A/N: First of all, sorry for the seemingly slower update. I might've posted this earlier, but if you read my recently updated profile, the chapter ended up coming out pretty long. So I had to split it (honestly, imagine a chapter about 10 000 words long, some authors do five chapters with that!) so it may seem this chapter is slighter shorter than Chapter 3 (you may shed tears of joy or sadness for that). Also, I kept going back rereading this and not liking the way I put it, so...yeah. So because of this, most of Chapter 5 is done as well, and I was originally going to post 4 & 5 together, but that would've taken a few more days and didn't want you guys to have to wait any longer! So it's here now, and Chapter 5 may come in just a few days' time, though you guys may hate me for it after you read this chapter...you'll see what I mean.

Once again, Zero Unit RGB inspired me for what classes MOST of the Chosen are in (yes, I asked for his permission). BTW, in Japan, lunch normally starts at 12:30 and usually ends at 1:10. Also, I stopped putting the same date at the beginning each chapter 'cause you already know it's the same day. When the day changes I'll put the date.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or its characters. You probably guessed that much about me already.

With that, I hope you guys enjoy, so let's get on with the story!

P.S. Please read my important note at the end of this chapter.

~X~

Chapter 4: The Ugly Truth

Magnamon, as with his other fellow Royal Knights, were in confusion. The enemy, on the other hand, seemed to be trembling with rage.

Magnamon noticed that the other eight jars in Omnimon's possession were still pulsing steadily, while all the others had been downed and were now simply empty. The Digimon who had drunk the strange fluid didn't seem any different, but that was only from looking at them. Magnamon could only imagine what it would be like to drink someone's memories.

And that was only accounting if the liquid was their partners' memories.

His thoughts were quickly averted as two figures came appearing through the ceiling, as if the 'ceiling' wasn't really there. Blackmont Castle hadn't ceased to surprise him yet. From the intricate design, to doors that appeared and disappeared, and now to illusionary walls, their enemy was quite creative. Creative and powerful.

And that was proving to be dangerous.

As Magnamon got a better look at the two Digimon, he recognized both their faces; and one of them was not what he expected.

"Dynasmon!" Omnimon exclaimed. "And…Jesmon?!"

Magnamon felt surprised at seeing their friend and Knight who he barely ever saw. He didn't know where Jesmon had gone the whole time (and this was a long time), but whatever had happened, he was here now.

As one, the black cats turned to face the two newcomers with blood-red eyes. "I see you have managed to escape from the others,"they hissed at Dynasmon and Jesmon. "But this is where it all ends."

Abruptly, their surroundings warped and changed, until Magnamon realized they were not in the metallic room anymore but in what seemed like a large field stretching out for quite a while—only the ground was littered with stones, and the field ended to create rounded walls and a vaulted ceiling.

"This is where you end," the enemy snarled. "ATTACK!"

Magnamon, Omnimon, Gallantmon, Dynasmon, and Jesmon were all at the frontline to receive the enemy's attacks, shielding most of the Digimon from harm. Except themselves.

"Wait!" Magnamon called. "Keep them together so I can take them out in one blow!"

"It won't be that easy!" Dynasmon protested, but he complied nonetheless. With their combined efforts, the Royal Knights herded the felines into a confined group. The cats didn't even seem to be struggling against them. They almost moved in amusement, it seemed. Seeing this was the chance he needed, even though he had a bad feeling about this, Magnamon readied his attack as his whole body shined gold.

"Magna Blaster!"

Golden light engulfed the blackness as the black cats exploded into white mist. But a few seconds later, they started to reform once again. "Impossible!" Magnamon gasped.

"The same happened when I attacked the enemy back in the corridor," Gallantmon recalled.

Jesmon called out to them, "I have sent Atho to find the rest. Examon, Gankoomon, and Alphamon should be with them as well."

Magnamon had no time to contemplate this as the enemy hurled themselves at them, all tooth and fang.

-Odaiba High-

1st Year Class, Rm 101, 12:30

After checking what classes they were in, Henry found himself knowing nobody in the room. His friends were all in other classes.

