The hunt is on now! A final showdown is in the works!

Shoutout to old face Neo Gem Rose for the fav, sorry to hear about your previous profile.

And shoutouts to MadDogLucario96, DigimonAT0318, GreenD109, and Whiteling for the reviews.
Oh, and God of the Challenge, *Tears up before noticing the bowl of onions on the cash register* 'What the? Would you get outta here!'

Now that SpongeBob joke is out of the way, let's continue.

Chapter 23: The Final Offensive! Pursue the Kaiser!

Digital World. August 5th, 2002. 1042 Hours.
P.O.V. – Ross McGlathery

'Compassion will release the golden light'. The words that Wizarmon left us just rang in my head and probably everyone else's. What exactly did he mean by that? And what about that darker force? That's terrific. Here I though the Kaiser was the biggest threat but apparently if we defeat him, there's something else around the corner. It's like when we defeated Devimon, only to find out our journey was just beginning. Well, with that warning, we've essentially turned our attention from destroying Dark Towers to a desperate search for the Kaiser's base. We're almost practically obsessed with it. But, if we do find it, we can commence Operation: Grand Slam and end this fight once and for all. Right now, everyone is scouring every inch of the area we're sure the Kaiser is hiding his base. We can only hope someone finds it soon. The most important thing is to end this war before classes start up again or we might not get another chance like this until Christmas… and by then it might be too late.

P.O.V. – Iori Hida

I tried climbing a very steep hill that had a bunch of trolley and railcars embedded into the rocks before I lost my grip and began sliding down it. I shouted out in terror but it was short lived as I was quickly caught by Koushiro.
"Iori-kun, are you alright?" He asked as he helped pull me up.
"Y…yes, I'm fine." I told him.
"We're almost at the top. Let's go for it."
"Koushiro-han, hurry over here!" Tentomon shouted from above.
"What is it, Tentomon?" We climbed up to the top of the hill and we soon saw what Tentomon was all excited about.
"Koushiro-san, over there…" I pointed.
"That's…"
"So many Dark Towers…"

Talk about the worst case scenario. We saw out across a large desert valley that was filled with Dark Towers. I think there were almost thirty of them just surrounding this large stone structure that had a few glass domes attached to it. Not to mention the area was being guarded by an army of Tuskmon, well, it was until a bright light came from the structure and a bunch of DarkTyranomon and Kuwagamon came out and attacked the Tuskmon. I guess the Tuskmon were not under the Kaiser's control.
"How cruel…" I growled.
"They came out of that weird looking place, dagyaa." Armadimon noticed.
"I'm just guessing, but that must be the Digimon Kaiser's base." said Koushiro. I doubt it is anything else. We kept watching the cruel fight until Koushiro looked worried. "Oh no! I think they saw us!" He kneeled down and checked out his D-3. "Nothing… evolution is impossible here! We need to get out of here and report this to the others fast! Kabuterimon is the fastest one of us but with the towers…" Suddenly, a Kuwagamon flew up right beside us and forced us backwards.
"Leave this to me and run!" Armadimon stepped forward.
"We're counting on you." I said. "Digimental Up!"
"Armadimon, Armor-Evolve! Steel Knowledge, DIGMON!"

Digmon proceeded to distract the Kuwagamon while we grabbed a large piece of flat metal and used it as a sled to slide down the hill.
"How much further?" I cried.
"We should be far enough…" Unfortunately, the last person we wanted to see flew right above us. It was the Kaiser and he was riding on that Devidramon of his. He soon began to chuckle.
"Long time, no see."
"Digimon Kaiser!" I shouted.
"What are you doing here?"
"I have no intention of answering you!"
"Koushiro-han!" Tentomon got Koushiro's attention.
"Okay."
"Tentomon, Evolve! KABUTE-!" He evolution died down as the Kaiser held up his Dark Digivice. "I can't evolve!"

