Digimon Journey of the Crest:

The Two Kings

Part 1

During the fight with Sandiramon's Goblimon army, the DigiDestined are taking shelter underneath a Sky Tower while Eragon and the Digimon are facing them off. All of a sudden, Kari swipes the Culi Sword from Davis's hand, and runs away from the scene.

TK: Kari, where are you going?! Kari!

Kari ignores them, and she keeps running, but something happens. The ground crumbles up into rubble, and the others fall into the abyss below, while the horrified Kari watches them disappear. And then, Kari gets wrapped up by a large snake, and Sandiramon appears before her.

Sandiramon: You have failed them.

Kari: No. No, I didn't mean…!

Sandiramon opens his mouth to eat her up. Then, Kari wakes suddenly from a dream, gasping in fright. Gatomon wakes up next to her and sits up quickly, concerned on her face.

Gatomon: Kari? What's wrong?

Kari: [pauses] Nothing. It's just a dream.

Kari gets back to sleep, breathing calmly. Gatomon is still concerned for Kari, but she decides to fall back to sleep.

The next morning, Kari and Gatomon are climbing through the jagged rocks, and they look ahead at the far reaches of the woods. When Gatomon turns around and looks at Kari, her face is showing a hopeless look.

Gatomon: I can't keep this up. We've been hiking on this path for days. Tell me again why we couldn't taken the others with us?

Kari: Because it was for their own good. You know Davis. He might jump to a conclusion before the plan would be carried out. TK and the others would listen, but…. I just want to tell them I don't wish to be a part of this war, so I'd have to do this by myself.

Gatomon: What about Eragon? He's a tough guy.

Kari: He is, but what if Darkdramon's soldiers are there? He said if they capture him, they would put him into procedure to make sure he never repels. Gatomon, we have to this on our own.

Gatomon: Well, since you're concerned for someone, I can live with that. If we're going to find this Eastern Castle, we'll need someone to give us directions.

Kari: Let's try climbing down the hill.

Later, they climb down the hill using a vine like it is a rope. The bottom is shrouded in mist and fog. Kari looks around herself, seeing the view of the forest again, but she heard a roaring from an unknown being from a distance.

Kari: Gatomon, did you hear that?

Gatomon: I did. But whatever it was, it's so far away from where we are.

Kari: But… what do you think we'll find out here?

Gatomon: I've never been to the Shadow Continent before. Everything here is new to m-

Then, Gatomon loses her footing, slips and falls down with a meow like a scream.

Kari: Gatomon!

Kari manages to grab Gatomon by the tail, and her face lands flat on the rock. Then, the vine begins to snap.

Kari: [worried] Oh no!

SNAP! The vine breaks apart. But Kari lands safely on the ground and looks around at the surroundings. Gatomon falls again, but Kari catches her in her arms.

Kari: Goodness. Are you okay?

Gatomon: Yeah. [sniffs] Good thing that didn't break my nose.

Then, a clanging sound is heard from below. Kari looks down to find the Crest, which may have fallen out of her pocket, and she picks it up off the floor. She and Gatomon begin their hike, but Kari looks at the Crest for inspections, puzzling and puzzling.

Gatomon: What now?

Kari: There's something I don't get about the Crest. What does this symbol mean?

Gatomon: Heck, if I'd know. I just wish Eragon knew what it was, if they told him everything about it.

Kari: But there might be a connection. Back in the tunnel, the Crest was glowing when he rescued me, and that's when Guilmon digivolved.

Gatomon: That's right. So that would mean… the Crest is Eragon's now. But what virtue is it? I-

But then, Gatomon sniffs in the air and she picks up a scent of something, which seems familiar to her.

Kari: What, did you-

Then Gatomon covers Kari's mouth, and shushes her to keep quiet. She looks around the area, hearing birds chirping and the trees rustling from being blown by the wind. And yet, she is aware of something else.

Gatomon: [whispers] We're not alone.

At night, Kari is sleeping by herself next to a tree trunk, and everything was quiet. But rising out from the bushes is a silhouette of an unknown Digimon, crawling his way towards them like an insect.

Silhouette: They have it. They have it. They have what is rightfully mine. I had it, fair and square, and they stole it from me. The… pretty….

The silhouette was getting closer to the sleeping Kari. It reaches out his hand towards her, when Kari suddenly spring ups, grabs hold of the silhouette's arms and pulls him down. Amidst the struggle, the silhouette wriggles loose and leaps onto Kari. It jumps onto Kari's head, and she struggles to take it off her.

Silhouette: Give it to me!

Gatomon's voice: Lightning Paw!

Gatomon shows up out of nowhere, and punches the silhouette off of Kari, and she hisses at it like a guarding cat.

Silhouette: Bada Boom!

The silhouette summons and fires a fireball at Gatomon, but she dodges it and it hits a bush that sets it on fire. Gatomon pounces and bites the silhouette on the shoulder. She clasps her arms around it's neck in a death grip. Kari grabs a lit branch from the blazing bush and rushes over to illuminate the silhouette, revealed to be an Impmon trapped in Gatomon's headlock.

Kari: A Digimon?

Impmon: [to Gatomon] Hey, hey! How'd you know I would be here, toots?

Gatomon: I knew it was you. I can smell you half a mile away… Impmon.

Kari: You know him?

Gatomon: Sure do.

[DIGIMON ANALYSER]

Gatomon: Impmon is a demon-type Digimon, so he's sly and double crossing, whenever he feels like it. His Infernal Funnel would bring in the hottest fire you've ever seen.

[END D.A.]

Gatomon loosens her grip on Impmon, pushing him to the ground where he gets on his knees.

Impmon: She's right. The cat and I know each other. We both work for Myotismon, but she gets to have a higher position at his side, while had to be a random scavenger.

Gatomon: You're a deserter.

Kari: But Myotismon is gone now. So we'd-

Gatomon: Don't talk sweet to him. He can't be trusted. He knows we have the Crest and he'll tell everyone about it.

Gatomon looks at Impmon with a glare, and he has a worried look on his face about something.

On the next day, Impmon was being dragged with a vine around his neck, wailing and writhing in pain. Gatomon is the one pulling it, as Kari takes the lead.

Impmon: It stings! It stings! You know I hate greens! Take it away, take it away!

Gatomon: Oh, be quiet, you big baby. [to Kari] It's no use. Every Digimon around here will hear his crying. I'll just tie him up and leave him instead.

Impmon: No! That would kill me. Kill me!

Gatomon pulls on him some more, but Kari stops her when she takes the vine from her paw. She walks over and kneels in front of Impmon, with the Crest in her hand.

Kari: You've seen this Crest before, haven't you?

Impmon: Yeah. My…My…Myotismon has heard of the Shadow Continent, the wars it's had, and that. He sent me to go find it for him. The…. My pretty.

Transfixed by the Crest, Impmon reaches out slowly to go take it, but Kari slaps his hand away from it.

Kari: This Crest doesn't belong to you.

Impmon: But does it to you? If you're the eighth child, the one the pussy cat was waiting for, then you have that Crest of Light. Myotismon would pulverize you to have his way.

Gatomon: He's been defeated. Four years ago, I made sure of it.

Kari: He's no longer around, so you're free now.

Impmon: Then… let me have the-

Gatomon: NOT THAT!

Impmon tries to flee, but Gatomon pulls him back by the vine.

Kari: Gatomon, stop it!

Gatomon: I told you, we can't trust him. We should go to the castle without him.

Impmon: [coughs] The Eastern Castle? Then you're going the wrong way. This path takes you south to the sea. The castle is that way.

He points his finger at his left side. Kari, thinking about Impmon's sense of direction, approaches him again.

Kari: You know the way there?

