Digimon Adventure Tamers
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon
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(Play The Biggest Dreamer: TV Size)
(Play Digimon Tamers: Aban)
As a way to celebrate Golden Week, the Digidestined went to a quiet part of the Digital World for a picnic, but things turned sour when Mimi and Yolei ended up in the Night Forest, and the others were attacked by a rampant ShogunGekomon. However, they were able to beat back the newest threat. Meanwhile, the Tamers ended up on File Island and were separated. Ryo and Cyberdramon have set out to reunite with the Digidestined…
(Play Digimon Tamers: Subtitle 2)
The Threat of Full Metal City!
(Play Digimon Tamers: Kawari Nante Inai)
"Jeri…I'm tired…" Ai moaned, walking up a hill with her brother and Jeri on File Island. Jeri and the twins had spent most of the day walking around File Island, trying to find their friends and Impmon, but their search yielded no results. The sun had now set and the three Tamers were walking through what appeared to be a tropical forest, and the twins, who were the youngest of the Tamers, were beginning to feel exhausted from walking so much.
"So am I…" Mako said, dragging his feet on the ground. "Can we stop and rest for the night?"
"Not yet," said Jeri. "We have to find a somewhere safe to sleep for tonight. There's no telling what Digimon are here in the forest at night. If we're attacked, then we'll be in trouble. We have no Digimon to protect us."
"But you'd protect us, right Jeri?" asked Ai, looking up at the older girl with her twin brother. Jeri stopped walking at Ai's question. Could she protect them if they were attacked? She hadn't had her Digimon partner for two years…and the best she had ever done for the other Tamers was helping people get to safety whenever Digimon attacked their home. It always ate away at her that she couldn't help much, but Takato and the other Tamers believed in her and still considered her a valuable member of the team, despite Leomon's death. If her friends believed in her, then that meant she could believe in herself and her own strength.
It was through regaining her strength and her friends that Jeri was able to be free from the terror of the D-Reaper, and it would be through this that she would protect Ai and Mako until they found Impmon.
"Yeah…I promise. I'll protect you two. Now, let's find a good place to sleep." The twins nodded and continued walking with Jeri until a loud snapping sound was heard from behind them, causing the three Tamers to stop in their tracks.
"What was that?" asked Mako.
"Shh!" Jeri quieted the young boy and looked in the dark forest, where she could hear someone approaching.
"Hello? Takato, is that you? Rika? Cyberdramon?" The figure stopped moving, staying still before moving again. Jeri stood in front of the twins as the figure stepped out of the forest. Standing before Jeri, Ai and Mako was a brown centaur Digimon with purple spots on his body. A silver helmet hid his face, but one red eye could be seen from the helmet, looking down at the three humans.
"Hey, I think I saw that Digimon on the show!" said Ai. "That's, uh…what's his name?"
"Centarumon," Jeri said, looking down at her D-Arc, which displayed an image of the Digimon before them, along with information about him. Although Jeri's D-Arc hadn't been of much use in the last two years, it could still analyze Digimon. "A Beast Man Digimon. Data type, Champion level. The jets on his back release high-pressure air, and allow him to move at sonic speeds. His special attack is Solar Ray, where he shoots a blast of energy from his right arm."
"Is he going to attack us?" asked Mako, shivering as he looked at Centarumon's red eye.
"I don't think so," Jeri pocketed her D-Arc. "He's a good Digimon that's helped the Digidestined before."
"Maybe he can help us, then?" asked Ai.
"It's worth a shot," said Jeri. "Wait here, you two." Walking up to Centarumon, Jeri looked up at the horse-man, who had remained still since showing himself to the three Tamers.
"Hi…Centarumon? My name is Jeri, and this is Ai and Mako. We're looking for our friends. Have you seen any more humans around here?" Centarumon remained silent, looking at Jeri, and then at Ai and Mako. The Champion Digimon had not spoken or moved for a while now, and it made Jeri slightly nervous.
"Um…Mr. Centarumon? Are you okay? Can you hear me? Can…can you move?"
Centarumon finally moved, but it wasn't what Jeri was expecting. The horse-man Digimon raised his right arm, pointing it at Jeri and extending a gun from it. The brown-haired girl's eyes widened when she realized what was about to happen.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Aku no Shutsugen)
"SOLAR RAY!" Acting fast, Jeri moved to the side and rolled on the ground as a blast of yellow energy flew from Centarumon's gun and hit the ground Jeri was standing on moments ago. Centarumon turned his gun towards Jeri again, but the former Tamer was expecting the attack and managed to dodge another Solar Ray, making it to the twins.
"What's going on?! I thought you said he was a good Digimon!" yelled Mako.
"I thought he was! Run for it!" The three Tamers began running through the forest. Realizing his prey was running away, Centarumon retracted his gun and began running after them, his mighty hooves pounding the ground he ran on.
Jeri looked back and her face paled when she noticed Centarumon gaining speed on them. Realizing they were in trouble, Jeri did the only thing she could think of: Scream and hope one of the Tamers was close by.
"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP US!"
(Play Digimon Tamers: Kage no Yasashisa)
Near a river, Takato bent down to fill up an empty bottle with water. He had spent most of the day wandering the forest he was in with Renamon, his D-Arc out to find Guilmon. From what he saw, Guilmon was on the other side of the island, which meant it would be a day or two before he could see his partner again, but it depended on how big File Island was in real life. The brown-haired boy sighed. He knew when he came here to this other dimension with the Tamers that it wouldn't be a walk in the park. Although he felt it wouldn't be like the Digital World back home, he was hoping the first day here would be better than his first day back home.
'Well, be careful what you wish for,' Takato thought, capping off the bottle and walking back over to Renamon, who was sitting in a tree branch, looking up at the rising moon.
"Hey, do you want some water?" Takato called up to the kitsune. Renamon looked down and shook her head lightly.
"Are you sure you're not thirsty?" asked Takato, who had noticed Renamon hadn't eaten much since landing on File Island. "Are you hungry?"
"I am fine," said Renamon. "Right now, I must keep an eye out."
"For Guilmon and Rika, and the other Tamers?" Takato had climbed up the tree and had sat down next to Renamon, who moved to make room for Takato without taking her sight away from the trees in the distant.
"Yes, and for anything that may attack us," said Renamon.
"Hey, don't worry!" said Takato. "This Digital World is completely different. Besides, we haven't seen any Control Spires around here, so that means Ken hasn't attacked File Island yet."
"That may be true, but there may still be some wild Digimon lying in wait," said Renamon. "It would be best if you stayed close to me Takato. With Guilmon not here, it comes down to me to protect you."
"Well, what about you?" asked Takato. "If you have to protect me in Guilmon's place, then you have to eat something." Reaching into his backpack, the goggled boy pulled out a loaf of bread and offered it to the yellow fox. Renamon stared down at the bread for a moment, before looking up to see Takato with an encouraging look on his face.
"Besides, Rika will murder me if I let something happen to you while she's gone." Knowing this was true, Renamon sighed, accepting the bread and biting into it.
"It's beautiful, you know?" Takato asked, looking up at the night sky. "This is really how I imagined the Digital World would be like back home…a nice, calm island with amazing scenery…little to no fights…I always wanted to see File Island for real, and now…it's truly what I thought it would be…I wonder what the others must be thinking."
"Rika would probably like it…although she is still not one to admit to something like that," Renamon said, pausing from eating her bread.
"Do you?" Renamon paused again, thinking about Takato's question before answering.
"I suppose so. It is beautiful…but yet, it feels…foreign to me. Before I came to your world and met Rika, the Digital World I was in was much harsher. I had to fight every day just to survive, striving to be the strongest. I never had time to admire scenery such as this."
"Well, now you do have some time," said Takato, smiling brightly. "What do you think?" Renamon looked off in the distance again, and prepared to say something when a loud scream tore through the area and an explosion was heard.
"What was that!?" Takato yelled, slipping out of the tree in surprise. Fortunately, Renamon was able to catch the goggled boy in his arms and land gracefully on the ground.
"It sounds like someone is in danger," noted the kitsune.
"SOMEBODY HELP US!" yelled a female voice that made Takato and Renamon freeze up, as they recognized the voice.
"Renamon, that voice…"
"Jeri!" Renamon gasped, picking up Takato and running to where she heard the explosion and Jeri's scream.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Sousa)
"Get away from them!" Jeri yelled, standing between the twins and Centarumon. The brown-haired girl had found a broken sign pole on the ground near her and was holding it as a sword. Centarumon advanced slowly towards the three children, his arm cannon charging up energy slowly.
"Ai, Mako, when I tell you run, run!" Jeri whispered to the twins.
"But what about you?" asked Ai.
"You can't fight off Centarumon by yourself!" exclaimed Mako.
"I'm not planning to fight him, I'm planning to distract him," said Jeri. "Once he's distracted, I'll join up with you, but I don't want you to get hurt. I promised your parents that I would protect you…and how do you think Impmon would feel?" Ai and Mako couldn't help but admit that Jeri was right.
"On three…" Jeri's eyes focused on Centarumon and his charging gun. "One…two…"
"Hey, over here, horsemeat!" A rock was thrown from the left and collided with Centarumon's head. The beast man Digimon turned his head to see Takato standing in a clearing, a rock in his hands. "You want to pick on someone? Come and get me!"
"Takato, what are you doing?!" Jeri yelled in shock.
"Don't worry Jeri. This is all part of the plan," Takato reassured his old friend. Centarumon turned his entire body to Takato and began charging for him. Takato was shaking as the centaur Digimon continued running closer, but he stood his ground and stared at Centarumon intently.
"TAKATO, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Jeri screamed. But Takato refused to budge. Right as Centarumon was on top of Takato…
(Play Digimon Tamers: Renamon no Theme)
"DIAMOND STORM!" Numerous white sharp objects flew from the sky and pelted Centarumon. The horse-man Digimon was forced to throw his arms up to defend himself from the attack. Centarumon backed away from Takato, and Renamon jumped out of a tree behind Takato, dropping down and kicking Centarumon, forcing the beast man on one knee. But Centarumon stood back up and fired his Solar Ray, which Renamon dodged by fading away before reappearing right behind Centarumon, wrapping her arms around his neck. Centarumon gasped from Renamon's iron-tight grasp, pulling himself back up and began bucking his legs like crazy in an attempt to shake off Renamon. As the two Digimon fought, Takato immediately ran over to Jeri and the twins.
"Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, but Takato, where are Guilmon and Rika?" Takato grimaced slightly, and Jeri realized what that meant.
"Oh…they're okay, right?"
"Well, they're with Kazu, so let's hope everything goes well," Takato said with a sheepish chuckle. "So any reason why Centarumon is attacking you?"
"I don't know," said Jeri, looking over to see Centarumon throw Renamon off his back, and the kitsune Digimon rebound by leaping off a tree and striking him with her Power Paw. "I thought Centarumon was a good Digimon?"
"He is. He's the guardian of the Digivice temple on File Island," Takato said, looking to see Centarumon blast Renamon with his Solar Ray, but the kitsune Digimon was tougher than she looked, shrugging off the attack and delivering a flurry of kicks and punches to Centarumon. "I don't know why he's…" the brown-haired boy trailed off when he saw a black band on Centarumon's left arm, gasping when he saw it.
"That's a Dark Ring!" he whispered as Renamon leaped over to him and the other Tamers.
"Renamon, there's a band on his left arm!" Takato said to the kitsune Digimon. "It's a Dark Ring. That means Centarumon's under the Digimon Emperor's control."
"So what does that mean?" asked Ai.
"It means all we have to do to get him to stop fighting is to break the Dark Ring," said Takato. "We do that, and he'll be free."
"I understand," said Renamon, charging back into the battle. Centarumon fired his Solar Ray attack, but Renamon leapt up to avoid it, landing on Centarumon's outstretched arm and leaping for his face.
"POWER PAW!" Renamon's blue flame-engulfed hand struck Centarumon in the face and the beast man Digimon staggered backwards from the force of the blow. Renamon then struck the Dark Ring, and the band cracked from the attack.
