Digimon: Digital Monsters

Enter DW desert. KWG finds next stone. Ken and Sting join. Boom! A chained dragon appears briefly - KWG wonders if it's his foe. TK angry, Cody notes - rational or angry? Galls him.

Tokyo evening. Cody worries will have to DNA-d with TK, but doesn't know him anymore -

TK nightmare, fb to Angemon - but Patamon safe beside him.

"How can he be so angry and full of vengeance one minute and so nice the next?"

Arrive a DS5. KWG arrives at canyon. Paildramon, Silphymon. "I should warn you, the punch I'm packing isn't fruit punch!" Arukeni2 and Mumm2 arive. P and S tied down by M and A. Patamon to Angemon, and Armadillo to Ankyla. TK fb to "not again" jsut like when sacrified self to stop Devimon. "No, I can't lose him again". Just like Chimeramon, a creation of evil out of control. Ange tossed against stone, and d to Magnaange Ult. "the power of the stone" Gate of Destiny. "You are strong, and almost worthy." Fires TD and gets DS as goes twd gate. Dragon apprs again - Ken notes in pain. "Again, he retreats. He is taunting me. I must find the next DS! My opponent will not escape me."

Cody to TK: understand why hate the pwers of dknss. "I don't hate them, but will stop them." "Maybe I'll never understand [TK]."

235 03-mar-2001 Cody Takes A Stand

IN winter Niorth., Mummy and Arukeni chasing Mojiy. to find destiny stone. Pail and Silpjy. They hid it. KWG pops up, taunts them for trying to hide it -- and beath snow. Hit TDs it, and see dragon superimpose. Conical. TD, and shape vanishes. He flyies off: 1 more. Stronger with each stone, Mummy notes. revert to baby 4. Lighting, ice up whirlwind. Digiport out thru TV.

Davis, Last destiny stones. TK: angry, stop all this defeatest talk. Ken long bus ride back to Tomachi. Davis invites him to dinner. Sleepover? Yolei can't come, but asks tonite, then Kari. D invites all, but TK then Cody demur. TK and Yolei in same bld. Ken's mom so happy he has some friends. Soccer, HW, tutors, celebrity.

Meanwhile, Cody and Matt, asks. Band rehearasal. Matt reluctantly explains scars from first battle, against Devimon. TK scared because first time Patamon digivolved. Ref Ken who also lost his partner. C leaves, M wonders why TK never mentioned. Walking, Cody thinks KWG just confused.

M phones TK, expln. TK a little upset shoulda come fist. "Ah, it's just like Cody. That kid thinks too much." Fondly from balc as passes beneath.

Last 2. S Y K D. Hawkmon-baby expln lunch Tentomon, who look for last 2 stones. D points out: find, but still not strong enouh. Let's get stronger! sugg Worm-baby.

KWG punches thru spires, raves. A M follow. "KWG is acting just like like a big crybaby who can't find his favorite toy...." "A baby? Then he's our child! I always wanted to be a papa." "You're not a daddy, you're a mummy. Now keep following him!" "Yes, dear." If DS all destroyed but no more CS, be for nothing. Escapes across a chasm. A: he still has no idea why created.

Davis snoring, morn. Bck to rook. Kari on phone.

Ikkakumon and friens foutn 6th, at botoom of Ocean. C and Submarimon, while other 5 to stop above. Megaseadramon and Dolphmon - champ. Pulse Blast attack. Cody warns against KWG. KWG arrives at clif. DNA Pail, Silphy, Ange. Dives. Harpoon torpedo, pulse blast, oxygen torp against him. Thorwn free of ocean. Blast against cliff. Out of rubble. TD at ocean, knocking it aside, parting. Stands on seabed. Cody confronts.

Cody knows heart, please, want to be friends. insists need to fight. "It is my ultimate destiny to be the greatest fighter ever created. I have cleared my mind of such petty things as worrying and feelings." What has my heart to do with it? Flower? "Why am I so hesitant to destroy this body? Is it because I have a heart? I never said I wanted a heart!" Ange pulls away, Black Torando. Boom! Sky turns dark. Waterspouts.

Back in RW on bach, Upamon and Patamon and a crab sandcastle. Up asks why not fight? TK, "I think you finally understand why I get so upset at the thought of evil."

236 10-mar-2001 Stone Soup

Only one Destiny Stone remains, and the Digidestined rush to the computer lab. Ken can't come (he's helping his mom clean their apartment) and Cody is late (it was his turn to clean the teacher's lunch room).

KWG arrives at a waterfront industrial plant and tears through it with Black Tornado. MM and AA watch from a safe distance. "Why can't you be as powerful as him, MM?" AA gripes. "But I have charm and class!" MM protests. "Don't tell me yyou're falling for that prefabricated hunk of shrapnel?" She whaps him, then shakes him awake to drive them away as KWG approaches.

They arrive at the gates of Digichinatown, and are entranced by the aroma wafting from a restaurant run by DIGITOMOMON [see: ]. They chat-insult about sandals and feet as they sit down and are met by the waiter, TAPIRMON. AA orders extra flies in her wonton soup.

The Digidestined stop at the gates. Kari is thirsty, and Yolei offers her some bottled water (a new product at her parents' store). Cody notes sadly that those two have become much better friends since they DNA-digivolved; TK reassures him that they'll probably do so soon -- look, Patamon and Armadillomon have been practicing. Kari notices the restaurant's aroma, and the group rushes in to eat; only Cody is alarmed by the sudden priority shift. Confesses to Armadillomon that perhaps he hasn't DNA-digivolved "because I'm too serious all the time. But I'll try to lighten up by dessert."

AA and MM abuse Tapirmon, trying to get the soup's secret recipe; then the kids arrive. AA and MM morph, as do Exvee, Aquila, Ange, Ankyla, Neferti [full seq each]; the attacks begin. They try to DNA-digivolve to Silphy twice, but fail [partial seq twice]. TK observes that Digimon must need plenty to eat before they can DNA-digivolve. Digitomo and Tapir flee, followed by AA and MM (who've de-digivolved) [so their forms *are* distinct instars], just as Ken and Sting arrive. Everyone wants to follow, but Cody suggests they replenish their energy so they can meet KWG. They'll have to cook for themselves.

Out in the bamboo forrest, the buggy conks out, and the engine explodes. "It can't be the radiator," MM pleads; "I just put water in it five years ago." He runs off, AA follows, and he shushes her; he can hear water dripping nearby. They find a circular boulder-bordered pool, with a sign proclaiming it the Chinese Soup Spring. MM leans forward to sip from it when Digitomo and Tapir jump on him: "No slurping!" They point to the sign, which warns: "Drinkingg this soup is strictly forbidden and you don't want to know the consequences". MM bandage-repels them, sips anyway -- and is hit by a sudden wave, falling into the pool; then is dragged upward. "Either this is a Destiny Stone or it's a giant matzoh ball!" The spherical stone rises into the air, and as MM falls from it, he drags the inscribed ring off. Unfettered, the stone glows blue.

At the restaurant, all twelve are seated at a circular table, finishing their meal. TK looks at his bowl and says, "I have this strange feeling we'll figure how to DNA-digivolve. Must be the MSG." The light from the Stone pours through the window. Elsewhere, KWG also sees it.

MM flounders in the pool, and AA tosses him a boulder, sinking him. The kids arrive, and MM climbs out. KWG arrives, and knocks the pair away with an offhand mini-Terra Destroyer [not proclaimed]. TK suggests DNA-digivolving to Cody; Ankyla and Ange are ready. But first Pail and Silphy [full seqs] digivolve and attack; KWG retaliates with TD. With yellow and green light, Ankyla and Ange DNA-digivolve to SHAKKOUMON. "Way to go, guys!" Davis congratulates. "Shakkoumon is a totally awesome Digimon!"

[Davis is generous in his praise (or is receiving kickbacks from Bandai). Shakkoumon is indeed taller than Paildramon, but if he had a phylum, it would be Teapot. His shape is some Buddhist-themed rigid-hulled snowman-proportioned toy, white with gold trim, with tiny three-clawed hands and hover-feet. Unlike the other two, he's not a hybrid of his components: no shell, spikes, wings or humanoid features.]

237 17-mar-2001 Kyoto Dragon

[Reprise of Shakkoumon seq, mention of Kachina Bombs] An uncharacteristically demonstrative Cody hugs TK: "We did it, finally! Now we don't have to make Paildra and Silphy do all the work!" Those two stand their ground against KWG's threats, and Shakkou moves in front. KWG fires off a TD, which burns against Shakkou for several moments -- until it's absorbed into the blue jewel on his chest. He fires off HARMONIOUS SPIRIT (red eye beams) and KACHINA BOMB (flying disks from his apron) attacks. KWG pulls the cape-segments from his back, joins them into a shield, and deflects the impacts -- but it starts to chip and crack.

"Why do you persist this way?" he asks. "You can't win. Why do you keep protecting the Destiny Stones?"

"It's a little something that we call: saving the world!" Paildra answers.

"How can you be so certain that what you fight for is right?" asks KWG as his shield shatters and he's blown back into the forest, arcs of grey fluid bleeding from multiple wounds. "I keep asking questions of my enemies and yet I still get no answers... I have given every opponent the chance to convince me otherwise... Why should I care if they are destroyed, or for that matter, the whole Digital World?"

"He seems so sad," Kari notes. "He needs a friend."

KWG tosses aside Silphy and Paildra, and the kids devise Plan B: move the stone. They waste seconds arguing if it's even possible, and then AA and MM return. "I have a better idea: say goodbye. That's your cue to cry and beg for mercy. Ready to give up?" MM transforms, advances, and his gunblast is absorbed by Digitomo's NIGHTMARE SYNDROMER. He and Tapir knock the two back into the forest, raging about soup.

Reprieved, the kids hold their D3s up to the floating DS. A pillar of light erupts from each of the six prior locations, and arc into this one, which fires off its own arching rainbow beam. Being ineffectually scratched by Tapir, AA turns to the lightshow and asks, "What are those kids doing back there?" "I just hope they don't get all the soup," replies MM. The other four, still battling, pause to watch.

Dark clouds roll in, beams break through, and then a Chinese-style dragon descends. Its sinuous body is translucent and wrapped with chains. Somewhere along its length are claws and white wings. Four eyes peer from a Flamedramon-like bladed helmet, blue with yellow swirls, tipped by flapping moustache and beard. "Mummymon, attack!" orders AA. "I'd rather not, thanks," he replies. "That guy's almost as big as my appetite!" observes Davis.

The giant addresses KWG, who rises into the air to float nose-to-nose. "You! You are the one with the accused soul of darkness!" He asks why KWG destroyed the DS, and he gives his standard answer and contempt of the consequences. The dragon introduces himself as AZULONMON, "guardian of the eastern hemisphere and keeper of the spheres of light and hope," and explains the control spires [from which KWG was formed] were created to seal his power.

