Previously on Digimon Travelers...

Mirai, who has been taken to the Digital World, escapes Betedramon and her partner with the help of Youseimon's allies. She learns that Youseimon created the Digizones as a way of partnering with the power of humans. Meanwhile, the benefactor of Youseimon, GrapLeomon, arrives to lead them into the Digital World. Mirai stands up to fight against the forces of the Digimon King, and is reunited with her partner once more. But what place will they venture to next?

Andre made a face as he unbuttoned his shirt. "I'm glad this place isn't as cold as the real Moscow, but I could do without the bipolar temperatures."

"I'm not complaining, partner," Sanseimon said. "I prefer the warm. Though this humidity is as bad as Atlanta."

"Still, it's kind of a shame we have to leave so soon," Lilinmon said, wiggling her toes in the sand. "Maybe we don't have to destroy the tower right away?"

Mirai laughed. "If you want to see a beach, we have plenty in the human world. After all, if it's beaches, you can't beat Hawaii."

"Felix!" Lilinmon turned shining eyes to him. "Felix, can we go?"

He laughed at her enthusiasm. "Is Hawaii really that great?" Hestria asked. "I usually hear about the south Pacific islands."

"It's awesome!"

"It might be worth visiting the south Pacific," Felix said. "After all, some of those islands are so low to sea level, it's likely that they could vanish completely within our lifetimes."

"Felix," Alexa let out a sigh. "Rather than musing on all the facts in your head, shouldn't you be paying attention to all the fish people crawling around?"

"Why? Lilinmon's got it under control." Felix waved a hand at all the downed Hangyomon. The lucky ones were crawling away rather than dissipating.

"That wasn't too hard," Apsaramon observed. "We may not even need to shin evolve. Well, let's get moving and go find the tower."

Mirai carefully took off her shoes, tucking them in her bag, then went running through the shallow water with a whoop of glee. Andre laughed, and tied his laces together, slinging his shoes around his neck. "Not a bad idea."

"Honestly, how old are you?" Hestria snorted, even as she took off her own shoes.

"I can see the tower from here," Yixiamon said as she flew around them. "It's not far, follow me."

"You seem like you're in a good mood," Andre said to Mirai as he fell into step with her.

She blinked. "Well, it's kind of hard to be in a bad mood when you're on the beach, after all."

"By the way," Felix said from her other side. "Did Youseimon tell you anything about the Digizones?"

"Ah... I guess it's hard for you to trust her after that dragon girl said all that."

"Not particularly," he shrugged, "but I am curious."

"Oh... Well, she didn't, but she didn't need to. Spadamon and Impmon told me everything. Youseimon had one of her people create the program in order to reach the human world. So they could find allies among the humans. Youseimon went herself so she could prevent any damage to the human world."

"Huh. Lilinmon, did you know about that?"

"What? No, not really." The taller Digimon briefly paused by Felix. "I don't know anything about such things. I just want to help Felix. We do these things because we want to, isn't that right?"

He grinned at her. "That friend of Youseimon's is the one that gave the D-Tai to her, right? But I'd never met her or that Leomon-type before Atlanta," Milomon said.

"I suspect he spread it far beyond my small circle," Apsaramon said. "And the code is self-replicating, which I'm sure spread it further. That does fall in line with what I know of him. He has assisted me, but he isn't my ally. He has his own motivations."

"Motivation's one thing, but I still haven't forgiven you," Andre huffed. "Deception is deception."

"I understand. I won't ask for forgiveness, nor will I spend time reflecting on how it could have been done differently. It's already happened."

"C'mon, Andre," Mirai said, "don't be mad at her."

"He's allowed to be mad," Hestria said. "Actions are one thing, but we don't have a right to dictate how others feel."

"Oh?" Felix looked at her, and grinned again. "How very sociological of you."

Alexa looked from Felix to Hestria and back again, scowling. "Don't pester her, Felix."

"What? I'm just making an innocent observation~"

"Time to stop flirting," Sanseimon said. "We got company!"

Next to the tower, a mermaid burst from the water, holding them at bay with her anchor-shaped spear. "You will go no further, trespassers!"

"A mermaid?" Mirai took a picture, looking up the stats on the D-Tai. "Mermaimon... This one's kind of cool."

"I didn't know you were a fan of fish, Mirai," Apsaramon observed.

"Hm... well, I do like sushi."

"It shouldn't be necessary to kill her," Lilinmon said. "We could just knock her onto the beach."

