DISCLAIMER: Digimon not mine.

Yes I am still alive. Been a looooong time. I was suppose to put this up a week before Christmas cause I knew I'd be busy with the holiday rush but guess what?...ALL MY FICS WERE DELETED!!! including "Nightmare Soldiers" I don't know why but they were. So I had to rewrite after my hectic schedule. Even now I'm still busy. Life sux_

WARNING: Shounen ai (boy's love)

*blah* = Younger Matt speaking
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"Revelation 8: Digimon Empress"
By Cloud Ishida

The Touch of Evil, Devimon's special attack. Able to turn one to evil. In actuality, having the same effect as a dark ring or spiral. But before she could resist the dark power of the spiral, yet Midori stood with eyes red, a sneer on her lips. Itami's deadliest attack.

Yamato stepped forward from the group, staring at the figure before him. She gazed back, as if waiting for a sound or movement from the blonde. His face was still and tired, the blue eyes dying with dismay. He had nothing to say.

"AARRGH--!!!" A howl echoed from the glowing MetalGarurumon. The metal body started to soften to flesh, becoming smaller and furry. The light disappated and left a confused Gabumon in its place. "What's going on?" Gabumon attempted to digivolve again but the sound of a digivice losing its power echoed through the air. Yamato unhooked his and the screen flashed red in alarm.

"Agumon!" Taichi called out, "Warp digivolve!" The yellow ran beside his partner.

"AGUMON, WARP DIGIVOLVE TO..." Nothing happened. "WARP DIGIVOLVE TO....!!" Taichi's digivice refused to illuminate in response to the call. "Tai! I can't digivolve!!" Agumon whimpered from letting down his partner, but Taichi patted him on the head in condolence. "But I thought there were no control spires on this island."

Another alarm sounded off, this time from the D-3s. On each screen the map of the Digital World displayed in black and white squares. But what was unexpected was the black square on the very island they were on, "According to this, there's a control spire right in front of us..." Miyako was as confused as the rest.

"But that doesn't make sense! The only things out here are trees and dirt! Nothing's in front of us except-" Before Daisuke could finish, the D-3 alerted him in another siren of alarms. This time, it looked as if the supposed control spire in front of them was moving...towards them. "This is getting freaky!!"

Iori looked up in a worried look. Midori was walking straight for them. Staring back at his D-3, so was the black square. "Oh no... You guys, I think Midori IS the control spire!"

"What?! That's impossible isn't?!" Daisuke hollared.

"Nothing's impossible in MY Digital World!" Midori snapped her whip back, ready to strike the still shocked children. "You've been in my way long enough you insolent fools!"

Takeru blinked at the sound leaving Midori's lips. It was her voice, yet something else choked her usually gentle tone, "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear she's acting like Ken when he was the Kaiser..."

Piedmon rested in the corner of Midori's eye, but unlike the others, his heart was set in agony. The one he cared for most had become what he feared. A true Digimon Kaiser has appeared, and once made into one, it was virtually impossible to turn back. "We have to get out of here." he whispered.

Taichi caught Piedmon's words, "What? If she is the new Digimon Kaiser, we have to stop her!"

"We won't survive TO stop her if we don't think before we act!" Piedmon snapped back. The intensity in his eyes spoke more than his words, "She's blocking your digimon to digivolve. With a handicapp like that we need strategy!"

Despite those words coming from a Virus, Taichi knew he was right. There was no way to stop her right now; one touch and the Armour Digimon lose their powers to Midori. "Everyone! Let's get out of here!" All the children, except Yamato turned to Taichi in confusion. "Don't argue, we need to go...NOW!"

"Veemon!" The blue digimon looked groggily up at Daisuke, "Can you digivolve to RaiDramon for me?" Veemon slowly nodded and let the blue light consume him to reveal the Black Lightning digimon. Surveying the area, Miyako, Iori and de-evolved Armadillomon boarded Halsemon. Nefertimon took hold of Hikari and Taichi, but there were two people missing. Takeru had one empty seat, and the other... From the corner of his eye, Ken was still on his knees, still crying. Without a thought, without a hesitation, Daisuke sprinted to Ken and picked up the grieving boy, "We have to go Ken. We can't do anything here..."

