AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Happy Friday! Congratulations, you made it through another week!

Thank you for all the love on the last chapter. I'm so grateful that you would take time out of your day to read my story, and I hope you're enjoying the journey as much as I am.

CELESTIAL ARROW

Their hatred was delicious.

It permeated the air, each sour thought finding an enemy to throw itself against with fervour. The darkness swirled around them, whispering sweet nothings that filled their rare moments of silent.

Hate him, it whispered, draping itself across their shoulders and dancing through their hair. Hate the pitiful boy, ready to fall from grace. Take him down.

And once the boy had been torn from his throne, the world would be ready for the darkness. The boy had long since outlived his purpose; his ingenuity run dry. The rings and spires and spirals had been gifts unto the would-be boy-emperor, and the boy had played with them, lining them up like dominoes without ever wondering at their true purpose. His network of dark towers had been beacons, summoning data that had been scattered and giving it purpose. Allowing it form. Rebirth had been denied to him – his form having been destroyed in the human world – but he was nothing if not persistent. Creative. The boy's playthings had weakened the barriers between worlds, allowing his essence to slowly seep back home, and now he finally had enough to take matters in to his own hands.

The darkness slithered along the ground, spreading itself thin. Searching. Up close he felt the searing power of the crests he had tried so long ago to destroy, but they were jumbled and distorted. Hope soared close by, but his scent was lost behind a mixture of Love and Sincerity. Courage and Friendship had ever been close, even in their darkest of times, so it did not surprise him to see them moving as one. Knowledge and Reliability had been fused together too, and the darkness skirted around them. These lesser crests were nothing to him. He needed her; she who was both his destruction and his salvation. She was so close he could feel her, and he let herself be drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

There. More crests surrounded her but he closed in regardless, wrapping himself around her as best he could, never quite able to touch. The light within her responded, just enough to give her the strength to find her feet and to slip away from her brother. I'm fine, she called as she swept up her bow and ran back towards the fighting.

The darkness followed.

He felt stronger just by virtue of being near her. As her powers grew so did his, and hers again in response, faster than the spread of spires or spores. They fed from each other, growing from strength to strength with nothing in their way. They could become titans.

But she was raw. The power was dormant, hidden behind walls of careful caution and human login, awaiting the call of the darkness. And so he called. The light burned as he approached but he swirled against it, wrapping himself around her, as close as he dared. He felt the girl shiver, freezing at his presence, and he drank in her fear. She stared blindly through him, seeing without seeing, and then she was gone – running and shouting and firing arrow after arrow in to the air. He did not see where they landed. He did not care. He stayed with her, following close behind as she weaved through attacks and debris to run deeper in to the fighting. And when she stopped, he cocooned her in their strength, fuelling her fire.

Her reaction was instant; within moments he found that he could no longer weave between her glowing fingers. The light spread like wildfire up her arms, forcing him to retreat, and he basked in the glow. He felt her surprise, her concern, and – finally – her acceptance, pride, victory. He felt her wrestle for control, taking what was hers and forcing it before her, gathering a ball of light between her hands. He danced as close as he dared, watching anxiously as she gathered her strength and sighing when he felt his own powers keep pace. He threw himself at her and the light flared in response, growing and swirling until it blinded him. She twisted, choosing her target at the last possible second, and at last the light sped through the air. He darted after it, ready to devour what would remain after the explosion, and it surprised him to find what would have been the girl's partner.

The corrupted data was tantalising and sweet, yet as he tried to drape himself around it he found himself pushed back as the attack faded. The scattered data was too dark to remain but too light for him to devour, and had he lips he might have moaned at its loss as it crumbled to reveal a white wind, a golden breastplate, and the hint of a pink sash. He shifted his attention to the girl again, but she had taken to the air alongside Hope and was already far out of his reach. Even from a distance he felt the thrum of her light, and he found himself giddy at the realisation that this was not the same little girl he had hunted in a former life.

This was going to be very interesting.

