Tk put on a brave face after he returned from the dark dimension, but Matt knew better. His brother was projecting confidence and strength for Kari and maybe even Davis, but something about that dimension shook him. Their walk home was a quiet one, Tk was deep in thought and Matt was just watching him trying to gauge where his head was at.

Matt finally spoke up, "So, another dimension huh?"

Tk smiled wryly, "Yeah, I guess." Tk put his down and continued walking.

"How are you feeling?" Matt asked more seriously genuinely concerned about his brother.

Tk stopped and considered the question, "It feels different this time, Matt."

"What do you mean?" Matt asked, a bit puzzled by the response.

"I'm not sure, something about this feels more real," Tk paused, "More final."

It was Matt's turn to consider his next words, "You don't mean, like, final final?"

Tk looked at his older brother somberly, "I really don't know, but the stakes feel higher." He paused and saw the worry on his brother's face and smiled, "It's probably just because I'm older now and understand the stakes, I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about."

Matt smiled at his brother and put his hand on his shoulder, "What happened in there little brother?"

"I told you Matt, there were these illusions in the cave and…"

Matt didn't let him finish, "I know you were holding back before, tell me what really happened."

Tk shook his head in defeat when he saw the determined look on his brother's face. He sat down on a nearby bench with Matt following close behind and explained the whole story. Matt understood more and more about the mood Tk was in. It was clear what happened in that dark dimension was not only terrifying, but also personal. It was as if the ghosts of their past enemies were coming back not just to haunt them but to destroy them.

It was clear Kari was a target of this dark dimension, but Matt was convinced that Tk likely was as well. Tk clearly heard Devimon's laugh and Myotismon was the one torturing Kari and feed Tk with visions of Kari's death. He sat back after Tk finished his story and took it all in before sighing, "Well, I guess it makes sense that they are targeting you and Kari. There world is all darkness and fear, nothing penetrates through those two things quite like light and hope."

"Huh, yeah I guess. It's kinda hard not to take it as a personal attack though. I don't how I'm any more special than any of you guys."

Matt just laughed. Tk looked at him, puzzled. "Tk, are you that oblivious? You've always been the best of us." Tk's face scrunched up in confusion. "It's true, and I think you might be the only digidestined that hasn't realized it. You were the youngest of all of us, but it was you who defeated Devimon. You basically defeated Puppetmon single-handedly, you barely even needed a digimon for it. And it was your hope that saved the day when things were at their darkest against Piedmon. Your cheery nature and love for those around you kept our team together in a lot of ways. How could us older kids fall to pieces when you stood your ground against multiple Dark Masters? You just being you makes others around you better and that's exactly why our enemies are targeting you now, your hope is contagious."

Tk stared at the ground in silence. He didn't believe his brother for a second. It was obviously just his brother's way of building him up. He knew he wasn't anything special, and Myotismon was targeting Kari, not him.

Matt shook his at his little brother and playfully slapped him on the knee, "We should get home and get to bed. We still have school in the morning."

Tk smiled at his brother mischievously, "Who said I was going to school tomorrow?"

"Mom would kill me if I let you get away with skipping school that easily." The two brothers laughed together and made their way back to the Ishida apartment.

Meanwhile at the Kamiya residence, Kari had just finished telling her whole story to Tai and he had a look of concern on his face as he tried to come up with the right words to say. Kari interrupted his train of thought before he could think of anything, "I'm tired Tai, we can talk more about it tomorrow if you really want to, but I need to go to bed."

They said good night and Tai went back out to the living room to watch some TV and think. He was getting used to Kari being in danger because of the digital world, but he still felt responsible for her safety and anytime Myotismon was in the picture his protectiveness increased tenfold. He couldn't help but remember 4 years before when Kari was the center of a city wide search by the evil digimon and all his henchmen.

He remembered how helpless he felt during that time and again when she got sick in the digital world. He also remembered that it was Tk who helped keep Kari safe when she was sick and then again when Piedmon was on the verge of total victory. Tk was there for Kari again tonight when Tai couldn't be.

