Snow drifted around, whipping up into little wisps around the two figures. Deep in the middle of the blizzard, a lone sound could be heard. The melancholy tone of a saxophone. The herald. The catalyst. And now, the provider. As the cold settled within the white wastelands, Callum and Empermon reached out together, and clasped the others’ hand.

“Evolution Activate!”

The figure danced in blue and white as snowflakes danced around him. The tones sounded as he did so; the feathery playful song of the soprano as Empermon jumped, and the soulful tenor as Saxophmon shuffled, and a great, deep bass as Ophicleimon spread his wings. Three figures wrapped in song, which spun around like a shroud, then pulled apart, revealing the lead performer, all cloaked in black and carrying a shining new instrument. The sounds resonated, and the black light shattered, revealing him in his full majesty.

He was almost human, if very tall, and with a pale blue tinge to his skin. He wore a striped waistcoat and segmented metal tie, loose trousers with golden flares, and a long, dark coat with a golden lining. His hair was long and blond, and he wore a wide-brimmed hat which melded with a pointed mask, covering his face. In his hands he held a new instrument like a wizard’s staff; fiendishly complex and as long as his body, with one end splaying out into three barrels. It wasn’t metal like before, instead seemingly carved out of the purest ice, so pristine it was almost transparent, yet sparkling in his grip. The bard swung the horn lazily, his posture shifting against the frost that gathered beneath his feet.

“Rhapsodymon!”

Rolling mountains and lush valleys. Springs welling up, becoming tributaries, and rivers, and huge lakes. The smallest change, performed in anger, or in curiosity, or simply in a hope to change something. A small act becoming something gigantic. Eleanor straightened up, staring back at Terramon behind her. The turtle nodded, and together, the two of them began to run.

“Evolution Activate!”

A seed rolled forwards as green energy spread out all around, like a moss, grasping up the ravine walls and sprouting into huge trees. The seed flickered, unfurling further and further. Terramon opened up her hands from within the seed, reaching out towards somebody who wasn’t there. She unfolded again, and Chelydramon roared, her voice making the flowers bloom. And again, unravelling into Minogamemon, calm as the morning breeze. Then she folded herself up again, becoming an orb that sparkled green and gold, letting out tendrils as it rose skywards and grew even more, becoming a vast green planet spinning up above. It dropped lights all around as it spun, which joined together, and a new body materialised with a deep, low rumble.

She was huge, twice as tall again as Minogamemon had been, and that wasn’t including the great earth that sat in the hollow of her shell, held in place by gently glowing vines. More twisting vines protruded towards the ground, making up her legs, with long, broad leaves covering her shoulders. Her shell was flattened, with a slender neck pointing out of the front, laden with green plate armour and a plethora of blue and gold jewels. Her head was monstrous and regal, ancient yet powerful, with long leaves falling down like hair and ten, glowing eyes, each blinking in the sunlight. As the earth span lazily in the centre of her back, she turned her head to the sky, and let off a deep, almost inaudible rumble.

“Chukwamon!”

For a moment there was only darkness. Then suddenly, stars. One by one, blinking into existence and cascading around Martin as he fell through the void. And as he fell, the brightest star reached out towards him. They burned. They tingled. They wrapped their arms around him and held him, and he held them back, and the void turned into a dazzling display of colour as Polypmon and Martin danced through space.

“Evolution Activate!”

The lights whipped and waved above in a mesmerising display as little drops of lightning fell down into the ravine. The lights flowed from left to right, following the movements of the head. Of Polypmon, swaying left and right. Of Manowarmon, pulsing gently as arcs of lightning erupted from their hands, and bringing their body with it. Into the swirling, spinning coils of Siphonamon, effortlessly gliding through space. And further still, spinning faster and faster until they were a kaleidoscope in the sky, with the drops of lightning turning into trails of light that fell down like ribbons, one after the other.

A small figure rose up, hovering at the end of one of the trails. They had a round chest and two broad sabres for arms, and their head was angular, with three sharp fins and piercing pink eyes. They raised their sabres, and two more identical figures fell down behind them. Then another six. Then twenty. Then, inexplicably, the sky was filled with five hundred miniature warriors, raising their arms and cheering as the lights danced around them and through them and between them, rising up towards a vast, floating dome in the sky that rivalled Chukwamon for size. They spun lazily, showing a bioluminescent display around the dome, and twelve tubular eyes each as vast as a pavilion. They spun downwards, and their tentacles rushed outwards as the five hundred warriors chanted, all as one, with a voice that could bring down mountains.

“Cyaneamon!”

The heat was blistering; great waves of liquid rock pouring down all around as fiery bursts lit up the sky. But the two kept climbing. They took step after step, holding each others’ hands and rising up. Until there they stood, staring over the lip of a field of volcanoes that heralded their presence. Ursula and Hinkymon caught their breath, and held on tightly to each other’s hands as the core of the earth rose up towards them.

“Evolution Activate!”

Clang. Spark. The noises coincided with the flashes of bright orange as the little flames danced, casting shadows on the canyon wall. With each noise it grew brighter, and the shadow grew stronger. Clang. Hinkymon skipped forwards, his eyes as bright as his lantern. Clang. Kobolmon took over, his agility giving way to pure, relentless determination. Clang. The bright beacons mingled with a distant engine as Sindrimon raised his hammer, breaking the shadowy form and forging something new. Something bigger. Something that cracked the very rock and grew louder and louder.

With a terrifying whistle the new figure burst forth, slamming his spiked staff into the ground below and letting off a deep booming laugh. He rode atop a mechanical throne, which was combined with a commanding steam engine; all pistons and chimneys and spikes and a bright, burning furnace at the front, leering out like the visage of some hideous metal demon. The figure’s upper body was more humanoid than previously, only he was easily twenty feet tall at the shoulder, even seated as he was. He seemed almost as mechanised as his throne, plated with black and grey armour with only the raw, scarred flesh of his arms betraying his organic nature. Dials and lights flickered all over his chest, letting off little bursts of steam. His helm was a meld between a flaming crown and a devil’s horned snout, with his eyes merely two orbs of fire dancing in the inky blackness behind his mask. He held his arms wide, spinning his baton and slamming it into the rock once again as black smoke billowed out around him.

“Dovregubbemon!”

The dunes stretched out, shifting this way and that and unveiling great treasures and great evils. They rose up like huge tsunamis and fell away into lethal chasms. Every footstep caused peril. Every footstep became more difficult. Yet still Lorelie and Aardmon kept walking. They had to. They wanted to. Lorelie looked behind her, and saw the others following, just behind, never giving up. She reached out, her hand closing around the desert sun.

The greatest treasures lay ahead.

And this time, she would lead the fight.

“Evolution Activate!”

A sudden wind rose up, whipping around everyone present. The red glow stood at its epicentre, only she shimmered. Dissolved, and was carried up into the swirling winds as the storm billowed outwards. It stretched and contorted, forming sculptures that reached up into the centre. Aardmon, nervous but determined. Shamon, calm and noble. Ammumon, strong and loyal. All reaching out. All reaching up. All coming together, as the sandstorm intensified, then shrunk, then exploded outwards, revealing a lone figure standing silently at the centre.

She was humanoid, no taller than Rhapsodymon, but she held herself tall with the confidence of a monarch. Slender legs stepped over the ground as long, twin tails whipped around beneath the shawl around her waist. She wore bandages around her chest and a bejewelled circle of fabric over her shoulders; bracelets around her arms and golden rings around her neck. One hand swung lazily, calming and riling the sand with alternate movements. The other held a long was-sceptre; simple in its construction, yet emanating with an intense power. Her hair formed long dreadlocks that fell down her shoulders and back, each tipped with a jewelled ring. Most of her face was obscured by a mask; a long curved snout and four angular ears – similar to Shamon’s head – with red markings etched over it. Only her eyes could be seen; intense orange pools staring outwards with enough power to stare down chaos itself.

She landed fully, and the storm retracted, following obediently along behind her as she marched to the front, standing between Rhapsodymon and Dovregubbemon. She took a breath, before holding her staff out towards Sorimon’s quivering form.

“Sutekhmon!”

Now everyone was definitely paying attention. Echidnamon and Motimon stopped in the midst of their battle to stare in awe at the new creatures; bigger, more powerful and more beautiful than anything they’d seen before.

Others were less appreciative.

“Nope. Sorry, no. I’m not doing this again. I will fight a bunch of pink jelly moulds but when humans hit this level it’s all over. Nice knowing y’all. Bye!”

Buermon shrugged off the In-Training levels crawling over him and grasped the earth, spinning rapidly and quickly exiting the scene. Nobody even realised he had gone.

Sorimon shuddered. The goliath’s head bowed, and the wires spun upwards, lifting her tiny body up high. There was a slithering sound, and the Funnyman followed the spiral up, hovering just behind her and staring with intrigue.

Sorimon just remained as angry as ever, as she pointed down at Sutekhmon in particular. “Is this fun?”

Sutekhmon blinked, as Sorimon squirmed towards her, tears in her eyes. “Are you mocking me now? Is that all this is? One great big joke?”

The goddess shook her head. “I never meant it to get this far. I can promise that.”

“Liar. This...this is all a conspiracy...somebody to get back at me just for existing...it’s...it’s them!”

Sorimon whirled round, and pointed at the group of children nearby, all of them drained from the sudden power loss. The shrew growled, her goliath growing again as spikes erupted from its back and its pipes extended, more than doubling its height. The head grew around Sorimon’s body as she rushed forwards, screaming at the top of her lungs.

“You ruined EVERYTHING!”

She was fast. Far faster than she should have been, as she warped the very air around her. The shockwave struck all the children at once, sending them clattering back into the wall. But the killing blow never came. Lorelie looked up to see Sutekhmon standing in front of them, holding her sceptre out and halting Sorimon in her tracks. The sands whipped up behind the goddess as she stared at the maddened creature, almost sadly.

“I feel so sorry for you.”

