The intense heat bore through his body immediately like needles made of fire. Taran looked up and saw a powerful sun beating down on him from above, looking even bigger than usual, and then felt sand swirl into his face. He wrinkled his nose. This place was nasty. Where even were they? They had just been somewhere grassy and now this was a desert. What was going on? Was this man magic? Could he pull a rabbit out of his hat? Taran looked up at Matt, feeling a foreboding presence emanating from him.

"I bet you're wondering what happened." Matt unzipped his black jacket. "Whew, it's warm." He fanned his hand against his face and wiped his forearm against his brow. "We should get out of this heat soon."

Taran looked over at Matt and pouted. He had let all this people get hurt. They could have saved them and yet they did nothing! He tore his arm free from Matt's grasp and then crossed his arms across his chest firmly. He was so angry that Matt made them leave all those poor people in the fire.

"And now you're thinking we could have saved those people." Matt looked at Hououmon and nodded. "Well—"

"Don't be too harsh on him." The bird Digimon glanced at Taran and then flew off in a swirl of wind that was very welcome in the imposing heat.

"Like I'm ever harsh," Matt grumbled.

Matt watched Hououmon go, protecting his eyes from the sun with his hand and then looked back at Taran and shrugged. "We couldn't have." He sighed. "Hououmon may look strong but she isn't the fighter she once was. We were outmatched." Thrusting his hands into his black jeans, he whistled. "Just how it goes sometimes."
"We could have done something!" Taran exclaimed, stamping his foot. Why wouldn't Matt listen to him? Why did no one ever want to listen?

Matt rolled his eyes. "Just like Tai," he muttered, half smirking.

It was infuriating to be looked down on like this! Taran furrowed his brow firmly to affirm his anger to Matt.

Matt's voice was gentle, sympathetic even. "Look down at Pumon and tell me what we could have done with him in that state."

Taran looked down at Pumon. He felt awful for putting the little Digimon in that state but there was no other choice, was there? And Pumon would want to help too! "But—!"

Matt pointed at Taran accusingly. "And your ribs are bruised. Sticking around there was a bad idea for both of you."

Gingerly, Taran touched his chest and winced. He was right, they were sore but Matt was fine. Hououmon was fine. They could have done something! "But that's not fair!"

Matt nodded. "No one knows unfairness better than me, buddy. Trust me." He pointed at Taran's Digivice. "It's flashing."

Taran looked down slowly, trying not to allow himself to be distracted by any adult tricks.

Withdraw Digimon into Digivice? Yes or No?

It would help Pumon like last time so he had to. He tapped yes and Pumon was sucked into the Digivice in a flash of blue light. Thrusting the Digivice back into his pocket after checking Pumon was safely inside, he glared at Matt.

"We didn't have that back when I was around." Matt chuckled. "Would've been useful a couple of times."

Taran pinched his cheek. Nope, he was awake. "What do you mean when you were around?" As far as he could tell, Matt was still around. Taran looked at him and tentatively reached towards him. Was he dead? Was he a ghost? That was really spooky.

Matt looked down, smirking that annoying smirk.

Taran looked at him cautiously and then prodded Matt. "See, you're solid like I thought. That means you're real." Taran crossed his arms triumphantly and a gust of sand blew in between them. In his stubbornness, Taran ignored it blowing into his face but ended up spluttering and trying to scrap it off his tongue.

Matt pulled at his black jacket. "So I am." He smirked. "But it's not that simple—"

"Why don't we have this conversation somewhere else?" It was someone else. A woman?

The pink haired woman walked towards them, flicking her head back and allowing the wind to blow her curly shoulder length locks behind her like a cape. She winked, the bright sun making it hard to look at her. "Well, hi there! You must be Taran!" Her brown eyes washed over him with warmth. "I'm Mimi. Tachikawa Mimi." She was stunningly beautiful and yet motherly too. "Why don't you say hello now?"

Her smile was so welcoming that Taran couldn't help himself; he ran over and wrapped his arms around her tightly, sobbing into her burgundy jumper. Anything was better than Matt and it had been so long since any nice women had been near him.

"Oh." She patted his head comfortingly, rubbing it gently. It reminded him of home. Of when he would be sick and his mum would look after him; of biscuits and flat cola. "It's okay, it's okay."

