Chapter Eight

Myotismon's Defeat?

"This can't be good." Ryo said as he and the other Tamers watched the four Sovereigns approach the castle. Rika then told Sora and Matt to get Kari and Gatomon to one of the beds since she had a feeling that the Sovereigns would want to talk to the Tamers and the two didn't argue. Whatever it was that would call out the four strongest Digimon was bad and Sora wasn't sure she wanted to know what it was.

"Hey Ryo, we're going to go check on Takuya and the others." Autumn said as she looked at the remaining members of the group there on the balcony.

"Alright." Ryo said as the four got closer to them.

"Maybe we should go meet them." Takato suggested "It may be better to be a bit private about our dealings with the Sovereigns."

"Takato, what if it's something that the others need to know?" Henry asked and Rika couldn't help but to agree, as did Sapphire, who had just recently learned to Bio-merge.

"And what if they want to talk alone?" he asked concerned. They had never talked to the Tamers outside of their territories, so Takato wasn't sure about this.

"Don't worry." Ryo said guessing what was bothering Takato. "Seraphimon and Ophanimon aren't ones to eavesdrop and the others will learn soon enough."

"Alright then." Takato said as the four approached the Tamers, who in turn greeted the four Sovereign with the respect that they deserved.

"It is good to see you all again, Tamers." Azulongmon said.

"Hpmm. Speak for yourself." Zhuqiaomon grumbled.

"Ah let it be Mighty MacCranky." Ebonwumon said

"Hmph." Zhuqiaomon said turning his head and spotted Lopmon. He remembered how she was the last of thw Devas that once served him. He had to be honest with himself he was secretly glad that she hadn't turned on him like the rest of the Devas had. Even if she was partnered with a human, he was thankful that she at least remained loyal to both her human and him.

"So what is it that brings you four here?" Ryo asked them "Its not often that the four of you are together, even when I was here eight years ago or four years ago when we faced Piedmon after we defeated the D-Reaper. In fact that was the only time I've seen you four together."

"Ryo its time." Azulongmon told him, confusing Rika and the others, Ryo however, paled instantly.

"Ryo what is he talking about?" Rika asked confused.

"He's back, Millenniummon is back." Ryo said, knowing that the others didn't quite understand the gravity of the problem.

"Who?" Takato asked confused and Ryo could tell that he wasn't the only one, though Ryo wasn't surprised. He rarely talked about his past. It was just somwthing that he didn't like to discuss with anyone. Now however, it seemed that he didn't have a choice in thw matter since he had returned.

"He's a very powerful Digimon Takato." Ryo told him. "Azulongmon, are you sure its him?"

"Yes." Azulongmon told them, but Rika wasn't satisfied with the little bit that Ryo was telling them.

"You're hiding something, Ryo. Spill it." Rika told him, causing both Henry and Takato to flinch as they recalled the old Rika. Ryo sighed and looked at the other four Tamers.

"Alright, you see when I was a new Tamer, I fought a Digimon named Millenniummon, who had became a major tyrant here. After my first fight with him Myotismon was release, but no one knew about it. Then I faced him twice more before he was eventaully sealed, I faced him in two different versions of the Digital World. Both times the strongest Digimon there was released, Piedmon, and Lucemon. Then they pretended to be kind and gentle, at least until the Digimon there trusted them."

"That's when they betrayed and attacked the Digimon, right?" Sapphire asked.

"Yes." Ryo then he noticed Rika had been quieter since her burst. "Rika?"

"Hmm?"

"Yeah, just thinking." she said.

"Ryo it is also because of him that every enemy you all have destroyed before have returned and they are back with a vengeance." Zhuqiaomon said. It was then that Rika thought back to what Akinemon had said about Vajramon betraying the Sovereign he once served.

"Rika are you alright?" Ryo asked after he noticed the look on her face when Zhuqiaomon said that the Digimon they had defeated came back.

"I just remembered something Akinemon told me." Rika said. "Zhuqiaomon, Millenniummon is the reason why Vajramon betrayed you and joined forces with Myotismon isn't it?"

"Yes, that and because of the power I gave Autumn Toshiro." said Zhuqiaomon. "How did he know about that though?"

"It's because..." Ryo started but then he stopped and looked at Rika. He wasn't sure if that was something he should tell the Sovereigns.

