ZAFT: Hmmm… Andy could use some more company besides us.

DarkFoxKit: Oh? Did you have someone in mind?

ZAFT: *Pulls out Takuya* Here we go~

Takuya: H-huh? Wah!? Where am I? Where did you two come from!?

ZAFT: Andy~ We have a new friend for you~

Andy: *Lazily comes over* What are you talking about-

Takuya: ANDY!? What are you doing here!?

Andy: … I've been here. The question is what are you doing here?

ZAFT: Blame me. XD

DarkFoxKit: Yeah, you're right, this is more entertaining~

ZAFT: Maybe we will bring in Danny next time~

Andy: If you bring Danny here, you're going to cause a lot of trouble!

Takuya: I'm not supposed to be here! Put me back!

DarkFoxKit: Oh would you look at that? It's time for the readers to get into the story!

ZAFT: Well, let's get to it!

Chapter 18: Visiting Arkansas

Tucker and Sam were staring at Dorumon, Agunimon, and Arbormon. Danny, who was still in his ghost form, was looking a bit awkward. Andy also felt pretty awkward, especially since he was the only human in the group of Digimon. Then again, Danny was the only ghost in the group of humans.

Why are Danny and me the odd ones out here? Andy couldn't help but muse.

Of course it was odd to Andy, but then again, that was how his life was turning out it seemed.

"So… these guys… aren't ghosts?" Sam asked after a minute of awkward silence.

"No, they aren't." Andy confirmed. "Otherwise, they would be glowing and be floating."

"So what are they?" Sam asked. "Why did they help us?"

"Aren't those… D-monsters?" Tucker asked.

"What?" Arbormon blinked.

"He means Digital Monsters," Andy clarified. "And yes, but they're called Digimon, not D-monsters."

"How do you know that? … How do you know them?" Tucker asked, looking at Andy.

Agunimon then spoke up. "It's because we told him. And if you remember that dragon, BurningGreymon, then you most likely saw me. That is my second form, called a Beast form."

"I've been helping out from time to time myself. I'm Arbormon, a friend of Agunimon here," Arbormon introduced.

"You can call me Dorumon. I'm…" Dorumon looked at Andy.

Andy sighed. "Okay, well, I suppose since you two are my best friends, I should let you know that Dorumon is my Digimon partner."

Sam and Tucker stared for a while before it finally sank in. "WHAT?!"

And there's the brain breakage… Agunimon thought as he rolled his eyes at the reaction.

"Uh… hey, guys, now that you're all safe, I'm going to go back to where I… uh… came from… I think that Fenton boy will be down here soon," Danny spoke up before he turned intangible and flew through the ceiling.

"Where he came from? Why didn't he go into the portal? Isn't that where all ghosts come from?" Arbormon asked.

"Technically no, ghosts can come from anywhere since they're usually spirits from people and animals who had lived and died," Andy informed.

Agunimon nodded. "That is true." He then looked back at Sam and Tucker. "So, are you two alright?"

"Yeah… uh… yeah, we just… need some time to process this," Sam answered, looking a little overwhelmed, not that Agunimon could blame her since she did just experience the Ghost Zone.

"But that's so cool! Actual digital monsters here in the real world! How do you exist outside of video games?" Tucker, the ever so geek, questioned. "How did you get a digital pet, Andy?"

"He's not a pet, he's my partner," Andy corrected. "And we just kind of found each other."

"And Arbormon, Dorumon, and I do not come from video games." Agunimon continued. "We come from a world called the Digital World. It's connected to the human world, but humans can't enter it easily. In fact, humans normally can't enter our world at all. Only under dire circumstances are humans called to the Digital World, and trust me, you do not want to know how dire the situation has to get in order for that to happen."

Tucker pouted at that. "Awww… but what about the Digimon partner? Could I get one someday?"

Agunimon was hesitant on that, as far as he knew, one would have to be destined or chosen to be a Digidestined, whether it was by uniting with a Spirit or gaining a Digimon partner, but before he could answer, someone else beat him to it.

"Of course you can," Andy said.

"What? Andy," Agunimon lowered his voice. "You shouldn't give Tucker false hope like that."

"I don't see why Tucker can't. After all, Dorumon and I became partners, I don't see why Tucker can't become partnered with a Digimon of his own one day," Andy answered back.

