Deon ran his hands along the spines of the books that sat along a shelf. He had spent almost the entirety of his waking time in this place, at least while they were in the village, and had barely scratched the surface. He chuckled as he looked at the line of dust he created. ROOT arched an eyebrow at him.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh." Deon blushed; that wasn't meant to be out loud. "It's just that, if my mom and brother weren't waiting for me back home I'd probably want to stay here. There is just so much to learn about." He looked down, feeling of shame and guilt in his stomach. "Part of me wishes we don't find a way back home, you know?" He whispered.

"Well I for one would be thrilled if you stayed." ROOT said. "Maybe make Log Temple your home?" Deon laughed.

"It's way too dreary to live there, but certainly a visit every now and then!" He found himself daydreaming about life here. He wandered the path to the Temple again, Veemon at his side. The sights and sounds of Digimon and trees instead of cars and brick houses. "Am I being selfish?" Deon asked. ROOT shrugged her shoulders.

"You're asking the wrong person. Anyway, take a look at this." The Keeper held up a book. Deon walked over and looked at it. Depths of the Dark Area.

"Hmm? This looks like it could be related to what Jijimon told us about earlier. About that, Susanoomon." ROOT nodded. "If there is nothing, maybe the Dark Area holds answers."

Smart . Deon took the book and lay down, getting comfortable. Flipping through the dusty pages, he marveled at the rich history and what seemed to be magic to him. Magic's just science that we don't understand yet; that quote had been stuck in his head since coming to this place. Would he ever fully understand this?

The Dark Area was a rift, created outside the boundaries of this world. Susanoomon had used its vast power to tear open time and space itself, and push the demon lords to a space that just... existed. The void of space itself. His mind recalled the symbols in Log Temple, the large circle embedded with the partitions of the worlds, and the human figure surrounding it.

"ROOT, what's in the void between the worlds?" Deon asked, curiosity striking him. The Keeper shook her head.

"I do not know. The void remains as much of a mystery to me as this scar in the sky or the existence of your partners."

"Could it be, nothing? Just like in our human world, there is nothing between our world and the next. Nothing in the vast distances that span between galaxies." The young boy mused, flipping the pages.

"Possibly. But how does that fit into what we felt, or rather couldn't feel, from the artifact?"

Deon didn't know the answer to that. As he skimmed through the book, he caught it telling about the layers of security cordoning the Dark Area off from this world. He remembered Leomon talking about that. The first layer broke, releasing Devidramon, BlackGatomon, and Saberdramon. The second layer, from what he put together through Imogen's and Edward's accounts, either broke in the storm the day they returned from the Temple, or will break very shortly. There was some reassurance in his mind though, in that the third layer was the most heavily guarded of them all. They should still have some time before that one broke.

"I want to see this artifact." He said.

"Hmm?" ROOT raised her head, broken out of her own thoughts.

"I'm... curious what it feels like." Reading about things was one thing, but experiencing it for themselves? "Do we have time before Echo Mountain?" The Keeper bit her lips in thought.

"I'm sure we can wriggle in a small detour. It's somewhat on the way. Yes, if what we see at the mountain is related to how Susanoomon created it in the first place, this could very well be our missing link." Deon grinned widely.

"You're the best!"

Combing through the rest of the book, suddenly Deon heard an explosion in the distance. He sprang to his feet and exchanged glances with ROOT.

"What was that!" Deon felt a pit in his stomach. It came from the direction he and Senna were yesterday.

"An explosion." ROOT said, as if saying the sky was purple.

The young man shook his head, scooped up a sleeping Veemon still under a blanket, and ran outside. His heart was pounding. Senna, please be okay. He saw Gargomon staring off in the distance.

"Hey! What happened?" The heavily armed bunny had a serious look on his face.

"Nothing good. MetalGreymon just flew off in that direction, and then BOOM." He raised his arms to the sky. Deon gritted his teeth; as much as he wanted to rush there to help, Veemon was still out cold. Besides, he had no idea where exactly they were.

"It'll be fine." ROOT said. "That explosion very likely came from MetalGreymon."

Deon stood rooted to that spot and stared, chewing his lips. He tensed up as he saw a figure quickly flying in from over the treetops, while ROOT grabbed her discs and Gargomon pointed his guns. An armoured woman with butterfly wings landed, and they all relaxed when they saw her carrying Edward and Imogen, with Chrysalimon following closely after.

