With Hudie's spirit reignited and Alphamon joining the tea, new things were brought to the light. Such as Hudie's mission to investigate the disappearance of Digimon from the Digital World. And the very first Digimon to go missing from it...

Everyone fell silent as the name reached their ears. "…What?" Keisuke was the first to make a sound and it was a low mutter.

"Hudiemon?" Takumi asked.

Ami turned to Keisuke. "But isn't that…?"

"Erika!" Ryuji shot up. "Erika went missing from the Digital World?!"

Monodramon sighed. "I was the last of us to see Hudiemon. We were discussing a case we were working on in the Digital World. My memory is a bit hazy on what happened…I think I was knocked out…When I came to, the others were there trying to wake me. But Hudiemon was nowhere to be seen."

Keisuke turned to Tentomon. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?!"

"I'm sorry Keisuke." Tentomon said. "We promised Alphamon. She learned that Takumi and his friends were in this world and that they remember the last incident with Digimon and considered the possibility you might as well. She said that even if you do remember Erika, we shouldn't say a word of this to you."

"Had you known, you would have been so fixated on finding Hudiemon, you'd be allowing the culprit to act under your noses or catch you off guard and eliminate you while you were panicking." Alphamon said. "Not to mention, the fact that Hudiemon is half human is a secret even to the Digital World."

"Does King Drasil know?" Gallantmon asked.

Alphamon nodded. "As do the remaining Royal Knights, but aside from Hudie that's it. If another Digimon that was sent here found out and word got out to the Digital World there's no telling what kind of panic and rumors would arise. In any case, given the circumstances it is safe to assume she was abducted by K, who has confessed to transporting Digimon to this world."

"I'm sorry Ryuji." Monodramon bowed. "I won't make any excuses. I failed to protect her."

"Monodramon…" Ryuji sighed and clutched his fists. "At least you were there…But me? Her own brother? I didn't even know she was in danger!"

"There was no way you could have known Ryuji!" Arata said. "Don't beat yourself up over this!"

"But why would K kidnap Erika in the first place?" Yuuko ask. "Could it have something to do with her being a human/Digimon hybrid?"

"It seems likely." Alphamon replied. "But we don't have enough information to confirm it or rule anything else out yet."

"We need to save her!" Keisuke said.

"Yes. Now that we know K has her, we can focus on that. Hence me telling you all this now."

"So, what's the plan?" Chitose asked. "Call Blue Eyes and see if she can find any other hideouts K might be at?"

"Her cover's been blown." Matayoshi replied. "That's not going to work."

"We have no idea where K went." Ben growled. "We need some kind of clue."

"Nema!" Tokomon yelled from inside the computer.

Nema yelped and turned to him. "Yikes! Don't startle me like that. What is it?"

"I'm getting a video call from Leanne's assistant!"

"Really?" Rand asked. "Put him through. He must have found out some new info!"

As everyone went to the computer the screen displayed a man with glasses, a white coat and brown hair. "Is everyone there?"

"Nate!" Takumi smiled. "It's been a while."

"So, this is the guy you told us about." Ben said. "The one who helped you with that scuffle with Giratina."

The man looked surprised. "The Rangers! So, you really did return to Oblivia!"

"Takumi and the others explained everything to us." Summer said. "Thanks for all your help with that incident."

"I should be thanking you." Nate replied. "It was because of you kids that I was able to grow a spine."

"Did you find out anything?" Leanne asked.

"Yes! I went back to the town I met that masked man at!"

"A white mask with black circles over one of the eyes?" Ben asked. "Wears a black coat?"

"That's the one! There's a library in the town so I went to check it out! I managed to convince one of the librarians to let me look at their checkout book! And I saw a strange entry that caught my eye! K. I knew that had to be him! It was just so suspicious!"

"It is him." Kyoko nodded. "The masked man is calling himself K."

"Wow, you found out already? That's the Cyber Sleuths for ya."

"Did you find out any clues as to what he's up to?" Rand asked.

"I'm reading all the books he lent right now. It'll take time to go through them all, but I noticed a pattern with what little I did see so far."

"Go on." Ami said.

"The books all mentioned all kinds of legendary Pokemon like Giritina. At first I thought Giritina was the big thing he was looking at, but some of the books K read didn't mention Giritina at all. But there is one Pokemon brought up in every one of these books."

