The Darkness Returns

By Midnight Ranger

This story takes place three days after the Digimon episode �gKyto Dragon�h and a little over a year before the DragonBall Z episode �gThe Androids Appear.�h

�gReady to call it a day, Gohan ?�h

Ten-year-old Son Gohan would have loved to call it a day and go home. His whole body ached and he was about to drop right where he was. But this wasn�ft something he wanted to tell his father, Son Goku, and his Namek friend Piccolo. He wanted to train as intensely as they did so he could get as strong as he could.

�gNo way,�h Gohan said. �gLet�fs keep training.�h

The corners of Goku�fs mouth turned upward slightly. �gAll right then.�h He got into a fighting stance. �gLet�fs see what you�fve got.�h

Gohan smiled, masking any physical signs of exaugstion, as he got into a fighting stance. �gBring it on.�h

Father and son stood perfectly still for a moment, looking at each other, before Gohan summoned all of the inner strength he had and rushed at Goku like a rocket. When he was within punching distance, Gohan launched a punch at Goku�fs abdomen. Goku blocked the punch and delivered one of his own. Gohan dodged it and counterattacked.

Piccolo, a middle-aged warrior from the planet Namek, watched Goku and Gohan spar from a cliff about five feet above them. He was proud of Gohan for holding out this long. He knew no other boy his age would be standing after a day of hard training. Gohan wanted to be a powerful warrior and he had a good reason for wanting to accomplish this goal. In a little more than a year, two extremely strong androids would attack an island southwest of South City and begin a campaign of terror, death, and destruction throughout the Earth. Piccolo, Goku, Gohan, and the other Z Fighters were training as hard as they could so they would be ready for the killer androids when they came.

Gohan blocked one of his father�fs kicks, then tried to sweep his legs out from under him. But before Gohan�fs leg came in contact with his dad�fs, Goku vanished.

This didn�ft surprise Gohan. Goku could move faster than the speed of light. Gohan had seen him do it countless times. It was only one of his dad�fs many amazing abilities.

Gohan scanned his surroundings for any sign of Goku. �gAll right, Dad. Where are you?�h

He caught sight of Piccolo standing on the edge of the cliff with his arms crossed in front of his chest and his heavy white cape swishing around his ankles in the breeze. The Namek warrior flicked his head up slightly. Gohan, taking the hint, looked skyward to see Goku hovering in the sky above him.

�gNot bad, son. But you need to be faster.�h

And you need to be more intense, thought Piccolo.

Goku was being much too easy on Gohan. The boy was never going to reach his full potential if Goku didn�ft attack Gohan with evreything he had instead of toying with him like he was. Piccolo knew that Goku didn�ft want to hurt his son, but if he didn�ft toughen up on Gohan, the kid wouldn�ft stand a chance against the androids.

By now, Gohan had joined Goku in the air. Gohan summoned an energy ball, also known as a ki blast, and tossed it directly at Goku�fs forehead. Goku quickly turned his head to avoid it. This was exactly what Gohan had expected him to do. Before Goku turned his head back toward him, Gohan closed the three-foot gap between them and thrust his heel into Goku�fs gut-not hard, but enough to let his father know that he�fd been hit.

Goku grinned. �gNot bad.�h

Gohan smiled, but in doing so he let his guard down. The next thing he knew, Goku�fs knee smacked into is stomach. The blow wasn�ft very hard and Gohan recovered from it quickly, but by now, Gohan could no longer hide his exaugstion. He was out of breath and sweat covered every square inch of his body.

�gLet�fs stop for today, Gohan,�h said Goku.

�gI can go on, Dad,�h Gohan protested.

Goku shook his head. �gKid, if I let you go on for much longer, you�fre going to drop dead. Besides, it�fs getting late and your mother�fs probably going to have dinner ready soon. I don�ft know about you, but I�fm starved.�h

Gohan wanted to train some more, but he knew his father was right. He wasn�ft sure if he could go on much longer and his mother would be pretty mad if they stayed out too late.

�gOkay,�h said Gohan. �gBut we�fll train even harder tomorrow, right?�h

�gAbsolutely,�h Goku replied.

Goku and Gohan lived in a clearing in the mountains about twenty miles from where they were training. It took Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo about ten five minutes to fly there. Piccolo accompanied Goku and Gohan there because he would be eating dinner with them and Goku�fs wife, ChiChi.

After Goku landed, he opened the door of his dome shaped house and called out. �gHey, ChiChi, we�fre home.�h

�gI�fm in the kitchen,�h ChiChi called out in reply.

Goku sniffed the air as Gohan and Piccolo entered the house. �gMmm. What ever you�fre making in there, hon, it smells great.�h

He walked toward the kitchen to greet his wife, but before, he got to the door, ChiChi came out, threw her arms around her husband�fs neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Gohan noticed that there was a white envelope in her hand.

�gWow,�h said Goku. �gDid something happen while we were gone, or are you just happy to see me?�h

�gBoth,�h ChiChi said, stepping back and handing Goku the envelope. �gTake a look at this.�h

Goku took a piece of paper out of the envelope and began to read what was on it.

�gWhat is it?�h Gohan asked.

ChiChi smiled at her son. �gSomething wonderful being offered from a public school in Odiva.�h

From the look on Goku�fs face as he finished reading the letter, Piccolo and Gohan could tell that he didn�ft share ChiChi�fs opinion.

�gIt says here,�h Goku explained, �gthat the Odiva Middle School is offering a computer class for home schoolers who don�ft have access to a computer or the Internet. They want Gohan to attended it.�h

Gohan looked down at the floor. Chances were his mom wasn�ft bringing this up so that she and his dad could discus weather Gohan should go or not. She was telling them this to let Goku and Gohan know where Gohan would be from now on. ChiChi thought that martial arts were a waste of time even though she had once been a martial artist herself. All she wanted Gohan to do was study and become a scholar. It was a miracle that she let him train with his father and Piccolo.

�gAnd it isn�ft just for home schooled children,�h ChiChi continued. �gGohan is going to be learning with some of the kids who attended the school full time. Isn�ft that wonderful? Gohan will finally be around kids his own age for once.�h

Gohan decided to speak up. �gBut, Mom, what about my training?�h

�gYou should have plenty of time to train and do your other studies,�h said ChiChi. �gThe class is only an hour in the morning.�h

�gChiChi,�h said Goku, �gcan�ft Gohan take this class after we battle the androids?

ChiChi gave Goku one of her angry scowls. �gAbsolutely not, Goku! This class might not be offered next year. Computers are a big part of today�fs world. How is Gohan going to get anywhere in life if he doesn�ft know a thing about them?�h

�gDon�ft worry about it. I didn�ft even know what a computer was when I was a kid and look how I turned out.�h

ChiChi gave her husband another one of her angry looks. �gWhen you were growing up, you weren�ft trying to be a scholar. Gohan is. Now, he�fs going to go to that school and he is going to learn about computers. End of discussion. Now, the three of you had better wash up. Dinner�fs going to be ready soon.�h She turned on her heel and walked back into the kitchen.

Goku sighed, put the letter back into the envelope, then put the envelope down on the table. �gSometimes I think ChiChi is a little too concerned about Gohan�fs education.�h

Piccolo chose that moment to speak up. �gGoku, could I have a word with you outside?�h

�gSure.�h

The two fighters stepped outside, leaving Gohan to wonder how he was ever going to become half as powerful as they were if he had to take an hour or so off every morning to go to school.

�gWhat�fs up, Piccolo?�h Goku asked as he closed the door to his house.

�gThink back to about two years ago when we received a visit from a certain teenage Saiyan from the future,�h said Piccolo. �gDo you remember what he said?�h

�gOf course I remember what Trunks said. He said that the Earth would be attacked by two killer androids who...�h

�gWho would kill all of us except Gohan in our first battle with them. He told us this so we would have three years to prepare for their arrival.�h

�gI know that.�h

�gBut you�fre not taking that warning very seriously.�h

�gWhat gave you that idea?�h

Piccolo crossed his arms. �gTake a guess.�h

Goku was scilent for a moment before saying, �gIf It�fs about that class, there�fs nothing I can do. Gohan�fs education is pretty inportiant to ChiChi and I would hate to...�h

�gIt�fs not just ChiChi that�fs the problem here.�h

Piccolo was quiet for a moment, as if he were trying to think of the words that would get his point across without giving Goku a wrong impression. Goku looked the Namek in the eyes, silently urging him to continue.

�gYou�fre being too gentle with Gohan to train him correctly,�h Piccolo finally said. �gI know he�fs your son and you don�ft want to hurt him, but those androids won�ft share that feeling when they meet Gohan on the battlefield. He has to become a lot stronger than he is now, but he won�ft get that way unless you stop going easy on him. We both know that Gohan has a great deal of power that may be more than both of ours put together. Learning how to unleash that power may be his only chance of survival as well as the Earth�fs.�h

Goku didn�ft get a chance to reply before ChiChi called for them to come in and eat.

�gWe�fll be in in just a second,�h Goku called back to her. He turned back to Piccolo. �gI can see your point. But, I�fm not sure Gohan can take more intense training.�h

�gHe can,�h Piccolo assured him. �gGohan is a tough kid.�h He smiled. �gSomeday, he might even be strong enough to beat his old man in a sparring match.�h

The World of Darkness was perhaps the most evil realm in the Digital World. The air was bitterly cold all the time and darkness blanketed the place twenty four hours a day. In the depths of this world�fs dark ocean, was the palace of Lord Locomon, an Ultimate Digimon and ruler of the World of Darkness.

Today, Locomon was sitting on his throne watching his servant, Jestermon, juggle a dozen dark apples.

�gSay, Lord Locomon,�h piped the pointy-nosed Digimon, �ghow do you stop a Rhinomon from charging?�h

Locomon drummed his long, bony fingers on the armrest of his throne. �gYou know how much I loathe your jokes, Jestermon.�h

�gBut you�fll love this one, sire, it�fs really funny. Now, how do you stop a Rhinomon from charging?�h

�gI don�ft know and I don�ft care.�h

�gYou take away his credit card. Ha. Ha. Get it? Ha. I told you it was going to be funny. Hee. Doesn't it just crack you up? �g

Locomon rolled his eyes. �gI�fve heard better jokes from a patch of seaweed.�h

Jestermon�fs smile faded as he held out his hands to catch his apples. Eleven fell into his hands, the twelfth hit the top of his head. Startled, Jestermon jumped backwards and dropped his other apples on the floor. Jestermon gave a nervious chuckle and looked up at Locomon. The evil monarch was still drumming his fingers on his throne and looking bored.

Jestermon quickly scooped up his apples, then put them on a table nearby. Next, he reached under the table and grabbed a large, rubber ball. �gYou�fll like this next trick, your majesty, I guarantee it.�h He placed the ball in the middle of the throne room, then ran back to the table, making the little bells on his hat and his pointy shoes jingle.

�gWhat is that idiot planning next?�h Locomon grumbled.