“BARBARIC ACID!”

The Funnyman swelled, and fired; a mass of flaming liquid raining down upon Sutekhmon. But she stepped back, holding her sceptre out as a great red tornado whipped up around her.

“Ruination Storm!”

The acid was lost in the maelstrom, and Sutekhmon thrust her sceptre left and right, knocking Sorimon back with wave after bitter wave. She snarled and her body elongated, clutching onto the ravine wall and leaping forwards, firing exploding pellets in every direction. Sutekhmon backed away, and a battalion of gelatinous warriors stood up, moving their sabres in unison. Sorimon slashed wildly, knocking several away, but they were replaced in seconds and lashed out, striking at her body. Sorimon spun, her tail whipping out and impaling three, but the battalion had stretched to behind her now, and they were raising their sabres, crying out in unison.

“Lightning Legions!”

The very air crackled, causing Sorimon’s eyes to bulge and her hair to stand on end. She looked up, and her heart sank as the other four hundred warriors descended on her, each coated in electric energy and leaving trails of light behind them.

Sorimon fought like a wild thing, striking and slashing and kicking them away, but the swarm converged, sending great bolts coursing through her body, slashing at her muscles and slamming into her with the force of a hurricane. For several moments she couldn’t even speak, just doing her damnedest to stay on top of the torrent of tiny soldiers. When that didn’t work, she jettisoned the lower half of the goliath and leapt upwards, the body convulsing.

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

The attack was stronger than before, clearing her path and allowing her to land and reconstitute herself. The shrew laughed, but her laugh was cut short by the sound of a steam engine rapidly approaching her.

“Your rule has come to an end, my friend!”

Dovregubbemon’s staff slammed down, cracking the earth beneath Sorimon’s feet and sending a spout of flame bursting up. The mountain king didn’t hold up; he threw blow after blow, countering Sorimon’s slashes. With an expert move he spun his baton and slammed it into her sternum, sending her reeling backwards. Before she could make a move, he spun it again, digging the conical end into the ground and pressing downwards hard enough to create steam.

“Strahlende Belagerung!”

The ground cracked again, and a barrage of living flame burst out, rushing into Sorimon and setting her ablaze. She screamed as the purge forced her back, the pain unbearable. Eventually she could stand it no more, and leapt, vaulting Dovregubbemon and kicking him in the back of the head.

“Blue December!”

Sorimon rolled right into Rhapsodymon’s snowstorm, as he blew an effortless serenade on Old Selma. The storm froze her where she had been set alight, the ice binding so tightly it cracked her skin and sent the Funnyman’s essence wriggling back into her to hide.

With a desperate look the shrew glanced upwards, and saw Chukwamon standing over her, the giant turtle’s ten eyes focused downwards. Her globe spun slightly faster, and rose upwards, hovering over the goliath’s comparatively tiny form. Sorimon croaked.

“OH GOD.”

Chukwamon bowed her head, a low rumble escaping her throat.

“Madre Terra!”

The spinning globe descended, falling on top of the goliath and crushing it outright. There was an immense crack, and a wave of greenery spread out from the impact zone, trailing up the walls of the cavern and even covering some of the larger remaining hordes down below. The globe rose again, and returned to Chukwamon’s shell, as she bent down and stared at the mess of metal and fur down below.

But Sorimon still wasn’t giving up. And as long as her spirit remained, the Funnyman remained as relentless as ever.

With a guttural roar the pile of debris stretched out, trailing body parts along a massive biomechanical spine like some sort of sick twisted Christmas bunting. The spine bulked out, instantly drawing the data from the ground, from the air, from anything she could reach. It crashed against the rocks from the cavern, and amongst the litter of In-Training corpses across the ground. And it grew further, no longer even a mockery of Sorimon’s true form, but instead a bizarre and horrifying mix of flesh and mineral and metal and wood; two spiny arms dragging it forwards faster and faster, and a never-ending conga of digital residue coagulating at the back. And at the head, standing between two cracked floodlights and a series of malformed jaws, was Sorimon’s tiny form, giving up her own body to the digital world in a pathetic, desperate attempt to control it once again.

And she was managing.

Rhapsodymon and Sutekhmon were caught off-guard as the ground vanished from beneath them, which was quickly followed by a rain of spikes from Sorimon’s underbelly. The shrew herself reached out and grasped hold of Chukwamon’s front leg, dragging herself up until she was rearing high enough to look the beast in the eye. Chukwamon swung her head to one side, but Sorimon was faster, the junk serpent’s arms unfurling into huge claws.

“Spatial Nail!”

She struck twice, each blow leaving gashes across the turtle’s face. Chukwamon stepped back, and Sorimon raised her arms, laughing as she did so.

“All that power and all for nought!”

“NO.”

Sorimon was dragged backwards, Cyaneamon’s tentacles spiralling around her as if trying to uproot her. Dozens of the tendril warriors were scaling her at rapid speed, but they made virtually no difference to her patchwork body. She spun, spraying acid in all directions and reaching up, but Cyaneamon’s dome pulsed as a light formed beneath them.

“Deadly Helix!”

The tentacles tightened and a spiral bolt of lightning shot downwards, striking Sorimon head on. Her goliath disintegrated in seconds, and Sorimon herself was sent flying away. She coiled up, and crashed into the ravine wall, calling up another golem as quickly as she’d lost the first one.

“DIE!”

“Mood Indigo!”

Sorimon flailed as the world went dark around her. She found herself falling, though at a phenomenally slow speed, the dark energy taking her out of time and keeping her in near-stasis. Unable to move, she stared down as Sutekhmon rushed up towards her, riding on her sands.

“We need to get her away from the ground! Ruination-“

“Hypernova Punch!”

Sutekhmon turned too late as Motimon the Impenetrable slammed into her, sending her spinning away. The miniature tyrant landed on Sorimon’s back, laughing under his breath.

“Sorry, but I’m afraid I have to disagree with you on that.”

Rhapsodymon looked up, temporarily distracted from his own attack.

“What the-“

“Gastric Hellspawn!”

The sorcerer turned, freezing one of the misshapen beasts that rushed towards him, but the other crashed into his chest, tearing and rending at him with a dozen different-shaped claws. He kicked upwards, and blew a fast melody on Old Selma, freezing the second creature instantly. With a cry he swung his legs around, shattering both statues, but Echidnamon’s tail lashed out and he was sent reeling, his hand going to the scrapes across his arm.

The demoness smirked, flicking her tail back and forth as Krampusmon, Redcapmon and two-and-a-half of the hell ponies gathered behind her, snickering and readying weapons and arms.

“Sorry, but we can’t just let you win this and get away completely scot-free. We’re villainous. We have a stake in this.”

Without Rhapsodymon to keep it going, the black energy around Sorimon dissipated, and she fell to the ground, immediately spinning and sending Motimon flying with a void-powered claw. He rolled for a few metres, then landed on his base, flexing as Kapurimon and several of his most powerful soldiers gathered behind him, none the disheartened from their intense battle. Motimon rubbed his hands.

“Well now, are we ready to get serious?”

Sutekhmon coughed as she stood up, still winded from the attack. “Damnit Motimon! Can’t you just...leave us alone? For once? We’re nearly done with this!”

“Please. We’ve had such a marvellous ride.” Motimon sniffed, and brushed off his shoulders, holding thunder in his paws. “Don’t let us down now...”

“Lightning Legions!”

“Typhon’s Swarm!”

“Emperor’s Thunder!”

“Strahlende Belagerung!”

“Ballistic Executioner!”

The two opposing factions swooped inwards. Cyaneamon’s warriors formed three rows, holding out against the In-Training levels even as they were blasted aside. Dovregubbemon took a more direct approach; locking arms with Echidnamon as flames burst out all around him. Rhapsodymon and Sutekhmon stood in the centre, sending snowstorms and sandstorms all around while trying (and distinctly failing) to keep Sorimon pacified.

As the chaos rose all around them, nobody paid attention to Chukwamon stepping forwards, her eyes glowing and her globe sending out waves of green energy, illuminating the cavern.

“I’ve had enough of this...”

She looked down at the children as they alone stared up at her, and one by one they were plucked from the ground, rising upwards due to a strange force. A ring of green formed around the remaining brawlers, lights rising all around them.

“Biosphere Crucible!”

There was a flash of light, and the fresh scent of pine filled the chamber.

Then, the chamber was no more.

At least, it was no more to those entrapped within. They looked around, and saw themselves surrounded by a vast sphere, with the horizon and the sky slightly warped. There were fields all around, and forests, and lichens traversing over the ground and swinging vines falling from the sky, and in the centre stood Chukwamon, her globe spinning quickly and letting off glowing pulses.

Cyaneamon unfurled, with six of their warriors carrying Martin and Callum, keeping them out of harm’s way. Lorelie and Ursula each sat on a shoulder of Dovregubbemon, who rolled his fingers, his throne belching fire behind him. Eleanor stood atop her partner’s vast forehead, arms folded and a smug look on her face. Chukwamon was quite literally above such things. Sort of. Not really.

“You all wanna fight so badly? You can do it here!”

There was a growl as Sorimon leapt skywards, dragging even the power of the mystical dome into her ever-evolving goliath. She held her arms back, her face splitting open with the power of her movement.

“You’re all way too stupidly powerful!

“Look who’s talking!”

“Spatial Nail!”

Chukwamon swung her head down, catching the flying goliath and knocking it away. She changed direction, aiming instead towards Dovregubbemon as he threw punch after punch against Krampusmon.

“Slay Bell!”

“Tartarean Razor!”

The barrage of sound and black wood hit the rush of wires, each resonating with one another. The blast caught Dovregubbemon in the middle of his torso; he paused briefly, as his two charges held their ears, safe within the cracks in his armour. Then Dovregubbemon turned, throwing a devastating punch at Sorimon. Spinning again, he headbutted Krampusmon and backhanded him, each blow causing his gauntlets to glow red-hot. Sorimon spun around, leaping from her golem as the mass of data slammed into Dovregubbemon and Krampusmon together. Sorimon descended, her claws digging into the black armour, but Krampusmon was ready as he twirled his fingers.

