Author's Note: As I said in previous chapters, this story is an alternate history. Though I plan to make connections to the actual eps, differences will abound. And I know that it's been pointed out that without Myotismon infecting Oikawa season 2 wouldn't have happened, but I have other plans for Oikawa which should work out. *EG*

The Enemy Attacks

Kiroptomon crouched on all fours just outside the boundary of Primary Village. He stared at a blank TV screen, waiting for it to come to life and bring his human to him. Joyce had asked him to stay and guard the Punimon, so he had. Once he had gone from being the cocoon-like Mikomon and the little round form of Mazamon, Kiroptomon had done all that he could to make himself useful to the Digi-destined. Just as long as he didn't have to digivolve to Ultimate and reveal his secret, he was quite happy.

The TV set turned on, a face peering through it. Kiroptomon backed away, knowing what would happen next. Sure enough, kids and digimon came tumbling through the opening from the real world into the Digital World. Kiroptomon looked around, the eagerness on his face fading when he saw that his human wasn't present. "Where's Joyce?" came Kiroptomon's terse greeting.

Davis shrugged off the bat-like digimon's worries as he ran a gloved hand through his tousled brown hair. "Look, Kiroptomon, you've got to remember she's an adult with a job. She can't spend all of her time here." Kiroptomon growled low in his throat, his tail thrashing angrily. "Look," Davis hastily amended. "You know that if there were a real emergency, she'd drop everything and come right away, just like the rest of us."

Kiroptomon turned and stalked off, calling out over his shoulder, "Come on. Let's get to work."

*~*~*~*~*

Ken Ichijouchi, once boy genius and pawn of the powers of darkness, watched for signs of his enemy. She'd made a mistake manifesting in his room, for now he knew what to look for. Laughter from nearby Primary Village drew Ken. Davis was teaching the Punimon soccer. Ken longed to join in on the game, to laugh and have fun like a regular kid... and forget about the past. He couldn't though, not yet. First he had to serve his penance, atone for the damage he'd wrought as the Digimon Emperor.

Perching on Ken's shoulder, Wormmon waited in silence. Ken knew that although Wormmon wanted Ken to go out and face the rest of the Digi-destined, the little green digimon understood his reasons for not doing so. "We need to find the enemy," Wormmon murmured. "She'll be here soon." His icy blue gaze rose and settled on the Control Spire which had not been there yesterday. Ken suppressed a shudder. The legacy of the Digimon Emperor lived on.

"Spirit needle!" The chilled feminine voice made Ken cringe. Clutching his D-3 and reminding himself that it was no longer the Dark Digivice, Ken scanned the horizon. The Control Spire was gone! That could only mean one thing. She was here; the enemy had come.

With a nod, Wormmon understood what came next. Drawing upon the ambient energy of the Digital World, he began the digivolution sequence. Within moments, the humanoid form of Stingmon stood where Wormmon had been before. "You must wait here, Ken!" Stingmon commanded before spreading his clear veined wings and flying to where the Control Spire had stood dark and defiant.

The enemy waited, her pale arms crossed in impatience. Dark glasses covered her face hiding emotion, silver hair spilled out from beneath a wide-brimmed hat. "So you've managed to digivolve," the cruel twist of the woman's lips formed a menacing sneer. "That's more than I expected from such a pathetic runt."

Stingmon lunged, pinning the woman against a tree with his talons. He scanned the woman's face, seeking... something. How could she remain so calm, show no remorse? Surely if she were truly human as she appeared, she would betray something other than that calculating smile. "You've got a choice, Stingmon. Destroy me, or go rescue your friends from the Thundermon I created. There's no time for both. Revenge or chivalry? What's it to be?" Stingmon had no words, no time for words. The insect digimon knew what Ken would want. He thrust the woman away and flew towards Primary Village.

*~*~*~*~*

Yolei scrabbled frantically at the rubble. How could this have happened? The Digi-destined had checked the tunnels beneath Primary Village yesterday and they'd been stable. The cave-in had come from out of nowhere, and Cody and Armadillomon were trapped! "Hang on, Cody!" Yolei shouted, though she knew her friend wouldn't be able to hear her. Even words felt like progress, seemed to bring her one step closer.

