Authors Note: Here's ch2. I felt like posting a new chapter. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and please review! I promise not to sick Gatomon on you if you do ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. I just enjoy playing around with them.

Chapter 2: Keeping the present intact

A blond hared, blue eyed boy of 19 looked out his bedroom window. He always enjoyed watching the nature around him. It had a nice claming effect. Lately, that was the only thing that had comforted him. Prince T.K. knew of the upcoming war. He hatted the thought of his best friend declaring war on his kingdom. What's more he hated her so-called 'gift'. It was all lies. Why would he ever declare war on her? It had only been three and a half years since Princess Kari banished him from Salee, but to him it seemed like eternity. They had been best friends since they were eight and at sixteen he was beginning to realize that he was falling in love with her. He never would have thought it possible, but he couldn't deny his feelings. It hurt him immensely the day she banished him, but he couldn't get mad at her so, he became mad at her future sight.

Having everyone on his side, made T.K. feel better, but he wasn't sure if he could handle the idea of fighting his best friend. Sora had promised him that they would come to peace before anyone got hurt. That eased his mind, a little. He needed to find a way to get rid of Kari's future sight. Something he'd pondered day after day. So far he had no ideas. Matt had long given up on Sora, knowing full well that her heart belonged to Tai. Instead he set his sights on his long time friend, Mimi. Matt felt bad that he was the cause of T.K. being banished, but the damage had already been done. The fact that practically all his friends had paired up, didn't make T.K. feel any better about loosing Kari. One thing that was constantly nagging at the back of T.K.'s mind was, what if Kari didn't make it through the Forest of No Return?

A week had passed and Sora and Yolie had returned home to prepare for battle. Joe had stopped by Lilie to deliver some supplies. On his way out of the forest he stopped to see Izzy. Joe decided to stay and join Izzy for lunch.

"I wanted to ask you something," Joe began. "Have you been sensing anything like an evil aura?"

"No Joe. Why do you ask?"

"Well on my journey from Aria to Lilie, I noticed the forests shadows following me. At first they kind creeped me out, but I realized they were just trying to see if I was a threat. I have a nagging feeling that there is some kind of evil lurking around, waiting for the right time to strike."

Izzy pondered Joe's words carefully. If what Joe had said was true, then a lot of the previous events would make sense. Izzy knew all about the special crests and more importantly who they were given to. Kari had the crest of Light. She had become corrupted by her futuresight. If evil was trying to take over, Kari would be their first target and they would do anything to get rid of her. Izzy looked at Joe. "I think you may have the right Idea. We should inform the others of our suspicions."

* * *

Somewhere deep in the dark depths of an ominous forest, lay a small, moss covered hut. Evil was seeping out of every crack and anyone standing nearby would get chills just looking at it. Inside a small fire glowed sending an eerie light around the hut. A small woman sat in the middle of the hut, hunched over a book. A smile played on her cracked lips as she read the pages before her. She chuckled softly as she thought back on her well executed plan.

"It was almost too easy." She crowed to herself. "The innocent princess didn't suspect a thing. She thought I gave her the greatest gift, when I gave her, her ultimate downfall!" She laughed wickedly. "This little princess will destroy this world and I won't have to lift a finger. Once she destroys the crest of Hope, the others will fall easily. Light cannot survive without Hope and vice versa. All I have to do is plant images, into her mind, of 'possible' futures and she'll do the rest. She will never know what she's done until she sees all of her friends laying dead at her feet!" She cackled so loud the sound echoed through the forest. "Soon the crest prophecy will fail and evil shall rule all!"

The evil old witch closed the book and walked over to a pot which was placed above the fire. She lifted the lid revealing a merky liquid. The witch chanted something and the liquid began to swirl. It soon came into focus revealing the image of Princess Kari. The witch smiled as she watched Kari riding with her troops to Lilie. "It will be fun watching the Princess destroy her best friend and one true love!" The witch retrieved a chair and place it in front of the pot. She would enjoy watching this, indeed.

