The Ultimate Farewell

Gasps were heard all around.

"The Lady..." Craniamon blinked.

"Is another King Drasil?" Marcus gasped.

"Yes." Lilith replied. "Drasil and I; the two of us originated from one single entity, the Goddess and the general overseer of the Digital World. However, like all sentient beings, there are two halves to our minds; the logical half and the emotional half. And because we were omnipotent, the two halves were more distinct."

"The logical half of myself did not understand the decisions my emotional half made. I wanted to just simply watch over the Digimon's evolution and not intervene, while my other half wanted to control their evolution." She continued. "Over time, the two halves couldn't agree with each other, especially about the matters concerning the Human World. The rational side of myself wanted to destroy the Human World before they discovered the Digital World's existence and brought ruin to the world we watch over. The emotional side of me, however, believed that if Digimon and humans truly understood each other, the inhabitants of the two worlds could co-exist in peace."

"But something went wrong." Thomas reasoned.

"Yes." Lilith answered. "I was entirely to blame for that. I had no idea how firm my other self's resolve would be; not until I found myself forced out of our shared body. With no body to inhabit, I was driven to find one. In the end, I found a resting place within a symbol."

"But why Ami?" Yoshi asked.

"She was born with the mark." Lilith replied. "As omnipotent as I am, I can never fight against destiny. It was her destiny as well as mine that we merged into one. It was through her eyes and soul that I learned what my other half couldn't."

"Those who interrupt the installation process will be permanently deleted." King Drasil droned.

"Well Boss, ready?" Agumon asked his partner.

"Let's go." Marcus replied. "You know what time it is."

"My watch says it's fighting time." Agumon replied.

"For humans and Digimon." The two said at the same time and charged at King Drasil. The robotic King retaliated by firing his crystal at them.

"Marcus!" Yoshi and Keenan gasped.

"Let's give him a hand." Thomas remarked.

"Yes sir!" Gaomon replied. "Double Backhand!"

"Vee Headbutt!" Veemon declared.

"Seed Blast!" Lalamon shot seeds from her mouth.

"Ninja Blade!" Falcomon released throwing stars.

"Fox Leaf Arrowheads!" Renamon threw sharpened leaves.

"Fireball!" Guilmon spewed out a powerful flame shot.

The four long ranged attacks clashed into the vines as Gaomon sliced through them. However, the vines emerged from the smoke, unharmed. Marcus then leaped on one of the vines as Agumon followed his partner's example, jumping onto another.

"Pepper Breath!" Agumon's fireball hit the vine above him. However, the vine emerged from the smoke unharmed, knocking Agumon off.

"Agumon!" Marcus called out, reaching out to grab his partner. Tossing Agumon back up, the pair continued their ascent.

"Keenan!" Falcomon hurried to his partner when the other six rookie Digimon noticed that King Drasil was prepared to unleash his large crystal at the teens.

"Yoshi!" Lalamon floated back to her partner.

"Sir!" Gaomon hurried back.

Renamon, Guilmon and Veemon also made their way over to their respective partners.

"Drasil." Lilith looked at the robotic King. "What you are doing is wrong. Destroying the Human World isn't the solution. Someone like you will never understand!" Lilith retorted, firing an energy bolt from her staff to counteract King Drasil's crystal.

"Guys!" Marcus gasped when the crystal clashed into the group.

"All right!" He beamed when Gaogamon, Sunflowmon, Peckmon, Kyubimon, Growlmon and Veedramon emerged from the smoke, bearing their partners.

"Cannot compute. Cannot compute." King Drasil droned.

"Sunflowmon?" Yoshi blinked.

"How did you digivolve without our D.N.A Charge?" Thomas asked.

"I don't know sir." Gaogamon replied.

"I just want to protect Keenan and it suddenly happened." Peckmon answered.

"I remember wishing for the strength to protect everyone and I got it." Sunflowmon added.

"Let's put that strength to good use." Kyubimon continued.

"Yeah!" Growlmon and Veedramon yelled in agreement.

"You digivolved with feeling." Keenan smiled.

"If you cannot defeat me while engaging in Burst Mode, then why do you continue to fight in Champion mode?" King Drasil inquired. "The chances of you winning are virtually 0%."

"Sunshine Beam!" Sunflowmon fires a ray of sunlight from all her petals.

"Spiral Blow!" Gaogamon Tareleased a vortex of wind from his mouth.

"Kunai Wing!" Peckmon throws kunai-like sharp, bladed feathers that then exploded.

"Dragon Wheel!" Kyubimon spins very fast, causing the flames on her body to erupt into a fiery inferno. Kyubimon's body was turned into a ball of swirling blue fire. She then summoned a mystical dragon that emerged from her body.

"Exhaust Flame!" Growlmon shoots a powerful fire ball from his mouth.

"V-Nova Blast!" Veedramon spews a high-temperature heat ray out of his mouth.

Marcus whooped as he and Agumon continued to climb as the six attacks clashed into King Drasil.

"Winning Knuckle!" MachGaogamon's fist came crushing from the smoke.

"Heaven's Knuckle!" Angewomon fires a beam of sacred gold energy from her fist.

"Maelstrom!" MegaSeadramon creates an electrified tornado.

"Fire Tornado!" Garudamon creates a huge flaming tornado.