Taran looked up at her, his face smeared with tears and snot. "I was so scared." He stepped back, wiping his face with his sleeve. He had realised how weird this was for him to do. It was really rude, actually. "I— I'm sorry." He had latched onto her for no reason. And she was a stranger, no less! His mum and dad had warned him so much about stranger danger and he was here surrounded by strangers constantly.

She knelt to his height, smiling. "I bet you were super scared all alone. And yet you were such a big boy. I'm real proud of you." Mimi wrapped her arms around him, patting his back, which elicited sharp pain. "It's okay now because we're here and we will look after you."

Taran snuggled into her hug, trying to ignore the pain that came from him being touched. Something about her reminded him so much of his mum. Even the tone she used was motherly.

Mimi stood back up. "It's so hot!" She exclaimed, pulling off her jumper and tying it around her waist. Underneath it was a loose knee-length pink dress and a gold locket that hung around her slender neck. Mimi stretched her arms and then turned to look at Matt. "Couldn't you have chosen somewhere less hot? Or we could even go to a mall or something—somewhere enjoyable!"

Matt shrugged. "I guess."

Rolling her eyes, Mimi asked, "Is Hououmon not back yet?"

Matt looked towards where Hououmon had flown. "Maybe something happened."

Mimi walked over and punched him in the arm. "Don't joke like that." She looked back at Taran. "How about Matt gives you a piggy back and we head somewhere safe? Does that sound like fun?"

Taran chewed his sleeve and then nodded.

"You shouldn't chew that." Mimi tutted. "Well, Matt?"

Matt rolled his eyes and turned around, crouching down. "Hop on."

As Taran stepped towards Matt, he felt his vision swim, becoming blurred, then normal, then blurred once more before it turned black.

Waking up slowly, Taran felt stinging pain on his chest and back and felt cooler, much cooler. His head lolled onto the hard surface in front of him; he listened to the sounds around him, too weak to move. The soft swirling of the sand as the breeze passed over them, and then… talking?

"Are you sure about this, Matt?"

"What other choice do we have? We have to do something." Matt spat.
"I know that, Matt. Don't you think I know that? I have always been there with you. But, maybe sometimes Tai was right. Maybe sometimes there was another option but to fight?"

Taran lazily opened one eye and saw Mimi walking along and then realised someone was carrying him. Wind tickled his legs and he realised he was now wearing shorts; the same breeze flapped the t-shirt on his back about, keeping him cool.

"There's no time for that!" Matt snapped. "If we don't do something soon then both worlds will be destroyed." As Matt spoke, Taran felt the vibrations from the surface in front of him and realised he was being carried and the change in clothing meant they had changed his clothes. Had they seen him naked!?

"I know that!" Mimi looked down and then grumbled under her breath. She glanced back up at Matt. "Of course I know that. Don't treat me like some ditzy blonde American!"

"You know I would never… Mimi, you know that this kid is the only one who can save us; save everyone." Matt sighed deeply, the deep breath louder in the ear Taran rested against Matt's back. "And until we can find Gennai, I don't see another solution."

"That's true…" Mimi fiddled with the hem of her dress. "But what if he's not strong enough?" She looked at Matt, her eyes shaking. "What if he dies like the rest?"

Taran gasped. Were they on about him?
"Oh, Taran, you're awake!" Mimi exclaimed, smiling and wiping her eyes. "And just in time, we're here."

They slowed to a stop as they reached various little mud huts; with thatched roofs and holes for windows, they looked like something out of a history book. Atop the tallest building stood Hououmon, perched carefully on a wooden symbol of a bird that protruded from the centre of the roof.

Across from her was a new Digimon. Would she attack them? Taran quickly withdrew his Digivice but Matt spoke before the Digivice could.

Matt exhaled tiredly. "You had us worried!"

Rosemon, Mega level, Data, Wind Guardians, Nightmare Soldiers, Jungle Troopers.

Her Forbidden Temptation can make even those with strong will fall before her.

"It's just you, Rosemon." Matt crouched down, allowing Taran to climb off. "Long time no see."

"Rosemon!" Mimi exclaimed, holding out her arms.