So for now, Henry was mostly paying attention on how to make new friends in his class.

It was lunchtime now, and the teacher Yushio-sensei insisted on them getting to know one another better, after introducing their names back in first period.

In front of Henry, he saw two boys eating and conversing to each other, both with raven-hair. One of them was speaking at the moment. In the middle of his sentence the boy paused, noticing Henry watching them. "Um...hello," he said, seemingly slightly timid. "You introduced yourself as…" He struggled to remember.

"Henry, I think," the other boy replied.

"Yes," Henry nodded. "And you two are…"

"My name is Koichi," said the boy who had been originally speaking. The other soon followed his introduction. "I'm Ken."

"Nice to meet you two," replied Henry. At least the conversation was going somewhere.

"Do you have other friends here?" asked Koichi, "because that was what we were just talking about."

"Yeah, I came to school with some," replied Henry. "We were friends since elementary school. They're in the other classes though."

"Same with us," said Ken. "Maybe they're in the same classes as one another."

"Probably," agreed Henry. He thought for a moment, then asked, "What are their names?"

"Well, Koji and Zoë are in Room 103..." Koichi began. "And Takuya, he's in 106. I also have a friend named JP, but he's a year older than us."

"Koji and Koichi," Ken mused. "Your names sound alike."

Koichi blushed slightly. "Yes, they are, aren't they? I forgot to mention…Koji's my younger twin."

"You have a twin?" Henry asked. He thought of his younger and two older siblings, Suzie, Rinchei, and Jaarin, respectively. "That must be nice."

Koichi nodded, his posture suddenly drooping a little. He abruptly asked, "So, are any of your friends in those classes?" Henry noted his change in subject but didn't pursue it any further.

"Well…I have a friend a year older too," said Ken. Henry didn't know if Koichi caught the slight reddening in Ken's cheeks. "Her name is Yolei. But other than that, my friends TK and Kari are both in 103 as well, but Davis is in 107..."

"I don't think that'll be a problem," Henry smiled. "My friend Kazu is in 107, like Davis. Kenta is also in 106, just like Takuya. Rika and Jeri are in 103, like Koji, Zoë, Kari, and TK. And I also have a friend named Takato, however he's in 104..."

"104?" a brunette asked, looking up from her food. All three boys turned to find her sitting not too far from them, just a few desks down. "My friend Keenan's in 104. I'm hoping he can make some new friends, because he seemed pretty nervous today. Maybe he's met Takato."

"Maybe," Henry said, marvelling at how easily the girl had joined in their conversation. "At least I know Takato might not be alone. I never caught your name, by the way."

"It's Kristy," the brunette answered. "You were saying about your friends?"

Henry remembered he had forgotten one of them. "Right, I never mentioned one of them. He's one year older than us, like JP and Yolei you two were mentioning earlier. His name's Ryo."

At this, Ken started, his eyes flickering in shock, as he stumbled in his chair and nearly fell off if Koichi and Henry hadn't been there to catch him. He was taking ragged breaths, and for a moment, Henry was worried for the other boy. He had never seen someone react like that...to a name. Koichi and Kristy looked equally stunned. "R-Ryo?" Ken finally sputtered after he had gotten his breathing somewhat regulated.

Feeling slightly wary, Henry responded, "Yes, Ryo. Ryo Akiyama. Do you two know each other?" He was aware of Koichi and Kristy watching curiously.

Ken hesitated a moment before answering, his eyes shining with sudden confusion. "N-No…I must have just heard his name somewhere…"

Henry knew that that probably wasn't the case, but Ken looked legitimately puzzled, and feeling a sudden awkwardness forming between the four of them, Koichi rushed to change the subject again. "Well then, if our friends happen to meet in their classes, maybe we could all hang out together some time."

"Yeah," Ken muttered, still looking distant, while Henry nodded. "Yes, I think that'd be nice." But Henry still couldn't shake Ken's reaction from his mind.

I'll ask Ryo at the end of the day.