Agunimon frowned a little at hearing that, but he wasn't about to get into a debate with Andy about it right at that moment. Instead, he looked at Arbormon. "I think it's time we split. We don't want to remain here longer than we have to, especially since Tucker there is such a geek, he will want to question us."

"Heh, don't I know it?" Arbormon chuckled.

"Hey, is everyone alright?" Danny Fenton asked as he came down the stairs.

"Yeah," Andy answered as he walked over to Danny, who didn't seem surprised at the Digimon. "We're all okay."

"You okay too?" Dorumon asked the twin brother in concern, since he is Andy's twin, he also felt the need to protect Danny too.

Danny nodded. "Yeah, I am."

While that was going on, Agunimon and Arbormon made their way to the stairs, hoping to slip out before Tucker could bombard them with questions about where they came from, etc.

Thankfully, it would seem that Tucker and Sam were more distracted by Danny. They went over to the Fenton boy.

"Wait, you already knew about Dorumon and those others guys?" Sam asked.

"Uh… sort of?" Danny sheepishly answered.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Sam frowned.

"Well… Dorumon is Andy's secret… I wanted to leave it up to him to tell you two," Danny replied. "I didn't know what his relationship was with Agunimon, and I didn't know about Arbormon until recently."

Andy chuckled here. "I have worked with Agunimon before. He's a good-hearted Digimon. Same with Arbormon. They both have a drive to protect the Digital World, and by extension, the human world, because they are known as the Legendary Warriors."

"The Legendary Warriors?" Tucker asked.

"They are powerful Digimon warriors who had protected and saved the Digital World from a really powerful, and really cruel Digimon called Lucemon," Dorumon answered.

"There's a whole lore and history behind the Digital World," Andy chuckled. "I could tell you guys more, but… I do have a question."

Andy turned to Danny. "What were you thinking!? Why did you go into the Ghost Zone!? You could've been killed and become an actual full ghost!"

Danny cringed at hearing Andy's scolding. "I'm sorry, bro, but I lost the present that Dad had planned to give to Mom by shooting it into the Ghost Zone on accident. I wanted to go retrieve it before Dad realized he forgot it and wanted to come get it."

"You went into the Ghost Zone because of a stupid present?" Andy frowned.

"You know, you could've just, I don't know, buy another present for your mom and say it was from your dad?" Dorumon suggested. "It's better than going into a world of ghosts just to get back something that was as good as lost."

"And getting locked up in ghost jail, and then chased by a corrupted ghost sheriff!" Andy added.

Tucker was giggling. "Wow, never thought I'd see the day that Danny would be chastised by his brother and his pe- partner."

"You and Sam aren't off the hook either!" Andy snapped, looking at Tucker and Sam. "You two went into the Ghost Zone, in a vehicle you have no idea how to use, and almost got caught and likely killed by more ghosts!"

"You were all pretty reckless doing that, we had to get those two Legendary Warriors just to go after you all." Dorumon frowned.

Andy looked at Dorumon. "My thoughts exactly, Dorumon." He glanced at Sam and Tucker as he said that, giving them a scolding look. "And I don't doubt Agunimon and Arbormon would agree with us as well."

"What were we supposed to do? Danny was in trouble and we had to do something!" Sam argued.

"Don't go in unprepared for one, like did you even bother to bring weapons with you?" Andy asked. "Or wear a hazmat suit? The Ghost Zone has a lot of ectoplasm in the air, you could've been contaminated and die of radiation poisoning!"

Sam cringed under Andy's harsh tone of voice. "Well, yeah… but we didn't exactly have time to prepare…" But she knew that was a weak defense, even if it was true.

"The Specter Speeder does have filter air for us though," Tucker pointed out.

"And what if you had to get out of the Specter Speeder? What if you got a cut while you were out in the Ghost Zone?" Andy pointed out.

"Bro, I think they get it, besides, you're really starting to sound like Mom whenever we get in trouble," Danny spoke up in an uneasy tone.

"That, and… he really looks like your ghost form more with that hazmat suit on," Tucker pointed out.

Andy looked down at his hazmat suit, just as Danny did too.

"Um… my hazmat suit is more white and dark blue, not inverted like Danny's ghost form." Andy pointed out.

"That's how Danny looked before the accident too…" Sam muttered, looking a little guilty about that.

"Okay, well, I'm going to take this off now," Andy grumbled.

"And don't any of you go doing anything stupid again!" Dorumon added.

