Hello again! This chapter is where things get interesting. I want to thank those who have kept up with this story and have reviewed so far. You all keep me going! Hope you keep on enjoying!

Veemon couldn't help but to stare intensely at the dark ring that was moving towards him; because of this, he avoided all contact with Davis. He simply didn't want to see the pain that his human friend was going in, the sheer hopelessness pinned on his face. Veemon didn't want to see the agony, so he wished for the suffering to be over with.

"Let Veemon go!" Davis started to holler at the Digimon Emperor while shaking his shackled arms and legs, hoping to at least be set free. The Emperor laughed at the remark of the young lad while wearing his traditional sinister face.

"Oh, nice try you pathetic being, but the fun is only beginning. See, once I have Veemon under my control, I will use him to tear apart the rest of your pathetic lot known as the digidestined. This world is mine, haven't you figured that out yet!" The Emperor rudely stated.

All Davis could do was to breathe and look downward, avoiding any contact with Veemon whatsoever. He didn't want to watch what was unfolding in front of him. His partner was about to be enslaved by the Emperor, and all he could do was wait and see.

Veemon felt the coldness of the ring as it touched his body. Veemon's breathing began to increase once he felt the ring touch him. This was it; he was going to be held captive by the Emperor. He couldn't imagine the torture and suffering that he would have to endure.

All Veemon could do was scream for his life as he felt the effects of the ring taking place, as the pure darkness worked its magic on the weak rookie. Davis, still looking down and away from Veemon, felt the pain that his partner was going through by his agonizing screaming. After what felt like a couple of seconds, the screaming stopped.

Davis hesitated but knew he would have to face reality sooner than later. Looking up, he saw his partner now with a dark ring implanted around his waist. The happy-go-lucky smiling face of the digimon was gone, and all that was left was a malicious snare. His eyes were bloodshot red and full of hatred.

"Well, my work here is almost done," the Emperor finally announced as he seemed pleased that his plan worked.

"Veemon, Digi-Armor Energize!"

With the command of the Emperor stated, Veemon broke free from his stranglehold on the cliff and digivolved into Flamedramon. Still wearing the same look that Veemon wore, Flamedramon looked up at Davis and was ready to pounce on him.

"Hold it!"

The Emperor snapped his fingers, forcing Flamedramon to look up at his new master.

"You aren't going to touch him…yet. I want you to destroy the rest of the digidestined. I want this puny human to suffer for the longest time before you deliver the final blow, got it!"

"Yes, Master; I will obey what you have told me," Flamedramon spoke out and, without a second glance look at Davis, ascended up the cliff and started his rampage on the digital world in search for the rest of the group.

"And as for you," the Emperor stated at Davis, "if I see you try to bring my new minion back to his good self, I will have you brutally beaten by some of my toughest digimon. You humans are so pathetic!"

The Emperor finished off with his signature laugh as he left Davis alone, still hanging from the cliff.

"I hope we make it in time," Yolei stated to the rest of the group.

Most of them were traveling on top of Halsemon's back, flying through the canyon at warp speed. They were confident that they would stop the Emperor in time before he did anything to harm Davis and Veemon.

"Relax, Yolei, everything will be fine," TK said, trying to reassure her. "We'll get there, you guys will save Davis while I whip the Emperor something fierce!"

"Better save some room for me," Gatomon said in response to TK. "Once I get through with him, he won't be nothing more than simple roadkill!"

"Umm…okay, whatever you want to do, you do," Kari nervously stated to her partner. She knew that Gatomon meant business since it was the Emperor who had her tail ring.

"Guys, look up ahead!"

Patamon motioned the rest of the group to look. Sure enough, they saw Davis being held up on the side of the canyon.

"Perfecto! I knew we would find him!" Yolei excitedly exclaimed.

Davis heard someone coming but didn't make an attempt to look up. He was too hurt to even try.

He also didn't notice the slight rumbling in the walls of the canyon until...

"Whoa, what in the..."

Davis was certainly started to see a beetle-like digimon cradling him in his arms.

"Hey guys, look like I caught a big one!" Digmon told the rest of the group as they arrived.

"Way to go, Digmon! Bring him on up," Cody said while on the edge of the canyon opposite of Davis.

Digmon obeyed the message and started scaling up the canyon with Davis in tow. The rest of the group had just made it up and got off of Halsemon. Once Digmon came up, he set the defeated looking Davis down.

"Davis, we are so glad you're alright!" Sora exclaimed.

"Way to go guys, we found someone who was held captive. Now Davis, do you know where Veemon went to?" Izzy quickly asked Davis.

Davis didn't answer. It seemed like he never really listened to the question that was given. He was just looking down at the hard ground. His breathing was shallow and he was on the verge of tears. Veemon was gone and Davis had lost all hope in retrieving him.

"Davis, are you alright?" Cody came up to the older boy, only to be pushed aside by Davis, falling down hard on the ground.

"Cody, are you alright?!" Yolei asked.

When he got a nod from the younger boy, she simply gazed angrily at Davis.

"What is your problem?! All we want to know is if you have an inkling of where Veemon may be at!"

Davis couldn't take much more of this. Without a second thought, he bolted straight ahead and far away from the group as he can.

'It's alright, they simply don't understand…'

Davis started to choke up as fresh tears rolled down both sides of his face. After a few seconds of running and having a good thought that he was far away from the group, he crashed down to his knees and let his feeling take over.

"Veemon…" Davis couldn't help but to cry out for his friend.

So kind of left you guys on a sad note, eh? I promise, it will get good. Expect the next chapter up soon and as always thank you for reading! See you next chapter!