A rainbow beam shot up from the pedestal's center, and a silhouette formed before the kids. Gennai had finally appeared again, and the children practically burst with excitement.
As his image stabilized, Izzy blurted, "Sir, is Myotismon our enemy? And how do we get home?"
Gennai glanced at Izzy. "I have good news and bad news. Which first?"
Joe replied, "Save the good news for last."
Matt disagreed. "If we hear the bad news first, it'll just be a downer. Start with the good."
Seeing Joe about to argue, Gennai hurried on; contacting the kids had already taken a lot of effort, and his time was limited. "Very well—the good news: I've found one of your companions."
"A companion?" Sora asked, puzzled. "Tai?"
Gennai shook his head. "No—the eighth Chosen Child. In truth, there were always meant to be eight."
"Eh?" The kids were stunned.
"Does that mean we get one more Digimon partner too?" Tentomon asked Sora.
"It should," she said.
Gennai continued, "What matters is this: without all eight, there's no way to correct this distorted world. Which means there's no way to save your own world either. Do you understand?"
"What kind of kid is it?" T.K. asked into the thoughtful hush.
His question sent everyone's imaginations spinning about the newcomer. Mimi hugged her arms and beamed. "I hope we can meet them soon!"
"Right," Izzy asked something practical. "Where are they—and what's their name?"
It was the most constructive question yet, and all eyes turned to Gennai with hopeful anticipation.
"Hmm. The name… I don't know."
Thud—the kids all toppled at once.
"Sir," Joe growled through gritted teeth.
"Sorry. But I do know where she is—she's in Japan."
"Where's 'Japan'?" Gabumon asked his partner.
"That's the world we came from," Matt said.
"Right!" Izzy perked up. "So we can go back to the human world?"
The kids lit up, gazing at Gennai, hope rising.
Gennai pondered a moment. "Now for the bad news. Myotismon already knows. He intends to go to Japan, find that child, and destroy her. He's assembling his army now."
"What—Myotismon's going to Japan?" Izzy gasped. "So he's found a way to the human world."
Gennai nodded. "Yes. Come to my place—I'll explain. This channel is currently being jammed by the Metal Empire." His image winked out.
"Ah…" As disappointment set in, Izzy's computer chimed. He opened it; a tracer line snaked across the map to a lake on the Server Continent.
"That's Gennai's home."
"But Tai—" Sora began, worried.
Beep—beep— Izzy fumbled through his gear and pulled out something like a phone. "This is… oh! The communicator Tai gave me—I forgot."
He opened it; Tai's voice came through. Riding on a Megadramon, Tai was already on the way to Myotismon's castle. "I'm aware. You all head to Gennai's. I'll be there shortly."
"Hurry, Tai!"
After a brief exchange, they ended the call and set out. With a map in hand, the children started toward their hope of going home.
Myotismon's castle.
Gatomon finished her report on the army's assembly. "Lord Myotismon, our forces are gathered. We can depart at any time."
Myotismon smiled. "Well done, Gatomon. DemiDevimon—what are the Chosen Children doing now?"
DemiDevimon flapped forward. "Reporting, Lord Myotismon: they're on their way to that old coot Gennai's place. Nearly there. As for the kid with the Crest of Courage—I couldn't find him."
"Hmph. Can't even handle that little task," Gatomon said, twisting the knife.
"You—!" DemiDevimon puffed up.
"What, you got a problem?" Gatomon flexed her sharp claws.
"Enough," Myotismon cut them off. "Do your jobs. And move the army out—we march to the human world."
"Yes." Though she wondered why he was in such a rush, Gatomon didn't dare ask.
After Gatomon and DemiDevimon left, Myotismon's face darkened. "Just wait. I'll be back. I can't resist for now, but you'll pay the price."
Gennai's home.
Gennai looked up at the mechanical fish in the lake and murmured, "You're here."
A hooded figure appeared soundlessly behind him. "Yes."
"What is it?"
"It's about that child."
"He's stepped off the track we set. Is that all right?"
"Don't worry. He won't endanger the Digital World."
"So you mean he might turn on us. Baihumon has already had his law drawn out by him."
"Then you should consider what they did. Causes have effects. It's their own mistake; they must bear it. It isn't our place to intervene."
"I know. We've worked together so long—it's just… melancholy."
