Chapter 1 - Leviomon
The bell rang, signalling the end of the class, and of the school day. The high school students breathed a sigh of relief, chatting amiably as they left the room. One, however, remained. He had spiky blond hair and was wearing the dull school uniform - gray trousers, green blazer. "Tai!" He called at the retreating class. "Come look at this!" "What is it, Matt?" A tall boy with wild brown hair turned and walked back. He recognised the shred of graph paper Matt was holding, and said, "It's from Ken! That boy genius in the grade below that Davis and the others made friends with!" He stopped to peer over Matt's shoulder and read the tiny handwriting aloud. ""Meet us in the computer room after school tomorrow. Wormmon told me some puzzling information. Tonight, Tai and Matt should please travel to the Digital World. Agumon and Gabumon need your assistance. Pass it on." At the bottom were seven signatures. "Looks like we're the last ones to read it, huh", said Matt. Tai nodded, and rose. "Let's go the computer room right now. We need to find out what's going on here."
When they reached the computer room, it was empty, save for one girl. Tai regarded her thoughtfully, then snapped his fingers in triumph. "That's it!" He said, "You're Jake's girlfriend, aren't you?" The girl turned. She was in the year below Davis, and had short brown hair, pinned back by a purple braid ending in a water-droplet shape. This swung around as she spun, flushed with embarrassment, to face the older boys. "He's not my boyfriend!" She muttered. "We're just friends, that's all." Tai laughed, and Matt grinned as he walked into the room. Jake was a good friend of Davis's. "What's your name?" Tai asked her. She smiled back coyly, and replied: "KT. Just KT." Tai looked confused. "I didn't know TK had a little sister." The young girl looked annoyed. "I'm not TK's little sister! Though I do know him. you're Taichi, right?" She considered. Swivelling on the spot, she said, "And you're Yamato!" He nodded, and sat down at a computer. Tai walked up to KT. "So what are you doing here anyway? Computer club's not until Friday." She studied him carefully for several seconds before reaching into her pocket and pulling out what looked a little like a smart, white-and-blue hand-held computer, possibly a Tamogochi. Tai's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. KT looked at him hopefully. "Do you know what it is?" She asked. "I came here to look it up on the Internet - it just appeared in my schoolbag. It may have been a present from someone. Breddy, Ali and Paul got one too. But I think mine's the coolest, it's the nicest colour." Tai held up a finger to stop her flow. He presumed Breddy and Ali were her friends, though he had never met them. Paul he vaguely knew to be the little brother of a girl in his French class. Focusing back on KT, still struggling with the significance of it, he uneasily explained. "KT, that's a Digivice. It wasn't a present from anyone; it's from the Digital World. But I wonder why the Digital World sent you and your friends one?" He seemed to forget that KT was even there, and began talking as if to himself. "This must be tied up with that note from Ken. Something's not right in their world." His musings were interrupted by Matt calling him over to his computer, and he motioned for KT to follow. On the screen, a little red light flashed on, and a box lit up with a grassy scene. Matt smiled grimly. "The Gate's open. Now it's time for us to go meet whatever - or whoever is in there, messing things up." He stood, and fished around in an inside pocket until he found what he was looking for. It was a Digivice, similar to KT's, but more square in shape. He held it out to the computer screen. "Boy, I haven't done this in a while!" He said, not quite concealing the nerves in his voice. Tai laughed, bringing forth another device from his own jacket. KT looked from one to the other, confused. "Just do like Matt did," Tai advised her. Did? She thought; but when she looked again at the computer, Matt was gone! He had completely vanished into thin air, and she gasped in shock. Quickly, she glanced under the table, but he was not crouched beneath it. Tai laughed and nudged her in front of the screen, standing next to her and holding his own Digivice out towards it. Slowly, she did the same.