"Which Pokemon?" Leanne asked.

"One of the most mysterious Pokemon of them all. A being called Arceus."

Some of the people in the room knew that name well. And just hearing it made them shiver. "A…Arceus?!" Ben gasped.

"You can't be serious!" Arata gapped.

"What's Arceus?" Keisuke asked.

"Arceus… That name was marked in several ruins." Leanne said. "The Pokemon that was said to have shaped the world…"

"Yes. The being known as the "Original One." Hastings said in awe.

"So, basically it's a god." Chitose said. "Is that why K is researching it?"

"If he is, that might explain how he got information on Giritina." Leanne said.

"What do you mean?" Gabumon asked.

"Who here is familiar with the creation trio?"

"Creation trio?" Lunick asked.

"They go by other names too." Nate said. "Some call them the "deity trio" or the "dragon trio" but most commonly they are referred to as the creation trio. Oh! I see what you're getting at! Great observation Professor Leanne!"

"You're losing us." Keisuke said, tilting his head. "What is this creation trio and what do they have to do with Arceus?"

"Acreus is said to be the one who created the creation trio when it created this very world." Hastings turned to two of his Rangers. "Kellyn. Kate. I believe you two are familiar with two of the trio."

"We are?" Kate asked.

The professor nodded. "There is Dialga, the one who rules over time." Kellyn's eyes widened as soon as he heard that sentence. Hastings continued. "Palkia, the controller of space." Kate gasped as she heard that part. "And finally…" Hastings said. "The one who controls over antimatter. Giratina."

"Giratina…" Takumi muttered. "So, it was created by Arceus…Kellyn, Kate, you met the other two?"

"A fellow Top Ranger named Wendy and I went on a mission to capture Dialga when it appeared." Kellyn said. "That was the most difficult mission in my entire career."

"Seven and I encountered Palkia." Kate added. "It was easily the strongest Pokemon I ever faced."

"Giratina was a challenge for us as well." UlforceVeedramon said. "We only prevailed due to the Cyber Sleuths and their Digimon convincing it to return to the world it came from."

"That and the fact that it was just getting used to being in it's original form again after so long." Gallantmon added.

"I only won due to a handicap as well." Kellyn said. "Dialga was running wild due to a serious injury it sustained."

"Same with Palkia." Kate said. "The two of them must have been fighting something powerful for that to happen to them."

"Do you think it was Giratina?" Palmon asked. "It was stuck in this world for over a thousand years."

"It makes sense that it would take another one of the creation trio to do that kind of harm to them." Solana suggested. "But why would they be fighting Giratina?"

"And who's to say they didn't get those injuries from fighting each other?" Ryuji asked. "Giratina wasn't injured when you found it, was it?"

"Actually, I think she might be right." Nate said. "I read something in one of the books. It said that Giratina was not born in the Distortion World. But rather Arceus banished it to the Distortion World for it's violent behavior."

"That's so sad…" Nokia said.

"And ironic when you consider that it spent over a thousand years looking for a way to get back there." Terriemron said. "I guess it just got used to the place."

"So, you think that when the Steelhead forced it back into this world it went on a rampage leading to a fight with the other two in the trio?" Summer asked.

"Giratina was vicious when we found it." Ami said. "I wouldn't be surprised."

"That is possible." Leanne said. "Or maybe Dialga and Palkia sensed Giratina's presence in this world and attacked it, seeing it as a threat just as their creator did."

"Both are good theories." Professor Hastings nodded. "As is Ryuji's theory that Dialga and Palkia could have fought each other."

"Makes sense." Fei nodded. "Similar things tend to hate each other. Might have been a rivalry goin' on between those two. Or even all three."

"They wouldn't be the only legendary Pokemon to make sworn enemies of each other." Solana stated. Lunick nodded.

"Well back to the original topic, it seems like K is after Arceus." Arata said. "Do you think he'll try to capture it?"

"Wouldn't be the first one to try and fail." Takumi thought to himself. "I imagine their conventional methods won't work on Arceus."

"The Golden Armor!" Lunick gasped. "You guys said it could control even legendary Pokemon!"

"Yeah! That must be why K is after it!" Keith said.

