"Thank you, for protecting this village. And these children." Jijimon knelt over Biyomon, shining a light radiating with the power of the sun itself over the unconscious pink bird. Senna looked on in apprehension as the old Digimon worked to heal her partner.

After the storm ended her friends had rushed in. Tavaras now stood leaning against the painted wall near the door next to Dorumon, almost protectively. His arms were crossed and a scowl marked his face. He was the first to arrive, and had been apologetic about being unable to help. She tried to tell him it was okay, that there was nothing he could do, but he was still taking it hard. That man was sometimes too full of himself.

Deon and Veemon had followed shortly after, asking if she was okay. Senna had just nodded; her stomach was still a little woozy, but Biyomon had taken all the hits. Deon was watching Jijimon work intently; he seemed enamored with the Digital World. Senna wondered if he'd offer to stay with her when they found out she had no intention of leaving. Not that she would ever ask and put him in an awkward position.

Edward and Imogen had then come in together, but from different directions. Edward was quiet and parked himself on the far side of the room, poor Wormmon standing at a distance. Imogen had come in with Palmon, Floramon, and three cute little babies. She was now sitting beside Senna, arms around her shoulder in comfort and her own weird partner hovered protectively behind them.

"Alright." Jijimon sighed, getting up. "I've healed all her wounds, but she's going to need a lot of rest. Biyomon expended a lot of energy." He looked at the humans in turn. "Leomon had mentioned that bit about temporary evolution, but to actually witness it? Nothing like this has ever been seen before in the Digital World." Excitement was building on the old Digimon's face.

"It's a sinful creature! They all are!" A voice called from the doorway. Kiwimon strode in, flanked by two humanoid rock creatures, each the size of a small human child. Senna could see a flash of irritation on Tavaras's face. "This is not natural Jijimon. The digital world was wrong . These humans and these... creatures cannot be allowed to stay here!"

"Hey! Asshole!" Tavaras got up in his face. "Valemon just saved all these Digimon without a second thought. Don't you call them creatures ." Kiwimon turned on Tavaras, as Dorumon got between them.

"This is not natural! You spit on everything this world is. Digimon beholden to humans are no Digimon."

"Beholden my ass! They're our friends and partners! Not... slaves bound to us unwillingly."

"Oh? Then why exactly are they so tied to you? Even the ones who are scared." He looked at Edward, who shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "They're a mockery of everything we are. Given power when they have not earned it!"

“They’re abominations!” One of the rocky creatures spat. “We won’t let you alien creatures dirty our home.”

"Enough. Kiwimon. Gotsumon." Jijimon turned and looked at the bird specifically, sorrow in his eyes. "There are things we do not understand, there always has been. Do not be so close minded as to deny others just because they are different."

"Jijimon, don't you see?" Kiwimon pleaded with the old man. "Everything is happening because of them ." Jijimon shook his head.

"You cannot know that. I believe the Digital World brought them here for a reason, and that reason would not be its own destruction." Kiwimon gritted his beak, and knowing he would not get anywhere, stormed off muttering under his breath.

—

"I'm curious, Jijimon, what do you think this temporary evolution our partners undertake is?" Deon broke the awkward silence that followed Kiwimon's outburst. A lot of the reading he had done over the past two days was focused on the concept of "evolution". As far as he knew, admittedly not a lot, was that Digimon underwent a natural progression as they built up more and more data. Was it an adaptation mechanic?

The life cycle of a Digimon was something he could sort of see in this village: they hatched from eggs into a very basic form, like a newborn baby. Very soon after they turned into a bigger baby - baby II? The terminology for that was confusing - Deon equated it to a toddler. After that all Digimon progress in relatively short order to the "Child" stage. That was where he presumed Veemon and the others were.

Then it got interesting. After Child was "Adult" - the stage he saw most of the creatures around here as. Most Digimon eventually made it to that stage, but they stayed there. Veemon, Biyomon, and Dorumon had all evolved to their Adult stage, but after fighting they turned back into Children. He had read nothing about that phenomenon in the book on the matter, and it seemed as though no one had any answers here either.

