Empress…
Part 14 - Warmth


There they stayed, sharing each other's warmth, until Yolei broke the silence…

"Ken?" she calmly asked.

He looked up at her and into her sincere eyes.

"If you have to be the Emperor…," she paused slightly as her eyes filled with his warmth. "If you have to be the Emperor… then I'm the Empress…"


***


His eyes grew wide. He fell into a state of shock and looked out at the grey that surrounded them. Slowly, he loosened a bit. He realized that he was still wrapped in Yolei's warmth and she was in his.

Yolei continued to embrace him. A few warm tears began to flow from her eyes. She waited for Ken's reaction, holding him close.

Ken felt her warmth. It comforted him. His arms were still wrapped around her. He moved closer to her, wrapping his arms even farther. Pulling her closer.

As Yolei felt his kind embrace, she returned his feelings. She could feel his warmth. She could feel his emotions. She could feel his pain. She could feel his heartbeat. It was synchronized with hers. Ken's cape flowed over them. This only made the warmth grow stronger.

It was now dark. The grey sky was almost black. Ken and Yolei just stayed there. Locked in each other's embrace. Feeling each other's warmth.

Time was slow. The warmth grew.

Ken gently removed one of his hands from behind Yolei. Feeling this, she moved away from his shoulder and looked up into his eyes. Both their eyes showed signs of tears. Signs of pain. Signs of warmth. Ken looked at her, his eyes filled with the warmth. She gently closed her eyes.

He moved his hand to the side of her face. She felt complete. Slowly, he moved his face to hers. His eyes began to slip shut. He moved closer to her soft lips. Yolei felt his lips press again hers. Instinctively, she moved her arm up towards his hair. Yolei pulled him even closer and kissed back.

Both of their eyes stayed closed and it was as if the world around them disappeared. Nothing existed, but this. The kiss was gentle and kind, but still powerful. Neither one of them ever thought of ending this moment. Ken felt as if all his pain was disappearing. Yolei felt his warmth and felt complete. They stayed locked to each other, both of them caught in warm embrace.

Yolei completely lost sense of the world around her. All there was to her at this moment was Ken. She pulled him even closer causing the pair to slip backwards onto the ground. Ken was now on top of her, but neither one of them broke the kiss. They stayed locked in warm embrace.

Not one of them opened their eyes. They just let their bodies take over. Ken moved his hand against Yolei's face and hair as she did the same to him.

At the same moment, the pair slowly opened their eyes and faced each other. Ken moved to the side slightly as they broke their kiss.

Ken's cape still surrounded them, as the two figures lay on the forest floor.

Yolei opened her slightly closed eyes and turned to the figure next to her. Still under his cape, she moved on top of his chest and gently placed her head down. She moved one of her hands up as well. Her eyes grew heavy and closed.

Ken felt her. He moved his far arm up and kindly stoked her face. He allowed his eyes to shut.

Both figures still felt each other's warmth around them. Each of their thoughts filled with the activities that transpired. Each of their dreams filled with visions of the other.

In the darkness of the forest, there they lay, wrapped in warmth. Together. Not alone. Not scared. Peaceful and content. There they were… together…

Empress…
Part 15 - Shiver


Yolei instinctively moved her hand up to her face as she sat up. She opened her eyes and gazed out at the world around her. It was still grey. She spotted Ken. He was kneeling on the forest floor fiddling with a plant. Ken turned towards her. A slight smile was on his face. She moved to his side and sat down next to him.

"Sleep well?" he asked.

Yolei blushed slightly. She shifted her glance to the plant in his hand.

"What's that?"

"This?" he asked as he lifted it up. "I'm not too sure. It looks like the local plant life, but I haven't seen anything like it before."

"Oh. I see."

"Thank you."

Yolei looked up at him.

"I owe you more than I can ever repay."

She friendly moved an arm around him. "Ken… I'll always be here for you."

"As will I," he replied.

In deep though, the two sat there for awhile. Yolei broke the silence.

"Should we keep going?"

Ken got to his feet, then offered her a hand. "Let's go."

"Thanks," she smiled as she took his hand and moved to her feet.


***


The pair wandered through the strange forest. They talked to each other. Ken was finally starting to open up. And surprisingly, so was Yolei.

Yolei looked out into the distance. "Can you hear that?" she asked.

They stopped and began to look around. "It sounds like water," Yolei said as she looked at Ken.

'Water...?' Ken thought.

"It sounds close by. Come on!" Yolei turned to the direction of the noise and began walking towards it.

Breaking through the edge of the forest, Yolei found herself staring out at a vast body of water. Her excitement faded as a shiver pasted through her.

Ken appeared behind her. He looked out at the darkness around him. He moved closer to Yolei and put his hand on her shoulder.

Yolei looked back at him. "It's so dark."

Ken looked into her eyes. 'Why is this so familiar?' his mind asked. He looked back out at the dark ocean. His body froze. It was as if he fell into a trance. Ken removed his hand from Yolei's side and began to slowly walk onto the beach… and closer to the water.

"Ken?" Yolei questioned moving up after him. "Is everything alright?"

Ken did not acknowledge her presence. He just continued to step closer to the black waves.

"Ken!?" she asked more concerned.

When she didn't get an answer, she moved in front of him and put both her hands on his shoulders. "KEN!?"

A feeling of insecurity passed over her as she realized that he wasn't in control. He just kept moving closer and closer to the water. She began to panic. Using all her strength, she tried to stop him and hold him back. But, he was too strong for her. He continued to walk at the same pace.

Yolei felt the waves around her legs now. "Ken!?" she continued to scream. "Stop this Ken! Don't go any farther! KEN!?"

She continued to try to hold him back, and he continued to walk. In her efforts, she was being forced into the water aswell.

The water continued to get deeper around them. The cold liquid was now up to Yolei's neck.

"KEN!!! Listen to me! Please!" she wasn't going to give up. "Ken!!! Don't do this! I'm not going to let anything happen to you!" Just before they were forced under, Yolei took in a deep breath. "Ken…"

A cold darkness surrounded the pair. Yolei couldn't see anything anymore. She couldn't even breathe, but she didn't let go. Underwater, Ken continued to move deeper and deeper and Yolei refused to let go. She tried to force him to the surface. They both needed air. She was determined to save him! Her mind panicked. She was floating underwater holding onto his body. She was becoming weaker and knew she couldn't hold her breath much longer. In the darkness, she pulled herself closer and wrapped her body around Ken's. Her body twisted around his.

'Ken…' her body was about to give out. 'I'll always be here for you…' With her last bit of energy, she pressed her lips against his. She fell limp. The only thing keeping her from drifting away was her body swirled around his.

'I'll always be here for you…'

Empress…
Part 16 - Panic


'I'll always be here for you…'

Ken opened his eyes to find himself under a heavy black blanket. The moment he tried to breathe he released his position. It doesn't take a genius to figure out when you're underwater.

Frantically, he attempted to push himself upwards. He failed. It was as if his feet were sealed to the ocean floor. Ken couldn't see a thing. Only a cold darkness.

Ken moved his arms underwater, trying to break free. He felt something. It was around him. He glided his hands over it.

A feeling of shock past over Ken as his felt the it. He knew it all too well... the uniform... the lips...

Yolei.

Ken could feel himself losing consciousness. He pulled the limp figure closer. She wasn't moving. Ken still remained glued to the bottom of the ocean. He straightened her out. Without sight, he wrapped his arms around her familiar figure.

