Frontiers Unexplored

by digitaldreams0801

After receiving a strange text message, Takuya Kanbara boards a train and winds up in the Digital World, faced with more adventure and danger than he ever could have anticipated as he embraces frontiers unexplored. {Rewrite of Digimon Frontier. Contains violence, minor strong language, and discussion of mature themes. All characters have been aged up to be teenagers.} /COMPLETED/

55. End of the Line

As soon as the Warrior of Heaven was created, their first action was effortless. Susanoomon raised their arms and tore a hole in the sky effortlessly, creating a rift easily that was patterned with the darkened skies of the fallen Digital World. The train station was abandoned in the seconds that followed, and Susanoomon jumped inside without a moment of hesitation. Shared resolve solidified itself into something incredible, and determination created enough power to topple even the mightiest of foes.

The first thing that they noticed was that the Dark Heart and the Light Heart had both disappeared. In fact, Lucemon had vanished from sight as well, leaving behind instead a large creature that seemed to effortlessly consume more than half of the Dark Heart in size. The beast was a purple draconic demon, and scales clashed against one another to forge something that looked like nothing short of a complete monstrosity. Golden claws edged its feet, and they glittered with a dangerous sharpness. The tip of its tail swung back and forth slowly, the primary sign of life on the beast.

A golden mask could be seen covering its head, and its jagged edges matched the demonic wings that fanned out behind it. There were six pairs of them, and each pair seemed to be larger than the last somehow. The creature's front claws were holding tightly to a black orb that resembled a moon swallowed completely in shadow. Twelve spheres revolved around the beast, each one bearing the colors and symbols of each of the Legendary Warriors.

For a long time, Susanoomon simply stared at the creature, realizing that Lucemon had to be the monster in question. Lucemon had likely absorbed the Dark Heart along with the Light Heart, and the combined force of the immense celestial powers had merged with his body to create the atrocity that Susanoomon saw before them. Susanoomon was far from being small on their own, but they were nothing when compared to the new massive size of Lucemon's next form. This had to be his highest level of power, so this would certainly be the battle to decide the fate of every world.

Lucemon shifted his attention over to Susanoomon soon afterwards, and he took in a large breath before unleashing a roar that would have surely shaken the earth if the world had been left. Susanoomon felt the wind around them rush, but they didn't allow themselves to be deterred. They had come too far for this fight to back down, and nothing was going to be able to defeat them. Lucemon had done immense damage before, but all of that was about to end.

Inside of Susanoomon's mind, Saki spoke. "He took in the Dark Heart and Light Heart. That's why he changed form this way," they announced, clarifying the cohesive thought process of the rest of the group. Outside the circle of the Legendary Warriors, three rings of Spirits spun. On the top row, the shrines for the Human Spirits could be seen. The bottom row had the Beast Spirits, and the Hybrid Spirits were in the center. Duskmon, Velgemon, and Malkakomon could be seen among them if one looked closely enough.

"We'll make sure that he doesn't hurt anyone ever again!" came Tomoki's resounding cry. Susanoomon rushed forward at his words, and his left hand, the one with the orange segment of armor over the wrist, shone briefly before letting out a quick hissing sound as a blade appeared from within. Susanoomon followed the sword forward, keeping it outstretched in the direction of Lucemon.

The first strike didn't appear to do much damage, but it certainly caught Lucemon's attention. He turned to face Susanoomon, and his eyes, as dark and hollow as they were terrifying and sharp, fell upon the Warrior of Heaven. The Angel of Hell unleashed yet another roar that pierced the air and echoed endlessly before finally falling silent.

Lucemon reared his head back, and the twelve orbs around him began to swirl in response. One of them, the red sphere bearing the mark of Fire, unleashed a blast of streaking flames in the direction of Susanoomon. The Warrior of Heaven raised his arms to block the attack, and he luckily didn't take any damage from the strike. Instead, he was simply forced backwards a short distance.

"His skin is too rough and thick for our attacks to get through," Junpei commented. "We're going to have to look for a different approach if we want to deal any significant damage. We can wait it out by dodging until we're able to find a strategy. We can use our size to our advantage."

It was by Koji's command that Susanoomon rushed forward next, and his sword slashed in the direction of Lucemon's claws. The dragon swerved backwards to keep from being hit, and something oddly protective flashed in his eyes before he unleashed another attack in Susanoomon's direction. This time, the attack was from the deep brown orb with the Earth marking on its surface. The Warrior of Heaven ducked below the attack, and the earthen blast spiraled into the distance before disappearing from view and existence.

"He ran away when we got close to his claws," Izumi remarked with a light hum. "If you ask me, that has to be a sensitive spot for him." She glanced around at the rest of the circle for confirmation, her eyes gleaming excitedly.

Hinoka let out a gasp. "What about the orb that he's holding onto? I don't think that's anything natural. It certainly doesn't seem to be a part of his body, and it might be fueling those spheres of magic that are floating around him," she suggested.

"If we can get rid of the spheres that are floating around him, it'll be easier for us to get in closer," Mayumi announced. "If we're sure that the orb he's holding is what's powering those, then we need to target it. That should at least do something to weak him."

Susanoomon's body nodded, and images from the inside of the Warrior of Heaven faded away in favor of the battle at hand. Susanoomon dodged another pair of attacks from Lucemon, this time from the orbs of Ice and Darkness, before managing to get in close to the moon in Lucemon's hands. Rather than using the sword on their hand, Susanoomon raised their other palm, and energy of a bright white color burst forth before shooting towards the dark moon.

Lucemon immediately let out a scream of pain, and the Warrior of Heaven realized that they had struck gold. However, their moment of victory did not last long, and Lucemon's tail suddenly swished into Susanoomon's line of sight. They weren't able to respond in time before Lucemon's tail slammed into their body, rocketing them far away from the moon that had just been struck.

Susanoomon's hurtling course through empty space only came to a screeching halt a few moments later, and the Warrior of Heaven was left incredibly disoriented as a result. They turned their attention upwards to the moon in Lucemon's grasp, and they saw that a wide gash had been opened in the side of the dark surface. Deep purple gas was pouring free of the hole, showing the true weakness of the orb. The base of the sphere had been hard and rough, though it wasn't anywhere near as hard to pierce as the rest of Lucemon's body. It certainly seemed that their prediction about the moon being Lucemon's weak spot had been correct.

"If that's the weak point, then we're going to have to rip it apart with everything that we have," Koji suddenly announced, his voice as harsh as it ever had been. He didn't hesitate to command Susanoomon to move forward, and the rest of the group followed his lead.

Susanoomon swerved left, right, and then down to keep from being hit by another barrage of attacks. This time, the elements of Thunder, Water, and Energy had been used in that order. Lucemon growled in apparent frustration, but it wasn't enough to keep Susanoomon at bay. The Warrior of Heaven got in close to the orb that Lucemon was grasping tightly at, and an unexpected vision arose from the shadowy fog.

At the heart of the sphere, a small outline could be seen. It resembled a person curled into a ball, but more than that, it bore a striking number of similarities to Lucemon's original form. It certainly had similar white wings sticking out from the top of its head, and the same colors of pale yellow and pure white also speckled the surface of the outline along with deep purple. Piercing periwinkle eyes looked back at Susanoomon for a single moment that seemed to last for an eternity.

Susanoomon pulled back before an attack from the silver orb of Cosmos could make contact, and they slashed their sword to cut a Wood strike in half when it was only a mere few feet away. Susanoomon fell into a combative stance once again, and the internal image of the Legendary Warriors appeared all over again as discussion began anew.

"That was the outline of Lucemon's original form. It seems pretty easy to assume that it's the weak point that we've been looking for," Yumiko pointed out. "I bet that the orb is meant to keep it safe. The draconic form is probably just the vessel for all of that power to be let out through."

"You mean that the true strength is found inside of the core of the moon-like sphere," Haroi concluded. He didn't wait for confirmation from the rest of the group, understanding that he didn't need it since they had all come to agree on the matter.

Susanoomon acted accordingly, flipping backwards to keep from being hit by a Wind strike before once again slashing their sword outwards to deflect a Light attack. Lucemon's stress levels had only started to rise since the Legendary Warriors came to the conclusion that the true source of the Angel of Hell's power was found hidden beneath the surface of the dark orb he was holding. He wasn't attacking with any sense of coordination, instead simply lashing out in any possible way.

Susanoomon raised his other hand, the one containing the outline of the silver wolf, and unleashed a blast of piercing white energy from its surface. The laser streaked through the air with a blurred shriek before making contact with the surface of Lucemon's orb. Once again, the dragon thrashed in pain, and his tail threatened to lash out once again in Susanoomon's general direction. Unfortunately for Lucemon, the Warrior of Heaven was out of his range, and all it took was a swift retreating motion for Susanoomon to be too far away for Lucemon to hit with any elemental attacks in any manner of speed. The strikes would take too long to reach Susanoomon, and by that point in time, the Warrior of Heaven would have undoubtedly already shifted out of the way in preparation for the strike.

Lucemon seemed to recognize this, so he focused his attention on closing the gap between them instead. He was close enough to lash out with a lazy claw after he considered himself satisfied, so he removed his hand from the surface of the moon before striking in Susanoomon's direction, too desperate to care much for the true outcome of the attack.

Susanoomon was able to easily duck below the attack before swerving right. Another attack followed Lucemon's initial strike, but Susanoomon didn't have any issues with evading that either. Sure enough, the Warrior of Heaven's smaller size was proving itself to be an advantage. Even if he was next to nothing when compared to Lucemon in the department of sheer mass, his power levels were still impressive, and Lucemon wasn't going to recognize that he had been hit until too late.

Susanoomon once again made his target the sphere in Lucemon's grasp, and he charged forward with his blade as sharp as ever. Lucemon roared in pain as soon as the shining sword made contact with the orb once again, and the moon actually appeared as if it was starting to deflate due to the immense amount of power that was needed to keep the draconic shell up and running. The elemental spheres that were rapidly surging around Lucemon's body were starting to slow down, though they moved with an edgy type of desperation that could only have been seen on a creature in their final hour of anxious terror.

The outline of Lucemon's base form at the heart of the darkened moon could be seen as well, and it was starting to writhe with something that seemed to rest between anger and fear. It wasn't in Lucemon's nature to admit when he was afraid of something, but the sudden glaze that had overcome Lucemon's eyes couldn't be mistaken. After spending years scorning the Legendary Warriors and all that they were capable of, he was terrified of them, understanding that he was completely at the nature of the Warrior of Heaven.

In a way, it was a bit jarring that the tides of the battle had turned so suddenly. The Legendary Warriors hadn't stood a chance beforehand, but after they got their hands on the Grand Spirit, everything turned around immediately. The power of the Grand Spirit hadn't been given the chance be fully unleashed before the Legendary Warriors of the original generation perished in the war with Lucemon. However, two generations were united, and they were all funneling everything they had towards defeating Lucemon. A task that had once been thought of as impossible both seemed doable and necessary as the fight between the Angel of Hell and the Warrior of Heaven continued.

Susanoomon could see that Lucemon was getting desperate, and they retreated quickly. All twelve of the elemental orbs were starting to glow and converge, ready to send out a single blast with all of the power that Lucemon was capable of in the direction of the Warrior of Heaven. The energy that was mounting was strong enough to be felt from any distance, and the air seemed to grow thicker with the tension before the attack was even unleashed.

"This is our chance!" Takuya cried out from his place inside of Susanoomon. All of the Legendary Warriors clasped at one another's hands, and the strength of the circle seemed to grow once again. They all put their focus towards attacking as one, and Susanoomon's movements, swift and perfect, pushed them closer to Lucemon.