"Did you insects forget that the Dark Digivice keeps you from evolving?" The Kaiser taunted. We growled as we were in a worrisome predicament. However, our fortunes turned when the ground in front of us opened up and swallowed us. It turns out that Digmon dug a tunnel underneath us.
"Digmon!" I cried.
"Made it just in time." Digmon soon dug a long tunnel away from the direction of the Kaiser. After a couple of minutes, we were back on the surface.
"You saved us. Thanks."
"Koushiro-han, let's try again!" suggested Tentomon.
"Right."
"Tentomon, Evolve! KABUTERIMON!" We climbed onto the back of his head and soon burst out of the forest and into the skies, trying to put as much distance as we could from the Kaiser and his base.

Izumi Residence, Odaiba District, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan. August 5th, 2002. 1115 Hours.
P.O.V. – Miyako Inoue

We were all sitting in Koushiro's room as we waited for him and Iori to return as they were the last ones that needed to return. After a few minutes of waiting, they reappeared in the bedroom.
"Welcome back!" Taichi greeted as he sat backwards in Koushiro's chair.
"Where's my mother?" Koushiro asked.
"Said something about picking up some groceries."
"We made it…" He turned back around and began typing at his computer.
"So, how'd it go?"
"There were Dark Towers everywhere." Iori explained.
"I knew it!" I shouted.
"They were all over our area too." Daisuke said.
"It was like they were telephone poles." mentioned Takeru.
"It seems like the Kaiser has been more focused on holding the areas he's conquered rather than taking new ones for a while now." Ken guessed.

"Not only that, we found it! The Kaiser's base!" Iori exclaimed causing us all to widen our eyes.
"The base?" Hikari questioned.
"'Bout time. He's got nowhere to run from there." Ross smiled.
"Everyone, please take a look at this." Koushiro spoke up and turned our attention to the computer screen. "First off, this is the area where Daisuke-kun's group went… This is where Takeru-kun's group went… And this is where we went. When you connect them…" After a few key strokes, we began to see a pattern with the towers.
"This is…" Takeru muttered.
"It's like a huge slug passed through…" I said.
"The areas are being conquered systematically." Poromon growled.
"Our Digital World…!" Patamon sounded very upset.
"That Kaiser!" Chibimon cursed.
"At this rate… we'll never stop him." Wormmon worried.
"It looks like he's ramping it up, dagyaa." guessed Upamon.

"'The time is near'." Tailmon said as she paced back and forth on the bed. She apparently was quoting what Wizarmon said the other day.
"'Hurry, all of you'." Hikari repeated another one of his warnings. "I wonder if this is what Wizarmon was telling us?"
"It must be." Takeru believed.
"Then, what are we doing wasting our time here?" Daisuke wondered. "We found the Kaiser's base, so we should just strike! Right, Chibimon?"
"Yeah!"
"Running headfirst with no planning is just a recipe for disaster." Ken warned.
"Ken-kun is right, Daisuke-kun. If we're gonna take that place, we need a grand plan to deal with it." Ross advised.
"Sorry, I know… I was just saying how I felt about it…"

"It won't be as easy as before, huh?" I asked.
"That's right; we may not be able to do it one day like always." Takeru responded. Those words actually surprised me.
"R-right… if we're worried about the time, we won't be able to take down the base."
"Yeah. We won't return until we beat the Kaiser." Hikari determined. "That's the sort of determination we need."
"Determination…?" I muttered. This is new territory that I'm walking into, and after hearing the stories the others told… it was slowly creeping on my nerves.
"I am determined, but if I'm not back for dinner, my mother will get worried…" Iori admitted.
"Just make something up. Like you're staying at a friend's or something." Daisuke told him.
"Daisuke-kun, you would do that?" Hikari sounded a bit disappointed in Daisuke.
"It-it's just an idea…"

"Our Digimon won't be able to evolve with the Dark Towers around." Koushiro kept looking at the screen.
"Well, thank goodness our Digimon can Armor-Evolve." Yamato sighed.
"This is going to take everyone if we're going to bring down the Kaiser. So, camping!" Taichi slid in the chair. "We should all go camping!"
"Camping?" Ross questioned. "How does that help?"
"You mean, say we're going camping and go to the Digital World?" Takeru seemed to have figured out what Taichi meant.
"Exactly, that way, no one is going to be bothering us for a while and the new kids' parents won't be wondering where they are. All of us go camping but in reality, we use that time to bring down the Kaiser's base."
"Brilliant alibi, Taichi." Yamato praised the plan.
"Great idea, huh?"

