Episode 9: Deciding

With HiAndromon on our side, Renamon thought, we won't need the humans at all. She would infect him and rid her world of the humans.

The Digimon and their humans' efforts had been futile. Master Boogeymon had already reclaimed most of the land they had cured, and the Digimon they had saved were almost all in his possession.

The humans had been the Digital World's last-ditch effort. They had failed spectacularly.

She watched from above. HiAndromon had appeared. She planned to watch and listen for now. She ordered the small army she had gathered forward and had them ready to strike.

As the DPs spoke with HiAndromon, she looked over them. Her eyes fell on Strabimon. She remembered their time together. Before they parted ways, she and Strabimon had been inseparable.

Digimon fought to survive. Usually, Digimon went through life on their own. If not, they kept to themselves in groups, protecting each other from the dangers of the Digital World. Digimon fought to become strong. If they became strong enough, they didn't have to worry about danger. Others would bow to their will.

The clan she belonged to prided itself on destroying any challenge that came their way.

As time passed, Digimon began to tear her clan apart.

The Shadowbyte Virus came and her clan decided to take the virus into itself to become strong again. But in the end, her clan destroyed itself.

Renamon escaped the destruction. She decided to warn other Digimon of the virus, but they refused to believe her. And the virus always came and overtook everything.


"HiAndromon!" Elizabeth shook with excitement. "When I thought about the Digimon that might rule this area, I was sure an Andromon would be involved." She told the others before she turned her attention back to HiAndromon. "I have so many questions for you. So nice to meet you."

"Elizabeth, nice to meet you as well," HiAndromon said.

"You know my name?" Elizabeth questioned.

Forget about knowing your name, M thought. She wondered what he meant when he said, I'm glad to see everything is on track.

"I know all of your names," HiAndromon said. "The moment the six of you took possession of the Digivices, which I created, you became connected with them. The connection granted me access to your Data."

"We came to ask for your help concerning the fortress Digimon," Reth said.

Hawkmon was a bit surprised to see Reth serious and focusing the conversation on the important issue.

"What did you mean everything is on track?" M asked him.

"You created the Digivices," Elizabeth said, more to herself than HiAndromon. "We call them D-AVDs by the way, Digital-AntiVirus Devices. I came up with the name. You could answer our questions and tell us a lot more."

Strabimon slowly shook his head, seeing Elizabeth's curiosity had her engaged and left her distracted.

Elizabeth wasn't going to let anyone else get a word in, M thought.

"About the Digivices, about the Digi-Eggs, about Armor Digivolution, Ashur said, listing off things.

"This is not the best time," Strabimon said.

"I'm interested in hearing about access to our Data," Amari said. "What did you mean by that?"

Amari realized Strabimon was right, but the opportunity to understand their importance to this situation might not come a second time.

Hearing Amari's question made Elizabeth try to think of an explanation from her own understanding and knowledge base of Digimon and the Digital World.

"Nice name," HiAndromon said to Elizabeth. "Good question." He told M and Amari. He next turned his attention to the whole group. "I have so much information I would like to give you, so much I'd like to explain..."

"But we don't have the time for it," Strabimon said.

"Unfortunately, this location isn't secure," Hawkmon said.

"We Clockmon have everything under control," Clockmon said. "Relax for the time being. You have much work a head of you."

"We're sure you and the rest of the Clockmon do fine work, but Renamon is too unpredictable a foe for us to let our guards down," Salamon said.

"Take my word for it," HiAndromon said. "We're in no danger here."

Strabimon, Hawkmon and Salamon nodded and agreed but remained apprehensive.

"You were supposed to come to this place to meet with me," HiAndromon said, answering M's question. "That way we could discuss your next course of action."

M nodded, understanding.

"We became Data upon entering the Digital World, I think," Elizabeth ventured, trying to answer Amari's question. She paused and had drawn everyone's attention. "Our bodies are somewhere in a restive state while our consciousnesses have become digital, Data. This doesn't make us invincible. Because if our consciousnesses are destroyed, we're done."

"You were the one who unlocked the Digi-Egg of Knowledge," HiAndromon said. "You would know a bit about it. However, you can't know everything. The six of you, as the humans brought to this Digital World, don't abide by the same rules. You are here, mind body, and soul. You became Data, taking physical form."

