"Why do WE always end up pedaling the boat?"

"I know, Jenny…We're almost there…"

Jenny's eyes narrowed as she glared up at the roof directly above her head.

"Well, maybe if we didn't weigh more than we did last time, we'd BE there already!"

"HEY…I'm not fat!" Mel whined playfully.

"Yeah, you're just lazy."

Gomamon hopped into the cabin from the water, pointing through the 'windshield'.

"We're almost there!"

"Thank you, Jebus!"

Tonya rolled her eyes, giggling, before starting to look at the roof, checking on Koromon.

"Hey, Koro. You awake yet? We're almost there."

"Really? But I was having such a nice nap…"

Grinning, Tonya pulled the In-Training Digimon off the roof, hugging him close as the boat got closer to shore.

"I can't wait to stretch my legs…" Jenny admitted.

"They feel like week-old taffy and caramel…"

"…I don't even want to know how you know what that's like…"

Mel giggled, glad to be back among friends, and hugged Palmon closer to her side…

As the swan boat struck the soft sand, Tonya swung out, Koromon under one arm as Jenny jumped onto the shore.

"Come on, Mel. I'll help you down, oh royal princess."

"That's not funny, Jenny!"

"Oh, come on. It's a little funny."

SWING!!!

"Okay, okay! I'll stop!"

Giggling at their antics as Mel jumped off the boat with Palmon, Tonya twitched, hearing something close by…

"HEY!"

A smile crossed her face, and the redhead looked up the path to her right.

"TJ! MEG! OVER HERE!"

As the three came into view, she almost jumped excitedly.

"Lizzy! Long time no see!"

"T-Tonya!"

The blonde rushed down the slight incline, hugging her friend tightly with Motimon at her side.

"I-I'm so sorry! When I got your transmission-!"

"It's alright, Lizzy. No harm done."

"St-Still…"

"Come on, guys! No more touchy-feely!" Jenny joked.

"Now, where's Steph?"

Silence reigned, and her smile fell at the confusion even on Meg's face…

"You didn't find Steph?"

"We only found Lizzy and Motimon!"

"I-I haven't seen Steph either…"

"Well, that's weird…" Tonya grumbled.

"Well…I think I saw Steph…"

All eyes turned to Mel, whose grip tightened on her Digimon's hand…

"When?" Jenny wondered.

"At the palace, but…I might have been dreaming…"

The brunette sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"I think I was asleep…I'd had a nightmare, and she told me I needed to fix what I'd done…The next thing I knew, my crest was glowing and she was gone…"

"Actually…When I was Agumon, that voice that told me not to eat the ushrooms…"

Koromon looked up at his partner in concern…

"It sounded like Steph…"

"If it was Steph, why hasn't she joined up with us?" TJ wondered.

"Well, she might not be able to…" Lizzy fretted.

"Or she doesn't want to…" Mel suggested.

"There's no use thinking of it. We're not Steph." Meg finished, halting the conversation.

Her Digivice began to beep, and the blue-eyed teen lifted it up to check the screen.

"She's nearby."

"Well, let's go find her!" Jenny piped up.

"It's like playing hide-and-seek…" Tonya mumbled, holding up her own Digivice.

"The signal's coming from this direction."

As the group walked into the forest in search of their final member, TJ paused on the edge…

'I hope she's alright…'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"STEPH!"

"STEPHIE!"

"STEPH, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"COME OUT, COME OUT! WHEREVER YOU AREN'T!"

"STEPH, COME BACK!" "STEPHIE, ARE YOU OKAY?"

"I HOPE YOU DIDN'T FALL OFF A CLIFF!"

The sun was beginning to set, setting the sky ablaze with pinks and oranges, and the forest seemed almost tranquil.

Tonya stopped, leaning against one of the trees and looking up at the sky, almost hoping to see Birdramon and Talon…

'Steph, where are you?'

Despite how strong she knew Steph was, Tonya couldn't help but worry about her.

Ever since they'd met as kids in kindergarten, the group had immediately grown from them.

The three seventeen year olds were the core of the group only because they had been the very first.

Steph had always seemed like the softer of the trio, the warm mother hen that always took care of the younger girls.