The Angel of Hell seemed to recognize that Susanoomon was about to attack, so he commanded all of the elemental spheres to unleash their most powerful energies at once. Susanoomon rushed forward, his sword outstretched, with all of the speed that he could muster. The dozen strikes all came together less than a foot behind Susanoomon's fabric trails, exploding outwards and seemingly warping the space that dared to get too close.

"In the name of the Legendary Warriors of the Digital World, perish!"

When Susanoomon cried out, every voice belonging to the Legendary Warriors rang out. The current generation was layered with the Human, Beast, and Hybrid Spirits, and the original Legendary Warriors' voices could be heard as well. Everything seemed to slip into place, a paragon of pure perfection on the part of the group that had brought the Digital World salvation so many times.

Susanoomon moved in close to the moon as a whole, and their sword was lodged up to the hilt into the sphere. The tip of it pierced the outline of Lucemon's original form, and the small angel's eyes were wide in a perfectly captured image of eternal shock and horror. Lucemon was motionless, and the orbs of energy along with the draconic shell also fell still.

However, Susanoomon's figure began to shift with newfound action in the blink of an eye. A trio of outlines appeared from nowhere, and they resembled Agunimon, Vritramon, and Aldamon respectively. Agunimon attacked the right side of the orb while Vritramon went left and Aldamon swept over the top. As soon as their strikes were finished, they disappeared into nothingness.

The Warriors of Fire weren't the only ones who were created though. Soon afterwards, the trio of Warriors of Light formed as well, and they followed the precedent set by the trio of Fire. Next up came the Warriors of Ice, each as relentless as could be in their attacks against the Angel of Hell. The cycle continued through the Warriors of Wind, Thunder, and Darkness before something different happened.

Rather than moving towards the next part of the group, the outlines of Duskmon, Velgemon, and Malkakomon appeared. They vanished like ash on the wind the same way that the others had, but not before Duskmon gave one final glance over his shoulder in the direction of Susanoomon. In a way, that single gaze told everyone inside of the Warrior of Heaven what they had already come to believe through AncientSphinxmon: Koichi was alive, and Duskmon was aware of it.

None of them truly had time to register it though, and the circle of Legendary Warriors striking at Lucemon's core continued on. The Warriors of Earth, Wood, Water, Steel, Energy, and Cosmos followed the example that had already been set before disappearing from view. Susanoomon was left alone, and all of the Legendary Warriors within the Warrior of Heaven gave one final command to their shared physical form.

Susanoomon pulled backwards, yanking the sword free of Lucemon's body. They retreated quickly and allowed the sword to disappear. The Warrior of Heaven rose to their full height a moment later, and that was when the screaming started.

Lucemon's cries immediately began to echo through the vast emptiness that had once contained the Digital World. It started with the outline of Lucemon inside of the moon, but it quickly spread outwards to the draconic vessel as well. Fractal Code began to shine between the cracks of the dragon's armor, spreading outwards quickly. Blue and purple crawled rapidly along the surface of the dragon's thick scales, consuming everything in their path until there was more Fractal Code in sight than flesh. Lucemon continued to thrash in place, and the darkened moon fell away to be nothing more than dust.

Lucemon's body began to sink through the emptiness of space, and the light of Fractal Code suddenly exploded forth, creating an inferno of pure white energy that easily ate at everything nearby. There was nothing that escaped the light, and all Susanoomon did was stare, allowing themselves to take comfort in the truth of the moment.

Lucemon had fallen, and he would never rise again.

The Warrior of Heaven's eyes seemed to shine with satisfaction before they began to glow. Small speckles of multicolored light began to flake off of their body, vanishing from sight soon afterwards. The silhouette of the soldier began to shift, and when the light vanished completely, the Legendary Warriors were left behind instead, all standing in human form as they had before the battle had begun. Their wounds had been completely healed, leaving behind no signs that they had ever suffered a defeat at Lucemon's hands in the first place.

Well, aside from Koichi's blatant absence, that was.

"You did it! I'm so proud of you!"

Bokomon's sudden cries earned the attention of the entire team, and the Legendary Warriors turned to see that Bokomon and Neemon were moving closer along with the reincarnations of the Celestial Three. Patamon, Salamon, and Lopmon had once again summoned their cube of yellow, pink, and purple, and it appeared as if they had jumped through the portal to the Digital World that Susanoomon had created to join their companions in the fight. Thanks to their small size, they had managed to avoid being spotted by Lucemon, likely saving their lives in the process.

The cube dissipated as soon as the group was in range, and Bokomon jumped towards Tomoki, throwing his arms dramatically around the Warrior of Ice. Tomoki let out a laugh, suddenly seeming to feel his age as opposed to at least a decade older as he usually did. Tomoki and Bokomon embraced as Neemon gave a similar treatment to Haroi, and all four of them dissolved into laughter, and the heartwarming sound was the only ring of noise that pierced the empty void that had once contained a place of flourishing life.

Patamon found a home in Izumi's arms, and she stroked gently at the space between his ears. Lopmon, on the other hand, made a beeline in Yumiko's direction, seeming to sense her kind aura despite their lack of one-on-one interactions. Yumiko was more than happy to accept Lopmon into her grasp, and she smiled fondly down at him as she rocked the rabbit Digimon in her arms.

Salamon moved in Koji's direction, and a sad smile overtook her eyes. Koji accepted her without a moment of hesitation, but he knew that Salamon truly wanted to be with Koichi. It was something that they could bond over. Salamon had spent time with Koichi when the team was divided on Rubrum while Koji held an inherent connection to the Warrior of Darkness. Once again, the pull of grief tugged at Koji's heart.

But unlike before, unlike when he had become Erociamon, Koji knew that he wasn't handling it alone. AncientSphinxmon had promised that Koichi was still alive, and Koji was holding tightly to the hope that the original Warrior of Darkness had provided. He was going to ensure that Koichi was alright no matter what. Until that moment came though, he was going to embrace Salamon's kindness, exchanging a silent promise in the process that they would make sure that Koichi drew breath once more.

The twelve D-Tectors scattered throughout the group began to glow in the moments that followed, and the devices were raised as the original Legendary Warriors manifested once again. Their images were transparent just as they had been in the train station beneath Shibuya, but something about them was different this time. All twelve of them were showing pure pride in their eyes, a sign that they were beyond glad with the outcome of the battle. Their reincarnations, the new generation of Legendary Warriors, had managed to accomplish what they had failed to do. Lucemon was dead and gone, and he would never again return to the land of the living to cause the Digital World and other realms grief. At long last, the Digital World had been saved.

"The Digital World is going to start the process of regenerating now," AncientKazemon said first, glancing at the realm around them. She turned her attention over her shoulder before pointing at the empty space where the planet had been prior to Lucemon's mass absorption of the Digital World.

The Light Heart had already formed in the sky once again, and the Dark Heart was slowly being created as well. Traces of multicolored light that shone with a million different hues began to spread outwards, filling in the gaps of the Digital World that were marked only by empty Trailmon tracks. It was a breathtaking sight, and the Legendary Warriors were all left speechless at the show of beautiful glory.

"Lucemon's very existence corrupted the Digital World, but all of that is over now," AncientWizardmon declared next, his gaze slipping back towards the Legendary Warriors. "Earth and the Digital World will fall back into their old routine of sharing the same pattern of time's passage."

"When he absorbed the Digital World, he gained the power to reforge the universe as he saw fit. With his demise, that power is being released once again," AncientTrojamon announced as she took a small step forward. "All will return to how it once was."

"The Digimon who perished in the battle against Lucemon will be brought back to life as they were before... Many new lives will be starting as well though. Too many Digimon were shattered in the process of Lucemon's restoration," came the sad sound of AncientVolcamon's voice. It was odd to see someone who appeared so tough and hardened on the outside show such open signs of despair, but nobody dared to voice such a truth.

"The gateway to Earth will be closed so that the realms do not leak into one another during the Digital World's revival. You must return as soon as possible," AncientWisemon declared solemnly, turning their attention down to the Legendary Warriors. "We lack the strength to keep the barrier open."

"This will be the last time that any of us manifests in the Digital World. Our souls are no longer tied to Rubrum," AncientMegatheriummon continued. "We will remain with you always. You are our hosts and heirs, and our influence will never abandon you. The blood of the Legendary Warriors flows through your veins."

"Rubrum's destruction has pulled us from the physical plane of the Digital World, but that does not mean that this is the end. Our souls and Spirits will remain inside of you until the end of time," AncientBlitzmon confirmed.

"The gateway may be closing, but this is not the last time that you will be here. That much I am sure of," AncientSilphymon remarked, a trademark smile that regularly belonged to Mayumi slipping its way across her features.

"The Digital World is as much a piece of you as you are of it now. Its traces will linger inside of you forever," AncientMermaimon agreed. "One day, you will return, and this realm will hail you as its new heroes."

"Our souls are bound to yours now and forevermore. The Digital World will remain inside of you no matter what may come your way," AncientGreymon declared next. His body began to glow, starting from the edges but quickly working its way inwards. The rest of the Legendary Warriors began to follow this example, and the area was suddenly bathed in radiant light.

"May you all see peace in the days to come," AncientGarurumon told the group. He allowed his eyes to shut, and he transformed into a streak of white light that morphed before merging with Koji. The other Legendary Warriors did the same with their hosts.

The sudden overwhelming sensation of joining with the original Legendary Warriors wasn't something that any of them could have ever hoped to prepare for. It was unfamiliar, but everything about it felt right, as if they had finally arrived at home after a daunting and lengthy journey away from their resting place. Wounds were healed immediately, and hearts were allowed to rise to a place of ascension that had once only been possible to grace in the realm of dreams.

"Koichi is waiting for you," AncientSphinxmon forced himself to say after a lengthy pause. He was the only one that was left in the aftermath of the merge between the souls of the original Legendary Warriors and their young hosts. Due to Koichi's absence, there wasn't much of a place for him to go. Instead, when his shape began to shift, he closed his eyes. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that he is kept safe and alive. That much you can consider a promise." The last that any of the Legendary Warriors saw of AncientSphinxmon was the way that his body contorted and compressed itself before flying into the black D-Tector that Koji was holding tightly in the name of his brother.

A poignant silence hung heavily in the air like a curtain of fog. Bokomon, Neemon, Patamon, Salamon, and Lopmon all moved closer in the aftermath of the original Legendary Warriors' disappearance, and tears were fogging in all of their eyes. The sadness that lived in the space between them was tense enough to be cut with a knife.

Neemon rubbed dramatically with the back of his hand as he closed the distance between the group's members. "You had better come back one day! The Legendary Warriors said that you'd return, and I'm going to hold you to that!" he cried out.

"We're never going to forget what you did for us!" Salamon chirped, her face lit up in a paradox of beautiful tragedy. "The Digital World is going to remember what you did to save it, and Lucemon's death is going to show that everything is alright from here on out!"

"As soon as you can return here, you're going to see a world that you can be proud of... A place without war or strife where all creatures live in peace," Lopmon announced, his voice as even as it was confident. "We'll work with all of the Digimon that are brought back to life to make sure that they understand what you did for them."

"We're going to miss you so much!" Patamon cried out. Tears began to openly streak down his cheeks before falling into the empty space below his floating body. "When you next come back here, everything is going to be okay! We're going to make sure that the Digital World is in perfect condition for your sake!"

