The wooden door to his room creaked as Tavaras opened it. He felt embarrassed about the talk he had with Iggy; he was never good with opening up, especially with someone so much younger. It was effective though and he felt a lot better about his choice now. His heart pang as he remembered Tyrannomon and Leomon, and the devastation that was threatening this world that they held so dear, but it was clear to him now.

Imogen, Deon, Senna, and even Edward. Tavaras had a responsibility to see them all home. Not selfishness, but duty bound his path.

Walking towards his bed, he saw Deon laying face down on his own with Veemon still asleep on the top bunk. Weird, he thought for sure the young boy would be in the library.

"You okay buddy?" Tavaras asked as he lay Dorumon down.

"Hmmhmm. Fine." Came the muffled response. Was he, moping? Well, whatever. The kid wasn't his son. Deon sniffled and turned around. He jolted up as he saw Dorumon. "What happened? You guys alright?" Tavaras sighed and collapsed on his own bed. He really didn't want to talk about what happened again, especially with the moody teenager.

"Bad shit, but I'm fine."

"Hmmhmm." Deon collapsed back onto his own bed, the springs squeaking. Tavaras usually hated silence like this, but now it seemed like it was exactly what he needed. Inhaling, he closed his eyes and took in the scent of the forest coming through the open window.

"I hope Senna's okay." A small voice came from Deon. Tavaras opened an eye and a smile touched his lips.

"Maybe you should ask her."

"Mmm. I don't know if she even wants to see me." Tavaras stifled a small laugh. He should have known that's what it was about. Those two had been spending a lot of time together, and it hadn't escaped Tavaras's notice how the girl was acting around the young boy. "What?" Deon sat up and glared at him.

"Deon, let me give you some advice. Man to man." Tavaras sat up himself and looked him in the eye. Senna had been really quiet and introspective when he saw her in Jijimon's hut. "It's not about you. Sometimes, people just need time. Especially after such a traumatic experience, and especially with someone who she may like." Tavaras had no idea what Senna was playing at, but best not give the impressionable teenager more angst to deal with.

Besides, if she was stringing him along, she can deal with that potential fallout herself.

Deon seemed to relax, and he nodded. "So what then?" Tavaras rolled his eyes.

"My brother, just let her come around. And stop acting like it's the end of the world if she doesn't give you attention." Deon blushed. Tavaras lost his smile, and stared at him. "Deon, it's good that you're living life here like this, but you know it's going to end when we all get home, don't you? You're both so young, and on other sides of the world." Deon looked down. For someone so smart, how did he overlook such an important thing? He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it.

Tavaras collapsed back on his bed. If. That's what he probably thought. If they got back home. Well, Tavaras himself couldn't think like that. It was like giving up before they even started. They will get home, and that was that.

—

"Sooo, whatcha doin' here?" Edward looked at the back of the helmeted head that was the Keeper of the Chronicles. Lofty title, that one. She had gone into the library after MetalGreymon and the others left, and Edward, with nothing else going on, decided to follow.

"Deon and I have been trying to figure out what that Church of Nothingness really is. They rub me the wrong way." ROOT was combing through the large, old looking books. Edward let out a cough as old dust flew towards his face.

"Neat."

"The same church Cherrymon took you to see?" Wormmon asked. ROOT nodded. Edwards' partner wriggled forward. "It was first created by a Digimon called Wisemon during the time we warred with the 7 Demon Lords." Thud. Edwards coughed again as the book ROOT was holding fell to the floor, dust clouds flying everywhere. She pivoted quickly and stared at Wormmon in astonishment.

"How do you know this?" She whispered. "You... I haven't even heard of this thing!" Wormmon shrugged, looking embarrassed.

"Sometimes, when I see or hear something, I just know. I can't really explain it but it's like I'm reaching down into something that I don't even know is there." ROOT knelt down and looked Wormmon in the eye.

"Do you know anything else about this? Anything at all?" Edward almost felt sorry for her desperation as her shoulders slumped when his partner shook his head. She perked back up relatively quickly though and stood. "This is interesting though. Very interesting, and worrying." She frowned and Edward started to get a bad feeling. "Wisemon was who we talked to when Cherrymon took Tavaras and I on our little field trip."

"Surely he can't be the same guy?" Edward laughed nervously. This was getting out of control; if even the people he was supposed to trust were evil then what?

"It's not likely." ROOT replied, but his nervousness did not fade as the Keeper bit her lips. "It's also not impossible. Jijimon and Babamon are supposed to be the only Digimon alive from that time, but who's to say Wisemon wasn't just able to stay hidden away all this time."

"Gahhh!" Edward crouched down holding his head in frustration. "What the hell did I get myself into." He moaned. This was ridiculous. Creatures thousands of years old pulling the strings of some church. Why couldn't it have been a dead guy like back home? How about a book?

"Wow, you really are terminally scared." ROOT looked at him curiously. "It's fascinating, that you and Imogen are related. And that you humans are all so different." Edward looked at her. That was rude.