Still anchored to the ground, his body fell limp.

Two figures. Underwater. Unmoving.


***


Ken came to the realization that he could hear. Yolei was coughing.

He soon found himself doing the same thing. He gasped for air. It was like there wasn't enough. When his body seemed to be satisfied, he opened his heavy eyes and looked out to see grey. It wasn't the forest grey though. It was more a pale metallic.

'Yolei!' The boy quickly began to search for the girl. It hit him. He couldn't really move. His hands. His legs. Everything was tied down. Ken's eyes opened wide as his discovered himself chained to what seemed to be a wall. His arms out like wings, locked down at the wrist. His legs cuffed. A metal band around his waist. 'What the?'

Yolei coughed again. Ken looked down. He spotted her.

"Yolei!"

She looked weak and drained. Some of her color was missing. Ken's mind filled with fear. She was lying on a grey table. Her arms and legs tied in a similar fashion to his. She was almost in tears.

She was only a few meters away. All Ken wanted to do was reach out to her.

But, he was trapped. Ken tried to break free and move to her. He could feel metal start to cut into his arms. He found the entire task difficult, as he noticed that he was at least a meter off the ground and therefore had no place for his weight except against the wall behind him.

"Yolei?" Ken asked. He began to worry even more when he received no answer. She tightly closed her eyes as if she was in pain.

Ken panicked. "Yolei!?" He struggled to break free.

"Stop that boy. You'll hurt yourself." An unfamiliar voice broke him from his thoughts.

Ken froze. A chilling feeling pasted through him.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

The dark voice continued...

"Now Emperor." Ken's eyes grew wide. "That's no way to treat a lady."

"What!?" Ken's mind was asking a million questions at once. The most prominent one reached the surface. "What did you do to Yolei!?"

An evil laugh echoed though the room.

"Show yourself!" Ken shouted.

A dark figure emerged from a shadow on the wall. The closer it came, the more Ken could make out. A strangely dressed older woman came into view. She wore a dark red outfit complimented with purple. White hair flowed out from under her hat. The collar of her top hid the bottom half of her face. The rest of her profile was masked under dark sunglasses.

"Who are you and what do you want!?" Ken shouted at her.

She laughed. "That's simple. I'm evil, and I want you."

Empress…
Part 17 - Captured Hearts


"What!?" Ken exclaimed.

The older woman moved directly in front of him. "You heard me," she replied. The puzzled expression on Ken's face seemed to amuse her. She brought her arm up and gently stroked Ken's face. Ken cringed at the touch making her move back. "Foolish boy!" she shouted, shocking Ken slightly. She looked at Ken, then laughed. "You don't get it, do you?"

"What!?" Ken repeated. She just stared at him. Ken's frustration grew into anger as he tried to move away and metal, once again, cut into his body. "What do you want with us?" he shouted.

The older woman brushed some of her white hair off her face and Ken realized that she couldn't be much more than thirty. She turned from him and moved to the ground. Ken's mind filled with a panic-like fear as she approached Yolei.

"Get away from her!" yelled Ken. The woman stopped in her tracks. After being still for a moment, she turned her attention back to Ken. She walked up to the boy.

"Why should I?" she questioned. Ken just looked at her confused. "Why did you question me?" she demanded.

Ken shifted his view to Yolei. "Because...," he began, "Because... I..."

"Arukenimon? Where are you, my dear?" an almost goofy voice interrupted, and both the woman and Ken looked to the side of the room. There stood a man. He was dressed in dark blue rimmed with gold. His face was almost completely hidden from view in shadows.

"What is it now?" replied the woman sounding annoyed.

"Oh, there you are, my darling Arukenimon," the man said as he came further into the room. The woman made an annoyed and disgusted expression, as she turned her back to Ken.

Ken watched confused. 'Arukenimon...?' Ken wondered, 'Does this mean she's a digimon?'

"But dear, I want to be with you," Ken was broken from his thoughts by the sound of the man protesting.

"Shut up, Mummymon!" she shouted at him.

"But dear..."

"You're just getting in the way!"

"Then let me help you, my dear."

The woman played with her hair looking extremely annoyed. "Fine," she answered trying to contain her rage.

'Arukenimon and Mummymon?' Ken thought as he watched the two human-like digimon.

"What would you like me to do?" asked Mummymon.

"Go away," muttered Arukenimon under her breath. "Where was I anyway?" she questioned.

"Arukenimon?" Mummymon asked.

"Now I remember!" she exclaimed. Arukenimon turned to Ken once again. "Boy!" she shouted at him. "Why don't you want me going near that girl?"

Ken looked up at Arukenimon. "Stay away from her!" he shouted.

She moved back a bit, then an evil idea came into her head. "Mummymon?" she asked.

"Yes, my dear," he replied.

"Go over to that girl over there," she ordered. Mummymon was happy to listen and moved next to Yolei. By this time, Ken didn't even known if Yolei was conscious. Her eyes were closed and a look of agonizing pain was on her face. A chilling feeling went through Ken as he watched the digimon move up to her. "Stay away from her!!!," he screamed again.

Arukenimon smiled deviously as she watched Ken.

Ken looked at her. 'She likes seeing me mad...' he figured. "Let her go!" Ken ordered.

"Ummm...," Arukenimon continued to play with her hair. "No," she calmly replied.

Ken's mind filled with rage. "She hasn't done anything! Let her go!" protested Ken.

"Now Emperor," spoke Arukenimon, "It sounds like you feel for this little girl."

Ken stared at Yolei. His eyes began to water slightly. "Yes..." He turned his head up to face Arukenimon. "I do feel for her!"

Hearing this, Mummymon shifted his attention to Ken.

"Please," Ken begged, "Let her go!"

"Why should I?" the female digimon questioned. "I'm not going to let her go just because you want me to."

Ken's eyes grew wide. "Please..." he begged. He shifted his attention downwards. 'Please!'

Arukenimon thought about it for a moment, then responded. "Fine."

'What?' Ken looked up again.

"Mummymon!" she called.

"Yes, my dear," the digimon answered.

"Bring me the girl," she ordered.

Ken watched in fear as Mummymon released the metal holding Yolei down, and picked her up into his arms. Mummymon then moved towards Arukenimon and Ken, but stopped about a meter away. It broke Ken's heart to see Yolei in that state. She looked almost dead.

Ken attempted to move closer to her. He didn't care about the pain rushing through his body as the metal bands went deeper into his skin. All he wanted to do was be with Yolei.

"Place her in a cell," Arukenimon ordered the other digimon.

Mummymon nodded, turned, and walked towards the shadows. Ken tried to reach out to her fading body. He watched until Yolei was gone from view, and continued to watch after she was gone.

After a long moment, Arukenimon moved up to Ken again and Ken's focus turned back to the female digimon. She plucked a single hair from her head. Almost instantly, it straightened into a sharp needle like object.

"What are you doing?" questioned Ken.

"I never said I wouldn't hurt you...," she coolly replied. She pushed the needle into Ken's neck. Ken's body jerked at the touch and soon a sharp pain passed through him.

Arukenimon laughed. "Don't worry Emperor, I won't hurt your Empress… yet."

Before he could do a thing, Ken's eyes fell closed as a dark pain pierced his body.