"Are you saying there are other Digital Worlds too?" Elizabeth asked, eyes widening.

"Yes," HiAndromon said.

"I can't believe it," Elizabeth said.

"A lot of this is going over my head," Ashur whispered to Kudamon.

"Why us?" Amari asked. M glanced over at him, as she was about to ask the same question. "I don't mind being a part of this -"

"We don't really have a choice," Reth mentioned to Ashur.

"But I've wondered why we were the ones sent these Digivices," Amari finished.

"Same here," Ashur added. "We can't have been the ones most capable of pulling this whole save the Digital World thing off."

"We're the chosen ones, right?" Elizabeth asked. "We were the only ones who could pull this off. That's why we're here."

"Our world was in danger, and I believed after studying the history of the alternate Digital Worlds in our Digital Database that humans would be the key to our survival. My research allowed me to create these Digivices, which we used to bring you here and sustain you."

"Does that mean the Digivices could sustain the Digimon in the Real World too?" Elizabeth asked.

"Theoretically speaking, yes," HiAndromon said before he continued. "But that aside, the Real World and possibly the connection with all of you allowed the Digivices to work. You all managed to tap into all the functions I placed into them and proved I was correct."

"They're arrival proved we won't survive without human help?" Lunamon asked him.

"Exactly," HiAndromon said.

"He reminds me of Elizabeth," Ashur said to Reth. "The way he can just go, sound like he's making sense but leave me confused."

"Try to keep up," Elizabeth said and smiled. "This is amazing stuff. Everything he is saying makes sense because all the technological advances in our world helped create and sustain this world." HiAndromon confirmed her words with a nod.

"What about us?" Lunamon asked. "Why were we the Digimon that became their partners?"

"The answer is the same for both of you," HiAndromon said. "The Digimon who sent the Digivices through the gate made your arrival possible," HiAndromon said.

"That doesn't explain why. Will we ever get a chance to meet with him?" Lunamon asked.

"I can't say for sure, but I believe so," HiAndromon said. "He watches over you in a different capacity than I do, even I don't have much information on him. Your D-AVDs informed me of your arrival and your continued progress. However, I was incapable of communicating with you due to my confinement."

HiAndromon stopped speaking. Everybody noticed how his expression went from pleased with having the opportunity to meet and speak with them to serious.

"I assume you Digimon became a part of these efforts because you wanted to save your world and agreed to do anything to accomplish that goal," HiAndromon said.

The Digimon confirmed his assumptions as the truth.

"You weren't chosen for this," HiAndromon told the Digimon. He turned to the humans. "None of you were. You were called. Now humans, you have the option to stay or leave." HiAndromon glanced at Reth. "You do have a choice."

M, Reth, Amari, Ashur, Maddy and Elizabeth stared at him in disbelief.

"Are you saying we aren't destined to save this world? There's no prophecy guaranteeing our success?" Elizabeth questioned, sounding worried and concerned.

"I'm afraid so, and I'm afraid not," HiAndromon said.

Everybody saw Elizabeth take a step back. She looked scared and lost.

"I always thought we were meant to do this," Elizabeth said. "No matter what happened, I thought in the end we would survive and win. But if you're saying we just happened to be in the right place at the right time that means we could fail. We could all die."

Everybody noticed the sad expression HiAndromon now wore on his face.

"The rest of us didn't know that. We figured at any moment we could die," Ashur said. "No reason to let this news faze us."

"Ever since you arrived, you've undergone a series of tests, which you passed," HiAndromon said. "I believe they proved, you proved to yourselves, you will succeed."

"So we do have a choice," Reth said. "We could go home, now?"

M, Maddy, Amari, Ashur and Elizabeth were thinking the same question.

"You see that platform on the far wall," HiAndromon said. "After I built the D-AVDs, I built a transporter, knowing whoever arrived would come here."

"You were able to construct a gate to the Real World?" Kudamon asked.

"No, not exactly," HiAndromon said. "That would be impossible for me. The D-AVDs have connected you six to both worlds. A connection that we always thought was one-sided with our Digital Gate."

"Data from the Real World could only enter the Digital World and become a part of it," Salamon said.

"This transporter can take you out of Mecha City, or if you place the D-AVDs on the slots in the console panel, it will destroy them, severing the connections," HiAndromon said. "You would immediately return home." HiAndromon pushed a button on his forearm armor and he revealed the slots of which he spoke.

