And here we are again with the next chapter. I'm truly sorry that I've taken so long but I have some good news, bad news, and terrible news, though that's personally.

Firstly, the remaining chapters of Coexistence are all done and will be uploaded over the next two days. So (perhaps) expect Chapter 20 tomorrow, Chapter 21 on Thursday.

Bad news is that I don't think I'm going to make that end of the year deadline after all with how distracted I've been. I just blame my attention span and the fact that I keep postponing writing and all. It really has killed me since I finished the 02 story.

Finally, I can't truly promise Chapter 20 and 21 to be the next two days because sadly I just lost my grandfather (on my father's side). It really hurts since I saw him at Thanksgiving the other week and his health suddenly took a turn the day my family was coming back from his place. So 2021 has sucked for me in the fact that I've lost my grandmother (on my mother's side) and grandfather in the same year. I don't know what the course of events will be over the next few days with memorial services and all. I might have to leave tomorrow and head back north so that might be what keeps me from uploading.

Sorry, I shouldn't really post my personal losses here, but I feel like I should've said it.

So now, this story is dedicated to my grandmother and grandfather. May they both rest in peace.

Now, to reviews, Power Master, I do agree with you a bit there, Meiko needed some improvements which I hope I have been doing alright with this story, and I like to think I've put a bit more focus onto Hikari in this section of the story too. Certainly will get a great moment at the end of Coexistence, I promise you that.

With all that out of the way, let's get back on course with this story.

Chapter 19: In Plain Sight! Digimon Most Wanted!

Digital World, H-Day+2?. Nighttime?
P.O.V. – Hikari Yagami

"That's why we're all together here, right?" Taichi continued, trying to encourage Meiko after we all tried to give her encouraging looks as well, in a hope that would help.

The dark-haired girl looked down at her lap, which prompted Sora to give Meiko's hand a bit more of a squeeze.

"Don't close yourself off," she said. "When people become lonely, a thorn grows in their heart. I was also like that."

My guess was when Sora was referring to the time she was keeping herself away from the others when Taichi and Ross had returned home; at least that's what they told me since I wasn't with them at that time. Meiko tensed up as I crawled over to her and grabbed her hands.

"Don't worry." I tried to assure her. "I'm positive your heart will reach Meicoomon. I'm sure the things you really want to express will get across to her. You two are partners."

"My strong message," she muttered.

"Hikari's right, Meiko-kun." Ross said. "Out of all these crazy adventures, it's important to hold out on hope. Hell, that's Takeru-kun's thing there." He laughed as Takeru gave a slight blush.

"Please trust your partner." I told her. "And also yourself, who was chosen as her partner. Don't give into a weak heart." I know that from experience with the Dark World. To this day, I'm still grateful to Takeru for his rescue.

"We shouldn't be that weak. No. Even if you are weak, we, your friends, will always be at your side. There must be a reason why you and all of us were chosen."

"A helpless, chosen kid like me who's afraid of her partner?" Meiko asked.

"Not a chosen kid." Yamato spoke up. "We're 'the' chosen kids." He chuckled.

"Please don't carry it all on your shoulders. Share it with us." Sora said.

"What are you sharing?!" Agumon woke up and shouted. "I want some too!"

"Great, Chewie, great, always thinking with your stomach." Ross groaned, but we all kinda shared the feeling. Agumon's appetite is practically insatiable; even when being rebooted.

"Just sleep!" Tailmon snapped at him.

"Huh?"

"Agumon…" Taichi muttered as he put his hand in his face.

"Jeez, you…" Yamato chuckled as he shook his head.

"There's nothing? Then, good night!" Agumon fell back over and closed his eyes.

"Give me a break, I don't want everyone to think we're all the same as him." Gabumon said.

"Agreed. Especially in my case." Guilmon added. We all laughed upon hearing those two.

"But with this incident with Meicoomon, the Digimon are going to be criticized again." Koushiro feared as he gently rubbed Tentomon. We all looked to our partners, fearful of what the future was going to hold or what even was going on back on Earth.

