Imogen opened her eyes slowly. Was she dead? Her mouth was dry and she felt sore all over, but as she came to she saw stone walls around her. Pushing herself to sit, she felt the familiarity of the stone beneath her; the same stone she had slept on in Gigasmon's cavern.

"Hey, don't move so much." She heard a quiet shuffle over to her and the familiar voice of a young girl speaking. Before she could process that voice, she felt a warm hand under her chin and a cool stream of water pour down her throat. It felt like finding an oasis in the desert. Imogen turned her head to look at the girl giving her the life's blood.

"Senna?" She managed to croak, voice hoarse and throat sore as anything. "W-what happened? Where are we? Why are you here?" There was a knot in the pit of her stomach; Senna's eyes were tired and swollen, and it seemed as though she was avoiding eye contact with her.

"Iggy! You're awake!" Edward clambered over to her, visible relief on his face. "Oh my God, I thought I lost you." Much to her surprise, he wrapped her in a tight hug. Despite her sore body, she returned it. The last thing she remembered was LadyDevimon staring down at them with a vicious smirk.

Imogen took the time wrapped in her brother's arm to look around the room: Senna sat beside her and a little bit to her side lay a sleeping Deon, Veemon, and Biyomon. The latter two looked terrible, bruises all over and bandages covering key parts of their bodies. To Imogen's other side, right behind Edward, lay Wormmon looking just as bad as the other two Digimon. ROOT sat nearby, her red eyes full of sorrow, and Chrysalimon floated next to the Keeper. Its body too had bandages over the area that could be considered a chest.

Letting go of her brother, Imogen put a hand over her own chest, and the flash of LadyDevimon stabbing her partner came back to her. "Eddy, what happened?" She looked around the room again. The knot in her stomach tightened and her heart pounded. "Where's Tav?" Edward opened his mouth, but he just stared at her, nothing coming out of it. Imogen found herself getting hot with frustration. "Can somebody please say something?"

ROOT stood up. Walking over she put a hand on Edward's shoulder and knelt in front of the trembling young girl. "We are in Gigasmon's domain." Seeing Imogen's eyes widen she shook her head. "The possession has been removed."

Imogen looked at Senna and something clicked. Jijimon must have sensed something and told her and Biyomon. "So, we won?"

"In a sense, yes. You were almost killed; fortunately I was able to heal Chrysalimon enough that you were able to be stabilized." the Keeper sighed. "Everyone else suffered great wounds, but the Nightmare Soldiers are no more."

Imogen wanted to feel some sort of joy at that, but something felt wrong. The mood felt eerily familiar, like she was 6 years old again standing behind her father in front of her mum's casket. Rain beat down in her head as the memories came flooding back to her. "Where is Tavaras?" She asked again, voice no more than a hoarse whisper. Eyes full of dread scanned the room, and both Senna and Edward averted their gaze. ROOT met her, and shook her head.

"The enemy, they... had us dead to rights. Even after Garudamon appeared, we were massively outgunned. Tavaras and Grademon." She bit her lips. "They made the ultimate sacrifice and used the Soul Link."

Imogen gasped and covered her mouth. Her mother's final moments came into her mind, how she fought for her sanity and life in Susanoomon. Her weathered blond hair whipped around as she shook her head. "No. He couldn't." Edward finally met her eyes and nodded sadly. "H-he wanted to go home! He wanted to return more than any of us! No way."

She was at a loss as tears fell down her face. He had been their leader. The one keeping them on track. The one person with his shit together. "He'll be back, right?" She stared at her brother. "There's no way he's going to let what happened to mum happen to him."

"He-" ROOT began.

"He was gone as soon as he fused with Grademon." Edward finished, glancing at the Keeper. "There wasn't any kind of pain like we saw with mum; he knew what was going to happen and accepted his fate without a second thought."

Imogen felt Senna's soft arms around her as she started to weep.

—

"You... okay?" Senna rested her head against Deon's shoulder. He was more withdrawn than usual, though understandably. What Senna didn't understand was his stubborn refusal to talk about it.

They had all witnessed the same thing. Their partners being injured. Tavaras's resolve. The Black Knight coming to their rescue, and its final shriek as it flew off into the distance. Senna hadn't seen what the rest of them had, but from what little Deon said, Tavaras was fighting to keep hold of his own mind. She fingered the Soul Link around her own neck. Is that what would happen? Fear and guilt gripped the young girl; if she were in a position where she had to use it, would she, after seeing what it did to her friend?