Atho led Alphamon and the rest through a series of staircases winding around and around, some steps small, others big that they had to watch with cautious eyes or they'd surely stumble. As they were hurrying in their fast gait, Alphamon decided now was the time to explain.

"Before we came here, the Sovereigns had sent Examon, Gankoomon, Jesmon, and I across the whole Digital World to stop a growing threat that had started from many years ago."

"Wait," said Craniamon, "as I recall, you do not normally appear under normal circumstances. To put it, do you not remain…ah, aloof?"

"Except those were not normal circumstances," Alphamon responded darkly. "I appeared a few years back to assist the three in seeking a darkness which radiated a strange power like no other. Back then, you would have called what we were seeking a mere seedling compared to…this." Alphamon waved his hands as he jogged to indicate their surroundings. "Indeed, it has grown stronger than ever."

"So where were we when all of this took place?" asked Leopardmon.

"Back then, I believe you were getting familiar with some of the Chosen," reminded Examon. "The Data Squad members, if I am correct."

"That was four years ago," UlforceVeedramon gasped, "when we were working for King Drasil. Are you saying that four years ago this darkness we see before us was just beginning to rise?"

"Yes," Gankoomon said heavily. "Even then, it gave an aura of great power, though seemingly small, we assumed. We could never guess it could...or would...have the potential to become such as the largest threat the Multiverse has ever faced."

"But you still did not explain what you were doing," Crusadermon pointed out.

"There is a place," Alphamon began, "where the Sovereigns said they sensed a strange power radiating from there, and told us to seek it out to see what it was and if it could possibly pose as an imminent threat. This area is located in the far reaches of the Digital World, where possibly only the Sovereigns until they told us, know about. It is a crossroads, you could call it, or even gateway, connecting every single universe to one another. If you would like a name, the Sovereigns had referred to it as Junction."

"So then what happened over there that made the Sovereigns ask you to seek out Junction?" Leopardmon asked.

"As we neared the area, we could feel it right away," Examon said grimly. "The same voice that we feel coming from this castle was leaking out of Junction. A darkness surrounding the gateway, wanting to be loose. It seemed to have been escaping bit by bit for quite a while now, ever so slowly…biding its time. Now, after many years, it seems to have gathered enough power to rave cities and places we see today in the Digital World."

"So the enemy has now shown himself," Craniamon said in a hushed whisper. "Just how powerful is it?"

"More than we could ever imagine," said Alphamon gravely. "The four of us could not get much closer, as if we were pushed back by some force surrounding Junction. If this enemy is really as powerful as it seems, then when in its own domain, for example here, it has the power to manipulate objects and warp time by sheer will, from creating areas seemingly not there…"

Alphamon thought of the illusionary wall.

"…to making what seems like minutes in here hours in reality. It seems to be calling itself darkness itself, but as to whether this is true or not..."

Alphamon noticed all the Knights tense up at this.

"…none of us really know."

-Odaiba High-

1st Year Class, Rm 103, 12:32

Zoë was still a little fed up by Takuya's tardiness, but she'd mostly let it go. They had all managed to make it to OH by 8:30, not a moment too soon. Before long, they had all figured out what classes they were in, and no teachers had flagged them down as 'late'. Thankfully.

She kind of felt bad Takuya and Koichi, who were in Room 106 and 101 respectively. At least Zoë had Koji as someone she knew, but then again, his grumpy nature didn't really help. Since it was lunchtime, while eating, she decided it would be a good moment to make acquaintances with other people.

Zoë glanced around the room until she noticed a girl sitting on her right with brown hair talking with a blond-haired boy sitting right beside her. The girl had her back to Zoë, but the boy noticed her watching. The girl seemed to have noticed the guy's attention had been moved elsewhere, so she turned around to come face-to-face with Zoë. Zoë almost expected the girl to be angry at her for disrupting the conversation, but instead the brunette smiled.

"Hello," she said warmly. "I'm Kari, and this is TK." She indicated the blond.