"Honestly, my dear boy? I am as stumped as anyone. I think it may have something to do with the bonds you share with your partner, but to what end?" He shook his head. "Kiwimon is right, what is happening is not natural and you and your partners are tied together, somehow." Tavaras tensed up at that and Deon narrowed his eyes. Jijimon held up his hands "Ah! Apologies, I do not mean that in a bad way. The world is not a static place, and evolution is part of what we all must undertake. If you are different, then you are different." He smiled at each of them. "Your hearts, though, are natural, and that is good enough for me."

"And me." Leomon said in his loud voice, walking in. Tavaras rolled his eyes.

"Impeccable timing as always Leomon." The Lion-man nodded, oblivious to the sarcasm. He was carrying bundles of something with him.

"Things are not good, Jijimon." He began.

"Perhaps you should move this conversation elsewhere." Garurumon interrupted, glancing around the school room at his wards. They had all calmed down, but there was a look of confusion and even a bit of panic on their faces.

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"Ah yes, thank you Garurumon." Jijimon replied. "My friends, let's move this to the meeting hall. No, we do not need to summon the whole committee." He looked at the humans. "You may join us as you wish; I do advise at least some of you do so, for it relates to your upcoming journey."

Deon and Tavaras nodded to each other; the younger boy knew them two at least would be going with Jijimon. He looked around the room; Senna seemed content to stay put for now, but Imogen made ready to move.

Edward shuffled his feet as the three followed Leomon and Jijimon outside, but as far as Deon could tell, the older man decided to stay put.

As they walked, Deon kept glancing at Veemon, who looked back at him quizzically. Veemon, nor any of their partners, remembered anything prior to meeting them. If the evolution did have something to do with their partnership and whatever bond they shared, then that lack of memory was no coincidence. He found himself drawn to the blue little imp, almost as though both partners felt what the other did. Closer than brothers, even though they had known each other only a few days. He mused on that as they walked through the village, a somber atmosphere around them as villagers examined the damage.

—

"The scar in the sky is larger now." Leomon began, as they settled into the hall.

"And now we have hail to worry about too." Airdramon pointed out. He had seen them walking and decided to join them. Much to Tavaras's chagrin, so did Kiwimon. Thankfully the flightless bird did not seem too eager to interrupt. There was a welcome sight though; he saw Guardromon in the room too. All his friends in the forest had made it through with only minor scuffs, and were more eager to compare their new scars than worry about anything.

"So we're running out of time then." Jijimon said, eyes downcast.

"But this isn't anything new, right?" Deon asked. "I mean, you already knew about these things when we last spoke." Leomon shook his head.

"This happened way too soon. And hail? This must have something to do with the Ice Area. Which means things are breaking down rapidly." Although all this went over Tavaras's head, Deon bit his lip and bobbed his head up and down, seemingly understanding what Leomon meant.

"That's right! The last meteor storm happened when you all arrived." Kiwimon shot forward. Tavaras scowled. Unfortunately he had been wrong about the bird having been cowed by Jijimon earlier.

"Yes. I hope this is just a one off, but we cannot bank on that." Jijimon sighed and turned to Tavaras. "Whatever you decide, it seems time is more of the essence than I initially thought." Tavaras nodded, but stayed quiet, sensing the somber mood in the hall. He and Imogen shared a look - she seemed more confident than she had when they first arrived; whatever had happened to her earlier had at least changed her for the better.

"OK, we should get going then." Tavaras said, eager to get underway and home. The natural disasters scared him more than Devidramon and the others attacking them; at least against tangible enemies he could fight back.

"We should give Senna and Biyomon a bit of time to recover first, don't you think?" Imogen said. Right, Tavaras had almost forgotten the state the bird was in. He nodded.

"Tomorrow morning then." Leomon said with finality, and handed each of them a bundle. Tavaras and Imogen each got two; for Edward and Senna he presumed.

