As Ryo and Ken arrived at the little Digimon village, both were struck with its size and how quaint the buildings were. It was considerably smaller than even one of the numerous districts that made up Tokyo, let alone the city in its entirety. The village felt more like a single neighborhood with little white houses surrounded by picket fences, reminding Ryo strongly of the old-time television shows from America that he had watched growing up - one of the many perks of living on an American military base for most of his childhood.

Of course, none of those television shows had a multitude of Digimon greeting them with their gawking eyes.

Ranging from little blobs and flowers to insects and beasts, Digimon of all shapes and sizes watched as Ryo and Ken approached with their entourage of Higashi and Zennyu, followed by the far less impressive Bokomon and Neemon.

"They're all Digimon?" Ken asked, his voice low as he held Leafmon protectively in his arms. "They're all so different."

"Digimon can look like anything!" Leafmon said, brightly. "There's no limit at all!"

"Anything?" Ken repeated, incredulous. "Anything at…" An unexpected sight made his question dissolve into the ether as his eyes settled on what appeared to be a large pile of yellow poop with eyeballs, eyes, and a long pink tongue. His body went rigid, skidding to a sharp halt as he gawked at the Digimon that looked like a pile of feces.

"Yes," Zennyu said, reaching down to physically turn the boy's head forward, causing the boy to instinctively begin moving forward again. "Anything at all."

Ryo had to look twice at the giant poop Digimon to verify that he hadn't in fact been seeing things. Once he was sure of what he saw, he chose not to look a third time. "Digimon really are made up of computer data alright."

"Y-yeah," Ken agreed, somewhat disoriented as he continued away from the strange feces Digimon, with Zennyu's hand guiding him onward.

Eventually, the entourage arrived at the center of the village, where most of the Digimon huddled about in barely restrained curiosity. Waiting for them was the surprisingly most normal looking Digimon by far, as his appearance seemed like something they'd actually see in their world - an orange lion cub with bright blue eyes and a wild tuff of red hair on his brow, with a golden collar sporting a teal-colored opal. Unlike their world, however, the lion cub was capable of speech, proven when he came forward.

"Welcome to our village, Chosen Children," the lion cub Digimon said, his voice childish and yet carrying an undertone of maturity. "I am Leollmon."

Ryo felt it a tribute to his ability to adapt that a talking lion cub didn't startle him for more than a few seconds. "Hello. I'm Ryo Akiyama, and his is my friend Ken Ichijouji."

"P-pleased to meet you," Ken said, with a small bow.

"It is my pleasure," Leollmon said with a bow of his head. "I have volunteered to act as your guardian while you are in our world. I swear that I will ensure your safety with my life."

"You'll be in good hands," Higashi said as he looked down at Ryo, smiling. "Leollmon is the best fighter in the village."

"Hah!" a voice growled, rough despite its high-pitched childish qualities. "What a load of bullshit!"

The humans and their entourage turned to stare, as did the rest of the village, as a small green goblin-like Digimon stepped in to the central plaza. He had a red mohawk, fanged overbite, and wore a brown leather vest and tattered shorts with a loincloth. He twirled his wooden club before slinging it over his shoulder, then flicked a thumb back towards himself. "How the hell is that mangy cat the best fighter in the village when the great Goblimon is right here?"

The assembled crowd stared at Goblimon, who stood proudly, puffing out his chest. Silence reigned for several moments as everyone stared at the green Digimon, before Zennyu impassively gave his pen a click as Leollmon's expression deadpanned.

Ryo couldn't help but be reminded of some of the random encounter enemies from his RPG when looking at Goblimon. "Uh… nice to meet you?"

Goblimon flashed his teeth at Ryo in a macho smile. "You're damn right it is!"

Ken furrowed his brow before he glanced at Higashi, who looked more exasperated than anything else. "Um…"

"Yes, well, regardless," Higashi said, obviously choosing his words with care, before he turned to the human children. "Leollmon will ensure your safety, so you can rest easy knowing that you are in good hands."

Leollmon approached Ryo and smiled up at him. "It is my honor."

"Thanks," Ryo said as he smiled just a little more easily at Leollmon than Goblimon.

