The Second Chance

Part 7 : The Shadow Master

By
Sarnokh

"One day when I was all alone
I found a wondrous little stone.
It lay forgotten on the road
Far from the ways of man's abode.
When on this stones my eyes I cast
I saw my treasure found at last.
O stone, so red and rare and wise!
O fragment of the paradise"
The Philosopher's Stone
Arthur Machen

Authors Comment:
This is the seventh and final chapter in my Digimon fiction "The Second Chance". Initially it was presumed to be a single, closed story; but then I grew fond of the story arc and more and more ideas grew in my mind to continue romance and adventure. It took quite a time of writing to create this Saga, and it was fun to me. I thank for all the many who wrote and encouraged me to continue. I dedicate this story to you as a lighthouse in the darkness of life.

WARNING: The following parts contain some dark twists. Regard them as necessary as the saying goes: where the night is darkest, the dawn is most near. Be patient and have faith. All will be settled to good. :-)

What happened previously: To advert a life without their true loves, six Digidestinied confess each others love. So besides Tai and Yamato, there are Takeru and Ken as well as Daisuke and Iori. Hikari and Miyako supported them to go for their love, even though it meant to lose the boys they loved. As a result the DigiWorld was saved, too
One year later Sora became the evil Empress of the DigiWorld and tried to play the Digidestinied against each other. But TK believed in is love into Ken, and didn't fall into Sora's tricks. In the end, Sora fell into Coma and the DigiWorld was saved.
In Part 3 Robert and Dean Runeward moved to Japan. Rob is an old friend of Ken. When he entered the DigiWorld the first time, the Digimon revealed Rob, that he should stay there, because he was the Chosen, destined to unite the good Digimon in building an new future for the DigiWorld.
In part 4 Jyou, Koushiro and Mimi were twisted to evil by a powerful demon from beyond, but the other Digidestinied smashed the Portal - Mirror and thus freed their friends from the curse.
Part 5 described the Digidestinied to split into two factions. Tai & TK fought against Yamato & Ken. In the end a fight rages between Tai and Yamato, in which Tai's spine in damaged. Now he needs a wheelchair - and recovering was uncertain.
In part 6 four evil kids entered the DigiWorld: Lee, Asuka, the returned and evil traitor Sora and a fourth, only known as the Shadowmaster. Under the Shadowmaster's command, Tai and Yamato where captured and played against each other. But finally Asuka betrayed the Shadowmaster, freed Tai and Yamato and fled with them. In the event, Tai recovered and could walk again, but Sora fell into a chasm and died. Now they wait for the Shadowmaster's revenge.

Comment to Ages: (I have no definite idea; this is just a suggestion)
Tai & Yamato: 19
Jyou: 20
Koushiro: 18
Ken, TK, Iori, Daisuke: 16/17

*************************************

TWO MONTH AFTER THE END OF PART 6

Lee gazed out of the window down into the dark DigiWorld, that rested in the night far under his foot. He was a slim, red-haired boy, with pale skin and nervous eyes. He stood in the audience chamber of the Shadowmaster, waiting for his Master for further instructions. The room was all dressed and furnished in red and black. After Sora's death and Asuka's betrayal, he was the only left to serve the Shadowmaster, so he had called his last faithful Lee.
"Ah, my good Lee, welcome to my private chambers in the Tower of Darkness!" The voice emerged from the dark edge far behind Lee. It was a tempting and dangerous voice, like that of a hungry tiger.
Lee tumbled around and fell to the ground, bowing. "Master!" He didn't dare to look up, as he had never met the Shadowmaster before. Sora was the only one to have direct contact to him and had known his true identity.
A dark figure slowly moved towards Lee and stopped right in front of him. "So, my faithful Lee, rise!"
Lee shivered in fear. He knew of the Shadowmaster's powers and feared his wrath. Lee hesitated to rise.
"RISE!", the Master suddenly boomed and Lee couldn't help to follow this command. His Master's will was in complete control of his movements and had invaded his mind with his will. Lee stood before a figure in black hooded robes. The hood hung deep into the Shadowmaster's face, so he was unable to recognize him.
"Master! Please, I have failed you! Don't punish me!", Lee pleaded shivering.
A black gloved hand emerged and gripped Lee's neck, strangling his breath. He was very strong. "You should know, that failure is not an option!" He tightened his grip until Lee saw stars before his eyes. After a few moments the hand distracted and Lee fell to the ground. "But you shall have another chance…"
"Thank you, my Master!", Lee sobbed, crawling to the Shadowmaster's feet. "Thank you!"
The Shadowmaster turned away and took seat in a chair. "It seems that the accursed Digidestinied have escaped me once again.", he sneered.
"But we can catch them again, Master!", Lee said eagerly.
"NO!" The dark figure shouted. Then his voice grew calm once again. "I have toyed with this filth for far too long. I have conquered the shadow-world, and I have tried to conquer this world, but failed. It may be that I can not control this world. But what I can not control, I can at least destroy!"
"Yes! Yes!", Lee said hotly. "Let them feel your wrath and destroy their world!"
"But we need support, Lee." The dark Master seemed to ponder for a moment. "We need a third person to accomplish this. Only then my plans will succeed. This Digidestinied haven't felt the full extent of my powers. But they will! You must go back to earth. I know the one person who will be most ready to serve our purpose!" He laughed a maniacal laughter. "This fool just waits for a chance to become someone greater! You Lee will go to the one I show you, and bring my letter!" He placed a black orb upon the table beneath him and an eerie light shone within it. After a few seconds a figure formed within it, showing a young person. "This is the one, Lee!"
Lee just nodded, took a letter from his Master's hand and turned to the door.
"Oh, and one more thing, Lee!", the Shadowmaster added. "Asuka. She must pay for her betrayal. Take care of that!"

******************************************

The wind was blowing upon the ocean, while the "Golden Heart" moved swiftly upon the waves. Taichi came out of his cabin on the deck, looking for his lover. He saw Yamato standing at the ship's bow, staring ahead. Just two month ago, Yamato had been turned to serve the Shadowmaster, his self-esteem smitten by his feelings of guilt for Tai's handicap. They took all his memories from him, but in the end, their love was stronger than the evil tricks and Tai had saved him from evil. In this time, Yamato had cut his wonderful blond hair very short. But it had grown a bit since then, even though it would take some time to reach it's former length. Tai walked across the deck towards Yamato and wrapped his arms around his koi from behind.
"Hello Yamato!", Tai said and kissed the blond softly on his cheek. "How do you feel?"
Yamato smiled softly. His mood had definitely improved in the last weeks. He and Tai had spent much time in the DigiWorld recently to allow themselves to heal the wounds in their soul. "I am fine, Tai, thanks to you!" He turned around an kissed Tai passionately on his mouth.
Robert had sent them on a errand to the mainland to search for a trail of the Shadowmaster, but they hadn't found anything. Now they were returning to the capital city of Central.
The boys were holding each other for many minutes, standing in silence, gazing on the endless waters ahead. Yamato felt that his beloved's present brought comfort to him. The memory of the evil that he had done had made him suffer long, but finally Tai helped him to overcome the dark feelings. He knew now that only by looking into the future, they could hope to stand against evil. And now, here in Taichi's arms, Yamato felt only love and happiness. All was right!
Suddenly Agumon stepped ahead and cleared his throat. "Erm, sorry to disturb you…", he blushed. Tai and Yamato turned around and both smiled approvingly. "Leomon said, that we will reach Central in three hours. Rob is certainly waiting for our report."
"Yes, thank you Agumon!", Tai answered. "We will gather our things and be ready."

*****************************************

In a dimly lit cave two figures sat around a small wooden table. The one looked like a slim vampire-lord, the other like an ape with shades.
"Do you really think, he will reach us?", the ape said.
"I can only hope, they don't see him here!", the vampire answered. "They are watching every area, but we should be safe here for a while."
"It is very difficult to hide from them!", The ape interceded. "I have stayed hidden now for years, and I thought that you all perished! I was glad to hear your call!"
The vampire nodded. "I feared that I was alone, too. But then I found him and you. I don't know how to proceed further, to be honest. But I am certain he knows. He always was the most clever one."
Suddenly a deep voice echoed from the entrance of the cave. "I thank you, Myotismon! You place great confidence in me."
Myotismon and Etemon - the ape-like figure - jumped up.
"Devimon!", Etemon shouted. "You have come! I am so glad that you truly survived!"
Devimon nodded and took seat at the table. "And that is a true miracle, be sure about that!"
"And, do you have a plan?", Myotismon asked, looking expectantly.
"Yes.", Devimon said. "I do have a plan. But it is risky. One of us must find the Digidestinied."
Etemon and Myotismon gaped at him. "But… but… they will destroy us - once again!", Etemon lamented.
"And", Myotismon added. "How can we enter their world?"
"I shall make a gate into their world. I have done so before.", Devimon answered. "Then our enemies will fall once and for all!"

**********************************************

Iori and Daisuke sat on the couch watching TV. Daisuke really loved Amine and so he and his lover Iori looked them every day. Iori sat cuddled in Daisuke's arms gazing at the show. Both were giggling and laughing once and then.
"I really adore 'Sailormoon'." Daisuke said to Iori and grabbed another cracker.
Iori smiled. "Yea, I know. It's okay, but you have seen this season twice now. Don't you know the dialogue by heart?"
"Hm, yes.", Daisuke answered. "But the first two seasons are the BEST. I can't get enough of them!"
"...and in the name of love and justice I will ...", Sailormoon began in the TV, when all of a sudden the TV went off.
"Hey, Iori! Have you...", Daisuke said and trailed off, as he saw his koi as surprised as himself.
"I don't know what happened.", he answered and stepped towards the television. He pressed the power button several times without any result; the boys checked everything, but nothing worked.
"Hm, I shall make some tea first. Then we can call a service.", Iori said and went into the kitchen. He was at the Motomiya residence, but Daisuke's parents and his sister Yun were in Korea because a cousin had married. He opened the refrigerator - who was offline. Iori wondered, but the stove was off as well!
"Hey, the telephone doesn't work!", Daisuke said, running excitedly into the room.
Iori rubbed his chin. "Nothing works - it seems that the power is down. Perhaps they will solve this problem soon. Let's see what we can do since then."
"But Sailormoon!", Daisuke smirked.
Iori laughed. "But you have nearly all episodes on videotape! Why not use the time to play some Scrabble?"
Daisuke gaped. "I know why it is one of your favourite games: because you always win!" Then he sighed. "Alright! But this time I will have my revenge!", he shouted eagerly and ran to fetch the game.

The boys had played Scrabble for two hours, and Iori had won all five games. But still Daisuke hadn't lost his eagerness to beat his beloved for once. Suddenly someone knocked at the door.
"I'm coming!", Daisuke shouted as he ran to the door. On the floor before him were Ken, Takeru and Koushiro.
"Oh! Hello!", Daisuke said a bit worried. "I hope I haven't forgotten any appointments?"
Koushiro smiled. "No. But there is something going on! Can we come in?"
Daisuke stepped aside. "Of course! But I fear we can't offer much, as there is no power in the house, the electricity is shut down."
The guests walked into the living room an greeted Iori. They sat around the table and Iori lighted some candles, as it was growing dark.
"This afternoon all the electricity went off.", Koushiro began. "I was sitting at my computer, when suddenly nothing worked. So I went to T.K. and Ken in Ken's apartment, because I had an appointment with them anyway. On my way I saw that many parts of the city are without power. Later in Ken's home the power went off, too! Only a few places now have electricity. Most parts of our city are shut down, and the problem seems to spread. The local government is sending people through the city to inform us, though I haven't heard any explanation, yet. But there is more! I had carried my Laptop with me, which is independent from public power support - at least for a while. And Rob has sent me an Email. Here, I have printed it out." He handed a small sheet of paper to Iori and Daisuke. It said:

'Dear Koushiro,
we have some disturbing news here in the DigiWorld. Just two days after Tai and Yamato returned from a journey to the mainland, we discovered many crossings from the DigiWorld into yours and back. We can't explain this, but several TV's - gates to your world from here - are dysfunctional now. Tai and Yama stay here to see what they may find out. Perhaps you can look if anything unusual happens in your world.
Greetings from Tai and Yamato.
Your friend Robert Runeward,
King of the DigiWorld.'

"And? What are we supposed to do?", Iori pondered. "Do you think, there is any connection between these incidents?"
Koushiro shrugged. "I am not certain."
"We have looked in the Internet, while we still had power.", Ken interceded. "And there are power failures worldwide! Several great cities are without electricity. Some scientists suspected cosmic disturbances, perhaps solar winds, magnetic flows might be responsible."
TK sighed. "This is a great danger. Society might fall into anarchy if technology will fail much longer! What if something - or someone - is behind all this?" The blonde looked anxious. There was much at stake. Without working computers, they could not enter the DigiWorld, all were aware of that threat, and shuddered at the implications.
"But doesn't your Laptop work?", Daisuke asked. All looked expectantly at Koushiro.
"Erm, well, yes. But I have only two spare storage batteries. So I might use it for a while, but not forever. There are some power-plants in the DigiWorld, though, were I might recharge my computer.", the red-haired answered.
"Yes!", TK added. "The one city, where we met Adromon first. Do you remember? Tentomon had his first digivolve into Kabuterimon!"
"Yes, but who should go?", Koushiro asked. "Someone must stay and keep a computer terminal open."
"Let's send an Email to Rob, to tell him we are coming!", Iori said eagerly. He longed to see the DigiWorld once again.
"Okay.", Koushiro said and opened his Laptop. He established a connection to the internet, and suddenly the Digiport appeared on the screen. "What the...", he began, when on his screen appeared the old guardian of the DigiWorld - Gennai.
"Hello!", the old man greeted friendly. "Finally you have found a way to open a Digiport!"
"Gennai!", Koushiro and TK shouted in unison. They had told the other Digidestinied of the old wise.
"Listen!", Gennai demanded. His face showed great concern and he looked overslept. "You all must come to the DigiWorld as soon as possible. All Digidestinied! There is something terrible going on here! I am not certain, but the barriers between the worlds are thinning! Beings from other realms and dimensions try to enter this world, and likewise the DigiWorld again begins to fade! Do you remember that the DigiWorld was about to wane during your last adventure? It has begun once again. Some of the most remote islands already are gone!" There was a disturbance in the connection and some words could not be understood. "You must come soon!", the old man urged.
"But Jyou doesn't have time. We can't come all!", Koushiro explained. "And Mimi is not here."
"No! You must all come! And take your belongings with you! Prepare for a longer stay!", Gennai said. "If you don't come all - and soon - our world will be lost!" There were more disturbances. "You will have a visitor... he will... you must... a new kind of portal... strange fellow... trust..." Gennai gazed at the boys. "You are our last hope!" And then he was gone.

******************************************

Jyou was letting go the hand of his beloved. He gaped at Koushiro. "This are dire news, but I can't leave now! And for longer? What does that mean?"
Koushiro looked deep into his friends eyes. "I am not certain. Gennai sounded very convinced, and he always was right previously. I know you have many exams right now. But we have greater responsibilities - even greater than our career.", he added silently.
Jyou sighed and kissed Koushiro on his cheeks. He wore a thin smile. "Yeah. I don't like to miss this exam, but my duty is clear! I will come, if it is necessary to save the DigiWorld. Have you contacted Mimi?"
"I have sent her several Emails, but we have no power now for 48 hours!", Koushiro answered. "I have sent mails to some of her friends to call her, but I haven't received any answers."
"So, when are we supposed to go?", Jyou asked.
"Miyako, Ken and Iori have gathered food and supplies we may need. All are packing their things. Hikari, Daisuke and TK have started to buy what we may need for a longer stay. I gather our electronics, and you should provide all medical care we need.", the red-haired explained. "We shall meet in Yamato's and Tai's apartment - TK has a key - and enter the DigiWorld tomorrow afternoon. Do you think you can pack your thing until then?"
Jyou could only nod. This time something would happen. They both felt it, as they held each others hand.

*******************************************

TK sat in Yamato's and Tai's apartment. He was alone. Ken was preparing their next travel and his brother and his lover expected them in the DigiWorld. It was seven o'clock in the morning, but they had all risen early to put all the time in good use. He was putting together some of Yamato's things to bring him. Now he gazed at the photo-album. There was a picture Hikari had taken, it was shortly after Yamato and Tai had told the others of their love. He smiled in that memory. On this picture Yamato and Tai were standing holding hands. Yamato blushed shy, but Tai already grinned proud, glad to show the world his koi. TK decided to take the album with him.
He walked into the kitchen and poured some coffee in a cup. He pondered, as he could not remember when he had started this habit. He held the hot cup and walked back into the living room.
"Please, stay were you are, and don't turn around before I have spoken.", a deep voice whispered from a corner.
Takeru froze. It was something familiar in that voice, and that frightened him deeply. "Who are you? What do you want?". TK started to shiver. Was this a robber or worse?
"If you see me, your first thought will likely be hatred; but I bid you to listen to me, no matter what you will see. I promise you not to wish any harm, just give me your word that you shall listen to me." It was a deep voice of a powerful being, full of concern and uncertainty.
"But I must...", Takeru began. Then he stopped in mid-sentence. Suddenly he remembered whose voice this was. He shivered in anger and fear and spun around. "You!", he spat at the creature hidden in the corner.
The person slowly stepped out of the shadows towards TK, holding his hands in a gesture of peace. It was no other than Devimon. "I know what you may think, but things are not what they seem!", he said in an unexpected soft voice.
"Why are you here? Are you behind this?", TK shouted. He stepped back, obviously in fear. He was alone. No one could help him against such a foe. But how could Devimon be here? And why was he still alive, despite the fact that he should be ultimately destroyed by the Warding Stone? This just could not be! Both looked at each other, and to his surprise, TK could not read Devimon's expression. And then he realised something else. Devimon's eyes were somewhat different. His eyes had always burned red with hate. Now they were soft and blue, blue like the clear sky. "What is going on?", TK wondered.
Devimon frowned. "Hm, perhaps you will just listen to me for a while, and then you can decide what to do." He pointed to one of the seats. "Perhaps we can take seat? I have quite a long journey behind, and need to sit a moment." Devimon showed a weak smile, which was very weird to see.
"Oh, take seat!", TK joked cynical. "And a hot cup of coffee?" He didn't mean it, but he did not know how to handle this strange situation.
The joke was lost to Devimon though, who fell tiredly into the seat. "Oh thanks! That would be nice!", he answered weary.
Takeru just did not know what to do or say. There was his archenemy, the one who had been responsible for Angemon's death, peacefully expecting a conversation and a cup of coffee. He could not think anymore, so he went into the kitchen and brought coffee, sugar and milk. In extreme situations, many people play normal to endure the stress at hand. When TK returned, Devimon stared out of the window.
He took the coffee and bowed to the boy. "I thank you, Takeru Takeishi."
"I did not know that you knew my name!", TK said astonished and gazed at his strange guest, who slowly drank his hot coffee.
"I know all of you very well!", he said and nodded. Devimon looked at TK thoughtful. "I understand that this situation must seem difficult to you; but believe me: I have taken an immense risk and great efforts to talk to you. First: I am not the one you think I am."
TK failed to understand. What kind of trick was he doing this time? "You are Devimon?" Devimon nodded an TK felt his anger returning. "And you are the Devimon who has killed Angemon?" The Digimon nodded again. "And you have supported Sora to betray the Digidestinied!", he shouted in rage.
"Yes again. But you and I have never met, Takeru.", he answered. "It is somewhat complicated... You know that Koushiro and Miyako has sent a message into the past, that means to you, your present, several years ago. As a result two things happened. You all found fulfilment in your true love, and a dark future, where the DigiWorld would wither and disappear was averted. Right?" Now TK nodded grimly. "When this happened", Devimon continued, "something went wrong. Your Earth and the DigiWorld were split into two alternative realities, were both fates existed. The one possible future didn't cease to exist entirely, but was turned to evil. Now there are two worlds called earth and two DigiWorlds, exact copies like mirror images. But with one small difference! All who are good here are evil there, and all you know to be evil in your reality is good in this reality - which is as you may have guessed by now, my homeworld."
TK gaped at Devimon. "Well, if this is a trick, it doesn't work! It is certainly the most ridiculous story I have ever heard!" He crossed his arms defiantly.
Devimon sighed. "I have expected that much. You don't have to believe me blindly. Just remember it, and tell your friends. You shall know it soon enough."
Takeru smirked. "Do you have any proof for this fantastic story of yours?"
"Unfortunately not directly. But there is more you must know. In my world, you - the Digidestinied - are evil. They and their Digimon-partners have entered the DigiWorld as conquerors and destroyers. Myotismon, Etemon and I have formed a rebellion to resist their destruction. But we failed. Our rebel force was crushed. Many of us died. Second: the evil Digidestinied are you - or better your twins. There is an evil Takeru, Daisuke, Iori and so on. They are like your evil mirror images. They follow evil virtues that oppose yours, but they have one great advantage: they know about you for many years, and they tried to invade your reality for a long time. Their only goal is to destroy you and your world.", he finished gravely.
"But... But what would they gain from this destruction? It just makes no sense!", TK asked worried. Had he found a gap in this deceit?
"Gennai - our Gennai - has revealed that finally only one reality will continue to exist, while the other will fade. You know that this happens currently to the DigiWorld here, and the failure of electricity on your earth is the beginning of it's end. It happens because the dark reality grows stronger. Whenever you won against evil here, our world began to wane!"
"But doesn't that mean", TK mentioned, "that your world will die if we win against the Shadowmaster? Why would you want that?"
Devimon drunk of his coffee before he answered. "Because in the end one of these two realities will cease nonetheless. And unlike you, we have this..." His claw went into a small bag and he placed an object on the table. It was a black orb, slightly shimmering, somewhat smaller than an egg, but perfectly round. "This is an invention of the Shadowmaster. It allows anyone to open a Void Gate, that creates a passage into any possible world, dimension or reality. I give it to you, but urge you to use it carefully! Only enter your own DigiWorld with it! Our reality is a barren and dangerous world! Use it, if the computer and TV - gates fail as a result of the power failure in your cities."
Takeru took the orb and gazed at it. It was cool, but he could feel it's hidden powers. What an interesting artefact! Anyone could enter every possible world with it! But wasn't this the trap, he still feared? Devimon's behaviour was so different from the other, evil Devimon he remembered, that he started to believe this. But could he take such a risk?
Devimon made a sad expression as if some bad memory would haunt him. "Piedmon gave his life to steal five of the Portal Orbs. This is now yours, I have the second, Etemon and Myotismon have theirs, but there was another, which belonged to the only Digidestinied of our world who left the path of evil." He took out another thing and showed it to TK. It was a Digivice. "This one belonged to Sora Takenushi. She supported our rebel movement and spied on the others, still pretending to be on their side. But they found her double-game out and she had to flee. We haven't heard of her since then, but we found her Digivice in a cave. We are unable to activate it to see if there are any messages left."
"Messages? On a Digivice?", TK wondered.
"Oh yes!" Devimon smiled. "You might say what you want, but your evil counterparts are very clever and inventing! Koushiro has added a great memory cache and a holographic device into it. But look here." He turned it around, where a small button was visible. "Only the correct fingerprint of a Digidestinied can activate the Digivice. And Sora may have succeeded in locking away some of the identities, so I suggest that you all should try it."
Now TK was curious. "You say that our counterparts are all evil. What exactly have they done?"
The huge Digimon frowned. "That is not mine to say. Sora will tell you. I know she has left several messages, as it was her plan to contact you, the good Digidestinied. Her Digivice will guide you." Then he rose from his seat. "Perhaps you can even find her Orb." He placed his own Orb on the ground before him. "Into the Shadow DigiWorld!", he commanded. "Suddenly a blue vortex emerged from the ground, forming an elliptic gate before them. Devimon turned to TK. His expression was filled with care and his blue eyes gazed at TK with a warm smile. "Take care of you. Only one side will survive. We haven't found out what the Shadowmaster is planning, but it must be something dire, I am sure of that. We don't know who of the Digidestinied he or she is, but we will watch. I hope we shall meet safe once again. Give your friends my best regards." And with that he turned around and was gone.
Taker was smitten by this. If these news were true, they all would be in much greater danger than they had thought, and he had much reason to believe Devimon. Believe Devimon? How far had he come? But all made sense. He looked at Sora's Digivice before him. He slowly grabbed it and pressed his finger on the button at the backside. A small holographic image of Sora's head appeared upon it. But she wasn't like he remembered her. This Sora was a stern warrior! There was a scar on her left cheek and dirt in her face.
"Takeru!", Sora shouted. "I don't know why you left the bottle, or what kind of drugs you currently prefer. But this attempt will be in vain! I have succeeded in blocking your access! And you don't dare to go to your 'friends', so better leave this!" Then the image disappeared and the Digivice was shut off again. TK stared at the Digivice as it would be a venomous viper. But could it be the truth? A mirror reality? This sounded so absurd, but still deep within him he realised, that Devimon had told him the truth. He just knew it.