"I'm fine." Deon said, his voice monotonous. Liar. But Senna wouldn't push it, not here. As the day passed, the group hadn't really moved from this spot; Biyomon, Veemon, and Wormmon still slept, their wounds egregious. Imogen and Edward sat together, seemingly with a giant weight on their shoulders, and a recovered Chrysalimon hovered close to the siblings. ROOT sat alone, deep in thought and wrestling with her own emotions.

"I'm not." Senna whispered, and to his credit Deon turned his head to look at her. "One moment I was happily making a hat for Biyomon, and the next we're fighting off a meteor the size of the village." Tears sprang to her eyes and her voice started to raise. "And then, I decide to help you, only for my partner to get hurt so bad she's still sleeping, and then see Tavaras and Dorumon just, die ?" She looked around to find the rest of the group staring at her. "What? Am I the only one with any emotion around here?"

Frustrated at the lack of anything, Senna got up and stormed out. Were they all robots? Did ROOT take over their minds while she played house in Sanctuary Village? For the first time, she really saw where they were. A labyrinth of tunnels boring through the earth with small rocky Digimon walking around, taking chunks out of the wall. Her heart skipped as she saw Gotsumon, and remembering her battle at the Temple in what seemed forever ago, guilt knotted the pit of her stomach.

So much death and suffering in this world, and part of her started to feel angry that she had to stay here. That she couldn't live her life like a normal girl, with normal friends and a normal family.

"You're awake." A loud voice called out, and Senna recoiled at the loud footsteps as Gigasmon lumbered over to them. After his possession had been lifted, he had taken them all back to his home and made sure they were tended to as best as possible, but she took a step back, still weary after he had fought them alongside the Nightmare Soldiers. The Guardian averted his eyes in shame at her reaction, but said nothing more. His pride was shaken after falling to SkullSatamon's possession, and his best soldiers got hurt too in the attack against her group.

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"Our partners are still out." Senna replied quietly. Gigasmon nodded, but headed towards their room anyways. Curious, Senna joined him. Why would the boss himself want to visit?

The rest of the group looked up as Gigasmon stood at the door. Senna herself ducked under his arm and sat back down next to Deon and Biyomon. "I am sorry about what happened." He said, startling the others. "And, I am sorry about Tavaras and Grademon. They were some of the toughest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."

"How are Baboongamon and Digmon?" Imogen asked.

"Fine, Digmon are both back to normal, and Baboongamon's walking around. Too bad you lot aren't made of rock, or you'd be on your feet already" Gigasmon laughed. Imogen let out a sigh of relief. Deon had told Senna what Chrysalimon had done, and it made her a little scared of what the other girl was capable of.

"So what's next?" Gigasmon continued. "What are your next moves?" Senna looked around the room, everyone looking indecisive.

"We must make for the peak of Divinity Mountain, before the next meteor storm hits." ROOT said. The Keeper turned to Imogen. "Assuming, of course, you are still willing to go through with it." Senna's mouth opened. What were they talking about?

Imogen nodded. "Yes, I will save your world." Edward gritted his teeth and averted his gaze. Senna couldn't keep it in any longer.

"Hold on. What are you all talking about! Save the world? How?" Imogen held up a pendant similar to her own, two circles in an eclipse, except hers was gold. This was the first time she had seen that, and a sinking feeling appeared in the pit of her stomach. "Why is it gold?" She whispered. Imogen gave her a sad smile, and Senna sat back. That's why everyone was so quiet and emotionless. It wasn't over yet, and now Iggy herself had to march to her death.

"You will need to leave tomorrow at the latest." Gigasmon said. Imogen looked at Chrysalimon and nodded.

"Iggy." Senna whispered, heart falling. This was the cost of her new life.

—

Edward jolted awake at the touch of something hairy brushing against his arm. Pulling back his arm, he saw Wormmon nestle up against him through the faint light of ROOT's flaming sash. Anxiety turned to relief seeing his partner up, and Edward brushed the worm's green back.

"How are you feeling?" The young man whispered, careful not to wake his sister sleeping against her partner close by.

"Still aching. I'm surprised I'm still alive." Edward sharply inhaled. Wormmon climbed on his shoulders. "I looked around Edward, there's no need to say what happened. Your sadness tells me enough."

"This is so messed up man." Edward rubbed his hair. He couldn't shake the feeling of dread; Iggy still had every intent to go along with using the God Link. His mum's, and now Tavaras's, cries rang in his head. Both Susanoomon and that Black Knight flying off in pain, wrestling with the numerous consciousness in their body.

At least the Nightmare Soldiers were dead, and as long as Iggy made it up to the peak before Demon was released he wouldn't be forced to go through that. Edward swallowed. As long as Iggy made it up . Here he was again, thinking only of himself. Would he even be able to fulfill her last wish? He knew nothing about his other brothers and sisters, and they probably had no memory of him.