“Box of Malice!”

He clapped them together, and Sorimon’s whole body was suddenly encased in a cube, the sides moving inwards and threatening to crush her. She screamed, her voice shattering the magical energy, but her confinement gave Dovregubbemon enough time to move, raising his gauntlets and slamming them down on the arms of his steam engine.

“Fegefeuer Thron!”

Dovregubbemon’s throne burst into life, and he charged forwards, only grazing Sorimon but catching Krampusmon full on. The demon was practically flattened by the immense power, driven into the ground as the grass around him was scorched. He screeched, his staff turning to ash in his hand as Dovregubbemon stared down at him, a smug look in those inhuman eyes. The mountain king turned without a word, leaving only Ursula and Lorelie to stare down at him, which, frankly, was even worse for the birch demon’s ego.

“You bastards! Come back and fight! I...I still have a whole shitload to make you pay for!”

Lorelie glanced over her shoulder. “Come on, Dovregubbemon. Where’s the proper target?”

“Fuck you!”

Sorimon hadn’t gone far; in fact she was on her way back right this instant. The goliath rolled and fired; a burst of colour that struck Dovregubbemon in the back. Ursula caught the worst of the blast; she held on tightly, yelling as Sorimon rushed towards her.

“Mood Indigo!”

The shrew’s body slowed again, but this time she knew exactly where to aim. Digging her claws into the ground, her momentum carried her round faster than Rhapsodymon could keep track of, and her claws dug into his shoulder. He stepped back, wincing, and Sorimon’s goliath struck him beneath the chin and across the arm with a hefty, two-handed punch. As he opened up his arms, she lunged forwards, her claws outstretched and ready to gore him.

“Red Sovereign!”

Sorimon was sent reeling backwards, watching a vast pyramid rise from the ground. It glowed bright crimson as Sutekhmon stood atop it, her hand clutching the summit. Her body tensed, and the pyramid began to spin, sending out vast sickles and scythes and sabres that slashed at the goliath’s body, taking off limb after limb almost as fast as they were regenerated.

Sorimon herself rolled backwards, jettisoning her vessel and instead rushing up the sides of the pyramid, straight towards Sutekhmon. The goddess swung her sceptre, countering the shrew’s first attack, but a spray of acid and two hefty punches sent her staggering backwards, crumpling the pyramid. Sorimon took her chance, and leapt up, grasping onto Sutekhmon’s neck as she screeched.

“Your party tricks don’t mean a fucking thing!”

Sutekhmon span her sceptre, pushing Sorimon away and summoning a volley of sabres to slash at her one after the other. It did little more than slow her down, but it did allow the sorceress to readjust her position, preparing the entire bulk of the pyramid to descend down upon the maniacal shrew, as she kept babbling, “I don’t care about this shitshow, or how the world sees me. The only thing that matters is that you all pay for what you’ve done!”

“Serrated Scimitar!”

“Hypernova Punch!”

As the tide of sand rushed downwards, two tiny creatures rushed in from either side; Motimon and Kapurimon, channelling every ounce of power they had. With no chance to get away, Sutekhmon raised her arms sideways; she managed to block Kapurimon’s onslaught, but Motimon was able to get through and he knocked her beneath the chin with a second punch. She reeled, and the pyramid collapsed, allowing Sorimon, Motimon and Kapurimon to fall towards her, each one building energy in their grasp.

“Blue December!”

The white tornado caught all three of them at once, sending them spinning away as Rhapsodymon rushed forwards, playing expertly on Old Selma. He changed key again, and sent Kapurimon flying away, but Motimon held onto Sorimon as she fell earthwards. He raised a fist as she slashed at him, and he retaliated with a headbutt, the blast of electricity stunning her for the moment.

“I shall be the one to overthrow the new world sovereign!”

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

“Blue December!”

A flurry of snow came between them as Rhapsodymon skated forwards, but through the whiteout he soon realised his mistake as both In-training Digimon descended upon him. He raised Old Selma as they struck him, sending him flying backwards. He skidded to a halt, holding Old Selma out in front of him as frost trickled through the air. Motimon rolled his shoulders, crackling with electricity.

“All this time and practise, and you’re still in way over your head.”

Rhapsodymon smiled, and leaned backwards, the flurry of ice still swirling around him.

“Please. I’m just the sideshow.”

“Deshret Solaris!”

Sorimon and Motimon looked to their right as Sutekhmon rose into the air, holding her sceptre high. Her tails whipped back and forth around her, and a crimson orb glowed at the end of her staff, burning into Motimon and Sorimon’s eyes. They stared as it grew, transfixed by its growing majesty, until it was as bright and intense the sun itself.

And the ground began to shift like water, shifting back and forth as the sands covered them and scraped them and threw them left and right, until they were being tossed around in a whirlpool of glowing red crystals, slashing at them and singing their very flesh. Sutekhmon’s sun flickered, and she fell to the ground, the attack taking a huge amount out of her. Rhapsodymon rushed towards her and held her up, his eyes glowing faintly behind his mask.

“Are you okay?”

Sutekhmon blinked. “This is fairly new for me. Is it working?”

“Spatial Nail!”

The two jumped as the reforming ground exploded, and Sorimon burst outwards with a new golem in tow; still feral and still as persistent as ever. As could be said for Motimon, who gripped onto the goliath’s back, seemingly not even noticing that his very flesh was being ever so slowly torn away with every new event.

Sorimon didn’t care though; she landed and immediately charged towards the two Mega levels, her floodlights glowing intensely.

“Watch out!”

Sutekhmon leapt up and pushed Rhapsodymon out the way, only just avoiding the superpowered claw that slashed at their heads. Sorimon dug her arms into the ground and swivelled, the goliath dripping acid as it prepared to charge again.

“Spatial Nail!”

“Bloody Pike!”

Redcapmon popped up out of seemingly nowhere, holding up his spike defiantly against the oncoming claw.

It didn’t go particularly well. Though it did manage to give Sorimon pause for thought as she witnessed the imp go flying several hundred metres into the sky, bouncing off Chukwamon and landing in a little puff of smoke a few hundred metres away.

And it also gave her some more pause for thought as she found herself looking up at the sky, which was slowly cracking open, the paradise breaking all around them. She grinned, her eyes twitching as she stared up at the four Mega levels in front of her.

“Your powers are fading! Tick tock!”

Up above, Martin gripped onto the tentacles he was riding and yelled down. “She’s right! We’re running out of time!”

“We’re on it!”

As Sorimon began to run, Cyaneamon’s forces descended, grappling hold of her and piercing her with their sabres. Yet more of them formed a circle, raising their arms in a cross-shape even as she beat away at them. Even when they were mobbed by Motimon’s forces and the two-and-a-half still-moving hell ponies, they kept on task, diligent to the end. The great dome above pulsated, and the base opened up as Cyaneamon’s soldiers held onto the struggling Sorimon as tightly as they could.

“Electro Cerebellum!”

A pulse of light and electricity rushed down every tentacle, congregating at their sabres as they stabbed downwards. Sorimon’s body jerked. She writhed left and right, emitting lightning from her eyes as waves of the soldiers were blasted away by their own power.

It didn’t do much. Sorimon’s body was reconstituting by the second now, growing new fibre and wire and muscle and bone at a rate of knots.

But, as Cyaneamon backed away to join the other four, it gave them time to ready their final charge.

Though they weren’t the first to do so.

“Typhon’s Swarm!”

A flurry of demonic wasps flew sideways at every one of them, as Echidnamon rushed forwards. She spun, and her tail struck Cyaneamon’s soldiers, but as she lunged down Sutekhmon stabbed upwards, throwing her back with an upwards blast from her sceptre.

“This isn’t your battle!”

“Are you kidding?” Echidnamon spun again and slammed her fist down, only for Sorimon’s claw to strike her in the small of her back. She staggered forwards, laughing as she did so.

“This is the most fun I’ve had in an entire century!”

“Barbaric Acid!”

Echidnamon winced as Sorimon’s attack spread over her, and she swung her hand backwards, cracking the goliath’s jaw. It backed away, only to be replaced with a new one. She flew forwards, locking her jaw with Echidnamon’s arms, when a shadow passed over the both of them.

“Viridescent Genesis!”

Chukwamon breathed downwards, summoning spores that sunk into the earth all around. Instantly a forest shot up, pushing the two apart and entangling them in vines and roots and great twisting thorns. The plants writhed and coiled and threatened to squeeze the life out of both of them. But the two villains weren’t still fighting this hard for nothing. Sorimon escaped first, and climbed to the top of the new forest, firing blasts of energy up at the turtle.

“Ballistic Executioner!”

They struck Chukwamon beneath the chin, with enough intensity to force her back. The sky cracked even more as her focus was stolen, but the battle wasn’t over yet as Rhapsodymon and Dovregubbemon rushed forwards, each pressing their hands against Sorimon’s wooden prison.

“Magmakern!”

“Blue December!”

White flurries of snow intermingled with a vast geyser of molten rock, blasting Sorimon’s goliath from both sides. The shrew snarled and leapt away again, aiming for Rhapsodymon and slashing at his face and neck. He brought Old Selma up and blew a rapid medley, firing a barrage of tiny silver blades from the end of his instrument.

“Moonlight Serenade!”

Sorimon stared back as the blades began to shoot into her. She felt no pain. Only numbness. With horror she realised that she was completely frozen solid from the waist down, and she beckoned the Funnyman, stretching out and reaching upwards. But the attack was too fast, and there she was stuck, a perfect silver ice sculpture.

For about three seconds.

Then the ice began to crack, and a growl sounded from within. Rhapsodymon backed away, just as Dovregubbemon rushed forwards with both arms aflame.

“Fegefeuer Thron!”

