Digimon World Tour Chapter 54: Vegas, a digimon fanfic

Digimon World Tour

Recap

[Ken] Hi, everyone. This is Ken. President Obama and Commander Sampson helped set up a battle tournament at FedEx Field so Mimi, Yolei, and I could finally unlock our Digimon's Burst Modes. However, Tai realized what we were doing was wrong, so he and Kari called it off. Personally, I was relieved I didn't have to fight Greg or T.K. Unfortunately, it was short-lived as Beelzemon rode in and nearly robbed us. It turned out that I had tortured his father while I was the Digimon Emperor, and he wanted payback. The fight was pretty even until GranKuwagamon nearly went down. I decided to sacrifice myself, but I didn't have to. As I let go of the guilt and shame I'd been feeling, Wormmon and I became closer and I was able to unlock Burst Mode. I feel so much better now that it's all off my chest.

Chapter 54: Vegas

Sampson

I knew I would not be able to lead the Wolves into inevitable battle in Las Vegas. All I could do now was work with the government to make sure it was legal for them. Of course, the president signed an executive order, but executive orders don't really mean anything when you're dealing with an international crisis.

["Face the Face"

Written by Pete Townshend

Performed by The Teenage Wolves feat. President Barack Obama (Reggie Brown)]

In a news conference in the Rose Garden, President Obama walks out and approaches his lectern while the band sets up behind him. "My fellow Americans, I would address you this evening with my usual rhetoric. However, tonight, I am trying something new. What you are about to see and hear is a toe-tapping dramatic reinterpretation of this speech. In reality, my breaking into song would not be considered acceptable. However, this is clearly not reality. So, please enjoy."

Marcus counts in, and the band starts playing. President Obama puts on a pair of sunglasses. Anya's on saxophone, while Kari and Mimi are on backup vocals and tambourines.

Band:

Face the face, got to face the face

Obama sashays around the area, showing pictures of past Digimon threats, as well as our heroes' Digimon.

Obama:

(rapped)

You must have heard the cautionary tales

The dangers hidden on the cul-de-sac trails

From wiser folk who have been through it all

And the faded names sprayed up on the wall

(sung)

We've got to judge the judge

We've got to find the finds

We've got to scheme the schemes

We've got to line the lines

We must stake the stakes

We gotta show the shown

We gotta take the takes

We gotta know the known

We get shots of the band performing, as well as the Digimon up front dancing along.

Obama:

(Band: Try to place the place

Where we can face the face)

We got to face the face

(Band: Try to place the place

Where we can face the face)

Band/Obama:

Face the face, got to face the face

Obama:

(rapped)

You must have tried and defied belief

Maybe buried your head in insular grief

I need your hunger, you need mine

A million mouths can swallow up time

(sung)

We've got to fool the fools

We got to plan the plans

We got to rule the rules

We got to stand the stands

We got to fight the fight

We must fall the falls

We got to light the light

We got to call the calls

(Band: We must race the race

So we can face the face)

We got to race the race

(Band: We must race the race

So we can face the face)

Band/Obama:

Face the face, we got to face the face

Obama:

We got to race the race

Band:

We got to

After the first "Keep looking", Anya comes in with the saxophone. Important data regarding proper civilian conduct regarding Digimon (which Obama would've mentioned in his speech) appears on the screen in bullets on the side. The press conference appears all over the world. Sasha, Malia, and their Digimon join in this performance. Even Kudamon can't help but tap his tail.

Obama:

Keep looking

New York, Chicago

London and Glasgow

Keep looking!

While playing his bass at the same time, Matt starts playing his harmonica on a neck rack. The reporters, press secretaries and other important people in the audience start swaying and snapping their fingers along. We get more shots of the president and the band performing. Obama turns the press conference into a revival meeting.