Well, she's better than Koji. "I'm Zoë," she smiled back. "And this—" she said, pointing behind her (technically the seat to her left), "—is Koji." She leaned in close. "He may seem to give you the cold shoulder, but once you get to know him he's actually a real softie." The two girls snickered, while TK gave a half-smile.

"I hope you know I can hear perfectly fine," Koji said coolly, leaning back in his chair while bringing his hands up behind his head.

"Really? That's good to know, I was just checking." The two laughed harder. Zoë felt a wind pick up in the classroom even though she was pretty sure the windows were all closed.

Zoë noticed another brunette two seats behind her watching them. When she noticed Zoë look back at her, she seemed shy of doing so, looking away slightly but with a smile. She seemed nice enough.

Beside her was a redhead who looked the complete opposite of her. The way she sat and didn't really smile kind of reminded Zoë of Koji.

The brunette said something to the other girl, who merely shrugged in response, going back to her eating. A few seconds later, the brunette walked up to the group. Zoë decided to make the first move.

"Hello," she said. Back in elementary school, she hadn't been very good with people and often more than not she couldn't really make friends with the other girls. Shortly after she had made friends with Takuya and the others, she had found it easier. What had happened between the time before she had met Takuya and the others to the time after, she didn't know. She didn't really care either because all that mattered was that whatever it was, it had certainly been for the better.

"I'm Zoë."

Kari followed kindly after. "I'm Kari." Sitting beside her, TK leaned back in his chair slightly and raised his hand a little. "TK."

After casting a quick glance at Koji, Zoë kicked his knee hard. He gritted his teeth for a fraction of a second, something only Zoë caught, but took his hands off behind his head. "Koji," he grunted without smiling.

The brunette, nonetheless, looked quite cheerful anyways. "I'm Jeri. The girl back there..." She pointed at the redhead who still wasn't smiling. "...her name's Rika. She may not seem the friendliest of people, but that's before you get to know her. Rika, come on!"

Zoë watched Rika reluctantly get out of her seat, having already finished her food, and walk up beside Jeri. She simply nodded an acknowledgment at the others, still looking stiff. Zoë looked from Koji to Rika. "Well, you two make quite a pair."

Jeri's lips twitched into another smile. "Does he intimidate others and make them run away?"

Rika snorted. "At least those people would have the sense to run away, unlike some other idiots I have to deal with every day."

Koji looked at her, then to Jeri, then responded sarcastically, "If we're so jarringly intimidating, then I'm quite surprised you haven't all fled the second you saw us." He rolled his eyes.

Zoë raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't run away if all the threats I get are your superior powers of hearing." TK, Kari, Jeri, and Zoë all burst out laughing, while Rika just stood there with a slight smirk on her face, and Koji was left to think of a better comeback.

Hawkmon felt strange.

He was seeing images of things he knew—things that had happened to him—only in his partner Yolei's point of view.

It was strange, feeling the things she had felt, seeing how she had first seen him, Hawkmon, for the first time…the confusion, the excitement, the uncertainty of her being the right person for his partner. It all felt so strange.

This probably proved that the fluid in those jars had been their partners' memories…how that even worked out as possible, Hawkmon didn't know. But he hadn't drunk it out of pure randomness. He fleetingly wondered if the other Digimon who had drunk from their jars experienced what he had experienced right before that moment.

He remembered the visit, and the news that was delivered... He couldn't stop thinking that even if he somehow did make it back to the Real World that he wouldn't be able to go see Yolei or...

He didn't want to dwell on it any longer than he already had

The most important thing for now was the battle raging in front of him. The Royal Knights had managed to push the enemy away from all the Digimon to the area quite a distance away in front of them. This chamber was so huge it could fit two...what did they call it in the Real World?...soccer fields in here, only with a stony ground and round walls...and super high ceiling. But even from the how far the Royal Knights were from the Digimon, Hawkmon could see that they were losing.

Slowly, but inevitably, they were being pushed back by the horde of blackness, despite the enemy taking hit after hit and exploding into mist every few seconds. The cats had always managed to come back to life again with renewed vigour.