"DIAMOND STORM!" Leaping into the air again, Renamon summoned her sharp white leaves and launched them at the Dark Ring, weakening it further and cracking it apart. Centarumon collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily as he felt the evil influence leave him.
"Is he going to be okay?" Mako asked worriedly as the Tamers approached Centarumon.
"Yeah, he'll be fine, now that the Dark Ring is broken," Takato bent down to look over the fallen Digimon. "Centarumon…are you okay now?"
"Yes…I think so," Centarumon groaned, lifting his head up to see a mess of brown hair, and a pair of goggles resting in the air.
"Tai?" Centarumon asked, making Jeri giggle at Centarumon mistaking Takato for someone else. "Is that you?"
"No, I'm not Tai!" said Takato. "My name is Takato!"
"Takato?" Centarumon stood back up, looking over the four humans before him. Now that his vision had cleared, the beast man Digimon noticed that the boy before him was not Tai, but the hair, goggles and blue shirt made him think he was Tai. Centarumon also noticed two girls and a boy of different ages with the Tai lookalike as well, and a yellow fox like Digimon that made Centarumon gasp in shock.
"My word…are you a Renamon?"
"I am," Renamon said with a low bow. "You were under the influence of one of the Digimon Emperor's Dark Rings, but I was able to free you."
"You were able to beat me without Digivolving?" Centarumon asked in surprise. "I have heard that Renamon are rare Digimon capable of holding their own against more powerful Digimon in their Rookie forms. Who are you young humans, exactly? Are you Digidestined? And is this Renamon the partner to one of you?"
"Actually, Renamon is someone else's partner," answered Jeri. "We've been separated from our friends. There are six more humans on this island with us."
"Six more humans, you say?" asked Centarumon. "Are they Digidestined, like you?"
"Techinically, we're not Digidestined," Takato showed his D-Arc to Centarumon, Jeri and the twins showing their own devices as well. "We're Digimon Tamers."
"Tamers?" asked Centarumon, surprised at the new Digivices. He had never seen such a model before. "I don't believe I'm familiar with that term."
"It's a long story," said Takato. "I have a feeling you want to hear it."
"Yes, I do," said Centarumon. "Come with me. My temple is not far from here. You can rest there for the night. Please consider it my way of thanking you for freeing me from the Dark Ring."
"Thank you," Takato and Jeri said, following the beast man Digimon. The twins, who were becoming increasingly tired, opted to be carried, Takato carrying Mako and Jeri carrying Ai. A few minutes later, the Tamers found themselves in Centarumon's temple, which excited Takato greatly.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Kanshou)
"No way! This is actually your temple!"
"Yes, I take it you've heard of it?"
"I've heard of it, and I've seen it, but I've never been inside it before," Takato said, a huge smile on his face.
"He's a fan of Digimon," said Jeri.
"Ah, I see," said Centarumon, turning on several lights for everyone to see. "So let me get this straight. You're from another dimension with its own Digital World, and you've come here to help the Digidestined fight the Digimon Emperor?"
"Yes, we have," said Jeri.
"Fascinating," Centarumon said, his eyes lighting up with amazement. "And in your dimension, Digimon exist not only as real creatures, but as a card game and other media forms?"
"Yeah," Takato dug in his backpack and pulled out a green and blue card. "In fact, take a look at this!" Centarumon took the card he was offered and looked at it, surprised to see himself on the card, which displayed what Digimon he could Digivolve from in the game, as well as his level, type, attribute, a description of him, and his special attacks.
"Simply amazing," Centarumon breathed, handing the card back to Takato.
"Centarumon, what happened to you?" asked Mako. "How did that Dark Ring get on you?"
"Heh, heh…it's a little embarrassing," Centarumon said with an embarrassed look on his eye. "A few months ago, the Digimon Emperor planted Control Spires on File Island and attempted to control us. But us inhabitants, who had been enslaved before at the hands of Devimon, refused to allow a fallen Digidestined to control us. So we rallied together and we destroyed the Control Spires, forcing the Emperor to leave our island."
"Wow!" Takato breathed in astonishment. "That's awesome! You guys managed to resist the Emperor!"
"For now," said Centarumon. "But it may only be a matter of time before he returns. After he left, I found one of his Dark Rings and I decided to inspect it to see how it worked. However, during my research, the Dark Ring clamped on my arm and I fell under the Emperor's control. I apologize for any harm I brought to you."
"It's okay Centarumon, you weren't yourself," said Jeri. "Hey, I was wondering, do you know where Primary Village is from here? We're meeting our friends there."
"I do, actually," said Centarumon. "I can take you to Primary Village tomorrow so you can see your friends again. But for tonight, it should be best that you rest. We'll head out tomorrow morning."
"Thank you," everybody said. Before long, the four Tamers were resting in beds. Ai and Mako had fallen asleep instantly, but Takato and Jeri were still awake.
"Takato, why did you do that anyway when you saved us?" Jeri whispered to the brown-haired boy. "What if Renamon wasn't with you? What if it was just you?"
"The safety of my friends has always been important," Takato said, reaching over and taking Jeri's hand in his own. "And that includes your own as well."
"But what about you?" Jeri asked, frowning slightly.
"Hey, you know I would have dodged," Takato said, squeezing Jeri's hand. "I care very much about you Jeri…you know that, right?" Jeri blushed slightly, remembering when she and Takato talked about their feelings shortly after the D-Reaper Crisis. Takato had admitted to liking Jeri a lot, and Jeri had admitted to caring very much for Takato, but she wasn't sure yet if her feelings for him were romantic.
"So do I, Takato…so do I…" Jeri muttered before letting sleep claim her, the girl's hand still clutching Takato's. The goggled boy couldn't help but blush and smile as well before sleeping.
'Not bad for a first day in a new dimension, I guess,' was Takato's final thought before drifting off to sleep.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Teki o Yattesukero!)
The next day, the Digidestined returned to the Digital World to destroy more Control Spires. They had split off into four groups to take down more areas faster. Davis went with Tai and Kari while TK went with Matt, Yolei went with Sora and Mimi, and Cody went with Joe and Izzy.
"FLAMING FIST!" Flamedramon's fireballs flew through the sky and collided three Control Spires, cracking them apart slowly.
"NILE JEWELRY!" Nefertimon was the next to attack, pelting the Control Spires with her red jewels, damaging them even more, allowing Agumon to become MetalGreymon and finish them off. The cyborg dinosaur rammed into one Control Spire, knocking it down flat before destroying the other two with his Giga Destroyer. MetalGreymon then landed near an area with a Control Spire. Thanks to the D-3s, Davis and Kari were able to determine the limit the Control Spires over a specific area.
"All right MetalGreymon, this part here is as far as you can go," Davis showed the map to the cyborg dinosaur. "One step further, and you'll regress back to your Rookie level."
"I think I can hit the Control Spire from here." MetalGreymon raised his left arm and took careful aim at the Control Spire. With a yell of "TRIDENT ARM!" MetalGreymon's clawed hand was fired from his arm on a retractable cable, soaring through the air until it stabbed into the Control Spire, which crackled with energy before crumbling.
"All right, that's six Control Spires for us today!" Tai said, referring to their three-Digidestined group. "Let's hope the Digimon Emperor doesn't try to reclaim these areas."
"All the more reason we need to find whatever base the Emperor's using and wreck it so he can stop building Control Spires," said Davis, who let his mind begin to wander on Ken. It had been a full month since the Digital Gate had opened again, and while the Digidestined were making slow progress, Davis still felt it wouldn't be progress enough until they found Ken's secret base.
This also made him think about Ken being the Digimon Emperor. While the burgundy-haired boy had told the Digidestined about Ryo and his unknown friend to the Digidestined, he had yet to reveal his history with the Digimon Emperor. Matt was the only one who knew, but he didn't know the Emperor's name. This made Davis wonder when he would tell them, as he knew it was only a matter of time before he told the other Digidestined that Ken Ichijouji was the other Digidestined he went to the Digital World with, as well as the Digimon Emperor. The new Digidestined leader could only bang his head on a tree in frustration.
'Damn it…why did the Digimon Emperor have to be one of my closest friends? Why couldn't he have been a completely random kid none of us ever knew or met?' Kari turned her attention from Nefertimon and looked over to Davis, her face knitting with worry when she noticed the stressed look on her best friend's face.
"Tai, if it's all right, I'm going to talk with Davis," she said to her brother, nodding over to the younger of the goggled boys. Tai noticed Davis's stressed look and frowned as well.
"All right, you do that. He does look upset about something." Kari nodded, and walked over to Davis, putting a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
"Davis, is something wrong? You don't look happy about something." Davis sighed, slightly annoyed that Kari was able to notice something wrong by reading his posture and noticing the look on his face.
"Yeah, I'm just upset about not making much progress so far," said Davis, slightly truthful. "We've only destroyed Control Spires so far, but what's not to say the Emperor hasn't made more Control Spires in areas we haven't been to yet, or rebuilt Spires we've already destroyed? That's why we need to focus on finding his base. Plus, the Digital World is massive and it could take us months to destroy all the Control Spires in the Digital World." Davis sighed in irritation, and Kari could only sigh as well, but in sadness.
"I know it's bad Davis, especially for you, since you're our leader," the brown-haired girl reached over to hug Davis. "But you don't have to put all of this on yourself."
"I feel like I should," muttered Davis. "I have something else on my mind that's been…personal."
"Is it something at home with your family?"
"No, things are fine between Jun and me. And my parents…well…"
"You don't have to tell me," Kari said, knowing Davis never had an easy relationship with his parents, who worked a lot to support two children. "But Davis, if something is bothering you, then tell me. We promised when this started that we wouldn't keep secrets from each other." Davis breathed deep, deciding that Kari should also know as well, but she should know the full truth.
"Let's go somewhere more private," Davis took hold of Kari's hand and pulled her into the forest. Kari gasped in surprise as she let Davis guide her through the trees, a light blush across her cheeks.
"Hey, where are they going?" MetalGreymon asked, noticing the two departing Digidestined.
"Let them go," Tai said with a light smile. "I've known Davis for a long time, and I know he won't do anything funny." The brown-haired boy figured the two friends wanted some time to themselves, as well as to do something else which made the bearer of Courage to smirk slightly.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Saa, Hashiridasou!)
"STAR SHOWER!" In the skies of the Digital World, Pegasusmon released his attack of falling stars on a group of Control Spires, each one receiving heavy damage from the attack. Knowing that was the signal, Matt whistled loudly, and Gabumon's Ultimate level, WereGarurumon leaped out of the forest and ran forward, smashing his fists into some Control Spires, kicking others with his powerful legs, and releasing an energy wave with a yell of "WOLF CLAW!" destroying the last of the Control Spires.
"That's the last of them!" Matt declared as WereGarurumon returned to his side and Pegasusmon landed nearby, allowing TK to dismount.
"How many Control Spires was that again?" asked TK.
"Seven," grunted WereGarurumon. "That's seven down…and hundreds more to go."
"We'll get them as well," TK said, his face setting into a hard glare. "And we'll get the Digimon Emperor as well. The last thing we need is some brainwashed kid spreading darkness just because it's to 'maintain balance'."
"Well, we're doing more than destroying Control Spires today," said Matt. "Izzy thinks the Digimon Emperor has some sort of base in the Digital World that helps him make Spires, and Davis suggested we split into groups today to find it."
"About time," muttered TK. "I was wondering when Davis would start progressing further than, 'let's go destroy a Spire for the day.'"
"You still haven't had your talk with Davis yet, have you?" Matt asked with a sigh, hearing the slight contempt TK had for Davis.
"No…" TK sighed. "I haven't been able to talk with him yet. It's either a fight in the Digital World, soccer practice, or Davis just leaves for home right when we get back from the Digital World. Plus, I feel he still may be sore at me for what I did last month."
(Play Digimon Adventure: Run with the Wind ~Yamato no Theme #2~)
"TK, I'm pretty sure Davis has some…personal issues he's dealing with. We may be the protectors of the Digital World, but even we have problems outside the Digital World." Matt knew Davis was still hurting slightly from his friend being the Digimon Emperor, but that was for only Matt to know. "Plus, I highly doubt Davis is still angry at you for what you did. It was a month ago."
