I'm reaching the end of this story. Just a couple of chapters more to go. Despite lacking of reviews, I can see that there are actually more of loyal readers reading silently judging from the "pattern" in the traffic stats in this story. I'm appreciative of it. It's ok, hope to hear how good or how bad it is at the end of the story.

Thank you Naomi for reading.

Writing battle is not my forte but hope it turns out well. I will definitely do a facepalm if the new Digimon anime in 2015 does not feature Dragomon and Dark Ocean. Looking forward to "Demon strikes back" as well. What kind of enemy will you want to see in the new series?

I'm quite sure poor Jou must be struggling to juggle his high school exam which is critical while trying to save the world and becoming a driver for the Chosen Children (I suppose Digimon Savers' Yoshino is 18 for her eligibility for driving).

Chapter 20: The End of the Dark Ocean

*02 Dimension*

"What's the occasion today to bring Miss Lilithmon here?" A dark sea Digimon emerged from the ocean to greet one of the great demon lord.

"Is there a problem if I want to see an old friend?" Lilithmon acted lady-like.

"So he's the famous Dragomon?" Wisemon muttered in his mind. He was huge. Much larger than even MetalGreymon. He was the one who wanted his sister as his bride. He clenched his fist in hatred. He was standing opposite the dark Digimon when they were engrossed in their conversation.

Wisemon clutched his shoulder in pain. The poison was acting up again. The time was tight. He struggled on his feet and looked into the ocean.

"Find me." The voice filled with ultimate despair called again. Wisemon wondered if he should jump.

"Damn it!" Wisemon thought as he closed his eyes and dived into the water. It was freezing and he could not see a thing. Something glowed eerily. The eerie light was leading him to somewhere. The voice was calling for him. It got clearer as he got closer.

Wisemon took a deep breath as he reached to the surface of the ocean. In another part of the dark ocean, there was a secret cave which was huge, this was most likely home of Dragomon.

With Lilithmon distracting Dragomon, it was his only chance to find the source of the voice.

"You're still trying to find Demon? He was gone for so many years." Dragomon was catching up with the female dark lord since it had been a while since they last met. Even though Dragomon had not been in the world for long, he was aware of the insane power the dark lord possessed. Be their friend than their foe.

"Demon-sama and I were engaged. He told me he'll marry me once he got rid all the threat against us. He was supposed to reign over the Digital Real World but his plan was thwarted when the world split into two. Human and the Digimon were forced to stay in their respective world and have nothing with each other." Lilithmon gritted her teeth in resentment. Her wedding were delayed for eras. It was one day Demon decided to go on the search of the dark spores to expand his influences.

"The dark spores were from a certain Digimon who lived through times. He had the power to travel in between dimension." Dragomon had heard things even though he had not been out for long.

"That's why I'm able to have the foolish children and the Digimon who are plotting against us dancing right on my palm because he shared with me some information about our future." Lilithmon explained.

"That's interesting. Have you met him? Tell me more about him. Is he able to tell me how I can get the little girl to be my bride? My Master will be happy with her company." Dragomon lowered his head to Lilithmon in order to listen attentively.

"Wisemon" arrived in the so-called Dragomon's lair. It was similar to the one he heard from someone from another dimension. It was a bright place despite the gloomy surrounding of the Dark Ocean.

"Come here." Wisemon looked around for the source of the voice. He had a goosebump hearing this voice.

"Where are you?" He scribbled on his notepad.

"On top of you." Wisemon raised his head and saw something like a light bulb. Wisemon tilted his head to tried to look closely. It appeared to be a crystal ball supported by branches.

"I'm inside the Digimental." The crystal ball or rather the Digimental of Darkness blinked on the ceiling. Wisemon removed his hood and revealed his face.

"I knew it. You're the only one who can hear my voice, Yagami Taichi. Because you are me." The Digimental replied.

The Chosen Children had arrived in the Dark Ocean. They could only hide themselves when they saw Lilithmon and Dragomon discussing about Milleniumon.

"They are talking about the Digimon that took Ken, Wormmon and V-mon." Daisuke was pissed.

"Shh!" Koushirou place his finger over his lip. They were looking around for Wisemon.

"No sign of him." Iori whispered holding on to the Digivice he dropped. Agumon was extremely worried. BlackAgumon held his hand to support him.

"Oniichan…" Hikari was still unable to believe that her "brother" actually came here. He was not her brother considering the other Hikari's feeling. Takeru held her hand. The thing about dimension travelling was just too fascinating even hearing from Koushirou who heard it from Daisuke, Miyako and Iori.