****************************************

Iori awoke, when the morning sun shone into the room. He had slept in Daisuke's room and all his bags where already packed. He yawned and looked to his lover's bed. It was empty. He was already awake? That was unusual! Daisuke regularly slept long and deep and used to be the last to wake up. He wouldn't wake from an earthquake! Rubbing his tired eyes he went in search for his koi, but found no one. The Motomiya residence was left. Then it struck him like thunder: Daisuke's bags were completely gone! Iori gaped into the corner where his packs had laid yesterday evening. What has happened? Has Daisuke gone into the DigiWorld before him? But why? Iori felt panic rising within him. What did he do? And what should now be done? He looked all around for a letter or message of some kind. After half a hour of searching he found a folded letter in a desk in the living room. It laid hidden between some books and he found it by sheer luck. It read:
"Hello dear Motomiya!
We have corresponded now for many weeks, and I know how you must feel. The Digidestinied have ignored your ideas and talents for far too long! Do you have any idea what they think about you? They see you as an idiot, someone limited and none of them has ever respected you. But I can offer you much more: respect, true leadership and a place as one of my most important warriors in my ranks. You will be superior to all but me, and your true brothers and sisters - which are my legates - shall be at your side. I want your leadership, and true leadership, where your word is a command and a law to be obeyed, no matter whatever it is. I will even grant you this DigiWorld as a Kingdom under your reign, only under my supreme command. I will take my revenge against Lord Robert and the Digidestinied. What remains of the DigiWorld is your, once I am finished! Come to me as soon as possible; you will not regret this. After our victory, you shall have Yamato, your true love as a toy, free to do whatever pleases you to do with him.
Your ally and friend,
The Shadowmaster"
Iori shivered. The letter fell out of his hand. But… but what did this mean? Was Daisuke really that discontent in his leadership of the younger Digidestinied that he would betray them? And Yamato his true love? Daisuke once had told Iori that quite a time ago he had felt a great physical attraction towards Yamato Ishida, but nothing more. In fact, with the exception of Tai, Daisuke had felt attraction towards nearly any other male Digidestinied, including Ken and TK. Iori knew that; but what did mean? He had never shown any signs that he was not content with their love. Tears began to well in Iori's eyes. No, he said to himself. This was just a deceit from the enemy! The Shadowmaster had tried to play them against each other often enough to make this likely. Daisuke would never lust for power or revenge; that wasn't his style. He could never be angry against someone for longer. All things used to burst out of his koi instantly; this was what had worried him, when he first met Daisuke many years ago, and this was, what he learned to love. He was so spontaneous; he could never hide how he felt. It was always plainly written in his face. He breathed deeply. 'I must not allow myself to be carried away. Daisuke is in great danger, and I will do everything to safe him!' He walked towards a picture, that showed them holding hands and grinning at a cliff in their last holiday. "I will find and safe you, Daisuke Motomiya, because I will always love you! I promise!", he said to the photo and put it into his bag.

******************************************

"Goodness!", Hikari sighed. "We look like making a worldwide travel!" TK, Ken, Miyako and Hikari had gathered at Yamato's and Tai's residence and were preparing for their travel into the DigiWorld. When someone knocked at the door, TK went to the door and greeted Jyou and Koushiro, both packed with as much as they could carry. They were welcomed from the others.
"Aren't Iori and Daisuke already here?", Jyou asked.
"No.", Miyako answered. "I haven't seen them since yesterday evening, but I am certain that they will be here any minute now."
Jyou nodded. "Yes, Iori is usually very reliable." He and Koushiro placed their bags to the others. They all were aware that this time it could well take some months, and so they took all important belongings for a longer stay. After the last great crisis, when they fought against Oidaba, Mummymon and Arukenimon, their parents knew of the existence of the DigiWorld and supported their children whenever possible. So it was no problem to tell them of 'longer holidays' there. Even good parents don't have to know everything!
TK, had already told them of his meeting with Devimon, so they discussed how likely such a story would be.
"I am not certain if such a thing like a parallel world might be?", Jyou pondered.
Koushiro shrugged. "Well, none of us would have believed that the DigiWorld or any other world would exist, before we went there. It doesn't sound impossible to me. Some theories say, that whenever great changes or important decisions are made a world might split into two realities, were both options become real."
"Yes!", Ken added. "I have read of such a possibility, too! And we know, that there are more world. The World of Darkness for example. So it is very likely, that there are many other worlds, some strange and alien, while other might be quite familiar."
"Perhaps there are other copies of our earth?", Miyako said. She looked around excited. "And each may have a different history! I would really like to see some of these worlds! Wouldn't that be fascinating?"
"Shouldn't we try Sora's Digivice?", Hikari suggested. "If there is a message, we should know it."
All nodded. "I can't.", TK explained. "I already tried, but it is secured against my access. I will give it around, then." He handed the Digivice to Ken, who sat on his right.
Ken pressed the button with his thumb. Sora, dressed like a warrior appeared. "Ken, I knew you would lay your dirty hands on this! You may have tread the path of good for a while, but I know well of your crimes. Sitting in your web like the spider! You won't gain anything here!" Then it was shut down again. Ken's cheeks were deep red. "I must be some kind of criminal in this other world.", he whispered.
TK laid his arms around his beloved. "Hey, don't be said. The other Takeru uses drugs and is a heavy drinker! It's not our responsibility what they do!"
"I agree!", Koushiro said and took the Digivice. He pressed his thumb on the button. Once again Sora's hologram appeared. "Koushiro! Of all my enemies you may be the most dangerous! I know you will try to crack this thing, but believe me: any attempt will wipe away the data and the infos will be lost! Think twice, madman, and play with your little war machines!" Koushiro looked shaken. His alter ego was using his talent to invent weaponry? He handed the Digivice to Jyou, who tried his luck.
"Jyou Hida!", Sora shouted. "What in the name of the nine hells do you want with that? You never had any interest than your perverted genetic mutants you create! This is not for you!" Jyou's featured went pale and he handed it on to Hikari.
"See, see!", Sora said in a mocking tone. "The red witch tries to access my private memory. You may have brought black magic back to the world, but this machine will not obey to your witchcraft! Don't waste your time with this!" Hikari looked shocked. Black magic?
Now it was Miyako's turn. She trembled at the expected revelation. "Miyako? I wonder that you take the time to play with this toy? Since when are you interested that is not male and nude? Just go and take some new sex - slave to spend you night. Do you still kill every boy after his first night like a black widow? I marvel that you don't eat them…" Miyako gave the Digivice away as if it would be something utmost evil. She put it on the table before them.
None dared to say a word for a while, when someone was knocking at the door. TK went away and brought Iori into the living room. He was alone, but carried his things. His face was grim.
"Iori?", Ken wondered. "What is the matter? Where have you left Daisuke?"
Iori let his packs drop to the ground went to the couch and fell into it. All gaped at him, as this was unusual. He never took seat without asking. "He is gone.", he stated. And without another word he fetched a letter and gave it to the others. They all read, that the Shadowmaster, their archenemy, had seduced Daisuke Motomiya to become his legate.
"And?", TK asked Iori. "Do you think he went to our enemy."
"No!", Iori shouted fiercely. "I never believe that!" He slammed his fist upon the table. The he softened and sighed. "Sorry. I didn't meant to be rude. I am certain that this is a trick. Our enemy has tried to divide us many times before. We can assume that he was behind most of the previous incidents, too. So I don't believe this. He has kidnapped Daisuke, and he is now in grave danger. I will free him from the Shadowmaster's clutches! And he will NOT make me doubt my lover!"
"That is good!", Ken agreed. "We have seen the dark side fooling us often enough to be careful in any assumptions. He might very well be tricked into something. We should go as soon as possible now. It will be hard to move against our enemy, so don't let us waste time. I want to see Daisuke free, too!"
"Yes, me too!", Miyako added and all agreed to her.
TK told Iori of his previous meeting with Devimon, the rebellion, the Portal Orb and their evil counterparts. Iori listened carefully and in silence.
When TK was finished, Iori looked thoughtful. "And you truly believe Devimon?", he asked.
"As hard as it is to believe Devimon, I think he said the truth.", Takeru answered.
Iori gazed at TK in disbelieve. "After all he did to you and Angemon? We should be much more careful what evil Digimon tell us! It sounds too much like a trap to me. Perhaps that Orb will lead into a trap?"
"Yes, but if he isn't the same Devimon TK met, but really from an alternative world?", Hikari interceded. "The Shadowmaster knows us well enough to successfully play us against each other. And none of us nor anyone else here could make a Digivice holographic!"
"But if you try your fingerprint on Sora's Digivice, we may know what her plans are!", Miyako said and gave it to Iori. He looked at it for a moment, then he pressed the button. A mechanic voice emerged from the Digivice. "Iori Hida is known to have lost his right hand in a swordfight. You illegally posses his hand. Only left fingerprints will thus be accepted." Iori stared at the machine. This is ridiculous! He exchanged his hands and pressed his left thumb on the button. Once again Sora's face appeared. "Iori, the greatest known warrior of the world, who slaughtered more good Digimon with his sword than any other! Just keep your hand off, or I shall chop away the other hand as well!" Iori's mouth fell open.
"If this is a trick, it is truly madness!", he shouted and placed the Digivice on the table.
TK sighed. "This leaves only Tai and Yamato. I hope they can still access this!"

******************************************

Taichi, Yamato and Lord Robert sat around the great table in the DigiManor in Central, the capital city of the whole DigiWorld. TK, Ken, Koushiro and the others had told them about the most recent news: the worldwide power failure, Devimon's appearance and Daisuke's disappearance. Robert had decided to sent some Digimon in search for the old Gennai, who hadn't been seen for years. Perhaps he knew some answers.
Robert gazed at the Orb and the Digivice. "I have never seen such an Orb and Asuka said that our Sora's Digivice was destroyed, when she fell into that burning abyss. So it seems likely, that there is another parallel world. But if Devimon told us the truth, remains to be seen. Have you tried it?"
TK shook his head. "No. We didn't want to take the risk, and Koushiro's Laptop was ready to open a Digiport."
"I think you did well to be careful.", Rob answered. His blue eyes shone bright, seemingly radiating wisdom and patience.
"And this...", Yamato mentioned and grabbed the Digivice from Sora. "You all have used this fingerprint - button?"
"Yes, and all of us seem to be quite bad in this other world.", Jyou explained. "I am a genetic engineer, creating terrible mutants, Koushiro invents weaponry and Ken is some kind of criminal."
Yamato grinned. "I am not that surprised!", He laughed grimly, but when he saw the sober faces of his friends he apologised. "Hey, sorry! It was just a joke!" He turned the Digivice in his hand and pressed his finger on it. For a while nothing happened, but suddenly Sora's face appeared as a hologram. "Oh! The great and terrible Digimon Kaiser Yamato himself! Isn't the DigiWorld enough for you? Why do you care for this little secrets? You are powerful and devastating enough even without the knowledge of the World of Light! I will leave it to that!" Yamato had turned pale. Digimon Kaiser? Had he treaded Ken's path in this alternative world? He couldn't believe it!
Taichi took the Digivice away and gazed at it. How many more unpleasant things would this device reveal to him? Did he really want to hear this? But he had no choice, they must try all to know Sora's hidden secrets. Tai trembled and pressed his shivering finger on the button. Nothing happened. After a few seconds Sora's voice was audible, but there was no image. "Taichi, hold your thumb on the button and tell me who you love!"
Tai hesitated; his thumb laid on the button. "Erm, Yamato Ishida! I love Yamato Ishida!", he said. No reaction. Then the Digivice hummed and a ray of light erupted from the display. A small holographic image of Sora appeared, this time showing her whole. She wore a guerrilla-fighter dress and some weaponry.
Sora's image bowed. "Taichi Yagami! I greet you. I am so glad that this Device finally found it's way into your world, because that means that Devimon has succeeded, though I fear I have failed my cause. What Devimon told you is nothing but the sad truth. There are you, the Digidestinied, and you all are evil. We found the existence of your worlds many years ago - well it was the evil Koushiro who found them. At first we had no interest in your worlds, but then we learned, that your success endangered the very existence of our world and your ultimate triumph over evil would be the doom of our world. I helped them to conquer the earth and the DigiWorld with the help of our evil Digimon partners. But then I left them and started to work against their schemes. Byiomon, who was as evil as the others, was about to betray me, so I had to kill it. You see, this is a harsh world, and I have led a rebel force for many years. But now the Digidestinied have once again overcome their quarrels and are about to crush our rebellion. Etemon, Piedmon, Devimon and Myotismon will flee into your world and hide there from persecution. In time, they will contact you and your friends.
The Shadowmaster is moving against you, and now he will try to destroy your worlds, as he failed to conquer them - thanks to your effort. I will spread hints for you among the DigiWorld, to ensure that it doesn't fall into our enemies hands. The Digidestinied in my world usually doesn't work together, but they are very clever - and evil! I have hidden a dossier about them within this Digivice, to let you know who you are fighting. One of them is the Shadowmaster, the true genius of evil, like you never have seen any! He or she has plotted all evil schemes that plagued you during the last years! Unfortunately I didn't discover his or her identity, so be prepared for anyone to meet. There are eight Evil Digi-Armour Eggs, that somewhat mirror your good DigiEggs. They have the power to tear your DigiWorld apart! The fading you will watch by now is a result if this. You must find the hiding - places of these eggs and a way to destroy them, and then move forward to catch the Shadowmaster. I will give you news. The next message is hidden in the Black Fortress north of Yash Sagath, the one you were captured and your Sora died a short time ago.
I know well that the Sora you knew was evil and tried to destroy you. I have watched your adventures from the distance, but did not dare to interfere. But now I have no choice than to rely on you, for I will not be able to fool the Shadowmaster's henchmen much longer. But know this: there is something similar in all worlds. I loved you - or my Taichi - as much as your Sora did with you. I know that your true love is Yamato Ishida, and I envy him, but wish you well. Your Sora could not accept this, and tried to destroy you both, for which I am ashamed. But know that there is a world, were a Sora lives, that will support your love forever, to see you happy. I will soon pay the price for being a traitor in both worlds. Just remember me for good." Then the hologram was gone and all gazed in silence for many minutes.

After they had recovered from the shock of these terrible news, Robert urged Tai to look for the dossier. He pressed some buttons, and suddenly a holographic monitor appeared hovering over the Digivice. Written upon it was a report about the evil Digidestinied. Tai looked at it, and then he read it aloud to the others.

"A DOSSIER OF THE EVIL DIGIDESTINIED.
By Sora Takenushi.

I have watched my former friends now for many years, and the rebellion relies on me. Only through my espionage, they can understand against whom we are fighting. I hope this won't fall into our enemies hands.
TAICHI YAGAMI: President of the UN League, most popular politician of the year. The UN is now thanks to his efforts a world government, as he has successfully weakened the nations by corruption and blackmailing. He his a two-faced liar and usually underestimated. Might likely be the Shadowmaster, but not proven. Was once married to Sora Takenushi (yes, I was so foolish!), but divorced now. Bears the Crest of Deceit.
YAMATO ISHIDA: Digimon Kaiser, and ruler of 2/3rd of the DigiWorld. A genius of destruction and war, supported by Jyou's Mutant army. He is known to catch and torture the enemy leaders in person. If you ever fall in his hands, kill yourself, before he does. He holds a stern hand on the Dark DigiWorld and has laid waste of large areas during the war with mass-destruction weaponry, invented by Koushiro. Bears the Crest of Control.
JYOU KIDO: Referred to as the "Mad Doctor". Has a great hidden laboratory in the Dark DigiWorld. Tortured many Digimon and animals to create new mutant creatures, serving Digimon Kaiser Yamato in his war. He has no interest than to control life due to his own design. Bears the Crest of Madness.
KOUSHIRO IZUMI: Referred to as 'Master Izzi'. One of the greatest inventors of our time, but unfortunately of war machinery. Invented several mass-destructive weapons of chemical nature. The test of his weaponry in known to have destroyed 48 entire islands. He has implanted in his body many electronic devices, which make him look quite ugly. May as well be the Shadowmaster. Bears the Crest of Destruction.
KEN ICHIJOUJI: Met the Digidestinied most late, when he was a Fighter for good ideals. The other Digidestinied convinced him to evil, though, most important was Takeru's influence upon him to turn to evil. Known and feared as the world's greatest Mafia Boss, who controls about 3/4th of the world's crime. He lives in a large swimming city in the Pacific Ocean, where national law can not reach him. Less is known about him, as he doesn't like any kind to publicity. Bears the Crest of Avarice.
TAKERU TAKEISHI: Founder of the Satanist Sect 'Children of the Last Days'. Great Preacher, who reached the masses with his TV - speeches and books, where he writes about the meaninglessness of life. To overcome his fear he is a great alcoholic and consumes all kinds of drugs. His is dangerous because of his power over the masses. Bears the Crest of Despair.
IORI HIDA: Maybe the best fighter in the world, Master of Kung Fu, Kendo, Karate, Judo and several other styles of martial arts. For a long time he was the personal assistant of Ken, but know works as a hired assassin. His right hand is artificially made by Koushiro, as I chopped it off sometime ago - but barely escaped with my life! Never parts from his Katanas. His current location is not known. He bears the Crest of Hatred.
DAISUKE MOTOMIYA: Very famous, as he controls 60% of the worldwide TV and Newspapers. The Media Man! Very popular, an idol of our world. His media uses to report nothing about politics, society or economy. It is pure entertainment of the lowest kind. It just distracts the people and prevents them from thinking. Daisuke bears the Crest of Anarchy.
HIKARI YAGAMI: Usually referred to as 'The Red Witch'. Has rediscovered magic, and formed a circle of Black Mages and Witches to terrorize the world. She is known and feared for her bad temper and the evil she brings erratically upon others. She will bring evil just for fun of doing. Might be the Shadowmaster. Bears the Crest of Darkness.
MIYAKO INOUE: Referred to as 'The Black Widow'. Miyako is likely the most sex-hungry woman I ever met. She uses to have a great harem of boys and young men - with several woman as well, which she forces to her will. Many who share her bed don't survive the night. She has a great palace where all kind of pleasures are celebrated, but often to the demise of the 'guests'. She is known to be very clever, so don't underestimate her. She bears the Crest of Cruelty.
MIMI TACHIKAWA: Mimi is known as the most rich person in the world. She has a great empire of corporations, factories and shops. She controls the computer, automobile and fashion market. Less is known about her, besides she would do all to satisfy her lust for riches. Bears the Crest of Greed.
TRANSMISSION END.

