A/N: Sorry for the wait, fans. Again! I still haven't forgotten this at all. Anyway, here's the next chapter featuring more Takari and PataGato.
Chapter 8: Kari's wish and Joe's discovery:
After escaping from Piedmon, Taiki, Shoutmon, TK, Patamon and Kari and Gatomon managed to find a good spot so nothing can find them.
"Phew... This should be far enough away they won't find us. Oh, hey! You're friends of TK and Patamon, right? I'm Taiki and this is Shoutmon. Are you two alright...?"
But Kari and Gatomon remain silent for a while. "Kari?" TK asked as he put his hand on her shoulder.
"TK…" Kari said finally "Are you and Patamon one of Alice's warriors?"
"Yes we are" TK said "Why ask Kari?"
"Then please… kill me and Gatomon, please!" Kari said saddened.
"What?" TK and Patamon were shocked to hear that.
"Huh?" Taiki and Shoutmon were surprised.
"We don't want to fight anymore. We don't want to hurt people, or destroy things anymore. So please… you MUST!" Gatomon said almost close to tears.
"We will not! How could you say such a thing?" Patamon said in alarm.
It was Shoutmon's turn to talk. "Couldn't you two just stop fighting, and not use your powers? I mean, that's gotta be better than the alternative."
"Huh?" Gatomon turned to Taiki and Shoutmon "What do you mean? You're our enemies, right?"
"People are people aren't they? It doesn't matter what 'side' you're on" Shoutmon said causing as confused gasp from Kari and Gatomon.
"Shoutmon's right you know" Taiki said "Back there, it uh... it looked like you two were in trouble. So we did what we thought was right and got you out, because TK and Patamon cared about you. I mean, we knew you two were on the other side, but... What difference does that make, ya know?"
"They care and you don't?" Gatomon asked.
"Nah, not really. It doesn't change anything, does it? What does you being in trouble have to do with Diaboromon or Alice?" asked Shoutmon.
"Well, I mean we're both soldiers, and we were summoned here to fight." Kari said as she looked at TK who agrees with Taiki and held on her hand. Patamon does the same with Gatomon.
"Okay. Sure, we were summoned here to fight. But that doesn't mean we're just gonna throw away what we believe in. We decided to help you because that's what we wanted to do. And we have no intention of hurting you. That's not us. Listen...don't think about things so hard, alright? You don't wanna end up just doing whatever people tell you to, do you?" Taiki asked.
TK patted Kari's shoulder. "He's right you know. Besides, I know you and you know me. Our bond together is much more stronger than lost memories."
"Besides, we'll be with you all the way" Patamon said.
"Patamon…" Gatomon said quietly.
"You're different from me and Gatomon. You're strong" Kari said to Taiki.
"You can make your own decisions. You already have. You don't want to fight" Taiki said.
"My own… decisions?" Kari asked in wonder.
"Kari, even though things gets rough, we will never think of you as our enemies" TK said.
"This battle's gonna be over before you know it. And I can already tell you Alice is gonna be the winner. Once Diaboromon is outta the picture, things oughta settle down a little bit. And then we'll all be able to go home, right" Shoutmon said.
"If we win" Patamon said "cause I heard from Gommon, Koichi has begun to betray us. He's already knocked out Davis, Veemon and Koji already!"
"What? I wonder why?" Shoutmon said. Then he turned to Kari and Gatomon. "You two go and find somewhere to hide until it is all over. Somewhere where you don't have to fight."
"What?" Gatomon asked surprised. Kari was surprised also.
"We'll come and find you before we go to fight Diaboromon. Then you can come back to see Alice with the rest of us" Patamon said.
"To see Alice?" Kari asked.
"Yeah. If you become one of her warriors, you should be able to go back to wherever you came from too. Anyway, we better get going. We've still got some fighting left to do. Find somewhere to lay low. We'll be back for you" Taiki said "TK, Patamon, I'm gonna go off on our own. You two better find Koichi and find out what he's up to?"
And with that, Taiki and Shoutmon was up and running ahead. TK and Patamon was about to go to a different direction when…
"TK" Kari called.
"Patamon" Gatomon called.