Suddenly, she was flying through the air! Bright colours flashed around her, electric sparks and glowing tubes. She laughed giddily, enjoying the experience, and plunging forward into a dive. "Oooof!" KT landed heavily on a layer of soft, green grass. Luckily, this had padded her fall. She righted herself and brushed herself off, all the while looking around in amazement. She was standing on a grassy hill, in the open air. The sky was blue, and below her a dark forest swayed with the slight breeze. It was a beautiful landscape - still, she had to shake her head to try and get her thoughts in order. One minute a computer classroom, the next zooming through some electrical theme park ride, and now. this. Something felt different about herself, too. She looked down in surprise. She was no longer wearing the dull gray skirt and white necktie of the school uniform - now she wore tight-fitting, pale jade shorts and an aquamarine T-shirt with a yellow and green star fanning out from the centre. She admired this new outfit, privately thinking it rather slimming. "I still don't see why new people get cool new clothes and we get whatever we wore last," Tai muttered behind her. Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by a high-pitched voice. "Tai!" She glanced around, to see a very strange sight. A small, orange dinosaur, similar to a baby T-rex, was running across the grass. It was followed by an even stranger creature, coated with white fur with blotchy purple stripes, and a horn. From behind her came a thunderous outburst, as both older boys nearly rushed her off her feet in their hurry to reach the creatures. "Agumon!" Cried Tai as the dinosaur bowled into him, knocking him flat. "Hey, take it easy, big guy!" "Gabumon!" Matt called to the striped digimon, running to embrace it. As it got closer, KT could see that it was actually yellow and reptilian under the fur coat, with pink and blue markings on its belly. Its enormous front paws nearly dragged on the ground; but she had a suspicion that the powerful claws were just part of the skin it wore. KT watched helplessly as greetings were given all round. Somehow, she was not surprised to learn that these creatures could talk. The high-pitched voice, it seemed, belonged to Agumon; Gabumon had a throaty, deep voice. She felt awkward - not only were all the others males, they all seemed to know each other, and she barely knew even Tai. Matt she had seen once playing at a rock concert at school, but had never really talked to. She stared at the ground and occupied herself with scuffing her school shoes along it. Finally, there arose a pause in the active conversation. Tai seized this moment to say, "Hey Agumon, didn't you two have something to tell us? I thought you needed us, but you seem to be all right." "Yes, yes!" The dinosaur nodded vigorously. "We'll go to our Meeting Place. It's a glade a little way into the woods - very sheltered." Gabumon inclined his head in agreement. "And there's a little cave right nearby, which can be useful when we're not strong enough to digevolve." The digimon said. Matt looked worried. "But Gabumon, now that the Evil Emperor's been taken care of, why would you need to digevolve? I thought most digimon were friendly without those dark rings around them." "That's exactly what we need to talk with you about!" Exclaimed Agumon cheerfully. He did not seem willing to say any more as yet, so they shrugged and started off down the hill. KT felt something had to be done at this point. "Hey, what about me?" She shouted at their descending backs. Tai turned around guiltily. "Oh KT, I'm sorry! I forgot, you'll need to find out about those Digivices while you're here. We'll explain about the Digital World on the way to this Meeting Place Agumon told us about." KT gladly caught up with them, and was soon listening intently.
The digimon were right - the glade, when they reached it, was quiet, surrounded by thick trees and bushes. A canopy of twigs and leaves extended all the way over it, forming a secure roof; through which, green sunlight filtered down, filling the area with a dim glow. KT admired it as she sat on soft moss on the ground. "I think in a way, it all started with Ken," Agumon began. "Even when he as the Evil Emperor was defeated, the enormous extent of his evil remained - hidden, but existing. Then this new Dark Lord, as he calls himself, came along, and used it to strengthen his power. He has built himself a fortress, going deep underground." "But I don't understand - surely the digimon would fight him?" Said Matt. Agumon lowered his eyes. "Well, many of them did. Veemon and I helped lead their forces. But as you know, not all digimon are good. Some are evil by nature, bad to the core. The Dark Lord gave them immense power, and added his own mind powers to the battle." Gabumon suddenly looked intently at Matt and Tai. "Listen," he said. "I know you may not want to believe this, but it's true - I swear!" Tai looked uneasy. Gabumon took a deep breath before continuing. "That day, we all saw him return. He wore his cape, dark glasses - and he used Dark Rings!" Matt interrupted him by pounding his fist on the ground. "No! It's not true," he cried, "the Evil Emperor was defeated before. Ken's good now." His voice trailed off as it was cut off by another, louder, scornful one. "Ken? Ken? He never existed. I was always, and shall always be, the Evil Emperor!" Startled, all five looked up. They could see nothing beyond the leafy shelter. and suddenly, something immense came sweeping down, flattening their cover on one side of them. Sunlight poured in around a dark silhouette. All five of them cried out and moved aside to see the thing without being blinded. There, sitting atop a mountain of white fur, was Ken. He was no longer wearing simple white - now, he wore high black boots, a swirling dark cloak, and piercing shades. His normally tidy, well-groomed hair was wild and spiky, and his grin malicious. But what alarmed the boys and their digimon more was what he said next. "Ikkakumon, Birdramon, Kabuterimon, attack!" "Ikkakumon, Birdramon, Kabuterimon?" Tai yelled in disbelief. But Matt laid a hand on his arm to restrain him. "Tai, they're not themselves. See there!" He said, pointing. Around Birdramon's leg, Ikkakumon's foreleg, and Kabuterimon's waist, were three Dark Rings. Tai looked up fearfully. Four pairs of glowing red eyes towered over them (Kabuterimon had two). But his reptilian digimon shook him out of his reverie, and immediately he shot into action. "KT, run for the cave!" He shouted, gesturing in the opposite direction. She hesitated a moment, not willing to leave the boys on their own; but decided to follow his advice, and hared off. Tai and Matt turned back to the descending monsters with determination, and held out their Digivices again.