There was much debate as how to proceed in the following hours. In the end it was decided that the nine present Digidestinied should search the DigiWorld for clues of the Shadowmaster and a solution to stop the withering of the DigiWorld. They spread into four groups and were sent on different errands.
Tai and Yamato took Sora's Digivice to the mainland and travel to the Black Fortress, they both knew so well from their most recent adventure. They would have the greatest chance to find Sora's new message. To get support, they were to sail to the city of Sergas, where many good Digimon where ready to join them in their quest to reach the Black Fortress.
The second group were Ken and TK chosen to travel far into the frozen north, where an old laboratory was, that Ken used in his time as the Digimon Kaiser. Ken was convinced to find some artefacts there that would be of great use against their foe.
The third group were Miyako and Hikari. The girls were sent to the mainland's greatest city Cyrius, were Digimon from many parts meet and exchange news. They should gather information and hints that hopefully lead them to their enemy.
The fourth group was formed by Jyou, Koushiro and Iori, who were sent to the south-western islands to gather support in a possible upcoming battle, should the Shadowmaster decide to sent any armies against them. They were the most close island near the capital city of Central, so it would be good to fortify this place and gather the good Digimon there.

******************************************

In the next morning, an hour before sunrise, the Digidestinied stood in the southern harbour, where three ships waited for them.
"Three?", Yamato wondered. "How can we reach our goals in that way?"
Rob frowned. "I'm sorry, but we don't have more. One shall bring you and Tai to the harbour of Sergas, which is most close to the Black Fortress, then it will go on south-west with Iori, Jyou and Koushiro. This one…", Rob directed to the largest vessel, "will carry you, Takeru and Ken northward. It can even break thin ice, should that be necessary. It can be cold up there these days."
"I am certain we will find some useful goods in my old lab.", Ken said. "I made some research there."
Ken and Takeru said goodbye to their friends and set sail, accompanied by Wormmon and Patamon.
The girls went to high and elegant ship. "This is one of the fastest ships we have.", Rob explained.
Miyako laughed. "I see! Ocean, we await you!"
Hikari smirked. "Uhm. Sorry that I am not that enthusiastic. I used to get seasick when I was younger, so I hope it will not take too long. Which way shall we take?"
Miyako, who was an expert in map reading answered: "We will sail side by side with Tai and the others for three days, then we will turn west to Alvenay. From there it is only a short trip to Cyrius. I have heard so much about that place!", she added excited. "I can't wait to see the largest city in the DigiWorld!"
"So we shall be there in one week.", Gatomon said. She made a face. "I don't like the sea, too. But there is no other way, I fear.
"Well.", Hawkmon mentioned. "We could digivolve and carry our partners over the sea, but it might be to far…"
Miyako stared at Hawkmon. "Are you mad? You would have to fly for days? It is not possible!"
The girls and their Digimon said goodbye and sailed ahead.
"Now we must go.", Koushiro said. "Or the girls will be too far ahead."
Robert stepped towards them. "I wish you well. You all have a difficult task." He turned to Tai and Yamato, his black hair waved in the morning breeze. "Taichi, Yamato; I want you to be utmost careful. Your mission is the most dangerous, but it may be the most vital as well. Don't risk to much, though. If you can't reach Sora's message, return without it. Try to stay out of trouble."
"Yes, your highness!", Yamato bowed and grinned.
"At your command!", Taichi agreed bowing too.
Rob laughed. "Oh leave it and go!"
So Tai, Yamato, Iori, Jyou and Koushiro went on board, accompanied with their Digimon partner Agumon, Gabumon, Armadillomon, Gomamon and Tentomon; Daisuke's Digimon Veemon had demanded to stay with Iori and escorted them, too.

******************************************

The sun blazed hot in the sky and the boys where all sweating. The harbour of Sergas could be seen at the horizon.
"I definitely need a bath as soon as we are in Sergas!", Taichi stated.
"Yes, that is true.", Yamato said.
Taichi was worried. Then he understood. "Oh, my Mr Sensible!", he teased. "You don't smell much better, being under the hot sun for days with no fresh water!"
"Could we stay for a day to rest, too?", Koushiro asked and looked at Jyou and Iori.
Iori shook his head. "We shouldn't loose any time. We need all support we can get against this Shadowmaster and must inform the southern cities soon. And I want to gather all news if someone heard of Daisuke!"
Jyou let his head sink. He had obviously hoped for a short refreshment as well.
"But we might go in a tavern for a drink and a good meal and stay for one or two hours.", Iori added as he saw the disappointed faces of his friends.
Jyou grinned. "That would be welcome!"
An hour later the ship was docked at the harbour of Sergas, a town Tai and Yamato knew very well from their last adventure. Dark memories seemed to overshadow Yamato, and his features went grim as they walked at the dockside.
"Hey, my dove, what's up?", Tai questioned as he saw his lover's expression.
"Hm?" Yamato seemed to be surprised. "Oh, nothing."
Tai rose one eyebrow. "Nothing, is it?" He gazed intensely at his koi.
Yamato looked down. "Well, okay. I have just remembered when I was here some months ago I was the Dark Lord, serving the evil Shadowmaster… and now Sora told me that I am the Digimon Kaiser in this other DigiWorld. I seem to have an affection for the dark side."
Taichi grabbed his lover's hand and forced him to stop. He grabbed Yamato's head with his hand and made him look up. "Yamato! The first was not your fault! They have tricked you into this! And this second Yamato is not you! Quite on the contrary. You know that all these other Digidestinied are evil, that means you are not! We all have long forgiven you, why can't you?"
Yamato gazed into Tai's hazel eyes. They were so warm and tender, so filled with light and love. He grabbed Taichi and wrapped his arms around him.
Tai was taken by surprise. "What…", he coughed, when the blonde pressed his lips on Tai's and pushed his probing tongue into his mouth. After a minute they departed breathing heavily.
"Thank you for being there with me!", Yamato said grinning and went ahead, leaving behind a stunned Taichi, who gazed behind his lover with a dumb expression.
"Hey, wait!", Tai shouted, running behind Yamato.
Jyou and Koushiro, who had watched the scene with Iori from afar, where all smiling. They went on and rejoined their friends. After twenty minutes walking through several streets they finally found some kind of restaurant. It was run by no other than Digitamamon.
"You again?", Yamato and Jyou said in unison. Both remembered this Digimon well from an encounter many years ago.
Digitamamon bowed before them. "Oh! What a small world, don't you agree? Well as old friends of mine, I welcome you and invite you to a free meal in my restaurant. Come in!" He led them into a cooled room, a bit aside from the busy rooms in the front. "Here you won't be disturbed. Now, what do you want to eat and drink?"
"I want Chilli Con'Carne and a Coke!", Tai said.
"I take Rice Pan and a water.", Yamato added.
Jyou pondered a while. "Give me some baked potatoes with salad. And an Orange juice, please!"
"Do you have Pizza?", Koushiro asked and Digitamamon nodded. "Okay, then I will take a big Salami Pizza and a Coke, too. A big one please!", he said greedily.
Iori rubbed his chin, looking to the ceiling. "Hm, I will take a Rice Pan, too. And some lemonade would be nice."
Digitamamon had noted their wishes and went away.
Several minutes later their drinks were served. Tai stopped the Digimon. "Say, you know any good hotel or any place to rest? Yamato and me would like to take a bath to refresh and some support to travel north would be nice."
Digitamamon gazed at Tai. "You want to travel north, through the desert?" Tai nodded. "Then you will have trouble.", he continued. "The mistress has caught all flying Digimon of Sergas in her new Palace, and no one is allowed to leave this place. So you will have to cross the desert by foot."
"What?", Iori shouted. "Who is this Mistress you talk of?"
"And who allowed her to catch Digimon?", Jyou wanted to know. "She doesn't have the right to do this!"
"Then go and tell her!", Digitamamon said. "I haven't met her, and I have no wish to do, but it is rumoured, that she is human and not a Digimon. Just like the refugees that appeared three weeks ago."
"Refugees? What kind of Refugees?", Tai asked.
"They are the first humans that came into the DigiWorld besides you, the Digidestinied.", the small Digimon answered. "There are about 40 or 50 people, living in tents just north of the city. They have begun to build huts, so I believe they want to stay here."
"But where are they from, and what do they want here?", Iori questioned.
Digitamamon looked thoughtful. "I don't know. I never spoke to them, but it is said that they look quite beaten, as if on flight from something evil and powerful."
"Humans, settling in the DigiWorld?!", Koushiro said. "This is quite unusual. Something is going on here, and the sooner we find out the better."
"Where is this palace you spoke of?", Yamato wanted to know.
"At the eastern exit of the city, a huge marble building. Quite beautiful!", Digitamamon said. "You can't miss it. But I give you the advice not to enter. Few ever emerged from it. I don't know what is going on there. If you want a good hotel, go to the central market, the 'Red Sun' is run by Vegiemon, he is favoured for his baths and his good service. I will sent word to him to expect you, so he will offer you free service, too!" Then he was gone to take care of the food.

Later Jyou, Koushiro and Iori said goodbye and sailed on to the southwest. Tai and Yamato went to the central market to Vegiemon's hotel to take a bath and rest for a night. Vegiemon offered them a free room as long as they wanted, and both boys went into a great and hot bath. When they had finished their bath, they were very tired and so they decided to take little nap.
When they awoke, they found themselves in very different surrounding. Yamato opened his eyes. He still laid in a bed, but it was white with silk and looked very expensive. Beneath him laid Tai, still being asleep.
"Tai! Taichi, wake up!", Yamato shook his beloved.
Tai yawned. "Oh, what… why…" Then he realised that they were somewhere else then before. "Hey, how did we come here?" They looked around and found themselves in a large, rich dressed room with expensive furnishings. It looked like a very luxurious hotel, but much unlike anything Vegiemon's rooms had. Tai went to the windows where he saw gratings! As far as he could see there was a forest outside. There were two doors, one of it led into a small bathroom, equally rich designed. The second door was locked. Tai slammed at the door. "Hey! Open that door! Anyone hear me!"
Yamato had dressed himself again. "It seems we are kidnapped. And Agumon and Gabumon are gone, too. Do you think this was Vegiemon? He hasn't treated Jyou and me quite well the last time we met him."
Tai hesitated. "Hm, I am not certain. Perhaps, but we can't be sure." He went to a small chair, where his clothing was laid down and dressed himself. Both boys tried to find a way out, but finally they realised that whoever had caught them had done so well. There was no escape.
After one hour of waiting, the door was opened. Tai and Yamato jumped up. To their surprise a huge man entered. He was large and looked very strong, but had quite a babies face. "Hello.", he said smiling stupidly. "I am Bumbo the Mistress' personal servant. You will come now with me to see her." He stepped towards the boys and looked really impressive. There was no doubt, that he could easily force both to follow him. Bumbo led then through several floors, all in the same rich and elegant design. Later on there were some rooms without doors, where Yamato and Tai saw halls with oriental design, water basins, divans and tables with rich food. In these halls several young men, all of them striking beauties, walked around only sparely dressed and obviously having fun. Finally they were led into a great hall with a large swimming pool and divans and cushions all around, again in that oriental style. Young men swam around or were laying on the ground eating or playing board games. Tai and Yamato had never seen such an exquisite mixture of male beauties in one place. When Yamato looked at them more closely he saw that each of them was wearing a tight silver ring around his ankles, which seemed to serve for more than just fashion. When Bumbo stopped they stood before a high sofa on which a veiled woman laid, holding a chalice of red wine, dressed in floating red clothing.
"Thank you Master Bumbo!", the young woman said in a deep and passionate voice. Then she turned to Yamato and Tai. "So, we finally meet! I have heard of your adventures here. I shall be glad to add you to my collection!"
"We will not belong to your 'collection', whatever that means!", Yamato shouted.
Bumbo stepped forward and beat Yamato hard on his cheeks. "You will not talk like that to the Mistress!", he commanded.
Tai had jumped forward, but he was held in distance by Bumbo's other arm.
"Be gentle, Bumbo.", the Mistress interceded. "Don't hurt them too much! I want to have fun with them!"
"How can you dare to keep us here? What do you want from us?", Tai shouted eagerly.
The mistress rose from her seat and stepped forward. Then she lifted her veil. It was Miyako!
"You!", Yamato said gaping at her.
Miyako smirked. "Yes, but I am NOT your friend. I am well aware that the accursed Devimon has told you of our world. Be sure he will pay for that! But your destiny will be much more pleasant. You should be grateful, as your friends expect a much more terrible fate from my brothers. Look here what I offer!" She grabbed into her dress and showed them a red DigiArmor Egg with an unknown symbol upon it. Then she held a silver ring in her other hand and she stepped towards Taichi. "You, Taichi Yagami will wear that ring. With my DigiArmor Egg I can control your desires. You shall enjoy being together with me bringing me 'pleasure'. In exchange I will let go Yamato. He is of no interest to me. I don't like blondes."
"Are you mad?", Tai cried angry. "I will never submit to you!"
The evil Miyako shrugged. "Bumbo! Grab him!" Instantly Yamato was grabbed, chained and brought into a small backroom. Tai was held by another strong man from behind, and try as he would, he could not escape this iron grip. Miyako was following them. Tai helplessly witnessed Yamato being bound to an X-Frame and his shirt was torn apart. He saw in horror as a basin with burning coal and an iron bar was moved into the room. Miyako wore now gloves and took the hot glowing iron bar, grinning and turning the hot iron in her hands.
"I won't ask a third time, Tai. You WILL submit, or Yamato will have unbelievable tortures."
Tears welled in Tai's eyes. He didn't want to see Yamato hurt. He watched as the hot iron came nearer to Yamato's breast. "NO! Stop that!", Tai yelled. "I will do all if you set him free!"
"Tai!", Yamato cried. "Don't submit to her. I can stand this! You mustn't bow to her wishes. We will find a way."
"Silence, boy!", the Mistress shouted angry and placed the hot burning iron rod on Yamato's breast. A loud cry emerged from Yamato and they smelled the reeking stench of burning flesh. Taichi broke down crying, roughly forced up by his own captor.
Taichi reached out with his left arm towards the Mistress. "Please! Stop this and place the ring around my arm!", he sobbed.
Without so much then another word the evil Mistress Miyako stepped forward and with a 'click' the silver ring closed around Tai's arm. Instantly his eyes were empty and stared at Miyako mindlessly.
"Now, my young boy!", Miyako said lustfully. "I always longed to Taichi - the UN President of course! But now I have at least the other Taichi. That is a good replacement. Go into my quarters and wait to please me this night!" She waved her hand.
"TAICHI!", Yamato cried with all his strength. "Taichi, you must resist!" Tai froze in his step, his eyes still empty and soulless. "Taichi! Remember all the things we did together, of our love, the promise to be together forever! Please, don't give up!"
"It is useless!", the Mistress laughed. "No one can free himself of the power of my DigiEgg!" She turned to Tai. "Come here, my little Tai!" Taichi went to Miyako and stared dull at her. "Now, kneel beside me!" Tai knelt just before her looking down to the ground.
"Taichi, please! Remember that I once forgot you under Sora's spell, but you believed in me. Now I will not give you up, I owe this to you. Please, come back to your senses!" Tears of desperation flowed from Yamato's eyes.
Miyako stepped towards Tai. She grabbed the red Egg around her hand and held it towards Tai. "You see this Yamato? By this evil DigiEgg I can control all people wearing my ring entirely. Even my bodyguard Bumbo wears one. So don't suffer for your lost lover too much. He will enjoy having me, now. And you might easily find another boy to satisfy your desire."
"You know nothing!", Yamato shouted, still hanging on the X-Frame. "You can not force or replace love! This is something entirely different than simple desire! I pity you, that you fail to grasp such a thing like love!"
"YOU PITY ME!", Miyako shouted angry. "You should keep your pity for yourself! Bumbo! Torture the hell out of him, and slowly!"
Yamato saw the big strong man Bumbo taking the glowing iron and walking towards him. Sweat was flowing down his forehead. Suddenly there was a very quick movement near the evil Mistress. Taichi had jumped up before his captor realised what was happening. He grabbed the DigiEgg out of Miyako's hand and with all his power threw it into the burning coal-brazier.
"NOOOOO!", Miyako cried in terror as she saw the evil DigiEgg burst into many pieces. Tai stared with a grinning of triumph at her and stepped towards Bumbo.
"Don't do this!", he whispered to the huge man.
Bumbo looked down and Tai and the glowing iron. A smile formed on the giants face. "I thank you, stranger, to have set me free!" He bowed to Taichi. Then Bumbo's face went grim as he stepped towards the Mistress and captured her before she could escape. "And you will stay here!" Miyako wanted to escape, but she had no chance against that strong bully.
Tai ran to Yamato and freed his lover who fell into his arms. "Thank you, Tai! I thought you would take longer to fetch her Egg."
"Longer?", Miyako cried in rage. "What do you mean? How did you break the spell of my evil Egg, and since when did you free your mind from it?"
Tai grinned at her. "I was under it's influence for roughly… three seconds!" He laughed, then his face grew sober and he looked at Yamato. "No evil trick is as strong as the one True Love! When will the bad guys and girls learn that?"
The evil Mistress was imprisoned and Bumbo promised to guard her together with the help of her former slaves, the many good looking boys. At least she would be guarded by the best looking guards ever seen. Together with Agumon and Gabumon, they were given two huge flying Digimon who would carry them northward, over the desert to the Black Fortress at the next morning.