Elizabeth was taking deep breaths. Maddy was shaking a bit. Reth was pacing. Ashur was cursing under his breath. Amari was contemplating. M stared ahead.

"M"

M turned to Lunamon who had softly called her.

"What is it?" M asked.

"If you feel staying here would be too dangerous, you can leave," Lunamon said.

"Lunamon," Patamon exclaimed.

"I agree," Kudamon said. "If something were to occur, if we were unable to protect you and lost any of you, we would be unable to forgive ourselves."

"No, we can protect them," Patamon said.

"He's right," Salamon said. "If we fail, it's only because we allowed ourselves to fail."

"Our mission is to save our world, but we also will ensure everyone's safety," Hawkmon said.

"But you can't guarantee our safety," Elizabeth said.

This caused everyone to go quiet, knowing she spoke the truth.


Were they all going to leave, Renamon thought. If they did leave, that would make victory even easier. The end was near for them either this way or her way.

Seeing concern for on Strabimon's face for his human, her thoughts returned to the past.

Strabimon, a Digimon who had bested her in the past, came across her path again. He believed her words, but this did nothing to save his village. He decided to travel with her in her endeavor.

Strabimon and Renamon trained and became stronger. They tracked the virus, trying to figure out its origin. They thought they could stop it. They thought they could somehow save the Digital World.

Every village, city and town they watched fall to it pushed Renamon closer to the edge.

When she almost lost Strabimon, she decided they were fighting a losing battle. He had almost been destroyed and had fallen into a coma. She took him to Safehouse, fearing he wouldn't wake up from a Knightmon's sword he'd taken through his chest.


"You don't have to decide as a group," HiAndromon said. "I managed to finish three backup Digivices after I finished the initial six." He pushed another button on his forearm armor.

On the console panel near the transporter, two sides slid apart and a box rose and opened. Three Digivices sat within the box.

"Whoever decides to leave, can be replaced," HiAndromon said.

"Ouch," Reth said. "You didn't have to say it like that."

"I apologize, but that's the truth of the matter," HiAndromon said. "Nothing against any of you. I believe together you all are capable of saving our world, but the decision to stay should be made by you alone, individually. In any case, I came up with a contingency plan."

"And if we all decided to leave?" Ashur wondered out loud.

"I'll have to create more D-AVDs," HiAndromon said.

"Doesn't matter whether we stay or leave," Elizabeth said. She drew everyone's attention. "Either way, we would be in danger. Whatever happens to the Digital World will affect the Real World. I know that's one thing that's not different about this Digital World. Am I right?"

HiAndromon nodded.

"She's right," Amari said. "Before we came to the Digital World, we were experiencing technological difficulties."

"Many places were," Reth said. "I live 45 minutes away from the school, and the small cities near me were having problems too."

"You live 45 minutes away from the school?" Ashur asked.

"Yep," Reth said.

"Why?" Ashur asked.

"I am sure that is not important at the moment," Kudamon said.

"You're right," Ashur said.

"Because of that, I think we should stay," Elizabeth said. "I want to stay, I'm going to stay, but Maddy should leave."

Nobody said anything. They were too shocked to speak.

"I don't have anything against you Maddy," Elizabeth said. "It's just I believe things are going to get bad, worse. We already made a fatal mistake by not taking care of Renamon. You won't be able to handle this. You can't handle this place."

"She was brought here same as you were," Salamon objected. "She can stay. She can help."

"Do you all feel the same way?" Maddy asked, hurt and upset.

"It doesn't matter what we think," Amari said, making eye contact. "If you want to stay, stay."

"I'm going to leave," Reth said. "So if you don't want to leave alone, we can go together."

"I thought you wanted to stay," Hawkmon said, surprised and confused.

"I did," Reth said.

"Then why are you trying to leave?" Elizabeth asked.

"I almost got us killed," Reth said. "Don't you remember? Why would you want me around? I make bad decisions, more than I'd like to admit, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I was the reason anybody died."

"Ashur should leave as well," Kudamon said.

"What?" Ashur had a what-the-fuck expression on his face. "No."

"Yes," Kudamon said.

"Kudamon?" Salamon questioned.