As she tossed rocks over her shoulder in the manner of the truly desperate, Yolei heard a rumbling below the ground. Another cave-in? God, she hoped not! By Yolei's side, Kiroptomon dug, plunging his wing talons into the rocks. "Don't die. Don't die. Don't die." The digimon's words became his mantra, forming a rhythm to which he dug.

Ahead of the diggers, the ground cracked and a head thrust its way through the new hole. "Hi guys! Like the new look?" the head asked with a familiar twang to the voice. Following the head came a body that was easily as big as a Tyrannomon, and heavily armored. Managing a clumsy bow, the Champion form of Armadillomon made a quick introduction. "Ankylomon at your service."

Cody waved down at his friends from Ankylon's paws. Relief flooded through Yolei, and laughing away the last vestiges of her fear, she waved back. Even as she was beginning to relax, what seemed to be a metal ball came flying through the sky straight at Cody. "Thundermon!" Ankylomon snarled, and cupped a paw over his partner. Thundermon changed course and smacked Ankylomon in the chest, sending the larger digimon stumbling backwards.

Another digimon came flying by in a green blur, grabbing Cody and setting him on the ground. Wasting no time on greetings, this new digimon called upon his attack. "Spiking strike!" An energy spear formed over his wrist and he charged Thundermon. As the attack connected, the digimon pressed on until Thundermon vanished, returned to particles of data.

"No!" The single word came not only from Yolei's throat, but was echoed by all of the Digi-destined. All eyes were fixed on the roof of one of the buildings they'd repaired. The strange digimon had returned to his previous form of Wormmon and had landed easily on Ken's shoulder. Tears stung Yolei's eyes. Hadn't Ken learned anything at all? The digimon were living creatures, not mere toys to be destroyed on a whim! "How could you do this?" Yolei shouted. "How?" Ken gave forth no answer, but merely turned and, with an easy leap down, walked away.

"I hope the Darkness does not again hold him in its grip," Kiroptomon murmured.

*~*~*~*~*

The ocean burned crimson and orange by the light of the setting sun. Waves frisked along the shore, bounding over each other like playful puppies. The scene was one Joyce had seen hundreds of times, yet never tired of. The fiery ocean held a magic all it's own for the young woman. If the weather had been warmer, Joyce would have brought her swimsuit enjoying a sunset swim. As it was, she merely leaned on the metal rail, still full of the day's heat, and waited.

A mere sliver of sun hovered over the horizon when Joyce heard the footsteps. Soft and rhythmic, muffled by the patent leather of which they were made, the steps came inexorably closer. Joyce never took her gaze off the water. "Beautiful, isn't it?" The voice, like the footsteps, was soft; it was deep, close to a rumble, the mood of it's owner impossible to determine.

Joyce's head bobbed in a half-hearted nod. "Yes, Oikawa, it is." Only now did she turn to look at the man who was more than ten years her senior. As always, Oikawa's face betrayed none of his thoughts. His dark, brooding eyes merely held the promise that whatever was going through his mind, it was more important than anything which surrounded him. His pallid skin seemed to absorb the sun's dying light and gave no sign of life in return.

"Why did you call me?" Business as usual, Oikawa never let the scenery distract him for long.

"The Digital World," Joyce answered simply. A hunger for dreams to be fulfilled flooded Oikawa's eyes. The answer had been enough. As children he and Hiroki had been able to see into the Digital World and longed to find their way there. Growing up, they had sought out and befriended Digi-destined, trying with no success to cross the border between the real world and the digital one. When Hiroki had died, Oikawa continued the work alone. Joyce had known Hiroki only briefly before his death, but had maintained the friendship with Oikawa since. Oikawa had been her support when digimon partner had been lost to her. Without him, she might very well have lost all will to live.

Oikawa gripped Joyce's arm. Joyce understood. She had his attention now. "The gates to the Digital World are open again. I've been and I've found Kiroptomon again. But... But there's been trouble." Joyce looked away, the thought of the ruined Primary Village coming to her.

Sliding his fingers under Joyce's chin, Oikawa lifted her gaze to his. "You will continue to keep me informed, will you not?" Joyce nodded. "Such a good girl," Oikawa murmured, stroking Joyce's cheek lightly. "Such a very good girl."

*~*~*~*~*

Well, that's it for this chapter. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed. For the next chapter, I plan on skipping over Hawkmon digivolving into Aquillomon, and Exveemon and Stingmon DNA digivolving. I'll just say it happened and move on into the intro of Black Wargreymon.