This is news to the kids. "Alright, so now you know; big deal," says AA, striding back into the clearing with MM, carrying the two struggling minor digimon. "Our plan was a simple one: build as many control spires as possible and destroy the balance of the digital world once and for all. You got a problem? So sue me." Ken is again upset at his former role as patsy [as the Digimon Emperor, he'd willingly erected those spires]. She goes on to insult KWG, who leaps down and grabs her by the neck. "Put me down," she protests, "this is a brand new outfit! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get wrinkles out of polyester?"

KWG is still in existential self-pitying mode. "KWG! You ask more questions than Cody does," announces Azulon, ready to dispense wisdom. "Every life has a purpose... the circumstances surrounding its birth don't matter... it is up to you to find out what that meaning is." KWG thanks Azulon, then walks off, "someplace where things go to disappear." "He could try my sock drawer," suggests Davis. AA rushes after him, enjoining them to "stay right there, I'll be back to destroy you later."

[Warning: exposition.] Azulon addresses the kids. He's one of the four MEGADIGIMON who preserve the balance of the digital world. Yolei notes the similarity to Kyoto, guarded by spirits to the four cardinal compass points, and Azulon acknowledges them. [See #233.] After a long battle, they were sealed away by the Dark Masters; it was then that seven of the eight Digidestined were summoned. When the returned to Earth, the Dark Masters dismantled and reshaped the world to their own needs: Spiral Mountain. The eight Digidestined were able to finally defeat them, but the four were still sealed, and needed to retake the power of the Crests.

Without the crests, the digimon could no longer digivolve to Ultimate, and the specific aid of the four is now needed. Cody mentions that Izzy had figured this out. "Yes, Izzy is quite intelligent," acknowledges Azulon. "In fact, without that intelligence, he'd be, well, he'd be Tai."

They revived an ancient form of digivolving: armor. They drafted three digimon with the power to do so, and created the digieggs and three new digivices. The ability of the D-terminals to store multiple digieggs was not anticipated, but to use it, three new digieggs were provided: Sincerity, Friendship, and Reliability. Meanwhile, the Crest of Kindness was hidden by the dark forces, so it was rebuilt into the Digiegg of Miracles. "It wasn't easy, so we hired a general contractor."

Elsewhere, KWG roars and flies away into the clouds. "My friend, I feel your agony," bids Azulon. "I hope one day you can discover the answer to your questions."

Azulon can't regain his power right away (he explains); the digital world is still too unbalanced. He must plant his seeds of light where the DS once stood, and hope for the best ("I've never had a green thumb"). Depressed, Ken thinks they may have to destroy all items of darkness, or they'd keep growing and producing creatures like KWG. TK doesn't think such efforts are necessary -- or possible. "Because where there's light, you'll always find darkness." Kari agrees. Azulon agrees: the light inside is hope.

Only three ancient digimon could armor-digivolve, but the crests of Light and Hope are different from the others, and can do the same: hence Nefertimon and Pegasusmon.

Even though KWG has gone, and Azulon's power will soon be restored, the threat isn't gone; the evil that sealed him away is still present. Who? AA and MM are merely pawns. The kids must not stop fighting. "We'll keep one on the digital world, and one eye on our world, and the other eye on each other," promises Davis. "You must be Davis," sighs Azulon as he departs.

Later, Digitomo thanks the kids at the restaurant with a tray of CHINESE BUNS. Even though it's a huge pile, Yolei and Davis argue over their helpings. Back in Tokyo, walking home along the canal, they're still arguing. Davis pauses; is that a control spire he sees? Yolei scoffs at the notion.

238 24-mar-2001 A Very Digi Christmas

In the digiworld, they're busy demolishing control spires. Afterward, Ken stands apart. He holds a handful of green envelopes and confides in Worm: what if they refuse the invitation to his Christmas party? "But what am I gonna do with all that eggnog?" Davis spots his hesitation, comes over to investigate -- and he's committed. Maybe Veemon can catch Gatomon under the mistletoe. The last one to advance is Cody; both thinking "looks like he still hates me"; but Ken extends the letter, and a barrier is broken.

In Tokyo, holiday preparations are underway. "Hello, holiday shoppers. Get into the spirit of the season and spend, spend, spend." Matt's band is (attempting to) rehearse, and his dad calls (from the rebuilt TV center) to say he'll be working late that night; they banter about dinner. MM and AA lurk outside the building.

Nancy (TK's mom) and Mr.Motimiya (Davis's dad) banter about their sons. Nancy turns to leave, and is stopped by a man who'd been waiting at the outdoor cafe. Tall, grey complexion, lank black hair -- he re-introduces himself as MR.OIKAWA. He investigated the Highton View Terrace Incident eight years ago, and the Odaiba Fog Incident more recently. He warns her ominously that the current monster incident is related; and it's only just beginning. And warns her about who she lets her sons play with. He leaves -- and vanishes. Nancy worries; she thought all this was behind them.

In the digiworld, the kids meet with the other six digimon, who'll constitute the Christmas gifts for the six senior digidestined. They pack Palmon into a sack and digiport her off to Mimi's room in America.

The diligent Mrs.Ichijouji (Ken's mom) is sent home from the restaurant where she works. Her boss compliments her on the change in Ken; they had such a nice conversation the other day.

The digidestined meet on a beach, and the digimon leap from the bags into the arms of their partners. Later, they queue up for Matt's concert in a circus tent outside the TV center. Sora waits by the backstage entrance with a box of home-baked cookies for Matt, anxious that Tai not see her -- oops, here he is. (Gabumon offers to bring them in, but Biyomon accuses) He asks if she's going to the concert with anyone; she's awkward with her affections for Matt, but Tai takes it well, and pushes her in. "The least you can do is leave us the cookies!" Agumon yells. "Tell you what," she blushes. "I'll make some special ones for you." "I'll be waiting. Thanks." She goes in. "You've really grown up," Agumon compliments him. Tai and Agumon are almost bowled over by June (Davis's sister) rushes through with her own gift for Matt.

At the concert, the crowd cheers; June actually stands on the bench and waves pom-poms. Outside, AA erects a control spire. "I'm going to bring new meaning to the term, Monsters of Rock!" It glows red, and power drains from the band's instruments. (The live TV technicians start to sweat.) The bigtop tears, admitting Tyranno (black) and a flock of (ghost). "Maybe they're just music-lovers," speculates Joe uncertainly. ("What a concert! These crazy kids," panics a tech.) Agumon can't digivolve. Other digimon terrorize the city: (teddy) on the street, (slugs) in the mall, (orange fly serpent) at the waterfront, (orange-bug and green-bug) at the Ferris wheel.

In Ken's bedroom, Yolei compliments Ken on his photo; he gently explains that it's his older brother Sam. The kids play "Go Fish" (Yolei's having trouble learning) and Ken actually laughs (shocking them). In the kitchen, his mom is happy he finally has friends, a house of laughing children. The phone rings; it's Tai for Kari.

The five armor-digimon advance (Raid, Dig, Halse). They topple the spire, and the other seven can go to Champion. Lights flicker in the adjoining TV center, and (the techs) Matt's dad's team consider videotaping the action. "Isn't this exactly what happened four years ago?" they ask. The foes are too much, but Joe and Izzy have an idea: gather them together and digiport them back in groups. (Halsemon hits the (ghost)(slug)(scythe-orko) with Tempest Wing rings, and they're Golden Noosed into a net.) TK wonders how they got here. Cody: a brand new enemy? Ken disagrees; it must be AA, who can move freely between the two worlds. They quickly dispatch most of the attackers; the last two (orange-serpent and (teddy)) are Ultimates, and the three DNA-digimon defeat them.

At the Odaiba train station, Ken apologizes that the party was cut short, but his guests assure him they all had fun and will come next year. "Oh no," exclaims Davis, "I forgot to kiss Kari under the mistletoe!" "He never quit," laughs TK. "Take it from me. You'll never learn about women."

At the Kamiya residence, Tai and Agumon play (Kari warns them not to lose their Christmas dinner). Kari sings an impromptu carol.

'Twas a digimon Christmas and everyone was busy; 
especially the likes of Tentomon and Izzy. 
Joe played with Gomamon, Matt and Gabumon ate,
Palmon saw Mimi -- isn't that great? 
Cody and Upamon shared a little sushi 
while Porurumon sat on Yolei's tushie. 
Tokomon went carroling, Ken's thankful for friends,
while in Davis' dreams the fun never ends.
Good night, now. Merry Christmas. 

The next morning, June gets Davis out of bed for the news: strange black obelisks are appearing across the globe. Izzy's computer shows digiports opening everywhere...

239 Dramon Power

The newscaster reports: "We interrupt the Power Rangers Arbor Day Special for this special news bulletin." The strange obelisks that first appeared in Odaiba are now all around the world. "They were at first thought to be a marketing scheme for a dot-com company." Large monsters have also been seen in each area: the hills near ?Oso? (drill-mole), the clock tower in Sapporo (Knightmon), Osaka Castle (evil teddybear), Tomochi Station in Tokyo; Dallas Texas, Venice Beach in California (no one there noticed)...

The kids phone each other and gather. Dashing across town with Tai and Kari to Izzy, Davis stops; he insists on helping Ken in Tomochi. "He's probably begging for my help right now!" Tai's aghast that he's thinking of a single individual, but Davis is adamant: "He's not an individual! He's one of us." Tai acknowledges the point; he'll take command of this contingent.

The newscasts continue. Monsters are seen at Niagra Falls, over the Nazca Lines in Peru, in the ocean. The world's militaries collected information the last time this happened, four years ago; but that data has mysteriously vanished from their computers. Moreover, equipment fails whenever they get close to the monsters. "Stay tuned to this channel for news of this unbelievable catastrophe. But first, he's Johnny for sports."

In the digiworld, Azulonmon greets a robed-and-hooded man seated on a mountain peak. "My friend, you look a thousand years younger," he says; the man attributes it to rest and digivitamins. Azulonmon entrusts him one of his twelve DIGICORES, and cautions him of its power. He'll need luck if both worlds are to survive.

Gathered around his PC, Izzy reports to the kids that he's getting mail from all over the world ("whoa, talk about deja vu" --referring to the movie); over 200 so far, all from fellow digidestined. He guesses any kid who's seen a digimon in person (Willis, Michael in the US) or who saw Omnimon on the internet (like Yolei) qualifies. There could be thousands; "maybe we should form some kind of union." He dispatches the others to reply to the messages (and Joe to order sandwiches), and check if anyone has a digivice. [Their later plans imply: no.] "I've always dreamed of an entire world-wide army of digidestined; and I'm the leader!" They groan.