Obama:

Keep on looking

Keep on cooking

Got to stay on this case

Study the pix

Watch the flix

Obama/Band:

We've got to find the face

Face the face (Rika: (spoken) Study the pix), got to face the face (Rika: (spoken) Watch the flix)

Got to

Obama:

We've got to judge the judge

We got to find the finds

We've got to scheme the schemes

We got to line the lines

We got to fight the fight

We got to fall the falls

We got to light the light

We got to call the calls

(Kari/Anya: Try to place the place

Where we can face the face)

We got to face the face, yeah

(Kari/Anya/Mimi: Try to place the place

Where we can face the face)

(Kari/Anya/Mimi/Rika: Try to place the place

Where we can face the face)

Keep looking, keep looking

(Kari/Anya/Mimi/Rika/Greg: We must race the race

So we can face the face)

We got to race the race, we got to race the race

(Kari/Anya/Mimi/Rika/Greg/T.K.: We must race the race

So we can face the face)

We gotta face, we gotta face, we gotta face, we gotta face it

(Band: We must race the race

So we can face the face)

So, we must race the race

When the song ends, we quickly cut to the next scene.

Matt

We said our goodbyes at Dulles International Airport.

Sora and I went off from the others for a private moment. "So, I guess this is it, then," she said. "Yeah." "It feels so weird, knowing that this could be the final battle and you won't be there." "Same here, babe. Same here." "But what gets me is that you never offered me a spot in the band." "I didn't know you could sing. You didn't come to auditions." She dropped her head a little. "You're right," she admitted. I lifted her head with my finger. "I promise I'm gonna come back. Same with everyone else. Now you just be careful, all right?" "OK." I gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then joined the others.

Davis was giving Greg some pointers. "Now Greg, if MaloMyotismon offers you your wildest dream, don't be a sucker. It's not real, and it's not worth it." "Got it, Davis." "Oh, and here are Tai's goggles." He took off his goggles and gave them to Greg.

Tai saw this and took them back. "Hey! I gave these to you for a reason, Davis," he said. "Really? And what reason was that, Tai?" I asked. "Uh… I can't remember it right now, but it was a good one."

Just then, a thought came to Sora. "Oh! I just remembered something. I've been thinking about this for a long time," she said. "What's on your mind, Sora?" Izzy asked.

"Well, I've been thinking…. Even with most of us staying here in Washington, all eight Crests are still represented. Matt, you still have the Crest of Friendship. Marcus has Courage. Greg, you've got Reliability." "Me? Reliable? Well thanks," Greg said with a smile. "Thomas, you're representing Knowledge." "Naturally," Thomas replied. "T.K. and Kari still have Hope and Light. That leaves Love and Sincerity, and two girls."

Rika and Anya looked to each other. "Which one do you think you have?" Rika asked. "Sincerity, of course." That took Rika by surprise. "Oh. I guess that leaves me with Love. Weird." Sora laughed.

Thomas shook his head. "Sora, while I should find your analysis most enlightening, I'm not willing to accept it. It would be far too easy for me to accept any Crest based solely on my intellect. There comes a time in a man's life when he must cease to be defined by a singular trait. While T.K. and Kari do have some unique attributes assigned only to them, I would hope that we would all be on equal ground at this point. Therefore, I humbly and graciously reject any Crests bestowed upon me."

"Well geez, Nerdstein, if you don't want it, I'll take it," Marcus offered. "No offense, Marcus, but you wouldn't know what to do with the Crest of Knowledge even if it had an instruction manual," Greg countered. "Which it doesn't," Izzy quickly added.

Inside the Bagra Army's headquarters, Dragomon has formulated his latest plan. "My plan is coming closer and closer together, I can taste it!" he rambles as he licks his lips. Bagramon finally decides to act as he bolts up from his throne and walks towards his uneasy ally. "Your plan is nothing! So far, every attempt you have made has failed. Why should this be any different!?"

Dragomon gets dangerously close to his face. "Because, my ally, this time I am taking the direct approach. I have a piece of property in the Dark Ocean, you see. The Child of Light shall be whisked away and held captive there until I decide how to kill her." This takes Bagramon by surprise. "Really? Why haven't you done it before?!" he shouts. Dragomon stares him down. "You haven't heard my entire plan. It's a matter of dividing and conquering."