Meg may have kept them in line, and Tonya may be the one keeping up their morale, but Steph always made sure everyone was alright.

Tonya still remembered when they both tried out for the baseball team, volleyball, basketball, track…

Sure, the redhead hadn't been good enough for anything but skateboarding, but Steph was ecstatic.

Dying red into her hair had been almost a milestone, her separation from the depression that had tried to creep up on her at home.

She took so many extracurricular activities and went everywhere with her friends that she hardly ever stayed home…

"We should find a place to camp out…It's dangerous to walk around in the dark…" Lizzy voiced, snapping the redhead out of her thoughts.

"She should be around here…" Jenny whined, staring hard at her Digivice.

"Where could she be if she's not here?" TJ wondered.

"Probably hiding." Meg noted, Tsunomon under her arm.

"She wouldn't…" Mel whispered, eyes downcast.

Patamon perked, ears straight up, and TJ looked up at her Digimon in curiosity.

"What's wrong, Pat?"

"I hear something…"

"Is it Steph?"

"I don't think so…It sounds like…buzzing…"

Tonya tensed, locking eyes with Koromon…

"Biyomon doesn't buzz…"

A large Digimon busted through the trees a few yards in front of the Digidestined, a ladybug Spirit Evolution with sharp jaws at his side.

Grinding her teeth, Meg pulled her younger sister out of the Digimon's dive, and Mel pulled Lizzy towards the safety of a tree.

Jenny jumped to the ground, covering her head, as Tonya scooped up Koromon, barely avoiding the Spirit Evolution's needle-jaws.

"It's Flymon and Ladyred!"

"Brown Stingers!"

As Jenny danced around the sharp red stingers, Lizzy turned on her laptop and brought up the Digimon Analyzer.

Typing up their names, the blonde grinned as their profiles popped up on the screen.

"Flymon and Ladyred. Insectoid partners. Flymon's at the Champion level, and his attack is Brown Stingers. He's a virus type!"

"What's his attack DO, exactly?" Tonya wondered, ducking under a branch to avoid one.

"He sprays poison stingers."

Everyone's eyes widened…

"POISON STINGERS!?!"

"Brown Stingers!"

No one wanted to be poisoned, so they jumped out of the way, almost getting skimmed.

Tonya had just come out of a roll to find Ladyred ready to chomp open her throat…

"TONYA!"

Meg came out of a somersault right in front of Flymon's sharp teeth…

"MEG!"

Digivices beeping, the girls ducked as their Digimon jumped towards the assailants…

"Koromon, Digivolve to…AGUMON!!"

"Tsunomon, Digivolve to…GABUMON!!"

"Pepper Breath!"

"Blue Blaster!"

As Flymon and Ladyred flew away to avoid getting struck, TJ stood up, hugging Patamon close.

"What are we going to do?"

"Flymon's too fast for them!" Motimon informed, clinging to his partner's leg.

"Marching Fishes!"

"Poison Ivy!"

"It's not working!" Mel fretted.

"Brown Stingers!"

The brunette cried out, pulling Palmon away from the landing projectiles.

"They're coming back!" Jenny shouted.

A powerful caw shook the trees, and all eyes turned upwards to see…

"Talon? Birdramon?"

Flymon and Ladyred rushed to meet this new threat…

Talon swooped down, missing once and easily darting back up for another strike.

"Meteor Wing!"

Both attacks struck as one, and their enemies fell to the ground like burning stars.

Mel's eyes widened as the two began to fly away…

"TALON! BIRDRAMON!"

"Come on!" Tonya ordered, running after them with a sharp eye on their receding forms.

"Hurry up, Agu!"

No one managed to fall behind, keeping up as powerfully as possible, not wanting to lose sight of her.

Unfortunately, once they hit the river, only Tonya, Meg, and TJ could keep up at the same pace across the stones.

The redhead zoomed through the bushes, branching off to see if she could outmaneuver her friend.

Leaping out in front of the brunette, the gold-eyed teen was trying to catch her breath…

"Steph…"

The brunette skidded to a halt, whipping around to go the other way…

"Steph."