"Yeah, but I still feel this…disconnection…between us," TK said, sighing heavily. Although he and Davis had been working okay ever since Patamon first Armor Digivolved, he felt something uneasy in him, as if telling him that it was only a matter of time before he butted heads with Davis again, and it got in the way with the team because of it.
"Well, that's how it went with me and Tai before," said Matt. "I think what your problem is TK, is your comparing yourself to Davis."
"What?" TK looked confused. "Matt, what do you mean by that?"
"Well…one of the reasons I…left when we fought the Dark Masters was because I felt like I needed to find myself. I had been comparing myself to Tai a lot, and it wasn't getting me anywhere except fights with Tai. And I think that's your problem, right?"
TK opened his mouth to argue with Matt's theory, but he stopped and thought about why he changed the coordinates last month. It was because of his jealousy over the friendship between Davis and Kari that made him act out. He was upset that Davis, though being a Digidestined shorter than TK was, had more experience and was named the leader. He also hated that Davis had been able to keep a cool head so far in situations, whereas TK let his anger over darkness take him over and he tried to attack the Digimon Emperor. When he looked it over again, he couldn't help but realize Matt was right.
"I…I guess you're right Matt. I guess I have been feeling…inferior to Davis. He seems to be able to do this better than I can…"
"And you can do it just as well, in your own way," assured Matt. "But TK, you should still have that talk with Davis sooner rather than later."
"I will Matt…I promise," TK sighed, walking back over to Pegasusmon while WereGarurumon stood by his partner.
"Do you think they'll get along well?" asked the werewolf Digimon.
"I hope so," sighed Matt. "I certainly hope so."
Back in the deep forest, Davis had finished telling his story to Kari, and the child of Light could only stare in complete shock. When she had learned the Digimon Emperor's identity, it took everything in her being to not run and tell Tai what Davis told her, especially when Davis told her about Ken being the other Digidestined who helped Davis and Ryo fight Millenniummon.
"…and now we come to here," Davis said, sighing sadly as he sat down on a fallen tree.
"Davis," Kari whispered, feeling faint tears form in her eyes. The child of Light quickly rubbed her eyes before sitting down next to Davis, stretching out and placing her hand in his. Davis blushed a little, and turned away before Kari could notice. "I had no idea you were carrying that much inside of you."
"You have no idea," Davis said with a sad chuckle. "How do you think I feel, knowing that our new enemy is an old friend of mine and I have to fight him?"
(Play Digimon Kanashimi 2)
"I think I can feel some of that," Kari said sadly. "I couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like if you were in Ken's place…and I was in yours. You're my best friend Davis, and I don't think I could ever bring myself to fight you."
"Me neither Kari," Davis said, squeezing Kari's hand lightly.
"I'm just surprised you've been able to keep it together since this happened," thought Kari. "Despite what happened the first day this all began, you've been able to keep yourself together and lead us through everything Ken's thrown at us."
"I have to keep it together when we're in the Digital World," Davis said. "I'm the leader, after all. Back home…Jun's the only other one who knows the full story. Matt knows some of it because Jun told him, but I never told him Ken's name." The burgundy-haired boy sighed again, feeling frustrated and sad over the entire ordeal. Kari, seeming to feel Davis's pain, wrapped both arms around Davis in a tight hug.
"Davis…you don't have to keep it to yourself anymore, remember that," she whispered, pulling Davis off the log as she kept her arms around him. "I'm right here for you to talk to, and Tai and Sora as well." Davis looked stunned for a moment before smiling lightly and returning the hug, placing his head on her shoulder.
"Thank you Kari…I guess I just needed to hear something from you to feel better. You always do know the right thing to say to somebody. I guess that's why I…why I like you. You're always kind and caring to everybody, plus you light up everybody's day. I guess that's why your name is Hikari."
Kari couldn't resist the heavy blush on her face when she heard Davis said he liked her. Did he like her as a friend…or something else?
"And you Davis…you've been brave ever since this whole thing began. Despite how personal this is for you, you've been able to fight through it and lead us whenever we needed it, and you've always pulled through for us, always creating some miracle to get us out."
"Well, I do have the Crest of Miracles, after all," Davis said with a slight laugh. "I guess it's a miracle I've been able to get through everything that's happened to me not just this last month, but the last three years in general."
(Play Digimon Tamers: Akogare)
"Because that's who you are," Kari said, pulling back and looking up to Davis with a bright smile. "I know that you're fighting your hardest and you refuse to give up on saving Ken. That's who you are. When you set your mind on something, you see it to the end. And you're one of the strongest people I know, maybe even stronger than Tai. I guess that's why I lo…like you too!" Kari almost said another word, but caught herself in time. However, Davis looked slightly confused about what Kari said, and became even more confused, as well as embarrassed, when Kari leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for?!" Davis blurted out, his face blushing crimson red.
"For being you," Kari smiled sweetly. "I promise I won't tell anyone about Ken until you're ready." Davis smiled and leaned down, kissing Kari on the cheek as well, and it was now the brown-haired girl's turn to blush fiercely.
"That was for being you as well," Davis said before walking off with a laugh.
"Oh, Davis," Kari said with a giggle, before wondering to herself why she did kiss Davis in the first place.
'That was embarrassing,' Kari thought to herself. 'I don't know why I almost said I love Davis. A dark forest definitely isn't the right place to tell someone you…love…' Kari suddenly stopped walking, gasping to herself as her hands flew up to her mouth.
"Oh my gosh…I love Davis," Kari said, her entire face now crimson red with a blush.
"So you love Davis, huh?" Kari gasped and whirled around, seeing Sora come out from behind a tree, Biyomon by her side.
"Sora! How…how long have you been there?"
"I just got here," replied Sora. "Everyone's getting ready to go home, and I decided to come and find you. I showed up in time to see you kiss Davis. You were saying something, but I didn't catch it because I was surprised at what you did. Then I saw Davis kiss you back, so I decided to hang low behind a tree. It wasn't until you said you love Davis that I decided to show myself. So…how long have you been in love?"
Kari sighed at the girl's question. "Honestly? I've felt it for a while. But with everything going on in the Digital World, I guess romance has taken a backseat…and it's taken me some time to figure it out."
"It's okay Kari, I understand," Sora walked over and hugged the girl she considered a sister.
"Yeah, I guess you haven't told Tai yet?" Kari asked with a smirk, causing Sora's face to look embarrassed.
"Well…um…" Kari couldn't help but laugh at Sora's face.
"I'm kidding! But you know he may not wait forever."
"I know. I know…" Sora sighed as she walked back with Kari to the other Digidestined, Biyomon giggling at her partner's blushing face.
"All right, not bad for a day's work," Tai said once everybody had regrouped. "My group took out six Control Spires, Matt and TK destroyed seven, Yolei, Mimi and Sora took out eight, and Cody, Izzy and Joe destroyed twelve Control Spires!"
"Ha-ha, we got the most Control Spires!" Armadillomon said with a laugh.
"Don't brag Armadillomon, it's not a contest," Cody said sternly. "This is an important matter."
"And it's going to continue on tomorrow," said Davis. "Will anybody, besides us younger kids, be able to come tomorrow?"
"Unfortunately not," Tai said with a sigh. "With school starting again tomorrow, Sora and I have middle school soccer practice tomorrow."
"And I have band practice tomorrow," said Matt.
"Medical exam," Joe gave his reason.
"Cheerleading practice," added Mimi.
"And I won't be able to come tomorrow as well," said Izzy. "I agreed to chaperone a field trip, and we won't be back until after school ends."
"Just leave it to all of us!" Davis said with a big smile, the other new Digidestined smiling with him as well.
The next day, the Digidestined had returned to school as Golden Week had come to an end. For Davis, the day was mostly boring like other school days. Once the day ended, the younger Digidestined went to the Digital World to destroy several more Control Spires. The team had plans to destroy five Control Spires today. After destroying four, they decided their final Control Spire would be one in the desert. When they reached the location, the five Digidestined were surprised to see the Spire was in a giant futuristic city. A giant metal wall was formed around the city, and a huge glass dome was over the city.
"Woah! What is this place?" Yolei asked as the Digidestined went into the city with their Digimon Armor-Digivolved.
"It's called Full Metal City," said Flamedramon. "I've heard that it's home to many machine-type Digimon."
"According to the radar, the Control Spire is in the center of the city," Cody checked his D-3 for confirmation on the black obelisk.
"Then let's go!" said Davis. The Digidestined went deeper into the city, and it immediately went downhill when numerous Guardromon with Dark Rings on their chests came charging out of the buildings and began firing their Grenade Destroyer at the Digimon, who began fighting their way through the robots, but it was clear that the entire city was filled with the brown robot Digimon, and the Digimon were exhausted from already destroying Control Spires today.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Arata no Teki!)
"INTRUDER! INTRUDER!" the Guardromon yelled out, firing their grenades at the Armor Digimon, who grunted and yelled as they attempted to dodge the missiles, but they were hit by even more.
"This is no use!" yelled TK. "There's too many Guardromon! We can't get them all!"
"Now what do we do?!" asked Cody. Davis grimaced, realizing that there were far too many controlled Digimon for even Flamedramon to fight. And aerial assaults were useless for Halsemon, Nefertimon and Pegasusmon as Guardromon were on top of buildings, and the Guardromon could also fly with jets built into their backs. Before Davis could speak, Flamedramon dropped to his knees and glowed brightly, reverting to Veemon. Before long, the other Armor level Digimon reverted to their previous forms except for Nefertimon.
"There's no other choice," said the burgundy-haired boy. "We need to fall back and think of a new strategy!"
"I saw a TV near here!" said Yolei. "Everybody, follow me!" The Digidestined picked up their partners, Nefertimon reverting to Gatomon so Kari could carry her. The Digidestined ran as fast as they could from the Guardromon's missiles, eventually reaching the TV Yolei saw. Davis ran forward and held up his D-3, opening the Digital Gate. The burgundy-haired boy stood off to the side and motioned with his arm to the others.
"Hurry! Get to the Digital Gate!" Yolei went in first with Hawkmon, and Cody followed with Armadillomon. Davis looked up and noticed TK was coming up fast, but he noticed Kari was still behind.
"Davis, come on!" TK grabbed Davis's arm and pulled him into the Digital Gate.
"But what about Kari?!" Davis yelled in surprise.
"Don't worry, she can make it!" That was the last thing TK said before he was sucked into the Digital Gate with Davis, Veemon and Patamon.
"Davis, TK! Wait for me!" Kari ran for the TV with her D-3 in her hand and Gatomon by her side. However, since Kari's attention was focused on the Digital Gate she failed to notice a Guardromon on a nearby building, aiming his arms at the Digital Gate. The missiles soared from his arms and hit the TV, engulfing it in an explosion that knocked Kari and Gatomon off their feet. Sitting back up, Kari's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh no…oh no…" Kari whispered, realizing that she was trapped in a city with hundreds of robot Digimon set to attack her.
"Ow…" Yolei groaned as she stood back up in the computer lab with the other Digidestined. "Did anyone else hear an explosion back there?"
"Yeah, I saw it when we went through!" said Patamon. "A Guardromon was prepared to attack the Digital Gate!"
"Well, at least we managed to get out safely," Cody sighed, holding an exhausted Upamon in his hands.
"Yeah, we…" Davis started before he noticed something amiss. "Wait a minute…where's Kari?" The other Digidestined looked around the computer room, noticing the absence of the child of Light, and her partner as well.
"Oh no…" DemiVeemon whispered in horror, looking up at the computer. "Guys…I don't think Kari and Gatomon made it back in time." The other Digidestined gasped, looking up to see the Digital Gate to Full Metal City was marked 'closed'.
After getting over her shock and fright, Kari quickly grabbed Gatomon and ran out of the alley the Digital Gate was in, running down the street and avoiding any Guardromon before hiding in another narrow alley. It was then she realized the situation was in. She was in a city alone with her partner, who could only Armor Digivolve, the Digital Gate was destroyed, which meant escape was impossible, as well as reinforcements. Until help arrived, she would have to sit tight.
