Imogen willed her feet to move as she followed ROOT down the deep mountain path from the back of the pack. The high walls around them made it feel like being herded through the valley like a sheep to slaughter, with the sun beating down her back forcing them onwards. Was she really so willing to throw her life away so quickly? Images of her time in the Digital World flashed through her memory. All the kindness, all the warmth.

And then her life back at home intruded. All the pain, all the dejection. But my family needs me. Imogen gritted her teeth and glanced towards Edward, shuffling behind and looking at her with guilt in his eyes. He changed. Her brother was reliable now and would make a much better protector than she would. She could finally be free, and not have such a heavy duty hanging over her like the Shadow of the very mountain they were climbing.

Why did the God Link have to fail back there? The last thing she wanted was to have this hanging over her for however long it took them to reach the peak.

Mum, I'm so glad I got to see what a wonderful person you were, and I'm glad I got to see Dad how you saw him. I promise, I will protect your legacy.

Her legacy. Imogen almost barked out loud. It was her fault her mother was gone. It was her fault Edward left. It was her fault their father was left all alone. She rubbed her arms. It was her fault for all of this.

If she hadn’t done that. If the Digital World hadn’t made her do that, what would their lives have been like? Elizabeth’s warmth, Mark’s smile, Edward’s love. She would have had the childhood she could only envy in other kids at school. Carefree, not having to worry about feeding others, or worry about angering someone, or having to walk on eggshells.

Imogen struggled to keep tears from forming again. This was retribution then. Retribution and salvation for the sins she committed when she was six . She took in the air of the world around her. Dry and dusty, but still clean. It wasn't all bad; she would live here, maybe not as herself, but as something. Maybe something that would bring her more joy than her own human body.

She can protect this world that's been so good to her as its guardian. This world that, in a sense, was another sister to her.

Suddenly, the ground shook and she was brought out of her thoughts. Chrysalimon flew in front as Imogen looked around, clutching her pendant.

A familiar voice rang out with words that made her blood run cold.

"YOU HUMANS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!!"

With that roar, the world shook once more as several mountain Digimon jumped up from the surrounding caverns, encircling the group.

Warriors of the Mountain [https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/immortalfork/97476102/4837/4837_original.png]

Baboongamon stood in front of them, powerful arms covered in stone blocking their way. He was flanked by two Ankylomon, quadruped and yellow with a spiked tail like a large mace pointed threateningly. Behind them, two Digmon, bipedal insectoid Digmon covered in yellow armour, glared at them with drill-like arms and nose spinning with a loud whine that reminded Imogen of her father's many handy projects. Atop the hills on either side stood a large stone Golemon, stacks on their back spewing hot gas.

They were trapped in the very valley urging them on.

The eyes of the mountain Digimon with whom they spent the previous night glowed a deep red, a sign the group knew all too well. "Baboongamon! What's going on?" Tavaras demanded. The group shrunk back and huddled together, Dorumon and Veemon at the front and Chrysalimon and Wormmon facing the rear. "What happened to us having a free pass?" Imogen felt pity for the young man who so quickly built a rapport with the armoured baboon.

"No longer! You come here and poison our world; you will have no more free reign over my home!" Without another word, their foes converged onto them.

Baboongamon roared and on all fours ran towards them, with Ankylomon joining him on either flank. The world slowed down for Imogen as she took in the battlefield in horror.

Veemon and Dorumon glowed brightly as they stepped up to meet their foes.

"Baboongamon, are you so weak that you would be controlled by something like this!" Dorumon exclaimed. "We fought together, don't you remember how our souls connected?"

His plea fell on deaf ears, as the armoured baboon continued racing forward.

At the same time, Golemon spew hot gas towards them from the stacks on its back, and the horror Imogen felt turned to anger. Is this what she was sacrificing her life for? Was her redemption for beings who were so easily thrown into violence? She remembered what Edward told her about Babamon's "justice". Why should she not just let this place die? Her and her friends alongside it.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Wormmon glowed as he jumped off Edward's head.

No! She can’t think like that! Deon, Tavaras, and even Edward all fought for this world. Against any and all odds, against any and all attempts to block their path. They fought. They fought for what they believed in.

Both Digmon ran towards them from behind, all five of their drills spinning fast.

Imogen clenched her fists. This wasn't her; there may be evil in the world, but there was still light. "STOP! WE WANT TO SAVE YOUR WORLD!" She cried.

Deaf to her cries, the corrupted Digimon did not slow. No. She would not let evil win. This time, she would fight. Not for the evil that festered, but she would fight for the beauty of the world itself and for the friends she held so dear.

"VEEMON, DIGIVOLVE"

"DORUMON, DIGIVOLVE"

Chrysalimon's eyes flashed, as it had that fateful night Leomon died.

"WORMMON, DIGIVOLVE"

The heroes [https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/immortalfork/97476102/4927/4927_original.png]

"Infinity Dream." Erupting from the light, Hudiemon shot up and spun, releasing a gust of small, blue scales around the battlefield. The beautiful dust spread above the combatants head like an umbrella of shining sapphires as it blew away the gas and settled on the Golemon, dropping the large stone golems to their knees.