Meg was blocking her path, TJ and the three Digimon coming up behind her.

"Why are you running?"

"I…"

Dark eyes slid to the ground, almost ashamed, and her hand covered the crest over her heart...

"Steph, what's wrong?" Tonya worried.

"…You don't…hate us, do you?"

"No!"

Looking towards TJ, Steph almost couldn't hold the words in anymore…

"No, I don't hate any of you…"

"Then why are you trying to get away?"

"I…I just…"

Biyomon landed beside her partner, looking up with soft blue eyes before nuzzling her waist.

"You can tell them, Stephie…"

"…Well…The night we left to look for Tonya…We found Demidevimon and Jokester talking to this strange Digimon…"

Steph managed to look up at her friends faces.

"They were talking about our crests. How each of them has a special meaning."

"A meaning?" Tonya voiced.

"Yeah…Tonya, your crest is the Crest of Courage."

"Courage…"

Brow furrowing, Tonya remembered when it had first glowed…

"When I faced my fears head-on…It started to glow…"

"And Meg, yours is the Crest of Friendship."

Meg was silent, looking at the crest in her palm…

'When I realized I needed my friends…'

"And mine?" TJ wondered innocently, causing Steph to smile.

"Yours is special. It's the Crest of Hope."

"Really?"

Grinning widely, she looked towards Patamon excitedly.

"That's the best!"

"Lizzy has the Crest of Knowledge…Jenny, the Crest of Reliability…Mel has the Crest of Sincerity…"

Lifting up her own crest, Steph watched sadly as it glittered in the light…

"And me…Mine is the Crest of Love…"

"That really fits you, Steph."

"No it doesn't!"

Everyone jumped at the fierceness in Steph's voice, and Tonya seemed concerned.

"But you're always thinking of everyone else…"

"I don't care! You don't know anything about me, so just-!"

She was shaking so hard…

"So just stop talking like you do!"

The brunette seemed to return to her senses when Tonya took hold of her shoulders, gold eyes concerned.

"Steph, we've been friends forever. If I don't know something, it's because you never wanted to tell me. Tell us."

Meg nodded, stepping forward to take hold of her friend's hand.

"Is there something you want to tell us?"

"…I just…I'm sorry…I didn't mean…"

"We know." The black-haired girl assured.

"We just want to help, but we can't if you don't talk to us." The redhead agreed.

"My crest…It just…It won't glow."

"Well, that's alright. It took a while ours…"

"It's because I don't have any love."

"That's ridiculous." Meg stated.

"Everyone has love. If I have it, then you do."

"What makes you think you don't have any love?" TJ piped up.

"…Demidevimon and Jokester told me…"

Flashback:

"Well, well…You two just heard something you weren't supposed to."

"How naughty."

"What do you two want?" Steph demanded, standing tall.

"You heard about the crests, didn't you?"

"In fact, I did. What does that have to do with this?"

"Oh, you're Steph! The Crest of Love!"

As the two snickered, the brunette glared, crossing her arms almost defensively.

"And what's so funny about that?"

"You grew up not knowing what real love is."

"It's pretty obvious your crest will never glow!"

End Flashback:

"Demidevimon and Jokester are liars." Tonya growled, letting Steph sit against a tree trunk.

"But they're right…"

Hugging her knees close, she rested her forehead on them and breathed out…

"My mom never really cared about me…"

"You know that's not true."

"She only ever cared about Jessica…She was the special one, and me and Angela were just NORMAL…"

"I've never seen her…"

"She never does it around others. Not since dad…"

No one said anything…

They knew what had happened to Steph's father.

When Angela had been born six years previously, their father had disappeared one night and never returned.

The abandonment had never really worn away, and was one of the reasons Steph and Meg really connected.

They understood each others pain.

It even had the brunette being especially warm to TJ, who reminded her of her younger sister.

"Your mom probably has her own way of dealing with the pain." Meg reasoned.

After all, her own mother had turned to making her perfect in her own darkest hour…

"You just don't understand how she makes us feel…"

Closing her eyes, Steph was trying to hold back the emotions before trying to explain it…

"It was a few years ago…When I was trying out for the wrestling team…"

Flashback:

A twelve year old Steph grabbed her duffel bag, pulling on her pads and heading for the door.

