Piemon laughs as I glare at him. He was going to pay for harming my child. I didn't care if he used to be my friend. Hurting Ken was unforgivable. Sure, I would have liked not dying, but no one hurts Ken and gets away with it.

"You finally made it, old friend. I hope the guards didn't give you too much trouble."

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO KEN, PIEMON?" I was not in a mood to play his games.

"Temper, temper," he chided. "What makes you think I did anything to my child?" His child! Did he just say his child? How dare he?

"Ken is not YOURS!" I yelled, unable to keep my anger in check. My instincts screaming, Protect! Protect! Child in danger! Child in Danger! Protect the child! Protect the child!

Piemon smiles as he floats down, thankfully away from Ken. "Really now? You and I both know that you can't defeat me." He smiles as he lands on the ground about three feet away from me. I clench my fists in anger. "Oh, by all mean come and try, old friend." He moves in right arm mockingly in front of him. Moving his index finger in a 'come and get me if you can' gesture. "But we all know how this is going to turn out." His grin grows wider and his eyes sparkle with madness. "With you out of the way permanently and your partner forever mine."

That comment, with the possibility of life threatening harm towards my child, snapped something in me and sprung me into action. I ignored the yells of my friends as I attacked Piemon, only for him to gracefully dodge my attack by levitate into the air. I continued my pursuit after him, putting my faith into the hands of my friends to save my child.

"Stingmon! Come back!" BanchoLillymon couldn't believe that he had done that. This was obviously a plan to separate them. Piemon was sadistic that way and could easily take them out of they attack the way Stingmon is acting right now. BanchoLillymon was about to go up there and help him, but was stopped by BanchoMamemon. "Stingmon needs our help!" She yells, raising her thorn whip in anger. "He can't take Piemon all by himself. He's not thinking clearly right now!"

"BanchoLillymon, I know you are worried about Stingmon, so am I. I understand that he is not thinking clear with the threat of his partner at stake. But let's save his partner while he is busy distracting Piemon."

She momentarily loosens her hold as she thought about what BanchoMamemon said. He was right. Piemon was distracted with Stingmon at the moment, even if he is just toying with him. But he is not even paying any attention to them. Now that she thought about it that was a big mistake on Piemon's part. With a satisfied smile of the plan, she followed BanchoMamemon as they flew up to the cage that was hanging on the ceiling. They were lucky that they didn't get hit with any attacks with the huge fight going on between Piemon and Stingmon.

She frowned in worry when they finally reached the cage. Stingmon was right to worry about his partner. The child was lying on his side, panting in short breaths. He was still conscious, thankfully, but his eyes were slightly dull as he stared at them. In his hands was a Mastemon keychain. BanchoLillymon eyes widened slightly as she remembered a Mastemon getting turned into one of Piemon's key chains during the war.

"No wonder he's so weak," BanchoMamemon grumbled as he worked on getting the cage's lock to unlock. "He dehydrated."

BanchoLillymon looks at the child in worry. The poor dear must so thirsty and hungry as well. It must have been several hours since hours since he last eaten. BanchoMamemon grumbles under his breath as he worked on the lock. BanchoLillymon was worried on how long this would take. They didn't have much time to waste. Stingmon wouldn't be able to hold out much long, even with the current anger that was fueling his attacks.

A small moan followed by a cough caught her attention. She saw Stingmon's child, Ken, coughing into his hand. She quickly dug out a water bottle, figuring that Ken's throat must be very dry at the moment. She was thankful that Ken was close enough to the bar as she gently cradled his head in one hand, supporting it, and gently held the bottle to his lips. She watched with a smile as the child relaxed when the cool water began to sooth the ache and dryness of his throat.

She eased up on the bottle when she felt the child had enough for now. "Better?" She asked.

Ken cleared his throat and smiled at her in thanks. "Yes," his voice still slightly hoarse. "Thank you, Lillymon."

She smiles and wondered if Stingmon even told the child about them. Not that she blame him if he didn't. It was still a sore subject, even for them. "You're welcome, but I'm BanchoLillymon."

"Bancho?" The child blinked his pretty violet eyes in confusion.

