"As I came into this city, I searched information about whom I sought : Regan Astrasz and Kari Kamiya. A newly 'recruited' 'servant' of us was willing enough to deliver me some useful information, along with some that would knew where the Digidestineds would be.

And, by having taken Riza Ryuzaki and his digimon, I seek to force Kylee Henke into a confrontation so she will reveal to me what she knows about the Digidestineds' location…

But only the future will tell for the result of our confrontation…"

Chapter 9 : Wisdom of Trust part 2

This was the second biggest of all the parks in Phoenix City. While many trees were visible in the place, along with a group of them nearly forming a circle in the park's middle, there was a large pond as well, near the center.

And standing in the center was a gray tall cloaked figure with its hood down on the face. It watched and waited patiently…

Until it noticed two persons approaching the area, both running, one much taller than the other.

Kylee and Impmon.

As Kylee approached the center of the circle of trees, she noticed the lone gray figure standing. At first, she wondered if that person was the one that had phoned her…

"Hey you! Are you the guy who called me about Riza?" she said.
"Indeed, it is I, Kylee Henke." The cloaked figure answered, with indeed the same voice than what she heard on the phone.

"Where's Riza?" Kylee then asked angrily.
"Of course…there he is…" the cloaked man replied as he waved at his right side, and a small dome of blue light appeared near some trees. In it lied Riza and Veemon, both uncounscious and bearing some slight burn marks.

"What have you done to them?" Impmon asked.
"Nothing truly critical. They will be able to recover in time…" the cloaked person said. "Now…for the battle you promised me, Kylee Henke."
"Battle?" Impmon asked. "Why did he want to fight us?" he asked as he looked at his Tamer.
"He wants someone. This 'Child of Life' as he said." Kylee answered.
Looking strait and defiantly at the cloaked man, Kylee spoke again. "Okay we'll fight! Like you said on the phone : If I win, you let Riza and Veemon go." She said.
"And if I win, then you tell me what I want to know about the Child of Life." The cloaked man answered. "We indeed have a deal."
"Right…" Kylee muttered. "So, let's do it…Ready Impmon?"
"Yeah, I'm ready." Impmon replied as he stepped in front of Kylee, as she took out her D-Arc.
The cloaked man then raised a hand before turning his hand to the sky and started making a grasping gesture…

Red energy glowed in his hand…then it swept down on the ground, in front of the man before it rose and started taking a shape…

Kylee and Impmon's eyes widened as they recognized the shape, and the appearance of what had just been 'summoned' by their mysterious opponent…

An Impmon…just like Kylee's. However, he looked a lot different…less 'real'…for he was of a more red shade of color. But the look in his eyes could also make others think he actually is a real digimon…

"What the hell is that?!?" Impmon asked, eyeing the other Impmon, dumbfounded.
"It is your opponent. Who else? After all, it is a fight between Digimon, isn't it?" the cloaked man spoke. "Impmon, attack." It then ordered.

The man's Impmon suddenly darted forward, eyes narrowing.
"Go for it Impmon!" Kylee yelled.
Kylee's Impmon charged forward, clutching one fist tight as he neared…

"Badaboom!" he suddenly yelled as he threw a fire ball toward the red shaded Impmon and jumped back at the same time.

The reddish Impmon stopped before making a large sweeping motion with his right hand.
A large fire wall appeared, blocking the fire ball of Kylee's Impmon, before it faded away.

"What was that?!?" Kylee said, surprised.
"Did you expect that my 'Impmon' would use the same kind of attacks as yours? It has different ways of attack, as you will see…" the cloaked man said, sounding unsuprised.

The reddish Impmon held out his right hand opened toward Kylee's Impmon before yelling "Blaze Funnel!"
A large stream of flames poured out of his hand, going strait for Kylee's Impmon, who fortunately, easily evaded before rushing strait at the cloaked man's Impmon. He held on fist high before striking the other Impmon right in the face, and got thrown back.

"Nice work Impmon!" Kylee said with a smile.
"Heh, not as good as the real thing eh?" Kylee's Impmon said with a taunt.

The reddish Impmon quickly spun in the air and easily landed on his feet, looking unharmed. He held out his two hands together. "Twin Blaze Funnel!" he yelled.
Two larger streams of flames poured out of his hands, rushing even faster than the previous attack, toward Impmon.

"Oh snap…" Impmon muttered before he rolled out of the way, barely evading the flames this time.
Just as he started rising up, he noticed the reddish Impmon falling down on him. Impmon jumped out of the way, just as the cloaked man's Impmon slammed the ground where Impmon previously was, completely crushing the ground itself under the fist, and creating a small shockwave that pushed Impmon back.

"Okay…so, you ARE stronger than I thought…" Kylee's Impmon said, stepping back as he recovered. "But it doesn't mean you can beat me! Badaboom!" he added as he threw another flaming ball at the reddish Impmon, which was struck this time.

"Badaboom!" Impmon threw out yet another flaming ball, not letting to let up.
A large fire wall warned him that his attack was yet blocked again…before the reddish Impmon burst out of the flames, quickly rushing at him.
Just as the reddish Impmon threw a left punch at Kylee's Impmon, he dodged to the side, but got hit by the reddish Impmon's right punch instead, sending him slamming against a tree farther away.