TRICERAMON (with its tri-horn attack and the hardest shell of any digimon) rampages through the streets of Tomochi. Carrying Wormmon and his laptop, Ken dashes into an alley; he can't digivolve. Ken realizes why -- and AA and MM sneer from atop a billboard on the building across the way -- and in another office the grey-complexioned OIKAWA watches. Suddenly, the spire is "thunderblast!"ed by Raidramon. They both digivolve to champion, but both spiking strike and V-laser are ineffective against Triceramon. (AA wonders where the other kids are; MM's guess is they're on the internet, selling off their trading card collections because the world is ending.) They DNA-digivolve to Paildramon, who gets pushed into an office. "Let me prove my love to you by destroying Paildramon," says MM, leaping from the roof and firing his gun (snake bandage).

Izzy (with Tentomon squatting alongside his PC, and TK, Cody, Yolei, Kari, Tai, Joe, Matt and Gabumon watching) reports that all the digiports have closed; they'll have to open new gates manually with their D3s in each location. Yolei's uncle is a travel agent, "but not a miracle worker." Tai suggests travelling via the digiworld, but Kari points out that only one digiport per area can be open (i.e. they can't establish a travel hub). There's one chance, Izzy announces; he points his laptop and PC screens at each other. A dual-digiport opens, and from it emerges Azulamon's friend -- a young and svelte GENNAI. "A ghost!" Yolei shrieks. "No, I'm not a ghost. Would a ghost look this good to you?" Yolei is smitten: "Forgive me, but you're the most incredible hunk of an incredibly old man I've ever seen," she stammers. He presents the digicore, and warns them "its power is unlike anything you've seen before." They hold up their digivices to the light it emits. "I feel kinda fuzzy..." woozes Gatomon. "You *are* fuzzy," says Patamon from above. "Hey, I feel it too." Upamon and Poromon involuntarily digivolve to rookie.

MM zaps Paildramon, then rakes a floor of windows, dropping debris toward Davis and Ken. A pillar of green-tinged light erupts across the bay, and a tendril hits Paildramon, who "mega-digivolves" to his mega form: the dragon-shaped IMPERIALDRAMON, strongest of all digimon, equipped with a MEGA-CRUSHER attack. He leaps forward and shields the boys from the masonry. "So guys, be honest: how do we look?"

The news appears on Izzy's screen: "I don't believe it. One of the strange monsters had a strange light hit him in a strange way, which changed him into another strange monster. This is all really strange." Gennai explains the mega form, that it's the same light that hit Pata and Gato -- should now be able to go ultimate. [Does he mean right now, or four years ago when they catalyzed the warp-digivolve-birth of Wargreymon and Metalgarurumon?]

"You're gonna need more bandages than that!" Imperialdramon taunts the fleeing MM. He easily grabs Triceramon, and they digiport him away. Not wasting time, he tractor-beams Davis and Ken onto his back, raises a dome-shaped forcefield, and launches. He fires his back-mounted POSITRON LASER; helical violet beams streak off in three directions, destroying the reamining nearby control spires. He dispatches Knightmon in Osaka, then the bear by the castle, then proceeds to Kyushu. Back to Odaiba.

Witnessing, the kids are all impressed, but Gennai warns that the task is too big for them alone. Cody asks; he's been attending to unfinished business; four years ago the entire world witnessed the digi-sky, and the final battle with Apocalypomon, and he's been secretly erasing the data collected by scientists and miliray to keep the digiworld hidden (it mustn't become a vacation destination "soon there would be digimon singing calypso and serving froufrou drinks"). He describes six command posts, where his allies are gathering the other digidestined. At his gesture, Izzy's PC displays a map: New York, Hong Kong, Moscow, Mexico City, Sydney, Paris. Kari sees Imperialdramon landing at the nearby park; he'll convey them to each location, so their D3s can open the digiports.

At the park, Davis extols the virtues of flying on Imperialdramon, but asks for a movie and headphones; Gennai tells them he's too fast for that to be needed. He wishes them luck and beams out. Izzy's mom shows up with a package of rice balls; she knew he'd be leaving when she saw the news reports. Matt's dad (in a blue jacket reading "press") drives up, but his cameraman gets only static. They launch. Imperialdramon addresses them: "Before you face the biggest test of your lives, there's important information you need to know. You're free to move about my cabin... should we lose pressure during the flight, don't panic; it's probably just something I ate."

Watching them leave, MM comments: "Well, there go all our plans for destroying the world. I think my biorhythms are really off today." AA ignores him to answer her celphone; they have new orders. While the kids are away, Japan is defenseless...

240 Digimon World Tour, pt.1

Location: Earth orbit, the Space Shuttle: the astronauts watch the newswire, with reports of monsters acros the world. They see a light rushing across the continents at multimach, and report to NASA. [Eror: the shuttle's payload bar doors, and the radiators they contain, are closed. These radiators are essential to dump heat acquired during launch and the sun-side of each orbit.]

The light is IMPERIALDRAMON, zapping CONTROL SPIRES as he drops the kids off in pairs at each rallying point: TK and TAI in Paris, France. KARI and IZZY on a red double-decker bus in Hong Kong. ("You can get great bargains here. No wonder the Chinese wanted it so bad!" comments Tentomon.) JOE and CODY in Sydney, Austrailia ("Why do they call this place Down Under?" asks Cody). YOLEI and SORA shivering in a Moscow blizzard.

Imperialdramon zaps the Alcatraz spire as he passes east, over a dessert, then to Miami (night). A group of locals are scrutinizing one of the obelisks, set just offshore. "Oh great, we finally got a lighthouse," one comments. "Only problem is, they forgot to put a light in it." It suddenly explodes in a spray of light, and they duck back; they run at the sight of the monster responsible. Imperialdramon sets down, letting off MATT, KEN, and DAVIS, and reverts (disappointed) to VEEMON. MICHAEL, Mimi's friend from NYC, runs up and quickly briefs them. Matt and Ken will copter to Mexico, while he and Davis will take "the red-eye" to NYC. They head to the airport and board a Gulfstream private jet. Davis steps into the cockpit and stops short: the square-jawed blond man at the controls is one of his favorite movie stars -- and also Michael's dad. (Davis is slightly miffed he never mentioned that family detail.) They launch with great alacrity, pressed back into their seats.

Location: Niagara Falls. The army warily observes a giant monster (orange back-horn navel-bandage) sitting in the falls. "Look at 'im, scared out of his mind, waiting for us to attack." A flying skull-helmeted winged serpent appears in the sky -- and there's a kid on it. He seems to be addressing the monster, which follows him away. A subordinate arrives with reports that monsters from all over the country are heading for NYC. "If those monsters think the Army is tough," says the CO, "wait till they get a load o' New York!"

Location: New York City, an evacuation-clogged bridge: from a portable TV set on the dash of MIMI'S PARENTS' car, a commentator speculates that NYC is the ancestral breeding ground of these monsters, and they're returning like salmon. Mimi's mom cites the incident at Odaiba four years ago, and hopes they won't have to move again; her dad doesn't want to change jobs again. They turn to the back seat -- and she's gone. There's a note (in pink ink).

MIMI and PALMON stand on a deserted street alongside Central Park, waving lightsticks to create an impromptu landing strip (dozens line the street). Later, while conferencing, Mimi's D-terminal shows four blips approaching; Michael's dad munches excitedly on rice balls. Gennai shows up -- no, his name is BENJAMIN. He and Gennai were once one and the same, he explains. "Every time I turn around, there's more Gennais and more digidestineds. I'm out of the loop," Davis complains, and irritably asks Michael if he hangs out with any others. He knows the others who got their digivices at the same time he did.

(TYRANNOMON (r t-rex), black trex, MONZAEMON (y teddybear),several BAKEMON (ghosts), 3flyers, flying SUKAMON (blob Mimi punched), etc)

Out in the streets, four NorthAm digidestined are herding errant digimon. CHERRYMON (tree) attacks a christmas tree (when it automatically lights up) outside Rockefeller Center, and tosses (flame-helmet man) aside. PHIL calls for help.

Mimi receives the call, and Davis runs off; Michael reminds him he doesn't know where R.C. *is*. Benjamin comes along, in case they need power from Azulonmon's digicore. He holds out his hands, and the glow catalyzes changes: Veemon, Palmon and Michael's BETAMON digivolve to EXVEEMON, LILYMON and SEADRAMON. All three fly out.

On the bridge, two policemen stand outside their cars, guarding the return to the city, discussing donuts. Suddenly a red compact appears and drives headlong past them; it's Mimi's parents, frantic.

Cherrymon climbs the RCA tower, and knocks (flame man) off, then three VEGGIEMON. Lilymon wraps him with her pink FLOWER WREATH, but he easily breaks the bond. Exveemon sneaks up behind and kicks him off; he falls onto the icerink. "Is that what you meant by putting him on ice, Davis?" Undeterred he pelts them with fruit (PIT PELTER) and vines. MARIA on her CENTAURMON (sonar ray?), LOU and (pointy yellow, STONE TEMPEST), STEVEN and his FRIGIMON (SUBZERO ICE PUNCH) all react. A concerted attack ((flame-helmet guy) BLAZE BLASTER, Seadramon's ICE BLAST, Lilymon's FLOWER CANNON, and Exveemon's V-LASER) finally subdue him.

Cherrymon is carried on (pointy).

Mimi's parents stop at a corner with an Yves Saint Laurent store and spot "that fairy-looking thing [that] almost took Mimi from us once before" flying overhead. They follow her.

The digimon are assembled, and exit via a laptop-digiport. Mimi's parents rush up, her mom sobs, embracing her tightly. "Were you warm enough, did you have enough to eat?" Her dad demands: where are the monsters, what happened? "Well, there's a simple explanation," Davis (as default leader) stammers. "Uh, anybody got one?" He thinks desperately. "What monsters?" he concludes. "When in doubt; deny deny deny," he ponders. "Who says I'm so dumb?"

Location: Hong Kong: standing his ground amid the fleeing mob, an OLD MAN attacks an icecicle-weilding MOJYAMON (yeti) with a strip of paper, a Shinto ward. "Evil spirit, begone!" It sticks to its nose; an exhalation blows it off. "No need to get snotty!" Three boys (THE POI BROTHERS) dash into the street, each accompanied by a scallop-shaped digimon (Shagumon?), which change to OCTOMON. They subdue the Mojyamon with SPURTING INK and are ready to finish it off with their swords when ANGEWOMON and MEGAKABUTERIMON (carrying KARI and IZZY) land and stop them: he's not evil.

They tell the brothers they're digidestined. What? "You're a part of a fraternal society--" Izzy begins. Megakabuterimon interrupts: "How many times do I have to tell you: when explaining things, keep it simple!" "Oh yeah. Uh, lemme start over. You're digivice-carrying titans destined to save the Digital World. Simple. Still don't get it? Well, I could explain better if I had visual aids to work with, but I left my charts and graphs at home." He gets shrill. "How am I supposed to function under these primitive conditions!?"

