Tai yawned and stretched lazily. "So what you got Izzy?"

Izzy grinned "Plenty." He sat down with Tentomon beside him on the floor of Tai, Matt and T.K's room. "Unfortunately I don't want to repeat myself so we should wait for the others."

Tai nodded and went back to stretching.

Matt grinned. "Note to self-To drive Tai crazy tie him down so he can't move."

Tai glared at Matt, then reached down to his toes. He straightened, then sat. "So any luck on your other project yet Izzy?"

Izzy shook his head. "It's going to be another three hours yet until the preliminary results are in."

Sora, Biyomon and Palmon walked in, followed by a very sleepy Mimi.

"Three hours? Till what?" asked Sora.

"Till Izzy starts looking for Keiran's real name," explained Matt. He looked around. "Where's Joe?"

"I'm here," replied Joe, walking in through the door while rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"You okay?" asked Mimi.

"Sure," responded Joe. "I just had a bad night, that's all."

"Well now that we're all here, are you ready to spill it Izzy?" asked Matt.

Izzy nodded. "But first, everyone check your translators are off." There was a brief flurry of movement as everyone checked their digivices. Once the commotion stopped Izzy started to speak again. "I gained much valuable information last night, and I plan to inquire further tonight."

Tentomon poked Izzy delicately with a claw. "So tell us Izzy, before we all die of old age."

Izzy flicked the on switch of his laptop. "Firstly, I've found information on five of our specialities within the Force." He turned to the two girls. "Sora, as we have already found can read minds with great skill. Mimi apparently has the ability to cast illusions and fool the senses."

"Wow!" cooed Mimi. "So I can make Tai run into a wall because he can't see it and stuff?"

"Hey!"

Izzy nodded. "That is my theory. You may wish to talk to Keiran about some one-on-one training. Apparently one of his fortes is also in illusion."

Tai stretched again. "So what about the rest of us?"

Izzy pointed at Tai and Joe. "Apparently both of you can see the future, which is what your danger sense is a manifestation of Tai. You see things that will happen only seconds away. Joe, however can see into the far future, but gets no perspective of time from it."

"And how can I use this skill?" asked Joe.

Izzy shrugged. "I have no idea. You should ask Master Skywalker." Finally he turned to Matt and T.K. "I'm sorry, but the Holocron didn't give me any information about either of you."

"What about you Izzy?" asked Sora. "Did the Holocron tell you anything useful?"

"Apparently not only can I absorb and expel energy, but I can use this ability to control machinery." Izzy frowned and concentrated. The screen on his laptop winked off. Izzy exhaled and rubbed a hand over his forehead. "First time I've tried that."

"What was it like Izzy?" asked T.K. curiously.

"Tiring," supplied Izzy. "It was like I could see the path the current was following. I just blocked it and it switched off."

Matt lent forwards and rested his chin in his hands. "I think you should practice this. We could then hack into computers from a distance."

Izzy nodded hesitantly. "I suppose, but it would require me to work incredibly fast in binary. That's just evil." He saw the others look confused. "Sorry guys. Computers weren't designed to be mind operated for a reason."

"Oh well," shrugged Tai. "Did you really get nothing on T.K. and Matt's powers?"

Izzy shook his head. "Nothing. But I would guess that T.K's abilities lie in telekinesis. He did pick it up much faster than the rest of us."

Patamon nodded. "You didn't see us in the forest yesterday. T.K. made the fort outta dirt for us to play in!"

"Yeah," grinned T.K. "A real big one with cannons and a big gate and everything!"

Matt looked miserable. "So I'm clueless then?"

Sora rubbed Matt's arm. "Don't worry Matt. You'll find out soon what you can do."

Matt smiled wanly. "Just my luck, first I'm a bad Digidestined, now I'm a bad Jedi."

Tai shrugged. "Did you get anything else Izzy?"

Izzy nodded. "You could say that." He pulled out a piece of flimsey from where it was hidden in his belt. "There was a prophesy in the Holocron. I was told that no one had ever translated it. Fortunately it seems to have been written in hiragana so we can understand it."

