Me-Okay here's the next chapter. Before I forget I want to thank both Fergus Flamacron and my awesome co-author vitalisudeos for all their great ideas! You guys are awesome.

Chapter Two

The figure leans back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. He doesn't look all that intimidating to start with. He has dark hair that sticks up all over the place, only slightly less wild looking than Tai's, and purple-shaded sunglasses that hide light blue eyes that seem calculating.

He wears a blue cape that seems several sizes too big for him, black gloves with silver gauntlets. His hand holds a whip that his fingers stretch over, caressing it. "Wormmon?"

A small insect Digimon crawls out, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground. "Yes master?"

The boy's eyes smile, glinting eerily beneath the sunglasses as he stares at the screen depicting the group of sleeping Digidestined. "Release prisoners 33455 and 005564. I believe I finally have some new friends to play with…"

…

The warm sunlight streams onto my back as I keep walking, my boots crunching the moist grass beneath me.

Even the cheerful laughter of Veemon and Davis behind me doesn't help ease the tension for the rest of us. Agumon's still worn out both emotionally and physically, and the rest of us aren't far behind him. My eyes are scanning the horizon for any sign of enemy movement. If something's coming, and I know it will, I can't risk being taken by surprise.

"Look what I can do Davish!" Veemon runs forward and backflips so he's standing on his hands, a triumphant smile on his face.

Davis laughs and applauds. "That's nothing. Watch what I can do." He takes off at a run and goes into a somersault, not seeing the cliff edge rise up in front of him. "WHO-AH!"

"Pay attention Rookie…" I growl, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and pulling him backwards before he can end up a smear on the ground. "I won't always be around to save your neck."

"T-thanks Lils…" He mumbles as Kari peers down the side of the cliff. "So what now?" She asks grimly, looking at the sheer drop on the other side.

There's a very thin stretch of rock jutting out from the wall, and that's it. Not an easy path down, especially not for two escaped circus monkeys like Davis and Veemon.

"We'll go down first." I glance at Tai. "Renamon's agile enough to catch me if something goes wrong."

As Renamon and I make our way down, Renamon's ears twisting back and forth for the sound of the ground weakening too much beneath our feet, I glance back at the others and lower my voice.

"What happened…to the others? Patamon, Gabumon, all of them?"

Her ears droop slightly. "We don't know…we got separated the last time we fought against the Emperor's forces. I don't know if the others besides me and Gatomon had all been captured, or if they're in hiding…or….."

"Or if they've been killed completely." Is the silent message that passes through both our heads. I sigh through clenched teeth. "TK's not going to like hearing that…"

"Should we tell him?"

"No. Not yet. Not until I have proof over rather or not Patamon's okay."

Renamon raises an eyebrow and smirks. "That's oddly subtle for you."

I roll my eyes. "If we weren't in danger of plummeting to our deaths by doing so, I'd reach over and slap you right now."

"Oh Yggdrasil Lils you have no idea…how much I've missed someone saying that kind of stuff to me."

I look over and smile at her. "…I've missed you too."

"Hey, Lils!"

My right eye twitches as Davis calls me by that nickname after only knowing me for less than a day.

"What exactly are you looking for?"

"What do you think? Unless you want to spend another day here we need to find a portal back and quickly."

"And do you know where we're looking?" Gatomon asked.

"Nickpicking doesn't really help…"

Agumon's eyes widened as he looked upwards. His pupils dilated as he growled menacingly. "They're here…."

"Huh?"

Renamon's head shot up suddenly, staring at the sky as two dark shadows appeared in the clouds. "We've got company!"
"GET DOWN!"

Several huge fireballs flew from the clouds like heaven's judgement…I ducked, slamming my stomach into the rocky path as I heard the screams from the others, Tai screaming my name in desperation.

Laughter breaks out above us, cruel and mocking, and Tai angrily gets to his feet, shielding his baby sister whose badly shaken by the surprise attack.

"Who the CRAP DO YOU THINK…?" His voice trails off. His eyes widen and a look of horror appears on his face. "No…"

Our two attackers hover above us menacingly…glaring down with pitiless red eyes. One of them looks like a phoenix, with feathers like flames, razor sharp talons on her feet and equally curved canines jutting out from her beak.

The other looks like a giant flying beetle, black exoskeleton gleaming in the sunlight, head covered with a heavy plated helmet, wings fluttering so fast you can barely see them.

Birdramon and Kabuterimon…oh Yggdrasil…

"RUN!" The scream erupting doesn't sound like mine, and my feet are running down the path much too fast for safety, cracks forming as Renamon drops to all four paws and runs behind me.

Davis pants as he runs behind Tai and TK. "Shouldn't we…be fighting?" He reaches for his D-3, but TK grabs his hand. "Unless Flamedramon can fly, than don't be an idiot!" He snaps. "You'll send us all to our deaths!"

Davis looks back over the side at the ravine on the other end…the little blue strip of river so far down and gulps.

"By order of his majesty the Digimon Emperor." Birdramon flies up above us, staring down at us like we're rats to be crushed, "you are under arrest. I suggest, Digidestined…you come quietly." She smirks, showing those teeth. "Or else we might be forced to resort to more drastic measures."