The other missing boy, Taichi picked up who it was instantly. He lept off Nefertimon, despite Hikari's protests and targeted the blonde from afar.

Yamato was still in a trance, an evil premonition hanging over him. Midori marched in heavy steps towards the fleeing band, "You're not going to get away so easily! I'll have my reve--" She was cut off by the golden-haired boy, arms spread, in protection for the other's escape.

"Don't do this..." was all Yamato whispered.

Midori stood still, ready to strike the blonde but dare not move. The pleading in his eyes freezed her in her stance, not wanting to hurt...a true friend... Midori lowered her armed hand and stared at Yamato stiffly, "Next time, don't get in my way."

Yamato lowered his arms in both relief and sadness. An unexpected hand gripped his arm and dragged him from the girl turned to darkness. Looking up, he caught sight of Taichi leading him towards Takeru, "But what about Midori?..."

"No buts! We're getting out of here!" Taichi pushed Yamato onto Pegasusmon then headed for Nefertimon. Piedmon flew on his own and led all the others away. From below, Midori watched in silence as those she was close to soared farther away.
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"What are we suppose to do now?" Miyako asked with worry. Ken managed to be calm again, staring at the metal armlet glittering at him, and the rest were left in introspection. The digimon were grouped together to rest their weary bodies. The new Digidestined stared at their D-3's as more black squres of spires continued to pop up on screen. Midori was continuing where Ken left off.

"I think the better question to ask is, 'IS there anything we can do?'..." Piedmon interluded the silence. Everyone's eyes landed on him, demanding an explanation for his pesimistic view, "Once you're a Kaiser, it's hard to let go of such freedom."
Seven pairs of human eyes drilled the clown for more information. "You mean you don't know? And you call yourselves the great Digidestined. A person, or digimon, can become the Kaiser by choice. After all, enforced control over another can only work so far. But when she chose to wear that mask, she accecpted the role. Unfortunately, there is nothing WE can do to bring her back; she must be willing to come back. But I highly doubt it."

Ken leaned against a stump of a tree, his clothes lack of spilt blood. When Wormmon turned to data, everything about him disappeared with him. Beside Ken, Yamato's head slumped and eyes in a daze. "Why not?" his lips mumbled.

Piedmon turned to the sudden sound from the blonde. Yamato hadn't spoken since retreating from Midori. "Because, I know her. She hates your human world; why do you think she stayed here all this time? And all the digimon she took in into her sanctuary, none came to help against when Ken attacked. They let her suffer for their weakness." Piedmon unraveled his bandages, the wounds finally healed, "She has all the reason in the two worlds to conquer the Digiworld and your world."

"Just like me..." Ken whispered.

"But if we can't, if we can't convince her and she continues to fight..." Taichi let the thought linger. If there was no way, and if both worlds are in danger...

"But we can't just kill her!" Hikari shouted, "I mean, she's still human and--" She cut her sentence short by Takeru's hand touching her shoulder. Hikari faltered back slightly towards him, and Daisuke saw it all with a sad sparkle in his eyes.

With eyes shut and letting out a sigh, Piedmon delivered the bad news, "It just might have to come to that..."

Yamato's eyes snapped from their trance. Kill Midori?!

"....." Taking in the words of his past enemy, Taichi came to the same grim conclusion, "She's too powerful for us to attack directly. We need another way." His voice was passive, but tense.

Anger formed by the plot unfolding before him, Yamato left Ken and stormed to the old leader and the dark digimon. "What the hell are you trying to say?! We just kill her off?! You!" His finger pointed at Piedmon, "I thought you cared for her and you plan to kill her?!!"

"Matt," Taichi held his calm voice, "IF there is no other way, we have to do whatever we can to save the two worlds." Taichi gripped the other's arm but Yamato shook it off in a violent snap.