The Digimon in question looked like a flower woman. Her head was made of a large rose except for the area around her red lips. A green floral cape adorned her slender frame, which was clad in a revealing red one-piece. Black boots encased her long legs and vines snaked over her body, culminating in trailing ends which she held tightly in her fists. "Mimi!" The Digimon flew over quickly and wrapped her arms around Mimi, lifting her into the air and spinning around. "You're okay!"

"Of course I am!" Mimi laughed, hugging the Digimon back. "I'm so glad you're alright!"

Matt gestured towards the two with his thumb. "They're partners, like you and Pumon."

"Why haven't they been together, then?" Taran asked. Withdrawing the Digivice from the pocket of his shorts, he looked down at it. Despite the brevity of their time together, Taran felt a connection closer than with any of his other friends with Pumon. "I don't ever want to be apart from Pumon."

Matt smirked. "When you get older, friendships can get more distant but retain their strength. Rosemon had an important mission and had to be away for a while, but me and Hououmon kept Mimi company in the meantime." Matt glanced around and murmured, "Seems the Digimon from this village aren't here."

Taran nibbled on one of the long green sleeves of the top he had on. It had a white chest piece, which had BunBoy emblazoned on, but was much thinner than his BunBoy pyjamas and welcome in this heat. "Is Hououmon your partner?" Taran looked up at the bird Digimon. "She's super nice."

Matt chuckled. "She is nice." He withdrew the little silver Digivice from before and looked down at it. "No, Hououmon isn't my partner. My Digivice hasn't been active in a long while, I'm afraid, Taran." He held up the fizzing screen of his Digivice, covered with scratches and muck. Standing up, he sighed. "But it's okay. Because Hououmon's partner is gone too. So, we keep each other company."

Taran felt himself well up. This was so sad. "Where have they all gone? Will they come back?"

"I'm not sure." Matt said. He slipped the Digivice back into his pocket. "Probably not."

Taran began to sob. This was really scary and not fair! Why did this have to happen?

Matt looked down. "Don't cry!" He knelt on one knee and grumbled, "Tai was always better at crap like this. Heck, even Joe was better."

Taran gasped. He had said a swear. Sniffling, he exclaimed, "You shouldn't say that!"

Matt mumbled under his breath. "Mimi, a little help?"

Mimi was placed back down by Rosemon and gestured towards the largest house. "Let's talk in here. Rosemon and Hououmon can keep watch." She walked inside and Rosemon stood next to the open doorway.

Matt got up and walked over. "Come on, we can explain everything and then we can take you home."

Everyone kept promising to take him home but no one ever did. Why did everyone keep lying to him? Taran folded his arms and stamped his foot. "No."

Matt turned back and raised a quizzical eyebrow. "No?"

Taran nodded firmly. "No."

Matt sighed and ran his fingers through his blond locks. "So, what... You're just going to stand there forever?"

Taran realised the flaw in his plan but was too stubborn to admit it. "Maybe."

"As stubborn as Davis," he grumbled and then Matt shrugged. "Fine. Then we'll all just leave you here." Matt placed a hand next to his mouth and called, "Hououmon, Rosemon, Mimi, we're leaving. Taran is staying here."

Mimi poked her head out. "What?"

"You heard me. Let's go. He can stay here and get eaten by Yokomon when it gets dark." Matt threw his hands nonchalantly behind his head, interlocking his fingers, and walked away.

Mimi rolled her eyes and stepped back inside. "Whatever, but we have to get going soon."

Taran loosened his arms slightly. "Eaten?" He didn't want to get eaten.

Matt turned back and flashed a mischievous grin. "They're huge scary beasts that come out when it gets dark and feed on any naughty children they can find."

Taran shook his head. He wouldn't fall for this! "You're just fibbing!"

Matt threw his hands up. "Well, we'll see. It should be dark in a few hours so you'll find out soon. But, we'll be long gone by then so no one will hear you scream."

Taran bit his lip and felt the fear creep up on him. What if this was real? Would they just come and kill him? Away from home? Away from his family? No one would ever know. Opening his mouth, he began to sob loudly. He didn't want to die like that!