Empress…
Part 18 - Images Of Return


Ken regained consciousness and found himself lying on a hard cold floor. Where ever he was, it was dark. All around him were shadows and shades of dark grey. Sitting up, Ken noticed that he no longer had any shackles on his arms and legs. He moved his head to the side. He felt something strange. Naturally reaching his hands up, he felt something hard around his neck. It was tight. Ken tried to remove it, but had trouble even placing his fingers between it and his skin. Quickly, his thoughts fell on Yolei again. He frantically began to look around, noticing the bars that surrounded him. Then he saw something. A shadow that seemed to cast itself on the floor in a corner of the strange cell. Running to it, Ken quickly knew exactly what it was.

"Yolei!"

Running to her side, Ken saw her lying on the ground, facing downwards, hair a mess covering her head and face. Ken turned her body to face him. She looked like she was unconscious, in pain, and...

Ken froze.

Around Yolei's neck was something Ken hoped he'd never see again. The mere thought sent chills down Ken's spine. Around Yolei's neck was a dark ring.

"Yolei!" Ken shouted at he shook her body trying to wake her up. His entire mind was being flooded with different emotions.

"Yolei! You have to get up!" screamed Ken.

Yolei opened her eyes in a dazed fashion. A look of confusion and pain covered her face. "Ken?" she questioned, looking up at him.

A sigh of relief flooded through Ken. "Yolei," he replied as he gently hugged her in his arms. "I was so worried about you!"

Tears began to build in Yolei's eyes. "Ken!" Yolei spoke as she held the boy tighter. "You're alive!" They broke apart slightly and the pair sat across from each other on the floor. Looking around, Yolei became aware of her setting. When her eyes past by Ken's neck, her confusion grew. "What happened?" she asked.

"I'm not too sure," replied Ken. "But we seem to be prisoners of two digimon - Arukenimon and Mummymon." Ken gestured towards the ring on her neck, then the one on his. "They're holding us here for some reason."

Yolei started to break down. Ken noticed right away and attempted to comfort her. He moved his hand to her shoulder, but on contact, she winced and edged away from him.

Ken was now worried. "What's wrong?" he asked.

'Huh?' Yolei looked at him. "It hurts..." she took a deep breathe. "My back… it hurts…"

Ken moved closer to her and Yolei turned, revealing her back to him. Ken moved what was left of her cape to the side and began to examine her back. He moved his fingers over her shirt, along her vertebrae. "Where does it hurt?" he asked.

Yolei felt the position of his hands move. He hit the area and her body jolted a little. She looked over her shoulder. "There," she replied.

Ken looked over the area more closely. He couldn't see much of anything through the fabric of her shirt. Gently, he moved his hand towards her neck and found the digital world's version of a zipper. He slowly moved it down her back, revealing her skin and the area. Yolei didn't really seem to mind. She felt a sense of security being with Ken.

Ken studied the area of Yolei's upper back. Parts seem to be red and swore. He removed his gloves from his hands and put them on the ground next to her. Ken gently placed his fingers on her skin. She reacted to the touch by slowly moving her head to the side. Ken's fingers seemed to dance on her skin as he examined her back.

"Your back is really swore," commented the boy. Yolei rolled her shoulders under his touch. "And you're tense."

The lavender-haired girl gently moaned as Ken began to massage her back muscles. He pushed his figures against her skin trying to even out the tenseness. Each one of his figures making an almost circular pattern, Yolei slowly began to loosen up. "How's that?" Ken wondered.

Ken moved his hands up to her neck mussels and continued to massage. "Nice," she replied.

The boy now moved his hands in a gentle rhythm, pushing his fingers deeper into her skin. She moved with him and arched her back slightly. Ken continued to massage her and Yolei's body definitely liked the sensation.

After a few minutes, Ken felt her loosen up and her body relax. Without warning, Yolei turned to face Ken and pressed her lips onto his.

Ken was shocked at first, but then he too relaxed into the kiss. When their lips separated, both of them slowly opened their eyes and made perfect eye contact.

"Thank you," whispered the girl.

The boy just looked into her beautiful eyes as an understanding smile appeared on his face.

"Don't worry, Yolei. I'll get that ring off of you… I'll get you out of here… I'll protect you… I'll watch over you… And I'll make sure you are returned to your friends again… I promise! I'll always be here for you!"

Yolei's eyes brightened and she hugged him. The girl then smiled and spoke up. "And I'm not going anywhere without you at my side..."

Empress…
Part 19 - This Can't Be Happening


Rays of a strange grey light awaked the pair as a door opened in the far away shadows. Yolei held Ken's hand as Arukenimon stepped into the room. She wore an evil smirk on her face as she approached the cell bars and peered in at the two.

"I finally have a job for you," she told them.

Yolei seemed to be confused, but Ken's eyes filled with hatred. "What do you mean, job?" he asked the older woman.

"Oh, you'll see Emperor boy," she answered as she shifted her eyes to Yolei. "I've found a way to kill two birds with one stone."

Ken grew annoyed and angry, but their attention was diverted when another figure stepped into the room. Arukenimon was the one annoyed when she realized it was Mummymon.

"Get out of here!" the older woman yelled at the male digimon.

"But dear…" he protested.

"Now!"

"Alright, but please don't hurt them." Mummymon's words made everyone else in the room raise an eyebrow. "They look so cute together. Like we should," the male digimon said as he watched Arukenimon.

"Out!" she ordered. As if a puppet on a string, the male digimon did as he was told and slunk out the door. Arukenimon watched him leave, then hit her hand to her head and sighed.

Yolei looked over at Ken. "That's Mummymon?" she whispered to him. "He doesn't seem all that bad to me."

Ken wasn't too sure how to respond, but figured that he was just a lovesick fool. "Perhaps, but we have to be careful about Arukenimon. She's holding us here with some sort of plan in mind. Plus, she put dark rings on the both of us," Ken replied to the lavender-haired girl next to him.

The two were broken from their thoughts as Arukenimon spoke up again. "Girl!" Yolei shifted her eyes to the woman. "Come here..." the digimon ordered.

"Stay away from her!" Ken shouted as her placed himself between the two.

"Temper, temper, Emperor..." spoke the evil digimon as she twirled her hair around a few of her gloved fingers. Ken sneered and he stood in front of Yolei, arms out in a protective stance. Arukenimon laughed deviously. "Remember, I control both of you," the dark digimon said.

"What?" Ken shouted at her.

"You heard me."

Ken felt Yolei's hand on his shoulder, then looked back her. She gestured towards the ring around his neck, then dropped her vision to the floor. Ken's eyes widened in fear. Arukenimon did control them. And there wasn't anything the two of them could do about it.

Suddenly, Yolei looked up again, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Ken saw this as a fighting chance. "No!" Ken screamed. "You can't control us! We won't do anything you want us to!"

"And who said you have a choice?" replied Arukenimon with confidence. "You're my pets now." The insect type digimon then turned her attention back to Yolei. "Come here girl," she commanded.

"Never!" the soldier of sincerity replied. She hugged Ken and he held her tight.

Arukenimon raised an eyebrow, then opened her hand and faced her palm towards the girl. "Come to me..."

Ken tightened his grip and turned to look into Yolei's eyes. But he didn't find the bright warm eyes he was used to. He found frozen, cold, lifeless eyes staring back at him. Yolei slowly loosened her grip on the boy, but he refused to let her go. She fell into a deep trance-like state.

Ken then switched his hands positions and placed both his hands on either side of her face. "Yolei?" he asked. Finding the answer he feared, he shouted, "Snap out of it, Yolei!"

Just as the last word left his mouth, Yolei moved her right arm up and forced the boy backwards into the cell wall's bars with an inhuman force. The boy lay in a heap on the floor.