"And what do you suggest we do? Cut her head off and parade it around in victory?!"

"Of course not! I don't want to kill her! None of us do but if we have to, WE HAVE TO!!" Taichi gripped both Yamato's arms, and this time, they stayed in place, "We have to explore all options... I know she's your friend, " the brunette's voice softened, "and I'm sorry I have to say these things, but we must do what we must."

Yamato let his body loosen by the words, I guess you really have grown Tai...a natural leader....

"We've discussed this earlier...long ago." Both boys and other destined turned their gaze to Piedmon, "She said to do whatever possible to ensure the safety of others. She knew in her heart this day would come. She even prepared how to do it." Yamato kept silent, but Taichi beckoned for Piedmon to continued. "The day she became Scythemon, she became a digimon. A human type digimon. Since Apoclymon was killed, she became her own digimon partner. So all we need is her crest."

"Crest? You mean the one Iori mentioned from Izzy?" Daisuke asked.

"No. The one she wears all the time. The crest and partner digimon are connected, not just in power but in life as well. When Itami destroyed the Darkdestined's crests long ago, MachineDramon and the others were vaporized into data with them. So, since Midori is her own partner digimon--"

"That means if we destroy her crest, she'll die to." Takeru finished off for him.

Yamato turned away from the group, and walked in silence away from the others. Takeru took a step after him but Taichi held him back, "He needs time."
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"You want us to split up now?" Daisuke and Taichi argued, their leadership roles clashing. "What if Midori attacks us?"

Taichi crossed his arms and turned to the others, "We have to take that chance. If that crest Izzy was talking about exists, we'll need it to defeat her. We may be able to make our digimon digivolve even further with it."

"That is logical thinking." Piedmon commented, "I'll go."

"You'll take the flyers with you. T.K., Kari, Miyako, you three go with Piedmon and bring the crest here. The rest of us will wait till then." He made a face to dare anyone to oppose his orders, and none did.

Their respective armour digivolved, and as Hikari and Takeru headed to their waiting rides, Daisuke blocked their path. Takeru rolled his eyes, "Daisuke, don't start this again. Tai ordered us to go and I can't do anything if he didn't pick Kari and you..."

"Good luck." Daisuke simply stated to the now surprised Takeru and Hikari. "You better look after her, like she'll look after you."

Hikari couldn't believe what she heard. He's actually wanting us together? "Thanks Daisuke..."

Daisuke's giant smile took over, "Hey why the shock?! Just get going or you'll fall behind. Piedmon and Miyako are already in the sky!" He slapped Takeru in the back and walked off to V-mon, leaving behind a confused boy and girl.

"What was that about Daisuke?" V-mon witnessed the beaming smile he hadn't seen for a long time.

"I've figured out what I was afraid of." The blue digimon was in a state of confusion but understood the grin.
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"How can they talk about killing so easily?..." Yamato threw a flat pebble across the lake, skipping a few times before sinking in the dark waters. He watched his reflection rippling in the waves. How could she choose to be like that?... The image of Midori, eyes intense with fury, sent chills down his spine. "Why?..."

*Because it's called 'destiny'.*

A familiar reflection shimmered in the water. A young blonde stood behind the older version of himself, wallowing in sorrow. "You?"

The younger version of Yamato stood with a meloncholic smile, *This is the last time you'll see me.*

Yamato's full attention was layed on the boy, "What are you talking about?"

*The final test is coming. And your going to choose the outcome.*

The young Yamato sat beside the confused blonde. The older rubbed his eyes in a tired movement, "You're talking about Midori."

The other smiled, *No, that's not the final test. That's something she has to go through.* The two pairs of eyes locked, *You don't have power to do things you want to do. To help, to protect, what price will you pay for the power you need to fulfill them?*

"....." A rang of truth rang in those words. "I,.....anything."

*Becareful of what you say. Anything includes everything. When the time comes, you have to choose.* The voice started to fade.