Matt

We took a plane to Las Vegas, and on the way, some of us dabbled in songwriting. With our third album's playlist not looking so good, we had to think of something different. We tried to keep it alternative, but even I didn't know what genre of music we did anymore. It became one big mess.

T.K. went first, with a composition he and Greg worked on together. I could see the music video inside my head.

["Shut Up and Dance"

Written by Gregory T. Logan (lyrics) and Takeru "T.K." Ishida (music/lyrics) [Ben Berger, Eli Maiman, Ryan McMahon, Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, and Sean Waugaman]

Performed by The Teenage Wolves

Lead Vocal: Takeru "T.K." Ishida (Michael Cunio)]

The conceptual music video starts at Tony n' Tina's Wedding at Bally's, an "environmental/ immersive theatre" event based on a traditional Italian-American wedding and reception, with warm and intrusive stereotypes exaggerated for comic effect. This time, Tony and Tina have managed to book The Teenage Wolves. The gang, dressed for a wedding reception, is set up on the stage. Marcus counts them in as the band starts playing. T.K. is on lead vocal as he straps on a headset mic and adjusts it.

T.K.:

"Oh don't you dare look back.
Just keep your eyes on me."
I said, "You're holding back,"
She said, "Shut up and dance with me!"
This woman is my destiny
She said, "Ooh-ooh-hoo,
Shut up and dance with me."

Donny Dulche, "an over-the-top DJ in tight leather pants who may have been teleported from some past decade", seems to dig this music as T.K. draws in a guest.

T.K:

We were victims of the night,
The chemical, physical kryptonite
Helpless to the bass and the fading light
Oh, we were bound to get together,
Bound to get together.

Kari unexpectedly takes him by the arm and takes him to the dance floor, where they bust a move.

T.K:
She took my arm,
I don't know how it happened.
We took the floor and she said,

"Oh, don't you dare look back.
Just keep your eyes on me."
I said, "You're holding back,"
She said, "Shut up and dance with me!"
This woman is my destiny
She said, "Ooh-ooh-hoo,
Shut up and dance with me."

For this music video, Kari throws off her blue jean jacket to reveal a backless pink dress and beat up pink sneakers. She "walks" around T.K. as the music continues, then the two go back to their spots. The crowd is eating this up, along with: Caesar style salad & bruschetta, chicken Parmesan, baked ziti, bow tie pasta with spicy herbs and vegetables, another veggie dish, garlic bread, and wedding cake and cannoli for dessert. A bridesmaid manages to feed Marcus some ziti while he's drumming.

T.K:
A backless dress and some beat up sneaks,
My discothèque, Juliet teenage dream.
I felt it in my chest as she looked at me.
I knew we were bound to be together,
Bound to be together

She took my arm,
I don't know how it happened.
We took the floor and she said,

"Oh, don't you dare look back.
Just keep your eyes on me."
I said, "You're holding back, "
She said, "Shut up and dance with me!"
This woman is my destiny
She said, "Ooh-ooh-hoo,
Shut up and dance with me."

In his speaking voice, he calls, "Aw, come on girl!" With that, T.K. and Kari tear up the floor. This is enough to get the entire wedding party up on their feet. Pretty soon, it looks like the final dance scene from the movie "Footloose". Kevin Bacon is not amused. Everybody is up on the floor, having a good time. Thomas finds a nice Italian bridesmaid who charms her way into his heart. Sora manages to make a cameo in this video solely to keep her eyes on Matt.

By the time we come to the pre-chorus again, T.K. is leading a group of dancers down towards the stage "Dirty Dancing"-style. Kari runs towards the mob and the two successfully recreate the famous lift from the movie.

T.K.:
Deep in her eyes,
I think I see the future.
I realize this is my last chance.

She took my arm,
I don't know how it happened.
We took the floor and she said,

T.K. brings Kari down as the two of them continue to dance.

T.K.:
"Oh, don't you dare look back.
Just keep your eyes on me."
I said, "You're holding back, "
She said, "Shut up and dance with me!"
This woman is my destiny
She said, "Ooh-ooh-hoo,
Shut up and dance!"