Then the group heard a familiar voice. "Andy, Danny? Are you down here?" Takuya emerged at the top of the stairs.

"Yeah, we are!" Danny called as Takuya came down.

Andy and Dorumon noticed it was just Takuya, they figured Takuya had likely told Dash that he should head home now since it was late, and everyone was safe.

"Good! I was wondering what happened to you two!" Takuya said as he made his way over to them, then noticing Sam and Tucker. "When did you two get here?"

"You seriously need to pay attention when we come visit," Sam sighed. "But we're tired now, and we need to get home. My parents will start calling the cops soon if I'm not home by midnight."

"I should go too," Tucker agreed. "My parents aren't as strict, but I also don't want them to worry."

Takuya blinked, but nodded. "Okay, get home safely."

"See you guys later," Danny said.

"Take care of yourselves," Andy stated.

"Bye, be safe," Dorumon waved.

Tucker and Sam looked at Dorumon, then at Takuya for a moment. They both looked at each other, before they just decided to leave before their heads exploded.

Takuya then looked at Danny and Andy. "What happened anyway? Why didn't you answer my calls for you?" Takuya had decided to play dumb since he didn't want Danny to know he had been in the Ghost Zone as well, albeit evolved.

"We… uh… were busy with…" Danny paused for a moment. "Wait… do you know about Digimon, Takuya?"

"Why would you say that?" Takuya asked.

Danny pointed at Dorumon, raising an eyebrow since Takuya didn't have much of a reaction towards the Rookie Digimon.

Takuya paled as he realized that he had made a big mistake not acting surprised towards Dorumon. However, he decided that could still be salvaged a bit with a bit of creative lying. He then sighed. "Yes, I do. But only because Andy told me about Dorumon. Or rather, I found his Digi-Egg and I was there when it hatched. That is how I learned of Digimon."

"... Well that… explains a few things, like the closeness you two have now," Danny remarked. "And now I have to explain this to Tucker and Sam later, since they were pretty confused about your lack of reaction to Dorumon too."

"You're slipping, Takuya," Andy said.

"I guess I am…" Takuya sighed. "I really need to pay more attention to that in the future…"

"But this makes it easier," Dorumon spoke up. "Now I don't have to hide that fact anymore."

"Now…" Andy looked at Danny. "You got the present back-" Andy looked at Takuya. "Which is what we were doing, finding the present that Danny lost, which was meant to be for Mom, from Dad, to apologize for forgetting their anniversary." Andy looked back at Danny. "What are you going to do? Ship it to Arkansas at our aunt's house?"

"Nope, that would take too long," Danny answered.

"Then what are you thinking?" Andy asked.

Danny gave a smile.

Andy, Takuya, Danny, and Dorumon, who was now back to being a Dorimon again, were all on a small airplane that was flying to Arkansas.

"How did I let you talk me into this?" Andy groaned.

Danny gave a grin. "You know you love me, bro~"

Takuya groaned as he placed his hand on his face. "Oh boy…"

Dorimon giggled silently because there were other people on the plane.

"You sure it was a good idea to leave Jazz home alone? She was having a bit of a freak out earlier," Andy asked.

"Someone needs to watch the house, and if we leave her there by herself for a while, she may forget about asking about our secrets." Takuya pointed out.

"Jazz wanted to ask about our secrets?" Danny asked.

"She was… really getting worried about us, and starting to get paranoid thoughts," Andy answered.

"Yeah, she began to ask questions to me about if I was doing drugs and how Japan influenced me." Takuya added. "It was creepy…"

"Ummm… maybe this alone time could be good for her…?" Danny hesitantly asked.

"Or break her," Andy added.

"She'll be fine, we'll get back home before she notices that we're gone," Danny tried to reassure.

Takuya looked out the window and down at the earth below. He was wondering when they would arrive at Spitoon, because they had been in the air for a long while now.

While Takuya was looking, he thought about random things as he let his mind wander. Then his mind came back to when Andy told Tucker he could get his own Digimon partner one day.

Andy mentioned Tucker could get a Digimon partner one day, but Andy was chosen by Ophanimon to be Dorumon's partner. Is it possible that Tucker could be chosen? Or will he choose his own partner? Is that even possible? Takuya thought to himself. As far as I know, that shouldn't be possible, and yet Andy thinks it is… Can it be that a Digidestined can choose their own destiny? But are they destined then? Or do they make their own destiny?