"I guess Stingmon didn't tell you about us," BanchoLillymon paused when she saw a flicker of hurt flash in his eyes. "Don't blame Stingmon for not telling you," she begged gently. "It's a very long painful story and I'm sure he wasn't ready to tell you yet."

"It's still sorta a sore subject for all of us," BanchoMamemon added as he concentrated on the lock. "Considering what happen and all. But don't worry we'll discusses this after we get you somewhere safe." And then there was click, followed by the door siding open. "Got it! Let's get you out of here and help Stingmon."

Piemon was a liar. Nothing he said was true. Ken knew this. He denied every lie that was coming out of the clown's mouth. But when he started talking about his past and how he knew Stingmon, he began to doubt. Ken couldn't ignore some of the things that Piemon was saying. He knew things that only he and Stingmon knew. That wouldn't make sense unless what he was saying was true.

Ken bit his lip in frustration as Piemon went on about this war. Ken wasn't sure what he was talking about and he didn't care. He had to be lying again. Stingmon would never betray anyone. He was a kind, loyal friend and would do anything to help others. Okay so that part about Stingmon helping both side and not really taking a side did make sense. It fit Stingmon personality. He seen it himself when he was the Kaiser and when he helped him get over his nightmares. But this betrayal didn't fit at all. Something didn't feel right here.

Piemon then said that Stingmon fought against him when he joined these other digimon. He didn't whom though. All he said was that it was only five of them and they fought for justice, which he said through gritted teeth, and something about Bancho. Piemon must really not like him. It was when Piemon mentioned that he killed him was when Ken into shock.

Liar! Liar! Lair! Stingmon is not dead! He's alive! Ken blocked out everything out as he began to curl into himself, holding the digimon turned keychain closer to him. He didn't want to listen anymore. Piemon was trying to trick him. He was trying to make him doubt his partner. If that was the case then it won't work. Ken had full belief in his partner and nothing a stupid clown said was going to change that. He will not be manipulated, not again!

"KEN!" Ken opened his eyes weakly. When he closed them, he was sure. But that didn't matter. Stingmon was here. Finally! Stingmon was finally here!

Ken smiled weakly as Stingmon called for him. Piemon was wrong. Stingmon did care for him. His frown soon fell when Stingmon began to lose his temper. Stingmon was always calm in most situations. Ken began to worry when Piemon threatened that Stingmon was more then welcome to fight him. Ken suck in a breath, which might have been a mistake due to his throat hurting a bit too much, when Piemon mocked that he was going to keep him. Ken could already feel the sliver of fear, but pushed it back for the moment. Stingmon was here to save him. He had to believe in that.

And then Stingmon lost all patience and attacked Piemon. Ken wanted to scream in that moment, if he could. He understood that the creep was getting on Stingmon's nerves and maybe had threatened him, but that was not an excuse to charge at the enemy like that. Wasn't that Daisuke and V-mon's territory?

Ken had uncurled himself when he heard more voices. That sounded like the two digimon that attempted to save him before. Ken didn't understand why they decided to help Stingmon. Maybe they felt bad or maybe Stingmon asked for their help. Whatever the reason was Ken was thankful.

Ken tried to breath through the comfortableness as he waited to be rescued. His throat hurt too much and it was a struggle to breath normally. He began coughing not long after that, not realizing that the two digimon he saw earlier was right outside his prison. Ken stared weakly at the Lillymon as she supported and pressed a bottle of water to his lips. Ken moaned in relief was the wonderful cool water soothed the ache in his throat. He didn't think water would feel or taste this good.

Ken cleared this throat when Lillymon removed the bottle, recapped it, and placed it back into the bag. Ken smiled to her in thanks when she asked if he felt better. "Yes. Thank you, Lillymon."

"You're welcome, but I'm BanchoLillymon."

Ken blinked his eyes in confusion. "Bancho?" Didn't Piemon say something about this? Were they the digimon he was talking about?

"I guess Stingmon didn't tell you about us." Ken felt hurt. They did know Stingmon. Was Piemon right all this time about his partner? Why didn't Stingmon tell him? Did he not trust him enough to tell him?