Unfortunately, this is to be rudely interrupted when federal agent Frank McPike [portrayed by Jonathan Banks, reprising his role from the TV series "Wiseguy"] busts the entire party. Apparently, this entire wedding has been a front for an operation of the local Mafia commission. Thomas, now apparently brainwashed by the Italian girl, sides with the wedding party as a staged fight breaks out. Soon the men have no shirts on and fights are breaking out. Greg goes "crazy" with a flamethrower. Chairs are flying everywhere. Chaos reigns, but Kari and T.K. keep on dancing.

T.K.:
"Don't you dare look back.
Just keep your eyes on me."
I said, "You're holding back, "
She said, "Shut up and dance with me!"
This woman is my destiny
She said, "Ooh-ooh-hoo,
Shut up and dance with me."

Ooh-ooh-hoo, shut up and dance with me

The FBI is called in, riddling the area with "bullets" and leaving all of the major characters lying seemingly lifeless. The scene fades to the present.

Matt

I thought it over. "OK, guys, looks like I'm sold. Great job," I said. Greg and T.K. fistbumped.

We finally arrived in Las Vegas, and during the day, it doesn't look nearly as impressive as the pictures. It just looks like concrete and electricity. Plus, it was hot. Not very humid, but still hot. We raced to avoid crowds and ran into our limos to our hotel, the MGM Grand. Nobody was in the mood for sightseeing. Not when we knew it could all be destroyed at any given moment. We checked in, then went our separate ways. Most of us had homework to do.

A few hours later, I put the finishing touches on a term paper about Julius Caesar. Gabumon was watching TV. "Hmm…. That's strange. Hey, Matt. Check this out. We're on every channel!" he said. I got up from my laptop and changed the channels. Sure enough, all the news channels were covering us and what President Obama did.

"Yeah, man. That's right. We're on every channel. But not for the right reasons," I sighed. "What's wrong?" "Well, I've been thinking about the band and the past few months. I never realized that I'd have to put my music career on hold just to fight Digimon. Our songs will top the charts, but not because they're good." "But they are good. I've heard them." I let out a faint smile. "Thanks, Gabumon, but you really don't understand. The Teenage Wolves will be remembered as that band who saved the world from evil Digimon. They'll have to give us special lifetime achievement awards for saving everyone's lives. We'll get free passes into the Top Ten out of gratitude, not because the music's good." "I see. I guess that would do a number on your ego, wouldn't it?" "Yeah."

Gabumon's ears drooped. "I understand. I'm really sorry this had to happen to you. I feel like I've ruined everything." "Aww, don't be silly. You haven't ruined anything. I've had another great adventure with you, and I've gotten even closer to T.K. than I ever had been. We even have a new sister and mom, now." "Well, when you put it that way, things have gotten a little better." "Yeah. But still….. After this concert tomorrow night, I'll have to make the biggest decision of my career."

I thought about it long and hard, and it even cut into my concentration. Still, rehearsals managed to go off without a hitch. If this was going to be our last concert, it would start with a bang.

["In the Air Tonight" (Live)

Written by Phil Collins

Performed by The Teenage Wolves

Lead Vocal: Marcus Damon (Quinton Flynn)]

The scene moves to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the night of the concert. It's sold out, as can be pretty much expected. The Teenage Wolves plan to start what could possibly be their last concert in a big way. The main lights are dimmed, but spotlights quickly move around the stage. Matt strikes a power chord on his bass. Rika and Thomas double-team the keyboards. As for Marcus, well, he slowly walks in while wearing a headset mic. He's greeted by cheers, screams, and applause.

Marcus:

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, Oh Lord

Can you feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord

Tonight, Marcus truly is feeling this way. In fact, the entire band does. The tension and restrained anger build up throughout the verse, sung over a series of ominous chords played by a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 over a simple drum machine pattern.

Marcus:

Well, if you told me you were drowning

I would not lend a hand

I've seen your face before, my friend

But I don't know if you know who I am

Well, I was there and I saw what you did

I saw it with my own two eyes

So you can wipe off that grin,

I know where you've been

It's all been a pack of lies

The vocoded vocals are done away with in favor of a natural sound. Marcus doesn't need any fancy machine to place emphasis on key words. Greg and T.K.'s guitar sounds are natural, too. He slowly makes his way to his drums.