"Impmon! Are you all right?" Kylee asked, worried.
"Ugh…I'll be okay…he drove out the air from my stomach with this one…but I'll be careful now…I'm not gonna let myself being beaten by a copy!" Impmon said, rising up and standing to fight again.

"It is true that my…creation…is no true digimon. However, he is quite enhanced from yourself. As a construct, he is quite strong." The cloaked man said.
"Well, I can tell ya that I've faced a really tough digimon before! And your copy Impmon wasn't as really rough as him!" Impmon replied.
"Yeah! Lizomon was really rougher than this!" Kylee added.
The cloaked figure started for just a little instant, but it slightly leaned forward, 'looking' interested.

"Lizomon eh?" he said.
He held out his hand toward his copy Impmon before speaking a series of really strange words, words that neither Kylee nor Impmon had heard before…

The copy Impmon started glowing before turning into red energy once more…and started reforming itself…

…into Lizomon…a reddish version of him, to be exact…

"No way…he knows of Lizomon?" Kylee thought, eyes widening as she saw the changed construct Digimon.
"Then…could that mean…
…that the 'Child of Life' he's looking for…
…is Regan?"

Impmon gritted his teeth hard as he glared at the copy of Lizomon.
"So…like Lizomon, only worse eh?" Impmon said. "Okay, bring it." He then added.
The copy Lizomon growled before roaring and charging at Impmon then he burst into flames, increasing its speed at the same time, obviously replicating Lizomon's Flame Charge attack.

Impmon quickly made a small side jump to evade the charge, but the other briefly stopped itself, letting the flames continue their charge while he went strait for Impmon, yelling "Strato Ball!" before spewing out a pair of multi-coloured energy balls at Impmon.

"Whoa! That's even faster than usual!" Impmon yelled as he jumped out of the way of the twin energy balls. "But I won't allow a copy to even beat me!" Impmon then ran toward the copy Lizomon, who charged at him again. The copy Lizomon jumped over him as he neared, seeking to slam down his feet into Impmon, though Impmon quickly rolled down before throwing a "Badaboom!" strait at the copy Lizomon. However, the copy Lizomon started spinning on itself, wings extended. Wings that slapped and deflected the fire ball strait at Impmon.

Impmon didn't had time to move as he got struck by his own attack. He screamed a bit in pain as he was thrown back by his attack, which then followed by the copy Lizomon slamming him in the chest before rising its two paws to deal a finishing strike…

Impmon gazed as he saw the copy Lizomon's attack came down on him, and tried to move away…though he knew he wouldn't be able to dodge it…

But the claws never struck Impmon, as another mass blocked the claws with a winged appendage before slamming the copy Lizomon on the side.

"You're okay Impmon?" a familiar voice came to the impish digimon's ears as he noticed who was the one who just saved him.

And it was Lizomon. The real one.
"Lizomon? What are you doing here?" Kylee said, surprised.
"I followed you. What else?" Lizomon said with a shrug of his shoulders.

He then looked toward the copy Lizomon, and toward its maker.
"I knew that the voice on the phone was familiar…and I was really right…Elder…" Lizomon said, his eyes fixed upon the cloaked figure.

"Lizomon…" the cloaked figure said. "At last I've found you."
The cloaked figure started stepping forward, but Kylee ran up to Lizomon and stood near him, along with the injured Impmon.

However, as they neared, Lizomon raised both his wings and blocked Kylee and Impmon's paths. "No worries. I know this guy. He's a friend of us." Lizomon said.
"What?!? That guy is one of your friends?" Impmon said.
"Oh yeah he is. I know, he looks a lot weird and sometimes act really weird, and can even seem wacko, but I know this guy really well, and helping the Digidestineds and the Digital World is his true and ultimate objective…

Even if sometimes his methods seem to make that he does otherwise…" Lizomon explained, a small smile on his face.

The cloaked man stopped as Lizomon spoke of him. "Lizomon speaks the truth. Ever since Regan Astrasz and Kari Kamiya have disappeared from the Digital World along with their digimon, I have been searching for them.

It was truly a stroke of luck that the Mistress of Dreams decided to inform me that she had located them." The cloaked man said.

"'Mistress of Dreams'? Wait a minute, you don't mean…Ysera?!?" Kylee said, eyes widening.
"Lady of Dreams, Mistress of Dreams, The Dreamer…All of those are just many titles that she may be known as." Lizomon said with a shrug, still smiling.
"But…why have you been attacking us?" Kylee said.
"Bah, the Elder has always been odd in his actions, though I guess he may have gotten a little bit…desperate…about searching for us…" Lizomon said.
"Desperate?" Kylee asked, a bit confused.
"Ehm…nevermind. The Elder considers all Digidestineds in being really important, but it's fairly obvious Kari's kinda special among them, right?" Lizomon said, slightly uneasy.
"Elder…So, that's your name?" Impmon said, glaring suspiciously at the cloaked figure.
"One of the few titles I have been often called. But yes, 'Elder' may be my most common 'name'." the cloaked man answered.

He then lowered his head his head slightly, as if bowing a bit. "My apologizes for those attacks on you and your friends. As Lizomon stated, I have been searching for them since some time now…" the Elder said before holding his hand toward the globe that held Riza and Veemon prisoner. The globe vanished instantly, and both Riza and Veemon started awakening slowly.