"Agumon and everyone all fought to protect us here." Taichi crawled over to Agumon. "So we've got to protect them too. Same goes for Meicoomon!" Meiko gasped upon hearing that. "Whatever happens in front of you, don't run. Let's face it together."

"Yeah." Takeru nodded in agreement.

"Meicoomon is your important partner no matter what she looks like." I told her. "She's waiting for your help, Meiko-san."

"For my help?"

"Let's go save Meicoomon!" I exclaimed.

P.O.V. – Mimi Tachikawa

I slowly walked out of the cave we were all sleeping in a few hours later after we tried to encourage Meiko. I noticed that she, Yamato and Ross were all missing so I got up and left the cave along with the others. I didn't get very far as I walked past Ross who was sitting right outside of it.

"If you're wondering where Yamato and Meiko-kun are, they're further ahead." He said as he stared out towards the forest ahead.

"Oh, thank you." I whispered before I looked ahead myself for a moment before looking back to him. "Ross…"

"If you're wondering if I hate you or anything, don't. I could never truly do that." He admitted, which at least slightly alleviated a worry I was having there.

"I fully understand why you would." I sighed as I sat down next to him.

"I just needed time to think about it and all. You are right though, we were into this too soon. I just… I just was worried that I would miss my chance if I didn't ask you sooner. That and I wanted to help you not hurt Chuumon and Sukamon's feelings when Hawkmon first became Shurimon."

"I still appreciate you doing that for me. I owe Chuumon my life for taking Piemon's knife; but I just really couldn't go on a date with those two."

"Yeah, their smell is fairly repugnant." Ross chuckled. "Then again, I like the smell of gasoline, so what do I know?" I soon laughed with him there as I leaned into him. "Mimi?"

"Sorry, Ross, I'm just feeling… feeling a bit lonely right now. Is this alright? I mean, I broke your heart and all."

"It's okay." He quickly quieted me as I just laid next to him, I started to wrap my arms around him; wondering if he was going to say anything about that.

"Ross, maybe I was wrong before."

"Hmm?"

"About the breakup and all, I don't know, after I did it and all, I thought I knew what I was doing when I said it, but now, I just feel lost, you know?"

"Yeah, I know the feeling as well."

"I should've just said we needed some time apart; at least until I was sure that we needed to separate." I admitted. It was true though; I just had felt empty almost immediately when I told him we were done.

"I'm not going to say anything about this, Mimi. It's your choice. But, you know if you decide to change your mind and all; I'd be more than happy to pick things right up where we left off." He smiled.

I gave him a slight nod as I held him closer, before I felt something hard on him.

"Uh, Ross, that isn't flesh I'm feeling there…" I muttered, scared of what the answer was.

"Don't worry. I've just got a few extra things on me. Let's just say it's an insurance policy." He explained before I nodded. I don't have a clue what he was meaning with that but I decided to just trust him on that.

P.O.V. – Yamato Ishida

"It's not really safe for you to be walking around here alone. Especially without a partner." I said to Meiko as I woke up earlier the moment she started to walk out. I quietly followed her out here before she finally came to a stop and sat down.

"Oh, sorry." She whispered as she looked up to the sky. "It's so weird looking at the sky here. In Tottori, you can see the sky so clearly at night; much more than you can in the city. But, seeing space from here in the Digital World… it's all wrong."

"Yeah." I chuckled. "We had that issue in our first adventures when we didn't even know we had ended up in the Digital World. We for a time thought we were still somewhere on Earth."

"It must have been hard. Being so young and far from home in such a cruel environment."

"Yeah." I nodded as I sat down next to her. "It didn't look good for us for a while, thinking that our families were missing us and wondering if we'd even see the next day without being killed by the Digital World or whatever dark villains wanted us dead. But, we somehow pulled it through quite a number of times."

"I'm sorry." She apologized.

"For what?"