The mountain king’s flaming form struck the goliath head on, but she was prepared, twisting her neck around and firing acid directly into his face. When that didn’t work, she resorted to blasts of coloured light, until finally he slowed to a stop. Sorimon leapt off, summoning new geysers of data as Cyaneamon and Chukwamon attacked in unison.

“Lightning Legions!”

“Madre Terra!”

A thousand blasts of lightning from every angle melded with a vast spinning globe, crashing down upon the centre of the goliath’s back. But Sorimon arched her back, her form holding against the intense blast. From her stronghold on the goliath’s forehead, Sorimon grinned, black blood falling from her eyes.

“You’re...too...WEAK!”

She screeched, and rolled, the globe spinning out of control. Sorimon got to her feet first, pointing up at the kaijus above.

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

One blast caught Chukwamon in the eyes, and she thrust her head away, groaning from the pain as the biosphere began to disintegrate around them all. The other struck Cyaneamon right in the centre of the dome, stunning every one of their warriors just momentarily.

“Cosmic Buster!”

“Gastric Hellspawn!”

“Blue December!”

“Fegefeuer Thron!”

“Ruination Storm!”

Sorimon moved like the wind, her arms flailing. She countered Rhapsodymon in his tornado of ice, and grabbed him by the chest, throwing him into Echidnamon’s beast. As it disintegrated, she charged forwards, digging her claws into the demon’s chest and blasting her away. She backhanded Motimon into Dovregubbemon, and landed on both of them with a series of horrific punches. It only took a few seconds, but in moments Sutekhmon was the only one left, her storm pitiful against the immense power of the Funnyman, and of Sorimon’s own twisted determination.

“Spatial Nail!”

It wasn’t a straight hook this time; Sorimon reared up and her goliath swung its claw down directly into the ground, driving Sutekhmon back into her own sandstorm. The goddess held her arms up, but the goliath’s other arm struck her across the mask, leaving a terrible gouge. Sorimon punched her again, before hopping forwards, grabbing her by the flesh of the neck with a long, mutated arm.

“That’s enough! Right now!”

Sutekhmon scrabbled on the ground, unable to make a sound as Sorimon’s claws gripped her tighter and tighter, cutting off her breath. She struck the shrew’s face, but it was a pitiful attempt. Sorimon grinned, leaning in.

“No last words, then?”

She didn’t need any. There was the sound of falling glass, followed by a deep, terrifying rumble that quivered through the bodies of everybody present, as high above them all, Chukwamon raised her head and cried out.

“Release!”

The dome exploded, sending spores flying in every direction. For the green world was more than just a separate dimension. It was a battery. A store for all the energy expelled within, ready to be released at the end of its life.

And that, truth be told, was a metric fuck-ton of energy.

Emerald-green waves blasted outwards, cracking the walls of the ravine and sending trails of lichen bursting through them. Everybody inside was launched out, leaving only Chukwamon standing, still surrounded by a faint green glow. Her topmost pair of eyes looked up, and she saw Eleanor staring down at her, an exasperated look on her face.

“...sorry...”

Eleanor looked up as a horrific scraping noise sounded from beneath the rubble, and she held tightly to her partner’s skull.

“We’re not done yet.”

Sorimon burst outwards, her goliath no longer even holding its form as pistons and bones hung off from all sides. It swung its head round, as blind as Sorimon was furious.

“Why can’t you just let me change the world? Barbaric Acid!”

“Blue December!”

“Ruination Storm!”

The two smallest Megas ran forwards as one, firing their snowstorms and sandstorms in a vast vortex that decimated the goliath from the waist down. Its claws pierced the ground and she fired again, the vile fluid striking them head on. But they kept on, ignoring it as it ate into their flesh. Rhapsodymon swung with Old Selma, cracking the goliath’s jaw even more, and Sutekhmon pulled her staff around its neck, holding it close.

“Because this isn’t your world to change! If you can’t accept that, you don’t deserve to be here!”

“I can be a saviour!”

“Look at yourself! What do you think you look like?”

“Fuck you!”

The goliath ran forwards at a horrific speed, but it was stopped in its tracks by waves upon waves of electrified tendrils. Cyaneamon’s forces stood in her way, sabres held out as they pushed back, entangling her further.

“Deadly Helix!”

“Viridescent Genesis!”

Lightning and life swirled around, binding the goliath tightly and breaking it further. Martin called down. “Keep holding her! We’ve nearly stopped her!”

Sorimon glanced up from her ruined goliath, her face splitting open in fury. When she spoke, the inhuman guttural sounds of the Funnyman croaked behind her words, the two terrible beings now fully as one.

“You’re not heroes! You never were! You people just mock this world and the people who live here; thinking you’re in some way special because you were chosen to be best buddy-buddies with some lucky fuckers who already lived here!”

SLAM

The goliath roared as Dovregubbemon crashed into the front of it, belching fire from the front of his throne. He clawed his way up, reaching for Sorimon within her cage of wires. Lorelie held onto his shoulder, staring up with an intensity she’d never shown before.

“So we’re fighting for people we care about! At least we’re fighting for something worthwhile, and not just our own sick twisted desires!”

Sorimon screeched, her fury temporarily distracting her, and giving Dovregubbemon enough time to reach up and slam his glowing gauntlet down on her.

“Fegefeuer Thron!”

“NOOOO!”

With a snapping and an awful cry, Sorimon was pulled from her goliath, which crumpled instantly, a useless pile of scrap data. Sorimon wasn’t finished however; she forced the mountain king’s hand open, her body glowing with terrifying iridescence. Eyes bulged around her tiny frame as, with all her limited control completely gone, she fixed upon Lorelie on the mountain king’s shoulder,

“Would you die for the people you care about?”

Ursula leapt sideways, throwing her body around Lorelie as Sorimon’s form swelled with bright white energy, Dovregubbemon struggling to contain her.

“NO!”

“PINPOINT EXECUTIONER!”

“FEGEFEUER THRON!”

BOOM

Dovregubbemon moved his hands at the last second, holding them up as the blast exploded in his face. It was stronger than before, knocking him over and sending him rolling, pieces of his armour flying away. His two charges landed in front of him, holding tightly to one another as they rolled in the ashen ground.

Sorimon caught both blasts together, and was sent flying upwards. The world whipped past her face as she recovered from the shock, and she looked below, flying higher than even Chukwamon and Cyaneamon. She turned her body, building the energy within her again and preparing to attack.

But she never got a chance, as she slammed like a bullet into the great Digimon above.

Not Chukwamon. Nor Cyaneamon.

Cruachmon hadn’t really done a whole lot for the past hour. He’d spun gently, his totems shifting around in their usual patterns. Happy and peaceful as can be, until, with absolutely no provocation or reason, a tiny little hyperpowered rat came flying out of nowhere and slammed into the side of his head

There was a crack. A splintering of bone, and Sorimon rebounded off, stunned by the impact. But the eyes below weren’t on her. They were on Cruachmon as he listed sideways, slamming into the side of the ravine.

Echidnamon watched as she pushed herself up from beneath the rubble, her eyes widening as the great idol turned around, his movements slow, deliberate, and very pissed off.

“Oh damn. That’s not good.”

“What’s up now?”

Motimon stuck his head out from beside her, placing his paws on his hips as he stared up at the quivering demon. “I thought he was one of yours.”

“Kind of. Not really. Not at all. We didn’t drag him along; he came by himself.”

“But surely you know him, don’t you?”

Echidnamon swallowed. “He’s a being from the deep vault of the Dark Area. Y’know, real maximum security. None of us are strong enough to stop him. We don’t even talk about him.” She looked down at the tiny tyrant, a rare fear in her eyes. “You...do know he’s been asleep all this time, right?”

Motimon blinked. “And what happens if we were to wake him up?”

“.......aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!”

The scream rocketed through the cavern, shattering solid rock and causing everybody to double over in a sudden crippling pain as Cruachmon’s eyes snapped open. His form instantly destabilized, unravelling into a vast spiralling mass of energy as the drip of blood from his mouth turned into a torrent. He jerked, and twisted, and his insane eyes focused down upon the floor below.

Echidnamon had already run, dragging anybody she could get hold of – friend, foe or indifferent – along with her. Others were running themselves, the terrifying aura of Cruachmon driving them away. This wasn’t something you could fight. This was something else entirely.

As the vast serpent unfurled, only a single Digimon remained in his focus. Motimon the Impenetrable stood alone, holding out his arms as bright white lightning arced into the sky.

“I am a hero, good sir! And a slayer of beasts! And let me tell you, you shall be a worthy prize for the Impenetrable! You shall be amongst the evil to be slain by my hand-“

“SCARLET SACRIFICE!”

Cruachmon’s body exploded outwards, and he shot down like a bullet, his mouth opening wide as dark red energy sprayed out from his throat.

To his credit, Motimon the Impenetrable didn’t waver in the slightest. He leapt up, raising his arms as the jaws of death approached, bringing all the energy he had at his disposal forwards.

“Hype-“

That was as far as he got before Cruachmon shot past him. The volatile serpent’s body dragged through the ground, taking great gouges of matter from the world itself as it arched upwards. The noise was appalling; a thousand screams and cries at once, calling out into the void and suddenly silenced. Cruachmon rushed into the sky, spraying blood behind him as his full magnificence unfurled.

The warriors on the ground stared around, stunned by the sudden brutal attack. Motimon had gone; swallowed in an instant by Cruachmon. Along with a significant piece of their battlefield; gouged away effortlessly and tossed into a devastated dimension from Cruachmon’s attack. There were still little black specks hanging in the air; mere residue from the archdemon’s presence.

And as they looked up, they saw Cruachmon rocketing skywards, great crooked coils unfolding and his maw stretching towards the sky.

“THE WORLD IS BUT CATTLE AND ALL SHALL BE CONSUMED!”

Down below, Ursula turned towards a frozen Sorimon, looking more put-out than anything. “Great. Perfect. Now we’ve got another all-powerful supervillain to worry about. Happy now?”

