Takato slowly opens his eyes as he found out that he was on the floor. He put his hand to head as he had minor pain as he asked, "Where are we? What happened?"

Suddenly a voice replied, "Here Takato let me help you up."

"Huh? Oh thanks." Takato held out his hand, as he really didn't know who was addressing him. When he finally recovered and his vision focused. The moment he saw who had helped him up he was slightly stunned as he unexpectedly jumped back.

"Hey it's you!" Takato replied

I said back, "Yeah, it's just me. I'd think you'd be a little happier to see me. Well I see that all of you made it out of that portal safe and well. I just better check on the others just to make sure." I turned to see everyone still lying on the floor as I walked to each of them seeing if they were awake or not.

"Hey! Welcome to the digital world!" I shouted trying to get them back up.

The digimon managed to recover faster, I wasn't too surprise on that on account that they have done this before. Sure they didn't exactly remember it, but it's more experience then the children had. Renamon replied, "So this is the real digital world. It's strange that I don't remember any of it."

"Ah it's good to be back home!" Veemon shouted.

Leomon walked over to Jeri, "Come on Jeri, I'll carry you."

Guilmon approached Takato, "So do you think there's any bread in this world Takato?"

"Of coarse there is buddy. Just like Chronos said it's just liked the TV show." Takato replied

As I kneeling to see that Cody and Armadillomon were ok, Ken repeated just as I had done with Takato only with Henry. He asked, "So you're all right Henry? That was sort of a strange trip."

"Yeah I'm all right, dad. I mean, Ken." Henry replied as Terriermon climbed on top of his head.

"Still having trouble with this I see." Ken replied

Henry turned, "Yeah, sort of. I just can't get use to this."

"That's alright Henry, you can still call me dad if you want to. Remember Henry, I'm still Janyu Wong and Ken Ichijouji."

Henry dusted off his shoulder, "Yeah, thanks" he seemed to ignore Ken as he walked away from him. I saw them at the corner of my eye as I was tending with Cody. I'm not sure if Ken notices, but Henry is having a very hard time adjusting to these new settings. Perhaps though, I should keep my nose out of other peoples business and let them solve this on their own.

Seeing that Cody was ok as I helped him up I started to walk in front of the group. I peered off in the distance noticing all of the surroundings of the digital world. I noticed the beauty it expressed as well as the destruction and chaos left by this mysterious evil. Whatever this was, I knew this isn't going to easy. This type of destruction made my first trip to the digital world seem like a walk in the park. "Hey Chronos, what'cha looking at?" Davis asked me as he approached me. Takato and Guilmon as well followed Davis as they headed to the front of the group. While still having my eyes looking in the distance I held out both of my arms on my sides.

I informed, "Watch your step. We're on a cliff you know."

"Whoa thanks, dude!" Davis said as my hand had stopped him.

Takato looked at what I had looked upon. He gasped as he saw the darken areas, those where the places that the evil had destroyed. Dark smoke and ash was all that was left as Takato asked, "What happened to those places?"

I muttered, "The plague that invaded this world."

Suddenly a voice shouted, "Ah, so you've arrived."

We turned our heads to see a young man wearing a white robe with a hood over his head. He pulled back his hood revealing a young man; short pulled back brown hair, and blue eyes.

"Good to see you again Gennai." I replied.

"Hey it really is Gennai!" Takato shouted.

I walked over to him as we began to converse. He began, "So you managed to convince them of the troubles here in the digital world. I'm actually quite impressed you managed to bring them here."

"Thanks Gennai, I mean getting a compliment from a sage is quite an honor." I thanked him.

He said in return, "Former sage remember, I've given up that part of my life when resigned from the council. Oh, speaking of the council they instructed me that you should see them before you start off in your journey."

"Alright Gennai, fill them in on what's been happening. I'll get the rest of it from you after I come back from the time realm." I asked.

Gennai said, "Alright."

I turned to face everyone, "I'll be right back you guys. Gennai here will fill you in on what's been going on here in the digital world. So pay close attention."

As I was about to summon the portal Gatomon walked over to me. I noticed her presence as I turned to face her, "Did you want something Gatomon?"

"Uh, oh never mind. You just reminded me of someone I once knew." Gatomon replied

"Oh, ok. Well I better be off." She returned back to the group as she started to pay attention to what Gennai was telling everyone about. I however knew much more then her. I knew who exactly she was talking about, but I wasn't about to reveal that to her. I raised my hand once again and began to summon the portal back to the time realm. I thought as the tare began to form, "I wonder what the council wants to talk to me about?" I stepped into the vortex and abyss and headed back.

