At that moment, a large shadow appeared below them, and Whamon seemed to jump out of the water, ramming Metalseadramon before they swam into his mouth for safety. When they were a safe distance away, they got on top of him, though Kimiko still hadn't woken up yet, and Renamon, Ayaka, and Tai, who were all around her, were worried sick. When Whamon was telling them about how Metalseadramon took over the sea, Kimiko started waking up a bit. "Tai…? Renamon…? Ayaka…?" Everyone turned to her in surprise as she sat up, a hand to her head. "I guess I hit my head harder than I thought…" "You shouldn't sit up so fast…" Tai said, worry lacing his voice, and she smiled reassuringly, saying, "Its okay…my head just hurts where I got hit…no big…" Whamon took them near an island the shape of a crescent moon, and they started fishing. Kimiko was looking out at sea, Renamon sitting beside her, and Kimiko watched the waves form and break, and felt the salty air hit her face. "This is so peaceful…" Renamon nodded, and Kimiko perked when she heard Izzy say that the weapons on Wargreymon's arms were called Dramon Destroyers, and that they might helped them defeat the Dark Masters.
Kimiko turned a little, to see Agumon, and almost threw up when she saw him eat a fish his size WHOLE… "Agumon…do me a favor and NEVER do that again…" Kimiko said, her face a little pale. That's when Joe was jerked into the water by his fishing pole, and who was at the end of it? Gomamon, of course! "Divermon are headed this way!!!" Kimiko gave him a confused look, asking, "What are Divermon?" "Those are Metalseadramon's henchmen." Whamon explained, and Kimiko nodded. "So we'd better leave…" they all got into Whamon, and Kimiko sat down, watching the screen as Izzy typed, while Renamon sat beside her, making sure nothing happened outside. Her ears twitched now and then, as her tail swished side to side, when Izzy said, "I've got it!" they looked at the screen, and saw the ocean floor. "This is what Whamon is seeing right now!" Izzy said proudly, and Kimiko smiled slightly, until her ears started to hurt.
"Sorry, I dove too fast. I'll equalize the pressure now." Whamon burped, and the pain in everyone's ears left. A beeping caught Ayaka's attention, and she heard it getting louder and louder. "It's the Divermon…everyone stay quiet…" Izzy whispered, and Ayaka hugged Guilmon around the neck for reassurance as Kimiko looked around, straining her ears to see if the beeping was fading. When it was almost gone, it started right back up again, louder than before, and the Divermon attacked.
Whamon swam out of the way, saying he had a plan as he swam away from the four Divermon. He went down a chasm, and Kimiko feared the Divermon would get them after all, when one of their air tanks caved in with the pressure, and he flew up to the surface. Izzy told something to Kari, who blew on her whistle as hard as she could, and Izzy used it as sonar, finding a cave up ahead. When yellow lights, like fireflies, lit up the screen, Kari, Ayaka, Mimi, and Sora were glued to the screen, while Kimiko would look at it with an indifferent glance every now and then. That's when something struck them, and Kimiko nearly fell over. "Careful, everyone! It's Metalseadramon!!" Whamon said, as he swam up a tunnel, trying to get away. When they were finally on the surface, Kimiko thought they'd lost Metalseadramon, and let down her guard.
That's when Metalseadramon appeared, and she nearly fell backwards in fright. Agumon Warp-Digivolved to Wargreymon, and was distracting him as the others got to land. Once on solid ground, Kimiko turned to Renamon, saying, "It's time to show these Dark Masters what we're made of, Renamon!!" Renamon Digivolved to Kyubimon, and ran across the water at Metalseadramon, ready to distract him for Wargreymon, when one end of his split tail grabbed her around the stomach, dragging her under. "KYUBIMON!!!" Kimiko ran along the shore, getting over any obstacles in her way, and saw Kyubimon under water, almost out of air. "KYUBIMON!!!!" Against all her better judgment, Kimiko jumped into the water. 'I can't lose anyone else! I have to save her!' She noticed that Wargreymon was being held in Metalseadramon's mouth, and hardly keeping it open.
