Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Took me a little longer this time, but I did manage to get a new chapter up! Once again, thank you to everyone who reviewed. Your awesome replies made me smile and gave me lots of encouragement to continue. For those of you who don't know, all news about updates and my progress for this story can be found on my forum 'Digital Connections.' It's a sticky topic so you can't miss it! I hope you all enjoy! I'm loving all your guesses and suspicions about what's going on in this story that you've posted in your reviews! I just love when readers make their own guesses!

Trinity

Chapter 27: The Angel of Light

Kari

Kari Kamiya could feel T.K.'s warm breath on her neck as he hovered over her shoulder to study her pink D-3 with curiosity, and letting out a soft sigh, she leaned into him and frowned at the Digivice in her hand. There had never been a time when a digital device from the Digital World had glowed for no reason whatsoever, and somehow she didn't think this time was any different. The light felt warm against her skin, and as the pink rays broke through the darkness, casting shadows over the dirt, she knew deep within her heart that the signal her D-3 had picked up was extremely important. Though she wasn't sure why, somehow she knew it was her duty to follow the light, and as it illuminated the monument towering above their heads, she felt an unpleasant shiver race down her spine. The pink glow made the three figures carved into the stone look even more menacing, and yet despite the uneasy feeling in her soul, the light from her Digivice provided a small measure of comfort. It made her feel safer somehow, and having T.K.'s presence standing close by, she was sure there was no way the darkness could touch her.

The light is showing me the way. I can sense something out there calling me in the darkness. It wants me to follow.

Follow what exactly? Well, that was obvious. The light coming from her Digivice, of course.

But why? What's waiting for me at the end?

Having T.K. standing so close to her was rather distracting, since she could feel her body tingling in response to the blond's warm presence, and shaking her head to sort out her scattered thoughts, she attempted to focus fully on the voice that was calling her from somewhere deeper within the caverns beneath Infinity Mountain.

For some reason, the voice felt familiar somehow, as if she had heard or experienced the same sensation at some point in the past, but she had no idea when that might have been. It was there inside her head, a faint sound echoing in her mind, and though she should have felt concerned by the white noise interrupting her thoughts and the strange fluttering inside her chest, for some reason she wasn't afraid.

That voice, this presence...It feels...like an old friend...

"Kari, what is it?" Gatomon asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Kari shook her head in response, and glancing down at her partner, who was staring at her with obvious concern, she said slowly, "I'm not sure. I just...I can feel that it wants me to follow."

"This isn't some sort of trap, is it?" Veemon asked, glancing suspiciously around the cavern.

Kari couldn't blame the rookie for his hesitation, and though she was still concerned about everything that was going on with T.K., at the moment those worries had been pushed to the back of her mind. Even her concerns about Eden had taken a backseat, and because of that she was free to focus on her Digivice and on the feeling of having T.K. so close.

I wonder if he even notices...

"It wants you to follow? Down here?" Yolei asked, looking a bit skeptical. "What in the Digiworld could it possibly want to show you in a place like this?"

"That's a very good question," Hawkmon agreed, glancing towards the dark entrance on the other side of the chamber. "You have your Digivice, crest, Digi-eggs, and partner already. What else is there left to find?"

Kari shrugged, and exchanging a look with her partner, she said, "I don't know."

"Well, there's only one way to find out," Izzy interrupted, climbing swiftly to his feet and hastily stowing away his laptop. "If we follow the light, it should lead us to some answers."

"What? Just like that?" Tentomon asked, shaking his head. "Shouldn't we talk about this first?"

"It could be dangerous," Armadillomon agreed, taking extra care to remain close to his partner.

Kari could sense Willis standing close by with his partners, and letting out a laugh, the American Digidestined said, "I thought it was always dangerous in this world. Taking risks here isn't exactly anything out of the ordinary for us. Personally, I'm with Izzy on this one, but since it's Kari's Digivice, it should be her decision to make."

"I agree," Gatomon said firmly, her tail twitching in the gloomy atmosphere of the chamber. "What do you think, Kari?"

Kari blinked in surprise, and glancing over her shoulder, she could see T.K.'s sparkling blue eyes gazing calmly at her face. He was close enough that her shoulders brushed against his chest, and unable to look away, she said softly, "I want to follow the light."

"If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do," T.K. said gently, giving her a small smile.

His hand reached out to give her shoulder a warm squeeze, and resisting the urge to turn around and make herself comfortable in his arms, she settled with returning the smile with one of her own. It felt nice to see him showing some interest in her again, and knowing for the first time that day she finally had his full attention, she didn't want the moment to end.