“YOUR CRUSHED BONES SHALL FORM THE DESERTS AND YOUR BLOOD THE OCEANS! PAIN SHALL FILL THE GOBLETS OF TITANS AND THE BODIES OF ALL WORLDS SHALL BE TWISTED INTO THE THRONE OF ETERNITY! ALL SHALL RETURN TO THE GLORIOUS FEAST OF THE TRUE RULERS OF THIS WORLD!”

Sorimon turned towards her, and opened her mouth to speak. But she never got to it, as the great steps behind them exploded, and something new shot up into the sky, trailing Cruachmon as he spiralled even higher. Everybody turned, and watched, as beneath the declaration of devastation above, they heard only three simple words.

“There you are.”

Cruachmon stopped in mid-air, something clamping onto one of his many coils. His eyes rolled back, but found himself clamped in two more places. He struggled, but his momentum was gone, and he swung around to the right. Then, inexplicably, he found himself being dragged backwards.

The others watched in awe, staring at the void of the Dark Area at the top of the steps

Something...no, someone stood in the centre, holding onto Cruachmon with strength that far surpassed their appearance. They pulled at the chains of bone that held him, dragging him backwards bit by bit.

“You’re coming back with me, mate. We’ve talked about this. You are supposed to be on a timeout.”

Nobody had been aware of it; of course, it wouldn’t be on many people’s minds. But the digital core hadn’t just stopped with fixing the bodies of the tamers. Oh, that was the priority, but Yggdrasil could be a bit of a busybody when it put its great leafy mind to it. In a matter of minutes, the world was being rebuilt. Missing links were remade, and landscapes were reforged.

And deep, deep down in the Dark Area, the lone gatekeeper had suddenly been informed of a group of fugitives who had somehow managed to slip away from never-ending torment, and were now gallivanting off in the Digital World doing goodness knows what

It took them longer than it should have to get here. The Dark Area resides out of space and time; only an endless void. But they’d kept looking. They’d seen the beacon, allowing them to hook onto the Digital World itself. And when Cruachmon woke up and his essence filled the world again, that gave them everything they needed to hone in on their quarries.

Cruachmon once devoured half the world. But the Dark Area is a jealous beast. For all the power you claim to have, it will absorb every last drop of it and caress you in its cold embrace.

The devourer of half the world didn’t stand a chance. He tried. Oh god, he tried. Screaming upwards, latching onto sky and rock and leaving great black gouges. But he couldn’t hold out against the pull of the Dark Area, and of the gatekeeper who dragged him back, bit by bit. With a final scream he vanished into the void, and only silence remained.

The gatekeeper swam forwards a little, brushing her hands off. Her eyes flashed yellow in the darkness, staring around at the chamber. At Echidnamon. At Krampusmon. At all the demons that had managed to evade her. She cracked her knuckles.

“I’m glad we’ve all had such fun, but I’m afraid it’s hometime, everyone.”

It was like a cat worrying pigeons. The tamers stared around in stupefied awe as the demons rushed away into the darkness. Some ran, others floated. Some dug, and others fired blasts of hellfire and wickedness into the portal behind them. But the Dark Area had its targets now, and there was no true escape. The gatekeeper raised their arms, their eyes flashing again as bones and blue orbs materialised around them.

“Tidal Wraiths!”

The five Megas flinched as a rush of projectiles flew towards them, but the projectiles arched away, travelling instead towards the escaped demons. They were odd weapons to be sure; large, boney-fish heads with razor-like jaws at the end of a spine-like flail. But they flew fast, and far and wide; true hunters pursing their dangerous prey.

Fantocciomon was the first to go, dragged away as he screeched, with his Bambolamon children leaping into the void after him. Krampusmon batted the wraiths away, but he was soon overwhelmed, cursing out against every human he could think of as he disappeared too.

The Hell Ponies banded together, grappling the wraiths in a tug of war. Annihilamon phased through the wall. Redcapmon stood in front of Echidnamon, raising his pike in a brave last-ditch display of defiance.

Nothing made a difference. They were all rounded up, herded and dragged back through into the black prison. Even Buermon was dragged out from underground, his body quite lax and seeming rather unbothered by the whole affair. Echidnamon was the last to go, releasing the last of her swarms into the face of the gatekeeper, who merely brushed them aside.

“You can’t hold us there forever! We’ll get out again!”

The gatekeeper shrugged. “Fine by me. I don’t make the rules.”

They rolled their arms, and Echidnamon vanished as well, leaving the chamber far emptier than it had been a second ago.

“No! Not me! You can’t send me back!”

Cyaneamon recoiled back as a barrage of wraiths rushed towards them.

But the gatekeeper raised an arm, and the wraiths stopped, hovering in mid-air.

They didn’t pursue the jellyfish. Instead they turned, and stared down at Sorimon.

The shrew stepped back, shaking her head. “What...what are you doing...you’ve got what you came for, right?”

The gatekeeper didn’t answer for a second, instead counting out silently on her fingers. Then she shrugged. “I need to return all the villains of the world to their rightful place.”

Sorimon shook her head, her face pulsing as the Funnyman writhed beneath it. “But...no...you can’t mean me...I’m trying to save the world...I’m a good guy...”

“Really?”

The gatekeeper leaned forwards, showing her face to the assembled throng.

“I’ve seen tyrants like you before. You’ll forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

“Barbaric Acid!”

Sorimon’s body exploded outwards, spraying the wraiths and knocking them all back. She turned and ran, but skidded to a halt as the other Digimon stood in front of her, blocking her path.

“Ballistic Executioner!”

The blasts struck the Mega levels, but not one of them was felled. Sutekhmon stood in front, holding out her arm.

“You chose to do this! Now you need to face the consequences.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Red Sovereign!”

“Blue December!”

“Lightning Legions!”

“Fegefeuer Thron!”

“Madre Terra!”

Sorimon was knocked away before she could retaliate. She looked up, and screamed, watching as the wraith’s great jaw bore down upon her, opening wide and revealing only darkness beneath.

She turned, screaming blue murder at the humans who had once called her their friend.

And the wraith’s jaws snapped shut around her, and dragged her back into the black void.

The five remaining Digimon and five remaining humans watched in awe, all of them utterly speechless. The gatekeeper winked, and clicked her fingers, recalling all the wraiths in an instant.

“Not that it’s any of my business, but y’all should probably think about running.”

The void snapped shut, leaving a great, gaping hole in the wall. That was rather unfortunate, because more of the wall decided to fall down and replace it. And yet more. And the ravine – so damaged by the intense battle – began to fold in on itself, threatening to bury every single one of them in a mass of rubble.

Rhapsodymon held his hand up, channelling ice through his fingertips. Chukwamon and Cyaneamon rushed forwards. Dovregubbemon and Sutekhmon pressed against the ground. All in a futile attempt to stop the descending cavern.

Lorelie held her head as a pang of pain echoed through it, which passed on to the others all around her.

“Hold perfectly still.”

There was a flash of light, a blast of electricity and a rush of static noise, and everybody present vanished, mere split seconds before their final battlefield was buried forever.

There was dead silence in the lab as everybody stared at the flickering screen, little windows popping in and out all over. The Dark Area was a black void once again, broken apart from the main world. There was nothing but the little blip-blip-blip of the world as it was reformed.

Keble put a hand over his mouth. Skelton gripped the table. Dominic and Perez just stared, completely unblinking.

A cluster of lights appeared in the centre of the digital core, and a sigh of relief went around the room. Perez laughed as she leaned back, removing her glasses and holding the bridge of her nose.

“That...was fucking stressful...”

Skelton had her phone out, a smile worming its way around her face. “It’s all going back to normal. I’ve got signal again. Lights have started working again. They did it!”

Blip.

She frowned, and opened up a message she’d just received. Her eyes scanned it. She swallowed, and called over her shoulder.

“Um...guys...I think we’re getting a visit.”

“What, now?” Dominic turned around, folding one leg over the other. “We still need to sort out getting the kids back to this dimension.”

“Oh, apparently that’s in hand.” Skelton raised her phone, showing the name to everybody present.

“The Chair wants a word with us. In person.”

Cold. No, hot. Scalding. Freezing. No light and no color. Nothing. Numbness. Tingling. Endless silence. Endless noise. All the world. Nothing at all.

Sorimon’s eyes snapped open, but it made no difference as she was bombarded by the voices of a million Digimon cheering, in a dimension far away. No, only one step away. But inaccessible. Forever lost to her. The Funnyman writhed within her as she reached out, unable to breath and yet with compulsion to scream.

A figure wormed its way forwards out from the others. Huge serpentine tail. Sinuous arms. A reptilian face filled with resignation, and yet somehow, filled with excitement.

“Welcome to the Dark Area,” said Echidnamon, but her words echoed around in the oppressive mixture of sensory overload and deprivation. “You really screwed the pooch there.”

“No! Go away! I didn’t mean...I just wanted...oh god...don’t hurt me...Lorelie, help me!”

Sorimon swiped away, trying to call upon any remaining power, but the Funnyman was locked away. His only presence was an eye on her forehead, staring out in fear at the gathering beasts above. It wasn’t just Echidnamon. Buermon was there. And the Sanguine Quartet. Fantocciomon. And yet others; others who hadn’t escaped. Others who remained waiting. Sorimon curled up into a ball, and began to cry.

Echidnamon raised her hands.

And she began to clap.

“Seriously, that was awesome. You should be proud of yourself. Stealing the core and a virus and trying to mould the world to your vision? That’s creative.”

Sorimon flinched, then looked up. Everyone was cheering her name. Everyone was applauding. The worst of the Digital world, and they were gazing down at her like she was a hero. Anger filled her body, and she snapped out.

“I didn’t do it for you! You’re part of the evil of the world! You’re the worst! I hate you! You should all just DIE!”

Echidnamon shrugged. “Maybe. But then again, you’re here too.”

