapter 18: Troubles!

The woman ran as fast as she could down the sidewalk, panting, tears blurring her vision. She glanced behind her, and her heat beat even faster. Her attacker was still chasing her, getting closer. She spun back around, and started running even faster. She knew once he got a hold of her, she would not be able to break free, she just hoped that she could out run him.

That proved not to be the case, however, for as soon as her endurance failed her and she started to slow down, her attacker attacked. He leapt forward, and got hold of her arm. She started to scream, but he yanked her towards him and clamped his hand over her mouth. He spied an abandoned alley and shot inside.

He threw her to the ground. "Listen to me!" he sneered,"If you so much as whimper, I'll kill you! Understand?!"

The woman nodded, too frightened to speak.

"Good!" her attacker said with a grin. He reached down and quickly started to undo his pants. The woman started to feel sick as she knew what was about to happen to her.

Suddenly, a figure dropped down between the attacker and victim, a figure wearing a red suit or armor. Both were gasping for explanations, when the armored figure slammed his fist into the attacker, sending him flying out of the alley and into a telephone booth, knocking him unconscious.

The woman stared at the armored figure, shaking. When the figure looked into her eyes, she felt clam over her, she knew she was safe. "W-who are you?" she asked.

"I have no name," the figure said,"I am just simply trying to help." He then floated into the sky and disappeared.

Darkness, that was all there was, darkness, black as pitch. Unholy darkness. Suddenly, light shot forth, blinding the eyes. Coughing. Lungs that were never used before breathed for the first time as water drained from around the body.

It was a canister of some sort, like a very large test tube. Two hands reached inside and grabbed another, helping the being up. The two hands belonged to a man with long red hair and a beard to match. He had a kind face, but the being knew that there was an evil underneath. "Welcome, my dear," he said, grinning,"Welcome!"

June slowly opened her eyes, yawning for a second as she stared up at the ceiling."What a weird dream," she said to herself,"I wonder what it means?" She instinctively reached up to rub her eyes, when her hands scratched against her sensitive face. She winced and shot her hands back down. She sighed and slowly got out of bed.

She walked over to the mirror resting on her vanity table. "It's been a week," she sighed, staring at her injured facee"Why hasn't my face started healing? Why?!"

She looked down at all of her various make-up and facial creams. She lightly dabbed a cream lotion on her left cheek. She felt intense pain, bringing tears to her eyes. She quickly whipped it off, then started crying. She screamed in rage and knocked all of her make-up onto the ground, breaking many of the glass containers.

She fell to the ground, tears pouring down her face. "It isn't fair!" she sobbed,"I'm such a freak! A freak!"

She turned her eyes to a red head shaped object that was hanging on the edge of the mirror. "My burn mask," she muttered, grabbing the mask,"This is my face now. I am June Motomiya, the Mask."

She stopped crying and cleaned up the mess she made, cursing herself for losing her temper. She pulled off her pajamas, then pulled on her uniform. She attached her burn mask, then took a deep breath and exited her room.

In the living room, Alruamon ran to her. "What was that noise?" she asked,"June, are you okay?"

"I....I had a weird dream," she said, hiding her real problem,"I was in a..canister or something, when this red-headed man pulled me out. I was in a laboratory or something."

"You did watch that Frankenstein movie last night," Alruamon pointed out.

"Yeah," June said, sitting down at the table,"yeah..."

Noriko stood in front of the apartment building, her hand hovering a few inches from the door. She took a deep breath, brought her knuckles back, then brought it forward, ready to knock on the door, but stopped inches from it. She dropped her hand to her side, then turned and walked back down the hall.

"Why didn't you knock?"

She spun around, then breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, Michael," she said as the blond haired Digital Warrior walked from around the corner,"It's you."

Michael nodded. "Why didn't you knock?" he asked again.

Noriko hesitated for a second, then said,"I..I just couldn't tell them," Michael joined her as she started walking to the elevator,"How could I tell my parents that their 'missing' son is really alive? That he didn't disappear in 1990, he went to a place called the Digital World, joined a group of mercenaries, his spirit was brought to the future, placed in a cloned body of himself, but because the cloning machine gave off radiation, it muted the cloned body from a male to a female? That their 37-year-old son is now a 16-year-old girl? How do you think they would have taken it?"

Michael nodded,"I see your point."

Noriko looked down at her school uniform, "Especially dressed like this."

"Still you should have told them." Michael then smiled slightly,"You know, I just realized that both of us had past lives, and were best friends in those past lives."

"Yeah," Noriko said,"Hey, Michael, have you tried to contact Peter Nerez's parents."

Micheal's smile faded. "I may have once been Peter Nerez, but that life is dead to me." Noriko stopped and stared at him as he continued walking.

"...and this is first period," Cody said, mentioning to the classroom with his hand..

Alice's face was expressionless as she stared at the room full of chatting students. "All of them talking, yet none of them saying anything intelligent," Alice muttered.

"...right," Cody said,"Um, when was the last time you were actually in school?"

"I don't remember," Alice said, walking inside,"School is nothing but the administrations idea of who is right."

"She's so depressing," Cody thought, eying Alice's jeans and green shirt,,"At least Yolei and June were able to get her out of wearing black."

Alice sat down at a desk near the back, Cody sat down next to her. "Um, Alice," he asked.

"What is it?"

"I..ah...so, you're a Wiant?"

"That is what you called me," Alice said, shrugging slightly,"TK told me everything he knew about those Wiants, but, I've never known them. As I've told you, I'm not even sure who I really am. All I can remember is being inside that padded cell. I was told that I was delivered there when I was six, amnesic and because of my powers, but, I have no memory of it."

Cody could not think of anything to say, so he just nodded and turned his attention back to the front of the room.

The teacher started class a few seconds later, and lost Alice's interest only a few seconds after that. As the teacher droned on about some king over in some European country, Alice's eyes drifted out to the convention center, and something inside of her recognized that place. A feeling of dread and helplessness drifted over her as an image shot into her mind.

A young boy was seated with his knees drawn to his chest in a cramped room of some sort, staring up at a door with a small glass window in it; a cell, the boy was in a cell.

There was someone else with him, a child his own age, but he could not tell if it was a boy or girl, the image was too foggy. This person was hurt, that much he knew.

Suddenly, the door opened and a man wearing a cape that emanated evil walked in. The boy drew his knees even closer. "I wish my sister was here," he said, tears coming to his eyes,"She would know what to do. She would..."

He stared up at the man of evil. "It's your turn!" he laughed, his fangs glistening with dark light.

Alice jumped back slightly in her seat, then twisted her head around. "Are you okay?" Cody whispered to her.

"Mr. Hida!" the teacher barked,"Is there something you want to discuss with the entire class?"

Cody glanced at Alice, who shook her head. "No," Cody said, smiling slightly,"No."

"Then please do not talk while I am talking!" he said, "this is your first warning."

Cody nodded, then the teacher went back to talking. "What happened to Alice?" he thought,"She looks like she's just seen a ghost."

Matt walked into the kitchen, humming a song he had just heard on the radio. "You're certainly in a good mood."

Matt jumped slightly. He spun around and saw Rika seated at the kitchen table. "Oh," he said, "I..I didn't know you were there."

"Dad," she said,"I..I know this is probably uncomfortable for you.."

"You had no idea," he said, sitting down across from her,"You're my daughter, and you haven't even been born yet!"

"Well," Rika said, smiling slightly,"If it makes you feel any better, I feel kind of weird seeing you considering that you...recently died, my time."

"So," Matt said,"It's like you're seeing a ghost, huh?"

Rika nodded,"You still don't trust me, huh?"

Matt hesitated for a long moment, then stuttered out,"Well, um, you see....."

"It's okay," she muttered, getting up, avoiding his gaze,"I'm use to rejection."

"Rika...Rika wait!" Matt called, running after her. She stopped in the middle of the hall and turned around.

"What is it?" she barked.

Matt hesitated for a couple of seconds,"Um, listen...m-maybe I wouldn't feel so uncomfortable...it we could just...talk for a few minutes."

