Hikari's body shook in the throes of the coughing fit. The last one was so bad that she gagged and breath escaped her lungs. She bolted upright, helped by Sora and Jyou, and gagged again over the side of the bench. She heaved and caught her breath.

"Are you okay?" asked Plotmon.

"Yeah," she gasped, "I'm okay."

Jyou frowned as he rested his hand on her forehead. "You're warmer than you were this morning."

Though he addressed Hikari, he glanced up at Sora. She stood at the younger girl's side, holding her hand tightly. The redhead tensed at the memory of walking into the city in the middle of the desert, joining the others in their awe until Plotmon called out her partner's name. Sora spun around and saw Hikari lying on the ground. She carried her into the city and laid her on a park bench in the shade of a tall office building.

"Why didn't you say anything before?" she asked.

Hikari winced slightly. "I didn't want to slow everyone down." She paused, and then almost whispered, "Are you mad?"

Sora winced. "N-no, of course not. Why don't you, um, try to get some sleep."

"Okay," Hikari said, "I'll try."

Despite her reluctance, she was out as soon as she closed her eyes. While Takeru and their partners watched over her, Sora brought the others aside. All save Koshiro, who was working on his laptop inside of the nearby phone booth. "How bad is she?"

"I don't know," Jyou frowned, "I mean, what I know about medicine comes from listening to my father and brothers."

"But it's obvious she's sick," Mimi said, "Is she going to die?"

"Mimi!" Palmon cried.

"Probably not," Jyou said quickly. He paused, and then added, "Of course, a cough could lead to pneumonia and then-"

Sora hissed and Mimi gasped. Jyou paled and waved his arms. "But that's not going to happen!"

Gomamon sighed. "Put your foot in your mouth again, huh?"

Koshiro rushed out of the phone booth. "Everyone! I accessed a map of the city when I logged onto the network. There's a hospital nearby."

"There could be medicine there," Jyou said.

Sora nodded. "Then that's where we're going. I'll carry Hikari and-"

"There's more," Koshiro said, "This city is the heart of MugenDramon's area. His soldiers are patrolling the streets."

Sora's heart fell and Mimi frowned. "Well, that's just great!" She crossed her arms and huffed.

Sora rubbed her forehead. "Okay. We'll have to move Hikari somewhere and-"

"Probably not a good idea," Jyou said, "Too much moving around might make her condition worse."

"I think we should split up," Piyomon suggested.

Sora nodded quickly and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Yeah...yeah, okay." She studied the others. Would Jyou be better getting medicine or looking over Hikari? Should Koshiro go since he had the map on his computer? Should she stay with Hikari and send the others? Damn it! This was making her head hurt again!

They were staring at her. They wanted her to make a decision. "Okay, okay. Um…" She turned from Hikari to the others and then in the direction Koshiro indicated for the hospital. "Jyou and I will go look for the medicine. The rest of you stay here and watch over Hikari."

They nodded. Koshiro told Jyou he'd give him directions and Mimi smiled at Sora. "Don't worry. We'll take good care of her."

Sora gave her a weak smile and then walked over to kneel down at Hikari's side. "She's fast asleep," Takeru reported.

Even though she could see that, she nodded. "Thanks." She stared down at the sleeping girl and brushed a strand of brown hair out of her face.

"I wish Yamato was here," said Takeru, "He'd know what to do."

Sora felt an ache in her heart. "Yeah, I wish he was here too."

"I'm sorry that he got mad and fought you," Takeru said. He cocked his head to the side. "You're still friends, right?"

Sora hesitated. "I-I still want to be friends with him." She dropped her shoulders. "I hope I didn't ruin things by just letting him leave." She dropped to a whisper, "I shouldn't have let him leave."

"Sora," said Piyomon, "You did what you thought was best."

Jyou walked over to her. "Sora? I'm ready."

She nodded. "All right, let's go."