I still don't understand why he was acting so odd earlier, especially around Willis and myself, and that strange look on his face every time he glanced at me...like he was embarrassed or something, but that seems to have disappeared for now.

Whatever thoughts had passed through T.K.'s head, she knew his behaviour had something to do with what she had talked about earlier with Willis, but even so she still didn't fully understand the situation yet.

"Are we ready to go then?" Ken asked, gazing expectantly at Izzy.

"This shouldn't be happening," a sudden voice interrupted, the sharp words echoing off the chamber walls. "It's impossible."

Kari looked up in surprise when she realized the harsh statement had come from Eden, and staring at the American female in confusion, she said, "What do you mean?"

Eden slowly came towards her, and crossing her arms over her chest, the lavender-haired girl said flatly, "There's nothing else down here, other than this statue."

"Are you sure about that?" Terriermon challenged, sitting comfortably on his partner's shoulder.

Eden gave the glowing D-3 a rather disdainful look, and turning her nose up at Terriermon, she said firmly, "Of course I'm sure. I searched these tunnels quite thoroughly the last time I was here. Trust me, there's nothing else of value in these caves. We should head back."

Nothing of value? How can she possibly say such a thing when the evidence is right here in front of her face?

For some reason Kari suddenly felt a spark of anger flare inside her heart, which was very unusual for her, and caught off guard by the indifferent response, she immediately grew suspicious. In the past, she might have backed down from the other girl, whom she suspected was trying to intimidate her, but not this time. Something big was obviously happening, and clearly it had everything to do with her. There was no way she could just walk away and leave the presence that was calling her behind, and because of that, she said, "You must have missed something then because the Digivices don't lie."

Eden openly glared at her, clearly offended, and stepping in front of the American female, obviously ready to defend her partner, Mikemon frowned and said, "Are you calling my partner a liar?"

"I'm sure that's not what she meant," Ken said smoothly, moving over to place a soothing hand on Eden's shoulder. "In the past, a situation like this has always resulted in a new discovery of some kind here in the Digital World. We just want to make sure we're not missing anything."

"It wouldn't hurt to check it out," Yolei agreed, beaming at Ken before turning to the younger boy standing beside her. "What do you think, Cody?"

Cody frowned, and shaking his head, the younger boy said, "If Izzy thinks it's a good idea, then I have no objections. We should still be careful, though. So far we haven't encountered anything down here that might be dangerous, but we should still be cautious."

"Always something to keep in mind when you're in the Digital World," Izzy agreed, smiling at the younger boy.

"I already told you, there's nothing down here," Eden insisted, sounding irritated. "Do you really want to waste the rest of the afternoon wandering around these caves searching for something that isn't here?"

I don't understand. Why is she so against the idea of following the light from my Digivice? If I didn't know any better, I'd say she doesn't want us to find whatever is calling me. But if that's true then...why? What difference does it make to her if there's something here or not?

There was no denying Eden was obviously very annoyed, and glancing at Willis, Kari could tell the American boy was thinking pretty much the exact same thing she was. T.K., on the other hand, merely looked confused, like he was having trouble following the conversation. Naturally, his behaviour concerned her, and determined to find out what was making Eden so snappish, she said carefully, "Is there a problem?"

Eden stared at her, and tilting her head to the side, the lavender-haired Digidestined said without emotion, "Problem?"

Kari took a step closer to the other girl, and conscious of Gatomon standing protectively by her side, she said easily, "You seem a bit upset."

Eden raised her eyebrows at that, and stretching, the American female said in a serene voice, "Why would I be upset? If you want to wander around these caves all afternoon then far be it from me to stop you. I thought I'd save you the trouble by telling you what I've already seen with my own eyes down here, but since that's apparently not good enough for you, by all means go ahead. Wander to your heart's content. It's no business of mine. I'm the outsider after all. What do I know."

The tone was pleasant, but Kari still flinched at the scathing remarks, and refusing to let herself feel guilty, she said, "It's not that I don't believe you. I just want to be absolutely sure."

"We're sorry if we've offended you somehow," Lopmon quickly added, doing his best to ease the sudden tension in the air.

"We're just being careful," Patamon piped up, looking a bit sheepish.

"Offended? Me?" Eden asked, looking amused. "I'm not exactly the type to get offended very easily."

"If you're sure," Wormmon replied, glancing up at his partner for reassurance.

"Thank you, by the way," Izzy suddenly spoke up, coming over to Eden with Tentomon to give the girl a smile. "We might not have found this statue without a bit of help. I'll take some time to think on what we've seen here. Hopefully I can come up with a theory as to what this statue might mean for us and how it relates to the current situation here in the Digital World. It was a good find."