"Stephanie, where do you think you're going?"

Stopping at the doorway, she looked back at her mother.

The thirty five year old woman was blonde, like Steph's older sister, with hypnotic nearly-white eyes and a jewel in the center of her forehead.

"I'm going to the wrestling try-outs."

"No daughter of mine will be in wrestling!"

"But I really want to, mom! Please understand!"

"It's a ridiculous sport, if you can even call it that. What about tennis?"

"Mom, I don't want to play tennis!"

"Why don't you just come work with me in the shop? Jessica seems to enjoy it."

"Because she enjoys doing it. I enjoy wrestling!"

"It's not lady-like in the least!"

"Well, I don't care!"

Grabbing hold of her daughter's hand, she began to pull Steph towards the living room.

"You're not leaving this house, then!"

"But mom-!"

"My decision is final. You are not leaving this house!"

"Why can't you understand?!"

Pulling free of the grip, Steph ran into her room, shutting the door with a slam before jumping onto her bed.

She didn't even have to wait long before she heard Jessica's sugary-sweet, fake tone…

"Mommy, I'll be going out with my friends for a few hours. They already came to pick me up."

"Alright, honey. Enjoy yourself!"

'Probably going out to get another tattoo…'

"Oh, and mommy? I was thinking of going to see the wrestling try-outs. You don't mind, do you?"

"Not at all, dear."

As the door closed, Steph felt her heart drop…

Not three days later, Jessica said she'd made the wrestling team.

Instead of being yelled at, their mother had congratulated her, and Steph felt betrayed.

She felt unloved…

End Flashback:

"She thinks I'm some kind of failure that can't see spirits…So I can't possibly be anything else…But Jessica…"

A sob broke from her throat…

"But Jessica can be anything she wants. And whatever she wants is what I want, and I never get it."

"Oh, Steph…"

Tonya sat beside her friend, putting an arm around her shoulders…

"It's alright…I'm sure this is a big misunderstanding…"

"B-But…"

Letting the tears slip onto her shoulder, Tonya looked up at Meg, seeing her distant eyes.

"…I understand, Steph."

"R-Really?"

"…I feel the same way about my own mother." Meg admitted.

"…It passes. Sometimes."

"Stephie."

Dark eyes opened, locking their gaze on TJ's face as she crouched in front of her.

"…Thank you."

"Huh?"

"You told Agumon about the mushrooms, right? Thank you."

"That's right. We knew Demidevimon and Jokester were up to no good, so we followed them in secret." Biyomon answered, cuddling into her partner.

"We were even there when you and Jenny were in the restaurant, and when Mel was in the palace."

"…I didn't know."

"You didn't have to hide." Tonya reminded.

"Steph just wanted to be alone." Biyomon explained as her partner pulled away from the redhead, starting to stand.

"She just couldn't bear to leave you all completely, so she tried to help."

"…Stephie? I really like you."

Sniffling, the dark-eyed brunette looked towards TJ in surprise.

"TJ…"

"When I'm with you, I don't really miss who my mom used to be…"

"…I-I…"

"I like my family…everyone together, okay?"

"I'm so sorry…"

"HEY, GUYS! DID YOU SEE THE HUGE GREEN CATERPILLAR?"

The group turned to see the others rushing to catch up, Mel jumping to hug Steph around the shoulders.

"Thank you, Steph! I never got to say it before!"

"It's alright, Mel."

Smiling as Jenny and Lizzy joined in the embrace, Steph wrapped her arms around all of them.

'I'll never leave you guys alone like that again…'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The darkness was pulsating, warm and cold all at once against her skin, and Steph was having trouble breathing…

"Where am I?"

Evil laughter electrified the black void, and she cried out as a foreign pain struck her in the heart.

Vision blurring in pain, she caught sight of Biyomon.

The pink bird Digimon was reaching for her, and Steph couldn't tell why until she saw blood leaking from her chest…

Eyes widening as the pink feathers were tainted crimson, Steph couldn't speak as the darkness tried to block her throat…

'Biyo! Biyo!!'