"Bitches, are you looking down on me?" She kissed her anchor, lighting it up, then sent a wave of energy at the group. The Digimon all grabbed their partners, jumping away, with Alexa grabbed by Yixiamon.

"I take it back," Lilinmon growled. "We'll take her out."

"Geez," Sanseimon grumbled, dusting sand from his jacket. "Why do all the girls in the army have to be so cranky?"

"Because the boys are all jerks," Yixiamon said, giving him a look.

"Let's hit her all at once," Apsaramon said. "It'll give us a good idea of her power. All together now! Kbach Cheap!"

"Zantestujuu!"

"Malin Calin!"

"Mai Ogi!"

The four attacks swirled together, forming a vortex that slammed into Mermaimon, sending her skidding off toward the horizon, until even the blast hitting her couldn't be seen. "Uh... I guess we'll go with Lilinmon's plan after all," Sanseimon said at last.

"Let's take out the tower while she's gone," Apsaramon said. "We'll make this quick."

"And then we can go to Hawaii?"

"Not so fast, rebels!"

Felix groaned as he looked up, watching something descend. "What now?"

"Watch out," Sanseimon said as four paws landed on the sand without a sound. "That's Ishtarimon, the Venus Celestial General."

"What's her battle strength like?" Apsaramon asked him.

"I don't actually know. I've never seen her in battle. But she's an Ultimate type like Mardukkimon and Ninurtimon. It's safe to say she's not going to be a pushover."

"Then let's fall back and shin evolve," Apsaramon landed next to Mirai, dropping the zone's Influence and returning to Youseimon. The others followed suit, all evolving to their shin forms.

"So you do have a bit of power." Ishtarimon's expression was dark. "You damned rebels, who do you think you are? Claiming the power of shin evolution! Taking the lives of Nergimon, Ninurtimon and Mardukkimon!"

"They started it," Kaitomon said.

"Shut your food trap, Milomon. Those who don't even understand the consequences of their actions are unfit to speak."

"Screw you," Hestria said. "I don't recall the part where we're obliged to listen to you."

"Of course you don't, because you're fucking rebels! Foolish savages bent on destroying our world!"

"You seem to be a bit misinformed," Felix said calmly. "We're not out to destroy your world."

"Oh? Well, you're doing a good job of trying without meaning to, then! Don't you know what your fighting and your destruction of the towers is causing? The rate you're going, you'll cause the zones to sink back into the Sea of Chaos. Can you live with that knowledge, knowing you've killed countless numbers of Digimon to live your selfish ways?"

"We won't sink the zones," Faimon said, her still voice a sharp contrast to Ishtarimon's anger. "We absolutely won't allow harm to come to the Digimon here, unless they insist on fighting us like you are."

"You say that, and yet you continue to destroy the very thing holding them up!"

"They haven't sunk yet," Maremon protested.

"Even if they sink," Faimon's voice grew quiet, "even if they sink, we'll just bring them back again. We'll bring back all the zones that were lost to the Sea of Chaos. Myself, and Mirai. With this red-hot passion that we hold in our hearts!"

Ishtarimon's expression was still filled with barely-contained rage, but she seemed to regard Faimon in a different light. "So this is Youseimon, the famous leader of the rebels. I can see why. It's as Mardukkimon said; you do have conviction. But conviction won't be enough to save you when you're on the side of evil." From nowhere, she produced twin star-shaped weapons, gripping them in the middle with their eight points facing outward. "Come, rebels!"

"Phantom Shot!" Kaitomon fired at her, grimacing as she blocked the shots with her large stars.

"First Hurricane!" Archeomon threw wind down from above, hoping to knock her off balance, but her four paws held her centaur-shaped body without budging.

"Fairyland Chorus!" Using the distraction from the others' attacks, Faimon drew close, letting off a close shot directed at Ishtarimon's face.

When the smoke cleared, Ishtarimon stood without having moved, her paws in the same indentations in the sand. "Is that all you have? My turn, then." Raising her twin blades, she said, "Bull of Heaven."

She was upon them before they could move, the blades falling in glittering arcs of light, knocking each Digimon to the sand in turn. Returning to her original position in the sand, she said, "Well, humans, I'll offer you the same leniency Mardukkimon did, though I'd rather kill you on the spot. Delete your glitch programs, and leave our world. The king does not want to see the blood of humans."

No one moved or responded. "You've got some nerve," Kaitomon said as he pushed himself to one knee, aiming his gun at her. "Phantom Shot!"

She flicked the attack aside with her lion tail, giving him a contemptuous look. "You're still alive? Know when you've hit your limits, brat."

