"You made the right decision convincing the Digidestined to pass through the gate. Now that Myotismon closed the gate you can't pursue him." Gennai told the pair.
"Listen Gennai, you said you know what my Digivice is and how we can get through the gate." Ash stated.
"Pika." Pikachu said.
Ash was aware that if he didn't find the legendary crest and 8th child with his friends before Myotismon, it would be bad news.
"Any gate can be opened with the right keys." Gennai said.
"Which are?" Ray asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Follow me to my house and I will explain everything." Gennai said.
"Where's your house?" Ash asked.
"Pika." Pikachu said.
"Look above you." Gennai said.
Ash and Ray looked and saw a searchlight in the sky.
"I understand. We'll meet up with you shortly."
The four follow the searchlight through the forest and towards a lake.
"Snack time for me." Gennai said, cutting the transmission.
"If Joe was here, he'd probably say we're going to be doing a little swimming."
Then the lake opened, revealing a staircase.
"Looks like we're not swimming after all." Ray muttered.
"Stairs. Now we're in business Pikachu." They started to walk down the stairs.
They then look ahead to see a Japanese style house come into view covered in pink fog.
"That's something you don't see everyday." Ash said.
Gennai was standing on a bridge when they got closer to the house.
"You came. I've been expecting you." Gennai stated.
"It's great to meet you in person Gennai. You said you know what my Digivice is." Ash remarked.
"Yes it's called the Master Digivice." Gennai answered.
"Master Digivice?" Ash was confused now.
"Yes. It's a legendary digivice passed down through generations. It allows anyone to master digivice with a Pokemon." Gennai explained what the Master Digivice was. Ash recalled the confrontation with DemiDevimon.
"You're saying that I was the only one capable of unleashing it's power." Ash retorted.
"Yes. The Master Digivice chose you because of what you embody. Come inside, the most important thing is for you to help the Digidestined find the 8th child. That and maybe have a nice bowl of soup." Gennai led them inside his house.
They then proceed to sit down at a table.
"This is a nice place Gennai. Now how are we going to meet up with Tai and the others?" Ash asked the elderly man.
"Pika." Pikachu said.
"This is how." Gennai displayed a map of the real world. The map zoomed in on a area with a red circle.
"The red flashing circle indicates Myotismon's location." Gennai said.
"And this green circle is Tai and the others. Myotismon is a mile away from where they live." Ray added.
"Do you have the cards Myotismon used to open the gate? We need to get back as soon as possible."
Gennai reached into a drawer then hopped down and walked over to the two.
"These are definitely what Myotismon used to transport himself and his followers to the real world." Ash noted.
"Yes and you saw how he placed them on nine holes on the stone wall of the gate." Ash nodded.
"He placed them backwards though so no one would know." Ash pointed out.
"That's not all. There are 10 cards and nine holes. One of these is a fake." Ray added.
"How will we determine which card is fake?" Ash asked Gennai.
"You could end up in a different world with no way to return." Gennai said.
That evening...
Pikachu had already fallen asleep. Ash on the other hand was wide awake. He was processing what Gennai had just told him while staring in the direction of the river.
"Is something bothering you?" Gennai asked.
"Oh hey, Gennai. I'm just thinking about what you said to me. What if I end up in a different world with no way back home."
"I see. You're afraid of never returning home. Don't worry about it, Ash. You'll figure something out." Gennai reassured him.
Gennai was right. He would eventually return home.
'I'm not letting any of my friends down, especially Sora.' He thought.
(Odaiba)
The Digidestined and their Digimon partners were preparing to get some sleep before they searched for the 8th child.
"You think Ash will come here, you guys?" T.K. asked the others.
"I don't know T.K. I sure hope so." Matt remarked.
"We know he never gives up." Patamon said.
"I agree with Patamon." Gabumon replied.
"You think he found out what his Digivice is." Joe said.
"Let's hope they appear in Japan." Gomamon said.
"He needs to obtain the legendary crest before Myotismon gets his hands on it." Tai stated.
"What are the chances Myotismon already has it?" Koromon asked.
"Very low." Izzy commented.
"Izzy's right. Only Ash's Digivice can locate it." Tentomon remarked.
"I can't wait to see Ash again." Mimi said.
"None of us can wait Mimi." Palmon retorted.
The Digidestined then went to sleep. Sora however stared out the window of the lighthouse deep in thought. Yokomon hopped over to her partner.
"He'll be here before you know it Sora." Yokomon said in a reassuring tone.
"You're right Yokomon." Sora smiled at her partner and then went to sleep.
Digital World...
Ash, his Pokemon, Ray and Falcomon were eating some breakfast Gennai had made. They were getting ready to head to Myotismon's castle and open the gate to the real world.
"Good morning Ash." Gennai greeted him.
"Good morning Gennai." Ash greeted the old man back.
"I made this for you." Gennai handed Ash some sort of device that fits on his wrist like a bracelet.
