Chapter 11: Neodevimon's Plan for Kari

Hi everyone. Wow, this is the halfway point for this fic. I have twenty two or twenty three chapters planned at the moment, although that could change as new ideas come into my head. I've also passed 50 reviews too :D I would like to thank all of you who reviewed the last chapter and I'd like to give a special thanks to those of you that regularly leave reviews. You guys give me the motivation I need to keep writing, thank you :D

I don't own Digimon or anything else copyrighted that I mention in this story. If I did Gabumon's fur would not be dry-clean only.

As I mentioned at the end of the last chapter … the action returns for the end of this one …


A few white, fluffy clouds floated aimlessly above Tokyo in the blue morning sky. The Sun shone brightly as yet another fantastic day for weather was forecasted. It was also the first day of the summer break for schools in Japan and most kids were determined to make the most of it. Some, however, didn't have that luxury.

Davis and Veemon strolled along a concrete sidewalk. Both of them weren't in any rush to get to their destination. Izzy had sent them an email the night before telling them the Digidestined were going to meet at his place at eleven and Davis had just assumed it would just be another conversation and nothing would come of it.

"I hate it when I can't fight," Davis sighed as he glanced over to Veemon. "I've never liked being on the bench."

"Same here," Veemon replied as he looked up at his partner. "I've always liked being in the middle of a battle and fighting alongside my friends."

"There's got to be a way to persuade TK to let us help him," Davis pursed his lips together as he began to think.

"I'm not sure that would be a good idea, Davis," Veemon interrupted the goggle head's thoughts. "As I said, I would like to fight alongside Patamon but if he and TK don't want us to then I'll not get involved unless I have to. It seems really personal to them."

"I think maybe we should remind him there's no I in team," the teen boy added.

"Why are you so desperate to fight?" Veemon's voice showed some concern. "I know you Davis, there's more to this than just being on the sidelines. This isn't about Kari again, is it?"

"No Veemon, it isn't about Kari," Davis sighed and scratched the back of his head as he tried to think of a way to word his reply. "I'm just worried about TK. You saw what happened last time he fought Neodevimon. What happens if Neodevimon does that again and kills TK next time?"

"TK said he wouldn't because Neodevimon wants to hurt him," the blue dragon quoted the Digidestined of Hope.

"What if Neodevimon gets desperate and decides just to kill TK?" Davis asked bluntly. "There's only Magnaangemon there to help him."

"Magnaangemon will keep TK safe, I have no doubt about that," Veemon confidently reassured the teen boy.

"There's more to my worries than just that," Davis continued, thinking he might as well share all of his concerns about the situation with Veemon. "Have you seen how tired TK's looked recently? He looks like he hasn't had any sleep. Also, have you seen how stressed he is? His stress levels are off the chart."

"I think most people would be stressed if they knew someone they hated was trying to kill everyone they cared about," the Digimon thought aloud, scratching the back of his head as he spoke.

Davis sighed, knowing there wasn't anything he could do to improve the situation. Then a thought suddenly occurred to him. "That's probably why Kari's been spending so much time with TK. I've noticed they're spending even more time together than usual, if that's possible."

"They're best friends," Veemon stated in a matter of fact tone and glanced over to his human partner.

"I know," the teenager rolled his eyes as he replied. "I also know they care about each other and in a way that's probably more than just friendship. So I think Kari has been trying to help him through this and she's probably the best person for the job."


All the Digidestined and their Digimon, except for Mimi and Palmon, sat around in Izzy's bedroom and were ready for the discussion to start. TK, Kari and their Digimon sat closely together on the floor next to Izzy's computer desk. Izzy was sat on his computer chair, typing away while Tentomon sat on the desk watching him. Tai, Matt, Sora and Joe perched on the edge of the blue bed with their Digimon sat by their feet. The group was completed by Davis, Ken, Yolei, Cody and their Digimon sitting on the floor near the door.

The bright sunlight and gentle breeze coming through the window did little to ease the apprehension hanging in the air. The Digidestined and Digimon sat quietly, waiting for Izzy to explain why they were all there.

"So, how are you going to defeat Neodevimon?" Asked the purple and white seal-like Digimon sat by Joe's feet. The Digimon, Gomamon, couldn't stand the silence any longer.

"With the Gate of Destiny," Patamon answered him before TK could. "If he makes one wrong move I'll put him in it."

"Just remember there's no I in team," Davis added in a serious tone as he looked over to his blonde friend. "We're here to help you if you need us."

"If you want our opinion or help with something then all you need to do is ask," Matt informed his brother.