"He won't push them to extinction. The Four Sovereigns won't die—they'll merely pay the price they owe."
"Good. How's your injury? The Dark Ocean is unsettled."
"Much better. He won't dare stir trouble now. The Digital World is at a critical moment. Our years of preparation hinge on this."
Gennai returned to watching the fish. The hooded figure vanished, as if nothing had happened—leaving only a sigh.
Tai reached the exterior of Myotismon's castle. Gazing up at the towering, ancient walls, he felt a surge of excitement. Inside was the gate to another world.
"Full advance. Target: the castle ahead. Eliminate any who resist." He drew a breath and gave the order.
The mechanical army marched.
"Bad news, Lord Myotismon!" a Numemon slithered in. "Tons of mechanical soldiers outside—they're going to attack us!"
Myotismon's expression soured. "Move out. Now." He laid nine cards on the stone dais before him. Light spilled over a towering gate. Bathed in the glow, its doors slowly opened. Myotismon's mood lifted—he was about to become king of the Digital World.
Tai moved with the army when Datamon's report came in. "Lord Tai, data shows Digimon inside the castle dropping rapidly. We suspect Myotismon has opened the gate and begun entering the human world." Tai frowned. "WarGreymon, break from the army. We're going straight in."
"Got it." Tai and WarGreymon ignored Myotismon's remaining troops and dove from above, racing for the lower levels.
"Hurry—faster!" Myotismon urged his forces.
DemiDevimon came flapping, frantic. "Lord Myotismon! WarGreymon and a kid are closing in!"
Myotismon thought a moment. "Leave some behind to delay them. The rest—through the gate."
WarGreymon bulldozed through the castle, shredding any Digimon that barred the way. One more slab of flooring gave way, and a vast hall opened beneath them. Myotismon's carriage was nearly at the massive, luminous door. A cat-like Digimon had just activated the hall's Devidramon and was sprinting for the gate.
"WarGreymon—stop that carriage!"
"On it!" WarGreymon flashed ahead of the horses and hurled a blazing sphere. "Terra Force!" The carriage exploded into splinters. Myotismon tumbled out, soot-streaked and snarling.
"Damn you!"
Tai glanced at the small feline trying to bolt and dropped in front of her, head cocked. "Where do you think you're going?"
Gatomon bared her claws at the cloaked human. "What do you want?"
Tai chuckled at the wary cat, then turned his eyes to Myotismon and WarGreymon.
Myotismon cracked two crimson whips at WarGreymon. "Crimson Lightning!" WarGreymon didn't budge or use a technique; he merely swept his Dramon Destroyers. The blood-red lashes shredded into chunks and splashed to the stone in puddles.
"Grisly Wing!" Bats swarmed. "Terra Force!" WarGreymon's sun met the swarm. The bats burned away—then the blast clipped Myotismon himself. He grinned through the pain and shot for the gate.
"Clever—using WarGreymon's attack to propel yourself. Ruthless enough with your own body, Myotismon," Tai thought, already firing his thrusters. He seized something—felt it tear free under the strain. Myotismon had been smirking, but when he saw what Tai held, his face went blank. The gate slammed shut.
Tai smiled at the object in his grasp: Kari's Crest of Light—Myotismon's prize. He tucked it away. "Tough break, Myotismon—lost the most important thing. Consider it returned to its owner. Now—about this little cat…"
"Sorry, Tai. It's my fault he got away," WarGreymon said, abashed.
"It's fine. We'll have more chances." Tai looked back at the ever-alert Gatomon. "No need to be so tense. If I meant you harm, I'd have acted already."
"Then what do you want?" She lowered her guard—slightly.
Tai stepped forward—lightning slammed down in front of him. He sprang back. "Come out. No point hiding."
A robed wizard with staff glided between him and Gatomon.
"Wizardmon—you came back?" Gatomon gasped.
"I won't abandon you, Gatomon," Wizardmon said, eyes on Tai.
"Join the Metal Empire," Tai said.
Wizardmon answered first. "If you spare Gatomon, I'll join."
"No—I'll join too. I won't leave you alone," Gatomon said firmly.
"In that case, head outside. Datamon will place you." Tai lifted off with WarGreymon, leaving the cleanup to the troops. Gatomon and Wizardmon followed in silence.
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