Marcus:

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord

I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord

And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord

Well I remember! I remember, don't worry

How could I ever forget,

It's the first time, and the last time we ever met

But I know the reason why you keep your silence up,

No, you don't fool me

You see, the hurt doesn't show,

But the pain still grows

It's no stranger to you and me

Marcus finally arrives at his drum set and forcefully pounds out the world-famous signature drum crash of the song. Now the entire band can come in with instrumentation. The crowd goes crazy as the instrumentation builds to a thundering final chorus.

Marcus:

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

But I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord!

I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord

But I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord, oh Lord.

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord

But I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord!

I can feel it coming in the air

I can feel it coming in the air tonight

I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, my life

Oh!

After about 20 more seconds of music, Marcus plays one final drum crash and ends it. The crowd goes wild.

Matt

During the concert, Miley Cyrus came up on stage and twerked to one of our songs. We all took selfies with her right after the song, then went back to the next one.

The concert went off without a problem, and was one of the best ones I could remember. Of course, it didn't really matter. We celebrated at Blizz, the hotel's frozen yogurt stand. After we'd gotten our froyo, Kari noticed something. "Uh, Matt…" she said as she pointed out. I looked up, and there were about 1,500 fans watching our every move. Kari just waved and smiled. "Um… Free froyo for everyone!" The mob screamed as I ran up to the front counter and gave the woman behind it the label's American Express. Minutes later, the card was maxed out and everyone had free frozen yogurt. I made sure we got seconds, because why not?

Kari

That last concert sure was fun, but I couldn't help but notice that Matt wasn't as into it as he could've been. We were booked at the hotel for at least another week, plenty of time for us to prepare for what was coming.

Jillian Michaels sent me some of her DVDs, so I used up some of that energy I still had working out to them. "Kari…." I hit pause. "What is it, Gatomon?" I asked. "It's late. You just finished a concert. Aren't you tired?" "Well, yeah, but I've still got to work off this frozen yogurt." "Kari, believe me when I say that your body is amazing. Your metabolism is fine. You're fine. Now please, go to bed already!" I turned off the DVD player and TV. "Sure."

I took a shower, brushed my teeth, and went to bed.

T.K.

There's nothing like a beautiful sunrise to really get you going in the morning. I gently nudged Patamon awake. "Mmmm... five more minutes," he groaned. "Come on, Patamon, it's morning. Time to rise and shine." "Ohhhh... ..." "Oh well, I guess you'll just have to miss breakfast," I teased. That woke him up.

I quickly showered and got dressed, making sure my bucket hat was secure. After clipping on my Digivice and locking the door, I walked down the hall. My destination was the room of my favorite person, Kari.

I tapped on the door. "Oh, Kari! Guess who?" No answer. I knocked a little louder. "Kari, it's me, T.K. Rise and shine, sleepyhead." Again, no answer. "Huh? There's no answer. Kari could be in trouble!" I gasped. Patamon jumped off my hat and flew to my side. "There's only one way to find out."

I nodded, then focused some DigiSoul into my foot. "HIYA!" I laid a few supercharged front and side kicks into the door, knocking it down. Then, I ran in and checked the room. Everything was gone. Kari, Gatomon, her Digivice, everything. It was like she'd vanished! "Oh no!"

Matt

I woke up the next morning not to my alarm clock, but to frantic knocking on my door. "Matt! Matt!" Ugh, T.K. was screaming through the door. I got up and opened it. "Matt! Kari's gone missing! Her Digivice, Gatomon, everything! She's gone!" T.K. ranted.

"Oh, T.K. Just the person I wanted to see. I've thought all night about this, and I've decided you and I are leaving the band," I said. "Kari- wait, what? You're kicking me out with you?" he asked. I nodded. "Yep. I'll just start a new band and then hire you on as a songwriting partner." "But Matt! We started this band together. Remember? This was supposed to be a bonding experience." "Yeah, but then life got in the way. I don't want success to be just handed to us because we saved the world. I want our music to stand on its own merit." "But how can you talk about this now?!" "Because it's my band, that's how!"

