TAICHI: THE RETURN OF KARI:

Kari here. Okay, I've got good news, and bad news. The bad news is that while Yolei's team got Piedmon's Digi-egg, the Nightmare Soldiers, servants of the Dark Masters, arrived. Their leader, Lady Devimon, stole the Digi-egg and left Gigadramon and Skullmearamon to fight the Digidestined. Meanwhile, Taichi found what he was looking for, a strange black Digi-egg. Now, the good news is, there's no more bad news!

Yolei's team, including their reluctant ally, Ken, stood facing Gigadramon on Genai's beach. Their Digimon were ready to attack the evil Nightmare Soldier of the Dark Masters.

Micheal walked up to their 'newest recruit'. "Ken," he whispered,"Can we take this guy?"

"I'll put it this way," Ken whispered back,"We can't stop Piedmon's revival if we're stuck here."

Michael nodded. "How should we attack?"

"Team up," Ken said,"Two Champions together might stand a chance."

Michael nodded again. "Okay," he said, turning towards the other Digidestineds, "Stingmon and Seadramon are going to handle this. No offense, but they're the stronger fighters."

Stingmon and Seadramon walked towards the battlefield. "So, you're my first two victims, huh?" Gigadramon asked, his tounge licking his mouth in delight.

"Careful," Skullmearamon warned, leaning against one of the many trees lining the lake beach,"Don't under estimate them."

"Of course not," Gigadramon said, sarcastically.

Stingmon and Seadramon stared at Gigadramon for a second before they attacked. Gigadramon watched with anticipation as Stingmon soared towards him, his fists ready to dance across his face. When Stingmon was a few inches in front of Gigadramon, he twisted and jumped up into the air, shocking Gigadramon.

"What the...?" Gigadramon asked, then turned back in front of him. Seadramon was heading towards him with a stream of ice emerging from his open mouth. Gigadramon was instantly frozen in place. Stingmon saw this and knew their plan had worked. He sprouted his stinger and flew towards the frozen Ultimate.

"Spiking Strike!"

Gigadramon instantly shattered the ice shield around him and held out his gun arms. "Dark side Attack!"

Stingmon was hit bad and he plummeted towards the ground. "Stingmon!" Ken cried as his Digimon partner slammed into the sandy earth.

"Are you okay?" Seadramon asked, slithering over.

"I'll be just fine," Stingmon said, slowly emerging from the crater. His armor had been crack in various places and his blade was broken.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Stingmon said, walking towards Seadramon,"Now, let's forget about the tricks and go head on."

"Sure, that suits me just fine!"

The two Digimon braced themselves, then sprinted forward. Stingmon reached Gigadramon first. He spun around in midair and shoved his leg in Gigadramon's face.

"Spinning Striking Kick!"

Stingmon's leg went into a fury of jabbing motions in every direction at an incredible speed. However, Gigadramon was able to block each jab with remarkable accuracy.

While his partner was keeping Gigadramon distracted, Seadramon snuck around behind the Nightmare Soldier. He shot up in the air and used his tail as a whip with stung across Gigadramon's back.

"Ahhhh!" he yelled out, getting nailed from Stingmon in the front. He lurched backwards, but manage to keep himself from falling. With incredible speed he grabbed Seadramon and flew into the air.

"You're going to pay for that!" Gigadramon said. He lifted the struggling water Digimon over his head, then threw him towards the ground.

Now it was Michael's turn to call out the name of his Digimon partner.

"I'll catch him," Stingmon said. Unfortunately, Seadramon had too much momentum and both he and Stingmon crashed into the ground.

"And its over!" Skullmearamon said, watching Betamon and Wormmon climb out of the giant crater."They're out of the fight!"

Gigadramon landed back on the ground and cracked his neck. "Who's next?"

"Us!" Flamedramon said, stepping forward with Holsemon,"Its our turn now! Let's show them what armor Digimon can do!"

"Agreed!" Holsemon said.


Despite the night air, Taichi stood on the deck of the hover ship with nothing but a thin shirt and pants on. He placed his hands on the railing and looked over the edge. "The Digital World looks so small from up here," he said,"and I am a god, so why am I an evil one? I don't understand what I'm doing sometimes."