"No, wait. I was just lying!" Matt grabbed onto Taran's arms. "Stop crying!"

"Matt, what did you do?" Mimi walked out of the house.

"I just joked and said Yokomon would eat him." Matt shook Taran. "I was joking, stop crying!"

The pleading from Matt was no comfort to Taran. They were going to eat him and no one would save him!

"Matt!" Mimi rushed over and wrapped her arms around Taran while simultaneously pushing Matt away. "Taran, he was just lying. Yokomon are cute little pink Digimon that are so lovely and friendly. They actually live in this village! The only unfriendly thing around here is Matt." She picked him up in her tight grip and then set him back down, holding out her hand. "Now, stop being silly and let's talk things through."

Taran sniffed, his eyes sore from the crying as he looked at her. She seemed sincere. He nodded, albeit a little reluctantly. "Fine." He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and then gripped her hand. Matt was so mean!

"Ooh this is so cute!" Mimi exclaimed, pointing at the BunBoy emblem on his chest. "I have to know where I can get one in my size. Preferably in pink too." She winked.

"You can get BunBoy stuff everywhere! Mum always takes me and buys me lots and lots!" Taran exclaimed. He loved BunBoy. It was his favourite character!

"Well, maybe you can take me after we get you home," Mimi chimed.

"He reminds me of Ryoko," Matt mused.

Mimi glanced back at Matt and then set Taran down inside the house. In hushed tones, she hissed, "Matt, it's been a long day. Please don't bring up my dead son."

Dead? Her son was dead? Taran wasn't sure how to feel. Was that why he was here? A million questions flooded through his mind as he stared ahead blankly at the sun-baked mud wall ahead.

Mimi looked back at Taran. "Sit down and we'll talk." She said, smiling.

Right now, that was the last thing Taran wanted to do. Everything was just so confusing at every turn! He spun to look at them, frowning. He wanted someone to just tell him what exactly was going on! Ever since that night when Aleena came no one had ever truly even told him what all of this was. Why him?

Matt waltzed in slowly and slumped down onto the raised mound of mud that ran around the edge of the circular hut. Straight ahead of him, on the right of the hut was a small television that was fizzing with static.

Taran slowly took a seat a little away from Matt, facing the exit. If he had to run at least he could run straight out the door this way. However, for now, he wanted some answers and they were the only people who could give him them.

Mimi sat down next to Matt and the two of them looked at him. "I guess we just start from the start, right? Unless there's anything specific you want to know."

Taran looked down at his muddy white trainers and thought long and hard. Honestly, he had been through so much right now there wasn't just one thing he wanted to know. He felt like everyone was hiding everything from him and no one ever thought about how that made him feel. Well, it made him feel really crummy. He clenched his hands on the edge of the seat and frowned. "Why me? I'm not special. I'm just… Just Taran."

Mimi smiled and then looked at Matt and then back at Taran, a little shocked. "Well…"

"Taran, remember I said you were special. With two crests?" Matt looked at Mimi and nodded.

Taran nodded slowly. "Yeah." What were they getting at? That just meant he got to have some extra stuff but he would give them away if it meant he and Pumon would be okay.

"That isn't the first time that's happened. Two crests I mean."
Taran frowned. So, this wasn't even special? Were they just tricking him and making him think he was special? "So, why—?"

Matt held up a hand. "Let me finish." He sighed. "As I was saying. It's not the first time, but, with you, something very different happened." Matt seemed to stiffen up. "The crests of light and hope are special themselves. And to have both…" He clenched his fists tightly.

Mimi rested her hand gently on his fist, rubbing it. "They never thought it would happen. Or need to happen."

Taran nodded slowly. So, he was chosen or something? Like in all the stories? "Why did it need to happen?"

Mimi smiled weakly. "A long time ago, before Matt or I were born, there were a group of five who sealed away a great evil behind a wall of fire." She leant back, resting against the curved wall of the hut. "Put simply: that wall is failing and what they sealed is coming out. We've done our best to stop this and we succeeded."

"So, what's wrong?" Taran blurted. This all sounded very scary. He chewed his sleeve nervously. "Will it get us?" This was like a scary midnight horror movie.