Bokomon scrambled closer to the Legendary Warriors, his arms spread wide. The group seemed to understand his wishes, and they all moved in closer to one another as tears blurred their vision. "I... I'm going to make sure that everyone is aware of what you've done here to save the Digital World! I'll do everything in my power to spread this message far and wide!" Bokomon cried out.

The Legendary Warriors and their Digimon guides embraced one another tightly, all holding to each other as if they feared everything would fall apart the moment they pulled away. For a long time, none of them spoke, and only strangled sobs pierced the silence. Nobody wanted to be the one to say that the time had come for them to go their separate ways. The original Legendary Warriors had stated as much, but farewell was far easier said than done for everyone involved.

"I'm going to make sure that we find a way back here no matter what!" Junpei declared confidently. "The Legendary Warriors said that we would be back, and I know that we don't have much time to say goodbye..."

"So we'll just have to make sure that there's another chance when we're going to see each other again!" Tomoki finished as he pulled away from the embrace. He sniffled loudly as he rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands. "I'm not going to forget what's happened here in the Digital World no matter what happens."

"I can feel the Digital World inside of me now... I'm sure that we're going to be brought back here again in the future, and when that time comes... I believe that we'll see peace," Yumiko said. She smiled somberly as she rubbed at her own eyes, and a laugh that sounded strangely like a sob forced its way free of her choked lungs.

"Imagine how much we're going to be able to do when we aren't being held back by our duties to save the world," Mayumi teased. Despite the smile on her face, her eyes had slipped into something sad. After all of her time running purely on optimism, she had finally hit the end of her positivity. She had kept smiling all that time because she didn't know what would happen if she stopped. Even when negativity and sorrow began to set in, she kept that same grin on her face, a beacon of hope in a darkened world filled with despair.

"We're certainly going to have a lot to do when the time comes," Chihiro agreed, glancing out over at the Digital World. The pieces were slowly starting to come together once again, starting from the center of the continents and spreading outwards at a speed that didn't seem to be possible for a world being reborn.

"This isn't the end," Izumi declared firmly. She rubbed at her eyes, and another honest smile found its way onto her features. "This is the conclusion of one chapter, but it's not the end permanently. We will see a new beginning. That much I'm sure of."

"When we come back, we're going to have Koichi by our side as well... And he's going to know that everything he did for us wasn't in vain," Koji said conclusively. He was showing a rare moment of vulnerability as well, and he didn't bother trying to stop the tears that fell from his eyes.

"We'll do everything that we ever hoped for and more!" Haroi agreed. He was doing his best to remain as optimistic as possible, but it was still clear for those who looked closely that he was struggling under the weight of this parting moment as well.

"We're counting on you five to make sure that the Digital World recovers until we can return," Hinoka told the group of Digimon. She crouched down to reach out for them once again, but something began to pull on her body.

Glances were shot over shoulders, and the Legendary Warriors realized that a large hole of churning energy had opened behind them. It was undoubtedly the gate back to Earth. It was pulling them in closer, knowing that they had to pass through in order for their journey to truly draw to a close.

"I'm going to do everything that I can to make a portal back here. You can count on me finding a way for us to return even if the train station is in shambles," Saki declared. The portal was starting to pull a bit more aggressively, and their short red hair was being rustled by the funneling sensation that came with the gate trying to drag them back towards one of their two homes.

The pull of the worlds was not exclusive to the Legendary Warriors though. Salamon's ears were starting to shift as well, and a breeze had formed that was attempting to push the Digimon back in the direction of the Digital World's base planet. The planet's restoration was returning the gravity that had been lost to its original state, and it wouldn't be long before they were torn apart by the natural forces of their separate worlds. The two realms were dividing in order to heal so that they would one day be able to reunite, but the process of saying goodbye, even if it was temporary, remained as painful and fresh as an emotional wound could possibly be.

Bokomon rubbed furiously at his eyes, and he stretched out one hand as he began to slide backwards towards the Digital World. "I'm going to write about everything that happened!" he cried out. "We gathered the books written about the first generation of Legendary Warriors, but I'm going to tell the tale that you have written as the second generation and their successors! The Digital World is going to hear of your heroism through my words, and everyone will know your name by the time that you return!" Tears began to drift away from his cheeks before spreading off into the vast emptiness of space. From there, they disappeared from sight, becoming nothing more than a whisper of a memory living in the skeleton of the Digital World.

The portal's pull began to frantically drag on the Legendary Warriors, and the Digimon grew smaller and smaller as both groups were separated by the worlds themselves. Takuya reached out one hand in Bokomon's direction, and the glimmer of the nearby Light Heart reflected off his goggles, a final beacon of his existence in the Digital World.

"We'll be waiting for you... Until we meet again," Takuya whispered. He waved grandly with one of his arms, and the rest of the team began to join in. The Digimon vanished completely from view as the portal closed in around them, and the Digital World brought the guides of the Legendary Warriors back down to the surface, leaving the site of their farewell a forgotten fragment of history already.

The gateway itself was beautifully serene, and colors flickered in all directions, signs of the elements themselves responding to the Legendary Warriors' return to Earth. There was a gentle sound of wind rushing on all sides, and both hair and clothing alike were rustled by the pull of the rift. The end of the tunnel appeared to be a resplendent white color that promised to swallow everything that got to be too close.

"Koichi is waiting for you," AncientSphinxmon's voice said from inside of the black D-Tector within Koji's grasp. The black-haired boy held onto it a little bit tighter, and his fingers began to shake under the influence of his own intensity and anxiety for what was to come.

They had saved the Digital World, but their journey had still not ended. They needed to save Koichi from the separation of body and soul, a harrowing experience that they had yet to endure but would surely find a way to survive together. They were the Legendary Warriors, and not even the power of one on par with a god had been able to defeat them. Even after all they had pressed through, they would continue to remain confidently united in the face of all dangers. Their story had only just begun, and even as one chapter drew to a close, the future awaited them.

The endless tale had selected them as its heroes, and they would press on as the saviors of the worlds until time itself severed such a bond.

The first thing that Koji felt after his vision went black was how crowded it was.

As far as he was concerned, it was as if the world was closing in around him, and all he could do was struggle against it with a hiss and a shake of his head. His eyes had been shut against the brightness of the white end to the tunnel that was taking them back to Earth, but everything had changed after that, and the world around him seemed to morph into something entirely new.

When Koji managed to force his eyes open, he saw that the other Legendary Warriors were all pressed closely against him as well, and he glanced around the area to try and figure out where they were. That was much easier said than done given that all he could do was move his head because of how crowded it was. However, as soon as he caught sight of the doors on the far side of the small room, he remembered where they were.

The doors slid open, and a dozen confused faces looked back at the Legendary Warriors. They were all crowded together in the tiny elevator that had sent them down to the Trailmon station beneath the main Shibuya transportation center. Even though the area below the ground had been destroyed, the elevator had been restored. It appeared as if it had been repaired thanks to the influence of the Legendary Warriors or perhaps the Digital World itself. With the rebirth of the Digital World, perhaps the Trailmon station had been reconstructed as well.

Takuya was the first one to make his way out, and he let out a grounding breath once he had left behind the elevator. He glanced around the area in confusion before blinking rapidly and remembering where he was. He let out a heavy sigh and waited for the other members of the group to follow him away from the elevator. All the while, the onlookers standing outside the elevator continued to watch them in confusion, wondering what could have happened them but afraid of the truth that they would likely encounter in the process.

Koji looked down to see that he was still holding tightly to Koichi's D-Tector. His own device had been tucked back at its home on his waistband, but he was looking over his brother's D-Tector even after the journey back home. There was a buzz of static on the screen, but he could still barely manage to make out the face of AncientSphinxmon. The Warrior of Darkness said nothing, but Koji knew exactly what message was being communicated through the silence.

Takuya was the first one to take off running with all the intensity of a wild beast. Koji remembered as he trailed after his companion that when Takuya had encountered the Dark Trailmon, he had been sent to a fragmented illusory version of the train station and the day he left for the Digital World. Within this false world, he had likely seen something that indicated where Koichi could have gone. It certainly explained the hungry desperation that had festered in his gaze.

Takuya was rounding the corner and reaching out with a thrashing arm for the nearby rail as he dashed down the stairs. The other Legendary Warriors followed after him, none of them paying attention in the slightest to the people around them who thought that they were being rude by pushing through the crowd. The few onlookers who let out cries of shock or irritation were ultimately ignored in favor of the group's greater mission.

Footfall created an echoing symphony as the Legendary Warriors made their way down the stairs. Takuya was at the lead with Koji hot on his heels, but the black-haired boy never bothered to see who exactly was directly behind him. He knew that all of the Legendary Warriors were there. He could simply feel their presence behind him, and that was all he needed. They were all desperate to find Koichi once again, and Koji wasn't about to interfere with such an important mission.

Takuya finally drew to a halt about halfway down the bottom flight of stairs. There was a warning sign stretched across the ground, yellow and black in all of its threatening and imposing silent glory. There was a woman wearing a security uniform that was presiding over the area, encouraging people to stay as far away from the outlined area as possible.

Something told Koji that this was the spot. Takuya's heavy breathing became little more than static as Koji took a shaky step forward, claiming his place at the front of the group. He could see a small smear of blood across the ground, but he didn't have any evidence to say who it belonged to. Despite this, part of him already knew that the crimson stain was from Koichi. A worn blue hat rested on the floor nearby, ignored and on the verge of collapse. Koji was fully aware of the person who had loved it to such degrees, and it made his stomach knot all over again.

The security guard glanced up at him, her expression as stony as could be. Koji felt his lip begin to quiver as he moved a bit closer to the woman. "My... My brother..." he whispered, having to practically force the words to form. "He... He was the one who..." Koji's gaze fell on the bloodstain on the floor, and he felt tears slip free of his eyes as his vision began to blur.

The woman took a step closer to him, and she examined his physical appearance for a moment before the pieces slid into place. She had likely recognized the similarities that Koji and Koichi shared, and she nodded before offering a response. "He was taken to the hospital," the woman explained. "He tripped and fell down the stairs. He hit his head on the way down. It truly was a tragedy to see someone so young get hurt like that..."

Koji didn't need to hear anything else. He barely spared the woman a second glance as he started dashing up the stairs once again, dragging his hand along the guardrail to keep from falling and getting hurt the way that his brother had. Someone thanked the woman for the help, but he wasn't sure who, too distracted to care. His stomach was still tied fiercely into a knot. Koichi's D-Tector buzzed and vibrated within his grasp, and Koji knew that this was AncientSphinxmon's way of telling him that there was still a chance that everything would be alright. AncientSphinxmon could still feel that Koichi was alive.

In a way, Koji could sense it as well. It was a flickering piece of light that thrived deep in his heart. When he had become Erociamon, he had been sure that every part of himself that was connected with Koichi had been pulled free and turned into something monstrous. However, upon closer examination, he realized that the light had been there all along. It had been weakened, yes, but he could still feel it. He could still sense that Koichi was alive, and he was going to hold on as tightly as he could to that hope until the end.

Hope was all that he had, and after coming as far as he had, Koji refused to give in and allow his despair to overtake him. Koichi needed his help, and both of them had promises to fulfill. They had achieved the impossible a thousand times over already, so what was one more miracle to add to the list?

The journey to the hospital passed by in a blur, and Koji barely registered any of it. In his peripheral vision, all he saw was the overhead shine of the sun and the shadows that it created. Colors and specific details were secondary to only the contrast of light and darkness that lived inside of both Koji's vision and heart. Nothing mattered in that moment aside from reuniting with the shadow that contrasted his own glow of hope.