"Digmon! Behind you!" MetalGreymon's claw swept through the air with a deafening SWOOSH and Digmon barely twisted out of the way in time. With a cry of "Gold Rush!" he sent three gleaming silver drills spinning through the air in response, but MetalGreymon barely flinched as they tapped against his armour.

Iori was trying his best to remain calm, but it was difficult when so many of his friends could be hurt at any moment – himself included. He had tried deep breathing, tried telling himself that this was just another match to be played, another fight to be won, but every time he thought he might have pulled himself together it was just in time to see Digmon narrowly avoid defeat or to see Miyako and Holsmon flying too close to an oncoming attack.

Two of MetalGreymon's missiles exploded nearby and Iori danced back from the debris, wishing that he was small and light enough to stay with his partner. Clinging to Digmon's back had been fine against Garudamon when his partner had been offering limited ground support, but against MetalGreymon Digmon needed to be fast, something he could not easily do with a passenger. And so Iori had fallen back; not quite to the tree line, remaining close enough to be a second pair of eyes, covering his partner's blind spot.

"Vulcan's Hammer!"

Zudomon, Iori had decided, was fierce and tall and terrifying. Unlike the friendly, wise-cracking Gomamon, the perfect-level digimon was serious and focused. His skin was hardened blue scales with fur coverlets on his clawed feet and hands, and set like a mask over his hard eyes, while his spiked green shell was buckled across his chest by a thick brown strap fastened with hardened silver. Two long fangs sprouted from either side of his fierce mamas, matching the jagged horn that sprouted from his forehead. His right hand grasped a silver hammer bigger than Iori, and he released it with a fierce swing that sent it spiralling through the air. His narrowed silver eyes watched as the missile found its target, bouncing off MetalGreymon's gut and flying back to his hand.

"Iori!" He barely heard Miyako's call over MetalGreymon's furious roar, and as MetalGreymon turned his fury upon Zudomon, Holsmon and Miyako landed beside him. "Lillymon and MegaKabuterimon are going to keep Garudamon busy for a while. We thought you might need us." Iori nodded gratefully.

"Any ideas?" he asked.

"We were thinking Holsmon could try and hypnotise him again and give Digmon a chance to work at the dark spiral."

"It might take a few attempts," Holsmon agreed, "but if we can free Agumon then we can lend our strength to the others." Iori nodded, having nothing better to suggest, and he watched as Holsmon delivered a message to Digmon before joining his efforts with Zudomon's. Digmon hurried back to Iori, his footsteps heavy.

"You're doing great!" Iori called as he approached, and after giving him a moment to catch his breath Iori outlined the plan. Digmon nodded eagerly, though there was a note of hesitation to his voice.

"We'lol have to be fast," he concluded. "If the spiral fractures and SkullGreymon gets loose again, I don't think we'll be able to hold him off." Iori patted his armour, brushing debris from the crevices.

"Do your best." And Digmon nodded and winked at Iori before diving back in to the fray. He dove between MetalGreymon's legs and launched an attack at the ring from behind. It missed with MetalGreymon lifted his arm to swipe at Holsmon, and instead the drills landed on his shoulder. MetalGreymon threw his head back with a pained roar, stamping his feet wildly, and for a moment Digmon was lost behind a curtain of dust. Holsmon dropped back a little further, pausing for a moment to speak with Lillymon.

His tantrum over, MetalGreymon released two missiles from his chest. One sought out Digmon who dance back from the attack, whilst the other set its fierce eyes on Holsmon. Miyako paled, and Iori heard her ordering Holsmon up – down – left – out of the way – when Pegasmon dropped from the sky. There was a fierce CRACK as Takeru diverted the missile with his staff before shouting to Lillymon that he would help distract Garudamon so that she could help free MetalGreymon. Iori made a vow that next time they ventured in to the Digital World, he would bring his shinai with him. Just in case.

With an apparent plan in mind, Holsmon and Lillymon swooped forwards to fly circles around MetalGreymon. When he groaned and swayed, dizzied by his attempts to follow them through the air, Holsmon flew down to Digmon. They were too far for Iori to hear whatever new plan had been formed, and he stepped back a little to watch for things the others could not see. Holsmon rose to the sky, Miyako clinging tight to his back, and he levelled out infront of MetalGreymon.