"Riza!" Kylee shouted as she ran up to Riza and Veemon, followed by Impmon. "Are you okay?"
"Ugh…I feel like I've been in an earthquake…what just-" Riza started then he noticed the cloaked figure standing nearby. He jolted, starting to rise up quickly.
"No Riza. He's a friend of Lizomon. At least that's what he's saying…" Kylee said, trying to reassure her friend, though she herself was still having some distrust toward the cloaked figure.

Lizomon walked nearby to the Elder, shrugging again. "I don't know what's wrong with you all the time, but you always seem to be a bit distrustful to people." Lizomon said with another small smile.
The Elder turned his head slightly at Lizomon. "I am well aware of this. But I have gotten used to that. Humans fear what they don't understand and they can hate it as well." The cloaked figure answered.

"So…who are you exactly?" Riza said as he started coming with Kylee and their digimon toward the Elder and Lizomon.
"I am but one of the many servants of the Digital World. One of the many who strives to keep the world in balance, along with the worlds whose fates can be affected by the Digital World's." the Elder answered.

Impmon looked at his partner before making a 'crazy' gesture, spinning a finger to his head's side, obviously indicating he really thought the cloaked figure a bit wacko.

"So...you're a bit like Gennai, only with super powers?" Kylee said. She then gasped. "Oh! Regan and Kari! They're both really sick! Perhaps you could do something for them?" Kylee then said.

The Elder started a little bit, obviously worried about learning that new detail. He looked at Lizomon who had a dark expression, confirming Kylee's words.
"Then we should make haste and go where they…" The Elder started, but then suddenly stopped "Prepare yourselves! We are about to be attacked!" he suddenly warned.

Kylee, Impmon, Riza, Veemon and Lizomon quickly looked around, seeking an unknown foe…

And they were greeted by many, as multiple human-sized creatures made of shadow came out from all directions. Most of them were rather human-like in appearance, though they were hunched and had long claws.

"Strato Ball!" Lizomon yelled, spewing out a ball of multi-coloured energy at the nearest one, hitting strait in the thing's head, destroying the monster in a puff of smoke.

The Elder gave out a sharp command (yet again in an unknown language) at his reddish Lizomon copy before the 'digimon' rushed forward, bursting in flames as it charged upon another of the enemies.

Just before the Elder was going to strike, he suddenly turned at the two Tamers and their digimon before uttering strange words, his hand pointed at the digimon. Both briefly glowed before all their wounds vanished.

"Hey! I feel as good as new!" Impmon said with a grin.
"You did this on us? Thanks!" Veemon said.
"Don't waste too much time now. You should use fight as best as you can." The Elder said, not only to the digimon, but to their Tamers as well. He then turned his attention back to the approaching enemies.
"Right." Riza said. He pulled out two cards from his pockets and handed one to Kylee. The Digi-Egg of Friendship card.
"You'll need it." Riza said.
"Yeah, I know." Kylee answered. She swiped the card in her digivice. "Digi-Modify! Digi-Egg of Friendship, activate!"

"Impmon, armor digivolve to…Thunderbirdmon!!! Friendship's stormy wings!"

"'Friendship's stormy wings'?" Kylee said at her digimon, a bit confused. "Don't you think something like 'The wings of Friendship' would have been better?"
"Eh, that would have sounded too lame." Thunderbirdmon replied.
"You got some weird tastes sometimes Thunderbirdmon…" Kylee said with a sigh.
"Anyway, time to fight again!" Thunderbirdmon said as he rushed to the skies, readying to strike…

"Digi-Modify! Digi-Egg of Courage, activate!"
"Veemon, armor digivolve to…Flamedramon, the Fire of Courage!"
"Well at least you-" Riza started, but his digimon interrupted him.
"Riza, we don't really have time with that kind of thing. Let's just start fighting then we'll talk." Flamedramon said.
"Oh yeah, sorry." Riza said with a hesitant chuckle.
Flamedramon then rushed near Lizomon. "You're sure about going in?" he asked.
"I'll make due without an armor digivolution." Lizomon said with a shrug. "Let's go!"

Flamedramon and Lizomon separated and rushed toward some of the dark creatures, as Thunderbirdmon dove down from the skies.

"Strato Ball!"
"Flame Fist!
"Thunder Stormer!"

All three digimons' attacks landed excellent marks among their opponents, destroying many of the dark creatures that rushed toward them. However, new one appeared to take the former's places.

Extending his right hand, the Elder drew an invisible line around himself and the two Tamers, uttering another short series of strange words.
Huge stony spikes, the size of adult-sized human, jutted out of the ground, forming a circle around the three, which could act as some protection.

"Woah! How did you do that?" Kylee asked with surprise. She had already seen some of the strange capabilities of this 'man', but it was starting to look more impressive.
Ignoring her, the Elder continued his work. Holding his hand toward another group of approaching enemies, he uttered one strange word.

The fingernails on his hand snapped off before they flew away at the Elder's chosen targets. But as they flew, the fingernails grew in length and in sharpness. And when they struck their targets, they had become the length of half an adult's arm, easily destroying the dark creatures.
The Elder then rubbed off his hand, where new fingernails had already grown, before preparing another attack. He waved toward another group before once again speaking strange words.