Kari bit her lip and peeked out of the alley, looking up to see the Control Spire in the distance. Based on her current location, the Control Spire was ten miles from here. She knew if they could, she and Gatomon could destroy the Control Spire and free all of the Guardromon. But that was a big 'if'. She didn't know if she could do it herself. If it was Tai and Davis in her position, either one of them would be able to destroy the Spire in a few minutes. Gatomon looked out of the alley as well, looking for any Guardromon coming their way. Fortunately, the robot Digimon did not seem to be pursuing them for now, but the white cat knew they wouldn't be safe for long.
"Kari, don't worry," she assured her partner. "If anything happens, I can Armor Digivolve in an instant. There's still plenty of energy left in me."
"Let's save that for an emergency," said Kari, shaking her head. "The Guardromon are the least of our worries. If we stay quiet and find the right hiding places, then we may be able to destroy the Control Spire and avoid any fights."
"But the Control Spire's in the middle of the city!" gasped Gatomon. "There's no way we can sneak all the way there!"
"Maybe not," said Kari, "but it's better than hiding and waiting for help."
"Kari, are you sure you want to do this?" Gatomon asked, never seeing her partner this determined.
"I am," Kari said, determination everywhere on her face and in her eyes. "It's high time I stepped up and stopped being a damsel in distress! It's time I showed that I can be just as strong as Tai, Davis, and everybody else!"
"Well…" Gatomon hesitated slightly. "…if you want to do this, then I'll support you. But it would be best you send a message to the others. They're probably worried about us, and some backup wouldn't hurt."
"I'm on it." Pulling her D-Terminal out of her pocket, Kari started typing a message to the other Digidestined.
"Come on…open up!" Yolei muttered angrily, attempting to open the Digital Gate they had just come through. But the red light continued flashing along with the word 'closed'.
"It's no use…" she sighed dejectedly. "The gate's not opening."
"Well, it did get blown up with a missile," Upamon said off-handed, causing Cody to sigh in irritation.
"You know Upamon, I think tonight's lesson should be about being tactful…"
Davis could only seethe in anger. His best friend was still trapped in the Digital World, and there was no way he could get back to Full Metal City. Kari was in danger. She could be hurt, or worst…!
'No, don't think like that!' the goggled boy shook his head. 'She can't be dead…she can't be!'
"Davis, are you all right?" TK asked, placing a hand on Davis's shoulder. Davis froze up hearing TK's voice and feeling his hand. Turning around, Davis glared at TK, who backed away slightly from the burgundy-haired boy's glare.
"Did you seriously just ask me that?" Davis asked, his voice dangerously low. TK began sweating nervously, realizing Davis's temper had just been ignited again.
"Okay, maybe that was a mistake…"
"And so was pulling me back through!" Davis yelled, grabbing TK and slamming him against the wall. "You said she would be okay and make it through, but I knew something would go wrong! That's why I wanted to wait until everybody else got through before I went through! Or you could have helped Kari out! Now my best friend is in trouble again, BECAUSE OF YOU!" TK winced, feeling the words stab through him like an icicle as he remembered the day he had changed the coordinates. It was his fault…and TK knew it.
"Davis, calm down," Cody stepped between the two older boys. "It's not TK's fault."
"Shut up, it is his fault!" Davis snapped, turning his anger to Cody. "And telling me to calm down?! My best friend is trapped in a city filled to the brim with destructive robots! And don't get me started on what Tai's reaction will be! He'll be ballistic!" Cody could only back away with a startled look on his face, surprised at the way Davis talked to him.
"Should you calm him down, or should I?" Poromon asked Yolei nervously.
"No way," Yolei said with a frown. She knew Davis would be hard to calm down when he was upset about Kari.
"Let me!" said DemiVeemon. "I can usually calm him down when he's like this!" The little blue dragon ran over and hopped up on Davis's shoulder, rubbing it gently with his stubby little arms.
"Come on Davis, take it easy. Calm down. I know you're upset and worried about Kari, but you shouldn't take it out on TK or Cody." Davis breathed deeply and sagged his arms, feeling his anger evaporate.
"You're right DemiVeemon…I'm sorry Cody, TK…"
"No…you're right Davis," TK said, looking down to the floor. "It was my fault. I thought Kari could make it, and I was worried that something would have happened to you. It could have been you instead of Kari that got trapped in the city."
"Better me than her," Davis said firmly. "As the leader of the Digidestined, the safety of my teammates and friends comes first before my own. If Tai was in my position, I knew he would have done the same…"
'And Ryo would have done the same as well,' the burgundy-haired boy thought. The sound of beeping suddenly caught everybody's attention, and Yolei turned back to the computer.
"It's nobody's fault," said Cody. "Any one of us could have been in the same position as well. Who knew the Digital Gate would be destroyed? But we need to focus on saving Kari. She may have Gatomon, but there's no telling how much energy Gatomon still has in her to Digivolve and fight the Guardromon."
"Guys! I just got an email from Kari!" Yolei said, looking at the computer screen. Davis and TK's spirits lifted up greatly when they heard the lavender-haired girl.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Kyoufu no Ashiato)
"What does it say?!" Davis looked over Yolei's shoulder to see the message.
The message read, 'Don't worry; I'm all right. Gatomon and I will try to destroy the Control Spire. If it's not possible, then we'll try to escape the city.'
"What the…is that right?!" TK asked in surprise. "Kari can't take on all those Guardromon in the city!"
"Knowing Kari, she'll try to avoid the Guardromon as best she can and focus on the Spire," Davis said, looking at the email with a grim expression. "But it can still go wrong in an instant. Yolei, let me see the computer!"
"Okay, what are you doing?" Yolei asked as she moved out of the seat which Davis occupied immediately and began typing on the computer.
"If the Digital Gate we went through is destroyed, then I'll have to use the Digital Gate near Full Metal City," Davis explained. "I'm going back to get Kari out of there. Yolei, do you still have that stash?"
"Yeah, it's right here." Going over to a nearby shelf on the room's wall, Yolei opened the shelf door and pulled out a sack of food that she brought from her family's convenience store for the Digimon to feast on after they returned from the Digital World.
"Good," Davis took the sack from Yolei and slung it over his shoulder after finding the Digital Gate needed.
"I'm coming too," TK said, pulling out his D-3. "You were right Davis. This was my fault. Please…let me make amends and help you save Kari." Davis seemed reluctant to let TK come with him, but when he looked at the blond-haired boy and saw the guilty, pleading look on his face, he realized TK meant it and sighed.
"All right, TK and I will go to Full Metal City," said Davis. "Yolei, Cody, get Tai and the others. We may need some backup!"
"But it's getting late!" Cody said, looking up at the clock, which read 6:00. "What should we tell your families?"
"My mother knows about the Digimon, so she'll understand," TK said with a light shrug.
"Jun will understand as well, since she knows Digimon," Davis said before frowning, "and as for my parents…well, they don't know about Digimon…and they won't care."
"Davis, you don't mean that," said TK. Davis merely scoffed before raising his D-3 and going through the Digital Gate with DemiVeemon. TK repeated the gesture, and entered the Digital World with Patamon, leaving Yolei, Poromon, Cody and Upamon alone in the computer room.
"Okay, so what should we do?" asked Yolei.
"I'll call the others," said Cody. "Get to your family's convenience store and get some food for Upamon and Poromon. They'll need their strength again when we get back to the Digital World."
"Right!" Yolei picked up Poromon and ran out the computer room, Cody following after her with Upamon in his arms.
A flash of light appeared briefly in the desert of the Digital World before fading away, revealing Davis and TK, their partners already digging into the bag of food.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Happy Friends ~Takeru no Theme~)
"Eat up guys," Davis said to the two Digimon. "Once you've eaten your fill, we'll head out to Full Metal City." TK stood on a nearby sand dune, looking out at the city in the distance with a pair of binoculars.
"Looks like it's twenty miles from here," the blond-haired boy said, looking away from the city to look down at Davis, observing Veemon and Patamon's little feast. Since they had a little time before they headed out to the city, TK decided it was time to have the talk Matt had been insisting he have with Davis.
"All right…here goes nothing," TK sighed before climbing back down the sand dune.
"Davis…can we talk before we go?"
"Well…we have some time before Veemon and Patamon finish eating, so I guess," said Davis, moving away from the Digimon so he could have a private talk with TK.
"All right, what do you want to talk about?" Davis asked once the two boys had a good distance between themselves and their Digimon. TK took three deep breaths before speaking.
"I want to apologize, and I mean, really apologize," said TK. "I'm sorry for not making sure Kari was safe with us when we went through the Digital Gate. I'm sorry for changing the coordinates that day…and I'm really sorry for letting my jealousy get the better of me."
"Jealousy?" Davis asked with a raised eyebrow. "What were you jealous of?"
"Not what, who," TK corrected the goggled boy. "I was jealous of you Davis. I was jealous about you and Kari being best friends longer than I was with her. I was jealous that Kari was spending more time with you than me when I moved back to Odaiba. I was jealous that you were named the leader of the new Digidestined when I had more experience than you. I knew I should have been supportive of Tai's decision, and I should have known better than to let my jealousy with your friendship get in the way of our team dynamic…but I didn't. And twice now, Kari's paid the price for my mistakes…and I don't care what Cody said about it being nobody's fault…it was my fault, and you had every right to blame me. I really am sorry for everything Davis."
Davis said nothing as he let TK say everything he wanted to say. When he was done, the burgundy-haired boy was stunned at everything TK just said. He was mad at him before, but after hearing and seeing TK pour out his heart in telling him everything, Davis couldn't help but feel his anger evaporate.
"Dude, I…I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," said TK with a shake of his head. "I was the one being a complete jackass."
"I see…" Davis nodded. "I'm sorry as well. I guess I was being immature in letting my anger get the better of me…but whenever my friends are in trouble, especially Kari, I get upset because I feel like I should have done more to help them."
"Kari's that important to you, huh?" TK asked with a light smile. Davis nodded to answer the question.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Ie ni Kaerou ~Target Instruments~)
"Yeah…you have no idea," said Davis, looking crestfallen. "I've never made friends easily, and before Myotismon attacked Odaiba, I never had a good relationship with my sister Jun…and my parents, while we've had fun times together, have always seemed to treat me as a plague. And they also work a lot of hours, so I hardly see them." TK frowned sadly hearing Davis's parental issues.
"Kari…she was the very first person to ever truly reach out to me," Davis continued, smiling lightly as he remembered the first day he met Kari. "She truly accepted me for who I was, and Tai and Sora also accepted me as well. Ever since then, we've hung out together and done everything together. Tai's been more than my mentor in soccer, he's been like my brother, and Sora's been like my sister. And Kari…she's special in my life, she's very special."
"You love you, don't her?" TK asked with a small smile. Davis blushed heavily as he thought over the answer. Several weeks ago, he would have denied it, but after that moment he had with Kari yesterday, he could no longer deny the feelings he had been hiding: He was in love Kari Kamiya.
"I do…I truly do love her," said the goggled boy. "I've just been so focused on the Digital World and the Digimon Emperor, I guess I really haven't had time to ask Kari to be my girlfriend."
"We may be Digidestined Davis, but we're still normal human children," TK placed his hand on Davis's shoulder. "You should talk with Kari when you can about your feelings for her. If Kari makes you happy, then I'll back off." Davis nodded with a smile before TK's smile dropped again as he thought of something else he wanted to talk about.
"There's something else I wanted to talk with you about…and I'm sorry if I'm getting real personal…but I need to know something."
"What?" Davis asked with an eyebrow raised. TK steeled himself before answering.
"The last time you were here in the Digital World…Veemon died, didn't he? He died fighting Millenniummon." Davis was shocked at the question. Of all the things he expected TK to ask him, this was definitely the last thing he ever expected to be asked. It hurt Davis to think about that day. He hadn't gotten around to talk about it anyone beside Jun. Not even Kari knew.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Tomodachi Tatakai no Theme)
"When we went to Santa Geria and the Vegiemon captured us," TK continued, "and RedVegiemon was beating up Veemon, you looked absolutely broken, begging Veemon to stay down and saying you didn't want to lose him again. It's unbearable, isn't it? To see your Digimon partner die in front of you?" Davis looked into TK's eyes, the azure orbs showing pain, anger and sadness. Davis recognized that look instantly. He had that look when Veemon died, and if TK had that look…
"Patamon died as well, didn't he?" TK bit his lip and nodded. It always hurt him thinking about when Angemon died fighting Devimon on File Island. It was four years ago, but he still remembered it like it was yesterday. He had never talked about it with anybody, not even Matt.