"I guess…" Ami said. "But even with the Golden Armor, Elios was unable to stop Arceus. Can K even pull it off? If history didn't record Elios' fight with Arceus, K might not know and fail to capture Arceus. But if Arceus goes on a rampage afterwards like last time…"

"Well as long as we have the helmet, that plan has been brought to a stop." Fanbeemon said.

"Chances of K stopping his plans after a minor setback…" Hagurumon replied. "…12.34%"

"Yeah, I don't see him just giving up after all he went through to get this far." Solana added.

"But even if he obtains the armor, how would he summon Arceus?" Yu asked. "Does anyone even know where it is?"

"Most people doubt the very existence of Arceus." Professor Hastings replied. "It may not even be in this world anymore."

Leanne turned back to the screen. "Nate, see if you can find anything about where Arceus is located in the library. If we can find Arceus first, we can try to warn or protect it if things take a turn for the worst."

"Understood." The assistant replied. "I'll let you know if I find anything. What will you guys be doing?"

Ben punched into his palm. "We're going to hunt down K while he's scrambling to figure out where the last armor part is."

"I see. Well, good luck everyone." With that, the monitor went off.

"Hunt down K how exactly?" Guilmon asked Ben. "He could be anywhere."

"Maybe if we use the Digimon scanner." Nema suggested. "He has Matadormon with him after all."

"It could take some time to narrow down witch location with Digimon is where he's at." Kyoko said. "But I suppose it is our best option."

Alphamon nodded. "In the meantime, Nema, about that favor I asked of you…"

"Nema!" Tokomon shrieked.

"Eeek!" the young scientist jumped. "What did I tell you about startling me like that?!"

"I'm getting another video call!"

"Again?" Takumi asked. "Did Nate forget something?"

"It's not him. In fact, I have no idea who it's from! What should we do?"

"Put them through." Rand said. "We won't know what it's about if we don't answer it."

"I guess so." Nema said. "Go ahead Tokomon."

"Okay." An image appeared on the monitor. One of a familiar masked man.

"Greetings."

"K!" Keisuke gasped.

"I see the rest of Hudie has recovered from the little shock of the truth being revealed to them. How unexpected."

"So, this is K…" Rythmi whispered.

"What is it you want?" Takumi glared. "Make it quick. I'm already getting sick of looking at you."

K chuckled. "How crude. Very well. I'll get right to the point. It is my understanding you happened to pick up something that belongs to me. The last piece of the Golden Armor."

"W-what?!" Summer shivered. "How did you-

"While I was hosting Hudie at our base, I went into their Mental Data and discovered you received it from Red Eyes. Many thanks for finding it for me. I was getting rather worried about how I was going to locate it. At any rate, I will take it off your hands for you now."

"If you think we're just going to give you something so dangerous, you're even crazier then I though." Arata scowled. "And that's saying something."

"Oh, but I do have something to offer in return. After all, you went through the trouble of getting it for me. I simply cannot let you go unrewarded."

K's camera turned around. It showed something else. Matadormon. He still had a green crack on his chest where Alphamon struck him earlier. And next to Matadormon was someone else. A human shaped being with blue hair and butterfly wings, a blueish grey boots, armor and helmet with yellow insect-like eyes and a blue skirt.

Keisuke's eyes widened. "Erika!"

"Hudiemon!" Tentomon, Monodramon, Armadillomon and Patamon shouted in unison.

"Erika!" Ryuji ran to the screen. "Erika, are you okay?! Say something!"

The Digimon didn't respond. She was trapped in some odd device. Two poles at each of her sides, emanating electric beams that coiled around her wrists, stretching her arms out. Two more wrapped around her ankles, pinning her legs together. Her head was hung low. Matadormon laughed. "Oh, don't bother calling out to her fool! She wasn't made a peep since K and I showed her what we put you and your friends through and how you reacted to it! I told her that you all now despise Keisuke for hiding it from you like you did Arata for Jude! It was hilarious watching her spew denials! "You're wrong! Ryuji and Chitose would never do that!" Such a sweet little thing." Matadormon's long needle-like fingers went under Hudiemon's chin and lifted her head up. Her face looked pale and tears seemed like they were leaking out from under the helmet.

The sight made Keisuke's blood boil. "Get your hands off her you freak!"

K laughed as he walked to the other side of Hudiemon. "I am calling to propose a little trade. The Golden Armor part for the Digimon. Surly you cannot refuse."