Eden's eyes traveled over Izzy's face for a moment, her expression indicating she was checking to see if the computer expert's words were sincere, and nodding, the American female said sweetly, "It was my pleasure. I have no doubt you'll put the information to good use. I'll be looking forward to hearing any theories you come up with."

"And on that note, let's go follow the flashy pink light," Willis joked, winking before motioning for the others to get moving.

"Come on, Kari," T.K. suddenly said softly in her ear, his warm breath ruffling her dark hair. "Let's solve this mystery and find out what's going on."

Kari nodded, a smile coming to her face as his lips brushed against her ear, and realizing Eden was the only one who hadn't moved, she turned to the other girl and said hesitantly, "Aren't you coming?"

For some reason Eden was still standing motionless in the shadows by the statue, and though the American girl's body was relaxed, there was something about her stance that made it seem like she had fallen into some sort of trance. Much to Kari's surprise, Eden had her eyes closed, and the lavender-haired Digidestined's breathing sounded deep and even, almost like she had fallen asleep. Despite her question, there was no answer from the American girl, and as a result Kari suddenly felt a spark of uneasiness growing slowly inside her chest.

It was like Eden hadn't even heard her words, and taking a hesitant step forward, she reached out a hand and said, "Eden?"

"Just wait," Mikemon interrupted, watching her partner without expression.

By this time everyone had stopped to stare at Eden, and nudging Ken in the ribs, Davis said in a loud whisper, "Dude, what the heck is she doing?"

"Is she sleeping?" Veemon asked, looking curious.

"If she is, that's quite a talent to do it standing on her feet," Hawkmon said dryly, clearly amused. "I don't think that's something humans do on a regular basis."

"Sleepwalkers do it," Davis shot back, giving the rookie bird a triumphant glare.

What's happening to her?

Kari glanced at T.K., whose eyes were glued to Eden's face, and she could tell just from watching him that he had become entranced by the American female's coma-like state. On her other side, Willis was watching Eden with both curiosity and suspicion, and she could feel the tension in his muscles as his arm brushed against hers.

I have a bad feeling about this...

"Eden?" Yolei asked, ignoring Mikemon's warning glare.

Just when Kari thought the American female wouldn't answer, Eden's eyes popped open, and smiling at them, the American female said, "Well? I thought we were going."

"Uh, what just happened here?" Terriermon asked, sounding confused.

"What were you doing just now?" Armadillomon said mildly, studying Eden's face.

The American girl shrugged, and tossing her lavender head, she said, "Nothing important. Come on, if you're all that insistent about searching this place then we'd better get going before it gets dark out. We don't want our parents to get suspicious if we return home late in the evening."

That's strange. Why the sudden change? Before she was doing everything she could to convince us to leave, and now she's all eager to go searching? I don't get it...

Kari was not only confused, she was also wary and unsure of what to do. A part of her wanted to ask Eden what her trance-like state was all about, but she knew that if she did, she probably wouldn't get a straight answer anyways. Because of that she decided against it and proceeded to move to the front of the group so her D-3 could guide the way. To her disappointment, T.K. quickly moved to the back of the group with Patamon to join Eden, which left her at the front with Davis, Willis, and their four partner digimon. As they stepped through the door into the passage that led away from the entrance, leaving the statue of the winged maidens behind, it grew extremely dark again, but this time they didn't need Eden's D-3 to show them the way. The pink light from her Digivice was more than capable of lighting the path ahead, and as they followed the rosy glow in silence, Kari could once again feel a sense of growing uneasiness inside her heart.

"Something's not right here," Willis suddenly murmured in her ear, leaning close.

Kari felt her whole body tense, and glancing discreetly at the blond walking beside her, she said, "I feel the same way. I don't understand. Why was she being so adamant about not wanting to follow the light from my Digivice?"

Willis took a quick look at Davis, who was chattering away with Veemon and Terriermon, and shaking his head, the American Digidestined said, "I'm not sure, but it was definitely suspicious. I almost feel like she was trying to hide something from us."

Kari slowly nodded, and frowning over her shoulder at the American female, who was chatting amicably with Yolei, she found herself replaying the whole conversation over in her head again.

Like Willis said, it felt like there was something Eden wasn't telling them, and whatever that something was, Kari had a feeling it was related to the American girl's reluctance to go searching for the source of the light.

I can tell she doesn't like me as much as she likes the others, or am I just being paranoid? No, she definitely didn't like the attention I was getting from everyone, especially T.K...

"What was she doing earlier?" Lopmon asked curiously, sitting comfortably on his partner's shoulder. "Why did she have her eyes closed like that?"