The local Gennai-clone (JACKY) explains more concisely: the monsters aren't evil, just far from home, scared and confused. Izzy introduces himself, Kari and Jacky (who strikes a pose), and the boys return the courtesy. The digimon are being herded to KOOLONG PARK. Huddling, the brothers agree to join (so they can ask Kari out on a date).

Other digidestined are out in the swamps, arriving from all over Asia. In the park, Jacky practices /tai chi/ with the Poi brothers' grandfather. Izzy gets an email from MINA in India: trouble on the China-India border! One of the brothers (red pants) will accompany Izzy and Kari.

In the mountains, Mina and her MERAMON (flame-man) (and their collected refugees) stand facing a detachment of the Chinese army. If they cross the border, it could trigger a war. The three arrive. Megakabuterimon and Angewomon offer to hold off the army, but Izzy thinks this needs diplomacy. Kari doesn't want to do it; Angewomon would, but they'd attack if she approaches.

Through binoculars, the army sees an octopus-monster approaching. "Looks like one of them's got a blowdryer. If it's a fight they want, they've got it!" It draws four Chinese characters on a rock face: "we come in peace". "Sergeant, I think we've landed in the middle of a B-movie," says the general. He orders his men to stand in patterns to spell a response, permitting clear passage. The digimon file through. In response to his subordinate's misgivings, the general replies: "We're all part of the same army when it comes to saving the world."

In Hong Kong, they digiport out. The Poi brothers argue over Kari.

Location: Japan, day: In a playground, one small boy sits alone on a swingset, apart from the other kids. In the next swing sits MUMMYMON, humming to himself. "Hi, mister," says the boy. "I guess you're all alone too. Do you want to be friends?"

241 Digimon World Tour, pt.2

Location: Australian Beach, near the Great Barrier Reef, day: CODY and JOE consider the CONTROL SPIRE emerging from the beach. While IKKAKUMON and DIGMON attack it with their HARPOON TORPEDO and ROCK-CRACKIN' attacks, Joe complains about the southern hemisphere heat: "On Christmas you're supposed to wear sweaters, not sunscreen." They note that none of the beachgoers seem concerned about the black obelisks; they must think they're shark-watching lifeguard towers. "Laid-back and easygoing," diagnoses Joe. "It's sort of how I was before I decided to go into medicine."

They attach three lines to the spire's apex. "Cody and I will do the heave, you guys do the ho," directs Joe. "And heave!" "Go!" says Ikkakumon. "I didn't say go, I said ho." "Joe?" "No, *ho*! Ho, ho, ho!" A portly white-bearded man in red-and-white striped old-fashioned bathing costume hears that and approaches; it's Santa Claus, and he was just about to deliver presents on his jet ski. (With much effort, the spire finally falls. Digmon reverts to ARMADILLOMON.) Santa pulls off his mask, and it's -- Gennai? No (he tells the bemused kids with an Australian accent), he's HOGAN. (And now he's thin again.) He informs them the other Australian digidestined are leading the digimon to the GBR.

They hear a cry of help from a sailboarder offshore being chased by -- a shark? Wait, there's a digimon perched on the board, and the pursuers are three aquatic digimon: GESSOMON (squid), SHELLMON (dino-snail), and AMBIDROMON (lobster). ("Sounds like the special at a revolving sushi bar," says Cody.) The board is knocked into the air, but its rider performs a perfect flip and landing, and slides ashore. He introduces himself as DEREK and his partner as CRABMON ("If you need help, call me in a pinch" for his SCISSORS ATTACK).

Ikkakumon confronts the three digimon, holding them at bay with a glare and threats. He's hungry, and is thinking of pizza with three toppings. Armadillomon and Crabmon join in: triple dip digimon rice pilaf, and jambalaya. The imagery is too intense for Gessomon et al and they leave. Ikkakumon (with the other two riding) pursues, followed by Hogan et al in a zodiak. Joe looks a bit green: "I'm feeling a bit seasick," he explains. "Fortunately it only happens when I'm around water."

They approach the GBR and the last spire, perched on a small island, and they call Ikkakumon off. Out of the beach pops SCORPIOMON (anomalocaris), who easily deflects Crabmon's attacks (and bristles at being called "arachnid"). He's too strong, so Ikkakumon digivolves to ZUDOMON; even so, Scorpiomon's TAIL BLADE attack (mandible-launched) is punishing. The combat is devastating the coral, so Joe orders Zudomon underwater; he drags his opponent with him; Armadillomon digivoles to SUBMARIMON, and Crabmon to COELAMON (coelacanth) to assist. A series of OXYGEN TORPEDOES and taunts lead him away. A concerted attack of hammer and torpedoes finally disable Scorpiomon, and he drifts belly-up to the surface. They prepare to demolish the spire, but a single FOSSIL BITE salvo from Coelamon disintegrates it.

They look up as a series of digimon approach, driven by a catamaran ferry carrying five more digidestined. Izzy prepares to open a laptop-digiport, while a curious Joe asks Derek: why is it called "down under?" "It's not *under* anything."

Location: Paris, France, night: T.K., PATAMON, TAI, AGUMON. TK is impressed by the lights on the Eiffel Tower, and Tai would love to visit the Arc de Triomphe, but he's freezing. Where's TK's grandfather MICHEL, anyway? "If my grandfather says he's gonna do something, well, eight times out of ten, he's gonna do it." He's essential; they don't know Paris, or French. A WWII-vintage motorcycle with sidecar approaches, driven by a tall, blond-bearded man in riding goggles. He cheerfully greets TK, and insists he must (as whenever he visits) sing "Frere Jacques". He waves aside their objections: "danger or no danger, there's always time for singing." He apologizes for Grandma's absence; she's finishing the kitchen plumbing -- and she always insists on driving.

They proceed through the dark, vacant streets, TK seated behind his grandfather, the other three in the sidecar. "This wasn't how I was planning on spending my Christmas Eve," Michel upbeat-complains. "If all goes well," TK assures him, "when we wake up tomorrow, it'll all be like this never happened." "Not at my house," Grampa replies. "Grandma's putting on a new roof tomorrow."

"Hang on tight," Michel warns them, "she adjusted the brakes last week," and they stop by the gate to the VERSAILLES PALACE. He's upset: the gate is open, the palace is lit, but there are no guards. Agumon irreverently suggests "it's probably one of those secret celebrity weddings," and Michel bites his head off. "It is my responsibility as a Frenchman to investigate... the most important this to [us] is a good bakery, and the second is Versailles Palace. Viva la France!" he salutes and runs off. "What do I tell Grandma?" TK calls after. Ha! If she knew, she'd have a head on a platter; who do they call when the fence needs fixing? "Let's call my grampa, he can help us, he's an easy-going guy," grumbles Tai. They follow him onto the grounds.

Inside a rose-painted hall, at a white-linen table, they spy four digimon pigging out: MAMEMON (small sphere, SMOKE BOMB attack), BIGMAMEMON (big sphere, boxer gloves, BIG SMOKE (smirk? spurt?) BOMB attack), and METALMAMEMON (cyborg type, METAL SMOKE BOMBS). "It's one thing to attack the world, but to invade Versailles Palace!" snarles the offended Michel. The humans turn to leave, when Agumon and Patamon notice something at the far end of the table: an attractive blonde girl, tied to a chair (this gets the boys' attention), and a female plant-type digimon (this gets their attention).

Grampa walks to the Mamemon brothers and brazenly announces they're under citizen's arrest, then bows to the girl. Hovering above the table, Mamemon hits them with pies. Agumon and Patamon digivolve to GREYMON and ANGEMON and follow the spheres out the side of the building. Bigmamemon punches Greymon's nose, and gets knocked into the river; Angemon dodges smoke bombs, then a metal smoke bomb (it explodes over the palace in a crimson starburst Michel mistakes for fireworks).

Grampa watches the fight, then shoves the eager boys aside from CATHERINE. They shove back, and ask how she was captured. She explains: no-one was about, and she and FLORAMON were ready to destroy the control spire in the Seine River (RAIN OF POLLEN), but were captured by GIROMON (sphere) and his SPINNING MINE attack.

Outside, this fourth digimon arrives and attacks Angemon with his chainsaw. The ultimates gang up on Greymon, so the three digivolve further: WARGREYMON, MAGNAANGEMON, and KIWIMON (PUMMEL PECK attack). The four spheres are driven off, and the two flyers pursue (Magnaangemon carries Kiwimon). The humans ride after (Catherine behind Michel, the boys in the sidecar). "Catherine, if you get scared, grab onto me," offers Tai chivilarously. "Actually, I'm closer, so grab me," counters TK.

At the Seine, Metalgreymon's GIGABLASTER knocks all four into the water. A single slice by Magnaangemon disintegrates it.

The other four French digidestined arrive. TK and Tai simultaneously kiss Catherine on opposite cheeks. "Gentlemen, let me show the proper way," says Grampa, who kneels and kisses her hand. Floramon blows a kiss to a very-flattered Agumon and Patamon, who return the gesture.

Location, Japan, day: Three classmates part ways, two expressing their regret over the third's cough; she's wearing a surgical mask across his mouth and nose. This kid turns, and sees ARUKENIMON standing at the corner, holding a pinwheel. "There's something scary about that lady, but somehow it seems like she understands me," the kid thinks, and follows her into an alley.

242 Digimon World Tour, pt.3

1

Night, apt bldgs, palm trees, water. People on apt balconies watch, Sting passes heading for obelisk. Garuru howling blaster, then spiking strike. Fall, poof. Ken rpt to Matt: renegade digimon hiding in the mayan ruins. better get there before demolish. Copter, forest. Matt: where are the mexican digi? curfew. Guards around pyramid. Try to fool the guards (then worm and gabu can sneak past) but shoo: you punks just want to tag the ruins. Must be another way in. Bushes, find yet more guards. Behind them, surprised by Jose, Gennai's Mexican counterpart. He runs up to 6 guards, does moves (incl handstands) with hai-ya sound effects. "Does he expect money?" worm asks. Incorporates some point! and they take cue.