TK and Gatomon turned around to face the ones they cared about the most.
"Thank you… for rescuing us" Kari smiled at TK.
"We will… never forget your actions! Never!" Gatomon smiled.
TK and Patamon smiled. "And we shan't forget you also." And they ran off.
When they gone, Kari begins to think. "Gatomon… They said 'You can make your own decisions. You already have. You don't want to fight.' Is that truly...our will?"
"It has to be" Gatomon said "I couldn't afford to lose Patamon." Then she gasped. "D-Reaper Soldiers!"
Sure enough, they saw some moving towards a different direction.
"Where are they- They're headed straight for Alice's throne! Alice's warriors will fall if she does…" Kari looked shocked. "TK! Taiki! Tai!"
"We cannot let them do this!" Gatomon cried "Cat's paw!" She then slammed her claw through a D-Reaper Soldier and destroyed it. But the others turned to face them. "Something about the manikins has changed. I sense a strong force... They can't fight warriors of Diaboromon. Maybe they're mad after losing one of their own."
"Well, I can't let you pass me to reach Alice's throne. I will fight...not to destroy, but to protect!" Kari and Gatomon said together as they charged towards the Soldiers.
Meanwhile, Joe and Gomamon were lost, as usual.
"Well now... Is this our first time through here, or our second?" Joe asked.
"I lost count" Gomamon said "We should be back at the Sanctuary by now!"
"The only thing we can tell you is that it is your last" came a voice which makes them jump.
"W…Who's there?" asked Joe.
"A warrior of Alice, I see" the voice said "Come with foolish thoughts of slaying us?" And then Lucemon Chaos Mode appeared in front of them.
"Lucemon!" Gomamon gasped "There's need to get upset. No offense meant, we'll be on my way!"
"So soon?" Lucemon cackled "We've not had a guest in some time. At least allow us to bid you a proper farewell!"
"Guess we have to fight" Joe said "Gomamon, digivolve!"
"Gomamon digivolve to… Ikkakumon! Ikkakumon digivolve to… Zudomon!"
Zudomon stood before Lucemon to battle.
"Come" Lucemon said "we shall drown you in darkness."
"Yeah, afraid I have to pass up on that" Zudomon said. "Hammer Boomerang!" He threw his hammer like a boomerang but Lucemon flew into the air.
"Paradise Lost Punch!" Lucemon said and started combination attack that starts with a flurry of punches, followed by a kick and a stand-up piledriver that drives the enemy head-first into the ground. Zudomon took each hit and crashed into the floor. "Well, that is done. Hmm?"
Zudomon burst out of the ground and yelled "Vulcan's Hammer!" as he smashes his hammer to the ground and electricity came out and hit Lucemon cause him to go flying into a wall.
"Is it done?" asked Joe looking around cautiously.
"I hope so" Zudomon said "he is way stronger than I am. Even if he's an Ultimate, he's even stronger as he is almost near Mega."
But then Lucemon appeared in front of them. "I think it's time to close the book on us, don't you think?" he said.
Joe looked shocked to see this. But then he has an idea. "Time out, time out! Zudomon's about to de-digivolve and get a leg cramp!"
Lucemon crosses his arms not amused as Gomamon reverts back to himself.
"Joe… what are you're talking about? I don't have a… aaaaahhhhhh!" Gomamon said as Joe kicked him in the leg and he rubs his leg in pain.
"You see? Leg cramp." Joe said.
Lucemon sighed in annoyance. "Unbelievable. Alice must rest well with brave defenders of your like, human."
"Hey, don't look at us" Gomamon said in pain "I couldn't believe it either. Somebody ought to tell her how to pick 'em better, ya know?"
"So, you disrespect even the goddess whom you serve. I would pity her, did I have not oppose her" Lucemon said.
"Lucemon, we don't serve anyone" Joe said "I'm just working with her, that's it. If the world comes to an end, that's bad news, right? So the only choice that leaves is to try and protect it. Then again, you know, it could be a little tough the way things are. What with these- what are they? D-Rockers Knights?"
"D-Reaper Soldiers" Lucemon corrected.