Arukenimon began to laugh again. "Come now, my child..." she told Yolei. The girl turned from Ken, then began to walk towards the evil digimon.

Forcing himself of the floor, the boy looked at the girl. "Yolei?" he questioned as he watched her near the cell wall. His body ached. Whatever force Yolei had used to force him into the outer edge of the cell was tremendous. It had weakened him greatly. "Yolei!?" he repeated. "Yolei! Stop!" he screamed as the object of his heart effortlessly passed through the cell wall as if it was an illusion. Yolei moved directly in front of Arukenimon before turning back towards Ken. She stared out into space, hypnotized. Ken's mind screamed as Arukenimon placed her hand on Yolei's shoulder, as if holding her under her wing.

"See now Emperor," said the evil voice of the dark woman. "Your Empress is mine."

Ken's eyes grew wide. "Let her go! Take me instead! Use me for your plan!"

"You don't get it, do you?" laughed Arukenimon.

"What?" shouted Ken.

"My dear Emperor... I'm killing two birds with one stone. No only am I using your Empress to get your friends to fall into my trap and become my puppets," she paused a moment to look down at the boy. "I'm going to break your heart..."

Ken froze.

"Say goodbye to your Empress..."

Arukenimon and Yolei began to move away from the cell and out into the shadows.

Ken dragged his body to the cell wall closest to where they just were. Reaching out his hand to her fading body, Ken screamed.

"Yolei!!!"

Empress…
Part 20 - Strange Fate


"Yolei!!!"

Even after she faded into the darkness around him, Ken still reached out his hand. Before him was nothing but bars and shadows. He knew that he had to do something. Ken wasn't too sure what Arukenimon was planning, but he couldn't bare the idea that Yolei could be used. That she could be hurt. That the others could be hurt. He couldn't let it happen.

He then lay back down on the cold hard floor of the cell. He was weak. If he was going to do anything, he needed his strength back first.


***


Arukenimon took Yolei through her dark base. She stopped when she spotted Mummymon leaning on a wall waiting for them.

"What do you want!?" the spider digimon demanded. "I thought I told you to go away!"

"You did," he replied, "but I could never leave you, my darling Arukenimon."

Arukenimon's face twisted in a disgusted expression, but that didn't stop Mummymon from continuing.

"Arukenimon... Why?" Mummymon said with a genuine expression as he looked at the female digimon. "You were never like this before, then why? Why do you want to hurt them so much? What are you going to do with the girl?"

Arukenimon grew even more annoyed. She then turned away from the male digimon and faced the controlled Yolei. Yolei looked like a mess. She was dirty, her hair was tangled and knotted, her eyes lacked substance, she still wore the tattered uniform of the Empress, and a dark ring was around her neck. Arukenimon noticed her appearance. The evil digimon knew that this would not fool the other digidestined. She moved one of her gloved hands up to the girl's face and seemed to cast a spell. An illusion. Yolei was still a mess, but to normal eyes, Yolei looked just as she was before the dark sphere overtook Ken and herself. Arukenimon cackled at this. Her plan was working perfectly.

Mummymon just watched from the side. He did love Arukenimon. He had always stood be her side, but this... this was crazy! Mummymon wanted no part in it! He felt sorry for Ken and for Yolei. It seemed that a part of the male digimon could relate to Ken and the way he was feeling. He didn't want the woman he loved to cause someone the pain he felt.

As the female digimon lead Yolei out of the room they were in, Mummymon spoke up. "Arukenimon, stop this!" The female digimon turned to Mummymon. He continued. "Please! Stop this! You don't need any slaves! You don't need to control everything! There's no point! What happened to the Arukenimon I once loved? What happened to the Arukenimon I would do anything to protect and be with!? What happened to you? What happened to your heart...?"

It seemed if the woman's eyes glazed over in cold hatred. "You know just as well as I do," she dryly replied. "My heart died a long time ago. The Arukenimon you once knew died then too..." Her voice trailed off. She avoided eye contact as she slowly turned and lead Yolei out of the room, back into darkness.

Mummymon watched as she left. He felt horrible. He knew what happened. He just didn't want to except it. A few years before, the two Digimon were together. They were in love and never left each other's side. Then one day a dark man came. He said he was from another world. He took Arukenimon away and Mummymon couldn't do a thing. His heart broke, but he didn't give up hope. Mummymon then spent the next few years searching the Digital World for his beloved Arukenimon, but when he finally found her, she wasn't the same. She felt alone and abandoned. Mummymon was relieved to have her back, but something wasn't right. It was like all the pain she went though was given a voice. She became consumed by dark emotions and love was no longer part of her life. All she wanted was revenge of sorts. She wanted all love destroyed. She wanted to rid the Digital World of any goodness and she wanted the Digital World all to herself. No only that, but she would stop at nothing to get it. Mummymon was loyal though. He still believed in the Arukenimon that he once loved. After all, even though she treated him badly, Arukenimon let Mummymon stay with her. It was as if a part of her longed to go back to the way it was, but the dark part was too strong to resist.

Arukenimon was evil now. Mummymon remembered how she found a young digidestined years before with a painful heart. She corrupted it and created a path for the darkness. It flowed into the young boy's body and soul. He became evil. She allowed this now evil digidestined to enter the Digital World. He wasn't just a digidestined. He was smart. A genius infact, but he never found out about the female digimon using him. Mummymon remembered watching in horror as Arukenimon enjoyed watching the boy begin to take over the Digital World. He called himself the Digimon Emperor. He built an evil base and dark towers. Arukenimon fed his mind knowledge on dark rings, and pretty soon he was building those too. Now the boy was enslaving Digimon. Arukenimon seemed to be happy at this, so Mummymon never interfered. Even when the boy's partner Digimon appeared, and was beaten by the boy, Mummymon didn't interfere. Now looking back, Mummymon wished he had at least done something.

But then the digidestined appeared form the other world. Children with pure hearts. They began to ruin the boy's plans, and in turn, began to ruin Arukenimon's plans. A part of Mummymon was cheering on these digidestined. He hoped that with their help, everything could be returned to the way it was, but he didn't interfere. He just watched from the shadows. He watched as his precious Arukenimon's rage grew when she realized that the Emperor had himself fallen in love. With the enemy in fact. He watched as Arukenimon's blood boiled as the girl returned the feelings and set the boy free of her spell. Mummymon watched as Arukenimon was consumed by even more darkness as her digidestined of evil turned into the digidestined of kindness and was in love with the sincere and loving girl, Yolei. Now the boy she had turned evil, was the very thing she hated. Arukenimon couldn't bare it and captured the boy again, but this time, he took the girl too. She figured she would cause the Emperor pain for failing her. She would make the girl he loved the Empress and break his heart. Mummymon didn't want this to happen and to his surprise, after she captured them, Arukenimon left them alone for awhile. She didn't attack right away. She watched instead. Then, when the bitterness grew too strong, she took control of the girl's heart.

Mummymon knew that this was what was happening. He knew that Yolei would soon be consumed by evil and used for darkness. He knew Ken's heart would be in pain. He knew what that feeling was like. Slowly, he removed himself from the wall he was leaning on. Now Mummymon had a chance to do something. And he wasn't about to let this chance get away.

The male digimon walked down the dark corridors to where the boy lay. He moved inside the room. There on the floor was the boy Arukenimon had used. There was the boy whose heart was being broken. There lay Ken.