Willis frowned, clearly trying to remember, and as his eyes lit up with recognition, the American Digidestined said, "I'm not sure, but it was almost like she'd gone into a deep state of meditation or something, and for some reason Mikemon didn't want us interrupting. No clue what it was about, though. What do you think, Kari?"

Kari shook her head, and giving the American Digidestined an apologetic look, she said, "Sorry, I have no idea what that was about either."

It was suspicious, though...

Eden's behaviour was not only setting alarm bells off in her head, it was also making her nervous. The more time she spent around the other girl, the more she could sense a distinct air of hostility that was aimed in her direction, and she had a feeling it had something to do with T.K. On the surface it might not be noticeable, since normally Eden was pleasant enough and hadn't acted disrespectful to her, but at the same time she could tell the two of them weren't clicking the way Eden seemed to click with Yolei. That upset her, not only because she was suspicious of the American girl, but also because she couldn't help feeling like it was somehow her fault. Perhaps there was nothing wrong with Eden after all. Maybe she was the problem and there was something about her that was preventing the two of them from growing closer to one another. If that was true, it would explain why Eden seemed a bit cold towards her. Perhaps Eden felt her hesitation and believed she was the one who was acting unfriendly and unwelcoming, not the other way around.

I was pretty suspicious of her right from the start. Am I really so quick to judge? No matter my feelings, even Eden deserves the benefit of the doubt. Even if...if I don't like the way she's behaving towards T.K...

"So you're saying we can't trust her," Gatomon said bluntly, directing her words at Willis.

Willis raised his eyebrows, and smiling slightly, the American Digidestined said, "Well, I don't know if I'd go that far yet. It's more I just think we should be a bit careful about believing in every little thing she says."

"But if we can't trust her, what are we supposed to do about T.K. in the meantime?" Lopmon asked, glancing hastily at Davis to see if the goggle-headed leader was still occupied.

"And how are we supposed to ignore the way she's acting?" Gatomon asked, obviously annoyed. "There's definitely something strange about her behaviour, and I can't deny it's bugging me. I don't like it one bit."

Willis made a face, and glancing over his shoulder at Eden, who looked up suddenly and met his pale blue eyes with a steady gaze, he said, "Let's just sit back for now and watch. You can learn a lot just from observing the way other people act in certain situations. Right now we need to focus on whatever Kari's D-3 is trying to show us. Once we've got that sorted out we can go back to speculating about Eden's weirdness as much as we want. One problem at a time, you know?"

"Sounds good to me," Gatomon replied, though she didn't look all that satisfied. "I guess that means we'd better hurry up then and reach the spot where the light is pointing to."

"Time to pick up the pace," Lopmon agreed, shaking his head at Terriermon, who was in the middle of getting Davis all worked up about something.

Once again falling silent, Kari quickly led the rest of the group through a series of dark tunnels, and the closer they got to their destination, the stronger the light of her D-3 seemed to glow. It was warm and comforting, and squinting up ahead at a small opening in the tunnel, she abruptly stopped and frowned, not liking what she was seeing.

"What is it, Kari?" Ken called out softly from behind her, sensing her sudden hesitation.

As the others crowded in close behind, Kari pointed up ahead and said, "It looks like the tunnel gets pretty narrow further down the path, and the ceiling drops lower."

"So what?" Davis shot back, punching his left hand into his right fist. "A little crawling through the dirt never hurt anybody."

"But my skirt!" Yolei complained, wrinkling her nose. "I don't want to get it dirty."

Kari, who was also wearing a skirt, had bigger things to worry about than that, and feeling suddenly claustrophobic, she said, "It doesn't look like there's any other way through either."

"Are you afraid?" Eden asked, coming up behind her.

The American female looked amused, and feeling suddenly embarrassed, Kari quickly shook her head and said, "No, I'm just...being cautious."

"I'll go first," Gatomon interrupted, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "Stay close, Kari."

"I'll be right behind you," Willis murmured in her ear, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Kari could see T.K. hovering next to Eden, his bright blue eyes studying the American female's stunning profile, and knowing she wasn't going to receive any words of encouragement from the golden-haired Digidestined, she let out a soft sigh before nodding and quickly following after Gatomon. Willis, Terriermon, and Lopmon quickly followed her, and then Yolei, Davis, and Ken came through the narrow opening after the American Digidestined. Izzy, Cody, and their partners followed after Yolei's group, leaving T.K. and Eden bringing up the rear.