"Salamon, we've grown to know our partners," Kudamon said. "Ashur is reckless with his life. Even if it is for the benefit of others, I can't protect him if he has no regard for his own safety."

"Kudamon," Ashur said, not believing what he was hearing. "You need me."

"I don't need you if you believe your only purpose is to die for someone else," Kudamon said with restrained fury.

Ashur didn't believe that, but he could see why Kudamon thought that way.

"You're all going to stay," Amari said, drawing everyone's attention. They were surprised.

Everyone noted this was the Amari that reprimanded Reth earlier, serious and angry.

"Honestly, I think we should all go," M said. "That would be the smart thing to do. But..."

"We work well together," Amari said, taking the words from her mouth. "Our situation looks grim now, but we're all alive. We're strong. We don't have time to start over or replace people. We can save the Digital World."

"That's my partner!" Patamon was flying somersaults in the air seeing this side of Amari.

"You shouldn't have run off on your own, but we're not holding that against you," Ashur told Reth. "You make a mistake you just make sure you never make the same mistake again. That's it."

"People want you around," Hawkmon said.

"Depending on other people isn't a bad thing, but others won't always be there for you," Elizabeth told Maddy. "Some times, you'll have to be on your own and depend on yourself. And you have to see that the difference between right and wrong isn't always so simple."

"You are strong enough to do that," Salamon said.

"No sacrificial lambs," M told Ashur. "That's what I told you. You are important. You know this. Don't sacrifice yourself for us. If you need something constructive to do, protect us. Just have our backs."

"No matter what happened in your past, your life has meaning," Kudamon said.

Reth, Maddy and Ashur thought about their words.

"Have you decided?" HiAndromon said, after giving them a few moments. "Will you save our world from Boogeymon?" HiAndromon touched a button on his arm and showed a hologram of him. "Or go home?

There was silence.

"If it's any consolation, I can tell you this. You are the ones with the power to change everything."

"Really?" Reth questioned. "How so?"

"Digimon, the Digital World, Data, it all came from the ideas, the minds of humans," HiAndromon said. "As humans, you have unlimited potential. What you choose to do with it is up to you."

"I'm afraid," Elizabeth said. "I don't want to die here. But I know that this issue can become greater. I know it can potentially affect everyone here and at home. That's why I will stay."

"The Digital World needs all the help it can get," Amari said. "I will stay. I also think we should release those other D-AVDs, so more people can help."

"Well, I have to stay," M said. She snapped the goggles over her headband. "I'm the leader of this motley crew. I said I would get us to the end, and I will."

"Becoming a part of this was definitely an experience Amari, Hawkmon, but you need someone you can count on," Reth said. "The moment I was asked to fight, the moment I received the Digi-Egg of Courage, I knew I wasn't meant for this. There's nothing I can do that a replacement couldn't do better. Believe me."

Reth reluctantly went and placed his D-AVD on a slot in the console panel.

"I'm sorry everyone," Reth said. "Meeting you was great. For once, besides my family, I felt I had others on my side. You'll do fine without me. I believe in you."

"Elizabeth's right," Maddy said. "Elizabeth, Amari, Salamon, I can't kid myself. I can't change. I'm weak, afraid, and I couldn't handle killing a Digimon, even if they are evil. It would feel like murder, even though I know it would have to be done. Some people are strong. Some aren't."

With a sad expression on her face, Maddy placed her D-AVD on a slot in the console panel next to Reth's.

"Even though we're just kids, I know you guys can do this," Maddy said. "We want to protect you, want you to make to the end, by not being in the way."

"M," Amari said. He and Elizabeth turned to her, thinking she could convince Maddy and Reth, respectively, to stay.

"Out of my hands," M said. "I can't make their decision for them."

"But I will make this decision for Ashur," Kudamon said. "I stand by what I said." He took Ashur's D-AVD and placed it on the slot in the console panel.

"You would do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of the others," Kudamon said. "You are too quick to throw your life away. As your partner and friend, I must make this decision for you."

Ashur wanted to get angry and yell at Kudamon, but Kudamon reminded him of Tad. He reminded him of his past and of why he was reckless for the others.

Coming out hadn't been terrible for him. His real friends stuck by him and his family was pretty supportive. But it seemed to cause problems. Not for him but for everyone around him; Dad wrongfully went to jail, mom had to take care of four kids by herself, financial problems sprung up and his religious school wanted him gone.

