"Okay Tai, this better be important," said an annoyed Sora Ishida. "I'm missing a very important design session for this."

"You're not the only one who had to cut out of work early for this," added Cody.

"Look, I know you're all busy but this might be an emergency!" said Tai angrily. "Something isn't right with the digimon."

"'Something isn't right'? You dragged us out of work and you don't even know what's wrong?" growled Davis.

Veemon yawned deeply. "Don't argue Davis. He's just worried about us digimon."

Davis looked hurt. "And I'm not?"

"Just tell us what the deal is," said Yolei. "I've got housework to do."

"Okay, just calm down," said Tai. "I'm not sure why yet, but the digimon don't have as much energy as they should. Agumon thought it was just because they've been in the Real World for so long, but he and Tentomon have both been in the Digital World today."

"Yeah," agreed Matt. He looked at his partner Gabumon. "You were complaining all day about feeling tired."

"I was, but it's nothing to call an emergency about."

"It's the same with all of us," said Biyomon. "Just because we're feeling a little tired doesn't mean the world's coming to an end."

"I wouldn't be to sure," said Izzy. "Do you feel any different now that you're in the Digital World?" The digimon paused for a moment, but they didn't feel anything different from before. They told their human partners this.

"Maybe it's just old age," suggested Joe. "They are nearly thirty years old. They might just not be as spry as they used to be."

"Digimon don't age Joe," said Izzy. "At least, not in the same way humans do. Aside from digivolving, the body of a digimon doesn't change from birth to... rebirth."

"Then what could be causing the problem?" Mimi asked, looking at the drowsy Palmon with worry.

"That's what we're here to find out," said Tai.

****

After they finished eating lunch, Naki and the two digimon with her spent a sizeable portion of the afternoon napping in the Primary Village. Patamon and Salamon were noticeably tired despite the fact that they had rested well the night before. They tried to hide this from Naki, since they knew she had more she wanted to do, but she insisted to them that it was okay. For a few hours, Naki remained with the two digimon until the peaceful environment coaxed them into a deep sleep.

When Naki was sure they were asleep, she got up and sneaked out of the Primary Village as best she could. She knew Elecmon would have stopped her from leaving if he knew the digimon weren't with her. Luckily, she escaped without anyone noticing. When she was by the river once again, she cautiously walked to the spot where the voice had spoken to her.

"Hello?" she said softly. She looked left and right, but nothing appeared. "Are you here?"

*twinkle*

"Huh?" Naki looked to the source of the noise, and she was surprised to see the rainbow-colored butterflies that she saw before.

"Hello, young lady."

Naki gasped in surprise. She didn't think they could talk! They were way to small to be a digimon...and it sounded as if all the little butterflies were talking in chorus.

"W-what are you?"

"A more appropriate question would be 'who' am I. My name is Owikawa."

"Owi...kawa?" The name didn't sound familiar, but just saying it made her feel awe for the 'person'. "Are you a digimon?" The voice chuckled, and the multitude of glowing butterflies fluttered their wings, causing glitter to twinkle through the air. It was so beautiful that Naki almost didn't hear his answer since she was so lost in its splendor.

"Sometimes I wish I was, but I'm not quite one of them. It's a little complicated to explain, but I used to be human."

"Human? How can that be?"

"Like I said, it's complicated. Let's just say that in the Digital World, wishes sometimes come true in the way you least expect. Of course, that's what I'm here about."

"What do you mean?"

"I know that you are looking for your digimon. But please...no matter what, you must not find him."

Naki frowned angrily. "What?! Are you serious?!"

"Please, believe me. You cannot let this digimon go free. Even if he's your digimon, he cannot be controlled."

"I don't want to control any digimon! I just want a friend!" She turned and started walking down the riverside once again. "Besides, trapping a digimon is cruel, and I don't like people who are cruel to digimon! I'm not going to listen to you!"

