The next few weeks were probably the hardest Sarie had ever experienced. She was on the phone and D-terminal constantly, discussing strategy and information about the threat to the digital world with the other 12 digidestined. As well as pure strategy information, she learned more about the digidestined than a lifetime of research could produce. Once, in a conversation about color-linked crests with Ken, she learned that he had been none other than the Digimon emperor. It seemed a touchy subject to him, but he willingly told her about his reign of terror and the final realization that what he did didn't cloud his future. She learned, while discussing the benefits of DNA digivolution, that Kari did have a darker side. She learned that Matt and Tai had been fierce rivals when they were younger, even though they were the best of friends now. She also learned many things about herself in those weeks.
She knew now, for certain, that her crest was loyalty. She pondered this for days, wondering whether or not she was loyal enough to deserve the crest. Matt told her not to worry; he didn't live up to his crest for a long time after he found it. Cody told her he was sure she deserved her crest, or she wouldn't have it. Yolie perhaps gave the best advice of all.
"I wouldn't worry about it much, Sarie. Some people understand their crests right away, while others take a while to figure them out. Whatever your doubts are about your crest, I wouldn't worry too much. I think you're pretty loyal, especially accepting all these responsibilities as a digidestined. I haven't heard you complain yet."
Sarie's digimon were a huge help to her. As well as fighting in every battle she requested them to fight in, they proved their devotion to her by fighting for her, rather than because they had to. As the weeks went on, the four perfected the techniques of uniting their attacks and worked out a system for it. Sometimes, Sarie had discovered, it was better to use single attacks rather than combine them.
It was another ordinary, hectic day when Sarie got her first serious call.
The alarm bell sounded on her d-terminal, alerting her to a high-priority message from one of the other digidestined. She flipped open the screen cover and scanned her eyes across the message, her eyes growing more worries as she read.
"Sarie,
This is T.K. We can't find Kari. She's not showing up on her D-3, and Gatomon is with her. Come to the pyramid so we can form a search party."
Sarie pocketed the d-terminal and called to her three digimon, who had been snoozing in the yard.
"What's up?" Savior asked as he clung to her head.
"Kari's missing," she replied tersely. "Digiport open!"
All three vanished through the screen, not noticing the tiny dark spot in the corner...