I appeared before the council in the bright and white corridor. I bowed humbly as they began to speak from above, "Keeper, I trust that your charges are safe and well."

I replied, "Yes, they have arrived safely and are eager to begin."

"Everything is going as plan, we've done our part. We rely on the strength of your charge to fulfill the task we have seen. However, we have some concern if they will be up to this mission."

I replied, "I have no doubt in my mind that they will come out as the victor."

"We feel reassured by this, but we still have our doubts keeper. Therefore, in order to further aid on their quest we send you."

I was a little confused, "But I thought you did send me, as their guide of coarse."

"We did keeper, but we are not talking about a guide. We are talking about a fighter."

Now I was even more confused, "But when I said if we could aid them on the fight, you said the dimensional laws set thousands of years ago binds us from meddling in others destiny."

"Quite right Keeper. We may be bound to send a keeper, but we are not bound to send a being of the same species. Just as we had sent you before and you took on a digimon form, so you shall do once again. Of coarse, we must take back most of the power you have learned here. But with you're training and talents you still will have a slight edge."

I said, "So your going to send me as a fighter, but you'll going to take all my time abilities away?"

"Not necessarily. We said most of your power, we are able let you use one of your time abilities once per day. You have mastered six of ancient techniques, astral shield, teleportation, pillage of time, recall, shadow phase, and stasis crystal. The moment you use one of these techniques you must wait another twenty four hours before you may use another."

I couldn't actually believe it. I was happy to help Gatomon and everyone, but what they suggested was I was going to be a mortal again. Sure I could use all my time abilities, but only ONCE! Could I do it? I haven't been mortal for more then 400 years, can I start now? I'll have too, for Gatomon's sake and the whole digital world. I nodded as they opened the portal for me.

"Go Keeper, obtain your previous form and aid the fight against the evil."

I bowed humbly and stepped through. Along the way however a minor detail hit me, as I was about to arrive. I remembered that the council said to take on my previous form. "That means they want me to be, uh oh this can't be good."

A blue tare cut down in the digital world. Thunder and blue lighting struck from the sides as it began to rip open forming a circular gate. Through the gateway, stepped out a youth clutching a gnarled staff. He jumped out and the portal quickly closes behind him.

"Hello Chronos, that was quick." Gennai replied, "Oh don't worry I'm finishing up the explanation right now, I'll tell you about it as soon as I'm finished."

"Thanks Gennai, but I have received new orders from." I rolled my eyes, as Gennai understood whom I was talking about. He asked, "And those would be?"

I replied, "You'll see, cause I have to do this as soon as I arrive." Closing my eyes and clutching my staff I regain the information of the digital world. Using my staff to draw the power and data of this world a bright blinding light formed and began to cover my entire body. High- pitched emanations screamed from the light as my transformation began.

Everyone was in awe as they saw the light surround me. Takato asked, "Gennai, what's he doing?"

"I believe his transforming." He replied.

"Transforming? Into what?" Rika asked.

Gennai said, "I'm not sure, usually when this happen a person like Chronos would change into a being from this world. That's how they would help others undetected. Although, I'm not sure why he's doing this now. Perhaps these are his new orders."

The light dulled and the noises soften as it was near completion. Finally I was done as I kept my eyes closed as I was now in a different form. Slowly my eyes opened revealing I was wearing a blue three-cornered hat with a skull placed on it. I had on a loose dull yellow jumpsuit with odd red markings here and there. I wore brown gloves and a blue cloak with mysterious markings within it. My staff had been transformed into a smaller golden rod with a sun-shape figure infixed on top. I had kept the same hair and eye color as well as my voice.

I rested my staff on right shoulder as I stood before them completely transformed.

"Hey it's Wizardmon!" Takato shouted.

Gatomon had crushed looked on her face as she slowly approached me. Not necessarily a crushed, but a look of longing and awe. She walked over to me as she muttered, "Wizardmon? Is that really you?"

I closed my eyes as I replied, "Yes Gatomon, it's me."

She stood before me as she continued to look upon me as I blinked slightly. I couldn't even to begin to understand what she was feeling now. Seeing your love that you thought died trying to save you, right in front of you. I lowered my head feeling awful for her.

She took one more step as our eyes slightly met now. Suddenly she made a fist out of her cat paw and swung right at my face as it sent be flying. I soared through the air as I hit the stone wall of the cliff we were standing at. She shouted, "You JERK! That's what you get for breaking you're promise." I was on the ground, as I didn't try to get back up for fear she'd hit me again.

"Gatomon!" Kari shouted as she protested her recent actions.

"Well I had to Kari, it's the same Wizardmon we met four years ago when we faced Apocalymon." Kari replied, "Still Gatomon, that wasn't very nice to do. Especially if that's really him."