He soon got his answer when little Jestermon returned with a lemon merange pie in each hand and a long, pointed staff under each arm. �gNow, watch this, Lord Locomon. I balance each pie on the point of each staff, like so. Then, I hold each staff upright with my hands, like so. Now, to make this already challenging feet even more of a challenge, I will now step up on this ball, like so, and... woah.... balance these pies on these rods, while balancing on this..woah boy!..... this really w-w-wobly ball here.�h

Locomon watched in disgust as Jestermon struggled to keep his balance on the ball while his pies teetered back and forth on the small point of each pole. �gYou should know, fool, that this carpet is my favorite. If those pies fall and make a mess on it...�h

�gThey won�ft, sir. I have everything under ..woah... under control. Nothing... woah..woah..AHHH!!�h

The ball rolled out from under Jestermon and he was thrown forward, so were the pies. Both desserts landed with a splat! on Locomon�fs face and chest. Locomon roared in anger and stood up.

�gN-N-Now, your evilness,�h stammered Jestermon. �gLet�fs not overreact. The carpet is still clean.�h

Locomon grabbed Jestermon�fs shirt collar with one of his withered hands and raised the other to punch his servant in the face. Jestermon turned his face away, closed his eyes, and braced himself for the worst.

At that moment the large double doors burst open and two Ultimate Digimon rushed into the room.

�gSire,�h said one, �gWe have some good news.�h

As they knelt before the evil Digimon ruler, Locomon picked up Jestermon and wiped his pale face and dark maroon robe clean with the imbecile�fs stupid costume. �gIt had better be.�h He tossed Jestermon against a wall. �gI�fm in no mood to hear any news which might further ruin my day.�h

He looked down at his two servants. One was a large, black squid-like digimon named Squidmon. Vennommon was completely covered with blue scales, had the face and torso of a human female, and the hood and tail of a cobra.

�gLord Locomon,�h hissed Venommon, �gwe have discovered a way to break through the barrier that keeps us imprisoned in the World of Darkness.�h

�gA way to break through Geni�fs barrier?�h asked Locomon. �gAre you serious?�h

�gWe are, sir,�h said Squidmon in his bubbling voice that made him sound like he was talking underwater.

�gAh! At last! I will be able to leave this prison and expand my dark empire to the far corners of the universe. Every creature in every world will tremble before me. Tell me Venommon and Squidmon, where does this breach in the barrier lead to?�h

�gThe world of the humans,�h said Venommon.

�gOh, too bad,�h said Jestermon. �gSorry to be the bearer of bad news, sir, but the human world is the home of the Digidesdens. And we all know that the Digidesdend of Light is the only one who has the power to destroy you. Best to stay clear of her. I mean...�h

His speech was cut short when Locomon shot a blast of energy out of his hand that struck Jestermon in the chest and pushed him back against the wall.

�gAnother word out of you, dunderhead, and I will personally delete you,�h threatened Locomon.

�gThe pest does have a point, sire,�h said Venommon. �gThe one called Kari Kamiya may be a large pothole in our road to power. So how do you propose we get rid of her?�h

�gThe moment we get to the human world, I�fll track her down and crush her myself before her powers have a chance to increase in strength and crush me. How long will it be before we can cross over?�h

�gAt this point, we�fre not sure,�h said Squidmon. �gThe barrier is very strong. We�fll have to chip away at it bit by bit. It may be weeks.�h

Locomon�fs red eyes flared with anger for a moment, them calmed down. �gVery well. I�fll wait.�h He walked over to his crystal ball and waved his hand around it. Instantly, an image of the Digidesdend of Light talking to a young boy with long black hair appeared. �gEnjoy your pathetic life while you can, little Kari. For soon Locomon will be at your door to end it.�h Locomon threw back his head and laughed.

Eleven-year-old Kari Kamiya walked down the hall of her school, deep in thought. The Digital World was safe for the time being, but for how long would the peace last? What was the evil force that Azulongmon had warned her and the other Digidestend about three days ago? And, more importantly, would the team be ready to face it? Would she be ready to face it?

Kari pondered these questions as she rounded the corner to get to her next class. Unfortunately, someone else was doing the same thing from the opposite direction. The result was a head-on collision which sent both of them crashing to the floor.

The other student was a small, black haired boy that Kari had never seen before. He quickly got to his feet, then helped Kari get to hers. �gI�fm sorry. I didn�ft mean to knock you down like that.�h

Kari dusted herself off. �gDon�ft be sorry. I should have been watching where I was going.�h She extended her hand to the boy. �gI don�ft think we�fve met. I�fm Kari.�h

The boy took her hand and shook it. �gMy name is Gohan.�h

�gIs this your first day here?�h

�gYeah. I�fm supposed to be in the computer lab, but I can�ft seem to find it.�h

�gIt�fs upstairs. Come on, I�fll walk you there.�h

�gYou don�ft have to.�h

�gI know, but I want to. My next class is upstairs anyway, so it won�ft be any trouble. Come on.�h

�gAll right. Thank you.�h

As Kari led Gohan to the stairs, she noticed that the boy looked a little worried. �gAre you okay, Gohan? You look a little nervious.�h

�gWell... Yeah, I guess I am a little nervious. This is my first time going to a public school. I�fve always been home schooled.�h

Kari stepped up on the first step of a large flight of stairs. �gDon�ft worry about it. I�fm sure you�fll have no trouble blending in and making friends here. You might not believe this, but I bet you�fll find that even though you haven�ft been in public school as long as we have, you�fre not much different than the public shoolers.�h

You have no idea, thought Gohan.

Gohan and his parents had decided before he came to school to keep his Saiyan heritage and his great power a secret. To his classmates and any friends he might make here, he would be just another human kid.

�gWhy the switch from home to public school?�h Kari asked as she and Gohan continued to climb the stairs.

�gI�fm not completely switching. I�fm just here to learn about computers,�h Gohan replied. �gI�fll do the rest of my studies at home.�h

�gSo, you�fd be in the beginners�f class, right?�h

�gRight.�h

�gI have a friend who�fs in that class too. He knows the basics of using a lot of computer programs and the internet. He�fs just taking the class to lean HTML.�h

�gHTML? What�fs that?�h

�gInternet computer code. You need to know it if you�fre going to build a web site. The teacher�fs going to teach that along with the basic computer stuff.

�gDo you think your friend will help me if I asked him? I don�ft know a thing about computers.�h

�gOh sure. Cody�fs a real nice kid. You�fll like him.�h

They were now at the top of the stairs. Kari took Gohan around the coroner to a room with the words COMPUTER LAB printed on the door in bold, Japanese letters.

Kari opened the door and looked around inside the lab. It was a moment before she spotted her friend Cody. �gThere�fs Cody right over there. He�fs the black haired kid in the second row. There�fs an empty seat right next to him. Why don�ft you sit there?�h

�gOkay. Thank you, Kari.�h

�gNo problem. I.....�h Kari stopped in mid sentence when she felt a cold chill rush down her spine. The air became cold and for some reason, a thick fog had engulfed the room. She could no longer see Gohan, or anything else in the hall or the lab.

Kari trembled. She had seen this before, just before she was pulled into the terrifying World of Darkness by the Scubamon. She felt something freezing cold wash against her feet and looked down to see pitch black water rising up to her ankles. Kari stepped backward to try escape the dark water, but after looking around, she saw that there was nowhere to escape to. The water was rising so fast that it was now up to her knees. And it didn�ft stop there. It kept rising. As it came up to her hips, Kari heard a loud and terrifying laugh. Kari put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes. �gNo more! Just leave me alone!�h

Gohan didn�ft see the dark ocean water or the fog. All he saw was Kari holding her head, trembling, and crying. �gKari, what�fs wrong?�h Kari didn�ft answer. �gPlease, Kari. Tell me what�fs going on.�h

Gohan heard a pair of feet running down the hall and looked up to see a blonde haired boy in a white hat coming toward him and Kari.

The boy put his hands on Kari�fs shoulders and shook her gently. �gKari! Snap out of it!�h Kari gasped and opened her eyes. �gWhat happened?�h

Kari turned her face toward him. Her eves were grave. �gIt was the dark ocean, T.K. It was coming for me again. And there was this laugh. It was horrible!�h

Gohan was confused. �gWhat dark ocean? What laugh?�h

Kari gasped. She had forgotten that Gohan was there. �gOh! Uh....�h

The boy stretched out his hand toward Gohan. �gI don�ft think we�fve meet. I�fm T.K. Takaishi. Who are you?�h

Gohan shook T.K.�fs hand. �gI�fm Gohan.�h

�gNice to meet you,�h said T.K. �gSorry we can�ft stay and chat longer, but Kari and I have to get to class. Right, Kari?�h

Kari nodded. �gRight. See you later, Gohan. Good luck in class.�h

Kari and T.K. walked down the hall mumbling. Gohan watched them for a moment before walking into the computer lab.

What was that all about? he thought.

T.K. waited until he and Kari were a few feet away from Gohan before asking her again to tell him what happened.

�gI saw the dark ocean. It was rising up to swallow me. And I heard this evil laugh that nearly scared me to death. It was unlike anything I had heard before. Do you think that it�fs the evil that Azulongmon warned us about?�h

�gMaybe. But if it is, we�fll fight it together and we�fll beat it. Don�ft worry. We�fve never came across a evil Digimon that we haven�ft been able to beat. Now, let�fs stop thinking about the dark forces for awhile and concentrate on the test waiting for us in math class. Do you remember what the formula for finding the area of a parallelogram is? �g

As soon as Gohan walked into the computer lab, he forgot about Kari and T.K. and remembered how nervious he was about being in a regular classroom for the first time. The lab was filled with students. Some were talking with friends, some were checking out the computers in front of them, and others were staring at him and wondering who he could be. Gohan was relieved to see that the computer station beside Kari�fs friend Cody, a boy who looked like he was about a year younger than Gohan, was still empty. Cody was staring at his partially opened backpack and as Gohan got closer to him, he could hear Cody whispering to it.

�gI know you�fre anxious to go back to the Digital World, Upamon,�h said Cody, �gbut you�fre just going to have to wait until this afternoon.�h

To Gohan�fs surprise, the backpack, or something in it, whispered back.

�gI know,�h it said. �gBut it�fs hard. You know how badly I want to get rid of all those evil control spires and restore peace to the Digital World.�h

�gShh. Someone�fs coming.�h

Cody put his backpack on the floor just as Gohan approached the computer next to him.

�gHi,�h he said. �gMy name is Gohan.�h

�gNice to meet you. My name is Cody Hida.�h

�gMay I sit down?�h

�gSure.�h

Gohan sat down then opened his mouth to ask Cody who or what he was talking to. But, before any sound could come out, the tardy bell rang and a tall, skinny, and funny looking man in glasses walked from his desk in the front corner of the lab to the middle of the front of the room.

�gGood morning everybody,�h he said. �gMy name is Mr. Fugiamma and I will be your teacher this semester.�h

While Gohan trained his mind at school, Goku and Piccolo were up in the mountains training their bodies. They threw punches at each other and blocked each other�fs blows with lightning fast speed. Goku was driving Piccolo back, but Piccolo had a plan to turn things around. As Goku launched his next punch, Piccolo jumped into the air and filliped over Goku�fs head. Piccolo used his energy to slow his decent just enough so that he could kick Goku in the back. The Saiyan warrior fell to his knees and slid several feet across the snow covered ground. The force of the blow was enough to break a human�fs back, but to Goku it was nothing more than a strong push and he recovered from it quickly.