"They're losing, aren't they?" the Digimon named Calumon asked, his ears shrinking.

"Moumantai," said Terriermon, but his face betrayed his playful voice. "They'll figure it out."

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm right about to go jump in with them!" Shoutmon yelled, hefting his microphone.

"Don't keep all the fun to yourself!" shouted a Gumdramon. "If you're gonna fight, then I'll be right beside you!"

They were interrupted when the whole horde of cats suddenly started screeching in everyone's minds, causing everyone to clutch their heads. The felines took this moment to latch on and climb onto the Knights, so that all they looked like were writhing masses. And that's when luck decided to fly in. Literally.

"Avalon's Gate!" Hawkmon heard a whoosh as a huge figure streaked above them, striking hard on the enemy, who had not expected an aerial attack. But the cavern's ceiling was quite high, and it seemed that even the enemy's plans could be flawed. But who is that?

"Examon! That means the others are here!" Jesmon cried as he threw the felines off him, as if to answer Hawkmon's question. Suddenly, a glowing Digimon appeared beside Jesmon, only to side with two other similar glowing Digimon.

Jesmon addressed them. "Atho, René, Por! Together now! Tekken Seibai!" Jesmon and his companions were a whirlwind of colour, slashing their opponents to pieces.

"Shield of the Just!" Gallantmon bellowed with renewed hope as the masses of cats stopped climb imbuing on the Knights. His shield began to glow until it shot a beam of light right through the enemy's lines. But as quick as they were destroying them, they continued reforming. Relentlessly.

"Seiken Gradalpha!" A blast of light exploded a major portion of the dark mob as Hawkmon saw a black soldier-like Digimon with a blue mantle race from behind them and stab through a group of moving blackness. He felt instant surprise at seeing the figure.

That can't be…but it is! Alphamon…and the other Royal Knights! He glanced behind him. A little ways up on the wall a rectangular hole showed where these new forces could have come through. Hawkmon knew none of the Digimon would want to take the lead for escape. They would all no doubt about it stay here and fight, even if they were tired, worn, and hungry.

Alphamon turned around and walked up to the crowded Digimon with Crusadermon, UlforceVeedramon, Craniamon, and Leopardmon, as Gankoomon went off to join his fellow comrades in battle.

"I believe these are your partners'," Alphamon said, motioning UlforceVeedramon, Craniamon, and Leopardmon forward, who were carrying, Hawkmon could see, a variety of Digivices. He noticed Craniamon carrying a red D-3. There's Yolei's!

The three Knights laid out all the Digivices in front of the Digimon, along with two Digieggs, beside eight remaining jars still full, where Omnimon had set them before he had gone to fight. Alphamon nodded to all the waiting Digimon as slowly, they each picked up their partners' Digivice.

Hawkmon took Yolei's D-3 in his hand (or wing). When they were done, there were eight remaining, six of the same model, one a different model, and the other also different from the rest. Alphamon looked at four remaining Digimon, who hadn't moved to take one.

"Are none of these your partners' Digivices?" Alphamon asked Calumon, Kudamon, Kamemon, and a Biyomon. Not Sora's Biyomon, Hawkmon noted.

Kudamon and Kamemon shook their heads, while the Biyomon simply stated, "Kristy doesn't have a Digivice," and Calumon said, "I don't have a partner."

"So then, I am assuming these eight Digivices correspond to the eight jars," Alphamon considered. UlforceVeedramon, Leopardmon, and Craniamon had already left to assist their fellow comrades, to push back the remaining forces, which probably meant all the forces; none of the enemy had been managed to be destroyed.

This time, Crusadermon came up to the Digimon, holding twelve little necklaces, it seemed, up. "I believe these belong to some of your partners as well."

"Are those…the Crests?" Gabumon gasped.

"They were destroyed by Apocalymon…weren't they?" Biyomon asked.

"That is what we thought as well," said Crusadermon. "But…they seem to be here now."

"Tai's is the Crest of Courage!" said Agumon. Crusadermon handed him the orange Crest.