A whip of red light, and then…

"BIYO!!!"

A cry of pain, and Steph jolted awake to realize that the sound had been real.

Biyomon was on her torso, looking drowsy, a large dart stuck into her side…

"BIYO!"

The others jumped awake at her shout, jolting up onto their feet to see Demidevimon and Jokester.

As they rushed out of attack range, dark clouds covered the moon, making everything unnaturally dark.

The only light came from their campfire, and TJ clung to her sister's side in fear.

"What's going on?" Lizzy questioned, holding Motimon close.

When the clouds had passed, the moon was blood-red, and a strange four-eyed, demon-like Digimon and his evil-looking horse partner came with a carriage.

They flew up sharply, and the back opened to release two coffins.

Both popped open before they even reached the ground, revealing the Digimon and Spirit Evolution within.

"Whoa…" Jenny voiced.

"That's who Demidevimon and Jokester were talking to!" Steph realized.

"These are our masters. Lord Myotismon and Lord Midnight!"

"Myotismon and Midnight?"

Tonya stood up, glaring hotly as Agumon stepped up to her side.

"So you were the ones that had Demidevimon and Jokester split them up! I won't let you get away with it!"

"My dear, I wasn't planning on it."

Tonya blinked in confusion as Midnight stepped forward, clearly not threatened by her warning.

"You see, this is the end for your little friends. However…"

He smirked, sharp fangs glinting in the light as his hair fell into dark red eyes…

"If you play nice, I'll be sure to keep you in perfect condition."

That sparked her anger, dignity and pride flaring up hotly.

"Go fuck yourself."

"That's such a shame…I suppose we'll have to beat you first. Myotismon?"

"Gladly. Grizzly Wing!"

"Come on! Pepper Breath!"

"Blue Blaster!"

Lizzy's Digivice began to shine…

"Motimon, Digivolve to…TENTOMON!!"

Tentomon flew into the air immediately to aid them.

"Super Shocker!"

"Boom Bubble!"

The main stream of bats was halted, but some managed to get around them, and Mel took a step back, charm glowing…

"Rabbit!"

The nocturnal animals were stunned…

"Melanie, Spirit Evolve into…LUCKY FEET!"

"Palmon, Digivolve to…TOGEMON!!"

"Don't go without me!" Jenny shouted, charm giving off light…

"Dolphin!"

Lucky Feet rushed forward, knocking the bats out of the air easily while they were distracted…

"Jennifer, Spirit Evolve into…TRICKSTER!"

"Gomamon, Digivolve to…IKKAKUMON!!"

"Needle Spray!"

"Harpoon Torpedo!"

The bats fell, disintegrating on the way, and Trickster turned to their main targets.

"Come on, Ikkakumon!"

"Right!"

Racing towards Midnight, she spun around to hit him with her powerful tail…

"Harpoon Torpedo!"

Their attacks struck at the same moment, and the blonde almost thought they'd done it…

"That tickles."

An evil look crossed his face before he grabbed Trickster's tail, tossing her back towards the others.

Crying out as she hit the ground, the dolphin-girl tried to stand…

"How pathetic. Crimson Lightning!"

The Digimon were knocked off their feet, causing them to fly into the air and hit the ground hard.

"Togemon!"

The darkness condensed into a sharp blade in Midnight's hand, and it began to glow a dark black…

"Whip of Decay!"

It wrapped around Lucky Feet's throat, and she barely managed to breathe before it tightened.

Gasping for air, she started to flail, and Trickster rushed forward, slamming down on the whip with her tail.

It cracked, and Mel's super-speed rush snapped it in half.

Tonya, feeling her partner's pain, sat up from the ground and rubbed her head.

"Agu? Are you okay?"

"It seems he's a bit tired at the moment…"

The redhead yelped when he grabbed her from behind, lifting her up with an arm around her waist and his sword on her neck.

"But we can have some fun, can't we?"

"Let me go." Tonya growled.

"Where would the fun be in that?"

He leaned in to her ear, chilling her to the bone with his breath…

"You're mine, Digidestined of Courage. You just haven't realized it yet."

"I don't belong to anyone!"