"It is unbearable," Davis said sadly. "The best we can do is endure and not dwell on the past, and focus on the now…and the now is getting Kari out of there."
"Well, we're done eating," said Veemon, walking over with Patamon flying by his head.
"We're ready to go!" said Patamon. "Just Armor Digivolve us and we'll get you guys there fast!"
"Save your energy for when we get into the city," said TK. "We're not sure how much energy that food gave you." Patamon and Veemon nodded as the group of four ran through the desert to Full Metal City, Davis and TK intending to work together.
Quietly peering around the corner of the nook she was hiding in, Kari observed three nearby Guardromon. They didn't see her or Gatomon, and Kari breathed a sigh of relief. For the last twenty minutes, the duo of Light had been sneaking through the city towards the Control Spire while keeping an eye out for any Guardromon.
"Well, we've searched everywhere, and there aren't any more Digital Gates," Gatomon said gravelly. "So that means we may have to get to the exit."
"We're too far away from it now," Kari said, looking up to see the Control Spire with narrowed eyes. "We have to destroy the Control Spire if we want to get out of here. Just a little further, and then…"
"INTRUDER DETECTED! INTRUDER DETECTED!" Kari gasped and turned around to see the trio of Guardromon she sighted earlier were heading towards them, their arms outstretched.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Kuroi Inbou)
"Oh no! I must have leaned out too far!" Kari gasped at her mistake.
"Hiding is pointless now!" Gatomon said, leaping out of the alley. "Armor Digivolve me and fast!" Kari nodded and raised her D-3. A flash of light later, and Nefertimon flew into the skies with Kari on her back. Two Guardromon on buildings fired their grenades at the sphinx Digimon, but Nefertimon stopped the missiles in midair with her Nile Jewelry attack.
"Save as much energy as you can for the Control Spire!" Kari said, gripping her partner's fur tightly. "We'll have to take it down with one strong attack!"
"Tell that to these tin cans!" Nefertimon knocked down three Guardromon in front of her with her Rosetta Stone. "I'm low on energy, and I'm afraid I may use it all on these guys!"
"Darn…" Kari frowned, wondering what Tai and Davis would do. Her eyes went from the Control Spire to the Guardromon to the distance in the city, an idea forming in her head.
"Fly away from the Spire and to the edge of the city! While the Guardromon are distracted, we'll double back and take out the Spire before they notice us!"
"That sounds like a good idea!" Nefertimon voiced, steering to the right to make the Guardromon chase them. The brown robots chased after them, but more were coming out of buildings everywhere, firing their missiles at Nefertimon. The sphinx Digimon cursed under her breath as she continued dodging the missiles. Kari could only grimace, hoping they could reach the Spire before Nefertimon was shot down.
In his monitor room, Ken watched the aerial battle with slight amusement. Every one of his monitors showed an image of Kari and Nefertimon flying through Full Metal City.
"I have to admit, I like this girl," Ken smirked, watching Kari give Nefertimon instructions. "Davis has definitely rubbed off on her. But she's mistaken if she thinks she can free Full Metal City by herself. Wouldn't you agree, Wormmon?"
"Well…yeah, I…I guess so," Wormmon said, watching the battle with a sad look before looking at the time. "But Ken…it's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading home soon?" Ken's smirk vanished as he turned to glare at Wormmon before scoffing.
"Why exactly should I head home? I'm in the middle of something. Besides, my parents have never cared about me. Nobody has ever cared about me…unlike you, who's always been there for me." Wormmon could only sigh in sadness as Ken turned his attention back to Kari. The green caterpillar turned away to see a monitor not showing Kari and Nefertimon, but Davis and TK running towards Full Metal City.
"Ken, I think you should take a look at this." Ken turned around and saw what Wormmon saw, his eyes narrowing.
"So…Davis comes to the rescue." Ken glared at the monitor showing Davis as if he was hoping it would explode upon making contact with his eyes, until his face turned into an evil smirk.
"I have an idea…" Ken raised his hand and summoned his list of captured Digimon. "Since Davis seems that dedicated to his best friend, and since Kari seems like quite the fighter, I think I should reward them for their dedication by giving them a special Digimon." Ken pressed the name of one Digimon, and an instant later, the Digimon's silhouette showed up on a blank screen, causing Wormmon to gasp in shock.
"Oh no…you don't mean…?"
"Yes," Ken said with an evil laugh. "The very first Ultimate level Digimon captured by our Dark Rings!" Looking at the silhouette with an evil smile, Ken pressed the button to send him in to Full Metal City.
Back in the Human World, Cody stood outside the Inoue convenience store, a payphone held up to his ear as he told Tai the situation involving Kari, TK and Davis. Inside the store, Yolei stood in front of the register, filling up a bag with food for Poromon and Upamon.
"Yolei, when Mantarou or Chizuru get back, can you ask them to watch the store?" asked Yolei's father, who stood behind the counter.
"Sure," Yolei said, jamming the last piece of food in her bag. "That should be all."
"Okay then," Mr. Inoue said, noticing the full bag. "Out of curiosity, why exactly do you order so much food every day?"
"Well…I have friends with massive appetites," Yolei chuckled nervously. "They're growing teenagers, you know! See you!" Yolei ran out the store to see Cody with Poromon and Upamon at his feet.
"I called Tai and I gave him the news," said Cody. "And I also called Matt as well. I told my mother I would be late. What about your parents?"
"Well, Dad asked me to do something," said Yolei. "He wanted to see if my brother or sister could run the store if I saw them."
"We may see them on the way," said Cody. "Let's get back and wait for Tai. He said he's going to get Sora."
"Right!" Yolei picked up her bag and Poromon, running after Cody and Upamon.
The moment he hung up the phone, Tai threw on his shoes and tossed a hoodie to Agumon as a disguise, running out the door without putting on his school jacket. But he didn't care how he looked right now. The moment Cody told him Kari was in trouble, Tai was already set on going to the Digital World.
"Tai!" The brown-haired boy looked over to see Matt and Gabumon run towards him, the latter dressed in a sweater as well, but it looked awkward considering his horn.
"Matt, did you hear what's going on?"
"Yeah, Cody called me," Matt said, looking nervous. "I wish I could help, but I'm supposed to make dinner for Dad tonight. Make sure TK's all right. He and Davis have been…having issues."
"Ah…I see," Tai said with a nod. "Can I at least trust you to tell Davis's sister that he'll be running late? Jun will probably be home by now."
"Okay," Matt nodded. "What if it's Davis's parents that answer the door?" Tai frowned slightly before answering.
"Just come up with something," said the brown-haired boy. "Davis doesn't exactly have an easy relationship with his parents, so they may buy anything you tell them."
"Ah…I see," Matt nodded, having had his own family issues before. "All right, I'll see what I can do. Go get Sora and get to the school."
"Thanks!" Tai and Agumon turned around and ran off. Matt turned to head to Davis's apartment building, letting out a big breath.
"So TK and Davis are working together," Gabumon noted. "Do you think they'll be able to work together and talk things over?"
"I sure hope so buddy," said Matt, repeating what he said yesterday.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Iya na Yokan)
Thirty minutes had passed and Davis and TK finally made it near the city entrance. Peeking over a sand dune, they noticed the big doors leading into the city. And in front of the doors was one lone Guardromon, turning his body at regular intervals to detect any intruders.
"Only one," Davis said. "But it only takes one to sound the alarm. We have to take him out hard and fast with one hit."
"I don't think Armor Digivolving can help here," said Veemon. "I'm fast as Flamedramon, but not that fast."
"And they may detect Pegasusmon from the skies," said Patamon, an idea suddenly coming to him. "But…since there are no Control Spires in this area, we can Digivolve normally!"
"Yeah, that's an idea!" TK said happily, getting the idea as he pulled out his D-3.
"Let's hope Patamon's Champion level is fast and strong," Davis noted. "ExVeemon may be strong, but he's not fast enough!"
"Oh, I think Patamon can get him good," TK said with a smile. "Ready, pal?"
"You know it!" said Patamon. TK's D-3 flashed and a strand of code flew from the screen, wrapping Patamon in a white cocoon as he felt himself Digivolve.
(Play Digimon Adventure tri: Brave Heart)
"PATAMON DIGIVOLVE TOOO…ANGEMON!" The cocoon faded to reveal Patamon's Champion form Angemon, a tall, humanoid Digimon with six white wings, clothed in white and blue cloth, a staff in his hand, long blond hair going down his back, and a silver helmet covering his eyes.
"Angemon!" TK said, a happy look on his face. "I haven't seen you in forever!" Angemon nodded before spreading his wings and taking flight, gliding along the sand towards the Guardromon. The brown robot turned and noticed the angel Digimon approaching him at a fast speed, spinning his staff in his hands.
"INTRUDER…"
"ANGEL ROD!" Angemon's yell was faster and louder than Guardromon's as he flung his staff at the Dark Rings, shattering it upon impact. Angemon landed next to the disabled Guardromon, his staff landing back in his hand.
"Now, hurry up!" Angemon called to the other three. TK, Veemon and Davis hurried to the doors as Angemon busted them open with his staff. The quartet stepped into the city, but the moment Angemon stepped into the city, he groaned as he felt his energy leave and he reverted back to Patamon.
"Aw, nuts!" Patamon moaned. "I looks like I can't hold my regular forms in an area with Control Spires."
"It's all right," TK assured his partner. "You did fine."
"All right," said Davis, pulling out his D-3. "Let's get Kari!"
"…and that's the story," Matt told Jun. The red-haired girl looked worried when Matt told her about Kari being trapped in a city in the Digital World and Davis going to rescue her with a boy he wasn't having good issues with at the moment. Jun breathed deep and went over to put on her shoes.
"What are you doing?" Matt asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" asked Jun. "I'm heading to the school so I can wait for Davis to get back. I may not be a Digidestined, but I still care about Davis!"
"What about your parents? What will you tell them?" asked Matt. Jun just scoffed.
"If they won't care about Davis, then they won't care what I do with Davis," she said, stepping outside in the hall and closing the door. As she headed for the stairs, she stopped before turning back to the blond-haired boy.
"Hey Matt…I never did get to thank you for keeping your promise, and for looking out for Davis that day."
"It was nothing," Matt said, smiling softly as he rubbed the back of his head.
"No, really," Jun insisted. "You really do seem like a good friend to trust, and I wanted to thank you. How about a date?"
"Wait, what?!" Matt asked in surprise.
"Friday night at eight! I'll call you later with the details!" Jun called before running down the stairs to head to the school, leaving a confused Matt and an amused Gabumon in her wake.
"What the hell just happened?" Matt asked weakly.
"I think she likes you!" said Gabumon, getting a blush from Matt.
"Let's just go home and make dinner," the bearer of Friendship muttered, wondering how this happened.
"You didn't get kanpyomaki," Poromon whined as he ate the food from Yolei's bag with Upamon.
"I told you, we don't serve sushi after six," said Yolei. The door to the computer lab slid open, and Cody ran in with Tai and Sora, Agumon and Biyomon right behind him.
"All right, let's get to work!" Tai said with a determined look.
"Got it," Yolei held up her D-3. "Digital Gate, Open!" A flash of light later, and everybody was gone. Moments passed and the sound of footsteps was heard, and Jun Motomiya ran into the room, surprised at the sight of a computer left on, and a bag of snacks left on the floor.
"Agh, they left," she griped before sitting down. The only thing she could do now was wait. Jun's ears perked up when she heard more footsteps and saw Izzy enter the room with Tentomon flying by his side. The red-haired boy stopped in his tracks when he saw Jun sitting in a chair in front of the computer with the Digital Gate still open. Izzy and Tentomon could only have looks of fear on their faces.
"Um…I can explain!" Izzy said, grabbing Tentomon and holding him close to his chest.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Break Up!)
"DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!"
"VEEMON ARMOR DIGIVOLVE TOOO…BLAZING COURAGE, FLAMEDRAMON!"
"PATAMON ARMOR DIGIVOLVE TOOO…SOARING HOPE, PEGASUSMON!"
"FLAMING FIST!"
"STAR SHOWER!"
Davis and TK had only walked down a few blocks when the Guardromon began firing at them with their missiles. Flamedramon leapt from buildings to pelt them with his fireballs while Pegasusmon flew overhead, hitting more Guardromon with his stars.
"There don't seem to be that many Guardromon attacking us than before!" Pegasusmon said to TK and Davis, the two boys riding on his back.
"It may be because they're focused on Kari," Davis muttered, looking around for any sign of Kari. The sound of a distant explosion caught his attention, and Davis looked to see smoke rising from a building in the distance, and a familiar winged Digimon caught his vision as well.
"Guys, Kari's over there!" Davis pointed to the smoke cloud in the distance. "Follow that smoke!"
"You got it!" Flamedramon acknowledged, leaping up and off rooftops to catch up with Pegasusmon.
"Trying to be a hero, Davis?" Ken taunted as he watched the battle from his monitor. The purple-haired boy pressed a button on his chair.
"All Guardromon! Concentrate all your fire on Flamedramon, Pegasusmon and Nefertimon! You are free to use as much power as you want, but leave them alive for him!"
'Oh, no…' Wormmon thought with worry.
"Keep it up, Nefertimon!" Kari encouraged her partner, seeing the Control Spire becoming closer. "We're almost there!"
"Almost…there…!" Nefertimon gasped. The sphinx Digimon was battered from being hit with rubble from the Guardromon's missiles. Nefertimon could feel her energy ebb away from her by the second. She couldn't take much more, but she was almost there to the Spire. Just a few more miles…!
"GRENADE DESTROYER!" The Guardromon fired their missiles and this time they managed to hit Nefertimon, her white wings being blasted by the attack. Nefertimon screamed in pain as she began falling down to the street, Kari's eyes widening with horror at the incoming pavement.
"Nefertimon, pull up! Pull up!"
"I…can't…go on much longer in this form!" Nefertimon gasped. The armored Digimon slammed into the ground and Kari fell off her partner, who reverted to Gatomon from the damage she received.
Kari sat up with a groan, her body swaying uneasily. Feeling something warm, wet and sticky dripping off her forehead, she placed her fingers to where she felt a wound on her head, and retracted it to see blood on her fingers. Before she could realize how much of a miracle it was to have survived that fall, Kari heard Gatomon hiss and looked up to see more Guardromon stomping towards her, their arms raised to fire more missiles.
"I'm not done yet!" Gatomon hissed defiantly. "LIGHTNING PAW!" Gatomon's punch knocked the Guardromon closest to her into another Guardromon, but three more appeared and began firing their missiles. Gatomon dodged the attacks as best she could, but she was already exhausted from so many hours of destroying Control Spires, fighting the Guardromon, and dodging missiles. Gatomon grunted and yelled as the attacks pelted her.
"GATOMON!" Kari screamed, tears appearing in her eyes as she saw her partner engulfed in a cloud of smoke with a pained yell.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Panic)
"EQUIS BEAM!" Pegasusmon's green beam hit a Guardromon flying in front of him, but ten more appeared and began firing more missiles, forcing Pegasusmon to land and let Davis and TK off his back before flying again.
"FIRE ROCKET!" Flamedramon rammed into a row of Guardromon, but more attacked, forcing Flamedramon to alternate between dodging and attacking. The dragon man breathed deeply, feeling his energy leave him by the moment. Even though he had eaten, the food he had eaten could only give him enough energy to fight for a limited time. And from Pegasusmon's flight pattern, it was clear the winged horse was tiring as well.
"Our Digimon didn't eat enough!" TK yelled worriedly.
"Ignore the Guardromon as best you can!" yelled Davis. "Dodge the missiles as best you can!"
"We're trying…" Flamedramon gasped before glowing and reverting to Veemon, who fell flat on his back, breathing heavily. Pegasusmon collapsed as well from being hit with too many missiles from the Guardromon in the sky, reverting to Patamon.
"No, no, no!" TK yelled, picking up Patamon. "Patamon, wake up buddy! There has to be some energy left in you!"
"I do TK…but I can only hold it for so long…" the winged Digimon groaned.
"Veemon, come on buddy!" Davis encouraged his partner. "We can't leave Kari hanging!"
"I hear you…Davis…" Veemon stood up, shaking slightly from the battle. "We can't…give up…!"
"Salamon!" Kari gasped when the smoke covering Gatomon dispersed. In the place of a white cat was a puppy with tan fur. The child of Light ran over and picked up her partner's Rookie form.
"Salamon, talk to me!"
"I'm sorry Kari…I tried," Salamon groaned, her eyes open a fraction. Kari could only cry silently as she bled and looked up to see the Guardromon aiming their guns at her, but they didn't fire. Kari could run, but she felt if she ran, the Guardromon would immediately fire on her.
"Excellent," Ken chuckled at the sight. "This will be easier for when he comes. How much longer until he comes to Full Metal City, Wormmon?"
"A…a few minutes," Wormmon stammered.
"Good," Ken looked back at the screen with a smirk. "They won't be able to fight back any further, their partners are too weak to Digivolve again." He would enjoy what would happen to the three Digidestined, especially Davis.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Yuukan ni Tachimukau zo!)
"TK…I know you have the Crest of Hope," Davis looked over to the blond-haired boy while keeping an eye on the Guardromon, that aimed but didn't fire on the two Digidestined. "You have to have hope that we'll get out of here with Kari. You have to believe that. Believe in Patamon, believe in yourself! I've learned that we should never give up, no matter how bleak things seem. All we just need is a little miracle." Davis reached into his shirt and showed his Crest of Miracles. TK, feeling fearful at first, swallowed his fear, realizing what Davis was telling him was what Matt told him when Angemon fought Piedmon. It was those words and that hope that allowed Angemon to Digivolve for the first time ever to Ultimate level.
"You're right Davis…there is always hope." Davis nodded, and suddenly gasped when he noticed his Crest was beginning to glow faintly. TK gasped again when he looked down and saw the Crest of Hope glowing underneath his shirt, right where his heart was.
"What…" TK asked as Patamon and Veemon suddenly began to glow gold and feeling energy flow back into their bodies.
"This…this is…!" Veemon gasped, recognizing the light in an instant.
"If only we had…more power…" Kari whispered, clutching Salamon to her chest. She wished she was stronger to help her friends. She wished Salamon was stronger.
And suddenly, a pair of lights, one pink and one gold, filled her vision. Kari gasped, seeing her Crest of Light appear on her chest, and her partner Digimon glowing gold.
"Salamon…?"
"Kari…I…I feel power!" Salamon gasped, her strength returning to her.
"Oh no!" Ken gasped, seeing the glowing lights. Out of all the lights, Davis's Crest was glowing the brightest. "The Crest of Miracles…it's glowing!"
"Then that must mean…" Wormmon whispered in awe.
In the city, Davis, TK and Kari's D-3s screeched loudly as their partners glowed brightly and began to change form. But this was not Armor Digivolution.
(Play Digimon Adventure tri: Brave Heart)
"VEEMON DIGIVOLVE TOOO…EXVEEMON!"
"PATAMON DIGIVOLVE TOOO…ANGEMON!"
"SALAMON DIGIVOLVE TOOO…GATOMON!"
"No way!" TK gasped when he saw Angemon and ExVeemon standing before him. "They…they Digivolved! And the Control Spire is still up!"
"That, my friend…is a miracle," Davis smiled, looking down at his Crest before looking up to his partner. "ExVeemon, go all the way!"
"You too, Angemon!"
"Gatomon, Digivolve further!" Kari said, hoping that Gatomon could Digivolve further. If she could reach Champion while in the presence of a Control Spire, then surely, she could reach the next level.
"EXVEEMON DIGIVOLVE TOOO…PAILDRAMON!"
"ANGEMON DIGIVOLVE TOOO…MAGNAANGEMON!"
"GATOMON DIGIVOLVE TOOO…ANGEWOMON!"
TK gasped when he noticed that not only did Angemon Digivolve to his eight-winged Ultimate form of MagnaAngemon, but ExVeemon Digivolved to a new Digimon. His body was now clad in green and black armor, a mask covered his face, he now had blue wings with his white wings, and hanging from his waist were two objects that looked like guns.
"Paildramon!" Davis said with a laugh. "You're still as badass as ever!"
"You know it, Davis!" Paildramon said with a chuckle. "Back me up, MagnaAngemon! It's time I cut loose after so long! DESPERADO BLASTER!" The guns flipped up and rested in Paildramon's arms. The cannons glowed brightly as they released multiple blue energy blasts. The blasts hit the Guardromon, breaking their Dark Rings and stopping them in their tracks.
"DESTRUCTION GRENADE!" A group of Guardromon showed up behind Paildramon and fired on him, but MagnaAngemon was prepared.
"HEAVEN'S GATE!" Drawing his sword Excalibur, MagnaAngemon drew a purple circle in midair that solidified and became a golden gate. The gate opened up and the missiles stopped in midair briefly before flying into the gate, where another dimension lay behind it.
"Nice work, MagnaAngemon!" TK said, still as impressed as ever by MagnaAngemon's attack. The winged angel was a last resort for the Digidestined, and right now was a good situation for this trump card.
"That's not all my attack can do!" MagnaAngemon smiled. Waving his sword in the air, MagnaAngemon's gate glowed brightly before the missiles it just sucked up flew out at the Guardromon, blasting them and freeing them from the Dark Rings.
"Woah!" gasped TK. "I didn't know it could do that!"
"TK, come on!" Davis said, climbing on Paildramon's back. "Let's get to Kari!"
"Right!" TK climbed on MagnaAngemon's back and the winged Digimon took flight to where they saw Nefertimon.
"HEAVEN'S CHARM!" A pink cross of energy flew from Kari's direction, and slammed into the Guadromon, knocking them off their feet and making them slide across the ground. The light faded and revealed Gatomon's Ultimate form, a beautiful blond-haired woman wearing a helmet like Angemon's, eight white wings sprouting from her back.
"Nice work, Angewomon!" Kari cheered to her partner, keeping a hand on her head to stop the bleeding. "Come on, we're almost to the Control Spire!"
"Just a moment Kari," Angewomon said, the feathers on her left glove turning to a bow as she created an arrow of light. "There's still a few more left. CELESTIAL ARROW!" The arrow flew from the bow, and struck a Guardromon in the distance, destroying his Dark Ring.
"KARI!" Kari's spirits were lifted higher when she heard her name being called out. Turning to where she heard the voice, Kari smiled big when she saw Davis and TK running towards them, MagnaAngemon and another Digimon flying overhead. Kari didn't know who the second Digimon was, but realizing he had dragon-like appearances, and given what she saw of ExVeemon, it was clear this was Veemon's Ultimate level.
"Davis! TK!" she yelled happily, running towards them. "You guys came back!" Davis picked up speed and reached Kari first, throwing his arms around Kari in a hug that the child of Light returned.
"Like I'd leave you here to fight this alone," Davis muttered, his eyes watering slightly. "I love you too much." Kari's eyes widened and she pulled back in shock.
"Davis…did you just say…"
"I do," Davis said with a light smile. "I'm sorry if it took me a long time, but…"
"Davis, I didn't mind the waiting," Kari said sweetly. "I was thinking that same thing over…and for the record…I love you too." Davis felt his heart flutter with happiness…until he pulled back and noticed the gash on Kari's forehead.
"Oh, my God…Kari, your head!"
"Good grief!" TK gasped, looking at the bleeding wound as well. "Where's Joe when you need him?"
"Guys, I'm all right," Kari insisted. "I managed to stop the bleeding for now. We need to focus on the Control Spire. We're almost there!"
"All right, but when we get home, we're taking you straight to Joe!" Davis insisted.
"Come on," Paildramon said to Angewomon and MagnaAngemon. "That energy boost Davis's Crest gave us won't last long."