******************************************

Iori, Jyou and Koushiro walked along the beach of the Isle of Al Mintaka. The island was known as one of the most beautiful places in the DigiWorld with it's wonderful forests containing trees with blue and red leafs. The warm spring sun shone through the foliage, generating a peaceful mood. Iori carried his grandfather's Kendo - Shinai (a wooden sword) on his back and was wearing a simple robe; he told Jyou and Koushiro that he would tread a warrior's path until they freed Daisuke from whatever peril ahead. They had recently left the city of Menkant, where their ship was docked and travelled now to the great lighthouse, because one Digimon in Menkant had told them, that die old lighthouse - keeper was a very powerful Digimon called SkullMeramon.
Tentomon and Gomamon had stayed in the city to recruit and available Digimon to raise an army, just for the case that the Shadowmaster would attack. Armadillomon and Veemon accompanied the boys.
"This is really a wonderful place!", Jyou mentioned as he was looking around.
"Yes!", Veemon agreed. "I never was here before, though."
"It is very unusual!", Armadillomon said. "I have never seen a forest reaching up to the beach. Where the forest ends, the ocean begins. Most unusual!"
"Have you ever seen a SkullMeramon?", Iori asked Koushiro.
"Oh yes!", the red-haired answered. "They are powerful fighters and will be a good support if he joins our side."
"I have heard that he his respected as a guardian of this whole area!", Jyou added. "The Digimon in the city said, that they will join us, if SkullMeramon will do so. This island will be safe under his protection."
As they walked on the huge towering lighthouse came into sight. It was much larger than any lighthouse they had ever seen on earth.
"Wow!", Koushiro grasped gazing at the tower. "I have never seen anything like that!"
But Jyou looked frightful. "Say, do we have to climb all these stairs to reach SkullMeramon? I hope not!"
None of them was too pleased at the idea, when Armadillomon interceded: "I don't think we have to. Look there!" He pointed towards the forest edge ahead, where SkullMeramon was running towards the lighthouse.
Veemon winked. "Hey! Here! SkullMeramon!" He jumped all around to get his attention.
SkullMeramon, who was really large and strong, stared in astonishment at the boys. Suddenly his features grew dark as he saw Iori. He stomped towards him and stopped right in front of them.
"YOU!", he shouted at Iori. "How did you come here that fast? Do you think to finish me? Know that I will never yield to you, no matter what you do!"
Iori gazed at SkullMeramon in panic. What was going on here, was this Digimon evil?
"I… I… don't know what you mean.", he stammered and stepped back. Armadillomon walked to Iori, ready to protect his friend.
"And where are your swords?", SkullMeramon continued angry. "Or are you so arrogant to think you can beat me with that stick?"
Suddenly something moved behind SkullMeramon with unbelievable speed, so none of them could really see what it was.
"WHAT!", SkullMeramon boomed and turned around.
Then the appearance stopped. It was a Samurai, wearing two Katanas on his back. The grim warrior was still a young man, and he was wearing a Samurai's hat and a black mask, hiding his face.
"What a fortunate meeting!", the Samurai said in a threatening voice. "I am glad, so I an finish all of you."
SkullMeramon gazed at the warrior. "How many of you are there?", he asked the fighter.
The Samurai grabbed behind himself and held his swords. "There is only me!", he answered. "And that is enough for all of you!" Without warning he attacked SkullMeramon.
The boys watched this titanic battle. SkullMeramon was strong, but this warrior was a fury of war. It was clear that the Digimon would finally loose.
Iori whispered something to Armadillomon, who digivolved into Digmon and joined the battle to support SkullMeramon. It was a short help, as two swift strokes from the Samurai were enough to disable Digmon. He stumbled back and digivolved back to Armadillomon. Iori ran to his friend.
"Are you alright?", Iori asked.
Armadillomon sighed. "Yes. I am sorry, but this warrior is too strong. Veemon can't digivolve without Daisuke and the others are not here. I fear all depend on SkullMeramon."
The battle raged on, but finally the Samurai had driven his opponent into defensive. He pointed with his sword at the Digimon's neck. "Give up, yield to me and tell the other Digimon on this island to do so, and I shall spare you; else you will die."
Koushiro gazed in terror at the defeated SkullMeramon, when he saw the Samurai's hand. It was made of steel. "Iori!", he whispered to his friend. "This is the other Iori! Look at his hand!"
Iori gaped as he realised that he had met his evil counterpart. His teeth were grinding and he clenched his fists. Suddenly the evil Iori - the Samurai - stroke at SkullMeramon and the Digimon fell beaten to the ground. The Samurai didn't bother much longer and stepped into the lighthouse.
"Strangers, please help me!", SkullMeramon said. The boys ran to him. "Don't waste time on me! Stop that warrior! He has some kind of orb or egg. He wants to place it in the lighthouse. If that happens, all Digimon here will be lead be hate and evil. This egg radiates pure hatred. You must stop him!"
"Jyou, take care of his wounds!", Iori decided. Then he unleashed his Shinai and went on into the lighthouse, followed by Koushiro, Armadillomon and Veemon. It was quite a restraining walk up to the roof of the tower. They caught up with the Samurai, when he was just about to place his black Egg into the light-source. "Stop this!", Iori commanded and stepped towards the Samurai, wielding his Shinai.
The Samurai laughed. "Well, my little twin! Showing up your teeth, yes? Well, you don't have the strength to beat me! Just go back to your own business and don't endanger your life senseless." He was completely certain that Iori was no threat to him and turned around to replace the light-bulb with the Egg.
Iori jumped towards the Samurai and stroke at him. The warrior didn't even so much than turn around. He just rose his sword and blocked the attack. Then the evil Iori in the Samurai dress slowly turned around. "As you wish. Then you will learn it the hard way."
Armadillomon and Veemon, who both were unable to digivolve, stepped to Iori and tried to defend him, but both were blown away in an instant. Iori the Kendoka and evil Iori the Samurai fought for many minutes, both in highest concentration. For a long time the wooden Shinai held against the steel Katanas, but finally the Shinai was split in two halves and the Samurai towered over Iori, ready to finish him.
Then the Samurai laughed. "You were better then I thought. Well, you honour my name, that you too bear. But now this must be finished." He stepped towards the light and the boys helplessly watched as the removed the light-bulb.
"Don't do this!", Iori shouted. "You can't! This evil DigiEgg will just create hatred among the Digimon. You will gain nothing from this!"
The Samurai laughed. "Nothing, really? I shall see the most powerful Digimon fight against each other; good friends will fight and slay. That will be great fun, my friend!"
"Isn't that a poor fun, seeing other in strife and quarrel?", Iori asked. "And besides: only a coward would use such an DigiEgg to move against his foe. You don't even have to fight!"
The warrior just shrugged as the produced the Egg. "I can't be everywhere. Soon this land will sink in hatred and destruction. It will be the war of all against each other!" Then he placed the DigiArmor Egg in it's place and a grey light emerged from it.
Suddenly all felt a wave of hatred and anger within them.
"You!", Veemon shouted at Armadillomon. "You have failed to help your partner. You are responsible for this!"
"You have failed your partner much more! He was joined the dark side now!", Armadillomon answered.
Koushiro's face was twisted in anger, too. "Jyou!", he sneered. "You must pay for your failures now!" Then Koushiro ran down the stairs.
Iori gazed behind him in horror. "What have you done?" he asked the Samurai.
The fighter grinned wickedly. "I have given them to hate. Hatred is always stronger than anything. Can't you fell how anger and hate wash away all your other thoughts? Soon it will overwhelm you, too!"
Iori could feel the hate swelling within him. Daisuke had left him without another word! He hadn't trusted him! Or worse: he had betrayed him. He must pay… No! Iori concentrated on his love for Daisuke. "No! I… can … not… give to… the hate!"
"There, look at your little Digimon!", the Samurai mocked. "They are killing each other! Soon one of them will be dead." He laughed again.
"No!", Iori shouted in fear. He felt a new wave of hatred, now against the warrior. How could he dare to do this! He would not rest, before all remnants of evil would be wiped out! He hated them so much!
"You!", Iori coughed to the Samurai. "You are Iori Hida, too! I.. pity… that you don't… understand… friendship… and love!"
The Samurai stared at Iori in pure hatred. "I know all I must know!", he bellowed.
"But obviously… not enough!", Iori answered. He closed his eyes and summoned the image of Daisuke before him. This wonderful and spontaneous boy, his charming look and his boyish smile, how could he ever do anything but love this boy! Love! Iori felt a great pain in is head, as if it would burst any moment.
"Don't resist the hate!", the evil Samurai said. "It will only cause pain. Give in to the hate, and all your pain will be gone!"
Iori jumped up and cried aloud. "DAISUKEEEE! I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER!", he cried as loud as he could. Then a great silence fell upon them, when the two Digimon stopped their fight. Suddenly a slight sound could be heard, like that of cracking glass - and then the grey light began to dim. The Samurai whirled around and looked at the Egg, who had a little crack.
"No, that can't be!", he shouted. "How did this happen?"
"Because the pure hate can't stand in the sight of love!", Koushiro said from the door behind. He was holding Jyou's hand.
"I love Koushiro!", Jyou said smiling. "And this is stronger that anything!"
Another crack appeared on the Egg. Then Armadillomon and Veemon stepped toward the warrior. "And we will be friends, whatever happens!", they said. Then the black DigiEgg burst into thousands of small splinters.
The evil Samurai gazed at the light-source in disbelief. "How…? Why…?", he stammered. Then he threw a smoke-bomb unto the ground, moved something small in the air and suddenly a Vortex Portal appeared. "Back to the Dark DigiWorld!", the Samurai commanded and went through the gate.
Later on SkullMeramon thanked them that they stopped the evil warrior in his doing and he promised to raise an army to protect the land in any coming conflict. Iori, Jyou and Koushiro decided to stay a few days to support the creation of defence-buildings, before they sailed eastwards to their next destination. An Email from Rob had appeared on Jyou's Digivice.
"Hi there!", Rob wrote. "I know you must be busy, but you must finish your job as soon as possible. Meet with the others at Cyrius. I shall sent messages to them as well. A large group of evil Digimon has been sighted north of Cyrius. We need all attention to oppose these forces. Wait in Cyrius for your friends. Yours, Robert."

******************************************

Ken watched Takeru who was walking over the ships deck. It was terribly cold by now, and it had began to snow. So both boys changed into their winter dresses. TK really looked admirably in is white winter jacket and the fur collar on it. Like some prince from a fairy-tale. Ken smiled at the idea: his fairy-prince TK!
Patamon sat on TK's hat and was shivering. "TK, why did we have to go north? It is so cold here."
"You know that Ken is the only who can make use of his laboratory. And so I will go with him!", Takeru explained.
"Over there!", Ken said to the ship's captain. "Try to sail as near to the beach as possible. TK and me will take the small boat and row to the land."
Half an hour later TK, Ken und Wormmon sat in a small boat, rowing to the beach. Patamon was left on board to protect the boat for the case that someone would attack it. Patamon had protested, but TK was able to convince them that without the ship they would have to walk back through many days of cold winter landscape, and so Patamon had agreed.
Finally Ken and TK reached the beach and jumped on the land, while Wormmon digivolved into Stingmon and pulled the boat on dry land.
"Stingmon!", Ken said. "You watch over the boat. My lab is not far from here and it was well hidden, so I don't expect trouble. I will sent an Email with my Digivice, should we need help." And with that TK and Ken went away.
The boys walked through several hills, entirely hidden under the snow. Some trees where here and there, all without leafs, looking a bit spooky.
"What a desolate landscape!", TK mentioned as he looked around. "So depressing."
Ken shrugged. "I didn't use to walk around much, when I worked here. Besides: it is quite beautiful in spring and summer."
Ken and TK walked through the deep snow, their boots making grinding noises. When Ken finally stopped at a large rock, both were quite exhausted. "Here…", Ken panted heavily. He pressed in a small niche in the stone and to Takeru's surprise the stone moved aside, giving way to a ladder that led down into the darkness. "Wait.", said Ken and reached down to a panel. Suddenly the light went on. "I'll go first. Stay close to me, TK." Then he climbed down in the tunnel. Shortly after TK descended into the depth, the stone moved again and closed the trapdoor above them.
Ken led TK through several metallic tunnels, which crossed sometimes. It was a labyrinth.
"Are you certain, that you know where to go?", Takeru asked.
Ken smiled and grabbed TK's hand while they walked along. "I have made some simple signs on the wall to show the way. You can't differ them from simple scratches, if you don't know what you are looking for. These tunnels existed here before I entered the DigiWorld. I found them by accident and created a lab in the deeper tunnels. There!", Ken pointed towards a heavy metal door with a small panel to the right. "This is the elevator that will take us down. There are three levels. But only the lowest is of interest, there are my labs."
TK watched Ken pressing some kind of combination, perhaps a security number and the door opened. They stepped into the lift and Ken pressed the '3' - button. TK felt the swift movement downward in his stomach. Then they halted and the doors opened. The tunnel ahead was only dimly lit, because many lights didn't seem to work. It was a creepy atmosphere, like in some dark Science Fiction. TK looked at Ken and saw that his friend was uneasy.
"Hey, feeling alright?", TK asked.
Ken shook his head. "No, TK. I invented many evil things here. Here my career as the Digimon Kaiser began. I misused my knowledge to enslave the Digimon. I had hoped never to return here. I should have destroyed that place."
TK stopped and Ken stopped, too. He looked at TK rising an eyebrow. Takeru reached out his hand and placed it softly on Ken's cheek. "Ken. I know that you will never overcome that feeling of guilt entirely; and I really had hoped never to return to a place like that with you. But see it in this way: if you would have destroyed this lab, we couldn't use it for our advantage." He pressed a soft kiss on Ken's lips. "Let's go.", TK added.
Ken led the way, and after some intersections and passed doors, he stopped and pushed a button in the metal wall. The door opened and they stepped into a midsize room, containing some computer terminals, chemical workbenches and a dozen monitors. Ken activated the terminals and searched the drawers. There were many small object, tools of some kind, TK had never seen before. Ken wore a backpack, which he placed on a table to pack the stuff into it, they would need.
"This will take a while.", Ken explained. "You can't help me with this." Then he continued his search.
After half a hour he had finally found something. "Ah, look here!" He showed a small device to TK that reminded of a pocket-watch. "This is a special Digianalyzer. It gives detailed information on any Digimon, even if it was far away." He activated the analyser. Suddenly dozens of red lights appeared on the screen. "Damn!", Ken shouted, obviously shocked.
"What?", TK asked concerned. "What does that mean?"
Ken hastily put his things in the backpack, grabbed TK and went to the door. "We must go immediately. These lights showed the presence of Digimon - evil ones! There are about 20 of them in level two, just above us. We should better go!"
They ran towards the elevator, stepped in and pressed the '1' button. When the door opened once again, a human being stood in the shadow before them. There were not on the first floor, but they had halted on the second. The person stepped out of the shadows towards the lift. "Well, visitors!", he mumbled in a high pitched voice. "Maybe of use to me…" He laughed a shrill laughter. Dressed in a white scientists dress, and holding some technical device in his hand was Jyou. There was utter madness written in his face - so this was obviously the evil Jyou.
The 'Mad Doctor' pushed a button on his device and three creatures stepped towards him. They looked like Digimon, but neither Ken nor TK had ever seen something like them. Ken looked at his Digianalyzer. 'Mutated Digimons, artificially made and inbred with alien genetics of unknown origin. Level unknown.', the analyser said. In an instant Ken and TK were surrounded by them.
"Yes, unknown to you.. yes, yes…", the mad Jyou pondered giggling. "As it is I that has made them…. Come and behold my genius before you support my inventions." The Digimon grabbed the boys and led them into a large laboratory.
"You see, I have redecorated your lab a bit!", Jyou said to Ken. There were some large glass bottles, which housed sleeping creatures in a water - tank. These tanks were connected to a large computer terminal.
"Here, look around and wonder!", Jyou shrieked in triumph. "This is my army that soon will invade your world. My mutants. They are superior to all Digimon you ever saw. And you know why?" Mad Jyou gazed at TK and Ken, but he continued before any of them could answer. "Of course not! They are inbreeds between Digimon and human genes! Yes, they are the first creatures that mix human and Digimon shape in one being!" He laughed maniacal.
"This is terrible!", TK whispered to Ken, obviously struck in horror. "Such monsters must never live, let alone be allowed to spread!"
Ken stared at the nightmarish creatures, that seemed to be equally mad than their inventor, always drooling and crying, staring with intense hate and madness. "We could activate the self-destruction sequence I once implanted this whole bunker. But that would kill all of us. And we can not do this, even if we could escape. It would be murder!"
Takeru's features went grim. "We must! This creatures were never meant to be! They are an sacrilege to all life!"
Ken looked at TK with doubt, while Jyou continued to explain his plans for world - conquest. "If you could reach that terminal over there. Just insert my brothers full name and…" He was roughly stopped by a heavy pulling Digimon.
"Hey, what are you whispering!", Jyou cried.
"We were just admiring you potential.", TK answered.
The Mad Doctor grinned. "Oh! Certainly you did! And your admiration will rise even further, if you know that YOU are my most welcome addition here! Look at this." He led them to a huge machine, that looked like something from hell. "You will be put unto that frame, and your DNA will be extracted. Unfortunately your limbs, too. I will recycle your whole bodies and add them to my Digimon. Thus they will gain your strength. And I will put your brain into my most perfect Digimon, so you will be immortal! Isn't that wonderful!" He giggled and the Digimon pushed Ken and TK towards the machine.
"Wait!", Ken said. "I have some knowledge that might be useful to you! I have made similar research as the Digimon Kaiser. If you just allow me to use that terminal!"
Jyou laughed. "Do you think me mad? You might just erase that files or such! No, your beloved shall use the terminal, and you will tell him from afar what to do!"
TK was led to the terminal. He pushed the activation button. "Enter activation sequence.", it said. TK began to sweat. This was the chance! But what was the name of Ken's brother? He didn't remember it clearly, as it had been quite a time ago that they had talked about Ken's dead brother.
"I think, you better start working!", Jyou shouted. Then he grabbed in his pocket and placed a small object into a slot of the large extraction-machine. It was an evil DigiEgg of green colour.
'This must drive all these machines.', Ken pondered.
TK knew that he had only one chance. If the he would insert the wrong name, the terminal would likely display something that might betray them. So this was their end. To die in the cold earth among some mutants. No time to ponder now! The typed the name as he remembered it: "Sam Ichijouji".
A computer voice emerged from the terminal. "Self destruction sequence activated. Remaining time: 3 minutes; counting backwards."
"WHAT!", Jyou shrilled in madness. "What have you done, knave!" He ran towards the terminal and tried to hack into it. "NO! My children! My inventions!" He concentrated on the terminal and tried to stop the countdown. But the computer didn't react.
The mutants were not alert, as their master was consumed with the attention to the terminal, cursing and mumbling to himself. Ken used one of his Judo tricks and freed himself from the evil mutant's clutches. He ran away, grabbed his backpack and shouted to TK: "Run! Quickly!"
TK followed Ken towards the exit. Suddenly Jyou realised that he had bee tricked. "NOOOO!", he cried. "Servants! Grab them! They will die here with us!" The mutants instantly walked after TK and Ken. They were just through the door, when Ken pressed a button and hastily typed a combination. "That will hold a while!", he explained. Then both ran to the elevator, trying to ignore the cries and howling behind the locked laboratory door.
"Two minutes until detonation. Evacuate immediately!", the computer voice echoed.
The elevator stopped again and Ken and TK ran through the first floor, heading towards the exit. Both ran as fast as they could, and though their lungs seemed to burn from expiration, they didn't dare to rest. Finally they reached the ladder and climbed up.
"30 seconds until self-destruction.", the voice said.
Ken slammed the trapdoor open and jumped out. He reached for TK with his hand. "Hurry!", he cried. TK stepped out and Ken pressed into the niche of the stone, who closed upon the tunnel. "RUN!", Ken shouted and both boys kept running along towards the beach. "DROP!", Ken commanded and they jumped behind another large rock.
Suddenly the ground shook and a heavy underground explosion happened. He hill, upon which the laboratory had been build, exploded and spat fire like a volcano. Ash rained down on their heads.
When the detonation was over, Ken could hear a beep in his ear as a result of the loud noise. The whole landscape around them was desolate now as of a bomb had dropped. Ken gazed with an expression of guild on the scene.
"Ken!" Takeru wrapped his arms around Ken, who had begun to shiver. "Ken, don't! Don't gather new guilt! I have activated the countdown, not you! And we had no choice! These creatures should never have lived; they were a defiance of nature, and we didn't have another chance!"
"You are right, Takeru.", Ken said, still looking sad at the area of destruction. "But it is so depressing that murder and destruction seems to be with us still. I really had hoped that this would end now. It wasn't even a fair fight."
TK held Ken close to him and for a while he silently caressed his lover, trying to comfort him. Then Stingmon appeared.
"You are alive!", Stingmon said. "I saw the detonation and feared the worst! Are you alright?"
Ken nodded. "Please Stingmon, take us away from here. We will go to the ship and sent word to Rob that we have the devices. Then we wait for his next orders." A faint smile appeared on Ken's face as he grabbed Takeru's hand. "Shall we, my love?"
TK smiled gladly seeing his koi happy again. "Yes, Ken! Wherever you go, I will follow!"

******************************************

Miyako and Hikari had landed at the harbour of Alvenay three days ago and followed the Great Road south-eastward to the city of Cyrius, which was rumoured to be the largest city within the DigiWorld.
It was a hot summer-sun, and both girls were sweating heavily. Hikari and Miyako longed for a shower and in this wide grasslands only few trees offered a cooling shadow. If only we would have horses here, Hikari thought; it would be the first animal she would import, as she was an excellent rider.
In the distance a shape was beginning to form. At first the girls believed it would be a huge Digimon, coming closer from behind.
"I wish I had my brothers telescope!", Hikari sighed. When they looked around later, Gatomon shouted in surprise.
"What is it?", Kari asked.
Gatomon gazed at the figure in surprise. "This is no Digimon! It is a human - sitting on a horse-wagon!", she explained.
Hawkmon rose up into the sky. "Yes. Now I can see it, too!", he shouted from above.
"But this is ridiculous!", Miyako protested. "How could that come here?"
There was no place to hide, so they slowed down to expect the stranger. Finally he reached the travellers and stopped his chart. "Ho, strangers!", he greeted. It was a bald, round man in his late 40ies. His wagon was fully stuffed with all kind of vegetables. "Can I help you in any way?", he added cheerfully.
The girls and their Digimon gaped at the appearance as if a miracle would have manifested. Miyako was the first to come to her senses.
"What in the name of the seven nether-hells are you doing here?", she shouted. She had recently found pleasure in figurative curses, much to Hikari's displease.
The man looked puzzled. "Erm, I have a trade-route between Cyrius and Alvenay. You want to come with me to Cyrius? I might take you with me; it's quite hot..."
"No, I mean yes... But since when are humans here?", Hikari asked.
The man looked at them and suddenly his eyes widened. "Ah! So you must be from the other world, not one of the refugees!" He hesitated. "Okay, you take seat and I tell you while we go to Cyrius, right?"
They all were rather exhausted, so they agreed.
"My name is Aaron." the man said, so the girls and their Digimon told their names, too. "Do you know anything about the refugees or the Shadow-world?", he questioned.
"We have just recently heard of the existence of another earth and DigiWorld. Are you from there?", Miyako wanted to know.
Aaron nodded. "I am a refugee, too! You know, we were brought to our DigiWorld from our earth because many Digimon are extinct. It has become a seldom sighting recently. But half a year ago most of the Dark Masters went into this DigiWorld for God knows what reason! Well, after the 3rd world-war much technology was lost and great parts of our earth are barren now. The masters came like saviours and their discovery of our DigiWorld was like a miracle to all. They became great personalities as they held the key who could leave the barren earth and make a new life there. Unfortunately he would there be under the Digimon Kaiser Yamato's rule. But as I said, some months ago they focussed their attention to this other DigiWorld - yours! As a result some gates are now permanently open. They are usually well defended, but more and more are able to flee, trying to make a free life here, before the Dark Masters take this world as well."
The girls had listened to Aaron's tale with great attention. Silent gestures made them agree not to reveal their identity as Digidestinied.
"What do you know about Cyrius?", Miyako asked.
Aaron rubbed his chin. "Well it has changed quite a bit recently, since then the Lady appeared to dominate trade."
,,The Lady?", Hawkmon wondered. ,,Do you know her real name?" Aaron shook his head. ,No. Some of the Dark Masters are only known by their alias-names. 1 don't know why, though. It is said, that she is the most rich person in the world, and controls great parts of the worlds trade. She loves to live in exorbitant luxury."
In the evening the cart reached the City gates. Aaron bad to pay a heavy ,Gate Tax', which he paid for himself and the girls, too. ,,As a gift for your good company.", he said. ,,Find me at the market, if you ever need help. I shall stay the next four days."