The grass beneath one group of the dark creatures suddenly straightened…before it suddenly grew and rose up to the skies…like large green steel lances, impaling all the dark creatures that were caught off in the attack.
A few instants after that attack, the grass retracted and turned back to normal.
"Man…I'm glad he'd rather on our side now…" Riza said to Kylee, in awe about the strange and incredible abilities of the Elder.
Even Thunderbirdmon and Flamedramon had been a bit distracted by the Elder's attacks, which had destroyed a greater number of the strange creatures than any of the digimon all together had accomplished.
"Geez, he was really playing out easy on us before…" Thunderbirdmon muttered before swatting one dark creature with a wing. That creature was then struck by a Strato Ball from Lizomon.

As for Flamedramon, he was currently stuck beneath a large group of the dark creature which had piled up on him.
"Riza…mind a little help?" Flamedramon managed to say.
"Hold on!" Riza said then took out a card before swiping it in his D-Arc. "Digi-Modify! Power, activate!"

Flamedramon briefly glowed before a fire started in the pile of the dark creatures…then a large explosion of flame erupted from it, disintegrating the fiends as Flamedramon pulled out of it in his Flame Shield. "Now that's better…" he said before turning at another group. "Fire Rocket!" he yelled before bursting in flames and charged at that group, striking them and burning them to smoke…

Lizomon swiftly dodged a series of slashes coming from many of the dark fiends as they attempted to stop him. "Please, you're gonna need to do better than that!" Lizomon said with a smirk. "Flame Charge!" he shouted before charging in his opponents, covered in flames as he struck them one by one, flying back to hit out those he had missed.

Yet, despite that they had destroyed many of the dark creatures, more came…
Suddenly, from the skies, large flaming meteors fell, striking a massive amount of the dark creatures. The Tamers and their digimon looked in shock toward the Elder, who was currently holding his hand to the sky. No doubt he had been the one who had created this 'Meteor Rain'.

"This cannot go on like this…" the Elder muttered. "No matter how much we destroy, they always reappear…"
Making yet another large sweeping motion, the Elder pronounced a large series of strange words. All the trees around them started quivering…before their roots pulled out of the ground…and the trees actually taking a 'life' of their own.

As they 'stood' the trees now had a slightly more humanoid appearance…as best as it could be, considering that they were normally trees, but many of their branches had merged into more human-like limbs, although looking gnarled, but their limbs now ended with sharp-looking wooden claws.

All the animated trees started swiping and striking at any of the dark creatures that were in their path, giving out an excellent distraction for the digimon, the Tamers and the Elder. The Tamers and their digimon were clearly shocked to see this incredible act from the Elder.

"They should give us the time now that we need. We should leave now." The Elder said, bringing back the Tamers to reality. "Digimon! Pull back to us now!" he then added to the attention of the digimon.
Uncertain, Flamedramon and Thunderbirdmon came back inside the stone spike circle in which Kylee, Riza and the Elder were. Lizomon and his copy soon followed after, the copy Lizomon turning back into red energy before it was absorbed in the hand of the Elder.

"We're leaving?" Lizomon asked.
"We should get to Regan and Kari as soon as possible. Who knows if this isn't a distraction while someone else attempts to attack them?" The Elder answered.
"Geez, he's right!!!" Thunderbirdmon said.
"Both of you, de-digivolve now. It would not really help me for what I will plan to do." The Elder suddenly said to Flamedramon and Thunderbirdmon.
Unsure, the two digimon looked at their Tamers and Lizomon.
"You guys should do that. I think I know what he's going to do, and you'd better de-digivolve for making it easier on him." Lizomon insisted.
Shrugging, the two armor digimon obeyed before reverting back to their rookie stages, as the Elder remained silent.
"What are you going to do?" Kylee asked to the Elder.
"Lizomon. I need you to show me where Regan and Kari are." The Elder said to Lizomon.
"How are you going to do that?" Riza asked.
"We'll simply link our minds, as simple as that." Lizomon said, as if it was nothing.
"Link your minds?" Kylee said.
Lizomon didn't explained as he flew to the Elder's level and stared deep into the hood, opening his mind to the Elder, as he showed him in it, the place of their hideout.
"You got a specific place now?" Lizomon asked as he retreated his mind from the Elder.
"Yes. Now, we go." The Elder answered.
"Go to the hideout?" Impmon asked. "But we're really a lot far from it and with all those-"
The Elder simply raised his arms before a brief but sudden flash of light engulfed all of them, and vanished, leaving no traces of anyone.