"But how will I know what I choose is ri--" Yamato turned to face his younger self but face only empty air. "...right...."
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Taichi paced back and forth, aimlessly thinking of the impending battle. Will they have to kill her? Or if what Yamato always described her as is true, wouldn't she come to her senses? This is why I hate being the leader... Their resting sight was quiet, tired or too caught up in their own thoughts to notice the awkward silence. Agumon and Gabumon took up watch, and Yamato still hadn't return. Taichi was getting worried about him, not about the physical danger, but the most dangerous that plays with the heart and mind.

"I'll be right back." No one must've noticed him because no one answered. Iori sat huddled with Armadillomon and V-mon, looking as if to stay warm. And a surprising sound of light laughter echoed to his ears. Taichi turned in the direction of the voices and saw Daisuke and Ken...smiling. After all that happened, Daisuke could still get a smile out of him. I hope I have the same affect... He headed for the lake and the challenge of his life.
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"Are you alright Kari?" Takeru flew beside Hikari on Pegasusmon, reaching their destination. "You look kinda dazed."

Hikari smiled weakly at him, telling him she was fine. She lied, but Takeru didn't pry into her affairs. Daisuke's words circled her head, the look of calm and happiness. He really meant it... Does he think I love...? "There's Centarumon and Pixiemon!" Nefertimon broke her rider's train of thought. Looking below, a massive complex, gold in colour, towered beside two specks on the ground. All three pairs and Piedmon flew down, Takeru and Hikari with beaming faces of joy.

"Centarumon! And Pixiemon you're alive!" Hikari hugged the pink furball and Takeru shook hands with the gentle warrior. The armour digimon de-volved back to rookie.

"That little guy is Pixiemon?" Miyako stared at the ball of fur, "That's the great Ultimate digimon you told me about Hawkmon?"

"Piedmon is alive too I see." Pixiemon noted the presence of the evil of the past, "Turned good have you?"

The clown grunted in bordem, "Just show us what we came for."

Centarumon trotted over to meet with Hikari, "I wish we were reuniting under different circumstances but, we must confirm the existence of a crest." He pointed to the golden doorway of the ancient building of stone.

"Inside are two more doorways there are. But impossible for us to enter it was." Pixiemon guided them to the door, Centarumon the only one big enough to open the heavy door. The inside was illuminated be the sunlight through the doorway, the only source of light. Vines, cobwebs and insects invaded freely around the stone floor, working in haste to carry and build. "Look." Pixiemon pointed his staff to each door, facing opposite each other.

"This is the reason why we called." Centarumon brushed away the loose moss and webs from the golden stone door, reveiling a low relief of a very familiar object.

Takeru stepped in for a closer inspection, "It looks like a carving of...our D-3's." The details were simplified, but it was unmistakable what it was.

"But why would it be carved on a door. And why couldn't you guys get in?" Miyako traced the outline of the relief with her finger, her other taking out her D-3. She didn't notice the handheld divice glowing ever so slightly.

"We've tried to open them, but it wouldn't budge at all." Centarumon demonstrated with a hind kick hard enought to shake the whole structure. "There's some force sealing it from outsiders."

Suddenly, Miyako's D-3 flashed into life, ringing endlessly with no warning. Then Hikari's and Takeru's joined in the illumination. Admist the noise, a sound of a creeking noise alerted Patamon's large ears, "Hey, I think the door's moving..."

Seizing the oppurtunity, Takeru, Miyako and Hikari pushed all at once at the door. Surprisingly, it was light as a feather, and the easily pushed it in intirely open. Inside the room was pitch black except for a single ray of light from the ceiling, shining over an alter. A round object, black as the room, rested on a coushin. Hawkmon's sharp eyes made out what the item was, "Is that what I think it is?"

The three children walked slowly inside, cautious of any traps when, "RROOW!!"

"Gatomon!" Hikari turned to see her partner propelled outside the door, along with Patamon and Hawkmon. "Gatomon, are you all rigt?"

"Ow...it felt like something threw me out.." Gatomon rubbed her head, Patamon and Hawkmon dazed in confusion.