Impmon: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've been here for four years, and I'd know it from the sky down or the bottom up. But… what makes you think that I would-

Then Kari shows the Crest at him, getting Impmon transfixed again. She reaches out and takes the vine noose off Impmon's neck. Impmon seems surprised and relieved.

Kari: Show us the way, and maybe… you can hold the Crest once more until we decide what to do with it.

Impmon: [pauses] …Okay.

Now with him leading the way, Impmon scrambles off in the direction of the woods, with Kari and Gatomon following in his wake.

Part 2

So far away, the Goblimon are running across the terrain. Since they have only one Boarmon, they have to run the rest of the way back to their master, and the Boarmon carries Hawkmon and Armadillomon tied up on the back. Yolei and Cody are in a cage made of sticks, being dragged by the Goblimon.

Armadillomon: Just wait till they see me when I digivolve.

Hawkmon: That would work, if they didn't take the Digivices.

Suddenly, the red Goblimon puts up his hand and signals a stop. A pair of Gazimon appears behind some rocks.

Gazimon 1: What took you so long?

Gazimon 2: The master's growing impatient. He's demanding your captives immediately.

Red Goblimon: I know what he wants, and I don't need a reminder from stalking vermin. Sandiramon will have his prize. We will deliver it, and he'll get it no matter how long it will take.

The red Goblimon turns away from the Gazimon, who immediately show their dislike for them with a raccoon-like hissing. Meanwhile, Cody is looking unconscious, and Yolei tries to wake him up.

Yolei: Cody? Cody, wake up.

But he doesn't move. Then Yolei is looking at the Goblimon drinking something from a leather pouch.

Yolei: Hey, my friend's not feeling well. He needs water.

Red Goblimon: Oh, he's not, eh? Give him some medicine, boys.

A Goblimon pours some water into Cody's mouth. Cody coughs and sputters with the water in his mouth as he comes to.

Red Goblimon: I guess he was hydro-intolerant. Hahahahaha!

Yolei: [defensively] Stop it, leave him alone!

Red Goblimon: Why? You want some too? EH?! Then zip it.

The red Goblimon walks away from the caged kids. Yolei checks in on Cody, trying to aid him.

Yolei: Cody. Are you okay?

Cody: I'm fine. I was… playing dead.

Yolei: [surprised] Playing dead.

Cody: Sure. It works all the time with grizzly bears, in order to make them think I'm not worth killing or something else. Don't worry about me, Yolei.

But then, one of the Gazimon sniffs the air while looking around.

Gazimon 2: What is it? What do you smell?

Gazimon 1: [sniffing] Humans. Two of them and a few Digimon, a mile away.

Red Goblimon: [sniffs] I smell it too. It's the Black Hybrid traitor.

Hawkmon hears it, and he gets a feeling of knowing who it is.

Hawkmon: The others.

Red Goblimon: They're tracking us! Let's move!

The Goblimon, and the Gazimon, pick up speed to keep running. During the run, Hawkmon has a thought and acts on it at once. He plucks a feather with his beak, and tosses it aside to the floor.

Not too far behind, Guilmon is sniffing the ground and Eragon is listening with his ear on the ground. TK and Patamon both arrive to hear something from him.

TK: Anything, Eragon?

Eragon: I hear footsteps. That's them alright, but they're running. They must've caught our scent.

Guilmon: The smell is fresh, so they're not too far away.

Eragon: But we have to hurry. C'mon!

Eragon rises and runs off with Guilmon following him. TK makes a run for it as well, with Patamon flying towards him.

Patamon: Let's hurry, Veemon!

Veemon falls out from behind a boulder and rolls down a hill. He gets back up, catching his breath.

Veemon: Three days we've been following them. No food, no break, but… if Davis was still alive, he wouldn't give up so soon… and neither will I.

The group is running over any vistas as fast as they can. Guilmon has stopped and looks down, where he picks up Hawkmon's plucked feather.

Guilmon: This is Hawkmon's.

TK: We're on the right track. We should find them quickly when fly. But… I don't know if there are any Sky Towers around here.

Patamon: I'll go find one.

Patamon flies up over the canopy, where he can find a Sky Tower. But so far, he couldn't find any, so it means he can fly.

Back on the ground, Guilmon picks up the scent of another Digimon and he growls at the canopy.

Eragon: Guilmon?

Guilmon: Trouble.

TK: [worried] Patamon?! Patamon, get down from there!

But Patamon doesn't hear TK's call, but he hears a buzzing. He looks up, and a Kuwagamon flies in towards him.

Patamon: Kuwagamon!

The Kuwagamon flies after Patamon faster and they are in the forest. The big bug is about to eat him, but Patamon dodges the blow when he swerves to the right.

Guilmon: Pyro Sphere!

Guilmon hits Kuwagamon on the face. TK hugs Patamon for protection and they see the bug flying away. The Kuwagamon is flying up to go outside of the woods to stay out.

Veemon: Okay, flying is not a good idea.

Eragon: Let's try not doing that again. Some of the Digimon living in the forest are almost desperate for food. They'll eat anything in sight.

TK: I guess we have to stay on solid ground until it's all clear for us.

Eragon: We'll have to look for a Sky Tower when we're out of the woods.

The team struggles through a boulder covered area, and come to a rise that over-looks a green and rocky terrain. And still, not a Sky Tower in sight.

Veemon: No Sky Tower, so we can fly.

TK: Okay, Patamon.

Patamon: Right. Patamon, digivolve to….

Angemon: Angemon!

Angemon carries TK and Veemon in his arms and flies up in the air.

Eragon: Black Digivolution, engage!

BlackExVeemon: BlackExVeemon!

Now the team is airborne, they take flight to rescue their friends quicker.

Part 3

All the way, the Metal Empire is doing its work at Death Tower. The trees around are being ripped down, chopped up and used to feed huge furnaces. The caverns of Death Tower glow with the fires of industry, sounds of hammering fill the air and molten iron is poured into casts to forge weapons. And the cloning machines are making more Digimon soldiers to serve the Empire.

Darkdramon and Marcus are both in the throne room, staring at the monitor that overlooks the Shadow Continent, and they wait for a signal.

Darkdramon: Still, no signal. They arrived here in almost a week, we've lost two Black Hybrids, and no signal?

Marcus: It looks like my brother is more aware of the background than I remember.

Darkdramon: We just have to keep the incubations working day and night. I'll need all the help I can get for the war I'm about to start. And this time, the rebels won't have the means to defeat us, even if they have the Crest.

The two of them look to the backside and they pay attention to the coffin where the new Black Hybrid is sealed. A Datamon is scanning the coffin for inspections and analysing the results.

Datamon: Pulse is normal. Tension feels about right.

Marcus: What about its reflexes?

Then, a blast of energy shoots through the coffin and hits the Datamon into a wall, sending him screaming.

Datamon: [in pain] Not bad.

The coffin opens wide, and a black Stingmon walks out to take his first step. Marcus is stunned to see him at first. The black Stingmon changes into a human, about his age in a black tracksuit.

Darkdramon: Meet Seth, Marcus. I've had the Datamon to engineer his Black Energy a bit more advanced, in order to make a living machine out of him.

Seth: How's it goin'? What's the agenda?

Marcus: If you need to know, we're dealing with a traitor who turns out to be my little brother. He has a Crest that our master has made, and we want it back.

Seth: Yeah? Well, lemme at him. I'll chew him up and eat him for lunch!

Darkdramon: He's going to be your partner for the time being.

Marcus: "Partner"? With all due respect, I function with a team, not partnership.

Seth: Chill-ax, iron man. I wouldn't mind a partner. Especially the whole "team" thin'.