Twigs thrashed her face and bare arms, roots tried to trip her up; but within moments, KT was within sight of the cave. It was no more than a thin crack in a cliff face - of course, she thought, this made it a better hiding place. Just before entering, she glanced back - the sight that met her eyes held her for a moment longer. A giant insect, flaming bird and enormous white, fluffy walrus were pouncing down on where she had left Tai and Matt, and she shrieked as she realised there was no way Agumon and Gabumon could hold off those giants. She had left them, and run like a coward! (She did not remember that in fact she would only have got in their way, and that running was by far the most sensible thing to do.) But then, two huge shapes rose up out of the trees. One was a vast orange dinosaur with blue stripes, wearing a horned skull. The other was a white wolf with purple stripes, three whip-like tails, and feathers sticking out from its shoulder blades. Each took on a foe --the wolf leaped at Birdramon, spewing ice from its jaws; the dinosaur lunged for the white walrus, and for the Evil Emperor standing atop it. But the massive blue insect sped round behind them, evading blows from each creature. KT couldn't stand it any longer, and ran inside the cave. It was dark inside, and she waited for a minute to let her eyes adjust to the dim light. What light there was seemed to be coming from deeper inside the cave, so she walked nervously on. The floor was rocky and slimy, the air stale. The light grew slightly brighter as she turned a corner, and she gasped as it faintly illuminated a large cavern, with dripping stalactites hanging from the ceiling, far above and deep in shadow. It was vaguely circular in shape, and the walls and floor glistened with moisture. But the thing that demanded the most attention was on a raised platform, right in the centre of the cave. A very thin line of light emerged from around the rounded object, and KT went cautiously closer to inspect it. It looked like a water-coloured Easter egg. It was pale turquoise, with a bright blue design on it. A frill ran over the top of it, ending on what she assumed to be its front in a small red spike. Nervously, KT prodded it, then jumped back in case it was about to hatch. She glanced around for a parent, but could see no other sign of life. The glow seemed to be coming from beneath the egg. Slowly, she stepped up to the platform and rested her hands on it. It was smooth, and pleasant to touch. She took a deep breath, and tugged at it. It came away surprisingly easily, but she barely noticed. For where the egg had rested was a hole, and from this hole shone a brilliant ray of blue light, so bright it almost hurt her eyes. She gazed at it in wonder - it was beautiful. Within the ray of light, a hazy shadow seemed to be forming. Within moments, it had grown into a large ball, becoming more and more solid. And finally, two bright, turquoise eyes flickered open within it. KT goggled. Before she had time to move out the way, a large blue lizard sprang out from the light. This was the haze within, and this was what the eyes belonged to. Its mouth was opened wide in a broad grin, and there were sharp red claws on its webbed feet and down its back. Its back legs bent forward, like a human's, but it stood on all fours. It was bright blue, with a pale aqua belly and water-droplet shape on its face. KT squealed as it jumped at her, but all it did was hug her as if she were an old friend. "Heehee!" It giggled in a shrill, nasal voice. "I'm Leviomon, and I'm gonna be your partner from now on! I can't wait to get started! Who are you? I like your braid!" And he stopped chattering to finger the blue droplet in her hair. KT let out an astonished breath. So, now she had a digimon of her own, just like Tai, Matt, Davis and all the others! "I'm called KT," she told him, as there seemed to be nothing else to say. "Just KT? What does it stand for? What's that noise?" He asked abruptly, cocking his head on one side to listen, though KT could see no sign of any ears. A loud roar sounded from outside, followed by a crash. A howl went up, ending in a yelp, and another loud roar. "The others!" KT said in horror - she had forgotten all about them! With Leviomon hard on her heels, she ran from the cave, out into dazzling bright sunlight. "What others? Who's that? Garurumon!" He cried suddenly. He was serious as he talked rapidly now. "KT, I have to digevolve! Garurumon's down, though he took Birdramon's ring with him - I can see Biyomon now, she can't do anything useful really.Greymon's weakening! I gotta help!" KT stared at the scene before her. Greymon, the dinosaur, was wrestling with Ikkakumon, the walrus - between them, they were flattening the landscape. A small pink bird was fluttering helplessly around them, sending tiny attacks at Ikkakumon and the Evil Emperor. The white wolf was struggling for breath, panting in a mess of burnt and frozen trees - even as she watched, it diminished in size until it was an exhausted Gabumon, who Matt came running to protect against Kabuterimon. A grim determination came over KT, and she knew, somehow, what had to be done. Narrowing her eyes, she held out her Digivice and focused all her energy into Leviomon.