"I see." said Azulongmon. "So he was tricked as well like Gatomon and Coronamon."

"Yes." Ryo said thankful that they dragon Sovereign understood and wasn't angry.

"So that was how you were informed of Vajramon's betrayal?" Zhuqiaomon asked looking at Rika.

"Yes." she told the phoenix Digimon.

"It doesn't matter how they know about it. Right now the nine children must stop Myotismon before he regains his full powers." said Baihumon, confusing the others. Rika however was the first to speak up and voice her thoughts much to Ryo's amusement. She never did stand down from anything.

"Doesn't matter?! Of course it matters." Rika nearly shouted. "Yes Myotismon must be stopped, but they'll just all keep coming back until Millenniummon is stopped. But the question is how so we stop him?"

"Hold your horses there Feisty MacBattle." Ebonwumon said to Rika, causing Ryo to chuckle, which is turn earned him a glare from Rika. "You can't defeat Millenniummon until the Overlords are gone."

"Well all right, but he can just bring them back." Rika said "After all he's the reason we're facing them all again, right?"

"That's true." Ryo said "But I wonder..."

"What? What do you wonder Ryo?" Rika asked

"I'll fill you in later, Rika." Ryo said as Kari walked up to them with TK, Autumn, and Yuuki. He would indeed tell Rika everything that she needed to know later, he just hoped that he wouldn't have to tell her his real truth.

"Hey I heard that they Sovereigns were here." TK said walking up to them.

"They are but why do you guys need to talk to them?" Rika asked

"It's kind of...well..." Autumn started looking at Ryo, knowing he would understand, which he did.

"Later Rika, come one we need to see if we can track Millenniumon down."

"Okay." Rika said and the Tamers left.

"Well it's been quiet some time since we've seen you four." Zhuqiaomon said looking at Autumn "You understand why we are here, correct?"

"Yes, Millenniummon." Autumn told them. "I've suspected it for a while now, but I believe that he's the true Darkness that Gennai told us about and the reason why the defeated ones are back."

"Yes all except for one." Azulongmon said looking at Kari.

"Myotismon." she said. "We didn't really defeat him like we thought we had."

"No he is quiet resilient." Baihumon said. "However this time you must defeat him. You and the other five."

"Why is it so important this time?" Autumn asked "I mean don't get me wrong, we will defeat him but..."

"Because he plans to go the human world." Azulongmon told them.

"Wait, what?! Why?!" Kari asked shocked.

"Because he wants revenge." Zhuqiaomon said. "I believe you know why, Kari."

"Oh, because my father is the one that sealed him." Kari said realzing what was going on. "So he wants revenge."

"Yes." Azulongmon confirmed. "However, it's not just that. We believe he wants to overthrow Millenniummon and rule both worlds."

"So he's hoping that by defeating us here; there won't be anyone to stand in his way because the Warriors and Tamers will have their hands full with Piedmon and Lucemon." TK said

"That's corrected." Azulongmon agreed. "Kari will you go get your brother and the other four?"

"Of course." Kari said and she left to get them.

Meanwhile Tai was ing the library with Yorak discussing the events that had happened since they had arrived in the Digital World. He wanted to know of his uncle would know why he was there, but apparently he did. Just then he heard Kari calling for him and he called back telling her where he was. As she came around the corner, he could tell from the look on her face that whatever she needed to tell him wasn't good.

"Kari?" Yorak asked noticing how Kari was looking.

"Before I explain anything, where's Matt, Sora and Taiyou?"

"They're with the Warriors." Yorak told her. "I think Sora was looking after Takuya who, by the way is still out."

"Alright. I need everyone together before I can say anything." Kari told them. "Well all of us with Crest anyway."

"Well Starla has her Crest." Tai said shocking Kari, who knew that she didn't have it when her, Takuya, and the twins went to face Lady Devimon.

"But how? When?"

"It was here in the forest and she found it after you guys left." Yorak told her.

"Alright well I need her too then." Kari said figuring that was why Azulongmon said he needed the Tai and the other four. He knew that Starla had her Crest. "Where is she?"

"On the balcony with Taiyou and Kouji." Tai said. "Kari what's going on?"

"Help me gather everyone together and then you'll find out." she said and Tai just sighed at his sister. Then he walked to the room where his cousin was resting and saw that he was finally awake.