Before Takuya could think to talk to Andy about that, Danny spoke up. "Uh… excuse me, but will we be landing soon?"

"Shoot, honey, there ain't no airports in Spitoon," A lady with a thick country accent replied with a big smile on her face.

Danny, Andy, Takuya, and Dorimon all went pale at hearing that before the lady threw them some parachutes. "Have a nice trip, and thanks for flying Air Grits!" The lady said as all three boys were soon parachuting out of the plane. Takuya had pulled on his goggles so he didn't get the wind in his face as that happened.

Dorimon was hanging onto Andy's head, though if he did fall, he could always digivolve into Dorumon and glide the rest of the way down.

"I can't believe they had us jump out of the plane to land!" Danny groaned as they were floating down from the sky.

What are you complaining about? All three of you have the ability to fly! I don't! Andy inwardly grumbled.

Takuya looked at Danny. "Someone should pull their operating license if they have passengers do this instead of landing at an airport…"

"And I'm pretty sure they have an airport in Spitoon," Andy grumbled. "I think that pilot lady is just crazy."

Takuya couldn't help but agree mentally. He then looked down and saw what he could recognize as his uncle's hazmat suit. It was hard to miss since it was bright orange. "I think I can see Uncle Jack down there!"

"Great! All we have to do is steer our parachutes down there then!" Danny spoke up, holding onto the present in his hands. "Uh… how do we do that?"

Takuya looked unsure himself. "Um… Uh oh…"

Andy looked at his cousin and his twin brother. "... I hate this place."

"Uh… good luck with that?" Dorimon asked, unsurely.

The trio drifted down towards the trees, making all three boys yelp as they landed in the trees, getting tangled in their parachutes while suspended above the ground. "Whose bright idea was it to just have us jump out of a plane without training on how to use parachutes?!" Takuya growled as he squirmed in his parachute.

Again, at least you two can burn the parachute or fly through them. I can't. Andy grumbled to himself. "Dorimon, can you bite us out of here? Or use your Acid Bubbles to melt through the parachute?"

Dorimon grinned. "I will bite it since my Acid Bubbles would hurt you." With that, he opened his mouth wide and began to bite at the fabric of the parachute, tearing it apart slowly so as to not send Andy tumbling towards the ground.

Takuya meanwhile, had managed to untangle himself from his parachute and was now beginning to climb down the tree he had been stuck in.

Danny was already on the ground, waiting for them to get out. He did help Takuya get untangled though, before Andy tumbled to the ground with Dorimon. Ugh… must be nice to have ghost powers...

Takuya helped Andy up as soon as he reached his cousin's side. "Sorry… I would have helped but…"

Andy got on his feet, holding Dorimon in his arms. "Let's just get to Dad and Mom before-"

Then Andy felt it, a very irritating itch on his arms. He knew mosquitos got bad in Arkansas around this time of year, and they were already feasting on him. "I HATE this place!"

Takuya sighed. "Let's go, before you get Dorimon to feast on the bugs." He grabbed Andy's left arm and pulled the boy along, making sure to move somewhat quickly lest Andy get bitten even more.

Danny hurried after them. "Relax, bro, at least we won't have to stay out here too long."

"That present better be worth it!" Andy growled.

Thankfully, they hadn't landed too far from Alicia's house, Alicia was the boys' aunt, the woman Maddie was visiting.

Jack looked nervous about something, but apparently Danny, with his acute ghost hearing, was able to hear what was being said between the two parties of adults.

"You forgot the present, didn't you?" Maddie sighed at Jack, who facepalmed himself.

"Told you he was a fool!" A rough looking woman wearing overalls snapped, looking at Jack and Maddie.

"W-well I…" Jack started nervously.

"No, he didn't! He kept it at home so the mosquitos wouldn't get it!" Danny said as he, Andy, Dorimon, and Takuya all emerged from the brush.

"Oh yes, the bloody mosquitos would definitely love to eat whatever was in the present over my apparently delicious blood," Andy hissed, clearly in a bad mood.

Jack took the present and went over to Maddie. "Happy anniversary, baby!" Maddie took the present as Jack continued to speak. "And I'm sorry. I'll try to be better about things in the future."

Maddie and Jack both hugged each other.

"What's important is that I know you love me, Jack. I'm sorry for raising such a big fuss over our anniversary like that," Maddie apologized. "We show each other our love and working together every day, we don't need just one day a year to do all that."