The dark creatures then stopped…before all vanishing as well.
And with their enemies gone, the animated trees all went back to where they once stood before reverting back to their normal state.
And without the Elder nearby, the stone spike circle also vanished as well, all traces of the previous fight now fading…

---

A flash of light appeared in the living room of the apartment used by Regan and Kari as their hideout, and the Tamers, their digimon, Lizomon and the Elder all reappeared.
"-creatures around us we won't…" Impmon had continued talking, completely unaware of what just happened, until he realized that they were no longer in the park anymore, but in the apartment.
"What the…What did he just do?!?" Riza asked, completely astonished as he pointed at the Elder.
"He simply teleported all of us here, that's all. He's pretty good huh?" Lizomon said with a smile.
Gatomon suddenly came in the living room as she heard the commotion. Still looking worried, her eyes widened when she saw the Elder.
"Yep, it's the Elder." Lizomon then said. "He's been searching us since we were gone." He added, staring strongly at Gatomon, though there was something else in his eyes…
Gatomon nodded then sighed a bit in relief, though she still wasn't completely relieved.
"Elder! We need your help! Regan and Kari, they're-" Gatomon started, but the Elder interrupted her.
"Yes, I've always been told of the situation." The Elder replied.
"Wh-What the…you here?!?" a rather weak voice spoke, coming from the bedroom, and everyone saw a still sick-looking Regan standing at the doorstep.
"Yes, and it is good to see you Regan." The Elder said, staring at Regan.
"Yeah…I guess…it's good to see you too…Elder…" Regan said, still weak.
"We shouldn't waste anymore time now." The Elder said, walking toward Regan. "Let us deal with what is afflicting both you and Kari.
Oh, and Gatomon, Lizomon, come with me. I would want that you explain in detail what happened about this malady."
"Okay." Lizomon said as Gatomon nodded, and the two digimon went to the bedroom as well.
"Wait a minute! What do we do?" Kylee asked.
"You will have to wait while I will heal them." The Elder answered, turning to them as he stood at the bedroom's doorstep.
"And we're supposed to believe that?" Impmon said suspiciously.
"Listen guys, I know you don't completely trusting him, but you gotta believe me on that. He wants to help us. Trust me at least." Lizomon said with a very deep and serious expression on his face.
"Well…okay…" Impmon said, rubbing the back of his head. "But I'm warning you old man. You better not do anything bad to Regan and Kari, or their digimon, or you'll have to answer to me!" he added angrily.
The Tamers and Veemon also stood near him, adding further emphasis on their opinion on that subject.
"Very well…" the Elder said before walking in the bedroom with the digimon and closed the door…

---

For perhaps half and hour, nothing seemed to happen in the bedroom as it seemed dreadfully silent, except for some mutterings at first. The Tamers and their digimon waited nervously as they could do nothing. The only real signs of any activity in the bedroom were some weak red light coming from beneath the door.
"Man…is it over soon?" Kylee asked, yawning as he stretched on the couch. Riza was pacing back and forth in front of her while Impmon was sitting on the couch and Veemon was on the table nearby.

The bedroom's door finally opened and the Elder walked out as the Tamers and their digimon hurried and stood up to get the news of the result.
"Done." The Elder simply said, and now, the shadow that covered his face was gone, revealing what was underneath. Riza had already seen the silver haired and scarred face of the Elder before, but Kylee and Impmon hadn't seen it of course. She was a bit curious about why that shadow was gone, but a more important question was on her mind now.
"Regan and Kari? How are they?" Kylee asked.

In answer, new persons came walking out of the bedroom.
Still dressed in their clothes for the 'date' yesterday, and looking a bit tired, Regan and Kari looked kindly at Riza and Kylee, as their digimon also stood at their feet with a more relieved expression.

"Yeah! You guys are okay!" Impmon said as he ran up to them, followed by the others.
"Are you really okay Kari?" Kylee asked.
"Yeah…I'm fine…just tired, that's all…" Kari replied with a tired smile.

While the Tamers and their digimon continued to discuss of the state of Regan and Kari, the Elder started walking a bit away from the children and the digimon.

"Of course, you guys got really lucky that you found the Elder." Regan then said. All the kids and the digimon turned at the cloaked figure.

"Indeed, a stroke of luck, as we could perhaps say, but we should also thanks Ysera for having informed me of your location." The Elder said.
"Ysera did that?!?" Kari asked.
"I'm sure it was after that we had to help her, I guess…" Regan said.
"Probably." Lizomon said.
"Well…I guess Ysera actually helped out much more than we thought right guys?" Riza said.
"Yeah. She really helped out…even if we didn't really thought it was the case…" Kari said.
"Kinda like the Elder." Lizomon said.
"I have done only what I had to do, that is all." The Elder said with a nod.
"Hey, you saved their lives, and that's a lot. Thanks." Impmon said.
"You are welcome Impmon." The Elder returned. "Now…that reminds me Tamers, I would need to ask you a something. Would you come over here?" he added, motioning to him as he put himself a bit further away from the kids. "I will also have to talk to you as well, Digidestineds, but later."
Nodding, the Tamers and their digimon went up to the Elder before they started discussing.
"I wonder what they're saying." Regan said.
"Beats me. Can't hear a thing of what they could say. I guess the Elder made some kind of invisible sound shield." Lizomon said.
"That's only making things a bit more suspicious." Gatomon said, her eyes narrowed.
"I'm sure it must be something important though…" Kari said a bit sadly.
The other three looked at her a little bit confused.