"Atomic Blaster!" WarGrowlmon fires a strong energy blast from the two cannons on his chest.

"V-Breath Arrow!" AeroVeedramon shoots a V-shaped heat beam.

Just then...

"Hammer Spark!" Zudomon strikes the ground with his metal hammer resulting in a thunderbolt striking King Drasil.

"Excali-Burst!" MagnaAngemon powered up Excalibur and then slices at King Drasil.

"Kaiser Nail!" WereGarurumon slashes the air, leaving red shock waves.

On King Drasil's body now, Marcus and Agumon continued to climb. In response, King Drasil fired his crystal's beams at the two.

MachGaogamon, WereGarurumon, Zudomon and AeroVeedramon punched through a crystal before getting hit by another and digivolving into MirageGaogamon, Plesiomon, MagnaGarurumon and Imperialdramon in the process.

"Cannot compute. Cannot compute." King Drasil droned, unleashing his vines on Marcus and Agumon when Angewomon, MegaSeadramon, Garudamon, WarGrowlmon and MagnaAngemon intervened, firing their attacks at the vines before digivolving into Rosemon, Ravemon, Phoenixmon, WarGreymon and Valkyrimon after getting hit by the vines. The six Mega level Digimon emerged from the smoke, slicing through the vines.

"Full Moon Blaster!" MirageGaogamon accumulates all the energy in his body and fires a blast from the opening there.

"Forbidden Temptation!" Rosemon destroys the opponent's data in a shower of rose petals.

"Celestial Blade!" Ravemon summoned violet lightning from his sword which struck King Drasil.

"Crimson Flare!" Phoenixmon released a purifying flame from her mouth.

"Positron Laser!" Imperialdramon fires a huge blast of energy from the cannon on his back.

"Shaking Pulse!" A high intensity sound wave was unleashed from Plesiomon's mouth.

"Starlight Velocity!" MagnaGarurumon dashes forward, surrounded by a aura of light.

"Terra Force!" WarGreymon gathered all the energy in the atmosphere and concentrates it in a single spot, before firing it as a super-dense, high temperature energy shot.

"Laser Javelin!" Valkyrimon summons a javelin and launches an explosion from it's tips.

Marcus and Agumon jumped out from the smoke, only to be grabbed by King Drasil's vines as the robotic King electrocuted them.

"Hang in there, Marcus, Agumon." Kristy told her brother.

Outside the shelter…

"Thomas…" Mr. Norstein muttered.

"Is he okay father?" Relena asked.

"Don't worry Relena." Yushima told her. "Look there, the Royal Knights have joined our side, trying to hold up the Digital World from crashing down on top of us. And I know Thomas isn't giving up anytime soon. We must have faith in all our friends and family."

Back in the fight…

"Marcus! Agumon!" Kristy cried out.

"It's the… D.N.A Charge." Kudamon gaped in the girl's arms, feeling Kristy's Charge flaring.

Outside the shelter…

"Father, the Digimon." Relena replied. "They're getting stronger. They are."

"I can feel it. I can feel it." she added, adding in her own D.N.A Charge.

"Relena." Mr. Norstein gaped.

"Father." Relena remarked. "I feel it."

Outside Angel's Bath House…

"Ruka?" Michelle blinked when the infant added in her D.N.A Charge.

"D.N.A Charge." Sampson remarked before turning to see streams of D.N.A Charges emitting from the people on the ground.

On the demolished road…

Miki and Megumi added in their own D.N.A Charges as well.

"Pawnchessmon, go for it!" Megumi urged.

"You can do it if you just believe!" Miki added.

In the Damon household…

Sarah watched in awe as she too added in her D.N.A Charge.

Back in the battle…

"All these lights…" Thomas blinked.

"D.N.A Charges?" Yoshi inquired.

"I can feel everyone's emotions joining together." Miragegaogamon replied.

"I can hear their voices rooting us onto victory." Rosemon added as everyone else merged their D.N.A Charges.

"Cannot compute. Cannot compute." King Drasil droned. "Why do you continue to fight? The chances of you winning are virtually 0%."

"You're wrong! You're wrong!" Keenan barked. "The power of one lone hu-mon might be small."

"But together, the combined power of all our friends and family is huge." Thomas added.

"We have the will to survive. We want to stay with our loved ones." Yoshi remarked, the D.N.A Charges flaring up.

"I want to stay here in the Human World with my friend, Kristy!" Piyomon replied, adding in his own D.N.A Charge.

"Me too! I want to stay here!" Gotsumon commented, adding in his D.N.A Charge.

"Let's show King Drasil what real power is!" Craniamon told his comrades.

"Our honor gives the Royal Knights strength, not the word of a King!" Omnimon added.

"Cannot compute. Cannot compute." King Drasil droned.

"You can't huh?" Marcus snorted. "Then I guess you'll never understand!"

"Cannot compute. Cannot compute." King Drasil droned on.

"You can factor strengths and stamina Drasil, I'll give you that. But determining the true heart of a person is quite a different thing." Lilith added, the 'Seed of Life' withinh her palms glowing brightly.

"It's true that best friends fight each other sometimes, even over little stupid things. But if you think just because humans and Digimon fight, means everything has to be destroyed, you're wrong!" Marcus rebuked.

"Human emotions make Digimon stronger!" Agumon added, as he reached out his claw to touch Marcus' hand.