"Right," Gabumon nodded. "Just ask and we'll be there in full force."

"Thanks guys," TK gave his friends a weak smile as he looked up and glanced around the room. He had been focusing himself for the imminent fight all morning. "But you know I can't let any of you come with me today for the reasons I've already said."

"We know, TK," Kari placed a reassuring hand on his left shoulder. She smiled as she gazed into his eyes to try and help him understand. The teen girl found herself really wanting to give her secret boyfriend a good luck kiss before his impending battle. "We're just saying that we're here to for you to talk to or to help you come up with battle plans."

"Are you going to the Digiworld today?" Cody asked, not knowing exactly why the meeting had been called. Izzy had sent around a message telling everyone to meet but had given no details.

"Yeah," TK replied in a voice that showed his focus.

Davis clenched his right fist and raised it into the air. "Give him hell, dude."

"I intend to," TK firmly stated as he slowly clenched his fists into balls as well.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Davis was perplexed as to why they were waiting. In his opinion the quicker they ended this then the better things would be. He could tell from the intensity radiating from TK that he felt the same way.

"Me," Izzy stopped typing on his laptop's keyboard and turned to face the group. "There is some information that I think you should know."

"What is it Izzy?" Joe asked his younger friend in a serious tone. Everyone's eyes fixed on the genius sitting in front of his computer desk.

"As some of you already know, Neodevimon appears to be coving File Island with darkness," Izzy moved the screen of his laptop into a position so all those who hadn't seen the map could see it.

"It's grown since yesterday," Tai noted as he looked at the black squares overlying the centre of File Island on the map.

"Yes it has but that's not what I wanted to tell you," the genius continued. "This darkness looks very similar to the darkness spread by the control spires. I don't know if the darkness will affect digivolution or not but so far it hasn't stopped Patamon from digivolving. So Ken, would you be able to help me analyse it to see if there could be an issue with digivolving?"

"Sure Izzy," Ken nodded and smiled at his older friend.

"Could this darkness be like the darkness from that Dark Ocean?" Yolei's worry was clear in her voice as she asked the question. "That stopped us from digivolving until we entered the light of the gate back to the Digiworld."

Kari, along with Ken and TK, shuddered at the mention of the Dark World. They all had bad memories of the place. It was one of the sources of evil that fuelled Ken's reign as the Digimon Emperor and its dark ruler had tried to make Kari his bride on two separate occasions.

"Gatomon was able to digivolve when Kari was first taken there," TK turned to face Kari and Gatomon as he spoke.

"Maybe only angel Digimon can digivolve in the darkness," Kari added as she was trying not to think about her two visits to the Dark World. "Or maybe it has something to do with our crests."

"Even more reasons for us to study it and try to understand it," Izzy lifted the index finger on his right hand as he spoke. He always did that when he was making a point. "We need to know if our Digimon are able to digivolve if something happens to TK."

"I agree," Ken nodded in addition to his reply. "We need to be sure this isn't another evil Digimon just covering the Digital World in darkness."

"He could be using it to try and lure others into the Digiworld besides myself and TK," Patamon pondered aloud as he placed his black paw under his chin in a thinking position.

"True, that is a possible theory too," Izzy replied. "TK, let me know if you find anything out when you fight Neodevimon."

The red haired boy turned back to his laptop and closed the map software. He replaced it with the window showing the digital gate to the Plateau of Infinity Mountain. Izzy then stood up and stepped to one side, moving his chair out of the way as he did so.

TK pulled himself to his feet. His body language was of a person deeply focused on a task, something that was helping him control his emotions. Patamon flew off the ground and hovered in the air above his partner's right shoulder. TK unclipped his green and white digivice from his belt and held the screen up of the gadget to the gateway shown on Izzy's laptop monitor.

"Be careful," Matt spoke in a voice that clearly showed he was concerned about his younger brother's safety. "We don't want any repeats of last time or anything worse."

"I'll keep myself safe," TK replied, glancing over to his brother on his left side and giving a nod. He then gazed over to his right at Kari. Their eyes met and conveyed that TK had no intention of anyone he cared about, including himself, getting hurt.

Kari stood up, keeping eye contact with her secret boyfriend as she did so. Her anxiety was clearly shown by her facial expressions. She placed her hand on TK's shoulder. "I know you will."

TK gave her a quick nod too before turning to face the laptop screen. Kari slid her hand off his shoulder as everyone moved back to make sure they wouldn't get caught by the light from the Digiport.