Before he knew it, Leviomon was in a world of colour, of dancing figures and writing in thousands of languages. Two designs - crests, she knew that now - flashed before KT's eyes, and she knew also that the first, the same as on the egg and her Digivice, stood for Fortitude; the second for Knowledge. The digimon felt the spirits of Tentomon and Kabuterimon, Veemon and X- Veemon soar within him. With a light-hearted and rejoicing laugh, he shouted with all his might: "Leviomon digevolved to." What? What did he digevolve to? He could barely contain his excitement as he grew in size, darkened slightly in colour, lost his back legs but acquired a powerful fluked tail. Finally, a bright red skull with a horn on the nose appeared in his hands, and he rammed it on his head. ".Mermon!" He realised. Taking a deep breath, he roared with all the might of the ocean waves, loving the depth and force in his new voice. And then, he caught sight of the battle scene. Kabuterimon was swooping down upon a weak Gabumon, and Matt trying to shield him with his own body; the Evil Emperor was clutching a Dark Ring in his gloved hand, preparing to use it on a pinned Greymon - but was struggling because Tai was attempting to wrestle it off him. Mermon growled angrily. He didn't like that annoying, evil person. Just as Kabuterimon had opened his claws and was baring his many. pincers, for lack of fangs - a blue jet struck him full in the waist. He screamed as it sent him sprawling on the ground, shattering the evil Dark Ring, and reducing him to a small, red bug - Tentomon. Ikkakumon found himself thrown off Greymon and sent flying by a powerful sweep of Mermon's tail. Greymon clambered unsteadily to his feet, but could not uphold his digevolved form any longer, and shrank to fall into Tai's arms. Mermon dragged his huge body, more suited to water than land, over to the fallen Ikkakumon. The vast digimon looked up at him, baring long tusks and rolling maddened eyes. Coolly, Mermon lifted Ikkakumon's heavy front paw up to his mouth, covered as it was by the strong skull, and clamped his teeth down hard. There was a sharp crack, and Ikkakumon gasped in astonishment as shards of black metal cascaded from Mermon's jaws. Mermon spat. The taste of those Dark Rings was disgusting, and he vowed always to crush them underfoot in future. Suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked down. KT was hugging his wrist, cheering.
"I'm very sorry about the trouble we caused." Gomamon, a white-and-purple digimon with huge front feet and an orange crest, apologised. Biyomon smiled, as much as one can with a beak. "Thank you for saving us! I'd hate to think I'd killed my friends!" She said. Tai laughed. "It was no trouble, guys. We'd better get back and tell the others - this Dark Lord sounds like we'll need reinforcements." "Yeah, I have to get back tonight. My band's got a gig on the day after tomorrow, and we really need to practice." Matt agreed. "We three'll go find a computer; I'm sure I can log us on to the communications system. Izzy and the others will be wanting to know how we are!" Said Tentomon. And with that, the three digimon descended the hillside, into a beautiful sunset. The rosy light of the sky reflected in Leviomon's wide eyes as he chattered to KT and the boys. "Are we going to your world now? What's it like? Agumon and Gabumon, you've been there before, haven't you? Maybe I'll have to pretend to be a stuffed toy too! I like stuffed toys. Do you have any, KT? I'm better than any stuffed toy! What's that smell? I sense evil in the air, do you too?" Agumon and Gabumon exchanged fearful glances. "The Dark Lord." Whispered Gabumon. Agumon sprang to his feet. "Quickly! Quickly! We've got to get back! KT, you and Leviomon go first." He said. Yawning, KT heaved herself up. She would move faster, only. she was so tired. Tai and Matt were soon on their feet, Agumon fiddling with a small screen on the ground. "There!" He proclaimed. "The Gate's open. Now. Gabumon! What is it?" For Gabumon was galloping down the hillside. Looking closer, KT could see a red shape darting towards him. "It's Lyomon!" The purple-striped digimon called back up. Agumon's eyes widened. Tai looked from one to the other in confusion. Then, his attention was pulled back to Leviomon. "There is evil in the air. it's getting close! KT, we must go, quickly! Matt, Tai, please, hurry! I think. I think the Dark Lord's tampering with the Gate between the worlds!" This brought in new panic. Matt and Tai feverishly ran down to where Gabumon had the newcomer in a fierce embrace, and Agumon was pattering towards them. But KT had no time to watch, for she suddenly felt herself shoved forward by a still babbling Leviomon. His pleading eyes bore into hers, and she felt instinctively that she must heed his warning. With a last, desperate glance behind her, she held out her Digivice as she had done before, and let the colours, sparks and tubing wash over her, filling her with a momentary joy and carefree feeling. Next to her, Leviomon was beside himself, and she looked forward enormously to introducing him to her world.
"What's up, Lyomon?" Cried Agumon, "Where are Megmon and the girls?" Lyomon was a rusty red digimon with enormous forepaws and claws to match, but smaller back legs with no claws at all. She had a simple, weaselly tail ending in a black tip, and a creamy belly. Her face was straight but slightly dog-like, her ears were drooping and rounded, with black at their base; her eyes were orange and fierce, with black markings underneath running down her muzzle. When she spoke, her upper canines revealed themselves to be bigger than the rest, and stuck out even when her mouth was closed. "Our. our mission failed." She said sadly. Her voice was husky, but still sounded, as did all Rookie digimon's, like a youngster's. There was a tone that suggested she herself had not accepted this news, and was just hearing it for the first time. "Thir, Nabu, Megmon. the Dark Lord took them and locked them up with the rest of the digimon awaiting Dark Rings." She looked at Agumon, but at Gabumon in particular, and said with a sudden desperation: "Please! I need your help! Otherwise." She was cut off by an outraged shout from above. "Gabumon! Get back here! Leviomon said the Gate's gonna close!" The digimon opened his mouth in agonising indecision; and as Agumon started scrambling back up to Tai, who was waiting impatiently, he quickly turned back to Lyomon and whispered, "We'll come back!" When he next looked back, she was gone. Tai and Matt ran with their digimon back up the rest of the way, skidding to a halt in front of the miniature screen. "No. I don't believe it." Matt murmured. No red light flashed, the screen was blank except for six letters:
ha ha ha
The bell rang, signalling the end of the class, and of the school day. The high school students breathed a sigh of relief, chatting amiably as they left the room. One, however, remained. He had spiky blond hair and was wearing the dull school uniform - gray trousers, green blazer. "Tai!" He called at the retreating class. "Come look at this!" "What is it, Matt?" A tall boy with wild brown hair turned and walked back. He recognised the shred of graph paper Matt was holding, and said, "It's from Ken! That boy genius in the grade below that Davis and the others made friends with!" He stopped to peer over Matt's shoulder and read the tiny handwriting aloud. ""Meet us in the computer room after school tomorrow. Wormmon told me some puzzling information. Tonight, Tai and Matt should please travel to the Digital World. Agumon and Gabumon need your assistance. Pass it on." At the bottom were seven signatures. "Looks like we're the last ones to read it, huh", said Matt. Tai nodded, and rose. "Let's go the computer room right now. We need to find out what's going on here."