"…Biyomon…" Agumon whispers, before looking back at Tai pleadingly, his green eyes filled with anguish.

Two Champions and none of our Digimon can fly. The odds are not in our favour. I glance downwards and my eyes widen…something…shines down below in the ravine. A strange circle that glows more and more beautifully, with what looks like data swirling all around in it. Of course. NOW one shows up.

"Can I just kill them now?" Kabuterimon grunts over to Birdramon, his muscles tensing and his many fingers starting to crackle with electricity.

"That depends." She stares back at us. "Well? Do you surrender or not?"

I glance over at Renamon, who smirks back then nods to Gatomon. "How's this for an answer?" She growls, before taking a running leap and flying above both Birdramon and Kabuterimon.

Startled, the two of them both whirl around, Birdramon spreading out her wings which start to shine ominously.

"METEOR WING!"

Renamon dives downwards, twisting in mid-air and miraculously dodging every single one of the fireballs as her right paw starts to shine. Her blue eyes narrow and she lets out a savage cry before punching her hard in the neck, causing Birdramon to let out a horrible choking noise as her head snaps back. Renamon crosses her arms. "DIAMOND STORM!"

Meanwhile, Gatomon is keeping Kabuterimon busy. She's always been agile, and annoyingly impossible to hit, as I well remember. And right now she desperately needs that agility, because Kabuterimon's four arms are giving her quite the hard time.

"Would you quit bouncing around?" He bellows in frustration, trying to grab her tail just as it literally slips through his fingers.

"No." She responds before lashing across his un-armoured hand with her razor sharp claws, causing him to rear back with a cry of pain as she somersaults through mid-air dodging another fireball from Birdramon.

Agumon growls in frustration, his claws curling into fists at his side. "I hate feeling so….useless!"

"How do you think I feel?" Tai whispers, his eyes fixed on the battle. He pulls out his Digivice and stares at it. What good is he, to anyone, without this precious Device functional? If he can't help Agumon digivolve…then what good is he?

"Tai!"

He looks up as I race towards him. "We have to jump! NOW!"

His eyes widen as he takes a step back. "Are you insane?"

I shove both him and Kari off the side just as Kabuterimon roars angrily again-"I've had enough of this game!" and a massive ball of electricity strikes right where the two of them had been standing.

The screams of both Tai and Kari echo in my ears as we all plummet, Renamon and Gatomon diving after us. I clench my teeth and screw my eyes up tight. If I didn't estimate the jump just right, I really don't want to watch us all be smashed to pieces.

TK's eyes widen as he watches us fall. "KARI!" He tenses, ready to plunge in after her, but Davis knocks him to the ground and beats him to it, yelling wildly as he plunges after his crush.

But…he doesn't get that far. A taloned foot wraps around him, digging into his body with such force it makes him gasp out loud. "L-let!"

Birdramon snorts and glances back down. There's no sign of the other three…she growls in irritation before turning back to Kabuterimon, whose holding a struggling TK and a cursing Veemon in his hands. "We'll take them back to the master. He will reward us greatly." She adds with a smirk.

TK struggles desperately as Kabuterimon guffaws before flying off behind Birdramon. "NO! KARI! NO!"

…

I groan as I push myself up from the soggy grass. "I hate portals." I mutter, wringing the wet out of my hair and wincing slightly at the bruises that cover my body.

"But it saved our lives." Tai sighed, before giving me a LOOK. "Next time warn me what you're planning to do, for the love of Yggdrasil. You scared the crap out of me."

I snort. "What did you think I was trying to do? Murder you?" A pang hits my stomach as I remember my dream, but I force it down and punch him in the shoulder.

Kari looks around. "Where…are TK and Davis?"

…

…

"OH MY HOLY YGGDRASIL!"

"Weren't they right behind us?" Tai shouts, whirling around as if they might appear out of nowhere. "Weren't they right with us?"

"This is not happening…" I mutter, my teeth clenching. "This is NOT happening…"

Kari shoves herself upwards, her eyes desperate. "We have to go back!"

"Kari…" Gatomon murmurs, her ears drooping as she looks up at her partner, who is still unsteady on her feet.

"No, don't say that! The whole reason Davis came to the Digital World was because he wanted to help me…" Her voice catches. "I can't just leave them there…not…not TK."

"…"

I touch her shoulder, making her look at me. "Look, Kari. I know you're worried about them. We all are. But for now…you have to realize there's nothing we can do."

"But…"

"And charging back in isn't going to do any good, not right now." My eyes narrow and I curl my lip slightly. "But trust me we will come back for them. Once our Digimon recover…" I smirk. "Then we'll go back and teach this little twerp why you don't ever mess with the Digidestined."

A slight smile forms on her face, and Gatomon shoots me a grateful look before glancing around. "Does anyone know where we are? I've never been in this part of Japan before."

I frown slightly, glancing around. We've standing on a riverbank, with long bushy cattails along the edges, the water humming quietly. Off into the distance I can see a city rising up over the horizon…but not a city I've ever seen before.

"I…I don't know." I confess. Then a girlish scream echoes behind me.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?"