Rika smiled slightly. "I just have to warn you Dad, I'm not very good at 'talking'"

"Neither am I," Matt said, placing his arm around her shoulder and walking her back to the table,"must run in the family."

"We have to go where?" Michael asked, grabbing a piece of sausage from his plate.

"The press conference at the city hall," Tai said, eating his breakfast,"Some government agency is going to give a speech about the digimon sights that have appeared in the city. I think we should hear what they have to say."

The doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Michael said, jumping up and answering the door, "Izzy, Good Morning."

"Greetings everyone," Tentomon buzzed in.

"Ah, breakfast!" Izzy said, grabbing a plate from the cupboard and sitting at the table.

"Wait a minute, government agency?" Takato asked.

"Yes," Tai nodded,"It's called Hypno or Hypnoss or something like that. Can you tell me anything about it?"

"No," Takato said, shaking his head,"Whatever it is, doesn't exist in the future."

"Ah," Tai said,"I see." He was quiet for a few minutes before saying,"Um, could you maybe tell me about the future?"

"Well," Henry spoke up,"I don't think that's such a good-"

Takato cut him off. "What do you want to know?"

"Well," Tai said, thinking for a minute,"Will I have any children?"

"You'll have a daughter!" Guilmon said.

"Guilmon!" the three Tamers shouted.

"A daughter?" Tai said,"Why didn't you tell me?"

Henry sighed. "Because of the chance of the future altering."

"Is my daughter's name Kasumi?" Tai asked, a smile starting to form on his lips.

"Yes," Takato said,"How did you know?"

"I always liked the name Kasumi, and if I ever had a daughter, that would be her name."

"Well," Takato said,"Kazu, Kasumi and I grew up together. We trained together, played, even made mischief, mostly to Princess Rika Ishida."

"Princess?" Michael asked.

"General Ishida is the leader of the massive Digidestined forces," Takato explained," His daughter was given the title Princess."

"Hey!" Kazu said,"Remember when we snuck into her room and dyed all of her clothes pink?"

"Yeah!" Terriermon started laughing,"Espically that skull and crossbones shirt."

"We made it into a bunny rabbit!" Guilmon laughed.

Takato started laughing. "Yeah, well, anyway, your daughter, my cousin, was my best friend. We did everything together. After you died, my mother became the Digital Warrior leader, then after she died, Kasumi was in charge." Takato smiled as his memories flowed over him,"I miss her so much."

"H-How did she die?" Tai asked.

Takato hesitated for a few seconds, then he spied the Essence of Fire hanging around Tai's neck. "The Essence," he said,"I can tell you about the Essences."

"That is the Essence of Ice," Rika explained, pointing to the small blue globe hanging around Matt's neck,"It is a magical tool that can initiate Digivolution."

"So," Matt said, holding the small artifact in the cup of his hands,"That's how Gabumon was able to digivolve to Metalgarurumon even though my Crest was transferred to TK."

Rika nodded. "Yes," she said, reaching down inside her shirt and pulling up a dark blue globe similar to Matt's "This is my Essence, the Essence of Luna. It was created from the destroyed remains of your Essence."

"What?" Matt asked, confused.

"Your's is the Essence of Fire," Takato said,"As far as we know, they were created by some sort of Wiant master-smith named Daruna. He created the Essences, as well as the Crests, and two other groups of artifacts, Spheres and Matrixes."

"What does this do?" Tai asked, holding up his Essence.

"It allows your Digimon to digivolve," Henry said, simply.

"That's how I was able to keep my Mega level even though Tai's Crest of Courage went to Kari," Agumon said.

"Besides," Guilmon said,"'Digimon of Fire' suits you better, doesn't it?"

"I guess you're right," Agumon said.

"Takato," Michael said,"Back in Modem when Apocalymon digivolved to his final form, Guilmon digivolved to his Mega Level. You already explained about the 'energy bio-merge' part, but, do you have an Essence?"

"Yes," Takato said, grabbing a golden globe from around his neck,"This is the Essence of Halo."

"Did my...daughter...have one?" Tai asked.

"Yes," Takato said," She had the Essence of Sol, which was made from the destroyed remains of the Essence of Fire."

"What?"

"After General Ishida's death, the world-wide army of Digidestined will disintegrate to only a handful, lead by Rika. The Princess hated the Digital Warriors, especially Kasumi. Those two battled and fought so long. Both of them inherited the Essences of their father's. During a fight with each other, the Essence of Fire and the Essence of Ice were destroyed, leaving both sides without Megas."

Back at the Ishida apartment, Rika sighed,"I was not happy at all. I lost the battle with the Digital Warrior leader, Kasumi Kamiya. I went on as best I could, but we still weren't able to truly fight Neo-Digiworld without any megas."

Matt nodded. "So, what happened?"

"A strange man approached me one day with an unusual proposition. He would repair the Essence of Ice, if I used it to destroy Neo-Digiworld. I, of course, accepted. He repaired the Essence of Ice, and made it into the Essence of Luna. I later found out that he did the same to Kasumi Kamiya's Essence of Sol. The two of us met in a duel, and fought in the skies over the destroyed File Island base."

Back at the Kamiya apartment, Takato stared Tai in the eyes. "Kasumi never returned from that duel. We found her body the next day lying amidst the rubble and ruins."

"Matt's daughter killed her?" Tai asked, clenched his fists.

"We don't know," Kazu said,"We were never able to 'talk' to Princess Rika."

Tai nodded. "What about that..Darius?"

"Oh, right," Takato said,"Um, well, from what we were able to find, the Wiant Master-smith, Darius created all those various artifacts, to fight against Apocalymon, when all the various races of the ancient Digital World joined forces to oppose him."

"We found certain evidence such as certain cave writings and stuff like that," Henry said,"that give proof that ancient people from our world were able to enter the Digital World, one of these was named Amadaeus, an evil human who created Apocalymon."

"A human created a Digimon?" Izzy shouted,"How..how can that be?"

"Though some evil means," Henry said,"Probably magic or some arcane method. In any event, in order to fight him and his Digimon partner, Apocalymon, Darius created the artifacts for the various people. So, the rhyme that we found in one of the caves in the Digital World goes as follows:

Four Spheres of Influence for the Gods

Ten Essences of the Physical World for the Wiants

Twelve Crests of Inner Strength for the humans from the Other World

Four Matrixes of Universal Power.

"What does that mean?" Izzy asked.

"Darius created four Spheres for the Digital Gods: North, South, East, and West: Ten Essences for the Wiants: Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Wind, Halo, Technology, Shadow, Forest, and Desert, twelve crests for the humans: Courage, Friendship, Love, Knowledge, Sincerity, Reliability, Miracles, Kindness, Empathy, and Justice, and four matrixes; Hope, Light, and Evil."

"Hope and Light weren't crests?" Izzy asked.

"Apparently not," Takato said,"That's probably why Kari and TK Takashi's original powers left them. "

"You said Four Matrixes.." Michael pointed out.

"We don't know what the fourth one is," Henry said sadly,"We could never find it."

"This is all very, very interesting," Izzy said, rubbing his chin,"I will, of course, have to talk to Geni."

"Crud!" Tai said, glancing at his watch,"We're going to be late for that press conference. Come on!"

"Lord Kamiya," Kazu said,"We'll never make it over to city hall in five minutes."

"That's why our Digimon are going to fly us over to a roof near the City Hall. Let's go."

The others sighed and reluctantly followed. "What are you all talking about?" Izzy asked, running out the door with a plate full of food.

"I don't know why you do these things."

The man with the Cigarette lighter sighed slightly, then continued to talk into his cell-phone. "Because, Orion," he said, looking out the limousine window as the vehicle slowed to a stop,"Our salaries may be paid by the government, but any advancements area good idea to be privately financed."

"You're the boss," Orion sighed.

"We're here," Cigarette Lighter said,"I'll see you back at command." He turned off his phone and pocketed it.

