"Yuto? Where are you?!" Dorumon yelled as he looked around his home, Dramon Village, for his Digidestined. He heard a pair of voices coming from the nearby lake and walked up to see the large figure of his mentor, Deckerdramon, floating in the water with a raven-haired teenager on his head. "Yuto!"
"What's up?" Yuto asked looking at his partner who was waving to get his attention.
"Kari and I have been looking for you! What are you doing here?!"
"Talking to Deckerdramon." Yuto said pointing at the Digimon he was sitting on. Dorumon groaned but flinched hearing footsteps behind him.
"You know, most boyfriends would let their girlfriends know where they're going." Dorumon looked up to see Kari and Gatomon standing next to him with their arms crossed.
"Maybe yours is defective." Gatomon said pointing at Yuto who rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Maybe waiting for my message to send before I jumped into the Digital World would've been a better idea." Yuto said as Deckerdramon took him to the shoreline to drop him off. "If you want, we can pick up where we left off next time."
"Of course we will, I'll be taking my leave now." Deckerdramon said as he quickly submerged into the water, making Dorumon sigh as he could tell his mentor wanted to run away from the sight in front of them.
"So, how was your day?" Yuto asked placing his hands in his pocket and giving Kari a big grin. Kari puffed her cheeks and took a step closer to him while their Digimon partners took a step back.
"How was MY day? Yuto Hojo you have some explaining to do." Kari said jamming her finger into Yuto's chest. Yuto winced and jumped slightly as he knew there was very little he could say or do in this situation to calm her down.
"Well, I thought you were going to be with your Journalism Club today so I came to see Deckerdramon. He and I have been talking lately and he's been telling me stories of the past, especially about the Royal Knights." Yuto explained pointing at the lake behind them where the large shadow of Deckerdramon seemed to be getting smaller and smaller the more Yuto talked about him.
"And you couldn't have let me know? Better yet, why does this seem like it's not the first time?" Kari asked making Dorumon cringe and cover his eyes with his hands.
"Because I've been coming the days that you've had to stick around at school for your club? Now that we hired more people at the restaurant, I've had a lot more free time lately so when you're busy I've been coming here." Yuto said making Kari's eyes widen. She gritted her teeth and stomped her foot into the ground, her face bright red from anger and frustration from how calm Yuto seemed about the situation.
"Is that so?! Well if that's the case then why don't you just spend all your free time here since you like to come so often?!" Kari yelled before turning around and beginning to storm off.
"Where are you going?"
"Home!" Kari yelled before stopping and turning around to face her boyfriend one more time. "And just so you know: I didn't stay at school today so that we could actually spend some time together!" Kari then turned around one more time and continued to walk away angrily. After a moment she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist, angering her even more. "Let me go!"
"Can you at least hear me out first?" Yuto pleaded as Kari tried breaking free from his arms.
"You'd much rather go to another world entirely, SECRETLY at that, and then pretend like it's not a big deal?! What reason would you have that would even begin to excuse any of that?!"
"Because DexDorugamon is still out there." Yuto said making Kari stop and turn her head to look at him. "He's going to bring the Royal Knights back, we don't know how but he will. Deckerdramon's stories are helping me learn what kind of Digimon we might have to deal with." Yuto explained as he felt a bit of pain on the scar on his side.
"You're not alone anymore though, if you had let any of us know then we could've joined you."
"Kari. Tai, Sora, and their friends are all busy with University. Davis and the others have their own things besides school to worry about. Plus Deckerdramon and I have known each other for so long that it's easier for me to come and talk to him than anyone else." Yuto explained further as Kari blushed from embarrassment at how she had just acted.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'm the one who's sorry, I just didn't want you to worry either." Yuto said as Kari turned around and embraced him, making him blush slightly. "I take it that means you forgive me?"
"In your dreams, Hojo." Kari said punching him in the chest. Yuto winced as he let her go and held his chest in pain.
"Ow."
"Don't play the hero, Yuto. We're talking about a big group of Mega Level Digimon, you're not gonna be able to handle them with just Alphamon."