"Eagle Eye!" His eyes flashed red, and two matching beams strung from his eyes to land in the middle of MetalGreymon's brow. MetalGreymon slowly ground to a halt, his eyes becoming distance and unfocused as Lillymon swept in.

"Now!" Lillymon called. Digmon leapt forwards, his drills whirring as he advanced on the dark spiral. Holsmon lifted his head.

"Udjat Gaze!" A single green beam lanced from his forehead, and MetalGreymon's eyes turned from crimson red to a sickly pink. Holsmon's eyes began to glow then too, and as he floated from side to side MetalGreymon's head made the smallest of motions, following the hypnotic sway. Digmon leapt on to his leg and scrambled up until he could reach his arm, and Iori heard the low grumbled as his drills ground in to the dark spiral.

MetalGreymon groaned, and his large eyes blinked several times. The pink was starting to fade, his eyes turning back to deep red, and he was still once more, no longer swaying with Holsmon.

"I need more time!" Digmon called, and over the din Iori heard Miyako calling to Lillymon. She darted overhead, flying circles over MetalGreymon.

"Flower Wreath!" From glowing palms fell flowers of pinks and yellows and purples, each landing on MetalGreymon and spreading thorny vines that wound themselves around each other. By her third pass, MetalGreymon's arms had been bound tightly to his sides, and he groaned as he struggled against them.

"Man, these things are hard to drill through!" Digmon shouted as Holsmon gathered his energy to attack again. "It's almost like someone didn't want us to destroy them!"

"You can do it, guys!" Iori cheered, desperate for something to do.

"Thanks, partner!" came Digmon's cheerful reply. Holsmon tried for another Udjat Gaze, but MetalGreymon twisted at the last second and deflected it with his helmet. The panels on his chest opened with a low groan, straining against the vines. Lillymon tightened her grip, but it wasn't strong enough to stop the two missiles within from escaping with a hiss. They set their eyes on Holsmon who turned tail and fled, putting enough distance between him and the missiles that he could turn and redirect them with a sharp gust of wind, sending them sailing in to the trees as he flew back. More vines snapped; he wouldn't make it in time.

"Just – a little – longer," Digmon grunted, throwing his weight into spiral. The drills were shuddering, stuttering along as Digmon pressed harder. The flowers of Lillymon's wreath were beginning to wither and fade, and her eyes were pinched with pain as she continued trying to pour more flowers and vines in to the entrapment.

"We may not have a little longer!" Iori called. "Hurry!"

"I'm hurryin'!" More vines snapped and more flowers fell, and Lillymon doubled over in pain as the wreath was finally broken. MetalGreymon roared, fixing his dark eyes on Holsmon as he came back in to range. MetalGreymon lifted his free arm, silver claws gleaming in the sunlight, and Iori watched in horror as they started to glow. The light spread to his knuckles and then to his arms, and Iori's stomach twisted as MetalGreymon was completely engulfed.

Fear turned to confusion as the light began to shrink. Holsmon pulled up short some distance away, eyeing the light warily as MetalGreymon's form began to shift, growing smaller by the second. Eventually, when the light was a head shorter than Iori, the glow began to fade to reveal a small orange dinosaur lying on his belly in the dust. With a grimace and a groan he opened his eyes, blinking in confusion as his head turned this way and that. The fragments of the dark spiral fell around him as his eyes landed on the tree line, and he pulled himself to his feet with a giddy smile.

"Taichi!" He stumbled forwards and Iori turned in time to see Taichi bolt from the trees.

"Agumon!" Taichi shouted, tackling the small creature out of the way of a fiery blast from Garudamon. Iori leapt back with a yelp of surprise, brushing scorching embers from the hem of his tunic as Taichi and Agumon quickly righted themselves.

"Ready, partner?"

"Ready!" Agumon leapt from the ground and wrapped himself in a veil of light and data. When MetalGreymon emerged, Iori found that he was not half as intimidating as he'd been before. His blue-grey skin was now a warm fiery orange striped with vibrant blue, and his cerulean eyes laughed from beneath his shining helm.