"For me, for Mei-chan. We've caused so much trouble for you, your friends and families, the whole world. It would've been better if I had just let you deal with Mei-chan."

"Don't say that!" I shouted at her. "Don't you ever say that again, Meiko!"

"It's true, isn't it?"

"It's not! Everything that has happened is not your fault! You've been trying to help and avoid all this. To me, that's why it doesn't make it your fault." I explained.

"Yamato…"

"Look, I know you're hurting right now because of Meicoomon, but we can't give up hope because of how bleak it is. I know that feeling all too well." I recalled when I separated from the group for a time when we were fighting the Dark Masters. It was not something I wanted to do again.

"Meiko, I promise you, we'll do everything it takes to get Meicoomon back to the way she was before, your sweet and loving partner, and stop Yggdrasil and whatever his cohorts have in mine." I took her into a hug before she wrapped her arms around me.

"Yamato…" She whispered once more as she slowly teared up.

Tokyo, Japan. August 13th, 2005. 0936 Hours.
P.O.V. – Third Person

"Homeostasis has taken the situation seriously and decided on Libra's removal." Hackmon informed the three men.

"Removal…" Nishijima muttered.

"Hold on a second, I know what removal means to you guys. We're talking about exterminating her, isn't that right?" Phil growled, part of him thought maybe he should slowly pull out his gun again.

"Since not even the reboot could suppress it, the only option is to destroy it ourselves." Hackmon said.

"Damn…" The professor whispered.

"Libra has gone through a kind of mutation due to its protective instinct."

'Mutation?" Nishijima interrupted. "It's not an evolution?"

"There is no evolution that advances nothing and only brings destruction."

"Have you tried telling that to all those other Digimon that have tried to conquer both worlds? Doesn't seem like much of a difference from where I'm standing." Phil pointed out.

"If it is not removed now," Hackmon continued. "We cannot imagine what it could change into in the future."

"Wait a sec!" Nishijima shouted. "We've been working hard to protect Meicoomon all this time. But now that it goes out of control, you want to remove…" He was interrupted when his and Phil's phones went off.

"Yeah?" Phil answered his first. "What? No, no I… yes, yes, I understand, yeah I get it, I just think it's the wrong thing to do right now. Yes, understood."

"What has happened?" Yasuo asked as the two men finished their phone calls.

"The Self-Defense Forces…" Nishijima answered. "…are preparing to be dispatched."

"Same goes with the fleets. US Armed forces all over are being put on stand-by. We're at DEFCON 2 now. And the Seventh Fleet is being moved into the bay." Phil explained.

"The bay? What for?"

"What do you think? All these Digimon incidents tend to center around Japan and Tokyo. They're making a healthy guess that the main catalyst of events will show up here."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Take a damn guess. Yggdrasil shows up here and nukes the city or something along those lines."

"They are going to be supporting us." Hackmon shocked all who were in the room when he said that. "We have already spoken with many of the respective governments."

"You what?!" Phil stood up.

"Why didn't you notify us before now?!" Nishijima asked.

"What could you do even if you did know? Are you just going to watch as the world is about to meet its end again?" Phil and Yasuo could see Hackmon practically twisting a knife into Nishijima. "We desire the harmony of all. Harmony exists only if it is sustained." A distortion began to open behind Hackmon. "As long as its existence destroys that, we cannot overlook it." He then fell back through the distortion before it vanished.

"It shall be removed as a contaminant."

"All by the orders from above." Nishijima tightened his fist.

"Assholes, all them!" Phil slammed his fist down. "We're trapped between a war of giants. Homeostasis and Yggdrasil. At the end of the day, they're no different!"

"Then what was the point of Yagami and everyone?!" Nishijima shouted. "If you're just gonna cut them off… why did you choose them?!"

"I think we've got bigger problems right now." Yasuo pointed to the screen that showed a devastated geothermal plant.

"This plant uses volcanic geothermal energy. The locals worry that it may induce volcanic activity nearby. With the destruction of the suddenly appearing Digimon, the damage could spread to nearby villages. Certain governments have decided to dispatch their militaries."