"So why didn't you romanise it and copy it into your laptop?" asked Matt.

Izzy snorted. "For all our security precautions, just let slip that I can read this unreadable prophecy? No, I just copied it and said that I'd try to work out a translation program."

Tai leant forwards. "So what does it say?"

Izzy cleared his throat.

"The undead king shall come for the Chosen,

What he gives with one hand he also takes,

The homeland will fall into his thrall.

The One-who-is-many and the Child of Light will dance,

Even in spite of the sorrow warned by the castle door,

Hope shall flee from the homeland and the sky shall weep at what is to pass.

The veil will lift from the homeland,

And will take courage in death,

And with hope all shall be restored to its former glory.

Then the undead king and the Beast will rise together from where they fell,

The Child of Light will give lifeblood to courage and friendship,

And all shall be as one for the Final Battle."

Izzy stopped reading and looked at the group.

"Japan," whispered Matt. "He's going after Japan."

Tai nodded, his face pale. "And he's going to kill me." He put his head in his hands. "Oh god, he's going to get Kari too!"

T.K. tugged Sora's sleeve. "Sora, I don't understand. Who's Kari?"

Sora spoke softly, so as not to panic Tai further. "Kari is Tai's little sister. She's about your age."

"So why is Tai crying? Izzy didn't say Kari is in the prophecy."

Sora sighed. "Kari is just her nickname. Her full name is Hikari."

T.K. nodded. "I get it. Light."

Agumon put a clawed hand on Tai's shoulder. "Just let Myotismon try to get you. We'll stop him, right guys?"

"Right!" replied the rest of the digimon.

Tai smiled thinly. "Thanks guys. But this is prophecy. We can't fight it."

"Ridiculous!" spat Izzy. "If we know what is to come we can avoid it. Time is flexible, it can change its course."

"But one prophesy about us already came true," countered Sora. "We defeated Devimon and freed File Island, just like Leomon said would happen from prophesy."

Izzy shot an annoyed glare at Sora. I'm trying to help Tai find his focus so he can start to fight this thing.

Gottcha Izzy, replied Sora, both parts of the conversation taking place well below Tai and Matt's threshold of 'hearing'. "But that fight was so uncertain, it could've gone either way."

Tai's grin warmed slightly. "Thanks Sora. I don't like to think of myself as a corpse."

"Then don't." She put her hand on Tai's other shoulder. "Myotismon doesn't know who he's dealing with."

Tai's smiled broadened to a proper one. "Well first chance we get we take the fight to him before he gets to our homes and families, agreed?" He got nods from the other six children. He rubbed one of his robes long sleeves over his wet eyes. "Well let's get moving. Izzy and I have a date with Master Skywalker."

Tai wiped a hand across his brow as both he and Izzy paused momentarily. He saw Izzy move his right hand off his 'lightsabres' hilt and move to rub it against his pant leg. Silly move Izumi. Tai lunged forwards, but Izzy danced neatly backwards, knocking Tai's sabre out of line using the sabre in his off hand.

"Nice try Tai."

Tai nodded to Izzy. "Nice feint." He circled round again. Izzy watched him warily, knowing that any move Tai made would be telegraphed though the Force first, then though the muscles of his torso. Tai darted forwards again and Izzy ducked under the blow and brought his elbow up into Tai's gut.

He backed off quickly as Tai folded over clutching his stomach.

"That was so not funny Izzy."

Izzy shrugged. "We've been at this for almost ten minutes. I'm struggling for ideas."

With that Izzy lunged forwards, into close proximity. Tai brought his sabre up in a parry, letting the two sabre's hilts connect.

"Silly move." Tai grabbed one of Izzy's wrists and twisted sharply. An audible crack was heard and the sabre dropped from Izzy's hands. Izzy back flipped one handed out the way, and caught Tai a glancing blow on the chin with his foot as it passed.