As much as he wanted to be in the midst of the danger with the younger kids, protecting Kari and kicking ass, he was starting to realize that this fight wasn't his. Kari was targeted tonight by some evil digimon and it was Tk and even Davis who seemed to have a handle on the right thing to do. Tai was very proud and it was hard for him to see a new generation to step up and fill his shoes, but at the same time he was starting to see that they were more than capable of doing so. He thought about bringing the older kids together again to talk about what happened to TK and Kari, but it no longer seemed like his place. He decided that his role was now just support, he'll leave the leadership role to the younger kids.

Davis laid in his bed that night unable to get to sleep. He knew he didn't have the whole story about what happened to Kari and Tk. He knew enough not to press them, but he felt like he needed to assert himself and demand to be included. He knew the older kids would often meet and would even include TK and Kari and before it didn't bother him much, but now he felt like he was being left in the dark about important information he needed to be able to fight the digimon emperor and help protect his teammates.

Almost losing Kari today was a shock to him. Up until today the whole digimon thing seemed like a fun adventure. Now it seemed like a dangerous responsibility. He wanted to know more about what happened with the older digidestined. He wanted to get a better idea of what the stakes really were. How could they fight this evil if they didn't understand it?

He also continued to learn more and more about Tk. He was such a selfless and courageous person and even though he and Davis were at odds over both Kari and the leadership of the team (at least in Davis' mind), Tk was humble enough to ask for help watching over Kari. He was starting to get why the older kids had such faith in Tk and understood why others would follow his lead.

He also saw the weight that Tk carried on his shoulders. He wasn't exactly sure what it was, but he knew Tk was burdened by something. He was closed off and didn't seem willing to share his fears and concerns with his teammates. It was as if he was fighting a personal war against evil while also trying to lead the Digidestined in their fight against the emperor.

Davis decided that he needed to be more aware of what was going on with Tk and try to take on some of the responsibility of the team whenever he could. He had begun to realize that he wasn't ready to lead, but seeing Tk's more vulnerable side made him think that he had to get ready in a hurry. He wasn't sure what it was that made him feel this way, but he felt like the leadership of the team would fall on him at some point.

Tk and Kari didn't share much about the dark dimension with the rest of the team, instead they put their energy into building chemistry and knocking down more control spires. The team was really clicking and even Yolei and Cody were starting to find their way as digidestined. Cody managed to save the day and find the digi-egg of reliability while he was at it. Yolei had always been a bit all over the place, but she was starting to learn how to focus her energy and care about the important things. She too found another digi-egg.

They were coming up on winter break in a hurry and they knew it would be the best time for them to go to the digital world and try to defeat Ken once and for all. They had worked out the plans for their excuse, that they would all be going camping over break with Matt and Tk's dad. Matt, Tai, and Izzy were all planning to actually go to keep the cover intact.

Beyond the cover story however, the new digidestined hadn't made any plans to defeat Ken. A few days prior to the start of break, the whole team got together at the school computer lab to start hunting for Ken and his base in the digital world. Before they went in, Davis stopped everyone and finally said what he'd wanted to say for weeks.

"So I understand why we have to dedicate more time in the digital world, and I'm fully prepared to stay there as long as it takes, but if we're going to do this, then we all need to know what we're getting ourselves into." He paused and looked at Tk and Kari, "I know we haven't gotten the whole story yet about what happened when Kari disappeared and I think it's only right the rest of us hear the truth."

Kari and Tk looked at each other guiltily before Davis continued, "It doesn't have to be now, but it needs to happen before our trip. So I say this Saturday we meet somewhere and get everything out in the open. The older kids should be there too, if they can make it, but we can't be a team if we aren't all on the same page."

Kari spoke up first, "You're right Davis, it hasn't been fair of us to leave you guys in the dark. It wasn't exactly an experience I want to talk about, but at the same time what happened there could affect you guys as well so it's only fair."