The Light of Love: The Mark of Millenniummon Prelude

Chapter 4

Jyou led the way through the streets with the others following close behind. Sora's mind drifted back to a few days ago when they were walking through the forest looking for Yamato. He had vanished after Takeru returned from Pinochimon's mansion. She remembered being attacked by the Garbamon, remembered how they thought they defeated all of them before the last one leaped out of the bushes in a last-ditch attack, how Yamato and Metalgarurumon deleted the Garbamon from behind. Sora was relieved but her smile fell when she saw the scowl on Yamato's face. He said needed to fight her in some misguided way to find himself. The battle ended when he left to sort things out on his own.

Jyou rounded a building's corner and then jumped back. "Hold it."

"What?" Sora demanded.

"We've got trouble."

She blinked and then pushed around him to poke her head around the corner. A line of Tankmons was rolling down the street. "All right," Sora said, "We'll back up and go another way."

They went back down the street to another intersection and looked around the corner. They pulled back again as two Guardromons hovered past. They waited until the two were a distance away before continuing up the street. They had to duck into an alley as a patrol of Mekanorimons appeared in the distance.

Sora growled. "I'm getting tired of all this hiding! We need to get to the hospital!"

"We're almost there," Jyou said, "Just a few more blocks."

Once the Mekanorimons had passed, they continued on their way until the hospital building loomed in the distance. Sora raced ahead of Jyou, he was moving too slowly anyway and darted through the sliding doors. She whipped her head around to take in her surroundings. Hallways branched off in all directions. "Which way?" she barked as the others entered.

Jyou ran over to the map on the wall. "The pharmacy's to the left-"

Sora didn't wait for him to finish before racing down the appropriate hallway. Open doors lined the walls. She poked her head in each one before finding a room filled with bottles. "This is it, right?"

Jyou and their partners were racing to catch up with her. "Sora," Piyomon heaved, "Where'd you get all this energy all of a sudden?"

"What are you talking about?" she snapped, "We've got to get medicine for Hikari!" She grabbed a blue bottle off the desk. "So let's go!"

Jyou shook his head. "Sora! You can't just grab anything. You should know that."

She winced. She should know that. "Well then find something!"

Jyou and Gommamon started looking through the cabinets while Piyomon only stared at her. Sora knew what her partner was thinking; it was the same thing going through Sora's mind. This wasn't like her. Yeah, she could be moody and get angry, but never like this. What was wrong with her?

The pink bird started to open her mouth but Jyou cut her off. "I think this one," he said, holding up a white bottle. "Reduces fever and temporarily relieves cough, runny nose, and other cold symptoms. Safe for children."

Sora nodded and her self-questioning vanished. "Then let's get the lead out! Move!"

She ran back down the hall and was heading for the main doors when she slid to a stop. Two Mekanorimons stood in the entryway. They spoke in synchronized synthesized voices. "Halt in the name of Lord MugenDramon, Master of the Metal Empire."

Sora squeezed the bottle in her hand before dropping it into the pocket of her jeans. "You'd better get out of my way or you're gonna be sorry!"

The Mekanorimons remained in place. Sora narrowed her eyes and yanked her digivice from off of her belt. "Piyomon!"

Her partner hovered in front of her. "I'm on it! Piyomon-"

The two mechanized digimon fired beams of light in unison. "Twin Beam!"

Piyomon gasped and dropped to the floor; narrowly missing the attack. The beams struck the ceiling and incinerated a tile. They fired again, annihilating the table in the center of the waiting area.

Sora grunted. "Do you think that's gonna scare us?" Though her voice reverberated with determination, her mind screamed not to taunt them. She wondered again what she was doing.

The ground then started rumbling. Behind the Mekanorimons, a dozen Guardromons and twice as many Tankmons appeared.

"I say we retreat!" Jyou cried.

Sora was about to demand that they stay to fight but those orders died on her lips as another set of beams from the Mekanorimons incinerated the receptionist's desk; inches away from her. She gave a short cry before hoisting Piyomon into her arms and following Jyou down the hallway.

They continued past the pharmacy and out a rear door. Gunfire exploded behind them and Sora stole a glance over her shoulder. The wall crumbled as the Tankmon rolled through. She followed the others around the corner seconds before a Tankmon's missile smashed into the ground.