There was a knocking at the door once Taichi said that.
"C-come in!" Koushiro said.
"Welcome, everyone." Koushiro's mother walked in.
"Welcome home."
"So, what were you all discussing?" She asked.
"Well, Koushiro-han found the Kaiser's base so we're trying to figure out how we stop him." Tentomon explained. I guess it's a relief that the older kids' parents know about all this; makes it slightly easier on all of us.
"I see…"
"We're thinking about going camping to use as a cover while we fight the Kaiser. I'm not gonna lie to you, Izumi-san, but it's gonna be similar to the old days." Ross explained.
"I always did feel like this was a possibility when Koushiro explained it back in April." She sighed. "Well, you know you have your father and I's support, right, Koushiro-kun?"
"Thanks, Mom."

"But I must ask, while the camping is a good idea, who would be the chaperon to accompanying you?"
"Ah, I think I convince my dad to do this." Yamato spoke up.
"Is that alright, Yamato?" Taichi whispered to him.
"Maybe."
"Well, my dad needs to take some vacation time; I can get him to tag along as well." Ross said. "Besides, he's been all gung-ho about this since April so I think he wouldn't mind playing a key role in helping."
"Well, if you kids need any help, you can always feel free to ask us." Koushiro's mother bowed before she left the room.
"Thanks, Izumi-san!" We all said.

P.O.V. – Third Person

"I'm the camp chaperon!?" Hiroaki questioned after his sons explained the plan to him outside his work.
"Please, I promised everyone…" Yamato said. "Besides, you'd get Ross's father to assist you; Ross seems very confident that his father will help. And also, after the past few days with Wizarmon's spirit, don't you think you should take a break? After all, you said you had a lot of paid vacation time, right?"
"Oh man…"
"Hey, hey." Takeru tapped him on the shoulder. "Didn't you say you got a pretty good bonus?"
"Okay, okay, I'll do."
"Good, because we're leaving on Wednesday." Yamato informed.
"That's the day after tomorrow!"

"You sure about this?" Phil questioned.
"It's the only way we can see to properly do this without drawing any undue attention." Ross finished explaining the plan to his father. "Besides, you haven't taken a vacation day since you were reassigned to the base. I mean, for crying out loud, you run it now since you were promoted to Rear Admiral two months ago."
"I know, and you don't need to convince me, I'll come. I know exactly what happens when trouble happens in the Digital World."
"Yeah, it appears in the sky and threatens to wipe us all out. Thanks."
"Just be careful, would ya?"
"We will. Oh, by the way, be sure to bring your laptop and the Outback as well. When we go and come back from the Digital World, it will be through that computer, and we need the extra vehicle to take us home."
"I got it, I got it."

Motomiya Residence, Odaiba District, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan. August 6th, 2002. 1832 Hours.
P.O.V. – Daisuke Motomiya

I was in my room, packing up the final essential things I needed for my 'camping trip' tomorrow. Thankfully, my folks bought the camping idea and allowed me to go. Jun had walked into the room and brought my dinner before placing it on the floor and putting her hands on her hips.
"Hey, hey…" She tried to get my attention.
"What's with you?" I asked.
"So you're going camping?" Told you that last night.
"Yeah."
"With Takeru-kun and the others?"
"Yeah…" Where is she going with this?
"That means Yamato-kun is going too!?" Oh here we go.
"Yeah!"
"I see… then, then…"
"Stop being so annoying, get out!"
"What!?" I shoved her out.

As I pushed her out, I looked to the TV Mom was watching and saw a news reporter standing outside a familiar building.
"Now, we'll interview the parents of child prodigy Ichijouji Osamu, whose whereabouts are still unknown." It then cut to inside the apartment where Ken's dad was talking to the mic while his mom had a handkerchief in her hands, trying to absorb her tears.
"He'll be back." Ken's dad believed. "I know he's alive somewhere."
"What's with you?" Jun asked me as I came back to reality to look at her before looking at the TV again.
"He… Osamu-chan… is such a kind boy…" Ken's mom teared up. If only they knew… then again, I agree with Ken about that. They didn't need to know the truth.