"The Digimon that disappeared after destroying the plant is being sought." The man on the scene had a large explosion go off behind him. "We are now under the threat of the malfunctions of digital devices as well as the fear of natural disasters. What are these Digimon trying to do with our world?!"

"Contaminant…" Yasuo muttered Hackmon's last words.

Digital World, H-Day+3?. Morning?
P.O.V. – Sora Takenouchi

The next morning certainly wasn't that great when we all woke up. Despite the light, the sky was dark with a thick overcast of clouds and rain. Of course, that wasn't the case a few moments before as it was a clear sky beforehand when the rain clouds moved in much faster than they should've normally moved. Once again, another sign of just how rapidly shifting the Digital World was these days.

"It was just sunny a few minutes ago." Gomamon said as all the Digimon were sitting out near the entrance of the cave while the rest of us were deeper inside.

"They say a woman's heart and the Digital World's weather are both fickle." Tentomon informed.

"You sure know difficult sayings." Agumon looked at him.

"I'm wondering where the hell he's hearing them from." Ross muttered as he took another bite of the breakfast we prepared.

"Hikari-chan." Takeru got her attention as he walked over to her. "You said that the Digital World detests us before, right?"

"Get out." She said.

"What?"

"I feel like the Digital World is saying that to us." She explained. "The skies, the land, or even the air, none of it's accepting us."

"That's not true!" Tailmon tried to argue. "At least we don't detest you guys!"

"Yup, I want to be with you guys forever." Patamon flew into Takeru's hands.

"That's right." Palmon agreed. "I love Mimi and everyone!"

"Palmon, I love you too!" Mimi took her into a hug. Hikari turned her head to Tailmon before she adjusted herself on the rock she sat on to turn her whole body towards the cat and picked her up into a hug.

"You're right." Hikari seemed to have at least had her dark mood put aside for the moment. Still, it was concerning to hear her saying all that stuff before; as if she had some connection to the Digital World that none of us had. Of course, I quickly remembered Homeostasis possessing her all those years ago, so maybe that's why she has this sort of sixth sense.

"Well, looking at this situation, I can understand how you feel like this world is attacking us." Thanks Jou, I think you just depressed Hikari again.

"It's probably trying to get rid of its contaminant." Koushiro theorized.

"Contaminant?" I asked.

"We may be seen as a virus to the current Digital World."

"A virus? How rude!" Mimi shouted.

"Wouldn't be the first time though." Ross said. "After all, the Digital World did kinda give us the whole 'leave or be destroyed' ultimatum after the end of our first adventure. After we defeated Apoclymon and all. Damn, now that I think about it; this place sure has a funny way of saying thank you for all we done. 'Thanks for saving us, now get the hell out.'"

"Hold on a second, Koushiro-kun." Yamato spoke up. "The current Digital World? You mean that it was different before?"

"Is the reboot the cause?" Takeru added.

"I don't know." Koushiro admitted. "But I feel that something is changing from the Digital World that we know."

"And making our job of finding Daisuke-kun and the others even harder." Taichi reminded.

"We are going to be disposed of by the Digital World." Hikari's words there sent a chill down mine and probably everyone's spine. "We are a nuisance."

"Why?" Takeru asked her. "Why are we a nuisance?!"

"Maybe it's because we're Chosen Children." Taichi guessed.

"Hey, it stopped raining!" Guilmon informed, which at least gave us a little distraction from the conversation. I hate the idea that even after all we've done for the Digital World; at the end of it all, it still sees us as nothing more than a bother.

As we all finished up our meals and began to walk out of the cave, we were soon greeted by quite the surprise as we all came to a stop only a few feet outside of the cave. What once was a forest that had lied outside of the cave had been replaced with a jungle that looked very familiar.

"Isn't this…" Taichi muttered as we looked around. "… where we first came to the Digital World and met Agumon?"