2

Inside the pyramid dark. W startled by mask on wall. Makes excuse, comes back with headband with candles. "Sometimes I'm so smart, I scare myself." "Sometimes you scare me, too, but I think it's for another reason," says G. Proceed. Frightened by a GATSUMON side corridor. Then girl. ROSA. "Buenas noches. You're real cute. Now I'm real glad I sneaked out of the house to help you." (to k). Seems kinda young, K thinks to M. Eyes sparkle and blushes. Takes K's hand, W possessive. "You're a rude little girl!" "Calm down guys, no need for an international incident here. There's enough of Ken to go around" M placates. w shoves past R. R calls w "fishbait" in spanish. "she could at least insult me in a language I understand" Run into J. R hangs onto K, asks if has girlfriend. Door, Glowing eyes - minotauromon and dokugomon, huffing. Have to get outside -- can't fight here in valuable archeo. M and G lead D and M out. (M has to crawl) R trips, cries out, and K piggybacks her out. W trips, tries to leap -- bumps into gatsu. Exit in seq. M starts pounding stones. K again advises him to be careful of the Maya ruins. Pushes M into forest. D and M start knocking over trees, ignoring M and gabu. Goes to WGG. Rosa invokes Gotsumon->Monochromon, who blocks doku when jumps at. Digiport laptop (a blue Pineapple) them out. R falls asleep on K, and mumbles "Stingmon, you're the greatest" in sp. K translates, and W blushes. Leave her on doorstep (while Gotsu hides, and K/w another corner)

Moscow, snow, spire: sky full of FLYMON.

3

In square, Y and S meet locals, their D behind. ANNA, SONYA, and YURI. They Y hug, rus-style, each intro. Spend minutes just repeating each others' names and grinning silly. "This is hopeless! Why didn't the others have this problem!" Y finally yells. "We're just lucky, I guess" says H. Both sides thinking this is a disaster -- where's Gennai's friend -- "the one with the purple hair is kind of cute" thinks Yuri. Y doesn't have Plan B. Brainstorm: Flymon, and all 5 d can fly. She waves arms, and pantomimes attack. "It's just like charades," Biyomon. "But in a different language" Hawk. 3 seem puzzled. The only ru Sora knows is "perushki" and "borscht". Y gets it: perushki fly to left, borscht right, and caviar is attack (mimes each). The 5 d are supportive. Launch. "Digimon Airforce, full speed ahead!" Y orders. Fly fire stings. (peg ethereal attack, g twin sickles, o scissor claw), blast rings (beak), phoenix claw. Knock all into river (barely evade a gold church onion dome). They continue mult waves. wingblade lops top off spire, then grand horn zaps it. Digiport them out (Yuri's p laptop). Land and congrat each other. All famished. Hawk asks: what *is* borscht? Y and S start drooling. "Oh please tell me it's lunchtime" Y. "Or dinner or breakfast, I don't care" S. G finally arrives "I apologize for being late; my lunch ran long." I'm Ilya. Desperately needed in Siberia -- aih!

4

Mil: general to techs. every time find something promising, file vanishes. "And to all, a good night," says Ilya, closing laptop.

Montage, jingle bells, Imp.

Jp, boy on bridge, truck. AA. "Are you ready to be a hero?" Truck drives off. AA and MM, driving. "This is your most delicious plan yet, my diabolical darlign!"

243 Invasion of the Daemon Corps

1

They've all arrived back in Tokyo, and congratulate themselves -- though they don't think AA should've been beaten that easily. Yolei regrets she didn't get a souvenir from Russia. Davis thinks he's good enough for TV. Tai agrees, "so we could press the mute button." Ken says goodnight and heads off; Davis always forgets he lives on the other side of the river. [Finally, the translators mention where Odaiba is for the geographically-impaired.]

2

TK gets home, and apologizes that he was away so long without calling. His mom says she's been watching the news coverage of the monsters; was he involved? Yes. She mentions the "very strange fellow" at lunch, the same man who three years ago inquired about the Highton View Terrace incident. TK's suddenly alarmed. "Was this man a human being?" Nancy is shocked by the question, and he laughs it off. /No way it coulda been Mummymon,/ he thinks.

Davis gets home and trades insults with sister June. "Those goggles are numbing your brain," she says as he enters his room. She looks at the torn ticket on the coffee table; she can't believe *he* [Matt?] went out with that *other* girl.

Ken gets home, says he was hanging out with friends, apologizes for worrying his mom. (Outside, Wormmon crawls up the building.) She has tuna casserole, but he's too preoccupied to eat now. He opens his balcony door to get Wormmon (who asks why he couldn't take the elevator). Suddenly Ken starts: what did he just see?

Cody and his grandfather bow before a shrine. Cody asks why his father died [and we see the photo above it]. Cody knows this, but Grampa explains again: he was a respected policeman, and died protecting an important government official. Cody's been thinking lately about how he sacrified himself.

At home, Yolei compliments the home cooking. She's sent downstairs to the store to call up Dad for dinner. She stops on the sidewalk and stretches, luxuriating: it's so peaceful here.

At the Tamiya apartment, Tai asks Kari: do any of the new kids know what you're up against? Are they ready? [He refers to "killing" digimon. They always come back as digieggs, but still...] Sure, you've destroyed some Dark Rings and some control spire digimon, but can they make the tough decisions? "Soon you'll have to fight real digimon, and you're gonna have to win or innocent people will get hurt."

Tomorrow is Saturday. Ken says goodnight and settles under the covers. He wonders again about that glimpse of shadow. He dreams: in a desert, a dark monster falls to the sand. Ken turns to another boy, and suddenly tiny black barb flies over and buries itself in his neck. He wakes up, sweating, and asks Wormmon: did we travel to the Digiworld desert two years ago? Did I hurt my neck? Yes; Wormmon took care of him during the three weeks he took to heal. Ken is concerned about this amnesia: his memory is fuzzy, as though something is interrupting it.

Two shadowy digimon perch on a nearby rooftop, watching. One tells the other to be patient. They leap away, to report they've pinpointed his location.

Davis and June are watching the news. There's an update on the strange disappearance of all the monsters; then, reports that scores of children are missing from all over the city. The other digidestined have seen the same report and start phoning. Ken shakes with rage, and wonders: why does he feel like he *knew* this was coming?

At the riverfront, a crowd of well-wishers wave /bon voyage/ as a pair of newlyweds depart on a small cruiseliner. They scream as a black monster surfaces from the bay and towers over them. Matt's dad runs to the parapet and stares at it.

3

The digimon threatening the liner is MARINEDEVIMON, an ocean-type with a DARK DELUGE attack of poisonous ink. Davis gets a D-term email from Matt. Bats fly into an auto tunnel, causing a pileup. A second digimon watches from her perch atop a nearby lamppost: LADYDEVIMON, fallen angel-type; her DARKNESS WAVE ATTACK turns an opponent's power into exploding dark energy. (His bandana-wearing tech runs over to Dad, and reports this second monster, on the east side. "Get a camera over there!" he orders.) It's SKULLSATAMON, a ghost-type with NAIL BONE ATTACK. (In the van, the tech gets a report of this third monster, to the north. Dad pulls a celphone. "If only I could be in two places at once" he thinks.)

Cody and TK run to the waterfront, and invoke Submarimon and Angemon. Hand of Fate and submerged ramming are ineffective against MD, who then reels from a Harpoon Torpedo fired by Ikkakumon, who then evolves to Zudomon; Vulcan's Hammer and some wrestling are almost effective. Joe runs up to join the other two. TK cheers on Angemon, but Joe reminds them about the liner passengers. The ship docks safely and they disembark, screaming.

Aquilamon and Angewoman square off against LD, who fires EVIL WING(D?) at Aquila. Then she pulls Angewomon's hair, and they hiss at each other. Birdramon and Garurumon arrive, but she teleports out. [And then Weregarurumon's standing there; looks like some combat was cut.]

"So did some dog chew on you?" Davis taunts Skullsatamon. "We have a verdict: you're ugly!" adds Ken. Paildramon, Megakabuterimon and Metalgreymon surround him at a low-rise intersection, but he's too fast: he bounces from building to lamppost to digimon, easily knocking them over. Izzy declares he has "excited molecules". Davis realizes he's not at all like prior AA's digimon; Ken wonders, is it possible he's not working with her?

Perched on a nearby train, AA and MM watch SS "make a scene". "When can *we* make a scene instead of just sitting here?" he complains. She shushes him; this could work out better than they expected.

Ken voices that SS is too strong to be a control spire digimon, and too evil to be controlled by a dark ring. They invoke Imperialdramon, but SS easily paralyzes him with his Nailbone attack. His data has been frozen, diagnoses Izzy. The others all arrive [somewhere along the way, Magnaangemon was invoked] and Ken warns them that SS is different. Despite the warning he quickly dispatches all of them; the original five revert to Rookie. (Out of play for a moment, Agumon guesses they still have some of Azulonmon's power.) They regroup, but where'd SS go? He appears down a side street, lofting a kid-filled schoolbus [apparently Japan has school on Saturdays] above him. Aquilamon, Angewomon, Magnaangemon, Ankylamon and Imperialdramon stand there. "Need to catch a bus? Or maybe I should just drop the subject!"

4

They plead with Imperialdra to wake. Izzy figures the five de-digivolved because they've never been in the real world this long, and opens a laptop digiport for them to return. Instead, they donate remaining (Azulon?) energy to Imperialdra (then leave -- "don't forget to write!"), followed by the other four (who revert to rookie). Skullsata watches. Imp's eyes glow, then "mode change! Fighter mode!" IMPERIALDRAMON FIGHTER MODE moves on two legs and his power is tripled. "This should be cataclysmic," says Gato. "Big deal. So he changed his costume!" scoffs Skullsata. Imp positron-laser-zaps Skullsata, who disintegrates, and leaps forward to catch the falling bus. "Tai, the time you were talking about has come," says Kari sadly.

Out of a purple smoking circle in the street rises a new figure: red-cloaked, horned, leathery wings: DAEMON. "You did well, digidestined," he congratulates, and insists Ken come with him. "There is a dark spore buried deep in your body. I must have it--" Ken remembers his neck in the desert. "--unless you want all your friends to suffer greatly." Suddenly a truck drives between the two groups; MM driving. AA leaps off the rear bumper. "Who are you?" the cloaked figure demands of the interloper. "I don't really think you need to know," she answers impudently. She demands Ken come with *her* instead -- and opens the truck to show a dozen grinning kids. Ken surges forward; he *knew* she was the kidnapper. "I was doing them a favor," she sneers. "When they knew they were going to meet the great Ken Ichijougi, they came of their own free will." He steps forward to the truck, despite the others calling for him to stop. "I can handle this," he says, chin up. Daemon growls at her nerve; "I'll have to teach her a serious lesson," he says, sinking out of sight. Davis, Vee and Worm run after the truck.

244 Dark Sun, Dark Seed

1

Sprinting after the truck carrying Ken, Davis falls. "I knew I shoulda done those extra laps in PE," he pants ruefully. Joe Kido's brother Jim drives up in a yellow VW New Beetle, already carrying the other kids. Davis and the two digimon pile in.