As they passed through the narrow tunnel, Kari could feel the ceiling brushing against her hair, and aware of the fact that some of the taller ones like Yolei and Ken would have to stoop, she felt suddenly grateful that she wasn't very tall. On either sides of her the walls were closing in, and doing her best not to let the fear show on her face, she resolutely moved forward, determined to make it until the end. Every so often Willis would touch her back in a reassuring gesture of comfort, just letting her know he was still right there behind her, and that made her feel a lot better inside.

If it wasn't for the light of her Digivice, they would have been traveling through the tunnel in pitch blackness, but thanks to the pink glow, the path was visible up ahead, though it had grown so narrow now that they were all forced to walk single file. For some reason Eden's Digivice had stopped glowing, which hadn't escaped her attention, and though the American female hadn't offered any explanation for it, Kari was curious.

It stopped after mine began to glow. I wonder why that is...

Since they could only move single file, a deep silence had fallen over the group, and lost in her own thoughts, Kari almost tripped over her partner as Gatomon suddenly came to a dead stop.

"What is it?" Kari asked, frowning in confusion.

"Hey, what's the hold up?" Davis complained, stumbling as Ken accidentally ran into him.

Kari could feel the others crowding in behind her, trying to catch a glimpse of what was up ahead, and pointing at the narrow tunnel stretching out before them, Gatomon said, "I can see something in the distance. It looks like a faint glow of light."

"Really?" Terriermon asked, stretching his neck to catch a better look.

Kari squinted up ahead, trying her best to see through the gloomy darkness, and hiding her Digivice against her chest to block the pink blaze erupting from its screen, she was surprised to find that there was indeed a faint source of light shining up ahead.

It was a soft glow that shimmered at the end of the narrow passageway, which appeared to lead into another chamber, and feeling her heart skip a beat, she said in a voice that was almost a whisper, "What is it?"

"I've been waiting for you, Child of Light."

The voice was a soft whisper inside her head, and letting out a gasp, she stumbled backwards into Willis, who quickly caught her by the shoulders to steady her. The tone was warm and filled with light, and although it had come from out of nowhere and it was speaking directly inside her mind, for some reason the voice didn't frighten her. In fact, it felt oddly familiar, like an old friend she had forgotten about.

"What is it, Kari?" Yolei asked, exchanging a meaningful look with Hawkmon.

The female Digidestined had crowded in behind Willis, and turning to gaze back at the group strung out behind her, Kari shook her head, and said, "I'm not sure."

"Not much farther now. You're almost there."

Who...are you?

"Don't you remember me? I suppose it has been a long time..."

"Kari, is something wrong?" Ken asked, hovering over Yolei's shoulder with Wormmon in his arms.

"Uh, no offense, but you're not looking so hot," Davis added, clearly uncertain.

This presence. I know this presence...

"I was with you then, even if you were the only one who couldn't hear my words."

Kari couldn't help smiling, and speaking softly, she said, "No, nothing's wrong."

Hovering behind Eden, Kari could see T.K. watching her curiously, along with Patamon who was seated atop the blond's head. Neither of them said anything, but despite their silence, she was at least grateful that T.K. was paying some attention to her again.

Even a glance was better than being ignored.

Standing just in front of T.K., Eden was watching her with narrowed eyes, and with that unpleasant expression on her face, the American female didn't look so pretty anymore. Kari could feel the hostility that was most definitely directed at her coming off the other girl in waves, and though it frightened her somewhat, she chose to ignore the unpleasant sensation.

At the back of her mind, the voice was still speaking softly in her ears, and though it was a gentle murmur, the words sounded urgent, as if time was of the essence and she needed to hurry.

"If nothing is wrong, perhaps we should continue?" Izzy suggested, glancing around Cody's shoulder to give her a knowing look.

It was obvious the computer expert suspected something was up, but despite the fact that she was sure he had a pretty good idea of what was going on, he didn't say anything or speak up. Izzy seemed content to let her work things out for herself, and for that she was grateful.

Whatever was going on, she felt like it was something personal that was meant just for her, and because of that it wasn't the sort of thing the others could rush her into doing. It was a journey she had to make for herself, but even so she was grateful they were there and happy for their support.

"Onward then!" Terriermon joked, pointing dramatically to the glowing chamber in the distance, earning himself a shake of the head from Lopmon.

Kari glanced at her partner, and as a sense of understanding passed between them, Gatomon nodded and said, "Follow me, Kari. I'm not sure what's up ahead, but if you need me I'll be here to protect you."

Gatomon...

Kari felt a sudden warmth fill her soul, and reaching down to give her partner's ears an affectionate scratch, she said, "I'm right behind you."