When Goku stopped sliding, he quickly got to his feet and turned to face Piccolo again. He saw that the Nammek had raised two of his fingers to his forehead. Energy crackled at Piccolo�fs fingertips and Goku knew that he was powering up the Special Beam Cannon, a powerful ki blast.

Goku smiled. �gSo it�fs time for the ki attacks, huh?�h He cupped his hands and brought them to his side to power up the Kamehema wave attack.

�gSpecial Beam Cannon fire!�h Piccolo cried. He pointed his energy charged fingers at Goku and a bright, corkscrew shaped beam shot from them.

Goku smiled and unleashed his own attack. �gKa...me...ha...me... ha!�h

Bright blue energy shot from Goku�fs hands as he thrust them forward. It struck the Beam Cannon and sent it flying backwards, over Piccolo�fs head, and smack into a snow covered mountain several miles away. The impact caused a small explosion and a small avalanche.

Tokyo was one of the most popular and populated cities in Japan. It was also home to the company Capsule Corporation. Capsule Corp made small capsules that, with the push of a button, could transform into anything from a refrigerator to a suitcase and back again. The factory that made these capsules was also home to the company�fs president, Dr. Briefs, his wife, their full grown daughter, Bulma, and her new husband, the Saiyan prince Vegeta.

That morning, Vegeta was doing what he had been doing almost every morning for the past two years-training in the gravity simulator Dr, Briefs built for him. Inside the dome shaped structure, Vegeta was practicing his fighting moves and shooting energy blasts at attack drones in gravity that was three hundred times the gravity of Earth. It took all of Vegeta�fs strength just to throw a light punch. Sweat was pouring out of every gland on his body and his body was screaming at him to stop and rest even though he had only been in there for a hour. Vegeta ignored it and kept on going. He was determined to raise his strength and power to a level higher than any other fighter in the universe, especially Kakarot.

To this day Vegeta couldn�ft understand how Kakarot could archive the level of Super Saiyan, a level that no Saiyan had reached in a thousand years, when he was the son of a low-class Saiyan warrior and had been raised on Earth. Vegeta was the last of the royal line of great Saiyan warriors and was prince of the planet Vegeta. If anyone would have become the first Super Saiyan in a thousand years it should have been him.

Vegeta got down on his hands and toes and started doing push-ups as he continued to reflect on the past. He was the strongest warrior in the entire galaxy until he lost a fight with Kakarot over four years ago. Since then, Vegeta�fs main objective in life was to beat the only other pure-blood of his kind left alive in a rematch. To do that, he would not only have to become a Super Saiyan, but he would also have to surpass Kakarot.

As Vegeta finished his fiftieth push-up, a voice called to him over the dome�fs intercom. �gVegeta, it�fs me, Bulma.�h

�gWhat do you want?�h Vegeta snapped.

�gI want to talk to you.�h

�gThen talk, but don�ft annoy me. I�fm not in the mood.�h

�gI�fd prefer to tell you face to face. Could you come out of there for a minute?�h

�gBulma, I am busy right at the moment. Whatever you need to tell me can wait until I�fm done.�h

�gBut this is important!�h

Vegeta stood up and walked over to the control panel. �gIt can wait.�h He switched off the intercom.

As Vegeta went back to his exercises, he considered going out and seeing what Bulma wanted, but he quickly put the idea out of his mind. Bulma was always wanting him to be more affectionate toward her, but his heart was too proud to ever do so. He had married her didn�ft he? And didn�ft they share the same bed at night? What more did she want?

By the end of class, Gohan was glad Cody was sitting next to him. Mr. Fugiamma didn�ft make any sense when he tried to teach the class and Gohan got the impression that the teacher knew less about computers than he did. Luckily, Cody was able to help him learn the basics of running a computer and surfing the internet. Gohan soon learned to enjoy working with a computer, but he was still anxious to get home and train with his dad.

�gThanks for helping me, Cody,�h Gohan said as he and Cody left the lab.

�gNo problem,�h Cody replied. �gBy the way, what class do you have next?�h

�gI don�ft have another class. I�fm going home.�h

�gOh?�h

�gYeah. I�fm only here for the computer class.�h

Their conversation was interrupted by a girl�fs voice crying �gLook out!�h Gohan turned from Cody to see a soccer ball shooting through the air toward the younger boy�fs face. Cody saw it too, but before he could react. Gohan jumped in front of him and caught the ball. It happened so fast that Cody didn�ft see Gohan move. One second Gohan was beside him and then, in the blink of an eye, he was in front of him.

As Cody stepped out from behind Gohan, three other students walked up to them. One was a boy who had spiked brown hair and wore goggles and the other two were girls. One had violet hair, the other had black hair.

�gNice catch,�h said the black haired girl.

�gUh... thank you,�h Gohan replied.

�gAre you new? I haven�ft seen you before.�h

�gYeah.�h

�gI thought so. I would remember you if I�fd seen you before. You�fre pretty cute.�h

Gohan blushed.

�gKnock it off, Videl,�h said the boy in goggles. �gYou�fre starting to sound like Yolei.�h

The violet haired girl glared at him. �gAnd what is so bad about that, Davis?�h

�gNothing except going ga ga over cute boys can get annoying after awhile.�h

�gIs that so?�hasked Videl. �gOr are you just upset that no girl has ever gone ga ga over you?�h She extended her hand to Gohan. �gMy name is Videl. What�fs your name.�h

Gohan took her hand and shook it. �gI�fm Gohan.�h

�gPleased to meet you. This is my friend Yolei Inoe. And the goggle boy over here is..�h

�gDavis Motimiya,�h the brown haired boy interrupted, taking Gohan�fs hand from Videl�fs and shaking it. �gI�fm sure you�fve heard about me.�h

�gI�fm afraid I haven�ft,�h said Gohan.

�gDavis is the self-proclaimed soccer star of Odiva Middle School,�h Cody explained.

�gAnd speaking of soccer,�h said Yolei, �gI would think that you wouldn�ft be so quick to kick your ball around in school after you broke a window last week.�h

�gThat wasn�ft my fault,�h Davis insisted. �gBesides, how am I supposed to stay in shape for the big game next weekend if I don�ft practice?�h

Videl took the soccer ball out of Gohan�fs hands. �gPractice outside.�h She shoved the ball into Davis�f arms.

�gAnd practice later,�h said Yolei. �gRight now, we�fve got to get to class. Come on, Videl.�h

�gOkay, Yolei.�h Videl turned back to Gohan. �gIt was nice meeting you, Gohan.�h

�gSame here,�h said Gohan. �gBye.�h

�gBye, Gohan. Bye, Cody. See ya, Goggle Boy.�h

Cody, Gohan, and Davis watched as Yolei and Videl walked off toward their next class.

�gI hate it when she calls me Goggle Boy,�h said Davis.

�gI think she likes you, Gohan,�h said Cody.

�gReally?�h asked Gohan.

Cody nodded. �gListen, I�fd love to stay and talk some more, but I have a class to go to too. See you tomorrow.�h

�gBye Cody,�h said Gohan. �gSee ya, Davis.�h

As Gohan walked out of the school, his mind went back to Kari trembling in the hall before his class. What was that dark ocean she was so scared of? T.K. seemed to know, but why didn�ft he and Kari want to tell him what it was? And who was Cody talking to as he walked up to him? What were control spires? And what on Earth was the Digital World?

Gohan pondered these questions in his mind until he reached an alley way a block and a half from the school. It was there that he decided that it was probably none of his business. He looked around to see if anyone was watching him, then powered up his inner energy and shot into the air. He would fly home from here.

As Gohan left Odiva behind, his new friends were settling down in their next classes. Unknown to him, Kari, Cody, T.K., Davis, and Yolei were partners with five powerful creatures known as Digimon. Together, the digimon and their human friends were part of a team called the Digidestends and like the Z Fighters, they were defenders of good.

The rest of the school day passed without anything major happening at Odiva Middle School. A half an hour after it was all over, Cody, Davis, T.K., Kari, and Yolei were in the computer lab, discussing their next plan of action with their Digimon.

�gSo what do you think this new threat of evil is?�h asked Cody.

�gWhatever it is, it can�ft be any worse than Arukenymon,�h said Upamon, Cody�fs digimon.

�gDon�ft be so sure,�h said Patamon, T.K.�fs Digimon. �gIf Arukenymon and Mummymon are just pawns like Azulongmon said, then there�fs bound to be someone even more powerful than they are giving them orders.�h

�gPatamon�fs right,�h agreed T.K. �gAnd if we�fre going to restore peace to the Digital World and keep this world out of danger, we�fll have to face this threat, whatever it is.�h

�gBut what are we supposed to do until whatever it is shows itself?�h asked DemiVeemon, Davis�f Digimon.

�gWe keep knocking down control spires, I guess,�h said Gatomon, Kari�fs Digimon.

�gThat�fs about all we can do,�h said Yolei.

�gThen what are we sitting around here for?�h asked Davis. �gLet�fs go wreak those control spires.�h He pointed to a map of the Digital World that was displayed on one of the computer screens. A green dot was blinking on the west cost of the continent Server. �gLook. Ken and Wormmon are already there.�h

�gI agree with Davis,�h said Kari. �gWe should get going.�h

�gI�fm ready,�h said Poromon, Yolei�fs Digimon.

�gMe too,�h said Patamon.

�gOkay,�h said T.K. �gEverybody get out their digivices.�h

The Digidestends pulled out their Digivices, devices that would allow them to travel to the Digital World and back again as well as make it possible for their Digimon digivolve.

All five Digidestends pointed their digivices at the computer. The map of the Digiworld was replaced by a picture of a small gate.

�gDigiport open!�h cried Yolei.

Instantly, all of the Digidesdens and their Digimon were sucked into the computer.

Eleven-year-old Ken Ichijoji stared down at the field littered with tall, black pointed towers called control spiers. They served two purposes-to keep digimon from digivolving and to disrupt the balance between the Digiworld and the real world. Ken wasn�ft sure what would happen if the balance between both worlds was destroyed, but he was sure that it wouldn�ft be good. That�fs why all of the control spiers had to be destroyed. The sight of them sickened him.

Ken�fs thoughts were interrupted by his Digimon partner, Wormmon. �gKen, should we start now, or should we wait for the others?�h

Ken looked down at his friend, then back at the control spiers. �gWe might as well get started. There�fs plenty of these things for the others to knock down when they get here.�h He pulled out his digivice. �gWe�fre far enough away from the control spiers for you to digivolve.�h

�gI�fm ready whenever you are.�h

Ken nodded and stepped back. His digivice began to glow and so did Wormmon�fs green catapiller-like body.

�gWormmon digivolve to....Stingmon!�h

In a few seconds, Wormmon had changed into a seven-foot-tall hornet with human legs, arms, and torso, and two strips of sharp spikes draped over each shoulder. He was now Stingmon, a Champion level Digimon.