"Hey there Takuya."

"Hey Tai." he said weakly, trying to sit up a bit.

"Hey Sora, Kari need you and Matt, along with me Starla and Taiyou."

"What does she need us for?" Sora asked

"I don't know. She won't explain and if my uncle knows he's not saying anything either." Tai gripped and Takuya smiled as Kouji walked in.

"Alright maybe she's waiting to tell us all together." Sora said as Matt walked up.

"I guess so." Tai said

"Go see what Kari wants." Kouji told him. "We need to talk about somethings anyway." he added and Takuya nodded. He knew that Kouji, like him was worried about the attack outside of the Gate.

"Alright let's go you guys." Tai said and the three walked out of the room meeting up woth Starla and Taiyou.

"Kari now will you tell us what's going on?" Starla asked, slightly annyoed.

"Yes, we need to defeat Myotismon now more than ever." Kari informed them as they started to walk back toward the Sovereigns and the others. "Come with me and all will be explained."

"Okay..." Matt said totally lost as he followed Kari and the others. TK turned to them, having sensed Kari and the others, and smiled.

"That didn't take long." he told her.

"I got them all together first and wouldn't explain until they were all together." Kari told them and Autumn smiled. It looked like she and Kari was alike more than anything. "I found Tai first and he helped me find the others."

"I guess whatever works huh?" TK asked laughing.

"TK now isn't the time." Autumn said. "Guys come here. You need to meet some very important Digimon."

"Alright." Sora and Taiyou said walking over to Autumn.

"Okay." Tai, Matt and Starla said as they walked over to them. It was then that they saw the four Digimon in front of them and were shocked.

"Who are they?" Tai asked

"They are known as the four Sovereign Digimon of the Digital World." Kari told them.

"Tai Kamiya, Matt Ishida, Sora Takenouchi, Starla Toshiro, Taiyou Nonaka. It is a pleasure. I am Azulongmon." the dragon Digimon said. "I guard the eastern border of the Digital World."

"I am Zhuqiaomon." the phoenix told them. "And I guard the southern border."

"I am Baihumon." said the white tiger. "I guard the western border."

"And I am Ebonwumon, the border that I guard is the Northern." the turtle told them.

"And this has what to do with us?" aked Matt

"Myotismon is trying to get to the human world, Matt." TK told his brother. "We have to defeat him for good this time."

"What makes us so special?" Starla asked

"Because you have the strength and wisdom that the first did not have." Azulongmon told her patiently

"Well I know one thing." Tai said suddenly "We must be really important, because it's not often that you get the chance to save the world."

"Oh Tai, you never change." Yuuki sighed looking at Kari and noticed that she looked upset about something. "Hey are you okay?"

"I will be when Myotismon is gone for good." Kari said

"I know the feeling." Autumn said, then she turned to Zhuqiaomon. "Thank you for coming to tell us this."

"Well as much as I hate to admit it, Azulongmon is right about you all being the only ones strong enough to stop that beast once and for all." the phoenix said sourly causing Tai to look at Kari.

"Do I even want to know what his problem is?" he asked as the four left.

"I'll take this one Kari." Autumn said smiling.

"Thanks Autumn." Kari said as they walked back to the councel room.

"Sure." she said, then turned to the others. "You see guys, Zhuqiaomon doesn't like humans much, because he thinks that Digimon are better than we are. Just ask Rika and the others, when they first encountered Zhuqiaomon, he nearly destroyed them, right Rika?"

"Y-Yeah, and I really don't like to remember that encounter." Rika said.

"Yeah I'm sure you don't." Autumn said with a laugh. "Anyway after the Tamers stopped the D-Reaper, Zhuqiaomon realized that the reason that they were able to defeat it, was because it was the humans that made the Digimon, who fought the Reaper, strong enough to defeat it by Digivolving to the Mega level and becoming one with their Digimon. Isn't that right Rika?"

"Yes." she said looking back up from the map that the Tamers were looking at.

"So although he doesn't like it, he'll leave us alone?" asked Matt confused.

"Basically." Rika said looking back down at the map. "But, as you saw, he is a little harsh with us."

"Unless we defeat Myotismon here and now, he won't have a reason for him to leave us alone, because evey thing will be destroyed." TK snapped causing them all to look at him shocked as he walked away. Kari, knowing what it was that caused TK to snap like that, sighed and followed him.