"Where did Lilithmon lock Taichi-san?" Mimi was worried. Yamato and Sora signaled her to keep her volume down. Yamato had locked Jou on his arms to stop his clumsiness to act up by tripping and falling to the ground catching the Digimon attention. Try if they could, they would not face these Dark Digimon heads-on.

Yet, their plan was thwarted by a certain nosey ally who decided to confront them heads-on.

"Can't believe I'm not invited when you're talking about Milleniumon. I've a score to settle with him." An Ultimate Dark Lord Digimon who appeared to be laid-back before the two of them spoke up.

"Beelzebumon?" Lilithmon narrowed her eyes. As one of the seven Dark Lord Digimon, he was the only one who preferred to act alone. She had never met one over the eras. Why now?

"Who are you?" Dragomon had never met Beelzebumon before.

"The almighty Beelzebumon has arrived." Beelzebumon announced. Koushirou was getting anxious for him. The twins smiled apologetically holding up their D3. Impmon would never follow their plan of action. He was a prideful Digimon.

"His power is among one of us but he is not with us." Lilithmon bore her fang and began to attack Beelzebumon in a flash. Beelzebumon was sharp enough to dodge.

"Not good enough, lady." Beelzebumon smirked holding up a pistol at her. Lilithmon was pissed and kept on pressing on her attack.

"Dragomon, since he's here, sniff out the children who may be trampling around. They ought to be here since I have what they are looking for. They're all weak. Get them all."

"Oh no!" Miyako cried in her mind.

"Hikari-chan, time to face him. The Digimon who attempted to capture you and make you his wife." BlackAgumon cracked his knuckle.

"BlackAgumon warp evolve to… BlackWarGreymon!" Hikari was amazed that how BlackAgumon could evolve to his most powerful form at will. He took on Dragomon who was ready to block his incoming attack.

"Find Taichi." BlackWarGreymon order the flustered Chosen Children.

"Be really careful." Hikari requested BlackWarGreymon who stopped his move as Dragomon vanished and appeared before Hikari catching all of them by surprise that a huge Digimon could actually flashforward to the location they locked on.

"So you're the Child of Light? We finally meet." Dragomon noticed Hikari among the group of teenagers.

"Yes, so what about it?" Hikari approached the Digimon.

"Hikari?" Takeru followed her nodding at Patamon and Tailmon to prepare to evolve.

"Wait!" Hikari stopped them from making their moves. "He has something to say."

"I'm sorry to have always been rude in inviting you here. If not, you'll not even come to me. You're the person who caused my Master to cry." Hikari's eyes widened at his words.

"My Master who created the Dark Ocean and created me as the guardian of the ocean is crying. I thought if I can have your as my bride, he'll be happy." Dragomon scanned Hikari all over.

"Don't you dare come near Hikari!" Tailmon was ready to evolve.

"Thanks to you for causing my Master so much misery, I'm created. The Dark Ocean is created. Remember the day you fell sick and landed in the hospital? That was when we were created."

"By the Crest of Darkness." BlackWarGreymon finished. "My partner not only created this ocean, I didn't expect he would create you." He pointed his claw at Dragomon.

"Damn Dragomon, he isn't fighting!" Lilithmon cursed while dodging attacks from Beelzebumon who was attacking at ease. Neither could overwhelm each other.

"Stay focus, lady! I'm your opponent." Beelzebumon taunted her.

"Hang in there!" Aizuki and Kouharu cheered.

"I'm so going to kill you, Beelzebumon." In order to defeat him, she would kill his partners. She smirked as she locked her eyes with the twins.

"What's happening? I can't move my body." Kouharu asked as sweat trickled down his forehead when the electrocuting pain began to strike him.

"Same here." Aizuki muttered before she began to scream in pain. Both of them collapsed and their bodies were in seizure.

"Ai, Mako! What did you do to them?" Beelzebumon demanded in fury. His heart lurched as he saw his partners in pain. That was happening again. The memory Beelzebumon had never want to recall flashed past his mind.

"Rot in hell, you filithy human for thwarting my plan!" Lilithmon's hatred increased as the twins screamed louder.

"Stop it!" Jou shouted from afar in fear of what was going to happen. They would die. Jou attempted to run to the twins.

"Leave it to me, Jou!" With that the Digimon evolved to their highest form.

"Harpoon Vulcan!"

"Mega Blaster!"

"Meteor Wing!"

"Fox Fire!"