Despite the odds, they managed to stay ahead of the Metal Empire Army. Jyou and the digimon were panting by the time they reached the park bench at the outskirts of the city. Sora raced ahead of them with the medicine in her hand. "Hikari! Hikari, we're…"

She trailed off as she stared at the empty bench. She twisted around but saw no one. "Hikari?" She ran to the phone booth. "Koshiro? Mimi?" She twisted around again. "Anyone?!"

"Where did they go?" Piyomon questioned.

"I don't know!" Sora cried. Her heart was racing. "I've got to find Hikari!"

She started running down the sidewalk but Jyou caught her shoulders. "Sora!"

She tried to wiggle out. "Let me go! I need to find her!"

"We all want to find her!" Jyou said, "But you don't even know where you're going."

Sora stopped struggling. He was right. "But why would they move her?"

Gommamon waved from the middle of the street. "Hey! Check this out."

They ran over and he pointed at a set of tread marks. "Tankmon!" Piyomon gasped, "They had to run and hide."

Sora felt like screaming. "So where are they? Why wouldn't they leave us a note or something?"

Jyou blinked. "Hmm. Hold on." He ran into the phone booth and then came out a moment later with a torn page from the phone book. "Koshiro left a note."

Sora snatched it from his hand. Had to leave. Went North. Koshiro. "Which way is north?"

Jyou opened his mouth but she held up her hand. "Wait, I remembered." She glanced to where the sun hung low on the horizon. "If that's west then…" She pointed to the left. "That's north. Come on."

Hikari opened her eyes and was surprised to see a brick ceiling with electric lights hanging by thick cables. She started to sit up and realized Plotmon was curled on her lap.

She heard Takeru gasp. "Hikari, you're awake."

He and Patamon were sitting next to her. "I'll get the others," Patamon cried. Hikari watched him fly away and she realized she was in a tunnel of some kind.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"In a drainage tunnel or something," Takeru answered. He gestured in the direction Patamon went. The small digimon emerged from the shadows, followed by a girl and a Palmon. "Here comes Mimi. She'll explain it."

Mimi raced past Patamon and dropped next to Hikari. "Hikari! I'm so glad you're awake! You don't look as pale as you did before." She slapped her palm onto the younger girl's forehead. "And you're not burning up. I guess that nap did you good."

"Where's Koshiro?" Takeru asked.

"Still looking around outside," Mimi said, gesturing to the way she came. She glanced at Hikari and then back at Takeru. "Did you explain anything?"

He shook his head and Mimi nodded. "Right. Okay, so, we needed to run from our spot because MugenDramon's goons were getting close. Koshiro left a note for Sora and Jyou to find us when-"

Hikari gasped and jumped to her feet, knocking Plotmon onto the ground. "Sora's not here? Where is she?"

"She went looking for medicine for you," Mimi started.

Hikari imagined Sora running through the army of metal digimon. "I have to go help her."

She started running in the direction Mimi came from, hoping that it led outside. Takeru and Plotmon called after her but she ignored them. Mimi caught her by the shoulders.

She squirmed. "Let me go! I have to find Sora!"

"Hikari!" Mimi shouted, "I'm not gonna let you go running off into danger! Besides, you might get sick again."

"And Sora went to help you," Plotmon added, "How'd you think she'd feel if you got hurt or worse?"

Hikari shook her head so hard her neck hurt. "You don't understand. I need to help Sora." Her eyes started to water. "Taichi died because of me and now Sora's gonna die too!"

The tears flowed from her eyes. "What are we supposed to do now?" Takeru asked.

"Oh, like I know?" Mimi replied. She frowned. "I wish Sora was here."

Hikari cried louder. "Mimi!" Palmon and Plotmon shouted in unison.

"Oh sorry," Mimi said, "I shouldn't have said that."

"Nothing's going to happen to Sora," Takeru said, "She and the others are going to find Koshiro's note and then find us. She'll be here before you know it."

Hikari was sure that he was stretching the truth but she wanted to believe him. "Really?"

He nodded. Plotmon brushed up against her leg. "And Sora promised she'd look after you from now on, right?" her partner asked, "So, Sora will find us in no time. And what happened to Taichi wasn't your fault. Blame Myotismon."