The water erupts above us, and I whirl around to see the most menacing look face snarling down at us, covered in blue scales, long whiskers hanging down from massive jaws, Water drips from its deep blue scales and yellow eyes narrow down to slits as it snarls at us. Gatomon and Agumon move protectively in front of their partners, but my eyes are fixed, in disbelief, on the figure standing on top of the monster sea dragon's head. She raises one eyebrow down at me and murmurs-"…Well, well. It's been a long time, hasn't it daisy?"

"…Sira?"

…

"This is completely unreal." Tai murmurs, still in a slight daze as he moves up and down in synch with Gyarados' pendulating body as she swims through the river. "Bloody mental."

"How is this any different than us riding on Whamon's back all those years ago?" Kari questions him skeptically.

"Well…I guess that's a point. But still, seriously what are the odds we land in a portal that takes us to Sira's world, exactly where she is?"

Sira turns back to stare at him and Tai shrinks back slightly. I know the feeling. I've been on the receiving end of that red-eyed glare way too many times. "My world's name in Nerm, pretty boy. And technically, none of you should be here."

"So sorry, I'm sure." Gatomon mutters sarcastically, her fur standing slightly on end as she's sitting in the middle of Gyarados' back, as far away from the water as she can get.

"I don't believe I was talking to you, hairball." Is the cool reply before Sira jerks her head at me to come over to her. "Oy, Daisy. I need to talk to you."

"…Say please and I might come over."

"Daisy…" Her voice carries that warning tone and I can't help but wince before carefully making my way across Gyarados' back towards where she stands at the neck.

There's silence for a moment, where the sea wind blows at our faces. Then she glances over at me. "They REALLY shouldn't be here. The rules…"

"I didn't see you complaining about the rules when I landed in this world." I remind her.

Sira snorts, her black hair blowing back away from her face in the wind. "I didn't have much of a choice. I was pretty much stuck taking care of you when you literally landed on top of me."

"That hurts, you know."

"Good. It was meant to."

I glower at her. "I know full well you don't want us around, especially how you skipped off during the battle of VenomMyotismon."

She stares blankly at me for a minute as though she can't remember what I'm talking about before asking-"You mean when Dork got even stupider?"

I snort despite myself. "Yeah. That kind of sums it up. Stupider but a lot stronger."

"Oh yeah….I had a good excuse."

"Hmm?"

Sira looks wryly over at me, her lips moving in a half smirk of amusement. "Is going into labor a good enough excuse?"

"…"

I have to grab onto one of Gyarados' dorsal fins to stop myself from toppling off her back in complete shock. "You were WHAT?"

"Surprised?"

"…You didn't even look pregnant!"

"I'm not sure how to take that." She mutters, shaking her head. "But then again you never were really good at noticing details."

"I resent that."

Sira smirks before looking up at the river, as the trees grow closer together on every side, hiding us from the searing hot sunlight."Ah. We're there."

"We're where?" Renamon asks in confusion before looking to the right, her blue eyes widening. "Oh…"

In the midst of a small gap between the trees, I can see the roof of a small houses standing up. It's nothing too fancy, brick, with a flower garden, and a cobbled walkway leading up to it.

"You live in the woods?' Tai asks skeptically.

She shrugs. "It keeps annoying people from finding me or GrandDracmon." She pats Gyarados on the back of the head before jumping off on the river's bank and walking towards the house.

"GrandDracmon?" Kari asks quietly to me as we follow her. "Isn't that Sira's boyfriend?"

"Not boyfriend kiddo." Sira's overheard her and turns back with a sly grin. "Mate."

"…Huh?"

…

The house isn't the big mansion I was half-expecting Sira to own. I mean, she's freaking rich enough to buy her own private island if she wanted to.

She leads us into the small living room, a plush blue couch sitting in the middle with a coffee table in front of it. Pictures line the walls, mostly of Sira's Pokemon team, but a few of her and GrandDracmon. I glance at the one in the middle….and a smile touches my face. It's a picture of me back when I was 13, all gangly and awkward, with my hair a wild mess and a shy, uncertain smile on my face, Sira standing next to me smiling wryly with a hand on my shoulder.

Those were good times….

A door swings open and I turn, expecting to see GrandDracmon. My jaw drops as instead, a massive Doberman pads out, holding a tea tray between his teeth.

"What…the?" Tai is staring in absolute disbelief as the dog pads over to him. He blinks before uneasily taking one. Renamon grabs five and shoves them in her mouth.

"Good boy Fang." Sira smiles and pats him on the head. I blink, recognizing unanimal intelligence in the dog's eyes, and I realize. "Is that a Dobermon?"

"Yup. GrandDracmon rescued him a few years back."

"He has a dog…for a butler…?"

"Wow these are really good." Agumon mumbles, his mouth full of cheese and chicken. Thankfully Agumon can be distracted by his emotional trauma by food. I'm not so lucky.

I look down and flex my fingers again, gritting my teeth at the complete lack of power…again.

Sira's eyes narrow. "You four stay out here and enjoy lunch. I'm going to check something out. Lily, come with me please?"

She shuts the kitchen door behind as I follow her in. "What?"

She crosses her arms. "You've been acting weird. What's the matter? And don't bother trying to hide it from me, because you of all people should know that I'll find out sooner or later."

I twitch slightly, turning to look out the kitchen window, crossing my arms. "…My powers are gone, okay?"

"…Well that's unfortunate."