"K…!" Ami growled.

K took out a remote. "And don't try anything funny. I know the Golden Armor better then anyone. If you try to pass me a replica I will know." He pressed a button and two more beams came out of each pole. Two formed a ring around her waistline and the other two wrapped around her neck. "And this girl will suffer." With the press of another button, electricity zapped Hudimon all over, making her scream in pain.

"ERIKA!" Ryuji yelled.

"Stop! STOP IT!" Keisuke demanded.

K pressed the button and the shocking stopped. Hudimeon slackened. "I'll send you coordinates for the place of exchange. Be there with the helmet within the next hour." With that, the screen went off. The monitor only showed a terrified Tokomon.

"That K is awful!" Calumon whimpered.

"Those monsters!" Lunick growled.

"Guys…what do we do?" Yuugo asked. "If we don't meet K's demands, Hudiemon will suffer. But if we go through with his, he'll have the complete set of armor."

Ryuji's clenched fists trembled. "I don't care what the Golden Armor can do! If we don't do something, Erika…!"

Nema's computer made a sound. "Guys!" Tokomon gasped. "He sent us something!"

"It must be those coordinates he promised." Rythmi said. She went over to them computer and started typing. "This looks like an area in between Cocona Village and Tweakwood Forrest."

"Guys, let's think this through." Yuuko said. "I want to help Erika as much as anyone else-

"Then don't get in out way!" Ryuji demanded.

"However!" Yuuko raised her own voice in response. "We cannot ignore the potential consequences of our actions! If we give the armor away we might save Erika, but then K can use that armor to threaten all the lives in this world. And if he does somehow get control over Arceus…"

"We know that." Ben replied. "But if that does happen, we'll just stop them again. Just like we did the Societea and Purple Eyes."

"Don't be naïve. We barely managed to defeat them last time. And this new K clearly knows us well and understands Digimon better then Purple Eyes or Ed "The Thinker" did."

"Well, this time there's more of us." Ami said. "And K doesn't have Arcadiamon."

"There you have it folks, Yuuko is hereby outvoted so let's go save Ryuji's sister already!" Kate said.

"Yuuko may have a point Kate." Kellyn replied.

"Not you too!" Keith groaned.

"Our duty as Pokemon Rangers is to do what best benefits people, nature and Pokemon. Putting all three at risk out of personal feelings can do all kinds of damage that can't ever be undone. Is that something all of you can accept so easily?"

Takumi sighed. "Fine. You want to do what's best for people? Then I say we save Erika! She's a person too!"

Yuuko looked down uncomfortably for a moment. "Takumi…I really didn't want to say this, but you leave me no choice."

"What?"

Yuuko gave him a serious look. "Do you want to create another incident like eight years ago?"

Everyone fell silent. "Wow Yuuko." Terriermon glared. "Low blow. You were part of that "incident" last I checked."

"I know I am." Yuuko nodded. "I'm not dismissing myself as someone responsible for it. That's why I can't have any of you take this lightly. Takumi, Ami, I can tell even now, behind that cheery exterior you're still dwelling is regret from that incident. I'm only asking you to tread carefully because I don't know how much more guilt you can shoulder before it crushes you."

Neither Takumi nor Ami knew what to say. But Alphamon spoke for them. "You say it like regret and guilt are the only things they gained from that incident." Everyone turned to the screen displaying the knight. "But didn't you all agree that you were glad to remember that day? That the friendship you shared was important?"

Nokia smiled. "That's right. I met Agumon and Gabumon. And I'll always be grateful for that. So, what if a lot of bad stuff happened? That's part of life."

A small smile came to Ami's face. "Yeah. That's true. We got to meet our Digimon because of what happened."

Takumi looked at his hand. "The things I've done…I can't change them. So, I owe it to the people who suffered because of me to accept what comes from them. When everything changed and I became one of the few people who remember, I promised myself never to forget. The joy. The anger. The sorrow. What I gained. What I lost. That's why…" Takumi looked up with a new fire in his eyes. "I won't hesitate to follow the path I believe in. And I'll accept whatever consequences come from my actions."

Ami nodded. "Same here. I won't run away. Not from my past, or from who I really am!"

Kyoko smiled. "I'd say we raised some fine assistants. Wouldn't you agree?"