I lifted one arm as I replied, "Yeah it's me." Veemon and Hawkmon rushed over to help me back up on my feet. "You all right dude?" Veemon asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, I expected as much from her." I explained.

"My, you took a direct hit in the face from Gatomon. Usually I don't see someone get back up so easily from that. Especially if she's really mad at you. I take it you know each other?" Hawkmon asked.

I nodded to answer his question and said back, "Listen Gatomon, I know you're mad. But we have to put this aside for now cause we have a bigger problem to tend to."

She shouted back, "NO! No we are not putting this aside. We are going to talk about this right now Wizardmon or Chronos or whatever you want to call yourself. Do you think you can just show up and I'll be able to forgive just like that! You got another coming if it's going to be that easy!"

Jeri asked Kari, "What did he do, Kari?"

"Well, as far as I can make any sense of this. The Wizardmon, which I'm guessing is him, supposedly died to save Gatomon and me from Apocalymon's attack. I also think they had a little thing for one another." Kari answered

"Oh well that explains some things." Jeri replied

Gennai intervene between Gatomon and me. "Hold on you two, it's pretty obvious you have some problems to deal with. But just as Chronos said Gatomon, we have to put them on hold. Now Chronos, why have you taken on this form? Is this part of the orders from." he rolls his eyes.

I nodded, "Yes, I'm suppose to help them in their fight against the evil." Suddenly a strange green aura appeared around me as it felt like something was being taken from me. A crystal appeared right in front of me as the aura was being drawn into the small figurine. As the last of the aura left my body, I fell upon my knees as I felt completely drained and was barely managing to get back up.

The crystal suddenly floated to Gennai's hands as he caught it. He asked, "What's this?"

I knew what had happened, "That's just my power of time sealed within that crystal. In order for me to fight with the group I had to give up that power. I believe they want you to keep it safe for me until I had finished my tasks."

"So you're completely defenseless then Chronos?" Gennai asked.

"No, I still have my power as Wizardmon and I am still permitted to use my six techniques once very 24 hours. So, I'll be fine Gennai, you don't have to worry about me."

Gatomon muttered, "At the moment your fine."

I pretended to ignore her comment as I turned to face the group. I replied, "So what did we discuss during my little leave of absence? Anything important instead of the usual evil plaguing a world?" Gennai walked over to me and placed his hand at my shoulder, "Basically I've obtain information that this dark entity is trying to obtain a powerful army. What makes this different then what either the digimon emperor or the dark masters did is it doesn't enslave the digimon. Instead it creates clones of them out of the data it's collected. I managed to find out that these clones aren't an exact copy of their real counter parts."

I replied, "Just like before when I first came here. Apocalymon some how obtained the power to duplicate the dark masters, only they too were not perfect. Could they have some connection between one another?"

Gennai replied, "Hmm.Perhaps, I wouldn't rule it out just yet, but for now we've formulated a plan. We've decided to split into two groups, one that I will aid and one that you will aid. We'll go out and obtain information on this plague and try to find the other six digidestined. However I'll only need four people. The places where we are going through are slightly hard to navigate around if I have a large group."

I turned to face the group, "Any volunteers?"

Everyone looked at one another not sure if they should or not. It was actually Cody who first steps out and raised his hand, "I'll go if anyone was waiting for someone to volunteer."

"Well if Cody was brave enough to break the ice, I'll be there right with him." Yolie shouted as he walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Come on TK, I think you should go with us. Since were living around the same apartment and all."

"Yeah TK, you should join the others." Davis replied.

Kari placed her hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry TK, I'll be all right. Yolie and Cody want you to go with them, why don't you?"

TK smiled back, "Alright Kari, I'll see you as soon as we meet up again."

"Well, I'll be the last person to join. It's not like you have a tamer yet." Jeri replied as Leomon followed her to the other side. "We're going to be all right, right Leomon?"

Leomon answered, "Of coarse Jeri, I won't let anything happen to you."

Jeri felt reassured that Leomon was going to protect her if anything bad would happen. She didn't really know what was going to happen, but she felt safe with Leomon being around.

"Well I've got my team of four, let's say we'll meet tomorrow over there beyond that ridge."

I nodded in agreement as the Gennai and his team of four turned around and started on their path down the cliff. I myself turned around to face my group of five, not counting the digimon. Since Gennai went that way we should head in the opposite direction. "Ok let's get moving.