Goblimon's cheek twitched as he glared up at Higashi. "Ora ora ora! So what's all this crap about him getting honors and not the great Goblimon!?"

Leollmon paused at that before he rolled his eyes. "I volunteered. You did not."

"What's that got to do with anything!?" Goblimon demanded. "You think that just because you act like a do-gooder, that means yer better than me!?"

"Not at all," Zennyu said in a dark tone. "The fact that Leollmon is unlikely to accidentally get his charge killed is what makes him the superior choice."

Goblimon bristled. "The hell you say-" He turned his glaring eyes to Zennyu before he paused, realization dawning on who he was addressing as Zennyu gave him a piercing stare. The goblin Digimon wilted under Zennyu's eyes before he quickly turned to face a safer target - in this case, Leollmon. "I can kick your ass any day of the week, cat!"

Higashi let out a heavy sigh before he turned away, facing Zennyu. "Well, now that this is settled, shall we return to the Crystal Tower? There, you can…" As his eyes strayed from his partner, his voice tapered to a halt before his eyebrows shot up to his brow.

Zennyu noticed Higashi's change in demeanor immediately and glanced behind him to see the source, which prompted both humans to do the same.

Standing at the entrance to the village was a humanoid Digimon draconian features. While she looked mostly human, it was impossible to ignore the pointed horns that stuck out of her long, wavy purple hair or the gold-scaled wings and tail that adorned her backside; nor could they mistake the third eye sitting on her brow, golden in color in comparison to her two purple ones. She wore a long robe of white with golden trim, with a large purple triangle across her chest with smaller golden ones on either side beneath it, Floating around her in slow circles were three golden orbs, glowing like miniature suns.

The newly arrived draconian angel Digimon met Zennyu and Higashi with a cool stare before she shifted her focus to the two children, who in turn gaped up at her. Her expression never changed as she stared at the Chosen of Miracles and Kindness, completely impassive, before she returned her attention to the two avatars.

"C-Cassandramon," Higashi said, after he struggled to find his voice. "It's… been quite some time, hasn't it?"

"It has," Cassandramon replied.

Zennyu narrowed his eyes at the newest angel. "What has fate decreed this time?"

"Huh?" Ryo blinked at Zennyu. "Fate?"

Higashi turned to offer Ryo an awkward smile. "Cassandramon is… well, a sort of seer. She can see visions of the past, present, and future."

"When it suits her." Zennyu said, his expression still hard.

"Higashi," Cassandramon said, her tone devoid of emotion. "What you described is not 'sort of' a seer - it is a seer."

Higashi paused before a mortified blush appeared on his face. "A-ah, yes, that's… true."

"You mean you're a fortune teller?" Ryo asked, curiosity piqued.

"I suppose," Cassandramon said, rather blandly. "I see many fortunes, good and ill."

"What future are you tipping the scales to favor this time?" Zennyu asked with an edge to his voice.

"Zennyu!" Higashi whispered, harshly.

Zennyu only briefly glanced at Higashi before returning his focus to Cassandramon. "Higashi, you know as well as I that Cassandramon never goes anywhere for mere socialization. She only appears to influence the future she favors most."

"Zennyu is correct," Cassandramon said with an owlish stare at the dark angel. "It is my right as the Avatar of Huanglongmon to do with my visions as I see fit."

"So… you came here to change the future?" Ryo asked hesitantly.

"We all change the future from every second to the next," Cassandramon said.

Ryo blinked, staring blankly at the three-eyed angel.

Zennyu narrowed his eyes. "You didn't answer my question, Cassandramon."

Cassandramon turned her attention to the Chosen Children. "Go to the mountain that pierces the sky. There, you will find the darkness."

"W-w-wait, wait, wait, my lady!" Bokomon said, raising his hands wardingly. "We are here simply to ensure Sir Miracles is protected! They will not be engaging in any dangerous activities, of that I assure you!"

Cassandramon stared down at Bokomon, who flinched beneath her unblinking stare. "If they do not, they will never go home."

Higashi gave a start. "What?"

Zennyu clicked his pen and dashed down a note. "Delightful." He turned to the children with an expression of stone. "It would seem that you will be going into battle sooner rather than later, Chosen Children. Prepare yourselves."