"You can make it happen, Edward. Whatever doubt you have in your mind, if you just try it will work out." Wormmon whispered in his ears.

"How?" Edward looked down. "We're all just lost little puppies here now."

"Just follow your heart. You will get what you need when you need it, just as you have ever since you landed here. It may not seem like it to you, but you have grown tremendously."

Edward sighed. As usual, his partner made him feel better. With that, he fell back asleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.

—

Imogen opened her eyes after she heard a soft snore coming from her brother. She had no chance of falling asleep, not with everything that happened and was going to happen. Gently, she climbed to her feet and saw her partner's yellow eyes flash open. Glancing around the room, Imogen took in everything. All her friends peacefully slumbering surrounded by the Keeper's faint flame. All her remaining friends.

Quietly, she shuffled over to ROOT with Chrysalimon in tow. No more death. No one else would sacrifice themselves for her to do her duty. She said her goodbyes already. Gently poking their guide, the red eyes immediately opened. Unfortunately she couldn't go completely alone, as she needed someone to guide her. At least ROOT was the one person she could be sure wouldn't try to stop her.

"Are you sure?" The Keeper whispered. "There are still enemies out there."

Imogen nodded. She knew she spoke of Devimon, and chills ran down her spine. This time though, Chrysalimon would fight if it needed to; no one was going to stop her, and with her will ironclad, her partner would make it happen. Tears brimmed as ROOT stood up and quietly led the way out. She almost laughed at the hypocrisy of it all; after all this, she would be the one leaving her brother like this.

A part of her wanted to stay with him, and Deon and Senna, until the very end. But she knew it would just make it harder. This was for the best.

Her resolve steeled, Imogen followed the Keeper out and to the right, not noticing her partner's tendrils brush across Edward.

—

"Deon, wake up!" Deon shook his head and brushed a warm hand off his shoulder. Opening his eyes he saw Senna kneeling over him, a look of haunted concern on her face. Immediately he sat up and scanned the room, were they under attack? Relaxing, he leaned against the wall; all he saw was Veemon and Biyomon, both thankfully awake and eating some fruit.

He blinked. "Where is everyone?"

"They left in the middle of the night." Hearing a familiar childish voice, Deon looked up and saw Sunarizamon on the wall like a salamander on a tree.

"What? Why would they...?" His eyes opened and he shared a look with Senna.

"Well? What are we waiting for?" The young girl steeled her face and looked at him determinedly. She turned to Sunarizamon. "Um, can you lead us to the peak, uh..." She looked at the little sand lizard and paused.

"Sunarizamon! My name is Sunarizamon and I'll be more than happy to get out of scho- I mean lead you to the cute one and the wimp."

"Hold on Sen, is that such a good idea?" Both her and Sunarizamon looked at him, the former with confusion and the latter with annoyance.

"What? They're our friends, Dee " She emphasized his new nickname, and Deon blushed as what he called her caught up to him. "We can't leave them to go up alone."

"They went alone for a reason. Imogen said her goodbyes; we don't need to make this harder on her by being there."

"Deon! Devimon is still out there. Without Tavaras," She looked down. "Without Tavaras we need to help her and Edward! And ROOT." She added.

"I-" Deon hesitated and shrunk back to the wall. "We barely got out of that last battle with our lives." Senna walked up and touched his face, and despite the fear in his heart Deon turned a beet red.

"We have to try, please Deon." Senna whispered. "We can't let them fail, not now. Not when we're so close. This is my home now; I've resolved to do everything in my power to protect it. I'm going with or without you."

Deon felt tears of shame and fear well up in his eyes and he turned his head. Tavaras's death replayed in his head over and over. The man he looked up to over the past weeks losing his composure. The fear he must have felt, Deon didn't know if he'd have the same courage.

"Hey dingus." Veemon jumped on Senna's head and turned Deon's head with his blue hands, forcing him to look at his partner. "Remember what I told you in the village? You're withdrawing again. Talk. To. Her." Senna looked at him expectedly.

"Fine!" Deon slapped Veemon's hands away from his face. "I'm scared, okay? I'm afraid of you getting hurt like last time, or worse. I'm afraid of what happened to Tavaras. And I'm afraid I won't have the power to do what I need to!"

"There, was that so hard?" Veemon smirked, jumping off the young girl's shoulders and back to Biyomon. Senna smiled at Deon, who looked away abashed. That wasn't the reaction he was expecting. She wrapped him in a tight hug and whispered in his ears.

"You're too hard on yourself. I believe that, just like me, just like Tavaras, you want to protect what you love. You are strong Deon, don't ever forget that." She let go and walked back to the door, nodding at Biyomon. "I'm going to help Iggy any way I can. You coming?"