"Yeah, them. That's what I meant. Those things are getting real old, real fast. It's ridiculous! Where do they all come from? Anyway, I plan on finding a way to get back home, D-Rocker infestation or not. I'm just doing what I gotta do to make that happen. I'm not 'serving' anyone, or anything like that" Joe said "Sure, I might not be a god, but I figure I have SOME hope. I mean, that's all a doctor like me's really got, right?"
"D-Reapers have no place in the world" Lucemon said "They are a foreign presence that unbalances a most delicate equilibrium. Know this, human. D-Reapers are cursed mockeries of men that crawled forth from the Rift, and now befoul this realm. Their masters do no more than pull the puppets' strings."
"You mean, you're not making them?" Gomamon asked in surprise.
"There exists a portal which connects this plane to theirs. Seal that door of the portal, and no more of the puppets will be able to emerge" Lucemon said.
"You mean, they won't keep coming back or multiplying?" Joe asked hopefully.
"A great deal of their taint has already spilt forth from the gate and into this realm. If you desire to stem its flow, follow the trail and seek out the source" Lucemon said.
"Closing the door sounds pretty easy enough but if that all what it takes, why tell us this?" Gomamon asked.
"Did you not listen? These beings surge through the portal even as we speak. Should you choose to seek it out, all you will find is endless battle, and certain doom" Lucemon smirked "As for me as why I told you this, well… I am curious on the manner of death you chose for yourself. Farewell." And he disappeared.
"The death we chosen? Now that's a little harsh" Gomamon said "And speaking of harsh, WHY DID YOU KICK ME, JOE?"
"Never mind that" Joe said "First things first. Better let everyone know what's up." And they both ran off.
Meanwhile...
"Tai? What brings you here?" Alice asked back at the Sanctuary as Tai and Agumon walked towards her. "Have you already gained your crystal?"
"Not yet. But we decided to protect you, Alice" Tai said. "You know, you need protection, cause if you die, we'll disappear."
"That is very true, Tai" Alice said "You've been with us for 12 cycles and…"
"Guys!" Agumon called suddenly "Someone's coming!"
They turned to see. To Alice's surprise, it was Kari and Gatomon, staggering as if they had been in a fight and was wounded. Kari struggled to keep her eyes open. Tai's eyes widen as he saw Kari as a bit of his memory returned.
"Kari?"
Agumon, seeing Gatomon as the enemy, raised his claws to fight.
"Hold" Alice told Agumon and he stopped.
Kari couldn't barely see anymore but she did see Tai and recognized him at once.
"T…Tai… Big… Brother…" and then she and Gatomon collapsed to the ground falling unconscious.
"KARI!" Tai rushed to Kari's side and carefully lifted her head in his arms. Agumon and Alice looked concerned as well.
"Tai, this girl… is she your younger sister?" Alice asked.
Tai sighed and said "Yes… that's one thing I can remember as well."
"But could it be that she was sparring with D-Reaper Soldiers?" Agumon asked.
"It would be so" Alice said. "Perhaps she was wounded and wandered her unknowingly."
"But why?" Tai asked in surprise.
Alice closed her eyes for a while and then reopen them and said "I sense a strong conviction in her. She no longer wishes to fight. She wants peace." She reached out her hand.
"Wait, Alice!" Agumon said "I don't mind Tai's sister being one of us, but aren't she and this cat are warriors of Diaboromon right?"
"Yes. But even so, she is also a warrior who longs to bring an end to this long war. I do not wish that dream to be extinguished" Alice said.
"Then please" Tai said as he laid Kari down and walked back. "Agumon, it would be great to fight alongside my sister again then fight her. She's one of those who I cannot harm."
Agumon sighed and nodded.
"Rest, child." Alice said "until you're well again." She held out her hand and white energy came out of it. It then emanates inside Kari and Gatomon "when you're awaken, you can choose your own path, of your own free will."
And from this moment on, Kari and Gatomon were no longer warriors of Diaboromon. They have got their wish and became Warriors of Alice. TK and Patamon would be delighted for the next cycle. And that's four down, and 2 to go.
To be continued…
A/N: Glad that done. Oh, and Rukato and RenaGuil fans, get ready, cause this next chapter will feauture them.