He grimaced as he exited his limo and started to walk through the crowds of people and onlookers to the platform erected on the stairs of the city hall. As he made his way to his assigned seat next to Sam Ichijoji, he turned his head and spied a group of figures on the roof of an adjacent building. "I wonder what they're doing up there?" he thought.

Sam stood up and shook his hand. "I'm glad to see you made it,I wasn't about to do this by myself," he said, with an evil snicker. Cigarette Lighter noticed this expression, but the announcer started the conference before he could ask him about it.

Down in the press section, Floramon cleaned the lens of her camera with a cloth. "Are you ready?" she heard Catherine asked.

"Just tell me when," Floramon answered.

The announcer cleared her throat, then started to speak into the microphones, "Welcome ladies and gentlemen. We are here today to discuss the growing threat of the invading Digimon..."

"What?!"

On top of the adjacent building that Cigarette Lighter spied before, sat some of the Digital Warriors, listening on a radio and watching through binoculars the conference below. When the announcer gave her opening statements, the Digimon jumped up in protest.

"We're not threats!" Agumon said,"If it wasn't for us, those people would all be Myotismon's slaves right now!"

"He's right!" Gatomon cried.

"Shh!" Izzy hissed,"I can't hear the radio!"

Though his binocular, Tai was able to see the announcer mention to a man with dark sunglasses and a cigarette lighter. From the radio he heard,"...Mitsuto Yamaki."

"Yamaki," Tai mumbled,"He's in charge of that Hypnoss organization."

Yamaki cleared his throat and began speaking into the microphones. "Ladies and Gentlemen, My organization, Hypnoss, monitors and researches these Digimon that appear in this planet. The Digital World, where they come from, is directly connected to our own world and exhibits many of the same properties. Much of what we do know comes from a Russian scientist...."

Tai lowered his gaze for a second. "Russia," he thought, as Yamaki droned on,"Anna....jeeze, I miss her more than I thought. Could what I be feeling...affection? I..I need to see her again, I..." Suddenly, something caught his eye, a girl riding a large winged serpent. "What the-?" he asked, as the duo flew by.

"Look!" Guardromon said, pointing to the two figures.

"A girl riding an Airdramon?" Tentomon asked.

"Melissa!" Michael cried,"My..femal double. Wait...that's not Mellissa..."

"Yeah," Betamon said,"she doesn't have blond hair, just light brown, almost reddish brown."

The Digital Warriors watched as the Airdramon fired a beam of shimmering light straight for Yamaki. The director of Hypnoss saw the attack and was able to dive to safety at the last minute.

"Who the hell is that?" Yamaki asked, standing back up as the crowd of people begin to scream and run. The strange attackers spun around and flew back to try their luck again.

"Get down!" Sam Ichijoji shouted, as he jumped behind the stage. Yamaki took his advice and ducked as another beam missed his head.

The attacker was getting annoyed, which was apparent by her use of profanity. Her Aridramon was about to attack again, when he felt something slam into his stomach. His passenger swung her head around trying to find out the case of her Digimon's pain. She glanced forward again and saw a massive dinosaur wearing armor appear in the sky. The girl's face broke into a smile. "Wargrowlmon!" she shouted,"Which means..." She squinted to see a goggle wearing boy on the dinosaur's shoulder. "Takato Motomiya!"

"How do you know my real last name?" he asked, confused,"You know me?"

"Yes," she said,"And you'll pay for what you did to me! I am the Digimon Empress! I live by the saying 'Business before Pleasure," but I also enjoy "Revenge before business!"

Takato studied the girl, trying to decern her identity. She was around his age, wearing a tight-fitting blue outfit with white stripes down the side and a blue cape that showcased her figure. She was also wearing a blue mask that, unfortunately, showed no part of her face except for her large brown eyes and light brown hair that flowed around her shoulders. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

The Digimon Empress grinned. "After I kick your butt, I might tell you."

Her Airdramon screeched, then shot forward, blasting a set of energy beams into Wargrowlmon. He blocked them and catapulted forward, slamming his fist into Airdramon, but the dragon digimon wrapped his tail around Wargrowlmon's leg and flung him aside.

Down below, Catherine looked to the sky,"...where zeconds ago a flying dragon and a girl I zink called herself ze Digimon Empress attempted an assassination of ze Hypnoss leader, Mitsuto Yamaki. Now, zis would be assissin is batteling ze most mysterious Digital Warrior, Takato Matsuki.."

Back in the sky, Wargrowlmon grabbed hold of Airdramon's head and started to squeeze. Airdramon retaliated by firing an energy blast into his face. The dinosaur digimon shot his head back, yelling in pain. The Digimon Empress laughed, then noticed a group of figures flying towards them. "Well, it looks like your friends have finally arrived. We'll continued this later." She turned around and flew off.

Down on the ground, the crowd was in complete chaos. Catherine was attempting to ask Yamaki a set of questions, but he was ignoring every reporter as he entered his limo. As it drove off, Yamaki grabbed his cellophane. "Orion, were you watching?"

"Of course," he said, anticipation in his voice.

"I want to know who that girl was."

Andromon tapped his fingers against the metal seat he was resting in. Well, he wasn't exactly resting, more like nervous anticipation. He glanced around the small waiting room, if that's what you would call it. It was more of a living room , situated in a house in the center of Fuschia Lake.

The door on the right wall slid open and a young man wearing a gray robe and carrying a sword at his side entered. "Geni, "Andromon said, a smile on his face.

"Andromon, Geni said, shaking his massive hand,"How are things?"

"Not good," Andromon frowned,"Not good at all." He sighed as Geni brought him into the room he exited a second before. "What we have feared is indeed true, Apocalymon and the Dark Master have joined forces to create the Neo-Digiworld Empire that is conquering lands faster than we can defend them, and with the Earth digidestined engaged in a civil war, the Digital World's defenders are growing smaller and smaller."

"Do not fear, my friend," Geni said, placing his arm on Andromon's shoulder,"It will all turn out, as it is meant to."

Andromon gave him a puzzled look, but shrugged it off as he followed Geni into the adjacent room. This room was strikingly different from the previous one. This room looked more like a castle dungeon, with various weapons hung on the walls, a very large table with various maps and images scattered on it, and a metal staff with was resting on a raised platform to the right of the room. Andromon saw this, and gave another puzzled look.

"Is there something wrong, Andromon?" Geni asked.

"Why is the Digital Staff on its Platform?" he asked.

"I am the High Priest of the Digital World, with or without the Staff," Geni explained, "And I feel safer these days carrying a sword. You never know who is going to drop by unannounced."

Andromon nodded. "Something is wrong here. First he calls us to attack the Digital Warriors while they're in Modem, then changes his mind, and now this."

"We must make plans, quickly," Geni said,"Before it is too late."

"You're right," Andromon said,"We must act quickly to counter-act Neo-Digiworld."

"'Counter-act?'" Geni asked, puzzled,"Who said anything about stopping Neo-Digiworld?"

"What?" Andromon asked, shocked.

"The Digital World is dying," Geni said,"Posioned by human interference. The world has not known peace since humanity first entered this plane millennia ago! Humanity has brought war and evil to this world! I have tried to use humans to correct the problems, but they have only made it worse! The Digital World must be purified of its poison, then humanity must be exterminated."

Andromon's eyes opened wide and he began to gasp.

"The High Lord Apocalymon plans to move to Earth after the Digital World becomes Neo-Digiworld, Humanity will become extinct. You must join Neo-Digiworld, Andromon, become purified!"

Andromon was struggling to form words. Finally sound came to his mouth,"Have you completely lost your senses, or have you forgotten that Apocalymon's right hand man is Lucifer, a human?!"

"A human different the all others," Geni said, moving closer to Andromon,"A human who wishes to annihilate the earth. He, too, understand the infection of humanity. You must join us Andromon, and save yourself."

Andromon raised his hands, then took a step back. He turned around and ran for the door, but it slid shut. He turned around slowly and saw Geni staring at him. "You have one last chance," he said,"Join us."

Andromon hesitated, then brought his arm up across his chest. "Lightning Blade!" he shouted, swinging his arm back around and sending a beam of light at Geni, who quickly brought his sword up and deflected the beam into the ground.