Mummymon moved closer to the boy. Ken couldn't rest, not with Yolei out there somewhere, being used like that. Ken just lay there watching the shadows, trying to think of a plan. Hearing a presence behind him, the boy turned to see the male digimon looking in at him through the bars.

"What do you want?" Ken asked almost angrily.

Mummymon didn't answer though. He just looked down at the boy. Ken then turned and stood up. He walked over to the bars and looked out at Mummymon on the other side. Ken already knew that he wasn't that evil, but he still feared Mummymon and had no trust for him what so ever.

The male digimon looked into the boy's eyes. He saw Ken's hope. Finally, Mummymon spoke. "She's going to use the one you love to cause you pain."

This was not what Ken wanted to hear, but Mummymon kept talking. "She was never like this before! But then..." Mummymon choked on his words. "Then she turned evil. Her heart froze. I never left her side though. I always loved her. I still do, but she's changed so much. I know somewhere is the Arukenimon I once loved, I just have to find her! You see Ken, she is the one who filled your heart with her own darkness. It was her that caused you all this pain. It's her that's causing you more! But now... I can't sit back anymore! She must be stopped! You digidestined have to stop her!"

Ken's expression now changed. He looked at Mummymon differently. Mummymon wasn't an evil digimon, but a loyal companion to the woman he loved. Ken looked out into the shadows. It was all starting to come clear. Everything was starting to make sense. Ken began to put the pieces together in his mind.

"Ken?"

The boy looked back at the digimon.

"She has put a spell on your Empress. It's almost like the one she used one you long ago, but it's been modified to give her more control. Arukenimon won't let her plan fail this time." As Mummymon said this, Ken couldn't help but worry more. "She doesn't want your Empress braking free. But Emperor..." Ken looked up at the male digimon telling him this. He felt a twinge of guilt when he heard that name, but continued to listen. "The spell she cast on you was broken when your Empress, Yolei, came into your life and you felt love. This means that you are the only one who can save that girl from this spell. You are the one that girl loves..."

With that, Mummymon opened the door to the cell and motioned for Ken to exit. Ken, still in shock over everything he just learned, stepped out into the shadow filled room. He just stared surprised at Mummymon.

Seeing this, Mummymon spoke. "I know what it feels like. I know what you're going through." Ken continued to stare at the digimon.

Mummymon pointed with his hand at faraway shadows.

"Go to her…"

Ken now felt a sense of trust towards the male digimon. He nodded in thanks at Mummymon, then took off running out into the shadows to find his Empress... and set her free...

Empress…
Part 21 - Reunion Misery


Meanwhile, in the shadows, two figures watched the remaining digidestined and their partners. The taller, older figure spoke to the smaller one.

"Now Empress, I've had a change of plan." The female digimon played with her hair while staring at the girl in front of her. She had an idea. "I don't need any more slaves. I'm bored now." Arukenimon had a flashback of what Mummymon had told her before she left. She then shook it off and became cold again. "Get close to them," Arukenimon said as she briefly looked out at the digidestined wandering around in the forest. "Then destroy them!" she ordered the girl.

Yolei looked out at the digidestined, her eyes slightly closed and a grim smile on her face. "It will be my pleasure, my master."

Arukenimon seemed to be pleased by this, then turned away and began to move back into the shadows. Before leaving the girl behind, the female digimon mentioned something else to Yolei.

"I'll be watching you. You better not fail me...!"

With that, Arukenimon vanished from sight, leaving Yolei, under a deep spell, watching her old friends with hatred in her eyes.


***


"We've been searching for days now," Davis said with a sigh as he dragged along with the others.

"I know," Kari replied in a serious tone. "But we have to keep looking." The solider of light stopped walking and turned back to look down at Hawkmon and Wormmon. The two partner digimon looked fairly depressed. "Cheer up guys," she told them, "We'll find them. Don't worry!"

TK and Patamon moved to Kari's side and joined her in watching the Digimon. They were both looking at the ground. TK then bent down in front of the two digimon and spoke. "We just have to keep looking. Trust me. They're out there somewhere. We just have to figure out where."

Hawkmon looked up at the boy. "You really believe that?" he questioned.

"Yeah, I do," to the boy of hope replied.

Hawkmon smiled slightly back at TK. TK responded with his classic goofy grin. TK put his right hand on Wormmon's head. "Have a little faith," he said before turning around.

Davis and Veemon were now sitting on the ground next to Cody and Armidillomon. Kari and TK both sighed. The sky was starting to get dark. "I guess it's about time to call it a day anyway," Kari said as she sat down next to Gatomon. TK quickly joined them, using his hand to motion Hawkmon and Wormmon over. The two depressed digimon moved closed to the group. Some of the group closed their eyes, others just sat and watched the shadows around them. Hawkmon just looked up at the sky through the branches. 'Where are you Yolei?' he thought to himself. They all just sat there on the forest floor, in their own thoughts.

And silence followed.


***


Back in the shadows, Yolei just looked out. She saw Hawkmon. Thanks to the spell, she felt nothing but hatred and coldness towards the feathered digimon. When her false rage reached its peak, the dark girl decided to make her move.


***


Hearing a noise out in the shadows of the forest, Hawkmon and the others turned and looked in the direction it seemed to be coming from. One by one, their eyes filled with a strange hope. A figure began to emerge out of the darkness. It seemed to be holding its side, its long hair flowing behind it.

Hawkmon's eyes lit up. "It couldn't be..." the feathered digimon said in disbelief. The figure continued to come closer. The identity of the figure still somewhat hidden in shadows, was coming clear. Finally, it stepped into the light, revealing its identity.

"Yolei!" Hawkmon shouted, almost in shock. His eyes glued to he figure before him.

There stood the girl, appearing just as she was the last time any of them saw her. She looked tired and she held her side as if in pain. This was only an illusion though. Under it all, was a controlled girl in tattered clothes with a painful heart. But they had no way of knowing.

Eyes growing wide, all the digidestined and digimon quickly ran to her aid as she pretended to collapse. "Yolei!" they screamed.

"Hawkmon? Is it really you?" Yolei asked, acting as if she was out of energy.

As the feathered digimon hugged her, a tear fell from his eyes. "Yes, Yolei! I finally found you!" he told her lovingly as he hugged her tighter.

The moment ended when Wormmon cut in. "Where's Ken?" the little green digimon inquired.

Yolei turned to Wormmon and gave him a cold look. Wormmon jumped back a bit. The look was too similar to the ones Ken use to give him when he was the Emperor. Yolei, realizing her mistake, softened her expression and spoke softly. "I don't know. He went off to look for you guys, but he never returned." Yolei looked down at the ground. Wormmon said nothing. That wasn't the answer he was hoping for, but for some reason he couldn't believe it. Something about the way Yolei looked at his the first time make a chill go down his spine. There was something wrong and it prevented the digimon from trusting her.

"Oh..." was all Wormmon managed to say as he turned away from the group. The digimon's thoughts went in circles.

Kari and Gatomon, noticing Wormmon's retreat, looked over at the digimon and saw the sadness in his expression. The cat-like digimon and her partner walked over to Wormmon, and Gatomon put a paw on his shoulder. Kari bent down it front of him. "Don't worry! We'll look for Ken tomorrow, alright?" Wormmon just nodded. He couldn't stop thinking about the look Yolei gave him. It was so unlike her. She was bright and cheerful. This was more like... more like the Emperor. Cold and deadly. After a short time, Wormmon turned from his thoughts and returned to the group. Everyone was gathered around Yolei, asking her questions and comforting her. Wormmon decided to keep a close eye on her. He couldn't shake the feeling something wasn't right.