Danny, Andy, and Takuya were all confused now.

"Hold on, so you two aren't getting a divorce?" Danny asked. "We came all the way out here for nothing?"

"What? Danny, whoever said we would be getting a divorce?" Maddie asked, looking horrified at the idea.

"What? Then why-" Danny began to ask before they heard a honking of some kind of vehicle. Andy, Danny, and Takuya all looked back as a large pick-up with hillbillies on it came out of the brush, all waving and a few sitting in the back of the truck with instruments.

Jack and Maddie then turned to Alicia and smiled widely. "Surprise!" Maddie then gestured to Alicia's house, where there was a large banner that read 'A DECADE OF DIVORCE' on it.

It was then that what was going on became clear. "A party, for the tenth anniversary of my divorce! You remembered!" Alicia said with tears of joy in her eyes.

"Well, sure!" Maddie said sweetly. "I even convinced your ex-husband to come."

Takuya, Andy, and Danny were all staring, minds completely blanked out at what they were seeing.

Dorimon managed to tap Andy's head to snap him out of it. "Okay… so… update on the situation…"

Andy slapped both Takuya and Danny's back to get them to snap out of it. "Mom and Dad were never going to get a divorce, when Mom mentioned the word we heard, she was talking about our Aunt Alicia, who had been divorced for 10 years."

Takuya looked at Andy. "Really? I guess it was all a misunderstanding then, huh?" He said in a sarcastic tone.

Danny groaned, and rubbed his head. "I hate this place too."

As the party got underway, Maddie and Jack stood off to the side as Andy, Danny, Dorimon, and Takuya all joined them. "Well, aren't you going to open the present?" Jack asked.

Maddie did so, seeing a set of what looked like headphones with a mic on them. They were green and silver, and they looked like they were some kind of new invention. "Jack… what are these?"

"These are the Fenton Phones. I invented them to communicate when we are in the Ghost Zone, and they filter out any ghostly sounds or noises a ghost can make." Jack replied.

Maddie smiled at Jack. "That's so sweet!" She hugged him again.

Danny and Takuya looked back to say something, only to notice Andy and Dorimon were missing. They looked around for a moment before seeing Andy and Dorimon behind the glass door of Aunt Alicia's house.

Takuya sighed as he saw that. It was clear Andy wanted to be away from the bugs that sucked blood badly. Though Takuya wondered why the mosquitoes didn't bother him or Danny as much. Takuya guessed it was because he had two fire Spirits, so they were likely repelling the bugs, though he wasn't sure for Danny. If Andy's theory was correct, Phantom might have had something to do with it. It's not like I'm going to ask right now anyway. I would rather Danny told me on his own time.

"... Uh, Mom, Dad, I'm glad you two are happy, and all, but when are we going back home?" Danny asked, feeling bad for his twin.

Titanic X: DarkFoxKit: Heh, thought it would be funny if the Lunch Lady got a little bit of revenge on BurningGreymon. The combination attack was pretty cool, especially since it shows that Andy's lessons of strategizing is paying off.

ZAFT: Yep! And it shows their growth as characters too. :)

ChloeTheKitsuneU:DarkFoxKit: Walker isn't gone for good just so you know, he's just going to take a while to pull himself back together.

ZAFT: Not sure if that is literally or figuratively, but that's the basic idea.

Irusha the Kitsune: DarkFoxKit: Heh, it was fun to have Jazz go a little crazy~ Shows that the Fentons can get scary when they just lose it.

GirlFish: DarkFoxKit: In a sense, it was mostly because we thought it'd be funny for the Lunch Lady to have a bit of revenge on Takuya.

ZAFT: But it was amusing. :) As for Patamon, we have some plans, but no spoilers.

DarkFoxKit: We won't say anything regarding The Ultimate Enemy, for one, that would be massive spoilers, and another, we haven't really thought about it yet. As for Sam's potential partner… well, we already have plans for that one.

ZAFT: Let's just say it will be a surprise~ ;)

Luna Lillyth: DarkFoxKit: Yup. It was pretty fun to write about the Ghost Zone, even if it was just for a little bit right now. The doors were fun though.

ZAFT: Well, they are learning about ghosts and the Ghost Zone still, so that makes sense they didn't know about opening the doors leading to ghostly lairs. :)