He held tightly to his brother's D-Tector all the way back. None of their phones had shifted back into regular shape, leaving them as the only physical traces that they had been to the Digital World aside from their bodies themselves. Koji didn't know what was going to happen with Koichi's D-Tector specifically given that Koichi hadn't come to the Digital World by normal means, but he didn't particularly care. He would find out when the moment of truth arrived. Until then, all that mattered was finding his brother and making sure that he was alright.

Koji could feel AncientSphinxmon leading him in the right direction, a gentle pull on his arm that showed him the way to go. The rest of the Legendary Warriors trailed after him, allowing their feet to slam down against the concrete ground of the Shibuya sidewalk. They trusted that he knew what he was doing, and he was beyond grateful for it.

As soon as the building came into view, Koji burst through the doors and glanced around in a frantic haze. The logical voice in his head said that he was going to need to ask specifically for the room where his brother was staying, but something deeper, something as instinctive and intuitive as the Beast Spirits themselves, whispered that he already knew the answer. He was going to be able to find his brother if he tried hard enough. After all, the Digital World was part of them both, and it was only natural that such a connection would pull them together no matter how separated they were.

Koji was only dimly aware of the cry of a nurse over his shoulder as he continued to run through the halls of the hospital. He didn't care in the slightest about the reaction that he received. He could tell that he was getting closer to Koichi. His brother wasn't in the emergency room section of the hospital at the very least. That was one thing that Koji was certainly glad about. It perhaps meant that the injury that had earned the crimson streak across the train station's floor wasn't as severe as he had feared. That meant it would be easier to find his brother and make sure that he was alright.

For the most part, the room was empty when Koji threw the door open. He didn't bother checking the label outside to see who was meant to be staying in it, knowing that Koichi had to be inside. The light that danced in his chest whispered as much to him, and Koji listened to it without a moment of hesitation.

He was beyond pleased and relieved to see that his instinct had been correct, and Koji could see that Koichi was stretched out on a bed nearby, his eyes shut in a sign of peace that didn't at all fit what he had been through. There were various wires sticking out of one of his arms, and his head had been wrapped with a white bandage speckled with scarlet flakes. He wasn't moving, and aside from the gentle rise and fall of his chest, Koji never would have even thought that he was alive.

Koji's breathing was heavy and labored as he moved closer, and he stretched out one hand carefully towards his brother. Koichi remained motionless and silent as Koji's fingers searched softly for a pulse, the most natural thing that he had ever done. When he managed to find it, Koji let out a sigh of relief, but he knew that it wasn't that easy.

Something deep inside told Koji that something was wrong. He knew that Koichi wasn't as stable as one would have assumed. He was alone, but that didn't mean that everything was alright. The nurses and doctors in the hospital had no idea of the true depth of Koichi's unfortunate experiences. The separation of soul and body was serious, and Koji didn't know what he was meant to do to fix it.

There were no chairs beside Koichi's bed, no people inside the room to visit him in the first place. Tomoko Kimura remained blissfully unaware of her son's misfortune, and so it fell to Koji to take his brother's fingers between his own as gently as he could manage. He had made a promise to Koichi that he would go to see their mother when he left the Digital World behind, but he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that it wasn't only him visiting with Tomoko. He wanted Koichi to be there by his side, and if Koji had to tear apart the universe itself to ensure that such a thing was possible, then so be it.

The other members of his team fell in around him, none of them daring to speak. The silence was heavy and suffocating, and Koji was the one to break it when a small sob forced its way free of his pursed lips. He hadn't even realized that he was crying in the first place, but he was fully aware of it as soon as the tears began to blur his vision all over again. He didn't want things to end like this. He and Koichi had barely gotten to know one another.

"Please... Koichi..." Koji managed to whisper, unsure as to if it was him speaking when the words sounded foreign on his lips. Another sob pulled its way free, and he could feel the eyes of the other Legendary Warriors on him as he squeezed Koichi's hand a bit tighter. His fingers began to shake from desperation and terror as he silently begged for his brother to wake up. They had to see the rest of the world together. They hadn't been given the chance when they were younger, but Koji was going to make sure that they were able to unite and experience everything that they had missed out on from that point forward. He just needed Koichi to wake up and see that the world was still waiting for him, that there were still people who needed him in their lives.

Koji looked down at the D-Tector belonging to his brother that sat in his lap. He could see AncientSphinxmon's face in the screen, and the original Warrior of Darkness looked back at him with something even yet oddly passionate. The lion Digimon closed his eyes, and the screen went black. Koji let out a gasp of surprise, and for a moment, his heart skipped a beat. Had they failed? Was AncientSphinxmon's disappearance his way of saying that there was no way that he would be able to connect with his vessel again?

Just before Koji had the chance to give up hope, the D-Tector began to vibrate lightly, a gentle motion at first that quickly picked up in intensity and speed. Its soft warmth spread throughout his hand, and he found himself using it as the sole anchor between him and the world of hope. As long as it continued to live in his hand, he couldn't give in and suffer under his own despair. There was a chance, and that was all that he needed.

The D-Tector began to glow and shift soon afterwards, and Koji found himself holding it up in Koichi's direction. The device started to give way from his fingertips, becoming nothing more than a flash of light that streaked through the air to close the distance between Koji and Koichi. As soon as the glow died down, something else began to spark, and Koji felt the vibrating sensation begin anew, but instead of filling his now-empty palm, it was at his hip where his own D-Tector was waiting.

Koji pulled it free of its home, and he was distantly aware of the other Legendary Warriors gathering their own D-Tectors. The light that spread throughout the room was infectious, and Koji could barely force himself to stare into the center of the inferno. However, he could still see that his D-Tector was morphing into something new. It was familiar in a way though, and Koji realized after a few seconds of agonizing curiosity that it was revering back to its original form: his phone.

Koji's eyes were wide as the phone returned to him, and he let out a small gasp as the white light faded and left behind the device. His D-Tector was gone, but he didn't mind it as much as he had anticipated. He could still feel the Spirits dancing inside of him, and they were happy about something. Their cries of glee were more than enough to drown out every fear that he had ever encountered.

"Koji...?"

The jubilation of the Spirits clicked into place as soon as Koji heard his brother's voice. He glanced over to see that Koichi's eyes had fluttered open, and his deep sapphire irises were staring up at his brother. Koichi remained as still as a statue, seemingly too weak to move much beyond his eyes, but none of them seemed to mind it in the slightest. As long as he was alive, nothing else mattered.

Koji didn't say a word as he dropped his phone into his pocket and threw his arms around Koichi's shoulders. Somehow, a part of him deep down knew what had happened. Merging with the ancient Legendary Warriors had healed all of their injuries, and AncientSphinxmon combining with Koichi had allowed his soul and body to become as one once more. AncientSphinxmon had managed to bridge the gap left behind by Koichi's injury and subsequent journey to the Digital World, saving his life in the process.

A shocked cry came from over Koji's shoulder, and he recognized it as a relieved bark of a laugh from Takuya. Before he knew it, there was another set of arms wrapped around him, and Koji, who had once thought of physical contact as little more than a nuisance, found himself embracing the touch. A whisper of fire danced inside of him along with the light that he had come to cherish so much.

It didn't stop there. Koji wasn't sure of who joined the hug next, but he knew that it was another member of the team. The room was filled with sobs and tears, but nobody did anything to call out the other parties in the group who were finally giving way under the weight of a situation that they had assumed would end in tragic sorrow. They were experiencing nothing short of pure relief, and it was blissful to Koji. He had once felt so alone-earlier that day, in some ways-but he was positive that he would never again return to such a sensation. He had a family that he could rely on through thick and thin. Blood mattered little in the favor of the group that he had come to connect with in such a significant way.

For a long time, all they did was stay like that, enjoying the company of one another in the hospital room tucked far from the rest of the bustling activity of the building. Someone had shut the door at some point along the way, but Koji wasn't sure of who. He supposed that it didn't matter. He had everything that he could have ever asked for in that room, and he was positive that this wouldn't be the last time that the world granted him such beauty.

When the embrace finally did disperse, it was only after the group had cried most of the tears that they had left from their sudden flight from the Digital World. Koji could still tell that water was being wiped free of cheeks, but he didn't bother to judge anyone. After all, he was positive that he looked much worse than any of them.

Saki was the one who managed to pull through the quiet next. There was something in their hand, and Koji glanced at it with a small frown. It appeared to be a blue hat that had been worn many times, almost to the point of falling apart. They reached out towards Koichi and pressed it into his hands. "I believe this belongs to you," they told him. From over Saki's shoulder, Takuya looked at the hat with a bitter yet warm reminiscence to his gaze.

Koichi nodded as he accepted the hat, and he pulled it in close until it had been squished against his chest. He didn't bother to stop the tears that continued to flow freely down his cheeks in open rivers. Koji recognized that Saki had likely picked it up from the scene of the fall, but Koji had been too distracted to see such an action take place. "I... I wore this so you wouldn't recognize me until we were ready to meet each other," Koichi explained. "I wore it before we came to the Digital World."

Koichi glanced down at the hat once again before he set it off to the side, and it found a home on the table near his bed, a silent sign that he wouldn't be needing it anymore. He looked up to meet Koji's gaze once more, and another laugh that sounded strangely like a sob tore free of his lungs. He threw his arms around his brother, and Koji returned the embrace with every ounce of affection that he had in his body.

Just as before, the other Legendary Warriors poured in around them, and the cycle of crying and thriving in the grace of the moment began anew. Nothing mattered but that perfect handful of seconds where they were all together once again. Their shared history had united them, and they would remain proud and firm at one another's sides until the day came that the Digital World returned to their lives.

In the space between the present and such a future though, the Legendary Warriors embraced one another in silent joy. The rest of the universe fell away, and all that mattered was what took place in that crowded hospital room. None of them spoke for a long time after the hug began anew, but a silent promise lived in the air that none of them would ever dare to break.

Koji was the one who gave it a voice, and he knew even before he spoke that all of them would agree without hesitation.

"To the end."

"I'm home!"

It had been harder than Takuya anticipated to pull away from the Digital World and return to the life that he had known just earlier that day, or perhaps it had been a lifetime ago. A trip that had started out of curiosity and a nagging instinct that something was about to happen had finally drawn to a close, and he was back about two and a half hours later with a glowing smile on his face.

He hadn't wanted to leave Koichi. In fact, he hadn't wanted to leave any of them behind, and Takuya had to practically force himself to walk out of the hospital room so that he could get home for Shinya's party. He was late, and he knew that he could expect the scolding of a lifetime for interfering with the plans for Shinya's special day, but Takuya couldn't bring himself to mind much. He shoved his hands into his pocket and felt for the phone found within. It was no longer a D-Tector-none of their phones were, as a matter of fact-and he treated it as the only sign that he was back home at all. This time, it was real, and he was not suspended halfway between Spirit and soul.

"Takuya!" came Shinya's trademark cry as he rounded the corner into the entryway of the Kanbara home. His cheeks were puffed out in a show of youthful anger, and Takuya couldn't help but think about how similar he looked to Tomoki. "What happened to you? We've been waiting on you to start opening presents and eating cake for an hour now!"

Takuya let out a nervous laugh and shook his head, finding that the action came surprisingly easy to him. He hadn't realized how much he missed Shinya until after he started walking back home. "Sorry about that. I got held up," he responded simply. He didn't explain further, and he knew that it was something he was going to keep as his own little secret until the end of time.