But before they could ask her what was wrong, the Elder spoke to them. "Regan? Kari? Can we talk now? I think though that a walk outside would be appropriate for the two of you at the same time." The Elder said, while the Tamers and their digimon were standing slightly behind him, though looking a little bit troubled.
Regan nodded. "Okay. Give us a minute to get changed up." He said.
The Elder made a simple nod. "Very well."
Regan and Kari went in the bathroom and the bedroom respectively, as they proceeded to get back in their more usual clothes…

---

"So, you've finally found us…Now what?" Regan said.
Regan and Kari, now dressed back in their usual clothes (though for Kari, it was the other clothes she had bought in this world), were walking in the city, along with their digimon, and the Elder. Regan's question had undoubtedly been asked at the Elder.
"Many things may happen…" the Elder answered.
"But now that you've found us…it may mean…that we'll have to go…" Kari said sadly.
Regan and the digimon looked at her a bit worryingly.
"Indeed." The Elder answered.
"I see what you mean Kari…And you're probably right on this Elder. After all, we can't stay here forever…" Lizomon said.
"Hey, enough of this!" Regan said angrily. He stepped forward and stopped in front of the Elder.
"I don't get it why we need to call you Elder. After all, we know who you really are…Krasus…" Regan said seriously.
"That's right…" Kari said with a sad frown. "I don't get it why we had to call you 'Elder' while we should be calling you Krasus, by your name."
"I would prefer that for now, my name is not known to the others. They may be your friends, true. But they may not be allowed to know too much…" the cloaked man, Krasus answered
"Still…Now, what are going to do? Usually, with you, there's always something else Krasus." Regan said.
"Perhaps…however, why don't you start by telling me what has been happening to you while you were here?" Krasus asked. "And please call me 'Elder' again, especially when the Tamers are nearby."
"Fine…" Regan answered.

---

"And so, after that we beat that monster in the Dark Ocean, we returned here, and went back to our hideout." Kari finished.
"You forgot some…'details'…" Lizomon said with a sly grin.
"Like if we'd need them!" Regan yelled angrily at his partner.
"Lizomon, perhaps those details may not be that necessarily important. I only asked the really important things after all…" the 'Elder' said.
"So, is there anything you can think out of this, Elder?" Kari asked.
"Mmm…I cannot say…" Krasus answered, thoughtful. "You mustn't be under the misconception that I can know and expect everything. Remember that."
"So, you're saying that you're as clueless as us…great…" Regan said sarcastically.
"Or he probably has some hypothesises…" Gatomon added.
The Digidestineds and their digimon looked again at Krasus.
"Gatomon marks a point Elder." Kari said. "You may already have some hypothesises about some things. So, any ideas?"
"I do have ideas…but I will need to think further on this…" Krasus answered. "In the meantime, why don't you go spend some of your time trying to relax a bit?"

The question surprised both Regan and Kari a bit.
"Hey…he's kinda right…" Lizomon said. "Did we got any real rest in any of this?"
"Yeah…you're probably right on that one, Elder." Regan said. "I'll just go around. You're coming Lizomon?"
"Sure." Lizomon answered.
"I would recommend that you meet up with me later on. Same place…perhaps in half an hour?" Krasus asked.
"Well…okay…" Kari said. "Come on Gatomon."
With that, the two Digidestineds walked away in different directions with their digimon, away from Krasus.
The mysterious 'elder' sighed with some relief. He had a few other things to verify in the meantime as well…
Turning, the cloaked man started walking, his own goals in mind, very well planning to be back in time for the two Digidestineds.

---

"Ahhh man…I think he was right on that, taking a break for now…"
"Yup. I know you're not always respecting him, but he's often right you know."
Both Regan and Lizomon were in the park where they had first come into this Real World, Regan sitting on the exact same bench while Lizomon held on the tree where he was at first.
"In all of this, we never really planned a goodbye for the two Tamers, right Regan?" Lizomon said, thoughtful.
"Yeah…We were all busy and in chaos when it all happened. We never really had that much chance to say goodbye…The only thing we could say was 'thanks', that's all…" Regan added, a bit saddened.
"I hope we'll be able to have a more appropriate way to say goodbye this time…" Lizomon said.

"Hey Regan!" another voice intruded. Regan looked to the right where he saw a familiar figure standing…with a Monodramon with him.
"Hey Darius…You got a digimon?" Regan said with some curiousity.
"Yup. I'm now a Digimon Tamer." Darius said with a smile.
"Well, that's great for you." Lizomon suddenly intruded, dropping from the tree and on the bench.
"Hey, who's that digimon Regan? Yours?" Darius asked with some curiousity.
"Oh…" Regan started, looking at Lizomon then smiled. "Yeah. He's my partner. We got separated since a while ago…but we finally got back together now. Together we're a strong team."
"Nice!" Darius said. "Hey, think you can try a fight against us?"
Lizomon chuckled. "Hey Regan, why not?" he added, smiling.
"Yeah, you're right about that." Regan replied, smiling as well. "Okay, we'll go for it. But watch out, Lizomon's a really fierce one."
"Heh, let's see what Monodramon will do. You may never know what'll happen." Darius said as Monodramon put himself in a battle stance, smiling.
Lizomon also brought himself ready.
"Ready? Go!" Regan shouted.