However, their attacks were blocked by the shield Lilithmon created with her miasma. The Chosen Children could only watch in horror as she continued to torture the twins.

Lilithmon was laughing sinisterly. "Their hearts are rotting as we speak. Why don't you surrender, Beelzebumon and beg me to let them off." Beelzebumon glared at her as he reverted to Impmon to beg her.

"Please let them off." He kneeled before her.

"D-don't, Impmon. AHHHHHH!" Kouharu clutched his chest in excruciating pain.

"They are screaming." Taichi told the Digimental he held on his arms. They were communicating through their mind.

"That same attack landed me in coma for unknown reason for quite some time. People think I was so stressed in my school work that I choose to run away. I was made to see a psychiatrist after I was discharged from the hospital and my neighbours thought I lost my mind. That wasn't the truth. "

*Flashback in 01 Dimension*

"H-Hikari… run… away…" Taichi collapsed to the ground heavily in sweat after enduring damages from Lilithmon's attack. That was his last word before he fell into the "eternal slumber" Lilithmon spoke of.

"Oniichan, hang in there! I don't want anyone to die because of me. ONIICHAN! WAKE UP! " Hikari shook her unconscious brother whose face was deadly pale.

"I lost my heart and it was Agumon who shook me out of it when I was lying in coma in the hospital. Even though I managed to save Hikari, Gabumon was… Gabumon was…" Taichi trembled at his memories.

"If only, I don't exist."

*End Flashback*

"We're similar because you are me, I'm you. If only I realise earlier to rely on my friends, things wouldn't lead to this. If only, I never lose my memories like you."

"Me too. Even though I had my memories and tried really hard to change my fate."

"There's something we can do to help them." Digimental told him.

"It's the last straw."

Taichi shook his head. "No…"

And they emerged on the surface to cut off the link of Lilithmon's attack on the twins who finally fell unconscious from the pain.

"Ai, Mako!" Impmon ran to them.

"So you come with Demon-sama, Digiegg, boy?" Lilithmon signaled him to come to her. She mistook the Digimental as her Master's Digiegg.

"How dare you?" Dragomon was enraged seeing the Digimental on Taichi's arms.

"You tricked me, Lilithmon. What do you want with my Master?" Dragomon demanded.

"Taichi-san?" Koushirou could not believe his eyes as a younger version of Taichi appeared after removing his hood. Daisuke was especially surprised to see Taichi of his age appearing before him in their dimension. He had not expected to see him with his eyes, well and alive.

Taichi nodded to Daisuke who seemed excited to see him in acknowledgement.

"Taichi… Taichi!" Agumon cried.

Dargomon was pissed at Taichi who had taken his Master right out of his lair. He launched a series of attack on him.

"No, you don't." BlackWarGreymon blocked the incoming attack with his shield floating in front of him. That Digimental was what stored the soul of his partner.

Lilithmon attempted to reach Taichi as Agumon took a stand.

"Agumon warp evolve… to WarGreymon!" The Digivice flew off from Iori's hand returned to his owner. WarGreymon took Taichi on his arms as they rose to the air.

Hikari covered her mouth choking in tears. WarGreymon placed Taichi on the seaside where the other teenagers were.

"Give me my Master!" Lilithmon slashed at WarGreymon who cried out in pain as his brave shield broke into pieces.

"WarGreymon!" Taichi screamed in his mind. He was worried about his partner even though he was not exactly his partner. He hated himself for losing his voice.

"I'll be fine, Taichi." WarGreymon replied grimacing in pain.

"Don't you touch my Master!" Dragomon yelled at Lilithmon.

"Oniichan?" Hikari took Taichi who was her age into her arms. It did not matter which dimension he came from. He was still her brother.

"That's Taichi-san?" Takeru came to Taichi of his age and stared at the Digimental.

"This is the Digimental of Darkness which was what that created the Dark Ocean and Dragomon. With this, we can end the Dark Ocean." The Digimental informed the Chosen Children. Takeru jaw dropped. The Digimental just spoke.

*Flashback in Dragomon lair*

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. You're the special one for you are unable to activate the Crest of Darkness; you know it as you're only able to carry me since I allowed it. Seal the Digimental with your prototype Digivice. The Dark Ocean would be closed off forever. I started this so I'll be the one who will end it…"

"But…"

"No, but. Only you can do it."

*End Flashback*

"Everyone, he'll seal the Digimental off with his prototype Digivice, please grant him your power!" Taichi raised his Digivice up as the Digimental ordered with the tone of authority. Daisuke was the first to raise his D3 up.