Shinya sighed and shook his head, and Takuya's hand came down to rustle his younger brother's deep brown hair. Shinya's hair was darker than Takuya's was, yet another parallel that he held to Tomoki. Even though Takuya had been away from his brother for a long time, he didn't feel as if they had been separated.

"You're just lucky that Dad was late in getting home too," Shinya commented as he batted Takuya's hand away and began to desperately comb his fingers through his hair. "Mom was about to lose it when he finally came back. He got stuck at work and didn't get home until about fifteen minutes ago. She's not going to be happy when you don't explain where you were all this time, you know."

Takuya laughed once again, but this time, none of his previous anxieties were on display. "I'll survive," he told Shinya. He followed his brother back into the kitchen of their home, and Takuya glanced around at the corners of his childhood home with a certain sense of fondness that brought a smile to his face. It had been so long since he was last there, but everything was the same as it had been when he left. How had a day turned into a lifetime when he wasn't looking?

Yuriko Kanbara was sitting at the kitchen table alongside her husband, and Hiroaki had his trademark anxious smiled plastered haphazardly onto his face. Takuya took this as a sign that he had already been scolded for his tardiness in arriving at Shinya's small birthday party. He couldn't help but snicker to himself. He knew that he was going to be receiving such a lecture soon enough, but he couldn't bring himself to mind. Hiroaki's smile was surprisingly similar to the glowing grin that Takuya had grown accustomed to seeing on Mayumi's face.

"Where have you been?" Yuriko questioned when she looked up from her hushed conversation with her husband. She didn't press the matter any further when she saw that Shinya was starting to get understandably impatient with how long the festivities had been postponed, and a sigh left her lips as she shook her head.

"Let's eat," Hiroaki told his wife simply, pressing a small kiss against her cheek. Yuriko's previous tension melted away, and her brief moment of upset was gone in the blink of an eye, replaced with a maternal aura of warmth. She didn't object as her sons settled down at the table at Hiroaki's suggestion.

Takuya's gaze fell downwards to the cake that was still sitting at the center of the table. He could still see the imperfection in the frosting where he had dipped his finger in a few hours prior, and the strawberry that he had moved along the way was still a little bit out of place. The fourteen candles positioned off to the side of the cake were free of their packaging, and Takuya assumed that Shinya had ripped them out of the container when he grew excited at the promise of a party. He couldn't help but smile at the idea of Shinya struggling to tear the plastic as he did with most wrappers.

Everything about the Kanbara home seemed to be perfect as Yuriko took to distributing the food to the residents of the house. She settled down herself soon afterwards, and another sigh left her lips as she finally relaxed, her weary gaze slipping into something satisfied. Yuriko and Hiroaki exchanged yet another glance, and their previous tension regarding Hiroaki's lateness disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Takuya glanced down at the food before him, barely registering what it was but knowing it had been ages since he last ate something so formal. His stomach rumbled, and Takuya realized that he hadn't eaten anything since before the fight with Lucemon. He hadn't eaten anything since before the world seemed to crumble from beneath his feat, since before Koichi died and returned to life in the most brilliant miracle ever conceived. It had only been a few hours, though he supposed that it had also only been a few hours since he was last at home.

Shinya had already started eating by the time that Takuya pulled himself free of his trance, and he began to dig in as well. The perfection of the taste sunk in immediately, and Takuya had to resist the urge to declare his happiness from the rooftops. So much had changed, and yet, it had all stayed the same.

After the main meal had been finished, candles were scattered upon the surface of the cake, and Hiroaki took to lighting each of the fourteen waxy structures. Yuriko flicked the light switch, leaving the only illumination in the room as the glow of firelight from the candles. Takuya watched the flames dance with rapt intensity.

Shinya's elbow collided with Takuya's side, and the brothers met eyes before Shinya spoke. There was something troubled and surprised yet still jubilant about his gaze. "You've changed," he said bluntly.

Takuya's eyes shut, and he allowed a casual smile to slip across his features. Shinya didn't know the half of it. Nobody outside of his small team would ever fully understand the meaning of evolution the way that he knew it. The world had changed, but it was still just as he remembered it.

"Yeah," Takuya said instead. "I have."

Time passed, and things changed.

Takuya had heard many things about the day that he had gone to the Digital World. A few weeks had passed since then, and he was walking home after an improvised soccer practice with Tomoki. He had decided to finally follow up on his wishes and join the soccer team despite his previous reservations on the matter. Tomoki was getting better with each passing day as far as moving on past Yutaka's mistreatment of him was concerned, and this was the first step of him leaving his shell behind. Takuya found it beautiful, and he found himself smiling whenever he thought of the younger boy's evolution.

Takuya stared down at his phone as he traced the familiar steps back home. It was still his phone, and he hadn't seen any traces of anything out of the ordinary since it reverted to its original state. Ophanimon's symbol was long gone, though he supposed that she was as well. The original Warrior of Fire had merged with Takuya in mind and body, but Takuya hadn't felt any signs of change since then. He was positive that he was still a little bit less than human, but he didn't mind in the slightest. It was a sign of how much things had changed, and Takuya embraced the shift with everything he had.

The news had passed off the mass messages as nothing more than a prank. There were very few people who still remembered what happened with the phones all responding to some unknown power. Many believed that it was simply a nuisance that would be forgotten soon enough. The teens who had traveled to the Digital World, who had boarded a Trailmon only to be sent back when Ophanimon recognized them as not being the vessels she sought, swore on their lives that something special had happened that day. There was no evidence of such, and people continued in their blissful ignorance of what had taken place on Shinya's birthday.

Takuya had come to understand that Lucemon's attempts to breach the Digital World's barrier had left behind an impact on Earth. All sorts of electronics malfunctioned simultaneously, each bearing the symbol that marked Lucemon's cheek in his base form. In the end, this was also passed off as little more than a prank, and Takuya found himself unwilling to correct them. It was a secret that he would hold to his chest no matter what happened. The world wouldn't believe him, but he didn't mind. He knew the truth, and that was what he cared about most.

Takuya dropped his phone back into his pocket, and September breezes pulled at his body. His goggles were still propped on his head, and he found himself pulling them down over his eyes. For but a moment, through those plastic lenses he could see the Digital World in all of its vibrant beauty. In these visions, he never saw the holes that he had come to know as marking the realm's surface. He knew that the universe was at peace, and he took that as more valuable than the most precious diamond.

He was far from being the only one who had changed. He was fully aware that everyone else who had been involved with such endeavors had shifted as well, and Takuya was positive that they would continue to remain together regardless of what came their way. They had been brought together by destiny, but it was their connections and love for one another that would keep them united in the face of whatever turmoils awaited them at the end of the line.

Takuya was positive that those in the Digital World felt the same way, and he allowed himself to smile as he reminisced on what he would one day be able to understand once more.

"'Many have called the story of the Legendary Warriors 'the endless tale' because they live all around us. In the ground, seas, and skies, we can find traces of their souls, and they have brought us salvation many a time, saving the Digital World from its certain ruin. We owe everything to them and all that they have done for us.'"

Bokomon stilled the motion of his pen from his place atop a bench that was far too large for him to occupy alone. Neemon sat beside him, his head resting casually on Bokomon's shoulder. In front of them, Patamon, Salamon, and Lopmon were playing with one another, enacting a game that neither Bokomon nor Neemon had any hope of understanding. It was something that the trio shared alone, and Bokomon found that he rather enjoyed simply the knowledge that such a thing was taking place at all.

Neemon read the words as Bokomon spoke them, and he glanced up to Bokomon in curiosity when the white Digimon stopped speaking. Bokomon tilted his face towards the ceiling of Evergreen Dawn. The palace had been reconstructed with the rebirth of the Digital World, and while it was far from being the hub of bustling activity that it once had been, Bokomon was still beyond glad to be back there. Seraphimon was gone, but the memories left behind by the Celestial Three still remained.

Bokomon had stayed true to his promise to tell the tale of the Legendary Warriors once again. He knew that it was what they would have wanted, and it was what he needed as well. He hadn't been given the chance to offer a proper farewell. None of them had. It was a way for Bokomon to provide himself closure after all that they had been through together.

In a way, it was almost humorous to him. Bokomon had been expecting to feel empty when the Legendary Warriors returned home. He knew that they would have to leave one day given that they were from a different world, and Bokomon had feared when that day would come, believing that a hole would open in his chest and swallow him whole if he dared to think on it for too long.

Instead, Bokomon found himself pleasantly surprised with the knowledge that he was alright with it. He was positive that there would be a new beginning waiting at the end of this path, and it was this wisdom that allowed him to press on despite the despair that would have otherwise consumed him. This was far from being the end, and Bokomon was relieved to know that he would be able to look forward to the day that the group reunited until it finally happened.

The reconstruction of the Digital World was a slow effort, but progress was still being made. Nobody had ever claimed that the resurrection of a realm would be easy, and Bokomon could see firsthand how difficult it was to help the Digital World rise from the ashes. It would be a long time before the Digital World was returned to its previous splendor, but he was positive that he would be able to see it through. One day, the universe would return to the way that he had once known it, and he knew that it would all be thanks to the Legendary Warriors who had paved the way for such restoration in the first place.

Times had been busy as of late, and Bokomon hadn't been given even a spare moment to try and begin telling the story of the Legendary Warriors. Everything had been moving quickly, and the Digimon that were brought back to life in the aftermath of Lucemon's conquest were searching desperately for stability. Since only Bokomon, Neemon, and the reincarnations of the Celestial Three had survived the fallout of the Digital World, they were the only ones who were able to reassure those struggling with their newfound salvation. Life had swallowed them all, and the five had become celebrities before they realized what was happening.

Many whispered about all that they had gone through, wondering if they had truly accompanied the Legendary Warriors on a journey that ultimately saved the Digital World. Bokomon had never confirmed nor denied these rumors, understanding that there would come a time when these questions were made obsolete. As soon as he told the story of the recent history of the Digital World, every Digimon alive would be aware of the truth. This would become as much of a whisper of history as the original generation of Legendary Warriors had been. The five of them would be immortalized in gold and papyrus the same way that their predecessors had been. The war was over, and peace was bound to follow. With harmony came legends and ancient tales, and Bokomon still found himself surprised when he thought about how he would be one of them in a matter of just a few years.

Bokomon's gaze fell back down to the book before him, and he could feel the question in Neemon's gaze asking why he had stopped. Bokomon chose not to answer, instead glancing up to where the three volumes about the Legendary Warriors were located on a nearby table. They were leaning against each other for stability the same way that the reincarnations of their owners were relying on one another. It was almost stunning how perfect this moment was despite the strife that they had endured to get there.

Bokomon raised his pen once again, and he found himself touching the inked tip to the page before him. He pressed down for a long moment before his face broke out into a smile once again. Telling this story was a daunting tale, but he had made a promise to himself and his companions, and Bokomon was not one to break his vows regardless of circumstance. Saving the world hadn't been easy, but he had managed to get through that and more. This would be nothing.

"Oh, it's nothing," Bokomon told Neemon airily before the other Digimon could voice his curiosities. He read over the first paragraph of the story once again before taking in a stabilizing breath and continuing to speak and write.

"'A new generation has recently saved the Digital World from the potential tyranny of Lucemon, and we owe everything that we currently have to them and their bravery. The time has come for their story to be told so that all may know of their glory.'

"'Our tale begins in the Flame Terminal, and a group of human children that weave innocence and fire arrive in a new way never seen before. Their names are...'"

Haroi had gained new habits since his return from the Digital World, and it showed clearly in the way that his room had come to be designed. The books that had once been placed in their perfect homes had been removed, creating a few stacks around his desk. Haroi, normally one to ensure that everything was cleaned regardless of the circumstances, found that he didn't mind. After all, the division had a specific purpose.