"Don't blame Stingmon for not telling you. It's a very long painful story and I'm sure he wasn't ready to tell you yet." Ken frowned at this. He was concerned now. He can understand if Stingmon was not ready to tell him, but what could have happened for it to hurt too much. He paused in his questioning. Maybe whatever happened was similar to when Osamu died.

"It's still sorta a sore subject for all of us. Considering what happen and all." Ken nodded weakly. Ken couldn't blame Stingmon if something like his brother's death happened. Ken struggled sometimes to talk about it, so why not Stingmon. Stingmon will tell him when he was ready. Until the moment comes Ken would wait and be supportive.

"But don't worry we'll discusses this after we get you somewhere safe." Really? Wouldn't it be better for Stingmon to tell him when he was ready? Ken didn't mind waiting. Ken was soon startled by his thoughts when he heard a click followed by the door siding open. "Got it! Let's get you out of here and help Stingmon."

Ken blinked at they opened the door. Ken was shocked when he was gently picked up by BanchoLillymon and held close to her chest. Ken rested his head on her shoulder, still holding the angel keychain close. It would be awful if he dropped her. Ken sighed as the two digimon made their way back to the ground. He couldn't believe he was finally free of that awful cage.

"Moon Moon Shooter!"

"Toy Wonderness!"

"Spiking Finish!"

"Trump Sword!"

Ken whimpered as he buried his face in BanchoLillymon's chest. He didn't like how the fight was going on. It sounded as if Stingmon was struggling to hold his own, considering who he was fighting after all. BanchoLillymon kept a good hold on him as the two digimon tried to fly around the strong gust of wind that was blowing around the room. It was difficult for the two digimon, but they managed to get to the ground safely.

BanchoLillymon allowed him to rest on the wall with the two of them standing in front of him. Ken noticed that BanchoMamemon was facing the battle, while BanchoLillymon was digging through his bag for something. Ken furrow his brows in confusion for a moment until she brought out some kind of fruit and the bottle of water. She got down on her knees and handed them to him.

"Here you go dear. This will help restore your energy."

Ken smiled and took the strange orange fruit and water. At first glance the fruit looked like a orange mango with purple dots. Ken would have questioned if this was edible or not. But the pang of hunger soon reminded him that he was hungry and should eat while he had the chance. Without a second thought he gingerly ate the fruit. Ken sighed in content as the sweet juices of the fruit touched his tongue and then traveled down his throat and into the pit of his empty stomach. Ken hummed in pleasure as BanchoLillymon asked if it was good. Ken didn't want to stop. He felt like he was in heaven.

Ken was halfway done with the fruit when he noticed that he wasn't as dizzy as he was before. He paused in his eating and looks at BanchoLillymon questioning. She smiles at him and tells him that the fruit was some type of healing fruit. Apparently it has very powerful healing properties. Well, that explains why he was starting to feel a lot better than he was a few minutes ago. Although, he suspected that this was no substitution for rest and he most wanted to rest for a day or so. He smiles in thanks to the digimon as he finishes the fruit and begins to drink the water. He never thought fruit and water would taste so good.

Ken jumps in surprises when BanchoLillymon and BanchoMamemon began yelling, "WATCH OUT!" Ken looks up in time to see Stingmon getting hit by Piemon's Clown Trick attack. Ken gasps as Stingmon crashes to the ground due to some kind of explosion. Piemon laughs as Stingmon groans in pain and tries to get back up.

Fear fills him as Ken jumps to his feet, only to be hit by a dizzy spell. "Easy," BanchoLillymon says as she steadies him. "You still haven't recovered yet." Ken shook his head weakly, not caring about himself at that moment. Stingmon was in danger. He had to help him, but what?

"Poor, old friend. I told you, you can't defeat me. You never were," Piemon mocked.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE! STINGMON!"

Piemon glances at him, not all that surprised that he was out of the cage, but the stare still made him want to hide. "Oh, how cute? The child thinks you actually have a chance. Such a shame that you're going to disappoint him, yet again." Piemon smiles as he takes out a cloth. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him."

Ken could only stare in fear as Stingmon collapses back to the ground. He wasn't going to be able to dodge Piemon's attack. "NO, STINGMON!"

"I don't think so! X-Laser!"

"Ken!"