"This tree is known as the Tree of Unity," Renamon started to exposition. For once in her life she was behaving seriously and giving straight answers without even being asked, and I wasn't about to interrupt her. "It's called so because it's the one bridge between this world and another." I looked up (or down?) at the ground above (below?) me in wonder. Surely it wasn't connected to- "Oh, no, not your world. Simply another. There are too many different worlds to count, but this tree is the only bridge to the one you see before you."

She continued on, "And such is the case for most worlds. One bridge and one bridge only connects each to each other if its barriers are functioning properly." As she said that she opened her arms to gesture at everything at once. "But as you can see, the digital world's Firewall is not. By now it's so unstable that I can travel between worlds at my own leisure... Provided I can find the right hole in the right place in both barriers, the world I leave and that I enter."

Oh, man, that struck a chord. "The digidestined have that power now, too, with the creation of the digivice. But how could you possibly travel worlds if one world's barrier is still up and stable, hmmm? Have you ever thought of that?"

Oh, fuck. That would mean... "It seems like you can't," I grimly responded to Renamon.

"Exactly," she affirmed, "I don't think you'll ever doubt your cause again if you came all the way here just because that cause drew you here, but if you do, now you know. You aren't simply performing charity work; your world is in as much danger as mine."

I interrupted, "I kinda got that when Monochromon got loose in the desert. Something tells me I don't want those wandering around my hometown."

Renamon shook her head. "It's not just digimon either. If your world's barrier falls, any number of creatures big and small, good and evil, may infiltrate you." Renamon paused and... Frowned? "It wasn't supposed to be like this. She thought the two worlds were ready for convergence. The digidestined alone are indisputable proof that humans and digimon can more than coexist peacefully but even make each other better."

"Whoa, whoa, back the fuck up right there," I brashly interrupted once again. "Who is 'she?' Is 'she' the one destabilizing the Firewall?"

"Yes and no." Oh, that figures. Of course I couldn't get all necessary information in one session. "Some knowledge is knowledge you are not yet ready for. Other knowledge is knowledge I am simply not permitted to teach."

"Permitted?" That word echoed in my head. "That makes it sound like someone else is pulling your puppet strings. Shit, I don't like the idea of being a puppet's puppet."

"Then don't be," Renamon coolly retorted, "I've shown you your path and convinced you it was best, but you stay on it now by consequence of your own choice. Now that you have found your way, this is knowledge she feels you must have, and I trust her judgement."

"Oh, bullshit. You don't get to play the pronoun game and refuse to identify the person. I'll climb down before I have to listen to that prattle any more." I even made for the hole and looked down it as a bluff, but Renamon called that bluff by watching silently. When I finally turned around and gave up, she was clearly quite amused. It looked like even Flamedramon didn't think I'd do it because he didn't follow me either. Geez, am I that transparent?

"I brought you here as more than a test, however," Renamon continued after she was satisfied that I was sufficiently humiliated. "The Tree of Unity's name has a dual meaning. It's also where she decided to hide this." Once again, Renamon brandished the necklace. It seemed odd to me that a gold tag would be suspended from such an ordinary looking string, so it must not have been hidden for its value.

I think even Flamedramon was getting frustrated, because he was about to shout at Renamon, "Then what is-?" but he stopped midsentence. He kind of had to because his jaw dropped like a sack of bricks. There was definitely recognition in his eyes, too. His question's meaning still got across though.

All the same, Renamon opted not to answer it. She just snickered, although she did do us the courtesy of tossing the necklace to me, which I plucked right out of the air. Apparently it wasn't just a plain golden tag; that was just the back. When I turned it over there was some glyph engraved in it. I sure couldn't read it, but I thought it was oddly familiar. "Isn't this the symbol Brad wears around his neck?" I asked Renamon. That's when recognition entered my eyes. "Wait, is this that thing Gabumon told me about? The crest of friendship?"