With one older sibling away at school and the other dealing with the loss of their father, he got a job to help his family. School and work left him exhausted and drained all the time. His only outlet was hanging with his friends, which included drinking and drugs and all kinds of stuff he probably shouldn't have been doing but were fun.

Having been religious, he thought he was to blame for their suffering. Tad tried to convince him this wasn't true, but he refused to believe it. Ashur thought if he took himself out of the picture life would get better for his family. He tried but it never went through.

He had to provide money, support his mom, and be there for his friends, who seemed to always need him, had to live for them.

Becoming a part of this group and seeing the kind of people they were to become a part of this mission, he had to keep them alive, even if it took him out in the process.

Things might be bad in the Digital World, but if he stayed, they would grow worse than Elizabeth could imagine. The rest of the team would only succeed if he left.

"Whatever you say Kudamon," Ashur said. Without him around, the team wouldn't fall into terrible circumstances. "You're going to save the Digital World. I don't want to be trouble for the group, you'll face enough already, so I'll leave."

Reth, Ashur and Maddy stepped onto the platform. They watched as their Data Chips emerged from their D-AVDs and burst into Data; Courage, Friendship and Biyomon, Light and Agumon, and Kindness and Palmon. They watched the Data float around the room slowly dissipating.

Hawkmon, Kudamon and Salamon watched after their partners.

"I'm surprised you're not angry," Reth said to Hawkmon.

"Before I met you, I would have been," Hawkmon said. "But now, all I have to say is, everything happens for a reason."

Reth nodded in agreement.

"Now, you'll get a good partner," Maddy said to Salamon, trying not to cry.

"I already have a great partner," Salamon said. "One day, you'll see how great you are too."

"We had a good run," Ashur said to Kudamon. He smiled.

"I will never forget you," Kudamon said. "I could not, even if I tried." Kudamon chuckled.

M wanted them to stay, but she wouldn't say a word.

Amari wished he had been able to convince them to stay.

Elizabeth couldn't believe they were losing three DPs. She hadn't expected this turn of events. Something like this had never happened on the shows.

"You think you're liabilities," HiAndromon said. "You think you're beneath the others. You think you're weak. My advice to you all: change your thinking. None of those thoughts are true. Thank you for your service."

"We were happy to help," Maddy said, crying.

"Maybe we'll met again after this is all over," Ashur said.

"We've left your world in capable hands," Reth said, nodding toward the others but especially M.

HiAndromon pushed a button on his forearm armor. The D-AVDs burst into Data and dissipate. Reth, Ashur and Maddy disappeared.

"Now, we must discuss our course of action," HiAndromon said.

M sighed. She wanted to ignore what just happened, so her next immediate thought concerned Renamon. There was no way she was sitting idly by somewhere. She was planning, probably infecting Digimon. They had to cut this visit short.

" The enemy is here," M said. "HiAndromon, you are in danger. We shouldn't have come to see you without taking care of her. I don't know what I was thinking. Yes I do. I thought you could take her out, but if she infects you before you can make a move, we won't stand a chance."

"We must ask that you send us from this place and go back into hiding," Lunamon said, glancing at M and jumping onto her trail of thought.

"We know what we're going to do next," Elizabeth said.

"Go after this Boogeymon," Amari said. "Send for the replacements. Hopefully, we'll meet with them as soon as possible."

"Salamon, Kudamon and I will leave with them and await our new partners," Hawkmon said, obviously dismayed but trying to hide it.

"She's here," Strabimon announced, sensing Renamon's presence. Looking up, he saw her.


Finally, Renamon decided she wanted to be on the winning side. Fighting had led the Digimon to this calamity she believed. All Digimon deserved to be destroyed, so the world could be remade.

She tracked down the Shadowbyte Virus' origin to Boogeymon, and she convinced him to make her his loyal servant. From that moment, they dominated together.

When she learned Strabimon recovered, she was happy, but she had chosen her path and left her old life behind. She didn't want to go back.

Now that she and Strabimon were working against each other, one of them wouldn't survive.

Renamon returned from her thoughts, from her memories. What she had heard proved useful. She would take the Digivices, which could further she and her master's goals. With them, there was no need for the rest of these humans.


Renamon locked eyes with Strabimon when he looked up and saw her. She teleported to the box holding the backup Digivices. She closed the box and took it into her possession.