"Looks exactly like that jungle plateau from File Island." Ross agreed.

Our situation changed as fast as the landscape did once more as the ground gave out from underneath us as a distortion appeared. We all fell through screaming before everything suddenly went white.

P.O.V. – Taichi Yagami

I groaned as I slowly felt myself regaining consciousness. A bright light was shining on me as I could tell even with my eyes closed before I slowly started to open them and saw a few familiar buildings and the sun above. I quickly sat up, seeing Agumon laying down on the cement as well as all the others in front of me as they woke up and took in their surroundings as well.

"Is this…?" I questioned as the whole area around us screamed Tokyo.

"We came back?" Jou guessed.

"Seriously? How lucky!" Mimi cheered.

"Uh, Mimi-kun, you're forgetting we were supposed to have a few extra people come home with us?" Yamato reminded her.

"Oh, right, I nearly forgot." Her tone shifted to one of shame.

"Taichi, where are we? Where are we?" Agumon scratched his head.

"Oh, this is…"

"Our…" Sora interrupted me.

"Is this your world?" Piyomon asked.

"Hey, that's a Digimon!" We heard some nearby kid shout out. We noticed that quite a few eyes were on us and they didn't look very friendly.

"Why's she crying? We didn't do a thing." Guilmon asked.

"Maybe because it's a child? A protective instinct probably." Tailmon guessed.

"Protective?"

"Do we look that dangerous?" Gabumon wondered.

"Aw, how shocking!" Palmon moaned.

"Don't worry, Palmon always looks cute." Mimi tried to assure her.

"Much obliged."

"Then let's just become friends with them." Agumon suggested.

"I agree." Patamon cheered.

"You guys there, what's the matter?" We heard someone say before I turned and saw it was an officer. "Are you okay?"

"We're fine, we were just messing around." Takeru told him. That officer was looking much more carefully at us before he probably caught a glimpse of the Digimon.

"Could those be Digimon…" We all knew what was probably about to happen.

"Quick, run!" I shouted as I grabbed Agumon and we started to run away.

"Hey! Wait right there, you kids!" The officer shouted at us.

"Well, this is just great; didn't think I'd be a fugitive from the law at such a young age." Ross told me as we kept sprinting away. The officer didn't seem like he was pursuing much but rather calling in backup.

"I'm so sick of running!" Mimi shouted.

"It's not a matter of being sick of it!" Koushiro yelled back.

"Taichi, it's because you ran all of a sudden!" Yamato argued at me.

"We kinda ran after him too." Takeru pointed out.

"We must look one-hundred percent suspicious now!" Sora shouted.

"Well, we can't help it now! We're already running!" I told everyone.

"Yamato-san… I can run on my own!" Meiko complained as I glanced back and realized that Yamato was holding onto her arm.

"My bad!" He apologized as he let go of her.

"Officer, over here! There they are!" From the sounds of things, sounds like quite a number of officers were converging on us and we soon found ourselves running into a dead end.

"Piyomon, run!" Sora ordered.

"I can't leave you!"

"What'll we do?" Yamato asked.

"Koushiro, hide Agumon and the others!" I suggested.

"Hide?"

"Put them in your little cyberspace room! Wouldn't your laptop work in this world?"

"Oh!" He suddenly remembered and quickly moved into action. We turned back to see the officers appearing to be in a standoff form quite a-ways from us.

"Wait, don't do anything!" Hikari warned the Digimon; who when I glanced back, looked like they were ready to defend us.

"But at this rate…" Tailmon tried to argue.

"We shouldn't make a scene." Takeru advised.

"Might be a bit late for that one, Takeru-kun." Ross said. "But, last thing we need is to hurt obviously innocent people… even if they're trying to arrest us."

"It's open! Hop in!" Koushiro ordered the Digimon.

"What's this?" Palmon asked.

"Just get in!" Mimi snapped.

"Hurry!" Sora added.

"What about you guys?" Patamon asked with concern.