["Freedom '90"

Written by George Michael

Performed by The Teenage Wolves feat. The Digimon (Derek Stephen Prince, Bridget Hoffman, Kirk Thornton, Skip Stellrecht, Brian Beacock, Dorothy-Elias Fahn, and Mari Devon)

Lead Vocals: Yamato "Matt" Ishida (Michael Reisz) and Takeru "T.K." Ishida (Michael Cunio)]

Matt presses the play button on his laptop, and the music starts. The conversation begins inside Matt's executive suite. T.K. pleads with him, but Matt is making up his mind quickly, thinking long and hard about the path his band has been on.

T.K.:

I won't let you down, I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound, it's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down, so please don't give me up
Because I would really, really love to stick around

oh yeah

Yes, T.K.'s priorities are not exactly where they should be at this moment. This is my attempt to make him human.

Matt:

Heaven knows I was just a young boy
Didn't know what I wanted to be (Didn't know what I wanted to be)
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me (I said I guess it was enough for me)

To win the race, a prettier face
Brand new clothes and a big fat place on your rock and roll TV (rock and roll TV)
But today the way I play the game is not the same, no way
I think I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be

Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

The scene moves to the West Wing Bar Arcade Lounge, which features PS4 and XBOX One rentals, arcade games, a pool table, classic lounge games, and drink specials. There, the band (minus Kari) and their Digimon (minus Gatomon) do a dance routine. Anya jumps off a couch while Greg catches her. At each "freedom", they raise their fists in defiance.

Matt/Cast:

All we have to do now, is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me,

Matt:

yeah, yeah

Matt/Cast:

Freedom (T.K.: I won't let you down)

freedom, (T.K.: I will not give you up)

freedom (T.K.: Gotta have some faith in the sound)
You've gotta give for what you take (T.K.: it's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom, (T.K.: I won't let you down,)

freedom, (T.K.: so please don't give me up)

freedom
You've gotta give for what you take (T.K.: Because I would really, really love to stick around )

The scene shifts to the MGM Grand Pool Complex, a 6.5 acre pool complex with a quarter-mile lazy river. Matt and T.K. float down the river in tubes. Rika and Renamon lie in the sun, sporting sunglasses and working on their tans (and in Rika's case, her homework).

Matt:

Heaven knows we sure had some fun boy
What a kick just my buddies and me (What a kick just my buddies and me)
We had every big-shot good time band on the run boy
We were living in a fantasy (Said we were living in a fantasy)

The scene moves to the lion exhibit, where Thomas is writing careful notes as he observes the lions. T.K. and Matt pass through, dancing all the while.

Matt:

We won the race, got out of the place
I went back home, got a brand new face for the boys at MTV ( boys at MTV)
But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh yeah ( oh yeah)
Now I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I stopped the show
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone I forgot to be

Take back your picture in a frame
Don't think that I'll be back again
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

This time, the group (with Digimon) perform in a Las Vegas Monorail car. Some of the other passengers freak out, and one draws his gun at Veemon, who immediately puts his hands up. Greg gives the passenger a very dirty look for scaring his partner like that.

Matt/Cast:

All we have to do now, is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me,

Matt:

yeah, yeah

Matt/Cast:

Freedom (T.K.: I won't let you down)

freedom, (T.K.: I will not give you up)

freedom (T.K.: Gotta have some faith in the sound)
You've gotta give for what you take (T.K.: it's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom, (T.K.: I won't let you down,)

freedom, (T.K.: so please don't give me up)

freedom
You've gotta give for what you take (T.K.: Because I would really, really love to stick around, to stick around )

The scene shifts to T.K. grooving alone in front of a large bronze statue of Leo outside the hotel.

T.K.:

Well it looks like the road to heaven
But it feels like the road to hell
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
I took the knife as well

Posing for another picture, everybody's got to sell

Suddenly, the scene shifts to a hot tub, where Matt and Gabumon are hanging out. The scene switches back and forth from the lion statue to the hot tub.