The little green insect digimon watched Yolei, then shifted his gaze at the newly visible stars above.

'Where are you, Ken...?'


***


All the while, Ken was still running. He was tired and weak, but that didn't matter. He was determined to find Yolei and set her free. He had left in the direction Mummymon had pointed him in. It led him back into the dark grey forest he once was in. He ran through the trees and branches, and kept running. He had no idea how to get back to the real forest from which he once came. He had no idea where Yolei was. He had no idea which direction he was going, but still he ran through the darkness.

Using only his heart to guide him, he ran...

Empress…
Part 22 - Demon In Light


The night could send chills through a person's spine. There was a strange element lurking in the air. It was silent. The digidestined slept on the forest floor. Yolei lay there too, with Hawkmon at her side. He was gently holding on to her, as if to prevent her from disappearing again. Wormmon, however, just looked up at the stars. It seemed like he was searching for Ken in those stars. His eyes turned back down to the sleeping girl nearby. The insect digimon knew something wasn't right. He could feel it. Somehow he knew that Ken could make it right. So he looked back up, and continued to stare out at the night's sky.

Somewhere around them in the shadows, Arukenimon was watching. Waiting.

The night grew even darker. Even colder. Suddenly, Yolei's eyes snapped open. She slowly removed herself from Hawkmon's grip. Like a demon's awakening, it seemed she was growing out of the ground as she made her way to her feet. She stepped out of the huddled group, then looked down at them from the side.

"Fools!" she muttered under her breath. "Are you so easy to trust a demon?" She slightly laughed.

From somewhere deep in the shadows, she heard the orders of the female digimon. "Destroy them...!" It was as if the sound was being carried by the wind itself and it had an errie quality.

The girl smiled smugly. She narrowed her eyes as she looked down at all of them. Slowly, she put forward her arm. She was going to attack with the same mysterious power she used on Ken earlier.

Behind her, Wormmon's eyes grew wide. A fearful realization passed over him. A panic like confusion flooded his mind. She wasn't the same girl he met before. She was dark, cold... evil.

Wormmon let out a whimper as he stood in disbelief. Hearing it, Yolei, leaving her palm facing the sleeping digidestined, turned her head back to meet eye contact with the frightened, wide-eyed digimon. He froze, staring at her. The little digimon was almost shaking.

Finally, Wormmon spoke up. But he didn't just speak. He shouted.

"What are you!? Who are you!?" the little digimon screamed at the girl before him.

The noise was enough to disturb some of the digidestined's sleep. A few of them groggy and tired brought their hands to their faces, rubbing their eyes as if waking up in the morning. Yolei looked with dark eyes at the green digimon, then shifted her attention back to the digidestined. She got ready to attack. Kari looked out to where to source of the disturbance seemed to be.

"Wormmon?" the solider of light quietly asked. She blinked. There in front of her was Yolei with one hand out-stretched. Her palm was facing them.

By now, all of them were sitting up staring at Yolei's figure before them. Yolei's eyes almost gave off an evil glow.

"Yolei?" Kari now questioned. "What are you doing?"

The Empress smiled inwardly. Holding her hand out, she attacked.

"Goodbye..."

With that, a strange invisible energy force hit the children and digimon partners, sending them all flying backwards into the forest directly behind them.

"Watch out!" Wormmon yelled after them, a split-second too late.

They hit the ground.

Davis, tired and weak from the attack, managing to lift his upper body of the ground, reached his hand out to Yolei's. "Wha...," the goggled head boy started, fighting to stay awake. He stared into her cold eyes. "Why...?" he managed to say as his strength let up and he collapsed onto the forest floor.

Hawkmon lay with them. He blindly stared at Yolei. Kari and a few of the others still conscious did the same. They just stared unbelieving that such a thing was happening. They didn't move. Just looked at her with blind eyes.

Yolei looked back at them. She evilly laughed a bit. Turning, she met Wormmon's gaze. "Now, for you…" she hushed as she faced her hand towards the little digimon.

"What did you do with Ken!?" the digimon screamed at the girl. Yolei turned her head to the side. Wormmon looked up at her. Quickly, she turned her head back, releasing another attack from her palm. The little digimon flew backwards and bounced on the forest floor a bit before coming to a complete stop. His eyes closed, the digimon was still.

From where she watched, Arukenimon grinned with delight to see her plan coming together.

The Empress turned to face the digidestined once again. "Now to finish you off."

All of them were slowly regaining consciousness and staring back at her, eyes filled with fear and pain. She was about to attack them, her friends, and finish them off... But a voice stopped her…

"Yolei...?"

The girl looked out to see a boy standing in the distance. A tattered navy and yellow uniform hung off him. His breathing was hard. His exhausted loving eyes half-hidden behind messy hair that was shades of blue. A dark ring around his neck. He looked out at her.

"Ken?"

"Yolei..."

"I'll destroy you."

Empress…
Part 23 - Unsealing Powers


Ken looked out into her eyes. Part of him was expecting this, but the part of him that wasn't didn't know what to make of the girl in front of him. Ken knew she was being controlled. He knew it just by looking into her eyes. Her eyes were only too familiar to him. She didn't look the same though. Ken still looked like the Emperor. He was expecting her to look as he did, but instead she looked just like she did before. He didn't really know what to make of it.

"Yolei..."

She just stared back at him coldly. He stared to approach her. Ken paused when she outstretched her arm. As she did before, she faced her palm towards the boy. But Ken wasn't going to give up. He knew he was the only one who could stop her. He knew that he had to stop her. He took a step closer. The moment he did, she attacked him. Ken let out an agonizing moan as his body flew backwards. He fell to the ground.

The digidestined still at the side were slowly regaining their energy as they watched. To them, all they saw was the Digimon Emperor and their friend. But they knew something wasn't right. No one said a word though. They just watched. When they saw Yolei attack the Emperor, questions flooded their minds. But they stayed silent as they watched.

Yolei began to calmly walk towards Ken's body. She still pointed her palm down towards him. Surprisingly, Ken pulled himself off the ground from where he lay. He breathed hard. It was obvious that he was exhausted and hurt, but his determination proved otherwise. His shoulder hung as he forced himself to his feet. He looked out at the girl and stared into her eyes.

"Stop this..."

She just came closer and closer, ready to attack. But then Ken saw something else in her eyes. It was almost curiosity. Her cold eyes softened slightly as she stared back at him. Ken took this opportunity.

"Yolei... Arukenimon is using you. Just like she used me…!" He frantically searched her eyes for a response. Instead, she tensed and readied to attack again. But Ken wasn't about to quit. Not after all this. "Yolei... please listen to me! Please…!"

Ken felt a sense of hopelessness, as she was about to finish him off. He broke eye contact and looked down at the ground.

To his surprise, she stopped her approach about a meter away from him. "Why should I?" the lavender haired girl questioned.

Ken was still. He kept searching for the perfect response. He was failing. All the words he had thought of saying just vanished. Silent tears fell out of his eyes as he stared downwards.

Slowly, he looked up to face her icy gaze. He stared out at her. Ken could feel a familiar pain pierce his heart. He couldn't let this happen. He wasn't about to be destroyed by the woman loved. He wasn't going to let her hurt anyone. He couldn't bare to see her like this. He knew that in some ways he was staring at a reflection of himself before he felt love. He knew that he had a small chance. He was determined not to let it get away. "Because..." he started, breathing hard. His watery eyes met hers. His expression softened.