Mimi sighed exhaustedly. "Don't interrupt, it's rude." She sounded just like his mum! His mum would probably agree with Mimi, too. "There are people out there who want to undo what we've done and they're very good. It's only a matter of time before they beat us… and when they do." She looked at Matt and nodded.

"When they do, the crests of hope and light are the only thing that can stop it. That's the prophecy." Prophecy? This all sounded crazy! Like a story, and not even a good one!

Taran chewed on his sleeve. "I have to do all this alone?"

Mimi slid closer to him, pulling it out of his mouth. "Anyone who touches the beast is placed under the effects of a curse. Even indirect touching like Digimon attacks curse both Digimon and partner. That curse places a timer on a person's life of just an hour. Anyone who helps you will die."

Taran retreated inside his head as his body wouldn't respond. So, did this mean that he was going to die too? He felt his head swim like his brain was a whirlpool. He was only 8; he couldn't die now. He hadn't even hit double digits yet.

Mimi touched his hand and it snapped him free of his trance. "We're not sure how it reacts to the crests of hope and light so you may be safe but none of your friends or family will be able to be with you. You and Pumon will fight alone when the time comes." She rubbed his hand. "I'm so sorry."

Taran nodded slowly. But he didn't have to do this, right? They had already fixed the problem so he could just keep living. "What if I don't want to do this? What if I just go home?"

Matt grabbed his Digivice and squeezed it. "We'll do all we can to help you when the time comes. Even if it means we die." So, it was coming no matter what? How long did he have? He didn't want to think about dying now.

Taran stood up, stepping back from them. "B— but…" He had to get away. Away from here. Anywhere but here. "I…" He staggered backwards, thoughts racing through his head until he tripped and fell, hitting the ground hard and blacking out instantly.

~.~.~

He felt his head clearing up and could hear people talking.

"Maybe we can do it without him, Matt. It's so much for him to bear."

"No. If we don't get rid of this thing then everyone's lives will have been for nothing. Tai, Sora, Kari." The man choked up on a fourth name, unable to continue. Taran recognised those names from somewhere. "All of their lives will mean nothing! Homeostasis chose him for a reason. The crest of light isn't just given out to anyone," the male voice hissed angrily.

Taran opened his eyes, looking up to see Matt and Mimi stood over him.

Matt clenched his fist. "And I can't let that happen. Would you want—?" Matt paused.

"Go on, Matt. Say it. Would I want Ryoko's death to go to waste?" Mimi shook her head. "Of course not!" She shook her head, tearing up. "But do I want this boy's life to go to waste? Do you?"

Taran groaned, trying to make them aware he was awake. He didn't want to listen to them fighting anymore.

"Taran!" Mimi exclaimed, kneeling down. "You're up."

Matt crouched down on his other side. "Let's sit you up." He lifted Taran up and propped him against the mound of mud, sitting opposite with Mimi. "Now, take your time. Don't rush or move too quickly. We forgot to mention that when IceDevimon attacked you he cut into your sides pretty badly. We bandaged you up but you'll have to move slowly for the time being." The two sat either side of the door, through which Taran could see the sun going down and the heat was definitely dissipating.

Taran lifted his top and saw bandages all underneath, tightly wrapped around him. They made it a little hard to breathe too. Leaning back, he felt his head sting and snapped forwards, trying to focus. He was still too groggy to talk.

"You hit your head pretty hard too, so be careful with it," Mimi added, reaching forwards almost instinctively and then retracting her hand.

"I just realised we didn't explain everything else. We got so caught up in all that business that we forgot." Matt glanced at Mimi. "I bet you want to know how we got here so quickly and how we plan to go to Britain quick too?"

Taran nodded slowly. It had to do with his blue eyes, that was Taran's best guess.

"Well, there's a reason me and Mimi look so good considering we're nearly six-hundred years old. We're made of data."

Taran felt his jaw visibly drop. But they were people, not programs. Weren't they?

Mimi's eyes traced over Taran for a second before she looked at Matt with an exasperated look and Taran realised how dumfounded his expression had been.

"I'm sorry. I don't get it." Taran reached to chew on his sleeve but stopped as he saw Mimi's brown eyes rested firmly on him.