"Matt's is the Crest of Friendship," Gabumon said. He received the blue one. As the Digimon said which Crest their partner owned, Crusadermon handed it out to them.

"Izzy's is Knowledge," said Tentomon. Purple.

"Sora's is Love," said Biyomon. Red.

"Mimi has Sincerity," Palmon said. Green.

"Joe's is Reliability," said Gomamon. Grey.

"TK has Hope," said Patamon. Yellow.

"Kari has Light," Gatomon said. Pink.

"Ken's is Kindness," said Wormmon. Lavender.

"Now, hang on a minute, whoshe are the other three Creshts for?" Veemon asked.

"If I am correct, the gold Crest is of Miracles, the turquoise is for Wisdom, and the magenta for Passion," replied Crusadermon.

"Those three must belong to Davis, Cody, and Yolei," Patamon said. But then he noticed the other Digimon around him and reconsidered. "I mean…I'm pretty sure…"

"Davish can ushe the Digiegg of Miracles," Veemon stated proudly. "The Cresht of Miracles musht be for him!"

Crusadermon gave the golden Crest over to Veemon, who took it and put it around his neck, as the others had.

"I've never heard of the Crests of Wisdom or Passion before," Tentomon mused. "How do we know whom they're for?"

"Yolei's is Passion," Hawkmon proclaimed at the same time Armadillomon said defensively, "Wisdom is definitely for Cody!"

"How do you know?" Agumon asked.

The two paused. Then they both answered in unison, "I just do."

As Crusadermon gave the two remaining Crests to Hawkmon and Armadillomon, Gatomon speculated, "But if you think about it, it works: Yolei is always passionate about everything, and Cody, he's wiser beyond his years…"

They were all interrupted by a sudden shriek as the voice returned in their minds.

"You are losing, yet you fail to give up. Surrender now, and things will surely be easier."

Alphamon turned to the direction of the fighting right in front of them. "Then it seems you underestimate us!" He turned to the Digimon. "You may stay here if you would like. Are any of you at strength right now?"

"I've got some fighting power still left in me!" Shoutmon said. He turned to a Ballistamon, a Dorulumon, a Sparrowmon, a Damemon, and a Greymon. "What about you guys?"

"We've got your back," Dorulumon growled.

"Us too!" Gumdramon motioned to a Dracumon, an Opossumon, and a Dobermon. "Let's go, you guys!"

It seemed the other Digimon were about to join them, giving their agreement, when suddenly the Digieggs began to glow, as did the eight Digivices. Hawkmon turned to Shoutmon and his companions, to see the Digivices they were holding glowing as well.

"So can anyone tell me exactly what's happening now?" Ballistamon beeped as he gazed down at the light blue Digivice in his hands. Along with him, Shoutmon, Dorulumon, Damemon, Gumdramon, Dracumon, Opossumon, and Dobermon's Digivices they had been holding (Dobermon had been holding it by his teeth) started glowing as well.

"Leopardmon mentioned a barrier on those Digivices before," Alphamon gasped. "But it seems to be breaking…only, how…?"

Hawkmon noticed the liquid from the eight jars also growing brighter and brighter, as did the Digivices and Digieggs, until a cracking sound could be heard, and Hawkmon finally saw Digimon emerging—not just from the two Digieggs, but from the Digivices, it seemed, too. Only...the Digimon from the Digivices, Hawkmon could now see, weren't solid, or even opaque, but we're actually semi-transparent.

As all the watching Digimon suddenly stood there, gawking, a Lalamon finally decided to break the silence.

"Well, you don't see that every day. Now someone tell us other Digimon…what exactly is a Crest?"

-Odaiba High-

1st Year Class, Rm 104, 12:35

Keenan felt a little out of place in the classroom, though he didn't know why. Maybe it was partly because Kristy wasn't with him, she was in 101, but he felt like there was another reason. A reason he couldn't remember.

He didn't exactly feel that hungry, so he glanced around to see if there was anyone he could make friends with. Everyone had already introduced themselves first period, but Keenan didn't exactly remember all the names.