"Hey, I'm just a realist. And I don't like conflict - especially ones that could, you know, cause me to die." He put emphasis on that last word. Nobody else seemed to be affected by the danger they were in. Screw his sister for dragging him into that forest in the first place!

"Wormmon, I always thought you partner Digimon were born around the time the humans arrived. When do these memories appear?" Was she ignoring him? Edward started to see what Tavaras found so aggravating about her.

"Hmm." Wormmon thought back. "When I saw the Nightmare Soldiers, somehow I knew who they were."

"So your memories are all related to the conflict between the Digital World and the Demon Lords." ROOT mused.

"Hey!" Edward said sharply. She turned to him.

"Yes?"

"Stop ignoring me!"

"Oh, was that rude? Sorry, I just didn't find your response interesting enough to waste time on." She turned back to his partner, leaving Edward speechless. That woman had no tact at all. "Anyways." ROOT continued. "Everything seems to be pointing back to that time. I feel Echo Mountain should prove even more enlightening than I thought."

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—

"What did she mean, that it's fascinating we're so different?" Edward spoke out loud as he and Wormmon sat near the outskirts of the village. Away from the hustle and bustle, but still close enough that he could see the kids playing with Garurumon watching closely over them. This afternoon was certainly more irritating than he had hoped, especially after just having fought for their lives.

"What was that?" Wormmon asked. The insectoid Digimon seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. Edward sighed, his own partner too .

"Nothing, don't worry about it." Edward felt his partner's hairy body rub up against his leg.

"I can feel you're bothered, Edward."

"And I can feel you're bothered too buddy."

"You can go first." Edward sighed. Well at least Wormmon wanted to listen.

"I'm sick of being typecast as a coward Wormmon. Just because I don't run head first into danger." Thinking back, he knew that wasn't true. He was just gaslighting himself into thinking that. His whole life it was just an excuse to avoid anything that could lead to conflict. Wormmon looked at him silently. "Fine, maybe I am. but I'm changing! Why can't everyone see that?" He went back for Iggy. Despite all his misgivings, he also followed her this morning. That one only vindicated his feelings, having come so close to death.

"Is that it?"

"No! Everyone else seems to be respected in some way around here. But I'm the butt of every joke and no one takes me or my concerns seriously!" He saw the way his own sister looked up to Tavaras. The way the Digimon here looked at her and Senna. The way Tavaras made friends with those dinosaurs. The way ROOT respected Deon.

Wormmon looked down with hung eyebrows.

"What, no sage advice or wisdom now?"

"Edward, if you're looking for an easy solution to your problem, I don't have one. There is none. You can sulk all you want, but there's only one way to help your image and you know that." Edward sighed and gripped his hat tightly.

"Fine." Edward finally relented. Maybe he could stand to be a little braver, and include himself in some of the things happening around here. He found himself petting his partner. "Anyway, what's eating you up?"

"I don't know what I am Edward. All these hidden memories. Where did they come from? Who was I? Why do I have this?" Edward could feel the turmoil in his partner, and his own problems felt smooth in comparison.

"Right, an existential crisis."

"No wisdom for me either?" Edward choked on a laugh.

"From me?" He thought for a minute. What could he even say? "I got nothing man, sorry. Maybe Iggy could help." Wormmon started laughing.

"She is a lot better at this stuff than you are." Edward laughed with his partner. Well, maybe he can at least start to embrace who he is.

The two of them fell into silence for a time, Wormmon back to brooding, when Edward saw WereGarurumon walk in. He looked bad, and was followed by Greymon and Monochromon, one of whom seemed injured himself. He narrowed his eyes as five Woodmon walked in, two of them tied up. They looked to be heading for the main hall.

"Do you want to go?" Wormmon asked. Edward chewed on his lips. The answer was no, but he did need to be a little more proactive in the happenings of this quaint little village. Sighing, he nodded and got up.

Jijimon looked up in surprise seeing Edward enter the hall right after the Digimon from the forest. MetalGreymon was standing at the side of the room, himself looking relieved at WereGarurumon's arrival, and Palmon sat huddled behind the armoured dinosaur's leg. The young man took his spot by the entrance adjacent to Guardromon as he watched the bound Woodmon stumble up to the front.

He didn't expect to see any prisoners in such a tight-knit community. Airdramon at the other end of the room glared at them; it was a look of disappointment he knew all too well.

Jijimon looked at all the Digimon, his sad eyes peering into each of them. All but the two prisoners. "My children, this has been another day of loss and tribulation for us all." He walked over to the injured Monochromon and began healing him. "Please, tell us what transpired."

Edward listened as Monochromon began speaking, with an occasional add in by the unbound Woodmon. He felt almost sick as the story landed; this was somehow even worse than what happened by the river. As they got to the part where the Woodmon were knocked out, WereGarurumon took over, and shadow fell over the group when he described SkullSatamon's attack and Dorugamon's miraculous evolution.

