A few hours had passed since the battle, and Kari had regained her composure and allowed her rage to subside.
After explaining the incident to the Fire Lord, Hashima had the renegade DDF soldiers returned to their reality, who would face a court martial for their actions against the true between the DDF and the Dark Imperium.
Furthermore, at her command, the Mother Reaper, most of the Infected, the Ultimate Four and Arcturusmon returned to the Digital World, much to the Dark Digimon's annoyance, who wanted to make the Fire Realm pay for his humiliating takedown.
However, Arcturusmon's own fear of Kari's wrath outweighed his pride, and thus the forces belonging to both the DDF and the Dark Imperium reduced their armaments in order to appease the Fire Realm.
Instead of feeling anger to having to reduce her forces, Kari found she didn't care, not after finally finding Davis again.
Listening to Izzy and Yolei's explanations on Nexus and Davis' place within it, the former Digidestined of Light felt a mixture of pride and horror, pride to all that Davis has seemed to accomplish, but horror to learn that time had moved differently in this world, that the man she loves had spent over twenty thousand years within the world and away from her.
The Dark Empress knew she would soon have to talk to Davis, but before that talk happened, the former Digidestined of Light had another appointment to attend to.
Walking into the Chamber of the Fire Lords with Gatomon, Yolei, Hawkmon, Izzy and Tentomon around her, the Dark Empress stood before the twelve beings that seemed to hold all the power within the Fire Realm, the brunette looking upon each of them through her mask as they seemed to eye her with intrigue.
"Welcome, Kari Kamiya, Dark Empress of the Dark Imperium." Kormac said with a slight bow of his head, one Kari returned, wishing to be courteous with those who may hold Davis' fate within their hands.
"Thank you for granting me an audience." Kari said in reply, before noticing the young dark haired member of the Fire Lords then raised a hand to gain her attention.
"Before we continue, please, remove the mask." Lelouch asked with a small smile, adding as he looked upon the Dark Empress. "It feels slightly rude for us to not see your full face."
Keeping her face expressionless, Kari allowed her eye mask to dissolve into shadows, where she looked upon each of the individuals before her with her hazel eyes and waited for them to continue.
However, the Dark Empress found herself confused as nearly half of the Fire Lords and most of the guards in the room to all but scream in annoyance. "Damn it!"
At the same time, Lelouch let out a near insane laugh, before looking at those who cursed and said with a sly smirk. "I expect payments from all of you."
"I don't count in this!" One of the lizardmen Fire Lord, the one representing the larger of the lizard races, growled, adding as he glared at Lelouch. "All you humans look ugly to me!"
"What's done is done, lizard face." One of the dwarven lords remarked with a hearty laugh, his words and the antics before her nearly pissing Kari off, before she heard the Dwarf then state. "You should have known better. A man doesn't spend twenty thousand years talking about the same woman if she was ugly."
Hearing this, Kari's rage vanished as she took in the words, while Gatomon, Izzy, Yolei and their Digimon partners looked at one another with soft smiles.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Kormac gained the attention of Kari and her servants as he explained. "My apologizes, but most in this room has known Davis his entire life, while I am the only Fire Lord to remain in service since before his arrival to Nexus."
"No shit, you're a robot without an expiration date!" A smaller Lizardman Fire Lord let out, this causing a few to chuckle, but did not deter Kormac as he continued.
"That said, Lord Motomiya has many times since arriving here told stories of the Digital World, The Digimon, his friends, and you, to the point that some have wondered if you were indeed as he said or just his overactive imagination." The Automaton Lord then finished, this leaving Kari in thought as she felt her heart beating to hear that Davis had spoken often of her.
Recomposing himself, Lelouch then gained an inquisitive look as he then asked. "Now, what is it you wish to speak to us about? I would have assumed your first instinct would be to seek Davis out."
Snapping out of her thoughts, the Dark Empress looked to the Council of Fire Lords and asked with a serious tone. "I request that Davis be released from his services so he may return home."
Raising an eyebrow to the request, one of the dwarven Fire Lords questioned in response. "You believe it is Davis' responsibilities as the Emperor's champion keeping him from crossing the Veil?"
"When Davis makes a promise, he sees it through to the end." Kari answered, knowing Davis' heart and knowing that any pledge, promise or commitment he would have made he would follow through, no matter what.