As the newcomer landed, Edward collapsed to the ground, and after dropping a sleeping Floramon, started dry heaving. The flying Digimon looked as though she rolled her eyes beneath the helmet.

"Hudiemon, we have to go back for them!" Imogen cried, grabbing the Digimon's arm. She quickly let go as Hudiemon shook her head and started glowing, and to Deon's astonishment she reverted back to Wormmon. So that was his Adult stage? She was kind of cute. That got his mind thinking, do Digimon have sexes?

"Sorry, I'm tapped out." Wormmon said sadly. "Even if I wasn't, Garudamon and the rest are on a totally different level." Imogen looked around desperately.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Chrysalimon!" She started to climb on her partner. "Come on, we have to go!" Imogen was shaking as she spoke.

"What happened!" Deon finally asked. "Where's Senna?" The blond girl didn't hear him as she tried shaking Chrysalimon, the cocoon just floating there.

"We were attacked by the Nightmare Soldiers." Wormmon began. Deon's heart fell. No, Senna. Just before Wormmon could continue, two more figures appeared in the sky. To his relief, one was MetalGreymon. The other was of a similar size, with large feathered wings and powerful arms and legs. Was that Garudamon? They landed in front of Deon and the others, and the large bird knelt and put its hands down. Senna was sitting on them with Palmon and six other small Digimon. Deon ran up as Garudamon gently let them down on the ground.

"Senna!" The young girl looked at him and quickly glanced away, the light of Garudamon devolving creating a shadow on her face. "Are you hurt?" She shook her head, and looked at Biyomon, now collapsed on the ground. Senna picked her partner up as Deon put his free hand on her shoulder. To his astonishment she shrugged him off and his heart sank. "Senna..." Silently shaking her head, Senna walked quickly towards the hall.

"Senna, wait up!" Imogen cried, running after her friend. Worry lined her face. Deon stood there, not knowing what to do.

"Women, am I right?" Edward laughed nervously, hand behind his head. ROOT rolled her eyes.

"So your partners can reach the perfect stage so soon. That's interesting." She mumbled to herself. She turned to Edward. "What was the trigger?" Edward shrugged.

"I dunno, I was too focused on staying alive." The Keeper grunted and headed back to the library.

"Things are bad." MetalGreymon said. ROOT paused and turned back to face the armoured dinosaur. "Do not leave the village unless you must. The Lieutenants are bolder than we thought." He gazed to the other end of the village. "I only hope WereGarurumon was able to find success."

Oh no, not Tavaras too. Deon felt another knot.

—

"Jijimon!" Imogen looked up as Tavaras ran into the main hall, carrying Dorumon. Her eyes widened at the sight of the sleeping purple dragon; he looked just as bad as Biyomon. Jijimon had been knelt over the pink bird for the past several minutes working to heal her while Imogen told him what transpired by the river. Senna sat quietly close beside her partner with eyes downcast. The blonde girl wrapped her arms around her friend's shoulder, trying to provide as much comfort as she could.

The old Digimon looked up hearing his name, visibly relieved at the sight of the young man. "I'm glad WereGarurumon was able to get there in time." Tavaras walked over and gently lay Dorumon beside Biyomon. Imogen stared at him. What had he gone through? All his bravado was gone. Silence fell as Jijimon finished with Biyomon and immediately started healing Dorumon. Tavaras let out a breath and gave her a quick smile, relief on his own face at seeing them. No words needed to be said; they were all lucky to be alive.

Senna shrugged Imogen off her and picked up Biyomon. "I'm going to lie down." Her voice was quiet and weary. Imogen made to go after her, but held herself back. Senna needed time to think and absorb everything that happened. Hell, Imogen herself needed that. Her mind went to the Hyogamon back at Log Temple, and how Devimon had been controlling them. Is that what they were up against now? MarineDevimon, on a whole other level than even the creature who gave her nightmares.