TK stared at the image on the other side of gate for a few seconds before he made his move. "Digiport open!"

Kari, along with the other Digidestined and the Digimon, watched the bright white light leave the monitor and engulf TK and Patamon. It took a few seconds before the light was sucked back into the screen, taking her friends with it.

The brunette teen sat back down where she was a minute ago. She found the feeling of anxiety was so much greater than it was last time she watched her love going off to fight his nemesis. Kari realised it was probably because of the last battle when TK came back with cuts from Neodevimon's claws. She found herself worrying that it might happen again or something even worse.

Kari's mind continued down its path. She didn't want to loose him, she loved him too much and they had only just gotten together. He was her hope and one of only a few people that could keep her going when times were rough. She needed him. The brunette felt she should be fighting alongside him as his best friend and love.

The teen girl sighed. She wished she was there with him right now but she respected TK's wishes. Kari knew rushing into the Digital World right now would damage his trust of her and that was something she definitely did not want to do. She glanced at the laptop and realised she did not know how many more times she could watch her love go and fight like this.

Kari reprimanded herself for thinking like that. She reassured herself that TK would be alright. He was strong and the battle would soon be over. She hoped she would only have to go through this one or two more times at most otherwise she didn't know what she would do.

The Digidestined of Light looked up and glanced around the room. Everyone was silent with concerned expressions etched across their faces. She found a strange relief in knowing that at least she wasn't the only one worried.


A light began to emit from the grey TV that sat on the cold, hard rock plateau at the top of Infinity Mountain. The light continued to grow in size and brighten as two figures appeared from it. The light started to die down, revealing TK and Patamon.

TK glanced to his partner with a serious expression etched on his face. He pointed his digivice in the direction of the rookie Digimon. "Digivolve."

Patamon nodded before the light of digivolution erupted from TK's green and white digivice. The Digimon's body was encased by the light as the process started. "Patamon digivolve to Angemon. Angemon digivolve to Magnaangemon!"

The light faded away and the eight winged angel hovered in the air with his purple energy sword powered up. He took up a stance that allowed him to be ready for the expected appearance of his foe.

TK looked around the peak, taking everything in. The strong wind made it bitterly cold and the darkness was clouding the sky. In fact the darkness had dimmed the light of the Digiworld's Sun so much that it felt like a constant grey dusk.

The blonde boy continued to gaze around. He noticed the Greek-like temples were still there and nothing had really changed since he last stood on that spot a few days ago. However, he could not see any sign of his nemesis. TK was relying on his sixth sense telling him the demon was close.

Suddenly a black porthole opened up in the ground in front of Magnaangemon and TK. Black tendrils spilled across the ground as the gateway widened so someone could come through. The spiked tips of Neodevimon's red torn wings were the first thing to show as the devil slowly rose out of the gate and into the air to confront his visitor.

TK could feel Neodevimon staring at him through his mask. The blonde teen was not about to falter. His eyes narrowed as he stared back into what he sensed were the eyes of the devil. TK gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, waiting for his foe to make a move.

The only sound heard was the howling of the wind over the jagged rock surface as the opponents remained as they were. TK continued to stare at his nemesis, watching and waiting as the standoff persisted.

"Nothing to say?" Neodevimon finally broke the silence. His tone was twisted and dared TK to mock him. It was clear he was trying to break the Digidestined of Hope's focus.

"Bring it," the blonde teen snarled, making sure his eyes remained fixed on the devil so his concentration didn't falter.

"You're not as talkative as you were last time," the demon let out a twisted laugh. "Did I hit a nerve when I caught you in my claw?"

TK remained silent as the wind picked up, blowing his hair and clothes to the right. He cocked his head slightly to the side before he spoke. "I'm fine. You'll have to do far worse than that if you want to hurt me."

"I know," Neodevimon replied in a tone suggesting he was thinking of something he enjoyed. "I could have killed you straightaway but where's the fun in that? I want to make you suffer. I want you to watch all of your friends die before I kill you."

"I won't give you the chance to do that," TK's voice was stern and showed his conviction.

The devil laughed again. "I see you've changed your strategy. You're no longer trying to enrage me. Is this a request from your friends? Are they worried about you?"

"We won't let you lay a hand on them," Magnaangemon replied as he pointed his sword in the direction of his opponent.

"This strategy won't work," Neodevimon taunted them. "You should have stuck with your old one. You know you will not be able to beat me if you keep doing this and then, sooner or later, your friends will have to come and help you. That's when I'll get them. I'll kill them all!"