"What are these?" Imogen asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Ohohoho" Babamon laughed, covering her mouth. "A nice little surprise for each of you. As Metalgreymon told us, the temple has been overrun by the Ice Area, and you are not dressed for it." Tavaras raised an eyebrow. These Digimon certainly were something.

He hoped it was fashionable.

—

Senna closed her eyes and sighed in wonderment and comfort as she sat in the hot springs. Biyomon slept on a rocky ledge next to her, the pink bird tired but thankfully no longer covered in bruises. Senna hoped the bond they shared could work both ways, and the bliss she felt would help her partner recover faster.

The water was clean and therapeutic, and just the right temperature. The door slid open and She opened her eyes to see Imogen walk in, still wearing her clothes. Senna sighed: it was a start at least. The blonde girl’s silent partner hovered next to her, the moonlight glinting off its shiny armoured body as she sat on a rocky ledge, her feet dipping into the water.

Senna took a deep breath and went back to relaxing, just taking in the running water of the springs. Never would she have thought she would have an opportunity like this, and relished every second of it. The two girls sat there quietly, enjoying themselves in their own little way.

"Hey, why... Why are you so desperate to go back home?" Senna asked softly, breaking the silence. Imogen opened her eyes and averted her gaze. That girl was such a mystery. The way she was so withdrawn, yet still she could sense a fire bubbling beneath the surface. A fire that could break itself free.

"Sometimes I ask myself that same question." She mused after a lengthy silence, almost as to herself. "It would be easy wouldn't it? Just run away and leave my problems behind. But I can't do that; I'm all they have. My siblings." She added, seeing Senna's look.

"Is that why...?"

"Edward? Yes." She gave a bark of derision. "I don't know why I expected anything else, but part of me was glad when I first saw him back in that desert. After 10 whole years. I thought maybe, just maybe, he'd have changed a little." She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, life goes on." Imogen glanced over at Senna. "How about you, do you have anyone waiting for you back home?"

Senna herself froze as she contemplated that. She heard in her head the quiet, distant beeping of a machine. The doctor's voice. Her mother's cry. All close, but like a distant dream. Senna shook her head. "Going back would be incredibly lonely for me." She said quietly. "I'll help you guys get home, but for me?" She looked around, and her gaze landed on Biyomon. "This place is... well whatever it is, I like it."

Her thoughts went back to the events of the past few days. Kittymon and Saberdramon. The hail. Even after all that, she found herself falling in love with the Digital World.

“Hey, don’t tell the others. Okay?” Imogen nodded, and Senna closed her eyes, smiling. She would tell them when she was ready.

—

Edward yawned as he stood on the outskirts of the village with the others. The sun was beginning to rise behind then, giving off an orange glow broken up by the density of the tree leaves. It ominously illuminated the dark scar in the sky above with a foreboding hue. He wore a canvas pack full of water and food on his back, and over his shoulder carried the long bundle Tavaras had nonchalantly thrown at him when he and Deon returned from the hall.

He glanced at his sister. She was standing next to a downwards looking Senna, with her cocoon partner hovering close behind her. Biyomon was perched atop Guardromon at the front of the pack, still looking tired but managing a smile at her partner. Tavaras and Dorumon stood next to each other just behind Leomon and Guardromon, raring to get going. Deon stood next to them looking on ahead, Veemon sitting on his shoulders. Everyone else carried the same backpack and bundle Edward did.

Edward's own partner, Wormmon, stood a couple of paces next to him at the back of the pack.

"Alright." Leomon turned around and addressed them. "This journey should take a few days. Stick together; we don't know what we will encounter on the way." Edward gulped.

"Uhh, can't be as bad as what we ran into on the way here right? Hahaha" He laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head, Vilemon coming into his mind. Tavaras glared at him, but Leomon just shrugged his shoulders.

"Theoretically, no. Those were highly trained Nightmare Soldiers. The most I'm expecting is an errant virus or two. That said." He glanced at the sky. "If LadyDevimon's forces were freed, who really knows. So, let me reiterate. Stick together."

Edward sighed as they set off into the thick forest, not looking forward to the coming days.