"We'll be fine, so hurry!" Takeru tried to assure him. The Digimon took him at his word and all started to jump in until they were all in the laptop before Koushiro closed it. The police soon started taking cautious steps towards us as we all calmed down.

"This is definitely going to affect my school record." Jou groaned.

"You're worried about college at a time like this?" Mimi teased.

"Of course, since we're back."

"In a sense, Jou-san's ability to adapt is impressive." Takeru laughed. A few of us joined in.

"I almost forgot Jou, you're already eighteen… you might be in a bit more trouble." Ross smirked.

"Oh, Kami, I'm dead."

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan. August 13th, 2005. 1529 Hours.
P.O.V. – Hikari Yagami

I think it must have been fear of the Digimon that kept the police from really being so forceful with us when we were all arrested. Or at least, that's what they were claiming wasn't happening. The officers were insisting that we just were needing to answer a few questions. It certainly didn't feel that way when you're brought all the way to the TMPD headquarters.

All of us had been seated in small chairs as two higher ranking officers were interrogating us. An older black haired, stern looking man along with a younger brown-haired man were doing the questions, but most of us weren't talking. I felt guilty to be so obstructing to the police, but it was obviously clear they were more after the Digimon than us, and I wasn't going to put Tailmon into any trouble or danger if I couldn't help it.

"I'm telling you only this, we're not talking till we get a lawyer." Ross said. Both he and the older officer were butting heads for quite a bit.

"You're the last person to say that stuff, McGlathery. We can easily have you and Tachikawa charged with espionage considering you're both American born." The rest of us in the room were shocked to hear that part.

"You're not intimidating me with this Gestapo bullshit. You want me to talk, I'd be more than willing in the presence of a lawyer."

"Why you little-"

"Lieutenant, enough!" The younger officer stood up from the desk that the two had been sitting at across from us. "They're just kids and you're treating them like they're the damned Yakuza."

"You know the danger that's going out there right now-"

"And you think these ten children are masterminds plotting the destruction of humanity or something?" The older officer finally backed off and sat back down. "Please, you all just disregard my partner's hot headiness, we're just tense right now and would like your cooperation."

"What happened to the Digimon that were with you?" He asked us. "The police officers witnessed that all of you were with Digimon."

"We were just with our friends." Taichi said, though I don't know if he was being honest or burying the truth with that answer.

"Friends?"

"Is it wrong to be with our friends?!"

"Digimon are a highly dangerous species right now." The older officer argued.

"They aren't dangerous!" Sora shouted.

"That's right! They're really good Digimon!" Mimi agreed.

"Don't you know what the world is going through right now, because of these Digimon?!" The older office was once again losing his cool like he had with Ross before. Of course, we were all shocked by what he had just said as his tone and what had been said before finally clicked with us that something bad had been happening in the past day; as we discovered once more that the time differences between worlds had occurred again, since we had been gone.

"What do you mean?" Koushiro asked before there was a knock at the door. The older officer walked over and opened it.

"Excuse me," the young man at the door answered. "There's someone here to claim custody of the children."

"Oh, just allow me through." We all were stunned as Nishijima pushed his way into the room before he held up his credentials to the officer. "As your man said, these kids are now under my custody."

"Why does a government bureau want these children?" The older officer asked as he kept looking at Nishijima's papers.

"Because they are important children. Is that not enough?"

"We can't just easily hand them over like that. These children ran away with Digimon and hid them somewhere."

"They were instinctively trying to protect their friends from the police."

"Friends?"

"Are these children not saying the same thing?"

"Not entirely. The red-headed American has been making want to punch his teeth in for the past thirty minutes with how disrespectful he's been."

"I see." Nishijima looked back at Ross who shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I can deal with him better than you can. Listen, Lieutenant, whatever you know about the Digimon is fairly wrong. Yes, they're dangerous, but it's important to know that there is a difference. There are bad Digimon and good Digimon. These children were protecting good ones who would die for them a million times over."

