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"So, you two are from another universe?" Alt-Yolei asked. "What's that like?"
Yolei looked at Ken. After seeing his alternate self, he had ditched the blanket disguise. He and Yolei were helping the alt-DigiDestined assemble a sled. "Well," she said guardedly, "I think our universe is a bit farther in the future than this."
"Say, that means you can tell us what is going happen to us?" alt-Davis asked.
"Probably not," Ken said. "Different universes, remember?"
Yolei walked over to where Ken was and started working next to him. "I don't get it," she said softly, so that none of the alt-DigiDestined would hear. "Why are you -- I mean, your alternate self -- here? I mean, you were still the Digimon Emperor, and, well..." she looked at alt-Ken who had started to chat with Wormmon about something.
"Alternate universe," Ken matched Yolei's tone. "I guess I wasn't the Digimon Emperor here. We need to find out what's going on."
Yolei nodded. "Kari's not here. We need to find her, or Tai, or ask the alternate DigiDestined or something."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Ken said. "If my alternate self isn't the Digimon Emperor, why are the DigiDestined here? We need to find out about what's going on." Louder, Ken asked his alternate self, "So, what exactly is going on?"
"Excuse me?" Alt-Ken looked at him.
"Well, we're from another universe," Ken said. "From what Gennai told us, anything could be different." Things already are, he added to himself. He wasn't going to bring up his past here. It would only upset his alternate self. "Maybe you could tell us what you're doing here?"
Yolei added, "Yeah, I mean T.K. once told me that the Digital World only opens the gate when it needs the DigiDestined. So, why are you here?"
"Well," alt-T.K. said. "It's been about 3 years since we defeated Apocalymon, when the gate opened up again. The Digimon needed our help again. Some girl from our word calling herself the Digimon Empress entered the Digital World and is trying to take it over."
"Digimon Empress?" Ken asked.
Alt-Davis nodded. "Yeah. Isn't it like that in your universe?"
"Well, we had a Digimon Emperor, but we defeated him," Yolei blurted out.
"Weird..." Alt-Ken said. He stood up. "I think we're done."
"Yeah, we're done," Ken said. "What's the sled for, anyway?"
"The Digimon Empress built a Control Spire across the ice field," Alt-Gomamon explained.
"We need to destroy it!" Alt-Davis said. "Come on!"
"Same old Davis," Yolei muttered to Ken. He smiled.
The group hitched their Digimon (except alt-Gomamon who was still injured) to the sled. It took a bit of effort to get it moving, but soon it was moving at a pretty good clip.
"Digimon Empress?" Yolei asked Ken. "What's up with that?"
Ken slowly shook his head. "I have a bad feeling about this. Why did I think this would be simple?"
"Your natural sense of optimism?" Yolei suggested. "Hey, what's that?" She pointed.
"They're only Frigimon," alt-Ken said.
"Yeah, but they have Dark Rings on them!" Alt-T.K. yelled.
A figure appeared standing on a snowdrift. She was standing too far away for Ken to make out her face, but, judging from her choice of costume, she was the Digimon Empress. She gestured and yelled a command at the Frigimon. Her words were lost in the wind, but the Frigimon heard her and turned towards the sled. The Digimon swerved, avoiding the barrage of Subzero Ice Punches hitting the snow around the sled.
"Just ignore them!" Alt-Joe yelled. "We have to destroy the Control Spire."
"But they're attacking us!" Alt-Davis objected.
"Just do it, Davis!" Yolei said.
The Frigimon shot off another burst of Subzero Ice Punches. "Hah! They missed us by a mile!" Alt-Davis yelled. A rumbling interrupted his remarks as the hillside in front of the sled collapsed in an avalanche. The Digimon swerved violently to the right, causing everyone to grab at the sled. A crevasse approached and the Digimon did their best to clear it. They made it, but the sled landed on the precipice, off balance. It rocked violently, sending alt-Cody off into the icy water below. Yolei tried to grab alt-Cody's sleeve, but ended up only knocking herself off the sled.
"I'll save them!" alt-Gomamon jumped in after the pair.
* * *
The DigiDestined built a fire in a nearby cave and alt-Joe broke out his emergency supplies. "Here," Alt-Joe handed Yolei and alt-Cody cups. "It's herbal tea. Well actually, it's 10% herbal and 90% tea."
"I guess we'll have to leave them behind," alt-T.K. said.
"Oh, I'm fine, really," Yolei said.
"You are most certainly not fine, Yolei," Hawkmon corrected.
"T.K.'s right. I'll stay behind, in case something happens," alt-Joe said.
"I'm going," alt-Cody said. "My grandfather told me that if I rely on myself and try my hardest, I won't let any of you down."
"You're so stubborn, Cody!" Yolei said. "Even in another universe!"
"You should talk, Yolei," Ken told her.
"You're not letting us down, Cody," alt-Ken said. "You need to conserve your strength."
"I guess you're right," alt-Cody said.
"Don't worry." alt-Davis grinned. "We'll be back before you can say 'Digimon Empress'."
Yolei pulled Ken aside. "You sure you don't want to stay, too?" she asked. "I remember Cody telling me about this. If this is like our universe, we can finally get a close look at this Digimon Empress. "
"I don't think I need to..." Ken shrugged
"What do you mean by that?"
"I think I know who the Digimon Empress is."
"Who? And how? We didn't get a close look at her."
"It's just a suspicion. You can tell me if I'm right, later." Ken turned to go. He paused at the cave entrance, where the others were waiting.
"Good luck, everyone," Yolei said. She turned to alt-Cody and alt-Joe. "I'll stand watch while you two stay in here."
"Oh, no, you don't..." Hawkmon said. "Do you really want hypothermia, Yolei?"
"What were you and Ken talking about, Yolei?" alt-Joe asked.
"Oh, just reviewing what happened in our universe," Yolei shrugged.
"Anything helpful?"
"Um... well, I guess you'll just have to wait to find out."
"I feel like I should be helping the others," alt-Cody sighed.
"That's how I used to feel," Joe said. "At first I thought it was nausea, but then I began to realize that things happen for a reason. There must be some reason we have to stay here, that we just can see yet. I'm sure that's why Yolei decided to stay here."
"Well, that and the fact Hawkmon wouldn't let me go with the others," Yolei added.
The conversation was interrupted by a rumbling. "The cave's going to collapse!" Yolei yelled. "Everybody out!"
The three DigiDestined and their Digimon ran outside as the cave collapsed behind them. Someone was waiting for them. "Well, it looks like I've found your hideout," she said, in a smug voice.
Yolei was stunned into speechlessness. Only one thought went through her head.
Kari...