"So," he said, bringing his sword out in front of him,"You have chosen to die with the human infestation. So be it!" He raised his hand and fired a blast of energy at Andromon. The cybernetic Digimon was hit in the chest, and fell backwards into the wall. He looked up and saw Geni flying towards him, his sword gleaming for the kill.

"Excuse me, Hitomi Kazuki?"

The girl looked up from her hospital bed and saw two young women standing in front of her. "Yes," she said,"Are you doctors?"

"No...no," the one with long purple hair said, laughing slightly. She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a badge,"I am Reika Riley, this is Megumi Taily. We're Government Agents of the organization Hypnoss."

"The one that they were just talking about on t.v..?" Hitomi asked, mentioning to the television set hanging from the ceiling.

"Yeah," Taily said, checking her watch,"The press conference should be over about now."

"Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?" Riley asked.

"Um..sure," Hitomi said,"I'm guessing this is about what happened last night?"

"That's right," Riley nodded,"Can you tell us what happened?"

"Well," Hitomi said, fighting slightly,"I..I was walking home late last night, when this man approached me. I didn't get a good look at his face, but he said something to me; basically he wanted to..to..."

"It's okay," Taily said, glancing slightly at Riley,"We understand. What happened next?"

"Well, I ran, and he started chasing me. I don't know for how long, but I dove into an alley. It was a stupid idea, because he followed me, and I was trapped. He was about to...r-rape me, when this...person appeared in front of me. He was wearing a suit of red armor, and he had a face like a dragon's. When I asked him who he was, he told me he didn't have a name, and that he was only trying to help. But..I know it was the same one that saved that child from the burning building. That...Agnimon, that the digidestined reporter called him."

"What reporter?" Riley asked.

"You mean Catherine DeGual?" Taily asked.

"Yes,"Hitmoi said,"That's the one."

Riley and Taily bowed slightly. "Thank you, Miss Kazaki."

"Why did you want to know?" Hitomi asked,"I told the police everything I could remember about my attacker."

"It's not the attacker we want," Riley said as they walked out the door,"It is that 'Agnimon'. that we want. Get well soon." Then she was gone.

When Tai and the others return to the apartment after the press conference and attempted assassination, he was surprised to find a young boy sitting in front of the television playing video games. When he head the door close, he shot around, then smiled. "Tai!" the little boy cried, running over and hugging him.

"Taisuke," Tai said,"How's my favorite little brother?"

"Hey kid," Michael said, shaking his hand.

"Uncle Michael!" the youngest Kamiya said, hugging him.

"'Uncle?'" Izzy grinned, as he and the rest walked over to the couch.

"Hey," Micheal protested,"It doesn't matter how old you are to be an aunt or uncle."

"Hey Tai," Taisuke said, looking up at his older brother with large puppy dog eyes,"When can I fight with you?"

Tai and Michael glanced nervously at each other, then back at Taisuke. "Um...maybe when you get a little older," Tai said.

"Oh," Taisuke crossed his arms, pouting,"I'm a Dig'tal War'ior too!"

"Taisuke," Tai said, sternly,"You're too young."

"Please..?!"

"No!" Tai shouted,"I don't want you to end up like Kari!"

The room grew quiet, and Taisuke gasped at Tai. "W..what?" he asked,"What happened to Oneesan?"

Tai hesitated for a second, then sighed. "Just..promise me you won't fight, please?"

"O...Okay," Taisuke said, staring at him for a second longer before running into his room.

"What was that about?" Michael asked.

"What happened to my Kari?" Takato asked.

Tai hesitated, then said,"I..I..." He just shook his head and walked into the kitchen.

"What's with him?" Kazu whispered.

"It's Kari," Izzy whispered,"When they were really young, Tai made a bad choice when Kari was sick, and it resulted in her catching pneumonia, and her immune system weakened. That's why she wasn't able to go into the Digital World with us on the first day, because she was sick, again. And because of that, Myotismon entered Earth to search for her, causing a lot of people a lot of pain. Also, when we got back to the Digital World, Kari got sick again while we were fighting Machinedramon. A group of Numemon sacrificed themselves to try and save us, but it still took Wargreymon to do it."

Izzy glanced slightly to where Tai was looking for something in the refrigerator, "He's never forgiven himself for that. If the pneumonia hadn't weakened her immune system, Kari wouldn't have gotten sick for those two important dates, then those innocent people and Digimon wouldn't have died. He blames himself."

The doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Kazu said, jumping over to the couch to run into the hall.

"We're going to call you a doorman soon," Guardromon said.

"Shut up!" Kazu shouted.

"Wow," Michael said,"I..I never realized how much pain he carries around with him."

"Yeah," Gatomon said,"He's got alot of inner demons to wrestle with."

"More than you realize, Gatomon," Tai thought, as he grabbed an apple from the fridge,"If I had been just a few seconds faster, just a little stronger, then I could have stoped Myotismon before he..he killed Wizardmon. He died saving my little sister. It was my fault, just like so many other things."

"With that apple in your mouth, you look like a Hawaiian pig roast."

Tai looked up and dropped the apple. Standing in his doorway was a familliar short haired blond girl wearing a brown sweater, a red skirt, a pair of boots, and a thick coat. "Anna!" he said, hardly able to contain his joy,"You came back!"

She bowed slightly. "Yes, Lord Kamiya, for a few hours, at the least," she smiled, as Tai wrapped his arms around her,"I'm happy to see that you missed me."

"Oh, you have no idea," Tai said, then he finally seemed to notice the clothes she was wearing,"Aren't you hot?"

"I did just come from a Siberian Winter," she said, removing her jacket and rolling up her sleeves.

The other Digital Warriors present walked into the kitchen. "Anna!" Michael said, "Welcome back."

"Thank you," she smiled slightly.

"You come from Russia?" Taisuke asked, his eyes really wide.

"That's right, little one," she said, kneeling so she could talk to him.

"I never met anyone from so far before. What it's like?"

As Anna started to talk to Taisuke, Izzy pulled Tai aside. "What was that?" he whispered.

"What was what?" Tai asked, confused.

"That hug," Izzy said,"What about Sora?"

"What about her?" Tai asked,"She's given me no indication of wanting to start a relationship since she returned from Modem. Besides, have you seen Anna?"

Izzy glanced at her. "Yeah, well..."

"You're just jelous," Tai muttered as he walked back into the kitchen.

"And you're in denial," Izzy thought.

As the Neo-Digworld Army marched across the Digital World, destroying lands and conquering towns and cities, blanketing the digital plane in darkness, the darkness over the newly established capital of the Neo-Digiworld Empire grew even darker.

The capital, Neo-Digiworld City, was a massive city, built like a manor, with a strong outer wall, the castle itself near the back, and a maze of walls trapping the dwellings inside. Deep inside of the castle, on a throne of skulls, sat the High Lord Apocalymon, shrunk down to human size, with his lower cube body changed into a pair of legs. At his side stood the Dark Master Lucifer and Piedmon, with the rest of the Dark Masters and Dark Digidestined kneeling in front of them on the throne room floor.

"How goes the conquest of the Digital World?" Apocalymon asked.

"Very well, sir," Mellissa said, bowing,"Already the Delta Quadrant has joined your empire, and the other tree are quickly falling. I estimate that the Alpha Quadrant with be the last."

"It is fitting," Lucifer said with a grin, "That the Quadrant with the Digidestined's File Island base will be the last to fall. They'll be able to watch the world they've sworn to protect fall under the High Lord's domain."

Apocalymon smiled at him. "You are quickly racking up the brownie points, as you would say."

Lucifer bowed,"Thank you, m'lord. However, this is a problem."

"What is that?"

"Our various...projects are quickly using up our energy reserves. Until we connect to the Energy Stones under the ground, we'll need..reserves."

"What do you suggest?"

"We steal energy, from Earth."

"A power plant?" Bizzard asked.

"Yes," Lucifer said,"We'll choose one in Tokyo, Japan, preferably, the one that powers the Kamiya and Ishida apartments."