When they reached the computer room, it was empty, save for one girl. Tai regarded her thoughtfully, then snapped his fingers in triumph. "That's it!" He said, "You're Jake's girlfriend, aren't you?" The girl turned. She was in the year below Davis, and had short brown hair, pinned back by a purple braid ending in a water-droplet shape. This swung around as she spun, flushed with embarrassment, to face the older boys. "He's not my boyfriend!" She muttered. "We're just friends, that's all." Tai laughed, and Matt grinned as he walked into the room. Jake was a good friend of Davis's. "What's your name?" Tai asked her. She smiled back coyly, and replied: "KT. Just KT." Tai looked confused. "I didn't know TK had a little sister." The young girl looked annoyed. "I'm not TK's little sister! Though I do know him. you're Taichi, right?" She considered. Swivelling on the spot, she said, "And you're Yamato!" He nodded, and sat down at a computer. Tai walked up to KT. "So what are you doing here anyway? Computer club's not until Friday." She studied him carefully for several seconds before reaching into her pocket and pulling out what looked a little like a smart, white-and-blue hand-held computer, possibly a Tamogochi. Tai's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. KT looked at him hopefully. "Do you know what it is?" She asked. "I came here to look it up on the Internet - it just appeared in my schoolbag. It may have been a present from someone. Breddy, Ali and Paul got one too. But I think mine's the coolest, it's the nicest colour." Tai held up a finger to stop her flow. He presumed Breddy and Ali were her friends, though he had never met them. Paul he vaguely knew to be the little brother of a girl in his French class. Focusing back on KT, still struggling with the significance of it, he uneasily explained. "KT, that's a Digivice. It wasn't a present from anyone; it's from the Digital World. But I wonder why the Digital World sent you and your friends one?" He seemed to forget that KT was even there, and began talking as if to himself. "This must be tied up with that note from Ken. Something's not right in their world." His musings were interrupted by Matt calling him over to his computer, and he motioned for KT to follow. On the screen, a little red light flashed on, and a box lit up with a grassy scene. Matt smiled grimly. "The Gate's open. Now it's time for us to go meet whatever - or whoever is in there, messing things up." He stood, and fished around in an inside pocket until he found what he was looking for. It was a Digivice, similar to KT's, but more square in shape. He held it out to the computer screen. "Boy, I haven't done this in a while!" He said, not quite concealing the nerves in his voice. Tai laughed, bringing forth another device from his own jacket. KT looked from one to the other, confused. "Just do like Matt did," Tai advised her. Did? She thought; but when she looked again at the computer, Matt was gone! He had completely vanished into thin air, and she gasped in shock. Quickly, she glanced under the table, but he was not crouched beneath it. Tai laughed and nudged her in front of the screen, standing next to her and holding his own Digivice out towards it. Slowly, she did the same.