P.O.V. – Miyako Inoue

I sighed as I got back up; finding it hard to sleep.
"That's right, we may not be able to do it in one day like always."
"Yeah. We won't return until we beat the Kaiser. That's the sort of determination we need." I recalled Takeru and Hikari's words from yesterday.
"Yeah, this adventure is completely different to anything up to now." I said to myself. "Are you ready, Miyako?" I steeled myself.
"Still awake? Get to sleep soon or tomorrow will be tough…" Poromon yawned before he went back to sleep.
"Yeah, good night. I have to do my best…" I whispered as I closed my eyes.

Ichijouji Residence, Tamachi District, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan. August 7th, 2002. 0521 Hours.
P.O.V. – Ken Ichijouji

'To return the one who has fallen to the darkness back to his true self…' That phrase that Wizarmon had said was continually ringing in my head. I was beginning to make my final preparations for the plan I had.
"Are you sure about this, Ken-chan?" Wormmon quietly asked as it was still early in the morning.
"Not really… do me a favor and tell me what I'm doing is crazy."
"What you're doing is crazy… but if your heart tells you to do this and if you believe that this is right, then I'll be with you all the way." I smiled at him.
"Thank you so much Wormmon." I finished writing my note to Mom and Dad, telling them that I left for the camping trip before they got up. However, the truth was, I wasn't going with the others. I finished typing the last of the message on my D-Terminal before sending it to Ross.

'Dear Everyone, I know you're expecting me to join you tomorrow but I'm afraid that I will be unable to join you. You see, I feel I must take a different path than all of you. Our end goals are still the same of course; saving the Digital World from the Digimon Kaiser. However, I have another goal. I want to save Osamu from the Kaiser as well. You see, Wizarmon's messaged about freeing the one who has fallen into darkness… Those were the words I was looking for. Perhaps Osamu is still out there, the one I remember. It has to be. I've decided to go on ahead and confront the Kaiser at his base… alone. I'm leaving behind almost everything, just bringing my D-3 and Wormmon. My plan is to try to bring back Osamu and at the same time figure out what he's been up to. When you guys beginning your attack, I'll be there with you, but I'm gonna try and see if there's a non-violent way to end this. I'm sorry, but I just can't bring myself to harm Osamu. You know exactly what I mean, Ross-san. I know what he's done but he's still my brother. I hope you all will understand. I'm truly thankful to meeting all of you. I've never truly had friends before but I'm always grateful for your help, especially after that finding out the Kaiser's identity. Stay safe and I promise I will do the same. Sincerely, Ichijouji Ken.'
"Ready, Wormmon?"
"Ready, Ken-chan." I nodded and held up my D-3.
"Digital Gate, open." I quietly said. It unlocked and we were transported to the Digital World.

We ended up in an area that wasn't too far away from where the fortress was. It was also an area where Wormmon could normally evolve into Stingmon so we flew towards the base. After a few minutes flying, we were near the place.
"Keep it easy, Stingmon. Try not to rile up the guards."
"I will… but, Ken-chan… there's no base." Huh? I looked ahead and saw that where the base once was there now was a giant crater in its place. "Wait a second… I found it… but it's…" I soon saw what Stingmon saw and I should've realized it sooner. The base could fly. And then I remembered something else, Osamu and I loved the Studio Ghibli film Castle in the Sky and I should've known that would have played an influence on the base. Stingmon flew in closer and landed near the large dome on the lower part of the rock formation; we assumed it was a door or something. Stingmon reverted back to Wormmon and now we waited.

After a few more minutes, the sound of the dome began to open and the Kaiser… Osamu began walking towards us with Monodramon at his side.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" Osamu yawned.
"Sorry, Osam-"
"It's the Digimon Kaiser, Ichijouji! Understand?" He didn't even bother calling me my own name; guessing the Kaiser is in control right now.
"Apologizes, Kaiser." I bowed.
"You've got about ten seconds to explain what you're doing here before I have my slaves have their fun with you."
"I've come to…" I got down on both knees in front of him. "…surrender." I clearly surprised him but it only lasted for a moment.
"You must think I'm a fool."
"Far from it, I only ask to speak to my brother before fully surrendering." Osamu just laughed.
"Well, you've came all this way for nothing. Ichijouji Osamu is dead." Yeah, it's now confirmed that the Kaiser is in full control.