"And digimon give human beings hope that anything is possible!" Marcus added, reaching out to grasp Agumon's claw.

"We're friends." The two chorused, their D.N.A Charges emitting from their clasped hands. "And together we make the ultimate team."

Their Charges flared and they broke out from the vines holding them captive.

"Cannot compute. Cannot compute." King Drasil droned as Agumon gained his own 'Burst Mode'.

"Get ready, King Drasil!" Marcus barked as he steered a phoenix-like Agumon into position. "Here we come! The power of humans…"

"And Digimon." Agumon added.

"Combined." The two chorused as Agumon flew towards King Drasil.

King Drasil's crystals merged their lights, forming a pentagon shield, only to be smashed through by the streams of power emitting from the 'Seed of Life'.

"Cannot compute. Cannot compute." King Drasil droned when Marcus and Agumon blasted a hole through his body. "Fatal Error. The probability of you beating me is 0%."

"Percentages are for poker." Lilith retorted, releasing the crystal's power right in King Drasil's face.

"Fatal Error!" King Drasil chanted.

At the last cry, King Drasil exploded as Marcus and Agumon emerged from the other side.

With his/her robotic body destroyed, King/Queen Drasil emerged from the shell.

"Go!" Marcus steered Agumon towards the revealed King/Queen Drasil and landing a punch straight into King/Queen Drasil's face.

Everyone gasped when the light engulfed the battlefield.

Floating within the light ball, Agumon opened his eyes first.

"What is this place?" the orange dinosaur asked.

"I don't know. The Digital World?" Marcus replied.

"I see you have awoken." Drasil told them.

"Who's that?" Agumon asked.

"You have shown me the true level of your combined power." Drasil replied. "It turned out to be much greater than I originally anticipated."

"Is that… King Drasil?" Marcus blinked.

"But I still don't understand. Why did Digimon and humans wish to live together in one world? If the inhabitants of two worlds continue to co-exist, it stands to reason that more conflicts will arise." Drasil remarked.

"That may be true." Agumon replied. "But the Boss and I are still friends even though we fight sometimes."

"That's right." Marcus agreed. "You know, even humans don't always see eye to eye, but they can still wind up being friends. You just have to be willing to work for it."

"Benevolence and forgiveness is the true answer to end all conflict." Lilith remarked as she fle towards her logical half. "Don't you think this cold war between us has gone on for too long? Don't you think it's time that we emerged back into one?"

"Very well then. I can now see your beliefs clearly." Drasil told her emotional half.

"Marcus Damon. Thank you." Lilith nodded and she and Drasil emerged back into one being.

"I shall lay myself to rest and protect you from afar without any further meddling. I don't know if the world can exist for humans and Digimon to live together in harmony, but if it is to become a reality, then it would be completely up to you." The reemerged Athena told the two as she disappeared.

"Hey! Wait a second!" Marcus shouted. "What about Ami?"

"Marcus! Wake up!" Charlie yelled at his younger brother.

"He's okay."

"Marcus." Thomas sighed in relief.

"I was so worried about you." Kristy added.

"Yoshi, Thomas, Kristy." Marcus looked up that the three.

"Agumon?" Lalamon inquired.

"Is it time to eat?" Agumon asked.

"He's fine." Gaomon remarked.

"Marcus." Thomas smiled. "You're really something."

"Yeah, don't ever scare us like that again." Yoshi chided.

"What happened to the Digital World falling?" Marcus asked as he got up. "And King Drasil too?"

"Everything back to normal." Keenan told him.

"What?" Marcus gasped.

"See? The Digital barrier has been completely restored." Yoshi added.

"We were successfully able to separate the two worlds!" Falcomon beamed.

A dust cloud then formed as something slammed down on the ground hard.

"You are to be congratulated." The five locked eyes with EmperorGreymon and the other Royal Knights. "For preventing the destruction of both worlds."

"The Royal Knights!" Marcus looked at the Royal Knights.

"Your powerful DNA charge helped create a miracle." Craniamon remarked.

"You were magnificent, Marcus Damon. You are without a doubt a true legend of the Digital World." Omnimon added.

"Thanks so much. You guys rock, too!" Marcus beamed as the Royal Knights returned to the Digital World.

"Hi guys!" Megumi beamed as she and Miki arrived via helicopter.

Iron Man then landed after flying to Mount Fuji.

"Keenan!" Michelle wept, reunited with her son.

"You're safe." Kevin sighed in relief.

"Mama! Dad!" Keenan run into his parents' arms. "I'm home!"

"That's right, you are." Kevin agreed.

"Finally." Michelle smiled.

"Tommy, you're okay!" Relena hurried to her brother.

"Relena." Thomas greeted his wheel-chair bound sister. "I missed you."

"You're safe. I was so scared. I didn't know what to think." Relena wept in his arms.

"I'm sorry I worried you, but it's over." Thomas apologized.

"Father." He looked at the elder Norstein.

"I want to thank you." Mr. Norstein told his son.

"Well, you're welcome." Thomas replied.

"Kamemon!" Yushima threw himself into his partner's arms.

"We did it. We saved everyone!" Gotsumon wept as the two Pawnchessmons were reunited with their partners.

"And just what did you do, exactly?" Yoshi inquired jokingly.