I nearly fall over at her nonchalant tone. "Don't ask me what's wrong and then act like you couldn't care less, dang it!"

Sira shrugs, walking over to the stove where the tea kettle is singing. For a minute, she's silent, leaning against the stove. "Do you remember when I got my core smashed by Archie?"

I flinch, repressing the horrible memory. The blood, the smell of gun fire, GrandDracmon's scream of pain and rage.

"Yeah." She says quietly, looking at my face. "But what you don't know is after it was smashed, it took…weeks for me to be able to use my powers again Lils. Weeks. It was the most frustrating, humiliating time of my life, and there was nothing I could do but wait."

"But that's just the thing." I hiss, frustrated. "You had your core smashed, it's understandable that your powers should have suffered. But mine…it doesn't make any sense. Why they aren't working."

Sira shrugs. "I still say you just need to wait it out. But if you want, I can have Vincent give you a checkup."

"No…" I shake my head. "You don't need to bother him. You're probably right, it's not a big deal. What we really need help with is finding back a way to the Digital World. We had to leave two people behind and the portals are shut and…"

"Say no more."

"Huh?"

She just smirks before walking over and typing on the laptop. A video chat appears. "Ah, it seems he beat me to it."

"Sira?"

My eyes widen at the sound of that voice, jaw dropping. "No way in heck…"

Tai shoves open the kitchen door, his eyes wide. "Is that?"

"Sira!" Izzy shouts from the computer. "You have to pick up! Tai and Lily are missing, along with Kari. I've got no idea where they are and the portal has been opene-"Izzy?"

"…" He blinks in disbelief, staring at the six of us before giving Sira a dirty look. "You might have told me they were already here and fine."

"It's more fun to hear you panic." She chuckled.

He rolled his eyes and shot both me and Tai a look as well. "What the heck were you two thinking? I mean, first of all, you should be old enough and responsible enough to not charge in like that, but to bring three kids with you as well…even if two of them are TK and Kari."

Tai and I look at each other, both raising our eyes to heaven. When he gets like this, we both know it's best to just let it go.

"Look, Izzy, that's not the point. You need to-"Tai?" The screen fizzles. "I…can't hear you…you're breaking up…"

"Izzy! Look, you have to stay here! Stay out of the Digital World, you'll be trapped! Don't try to help us!"

The screen grows completely blank and Tai slams his fist into the desk. "DANG IT!"

…

Izzy stared at the blank computer screen, his fingers clenching on the edges of the desk. What was he supposed to do now?

"Are they going to be okay?" A soft voice asks from beneath him.

He looks down to see the small boy with black hair and green eyes staring up at him, running his hand over the yellow Digivice.

"…I don't know." Izzy murmurs back, staring back at the computer screen. Tai's last message runs through his head. "You….Digital world….trapped…help us!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Yolei demands. She shoves her glasses up her nose and clenches her fists. "Aren't we going to help them?"

"Yolei, it's a bit more complicated than that."

"Why?" She points a finger at him. "If your friends are in trouble, you do whatever it takes to help them."

"But…"

"And don't think you can brush us aside, saying we don't know what we're dealing with. Maybe we don't, but Cody and I are part of this too now." Yolei holds up her Digivice.

Cody however, still looks unsure, and Izzy opens his mouth to argue against it some more before there's the noise of a door sliding open and a familiar voice saying-"You know we have to go back, right?"

"Sora?"

Sora's long auburn hair hangs down to her shoulders, her green eyes normally cheerful completely fixed on Izzy with a fierce determination.

"How long have you been listening in?" He questions, standing in front of the computer. He knows what she wants.

"Long enough to hear Tai and Lily begging for help. You can't really want to just ignore that, do you?"

"…No…but…the others…we have no idea where they are. And with just the two of us and two Digidestined who don't even have partners…"

"Partners?" Yolei questions. "What's a partner?"

Izzy gives Sora a "you see what I mean look" but she ignores it. "Izzy, it just doesn't matter. Is it risky? Yes. Would I do this if they didn't need our help?"

"Well…no….but…they're safe with Sira."

"That's not what I'm talking about. What about TK? That's obviously who Tai meant. And I can't face my boyfriend and tell him I left his little brother there."

"…" Izzy sighs before shaking his head and smiling wryly. "You're right…"

"Yes! We're going!"

"Though if that's the attitude Yolei's going to have," he mutters to himself as he loads the portal back up, "I might have to reconsider."

The computer light starts to shine as Sora takes both of the younger kids' hands in her own. "Hold on tight. The first time's always rough."

"…What do you AHHHHHHHH!"

…

Davis groans as he starts to regain consciousness. His head aches horribly, he can't feel his feet or hands, and everything around him seems to be dark for some reason.

He tries moving his fingers. Nothing. It's like he lost all feeling in them. For a minute, panic fills him as he wonders rather or not he damaged his spine.

There's an icy cold laugh above him that makes him feel like cold water has been poured down his shirt. "Wakey wakey…" Someone reaches down and rips the blindfold off his face. "Digidestined…"

Davis gasps at the sudden burst of light that stings his eyes horribly—looking down away from the searing sunlight he fights the desire to scream in terror.

He's been chained at least 200 feet up above the same river they were before….he gulps, trying not to hyperventilate.