Marcus: And you know what? We'll save a fortune on monogramming.

A Commandramon enters the throne room and salutes his superiors.

Commandramon: Pardon me, my lord. Sandiramon is waiting for your call.

Darkdramon: I'll get on with it. Marcus, you take Seth for some training. Give a result of his actions when he's done.

Marcus takes a bow to his master, before he and Seth take their leave out of the throne room. Darkdramon sits down on his throne and a hologram of Sandiramon appears before him.

Darkdramon: What news do you bring, Sandiramon?

Sandiramon: I thought you'd like to know that I've sent my troops to fetch the Crest for you. My spies tell me they're on their way to the castle.

Darkdramon: Have you now? And why has it been taken so long to tell me this minute?

Sandiramon: The spies say they lost their steeds, the same time two of your Black Hybrids were killed in action. It took them days to reach their current positions, but they've sworn that they'll never stop until they get here.

Darkdramon: Just make sure that if they have the Crest, they can't be taken by the enemy again.

Sandiramon: I've already got the slaves to work on the wall for it.

Darkdramon: Good. I'll be sure to contact more of our allies in the jungle and in the mountains. And they're forces are combined with yours, we'll have an army greater than even the rebels'. The DigiDestined will be overwhelmed when they get here. Over and out.

Darkdramon turns off the hologram, ending his call.

Part 4

Sandiramon is in the hallway of the Eastern Castle, slithering down to go to a balcony where it has a view of the courtyard. The courtyard is filled with Digimon slaves, mostly consisting of Floramon, Doggymon, Deramon, and Elecmon. They are building a steel wall, where the Goblimon are whipping them to make them work faster.

A Shadramon flies over to Sandiramon, who is outside overseeing the production that is going on.

Sandiramon: I want this wall armed and ready for defence in two weeks.

Shadramon: But my lord, it is too big! We cannot have it armed in time, we don't have the means.

Sandiramon: Then simple work the furnaces day and night.

Shadramon: If only we could, we don't have enough fuel to feed the fires.

Sandiramon overlooks the courtyard to stare at the woods outside the wall.

Sandiramon: The Forest of Shangly lies on our doorstep. Burn it!

Shadramon: Yes!

Meanwhile, Mermaimon's island palace is surrounded by aquatic Digimon patrolling around the perimeter. A ship, looking identical to the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi, is sailing towards the island, with the Digimon in the water swimming away from it.

Mermaimon is sitting on her throne, drinking a glass of wine, until she gets disturbed by Octomon's arrival.

Octomon: My lady, Captain Hookmon has returned to you.

Mermaimon: Bring him in.

By her command, the doors are opened. Captain Hookmon and a squad of Gekomon march into the throne room, where they take a bow before her.

Captain: I have returned, lady Mermaimon.

[DIGIMON ANALYSER]

Hookmon: As a Sea Man Digimon, I am all about the rights of the sea and it's creatures. I may not be as powerful as I look, but my Metal Shot is without question.

[END D.A.]

Mermaimon: Rise up. Though I'm charmed for your return, I'm not in a very good mood today. All of my troops are eager for departure to one of our outposts, and my vizier is the one who organizes it. I wish I'd know where Sandiramon is.

Hookmon: Perhaps we can be of assistance. My crew had taken pictures from the sky and we found this.

Hookmon snaps his fingers and a Gekomon comes over with a picture in his hook to show it to Mermaimon. The picture has Sandiramon's Goblimon on the march across the grassland, along with the Gazimon pair.

Mermaimon: Goblimon. Those are Sandiramon's troops.

Octomon: My lady, there are so many unknown squadrons in the wilderness. It could be a decoy. A big, fat decoy!

Mermaimon: What would Sandiramon send them out anyway?

Hookmon: I thought you'd know. My apologies for not giving you some more info.

Mermaimon: It's fine with me. We should estimate they're heading for the Eastern Castle, but he is going to be in big trouble because he left me out.

Hookmon: Not to worry. We'll send our spies to investigate the castle, and await further orders from you.

Octomon: Don't count heads just yet, Hookmon. Her ladyship hasn't decided whether or not she should join with the Empire to finish off the rebels.

Mermaimon: Well… I have one command for you. Set your course to the coastline at shore, and inform me when Sandiramon's forces are getting ready for this war.

Hookmon: [bowing] Yes, milady.

Hookmon and his crew all walk out of the throne room, leaving Mermaimon and Octomon alone.

Part 5

BlackExVeemon and the others are still flying over the grassland in pursuit of the Goblimon troops, but he halts them to a stop when he sees a massive stormcloud heading their way.

BlackExVeemon: It's no use. We can't keep going with that twister ahead.

TK: What? But we're so close to saving them.

Angemon: Don't worry. The Goblimon may not be so smart, but they'd know to stop when there's a storm.

Veemon: Where can we go then? I don't see a bunker or a house we can rest.

BlackExVeemon: There should be a cavern down there. Let's hurry.

So the team flies down to the ground to find shelter.

Meanwhile, the Goblimon troops stop, trying to catch their breath from all that running. Hawkmon and Armadillomon are pushed to the ground.

Goblimon 1: [heaving] We can't go any further. I can't stand all that running.

Red Goblimon: Get a fire going.

The Goblimon go into the woods to get wood and they start chopping on trees. As the cage is set on the ground, Yolei and Cody watch as their Digimon partners crawl towards them, and Yolei embraces Hawkmon.

Yolei: Are you alright, Hawkmon?

Hawkmon: No need to worry. In fact, I feel like my wing's getting better. I might be able to fly again.

Armadillomon: For the record, I'd wish we're in the cage. That Boarmon smells.

Cody: Armadillomon, don't worry. Eragon's on our trail. He will come.

Yolei: But still… I think we made a mistake, coming here. I wanted to travel overseas for a vacation, not this.

Groaning can be heard from the forest as the Goblimon chop the trees into logs with their clubs. Yolei looks concerned, but Cody is looking at the forest in awe.

Yolei: What is that?

Cody: It sounds like… Digimon who lived there.

Armadillomon: I don't know about you, but that sounds like someone would say when there's a break-in.

Yolei: Come on, it's not like this whole forest can be somebody's home.

Cody: Don't underestimate it, Yolei. The wilderness, even that forest, is a home to so many creatures that live in it. If this was your home, you'd feel the same.

Goblimon 2: Me starvin'. Me've eaten nothin' but sushi and crab for three stinkin' weeks!

Gazimon 1: Yeah! It sucks serving that fishy-queen! Why can't we just have some red meat?!

But then, the Gazimon looks at Hawkmon and Armadillomon in thought, and he grins evilly.

Gazimon 1: What about those two? They're red meat.

Red Goblimon: They are NOT for eating.

The red Goblimon grabs the two little Digimon and drags them away from the pair of hungry Gazimon. However, they pay attention to the humans in the cage.

Gazimon 2: What about the humans? They're much bigger than the others. Ooh, they look tasty.

He goes towards the cage, but the red Goblimon pushes him away.

Red Goblimon: Get back, rodent!

[Goblimon growling]

Red Goblimon: All of the prisoners go to Sandiramon. Alive and unspoiled.

Gazimon 2: Alive? Why alive? They could be worth a feast.

Red Goblimon: They have something. A mighty weapon. The master wants it for the war.

The other Gazimon slowly sneaks up to the cage with his claws glistening.

Yolei: [whispering] They think we have the Crest.

Cody: [whispering] Quiet. If they find out we don't have it, we're dead.

As the Gazimon gets closer to the DigiDestined, he licks his mouth and opens the cage.

Gazimon 1: Just a mouthful.