"And I'm right behind you," Willis gently reminded her, his face resolutely set for any dangers that might be waiting up ahead.

Kari reached back to give the American Digidestined's hand a quick squeeze, and taking a deep breath, she followed Gatomon at a slow place, doing her best to make sure she didn't accidentally hit her head on the low ceiling. As she emerged from the tunnel just behind her partner in a semi-crouch, she blinked and quickly looked away to block the light from her eyes. Now that she had entered the chamber, the dim glow had grown significantly stronger, and taking a moment for her eyes to adjust, she quickly moved off to the side to allow the rest of the group to file out of the narrow tunnel behind her.

There were several groans and complaints as everybody squinted in the sudden bright light, and as the others took a moment to stretch out their muscles from the uncomfortable crouch they had been forced to take up inside the cave, she stood quietly between Willis and T.K. and proceeded to study her surroundings.

The cave itself was a medium-sized chamber, and the walls were made up of rough stone and rock. The dirt beneath their feet was covered in gravel, and though there wasn't anything particularly interesting about the cave itself, what stood in the middle of the cave was enough to immediately capture her attention. Though it seemed like an unlikely spot to find water, there was a small pond in the centre of the chamber, and the water was so clear you could see right to the bottom. What was even more intriguing about it was the fact that the pond was the source of the light. The deep golden glow was shining from the depths of the clear water, and it left small sparks of light hovering in the air around the pond. It was from within the watery depths that Kari could sense the presence that was speaking to her inside her head, and lifting Gatomon into her arms, she slowly approached the pool with a solemn air of silence.

Behind her the others remained standing in a semicircle, and sensing the hushed atmosphere within the chamber, she felt goosebumps break out suddenly on her skin. She could tell her friends were all staring at the pool, their eyes slowly adjusting to the light, and glancing over her shoulder at the group she was able to catch sight of their expressions. On the right, Izzy looked intrigued, his dark eyes glittering with eager anticipation as Tentomon hovered next to his shoulder, and next to the computer expert, Yolei was staring at the pool with obvious suspicion, as if she fully expected that it was somehow going to hurt her best friend. Hawkmon looked quite interested as he ruffled his feathers next to Yolei, and next to them, both Cody and Armadillomon were frowning, making it obvious they were trying their best to figure out what the light meant. Ken was on Cody's other side, and gazing solemnly at the pool of water, it was clear the former Emperor somewhat understood its significance. Wormmon looked a bit nervous, and next to Ken, Davis was staring at the pool with his mouth hanging open, a comical expression on the goggle-headed leader's face. Veemon looked skeptical, and next to them, Lopmon let out a soft gasp, his small hands coming up to cover his mouth from where he stood loyally at his partner's feet. Terriermon was hanging off of Willis, his interest caught, and Willis himself was staring at the light with a rather subdued expression on his handsome face. Eden was standing close to Willis, and for some reason she glanced at the American male before turning her eyes to the pool of light. Though the expression on her pretty face had suddenly grown neutral, there was something flashing in the American female's eyes that made Kari feel even more uneasy.

Something dangerous.

T.K. was standing on Eden's other side, close enough that the two were touching, and though he glanced briefly at the pool, it wasn't enough to hold his attention. Almost immediately, T.K.'s focus was back on Eden again, who reached up to lightly touch the blond's shoulder before once again gazing at the pool.

I just don't understand. What is it about her that has him so fascinated?

It was a question she had no answer for, and although she wanted desperately to understand, unfortunately at the moment she had other things to worry about. The voice was still calling her, and she knew she had to answer the summons.

Remember what Willis said. One thing at a time.

"Uh, Eden, I thought you said there was nothing else in these caves," Davis said skeptically, breaking the long silence. "I don't know about you, but I would say a creepy pool of light qualifies as something else."

"The pool was always here," Eden said smoothly, her expression never changing. "But it was just that, a pond. A pool of water. There was no light emitting from it. From my experience, yes, there was nothing here. You can't expect me to have foreseen this would happen."

"Of course not," Izzy agreed, giving Eden a sympathetic look. "But there's a good lesson in all of this. It cements the fact that we should never ignore our Digivices when they start to behave in an unusual manner. It always leads to something significant."

"I will be sure to remember that," Eden replied, glancing down at Mikemon, who nodded slightly, as if the two had come to an agreement on something.

"Okay, but now that we're here, what exactly is Kari supposed to do?" Yolei asked, looking to Izzy for answers.

The computer expert shrugged, and smiling slightly, he said, "Just watch and see."

Kari took that as a cue for her to continue, and approaching the pool with Gatomon in her arms, she said softly, "Hello."

"You have come, Child of Light."