Suddenly, she was flying through the air! Bright colours flashed around her, electric sparks and glowing tubes. She laughed giddily, enjoying the experience, and plunging forward into a dive. "Oooof!" KT landed heavily on a layer of soft, green grass. Luckily, this had padded her fall. She righted herself and brushed herself off, all the while looking around in amazement. She was standing on a grassy hill, in the open air. The sky was blue, and below her a dark forest swayed with the slight breeze. It was a beautiful landscape - still, she had to shake her head to try and get her thoughts in order. One minute a computer classroom, the next zooming through some electrical theme park ride, and now. this. Something felt different about herself, too. She looked down in surprise. She was no longer wearing the dull gray skirt and white necktie of the school uniform - now she wore tight-fitting, pale jade shorts and an aquamarine T-shirt with a yellow and green star fanning out from the centre. She admired this new outfit, privately thinking it rather slimming. "I still don't see why new people get cool new clothes and we get whatever we wore last," Tai muttered behind her. Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by a high-pitched voice. "Tai!" She glanced around, to see a very strange sight. A small, orange dinosaur, similar to a baby T-rex, was running across the grass. It was followed by an even stranger creature, coated with white fur with blotchy purple stripes, and a horn. From behind her came a thunderous outburst, as both older boys nearly rushed her off her feet in their hurry to reach the creatures. "Agumon!" Cried Tai as the dinosaur bowled into him, knocking him flat. "Hey, take it easy, big guy!" "Gabumon!" Matt called to the striped digimon, running to embrace it. As it got closer, KT could see that it was actually yellow and reptilian under the fur coat, with pink and blue markings on its belly. Its enormous front paws nearly dragged on the ground; but she had a suspicion that the powerful claws were just part of the skin it wore. KT watched helplessly as greetings were given all round. Somehow, she was not surprised to learn that these creatures could talk. The high-pitched voice, it seemed, belonged to Agumon; Gabumon had a throaty, deep voice. She felt awkward - not only were all the others males, they all seemed to know each other, and she barely knew even Tai. Matt she had seen once playing at a rock concert at school, but had never really talked to. She stared at the ground and occupied herself with scuffing her school shoes along it. Finally, there arose a pause in the active conversation. Tai seized this moment to say, "Hey Agumon, didn't you two have something to tell us? I thought you needed us, but you seem to be all right." "Yes, yes!" The dinosaur nodded vigorously. "We'll go to our Meeting Place. It's a glade a little way into the woods - very sheltered." Gabumon inclined his head in agreement. "And there's a little cave right nearby, which can be useful when we're not strong enough to digevolve." The digimon said. Matt looked worried. "But Gabumon, now that the Evil Emperor's been taken care of, why would you need to digevolve? I thought most digimon were friendly without those dark rings around them." "That's exactly what we need to talk with you about!" Exclaimed Agumon cheerfully. He did not seem willing to say any more as yet, so they shrugged and started off down the hill. KT felt something had to be done at this point. "Hey, what about me?" She shouted at their descending backs. Tai turned around guiltily. "Oh KT, I'm sorry! I forgot, you'll need to find out about those Digivices while you're here. We'll explain about the Digital World on the way to this Meeting Place Agumon told us about." KT gladly caught up with them, and was soon listening intently.
The digimon were right - the glade, when they reached it, was quiet, surrounded by thick trees and bushes. A canopy of twigs and leaves extended all the way over it, forming a secure roof; through which, green sunlight filtered down, filling the area with a dim glow. KT admired it as she sat on soft moss on the ground. "I think in a way, it all started with Ken," Agumon began. "Even when he as the Evil Emperor was defeated, the enormous extent of his evil remained - hidden, but existing. Then this new Dark Lord, as he calls himself, came along, and used it to strengthen his power. He has built himself a fortress, going deep underground." "But I don't understand - surely the digimon would fight him?" Said Matt. Agumon lowered his eyes. "Well, many of them did. Veemon and I helped lead their forces. But as you know, not all digimon are good. Some are evil by nature, bad to the core. The Dark Lord gave them immense power, and added his own mind powers to the battle." Gabumon suddenly looked intently at Matt and Tai. "Listen," he said. "I know you may not want to believe this, but it's true - I swear!" Tai looked uneasy. Gabumon took a deep breath before continuing. "That day, we all saw him return. He wore his cape, dark glasses - and he used Dark Rings!" Matt interrupted him by pounding his fist on the ground. "No! It's not true," he cried, "the Evil Emperor was defeated before. Ken's good now." His voice trailed off as it was cut off by another, louder, scornful one. "Ken? Ken? He never existed. I was always, and shall always be, the Evil Emperor!" Startled, all five looked up. They could see nothing beyond the leafy shelter. and suddenly, something immense came sweeping down, flattening their cover on one side of them. Sunlight poured in around a dark silhouette. All five of them cried out and moved aside to see the thing without being blinded. There, sitting atop a mountain of white fur, was Ken. He was no longer wearing simple white - now, he wore high black boots, a swirling dark cloak, and piercing shades. His normally tidy, well-groomed hair was wild and spiky, and his grin malicious. But what alarmed the boys and their digimon more was what he said next. "Ikkakumon, Birdramon, Kabuterimon, attack!" "Ikkakumon, Birdramon, Kabuterimon?" Tai yelled in disbelief. But Matt laid a hand on his arm to restrain him. "Tai, they're not themselves. See there!" He said, pointing. Around Birdramon's leg, Ikkakumon's foreleg, and Kabuterimon's waist, were three Dark Rings. Tai looked up fearfully. Four pairs of glowing red eyes towered over them (Kabuterimon had two). But his reptilian digimon shook him out of his reverie, and immediately he shot into action. "KT, run for the cave!" He shouted, gesturing in the opposite direction. She hesitated a moment, not willing to leave the boys on their own; but decided to follow his advice, and hared off. Tai and Matt turned back to the descending monsters with determination, and held out their Digivices again.