"The Digivices!" Elizabeth almost went for her, but Strabimon stopped her, shaking his head.

"How did she get in here," Clockmon questioned.

Suddenly, the small army Renamon had gathered began attacking the door.

"Humans, you never were going to save this world," Renamon said and smirked. "The moment you arrived you had become a part of a lost cause."

She placed her hand on the console and infected the equipment including the transporter.

"You should have left," Renamon said. She turned her gaze on HiAndromon. "You proved oh so useful HiAndromon, and you'll be even more so after infected."

"Clockmon, lockdown mode," HiAndromon said, thinking he was about to get infected.

"Yes," Clockmon said. He changed into Data that covered the door, sealing it off, and the walls. The room became an elevator and started to descend.

Strabimon leapt in behind HiAndromon as Renamon had teleported.

Renamon appeared behind HiAndromon, and Strabimon grabbed her by the neck as he used his Light Slash. Renamon broke his grip and bit into his neck, infecting him.

Everything happened so fast the DPs stared in shock.

"We were wrong," Elizabeth said. "I was wrong. They could still get infected."

Elizabeth's Digi-Egg of Knowledge emerged from her D-AVD and burst into Data. She watched the Data dissipate.

"What, why?" Elizabeth didn't understand what had just happened or what was going on.

Strabimon fell to a knee. Renamon bent down with him, looking him in the eyes. He looked away, toward Elizabeth.

"Your human was right," Renamon said. "You can't forget about me, and I can't forget about you. We made quite the pair. We will again."

"Run," Strabimon told Elizabeth.

Strabimon looked Renamon in the eyes with anger before he changed.

"Strabimon Digivolve To Fangmon"

Patamon went for Renamon as Amari took his D-AVD in hand. She teleported behind Patamon, grabbed him by the ear and infected him.

"HiAndromon get out of here," Hawkmon commanded.

"Patamon Digivolve to Devimon"

"If only she couldn't teleport, I could destroy her," HiAndromon said. "I regret not putting my code in this room. To the transporter."

Hawkmon flew at Renamon after she teleported before HiAndromon. She turned, avoiding Hawkmon, and infected him too.

"Hawkmon Digivolve to Saberdramon"

HiAndromon pressed another button on his forearm armor and burst into Data himself, which streamed into M, Amari and Elizabeth's D-AVDs.

"Kill the humans," Renamon said.

"Renamon!" M looked pissed. "I've had just about enough."

If we have the power to change everything, time to use it, M thought.

"Digi-Egg of Reliability, Di-Gi-Tize! Armor Digivolution Activate!"

M's D-AVD vibrated violently.

"Lunamon Armor Digivolve To...Tylomon, Surging Reliability!"

"You heard HiAndromon," M shouted. "To the transporter. Gomamon, Di-Gi-Tize! Marching Fishes, activate!"

Reth, Maddy and Ashur, I shouldn't have let you leave, M thought.

M remembered something Elizabeth had told them: only exhibiting a certain trait will activate a Digi-Egg.

Seeing the remains of the Data of Reth, Maddy and Ashur's Data Chips, M thought about their reasoning behind their decisions.

Reth felt not putting the people he considered his friends lives in danger was more important than staying behind.

M felt her ultimate act of kindness was to leave, so as not to hold them back.

Ashur felt he had to sacrifice his presence so as to light the way for them to move forward.

They each had the courage do what they felt was best for the group and the Digital World.

Even though their Data Chips had been destroyed, Reth, Maddy and Ashur had unknowingly activated them. M decided to use them.

"Digi-Egg of Courage, of Friendship, of Kindness and Light, Di-Gi-Tize! Armor Digivolution and Data Armor Activate!"

M held her D-AVD forward. It vibrated violently a second time. The Data she saw started to rush around the room.

Tylomon opened her mouth and fishes shot streams of water at Renamon. She teleported out with the box and returned as Youkomon without it. Youkomon tackled Tylomon before she shot more streams of water at her.

"Blast Coffin," Fangmon shouted, shooting beams of green energy from his mouth.

Salamon jumped to take the hit, but Pucchiemon took it instead. The beams encased Pucchiemon and began to enclose around her.

Everyone stared in disbelief, except M.