"What are you, kidding? I was the back-up plan in case anything went wrong! It's not my fault I wasn't needed!" Gotsumon protested.

"Sampson." Kudamon looked at his partner.

"Welcome back, my old friend." Sampson told him as Kudamon removed himself from Kristy's arms and curled around Sampson's shoulders.

"I guess recruiting Marcus Damon worked out afterall." Kudamon noted.

"Mom." Marcus turned to his mother.

"Mommy!" Kristy threw herself into her mother's arms.

"I'm so sorry I worried you." Kristy replied.

"It's okay." Sarah assured her. "I knew you'd be safe. I never stopped believing that Marcus would be able to make everything turn out aright."

"Mom, I…" Marcus stammered. "I…"

"What is it?" Sarah asked.

"Mom, I couldn't keep my promise to you. I'm sorry I tried, but I couldn't bring dad back." Marcus told her.

"I had a feeling you'd say that." Sarah replied. "But I'm prepared. I still feel that one day he will return to us. I'm just sad he wasn't able to watch you grow up. He loved you so much and he would be proud of you, just like I am."

"Yeah." Marcus replied, returning his mother's hug.

"Hey there!" Spencer called out.

"What the..." Charlie trailed off in shock. "It can't be."

"Boss…" Agumon told his partner. "Is that…"

"Dad?" Marcus stammered in disbelief.

"Marcus." Spencer approached his family.

"It's dad." Marcus ran towards his father. "It's dad!"

"Don't mess with me." He remarked, stopping before his father. "Is it really you this time?"

"It's me, the one and only Spencer Damon." Spencer told his son.

"But how?" Marcus was confused.

"Lady Lilith's vassal wished me back." Spencer replied.

"You what?" Charlie stated in surprise.

"And I'm guessing my wish worked." Ami grinned, surprising everyone.

"What?" she chuckled at everyone's shocked expressions. "You didn't realize that I was gone till now?"

"I feel so loved." She joked sarcastically.

"How?" Thomas stammered, rushing over to pull her into a hug. "I'm eternally grateful but how?"

"I'm a vassal Peacock." Ami reminded him. "And being Lilith's vassal has its perks. King Drasil and Lilith gave me an ultimatum: either become the vassal to house both of them, or to come back."

Pulling back and kissing him, she added, "I chose to come back."

"Besides." She smiled at everybody else. "What's the point of being all-powerful when you're all alone?"

"Kristy." Spencer knelt in front of his daughter. "You're taller than a tree."

"Oh dad." Kristy wept. "Daddy, I missed you."

"So did I." Sarah added.

"Sarah." Spencer looked at his wife. "I'm sorry, so sorry."

"Just… don't ever leave without us again, okay?" Sarah held back her tears.

"Yes, I promise. We'll be together forever." Spencer assured her as the Digital barrier closed.

The next morning…

"What? You're closing the Digital Gate?" Marcus exclaimed incredulously.

"It's the responsible thing to do." Sampson told him. "The Digital barrier's been restored and the two worlds are safe again. The missing have returned after ten years. However, it's still unstable, so the Digital Gate must be closed."

"But sir, for how long?" Thomas asked.

"We don't know yet." Yushima replied. "Maybe a year, maybe ten years. Perhaps even forever."

"No way!" Yoshi gasped.

"That messes up everything! What about our promise to create a world that Digimon and humans can share?" Marcus retorted.

"Er… Actually…" Agumon cut in. "There's something important we like to discuss with you."

"Agumon?" Marcus blinked.

"We Digimon would like to use this as an opportunity to return to the Digital World." Gaomon added.

"What are you talking about, Gaomon?" Thomas asked his partner.

"Because we defeated King Drasil, more problems have come up." Kudamon explained.

"The Digital World is in chaos now that they have lost their leader. The Digimon are confused." Gotsumon added.

"That is all why we'd all like to go back and help rebuild the Digital World." Falcomon remarked.

"Falcomon?" Keenan inquired.

"Are you serious?" Megumi asked and the two Pawnchessmons nodded.

"We believe one day Digimon and humans will live together in peace, but first the Digital World has to become stable too." Lalamon put in. "Understand?"

"Lalamon." Yoshi gasped.

"You mean you're just going to leave us?" Marcus exclaimed.

"Oh Boss…" Agumon muttered.

"Tailmon, so this is your decision as well?" Ami looked at the white cat.

"Yes, Lady Ami." Tailmon replied.

"I understand." Ami let out a small but acknowledging smile.

Later, on the pavilion when they first met…

"You're staying right here! No more talk of leaving!" Marcus retorted, giving Agumon a good punch across the face.

"You can fight me on this all you want, Boss, but I already made up my mind to go back." Agumon replied.

"And I'm saying you're not going anywhere!" Marcus fumed. "You're more than my best friend; you're like a brother to me! So, why would you want to leave? I don't get it!"

"I feel the same!" Agumon shouted, returning the punch Marcus landed on him. "You're like a brother to me too! I don't ever want to leave your side!"

"Then why go?" Marcus shouted. "Just stay here with me!"

"They're closing the gate!" Agumon shot back. "There's no reason for me to be here anymore. No more Digimon for us to fight. I'll just be a waste of space, splitting my time between sleeping and eating your mother's fried eggs."

"Agumon!" Marcus gasped.