"Okay what is his problem?" Matt asked worried

"Rika...will you go with Kari?" asked Autumn sighing. "I think out of all of us you would understand better than most."

"Of course." Rika said following Kari and TK as Autumn sighed again.

"Autumn what is it?" Starla asked her sister.

"I'm not sure, but Kari and TK have the most to lose if we lose to Myotismon, why I don't know, but I just have a feeling that they do."

"Kari just leave me alone." TK said as she followed him. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he knew she would want to talk to him about what happened and it was something that he didn't want to do. It was hard enough to fact what happened with Devimon. He couldn't face almost losing...no it wasn't possible.

"I...oh...alright." Kari said feeling a little hurt and she turned to leave she ran in to Rika. "Oh hi Rika, I was just leaving."

"Why?"

"TK doesn't want to talk about it." Kari told her

"Well, maybe he'll talk to me." Rika said. "What do you say?"

"I don't know. Maybe he should just work through this on his own." Kari said "You know like I did."

"Well alright. I'm still going to try to talk to him though." Rika told her. "I've faced Zhuqiaomon before the rest of you after all."

"Alright." Kari said and she left as Rika walked up to where TK was.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

'I am so sorry Kari.' he thought as he was walked over to were Patamon was sitting in a tree. He really did hate seeing Kari upset, but he knew that she would want to talk about what happened when they faced Myotismon the first time and he lost Patamon for a while again after just getting him back after losing him to Devimon, then when they met Zhuqiaomon, he did nothing but reticule TK and blame him for being a weak human that Angemon had to sacrifice himself twice in order to protect him. TK wasn't ready to face that nightmare again, not just yet anyway. Just then he sensed Rika walked up to him and he sighed. Nothing ever got through to her, even though he told them he wanted to be left alone she wouldn't leave him alone.

"What Rika?"

"I know you don't want to, but you're going to have to face what happened in the past sooner or later." Rika told him getting straight to the point. "I know it's hard, but we can't hope to defeat Myotismon this time, unless we all face the past, accept what happened, learn from it and move on."

"You never quit do you?" TK sighed and Rika smiled. "Rika it's not as easy as you think it is. You didn't lose Renamon like I did with Patamon. You didn't go through out the Digital World wondering if you were going to see your best friend again."

"You're right I don't quit and I don't know excatly what you're going through, but I do know what you're going through with Zhuqiaomon. You forget that we had to face him before he accepted humans, grudgingly I might add." Rika told him. "You know, we don't like to remember that, but we do so that we can remember what we've learned from it."

"It's not...I can't face Rika!" he shouted running down the path as Patamon followed. Rika sighed and started to walk back to the others deciding to let TK think about what she had said. She then decided to go look for Kari. She had a feeling that she was hurt more than she let on when TK told her to leave him alone and she knew what it was like.

When Autumn sensed Kari walking back into the room, she looked up from the chart that they were all looking at and she saw the look in her eyes. She knew then that there was something wrong. What, she wasn't sure even though she had a good feeling as to what.

"Kari is everything okay?" she asked, but Kari didn't say anything as she walked to the window and thought about what TK said to her.

"Kari?" Tai asked concerned as he walked over to her. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." she said

"I don't believe you." Tai said "Come on talk to me."

"Tai, it's really nothing." Kari told him.

"Kari..." Tai trailed off

"I'm probably just over reacting." she said. "Really it's nothing."

"Whatever." Tai sighed walking away from his sister as Rika walked in.

"Huh? What's wrong Tai?" she asked noticing Tai's mood.

"Kari." he said simply.

"Is she sulking?"

"Yeah but I don't know why."

"I do and she's just over reacting." Rika sighed. "Thought TK's being an idiot and not accepting whatever happened in the past with Myotismon and Zhuqiaomon."

"Oh that." Yuuki said walking up to them. "I can see why."

"What do you mean?" Rika asked confused.

"It was during our first trip here." Yuuki said sitting down beside Tai. "Actually it was during our first major battle. You see everyone of our Digimon had digivolved and were at their champion levels except for Patamon that is. But when we fought Devimon, he went to grab both TK and Kari, having been told that one of the two of them would be the one to destroy him."