He grabs Yolei by the legs, drags her out, and she screams in fright, which grabbed the red Goblimon's attention. Cody rushes out to save her, but he was pushed away by a Goblimon. The red Goblimon whacks the Gazimon away, and he strikes on the remaining Boarmon, cutting off its head. The head falls to the ground and lands beside Yolei, who gasps in shock by the sight of it.

Red Goblimon: Looks like we're having porkchop tonight, boys!

The troops yell in approval. The kids are pushed out of the way as the Goblimon and the Gazimon dig in. Hawkmon and Armadillomon are dropped to the ground, but they are able to swipe the Digivices out from the Goblimon's pocket.

Cody: Yolei. Let's go.

Now freed, Yolei and Cody crawl off away from the scene with their partners following them. But the red Goblimon puts his foot on Cody's back, stopping them.

Red Goblimon: Where do you think you're going?

[elephant trumpeting]

From hearing that trumpet grabs everyone's attention. Something in the shadows of night are marching heavy and attacking the Goblimon to death. During the attack, Yolei is able to grab Cody away, and they all run off into the woods. They run farther and deeper, seeking to lose their captures.

They collapse onto the ground, out of breath. Yolei sticks her head out from a tree, making sure the coast is clear. So far, she sees nothing.

Yolei: [heaves] I…. I think we ditched them.

[trees rustling]

[roars distantly]

Hawkmon: You know, I was worried about being a fried chicken for those Goblimon, but now I am with whatever's out there.

Cody: We should climb up the tree.

They all scramble up the nearest tree, but Armadillomon just digs a hole on the ground to nearly slips off, and falls into a branch that looks like an arm.

Yolei: Cody?!

Yolei looks down in worry but as she turns her head, she spots a pair of gleaming yellow eyes blinking in the tree she's clinging to. The tree starts to move and groan, revealing to be a Cherrymon.

Yolei: [gasps]

She loses her grip in fright and grabs at the air futilely as she falls. The Cherrymon catches her before she hits the ground. Cody and Hawkmon are both in his grasps; when Armadillomon comes out, the Cherrymon scoops him up, and it looks at them all.

Cherrymon: [yawns] Why did you have to wake me up?

Yolei: [scared] Oh my gosh, the tree is talking.

Cherrymon: Tree? No, I'm no tree. I am Cherrymon.

Cody: We're sorry. We didn't mean to wake you up or something.

Armadillomon: Cody, I don't think you have to speak nicely to him.

Cherrymon: Come now. I am the shephard of Shangly Forest. I safeguard the woods, and I nurtur it until my heart's content.

Hawkmon: And… who's side are you on?

Cherrymon: I am on nobody's side, red Biyomon. Nobody's on my side. Nobody cares for the woods anymore.

Yolei: He's not Biyomon. He's Hawkmon.

Cherrymon: Hawkmon? I've never heard of a Hawkmon before. [angry] Sounds like Empire scheming to me.

He grips the kids and their Digimon tighter; they squirm as a reaction.

Cherrymon: They come with guns, they come with machines, smugging, globbing, breaking, hacking, burning! They force us all into destruction!

Cody: No, you don't understand. We're the DigiDestined, chosen children. We don't side with the villains.

Yolei: We have this to prove it.

Yolei takes out her Digivice and shows it to Cherrymon, who looks at it in shock.

Cherrymon: Where did you get that?

Yolei: Cody's got one as well.

Hawkmon: Armadillomon and I are their partners. We were sent here by Eragon to help all the Digimon here.

Cherrymon: [anxious] Eragon is back? Tell me more.

Part 6

The next morning, so far away from Shangly Forest, Kari and Gatomon are following Impmon, who is racing ahead through the bushes.

Kari: Impmon, slow down. We can't keep up.

Impmon: You're just gonna have to, toots. The castle's a long way ahead. Hurry up, you two.

They move on with Impmon leading. Gatomon loses her footing in the tar pit in a valley full of bones.

Gatomon: Tar pits?! You're leading us into a boneyard!

Impmon: A boneyard, yeah. Believe it or not, this is the quickest way to get there without wasting time. And I'm not a big fan of wasting time.

As Impmon moves on, Gatomon shakes the tar off of her foot and climbs up onto Kari's shoulder for a private talk.

Gatomon: We can't keep this up. He's obviously leading us somewhere else.

Kari: [peeved] Gatomon, stop treating him like he's a criminal.

Gatomon: I'm telling you, he can do whatever he can to have his way. Second, you saw the way he looked at the Crest. He's after it, and that's why he's leading the way.

Kari: I'm not going to give it to him. Even if he tries to take it, I'll always make sure he doesn't. Okay?

Gatomon: It's not only that. You're trying to find the goodness in someone's heart, even if they don't have it. You can't just look at a stranger and teach him how to be good at all times.

Kari: I'm not going with that. I'm luring him into leading us out of the woods, so we can both negotiate with Sandiramon. And when I do, I'll find a way to reach Eragon and the others before Impmon gets it.

[rumbling]

Gatomon: That's me. I'm starving.

Kari: [giggles] I got this.

Kari reaches into her backpack and takes out a box of maple cookies.

Kari: Davis's uncle gave us these before he left. He told us we can enjoy it.

Impmon is still walking, but he finds out the other two are left behind. He rushes back the way he came, where he discovers Kari and Gatomon are taking a rest and eating their cookies, trying to satisfy their hunger.

Impmon: A lunch break? Seriously, get up! I didn't lead you here just for some tea party! I'm a busy guy, and I've got-

Gatomon: [glaring] Busy with what exactly? You seemed to me like you've got nothing to do.

Impmon: Eh, like you'd know.

Kari: We'll have a quick bite to eat, and then we'll keep going.

Kari and Gatomon continue eating their cookies, while Impmon just looks away with his back turned. Impmon spots a worm, picks it up and wiggles it. He then eats it quick. Gatomon looks disgusted by it, and so is Kari, then Impmon begins to wail.

Impmon: I can't stand this waiting around! This is going to make me hungry, and I just had one dang worm! I'm going to starve!

Gatomon: Well, starve, then. Good riddance.

Kari: Here.

Kari tosses Impmon one of the cookies from the box. Impmon looks at it curiously in his palm, and he eats it, which he secretly enjoys.

Kari: Good? [giggles]

Impmon: [bluffing] Uh… yeah, whatever.

[Digimon roars]

Gatomon: Trouble! Hide!

The alarmed trio rushes off and hides in an empty tree stump, big enough to hide them all. Kari takes a peak over the stump, and she sees an Allomon strolling across the boneyard, looking for food. Gatomon and Impmon both look up to see it as well.

[DIGIMON ANALYSER]

Impmon: That is Allomon, an armour-dinosaur type. He's like the big dog around here, and he would roast you alive with his Dino Burst.

[END D.A.]

Allomon sniffs on a bone, and he bites on it like a common dog. During his eating, Kari leads the other two away from him, but he discovers them.

[Allomon roaring]

Kari: Run!

They run off and Allomon tramples on the water with one foot. Kari picks up Gatomon and Impmon, before she runs for the tunnel of brambles to hide.

Impmon: Hey, get off of me, I-

Then Kari covers his mouth with her hand, shushing him.

Kari: [whispers] Here he comes.

Allomon looks down at the brambles, looking for his prey. Kari moves backwards, trying to stay hidden; Allomon starts sniffing for them. He touches a bramble with them under it, still sniffing and snorting. When Kari puts the two down, they move slowly forward. Kari and Gatomon stop at the right path, but Impmon is on the left.

Kari: This way.

Impmon: Sorry, but… you're on your own.

Kari: Impmon, wait!

Impmon runs away on his own. Allomon pounces after Impmon; he gets stuck in the vines with Allomon chomping behind him. Impmon gets pulled a little further and panics looking back at Allomon.