Alphamon chuckled. "Indeed."

Yuuko smiled. "That's all I needed to hear."

Ami smiled back. "Thank you, Yuuko."

"There you go, Kellyn." Ben smirked. "They're not taking things lightly. Does that answer satisfy you?"

"To an extent." The Ranger replied. "I'm still unsure…Part of me doesn't want to go through with this…" he then smirked at Hastings. "However, if it is an order from the Professor, I'll have no choice but to follow thought with it. Anything he says is my duty as a Pokemon Ranger after all."

Hastings grinned as he raised an eyebrow. "Kellyn, are you asking me to force you to pick a side because you're torn? Very well. Pokemon Rangers, here is your mission. You are to take the Golden Helmet to the area K gave us, rescue Hudiemon and if possible, defeat him."

"Yes sir!" the Rangers saluted.

"Good, it's settled." Yu said from behind them holding the Golden Helmet.

"What the-?! Nema gapped. "How did you get into the "Even-Burglars-Loss-Interest Safe!?"

"I saw you input the codes, remember?"

"And you remembered all of them?!" Tokomon gasped.

"So, what exactly is this incident?" Chitose asked.

Ryuji turned to Arata. "Is this about what happened to Yuugo?"

"Ryuji…Chitose…Yu…" Takumi took a deep breath. "Now that you three remember your side of the story, we'll tell you the truth."

"Truth?" Yu asked.

"That's right. Evreything we told Keisuke. How everything started. What we caused. It's not fair that you have to suffer remembering those sad events and not know why they had to happen. Once we rescue Erika, we'll tell you everything. I promise."

"Alright." Ryuji nodded. "I'll admit, I am interested in hearing about this. But right now, my mind is set on rescuing Erika. And this time we're bringing Hudie back together."

"We shall accompany you." Gallantmon said.

UlforceVeedramon nodded. "Agreed. I swore to support the humans. And it is my duty as a Royal Knight to protect Digimon. If Hudiemon is both, then I must help her."

"Actually, I would like the two of you to stay here and help Nema." Alphamon said.

"Oh, is this about that program you gave me before you went to help Ben and the others?" Nema asked.

"Indeed. Explain what they need to do."

"What's this program for?" Ami asked.

"We're going to need all the help we can get if the completed armor falls into K's hands. For now, let's hurry to the location he gave us."

Keisuke nodded. "Right! We'll save Erika for sure!"

Ben, Takumi, Ami, Summer, Keisuke, Kellyn, Keith, Kate, Lunick, Solana, Kyoko, Nokia, Arata, Yuuko, Yuugo, Fei, Ryuji, Chitose, Yu, Rand, Matayoshi, and Date strode through Cocona Village. Takumi was carefully carrying the Golden Helmet.

Kellyn stoke into his Styler. "Where is the location?"

"Just a bit further…" Rythmi replied as she tracked their progress. "Stop. It's just north of where you're standing."

Everyone looked at an old moss-covered gate in front of them. Ben looked at a pillar nearby. "This place…This is where I met Celebi."

"So, just beyond these doors." Keisuke said. "This old, sturdy looking, moss covered doors…"

Alphamon stepped forward. "Step back. I'll break it down."

"He really dragged you a long way for this, huh?" Everyone was startled by a familiar voice behind him. It was the hooded figure with the staff. "This place…Time has changed it drastically, but it still holds memories for me."

"It's you!" Summer gasped. "Why are you here?!"

"The man calling himself "K" has memories of this place as well. To him, this is what started his great fall."

"You know K?" Arata asked.

"You could say that. You'll find out who he really is if you proceed to the abandoned temple."

"There's a temple behind these doors?" Lunick asked.

The man nodded. "Time has worn away on it. Even most of the entrances have caved in. But there is another way in…"

"Why would K give us coordinates for a place we can't enter?" Takumi asked.

"Is he trying to stall us?" Matayoshi asked.

"Correct." The hooded man replied. "He means to have you wait in the area beyond that gate while he finishes an experiment. If you hurry, you might be able to stop him. Beyond that door lies an abandoned Warp Zone. I believe there are some of you who are rather familiar with them." The man smirked at the surprised look he got from some of the people in the group. The others looked confused. He then took something out of his pocket and tossed it to Ben. A purple piece of metal. "Here."