�gLet�fs do it,�h said Stingmon. He picked up Ken and flew toward the control spiers.

It took only a minute for Stingmon to fly to the spiers. He put Ken on the ground a few feet away from the closest one, then went back up into the air.

�gSpiking strike!�h he cried.

A long, magenta stinger extended from a device on Stingmon�fs wrist. Stingmon dove toward the control spiers and drove the singer into the closest one. It cracked and fell over, forever useless to the forces of evil.

Ken heard a strange noise behind him and turned to see a television set with a flickering screen.

T.V�fs didn�ft serve the same purpose in the Digiworld as they did on Earth. T.V.�fs in the Digiworld were gates to the real world and could often be found in the strangest places. From the looks of this television, it was clear to Ken that someone had activated it from Earth and he didn�ft have to be a genius to figure out who.

Ken backed away from the T.V. as a bright light shot out of it, followed by his fellow Digidestends and their Digimon.

During the trip to the Digiworld, DemiVeemon, Poromon, and Upamon had digivolved from their in-training forms to their Rookie forms. Poromon had gone from a little pink feather ball with wings to Hawkmon, a brown and white hawk with a brown and orange feather sticking up from the back of his head. The bright yellow head with lettuce shaped ears that was Upamon was now a two and half feet long yellow armadillo named Armodillomon. DemiVeemon had digivolved into a bigger version of his blue and white lizard self that had a large V on his forehead and a small horn on his nose. He was now Veemon.

Patamon and Gatomon, however, didn�ft change. Patamon was still the orange and white little Rookie with bat like wings for ears that he was on Earth and Gatomon was still the same Champion level white cat with sharp claws and tan, fingerless gloves.

Davis moaned and got up off the ground. �gI move that we start bringing pillows with us to the Digiworld. That landing pushed my butt clear up to my head.�h

Veemon looked at his friend�fs backside. �gNope. Your butt�fs still where it�fs supposed to be, Davis.�h

�gIt was a figure of speech, Veemon.�h

�gHey, Ken,�h said Armodillomon. �gHi, Stingmon.�h

�gHello, Armodillomon,�h said Ken.

�gGlad you guys could make it,�h said Stingmon. �gBut what took you so long?�h

�gWe had to wait for this girl named Videl to get out of the computer lab,�h Davis explained. �gShe and Yolei were drooling over some buff guys on the Internet.�h

�gWe weren�ft drooling,�h Yolei insisted. �gWe were looking up information for a report we have to do on the twenty-third World Martial Arts Tournament.�h

�gCould we talk about this another time?�h asked Hawkmon. �gWe need to get started destroying these control spiers.�h

�gHawkmon�fs right,�h said Patamon. �gWe don�ft have all day. Digivolve us already.�h

�gWe�fre too close to the control spiers for you to digivolve,�h said T.K. �gHow about we armor digivolve you instead?�h

�gSounds great.�h

T.K., Kari, Yolei, Cody, and Davis got out their Digivices to activate the digieggs inside their D-terminals, a device was a computer, a Digimon analyzer, and a Digiegg container all in one. Davis, Yolei, and Cody each had two eggs. Davis had the Digieggs of courage and friendship, Yolei had the Digieggs of love and sincerity, and Cody had the Digieggs of knowledge and reliability. T.K. and Kari only had one egg each. T.K. owned the Digiegg of hope, while Kari had the Digiegg of light. These eggs made it possible for the digimon to armor digivolve, a type of digivolving the control spiers couldn�ft block.

�gDigi armor energize!�h the Digidestends cried.

The power of the Digieggs of courage, sincerity, knowledge, hope, and light opened and their power poured out into Veemon, Hawkmon, Armodillomon, Patamon, and Gatomon.

�gVeemon armor digivolve to.... Flamedramon, the fire of courage!�h

�gHawkmon armor digivolve to... Shurimon, the samurai of sincerity!�h

�gArmodillomon armor digivolve to... Digmon, the drill of knowledge!�h

�gPatamon armor digivolve to..... Pegasusmon, flying hope!�h

�gGatomon, armor digivolve to..... Nefertimon, the angel of light!�h

The armor digivolving changed the Digimon into lager beings dressed in fragmented armor. Flamedramon was a two legged blue lizard with red and orange armor. Shurimon was a samurai dressed in white and green. Digmon was an insect digimon with drills for a nose and fingers. Pegasusmon was an orange winged horse, and Nefertimon looked like a white Egyptian sphinx with a cat�fs face and paws, and wings.

�gLet�fs get this show on the road,�h said Flamedramon.

The Digimon spent the rest of the afternoon knocking down the evil control spiers. The dark towers were too big and too thick for the Digidestends to knock over, so they cheered their Digimon on from the sidelines.

�gDouble Star Attack!�h cried Shurimon.

Two large ninja stars shot from Shurimon�fs hands and sliced clean through the base of two control spiers before retuning to their owner.

�gRock Cracking!�h cried Digmon.

Digmon pushed all of his drills into a control spire. After a few seconds, the spire cracked and fell over.

�gAqua Speed!�h cried Pegasusmon.

A green light shot out of Pegasusmon�fs forehead and blew up the spier closest to him.

�gSpiking Strike!�h cried Stingmon.

�gFire Rocket!�h cried Flamedramon.

Stingmon�fs stinger took out a large spier toward the end of the field, while balls of fire shot from Flamedramon�fs hands and incinerated another.

�gCat�fs Eye Beam!�h cried Nefertimon.

Pink lasers shot from Nefertimon�fs eyes and destroyed another spier. Now there were only three left.

�gLet�fs topple these together, Pegasusmon,�h said Nefertimon.

�gAll right,�h replied Pegasusmon.

�gGolden Noose!�h Pegasusmon and Nefertimon cried.

The armor on their forelegs glowed and as the two Digimon flew toward the spiers, the glow became a long rope. Nefertimon and Pegasusmon tied the rope around one spiers and pulled it down on top of another one. The second spier collapsed under the weight of the first and fell on the third. The third spier cracked and fell over.

�gThat�fs all of them,�h said Stingmon.

�gShould we find some more?�h asked Davis.

�gNo,�h said Kari. �gIt�fs late and we need to go home.�h

The six Digimon gathered in front of their human partners and returned to their Rookie forms.

�gYeah,�h said Veemon. �gAnd besides, we�fre pretty hungry.�h

Ken picked up Wormmon. �gSame time tomorrow?�h

�gYou bet,�h T.K. said as Patamon perched on his hat.

�gHey, Ken,�h said Davis. �gI hope you�fve managed to get some practicing in.�h

�gExcuse me?�h asked Ken.

�gFor next weekend. Our soccer teams our playing each other in the Odiva Stadium.�h

�gOh. That. Yeah, I�fve been practicing hard for that along with the rest of my team. How about yours?�h

�gI don�ft know about the others, but I�fve been practicing every spare moment. You guys are going to have some stiff competition on your hands.�h

Ken smiled a competitive smile. �gWe�fll see.�h

�gNext weekend is also when Willis is coming to Japan for a visit,�h said Yolei.

�gIsn�ft he the American Digidestend with the twin digimon?�h asked Wormmon.

�gThat�fs him,�h said Gatomon.

�gHe�fll be watching the soccer game with the rest of us,�h said Armodillomon. �gYou two can meet him afterward.�h

�gOr before,�h said Cody. �gIf you�fd like, you can come with us to the Tokyo airport to meet him next Friday.�h

�gI�fd love too,�h said Ken. �gBut I�fll have to ask my parents first.�h

Hawkmon sighed. �gIt�fll be nice to see Willis, Terriermon, and Cocomon again. Maybe they can help us knock down the rest of these nasty control spiers.�h

Deep below the surface of the Dark Ocean, Locomon, Squidmon, Jestermon, and Venommon were watching the Digidesdens on Locomon�fs crystal ball.

�gThey think they�fre going to be safe when the control spiers are gone?�h hissed Venommon. �gHa! Not a chance.�h

�gWhy are we wasting our time watching these pathetic children and their playmate Digimon?�h asked Squidmon. �gShouldn�ft we be planning our attack?�h

�gThis information is vital to our attack plans,�h replied Locomon. �gWill the barrier be broken by next weekend?�h

�gIt should be if we keep on schedule.�h

�gWhat is your plan, evilness?�h asked Venommon.

�gWe are going to crush those Digidestends at the soccer game,�h said Locomon. �gTheir guard will be down and we can take them completely by surprise. Venommon, are there any control spiers here in the World of Darkness?�h

�gThere�fs one in the middle of the forest.�h

�gTake two Flymon and how many Bakemon you need and go get it. We�fll take it with us when we attack.�h

�gA brilliant idea, master,�h said Jestermon. �gIf those Digimon can�ft digivolve from their In-Training forms, they�fll be helpless to stop us. The Earth will be ours!�h

Locomon turned to Jestermon with fury in his eyes. �gOurs? Did you say ours?�h

Jestermon gulped. �gDid I say that? I meant it would be yours. All yours.�h

The next two weeks went by quickly for the Digidestends. Nothing out of the ordinary happened and things were pretty quiet. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the day Willis would land in Japan had arrived. The Digidestends would ride to the Tokyo Airport with T.K.�fs dad that afternoon, but first they had a day of school to get through.

Cody tried to make the time go quickly by concentrating on his studies, but that was a little hard to do because Mr. Fugiamma was even more boring than usual. But at last the bell rang and Cody quickly left the class room with his friend, Gohan.

�gBoy, am I glad to be out of there,�h said Gohan.

�gI�fll bet,�h said Cody. �gNow you can enjoy the weekend. So what are your plans?�h

�gNot much. Just...�h

He was interrupted by a loud voice calling to them from down the hall. �gHey, Cody, Gohan, wait up!�h

It was Davis. He weaved around the other people in the hall calling out, �gMake way! Star soccer player coming through!�h

�gIs he always this hyper?�h Gohan asked.

�gNo,�h Cody answered. �gJust before a big soccer game.�h

�gHey, guys,�h said Davis.

�gHi, Davis,�h said Gohan. �gReady for the big game tomorrow?�h

�gOh, you bet. You coming?�h

�gI can�ft. Sorry.�h

�gWhat?! Why not?�h

�gI already made plans with my dad.

�gWhat kind of plans?�h

�gWe�fre going to do some fishing and then we�fre going to train.�h

�gTrain?�h

�gGohan�fs dad is a master of the martial arts,�h said Cody. �gThey train together everyday.�h

�gNeat,�h said Davis. �gBut you guys can do that anytime. Why don�ft you guys come to my game and share a father-son moment as you watch my team steam roll Tamachi.�h

�gSounds fun, but I can�ft. But you can tell me all about it on Monday, okay?�h

�gOkay. But you�fre going to miss a great game. See ya.�h

Yolei glanced at her watch. �gWillis�f flight should be just getting in by the time we get to the gate.�h

�gSeems to me that this Willis is a little young to be flying from America to Japan all by himself,�hsaid Mr. Ishida.

�gHe won�ft be by himself, Dad,�h said T.K. �gHe�fll have his Digimon with him.