Impmon: Oh man, this is the end for me!

But Kari cuts her way through the brambles with the Culi Sword. She slashes the vines off of Impmon, which ends up on Allomon's face, agonizing him. Kari grabs Impmon before running off with him. Allomon breaks the brambles, standing up and scratches them off.

Gatomon: Out here!

Gatomon joins up with Kari and Impmon, still running for their lives. Kari trips over a bone, dropping Impmon to land on Gatomon, and they end up trapped onto a tar pit. Kari gets on her knees, but she seems to have injured her ankle.

Impmon: Tar! Get us out of here!

Kari: I can't move my ankle.

Allomon leaps out of the brambles toward them, grabbing her attention on Kari, who gasps in horror.

Gatomon: KARI!

Allomon is about to eat her, but a GeoGreymon shows up and shoves him back at the boulder. Kari is stunned by her rescuer, and puzzled at the same time, like she's never seen it before. Allomon breaks a boulder, standing up on his feet, and he engages GeoGreymon in a fight. Impmon puts fire on the tar, melting it to free himself and Gatomon out, before they rush over to Kari.

Impmon: Let's get out of here, now!

Gatomon and Impmon both carry Kari over their heads to escape. Allomon and GeoGreymon are engaging in a bloody battle. Allomon tries to snap at GeoGreymon, but he moves back.

Allomon: Dino Burst!

Allomon shoots a stream of fire from his mouth, but GeoGreymon deflects it with his head like it's a shield. Before he will strike again, GeoGreymon whacks Allomon with his tail at the rock wall.

GeoGreymon: Mega Flame!

GeoGreymon lets out his fire breath, and it is enough to vapourize Allomon into oblivion. At the same time, it creates an earthquake in the boneyard, waving and tearing it apart. Gatomon and Impmon both make it out of the boneyard, just before the cracking floor gets to them, and they gentle put Kari down. They look back at GeoGreymon, who just walks away.

Gatomon: What is that?

Impmon: I don't know. I've never seen anything like him before.

Kari: And yet… he saved me.

Kari looks at her injured ankle. With an idea, Kari takes a sip of her Phoenix Juice, healing it fast in the process.

Impmon: What were you thinking? You could've died trying to save me.

Kari: That's what you do when you're in a team. You look out for each other.

Impmon is touched by the way Kari is saying, treating him, and how she saved him back there. But he hides it with a frown.

Impmon: Well…. Not that I needed your help to begin with. I could've taken down that dino-sucker if I was in the mood, but… I was tangled.

Gatomon: [sighs in annoyance] You're not going to say thanks to her, are you?

Impmon: Not really. It's in my nature.

[five second silence]

Kari: So… the way to the castle?

Impmon: Well, that earthquake split the place apart, and the shortcut was on the other side. We'll have to take the long road. Now, c'mon.

Impmon leads the way again. Now Kari is healed, she and Gatomon both follow him into the woods.

Part 7

Back in the glade, the whole place looks like a tornado just arrived overnight. One of the boulders has a cave that was sealed up by a pile of wood, until TK, without wearing his hat, pushes them out to get outside along with Patamon.

Patamon: Finally. It was getting stuffy in there.

When TK puts his hand on his head, he discovers his hat is gone.

TK: Hey, who's got my hat?

Guilmon pops out, wearing TK's hat on his nose.

Guilmon: I have it. I was… trying to keep my nose warm.

TK: [chuckles] Guilmon, it's a hat, not a trunk warmer.

TK takes the hat back, putting it on his head. Eragon and Veemon both come out of the cave, staring at the scenery.

Veemon: Wow, you weren't kidding about a storm. I feel like we're in Kansas.

TK I still think we could've flown a little longer. We would've gotten there before that twister.

Eragon: If we did, the Goblimon would kill them off. They wouldn't want anyone to tail-

Guilmon: [sniffs] Wait. [sniffing]

Veemon: What? Do you smell something?

Guilmon: Yes. [sniffing] …hair. Smelly hair.

Veemon and Patamon are staring at Eragon and TK, because they're humans and they have hair.

TK: It's not me. I wash my hair.

Guilmon: No. And it's not Eragon's either. It's….

[trumpeting]

Hearing that sound alarms the team, and the ground starts shaking rhythmically. Eragon leads them across the field to find the source of it. When they pass in between the boulders, they find a herd of Mammothmon, led by a silver one, on the march.

Mammothmon: Hup, two, three, four! Keep it up, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four! Keep it up, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four!

TK: Mammothmon?

Eragon: I recognize these hairballs. The silver one's their Major.

Patamon: Maybe they can help us.

TK slides down on the ground to look closer, and Patamon flies beside him. The other three decide to follow them. When he arrives, TK calls out to them, but they don't notice him.

TK: Hey. Wait up! We need to ask you something!

Eragon: It's no use, TK. They're living like a military, so they won't stop for a civilian.

TK: [realizing] Oh, yeah. [shouts] HALT!

The Mammothmon herd stops, crashing into each other in the process. The Major regains his bearings.

Major: Who said "Halt"? I give the commands around here. Now speak up, who was it?

Now the Mammothmon are stopping, TK rushes over to reveal himself.

TK: Right here, I said it.

Major: A human? What do you mean, taking over my command? Highly irregular you know.

TK: Sorry about that. But we needed to ask a favour from you.

Major: You don't get anything from me, since you've got slaves already.

Veemon: [ticked] Hey, who are you calling a slave?!

Veemon looks ready to fight, and the Major growls in aggression; Eragon steps in to cease the fighting.

Eragon: It has been a while, Major.

Major: Eragon. I haven't seen you since the slopes of Death Tower. Many of my troopers were slaughtered by your own hand.

Eragon: That was eight years ago.

Major: That may be, but my grudge still carries on.

TK: Listen, I'm one of the DigiDestined who came here for Eragon's help and the Digimon who are rebelling the Metal Empire.

[five second silence]

Major: [concerned] Then you've come here at the worst time. EmporerGreymon no longer recognizes us, not even as his own kin. My troops and I were exiled without reason and without mercy. And now, word goes throughout the plains that the rest of the rebellion is struggling with the union… of the two kings.

Eragon: What kings?

Major: Darkdramon of the Metal Empire, and Sandiramon of the Nightmare Soldiers. Those two have eyes and ears everywhere, with their spies giving them stategic secrets.

TK: We're not spies. We're tailing a bunch of Goblimon who might've come here not too long ago.

Major: We encountered the Goblimon, and we killed them off last night.

Veemon: But they had two humans! Did you see two humans with them?

TK: One of them is short, the other is taller, wears glasses.

Mammothmon: [behind Major] I saw them, fleeing the scene.

Major: Silence in the ranks!

All of the Mammothmon behind the Major stands up straight to keep their mouths shut.

TK: Where?

Major: Who cares? We did what we had to do, so that is all.

Then, Patamon perches on the Major's left tusk, trying to grab his attention.

Patamon: [politely] Sir, those kids were DigiDestined, and our friends. They'll get hurt if we don't find them. Please? Sir? Please?

Major: [adored] Uh…. Oh, I…. [sighs in defeat] Alright. Half a mile east from here, that's where we attacked the fiends.

Eragon: And while we're there, we can discuss how to make EmporerGreymon come to his senses.

Major: Good luck with that. [to himself; whispering] How humiliating, being interrogated by a flying jellybean.

All the Mammothmon are dosing by now, but wake up as soon as the Major commands.

Major: Ahem, let's get on with it. All units! Forward… march!

The herd starts their march across the plain, leaving the team behind as they watch them leave.

Veemon: Banished? Don't they serve Maro Village as their military?