"Wait, you don't understand!" Before Owikawa could continue, a chill wind blew through the forest. The glowing butterflies suddenly burst into a cloud of glitter, but Naki didn't notice. Owikawa's presence was banished from the forest, preventing him from warning her any more.

"I'm here!" Naki shouted to the trees. "I know you are too! Show me where you are, and I'll set you free!" There was no answer from the voice she hoped to hear, but the breeze grew chill and thick with a light fog.

"Can you hear me?!" she called out. "I'm hear!"

Suddenly, the ground began to rumble. The sky began to dim as the light was pushed away. Naki knew this wasn't natural, but she wasn't afraid. She knew she was supposed to be, but somehow it felt as normal as a rainstorm. Above the sound of the earth's shaking, Naki heard a voice call out to her.

(Naki! It's you!)

Naki smiled when she heard it. "Yes, it's me!" she shouted back. "I'm here!"

(Naki, help me!)

"I don't know how!" she called out. The rumbling grew stronger, and she had trouble standing. She fell to one knee and used one hand to keep steady. "How do I set you free?!"

(I can feel the force trapping me weakening! Just keep doing what you're doing! )

"What...I'm doing?" Naki looked around her. The sky above was totally dark, and the earth below was shaking violently. She never would have guessed it was something she was doing.

(Come on Naki...concentrate...)

Although Naki still didn't know how she could possibly be doing this, she obeyed. She was willing to do anything if it meant setting this captive digimon free. If he really was her digimon, it was her duty to save him...no matter what it took.

The girl closed her eyes, crossed her fingers and focused as hard as she could.

****

From the top of a very high cliff, Ken could make out something definitely out of the ordinary... and strikingly familiar. "Hey everyone, look!"

Everyone joined him at the cliff edge, and looked off towards the horizon. In the distance, a massive cloud of darkness hung over a patch of forest. Bolts of lightning struck the land under it, causing trees to burst into flames. Even as far away as they were, they could hear the rumbling that was resulting from whatever was happening down there. Although to most of them it looked like just another oddity of the Digital World, it was much more to Ken, Kari, and TK.

"Do you feel that?" Ken asked softly. "It's... the darkness."

"How can that be?" said Kari fearfully. "That place can't touch the Digital World anymore. We saw to that."

Patamon and the other digimon were shivering. The tiny digimon said ominously, "Something is trying to break free. Something... powerful."

"That's impossible!" said TK. "Who could be strong enough to break through a barrier as strong as the one we made?!"

****

Naki could feel something happening around her. She concentrated on her one objective as hard as she could- free her digimon. She didn't know how or why, but her will was strong enough to make her wish come true. The ground was shaking like the stronger earthquakes she'd felt in Japan in her short life. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stand up. She gave up trying, and simply focused on her thoughts, and the voice of her digimon.

That's it Naki! You're doing it! I can see your light!

"My...light?" she thought. Indeed, she was glowing, although she didn't know it. Around her there was a bright, silver light that illuminated the overwhelming darkness. Several yards in front of her, a pinprick of light of the same color could be seen. The dark clouds above her crackled with even more lightning, as the pinprick of light grew steadily bigger.

****

"What's that?!" Sora pointed at the spectacle below. Everyone could easily see the silver light that had appeared out of nowhere.

"I don't know, but I bet it's what's causing all this!" shouted Tai. "We've gotta get down there!"

"Right!" said the others. They pulled out their digivices and D3's, and the digimon prepped for the digivolving. Even though it had been years since they last done this, it was as Tai once said, "just like riding a bicycle".

Biyomon, digivolve to... Birdramon!

Gatomon, armor digivolve to... Nefertimon, the Angel of Light!

Hawkmon, digivolve to... Aquilamon!

Patamon, armor digivolve to... Pegasusmon, Flying Hope!

Tentomon, digivolve to... Kabuterimon!

Veemon, armor digivolve to... Raidramon, the Storm of Friendship!

Just at that moment, the silver light seemed to grow noticeably brighter for a second. Only Ken noticed this, but he attributed it to his imagination.