Hikari heaved deeply and her tears slowly stopped. Mimi handed her a tissue from her bag. "Here."

"Thank you," she said. She dried her eyes and then blew her nose. "I'm sorry."

Mimi grinned. "Don't be sorry. Don't ever apologize because you have feelings."

Hikari sniffled. She held her arms out but then pulled back. Mimi blinked in confusion and then smiled. She put her arms around Hikari. "It's okay. I'm a bit of a hugger too."

The sound of footsteps caught their attention; footsteps and loud buzzing. Koshiro and Tentomon appeared from the direction of the tunnel's entrance. "We've got trouble!" he cried, "The Metal Army's right outside."

"What do we do?" asked Takeru.

The group fell silent and then glanced deeper in the tunnel. If Hikari or anyone else was going to suggest they try their luck, it died in their throats. Small pebbles of debris rain down from the ceiling as the walls started shaking.

"Earthquake!" Mimi cried.

"Is the army attacking?" Tentomon asked.

They realized quickly that neither one was correct. A large section of the wall crumbled as a behemoth of a digimon smashed through the bricks as if they were paper. The Chosen and their partners cried out in terror. Only Hikari found herself able to speak.

"MugenDramon!"

Sora led her small group northward up the street until a line of metal figures glistened in the distance. They darted into a nearby alley and she peered around the building corner. Tankmons, Guardromons, and Mekanorimons lined the street about ten blocks ahead. She stared at their backs while they remained in a motionless line staring northward at a sheer rock face. "What are they doing?" She turned to her partner. "Can you see over them?"

"No problem," Piyomon said. She flew into the air and narrowed her eyes. "The road goes down a hill right in front of them. There's a large tunnel at the bottom."

"Gotta be a draining tunnel or something," Jyou said, "I bet the others are hiding inside."

That was all Sora needed to hear. She jumped around the corner only for Jyou to pull her back. "Are you crazy?" he asked, "You'll get slaughtered."

Sora held out her digivice. "I'm tired of hiding like this. Hououmon can incinerate them all."

Piyomon paled. "W-well, maybe, but I'm still not used to that form yet. If I evolve to Mega then I'll devolve to Pyokomon. What if MugenDramon's in the area?"

"All the more reason to hurry," Sora countered, "While we're hiding and talking, Hikari's getting sicker and sicker. What if she dies? It'll be my fault for not saving her just like it was my fault for not saving Taichi!"

She gasped and felt cold wash through her stomach. "Sora," Piyomon said, "It wasn't your fault."

She stared at her feet. "Yes...yes it was my fault." She felt herself start to cry. She didn't even bother trying to stop it. "I should have stopped him. Instead, I just stood there and watched him die! Some friend I was! I lost Taichi, I can't lose Hikari too."

The two digimon turned to Jyou. "Say something!" Gommamon ordered.

"Um, S-sora, look, I know it's easy when bad things happen to blame yourself, but it wasn't your fault." He hesitated and then added, "And even if you tried to stop Taichi, do you think he'd listen?"

She chuckled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Probably not."

"And how will getting yourself killed in some kind of suicide run help Hikari?"

She filled her lungs and then exhaled. "Yeah, yeah, you're right." She peered around the corner. "We still need a way past them." Hououmon could probably cut a path right through them, but what if MugenDramon was in the area? And even if he wasn't, how long until he did show up? It would be just their luck for the Dark Master to come stomping by right after Hououmon devolved to Pyokomon. She needed to get the army away from the tunnel-

"Wait a second," she said, "There's got to be another way inside that tunnel, right? Let's just go around them."

"Good thinking," Piyomon nodded. She gestured to the rock face the Metal Army was staring at, "I saw a road up there."

Sora nodded and gestured to them to follow her. She led them down the alley and around the corner of the building. They zigzagged through the maze of streets and buildings until they reached a section of the rock face not guarded by the Metal Army. Water trickled down from a small grate near the top.

"That's our way inside," Sora said, "So let's-"

She spun around as a dark shadow appeared overhead. In the sky hovered two massive serpentine digimon, one red and one gray, all with turrets for hands. "Gigadramon!" cried Piyomon.