Ben looked at it. "What's this?"

"A fragment of the armor once worn by the Dark Captain, Sabios." Half of the team familiar with that name looked at the man in surprise. "That will unlock the gate leading to the depths of the Dark Temple. Hold it up as you stand on the Warp Zone."

Ben looked at the object and then at the man. "Who are you really?"

"Me? I'm like you. I want what's best for the world even if it means doing what is forbidden. I tried to help you while doing a minimal amount of damage to the flow of time…but if this doesn't work, I'm ready to step in and face the threat up ahead directly. Maybe we can't run from our destiny, but we can confront it head on and sever it's chains."

"You're a weird guy." Keith said, scratching his head.

"As an apology for keeping things from you…allow me to open that gate." The man held up his staff, and its wing started to glow. He drew symbols with the light emitting from it. "Piplup! Ivysaur! Typlosion! Come forth!" Blue, green, and red flashed before the gang as three Pokemon appeared. "Step away from the gate! I'm gonna have to use one of my special moves for this!"

"Special moves?" Rand asked as everyone stepped back.

"Behold! This is the power of unity! A power my friends taught to me!" The man held his staff and his Piplup charged a blue beam in its beak. Ivysaur stood up on it's front legs as the bulb on its back grew. Typlosion's mouth glowed an orange star shape. "Wrath of the noble guardians! The three shine together to unleash a strength with no equal! Splash! Bloom! Burn! The mighty elements gather in my hand and become the ultimate combination that eliminates all obstacles and cuts open my path of light! Blaze through the-

"Can you cut the theatrics fella, we're kinda in a hurry here!" Date complained.

Everyone awkwardly started at the man as he stood there quietly, frozen like a statue. He then lowered his staff so it pointed at the door. "Go! Obliterate! Triple Finish!"

Piplup let lose a Hydro Pump. Ivysaur launched a Solarbeam and Typlosion fired multiple Fire Blasts towards the gate. The combination attack glowed on impact and soon the door was blasted open.

"That was amazing!" Nokia gasped.

"You see?" the man asked as his Pokemon walked to his sidle. "As long as you stick together, no obstacle can stand in your way. Even destiny is powerless against us." He then smiled at Ben and Summer. "I wanted you two to remember that. That's why I passed the power of the Tracks of Light…or the "Guardian Signs" as you prefer to call it…to you."

Ben's eyes widened. "You're the one who gave us the ability to use Guardian Signs?!"

"It can't be…" Summer gasped. "When I was a baby…the man I saw…was you?!"

"Yeah, from when I was less then a year old! Just how long were you watching us?!"

"Long enough." The man replied.

"So, the Warp Zone up ahead, will take us to K?" Yuugo asked.

"Yes, but watch out. Beyond that gate is a little plaything he left to keep you occupied while he's working on his experiment."

"What exactly is he planning to do with the Golden Armor?" Ami asked.

"He manes to finish what he started." The man replied before turning around. "Ben…Takumi…Summer…Ami…Arata, Nokia, Yuuko, Yuugo, Fei…I'm sorry. This whole mess stems from our failure to deal with the aftermath like we promised. When you see K's face, you might think you're to blame for this, but don't let anything he says get under your skin. Calling you sinners for what you did to stop him before makes him a hypocrite. He himself is defying the laws of nature to be in an era he does not belong in. Just to get back at you for interfering with his plans in the past." With that he and his Pokemon walked away. "Remember. Never lose hope. I'll be ready if you need me."

Everyone watched him leave. "What a weird kid." Date muttered.

"He knows who K is." Ami muttered.

Kyoko looked at her assistants. "And it sounds like he's expecting you to know."

"Maybe." Matayoshi nodded. "But I'm sure we'll find out once we pass through here."

"He's right." Rand said, looking at the opened gate. "Let's go." Everyone walked inside.

Before they joined them, Takumi stood in front of the Stone of Time. Ami looked at him. "What's wrong?"

"This place…what K started…and a vendetta against us for interfering with the past…"

Ami was silent. "Wait…you're not suggesting…?"

"Takumi! Ami! What's the hold up?!" Nokia hollered.

"We're coming!" Takumi replied as he hurried on ahead.

"It can't be…" Ami muttered. "…Can it?" She then ran after her brother.