"That's when Patamon digivolved at last. However Devimon had used the powers of Darkness because he thought it would make him invincible and well, Angemon used every ounce of his powers to defeat him." Autumn chimed in. "And of course Angemon knew he would be reconfigured afterwards, but none of us really knew that much about Digimon at that time, so we all thought we had seen the last of Patamon. Then there was the fight with Myotismon, when we sealed Azura and he split his mega form."

"I guess that fear never really left TK." Ryo said walking up to them. "I mean losing your best friend like that. And it didn't help matters none when Zhuqiaomon basically said that he was worthless and not important."

"Rika imagin losing Renamon." Yuuki told her. "If you can see that then you should know how TK feels."

"I see." Rika said. "And because he hasn't accepted what happened, or can't accept it, he's terrified that it will happen again."

"Exactly." Ryo said. "I think that's why he wants to be alone right now."

"Although maybe you should talk to Kari." Yuuki said looking at her friend. "She looks really upset and she won't talk to us."

"Well she is upset." Rika told them "She wants to help TK and support him as he figures it out and accepts it, but he told her that he didn't want to talk about it, so she's leaving him alone. I also think that there's a little more to it that she didn't tell me."

"You're right Rika." Kari said joining them. "There is something I didn't tell you."

"Kari?" Tai asked "What is it?"

"TK told me to just leave him alone. Not that he didn't want to talk about it right then." Kari told them.

"Kari, you were there and you know exactly what he's going through." Yuuki told her. "You know when Ophanimon and Seraphimon sacrificed themselves, their other forms had to be reconfigured as well. So you of all people know what he's going through."

"I do know what he's going through, but I also know TK. If he doesn't wand to talk then he isn't going to. I guess I'm just over reacting to TK telling me to leave him alone." Kari sighed. "I mean I do want to help him and give him the emotional support that he needs right now, but I can't do that if he doesn't want to talk about what happened with the three of them."

"So what is he doesn't want to talk?" Matt finally said getting slightly annoyed. "Kari listen I know my brother, so just go talk to him alright? Let him know that you're there for him."

"Alright. I'll go look for him." Kari said and she left to find TK as Matt sighed.

"I swear TK will never learn."

"Oh I think he will." Autumn said "After all he's not the only one that has this pain."

"Anyway we need to see if we can find Myotismon and Millenniumon." Ryo said and the group went back to looking for the two dark Digimon.

TK sighed as he thought back to what happened with Myotismon and Zhuqiaomon four years ago. He knew that Rika was right and he needed to face what had happened, but he couldn't. It wasn't that he didn't want to, he didn't know how he could face Myotismon after what happened.

"Hi TK." Kari said walking up to where she knew he would be. He always went to the tree where Patamon hatched from the Digi-egg after Devimon when he was thinking about the past.

"Hey Kari." he said sitting up. "Are you coming to join me?"

"Y-yes. That is if it's okay." Kari said looking at her feet.

"It's fine Kari. I'm sorry about earlier when I pushed you away."

"It's alright. I over-reacted to it anyway." Kari said sitting down on the other side of the tree.

"Well I shouldn't have pushed you away anyway." TK told her. "You of all people would understand my problem with facing Myotismon."

"Yes, but you said that you wanted to be alone, although you didn't really want to be." Kari told him and TK smiled.

"You're right, I didn't want to be alone. But I can't keep running from it either." TK sighed. "I just wished that we didn't have to fight him again."

"I know. You're also scared that Angemon will have to become a Digi-egg again or that we'll face what happened with Ophanimon and Seraphimon again." Kari sighed. "I can't say that it won't happen, because I don't know that it won't, but I can believe in Gatomon and hope that it won't happen like before."

"You're right, as always." TK said smiling.

"Oh how sweet." a voice said from the shadows.

"Who's there?" Kari asked a little scared.

"Kari go get the others." TK said suddenly serious. "It's him, Myotismon."

"But I can't leave you alone to face him while I get the others." Kari said.

"I'll be fine. Just go!"

"A-Alright, be careful." Kari said as she ran to get everyone else.

"Huh, I just don't understand. The signal is showing that Myotismon is here in the Forest Terminal, but that is impossible. Why would he come here when everyone is here?" Autumn said confused.