I asked Renamon that, but it was Flamedramon who replied, "Yeah... That has to be it," while inspecting it closely, eyes wide in wonder.

"I suggest you give that to your friend. What you're holding is more than a piece of jewelry. That crest has the ability to make Gabumon evolve to an even higher form."

"Higher than Champion?" I remarked with wonder. "I hope we never need something that powerful..."

"Better to have it when not needed than not when so," Renamon wisely counseled, "But a crest can't just be given away. Were you to leave now and I to hand it over, it would be useless to you. Its prospective owner must prove itself to its current owner. Being the crest of friendship, naturally, I must see an act of friendship." It didn't escape me that Renamon looked between both me and Flamedramon, but she wouldn't elaborate further.

"...what, you wanna see us hug or something?" I quipped.

"I was thinking more along the lines of cooperation," she finally clarified. "I see you've mastered willful digivolution. Congratulations, truly. Through this you two worked together well enough to make it here, showing you can accomplish an otherwise impossible task together. Make no mistake: neither of you could have made it here without the other. Flamedramon couldn't digivolve from Veemon, and you... Well, need I say more?"

Well, that was a little insulting, but I couldn't doubt its truth. "So... Now that we proved ourselves to you, you want Brad to prove himself to me somehow?"

"Not quite." Of course. Renamon shrugged and uttered with false sheepishness that gave the impression of arrogance, "I'm still not convinced. So you climbed a tree? Impressive." With her classic swiftness she managed to run forward, punch me in the gut, steal back the necklace, and jump back out of striking range before I even knew that it was Renamon who hit me. Flamedramon tried to strike her with his claws when she was close, but she was too quick and had jumped back by then. I was doubled over and beating on my own chest to try and get breath to flow through my lungs again. "But can you fight for your life? Up until now digimon have pulled both their weight and yours in combat, a practice that will see you both killed soon. One more little test, and the crest is yours to do with we you wish."

The fact that I could cough thankfully meant breath was returning. I got to cough out, "Another test? Why can't you just work with us instead of against us?" because of that fact as Flamedramon helped me to my feet and stared daggers at Renamon.

"Because I want to know if I'm wasting my time and my world is doomed. And it is if you can't even take this crest from me." She brandished it again, only she was now taunting me to take it from her. "There's no need for bloodshed. You don't have to kill me, and I won't kill you. Just take this from me. It's that simple."

"Would it be against the rules if I did kill you?" I asked sarcastically out of frustration.

"No. And you should probably intend just that if you have any hope of even catching me."

"Then this will be easy." I raised my trusty lightning rifle and took aim at Renamon down the scope sight. If she actually moved I'd probably miss, assuming I even fired, and I knew it, but I was banking on her not knowing that. I knew she could dodge gunshots in combat if need be because I saw it, but she also knew I was good with the weapon because she saw it. "Throw the crest over here, and I promise not to blast you into oblivion. Scout's honor."

I wanted her to throw it because I didn't trust her to get any closer than she was right then. That didn't stop her, though. She casually walked up to me until she was close enough for her chest to touch the end of my barrel in a very daring fashion. Once again, she called my bluff. But maybe things weren't all bad.

She did get closer, close enough to strike her myself and, even better, close enough to simply snatch the crest right from her. So I did... To own huge surprise. I was actually quick enough to swipe the necklace right from her paws! How did I just do that? "Well, I guess that settles it," I gloated. "Thanks for playing. It was fun."

Smack! Ow! At least Renamon backhanded me rather than using her paw's front side and essentially swiping her class at me. But still, ow.

"Weren't you listening to a word I said?" she growled at me in frustration. I guess my answer didn't really matter, because she went on to assume that I was not. "Even if I let you keep that - which I won't -" She then swiped the crest back even more quickly than I had. "- it doesn't mean a thing if I'm not convinced you earned it."

"And how did you earn it, then?" I pressed on. "I think the only thing I've met that was less friendly than you was my 6th grade science teacher's snapping turtle."