Piedmon stepped to the doorway arch, and looked as if he was tapping the air. When his finger reached passed the opening, an electric charge fizzled his white glove. "Hmm, it seems there's a barrier. The carving on the door must have been a clue and a warning. Those who hold the D-3's can enter."

"C'mon, as long as we're in here, we better check it out." Takeru headed for the alter with the girls walking behind. Everthing was quiet, nothing moving or stirring in the corners like the hallway outside. The sound of silence breathed the air. The three finally approached the alter, and shocked by their finding. Takeru picked up the black and gold digi-egg and lifted in in the illuminated air for a better view, "Another one?"

"Is this what Izzy was talking about?" Miyako took it from Takeru, flipping, turning, scratching every part of the egg as they walked back to the waiting digimon. "If it was a digiegg then why did he mention a crest?"

The children stepping up before Centarumon, Piedmon caught a glimpse of the digiegg, and a symbol sparking his memory, "The Digimental of Darkness?" All eyes layed on him, "Even Itami hasn't found his own attribute?"

"Wait," a thought hit Takeru, "if it is a digimental...then why could I pick it up?"

"Good question. I could hold it too." Miyako handed the egg to Hikari, who could also hold the dark egg.

"Well, darkness is universal." A simple explanation from Piedmon still left questions, but the sound of Pixiemon's calls interrupted.

"Over here!" The children and digimon ran across the hallway to the opposite door. Pixiemon brushed away the signs of age with his staff and another relief was hidden beneath. "Looks familiar it does."

Hikari and Takeru understood, while Miyako pondered, "I've never seen that image before."

"We have." Hikari stared at her D-3, "It's our old digivice. But, we don't have ours anymore so..."

"How are we suppose to get in?" Takeru finished for her.
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Daisuke rested with his hand behind his back and resting against a tree. Chibimon slept beside him while his mind danced in thought. I'm not afraid of losing you to T.K. anymore Kari... You were never my girlfriend to begin with. "It seems weird we're sitting like this when we used to try and beat each other." Daisuke turned slightly to Ken, who was still resting, but feeling a bit better from the trauma before.

"I never thought you'd help me to escape." Ken returend. It didn't sound like resentment, appreciation was heard. "Thanks."
"Well playing here is my job. So you'll stay with us then right?"

"...yeah. I owe you all for the way I was. So I'll stay and fight. I owe Yamato that much don't I?" Ken closed his eyes, sighing from the thought. "If I didn't create Itami..."

Daisuke blinked, "Create?"

"When I was the Kaiser, a voice I didn't know then that was Itami's, told me, urged me to bring together the 'eight viruses and bring me back to life'. And I did...I don't know why, it felt like something, or someone was taking over my body whenever the time to make him came."

"But it's not your fault. You were under contr--" Daisuke was cut off by the alarm on his D-Terminal. "What now?..." He flipped open the screen and an e-mail message appeared, "It says, 'Come to our location, we need Tai and Matt. The map is enclosed'. I hope it's not trouble..."

"Hey Daisuke!" Iori sprinted towards him with his D-3 held high, "It's a control spire!"

"What are you talking about?" The brown eyed boy stood up, ready for battle.

The little boy finally reached him, but Armadillormon still waddled from behind, "On my D-3, a control spire just popped out and it looks as if it's right next to us." He pointed towards the setting sun.

"HOLY SHOT!!" A ball of pure light exploded in the middle of their site. Up above, a Unimon flew circles, powering up for another strike.

V-mon woke up with a startle, "Who! What! Where?! What's going on!!"

Fromt the bushes, Agumon and Gabumon jumped and scurried to their little group, "We've got company!!"

"Battle V-mon," Daisuke pulled out his D-3, "Digimental power up!"
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Yamato and Taichi layed beside the lake, looking up at the sky turning red as the sun started to set. They hadn't said much between them, not knowing what to say. But the silence was getting to Taichi, he had to finish the unfinished answer to the question Yamato had unexpectedly laid on him, "About what I said, about, you and me..." The blonde didn't respond. "You have the right to be mad at me...but I--"

"MIND DRAIN!"