"I'll never forget you. All the times we fought side-by-side." Agumon teared. "Oh Boss, I wish we could go on forever having adventures, but I just have to go!"

"Fine then, go." Marcus snapped. "Who needs ya? You don't even belong in this world anyway! Go back to the Digital World where you belong. I only wish I was going with you. I can't even imagine this world without you. The Earth is going to seem like a really cold place when you leave."

"Oh Boss…" Agumon muttered as the rain came down on them in torrents.

On a scaffolding elsewhere in the city...

"So, you're returning to the Digital World huh?" Logan asked his partner.

"Yeah." Gomamon admitted sadly. He really didn't want to leave after all the time they spent together.

Meanwhile, in Thomas' mansion…

"I made some tea." Gaomon placed a tea cup before his contemplating partner.

"Thank you." Thomas replied.

"It's good." He complimented, taking a sip.

"It's an original blend." Gaomon replied.

Blushing slightly, his tail wagging, he added, "I think I'll call it 'Vow To Meet Again'."

"Gaomon…" Thomas muttered.

"We will sir." Gaomon insisted. "I promise."

"You're my best friend, Thomas." He added.

"Same here." Thomas replied.

Their conversation was cut short by an amused giggle.

The two males turned to look at the chuckling Ami and Tailmon.

"Now, what's so funny?" The blond asked his girlfriend.

"We just find it entertaining that two guys like yourselves have to fumble for words." Ami giggled as the two females entered.

"By the way," Tailmon told the blue wolf. "I still haven't forgiven you yet."

"Tailmon…" Gaomon blinked at the white cat as she huffed off.

"Go after her." Thomas told his partner.

"Or do you need protection to go after her?" Ami joked.

"Please don't push it, Miss Ami." Gaomon replied as he hurried after the white cat.

"Gaomon's right though." Ami told the blond cradling her waist. "This isn't goodbye, merely a farewell."

"Shouldn't you be with Tailmon?" Thomas asked her.

"No, the moment we met, the both of us already know this day would come." Ami replied.

"And your family?" Thomas inquired.

"They know it too." Ami answered. "Angel-nee's probably giving Patamon some last-minute advice. I'm not so sure about Demon-nii since he rarely shows his feelings. Duncan-nii-san should be having some last-moment male bonding with Veemon."

"And I don't even want to know what those two jokers are doing." She shuddered.

"Yes, I know Megumi said she like a guy who's sensitive. But I don't get how two guys bawling and crying torrents over their departing Digimon partners can be called 'sensitive'. So forgive me if I don't want to get drowned in their tears." She continued to rant. "Great, rain. Why does it always have to rain whenever when we part? I swear it's Heaven's way of mocking us."

"Blue." Thomas chuckled, kissing her to stop her ranting.

At the arcade…

Lalamon was trying out the punching game, taking a high score at her first punch.

"That was awesome, Lalamon." Yoshi told her partner.

"Now, it's your turn Yoshi." Lalamon remarked.

"Go on." She egged her partner.

"Oh okay. Why not?" Yoshi shrugged.

"Yoshi?" Lalamon blinked, seeing her partner flare up her D.N.A Charge. With her charged-up fist, she pummeled the game and breaking it.

"What did you do to my machine!?" the arcade owner demanded as Yoshi and Lalamon stumbled out of the arcade.

"Sorry!" Yoshi shouted back as she ran off.

"Guess I don't know my own strength." She joked, stopping outside a mini-mart. "I'll go back tomorrow and pay for the machine."

"I'm actually kind of relieved." Lalamon confessed. "To see how strong you've become."

"Yeah, I'm strong; when you're here." Yoshi replied.

"No, you don't need me anymore to me strong." Lalamon corrected. "You're not the same Yoshi who couldn't play piano by herself. I'll keep singing our song in the Digital World to remind me of you."

"Oh Lalamon!" Yoshi pulled her protesting partner into a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you so much!"

Back in DATS headquarters…

"There, you're all set." Miki smiled at her partner after wiping him clean.

"Thanks for everything you've done for us, Pawnchessmon." Megumi told her partner.

"I wish we had more time to spend together." Miki remarked. "We never took you out to the hot springs or to karaoke."

"Hey, why don't we do that right now?" Megumi suggested.

"Seriously?" Miki looked over at the blond.

"Why not? The night is still young." Megumi replied. "I'm sure Duncan doesn't mind."

"Okay, I'll give him a call." Miki nodded and made her call.

Back in the Underground…

"I see." Duncan nodded when Miki informed him about their intention. "How about this? We get everyone else down here. Just consider it a final farewell to the Data Squad, past and present batches, before we go our separate ways."

"Good idea." Miki replied. "We'll see if we can get the Commander to come."

"Right." Duncan replied and replaced the phone, before picking it up again to dial Ami's number.

In Thomas' mansion…

Our favorite genius couple's small make-out session was interrupted by Ami's cell-phone.

Ami chuckled as Thomas muttered complains under his breath when they broke apart as she picked up her phone.

"I see." She nodded after Duncan explained his intention. "Don't worry, we'll be there. I'll inform the other two too."

"You'd better get those two." She informed the half-Austrian. "There's been a slight change in plans. I hope you bring your vocal cords."

Thomas nodded and went out to get the two Digimon as Ami proceeded to make her calls.