“I’m nothing like you...”

“You sure about that?”

The applause turned to laughter, as the figures began to retreat back into the abyss. Only Echidnamon was left, chuckling.

“I have to thank you. You’ve rekindled my own spark. You’ve shown me just how fulfilling it is to be depraved.”

“I...I’m not...”

Echidnamon bowed, a smile forming over her lips.

“Welcome to the Dark Area, Sorimon. You deserve it. You really should be proud to be one of the worst...”

Echidnamon faded, but the laughter carried on. Sorimon was left floating alone in space, staring out into nothing.

She twitched. A little noise escaped her throat. A little chuckle. She held her head in her hands as tears ran down her face. Haha. Her eyes bulged. I lost. I’m not supposed to be here. Hahaha. Fear. Anger. Pride? No, why pride? I lost. Did I? I’m a good guy. I’m a good guy. I’m a hero. I’m a partner. Hahahahahaha. NO. I’M A HERO. I’M...I’M...

“HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-“

Her face split open, and she laughed louder and wilder than she ever had before. And the laughter gave way to a scream. And the scream morphed back into pure, wild laughter.

And she kept laughing, as she floated away.

And only the abyss was there to hear her.

...it was a rather abrupt change of scene, so it was only really fair that the transition was just as abrupt.

“Will you get off my fucking face?”

Martin apologised and rolled away as the tamers and Digimon un-piled themselves from the centre of the room, taking great gasps of breath and generally being very unhelpful for a good few minutes.

As they finally began to stand up, they realised that they were no longer in the catacombs, but in fact back in the main chamber of the digital core. Though this time it seemed far more alive; little lights bobbing around, far more extra chambers and a general feeling of optimism about the whole affair (which had felt sorely lacking during their previous adventures)

That wasn’t the only difference, as both tamers and Digimon tried to remember where exactly they stood with the whole tamer-partner-passing-energy-between-one-another thing. Eleanor reached down, frowned, and seemed first happy that her foot was back to normal, then slightly narked that, in fact, it wasn’t and still had a large brick wrapped around it, and then slightly confused as she looked over at her partner and pointed.

“Weren’t you...massive...just now?”

Terramon looked down at herself, before raising her hands, looking just as confused as anybody else.

“I have several questions...”

Callum scratched his head. “Yeah, I mean, who the hell was that?”

“Is Sorimon really gone?” interjected Lorelie.

Martin placed a hand over his face. “Is the Funnyman really gone, as well?”

“And the giant snake squiggle thing.”

“Ah yes. Good point.”

“Can we go home yet?”

Eleanor planted a hand in her fist, and sniffed. “Alrighty then, lots of questions, but I’ll start off if you don’t mind.”

Everybody turned towards her as her cheeks began to flush a little, and she looked off to one side.

“Look...I understand this is a confusing and victorious moment for us all, but Martin, will you please put on a fucking shirt? It’s very...distracting.”

Everybody turned their attention towards Martin. The boy looked down at himself, then let out a small honk as he tried to cover his bare chest.

“I...I...uh...I didn’t think to bring a spare...”

Eleanor blushed even more, but thankfully the situation was saved by Ursula, who unzipped her hoodie and held it out for him.

“Thanks.”

“Not a problem.” Ursula smiled and straightened her T-shirt, not noticing that Lorelie had become very quiet next to her.

Martin frowned as he zipped the hoodie over his portly frame. “I mean...I’m guessing that all that happened because we managed to fix the core? Sort of? Was anyone actually keeping track?”

Lorelie looked beside her at Aardmon, who was still looking rather dazed from the whole affair. “We didn’t break the Digital World again, did we?”

“I think the digital world’s just about caught up with you.”

“Who was that?”

Everyone looked at the centre of the chamber, as a panel opened up and a flurry of lights filled the air. They formed into a simple symbol; two dots, and a large curved line beneath. Simple, to be sure. However it was instantly recognisable to everybody around. Aardmon in particular gawped, her jaw almost hitting the floor.

“Ingeniumon?”

The hologram winked, and a low static hum sounded all around. “In the...well...in the pretty twinkling lights.” He groaned, and his form shimmered. “My god, this feels good. I should have abandoned my physical body ages ago. Nothing but constant pain and utter fatigue.”

Empermon babbled as he pointed up at the giant floating face. “B-b-b-b-but...you’re dead. I watched your face get blasted off.”

“Please. The Digital World has backups. Sort of. Only for important people. Like me.”

Ursula breathed out, clenching and unclenching her fists. “And you didn’t think to tell us...because...?”

“I don’t understand.”

Martin folded his arms. “What I think we’re trying to say is, maybe if we’d had a little help then we wouldn’t have had to go through all this utter crap trying to save the world. Again. After you had a go at us the first time.”

“Look...I’ve had a long day...”

The robot’s voice trailed off, as they stared around at each of the ten warriors in turn, taking in their intense expressions. He sighed.

“Whatever. You did good. All of you. I guess.”

Some of the assembled throng seemed less than impressed, but Lorelie raised her palm. “Fine. I suppose we won’t get anything better than that.”

“I do mean it, you know. I can be sincere sometimes. That was a pretty good fight.”

Callum placed his hands on his hips, happy to have the use of both arms once again. “Yeah, so what’s up with that? I thought the guys had reached Mega level.”

“Oh, that’s only temporary. Nothing to do with me. I guess Yggdrasil was just pissed and gave you access to all the power from your little devices now that they’d been fixed. You know. A power surge or...something. I don’t know. It’s not my job. They’ll probably just work normally now. If at all. Do you even know how they work? You probably don’t.”

Callum raised his eyebrow. “Thanks a bunch.”

“Give me a break. I’ve been busy. You should be thanking me.”

Ingeniumon vanished, then reappeared beside one of the main doors of the chamber. He rolled his eyes, and nudged sideways. “ You’ve done a lot of work and the five of you deserve a break and frankly I’ve had enough of all of you and the people on the other world seem to want you back so I’ve been working on a way home with a very kind person from your world who gave me the right coordinates.”

Eleanor cocked her head. “Who? Perez and the guys?”

“No, someone else. They asked me not to tell you their name.”

Callum raised an eyebrow. “I find it hard to believe that you’d just up and help some random stinking human.”

There was a short silence, and for a moment a brief shuddered flickered over Ingeniumon’s face.

“They were...persuasive.”

The spectral robot’s head flicked between the tamers, before shaking himself out of his stupor.

“It doesn’t matter. I tapped into your D-Psyches. You can bugger off home now. You’re welcome.”

Ursula folded her arms. “Well, thank you for your consideration...”

Lorelie placed a hand on the other girl’s shoulder, and turned towards Ingeniumon. “Wait...we’re going? Now?”

“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Get on with it.”

“Well...yeah, but...” The girl looked to her left, down at Aardmon, and the other four Digimon standing around her. They were quieter than usual. Slightly solemn.

“What about them? They saved the world more than any of us did.”

Aardmon gave a little laugh. “Please...don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I’ll find something to do.”

She turned, and paused for a minute, but she flinched as Ingeniumon’s giant floating head swivelled towards her.

“Excuse me, WHERE do you think you’re going?”

“I...uh...me?”

“Yes you. You have shit to do.”

Aardmon paused, and swallowed. She spun back around, and held up a finger. “Um...I thought I was fired...?”

“You were. Now you’re unfired. I have a right to change my mind.”

“I...um...wow...uh...okay but...why?” Aardmon tapped her claws together. “Didn’t I just nearly destroy the world...?”

“Yes you did. It happens. And frankly, I can’t do anything in this state, and this place isn’t going to clean itself. Consider this your punishment.”

Ingeniumon watched as the aardvark swayed in place, her face too busy not computing to think of a proper answer. The ghostly robot sighed.

“And to be perfectly frank, you’re the best Digimon I can think of to take over as janitor.”

Aardmon blinked. “You...want me to be an engineer?”

“Janitor. For crying out loud, we’re janitors. I keep telling you this. Besides, you’re the only one who knows all the gear. It might as well be you.”

Eleanor scowled, and leaned sideways towards Callum. “Gee, I’m so glad the number one arsehole got brought back as a robo-ghost.”

The boy placed a finger to his lips, and pointed at Aardmon. Eleanor shushed herself, looking forwards. The little beast was subtly wiping away tears, grinning up at her mentor.

“Don’t worry, Ingeniumon! I won’t let you down!”

“Oh don’t worry. You already have.”

Now even Aardmon was slightly narked by his bluntness, and a little grin played over her face. She glanced backwards, at the other four Digimon who were standing around rather awkwardly. “Still, it’s a lot of work to do just for me. Perhaps too much for one Digimon...?”

For a second she hesitated, glancing up at Lorelie. The girl nodded. Aardmon grinned, before placing her hands on her hips and turning to the other four Rookies.

“Gee whizz, I could really use some help with-“

“Me! I’ll do it! Ooh boy, ooh boy, I get to look at the Digital World from above? With all the shiny buttons and everything? And the rooms and gadgets and tools and the guides and-”

“Now hold on one second-“

It was too late; Polypmon had already rushed forwards and was fussing around Aardmon, already demanding schematics and maps and equipment to get started in their new job as a janitor. Hinkymon waddled along behind them, grinning inanely. He rubbed beneath his nose and giggled up at Ingeniumon.

“Can I get my own hat?”

“Excuse me, I haven’t said-“

Terramon glanced over at Empermon, who folded his arms and shook his head.

“Not likely. I don’t do manual labour.”

“Come on. Live a little. Besides, what else have any of us got to do?”

Empermon’s eyes widened as Terramon wandered off and joined the other three. Aardmon smirked, and raised a finger.

“Come on. It’ll be fun. Besides, we only just met each other. We might as well make the most of it, even if the teenagers have to go back.”

Empermon blew a whistle from the side of his beak. “Fine. But I’m working part-time.”

Aardmon raised an eyebrow. “I’m the Engineer now. You’ll work just as hard as I say you can.”