Twigs thrashed her face and bare arms, roots tried to trip her up; but within moments, KT was within sight of the cave. It was no more than a thin crack in a cliff face - of course, she thought, this made it a better hiding place. Just before entering, she glanced back - the sight that met her eyes held her for a moment longer. A giant insect, flaming bird and enormous white, fluffy walrus were pouncing down on where she had left Tai and Matt, and she shrieked as she realised there was no way Agumon and Gabumon could hold off those giants. She had left them, and run like a coward! (She did not remember that in fact she would only have got in their way, and that running was by far the most sensible thing to do.) But then, two huge shapes rose up out of the trees. One was a vast orange dinosaur with blue stripes, wearing a horned skull. The other was a white wolf with purple stripes, three whip-like tails, and feathers sticking out from its shoulder blades. Each took on a foe --the wolf leaped at Birdramon, spewing ice from its jaws; the dinosaur lunged for the white walrus, and for the Evil Emperor standing atop it. But the massive blue insect sped round behind them, evading blows from each creature. KT couldn't stand it any longer, and ran inside the cave. It was dark inside, and she waited for a minute to let her eyes adjust to the dim light. What light there was seemed to be coming from deeper inside the cave, so she walked nervously on. The floor was rocky and slimy, the air stale. The light grew slightly brighter as she turned a corner, and she gasped as it faintly illuminated a large cavern, with dripping stalactites hanging from the ceiling, far above and deep in shadow. It was vaguely circular in shape, and the walls and floor glistened with moisture. But the thing that demanded the most attention was on a raised platform, right in the centre of the cave. A very thin line of light emerged from around the rounded object, and KT went cautiously closer to inspect it. It looked like a water-coloured Easter egg. It was pale turquoise, with a bright blue design on it. A frill ran over the top of it, ending on what she assumed to be its front in a small red spike. Nervously, KT prodded it, then jumped back in case it was about to hatch. She glanced around for a parent, but could see no other sign of life. The glow seemed to be coming from beneath the egg. Slowly, she stepped up to the platform and rested her hands on it. It was smooth, and pleasant to touch. She took a deep breath, and tugged at it. It came away surprisingly easily, but she barely noticed. For where the egg had rested was a hole, and from this hole shone a brilliant ray of blue light, so bright it almost hurt her eyes. She gazed at it in wonder - it was beautiful. Within the ray of light, a hazy shadow seemed to be forming. Within moments, it had grown into a large ball, becoming more and more solid. And finally, two bright, turquoise eyes flickered open within it. KT goggled. Before she had time to move out the way, a large blue lizard sprang out from the light. This was the haze within, and this was what the eyes belonged to. Its mouth was opened wide in a broad grin, and there were sharp red claws on its webbed feet and down its back. Its back legs bent forward, like a human's, but it stood on all fours. It was bright blue, with a pale aqua belly and water-droplet shape on its face. KT squealed as it jumped at her, but all it did was hug her as if she were an old friend. "Heehee!" It giggled in a shrill, nasal voice. "I'm Leviomon, and I'm gonna be your partner from now on! I can't wait to get started! Who are you? I like your braid!" And he stopped chattering to finger the blue droplet in her hair. KT let out an astonished breath. So, now she had a digimon of her own, just like Tai, Matt, Davis and all the others! "I'm called KT," she told him, as there seemed to be nothing else to say. "Just KT? What does it stand for? What's that noise?" He asked abruptly, cocking his head on one side to listen, though KT could see no sign of any ears. A loud roar sounded from outside, followed by a crash. A howl went up, ending in a yelp, and another loud roar. "The others!" KT said in horror - she had forgotten all about them! With Leviomon hard on her heels, she ran from the cave, out into dazzling bright sunlight. "What others? Who's that? Garurumon!" He cried suddenly. He was serious as he talked rapidly now. "KT, I have to digevolve! Garurumon's down, though he took Birdramon's ring with him - I can see Biyomon now, she can't do anything useful really.Greymon's weakening! I gotta help!" KT stared at the scene before her. Greymon, the dinosaur, was wrestling with Ikkakumon, the walrus - between them, they were flattening the landscape. A small pink bird was fluttering helplessly around them, sending tiny attacks at Ikkakumon and the Evil Emperor. The white wolf was struggling for breath, panting in a mess of burnt and frozen trees - even as she watched, it diminished in size until it was an exhausted Gabumon, who Matt came running to protect against Kabuterimon. A grim determination came over KT, and she knew, somehow, what had to be done. Narrowing her eyes, she held out her Digivice and focused all her energy into Leviomon.