Faimon also got to her feet, holding her hands out. "Remix Surge!" Pulling her energy together, she swept her hands around, and her allies' bodies took on a rainbow glow.

Maremon got to her feet, as did Archeomon. "Ah... that's better," the bird said in surprise.

"If we can't get you with normal attacks," Faimon said, "then we'll just have to combine our powers more effectively. Mirai!"

She ndoded, holding her phone out. Without speaking, she knew what Faimon wanted: the red-hot passion that bound them together. "Burning Fairyland Chorus!" Faimon shouted, throwing a primarily-red rainbow at the enemy.

"Unyielding Phantom Shot!" Kaitomon's black attack became green as he aimed for the same spot.

"Piercing Supersonic Calvalry!" Maremon raised her hands, then held them out at the enemy, propelling a shockwave that rippled with purple.

"Roaring Pinion Impaling!" With a flick of her wings, Archeomon sent feathers at Ishtarimon that left blue streaks in their wake.

This time, Ishtarimon was forced to one knee, holding both stars in a defensive position. "So that's the power of humans? I can't help but be a little impressed," she said, her smile taking on a feral light. "But it's still not enough to go toe to toe with me."

"Shall we test that theory?"

Mirai held out her violently shaking phone as she watched the fight, trying to draw on everything she could possibly send to Faimon. "Mirai!" Elecmon's ears popped over a sandbar, followed by the rest of his face. "Are you guys all right?"

"For the moment. Who all's with you?" she said.

"Just us," Labramon and Prairiemon's heads popped up above the sandbar. "The others are some distance away. We'll bring them to help!"

"Wait," Felix said. "What's their situation?"

"The Trailmon are under attack. But-"

"Then that's no good," he said. "We could only make use of Beelzebumon and Mervamon, anyway. Anyone else would just be a sitting duck. So go ahead back."

"But-"

"I'll stay in case they need to send a message," Labramon spoke up. "You two head back and help the others. Let them know that Youseimon and the others are here fighting Ishtarimon over the tower."

Elecmon's ears went back, but he turned at last, Prairiemon following. Labramon padded over the sandbar, taking a seat next to Felix. "You're not going to join in?" he asked.

"I'm not foolish. It's as you say; I'd just be getting in the way."

In front of them, Ishtarimon shook off her attackers with a blast of power, knocking them back. "That's quite enough of this nonsense," she said. "Temptation's Mistress!"

A jaundiced field spread outward from Ishtarimon, coating the four Digimon in yellow. Labramon let out a yelp of alarm as it stopped just shy of her paws. "Ugh," Archeomon groaned, falling onto the sand, Maremon falling next to her. "It feels like all the strength's being sucked out of me..."

"That's cheating," Kaitomon got out, falling to his hands and knees, Faimon sinking into the sand as well.

"Bitches, please. You're the rebels here; you don't get to complain about what's fair and what isn't since you're breaking the rules in the first place." Ishtarimon walked past them, approaching the five humans. "Now, hand over your digital devices."

"Forget it," Felix told her. "Don't want to."

"You... Whether you want to or not is irrelevant, you're going to! You don't seem to understand your position here, human."

"Don't care, and don't want to." He stuck his tongue out at her.

"You...!" She reared up, bringing her paws down inches from his face. "There should be a limit to how far you can push things. Even though you're supposed to be our allies, on the side of justice, you insist on doing this!"

"If you don't mind me asking," Felix said, "what makes you so sure that we're supposed to be your allies, on the side of justice?"

"That is the King's decree." She kept her gaze on him, cold and ready to strike. "Whatever the King says must always be right."

"And on what basis does he make that claim? Does he work with a human himself, perhaps?"

"Our king is not so weak as to need the assistance of a weakling child," Ishtarimon said. "Is that all you have to ask? If so, hand over your digital devices. This is your last chance."

"Felix," Alexa said to him. "You can replace a phone."

"That's true. A phone can be replaced. You know what can't be replaced?" Felix looked up at Ishtarimon, his expression mirroring hers, neither giving any room for negotiation. "The opportunity to tell a bully to go fuck herself."

"I'll have your head!" Ishtarimon raised her star weapon into the air.

With a shout, Alexa was right next to Ishtarimon, kicking upwards against her arm. The star weapon thudded into the sand some distance away. "Don't you fucking lay a hand on my brother," she hissed.

"You think a human can fight me when your Digimon couldn't? You have another thing coming to you!" Undeterred, Ishtarimon sought to strike her with the other.

Alexa ducked under her arm, seizing it with both hands. "I don't have to stop your attacks. I just have to turn them away!"