"Wait, what!?" Ryo sputtered as he moved closer to Ken. "Battle? We can't fight!"

"I will protect you," Leollmon said, with a determined expression. "I swear to it!"

"Don't worry, Ken!" Leafmon said. "I'm here to protect you, too!"

Ken stared down at his partner as a sick feeling flooded his stomach. "But…"

"Cassandramon has never lied," Higashi said, his voice soft. "If she says that this is the only way for you to return home, then it's the truth." He sighed and reached up to rub his forehead. "It seems that whatever is calling you to our world can't be resolved without your help…"

Ken stared up at Higashi, then turned to Ryo. "S-so we really… won't ever be able to go home if we don't…?"

Cassandramon turned to stare at Ken, her three eyes focusing on him. An ephemeral vision appeared over the small, frightened child - of an older child with spiked dark blue hair, wearing a blue jumpsuit with white trim and golden shoulder pads attaching a matching blue cape with gold trim to the boy's body. His eyes were obstructed by the large golden glasses he wore with blue frames, but his expression no doubt mirrored that of the small boy it rested on top of.

The draconian angel's expression didn't change as she looked over to the avatars as they watched her closely. "That is correct."

"I won't let that happen," Ryo said, stiffening his stance. He needed to be brave not just for his sake, but for Ken's as well. "Let's go."

Zennyu cast a narrow gaze at Cassandramon. "Higashi and I will accompany the children unless it will impede their best possible future."

"It would," Cassandramon said, her words as blunt as a stone hurled at his face.

Higashi paused at that before his eyes widened. "You… you're not seriously suggesting that we just allow the children to wander around-"

"You may fuss over them as much as you like after the journey, should you still feel the need to do so," Cassandramon said as she glanced upwards, staring at the sky. "But for now, it would be best to let them learn to walk on their own."

"For now," Zennyu repeated with an icy tone.

"For now," Cassandramon said, still staring upwards.

Ken blinked before he furrowed his brow, then glanced upwards himself. "What-"

"Ka-BONG!"

Ken heard the shout and gave a jerk, just in time to feel something whiff past his face. The Chosen of Kindness gaped as the ground suddenly exploded in front of him, a small crater being created by a large guitar being swung downwards like a sledgehammer.

Kyoumon stood at the end of the guitar, and he turned to flash the gaping Ken a grin. "Hah-ha! Too slow, too slow~! Kyoumon almost got you, Humanmon~!" The plush Digimon lifted his guitar, holding it threateningly, his grin cheerful. "You're nooooothing like Rudemon-"

Ken reacted instinctively, his hand gripping his taser and whipping it out with lightning-fast reflexes that he hadn't been aware that he had. He promptly jabbed the prongs into the plush side of Kyoumon, and the taser did the rest of the work.

Kyoumon let out a squeal as electricity coursed through him, causing his hair to stand up on end as he went completely stiff. He flashed violently, similar to Christmas lights as he flickered green, red, and blue before collapsing in a heap on the ground with a discordant clang.

"Ru… de… Hu… man… mon… " the puppet sputtered before he spit out smoke, then promptly went limp.

Ken gaped at the stuffed Digimon, then at his taser, before he whirled to stare at the others, horror on his face. "I-I didn't mean to-! I just… it just happened!"

Ryo lifted his hands placatingly. "It's fine, it's fine! I mean, he did just try to attack you, so…"

Leollmon nodded. "That's correct. If he was willing to attack, then he must also accept all consequences of that decision."

Goblimon stared down at the twitching plush Digimon. "T-the hell…"

Higashi blinked slowly before he let out a sigh. "Well, I… suppose you're not as defenseless as first thought."

"W-wow, Ken! That was amazing!" Leafmon said, staring up at his partner with wide eyes.

Zennyu said nothing, instead giving his pen a click before he proceeded to write on his clipboard.

"How shocking," Cassandramon said, her tone completely monotone.

Everyone - from the Digimon villagers to both human children and their entourage - turned to stare at Cassandramon, who stood impassively as she stared down at the twitching Kyoumon. She remained that way for several moments before she seemed to notice the gawking stares she received, and only then did she look up to give a slow tri-blink.

"What?"