Sitting back on his throne, Kormac responded on behave of his fellow Fire Lords as he told Kari. "I am sorry, but we cannot fulfill that request."
Feeling her anger returning as dark energy crackled in her hand, Kari glared upon the Fire Lords as she questioned in a threatening tone. "You would deny me?"
"Please, you will not attack us." Lelouch said nonchalantly, earning a direct glare from the Dark Empress as she questioned. "And why is that?"
"Because you don't want to upset Davis." The raven haired Fire Lord replied, mentally smirking as he saw the energy in Kari's hand diminishing, before he continued. "You have come this far to see him again. I doubt you would do anything now to jeopardize that."
Clenching her fist, but letting her energy and her anger subside, while Yolei, Izzy, Gatomon, Hawkmon and Tentomon let out the breaths they were holding, Kari then listened as Lelouch continued. "We cannot fulfill your request because we do not have the authority to do so, only the Fire Emperor himself can release Davis from his service."
A few hours had passed since the conflict between the DDF and the Dark Empress and her army, and after Kari had regained her composure and allowed her rage to subside, the former Digidestined allowed her enemies to explain themselves.
After explaining the incident to the Fire Lord, Hashima had the renegade DDF soldiers sent back to their reality, to face a court martial for their actions against the truce between the DDF and the Dark Imperium.
Meanwhile and at her command, the Mother Reaper, the majority of the Infected, the Ultimate Four and Arcturusmon had been sent back to the Digital World, much to the annoyance of the Dark Digimon, who wanted to exact his revenge for the humiliation bestowed upon him during the Fire Realm's intervention.
However, Arcturusmon's own fear of Kari's wrath far outweighed his pride and sense of revenge, and thus the forces of the DDF and the Dark Imperium reduced their armaments in order to appease and to speak with the Fire Realm.
Instead of feeling anger at having to reduce her forces, Kari found she didn't care, not after finally seeing someone so close to her heart and back in her life once again.
Listening to Izzy and Yolei's explanations about Nexus and Davis' place within it, the former Digidestined of Light felt a mixture of pride and worry to what she was told.
Kari was prideful to all Davis had seemed to accomplish during their time separated, but she remained filled with a pain in her heart to learn that time had moved differently in this world, that the man she loved had spent over twenty thousand years within the world, and away from her.
The Dark Empress knew she would soon have to talk to Davis about everything, but before that talk happened, the former Digidestined of Light had another appointment to attend to.
Walking into the Chamber of the Fire Lords and accompanied by Gatomon, Yolei, Hawkmon, Izzy and Tentomon around her, the Dark Empress stood before the twelve beings that seemed to hold all the power within the Fire Realm.
Looking upon each of them through her mask as they seemed to eye her with intrigue, the Dark Empress remained strong.
"Welcome, Kari Kamiya, Dark Empress of the Dark Imperium." Kormac said with a slight bow of his head, the action Kari immediately returned as she wished to be courteous with those who could hold a connection to Davis and his fate.
"Thank you for granting me an audience." Kari said in reply, before noticing the young dark haired member of the Fire Lords then raised a hand in order to gain her attention.
"Before we continue, can you please remove your mask?" Lelouch asked with a small smile, his eyes remaining upon the Dark Empress. "It feels slightly rude for us to not see your full face."
Her face remaining expressionless and doing as she was asked, Kari allowed her eye mask to dissolve into shadows, where she looked upon each of the individuals before her with her dark hazel eyes and waited patiently for them to continue within their conversation.
However, the Dark Empress found herself confused as nearly half of the Fire Lords and most of the guards within the room suddenly screamed in annoyance and frustration. "Damn it!"
At the same time, Lelouch bellowed with a maddening laugh, before looking at those who cursed and said with a sly smirk. "I expect payments from all of you."
"I don't count on this!" One of the lizardmen Fire Lords, the one representing the larger of the lizard races, spat with an aggressive growl, who then said as he glared toward Lelouch. "All of you humans look ugly to me!"
"What's done is done, lizard face." One of the dwarven lords remarked with a hearty laugh, his words and his antics almost pissing Kari off, before she heard the dwarf then comment. "You should have known better than to bet against Davis. A man doesn't spend twenty thousand years talking about the same woman if she was ugly."