She dove under the water, and grabbed the iron tipped tail around Kyubimon's stomach, trying to pry it off. The other end grabbed her around the waist as well, wrenching loose her hold. 'Kyubimon! I have to…save her…' Kimiko was running out of air, and she couldn't try to swim up to the surface. 'Kyubimon…please…don't die…' her crest began to glow, and Kyubimon Digivolved to Taomon, who used Talisman Of Light, making Metalseadramon release them, and took Kimiko to the surface. Whamon slammed into Metalseadramon, freeing Wargreymon, but Metalseadramon blasted a hole through Whamon with his River Of Power. "NO!! WHAMON!!!" Kimiko's crest began to glow again, when Wargreymon defeated Metalseadramon, Dedigivolving to Koromon. Once on shore again, they stood by a slowly dying Whamon, and Kimiko had to force her tears back, and nearly choked at the sobs trying to escape her throat.
He disappeared, begging them to save this world, and a lone tear ran down Kimiko's cheek, though she brushed it away hastily. Ayaka was crying much harder, when the ground shook, and the water on Spiral Mountain started disappearing. Kimiko looked back at Mimi, to see her making small grave memorials for the friends that died along the way. Kimiko felt her heart break. 'Why are they all dying? I'm supposed to be protecting them…'
Kimiko kneeled down next to her, saying, "Its okay, Mimi. They're not really dead. They'll come back at Primary Village in Digieggs, and then everything will be as it was before…" her expression seemed to fall as she continued. "But we need to defeat the Dark Masters…" "I'm not fighting anymore!" Kimiko perked in surprise, but softened, saying, "It's okay, Mimi…I won't try to force you…just take your time…" Tai had a different idea, and him and Matt started fighting. "WILL YOU TWO STOP FIGHTING!?!" everyone turned to an angry Kimiko, who continued. "We just need some time to respect those who have left us, but that doesn't mean we have to completely stop thinking about saving BOTH our worlds. We're supposed to be fighting our enemies, not each other! And I'm sick and tired of you two fighting all the time!!" her crest was glowing, and everyone could tell that she was telling the truth.
"Maybe we should try going somewhere less out in the open…" Joe reasoned, and they started walking through a dark forest. Kimiko had calmed down, and could clearly sense the tension in the air. She saw Kari stop, and stopped herself, looking back at her in a questioning way. When she ran up to the group, Tai lectured her before they continued on their way. When the ground started to move, Ayaka nearly fell over, but Guilmon helped her keep her balance, and everyone jumped off of it onto a piece of unmoving land, but it started moving instead. Kimiko got tired of it, and they all climbed up into the trees.
Kimiko sighed, saying, "This must be the work of one of the Dark Masters…" she looked around, seeing how tired everyone seemed to be, and didn't know what else to say. "Then we'll just have to fight!" This comment got Tai and Matt into another fight, and Kimiko glared hotly at both of them. 'They're acting like babies…' Ayaka said, "But Koromon can't keep Digivolving, Tai…give him a chance to rest…" That's when Tai disappeared into thin air, and then Kimiko. "KIMI! TAI!" One by one, everyone disappeared, until only Matt, T.K., and Ayaka were left with the Digimon.
Ayaka said, "We need to find them…" "We don't need them…especially Tai…" Ayaka said, a hint of Kimiko's stubborn temper in her voice, "We've gotten through everything because we stuck together! We can't do this alone, Matt!" That's when everyone seemed to be teleporting everywhere. In the end, Ayaka ended up with Matt and T.K. again, and sighed when she decided that no one else was going to be disappearing everywhere. "GUIL!!! GUIL, WHERE ARE YOU?!" a voice that she recognized as Puppetmon's came through the trees as an echo, making Ayaka jump. She looked around, wishing Guilmon was with her, when she heard T.K. cry out in surprise. She whirled around to see Puppetmon, and stood behind T.K., a protective hand on his shoulder. 'Guil…where are you?' He wanted T.K. to come with him, but Matt obviously refused.