The two digimon rushed strait for each other, Lizomon grinning wide…

---

"Boys…" Kari said with a slight giggle. She couldn't help but do so, since she had noticed the fight that had started between Regan and Darius. She started walking away again, followed by Gatomon.
"We aren't watching?" Gatomon asked.
"I don't think we'd really need to." Kari said with a slight happy smile. "I don't think Regan and Lizomon are going to lose…"
"Yeah, you're right." Gatomon replied.
Kari then noticed someone ahead of them. She smiled as she recognized who it was. Catherine, the little girl that, apparently, may be the 'Kari' of this world…
"Hey Catherine!" Kari shouted, waving to the little girl.
"Kari!" Catherine shouted back as she noticed Kari that shouted to her. The little girl then came up to Kari, smiling.
"Hey there!" Catherine said happily. "How are you doing?"
"Fine." Kari said. "What about you?"
"Great! There are chances I could get a digimon to raise!" Catherine said happily.
"Oh? That's really good!" Kari replied.
"You got a digimon too?" Catherine asked, looking at Gatomon.
"Oh well…actually, I had her since a long while ago. We got separated recently because of some problems, but despite that, we managed to get back together." Kari said, borrowing a bit of what Regan had used with Darius. "So, what will be your digimon?"
"I hope it can be a Salamon!" Catherine said with a wide happy smile.
That made Kari giggle. "Aw, you really are a fan of Kari Kamiya, right?" the Digidestined asked.
"Yup! Just like you after all, right?" Catherine asked.
"Oh…Well…of course." Kari said, still smiling, though she felt a bit more uneasy within.
"Well, it was nice to see you again, but I think I gotta go." Catherine said.
"No wait. Mind that I could stay with you for a little while?" Kari asked.
"Okay." Catherine answered, smiling.

The two girls then continued walking, Gatomon following them…

---

Half an hour later, both Regan and Lizomon were walking back to where Krasus, or the 'Elder' wanted to meet again. While Regan looked normal, Lizomon had a few bruises and hits, from the fight he just had.
"Well, at least you didn't really caused much collateral damages this time…" Regan said.
"Heh, he wasn't that hard, you know." Lizomon said with a grin.
"I know…" Regan said.
"Hey Regan." Kari and Gatomon came up from behind them, and walked aside them.
"Oh, hi Kari. You've been okay?" Regan asked.
"Yeah." Kari answered with a nod. "So, you've won your fight eh?"
"Oh, you were watching?" Regan asked.
"Only watched the beginning. It would be a bit obvious who would have won…" Kari replied, giving a side glance at Lizomon, who simply chuckled.
"Yeah yeah, we won..." Regan said. "Kinda easy to guess."
Ahead of them, they noticed the familiar grey cloaked form of Krasus he waited for them. As the four neared, he turned to them.
"Ah, I see that you appear to be fine now. Good." Krasus said.
"Yep. Nothing like a little free time to help clear out your head." Lizomon said.
"In which this free time appears to have been a fight in your case, Lizomon…" Krasus added as he looked at Lizomon. Lizomon chuckled hesitantly as he smiled.
Krasus turned and started walking. Not really knowing what else they could do, or what could Krasus have in store for them, the two Digidestineds and their digimon followed after the cloaked figure.
"So…what about…leaving?" Regan asked uncertainly and saddened. The other three looked at him, a bit worried.
"I will see about that soon. It may take some time though…" Krasus simply answered, still walking.
"Well, that'll be good to make…our goodbyes to the others…" Lizomon said a bit sadly and darkly.
Kari looked a bit saddened as well. She hadn't known Riza and Kylee as long as Regan and Lizomon did, but they really prouved themselves to be really good friends…
And it pained her that they would have to leave soon…
After all, now that Krasus was here, he could soon prepare a way for them to return to the Digital World…
Kari sighed sadly. "I don't know if I'm asking too much about that…but I'd really want that we could spend a little more time with them before we'll have to leave…" Kari said sadly.
"Yeah…me too…" Regan replied, hands in his pockets.
As they said that, having entered the building used for their hideout, and climbing the stairs, Krasus remained silent, not speaking about that.
"Krasus, you did heard us about that, right?" Regan asked straitly at the cloaked figure in front of them.
"Indeed." Krasus answered. Then he remained silent.
Regan growled a bit. "Honestly Krasus, why are you remaining silent about this? Can't we have the right to still have some time with our friends?" Regan asked angrily as they neared the front door of the appartement.
Yet again Krasus remained silent. He pushed the apartment's door open and entered inside, and just as the Digidestineds and their digimon started entering, they heard "Surprise!!!" yelled out from Kylee, Riza, Impmon and Veemon.

Both Regan and Kari jumped in surprise as they saw the Tamers and their digimon. And no doubt that Lizomon and Gatomon were surprised as well.
"What-What's what about?" Regan asked confusedly.
"Well…the Elder suggested us it'd be nice to make up some little party for you guys." Riza said with a wide grin.
Kylee smiled as well, but the smile on her face faded somewhat. "After all…you may not stay here for long anytime soon now…" she said sadly.
"…" Both the Digidestineds and their digimon were a bit troubled by this, but then Regan looked at the 'Elder'. "So…you planned this when you were talking to them earlier eh? Geez, and I thought there was gonna be something really serious you were talking about…" Regan said sourly.
"Well…besides, we gotta have some real fun together…" Kylee said.
"After all…we're friends…right?" she asked.
Regan remained stonefaced, staring at both Tamers. They looked uncertainly at him.
He walked up to them…then hugged both of them at once, their heads forcifully clinging to his.
"Thanks guys…thanks a lot…" both Kylee and Riza heard Regan say…on a partly sad tone. Impmon and Veemon could actually notice that Regan was crying a bit.
"Thank you too Regan…" Riza said before he and Kylee gave a brief hug to Regan.