"Sis..." Felix pressed his lips together, then ran for Maremon, throwing her arm around his shoulders.

"Let's go, while she's distracted!" Hestria followed, trying to get a grip on Archeomon's larger body and drag her out of the yellow circle.

"But Alexa-"

"Please go, Mirai," Labramon said to her. "I can't help Youseimon. So I'll help your human friend." Mirai paused, then ran across the sands herself, Andre joining her.

Ishtarimon grabbed Alexa by the shoulder, tearing her away from her other arm. "I am second only to Nabimon and the King himself in terms of strength. Know your place, human!"

Labramon leapt, claws slashing at Ishtarimon's shoulder, causing her to drop the human. Labramon then landed next to Alexa, crouched in a defensive position. "First them, now you. How do you think you can possibly be a match, when four Perfect-types are not?"

"I don't care about whether I'm a match," Labramon growled. "I absolutely will not abandon my friends!"

"Dog..." Alexa dropped down to one knee, lowering her voice. "I think I have an idea. Can you trust me?"

"You're a friend of Youseimon. Of course I can trust you."

"Whatever you do is futile," Ishtarimon said, swinging the star around. Alexa and Labramon dodged in opposite directions, running to either side of her. "Educate yourselves in the realities of battle!"

"You need to educate yourself in the martial arts!" Meeting Labramon again, she bounced off the Digimon, using her as a springboard to land on Ishtarimon's back.

"What the hell are you talking about, get off!" She swung her star around behind her as best she could, and Alexa ducked under it, getting closer to the back of her humanoid half.

"I take martial arts! And the first thing they teach you is how to deal with opponents bigger than you!" Grabbing onto Ishtarimon's long hair, she leapt from Ishtarimon's back, yanking her head back at a painful angle.

Ishtarimon let out a scream, more of rage than pain. "I'll kill you!"

"When dealing with larger, stronger opponents," Alexa shouted, "you aim for their weak points!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Ishtarimon saw Labramon, surrounded with a peach-colored aura that took the shape of something larger, with a golden mane and flowing tail. "Tiida Ija!" Labramon roared, throwing the full force of the peach-colored aura against a point on Ishtarimon's armor.

For a moment, nothing, and then a crack, and then more cracks. All at once, the armor Ishtarimon wore shattered and fell away, leaving her upper half exposed and vulnerable. "Y-you savages!" Ishtarimon gasped, covering her chest with folded arms. "You don't even have any decency!"

"Let's see how well you withstand all the others' attacks now!" Alexa said as she stood next to Labramon.

Ishtarimon turned. The others had pulled their Digimon out of the yellow zone, and they now were on their feet again, ready for another round. Ishtarimon's face turned red as she saw Kaitomon, Felix and Andre. "You lot, I absolutely won't forgive you for this!" she cried as she ran for the tower, disappearing as she touched it.

"Did you get her?" Felix asked as he sat down in the sand, panting for breath.

"We broke her armor. Apparently she didn't like that much."

Felix laughed at that. "I would imagine not, with three guys here. Thanks, sis. You saved my bacon."

Alexa smiled, and without thinking, she placed a hand on Labramon's head. "That's what I'm here for, my stupid little brother."

Labramon rubbed against her leg. "We make a pretty good team."

"Uh... I guess so?" Alexa turned away, looking at nothing in particular. "Uh, Felix! Let's get that tower thing so we can go home."

"What's your home like?" Labramon asked as she rubbed against Alexa's leg again. "I can't wait to see it."

"Wait a... uh, shouldn't you stay here?" Alexa was quickly becoming unable to be coherent.

"You're my partner now, so I'm coming with you."

"Partner? But-"

"Of course! After all, aren't we alike? We both don't want to let those we care about fight alone while we sit on the sidelines."

"I-I guess I can't argue with that, but..." Labramon looked up at her with large puppy eyes, and whatever will to resist Alexa had left vanished. She threw her arms around Labramon, petting the dog's back without a word.

Felix laughed. "Sis has a weakness for dogs. You don't mind if we borrow your ally, do you, Youseimon?"

Faimon smiled. "Labramon is her own person. She can choose whatever path she wants."

"Well, chalk up another one for the good guys," Kaitomon said. "Let's blow this tower and go home."

"Except that we didn't defeat her," Archeomon said. "For a while there, we were helpless. And we'll have to face her again."

"But we weren't completely out of our league, either. And if she's the third strongest, we have a chance," Faimon said. "Let's use this break between fights to get stronger. So that next time, we will defeat her."