�gAnd he�fs traveled from New York to Colorado with only Terriermon,�h said Cody.

�gSo,�h said Mr. Ishida, �gafter we pick him up, I�fm supposed to drive you guys to T.K.�fs apartment and you guys are going to spend the night there?�h

�gNot all of us,�h said Kari. �gJust Willis. After dinner,�h the rest of her speech was drowned out by the noise of a construction crew building a new office building next to the street the Digidestends were traveling on.

�gWhat?!�h said T.K.�fs dad. �gKari you�fre going to have to speak up!�h

Davis, who was sitting behind Mr. Ishida, leaned forward and cried, �gSHE SAID THAT AFTER DINNER SHE, YOLEI, CODY, AND ME ARE GOING HOME AND KEN IS GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT MY HOUSE!�h

�gEy!�h said Mr. Ishida. He put a hand on his ear. �gSpeak up a little louder next time, Davis, and maybe you�fll make me go deaf!�h

�gSorry,�h said Davis.

�gI wonder what Cocomon will be like,�h said Yolei. �gThe last time we met, he had a virus inside of him that made him act nasty.�h

�gHe should be much nicer now that the virus is destroyed,�h said Upamon.

A half an hour later, Mr. Ishida and the Digidestends were inside the airport, making their way to gate 23.

�gThere�fs the plane,�h said Kari, pointing to the plane that was pulled up to the gate.

�gAnd there�fs Willis,�h said Yolei, pointing to the blond haired boy who had just walked through the gate carrying a black gym bag. She waved to him. �gHey Willis! Over here!�h

Willis waved back. �gHey!�h He walked over to the group.

�gLong time, no see, man,�h said Davis., shaking Willis�f hand.

�gIt�fs only been about three months,�h said Willis. �gBut I guess some people consider that a long time.�h

�gIt�fs good to see you again,�h said T.K. �gLet me introduce you to my dad, and our friend, Ken Ichijoji.�h

Willis held out his hand. �gA pleasure to meet both of you.�h

Mr. Ishida took his hand and shook it. �gThe pleasure is ours.�h

Ken bowed. �gHello, Willis.�h

�gHi,�h said Willis. �gOpps! I forgot that in Japan, you bow when you say hello.�h Willis bowed.

�gIt�fs all right,�h said Mr. Ishida. �gWe Japanese don�ft expect every American who comes over here to know our customs. Say, where are your Digimon?�h

Willis�f eyes went wide with surprise. �gYou know about the Digimon?�h

�gOf course. Don�ft your parents?�h

�gNo. My mom would never let me keep monsters in the house.�h

�gSince he knows, can we come out now?�h asked a voice inside Willis�f gym bag. �gIt�fs stuffy in here.�h

�gWait until we get in the car, Terriermon,�h Willis replied. �gPeople might get suspicious if they see you.�h He looked up at his friends. �gWhere are your guys�f Digimon?�h

�gWe left them in the van,�h said Cody. �gWe didn�ft think we could smuggle them into the airport without making the security guards suspicious.�h

�gJust tell them that they�fre the latest talking dolls,�h said a different voice in Willis�f gym bag. �gThat�fs what Willis did to get us through the airport in the U.S.�h

�gShh!�h said Willis.

�gSounds like they�fre getting impatient,�h said Kari. �gCome on, we�fd better get going.�h

The Digidesdens talked about school and their friends while they went with Willis to get his luggage and then walked out to Mr. Ishida�fs van.

When Mr. Ishida opened the van�fs back door so Willis could put his luggage in, four little giggling Digimon bounced over the seat to greet them while Gatomon and Patamon just peaked over the back.

�gHi Willis,�h said Upamon.

�gWhere�fs Terriermon?�h asked DemiVeemon.

�gIn here,�h Terriermon said from the gym bag.

The bag unzipped and a little brown and pink lop eared rabbit type Rookie Digimon bounced out.

�gNice tan, Terriermon,�h said Davis. �gWhere�fd you get it?�h

A second lop eared rabbit poked his head out of the bag. This one looked exactly like the first except he was white and green.

�gI didn�ft,�h the little Rookie said.

�gSo,�h said Poromon, �gif he�fs Terriermon, then you must be Cocomon.�h

�gActually, it�fs Lopomon, the Rookie form of Cocomon,�h the Digimon said. �gAnd I just want to say thank you for getting that virus out of me.�h

�gYou�fre welcome,�h said DemiVeemon.

�gHey, who�fs he?�h asked Terriermon, pointing to the little green and brown caterpillar like Digimon.

�gMy name is Minimon,�h said the In-Training Digimon. �gI�fm Ken�fs partner.�h

�gHello,�h said Lopomon. �gI�fm Lopomon and this is my twin brother, Terriermon.�h

�gI know,�h said Minimon. �gI�fve heard a lot about you from the other Digidestends.�h

�gAnd we�fve read a lot about you from the e-mails they�fve sent us,�h said Terriermon.

�gAll right you guys,�h said Mr. Ishida, �gtalk on the way to T.K�fs. If we stay here too much longer, I�fm going to have to pay another five yen for parking here.�h

The Digidestends made the ride from Tokyo to Odiva go by quickly by talking about what was going on in the Digiworld. The Japanese Digi Crew told Willis and the Digimon twins about their battles with Arukenymon, Mummymon, and Black Wargreymon, and how they meet Azulongmon.

�gAnd he didn�ft even give you guys a clue about what this new evil might be?�h Willis asked.

�gNo,�h said Ken.

�gHopefully, it�fs nothing like Myotismon,�h said Mr. Ishida. �gSome people still haven�ft gotten over the pain he caused when he tried to take over Earth four years ago.�h He turned a corner and pulled into a parking lot. �gThis is the place.�h He pulled into a parking spot.

T.K got out of the van. �gI�fll carry your suit case for you, Willis.�h

�gThanks, but you don�ft have to,�h said Willis.

�gI know, but you�fre the guest, I�fm the host, so it only seems fitting.�h

Lopomon looked down at Willis�f gym bag with concern. �gWe�fre not going back in that bag, are we?�h

�gNah,�h said Patamon. �gT.K�fs mom knows about us Digimon, too. You won�ft have to hide from her.�h

Within a couple of minutes, the Digimon and Digidestends were out of the van.

�gThanks for the ride, Mr. Takaishi,�h said Willis.

�gIt�fs Ishida,�h said T.K�fs dad. �gAnd you�fre welcome.�h

�gOh?�h

Mr. Ishida nodded. �gI�fll see you guys later.�h

�gYou�fre not coming in?�hasked T.K.

�gNope. I gotta get back to Tokyo.�h Mr. Ishida backed out of the parking spot and drove off.

�gHe just doesn�ft want to see Mom,�h mumbled T.K.

�gHow come?�h Terriermon asked.

�gTerriermon, that�fs none of your business,�h said Willis.

But T.K answered the question anyway. �gHe and Mom split up when I was a little kid. That�fs why I have a different last name than his and my brother�fs.�h He picked up Willis�f suitcase. �gCome on, let�fs go.�h

For dinner, Ms. Takaishi, T.K.�fs mom, ordered pizza from a nearby diner. While they waited for it to be delivered, the Digidesdens talked in T.K.�fs room.

Davis bounced his soccer ball on his knee. �gYou guys are going to be in for a real treat tomorrow. I�fm going to score one hundred goals so fast, the goalie�fs head will spin.�h

�gIf you can ever get the ball away from Ken,�h said Yolei.

�gAre you a good soccer player, Ken?�h asked Willis.

�gI�fm pretty good,�h Ken replied.

�gPretty good?!�h exclaimed Minimon, bouncing in Ken�fs lap. �gKen, you�fre being modest. You�fre the best soccer player in Japan and you know it.�h

Ken blushed. �gWell, I wouldn�ft say I was that good.�h

Minimon looked up at the others. �gHe is. Wait until you see him.�h

Yolei stood up. �gWell, there�fs something I�fd like to show you guys, if it�fs okay if I use your computer, T.K.�h

�gGo ahead,�h said T.K.

�gThanks.�h Yolei turned on T.K.�fs computer, then logged on to the internet. �gThis is a cool site I found when doing research for my report on the twenty-third Martial Arts Tournament.�h

She typed in a web address, then a web animation of a man and a woman black belt kicking and punching each other appeared on the screen. Above them in red letters were the words: HISTORY OF THE WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT.

Yolei clicked on a link. �gThis page has pictures and info from every fight from the quarter-finals to the final round.�h

�gSome of these fighters are sure funny looking,�h said Upamon.

�gWho�fs that little guy with the white face?�h asked DemiVeemon.

�gAnd that big, bald guy with three eyes?�h asked Patamon.

�gThis one looks like he has no nose,�h said Terriermon.

�gWonder where that one got that scar,�h said Lopomon.

�gIs that guy�fs skin really green or is that make-up?�h asked Poromon.

�gLet�fs see,�h said Yolei. �gThe guy with the white face is named Chouzu, the guy with the three eyes is named Tien, this other bald guy with no nose is Krillin, and the one with the scar on his face is named Yamcha. It doesn�ft say where he got it from. And it doesn�ft say weather this guy, his name is Piccolo, is wearing make-up or not.�h

�gWho�fs that guy with the spiked black hair down at the bottom, Yolei?�h Kari asked.

�gWhy do you want to know?�h asked Davis. �gAren�ft I a lot cuter than he is?�h

�gNot by a long shot,�h said Gatomon.

�gI didn�ft ask because I think he�fs cute,�h said Kari. �gI asked because he looks familiar.�h

�gThat�fs Son Goku, the winner of the tournament,�h said Yolei. �gAnd now that you mention it, he does look familiar. But I can�ft think of where I�fve seen him before.�h

�gMe either.�h

Suddenly, the air in the room changed from mild and warm to freezing cold. Kari shivered. �gBurr. I guess the weatherman messed up when he said the the weather was going to stay warm this afternoon.�h

Gatomon looked at her in confusion. �gIt�fs not cold in here. What are you talking about?�h

Ken stood up. �gI feel it too. There�fs some sort of evil in this room.�h

Minimon trembled.

�gI don�ft feel anything,�h said Davis.

Kari looked back at the computer screen. The pictures of the World Martial Arts Tournament had been replaced by a pair of wicked looking red eyes.

Kari gasped. �gGuys look at the screen!�h

There was no reply. Kari looked around, but couldn�ft see her friends anywhere. There was only the thick, evil fog that she had seen in the World of Darkness.

Kari turned back to the computer, but it wasn�ft there anymore. A shadowy, robbed figure with the scary red eyes she�fd seen earlier.

�gWhat do you want? Who are you?�h

Instead of answering, the figure grabbed her shoulders and flew into the air.

�gWhere are you taking me?�h Kari demanded.

The shadow didn�ft reply, but flew on. Kari looked down over her shoulder and saw they were flying over an empty beech and toward the dark ocean. The shadow increased his speed and flew to the middle of the ocean. Then he flew upwards higher and higher until the ocean and the land had disappeared beneath the clouds. The air was so thin that Kari could barely breath.