"It's good to be back!" he roared, and he thundered towards the fight as Taichi danced and whooped in his shadow.

It was Taichi's ecstatic grin that kept Sora from scolding him upon his return, and she bit her lip to keep her tongue-lashing at bay, choosing instead to watch MetalGreymon rushed forwards in all his rightly-coloured glory. He paused for a moment, throwing up a shining claw to halt the others behind him as he observed the battle. Then he ordered Lillymon, Holsmon and Digmon to help tackle Garudamon while he made for LadyDevimon. High above them, Michael's Seadramon and the Kaiser's Airdramon continued to circle each other, diverting any attempts to help or hinder the battle below.

Sora fixed her eyes on the fight with Garudamon. As MegKabuterimon was buffeted by powerful winds, Holsmon swept underneath the gusts and answered with a blast of his own. Garudamon let out a furious squawk and tried to claw at Holsmon, only to howl in pain as Lillymon's Flower Cannon exploded across her knuckles.

"She'll be okay," Yamato whispered. She jumped in surprise and tried to smile, failing miserably.

"I hate that she's in pain," she replied, never taking her eyes off her partner. "I wish there was some way that I could help her."

"Deep down, she knows you're here. That's got to be helping." It had to be, Sora decided, because she refused to let herself believe that it wasn't. She clutched her digivice tightly over her heart.

Holsmon and Lillymon were flying circles around Garudamon, landing small shots here and there. At first Sora feared that they were exhausted, but quickly she saw Garudamon's reactions slowing as she lost track of her opponents. Frustrated, Garudamon sook her head and dropped from the air, only to leap back up as Digmon crated several fissures underfoot, leaving her without solid ground to land on. Lillymon fired another blast at her back, ruffling the feathers along her spine. Holsmon's Mach Impulse was easily brushed aside. Zudmon's hammer sailed through the air, barely a feather's width from Garudamon's temple. Sora found herself holding on to both Taichi and Yamato for comfort, squeezing one of their hands in each of hers. They both squeezed back.

With a swoop of her large wings, Garudamon sent Holsmon and Lillymon tumbling through the air. She trilled jubilantly, calling a taunt to them that was lost on the wind, but her victory was cut short as MegaKabuterimon advanced on her from behind.

"Horn Buster!" The air between his trident-like horns flickered and sparked as the bolt of lighting burst forth. It struck her between the wings, and when she cried out Sora felt like crying with her. Garudamon flapped her wings and rose higher, twisting to set MegaKabuterimon in her sights.

"Wing Blade!" Her wings snapped together before her and the air rippled as she pushed it forth in a shapeless burst of fire that exploded against MegaKabuterimon's shell. He groaned and fell back several feet, wings buzzing frantically to stay in the air, but Garudamon had already prepared her next volley. Wrapped in flames, she span higher and higher until she was a fiery blur. "Fire Hurricane!" The flaming vortex span furiously towards its target and flung MegaKabuterimon to the ground. Over her shoulder Sora heard Koushiro grind his teeth, and she was grateful when he remained silent. She didn't imagine this was any easier for him than it was for her.

Digimon was the next to attack, sending forth a barrage of drills that landed on Garudamon's shoulders. Garudamon turned slowly, wrapping her talons in flames as her crimson eyes gleamed.

"Crimson Claw!" She was already halfway to her target when she announced the attack, and before anyone could truly comprehend the damage Iori had joined them under the cover of the trees, clutching Armadimon close to his chest. The first to fall, Sora thought grimly as Koushiro moved to his side.

"Even with the Digimental, Digmon only has the strength of an adult digimon," Koushiro told the pair, his voice low and serious. "Garudamon is a perfect level digimon – MetalGreymon too. Digmon did really well to lat so long against them." Iori nodded, but said nothing as he brushed the dirt from his partner's shell.