Hikari, Miyako and their Digimon partners went through the streets. Cyrius was a really rich and beautiful city, and there were a few humans here and there, but neither any human nor Digimon was to friendly. All seemed to be occupied with some business. There were horrid prices for even the slightest thing. The girls found that they were unable to afford for any room or food. As for the food they bad their own supplies, but where could they spent the night?
,,We can't leave the city and camp outside!", Miyako said. ,,Or we will have to pay the Gate Tax again. Perhaps we can find a hidden place in the local town park, just for one night?"
Kari didn't like the idea, but she bad no other guess, so it was decided.

,,HOLD!", a male voice boomed deep in the night. ,,What do you think you are doing here?" It was an Apemon in same kind of fancy dress. ,,And who are you?", Miyako asked with sleepy eyes.
,,1 belong to the Ladies City guard!", be answered. ,,Forbidden camping within the City will make a penalty of 30 silvercoins!" ,,Silvercoins?", Hikari wondered. ,,We don't have such!"
,,Ahhh! Filthy beggars! We do not need the ones like you! Why do you think we created the Gate Tax? Now follow me; you will be arrested far the time of 3 months to pay far this!"
,,What!", Miyako shouted. ,,We didn't know this law!"
,,That will not help! And don't try anything foolish. We have more than enough guards to handle you."
,,Shall we attack?" Hawkmon asked.
Gatomon shrugged. ,,I think not. It may be a needless risk; let's see where this leads to..."
They were escorted to a prison cell - by a group of five Apemon. They saw that the prison master was a human, but they were not asked anything. Miyako looked desperate when the door shut behind them. In the next day, the prison-door was opened and the guard appeared again. ,,The Lady wants to see you. Now!"
He brought them out of the prison to a higher floor. Behind an oaken door the interior became quite different. All was entirely dressed and painted in pink. After walking a maze of corridors they halted at an elevator. The lift moved them up far quite a time.
When the elevator stopped they were led into a great hall. The ball was high an tap of a tower that seemed to overshadow the city of Cyrius. It was richly dressed and outlaid in pink and white. On a couch at the end of the ball sat a young woman, dressed in expensive looking robes, guarded by a dozen of Apemon. It was Mimi. Behind her was an altar made of gold, silver and marble. On the centre was the seemingly object of adoration: a small green Egg.

,,Hi!", Lady Mimi said. She gazed at Hikari and Miyako with an expression of excuse. ,,I am so sorry far this misunderstanding! My guards are fools and they shall be whipped for this!"
,,You see!", Hikari whispered to Miyako. ,,It was a mistake; all will be cleared now." And aloud she added: ,,We are grateful that you are here now, Mimi. We feared you wouldn't make it in time!"
Mimi looked concerned. ,,Hm, so you are here longer than me? Very good! Together we will be able to oppose our enemies much better. Just take one of the sofas to suit you!"
Mimi took the mouthpiece of a large water-pipe and puffed a few smokes. Her guests wondered at this seemingly new habits, but said nothing. ,,So, what about your boys, Miyako? Do you still have fun with them?", Mimi continued to ask.
Miyako looked puzzled. Did Mimi refer to their friends? ,,Yes... erm... they are travelling through the DigiWorld in search for clues to help us. Just like we do now. What do you plan to succeed, and why do you live in this curious environment?"
"I still don't understand.", Mimi explained. ,,Why do you prefer to do this for yourself, when sending your serfs is much easier?" Suddenly Hikari came to understanding. She gaped with open mouth at Lady Mimi. It was the false Mimi. Miyako though was still concentrated in conversation, so Kari tried in vain to say something to her friend. Miyako just went on to tell Mimi all of her ideas and impressions. Mimi's answers went more short until she realised her misconceptions, too. Hikari knew that it was already to late now.
,,MIYAKO!", she urged. ,,Shut up!"
Miyako looked as if she would have been slapped. ,,What…?"
Hikari gazed at her friend sourly. ,,This is not OUR Mimi!" Miyako made the most stupid expression she had ever made, and pressed both hands upon her open mouth as if to retreat her last words, but it was too late.
The Lady rose her eyebrow. ,,Sooo! YOU are one of these Digidestinied I have heard of so much. Fascinating. GUARDS!" Two strong Apemon stepped behind them. ,,So I welcome you to the Trading Tower of Cyrius! As you may not know, I am the Lady of Trade here, having the right to tax all trade here due to my wishes. Of cause I take nice goods as well... They suit me better than these dumb-asses." She giggled arrogantly, caressing her own pink hair with her fingers. ,,Let me say one thing plain: I believe in civilised manner, so don't expect me to throw you back into your prison cells. I do not think you are that dangerous as they say. But I will keep an eye on you. So, be my guests here, converse with me and we will have fun together in my palace. But you are not free to go and disturb my brothers with your interfering, agreed?"
Miyako had to gulp. To see an evil Mimi, filled with greed and so selfish was unusual. She had always seen Mimi has a close friend, a sister - and perhaps more. Yes, in fact she loved Mimi, even though she never had the stomach to tell her. This dawned her now that she was facing this evil mockery of the Mimi she remembered.
,,I will share all my beautiful belongings with you if you stay!", Mimi sneered like a hungry cat. ,,In fact, you have no other choice!" And then she laughed maniacally loud.

Hikari, Miyako, Gatomon and Hawkmon had been ,Guests' of Mimi now for three days and there was no hope to leave. There were dozens of strong Apemon - Guards and some human warriors to protect Mimi and the altar. They found out that all their Guards were merchants and protected Lady Mimi just because of their greed. And they were paid very well. In the evening of their third day Miyako and Hikari laid in their chambers, thinking once again of a way to escape, when something knocked at the window.
,,Hm?", Miyako said. ,,Kari, didn't you hear that?"
,,I have heard it! ,,, Gatomon interceded. ,,At the window!" Gatomon ran to the window and opened it. High above the ground, balancing on the balustrade, fastened with curious climbing tools were Mimi, Palmon and - Asuka!
Asuka, dressed in black had her blond hair bound together and was leading the group. They climbed into the room and greeted the other girls. Mimi wrapped her arms around Miyako and kissed her on the cheeks as they did always, but Mimi felt that Miyako felt uneasy. Mimi looked at her with curiosity. ,,What is the matter?"
Miyako smirked, then she blushed. ,,Oh... nothing..."
Hikari had to suppress a grin. Finally! Something that began long ago would now soon be fulfilled. Miyako had realised her feelings and Kari was positive that Mimi would be pleased to know.
Asuka stepped forward. ,,We must go. Here! I have some more tools to climb back." She reached into her hag and gave them more tools to climb.
,,No!", Hikari said. ,,We can not go now. We must find and destroy that egg. I am certain it is one of these evil DigiEggs!" She explained the situation to Mimi and Asuka.
,,An evil counterpart of me!", Mimi said thoughtfully. ,,I am not certain if 1 want to meet her."
,,Then you wait here! Protect our way back.", Miyako answered, obviously trying to spare that meeting to Mimi. No one wants to meet an evil possible ,me'.
Miyako, Asuka, Hikari and Hawkmon were sneaking through the corridors towards the Tower of Trade. At one moment they nearly ran into a guard and just in time they jumped into a dark corner. They climbed the many steps up to the tower and stayed in the shadow.
Asuka looked around. ,,Nice place, but a bit heartless. All is very impersonal, not like anything a person is emotionally linked to." Then the golden altar came into view. ,,Wow ,,, Asuka said aloud and pressed her hand before her mouth.
,,This is the egg!", Hikari explained her. ,,I am certain it has some evil powers. We must get and try to destroy it..." They walked towards the shrine, always in fear that someone would spy them out. Suddenly a great curtain in a hidden corner was parted and behind it laid the Lady Mimi on a couch with a group of mercenary guards around her. ,,So. It was the Egg you wanted. Interesting!", the evil Mimi echoed mockingly. ,,Go ahead. Take it. Try to destroy it if you can!" Miyako didn't hesitate to find out if the Lady was joking. She lunged forward, whirled around in the air and landed right in front of the Evil DigiEgg of Greed. She put her hands around it and tried to lift it up. Nothing happened. The Egg didn't move a bit. It seemed to be of tremendous weight or like being tugged to the altar. Miyako tried again - in vain.
In the background Evil Mimi laughed hysterically. ,,Muhahahahaha! No one but me can lift the Egg! Come, all of you - give it a try." Then Asuka and Hikari tired their best, but the Egg didn't budge. ,,It doesn't move!", Hikari said desperately.
Miyako turned to her Digimon. ,,Hawkmon, you must try to destroy it!"
,,Yes!", he answered and digivolved to Halsemon. Halsemon fired at the Egg, but nothing happened. There wasn't even a small crack.
Asuka began to hack on the Egg in anger with her Katana. Lady Mimi waved her hand and the Apemon closed around them. ,,You see", she explained. ,,that Greed and Gain are much greater and stronger then your pitiful attacks. All is controlled by money and money is controlled by greed. So who controls greed controls all! May my brothers conquer this world by war; in the end only money will control it, once the war is over. May Yamato call himself Kaiser, I will own all!"
,,And still you are the most poor person I have ever seen!", the good Mimi interceded from the door. All eyes turned to her in surprise. ,,You know nothing! Nice things are alright, to dress well, to have wonderful hair and riches, it is all good. But not for itself! Don't we strife to feel good? And does it make you feel good? I don't think so! We want to he loved and to have friends, we hope that other people understand us and share our feelings and interests. But you are completely isolated, alone, separated by your richness and greed."
The evil Lady Mimi stared at her counterpart as is she was severely beaten. ,,How can you dare to speak to me that way!"
The good Mimi sniffed. ,,Because I despise and pity you. Your selfishness has locked you away from friendship and love; and without love you are nothing. We have dared everything for our love, and even when had despair, we were happy on our way. You always fear to loose what you have gotten, never being able to trust anyone. I know that I can trust my friends with my life!"
,,Why do you throw away your life like that!", the Lady mocked her. ,,Come with me! Stay at my side and you can have all you ever dreamed of! The dresses, the parties, the glamour! We will be superior to all!"
It was then the good Mimi who laughed. The Lady gazed at her in anger and disbelieve. ,,You haven't understood!", Mimi said to the Lady. ,,I wouldn't give up love for any of your little worthless trinkets!" Suddenly a grinding noise came from the altar and with a loud crash the Evil DigiEgg burst into a thousand splinters. The Lady cried out in terror but a change appeared on the faces of the Apemon and the human mercenaries. No longer driven by greed, they departed and all of a sudden the Lady was alone. She gazed at Mimi in sheer hatred.
,,YOU... DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!", she shouted. ,,You may have won that battle, but you WILL loose that war. You care - we don't!" Then she waved her hand with a small object, a dimensional door opened beneath her, and then she jumped through it, the gate closing behind her.
Mimi smiled contently, when suddenly Miyako stepped up before her and stopped right in front of her. The two girls looked into each others eyes, trying to judge each other. Then Miyako grabbed Mimi's head and pressed a passionate kiss upon Mimi's lips. Hikari smiled happily, but Asuka gazed in surprise and disbelieve.
,,Didn't you know that they circled around each other for long?", Hikari whispered to Asuka.
Asuka shook her head. ,,Sony, 1 had no idea."

*************************************

Tai and Yamato were sitting at the table of the small cafe, drinking their hot coffees. Both had travelled far to the southwest since they had left the Black Fortress. Lord Robert had directed them to the faraway city of Canpa, where they should meet again with Iori, Jyou and Koushiro. After an hour of waiting, finally their friends entered the cafe. It was a great hello and welcome when they met here after a week of travel. Jyou told Tai and Yamato about their previous meeting with the Warrior of Hatred, the evil Iori.
,,Extraordinary"' Tai exclaimed. He had listened with great interest, barely being able to sit quietly, so eager to tell his own tale. ,,We have met with the counterpart of Miyako. She had some kind of ,Harem' with the most beautiful males I have ever seen in such a great number - even so they were gnomes compared to Yamato-chan!", he hurriedly added gazing at his koi's envious stare. ,,Anyway, Mistress Miyako kept these boys as slaves for unimaginable... erm, things..."
,,And? What happened?", Koushiro asked, eagerly to hear details. Then he realised, how he had reacted and grew red as a cherry. ,,I mean... erm... you have... dealt with that problem?"
Tai nodded. ,,Yes. We destroyed an Evil DigiEgg she used to control her slaves and they keep her in prison now."
,,And?", Jyou wanted to know. ,,Did you found Sora's new message in the Black Fortress? What did it say?"
,,Yes we found it.", Yamato answered. ,,When we came near to it, we thought it was only a ruin, but the lower parts were mainly intact. We found the tunnels, Sora's first message mentioned in her addendum." Yamato hesitated. Thinking of this dreadful place still did hurt him much. Too many bad things happened there, some involving Sora - their ,evil' Sora.
Tai looked at his beloved and understood his feelings. So he continued to tell the story: ,,We had to oppose some Bakemon, that roamed through the ruins. Obviously our enemies tried to destroy as much as possible from the Fortress; perhaps they were unable to find Sora's message and hoped to hinder us in that way. Anyway; we came to a black shrine that radiated evil powers, so Yamato wanted to destroy it. We stepped near, Agumon and Gabumon attacked the shrine, when suddenly Sora's Digivice was activated and a light was transferred from the cracked ruins of the shrine. Sora had hidden her message within the evil shrine, knowing that only we would try to destroy it!"
Taichi placed the Digivice upon the table and pushed the button. Sora's warrior-like hologram manifested before them. ,,Hello. As you have that message I see that you have survived that far, which is glad to know. First you must find Gennai. He has hidden himself in a temple in the city of Sevenstar, on the western beach of the mainland. The temple is the greatest white structure there. Go to the temple and place my Digivice upon the altar. He is hiding from the Dark Masters, and knows a secret they should never know! Your evil counterparts have created two main portals into this world, and you must destroy both, before you can win, else they will be able to transfer ever new resources from their realm against you. Once these two main portals are destroyed, they can only step with their Portal Orbs from and back here, but they can't leave the gate open for their followers. Be very careful, as these two gate will be fiercely guarded. One lies in an old city, that is now below the earth under the new city of E1'Nath, north of Cyrius. You can find an entrance into it via the sewers. Go there soon before they bring more support for their invasion. I hope Gennai has located the second portal and a solution for our problem. Take care of you! As I have fooled my persecutors to this day, I hope we shall meet sometime. I am eager to meet the good versions of my old friends! Hehe..." Then she vanished and the device went off.

After a short debate and a Mail to Rob it was decided to part. Iori, Koushiro and Jyou went north to El'Nath, accompanied by their Digimon partners to destroy the first gate while Tai, Yamato, Agumon and Gabumon went to Sevenstar in the northwest. Tai and his company took the ship, Iori and the others had brought to Canpa, to speed their travelling.