We moved down the edge of the cliff we were on as I saw that most of them were silent. Gatomon still sneered and avoid me. Henry and Ken still were pretty distant with one another. Rika stayed quiet as usual as Renamon walked besides her. As a matter of fact, the only people who seemed slightly cheery were Takato and Guilmon as well as Davis and Veemon. I myself wasn't much for some small talk. Unfortunately for me, I was about to get some talk after all as Kari walked up besides me.

"Um, Wizardmon. I mean Chronos." Kari began.

I decided to play along as it seemed easier, "You can call me Wizardmon for now."

"All right, I was just wondering you still like Gatomon right?" She asked

"What?" I was caught off guard by the question, "What makes you think I liked her in the first place?"

"It may have been about four years ago, but I still remember that you had a crush on her. Remember, you admitted it to me before and then you saved her life all those times and even died.well.shielded us from Apocalymon's attack." Kari replied.

I was a bit stuck, I was counting on that she hadn't remembered what happened those four years ago. In reality I still had something for Gatomon. It may have seemed like four years to them, but it seemed only a few moments to me. But I knew she had moved on in her life. She had other interest in her mind, beings of her own species. Although it's not everyday your love had come back from the dead, I just couldn't be apart of her life.

"Kari, I know that you know we had something going on, but I just can't enter her life again. This time it might be for real, that I could actually die. I barely managed to get out of here the first time and that time I still had all my time abilities. This time, the evil much stronger and I'm limited to how I can perform my techniques. It would just be better if I wasn't distracted by Gatomon so I could focus better with the task at hand." I explained.

Kari insisted, "But you still haven't answered my question. Do you still love Gatomon?"

I looked to the side avoiding her, "Let's just continue on the path back down." I didn't want to admit it to her. Not now, I can't be distracted again. For this world and for Gatomon's sake, I'll keep my emotions to a dull roar. As we walked down the path Renamon quickly phased out and reappeared walking side-by-side Gatomon.

"What do you want?" Gatomon muttered.

Renamon replied, "I know you heard that. You heard your partner talk with him."

"Yeah so? What if I managed to hear what they said, what's it to you?" Gatomon sneered.

"I wish to know what your tamer wanted to know from Wizardmon." Renamon asked.

Gatomon responded back, "Get one thing straight, Kari's not my tamer. She's my friend and she's a digidestined not a tamer like your partner."

"I apologize then, but I wish to know if you still you still have feelings for Wizardmon?" Renamon asked.

Gatomon turned her head to look upon the yellow fox digimon, "None of your business! Go meddle in someone else's life and leave me out of it. Just continue on the path back down."

Renamon replied back, "You may not know it, but you can't admit it to yourself that you care for him deeply. Just like he can't admit it either. If you think I'm wrong, then why is it you say the same things as him and ignore the topic as much as possible? You have more in common then you think." she phased out and reappeared back to walking behind Rika. Gatomon looked the other way as she tried to ignore Renamon's comments.

Rika adjusted her eyes, "What were you doing Renamon?"

"I was just trying to find the truth Rika," Renamon answered.

After our little episodes between Kari and me, as well as the little conversation between Gatomon and Renamon most of us stayed quiet until we reached the base of the cliff. The only other noises we heard were the talking between Takato and Davis. They talked all about their exploits and adventures, especially Davis as I saw he liked to brag. I happen to also notice Veemon and Guilmon talked somewhat on certain things. Between those four beings, it made up for everyone else's shyness towards others. I however continued to keep my mind focus on a certain goal. And that was to seek out who was destroying the digital world and its inhabitants.

As we were at the foot of the cliff, I observed my surroundings seeing mostly the usual forest. It was actually quite a flash back to me as I remembered the forest from before. I remembered the times where Agumon, Gatomon, and me took on Puppetmon. I soon snapped out of it as I realized that I was daydreaming. I'll put the past behind me and continued my observation.

Henry approached me, "So where are we suppose to go anyway?"

I turned my head, "To tell the truth, I really don't know."

"Oh great, now he tells us." Terriermon replied.

"Well didn't Gennai say to try and find the six other digidestined?" Ken asked.

I turned to face him, "That's right Ken, perhaps you could use your digivices to try and find where they are? I mean as long as they have a signal you can track them down right?"

The tamers and the digidestined held up their devices around trying to pick up anything. Suddenly however something came into focus as my eyes wandered. It was something that didn't quite fit the natural scenery. It stood out as narrowed my eyes gaining better focus.

"Hey what is that thing!?!" Davis shouted as he pointed towards where I was looking. It appeared to be five blue flickering figures. It was sort of hard to see with the sun directly in my eyes, but as I tipped my three- cornered hat as I made out what it was. I muttered, "Meramon."

"Huh? What did you say Wizardmon?" Kari asked.

I pointed, "Those are Meramon out there."