At the same time, Chrysalimon darted towards the Digmon. Blue data spew from its foes as bladed tendrils shot out, striking the armour Digimon through the legs. The earth shook violently as they fell, still-spinning drills striking the ground. In a moment of clarity through her anger, Imogen gasped. Is this what she was capable of?

On the other side of the battlefield, Dorugamon and Veedramon engaged with their foes. A sonic boom echoed through the air as the purple dinosaur's cannonball struck the rightmost Ankylomon, and a V-shaped blast of heat struck the left one. Both Digimon screamed as they stumbled back.

As Veedramon and Dorugamon glanced at each other, ready to intercept Baboongamon, they stumbled, shaken by the Digmon's earthquake. Baboongamon himself powered through the shaking earth, large stone arms striking the dragon and dinosaur into the valley walls.

Not slowing, he kept going straight towards the humans gathered in the middle. ROOT stepped forward, planting her feet and grasping at her belt. Her red eyes widened as she remembered what happened to her weapons. The Keeper braced herself and Imogen shut her eyes as the baboon swung his rocky fist down. In a flash, Chrysalimon raced to block the attack, but it was too far. Just as she felt his hot breath, the hairy creature slammed into the ground, Hudiemon swinging down on him with a powerful drop kick.

Imogen turned to see her brother standing by her side, stalwart and focused, his eyes giving her the sense of safety she so desperately longed for. Regret and anger filled her heart, the potential of a life missed. Why now?

She whipped her head back around, hearing a shriek of pain pierce her ears. Baboongamon screamed as Chrysalimon's eight blades stabbed through the stone armour as the earthquake stopped.

Why? Why can't I just leave in peace? Tears sprung from Imogen's eyes as she shook with anger. Just let me save you. Why don't you just let me go?

"IGGY!!" Tavaras grabbed her shoulders. "Stop it! This isn't you!" Imogen's eyes focused as Tavaras’s voice brought her back to the present. Seeing blue data gushing from Baboongamon's wounds, she covered her mouth and stumbled back, eyes wide. What is she doing?

Chrysalimon retracted its tendrils and retreated to her side, and Imogen looked at the battlefield around her. It was over so quickly, yet there was so much pain. Veedramon and Dorugamon struggled to their feet as the Ankylomon lay moaning in front of them. The Golemon sank to their knees above them, paralyzed by Hudiemon who hovered protectively in front of her.

The Digmon and Baboongamon however all struggled for their lives, each bleeding the same blue data from the deep wounds her partner inflicted. Imogen sank to her knees as Tavaras ran towards the furry baboon in concern.

She was a monster. What would she do if she gained even more power? Imogen gripped the God Link tightly.

"Ohh? Looks like Devimon was right after all; the girl has some fire in her." The group looked up at a woman's voice. The piercing voice full of malice. Imogen's mouth went dry as she saw her own death before her.

Nightmare Soldiers [https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/immortalfork/97476102/5253/5253_original.png]

"Oh God," Edward whispered, as they looked upon all three Nightmare Soldiers and Gigasmon himself, bright red eyes staring down at them.

"Gigasmon! Not you too; fight it!" Dorugamon yelled as Tavaras pushed Imogen behind him protectively.

"Hahaha!" LadyDevimon laughed, sending a chill down the young girl's spine. "So this is the owner of that jacket, SkullSatamon? Pitiful; I thought she was older." She pointed her claws towards the Imogen, and she gripped her mum's jacket, fear overtaking any other emotion.

Blood red nails formed a spear, and LadyDevimon lunged towards her. In desperation, Chrysalimon flew to meet the Lady of Death, and Imogen screamed as the spear pierced the cocoon's hard, white shell.

"Not good..." Hudiemon mumbled. The butterfly warrior raced up, and as Chrysalimon crashed into the ground in front of Imogen, she saw the giant hole she felt in her shield's chest.

"Hahaha, you wish, child." LadyDevimon mocked as Hudiemon struck out with a powerful kick. "Darkness Wave!"

"GAHHH!" Hudiemon screamed as bats as black as the pure night sky engulfed her, throwing her back into the ground behind them.

"Hudiemon!" Edwards ran towards his partner as she was engulfed in a white light and turned back into Wormmon. Imogen screamed, clutching her own chest as her brother held his wounded and unconscious partner.

"Power Metal!"

"V-Novablast!"

LadyDevimon swung her smaller right arm, knocking the cannonball into the side of the hill around them while Veedramon's heat blast glanced harmlessly off her outstretched left arm.

"Dorugamon! This isn't working!" Tavaras yelled.

"Veedramon, please! We need more!" Deon pleaded.

Imogen barely registered what was happening as she collapsed from the intense pain she felt. She struggled to stay conscious as a brightly glowing Dorugamon and Veedramon stepped in between the humans and their enemy.

The last thing she felt before she lost consciousness was a warm light engulfing the battlefield.