* * *

Everyone waited nervously, inside the gates of Lilie, for Kari to arrive. Their main goal was to try and persuade Kari not to fight. Yolie was outside the castle, in the forest, posing as a lookout. T.K. paced nervously while Matt tried his best to comfort him. Two hours past the noon meal, Yolie returned to report that Kari had been spotted about two hours away from the castle. The soldiers from Salee arrived after dark and set up Camp far enough away so as not to be seen. The plan was to attack at dawn and surprise Lilie.

Yolie suspected a surprise attack and left the castle after dark to scout around. Her premise was gathering food. If she happened to spot the troops, so be it. Not far from the castle, Yolie spotted the camp. She looked around to get her bearings and her heart sank. One of the most dangerous creatures, of this forest, had been following the army from Salee and was waiting right outside their camp. Waiting to make it's move.

Yolie's mind raced. She could see the creatures eyes glaring evilly through the woods. The saliva coming from it's mouth told her it was hungry. Yolie could kill the creature with one arrow from her bow, but it would require a perfect shot, straight through the heart. Otherwise the creature would split in two, multiplying before her eyes. Yolie had to act quickly. The creature was lightning quick and one bite, from it's poisonous jaws, would kill a person in seconds. She silently crept through the woods, getting a better position. She had the perfect shot when the creature seemed to disappear in thin air. Yolie cursed herself before closing her eyes to listen. She could hear rustling of the wind through the trees. She concentrated harder. It was hard to hear at first, but she could make out the sound of padded feet moving quickly through the forest. She pinpointed the location and opened her eyes, looking in the direction the creature should be. She silently moved through the camp, following the creature. She stood outside a tent and peered inside to see Kari fast asleep. Yolie looked around and caught the eerie electric blue glow of the creatures eyes. It's teeth were inches from Kari, when it spotted Yolie and dashed out of the tent. However, Yolie was faster and cornered the creature before it could run any farther from the camp. The creature turned right, then dashed to the left leaping over the dwindling fire. The creature, unknowingly, gave Yolie the perfect shot and her arrow sang through the air. The creature gave one last, high pitched howl, before landing dead at Yolie's feet.

Hearing the noise, the soldiers rushed out of their tents. They looked at the dead creature, then at Yolie trying to piece the puzzle together. Yolie kicked the creature into the fire and the fire roared to life. Yolie took one look around, the group of soldiers, before disappearing into the night. It would be dawn before Yolie made it back to Lilie. She woke everyone up, when she returned, and they were ready for any surprise attack Salee would try.

At dawn the soldiers from Salee were spotted outside the castle. The soldiers from Lilie were in place waiting orders. Yolie, Sora, Davis, Mimi, Ken, Matt, and T.K. were waiting from one of the towers. They saw Kari step in front of one of her soldiers to deliver one last speech.

"People of Lilie," Kari said, "This is your last chance. Surrender or be destroyed."

Yolie and the others exchanged glances. "We will never surrender!" Matt yelled. "All we want is to settle this peacefully."

"Lies!" Kari yelled back. "I'm only attacking you to save our kingdom from your kingdom. We know very well that you have been planing to attack us and make us your slaves."

"I think your futuresight has blinded you, Princess." Matt continued. "You would never attack your friends if you were seeing clearly. We ARE your friends and we refuse to fight you or make you our slave."

"Silence! I will hear no more of your lies and if you ever bad mouth my gift again, Ishida, I will personally hunt you down and kill you myself!" Kari retorted.

Everyone gasped. T.K. couldn't believe his ears. How could the young woman standing below and Kari Kamiya be one in the same? She may look like his best friend but she sure didn't act like her. Lilie's soldiers shifted nervously. They really didn't want to fight, but they had to protect their kingdom. Intense seconds ticked by as each army waited for the order to make the first move. Davis noticed Kari talking to her general. "Uh guys, I think we might have a problem." Davis said to the others, drawing their attention.

"Since you don't want to fight me and my soldiers don't want to fight you, I propose a compromise. You give me one thing from your kingdom that you can't live without, as a peace offering." Kari said.

"What's the catch?" Davis asked.

"Simple." Kari smirked. "Whatever you give me I will keep. For life."

Everyone looked at each other. What could they give her that was very important to them and yet they could part with forever?

"We need to discuss this." Matt stated.

"Fine. You have until tomorrow at the same time." Kari replied. Her troops left for their camp once again.