"Well…I wouldn't really want to feel a bit too left out…but what else you got for us now?" Kari asked with a small smile.
"Sorry Kari. We didn't wanted to leave you out." Kylee said, walking up to Kari. "It's just…we met Regan a good while before you."
"Yeah, I understand." Kari said. "But I'd hope that you two can consider me a friend as well, just like Regan…"
"Oh, of course!" Kylee replied. "We'd love to be your friend as well Kari!"
"Thanks…" Kari said, smiling tiredly. She held her hand to Kylee, and Kylee, noticing that, took Kari's hand before shaking it.
"Oh, by the way." Riza said as Kylee released Kari's hand. "We planned something special for tomorrow. We nearly forgot about it with all the problems there had been."
"A surprise?" Lizomon asked. "And what is it?"
"Hey dragon-wannabe, if we were to tell ya, it wouldn't be a surprise." Impmon said sarcastically, grinning.
Lizomon simply chuckled at this.
"Anyway, you'll have to wait tomorrow for it." Kylee said. "But we got a few things for you guys. Come on." She added as she went into the kitchen and took something on the table.

"Here's something to start up." She said, holding what she had taken. It was a sheet of paper, but with a drawing on it.

She had drawn all four of the kids with their digimon on it. Riza stood on the far left, having a happy expression as he held Veemon on his back, who looked as happy as his Tamer. Kylee was standing to his right, smiling happily as well and holding Impmon in her arms, though he looked only half-pleased, and blushing a bit. Standing to Kylee's right was Regan, arms crossed as he showed a determined smile and Lizomon was standing at his feet, showing a similar expression. Kari was on the far right, next to Regan, and she held her hands together and smiled peacefully. Gatomon was right next to her, arms crossed and smiling.

"Wow! It's really beautiful!" Kari said as she looked at the drawing Kylee had made.
"Speak for yourself…" Impmon said as he looked away.
Lizomon laughed. "What?!? You don't like being held in Kylee's arms?" he said very mockingly. "Come on, where's your spirit of friendship?" he added, laughing.
Regan chuckled as he looked at the picture. "Man, you got some real talent there Kylee. I'm a lot impressed. I knew you were an awesome Tamer, but I didn't thought you were drawing as well."
"Oh well, that's another habit, like any others." Kylee replied, smiling.
"And we even got a little cake. Come on, let's get it!" Veemon said happily.
"Hey Veemon, wait up! Not now!" Riza said, going after his partner who went further in the kitchen to get the cake. All the others laughed as they saw this.

Meanwhile, as they continued to talk and enjoy their time together, Krasus watched with a slightly tired expression, and with a slightly regretful one as well.
He turned his back on them before walking away, exiting the apartment and closed the door silently.

He then brought one hand in his cloak, searching for something, then pulled it out.
It was a pure green colored crystal with no imperfections of any sorts, and was small enough to fit in his palm.

Oddly enough, it looked radically similar to the same one Ysera had once given to Kylee…

"Ysera…Lady of Dreams…I seek to commune with you…" Krasus muttered, closing his eyes and picturing the emerald 'lady' as best as he knew.
"Aaahhhh…Dear and wise Krasus…I am relieved to hear of you again…" Ysera's voice said in his mind. "Do you have news for me?"
"Yes." Krasus answered. "I have found the two Digidestineds and their digimon. They were indeed where you said."
"These are good news. I believe that soon, you will be able to send them back into the Digital World appropriately…" Ysera's ethereal and dreamy voice replied in the 'Elder''s mind. "Anything else?"
Eyes still closed as he communed with the Lady of Dreams, Krasus' face took on a far darker expression. "Yes…" he answered darkly. "I have made my searches about this mysterious phenomenon that had blocked the Nightmare in this city, as you requested…"
"And?…"
"Your suspicions were indeed correct…

Something has drawn the Nightmare in the city…
And as you said…it was not some simple phenomenon…But probably a sentient force…"
"…This is very troubling Krasus…Very troubling…I recommend that you and the Digidestineds stay in this city for a longer time, so to see if anything 'odd' may happen so you can find out what was the cause of the Nightmare's coming…"
"I had already anticipated this, and it is why I have taken on an opportunity to distract the minds of the children and their digimon, so they will not suspects our plans.
However, I believe that there is more than simply having attempted to attract the Nightmare in this city. The Digidestineds have told me what happened to them before I found them.

They spoke about attacks from some unknown creature of darkness that often possessed other living creatures. And very recently, I, along with the Tamers, their digimon and Lizomon, were attacked by mysterious dark creatures.

I believe all of this may have a link…" Krasus said darkly.
"This is indeed very troubling and suspicious…Good work in your investigations. Continue further. I will discuss of this with the others for now…" Ysera replied before she finally left Krasus' mind.

Opening his eyes and slowly pocketing the crystal in his cloak, the 'Elder' considered his options and his ideas…
There wasn't much to do but to wait for now…
Putting the hood on, Krasus walked back inside the apartment, silently opening the door as the Digidestineds, the Tamers and their digimon all continued to talk and enjoy their time right now…unaware of others' plans that concerned them…

"They are very capable though…
I have faith in them…
As I always have faith in humanity…" Krasus thought with a very little smile.