"Come on now," Pucchiemon said. "Maddy wouldn't want anything to happen to you guys. Isn't that right M?"

M smiled. Then, she laughed.

"Right," M said with a nod.

"Elizabeth, Salamon, get out of her now," Pucchiemon said. She smiled at Elizabeth. She turned toward Fangmon as the green energy engulfed her and exploded. Pucchiemon disappeared. Elizabeth grabbed Salamon, and they hurried onto the transporter. They disappear. Fangmon followed.

Tylomon wouldn't give Youkomon a chance to attack. She extinguished her every flame clone and cut through and at her, anytime she tried to remain still.

Knowing Tylomon could handle Renamon, M set her sights and concerns on the others. Even though everything seemed to be falling apart around her, she wasn't worried. Not only did they have the power to overcome, they weren't alone.

"Black Saber," Saberdramon shouted, readying black flames to unleash from his wings.

M watched Saberdramon, as he was about to rain down hell on them all. Then, she saw Quetzalmon slam Saberdramon into the ceiling.

"Ashur definitely would not stand for this," Quetzalmon told M.

"You're definitely right," M told him. Quetzalmon shared a look with Kudamon and winked at M before he wrapped his body around Saberdramon and threw his foe onto the platform. Right after, Quetzalmon disappeared.

With his attacks, Kudamon couldn't stop Devimon from going after Amari and trying to crush him. Devimon knocked him off to the side. Amari tried to run for the transporter, but Devimon wouldn't allow it. Devimon reached out toward him with his Death Claw. A lightning-forged bird forced Devimon back, electrocuting him.

"Reth saw you as real friends," Drazimon told M, stepping beside Amari with Reth's likeness. "Meaning, he'd always be at your side when you needed him most."

"Sounds like him," M said.

Drazimon nodded toward Amari. He Blitz Kicked Devimon when he tried to come after Amari again. Then, he disappeared.

"We should take our leave," Kudamon suggested.

Amari looked to M. The look on her face told him what she wanted him to do. He jumped onto the platform. Devimon followed after him.

They weren't alone, M thought, because even though Reth, Ashur and Maddy were gone, they still relied on her to keep everyone safe, to accomplish the goal. They felt like they couldn't help, but they still wanted to help.

A giant dragon formed from flames overhead, one of Youkomon's attacks. The moment she finished bringing it into existence FlameWizardmon came through it, breaking it apart, and dropped on top of Youkomon.

"She's all yours," FlameWizardmon said. "Finish her off for everyone."

Tylomon began flooding the room, damn near drowning Youkomon.

FlameWizardmon disappeared.

"Kill that bitch," M shouted as she swam and made her way to the transporter.

With a Shark Fin Blade attack, Tylomon caused Youkomon to revert back Renamon. Then, she dragged Renamon down into the water with her teeth and slammed her against the walls.

Drowning, Renamon realized she wasn't a match against Tylomon, especially in her element. That didn't stop her from struggling. Tylomon saw a pale blue light before raging blue flames engulfed Renamon's fists and feet. Renamon fought against her, but her attacks weren't effective. Tylomon tossed her forward and went at her with the final blow.

"Shark Fin Blade!" Tylomon charged.

They disappeared, having crashed onto the transporter.

The elevator stopped and a door opened. The water started to pour out.

Although wary about the infected transporter, M knew she had no choice but to use it. She swam, and then fell onto the transporter. She disappeared after them.


Reth, Ashur and Maddy were back in the storage room.

"We made it back," Reth said solemnly.

"Should we have come back?" Maddy asked. "I'm so worried about them already."

"No, we shouldn't have left," Ashur said regretful.

They all glanced at each other with looks of agreement.

Suddenly, someone was at the door. They saw the figure of a large woman unlocking it. She opened the door and saw them. The expression on her face was one of disbelief.

"You three, the three of you," the school's secretary said. "Where are the other three? Where have you been? You've been missing for four days!"

"Oh no," Maddy said, taking hold of Reth's arm.

"Oh shit," Ashur said.

"This isn't going to be good," Reth said.

They shared the same thought, how would they explain this?


"Yes Renamon," Boogeymon said to himself, gazing into the box, which held the three backup D-AVDs, "these will prove very useful."

"Based on everything we heard from HiAndromon," Boogeymon's colleague said, "I believe we've found our way into the Real World."