To his words, Kari's rage subsided as she took in the words, while Gatomon, Izzy, Yolei and their Digimon partners looked at one another with soft and relaxed smiles.
Letting out a small and frustrated sigh, Kormac gained the attention of Kari and her servants.
"My apologizes, but most in this room have known Davis their entire lives, while I am the only Fire Lord to remain in service since before his arrival to Nexus." He informed the former Digidestined of Light.
"No shit. You're just a talking can opener without an expiration date!" A smaller Lizardman Fire Lord remarked, this causing a few to chuckle at his words, but it didn't deter Kormac as he continued to speak.
"That said, Lord Motomiya has told many stories of the Digital World, The Digimon, his friends, and you since his arrival. And you, many have questioned if you were indeed as he said or just his overactive imagination." The Automaton Lord then informed, his words leaving Kari in deep thought as she felt her heart beating to hear that Davis had spoken often of her.
Recomposing himself, Lelouch then gained an inquisitive look as he inquired. "Now, what is it you wish to speak to us about? I would have assumed your first instinct would be to seek Davis out."
Snapping out of her more pleasant thoughts, the Dark Empress looked to the Council of Fire Lords and questioned back and with fair seriousness. "I request that Davis be released from his services so he may return home."
Raising an eyebrow to the request, one of the dwarven Fire Lords questioned in response. "You believe it is Davis' responsibilities as the Emperor's champion that are keeping him from crossing the Veil?"
"When Davis makes a promise, he sees it through to the end." Kari replied, the former Digidestined of Light knowing Davis' heart and knowing that any pledge, promise or commitment he would have made he would follow it through, no matter what.
Sitting back on his throne, Kormac responded on behalf of his fellow Fire Lords and solemnly informed the Dark Empress. "I am sorry, but we cannot fulfil that request."
Feeling her anger returning as dark energy surged within her right hand, Kari glared upon the Fire Lords as she then questioned with a threatening tone. "Would you refuse my request?"
"You will not attack us." Lelouch said nonchalantly, his arrogance receiving a direct glare from the Dark Empress, who then questioned. "And why is that?"
"Because you don't want to upset Davis." The raven haired Fire Lord replied as he gained a mental smirk after noticing the energy within Kari's hand slowly fading. "You have come this far to see him again. I doubt you would do anything now to jeopardize that."
Clenching her fist after what had been said, but allowing her energy and her anger to then subside, Yolei, Izzy, Gatomon, Hawkmon and Tentomon all expelled the nervous breaths they were holding.
Continuing, Lelouch then told Kari. "We cannot fulfil your request because we do not have the authority to do so, only the Fire Emperor himself can release Davis from his service."
"And where is the Emperor?" The Dark Empress questioned in reply, looking around to find the being who Davis now served and was preventing him from returning home in her eyes.
"The Emperor will see you if and when he decides to." Lelouch said in reply, before adding with a small smirk. "He's a trillions of years old omnipotent being whose mind and attention are focused on things far greater than we can comprehend, hence why we Fire Lords exist, to run the Fire Realm in his absence, while the Fire Champions carry out his will."
"It would also be bad for Davis if he was removed from his position." Kormac then remarked, this receiving Kari's complete attention. "While he has made many friends and allies in his time with us, Davis has also gained many enemies, most of whom desire nothing more than to see him wiped from the face of Nexus. It is his position as the Emperor's personal champion that protects him from their retaliation."
Hearing all of them and what they had told her, Kari deflated slightly.
She felt frustrated and annoyed that after all of this, she still couldn't bring Davis home and where he belonged.
"We have heard of your pain from those close to you and understand your desire to bring Davis back to your world, for him to have the respect he deserves as a hero." An elderly feminine human Fire Lord then told Kari, the woman holding a kind and gentle smile toward seeing the love Kari held for the maroon haired hero. "But that respect he has here, with us. Until the Veil is lifted, Davis cannot leave, but you, along with those close to him, can come and go as you please. So instead of worrying about bringing him home, take this opportunity to speak to him, to express what you have wanted to say all these years and ease the pain in your heart."
"Lady Calista is right." Kormac cut in with a nod.
"We can discuss more at a later date, as I believe you have a far more important meeting to attend now."