"Davis?"

"Huh?"

He glances back up and his eyes widen as he sees the figure chained opposite of him. "TU! Are you okay?"

TK rolls his eyes at the mispronunciation of his name-seriously, how does Davis keep managing that—and responds grimly-"I don't think the word ok fits our scenario at all."
The dark shadow standing on the ledge above Davis laughs again. "Oh, bearer of hope, you have no idea how adept those words are."

"I'm guessing you're the infamous Digimon Emperor." TK responds grimly, looking up at him. "Am I right?"

The figure laughs again. "Speaking." Before stepping into the light.

Both boys' jaws drop. Neither of them can believe what they're seeing at first. TK just manages to splutter-"But you're…a…a.."

""A kid!" Davis exclaims, disbelief in his maroon eyes. "What the heck is a kid doing playing God?"

The Emperor's eyes narrow. "I assure you I'm not playing at anything. And I'm no child, either." He spits the word as though it tastes bad.

TK snorts. "Whoever you think you are, you'd be smart to let us go. Our friends will come for us, and when they do, you're going to rue the day you were born."

"Oh…I know your friends will come." The way he says it sends shivers down both young boy's spines. "In fact…I'm sure of it."

Davis growls up at him as the Emperor straightens back up again, laughing. "In the meantime, while we wait for our friends, I have something designed that will surely entertain the both of you."

"DAVISH!"

Davis' head shoots up, his eyes widening with horror as he sees Veemon struggling desperately in the hands of an angelic Digimon….long blond hair, muscular torso, his face helmeted, a smirk on his lips, a Dark Ring wrapped around his wrist and another in his right hand.

"….Angemon…" TK sounds like he's been punched in the stomach, as if the Emperor has stabbed him. "Oh Yggdrasil…no…"

"Oh crap, that's TK's partner…" Davis' heart sinks as he yells-"Let Veemon go! He's got nothing to do with this!"

"Yeah right." The Digimon Emperor barely gives Davis a passing glance as he stares curiously at Veemon. "He's a very interesting specimen…with the power to armor digivolve. I thought that was lost years ago. But…" He smirks. "It's not like he'll be managing that any time soon, not while I have this."

Davis feels his stomach turn as he stares at his Digivice in the hands of the Emperor. Oh ##$$%%%.

…

"GACK!"

Izzy twitches repeatedly at the bottom of the dogpile. "Not to be a bother…but would you all kindly get off of me?"

"Sorry Iz." Sora giggles before pushing herself off and looking around. "Where…are we?"

The courtyard they've landed in is ancient looking that much is easy to tell. Stone pillars climb upwards, covered with strange symbols, angelic statues stand in each corner, their eyes blank and slightly eerie looking.

Yolei touches some of the symbols, running her fingers over them. "They look kind of like Roman…or Greek."

"They're not." Izzy murmurs. His eyes have taken on a distant look as they scan the pillars. "This is Arcani. The language of the stars."

"Language of the what?"

"What's it say Izzy?"

He shook his head. "I can't decipher it exactly….but there are some glyphs that are clear. It says "To honour those who stood beside us. The lights that shine when others betray….or something like that."

"Hey, look!"

"Huh?"

All three of them turn to look at where Yolei is pointing. For a minute, it just looks like a huge hill, overtaken by the jungle. But then…

"It's a temple?" Cody breathed. "What would a temple be doing out here?" His back pocket starts beeping wildly, and he pulls out his Digivice. "It's going nuts…why?"

Yolei pulls out her own flashing Digivice. "Mine is too. Something in that temple is making it go nuts." She grins before running forward. "Well, let's go check it out!"

"Yolei, wait!" Cody runs after her. Izzy and Sora look at each other. "You feel it too, don't you?" She asks quietly.

He flinches. "That something really bad is about to happen? Yeah…"

…

Yolei pants heavily as she leans against the temple doors. The long hike up the stairs means everything hurts. "Honestly, doesn't anyone here believe in escalators?" She mutters before walking in.

She blinks as the others enter behind her. "There's nothing here!" She exclaims indignantly and not with a little disappointment.

Cody's Digivice beeps again as he walks in. "Hey…" He says softly, nudging her. "Look…."

In the center of the room stand two pedestals, each with the same symbols as the ones from the courtyard before.

And standing on top of them each…are two strange eggs, one helmet-shaped with a strange heart-like symbol on it, the other golden with a strange spiral symbol on it.

"….The Crest of Love…"

"And Knowledge…." Izzy whispers along with Sora as the four stand in front of them. The two of them look at each other, nod, before trying to pull the eggs up.

They don't budge. Sora scowls in frustration, crossing her arms before glancing over at Yolei. Something about the look on the young girl's face…unsure…but with a resolve…

She steps back. "Yolei…why don't you try?"

"Huh? Me?"

"You too Cody." Izzy agrees, backing away as well and gently pushing the younger boy forwards. Cody hesitates. "But….what exactly am I supposed to do?"

His Digivice beeps again, and then both glow in unison along with the Digieggs.

Yolei and Cody both look at each other, faces shining from the light of the eggs. Slowly, both of them reach out to touch them at the exact same time.

The light intensifies into two beings….Yolei shrieks like a little girl and jumps back, Cody grabbing her arm before she can trip.