TK growled. He wanted to taunt the devil in the same way that had nearly worked last time but he couldn't. The same strategy had got him injured and he had promised he wouldn't risk his life like that again. The teen boy pursed his lips before giving his response. "Get him."

"Aurora beam!" Magnaangemon fired a rainbow coloured energy beam from Excalibur in the direction of the Digimon opposing him.

The attack missed as Neodevimon flew higher into the air. The beam caused an explosion as it hit the roof of one of the smaller marble temples. The demon Digimon glanced back at the dust from the explosion before swooping down towards Magnaangemon. His right claw was out in front of him, opened and ready to attack. "Guilty claw!"

Magnaangemon flew upwards to meet the diving Digimon. The angel drew his sword back before swinging it forwards to block the metal claw. The two Digimon collided and stopped in midair. Magnaangemon's Excalibur pushed against the metal tips of Neodevimon's right hand as the foes entered a power struggle. Both of them placed their left hands on their right wrists to give them more strength. The Digimon groaned as they put more and more of their strength into the stalemate, hoping they could over power the other. Both Digimon eventually pushed off one another and glared at each other, knowing neither was going to win a test of shear strength.

Neodevimon swung his claw forwards again, only for Magnaangemon to parry it to one side. He then tried to use his left claw, thrusting it towards the chest of the angel. Magnaangemon blocked the attack again before thrusting his purple weapon in the direction of the devil's head. Neodevimon brought both his claws up to his face to protect himself and block the attack. The sword collided with the metal claws again. The Digimon pushed off each other and flew to a safe distance, not wanting to enter another test of strength.

The angel and demon stared at each other as they entered another moment of stalemate in their battle. Both backed off, creating more distance for other potential attacks. They drew their right hands back in preparation for their next move in this game of chess.

"Stun claw!" Neodevimon was first to move. He formed a dark cloud around his claw before launching it in the direction of his foe. The dark energy took the shape of his claw as it travelled straight towards the angel.

"Aurora beam!" Magnaangemon fired another multicoloured beam from Excalibur into the path of the oncoming attack. The light and dark attacks smash together causing an explosion which forced the Digimon to fly even further away from each other. They re-entered their stand off.

The silence continued for several minutes as the Digimon stared at one another. It was finally broken by Neodevimon's demented laugh. "I told you that you couldn't beat me with this tactic."

"We will beat you," TK growled in frustration at the current situation they were in.

"You won't," the devil retorted in his twisted tone. "You'll have to bring your friends with you. Then I will make you watch helplessly as I kill them one by one. All of them, apart from the Digidestined of Light, I have something special lined up for her."

TK's eyes widened as a mixture of shock and concern for Kari formed across his face. "W… What do you mean?"

Neodevimon laughed manically. "I hit a nerve there, didn't I? I know you have some special feelings for her. It would be a shame if I gave her to the ruler of the Dark World, wouldn't it?"

TK's eyes opened fully as a look of horror grew across his face. He found himself having to take several steps back.

"I would give her to Dragomon and let him have his way with her. I would make you watch the whole thing," the demon continued. "Dragomon has some strange attraction to her that I can't understand. I believe he wants to make her his bride."

TK narrowed his eyes as his whole body started to shake with rage. He clenched his fists so hard that his nails began to cut into his skin. His breathing deepened and his anger spiralled out of control. The teen boy's sapphire eyes stared right into Neodevimon's.

"I will never ever let you do that!" TK roared as he let his anger take full control. There was no way he was going to let his nemesis and some freak of a Digimon do that to his love, he had to protect her.

Neodevimon laughed tauntingly again. "You have no choice. I will do it because you will eventually have to bring her here to fight me."

"No chance!" TK roared in rage. "Get him!"

"Gate of Destiny!" Magnaangemon called the name of his most powerful attack as he started drawing a circle in the air with his energy sword. A solid gate formed from the trail of light left by the weapon. The gate rotated before the doors opened and it began to move in the direction of Neodevimon.

The devil laughed again as he flew away from the gate. "All your friends will die. I'll get the Digidestined of Light and give her to Dragomon. He will have so much fun. This is the beginning of your worst nightmare, Takeru."

TK growled with rage as he watched Neodevimon turn and fly off into the distance. The blonde stood there, breathing heavily as he tried to calm his anger and frustration. He knew he couldn't let Neodevimon win the war of words next time they met.


Well, there's another chapter finished. I know it was a relatively short one compared to the last few chapters I've published. I hope it is still a good one though. Please let me know your thoughts by clicking the review button below. Thanks :D