"And Megadramon!" added Gommamon, "They're Fully Evolved!"

Jyou swallowed. "I, uh, don't suppose you guys would be willing to talk this out."

They pointed their weaponized limbs at him. "Didn't think so," he chuckled.

Gommamon frowned. "I'm not going to back down! Gommamon super evolve to Zudomon!"

The gun turrets on the dramon's arms hummed with power. Zudomon threw his hammer in an arc. "Hammer Boomerang!" The weapon spun through the air and smacked into each of the dragons before they could fire. They both roared and dove at Zudomon.

Piyomon turned to Sora with a questioning expression. Sora nodded. "Yeah, but not all the way."

Piyomon smirked. "Got it. Piyomon super evolve to Garudamon!" She shot into the air like a rocket and smashed her head into the digimon's torso. As Megadramon brought his arms around to point his gun barrels at the birdman, she twisted around and tried to grab the dragon's tail. She didn't make it as, instead of firing his gun arms, Megidramon smacked them into the back of Garudamon's head.

Sora winced. "Garudamon!"

Her partner spun around and slashed Megidramon's face with talons that suddenly erupted with flames. "Crimson Claw!"

Megidramon roared in pain, so loud that sound waves smashed into Garudamon. "Hell Howling!"

Garudamon winced from the onslaught. She grunted and swung open her wings, creating a small windstorm that threw Megidramon back. "Time to end this!" she shouted, "Shadow Wing!"

She fired her flaming silhouette at her opponent's neck. His head fell from his shoulders and his body dissolved into data. Sora ordered her to help Zudomon but there was no need. They both turned in time to see Jyou's digimon slam the pick side of his hammer through Gigadramon's head. The evil digimon vanished in an explosion of data.

"Great job," Sora grinned. She pointed to the grate on the rock face. "Now get us up there."

Zudomon devolved back to his Child form and Garudamon scooped them up in her left arm. She hovered up to the grate and knocked it down with a quick jab from her right fist. Her passengers jumped into the tunnel and Garudamon devolved to Piyomon before joining them inside.

"How are you doing?" Sora asked.

Piyomon fluttered her wings. "Fine. I think can go Mega if I need to."

"Great." Sora turned to the shadows of the tunnel and took a breath. "Let's go."

MugenDramon growled as he stared down at the Chosen and their partners. "You led my soldiers on a merry chase through the city, you and the other group near the hospital."

Hikari hissed. Sora!

The Dark Master continued. "I am not going to make the same mistake as Metalseadramon and Pinnochimon. I won't leave it up to incompetent minions." The two large cannons on his back shifted over his shoulders. "Prepare to die!"

"Not if I can help it!" Tentomon cried, "Come on everyone! Let's show him what Chosen digimon can do!"

"Tentomon super evolve to Altur Kabuterimon!"

"Palmon super evolve to Lillymon!"

"Patamon evolve to Angemon!"

""Plotmon super evolve to Angewomon!"

MugenDramon snickered. He grabbed the incoming Lillymon and threw her into Altur Kabuterimon. Angewomon fired her Holy Arrow but it bounced harmlessly off of his metal hide. The Dark Master retaliated by firing a blast of energy at her from his open palm. "Mugen Hand!"

Hikari cried for her partner. Takeru narrowed his eyes. "Angemon!"

The angel digimon shot over Takeru's shoulder and blasted his Heaven's Knuckles into MugenDramon's face. The Dark Master grunted from the impact. His arm whipped around in a blur and knocked Angemon to the ground.

Hikari stared at the two angel digimon moaning on the ground and a pit seemed to open in her stomach. Then Altur Kabuterimon's voice filled the air. "Hold on! We're coming!"

The giant beetle flew towards MugenDramon with Lillymon at his side. The two digimon attacked in unison.

"Horn Buster!"

"Flower Cannon!"

MugenDramon crossed his arms over his face and both energy attacks crashed into his metal limbs. He laughed a deep, mocking chuckle. He unleashed Mugen Hand attacks from both of his palms. AlturKabuterimon and Lillymon were hit and thrown against the wall.

