The end? Or perhaps the beginning. I think it's the latter.

Session 112

Solstice Reprieve?

The ride to Mahora actually took far less time than the members of Delta were expecting by a long shot. It probably helped that they were using proper transportation instead of operating a dangerous (possibly untested) device. Or it could be the sudden port from the dream world back to the armored vehicle.

Whatever it was, the members of Delta were doing a bit of cleaning. Sure, they hadn't really been using the vehicle as much as they planned, it was still good to least make sure any bedding was at least folded back up. Once that was done, they decided to have some relaxing time.

"Boo!" Joey announced as he began to shake. "How was I supposed to know that sort of thing would happen?"

I don't know, maybe the fact that you found the device in a long forgotten bin in a building that was being used as a straight-up death trap?

Joey let out a groan and took a deep breath, choosing to turn his focus to his staff and began to shine it. Following his lead, Elena and Alice began to do the general maintenance of their weapons. While most of them haven't really gotten the chance to fight recently, it was just good to keep one's weapon in good condition. The digimon did something similar, even if it was more of fueling up than actual weapon maintenance.

The next half hour passed 'quietly', mostly because Officer EMT had asked for it to be so in order to concentrate. He also suggested that they make themselves a quick dinner, just in case. One could never be too sure in this mess if it would be your last meal or not. So, they made their way to the kitchen. Which wasn't really that great. Sure, it had all the essentials that you needed from such a space, but it left little in the way of options. So they made sandwiches. They weren't pretty or tasty for that matter, but it was better than nothing. Especially since they really didn't eat anything to begin with.

"Is there anything that you need us to do, you three?" Elena inquired and watched the trio shake their heads. "Sounds good."

The rest of the ride passed without incident, with our heroes touching down on Mahora and took the area in once more.

Not much had really changed since they had last visited this place all those years ago, with the only real visual difference being a whole bunch of white orbs circling about the library.

They chose to take it slowly this time, making their first stop that old shack where Mahora's fate was changed. Of course, their memory was a bit fuzzy on what exactly transpired inside. Joey claimed that this was where he attempted to use sand attack on Sireniosmon. Alice and Elena on the other hand, claimed this was where they spent the night, with an argument occurring the next day. Whatever the case, it didn't really matter in the moment.

"Master, I'm home." Chacha whispered as she pulled the door open, letting out a deep breath amid the dust. "Or right, you're gone."

The gyroid let out a sigh, ignoring the dust swirling about with the opening of the door. Had she still been here, she would've cleaned this place up and made it her home. Maybe that had been the intention when she had gotten that tome. But now though, all it reminded her of was of dread and regrets. Hindsight could be twenty-twenty at times, but not even that could seem to fix the hole left within Chacha.

The next couple minutes were full of hugs and positive encouragement, of people who didn't want to see them to go and those who wished them the best of luck.

"Maybe on the other side, you should have your wedding." Lily suggested and watch both monk magi and harem mage let out a sigh.

"It's a possibility." Fatemon remarked and turned his attention to Polly. "What do you think, Polly?"

Polly let out a chuckle and closed her eyes, attempting to shift through her thoughts. But try as she might, all she saw was an uncertain with Fate and Chacha by her side.

"It's a possibility." she answered and let her body revert to her natural form. "Though, I'm not entirely sure how they'll react to our appearances."

A deep breath later, she turned her attention to Elena, who was currently talking to Officer EMT. For some reason, he then pulled out a camera.

"Since this might be the last chance we'll get, Elena asked me to get a picture."

A mix of groans and sighs filled the area, but the troll ignored it. He motioned for everyone to get together and began to set the camera up. A few minutes later, they struck their smiles and everyone said 'cheese'. While it did make them all a bit hungry, they wanted an actual meal. Not a measly slice of cheddar.

"What do you guys think?"

Officer EMT turned the camera, letting them all take the snapshot in. While they could've done a follow-up, they were fine with the result. What had once been a group of older teenagers were now adults, the result of the trials and tribulations they faced along the way.

"One more thing." the officer remarked and motioned for the two engaged couples of the group to step forward. "Alice, Fatemon, do you take your beloved as your legal wife?"

"Yes." the two answer as Officer EMT turned his attention to Elena and Polly.

"Do you take these people as your partners?"

"Absolutely."

"You may now kiss the bride."

With that, the two couples kissed.

"Wasn't it over there that we found you, Chacha?" Olrumon remarked and pointed out a nearby shed, only to get no response from the gyroid. No, her and Polly's gaze was focused on the marks they made while sparring. While impressive, they could probably do far better now. Especially after all these years of training.

"Want to go one more round?" she inquired, but watched Chacha make her way over to the shed. "Fine then."