Renamon tied the crest around her neck before she totally brushed off my question. "I'm not at liberty to disclose that right now."

I wanted to slug this bitch so bad then. I'm usually good about keeping my stronger emotions invisible, but Flamedramon either knew me too well or had some other way of sending my emotions. Either way, he knew to rest his armored hands on my shoulders from behind. He wasn't trying to hold me back or anything, but the contact did remind me I had to calm down. Shamefully, it also reminded me that he was there, as I had almost forgotten in my frustration.

I swallowed nervously, feeling his disapproval without even looking at him. And then I took a good, deep breath and instantly felt better. Not wonderful, but at least calm. My head was back in the game. So without taking my eyes off Renamon I pat one of his gauntlets a couple times in acknowledgement and appreciation. "Fine, then." Renamon finally got serious. "If you won't fight for the crest, I'll give you an even better reason to fight!"

She sprang, then, and like a ninja she disappeared, leaving nothing but a circle of disturbed dust and leaves where she stood. I heard the impact to my right before I had time to turn and see it: flesh colliding. But mine wasn't involved, though it came damn near close. Renamon's claws were interlocked with Flamedramon's. I was less shocked that he chose to block the hit than I was shocked that he was able. But the look on both their faces is what shook me most. As Renamon lashed with her other paw, Flamedramon caught it the same way, but neither wavered at all from their strictly focused countenances.

Wait! Renamon's paws were both locked! That was my chance to make a swipe for the crest, but before I could even touch it she jumped and kicked me in the chest like a mule without even letting go of Flamedramon. I stumbled back a foot or two before finally falling down on my butt. I guess she was holding back. Flamedramon sure wasn't, though. He looked ready to kill as he detached one of his hands from renamon's and raked his claws at her face. Of course, she used his other hand as a springboard to push herself away from the strike and get her feet back under her. It looked like Flamedramon's and my roles were reversed now. I saw him near his teeth and grunt.

But shit, Renamon wasn't going to fuck around! When she jumped in the air so high it would take a few seconds to land and crossed her arms over her chest, I recognized the move immediately. "Get down, Flamedramon!" I cried before taking off running in hope to escape her line of fire or at least shake her aim. However, Flamedramon disobeyed me and instead took only three steps in my direction before sliding the rest of the way to land right in front of me. I bumped into him before I had time to stop running.

Flamedramon just stood like a brick wall while I stumbled back a step or two. "Stay behind me," he ordered me, "I'll protect you." Moved as I was by the noble sentiment behind that, I was a little more concerned that as a wall of shining shards formed in front of Renamon's body, my friend was about to be carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey. I didn't have time to object, though. I only had time to crouch and cover my head.

"Diamond Storm!" And with that, the shards became shrapnel, launching themselves at Flamedramon and I like bullets. All the same, my protector stood stoically before the attack. Before the projectiles could nail us, though, Flamedramon spread his legs and stretched out his tail, for balance, I guess, at the same time as he raised his two fists. What was he going to do, block them?

"Flame Fist!" Oh... I guess so. As Flamedramon defiantly stood his ground, two fire balls shot from his gauntlets and collided in midair with a few of Renamon's shards. That wasn't enough to stop them all, but upon contact the fireballs exploded. None of the shards were melted or destroyed, but they were all deflected. A wave of intense heat hot enough to nearly burn me passed me by just as a few Diamond Storm projectiles did, a few of them landing in the ground (well, the thick bed of leaves) less than a foot from me before they shattered and disappeared.

Flamedramon saved me. "Did you just..."

"Dylan, I promise I won't let you get hurt. But I need you with me now." Only then did Flamedramon finally turn to face me and extend a gauntlet to pull me back up to full standing height. "Stand and fight!" he then shouted. But it wasn't like a command. He delivered that more like a hearty invitation with the smile that comes with it.

But I shook my head. "I don't know what you expect from me. I'm worthless in a human fistfight, let alone this crazy Digimon combat."