"Hey! I'm pretty tough when I'm a Mega!" Dorumon yelled jumping up next to them only to slip when he landed and hit his head.
"Well, it's not like Magnadramon can really provide any back up either." Yuto pointed out making Gatomon angrily point at him.
"Yeah well at least I can actually fight!"
"I'm just getting some info and passing it along. You and I both know thanks to Hackmon that only Alphamon, Omnimon, and Magnamon are the only ones who can fight on equal footing with the Royal Knights." Yuto explained crossing his arms.
"You have a point there. Even with Gatomon and Patamon being Celestial Digimon, and Davis and Ken having Imperialdramon at the ready: it still wouldn't match up to the level of what we saw that day." Kari said as she remembered when Omnimon and Alphamon had fought six months ago.
"I know, and it's why I'm so freaked out that DexDorugamon practically disappeared that day he attacked us. He seemed hellbent on killing Dorumon, but he was holding back because he said he was using his own energy to revive them." Yuto said as all four of them looked back on the day that DexDorugamon crashed their picnic and fought Dorumon.
"I trounced him when I digivolved into Reptiledramon that time, but maybe a round two would go in that jerk's favor." Dorumon said making Gatomon walk over to his side and pet his head.
"Don't sell yourself short, you're really tough."
"She's right Dorumon. You're really strong when you're fighting for someone else, especially for Yuto." Kari said as she knelt down to the small Digimon's height. Dorumon nodded and turned to Yuto who stood smiling at him.
"Of course, I'd give my life again to protect you. You're my best friend." Dorumon said making Yuto sigh and nod.
"Let's not go through that again though. Losing you the first time was hard enough." Yuto said before grabbing Kari's hand. "It's time to head home."
"Davish, are you alright?" Veemon asked as he walked into the Motomiyas' kitchen to see his burgundy-haired partner standing in front of a pot.
"Yeah...I don't know I just can't seem to get this recipe down." Davis said as he look a spoon to taste the soup he was cooking. "It just feels so bland than it should be."
"You know for someone who eats more junk food than a kid's birthday party: seeing you cook like that sure does put a smile on my face." Veemon said as he hopped onto the counter.
"Is there anything there for me?" Davis and Veemon turned around to see Hackmon standing behind them.
"Hackmon? What's up pal?" Veemon said as he jumped back down and ran to his friend's side.
"I came looking for the Digidestined but found myself coming through that large screen in the corner of the room." Hackmon said pointing to the TV in the living room.
"Well you found one of us. What's up man, you totally disappeared after Alphamon and Omnimon's brawl a few months ago." Davis said as he turned off the stove and walked over to Hackmon.
"Yes because I went looking for Dorumon's dark half. I finally found him but what I saw was truly terrifying." Hackmon said as he walked to the balcony door and looked at the sky.
"Maybe finishing that sentence instead of being all dramatic would be a good idea." Davis said sitting down. Hackmon turned around and the look of fear in his eyes shocked Davis and Vemmon.
"He revived all eight of the remaining Royal Knights. And almost all of them have managed to regain their full power." Hackmon whispered making Veemon and Davis's eyes widen. "I barely escaped before they noticed I was there...but now we have a true threat to the Digital World if all of them are under DexDorugamon's servitude. I haven't been able to communicate to Homeostasis but the last time we spoke: we had come to an agreement on what the virus that caused the rift amongst our allies had to have been."
"What is it?" Veemon asked taking a step towards him.
"King Drasil. Homeostasis was able to purify your Golden Digi-Egg and add the same purification data to it to purify Alphamon and Omnimon. But when it did, it found traces of King Drasil's data within it and the same for our friends as well." Hackmon explained as he walked towards Veemon, maintaining eye contact with the small blue dragon the entire time. "We must send word to the others, especially Dorumon, Agumon, and Gabumon. I'm afraid that an entire team of Royal Knights serving King Drasil and DexDorugamon will spell the end for both of our worlds."
"So, back to your place?" Yuto asked as the four of them finally reached the small computer that would take them back to the Human World.
"Maybe yours? I haven't seen your mom and dad in a while."