Back in DATS Headquarters…

"Commander." Miki looked at Sampson who had just entered the command room.

"I heard." Sampson replied. "But I'm not used to large crowds."

"I understand." Miki nodded and the two operatives exited the command room with their partners in tow.

"Oh hello." Sampson looked over to his partner who had climbed over his shoulders.

"I like coming to this shoulder when I want to be alone." Kudamon replied.

"Want to be alone." Sampson chuckled.

"I'm glad to see you still have your sense of humor, Sampson." Kudamon remarked, laughing along. "I'll miss that laugh."

On the seashore…

"Yushima had just downed his cup of sake.

"Kamemon." He offered a filled cup to his partner. "Drink your sake."

"Thanks Yushima." Kamemon took the cup and downed the drink.

"Beautiful moon." Yushima looked at the full moon.

"Yeah, but it makes me sad because it's our last night." Kamemon replied.

"Kamemon, though we may be as far apart as the moon and Earth, the connection between us will always be strong." Yushima told his partner as he poured out another cup. "One day the Gate may be re-opened and I'll be right there waiting for you."

"Alright Gotsumon." He handed the cup to the rock Digimon. "I know you'd be waiting."

"Thanks." Gotsumon took the cup.

On top of the DATS building…

"We've been through a lot of things, Keenan." Falcomon told his partner.

"Too many things to count." Keenan added.

"Falcomon." He turned to the owl Digimon. "Me thinking and I decide me going back to Digital World with you so that I can help build new world too."

"No Keenan." Falcomon replied. "You can't. You have to stay here and get to know your family. Your parents are so happy to finally have you back."

"Me no care! Falcomon family too! Me not ready to say goodbye!" Keenan protested.

"But…" Falcomon blinked at his crying partner, before breaking into tears as well.

Sometime later…

Everyone else, minus Keenan, Marcus, Sampson, Yushima, Falcomon, Agumon, Kamemon, Gotsumon and Kudamon were gathered in the soundproof hall in the Underground.

"Well, the gang's all here." Angel noted. "Almost, anyway."

"Sorry." Yoshi apologized with Lalamon floating above her. "I couldn't get Keenan and Marcus."

"Cyclops went back to his apartment. Yusei's currently driving through the city at the moment and Tony returned to Stark Industries." She added.

"The Commander wants to be alone with Kudamon." Miki supplied. "And we don't know where the Commander-General or Wolverine are."

"We'll make do." Ash declared.

"So, who's up first?" Megumi asked.

Dare grinned evilly at his surrogate younger sister and Miki was pretty sure that she knew what was coming next.

"I think since you two." Dare nodded at the genius couple. "Are the reason that we've not yet ordered dinner, you should get to go first. Sounds only fair to me."

Duke smirked, "Sorry, but Dare's been trying to break you two of being late for a while now. You should have seen that coming."

Thomas shrugged, "Works for me. I just hope that I won't set the bar too high for the rest of you." He winked. "So… I'll go put my selection in and sing once we order."

Angel, remembering Thomas' voice and pride in it from the moment he serenaded Ami, smirked, "I seriously doubt that was a punishment, Duke. His voice is almost as good as your own."

Ami chuckled as she sat beside Megumi, "I really hope you guys don't plan on punishing me too?"

Megumi shook her head, "Nope. But you are going to sing."

Ami's eyes widened and she shook her head, "I can't. Please, Megumi, don't make me."

Miki rolled her eyes, "You can too, Ami, you just don't have much confidence in your ability. But your voice is beautiful. You have to sing."

Duke nodded, "I've heard you, D. We're not going to miss that. Nor are we going to let you get away with hiding your ability from him."

She sighed as she saw everyone nodding, though she knew that only the two family clowns had heard her sing. However, what decided her was Angel's piercing look; Ami had realized that her aunt's opinion had mattered a lot to her. "Fine. Um… so what is everyone else singing?"

All the sudden, there were three couples who refused to look at each other, as if they all had a secret. She blinked, "None of you have told the other what you're singing?"

"We have!" Megumi smiled, "Duke and I are singing together. But it's a surprise for everyone else what we're going to sing."

"I'm singing 'May It Be.'" Yoshi smiled helpfully at Ami, "And you look beautiful by the way."

Ami blushed, "Thank you, Yoshi. And that is a beautiful song. Still doesn't help me though. What should I sing?"

Angel grinned, wrote something on a napkin and passed it to Dare. Dare nodded with an "Oooh, perfect!" and passed the napkin to Miki.

"You're right, dear, it is perfect!" She giggled when Megumi snatched the napkin out of her hand before she could pass it to her. The blond operative nodded with a smile when she saw what it said and passed it to Ami.

Ami's eyes widened, "You're kidding me right?"

"Please, Ami!" Miki might be mature, but she could still whine.

"Megumi?" Ami turned a look at the blond.

"Ami, if that song doesn't express how you feel, don't sing it. But it's perfect for your voice, and you know it." Megumi told her.

Duncan raised an eyebrow and Ami passed the napkin to him. He smiled, showing it to Duke who both nodded approvingly.

"I want to see!" Yoshi squealed.

Dare chuckled and passed it to the eighteen-year-old who grinned, "Good choice, Angel. Please, Ami?!"

Ami nodded with a sigh and got up, passing Thomas as she did so.