Tai massaged his jaw as Izzy put his hand out. His lost sabre returned, but Izzy was forced to use his left hand only. He held his right hand close to his chest in a protective manner.

"Let's finish this Tai."

Tai nodded grimly. "This has gone on long enough." He leapt forwards, aiming for Izzy's unprotected right side. Izzy twisted, letting Tai's momentum carrying him forwards.

Tai sensed the danger as Izzy brought his elbow up to strike his temple and turned the lunge into a forwards roll. He rolled clear and used the Force to spring him to his feet.

Izzy set himself again facing Tai and waited. Tai again concentrated on Izzy's weakened right side, this time using a broad swing that Izzy had to cross his arm across his body to deflect. At the last moment he altered the sabre's course so it swept down onto Izzy's leg. Izzy jumped, somersaulting over Tai's head. Tai continued his stroke round and up, spinning one hundred and eighty degrees to tap Izzy's side as the shorter boy landed.

"Gotcha!"

Izzy winced with the impact. He landed, then let his knees fold under him. He dropped the sabre and cradled his hurt arm.

Sora, who had been watching from the sidelines with Master Skywalker and Keiran, gasped as Izzy's barriers dropped, revealing wave after wave of pain.

Izzy rocked gently to and fro, holding his injured hand. Sora knelt beside him and wrapped an arm around the poor boy.

"Oh Izzy, I could hear that crack from way over there." She hugged him gently, for fear of hurting his wrist further, then helped Izzy to his feet.

Tai helped support Izzy on the other side, still using his free hand to rub his jaw. "I'm sorry Izzy. I was just caught up in the fighting."

Izzy shot an angry glare at Tai with tear-filled eyes. "You know, I don't believe this 'A Jedi feels no pain' crap at the moment. And I hope I put you in one tenth of what I'm feeling now."

Both Sora and Tai exchanged glances. It was the first time either of them had ever heard Izzy swear.

Sora motioned for Tai to back off. "I know you're not feeling too good Izzy, but taking it out on Tai isn't going to make you feel better."

Izzy inhaled deeply and Sora could feel his focus returning through the pain, re-establishing order in his mind. Matt came up and took over Tai's position at Izzy's side.

Izzy looked at him wryly. "You after a second chance to hurt me? Hit me when I'm down, so to speak?"

Matt shook his head. "I wouldn't do that to a friend. What Tai did was harsh."

Sora helped Izzy into the temple and onwards to the small room that functioned as the medical bay. "I don't think that was Tai, Matt."

Matt helped Izzy onto a bed. "What do you mean Sora?"

Sora sighed. "When Tai fights, it's like he's gone." She met Matt's eyes directly. "Something cold is there instead."

Izzy winced. "Like me you mean?" Sora looked at him. "I can get feelings from people too you know," he elaborated.

Sora shook her head. "With you, it's like you're not here. You're so quiet and still."

Izzy laughed humourlessly. "I so wish that was true. Some times I scare myself."

Matt raised an eyebrow. "I don't see why."

"I'm never alone." Izzy hugged his arm closer. "What are we to do now?"

Sora shrugged. "I don't know. I think Master Skywalker summoned someone as we left."

"He did."

Sora turned to see Joe walk in with Master Skywalker and Keiran. "Joe! I'm so glad you're here!"

Joe moved to Izzy's side and started to probe Izzy's wrist carefully. "I think Tai dislocated it Izzy. It's going to hurt putting it back in place."

"Oh joy," retorted Izzy. "More pain."

Sora took Izzy's hand. "Here, I'll help."

Matt put his hand on Izzy's shoulder. "Me too. Least I can do for the Izster."

Joe waited until all three were breathing in unison before snapping Izzy's wrist back into place.

Izzy's face turned a startling shade of white, and his mouth opened in a silent scream.

Sora and Matt scowled at him.

"We were here so you could share the pain," sniped Matt. "So why the hell did you protect us from it?"