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Taichi turned and saw a small orange Dinosaur walk towards him. "Agumon," Taichi said with a smile,"I was just wondering what we're doing, I mean, here with the Neo Digiworld Empire. I don't know why, but, for some reason, I just feel content being here."

"Well," Agumon said,"Where ever you go, I'll always be at your side."

Taichi's smile broadend,"Thank you, old friend. For the past twelve years since the original Digidestined faced Apocalymon, we've tried to make a place for ourselves in this Digital World. We are the last of the Digidestined. All my friends are dead, we are alone."

"The Digidestined have been reborn," Agumon said,"Remember?"

"Yeah," he sighed, staring into the night sky,"I know, but, they are not the same friends that died that day with Apocalymon. Even if they were, we're too different now. I mean, they're half my age! A man hanging around with a bunch of pre-adolesence kids doesn't look too well."

Agumon just chuckled.

"And I why is it I can remember facing Apocalymon and watches my friends die and the next memory I have is joining the Neo Digiworld Army. Twelve years past in the middle, why can't I remember that?"

"I don't know," Agumon said,"But we'll find the answers together."

A few decks below them, in the bowels of the ship eight stowaways where trying the keep warm.

T.K.'s group were all hugging each other in an effort to stop themselves from turning into icicles.

"T-t-t-t-this is t-t-t-t-too c-c-c-c-c-cold!" Jun chattered.

"W-w-w-w-w-well, i-i-i-i-i-it c-c-c-can't be h-h-h-h-help," T.K. said,"W-w-w-we need to f-f-f-follow Taichi to get b-b-b-back to the h-h-h-h-head quarters of the Neo Digiworld Empire."

"But why did we have to stowaway in this freezing ship?" Willace asked,"Couldn't we have at least picked a better area than storage?"

"Ww-w-w-w-where, the captain's q-q-q-q-q-quaters?" T.K. asked," Did you want him to just-w-w-w-w-wait, how come y-y-y-y-you are s-s-s-s-shivering?"

"Oh," he said, leaning up against the wall," I've found this nice warm pipe running through this wall. I think might be connected to the heaters of the ship."

"Why you little.." Jun started as she tried to knock Willace out of the way.



Gigadramon flew up into the air, his barrel arms ready. Flamedramon jumped onto Holsemon's back and the tag team flew up to continue the battle.

"This isn't good," Michael said,"I don't know if they can handle him."

"I might be able to help," Genai said.

Michael turned to him with his eyes glaring. "Why should we trust you? You used to work with Datamon!"

"I told you before," he said,"That was a long time ago. You need help if you want to beat them. I can give you something that will make Seadramon stronger."

Michael just turned back to watch the air battle.

Flamedramon stood up on Holsemon's back. "Fire Rocket!"

Gigadramon moved his gun arm and flicked aside the balls of fire. They flew down into the lake, making a mist of smoke on the lake surface.

"My turn," Holsemon softly said,"Tempest Wing!"

Two red arrows flew from his eyes. Gigadramon flew higher in the air and dodged the attack. He flicked his tail and sent Holsemon into a tail spin, knocking Flamedramon off.

"Shoot," Davis said as he watched his Digimon plummeted to the ground.

Flamedramon righted himself and pointed his fists to the earth. "Fire Rocket!" The reaction of the firing, sent Flamedramon back into the air right under Gigadramon.

Gigadramon looked down too late, and received a very powerful uppercut from Flamedramon. He spun around in the air, as Holsemon caught Flamedramon.

"Hmm," Gigadramon said after stabilizing himself,"I must commend you, but, it wasn't enough! Dark side Attack!"

Holsemon and Flamedramon were hit and thrown into the ground, reverting back to Hawkmon and Veemon.

"Now we're in trouble," Yolei thought,"I wish Kari was here."

Michael's mouth was wide open. "I...I..I..." He clenched his fists and spun around, facing Genai. "What can you do?"

Genai half-smiled and reached inside his robe pocket. He pulled out a small, glowing cube. "Give me your digivice."