"Hop on everybody!" said Aquilamon. "It's been a while, but we're ready if you are!" Once two digidestined were seated on each flying digimon along with the digimon who didn't digivolve just yet, the team leapt into the skies and headed for the source of their discomfort.

****

Naki felt a sudden surge of warmth flow through her body. It felt so comforting, and it made the pain forming in her temples from straining so hard instantly disappear. With renewed strength, she concentrated with all her might. The rumbling grew almost deafening, and although her eyes were closed Naki could see a very bright light growing in front of her. It was like staring into the sun with your eyes closed, only instead of orange and yellow it was pure, silvery white.

Naki knew it might not be a good idea, but she had to see what was happening. Slowly, she opened her eyes slightly. She was still squinting against the glare, but she could make out a dark shadow in center. It wasn't just any shadow; it was something humanoid. It was shorter than she was, and obviously not human. It had a long snout, as well as clawed hands and feet, both of which were working hard. It looked almost as if the creature was pushing at the sides of the silver light before her, but Naki found that hard to believe. Despite the violently shaking ground making it difficult to move, the girl managed to run forward and try to help the shadowy figure through.

"Naki, it's you!" the creature shouted. It was the first time Naki had heard it's true voice. It was music to her ears.

"Hang on, I've got you!" she shouted. She clung to the small digimon with all her might. Her arms were chilled to the bone on the other side of the silver portal. It felt as if something was holding the digimon, but Naki didn't dare stick her head through to see what was there. If she did, it might try to take her as well.

"Don't let go!" the digimon growled as he tried to get free. Naki locked eyes with the tiny creature for the briefest of instants, and she discovered what it was she was holding. The Agumon looked into her eyes as well, and smiled as if he approved of what he saw.

"You're an...Agumon," she said with awe.

"Naki, hurry! The gate is shrinking!"

Naki returned her attention to the situation at hand. "I'm trying! I'm sorry but I'm not very strong!"

"Just focus! If you focus hard enough, your crest will do the rest!"

"My what?!" she cried.

"Trust me!" the Agumon said. "Just focus, quickly!"

Naki didn't argue. Still holding on to the digimon as hard as she could, the girl concentrated. Almost immediately, right in the center of her chest, a silver light appeared. It quickly spread outwards, and soon it reacted with the gate.

****

"We're almost there!" shouted Davis from Raidramon's back. "In just a minute, we'll be-"

Davis was interrupted by a sharp intake of breath by the passenger behind him. He could feel Tai's grip weaken as something grabbed his attention. Amazingly, it seemed like Tai's chest was glowing!

"What the heck is that?!" shouted Davis when he saw it. Just like Tai, the other older digidestined had glows coming from their chests. Even Kari and TK had strange points of light!

"What's going on?!" cried Mimi.

"This isn't what I think it is, is it?" said Palmon when she saw the shape of the light on Mimi's chest.

"It looks like their crests!" exclaimed Gomamon.

"They can't be!" shouted TK. As crazy as it was to suggest it, the glows really did feel like their old crests. But that was impossible; their crests were spent permanently at Gennai's request a long time ago to help protect the Digital World.

"What does it mean?!" Sora asked.

"Look!" shouted Yolei. She pointed to their destination. They had flown close enough to see the scene in more detail. They could all see a little girl, clinging to what looked like a dark-colored Agumon. She seemed to be covered in a glow much like that of the strange silver light before her. After a few moments, the others realized what was happening before them. Something from the Dark Ocean was moving to the Digital World!

"Little girl, stop!" shouted Tai. His "crest", and the crests of the others, grew dimmer as they neared, while the silver glow grew much stronger. There was a noticeable surge in the strength of the light. At the same moment, Raidramon and the other flying digimon seemed to falter, causing their riders to scream momentarily.

"Hey, what gives Raidramon?!" shouted Davis. "I know it's been a while, but you can't forget how to fly that easily?!"

"I'm feeling a little... woozy," complained Raidramon.