******************************************

In a dark corner of El'Nath Koushiro, Jyou and Iori finally found an entrance into the sewers. Armadillomon and Tentomon stemmed the trapdoor open and a terrible foul stench came out of the depth.
,,Bah!", Veemon sneered and made a grimace. Do we really have to go down there?"
Iori threw a stern gaze at Veemon. ,,Of cause we have to! You know that the first portal is down there. But if you don't want to find Daisuke, you can wait here for us!" Veemon stared shocked at Iori, then he stepped forward and began to climb down the ladder into the darkness.
When they reached the sewers Iori, Jyou and Koushiro lit their flashlights. ,,Does anyone have an idea where to go?", Jyou asked.
Koushiro shrugged. ,,The ruins of the ancient city are said to be buried under the sewers of the present city, so I presume we must find a way down deeper."
The group walked along the sewers among the dirt and stink of El'Nath. Suddenly a light was shining ahead of them. ,,Hey" Ho!", someone shouted. ,,What are you doing down here?" It was a Raremon, and his job was to keep the sewers ,clean' - in a very relative sense. At first they didn't know what to answer, but finally Koushiro explained that they were on an expedition to research the mysteries of the ancient city.
,,An ancient city?", the Raremon pondered. ,,To the north, here ahead is an intersection; turn left there and go ahead until you find a dead end. There is a hidden door that opens by pressing a round, red stone into the wall. I never been down there, but I heard spooky stories about it. There are some travellers going down there and coming from it. If you are one of them, tell your friends to find another way to have fun!" With that the Raremon disappeared. ,,Have you heard that!", Jyou said as the Digimon was gone. ,,It seems our ,friends' are quite busy!"
Iori nodded, looking determined and walked ahead. When they reached the dead end and pressed the stone, a hidden door swung open, giving way to a lit staircase.
,,This tunnels are lit!", Koushiro wondered. ,,This means that there is truly recent activity!" The tunnels led them deeper and further away. They stumbled around for two hours without any trail of the enemy. They were desperate and finally decided to take a rest. The boys and their Digimon were sitting in a comer when they herd someone approaching.
,,There!", Gomamon said. ,,I hear someone coming!"
The steps came closer until two Digimon stood right in front of them. Jyou, Koushiro, Gomamon and Tentomon jumped up in alert, ready to defend themselves. Iori was a bit puzzled, as he had never seen these two Digimon.
,,Pixiemon and Etemon!", Koushiro said with clenched teeth.
Etemon, still weaning his shades, and who carried a walking stick was accompanied by Pixiemon. Etemon gazed just a bit away from the boys, as he was seeing something else beneath them. Pixiemon grabbed his companion and led him forward.
,,Hello Jyou, Iori and Koushiro!", Etemon began and bowed to them. ,,Nice to finally meet you, even under this bad circumstances." He took seat near them, still staring away. ,,I am a friend of Devimon, from the rebellion against the Shadowmaster. So you don't have to fear me - I am on your side!" He smiled softly.
,,Can you help us?", Iori asked and sat beneath Etemon. ,,We seem to have lost the way."
,,Iori! Don't...", Jyou warned. ,,This may be a trap!"
,,If you seek the First Portal, then I can help you. It is not far from here, but hidden and well protected.", Etemon explained. ,,A close friend of mine is watching the gate from a hidden place. He is expecting us and will help to destroy the Portal. I can only lead you there, I can't fight with you. But he is strong!" Etemon grinned.
,,See!", Jyou sneered. ,,We must do the dirty work without him!"
Etemon grabbed his shades and took them away. Two large scars with burned flesh were in the places where they had expected his eyes. The boys stared at Etemon in horror, but Etemon
kept his mild smile. ,,Years ago I was captured by the Shadowmaster. In that time the rebellion was still strong and we believed in our victory. He tortured me and demanded that I would betray my friends and our headquarter. I paid my loyalty with my sight; they burned my eyes with glowing iron bars. But Myotismon will be an admirable fighter, and your Digimon are quite able to defend you, too!"
,,So, were is the exit of this labyrinth?", Koushiro asked.
,,Everywhere!", Etemon explained. ,,This is just a great hologram chamber. It is rather small, but of excellent design. We have to find a control panel to shut it down or we will be locked within it forever. Just follow me." With Etemon walking ahead they proceeded to a stone hewn hall. Etemon approached a large boulder and searched it's surface with is claw. Then he pressed two fingers into it and the whole scenery around them vanished. They found themselves in a hall of medium size with a few computer panels and a metal door. ,,This is a part of Motomiya's Media Lab.", Etemon explained as they stepped into a tunnel made of cold technical steel. ,,He has invented the perfect holographic illusion and with it he will control humankind soon. Re already manipulates the news and media as he wants. Few humans get news and reports through any mass media that not belong to the Motomiya Corporation. He is a master of falsehood and manipulation."
Iori gulped at the tale. This was the evil Daisuke! He controlled the people through the mass media! He had fought his own counterpart easily; but would he be able to fight any Daisuke, no matter from which world? Suddenly a great Digimon manifested before them. It was an enormous Skullgreymon, that roared aloud. The boys stepped back, but Etemon only laughed. ,,This is just an illusion, it's not real!" He stepped ahead and the boys expected his certain death. But Etemon just stepped through the evil Digimon and then it was gone.
Etemon lead them to a balustrade, and they were hiding behind some large boulders. Koushiro and the others gazed down, carefully avoiding to been seen. There was a large hall all of polished and shining metal and looking very technical. There were some cameras plugged into the edges. All seemed very unfitting to the natural simplicity of the DigiWorld. To the most faraway distance was a pedestal upon which stood a large silver structure. It was formed like a huge, flat rectangle, thrice the height of a human and wide enough to allow passage to the even largest of Digimon. It radiated a bright silver light. Throughout the hall were a dozen of Bakemon, four Tryannomon and some other strong and evil Digimon.
"This is hopeless!", Koushiro expressed in a whisper. "There are to many!"
"No! All is just a matter of planning!", Etemon answered. "I will go down another path. When you see me shouting a yelling use these ropes and climb down quickly. Speed towards the Portal and activate your Digivices. It's energy will shatter the Portal. Myotismon will join us as soon as he sees you coming. And Pixiemon will be at my side to help me!" Etemon smiled approvingly. "Have faith, Digidestinied. This must be done!" The he and Pixiemon were gone.
"It is madness!", Jyou said.
"But you know we must succeed.", Iori answered. They waited a few minutes, when Etemon appeared far to the left of them down in the hall, waving his stick and shouting mockingly. The Bakemon and two Tryannomon quickly attacked Etemon.
"DARK NETWORK!", Etemon shouted and the dark whirl of his attack surrounded his attackers. Iori, Koushiro, Jyou and their Digimon climbed down the hall and started to ran towards the Portal.
Suddenly many bright lights were activated and blinded them, shining directly into their eyes. The a figure appeared on the pedestal, right in front of the Silver Portal. It was Daisuke, but dressed in a way he had never been seen before. He was wearing a Tuxedo and looked like some show-master or such.
"Welcome Digidestinied!", Daisuke shouted into a microphone. "This is the Great Motomiya Corporation's Media Show. Have fun and don't forget to pay the Digimon!" Then the surface of the Portal behind him began to glow and out of it stepped Angemon and Exveemon. "Finish them!", Daisuke commanded the new approached Digimon and Angemon and Exveemon began to attack them, when out of a corner another one stepped between them. It was Myotismon.
"You will not stop them!", Myotismon sneered. And then he gazed to Angemon. "And there is a score to be settled! NIGHTMARE CLAW!" The attack threw Angemon to a wall, but Exveemon attacked and he and Myotismon were in a fierce battle.
Daisuke snapped his finger and four devices came out of the ground, looking a bit like futuristic laser cannons. They shot at Veemon, Armadillomon, Gomamon and Tentomon, who were immediately frozen in four ice-blocks. "Now, we shall see who makes the best show!", Daisuke yelled and two Apemon attacked Koushiro and Jyou. The two boys had great difficulty to stand against their attackers, always trying to escape them. Iori ran away from the fight, heading directly towards the Portal. He had somehow been overseen, because Daisuke was quite surprised to see Iori before him seconds later.
"So, you thing you win?", Daisuke mocked Iori.
Iori stood frozen before him, staring in disbelieve into Daisuke's eyes. "How… why…" Tears flowed out of Iori's eyes. "Why did you… betray… me…?"
Daisuke stared with a wicked grin at Iori. Then he laughed like a madman. To Iori it seemed as if his heart would brake right that moment. "My little lover boy is so concerned, heh? Well, then we shall made another little difficulty, and extra special for you!" Daisuke pushed a button in the microphone and wall left to the Portal swung away. Behind it was, entirely frozen in clear ice, Daisuke! "Now, you have to choose!", the evil Daisuke said. "If you destroy the Portal, your beloved will die, as the blow will shatter the ice and blow up your lover, too! And the ice is attached to the ground, so better don't try to lift it… Now, Iori Hida is going to make his choice now, my dear audience!"
Iori stood sweating and shivering before the Portal. He turned around, seeing his friends in a deadly battle, they would soon loose. He rose his Digivice towards the Portal, but hesitated. He couldn't do it! He just could not sacrifice his lover, for whatever world be at stake. He gazed at the good Daisuke, caught in the ice, his face twisted in pain and fear.
Exveemon had been beaten by Myotismon, when Angemon returned and tried to attacked Iori.
"NO!", Myotismon shouted and jumped between Iori and the attacking Angemon. The full blast was striking at Myotismon, and he was severely beaten. Myotismon summoned all his strength and fought against Angemon, but he was weakened and about to loose. "Iori!", he shouted. "You must destroy the gate, or we all will be lost! We are doomed! This is our only chance, if we fail this world and you all will wither and wane! IORI!"
But Iori still stood shivering before the Portal, mocked by the Evil Daisuke.
"CONCERT CRUSH!", Etemon shouted from behind, pushing away another horde of Bakemon. "Iori, listen to me! This is not your Daisuke. He is not here, but elsewhere! This is just another hologram like the Skullgreymon. Daisuke wants to manipulate you! Aaaargh!", Etemon was hit by some Bakemon and pushed down.
Evil Daisuke gazed at Iori mockingly. "You don't have the stomach to do this, little Iori! That's the reason you will loose and we shall win. We are strong, and the strong must rule the weak!" Daisuke laughed.
"No!", Iori yelled in despair and lifted his Digivice holding it towards the Silver Portal. Suddenly a bright light emerged from his Digivice and the ray of light flashed into the Portal which began to hum louder every moment. Then, with an eerie sound, the Silver Portal burst into thousands of splinters. The following moments were chaos and anarchy. Sounds of cry and terror could be heard, but Iori kneeled on the ground, weak and weeping. Had he killed his lover, sacrificing him for their victory?
When the dust parted Koushiro stepped towards Iori and laid his hand on his shoulder. "Look, Iori! Etemon was right. I have searched the corner, it was truly only a hologram."
"And… and this Daisuke?", Iori asked with red eyes.
Koushiro shrugged. "Gone or dead, we don't know." Koushiro was bleeding from a wound in his left arm holding a handkerchief on it. The Etemon came towards them, supported by Jyou who was holding his arm. Both looked battered.
"Pixiemon…", Etemon whispered. "He is dead…"
"What?", Iori shouted in surprise. Then they all turned as they heard a groan. In a corner laid Myotismon near the dead Angemon. They ran towards Myotismon.
"So… you have… done it!", he whispered weakly. "But so am I…" The was breathing heavy. A smile formed on his face. "You have… come near to… success. Find the… Shadowmaster… and give him a… a strike in memory of me!"
"We will, friend!", Etemon said silently. "Come, we better go!"
"What?!", Jyou said. "We must help Myotismon!"
"I… I am beyond help… go!", Myotismon breathed. Then Etemon grabbed Jyou and led the boys and their Digimon partners away, out of the cave.

******************************************

The dark, cloaked figure of the Shadowmaster stood at the balcony, gazing into the night. "The Portal is down, Lee. I can feel it."
"But… but Milord, this can't be!", the ugly red-haired was answering, as he trembled in fear.
"YOU DOUBT MY WORD?", the Shadowmaster boomed. He extended his black-gloved hand threatening. "You will go to Motomiya and help to prepare the traps. They will soon be here, and Motomiya will know how to handle them, knowing who we are fighting well enough. Now leave me!"
When Lee was gone, the Shadowmaster returned to his study. "Well, then there is only one way left. The Devastation." He activated a screen and looked at the figure that appeared within it. "Motomiya. I have an errand for you. Go to the File Isle; there, in the city of Aurora, is the Mirror of Truth hidden. It is the last ingredient needed for me."
"Yes, my master!", the voice in the screen answered. "So you will destroy this world?"
"Yes, Motomiya, there is no other choice.", the Shadowmaster answered. "But we must stop the Digidestinied! They have already done too much harm to our ranks! Make certain they don't survive the next meeting!"

******************************************

Mimi, Asuka, Hikari and Miyako had returned to Alvenay and were now sitting on the beach. The warm sun shone upon them, and the girls had used this day to dress their bath suits and lay in the sun. Miyako was just about rubbing some sun-protector into Mimi's back, when a towering figure appeared near her. At first Miyako thought that a cloud had moved before the sun, when she recognised Devimon.
"Hello!", Devimon said, smiling friendly at her. "It is good to see that you have used the time for recreation, but I fear that there is need for you."
Miyako stumbled backwards, falling over Mimi's legs into the sand.
Mimi turned around and blinked. "Oh, hello!", she said, nodding to him. "I am not certain of you like a sunbath, but you are invited to take a towel and rest a while…"
Miyako gasped. "But… but Mimi! Don't you recognise him! It is Devimon!"
Mimi looked at Miyako and frowned. "Hm, you are right. It is unlikely that he needs to fetch colour on his skin, as he already is entirely black." Mimi grinned from one ear to the other, and then both Mimi and Devimon broke into laughter. Miyako just stared at them in disbelief.
"I am grateful for your hospitality.", Devimon said friendly. "But I fear there is no time now. Please, dress yourself and call for the others. Lord Robert is in dire need of your help. The Red Witch has summoned her forces to attack the Capital city of Central."
"What!", Mimi and Miyako said in unison.
"I shall fetch Hikari and Asuka!", Miyako explained and went off.
One hour later Devimon, the girls and their Digimon met to discuss the situation. Rob had sent a mail to all Digidestinied, that one group should return immediately to help him defend Central, or the Capital would be lost.
"If the Red Witch is able to establish an outpost there, our situation will be much more complicated!", Devimon explained.
Asuka looked thoughtful. "I have met the Red Witch once, when I served the Shadowmaster. She is vile and powerful. In her army serve only undead and ghost Digimon. Her forces are terrible to behold and scare away even the most heroic enemy."
"But Leomon can keep them at bay!", Hikari mentioned. "He is a great fighter and will lead the good Digimon against her."
"But there is one thing, Kari.", Asuka said soberly. "The Red Witch is… well you! I mean, the other Hikari… She is known never to give up nor to flee. The Witch will fight to the bitter end, no matter the cost." Asuka looked quite determined. "We must attack with all strength!"
Devimon led the others to a boat, that looked somewhat fragile.
"Oh no!", Hikari shouted. "We are not supposed to cross the ocean in that nutshell!" Gatomon looked quite displeased, too.
"It is the fastest ship available.", Devimon answered, and so they sat sail in his black Catamaran.
After only two days of travel they reached the coast southeast of Central. From the east they saw clouds of smoke hanging heavily upon the forest.
"She is burning the whole are!", Devimon explained disgusted. "That's why she is called the Red Witch. The burns down all conquered areas. She seems to be only two days away from the Capital - we must hurry."
When the reached the Capital of Central, Leomon hurried towards them. He hesitated, when he saw Devimon. Leomon had not forgotten, that the other, evil Devimon had nearly killed him once and forced him to serve the Darkness.
"I am glad finally to meet the famous General Leomon!", Devimon said and bowed.
Leomon only murmured something and looked at the girls. "You are alright? Then come to the DigiManor, Robert is waiting for you. Throughout the city hundreds of Digimon were camping, sitting around campfires and talking silently. They had been coming from the surrounding islands, following the call of Iori, Jyou and Koushiro to defend Central. Many of them looked as if they had already experienced battle recently, as they were wounded here and there. There were some lazarettos were wounded Digimon were taken care of.
In the Great Hall Devimon, Leomon, Rob and the girls discussed how to proceed. Rob's blue eyes looked very concerned. "First let me welcome Asuka and Devimon and express our warmest welcome! You both took great risks to join us, and your expertise in battle will help us! We had some minor quarrels with the Red Witch in the Umai Hills, where their first Camp was, but her numbers grew in strength every day. They are in possession of the Water Temple now, and the whole area east of here has become a victim to the flames. Soon, all forests there will be burned down. The Witch's forces are superior to ours in number two to one. So only a direct hit at herself can now safe us…"
Miyako looked shocked. "But how are we supposed to do this?"
"I have devised a plan.", Leomon answered. "We have only this one chance. Tomorrow our whole troops will leave Central and attack her forces with the first daylight. She expects us to do the more reasonable thing and defend our city instead of leaving it unprotected. It will cause some chaos among our enemies. You…", he pointed to Mimi and her friends "must use that diversion and sneak into the Camp to fetch Hikari - the Witch Hikari. She bears the Evil DigiEgg of Darkness, it is the second of third-most powerful Egg and strengthens the evil Digimon. Without it they might scatter."
Miyako took Mimi's hand under the table, and both felt the other tremble in fear. Kari and Asuka looked desperate as well.
"We will do what we must…", Mimi answered and the others nodded, even though they knew how dangerous the task was.
"And take your Digimon with you.", Leomon said.

The sun had just risen above the horizon when some shadows were crawling through the remaining bushes. The battle was raging for half an hour now, just a bit west of the Camp and the Red Witch had ordered all her forces to attack, hoping for a quick and complete victory. The girls had been sneaking towards the largest tent where the Witch was supposed to live. Suddenly they heard a noise from behind.
"YOU THERE! Stop!!" Two Woodmon shouted and attacked them.
"Leave them to me!", Asuka said and grabbed for her Katana, heading towards the enemy. "Move on!", she shouted to her friends and was gone.
The ran quickly now, and finally the reached the large command tent. Three DarkTyrannomon were patrolling around the tent.
"We can't wait any longer!", Hikari stated. "We must lure this Digimon away." Kari looked at Gatomon, who nodded in agreement. So Hikari and Gatomon left their hiding-place and ran away.
"Now it is up to us!", Miyako stated and they crawled the last meters towards the tent with Hawkmon and Palmon. They entered the unguarded tent and found the evil Hikari sitting on a wooden throne, flanked by two Dokugumon, spider-like creatures.
The Red Witch was entirely dressed in black and with black make-up. She gazed into a crystal ball that seemed to show the ongoing battle. The Witch made a contend expression which meant that the war was going well for her. There was no time to lose. The Witch held a black sceptre in her right hand, upon which a black Egg was fastened, that seemed to radiate darkness and despair.
The Witch looked up and her expression was bored. "You took quite a time. I feared you wouldn't come."
Miyako and Mimi made their Digimon digivolve, but the evil Kari was just laughing. "You are so foolish. Do you really think I leave my camp unguarded as your friends do with your Capital? Even now as we speak an extra legion of Bakemon and Skullgreymon is sneaking to Central and will lay waste on it. Then your troops will be caught between two of my armies and crush them!"
"You have expected our attack?", Miyako asked with wide eyes.
The Witch laughed sinister. "Yes! I have followed all your pitiful efforts to stop me! I am very grateful that your friends dispatched my brothers and sisters, which gives more to me! But now it is time for you to rest - for a very long time that is!" She waved her wand and out if the shadows four Skullgreymon approached them! It was a trap! Togemon and Halsemon fought bravely, and the Dokugumon were wrought down finally, but the Skullgreymon were strong and outnumbered them by far. When they were encircled, Halsemon digivolved back to Hawkmon falling down beside Miyako.
"Now!", the Witch shouted. "Finish them!"
Togemon fought fiercely, but he was about to loose, when another voice boomed from behind them.
"Stop and trifle with me if you dare!" It was Devimon, and he stepped beneath Togemon. "I had thought to look at you, and just in time!", he said breathing heavy. "Half of Central is burning, but our troops are keeping the lines yet!" With that he lunged forward and pushed two Skullgreymon out of the way. The battle raged on, and finally the four Skullgreymon were beaten, but Togemon digivolved back to Palmon, and even Devimon looked quite weak.
To their surprise the Red Witch Hikari just rose from her seat and applauded them. "Wonderful! Great! What a show! But you don't think me a helpless girl, don't you? I can well defend myself!" With that she pointed at Miyako, Mimi and the Digimon with the wand and a black energy surrounded them. They all fell to the ground and felt endless pain surging through their bodies. "Soon your life-force will be drained by with wonderful Egg, and it will be added to mine!" They all were winding at the ground, crying and shrieking in pain, when all of a sudden a shadow jumped over them towards the Witch. It was Asuka. The smashed at the evil wand and blew it out of the Witch's hand. The wand rolled through the tent and the Red Witch cried, stepping back.
The evil Hikari stared at Asuka in anger. "YOU, ASUKA! You traitor! I had hoped you were dead, but we shall finish that now!" Hikari muttered some words and the Evil DigiEgg began to glow in red light. The Witch waved her hand and tried to step through a Void Gate to escape. But Asuka was quicker. She lunged forward and grabbed the Witch.
"NOOOOO! You fool!", she cried at Asuka as the Gate closed behind her. "You will not escape, traitor! The Egg will explode within a minute and this whole island will be destroyed! It is sad that you take me with you into oblivion, but so be it!"
"Tell how to deactivate this thing!", Asuka demanded. "NOW!" She slapped the Witch so that she was bleeding at her lips.
The Red Witch just laughed hysterically. "You know nothing! The detonation can not be stopped! Your whole island will be no more, and your army with it! I will die with you, but then the Shadowmaster may conquer your world easily!"
The girls gazed at each other in desperation, when Devimon stepped ahead and grabbed the Red Witch with his claw. He looked terribly weak, but he stared in anger and hate at Hikari. "You have done enough harm, Dark Masters! Soon your reign of terror will end!" Devimon grabbed the black DigiEgg of Darkness and closed his fist around it. Then he cut the tent open with his claw and gazed at Mimi and Miyako. A faint smile was build there. "Take care of my Egg, will you? And win this war!" Then Devimon spread his wings apart and with all his strength he flied into the sky, with the Red Witch in one hand and the Evil DigiEgg in the other, until he was not visible anymore. The girls and Digimon stared in the sky. Suddenly a bright flash exploded, nearly filling the whole sky with it's bright flame. Then a marble Egg fell to the ground; it was Devimon's Egg which would allow his rebirth one day.

******************************************

Tai and Yamato entered the large temple, who was entirely build of white marble. There were some Candlemon serving as priests, keeping ancient memories of the history of the DigiWorld, who pointed at the large altar in the background. Under a huge glass window stood a crystal blue altar with a white globe upon it and several symbols they could not decipher. Tai stepped ahead and placed Sora's Digivice on the Altar. Suddenly a bright flash emerged from the globe and the old wise Gennai manifested before them.
"Oh, you!", Gennai wondered as he saw Tai and Yamato. "I am glad you have freed me from this globe. Sora has hidden me within it and we hoped you would find me, and so it was!" Gennai smiled at them.
"We are glad to meet you, Gennai!", Tai said and Yamato nodded approvingly. Tai told Gennai what happened previously, and Gennai listened carefully.
When Tai had finished his tale, Gennai looked thoughtfully. "Tai, Yamato. I have travelled a long time through the DigiWorld and there are many secrets you must learn until you can truly defeat the Shadowmaster."
"Do you know who he is?" Yamato asked eagerly. "If we knew his identity, it would be far easier to calculate his plans!"
Gennai looked sad. "Unfortunately not. It is unlikely a girl, so Miyako, Hikari and Mimi can't be it, as I have once heard his voice. It is male. But that may be a trick. But now you must know some things." Gennai hesitated and led the boys into a small chamber, where they all took seat around a small table.
"You know that there are other worlds that your earth, the DigiWorld for example. And there is the Dark Shadow-world, where an exact copy of your earth and the DigiWorld exist, with the only difference, that all is evil there, who you know to be good and the other way around. But as Hikari, Ken and TK once found out, there are many other worlds, dimensions and realms. Some are like your earth, others like the DigiWorld, but there are countless others strange and unknown. You know that the DigiWorld was created because so many children and young people dreamed of it and believed in it. That is the reason why it is connected to earth, and the reason the DigiWorld was threatened by evil so many times."
"I don't understand!", Tai interrupted.
Gennai smiled. "The DigiWorld is a manifestation of the dreams and hopes of mankind, and especially the children. But in the same way as the people lose hope and lose their dreams, the DigiWorld is haunted by evil. Humans began to lose their dreams and so the DigiWorld dies. Only if they believe in themselves and their dreams, this world is safe. In the end, one world will cease to exist, the good or the evil DigiWorld. It depends on you, the human beings. But there is another thing to ascertain: Until this day the DigiWorld is bound to the fate of earth. You must free the DigiWorld of this dependence to safe it once and for all against evil. You must severe the bounds between earth and the DigiWorld, only then the DigiWorld will be safe forever. As a result two things will happed: The connection between earth and the DigiWorld will be cut. No one will ever be able to travel between here and the earth! And second: the gates to all other worlds will be open from the DigiWorld!"
Tai and Yamato stared at Agumon and Gabumon. All four looked sad, as they knew what was necessary. There was no other way, and all knew it.
"I am sorry for these bad news.", Gennai sighed.
"And how can such a thing be done?", Yamato asked.
"I do not know.", Gennai said. "But there is one who knows. He is one of the travellers."
Tai looked with great eyes. "The travellers?"
Gennai nodded. "They travel the many worlds of the multiverse. One of them came to me and told me much about these things. His name is Akira Asai. Unfortunately he went to the Shadowmaster, and hasn't been seen since then. I fear the worst for Akira, so you have to find him in the Shadowmaster's hidden fortress. I don't know where that hidden fortress lies, but I know that the Shadowmaster has activated a devastating energy from his Evil DigiEgg, that will soon destroy this world. But he needs one last ingredient: The Mirror of Truth. He has sent his aide, his supreme servant to fetch the Mirror from the City of Aurora, that is located on the File Island."
"That is a joke!", Tai sneered. "So it ends where is has begun many years ago." He looked at Yamato, who was ashen pale at the realisations. It would be the end. They wouldn't see the DigiWorld ever again!
"Hey!", Tai said to Yamato, holding his hand. "We still have some days here!" He kissed Yamato gently on his lips while Yamato wrapped his arms around Tai and began to weep.
"Erm, Tai…" there is another one who wants to see you both." Gennai led the boys into a deeper chamber, where a large device was installed. "Now, if you would give me Sora's Digivice, please?"
Tai handed it to Gennai, and the old man began to plug it into the machine. A life-size hologram of Sora Takenushi appeared.
"Hello Tai and Yamato! Yes, I can see you now. This hologram is capable of many things, and it was only activated because you brought my Digivice. I thank you that you came this far and wish you well in your last move against the Shadowmaster. I helped you in any possible way, but from this moment on you must proceed without my help. Just a few days ago the Shadowmaster's henchmen caught up with me. It was a fierce battle and I barely escaped to Gennai's Laboratory. Akira Asai took care of me, but it was to late. If you see this hologram, know that I am among the living no more. Don't weep for me, as my spirit will be with you still. Akira transferred my mind into this machine, and with the Digivice, that hologram will be my new body. I am here. This is no message, but me." The Digivice began to transform into another device that attached itself to the belt of Sora's hologram. Then she stepped forward. "Don't look that shocked! Being a living hologram isn't that bad."
Yamato and Tai gaped at Sora. "But… but…", Tai stammered. "How can this be real?!"
"Are you truly in this - machine?", Yamato asked astonished.
Sora nodded. "Well it's not that bad; and now with the Digivice my projection is free to walk around. I can even grab things, see!" She grabbed a book and placed it back to the table. "But you must hurry now to Aurora! Finish our job. I will stay with Gennai for now. He is a great wise and I will use the time to learn. I was a fighter and warrior in my human life. Now in this new life I won't fight anymore. This is now your battle. Win it for all of us!"