"I'm still not convinced, and half the stuff you're saying sounds more like total bull."

"Sir, I am a representative of the Incorporated Administrative Agency, National Data Processing Bureau, Information Strategy Section, Information Management Office."

"And I'm an officer of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Are you trying to pressure me?"

"Whatever you'd like to call it. But the children will be handed over to us."

"Those children over there are clearly hiding Digimon. They must be watched closely."

"And they will be, I promise you. But you're not the one who's to decide whether they come with me or not."

After a few more tense minutes, we were finally released and all got into Nishijima's vehicle as he drove us back towards the direction of Odaiba.

"You certainly made my job very difficult, McGlathery-kun, what with your attitude." Nishijima said.

"I was trying to protect our rights as well as keep our Digimon safe. I wasn't going to simply let the police know everything so they can put a bullet in them all. You of all people could tell they're all for killing Digimon as a first action, not a last resort." Ross answered.

"Well, you might be more right about that then you think. Anyways, I know you guys are tired and I'd like to take you home but I'm afraid your homes are surrounded by the media."

"The media?!" Mimi cried.

"Looks like some info was leaked. Yamato-kun, Takeru-kun, your father has been raising a storm about it. They leaked it to his station first and everyone was so quick to run with it."

"Isn't there laws about talking about us since we're underage? I mean, we have to give approval to them to use our names, or photos." Yamato pointed out.

"The world's been going to hell in the past day. Right now, people are terrified and looking for answers. Speculation and scapegoating have been following suit."

"Great!" Taichi punched his seat. "Himekawa certainly knows how to keep us distracted." I could tell Nishijima was tightening his hands on the wheel.

"The False Kaiser revealed himself as some sort of doppelganger. He was running around the Digital World and hunting us down while disguised as Gennai-san. He mentioned Himekawa when he attacked Meiko-chan and I." Sora explained.

"So did you know that, or this the first you're hearing of this?" Ross asked. "Himekawa has been working for that fake and Yggdrasil all this time."

"Yes, I know." Nishijima sighed. "Your father and I made the connection last night not too long after you all went back to the Digital World."

"And still no closer to finding Daisuke-kun and the others." I said as I felt a wave of guilt coming over me.

"I might actually be able to help with that." We all widened our eyes upon hearing that.

"Seriously?"

"I'll explain everything later tonight. Right now, you kids need some rest after the things I'm sure you've been through."

"I think that sounds best." Meiko muttered. "I think we could use some rest." Mimi leaned over and gave her a hug.

"But where can we rest?" Jou asked. "You said yourself that we can't go to our homes."

"You will be able to go home soon, I promise. But not now. For now, I'll be taking custody over you guys. I've talked to all your families and they've given me the go-ahead." Nishijima explained.

"Nishijima-san, can you at least tell us what on earth is going on?" I asked.

"It's Meicoomon." Nishijima said.

"Mei-chan?" Meiko gasped. Nishijima handed Taichi a photo and we all looked closely at it. It was blurry but there was widespread destruction at some sort of plant but Meicoomon, or whatever form she was now, could be seen.

"That's Meicoomon in the picture, right?"

"Yes." Meiko admitted, tightening her grip on her broken glasses; Nishijima had quickly brought her spare glasses after finding out about her cracked ones. "What has she done?"

"I'll tell you when we arrive."

"Are we heading to that whatever-bureau?" Taichi asked.

"No," Nishijima chuckled. "Somewhere more relaxed. It's summer break and everyone's gone, so it's under the media's radar."

Tsukishima General High School, Tsukishima District, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan. August 13th, 2005. 1721 Hours
P.O.V. – Ross McGlathery

Turns out the hiding spot Nishijima had planned for us was school. It wasn't a bad idea, one of the less likely places people would be searching for us. Really, the media would probably speculate we were halfway out of the country or going country-side rather than staying in the city.

"Feels kinda weird to be here and not in our school uniforms." I said before I got shushed by the others as they were watching the news. Footage of a factory plant completely engulfed in flames was being shown.