Rika pointed her D-Power towards the figures. As she did this an small digital ring appeared revealing the a picture of a Meramon, "Let's see Meramon, a fire data type digimon, champion level. His attacks are fireball and roaring flame." She put her D-Power back down, "Nothing Renamon and I can't handle."

"Wait," I placed my hand in front of her causing her to pause.

"Wait? Why?" Rika asked.

I pointed towards them, "This isn't the same thing as it is in your world. Digimon wouldn't attack unless they were either being controlled by a dark ring/spiral or if they were actually control spire digimon. I'm not saying they won't attack, cause there's something weird about this."

"What do you mean Wizardmon?" Takato asked.

I pointed to them, "Remember the image that came from Rika's D-power. It showed that the Meramon were actually red, orange and yellow. But take a look, they showing off a bluish flame."

"So what's that have to do with anything?" Rika asked.

"A lot, I remembered Gennai had told me that the dark entity had created clones of different digimon. However they would be deformed and have details opposite of their original forms. Those Meramon are showing those signs all too well." I explained.

"Then why are you stopping us? We've handled champions before, it's not a big deal." Rika replied

"I know what Wizardmon is talking about. It was just like before when he first showed up. The clones of the dark masters were a lot stronger. I take it your still in you're rookie form." Gatomon explained. It was actually a surprised when she spoke out. She hadn't said anything other then the usual "I'm going to kill you Wizardmon" phrase. She seemed to fully remember the journey we took.

I replied, "I see you've remembered, Gatomon."

"Tck.I remember a lot of things. Don't think that I remembered that piece of information because you were in it. That was just pure luck that you just happen to be in it. I don't even remember when you had a least some importance in my." Gatomon continued.

"Ok I get it!" I interrupted, "Now let's just try and walk away undetected."

No sooner did I saw that a blue fireball hurled right in front of me. I stepped back to see that the five Meramon who was just standing there a few minutes ago must have noticed us and decided to attack. Ken shouted, "So much for going through undetected! Wormmon are you ready!?!"

"Wormmon digivolve to.Stingmon!" a huge green insect emerged from Wormmon's light. He quickly took flight soaring high above. He then plummeted towards the earth as he dived down extending one of his arms out as a purple blade appeared on his arm.

"SPIKING STRIKE!" he aimed for one of the five Meramon, as had direct aim. Unexpectedly however, the Meramon that he was aiming for grabbed a hold of Stingmon's arm. Stingmon was caught as the sheer grip of the Meramon burned Stingmon's arm. Smiling in an evil way, the Meramon tossed him aside into a tree like it was nothing.

"Stingmon!!!" Ken shouted as his friend was in trouble.

Henry turned to his partner. "Ok, time to do our part Terriermon." He takes a card out of his pocket. He then took is green D-power and swipes the card right through. "Digi-modify! Digievolution activated!" With the swipe of the card Terriermon felt the power surge through his tiny body.

"Terriermon digivolve to.Gargomon!"

The giant bunny emerges as he steps in front the children. "Hey! Pick on someone your own size you overgrown firefly!" He shouts as he puts his arms outward.

"GARGO-LASERS!" a barrage of energy blasts fire from Gargomon's twin guns on either hand. Repeatedly firing, it seemed that he wasn't doing any good. It actually look like the only thing Gargomon was doing was making them angrier.

Gargomon turns to Henry, "This can't be good Henry!"

"Hey Takato! Let's do this!" Davis shouts as Takato nods. As Takato looked for the proper card Davis held up his D-3 as Veemon began to glow. Finally as Takato finds the card he was looking for their two digimon began to gain strength and power. "Digi-modify! Digievolution activated!"

"Guilmon digivolve to.Growlmon!"

"Veemon digivolve to.ExVeemon!"

The two giant dragon type digimon step side-by-side Gargomon. They were ready to do battle, but they were still pretty much out numbered. Kari replied, "Gatomon, you have to help them." Gatomon nods her head as she and I step forward to aid the other digimon. All that was missing to have an even team was one last candidate. It would certainly be a cold day in Hawaii before Rika would miss out on a fight. She takes out a card from her pocket on her belt. She swipes it through and shouts, "Digi-modify! Digievolution activated!"

"Renamon digivolve to.Kyubimon!" the multi-tailed fox rushes forward to join us as we stared down upon our opponents. Many thoughts rushed through my head as to what will happen. I wasn't too sure if we were going to win or now. I didn't have the correct data to determine who was stronger, but judging on how well they took out Stingmon, we were definitely going to be in a fight for our life.

"Alright everyone! ATTACK!" I shouted as we charged for the five standing Meramon.