"Yes," Apocalymon snickered,"I enjoy that. Bizzard, you hold the Essence of Technology, find a Power Plant."

"Yes, sir," Bizzard bowed.

"Eiri," Lucifer said,"Assemble the Dark Digidestined and prepare to leave as soon as Bizzard locates one."

"Yes," Eiri bowed.

"Alice, this is Dr. Kafka."

Alice looked up from her meal and stared at the brown haired young woman, standing next to Matt. "She's going to help you."

"No!" Alice screamed, jumping up,"No more head doctors!"

Matt twisted his head and saw that the television and walls were starting to rattle. "She's probably got control of the wires," he thought, Outloud, he said, ":Alice, wait! She's not going to hurt you in any way. She only wants to talk, I promise."

The walls grew silent and the television was still. "No tests," Alice said,"No more."

"Alice," Dr. Kafka said, soflty,"Would I be able to get a blood sample?"

Alice started at her for a long times before saying,"Okay, but make it quick"

"I won't take one now," Dr. Kafka said, sitting down across from Alice at the table,"Dr. Wong will want one later to help you better control your powers."

Alice just nodded and continued to eat. "Now," Dr. Kafka said,"what can you tell me about your past?"

Sam threw off his sports jacket as he entered a room filled with strange equipment, devices, and a large viewing screen with an array of buttons underneath. He grabbed a white lab coat that was hanging on a coat rack and pulled it on as he ran towards the small television set that was resting on one of the tables. He clicked it one and flipped through the channels until he reached a news station. He chuckled slightly to himself when he saw Catherine seated behind the desk.

"Ze attempted assassination of ze Government Agent, Mitsuto Yamaki, by a digidestined girl, calling herself ze Digimon Empress, seems to add to ze belief zat digimon are dangerous. Ze Digital World does not have a ruler, ze assassin is ze Digimon Empress in name alone. In ozer news..."

Sam shut off the t.v. and turned around, only to see a figure standing in front of him. He jumped slightly, then scowled. "What are you doing here?"

The Digimon Empress smirked, then crossed her arms. "Just stopping for a visit."

Sam grumbled his throat. "Oh, what are you so upset for?" she asked.

"You complexly fouled up everything!" Sam said,"You were suppose to scare Yamaki, not kill him!"

"Who said I was going to kill him?" the Empress asked,"If you're talking about what I said to Takato Motomiya, that was some..pent up feelings. I don't kill."

"What was that about anyway?" Sam asked,"What's your problem with that Takato kid?"

The Digimon Empress sighed,"It's too long a story. Why don't you tell me why you want Yamaki so scared?"

"That's none of your concern," Sam said.

"Fine," the Empress crossed her arms,"When am I getting paid?"

"You failed!" Sam shouted,"Now Yamaki's more committed then ever to attacking the digimon. I'm not paying you anything."

"What?" the Empress shouted,"I expect to be compensated."

"You're not getting a dime!" Sam shouted.

"Fine, " the Empress smirked,"If that's the way you want to play it, I'm keeping the Dark Rings and Digivice you gave me."

"You thief!"

"You're one to talk. Isn't all of your company based on technology you stole from your former mentor?"

"Mizuno was insane!" Sam said, throwing his arms open,"He was going to use his inventions to...take over the world! I'm using it to try and keep the world safe, but now Yamaki wants to use it to destroy! He's going to end up just like Mizuno!"

"A noble cause, huh?" the Empress laughed,"Whatever, I'm still taking what you gave me as payment, and I'm going to look for more."

"No!" Sam pleaded,"Don't go into Mizuno's lab! It's dangerous." The Digimon Empress laughed, then ran out of the office.

The roar of the massive generators made it difficult to hear, but the technicians on the top of the catwalk were able to make out that the people on the floor were shouting something about 'smoke' and 'malfunctions.' They looked around and saw white smoke billowing from a corner of the room. Everyone quickly ran to find the source of the smoke, to try and repair the problem, but, when they saw the source, they knew they were dealing with something they could not handle-a glowing circle spitting out the smoke like a geyser.

They were shocked for a second, then were about to run for other help, when the smoke geyser exploded, blanketing the entire power plant in white smoke. The technicians were struggling for explanations when a group of shadows brought them all into unconsciousness.

"Well, this was easy," one of the shadows said.

"Don't get cocky, Lambert," another shadow said,"Get those power siphon equipment connected to the generators. The digidestined are sure to detect our Digital Field soon, we need to get enough energy as we can before then."

"Yes, Eiri," the other Dark Digidestined said.

Eiri nodded, looking around,"We've got work to do."

Rika was laughing so hard, she was seconds away from snorting,"...and, so, after we spray painted all of Kasumi's clothes a really ugly gray color-I even made a skull and crossbones on her best white dress-we had to get out of the Digital Warrior mansion as fast as we could, so we jumped down the garbage shoot, but Kenta got stuck. We were going to go back for him, when an entire pile of clothes shot down, knocking him lose and into the large laundry bag. When he climbed out, he had girl's underwear on his head."

Matt almost choked on his meal, he was laughing so hard. "Well, Rika," he said, calming himself down,"I have to say that, I'm glad we were able to have this time alone."

"Does that mean that you aren't so uncomfortable around me," Rika asked,"Dad," she added.

"No," Matt smiled slightly,"I'm glad to see the person you'll become in 12 years."

Rika couldn't help but grin. "Thanks Dad, I...I really missed you."

The door to the apartment swung open, and TK ran in. "Matt!" he called,"Yolei's just registered a Digital Gate at the power plant."

Matt nodded. "Get the main team together and take care of it."

"Right," TK nodded, starting to run out the door.

"Uncle TK," Rika called, jumping up,"Wait, I'm coming."

"Rika," Matt said,"Wait.."

"We'll talk later, okay, Dad?" she said,"But I've got to help them." She walked over and lightly kissed him on the cheeck,"I've never really...ever said this to anyone before, but, I love you, Dad."

Matt couldn't help by smile as Rika exited the apartment.

Kazu sighed loudly, mentioning to the kitchen. "Can those two be any louder? I'm trying to watch this!"

"I'm still slightly surprised he's interested in her," Davis said, grabbing a potato chip from the tuber ware bowl on the coffee table.

"I know," Michael muttered, clicking the television remote. He glanced over to where Kari was sitting on the armchair. She wasn't even looking at the television, she just kept staring in the kitchen. "Kari?" Michael asked,"What do you think?"

She didn't answer, she just kept staring at the kitchen. "Kari?"

She jumped slightly. "What?" she asked, looking around.

"Kari," Michael said, getting her attention,"What do you think of Tai and Anna?"

Kari turned to where her older brother and Anna were talking loudly at the kitchen table. "I...I don't know. I...I'm happy for him.."

Gatomon looked up at her partner,"You're lying."

Kari sighed. "Alright, I am. He should be with Sora. She's the one who's carrying his child."

Kazu, Guardromon, Henry, and Terriermon all turned to her. "Shh!" they hissed.

"You've got to keep it a secret," Henry said,"It's not like you and Mr. Motomiya, Lord Kamiya and Lady Sora aren't even on the same team, and there's no telling what our continued prescence here will do to the time line. I'm already keeping an eye on you, but as long as you and Mr. Motomiya continue to remain on...good terms with one another, then nothing should change your destiny."

"But Tai..?" Kari asked.

"I don't know," Henry sighed,"I think the question is more with what happens to Lady Sora. As long as nothing happens to the child that she's carrying, then Kasumi will still be born. "

Kari sighed, then turned back to the kitchen. "I'm not going to disrespect Anna, but, Tai belongs with Sora."

In the kitchen, Tai and Anna began to talk louder. If they knew they were inconviencing the others, they didn't show it. "...and so," Tai laughed,"I was completely covered in mud. I needed to get cleaned up, but my mother would freak if I got into the apartment. So, I undressed, and climbed the stairwell. I was at the door to the apartment, when the girl who lived next door came out and saw me in nothing but my underwear. I was so embarrassed that my cheeks were burning."