A mix of dread and excitement filled Kari, who nodded her head in response and again respectfully toward the Fire Lords, before turning and following Yolei, who led their group back to Davis' location.
As they entered the hallways, Kari's feelings remained mixed, as she had for a long time awaited this moment, to see Davis, to be with him again, but she also feared his judgement, knowing that he would not be pleased with all she had done.
'I have allowed only one person to judge me... and now I must face him...' The Dark Empress thought to herself as she made her way to her fate, no matter what it would be or what would occur.
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Arriving at the doors to the chamber they were instructed to go, Kari took a deep breath as Yolei then opened the doors, the actions revealing all her former friends, her brother, those loyal to her, Hashima and the groups from the worlds she invaded all present, along with the two champions that were part of Davis' group.
To Kari's presence, everyone turned and looked upon the former Digidestined of Light, which left an awkward silence amongst all.
However, Kari paid no attention to anything or anyone within the room, not even caring as Gatomon rushed from her side and happily hugged and embraced Veemon, the Digimon of Light beyond happy to see him after all this time, to see the Digimon of Miracles back to his old self and seemingly joyous himself.
All that mattered to Kari was Davis, who held a neutral expression as he looked to her from the other side of the long table within the chamber.
"Everyone else, out." The maroon haired hero merely said as he kept his eyes upon the brunette, his words receiving nods from most of those present, with Julie and Caleb heading out first, followed by the Dark Imperium Digi-heroes and heroines, who looked upon their leader with empathy.
Following their former friends, the majority of the DDF group then walked out, with most either glaring upon Kari or giving her a wary eye, while Hashima, who was about to protest, was all but dragged out by Tai and Sora, as they refused to allow the Council member to ruin what needed to happen.
About to leave himself, TK stopped and looked back at Kari, before turning his gaze toward Davis, wishing to speak his mind.
However, seeing the way the maroon haired champion sent him his own glare, the Digidestined of Hope kept his mouth shut.
Turning and walking out the door, TK slipped a listening device upon the doors as they closed behind him.
Outside, everyone gathered around Thomas as he activated the listening device with a high tech tablet, thus receiving some frowns from a few present.
However, everyone kept their silence and wished to hear what would transpire for themselves as Davis and Kari eventually began their conversation.
For a moment after they were left alone, all Davis and Kari did was look upon one another.
For a moment and after they were left alone, all Davis and Kari did was look upon one another in a shared silence.
From his perspective, Davis took in Kari's continued beauty, to see that she remained just as beautiful as he remembered, if not even more so than when he had last seen her.
His heart fluttering to see her again after so long, Davis remained at a loss for words.
However, and although he was deeply relieved to see Kari after so long, the maroon haired champion could also sense the overwhelming darkness within the brunette.
Davis felt the power of the Obscarian within the love of his life, and sensed what it was doing to her.
Meanwhile, and on her end of things, Kari took in Davis' appearance, to see his features and feeling her own heart beating rapidly.
Looking upon the love of her life, to see just how handsome he had become, Kari's attraction toward Davis remained strong within her.
And much like the maroon haired boy, Kari sensed a great power within him, feeling the raging inferno of the Fire Realm coursing through his very being.
Letting out a sigh and breaking the silence, Davis looked to the side and asked Kari with a soft tone. "Please Kari, just talk."
Smiling sadly, Kari averted her gaze away from Davis and questioned with a sadness within her tone. "Where do I even begin...?"
"They said you've loved me since the day we first met." The maroon haired hero then said in reply.
Keeping his eyes upon Kari and waiting for answers, Davis then saw a soft smile appear upon Kari's face.
"The moment I first looked into your eyes... I felt whole, as if my entire life had led to that moment. You were kind, sweet, charming in your own way, and I looked forward to every chance I could to be with you." The former Digidestined of Light said as she brought her hands toward and upon her heart, her smile only growing as she remembered the old times with her maroon haired soulmate.
"When Myotismon came looking for me... when Angewomon first took him down, I went looking for you, to see if you were safe, and I found you amongst those he captured." Kari then told Davis as she fought back tears as that one particular memory came to mind as she added. "I remember dragging Joe over to make sure you were alright."