Garudamon was circling slowly above them, her gaze fixed on MegaKabuterimon when Holsmon descended suddenly, gripping her wing in his talons and driving her towards the dirt. They shrieked and clawed at each other, and Garudamon freed herself at the last possible moment, twisting to snare Holsmon and throw him to the floor. Sora's heart stopped as she watched Miyako spill across the ground. Holsmon rose quickly, bounding after her and surrounding her with his wings, ducking his head inside to examine his partner. When he pulled his wings back, a shaken Miyako was sent stumbling towards them. Mimi rushed out to grab her, taking Miyako by the handing pulling her under the trees where she was promptly handed to Jou for examination.

Holsmon took to the skies with renewed fury, forgoing formal attacks in favour of raw strength, nipping at clawing at Garudamon at every opportunity and scratching the dark spiral every time it came within reach. MetalKabuterimon followed, blasting her with Horn Busters and Electro Shockers whenever Holsmon gave him an opening, while Lillymon peppered her with fiery cannon blasts that singed Garudamon's feathers. From the ground, Zudomon offered what little support he could, swinging for Garudamon whenever she dropped low enough, but his attacks were too big and slow for Garudamon to be caught by surprise, and Zudomon couldn't risk hurting the others by launching his hammer into the fray.

"She has so much energy left," Sora breathed as she watched Garudamon nimbly dodge another volley from Lillymon and MegaKabuterimon. "How is that possible?"

"It must be the dark spiral," Koushiro answered. "Our digimon normally take their strength from us – at this level it should come from our crests – but Garudamon can't draw upon you because the spiral is interfering. It's providing whatever energy she needs to keep fighting, even when Garudamon should be exhausted."

"She must feel awful by now." Sora certainly did. Yamato squeezed her hand again and she squeezed Taichi's who was so focused on his partner and his sister that he was barely breathing.

Holsmon and Lillymon were spiralling Garudamon again, and once they were sure they had her attention they hovered before her, each charging an attack. Garudamon glowered, spreading her arms and wings wide as she began wrapping herself in fire. When she was almost fully ablaze MegaKabuterimon soared pasted with Zudomon in his grasp. Zudomon swung as they past, and when his hammer collided with the spiral the noise was so loud that the ground trembled underfoot.

Garudamon's fire melted away as she fell, wrapped in light, and Sora let out a cry as Piyomon appeared before them, eyes closed as she plummeted towards the ground. Holsmon appeared beneath her, gently catching Piyomon from her fall as he flew towards the trees. Sora rushed forwards, arms outstretched, and as Piyomon slid from Holsmon's back and in to Sora's embrace, her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Sora," she started in her high, gentle voice. "You're crying." Sora's tears splashed against Piyomon's feathers as she held her partner close.

"And you're okay!" Holsmon, having checked that Miyako was nothing more than a little dazed, darted away from the trees and soared I to the air to join the others as they made their way towards LadyDevimon. Piyomon stared after them, and with a determined nod she wriggled from Sora's arms and drew herself up tall, her eyes exhausted but no less determined as she swayed from side to side.

"I have to help!" she exclaimed. "Sora, it's time!" And Sora would have said yes had it not been for Yamato's tentative hand on her shoulder.

"I don't think you should," he cautioned, gesturing to Taichi. His eyes, fixed on MetalGreymon, had become tired and dull and ringed with exhaustion. His skin had paled to a sickening grey, and his shoulders trembled violently. There was a film of sweat across his face, and his shaking hand had turned white from gripping his digivice so tightly. Piyomon sighed and sank back heavily in to Sora's arms, her eyes already half closed.

"Maybe you're right," she muttered through a yawn. "I do feel… rather tired…" Sora dropped to her knees, cradling Piyomon against her chest and running her fingers through her partner's feathers.

"Get some rest, Piyo," she cooed. "You've earned it." Piyomon's heavy head lolled back towards the fighting.

"But… what about… the others?" she slurred. Sora looked up at the battle, half hoping to see Hikari holding Tailmon close and the Kaiser disappearing in to the sunset. Instead she found a handful of red-eyed digimon emerging from the far side of the forest. It seemed despite Seadramon's best efforts, the Kaiser had managed to call for reinforcements. Sora swallowed and forced a smile, turning her partner's head back towards her.