Midnight chuckled darkly, pulling her more firmly against his chest…

"That's what I like about you…You have spirit. I'll enjoy breaking it."

Steph stood up, Biyomon in her arms, heart pounding powerfully in her chest…

"Tonya!"

"Stephie…We've got to fight…"

Her heart almost stopped at the thought of Biyomon fighting Myotismon…

"You can't. It's too dangerous, Biyo."

"I have to...I'm the only one left to fight…"

"No, Biyo! It's too dangerous! My decision is final!"

"Why can't you understand?!"

Steph froze, the words ringing in her head as her grip slackened…

'My mom…She didn't want me to wrestle because she thought I'd get hurt…'

Biyomon flew into the air, and she watched her as the memories flooded her eyes…

'She didn't want me to get hurt…She CARED about me…'

Her charm started to shine, and her vision sharpened on Biyomon…

'Biyo!'

"Eagle!"

The red light flowed over her like a familiar wool blanket, and Steph closed her eyes…

"Stephanie, Spirit Evolve into…TALON!"

"Biyomon, Digivolve to…BIRDRAMON!!"

As they flew towards their own targets, Talon's wings closed in around her and she dove for Midnight.

Birdramon went higher in the sky…

"Meteor Wing!"

As Myotismon blocked the flames, Midnight held up his sword, causing the winged girl to twirl out of the way.

"Crimson Lightning!"

"Whip of Decay!"

Talon avoided the attack, but Birdramon wasn't as lucky…

Crying out as the pain seared her very heart, dark eyes darted up to Birdramon, who was falling to the earth…

"Birdramon…"

Their bond was weakening, Birdramon was giving up…

"Birdramon."

A weak cry, and Steph's crest began to blink as she spread her wings…

"Birdramon, no! I LOVE YOU!"

The light from her crest seemed to envelop everything…

"Birdramon, Digivolve to…GARUDAMON!!"

Red wind burst up in a powerful column, swirling like dangerous blades…

"Transformation of Love into…"

Bursting free, she slid to a halt, bladed tonfa in each hand and the Crest of Love displayed proudly on her white leather jacket…

"Loving Talon!"

Surprised at her evolution, the eagle-girl looked down at her glowing crest before locking gazes with Garudamon…

'You did it, Talon. I knew you could.'

'Garudamon…'

Tightening her grip on the weapons in her hand, Loving Talon smiled.

'Let's do this.'

"Why does the Crest of Love glow, just when we're about to claim victory?!"

"Because you'll never win!"

Taking to the air, her blades began to glow…

"Wing Blade!"

"Swirling Love!"

Spinning in a tornado, she went straight for Midnight…

He used his blade to block the strike, but Tonya was ripped from his grip as Loving Talon swerved.

With Myotismon distracted as well, Garudamon lifted the others, all normal once more, and they flew away as the sun began to rise.

Once they found a clear river and a forest, they landed, the transformation falling away and Garudamon Dedigivolving.

"I knew you could do it, Steph!" TJ congratulated.

"Thanks, guys."

Smiling sheepishly, Steph cuddled Yokomon to her chest.

"I realized that I was treating Biyomon like my mom treated me. I was trying to protect her, like my mom was protecting me…"

"Your love helped me Digivolve, Stephie." Yokomon piped up.

"I know, Yoko. I'm sorry about before."

"That's alright. I'm just glad you're back to your old self!"

"Um…Tonya?"

"What is it, Jenny?"

"Did you always have that around your neck?"

Blinking in confusion, the redhead touched her neck to find that there was indeed something there.

It was an orange lake choker with a black metal bell, a cursive M in silver on it.

Clearly not happy with that, Tonya pulled it off, glaring at it as Meg's eyes narrowed.

"I don't like this, Tonya…"

"Me, neither…"

Agumon took hold of her hand, looking concerned for her safety.

"Tonya, is this going to be alright?"

"Everything will be fine, Agu."

Smiling brightly, the redhead dropped it into her pocket before turning towards the group.

"We can do this. We're the Digidestined, remember?"

"Right!"

Steph nodded, looking up at the sky…

'We'll be alright…I just know we will…'