She turned to Dorumon, the small creature's breathing stabilizing. His partner knelt there with his eyes closed. "They're dead." He said finally, breaking the silence as the glow dissipated. Jijimon looked up, eyebrows sullen. "Tyrannomon. They're both gone." Tavaras looked at Imogen, eyes seeming to look far away. "Just like Leomon, they tried protecting me and ended up dead." Imogen felt a pit in her stomach, Leomon's last words coming back to her. "Turns out I had the strength to save them all along!" He laughed bitterly. "They died because I couldn't find it in time." Tears sprung to his eyes now and Imogen found her own getting wet.

"Do not be so hard on yourself, child." Jijimon looked at him with pity. "Strength is something that is found in the moment. It cannot come before it is ready." Tavaras clenched his fists but stayed quiet. Imogen felt a soft sadness for the old Digimon. Over the last few days he had lost so many of his children. Yet he never blamed any of them. His soft reassuring voice always comforting them before anything else, despite the grief he must feel. Tavaras sniffed and wiped his eyes.

"You must want to know what happened." Jijimon shook his head.

"That can wait child. WereGarurumon will fill me in when he returns. For now, rest. You are safe in Sanctuary Village, and always will be." Tavaras looked at him gratefully, and slowly picked up Dorumon. He glanced at Imogen and nodded his head towards the outside. As they stepped outside, she saw MetalGreymon waiting patiently outside.

"Is WereGarurumon...?" She didn't expect to see such a worried look on the imposing figure. Like Leomon, he had always been their strong savior who seemed infallible.

"He's fine." Tavaras reassured the metallic guard. "He stayed behind to help the others." MetalGreymon nodded and ducked into the hall behind them, ground shaking with his heavy footsteps.

"You... okay?" Imogen asked, rushing to keep up with the young man's long strides.

"Yeah." She smiled. His bravado was back, at least on the outside. "Just thinking. We need to get the hell back home as soon as we can."

"Hey, you don't have to keep things all bottled up, you know?" Imogen said. "If you need to talk, I'm here." Tavaras stopped and looked at her.

"You're too mature for your age." She blushed, and Tavaras sighed. "Walk with me."

"Ever since we got here, I felt like I had to lead everyone back home safely. All of you so young, and Edward..." He stopped, words caught in his throat.

"Useless, I know." Imogen smiled. He cleared his throat.

"Anyway, this has just been a lot harder than I thought. And now I'm finding myself wanting to save these people." He looked frustrated now. "They've all been so kind and helpful, other than that rat bastard Kiwimon of course. None of them even hesitating for a second to give their lives for us. And here I am, just trying to get back home. To get all of us back home." As they walked, Imogen took in the serenity of all that was around them. The home that took them in, everyone living their lives. The peace and nature that surrounded them.

"You know the Tyrannomon were the first Digimon here that I actually liked ?" Tavaras's eyes were getting wet again. Imogen's heart dropped at the sight. "I know it's stupid, only having spent a few days with them, but they were just as much brothers to me as my buddies back home. SkullSatamon was after me, not them." He wiped his eyes with his left hand, his right arm supporting a sleeping Dorumon on his shoulder like he would a child. She grabbed his hand in solidarity as her own thoughts went back to Leomon, and the guilt she felt at his death. Tavaras squeezed back, and she felt the strength of his conviction.

"You were right back then." She said softly, recalling his words back at the temple. "We didn't ask to be here. But I still feel..." She thought back to all the Digimon in the village. Palmon, Floramon, Gargomon. All the babies and children. Tavaras barked a small laugh and let go of her hand.

"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts too." She looked down, unable to answer. Her own siblings came to mind, her strong desire to protect them keeping her moving forward. And yet, those memories were starting to intermingle with these new ones.

"I never had any real friends growing up. It was always just my brothers and sisters, and I was basically their surrogate mother." She felt resentment building up as she stroked her jacket. She had no one to talk to about all this before now. "Now, it's like I have the chance to redo everything." Imogen felt a sense of longing building up at the life that could have been. "You know Tav, you're the brother I wish I had growing up." She sighed, and Tavaras stopped to stared at her. "But still, I love my family so much that I just can't find it in me to stay, no matter how much I want to save all of them."

"Well then." Tavaras gave a mock bow. "As your new older brother I'll do everything I can to get you back home." Imogen giggled.

"It's nice, having someone to look up to."

"Hey, thanks Iggy." He smiled at her. "I needed this. To know I'm not just fighting for myself, but all of you." She blushed and found herself wrapping her arms around his in a hug.