In the truck, Ken is shouting at Arukenimon. "We made a deal, but you double-crossed me!" he accuses; the kids are still captive. "Sorry, it's a bad habit of mine," she sneers. She turns to the hostages. "Do you little twerps -- I mean kiddies -- want to go home?" No. One boy steps forward to Ken; how much I admire you, want to be like you -- and then I met a man who said I could be. Oikawa rises from behind the crowd, and is mock-insulted Ken doesn't remember him. They were introduced at Sam's funeral -- remember? Ken thinks back, to his role holding the black-ribboned portrait, to the crowed of mourners -- and a leer towering over them. "I've seen your face!" he realizes.

2

The truck shakes, and Oikawa snarls at the distraction, kicking at the wall dividing them from the cab. "Egad, I'm blind as a bat!" cries Mummymon; the truck is surrounded by an opaque flock of Ladydevi's bats. They disperse.

Gatomon asks Jim to stop the car, and gets out. She's embarrassed to ask, but doesn't have the energy to beat Ladydevi alone, and asks for a boost from Hawkmon. He and the girls get out, the VW leaves, and the digivolve to Silphymon, who flies off.

OIKAWA YUKIO continues to gloat/explain to Ken; he had a working relationship with Mr.Ichijouji. Ken realizes it was *he* who sent the mysterious email about Sam's digivice. "I was very concerned about you, and thought it would be comforting." Oikawa and Arukenimon watch the battle between Silphy and Ladydevi. "Enough games!"

In the VW, the attempt to deduce the connection between the two groups. "Hot dog! It's like a movie car chase!" cheers Davis as Sam weaves amid the traffic. "I don't think this is what my dad had in mind when he loaned me his car," the driver worries. The truck crashes through a train crossing gate, and Sam skids to a stop just as the passenger train goes through. The digimon vibrate impatiently for it to pass, while Cody advocates calm. Then a second train passes. And a third. Now, the entire car is shaking with frustration.

The truck has parked. In the cab, Arukeni is plotting with Mummy. "As soon as he gets what we want, we're out of here, got it?"

In back, Ken is on his knees, hands tied behind his back. "Ever since I first saw you," Oikawa explains, "I knew you had something special, a dark spirit deep inside." He contrived to plant the DARK SPORE within him, where it found fertile ground. It's a remarkable device; makes a person smarter and better at sports. The kids (he explains) are excited by its possibilities. Holding up a device, he's going to borrow some of it to implant in the others. Ken won't feel a thing -- it's just data. "Just pretend you're a box of cereal and I'm scanning your barcode," he says, holding the wand to his neck. /Where's Davis? Wormmon?/ Ken despairs.

3

Night has fallen. Bystanders watch as a tower falls, and bright streaks repeatedly approach and spring apart in the sky. Ladydevi and Silphy are still fighting. Silphy fires her ----LASER attack.

Ken awakes, and sees Oikawa implanting each kid's neck in turn. Can't they see they're being tricked? he thinks. /You don't want to be like me!/

Up front: "I think I hear something," says MM to AA. Daemon? "The stars are gossiping to each other. They're saying they know a cute couple of digimon who will make beautiful music togther." Ugh, cute? she gags. "You don't like cute, you don't like stars; would you like a puppy?" Black tentacles squirm past.

From a roller coaster, people see a black creature towering over the buildings -- Marinedevi.

A policeman stops the Bug as people run the other way. They see the truck going the other way, then Marinedevi appears. Davis gets out, invokes Raidra, and pulls Worm aboard to follow the truck. "Let's make salmon patties out of that big oaf!" TK challenges. Cody isn't so sure about destroying him -- then sees him smash a building, a car, and topple utility towers. He gains determination and agrees, and they invoke Shakkuo.

Kari and Yolei join the crowed on the observation deck of a skyscraper. Kari peers out: they're still fighting, but she can't tell who's winning. Ladydevi hits Silphy with bats, and s/he falls. "What's the matter, got bats in your belfrey?"

"We don't want to hurt you," offers Shakkuo, before kachina-bombing MD's neck. MD's cheecks bulge, and he spits black-yellow fire, knocking Shakkuo back. The VW drives closer.

Silphy falls, blasting a crater in the pavement. A couple of teen boys step forward to help him/her. "He must've come from a costume party," they guess. Ladydevi lands nearby. "Wow! I bet she was at thec ostume party too, and won first prize." Silphy warns them she's dangerous. "No way! She's too pretty!", says one boy, whom she promptly grabs as a shield.

Galloping after the van, Davis explains: he has an idea they're heading for Highton View Terrace, where the others first saw a digimon. They say it's an entry to the digital world.

In the truck, Oikawa says that it's too cheery a name for such a place; "Darkview Terrace" would be more appropriate. Ken doesn't appreciate the humor; he must think he's a superior human being. "The face of disdain," Oikawa turns to the kids. "Look how he turns his nose up at us... this is an example of how your exalted hero gives the cold shoulder to those less worthy than himself." They look on, apt pupils.

LD zaps Silphy, who falls. Enraged, Yolei runs up from behind, unnoticed, and whacks her hip with a skateboard; using an innocent as a shield is fighting dirty. "Coward!" she accuses. "You humans are so pathetic, with your honor and your compassion!" LD sneers. She draws her claws and lunges--

4

"You asked for it!" howls LD, who suddenly stops, inches from Yolei's face; then pop! she disintegrates. "You have to understand, I didn't have a choice. You were in great danger!" explains Silphy, lowering his/her hands. Yolei is shocked; LD is *destroyed*. Kari steps over to comfort her. "It was the right think to do. You saved that guy's life."

The MD-Shakkuo battle nears a hospital, and the kids start moving the patients out. Carrying a wheelchair down the stairs, Sam jokes that he gave up a medical career -- and now see where he is! Cody thinks back to his father's service. Outside, Shakkuo fires ----NESS BEAM! and MD goes poof. "He's completely gone. You destroyed a digimon. You really destroyed him," says Cody, shocked. (TK takes it in stride.) The girl in the wheelchair waves goodbye, thanking them. /It seemed like the right thing to do at the time, Dad, but I don't know./

Raidramon has caught up with the van, and leaps to its roof. MM swerves wildly, trying to throw him loose. "You are completely useless," AA scowls at him, but he's too busy to take offense; Daemon has appeared in the road ahead.

245 The Dark Gate

1

Daemon wings, force beams, Evil Inferno. Davis Great Aunt Margo. O prof not to know what dark spore is. TK gets D-term em from D, and Jim chg direc. "I don't want to kill another digimon" -C. Guys same will try not to. Y etc on Aquila fly to HVT, K gets em from D.

D gets impatient, "I'm consistently amazed by what fools these digimon are" he thinks; K expendable. Snaps fingers and AA takes K out. Leap from top of truck, Vheadbutt, stickynet. W bits thru bonds. Exvee, Sting. Zaps them. D says K run - won't until save others. Daemon notices them, O tries to sic AA and MM on -- knocks back. Take op to dnad. Desp-blast DD, who's smoke clears simply grows taller.

2

Stomps/hovers twds them. STunned by kachina bomb. turns "You expect an overgrown vacuum cleaner to defeat me?" "I beg your pardon?" "Is there something yoyu'd like to do now that my back isn't turned" TK and Cody warn to keep focused. Astral laser. S hovers by his shoulder. He evil-inferno, and P->I to block it. Tongues knock back S and S. S absorbs into waist, while I lunge against DD, posi-laser. Flies past S, who spins head, Justice beam. Sil static force. All 3 beams asingst him. Smoke clrs and still undeterred. All 6 discouraged.

Six ocloock news, monster sightings in Ginza and Takashima. "Obviously there are some crazy people out there, but we still urge you to stay indoors". K mom worried, and dad smart kids: probably miles away. Probably stuck in traffic. Mom won't be able to handle if gone again. In fact, worried sick too. "In health news, they've found a cure for the monkey flu"

DD asks K to come. DD aims at apt. I->fighter, blocks with force field. "When you mess with my friends, I take it personally. How about a hot foot?" DD impressed. I calls for help; can't keep this up against his str. Flame brk thru, SS absorb again. Why don't they just give up? Resolute Dv and TK. Cody: too strong one-on-one. Y: latptop in jim's car. DD overhears and opens a gate himself in the sky (how her arrived in the first place)

3

Daemon taunts them: send him back, he'll just return. He again makes his offer/threat to Ken. Yolei drops to her knees in despair; Davis tells her not to give up, but Cody agrees. "Since when have we become a bunch of quitters?" TK: if only the digiworld had a place to hold such a being. Kari, eyes wide: like the Dark Ocean. Y, angrily: how to open a gate to it? Kari admits she was *taken* there; she didn't open a gate herself. Daemon listens to the entire debate, amused. "This is better than the circus. Please, keep coming up with these foolish plans. You're making my stomach hurt," he laughs. "Put a sock in it!" growls Davis.

Ken: he once used his D3 to opena a gate to the Dark Ocean -- a Dark Gate. Possibly he can still tap the dark power within himself. He raises his D3, and behind Daemon (unnoticed by him) the gate turns dark. Ken grunts with the effort, and Kari lends her support, then TK. "Stay strong, Ken," urges Davis. "I know you have a lot of pain and confusion inside of you over the things you did as the Digimon Emperor. But you're not that person anymore, Ken. You thought the Digital World was a game; you didn't realize that you were hurting living creatures, but you've paid for your mistakes. We wouldn't be where we are without your help. You can't keep beating yourself up for all the things you did in the past, Ken." Waves are now visible. Yolei feels him releasing his fear. "If Ken is brave enough to face his demons, then maybe we shouldn't give up so easily," and she and Cody join him. Davis urges concentration. "Don't let fear and guilt rule your life anymore. We're here with you!"

The three DNA-evolveds fire again, pushing Daemon into the gate. "The Dark Ocean. Impressive, my little digidestined. Remind me not to take so lightingly next time," he acknowledges. (Oikawa watches, and can't believe the kids beat him. "Well, call me a fool," he says to himself.) The kids cheer and the six revert to rookies. Ken remembers: where'd Oikawa go?

Oikawa is out of their view, behind the truck. He addresses the implanted kids, tells them to remember this place; one day he will call them back. Police cars appear around the corner. Ken and Davis dash after him, but he hops into a waiting grey hatchback sedan (with AA and MM in front), and drives off.

4

The digidestined watch from behind a hedge as a contingent of police take charge of the kids. Jim suddenly remembers: he has to get *them* home. Their parents must be in a panic, but there's only room for one more. Ken hesitates to ask, but TK gladly gives up his seat. His parents know all about the digimon, and he's close enough to walk home. "Thanks -- buddy," says Ken.

In the car, Kari wonders: won't their parents notice the change? Ken thinks not; they're subtle changes, slow at first.

The 10:00 news reports the case of the missing kids. Mrs.Ichijouji sobs; Ken still isn't home. His dad is about to call the police, when the doorbell rings: it's their errant son. She embraces him, cries; was worried sick. "I didn't mean to make you worry," he emotes. "I think you have a lot of explainingg to do, young man," says his father, trying to be stern. Ken apologizes.