"Me too," added Birdramon. The massive bird's eyes shut, and for a moment she stopped flapping in mid-air. Gravity took over from there.

"Birdramon!!" cried Sora from the digimon's back. "What're you doing?!"

"Wake her up!" cried Mimi. The woman clung to her long-time friend so that she wouldn't fly off. Palmon, the digimon who had been more than a friend to her for an equally long time, clung to Mimi the same way.

"Kabuterimon, get her!" shouted Izzy. The insect, although woozy as well, dove earthward after the plummeting digimon. As they went down Izzy motioned to Joe and Gomamon. Following his lead, they climbed as close to Kabuterimon's head as possible.

"Heeeeelp!" shouted Sora. "Birdramon, snap out of it!" The bird obviously heard her, since she was struggling to regain her bearings. Unfortunately, she didn't have the energy to break out of her vertigo entirely. The effect was a random glide that made it difficult for Sora, Mimi, and Palmon to maintain any balance whatsoever.

"I've got you Mimi!" shouted Palmon.

"What good will that do?!" she cried back.

The ground was rapidly approaching, and at the speed Birdramon was falling at, it was near impossible for her to stop. At this speed, it would undoubtedly end with a spectacular crash that none of them would walk away from. In anticipation, Sora shut her eyes, while Mimi and Palmon simply clung to each other.

"Don't worry ladies!" Suddenly, Kabuterimon zoomed under the other Champion level digimon. "Help is here!" Using his massive bulk, the insect digimon got under Birdramon and got into position for what was to come. Using all the strength he had in him, the insect digimon flapped his translucent wings to try and slow the decent as much as he could.

"Brace yourselves!" shouted Izzy just before the two digimon crashed into the ground. The collision was massive and painful, causing dirt and rocks to spray everywhere. Thanks to Kabuterimon's efforts, the impact was light enough that the humans survived, although they were knocked away a few yards or so. Birdramon, aside from the precarious position she and Kabuterimon were in, was totally unaffected by the fall.

"Sora!" shouted Matt as Pegasusmon landed. As the others joined them as quickly as possible, Matt ran over to where his wife crashed. He cradled her in his arms, and tried to coax her awake. Tai purposefully avoided the little scene and went to where Izzy and Gomamon ten yards away.

The red-haired man groaned as he tried to get up. "Ughh... now I know why none of the Digidestined were as old as we are." He slowly stood up, his back cracking the entire way. "Or maybe it's just me whose out of shape."

"That was a crazy stunt you guys pulled," said Tai as Gomamon and Agumon went to help Joe up. "Luckily, it seemed to work. Kabuterimon's armored hide didn't get a dent in it."

"Yeah, but I would have liked it to be less climactic." Sora, Joe, and the others were finally revived, just as all the digimon had finished reverting to their Rookie forms (or Champion form in Gatomon's case). Once everyone was ready the team ran the rest of the way to where the silver light was.

"Come ooooon!" they heard the girl cry as they approached. She was still struggling against some invisible force, but thanks to whatever opposing force was on her side she was on the brink of freeing the dark Agumon.

"Little girl, stop!" shouted Davis. "You don't know what you're doing!" The last leader of the Digidestined ran to her and tried to separate her from the digimon, but the instant he touched her he was enveloped by a bright red glow and launched backwards. He flew through the air and landed in Ken and TK's arms, causing them to fall as well.

"Whoa!" exclaimed Yolei. "Did she do that?!"

"I hope not," muttered Tai. He and the others watched with deep-set fear as she wrenched the digimon free from the Dark world, just as the silver portal shut with a loud thunderclap. As she and the dark Agumon collapsed on the ground, the rumbling of the earth ceased and the dark clouds above parted, revealing a blue sky once more. All was silent. Nobody present, human or digimon, said anything because they were staring at something in the Agumon's possession. Actually, two things, neither of which they thought could possibly be there if they weren't seeing it with their own eyes.

One was a black-colored digivice of an unknown design. The other, was a similarly colored tag and crest.