"This is a Digi-Ring. It will enable you to switch between your hybrid forms so you won't have a issue changing back." Ash saw that it resembled the Mega Ring but would allow him to change forms whenever he wanted.
"Thanks Gennai." Ash said.
"Pika." Pikachu added.
"Oh and before you two go. Be very careful as there are other evil Digimon who seek to destroy you and your Pokemon." Gennai advised.
"We'll keep an eye out for trouble." Ray replied as they left for Myotismon's castle.
"Good luck and prepare yourselves." Gennai said.
Outside Myotismon's castle...
"Well here we are Pikachu." Ash said.
"Pika." Pikachu said.
The group stared at the castle.
"If Joe was present, he'd say this place looks scarier than last time." Ash joked.
A group of Devidramon were seen guarding the castle.
"Those Devidramon are the only thing standing between us and the gate. Let's get rid of them." Ray popped his knuckles in anticipation. Ash took a Poke Ball off his belt and released Sceptile.
"Ready to take these guys down." Ash asked Sceptile.
"D.N.A Full Charge!"
"Digimon."
"Digimon Digital Monsters, Digimon are the Champions."
"Digimon Digital Monsters, Digimon are the Champions."
"Falcomon digivolve to...Crowmon!"
"Ash master digivolve to...WarSceptile!"
"Savage Emperor!" One of the Devidramon was blasted into the door causing it to crash onto the ground.
"Leaf Hurricane!" WarSceptile whipped up a leaf whirlwind with his war hammer and sent the first Devidramon flying. A second Devidramon slammed him into the wall.
"Leaf Hurricane!" WarSceptile released another leaf whirlwind destroying the second Devidramon.
He then changes back into Ash and Sceptile.
"Let's move on." Ray instructed.
"Okay Pikachu now the next thing we have to do is figure out the secret behind these cards." He attempted to determine where to place the cards but had no luck.
"Face it Pikachu I have no way to tell which card is fake." Ash sighed in disappointment. He then remembered that Myotismon placed the cards face down.
"If Izzy was here, what would he do?" Ash asked himself.
"Myotismon used a spell to open the gate and this picture must have something to do with it."
The whole place then starts to rumble.
"The castle is caving in. All the passages are blocked. Our only chance is to figure out which cards go in the slots." He determined which nine of the cards were real and observed the stars on top of the slots.
"I understand it now Pikachu. It's the stars. One is Rookie, two is Champion and three is Ultimate. But there's still a fake card among them." Ash said out loud.
"Pika." Pikachu said.
"That's right don't give up until it's over." Ash nodded.
A spider-like Digimon dropped down from the ceiling.
(Digi-Analyzer)
"It's Dokugumon, an evil Digimon with computer virus parasites covering his body."
"Intruders in the castle must be destroyed! Go get them!" Dokugumon ordered.
"Let's master digivolve Pikachu." Ash said.
"Pika." Pikachu nodded in agreement.
"Digimon."
"Ash master digivolve to!"
"Digimon Digital Monsters, Digimon are the Champions."
"Master Digivolve."
"Voltachu!" Voltachu announced his name.
"Volt Blast!" Electricity covered his fists and he fired it at the smaller spiders. He then spotted two Rookie cards.
"Alright let's hope which one is real." Voltachu picked up the Gomamon and Agumon cards as Dokugumon joins the fray.
"Poison Thread!" Dokugumon shouted. She launched threads from her mouth and they wrapped around Voltachu.
"Poison Cobweb!" Her eyes flashed and she fired purple mist that was blown away by Crowmon flapping his wings.
"Alright that's it no more Mr. nice guy. Thunder Punch." Voltachu slammed a electricity covered fist into Dokugumon, knocking her out cold.
He then placed the cards in the slots as fast as he could because they were running out of time.
"You're the one Gomamon, open the gate!" Ash inserted the Gomamon card and the gate opened.
"Now I'm checking out of this dump." Voltachu said mockingly.
"You'll never get out of here in one piece!" Dokugumon snarled. Voltachu had reverted back into Ash and Pikachu as Crowmon flew towards the gate with Ray closing the distance.
They stopped in front of the gate and Voltachu turned around.
"Faith of Zeus." A surge of electricity shaped like Zapdos destroyed Dokugumon.
They then jumped into the gate and then it slammed shut.
At the summer camp...
The Digidestined were getting set to return home. They convinced themselves Ash wasn't coming.
"Something tells me that he wasn't able to open the gate." Matt said. Tai was devastated.
"It's all my fault guys. I should have stayed behind and helped." Tai said. Sora approached him.
"Don't blame yourself. Besides Ash won't like to see you cry." Sora pointed out.
Then a large shadow floated over the group's heads.
"You mean him?" A voice asked.
It was Crowmon. He directed the Digidestined to Ash and Pikachu.
"We did say we'd find another way back after all." Ray reminded them.
"You guys made it!" Sora and Mimi jump on Ash and knock him down.
"Something tells me you guys missed me." Ash chuckled.
"How did you guys get here?" T.K. asked.
"It's a long story." Ash said.