Another Odaiba Day comes and goes. It's technically just after midnight where I'm at as I post this, but since it's still Odaiba Day somewhere this still counts!

I'm sorry guys, but this is not a very long chapter. It's probably the shortest I've ever written for one of my main Digimon fics. This round of updates just didn't want to inspire anything this year (mostly because I'm currently working through a recent Top Gun/TG:Maverick obsession right now), but I hope you still enjoy this chapter all the same.

I decided to do something a little different this year. I hadn't intended to show these guys until much later, but I felt it appropriate to give an inside look on our two POWs/manipulated boys and their partners.

I hope you like it.

I DO NOT OWN DIGIMON ADVENTURE 02, TAMERS, FRONTIER, SAVERS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!

Chapter 54: Cunning Manipulations

Davis scowled up at the ceiling. Ever since the traitors got away he'd been in a foul mood. He'd managed to twist up his ankle really badly at the end of the fight and had been on bed rest to let it heal ever since.

"Still pouting over there?" Ryo called from the kitchen area of the apartment they'd been given by Garbamon and Netamashiimon in the castle.

"Yes," Veemon pipped up.

"I'm not pouting," Davis informed his partner.

"Sulking then."

Davis made a face and then stuck his tongue out at the blue digimon.

Ryo joined them in the living room a moment later with a plate full of sandwiches, Hopmon perched on his shoulder.

"Anyone hungry?" he asked.

Veemon and Hopmon were quick to claim some food.

"Davis?"

"Fine," Davis sighed, propping himself back up into a seated position on the couch making enough room for his friend to join him.

"I know you're impatient," Ryo sighed, "but you gotta heal up before we can do anything."

"We could be helping out with the battle going on down south," Davis sighed.

"Garbamon told us that they've got everything covered down there. I'm more worried about the reports of forces massing in the west," Ryo said with a frown. "This is a fight happening on all sides it seems. Yeah, our allies were fortunate enough to liberate the east from Seiryuumon, but there are three more Digimon Lords still in power. Eventually they're going to combine forces with what remains of Seiryuumon's and converge here. You need to be back in prime fighting condition by then. I know that waiting sucks, but… this is where we need to be. Shore up strength for tomorrow rather than waste it all today doing something futile. We hold the advantage here. The enemy and the traitor DigiDestined have to fight their way here. They'll be worn down and easier for us to handle by that point."

"I know," Davis huffed. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

Ryo chuckled.

"Don't worry, Davis. We'll have our day."

"We'll be ready for 'em!" Veemon declared.

"Yeah!" Hopmon cheered. "I'll digivolve back into Monodramon any day now! Just watch!"

"Glad to see you all in such high spirits," a voice said from the entrance to their apartment.

"Garbamon!" Ryo said, raising to greet their friend. "How goes it?"

"Not well I'm afraid," the white garbed Digimon man sighed. "Reinforcements arrived to help the enemy just when we thought there would be a clean sweep down south. Some of the other DigiDestined were among the troops."

"Traitors," Davis hissed.

"It's worse, I'm afraid," Garbamon said grimly. "The Digimon Lords found a way to reach out to other worlds and brought even more DigiDestined to these lands."

"And I bet they are being fed the same lies we were when we first arrived," Ryo said grimly. "The traitors will tell them their version of events instead of the truth."

"And they're going to believe them," Davis groaned. "We can't catch a break!"

"No, it seems not," Garbamon sighed. "I am happy to report, however, that we're about to gain some reinforcements of our own."

"That's good," Ryo said, smiling at Davis encouragingly.

"When will they get here?" Davis asked.

"My sister, Aiyokumon, has recovered from her injuries from her first battle against the DigiDestined and is in prime position to neutralize some of them. She'll be a lot harder to defeat this time," Garbamon said, smiling happily. "In the meantime, some of my other brothers, mainly Iramon, have been working on recruiting help from other worlds. From what I hear, they've been largely successful, recruiting powerful Digimon allies willing to help fight for the cause. Rumor has it there are a couple of Royal Knights among the bunch."

"Like Magnamon," Veemon grinned, looking at Davis.

"That's awesome, Garbamon," Davis said. "Is there anything we can do?"

"I'm afraid there is nothing at present," Garbamon sighed. "But Netameshiimon is sure to have a fierce training regime all set for you when you've recovered from your injury in a day or two. Just focus on healing up and recovering your strength, all of you. You'll be needed before you know it. Swanmon should be by soon with your healing draughts. I'll visit you again soon. Take care."

"You too," they all said in unison as they watched their friend leave.

"Man!" Davis groaned, leaning back against the couch cushions.

"You heard him. We need to rest up. I may not have gotten hurt, but I'm still weak from Millenniummon's attack," Ryo said. "Trust me, Davis. I'm as frustrated as you are, but we're getting stronger everyday and the time will come when we'll be needed before either of us would like, I'm sure. Things are getting worse and we can't afford to be reckless."