“You are not a poxy engineer! Don’t push your luck!”

There was a murmur of laughter through the assembled throng, as Ingeniumon’s giant floating head quivered slightly. He stared down at the five Digimon, and the five children standing behind them, all throwing decidedly pointed looks in his direction. He sighed.

“Fine. Do what you want.”

Aardmon winked. “Yes sir.”

“Whatever.” The giant robot head rolled his eyes, and nodded to one side. “ These human world portals aren’t simple, you know. Get on with your goodbyes and hurry up. The sooner you’re gone, the better.”

“Ahem.”

“Fine. I’ll leave you alone. Five minutes.” The great face opened up in a wide but exceedingly insincere smile. “Thanks for all the marvellous help! Byyyeeeee!”

The face vanished in a flash of blue, leaving the ten alone, with the doorway to the side of the chamber pulsing slightly, holding an entire other dimension behind it. Callum shivered, feeling the energy trickling up his arm. He held his wrist close to his chest.

“Really? This is how we’re doing it?”

Aardmon’s smile faded slightly, and she scratched behind her head.

“Much as I hate to admit it, Ingeniumon’s right. Gateways to the human world aren’t easy. Trust me. I know. They hurt.” She placed her hands on her hips, looking slightly sad. “These portals are unstable. It won’t last forever. You...really do need to go soon.”

Eleanor held her elbow. “It’s funny. I never wanted to come here. But now I don’t wanna leave.” Her face scrunched up in irritation. “We can’t just leave you all right now. You can’t just come and change our lives like this and...then go again...”

Terramon sniffed, and held out a hand, patting her partner’s shoulder. “Come on, Ellie. You’ve already done way too much for us. It would be rude to ask for any more.”

Eleanor laughed. “Oh stop it. You’ve done far more for us.”

“Yeah, and like, you know, it’s not like we’re going anywhere or being dragged away from you forcefully or...anything...or y’know...”

Polypmon grimaced, and looked behind them at the glares they were getting from their friends.

“...that came out so very wrong...”

“You’ll get the hang of it.”

Martin stepped forwards and shook the jellyfish by the tentacles, beaming intensely. “I’m gonna miss you. You know that. I hope you find out everything there is to know about this world.”

Polypmon’s mouth quivered, and they threw their tentacles around the boy’s torso, sniffing and blubbering. “Martin...”

“Woof...I’m also gonna miss these death hugs...”

“I’m sorry! I’m-“

The boy raised a hand, grinning from ear to ear.

“Don’t be. You’ve given me hope in the world again.”

Callum chuckled, before Empermon caught his eye. He looked sideways at the penguin, sidling forwards. The penguin wiped his beak, and looked away.

“I have to say this has been an utterly confusing and often unpleasant experience...”

“The same to you.”

“I wish I’d never saved your life back then.”

“Empermon?”

“What?”

“Your eyes are wet.”

Empermon raised a flipper, and gently rubbed them both. “Dangit. I hate you.”

Callum shrugged. “You know, I will be listening when I go back. I’ll make sure to keep an ear out.” He knelt down. “Whatever happens, we’ll just keep going. Smooth jazz, right?”

Empermon blinked a couple of times, before caving in and looking back into the boy’s eyes.

“Smooooooth jazz...”

The group pulled away, peering awkwardly around, not wanting to be the first to break up.

“...Big sis...”

There was a sniffing from down below, and everybody looked down at Hinkymon, who was stood perfectly still with his arms clasped in front of him.

“...I don’t wanna say goodbye...”

Ursula smiled sadly. “Hinkymon...”

“...it’s just been so much fun...and I...I don’t wanna leave you...and I don’t...I don’t want you to forget about me...”

“We won’t.”

Lorelie stepped forwards, placing a hand on the little imp’s shoulder. “I might have been a bit quiet all this time. But I can promise you, right here and right now, we’ll never forget this. Or you. Any of you. We saved the world together. How could we?”

Hinkymon was still sobbing, so Ursula knelt down next to Lorelie, and ran a hand over the little imp’s hair. “Besides, I’m sure we’ll see you again. We’re only a short hop away to another dimension.”

Hinkymon sniffed, and looked up. “You promise? Really promise? Pinky promise?”

The two girls beamed, and leaned in for a hug. “Pinky promise.”

They stayed there for a little while, not moving from their hug, even as the others around them looked around awkwardly. Eventually Martin broke the silence. “Oh what the heck, enough being cool or embarrassed or whatever. We’re all in.”

He joined the group hug. So did Polypmon, and Terramon, and Eleanor and Callum and Aardmon and even, eventually Empermon. They stayed there for a good few minutes, laughing (and shedding the occasional tear) among one another. It could have lasted forever.

But of course, it didn’t. And one by one, the five humans peeled away from their five partners, and began to walk back, holding each others’ hands as they moved towards the shimmering portal. The Digimon followed them, watching as the door opened, and the chamber was filled with an iridescent light. Aardmon held up an arm, blinking from the brightness.

“I guess...this is goodbye...?”

Lorelie smiled back.

“Just for now.”

The light spread out, lifting their feet off the ground and pulling them further in. They were waving, and now tears trickled down the cheeks of every one of them, and of every one of their partners, still calling out to them. Reminding them of a promise.

Forever partners.

Forever heroes.

Forever...friends.

And as the humans fell backwards, through the Interface, and back through the gate, they still watched as their partners grew smaller and smaller, with each passing metre feeling more and more painful.

And yet, as the specks disappeared and they turned around, they saw each other. And their cries turned to laughter, and they reached out, not wanting to let go of the people they’d saved the world with.

And the lights struck their faces as they fell through the gate, and they fell in a huge laughing heap on the group, clutching onto each other. Bruised. Battered. Completely and utterly in no shape to move. But alive, and in some ways, better than they’d ever felt.

They stayed there for some time, even as doors opened and their parents rushed forwards, grabbing onto them and crying and laughing themselves. And Keble, and Skelton; Perez and Dominic.

And somebody else, just out of sight, wiping their own eyes.

It didn’t matter. They were home. They were together.

Against all odds, they had won.

Epilogue

One week later...

They do say time flies when you’re having fun. Though even more so after you’ve been through anywhere between one and four days of hell (depending on your preferred dimension) and you just want to lie down and forget things.

As such, the week after the children returned seemed to disappear in an instant. They stayed in their dorms for most of it, healing up and generally trying not to give their parents heart attacks with any unwarranted stories.

Of course they had to let everything out to the scientists anyway, although it was rather measured and tactful so as not to get them put into permanent therapy for the rest of their lives. By the end of the week they were glad to leave the place, with the infrastructure for the surrounding area having been restored enough for them to go back to normal-ish lives.

Once or twice, they even caught a sideways glimpse at the mysterious person who had decided to join them at the last minute. Though they never got a chance to talk.

Perez dropped a bunch of files into a box and closed the lid up, looking over at her guest. “I guess you’ll be leaving again soon?”

“I can hardly stay around here.”

The Chair lifted a PC onto the trolley, leaning on the handle and taking a swig of sparkling water. “Besides, you’re hardly going to have much more to do round here.”

Perez shrugged. “There’ll always be something. Digital activity doesn’t just vanish like that. Though I could really use the holiday.”

“Ah come on, you know I can always find something for you.”

“Holiday.”

“Well, you know, if you ever get bored...”

Perez sighed. “Sure thing.” The woman pointed a finger at her superior. “I know it’s not my place to say, but if anything like this happens again, you leave the kids out of it.”

“It’s not my place to say otherwise, I’m afraid. I don’t have any control over what the Digital World says or does. You know that better than anyone.”

Perez’s shoulders sagged, and pulled the last box out of the cramped office, locking the door behind her. The two walked down the corridor, taking the last of the packages to the removal room.

“I know, I know. It’s just frustrating, is all. I’ve already been affected by these things. And now this whole debacle. It’s not right.”

“Isn’t it? I did say you should have a little faith in them. Kids can be quite good under pressure. Sometimes.”

“Pardon me, but if we’re sending kids out into dangerous worlds to do our dirty work, we’re being very bad adults.”

“True. Though I’d say that holding them back from being the best people they can be is even worse.”

Perez leaned back, and stared at the back of the Chair’s head.

“See, its stuff like that which makes me question your authority a little.”

“They saved the world, Isabella. What more do you need?”

The Chair wheeled the final trolley into the removal room, and stretched, staring up at the ceiling. “Nobody’s saying you can’t help, of course. I’m sure we could use a Digital Anomaly Operations and Intervention Unit Cardiff Division.”

Perez folded her arms. “I think that’s a little ambitious. We don’t even have a London division. We have about six people. There are less than thirty people around the country who know we actually do anything.”

The Chair shrugged. “It’ll grow. More people will come. More Digimon as well.”

Perez looked, as the Chair stared sadly at the wall.

“They’re already on their way, aren’t they...”

There was an awkward silence. Then the Chair stood up, and smiled at Perez.

“Let’s not think about it. This was a win. You should take advantage of a good win whenever it happens. Now come on, let’s say our goodbyes. I have somewhere else I need to be.”

“I guess you’re right...”

The two old friends embraced, and Perez watched as the Chair headed towards an exit. The scientist put a hand in her pocket, a frown playing over her face.

“Though it was rather lucky we won at all. Who’d have thought the Dark Area would be so helpful in matters?” She blinked. “And just at the right time, as well...”

The Chair leaned back, smiling.

“You might be right. That was incredibly lucky. But I suppose, sometimes it’s nice to have a little extra help.”

The final words played over Perez’s mind, and she turned around, raising a finger. But the Chair had already gone.

Audrey swallowed as he leaned forwards, reaching a finger out.

“You sure it’s...okay for me to touch it? It’s not gonna explode or anything?”

Martin held one hand on his chest, spreading the shirt and revealing the little screen. “It’s absolutely fine,” he said, with a face that betrayed his uncertainty whether it was going to be absolutely fine.