"But then, after we stopped Apocalymon and came back home, I was forced to promise not to tell anyone about the Digital World or the Digimon." The Dark Empress then said, looking at Davis as she then asked. "Do you know what it is like, to not be able to tell the person you care for most about something like that? To be forced to avoid them because you are afraid you'll break your word?"
Remaining silent and with a solemn expression, Davis allowed Kari to continue as the former Digidestined of Light went on to say. "With TK, I at least could speak on the Digital World, but it hurt knowing that I couldn't say anything to you."
"But when you received your D-3... I was ecstatic, knowing that you were a Digidestined as well, knowing that everyone could see how wonderful and amazing you are, not just a cheap imitation of Tai." Kari said with a bright smile as her eyes remained upon Davis.
However, a frown appeared upon Kari's face as the more negative of her memories came to her mind.
"But they didn't see it, they just kept on looking down upon you, even when you saved all of them more times than they could count, forgetting everything you had done, while pushing me into a relationship with someone I only saw as a brother." The Dark Empress then said, clenching her fist and closing her eyes as she all but yelled. "And like a damn sheep, I just smiled and followed along!"
"Kari..." Davis said softly as he heard and listened to the pain within her voice, but remained silent as the former Digidestined of Light continued her rant.
"I pushed you away, berated you for the stupidest reasons, all so I wouldn't look bad in their eyes!" Kari all but cried out.
Wiping her tears away, the brunette then said. "And when you announced you were leaving, I felt the world crumbling around me and I couldn't take the lies anymore. I tried to talk to you, to convince you to stay, but Tai and Sora once again kept me from talking to you, and you got on that plane...!"
"Kari, I got on that plane because I thought it would have been good for both of us to clear our heads." Davis cut in and said gently. "I never expected your heart to turn cold, for your compassion to die out."
Letting out a shuttered breath from the rage and the pain she felt, Kari regained some of her composure.
"After I heard you had died... nothing mattered to me anymore. Everyone kept trying to tell me to move on, that the world was still out there waiting for me, but they never understood, YOU were my world."
To Kari's words, surprise filled Davis.
He had long dreamt of the day she would love him as he loved her, but never expected it to be this strong.
Outside, the group listened in with an array of mixed emotions, many feeling a sense of guilt for putting Davis and Kari through all they had, while some such as Ruli, Eri and even Jellymon expressed dreamy sighs to hear the love Kari expressed toward the man she loved.
Meanwhile, Julie and Caleb held their own smiles as they listened into the conversation, with Julie even wiping a tear from her eye.
Continuing, however, Kari's anger then returned.
"But then, everyone seemed to move on like your death didn't matter, like you didn't matter, and all I could feel was anger, anger that you were once again just discarded... You saved all of them multiple times, and they treated your death like it was nothing!"
"I wanted them to pay... all of them, I wanted them to know my pain, to know that you weren't someone they could just forget about... so when the Dark Ark appeared, calling for someone to take its power, I answered." The Dark Empress told Davis as she reigned her anger in, looking upon her beloved as he frowned slightly in response.
"So, you took its power, knowing what it would do to you?" Davis questioned, before he told Kari with a serious tone. "It's killing you, Kari!"
Hearing this, TK and the DDF members' eyes widened in shock, before each looked to Izzy, who nodded his head in response.
"That power is not meant for humans, Kari, even one as special as you." Davis then remarked with some anguish in his tone, knowing that eventually the power within Kari's form would tear her apart.
He realized now why Kari was willing to surrender if the DDF brought him home, she didn't care for her actions, knowing she would soon be gone.
Smiling slightly to hear Davis call her special, Kari held back tears as she then said in reply. "What happens to me means nothing now. All I have done, all that I ever cared for was to bring you home, for you to have the respect you deserve... for you to live happily."
Clenching his fist, Davis looked away and looked down to the table, where Kari remained quiet for a moment as to allow Davis to recompose himself, while those listening in waited to hear what would happen next.
"What happens now?" The Dark Empress then found she had to ask.
"... going to hell..." Davis muttered softly in reply.
Smiling sadly, Kari believed that Davis was telling her to go to hell, to show his displeasure with her over her actions, over the pain she had caused, and she couldn't blame him.
Outside, some, such as Suzie, gained a small smirk, relishing the idea that Davis was against Kari, and that she would pay for her actions in some way.
"Fair enough." Kari said as she fought back tears.