Izzy breathed deeply, trying not to throw up. "I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Izzy, we volunteered to help, you didn't make us." Sora put her hands on her hips. "If we're your friends then we don't mind."

"'Scuse me," muttered Izzy and made a dash for the fresher.

Matt rolled his eyes. "He's way too stubborn for his own good sometimes."

"Sounds like someone else I know," muttered Joe. He dug around in some of the cupboards until he found a long reel of bandages.

Gomamon padded into the room. "Hey Joe, why'd you go running off like that?"

Joe pushed his glasses up his nose. "Master Skywalker called me. Izzy was seriously hurt fighting Tai."

"No kidding?" Gomamon moved around the room, his flippered feet making a soft thumping sound on the stone floor. "So where is Izzy?"

"I'm here." Izzy leant against the doorframe heavily, still pale and clutching his arm. "And this hurts like hell. Can we at least put a splint on it?"

Joe nodded and motioned Izzy forwards.

The shorter boy sat on the bed, his legs dangling over the side while Joe carefully wrapped the bandage around Izzy's wrist.

"I want you to rest your wrist, to give it a chance to heal," instructed Joe. "No drill, no typing with this hand."

Izzy nodded. "I don't think I would be typing with it, even if you didn't warn me not to."

"Give it a week or so before trying anything too strenuous."

Master Skywalker stepped forwards. "Perhaps now would be a good time to teach you all about the healing trance?"

Izzy nodded grimly. "I think that would be a wise consideration. I can't afford to be out of commission in case Myotismon attacks."

Izzy sat in his room gently typing with his good hand. While the lesson in Jedi healing techniques had been informative, it was still not an instant cure-all. He cross referenced through his search results and found four possible candidates for who the mysterious Keiran Halcyon could be. And the most likely of those is not the kind of person I would expect to be a Jedi. He examined the file marked Corran Horn again. A murderer many times over and a rogue policeman according to the Imperial file in the system, a Starfighter genius with a character beyond reproach according to the Republic. He sighed and looked at the next most likely candidate. Marcus Sandskimmer, ex-mechanic for a Y-wing fighter group. Current whereabouts unknown, last seen trying to track down Luke Skywalker, with intent to be tested for training as a Jedi. Apparently survived electrocution and was unbelievably lucky.

Izzy shrugged. Neither of the pictures looked quite right for Keiran. He saved both the files and went back to working on what the mysterious prophecy might mean.

Joe came in and patted Izzy on the shoulder. "Still searching for the identity of our mysterious teacher?"

Izzy nodded. "And I don't like what I've found." He showed Joe the picture of Corran Horn. "This man is the best fit for the available data, but the two files I've found on him paint very different pictures."

Joe skimmed the files and nodded. "Let's not forget that Keiran is a possible murder suspect for Gantoris's death. The Imperial file of this Horn would suggest him capable of killing for pleasure, and the older students tell me that Keiran and Gantoris didn't get on well."

"But," countered Izzy, "We know that the Republic and the Empire are bitter enemies. Is it that unlikely that one groups hero would be the others villain?"

Izzy looked up as Tentomon made a distinctive buzz from the doorway where he was keeping watch. The screen of the laptop winked off and the comlink levitated back to it's hiding place under Joe's bed.

A few seconds latter Kam Solustar walked in. "Hello."

Both Joe and Izzy inclined their heads in an abbreviated bow.

"Mr. Solustar," acknowledged Joe. "What can we do for you?"

"Actually, I wanted to talk to Izzy for a moment." Kam moved to Izzy's side and sat next to the boy. "Keiran is going on an expedition to the Blue Leaf temple and Master Skywalker wants someone to go with him."

Izzy held up his injured wrist. "I'm hardly a good candidate."

Kam shook his head. "We want you Tai and Sora to go with him. Between you if he finds his Master, you will be able to stop him."

Joe frowned. "I don't understand."