Anna started laughing even louder. "Lord Kamiya, I don't think I've ever had this much fun before."

Tai smiled slightly,"Your Japanese is excellent," he started blushing,"And well...so are you."

Anna started blushing now, and turned her head to the table. There was a long uncomfortable silence before Tai said,"Um...listen,...would you like to do something on Saturday night?"

"I'd love to," Anna said, looking back up.

They were so absorbed in staring in each other's eyes, that they didn't hear the door bell ring, or Kazu jump up to answer it, Guardromon calling him a door man, or Kazu telling him to shut up. They did, however, hear Kazu running into the kitchen,"Lord Kamiya! Lord Kamiya!"

"What it is?" Tai asked, looking at him.

Kazu opened his mouth to talk, but a bright orange haired girl walked past him. "Uh, Lady Sora's here," Kazu said, meekly.

"Sora," Tai gapsed,"Uh, hi."

Kazu ran out of the kitchen, leaving Sora and Anna staring at each other. "What're you doing here?" they both asked.

"You have no right to be here," Anna said, standing up,"Not after all you've done to Lord Kamiya."

Sora crossed her arms,"'Lord Kamiya'?" she chuckled.

Tai got up and stepped between them,"Um, Anna, I'm going to talk to Sora for a second, I'll be right back."

Anna stared at Sora for another second, then sat back down. Tai brought Sora to the balcony. "What brings you here?" Tai asked.

"What's with her?" Sora asked, mentioning to Anna.

"What?" Tai asked.

"What about me?" she asked, pointing to herself.

"What about you?" he asked,"You're jealous? What have you to be jealous of? I thought they was something between us after I fought Oikawa, but you were all too ready to condemn me for something I told you I didn't do. And now that something bad's happened to you, we can just start a relationship? Sorry, it doesn't work like that "

Sora stammered for something to say, but decided not to. She just twirled around and ran out of the apartment. "Biyomon!: she shouted to where her Digimon was talking to the other Digimon,"We're leaving!"

"But we just got here," the pink bird protested as they walked out the door.

Takato was resting on the roof of the apartment building, staring at the night sky when he saw Garudamon and Sora flew from a lower level. "I guess that didn't go well," he thought, then sighed. "I wonder how Uncle Tai is going to handle this. Just because he was with Aunt Sora in the future, does that mean it was suppose to be that way? Maybe he is destined to be with Anna. That would alter the future though, but, maybe my future isn't suppose to be. We tried to prevent Apocalymon's ascension, and we failed, stupid, STUPID! I was foolish, this was a mistake. We should have stayed in our time, I'm such a failure. I could never follow in Kasumi's footsteps, I'm such a failure."

He sighed, when something caught his eye, a girl riding on a large serpent with wings. "The Digimon Empress!" Takato grinned,"yes!"

Sora had her arms crossed as Birdramon flew across the night sky. She was grumbling to herself,"Stupid Tai..."

"Sora," Birdramon called,"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Tai and Anna," Sora shouted, then sighed,"What really gets me mad is....Tai's right. If only I hadn't lost it so badly when Oikawa fled after Tai and his battle, then maybe..."

"It's that read-headed temper of yours," Birdramon said,"It'll get you in trouble every time."

Sora grumbled something, then saw a cloud of smoke appeared on top of a building. "A Digital Field!" Sora said,"That's make me feel better. Let's go!"

Yamaki clicked his cigarette lighter up and down as he entered the dome shaped control room of Hypnos's nerve center. "Tracker, Recorder, I 'm here."

The two women seated on the elevated chair glanced downward. "We have a Wild One," Riley said,"Plus a Digital Signal matching the digidestined Sora Takenouchi."

"Really?" Yamaki asked,"Contact Orion and tell him to contain the Wild One, then bring me Sora Takenouchi."

"Are you sure, sir?" Taily asked.

"Yes, Takenouchi would know how to contact Taichi Kamiya and Yamato Ishida, the two, so-called Lords of the digidestined."

"Alerting Orion now," Riley said, pushing a set of buttons on the console.

"Great," Yamaki said, clicking his cigarette lighter again,"Perfect."

Andromon slowly felt consciousness flow back into his body. He slowly opened his eyes, and, at first thought her vision had become damaged, but then he realized that the dark, blurry image he saw was the actual landscape. "What the-?" he asked.

He found that he was on a cliff, bounded to the side of the mountain by glowing blue rings. Down below him, was a black beach, with dark waves crashing onto it. The entire ocean was black. "Where am I?" Andromon asked.

"This is the Dark Ocean."

Andromon turned to the left and saw Geni standing next to him on the cliff. "The what?" Andromon asked.

"The Dark Ocean," Geni grinned,"A sub-plain of the Digital World."

"What do you want with me, you traitor?" Andromon asked.

"I want you to hang for a while," Geni said, slapping Andromon on the cheek,"And let you reconsider my proposal." He turned and walked into an opening in the side of the mountain, leaving Andromon struggling with his bonds.

Geni walked through a maze of caves and passages until he reached a large room with a massive screen on the wall, and a glowing button console beneath it. He pressed a sequence of the buttons, and the screen came to life. :"My High Lord Apocalymon," Geni bowed,"The Dark Ocean, and I are at your command. What is your wish?"

Apocalymon's image flickered for a second. "Prepare an army, and wait for my signal to invade the Earth."

"As you wish, my Lord," Geni bowed as Apocalymon's image faded. He then walked over to a guard rail overlooking a large indoor harbor, with a massive, squid like creature resting in the water, and a human young man on its shoulder.

The human looked up at Geni. "What are our orders?"

Geni looked down at him. "We have an invasion to prepare for."

"Hmm," Sora said, glancing at the rooftop,"A Vilemon, interesting."

"Are we going to attack?" Birdramon asked.

"Wait," Sora said, "He might not be dangerous. Let's just help him back into the Digital World."

"Alright," Bridramon said, flying towards the confused Vilemon. Suddenly, the Digimon was covered in a yellow light, and vanished.

"What happened?" Birdramon asked,"Did another Gate open?"

"No," Sora said, glancing towards the sky,"Someone killed it." Suddenly, her Digimon was covered in a white light, and shrunk into Biyomon.

"What happened?" Sora shouted as they fell.

"I did," a figure wearing a cape, and a red jewel for one of his eyes said as he caught both Sora and Biyomon,"I am Orion, and Lord Sentry wishes to speak with you."

"I'm not going anywhere!" Sora shouted, "Let us go!"

"Those are not my orders," Orion said, glaring his red eye into Sora's, then Biyomon's, making them both fall asleep. He then flew towards the Hypnos building.

TK glanced over Aquillamon's shoulder to the power plant below them. "That's a Digital Feild alright, there's smoke, but no fire."

He looked over to Yolei. "How many are down there?"

Yolei kept her eyes on the small box in her hands. "Five, all signals we've seen before, the Dark Digidestined."

"Really?" TK asked, looking back at the plant.

"What are they doing here?" Derek asked.

"Wait!" Yolei called,"there are six of them. The sixth signal is...no..it's gone. Must have been a glitch, it couldn't have been..."

"Yolie?" June asked.

"It's nothing," she said, placing the device in her pocket.

"Okay," TK said, taking a deep breath,"Let's do this."

"You heard him, Aquillamon," Yolei said, "Let's go."

Aquillamon flew up for a little bit, then dove towards the power plant, crashing threw the skylight and landing on the hard floor in front of the Dark Digidestined.

The Dark Digidestined watched as TK's group jumped off of Aquillamon. "The Digidestined," Eiri growled,"I was hoping for a few more minutes."

"What can I say?" TK laughed slightly,"We're good."

"What are you doing here?" Joe asked.

"We need energy, it's as simple as that," Barker said,"Our capital is in need of energy, which is why we've connected these batteries to them."

TK sighed,"Alright, let's just get this over with."

"As you wish," Eiri nodded, slightly,"Dark Digidestined, you know what to do."

"Digidestined, go!" TK ordered.