Then, without warning, the demon let go of her. Kari screamed as she plunged through the air like a stone. She kept falling until she hit the water and sank below it�fs surface. She tried to swim back up to the surface, but she couldn�ft. Something was pulling her down. Kari struggled to get free, but couldn�ft. Soon, she was so far beneath the water that the dark sun�fs meager light could no longer follow her. She was enclosed in total darkness.

The red eyes of the shadowy figure peered through the blackness. Kari tried to swim away from them, but something rooted her to the spot.

�gYou�fre such a pretty child,�h a voice said. Kari felt the figure�fs hand caress her cheek. �gA pity that you must be crushed.�h

Kari slapped the thing�fs hand away.

The demon laughed. �gIt�fs no use to try and escape me. I will destroy you. But consider yourself fortunate that you will live to see at least one more sunrise.�h

Kari kicked furiously and was finally able to break free of the monster. She swam away from it as fast as she could.

Suddenly, the water felt like air and Kari fell backwards. She inhaled lung fulls of air, then looked around. She was back in T.K.�fs room.

�gAre you okay?�h asked Willis. �gThe computer shut down, then you fell down. What happened?�h

�gAnd how�fd you get all wet?�h asked Terriermon.

Kari slowly got to her feet. �gI.. I�fm not feeling very well. I think I�fd better go home now.�h She ran out of the room.

Gatomon ran after her. �gKari wait!�h

Did you see the look on her face?�h asked Yolei. �gLooks like she saw a ghost.�h

�gIf she received a vision from the World of Darkness, it was a lot more frighting than that,�h said Ken. �gBelieve me. I�fve seen enough of them to know.

�gDo you know what�fs wrong with her?�h asked Cody.

�gI don�ft think it�fs her. Maybe someone in the World of Darkness is after her for some reason.�h

�gKari has the power of light,�h Patamon said. �gThat means she�fs darkness�f worst enemy.�h

T.K. stood up. �gI don�ft think Kari and Gatomon should be out there by themselves.�h

�gI agree,�h said Davis. �gI�fll walk Kari home.�h

�gYou? You don�ft know anything about the World of Darkness. How can you possibly comfort her. I�fll walk her home.�h

�gJust because you were there once, you think you�fre an expert on it? I�fll walk her home.�h

Yolei stood up. �gYou two are impossible. We�fll walk with Kari and Gatomon. Come on Poromon.�h

Poromon flapped his little wings and flew into Yolei�fs arms. �gI�fm with ya.�h

As the sun approached it�fs midday peak the next morning, it found two warriors on an island off the coast of Japan already up and ready to begin an intense morning workout.

Tien and Chouzu, like the rest of the Z Fighters, were preparing for the arrival of the androids by sharpening their skills and strengthening their bodies.

�gReady, Chouzu?�h Tien asked his little friend.

�gReady,�h Chouzu replied.�h

But before either of them could make a move, the sky became dark and the air became cold.

�gTien, do you feel that?�h Chouzu asked.

�gYes,�h said Tien. �gAnd I don�ft like it. There�fs something evil in the air and it feels like it has a lot of power.�h

The two fighters looked up. Where the sun had been, there was now a large, dark hole in the sky. A second later, several black, flying creatures came out of it. Some of them looked like they were pulling some sort of flying carriages. And a group of dark insects were hauling a black, pointed tower.

�gI don�ft know what those things are,�h said Tien, �gbut I can tell they�fre up to no good.�h

�gThey�fre headed for the mainland,�h said Chouzu. �gShould we follow them?�h

�gYes,�h said Tien. �gI want to find out what they want here.�h

The Odiva Stadium was packed as it watched it�fs home team battle it out with the Tamachi Greens and their star player Ken Ichijoji. So far, things were not looking good for Odiva. They were behind Tamachi by five points and the game was almost over.

Ken looked in disgust as one of the Tamachi Greens took the ball away from one of his teammates. The Tamachi Green kicked the ball toward the Odiva goal. Ken wasn�ft far behind him.

�gOh no you don�ft,�h mumbled Davis. He ran toward the player to intercept the ball.

From the stands, Kari, Cody, Yolei, T.K., and Willis watched the game with their digimon in their laps. DemiVeemon and Minimon sat on either sides of them.

�gGo Davis!�h DemiVeemon cheered.

As Davis got in front of the Tamachi player to take the ball, the Tamachi player kicked the ball backward to Ken. Before Davis could react, Ken kicked the ball into the goal.

�gYeah, Ken!�h cheered Minimon. �gI told you he was good!�h

�gYou don�ft have to rub it in,�h said DemiVeemon.

�gIt looks like Tamachi is going to win this one,�h said Terriermon.

�gJust you wait. Davis will score enough goals to beat those guys.�h

�gIn nine minutes?�h asked Gatomon, looking up at the clock.

�gIn nine seconds,�h said DemiVeemon.

Back on the field, Ken was congratulating his teammate. �gNice pass.�h

�gThanks,�h the teammate replied. �gGreat kick.�h

The Odiva goalie threw the ball to Davis. Davis kicked the ball down the field a little ways before he was cornered by three Tamachi players and forced to pass the ball to a near by teammate.

Ken was about to move in to take the ball away from the Odiva player when he felt a strange chill in the air. Davis felt it as well, so did the Digidestends and Digimon in the stands.

�gBurr,�h said Poromon. �gHow come it got so cold all of a sudden?�h

�gThere�fs something evil in the air,�h said Kari.

�gThis isn�ft one of your crazy visions is it?�h asked Willis.

�gNo,�h said T.K. �gI feel it too.�h

Yolei screamed and pointed skyward. �gLook up there!�h

The Digidesdens looked up to see a sky darkened with hundreds of flying Digimon. They looked like the good Digimon that the Digidesdens had met in the Digital World, but these guys had no color on their bodies except for their glowing red eyes.

Yolei looked down at Poromon. �gYou�fd better digivolve. This looks like trouble.�h

�gYou too, Upamon,�h said Cody.

�gWe can�ft,�h said Upamon. �gThey�fve got a control spier.�h

�gIs that the big pillar that those Flymon are putting in the middle of the soccer field?�h asked Lopomon.

�gYeah,�h said Minimon, sadly. �gWhat do we do now?�h

�gCan�ft you armor digivolve?�h asked Terriermon.

�gNot unless we digivolve into our Rookie forms,�h said DemiVeemon. �gAnd we can�ft do that with the control spier there.�h

The people in the stands and on the field also noticed the dark Digimon and were now running for the exits and screaming. Davis and Ken ran into the bleachers to join their friends.

�gWe�fre going to have to get rid of that spier, T.K.,�h Kari said, holding up her Digivice.

T.K. looked down at Patamon and Gatomon. �gYou guys ready?�h

Patamon and Gatomon nodded. �gLet�fs do it.�h

�gDigi armor energize!�h T.K. and Kari cried, activating their Digi-eggs.

�gPatamon armor digivolve to..... Pegasusmon, flying hope!�h

�gGatomon, armor digivolve to..... Nefertimon, the angel of light!�h

�gLook Tien,�h said Chouzu. �gThose things are landing.�h

The two Z Fighters were nearing the Odiva Stadium where the strange creatures they were following were landing. The insect monsters set their dark tower in the center of the soccer field. The ones who were hauling carriages set them down around the stadium. The rest were attacking the civilians. Large stingers were shooting from the backsides of the wasp like creatures and were heading for the stands.

�gBlast them, Chouzu,�h said Tien.

Tien and Chouzu let lose a fury of energy blasts and incinerated the stingers. The wasps looked up and buzzed in anger.

�gWhoever you are, you�fve got ten seconds to get out of here or you�fll get more than your stingers burnt,�h said Tien.

�gWatch out!�h cried Chouzu.

Chouzu and Tien looked behind them to see two black mantis monsters with blades for hands flying toward them.

�gTwin Scycle!�g the mantis said. Blades of energy shot from the blades on their hands.

Tien and Chouzu shot into the air just in time to avoid the blasts. The energy attacks sailed harmlessly through the air until they cut into the wasp monsters.

Meanwhile, T.K. and Kari were on the backs of their flying Digimon and heading for the control spire. Kari glanced down at the fleeing crowd of people being chased by dark versions of the ghost Digimon called Bakemon. Terriermon and Lopomon were trying to keep them away with their Bunny Blast attacks, but they were outnumbered a hundred to one. It was impossible for them to keep all of them away from the innocent civilians. To make matters worse, swarms of dark Flymon, Snemon, and Kuwagamon were adding their special attacks to the chaos.

�gWe�fve got to hurry,�h said Kari.

�gWe�fre almost there,�h said Pegasusmon. �gBut it looks like we�fre going to get a little resistance form these dark Digimon.�h

He was right. A dark Kuwagamon was flying toward them with his front pinchers clicking.

�gYou won�ft get past me,�h the insect Digimon said.

On another island off the cost of Japan, two Z Fighters named Yamcha and Krillin were practicing their fight moves at the home of their martial arts teacher, Master Roshi.

While his two students were sparing outside, Master Roshi was inside watching a aerobics show. He wasn�ft watching it to get in shape, he was watching it so he could drool over the beautiful women on the show. But about halfway through the show, it was interrupted by a news broadcast.

�gWe interrupt this program for a special report,�h said the news reporter.

Master Roshi groaned. �gJust when it was getting good.�h

An image of large insect monsters appeared on the screen.

�gJust minutes ago,�h said the reporter, �ga large group of monsters appeared out of nowhere and began reeking havoc on the Odiva Stadium where a soccer game was being held.�h

Master Roshi gasped, then stuck his head out one of his front windows. �gYamcha! Krillin! Get in here, quickly!�h

Yamcha and Krillin stopped sparing and rushed into the house.

�gWhat is it?�h Yamcha asked.

�gThere�fs trouble in Odiva.�h Master Roshi pointed to the T.V. �gJust look.�h

Krillin and Yamcha looked at the T.V. screen and saw dark monsters attacking a large crowd of people who were trying to flee the scene.

�gWhat are those things?�h asked Yamcha.

�gI don�ft know,�h said Master Roshi, �gbut they�fre causing a lot of trouble at the Odiva Stadium.�h

As the three warriors watched the T.V., they saw a beam of light shoot out of the sky and hit one of the wasp monsters in the back.

�gThat�fs the Tri-Beam attack,�h said Krillin.

�gTien�fs move?�h asked Master Roshi.

�gYeah. And if Tien�fs there, there�fs a good chance Chouzu might be too.�h

�gWe�fd better get over there ourselves,�h said Yamcha. �gThere�fs way too many of things for those guys to fight alone. They might need our help.�h

�gOkay,�h said Krillin.

�gI�fll call Goku and ask him to join you guys with Piccolo and Gohan,�h said Master Roshi.

�gThanks. Tell them we�fll meet them at Odiva Stadium.�h

At the Son house, Goku, ChiChi, and Gohan had just finished eating lunch.

�gThat was great, Mom,�h said Gohan. �gThanks.�h

�gYou�fre welcome,�h said ChiChi. At that moment, the phone rang. �gI�fll get it.�h She got up and left the room.