Turning so she could leave and give Davis his peace, no matter how much it hurt.
"Kari." She then heard Davis call out, this causing the Dark Empress to turn and look back at her beloved and to see a slightly confused expression upon his face.
"You asked what happens now, I said we're going to Hell, it's the nickname most people give to the Dark Realm." Davis said nonchalantly as he stood straight and approached Kari, before telling her with a small smile. "They have a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, so if there is any where we can find information on the Obscarian, it is there."
"We're going to find some way for you to control that power and we're going to fix you." The maroon haired hero then told the brunette.
Turning back to the table and walking around, Davis then commented. "My contact in the Dark Realm owes me, so there shouldn't be any trouble getting the information."
Listening in, TK and those with him found themselves confused by what was going on, where Kari, seemingly in the same boat as them, then asked with confusion and surprise in her tone. "You're going to help me?"
"Well why wouldn't I?" Davis asked in reply.
"After all I've done, I..." Kari started to say, but found she was cut mid-sentence by Davis.
"You betrayed me." The maroon haired hero said, his words sending a pained shiver through the Dark Empress.
"You betrayed my trust, you betrayed our bond, you betrayed everything I ever stood for. You let me down, Kari."
Though each word pained her, Kari continued to remain confused, along with most of those listening in on the conversation as the former Digidestined of Light then asked. "Then why are you helping me?"
"Why?" Davis questioned in reply.
Moving before Kari as a soft and sincere smile crossed his face, the maroon haired champion then asked. "Do you think I care so little for you that betraying me would change anything?"
Hearing Davis' reply, Kari allowed the tears to run down from her eyes, the Dark Empress feeling joy, warmth and love as she quickly wrapped her arms around Davis, who wrapped his own around her and held the woman he loved closely within his embrace.
Outside of the room, many amongst the group had mixed reactions.
Many of the girls had starry eyes and sighing dreamily at what Davis had said, while TK, Tai and the others expressed their own deep sighs of relief.
Why would Davis help Kari, because he loved her, plain and simple.
Continuing to hold Kari in a close embrace, Davis then said with a serious yet heartfelt tone. "Whether it has been five years or twenty thousand, today, we both move forward, Kari, and we will face whatever comes our way together."
Continuing to allow the tears of joy to run down her cheeks, Kari raised her head and looked upon Davis with a further warm and loving smile, her first true smile in years, before the brunette leaned in and pressed her lips against his in a loving kiss, one the maroon haired champion happily returned as he too felt a sense of content for the first time in many, many years.
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.
Having turned off the listening device after Davis said his peace, the group waited silently for a few minutes, before watching as Davis exited the room first, his eyes looking upon everyone present.
"I have sent word to my contact in the Dark Realm. They'll search for the information I need, but it will take them some time." The maroon haired hero said as he sent a small glare at those present, knowing that they had listened in to his and Kari's private conversation.
Most remaining silent and knowing that they had been caught, Davis turned to leave, but stopped as Hashima then spoke up.
"With all due respect, I must protest Mr. Motomiya!" The council member all but yelled, voicing what some within the DDF were thinking, before he added with further anger and frustration. "She has caused crimes across multiple worlds, is responsible for the deaths of many, and has caused havoc across the Digital World and all member worlds of the DDF, she deserves to be punished! How is helping her going to provide any form of justice!"
Turning to face him, Hashima gulped lightly to the way Davis glared at him, before the maroon haired champion then said back in reply. "Whatever cure there is for Kari will involve the Mana of Nexus, meaning..."
"She'll be stuck within Nexus as well!" Thomas finished as it clicked in his mind, his words causing everyone to understand what would happen.
"She won't be able to leave here or command the Dark Imperium anymore." Davis then said, before he looked at Hashima and stated. "Your war is over."
"So, she'll be stuck here with you." Suzie said with a small bitterness in her tone as she believed this wouldn't be a punishment for Kari, since she'd be getting what she wanted in the very end, to be with the one she loved.
As Davis spared Suzie a glare, Julie was the one who responded, the silver haired champion saying. "Davis has spent twenty thousand years fighting to protect the Fire Realm, never asking for anything in return. Doesn't he deserve to be happy in the end?"
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Suzie just looked to the side, not wanting to answer.
