Crests of Confusion

Shadow- "Bad news, readers. I'll be going away for spring break, and won't be able to post any more chapters until late next week."

Renamon- "Where're you going?"

Shadow- "To the magical land of "Lack-of computers-town"."

Renamon- "..."

Shadow- "Oh, and since I can't reply directly to your review, chaos: you've got the idea... nothing in my stories is ever as it seems..."

Renamon- "Again, creepy. Shadow does not own digimon."

Shadow- "Now go and review!"


digital world, forest sanctuary, Serenity's POV

Serenity followed the others into the old man's hut. Before her was nothing but darkness, the only light cast by the open door behind her. She couldn't see anything inside.

She heard a creak, and whirled around. The door swung shut. After a ominous click, the entire world was plunged into infinite darkness.

She heard the old man mutter. "Relax, just hold on a second... the switch is right-"

Serenity half cried out as a blinding flash of light slashed into her eyes. After a moment, she squinted her eyes open, blinking back tears.

In front of her, where the door had been, lay a vast expanse of ocean. The blinding light was the ruby and gold light of a setting sun in front of her. She heard the waves faintly lapping, smelled brine on the air, and felt the breeze caressing her cheeks. Okay... this is not possible...

She reached out in front of her, and her hand touched something solid. The door faded into view, floating a few inches off the ground. She reached around to the side of it, and found that her hand could pass right through where the wall should have been. She felt something brush her feet and looked down to see the waves lapping under the bottom of the door. She stepped back hurriedly to keep her feet dry, and bumped into the others.

She turned around, and saw the others staring a small white structure, and the old man standing in front of it. The island of sand on which they stood was very small, only a few hundred square feet. The island was bare, and she could see the ocean all around them, colored crimson by the sun.

The old man smiled at their awe. "This place is digital, you know. Anything can happen."

He turned around, and walked into the white structure.

Mark looked at Serenity and the others. He shrugged. "Might as well..." he muttered, and followed the man inside.

Serenity and the others followed him.

Inside the structure, the man was standing next to the entrance. "Please, just stand over there." he said, pointing to a blank wall.

Serenity and the others walked over to the wall, and stood there, backs facing the blank wall. Their digimon waited at the entrance.

The old man walked down the line, surveying first Krystal, then Kai, and then Serenity. When he got to Mark, he stared for a moment at the goggles around Mark's neck. He grabbed them, and replaced them on Mark's forehead. "That's better..."

He also looked at Kurt for a moment, before nodding. "You can all sit down," he said, gesturing at a table with ten seats. Everyone and their digimon sat down.

The old man cleared his throat. "Now then... my name is Libellus. As I said before, I am made entirely of data, as are your digimon partners. In this world, you are also made entirely of data... and just as susceptible to damage as was the Megadramon that you destroyed."

Krystal shivered slightly, but remained silent.

"Now then... I don't have the time to discuss how the entire world works, but I will tell you enough. For the last 1000 years or so, an evil digimon has controlled our world. This digimon has constantly been shrouded by darkness, so no one knows what exactly he is. He has subjugated our world thoroughly, and since his level is so high, we have been unable to free ourselves."

"That is why we brought you here; to use your digimon to free us from this menace." Libellus stopped speaking. After a moment, Kai raised his hand. "Yes?" Libellus said.

"Um... that 'Megadra-thingy' that we beat..." Kai said. "...I'm assuming that that digimon was not the evil thing?"

"Correct..."

"Then how the hell are we gonna beat that thing's leader?!" Kai yelled. "We nearly got killed fighting that thing!"

Libellus smiled. "Yes, I was just getting to that. Your digimon partners have the ability to digivolve through your digivice, because the digivice channels part of your nature through to the digimon. However, most peoples' natures are only strong enough to result in a champion evolution. This is why I have brought the crests for you..." he said, pulling out a series of necklaces, "That will fully bring out your strongest qualities, and allow your digimon to fully evolve. Normally, I would have you find them on your own, but it seems that the enemy is taking no chances..."

The old man shook his head. "Sending out an ultimate to fight new arrivals... insane..."

"It's pretty smart, though." Kurt said. "Trying to make sure we don't become a bigger threat..."

Libellus nodded. "Unfortunately, you're correct. That is why I am giving you your crests now. Mark, your crest is Friendship, Kai, yours is Sincerity, Kurt, your is Hope, Krystal, yours is Courage, and Serenity, yours is Love."

He handed each crest to its respective owner. Serenity blinked at the pink heart on the pendant. "This thing... is supposed to be my inner self?"

Libellus nodded. "Yes."

Kai voiced Serenity's opinion. "Bullshit."

Libellus looked surprised. "What? But-"

"Courage? Me?" Krystal whispered. "You've got to be joking... are you sure you didn't get Serenity's and mine mixed up?"

"See for yourself." Libellus answered.

Serenity blinked in surprise as her crest lit up with a soft pink light. She looked up, and saw Mark, Kai, and Krystal staring into their lit up crests. Kurt's stayed dark.

"Hold on a sec..." he said, and smacked the crest against the table a few times. The pendant finally lit up. He shrugged. "Electronics never liked me..."

Libellus nodded. "Good. Now that you have your crests, you're all set."

"Whoa, hold on a second..." Serenity said. "We don't know where we are, where we're supposed to be going... or how to use these stupid things."

"I'm afraid that this is all I'm allowed to tell you." Libellus answered. "The rest is for you to figure out."

Serenity started to answer, but was cut off as the chair, and then the floor, below her vanished. She plummeted downward into darkness, followed closely by the others.