Michael handed his power source over. Genai held the cube over the screen of the Digivice. To Michael's surprise, the cube slide into the screen and disappeared. "Now," Genai said, handing the device back,"use it."

Michael nodded and turned around. He held the digivice out,"Betamon.."

His Digimon nodded. "Yes, I understand! Betamon digivolve to Seadramon!"

Betamon was covered by a white light and grew into a large serpentine creature, but, to everyone's surprise, he kept growing. "Seadramon digivolve to Megaseadramon!"

Megaseadramon threw his head back, then brought it forward,"Thunder Javelin!"

Gigadramon was hit in his back with a bolt of supreme electricity that sent his spasiming body into the ground. "Yes!" Ken shouted.

Gigadramon climb out of the ground only to be greeted by a whip of Megaseadramon's tail that sent him flying across the lake.

"I don't believe it," Skullmearamon said,"That's a first. Well, I guess it's my turn now."

Megaseadramon didn't waste any time. "Thunder Javelin!"

Skullmearamon held up his arms and blocked the lightning attack. "You call that an attack? Wait until you see mine, Metal Fireball!"

He blasted a stream of white fire from his mouth, but luckily Megaseadramon dodged out of the way. He jumped up into the air and wrapped his tail around Skullmearamon.

The evil Nightmare Soldier smiled. The flames surrounding his body suddenly grew in intensity. Megaseadramon held on as long as he could, but soon, his body betrayed his spirit.

He loosened his grip on Skullmearamon. The evil Digimon took this opportunity to grab Megaseadramon's tail and through him into the ground.

"Oh no," Michael said,"Megaseadramon, get up, please, get up."

"This isn't good," Yolei said,"We're dead. We're finished."

She stretched her neck back and shouted,"We need you, TAIIIIIIIIIII!"


On the other side of the Digiworld, riding on the Neo Digiworld's Hover ship, Taichi suddenly shot his head up. He looked around in every direction. "What is it?" Agumon asked.

Taichi looked at him. "You mean, you didn't hear...."

Agumon looked strangely,"What are you talking about?"

Taichi shook his head and smiled. He turned and looked back into the sky. "I must be losing my mind."

"Why do you say that?" Agumon asked.

"Its nothing," Taichi said,"I just...thought I heard Sora."


High above the Digital desert, at the top of the Holy Tower, Kari's head shot up in a similar manner.

"What is it?" Jijimon asked. Gatomon had a similar look of question on her face. All three were seated in a room in Jijimon's were they were meditating, when Kari suddenly hear something.

Kari looked at him. "You mean, you didn't hear that voice?"

Jijimon and Gatomon looked at each other. "What voice?" Gatomon asked.

"I just heard....."Kari stood up,"The others are in trouble. We've got to go. Come on Gatomon."

"Wait," Jijimon said, standing up,"I have something that might be of help."

"Hurry up," Kari said. Jijimon just chuckled as he made his way to one of his red walls. There was a picture of an ancient Digimon showcased on the wall. He moved the picture and revealed a hidden compartment. He reached inside and pulled out two Digi-eggs. One was white, and the other was yellow.

"What are these?" Kari asked as Jijimon handed her the two eggs.

"They are Digi-metals," he said,"You can use the Digimetal of Light to enable you to get to the others quickly."

Kari held the white egg in the air. "Thank you Jijimon. I'll be back, don't worry."

She turned towards Gatomon. "Are you ready?"

Her faithful Digimon nodded. "Yup."

"Digi-armor energize!"

"Gatomon armor digivovle to Nefertimon! The Angel of Light!"


In the rugged mountains of the Digital World, in an area known as the Mountains of Ash, due to its dark and charcoal color, sat a dark alter. It was a large dais with large black towers in each of its four corners. On top of the towers were strange dark rubies. In the exact center of the square was a small platform with a circle in the middle.

"Excellent work," Machinedramon said. He was standing at the edge of the alter with Metalseadramon.

"Thank you," Lady Devimon said, handing him Piedmon's Digi-egg,"I am just anxious for the mighty Lord Piedmon to be revived."