"Yeah, I know," Davis sighed. "I'm just not good at waiting. Ken…"

Davis grit his teeth and fought back tears. Kari and Tai's betrayal had been bad enough, but Ken… to see his friend fall back under Millenniummon's control and turn back into the Digimon Emperor…

"Ken was much better at being patient," Davis whispered.

"I know," Ryo said, scooting closer and leaning against the younger boy. "We'll save him, Davis. We'll get our friend back. I promise. We won't let him suffer longer than he has to. And we'll find a way to help and save the misguided DigiDestined somehow. Make sure that the traitors are the only ones who pay."

"Yeah…" Davis whispered. "You're right. We have to."

Garbamon left the two DigiDestined and their partners' rooms and retreated back down to his abode, a wicked smile spreading across his features.

"What's got you so happy?"

Garbamon paused and caught sight of Iramon, leaning against the wall in an alcove he'd just passed in the stairwell.

"Nothing," Garbamon said, not bothering to drop the grin. "My designs upon the DigiDestined boys and their partner Digimon are working beyond even my expectations. Netamashiimon truly outdid himself with the manipulation of their memories."

"We'll see how long that lasts," Iramon snorted.

"I'm surprised that you're not with your dear sister," Garbamon said lightly.

"That creature is no longer the sister I knew," Iramon scowled. "She was destroyed just as thoroughly as the Warrior of Fire was. What the master brought back to take her place is nothing more than a mindless husk made out of her old data. What made my sister my sister is gone."

"Ah, yes, apologies and condolences," Garbamon said, tipping his hat. "But what of your own efforts? You haven't been around recently."

"My business is my own," Iramon growled. "What I do is between myself and the master."

"Of course," Garbamon simpered. "I'll leave you to it, then. I'm sure it'll be of great use to the master."

"Better than you self-serving machinations with those children," Iramon huffed before he got up from his slouch and roughly shoulder checked Garbamon on his way past.

Garbamon kept up his smile until he could no longer sense Iramon's presence in the vicinity.

"Irritating worm," Garbamon scowled, resuming his course towards his rooms.

Netamashiimon was already there waiting, fiddling with something before Garbamon slammed the door shut behind him.

"What's got your goat?" the smaller Zaigou asked.

"It's nothing," Garbamon sighed, reigning in his simmering irritation. "Iramon was just being an ass."

"Iramon's back?" Netamashiimon asked, hovering in the air. "Did he say where he was this time?"

"Apparently that's between him and the master," Garbamon drawled. "Irritating prick."

"Well, he's in charge of the invasion teams sent to other worlds, right?" Netamashiimon asked. "If he's back then another world must have fallen under our control."

"Perhaps. Or…" Garbamon mused, tapping his chin in consideration.

"Or what?"

"Or… he's here because the master summoned him," Garbamon theorized, warming up to the idea. "The master was none too pleased when those gateways opened up and brought even more of these brats into our world. Maybe he wants Iramon to deal with it personally."

"So Iramon might have screwed up and is going to pay for it," Netamashiimon said, looking gleeful.

"No, sadly not," Garbamon sighed. "I doubt I saw Iramon before he had a chance to speak with our master. It's likely they've already spoken, and since Iramon was looking no worse for wear, whatever he and the master discussed was not worth punishing Iramon over."

"Fine. Whatever," Netamashiimon huffed. "Forget about Ira-butt. I wanna talk about what we're gonna do with Davis and Ryo. Have they recovered yet?"

"Patience, little brother," Garbamon drawled. "Ryo is still weak and Davis is still recovering from the bad twist. Give them another day or two of our remedies that Swanmon is serving them and they'll be ready for whatever games you've designed for them under the guise of training."

"Uh! Fine," the little Zaigou pouted. "I'm gonna go then if there's nothing else."

"Very well. Just stay out of Iramon's way if he's skulking about."

"He better stay out of my way," Netamashiimon snapped with a pout before disappearing from Garbamon's rooms.

"I'm surrounded by fools," Garbamon lamented before heading towards a stack of reports a Troopmon must have brought him in his absence.

What is Iramon up to? Will the DigiDestined be able to free Davis, Ryo and their partners from the Zaigou's machinations? Let's hope we find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!

I promise that I intend to finish this series. I'm honestly one good push away from just buckling down and writing everything out until the end (which I've had plotted out for YEARS). It's just getting to that point that's taking a while. I still love Digimon and I still love these stories of mine. I would have abandoned these fics years ago if I didn't care or enjoy writing them.

Thank you so much for those of you that are still reading this series. I know it's been a long time coming, but I swear to you that the end is nearing. I just need to find the time between my current obsessions, D&D and my work life and I might be able to start updating again. I can't make and promises that'll happen, but I'm honestly willing to try.

Thanks for reading and I hope you all had a wonderful Odaiba Day.