Flamedramon reminded me of my secret weapon by lifting the rifle slung over my front a little and shoving it into my hands. "Who said anything about using your fists?"

I frowned. "You're crazy. The crest cannot be worth killing over."

"Then don't kill her. You probably couldn't hit her anyway."

I wanted to proceed to ask, then how is this going to help? But while the answer was obvious, it was still a risk. I didn't want to try it... but what was I going to do, climb down? Crap, I still had no idea how I'd get down from there even if I won, but the real point is I had no choice in the matter. So... One of my hands gripped the handle of the weapon while the other used Flamedramon's to stand back up. "Don't get hit yourself either. I'd hate to..." I had trouble finishing partly because what I was about to say was totally cliche. But the bigger part was that it was a painful thought.

"Then don't hit me. Now fight!" Flamedramon declared before his whole body ignited in fire. Luckily I had let go by then. I wasn't worried about it; I figured it was an ability of his. He sure didn't seem bothered by it.

"Wow, Renamon," I remarked as the two of us really got our game faces on. "Now you literally can't touch this. Go!" I raised my gun and fired away. Renamon danced around the bolts like she was repelled by magnetic force. I can't blame her, I guess. But by being so focused on me, she had to take her eyes off Flamedramon, who sprang into action at the same time that I did. But once he closed in it was I who was at the disadvantage. I had been taking total pot shots since I not only didn't have to hit Renamon, I didn't want to. But I trusted her to keep out of danger. The plan was to force Remamon to focus on two things at once, hopefully more on me, but Flamedramon and I had the same problem. I had to avoid hitting him, and he had to avoid jumping in my line of fire.

Renamon could only play defense. If she layed a paw on my partner, it wouldn't feel good. Flamedramon at least didn't have to dodge any of her attacks, leaving him free to unleash a blurry barrage of blows and strikes. I had to constantly run in a circle around the fight to avoid having Flamedramon covering up Renamon.

I don't think Renamon liked being put in the position she was in. The strategy achieved its purpose for a while, but there was no phase two to get the crest. While we were in the middle of creating one, Renamon figured out I was totally defenseless. That's why she switched targets entirely and leapt at me instead. But before she could tackle me, Flamedramon managed to tackle her! As cool as a move it was, shit, I was scared. Her fangs were bared, and her claws scratched my shirt a little before she was brought down from behind by the flaming Digimon.

She writhed in pain and screamed but couldn't escape his restraints. All I had to do was kneel down and snatch the crest. And I did. Hopefully for the last time. I was breathing hard after all that. So was everybody else. Flamedramon extinguished his shield of flame and let Renamon rise, which she did as gracefully as she would if she hadn't suffered severe burns. Still, I think it was the first time I had seen her breathing hard from fatigue. "The crest... is yours." She breathed with her signature smirk. "But your friend will have to earn it himself to use it, and only you can decide when that has happened."

I didn't think about that right then. "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. But each time I get close to squeezing information out of you, you find some way to weasel out of it! Who is 'she?' What has she done to the Firewall, and why? And why haven't you told us about any of this earlier?"

Renamon just crossed her arms, shut her eyes, and looked down. "The façade must end my lady. Face the facts: your good intent has brought ruin upon us."

I lifted an eyebrow and took a step back from Renamon. "Not you," she reassured me, "I understand you must be confused, but I'm seeking permission now to clear up that confusion." She then went back to muttering to herself, "No, it's not all your fault, but no matter whose fault it is, the situation must be contained. You have failed! Now let him succeed!" After a minute Renamon finally sighed and rubbed her head like she just had a stressful conversation. But she then announced, "She will not let me divulge her secrets. However... She has agreed to speak with you."

I wasn't thrilled about speaking to another person's auditory hallucinations - I've had to do exactly that before, actually - but Renamon's audio hallucination became mine when I heard a little girl's voice from nowhere tell me, "You shouldn't be here. But since you are, I reluctantly acknowledge you. Listen closely."