Eragon: Paramilitary, no allegiance to anyone.

TK: Okay, only half a mile. Let's hurry.

They then run across the field, towards the remains of Goblimon stomped and piled up. Guilmon starts to shift through the pile, and pulls out a charred rope, sniffing it.

Guilmon: Hawkmon's scent. They were here.

Eragon looks at the remains of the trampled cage, examining it.

Eragon: This is new. They must've made it on their way here.

TK: So… Cody and Yolei must've made it out. But where? Back into the grasslands.

Guilmon sniffs on the ground like a bloodhound, picking up their trail. He follows them, the others are following him as well, and he stops before they look up into a dense and dark forest.

Guilmon: …this way.

Eragon: Into Shangly Forest.

Veemon: What's so bad about it?

Eragon: A lot, Veemon. It was originally called the Misty Wood, because it's where Digimon get lost easily when they go in there. Rarely anyone gets out… alive.

TK: Then we've got to go find them.

TK takes his leave into the woods; Eragon tries to stop him, but he is too far to halt him. The three Digimon decide to go in there as well, and Eragon gets ticked for their ignorance.

Eragon: And they said I needed help.

He decides to enter the woods to go with them.

Meanwhile, Sandiramon is slithering around his throne room, waiting for his Goblimon to arrive.

Sandiramon: What's taking them so long? They should be here by now.

[door knocks]

Sandiramon: It must be them. Enter!

But instead of the Goblimon, the doors are opened to a Gazimon, who is the sole survivor of the troops.

Gazimon: My liege, I bring… back news. Your troops have failed.

Sandiramon: Failed? What happened? The DigiDestined?

Gazimon: No, sir. Mammothmon. They stormed in and they… trampled us. We lost the captives in the process.

Sandiramon: I guess their banishment was not a smart decision. Do you remember where the kids took off?

Gazimon: Into the woods.

Sandiramon: [calling out] Shadramon!

Later, Shadramon carries a Doggymon through the wall under construction, and he tosses him ahead.

Shadramon: Find the scent of two humans, and you'll earn your freedom.

Doggymon: [desperate] For my… family as well?

Shadramon: Do it.

Doggymon takes his advice, and smells the kids out with a few Gazimon following him. Shadramon stands by the wall with a smirk.

Shadramon: Dogs will believe anything.

Part 8

Back in the woods, the team is still tracking Yolei and Cody with Guilmon sniffing their tracks.

Guilmon: Wait. These are strange tracks. Their scent was back there, but here it's… different and…. [sniffs] Cherry flavoured.

Veemon: "Cherry"? There's no time to eat.

Patamon: [worried] I don't like this forest. It looks so creepy.

TK: Don't worry, Patamon. There's… nothing around here.

[groaning distantly]

TK: What's that?

Eragon: The Digimon that live here. They're talking to each other.

Veemon: Well, what are they saying?

Guilmon: They sound like… asking why we're here.

[groaning stops]

TK: They stopped.

Guilmon: [smiffs; growling]

Eragon: [whispers] Guilmon?

Guilmon: …Gordon.

Eragon wraps his hand around the button of his Digiband, Veemon tightens his fists, and TK notches an arrow to his bow. Then, the GeoGreymon who saved Kari from Allomon emerges from the trees, right before Eragon changes into BlackExVeemon.

[GeoGreymon roars]

BlackExVeemon: That's not Gordon!

[DIGIMON ANALYSER]

Patamon: I've seen that before. He's GeoGreymon, a more advanced and strong version of Greymon, but I thought he was a myth.

[END D.A.]

Veemon: Vee-Headbutt!

Veemon's attack, Guilmon's pounce and TK's arrow are deflected by GeoGreymon's head, and he slams his tail on BlackExVeemon to a tree.

Patamon: Boom Bubble!

Patamon sucks in air then spews an air shot out in one burst, but even that isn't enough for GeoGreymon.

GeoGreymon: Mega Flame!

GeoGreymon breathes fire at Patamon, but misses him and TK takes cover behind a tree, which is set on fire. BlackExVeemon regains his bearings, and gasps when he sees the blazing trees.

BlackExVeemon: Cyclone Flap!

With a flap of his wings, he blows the fire away and it knocks GeoGreymon to the ground. Angered, GeoGreymon charges with his gigantic horns, but he is stopped when BlackExVeemon grips onto them, and he uses all his strength to hold him. Just then, BlackExVeemon sees something on GeoGreymon's left arm: a Digiband.

BlackExVeemon: A Digiband? Guilmon, press on his arm, hard!

Guilmon: Pyro Sphere!

Guilmon takes the shot, and it hits the Digiband on GeoGreymon's arm, pressing the button in the process. Then, GeoGreymon roars in agony for some reason, then he turns into light as he changes shape to the size of a human. The team gathers around the light, and it fades away to reveal itself as Davis, who just regains his consciousness. Everyone is astounded by the sight.

TK: Davis?

Davis: [groans] What happened?

Veemon: DAVIS!

The overjoyed Veemon jumps onto Davis and hugs him with tears in his eyes.

Davis: Ow, ow, ow. Veemon, take it easy.

TK: Davis, you're alright!

Patamon: But we thought you died.

Davis: Died? What are you talking about?

Eragon: Davis, look at your wrist.

Davis reveals his arm and he sees a Digiband attached to his wrist, much to his surprise.

TK: A Digiband.

Davis: Where did this come from?

Guilmon: [sniffs] Oh, so that's what it was. It had Gordon's scent on it.

Eragon: And that means, he is dead, but… Davis is wearing it.

Veemon: [amazed] Wow, now this is what I'm talking about! I have a new Champion-level and Davis can turn into a Digimon, so we're both the mighty warriors of the Shadow Continent.

Davis: What's going on? Can someone tell why I should be dead?

TK: None of us did. We just thought you did after that fall, and that four days ago.

Davis: Four days? But I…. Um…. Mmmm….

Eragon: Davis… do you remember anything until now?

Davis: [pauses] I… think I do. I remember… falling down.

{FLASHBACK}

Davis falls down with BlackGreymon from the cliffside and they splash onto the river below. As they continue to float in the rapids, Davis hacks away at BlackGreymon even as he thrashes and bounces off the walls.

Davis/narrating: I was floating in the rapids with Gordon, and I fought him with everything I've got.

They continue to float at great speed, sometimes with Davis clinging to the horn of the Black Hybrid. The battling pair then falls on a waterfall into an enormous cavern and plunges into the water. BlackGreymon floats lifelessly on the water, then he changes back into Gordon as he floats to shore.

Davis/narrating: We ended up… into a cave and Gordon couldn't make it. I made it alive, but… not for long.

Davis is crawling his way out of the water for a bit, then he collapses. On Gordon's dead body, his Digiband gets detached on its own, but when Davis's arm was close enough, it re-attaches itself on it. He suddenly shudders with a deep gasp and pants as life returns to him.

Davis/narrating: But all of the pain was gone…

{FLASHBACK ENDS}

Davis: …and I wound up here.

Eragon: Gordon's Digiband must've saved your life from the fall. It couldn't protect him, but you were an exception. You don't have Black Energy in you because Gordon died, and it lost it all when you came along.

Patamon: But why a Greymon?

Eragon: It must be because it still has some of the Greymon data Gordon was given for the transformation. So… it somehow evolved into a more advanced version.

TK: "Advanced" is not the word I'd be using it for. Because that was enough to make Davis… berserk over us.

Guilmon: No, it looks more like self-defence.

Davis: But I was in a coma. I don't remember anything else until I got here after that fall.

Eragon: It may have been a side effect. It happens to some on their first transformation. When it happened to me, I felt like I had a mouthful of cavities when I didn't have any.