Mimi nodded. "I didn't think so." She gave Matt a side-eye before continuing. "Right now, everything here is digital and things in the real world aren't. Digimon straddle that boundary when they go to the real world because they're still digital but real world rules apply. The same goes for me and Matt. Well, to an extent. Our lives in the real world are even more limited and transient."

"But…" Taran couldn't understand. They were human, right?

"Before things turned completely sour and the Kamiya War happened, both Matt and myself decided we would want to live on for some time longer. We spoke to Gennai and he made it possible for us to live indefinitely; for infinity. He transformed us into data-based lifeforms by killing our real forms and simultaneously uploading our data to the digital world." Mimi threw her hands up. "I'm not really a science person. Izzy would know better." She gripped her locket, looking down and pausing. When she looked back up, her eyes had softened. "But us, right now. We're not real. We died a long time ago… and so did everyone we knew."

Matt touched Mimi's arm, albeit a little hesitantly and rubbed it. He looked back at Taran with his blue eyes now lighting up with excitement. "The only way I was ever going to be able to visit Mars was if I ensured my body could be more robust and able to stand the test of time and the different forces in space."
"You've been to Mars!" Taran exclaimed. "So, you're an astronaut! That's so cool!"

Matt laughed. "I guess."
"You'll give him a big head if you're not careful," Mimi warned, laughing. "As for me, I had some more personal reasons."

"She just didn't want to get old," Matt whispered, although it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Shut up!" Mimi shouted. "Anyway, this change wasn't all it was built up to be. In order for us to maintain a form that isn't quite our own, we have to consume data relevant to our real-world selves."

Matt nodded. "This was easy at first. There was lots about us dying and things we did in the past but now we have to use tenuous links with RODAF and other Digimon-related bodies to keep ourselves from becoming corrupted."

"Tenyoous?" Taran asked.

"Weak links," Mimi said, smiling. "However, with these bodies we can hop in and out of the Digital World more freely. Kind of like the Digiportal function on your Digivice but more exact. While in the real world, though, our bodies began to degrade rapidly due to their instability. So, we can't even live our lives in our own world for more than a few hours without breaking down and being lost into oblivion."

Taran found this a lot to take in again. Everything they said sounded so scary. Was this really better than not knowing anything? He wasn't sure. "Wait!" He remembered something he wanted to ask. Back in Alrik's town it was really weird when Alrik and Pumon could talk easily. "Why can Digimon talk to people who aren't English?"

Matt and Mimi began to laugh.

Taran frowned. That was mean. They were picking on him. "Hey! Stop laughing."

Mimi took a deep breath in. "I'm sorry, it's just, we're Japanese and our Digimon never had a problem speaking to us." He had noticed they looked a bit different to anyone he had ever seen before but he just thought maybe people looked different in different cities.

"But I can understand you." Taran frowned. "So, can I speak Japanese?"

Mimi shook her head. "Not quite, sweetie. Matt and I learned pretty much every language in our five-hundred-year break. But, Digimon and anyone in the Digital World all become plurilingual while they're here."

"What's—?"

"It means speak more than one language," Matt said. "It's not exactly accurate. It's more like live translation which is heard differently by everyone present. Digimon have this live translation even in the real world."

Taran was trying to understand but it was hard. He was going to have to move on. "What about Punymon?"

Matt nodded. "Digivolving?"

Mimi looked at the sky. "We best get moving, Matt." She stood up, brushing herself down and grumbled about the mud. "Let's go, Taran." Her eyes flashed blue and the TV screen lit up bright blue. "Let's jump there first and keep jumping till we get back to the British Digital World." She stepped towards the TV and was sucked in.

Matt's eyes were also glowing blue as he picked up Taran. Rosemon stepped inside and was sucked through the TV and then Hououmon poked her head through the roof, also being sucked in.

Taran could feel the TV pulling at him but Matt's steadfast grip was keeping them firm on the ground.

"Taran, I want you to know we'll do everything we can to keep you from harm." Matt nodded and then they flew into the TV.

As promised, a more polished version of the story. Would appreciate any feedback on characterisation, grammar, plot or anything as I feel like I'm getting wobbly from this chapter onwards even with my OCs so critiques are appreciated.

I don't own Digimon.