Kam leant forwards and spoke quietly. "Master Skywalker thinks that Keiran has fallen under the thrall of the dark side. The original survey team reported that there were some odd readings from the temple and it was declared off-limits. The Master thinks that some evil force lives there and is recruiting people like Keiran and Gantoris into his personal army. Gantoris found out he was fooled, tried to break free and…"

Izzy nodded. "I understand. We go along to make sure that Keiran isn't going to a secret meeting with this evil entity."

Kam patted Izzy on the shoulder. "You're a bright kid. You leave at daybreak. Can you tell Tai and Sora?"

"Sure," grinned Izzy.

Kam nodded happily and left the room.

Izzy's grin faded. "We are way in over our heads."

Joe nodded. "Bad enough that no one here is fully trained without someone actively trying to turn us to the dark side." He took his grasses off and started to clean them. "Plus don't you find it slightly worrying that our three strongest fighters are leaving the group?"

"But surely they want the three strongest to follow Keiran? I can block any energy attacks he makes, Sora will be able to tell if he's about to go over the edge, and Tai can defend us if Keiran attacks us," countered Izzy.

"But he has a lightsabre. A real one, not a fake one like we practice with. What could Tai do against one of those?"

Izzy shook his head. "We've got too many variables in play at the minute to even begin to work out what's going on. Maybe in this trip we can at least take Keiran's loyalties out of the equation."

Joe put his glasses back on. "Well we still have one Ultimate with Matt in case Myotismon attacks. I suppose that we'll be safe."

Izzy shrugged and slid off the bed. "Let's go find the others and tell them about this."

It's so cold. Matt pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders and looked around. Not again. Please not here.

A short distance in front of him he could see an image of himself and Tai talking.

"We've got to focus on the real deal here Matt!"

"Real deal?" asked his image.

"Do I gotta spell it out for you?" asked Tai. "Devimon."

Matt shook his head. No, not this. Tai and me, we're friends.

Friends? asked another part of himself. Crest of Friendship for someone who has none. Who ever is running the show has a fine sense of irony.

Shut up, Matt told the voice. In front of him the dream-Tai and Matt were rolling in the snow, locked in combat.

"Stop!" yelled Matt futilely at them.

They stopped and looked at him.

"Why should I stop?" asked Tai. "I hate you and your stubbornness."

Matt's reflection stood. "You fight because you want to be alone. Because friendship is not real."

"No." Matt pulled the cloak around himself even closer. "We've had good times together." Around him the image shifted and took on the form of Piximon's forest. "See? Here with Izzy I was happy. I connected."

"Connected?" asked an image of Izzy. "Why would I talk to you? You can barely string two words together. All of you are beneath me. You worst of all."

"I… I…" Matt struggled to find a denial.

"See? You can't even string together a basic sentence," retorted Izzy cruelly.

"MAAAAAAAATTTT!"

Matt spun round quickly. "T.K! Where are you?"

His brother hung by an ankle, held by Vegiemon.

"Let him go you vegetable!" Garurumon leapt out of nowhere and moved towards Vegiemon.

"Now now, none of that." Digitamamon leapt out and tackled Garurumon. Matt watched helplessly as they fought, same as before in front of the diner.

"Garurumon!"

Nothing. His crest remained lifeless. Garurumon screamed, then went down for a final time. Matt ran to his side.

"Garurumon! Get up!" He sobbed into the wolf digimon's thick fur.

"Matt… Why couldn't you help me?" Every word Garurumon spoke sounded like a death rattle.

"I… I… I tried." Matt pulled out his tag and crest from under his shirt. "It wouldn't glow."

"You saved me!"

Matt spun at his little brother's voice, but found T.K. talking to Joe.

"You saved me Joe. I love you! You're my new big brother!" T.K. gleefully grabbed Joe round the waist and hugged him.

"T.K…." Matt pushed himself to his feet. "T.K, I tried to help you… my crest… it wouldn't glow…"

T.K. turned to him with a cold glint in his eye. "Help? When did you ever help me? All you've ever done is keep your distance." His eyes took on a shiny tint and he looked like he was about to cry. "Where were you Matt? Where were you when I was all alone and scared?"