Davis: Okay, that sounds painful. So… what else did I miss?

Later, they walk through the forest, with Eragon leading the way and telling Davis the story after his absense.

Davis: [ticked] WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN KARI'S NOT WITH YOU?!

Eragon: I mean, we haven't found her at all. We tried using the feather to call her, but she didn't respond.

TK: But it's not like her to run away like that. She's the bravest of us all.

Guilmon: And the sweetest. She smells nice.

Davis: And yet, she's out there and you're so calm. I couldn't think of even Cody or Yolei in this horrible, smelly, bleak, monster-invested-

[creatures growling]

Davis: [nervously] Uh… I-I mean, nice… very, very nice… forest. [chuckles]

Eragon: Don't underestimate your surroundings. The Shangly Forest is under the leadership of Cherrymon. If our friends are here, he would be there right away.

Patamon: But you said we could easily get lost here.

Eragon: It was true, until he came along. That's what I never thought of saying to you before.

Yolei's voice: Guys, do you hear me? Come in, guys!

Everyone is hearing Yolei's voice in the air, but TK finds out it is coming from one of Zephyrmon's feathers in his pocket. He speaks into it like it's a cellphone.

TK: Yolei, this is TK. Where are you?

Yolei: [from the feather] We're in the woods. Cody and I are fine. We're with Cherrymon, and we're tagging along with him.

Davis: Okay, so you're both alright. If you tell us where you are, we'll come and get you. Just keep safe.

Cody: [from the feather] Sadly, we're too far away. You're going to have to venture to Maro Village without us. We'll only slow you down. But don't worry, Hawkmon and Armadillo are here with us.

Eragon: He's right. We can't waste anymore time.

TK: Alright. We'll catch up to you later. Bye. [hangs up]

Guilmon: Are we going to leave them?

Eragon: I'm afraid we must, Guilmon. You know the Empire is looking for us, and they'll stop us before we gather the rebellion for the war.

TK: So we came all this way for nothing.

Davis: [offended] Hey, who are you calling nothing, TP?!

TK: You were presumed dead, and we had no idea you'd be here.

Veemon: But I'd say we haven't come here for nothing. Because now we have two who can turn into Digimon.

Eragon: We can't show it off. Darkdramon would certainly destroy him.

Davis: Maybe he wouldn't if I take it-

While talking, Davis is about to remove the Digiband off of his arm, but he is stopped when Eragon grabs his hand.

Davis: STOP! You're commiting suicide!

[five second silence]

Eragon: Look at my Digiband. You think I would have every chance of taking it off?

Davis: Yeah.

Eragon: But I can't. Because it's wired into my veins, and it's routed into all of my vitals. I take it off, I live for less than a minute. It would kill me, if I remove it. Do not remove it, if you value your life.

Davis: [hesitant] Okay. I'll keep it on.

Guilmon: But we're the only ones who know about it. So shouldn't we tell the others about it?

Davis: [realizing] Yeah. Now that I think of it, I'd like to see Kari's look when she sees me.

Davis daydreams of himself as GeoGreymon, and he punches Darkdramon on the face to defeat him. When Kari comes over, she puckers up for a kiss, and the daydream ends with Davis's eyes sparkling.

Eragon: Um, first things first. I'd have to put you into training.

Davis: [stunned] What?

Eragon: And by the way, these are yours.

Eragon hands Davis his goggles that he lost before he fell with Gordon. Davis takes them and puts them back on his head.

Part 9

Meanwhile, Cherrymon is walking through the forest with Yolei, Cody and their Digimon sitting on his shoulders.

Cherrymon: I'd have to forgive my first impression. I hope none of you were startled.

Yolei: No worries, Cherrymon. It was actually thrilling since we've escaped from those Goblimon. They were planning to eat us.

Cody: I agree. Of course, we've been having a lot of surprises since we came here.

Cherrymon: To be honest, I was thrilled to know that you two are DigiDestined… but at the same time… envious.

Cody: Why are you?

Cherrymon: We've all heard the stories of the DigiDestined, the chosen children who would come to save the Digital World. The Digimon who accompany them become their partners. It's envious because… everyone gets chosen for it, except for the ones here in the Shadow Continent.

Yolei: Oh really? That's so sad.

Armadillomon: Well, maybe if we tell the Digimon here about it, we could help them find a DigiDestined who would like to have one.

Cherrymon: Oh, don't count on it. The wild Digimon living here have become aggressive and dangerous. Since the Metal Empire took their lands for their oil fields or factories, they come here to Shangly Forest for refuge, and they'd have to act this way to keep their homes from taken. They will even harm you if they can. My brethren and I have done all we can to keep them managed and secured, and now there are so few of us.

Yolei: How few can there be?

Cherrymon: I'm…. I'm not sure. I've only spoken to them once every four years, but we didn't think of counting ourselves. But enough of that. We should be arriving there in half a day from there.

Cody: But where are we going?

Cherrymon: There's a valley. A wide-open valley where it is kept hidden from the outside.

Hawkmon: Let me check it out. My wing's feeling much better now.

Hawkmon removes his bandages and he takes off into the air to fly over the canopy, while Cherrymon holds his ground to wait. Flying over the canopy, Hawkmon hovers in the air to see things from afar, until he sees a clearing so far away.

Cherrymon: What do you see?

Hawkmon: I see… a clearing.

All the way in Death Tower, Marcus and Seth, both in their black Digimon forms, train in hand to hand combat. BlackStingmon does some swift combat skills as BlackMaildramon parries and blocks them.

BlackStingmon: You're not even… tryin' to hit me.

When BlackStingmon tries to punch, BlackMaildramon tilts his head to the right and the new Black Hybrid ends up hitting a pillar, much to his pain.

BlackMaildramon: Why would I, when you do so well of hitting yourself? You can't just attack without thinking. You must scan your enemies, and analyse their weakness to exploit it.

BlackStingmon: Gatlin' Claws!

BlackStingmon fires his metal fingers like a Gatling gun, and they get deflected by BlackMaildramon's metal plating. Then, BlackMaildramon flies forward to slam into BlackStingmon, and pinned him to the floor.

BlackMaildramon: Like your weakness is a flare for jumping to conclusions without thinking straight.

BlackStingmon: So finish me off.

BlackMaildramon: Not quite. [to Darkdramon] Have you been watching, master?

Right on cue, Darkdramon walks down the stairs as the Black Hybrids both change back into their human forms.

Darkdramon: I most certainly have, Marcus. Seth's ferocity and firepower have proven to be both successful and impressive. I'd say the Datamon have made us a more promising member for the Black Hybrids. He shall serve us well.

Seth: Yeah? Well, you just tell me where this Eragon is, and I'll tear him limb from limb to get the Crest back.

Marcus: Patience, Seth. Lord Darkdramon has not yet given us a mission.

Darkdramon: No. Not for you, anyway. But Seth has a mission.

Seth: I do? What do I do?

Darkdramon: Our ally, Sandiramon, is building a wall for the Eastern Castle. I want you to accompany him, make sure the wall is finished, and if the slaves don't do it in time… kill them.

Seth: I don't get to hunt Eragon, but I get to kill any slackers? Alright, I can handle all that. Black Digivolution, engage!

BlackStingmon: BlackStingmon!

Taking flight, BlackStingmon flies out of the room to go forth towards the Eastern Castle, and the other two watch him leave.

Marcus: He could be more than a match for my brother.

Darkdramon: It wouldn't matter. He's merely an instrument to bring forth the elimination of all who oppose us.

Part 10

Back in Shangly Forest, the team is on its way to Maro Village. During their travel, Eragon is having Davis walk on his hand backwards, as he is helping him balance straight. Davis is sweating, trying to not fall.