One of them is hawk-like…or maybe more chicken like. Red feathers cover his body, except for his white head, with a black headband adorned by one golden feather. Bright blue eyes open and he smiles and bows at Yolei. "Hello madam. I am delighted to make your acquaintance."

"H-huh?"

The other one looks more like some kind of armadillo. With a golden shell and a strange pattern on his forehead, he yawns, uncurling himself from his ball and scratching his thigh lazily, like some kind of dog. "What'd you wake me up for? I was having such a nice dream…."

Sora giggles as Cody looks over at her and Izzy, obviously completely lost. Meanwhile, Hawkmon and Yolei are having an…interesting discussion.

"I'm sorry my dear, I meant no offense, I just simply didn't think I'd be paired with…such a young maid as yourself."

"Oh! So you're saying I'm not good enough because I'm a girl! Is that what you meant?"

"No dear lady I assure you!"

Sora chuckles before suddenly stiffening. Her eyes widen. "GET DOWN!"

"Huh?"

A huge explosion echoes above them-Yolei screams as Hawkmon pushes her out of the way of the massive chunks of rubble that come raining down upon them—Armadillomon leaps into the air and slashes through another with his claws before it can crush Cody flat.

Evil laughs echo above them, and two HUMUNGOUS beings hover over the whole. "I'd say we got here just in time." Birdramon chuckles with a smirk. "Wouldn't you?"

Kabuterimon laughs as well, and Yolei looks over at Izzy and Sora, her eyes pleading for guidance only to see that they have none to give this time.

They're both staring in horror at the two Digimon in front of them. Izzy's mouth opens and shuts several times but he can't seem to find the words, like his voice has been stolen from him.

Sora is in shock but able to speak. "Birdramon…what are you doing? It's me! Sora!"

Birdramon snorts, spreading her wings. "How dare you speak to me in that familial manner, Digidestined scum? METEOR WING!"

The huge blasts of fire streak towards Sora, reflected in her wide eyes as her death approaches….

"SORA LOOK OUT!"

…

Tai's eyes are fixed on his Digivice as we run forwards along the cliff edge. "We're getting close…" He mutters grimly, staring at the two dots that symbolize both TK and Davis.

"Just thank Yggdrasil Sira was able to get the portal open." Gatomon comments, clinging to Renamon's back. Renamon's faster, especially when she's on all fours.

"Man am I looking forward to kicking that little #$$%'s butt."

"I'm with you…." I snarl, curling my fists in my pockets. If TK is hurt, then you can bet that I won't stop till the Emperor wishes he'd never set foot in the Digital World. With or without my powers.

Sira gives me a warning look. "Lily, you're not going to help anyone by doing something rash."

"Forget rash." I mutter as we continue to run. "I'm downright pissed now…"

…

Davis is struggling desperately against his chains, eyes wild. "Let him go! Get your hands off my Digimon!"

The Digimon Emperor chuckles. "Well since you asked so nicely…no. Angemon? I think our new friend will look better wearing my gift."

"Yes my lord." Angemon's voice is mechanic, without emotion, as he clicks a button on the side, causing the Ring to open slightly, ready to snap around Veemon's neck.

"NO!"

"ANGEMON DON'T DO THIS!" TK's voice is full of desperation. "STOP!"

The Emperor just laughs. "Oh, I love moments like this. You're practically brining me to tears….tears of laughter that is."

"Oh yeah punk? Is this funny?"

He yelps as someone kicks him in the back full force, nearly sending him tumbling over the edge, only to be grabbed by a small worm like creature. "Master, are you all right?"

"'I'm fine…" The Emperor snarls before turning back around to glower as Renamon flips overhead to land on the ledge above him and stand next to me, snarling. "So…you and the others from before…"

I blink several times as I look at him. "…Renamon?"

"Hmm?"

"…You never told me the Digimon Emperor…was a midget…."

"…"

"I AM NOT A MIDGET!"

There's a slight cooing noise, and the next thing I know Sira's got the Digimon Emperor wrapped in a bear hug.

"Oh my gosh you are the cutest thing I was expecting some sort of psychopath…but no…it's just some little kid pretending to be all evil and powerful!"

"I am POWERFUL!"

"Of course you are…."

I raise my eyes to heaven as Tai and everyone else stares on in disbelief. "Sira you're choking our opponent with your hugs of humiliation."

She just smirks over at me. "It's so much fun to break your enemy's pride first, wouldn't you say?"

"You know I think that might be a viewpoint that even Dorkula would have agreed with."

The Emperor gasps, his face starting to turn blue from all the hugging before kicking Sira in the shin and forcing her to let go. "Get your filthy hands off of me winch!"

He cracks his whip ominously but she just laughs. "Oh yes, little boy? What are you going to do?"

Inhumane screeches fill the air, and my eyes widen to see three Snimon descending towards us, sickles gleaming in the sunlight. "That's not good."

…

"SORA NO!"

Yolei and Cody are both cringing in the corner of the temple, their eyes wide as Kabuterimon backs toward Izzy and the injured Sora, smirking as he forms another Electro Shocker.

"What can we do?" She whispers, feeling the beginning of tears pricking her face. "I should never….have come. We can't help them. I'm too scared to even help myself."