"You called me?"

"Indeed, I have."

"My word, who is she talking to?" Hawkmon asked, looking surprised.

"I dunno," Armadillomon replied. "I don't hear anything."

"Me either," Wormmon agreed.

Kari ignored the others for a moment, since it was obvious she was the only one who could hear the voice speaking inside her head, and gazing into the pool, she said, "Do I know you? Your presence. It seems familiar. Like an old friend."

"We have met before, though you do not remember it."

Kari closed her eyes, and feeling the warmth of the light against her skin, she said, "It's you. You're the one who spoke through me eight years ago. I don't remember it, but I remember this presence. I remember this warmth."

"Your observation skills are admirable, Child of Light. Yes, it is I. One of many entities that protect the Digital World. It is through you I was able to contact your friends, which allowed them and yourself to triumph over the Power of Darkness."

"As I suspected," Izzy interrupted, coming closer and gazing curiously into the pool.

"What is this?" Eden asked, frowning down at the glowing water. "There's no one else here. Who is she talking to?"

Izzy turned to look at the American female, who had come up close beside him, and pulling out his laptop, he quickly explained to Eden about how the digital entity had taken over Kari's body eight years ago to help them, and when he was finished, Eden merely nodded, a thoughtful expression overtaking the American female's fairy-like features.

Kari could feel Eden standing close on her right, and as their arms brushed, she had a strange sensation that the girl wasn't really there, like she was a figment of the imagination rather than a physical presence.

Glancing at her partner, Mikemon said, "So this digital entity is now speaking to Kari from the pool of water?"

"That appears to be the case," Izzy agreed, studying the glowing pond more closely. "I'm interested to hear what it has to say."

"Kari?" T.K. said, suddenly moving towards her, his forehead wrinkling in concern. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Kari was surprised by the sudden attention he was giving her, and reaching out to take his hand, she blushed when he accepted it without any reservations. Looking closely at him, she could tell his eyes were clear, and the fog around him appeared to have lifted. The light from the pool reflected off his handsome face, and for some reason she had a strange feeling that the glowing radiance coming from the depths of the water was somehow responsible for T.K's sudden change in demeanor. It appeared to have had a positive effect on the blond, though she couldn't explain why.

Is it because there's darkness lurking somewhere inside his heart?

The thought made her shiver, and giving her hand a squeeze, T.K. said, "Kari, are you sure you're okay?"

"We're worried about you," Patamon added, looking concerned.

Kari quickly shook her head, and giving the golden-haired Digidestined a warm smile, she said, "I'm fine. I think this is something I have to do. It might be of help to us."

T.K. slowly nodded, and looking stubborn, the blond said, "If that's how you feel, I won't stop you, but I'm not letting you do this alone."

Kari glanced over to see Eden's reaction, and it didn't surprise her to find that the American female was frowning again, her face cast in shadow. Coming up next to T.K. with his partners, Willis gave her a small smile of encouragement, and using that to help her through, she turned back to T.K. and said softly, "I'd like that."

Pulling gently on T.K.'s hand, the two of them approached the very edge of the pool, and staring into the strange glowing waters down below, she said, "You've called me here for a reason. Is there something you wanted to tell me? Or maybe to tell the others?"

"Though I did not wish to do so, I had no choice but to use your body to speak with the others, but that will not be necessary this time. I have called you here not because I wish to speak, but because there is something I wish to pass on."

"Pass on?"

"I have a gift for you, Child of Light."

Kari blinked in surprise, and giving T.K.'s hand a quick squeeze, she said, "A gift? What kind of gift?"

"The gift of digivolution."

That caught Kari completely by surprise, and shaking her head in confusion, she said, "But...Gatomon can already digivolve, right to the highest level."

"Right to the mega level," T.K. agreed, gazing at her with warm blue eyes. "I remember."

Kari nodded, and turning back to look at the pool, she said, "I don't see how there can be anything else."

"A new form. Another side of mega digivoltution. This is the power that I grant you. A gift from the Digital World, to protect you and your friends."

"A new form?"

Kari frowned, and thinking back on the stature where she found the Crest of Light, suddenly she understood.

A new form. Ophanimon.

"Do you accept?"

Kari found herself gazing into T.K.'s eyes, and sensing Willis close by, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat. T.K. was in danger, of that she was sure, and even with Willis by her side, she wasn't sure if it was going to be enough. If a new form of digivolution would help her protect T.K. and to combat the Powers of Darkness, then so be it. She would do what she had to do to save T.K., no mater what the cost.

"I accept."

"Then hold out your Digivice, Child of Light. This power is now yours."