The sun soon began to rise over the horizon and now that I got a better look at him, the Kaiser was looking terrible. It looked like he was sleep-deprived, starving, and dehydrated, though not overtly so, but it was clear he was not taking good care of his body.
"So you wish to surrender? Fine, I'll play your game, but on one condition."
"What is it?"
"Get down on your hands and knees and bow to me. Beg me to let you serve me." I did as he told.
"Please let me serve you, Digimon Kaiser."
"Louder."
"Please let-"
"Louder!"
"Please let me serve you, oh mighty Digimon Kaiser!"
"Admit you're worthless!" Thank goodness I don't have much of an ego. I don't mind doing this if it helps at all getting Osamu back.
"I am worthless, Digimon Kaiser! I am unworthy of your presence!"
"That's what I though. Now stand up."

I did what was told and bowed before him again.
"What is thy bidding, my master?" Ugh, why did I say that? Curse Ross for playing Return of the Jedi the other day!
"Give me your Digivice." I handed it to him without any hesitation.
"This is my Digivice. Understand? You are not allowed to touch it. Are we clear?"
"Crystal."
"Good. People who go through other people's things without permission are the worst people, aren't they, Ichijouji?" I've heard that phrase before. Osamu said it when we were much younger and I got into his things.
"Yes, they are. I will not touch your things, oh Kaiser."
"Good, from now on, you serve me. Right now, you answer to Monodramon." Well that's good; I'd prefer to talk to Monodramon at this moment.
"Monodramon, lead him to his room… down in the dungeons, and then report back to me."
"Right away, Digimon Kaiser-sama."

Wormmon and I followed Monodramon through the halls. That line I said earlier was slowly looking less out of place because I'm getting a huge Death Star feeling from all the metal halls and especially this large reactor-core I saw through a window at the center of the base.
"It's been a long time, Monodramon." I finally said.
"You don't know how happy I was to see you guys when you finally came back to the Digital World." He told us.
"I feel terrible that we forgot you, Monodramon." Wormmon apologized.
"I'm sure it's not your fault, just like Osamu-chan's actions."
"So you believe too? That there's someone in control of him?" I said.
"It's the only reason I can think of why he became like this. He's been acting this way ever since he returned to the Digital World."
"This was way before we showed up right?" Monodramon nodded.

We soon reached the dungeons and walked past the long halls of captured Digimon before we reached an empty cell. We walked in and Monodramon closed the door, but didn't lock it.
"He'll probably send me to get you later, so until then, just stay here… let's try not to make him mad today, okay?"
"Okay… Monodramon, I promise you, we'll get the old Osamu back." I told him.
"I hope so. I think you might be the only one to help him now." He looked sad before he turned and walked out of the dungeons.
"Haven't seen someone like you in a while." A loud, gruff voice said from the next cell. We looked over and found standing at the prison bars was this large, green Digimon with horns and a big mouth looking at us.
"Um… do I know you?"
"Nah, but I do know some of your friends."

P.O.V. – Miyako Inoue

"Digital World, go go!" I shouted as I was pumping my fists while Koushiro was finishing up things in the headquarters. "Defeat the Digimon Kaiser!"
"What's wrong with her?" whispered Patamon to Poromon.
"Well, she's been like that since she woke up."
"Alright, so let's quickly go over the plan." Koushiro said. "We'll go at it in two waves. The newer kids will go first and check things out while waiting for the rest of us. We'll head to the campsite to keep up appearances and then head to the Digital World from there to meet up. We'll then focus everything we've got on breaking through and getting in that base and try to figure out how to destroy it."
"Sure you don't want to come camping, Takeo?" Taichi asked.
"Nah, besides, someone needs to watch out for things here, just in case."
"If there are no problems, then let's get going." Takeru said.
"Hey, wait a second! Where's Ken-san?" Iori reminded.