******************************************

Ken and Takeru walked along a river on File Island. It was a bright spring day, perfect for two lovers to spent the day, but there was no time for romance, as the existence of the DigiWorld and their homeworld where at stake.
"And Rob said we could meet Tai and Yamato here, on File Island?", TK asked.
Ken kicked a small stone. "Yes, he had a message from Gennai. But the message was disturbed, likely by someone who wanted to prevent it's transfer.
TK looked around with unease. "Doesn't that mean they know we are here?"
Ken was lost in his own thoughts. "I think so… But if something of importance is here, they will expect us nonetheless." He stopped. "This will not lead to anything, Takeru. We must try to think where we should go. I wasn't here before, but you travelled this Island some years ago. Where do you think this Mirror of Truth could be hidden?"
TK tried to think of anything, but he had no idea. "There are some small villages of Digimon, or there had been here. We might get a hint form any of the inhabitants. There is a small Yokomon - Village east of here, just a day travel. They might know where top look."
Ken grabbed TK's hand and smiled. "Then, we shall go to this village, TK!" He pressed a kiss on TK's cheeks and they went on through the forest.

******************************************

"TAI!", Yamato yelled with all his strength. "Grab the rope!" A heavy storm was blowing over the ocean and the ship was shaken upon the waves. Dark clouds had gathered and it was raining heavily. Yamato could not remember any storm that strong in the DigiWorld before. Another wave blew upon the reeling, blowing Yamato away. He fell to the ground and his head smacked on the planks, then he lost his conscious.
When Yamato awoke, he found himself laying on a beach. He head was aching and he felt very weak. Yamato rose up and tried to remember what happened. The storm… and Tai! Where was Tai?
"TAI!", shouted Yamato. "TAICHI! WHERE ARE YOU?" Yamato ran around, looking for any trail of his beloved, but he was alone. Then he realised where he was, as he saw a large and familiar mountain towering. He was on File Island, not far from Aurora. Yamato continued to shout Tai's name, when he finally found the shipwreck on the beach. Yamato speeded up and his heart was racing in fear. He called his lover's name again and again, but there was nothing. His thought raced in his mind. Did Tai survive this, or had he drowned? After half an hour of searching, he fell into the sand beneath the wreck. Despair overwhelmed him and tears flooded out of his eyes. All this senseless battles against evil! Why do we have to pay such a high price! He held his wet eyes and sobbed many minutes, until suddenly a warm hand rested on Yamato's shoulder. Yamato whirled around and saw Tai standing behind him.
"Tai! Oh thank goodness!", Yamato threw his arms around Tai and kissed him wildly over.
"Hey, little one!", Tai grinned. "I am alright! But I am glad that you truly would miss me, if I would have been dead. Reassuring to know."
"You!", Yamato gaped. "How can you joke with that! I thought you were dead!"
Tai just shrugged. "We could always die. Such is life. Now come on! We have a job to do!" Tai led on to the city of Aurora, but he didn't say a word to Yamato and so they walked in silence.

Within the thriving city of Aurora was another camp of humans, that had been escaped the Dark Masters. Yamato suggested that they might ask them about their next enemy.
"I already have spoken to them!", Tai cut his lover short. "They don't know anything, a pure waste of time! Besides, I have already found the location of the mirror, while you made a walk on the beach."
Yamato stared at Tai in disbelief. "You are heartless, Tai! I was looking for you, and you didn't have anything to do but run away and go without me."
"I thought you were dead!", Tai defended himself. "And our task didn't allow me to wait any longer. It was careless of you to search for me instead of proceeding with our task. Now come on!"
Tai led Yamato though the village and the passed a huge fountain.
"Hey Tai, wait!", Yamato shouted and steppe towards the fountain. "Look! We haven't been here for a long time!" Yamato grabbed Taichi's hand.
Tai looked puzzled. "What?" Then he hesitated. "Oh yes! Now I remember… yes a good time we had!"
"Hm, I wouldn't call it that!", Yamato sneered, gazing at Tai. "We had much trouble with these Vegiemon. But in the end we used the remaining time to have fun!" He twinkled towards Tai, who stared at Yamato without any sign of emotion. "What is the matter with you, Tai? Does is bother you so much that we will not see the DigiWorld again?" Yamato sighed. "I understand; I too feel so bad. But we have no choice. Once the connections are separated, this world will be safe forever."
"I can't think of anything but the task at hand!", Tai answered roughly and pulled Yamato away. He led him into a small hut and opened a trapdoor. "You go first, lover!", Tai demanded and Yamato went ahead, followed by Taichi.
"Are you sure we are right?", Yamato asked.
Tai nodded. "Yes, yes. Who is our leader, me or I?"
Yamato rose an eyebrow. Taichi had never played on this leader-thing for years! This must stress him much more than he though it would.
Tai led Yamato though a maze of tunnels, and Yamato somehow didn't ask Tai anymore. If his lover believed to know what he did, he wouldn't doubt him but follow. After half an hour of walking, Tai stood before a wooden door.
"Here we are, Yamato!", he said grinning broadly. He produced a key, from his pocket and entered some kind of library. There were books all around, a small desk and two more exits. "Come, the mirror is close!" Tai pulled Yamato fiercely, and Yamato started to feel uneasy.
"Tai!", he urged. "Could you just explain…"
"Just one more minute, and all will be clear!", Tai said and led Yamato into the next chamber. It was obviously a laboratory of some kind. There were benches and tables for unknown kinds of research, instruments like that of… well of a medic perhaps. But there were medieval weapons tugged to the wall, sword, halberds and spears. Now that Yamato looked closely, there were ancient torture devices, too.
The door behind Yamato was shut with a loud noise and suddenly two Machinedramon stepped out if the Shadow, holding Yamato's arms. "Tai! Help me!", Yamato yelled.
Taichi turned around and grinned at Yamato. "Welcome then, Yamato Ishida!"
It took only a moment for Yamato to understand his mistake. "You! You are the other Tai!"
The evil Tai grinned wickedly, as he watched Yamato trying in vain to escape the strong grip of the two Digimon.
"Where is my Tai? What have you done to him!", Yamato shouted angry.
"Well, well! So fiercely?", The evil Tai mocked. "Your beloved is safe and unharmed - yet! You can't wait to see him, can't you? Ah, love is such a wonderful thing. Useful, would be a more fitting word." He pushed a button and a wall was lowered. Behind it, bound to a large table and gagged, laid Taichi Yagami. The real Tai had been beaten and treated badly, but seemed alright.
"You ass!", Yamato yelled. "What have you done? For that I will kill you!"
The evil Tai stepped towards a chest and took a white coat, which he began to dress. He now looked like some doctor. Then he stepped towards the table were Tai lay bound and took some medical instruments. "Medicine is such a useful knowledge, Ishida. Did I tell you that I am an expect surgeon? One of my specialities is gender transformation!"
Yamato yelled and shouted at the evil Tai, who looked at Yamato in disgust. "Oh, don't loose your coolness, Ishida. It doesn't fit you; don't you agree and a female Tai would fit to your masculine aura much more than this pitiful boy. He is quite girlish in behaviour already, why not finish this task? No one will see the difference, I assure you! I am a known surgeon in this special case, and there are many content customers. Well, most of my political concurrence committed suicide after they were changed from me, but it wasn't my fault! There was nothing wrong with their new female bodies!"
"YOU, you are a monster!", Yamato was crying now in fear and hate. "Please! Don't harm him, and leave him be! Take me instead of him, kill me, torture me, but let Taichi go!", he begged.
The evil Tai gazed at a scalpel. "Hm, I am not interested in you! But there is a deal; tell me where Gennai is hidden, and I shall leave him be and take you instead!"
The good Tai tried to shake his head and grew read, trying to say something to Yamato. But Yamato let his head sink. 'I can't!', he though. 'I just can not give up Tai, not even for the DigiWorld.' He gazed at Tai, who was bound and threatened by the other, evil Tai. If there was a hell, it was this.
"I will tell you, I will tell everything… just let Tai go!", Yamato whispered and tears of defeat welled from his eyes.
"NO!", a young voice echoed from the door. All looked at the other door. There stood TK, and Ken just stumbled behind him. "The darkness will not have another triumph!", Takeru shouted, his face twisted in hatred. The he swung something towards the evil Tai. One moment later a large spear stuck deeply in the evil Tai's breast.
He gazed in shock down at the weapon. "But… I… can not… lose…", he stammered weakly. Blood flew out of his breast and then he broke down and was dead. Out of his pocked rolled a red Evil DigiEgg, that broke apart and fell to dust. The two Machinedramon were suddenly deactivated and Yamato ran to Taichi - his beloved and freed him from the table.
They held each other for many minutes, both weeping with happiness and relieve.
"Tai! My beloved Tai!", Yamato stammered. "I… I can't say…" Yamato was unable to speak anymore. This was far to much for him.
"Yamato!", Tai said with red eyes. "I am so glad you came!" Then he looked at TK, who stared down at the dead other Tai. "And thanks to you, too, Takeru. I had no wish to become a girl!"
Takeru stared at his hands. He had never killed a human, and now he had killed Tai - even if it was another, an evil Tai.
Ken stepped towards his lover and held his shaking hands. "There was no choice, TK!" He caressed his lovers cheeks. "Come, we must find the mirror!"
"It is in the library! There is also a cage where they hid Agumon and Gabumon.", Tai said and they went back.
When they entered the library, all books lay scattered around. A cloaked figure stood in a corner and held something in it's hand. A Void Gate had been opened, and the person was about to step through it.
"You! Stop!", Ken yelled and moved towards the figure.
"This must be Motomiya.", Tai said to the others. "The evil Taichi said that Motomiya, the Shadowmaster's right hand and servant would soon be here to bring him the Mirror of Truth."
"Reveal yourself, then - Daisuke!", Yamato shouted. "And tell us why you betrayed us - and Iori?"
There was a high-pitched laughter under the figures hood. The gloved hands removed the hood.
"JUN!", Tai breathed. They boys stared at Jun Motomiya, who carried the Mirror in her hands.
"Yes!", Jun bowed mockingly to the boys. "The Shadowmaster's hand! He will wipe your pitiful would out of existence, and I will rule his world as his legate, now that most competitors are gone! You will learn now that I am not the stupid little girl you think!" Without further explanation she jumped through the gate and was gone.
Tai freed Agumon and Gabumon from a hidden cage, when all of a sudden a ghostlike figure manifested before them. It looked like a young man in mid-twenties, with brown hair and green eyes, wearing an entirely white robe. Despite his youth he had the eyes of an old soul. The appearance bowed to them.
"Well met, Digidestinied. I am Akira Asai. This is my sending image. I was able to fool the Shadowmaster for a moment. I have watched you progress and know what Gennai told you. The Shadowmaster has truly caught me in his keep. Listen! My time is short, as he will soon return locate my spirit and fetch it. You must travel south to the City of Ra'Tekli. There, at the northern coast of the island of Noria, lies the Octagon Tower, the Shadowmaster's fortress. His chamber with the Second Portal is on the top of the tower. You must find my body before confronting him, so I can tell you how to proceed. Send am Email to Lord Robert; all Digidestinied must come to the Octagon, or you can not win! This is of central importance! Use the Portal Orb if necessary!"
Tai stepped forward. "But… what expects us, and who is the Shadowmaster?"
The image of Akira Asai became disturbed. "Hurry! You must come now… The Shadowmaster has fooled you… he is…" And then the image was gone.

******************************************

Takeru, Ken, Tai and Yamato stepped though the Void Gate. They had used the Portal Orb to follow Jun to Ra'Tekli on the Isle of Noria, and send word to Rob and the others that they had to come immediately.
There was a stony beach. Grey clouds hung in the sky and a chilly wind was blowing. This was it. The end. Ahead of them was a large row of Dragon statues of impressive size and realism. It seemed as if they could strike down any moment. Tai held Yamato's hand and Ken and TK walked ahead likewise. When they had crossed they alley of Dragons, the reached an enormous wall with a stone-portal of immense height. All was obviously built to impress anyone of human size - and it worked well. The huge stone portal parted as they reached it, like it was moved by invisible giant hands. Behind it was a large tower shaped like an octagon and a demons throat as entrance.
"Nice place!", Ken tried to joke. There was a threatening silence upon this place, and most unusual was that they didn't face any attackers.
The four boys stepped through a smaller portal into a hall that was barely lit by some torches.
"This Shadowmaster seems to prefer living alone!", Yamato said and his voice was echoed from the ceiling. They went ahead and into a small tunnel, made of polished white stone. Suddenly four Machinedramon stepped put of some niches, and they were surrounded. Wormmon and Gabumon digivolved and began to battle against the evil Digimon, but Stingmon was hurt from a blast, and Ken jumped forward to attack the Machinedramon.
"Yamato!", Ken shouted. "Give me your pocket-knife! Quickly!"
Yamato ducked away from an attack, rolled over the floor and then threw his knife to Ken.
Ken circled around one of the Machinedramon, and Yamato began to throw stones at the evil Digimon. Just for a moment the Digimon was distracted, but Ken lunged forward and hacked the knife into a part of the Machinedramon. Ken was blown away from an explosion and TK cried aloud running to help Ken. The Machinedramon suddenly turned away and began to attack the other Machinedramon. Soon the battle was over, but Ken and Wormmon were both hurt.
Ken was bleeding from his left arm, and holding it.
"Ken!", TK said in fear. "Are you hurt much?"
Ken shook his head. "I will be alright, TK! But I fear I can't go on for a moment. Go ahead, I will follow soon."
"I can not leave you alone!", TK demanded. "This is far too dangerous!"
"I will take care of him!", Yamato mentioned. "You saved my lover, little brother, now I shall take care of yours!" Yamato looked at TK with a warm smile. "Wormmon and I will follow soon, okay!"
TK nodded. He pressed a gentle kiss on Ken's lips and he and Tai went ahead, while Gabumon stayed with Yamato.

Tai and TK went on. They climbed many stairs and sneaked through the shadows, to avoid another confrontation. They hoped that their friends would follow soon, but there was no time to wait! The Shadowmaster's spell of Devastation must be stopped!
They walked through another tunnel and came into another hall, that seemed to serve as a meeting hall. Here the Shadowmaster might meet with his servants.
The door on the other side of the hall opened, and before them stood Jun Motomiya. She was accompanied by two huge Megadramon.
"Well, you have come far enough!", Jun sneered. "The Shadowmaster only needs a few moments time to finish the rite. You won't be quick enough, and I will make certain of that! Megadramon, attack!"
The two Digimon approached and Agumon digivolved into WarGreymon as Patamon into MagnaAngemon. A fierce and terrible battle began to rage, but Jun jumped forward to attack Tai and TK. Tai fetched up with Jun, rolling over the floor with her. Fists were flying and then Jun took out a small knife and tried to cut Tai.
Taichi jumped out of Jun's reach but tired to keep her at bay. "TK! Go ahead, quickly!", Tai shouted, jumping away from another blow.
TK gazed at the scene; he wasn't sure what do to, but then he ran with all his might towards the door at the opposite side. Jun shouted some commands to the evil Digimon, but TK was able to step through the door, which closed behind him with a loud thud. Now he was alone. Takeru turned around but he realised that this door wouldn't budge easily, so he went ahead to search the top of the tower.

******************************************

"Here! Help me to open that door!", Asuka shouted. Iori, Jyou, Koushiro and Rob stepped to her and together they tried to open the large door. Jyou, Koushiro and Iori had met with Mimi, Asuka, Miyako and Hikari at the bottom of the Octagon Tower and finally Rob had arrived too. Together they had forced at Main Portal of the Tower and fought against some Digimon, but nothing serious. It was Koushiro who had seen a hidden door in one of the walls, which had led them into a tunnel that led down into the ground. Very likely a hidden tunnel system, Koushiro had pondered.
"But doesn't that lead us away?", Mimi asked. "The Portal we must destroy lies at the top of the tower."
"Yes, but we may find something here!", Koushiro answered. So they had continued their search until the came to the last door. Now they had forced the door open. It was a room, filled with strange devices. At the faraway corner was a huge crystal of rectangle form and twice human size. It looked like a huge ice-cube. Frozen within it's confines was Daisuke Motomiya.
There was no more reason that could stop Iori Hida then. "DAISUKE!", he yelled and tear ran down his cheek. He pressed his hands on the cold crystal. Daisuke gazed in pain and horror, his body locked in the cold stone. "Daisuke, my Daisuke! What have they done to you?", Iori sobbed heartily and the others gathered around him, feeling quite awkward. Was Daisuke dead?
Asuka stepped to Iori and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Iori. I think he still lives, and there may be help! I just don't know what to do, but we can find out and save him!"
Iori gazed up into Daisuke's eyes. He just couldn't stop weeping. "Daisuke! When we got together, I didn't know we could make it! I loved you and you loved me, but we have been so different… I feared so much that reality would finally bring us apart. But the truth is: the longer we were together, the better it went! I loved you more with every year I knew you. Please, Daisuke! Return to me!" He pressed head at the cold crystal plate. Suddenly there was movement and the crystal began to glow. The confines of Daisuke's body began to shimmer and then he slipped out of his prison right into Iori's arms.
"I love you more every day, Iori!", Daisuke whispered weakly into Iori's ears.