As Gohan and Goku put their dirty dishes in the sink, Gohan thought about his friends from school. It would�fve been fun if he and his dad could�fve gone to the soccer game to watch Davis play. Then Gohan could�fve introduced Goku to Davis, Kari, Cody, Yolei, and T.K. and could meet their friends, Ken from Tamachi and the friend that Cody said was visiting from America. What was his name again? William? Wallace? Oh yeah! It was Willis.

Gohan sighed, wondering how things were going at the stadium. He wished he could be there, but if he didn�ft get as strong as possible, he and the other Z Fighters might not be able to defeat the androids. If those monsters were allowed to run loose, they would terrorize and kill thousands of innocent people, including his friends. There was no way Gohan was going to let that happen.

At that moment, ChiChi stuck her head back in the kitchen. �gGoku, it�fs Master Roshi. He says that he wants to talk to you. It�fs an emergancy.�h

Goku hurried into the living room, followed by Gohan. ChiChi gave him the phone and stepped back as Goku put the receiver to his ear.

�gHello?�h Goku said.

�gGoku,�h said Master Roshi said, �gturn on your T.V!�h

�gWhy?�h

�gJust do it! There�fs something you need to see!�h

�gWhat�fs going on?�hGohan asked.

�gFor some reason, Master Roshi wants me to see something on T.V,�h said Goku.

�gI hope it�fs not one of those Playboy shows he usually watches,�h said ChiChi.

Gohan rushed over the the family�fs seldom used T.V. set and turned it on. What he saw shocked him. People were fleeing in terror from some kind of strange looking monsters.

�gOfficials have no idea about what these creatures are or where they came from. They�fve evacuated almost everyone in the area and ask that people stay away from Odiva Stadium.�h

Odiva Stadium?! Gohan thought. That�fs where the soccer game is!

The next image to flash across the screen was an image of Yolei diving under the bleachers to avoid an energy blast from a ghost like monster. Gohan saw that Davis, Cody, and two other boys were also taking cover under the bleachers with what looked like six little stuffed animals. Moments later, hundreds of ghosts surrounded the bleachers, trapping the kids. Then, that image was replaced by static.

�gWhat happened?!�h cried Gohan.

�gThe camera must of been damaged,�h said ChiChi.

�gTien and Chouzu are already there and Krillin and Yamcha are on their way,�h said Master Roshi. �gBut they may need your help.�h

�gI�fm not waiting around here another second,�h said Gohan. He ran toward the door.

�gGohan, where are you going?�h ChiChi asked.

�gTo Odiva. My friends are out there, and I can�ft let them get hurt.�h

�gWait, Gohan,�h said Goku, hanging up the phone. �gWe�fll get there faster using the Instant Transmission.�h

The Instant Transmission was a move Goku had learned on the planet Yardat. All one had to do to activate was concentrate on the energy signature of a certain person or persons and within seconds he or she was transported to their location.

�gWe�fll pick up Piccolo, Yamcha, and Krillin first,�h said Goku. �gWe�fll stand a better chance against these monsters if we fight together.�h

�gOkay,�h said Gohan, walking back to his dad. �gBut let�fs hurry!�h

Goku took one of Gohan�fs hands and focused on Piccolo�fs energy.

�gWait!�h exclaimed ChiChi. �gGohan, you can�ft go. Those things are dangerous and besides you have studying to do!�h

But her husband and son had already vanished.

Venommon smiled as she watch the dark Bakemon trap the Digidestends and their Digimon under the bleachers. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a reporter and her camera man standing just a few feet away from the bleachers. Venommon slithered over to them and with one swipe of her tail she broke the camera in half.

�gHey!�h exclaimed the camera man. He and the reporter turned to face Venommon with expressions on their faces . �gJust what...?�h

Their expressions turned to fear when they saw Venommon.

Venommon smiled. �gBoo!�h

The camera man and the reporter fled in terror.

Venommon laughed. �gHow pathetic.�h

�gYou should have let them continue filming,�h said a voice. �gThese humans would have been even more afraid of us if they saw us kill off their champions.

Venommon turned and slithered to a black carriage parked by the concession stand. �gMy apologies, Lord Locomon.�h

�gWhere is the Digidestend of Light?�h

�gShe and the Digidestend of Hope are trying to destroy the control spier, but the Snemon and Kuwagamon are intercepting them.�h

�gWhat about the Flymon?�h

�gThey�fre being kept busy by two flying warriors whom we are unable to identify. Squidmon is on his way with your two Airdramon to dispatch of them even as we speak.�h

�gThese Earthling fighters are so strong that an army of Flymon can�ft stop them?�h

�gIt appears so. These two pose a great deal of strength and skill unlike any I�fve seen in any Earthling before.�h

Locomon stepped out of his carriage. �gThis is an unexpected turn of events, but it will not interfere with my plan. It is time for me to crush little Kari Kamiya.�h He flew up into the air. �gYou may proceed with destroying the other Digi brats.�h

�gThank you, sir,�h said Venommon with an evil grin on her face.

�gNow what?�h Yolei asked looking around at the ring of Bakemon that surrounded her and her friends.

�gBunny Blast!�h cried Terriermon and Lopomon.

Green light shot from their mouths and struck down two of the ghosts. Four more floated over to plug the hole that they left.

Terriermon flopped down on the ground. �gI don�ft know how long we can get keep this up.�h

�gYou guys have to digivolve,�h said Lopomon, looking over at his fellow Digimon.

�gBut the control spier is still up,�h said Poromon.

�gWhat�fs taking Kari and T.K. so long to blow up that thing anyway?�h Davis asked.

�gThey�fre probably getting some trouble from the insect Digimon that were hovering around it,�h said Ken.

�gSo what do we do in the meantime?�h asked Willis.

�gMake way!�h someone outside the bleachers shouted.

Some of the Bakemon floated aside to reveal a large blue cobra with a human face and arms.

�gWho�fs that?�h asked Cody.

�gI am Venommon,�h said the snake, �gan Ultimate level Digimon. I�fve been given the honor of obliterating you.�h

�gOh yeah?�h said Davis, jumping to his feet. �gWell, other Digimon like you have tried to destroy us and we kicked their butts.�h

�gYes, but then your pathetic Digimon could digivolve. As they are, they�fre no match for me. Now how should I finish you?�h She looked up at the tall stack of metal bleachers towering above the Digidestend. �gI know. How would you like to be crushed? Acid Sting!�g

Clear needles shot from her mouth and struck the frame that held the bleachers together. The needles turned into puddles of acid which ate through the frame. Seconds later, the bleachers broke apart and came crashing down toward the Digidestend and their Digimon. The Digidestend cried out in fright and covered their heads.

Suddenly, bright balls of light shot from the sky. Venommon turned just in time to see them crash into her body and her Bakemon. The villains were pushed backwards and into the falling bleachers, knocking them away from the Digidestend.

�gWhat was that?�h asked Upamon.

�gLook!�h cried Cody, pointing skyward. �gUp there!�h

The Digidestend and Digimon looked up to see four men and a young boy hovering in mid air.�h

�gWho�fs that?�h asked Minimon.

�gIt�fs the guys Yolei showed us on that web site last night,�h said Lopomon.

�gAnd Gohan�fs with them,�h said Cody.

�gHe looks a lot like Son Goku,�h observed Willis.

�gYou�fre right,�h said Yolei. �gThat�fs probably why Goku looked so familiar. Hey! I�fll bet Goku is Gohan�fs dad.�h

�gBut how are they able to fly like that?�h asked Ken.

While the Digidestend were talking, Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, and Yamcha floated down to the ground.

�gAre you kids okay?�h Goku asked.

�gYeah,�h said Davis. �gThanks.�h

Venommon moaned and slowly slithered off the pile of ruble she was on. Looking around, she saw that the energy blasts had disintegrated half of her Bakemon. She hissed in anger. �gYou got lucky that time, but you won�ft escape my grasp again, Digi brats.�h She lunged at the Digidestend.

�gWatch out!�h cried Gohan.

Gohan leaped into the air and flew at Venommon with such speed that it looked as if he disappeared then reappeared in front of the snake Digimon. He punched her in the face and sent her sprawling backwards. Then he raised his hands above his head.

�gMa..se..ko..ha!�h he cried and brought his hands down. An energy ball shot from his hands and hit Venommon in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. �gLeave my friends alone, you ugly serpent!�h

If there was one thing Venommon was proud of besides being evil, it was her looks, so when she heard Gohan�fs insult, it was enough to put her in an outrage.

�gUgly?!�h she screamed once she caught her breath. �gHow dare you?! Do you have any idea you you�fve just insulted, midget? I am an Ultimate Digimon with the ability to squash you like the insect you are!�h

�gBig talk coming from somebody who just got blasted by a kid,�h said Davis.

Venommon hissed in anger. �gEnough with this talk! Bakemon, destroy them all!�h

The Bakemon floated forward to obey the command. The Z Fighters rushed forward to meet them.

�gYou kids get to safety,�h Piccolo ordered the Digidestend.

Meanwhile, Kari, T.K. and their Digimon were flying through a sky of Snemon and Kuwagamon that were making it impossible for them to destroy the control spire. Everywhere they looked there was Snemon or a Kuwagamon launching an attack at them and every time Pegasusmon and Nefertimon had a clear shot at the dark tower, a Dark Digimon would fly in from nowhere and knock their attacks away.

�gWe can�ft go on like this,�h said Kari. �gWe need help.�h

�gWhere are we going to get it?�h asked Pegasusmon. �gThe others can�ft digivolve, remember?�h

T.K. saw some activity out of the corner of his eye and turned to see two people flying through the air, fighting a swarm of Flymon. One was tall, bald, and was dressed in green. The other was small and had a white face.

�gWhat are they doing here?�h he asked.

�gWho?�h asked Kari.

�gTien and Chouzu, two of those guys Yolei showed us last night.�h

�gAnd they�fre about to be ambushed,�h said Nefertimon. �gLook.�h

A moment later, a pair of Airdramon flew into view. Seated on one of them was a human sized squid.

�gWho�fs that?�h asked T.K.

Pegasusmon dodged an attack from a Snemon as he answered. �gI�fve heard of that Digimon. He�fs an Ultimate named Squidmon. He blinds his enemies with his Ink Mist attack, then takes them out.�h

�gWe�fd better take him out before he takes out those fighters. Come on.�h

Tien and Chouzu, meanwhile, were quickly reducing the ranks of the Flymon. They had taken out half of the swarm, but there were about a dozen left and all of them were firing their stingers at the two warriors.

Tien and Chouzu easily dodged the stingers, then began to punch and kick the wasp monsters. Suddenly, the two were engulfed in a black cloud that made the midday air as dark as midnight.

Outside the cloud of darkness, Squidmon was laughing. �gNow, Flymon. Get them.�h

The Flymon aimed their stingers at the cloud.

�gHold it right there,�h commanded a voice.

Squidmon looked behind him to see two of the Digidestend and their flying Digimon heading right for him.

�gStar Shower!�h cried Pegasusmon.

�gCat�fs Eye Beam!�h cried Nefertimon.