"Don't you worry about them," she whispered, planting a kiss on Piyomon's soft forehead. "They're going to be just fine."

"We've got company!" Hikari turned at the shout and felt her heart sink. The Kaiser's reinforcements had arrived. Takeru tightened his grip around her waist, but it didn't stop her leaning forwards.

"Pegasmon, can you take me down?" Pegasmon gave a tired snort before descending.

"I thought you weren't going to do anything stupid?" Takeru called as Pegasmon landed. She slid to the ground and unhooked her bow, hitching her quiver a little higher before she met his gaze. What has been exciting was now tiring, both for the others who were feeling their partners draw upon more and more of their strength, and for Hikari who was still getting to grips with her newfound powers.

"I have to do something!" she shouted in return. "Go! I'll be fine!" Takeru frowned but didn't object further, and he tapped his partner's shoulder. Pegasmon gave a stubborn whinny before galloping back in to the sky, golden wings straining with every laboured beat. He could fly easier with only one passenger, but the ascent still seemed to drain him. Hikari looked past them, locking eyes with what was left of LadyDevimon. Her hair was almost entirely gold now, and one blue eye gleamed behind the tattered black mask. She gave Hikari a nod and then she was gone, too far for Hikari to be within her reach.

"Taichi won't be happy about this," MetalGreymon growled as he lumbered closer. Hikari gave him a sheepish smile.

"I'm kind of hoping he'll be too happy that you're back." Spying a Floramon ready to release a burst of poisonous pollen, she knocked an arrow and sent it flying through the purple petals, knocking the digimon off-balance. "Shouldn't you be helping LadyDevimon?"

"There's plenty of firepower up there now that Garudamon's down," he answered. "Besides, someone needs to watch out for you. You're not allowed to be reckless now that Taichi's back." Hikari sighed a half-laugh.

"And someone's gotta take care of the entourage," WereGerurumon growled as he loped closer. "Can't let you take all the glory." Hikari smiled, wrapping her fingers in his gentle fur for a brief moment before they leapt forwards.

They quickly fell in to a rhythm with each other. MetalGreymon would land the first blow, stunning their target with a well-placed explosion or a swipe of his claw. Hikari would leap forwards, shooting as many arrows as she could at the rings and spirals until they began to fracture, leaving WereGarurumon to land the final blow. Then they moved forwards, with MetalGreymon drawing the heat while WereGarurumon covered Hikari as she gathered her arrows from the dirt and took aim again. Most of the freed digimon turned and ran, ready to put as much distance between themselves and the Kaiser as possible, but some stayed and together they pressed forwards, freeing at least a third of the Kaiser's re-inforcements before Fladramon gripped in an exhausted heap beside them.

"Hikari, we need you," he panted. Daisuke was clinging to his back, pale and sweating but still determined. "None of our attacks are even scratching her." Hikari frowned, glancing between them. Fladramon's proud posture was slumped, and under the weight of Daisuke his legs shivered dangerously.

"All right, but you two stay down here. You need to get your strength back Daisuke, you should go wait with the others. Fladramon will be faster on his own, especially if he knows you're safe." Daisuke looked like he might argue, but then he bowed his head and slipped from his partner's back.

"Y'know, you sound like Taichi when you get all bossy." His words slurred together, and he flashed her a tired grin before he staggered towards the others, drunk with exhaustion. Hikari couldn't hide the smile that crept over her face at his words. WereGarurumon leapt high in to the air to attract Pegasmon's attention, and within moments she was flying again with Takeru's tight grip around her waist.

"Are you okay?" he asked, placing his chin on her shoulder so that he could be heard over the rushing wind.

"Better," she answered honestly. "I think I needed some time to recharge. How about you two?"

"We're not too bad, but the others…" Pegasmon circled high abounded the fight, narrowly avoiding the thrashing tail of the Kaiser's Airdramon. The digimon were exhausted; Hikari could see it in the slow beat of their wings or the slowness of their attacks. She could feel it in the air, even before Takeru added: "We need to finish this, and soon, before LadyDevimon finishes it for us." Hikari nodded, watching as her corrupted partner danced away from the blows.