******************************************
Takeru went through a small, dark tunnel. Suddenly he heard the voice of Akira Asai in his head. "You are alone?", Akira said. "Alright. Then be what you are, Takeru: the angel of light, the Paladin of Hope. Only then you can…" Then the voice was cut by a dark voice.
"COME TO ME!", it echoed in his mind like a knife. The door ahead swung open.
TK stepped out of the tunnel and stood high on the top of the Octagon Tower. There was a wide platform, from where he was able to see into all directions. The sung hung deep in the west and a cool breeze was blowing. There was a simple black seat in a corner, and in the centre of the platform was an octagonal obelisk made of a strange, black stone, and shimmering in the sunlight.
"Welcome!", the hooded and cloaked figure sitting of the throne said. "I have expected you for a very long time. I am the Shadowmaster, as you may have guessed.
"Spare me that mocking and hand me the mirror!", TK demanded stepping towards his enemy.
The Shadowmaster laughed. "Come to fight me, yes? Okay, do so!" He rose from his seat and stepped towards TK. Takeru could not see who he was, his face still hidden under the hood.
"Now, my friend! Beat me! Let me pay for all the crimes I did. You don't have the stomach to do this! You are a weakling, and the weak will always lose!" He laughed again, and all the hatred against the Darkness broke out of TK. He swung his arm and boxed the Shadowmaster right into his gut.
TK felt a terrible pain in his stomach! What was this! The Shadowmaster towered over the smirking Takeru and laughed at him. "You ignorant fool!" The he moved forward and removed the hood.
TK gazed into the evil, grinning face of - himself!
"Surprised?", the evil TK said. "You didn't really expect to see yourself as the Mastermind behind all this?" The Shadowmaster returned to his throne and TK stepped towards him.
"You! Why have you done this! I don't understand…", TK said.
The Shadowmaster was an exact double to TK, with the slight difference that hatred and evil had deeply engraved into his features, making it more a demonic mask than a human face. "Always looking for reasons, aren't we? Does it surprise you that you had such a potential And you wasted it for helping and doing good! How disgusting!" The evil TK's face turned dark. "You want to know why I did this? I will tell you. You have everything!", he yelled in anger at the good TK. "You have friends and love and success! You are the chosen heroes of virtues, the saviours of the original DigiWorld. When we - my friends and I - discovered your world we quickly learned that we are only copies, like images from a mirror. To us, life was hell! None of us found his love as we failed to have courage; and we lied to us being content with others things; we betrayed our dreams in strife for power and riches and goods; when I realised that we all had failed to accomplish a life in happiness and love and wanted revenge! Revenge against a happy world, revenge upon those that enjoy life, where I was alone and lost! You happiness was an affront against my misery, and so I swore to let you pay for your luck! And there it goes!" He rose from his seat and before TK could react he grabbed into his bag and threw the Mirror of Truth against the Black Portal. The mirror broke into hundreds of splinters and suddenly the Portal Obelisk began to hum. "Now, it is over! My revenge is complete and your worlds will be devoured. Any moment the Devastation will begin, and your reality will be no more! No more will I have to see you happy faces, your lovely worlds, your disgusting friendship and all the nice and shiny little dirt of emotions." He laughed like a madman.
The good TK stepped towards him. His face was sober and suddenly a light seemed to radiate from him. "No are nothing. I don't even pity you anymore. Can't you see the truth? You have locked yourself away from love with greed and fear! You hoped to control everything, but love can't be commanded, neither can be luck. It is a gift, but we must work to uphold and give love whenever we can. But not to gain something! You have locked yourself away in fear, you lie to yourself of your own importance and power and you sacrifice love for pity little power games. What a wasted existence. You know what? Even if you destroy us, you have already lost! I know of Ken's love to me and have had this love some wonderful years. And there is my brother Yamato and all my friends. We have lived with love, truth and courage, a life worth living. But you have nothing. No matter how many worlds you destroy or own. It is empty." A faint smile formed on TK's face and he felt as peaceful and content as never before. "We will live on, whatever you do. You can not win!"
Suddenly a great pain appeared on the Shadowmaster's face. "What?", he grabbed into his pocked and looked at a black Evil DigiEgg, the DigiEgg of Despair. There was a faint light beginning to shine within it and the black Egg began to change its colour, becoming brighter every moment. "NO! That is impossible! There is no hope left!" The DigiEgg radiated and the light seemed to hurt the Shadowmaster. "It is over, pointless!", the Shadowmaster shrieked and all of a sudden the light erupted out of the evil Egg and the Shadowmaster, the evil TK, burst into dust and was blown away from a breeze.
TK sunk to his knees, when a human figure stood before him. TK looked up. It was Akira Asai, but this time in person. "Thank you for freeing me from the Evil DigiEgg!", Akira said smiling. "Now we must quickly gather your friends. I can not stop the Devastation much longer!"

******************************************

Akira Asai, a young man in white robes gazed at the black Obelisk. All Digidestinied, including Asuka (who had replaced Sora) and Robert had finally reached the top of the Octagon Tower, and their Digimon with them.
Akira turned around. "You know what Gennai told you. This Obelisk is the last Portal that allows to leave the DigiWorld and go back to your earth. If you destroy that Portal, there will be no way to go to earth from this world or to return to the DigiWorld from there. This is the only chance to safe this world. Soon the Devastation will erupt from it, and all will be destroyed. The only alternative for you would be to flee into the Shadow-world, living with the knowledge that you failed. But there would be an earth and a DigiWorld free for you…"
"But this Shadow-world is an evil world?", Ken asked.
Akira nodded. "Yes, inherently evil. Nothing will ever change that. It is the sum of all evil you destroyed here. The better your world went, the worse the Shadow-world became. But it was some kind of accident. This accident happened many years ago, when you came from the future and altered the past. Now this failure must be repaired and in the end one of your worlds must cease to exist. There can only be one earth and one DigiWorld, not two!"
They all looked at each other, each with his or her own thoughts, but most of them similar.
Tai looked around, facing each of his friends and gazing into their eyes. "Akira, what do we have to do, to destroy the Portal?"
"It is quite simple.", Akira answered. "One of you must return to earth by using that Portal. This will shatter the Obelisk and severe the DigiWorld from earth forever. The others must stand around and absorb the energy that will spread from the Obelisk that otherwise would destroy this world.
"I don't understand!", said Iori. "Why does it shatter the Obelisk that one of us steps through it, and why do we have to absorb it's energy?"
"You are the chosen Digidestinied.", Akira said. "Within each of you is a virtue, a part of the energy of goodness and light. If your energy is in contact with the Portal Obelisk it will destroy it, because the Obelisk is made of pure evil. The reaction will shatter it and the following cataclysm will severe the bonds to earth. None of you will ever return there! But there is a positive side, if you want to see it that way. You life-force will be connected with that of the DigiWorld, and you will be transformed in a certain way."
Yamato rose an eyebrow. "And in what way?"
Akira frowned. "You may see it as a gift or a curse. But I am certain you will see the benefit… Time will have no more any effect on you - or in other words: you will not die."
They all looked around in shock and disbelief. When they had made certain that they had understood Akira Asai correctly, there was a debate who should go.
Finally Rob stepped forward. "We have no more time! I will go! No, do not protest! When I was elected to become the DigiKing, I swore to protect this world from evil and destruction. So it is up to me to save this world." He hesitated a moment. "I have learned so much here, and I will never forget this place. And who knows, perhaps we will see each other again!" Then he stepped towards Ken. Rob took his Signet Ring, his royal Amulet and the golden diadem he was wearing as the King of the DigiWorld. He placed it into Ken's hand. "Take it, Ken. I know that you are a worthy follower on my throne!"
Ken gaped at Rob. "What! Are you mad! I was the Digimon Kaiser once, that was enough!"
Rob smiled. "You have changed much since then. You are a good boy, no a good man now! And you won't be the tyrant you have been! Just see it in that way: now you have enough time and opportunity to pay for what you did wrong!"
"I can not decide this!", Ken protested.
"Look at your friends faces!", Rob said.
Ken looked around and then TK stepped to him. "Ken, you can do this. Be the Digimon Kaiser once more, but this time for good! And besides, you have me at your side, beloved." TK pressed a gentle kiss on Ken's cheeks.
Ken sighed, seeing the approving faces all around him. "Alright. You all win… You just look for a fool to does the work for you!", he joked and all were laughing and hugging him, congratulating Ken for his 'new' position as Digimon Kaiser.
Rob, the black-haired boy gazed at the others with his passionate blue eyes. "I hate farewells. Just think of me once and a while. And we will see each other again, somehow! I promise!"
"And we will wait for you!", Ken answered. He hugged his old school friend Rob once again.
"Until we meet again!", Tai said and then Rob turned away, stepped through the Obelisk and was gone.
The Digidestinied quickly grouped around the Obelisk, that began to hum louder now. Miyako held Mimi's hand and Asuka stood near Hikari. Iori and Daisuke stood together as well as Koushiro and Jyou. Ken stepped to TK and held his hand. Finally Taichi and Yamato held each others hand and closed the circle. One second later a blinding flash erupted from the Obelisk that burst and was finally gone. A wave of pure energy rushed through the Digidestinied and they were filled with the very essence of Light and Virtue, washing away their mortality. In the same way the evil Shadow-World ceased out of existence, this time forever. With it all evil artefacts and the remaining Dark Masters, the counterparts of the Digidestinied, were no more. All other possible DigiWorlds were gone. This was the True Future now.
When the Digidestinied regained their conscious, Akira Asai stood near them, but his appearance had changed. He looked like an ethereal being, spreading angelic wings and hovering above the ground.
"There - it is done! You have become your destiny. Now you are the Guardians of this World. Lead it through the eons ahead and make it a home for the Digimon and the many human refugees that live here. They are under your protection."
"You have said, there will be other worlds, Akira?", Tai asked. "Will there be portals that open up to these other worlds? And where will they lead to?"
Akira smiled. "There are countless worlds now, and you are free to travel and visit each of them. And you have all eternity to do so in the endless worlds of the Multiverse. Your adventure hasn't ended, my friends. This is only the beginning!" And then Akira Asai was gone.

******************************************

There was a great festival held by the new Guardians of the DigiWorld in Central, and all felt that a New Era had begun. Now that the DigiWorld was severed from earth a new counting of years was begun with the year 1 AS - After Severance (1 AS there is our year 2001). The new Digimon Kaiser Ken and his friends the other Digidestinied formed a council that called representatives from each city and community to legitimate the new government. It would be a difficult time, as many remembered Ken in his evil personality; but he had made many new friends that supported him. Takeru Takeishi married Ken two years later and was proclaimed Prince.

Koushiro and Miyako undertook a cautious extend of civilisation and technology, taking great care not to repeat the errors on earth and protecting nature and environment. Jyou opened the first hospital were humans and Digimon were healed equally. Jyou and Koushiro moved together and built a home in Central.

Mimi, who lived with Miyako, led the Organisation for Culture and Education to ascertain a high life standard among the inhabitants. Asuka opened a school for martial arts where many fighting styles and skills could be acquired. Iori became one of the Kendo teachers there. Iori and Daisuke travelled the DigiWorld together for a whole year, before they settled in Central and married officially. Daisuke became a great and famous novelist and author of adventure and love - stories, as well as a renown painter and Mangaka.

Taichi married Yamato and they became frequent guests of Ken and TK in the DigiManor. Yamato continued his career as singer and composer and brought music to the DigiWorld. Taichi chose a life as ranger and kept searching out the many secrets of the DigiWorld - and many other worlds they discovered later.

Sora, who had lost her body, lived as sentient hologram with Gennai and learned the secrets of dimensional science. Hikari Yagami built herself a hut a bit away from Central and took care of the spiritual needs for human and Digimon, following her higher calling. Out of the experiences of her adventures she created a high evolved and positive spirituality.

******************************************

The fireworks had just ceased and the guests were spreading in the many rooms of the DigiManor. Hikari and Asuka were meditating in a chamber and trying to focus on the era ahead. Jyou and Koushiro were wandering in the park, lit by the full-moon's light.
"Do you plan to visit these worlds one day?", Jyou asked as he walked holding Koushiro's hand.
"I am quite certain!", Koushiro answered. "Imagine all the many things to learn and see. I hope you will travel with me, though."
Jyou smiled. "I wouldn't let you go alone!"
Koushiro pressed a slight kiss on Jyou's cheeks. "There is so much to do here. And now that there are humans living in the DigiWorld, we must find a common agreement. It will be difficult, but interesting."
"Do you think there will be quarrel between the Refugees - the humans - and the Digimon?", Jyou pondered.
"I can't say, but they are used to Digimon, so there is hope!", the red-haired boy answered. "But what about you, Jyou? I mean, do you have any plans?"
Jyou grinned. "To keep up with your pace is work enough!" He saw a puzzled looking Koushiro. "I don't mean you walking here, but your endless curiosity and your eagerness to bring a better life to the refugees here! There are thousands of plans in your mind - they will keep me busy for quite a while!"
And indeed many questions were in Koushiro's mind. What kind of world would this become now? Would they create computers? An internet or something entirely different?
Jyou caressed Koushiro's hair and then he pulled him towards himself wrapping his arms around Koushiro. "I love you when you are lost in your thoughts!"

Mimi and Miyako were standing with some of the guests, Leomon and a newly reborn Devimon at their side. They discussed the need for some kind of Imperial Guard that might protect the people. Both Miyako and Mimi supported the idea that the installation of schools would be vital, especially for the many children of the human refugees. The two young women decided to oversee that program personally.
"Schools? In the DigiWorld?", Leomon smirked. "I still can not get used to the idea of humans living here amongst us!"
Devimon nodded in agreement. "Me, too! But there are new time ahead. Do you know any teachers for your schools already?"
Miyako didn't know what to say, but Mimi interceded: "We shall find the best humans and Digimon soon, perhaps we will make some kind of contest, and the winners will be the first teachers. We can't let the children and rookies grow up stupid!"
"Then I shall educate science!", Miyako proclaimed eagerly. "I used to be good in physics and chemistry. Perhaps I will study it in the university and…", she hesitated and looked down sad. "Oh! There are no universities here!"
"Hey!", Mimi hugged Miyako encouraging. "But we can create universities! There are some scientists here, and there are some very educated and intelligent Digimon, too! You will be able to learn all you want!" Mimi pressed a gentle kiss on Miyako, who blushed as the others were around.

The recently elected Kaiser Ken had to face endless congratulations from all kind of people; even many of the sceptics were polite enough to shake his hand or bow towards him. He had dressed in robes entirely made of white colour, which was Takeru's influence on him. Ken had protested that white would look ridiculous, but finally he had to give in against TK's stubbornness. When just another group of congratulants had passed, TK dragged the Kaiser away into a separated room, where they were alone.
,,Hey, you are dragging me away from my royal duties!", Ken protested, but TK didn't hesitate and pressed his lips on Ken's. He opened his mouth and Takeru's tongue probed deep in the Kaiser's mouth.
,,Hmm - tasty!", TK said breathless as the retreated a moment, grinning from ear to ear. ,,We didn't have much time for each other the last weeks, Ken. So..." He pushed Ken at the wall and kissed him again.
,,You fall down upon me like you were starving!", Ken laughed and wrapped his arms around the blonde. Most times he was the dominant, hut he enjoyed this turn much. After being forced to behave ,Kaizerish' the whole day, he was exhausted and willing to be passive.
TK went away and Ken gazed behind him, but TK produced a key and locked the door. Then he looked through the room, his blue eyes burning with desire. He lunged forward and began to tickle Ken.
Ken laughed loud. ,,HAHAHAHAHA! STOP IT!" But TK didn't stop, so Ken started revenge and began to tickle TK, too.
Later that evening, when some guests passed through the floor beyond the locked door, they heard strange noises of screaming, laughing and moaning, hut Hikari walked by and drove them away into some other rooms.

******************************************

Daisuke jumped once more into the cool lake near the DigiManor. He loved to swim in the moonlight and he liked it to jump into the water, too. Daisuke was great in jumping and swimming and he tried all to impress Iori who calmly swam in the middle of the lake. Daisuke swam towards Iori and then they moved through the water side by side. For a while, none said a word.
,,Nice night, heh?", Daisuke asked.
Iori looked at him and smiled. ,,You never can stand the silence for a longer time?"
Daisuke blushed, hut only a bit. ,,Yeah, you know me. I use to become edgy if I don't talk. So maybe I talk not to become nervous..."
,,I have already learned that!", Iori laughed, but his expression was warm with love.
,,Do you know how we will live here, I mean now that we can't return to earth?", Daisuke asked.
Iori pondered a while. ,,I have tried not to think about it some time. We will miss many things in the beginning. No computers, no internet, no computer games, no TV or phone - all offerings of an advanced civilisation. But Koushiro, Ken, Miyako and I have decided to gather and write down all knowledge of our homeworld in books. There is much technology here, and we might well be able to make this world homey. But we must persevere the knowledge from earth for the future. You should do that too!"
,,Me!", Daisuke grasped. ,,What should I know that is worthy?!"
,,Well, many things unknown here.", Iori answered. ,,Write about all ways of having fun is no small task: games, movies, TV, music, drawing, computers; whatever you know. We must build a whole new world here, and it seems we have very much time."
,,Endless time, if Akira was night.", Daisuke mentioned.
,,Don't use that as an excuse for laziness, though!", Iori mocked him friendly.
,,You!", said Daisuke and pushed some water at Iori. They fought in the lake laughing and shrieking until both were exhausted. Then they walked to the beach and fell into the sand. Iori laid in Daisuke's arms and both gazed up to the stars. Daisuke nagged on one of Iori's ears and Iori was moaning in pleasure.
,,Do you think any of these strange worlds we can visit is up there among the stars?", Daisuke asked.
Iori shrugged. ,,Perhaps; we shall know someday, Daisuke, I am certain."

******************************************

Taichi Yagami and Yamato Ishida stood on the balcony of the DigiManor. They had just looked down at Jyou and Koushiro passing beyond them. Both had remained in the shadows not to disturb the other boys.
Tai stepped towards the balustrade and gazed into the night. Yamato stepped up from behind, wrapping his arms around Tai. None said a word for many minutes.
"We walked a long path, Yamato, until we entered this world many years ago.", Tai whispered. "Who would have guessed that someday this would be our home."
"Are you very sad about it?", Yamato asked while he caressed Tai's hair.
"Somewhat sad, yes.", Tai answered. "My family and friends, my home and school. All things known to me are gone forever. I love the DigiWorld and I am eager to visit these many worlds Akira spoke of, but I can never tell my father and mother how I feel again. And I know I will stay as young as I am now throughout the millennia to come, while they will age and die. This idea frightens me!"
"Me, too!", Yamato agreed.
"But it shouldn't!", a male voice echoed from a corner. The boys spun around and saw the transparent image of Akira Asai. "You will not return to earth, but you may talk to your friends and family as ever you wish!"
"What!", both said in unison.
Akira smiled. "It will be hard to get used to the idea of eternal youth, but within a few centuries you will forget it. I had to go through that, too!" He grabbed into a bag and gave a shining, crystal orb to Tai. "This is one of the Vision Stones. With it you can focus on worlds and people known to you and even speak to them. Tell you parents and friends you are alright, if you wish. I know it will not make it easier and I planned to give you this Orb only after you had lived one or two centuries, but take it as a gift now. And use it wisely!" Akira's form began to wither.
"Will we see each other again?", Tai asked.
Akira nodded. "Of course! We are neighbours now, as I live just in the next world beyond! I'll come to look for you once and a while! Until then, wish you luck and fun creating your new world!"
Tai and Yamato thought about this and both decided they would call for their parents the next day. It would be hard for them, as it was for Tai, Yamato and the others. But no pain could last as long as the joy that they had destroyed the darkness in a world once and for all. This would remain as a place of light, a lighthouse of Goodness and Virtue in the twilight of the Multiverse.
Yamato turned to Taichi and pressed a passionate kiss on Tai's lips.
"For what was this?", Tai asked astonished.
Yamato grinned. "Well, I was just trying to see, if you still taste so good, now that we have an eternity to share!"
"What!", Tai laughed. "You Baka!" Then he grabbed Yamato and pressed a kiss on his lips, his tongue bathing deep in his lovers mouth.
Tai and Yamato stood in the bright moonlight, holding each other, Yamato sinking in Tai's hazel eyes and Tai caressing Yamato's wonderful hair.
"I am yours forever Taichi!", Yamato breathed. "And with you by my side, I don't fear any eternity!"
"My koi!", Tai answered and both were entangled in a seemingly endless kiss.

******************************************

This story had a beginning, and so it must have a end. We have reached this end, and it is up to me, Lord Robert - or Robert Runeward - to finish it. I have told you all, that happened to the Digidestinied and the DigiWorld. Through the Vision Stone Tai, Yamato, Ken, Takeru, Koushiro, Jyou, Iori, Daisuke, Mimi, Miyako, Hikari and Asuka tell me daily how their progress goes on, and I am so glad to hear of them.
I am not bitter because of my banishment, because I lived to save the DigiWorld from evil, and we succeeded, even though I am apart from my best friends for now. But who knows? In an endless universe everything can happen. Akira Asai once said that true friends will someday meet again, no matter the obstacles, and I trust in his wisdom. It was up to me to tell this story, so you may know the great and heroic deeps of the Digidestinied as they truly happened.
But beside their strength it was their understanding, what truly makes us whole and holy: to believe in our dreams, no matter how much is standing against us; to stand for the truth who we truly are; to be courageous for Light in the face of Darkness and to follow the Path of Love. If you believe in your dream in that way, and persevere it throughout you life, your dream will become real sometimes for you. May love, truth and courage guide your path always.

Yours Sincerely

Lord Robert

THE END

Addendum: Well, it took much more time to write this Digimon Saga, than I had thought, but it was great pleasure and I want to thank all that supported me with their ideas, their good words and their stories and pictures. Among them are Yama, Yumiko, Neo, Magnolia and Pikka; but there are so many others out there, know and unknown to me. You showed me how to dream and gave me courage to stand for the child that I truly still am and now will strife to be forever. Only if our hearts are open, loving not judging, we can be happy together. Never forget your heart, and may your dreams guide you.
This is the end, but not for Tai, Yamato and the others. Who knows, someday I will return to the Digidestinied and write something new about them, if you want me to. Something from the past, or something into the future? There are endless possibilities… Wish you well!

Ever Yours
Sarnokh

"Love - and do what you will!"
Saint Augustine