"He's walked into the lion's den." Ross said as he walked into the warehouse.
"What?" Hikari questioned.
"Just forwarded you all a message that he sent me." We all picked up his message on our D-Terminals and read it. Our eyes widened.
"Is he serious?" Daisuke shouted.
"This is extremely foolish." Yamato shook his head.
"No…" I spoke up and everyone looked at me. "He's… he's done what he thinks he needs to do. Wouldn't you all do the same if you were in his shoes?" The kids with siblings slowly nodded their heads in agreement. They would've done anything if their siblings were the Kaiser. "It is what it is, we just need to do what we were planning on doing."
"Right." Taichi responded. "Be careful everyone." We all nodded.
"Let's go then! Digital Gate, open! Chosen Children… let's roll!"

P.O.V. – Taichi Yagami

Ross, Mimi, Sora, and Jou all got in Phil's Outback and headed off to the camp sight ahead of us. Yamato, Koushiro, and I got in the van Yamato's dad was renting from the station which was carrying a bunch of the camping equipment, hence why we were staying behind for a few more minutes.
"Did they go?" Yamato's dad asked.
"Yeah." Yamato said.
"Thanks for taking us!" I told him.
"Let's get going, then." Yamato's dad pulled the gear shift and was about to get going before we saw someone waiting on the sidewalk.
"Yamato-kun! Good morning!" Our eyes nearly bugged out when we saw Daisuke's sister Jun standing there.
"What's this about? I didn't know about this." I whispered to him.
"Me neither… she must have invited herself."
"Anyway, do something about it."
"H-hey…" Yamato walked up to her.
"I heard you were going camping, so I came too!"
"I-I see…"
"Daisuke-kun is in trouble with Yamato-san again, huh?" Koushiro smugly whispered to me.
"Being a popular guy isn't easy."

"Huh? Where are Daisuke and the others?" Jun looked at us.
"Ah… th-they're in a different car…" Yamato lied. Koushiro and I were about to fall over laughing. "They're traveling in Ross's dad's car."
"I see."
"Um, I have a favor to ask."
"Eh? What?"
"Can you turn around and count to ten? Ah, I'd like you to close your eyes as well."
"Okay!" She complied and began counting as Yamato ran back to the van.
"Dad, go."
"Are you sure? That girl…"
"I'm sure." Yamato's dad started to move the van and we left Jun behind.
"Yamato-kun!" We heard her yell as we drove away.

P.O.V. – Miyako Inoue

"It's up there. Be careful, everyone!" Iori warned as we climbed up the hill to where he said the base was. However, I was pumped so full of energy I was climbing up way faster than the rest of them.
"Miyako-san! Miyako-san, wait!" Hawkmon shouted at me.
"Hey, guys! We've got a problem! The Kaiser's base is gone!" Patamon flew down to us. What!? We got over the hill and found a valley full of Dark Towers but no base.
"That weird building used to be where that huge hole is." Armadimon explained. I couldn't wait any longer and decided to investigate myself by sliding down the hill.
"Wait! Wait, please!" Hawkmon still continued to shout at me.

"Was it really here?" Daisuke asked as we walked up to the large hole.
"No doubt about it." Iori explained. "But why is this big hole here…?"
"So the base just disappeared?" Takeru suggested.
"Disappear? But that's…" Hikari tried to argue but stopped.
"What do we do?" Patamon wondered.
"What do we do…? Well, we can't go back now." Takeru reminded.
"Let's search for it. I'll take the Kaiser's base and take it down!" Daisuke declared.
"The sky!" I shouted as I pointed upwards. "It flew! It must be flying across the sky!"
"You think so?" Iori asked.

"Or maybe…" I soon grabbed a rope and began tying it to a nail that I was pounding into the ground at the edge of the crater. "Inoue Miyako, ready to explore the Digimon Kaiser's underground empire!" I saluted before tying the rope around my waist. "Await my report!"
"M-Miyako-san!" Hawkmon followed me as I begun to climb down. "Stop it already, please! Let's go back with everyone…"
"Shut up! This adventure is completely different to anything we've seen!"
"Hey, you're not listening to me!"
"I'm determined, okay?"
"Please listen to me!" We stopped our auguring when the ground rumbled and a giant black spider climbed out of the ground.
"Miyako-san!" Takeru yelled out to me. "That's Dokugmon! An Insect-type Digimon with a real nasty temper! Watch out for its Stinger Pollination, it's deadly!" Upon hearing that, my fears quickly took ahold of me once again. I eventually cracked and just screamed. The spider charged his attack and fired at me… which would've hit had Hawkmon shoved me out of the way and took the full brunt of the attack!