One at a time, Jim drops the others home -- Yolei, Cody, Kari (Tai nervous-laughs at their mom), and Davis. "...and by the time we fixed the flat tire, it was way past Davis' curfew," Jim covers. June develops an instant crush on him, and asks Davis if he has a girlfriend. What about Matt? asks her shocked brother. "Matt's history," she says, thinking of Sora at the concert, "but now I'm a brand new woman [...] I need someone more mature. Mrs.June Kido," she says, flouncing off happily. "I like the way that sounds."

Ken explains to his parents, and introduces them to Wormmon.

The police return the kidnapped kids to their parents. No one notices the small barcodes on their necks.

Oikawa sits back in the car as the evil trio exit the city. "Excellent. With the spores implanted, we just have to wait for them to bloom," he gloats. "Soon I will be powerful enough to destroy the Digidestined -- and take my rightful place as the ruler of the Digital World."

246 Duel of the WarGreymon

1

In his office, MR.ICHIJOUJI (Ken's dad) assures someone over the phone that they're busy organizing before the holidays. He pulls a folder marked "1999" from his desk. Later, he shows its contents to the six kids: a department photo featuring OIKAWA. He remembers the guy now; he was at work until just a few days ago. He lets them keep the picture, and asks them not to do anything dangerous -- but suspects they'll have to.

Walking down the street, the kids wonder: if Oikawa's a human, how can he control MM and AA?

The evil trio have retreated to a resort cabin on the slopes of Mt.Fuji. Oikawa watches a debate on the TV news. The first speaker: "this is a classic case of mass hallucination--". The second interrupts: "Buildings have been destroyed! It's obviously a government conspiracy to cover up a UFO crash!" The first hurriedly agrees the *destruction* is real, but argues it was a *hallucination* to believe monsters did it. "The government got to you too, didn't it?" the second asks suspiciously. Oikawa comments to AA, sitting next to him: given this, think of the commotion when the dark spores bloom.

In Tokyo, one of the kidnap victims has finished his homework for the whole winter break, to the surprise/amazement/delight of his parents. The dad points out that the press is sure to return and ask more about the kidnapping; they could get further attention by playing up how *smart* their son is. The mom follows the fantasy: maybe he could become a media darling just like that Ken Ichijouji; they *they* could be on TV. "Then everyone will know, we're the parents of a genius!" they chorus in glee/avarice. /Insects,/ their son thinks darkly.

2

The kids have gathered at TK's house. He shows the photo to his mom, NANCY; like everyone else, she gets the willies. She has to rush out, but stops and hands him a folded slip of paper -- home addresses for the kidnap victims. (She's a newspaper reporter, Kari tells Ken.) Around the kitchen table they plot: Ken is desperate they not be drawn to evil as he was. Under the table, Armadillo interrupts the goals with a call for a *plan*. Yolei: split up and meet each of them.

TK and Cody stake out a telephone pole on the route home for NORIKO (the sickly girl with the face-mask). She doesn't look evil -- then she kicks a friendly stray cat that's rubbing against her leg. Is she even worth talking to? TK insists they must try, and rushes after her; Cody hangs back. /I don't even like to fight digimon. What we will do if we're forced to fight other kids?/ he worries.

Davis, Ken and Kari get a door slammed in their faces. "Man, how do people get any encyclopedias sold?" Davis asks. They head to the next address. Their quarry peeks out through the curtain as they leave. /Insects, stupid little meaningless bugs. They need to be squashed!/

It's snowing at the resort, and MM (in pink flowered apron) is cooking. AA hates the snow -- can't see what people find pretty in it -- and Oikawa orders her out to install the snowchains. Why? "Because you're annoying me." Toiling outside, she grumbles at the mistreatment. She looks up: a huge orange meteor streaks through the sky. WHUMP! It lands in a nearby forest, emitting a burst of distortion. From the crater rises -- BLACKWARGREYMON.

The six kids rejoin at TK's place to debrief. Yolei thinks only Oikawa will be able to remove the dark spores. He must have a specific goal for them -- so they should watch the victims until he returns from them. Kari gets a d-mail from her brother Tai.

KWG approaches the cabin. "They're nearby; I can sense it. Maybe now I will finally find the answers I seek." Inside, all three are bedded out in the living room. "No, my teddybear, mine," MM mutters sleepily. Oikawa hears the heavy footfalls outside, and throws pillow at AA to wake her. Suddenly, a fireball smashes through the kitchen. The duo dash out, just before the entrance is destroyed. They see KWG: uh oh.

Yolei coordinates the shadow-teams, while Tai, Kari and Gatomon head to the digiworld. They're confronted with a wide vista of blasted destruction. Agu and Gabu run up and explain. When Azulonmon loaned them power for the world tour, the digiworld's own defenses were weakened, and couldn't stand against KWG. Azulonmon had enough remaining power to energize just one digimon, and chose Agu. Nearby, Gato spots a wavering portal -- not a proper gate -- leading to the real world. The four run for it, leaving Gabu behind.

3

KWG challenges AA and MM, who digivolve and square off. Oikawa steps out of the smoking cabin and casually addresses the new interloper. "So this is the infamous BlackWarGreymon. Just what do you wish to accomplish here?" To look upon the face of his creator. AA sneers; he's come a long just to meet *her*, who created him from "the tiny hairs on my head". "Perhaps," he answers. "But who gave *you* life?"

The question stuns the duo. "It was me," says Oikawa from behind them; he translated his DNA into data. "So I am a product of the real world, not the digital one," concludes KWG. "Yes, and now you've gotten what you came for," says Oikawa coldly, "So leave us." KWG thinks aloud: his life begins to make sense. He found no answer in the digital world, because he's *foreign* to it. "If you're done philosophizing," says Oikawa, bored, "then goodbye." He turns to leave. As soon as he's done here, KWG continues -- as soon as he's eliminated the *foreign objects*.

KWG directly challenges Oikawa: he belongs in neither the digital world or real world, and upsets the balance of both. "A *foreign* *object*?" Oikawa snarls through gritted teeth, incensed. "I give you life and this is how you repay me?" KWG moves towards the man, talons outstretched -- and Tai et al arrive. Agumon shouts, "Wait! Let's talk!" KWG is in no mood, and as he lunges again, Tai's digivice warp-digivolves Agumon to WarGreymon, who blocks the fatal blow. The evil trio run, and Kari invokes Nefertimon to stop them. Puzzled and angered, KWG asks why they stopped him. Tai explains he's needed to remove the dark spores from the kids. "Then you should have attacked him, not me!"

Neferti flies after the car, driven by AA. MM-evolved leans out a rear window and fires SNAKE BANDAGE from his wrist. She returns fire with CAT'S EYE BEAM (headdress), and he pulls loose the hatchback as a shield. Swinging around the mountain, she fires ROSETTA STONE (red gems from her wrist armor).

The two WarGreymons battle in the air. KWG refuses to consider working with the digidestined. WG dodges a Terra Destroyer which splashes into the lake, raising a great plume. WG pins KWG to the snow. "I don't understand you," WG asks. "Why do you have to fight when we could be friends?" "Friendship is weakness. Fighting, struggle -- that is my life." He kicks off WG, who rolls down the hillside. KWG looms over him: this world has no need for *two* WarGreymons.

Neferti is joined by Pegasus and Aquila. Where are the others? Ken and Davis weant ahead to cut off traffic. Below, Sting and Exvee are standing in the road, waving signal lights. "Just a detour, folks. Nothing to see here." Ken wonders: what if the nearby military base gets involved?

Nearby, Digmon uses Rock Crackin' to open a crevasse, halting the advance of three tanks.

WG again kicks KWG from the air.

The good-trio fire Blast Ring, Catseye Beam and (green) against MM. "Maybe I should drive," suggests Oikawa. "Fine," hisses AA, who transforms and clambers out onto the roof. "It's about time," complains MM. They attack with Spider Thread and Snake Bandage. "Take that, brats," gloats Oikawa, who turns his eyes back to the road -- to see Paildra, who's interrupted by a passing Terra Destroyer blast. The WG-KWG fight heads toward the base. Davis is caught in indecision -- who should Paildra aid? Finally, he sends him off to the base, while the other three continue on their original pursuit.

KWG throws WG against a building, prepares to demolish him, but Paildramon goes to Imperialdramon Fighter Mode, and drags him up above the cloud deck. All three hover. Simultaneously, they charge and release their attacks: Terra Destroyer, Terraforce, Positron Laser. BOOM! A small sun ignites above Mt.Fuji.

The car comes to an abrubt stop at a train crossing; AA-spider is thrown from the roof. The evil trio run, into a nearby shopping district. "Would you look at the sales prices on those jackets?" MM asks, distracted. Neferti, Pegasus and Aquila follow (with the kids further back, on foot); with the human crowd, they can't atk, but MM can, blasting them with his gun. All three revert to rookie and the kids catch up. They gather up their depleted friends as police sirens approach.

4

After the explosion, all four digimon are sprawled on the blasted ground below. "I'm surprised you could defeat me, even two on one," says KWG, prone, "though I almost wish you had destroyed me completely."

"You're kidding me," says Wormmon angrily. "You mean this whole time we've been chasing you around, watching you blow up everything blow-uppable," and KWG just wanted an end? "Don't you have anything better to do with your free time?" KWG grunts thoughtfully. "My life has no meaning, poor poor pitiful me," mocks Wormmon, who knows all about self-pity. "[Ken as EDE] treated me like fish bait," but deep inside had faith the real Ken would return to him. "I didn't give up, and neither can you."

Agumon takes over: like KWG, he's had to fight all his life, but his *belief* in what he was fighting for gave him meaning. "If all you've got in your life is lemons, make lemon pie. Hey," he suddenly decides, "I'm hungry."

Veemon joins in. "Your life doesn't [...] have to be filled with a whole bunch of incredibly amazing events to be special [...] some of the best times I've had are just eating, and sleeping, and hanging out with my friends." And they'd be KWG's friends too, if he let them.

Look at Ken, Wormmon points out; and advises, lighten up. KWG isn't sure, and turns to leave. "Please don't go," asks Veemon, and Agumon asks, "Don't you want some pie?" "This is all so foreign to me. I must think on it," KWG begins, thanking them. "Perhaps it is time to put aside my warrior ways; they have provided me few answers. And maybe one day, we could even be -- friends." He flies off. "I hope so," says Agumon.

247 BlackWarGreymon's Destiny

1

2

Cody's grampa discovers Armadillomon under the table, and Cody's forced to introduce him. Grampa explains that Cody's dad had conversations with the video-game creatures. His mom doesn't want him going out again.