"We should go wherever there's food." Dorumon said making the other three laugh. But once Kari and Yuto took out their digivices, a large shadow flew over them while Dorumon's eyes became slits. "We've got trouble."
"We couldn't even make it home first, lovely." Gatomon said as they all looked up to see the form of a large humanoid dragon covered in white and gold armor.
"Hello there children."
"Is he friend or foe?" Kari asked before they watched a pale blue fire form in the Digimon's hands.
"Foe, definitely foe!" Gatomon yelled as she and Dorumon tackled their partners out of harms way as the Digimon threw the fireball to where they stood, disintegrating the computer and gate when it hit.
"Who is he?" Yuto asked as Dorumon stood in front of him defensively, growling as he recognized the Digimon.
"Dynasmon. So if you're here, I take it DexDorugamon brought you back?" Dorumon asked as Dynasmon landed in front of them, crossing his arms as he did.
"My my aren't you observant? Then again you always had a knack for stating the obvious, boss." Dynasmon said before pointing at Yuto. "So this is the infamous human? The one who has you like a pet?"
"He's not my pet, he's my partner!"
"I see no difference. You were the strongest Digimon to ever exist, we followed you to the ends of the world. And now here you stand: needing a sack of flesh and bones to be able to be the Digimon you once were." Dynasmon said making Dorumon step forward, gritting his teeth in anger from how he was insulting Yuto.
"Buddy, this isn't a fight we should pick. You and Gatomon can't handle him alone." Yuto pleaded as he grabbed Kari's hands and locked their fingers together.
"That's just it. I'm not picking the fight, HE did." Dorumon yelled before letting out a loud roar. The screen from Yuto's digivice began to shine a bright gold as Dorumon was enveloped by a golden Digi-Egg that grew to the size of Dynasmon. Dynasmon growled and swung a fist towards the egg, only for an arm clad in black and gold armor to break through from it and catch his fist. "You wanted me?! You got me!" Alphamon yelled as he broke through the egg and punched Dynasmon with all his strength, sending the Royal Knight flying backwards into a nearby forest.
"Alphamon be careful!" Kari yelled as Dynasmon flew into the air with his hands covered in the fire from before again.
"DNA Disintegrator!" Dynasmon yelled as he fired streams of the pale blue fire from his hands.
"Soul Digitalization!" Alphamon extended his hands forwards and shot two streams of a bright green light from them, swiftly destroying Dynasmon's attack before it hit him. But Dynasmon then suddenly flew through what was left from their attacks and grabbed Alphamon's head, slamming it into the ground and dragging him through the ground.
"How's the dirt taste?" Dynasmon laughed as Alphamon struggled to break free from his grip. He then let go of Alphamon and sent him flying into a boulder while the black and gold knight shook his head to regain his focus. Dynasmon roared as his body was enveloped in the flame entirely this time, taking the form of a wyvern over his body. "Breath of Wyvern!" Alphamon looked up to see the fire go towards him, and quickly slammed his hand onto the ground creating a green circle on the ground.
"Divine Sword Grade Alpha!" Alphamon reached into the circle and took out a sword made of pure gold light, using it to cut Dynasmon's attack in half.
"Impressive, only using your attacks to defend. You really haven't changed." Dynasmon chuckled before roaring one more time, readying another Breath of Wyvern to attack once more. But before he could finish, he felt his body freeze as a white cross appeared above him. "What is this?"
"A Heaven's Charm, a simple move really but it can be quite unbreakable." Angewomon said as she flew down in front of Dynasmon and then to Alphamon's side. "We shouldn't stick around here for much longer, I doubt my Heaven's Charm can hold him for long."
"Where are Kari and Yuto?" Alphamon asked before noticing Dynasmon beginning to break free from his paralysis.
"Safe, now come on!" Alphamon looked at Angewomon before nodding and swiftly de-digivolved to Dorimon into her arms. She flew away as fast as she could from Dynasmon who managed to break free from the Heaven's Charm. Looking around to see if he could find her, Dynasmon roared in frustration as he had let his target escape from his grasp.