"I tried… I tried…" Matt sat down and drew his knees to his chest. "I try and I try and nothing ever works." He rested his head on his knees and sobbed.

"Matt." Sora's voice was gentle.

Sora! She's always kind and gentle. She looked after us all.

"Matt, it's okay to be useless. We don't mind the extra work of looking after you." She gently lifted his head off his knees. "We understand that you're not as good as the rest off us. We make allowances."

Tai walked in and snorted. "Speak for yourself. He's dead weight." He looked Matt in the straight in the eye. "Can't fight, can't think, can't even levitate a simple rock."

Izzy cocked his head to one side. "Maybe the scroll on our powers didn't mention his because he has none. Perhaps it was another kid at camp who should have come with us."

"Leave me alone!" yelled Matt at the dream-images of his friends. "I was just fine until you all came along and dragged me into this crazy quest!"

"I hate you!" T.K. stood before him, fists shaking in anger. "I hate you!"

The other Digidestined and digimon took up the chant. "Hate you, hate you, hate you, hate you…"

"No…" Matt cowered as the group advanced.

"Hate you, hate you, hate you, hate you…" They started to throw rocks and stones at him. "Hate you, hate you, hate you…"

Matt raised his arm to protect his face.

The mob's mantra increased in volume. "Hate you! Hate you! Hate you!"

"Why?" sobbed Matt. "I try to be a good friend!"

"Friend?" scoffed Tai. "What sort of friend would hit another?"

"What friend would abandon me?" asked T.K.

"Or make fun of me?" asked Izzy and Joe in unison.

"Or ignore me?" Mimi threw a rock that caught a glancing blow on Matt's temple.

Matt fell and the mob closed in, growing louder and more deadly. "HATE YOU! HATE YOU! HATE YOU! HATE YOU!"

The blows came thick and fast, raining down on his frame without respite.

"Stop," Matt choked out. "Please… Stop… I'll do better…"

"HATE YOU! HATE YOU! HATE YOU!"

Matt felt something inside himself snap. "I HATE YOU TOO!" The mob retreated slightly. "I hate your whining Mimi! I hate you're 'I'm better than you' attitude Tai, I hate how you use long words just to confuse us Izzy, I hate you Sora for being closer to T.K. than I am…" He turned to his brother and his voice dropped to a whisper. "I hate you T.K. I hate your whining, and snivelling and crying. I hate having to watch over you, to protect you, to care for you. I hate you for being good enough for Mom." He threw his head back and laughed manically. "I HATE YOU ALL!" He threw his arms out and lightning flew from his splayed fingertips, burning wherever they touched flesh. "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" Matt spun, burning down those who tormented him. "DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME!" He collapsed sobbing, the corpses of his so-called-friends surrounding him. "I hate you, hate you, hatehatehatehate…"

Myotismon smiled. Through the residual link with Exar Kun he could feel the Sith spirit's equal pleasure.

"Human suffering is such an exquisite sensation," he observed.

His suffering brings him closer to the dark side, reminded Exar Kun. See how he uses his fear and anger to burn them in his dreams? It will not take much before he will do the same in the waking world.

Myotismon smiled, baring his fangs. "Human children are such fragile creatures. No care is needed to break them." He took a moment to savour the memory of Friendship's mental anguish. "But the older students must be approached far more carefully."

Do you think Skywalker suspects me then?

Myotismon inclined his head slightly. "You are a master of your craft, weaving a web of lies with no gap in the weft." He felt Exar Kun's pleasure at the acknowledgement. "But Skywalker has crossed the line to the dark side before. He'll recognise it soon for what it really is."

Exar Kun laughed. Skywalker is a fool. He will be mine before he lifts the veil over his eyes. I have almost half of the students. Only your Digidestined and two others remain.

"And when they fall…"

I get an unstoppable Sith army, and your enemies are gone and you can rule your Digital Empire in peace.

Soft footfalls approached.