The Digidestined and Dark Digidestined Digimon charged at each other. Colemon and Ninjamon dove to battle Skull Satanmon, while Zudomon and Shakkoumon teamed up against Marine Devimon. Aquillamon quickly digivolved to Sylphymon, and started a battle with Lady Devimon. TK, Rika, and Alice stood staring at Eiri. "Rika," TK said,"I want you to help Yolei."

"What?" she snapped,"I have a Mega, too! I can help you against Daemon."

"But Yolei doesn't, and Sylphymon needs help. Go."

Rika grumbled,"Fine. Renamon."

"Renamon digivolve to Kyuubimon! Kyuubimon digivolve to Taomon!"

"What about me, Commander?" Alice asked.

"Stay on the sidelines. My plan is to use your power blast to finish this fight."

"I understand," Alice said, moving towards the walls where she watched the battle between the two teams explode.

Skull Satanmon blasted his energy attack into Colemon, then spun around and use his staff to block Ninjamon's throwing stars, then slammed it across Ninjamon's back, throwing her into Colemon. Shakkoumon and Zudomon blasted energy attacks into Marine Devimon, throwing him back slightly. He shot his tentacles around Shakkoumon and Zudomon, then slammed them into each other. Azuna laughed as Ladydevimon held Sylphymon up by his neck, then used him as a shield when Taomon fired her Talismon of Light attack. The only one that was holding his own was TK and Goldramon, but Alice wasn't going to wait for him to fall. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she was not alone, and she wasn't going to blow it.

Alice concentrated, and her wings emerged from her back, slipping through the slits that Rumiko had made for her after she destroyed the back of her dress in the previous fight. She raised her hands above her head and floated into the sky, blue particles starting to appear in her palms, creating a large blue globe. "Digidestined!" she shouted,"Get down!"

She was about to fire the attack when, she saw a beam of red light fire from a darkened corner into her blue globe, disintegrating it. Alice glanced down at her palms, her eyes opened wide.

"What happened to her energy attack?" Ninjamon asked.

"I have no idea," June said.

"Who did that?" Alice shouted,"Who?!"

"I did."

Everyone turned their attention to the darkened corner of the ceiling and the wall. A winged figure floated out-a teenage girl with long brown hair, wearing a tight-fitting black jumpsuit. The Digidestined gasped as loud as they could. "Mimi!" they all shouted.

It was her, without a doubt, although, she never wore black before.

"You're alive!" June shouted, reaching for the Crest that was hanging around her neck,"Here, I've kept your crest safe."

Mimi glared down at her. "I don't need that pathetic piece of trash!"

"W..What?" June asked, shocked.

"I'm more powerful than that weak 'Sincerity' power! Besides, I'm not taking anything from you pathetic Digidestined."

"M-Mimi," June said, tears starting to well up in her eyes,"w..What did they do to you?"

"Miss Tachikawa has recently seen our side of things," Barker laughed,"Meet our newest Dark Digidestined."

"No...No!" June shouted,"Mimi, this isn't you! Mimi, remember, we're best friends, I would tell you if you were doing something wrong, and you're doing it now!"

Mimi stared down at June. "I remember you, but we were never friends!" She turned back to Alice. "And you!" she screamed,"You are no Wiant! you imposter!" She shot forward, her fists glowing a bright green, when Eiri shouted her to stop.

She turned to him, "What?"

"We have enough energy," Eiril called. With the Digidestined and their Digimon too shocked at seeing Mimi, they were able to gather the energy siphoning equipment, and were heading for the Digital Gate. "Let's go!"

She turned and glared at Alice. "I'll see you again, imposter!" Mimi said, then flew towards the gate.

"Wait!" Alice shouted, flying after her,"You're not getting away!" Mimi had entered the glowing circle, and Alice was right behind her, but the gate closed and Alice slammed into the wall.

"Well, this was a complete waste!" TK shouted into the air.

June fell to her knees. "Mimi," she cried softly,"Mimi, I'll get you back, my friend, I swear it."

Takato and Wargrowlmon spied the Digimon Empress and her Airdramon hovering over a warehouse resting on the docks. "What is she doing?" Takato asked.

"It looks like she's looking at that warehouse. What's so special about that place?"

"I don't know," Takato said,"I wish I knew who she was, maybe this would make sense then."

"She's doing something," Wargrowlmon said, "Look!"

Takato squinted and saw the Digimon Empress dive through a border-up skylight. "Are we going after her?"

Takato grinned slightly,"Do you even need to ask? Let's go!"

Wargrowlmon laughed slightly as he followed the Digimon Emperess's path. He dove through the skylight, and into a hailstorm of laser beams.

"What's going on?" Wargrowlmon shouted as he dodged laser beams.

"I don't know!" Takato shouted, looking around. The warehouse was almost totally emptied, except for a few wooden boxes lined up against the wall, and strange guns mounted in the corners of the room that were firing the laser beams. He also saw the Digimon Emperess flying towards on of the creates. "Hey Emperess!" he shouted.

"Motomiya, or should I say Matsuki?" the Emperess glared as her Aridramon dodged laser fire,"What are you doing here?"

"That's what I want to ask you!" Takato shouted, still dodging fire.

"I'm here for more tools!" the Emperess said, as her Airdramon stopped in front of the largest wooden crate. One of the guns twisted and pointed at them and fired. Airdramon shot out of the way with seconds to spare, shattering the wooden crate and wall. She dove down and grabbed what looked like a black ring from the wooden splinters, then flew through the skylight. "I've got what I came for! I will see you later."

"Darn it!" Takato shouted,"Get after her!"

"I'm on it!" Wargrowlmon said, flying back through the skylight, but the Digimon Emperess was gone.

"Darn! We lost her!"

"Hey, Takato," Wargrowlmon said,"What was that warehouse?"

"I don't know," he said,"I bet Mr. Izumi would know, though. Come on, let's get back to the apartment."

Dr.Janyu Wong rested his hands on the keyboard for a moment as he studied the formula on the monitor. "Maybe if I exchange the positive flow with negative, then make the digital field thicker than it should be....Damn it!" he shouted.

"Daddy..?"

Dr. Wong turned around and saw a small, bluish haired little girl standing in his office. "Jaarin," he said, smiling slightly,"How was baby Henry?"

"Sleepin'." Jaarin said, looking at the screen full of letters and numbers,"What'cha doin?"

"Trying to figure out a way to complete the Monster Maker's ultimate Digimon, without the missing pieces that the rest of the Monster Makers have."

Jaarin looked at him with a puzzled look on her face. Dr. Wong sighed slightly,"You know they have those boy's toys that they take different body parts and put them together?"

"Oh, yeah!" Jaarin said, "Some of the boys in my class use them. They're stupid!"

Dr. Wong smiled slightly. "Well, that's like what Daddy is trying to do, only he doesn't have all the parts."

"Oh, why don't you just buy them?"

"Well, Daddy's friends has the other parts, but his friends are missing."

"Oh," Jaarin said,"Do you want one of my dolls?"

"No," Dr. Wong laughed slightly,"That's okay." He looked over his daughter's shoulder and saw a woman standing in the doorway. "Dr. Kafka."

The psychiatrist nodded,"Lord Ishida wishes for our prognosis on Alice."

"I'm on my way."

When Sora was finally able to open her eyes, she saw that she was in a cell of some sort, completely surrounded in white padding. She glanced to the ground and saw Biyomon lying on the ground. "Biyomon!" she cried, shaking her digimon away,"Biyomon!"

Her Digimon quickly sat up,"What?" she asked,"Sora, wh-where are we?"

"I don't know," Sora said, walking to the door,"That Digital hunter, Orion, got us, we're probably in Lord Sentry's headquarters."

"Is there anyway out?" Biyomon asked.

"No," Sora sighed, glancing towards the cieling,"But probably through that air vent."

"Why would they have an air vent in a cell?"

"Look how high it is," Sora pointed out,"They probably never figured anyone would be able to reach it, but you can. Lift me up there."

Biyomon sighed. "Okay."