"Then let's get to the Control Spire!" Angewomon went over to pick up Kari in her arms, but before anyone could move further, a loud THUNK caught everybody's attention. The Digidestined turned and gasped when they noticed a Digimon standing several feet from them. The Digimon they noticed was not a Guardromon, but a silver-armored Digimon standing as tall as Angewomon and MagnaAngemon. His armor gave off the impression of a shining skeleton, his left leg looking human.
"That's an…" Davis started.
"Andromon!" Kari finished, her smile coming back. "TK, it's Andromon!"
"Are you sure it's the same one?" asked TK, remembering the cyborg Digimon that helped the eight first Digidestined fight the Dark Masters.
"Andromon, it's me, Kari!" the child of Light said, slowly approaching the silver Digimon. "TK's with me as well!"
Andromon only stared blankly towards the Digidestined with his bright red eyes. TK gasped when he noticed the eyes, and Davis noticed it as well. An Andromon's eyes weren't red…they were brown.
"I have been ordered by the Digimon Emperor to terminate his enemies," Andromon croaked in a low, hollow voice. "And you are the enemy."
"What?" Kari gasped, backing away slightly. "Andromon, don't you recognize me?"
"I don't think he will, Kari," Angewomon said gravelly, seeing the problem. "Look at his neck."
Kari turned back to Andromon and narrowed her eyes towards the cyborg's neck, gasping when she saw what Angewomon noticed. There, on Andromon's neck, was a Dark Ring.
"No…" Kari felt her legs give way and Davis grabbed her before she collapsed.
"Easy, Kari!" Davis held on to his best friend. "We'll just break that Dark Ring!"
"No, we have to destroy the Control Spire," said Paildramon. "Andromon's Dark Ring is on a vital area. One wrong move, and he'll become a pile of scrap metal!"
(Play Digimon Adventure: Tatakai no Toki)
"SPIRAL SWORD!" Andromon's right hand spun rapidly until a beam of electricity appeared. Swinging his arm forward, Andromon fired his attack, but Paildramon stood his ground and swatted the attack away with his arms, the spikes on his gauntlets extending.
"STING STRIKE!" Paildramon charged forward and swung his spikes at Andromon, the cyborg Digimon blocking them with his arms. Andromon punched Paildramon back, but the dragon man Digimon regained his balance immediately and readied his Desperado Blaster attack.
"STOP!" Kari screamed as she ran forward. "Let me talk to him!"
"Kari, are you crazy?!" TK asked, looking at Kari like she had just become a Digimon. "He won't recognize us with that Dark Ring! How do you know he'll recognize us?!"
"Because he's our friend," Kari said firmly before turning back to the advancing Digimon. "Andromon, don't do this! We're your friends! Don't you remember helping us fight Machinedramon and Piedmon?" Kari wasn't sure how she knew the Andromon in front of her was the same Andromon. She just…felt it.
"Andromon…please," Kari pleaded again. Andromon stopped several feet away, looking down at Kari as if scanning her.
"Kari…be careful," TK warned her friend. Andromon looked up again, this time at TK. The scanners built in his eyes lay on TK. An image of a young boy suddenly flashed in his eyes with the words 'SAME HUMAN' flashing below it. Andromon stopped, wondering why the boy in front of him was familiar.
"Who…are you?" Andromon asked suddenly, his eyes focusing on TK. "You seem…familiar." TK gasped when he heard Andromon's question. Perhaps Kari was right and this was the same Andromon.
"Andromon, if that is you, then fight that Dark Ring!" TK encouraged the cyborg Digimon. "Don't let yourself be enslaved by darkness again!" Andromon continued staring in space until a red beam flew down and collided with his chest. Andromon staggered from the unexpected blow, looking up to see Halsemon fly down with Yolei on his back.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Shuugeki! Soshite…)
"Sorry if we're late!" Halsemon said as the ground near Andromon burst apart to reveal Digmon.
"Hold still, you pile of scrap metal! GOLD RUSH!" Digmon's drills flew at Andromon, but the cyborg Digimon stood still as the projectiles bounced off his armor.
"What the…it didn't work?!" Digmon yelled in shock as Andromon turned his attention towards the yellow insect Digimon.
"SPIRAL SWORD!" Andromon released his attack again, this time at Digmon. The yellow insect Digimon yelled in pain as the attack tore through him and he flew off the ground, reverting to Armadillomon, clutching his stomach in pain.
"Armadillomon!" Cody gasped, running past TK and picking up his partner. "Armadillomon, speak to me!"
"I've never felt…that strong of an attack!"
"MACH IMPULSE!" Halsemon's wing beams flew at Andromon, but the cyborg blocked the attack with his arm before opening his chest plates.
"GATLING MISSILE!" Two shark-shaped missiles flew through the air and blasted Halsemon out of the sky, reverting to Hawkmon. Yolei screamed as she fell to the ground, but Angewomon managed to catch the lavender-haired girl in her arms.
"Are you all right?"
"Um…yeah, I am…" Yolei said, stunned at the beautiful woman. "And you are?"
"I'm Gatomon," Angewomon said with a smile. Yolei could only stare in awe as she was set down.
"What's the deal with this guy?" Yolei asked once she caught her breath again.
"He's an Ultimate level," Paildramon said in a low voice. "He's more powerful than Halsemon and Digmon combined!"
"Kari!" The brown-haired girl turned at the other familiar voice and saw Tai and Sora run to them with Agumon and Biyomon. Tai stopped right in his tracks when he saw Kari's wound.
"Kari, your head!" the brown-haired boy said in shock. Sora gasped, seeing the injury as well.
"Forget about that now!" Kari pointed to the cyborg Digimon, who was beginning to advance towards the Digidestined again.
"Andromon?!" Tai and Sora both gasped. Andromon stopped again when he heard his name again, focusing on the two who said his name.
"Who…are you?" he rumbled again.
"Andromon, it's me!" Tai said, looking at the cyborg in the eyes. "Tai!"
"Tai?" Andromon's scanners were on Tai this time. An image appeared of a younger boy that looked like the one in front of him. Like TK, the image flashed the words 'SAME HUMAN'.
"T…T-ai…" Andromon stuttered. The Dark Ring on his neck began sparking and Andromon yelled in pain, his arms spinning around as he walked forward.
"What's going on with him?!" asked Cody.
"I think Andromon's recognizing Tai, and the Dark Ring is trying to regain control over him," said MagnaAngemon, his sword held steady.
Andromon continued lurching forward, his arms spinning like saw blades, until he stopped right in front of Kari.
"Kari, get out of there!" Davis's warning came too late as Andromon grabbed Kari by the arms and hoisted her up.
"Kari!" Angewomon cried, preparing her Celestial Arrow.
"Don't!" Paildramon raised his arm in front of the female angel. "It's too risky. You could hit Kari!"
"Darn it…" Angewomon muttered angrily, realizing her partner was in a situation she couldn't get her out from.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Shouri zen no Theme)
"Andromon…please…" Kari said. Despite her situation, she remained calm as she looked down at Andromon with a sad look on her face. "Please…don't you recognize me?"
"I…I think…I do…" Andromon groaned, the Dark Ring sparking around his neck. His scanners were now locked on Kari, and an image of a young Kari appeared flashing the words 'SAME HUMAN'.
"Don't you remember the picture we took together?" Kari pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears. One lone tear rolled down off her face and landed on Andromon's eye. The cyborg Digimon gasped as memories from long ago came to him.
"Picture…" Andromon muttered as Kari's D-3 slipped out of her hands and landed on Andromon's shoulder. The light shining from it hit the Dark Ring, which began cracking apart.
"The Ring!" gasped Angewomon, seeing the effects Kari's D-3 had on it.
"It's like with our Digivices and Devimon's Black Gears," TK breathed in remembrance.
"Yes…" Andromon breathed. "Everyone…we took…a commemorative…photo…" The red world around Andromon vanished as his eyes returned to their brown color, resting on a familiar face in his hands.
"Kari…everybody," he said with certainty, placing Kari down gently on the ground. "I am sorry for the trouble I have caused, my friends." Andromon brought his hands around the Dark Ring around his neck, and with one jerk, snapped it in pieces.
"It's not your fault Andromon," Kari smiled sweetly, wrapping her arms around one of Andromon's own limbs. "You were being controlled."
"Yes," Andromon turned to the Control Spire. "This has been the source of the problems. But this ends now! My friends, let us combine our attacks together! GATLING MISSILE!"
"DESPERADO BLASTER!"
"CELESTIAL ARROW!"
"SOUL BANISH!"
MagnaAngemon released a blade of energy from his sword and it flew forward with Paildramon's bullets, Andromon's missiles, and Angewomon's arrow, colliding with the Control Spire and obliterating it completely.
"All right!" the Digidestined cheered as around Full Metal City, the remaining Guardromon ceased moving as the Dark Rings deactivated. Sensing the danger had passed, Paildramon, Angewomon and MagnaAngemon glowed brightly and shrunk down. When they finished reverting, in their places were not Veemon, Patamon and Gatomon, but DemiVeemon, Patamon's In-Training form Tokomon, a white pig-like Digimon with feelers and sharp teeth, and a little yellow Digimon shaped like a cat's head with a small purple-striped tail.
"Tokomon!" TK gasped in surprise.
"We must have used up a lot of energy for one day," DemiVeemon said, leaping in Davis's arms. "Even Gatomon turned back into her In-Training form."
"It's been a long time since I've been in this form," the cat head said from her place in Kari's arms. "In this form, I'm Nyaromon."
(Play Digimon Adventure: Happy End)
"Hey Andromon, will the Guardromon be broken forever?" Yolei asked, looking around at the motionless robot Digimon.
"They will be fine," Andromon said, walking over to a nearby Guardromon and smashing the Dark Ring on it before extending a wire from his arm and into the Guardromon. "Their programming was rewritten by the Dark Rings, but once I finish reprogramming them, we will prevent the Digimon Emperor from ever reclaiming Full Metal City." Moments later, the Guardromon was moving again, walking towards one of his comrades and doing to him what Andromon did to him moments before.
"If that's all, then we should get going," Davis said, placing a hand on Kari's wound tenderly. "We need to have that head wound looked at."
"Yeah, Mom's going to freak out about this," Tai said, wincing at the gash. "Are you sure you're okay Kari?"
"Well, despite my head injury…I'm fine," Kari said, moving closer to Davis and giving a sweet smile that Davis returned. While the other Digidestined were happy that everybody was okay, Sora was watching the interaction between the two kids she considered a brother and sister with interest, before it suddenly hit her like a train.
'Oh, my gosh!' Sora said with a big smile, realizing what was going on.
"Guys, how were you able to Digivolve while the Control Spire was still up?" Tai asked, looking to DemiVeemon, Nyaromon and Tokomon with interest.
"Thank Davis for that," DemiVeemon said with a smile. "His Crest was able to glow."
"The Crest of Miracles," Davis showed his Crest to the other Digidestined. "It's been able to pull out a miracle in bleak moments, and the situation we were in definitely called for one."
"That's true," TK said, looking at Davis's Crest with interest. Whatever the deal was with Davis's Crest of Miracles, it was definitely not like the other Crests.
When the Digidestined returned to the computer lab, they received a shock when they saw Jun and Izzy sitting in front of them, the former trying to stay awake, and the latter looking annoyed, Tentomon sitting by his side.
"What the…Jun, what are you doing here?!" Davis asked in shock.
"I'm waiting for you, of course!" Jun said, now wide awake. "I was worried about something happening…" she winced seeing Kari's wound, "and it looks like something happened."
"Izzy, how long have you been here with Jun?" Tai asked. Izzy shushed him with his finger before motioning for them to follow him. The other Digidestined followed Izzy and Jun outside the school, where the computer genius turned to the Digidestined with anger and annoyance in his black eyes.
"Matt called me after he met with Jun. When I came here, I found Jun sitting in the room, with the computer still on, and the gate still open! Did you even think about closing the door before charging into the Digital World?! I panicked when I saw Jun in that chair. It's a good thing she knew about Digimon. Do you have any idea if it was somebody else in that room? They could have turned off the computer!" Yolei and Cody exchanged panicked looks, realizing they didn't think the situation through.