The other boy reached forwards, and gently tapped the screen. He pulled back. “I can’t believe you guys. That’s just freaky.”

It was of course big news within the classroom of the five who had disappeared for a week when all the town’s electronics had gone to shit, and then returned with...random things on their bodies. It had turned out to be an act of utter futility to hide the D-Psyches or partake in any kind of official secrets act, so the tamers had been let out into the wild having promised not to divulge any of their miraculous adventures.

That lasted for about two days before caving in spectacularly. Though thankfully, the stories may have ended up being just a little too miraculous for anyone to take them too seriously.

Flynn folded his arms behind Audrey, huffing. “I don’t buy it. It’s just like with that giant blue worm thing. Some sort of government conspiracy.”

Callum raised an eyebrow from nearby, and held up his wrist. “Really? Then how do you explain these?”

“Some sort of freaky toaster accident?” Flynn pointed at Callum and Eleanor simultaneously. “The bigger question is when the hell did you two start hanging out together?”

Eleanor unveiled a middle finger in an expertly smooth motion. “Fuck you, Flynn, I’m allowed to share personal friendspace with people.”

“Toaster accident...?” Martin folded his arms. “I will summon the demon jellyfish, I swear to god.”

Both Callum and Eleanor thrust their palms into their faces simultaneously, but thankfully the necessity to summon eldritch terrors was quelled by the lunch bell. Flynn and Audrey shrugged and walked off to the football ground, while Martin kicked at the ground.

“I dunno. I guess I thought it would feel a little grander than this. I feel inadequate.”

“Dude, you saved the world.” Callum held his arms out. “What else is there?”

The boy grinned. “Just ‘cause I’ve saved the world once doesn’t mean I can’t still better myself.”

He looked behind him, and walked backwards, waving. “Have a good weekend. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Monday, huh? They used to be a thing.”

Callum chuckled to himself, but stopped as he noticed Eleanor looking away, a distant look on her face. The boy swallowed.

“You’ve been...quiet...is everything, y’know-“

“I’m glad you know. I don’t.” Eleanor sighed, and gave an exasperated smile at the boy. “You’d think travelling to another world and nearly getting killed multiple times would earn me a little bit of a break.”

Callum swallowed. “What...I mean...do you want to tell me or...”

Eleanor snorted, and pointed at her foot. “Just all came to a head last night. The brick is my fault. Her phone breaking is my fault as well. Leaving her and making her worry for a few days; all my fault.”

“Aaaaaah shit.”

“It wasn’t awful. She went out eventually. I’m just...tired.” Eleanor looked down. “It’d sure be nice if a magical digital adventure would solve a few more problems.”

“I’m sorry. Really” Callum bit his lip, and walked round in front of her. “I...don’t really have the right to be saying this...but I want to make things a bit better. Between us, I mean. Not that I want to butt in if you don’t want me, I mean, is this okay or do you want me to go away or-”

Eleanor smiled at him. “Ah, nothing a good half hour of eating sandwiches and lobbing swears at your friends won’t fix.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Callum nudged her. “And hey, if it doesn’t fix it, I’m still around.”

“To lob swears at?”

“Whatever you need.”

The girl straightened up, and played her fingers through her curly hair. “I appreciate it.”

She caught the boy’s eye, and coughed, looking away. They wandered down the schoolgrounds, trying to avoid each other’s gaze. Eventually Callum raised a finger.

“Just so you know, that wasn’t...you know...me confessing or anything...”

“Oh thank fuck.”

Callum breathed out. “Oh good, we’re on the same page...”

Eleanor stopped, her expression darkening. “What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?”

Callum blushed. “Oh, I mean, I didn’t mean like...that...I mean, it’s not you, it’s...I just have my own preferences, is all...”

The gears clicked in Eleanor’s mind as she tried to comprehend the stream of awkward gibberish flowing from the boy’s face. She put two and two together, and blinked.

“Fuck me, you really do learn something new every day.”

“Hey, you two.”

The pair looked up, and Eleanor raised her hand. “Hi Lorelie. What’s up?”

The girl seemed out of breath, and she peered around. “You two haven’t seen Ursula around have you? I haven’t seen her outside of class all day.”

Callum pointed over his shoulder. “I think she usually goes that way...?”

Lorelie grinned, and sprinted off, waving at the two as she ran. Eleanor and Callum looked at one another. Then, with a knowing smirk at each other, they wandered off to join the throng of normal teenagers.

If there can ever be such a thing.

Lorelie looked for a good fifteen minutes, eventually practically bumping into Ursula round the back of the maths’ building. She rubbed her head, and looked up, pouting. “Where were you? Have you been ignoring me?”

Ursula held her palms up, shaking them. “Oh, nein....no...no, I’d never do that. I mean...” The girl’s head sunk, and she scratched behind her hair. “I just thought you...I thought everyone wanted a little space, or...something...I didn’t want to barge in...”

Lorelie blinked. Then she chuckled, holding Ursula by the arm and pulling her away.

“We’re friends now. I don’t want you to feel left out again.”

“Yeah, I mean...” Ursula cleared her throat. “Friends. Of course. Yes. Thank you.”

Lorelie slowed, and her grip tensed on Ursula’s arm slightly. “Or...is this about...”

Ursula’s cheeks went a slight tinge of pink, as Lorelie looked away. “I’ve had some time to think over the past week. You know, about...what you said? Back in the core. And on the ship. And pretty much all journey.”

She looked up at the other girl, who was now a definite shade of scarlet. Ursula flustered, pulling her arm away from Lorelie’s and scratching her cheek. “Yes, well, it was in the spur of the moment and I was feeling happy at the time, and I wasn’t thinking straight and I might have overstated some things and-“

Lorelie shook her hands. “No, no, please, I don’t mean-“

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make things awkward!”

“Don’t be sorry! I...uh...yes, I will! I’d like to...go out with you...”

Ursula stopped, and uncoiled slightly, as Lorelie shuffled her feet.

“I had a long think about it, and...you’ve been very good to me and you’re really...kind of...cute.”

Ursula practically let out a little jet of steam from the top of her head. “You’re very wonderful and lovely as well and thank you so much and...thank you.”

Lorelie swayed, going slightly pink herself. “Well I’m free after school...what did you have in mind...?”

Ursula held her mouth open for an awkward amount of time, the frustration evident on her face.

“...crazy golf...?”

Lorelie started. “What?”

“I’m sorry I haven’t done this before I panicked.”

Lorelie put a hand to her mouth, and let out a great, hearty laugh. Ursula looked embarrassed for a second, but seeing Lorelie practically in tears with mirth was contagious, and she burst out laughing as well. For a few minutes the two girls stood there, trying to catch their breath. Lorelie peered up at the other girl, her cheeks flush with embarrassment, and laughter, and the first pure happiness she’d seen since they’d met one another.

“There is a bowling alley a bit further down the road...”

“Is that better? That sounds better.”

“I have no idea. But I’m up for it if you are.”

Ursula nodded. “Then it’s a date.”

“Come on. We’ve got history to get through first.”

Lorelie reached out, and grasped Ursula’s hand in hers, and the two wandered off, back down the beaten path through the school, with the sun beating down upon them, and a new renewed sense of hope rising with every step.

As the moon rose in the sky, Lorelie rested her head back against her pillow and stared up at the ceiling in her overly large room. A strange, fuzzy feeling tingled around her chest, and she allowed herself a little giggle, before clutching her bear from the end of the bed.

She wasn’t quite sure when she’d decided to go ahead with it. When Ursula first asked? Just upon arriving back home? Maybe even before. She was still very confused, but really didn’t care much at the moment.

Still, this was gonna be a new one to bring up to the parents. Even Aardmon was going to be difficult to explain...

“Aardmon...”

The image of her partner’s face flashed through her head, and she looked down. That didn’t help the confusion. How it had all ended just so...abruptly.

Though not without its marks.

She looked at the clock. 11:35pm. Still no sign of sleep anywhere. Gently she sat up, and walked over to her mirror, peering at her own face. She’d always been quietly pleased with it; bright blue eyes, chiselled features. She was very lucky. Or she had been. Her hand reached up, and she ran it gently down the red metal, still fused to her forehead. She didn’t feel any energy within it, but she could feel her own hand; feeling its touch through the metal. Her hand slipped down, and gently pulled the shoulder of her nightdress, showing the tiny pockmarks and circuitry burns around her collarbone. Scars from a hardship and a battle she would never forget as long as she lived, and yet here she was, standing in her own room, in her own normal life.

“You can’t change someone’s life like that and then...disappear. Not when we still have things to finish.”

A pang of pain struck her heart, and she held her fist against it.

“...Sorimon...”

Bzzzt.

Lorelie frowned, and turned back, staring at her phone on the bed.

“Who’s texting me this late?”

She sat down, and opened her messages. The number was a meaningless jumble. No name. Figuring it was just spam, she went to cancel it, when the actual message caught her eye.

“Everything back to normal?”

Lorelie blinked. Her phone buzzed again. The same number.

“I’m glad you’re all safe. You all did incredibly well. Thank you.”

Lorelie leaned back on the bed, pressing at the buttons. “Who is this?”

There was a bit more of a delay. Then the phone buzzed again.

“Just a friend. Or someone you can talk to if you need help. If things go wrong again.”

Lorelie’s eyes widened. “What kind of things?”

“Nothing in particular. But still, just in case.”

“And who knows.”

“Maybe I’ll need your help one day.”

Lorelie held her breath, not daring to respond. Eventually the message came through again.

“It’s just a number. That’s all. Keep it safe. Live your lives well. Goodbye.”

“Wait.”

Lorelie had answered before she thought it through. She took a breath, and typed in one last question.

“Will we ever see our partners again?”

She waited for what seemed like an age, holding her phone close to her chest. It buzzed, and she gently brought it up.

Just two words.

“I promise.”

THE END

THE 404 SQUAD WILL RETURN