Ash looked around confused. He was in a large wood. All around him were trees that seemed to never end. The memory of what happened to Misty was fresh in Ash's head and nagging him. Ash glared at a tree and decided he had to find the others or someone who could help him get Misty back.. He started walking, but found nobody.

ASH: Hello? Is there anybody there?

He heard a gasp of surprise followed by a giggle.

ASH: Who's there?

He saw a flash of red hair and the face, but it was gone in a second.

ASH: I'm not afraid! Show yourself!

FEMALE VOICE: Ash?

TAI'S VOICE: Misty's Message!

Ash turned and saw Misty walk out of some bushes. He stared at her dumbly for a second before running over and hugging Misty tightly. She hugged back and let a few tears escape.

ASH::(trying not to cry) Misty, how did you escape?

MISTY: (sadly) I haven't. I don't got much time Ash. So just listen.

ASH: Where is this?

Misty sighed and smacked him with a mallet.

MISTY: Didn't I just tell you to only listen?

Ash nodded and she went on.

MISTY: There's a flaw in the Slave Chip that the Dark Masters don't know. When used on a human, it allows that person's consiouness to be free from the body and enter the Astral Plane when the body is not in use. That's where we are now. I managed to get you in here to so I could update you. It's been five days since I was captured. They use me mostly for slave labor. Luckily, the Dark Masters have said that they wouldn't lower themselves to have a human please them, but I'm not to sure. I think Puppetmon plans to do things with me when he gets me alone with him. Ash... I'm scared.

ASH: (comfortingly) Don't worry. We'll find you before anything happens.

MISTY: I... I know you will. the Dark Masters have recruited four Gesomon to attack today. I don't know when though, but be prepared. Gesomon are water types, so use Pikachu.

ASH: We'll beat them. Where are you though?

MISTY: We've temporarily made base in Puppetmon's mansion. I don't know for how long.

ASH: Misty.... you said that the capture was five days ago.... does that men I've been unconsious for five days?

Misty nodded.

ASH: How do I know this isn't a dream?

Misty reached into her pocket and pulled out a Cascade Badge. With a quick movement she broke it in half and gave part to Ash.

MISTY: When you wake, you'll have that half and I'll have the other," Misty said. "Uh oh. Ash. I'm being summoned. I gotta go.

ASH: Please be carfeul Misty.

MISTY: (smiling) I will Ash, but please hurry.

Misty then faded out. A few seconds later Ash opened his eyes and was staring at Sora's face.

SORA: (surprised and happy) Ash! Your awake!

Ash slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes.

PIKACHU: (throwing itself at Ash) PIKAPI!

Ash fell backward on impact and laughed. After a few minutes the two stopped and Ash sighed.

ASH: where are we?

SORA: We're in the villag of the Deramon.

Ashs sighed and felt something poke him. He reached down and stared at what was in his hand.Pikachu also stared at it in surprise and recogniaztion.

SORA: What is it?

Ash held it up between two fingers. It looked like it was half of a blue tear. Pikachu stared at it in recognizition.

ASH: (quietly) It's half of a Cascade badge. Sora... gather up the others. Tell them to be prepared for battle.

Sora looked at him criously, but left the room. A few minutes later all the Digimon and Digi-destined were in the room with Ash. Each of them had a slightly nervous look because of Ash's message.

KARI: Ash, whats going on?

ASH: (same quiet voice) Four Gesomon are heading here to attack and kill us.

GOMAMON:: (surprised) What?! Gesomon! How... how do you know?

ASH: I'll explain everything later. For now just trust me. They're coming and there is going to be a huge throw down here.

TAI: Then we better get out of here before they come.

ASH: No.

TAI: (surprised) Excuse me?

ASH: We're not running. I'm sick of running. All we've been doing is playing a defensive game.

MIMI: (shocked) This is not a game!

ASH: Yes, it is. For the Dark Masters, this is just a game. and we've been playing it by their rules.

Nobody said a word.

ASH: Since me and Misty got here, almost every battle was started by the Dark Masters. With the exception of that one time, we've done nothing but defense.. You all know it as well as I do.

MATT: He's right. If we are gonna win, we got to fight back.

Everyone slowly agreed with Ash, one by one, except for Tai. He did not like the shift of power that was happening.

TAI: (thinking) Who does Ash think he is? I'm the leader and I have more expeirience then him. I should be the one mking the orders.

AGUMON: Tai! Do you agree with Ash?

TAI: (dodging Agumons question) So what do you think we should do then Ash?

ASH: Joe, you got some brains. What's the most needed thing in war?

JOE: Ummmm..... Technology.

ASH: And if thats equal?

JOE: Numbers. Whoever gets the most guys will maybe win.

ASH: Exactly. Numbers. We have that, but not enough.

IZZY: What are you up to?

ASH: Split up into two groups. A Mega-Level Digimon in each one.One groups job will be to get allies. The other will go after Misty. Tai, you make the groups.

TAI: Izzy, Joe, Mimi, and Matt in ally group. The rest of us go for Misty.

MATT: All right. We'll get alot of good Digimon.

TENTOMON: Got that right!

:MIMI: But what about the Gesomon?

PALMON: Ash?

ASH: Mimi and Sora. Alert the Deramon about the approaching battle. We can win without them, but we don't need any of them dead. Also, find out if they're with us or against us.

They were about to leave when Tentomon blocked the door.

TENTOMON: Izzy, I think you should tell them whil we're still together.

Everyone looked over at Izzy.

IZZY: I.... all right. Look at this.

He punched a few buttons on his computer and brought up a map. He then highlighted a city and showed it to everyone.

GOMAMON: (reading) Floramon Valley. Population One thousand seven hundred thirty five.

IZZY: (grimly) Population... Zero.

PATAMON: Izzy.... what do you mean?

IZZY: The Dark Masters wiped out the town because we killed Machinedramon.

Everyone stepped back in disgust and horror.

GATOMON: (disgusted) Over seventeen hundred dead?

Izzy nodded.

IZZY: I think anytime we win.... they'll wipe out a Digimon town.

GABUMON: Then... what can we do?

PIKACHU: Pikapi... Pika Chu Chu Pika Pikachu Pi Pikachu Chu Pika! (Ash... I know its going to be hard to tell them, but you know what has to be done. Tell them.)

ASH: (quietly) We have no choice. We have to beat the Dark Masters. No matter the cost....

Ash looked at the ground. He felt like dirt. He could have just issued the death warrent on countless Digimon.... He didn't expect anyone to agree.

SORA: I'm behind Ash.

Ash looked up in surprise. Sora gave him a smile and looked at the others.

SORA: If there's collateral damage... so be it. We have to win. For all of our worlds.

Sora had to work to keep the tears back. Pikachu hopped onto her shoulder and gave a few pats.

JOE: (scared) But can we do it? Do we have enough strength?

MIMI: (very afraid) I don't think we can do it! We're not strong enough!

ASH: (quietly but strongly) It is the time for each of us to reach into our souls and pull out the courage we may not even know we possess. Our enemy is strong. But we are stronger, because we are fighting for our lives and our freedom. For our very existence.

Tai simply nodded. After that, what more could be said?

The other Digi-Destined slowly agreed. First Matt. Then T.K. and Kari. Then Izzy. Finally, Joe and Mimi slowly nodded. The Digimon smiled at their trainers. It was a grim smile.

TAI: I didn't think it would come to this. Mimi and Sora, Tell the Deramon.

MIMI: What should we tell them?

Tai looked over to Ash.

ASH: Tell them to prepare for war...