Kari didn't even hesitate. Holding out her D-3, she pointed it at the small pond, and immediately a huge explosion of light sent water spurting up into the air. A stream of light from the pool shot into her Digivice, and she let out a gasp as it radiated into her whole body, making her glow a brilliant gold. She could feel the electricity crackling through her veins, blinding her with the brilliance of the light illuminating the whole cavern. Her Digivice immediately reacted, the surface of the device glowing a bright pink, and as her heart raced madly in her chest, she struggled to stay conscious. Behind her, she could hear the others crying out in wonder as they covered their eyes to protect their vision from the blinding glow, and then just as quickly as it had come, the bright light disappeared, leaving her tingling with electricity. In her head, she could feel a surge of energy throbbing behind her eyes, and growing dizzy, she felt herself falling forward as her vision began to darken.

Faintly, she heard someone call her name, and a moment later she was lying on the dirt in T.K.'s arms, her head cradled against his chest. Gatomon was hovering over her, clearly concerned, and then Willis was there, his hand coming up to help support her shoulders. As she lay between the two boys, she could see the fear in T.K.'s eyes as he looked down at her, and holding her close, the blond said anxiously, "Kari, can you hear me? Are you awake?"

Kari blinked to clear her vision, and placing a hand on the golden-haired Digidestined's chest, she said weakly, "I'm fine. What happened?"

"The light from the pool," Willis explained, glancing at the water, which was no longer glowing. "Your Digivice swallowed it all up."

"You said something about a new form of digivolution? What was that all about?" Terriermon asked, eagerly leaping into her lap.

"Hey, give her a moment," Willis scolded, tugging gently on the rabbit's ears.

"Don't be so insensitive, Terriermon," Lopmon added, frowning at the more outgoing rabbit.

Kari quickly shook her head, and sitting up, she said, "I'm fine, really. It just caught me by surprise."

To her surprise and pleasure, T.K. refused to let go of her, and keeping his arm wrapped securely around her waist, he said, "I thought you were going to pass out. Are you sure you're okay?"

Kari placed a reassuring hand against his cheek, and smiling, she said, "Really, I'm fine. But thanks for catching me. I appreciate it."

T.K. flushed, and nodding he returned her smile, his hand reaching out to give her fingers a squeeze. Willis still had a hand on her back, as well, and as the rest of the group gathered around her, Izzy knelt by her feet and said, "The gift of digivolution. That's the power you were given."

"How, though?" Cody asked, frowning slightly. "Both Kari and T.K. can already digivolve to the mega level."

Kari glanced back at the pool, and studying it closely, she said, "A new form. That's what it said."

"A new form?" Eden asked, her tone sounding unusually sharp. "What kind of new form?"

The American female was crouching next to Willis, her legs curled up against Kari's thigh, and though the lavender-haired female's face was expressionless, there was a tightness around her eyes and mouth that gave her true feelings away. The physical contact itself didn't make Kari feel uncomfortable, but she was unable to ignore a sense of something dark hidden beneath the surface. It wasn't something she could explain, and not wanting Eden to know she had picked up on such an unnerving feeling or that she felt uneasy, she didn't move away from the other female. Instead, she moved closer, and reaching out to place a hand over Eden's, she said softly, "Eden, how much do you know about digimon?"

She had fully expected Eden to pull away from her, but instead the American female studied her hand with interest and said in her musical voice, "Enough, though I doubt it's as much as what you know. You've had many years of experience compared to me."

Kari nodded, and gazing directly into the other girl's lavender eyes, she said, "There are several levels of digivolution, but some digimon also have several forms. Gatomon may have reached the highest level, but that doesn't mean it's the only form she can take. Gatomon has already proven she can take on many forms. One more is nothing for her."

"I can be anything or anyone you need me to be," Gatomon said firmly, looking determined. "Is that was this is all about? Have I been granted new power?"

Kari reached out to scratch her digimon's ears, and smiling, she said, "I think so. Eager to test it out?"

"You know it."

"What form?" Eden demanded, suddenly gripping her hand. "What form did it mean?"

Kari leaned close to the other girl, and speaking softly, she said in the female Digidestined's ear, "See for yourself."

Immediately her pink D-3 started to glow, and turning her eyes came to rest on T.K., who was gazing at her with a look on his face that made her heart skip a beat. How badly she wanted to protect him, and it was those feelings that allowed a surge of light to envelop Gatomon. The sudden bright glow caught everybody by surprise, and holding onto her feelings for T.K., she watched as her partner began to grow. A moment later, the light disappeared, and standing in the feline digimon's place was the beautiful form of Ophanimon.