"Why wouldn't he come here?" Matt asked. "I mean he wants to get rid of us so wouldn't he try to get rid of us now?"

"It's not that simple Matt." Yuuki said "He knows that Kari and the rest of us that were here before won't let him get to the human world, so he'll try everything he can to stop us from destroying him."

"Well that still doesn't-" Matt started as Kari busted through the closed door and into the viewing room.

"Kari?!" Tai asked worried "What's wrong?"

"Guys...I...need...your...help! Myotismon...and...TK..." Kari panted trying to catch her breath, but Autumn knew what she was trying to say.

"Where?!"

"Just follow me." Kari said and she ran back to where TK was.

"Guys let's go!" Autumn shouted and they ran after Kari. Just then they saw MangaAngemon fly overhead and Autumn nodded to Yuuki. "You know what to do, Yuuki."

"Right. Dorumon."

"Got it." he said and digivolved straight to Alphamon.

"Kari where is he?" Matt asked as they ran through the forest. "Where's my brother?"

"In the trees up ahead." Kari said as she ran to make sure he was still okay, while Angewomon joined MangaAngemon in the fight.

"Kari!"

"TK!" she shouted over the blasts as she ran over to him as fast as she could.

"I'm alright." TK said "But we need to move. Myotismon knows that if he's to get to the human world, me, you, Autumn, and Taiyou will be the targets."

"Eh?! That's why he's after the four of us. AUTUMN!" Kari shouted

"I got it. Taiyou?"

"Yes?"

"Come on, we have to get going. Yuuki can handle old fang face. The four of us need to get home." Autumn told her. "You go back to Ryo and your sister, get them to get you back to Heighten View Terrace. That's where we'll go when we get out of here. We'll meet you there.

"Understood." Taiyou said, running back to the castle searching Rika.

"Will the rest of you be alright?" Autumn asked "Sora?"

"We'll be okay. We just have to trust in ourselves and our Digimon." Sora said and Autumn nodded.

"Kari, TK, you two get going. NOW!" shouted Tai and Matt together

"Alright, Mistymon!"

"MangaAngemon!"

"Angewomon!"

"I don't think so." Myotismon said. "Your other friend may have gotten away, but you won't. GRIZZLY WING!" he added sending a swarm of bats toward them.

"KARI!"

"TK!"

"AUTUMN!"

"DOUBLE BLADE!"

"CELESTIAL ARROW!"

"WHAT?!" Myotismon shouted as he was hit by the twin blades, pinned to a tree, then pierced with Angewomon's arrow and everyone watched as he slowly disintegrated.

"I-Is he gone?" Tai asked confused by what just happened.

"I don't know Tai." Kari said. "Autumn?"

"I believe so." Autumn said smiling. "I don't have anything blocking me or my powers anymore."

"Still we should check with Gennai." Kari said. For some reason she had a bad feeling. Like there was something that wasn't right.

"I agree." TK said "But not all of us needs to go."

"Yeah, two will be fine to go. Even with myotismon gone, there is still Piedmon and Lucemon to deal with." Autumn said. "Kari, why don't you and TK go to the castle and the rest of us will wait here."

"Alright."

"Okay." TK said and the two left towards Ophanimon's castle while Rika came out of the castle to check on things.

"Hey you guys, what's going on?" she asked "Taiyou came in the castle and said you told her to go home."

"Oh not much, we just defeated Myotismon, thanks to Azuramon there." Autumn said nodding towards Tai's uncle, who just nodded back.

"Well that's good, but where are TK and Kari?"

"They went to double check with Gennai." Matt said. "Kari, I think, was worried we didn't actually get him."

"Well good. At least one of you are always thinking."

"It was Kari's idea." Autumn said "I'm sure he's gone because he was the reason most of my power was blocked and now they aren't anymore."

"That's a good thing, but it doesn't hurt to be sure about something like Myotismon." Rika said.

"Yeah I know." Autumn sighed. "Still we should be heading back. I don't know if the Digital World is linked to the human world in terms of time or not."

"I agree that we should return home, but the worlds are indeed linked and maybe a day at most has passed in the real world."

"A day? Well that's not as bad as I thought." Autumn said as they walked back into the castle laughing. However, in the shadows there was another shadow that looked straight at the past that Kari and TK took and it smiled.

'You won't get away this time.' he thought.