Before he knew it, Leviomon was in a world of colour, of dancing figures and writing in thousands of languages. Two designs - crests, she knew that now - flashed before KT's eyes, and she knew also that the first, the same as on the egg and her Digivice, stood for Fortitude; the second for Knowledge. The digimon felt the spirits of Tentomon and Kabuterimon, Veemon and X- Veemon soar within him. With a light-hearted and rejoicing laugh, he shouted with all his might: "Leviomon digevolved to." What? What did he digevolve to? He could barely contain his excitement as he grew in size, darkened slightly in colour, lost his back legs but acquired a powerful fluked tail. Finally, a bright red skull with a horn on the nose appeared in his hands, and he rammed it on his head. ".Mermon!" He realised. Taking a deep breath, he roared with all the might of the ocean waves, loving the depth and force in his new voice. And then, he caught sight of the battle scene. Kabuterimon was swooping down upon a weak Gabumon, and Matt trying to shield him with his own body; the Evil Emperor was clutching a Dark Ring in his gloved hand, preparing to use it on a pinned Greymon - but was struggling because Tai was attempting to wrestle it off him. Mermon growled angrily. He didn't like that annoying, evil person. Just as Kabuterimon had opened his claws and was baring his many. pincers, for lack of fangs - a blue jet struck him full in the waist. He screamed as it sent him sprawling on the ground, shattering the evil Dark Ring, and reducing him to a small, red bug - Tentomon. Ikkakumon found himself thrown off Greymon and sent flying by a powerful sweep of Mermon's tail. Greymon clambered unsteadily to his feet, but could not uphold his digevolved form any longer, and shrank to fall into Tai's arms. Mermon dragged his huge body, more suited to water than land, over to the fallen Ikkakumon. The vast digimon looked up at him, baring long tusks and rolling maddened eyes. Coolly, Mermon lifted Ikkakumon's heavy front paw up to his mouth, covered as it was by the strong skull, and clamped his teeth down hard. There was a sharp crack, and Ikkakumon gasped in astonishment as shards of black metal cascaded from Mermon's jaws. Mermon spat. The taste of those Dark Rings was disgusting, and he vowed always to crush them underfoot in future. Suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked down. KT was hugging his wrist, cheering.
"I'm very sorry about the trouble we caused." Gomamon, a white-and-purple digimon with huge front feet and an orange crest, apologised. Biyomon smiled, as much as one can with a beak. "Thank you for saving us! I'd hate to think I'd killed my friends!" She said. Tai laughed. "It was no trouble, guys. We'd better get back and tell the others - this Dark Lord sounds like we'll need reinforcements." "Yeah, I have to get back tonight. My band's got a gig on the day after tomorrow, and we really need to practice." Matt agreed. "We three'll go find a computer; I'm sure I can log us on to the communications system. Izzy and the others will be wanting to know how we are!" Said Tentomon. And with that, the three digimon descended the hillside, into a beautiful sunset. The rosy light of the sky reflected in Leviomon's wide eyes as he chattered to KT and the boys. "Are we going to your world now? What's it like? Agumon and Gabumon, you've been there before, haven't you? Maybe I'll have to pretend to be a stuffed toy too! I like stuffed toys. Do you have any, KT? I'm better than any stuffed toy! What's that smell? I sense evil in the air, do you too?" Agumon and Gabumon exchanged fearful glances. "The Dark Lord." Whispered Gabumon. Agumon sprang to his feet. "Quickly! Quickly! We've got to get back! KT, you and Leviomon go first." He said. Yawning, KT heaved herself up. She would move faster, only. she was so tired. Tai and Matt were soon on their feet, Agumon fiddling with a small screen on the ground. "There!" He proclaimed. "The Gate's open. Now. Gabumon! What is it?" For Gabumon was galloping down the hillside. Looking closer, KT could see a red shape darting towards him. "It's Lyomon!" The purple-striped digimon called back up. Agumon's eyes widened. Tai looked from one to the other in confusion. Then, his attention was pulled back to Leviomon. "There is evil in the air. it's getting close! KT, we must go, quickly! Matt, Tai, please, hurry! I think. I think the Dark Lord's tampering with the Gate between the worlds!" This brought in new panic. Matt and Tai feverishly ran down to where Gabumon had the newcomer in a fierce embrace, and Agumon was pattering towards them. But KT had no time to watch, for she suddenly felt herself shoved forward by a still babbling Leviomon. His pleading eyes bore into hers, and she felt instinctively that she must heed his warning. With a last, desperate glance behind her, she held out her Digivice as she had done before, and let the colours, sparks and tubing wash over her, filling her with a momentary joy and carefree feeling. Next to her, Leviomon was beside himself, and she looked forward enormously to introducing him to her world.
"What's up, Lyomon?" Cried Agumon, "Where are Megmon and the girls?" Lyomon was a rusty red digimon with enormous forepaws and claws to match, but smaller back legs with no claws at all. She had a simple, weaselly tail ending in a black tip, and a creamy belly. Her face was straight but slightly dog-like, her ears were drooping and rounded, with black at their base; her eyes were orange and fierce, with black markings underneath running down her muzzle. When she spoke, her upper canines revealed themselves to be bigger than the rest, and stuck out even when her mouth was closed. "Our. our mission failed." She said sadly. Her voice was husky, but still sounded, as did all Rookie digimon's, like a youngster's. There was a tone that suggested she herself had not accepted this news, and was just hearing it for the first time. "Thir, Nabu, Megmon. the Dark Lord took them and locked them up with the rest of the digimon awaiting Dark Rings." She looked at Agumon, but at Gabumon in particular, and said with a sudden desperation: "Please! I need your help! Otherwise." She was cut off by an outraged shout from above. "Gabumon! Get back here! Leviomon said the Gate's gonna close!" The digimon opened his mouth in agonising indecision; and as Agumon started scrambling back up to Tai, who was waiting impatiently, he quickly turned back to Lyomon and whispered, "We'll come back!" When he next looked back, she was gone. Tai and Matt ran with their digimon back up the rest of the way, skidding to a halt in front of the miniature screen. "No. I don't believe it." Matt murmured. No red light flashed, the screen was blank except for six letters:
ha ha ha