Myotismon faced his most loyal servant. "Ahh Gatomon. What have your observations revealed?"

Gatomon bowed low before responding. "Four leave at day-break for the Blue-Leaf temple."

Excellent. The crystal will weaken their defences to me even more.

Gatomon shivered slightly at the disembodied voice. "As you say my lord. What do you wish of me? To follow them or to remain at the temple as an observer?"

Myotismon considered this. "Follow them. They will lower their guard, as they will be outside the walls of the temple. They may reveal something that we can use against them."

"As you wish." Gatomon bowed again and withdrew from their presence.

She is a good servant.

"That she is. She will follow me until death."

Perhaps.

Something in Exar Kun's tone made Myotismon pause. "You believe that she will not remain true to me?"

She is like a crystal with the tiniest of flaws. If one applies pressure in exactly the right spot, she will split in two.

"I shall have her watched. If she shows sign of betrayal…"

I should like to deal with her. It would give me much pleasure to personally destroy again.

Myotismon nodded. "Very well. I see no reason why not." He smiled evilly. "But I would like to watch. Her suffering is something I would enjoy."

You should send your troops out tomorrow.

"What would it accomplish?" Myotismon was confused.  "You don't wish me to destroy the children."

But it will remind them that time is of the essence. And haste leads…

"To the dark side." Myotismon nodded. "I will send a force that they can match, not beat too quickly. It will force them to fight hard, and it means I need not tell my forces to hold back."

And if your forces should fall?

Myotismon smiled again. "They can always be replaced."

"So how far is this temple anyway?" asked Tai.

"Couple of klicks," replied Keiran. "And I still don't see why you brought your pets along. Surely they find all this walking uncomfortable." He looked at Agumon's bizarre gait.

"You'd be surprised at how used they are to walking," quipped Sora.

Keiran rolled his eyes. "Would you please explain some of your cryptic comments? It's driving me crazy!"

"We were stuck on a planet with no civilisation for about four months," explained Izzy. "Walking for that long kinda makes you adjust to it."

Keiran blinked. "You kids are making all this up!"

Tai rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I wish we were. We haven't seen our homes or families in four months."

Liar, Sora shot at him. You went home.

And I had to leave because I wasn't destined to stay. I had to leave my sister behind!

I hate to break this up guys, interrupted Izzy, but Keiran will start listening in on this in a moment.

"So where you from Keiran?" asked Tai. "Got any family?"

"Corellia. And my family is… Gone." He wiped at his eyes. "Can we not talk about it?"

"Sure," replied Sora. "In a way we've all lost our families. We understand how you feel." She pushed a branch out of her way. "So what now, we just walk in silence?"

"Pretty much," agreed Keiran.

Talkative, isn't he? asked Tai.

Oh come on Tai, we're both evading answering personal questions. Sora gave Tai her best disapproving glare. Maybe he can't tell us, like we can't tell him.

Well we learnt something. He said klick.

So what Izzy? asked Tai. I've said klick.

Did you know what it meant?

Tai flashed an image of him sticking his tongue out at Izzy.

It's military slang for kilometre.

So your military theory is getting more proof? asked Sora.

Yes. But remember both of my main candidates were in military organisations and I would rather that this was Marcus Sandskimmer than Corran Horn.

You and me both Izzy, agreed Sora.

Matt sat under a tree, Gabumon by his side, quietly playing the blues on his harmonica. His hands moved on their own, allowing him to think through what had happened the night before.

Why did I dream that? he asked himself. And why did I dream that I burnt them down where they stood? He looked over to where T.K. was helping Mimi practice her illusions. Everyone has a purpose, a skill. Even Joe is working with Master Skywalker inside somewhere on seeming the future. He took the harmonica from his lips and sighed. Except me. I have no purpose in the team.

Gabumon looked up at his partner. "What's wrong Matt? Why did you stop?"

Matt sighed again. "I've been having trouble sleeping." He played with the harmonica in his hands for a few moments. "Gabumon? Do you hate me?"