The evil trio have taken refuge in a rundown house. One dark spore is due to sprout early.

Noriko and her mom. /How am I supposed to achieve perfection if inferior people keep busting in?/

3

Cody meets with Yolei. "I don't care if it's quiched or squashed, so long as it's edible." Overhear Noriko. Oikawa walks up. Offers him a spore. "No one's being controlled; they all asked for it." False promises. Superior beings. Oikawa recognizes name of sack: Hida. Hiroki Hida - his father. AA and MM run up to help, but he calls a retreat.

Thinks: similar in so many ways, but can't give up now. Was friend, always encouraged him to keep trying. Didn't fit in, but he never said he was strange. "He's dead. I can't let his memory keep me from my destiny." Goes to cemetary, explains the DNA. Hallucinations of AA and MM on laptop. "We represent the essence of your ugliness. We're living your nightmare."

They wonder why. "He's two tacos short of a combo platter."

Cody asks G: was my dad a good guy? Because met men who knew him. Oikawa -- that's very interesting.

Ken and W trail Noriko. "Don't you know that spying is rude?" Tries to persuade her. "Why should I care what you have to say?" "Power gave me nothing but loneliness." Stalks off. Davis and Cody run up. She suddenly stops, pulls off her scarf: they see the barcode glowing red. Then her hair.

4

"Oh no, my head! What's happening!" See bud sprout from head. Blooms to red floor. Eyes go blank. Trio show up, block her. Invoke Paildramon. Combat evolved duo while Otakawa carries off Noriko. Invoke Digmon ("the drill of knowledge"), but MM immediately ties and AA spits, devolving him. Face off. Noriko refuses to leave. Fro his vantage, Pail sees him reach hand to flower, drain purple power. Flower evaps and she passes out; he tosses her to Cody. "How dare you talk of my father like that!" Thinks again so much like his father, "Hiroki always was on the side of justice." Purple nimus surrounds him.

4

KWG suddenly drops from black cloud, declares Oikawa must be stopped, tosses TD that knocks aside duo, but O unmoved. WG senses KWG's return and flies from Tai, arrives. WG tells KWG it's dangerous, but he must find what the dark influence in the "cloud". Steps forward, "unfinished business." Will drain his control spire power; KWG says it's too much. "Did you create your two flunkies because you were afraid to be alone?" That his; grimaces. Aura pulses with his emotions. TK, Yolei, Kari run up. KWG speaks from experience "Power isn't going to help you escape the loneliness you feel because you don't have any friends. It just makes it worse." He steps back, grabbing head. G shows up, speaks to O, good friend of Hiroki. "...I always thought you were a bit of an odd duck, but I never imagined you'd go mad." Who are you? YUKIO OIKAWA. Intro self. Spent hours together, actually believed the characters were real. Put foot down, end to it. "I thought your minds would rot." Stayed together, own world. Then Hiroki gone, beside yourself with grief. "You may not be interested in hearing this, but I'd like to be your friend. It would be nice to talk to someone about my son." YO suddenly brightens. "You must miss him even more than I do." Sudden pain. Screams. Eyes go red. Nimbus flares up, projects; KWG steps sideways to protect G. A black face drifts briefly over YO; KWG recognizes it and despairs. "How could I have been so blind?" Nimbus and eyes fade. "You're perfectly right about being alone. We're both doomed to remain this way forever." Turns away. "He's controlling you!" Must harvest all the dark spores to achieve his greatest desire: to go to DW. Mustn't be allowed to go again, says KWG; WG grabs him as falters. "Again? Nobody ever tells me anything!" complains Davis from the sidelines. KWG says his strength won't last much longer; the "image" created by the control spires. As his last gift, will seal the HVT gate with his body. Flies off. Hole in chest smokes. He evaporates. "He always wanted to do something meaningful with his life," says TK. Rainbow.

WG's cry carries all the way to the DW. The tiles glow with his shape.

248 Oikawa's Shame

1

Five spore kids meet at HVT. Tai and Sora trailing Noriko. Izzy asks Matt: not worried about Sora with Tai? Assures him: Tai is best friend, and trusts Sora completely. Izzy cel call from mom. She's at HVT: he sees her in phonebooth. Just thinking of the fact that all the other parents helping. What's my expertise? Snacks! "So I made you kids PB and J with the crusts cut off." (Digimon elated.) Blushes. He goes down to get them. Kari depressed: DW just getting worse. What was that shadow? Can we do anything to save those kids? TK cheers her up.

Trio watch from atop nearby building. (Ken thinks he feels something, looks up.) "Well if they did notice us, it's all over." "What? It's all over?" "Over for them, not over for us!" "Oh, right... I get it now." "You'll get it, all right," YO grumbles. "Terrific! Wait, are we talking about the same thing?"

2

Mrs.Izumi delivers package to kids, Kari accepts, all thank. She's reluctant to go. Just -- those children (more gathered). That's it -- can go talk to parents, and maybe get them to come down and see what they're doing. She rushes off excited. Y and C not encouraged, but TK reminds them: "maybe their parents can reach them in a way we can't." Gatomon and Ken agree. Believes part of reason dark spore stopped growing is he finally accepted love of his parents. Hawkmon points out: Oikawa has joined them. Run up, blocked by evolved AA and MM. He tells them: roots spreading, and if don't remove, kids will turn to Dark Trees. Shocks kids; not happen to Kid, but can they take the chance? YO explains it was original, so could coexist without destroy, but these copies are imperfect. "They wanted the spores; ask them." The kids nod in unison. YO opens his laptop, and MM blabs that he's opening gate. The DS will open the gate, used to convey AA and MM many times. Davis almost blabs that it's sealed, but Y shushes; TK: when it doesn't, YO will be distracted. Your last chance: anything to ask me? "Why me?" demands Ken. Always knew he was digidestined, and also the most vulnerable. What are the dark towers? A present from the Dark Ocean to keep you busy -- and he volunteers, their purpose: to change the borders of the dw. Izzy: to accomplish? To weaken DW's defenses, could open a gate, but prevented arriving himself. Created and sent AA and MM, but seeing them there only whetted his own desire to go. Ken ruined spire plan, would weaken barriers from this side. Dark spores feed on the innocence that allows a child to transit. "I've waited so long for this," sobs. "Oh, Hiroki, how I wish I could have brought you with me!" They form twin rings around O, blue energy rises. Diagram complete on screen and, to their surpise, the gate actually opens -- a huge vertical white-glowing square. He leads them through. Duo follow, not wanting to be left behind. Kids impetuously follow, despite Matt's call for caution; he, Joe and Izzy are left behind as it closes.

3

Dark, flowers. "We're here, we're here, the digital world is here!" YO rejoices at his arrival. Looks up: one boy has fallen to the ground. Why not playing with other kids? "This is wrong. This isn't the digital world?" What? Lights up into surreal. YO shocked; where have I brought this? Ankyla tackles MM while Gatomon lightning claw AA. "What's going on? I don't understand!" He's lost, to kids' shock; the 19 spore-kids are huddled, crying. Look around and realize. Y: because KWG closed gate, must've richocheted to some other world. Huge purple fanged lips open in sky. "The digital world is beyond your reach now, Oikawa... yes, cry; you are doomed, for you have entered a world of despair, where your souls will be consumed by darkness..." TK confronts it: are you working with Daemon? YO wonders: why is his voice coming from that mouth? "I'm you!" Three years ago in need of a host, used you to store his data -- just about when his friend Hiroki died, YO realizes. "But you secretly hated him, didn't you" promised to go to DW together, but he left you alone. Mouth laughs, goes bigger, shows FB to night of sky-tear. YO gazes at it, pulls photo of HH from jacket, shows sky to it. "It's so beautiful, can you see it?" He sees rainbow and digidestined rising. "Take me too! I want to leave this world!" Hears voice, if really want to go, soothe your heart with darkness and I'l take you. Mist enters ear. YO: "this whole time you've been inside me, controlling everything I did?" Gatomon realizes: that voice: Myotismon. Laughs. "I'm not surprised you saw through me, my old pet." Dark spirals based on her tail ring. Mouth fades out. Blue from YO's mouth, forms a second YO. The dark spores: are really just the batteries to allow him to be reborn. YO falls, and 2 stalks towards kids to harvest. Kids rush, and 2 sends duo against them. Harvesting, and each kid falls. Shape bursts from back of 2's trenchcoat, but it's neither of previous two forms. Declares himself MALOMYOTISMON.

4

"Fear me!" Grabs AA. "I've been your faithful servant, master!" "Show me -- what you're thinking!" MM and kids shocked, avert eyes. "I've just done what she was thinking. Is that so wrong?" Just because thinking, not mean really happen. Next. Raises tail. What next? "Show me what you fear?" A mouth opens -- poof! "All I did is grant her her wish to get as far away from me as possible." "You destroyed her! How could you? SNAKE BANDAGE!" Easily snaps bonds. Defiant. CRIMSON MIST melts him. "Time to digivolve!" declares Gatomon, but shaking, Kari refuses: doesn't want her destroyed. TK is shivering in terror. "I've never been so afraid to fight before." Yolei "Can't someone else fight?" and Cody. Davis unaffected "if we think we can't win, then we're doomed from the start". Exveemon will take him on himslef. Can't fight alone -- maybe fear lose, a little. "Believe in me!" D gathers his courage. "Just imagine it's the last minute of a soccer game and it's just you agains the goalie. You know what to do, right?" "Not a clue!" "Beat the bad guy!" Sting begs Ken, who rushes to Davis. Must DNA-d -- but the hand that grips D's arm is shaking. "You can't let fear control you," D. "We've got to hide our fears from Malomyotismon, or he'll use them against us," says TK. Exvee charges.

249 Last Temptation of the DigiDestined

Davis and Veemon (Flamedramon, Raidramon) pull the other kids from their fantasies. Davis is unaffected by Malomyotismon's spell, because he has no secret desire; he's exactly where he wants to be. Suddenly, every "digivolution" (instar) is standing there at once.

250 A Million Points of Light

3

Poof! go his wings. Then left arm, right arm, legs and lower torso, and chest/head. A black cloud with red eyes drifts away... and they blast it. Cody tries to lug Oikawa into the digiworld, but his body is failing fast (Gennai notes). Hiroki never got to see the digital world; it would be tragic if his friend suffered the same fate. He finally meets his digimon partner. As his final act, he wishes his body into energy; a flock of rainbow butterflies that restores the desolate digital world.

4

Twenty-five years later... TK is a novelist, Kari a schoolteacher. Cody is a defense attorney (and bought a hundred briefcases because Armadillomon keeps sitting on them). Izzy researches the digital world; he and his daughter have their own language. Davis got his noodle cart, and "Noodle Noodle Come Get Your Noodle" is now a worldwide chain. Ken and Yolei married. Every human in the world now has a digimon partner.