"Hawkmon!" I shouted for him.
"Miyako, get out of there!" Daisuke advised as I swung back and grabbed Hawkmon who was no longer conscious. Dokugmon started crawling towards us.
"Daisuke!" V-mon was asking to fight.
"Right! Digimental Up!"
"V-mon, Armor-Evolve! Burning Courage, FLADRAMON!" The others began to carry me back up the rope while Fladramon jumped down into the crater to stop Dokugmon from reaching me.
"Hawkmon! Hawkmon!" I kept shouting. "Hawkmon! Hawkmon! Hang in there!"
"Knuckle Fire!" Fladramon's attack knocked the spider off of the crater wall and back down to the bottom, leaving his underbelly exposed. "Fire Rocket!" I was pulled out of the crater before it completely exploded in flames; all the while I was trying to shake Hawkmon awake.
"HAWKMON!" I screamed.

P.O.V. – Hikari Yagami

After Fladramon destroyed that Evil Spiral on Dokugmon, we turned our attention to Hawkmon. We wrapped up his chest and laid him out on some leaves. He was still breathing but he was unresponsive.
"Hawkmon… is he okay?" V-mon walked up to us.
"Yeah… kind of." informed Daisuke.
"We've treated his wounds, but…" Tailmon trailed off.
"He needs to lie still until he regains consciousness." I said.
"Hawkmon…" We looked to Miyako and she looked like a wreck. She obviously felt terrible about everything.
"Miyako-san." She said nothing to me, she just kept sobbing.
"Guys…" She finally responded to us. "Guys… I'll stay here until Hawkmon recovers…" She turned around and we could see her eyes were quite red from all the crying. "So, go look for the Kaiser's base!"
"But…" Daisuke tried to argue.
"Please… I don't want to be any more trouble…" Her tears just kept flowing.

"Okay." Takeru stood up. "We'll do that."
"Yeah, we'll go." Daisuke agreed.
"Yes. We'll meet up with the others." added Iori.
"I'm… staying." I said. I didn't want to leave Miyako all alone, not while she's this down.
"Hikari-chan…" Miyako whispered.
"A Digimon could appear again, right? So we'll be bodyguards! Okay, Tailmon?"
"Leave it to me." Miyako began to smile in appreciation for what we were doing.
"Got it." Takeru nodded. "Then, if anything happens, we'll keep in contact by mail. Our location is on the D-3, and if we don't find the base by sunset, we'll come back." Both Miyako and I nodded as the others walked away.
"Hey, you don't think Ken may have-" I heard Daisuke begin to say.
"Doubt it. The Kaiser probably already assumed that we were going to go after his base once we found it." Takeru told him.
"Yeah, Koushiro-san and I didn't get away without him seeing us." Iori informed.

"Miyako-san…" I turned to her.
"What?"
"If you were offended by what I said the other day… I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"About needing determination…"
"It's not your fault, don't worry." I smiled when she said that and nodded.
"Sorry."
"Ah…" Tailmon came to a realization. "There should be an herb that can be used against the poison in this forest… I'll go look for it."

P.O.V. – Iori Hida

We regrouped with the others and explained everything to them before we headed out to search for the now missing base.
"How could something that big just suddenly vanish?" Mimi questioned.
"No idea, but there certainly no shortage on Dark Towers around here." Jou looked around.
"These clearly look like they've just been built." Sora said.
"But they're all in a line… that's weird." wondered Yamato.
"Anyway, let's keep going." Taichi pointed ahead. I suddenly began hearing a somewhat buzzing/rumbling noise over the air and had to stop and turn around.
"Iori? What's wrong, dagyaa?" Armadimon asked me.
"Eh… well… Armadimon… just now, over there…" I pointed to a nearby canyon but the sound had died down now. "Huh?"
"Hey, Iori! Hurry up!" Daisuke shouted at me. "You'll get lost!"
"Ah, yes… I'm coming!" I ran after them.