"I hate you guys, you know that." she turned a mock glare at her family.

Thomas blinked as he watched his girlfriend go to sign up for a song, "Why does she look like she's going to face the firing squad?"

"Because, our dear little 'Death' has her own insecurities. But it'll be worth it, kid." Duncan grinned.

"Besides," Dare smirked. "We know how much she hates being in the spotlight. "

The waitress came in to take orders while Ami was signing up for her own song, though she made it back in time to order a grilled chicken salad.

Whistles and enthusiastic cheering came from the table, along with one cutely flushing young woman as Thomas stood to begin. He kissed Ami's cheek and then stood, moving to the stage and the piano, angling the microphone so he could be heard singing while sitting at the piano.

"There are other songs I would dedicate to this young woman, but I understand that with karaoke, one is supposed to chose from popular songs. Ami, this song is for you, and it's true."

As he began to play, Ami's eyes widened and her blush deepened.

"It's late in the evening. She's wondering what clothes to wear. She puts on her make up, and brushes her short blue hair. And then she asks me, 'Do I look all right.' And I say, 'Yes, you look wonderful tonight.'"

"We got to a party and everyone turns to see this beautiful lady that's walking around with me." And indeed, everyone did turn to see who this gorgeous man could possibly be singing about. "And then she asks me, 'Do you feel all right?' And I say 'Yes, I feel wonderful tonight.'"

"I feel wonderful, because I see the love light in your eyes, and the wonder of it all is that you just don't realize how much I love you."

"It's time to go home now, and I've got an aching head, so I give her the car keys, and she helps me to bed. And then I tell her, as I turn out the light. I say, 'My darling, you were wonderful tonight. Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight."

Ami blushed through the song, touched that he had changed the words for her, and struck by the words, "You just don't realize how much I love you."

When he returned and kissed her again, she returned the kiss with a murmured "Thank you."

Thomas grinned, "You are wonderful, Blue. I just don't think you realize it. I love you."

"Thomas…" Ami gaped when she saw him slid a ring embedded with the Norstein emblem onto her ring finger.

"Marry me?" Thomas inquired, almost pleading.

Ami smiled softly, before kissing him, "Tell you what; ask me again in five years time."

"Alright." Thomas relented, returning her kiss whole-heartedly.

Megumi squealed and Duke chuckled warmly, the rest smiling as they watched the romantic moment.

Everyone at the table applauded enthusiastically, even Ami joined in on the encouraging applause as Duke and Megumi stood, Megumi beaming in such a way that everyone knew at the table that this should be quite interesting. When the music started, the girls giggled and the guys groaned.

Duke started, "Now, I've had the time of my life; no I never felt like this before. Yes, I swear, it's the truth, and I owe it all to you."

Then Megumi came in, "'Cause I've had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you."

Duke continued, "I've been waiting for so long; now I've finally found someone to stand by me."

The girls chuckled as Megumi sang, "We saw the writing on the wall, as we felt this magical fantasy."

Then together they continued, facing each other, "Now with passion in our eyes, now with passion in our eyes, there's no way we could disguise it secretly. So we take each other's hand, cause we seem to understand the urgency."

Duke on his own sang, "Just remember…"

Then Megumi answered, "You're the one thing…"

They continued to alternate through, "I can't get enough of. So I'll tell you one thing."

Then together, and their friends could swear that for that moment, the rest of the room did not exist for the smitten pair, they continued, "this could be love!"

"Because, I've had the time of my life; no, I've never felt this way before. Yes, I swear, it's the truth, and I owe it all to you."

Megumi picked up the next verse, moving towards Dare to emphasize the words, "With my body and soul, I want you more than you'll ever know."

Duke grabbed her around the waist as it was his turn, "So we'll just let it go, don't be afraid to lose control."

Megumi grinned, waggling her eyebrows, "Yes, I know what's on your mind when you say, 'Stay with me tonight.'"

Duke winked as he continued, "Just remember. You're the one thing."

"I can't get enough of."

"So I'll tell you something."

Their voices both swelled as they joined together, "This could be love."

"'Cause I've had the time of my life; no, I've never felt this way before. Yes, I swear, it's the truth, and I owe it all to you."

When they finished the song, with Megumi hitting the descant perfectly, their friends stood, giving them a standing ovation, causing the waitress who had just arrived with their drinks and food to have to wait before she could set them out.

Dare had sung "She's Every Woman" bringing chuckles as the song described, perfectly, Miki's temper, though still thinking that it was a perfectly fitting song for the couple.

Angel sang, "Going to Get to Know You," while Demon sang, "I Hope You Don't Mind."

Then it was Ami's turn, as she got up blushing, after Thomas squeezed her hand gently. She made it to the stage and saw her friends clapping and smiling encouragingly at her. She took a deep breath, "This is for Thomas, though I know I cannot sing as well as he can, I hope he knows the truth behind these words."

Turning a mock glare at the blond, she added, "You'd better appreciate this, Peacock."

"When I am down, and oh my soul so weary. When troubles come, and my heart burdened be. Then I am still and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me.

"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains! You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong, when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up, to more than I can be.

"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains! You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong, when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up, to more than I can be.

"There is no life – no life without its hunger. Each restless heart beats so imperfectly, but when you come and I am filled with wonder, sometimes I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains! You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong, when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up, to more than I can be. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains! You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong, when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up, to more than I can be."