Bokomon had done quite a bit to explain the way that the Digital World functioned to the Legendary Warriors during their journey in the other realm, but Haroi realized after arriving back at home that he hadn't been able to return the favor. He felt almost guilty about it when he remembered Bokomon's insatiable curiosity, and he wished that he had been able to do more to tell Bokomon about Earth, the world parallel to the Digital World filled with as many wonder as the realm that had been saved by the Legendary Warriors.

Haroi had always been fond of science, and he found that such a hobby was helpful when it came to separating everything into the categories of what would be useful for Bokomon and what he would keep to himself. His volumes were far from being as hefty as the books about the Legendary Warriors that Bokomon had carried throughout their quest, but they still more than got the job done. Besides, it wasn't as if Earth had any gods to pen such information in one specific place, so Haroi had to settle for other methods of explaining everything.

He picked up a piece of paper that sat beside a particularly noteworthy stack of books, and Haroi smiled at the words scrawled across the surface in neat, italicized handwriting. He was coming up with a list of things to tell the Digimon about when they next returned to the Digital World. It was still strange to him that he would have so much to tell after growing so used to keeping such information to himself. Nobody had ever expressed quite the same level of interest as he did, but Haroi was positive that the Digimon would want to hear about the land that had birthed their saviors.

Haroi picked up a pen as he settled down at his desk once again, and he began to write down more notes on what he wanted them to know. The midnight moonlight streamed in through his open window, and it splashed gently across the page illuminated by his lamp. He couldn't help it when his smile widened, and when he closed his eyes, he remembered what it has been like to become one with the stars themselves.

Haroi returned to his writing a moment later, and the list had more than doubled in length before he was finished. One day, he would be able to speak with Bokomon about all of this, and they would be able to visit the baby Digimon in the Village of Beginnings on Flavo together as well. He couldn't wait for that time to arrive, but until then, he would continue keeping his notes, knowing beauty was waiting for him at the end.

Mayumi was still getting used to life outside of the Digital World. No matter how many times she woke up and saw that she was on Earth, she didn't seem to believe it. She had been so quick to adapt to the Digital World, but returning to Earth had thrown a wrench into her plans and shifted everything from beneath her feet. Seeing the ceiling of her bedroom instead of the open sky was strange to her after she had grown so used to it.

One thing that she did enjoy had returned to her life though, and she found herself singing to herself as she danced around her room simply to release the extra energy that had built up inside of her. Mayumi reached her desk soon afterwards, and she scooped a frame up into her hands without a moment of hesitation. She smiled as she admired her handiwork on crafting the image within.

Mayumi hadn't ever been particularly fond of drawing in full, naturally being too impatient for such endeavors, but doodles were a completely different story. The first thing she had done when she got over her crashing depression regarding abandoning the Digimon had been to draw them all together. She used seventeen different colors to highlight each member of their traveling party, and when she was finished, she slid the image into a frame and perched it upon her desk for easy viewing.

When she found herself feeling sad regarding her temporary loss of access to the Digital World, Mayumi looked at the picture she had drawn, and she would remember how incredible it would be for them to one day unite. She didn't need to be upset about all that had taken place. After all, she would see them all again. The Legendary Warriors were still on her side of the barrier, and they would remain together no matter what happened.

Mayumi set down the frame once again, and she allowed her hair to fall free of its regular ponytail to sway around her shoulders. She began her delicate dance once again, and she closed her eyes in her twirling motions. She could have sworn that she felt the wind whipping at her features as she jumped through the air with agility of someone who could hardly be considered human. It was perfection embodied.

When she opened her eyes once again, Mayumi returned to Earth, but she didn't mind in the slightest. After all, this was far from being the end. One day, the story would pick up where it had left off, and Mayumi was sure that the reunion would be just as perfect as she had envisioned it being ever since her return to Earth.

Saki pulled the plug free of its place in the wall before replacing it a moment later. They rose to their feet and brushed their hands together to rid themselves of the dust that had been left behind. They placed their hands on their hips as they waited for the computer they were messing with to return to power.

They had been firm in keeping their promise to the Digimon ever since returning to Earth. Saki had claimed that they would be coming up with a way to create a gate back to the Digital World, and they were sticking to it no matter what happened. Saki had been called questionable in the past where subjects regarding their loyalty were concerned, but they had finally found a place where their faith could rest without question, and they were never going to leave it behind again.

They had changed considerably since returning from the Digital World. Saki had once seen the world as being cutthroat, and they did everything in the name of their own survival. While times remained tough, Saki was finally allowing themselves to see the beauty in their surroundings, and the Digital World had been what brought them such an incredible outlook. They wanted to return as soon as possible, knowing that it was going to be an even better place after it was restored from the battle against Lucemon.

Working on the gate was easier said than done, but Saki felt as if they were finally starting to make progress. Everything had come to them naturally even though they had no solid evidence as to how to make any of the working pieces fall into place. Saki believed that this was the influence of the Spirits of Steel, resting deep within their body even after they had left behind the Digital World. They could feel the pulse of the world around them when they concentrated, and they knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was a whisper left behind by AncientWisemon.

The computer slowly came to life, and Saki watched as the screen morphed into something new, almost as if it was responding to Saki themselves. They smiled, and the blue of the screen reflected in their dark eyes. Their fingers tapped against the table that the monitor was sitting on, and they glanced back to the door of the computer room at their school just to make sure that nobody was coming.

Saki's face burst into a gasp as soon as a new image manifested on the screen. It was a small square, simple and gray, with a few words printed across the center of it. Saki smiled as soon as they registered what it said, and the beauty of the universe finally found them in its full glory.

'Welcome to the Digital World, Warrior of Steel.'

Saki let out a small sigh of relief, and they turned their face to the ceiling of the room. At long last, they had a way back. The rest of the group was bound to want to hear about this. Soon enough, they would return, and the Digital World would hail them for their legendary deeds until the end of time itself.

Hinoka slipped the door of her bedroom shut, and she allowed her hand to slide gently down the surface of the wood with a smile. She pressed her forehead against the door and held it there for a moment before retreating, an innocent grin still on her face.

Hinoka was steadily improving in all ways that she could possibly imagine. Her relationship with the other students at her school mattered little to her, and all that she truly cared about was what her friends thought of her. She had come to learn that she and Koichi attended the same high school by chance, and the two had grown significantly closer than she had ever suspected possible.

She had just returned home from spending the afternoon swimming at the pool found on her school's campus, and her hair was still wet and heavy as it hung down her back. Her attempts to dry it had ended in failure for the most part, but she didn't mind. After all, Hinoka had come to a new conclusion while she was out, and she found an odd sense of comfort in her sudden revelation.

While swimming, Hinoka had found that breath came to her easily. In fact, she didn't seem to need to break through the surface of the water even after remaining deep in the blue for quite some time. When she finally released her breath, she realized that it was true. She could breathe underwater, and it was most certainly a byproduct of her fusion with the Warrior of Water. She hadn't been completely human since she first became Aquariamon, and such effects lingered even across the barrier of worlds.

Hinoka began to sift through her drawers to find a new shirt to replace the one that was currently soaked under the influence of her hair, and her fingers closed against a loose turquoise tee. She heard something crinkling from underneath the fabric, and she pulled out a note written on a folded piece of paper.

It took a moment for Hinoka to register what the note was specifically. It had been a letter that she wrote to Emon, her ex-boyfriend who had caused her so much harm throughout their years together. She remembered writing it before going to the Digital World, and it was her way of trying to plead for forgiveness despite her being aware that she was suffering.

Hinoka didn't even unfold the note before she began to tear it to shreds, and she dropped it into the trashcan near the entrance of her room. She didn't give it a second thought as she changed her shirt. Instead, she wondered when she would be able to return to the pool once again to connect with the torrent living inside, and she found herself relishing the memory of the day's experiences for hours afterwards.

Yumiko's fingers stroked the back of her cat's body, and a purr rattled in the kitten's chest. Yumiko reached down and picked up the animal, a cat she had adopted since returning from the Digital World. She had named her new companion Briar Rose, a combination of her love for literature and plants.

She had taken to looking after as many flowers as she could manage, and the windowsill of her room was lined with small pots that contained a variety of beautiful plants. They helped Yumiko to feel more connected to the form that she had taken on in the Digital World. It was part of her daily routine to tend to them as she thought on all that she had been through.

Yumiko sang a wordless tune to herself as she began to go about the task of watering the plants, still cradling Briar Rose in one arm. The kitten, light brown in color with bright green eyes, watched Yumiko with curiosity. She continued to sing to herself, and Briar Rose purred along before curling up in her grasp, closing her eyes delicately.

It was only after Yumiko had finished watering the flowers that she set down the cup she had used to transport the liquid from the bathroom. She held up one hand to block out the sunshine that came with the setting sun, and a smile spread on her features as she released a small sigh. At one point, she had only thought of the twilight hours as a way to signify that time had passed. Since returning to the Digital World, such had taken on a different meaning to her.

Yumiko couldn't help but remember the way that she had explored the Digital World when she thought about the sun overhead. She would never be able to forget the time when she had just joined the rest of the team and found her Beast Spirit in an area thick with trees. She had been uncertain and afraid at the time, but the sensation quickly faded away when she began to recognize that it was the first time she had ever been truly free.

She had gotten better about letting go of her past reservations, and she didn't hesitate to socialize when she was taken by the whim. Yumiko was still recovering from the scars of the past, but she wasn't allowing herself to be held back by her fear of what could have been. She was going to finally take life by the horns and guide it in the direction that she wished for it to go.

Yumiko turned away from the sun as she stroked at her kitten once again. Briar Rose curled against her touch before returning to her lazy position, and her breathing evened out as she fell asleep soon afterwards. Yumiko smiled before setting her cat down on her bed a moment later, and she looked towards the dusk once again, wondering what would happen the next time she was in the Digital World in twilight hours.

Chihiro's life had changed so quickly in the aftermath of the Digital World that they almost couldn't believe it. Nothing had seemed real for a while, but they were reminded each time that they pinched their forearms that they were most certainly grounded in truth. The world around them was in fact real, and they wouldn't have had it any other way.

Explaining their situation to Saki hadn't been easy given Chihiro's regular aversion to conversation. They had gotten better, but Saki wasn't the person they expected to exchange words with over such a tense subject. Saki had simply nodded and said that they would take care of it, and Chihiro nodded before stepping back and waiting.

Chihiro's parents had stopped pursuing them, and the media had suddenly gotten ahold of testimony regarding the twisted practices of their bloodline. Nobody ever bothered Chihiro again, and they found themselves at peace once again with the knowledge that every issue that they and Saki had once had was in the past once and for all.

They had moved in with Takuya's family since those days, and Chihiro was staying in the room that had previously been reserved for guests. The space was simplistic, but they didn't mind it in the slightest. They felt as if they were at home, and this was something that they knew would never be taken away from them again.

Chihiro still felt strange when they sat down on their bed even a few weeks after moving in, and they let out a sigh as they tilted their head back towards the ceiling. They were going to have to tell everyone in the Digital World about this after the barrier was opened once again, and they couldn't wait for it. As much as Chihiro had missed Earth, they felt themselves longing for the sensation of open adventure once again.

They knew that the rest of the group felt much the same way. The silent question lived in the air, and Chihiro could sense that each of the other Legendary Warriors was just as desperate to return to the place that they had fashioned into their second home. As incredible as Earth was, it simply wasn't enough for any of them anymore. They had experienced more, been more, and they longed to embrace it once again.