"Cody?" Armadillomon whispers, looking up at him. Cody's staring at Izzy and Sora…his face pale. Images flicker through his head of someone else he couldn't save….his mother crying…his grandfather standing a little to the side of the coffin, shoulders shaking…no…he couldn't let that happen again.

"SORA! IZZY! NO!" Yolei's scream of desperation cuts across the room, and Kabuterimon turns his head slightly to look at them. "More brats?"

"You deal with those two insects." Birdramon growls before smirking over and leaping into the air, spreading her wings. "And I'll deal with these. METEOR WING!"

Yolei's eyes snap open as Sora and the others scream her name. "CODY GET BEHIND ME!" She screams, pushing herself in front of the younger boy, knowing she's probably going to die, knowing and not caring, as long as he doesn't have to die for her mistake.

At the same moment, both of their Digieggs burst into golden light. Hawkmon gasps as he feels the rush of raw power running through him like never before as Armadillomon lets out a low moan of delight.

"DIGIARMOUR ENERGIZE!"

"HAWKMON ARMOUR DIGIVOLVE TO….HALSEMON! THE WINGS OF LOVE!"

"ARMADLILLOMON ARMOUR DIGIVOLVE TO…DIGMON! THE DRILL OF KNOWLEDGE!"

Halsemon looks like a giant eagle, with the same crimson feathers, but a white helmet over his neck and beak that has the Crest of Love painted on the top.

Digmon looks like some beetle. Some kind of beetle that has drills for hands and nose. His eyes narrow as he whirls around, pointing all of these spinning drills at Birdramon's fire balls. "GOLD RUSH!"

The drills fly off his body and slice right through the fireballs, tearing through them as though they're nothing and striking Birdramon in the chest, causing her to fall back with a loud squawk.

"Why you…!" Kabuterimon snarls before speeding forwards. "ELECTRO SHOCKER!"

Halsemon soars over Digmon's head, spinning rapidly in mid air and forming a huge tornado around his body. "TEMPEST WING!"

The winds slam into the ball of lightning and shove it upwards, slamming through the roof of the palace and sending even more rubble crashing down.

Kabuterimon growls, eyes narrowing before letting out a scream of agony as Halsemon's beak sinks into his right leg.

With strength that no regular Digimon would have, Halsemon literally twirls Kabuterimon around in a massive circle again and again and again, before finally releasing him and sending him crashing into Birdramon, who had just finally regained her balance.

The two of them both look up to see the armour Digimon charging towards them at full speed. Their eyes widen.

"Oh…crap…"

"TEMPEST WING!"

"GOLD RUSH!"

…

I barely duck in time to avoid one of Snimon's scythes from taking off my head. It swoops past me and carves into the cliff face leaving a horrible scar.

Sucking in my breath, I hear a furious snarl above me. "GET THE CRAP AWAY FROM MY TAMER!"

Renamon runs along the cliff edge before leaping at him with a furious roar, her paws glowing as she punches him not once, but twice in the stomach and then finally in the head, sending him crashing into the wall opposite.

Tai hisses in frustration as he clutches his own Digivice, watching Agumon fire off desperate Pepper Breaths to try and keep Angemon back, whose doing his best to try and get at the Digidestined and smash them to bits.

"What are you planning to do Sira? Besides just stand there with that smug smile on your face?"

Sira chuckles and raises a hand. "Just wait."

Angemon roars as his right fist clenches, glowing with an ominous golden aura. "HAND OF FATE!"

Tai gasps and grabs Kari, ready to shove her behind him, but he never gets the chance. Angemon freezes before the attack is even launched. And I mean literally freezes.

Ice begins to form on his wings as his jaw drops, and stretches till his entire back is frozen. With a wild scream he plummets, TK's yell of horror echoing awfully in my ears.

"I….did not want to do that…" The shadowy figure next to Sira murmurs.

"You didn't have a choice…"

Renamon dives down towards the next Snimon, crossing her arms. "DIAMOND STORM!"

The diamonds don't even leave a scratch on his tough exoskeleton, and the mindless slave just laughs mockingly up at him.

She scowls in frustration and doesn't hear the flutter of wings behind her until it's too late. "RENAMON WATCH OUT!"

She whirls around only to be struck in the head by the flat of the blade. With a grunt of pain and surprise, she topples towards the ground, her body like a motionless sack doll.

"NO!"

Anger and fury fill me like never before, like a fire forcing its way up through my veins. I don't care anymore. I don't care how dangerous this is, I don't care if I don't have any powers.

I just want to make the Digimon suffer who's dared try to kill Renamon. A feral snarl escapes my throat as I lunge upwards….I can hear both Sira and Tai screaming for me.

The Snimon smirks, crossing his blades as a blast of pink energy comes hurtling towards me. I raise my own hands, desperate for my own blast of energy.

But….nothing…comes…again….

I scream as the pink slash cuts right through my side, and I'm falling, agonizing pain wracking my body, the blood leaking into my eyes….

"LILY!"

Yggdrasil, is this how I die? This can't be….how I die…

Everything starts to grow black as I keep falling…falling…falling…..up?

Someone is holding me tight to them, holding me wrapped in their arms, and I hear a soft voice murmur in my ear-"Not yet baby girl. Not yet…."