Puppetmon used a strange red rubber ball, which bound Matt, making him fall over. "Matt!!" Ayaka stood in front of T.K., wishing she had Kimiko's courage. Her friend always seemed to stand up to danger, while Ayaka tried to avoid it entirely. "St-Stay away, Puppetmon!" She felt like she was shaking, and wished that Guilmon was with her at that moment, or Kimiko and Renamon. "Awww…Are you scared?" "N-No I'm not!" she answered shakily, trying to stop her shaking. "Why don't you two come play with me? You'd both make great playmates." Ayaka said, mustering up all her courage, "No!" she looked around, hoping, praying, that someone would come to help her. "GUIL!!!!!" a savage snarl came into hearing range, and got louder and louder. "Guil!!" a smile flitted across her face, when Puppetmon grabbed T.K., disappearing.
"NO!! T.K.!!!" She tried to free Matt, but it proved impossible, and the ground started to move under them. They were soon regrouped with the others, except T.K., and their Digimon. As Gabumon freed Matt, Ayaka hugged Guilmon around the neck, thankful that he was with her again. Matt was almost in hysterics about losing T.K., and Kimiko got worried, too. Before they could go to look for him, Kiwimon appeared, attacking them with Pummel Peck.
Renamon used Diamond Storm, canceling out the attack as Matt ordered for information on where T.K. was. When Kiwimon didn't answer, Matt's anger was evident, and Gabumon tried to Warp-Digivolve. The only thing was, Matt's Crest of Friendship refused to glow. Kiwimon took that opportunity to use Pummel Peck, aiming at the group of kids. Biyomon Digivolved to Birdramon, blocking the attack and destroying him with her Meteor Wing. Matt got angry with her, and Kimiko had to stop him from attacking her, when T.K. came running up to them. Ayaka smiled, hugging him tight, when she noticed Matt walking away with Gabumon. She was worried about him, and followed after him, Guilmon by her side. "Matt? Matt, where are you going?" they were walking alongside a lake, and she finally caught up to him. "Why are you here, Ayaka?" "I wasn't going to let you just walk off by yourself!" she said, her cheeks a light pink. Guilmon nodded stubbornly, and Matt sighed. "Fine…"
After a while, the silence became unbearable, and Ayaka finally asked, "Why'd you leave?" "I just…need some time to think…" He sat down, and she sighed, sitting beside him, Guilmon's head on her lap. "I feel like a fifth wheel…" she sighed, saying, "You're not a fifth wheel…" "But that's how I feel! Haven't you ever felt helpless or worthless?" there was a moment of silence before she nodded. "I've always found myself to be a coward…I always looked up to Kimiko because she was always brave, and…now…she's not afraid to speak her mind…" Guilmon nuzzled her hand, comforting her. "I wish I could be like that…" "We need to change a little, I guess…" "So…you need to change…" Ayaka jumped in her skin, and turned to see Cherrymon. Guilmon snarled, standing in front of her protectively. "Whoa, calm down! I just want to talk!" Guilmon didn't trust him, and his protective snarl never wavered. "In order to change, you must defeat your rival…" Ayaka didn't believe a word he said, but his words were affecting Matt.
"If you look into that lake, you'll see the face of your rival…" Matt walked over, and Ayaka said, "Do you really trust him? Matt, come to your senses!!" He looked onto the surface of the water, and saw Tai's face. Ayaka sighed, saying, "Matt…Tai's you're friend! You don't fight your friends!!" "Yeah…" Matt seemed unsure of himself, and Ayaka sighed, saying, "Matt…" Cherrymon laughed, saying, "You don't really believe that…not in your heart of hearts anyway…loyalty, comrades…those are nice words, but that's all they are…words…" Ayaka had to put her foot down somewhere, and this was it. "I've had enough of this!! Matt, whatever you want to do, do it!! We can't choose for you!!" she glared at Cherrymon. "And if you say another word, Guilmon will Warp-Digivolve and beat you down!!"
Gabumon talked with Matt, whose crest glowed. Gabumon Warp-Digivolved to Metalgarurumon, and all three of them got on his back. Ayaka was worried about what might happen, and turned to Guilmon. "I hope everything turns out alright…" she whispered softly.