Chihiro's eyes slipped shut, and they let out a sigh, simply relishing in the moment. After spending so many years just trying to survive, they felt as if they finally had the time to live. The world had halted its brutality, and the beauty of the present was suddenly apparent to them. It seemed as if everything simply made perfect sense where it hadn't before. Chihiro was grounded at long last, as steady as the rocks that had become part of their heart and soul, and they had the sneaking suspicion that they would never be taking flight into the uncertain ever again.

Koichi's recovery had been a difficult process, but he had still managed to get through it. Even though he hit his head against the tile floor of the Shibuya train station, he came out of it relatively unscathed. He knew that it was because of his lack of humanity that he was able to survive such a stumble with anything even resembling grace. He had heard after the fact that the soul of AncientSphinxmon had fused with him, and that was what had saved his life in the first place.

It made sense given the way that Koichi felt different afterwards. He was sure that it was more than just the aftermath of his rehabilitation, and when he found himself in the shadows, he could feel that there was something more thriving beneath the surface of his skin. In a way, he had become something more than human but less at the same time. He wouldn't have traded it for the world.

Koichi had been able to introduce Koji to their mother, and Tomoko had been overjoyed to finally see her sons together at long last. Koji had shown Koichi to their father as well, but it was far harder for the boys to attempt to mend their relationship with Kousei by comparison. Satomi, Koji's stepmother, was a kind woman though, and she got along perfectly with both of the boys. Their family, while unorthodox, still managed to work in most ways.

Koichi took off his hat as he made his way back into his room. He had been wearing it for years since it had been a gift from his grandmother when he was younger, and it helped him to remember her after her passing. The day that he met Koji, he had worn it as a way of ensuring that his brother didn't see his face before he wished for them to meet.

Out of all the places that Koichi wore the hat though, he never kept it on when he was with Koji. There was no reason for that anymore. He wasn't watching his brother from afar with yearning in his heart. He was close as could be with Koji, and he couldn't ask for anything more. For the first time in what felt like forever, Koichi and Koji were perfectly happy and united as they ought to have been.

Koichi sat down on his bed and looked at the hat for a while longer, thankful that he had been able to keep it in the aftermath of the Digital World. He couldn't wait to go back there with a true body, knowing that he would be able to experience its full glory without any strings attached. There was so much more that he had yet to do, and he was happy that he had been able to live. He wanted to see everything that he possibly could, and nothing was going to stop him from fulfilling such a mission since he had finally found true satisfaction after so many years.

Junpei had stripped away the mask he usually wore in the aftermath of his return from the Digital World. He had decided that it was for the best that he showed his true face to the world, imperfections and all. His previous loyalty, a confidence formed out of nihilism and spite, was gone, replaced instead by legitimate love for himself and those around him.

It hadn't been an easy journey, but Junpei understood that few things in life truly were painless. Still, he was making progress, and that was more than he could have ever expected once upon a time. He was finding a place in the world, and he was positive that he would be happy with it no matter what. The other members of the team spent time with him frequently, and Junpei found himself counting down the days until he could see them once again each time after they disbanded temporarily.

Junpei and Saki saw each other most of all, and they spent quite a bit of their shared free time tinkering around with the portal to the Digital World. Junpei had been forced to leave their school early that day due to having parental obligations, but Saki stayed behind to make some final alterations for the day. It was a slow journey, but they were making progress and getting closer to reaching the goal that they had sought after for so long.

He could tell that his parents were aware of the ways that he had changed. Neither one of them had questioned him on the cause of his sudden shift in personality, but they seemed to sense that it was a change for the better. Junpei's depression, while still present, was improving more as time went by. His previous loneliness was an echo of the past, replaced with companionship and gratitude that Junpei had never imagined could be real.

Junpei was working on getting closer with them as well. His relationship with his family had never been particularly strained in the first place, but he was as honest with them as he could have been. They accepted him with open arms and treated all of his stories as fascinating, and Junpei found himself happy that in finally accepting himself, he was seeing joy in other aspects of his life.

Junpei allowed the door to swing shut behind him as he entered his room, and he felt his phone begin to vibrate in his pocket. It still felt foreign to him to have the weight of his phone instead of his D-Tector on him at all times, but he was adjusting. It would take time, but it seemed as if everything did to some degree.

When Junpei pulled his phone free of his pocket, he could see that the contact in question belonged to Saki. He knew what they were going to say before he even picked up the phone, and a smile exploded across his features at the promise of returning to the Digital World at long last.

Izumi landed from the final segment of her beam routine, and she allowed her hands to fly up to her ears as the crowd around her cheered. Another gymnastics competition had arrived, and she had been surprisingly excited for it all. She grinned as the onlookers roared, and she let out a small breath of happiness as she returned to her place among the audience in preparation for the next performer.

Her love for gymnastics had only increased since her return to the Digital World, and Izumi wouldn't have had it any other way. There were times when she performed that she remembered what it was like to fly, and her shoulders seemed to ache due to her lack of wings. When she executed some of her favorite routines, she felt as if she was airborne once again, as if nothing in the world would be able to hold her down, and those moments were nothing short of pure bliss.

Izumi glanced out over the segment intended for the audience, and her gaze fell upon Masae. Her younger sister was sitting alone in the crowd, and one of her hands was waving frantically above her head as she vied for Izumi's attention. The blonde gymnast smiled and returned the gesture, causing a bright grin to spread across Masae's face.

Izumi was positive that Masae had sensed a shift in her since her return from the Digital World. Her sister seemed to watch her with even more admiration than ever before, and Izumi in turn looked towards her sister with pure honesty. After spending years sealing away her suffering in the name of perfection, Izumi was starting to allow herself to show vulnerability at last. Masae seemed to understand that something was different as well, and her pride had only grown as a result.

Izumi closed her eyes as she reached for her water bottle, and the cool liquid flooded her throat as she thought back to her routine once again. When she performed, she often imagined her mother being in the audience, watching her with all of the pride that a mother could possess. Izumi could still see her face when she closed her eyes, but this time, there was something new added to her mother's gaze, and Izumi was positive that it had something to do with the way that she had finally embraced honesty and sincerity in her daily life.

Izumi set her water bottle down once again, and she concentrated on the rest of the competition once again. Her gaze occasionally drifted to her sister, and she remembered what it felt like to be truly free. One day, when she was able to return to the Digital World, she would embrace such beautiful freedom once again. She hoped that her sister would be able to find such liberation along the way as well, knowing that it had changed her life in splendid ways that she never could have otherwise imagined.

Tomoki knew that it took many small steps in order to truly span a lengthy journey. He had started off as slowly as he could manage when it came to change, knowing that there would be beauty waiting for him at the end. His fears had been alleviated, and he was finally allowed to thrive.

Stepping away from Yutaka's previous abuse had been difficult for him, but Tomoki was making progress. The other Legendary Warriors had nothing but full support for him, and Tomoki doubted that such a fact would ever change. They were his new family, and they would never abandon him regardless of what happened.

It had been Takuya and Chihiro's suggestion that Tomoki join the soccer team at their school once they learned that they all attended classes at the same place. Tomoki had silently admired both of them from afar for years, wishing that he had the confidence to follow up on such a hobby while falling apart under the doubts Yutaka had placed in his mind. As soon as they proposed the idea to him, Tomoki had nodded and smiled, knowing that he was going to look forward to it.

In a way, this was his first true act of defiance on Earth. Yutaka had been firm in claiming that Tomoki would never be able to accomplish anything of worth, but Tomoki wasn't allowing that to hold him back anymore. He was going to find happiness, and there was nothing that his brother would be able to do about it.

Each practice game with Takuya, Chihiro, or both left Tomoki feeling overjoyed in a way that he could never hope to describe with words. Nothing seemed to matter aside from him and the way that he connected with the ball. The summer heat ahead was nothing more than a distant memory, and Tomoki used the game as his salvation from years of suppression.

The sun overhead hadn't bothered him since he returned from the Digital World. Tomoki was as cold to the touch as it got, and it was incredible to him that he was so clearly inhuman in plain sight. Those who came into contact with him often brushed it off as a joke, saying that Tomoki was awfully chilly for someone who spent so much time outside, and he would simply laugh it off while thinking of how incredible it was that the Digital World clung to him in such ways.

Tomoki found it ironic in a way that he was the one bound to the cold in such a way. Yutaka had always claimed that Tomoki was heartless, that his soul was made of ice, and Tomoki found that his brother had been right, albeit not in the way that he had expected. Tomoki was frozen, but he was far from being as coldhearted as his brother described. There was beauty found lost in the ice, and Tomoki embodied it while remaining the brightest icicle that the world had ever come to know.

Koji had been there every step of the way as Koichi was recovering, never wanting to leave his brother's side for longer than he had to. The two had come to lean on one another along with the rest of the group, something that Koji never anticipated. He had once been a loner, but these days, he could never imagine himself returning to the way that he once had been.

Meeting Tomoko Kimura had been the first step in the right direction. Koji's relationship with Kousei remained rocky and tense, but Koji was getting along with Satomi perfectly well. At one point, Koji had held it against Satomi that he wasn't allowed to think of his mother, but that was no longer the case. When her wedding anniversary with Kousei came along, Koji brought her flowers, and she had teared up before placing them in a vase that sat at the center of the dining table for weeks afterwards.

Koji passed by the flowers as he made his way back to his room, his kendo bag slung loosely over his shoulder. He had just returned from practice, but he found himself playing out the regular routine of watching the plants for a moment before he retreated to his own space. He wasn't sure when it had become a tradition for him, but he didn't mind it in the slightest.

The flowers were starting to wither away, but they had held on for quite some time. Koji made a mental note to ask Yumiko for the best flowers to plant in a pot, believing that it would be a perfect gift to offer Satomi after the flowers she had were gone. He was sure that Yumiko would have the answers give how affectionate she was with her own plants.

Koji walked to his room, and he set down his bag unceremoniously on his floor with a small grunt. The sack was far heavier than one would have expected at a first glance, and Koji still found it somewhat awkward and unwieldy when he carried it back home.

Koji's gaze settled on the place where his mother's photo could be found. It was in a reversible frame that could be shifted to a new picture with a flick of a finger. Koji stared at Tomoko's smiling face, recognizing his own reflection in the glass. The picture had been updated to fit her present image, and he loved it.

Koji turned the picture over, and he could see on the other side his favorite picture ever. It was of him, Tomoko, Koichi, and Satomi gathered together the day that they had all met. Kousei had taken it, and Koji had fallen in love with the image as soon as he saw it. Everything about it simply seemed so perfect.

Koji smiled at the picture for a moment longer before letting out a light sigh. When he got back to the Digital World, he was going to have to thank the realm for selecting both him and Koichi so that they could meet in the first place. He couldn't imagine his life without his brother anymore, and he loved that such a fact remained true.

Takuya had changed in the aftermath of the Digital World, and he could see it in the way that his parents watched him from afar. Yuriko raised an eyebrow when he greeted her with optimism and a wide grin unlike anything that she had ever seen. Hiroaki found it odd that Takuya seemed to be even more of an extrovert than before, chuckling about how he hadn't even thought such a thing to be possible. Shinya never seemed to give up on his idea that Takuya had gone through something that he didn't know about, and he spent his time scrutinizing Takuya with the Kanbara pout as their mother called it as he tried to figure out what was going on.

Takuya decided that he was perfectly content to let them wonder. After all, he was sure of what he had been through, and nothing would be able to take that away from him. He had seen something that most others would only be able to imagine, and Takuya was still caught by surprise when he remembered how incredible it had been.