At his right, there was a brown-haired boy drawing in a notebook instead of eating. It seemed to be a red lizard of some sort, but the boy seemed to be putting incredible detail into.

"Nice drawing," Keenan tried. The brunet looked up and noticed him watching him. He blushed slightly, a slight smile coming to his face. "Thanks," he said, somewhat shyly.

"What is it?" Keenan asked.

The boy paused, somewhat flustered. "Gee, I'm not…I'm not that sure. I just felt like drawing and this…came up."

"It's really detailed."

"Well…I've been sketching since elementary school, so…"

"That makes sense. I forgot to ask…what's your name?"

The boy smiled and held out a hand. "Takato. And you?"

Keenan felt some of the tension leave him. A good start, I guess. He took Takato's hand and shook it. "Keenan."

Kazemon had felt unusually confined in Zoë's D-Tector. Before, it would have just been the feeling of staying inside but still being able to contact the outside world. But for the past Kazemon-didn't-know-how-long, that connection had been broken somehow, as if something were blocking it. All she could feel was herself and Zephyrmon, trapped for quite awhile…

But now, she could feel that barrier crumbling, as she somehow felt someone's presence close to her, assuring her.

Zoë's presence.

Kazemon didn't know how that could be, because the last thing she remembered was someone—some new enemy—having erased Zoë and the others' memories.

So how could she feel Zoë here?

Whatever the case, she felt drawn to that feeling, so ever so slowly, Kazemon emerged as a Spirit out of the D-Tector, Zephyrmon following suite. As she looked at her surroundings, she found herself in a huge cavern, huge being a major understatement.

What surprised Kazemon the most, though, was when she noticed ten other Spirits looking around as well…and two Fresh level Digimon. They looked like they had just hatched. They were both little Punimon, but were repeating different names.

"Jeri? Jeri! JE-RI!"

"Ryou-ma...RYOUMA!"

"Did you two just hatch?" Kazemon saw Agunimon lean down and ask in a soft voice. Behind him was BurningGreymon, flaming up, yelling, "Takuya? Where is he?!" It didn't seem out of concern but more like anger, Kazemon noted. She went over beside Agunimon.

"Jeri?" one of the Punimon squeaked innocently.

"No, Ryouma!" The other disagreed.

"Yup, those two just hatched," Lobomon muttered gruffly.

Suddenly Kumamon came up to all of them. "Did anyone else notice that everything's stopped?"

Kazemon, Agunimon, and Lobomon abruptly diverted their attention to look around them again. Now that she looked carefully, it seemed like a battle had been going on.

On one end of the large cavern just a few metres to Kazemon's left, it seemed that…what, the Royal Knights?...were battling against some black-furred felines. They all had glowing red eyes.

And they weren't moving. Some cats were even suspended midair, claws outstretched. Some of the Royal Knights had their weapons up, as if getting ready to attack.

At Kazemon's right, was a group of Rookie level Digimon along with two more Royal Knights, it seemed, staring at…them? Their eyes were definitely on them, but they were all frozen, some with their mouths (or jaws) hanging open.

Kazemon turned to look in front of her where Zephyrmon was staring at a jar with a bright violet liquid inside. As Kazemon walked up and got closer, she noticed the fluid getting brighter and brighter that she could barely read the small plaque under it: Zoë Orimoto.

She noticed the other Spirits getting closer to the other jars lying on the ground. Even the two Punimon had gone to two of them. Feeling a slight hunch, Kazemon reached out her senses. Sure enough, she could feel Zoë's presence radiating from the jar. But how?

Suddenly the light became blinding, until Kazemon wasn't in the vaulted chamber anymore.

She was…floating, it seemed, beside Zephyrmon, in a violet plumed background, where the swirls of the same colour danced around them, giving her a sense of calm. It was then that Kazemon noticed the figure in front of them, standing it seemed, on nothing, yet translucent.

"Zoë," Zephyrmon stated, surprisingly calm, "why are you here?" More like how are you here, thought Kazemon.