Silence fell when the tale ended, and they all took in the implications of the day. Jijimon looked to the worker Digimon gathered. "Those of you who wish to return home and rest, you may. If you wish to stay and listen to our discussion, I grant you that right." Edward straightened up. What was about to happen? Jijimon looked expectedly at the warrior werewolf as both Greymon and one of the Monochromon walked out, heads bowed. He recoiled as he saw Babamon by the entrance. When did she get there?

"SkullSatamon himself attacked." WereGarurumon growled after the uninterested parties left. "Jijimon, it's not just Devimon who is able to influence and grow the darkness in our hearts." He looked at the prisoners. "To be able to force an evolution to the perfect level? This is too much." Jijimon slumped his shoulders.

"SkullSatamon is the master of corruption it seems." MetalGreymon said.

"Is Cherrymon not back yet? First Kiwimon, Gotsumon, and Thundermon. Now these two." WereGarurumon nodded his head at the bound Woodmon. "That Church has caused nothing but pain and suffering this past week."

"Seadramon and the other church affiliated Digimon by the river turned too." Palmon looked down as MetalGreymon spoke. Along with what ROOT and Wormmon said, Edward's perception of that church was not getting any better.

"Don't blame the teachings for this!" Airdramon cut in. "They were only trying to save this world, something no one else seems to want to do!" Jijimon held up his hand to the winged beast.

"Peace, Airdramon. We shall discuss the Church when Cherrymon returns." Airdramon shrunk down from the rebuke, and gritted his teeth.

"So a Lieutenant attacked the river too?" WereGarurumon looked worried.

"Both MarineDevimon and LadyDevimon." MetalGreymon answered. "We were lucky all three of them didn't coordinate their attacks."

"So they're monitoring us." Babamon strode in from the door and walked to Jijimon's side. "Far enough to escape any notice from Jijimon or I, but close enough to try and corrupt our Villagers and rebuild their army." Jijimon slumped back as the light of healing faded from Monochromon, clearly exhausted. Babamon put an arm around him and led him back to his seat.

"And so we come to the question." The old woman had taken charge now. "What do we do with you two?" She pointed at the bound prisoners. The Woodmon on trial bowed their heads.

"Babamon, please!" The three free Woodmon ran up to her and got on their knees. "Spare our brothers! They were only doing what they thought was right." Edward uncrossed his arms and shared a look with Wormmon. That did not sound good; he should have taken the hint and left when the others did.

"They gave in to the darkness in their hearts, and as a result we lost friends. Peaceful members of our community. Family to us all." WereGarurumon looked conflicted as he spoke. Palmon ran up to him, tears flowing freely from black eyes.

"You can't! Let them live, please. I'm begging you, no more death." Edward heard heavy footsteps as Guardromon walked over. Palmon looked desperately at him as he picked her up. "No! Let me go. Please. NO!" Edward stared, mouth agape as the mechanical Digimon carried a wailing Palmon out of the Hall.

Babamon shook her head sadly. "Poor child, she should not have had to witness this debate." She looked to her husband and Jijimon closed his eyes.

"Evil lingers within the hearts of many. Babamon and I saw it, those many thousands of years ago. This is the influence of Demon, to be clear, but he and his minions can only amplify and use what is already there." He looked at Woodmon. "You are victims of their malice, yet also perpetrators of your own. We cannot absolve you of your crimes just because SkullSatamon brought it forward."

"Wait, can't you just, like, put them in prison or something?" Edward found himself speaking up, heart beating fast. He wasn't one for the death penalty. "They aren't complete monsters, right?"

"We have lived through the dark times, my dear." Babamon turned to address him. "Evil festers and it grows. Having it within our boundaries is not something we can chance." She took a deep breath and shared a look with Jijimon. "The laws of this village are clear. Those who bring harm upon us shall be judged and punished accordingly."

Silently, Babamon walked up to the imprisoned Woodmon, one of them looking down silently and the other shaking, branches rustling wildly. She touched her broom to the silent one, and a dark haze appeared at the end. "Dark Broom!" The dark mass engulfed Woodmon, hanging on for a few seconds. The rest of the room held their breath, and sighed in collective relief as it retreated back, leaving the target kneeling there unharmed. Woodmon looked at her with stunned relief, unable to find words.

"Your heart knows redemption, my child." Babamon smiled. Stepping towards his quivering brother, she again pointed her broom and silence fell. The absolved Woodmon opened his eyes wide and shook his head. This time, as the dark haze enveloped its target, Edward felt a chill crawl down his spine at the guttural scream coming from inside the mass. A scream that was suddenly silenced as blue particles of data erupted from where the Woodmon used to be.

"Your heart did not." Babamon hung her head. The three other Woodmon ran up to their remaining brother and hugged him, tears falling for their fallen sibling. Edward stood up, and with Wormmon on his shoulder left them to grieve.

Rounding the side of the building, he doubled over and threw up.