"Because… because I love you!"

Yolei froze completely. She stopped in her tracks completely. Her eyes stared into space. Something was happening.

"Yolei...?" the boy questioned. She said nothing. She did nothing. She just stood there frozen.

"Yolei?" Ken questioned again.

Suddenly, she broke out of her trance and looked up. Her eyes met the boys. Seconds felt like hours. Time was slow. They just stared. 'Love...?' she thought. Yolei's expression and eyes began to soften and change.

"Ken!?" she suddenly exclaimed.

Staring out at the boy, Yolei's body suddenly felt very weak. Her arm dropped to her side. She felt her knees give out and she began to fall.

Ken felt a strong urge inside him. He quickly ran to her and caught her in midair. Then he too, fell to the forest floor. Now on their knees, Ken held the girl in his arms. He moved so that he could see her face. He looked deep into her eyes. She was crying. Tears poured out from the sides of her eyes. She looked back at him, reality flooding back to her. She stopped and took a breath while staring into his blue eyes.

"What have I done…?" she questioned, eyes filled with tears.

The moment she said it, Ken knew the spell was broken. He pulled her closer, holding her tight. He just hugged her. A sigh of relief passed through him. She shook in his arms, tears flowing from her eyes. Ken knew exactly what she was going though. He too, felt tears building up in his own eyes. He held her like he would never see her again.

"It's alright... it's OK now," he comforted. He closed his eyes again. "You're with me again… I missed you so much! I was so worried! I couldn't let you…" he choked on his words, "I couldn't let you leave me..."

Kari and the other digidestined were now standing to the side, watching the scene play by in front of them. Hawkmon watched fearful. He was worried about what he saw, but somehow he knew it was alright. They all did.

Yolei pulled Ken closer. "I'm so sorry..." she said as she closed her eyes again. Ken felt a strange warmth emanating from the girl. He moved back and watched as the illusion around her dissolved into the night air.

Ken, Davis, Hawkmon, Kari... all of their eyes widened in shock at what they saw.

Yolei's outfit and appearance began to melt. It dissolved into reality. She looked down at the ground as some of her lavender hair fell in front of her eyes. Her normal outfit became what it truly was now, the tattered uniform of the Empress.

Her body collapsed back into Ken's arms. If possible, she looked even worse then when Ken had last seen her in the cell. Hair a mess, body weak, and a dark ring still fastened around her neck.

"Yolei...?" Hawkmon questioned from the sidelines. He stepped forward and looked down at the girl lying in Ken's arms. "Yolei..."

The moment was broken when a quiet voice could be heard in the background.

"Ken...?" it spoke.

Ken looked up. He knew the voice very well. He turned his head.

"Wormmon!"

"Ken..."

The insect-type digimon was having a hard time walking towards them. Seeing this and the fact that Ken was holding Yolei, Kari walked out to the little digimon and scooped him up into her arms. She brought him next to the boy and set him down. Wormmon looked at her thankfully before looking at the boy.

"Wormmon..." Ken said teary eyed as he brought a hand down and stroked the side of the digimon's face.

"Ken!" the digimon shouted as he hugged the boy. Ken hugged him too with his free arm. Slowly, Wormmon looked up at the boy. Their eyes met and both of them couldn't help but smile at the fact that they were reunited again. In that moment, no words were needed.

Ken broke his gaze to look back down at Yolei.

"Is she alright?" Wormmon asked. He saw the look in Ken's eyes as he looked at her. "Before, when she..."

"Yes, she was like me," Ken interrupted. "She was controlled under a spell…"

The others looked at the boy, girl in his arms. "It was a digimon named Arukenimon," Ken started to explain. "She's the one that took control over Yolei…" Ken looked out at the other children. "And the only reason she did it was because of me…" Ken looked back down at Yolei's sleeping face before continuing. "She controlled me before, but Yolei set me free... this was revenge…"

A strange look of understanding appeared. "So, that's what happened," Kari whispered.

After that, it was silent for awhile. Ken stroked Yolei's face a little. She was safe.

Ken remembered the ring on her neck. He almost forgot about them. He moved his head and felt the one around his neck push into his skin. A chill went down his spine. They weren't out of the woods yet. There was still a card to be played. Suddenly, Ken shifted his head upwards and looked out at the other digidestined with wide eyes.

"What's wrong, Ken?" Wormmon asked.

"They're still here!" the boy replied.

"What is?"

Ken pushed some of Yolei's hair off her neck revealing the ring. He also moved his own neck showing them that he had one too. They had noticed them before, but didn't think too much of it when comparing it to their appearances and clothing.

"We can still be controlled..." came female voice under the boy.

"Yolei?" Ken gasped. "You're awake!"

She closed her eyes again and almost bowed as she saw up. She opened her eyes and stared back at Ken. Both their worried eyes met. Yolei, on the verge of tears, swiftly moved forward and hugged the boy again. Ken held her tight as he spoke.

"I won't let anything happen to you…"

Empress…
Part 24 - The End Of The Night


"I won't let anything happen to you…" Ken told the girl in his arms. He held her tight. Silence followed as everyone just watched the boy and girl holding each other on the forest floor.

The silence was broken by laughter. Not funny laughter, dark cackling laughter more in annoyance then anything else. Ken and the others quickly looked out and around at shadows that surrounded them to find the source. Ken already knew what it was though. As did Yolei as her face twisted in terror.

"Arukenimon...!" Ken gasped.

Yolei looked up at Ken and the boy responded by holding her tighter. His grip around the girl vanished as Yolei was suddenly pulled upwards by an unknown force. She was gripping her neck. It was as if the ring was holding her up.

"Yolei!" Ken screamed.

The evil laughter continued. The only other noise was Yolei struggling.

"Arukenimon! Show yourself!" exclaimed Ken into the night air.

Slowly, the spider woman's figure emerged from the shadows of the forest. They could barely see her at first, but as she moved closer the others could see the figure of the woman in red.

"That's Arukenimon?" Davis asked in surprise.

Yolei screamed.

"Let her go!" Ken demanded.

"She failed. I have no more use for her." The dark digimon replied.

Yolei screamed again. This time the other digidestined were on the alert.

"You know why she failed?" Arukenimon asked. "It was because of you!" She glared at the boy with hatred and bitterness in her eyes.

Yolei screamed again. Her scream pierced the silence of the night.

"Yolei...!" Hawkmon gasped still in a state of shock.

This was all that Davis and the others needed.

"DigiArmor Energize!" they all ordered together. Arukenimon looked at them in annoyance as bright light gave way to 4 champion level digimon. Flamedramon, Pegasusmon, Digimon, and Nefertimon appeared before the evil digimon. Davis, Kari, Cody and TK stood behind in fighting stances.

Ken, however, stood in front of Arukenimon and underneath Yolei. Hawkmon watched in shock and fear. Wormmon sat on the ground next to Ken, too weak to do much of anything. "Let he go!" Ken ordered at the spider digimon.

She just laughed. "Is that all you got?"

Yolei let out a whimper in her struggle.

Ken looked up. Rage and pain built up in his heart, he stared out at the older woman. Without thinking, he began to charge her. Arukenimon stood there surprised at first, then lifted her arm. "Stop," she calmly commanded. The ring on Ken's neck was activated and the boy froze in his tracks. He was in mid stride.

"You see, Emperor? I control you."