P.O.V. – Ken Ichijouji

"You called for me, oh Kaiser?" I bowed as I walked into the Kaiser's control room. All that the room had was a bunch of screens with images of Digimon on them and a single chair, his throne; and it wasn't that impressive of a throne at that. I quickly saw an image of Garurumon before he vanished leaving just his legs.
"So what exactly was your plan here, Ichijouji? Try to find out what I've been up to all this time?" He said.
"If I have to be honest, then yes."
"Well, it doesn't matter if you know now, you're already too late. Your friends are complete fools; being so predictable. They've come to try and destroy this place, but they'll fail once my masterpiece is finished. I now know the Dark Whirlpool's location."
"We're almost there." Monodramon informed, though I could hear a hint of sadness in his voice.
"May I at least ask what the Dark Whirlpool is?" I questioned as Wormmon got closer to me.
"It's the location of Dark Digimon. I need the data of one to finish the perfect Digimon. It will be a partner worthy of me. Your friends will all be crushed under his power."

So this was his grand plan? To create a Digimon to conquer the Digital World with.
"You're actually smart, Ichijouji. You surrendering has spared you from a fate that I plan to give to your friends." I couldn't take these words anymore.
"Osamu, do you even hear yourself anymore!? You're talking about murdering people; my friends! And what perfect partner? You already have one in Monodramon!" Everything happened so fast after I said that. The Kaiser got up out of his chair and pulled out his whip before he swung it and struck me in the kneecap, causing me to fall to the floor.
"Ken-chan!" Wormmon jumped in front of me to take the second strike from the whip. I quickly checked my leg and found that it was okay, but it still stung greatly.
"First of all… consider that a warning to your rebellious attitude. Do that again and I won't be so merciful. And secondly, him…" He cruelly laughed. "That pathetic dragon isn't worth a thing to anybody!" He kept laughing until he took his seat again and went back to work on his new Digimon. Monodramon still looked at him with a sad look on his face.

P.O.V. – Miyako Inoue

Hawkmon slowly began to open his eyes while lying on my lap before he turned up to look at me.
"Miyako-san…"
"Hawkmon, you're awake!"
"I'm so glad." Hikari said.
"I'm sorry… Hawkmon…" I apologized.
"Please… don't worry about it." I nodded, trying hard not to cry again as Hikari got up and walked away, probably to talk with Tailmon who I spotted getting closer to us.
"I… when I thought about finally facing the Digimon Kaiser… I got really nervous and couldn't stand it… So I kind of lost it…" Hawkmon couldn't help but chuckle. "And you got hurt because I was acting so stupid. I just can't stop when I get started sometimes…"
"Like that time you admitted you have a crush on Ken-san?" I got red faced when he said that.
"Yeah… like that. I'm sorry I'm such a bad partner."

"Don't worry about it." He repeated that phrase. "That's just the way you are." He slowly began to get up. "I like you just the way you are, Miyako-san."
"Thanks." I said, trying to keep myself from breaking down and crying. "I'm clumsy, scatterbrained and panic easily, but… I'll do my best!"
"Same here." I quickly gave him a tight hug.
"Ah! Miyako-san! I'm still a bit tender!" I quickly let him go.
"Sorry."

Once it was nightfall, Hawkmon was back on his feet and doing some stretches after Tailmon had found some herbs for him.
"That antidote worked great. I'm fine now." He informed. "Thanks." He said to Tailmon.
"That's great." Suddenly, we heard a strange buzzing sound filling the air.
"What's that sound?" Hikari questioned. We climbed out on top of a buried railcar on the hill and saw out in the distance a large stone structure that was glowing with lights floating away from the area.
"What's that?" I asked.
"That's… that has to be the Digimon Kaiser's base." Tailmon believed.
"So it was flying!" Hikari exclaimed. Hawkmon unraveled the bandages on his chest and let the wind take them.
"Miyako-san… bingo, right?" I nodded when he said that.

Looks like taking down the Kaiser is going to be much more difficult than we originally thought…

When was it ever going to be easy?

I'm gonna admit this right now, for the Ken and Osamu scenes, I took influence from Taiki Matsuki's fic, My Brother. It's a really good story and thought it would be perfect for mine.

Anyways, I really don't have much to say about this one, so see you all next time.

"Push the button, Frank."