The familiar voice sent a new energy through Yamato, instantly on his feet, "Midori!!"

Taichi gripped the blonde's wrist again, a sad look on his face, "I have to tell you this Matt..."

".....It can wait." Setting his arm free, Yamato ran towards the origin of the sound. Taichi stood, shoulders slumped, deaf to the explosions rippling through the air.

Yamato didn't hear the whisper Taichi left behind, "I want to protect you."
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"Fancy finding you here." Midori rolled up her whip, RaiDramon fallen with whip-slash marks. "If you just leave then I won't fight you."

"And leave you to enslave more digimon and make control spires? I don't think so!" RaiDramon's power returned to Daisuke's D-3, and another digivolution took place.

"V-MON, ARMOUR DIGIVOLVE TO...FLAMEDRAMON!" With new found power FlameDramon charged with a Fire Rocket but Midori easily evaded with top speed. Digmon stayed with Iori and Ken and protected them from stray shots of attacks.

"To make it fair, I won't use my powers. Just physical one on one. How about it?" The empress mocked the fustrated fire digimon, accepting the challenge. FlameDramon slashed with his claws, but Midori managed to jump out of the way at the right moments. Executing an upper-cut, he swiped throught the air, but again missed by a large margin. His attack left an opening and Midori took advantage. Fist clenched she punched the digimon's vulnerable stomach. "Slow aren't we?" With one leap, she flipped over grabbing FlameDramon's mask, and with the force of her body hurled him over her head right to Daisuke's feet.

"FlameDramon! Are you alright?!" He helped up his partner, but he could see the pain the digimon was in. She was too powerful, just like Taichi said. "We shouldn't have fought..."

"Midori!!"

The digimon empress froze in her steps. The familiar voice calling once again. "Yamato?"

Yamato ran as fast as he could, not hearing the footsteps of Taichi behind him. "Midori! Wait!!" The blonde stopped, an arms length away from the girl in the Kaiser uniform. "You don't have to...this isn't you..."

Midori took a step back, holding out her whip, "Don't. This is for the best. You won't have to go though this if I'm the Kaiser..." Yamato's face turn to surprise. She caught the look, and understood he didn't know his fate too, "Just trust me."

"Why..why are you making spires? Controlling digimon for your own gain? This isn't the Midori I know..." He took a step forward and she stepped back. Taichi arrived on the scene, but stayed back with Daisuke and the others. "Forget all this, and come back."

She didn't have a chance to answer back.

"MATT!! MIDORI!!" A flash of light heading straight for the two prompted Taichi to scream their names. "ABOVE YOU!!"

Yamato turned to the calling Taichi and saw him pointing to the sky. A stream of pure energy hurled towards the two. He stood and for the split second, everything went blank. "Yamato!" He heard her voice, and felt her weight tackling him to the ground, the light a few feet away then...

"MAA--TT!!" Taichi's voice echoed again. All eyes layed on the two fallen bodies. Blood stained the ground. But it only flowed from one body.

Yamato opened his eyes, face covered by black hair. He brushed it aside and felt a warm liquid dripping down. Slowly, shaking, she reached leaning on her elbows, but the rest of the movement too painful to make. "Are..you alri..ght...?" A trickle of blood slid from the corner of her mouth, but her back was completlely covered in crimson. She had taken the full front of the force of light.

"Oh my god...Midori, hold on.." He squeezed her hand, she smiled in return.

"Noble and touching. You've grown soft."

The same horrible voice tormenting their lives returned. High in the sky, Itami rubbed his metal arm, satisfied with the River of Power that expelled from it. He floated down, black wings slowly flapping.

Midori slowly, raised herself to stand despite Yamato's protests. The children and digimon were amazed that she could still move after such an attack. "Between.., you, and me... They have, nothing to do ...with this." She urged for Yamato to go, but he refused everytime. Finally, she pushed him aside, knocking him to the red ground.