Sora grabbed hold of her digimon as she lifted her towards the air vent. She twisted around and crashed her feet into the vent, knocking it open. She the swung her feet again, bandings her knees to grab hold, she then pulled herself inside the vent, then did the same for Biyomon.

"Can you even see?" Biyomon asked.

"Sure,"Sora said, crawling down the shaft,"I can see a light down there."

The duo continued down the air vent until they reached the vent that was streaming the light inside. Sora saw that it lead to a hallway full of people. She waited until she couldn't see anyone in the hallway, then kicked the gate opened an jumped into the hall, with Biyomon following her.

"Okay," Sora said, glancing around,"Let's get out of here."

Taily looked down from her elvated chair. "Mr. Yamaki," she said,"Orion just called in: Sora Takenouchi is here."

"Good," Yamaki said, placing his cigarette lighter in his pocket,"I'm on my way." He made it to the door, when Taily called him back.

"What is it?"

"Um...Takenouchi has just escaped," she said, meekly.

"What?" Yamaki shouted.

"Her cell is empty," Taily said," It appears that she escaped through an air vent."

"Alert security!" Yamaki shouted,"Now!"

Sora dove behind a stack of wooden boxes in a small room as a group of people wearing black jumpsuits charged down the hall. "I think they know we are leaving."

"Yeah," Biyomon said, as she cautiously followed Sora down the hall. They passed by dozen of doors, trying to find a away out, when they passed by a door that was slightly open. Sora did not pay it any attention until she heard a voice say something that caused her to stop.

"What are you doing?" Biyomon asked.

"I heard something familiar," she said, cautiously looking through the crack of the door. Inside, Orion was standing in front of a screen with a strange image on it. She gasped slightly, at the image on the video screen."Th-that's... I know who he is! Orion is really..." Sora steped forward slightly and accidentally moved the door, causing it to creak slightly. "Oh crud!"

Orion spun around. "Takenouchi!" he cried,"How much did you hear?"

"Everything!" Sora cried, pointing her finger at him,"I know who you really are!"

"But you won't for long!" Orion said, raising his palm and firing a blast of yellow light into Sora's face, blanketing her in darkness.

Dr. Wong and Dr. Kafka walked into the conference room on the Digidestined File Island Base. The main Digidestined team was seated around the table, and watched as Dr. Wong and Dr. Kafka sat down.

"Welcome," Matt said,"Have you been able to test Alice?"

"Yes," Dr. Kafka said,"She certainly has bi-polar disease, I was able to confirm during our conversation. It is my opinion, however, that she may have multiple personality syndrome."

"Why do you say that?" Yolei asked.

"While she was talking, she seemed to quickly switch...voice pitch and body language, but I wasn't able to talk to any of the other personalities. It is my opinion, that the other personalities might surface soon, due to the amount of stress she has been under lately."

She glanced at TK,"Be careful, the different personalities of people suffering from multiple personality syndrome, can be very different. One of her different personalities could be very violent."

"We will,"TK said, I'll be sure of it."

"What about your blood sample?" Matt asked.

Dr. Wong sighed. "I compared the blood sample from Alice, with the bloods samples of Mimi Tachikawa, her mother, and her younger brother. Without a doubt, she is a Wiant. Also, I've noticed something...odd, about Alice's DNA. She appears to have a mutant Wiant power-shapeshifting."

"Shapeshifting?" Yolei asked,"Really?"

"Yes," Dr. Kafka nodded,"That was something else I noticed when I was talking to Alice, she seemed to be...'changing'...during our talk. Like her hair slightly grew longer, or her eyes changed color."

"That's kind of cool," Joe said.

Dr. Wong sighed,"It's not 'cool', it's very dangerous, in fact, I'm afraid that she might have been experimented on by Shibumi."

"Who?" Matt asked.

"One of the Monster Makers," Dr. Wong sighed,"After we were forced from the Digital World by Geni's now destroyed vaccine program, we tried to find a way back in, but Mizuno, whose Monster Maker name was Shibumi, the Monster Makers of Power and Bateries went insane. He started unholy experiments, and creating evil devices. He wanted to take over the Earth, and he somehow convinced Daisy, the Monster Maker of Passwords and Codes, to join him. The night before he was about to complete his plan, the police caught him and he was killed. Daisy disappeared. But, if Alice was one of the children experimented on by him, then she could have a hidden power, that might destroy us all."

Matt lightly rubbed his cheek. "Interesting..."

Sam walked into the control room of the Hypnos building. "Good evening," he said, grumpy, then he noticed that Yamaki, Riley, and Taily all had sour expression on their faces. "What did I miss?" he asked.

"We had Sora Takenouchi, but then she escaped," Yamaki grumbled, mentioning to the dome shaped ceiling that showed an image of Sora and Biyomon running down the hall and out the front door.

"What were you doing with her?" Sam asked, confused.

"All I wanted to do was use her to contact Kamiya and Ishida."

Sam turned his head and crossed his arms. "I could have helped you. You don't have to solve everything with violence, you know."

"You're one to talk."

All eyes turned and saw a figure standing in the doorway. "The Digimon Emperess?"

"I'm alerting security," Taily shouted.

"Wait!" the Emperess said,"I come in peace."

"What?" Sam and Yamaki asked.

The Emperess bowed at Yamaki,"I apologize for this morning's incident. My...previous employer, was an idiot, and thought he could cheat me. I thought, what greater revenge, then succeeding to his enemy's side."

"I get it, you think that if you tell us everything, we'll just let you go free?" Yamaki shouted.

"No," the Emperess said, as security ran into the room,"I wish to join you."

"We'll discuss this later!" Yamaki said, as the Emperess was escorted out of the room. She glanced at Sam for a second, then was gone.

Across the city, at the waterfront warehouse that the Digimon Emperess broke into earlier that day, behind the wall that was destroyed by the laser, a strange chamber slowly slid out of the wall and into the open. The chamber started to shake slightly, then the front burst open, and a figure slammed to the floor in a mess of green liquid-a 12-year-old girl with long curly brown hair.

She coughed for a few times, then looked around. "Wh-what happened?" she asked, getting onto her knees,"What happened to this place? Wh...where am I? Daisuke! I've got to get home!"

She jumped up, then noticed she was completely naked. She glanced around the darkened warehouse, then, through one of the large windows, she spied a clothing warehouse across the street. She cautiously opened the front door and looked outside. She didn't see anyone, so she took a deep breath, then ran across the dock and into the shadows cast by the clothing warehouse. She peeked through one of the broken windows, and saw a dozen cardboard boxes, some opened, and some still shut. Glancing around, she saw that the place was a mess. "This place has probably been closed for years. I wonder why they didn't get rid of all these clothes?"

She shrugged, then managed to open the entire window. She slide in, her bare body never touching any glass, and landing on a pile of clothes. She quickly started searching through the boxes before compiling an outfit: a short shirt that ended above her stomach, a skirt, vest, socks and a cap. After pulling on a pair of shoes, she climbed back through the window and started running up the dock to the street. "Daisuke," she thought,"I've got to get home!"

Little did she know, but the girl was being watched through a large glass ball, much like a crystal ball, by a brown haired man with large white wings emerging from his back. "What is your opinion of these latest events?"

The man spun around and sighed as a giant dragon came into focus. "It is very strange," he said,"I did not foresee this, it should not be happening this way!"

"Yet, it is," the dragon said.

The winged man glanced over to a black crystal that was resting on a stone platform,"I try to prepare for the battle with Apocalymon, yet, if nothing is as I have seen it, then nothing I did will work!"

He glanced back towards the crystal ball,"Perhpase it is time for me to reveal myself to them."

Next: Andromon escapes from the Dark Ocean, and gives the Digidestined and Digital Warriors a new task, search for the new High Priest. Meanwhile, Sora begins to experience a strange situation, as she, Tai, Mina, and Cody discover shocking revelations about their parents. As Riley and Taily close in on Agnimon, the mysterious girl continues her search for Davis. Who is she? What does she want? Find out next, Mystic Digimon War: Chapter 19: Search for the High Priest.