"It is not really me," the supposed Zoë replied. "I am more of her Inner Conscience, if you will. The voice that is surprisingly reasonable compared to the outer personality. IC for short. But that isn't the point. We do not have much time to speak, and there are some things that you should know."

"What is it?" Kazemon asked, feeling bad news coming.

"As you are probably already aware of, Zoë, or my Outer Conscience, has lost all memory of you and the Digital World, in simplest terms, all the adventures that had transpired that associate with Digimon," Zoë's IC began. "The place you and I are being held in is in the enemy's territory. But in this area lies a Portal to the Real World. I believe the Royal Knights you have encountered intend to take you through that Portal."

Kazemon felt a little confused with where this was going, but Zephyrmon beat her to the question. "You're telling us all of this, but you're trying to get at something else. What is it?"

"When you arrive in the Real World—" If we arrive in the Real World, Kazemon corrected, thinking back to the frozen battle scene. "—you may have the urge to find Zoë, or me, and try and make her remember."

"Yes," said Kazemon as Zephyrmon nodded her agreement. "Are you requesting that we try?"

Zoë's IC's face suddenly became deadly serious—maybe even...sad? "No," she said softly. "Quite the opposite. When you arrive in the Real World, at all costs, you must avoid letting Zoë see you."

Kazemon jerked in surprise. She felt Zephyrmon giving off the same feeling because she asked, "Why ever not? What would happen if she saw us?"

Even though she was translucent, Kazemon could still see the pain on the Inner Conscience's face.

"She could die."

Whoa. We just got major news. The Digimon find out they have the chance to go to the Real World to find their human friends only to know that they could die if they see them? Ouch. The truth really is ugly. And what was with Ken's reaction to hearing Ryo? And was it a TOTAL coincidence that all the Chosen who are in the same classes just happen to meet each other? Or is something bigger going on here that nobody is aware of yet? Heh, just had to throw that question out, but you're just gonna have to read the next chapter of Digimon: The Worlds' Last Hope!

Chapter Notes:

1. Royal Knights and King Drasil: I am aware that Frontier (Season 4) had the Royal Knights Dynasmon and Crusadermon, but they were evil anyway, and were deleted by Lucemon (to have their fractal codes taken by him), so the Royal Knights in my fic are from Data Squad (Season 5). At the beginning, they seemed to be bad, sure, but back then they thought humans were evil until they found out they weren't (after Marcus and the others stopped the Digital World from falling on them, but that's a different story). Just wanted to clear that up for you guys in case you were confused.

2. Moumantai: Relax, Chill, Chillax (okay, but seriously though, it basically means calm down). Terriermon said this a lot in the Japanese dub. It's sorta like...Hakuna Matata. Lion King references... ;)

3. Tekken Seibai: Furrow-Sword Judgment. Carved the opponent to pieces with the blades on its arms while moving at high speed. Digimon Wiki reference.

4. Punimon and Ryouma: For those of you who have watched Hunters, you'll know Ryouma's partner didn't die in the end and I'm aware of that, too. You'll just have to keep reading and it will eventually be explained.

5. Veemon's lisp: It's been a while since I heard Veemon's English dubbed voice. Did I do his lisp okay?

~X~

So yeah, hope you guys don't hate me for leaving you with a major cliffhanger. Again. And also, if you guys don't know what a Digimon looks like, PLEASE just search it up on Google. A full-length legit description of it put into my story 1) takes up a lot of space and 2) doesn't even come close to the full epicness of how that Digimon looks like unless you actually SEE it. The only time I'll give you a full-length description is if I made the Digimon up, which I'd tell you guys at the end of the chapter. So, with that...

**IMPORTANT NOTE: From now on, if you guys have any questions and leave it in the form of a review, my answers will be posted on my profile along with your original question. THIS ONLY APPLIES IF YOU ARE A GUEST. IF NOT, I'LL PM YOU. Thank you all for your time, and don't forget to review if you can!**

And I'll see you in Chapter 5!