MugenDramon turned to the humans with a mechanized growl. "Now, shall we get back to it?" His twin cannons whirled with energy. Koshiro and Takeru jumped in front of the girls. Hikari had time to think that was sweet, even though she knew it wouldn't do any good.

She only hoped she would see Taichi in the next world.

The Dark Master snarled. "Infinity-"

He stopped and glanced to the side. The Chosen followed his gaze to the top of the far wall. There, in the entrance to a small side tunnel almost at the ceiling, stood Sora, Jyou, and their partners. Hikari's heart leaped into her throat. "Sora!" Her joy faded and she gestured to MugenDramon. "Run away! He's too strong!"

Sora narrowed her eyes. "We're not running anywhere." She lifted up her digivice. "Piyomon!"

Her partner flew out from behind her. "Piyomon evolve to…"

There was no declaration of her next form. The digimon remained in Child form with a gasp. "Nothing happened!"

Sora's eyes grew wide. "You're too low on energy from that last fight."

MugenDramon laughed. "Then I shall claim the victory!" He swung his fist into the ground, creating a massive quake that split the floor and sent the two Chosen tumbling down the tunnel wall. "Sora!" Hikari screamed.

Sora heard Hikari call out her name. She twisted around and watched the younger girl fall into Mimi's arm. This was followed by a burst of light from beneath her shirt.

Sora heard Piyomon cry out. "I've never felt like this before! I'm overflowing with energy! Piyomon warp evolve to Hououmon!"

The Mega digimon caught Sora, Jyou, and Gommamon in her talons and gently deposited them onto the tunnel floor before turning her attention to MugenDramon. She crashed into him, throwing both of them through the wall and out into the open sky. "Assault!"

Sora ran to the opening and watched her partner tackle MugenDramon as they fell down the mountainside. The Dark Masters threw Hououmon off him and landed on the ground, crushing his Metal Army in the process. He swung open his arms and fired a barrage of missiles from his body. "Catastrophe D!"

Hououmon threw open her wings and rained down flecks of gold. "Starlight Explosion!"

Both attacks met in a blast of light and wind. Hououmon dove through the smoke and exhaled a stream of fire. "Crimson Flare!"

MugenDramon shielded himself with his arm and then gasped as his metal skin started to melt. "No!" He grunted and swung his cannons over his shoulders and fired two massives beams of energy. "Infinity Cannon!"

"Hououmon!" Sora screamed.

The phoenix rolled through the air and dodged the energy projectiles. She then folded her wings and dove at MugenDramon like a missile. "Mach Wing!" She threw open her wings and shot through MugenDramon's body before devolving to Pyokomon.

Sora was still and MugenDramon silent. Then, the top half of the Dark Master's body slid away from the bottom half. He gave a final cry before his data disintegrated, leaving nothing behind.

Sora grinned and then turned to Pyokomon. She lay on the ground, almost in a daze. "Pyokomon!"

A gust of wind from behind her almost blew her out of the opening. Angewomon flew overhead and down the mountainside. "I've got her, don't worry."

With her partner taken care of, Sora ran from the opening and caught Hikari as she leaped towards her. "Hikari!" she cried, holding the younger girl around her chest and twirling around.

"Sora!" she cried, "I'm so glad you're safe!"

Sora placed her on her feet and felt her forehead. "I think your fever's gone." She fished the medicine bottle out of her pocket, "But here. Keep this in case you get sick again."

Hikari looked her in the eyes. "I'll keep it so I remember how much you care about me."

Sora felt her cheeks get hot. She grabbed Hikari into a hug. "I promise I'll always care about you."

Sora heard Mimi sniffle. "Oh, how sweet. You two are just like sisters."

Sora shared a smile with Hikari. Maybe not by blood, but yes, sisters.

Author's Note: If you're enjoying this fic, please check out another one that I'll be positing in a few weeks under the Mark of Millenniummon Prelude. Here's the synopsis. "In another world, another reality, the Yagamis divorced, not the Ishidas. Taichi reunited with Hikari in the Digital World but he soon realizes she doesn't need him. Then he goes walking in Jyureimon's forest.

Did you enjoy it? Any criticisms?" Thanks for the read and please remember to review.