They followed her over, taking in the dead bodies of the two girls.

"Fuck."

Officer EMT whispered and slammed his fist into the wall. Those who could fit into the shack seemed quite confused by his sudden outburst, who were then caught off guard by him clearing his throat.

"They were my passengers." the troll police officer explained, let out a deep breath. "My last ones. I dropped them off at Hunter's End, but always wondered what happened to them."

Tears began to roll down his face and he made his exit, muttering something about not wanting to make the same mistake twice. The others took the time to give their respects and wish their soon to be departing friends safe travels.

"Is there anything that I can do for you, EMT?" Aaron remarked and watched his partner take a deep breath.

"No." Officer EMT answered, focusing his gaze on the ground. "The last job I've done led to someone's death."

He gave the ground a slight stomp, only for Aaron to put a hand on his back.

"It's alright." the detective announced as he let out a deep breath. "You still have us."

EMT's gaze lifted up slightly.

"But what need will you have of me when the end comes? I'm just a cab driver…"

Aaron delivered a right hook to the troll's face, taking him by surprise. For some reason, this made EMT's day.

"Thanks." he responded and stepped away from the chosen, not that Aaron really blamed him.

Their next stop was their first battle with the Gostelows. They had used that as a place to experiment, to try out new things that they hadn't thought to be possible. And somehow, they had succeeded within it all. But with it, they were brought to the entrance of the library.

"I guessing this is it." Polly whispered and took a deep breath, tears seeming ready to fall down her face. "It's been fun travelling with you guys, but this is where our paths diverge."

"If nothing else, come back in one piece." Aaron remarked, letting out a deep breath. "Would suck if this turned out to be the last time we saw you three."

Fatemon let out a chuckle.

"Why, of course." the harem mage joked and gave a wink, motioning for his companions to follow behind. "Good luck!"

"You too!" their teammates remarked as they turned around, making their way back to the armored vehicle.

"Well, this is it." Fatemon remarked as they walked up the steps of the library, passing through its traps with utmost ease. When they reach their destination, a boy of some sorts had been waiting for them.

"Thought you should have these back."

A pack of cards flew through the air, with Fatemon managing to grab hold.

Once that confusion faded away, the trio entered they found a familiar friend along with the white spirits from before. Chacha shut herself down, but not before mumbling something about having a partial backup of some sorts. But one of the white orbs pulled her ears, possibly her former master.

"I suspect you've already prepared, so I'll just start." Usagi announced as swung her hook out. "Let us finish what we began all those years ago."

Polly gave a nod and charged forth.

The two girls went blow for blow, neither willing to let the other get the upper hand. In a way, stamina was the deciding factor in this bout, the victor unknown. The moment that a winner was decided, what remained of Mahora blasted off to an unknown place. Which was a far better fate for them to what awaited them before. But if one looked closely, you could just make out three bodies holding each other. Then the trio disappeared, hopefully making it to their unknown destination alive.

.

For what remained of Delta, the mood was a mixed bag.

On one hand, having to see see three of their friends have to leave right at the end of their journey was a bit heartbreaking. But by that same token, happiness also seemed to be there as well. It was sad to see them go, that was for the best. Maybe if they were really lucky, there was a chance of meeting them later down the line. But that can't be

The group looked among each other, only for Joey to clear his throat.

"There's this 'Medreth' place I've heard a bit about." the shadow scientist explained. "I'm not entirely sure how my foster parents found it, but it shouldn't be too hard."

"Works for me." Officer EMT remarked and made his way over to the driver seat, sitting himself down. "Do you at least have a general idea of where Medreth is at least?"

Joey gave a nod and made his way over.

"Supposedly, it's under this universe."

Both Aaron shot the shadow scientist a questionable glance, but got ignored.

"If he's wrong, we'll just bounce back up." EMT remarked as his attention shifted to the quickly approaching darkness of the void. "Here goes nothing!"

With that, the vehicle shifted and everyone strapped themselves in. They didn't quite know what was waiting for them in Medreth, but they didn't seem to mind. It would be an adventure after all.

But as luck would have it, that wasn't meant to be. Maybe it was strange bout of fate or just a time shift occurring.

Whatever the case, our heroes went tumbling through the void for what had seemed like an eternity. It wasn't, but you get the idea.

"Elena, can I hold on to you?"Alice whispered and got a nod from her wife, feeling the full weight of the gale corsair on her body. Which actually wasn't that bad.

Eventually, they did land.

"It's been awhile."

There the mahora trio proudly stood, no worse for the wear.

Notes:

Surprise!

You weren't expecting this of all things, were you? No, that doesn't mean that you'll be seeing new chapters for DAO itself. Maybe some stuff in AWC. I'm not quite sure yet.