"The fire is still strongly continuing after five hours have already past."

"Mei-chan did this?" Meiko whimpered. God, I feel so sorry for her. Closest we ever really had to something similar was when Taichi pushed Agumon so much to try to reach Perfect, he made him dark evolve into SkullGreymon; or when Osamu captured and used him.

"It's the same as with Kuwagamon." Yamato reminded us of the first Digimon incident this year.

"It's worse than that." Takeru said. He leaned back and we turned our attention towards him and Koushiro who was on his laptop. "There was this much damage with only Meicoomon causing one explosion. Imagine if all of these Digimon went out of control…"

Koushiro was keeping his tabs on all the other Digimon that were appearing and being in very precarious locations, practically just waiting for a cue before unleashing total hell.

"The Earth will face an unprecedented crisis." Koushiro explained.

"So basically we've got a knife to our throats." Yamato summed up.

"We've got to stop it!" Mimi shouted. "Let's chase them away!"

"That won't work, Mimi. We need to go to the source. Let's find this Yggdrasil and kill the bastard!" I argued.

"Calm down!" Taichi yelled.

"Taichi?" Yamato turned to look at him.

"If we just randomly fight, it'll be the same as Odaiba."

"So are we just gonna sit here and watch?! The world is in danger!"

"I wanna jump out there myself. But just like you said, the battle from here on is going to involve the fate of the entire world. And that's why we can't let the same thing happen again." Taichi then had a small smile on his face. "For Agumon and everyone too."

"I know that, of course." Yamato sighed. The whole room was silent for a few moments.

"Jeez! Meicoomon's sure done it this time!" I didn't think it was possible, but for once in all the time we've known him, I think everyone was prepared to beat the ever-loving hell out of Jou for that comment.

"Jou-san!" Hikari shouted at him.

"Agh! No, um…" Jou was quickly trying to dig him out of that hole that, while he probably truly didn't mean it. We all looked at Meiko who just kept staring at the floor, saying nothing.

"But…" Mimi said. "Where did Meicoomon end up going?"

"She may have been already removed." Nishijima spoke up.

"Removed?" Meiko questioned.

"What do you mean, Nishijima-san?" Taichi asked. Nishijima turned to look at us before he explained the meetings with Hackmon and what orders that had been given.

"Homeostasis ordered Meicoomon's removal?" Koushiro said.

"An existence undesired by all." Meiko whimpered. Mimi was fast to take her into another hug; at least to keep her from breaking down and crying. "An existence that shouldn't have been born…"

"Then I as well, I'm an undesired partner."

"Stop it, Meiko-san!" Hikari yelled.

"Don't put yourself down! Same with Meicoomon too." Yamato argued.

"Is this something a desired person would do?" Meiko asked as she turned her attention to the TV. "And I couldn't stop it."

"Right now, there's someone who desires you the most. That's Meicoomon." Yamato tried to tell her.

"I think we and our partners are each other's hope." Hikari said.

"That's right, Mei-Mei! You, no, we are Meicoomon's hope!" Mimi encouraged.

"We'll find hope for sure!" Sora added.

"Hope…" Nishijima muttered. "That's true… yeah."

"There's something bothering me." Takeru spoke up. "Why was Meicoomon even targeted at all? These Digimon appeared after Meicoomon showed up."

Koushiro suddenly gasped.

"A switch to turn on the other Digimon…"

"That's right." Nishijima said.

"And all thanks to a shard of Apoclymon that resides in her…"

One thing always did bother me in that fact that how did it get there? Was this just like a backup plan of Apoclymon's like Palpatine's in the EU (Dark Empire and such) as well as the new canon (Rise of Skywalker) in the event of death or was it Yggdrasil's move? I'm not sure and I doubt we'll get an answer to it. Certainly won't be getting one from me in this story I'm afraid.

Anyways, I hope to see you all tomorrow for the next chapter.

"Push the button, Frank."