Hello everyone! Today I procrastinated and wrote this. I wanted to get this out this weekend, but I decided to do it now. :) I hope you enjoy this chapter. Next chapter I think I may bring back the whole digidestined gang! :) So be prepared!

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.

Helen Keller

The sounds of the waves were beginning to fade away. The darkness that had surrounded Haru had also begun to fade. What was once before black was now becoming white. She was frightened at first, but as it got brighter, it became warmer. She could honestly feel the warmth spreading across her body. It was so comforting. It felt safe. For the first time since Haru ended up at her grandmother's house, she honestly felt loved.

Kudamon watched as Haru slept peacefully though the night. He stayed close to her to make sure the darkness would no longer touch her, but it soon became apparent that the crest had truly pushed the darkness away. Whether it was gone for good or just being pushed out, Kudamon could not tell but he was pleased that Haru seemed happy as she slept. Following her, he too closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Night became day and as the sun began to shine through the window, Haru stirred slightly. Her eyebrows furrowed as her peace was being disturbed. Her eyes opened slightly and shut quickly at the light coming from the window. She groaned slightly as she sat up and rubbed her eyes with her hands trying to get used to the bright light.

"Good morning." Haru looked up at the voice, but she noticed the door was still closed. She looked around confused. Had she simply imagined the voice? "Did you sleep well?"

This time Haru noticed that the voice was coming from by her side. She looked down into the golden eyes of a strange white creature. "Ah!" She yelled and fell off the bed.

"Haru?" The door to her room opened and her grandmother walked in with a worried face. "Are you okay?" She asked in a panic.

Haru rubbed her head. "I'm fine…" She said looking for the white creature but couldn't find it. "I just fell off the bed when I woke up."

"Okay." Her grandmother smiled. "Why don't you get dressed and come eat some breakfast?" Haru nodded and her grandmother closed the door when she left.

Haru looked down to notice a small white device by her hand. "This is…?" She began to think. She recognized it, but she thought that everything that had happened last night was a dream…

"That is a digivice." The white creature said poking his head out from underneath her bed. He saw that Haru was about to scream so he jumped up and covered her mouth. Her eyes looked at him terrified. "My name is Kudamon. I am your Digimon partner." He explained. Kudamon watched as Haru's eyes shifted from terrified to confusion. He moved back to the floor when he thought she would no longer scream in fear.

"So… does that mean…" She began but couldn't find the words. Kudamon waited for her to figure out what she wanted to say. "I went… into… the computer screen…?" She barely got out. Kudamon nodded. "And then… I got this digivice?" Again he nodded. "So that wasn't… a dream…?"

Kudamon shook his head. "It was not a dream. Haru Bianci, you are the Chosen Child of Strength." He said. "I am your partner."

"Does that mean we will have to fight…?" She asked. "I vaguely remember someone saying that there were battles to be fought…"

"That is correct." He said. "My world has been in danger from darkness for quite some time now."

"Where is your world?" Haru asked.

"It is called the Digital World or Digiworld for short. You went there last night."

"It was so pretty…" Haru said remember the blue sky above her head and the grass beneath her feet. "Something that beautiful is in danger?"

Kudamon nodded. "We should go there now." He said. "You should change." He said as he walked over to the computer.

Haru stood up and walked over to her bags. She quickly changed out of her clothes. She pulled on a pair of camouflage cargo pants that stopped at her calves. She went to put on her tan long sleeve shirt but paused as she saw a strange marking in the middle of her chest. It was a bit larger than her thumb. It looked like three swirls that merged at a center. Then she noticed the necklace hanging from her neck. The gold colored tag held the same looking symbol was inside of it. She put on her tan long sleeve shirt and put a green short sleeved sweatshirt over that. As she was putting her green shoes on she turned to her partner. "Kudamon?" She asked and the white digimon looked at her. "What is this?" She held up the tag and crest.

"That is your crest. It is the Crest of Strength." He said. "It holds a lot of power that we can use when necessary."

"But why is it on my skin too?" She asked.

Kudamon shifted slightly. "Last night, you almost gave in to the darkness." He began. "I had to return to my world to find your crest. When I placed it on you, it glowed and the symbol appeared on your chest." He saw Haru's confused face. "I do not know why that happened though." He said looking down.

"It saved me… didn't it?" She asked. Kudamon nodded. "Then I guess I should be thanking you." She said rubbing his head which he seemed to enjoy. "Let's go to your world then." She said.

"Right." Kudamon turned to the computer. "It should open if you hold your digivice up to it." He said. Haru nodded and did what she was told, but nothing happened. The screen never turned white like it did the night before. "That is strange." Kudamon said. "Something must be happening on the other side to keep us out…"

"That isn't good is it?" She asked. He shook his head. "What do we do?" She asked.

"We can only wait until the portal opens again… but I do not know when that will be." He said looking down.

"Kudamon, are you hungry?" Haru asked after a short pause. "Why don't we go eat?"

Kudamon nodded, but didn't move to follow her. "I don't think it is a good idea for your grandparents to see me." He said. "I might scare them."

"I think you're right…" Haru said in thought. "I'll bring you some food back." He nodded and watched her leave. Haru walked out of her room and closed the door. She walked down the hallway and through the living room to get to the kitchen.

Her grandparents were sitting down and reading the newspaper. They looked up when they heard footsteps and smiled. "I meant to ask you, Haru, how do you feel this morning?" Her grandmother asked.

Haru didn't really know what to say. She remembers feeling absolutely terrified and sad last night, but when she woke up her heavy heart was completely gone. 'Was it because of the crest?' She questioned herself as she touched the clothes that hid the mark on her chest. She looked up at her grandmother. "I'm… okay…" She said slowly and gave an awkward smile.

Her grandfather smiled. "Good, then why don't you have something to eat? We made your favorite pancakes."

Haru smiled more easily. "Thank you." She said as her stomach growled slightly. She quickly sat down and ate her food. The silence that rested itself between the three was a bit unsettling. Haru could feel her grandparents studying her. She knew why. It was because she wasn't acting sad anymore. She was upset that her parents were gone, but for some reason her heart felt at peace now. 'It must be because of the crest.' She thought. 'Maybe I should act a bit more sad around my grandparents so they don't think I'm crazy… but I have Kudamon now and we have a job to do.' She ate her food quietly and slowly. When she finished, she asked if she could take the remainder of her food to her room, and her grandparents allowed it.

She walked back to her room with the pancakes on a dish. She wasn't sure how much Kudamon could actually eat. She opened and closed the door. "Kudamon?" She asked. The white digimon appeared from under the bed.

"Did you bring food?" He questioned eagerly. Haru laughed at how hungry he seemed.

Haru nodded and handed him the food. She watched as he devoured his food. After his eating began to slow, she asked, "Did the portal open?"

Kudamon paused in his eating. He shook his head. "Not yet… I'm not sure if it will open." His voice sounded worried. He continued to eat.

Haru looked at the dark computer screen. She wished it would open so she could help her partner. She felt a strong tie to him for some reason and she didn't want him to worry about his home. Hopefully, the portal would open and they would be able to enter the digital world.

The End! For this chapter at least. :) Here is another chapter. Now I have a question for everyone: Would you care if Haru did not go to the Digital World? Now I know what you are thinking… You are probably thinking, "Ganzyyy you are crazy to think that we wouldn't mind her not going. What's the point of her having a partner?" Well now I will tell you this. I just thought of something interesting to do :) and I hope you will wait for me to update so that I can show you what the idea is! But I want to know your ideas on her not going to the digital world Please!