"H-huh?"

I can't make out any identifying details. Just a black, oddly shaped mask, and black wings that stretch outwards, gliding upwards….before everything goes dark.

…

"LILY!" Tai's scream penetrates the canyon, agonized and heartbroken. There's no answer…..

Sira curses before touching his shoulder. "We must keep our minds on the battle."

"How do you expect me to do that when she could be dead?"

"Because if you don't you'll lose more members!" She shouts back, her eyes narrowing down to slits. "Including your sister! Is that what you want?"

Tai stares at her for a few minutes. "….I…."

The Digimon Emperor laughs up above them. "Oh, such despair makes things all the more interesting. Now Snimon!" The three hover in front of them, scythes bared. "Finish them off!"

Tai's eyes slowly go back into focus as he glowers at them, jaw tight with anger. "You little creep…" he breathes. "Fine then. Keep holding them back Agumon! If we go down, we go down fighting!"

"Pepper Breath!"

Agumon's flames don't keep the Snimon back at all. They laugh and charge forwards, but that's okay because two seconds later there's a furious snarl of "METEOR WING!"

Flames spin out of nowhere—for a minute, Kari panics, backing away with a scream, but the flames aren't directed at them this time. One Snimon's Dark Ring is roasted flat, turning to dust in mid-air.

An eagle Digimon Tai has never seen before flies up next to Birdramon, with a new girl on his back.

'Yolei gives Sora a thumbs up. "Nicely done!"

Sora laughs. "Thanks I…" Her eyes widen as Birdramon's body suddenly shakes. "Birdramon, what is it?"

"Power…draining….Sora…." She moans. "I'm so tired…."

"BIRDRAMON!"

Yolei grabs Sora's hand, pulling her and Biyomon onto Halsemon's back. "What happened?"

The laugh of the Emperor echoes ominously. "Did you really think you stood a chance against me? Me and my Dark Digivice?"

"Oh shut up!" Davis snarls up at him before gasping as one of the Snimon fly in front of him, sickles bared.

"You're too lippy brat…perhaps I need to rectify that for you."

Davis lets out a strangled gasp and closes his eyes as the Snimon screeches and raises the blades, ready to slice down and cut the boy's head off.

There's a rumbling sound behind him and the very mountain wall gives way. Several missile-like drills shoot forwards, slicing right through the creature's Dark Ring. But they don't stop there. The drills continue to fly past, colliding with what looks like a dark tower coming out from the top of the hill. Digmon laughs as he pulls Davis into the tunnel he's created. "That was a close one."

"Are you okay?" Veemon gasps, leaping from ledge to ledge to get down to his partner. Davis smiles, placing a hand on Veemon's head. "Don't worry about me. I'm just glad you're okay."

Halsemon flies towards TK, eyes narrowing as rays of red light emit from his eyes, disintegrating the boy's chains as Yolei and Sora pull him on. "Are you okay?"

"…" TK doesn't say anything. He just stares down in the ravine where his partner fell, his hands shaking. Sora's face softens. "TK…."

The Digimon Emperor's eyes widen as the cracks continue to form in the Dark Tower. "NO! NO!"

"Oh dear…." The little worm's antennae droops. "That's not good at all."

Tai blinks. "What are they?" His eyes widen as his Digivice begins to shine. "No…way…."

"AGUMON DIGIVOLVE TO…GREYMON!"

Yolei's eyes widen. "Whoah….that…is one massive dinosaur…"

Greymon roars his triumph before blasting a huge fireball at the last Snimon. The impact causes the Digimon Emperor to lose his balance as the Snimon crashes into his side of the cliff. "Ah!"

He loses his grip on Davis' Digivice, who catches it easily and smirks over at Veemon. "You ready?"

"Yeah!"

"DIGIARMOR ENERGIZE!"

"VEEMON ARMOR DIGIVOLVE TO….FLAMEDRAMON! THE FIRE OF COURAGE!"

"Now it's my turn…." Flamedramon snarls, bringing back his fist for a punch as it's covered in flames. It connects directly in the center of Snimon's arm, and the insect Digimon wails in pain as the fire spreads across him. The Dark Ring cracks several times….before shattering completely.

Flamedramon smirks before yelping as he degenerates back into Veemon while still in mid-air. "W-whoah!"

"I've got you!"

Veemon looks up as Yolei pulls him up by the scruff, smiling. "Er…thanks? Who exactly are you again?"

"What just happened?" Gatomon muttered. "One minute Agumon can't digivolve…and then he can? What the heck?"

Sira shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine kitty cat…."

"And who exactly are you?"

Yolei smirks over at Kari. "Yolei. I suppose we'll be working together, eh?"

Kari blinks. "…Um…okay?"

"And you are midget?" Davis questions, looking down over at Cody.

Cody twitches. "You know it's not really nice to call someone short after they just saved your life."

"Enough about this!" Tai cuts in, desperation in his voice. "We can all meet each other properly later, at this point I could care less. Not when I don't know what's happened to Lily."

There's the sound of a low moan from around the mountain's side. His eyes widen as he bolts around the path.

"Li…..?"

He drops to his knees, eyes widening. Renamon groans, finally weakly pushing herself up and revealing the figure she was crouching over, protecting.

"Lily!"