"Yeah, if we can't trust each other with the tough stuff how can we rely on each other when we're on our own in the digital world. I'm sorry we haven't been as open with you as we should have been." Added Tk quietly.

"Why don't we all meet at my place this Saturday, to lay everything on the table and finalize our strategy," offered Kari cheerily. They all agreed and jumped into the digital world. It took them a couple more afternoons but finally by Friday they had found the Emperor's base and knew where they'd have to start come Monday when their "camping trip" was set to start.

After returning from the digital world on Friday afternoon Tk made his way home on the train to pack up everything he'd need for their trip. When he got off the train in Tamachi he bumped into someone and nearly fell over. "Excuse me," said Tk before realizing who it was, "You're detective Mitzuo right? Have you had any luck finding Ken?"

The detective seemed surprised at first, before Tk's identity registered with him, "Unfortunately not Mr.?"

"Takaishi, Takeru Takaishi, but my friends Call me TK. I wish I could have been more help, but outside of basketball Ken is a loner. I got the impression he spent most of his free time in his room working on his computer."

"Yes, that's what his parents said as well," said the detective as he eyed Tk suspiciously. "In fact he was in his room the night he disappeared and there's no evidence to indicate how he left. His mother never saw him or heard him leave through the door and the window was locked from the inside. I've never seen a case quite like it."

Tk gulped a bit at the thought of the police discovering the existence of the digital world, "Sound like a real mystery, but I'm sure you'll find Ken and he'll be back in school safe and sound after break," he said cheerily.

"Yes, I'm sure you're right," said the detective as he checked his watch, "You should run home now, it's getting late."

Tk looked at the time and said goodbye before running off. Little did he know that little encounter had peaked Detective Mizuo's interest.

The next day at the Kamiya residence the whole group of digidestined, old and new, gathered to discuss the recent events and make plans for the next week or two. They started off the meeting with Kari telling her story and Tk chipping in here and there with some details about his rescue attempt.

While the older kids asked about this new dimension and Cody and Yolei were curious to hear about the previous run in with Myotismon, Davis was focused on TK. It seemed clear to him that Tk still hadn't told them everything. The chatter around had started to die down when Davis finally spoke up staring straight at the blond, "There's more you're not telling us isn't there?"

Tk was startled and looked up at Davis who was uncharacteristically serious and it read on his face. The rest of the room quieted down and waited for Tk's response. Tk looked over at Matt, who simply nodded. Tk spoke about hearing Devimon's laugh in the dark dimension and about how he believed the dark rings Ken was using could be related to Devimon as well.

"So are you saying Ken is just being used by this Devimon character?" asked Cody quietly.

"I'm honestly not sure. It sure seems possible and manipulating a child into doing his bidding wouldn't be out of character for Devimon," answered Tk. "Regardless, I know there's a lot more going on than just what Ken is up to. I'm certainly hoping this trip will not only bring him down, but also answer some more questions about how Ken came to possess the dark rings to begin with."

Everyone was silent as they considered what Tk said. The silence was broken when Izzy spoke up about the dark dimension, "I'm still curious about how Tk and Kari ended up in this other dimension. I think it may be possible that the dimensional barrier may be weakening or breaking down altogether."

"That's possible?" Asked Sora.

"In theory, yes. I haven't done much research on this subject, and it's all just advanced theoretical physics. No one actually knows how the dimensional plane works in the practical sense."

"What would happen if the barrier did break down and that dimension spilled over into our own?" asked Matt calmly.

"We can't know for sure, but the two dimensions would theoretically take place with in the same space. If the barrier between them were to collapse the two dimensions could collide with the physical elements of both worlds overlapping and killing millions. Or it could just turn into an open door between the dimensions and we'd just have to from time to time prevent anyone from using it, and invading our dimension."

At that the meeting broke up and everyone went their separate ways before they take off for their trip the following Monday.