"She's not attacking." She felt Takeru nod.

"But she won't let us get a straight hit at the spiral. I think the Kaiser's control is stopping her from helping us like that." Hikari swallowed and looked down at her hands.

"Then let me try. She nestled her bow against Pegasmon's saddle and moved one of Takeru's hands to hold on to it tightly as she pressed her palms together. In a process that was becoming more and more familiar, Hikari felt the warmth in her fingers. She stopped it before it would pass her elbows, instead focusing it between her palms an in to a sold sphere, ready to be sent onwards with a mere-

Pain. Something hit the back of her head and then she was falling. Voices called her name, but it was hard to hear them over the wind roaring in her ears. Strong hands pulled her out of her fall and she buried her face in tattered back leather and gleaming gold. Part of her wanted to pull her partner close while the other half recoiled at the darkness as black and white wings closed in around her. Her stomach churned, her head span, and the warmth in her chest exploded with a blinding light. She heard LadyDevimon howl and then Hikari was skidding along the ground as something landed heavily nearby. Pounding footsteps were sprinting towards her.

"Hikari!" Taichi cried, dropping down beside her and rolling her in to his lap. "Hikari, are you okay?" She blinked several times, waiting for her three blurry brothers to become one. Concerned faces swam over his shaking shoulder, slowly coming in to focus.

"…Fine… I'm fine…" she mumbled, holding tightly to her brother as she sat up. "Angewomon… is she…" Hands helped her to her feet and her eyes searched desperately, finding her partner on the ground several feet away. The other digimon were hovering nearby, watching anxiously as she slowly pulled herself back to her feet. Not fully Angewomon, not yet, but far less than her corrupted counterpart.

"LadyDevimon!" the Kaiser bellowed from above. "What are you waiting for? Attack!" LadyDevimon froze, her whole body twitching, and after a moment she pulled her shoulders back.

"Angewomon!" Hikari cried, watching the tear spill from her partner's blue eye. "Don't!" But LadyDevimon had already begun to unfurl her wings, and even her red eye seemed mournful as she turned her attention to the others.

"Darkness wave." From behind tattered leather and ruffled fathers a chorus of chittering bats surged forwards. Hikari felt her heart stop, unable to speak as they swarmed towards their target. MetalGreymon had no time to react, and mere seconds later Agumon collapsed heavily to the ground, breathing heavily. Taichi swayed, his grip on Hikari tightening as he fell heavily against Yamato who gripped his shoulders tightly.

"She did that on purpose," Yamato murmured. "She knew Taichi was struggling." Hikari glanced first to her brother – struggling to keep his eyes open now that Agumon was no longer drawing on his strength – and then to LadyDevimon who gave Hikari a small but distinctive nod. Hikari felt her heart explode in her chest as she took to the sky, her silent message clear: she needed to be away from them in order to find a loophole in the Kaiser's orders.

"LadyDevimon!" the Kaiser roared, cracking his whip. "You come back-" Seadramon rammed in to his Airdramon's side, and the Kaiser teetered.

Everything stopped.

The Kaiser began to fall, his screams wild and frantic as his cape whipped around him. Hikari was frozen, unable to move as she watched him tumble towards the ground below.

"LadyDevimon!" he cried, the arrogance in his voice replaced by terror. "Help me!"

She streaked through the clouds, pulling the Kaiser out of his fall and setting him roughly on his feet before swooping towards Hikari.

"Here! This needs to end now, and I can't fire it myself," she shouted, tossing a glowing baton through the air. Hikari snatched it and held it close, feeling the warmth seeping in to her fingers and feeling her heart humming in reply. Not a baton, she realised, but an arrow; Angewomon's Celestial Arrow.

"Hikari!" Pegasmon was hurtling towards her, Takeru holding her bow in his outstretched arm. She scrambled to her feet, sprinting towards him, and when he threw her bow she caught it and dropped to her knees. The Kaiser was still regaining his bearings as she knocked Angewomon's arrow and pulled it back. She took a deep breath, staring down the shaft at her target before releasing her fingers. It sailed through the air with ease, straight for the Kaiser's heart.