Davis: Come on, Eragon! Do I have to do this?!

Eragon: Hey, you said so yourself that you want to impress Kari if you get the chance. It won't work if you don't work on your upper body strength.

By the time they exit the woods, Davis loses his footing and falls down, rolling on the grass. Next, he sits down cross-legged with Eragon in front of him, where they do some meditating.

Eragon: To digivolve, you must free your mind. Let go of all thinking. Focus on the transformation within.

Davis: [groaning] Why the hocus-pocus? I just have to give the command code, and I can digivolve already like you.

Eragon: It's not that easy. You were in a coma for days with your other side taking over because you let emotions get the best of you. When it comes to have two parts of yourself, both digital and living tissue, you must keep it in balance and never lose track of yourself. But to do that, you must show your other part that you are in control, instead of it controlling you.

TK: So, for the Black Hybrids, what are they? Humans or Digimon?

Eragon: Both, and neither. The next part is to summon it at will, as you show it you are the master. And when you do, that's when you say… Black Digivolution, engage!

At will, Eragon presses his Digiband to change into BlackExVeemon as an example. Eager to do it, Davis does what he has to do, and give the command.

Davis: Black Digivolution… engage.

He presses on the band, but nothing happens. Davis is still his normal-self, and he tries it over and over.

Davis: Black Digivolution, engage. [excitedly] And I am sooooo engaged I can't even believe it!

BlackExVeemon: Just let it happen, don't try to make it happen.

Davis tries to force himself to digivolve, but no avail. BlackExVeemon changes into Eragon.

TK: Hey guys, shouldn't we get going now?

Eragon: Don't worry. We're not too far from Maro's regions. Now Davis, another thing before we get there.

Later, the team is walking again, but the struggling Davis is carrying Guilmon on his back.

Davis: Oh man, this is… a bit more challenging than the rest.

Guilmon: I don't know, Davis. Eragon did this to me before, and he didn't make a fuss over it.

Davis: Easy for you to say.

Finally, they've reached the entrance to Maro Village, which has a wooden wall surrounding it. Eragon and TK take cover behind a tree, where they spy on a pair of PawnChessmon guarding the entrance, and they watch them look at a Floramon's face.

PawnChessmon 1: Alright, go in.

The pair open the door, letting the Floramon in, and close it to continue guarding it.

TK: Davis. [pauses] Davis?

Davis: Right here.

Finally, Davis is starting to give and he collapses with Guilmon lying on him.

Eragon: Now the entrance is heavily guarded. We need a way to get inside.

Veemon looks at Davis's face close to Guilmon's, where he hatches an idea.

Veemon: I've got an idea.

Later, the team moves out of hiding from behind the tree, but something is wrong. The humans are hidden in old rags and their Digimon's heads are sticking out in place of theirs. They walk towards the guarding PawnChessmon, where they begin peering at them.

PawnChessmon 1: Well?

Guilmon: Um, we…. We want some bread?

Veemon: [whispers] Stay in character, Guilmon.

Patamon: We're here to see EmperorGreymon.

PawnChessmon 1: No one's allowed to see him.

PawnChessmon 2: Actually, that's the mandate. Anyone's allowed to see him, so they can come in.

The pair both open the gate to let the disguised team into the village. Maro Village is silent and somber. Everyone is in the Rookie-level and staring at the newcomers in wary silence. The boys peak through the holes of their rags, seeing the sight themselves.

TK: Uh, Eragon? There're….

Eragon: Yes, I know. They're all Rookies.

The team climbs up the stairs to the hall and is met by more PawnChessmon, but they are flanking a Kyubimon, and most of the team are astounded to see her.

Kyubimon: Stand down, strangers. I am Kyubimon, captain of the guard.

[DIGIMON ANALYSER]

Guilmon: I've heard of Kyubimon. She's a powerful beast-type Digimon who can bring destruction towards her enemies, and she never misses with her Fox Tail Inferno.

[END D.A.]

Veemon: Wow. I like the way she's coloured.

Patamon: No offense, but I thought all captains are men.

Kyubimon: Not me. I've earned the privilege to gain my promotion despite my gender. Now, what do you want?

Veemon: EmprerorGreymon. We want to see him.

Kyubimon: Very well. Right this way.

The PawnChessmon open the door to the great hall, and Kyubimon takes the lead for the team so they can see EmperorGreymon. They see him sitting on his throne, wearing his armour coloured in blue, and standing beside him is a Kiwimon.

Kyubimon: [bowing] EmperorGreymon, we have guests.

Kiwimon: Do you hear that, master? Guests.

EmperorGreymon: [weakly] What… brings you here?

Patamon: Sir, we wish to help you. We've come from outside the Shadow Continent to help you win against the Empire.

But EmperorGreymon doesn't say a word, so Kiwimon walks over towards them.

Kiwimon: His lordship knows of Darkdramon, but he is no longer our concern now that we've vowed to serve him.

Patamon: Serve him?

Kyubimon: I'm afraid so. It's been this way for some time.

Veemon: You can't. The Metal Empire are not trustworthy. We're here to tell you the DigiDestined are coming.

Kiwimon: [laughs evilly] There is no way it could happen… funny-heads.

Suddenly, the boys remove their rags, stunning everyone in the hall with their appearance.

Eragon: We are the DigiDestined.

Kiwimon: [terrified] No. [to the guards] I told you to keep them outside!

The hostile PawnChessmon attack. The Digimon engage them in a fist-fight as Eragon continues to approach EmperorGreymon. Kyubimon tries to go forward but TK holds her back. Kiwimon tries to crawl away unnoticed, but Veemon catches him and pins him to the floor.

Veemon: I would stay still, if I were you.

Eragon approaches EmperorGreymon close enough to consult with him.

Eragon: EmperorGreymon, the Shadow Continent needs you once more. All of your people are in grave danger.

EmperorGreymon: [weakly] I… have no people. I…. [wrathfully] consume ALL!

He leaps off of his throne and attacks with his sword, missing Eragon who just dodges the blow. EmperorGreymon tries to strike him again, but Guilmon grapples onto his leg to stop him, then he kicks him away. Davis tries to stop him as well, but he gets punched away.

Davis: This guy is crazy.

TK peers at EmperorGreymon to look for something. And then, he sees something on his back: a Black Gear.

TK: A Black Gear.

Eragon: What?

TK: I think I know what's going on. Hold him still for me, you guys!

Guilmon and Veemon both grapple onto EmperorGreymon, and he begins to struggle to free himself. During the moment, TK is carrying his Homing Arrows to take aim with his bow. Kiwimon is about to tackle TK, but Eragon grabs him by the leg and pulls him back, allowing TK to fire his arrow. It strikes the Black Gear on EmperorGreymon's back, and it causes him to collapse.

Kyubimon: [worried] My lord!

As Kyubimon aids him, EmperorGreymon groans as his blue armour changes back to red, his normal colour. His eyes blink; his consciousness returns to him. He looks up at Kyubimon's face.

EmperorGreymon: [softly] Kyubimon?

Kyubimon: You're…. You're back. You've come to your senses.

Davis: [stunned] But… how did you know?

TK: He had a Black Gear. I've seen what it can do long ago.

Eragon: Well, glad you discovered it. His strength would've been fatal, even as a berserker.

EmperorGreymon regains his bearings, and looks at the DigiDestined with a clearer vision than last time.

EmperorGreymon: DigiDestined?

TK: [bows] Yes, we're the DigiDestined who have come to help you all.

Kiwimon: This is ridiculous, my lord. They're obviously lying.

But EmporerGreymon looks down at Kiwimon, glaring at him for knowing the truth about something.