He found himself eyeing the lighter that had been used to illuminate Shinya's birthday candles the day of his journey, and this was one thing that his brother often poked fun at him for when he had days of particularly solemn reminiscence. Takuya didn't mind in the slightest, and he wondered what it would be like to feel the flames dance in his hands once again.

He had felt the fire within continue to burn since he first arrived back from the Digital World. It had been ignited the instant he had become one with Agunimon, but he still found himself surprised when the back of his eyelids presented him with the image of resplendent red flames that danced and hummed with the universe itself. Takuya had become something so much more than his human form, and every glance down to his hands reminded him of such a fact.

Takuya found himself approaching the lighter one day, and he picked it up as he felt its heft between his fingers. It wasn't as natural as the fire that breathed beneath his flesh, but it was still there, and it was still his element. When he pressed down on the button to start the flame, Takuya found himself infatuated, and he knew that it was listening to him for its command. It knew who its master was, and it was curious as to what he was going to do with such a power.

Instead, Takuya simply set it down and let out a sigh. Everyone would wonder forever about what he had been through, but that didn't matter to him. He understood his experiences, and he would remember them for the rest of his life regardless of what others assumed.

Takuya pulled himself free of his memories and his thoughts of his companions as his home came into view once again. It had almost become routine for him to remember everything that they had been through together on his walk home. Even a month later, he was still surprised by everything that they had endured as one.

Takuya could feel them from their places across the city. Their unification into Susanoomon had given him much, and he could sense where each of the Legendary Warriors could be found at any given moment. It was like a small compass inside of him that pointed in the right direction. Even Koichi, who had been absent when the group became one with Susanoomon's Grand Spirit, was included on it all due to his fusion with AncientSphinxmon and the Spirits of Darkness that he had temporarily been in custody of.

In a way, Takuya could sense Duskmon and his associated Spirits as well. Something in the back of his head told him that Duskmon was the unofficial thirteenth Warrior, and even if he had been born of adversity, he had risen into something precious. Takuya's mind told him to call Duskmon the Warrior of Void, and he did so without hesitation, thinking about how incredible it was that something so cruel had evolved over time.

Then again, all of them had evolved and changed. The darkness of the world had given rise to a group of enlightened warriors who stood on the edge of heaven, and Takuya knew deep down that they would never be dragged into the hell that Lucemon had shown them ever again.

Takuya opened the door to his home, and he stepped inside soon afterwards. There was nobody in the main area of the house, and he shrugged it off before dropping his soccer bag beside the door in its regular place beside Shinya and Chihiro's things. Takuya smiled at the row of three bags, and he recognized that both of them were home as well.

He made his way to his room, and he saw that Chihiro was in their space along the way. Shinya was in their room, and the two of them were both huddled over a handheld video game console that belonged to Shinya. He had taken to allowing Chihiro to borrow his old games since they were lacking in gaming knowledge as far as he was concerned, and Chihiro had been more than happy to go along with it. Had Takuya not already promised to meet with Tomoki that afternoon, he would have likely joined them.

As much as Takuya wanted to join them, he found himself being drawn close to his own bedroom. There was a nagging feeling deep inside of him, much like the needle of the compass that had urged him forwards so many times to cross paths with the Legendary Warriors once more, that told him he had to go there. Takuya allowed himself to follow it. After all, the first time that he had followed his instincts in such a way, he had wound up in the Digital World. Both his human and Digimon sides told him that this was what he needed.

Takuya saw that his bedroom was much the same as it always had been as he stepped inside. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting in all honesty, but his room appeared to be as normal as could be. Still, there had to have been a reason for him to go there, and he was determined to find it.

Takuya's gaze eventually settled on his desk after he had silently swept through the rest of the room with his eyes. He took a step forward, seeing something familiar resting on the surface of the wood. He dropped his phone into his pocket automatically, and his jaw dropped with surprise as he reached forward.

It was his D-Tector. As Takuya examined it from all sides, he saw that it was most certainly the device that he had used in the Digital World. His phone was still in his pocket, and when he felt for it once again, he knew that both of the objects were present. His D-Tector was completely separate from the phone that it had been during his initial quest to the Digital World.

A grand smile spread across Takuya's face as he looked closer at the D-Tector. A few quick button presses told him that all of his Spirits were still found inside, and he could see his beaming reflection in the screen of the device. It felt just the same as always between texture and weight, almost as if the object had never left his side in the first place.

Takuya felt his phone vibrate, and when he checked it, he could see that a message from Saki had arrived in his inbox. He read the message silently, and he felt his heart swell with a joy that he had never even imagined possible previously.

'The gate to the Digital World is open again.'

The D-Tector was a sign that he could finally return. Something told him that it was his ticket back, and Takuya let out a small laugh of happiness as he put his phone away and pressed the D-Tector against his chest. He was going to return soon, and nothing was going to be able to stop him.

For the first time, everything in the world, every element that lived in the air around him, seemed to fall into harmony. Takuya turned his face towards his window, and the light of the setting sun fell upon his features. He continued to hold tightly to his D-Tector until he could force himself to look down at it once again. He was far more than he had ever been previously, and nothing in the world could have ever forced him to return to the way he had once been. The world around him was sheer perfection, and Takuya felt at peace. He pressed the activation button on his D-Tector, and Fractal Code manifested around his fingertips.

The flame within began to burn anew.

FRONTIERS UNEXPLORED

FIN

---

At long last, we've reached the end! Holy crap, it's actually done!

I'm going to keep most of the rambling I have to do about this story for the afterword that will be up after this chapter releases, so for the time being, I'm simply going to discuss this chapter in of itself. There's a lot to discuss here, though I'm sure that's obvious given the fact that the chapter is more than twice the length of a regular chapter for this story.

First off, there's the opening scene of the fight between Susanoomon and Lucemon. This battle is meant to be effortless given that it's finally got all of the Spirits fighting as one. Even with Koichi gone, the rest of the group is fighting as a single being. Lucemon's power is strong, but he's isolated, giving him an inherent disadvantage. Plus, all of the Legendary Warriors have far more power in their given element than Lucemon's mass power across all of them. The Legendary Warriors being able to slash through him so easily is sort of like the battle against Apocalymon at the end of Adventure; at first, it seemed impossible, but in the end, the group was able to come out on top without any issues.

The goodbye scene tore me up a lot more than I expected it to. I had a sad smile on my face the entire time that I wrote it between the ancient Legendary Warriors fusing with their current hosts and bidding farewell to the guides of the main party. Unlike in the canon of Frontier, there's the promise of a new dawn for them eventually, so the group is able to bid one another farewell in good conscience. It's a beautiful scene in my opinion, and I love the way that it turned out with all of its small little details.

Next came the part where the group found Koichi once again, and I have to say that it was somehow even sadder for me than the previous scene. I've mentioned a few times that Koichi is my favorite character in the base version of Frontier, so writing that was as sad as it was enjoyable. Instead of being only a moment between Koji and Koichi, it's about all of the Legendary Warriors banding together and experiencing the familial connections that they've created. After all that they've been through together, I think that we can say pretty safely that they're no longer only friends but instead a family.

I particularly liked the part where Saki gave Koichi his hat back. I mentioned during the previous chapter that Koichi would have been in between Koji and Saki in the circle to create Susanoomon and call upon the Grand Spirit. Koichi's connection with Koji is a given since they're brothers and all, but his link to Saki is something special. They spent most of their time in the story as Duskmon and Lyramon, forces opposing one another for control among the Fallen Warriors. Saki accepting Koichi in the previous chapter alongside Koji is a subtle way to show that they've moved past such grievances. The same applies to Saki giving Koichi his hat once again, and it's just a nice way for the two of them to understand that everything they were concerned about during their Fallen Warriors is in the past and doesn't need to be addressed anymore. It's very much so a moment about subtext, but I love how it turned out.

The scene of Takuya returning home to the Kanbara household was one that I simply had to add in as a way of tying back to the opening. Since I decided early on that I was buffing up the epilogue to be more than the flash of images that it was in the canon iteration, I figured it would be the perfect place to start. It's full of little subtleties that I really did come to appreciate while I was working on it, and I particularly love the way that the scene ended with Shinya's comment to Takuya. It's such a small thing, but I feel like it just fit everything. I love tying back to the opening of stories when I finish things, and this is the perfect way to do that in my eyes. The first line of the story had Chihiro asking Takuya about Shinya's birthday, so it only makes sense that I end it with Takuya going home for the party. Even if he was late, I think that it was all worth it.

The transitional scene between Shinya's party and the specific character endings is another understated one that just sort of ties up loose ends before the final pieces are added to the puzzle. I was always planning on having the scenes occur sort of out of order in the ending, and Takuya walking back home was how I wanted to start it off. It just felt right to do, again tying back in with the opening scenes where he was walking back home after doing soccer things. Him playing with Tomoki was an extra little detail just for the sake of their cute little dynamic.

I loved the scene with the Digimon back in the Digital World, and it really does feel like poetic justice for them all. Seraphimon, Ophanimon, and Cherubimon spent much of their time arguing before they passed on, so it's nice to see them all back together without any of their previous issues thanks to Saki holding their memories instead. It's lovely to have them grouped together the way that they should have been all along if not for Lucemon's interference. Bokomon starting to write the story of the Legendary Warriors was just an added bonus, and it highlights how much closer he and Neemon have gotten since the story kicked off.

Speaking of that scene, there are a few little small things thrown in there that reference the opening and endings of Frontier. The reference to innocence is meant to tie back to Frontier's first ending, and the mention of fire refers to the opening of the anime. Those two are outclassed by the mentions of the endless tale though because the second ending is my favorite out of the three songs and one of my favorite Digimon endings period. I figured it was a perfect way to add in a reference, and it ties in with the lyrics of the song, which roughly state 'the endless tale has chosen you as its hero', something that I have adored ever since I first heard the song. I simply had to add it in, and it leaves the possibility of something more for the group as well.

The individual endings were such a joy to write that I actually wrote all of them in one sitting over the course of two hours. Oops? They all came incredibly naturally, and I think that they really do embody all of the ways that the characters have changed since their initial appearances early in the story. Working on them was lots of fun, and there really wasn't anything quite like it. Picking a favorite is nearly impossible because of how much I love all of the characters and their endings from the second half (the epilogue half) of the chapter.

Finally, there's the last scene of the story. It's once again all about tying back in with the original opening to the story, and it finally has Chihiro and Shinya together since Chihiro didn't get the chance to hang out with the Kanbara family on his actual birthday (since let's be honest, they were most certainly invited but had other things to take care of and that's why they weren't there).

The instinct driving Takuya back to his room was another lovely detail, and it ties back to the way that he was pushed forward by what he called some outside force when it came to going to the Digital World. He was pulled there by something deep inside, and it was that same part of him that pushed him to investigate his instincts at the very end.

The final segment was incredible to work on, and I love how it turned out. Once again, it leaves things open, showing that there's more potential for all of them as a group to travel to the Digital World and experience everything that they missed out on because of the war. The reappearance of the D-Tector is a symbol of the gate being opened once more, and it's proof that the Legendary Warriors will be going back one day. I love it, and I think that it speaks for itself with how perfect an ending it is.

That's all that I have to say about this chapter specifically, but there is more for me to discuss about the story as a whole. I'll be taking care of that in the afterword though, so please read the next chapter for my finishing notes about the entire book as well as some last details. For the time being though, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is always appreciated, and I hope you all have a nice day!

-Digital