Matt:
But when you shake your ass, they notice fast
And some mistakes were built to last

That's what you get,

T.K:

that's what you get

Matt:
That's what you get,

T.K.:

you say that's what you get

Matt:
I say that's what you get for changing your mind

T.K.:
That's what I get for changing my mind

Matt:

That's what you get, that's what you get

T.K.:
And after all this time

Matt:
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

This time, the group dances around the Blizz frozen yogurt store inside the resort. Suddenly, for no explained reason, the frozen yogurt machines explode, splattering frozen yogurt everywhere. Matt, in a temporary moment of insanity, voraciously helps himself to the toppings.

Matt/Cast:

All we have to do now, is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me,

Matt:

yeah, yeah

Matt/Cast:

Freedom,

(Matt: Oh, freedom) freedom,

(Matt: My freedom) freedom
You've gotta give for what you take
Freedom,

(Matt: Oh, after my freedom) freedom,

(Matt: My freedom) freedom
You've gotta give for what you take, yeah

Matt:

You gotta give for what you give for what you give
May not be what you want from me
Just the way it's got to be,

lose the face now
I've got to give for what, give for what, give

The song ends with the entire group standing solemnly, a la the Von Trapp family, in the wedding chapel.

Matt/Cast: (a capella)

Freedom, freedom, freedom

You've got to give for what you taaaaaake

The scene fades to the way this fanfic began: Two brothers, Matt and T.K., on opposite sides of the bedroom, not speaking to each other.

T.K.

I couldn't believe it. Matt was going to take both of us out of the band. I'm just as good at music as I am in writing. How could he do this to me? But then, I remembered something. Kari was still in trouble. So, I had to be the bigger man. "Matt?" "Yeah?" "Look, we can talk this all out later. Right now, we've got more important issues." "Kari?" "Right. And I'm sure I know where she went." "Where?" I grimaced. "The Dark Ocean."

I called the others. Breakfast was solemn. Greg put down his glass of orange juice and said, "I think I heard about this before, T.K. You told me it was an alternate dimension." "That's right. An evil, sick, and twisted one." I gave them a quick synopsis about what happened the first two times Kari was taken there. "Wow… that was twisted. We've got to do something," Rika decided.

I nodded. "Right. I know just what it is. I've got to go in there and save her." "Heh, you go in there by yourself? Are you crazy or somethin'? We're all going in there!" Marcus yelled, raising his fist. I quickly lowered it. "No, Marcus. It's too dangerous. You have to stay here in case the Bagra Army attacks Las Vegas." "But what about you?" "I've been there before, so I know how to handle it." "The only question is, how are you going to get there?" Thomas asked. I thought about it. "Well, there's only one person who knows how to open a Dark Gate." "Who?" "Ken. I hope he can still do it."

We moved the meeting into my room, where I called Ken on my cell phone. I put it on speakerphone so everyone could listen. "Hello?" "Ken, this is T.K. How are you doing?" "Just fine, I guess. What's up?" "We need you to get over to Las Vegas. Kari's been kidnapped, and I think she's been taken to the Dark Ocean." He gasped. "Oh no. So…. You need me to open the Dark Gate, then?" "Yeah, if you can." "OK, I'll talk to Davis. Where are you?" "The MGM Grand." "Great. I'll meet you in the front lobby." He hung up.

Within five minutes, Ken was there, with Wormmon on his shoulder. We took him to my room, and he got right down to business. "All right. What's the plan?" "I'll need you to open a Dark Gate big enough for me to go through. How long do you think you can keep it open?" I asked. "I'm not certain. Opening Dark Gates isn't something I do for fun, you know. All the parts used in the Dark D-3 are in my new Digivice, but it's hard to tell how much of it is me, and how much of it is it." I firmly placed my hand on his shoulder. "Ken, I've got nothing but confidence in you. If anyone can open that Gate, you can. You have to." "Heh. Thanks for taking the pressure off, T.K. I'll do my best."