"You heard him? Lend the Leader of the Chosen Children of the World our power!" Daisuke gave his order. Yamato raised his Digivice without a word and Koushirou and the rest followed suit.

"Hurry up!" BlackWarGreymon ordered trying to fend off Dragomon from coming closer.

"We serve the same Master, why?" Dragomon asked.

"I merely follow his true wish. Unlike you who feast on his negativities with your wishful thinking. He'll not want Hikari to be your bride. NEVER!" BlackWarGreymon said firmly.

WarGreymon on the other hand had a harder time with Lilithmon since he was hurt. He was panting in pain.

"I'LL NOT GIVE UP!" WarGreymon declared. "Not when Taichi and everybody is with me!" Lilithmon was shocked.

"So are we…" The twins struggled to sit up despite Impmon's protest.

"We're going home with Impmon." They raised the only Digivice they had giving it all.

The Digimental glowed brightly as Taichi's Digivice received increasing power the other Chosen Children. The seal on Daisuke's D3 by Milleniumon was broken and it began to glow.

"Wow!" Daisuke was impressed. That Taichi was not the strongest version for nothing.

"STOP!" Dragomon cried. "If I'm destroyed, you'll not have it easy, BlackWarGreymon as you belong here."

BlackWarGreymon had resigned to his fate.

"What are you talking about?" Lilithmon felt a tinge of fear for what was going to happen.

The Digimental was fading away into pieces.

"Thank you, Taichi for releasing my soul." The Digimental was grateful.

"To repay you, I'll lend you my voice. The final enemy should appear soon. I'm sorry for not being able to participate so I'll count on you to lead my team. Do what I can't do. "Another Taichi who was older appeared briefly to his younger self.

"Good luck!" He smiled as his image was fading off.

"BlackWarGreymon, I'm sorry and thank you." Taichi regretted for not replying to Koromon the sign of friendship back then. He accepted his Crest of Darkness and sank back into darkness.

Taichi was snapped back to the reality when Garurumon was shouting for all of them to leave the Dark Ocean. The dimension was collapsing.

The Chosen Children were leaving as two WarGreymon continued to buy time for them. Even Patamon, Tailmon, Armadimon and Hawkmon had evolved to assist the Children in their escape.

"Can't believe I'm working with you now, WarGreymon. You've grown up indeed." BlackWarGreymon exclaimed. With his words, WarGreymon finally remembered who he actually was.

"You're the WarGreymon back then." WarGreymon recalled a certain WarGreymon fishing by the river with a young boy.

"Leave with the Chosen Children." BlackWarGreymon ordered WarGreymon as he attempted to stop Lilithmon and Dragomon from advancing enduring their attacks at once. He had to stop these Digimon from trying to escape the Dark Ocean.

"What about you, BlackWarGreymon?"

"Dark Ocean is where I belong, I'll remain here. "

"You're perishing with them."

"Is there a problem? I'm merely following my Partner's wish. We'll meet again if fate permits! GO! You're the Chosen one. Bear that in mind!" With that, BlackWarGreymon gave him a kick out of the Ocean.

The gate was closed off as soon as WarGreymon was thrown out.

"Now the three of us shall perish together." BlackWarGreymon cracked with knuckle. Lilithmon was crying. She could no longer escape despite her speed. The Crest of Darkness on her hands broke.

"Damn you, BlackWarGreymon." Dragomon could not stop the process even though Dark Ocean was supposed to be under his control.

"Taichi is the creator. He decided to delete the world. This is his true wish, Dragomon so let's rest in peace!" BlackWarGreymon replied closing his eyes as his data broke into pieces. BlackWarGreymon was at peace.

"NO DEMON-SAMA!" Lilithmon cried as she was deleted along with the remnants of the Dark Ocean.

"BLACKWARGREYMON!" WarGreymon cried and reverted to Agumon. He found himself floating instead.

"Where is this?" Agumon heard Mimi's voice.

"Definitely not the Real World." Koushirou determined.

"It's a world where Apocalymon resided." Taichi said with the voice he was given by his future self. He could recognize this place where he and his friends fought and defeated their version of Apocalymon in 1999.

"It does seem like my mission is to lead you in the battle against Apocalymon." Taichi declared as the said Digimon appeared before the Chosen Children.

"So you've managed to reach me, Chosen Children!" Apocalymon who was resting opened his eyes.

And only eight of them were trapped there.

As for Daisuke, Miyako, Iori, their Digimon, the twins and Impmon, they were back in the real world watching as the image of the eight Chosen Children against Apocalymon appeared in the sky.