"Yes, "Machinedramon said, walking to the center of the alter,"Soon, the Digital World will belong to us once more! The Dark Masters will rule all!"



"Thunder Javelin!"

Skullmearamon jumped up into the air, Megaseadramon's attack blasting the ground beneath him. He then jumped forward and punched Megaseadramon in the face. The massive serpent Digimon slowly tumbled backwards, becoming covered in a bright white light.

"He's too strong," Veemon said, numbly, as he watched Betamon hit the ground,"We're finished."

Skullmearamon smiled as he made his way over to Betamon. "If there aren't any more objections, let me get down to work." He stood over the barely conscious Betamon and raised his fist. "Now, its time to end this."

He quickly brought his fist down to smash Betamon, when he was suddenly hit with a massive stone and thrown aside.

"Ahh!" he yelled, a massive black and blue mark appearing on the side of his face,"Who through that?!"

He looked around at the other Digimon, but he could see that they were as equally surprised as he was. "What's going on here?"

"Where did that stone come from?" Hawkmon asked.

Yolei's expression turned to joy as she turned skyward. There, Nefertimon and Kari floated in the sky.

"Its Kari!" she yelled, happily,"Kari's back! She's here! Yes!"

Kari didn't say anything as Nefertimon dropped from the sky and landed in the sand. Kari hoped off and Nefertimon turned to Gatomon.

"So," Skullmearamon said,"You must be Kari, the reborn great Tai Kamiya!"

"We're not entirely sure about that one," Kari said, walking towards him,"But I do know that you're going down!"

"Ha!" Skullmearamon laughed,"We'll see!"

"Gatomon, are you ready?"

Gatomon nodded. She flung herself forward, with her fist extended. "Lightning Paw!"

Skullmearamon blocked her punch, with his palm. He then grabbed her hand and flung her aside. Gatomon landed on her feet and charged back at the fire demon. She jumped into the air, ready to punch Skullmearamon square in the nose. He brought his knee up and slammed her in the stomach. Then he elbowed her in the back. He grabbed her tail and swung her into the ground a few feet from him.

"Oh no," Kari said, "He's too strong for her. We're all doomed! There's nothing I can do. I should have been here before, instead of off by myself. Then maybe I could I helped them, this is all my fault! Just like when Sora was captured by Datamon. I was too scared to save her. I can only image what it was like for her, she never told me how she felt, and it was all because of me!"

Her mind was filled with the memory of her time as Tai. He was standing in front of the electrified wall with Agumon behind him. Tai slowly shoved his hand through the wall. Kari remember how she felt that day. Tai had saved her. He had overcame his fear for her, his emotions were swelling with....

"....love," Kari said to herself,"That was how I felt that day. I was in love."

When she looked down, she saw that the Crest of Courage was glowing brightly beneath her pink and white shirt. "I did it. Gatomon, he doesn't stand a chance now!"

Gatomon's eyes shot open and she jumped into the air. "What's this?" Skullmearamon asked.

"Its your end!" Gatomon shouted, kicking Skullmearamon in the stomach. He grabbed his wound and fell down on one knee. He glared up at her.

"You're finished," he said. He quickly brought his fist up, but Gatomon jumped up and dodged the attack.

She spun around and hit him in the face with her tail. She then began a barrage of punches at his chest.

"This is amazing!" Ken said as he watched Gatomon slaughter Skullmearamon, "I...I had no idea that something like this was possible."

"Gatomon is stronger than any of us," Hawkmon said,"Even stronger than Megaseadramon."

"Tai was the strongest," Yolei thought,"Is she really Tai? Or is Taichi still stronger than she is now? Who is the real Tai?"

Gatomon stopped her attack and pull her fist back for one final punch. She let her fist fly. It nailed Skullmearamon in the face and sent him soaring across the lake and slamming into the mountain side.

"I don't believe this!" Ken thought,"I'd better stay by her side if I want to live. I want to destroy the Dark Masters, out of revenge, but she wants to stop them, just because they're evil. Perhaps our goals are not so different after all. It appears I am now at her mercy. Only Taichi exceeds her in power."

to be continued...