Ken

Like I said, opening Dark Gates is not something I do for fun. The last time I opened one was to banish Daemon, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the others' help. Now I was being asked to do it again, but this time to help T.K. save Kari. The Dark Ocean is a special kind of hell I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, and if Daemon was still there, Kari would never survive.

I unclipped my Digivice and stared at it. This was something only I could do. They were all counting on me. I looked back up, with steely-eyed determination on my face. "I'll do it. Get me to a secure area. We don't have a moment to lose."

We managed to reserve the Grand Ballroom on the first floor of the conference center. After all the necessities were quickly taken care of, I was ready. "Now, T.K. Once the gate is open, I'm afraid I can't promise it'll stay open. I don't know how long I can hold out, so you have to act quickly. Find Kari, rescue her, and then get out. …Huh… I wish I could come with you." "No, Ken. Stay here and fight with the others. I'll find a way out," he said. "I hope so."

I turned to the others. "Guys, I may need your help." Matt gave me a thumbs up. "You got it, buddy. We're right behind you." The others nodded in agreement. I returned it, and Wormmon crawled down my arm. "And don't forget, Ken, you always have me." I smiled. He climbed back up my arm. I unclipped my Digivice, ignited some DigiSoul in my hand, and brought it as forward as I could go. "All right. Dark Gate Open!"

Matt

The room became darker, but some light was coming through. A purple light came from Ken's Digivice as he struggled to tap into whatever power he had. "Rrrrrrrrrrrgh, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ken screamed. "What do we do?" Anya wondered.

T.K. instinctively ignited DigiSoul in his hand and gently held Ken's wrist. "Guys, ignite your DigiSoul and add your power to Ken's," he said. Then, he turned to Ken. "That's it, Ken. You can do it. I believe in you!" Anya was next as she put her hand on top of T.K.'s. "In Russia, there's a saying that goes, 'Арте́льный горшо́к гу́ще кипи́т.' 'With a helper, a thousand things are possible.' Stay strong. You're among friends now."

It was working. "Hey, guys. I can see waves! It's working!" I cheered.

Greg was next. He ignited DigiSoul in both hands, put one hand on top of Anya's, and held her other hand under Ken's arm. "You've got this, Ichijouji. You've got this," he said. I followed him, adding my hand to the mix. I looked back, and Ken's eyes were starting to roll into the back of his head. Sweat was coming out all over his face. Rika added her hand to the mix. "We're right behind you!" she insisted. Thomas was next. "Purify the darkness, Ken. Let the darkness in your heart be used for good!" Ken grunted and groaned.

Marcus looked confused at the whole thing. "Is this all we're doing?" he asked. Ken screamed some more as Rika quickly shot her glance to her boyfriend. "Yeah, that's what we're doing. Now get in here and help!" "Okay, okay." He fired a punch in the air and ignited the DigiSoul in his hand. Then, he ran to the side and slammed his hand on top of the pile. Thomas and I secured Ken's shoulders, while Wormmon climbed down his arm to the top of the hand pile. The gate was getting larger and larger.

"T.K., it's opening. Quick, get in there!" "But Ken…." Ken closed his eyes in pain. "Don't argue with me! Just do it!" T.K. nodded, then took his hand out and ran into the gate, with Patamon flying behind him. He quickly waved goodbye, then ran off.

After a few minutes, Ken groaned some more. "What's wrong, Ken?" Greg asked. "…..I can't…. hold on. Have to….. Close the gate." "Are you sure?" "Uh huh." With that, the gate closed, and we all let go.

Ken panted for a few minutes, but had a smile on his face. "It's up to him now. And even though I don't have his Crest, I hope he comes back." "Me too," I agreed.

Author's Notes:

I included "Face the Face" because it sounded ambiguous enough to sound like some of the political doubletalk President Obama spouts off on a regular basis. Many kudos to Pete Townshend.

Is Daemon really in the Dark Ocean? Could Kari be in danger? Hmmm…. What do you think? We'll just have to find out next chapter.

If you were disappointed by "His Master's Voice" in season 2, I hope you'll like these next few chapters better.