"I WILL FIND YOU, ALPHAMON!" Dynasmon yelled before flying away, back to the hideout of the revived Royal Knights.
"I WILL FIND YOU, ALPHAMON!" Yuto and Kari looked up as they hid under a tree, hearing Dynasmon's scream as he flew over them. Yuto held Kari tightly as the speed Dynasmon was flying at created a large gust of wind in the forest.
"I guess taking it easy isn't in his dictionary." Kari said making Yuto chuckle and nod.
"But we're safe for now, at least until we find a gate back home." The two turned around to see Angewomon flying up to them with Dorimon in her arms. She then de-digivolved back to Salamon while Dorimon jumped into Kari's arms. Yuto smiled before sitting back down and taking out the D-Terminal Izzy had given him once he had joined the group.
"I'm gonna message Izzy and see where he can open a gate for us." Yuto said as he began typing his message.
"Send one to Tai and Davis, see if they can round up the others too." Kari said as she sat down next to him, rubbing Dorimon's head as he let out a deep sigh. "What's wrong?"
"I could've beat him, but I hesitated because it was Dynasmon." Dorimon said burying his face into Kari's chest. "How am I going to protect all of you if I hesitate against my friends?"
"You don't have to do it alone, you know." Kari said as she hugged Dorimon to comfort him. "Salamon helped you, and while Yuto and I can't fight: we still help you two as much as we can. We're a team, no one has to do anything alone."
"Yeah! I've got your back no matter what." Salamon said as she raised a paw to comfort Dorimon. Yuto closed his D-Terminal and set it aside, taking in the sight next to him. Kari closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder as the area became quiet once more. After a few moments, Yuto's D-Terminal began to beep and he opened it up to see if it was Izzy who had responded. Once he saw it was him, he let out a quiet sigh of relief as he opened the message. But his relief quickly disappeared and his heart sank as he read the message from it.
'I can't seem to find any gates that I could open for you two. Usually I could locate one even in a different sector of the Digital World, but none of the gates seem to be available. I'm sorry, but for now you and Kari are stuck in the Digital World.'
"What is it?" Kari opened her eyes as she felt Yuto begin to tremble and she read the message from Izzy herself. Her eyes widened in horror and she covered her mouth as she read the last part of the message.
"How are all of the gates down? Has something like this ever happened before?"
"Never. The only time the gates were closed was after the first time we came when we were kids." Kari said as Dorimon and Salamon quickly caught on to what they were talking about.
"And Izzy can't find one? Even if it's far we'd gladly take you two to it." Salamon asked making Yuto shake his head.
"None of the gates are working, Izzy can't find one anywhere." Yuto said as Dorimon quickly jumped up and digivolved back into Dorumon.
"Then we'll go wait in Dramon Village for the meantime, the longer we stay out here the more likely we are to run into one of the other Royal Knights." Dorumon said as he began to walk away. But he turned around to see the three of them still sitting. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"
"Dorumon, they're looking for us. Do you really want to put Deckerdramon and the village in danger?" Salamon asked making Dorumon groan and point at the sky.
"Dynasmon wasn't at his complete strength! And DexDorugamon probably sent him to find us knowing that even if he wasn't at his full power, he could still intimidate us!"
"And we still struggled to even get away from him. My Heaven's Charm barely kept him in place because he's not an evil Digimon. I can't use that move against eight Mega level Digimon, let alone a group of good vaccine-type Digimon." Salamon said as she ran over to stand directly in front of Dorumon. "You're desperate, I know. I want to get Kari and Yuto as far away from the danger as possible too. But we just can't do that and put others in danger. You were their leader, so think like a leader not a child."
"It's the one place I know we can go to when I know we need to go somewhere. We don't have to stay there the entire time: we just need to be somewhere where we can gather our thoughts and make a plan." Dorumon explained making Kari and Yuto look at each other and nod.
"He's right, let's go there at least for a little bit. Izzy should be able to whip up a solution soon anyway." Kari said as the two of them stood up. They began to make their way back to Dramon Village, feeling relieved to at least have a solution for the moment.