But curious himself, Kazu then inquired. "Um, what about the Dark Imperium itself?"
"Kari will speak with the rest of her followers and we'll take things as they go." Davis said in reply.
"Now, as we have time before we'll be going to the Dark Realm, you are all welcome to stay." The maroon haired champion then informed with hospitality as he looked around and then added with a small and serious glare. "But all military forces are to be sent back to the Digital World at once."
Looking at Takato, Gulimon, Jeri, Kenta and Cthyllamon, Davis then said with a serious tone. "And I made a promise to all of you, we will continue to look for a cure for the virus, and I won't go back on my word."
Glancing at one another, the five Infected nodded their heads in agreement, the group feeling a great sense of hope that they hadn't felt in the past five years.
Sighing and knowing he had no choice or say in the batter, Hashima then said in reply. "Very well, I will return to the council and inform them of all this, and I vow that we will not send any more military forces through to Nexus unless requested."
Nodding in response, Davis watched Hashima take his leave, before turning towards his old friends and new ones, telling them with a small smile. "Now, like I said, while we wait for word, you are all guests here in the Fire Realm, and thus, I'll show you guys around more and let you see more of the world I have lived in for the past twenty thousand years."
"However, I know there has been bad blood between all of you but suck it up! You're stuck together now." The maroon haired champion added with a sly grin, this causing TK, Takato and everyone else but Julie and Caleb to express some shock, each sparing a glance at their former friends turned enemies and knowing that this would be a very, very long adventure.
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Deep within a chamber within the Water Realm, a figure stood before a gathering of important individuals whose support he greatly sought.
The being was clad in blue cybernetic armour which made him look like a hi-tech samurai.
A helmet that had a crescent moon shaped on top adorned his head showed only a single dark blue eye upon his feature.
The Warlord Krytus held a prominent stature amongst the leaders of the Water Realm, having led several large, though unsuccessful invasions against the Fire Realm, and now, the Warlord sought support for his next invasion.
"My forces will claim the territories around the border and allow reinforcements to join us from our Realm." Krytus explained to those present as a holographic map showed off his battle strategy, before the Warlord added with a further sense of pride. "Logically, they will send their best to drive us off, and once we remove those threats, our forces will be able to proceed to the inner kingdoms with little resistance."
"Again, I protest this invasion, it will gain the Water Realms nothing and weaken our forces." Another voice spoke up, one that caused Krytus to glare upon with his robotic eye.
The Arch Savant, a being with great political, scientific and techno authority, an individual who could easily derail his plans to remove the Fire Realm threat, but thankfully not one whose support he needed.
"Furthermore, all simulations of this invasion have ended with failure, especially once the Fire Emperor's Champion intervenes." The Arch Savant then informed, his words causing several within the room to nod as he then added. "Also, the appearance of the digital beings and the humans with them needs to be approached with a diplomatic solution in order for us to gain knowledge of their method of entering and exiting Nexus through the Veil."
"Then I will bring them back to you so you can interrogate them, Arch Savant." Krytus said in reply.
Glaring at the individual, Krytus went on. "And as for the Fire Emperor's Champion, I will deliver his broken body to you once I have defeated him. His pride, arrogance and emotions are no match for pure logic."
"It is his logic that gives him strength. You would be wise to not underestimate him." The Arch Savant said back in reply, knowing the true power of the Fire Champion.
Scoffing, Krytus looked back upon those assembled and stated. "For too long, the Fire Realm has been a blight on the perfect world we seek to create. A conglomeration of flawed emotions, illogical behaviours and destructive natures. It is time for us to end their flawed ways and bring order to Nexus, the order of the Water Emperor!"
Looking around, Krytus saw four of the individuals nod their heads in agreement, expressing their support for his invasion, while the Arch Savant shook his head against the idea, which was followed by the others assembled within the chamber.
Fortunately for Krytus, the four were all he needed as the meeting adjourned, allowing the Warlord to prepare his forces and continue his crusade against the Fire Realm, to bring it to its knees, no matter the cost.
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Author's note: The meeting between Davis and Kari has finally happened, and their path forward has been made clear, while Davis prepares to show his friends the world he has been a part of all this time as they wait, but the rivalries and conflicts of Nexus are fast approaching. What will happen next? Stay tuned as the adventure continues.