"Whatever." Itami circled the two, eyeing his handiwork on Midori's back, "I guess the digimon part of you is stronger than I thought. I guess I need to bring out the big guns." He let out a fist, and opened it in mid-air, a pendent dropped hanging from his index finger. "So powerful yet so delicate. If you give me the Kaiser powers, I'll let you live. How simple is that?"

Yamato recognized it immediately. The one thing that can end Midori's life, the Crest of Loneliness. "Give it..."

"Oh so you know our little secret of the Dark Crests. Then you should help convince her to relinquish her powers to me."

A sound of a whip-lash turned all attention to the digimon empress, "Never. Knowing you can't have something you desperately want is satisfying enough for me." She snapped her whip at the hybrid creature, but her injuries dimminished her power and speed, Itami took a step to the side to evade.

"Pitiful. Come on, give it up." He waved the tag and crest in front, toying and enjoying every moment.

"It's not worth your life Midori..." Yamato whispered.

"Yes listen to the blonde there."

She didn't speak, but took action. Leaping at the monster, she wrapped her whip around his neck, strangling him with all her might. One hand tightened the whip,the other reaching for the crest. Itami was caught off guard by the attack, but wouldn't give up so easily. He sunk his nails in Midori's bloody back, twisting them in. She screamed in pain, losing her grip. Taking the chance, Itami kicked her off of him she landed on her back to further intensify the pain. Burying the crest in his palm, he started to squeeze, "You fool. You should've just given up." A sound of glass cracking began.

Another body leapt on Itami, Yamato prying into the fist for the crest. "Give it back!!" He felt the crest at his finger tips, feeling the broken glass. But the hybrid was too strong for a human, Itami clutched the boy's thoat and threw to the ground.

"Don't push your luck."

"FIRE ROCKET!" A last attempt by FlameDramon fizzed to smoke upon impact of the hybrid monster.

Yamato charged again but Itami was ready, whipped his double tail at the blonde and wrapped around his neck, tightening slowly. "After the show you can die."

"Let him go!!" Midori was the one to start the next attack, but she never finished it.

Raising his fist, the sound of death rang.

Opening his metal hand, dust of what was left of the crest floated down. Midori stood absolutely still, then fell forward, eyes turning black.

All watched in silence, except for the laughter from the murderer.

The wind started to build, as if in response to the fate that has been laid down and carry its remains. Yamato watched, bit by bit, her body turning to data. Scattering in the sky, riding on the wind.

Itami shoved the blonde towards the fading body, the blue eyes still locked at its resting place. Crawling to her side, seeing the last of her hair turned to data. The only thing left was the golden mask and whip.

"That's what she gets for crossing me. Now, for a little fun." Itami turned to Taichi and the others, sadness written on their faces. "Don't go sappy on me. Show me what you've got."

"Agumon." Taichi's voice was low and firm, never heard by the yellow dinosaur. "Make him pay." Agumon nodded slowly, eyes slanting in anger. Gabumon stepped up beside him, ready to attack too. FlameDramon and Digmon joined the line, bearing their claws.

Daisuke and Iori stood beside them, ready to join with their digimon partners. Ken didn't have his own, but that won't stop him to fight as well.

"Don't you want to start your digivolve chants? You don't expect to defeat me as you all are?" Itami sneered with another boastful laugh. He raised his metal arm once again, charging as he spoke, "I heard MetalSeaDramon's can cut through anything. Let's find out shall we? RIVER OF PO--"

A whip intwined his arm and pulled it back, releasing the ray of light to the empty sky.

"What?!" Itami turned and traced the whip to it's owner. A spiky haired blonde boy, pulling on the blue and golden handle, blue eyes hidded behind the golden mask. His body was smaller, as if turned backwards in time.

"Matt?" Taichi couldn't believe what he was seeing. The old Matt, the one he met three years ago in summer camp and when the digital adventure started, was standing right there in front of him.

Only wearing the uniform of a Kaiser.
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I've stayed up till 2am to finish this so it may have made no sense. I'm going to sleep now.