When they reached the others, Kari and Gatomon were about to be sucked into a trashcan by Garbagemon. Metalgarurumon defeated him easily, and Kimiko ran to Kari's side in an instant, Kyubimon with her as well. "Ayaka! Matt! You're both back!" Kimiko's smile was bright, but she was surprised when Metalgarurumon attacked Agumon. "Matt! What are you doing?" Kimiko was on her feet in a moment, and Ayaka was just as surprised. Matt refused to call of Metalgarurumon, and Ayaka was in the background with T.K., wondering what would really push him to try and defeat Tai. Matt pushed Tai too far, and Agumon Warp-Digivolved to Wargreymon, fighting Metalgarurumon in the sky. Then Tai and Matt started fighting. Kimiko reached her limit of patience, and yelled, as loud as her lungs would allow, "STOP FIGHTING NOW!!!!!!!!!!"
A blinding light filled the forest, making Wargreymon and Metalgarurumon Dedigivolve to Koromon and Tsunomon. They were soon in a pure white space, and they all looked around in wonder. "This is the balance of light and darkness…if the darkness becomes too strong, it upsets the balance…" As Kari spoke, the room went black. They saw Highton View Terrace appear before them, with Greymon, Kyubimon, and Parrotmon going into a white light in the sky. "Kari…how do you know all this?" Kimiko questioned, confused. "I think someone has taken over Kari's body and is using her to communicate with us." Izzy explained. "I wanted to contact you when you arrived on File Island, but it was completely impossible under the circumstances." Kari explained, and they all started flying through the air. Beams of light fell on them from four years ago, and Kari explained that it was processing all of their vital information. They then went into the light, and found themselves in a strange lab.
They found a case full of Digieggs, each with a crest and Digivice, when what looked like holograms of people started walking around. Ayaka jumped, but calmed down when Kari said they were just computer images. Izzy found the tablet from Myotismon's castle, while Biyomon found the door, and Kari explained that they were the ones that chose them to be the Digidestined, and made their Digivices and crests. "But what makes us so special?" Tai questioned. "It was because of you and Kari that Greymon was able to Digivolve to protect you. The Digivice is just a tool to make you aware of your power. The same with the crests. Can you tell me what your personal crest really means?" "Well…mine is the Crest of Destiny…" "Mine's the Crest of Honesty…" "Mine's courage."
"That's all true, the thing is, you all have strengths and weaknesses. We took the strongest trait you had four years ago and made a crest for it. If that trait is lost, the Digimon may become corrupted." 'Like Skullgreymon…' Kimiko thought, looking at her crest. "But I never made contact with a Digimon…and neither did most of the others…" Ayaka pointed out. "When we examined your data, we found that you had something in common with Tai, Kari, and Kimiko, but we're not sure what…"
"But…the Dark Masters caught wind of our plan and have worked hard to defeat us…" That's when projections of Gardromon and Mekanorimon barged in, and started attacking the men working on the machines. Then Piedmon's image came, and broke into the case holding the Digieggs, and took the crests. A younger version of Gennai attacked him, failing, and took over a Mekanorimon, grabbing the Digieggs and Digivices before flying away, the enemy hot on his trail. He accidentally dropped Gatomon's Digiegg, and brought the others to File Island. They saw the Digimon grow up, and them crash land on the island. "We've been trying to find out what the Dark Masters are planning, but so far, no luck.
We can only try to outwit them before something horrible happens." They were brought back to the real Digital World, and waited for Kari to wake up. When she finally did, she didn't remember anything that had just happened. Matt was still set on going on his own, and Ayaka said, "Then I'm going with you!" Kimiko felt her spirit fall, but she didn't let it show. "Be careful, you two!" Kimiko said with a half hearted smile, and after they left, Mimi wanted to leave the group, too. Kimiko sighed, saying, "It's okay…I understand…"
When Joe said he'd go with her, Kimiko felt slightly better, and nodded. "Be careful…I wouldn't want anything to happen to you guys…" they nodded, and as the larger group kept walking, Kimiko sighed, thinking, 'Everything will turn out alright in the end…after all…we're the Digidestined…'