"One of you should have called me," Izzy continued, glaring at Cody and Tai. "I could have come with you and kept watch!"
"I'm sorry Izzy, but I only had time to call Tai and Matt!" Cody said with a slight bow. "Please forgive me!"
"Yeah, and I charged out when I heard Kari was in trouble," Tai said with an embarrassed smile.
"Well, I don't like being kept out of the loop!" Izzy snapped. "It wasn't until everything was in full swing that I got informed. I may not be as strong as you Tai, or as strong as other team members, but I have my own skills and I've had my own share of scraps that I've gotten us out of!"
"You'll have to forgive Izzy's rant," Tentomon said sheepishly. "He's usually like this when he misses his mother's dinner!"
"Hey, we're sorry!" Tai said, sighing in surrender. "I promise, next time we'll call you."
"Izzy, isn't this the part where you accept the apology?" asked Tentomon. Izzy sighed, knowing he couldn't stay mad forever.
"You're right Tentomon. I forgive you guys," said Izzy. "To be honest, I also wanted to tell you guys about something I found out about the D-3s and the Digital Gate."
"What about it?" asked Yolei.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Digital Scratch ~Koshiro no Theme~)
"Well, originally I thought the computer lab was the only place where we could access the Digital Gate," explained Izzy, "but my scans of the D-3 revealed that the D-3 is the key to the Digital World!"
"And that means what, exactly?" asked Jun.
"I think I know what Izzy means!" Yolei said, looking down at her D-3. "I think the D-3s can access the Digital Gate on any computer, not just the computer lab's servers."
"Correct, Yolei!" Izzy praised the girl. "Now we don't have to use the computer lab the entire time."
"That will certainly make it easier," Davis said, looking at his own D-3. "Anyway, let's get Kari some medical attention."
"And then can we go home?" DemiVeemon asked, his stomach growling. "I'm hungry!"
"I'll take this little guy home for you," Jun took the baby dragon from her brother. "I know how hungry he can get!"
"Yay!" DemiVeemon cheered as Jun turned around and ran back home.
"Yeah, let's get going Kari," Tai led his sister to Joe's apartment, Davis and Sora following with Agumon and Biyomon.
"You don't have to make dinner right now, Matt. Had I known you'd be out this late, I would have gotten something to eat on the way home," Hiroaki Ishida said as he drank some orange soda from a drink.
"It's fine Dad," Matt said, stirring the mixture in the stove. "I had some important business."
"Digital World business?" Hiroaki asked, looking over to Gabumon and getting a nod from the fur-wearing reptile.
"Plus, dating business," Gabumon added with a chuckle.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Nakanaka Umaku Ikanai naa)
"Gabumon!" Matt said with a red blush.
"Oh, you've started dating?" Hiroaki asked with interest. "Well, it's about time you saw some girls, Matt! I was starting to get worried! So who is this girl?"
"Jun Motomiya," Matt said off-handily, still wondering how he got a date with Davis's sister.
"Oh, that reminds me!" said Gabumon. "Jun called while you and your dad were out Matt! She said that the date will be at some place called Morielli's, whatever that is."
"Oh, great!" Matt moaned.
"What is Morelli's, anyway?" asked Gabumon.
"It's the fanciest Italian restaurant in town," Hiroaki answered, while Matt could only think to himself.
'Good grief! Jun's going to bleed me dry…I just hope she helps pay for the bill…man, I'm not ready yet for this!' Matt was so focused on the date he failed to notice a funky smell fill the kitchen until he heard his father.
"Uh…Matt? I think you should look down."
"Huh?" Matt looked and gasped when he saw the burning food. "Aw, come on!"
"I'll order some sushi," Hiroaki started dialing a nearby restaurant.
In the Ichijouji apartment in Tamachi, Ken's mother wheeled a cart with food and drinks to the door of Ken's bedroom, which remained closed.
"Ken…since you're busy, I'll leave your dinner outside," the woman said in a worried tone, wondering what Ken was doing for long periods of time in his room.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Yogiru Fuan)
Inside his nearly dark room, Ken glared at his computer screen, the only thing providing light in the room. His mind was racing with memories of what happened moments ago in the Digital World. Not only did Davis's Crest of Miracles glow and allow Veemon, Patamon and Gatomon to Digivolve to the Ultimate level even when the Control Spire was up, but Andromon was able to resist the power of the Dark Ring and broke it with his bare hands.
"To control Ultimate levels…do I need something stronger than a Dark Ring?" Ken asked himself, standing up from his chair and going to his door, pulling in his dinner while sneering down the hall where he knew his mother was before closing the door. Taking a few bites of his dinner, the raven-haired boy slid open his balcony door and stepped out in the night scenery, looking out at the city.
It infuriated him that Davis was able to beat him every time in the Digital World, but his anger gave away to confidence as he knew Davis's weakness: He cared greatly for his friends. And Ken would use that weakness against Davis in his plot for revenge.
"You may have been able to evade me before Davis, but the next time in the Digital World, no miracle will save you!" Ken said to himself, chuckling evilly. He looked up to a building across the street, and what he saw caused his chuckling to cease and his face to go from an evil smirk to a shocked look.
There, standing on the roof of the faraway building, was a dragon-shaped figure with red wings that shone even in the night, glaring down at Ken.
'It can't be…' Ken shook his head like crazy before looking up again, seeing no one on the roof. Ken breathed heavily, staring at the building for several more moments before running back into his room, closing the balcony door and sliding the curtain over it.
'It couldn't have been…Cyberdramon?'
(Play Digimon Tamers: Digital African)
"Kazu's journal: It is now day five of our trip to a new dimension. We are still separated, and we have been following a stream to Primary Village ever since we woke up…and man, this island is bigger than it looked on TV!"
"Well, of course it is!" Rika sighed, interrupting Kazu's narration. "There's a big difference between TV and reality!"
"Sorry," Kazu said sheepishly. "I know I'm trying to help…but I think I'm screwing up like always. Isn't that what you say, Rika?"
"Kazu, you know I don't mean that," Rika sighed sympathetically, knowing Kazu was doing his hardest.
"Of course she does!" said Terriermon. "That's how she motivates everyone to do better!"
"You shut up," Rika said flatly to Terriermon.
"But he's telling the truth, isn't he?" Suzie asked innocently. Rika stared at Suzie with an expression that almost looked like she was bored, until she sighed.
"Look, I'm sure you're leading us down the right path," Rika turned her attention to Kazu. "It's just…taking longer than we thought, you said it yourself!" While Rika was talking, Guilmon began sniffing the air around him, his ears perking up.
"Wait!" the red dinosaur said, getting everybody's attention. "I smell something familiar…" Guilmon sniffed the air again for confirmation, and his face lit up with excitement. "I knew it! Takato's nearby!"
"That means Renamon's with him!" Rika gasped. Guilmon ran down the path where he picked up Takato's scent, everybody following him.
"Are you sure the directions Centarumon gave us were correct?" asked Jeri, going down a path with Takato, Renamon and the twins.
"Yeah, he said that if we go down this path, we'll hit Primary Village in a few days!" Takato said, very sure of himself. "Any time now…"
"TAKATO!" The goggled boy's face perked up when he heard the familiar voice.
"GUILMON!" he called back. "WHERE ARE YOU, BOY?"
(Play Digimon Tamers: Story Ending)
"I'm right here!" Guilmon laughed, running out of the bush and tackling Takato to the ground. "I finally found you Takato! And we still have the bread!"
"Easy, Guilmon!" Takato laughed as Guilmon licked his face. "You're still as heavy as ever!"
"Rika," Renamon said, seeing her Tamer approach the group. "I am pleased to see you are okay…but is your sanity intact?" the yellow fox gestured to Kazu, Terriermon, Kokuwamon and Suzie.
"It is now," Rika sighed happily. "It's good to see you're okay Renamon."
"So that's almost all of us," Kazu noted.
"Yes, if I am correct, then Henry, Kenta, Lopmon, Betamon, Ryo and Monodramon, along with Calumon, are the only ones left to find," said Kokuwamon.
"Well, once we get to Primary Village," started Jeri, "we can…"
"YAY! I FOUND YOU, I FOUND YOU! I WON HIDE AND SEEK!" The cheerful voice caused all the Tamers to yell in surprise until they saw Calumon fly down to them.
"Calumon!" Jeri cheered, pulling the little Digimon into her arms and hugging him tightly. "Where did you come from!?"
"Follow me!" Calumon flew out of Jeri's arms and down a path that the Tamers went down as well, never letting the Catalyst out of their sights.
"Here we are!" Calumon cheered, gesturing to the scenery in front of him. The Tamers gasped at what they saw, and Takato and Kazu stared in awe.
"No way," Kazu spoke first. "It's Primary Village!" The other Tamers looked at the village in amazement, seeing that it was exactly like it was in the TV show.
"Finally, we're getting somewhere!" Takato said, looking around the village and seeing the Baby Digimon hopping around in excitement at the new arrivals. Although they didn't see Henry, Kenta or Ryo anywhere, the goggled Tamer knew it was only a matter of time before they were back together again, and they met the Digidestined.
(Play Digimon: Sun goes down)
Back in the Human World, Davis led Kari down an alley where they could have some privacy. The brown-haired girl had just had her head bandaged by Joe, and as she was leaving with Tai, Sora and Davis, the burgundy-haired boy asked if they could talk in private.
"What did you want to talk about?" Kari asked the goggled boy, though she had a feeling she knew what it was.
"Us," Davis said, getting to the point. "I want to talk about us, and what was said at Full Metal City. I know it may have been the heat of the moment, but Kari…I meant what I said. Ever since we first met, ever since you became the first person to accept me for who I was…I've always had a crush on you. But everything that was going on, plus a fear I had of ruining our friendship if my feelings weren't returned, kept me from telling you. But Kari, I'm telling you this right now…I love you. I love you more than anyone. You gave me courage to continue with the Digital World…and I thank you for that."
Kari blushed heavily at the praise Davis was giving her, and she didn't know what to say until it came to her.
"Davis, I have something to say as well," Kari said, her voice low before raising slightly. "When we first met, I was drawn to you because, while you acted like Tai sometimes, especially when it came to soccer, you were a different person. You never gave up when something was in your way, and you care greatly for your friends, especially me. Whenever I feel sad or down, or I need to know I'm not alone, you're always here. You're there for me when Tai or Sora aren't. I want to be strong like you Davis. That's one of the reasons I truly love you. Yes Davis…I love you."
"Kari…" Davis bent down, his face slowly approaching Kari's. "You're strong in your own way."
All was quiet as the two Digidestined's lips met in a kiss, their arms around each other. After a few moments, Davis and Kari broke away, looking into each other's eyes sweetly.
"I promise Davis…we'll save Ken," Kari whispered. Davis nodded and kissed Kari again, feeling more confident than he ever had before since he stepped foot in the Digital World again.
High atop a building, Ryo Akiyama watched the kiss with a big smile, showing his support. He always knew Davis had a crush on Kari in any dimension, and he was glad to see him finally make Kari his girlfriend.
"Well done Davis," Ryo whispered happily before hearing Cyberdramon's wings flap. Turning around, the Legendary Tamer saw his partner land in front of him before reverting to his Rookie form.
"Did Ken see you?"
"Briefly," said Monodramon. "I flew out when he was shaking his head. As far as he knows, he's seeing things."
"Not for long," Ryo said, his face grim. "The moment's coming Monodramon…and we better be ready."
"Right," Monodramon said, his face grim as well as he knew what his partner was saying. The moment was almost upon them…the moment two worlds would collide.
(Play Days: Aijou to Nichijou TV Size)
Davis and Kari are finally a couple! Anyway, yeah, I wanted to do most of the pairings during the first arc of the story, and Daikari was the first. I usually don't do romance much, and the pairings will usually not be up front much in the story as I'm a bit of an action guy. Putting that aside, we are closely approaching the big meeting. Next chapter...well, if you saw the show, then chances are you know what will go down next time. But the question is, what will be different? What does Ken have planned for Davis and the Digidestined? And will Ryo finally show himself?
Next time: The Loneliness of the Digimon Emperor!
END CHAPTER 10