"What?" asked his confused digimon. "Matt how can I hate you? You're a part of me." He placed a fur-covered hand over Matt's fidgeting ones. "I stayed with you when you were sick on that snow island didn't I? And in Digitamamon's Restaurant? And the depths of Coruscant?"

Matt smiled slightly. "Thanks Gabumon. Now at least I know that there's one person who doesn't hate me."

"The others don't hate you Matt."

Matt smiled wryly. "That's what I keep telling myself, but a part of me won't listen." He moved the harmonica back to his lips and started to play.

T.K. smiled as he heard Matt's slow haunting melody from across the clearing. "Matt's the best big brother I could ever have."

Patamon stretched lazily in T.K's lap. "You're sure right T.K."

Mimi exhaled slightly. "What colour is it now?"

T.K. looked at the flower growing between them. "Still yellow."

Mimi sighed and opened her eyes. "I don't see why it won't work."

"Maybe you have to work harder at really wanting that the flower is another colour," offered T.K. "Master Skywalker always says 'Do or do not'. I think this is the sorta stuff it's meant for."

Mimi's brow wrinkled in thought. "But why should the flower change? It's perfectly pretty how it is now."

"I know Mimi," grinned Patamon. "You hate being dressed in green right?" Mimi nodded.

"So," continued T.K, "Why don't you make us think you're wearing pink?"

Mimi clapped her hands together in delight. "What a great idea T.K!"

T.K. blushed. "Aww Mimi. It was nothing."

Mimi again closed her eyes and fell into meditation. As T.K. watched the colour of her robe slowly shifted from green to pink.

Mimi opened her eyes. "Did it work?"

T.K. nodded, smiling. "You did it Mimi!"

Patamon got up and did a happy little jig. "You're pretty in pink." He stopped jigging. "Hey, did you guys hear that?"

"Hear what Patamon?" asked T.K.

The trees at the edge of the clearing rustled again.

"That!" Patamon stood on his hind feet in an alert pose.

Palmon moved to Mimi's side. "Trouble," said the plant-digimon.

Over by Matt Gabumon rose and sniffed the air. "Matt! Something's coming!"

Matt looked at Gabumon, then got up and started to run towards T.K.

He never made it as a huge dinosaur digimon ran into the clearing between the two groups.

"We're in trouble Matt!"

Matt turned to Gabumon. "Why Gabumon?"

"That's Triceramon!" explained Gabumon. "He's an Ultimate digimon."

"And he brought friends," cackled an evil voice. A small digimon with a head like a jack o'lantern advanced towards Mimi and T.K. Overhead Phantomon appeared along with a strange looking digimon in a wizard's hat.

"Those are Pumpkinmon and Wizardmon," explained Palmon. "Pumpkinmon is an Ultimate too, and Wizardmon is almost as strong as one!"

Matt paled. And they attack when Tai, Sora and Izzy are gone. That means I'm the only one here with an Ultimate digimon! He watched as Palmon, Gabumon and Patamon digivolved. Not good enough. We can't take them with just Champions.

Ikkakumon bounded out from the hanger, Joe riding on his back. The digimon slid to a halt besides Matt and Joe slid off.

"Matt," he acknowledged.

"Joe." Matt watched Ikkakumon join the fray. "We're in trouble."

Authors Notes: What is it with these chapters getting longer and longer? Oh well, they're fun to write. I hope you guys like reading this as much as I like writing it. To any Matt fans out there, I am so sorry for putting Matt through the ringer!

On a related note, for those of you who don't know what hiragana is, (Izzy mentioned it at the start of the chapter) it's one of the three Japanese alphabets.

The prophecy will come true. Anyone who can figure it out in advance will get a special prize!

The Matt-angsty bits and Myotismon's bit were written with 'Yami kara no Mezamase' playing, which is Myotismon's Japanese instrumental theme (Very baroque).

If anyone knows where Mrlsst is in the SW galaxy can you get in touch at fmb105@york.ac.uk as I can't seem to find it on any maps.