Ken's face twisted as he tried to escape. He was using as much force as he could to push against the powers of the ring.

"Don't do that my dear Emperor. Your face might freeze that way," she said as she laughed.

"Fire Rockets!!!"

A fire blast headed straight towards the evil digimon. She casually looked out at the attack heading towards her. When it was just a few feet from her, she jumped out of the way. The attack missed continuing into the shadows and out of sight.

Davis snapped his fingers. "Missed," he said under his breath.

"Foolish children!" she yelled at them. "Do you really think you can destroy me?" Arukenimon looked up at the girl dangling in the air.

Yolei's eyes grew wide. The ring around her neck was getting tighter. She let out an ear-splitting scream in her agony.

Ken, still frozen, couldn't bare to hear it. He felt a force bubble up inside himself. He wanted to save the girl. He loved her. She meant the world to him. He couldn't let anything happen to her! He needed her. He wasn't going to let Arukenimon hurt her. He wasn't going to let Arukenimon kill her!

In his realization, Ken pushed against the force of the ring with all his might. His body felt like it was stuck in-between metal, and it started to burn into his sides. But still he forced himself against the ring. He wasn't going to let himself be defeated by it. Suddenly, something gave out.

The ring around Ken's neck made a creaking noise. Within a moment later it shattered into a million pieces that seem to dance in the air before finally letting go and falling to the forest floor. The now released Ken feel to the ground holding her neck, gasping for air.

Arukenimon stared back at him. "How can this be...?" she questioned.

Ken got back to his feat. "You'll never defeat us!" he shouted out at her. "Now let Yolei go!" Ken began to blindly charge the digimon again. He ran hard.

"Not this again," she muttered in annoyance. She plucked a single hair from her head, the moment she did, it sharpened into a needle-like object.

Ken was growing closer to her. He was only a few meters away.

"Spirit Needle!" Arukenimon shouted releasing the hair at Ken. It now sped like a dagger towards the approaching boy.

Ken saw it coming. His eyes widened in fear. He couldn't stop. He couldn't get out of the way fast enough. He knew this was it.

A dark blue cloth blocked Ken's vision and he soon found himself in the air in the arms of someone. That someone landed and let Ken go on the ground. Ken looked up in thankful disbelief.

"Mummymon...! You saved me...?"

The male digimon now stood on the battlefield. He looked out at Arukenimon. She met his glance. Her face showed signs of complete annoyance.

"You!?" she yelled at him. "Why in the world did you save him? You have no right--"

"I had to," he cut her off. "I couldn't let you hurt him. He's just trying to save that girl. Afterall, in a lot of ways they're just like us!"

"What!?" the female digimon yelled back at him. "After all this time when I let you stay near me, this is how you repay me!? How dare you!!!"

"Yolei!" Ken screamed staring up at her. She was just dangling. She wasn't moving anymore. Ken's fists clenched in anger. "Let her go!" Arukenimon just stared back at him. This only angered Ken more. "I'll make you pay for this!" he shrieked tears now coming the corners of his eyes.

"Wait!" Mummymon interrupted. "She the one I love…" he told them. "No one should allow her to be destroyed..."

The male digimon looked down at the ground. Arukenimon stared at him in further disbelief. Mummymon quickly turned his head up to face her. "No one...", he repeated. "No one... Except me!"

As soon as the last word left his mouth, the digimon jumped to the ground behind his darling Arukenimon. Without warning, he grabbed her underneath the shoulders, his arms twisting up to her neck, as held her in place.

Everyone watched in shock.

"Let me go!" the struggling Arukenimon demanded.

"Attack!" ordered the male digimon.

"What!?" Ken replied. "How can we? You saved--"

"Attack now! While you can!" Mummymon interrupted again. Mummymon looked out at the digidestined around him as he struggled to hold Arukenimon in place.

"What are you doing? You fool!" the female digimon spat.

Seeing the looks in their faces, Mummymon spoke. "Please attack! Don't worry about me! Don't worry about us! Please...," the male digimon looked out at into Ken's eyes, then at Davis's. "Please!" he continued, "this is the only way!"

Hearing this, Davis looked over at TK, Kari and Cody next to him. They looked back and nodded.

"Attack!!!" they shouted together.

"Fire Rockets!"

"Rosetta Stone!"

"Rock Cracking!"

"Star Shower!"

They attacked the two digimon.

Ken's eyes grew wide as he saw what was happening in front of him. "Mummymon!" he yelled.

Mummymon still held on tight to his love.

"Release me now!" Arukenimon shouted in terror.

"No!," Mummymon countered. "Not this time! This time we face fate together…"

The attacks came closer.

Arukenimon stopped struggling and relaxed. Feeling this, Mummymon released his grip. She turned to him. "You really mean that?" she questioned.

Mummymon gently grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes. He hugged the female digimon in front of him. Then just as the attacks were about to hit, he whispered into her ear the last thing they would ever hear.

"I love you..."

All four attacks hit dead on in an impressive explosion. Flames of energy roared outwards from the spot. The digidestined shielded their eyes from the bright light and the shockwave that came with it.

"Mummymon..." Ken whispered to himself as he watched the spot where the two digimon last stood, now surrounded in smoke. There was a moment of silence, but Ken's attention quickly turned to another matter.

The boy of kindness quickly shifted his eyes upwards. The girl stay hung there motionless. As he looked up, a tear fell from his eye.

"Yolei... YOLEI!!!"

His screams echoed through the night air. He then returned his gaze to the ground.

"Yolei..."

Ken looked up again.

"Yolei... I was too late..."

He just watched her body over him.

"I still need you..."

The ring around her neck began to glow. Ken stared at it wide-eyed. It cracked. Not only that, it suddenly shattered into black slices. The shattered material flew towards the ground. Ken gasped.

Gently, its mysterious hold on the girl vanished. She was free...

Just like that, she started to fall from the sky. Ken jumped up and ran towards her descending figure. He loved her so much...

Ken ran with full force towards her plummeting body.

Just before she hit the ground, Ken caught her into his arms. The force caused him to bend down a little, but he soon regained his composure. He looked down at the face of the girl in his arms.

"Yolei..."

Tears fell from his eyes as he stood there. They were finally free... But the price was too high. He stared at her closed eyes. His heart sank. He closed his eyes and more tears fell as he cried.

A single glowing tear landed on her cheek. That was all that was needed...

The girl breathed in a long breath, filling her lungs with air. Feeling this, Ken opened his eyes and looked in amazement at her face. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him. She looked at him through painful eyes.

"Yolei...?" A rush of energy started to flow into Ken as he realized she was alive.

"Ken…" she spoke.

"Yolei... you're alive!"

"Thank you, Ken..."

He looked back at her. Bright blue to hazel red.

"You set me free..." she told him.

"And you did the same for me."

She smiled. In her weakened state, she moved her arm up to his face and wiped a tear from his eyes.

"My Emperor..." she said softly. Then closed her tired eyes and gently fell asleep, snuggled in his arms.

She was alive, safe and free. They were both free. Nothing would ever be able to separate them again. Now there was also no reason to remain in the Digital World. They could now go back home. The trials and tribulations that would await them would be hard, but they knew they would be alright as long as they had each other.

Ken looked down at her in his arms. He smiled.

The sun started to poke its way through the trees. The darkest night was finally over. Love was still standing. It was finally all over. They were free...

Ken bent his head down towards Yolei's forehead and kissed it gently.

"My Empress..."