Thomas was almost tearing, and none of the guys ribbed him at all for his emotional response to Ami's tender and sweet voice singing such a moving song. Ami did not hear the response as she ran back to the table. She did feel Thomas catch her and kiss her deeply. When she sat, blushing, she saw the smiles around the table, felt the encouragement, and knew that they were not just being her friends; that she really had sung well.

Then Yoshi sang her haunting but hopeful song.

Finally, after everyone had finished dinner and dessert, it was Miki's turn. She stood and the way she approached the stage caused a hush to fall over the room. She carried herself with air of a true singer.

"Like most of my friends, this song goes to the man who has helped me to be myself and accepted who I am. Dare, I love you."

"For all those times you stood by me, for all the truth you made me see. For all the joy you brought to my life, for all the wrong that you made right. For every dream you made come true, for all the love I found in you, I'll be forever thankful, baby. You're the one who held me up, never let me fall. You're the one who saw me through it all."

Even as Miki sang, the music swept her away, and she closed her eyes.

"You were my strength when I was weak; you were my voice when I couldn't speak; you were my eyes when I couldn't see. You saw the best there was in me. Lifted me up when I couldn't reach; you gave me faith 'coz you believed. I'm everything I am, because you love me. You gave me wings and made me fly. You touched my hand, I could touch the sky. I lost my faith you gave it back to me; you said no star was out of reach. You stood by me, and I stood tall. I had your love; I had it all! I'm grateful for each day you gave me. Maybe I don't know much, but I know this much is true: I was blessed because I was loved by you! You were always there for me, the tender wind that carried me, a light in the dark shining your love into my life. You've been my inspiration; through the lies you were the truth. My world is a better place because of you."

Miki's eyes snapped open, and for just a moment she faltered in singing, blinking at Dare where he sat

After a moment, of realizing that she was stuck, something that never happened to Miki, Dare got up and began the chorus where the music was, "You were my eyes when I couldn't see. You saw the best there was in me. Lifted me up when I couldn't reach; you gave me faith 'coz you believed. I'm everything I am, because you love me."

Miki smiled, and joined him the final time through the chorus. "You were my strength when I was weak; you were my voice when I couldn't speak; you were my eyes when I couldn't see. You saw the best there was in me. Lifted me up when I couldn't reach; you gave me faith 'coz you believed. I'm everything I am, because you love me."

When the song ended, Miki kissed Dare as the applause at the table turned into a standing ovation. While the group wandered what happened to cause Miki to stumble in singing, something almost unheard of from the dark-haired woman who had once considered becoming a professional singer, they still stood to their feet, leading the standing ovation.

When the kiss ended, Miki blinked realizing that they were still on the stage. She had almost completely forgotten where she was and why she had been singing, other thoughts having been much more important to her.

She turned to the audience, having caught Dare's hand in her own and gracefully bowed, accepting the accolades as if she was used to such. She ignored Dare's chuckle at how well she handled the attention. She did not downplay it as Angel would, nor bask in it the way Megumi would – and had when she was younger; she did not blush and try to run from it as Ami would, or the awkwardness that Yoshi sometimes still exhibited. Instead, Miki accepted it with grace, smiling but not needing it to know how well she had done, and making sure that Dare was included in it. When she had decided that it had gone on long enough, she gracefully stepped off the stage, leading Dare back to the table of their friends.

The next day…

"Biyomon…" Kristy wailed, hugging the pink bird.

"Oh Kristy…" Biyomon muttered.

"I don't think Marcus is going to show up." Yoshi noted.

"I guess he doesn't want to say goodbye." Thomas added.

"It's hard for him." Sarah admitted.

"It's hard for all of us." Ash continued. "We're saying goodbye to partners that we've known for quite some time."

"Fine, forget it then." Agumon retorted, as the group of Digimon stood on the Digital Dive. Patamon, Veemon, Gomamon, Gabumon and DemiDevimon had already returned to the Digital World.

"Coordinates are entered and locked." Megumi declared, activating the Digital Dive one last time.

"Bionic Condenser standing by." Miki added. "Transmission Coolers are off."

"The Digital Harmonizer aligning." Megumi announced. "Security Code, recognized."

"Stop right there!" Marcus cut in, a backpack on his back.

"Hey, you're here!" Agumon beamed.

"Yup." Marcus replied, jumping into the Digital Dive.

"Bye Boss." Agumon noted.

"Stuff your goodbyes in a sock. I'm coming along with you to the Digital World." Marcus remarked.

"You can't." Thomas protested.

"What happens when they decide to never open up the Digital Gate again?" Yoshi asked.

"I have to go." Marcus insisted. "With Merukimon gone, who's going to keep an eye on the Digital World?"

Ami chuckled, "I so saw that coming a mile away."

"Were there even any doubts about that?" She giggled at everyone's expressions.

"Now that you mention it, no." Thomas grinned.

"Not at all." Yoshi agreed.

"Gonna miss you, little brother." Charlie told him.

"That's right. You go, son." Spencer agreed.

Ignoring the females in his family, the elder Damon added, "You go back and keep the peace."

"Yeah." Marcus beamed. "Let's go, Agumon. Now we can always fight together, side-by-side."

"Yippee!" Agumon whooped.