The two attacks hit Squidmon in the head and knocked him off the Airdramon�fs back. The Ultimate screamed as he plunged to the ground. At the same time, Tien and Chouzu flew out of the fading ink cloud and shot a volley of energy blasts at the Flymon. The bugs that weren�ft incinerated flew off in fright.

�gAre you guys okay?�h Kari asked.

Tien and Chouzu turned and gasped when they saw the two Digidestend riding two winged Digimon.

�gYeah,�h said Tien. �gBut who are you?�h

�gAnd what are those?�h asked Chouzu, pointing to the Digimon.

�gTalk later,�h said Pegasusmon. �gWe�fve got company coming at us from all sides.�h

He was right. Kuwagamon were charging the group from the left, Snemon were moving in from the right, and the Flymon, who had quickly gotten their courage back, were swooping down from above.

�gFollow me,�h said Tien.

Tien led Chouzu, the Digidestend and their Digimon under the approaching Kuwagamon, just as all of the Dark Digimon released their energy attacks. The Digimon missed their targets and ended up hitting each other.

�gThat should keep them off our tails for awhile,�h said Chouzu.

�gBut it won�ft be long before they�fre back in action,�h said T.K.

�gIf only we could destroy that control spire,�h said Kari.

�gWhat�fs a control spire?�h asked Tien

�gIt�fs that dark tower up ahead. If we could only destroy it, we might have a chance to defeat these things.�h

�gLooks like we�fve got a clear shot now,�h said Chouzu, pointing to the spire. �gThere�fs nothing between us and it.�h

Just then, the Airdramon flew in front of the control spire, followed by the swarm of Kuwagamon, the Snemon, and Flymon. The two Z Fighters and the Digimon stopped in mid-air.

�gLooks like you spoke too soon,�h said T.K. �gMan, where do these things come from?�h

�gI don�ft know, but they�fre starting to get on my nerves,�h said Nefertimon.

�gCover your eyes,�h said Tien.

�gWhy?�h asked Kari.

�gJust do it. Quick.�h

Chouzu, Kari, and T.K. closed their eyes and covered them with their hands. Nefertimon and Pegasusmon closed their eyes and turned their heads away.

Tien spread his fingers apart and put them on either side of his face. �gSolar Flare!�h

A blinding light shone from Tien�fs body and shined in the faces of the evil Digimon. They screamed in pain and closed their eyes.

After a few seconds, the light was gone. Tien tapped T.K. and Kari on the shoulder. �gHurry up and destroy that thing before they regain their sight.�h

T.K. and Kari uncovered their eyes and saw that the Dark Digimon were still blinded. It was their perfect chance. They didn�ft waste a second taking it.

�gGo for it,�h said T.K.

�gAqua Speed!�h cried Pegasusmon. Green light shot from his head and disintegrated the top half of the spire.

�gYour turn,�h said Kari.

�gRosetta Stones!�h Nefertimon cried. Red stones shot from her leg armor and disintegrated the rest of the control spire.

�gAll right!�h the two Digidestend cheered.

Their celebration was cut short by a bellowing voice fuming at the Dark Digimon. �gWorthless windshield smears! If I weren�ft so short on help, I�fd destroy you right now. Now, go and help Vennommon and Squidmon down below. I�fll take care of these weaklings.�h

As the Digimon flew off, the Z Fighters, the Digidestend, and the Digimon got ready to fight another foe. But after looking around, none of them could find the source of the voice.

�gWho are you?�h asked Kari.

�gThe source of your demise,�h the voice replied.

Without warning, a pair of thin black tentacles wrapped around Nefertimon and Kari. Dark energy surged trough them and Kari and Nefertimon cried out in pain and Nefertimon changed back into Gatomon.

Kari heard laughter and felt her body being pulled through the air toward something cold. She turned and saw that the tentacles were attached to a pale, withered body dressed in a dark red robe. The eyes of this creature were the same as the ones of the being that almost killed Kari during her vision last night.

�gLet us go!�h demanded Gatomon.

�gNow that I finally have you in my grasp?�h the withered Digimon said. �gI think not.�h

�gWho are you?�h Kari asked. �gWhat do you want with us?�h

I am Locomon and did I not already mention that I was to be your demise. That should also give you an idea of what the answer to your second question is.�h

�gGet your tentacles off of her!�h T.K. ordered.

Locomon, Gatomon, and Kari turned their heads to see T.K., Pegasusmon, Tien, and Chouzu flying toward them.

�gHow rude of me,�h said Locomon. �gI�fd almost forgotten about you.�h He raised one of his hands to the opposite shoulder. �gNightmare Wave!�h Locomon made a sweeping motion with his hand. A dark wave of energy shot from his hand and struck the four warriors. T.K. had never felt anything like it. His body felt cold and he could feel fear and despair fill his heart. Then he saw Pegasusmon change back into Patamon. Now, there was nothing underneath T.K. and gravity quickly took him and began to pull him toward the ground.

�gT.K.!�h Patamon cried.

T.K. screamed as he plunged toward Earth. He was just five feet from the ground, when he saw Tien fly under him and catch him.

�gGotcha,�h Tien said. �gAre you okay?�h

T.K. took a deep breath. �gYeah. I am now. But that wave...�h

�gI know. It felt weird. For a few seconds, I felt like actually running away from that jerk.�h

Chouzu and Patamon flew down to Tien and T.K. a few seconds later.

Patamon flew into T.K.�fs arms. �gT.K.! You�fre okay!�h

T.K. hugged his Digimon partner, then began to look around the field. �gWhere�fs Kari?�h

Chouzu shrugged. �gWe don�ft know. She and that freaky guy just disappeared.�h

A moment later, an Airdramon flew straight at the four warriors.

Tien took one hand off T.K. and blasted it. �gThese guys just don�ft quit.�h

�gGot enough strength left to digivolve?�h T.K. asked Patamon.

�gYou bet,�h Patamon replied.

Patamon�fs body and T.K.�fs digivice began to glow.

�gPatamon digivolve to.....Angemon!�h

When the glow faded, Patamon had grown into a long haired angel that was the same size as Tien. He was now Angemon.

Even though they were outnumbered, the Z Fighters had no trouble handling the Bakemon. The Digidestend, however were not having as much luck. The ghost Digimon were determined to recapture them and would not give up. The ones that were not being beaten up by the Z Fighters were chasing the Digidestend and their Digimon until they were split up.

Yolei clutched Poromon tightly as she ducked and dodged the three Bakemon swooping down at her. Suddenly, her foot got caught on a piece of broken bleacher and she tripped. Poor little Poromon flew out of her arms and into the hands of a Bakemon.

�gYolei help!�h the little bird chirped. He tried to wriggle out of the Bakemon�fs hands, but his grip was too strong.

Yolei grabbed the bleacher and started swinging it at the Bakemon. �gLet him go!�h

While the Bakemon flew out of Yolei�fs swinging range, his two buddies grabbed her from behind. As she struggled to get free, she heard a voice call out �gHey, uglies!�h

Yolei and the Bakemon turned to see a middle-aged man with black hair flying toward them. Yolei recognized him as Yamcha, one of the fighters on the World Martial Arts webstie.

Yamcha launched a kick at one of the Bakemon's�f head, then turned on the other and punched the other in the face. Both Digimon moaned, let go of Yolei, and floated to the ground.

�gThanks,�h Yolei said.

�gNo problem,�h Yamcha replied. �gHey, you�fd better get out of here.�h

�gBut I can�ft leave without Poromon.�h

�gWhat�fs so important about that stuffed animal?�h

Yamcha�fs question was answered when Poromon called out to Yolei from above. �gDon�ft worry about me, Yolei. I�fll be okay.�h Yamcha realized that the little pink bird wasn�ft a toy, it was a living being.

Without another word Yamcha flew into the air. Bakemon, not wanting to give up his prize, quickly flew higher into the air to escape the Z Fighter. Yamcha quickly caught up with him and hit him in the back with a roundhouse kick. The force of the blow sent the Bakemon hurling toward the ground and Poromon flying out of his arms.

Yamcha held out his arms and caught Poromon. �gGotcha little guy.�h

�gThank you,�h said Poromon.

Yamcha flew back down to Yolei and handed her Poromon. �gI believe this is yours.�h

Poromon bounced into Yolei�fs arms and Yolei hugged him tightly.

Suddenly, a bright light lit up the sky. It was so bright, it temporarily blinded Yolei, Poromon, and Yamcha.

When Yolei could finally open her eyes, the first thing she saw that the space that the control spire occupied was empty. �gAll right! The control spire�fs gone.�h

�gControl spire?�h asked Yamcha, opening his eyes. �gWhat�fs that?�h

Poromon pointed his wing skyward. �gAnd not a moment too soon. Look what�fs coming our way.�h

Yamcha and Yolei looked up to see swarms of insect Digimon flying toward them.

Yolei pulled out her digivice. �gTime to digivolve.�h

It didn�ft take Goku long to either knock out or chase off his Bakemon opponents. As soon as they were gone, he saw that there were several insect monsters swooping down from the sky. He was about to fly up to meet them, when he heard a girl�fs voice cry out for help. Goku turned to see a pale man in a maroon robe carrying a girl and white kitty with some kind of black tentacles. They were headed to some strange black carriage on the far side of the soccer field. Using super speed, he flew toward the carriage.

Kari and Gatomon struggled, but they couldn�ft free themselves from Locomon�fs grasp.

�gWriggle all you want,�h said Locomon. �gYou won�ft get away. I�fm going to take you back the the World of Darkness with me. It�fs quieter there. No other annoying Digidestend or super powered Earthlings. No one to stop me from destroying you.�h

Locomon was now five feet from his carriage. Then, from out of nowhere, a muscular Earthling with spiky hair appeared in front of him.

�gNo one except me,�h the man said.

�gWho are you?�h Locomon demanded.

�gThe name�fs Goku.�h

�gWell, Goku, you are in my way. I�fd advise you to move before someone gets hurt. I have some business with this girl and her cat that does not concern you.�h

�gIt does if it involves killing an innocent girl and a cat. What do you want with them? What have they done to you?�h

�gNothing yet. And I�fd like to keep it that way. Now step aside.�h

�gMake me.�h

Locomon raised an eyebrow. �gYou wouldn�ft, by chance, be challenging me to a fight?�h

Goku got into a fighting stance. �gYou might say that.�h

Locomon laughed. �gVery well. I could use the challenge. Capturing these little brats was far too easy.�h He tossed Kari and Gatomon against a wall, then pointed his fingers at them. �gDarkness Slime!�h Black goo flew from his fingers and glued Kari and Gatomon to the wall. �gDon�ft go anywhere, pretties. This won�ft take long.�h He turned back to Goku. �gI should caution you, Earthling, I am Locomon, the most powerful Ultimate Digimon ever.�h

Goku smiled. �gUltimate huh? Let�fs just see how that power stacks up against the power of a Super Saiyan.�h

�gSuper what?�h

As Locomon, Kari, and Gatomon watched, a great power surged through Goku�fs body. His mussels bulged, his eyes turned green, and his hair stood straight up and turned golden blonde.

Locomon gasped. �gHow could this be? He digivolved!�h

To Be Continued.....

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